"A New Life: What a God we have!"~PeterSome days it is easier than others to get up and say, "Today, I choose to serve the Lord." It really is a choice. You go to bed tired from a day's work. You wake up refreshed or maybe you wake up tired. But inevitably you wake up. The question is: from the rising of the sun to the setting of same, what will you choose to do? Peter recommends: "As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, “I am holy; you be holy.” " In my life's seasons, I have at times been energetic for God. I have tried to do the things I thought God wanted me to do. I have even been willing to be shaped by thoughts of who I thought were Godly people. Inevitably, God's people would let me down or at least I figured they did because I would be disappointed and my season of obedience would end. It's not like that so much anymore. I still have hurt from what other people have done and I still am disappointed with the outcome of other people's performance, but now it seems my life is more centered on God's love and His life. I really need to adopt Peter's Word on my life and "be pulled into a way of life, shaped by God's life". Peter is suggesting there is a natural Godly force that "pulls" you into God's way of life. You don't have to work to get there. You don't have to wonder what to do. You just have to be willing to be drawn or pulled into God's way. The truth in being pulled into God's way is the freedom found in the pulling by God. God's life is one of freedom to be the man or woman God made you to be. You don't have to be someone else. Just be you and let God pull you into His ways. It is that easy.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
"You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor."~priest
I like the thought of building a healthy, robust community on
facebook. Originally, I thought of facebook as just being a fun thing
to do. But the relationships have developed into a much deeper
community than I expected. I have friendships I never would have
experienced without this electronic media. For the most part, everyone treats each other with dignity and honor.
It seems a "healthy, robust community" is being birthed. Thank you
friends and family for being real!
archi
facebook. Originally, I thought of facebook as just being a fun thing
to do. But the relationships have developed into a much deeper
community than I expected. I have friendships I never would have
experienced without this electronic media. For the most part, everyone treats each other with dignity and honor.
It seems a "healthy, robust community" is being birthed. Thank you
friends and family for being real!
archi
Monday, March 29, 2010
"A most amazing think happened to me the other day."~priest
There is a benchmark time in my career and marriage when my bride and
I were not on the same page. I believed God was calling me to serve
as president of a multi-store rental company in Connecticut and my
bride said that was fine, but He wasn't calling her. As the story
unfolds, I accepted the position and with many tears, my bride
accepted my lead. God was gracious in the middle of this struggle and
we have many wonderful stories and adventures to share about our stay
in CT. But that is not the end of the story... After my job was done in helping to restructure the company, I had the
opportunity to hire and pick my replacement. I don't remember exactly
how we met, but I picked a bright energetic guy named Bryan B. The
owner of the company was pleased with my pick and expressed it by
letting me leave earlier than planned. I am grinning, but it was
something like that. To my surprise Bryan made contact with me through Facebook. It blew
me away as I had just been thinking, "What ever happened to Bryan?" a
couple days earlier. The last contact had been ten years or so prior.
That was surprising enough, but not the biggest surprise of all.
Bryan is a believer. Not just a believer, but a passionate believer.
How long has it been since you met someone passionate about what Jesus
did for them on the cross? We are now rapidly catching up and sharing the reality of Christ in
our lives. God is so good. God willing, I think my bus trip to the
east coast just got longer. Maybe I will have the opportunity to put
a face on the God Spot this summer. God bless you Bryan and family.
archi
I were not on the same page. I believed God was calling me to serve
as president of a multi-store rental company in Connecticut and my
bride said that was fine, but He wasn't calling her. As the story
unfolds, I accepted the position and with many tears, my bride
accepted my lead. God was gracious in the middle of this struggle and
we have many wonderful stories and adventures to share about our stay
in CT. But that is not the end of the story... After my job was done in helping to restructure the company, I had the
opportunity to hire and pick my replacement. I don't remember exactly
how we met, but I picked a bright energetic guy named Bryan B. The
owner of the company was pleased with my pick and expressed it by
letting me leave earlier than planned. I am grinning, but it was
something like that. To my surprise Bryan made contact with me through Facebook. It blew
me away as I had just been thinking, "What ever happened to Bryan?" a
couple days earlier. The last contact had been ten years or so prior.
That was surprising enough, but not the biggest surprise of all.
Bryan is a believer. Not just a believer, but a passionate believer.
How long has it been since you met someone passionate about what Jesus
did for them on the cross? We are now rapidly catching up and sharing the reality of Christ in
our lives. God is so good. God willing, I think my bus trip to the
east coast just got longer. Maybe I will have the opportunity to put
a face on the God Spot this summer. God bless you Bryan and family.
archi
"Sign, sign, everywhere a sign. Do this. Don't do that. Can't you read the sign?"~priest
I've been thinking about sincere believers who are wrong. I know I
must be wrong in some of the things I believe, because my beliefs have
changed over time. As I've gotten older, I've become much more
tolerant of the rules and regulations of salvation. The rules have
become insignificant when compared to the grace available. I believe
my life has become much richer. I think as a believer begins enjoying his place of authority among
other believers, he or she may discover they don't have all the
answers but they like the position. The believers that look up to
them begin maturing in their faith and the one in positional authority
begins to feel threatened. The solution can be easy for them. They
just have to have all the answers. If they don't know something, they
can add logic with impure motive and have an answer for everything. God's way is simple. By faith and believing that Jesus died for your
sins and rose again is the backbone of all true religion. It is the
other stuff that is not so clear, that leaders begin providing answers
for, when really God intended to keep as a mystery. So I'd say if you are being led by someone that has all the answers,
he/she is a fraud or you are not asking the right questions. Only
Jesus had all the answers. Also if you are one giving all the
answers, consider the consequences promised by God for those that lead
another astray. As for signs... And the sign said long haired freaky people need not apply
So I tucked my hair up under my hat and I went in to ask him why
He said you look like a fine upstanding young man, I think you'll do
So I took off my hat I said imagine that, huh, me working for you
woah! Sign Sign everywhere a sign
Blocking out the scenery breaking my mind
Do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign And the sign said anybody caught trespassing would be shot on sight
So I jumped on the fence and yelled at the house, Hey! what gives you the right
To put up a fence to keep me out or to keep mother nature in
If God was here, he'd tell you to your face, man you're some kinda sinner Sign Sign everywhere a sign
Blocking out the scenery breaking my mind
Do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign
must be wrong in some of the things I believe, because my beliefs have
changed over time. As I've gotten older, I've become much more
tolerant of the rules and regulations of salvation. The rules have
become insignificant when compared to the grace available. I believe
my life has become much richer. I think as a believer begins enjoying his place of authority among
other believers, he or she may discover they don't have all the
answers but they like the position. The believers that look up to
them begin maturing in their faith and the one in positional authority
begins to feel threatened. The solution can be easy for them. They
just have to have all the answers. If they don't know something, they
can add logic with impure motive and have an answer for everything. God's way is simple. By faith and believing that Jesus died for your
sins and rose again is the backbone of all true religion. It is the
other stuff that is not so clear, that leaders begin providing answers
for, when really God intended to keep as a mystery. So I'd say if you are being led by someone that has all the answers,
he/she is a fraud or you are not asking the right questions. Only
Jesus had all the answers. Also if you are one giving all the
answers, consider the consequences promised by God for those that lead
another astray. As for signs... And the sign said long haired freaky people need not apply
So I tucked my hair up under my hat and I went in to ask him why
He said you look like a fine upstanding young man, I think you'll do
So I took off my hat I said imagine that, huh, me working for you
woah! Sign Sign everywhere a sign
Blocking out the scenery breaking my mind
Do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign And the sign said anybody caught trespassing would be shot on sight
So I jumped on the fence and yelled at the house, Hey! what gives you the right
To put up a fence to keep me out or to keep mother nature in
If God was here, he'd tell you to your face, man you're some kinda sinner Sign Sign everywhere a sign
Blocking out the scenery breaking my mind
Do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign
Friday, March 26, 2010
"The priest is expecting to draw to an inside straight flush."~dealer
It's funny. One naturally looks upon another's situation as something
bad or sorrowful, if he is changing jobs without another one waiting.
It turns out it is something good. I just don't know what it is yet. Faith is like that. It is not faith to step out on the water, knowing
it is a dried up riverbed. It is faith if your feet are wet and you
keep walking. So please be thankful with me, as I wait for God to "tip
His hand" so to speak. Expecting to "draw" to an inside straight flush... archi
bad or sorrowful, if he is changing jobs without another one waiting.
It turns out it is something good. I just don't know what it is yet. Faith is like that. It is not faith to step out on the water, knowing
it is a dried up riverbed. It is faith if your feet are wet and you
keep walking. So please be thankful with me, as I wait for God to "tip
His hand" so to speak. Expecting to "draw" to an inside straight flush... archi
Thursday, March 25, 2010
"God is a lot like Ground Hog Day. Each time we relive life, God reveals a little more of Himself."~Jeff
I dropped by McDonalds located inside Walmart and ordered the $1 Breakfast special. I was promptly presented a hash brown and sausage biscuit. It is quite the deal. I sat in the glassed area watching people coming and going. My seat was a few down from a young man sitting quietly by himself, not eating, just looking. I tried to size him up as whether he was homeless....
I said, "Excuse me. Have you had breakfast? Before he could answer, I asked if he'd like my sausage biscuit? I said I had an extra one." It was my only one, but it was extra. ;) He accepted and i passed it to him. He ate it ever so slowly. I wondered. If you eat slow does that mean you are incredibly hungry and you want to savor the experience or does it mean you are not hungry at all and just eating out of obligation. I don't know.
I chatted about God Spots and how I hoped to write a book one day about people and their encounters with God. I told him about some of my more memorable God Spots. I mentioned the time I met a survivor of the Black Hawk Down episode. I asked him if he had ever seen God do anything. He thoughtfully said, "Yes. It is like God is in disguise. God is doing things, but it is often disguised in everyday life." I think this is profound and have coined the term, "God in disguise".
It turns out the guy's name is Jeff. He is a cartoonist. He is really quite articulate. We talked about the God in disguise. We considered that God was much like an onion. Throughout life, layers of the onion are pealed back and more of God is revealed. Even with the discover or revelation of each new layer, there is still much of God hidden.
We talked about John 3:16 and how God's love was revealed through the action of Jesus dying on the cross for each of us and then rising from the dead. Jeff said he use to have a shirt that said, John 3:16. He liked it.
We wrapped up the conversation chatting about the movie, "Ground Hog Day". He said God is a lot like Ground Hog Day. We continue to relive our past and during each cycle of life God reveals a little more of himself. At this point the student became the teacher...
"It is what drives them that defines them. Where then is the love?"~priest
There was a time when man lived by faith. For some it was a time when faith was as common as the sun rising in the morning. Men and ladies of faith enjoyed exercising their faith as much as they enjoyed the warmth of sun on their skin or the ocean breeze blowing through their hair. Faith was all part of living and breathing. It was an integral part of life.
Now is the time of blessing. There is more affluence than ever before. It is a time of opportunity. We grow up believing it is our time to grab a piece of the action. It is our turn to make our mark. We buy cars and homes. We take expensive vacations and we might even give some of it away. We truly enjoy all that God has created, but not so much God.
Tomorrow will be a time of persecution. Others will do quite fine in life with luxuries most abundant and may even be called Christian. Some will praise the new rulers. Some will protest the new rulers. But praise and protest will not define a Christian. A true Christian and believer of "The Way" is defined by his love. It is in the love a Christian enjoys, he will experience the persecution occurring naturally in tomorrow's selfish society.
It seems we in America have been giving away our freedoms in exchange for a continued opulent lifestyle. Many in America are not pleased with the exchange. Some have even taken to protest while being identified with their Christian label. As a Christian and believer in "The Way", I think it important to remember who the Christian is and know that by our fruits you will know us.We may all be labeled "Christian". Some may even hide within the label. We may protest or not, but the true Christian acts out his life in love. If in protest, it will be out of love, not out of hate. It is what drives a true Christian and what defines a believer in "The Way". Love not hate defines a Christian.
Today will be a good day to live out the commandment of love. Our faith needs to be exercised in love so that we are strong when tomorrow's day of persecution arrives. Jesus is coming again.... So protest if you must, but always love and remember... Jesus is coming again.
"For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous."~Paul
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
"This is huge!"~priest
"Abraham entered into what God was doing for him, and that was the turning point. He trusted God to set him right instead of trying to be right on his own." ~Paul
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
"Turning points avoid ruin and enter into life."~priest
"There are lots of turning points in my life,
but none so radically true as this."~priest
So much of my life has been wasted,
by listening to the world say,"Never quit!"
Much of what remained of my life was wasted,
by the world saying, "Failure is not an option."
Today I am reclaiming the life God planned,
by entering into His chosen place at His time.
Paul says it this way...
"Abraham entered into what God was doing for him,
and that was the turning point."~Paul"
"Sometimes, all one has is prayer and faith that God loves."~priest
Facebook friends and family are being stretched thin as they deal with a totally unexpected surgery. The request for prayer follows. Please keep this family in your prayers and specifically young Andrew. If God leads you to fast and pray tomorrow, I will be there with you in Spirit. God bless. archi
Laura Paniello Johnson Prayer request: my daughter's friend, Andrew Soleyn, who is 12 and in 6th grade, is going into the hospital tomorrow to have a brain tumor removed from behind his eyes. Nobody even knew he was sick until two days ago. He is a bright, funny, happy kid who is well-liked at my daughter's school. Please pray for strengt...h for him and his family, for the surgery to go without any problems, and for a speedy recovery. My comment:Laura.
I am so sorry Andrew, his family and your family are in the midst of a potentially life changing struggle. I will pray and fast tomorrow for God's hand on Andrew. I will make my church aware of the surgery and many will pray. I will post to God Spots as I know my followers of God Spots will want to be a part of his miracle recovery.
I am so sorry Andrew, his family and your family are in the midst of a potentially life changing struggle. I will pray and fast tomorrow for God's hand on Andrew. I will make my church aware of the surgery and many will pray. I will post to God Spots as I know my followers of God Spots will want to be a part of his miracle recovery.
God is alive and well. He likes to demonstrate to the world His presence in a fashion that it is unmistakably God. Peace. God bless and be confident that God loves you. archi
Laura Paniello Johnson Thank you <sigh>.
Laura Paniello Johnson Thank you <sigh>.
"Where is your monkey squatting today?"~priest
Sometimes it seems people say the most stupid of things, but often i wonder if the stupidity is on the part of the speaker or the listener. Consider this comment to Jesus...
"It took forty-six years to build this Temple, and you're going to rebuild it in three days?"~the crowd's response to JesusSupposing you were standing in the crowd waiting for the show to start and Jesus something about building a superstructure in 3 days. Would you consider the statement pretty stupid or intriguing? Would you blow Him off or would you be drawn to Him and want to hear more?
In fact, I do say some pretty stupid things. Sometimes, God chooses to uniquely be in the middle of the supposed stupidity. It is in these times, those that have ears may choose to hear.
Funny how "stupid" jumps like a monkey to the other side... Whose shoulder is your monkey squatting on today?
Monday, March 22, 2010
"Peter knew about conditioned reflex long before Pavlov and his dog."~priest
I am Pavlov's dog to a certain extent. There was a scientist named Pavlov in the mid 1800's who figured out the thing we refer to as conditioned reflex. He noted that a dog salivates when he sees food. He took it one step further and figured out a dog could be conditioned to salivate when a bell was rung.
I was recently mistakenly picked up by the police and taken to county jail, where they were kind enough to lock me up for two days and a night. Since then, when I see a police car my blood pressure rises and I can physically feel a knot in my stomach as my heart begins to race. I am Pavlov's dog and I don't like it.
Peter experienced the same phenomenon. When the rooster crowed three times, he died Christ. Can you imagine? Denying that you are friends or even associated with the one that is slated to die for you. But the story doesn't end there for Peter.
For Peter, everyday the rest of his life, the cock will crow in the morning reminding him of the sin he committed. He became Pavlov's dog. He became you and I. He got the pain in his gut and bounding of his heart in his chest. What was his escape from this hell on earth he stepped into?
For you and I, we need to recognize the value of a conditioned reflex and benefit from it. I am retraining my reflex when seeing a police car. Today when the police car pulls alongside, I bless the police officer. I pray for his safety and integrity. I pray he will personally encounter God today while he is on watch. Then, I mentally take myself to a place of peace in my memories. A place I remember fondly and a place I'd like to be.
When I do this, I am kicking satan in the teeth and it feels good. I think Pavlov's dog is one of satan's most successful weapon's against Christians and has the potential to render us impotent in our walk with Christ. Figure out where Pavlov is dogging you and turn bad into good by the power of God!
Sunday, March 21, 2010
"There is truth and transparency in God Spots."~priest
Announcements by Stephanie McEntire
It’s funny how an announcement can change your whole life. Announcements such as “Honey, I am pregnant” , “honey we won the lottery”, “honey, I was laid off today” or any number of such things. One sentenece can change the course of your life, path or journey in this world.
I started reading the Gospels over again as I do over and over and there is a reason for that. I have a deep hunger for the life of Jesus. He said follow me…and for years I followed every wind of doctrine and realized that I had no idea what Jesus was all about. So back in 2003 I made a commitment to only follow Jesus and announced it as such. I highly recommend it. I had been out of organized Christianity for at least a good 7or 8 years without picking up anything that remotely said “God” or anything remotely associated with God. I was and am a reader and continued to read but I read mindless fluff like romance novels and best sellers with a few “self help” books thrown in for good measure. I became like an everyday normal person…not focused on God and the knowledge of God… actually I was trying to forget. The pain of betrayel in “Christiandom” had ruined my appetite for anything God. Of course I blamed God and the folks who caused the pain in my life. When I made the announcement to my Church that I was leaving, the looks from friends, family and foes and the looks of horror are still imprinted in my mind….but the sense of freedom that came with the announcement is forever at work in my heart. Come what may I could not take the inconsistancy of that kind of God nor could I take the fickle feelings he had for me and his creation. I could never ever call myself an Athiest or Agnostic because I couldn’t get away from the whole “Jesus” part of the deal. When as a young girl I went looking for answers I was looking for love. This Jesus guy did exhibit plenty of that and I couldn’t get around it. So I would defend Jesus and shake my fist at God. I could not reconcile the two…. In about the 7th year after my Exodus from all things God my husband and the Father of my three children made an announcement …he was leaving me for another woman. We went from pillars in organized Christianity to divorce in just a few years. It made me wonder if the naysayers were right about God and all my failure at knowing him and it kind of proved my point. I didn’t know why he continued to torture his creation with “life” tragedy and drama all the while expecting me to give one ounce of care to “know” him. I didn’t make it a practice to go down to the mental home to visit mentally ill people to find my answers …so why would I seek a God who clearly couldn’t make up his mind about wether he loved or despised his creation. If you already have low self esteem then that was the final blow to me. I think after my husbands announcement I lost my mind. Little did I know that was probably for the best. So, after the divorce I went back to doing what I do best and was most succesfull at, taking drugs and getting into one drama after another. I came from an abusive home and pain made you feel and so I picked the worst boyfriend I could find and took drugs to kill the pain. It had a great pay off…It was a life I was familiar with and I stepped right back into the “victim” role. I lost a lot during those days…and it all came to a head one evening when the boyfriend and I were coming off some serious drugs and withdrawel is a bitch…I had lost custody of my kids and they were only seeing me every other weekend and didn’t really want to but my loyal little baby girl continued to tread the treacherous waters cause she loved her Mother and that paticular evening she was there when all of this horror was going down. The abusive boyfriend who normally only took out things on me…turned on her….and I was numb to do anything about it and I went into the kitchen and took a pill…and if I had had more…it would have been over for me that night. After the boyfriend locked himself up in a room I went looking for my daughter. I found her on the bathroom floor sobbing and screaming out to God….”why are you doing this to me?” I fell to my knees and realized something….God wasn’t doing this to that dear child….her Mother was. It was at that moment that I knew that my whole life was an announcement to the world of my victimization at the exspense of all who loved me. I had been so selfishly happy being the victim…that it had even transcended into a decision to see myself as such victim…at the hands of God. I packed my daughter up and sent her to her Fathers. I also packed a bag and called my brother and announced “I was going to rehab” yet another life changing announcement. I packed in haste because I was fleeing but I did manage somehow to throw in a Bible. I found myself in rehab with no one except “me.” It was not a “christian” rehab (one of my stipulations and announcements…another good choice.) After about two weeks of withdrawels they sent me back to my room with a book called “The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous.” It’s a book I think every recovering “Christian” would benefit from. Just insert “religion” to every reference to drugs or alcohol…believe me…your eyes will be opened to the addictive power of religion. In the “Big Book” (slang for the book) they explain the disease of addiction and I loved that part. You see if I had a disease I was still the “victim.” This was right up my alley…until I got to about chapter 4 or 5 when there is an announcement…one that changed my life ….it’s the hardest thing for a victim to say….”YOUR TROUBLES ARE OF YOUR OWN MAKING.” I threw the book across the room…it split in half like the red sea…and I immediately wanted to leave the rehab..I didn’t want to go to that place… Go to that place I did though. I had no where else to go. In the next few days after marinating in that statement I sought out one of the most influencial people in my life to this day at that rehab. He gave me an announcement…and asked me to do something I had never thought of…start over. Who would have thought it could be so easy. He asked me to think about forgiving myself…what heresy…forgiveness was only handed out by God…and he didn’t hand it out very generously..(or so I thought.) I didn’t want to go there either because my view of God was “bait and switch”..you know the old commercial God that hung is Son on a cross for my sins because he loved me…and needed atonement for my “sickness” and then expected me to act like him from that day forward. It was an impossibility back in the day…and one at that moment as far as I was concerned. I wanted nothing to do with it. So my friend gave me another “announcement”…”Why don’t you start over there too?” No one had ever told me that I could start over with God. He handed me something called a “set aside prayer.” That little tiny piece of paper was a launching pad for me. It went something like…”God…I set aside all I know…all I believe… all I think I know…and admit that I really don’t know anything at all.” I took that prayer back to my room and literally emptied myself of all knowledge. I killed my FrankenGod….you know the one built out of all the winds of doctrine…all the generational hand me downs…the guy on T.V….etc etc…I just literally emptied myself and made an announcement that I “forgive” myself even though I am not really sure what that means but I hope it looks something like a “clean slate” or an exspance of time that I can change in. I asked him if he would help with that….but if he came at me with one ounce of shame…I was out of the relationship. I had enough of that without his. It really was an awesome day. I went back to my first love…which was “love”…and begin to dance with the one who “brung” me all those years ago. About a week after that while going through my suitcase I found the Bible that I brought. The words “follow me” just kept going over and over in my mind. So, I started in Luke wanting absolutely nothing to do with any commandments or heavy duty shame…and began at the beginning of the life of this man I was suppose to follow. We all know about the Birth of Jesus having seen the play a million times…but there was something that stuck out to me…an announcement by a group of heavenly beings to a bunch of shepherds in a field …..”Good tidings, a Saviour was coming.” Something was about to change and change was what I needed so I began to see that announcement as “mine.” It was a like a “peace offering” or an olive branch straight from God himself or at least that is how I felt. It was as if I was being asked to really think about Jesus being the “Prince of Peace” for my heart. I had to have “peace” in my heart about this process of “knowing” him as I had heard that he had asked ...he did ask for us to “follow him”….so I decided to do so by reading only the Gospels for the last 10 years or so…highly recommend…I found that God was trying to say something to me through this man…he was trying to show me what he was like and what his space is like which is outside of this time and space. It was “green pastures” and a place for restoration…not so much to reconcile me to some form of “sinless” life because of poor pitiful me…but reconciliation of the two of us…and Jesus was going to show me what that looked like. I was invited to a wedding feast….a huge banquet of restoration…of which I don’t think I have moved from the table since the invitation…so why I have said all this? I say it because I need to…it is my announcement..to myself every single day…He loves me. He doesn’t love my knowledge of him or keep his eyes on all my shortcomings…He loves ME. It is so easy to forget that in our search for knowledge and as I follow him I find that learning of him is all about his love for me..no strings. NO STRINGS. No bait and switch and no getting away from it. So if I could announce on a loudspeaker to the world one thing…it would be that there is no getting away from that love and my life is an opportunity to show my neighbor this wonderful thing. Shit will happen in this cause and effect world but love will remain..period. If I walked by “sight” in this cause and effect world as I used to…I probably would have been dead a long time ago. I walk by Faith in this love now…and it opens up a new vision…and new eyes and there are no fences around this God whom Jesus was showing me. I love the way it's put in Song of Solomon, …his announcement to me…”His banner over me is love. “ Nuff said for me. It's just that simple. What does his banner over you say? . See you next week!
I started reading the Gospels over again as I do over and over and there is a reason for that. I have a deep hunger for the life of Jesus. He said follow me…and for years I followed every wind of doctrine and realized that I had no idea what Jesus was all about. So back in 2003 I made a commitment to only follow Jesus and announced it as such. I highly recommend it. I had been out of organized Christianity for at least a good 7or 8 years without picking up anything that remotely said “God” or anything remotely associated with God. I was and am a reader and continued to read but I read mindless fluff like romance novels and best sellers with a few “self help” books thrown in for good measure. I became like an everyday normal person…not focused on God and the knowledge of God… actually I was trying to forget. The pain of betrayel in “Christiandom” had ruined my appetite for anything God. Of course I blamed God and the folks who caused the pain in my life. When I made the announcement to my Church that I was leaving, the looks from friends, family and foes and the looks of horror are still imprinted in my mind….but the sense of freedom that came with the announcement is forever at work in my heart. Come what may I could not take the inconsistancy of that kind of God nor could I take the fickle feelings he had for me and his creation. I could never ever call myself an Athiest or Agnostic because I couldn’t get away from the whole “Jesus” part of the deal. When as a young girl I went looking for answers I was looking for love. This Jesus guy did exhibit plenty of that and I couldn’t get around it. So I would defend Jesus and shake my fist at God. I could not reconcile the two…. In about the 7th year after my Exodus from all things God my husband and the Father of my three children made an announcement …he was leaving me for another woman. We went from pillars in organized Christianity to divorce in just a few years. It made me wonder if the naysayers were right about God and all my failure at knowing him and it kind of proved my point. I didn’t know why he continued to torture his creation with “life” tragedy and drama all the while expecting me to give one ounce of care to “know” him. I didn’t make it a practice to go down to the mental home to visit mentally ill people to find my answers …so why would I seek a God who clearly couldn’t make up his mind about wether he loved or despised his creation. If you already have low self esteem then that was the final blow to me. I think after my husbands announcement I lost my mind. Little did I know that was probably for the best. So, after the divorce I went back to doing what I do best and was most succesfull at, taking drugs and getting into one drama after another. I came from an abusive home and pain made you feel and so I picked the worst boyfriend I could find and took drugs to kill the pain. It had a great pay off…It was a life I was familiar with and I stepped right back into the “victim” role. I lost a lot during those days…and it all came to a head one evening when the boyfriend and I were coming off some serious drugs and withdrawel is a bitch…I had lost custody of my kids and they were only seeing me every other weekend and didn’t really want to but my loyal little baby girl continued to tread the treacherous waters cause she loved her Mother and that paticular evening she was there when all of this horror was going down. The abusive boyfriend who normally only took out things on me…turned on her….and I was numb to do anything about it and I went into the kitchen and took a pill…and if I had had more…it would have been over for me that night. After the boyfriend locked himself up in a room I went looking for my daughter. I found her on the bathroom floor sobbing and screaming out to God….”why are you doing this to me?” I fell to my knees and realized something….God wasn’t doing this to that dear child….her Mother was. It was at that moment that I knew that my whole life was an announcement to the world of my victimization at the exspense of all who loved me. I had been so selfishly happy being the victim…that it had even transcended into a decision to see myself as such victim…at the hands of God. I packed my daughter up and sent her to her Fathers. I also packed a bag and called my brother and announced “I was going to rehab” yet another life changing announcement. I packed in haste because I was fleeing but I did manage somehow to throw in a Bible. I found myself in rehab with no one except “me.” It was not a “christian” rehab (one of my stipulations and announcements…another good choice.) After about two weeks of withdrawels they sent me back to my room with a book called “The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous.” It’s a book I think every recovering “Christian” would benefit from. Just insert “religion” to every reference to drugs or alcohol…believe me…your eyes will be opened to the addictive power of religion. In the “Big Book” (slang for the book) they explain the disease of addiction and I loved that part. You see if I had a disease I was still the “victim.” This was right up my alley…until I got to about chapter 4 or 5 when there is an announcement…one that changed my life ….it’s the hardest thing for a victim to say….”YOUR TROUBLES ARE OF YOUR OWN MAKING.” I threw the book across the room…it split in half like the red sea…and I immediately wanted to leave the rehab..I didn’t want to go to that place… Go to that place I did though. I had no where else to go. In the next few days after marinating in that statement I sought out one of the most influencial people in my life to this day at that rehab. He gave me an announcement…and asked me to do something I had never thought of…start over. Who would have thought it could be so easy. He asked me to think about forgiving myself…what heresy…forgiveness was only handed out by God…and he didn’t hand it out very generously..(or so I thought.) I didn’t want to go there either because my view of God was “bait and switch”..you know the old commercial God that hung is Son on a cross for my sins because he loved me…and needed atonement for my “sickness” and then expected me to act like him from that day forward. It was an impossibility back in the day…and one at that moment as far as I was concerned. I wanted nothing to do with it. So my friend gave me another “announcement”…”Why don’t you start over there too?” No one had ever told me that I could start over with God. He handed me something called a “set aside prayer.” That little tiny piece of paper was a launching pad for me. It went something like…”God…I set aside all I know…all I believe… all I think I know…and admit that I really don’t know anything at all.” I took that prayer back to my room and literally emptied myself of all knowledge. I killed my FrankenGod….you know the one built out of all the winds of doctrine…all the generational hand me downs…the guy on T.V….etc etc…I just literally emptied myself and made an announcement that I “forgive” myself even though I am not really sure what that means but I hope it looks something like a “clean slate” or an exspance of time that I can change in. I asked him if he would help with that….but if he came at me with one ounce of shame…I was out of the relationship. I had enough of that without his. It really was an awesome day. I went back to my first love…which was “love”…and begin to dance with the one who “brung” me all those years ago. About a week after that while going through my suitcase I found the Bible that I brought. The words “follow me” just kept going over and over in my mind. So, I started in Luke wanting absolutely nothing to do with any commandments or heavy duty shame…and began at the beginning of the life of this man I was suppose to follow. We all know about the Birth of Jesus having seen the play a million times…but there was something that stuck out to me…an announcement by a group of heavenly beings to a bunch of shepherds in a field …..”Good tidings, a Saviour was coming.” Something was about to change and change was what I needed so I began to see that announcement as “mine.” It was a like a “peace offering” or an olive branch straight from God himself or at least that is how I felt. It was as if I was being asked to really think about Jesus being the “Prince of Peace” for my heart. I had to have “peace” in my heart about this process of “knowing” him as I had heard that he had asked ...he did ask for us to “follow him”….so I decided to do so by reading only the Gospels for the last 10 years or so…highly recommend…I found that God was trying to say something to me through this man…he was trying to show me what he was like and what his space is like which is outside of this time and space. It was “green pastures” and a place for restoration…not so much to reconcile me to some form of “sinless” life because of poor pitiful me…but reconciliation of the two of us…and Jesus was going to show me what that looked like. I was invited to a wedding feast….a huge banquet of restoration…of which I don’t think I have moved from the table since the invitation…so why I have said all this? I say it because I need to…it is my announcement..to myself every single day…He loves me. He doesn’t love my knowledge of him or keep his eyes on all my shortcomings…He loves ME. It is so easy to forget that in our search for knowledge and as I follow him I find that learning of him is all about his love for me..no strings. NO STRINGS. No bait and switch and no getting away from it. So if I could announce on a loudspeaker to the world one thing…it would be that there is no getting away from that love and my life is an opportunity to show my neighbor this wonderful thing. Shit will happen in this cause and effect world but love will remain..period. If I walked by “sight” in this cause and effect world as I used to…I probably would have been dead a long time ago. I walk by Faith in this love now…and it opens up a new vision…and new eyes and there are no fences around this God whom Jesus was showing me. I love the way it's put in Song of Solomon, …his announcement to me…”His banner over me is love. “ Nuff said for me. It's just that simple. What does his banner over you say? . See you next week!
Surf to: http://www.freshc.org for a Fresh Connection...
"What do you wish you could do, that you have not done before?"~priest
A Facebook friend asked me the question: "Is there anything you want to do Arch"~ColleenI want to tell people about Jesus after God has softened the target. Seriously. I don't so much like to tell people about Jesus that don't want to hear. They burn you at the stake and such. Very uncomfortable. lol That said, now I just have to figure out how to make a living doing it. I am an entrepreneur by heart. Physicist by education. All around talented by experience. With that said...... I am a "Connector". Somebody wrote a book about connectors, mavens and whatever else. I am a connector. I like connecting people together and making them successful at whatever. This is evidenced by my facebook. I work everyday at making friends. Almost 1700 friends later, I am connecting. So, I think I want to capitalize on my passion for connecting. Give people the opportunity to be successful and in the process tell them about Jesus. I have no preconceived ideas about what I will do, but have been to this stage before in the process. I collect information. I listen to God and an idea will be birthed in the process. What do you wish you could do, that you have not done before? I think I will blog this. Thank you for asking. archi I recently dropped the "e" off my name. It is an indicator that God is not done with me yet.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
"Just an accumulation of posts to facebook that i amuzed myself with..."~just sayin'
Tired, but the grass is cut. I suspect the antelop will be lost and the buffalo will quit playing. Might be the other way round, but the grass is cut.~just sayin'
If you and I were partnering in a business, what do you do well and how would you contribute to the success of the enterprise? Seriously now. Think outside the box for just a minute....
"In today's socio-economic climate, i think it is time for many to throw the net on the other side of the boat."~priest
"I want to tell people about Jesus and get paid doing it. Is that wrong?"~priest
"Out of 1700 friends, only 30 on line. I wish I could send an electric jolt to each of my 1700 friends and wake them up on a Saturday morning. It would be a satisfying experience."~just sayin'
"Am wondering if Benny Hinn has any openings and if so, what would the job look like?"~priest
OK this is a serious question. I am a "Starter"... I am thinking about starting a business. Any ideas from my facebook friends....?
"So the doc says take this pill. The side affect is it will make you grumpy. She says take this pill, the side effect is it will make you happy. So I take a grumpy pill and I take a happy pill. Now what....."~just sayin'
"Supposing you are the best square peg God ever made. How you liking that round hole?"~just sayin'
"Vietnam was a difficult war. The enemy was difficult to identify. Christian's are in a similar battle. The enemy is even more illusive."~priest
"I want to be all God designed me to be in my job. Any ideas?"~priest
--
Friday, March 19, 2010
"Today, I choose to follow Jesus. I am traveling light."~archi
There was a time when a man named Saul hated Christians. He hated them badly. He was personally responsible for killing many men, women and children who were followers of Christ. It was these people that willingly followed Christ without regards to the price to be paid.
Today, I choose to follow Jesus. I am traveling light. I trust I am prepared for the adventure. I believe God will provide according to His riches and mercy. That is the kind of God I serve.
"His momentum was up now and he plowed straight into the opposition..."~Acts
Thursday, March 18, 2010
"I took a slug to the gut and here i am to tell about it."~homeless
Today, I had the opportunity to meet Nelson. He is homeless by choice because he likes to travel. He left home when he was 12 years old and has been on the road since. I would guess him early thirties, but it is tough to judge a homeless person's age. Their skin is a little rough for the added wear.
Nelson has a two month old pup with a good bark, he picked up for his girl friend who is in the hospital. She didn't make it very well through the last cold snap. He is hanging around until she gets out and then they head for Tucson. He has been there before and made out ok there.
Nelson has a great mountain climbing backpack someone gave to him and a warm bedroll. He is set up pretty good. He was reading a ragged out stephen king novel. I chatted with him about how many times he has been tossed in jail for begging. He has only been tossed in jail once in San Antonio. He had accrued 7 tickets and the police officer thought it time to go before the judge. He spent the day waiting for the judge. The judge dismissed the tickets and went about his way.
Unfortunately, all his stuff had been left behind by the police officer, so the real penalty was losing the few possessions he had. Someone had stolen his stuff by the time he got back. Of course he came out the winner with help from the guy that fixed him up with the mountain pack. Pretty cool the way it worked out.
I gave Nelson a Bible with P.90 marked up. "For God so loved the world.....". He had gone to church as a kid. He didn't have a Bible and was glad to get this one. I drove around the block and saw he had put his Steven King novel down and was reading the Bible instead. Cool huh?!
I asked if he had ever seen God do anything, he said yes, many times. I said, "How so?" He said he was shot in the gut and the bullet was still lodged up next to his spine. The doc said he wouldn't walk again, but here he is. Hauling around a 50 pound pack. He figures it must have God that saved his life and healed his body. I agreed.
We chatted about John 3:16 and what God did for us. I left and headed back to work...I enjoy chatting with the homeless. They have a unique perspective on life.
Surf to: http://www.freshc.org for a Fresh Connection...
Surf to: http://www.freshc.org for a Fresh Connection...
If "Jesus wept" is the shortest verse, this is the most abused verse"~priest
"This is what I want you to do: Ask the Father for whatever is in keeping with the things I've revealed to you. Ask in my name, according to my will, and he'll most certainly give it to you. Your joy will be a river overflowing its banks!
I bet in my lifetime I have prayed this verse hundreds of times. There is incredible power in praying the Words of the creator of the universe. Think about it. God spoke, ie He used Words to create the universe. It doesn't get more powerful than that. He honors us with sharing a few of His Words and promises results. So what is problem?
The problem is me. I want everything. Gimme this. Gimme that. Most of it not in tune with His will and certainly not in keeping with the things He has previously revealed. But I keep praying. Sometimes, I get the results I want, because I happen to pray according to His will and in keeping with His revelations.
My prayers are kind of like a shotgun blast. When I first started praying, I had a wide spread to the pattern of shot. Over the years the pattern has been choked down to a more tight spread. I suspect there will come a day in eternity when the spread will be defined by a single shot. Then, God will answer every time and with a smile on His face.
My encouragement to you is pray, a lot. Sometimes even in your ignorance, you will hit the target. God bless!
ENJOY THE DAY!
archi
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
"There are few things of more value than friendship. Ichabod is my friend."~priest
Guest Post by my friend:
Hi Archie;
He is quite a character
You ask a lot of questions on this blog, probably a lot more than I do on mine and I thought I asked a lot.
Today the word simple came to my mind. It seems to me that politics, finance, world affairs and religion including faith is no longer simple, but you need an advanced degree in unraveling BS to get to some semblance of what appears to be true.
For me everything is simple, including faith. I have one God, who I assume is the same as yours and that is it.
Everything else can wait in line.
For me, my faith is the only one that stands the test. If I don’t have a bible, koran or anything else it doesn’t matter.
I truly believe for the mentally challenged and others who can not or have not heard what the missionaries try and teach, they have their faith in one God. We have this built into our system somehow, like genes which predetermine hereditary diseases and so forth.
We have a better understanding of some things than before, but no one knows it all.
For me, my faith is a God Spot, even if it doesn’t correspond to other people’s definition of righteousness.
For I cherish peace, am compassionate (I hate to see someone cry or suffer) and am not a murderer.
Some may say that is not enough. I say why not?
But we are human.
You know I read your stuff, if I agree or not I don’t hesitate to throw my two cents worth in and I think you are a character worth knowing, even if I don’t always agree with you
In other words thanks
Comment by "Starbucks got my lunch money and a homeless guy got my offering."~priest
Starbucks got my lunch money and a homeless guy got my offering. At this rate, I'm going to have to get sponsorship or at least find somewhere else that has cheap lunch, free wireless internet and homeless people. ~just sayin'
Kevin walked up beside my table and asked for a couple dollars. I appreciate it when a homeless guy sets his sights higher than pocket change. I chatted all the regular stuff. Where you from? Where you going? How long you been here? He complied with answers and totally disinterested. He said, "Don't get me in trouble." I said don't worry about it, I'll tell management you are my friend.
I asked him to tell me about Jesus. He said he was baptized at Westside Baptist in Odessa. He was a Christian. I asked if he had ever seen God do anything for him. He said, 'Yes, but didn't know what.' He really just wanted his money. He never did tell me about Jesus.
So let me ask you this question.... Have you ever seen God do anything? Maybe you have but won't tell me because you know the bum already got all my money. lol ..
Surf to: http://www.freshc.org for a Fresh Connection...
Surf to: http://www.freshc.org for a Fresh Connection...
"If God would tell me, "Why?", I'd be more inclined to follow through."~priest
Sometimes God gives us very specific instructions to follow. Many times they don't seem to make much sense because He doesn't always tell you "Why?"
If God would tell me, "Why?", I'd be more inclined to follow through. But then again, if God told me why, faith would not be required or it might give me room for negotiation. Jesus gave these specific instructions...
"Keep your eyes open as you enter the city. A man carrying a water jug will meet you. Follow him home. Then speak with the owner of the house: The Teacher wants to know, 'Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?' He will show you a spacious second-story room, swept and ready. Prepare the meal there."
There have been times in my life when I have heard God speak directly to me. The voice was not audible, but it was undeniable. If I have an ear to hear, I usually hear Him daily. Having an ear to hear for me is to consciously choose to rid myself of distractions and chat with God. Tell Him about my day. Express my love for Him. Tell Him I am seeking to do and be whatever He wants. It is then or maybe a little later He will impress upon me, His wishes.
I use to think if God task me to do something, it meant I had to go save someone. I had to tell someone about heaven and hell. In the midst of my telling, I had to successfully sell them on Jesus. It's not like that so much anymore and I enjoy life a whole lot more.
Today, when God puts the bug in my ear to stop and chat with someone. That is what I do. I chat. No pressure. No demands. Just friendly chat. I ask about how the day is going. I try to ask questions of things that are interesting to them. Somewhere in the conversation and in a very relaxed and non-confrontational way, I tell them what is going on in life. The conversation is 80% them and 20% me. In that 20% is God.
So if I were you, forget trying to figure out what God wants you to say. Just chat, but mostly listen. God will interject His thoughts as He wants in the conversation. What use to seem like a guilt ridden challenge to do for God, has become a natural experience of life with God doing what He wants, when He wants. He doesn't need me, but He might choose to use me if I am willing.
Today, go make a friend. Listen to his thoughts. If God has a word, give it. Otherwise, just love them for who they are. You will experience the freedom in Christ you were designed to be. For me, I chase God Spots.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
"Guest post with thoughts on Mother Teresa"~Missionary Teresa Devlin
Teresa Devlin
The spiritual life develops just as our physical. The valleys we sometimes travel may be dark to the point of shutting all earthly knowledge of what we perceive God to be. The process of God purifying us takes in the perfecting of our minds and how we perceive everything.
In the process God sometimes takes away the "consolation" of knowing as we are used to knowing. This in order to take us to a higher level of perceiving the purity, inmensity and power of God. We are finite and the work God does in us takes away the confidence of believing and seeing with that limitation, taking us to the broadness of infinity.
Jesus said He would be there as all these things take place. So, when God finishes our work on earth, we arrive at that moment of glory where we see as we are seen and know as we are known. The veil of darkness is taken away so the new reality of our transformation in God then takes hold.
In reading lives of great people of God, I see that many folks passed through these dark nights of the soul. I believe God never fails to put His stamp of approval on a life that has had the purity of intention in living out what He wants from us. Lottie Moon lost her sanity nine months before she went on to be with our Lord, due to her generosity in giving even her own food away.
God's ways are not our ways. Lottie Moon is one of the greatest missionaries to China known to us.
"the waves come and tey are stuk."~Jo Jo
JoJo 'snap'
AMEN!!
the world does not understand wisdom.
where the wind blows, the ship will sail, but if there is no sail, how wil it follow the wind?
this is the wisdom of the world.. they are ships without sails.
they follow peoples understandings and end up further lost in the seas.
the waves come and tey are stuk.
6:47amArchie
true and the wind of the Spirit keeps blowing...
"I believe that was Gods healing to me and His real presence. "~Buddha
Buddhan Nepal March 15 at 11:29pm
Hi, I am sorry for the late message. My Life wasn't that simple. I have seen Violence, Fight, crime, hate, tears, hopeless, Blood.. and all the worse thing you can imagine in whole world. Most worse among them was, I was killing myself. After my 8th grade I was completely changed, I was corrupted in different way.
After graduating high school (in my country) I had 3 month break. During that break I changed my friends (mostly gang people). That wasn't healthy time at all. Life started getting worse. Until I was completely numb. I was real sick, no one figure out what was wrong with me. My blood was less, I forgot how to smile. It was hard time for me, I thought i was dying. Finally some how I found a book called "Book of Hope", started reading it and believing in Jesus. Every word was like a miracle to me. My health started getting better. If i think back now, I don't think I would be alive if i haven't got that book and believed in Jesus. I believe that was Gods healing to me and His real presence. ~Buddha
Hi, I am sorry for the late message. My Life wasn't that simple. I have seen Violence, Fight, crime, hate, tears, hopeless, Blood.. and all the worse thing you can imagine in whole world. Most worse among them was, I was killing myself. After my 8th grade I was completely changed, I was corrupted in different way.
After graduating high school (in my country) I had 3 month break. During that break I changed my friends (mostly gang people). That wasn't healthy time at all. Life started getting worse. Until I was completely numb. I was real sick, no one figure out what was wrong with me. My blood was less, I forgot how to smile. It was hard time for me, I thought i was dying. Finally some how I found a book called "Book of Hope", started reading it and believing in Jesus. Every word was like a miracle to me. My health started getting better. If i think back now, I don't think I would be alive if i haven't got that book and believed in Jesus. I believe that was Gods healing to me and His real presence. ~Buddha
Monday, March 15, 2010
"Do you ever let your mind think the craziest of thoughts?"~priest
I do. I was at work today, taking care of business when a bit of a bizarre thought came to me. You see I was doing something, after having neglected to do something else. Oddly the thought came to me, "I wonder how long an angel will wait?" I promptly took care of the neglected thing.
Where do thoughts like this come from? Where do they go? For what purpose are thoughts like this: "I wonder how long an angel will wait?" Is it craziness? Is it the mind of God? I don't know for sure, but in my case the thought required action.
It was not a long thought out process. I thought the crazy thought and acted. Nobody was hurt. Somebody was likely helped. Maybe me.
To even write a blog about acting on craziness must be unique. I see all kinds of blogs written by very knowledgeable people. They share more information in a few days, then I will likely remember in a lifetime. But I am bored by it all.
I want to read about real life. I want to read about God interfering in your life for your own good. I want to read that God saved you from certain death. I want to read about your craziness in Christ. I want to read about your wondering how long an angel will wait and what you did about it!
This evening after getting home, I did a Bible search on angels and quickly found one that had waited. It turns out, maybe it was not for such craziness after-all.
One day the angel of God came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, whose son Gideon was threshing wheat in the winepress, out of sight of the Midianites. The angel of God appeared to him and said, "God is with you, O mighty warrior!"
Gideon replied, "With me, my master? If God is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all the miracle-wonders our parents and grandparents told us about, telling us, 'Didn't God deliver us from Egypt?' The fact is, God has nothing to do with us—he has turned us over to Midian."
But God faced him directly: "Go in this strength that is yours. Save Israel from Midian. Haven't I just sent you?"
Gideon said to him, "Me, my master? How and with what could I ever save Israel? Look at me. My clan's the weakest in Manasseh and I'm the runt of the litter."
God said to him, "I'll be with you. Believe me, you'll defeat Midian as one man."
Gideon said, "If you're serious about this, do me a favor: Give me a sign to back up what you're telling me. Don't leave until I come back and bring you my gift."
He said, "I'll wait till you get back."-
"Father, help the guy fall in love with The Message".~priest
I once wore a t-shirt with a single word written in BOLD RED ink. JESUS was the word. Every where I went, it invoked a reaction. Some people opening embraced it. Others openly confronted it. Most avoided it. I found the reaction to me interesting. I was the same person, with or without the JESUS shirt.
Today, I handed a copy of "The Message" to a guy in Einstein's bagel. I was sitting adjacent to him. I thought, "Yes. I will give him, "The Message"." Then, I thought, "No. I won't give him The Message." The guy looked quite professional, but a bit serious. The thought of giving him The Message made me uncomfortable, but the thought of disobedience to my Father was even more uncomfortable. I gave the guy, "The Message" as I left.
He accepted my gift. He said, "Thank you" and put it aside. He seemed a bit put out at The Message. It may have been that he was even expressing an anger at The Message. I couldn't tell for sure, but his reaction validated my discomfort.
As I drove off, I prayed. God, help me to not take rejection personally. Father, help the guy fall in love with The Message.
"Roll me over that I might drink of the pain more deeply, Lord. Draw me ever yet, more closer. Amen."~priest
Have been reading about Mother Teresa. If I were older, I would have beat M.Teresa to the thought that suffering can draw you closer to God. As it is, I will endorse it and my life will authenticate it. Suffering may not be a bad thing. It may be an uncomfortable thing, but not necessarily bad. It is what you do with the suffering that determines if the interest is worth paying and item worth redeeming. I've earned the right to say, "Roll me over that I might drink of the pain more deeply, Lord. Draw me ever yet, more closer. Amen."~priest May your walk draw you yet, more closer. Stephanie McEntire Hope you don't mind. I posted your note to my Fresh Connection. http://fresc.org.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
"Some things are best left unsaid about Mother Teresa or maybe not"~priest
It is impossible to doubt the goodness of the person in Mother Teresa. But I feel a great sadness for the dark side of her Spiritual being with God. According to Wikipedia...
Mother Teresa (26 August 1910 – 5 September 1997), born Agnesë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu(pronounced [aɡˈnÉ›s ˈɡɔndÊ’e bÉ”jaˈdÊ’iu]
), was an Albanian[2][3] Catholic nun with Indian citizenship[4] who founded the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata (Calcutta), India in 1950. For over 45 years she ministered to the poor, sick, orphaned, and dying, while guiding the Missionaries of Charity's expansion, first throughout India and then in other countries. Following her death she was beatified by Pope John Paul II and given the title Blessed Teresa of Calcutta.[5][6]Mother Teresa expressed grave doubts about God's existence and pain over her lack of faith:
"Where is my faith? Even deep down ... there is nothing but emptiness and darkness ... If there be God—please forgive me. When I try to raise my thoughts to Heaven, there is such convicting emptiness that those very thoughts return like sharp knives and hurt my very soul ... How painful is this unknown pain—I have no Faith. Repulsed, empty, no faith, no love, no zeal, ... What do I labor for? If there be no God, there can be no soul. If there be no soul then, Jesus, You also are not true."~Mother Teresa
It is a frightening thought, after spending your life living in poverty, you would question the very existence of God. Something is very wrong with the picture we have of Mother Teresa and the pain from deep within her soul.
"Even deep down ... there is nothing but emptiness and darkness..."~Mother Teresa
I passionately chase God Spots. It is what I do.
I recently posted this thought on Facebook. As I turned to check the time on my desk clock, I note it is 3:37. It is God's unique way He uses for me to authenticate His approval. With His inspiration, I repost my Facebook status to God's blog. 37stories....
"I passionately chase "God Spots". It is what I do. I frequently ask strangers this question. "Have you ever seen God do anything?" As you read this question, when was the last time you saw God do something quite tangible? If you feel the pain in your gut of conviction, I believe you last saw God do something at the moment you quit doing anything."~priest
and "There squats the toad"~darma
"Faith requires doing, but not necessarily understanding why."~priest
It seems there are different kinds of angels. When Mary gave birth, the frightening type showed up and revealed themselves to the shepherds and others. God authenticated His message quite nicely with an unarguable angelic presence.
Sometimes God's plan for authentication of His message is through unique circumstances. It was in the lack of hotel rooms, that Mary found herself authenticating God's message. When Joseph gave Mary the news that all the hotels were sold out, Mary could have whined about it and refused to put her baby in a livestock feeding trough.
In Mary doing the unusual, she was being set up by God to authenticate that the baby was none other than Jesus! I find the biggest and most intimate encounters with God are often in the unusual. It is also the unusual that I tend to want to naturally avoid. Interesting conflict right? To avoid the unusual, may disrupt your opportunity to experience an intimate encounter with your creator.
While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the hostel.
There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep.
Suddenly, God's angel stood among them and God's glory blazed around them. They were terrified.
The angel said, "Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David's town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you're to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger."--
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Friday, March 12, 2010
"One step away from being homeless, you and I"~priest
Met a wonderful man and his dog when my employer sent me to buy mulch. Marian and Rusty I believe to be their names. Marian is a veteran. He came from California with a truck, trailor, wife and dog. He now has a dog.
I enjoyed chatting with Marian. Rusty enjoyed protecting his master. He was excited to receive a Bible and change for a cup of coffee. He has plenty of time to read.
It brings the thought to mind that we each are but one step away from being homeless. A poorly thought out action here. A poorly thought out response there. Consider Job. Homeless and did neither....
Surf to: http://www.freshc.org for a Fresh Connection...
"Are you living life as Child of the King or Child of the Sting?"~priest
Opportunity for instant conflict in life and marriage is created with this thought as it plays out in life...
"I am not who I think I am. I am not who others think I am. I am who God knows me to be."~priest
If there is truth in this statement, what do you do with it? You make decisions based on who you think you are. Making right decisions requires the stripping away of confusing thoughts about your identity and replacing them with a very simple truth. If you are a believer in "the way", you are simply a child of the King. Life should be lived out accordingly.
The difficulty of one's identity in marriage is compounded in a negative way, because of your expectations of your mate. If you don't know who you are, how in the world can you expect to know who the other person is? The question comes to mind:
"Did you marry your mate based on who they were or who you thought they would become?"
I can bet you and likely win, if you married someone with expectations of them becoming someone else you are sadly disappointed. There is but one solution to the predictable train wreck. Both must take on their identity in Christ as a child of the King and live life accordingly. Unfortunately, when self gets in the way, life will never be enjoyed to the fullest.
Without Christ and dying to self, you will not live the life as "Child of the King", you will live life as "Child of the Sting".
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Thursday, March 11, 2010
"Be encouraged as heaven applauds your faithfulness."~priest
Jesus said it something like this....
When you at the end of your rope and feel like you have lost things most dear, enjoy God's embrace and be content with who you really are. In this contentment, work up a good appetite for God and care for others.
Align your heart and mind with God, encouraging others to cooperate in God's plan. In the midst, expect others to whip up on you. Be glad and be encouraged as heaven applauds your faithfulness.
Surf to: http://www.freshc.org for a Fresh Connection...
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
"Father. Forgive me when my earthly desires overshadow my Christ following..."~priest
I just had a most confusing God Spot. While hanging out at Starbucks during lunch, I overheard a guy next to me setting up sales appointments on his cell phone. I thought what a great segway into asking, "Have you ever seen God do anything for you?" So, I asked what he was selling. Turns out it was insurance. God bless him.
I listened respectfully to his pitch, but interrupted when he said that most marriages failed because of financial pressures. I agreed, but questioned if both parties were focused on Christ wouldn't you think the marriage would survive. He was sure that was NOT the case. He was firm that it was all about finances, so I asked if He had ever seen God do anything in his life. He said he was a Baptist minister and could very definitely remember when he was saved at the age of nine. I'm guessing that was 60 years, ago.
Now, I am not Baptist bashing. I am a Baptist, but I am a follower of Christ first. My confusion is a disbelief on his part that Christ was the answer to divorce and then advertising himself as a Baptist minister. I really don't get it. Christ is always the answer. If Christ is not the answer, you need to take down your shingle: "Baptist Minister Here".
I am just saying and can't type fast enough to share my astonishment. "Father. Forgive me when my earthly desires overshadow my Christ following..."~priest
Surf to: http://www.freshc.org for a Fresh Connection...
Surf to: http://www.freshc.org for a Fresh Connection...
"Thank you, doctor and thank you to the VA system of healthcare."~priest
There is much negative said about medical care provided by the Veterans Administration. I am taking this opportunity to say, I just received the most thought-out, patient, insightful care at a VA clinic on Woodcock in San Antonio. My doctor spent more time questioning and dialoging with me than I probably have had collectively in all my previous doctor visits for a lifetime. She was really that thorough.
The doctor thinks she can make my headache go away. I am going to believe that God working through her will bring an end to this tough 12 week adventure in migraines. So we are switching up meds with expectations of getting rid of this beast of a headache. I had more blood work done to answer some additional questions. She seems confident in the future. I am encouraged. I don't know the doctor's name, but officially and worldwide want to say, "Thank you, doctor and thank you to the VA system of healthcare."
Surf to: http://www.freshc.org for a Fresh Connection...
"Life without hope is not life at all."~priest
I think these words of inspiration and instruction by Jesus are some of the most encouraging words He spoke on earth. They are words of truth and hope. I have been thinking a lot about hope, recently. It is really difficult for me to imagine what life would be like without hope. I suppose it would not be life at all.
Read the following words of Jesus. He left them as a beacon of light pointing you to the way of hope. Follow the light and rest assured Jesus loves you and wants you to love Him. He will provide in the midst of storms. He is your safe haven. Without Jesus there is no hope. There is only eternal separation.
So today, let this be the 1st day of the rest of your life. Pray to the Father for forgiveness. Believe in what Jesus did for you on the cross. Walk and keep walking in His daily light...
Matthew 5 - You're Blessed1 -2When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said: 3"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.4"You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you. 5"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.6"You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat. 7"You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-full,' you find yourselves cared for.8"You're blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world. 9"You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family.10"You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom. 11 -12"Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble. Surf to: http://www.freshc.org for a Fresh Connection... Tuesday, March 9, 2010
"There is a God worthy of our worship: God of the Angel Armies"~priest
What if you came to church this next Sunday and God locked the doors? How could that be? What will I do with my spotted three legged lamb?
"Why doesn't one of you just shut the Temple doors and lock them? Then none of you can get in and play at religion with this silly, empty-headed worship. I am not pleased. The God-of-the-Angel-Armies is not pleased. And I don't want any more of this so-called worship!"~Malachi
God reveals through Malachi, His displeasure in the way His people are going about worship. It is in this impotent worship the people's true heart is revealed. If we could see "God-of-the-Angel-Armies" take His place on a throne in front of our assembly in church, would He be pleased?
Malachi goes on to say...
"I am honored all over the world. And there are people who know how to worship me all over the world, who honor me by bringing their best to me. They're saying it everywhere: 'God is greater, this God-of-the-Angel-Armies.'
It seems there are two very important components to an acceptable worship of God. The first element of true and acceptable worship is to bring your best. The second component is to acknowledge that God is Sovereign. God is subservient to no other god.
Malachi describes what a rank smell our impotent worship looks like..
"All except you. Instead of honoring me, you profane me. You profane me when you say, 'Worship is not important, and what we bring to worship is of no account,' and when you say, 'I'm bored—this doesn't do anything for me.' You act so superior, sticking your noses in the air—act superior to me, God-of-the-Angel-Armies! And when you do offer something to me, it's a hand-me-down, or broken, or useless. Do you think I'm going to accept it? This is God speaking to you!
A sure way to torque off God is to bring in your discards...
"A curse on the person who makes a big show of doing something great for me—an expensive sacrifice, say—and then at the last minute brings in something puny and worthless! I'm a great king, God-of-the-Angel-Armies, honored far and wide, and I'll not put up with it!"--
God deserves and expects your best. It is not wise to go before an angry God.
Surf to: http://www.freshc.org for a Fresh Connection...
Monday, March 8, 2010
"Personally. I think Jesus is coming sooner rather than later. Best make sure my collar is washed."~priest
This is a bit of a different kind of "God Spot". It qualifies as a God Spot, being that a God Spot is when God periodically authenticates His presence and I get to blog about it. I think God is authenticating His presence through earthquakes.
The news a couple days ago, said how we are having more earthquakes than usual. This goes right along with my thinking that Jesus is coming sooner rather than later. The Bible tells us that as we approach the endtimes. The earth begins to pretty much self distruct. More earth quakes will get you there quicker. I think.
Then of course the news headlines says, "Not more quakes, just more people in quake zones" I get a bit tired of the news being sanitized and the headlines get changed. Here is the truth of the matter...
In the same article with the headline that there are not more quakes is the quote buried:
On average, there are 134 earthquakes a year that have a magnitude between a 6.0 and 6.9, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. This year is off to a fast start with 40 so far — more than in most years for that time period.
What do you do with a dream like this?
Guest post by: Joseph...
"i had a dream last night that you drove down my street and crashed your car. then i ran out to help you and you were shooting blood from your head. i had to hold your head to keep the blood in while i called the ambulance. strange, since we dont see or talk much? was just really graphic and thought i should share. pray for you to be safe my bro."~Joseph
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