Saint-Josh.com

A New Viewpoint On An Eternal Perspective

2008-01-07T11:49:00.000-05:00

I am sitting in front of the computer this morning reflective on one of the most important lessons I have learned in the crucible of my 2007 experience: living one day at a time. Really that is where God wants me to live right now. . .actually that is where He has always wanted me to live. The Bible is clear one what I am really looking for each day and God promises to provided it. . .if I ask. I am seeking three simple things each day: fulfillment, peace and rest. That is it. No wonder Jesus called me a sheep. I make my life one complicated mess in MY efforts to obtain three simple things and they all add up to "contentment." Now, God wants one simple thing from me: holiness or godliness. Put the two together and I get godliness + contentment=great gain.

God is the one that is trying to simplify my life and make it sane. I am the one that creates my own insanity. . .and believe me under my cool, suave exterior is one crazy dude. Oh wait you already guessed that much.

Okay now for the deep thought (really this is going somewhere related to my title). I think it was C.S. Lewis (so often quoted and so little understood) who talked about God does not really live in "eternity past" or "eternity future." He does not exist in time. For God, according to Lewis, existence is an eternal NOW. Guess what? God wants me to live that way today! He wants me to live now, not five minutes from now, not three minutes ago, but now, one day at time.

I hear so often from the pulpit that I need to develop an eternal perspective on things, not so focused on my present circumstances. Life is long term I am told. True? Of course true, but let me rethink this for a moment. God is not trapped by time and in a way He wants to free me from that as well. He wants me to live NOW. One moment at a time, focused on what He is doing, totally dependent on Him for fulfillment, peace and rest. Man that is freeing! Can it be lived? Sure, as I learn, live and grow. . .one moment at at time.

Down is UP

2007-06-18T08:25:00.000-05:00

In the past many months, God has been discipling me as never before. I have learned that knowledge is not power. Only when we start to take the steps of working out our faith does the power of God become released in our lives to transform them.

That is not the only thing I have learned. I think the words disciple and discipline share the same root word. Either way, any disciple of Jesus is going to experience his teaching discipline. The passage in 2 Chronicles chapter 12 we read yesterday in church points out how God often teaches us, how we must respond, and to what result is God aiming. The background is the establishment of Rehoboam's reign just after the split of Israel from Judah. Rehoboam worshipped the Lord for three years after ascending the throne before he started to go astray seeking after lots of wives. The result? Chasing the opposite sex weakened him. See how Shishak came up from Egypt and easily took fortified cities? Chapter 12 says God sent the Egyptians north because of Rehoboams transgressions. (Historians today would give some Marxist social, economic, political reason. Good thing they did not write the Bible.) Anyways, a prophet came, laid down the law, and Rehaboam responded with humility. Judah's leadership declared God right in what He was doing unto them.

Now watch what happened next. God totally delivered them from all their enemies! Wrong. He granted them "some deliverance." Shishak took Jerusalem, but did not utterly destroy it leaving Rehaboam paying tribute. God by the mouth of the same prophet stated the reason that God partially delivered Judah so that they, "may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries." I take that to mean God wanted to teach them the difference between serving Him in obedience and serving sin. God leaves us in the consequences of our actions often for that very reason. Humility was the one way exit from Rehaboam's addiction to women and God in His mercy left a teaching reminder for Rehaboam to live with.

This chapter reminds me of Psalm 32. The first half describes those God forgives as blessed. Those God forgives humble themselves before Him, and confess their fault with fierce honesty. For that soul therefore, who leans on Jesus, power to overcome is released into their lives, AND God promises to teach them the way they should go from there. He expects us to respond with humility and action based on comprehension of the lessons circumstances (aka consequences) teach us. He pleads with us not to respond as a mule or horse who has no understanding, who needs a bridle to guide it with because of the stubbornness and ignorance of their minds.

Thus the way UP, as James 4 declares, is down. God uses circumstances to teach us, to discipline his disciple.

A New Thought on God's Will

2007-04-30T14:27:00.000-05:00

Understanding God's will, defining God's will and doing God's will are issues I have wrestled with through out my Christian experience. I know this is nothing unique to myself and it will be a life long search and learning experience.

Today though I think I came to a new understanding. There seems to be a couple of schools of thought out there. There are those who say God does not have an exact perfect will and a permissive will, etc. but has revealed all His will in the Word and instead teaches us His wise principles for living and let's us make choices among many options. Then others feel that God has specific plans for our life and is into the daily aspects of living.

I have oscillated between these two perspectives believing that there are aspects to each that are true. There are times when God gives us options and at other times He gets very specific. How do we demarck between the two? I think part of it may line in two important concepts: the call and stewardship.

Stewardship has to do with God's will in managing, via Godly wisdom, the things God has entrusted to us. God teaches us the principles of how to make decisions in His place the way He would to the purposes He has set forth in scripture. He has revealed His will for us individuals to make us like Christ and bring us home.

A calling has to do with His will beyond the individual level like using us to make others like Christ and bringing others with us home. A calling is a specific. A calling is directional.

Is this always the demarcation? No I do not think so but I believe it is a way to help think through, to sort out, issues as we seek to live out God's will, to make Godly decisions.

Your neighbor is your business

2007-04-23T14:06:00.000-05:00

I am writing my literature review chapter for my thesis (stop sleeping on me here) and it deals a lot with the sociology of community. Today at lunch I read more from Purpose Driven Life in the section about living in fellowship with others. Warren, the author, pointed out what James has to say of chapter 5. Brothers are each other's keepers. If we see our brother going astray we, who do not struggle with our brother's weakness, are commanded (not encouraged) to do all we can to recover our brother or sister. We can not do this if we are not participating in each other's lives, without the reality of membership in the routine of each other's existences. Being a church attender makes you spectator, a consumer, nothing more. Connecting with other through service and empathy is the key to the deep longing for belonging we all possess.

Two D's

2007-04-02T09:44:00.000-05:00

Last week was a whirl wind week at work and personally that I found myself Saturday night sitting in a pew "ready" for communion wondering and repenting for not placing more meditative thought behind the most precious worship experience we have as Christ-followers. So this week I avow to place much more time with Him who died for me grasping again the deep significance of this week.

Along those lines I thought of two D words that struck me this morning in thinking of the Passion week: disciples and disappointment. I think I can grasp through personal experience something of what the disciples must have felt Friday morning looking up at their teacher and master and best hopes stretched and pinned like some insect in a collection. Just the previous Sunday he was heralded the One and all their personal "hopes and dreams were met" in him. Then God did the unexpected. He pulled the greatest switch of all story switches and left His followers realling. Jesus' death left confusion, hurt, disbelief and so many other emotions. They must have just crowded into their thoughts. They wanted to go hide (actually they did) somewhere and forget the whole thing. Peter did not know what else to do (since he had blown it so royally) so he went back to piddling with fish nets as he had always done.

It looked like God had really failed this time. The first cosmic oops! Well in some people's eye perhaps just one more in a long list of oopses. Joseph held on to God's sovereignty, but he had no idea where it was going to take Him. We really do not have any great insight to what the disciples thought that very long Saturday. Perhaps they just sat around the upper room in a stupor staring blankly into one an other's eyes hoping someone still had some courage left for them all. How could God work great glory and good out of this mess. Joseph tower of virtue and faith that he was must have faced similar paradoxes, yet he kept going! Why and how?

One of my favorite parts in the Two Towers comes at the end when the battle of (I think) Los Gilieth (how ever you spell that) raged around them. Sam speaks up to Frodo and tell Frodo that what they faced reminded him of all the greatest heroes and all the greatest stories. They had lots of chances of going back, of throwing in the towel, but they did not. They kept going? They kept going because they had found something worth fighting for? They knew that there was still some good in this world. Joseph kept on keeping on because he would have fainted unless he had "believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living."

It just took a day for God's goodness to pop out of the ground. . .man we can be extremely short sighted and impatient sometimes!

As a weaned child

2007-04-01T08:13:00.000-05:00

In the midst of the storms, afflictions or frustrations you face you may be tempted to scream and get really mad at the Man upstairs. Let me suggest a different thought, one I found tucked in a little read psalm, Psalm 131. Try a dose of humility and rest in God. A weaned child is one that has been fully satisfied at the breast of its mother. I love the tender imagery given in this Psalm by the way. There are many instances of God's feminine attributes throughout the Bible. He did make male and female in His image after all.

LORD, my heart is not haughty,

nor mine eyes lofty:

neither do I exercise myself in great matters,

or in things too high for me.

Surely I have behaved and quieted myself,

as a child that is weaned of his mother:

my soul is even as a weaned child.

Let Israel hope in the LORD from henceforth and forever more.

Way too long!!

2007-03-26T14:17:00.000-05:00

I use to think that the stretch of I-94 between Lansing and Chicago the looooongest piece of road I have ever traveled though it is a mear what two or three hours long. I am now convinced that the longest stretch of road lies between Cleveland and central Illinois. I just got back from a wedding there, and man what an incrediblly long seven hours it felt. I even had someone traveling with me. The way out felt fine. I had a book on tape and myself to keep me company that seemed to keep me from going postal. But on the way back. . .it was not the company I kept but perhaps the lateness of the hour and the amount of sleep I have been getting. Regardless I was quite happy to be done with the whole thing.

By the way I hope those of you in CIL can do the back stroke because the deluge over the weekend made swimming such an accessible exercise option!

Meditate on this one. . .

2007-03-21T16:53:00.000-05:00

I have one simple thought for you to consider. Meditate on it and it will revolutionize your life. . .

"God is good."

Notice the punctuation (notice my spelling). There is a period at the end of the above statement. No matter what befalls us here. The conclusion we gain from being rooted in scripture is God knows what He is doing and we can. . .

trust in Him at all time. . .[and you can] [p]our out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us (Ps 62:8).

This truth has been sharpened in my mind in the forge of my experience through trails of tears and paths of joy. I can awaken each morning and let the fact that God is good frame the day.

Okay so now I must go practice what I preach. . .

Stop to Reflect, Brainstorm, and Redirect

2007-03-05T16:48:00.000-05:00

I just came from a full day staff retreat where we just talked and brainstormed about what we do well and how to do it better. It made me stop and think that I need to do that for my own life more. It is a spiritual discipline to stop and reflect and meditate as to where we are going in light of the Word. What do you think?

What the Poop and Snow!

2007-02-19T13:32:00.000-05:00

There is much questioning as to where "the poop" I have been in the blogging world. Well first of all, not all of us spill our guts every day to the world about various topics nor use foul bathroom language to express our emotions. So stop using such cockca language!

Now, so that I am not accused of question evasion, I will state for the record that I have been busy saving the world one thesis word at a time. I have been teaching young children "what is a live and what is not alive," deep and fascinating is it not?

As to snow, we have been dumped on (loved my four day work week thank you) and dumped on and I LOVE IT ALL! Including the bitter cold. That is what winter, real winter is all about! See if you have lived in luke-warm Delaware as I have, you would be lusting for a real blistering, blustery, burgeoning winter as well. So this winter has been made for me and not you. God will answer your prayer in good time too. . .just wait for next year. . .or five minutes depending on the weather cliches of your state.

New Blogger?!

2007-02-12T13:40:00.000-05:00

Has anyone who is as crusty with blogging as me been surprised by having to creat a new Google Account in order to use my blog? Well, I suppose it is one more step in the Man getting into my life and pocket! I am not cantankerous normally, but I feel like being so just this moment. . .this is probably the dumbest think I have ever written. Let it stand to my literatary. . .you choose the adjective. Back to the ever present thesis on my day off. If I have not heard from you in a while it is your fault and you need to call me!

Verse that speaks to me today. . .

2006-12-29T11:08:00.001-05:00

As for God, His way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: He is a buckler to all those that trust in Him. For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?
Psalm 18:30&31

God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen

2006-12-29T11:08:00.000-05:00

NOTE: This article from Ravi Zacharias' ministry has blessed me many times, and I have posted them in full here often. What Max Lucado or Yansi is to some, Zacharias has been for me over the years. This post strikes home for me in two ways: one of my favoritest hymns, and second one of my favorite stories, "A Christmas Carol." It strikes me every Christmas that God came to break Satan's power when we had (and still do) go a stray. What comfort and joy, eh?

By Jill Carattini

Christmastime is synonymous with retelling stories. Each year certain lines of familiar stories (and The Story) strike with unexpected vigor in my mind. Amid retellings of the Nativity, a repeatable classic is A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. One scene in particular stands out for me this year.

"Foggier yet, and colder!" describes Dickens. "Piercing, searching, biting cold. If the good Saint Dunstan had but nipped the Evil Spirit's nose with a touch of such weather as that, instead of using his familiar weapons, then indeed he would have roared to lusty purpose. The owner of one scant young nose, gnawed and mumbled by the hungry cold as bones are gnawed by dogs, stooped down at Scrooge's keyhole to regale him with a Christmas carol: but at the first sound of--

'God bless you, merry gentleman!
May nothing you dismay!'

Scrooge seized the ruler with such energy of action, that the singer fled in terror, leaving the keyhole to the fog and even more congenial frost."(1)

Perhaps time spent in the pungent cold of Michigan feeds my imagination, but I can envision this scene to the point of feeling the searching, biting cold myself. The irony within this icy picture is not missed on Dickens's careful detail. In the piercing, wearying cold stands the cheerful caroler, while warm and sheltered sits the cold, cantankerous Scrooge.

Though a scene long memorized, the contrasting hearts Dickens paints here strike with renewed force. Life seems often like this; some of the warmest hearts belong to lives that have been surrounded by the darkest and coldest days. The words of the caroler and the familiar lines of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen amplify the contrast. This much loved hymn tells a mighty story for even the bleakest of lives.

God rest ye merry, gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember Christ our Saviour
Was born was born on Christmas Day
To save us all from Satan's power
When we were gone astray
O tidings of comfort and joy

God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen is not an address to "merry gentlemen." It is not because Scrooge was grumpy that the words of the carol were unbefitting. In fact, the word "merry" has come to mean something quite different than it did for the first hearers of this hymn. Where it now connotes jollity, it once meant "mighty" or "strong." Similarly, the word "rest" also signified the notion of being kept or made well. Thus, in more contemporary English, we might pronounce the title of this carol in the manner of a prayer: "God make you mighty." What specifically makes us mighty is relayed in the story the song retells.

From God our heavenly Father a blessed angel came;
And unto certain shepherds brought tidings of the same;
How that in Bethlehem was born the Son of God by name.
O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy.

For those living in cold and harsh realities, remembering that Christ the Savior was born to save the lost is far more than a thought that warms them; it is more like the sun that provides their very capacity for life. Mary's song was not sung without the reality of hard times ahead. But she sang because the angel gave her a mighty story to sing about: "You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High... And his kingdom will never end" (Luke 1:30-33). We remember the ancient story because it brings to life our own. Whether in the midst of warmth or darkness, Christ is here; God has made us mighty.

The "comfort and joy" promised by the angel and proclaimed in this song is not an outburst of seasonal cheer, nor a call to passive contentment. Comfort comes from the mighty encounter of knowing the Son of God by name, and joy is the startling wonder of finding Christ near. In darkness or light, in the cold or warmth of life, may God make you mighty with the story that bids to be retold.

Come inspite of it all

2006-12-27T08:58:00.000-05:00

Isn't it comforitng to come home? Home is a place where you can be yourself, thoroughly comfortable because those who are there know you so well. There need not be pretense.

"Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compasset my path and my lying down, and art aquainted with all my ways."
-Ps 139:2-3

One the one hand, God perceiving our thoughts and motivations can be scary even for the well seasoned child of faith. Think about it. The depth of God's understanding is complete. He understands not only the current train of our thinking but where it goes from there. This should encourage us to walk into the light (Jn 3:20-21), into honesty with God and man. It should also encourage us to "come just as I am," and "come just as you are before your God." This is obivously not an encouragement to casualness, but simply an encouragement to come. He knew us intimately in all our "loveliness" before we even gave Him a thought, and yet He still went further and put His life on the line to rescue us before we ever yelled for help. We stay away from God, we refuse to give Him our heart in trust for a number of reasons but why? Verse 20 in John 3 states man shys from the light like a cockroach because we do not want to suffer exposure, that we are imposters, posers, that we do not have it together or who we pretend to be. Yet, clearly God is immutably faithful despite it all. You believe on His son and you are His treasured possession. Okay so light means we or maybe I should say I suffer reproof. It is amazing how we are so afraid of the moment and forget the eternity that follows ever after.

I do not know about you, but an invitation like God's is refreshing and reassuring and worth accepting.

Somewhat in defense of the material

2006-12-26T10:30:00.000-05:00

We hear a lot from all of us in Christian circles how horriblly materialistic, narcissistic and secular the Christmas season has become. "Jesus is the reason for the Season" and other cliches mark our Christmas letters and cards like the reminder slogans of some temperance campaign. . .and all these observations/complaints are accurate. I too am concerned at the secularization of America. Why does the public square need to be swept clear of all religion, hiding behind concerns of sectarian violence. A secular world is empty devoid of any transcendent meaning. But this year the campaign of some people to throw their economic weight around in the commerical sphere to prevent the removal of Merry Christmas greetings has lost some focus. Phew I am so glad we won that battle, causing retail giants to their "devout" knees. I thought we not so interested in all this commericalism anyway.

I heard another perspective that caused me to pause. I am sort of glad for the blatant secular, consumerist side to the celebration of Christ's birth. No I have not gone shallow. There have been eras when the celebration of Christmas was banished in the protestant world because of its connection to Catholism. But with the help of such books as "A Christmas Carol" and "Twas the Night before Christmas," the holiday came back from its Medieval haunts. The spread of a secular, western holiday has circumnavigated the globe. Practically every corner of the earth today has become grounds for its celebration. This is an open door. At least in the circles I walk through daily, I am finding increasingly a dissatisifcation with America's consumerist excess. People sense the emptiness and pointlessness of the holiday rat race. Believers can enter their world on some common ground like few other times. Sharing a deeper story, a true story, of God entering into our own world to give our lives meaning, finding common ground, transforms the whole experience. Christmas is about family, charity, and religion, but more so it is about a Father who out of His love for loving us calls all to worship as apart of family gathering "of whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name."

Coming back to Center

2006-12-25T11:09:00.000-05:00

This Christmas season the wonder of it all has not hit me exactly between the eyes. Have I been too busy? Perhaps. Have I had the wrong focus? Absolutely. See while I was looking for some big religious experience (for my benefit) God quietly came into the world again this morning. God came near to give us a gift. . .but it was for His name sake we have Emanuel. The Shepherds and Wise men understood what to seek (even after two years of camels, sand, and weary days of travel). So it hit home this morning as I quietly reflected on it all. It is about God for the sovereign Lord has done this marvelous thing. Like Mary this is the pondering of my heart. . .

"And behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great, and will be caleld the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and His kingdom will have no end." -Luke 1:31-33

"I will extol thee. my God, O King; And I will bless thy name forever and ever. . .Great is the LORD, and highly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable. . .On the glorious splendor of thy majesty and on thy wonderful works, I will meditate. . .the LORD is good to all, and His mercies are over all his works. All thy works shall give thanks to thee, O LORD, and thy godly ones shall bless thee. They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power; to make known to the sons of men thy mighty acts, and the glory of the majesty of thy kingdom." -Ps 145

Abraham did not stagger

2006-12-05T12:51:00.000-05:00

I can relate to Abraham. Can you? Here is a man who steps out in faith, leaving all that he knew behind (well almost all he knew, he disobeyed God taking his extended family with him), a well established secure place in Ur (he came from a VERY wealthy family) to go where? Hebrews 11 says he knew not where. Sarah just knew that God was faithful. They believed God's word, His provision, His promises of a blessed nation and so off they took.

But how about those disappointments along the way? It was a really long time, say twenty plus years, before Isaac was born (by the way Isaac means laughter since two old couples actually having children was a big joke). Abraham and Sarah saw the years slip away, wondering when God was coming through. Seeing things becoming more impossible and unlikely, but Romans 4 says Abraham did not, "stagger at the promises of God." His faith did not waiver even when that promise looked extinguished by wrinkles and biology.

I have had some bitter disappointments in my life, yet I cling to the promise of God's faithfulness, God's goodness, God's love, God's character, the fact that God says who He says He is. It is easy to allow disappointment's to fuel fear and doubt, but I am following Abraham's brave example to have faith that God will provide. . .if I will not stagger in unbelief today.

Darfur another Rwanda?

2006-12-04T13:19:00.000-05:00

Last night I watched the movie Hotel Rwanda. The story concerns the heroic efforts of an assistant hotel manager to save 1,200 refugges during the 1994 Rwanda genocide. I remember studying the conflict in the 9th grade. I remember seeing actual photoage of people being hacked apart because of their "race." What did the church and the international community do about it? Ignored it for all intensive purposes. . .I wonder what God thinks. . .

Today there is another conflict occuring in the Sudan in the Darfur region. You may have heard about it. Wikipedia says this: The Darfur conflict is an ongoing armed conflict in the Darfur region of western Sudan, mainly between the Janjaweed, a militia group recruited from the tribes of the Abbala (camel-herding Arabs), and the non-Baggara people (mostly land-tilling tribes) of the region. The Sudanese government, while publicly denying that it supports the Janjaweed, has provided arms and assistance and has participated in joint attacks with the group, systematically targeting the Fur, Zaghawa, and Massaleit ethnic groups in Darfur. The conflict began in July 2003. Unlike in the Second Sudanese Civil War, which was fought between the primarily Muslim north and Christian and Animist south, in Darfur most of the residents are Muslim, as are the Janjaweed.[1]

Estimated number of deaths in the conflict have ranged from 50,000 (World Health Organization, September 2004) to 450,000 (Dr. Eric Reeves, 28 April 2006). Most NGOs use 400,000, a figure from the Coalition for International Justice that has since been cited by the United Nations.

The movie really made me pause and wonder what God, the God of the oppressed, the God of Justice (see Isiah for some good thoughts on the subject) thinks about the church, about myself and our efforts to ignore what is occuring. I found myself last night in deep repentence before God crying out for great mercy in the face of it all. I can understand not initially knowing about what has happened, but once we the church understand the conflict, to ignore it is to turn our back on those who need Christ's demonstratable love the most.

Very Present Help

2006-04-20T11:32:00.000-05:00

I personally really needed to read this article today. Remembering God in the moment is the critical piece to overcoming, but it does not start there. I must read God's word, study God's Word, and hide God's Word in my heart. If I meditate day and night then we are practiced to remember our help in the moment. I was studying Psalm 1 this morning and find it interesting that the Hebrew word for meditate is literally to murmur. Whether audibly or internally being instant in prayer, murmuring to God brings us into His communion and THAT folks is the key answer to our daily world problems. It always starts with what we believe about God. Believe me I know from painful experience.

A Very Present Help
By Betsy Childs

In my old, yellowed copy of C. S. Lewis's Letters to an American Lady, I have one sentence underlined that I return to again and again. Lewis tells his correspondent, who tends to be anxious, "Remember one is given strength to bear what happens to one, but not the 100 and 1 different things that might happen."

I need this reminder often, because I have a proclivity to worry early and avoid the rush. You would be much less likely to find me worrying about something I may face tomorrow than the calamities that may fall on me twenty years from now. The perils of the future are vivid in my imagination. But because they exist only in the realm of imagination, the only comfort available to me is just as imaginary.

Have you ever looked at someone else's misfortune and thought, "I couldn't handle that"? If so, you were exactly right. God has not given us the grace to handle what He has not yet asked us to bear. The grace promised to us in Scripture is available only in the present, and only when it is needed. After reminding us that Christ can sympathize with our weaknesses, the writer of Hebrews invites, "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need" (Hebrews 4:16). A literal (albeit awkward) rendering of this verse from the Greek promises the Christian "grace for a well-timed help."

What does a well-timed help look like? Does it look like Superman sweeping out of the sky to rescue the endangered one from peril? Ordinarily not. If anyone deserved to be removed from suffering it was Jesus, but God in his purposes chose for Jesus to endure through suffering rather than avoid it. More often than not, He chooses to help us endure rather than removing the trial.

I find it fascinating that the same Greek word translated as "help" in Hebrews 4:16 is translated as "ropes" in Acts 27:17. In this scene, Paul travels on a ship that gets caught in a violent storm. The wind and waves are so fierce that the sailors fear the ship will split apart. They pass ropes ("helps") under and around the creaking vessel in order to hold it together like a net. Sometimes, the well-timed help that God provides doesn't calm the waves, but it holds us together until the storm dies down.

The psalmist describes God as "a very present help in trouble" (Psalm 46:1). He will not give us the help before we need it, and He may not remove us out of trouble, but He will be there with us to hold us together. When the troubles do come, we can approach his throne with confidence, fully expecting to receive the grace of his well-timed help.

Power of This World

2006-04-10T21:25:00.000-05:00

Okay so it has been awhile since I have posted. Please forgive me my swelling, burgeoning reading public. How could I let you down.

I must admit a weakness of mine. I am ambitious and can easily seek power and control for my own reasons. My current job puts my as low man on the totem pole and even though I may have skills and knowledge that make me qualified for more, here I am learning submission to those over me. I could be working in the dirt with my eyes set on the second floor administration level looking for the first chance I could get to keep climbing, but God is teaching me something else.

What is power, what is ambition for the Christ-follower? Is it wrong to seek power? I think so, because within the question lies the problem. Power is always granted, never obtained. Power is never the end in of itself, but a means to an end. Power is granted for another's sake, and for another's glory. For Christ-followers, the question to ask rather is what are you seeking? What end is your goal. We are called to seek, to desire, to strive, but for a whole different end. We are called to seek, to set our minds or affections on a whole other realm of power. A different kingdom. I thought of this as I reflected on the Passion week and what lessons I could draw to apply to my own soul journey today. When the King of Kings was being questioned by Casear's representative, Pilot He stated, "Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm."

These days I am eating humble pie and (mostly) loving it. I am re-adjusting my sights from starting this grand not-for-profit organization to change the world to simply lighting up the little piece of earth I occupy. If God GRANTS more power, stewardship, and responsibility so be it. But I, by Grace, will make a difference today.

A Voice in the Darkness

2006-03-24T13:01:00.000-05:00

I am continually amazed and find myself overwhelmed in those circumstances when I find darkness all around. God seems distant and silent and hope is fastly draining away. Then suddenly God presence is near and I hear His sweet voice. The circumstances may not have changed, the sea is still roaring all around, but the Master is at the helm.

I spoke of a situation like that in my last blog article and I just felt that this devotional really related. Jesus went through the same circumstances. Even though I think Spurgeon is misinterpreting this verse I think what he writes here is still valid. Enjoy.

"He was heard in that he feared." --Hebrews 5:7
Did this fear arise from the infernal suggestion that he was utterly forsaken. There may be sterner trials than this, but surely it is one of the worst to be utterly forsaken? "See", said Satan, "thou hast a friend nowhere! Thy Father hath shut up the bowels of his compassion against thee. Not an angel in his courts will stretch out his hand to help thee. All heaven is alienated from thee; thou art left alone. See the companions with whom thou hast taken sweet counsel, what are they worth? Son of Mary, see there thy brother James, see there thy loved disciple John, and thy bold apostle Peter, how the cowards sleep when thou art in thy sufferings! Lo! Thou hast no friend left in heaven or earth. All hell is against thee. I have stirred up mine infernal den. I have sent my missives throughout all regions summoning every prince of darkness to set upon thee this night, and we will spare no arrows, we will use all our infernal might to overwhelm thee: and what wilt thou do, thou solitary one?" It may be, this was the temptation; we think it was, because the appearance of an angel unto him strengthening him removed that fear. He was heard in that he feared; he was no more alone, but heaven was with him. It may be that this is the reason of his coming three times to his disciples--as Hart puts it--
"Backwards and forwards thrice he ran,
As if he sought some help from man."
He would see for himself whether it were really true that all men had forsaken him; he found them all asleep; but perhaps he gained some faint comfort from the thought that they were sleeping, not from treachery, but from sorrow, the spirit indeed was willing, but the flesh was weak. At any rate, he was heard in that he feared. Jesus was heard in his deepest woe; my soul, thou shalt be heard also.

Precious Hope

2006-03-21T12:29:00.000-05:00

As you come to him, the living Stone - rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him

-1 Peter 2:4

I was listening to a Chuck Swindoll series called "Hope Again" yesterday in my car as I was running errands. He connected with me from his own personal experience as he talked about the intimacy he had with God as a child. Children seem to just love and trust their Father, and nothing is too big or too small to bring to Him. As we get older, however, life has a way of drawing us further from Him. Our past whether it is dissapointments or sin sort leave a hallow place in our lives. We know God loves us and wipes our slate clean, but still somehow. . .

Disappointments have led me to wonder in my heart of hearts whether God cares or what His agenda for me might be, or what I am to Him. Okay so much of this might be a pity-party for one, yet I think even though we know one thing the heart holds on to something different. So when Swindoll expounded on the verse above I felt the flood of love coming back to me to remind my heart that I am not forgotten and even more I AM precious to Him. God does not look down on us, His believing children, with a frown or a permanent disapproving gaze, arms folded. He rejoices over us, over me. He takes GREAT pleasure in our lives and really in the scheme of things asks very little from us. It is myself that puts all this undue pressure and unrealistic expectations. It says He knows our frame, that we are but dust. My own ego sets me up to be champion of mankind. Too bad the position has already been filled.

Let's partake in a little bit of logic shall we.

If Jesus is a Son of God, chosen and precious to the Father, then we as sons of God are also chosen and precious to Him. Let that sink in deeply.

P.S. Check out Psalm 103 for a little more love!

A Light There, Weeping Ends

2006-03-17T09:10:00.000-05:00

I recently had a friend and mentor of mine call me up and admit to facing a bout of depression as he faced rejection after rejection in his search for a job. The search stretched out over months and his current work load got cut in half. This brother has worked in upper corporate work for thirty years and is at the top of his game, and no one would hire him. How would you feel? I too needed the reminder of God's goodness after falling into sin yesterday. This morning I read Psalm 126 and thought of my mentor and myself. So to the rest of you out there who might face similar situations I hope this Psalm brings comfort to you as well today.

A song of ascents. When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them."
The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.
Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negev.
Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.
He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.

I can feel it coming

2006-03-08T12:57:00.000-05:00

The past six months of my life, heck the last year of my life has been one mind numbing experience after another. I found myself struggling with sin, I found myself struggling to keep a sense of purpose in my career path wondering if I had some how goofed up. I found my vision for what I thought God wanting to do with my life disappear. It has felt like I was floating along with not much wind to the sail, if you know what I mean. With my passion and drive for life really sucked away by the routine and path of my life, I found myself beginning to pray. On my knees again praying to understand. Praying for repetence. Praying for the Lord to restore my heart, passion for Him, restore my vision. . .and I feel it coming. . .

Let me pass along a Psalm that has been refreshing to me. May it bless you and keep you:

Preserve me, O God, for I take refuge in You.
I said to the LORD, "You are my Lord; I have no good besides You."
As for the saints who are in the earth, They are the majestic ones in whom is all my delight.
The sorrows of those who have bartered for another god will be multiplied; I shall not pour out their drink offerings of blood, Nor will I take their names upon my lips.
The LORD is the portion of my inheritance and my cup;You support my lot.
The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me.
I will bless the LORD who has counseled me; Indeed, my mind instructs me in the night.
I have set the LORD continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will dwell securely.
You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever. -Psalm 16

The Furnace by Choice

2006-03-03T12:50:00.000-05:00

Okay so I am not feeling overly afflicted today. It's not like I have some inflamed hemroids or one giant toothache, but I read some similar words in 1 Peter last night so I thought I would share this Charles Spurgeon Devotion today. Enjoy and may it comfort you if you need it. 'Roids can be a killer.

"I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction." --Isaiah 48:10
Comfort thyself, tried believer, with this thought: God saith, "I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction." Does not the word come like a soft shower, assuaging the fury of the flame? Yea, is it not an asbestos armour, against which the heat hath no power? Let affliction come--God has chosen me. Poverty, thou mayst stride in at my door, but God is in the house already, and he has chosen me. Sickness, thou mayst intrude, but I have a balsam ready--God has chosen me. Whatever befalls me in this vale of tears, I know that he has "chosen" me. If, believer, thou requirest still greater comfort, remember that you have the Son of Man with you in the furnace. In that silent chamber of yours, there sitteth by your side One whom thou hast not seen, but whom thou lovest; and ofttimes when thou knowest it not, he makes all thy bed in thy affliction, and smooths thy pillow for thee. Thou art in poverty; but in that lovely house of thine the Lord of life and glory is a frequent visitor. He loves to come into these desolate places, that he may visit thee. Thy friend sticks closely to thee. Thou canst not see him, but thou mayst feel the pressure of his hands. Dost thou not hear his voice? Even in the valley of the shadow of death he says, "Fear not, I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God." Remember that noble speech of Caesar: "Fear not, thou carriest Caesar and all his fortune." Fear not, Christian; Jesus is with thee. In all thy fiery trials, his presence is both thy comfort and safety. He will never leave one whom he has chosen for his own. "Fear not, for I am with thee", is his sure word of promise to his chosen ones in the "furnace of affliction." Wilt thou not, then, take fast hold of Christ, and say--

"Through floods and flames, if Jesus lead,
I'll follow where he goes."

There are Idiots out there

2006-02-28T12:27:00.000-05:00

So I just have to share a little story with you all. This confirms that some people just don't get it and make me glad for stupidity in the world.

So I came out of my apartment last Thursday to find a pile of glass by my back bumper. "Oh," I say to myselves, "great! We have some winn-o deciding to break his bottle at the feet of my car." Then I saw that it was safety glass. "Oh," I thought, "poor guy." I felt sorry for the car next to me. Who wants their car window smashed. Then I looked up and said, "Oh!" It was MY car window. (Yes I realize so far the only stupid person in this story is me.) So I scanned frantically the interior of my car checking for stolen treasures. CD's where all there (with in easy reach of the window), the only thing missing was the change out of center consul (which the person had to reach far inside the car for). Yes they stole probably less than $5 worth of change! They didn't even stop to examine my CD for they were totally unmoved!

Now I figure if you are going to go through all the effort to break my window at least do me the honor of stealing my CD's. I've got some good stuff man like the Nutcracker Suite set to nature sounds and Monk Chant. Yeah baby. What an insult to my taste!

Well, $190 later I have a new window and my CD's and my car, but no more change for a soda! I'll take it. I'm just thankful that God protected things, and there are rather stupid people in the world. CD's or $5. . .CD's or $5. . .CD's or $5. . .CD's or $5. . .CD's or $5. . .CD's or $5. . .CD's or $5. . .CD's or $5. . .Hard choice.

Joseph the Fruitful Bough, the Agile Bow, Shepherd and Stone of Israel

2006-02-23T13:12:00.000-05:00

Joseph is a fruitful bough,
A fruitful bough by a spring;
Its branches run over a wall.
"The archers bitterly attacked him,
And shot at him and harassed him;
But his bow remained firm, And his arms were agile,
From the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob
(From there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel),
From the God of your father who helps you,
And by the Almighty who blesses you
With blessings of heaven above,
Blessings of the deep that lies beneath,
Blessings of the breasts and of the womb.
The blessings of your father
Have surpassed the blessings of my ancestors
Up to the utmost bound of the everlasting hills;
May they be on the head of Joseph,
And on the crown of the head of the one distinguished among his brothers.

First of all, I just want to say a great thanks for all who stopped by for my last post. My front porch got a little crowded there.

I ran across this set of verses in Genesis chapter 49 yesterday while reading a Charles Spurgeon devotional for the day, and I found it to be both a great comfort and a great challenge as well. If you the chapter, where Jacob is blessing his sons before he dies, you will immediately see that only Judah and Joseph get such a tremendous blessing. Think about it. Jacob is pouring out blessing upon: arguablly the his least favorite (remember whose grand idea it was to send Joseph off into slavery, Judah, you go boy) and definitely his most favorite. God's grace get poured out without regard to our character now doesn' t it?

You should read the commentaries on this passage. They are full of wonderful thought and insight. But I want to point your eyes to one thing I found comforting and one thing that challenged me.

Challenge first. The words "fruitful bough" jumped off the page at me as I had just that morning within the commune of my own heart prayed that God would bring fruit into my life for Him. I don't make that kind of request often. You know I usually am praying about marriage or my job situation or other stuff mainly centered around yours truly. But pray for fruit unto God? Nahh. I challenge you to pray that kind of prayer consistently and earnestly and see mountains move.

Comfort second. But what was it that made Joseph so fruitful? Look at His source, look at his situation. The passage hints at the affliction that Joseph faced most of his life. We know about being sold, Potipher's wife, such a loving family, prison, being forgotten, etc. But read between the lines. Don't you think even in the midst of plenty he had enemies at court? Joseph was facing such adversity that he named one of his sons something to the affect of "comfort in the land of affliction." Joseph remained firm, bore much fruit, because he never forgot who his Well Spring and help was. He dug deep into the Living Waters when all else was dry. He stood firm in the face of circumstances because he knew his help. Through affliction God made him the Shepherd that provided for the flock of Israel, and the Stone of support in it's hour of weakness.

Be careful what you pray for, I guess. . .

The Way of the Blind

2006-02-20T12:41:00.000-05:00

"I will lead the blind by a way they do not know, In paths they do not know I will guide them. I will make darkness into light before them And rugged places into plains. These are the things I will do, And I will not leave them undone." -Isiah 42:16

In a snapshot, we have in this verse a great comfort and promise. I needed this verse this morning as I looked at my situation and the often confusing turn of events one faces. Like the Children of Israel, whom God is speaking to in this verse, we live life blindly. Oh we make predictions, we plan and scheme, but ultimately the Creator holds the reigns. We are blind. Often the situations within us or without do not seem to make sense. "What the heck is God doing!?" we might ask. But rest assured. Resist the promptings of the Doubter to question our Leader. As He leads, walk with Him. He knows the path, every guide does. He takes what to us are insurmountable odds and reverses the landscape. He turns piles of smoldering ash into gems of sparkling wonder. These are the things that HE WILL do, and they WILL occur for He is faithful who calls us. I can testify to these truths over and over in my life and I know if you walk on with our SAVIOR you will too.

Be at peace,

Sweet release,

As into His arms we lay,

The every burden of the day.

Been there, Done that

2006-02-14T12:52:00.000-05:00

This week I am filling in for someone else at work. They are off to Florida to enjoy the wilds of the beach and I am stuck holding the bag. Their responsibilities involve answering a lot of phones and other distractions that makes it hard to focus on other tasks. I could not really comprehend how difficult it was for them to work, as they ranted, until I was in their shoes.

So this situation has me thinking about that old phrase, "Being in another person's shoes." Think of the many stories where there is some sort of swith-a-roo where one character got to experience something of what another faced. Like Mel Gibson in "What Women Want," or "To Kill a Mocking Bird."

We may not be so quick to judge another if we knew what they faced and with what they have, or don't have, to face it with. Also, when we face trials, later we will be able to relate and offer comfort to others in the midst of their difficulties. You know, "Been there, done that!"

Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned. -Luke 6:37

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in anyaffliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. -2 Co 1:3-4

Encouragement Amongst the Stress

2006-02-07T12:51:00.000-05:00

Let's just say that my morning at work here on my first day back to work has been stressful. I feel buried under the mountain of projects, etc's that I have to do. Taking my burdens to Christ has truly helped a lot. At lunch then I read this devotional by Charles Spurgeon. As usual his comments lifted my spirits. This day is a passing thing. The scenery keeps a changin' so don't get too attached to it. Do what you can and move. I keep forgetting that this place ain't the main show. Eternity is our home, our rest, but it is also the main event. This life is the green room for a much bigger stage. . .

"Arise, and depart." --Micah 2:10
The hour is approaching when the message will come to us, as it comes to all-- "Arise, and go forth from the home in which thou hast dwelt, from the city in which thou hast done thy business, from thy family, from thy friends. Arise, and take thy last journey." And what know we of the journey? And what know we of the country to which we are bound? A little we have read thereof, and somewhat has been revealed to us by the Spirit; but how little do we know of the realms of the future! We know that there is a black and stormy river called "Death." God bids us cross it, promising to be with us. And, after death, what cometh? What wonder world will open upon our astonished sight? What scene of glory will be unfolded to our view? No traveller has ever returned to tell. But we know enough of the heavenly land to make us welcome our summons thither with joy and gladness. The journey of death may be dark, but we may go forth on it fearlessly, knowing that God is with us as we walk through the gloomy valley, and therefore we need fear no evil. We shall be departing from all we have known and loved here, but we shall be going to our Father's house--to our Father's home, where Jesus is--to that royal "city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God." This shall be our last removal, to dwell for ever with him we love, in the midst of his people, in the presence of God. Christian, meditate much on heaven, it will help thee to press on, and to forget the toil of the way. This vale of tears is but the pathway to the better country: this world of woe is but the stepping stone to a world of bliss.

Lastly I went and read some verses to remind me of home and this one struck me. . .

Then I saw a great white throne R1020 and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. -Rev 20:11

Think of it. The earth and heavens scram at God's face. We are sons and daughters of that One. Now that should make our stressed filled days scram and remind us of our holy calling.

Oh those stnanks!

2006-01-31T18:18:00.000-05:00

So this cartoon got me thinking today. It gotsed me thinkin' about all those times we. . .I mean I make "mistakes". Have you noticed the language of American Christianity has lost a basic word called "sin" from its vocublary. Starting in the 60's, perhaps, pyschologists started trying to erase guilt and the idea of sin from the American mind and tongue to the point that even the Church has adopted such language. We don't like guilt. We don't like sin. We'll call it all kinds of things: a boo-boo, a personality quirk, or a mistake. We don't like the idea of the full weight of our wrong-doing and rebellion against all that is Good. It's no fun. We have lost gravity. So perhaps to refreshen our minds, put these ideas in your pipe and smoke it:

Sin n.

1. A transgression of a religious or moral law, especially when deliberate.
2. Deliberate disobedience to the known will of God. A condition of estrangement from God resulting from such disobedience.

If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. -1 John 1:10

Hmmm. . .on second thought never mind. I don't sin or make mistakes. I take that all back. I prefer to think of my little acts of indiscretion as stnanks. Yeah that's a good alternative. Here I'll help you out in understanding this new verbage by using it in the following sneetence. "There is no grammaticallly, stnanks in this post." There now you too can cooly wave your problems away with a sophisticated wave of your hand. Man I knew there was a reason why I loved language arts.

Creation Reconciliation

2006-01-28T13:01:00.000-05:00

The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. -Ro 8:19-22
All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. -2 Co 5:18-19

Now I am not the first genius to breach this topic, and I had better tell you up front that I am a BIG hypocrite concerning this, but I have to blab about it anyway: our stewardship of the earth.
Many (the two who read this bad boy) know that I am a gardener, and it's my job to kill plants every year. What some of you might not know is that am I gardener of souls too. (Isn't that just the most peachy idea you ever heard. Sorry I meant cheesy.) Too little attention and too little effort is given, in Christian circles, to the how's of caring for the landscape around us. We toss the gospel at 'em. We slap rice into their bowl. We even might teach 'em how to toss the gospel and slap rice into a bowl themselves, but I think we are missing something here. We forget that the God of community, placed us also in communion with the rest of his creatures. The phrase "web of life" can have many different meanings. We are all connected. Anyone who understands how ecosystems work, knows that if one part suffers, the rest suffer too. Remember the verse about if your trapize muscle suffers, the rest of the body suffers with that member? Hmmm.

Ah, but I can see the, "Yeah, but's" already building in some people's minds. "It's all gonna burn man. We're on a search and rescue mission , not setting up Shangrahla!" Well to that short-sighted response I have two points:
1) If He owns the cattle on a thousand hills, etc., do you think God wants flame-broiled baby-back ribs? No. We're stewards. As a matter of fact gardening is the oldest occupation on earth!
2) They have missed the whole point of the Gospel. The Gospel restores and reconciles. We ARE on a search and rescue mission, and all this stuff will burn, but what will take its place? More of the same. . .without sin's impurities. See sin corrupts. Sin deforms. Sin is a disease. God's whole goal is restore, refine and reconcile the world unto himself, and sin has not just affected mankind but all of creation (see the verses at the top again). So to really restore the human soul, to restore human community, we believers must begin to address the whole of creation in our efforts addressing the effects of sin whereever we see it. Now, are you getting the connections?

Heaven in "Father"

2006-01-26T12:56:00.001-05:00

By Charles Spurgeon

"Your heavenly Father." {#Mt 6:26}
God’s people are doubly his children, they are his offspring by creation, and they are his sons by adoption in Christ. Hence they are privileged to call him, "Our Father which art in heaven." Father! O, what precious word is that. Here is authority:" If I be a Father, where is mine honour?" If ye be sons, where is your obedience? Here is affection mingled with authority; an authority which does not provoke rebellion; an obedience demanded which is most cheerfully rendered—which would not be withheld even if it might. The obedience which God’s children yield to him must be loving obedience. Do not go about the service of God as slaves to their taskmaster’s toil, but run in the way of his commands because it is your Father’s way. Yield your bodies as instruments of righteousness, because righteousness is your Father’s will, and his will should be the will of his child. Father!—Here is a kingly attribute so sweetly veiled in love, that the King’s crown is forgotten in the King’s face, and his sceptre becomes, not a rod of iron, but a silver sceptre of mercy—the sceptre indeed seems to be forgotten in the tender hand of him who wields it. Father!—Here is honour and love. How great is a Father’s love to his children! That which friendship cannot do, and mere benevolence will not attempt, a father’s heart and hand must do for his sons. They are his offspring, he must bless them; they are his children, he must show himself strong in their defence. If an earthly father watches over his children with unceasing love and care, how much more does our heavenly Father? Abba, Father! He who can say this, hath uttered better music than cherubim or seraphim can reach. There is heaven in the depth of that word—Father! There is all I can ask; all my necessities can demand; all my wishes can desire. I have all in all to all eternity when I can say, "Father."

Faith-Hurdles

2006-01-25T12:47:00.000-05:00

Have you ever taken a step of faith? I know I have. Think over some examples faith-steppin' from the B-I-B-L-E. (If you need some help please refer thyself to Hebrews 11.) The other week when I was pondering this whole concept, I happened to bump into a radio preachers message, and it started whisper some stuff in my ear. Every single example of faith-step faced a faith-hurdle.

Imagine it. You are visited by the Almighty and he tells you to pull camp and head. . .somewhere called Promised Land, and that you at the ripe old age of Depends would be having a son who was going to have a son who was going to have a son who was going to have a son. . .as many as the stars of the shore. AND THEN. . .you barely ever live in Promise Land and you don't see that son of yours for a really long time. Talk about a faith-hurdle. God says one things and it ain't lookin' like He is ever gonna come 'round. Maybe the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel where right. Maybe God is on vacation or sleeping. Or how about meeting the Lord of the Universe in a torched bush and Him tellin' ya that He is going to use you to deliver a bunch of people from those who walk like Egyptians. AND THEN. . .those deliverees don't believe you, the King of those who walk like Egyptians says "NO!" Repeatedly says no. So ya. Where's God. . .on the other side of that faith-hurdle.

When God asks us to take a step of faith be prepared because I guarantee you will run smack into it, the faith-hurdle. I guarantee you will meet resistance, the total opposite of what you expected occurs, etc. But has God gone back on His word? Is He on vacation. Nope. We simply are learning to run in foot steps too large for us. We are learning to trust, to believe some one who never sleeps, never slumbers, is our vigilant help.

So when you hear the gun go off and you take that first step, can I offer one piece of advice? Jump the hurdle! It will hurt less.

Know Thyself, Oh Gifted One

2006-01-20T14:47:00.000-05:00

Although some of us would disagree with this post, I have to say I do have one spiritual gift for certain, a sense of humor. If you are anything like me, and let's hope that is not the case, you often wonder, "What on earth are my spiritual gifts, or talents?!" I mean, "What could I possibly do in the Kingdom?"

I love to hear and bring laughter to the lives of those around me. Often it's done to get attention for PeeWee here but in truth, I love the smile. I live to create bowls full of jelly. I found in my work environment as I live each day with this attitude how it changes the atmosphere around me. People come seeking out humor, stop by my desk for a little goofy moment which I promptly provide. Oh yes I have quite the act going. I start out with my best Sean Connery or Connary or Connersville, what ever, and then move into my tie-a-straw-into-a-knot-with-my-tongue routine, followed with my finale mime and juggling act. No seriously people just stare in awe, then sit down cross-legged on the tile floor to soak in the pure family entertainment. Why I've even got some dude from Vegas calling me to see if I want to be his opener. Eh? How about it? Talk about taking Jesus to the land of way-too-many-lights. Well that's all for now, and boy is this a lame post. It's the best I've got folks on a Friday night. I'm out of here or is it out of beer? I can never remember.

PS: By the way I also have a gift for receiving. Yeah I figure some people in the Body need to be givers (and they are blessed in doing so) and then others must be receivers (and they are truly blessed in doing so). Well I think I have learned a few things about myself today, thus fulfilling Shakespear's old adage, "Know thyself"

A Letter

2006-01-17T09:05:00.000-05:00

Dear God,

I wanted to pass on a note this morning to really thank you. I don't stop often enough to just say that I love you. I love you this morning as I arose and found that my legs could hold me, my knees support my prayers. I am thankful that my apartment is WAY to hot and I am greeted by the world's greatest good morning committee, my two cats.

But God it doesn't stop there. You say how much you love me and that I am worth something to you, in so many other ways which I can't possibly detail in this little note. I have a crowd of family and friends that never seem to fade and my heart often goes out to them as I plead with you (not that you need it) to watch over them and between us. Each time I talk to them, I find myself encouraged. Thank you God for bringing exciting days to them: new job opportunities, helpmates, etc. These blessings are SOOO good Lord. They bring a smile to my face and remind me in the midst of this place where I find me that there is beauty and goodness in Life and hop which mainly translates to you. "You are the treasure that I seek, You are my all in all."

I acknowledge you, my friend, as my best companion, my Lord and Savior and please accept the limitedness of what I say here, as some token of appreciation and love. Thanks!

Sincerely,
You know who

"When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed, when you are discouraged thinking all is lost, count your many blessings. . ."

The Gumption to Stand Fast

2006-01-11T12:31:00.000-05:00

gump·tion n. Informal
1. Boldness of enterprise; initiative or aggressiveness.
2. Guts; spunk.
3. Common sense.

Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. -1Co 16:13

When I think of the path Frodo and all his friends took in their quest to save Middle Earth really two words come to mind: perserverance and gumption. Many times when darkness closed in, when the stream was flowing fast the other way, when they were surrounded by the enemy with no hope apparent, onward they kept. They had the guts to trust to hope, a fools hope, that the end would come shineing upon them.

In our lives, situations, temptations, or trials can confuse the mind. What once seemed so clear becomes hazy at best. We had peace about moving in a particular direction, and suddenly we are not so sure any more. Yet we can not now doubt in the valley, the vision we had on the mountain. Sometimes we need to stick to our guns and move forward in faith. Our multitude of desires may be at war within us, but in God have faith, be strong and keep the course already determined.

Holding to our quest is worth it. As Frodo and Sam so apptly remind me at the end of Two Towers:

Frodo:
I can’t do this, Sam.
Sam:
I know. It’s all wrong. By rights we shouldn’t even be here. But we are. It’s like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were. And sometimes you didn’t want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened. But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something. Even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back only they didn’t. They kept going. Because they were holding on to something.
Frodo:
What are we holding on to, Sam?
Sam:
That there’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it’s worth fighting for.

To Live. . .To Christ

2006-01-07T13:52:00.000-05:00

"For me to live is Christ." {#Php 1:21}

By Charles Spurgeon

The believer did not always live to Christ. He began to do so when God the Holy Spirit convinced him of sin, and when by grace he was brought to see the dying Saviour making a propitiation for his guilt. From the moment of the new and celestial birth the man begins to live to Christ. Jesus is to believers the one pearl of great price, for whom we are willing to part with all that we have. He has so completely won our love, that it beats alone for him; to his glory we would live, and in defence of his gospel we would die; he is the pattern of our life, and the model after which we would sculpture our character. Paul’s words mean more than most men think; they imply that the aim and end of his life was Christ—nay, his life itself was Jesus. In the words of an ancient saint, he did eat, and drink, and sleep eternal life. Jesus was his very breath, the soul of his soul, the heart of his heart, the life of his life.

Can you say, as a professing Christian, that you live up to this idea? Can you honestly say that for you to live is Christ? Your business—are you doing it for Christ? Is it not done for self- aggrandizement and for family advantage? Do you ask, "Is that a mean reason?" For the Christian it is. He professes to live for Christ; how can he live for another object without committing a spiritual adultery? Many there are who carry out this principle in some measure; but who is there that dare say that he hath lived wholly for Christ as the apostle did? Yet, this alone is the true life of a Christian—its source, its sustenance, its fashion, its end, all gathered up in one word—Christ Jesus. Lord, accept me; I here present myself, praying to live only in thee and to thee. Let me be as the bullock which stands between the plough and the altar, to work or to be sacrificed; and let my motto be, "Ready for either."

I sometimes think that posting stuff by others is a cop-out, but when it is something this well written and provokes my thoughts, it would be a crime not to share what I have found. Besides it's publish or perish in the blogging world.

Walking in Newness

2006-01-05T12:34:00.000-05:00

Last post I spent time focusing the hope there is for the weary, the broken, the fallen for a new beginning. I also related it to my own need and lessons learned from my recent experience. Today I want to relate what my search for renewed Life has uncovered in scripture.

Here are a selection of verses I found, and I know there are more from which you can draw upon yourself to understand what the Bible has to say about finding renewed life:

Matt 11:28-29 Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

Lam. 3:22-23 It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They re new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness."

Psalm 104:30 You send forth Your Spirit, they are created; And You renew the face of the earth.

Is 40:31 But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength. . .

Is 41:1-9 Keep silence before Me, O coastlands, And let the people renew their strength! Let them come near, then let them speak; Let us come near together for judgment. . .Who raised up one from the east? Who in righteousness called him to His feet? Who gave the nations before him, And made him rule over kings?. . .Who has performed and done it, Calling the generations from the beginning? "I, the LORD, am the first; And with the last I am He."

La 5:21 Turn us back to You, O LORD, and we will be restored; Renew our days as of old. . .

Col 3:10 . . .and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him. . .

Here is what I gather out of that group of verses:
1. God invites come near
2. Prayer and a humble seeking and waiting for God
3. Renewal is a God act soli, His Spirit intervening in our life
4. We only come to complete newness by considering TOGETHER (Is 41) who God is and what He has done
5. We must be renewed in knowledge after the pattern of God as seen in Christ

I am seeking in prayer, asking God to continue to renew me from the deadness I have brought about in my life. Each day I can prayerfully come to Him, finding a new knowledge in His word and allow His Spirit to breath new life across my parched life.

In closing I had to add this quote because I love stealing stuff from my cousin Julie Waibel, but it's so fitting.

"The probability that we may fail in the struggle ought not to deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just." - Abraham Lincoln

Keep prayin', keep fighting for the cause we believe in. . .and I'm learning to walk in newness and not rebellion. . .all over again.

Renewal, Forgiveness and a New Year

2006-01-04T12:36:00.000-05:00

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! 8 Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the LORD shall bring again Zion. 9 Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the LORD hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem. 10 The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. 11 Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD. 12 For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the LORD will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rereward. -Is 52:7-12

The New Year has given me time to pause and consider renewal in my life. My life lately has seen a blacksliding from which I am walking up out of now by the Grace of God. From my recent experience, I want to offer some lessons learned, offer any hope to those reading who might find themselves there, and maybe provide motivation to stay close to God in your walk.

My choices and actions have taken me far from God, taken me to a place of darkness, of separation, a place far from purpose, hope, and love. That's what sin always does. Sin infects everything, everything you hold dear and destroys it. I felt ashamed, no self respect, not to mention how it affected my job and those I love. I say all this to provide some sense of where the Children of Israel were at when Isiah's words rang true for them. They were not hearing these words from the lips of the High Priest in the Temple on a High Sabbath day. No, they were in bondage, in Babylon for their idol worship, etc. They were there for their choices and actions. Now picture their ears hearing the good news that God has not forgotten or abandon them. . .even now. Thing how good the news have been, how beautiful the feet that brings that type of news. . .God's unending grace and love.

God encouraged me, He encourages you too, to act. To depart, not to touch, to come out and be separate, to go and sin no more. But more than this He calls us to be vessels of the Lord. But what about the past? What about those actions I took in 2005, what about the 400 plus years of rebellion against the Lord by Israel? When God's sovereign act of mercy intervenes in your life and mine it is like the shutting of a flood gate, the closing of a door, a door no one can open. The past year is behind us if God has called us out. He stands between our failures and our shame. We can move forward, renewed into this fresh snow covered year with confidence because God is our rereward. He is bringing up the rear. The back of the line in any army was the weakest link because often this was where the armies supplies and families would walk. God is there. He protects us in our sin weakening places. He heals. We move out of our past with confidence, no haste, no fleeing out of fear of the Eygptians running us down.

No wonder we call Him Savior.

My Morning Prayer

2006-01-01T08:33:00.000-05:00

I am sitting in the Bluffton Motor Inn on this beautiful first day of the year visiting family. I was told we would be arising early to go eat to only realize that the restraunts are all closed. . .so what does one do when they have LOTS of time to kill before church (and there's a computer near by)? They blog of course don't you? I am sure it's not forbidden in Leviticus.

I thought I would share both the devotion from Chuck Swindoll's Five Meaningful Minutes a Day and the related Psalm that is my New Years Day Morning Prayer.

Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.

How long, O you sons of men, Will you turn my glory to shame? How long will you love worthlessness And seek falsehood? Selah

But know that the LORD has set apart for Himself him who is godly; The LORD will hear when I call to Him.

Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Selah

Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, And put your trust in the LORD.

There are many who say, "Who will show us any good?" LORD, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us.

You have put gladness in my heart, More than in the season that their grain and wine increased.

will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

We can only see the present and the past. The future is a little frightening to us. So we need to hold onto God's hand and trust Him to calm our fears. And at those times when we're stubborn and resisting and God shakes us by the shoulders to get our attention, we're reminded that we don't call our own shots, that God has a plan for us, mysterious though it may seem,a nd we want to be in the center of it.

The Lord has set apart the godly man for himself; the Lord hears when I call to Him. . .

A New Year, A New Unity?

2005-12-31T12:47:00.000-05:00

I wanted to close my last post of 2005 with a note of affection to each of you who have contributed to this being such an unique year filled with surprises that still leave me wondering as to what the cheese God is up to any way. Thanks to my crowning jewels. . .that's you.

Lately my mind has been mediating on the concept of unity and diversity, not an uncommon musing of mine, if you have read my blog much. . .and I mean this blog, not the four for fifty that I have created because I can't make up my mind to blog or not to blog:)

I will have more to say on this next year but I thought I would leave you with a little of Mathew Henry's commentary on Ephesians 4.

The nature of that unity which the apostle prescribes: it is the unity of the Spirit, Ephesians 4:3. The seat of Christian unity is in the heart or spirit: it does not lie in one set of thoughts, nor in one form and mode of worship, but in one heart and one soul. This unity of heart and affection may be said to be of the Spirit of God; it is wrought by him, and is one of the fruits of the Spirit. This we should endeavour to keep. Endeavouring is a gospel word. We must do our utmost. If others will quarrel with us, we must take all possible care not to quarrel with them. If others will despise and hate us, we must not despise and hate them. In the bond of peace. Peace is a bond, as it unites persons, and makes them live friendly one with another. A peaceable disposition and conduct bind Christians together, whereas discord and quarrelling disband and disunite their hearts and affections. Many slender twigs, bound together, become strong.

Consider how many unities there are that are the joy and glory of our Christian profession. There should be one heart; for there is one body, and one spirit, Ephesians 4:4. Two hearts in one body would be monstrous. If there be but one body, all that belong to that body should have one heart. The Catholic church is one mystical body of Christ, and all good Christians make up but one body, incorporated by one charter, that of the gospel, animated by one Spirit, the same Holy Spirit who by his gifts and graces quickens, enlivens, and governs that body. If we belong to Christ, we are all actuated by one and the same Spirit, and therefore should be one. Even as you are called in one hope of your calling. Hope is here put for its object, the thing hoped for, the heavenly inheritance, to the hope of which we are called. All Christians are called to the same hope of eternal life. There is one Christ that they all hope in, and one heaven that they are all hoping for; and therefore they should be of one heart. One Lord (Ephesians 4:5), that is, Christ, the head of the church, to whom, by God's appointment, all Christians are immediately subject. One faith, that is, the gospel, containing the doctrine of the Christian faith: or, it is the same grace of faith (faith in Christ) whereby all Christians are saved. One baptism, by which we profess our faith, being baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; and so the same sacramental covenant, whereby we engage ourselves to the Lord Christ. One God and Father of all, Ephesians 4:6. One God, who owns all the true members of the church for his children; for he is the Father of all such by special relation, as he is the Father of all men by creation: and he is above all, by his essence, and with respect to the glorious perfections of his nature, and as he has dominion over all creatures and especially over his church, and through all, by his providence upholding and governing them: and in you all, in all believers, in whom he dwells as in his holy temple, by his Spirit and special grace. If then there be so many ones, it is a pity but there should be one more--one heart, or one soul.

Heaven

2005-12-27T16:19:00.000-05:00

This post was written by a friend of mine, Laurie Rohm on December 6th, 2005. I tried posting it before but I had lost it. So now to honor my dear friend who will be in New Orleans for a week, here it is. . .

As I draw my last breath on this earth I find myself standing on the great street of pure gold, like transparent glass. The street is full of people who I have only read about, yet we all seem to know each other.
At the other end of the street I hear a commotion. The crowd is large, but I can see a cloud of dust off in the distance and as it moves closer I can tell that someone is desperately trying to get through.
Then I see Him. Jesus Christ, the Great I Am, the Alpha and Omega, the bright and morning star is running towards me, His robe flapping in the breeze. He is grinning from ear to ear and laughing with delight. As He gets closer and closer I look over my shoulder to see what is giving him so much joy. Suddenly, He tackles me to the ground, covers me with kisses and says, "I have been waiting so long for you to get here. Welcome home."

Clothed in Righteousness

2005-12-24T13:17:00.000-05:00

"For your sakes he became poor." {#2Co 8:9}
By Charles Spurgeon

The Lord Jesus Christ was eternally rich, glorious, and exalted; but "though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor." As the rich saint cannot be true in his communion with his poor brethren unless of his substance he ministers to their necessities, so (the same rule holding with the head as between the members), it is impossible that our Divine Lord could have had fellowship with us unless he had imparted to us of his own abounding wealth, and had become poor to make us rich. Had he remained upon his throne of glory, and had we continued in the ruins of the fall without receiving his salvation, communion would have been impossible on both sides. Our position by the fall, apart from the covenant of grace, made it as impossible for fallen man to communicate with God as it is for Belial to be in concord with Christ. In order, therefore, that communion might be compassed, it was necessary that the rich kinsman should bestow his estate upon his poor relatives, that the righteous Saviour should give to his sinning brethren of his own perfection, and that we, the poor and guilty, should receive of his fulness grace for grace; that thus in giving and receiving, the One might descend from the heights, and the other ascend from the depths, and so be able to embrace each other in true and hearty fellowship. Poverty must be enriched by him in whom are infinite treasures before it can venture to commune; and guilt must lose itself in imputed and imparted righteousness ere the soul can walk in fellowship with purity. Jesus must clothe his people in his own garments, or he cannot admit them into his palace of glory; and he must wash them in his own blood, or else they will be too defiled for the embrace of his fellowship.

O believer, herein is love! For your sake the Lord Jesus "became poor" that he might lift you up into communion with himself.

Not to forget those. . .

2005-12-22T12:29:00.000-05:00

We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. -Romans 15:1

Unfortunetly too many of our friends these days, are spending the Holy-Days either alone or in fractured contexts. Many of who read this article, I know have large warm loving families to come home to on Christmas Eve. There will be laughter, games, joy and praise to God for His gift, but this is not so everwhere. . .Broken homes by divorce, hightened tension, or through death leaves so many without such a wonderful life in this season. This post is my written Christmas card to you who are there, and to you who know someone who is there.

To those of you who may find yourself this Christmas with lots of loved ones around, the verse up top there implies two things: 1) Sensitivity to those around us, and 2) Action on their behalf. We all know there may be a widow, widower, etc. who may be have a diminshed presences of love this year. May be there someone who looks strong, acts strong, but a broken home context has left them hurting inside. Be sensitive to the obivous and not so obivous cries of pain. (Boy do I need to hear this.) Sensivitity implies implies an understanding of the person and their context. It implies that we come to truly understand that individual and provide the support THEY need, not what we quickly give hoping it helps. That is what agape means. It requires us (and by us I mean me) to come along side. Let's not slap our beloved with "help" they could do with out. Otherwise our well intentioned words or acts of kindness can make the individual feel condemned as if we think they are less because of circumstances most likely out of their control.

To the broken, I say please know that I am praying for you, it may be the only thing I can do, unless given the opportunity. I do not imply you are weak or some how lesser because you are in these circumstances, but that the circumstances themselves can weaken. I was encouraged with this thought as I contemplated the outpouring of my heart toward you. Remember this Christmas that upon that silent night God came near, among us. He came in the flesh to DWELL among us. He is here. He is on your side, never to leave you alone, or abandon you. No one can meet you where you are, know and understand you in your circumstances quite like Emmanuel (God with us).

So to all please accept my humblest and most heart felt Merry Christmas and know that I love you. Thanks for reading.

Regaining Wonder, Bearing Miracles

2005-12-21T13:09:00.000-05:00

I have been ruminating as you can read, about regaining wonder lately, regaining the wonder of life, the wonder of God. Especially in my 27th year of celebrating Christmas it's easy to loose the wonder of the miracle, to become numb to the facts, and slip into a auto-mode. Dr. David Jeremiah again had a relevant sermon on Monday related to my thoughts. He added this piece: in order to regain the wonder of the season we must make it a practiced discipline, we must allow a rebirth in ourselves as it were. Stay with me now. To wonder is to be childlike, and to wonder at the miracle of God in the flesh takes a new birth of faith. But what kind of place did God choose to be born into on that Christmas morning? He choose a humble stable, a stinky, dirty stable.

On a similar vein I read this article this morning and I thought it also tied in nicely. I hope you find it refreshing and. . .rebirthing. . .not a word I know. So much for clever writing.

By Jill Carattini

As the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary proclaiming all that would come to pass, she was perplexed, and yet the text reports, she believed. "Nothing will be impossible with God," the angel assured her, and he added news of another miracle close at hand: "Behold, your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age. She who was called barren is now in her sixth month" (Luke 1:36).

The scene is hardly the slow motion picture we often imagine it to be in our Christmas plays. Undoubtedly as full of questions as she was faith, Mary said to Gabriel, "May it be done to me according to your word" (1:38). And we are told that immediately Mary arose and went to the house of Elizabeth.

This always seems a detail easily overlooked. If something fearful and wonderful were to affront the routine of your ordinary day, who would you run to tell first? Mary didn't immediately run to the man she was promised to marry. She didn't go first to the religious leaders for their insight into her encounter with God or to her parents for help in dealing with the ramifications of unwed motherhood. She went in a hurry to Elizabeth, though we are not entirely told why. Perhaps Mary was as startled about Elizabeth's womb as she was shaken about her own. Perhaps she ran to verify Gabriel's words about her barren relative and in so doing the words about herself. Perhaps she rushed to the one person in her life who would be most conscious of the miraculous hand of God. I imagine a terrified but anticipant teenager running into the house of her relative shouting: "Is it true?"

Yet instead of describing what was going on inside of Mary, the text describes what was going on inside of Elizabeth. As Mary burst through the door with her greeting, the child leaped inside Elizabeth's womb and she was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice Elizabeth cried out: "How has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy. Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord" (Luke 1:43-45).

If Mary rushed to Elizabeth's house for affirmation of all that was said to her and all that was to come, she did not turn away disheartened or disillusioned: God was faithfully among them. The truth of all that was spoken to Mary in a visit from an angel was affirmed in a visit with Elizabeth. And Mary burst into song, uttering one of the most beautiful doxologies in all of Scripture:

"My soul exalts the Lord,
And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave;
For behold, from this time on all generations
will count me blessed" (1:46-48).

Two thousand years ago, a young girl believed that the promises of God spoken to her were miraculous enough to affect generations to come. But more than recognizing God's words as true, Mary allowed truth to have its way with her. She received God and his promises as more than mere words. She surrendered to Him as savior, allowing Him to transform her life deeply and personally, in both wonder and pain. Standing with Elizabeth, Mary praised the mighty one for the things that He had done for her, knowing much of what He would do was yet to come. As was prophesied long before, the Messiah was drawing near. And as was promised to Mary, the Holy Spirit came upon her, the power of the most high overshadowed her; and the holy child was called the Son of God.

Kingdom Wonder

2005-12-17T17:09:00.000-05:00

I have discovered something in my position as a Children's Gardener. . .I've gotten too old for this stuff. I have lost in many ways the wonder of creation around me and the one who made it. Earth is sooo chucked full of heaven that every bush is a fire with God, one poet wrote, yet only those who notice take off their shoes; while the rest of us sit around eating blackberries. As we all know we are to accept the Kingdom as little children, and while we are exhorted to grow up in the faith, we are never to loose the awe and wonder of God and his mighty works.

So how do we do that, or should I say how should do that? Let me share a verses about wonder and awe:

Show the wonder of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes. -Ps 17: 7

The Lord says: "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men. Therefore once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish." -Is 29:13-14

As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him. -Mr 9:15

Then Samuel called upon the LORD, and that same day the LORD sent thunder and rain. So all the people stood in awe of the LORD and of Samuel. -1 Sa 12:18

"Dominion and awe belong to God; he establishes order in the heights of heaven.
-Job 25:2

My flesh trembles in fear of you; I stand in awe of your laws. -Ps 119:120

Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore stand in awe of God. -Ec 5:7

When they see among them their children, the work of my hands, they will keep my name holy; they will acknowledge the holiness of the Holy One of Jacob, and will stand in awe of the God of Israel. -Is 29:23

Your wickedness will punish you; your backsliding will rebuke you. Consider then and realize how evil and bitter it is for you when you forsake the LORD your God and have no awe of me," declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty. -Jer 2:19

Noted a few things from these verses that I have already begun to implement in my quest to regain some wonder and awe, tell me what you think, tell me what verses you found.

1. Awe and wonder begins with true worship, true acknowledgement of who God is, what He does, and His rightful place over all things including myself.

2. As telling as nature is of God's creavitity and might it can not speak to His desires and to His personality as a work of art of the artist. God's Law, His word, His revealed truth is the key. From it we see who we are before such an awe-some Creator and it plays into point number one.

3. A subtle thing that took me awhile to catch, but several of these verses are prayers to God. Prayer is critical, communication is central to recovering our childhood faith, our awe. I am asking God to open my heart, to soften it, to reveal His word in my everday life. Who knows it might put the fear of God into me.

4. Lastly, these verses speak of the need to see, to consider, to realize. See, consider, realize, be alert to God working around me. Not sure if you see His happenings? Maybe the something in the previous points might help. I love the verse from Mark. The people were filled with wonder upon seeing Jesus. That is where to look and consider the most.

Can I get an Amen?! Thanks that was awesome! (Sometimes you just need to let the cheese flow brother. . .and sister:)

Still a Treasure

2005-12-15T15:49:00.000-05:00

Luke 2:19, "But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." (NIV)

By Marybeth Whalen

Not much is known about Mary, the mother of Jesus. It is obvious from the Scriptures that she was a young girl who loved God and was willing to obey Him at all costs. We don't know why or how God chose her to be the mother of His Son - we just know He did. Her response to the angel when she finds out about God's plan for her is our first clue as to why God knew she would be the perfect mother for Jesus. "I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said." (Luke 1:38 NIV) What an honor! Yet, how terrifying!

Recently, my children and I were reading the passage in Luke when Jesus goes missing and his parents find Him in the temple. (After searching for three days, I might add.) I read an author recently who commented that as parents, we panic if we lose track of our child for a few minutes. Can you imagine searching for three days? When they finally found Jesus, He was in the temple and wondered what all the fuss was about. The Scripture says that He told them He was where He should be, in His Father's house. "But they did not understand what He was saying to them." (Luke 2:50, NIV)

As my children and I read this passage, I tried to put myself in Mary's shoes. Her son had been missing. I am sure she vacillated between trusting God and panicking. And this was how I know that I would not have been a candidate for the Mother of Jesus award: as I tried to picture my reaction to finding Jesus in the temple after searching for three days, I pictured myself joyous and relieved. Then I pictured those feelings giving way to anger and questions. OK, so that was before the days of cell phones and emails. He truly had no way to let His parents know where He was. But why didn't He stay with them in the first place? I got angry for Mary! And then I read the next verse: "But His mother treasured all these things in her heart." (Luke 2:51b, NIV)

The last time we saw Mary treasuring an event in her heart was right after her son was born. Once again, things were not going the way I would have wanted. She had given birth in a cold stable in dingy surroundings. Again, I was reminded of how accepting of her circumstances she was, and how her attitude reflected that. Our verse for today reminds us of a young woman at peace with her circumstances, trusting God no matter how things work out. Fast forward 13 years later and she is still that kind, gentle woman-no yelling at Jesus, no threats, no yanking Him by the ear when they finally find Him and know He is safe. Instead, the Scriptures tell us that she treasured "all these things." Would I have been able to treasure that dirty stable? Would I have been able to treasure that errant teen?

As I pondered these two times where Mary is seen treasuring her circumstances, I began to wonder how often things go wrong in my life and I react instead of reflect. I allowed these two Scriptures to seep into my heart. Am I allowing God to shape me through my circumstances-the good and the not-so-good? Am I trusting Him when things don't go right? Is my attitude "May it be to me as You have said?" Or is it "OK, God, this is not the way it's supposed to be and You had better fix it."

As we go through this season of celebrating Jesus' coming, I plan to work on my attitude when things don't go right. I plan to practice accepting God's plan when it doesn't match mine. I plan to learn to treasure and ponder instead of whine and complain. I plan to grow in my love and appreciation of Jesus, just as Mary did. I plan to marvel at His coming and revel in His glory. And most of all, this Christmas, I plan to search for Him everywhere, just as she did - and never lose sight of Him again.

Not Home Yet

2005-12-14T13:01:00.000-05:00

How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts! My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord. . .For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. -Ps 84:1,2, 10

I have often felt out of place in the spot of earth I occupy. Though I have many friends for which I am thankful, and I have felt included, I have not always felt like I wholly belonged either. Maybe it's my weirdness factor, my lack of showering but rarely do I find intimacy of friendship amongst a group of friends. Not this is unusual for any of us. I personally struggle to relate to others and be completly open. One of those things to work on. . .

But I think there is more to it than that. Wherever I have lived, and that is four different places now, I have felt at home, yet strangely. . .restless (is that the right word?). Reading Psalm 84 reminded why. Paul compared our earthly passing to living in a tent (1 or 2 Co 5) . Think of the Children of Israel. They wandered in the wilderness living in a big tent city. Only once did they reached their "place of promised rest" did they build a permanent "house" for God.

Here's the danger. Remember at the end of Return of the King the poignant moment when Sam and Frodo are clawing desperately up the slopes of Mount Doom? Frodo collapses in Sam's weary arms ready to give up. Sam attempts to remind Frodo of all the pleasant things of home: green grass, the harvest, strawberries and creame. All Frodo can feel, however, is nakedness, loneliness, and the ever present Eye of Fire. The ring had worn him down and so consumed him he could remember home. The Psalmist refused to let that happen. He refused to accept the desert sands as his landscape and a tent his paradise. He remembered the Courts of the Lord. He remembered the taste, the worship, the Spirit filled moments he had with God. He could taste those strawberries with creame. If we are not careful to remember we too will be consumed and burdened with this world's sin.

May we be like David and Samwise Gamgee and say, "Then let's be rid of it!" And keep traveling home.

Of Faith and I am totally stealing

2005-12-13T16:30:00.000-05:00

So a friend of mine's blog lately has focused on faith, and it inspired me a lot. I too have faced lately some discouraging moments and seem to find my hope wisked away. . .of course the results were because of my own sin, but all the same. God never has lost faith in us. It's by His grace anyway we make it there. Hebrews chapter four talks a lot about resting from our own laboring, and "labor to enter into that rest." We need that message of God's love and trust in Him frequently. It's then we learn to stop frantically doggy paddle and rest on the floatation device of God's grace. (Cheesy analogy I know.) So in the spirit of post stealing, here is a great picture I found off Google that I think is how I picture faith.

That Final Dawn

2005-12-10T12:35:00.000-05:00

A friend of mine recently sent me a piece she had written imagining what it will be like to meet Jesus face to face in heaven. This is our hope after all. I must confess I live too much in the here and now, my love grown luke warm. But her story and the devotional below has me praying for a heart stirred to a flame of love and hope. If you find yourself in a similar straight my you allow the poker and billows of His Word and Spirit ignite you a new.

"So shall we ever be with the Lord." {#1Th 4:17}
Even the sweetest visits from Christ, how short they are—and how transitory! One moment our eyes see him, and we rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory, but again a little time and we do not see him, for our beloved withdraws himself from us; like a roe or a young hart he leaps over the mountains of division; he is gone to the land of spices, and feeds no more among the lilies.

If today he deigns to bless us
With a sense of pardoned sin,
He tomorrow may distress us,
Make us feel the plague within.

O, how sweet the prospect of the time when we shall not behold him at a distance, but see him face to face: when he shall not be as a wayfaring man tarrying but for a night, but shall eternally enfold us in the bosom of his glory. We shall not see him for a little season, but

Millions of years our wondering eyes,
Shall o’er our Saviour’s beauties rove;
And myriad ages we’ll adore,
The wonders of his love.

In heaven there shall be no interruptions from care or sin; no weeping shall dim our eyes; no earthly business shall distract our happy thoughts; we shall have nothing to hinder us from gazing for ever on the Sun of Righteousness with unwearied eyes. O, if it be so sweet to see him now and then, how sweet to gaze on that blessed face for aye, and never have a cloud rolling between, and never have to turn one’s eyes away to look on a world of weariness and woe! Blest day, when wilt thou dawn? Rise, O unsetting sun! The joys of sense may leave us as soon as they will, for this shall make glorious amends. If to die is but to enter into uninterrupted communion with Jesus, then death is indeed gain, and the black drop is swallowed up in a sea of victory.

Those Darn Doors!

2005-12-09T12:31:00.000-05:00

"...See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name."

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." -Rev 3:8 & 20

The Who? The Doors! Those darn pesky doors of opportunity that we so often pray for and refuse to walk through when they are presented to us. For the past two days Dr. David Jeremiah has been speaking on my local radio station about God's doors of opportunity and it inspired me to share some thoughts on the subject. I hestitated to share these for personal reasons but I thought that perhaps there might be many out there who might benefit from my sharing as much as I do in thinking and writing about the idea.

We all have doors of opportunity presented to us probably daily. Doors that we often don't walk through and miss the things God is seeking to do in and through our lives. Dr. Jeremiah related the story of the missed opportunity someone had to buy up all the land around Disneyland. Disney took a friend out to this barren stretch of real estate and talked about his vision for the space and all that it would accomplish and he wanted his friend to get in the ground floor of building hotels, etc. Walt's friend thought the scheme ludicrioius and not feasible. Besides who would come all the way out there to see a bunch of stuff! Opps.

Why do we not walk through those doors? There were three things that Jeremiah's talked pointed out and I might add some more here.

1. Too often our greatest opportunities come cleverly packaged as insurmountable problems. Think about the children of Israel and their first attempt at entering the Promised Land. Opps. That darn unbelief got in the way. We get so wrapped up in what appears like a closed door or whatever obstacle it may be that we miss both God's grace and provision through the circumstance or the other door that might be opening. Remember doors are opened by almighty holy God. Check out the first verse above again! He opens it not us. . .and no one can close it. If only those Israelites could remember some things from their past.

2. Too often our timing just isn't God's timing.

We've got other things to do, other plans. God seems to land those opportunities in the most inopportune times! I wish He would check out my Palm first. Jesus said, "Behold the Kingdom of God has drawn nigh unto you," and "the Kingdom of God is at hand." Jesus came to earth just when everybody was looking for a Jewish Alexander the Great. If only those in Jesus' parable didn't have new fields to check out, or hadn't just gotten married, maybe they could have come to the marriage feast. I realize there are times when we need to stop and pray about things, but there are times. . .when extended time praying about a clear opportunity quenches the Spirit. This of course begs the question how do you know it's God's door? Though that's a full discussion in itself I have two thought here. A) There is a difference between a door and a temptation. One interacts with the lust within us (See James and yesterday's post) the other interacts with our inner man. Discernment between the two maybe comes with experience and learning to read yourself. B) You may never know if its God's door unless you poke your head and check it out.

3. Too often we are too paralyzed by fear to walk through.

Did you know that the most common command in the Bible is "Fear not?" It is amazing how we pray for God to make opportunities happen (new job, a helpmate, free tickets to see Narnia) and then refuse to walk through. There are numerous examples in Scripture to illustrate this point so I will not go there, however as Dr. Jeremiah noted in the verses at the beginning of this post we may be weak but if God opens the door, then the way has been provided now hasn't it.

This brings me to the final thought, obstacles. Be assured if God opens a door we will encounter obstacles, we will face opposition. Think of Nehemiah or Ezra. Good old Knee High Nehemiah was given the micraclous opportunity to rebuild Jeresalem's defensive wall. The great emperor not only allowed the rebuilding of what of his sworn enemies greatest cities, but commanded others to supply material to build it!!!! What would have happened if Nehemiah had not had the boldness to entreat the king when the king opened the topic? Hmmm. . . .there answer is simple there would only be 65 books in the Bible. Silly. Don't think too deeply about it:)

The Temptations of Kitties

2005-12-07T12:18:00.000-05:00

I recently took into my home, as one of the many services Saint-Josh.com provides, two stray black kitties. Their mommy came to the Gardens (work) and deposited them. Out of the deep wells of kindness that reside within my bossom I took them in. Their names are Snoop and Dawgg. Stop laughing!

As they have sloooooowly adjusted to their small new 3rd floor world they have become more bold, yet they still try to stick to the "cover" of the table or boxes or desk or chair or anything they might protect them from this big two legged "predator".

A thought hit me the other night as I was dancing a shoe string in front of Snoop. He was laying under the cover of the kitchen table peering cautiously out at my sleek form. I enticed him further and further away from the protection of the table as he became more engrossed in playing with the dancing string. Pretty soon he was out in the wide open air chasing that string getting closer and closer to the two-legged predator he had been so cautious of a few moments before.

Temptation, sin, and Satan work a lot like the way Snoop and I were acting. James writes that we are tempted when we are enticed, drawn away by our own lusts. We can get sooo engrossed in that innocent string that we don't notice how close we have drawn to that "roaring lion seeking whom he may devour".

My life has been like that lately. I have failed in certain areas of my life and I have seen this principle in action for myself. So take heed, God is faithful, but take heed. As a second thought to this let me encourage the. . .one person who reads this blog. If you find yourself in a place of failure today. You have failed your Lord and Savior. Let me encourage you with the same encouragement He has lately given me. "Get back up and keep going." God is not finished with you. He WILL complete the work He began. I liked what Charles Spurgeon had to say when he wrote, "If you will select me the grossest specimen of humanity, if he be but born of woman, I will have hope of him yet, because Jesus Christ is come to seek and to save sinners. Electing love has selected some of the worst to be made the best. Pebbles of the brook grace turns into jewels for the crown royal. Worthless dross he transforms into pure gold."

*By the way those are not my kitties in the picture!

My Non-Haiku to Cobalt Blue

2005-12-06T14:44:00.000-05:00

I was cleaning out some old acrylic paint at work today and I came across a color known to some affectionately as Cobalt Blue. It inspired me thus to produce the following quick poem! Random I know but what the hey.

Cobalt Blue

Cobalt Blue, it is true

True Blue are you.

Cobalt Blue.

Cobalt Blue,

Not Royal Blue are you.

Cobalt Blue.

Cobalt Blue,

No stew, or flue

are you

But Cobalt Blue.

Cobalt Blue,

the plant grew

the cow said moo

Remain too

Cobalt Blue.

Cobalt Blue,

This is no Haiku

to you,

But my ode to you

Cobalt Blue.

Thank you. Thank you. Cobalt Blue.

The Bride of Christ

2005-12-02T12:48:00.000-05:00

On this cold, snowy, wintery day (here in Cleveland) I thought this devotional from Charles Spurgeon was particularly heart warming.

I want you to try and see yourself as Christ must have seen you when you first came to him. Picture a soul mauled by the teeth and claws of the world. Picture a leper with skin as white as death, their eye or perhaps an ear or nose missing, bowing before His feet. Imagine that He saw any of this? Oh no dear one, He knew it was there, but He saw far beyond this. He saw the bride He loves. He saw you pure, clean, whole, and completely yourself. He saw you smiling and laughing at all He does and lost so completely in His embrace. Jesus looked at you and me and saw someone, a whole lot of someones actually, a Body, His bride He loves.

Imagine Brothers how sisters will act if we love our sisters as described below. . .

"Thou art all fair, my love." {#So 4:7}

The Lord’s admiration of his Church is very wonderful, and his description of her beauty is very glowing. She is not merely fair, but "all fair." He views her in himself, washed in his sin atoning blood and clothed in his meritorious righteousness, and he considers her to be full of comeliness and beauty. No wonder that such is the case, since it is but his own perfect excellency that he admires; for the holiness, glory, and perfection of his Church are his own glorious garments on the back of his own well beloved spouse. She is not simply pure, or well proportioned; she is positively lovely and fair! She has actual merit! Her deformities of sin are removed; but more, she has through her Lord obtained a meritorious righteousness by which an actual beauty is conferred upon her.

Believers have a positive righteousness given to them when they become "accepted in the beloved." {#Eph 1:6} Nor is the Church barely lovely, she is superlatively so. Her Lord styles her "Thou fairest among women." She has a real worth and excellence which cannot be rivalled by all the nobility and royalty of the world. If Jesus could exchange his elect bride for all the queens and empresses of earth, or even for the angels in heaven, he would not, for he puts her first and foremost—"fairest among women." Like the moon she far outshines the stars. Nor is this an opinion which he is ashamed of, for he invites all men to hear it. He sets a "behold" before it, a special note of exclamation, inviting and arresting attention. "Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair." {So 4:1} His opinion he publishes abroad even now, and one day from the throne of his glory he will avow the truth of it before the assembled universe. "Come, ye blessed of my Father", {#Mt 25:34} will be his solemn affirmation of the loveliness of his elect.

HAPPY EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!-oh please!

2005-12-01T09:09:00.000-05:00

Ahh a las! This is what happens when we try to be all things to all people all the time!!!

So there is an ongoing. . .discussion shall we call it on a museum listserv about whether an event should be called a Christmas or Holiday event. As the well trained PC'ers engines were whinning up, someone sent a link to this lovely picture. Isn't it hilarious!! Have a merry Whatever-the-Heck-Today-Is day! And right back at ya.

Amazing Amaziah

2005-11-30T17:39:00.000-05:00

"And Amaziah said to the man of God, But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel? And the man of God answered, The Lord is able to give thee much more than this." {#2Ch 25:9}
By Charles Spurgeon
A very important question this seemed to be to the king of Judah, and possibly it is of even more weight with the tried and tempted Christian. To lose money is at no times pleasant, and when principle involves it, the flesh is not always ready to make the sacrifice. "Why lose that which may be so usefully employed? May not the truth itself be bought too dear? What shall we do without it? Remember the children, and our small income!" All these things and a thousand more would tempt the Christian to put forth his hand to unrighteous gain, or stay himself from carrying out his conscientious convictions, when they involve serious loss. All men cannot view these matters in the light of faith; and even with the followers of Jesus, the doctrine of "we must live" has quite sufficient weight.

The Lord is able to give thee much more than this is a very satisfactory answer to the anxious question. Our Father holds the purse strings, and what we lose for his sake he can repay a thousand fold. It is ours to obey his will, and we may rest assured that he will provide for us. The Lord will be no man’s debtor at the last. Saints know that a grain of heart’s ease is of more value than a ton of gold. He who wraps a threadbare coat about a good conscience has gained a spiritual wealth far more desirable than any he has lost. God’s smile and a dungeon are enough for a true heart; his frown and a palace would be hell to a gracious spirit. Let the worst come to the worst, let all the talents go, we have not lost our treasure, for that is above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God. Meanwhile, even now, the Lord maketh the meek to inherit the earth, and no good thing doth he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

I recommend checking out the rest of 2 Chronicles 25. You will find Amaziah a man you can probably relate to. He sets out to fight a war with hired hands from Israel. God tells him to pitch the mercenaries . So Amaziah went forth to battle and won! He trusted the Word of God through a prophet. Yet later he set up the idols of his conquered subjects to worship. Now what was he thinking?! I can't ride this king of Judah for I am amazed by my own lack of thoughtful meditative action like that of Amaziah. As Rich Mullens once wrote, "With our hells and our heavens, so few inches apart. We must be awefully small and not as strong as we think we are." GOD is our deliveror and strength. I needed that today believe me!

The Music of the Soul

2005-11-26T12:31:00.000-05:00

I recently had a friend of mine tell me how boring their life was. How they had really NOTHING going on of consquence. To this I say, "Man it must be nice not having anything to pray about!" Prayer has been on my mind lately, as I need a refresher course on this basic discipline of the Christian, and seeing as my name is Raincaller (one who calls down blessings from heaven) I felt this subject was a good one for my blog, myself. . .and my friend. . .whoever you might be. (Incidently I do have friends you know, and friends occasionally leave comments! I am not bitter though.) I found this particural article thought provoking. I am going to see if I can dig up some written prayers.

By Betsy Childs

I love to pray. I delight to know that God is willing to listen to my feeble words. I love pouring my heart out to Him, trusting that He sees beyond my disorganized thoughts and sometimes contradictory requests.

But it is not always easy to pray. If the heart is reluctant or the spirit is clouded with vague and inarticulate doubts, it can feel almost impossible to find words to speak to our maker. An even more common obstacle in my own prayer life is weariness and distraction. Although I want to give my full attention to prayer, when my eyes begin to close or my thoughts wander, I know that I am not as fully engaged as I should be when conversing with the God of the universe.

In these times, it has been a great help to pray prayers composed by others. Words on a page help me tether my imagination. They push me to pray things I wouldn't think of otherwise, and they help me remember to spend time in confession and thanksgiving, rather than just making requests. When the written prayers are very old, I know that I am offering up prayers tested and tried by centuries of saints who have gone before me.

Some have argued that to pray written prayers is a mark of laziness or the lack of true spiritual fervor. While that might be true if one merely recited rote prayers without letting one's heart be moved, it doesn't have to be the case. Consider how musicians learn to play their instruments. While they may enjoy improvising and working out their own compositions, they must also challenge themselves to learn how to play the works of the masters. Practicing Bach and Mozart by the hour improves their technique and makes them proficient in ways that improvisation never could.

Although I believe extemporaneous prayer is close to God's heart, He also likes to see us willing to enter the "school of prayer." There are, first of all, the prayers of Jesus that have been given to us in Scripture, such as the Lord's Prayer and the "High Priestly Prayer" of John 17. Among other worthy texts are prayers designed for the church liturgy, such as those found in The Book of Common Prayer. Besides services for communion, marriage, and baptism, The Book of Common Prayer includes prayers of thanksgiving, prayers for the sick, morning and evening prayers, and prayer for holy days.

Another interesting book of prayers is the brief one written by Martin Luther at the request of his barber. This man knew Luther to be diligent in prayer, and so he asked Luther to instruct him. Luther advised him to begin by structuring his prayers around the Lord's Prayer, The Ten Commandments, and the Apostles' Creed. Luther composed a series of prayers based on these, which have been published (along with Luther's advice to his barber) under the name A Simple Way to Pray. But I believe my favorite volume of prayers, to which I find myself turning again and again, are those Puritan prayers collected by Arthur Bennett under the name The Valley of Vision. These are prayers that bid me to slow down and ponder the glory of God as the weight of the words settles upon me.

If you have not yet learned the joy of letting your heart sing to a tune composed by another, I hope that you'll consider turning to written prayers. May you be challenged and strengthened as you discover the prayers prayed by those who now make up the great cloud of witnesses.

...rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. -Romans 12:12-13

For that Special Someone

2005-11-22T12:58:00.000-05:00

We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. -Romans 15:1

I was listening to the radio on my day off yesterday while preparing lunch. The topic of discussion centered on families with special needs children. As they discussed the issues and struggles that these families face, I found myself near tears, and so I thought today I would put a call out there for all of us to be made aware of those who are often forgotten. . .at least by me.

I have nooo doubt that those few reading this post know and would agree how each special needs child is precious. Courage, strength, great joy, unconditional love, the very finest qualities of humanity, are so often found in their uninhibited lives. I know I have often been blessed by those I know, yet. . .we don't see the private pain, struggle and frustration that the rest of the family faces. . .every day.

Sometimes well meant words like, "S/he is such a miracle!" cuts across a mother or father or siblings experience. We hardly know what to say! Maybe there are no words. Maybe action, simple action is all that is needed. Maybe we can babysit for a couple of hours while the family has an outting. Maybe we can just sit and listen. . .Maybe just letting them no that they are not forgotten is all the burden bearing they need.

It looks like I have work to do.

What MYY b-day says. . .

2005-11-18T13:20:00.000-05:00

Your Birthdate: July 29

You have the mind of an artist, even if you haven't developed the talent yet.Expressive and aware, you enjoy finding new ways to share your feelings.You often feel like you don't fit in - especially in traditional environments.You have big dreams. The problem is putting those dreams into action.
Your strength: Your vivid imagination
Your weakness: Fear of failure
Your power color: Coral
Your power symbol: Oval
Your power month: November

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

An Interview with God

2005-11-18T12:47:00.000-05:00

You may have seen this before, but I highly recommend it. My mom sent this link to a very inspirational poem set to great moments from creation. The poem and the photographs reminded me that each day, moment by moment God exalts over His creation watching it and saying, "Yessss!" and "Wow! Do it again!" Slow it down. Living a simple life is just not simply done. (Wasn't that just an incrediblly enlightening statement:) Take time today to live. In addition I thought of this little saying. . .which I don't think means much, but. . .

In order to live simply, we simply have to live.

THE INTERVIEW WITH GOD
I dreamed I had an interview with God.

“So you would like to interview me?” God asked.

“If you have the time” I said.

God smiled.

“My time is eternity.”“What questions do you have in mind for me?”

“What surprises you most about humankind?”

God answered...

“That they get bored with childhood,

they rush to grow up,

and then long to be children again.”

“That they lose their health to make money...

and then lose their money to restore their health.”

“That by thinking anxiously about the future,

they forget the present,

such that they live in neither the present nor the future.”

"That they live as if they will never die,

and die as though they had never lived.”

God’s hand took mine and we were silent for a while.

And then I asked...

“As a parent, what are some of life’s lessons you want your children to learn?”

“To learn they cannot make anyone love them.

All they can do is let themselves be loved.”

“To learn that it is not good to compare themselves to others.”

“To learn to forgiveby practicing forgiveness.”

“To learn that it only takes a few seconds to open profound wounds

in those they love,

and it can take many years to heal them.”

“To learn that a rich person is not one who has the most,

but is one who needs the least.”

“To learn that there are people who love them dearly,

but simply have not yet learned how to express or show their feelings.”

“To learn that two people can look at the same thing and see it differently.”

“To learn that it is not enough

that they forgive one another,

but they must also forgive themselves.”

"Thank you for your time," I said humbly.

"Is there anything else you would like your children to know?"

God smiled and said,

“Just know that I am here...

always.”

-author unknown

Friends are like a box of chocolates. . .

2005-11-17T08:32:00.002-05:00

They KEEP POPPING UP! So I have this funny story to relate from my good old college days. Back in the day, I roomed with two of the coolest and completely opposite people I have ever known.

We bro's of MSU found more ways to annoy and rip on each other, alllll in love of course, then any one I know. One such source of annoyance/merriment was a box of chocolate coated cherries. This small box would seemingly be found amongst our worldy possessions in the oddest of places. We each took turns trying to hide it in the most ingenious of places. It wasn't easy. For one the "Turkish Cell" as the Pad was affectionately called, was approximately 600 square feet, thus finding new places to hide a small box was increasingly difficult. It was tricky because you didn't want to hide the box in a place they would never find it because half the fun was watching them discover the dainties, yet you really didn't want the stuff so if you could hide it somewhere they were not likely to find it. . .well that was great. One roomate hid the box in my Quaker Oats tub once while hid it amongst his underwear. You see how it goes.

This frivolity went on for at least two of the four years I attended MSU. . .and the box never opened! It all started because somebody gave me the box, and I being the not-great-fan of chocolate passed it off on them. Well they didn't want it either!

This morning as I was putting on my winter work coat (you see where this is going don't you?) I felt something hard and square in my pocket. I felt it over. Reached in and withdrew an nice, hard, white square box of chocolate coated cherries! Now this box has to be at leat two years old if not more. I'll let you dream sweet dreams of really old stale chocolate tonight!

Through many waters

2005-11-16T08:08:00.000-05:00

I received a magnet once before I made my first momentous move away from home and off to college. It stated, "Where God guides, He provides," and it had the following verse underneath.

When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. -Is 43:2

There are moments in life that arise that we must walk through, situations we must face. Maybe a you are moving to a new area, starting a new job, facing a medical procedure, or a financial crunch. The verse above has led me through many situations as I hope it will be a comfort and an instruction on exactly what God will do for you.

To my friends. . .

2005-11-15T16:58:00.000-05:00

I have had several friends email or call me over the past few days with moments of joy, grief over a loss, concern over a present situation, or just feeling rejected for who they are. I first thank God for these individuals in my life for they are awesome people and even when they don't feel like it. . .they are. Paul called those he ministered to his crowned jewels and each of you are that to me. If you recently called thanks for sharing. If you have lossed someone you love recently, my heart and prayers are with you. Memory is the little reminder cards we have until we meet again. If you have felt rejected, please understand and accept my deepest request for forgiveness. I have not rejected you. Things will make sense soon enough.

Living Now

2005-11-15T09:48:00.000-05:00

How many times do we wait for that magical door to open for us. We. . .okay at least I can sit there thinking about all that I could want in my life, flipping the mental remote thinking over all the tantalizing options if only they would come to me. Yet as I was thinking about upon this, something inside me revolted. Wait a second not only do I have blessings untold daily from His hand, but in Christ I have everything for life and Godliness. I have, in Him, the fullness of the Godhead, right? Think about it. Right now, if you believe in Jesus, God dwells inside of you waiting to be welcomed as Lord and companion.

The Bible encourages us to believe by faith that Jesus is the Son of God and gain from Him all that we need for the day. Remember, NOW is the day of salvation, now is the opportunity to really LIVE in Christ. If you are like me I tend to think about it, but never get up from my lazy boy. Why wait for the doors to open and for life to bless you because it never will. God has already opened the door to the fold, and by faith you are already in! Excuse me now, I have to go cross the Jordan. I hear there is promise on the other side. . .

I come from brilliant genes

2005-11-11T07:28:00.000-05:00

Okay I pretty much have the cuttest chillin's for nephews and nieces that ever lived. You should check out my nephew Nathaniel reading, reading, well okay memorizing, nursery rhymes. But that's not the point. He is too stickin' cute. While you are at my sis's website checkout other brilliant moments in his young life. Now only if I could figure out how to post pictures on my blog! Anyone?

Testing and Trusting

2005-11-10T13:38:00.000-05:00

I really like the illustration this article makes between physics and God's Word. It helps to trust the God of time and space as well as gravity.

By Betsy Childs

Studying the Bible is not easy. Readers who open it for the first time may find themselves disoriented. They may even find that some of what the Bible says appears to contradict common sense. But this is the case with many books that are worth studying.

Take, for example, a physics textbook. When a student studies physics for the first time, she will find confirmation for many phenomena she's already observed, like gravity and static electricity. The physics textbook will help her put words to the reality that she has experienced.

But other tenets of physics will seem to run directly counter to what the reader has observed. The student may be tempted to close the book in unbelief when it tells her that heavy objects and light objects fall at the same rate. This sounds ludicrous; we expect heavy things to fall much faster than light things. But the student keeps reading and attempting to understand because good authorities who have studied physics before her, such as her teacher and her parents, have told her that the laws are true. She begins to experiment for herself to see whether or not the book is right. Lo and behold, the feather and the brick do fall at the same rate!

Gradually, the student starts to understand and see the evidence that the world is as the textbook describes it. As she begins to understand the principles of physics, she learns to trust the writer of the textbook; when he tells her that the color white is actually made up of all of the colors in the visible spectrum, this sounds odd to her, but she is willing to work to understand it.

Likewise, when we read the Bible, some things jump off the page as obviously true-to-life. Other parts are much more difficult to accept. Sometimes it takes a long time before we realize that they accurately reflect reality. But as we mature in the faith and experience more of God, many of the teachings that were once incomprehensible become part of the fabric of our thinking. Aspects of God's character that at first seem foreign and strange become dear as we come to know Him better.

And just as there are some principles of physics that are beyond our understanding, there are some ideas in the Bible that our finite minds will never fully grasp. This doesn't mean that we should give up studying physics or the Bible. In my personal study of physics, I hit a mental wall when it came to understanding electromagnetism. But grasping the elementary principles of physics encouraged me to trust my instructor's comprehension of electromagnetism, and made me reasonably confident that his explanations were sound, even though I couldn't understand them. In the same way, my deepening understanding of God's character encourages me to trust Him with the hard things I don't yet understand.

The apostle Paul assured Timothy, "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17). The fact that the Bible was inspired by God does not mean that it is easy to understand; it means that it is worth understanding, even when we have to wrestle with it.

Scripture of Encouragement

2005-11-09T08:40:00.000-05:00

The following scripture have been an encouragement last night and this morning. I hope they are an encouragement to you as well. . .

I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, And crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, And not forsake them. -Is 42:16

Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me. If I say, "Surely the darkness shall fall R103 on me," Even the night shall be light about me; Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You. . .My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! -Selections from Ps 139

I hope these words bring God's presence into your darkness if you are there! Be encouraged!

Feeling Helpless

2005-11-08T18:44:00.000-05:00

Have you ever had to sit by and watch a friend struggling with depression or confusion? You know the feeling when darkness comes when everything seems to be going wrong. Tonight I am watching a friend of mine struggle with an issue going haywire in their live and not able to say a word. We may be helpless, but God is never bound. Prayer is mighty and that's where I go. If this sound like a ramble well that's because it is. I have little to offer, but that we must hold on to Jesus knowing how deeply he values and loves each of us until things make sense because we know that they will.

A Second Deep Thought

2005-11-04T14:35:00.000-05:00

I thought of another wise saying my grandma on my mother's side use to say. It goes a little somethin' a like this:

Some people can be so heavenly minded they do no earthly good.

Now riddle me that one will ya!

A deep thought

2005-11-03T12:00:00.000-05:00

So I thought I would share with you a little wisdom from the ages. . .or is it sages. This little saying was passed on to me by my aunt and apparently it is accredited to my grandpa on my mom's side. It goes a little somethin' like this:

A fartin' horse never tires, and a fartin' man's the man to hire.

Now riddle me that. What could it mean? Oh please provide some insight.

Faith not Sight

2005-11-02T13:46:00.000-05:00

I actually thought I would contribute a little of my own thoughts today instead of just posting some article like I have been. Events in my life of late have tested my faith, imagine that. As God works in my heart and assures me, I am learning that I can't look at the circumstances or people around me. Faithful live by faith not by gawking at the mess that surrounds them, or lies within them. Noooo my friends focus on God's un-changing nature and promises can sustain us. That reminds me of a devotional I just read. . .what so I am going to post an article sew me.

"I am the Lord, I change not." {#Mal 3:6}
It is well for us that, amidst all the variableness of life, there is One whom change cannot affect; One whose heart can never alter, and on whose brow mutability can make no furrows. All things else have changed—all things are changing. The sun itself grows dim with age; the world is waxing old; the folding up of the wornout vesture has commenced; the heavens and earth must soon pass away; they shall perish, they shall wax old as doth a garment; but there is One who only hath immortality, of whose years there is no end, and in whose person there is no change. The delight which the mariner feels, when, after having been tossed about for many a day, he steps again upon the solid shore, is the satisfaction of a Christian when, amidst all the changes of this troublous life, he rests the foot of his faith upon this truth—"I am the Lord, I change not."

The stability which the anchor gives the ship when it has at last obtained a hold fast, is like that which the Christian’s hope affords him when it fixes itself upon this glorious truth. With God "is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." What ever his attributes were of old, they are now; his power, his wisdom, his justice, his truth, are alike unchanged. He has ever been the refuge of his people, their stronghold in the day of trouble, and he is their sure Helper still. He is unchanged in his love. He has loved his people with "an everlasting love"; he loves them now as much as ever he did, and when all earthly things shall have melted in the last conflagration, his love will still wear the dew of its youth. Precious is the assurance that he changes not! The wheel of providence revolves, but its axle is eternal love.

Repentance for the Backslider

2005-10-31T13:06:00.000-05:00

I have become a backslider in certain aspects of my life. As I thought upon repentance, God shared this devotional with me today. I hope it brings much food for thought. I would recommend reading Daniel 9 as well. There in lies Daniel's recorded prayer of confession and repentance. Notice that God provides "skill and knowledge" AFTER Daniel searched out the Lord in confession. If you are looking for vision today, I am here to testify that God does provide answer to prayer, but first we need to remove the cobwebs to see and hear what He is saying.

"Renew a right spirit within me." {#Ps 51:10}
A backslider, if there be a spark of life left in him will groan after restoration. In this renewal the same exercise of grace is required as at our conversion. We needed repentance then; we certainly need it now. We wanted faith that we might come to Christ at first; only the like grace can bring us to Jesus now. We wanted a word from the Most High, a word from the lip of the loving One, to end our fears then; we shall soon discover, when under a sense of present sin, that we need it now. No man can be renewed without as real and true a manifestation of the Holy Spirit’s energy as he felt at first, because the work is as great, and flesh and blood are as much in the way now as ever they were. Let thy personal weakness, O Christian, be an argument to make thee pray earnestly to thy God for help. Remember, David when he felt himself to be powerless, did not fold his arms or close his lips, but he hastened to the mercy seat with "renew a right spirit within me." Let not the doctrine that you, unaided, can do nothing, make you sleep; but let it be a goad in your side to drive you with an awful earnestness to Israel’s strong Helper.

O that you may have grace to plead with God, as though you pleaded for your very life— "Lord, renew a right spirit within me." He who sincerely prays to God to do this, will prove his honesty by using the means through which God works. Be much in prayer; live much upon the Word of God; kill the lusts which have driven your Lord from you; be careful to watch over the future uprisings of sin. The Lord has his own appointed ways; sit by the wayside and you will be ready when he passes by. Continue in all those blessed ordinances which will foster and nourish your dying graces; and, knowing that all the power must proceed from him, cease not to cry, "Renew a right spirit within me."

Lord Teaches Us to Pray

2005-10-29T08:22:00.000-05:00

I got up late this morning and had to rush to work. . .so I did morning devotions at my desk. This devotion from Charles Spurgeon I felt one of the best thoughts on Christ's model for prayer.

"After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, &c." {#Mt 6:9}

This prayer begins where all true prayer must commence, with the spirit of adoption, "Our Father." There is no acceptable prayer until we can say, "I will arise, and go unto my Father." This child like spirit soon perceives the grandeur of the Father "in heaven", and ascends to devout adoration, "Hallowed be thy name." The child lisping, "Abba, Father", grows into the cherub crying, "Holy, Holy, Holy." There is but a step from rapturous worship to the glowing missionary spirit, which is a sure outgrowth of filial love and reverent adoration—"Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

Next follows the heartfelt expression of dependence upon God—"Give us this day our daily bread." Being further illuminated by the Spirit, he discovers that he is not only dependent, but sinful, hence he entreats for mercy, "Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors:" and being pardoned, having the righteousness of Christ imputed, and knowing his acceptance with God, he humbly supplicates for holy perseverance, "Lead us not into temptation." The man who is really forgiven, is anxious not to offend again; the possession of justification leads to an anxious desire for sanctification. "Forgive us our debts", that is justification; "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil", that is sanctification in its negative and positive forms.

As the result of all this, there follows a triumphant ascription of praise, "Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever, Amen." We rejoice that our King reigns in providence and shall reign in grace, from the river even to the ends of the earth, and of his dominion there shall be no end. Thus from a sense of adoption, up to fellowship with our reigning Lord, this short model of prayer conducts the soul. Lord, teach us thus to pray.

Roots and Slaves

2005-10-26T16:22:00.000-05:00

The Haven Today Broadcast last night inspired my reading of Ephesians 3:14-4:2 last night as I spent some time alone with God. I thought I would share two thoughts from the two verses that struck a cord most. I hope you find it insightful and I would love further insight shared.

that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, -Eph 3:17

"Rooted and Grounded" or "Rooted and established" as the NIV states made my plant geek mind whirl. Roots serve two basic purposes: anchor a plant, and retrieve water and nutrients. Our anchor, if Christ indwells us, if we have faith, is in the deep dark rich soil of Christ's love. God wants our roots to grow out feeling thirstly for the Living water, searching and exploring the depths of God's grace. Grace, the broadcast mentioned, is a place (see Romans 5:1 or 2). It's the very environment in which we grow. Love/grace is that wide open green pasture filled with sky, he leads us to. Growing plants is all about the right environment. Gardeners do all they can to control the inputs and factors affecting plant growth. Through His indwelling we stand stedfasted, rooted, built up always growing in the knowledge and work of the Lord.

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, -Eph 4:1

"The Prisoner of the Lord." Notice he didn't say prisoner of the Romans or captive of Casear. Christ was using a situation Paul was in to teach him spiritual truth. Paul was in prison FOR the cause of Christ and Christ sanctified the situation Paul was in, so that it was clear to Paul that God was working OF purpose. What does it mean to be a prisoner of Christ? Or more a "slave" of Christ? Not a picture seen on felt boards in Sunday school.

The Spinning Compass

2005-10-25T12:12:00.000-05:00

Lately I have been learning about reorientation, God's will, repentance, etc. Building on yesterday's post I thought that this article was worth posting. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, the question for you is how much do you really believe? For the unbeliever, I would challenge you to think through what you think is reality. Enjoy.

By Betsy Childs

I remember trying to use a compass before I understood how they work. I knew that the letters stood for "North, South, East, and West." What I did not understand was that the most important feature of the compass was the needle, which always points north. I foolishly assumed that since "N" stood for north, if I turned the compass around, north somehow moved (keep in mind that I was very young). It was only after someone explained to me the proper use for the compass and helped me practice lining up the needle that the compass became useful to me.

Many, many people in our world approach truth the way a child uses a compass. The idea of personal truth—that a thing may be true for you, but not for me—makes no more sense than the idea of having personal, conflicting compasses. If two hikers have two compasses and the needles are not pointing in the same direction, one or both of the compasses are broken. The compasses are not meant to reflect the user's opinion; they are meant to reflect a fixed reality. It is precisely because we humans get disoriented that we need an instrument of reorientation. If one has a desire to go north and one orients oneself toward the direction that one supposes is north, this does not make it north. In the same way, it is neither the desire for truth nor the pursuit of truth that determines whether truth is in fact reached.

Let's suppose that I want to go east. The only way that I can use my compass to find the east is to align the compass's needle (pointing to true north) with the N on the compass's face. Then I can confidently assume that the E is in fact pointing east. In the same way, we must have some idea of fixed, unchanging truth if we are ever to get our philosophical or spiritual bearings.

As I talk with people who are trying to evaluate the Christian worldview, I often feel as if they are spinning a compass aimlessly. They may have some positive feelings about Christianity, but have no idea whether or not it is sufficiently coherent to make sense of the world. They may have respect for the Christian tradition, but balk at the idea that it somehow negates other worldviews. In an attempt to figuratively align the needle to true north, I try to bring these conversations back to the person of Jesus Christ. The most important step towards understanding the Christian faith is investigating whether or not Jesus was who he claimed to be; the worldview stands or falls on this question. Once the question of Jesus has been settled, then a seeker can decide in which direction he or she should go. When the needle is pointing to Jesus, one recognizes that the Christian faith must be accepted or rejected (it cannot be merely admired).

If you feel like your compass is spinning, try to focus your search on the question of Jesus. You may or may not be convinced by his claims. If you are, you must orient the rest of your life around the fact that he is the Truth. It is only when we learn to navigate by him that we find our way home.

The Approaching Sight in the Darkness

2005-10-24T12:48:00.000-05:00

For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. -Habakkuk 2:3

This weekend was an amazing experience in Morton getting to spend time with with many old and new friends. God walked with me and spoke to my heart so tenderly and intimately. I can testify of His goodness. I left Illinois though with some really important questions not really answered, and feeling like some things didn't turn out like I hoped. I really struggled on the drive home with some depression, frustration, glimmers of hope, and prayer/praise with God. In short it was a roller coaster of emotions! I knew only one thing that I wanted God and needed Him there right in those moments and I can witness truly that He was. Brother, sister, or whoever actually reads this stuff, today if you are struggling with doubt, confused by situations that seem to be turning sour or not as you hoped, just trying to get straight what God desires of you in your turned-upside-down world, then let Habakkuk comfort you.

The whole book of Habakkuk is filled with the prophets complaint to God. He was confused by the turned-upside-down-world all around him. He turned to God, seeking understanding. He poured his heart out to Jehovah and then waited. He waited for the vision to come because he was assured IT WILL COME.

One particular friend of mine, I believe I greatly upset over the weekend, I realized today how selfish I have been and that I truly hope I don't loose the entire friendship. . .that would be a great loss. Sorry for the rambling folks, but that's what's been on ye ole' mind. Have a truly blessed day.

A Special Verse for Me today

2005-10-19T08:31:00.000-05:00

A friend of mine sent this verse to me today and it has become my watch words. . .I thought I would share it with all as my prayer for each of you. Read it and let each word soak in. . .God WILL shew you His covenant if you with Him. He WILL show you the secrets of Himself, the hidden things, the treasured things hidden from man from the beginning of creation, reserved for those who love and serve him.

The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he WILL shew them his covenant. Mine eyes are ever toward the LORD; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net. Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my distresses. Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins. Consider mine enemies; for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred. O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee. Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.
Psalms 25:14-21

Some Halloween Jokes

2005-10-14T11:01:00.000-05:00

Okay so I know Halloween is all evil and stuff, but as a Children's Gardener I come across so fun goofy stuff, like the following seasonal jokes. Please, for the sake of the holiday spirit, moan or wail instead of groaning. . .

Yeah so what do you call a nervous witch?
I don't know, what do you call a nervous witch?
A twitch!!!

No seriously now, what do you call a really funny, intelligent witch?. . .
A Twit.

Wait don't backbutton just yet. . .What do ghosts love to have for desert?
Iced screams

Oh yeah, well what is a ghosts favourite fruit?. . .
Boonanas

Okay. Okay. . .How does a monster cure a sore throat?. . .(besides with salt water)
Gargoyling

What is a vampire's favorite fruit?. . .
Necktarines

Why was the mummy tense and stressed?. . .
He was all wrapped up.

Wait. . .hold on I's got three more good ones. . .Why didn't the skeleton cross the road?
He had no guts.

Why do skeletons wear dark glasses?. . .
Camouflage.

Have you ever seen a skeleton with dark glasses?
NO?! It works well, doesn't it?

Okay I am all done now. These are all the bloody jokes that pumpkined my brian.

When the heart is enlarged

2005-10-13T12:51:00.000-05:00

I am full of thoughts this noon hour and I wanted to share some more. Yesterday I ran acrossed verses 32 and 33 of Psalm 119:

"I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart. Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end."

The verses reminded me of something my sister Tonia recently told me. She spoke about growth and how God is always looking to grow our capacity and to live largely. No that does not mean to become fat. It does mean however that God is looking to teach us and stretch us beyond our own capacity to handle and do things. He calls us to do things we never expected to do, he reveals truth that we never expected to find. He leads us into wide spaces and green pastures. Just sometimes the path to verdant pastures is through the shadow of the valley.

Expect God to do the unexpected.

People of Light

2005-10-13T12:42:00.000-05:00

I was speaking with a friend of mine last night about walking honestly and communicating fully with one another what is occuring in one's mind and life. This article I read at lunch today really brought that conversation to fulness. As you try to discern the Lord's will and ways today can I encourage you to speak honestly with Him and others. I know I need to.

By Stuart McAllister

We don't need the movies to show us how much of a disparity there is between truth and lies, though the twists in plot and suspense over distinguishing between them often reminds us. We all hold certain values, and if we're honest, we are well aware of how often we fail to honor them. And yet, there is something peculiar about how our minds work. It seems we can clearly hold on to these beliefs and yet somehow bracket our own lives from an acknowledgment of how consistently we miss the mark. It is like a built-in avoidance mechanism.

The issues of self-deception and denial are more serious than we care to admit. We must beware all tendencies to self-pity, self-preoccupation, self-righteousness, and self-aggrandizement. As Reinhold Niebuhr writes, "Sin is thus the unwillingness of man to acknowledge his creatureliness and dependence upon God and his effort to make his own life independent and secure."

Scripture is clear in calling us all out of ourselves and always towards God. We are reminded often that the human heart is more deceitful than anything else. "Who can fathom it?" asks Jeremiah. "God alone, who searches the heart and tests inner motivation" (Jer. 17:9,10).

Though readily acknowledging our ability to be deceived, the Gospel places a high regard on truth, honesty, integrity, and consistency. Rooted in who God is, we are called to live lives of sacrificial love, dependence, and obedience. In his first epistle, John writes, "This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1: 5-9).

Sadly repentance and confession have become almost forgotten practices, and yet they are necessary habits. These disciplines inform our attitude and shape our perspectives as we learn to walk. Confession helps us to avoid what I call the dangers of progressive amnesia: forgetting that we are sinners saved by grace. Similarly, living lives marked by repentance helps us to overcome delusions of privileged heritage, where we think we are actually better than we are by virtue of our upbringing or talents or uniqueness. We are called to walk as people of the light; Christ is our only hope.

God is light, and his supreme glory and goodness must be kept in mind and in sight at all times. The confession of fellowship with God must be expressed in consistent, honest, and loving relationships with others. If not, we are kidding ourselves, or simply lying. Walking in the light means cultivating ways and means of honesty before God and others, with the assurance that provision is made for the challenge of sin. We cannot pretend that we are perfect or that we don't need help. We must be realistic and practical about the realities of sin and the ways of dealing with it.

In John 8:31-32, we are given the assurance of the power and efficacy of God's provision for us. Says Jesus, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." In the book of Hebrews we are similarly given a powerful reminder and a solid hope: "Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin" (Hebrews 4:14-15). By fixing our hearts and minds on Christ, on his excellencies, and on his word, will, and way, we shift our focus and subvert the inward pull. By keeping him ever before us, it is my prayer that we can live as people of the light, our lives ever glorifying the one in whom there is no darkness.

Food for Constructive Thought

2005-10-12T12:25:00.000-05:00

This devotional by Charles Spurgeon was one that I really appreciated today. I really did not have much of a quiet time with Jesus this morning and let me tell you it has been a tad rough in the early going. Enjoy.

"I will meditate in thy precepts." {#Ps 119:15}

There are times when solitude is better than society, and silence is wiser than speech. We should be better Christians if we were more alone, waiting upon God, and gathering through meditation on his Word spiritual strength for labour in his service. We ought to muse upon the things of God, because we thus get the real nutriment out of them.

Truth is something like the cluster of the vine: if we would have wine from it, we must bruise it; we must press and squeeze it many times. The bruiser’s feet must come down joyfully upon the bunches, or else the juice will not flow; and they must well tread the grapes, or else much of the precious liquid will be wasted. So we must, by meditation, tread the clusters of truth, if we would get the wine of consolation therefrom. Our bodies are not supported by merely taking food into the mouth, but the process which really supplies the muscle, and the nerve, and the sinew, and the bone, is the process of digestion. It is by digestion that the outward food becomes assimilated with the inner life. Our souls are not nourished merely by listening awhile to this, and then to that, and then to the other part of divine truth. Hearing, reading, marking, and learning, all require inwardly digesting to complete their usefulness, and the inward digesting of the truth lies for the most part in meditating upon it.

Why is it that some Christians, although they hear many sermons, make but slow advances in the divine life? Because they neglect their closets, and do not thoughtfully meditate on God’s Word. They love the wheat, but they do not grind it; they would have the corn, but they will not go forth into the fields to gather it; the fruit hangs upon the tree, but they will not pluck it; the water flows at their feet, but they will not stoop to drink it. From such folly deliver us, O Lord, and be this our resolve this morning, "I will meditate in thy precepts."

The Good Gardener

2005-10-11T12:09:00.000-05:00

The this article, really speaks to me a gardener. One interesting fact about grape vines is that viticulturists prune vines during the growing season to stimulate fruit prodution. Some vines will want to grow vegetatively, and only once they are pruned do they bear fruit. The other interesting thing to note is how severly grape vines get pruned back. In the spring before leaf buds pop open, the viticulturist will whack the vine back almost to the ground. This step is absolutely necessary for successful fruit production. Gives food. . .for thought.

By Betsy Childs

Recently, a friend of mine gave me an unexpected gift by planting a beautiful climbing rose bush in my yard. The young "Don Juan" climber promises to yield vibrant red blossoms. My friend advised me that if I want it to bloom to its full potential, I should research when and how to prune it rather than letting it simply follow its natural course.

I am a willing but inexperienced gardener. I was glad that she prompted me to think about pruning the bush, for pruning seems counter-intuitive to me. I want the bush to spread and grow; cutting it back seems like it would work against this purpose. But experienced gardeners know that pruning most bushes or shrubs will in the long run enhance their beauty and productivity.

Jesus used pruning as a metaphor for the way God interacts with us: "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful" (John 15:1-2). In this statement, Jesus makes clear that there is more than one reason to prune; God cuts off branches that don't bear fruit, but He also prunes branches that do.

Cutting off what is dead makes a lot of sense. But you have to understand a bit more about plants and the way they grow to understand why cutting off what is fruitful makes sense too. As I understand it, once a blossom has died, a vine will continue to send nourishment to it; if you prune back the branch, the vine can store up its energies to produce more new blooms. One gardener's manual describes pruning as "the kindest cut" and explains that it is "cutting back in order to have more." Pruning literally rejuvenates by allowing the vine to produce new growth rather than spending its nourishment on gangling branches that are no longer fruitful.

It can be dreadfully confusing when God ends an endeavor that has been truly fruitful. Such a conclusion can make one second-guess the good work that has been accomplished or doubt God's faithfulness. If a work is bearing fruit, why would He allow it to end? The answer is that God is the one who "changes times and seasons" (Daniel 2:21). He doesn't let good things go on forever just because they are good things. He prunes our lives, our vocations, our ministries, and our relationships so that they can become even more fruitful in a new season.

Pruning can be dangerous when it is done by an amateur like me. One website warned, "In most cases, it is better not to prune than to do it incorrectly." Another advised the reader not to prune while angry. I'm sure that many an angry gardener has taken out their frustrations through overzealous pruning! But God is not an amateur. He is the wisest and most experienced of gardeners. He isn't too timid to prune a fruitful branch, because He wants the vine to flourish. The next time you realize that God is pruning something in your life, expect that He has beautiful and glorious things He wants to produce in you, if you wait and allow Him to bring forth his fruit in its season.

The Good Gardener

2005-10-11T12:07:00.000-05:00

By Betsy Childs

Recently, a friend of mine gave me an unexpected gift by planting a beautiful climbing rose bush in my yard. The young "Don Juan" climber promises to yield vibrant red blossoms. My friend advised me that if I want it to bloom to its full potential, I should research when and how to prune it rather than letting it simply follow its natural course.

I am a willing but inexperienced gardener. I was glad that she prompted me to think about pruning the bush, for pruning seems counter-intuitive to me. I want the bush to spread and grow; cutting it back seems like it would work against this purpose. But experienced gardeners know that pruning most bushes or shrubs will in the long run enhance their beauty and productivity.

Jesus used pruning as a metaphor for the way God interacts with us: "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful" (John 15:1-2). In this statement, Jesus makes clear that there is more than one reason to prune; God cuts off branches that don't bear fruit, but He also prunes branches that do.

Cutting off what is dead makes a lot of sense. But you have to understand a bit more about plants and the way they grow to understand why cutting off what is fruitful makes sense too. As I understand it, once a blossom has died, a vine will continue to send nourishment to it; if you prune back the branch, the vine can store up its energies to produce more new blooms. One gardener's manual describes pruning as "the kindest cut" and explains that it is "cutting back in order to have more." Pruning literally rejuvenates by allowing the vine to produce new growth rather than spending its nourishment on gangling branches that are no longer fruitful. It can be dreadfully confusing when God ends an endeavor that has been truly fruitful. Such a conclusion can make one second-guess the good work that has been accomplished or doubt God's faithfulness. If a work is bearing fruit, why would He allow it to end? The answer is that God is the one who "changes times and seasons" (Daniel 2:21). He doesn't let good things go on forever just because they are good things. He prunes our lives, our vocations, our ministries, and our relationships so that they can become even more fruitful in a new season. Pruning can be dangerous when it is done by an amateur like me. One website warned, "In most cases, it is better not to prune than to do it incorrectly." Another advised the reader not to prune while angry. I'm sure that many an angry gardener has taken out their frustrations through overzealous pruning! But God is not an amateur. He is the wisest and most experienced of gardeners. He isn't too timid to prune a fruitful branch, because He wants the vine to flourish. The next time you realize that God is pruning something in your life, expect that He has beautiful and glorious things He wants to produce in you, if you wait and allow Him to bring forth his fruit in its season.

Faultless and Song

2005-10-10T11:57:00.000-05:00

Okay once again I have not posted in entirely too long. Here is a devotional that I read at lunch today that I thought trully can help each of us set our eyes higher.

"Faultless before the presence of his glory." {#Jude 1:24}
Revolve in your mind that wondrous word, faultless!" We are far off from it now; but as our Lord never stops short of perfection in his work of love, we shall reach it one day. The Saviour who will keep his people to the end, will also present them at last to himself, as "a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing, but holy and without blemish." All the jewels in the Saviour’s crown are of the first water and without a single flaw. All the maids of honour who attend the Lamb’s wife are pure virgins without spot or stain. But how will Jesus make us faultless? He will wash us from our sins in his own blood until we are white and fair as God’s purest angel; and we shall be clothed in his righteousness, that righteousness which makes the saint who wears it positively faultless; yea, perfect in the sight of God.

We shall be unblameable and unreproveable even in his eyes. His law will not only have no charge against us, but it will be magnified in us. Moreover, the work of the Holy Spirit within us will be altogether complete. He will make us so perfectly holy, that we shall have no lingering tendency to sin. Judgment, memory, will—every power and passion shall be emancipated from the thraldom of evil. We shall be holy even as God is holy, and in his presence we shall dwell for ever. Saints will not be out of place in heaven, their beauty will be as great as that of the place prepared for them.

Oh the rapture of that hour when the everlasting doors shall be lifted up, and we, being made meet for the inheritance, shall dwell with the saints in light. Sin gone, Satan shut out, temptation past for ever, and ourselves "faultless" before God, this will be heaven indeed! Let us be joyful now as we rehearse the song of eternal praise so soon to roll forth in full chorus from all the blood washed host; let us copy David’s exultings before the ark as a prelude to our ecstasies before the throne.

A sanctified vessel

2005-10-01T12:45:00.000-05:00

I was reading this morning and I was thinking about work things rather than "biblical things. At work, as you may have found, different departments will stake out supplies and equipment, reserve for themselves so to speak. For example if someone needs here a particular tool for a specific task and it keeps getting "used" by others just when they need it, out of sheer frustration they will write "for____ use only, such and such department." Well as you might imagine I was struck with a deep and prfound thought. This is how God must deal with us, His elect. He writes all over us, setting us apart from other tools, for a specific use. He claims us for his own. That's what sanctification is all about: set apart for a specific use.

We are marked. Paul stated that he carried around the scars of Jesus, he carried around the death of Christ which was life to others. Are you?

19 Howbeit the firm foundation of God standeth, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his: and, Let every one that nameth the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness. 20 Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some unto honor, and some unto dishonor. 21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, meet for the master's use, prepared unto every good work.

2 Tim 2:19-21

God-dance

2005-09-29T11:33:00.000-05:00

I received this little write-up from a brother back home and I thought it was worth sharing with the whole world. This is how I have always thought it was like to live with God:

DANCING WITH GOD
When I meditated on the word GUIDANCE, I kept seeing "dance" at the end of the word. I remember reading that doing God's will is a lot like dancing. When two people try to lead, nothing feels right. The movement doesn't flow with the music,and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky. When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead, both bodies begin to flow with the music. One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the backor by pressing lightly in one direction or another. It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully. The dance takes surrender, willingness, and attentiveness from one personand gentle guidance and skill from the other. My eyes drew back to the word GUIDANCE. When I saw "G," I thought of God, followed by "u" and "i.""God", "u" and "i", "dance." God, you, and I dance. As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust that I would get guidance about my life. Once again, I became willing to let God lead. My prayer for you todayis that God's blessings and mercies be upon you on this day and everyday. May you abide in God as God abides in you. Dance together with God, trusting God to lead and to guide you through each season of your life. This prayer is powerful and there is not! hing attached. If God has done anything for you in your life, please share this message with someone else, for prayer is one of the best gifts we can receive. There is no cost but a lot of rewards;so let's continue to pray for one another.

AND I HOPE YOU DANCE!

2005-09-28T18:29:00.000-05:00

I read Romans 5 this morning and some thoughts hit me from which I am still bruised. (Krist-i there's the humor you were looking for.) The first thing that struck me was the use of various tenses both past and present: What we were and what we are now. "Therefore being justifiED by faith, we HAVE peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ." We are not the receipents of the gift once. We are not atoned in the present for a few things, but rather "the gift is of many offences unto justification." Christ sees us as justified, as saints while we were, "yet sinners" before "Christ died for us." Paul makes a big deal out of how Christ's blood is representative of God's love, and if it could accomplish something like atone and justify dead stuff how much more can it save something that is now alive! Believers in the arisen Messiah are not sinners saved by grace, no we are more than conquerors through Christ who loved us.

The second thing that smacked me was the reminder I received about how all this justification and atonement stuff was accomplished. "Through" and "by" show up all over the place. Yeah while we were snoozing with a deadly palor in our former "life" Christ did all the work. As a matter of fact according to verse 10 he is still doing all the work. I was sent this verse today by a friend of mine: This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. [It is of] the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. [They are] new every morning: great [is] thy faithfulness. The Lord [is] my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
Lamentations 3:21-24

It is only because of WHO God is that we obtain mercy, hence why we call it grace. Christ's blood got us in the door, and now we obtain access into this Grace through continued faith.

The last thought I wanted to share was what smacked me last. It simply is the power of the statement at the end of verse two: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. How the true believer just feels something deep down in their bones that keeps them all excited down there about God's glory and it's appearing now and forever. Let's not loose sight of the fact that our hope is God's glory. It's the fact that we know that death and all it's affects are going to be swallowed up when He pokes His face through the cloudes and says, "Boo" to the world. Can you say boo?

Rejoicing in the Depths of His Spirit

2005-09-22T11:40:00.000-05:00

There has been a rash of devotional type stuff floating around me that last couple of days that reminds me of where our continual joy lies. This Charles Spurgeon devotion is a good reminder. Also check out the psalm David wrote found in 1 Ch 16. It is awesome.

"Let Israel rejoice in him." {#Ps 149:2}
Be glad of heart, O believer, but take care that thy gladness has its spring in the Lord. Thou hast much cause for gladness in thy God, for thou canst sing with David, "God, my exceeding joy." Be glad that the Lord reigneth, that Jehovah is King! Rejoice that he sits upon the throne, and ruleth all things! Every attribute of God should become a fresh ray in the sunlight of our gladness. That he is wise should make us glad, knowing as we do our own foolishness. That he is mighty, should cause us to rejoice who tremble at our weakness. That he is everlasting, should always be a theme of joy when we know that we wither as the grass. That he is unchanging, should perpetually yield us a song, since we change every hour. That he is full of grace, that he is overflowing with it, and that this grace in covenant he has given to us; that it is ours to cleanse us, ours to keep us, ours to sanctify us, ours to perfect us, ours to bring us to glory—all this should tend to make us glad in him. This gladness in God is as a deep river; we have only as yet touched its brink, we know a little of its clear sweet, heavenly streams, but onward the depth is greater, and the current more impetuous in its joy. The Christian feels that he may delight himself not only in what God is, but also in all that God has done in the past. The Psalms show us that God’s people in olden times were wont to think much of God’s actions, and to have a song concerning each of them. So let God’s people now rehearse the deeds of the Lord! Let them tell of his mighty acts, and "sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously." Nor let them ever cease to sing, for as new mercies flow to them day by day, so should their gladness in the Lord’s loving acts in providence and in grace show itself in continued thanksgiving. Be glad ye children of Zion and rejoice in the Lord your God.

Posting Bait

2005-09-19T16:47:00.000-05:00

I have found that when you create a serious post nobody leaves a comment, yet when you write something silly and looney, everyone chimes in. To prove my point I am going to conduct an experiment. I am leaving two post today open for public comment. The first one is a very inspiring devotional, the second a quotation from "One Fish, Two Fish. . ." We shall see, what we shall see.

I like to box. How I like to box!
So everyday I box a Gox.
In yellow sox I box my Gox.
I box in my yellow Gox box socks.

Come on all you smart-alex's out there I dare you to not comment! You can't help it. You have to leave some sarcastic statement.

The Freedom of Christ is where it's at

2005-09-19T12:02:00.000-05:00

I frequent this devotional page that has stuff by Charles Spurgeon. www.answersingenesis.org/devotions/devotions/asp

Here is one that I found particularly enlightening. Enjoy!

"The liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free." {#Ga 5:1}
This "liberty" makes us free to heaven’s charter—the Bible. Here is a choice passage, believer, "When thou passest through the rivers, I will be with thee." You are free to that. Here is another: "The mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from thee"; you are free to that. You are a welcome guest at the table of the promises. Scripture is a never failing treasury filled with boundless stores of grace. It is the bank of heaven; you may draw from it as much as you please, without let or hindrance. Come in faith and you are welcome to all covenant blessings. There is not a promise in the Word which shall be withheld. In the depths of tribulations let this freedom comfort you; amidst waves of distress let it cheer you; when sorrows surround thee let it be thy solace. This is thy Father’s love token; thou art free to it at all times. Thou art also free to the throne of grace. It is the believer’s privilege to have access at all times to his heavenly Father. Whatever our desires, our difficulties, our wants, we are at liberty to spread all before him. It matters not how much we may have sinned, we may ask and expect pardon. It signifies nothing how poor we are, we may plead his promise that he will provide all things needful. We have permission to approach his throne at all times—in midnight’s darkest hour, or in noontide’s most burning heat. Exercise thy right, O believer, and live up to thy privilege. Thou art free to all that is treasured up in Christ—wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. It matters not what thy need is, for there is fulness of supply in Christ, and it is there for thee. O what a "freedom" is thine! freedom from condemnation, freedom to the promises, freedom to the throne of grace, and at last freedom to enter heaven!

Ahazz the A-Rab

2005-09-15T17:05:00.000-05:00

So following up my last post about growing up and all, I thought I would talk to you about what God has been teaching me about good (or bad) old King Ahaz the A-rab. He can be found in the midst of the verses comprising what most Christians or in fact all Christians call 2 Kings, chapter 16. This dude happens to be one of the many, "and King _(Difficult name hard to pronounce_ did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord," types. What caught my morning glazed attention was the fact that he was given a pile of responsibility at the age of twenty! He became head-cheese in his twenties just like I have been given my thiefdom, my garden. It's a stretch I admitt but work with me here.

Ahaz had a choice like all the schmucks before him. He could have followed the example David set, but no he followed Jerboam the Ding-bat. During Ahaz the A-rabs reign he faced several invasions from the usual set of enemies. Did he turn to God? No. He turned to pagan kings to rescue Judah. He went so far as to submit his kingdom to the lordship of a protector in order to defeat the invading forces. He pulled out the silver and gold from the Temple and sent as tribute. He continually turned to others for help instead of the One true God.

In Proverbs 14 and Psalm 32, as it says in other scriptures, we find God inviting us to find our forgiveness for the past, refuge for the present, and joy for all eternity in Himself. The wise, the prudent decide to turn to the God of heaven as they take on responsibility.

Shall you, Shall I (sing it with me, now)

Ah growing up and responsibility

2005-09-12T17:23:00.000-05:00

Today was my first day on the job as the Children's Garden Manager at the Cleveland Botanical Garden. I have a lot to go through and figure out. What struck me today though is the thought that man this is it. The ball is really in my court and there is no more holding my hand. No more "Ah, there is always next semester!" If things fail, it's my fault and it's my duty to fix them. I know what ya'll are thinking. Welcome to reality bud. Welcome to the real world. Well you know what it's nice to finally arrive out of the hole called school. Even if it did take me. . .*cough* eight years to do it. Eight years? Hey lot's of people go to school for six or eight years. . .

What ho, Jeeves and what not

2005-09-09T21:39:00.000-05:00

It is hard to believe but it has been a frightful long time since I last stunned the world with my publishible (slight depricating cough) wit. However in my defense I have been exercising the old bean in an effort to thrash up from some Cleveland bush a scared rental owner or three. I found me self a nice little stretch of sheltered surface to alight upon the close of the day. If you were wondering why the church bells mysteriously started ringing in your local today it was in celebration of my new abode. And don't waste precious blog comment space denying that the peals of bells oh the bells, bells, bells. did not tone for I know they did. I know for whom the bells tolled.

But that whole paragraph above was an absolute waste of eye movement for you because that is no the subject of today's post. The trip down and back from Cleveland was spent in many a happy hour listening to a couple of PG Woodhouses Wooster and Jeeves stories. The basic plot of each story whether it spans a chapter or a whole novel, is basically the same. Bertie Wooster is a young chump of an aristocrat-bachelor who is the dumb-brick champion of the world. He serves as the foil for his gentlemen's gentlemen or vallet. Jeeves, for that is his name, has the great gift of getting Bertie and his sorry lot of friends out of the scraps they get themselves in. A story will start with some pal showing up at Wooster's London flat with some horrible sticky situation and Bertie either attempts to solve the problem himself or turns to Jeeves for a solution. Jeeves never fails. It's amazing. (I am sure there's a spiritual analogy in there somewhere.) The stories are set in the 1920's landscape of England, around London mostly. PG Woodhouse has a singular knack of turning a phrase that as such I rarely stopped laughing, and when I did stop I sat in marvelled silence at how he could write! Seriously. I have rarely read funnier stuff. What kicks it all is the language! Yeah, Bertie apparently is like the man of the 1920's English slang and what not. I am sure if we all rushed out to Borders and picked up a little volume we could revive these words, what? Por ejemplo:

Old bean=the brain
Inclineing the coconut=nodding the head
aisling=getting married
putting on the nose-bag=eatting a meal (nose bag? Think horse, think oat bag)
that's a good weez=that's a good idea
dash it=ummm dawg-gone-it
the beak=any imperious authority figure
rummy=apparently this means "good" or "bad"
toot=a holiday

Now aren't those words just rummy. I mean smashing, what?

Just go pick up a copy would ya.

Bar Jokes

2005-09-01T11:02:00.000-05:00

Okay I was reading these to my parents last night and thought these were worth sharing with everybody. These jokes are taken from, "A Prairie Home Companion Pretty Good Joke Book."

1. This fly walks into a bar, walks up to a woman sitting at the bar, and says, "I like that stool you're sitting on."

2. A termite went into a bar and asked, "Is the bar tender here?"

3. Two ropes go into a bar. The bartender says, "Get out of here. We don't serve ropes in here."
The ropes go outside and one says to the other, "I have and idea." He ties himself up, messes up his hair, and goes back in. The bartender says, "Hey. No ropes." The rope says, "I not a rope."
The bartender says, "You're not a rope?"
"Nope. I'm a frayed knot."

No seriously just wait. . .

4. A pork chop goes into a bar and orders a drink.
The bartender says, "Sorry, you're food, and we don't serve food here."

Ohh wait please don't go yet there's one more. . .

5. A pig walked into a bar, ordered fifteen beers, and drank them! The bartender asked, "Would you like to know where the bathroom is?"
"No," says the little pig, "I'm the little pig that goes wee-wee-wee all the way home."

Okay that's it I'm done. I'll be here all week. Try the veal, and don't forget to tip your wait staff!

Forgotten Resurrection?

2005-08-30T13:22:00.000-05:00

"But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification." -Ro 4:24-25

Do you believe the Resurrection really happened? I don't stop to think about it much really. It seems to be something that gets neglected in my life. I wonder why that is the case. Oh sure Easter brings it to the forefront, but otherwise do we actually stop to think how remarkable it is that a human rose from the dead God or not?

I think modern conservative evangelical or not's have been so focused on the Cross that they have almost missed the Gospel. What am I talking about!!! God so loved the world that he sent his son to die for us, that is the Gospel right? Well, hmmmm, obivously from the title and the direction I am taking this I don't think so. The Cross is nothing without the Grave and it certainly was not what Jesus preached to the masses. The Cross became the subject of teaching and conversation LARGELY for his disciples and no more. What did Jesus say to others? "Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand!" He was trying to point out that He was the Kingdom and it had come nigh to them. The Cross is just the absolutely necessary starting point, the gate into Zion. But it is what we preach. We must confess and believe that Jesus died for our sins and then we are saved. But Jesus is not my sin-manager! He is my Lord, Savior, and Friend. We get focused on the Cross and sin that we (me like everyone else) keep falling right back into it rather than leaving the Gates behind and walking into Zion to live as apart of the Kingdom. Jesus saved us for good works not to preserve us from nasty bad stuff. What is the key then? To grow in knowledge and grace of our Lord. . .and what the Resurrection implies for our lives.

Go read Romans 6. No seriously. Paul chides the reader about this idea that we should remain in this "Jesus is my sin-manager" mode. He says that we should KNOW and remember that we ARE arisen with Christ and therefore have the power to become the Sons and Daughters of God. Now that is where we are to live! Easier said then done often, but so true! It starts with getting our focus and faith in the right place. . .the empty tomb. Without faith in it, Paul tells us, our hope is in vain. If it never really happened then we are all being fooled by the Wizard behind the curtain. Kneel at the Cross, Christ will meet you there! Then. . .go dwell in tomb.

Living with the 'rents

2005-08-29T16:05:00.000-05:00

Okay so I have been home (Bay City) now for almost a month and living with my parent have been a real blessing. Who knew? God did ap-parently. Here is a few:

1. Free fabulous meals that actually have nutritional value!
2. Free laundry sevice including free use of soap.
3. Free room and board
4. Free entertainment chasing little Yorky dogs and watching my mom and dad be themselves. HIGHLY amusing.
5. A lovely backyard landscape done by yours truly. Well the design was. Some other chap did all the sweat work.
6. Great fellowship with the locals

Okay it's not really all free I have to mow the lawn occasionally and wash the dishes:)

Man sometimes life just throws you some dirty pitches. I gues I will just have to suck it up.

Two Cows

2005-08-27T00:04:00.000-05:00

You've probably have seen this floating around the internet, and I don't know what made me think of these but did you know you can illustrate any political or economic phenomenon with two cows. Yeah it's true. Watch:

DEMOCRAT
You have two cows.
Your neighbor has none.
You feel guilty for being successful. Barbara Streisand sings for you.

REPUBLICAN
You have two cows.
Your neighbor has none.
So?

SOCIALIST
You have two cows.
The government takes one and gives it to your neighbor.
You form a cooperative to tell him how to manage his cow.

COMMUNIST
You have two cows.
The government seizes both and provides you with milk.
You wait in line for hours to get it.
It is expensive and sour.

CAPITALISM, AMERICAN STYLE
You have two cows.
You sell one, buy a bull, and build a herd of cows.

DEMOCRACY, AMERICAN STYLE
You have two cows.
The government taxes you to the point you have to sell both to support a man
in a foreign country who has only one cow, which was a gift from your government.

BUREAUCRACY, AMERICAN STYLE
You have two cows.
The government takes them both, shoots one, milks the other, pays you for the milk, and then pours the milk down the drain.

AMERICAN CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You sell one, lease it back to yourself and do an IPO on the 2nd one.
You force the two cows to produce the milk of four cows.
You are surprised when one cow drops dead.
You spin an announcement to the analysts stating you have down sized and are reducing expenses.
Your stock's price goes up.

FRENCH CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You go on strike because you want three cows.
You go to lunch and drink wine.
Life is good.

JAPANESE CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You redesign them so they are one tenth the size of an ordinary cow and produce twenty times the milk.
They learn to travel on unbelievably crowded trains. Most are at the top of their class at cow school.

GERMAN CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You engineer them so they are all blond, give excellent quality milk, and run a hundred miles an hour.
Unfortunately they also demand 13 weeks of vacation per year.

ITALIAN CORPORATION
You have two cows but you don't know where they are. While ambling around, you see a beautiful woman.
You break for lunch.
Life is good.

RUSSIAN CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You have some vodka.
You count them and learn you have five cows.
You have some more vodka.
You count them again and learn you have 42 cows.
The Mafia shows up and takes over however many cows you really have.

TALIBAN CORPORATION
You have all the cows in Afghanistan, which are two.
You don't milk them because you cannot touch any creature's private parts.
Then you kill them and claim a U.S. bomb blew them up while they were in the hospital.

IRAQI CORPORATION
You have two cows.
They go into hiding.
They send radio tapes of their mooing.

POLISH CORPORATION
You have two bulls.
Employees are regularly maimed and killed attempting to milk them.

FLORIDA CORPORATION
You have a black cow and a brown cow.
Everyone votes for the best looking one.
Some of the people who like the brown one best, vote for the black one.
Some people vote for both.
Some people vote for neither.
Some people can't figure out how to vote at all.
Finally, a bunch of guys from out-of-state tell you which is the best looking cow.

CALIFORNIAN
You have a cow and a bull.
The bull is depressed.
It has spent its life living a lie.
It goes away for two weeks and comes back after a taxpayer-paid sex-change operation.
You now have two cows.
One makes milk; the other doesn't.
You try to sell the transgender cow, but its lawyer sues you for discrimination.
You lose in court.
You sell the milk-generating cow to pay the damages.
You now have one rich, transgender, non-milk-producing cow.
You change your business to beef. PETA pickets your farm.
Jesse Jackson makes a speech in your driveway.
Cruz Bustamante calls for higher farm taxes to help "working cows".
Hillary Clinton calls for the nationalization of 1/7 of your farm "for the children."
The legislature passes a law giving your farm to Mexico.
You declare bankruptcy and shut down all operations and the cow starves to death.
The L.A. Times' analysis shows your business failure is Bush's fault.

What is Work for the Christian?

2005-08-25T19:29:00.000-05:00

I am curious to know how people, who read this blog, view their career path, or current job in light of the Kingdom of God. How should a Christian view work? Is full-time Christian ministry the only way to serve God's greater purpose, and the rest just worldy occupations, professions, a way to put food on the table?

Friendships

2005-08-22T21:23:00.000-05:00

Through this past weekend at the Leo Sale and the Bluffton Invite I met many of my friends whom I have not seen for the better part of a year to two years. It was wonderful to see everyone and frustrating at the same time because I could not spend much time with any single one of them to see how they were really doing. Me being the social butterfly that I am I had to get to everybody. (And believe me I always get to everybody if you know what I mean:) Today as I reflected on that I thought about the Proverb that says if someone wants to have friends they must show themselves to friends. What do you think that means and how can we show it?

Friendship became a definite theme for the day when I opened to John 15 where Christ talks about being the Vine. In that chapter Christs says that greater love has no man than if he lays down his life for his friends (as if I needed to quote it). The next verse though is what struck me. Christ states, "Ye are my friends, if you do whatsoever I command you (v. 14)." There's a poem by Shel Silverstein that sums up sadly what I thought the verse was saying in the back of my mind:

"I know a way to stay friends forever, There's really nothing to it, I tell you what to do, And you do it"

Finally this afternoon I understood what He was saying. This is not some twisted friendship or an issue of domination though certainly He is king and we his servants, but as Christ indicates in the verse following fourteen, the relationship is one of the deep friendship. We lay down our lives in submission to His commands thus demonstrating "no greater love."

Elementary stuff to realize I admit but hey I thought it was worth sharing all the same. Cheers.