hush...

Hardly do we stop. then stare...

not enough are we aware

To ponder the wonder, to notice the glory of this place

set in motion, time and space

The immense glory that surrounds

in this world where great grace abounds

hurry is blindness to the grace, to the beauty in your time

Ponder enough and ponder well

all life is, all creation spells…

A PLUG for the PAST

I have been listening to some old music lately. Namely Rich Mullins music. Rich was a deeply spiritual man with a true longing for God. He was one of those rare gems who lived a life of trying to grasp and immensity of God, trying to know Him, understand Him. But in the midst of that understanding he knew and embraced how God changed him as he grew in the Knowledge of the Holy.

Below I copied the opening lyrics to a song called "Home." Read through them a few times and truly reflect on the last three lines. Let God soeak to you about your PAST and how He was at work in it.

"I see the morning moving over the hills
I can see the shadows on the western side
And all those illusions that I had
They just vanish in Your light
Though the chill in the night still hangs in the air
I can feel the warmth of morning on my face
Though the storm had tossed me
'Til I thought I'd nearly lost my way

And now the night is fading and the storm is past
And everything that could be shaken was shaken
And all that remains is all I ever really had.
- Rich Mullins

Uganda Photos

After a long time of waiting your patience is rewarded. Here is 1st installment of photos from my travels so far. Enjoy.
These were all taken at Murchison Falls National Park in Northwestern Uganda

Some Real Heroes and Some Real Villains

I found this article on Yahoo and I wanted to try to use it to tell he world that there really is grace and love in this world. Even in the middle of criminal behavior by the "leader" of Myanmar there are true "LEADERS" doing what leaders do. Where is God in this? He is med students caring for the sick, and shop keepers taking their own porridge and sharing with others. There is love there is grace if we care to find it. Please read the article below and pray for these people and against the enemy of their souls that is at work to cause them great suffering.

YANGON, Myanmar - From shopkeepers handing out free rice porridge to medical students caring for the sick, ordinary people in Myanmar are stepping in to help cyclone victims as the military regime severely restricts international aid.

Taxi drivers, factory owners, college students, teachers and other Yangon residents — many of whom lost their own homes — are among those organizing grueling trips into the Irrawaddy delta, the hardest-hit region.

"They are true humanitarian heroes," said Bridget Gardner, International Red Cross representative in Myanmar, after touring an area where volunteers were giving first aid to the injured.

They are taking up collections at businesses and donating food, clothes and water. Some who are too poor to give money or supplies are offering their labor to help clear debris and rebuild villages leveled by the May 3 cyclone.

I called them up and took a job in Uganda

Hello everyone, to start off I have to say that God has been faithful and good to me and so life has been great for me, As you know I have been living at my sister’s place in Ohio and since I moved here I have been praying a lot and seeking God direction for me at this time. After sending out bunches of resume’s and talking to lots of people, churches and organizations I finally have a job. So, here are the quick highlights.

Over the past several years, my heart has been increasingly burden with meeting both the physical and spiritual needs of people around the world. As I sought out where God would have me to go, I was drawn to seeking a placement within a Christian Relief and Development organization. After a lengthy process of phone calls, applications, and interviews, in my heart I have settled on the Samaritan’s Purse organization headed by Franklin Graham. If you have not heard of them maybe you know them because of the Operation Christmas Child (Shoeboxes) program, they are the same organization. As I sought an employment opportunity the best option and fit for me at this time is to serve as an intern with Samaritan’s Purse as an International field worker. The hope on their part and on mine is that if I do a good job and if there is an open position at the end of the internship, I hopefully and likely will be offered a permanent full time position. There is no guarantee of a full time job after the internship, but I feel as though this is where God is leading me to go and I know that he will open the doors that need to be opened in the right place at the right time.

So the deal is that I will be heading off to Uganda to serve with S.P. for 5 months starting April 14^th. Mostly I will be learning from and helping the various Program Directors with the programs running in Uganda. Some of my official job description is yet be seen and from what I understand it is extremely flexible based on what needs are most pressing on that day. That is why I am being so vague about what I will be doing, truth is I have very little idea. At the bottom of the page is a list of what Samaritan’s Purse is currently doing in Uganda so assume that I will be helping with those things. I know this is going to be a big adjustment for me to a completely new culture, country and climate. I am looking forward to learning firsthand about Relief & Development work and seeing where God takes me from here.

I truly believe that Christians and the Christian church have a massive responsibility before God to do good to those in need, both physically and spiritually. I understand the Bible to instruct us to do good to all people and as we do good, peoples hearts are opened to the voice of the Holy Spirit calling them to salvation. One of the verse that has stood out to me in my devotions over the past few years is Proverbs 3:27 which says “Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them. ²⁸ If you can help your neighbor now, don’t say, “Come back tomorrow, and then I’ll help you.” There are so many people in the world in great need, who better or more called to meet these needs than those who have experienced the life changing power of salvation. We are ambassadors of God calling the world to “be reconciled back God.” Reconciliation with God is the answer to the great problems facing our world today. If we are not reconciled to God through the salvation offered to us through Jesus Christ, there is no real hope of solving the issues that are tearing our world apart. There, now you have a little theology behind why I feel God calling me to this area of ministry and why I am so excited about the opportunity to get my feet wet in the International Relief and Development sector of Christian ministry. I feel like I have a lot to offer and a lot to learn, I am looking forward to the challenge.

That is the scoop on my life. I would appreciate your continued prayers for myself and for the people of Uganda as well. Please pray that all of those working to share the Gospel in this nation would have favor, success and safety. Also, please do stay in touch with me. I know I will be able to get email in Uganda, the only trick to this is that the power needs to be on to run the phone lines. This is going to be an adventure. Woo hoo. You may have more questions for me too, so feel free to respond and ask them and I will do my best to answer them.

I pray for God to bless you and all that he has given you to do for his kingdom.

Stay in touch,

Mark

Samaritan’s Purse – International Relief http://www.samaritanspurse.org/

Uganda

The source of the great Nile River, Uganda is also a source of hope for Africa for its unprecedented success against HIV/AIDS, accomplished through Christian principles and compassion. Samaritan’s Purse became involved in HIV/AIDS ministry in Uganda in 1994 and has launched a comprehensive program to strengthen the Christian response to the pandemic. Samaritan’s Purse also is involved in community development, livestock and children’s programs, and has provided food and other services for hundreds of thousands displaced by terrorism in the northern part of the country.

Ugandan Projects

Empower Trauma Rehabilitation

The horrific brutality of the prolonged guerrilla war waged by the Lord’s Resistance Army in Northern Uganda not only destroyed homes, churches, schools and livelihoods, it also left deep psychological and emotional scars. The Empower Trauma Rehabilitation Program, designed by psychologist Dr Robi Sonderegger, provides simple tools based on Biblical principals to help people find emotional strength and forgiveness and the lasting peace that is found only in Christ. The program is helping 1,300 people in the Lira area.

Chronological Bible Story Telling

Trained pastors and preachers travel to public places each week to tell the same stories Jesus told in order to give people an understanding of marriage and family relationships from a Biblical perspective. In 2008, the program is expanding beyond the limits of marriage and family, using story telling to depict God’s redemptive plan through Jesus Christ. The program encompasses 3,400 adults, youth, children, and church leaders in the Lira and Kamwenge areas.

Women’s Vocational Ministry

This program provides six months of skills training in tailoring, enough materials and equipment to launch a small tailoring business, and a wealth of spiritual training and mentoring to 80 vulnerable women.

Bible Distribution

Bibles in the local language (Lango) are expensive and scarce in the Lira District. We distributed 1,500 Lango Bibles in 2007, and plan to expand the program this year so that more people have access to the Word of God.

Total Number of Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts delivered to Uganda: 383,146

Uganda

Area: 236,040 sq km; slightly smaller than Oregon

Population: 27,269,482 (July 2005 est.)

Religions: Roman Catholic 33%, Protestant 33%, Muslim 16%, indigenous beliefs 18%

Language: English (official national language, taught in grade schools, used in courts of law and by most newspapers and some radio broadcasts), Ganda or Luganda (most widely used of the Niger-Congo languages, preferred for native language publications and may be t

Capital: Kampala

This info can also be found by clicking on the line below

http://www.samaritanspurse.org/Country_Index.asp?CountryID=211

Motivation

"When all is said and done, more is said than done." - Lou Holtz - Football Coaching Legend

I came across this quote today and it arrested my attention. The more I pondered the words the deeper the meanings became. I pray for and am working towards a life where what I say is not more than what I have done. The best would be if I can make my actions and words count for I have done in the efforts to carry the message of reconciliation to a hurting and lost world.

Steps of Life

I walk a road, bare and dusty
step by step I make my way
looking searching straining to see the finish

No end in sight alone I plod
routine is family and custom my friend

As I strain I become aware that on this road
there are those who have gone before
Without a word and out of sight they cheer me on having shared my plight
We are friends though yet unmet

Deep inside I know all the way I must go
I know no end only toil
But on this road I find who I am and all I need.

Christ in the City Bar

Here is a post that takes none of my own initiative, but the story is powerful. Take the time to read this and engrain the message in your heart.

Credit for the work below:
Written & Performed by Trans-Siberian Orchestra
CD: Christmas Eve & Other Stories
Song: Old City Bar

"Every light can be a star
Just depends on where you are
And the distance that you're looking
Past the places you have been

In an old city bar
That is never too far
From the places that gather
The dreams that have been

In the safety of night
With its old neon light
It beckons to strangers
And they always come in

And the snow it was falling
The neon was calling
The music was low
And the night
Christmas Eve

And here was the danger
That even with strangers
Inside of this night
It's easier to believe

Then the door opened wide
And a child came inside
That no one in the bar
Had seen there before

And he asked did we know
That outside in the snow
That someone was lost
Standing outside our door

Then the bartender gazed
Through the smoke and the haze

Through the window and ice
To a corner streetlight

Where standing alone
By a broken pay phone
Was a girl the child said
Could no longer get home

And the snow it was falling
The neon was calling
The bartender turned
And said , not that I care
But how would you know this?
The child said I've noticed
If one could be home
They'd be all ready there

Then the bartender came out from behind the bar
And in all of his life he was never that far
And he did something else that he thought no one saw
When he took all the cash from the register draw

Then he followed the child to the girl cross the street
And we watched from the bar as they started to speak
Then he called for a cab and he said J.F.K.
Put the girl in the cab and the cab drove away
And we saw in his hand
That the cash was all gone
From the light that she had
wished upon

If you want to arrange it
This world you can change it
If we could somehow make this
Christmas thing last

By helping a neighbor
Or even a stranger

And to know who needs help
You need only just ask

Then he looked for the child
But the child wasn't there
Just the wind and the snow
Waltzing dreams through the air

So he walked back inside
Somehow different I think
For the rest of the night
No one paid for a drink

And the cynics will say
That some neighborhood kid
Wandered in on some bums
In the world where they hid

But they weren't there
So they couldn't see
By an old neon star
On that, night, Christmas Eve

When the snow it was falling
The neon was calling
And in case you should wonder
In case you should care

Why we're on our own
Never went home
On that night of all nights
We were already there

Then all at once inside that night
He saw it all so clear
The answer that he sought so long
Had always been so near

It's every gift that someone gives
Expecting nothing back
It's every kindness that we do
Each simple little act"

Faith in different ways

Why is it so difficult to take a step of faith with regards to my career, but it is so easy to trust God with the eternal destiny of my soul?

So here is my initial response to that question. It seems to me that in life I am surrounded by "the now", and it is "the now" that takes precedence above everything else. So, "the now" of my career seems very daunting. The direction I choose could potentially enhance or degrade my life. One mistake could mess up so many of things.

Yet with regard to my soul it always appears to us as people that we have time, death is not a pressing issue. Therefore the eternal place of the soul can be put on hold until it becomes of immediate concern then i will really need to worry about my faith in God in that area.

The truth is I think it shows how small an issue we make our eternal destiny. Even as a Christian believer I can be very much lulled into a place where my soul is on the waiting list of priorities. My conclusion at this time is this: As I ponder how I trust God with the eternal place of my soul how much smaller a thing is it to trust him in take blind steps of faith towards a career that is honoring to him. The Lord directs the steps of the righteous and those that fear him. I need to keep my fear directed towards honoring God and not towards fearing a mistake

a blessing reminder

Deut. 12:7 “ Feast there in the Presence of God, your God. Celebrate everything that you and your families have accomplished under the blessing of God, your God.”

Too often we forget that all we have and all we have accomplished is b/c God has allowed us to do so. As a Christian I need to always be mindful that everything accomplished is done so under the blessing of God. Therefore I need to be always giving thanks and praise to God; forever sharing with everyone around me the message of the blessing of God.

Celebrating God's Unstoppable Plans

Tomb, thou shalt not hold Him longer;
Death is strong, but Life is stronger;
Stronger than the dark, is the light;
Stronger than the wrong, is the right;
Faith and Hope triumphant say,
Christ will rise on Easter Day.

Phillips Brooks

This joke came through my inbox and it made me think instead of laugh...

Two boys were arguing when the teacher entered the room. The teacher asked, "Why are you
arguing?"

One boy answered, "We found a ten-dollar bill and decided to give it to whoever tells the biggest lie."

"You should be ashamed of yourselves," said the teacher.
"When I was your age, I didn't even know what a lie was."

The boys gave the ten dollars to the teacher.


How often does an authority figure overstate the case and in the end miss the opportunity all together and lose credibility.

Disservice by the Church pt. 2

I am seeking to try to understand the entertainment phenomenon that is sweeping the North American church. What do rock climbing walls and coffee shops have to do with worship of God. How did first century churches manage to spread the gospel far and wide w/o these types of things? How does the underground church of China and North Africa continue to grown in believers?

I honestly believe a whole mess of churches have missed the point are allowing the members of our churches to tell how to run the church. I also think our affluence has led us to trust in our money and our fancy programs and brochures as opposed to times of discipling one another, worship together quietly, and seeking to hear God's voice.

Lord please forgive us, turn us back to you. Have mercy on us, but do not be so kind as to not firmly rebuke us for our sins

Disservice by the church

Lately there has been a nagging issue in my heart. What nags at me is the fact that is seems as though churches are becoming primarily judged on the basis of entertainment and felt need. Maybe I am wrong, but over and over I hear people talking about how churches are not doing this or that well enough. As I talk to these people and as I listen to the stories I think "Do these people really think that is the point of a church?"

So the next few posts will explore some reasons why I think this is happening and how the North American church needs to respond. I would love to hear what you think about my observations and feel free to point other people to this blog to leave their feedback as well.

My first observation about how this became a problem is this; the church of North America did this to itself. Okay so maybe that is a slight overstatement, but I am not sure it is too far off.

First I believe the church bought into the worldly idea that "size is success." In doing so they church became just like any other business aimed to bring people in. The church is now driven by its consumers. If they want coffee, they get coffee and coffee breaks. If they want entertainment the youth departments put in big screen tv's and hold video game tournaments with using the latest hit video game. (even though it involves graphic violence and murder) The church did this to itself. Even if your church is not involved in the latest fads of pop culture can you not honestly see places where the church is making huge accommodations to people who are complaining about some minor issue in the effort to keep as many people in the doors as possible. Weak leadership has led us here.

more later, but how am I doing so far.

Wisdom of Lincoln

Here is a gold mine of truth in what otherwise looks like a rock on the side of the road.

"God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb... in other words, that He renders the worst human conditions tolerable, while He permits the best, to be nothing better than tolerable."
- Abraham Lincoln

as quoted in With Malice Toward None - Stephen Oates

New Year, New Expressions

In the midst of this old darkness the past is slipping away

I await the dawn, and its new mercies each day

But in this night I find myself seeking,

following but one star in the sky,

A light for my way, a light shining for all the world

This Star keeps leading me on a Pilgrim’s Journey,

and as long I follow I am ok,

for when I stray a chill bruns through me,

the Voice of the Star speaks to me.

A voice of correction I have learned not to ignore

I’ve found the Star loves me even enough to teach me.

I don’t know what I will see on the way or what I will face with each coming day.

but the Star keeps on guiding and I have learned by abiding,

to just keep on plodding this straight narrow way.

I don’t know where the Star will lead you,

nor do you know where it will lead me

But this I know, I must keep following that Star

and I would welcome your company…

Wishing Christmas

This season I want to take a moment to say Merry Christmas to each person who reads this. May each of you come to see why this holiday is more than a holiday. May you see it as God at work, powerfully, in the world he created for us.

God be with each of you

Mark

Snapshots of a church

There are times when you are see something in life that really captures a moment. Today while at church I saw this...

There sitting about six rows from the front of the church was a middle aged woman bowed in prayer and there sitting next to her was a ninety year old widow who has been at this church for sixty years praying for her. Both of them were totally focused on the moment the younger woman removed her glasses mid prayer so to be able to wipe away the tears that were now streaming down. There was in that moment a complete look of peace on their faces.

That is my snapshot of the meaning of church. I doubt I will ever forget it. When was the last time you saw that at your place of worship. When was the last time you were one of the two people described

God be with us in this life

Church???

I want to share this with you and please tell me if you agree or disagree.

this comes from Eugene Peterson - you should read at least one of His books

American pastors are abandoning their posts, left and right, and at an alarming rate. They are not leaving their churches and getting other jobs. Congregations still pay their salaries. Their names remain on the church stationary and they continue to appear in pulpits on Sundays. But they are abandoning their posts, their calling. They have gone whoring after other gods. What they do with their time under the guise of pastoral ministry hasn’t the remotest connection with what the church’s pastors have done for most of twenty centuries.

A few of us are angry about it. We are angry because we have been deserted…. It is bitterly disappointing to enter a room full of people whom you have every reason to expect share the quest and commitments of pastoral work and find within ten minutes that they most definitely do not. They talk of images and statistics. They drop names. They discuss influence and status. Matters of God and the soul and Scripture are not grist for their mills.

The pastors of America have metamorphosed into a company of shopkeepers, and the shops they keep are churches. They are preoccupied with shopkeeper’s concerns–how to keep the customers happy, how to lure customers away from competitors down the street, how to package the goods so that the customers will lay out more money.

Some of them are very good shopkeepers. They attract a lot of customers, pull in great sums of money, develop splendid reputations. Yet it is still shopkeeping; religious shopkeeping, to be sure, but shopkeeping all the same. The marketing strategies of the fast-food franchise occupy the waking minds of these entrepreneurs; while asleep they dream of the kind of success that will get the attention of journalists.

The biblical fact is that there are no successful churches. There are, instead, communities of sinners, gathered before God week after week in towns and villages all over the world. The Holy Spirit gathers them and does his work in them. In these communities of sinners, one of the sinners is called pastor and given a designated responsibility in the community. The pastor’s responsibility is to keep the community attentive to God. It is this responsibility that is being abandoned in spades.”

God be with us All

let's see what happens when...

What if I just start writing. No Real agenda or point to make just a writing out my thoughts.

Hmmm....

Sometimes I wonder why the Bible says relatively little about things that we think are so important. Maybe we like so many pharisees and saducees are missing the point. Maybe not entirely missing the point but missing the point on certain issues. I wonder...

I love new ideas and new places to check out on the net so maybe now is a good time to intorduce to some great places I like to go and to invite you to check out a few great organizations.
No real order to these other than this is the order they came to mind.

International Justice Mission
- On a Mission to bring God's Justice to the World - give them $$$
(Not pocket change either the stuff you spend on yourself. Skip a meal out and send them a check)

while at iTunes check out the

CBC Radio Podcasts for the Program "IDEAS"
Emergent Village Podcasts

or listen to some sermons by John Piper. I really like a lot of his preaching.

So what else...

Places to do some reading of ideas worth hearing

The Other Journal
Broken Stained Glass
Pajama Library
the eBay atheist » Blog Archive » Willow Creek


Random thought:

Christianity needs to put its work clothes on. (heard in a Sunday Sermon)

Next time you hear a sermon about God wanting to bless your life ask yourself:
"If I lived in Sudan where the Muslim Gov't were trying to kill me or enslave me b/c I am Christian how would I interpret this sermon?"

God Bless you and be with you all

love for God is love for others

I have been challenged in my heart of late to practice love. To love meaning to do good for others no matter who they are, or what they have done, or may do, or are doing. To give my best to them. To hope the best for them. Not simply to do no harm or to think no ill of them, for that is what love can so easily come to mean. To bless everyone I meet by the way I think of them, talk to them, and what I am able to do for them. I am challenged to truly love as God loves. To love and not condmen even every one of us has faults worthy of condeming.

It seems to me like this is the kind of love demonstrated by Jesus, the visible image of the invisible God. He loved people, he did not condone all their actions but neither is he condemning to them, yet somehow so many of these people saw their need to change. Why do christians feel as though we need to be the group that condemns and points out the worse in everyone and everything. Why wouyld anyone want to attend a church like that, or what is more, serve a God that is like that. I do not think our God is like that. He is loving without condmening. When face to face with God we all see not with our eyes but with our hearts where we need healing and then our God transforms us into his image.

views from the inside

Have you ever worked hard to decorate something, create a piece of art, plan and execute a festival or event? When you are doing these things it is next to impossible to see the true effect of it. Or maybe another way to state the last sentence would be to say there is no good way for you to be objective about what you have accomplished.

I wonder and believe to be true that we as people have no way of understanding who we really are in the order of creation. For example, we look at nature and see a stunning display of color, shape, and sound. We are awed by it and call it beautiful. But what if nature looks at people and calls us beautiful. What if nature realizes a truth that we are not able to observe because we are on the inside. That truth being that you and I are the sons of God. Maybe all of the rest of creation is in awe of you and I as we follow Christ and are even "hidden in Christ". I think people are far more beautiful than people can realize.

C.S. Lewis writes in his article The Weight of Glory "It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you can talk to may one day be a creature which...you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as now you meet...only in a nightmare. All day long we are, in some degree, helping each other to one or other of these destinations. ... There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal... it is with immortals we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit - immortal horrors or everlasting splendors."

As we follow Christ daily we become the latter, without Christ we can only become the former. So, there is no room for those who follow Christ to be proud of themselves for without Christ we are monsters. In Christ we are being transformed into creatures of incredible glory and splendor such as now exists only in our minds as a thing we long for, believing it to be true, but with no way to comprehend the truth of its effect on us.

For today this is what is rattling in my mind
God be with you

so limited

So often I feel so limited, so trapped, so small. Then today as I was praying the Holy Spirit brought to my mind the story of Moses. Specifically how he kept trying to talk god out of using him to secure the release of the Israelites from Egypt. Then the Holy Spirit guided my own mind to ponder how many times have made myself useless simply by not allowing myself to take a step of faith. In the midst of my thoughts I very often become paralyzed by what may not work. Sure I need to analyze a situation or opportunity, but I do not need to be paralyzed. I think my life could be so much more fulfilling to myself and others if I only let go of my insecurities and self doubts and allowed God to work more fully through me. Moses is a great example of this to me.

What if...

I love the following story it is truly a picture of the world in which we live and the world in whcih we should live. May we all grow older and wiser like this...enjoy...

His name is John. He has wild hair, wears a T-shirt with holes in it, jeans and no shoes. This was literally his wardrobe for his entire four years of college. He is brilliant. Kind of esoteric and very, very bright. He became a Christian while attending college.

Across the street from the campus is a well-dressed, very conservative church. They want to develop a ministry to the students, but are not sure how to go about it. One day John decides to go there. He walks in with no shoes, jeans, his T-shirt, and wild hair. The service has already started and so John starts down the aisle looking for a seat. The church is completely packed and he can't find a seat. By now people are looking a bit uncomfortable, but no one says anything. John gets closer and closer and closer to the pulpit and when he realizes there are no seats, he just squats down right on the carpet. (Although perfectly acceptable behavior at a college fellowship, trust me, this had never happened in this church before!) By now the people are really uptight, and the tension in the air is thick.

About this time, the minister realizes that from way at the back of the church, a deacon is slowly making his way toward John. Now the deacon is in his eighties, has silver-gray hair, a three-piece suit, and a pocket watch. A godly man, very elegant, very dignified, very courtly. He walks with a cane and as he starts walking toward this boy, everyone is saying to themselves, "You can't blame him for what he's going to do. How can you expect a man of his age and of his background to understand some college kid on the floor?"

It takes a long time for the man to reach the boy. The church is utterly silent except for the clicking of the man's cane. All eyes are focused on him. You can't even hear anyone breathing. The people are thinking, "The minister can't even preach the sermon until the deacon does what he has to do." And now they see this elderly man drop his cane on the floor. With great difficulty he lowers himself and sits down next to John and worships with him so he won't be alone. Everyone chokes up with emotion. When the minister gains control he says, "What I'm about to preach, you will never remember. What you have just seen, you will never forget."

time to Ponder?

"In prayer I am brought into the dynamic life of the Trinity through the Holy Spirit, the spirit of Jesus, who cries out from within my soul: Abba, Father. The spirit of Jesus links me into the Blessed Trinity. When God looks at me, he desires me and is saying: You are desirable. I made you good. I want you. God sees me as his daughter or son, whom he loves. He says: You are mine. His gaze says: I delight in you. Can I accept this gaze of love? Or do I run back into disapproval of myself? His gaze is like sunshine: can I rest in it, bask in it, enabled by the Holy Spirit?"

pasted from: sacredspace.ie

Mystic Moments

Today I prayed for a while at an unusual place and at an unusual time. I needed to pray. I needed to know God was with me and in me. So in the back of this Roman Catholic Cathedral I knelt down and began to pray. There was no one else there but in moments I felt as though Jesus Christ stood right in front of me. No words came from him, he was just there. I guess it was like when Jesus suddenly appeared to the disciples after his resurrection. All of the sudden he was there. Emmanuel - God with us. Always

This experience reminds me that for all of the study in the world about the Bible and theology the Christian faith is mystical. It is beyond description, classification and analysis. It is mystical. It is by faith that we believe and live. By faith we believe in God. Because of faith we pray to God.

I truly believe I met with Jesus Christ yesterday. I can't prove it and what is more I feel no need to prove it to any of you. I was there and it was a mystical experience only understandable by faith. The mysticism of our faith leads me to think that no matter what is ever written about our faith it can never be fully explained because you must have faith and faith is mystical and mysticism is impossible to explain. There are so many denominations fighting with and against each other to try to define the Christian faith. I think they all fall off the rails when they forget that the Christian life is more than a set of doctrinal truths you give mental assent to. It is a mystical life of faith. The Christian life is a return to the garden of Eden for a walk with God in the cool of the day even when you know there is no garden and the day is not cool. Still in the midst of this life in some way we walk with God in the garden. To try to explain that is not possible it is not a doctrine it is indescribable...

When God changed your life was it not mystical beyond all reason?

Unity of the Faith

I was walking across a bridge one day, and I saw a man standing on the edge, about to jump off. So I ran over and said "Stop! Don't do it!"

"Why shouldn't I?" he said.

I said, "Well, there's so much to live for!"

He said, "Like what?"

I said, "Well...are you religious or atheist?"

He said, "Religious."

I said, "Me too! Are you Christian or Buddhist?"

He said, "Christian"

I said, "Me too! Are you Catholic or Protestant?"

He said, "Protestant"

I said, "Me too! Are you Episcopalian or Baptist?"

He said, "Baptist!"

I said, "Wow! Me too! Are you Baptist Church of God or Baptist Church of the Lord?"

He said, "Baptist Church of God!"

I said, "Me too! Are you Original Baptist Church of God, or are you Reformed Baptist Church of God?"

He said, "Reformed Baptist Church of God!"

I said, "Me too! Are you Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation of 1879, or Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation of 1915?"

He said, "Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation of 1915!"

I said, "Die, you heretic scum!", and I pushed him off. - Ephesians 4:13

The Dawn

There are times that you are overwhelmed dazed and paralyzed. You are stranded not daring to go anywhere and then slowly you realized there is no needed to hide, or run. There is nothing to fear, nothing to dread. What you have been putting off, avoiding, dreading, is actually pleasant, worthwhile, healing. In those moments you are suspended in the hand of God while he speaks to your soul. As he leads you in prayers of repentance, as he heals the wounds never realized you had because you have been so busy with the fight of your life. Then you realize it is God that was pursuing you. He was not out to kill you, expose you, or humiliate you as you feared, but to heal, restore, and impart. Had you taken the time to look at your pursuer maybe you would have stopped, and maybe not. Too often you run for no good reason, often for no reason at all. In those overwhelmed, paralyzed moments you are suspended in God between the worries of this life, the failures of this life, and the hopes of eternity. It is as though the dawn of eternity has sent a barely perceptible ray of light upon you and it brings heal and strength. Then He sets you down, but the ray of light no longer to be seen, but still you are full of hope knowing it is coming. This was my morning.

Read; Reflect for a lifetime.

God be with us all and help us to see, spiritually, the work of Christ on our behalf which we were in no way deserving of.

Psalm 3:1-2

1 Lord, how they have increased who trouble me!
Many are they who rise up against me.
2 Many are they who say of me,
“There is no help for him in God.” Selah

- Charles Spurgeon from The Treasury of David (specifically referring to verse 1)
"This is a good place to remember the innumerable hosts that surrounded our Divine Redeemer. The legions of our sins, the armies of fiends, the crowd of physical pains, the host of spiritual sorrows, and all the allies of death and hell battled the Son of Man. How precious to know and believe that He has routed the enemy and trodden them down in His anger! Those who would trouble us have been captured. Those who would have risen against us have been laid low. The dragon lost His sting when he dashed it into the soul of Jesus."

3 But You, O Lord, are a shield for me,
My glory and the One who lifts up my head.

- Charles Spurgeon from The Treasury of David (specifically referring to verse 3)
"Oh, for grace to see our future glory in our present shame. There is present glory in affliction, if only we could discern it. It is no small thing to have 'fellowship with Christ in His Sufferings'."

I can't take it anymore

Okay, this is my only public voice to the global community so here it goes. SHUT UP! Christians Shut Up! There is a certain book and now a movie coming out and the Christian community, at least North American, is rant and raving about how it is wrong and they see this is a HUGE threat. When this book is not a big threat. I am not even going to name it because I am so tired of Christian giving it free publicity. This whole issue would have been but a small ripple in the cultural ocean if we would have just made a quiet statement and then let it go. But now, as with many things, we have drawn more attention to it than it deserves. Now people will look into it because of pure curiosity.

In fact look at this quote from George Barna, "A survey we completed this week shows that among the tens of millions of people who have read the bestseller, The Da Vinci Code, from cover to cover, the book has influenced their thinking – but it has not necessarily changed their religious views so much as it has confirmed what they already believed prior to reading the book." In other words the people reading the book already don't believe. My fear is that we are pushing people to the book.

Once again Chrsitians will be known for what they are against and not what they are for. We are for lives transformed by the power of God b/c of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Let your light so shine today and everyday.

Recieving Easter

Throughout this most signifcant of Christian holidays I have been wanting to write something to capture its meaning. I guess what I wanted to do was to write a letter, poem, essay, to God almost as a return gift for the greatest gift ever given in all of eternity. But tonight as I sit reflecting on this day, I am drawn by God's Spirit in me to simply accept His Love and ponder its incredible greatness. That I, a great sinner, have been called by God to recieve salvation.

i, Called, by GOD!

Ponder that with me if you will.

God bless you, God be with you. Happy Easter

Defintion of Godly Success

I came across this a long time ago, but it is worth sharing and remembering and actiong on.

God bless us all as we endeavor to live out the life of the Spirit in a world that ignores God's leading

The version found written on the wall in Mother Teresa's home for children in Calcutta:

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.

Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.

Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.

Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.

Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.

Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.

Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten.

Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.

Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God.

It was never between you and them anyway.

Moments Poem

This is taken from a great TV Ad for Lexus. I like it so much I want to share it with all of you.

Moments

A Moment If You Please
Moments Can Be Short
Moments Can Be Long

There Are Moments of Joy
Moments of Sorrow Moments Of Passion
Moments you’ll Never Forget
Moments You’ve Already Forgotten
Moments You Didn't Get

There Are Awkward Moments
Senior Moments
Moments of Truth
And Momentary Lapses In Judgment

People Who Ask For A Moment
Share A Moment I Need A Moment
You Got A Moment?
Wait A Moment

You Can Take A Moment
Make A Moment
Spoil A Moment
And If All The Stars Line In The Right Moment, That Moment Can Be Perfect

Moments Can Define You
Moments Can Delight You
And Moments Can Change Your Life

Here’s To The Moment
And Squeezing All You Can Out Of Every Last Single One Of Them

Powerful Beyond Measure

Powerful Beyond Measure

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

-Nelson Mandela at his inaugural speech

Discovered at:

http://brokenstainedglass.typepad.com

Prayer Space

While reading a book by Tony Jones. The Sacred Way I came across this prayer site from the Irish Jesuit Priests. It is a great place to go and be guided through a prayer time. I pray you find it worthwhile, and spiritually uplifitng

www.sacredspace.ie

God be with us all as we live to serve and praise Him in our dialy lives.

The Gods of the Age

The God’s of the Age

Convenience and Comfort.  They are the new gods of the age.  Huge sums of money are paid by all of us if we are honest just so we can be comfortable and have convenience.  These gods have been promoted at the expense of diligence and dedication and discipline.  Here is the problem though.  Not all things are convenient and comfortable.  Not all things we may want can be had for a monetary value.  There are some things that come only through diligence, discipline and dedication.  God cares more about our diligent, disciplined, dedicated devotion to Him than about our comfort and convenience.

A relationship with God is one of those things.  No Church, no matter how convenient and comfortable, can give you a relationship with God.  There in is the problem.  Imported with many people on many Sundays is the belief that the church is there to serve them.  Pastors fallen under the weight of please congregants at the expense of speaking real Truth.  Pastor try to honestly, most of the time, give people the easiest answers to life’s issues.  They try to find and then preach about the most comfortable and convenient way to a relationship with God, who is to often mistaken for an extra terrestrial bellhop.  

Christianity is simple in its call to all people to diligently seek the Truth in God and live out that Truth in a disciplined and dedicated manner.  But this invalidates our hopes and attempts to make serving God convenient and comfortable.  Those two gods must be left at the altar of conversion.  To serve Christ, to live by the Spirit of God will demand a holy devotion to God.  It can only be lived through divine strength given us daily at the workplace of prayer and applied Bible study.  Peter tell us “through His Divine power we have been given all we need for life and Godliness.” John reminds us that “this is love for God, that we keep His commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome.”

There comes a time for all who have been called of God that we must tear ourselves from the tediousness of this fading and failing sin filled world and enter a sacred, secret and reverent place that no one else can enter with us or for us.  In this place we meet with our God.  We meet not to have our whims fulfilled like little children before a benevolent genie, but we meet with our God is silent Holy humble reverence.  We bear our soul our sins and failings and victories and seek to know the mind of God on all things.  We lift up the burdens of others seeking the Will of God to be done and for His Kingdom to come.  In these daily moments we realize again that we are the agents of the Kingdom we are the servants of God on Earth.  We realize our part in the bringing of the Kingdom of God.  We take our orders from the only Wise, True and Holy God and then proceed from our secret place to live out those orders with the power of the Spirit residing within us.  “Greater is he who is in us than he that is in the world.”

Let us once again raise a cry for the false gods of convenience and comfort to be banished from our lives until the fulfillment of the Kingdom of God.  When the Kingdom of God is fulfilled, then will come our rest and comfort.  Until then let us only find comfort in the secret times with our Lord who in those moments can give us rest and refreshing while wrapped in the loving embrace of His Holy Spirit.

Addicted to Entertainment

Addicted to Entertainment:

Since I have been reading a book, The History of Christian Missions by Stephen Neill, I have started to wonder about what the greatest hindrances to the advancement of the Gospel are today.  I hear report after report and demographic after demographic loudly proclaiming the slide from being a Christian continent to a pagan society.  Reasons are varied and there are far too many to go into depth to report them, but the truth is that there seem to be fewer people accepting Christian faith and baptism.  Now maybe this is the fault of churches and the Christians that occupy them, but what if that is only a small part of the truth.

What if it is simply a fact that there are so many choices to entertain one self that the gospel is hardly even noticed?  Every where I turn I see people being entertained all the time.  (Even as I write this I am listening to David Crowder Band on my laptop at a library)  There are cell phones that are mp3 players and TV’s.  There are portable video games, mp3 players.  I wonder about myself and others if we are to simple and live to be entertained by everyone else’s lives.  Movies, TV shows, computers, cell phones, PDA’s with games and MSN.

How different would life be without all the distractions?  Would conversations with real meaning start taking place or am I just too optimistic?  Would people start thinking the purpose of life might be more than just finding the next great band or movie or hit TV show?   Would people stop, or be less able, to escape from the reality or pain of the life they are living and look for real answers?  I think maybe many people are not Christian’s for no other reason than Christianity is not entertaining enough.  (And too many churches seem to be trying to compete on this level.)

Disclaimer: (This is in no way to be taken that the church or Christians should throw up their hands and tell God “We have tried everything we can think of, we’re done now.”  We must fulfill the Great Commission.  There are real criticisms for the church and Christians individually that needed to be discussed and assessed.  Real changes do need to be made, but I think what I have written above is a real factor in declining numbers of new converts and the slide of so many right out of the church in general.)

A question needing an answer

I know I have not posted to the blog in some time and I hear that is a bad move if I hope to attract a lot of people to my site.  Good thing that is not my goal.  What I really want is true honest discussion.  So in the attempt to elicit such a response I want to ask a question that anyone can respond to.

So here is the question…

What is wrong with the World?

That is the question.  I would love to hear from you and I would love to respond as well.  So please take the time to think about the question and please take the time to respond as well

God be with you.

Farewell to my Emma

This post is in memory of Emma (Emmadorable) the most loving little dog there ever was. She gave all the love she had everyday to anyone who would accept it and sadly I am sure she still had more love to give. I will miss her attacks on the vaccum and the windshield wipers. I will miss the way her whole body trembled because she was so excited you were finally home. I will miss her running throught the yard full tilt trying to catch the squirrels and then barking at the wrong tree that she was sure they had run up. I will miss her cute growl. But above all I will miss her love and kisses. Without a doubt Emma had the cute's.

Recapturing Our Sin

Speaking from a Christian perspective: I am finding the need to recapture the understanding of the meaning and devastation created by the sin of mankind. I go to church and hear these types of statements "it is only the blood of Jesus that forgives us", "what can wash away my sin, nothing but the blood of Jesus", "we have to call sin sin and not compromise to the world in our preaching." Those are great things to say, sing and think, but without taking time to reflect on the true meaning and consequences of sin they are empty words. Too often I hear words without the depth of reflection. I can't remember the last time someone preached a sermon about the depth of mankind’s sinful depravity. For this I think there are few reasons which do have some merit.
First, the objection by so many to a sharp edged sermon on sin is the fact that people will claim "we have been set free from sin", "we are washed in the blood of Christ, our sin is gone". Which is true of all the sins for which we have repented of, but what about the sins we find ourselves stumbling into everyday since we believed in Christ?

What about the doctrine of progressive sanctification? I would rebut that while all of the previous comments about the forgiveness of God through Christ are valid, I think most people don't want to be reminded of their depravity, previously or currently, and this is a good way to avoid having the conversation. All people get good at avoiding situations that are uncomfortable. We all want to think of ourselves as good people. But, we are not good people and that is why Christ, Fully man and Full God had to sacrificially die a vicarious death for all of mankind of to have any hope of restoration of full relationship with our Creator.

I have come to think that recapturing the understanding of the incredible depth of our depravity b/c of sin is a very good thing. When we stop to remember how bad we have been and how much more we need to be changed by the power of God it makes God's grace and forgiveness come fully into the light of Truth. Romans 5:8 tells us that while we were still "sinners", literally translated it means God Haters, God commended His love toward us and sent Christ to die for us. Amazing Grace! That is some kind of love. Even with all of my sins after believing in Christ as Lord and Savior I still have assurance that he is with me, to change me not to overlook my yet existent sins. I must acknowledge to Him how depraved I am. How weak my faith is. How unworthy I am of any of His attention or care.

In this state I see myself for who I am and who God really is. “What is man that you should be mindful of him?” The answer from a just, merciful, and graceful God seems to be this, “Man is my creation, made in My image, a reflection of Myself.”

Remembering our sinful depravity only makes the goodness of God shine brighter and an ever darkening world. Reflecting on how much forgiveness God has had on your soul. Then try not to praise Him.

Selfish Blessings

Blessings from God are not to make us happy. Well, at least that is not to be there primary goal. However, it sure seems like when I pray or others pray for each other that we ask God "to bless us" which seems like a great thing to ask. I wonder though if the under current of that prayer is not some thing more like this, "Lord I want you to make me happy and comfortable and to make sure that nothing goes wrong in my life or the lives of my friends and family."

Now this is not a bad thing to want in itself, but too often Christian are so theological weak that they equate trials and tribulations with judgment from God. There is an old saying that attempts to answer those thoughts like this, "God is good, you are bad, now stop it." Is this not what Job's friends told him and incidentally were only saved from God's wrath b/c of the intercession of Job?

So really, I think I have this right before God, when we pray we should ask God to bless us according to His will for our lives as they are lived to fulfill the kingdom of God. No matter what comes we know we are living for the glory of God. Whether we are persecuted and imprisoned or have all the finest things on earth of our entire existence in the flesh we can know that we have the blessing of God.

As examples I think of John the Baptist, Paul and of course Christ himself. When they faced hard times, even death, they never wrote "woe is me God has abandoned me." No they kept their focus on the higher life, that of eternity. That is where the never ending blessing is, that is the finish line, that is the land of true blessing. This, here and now, is not the land of blessing. This is not the promised land, we have to cross the Jordan, whether that is the return of the Lord or death, we have not yet reached the land of blessing. So when you pray don't pray for good things to come your way, pray that you will be able to build the kingdom of God on Earth and reflected his love and goodness to all you see and all who hear of you. I call this living for the higher life.

Keep the end in mind. Live not for blessing on this Earth live for blessing in eternity.
"Live such a good life among the pagans that they may see your good deeds and praise your father who is in Heaven." - Mt 5:16
"For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain." - Philippians 1:21
"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." - Rom 8:18

Christ Plays

"Fear of the Lord is not so much studying about God, but living in reverence before God. We don't so much lack knowledge as we lack reverence."

taken from:
Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places: A Conversation in Spiritual Theology
by Eugene Peterson

Think about those two sentences. talk to me

Hold your Horses

Due to the constructive CRITICISM of a witty, yet pasty, annonymous friend there will be several new posts coming soon. I wish I had the time to write more and I wish I would quit worrying about making every post a work of perfection. But you can look at this way at least when I FINALLY write (hold on i have to look up "finally" to see if it is spelled write) it should be really good. I can only hope. Thanks exercising patience with me. God to help you all grow patience.
God Bless ya 'eh

Respect for our Elders

Today i wanted to share a brief passage from a old Christian text. Below is a short history of the Canons of Dort, and following the history is one of the most beautiful passages of theology I have ever read. Enjoy. mark

The oldest of the doctrinal standards of the Christian Reformed Church is

the Confession of Faith, popularly known as the Belgic Confession, following

the seventeenth-century Latin designation "Confessio Belgica." "Belgica"

referred to the whole of the Netherlands, both north and south, which today is

divided into the Netherlands and Belgium. The confession's chief author was

Guido de Bres, a preacher of the Reformed churches of the Netherlands, who

died a martyr to the faith in the year 1567. During the sixteenth century the

churches in this country were exposed to the most terrible persecution by the

Roman Catholic government. To protest against this cruel oppression, and to

prove to the persecutors that the adherents of the Reformed faith were not

rebels, as was laid to their charge, but law-abiding citizens who professed

the true Christian doctrine according to the Holy Scriptures, de Bres prepared

this confession in the year 1561.

Article 1: Belief

We all believe in our hearts

and confess with our mouths

that there is a single

and simple

spiritual being,

whom we call God

eternal,

incomprehensible,

invisible,

unchangeable,

infinite,

almighty;

completely wise,

just,

and good,

and the overflowing source

of all good.

Article 2: The Means by Which We Know God

We know him by two means:

First, by the creation, preservation, and government

of the universe,

since that universe is before our eyes

like a beautiful book

in which all creatures,

great and small,

are as letters

to make us ponder

the invisible things of God:

his eternal power

and his divinity,

as the apostle Paul says in Romans 1:20.

All these things are enough to convict men and to leave them without excuse.

Second, he makes himself known to us more openly

by his holy and divine Word,

as much as we need in this life,

for his glory

and for the salvation of his own.