When ever you are working with power tools or things with blades it is always a good idea to have a first-aide kit nearby. I am going to tell you a couple of stories and then apply that to life and see if we can find the significance to Duct Tape and Blades.
I remember hearing a story once when I was younger, now I don't know if it was true or not, and it went like this. A veteran woodworker was working in his shop one day using his table saw to cut some wood. When the thing that every woodworker dreads happened. Somehow his finger came to close to the moving blade and it cut deep into his finger. In my memory it had made it to the bone but had not cut all the way through. A wound this deep has a tendency to bleed. Now like every good woodworker does he had a well stocked first-aide kit near by, Not. He had to think quickly and grabbed a near by shop towel to keep from bleeding all over the place. But that wasn't doing enough so what did he do? He grabbed a roll of Duct Tape and taped and cut a section of towel to wrap around his finger and then wrapped the area with duct tape. It was a great first-aide move and he was then able to drive himself to the doctor where they fixed his finger up good.
In high school I did construction the summer after my sophomore year until the summer before my senior year. While doing a remodel on a house outside of the Salem area I had my own Duct Tape moment. Mine did not involve a saw but it did involve a gas powered framing nail gun that used 16 penny nails. I had been nailing angle cut 2 x 4 toenail style to the upright 2 x 4 of a section of wall. Somehow on this one board my aim was off or the nail hit something and curved right into my hand on the back side of the 2 boards I was nailing together. I will save the description of what it sounded like or felt like when I pulled my hand away as it was filled with the pain of the nail being thrust at high-speed into my hand. Of course being well prepared construction workers we had a first-aide kit. Well we did. . . . The problem was that it was kept in my bosses truck and he had left sometime before the accident to run some sort of errand. So there I was no first-aide kit bleeding quiet a bit. I didn't want to risk bleeding all over the floor in the customers house as I attempted to find band-aides in their home. So I went to my car in hopes that I could find something to at least clean up the blood and reduce its flow until my boss got back. Now I didn't find any shop towels but I did have some napkins from some fast food restaurant and upon further looking I found a roll of that multifunctional Duct Tape. I think it was left in my car from a repair of a rip in the back seat. So using the tools at my resources I completed first-aide on myself and was well enough to go back to work until the boss arrived and I could better bandage myself up.
Now My third story doesn't involve Duct Tape but it does involve a injury that needed first-aide in a place that is a little difficult to administer to yourself. A friend of mine and my wife's, she was only friends with my wife at this point because we had just meant. Had somehow stepped on a medal tent stake, we are not talking about one of the nice nail like ones with the plastic near the head but one of those cheap sheet metal ones that the roll up to a pointy tip, and it had ripped out a chunk of flesh on the bottom outside edge of her foot. If you have ever tried this is not an easy part of your body to try and administer first-aide to. Luckily for our friend I am well trained and experienced in first-aide. So using a first-aide kit I was able to clean and bandage her foot quite nicely.
Lets stop here and ponder a few questions. Have you ever done something in your life and after you where standing on the other end of the consequences of the action thought to yourself or asked 'Why didn't someone warn me?'? Or maybe some one did but they were persistent in their warning, or did it in an unloving way and again you end up on the other end of the choice again asking 'Why didn't they try harder?'? Now Maybe the woodworker and the saw wished he would have listened to those who told him to be careful with that saw. Or maybe I wished that there would have been some one there to see my aim was wrong and they could have warned me. Mistakes happen and bad choices occur sometimes with out warning and sometimes with a warning or two. Either case doesn't matter what does matter is that when they do happen that first-aide is needed even if it is just some Duct Tape. From my many experience with first-aide on both sides of the situation first-aide is always easier with the help of another. So that is my second thought is that when the choice is made even if the person ignored your warning we need to be there to help.
So this is the first part of what I believe will be a two part blog. Let me leave you with this from the wisdom of Solomon and my final thought 'How important is it to be a part of a community?'.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (New Living Translation)
9 Two people can accomplish more than twice as much as one; they get a better return for their labor. 10 If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But people who are alone when they fall are in real trouble. 11 And on a cold night, two under the same blanket can gain warmth from each other. But how can one be warm alone? 12 A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010
A delayed post - 09/23/2010
I have been wanting to write on my blog since last week and until today I haven't been able to muster what I needed to do so. I have been feeling very down over the past week and it has opened the door to some negative self talk and a lot of self doubt.
Friday the 17th was a very downer of a day. I was trying to get ready for a camping trip with our very close friends the Rats(The Ratliffs to most). Under the stress of packing and preparing for the weekend I had a few realization that added to the cauldron of things brewing a soup of despair in my heart. It was to this soup that my wife came home to find me near the point of anxiety attack if not in one. She lovingly helped me step back and out of my soupy mess.
So we loaded up the family(the Mats to the Rats) and headed for I-5. For a lot of people there are things that they do that or places they go to help discussion occur. It could be sitting down for a cup of coffee in the morning, going for a walk or maybe sitting in the backyard. The place where most of our family discussions occur, the meaningful and deep life type discussions, on I-5 somewhere between Olympia, WA and Salem, OR. Why those places and why I-5 well it has to do with Family and time spent going to and from visits with them. When you are on the road and it is just the two of you(pre-Jillbacca) and one of you most constantly be talking(just kidding it is not constantly but very consistent) conversations happen. When add the factor that one of you takes along time to process and converse it takes a long drive for those deep conversations to get done. So I-5 has been the perfect place for us to have these conversations to this day. We even lovingly refer to them as our I-5 talks.
We had a good I-5 talk on this trip. I found a lot of comfort and encouragement in the words of my wife and myself as we talked about what was overwhelming me that day, the future, the baby, the growth in us and our walks with God. I did find myself in one of the moments where Mandy was addressing some of the positives of who I am and what has been happening in my life lately. Going through 'The List' of who I am. We had to stop for a potty break(this time more frequent than normal, part of traveling with a pregnant woman) so I wrote down some of the thoughts while Mandy was away. . . . . . . .
How weird I seem to have misplaced the list. I guess it is not important but the list mostly focused on the negatives in my life or the things that I and others would use to lessen my value of myself. I realized yet again that who I am is more than just the some of my past. Yes those are a part of how I have become me but I can't let it stay there otherwise I will never grow, mature or better myself. Imagine what would happen in a kindergartner decided that his time in kindergarten had made him who he was and he could never be more than that, or a high schooler, a bachelor, a college drop out, a drunk or an addict. Most people would look at the kindergartner and say you are too young to stop and same with the high schooler. But is it any different for the drop out or the drunk. There is always the chance for change as long as we are open to the changes.
Just to wrap up a little since I need to stop writing and go on with the day. My wife sent me this email the other day.
Love,
This is from a blog by the wife of one of the lead singer's of Selah. They had a tragedy in their family in 2008. Can't remember where I stumbled upon this blog from but this woman is very wise. I know you don't have the problem of looking back the way that I do, which is what today's post is about. But I still wanted to share it with you as an encouragement. I really spoke to my heart today.
Love you,
Beautiful
Pillar
I sat completely upright, eyes staring at him while I moved food around my plate nervously.
It was our first date and I had decided I was going to marry him. He ordered (delicious) soup for me and opened the car door when I got in and when I got out. I wanted to impress him but I choked on my words as I tried to come up with something less desperate than "Elope or have a wedding?"
Because that's not always a good first date plan.
His eyes lit up as he shared a story he had heard about a little girl at church who had drawn a picture, and he just knew I would get a kick out of it as well.
"So, you know Lot's wife?"
Clearly Lot was a friend I hadn't met yet. I put on my best, "I'm sure I do. Give me a minute..." face and nodded for him to continue.
Was that the guy in Sunday school? Was he on the retreat? Lot. No, I would remember meeting a guy named Lot.
"Well her teacher tells her to draw a picture of what happened to Lot's wife and she drew a salt shaker."
He started laughing.
I laughed too, and shook my head side to side. Those crazy kids.
"Oh, that is great! How funny." I bit my lip and tried to think of a good follow-up condiment story.
Nothing.
"So, Lot..." I just kind of threw it out there. I figured I would give him some room to fill me in on the backstory.
"Yeah, you know, from Genesis? The one who left Sodom and Gomorrah?"
Awesome. Thanks for clearing that up.
Note to self: find Precious Moments Bible that is somewhere in my apartment and find out who Sodom and Gomorrah are.
I nodded again, filling my mouth with pasta so I wouldn't have to drop any more pearls of wisdom before the second date.
A few hours later I found my little Bible and hunted down this Lot guy. He's umm, an interesting fellow, and reading about him next to images of Precious Moments figurines has got to be one of the strangest experiences a new believer can have. Seriously creeptastic.
With that said, I did find it pretty interesting. The gist of it is that Abraham is trying to save Sodom (Sodom and Gomorrah are places, not people. Also good to know for date number two) and kind of negotiates with God about it. This deserves a whole post of it's own, but let's come back to that some other day. Anyway, he works out a plan with God that if there are 10 righteous men in Sodom, God will not destroy it. Unfortunately, this isn't the case and God sends two angels to warn Abraham and his nephew Lot to get out of town before this happens. Lot tries to warn his sons-in-law but they thought he was joking and apparently didn't listen. It says in Genesis 19:16 that Lot hesitated, so the angels grabbed his and his wife's hands and led them out of the city.
As soon as they were safe, the angels said to them, "Flee for your lives! Don't look back, and don't stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!" Lot tells them he wants to go to another town instead. And guess what? It isn't in the mountains, it's in the plains. God wants Lot to go to one place, and he believes his idea is better than God's. I read this and shake my head because that just sounds silly to me.
Well, as silly as it can sound to someone who does the same almost every day of her life.
So Lot and his bride head towards Zoar (which was called Bela before this incident), and as they do, Lot's wife makes a critical mistake.
She looks back.
She looks at back at the city filled with sin and wickedness, and as she pauses, God turns her into a pillar of salt (the salt shaker thing is way funnier now).
We don't ever learn her name, but her legacy is one of looking back. She has been rescued from death, from sin and depravity, and there is something that still haunts her enough to stop moving toward whatever is ahead.
Did she want to see if it would really be ruined? Maybe she wanted to see her things one more time. Was she longing for a person? Reflecting on the life she wanted to keep living?
I don't know, but I do know this.
God has been gracious with me for many years in my turning back. A glimpse of what could have been, a temptation that makes me question my faith. An earth-shattering loss that beckons me to believe that the mountain is too far and the valley will be just fine.
I have wandered to the closest city while I know He desires for me to climb, and I have settled there for longer than I care to remember. I have failed Him many times over, head and heart turned, and yet He urges me never to settle. I don't know what you are walking away from tonight, but as I have been praying about what to write the Lord has put this message on my heart so clearly that I had to share it. I want you to know I am praying for you as I write-asking the Lord to remind you tonight that there is a reason you have left that life behind.
It has been swallowed by grace, friend. And you need not miss what He has for you by believing there is something worth going back for. Leave it be. The Lord has told you where to go and it's time to walk. Eyes straight ahead, tangled in the spectacular love of a Savior Who wants nothing less for you than the summit. And as you stare at what might have been, you are immobilized, unable to bring Him the glory He deserves. And also, He might make you salt. Just saying.
It has been almost exactly ten years from the night I went out with Todd for the first time. October will mark a decade of falling in love with the man who has given me five daughters and many, many more dates. No matter how many times we sit together over a meal, I will never forget the first one. The heart-fluttering, life-altering, dream-come-true night when I learned about a woman who loved in the wrong direction.
I still get confused about Bible references. I am the farthest thing from a Bible scholar that could be possible. I can't tell you the Hebrew and Greek roots of words, nor every battle of the Bible or city mentioned in scripture. What I do feel confident saying is actually pretty simple.
He is Who He says He is, and He is whispering tonight if you care to listen...
"Flee, love. Flee and never look back..."
We often find ourselves looking back for very reasons or at various things. It is not a bad thing remember the past and to look at things that you have done and been through. The problem is when what we look back at is the very thing God has told us not to look at or if it is contrary to what he has said. Pray with me for a life focused on God, what He says and promises, on the future and on the possibilities and great things God wants to do in our lives. Pray with me and stand with me looking forward and not looking back.
If the option of being turned into the contents of a shaker interest you go ahead and look back. As for me I think Abraham's results are much more appealing.
Friday the 17th was a very downer of a day. I was trying to get ready for a camping trip with our very close friends the Rats(The Ratliffs to most). Under the stress of packing and preparing for the weekend I had a few realization that added to the cauldron of things brewing a soup of despair in my heart. It was to this soup that my wife came home to find me near the point of anxiety attack if not in one. She lovingly helped me step back and out of my soupy mess.
So we loaded up the family(the Mats to the Rats) and headed for I-5. For a lot of people there are things that they do that or places they go to help discussion occur. It could be sitting down for a cup of coffee in the morning, going for a walk or maybe sitting in the backyard. The place where most of our family discussions occur, the meaningful and deep life type discussions, on I-5 somewhere between Olympia, WA and Salem, OR. Why those places and why I-5 well it has to do with Family and time spent going to and from visits with them. When you are on the road and it is just the two of you(pre-Jillbacca) and one of you most constantly be talking(just kidding it is not constantly but very consistent) conversations happen. When add the factor that one of you takes along time to process and converse it takes a long drive for those deep conversations to get done. So I-5 has been the perfect place for us to have these conversations to this day. We even lovingly refer to them as our I-5 talks.
We had a good I-5 talk on this trip. I found a lot of comfort and encouragement in the words of my wife and myself as we talked about what was overwhelming me that day, the future, the baby, the growth in us and our walks with God. I did find myself in one of the moments where Mandy was addressing some of the positives of who I am and what has been happening in my life lately. Going through 'The List' of who I am. We had to stop for a potty break(this time more frequent than normal, part of traveling with a pregnant woman) so I wrote down some of the thoughts while Mandy was away. . . . . . . .
How weird I seem to have misplaced the list. I guess it is not important but the list mostly focused on the negatives in my life or the things that I and others would use to lessen my value of myself. I realized yet again that who I am is more than just the some of my past. Yes those are a part of how I have become me but I can't let it stay there otherwise I will never grow, mature or better myself. Imagine what would happen in a kindergartner decided that his time in kindergarten had made him who he was and he could never be more than that, or a high schooler, a bachelor, a college drop out, a drunk or an addict. Most people would look at the kindergartner and say you are too young to stop and same with the high schooler. But is it any different for the drop out or the drunk. There is always the chance for change as long as we are open to the changes.
Just to wrap up a little since I need to stop writing and go on with the day. My wife sent me this email the other day.
Love,
This is from a blog by the wife of one of the lead singer's of Selah. They had a tragedy in their family in 2008. Can't remember where I stumbled upon this blog from but this woman is very wise. I know you don't have the problem of looking back the way that I do, which is what today's post is about. But I still wanted to share it with you as an encouragement. I really spoke to my heart today.
Love you,
Beautiful
Pillar
I sat completely upright, eyes staring at him while I moved food around my plate nervously.
It was our first date and I had decided I was going to marry him. He ordered (delicious) soup for me and opened the car door when I got in and when I got out. I wanted to impress him but I choked on my words as I tried to come up with something less desperate than "Elope or have a wedding?"
Because that's not always a good first date plan.
His eyes lit up as he shared a story he had heard about a little girl at church who had drawn a picture, and he just knew I would get a kick out of it as well.
"So, you know Lot's wife?"
Clearly Lot was a friend I hadn't met yet. I put on my best, "I'm sure I do. Give me a minute..." face and nodded for him to continue.
Was that the guy in Sunday school? Was he on the retreat? Lot. No, I would remember meeting a guy named Lot.
"Well her teacher tells her to draw a picture of what happened to Lot's wife and she drew a salt shaker."
He started laughing.
I laughed too, and shook my head side to side. Those crazy kids.
"Oh, that is great! How funny." I bit my lip and tried to think of a good follow-up condiment story.
Nothing.
"So, Lot..." I just kind of threw it out there. I figured I would give him some room to fill me in on the backstory.
"Yeah, you know, from Genesis? The one who left Sodom and Gomorrah?"
Awesome. Thanks for clearing that up.
Note to self: find Precious Moments Bible that is somewhere in my apartment and find out who Sodom and Gomorrah are.
I nodded again, filling my mouth with pasta so I wouldn't have to drop any more pearls of wisdom before the second date.
A few hours later I found my little Bible and hunted down this Lot guy. He's umm, an interesting fellow, and reading about him next to images of Precious Moments figurines has got to be one of the strangest experiences a new believer can have. Seriously creeptastic.
With that said, I did find it pretty interesting. The gist of it is that Abraham is trying to save Sodom (Sodom and Gomorrah are places, not people. Also good to know for date number two) and kind of negotiates with God about it. This deserves a whole post of it's own, but let's come back to that some other day. Anyway, he works out a plan with God that if there are 10 righteous men in Sodom, God will not destroy it. Unfortunately, this isn't the case and God sends two angels to warn Abraham and his nephew Lot to get out of town before this happens. Lot tries to warn his sons-in-law but they thought he was joking and apparently didn't listen. It says in Genesis 19:16 that Lot hesitated, so the angels grabbed his and his wife's hands and led them out of the city.
As soon as they were safe, the angels said to them, "Flee for your lives! Don't look back, and don't stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!" Lot tells them he wants to go to another town instead. And guess what? It isn't in the mountains, it's in the plains. God wants Lot to go to one place, and he believes his idea is better than God's. I read this and shake my head because that just sounds silly to me.
Well, as silly as it can sound to someone who does the same almost every day of her life.
So Lot and his bride head towards Zoar (which was called Bela before this incident), and as they do, Lot's wife makes a critical mistake.
She looks back.
She looks at back at the city filled with sin and wickedness, and as she pauses, God turns her into a pillar of salt (the salt shaker thing is way funnier now).
We don't ever learn her name, but her legacy is one of looking back. She has been rescued from death, from sin and depravity, and there is something that still haunts her enough to stop moving toward whatever is ahead.
Did she want to see if it would really be ruined? Maybe she wanted to see her things one more time. Was she longing for a person? Reflecting on the life she wanted to keep living?
I don't know, but I do know this.
God has been gracious with me for many years in my turning back. A glimpse of what could have been, a temptation that makes me question my faith. An earth-shattering loss that beckons me to believe that the mountain is too far and the valley will be just fine.
I have wandered to the closest city while I know He desires for me to climb, and I have settled there for longer than I care to remember. I have failed Him many times over, head and heart turned, and yet He urges me never to settle. I don't know what you are walking away from tonight, but as I have been praying about what to write the Lord has put this message on my heart so clearly that I had to share it. I want you to know I am praying for you as I write-asking the Lord to remind you tonight that there is a reason you have left that life behind.
It has been swallowed by grace, friend. And you need not miss what He has for you by believing there is something worth going back for. Leave it be. The Lord has told you where to go and it's time to walk. Eyes straight ahead, tangled in the spectacular love of a Savior Who wants nothing less for you than the summit. And as you stare at what might have been, you are immobilized, unable to bring Him the glory He deserves. And also, He might make you salt. Just saying.
It has been almost exactly ten years from the night I went out with Todd for the first time. October will mark a decade of falling in love with the man who has given me five daughters and many, many more dates. No matter how many times we sit together over a meal, I will never forget the first one. The heart-fluttering, life-altering, dream-come-true night when I learned about a woman who loved in the wrong direction.
I still get confused about Bible references. I am the farthest thing from a Bible scholar that could be possible. I can't tell you the Hebrew and Greek roots of words, nor every battle of the Bible or city mentioned in scripture. What I do feel confident saying is actually pretty simple.
He is Who He says He is, and He is whispering tonight if you care to listen...
"Flee, love. Flee and never look back..."
We often find ourselves looking back for very reasons or at various things. It is not a bad thing remember the past and to look at things that you have done and been through. The problem is when what we look back at is the very thing God has told us not to look at or if it is contrary to what he has said. Pray with me for a life focused on God, what He says and promises, on the future and on the possibilities and great things God wants to do in our lives. Pray with me and stand with me looking forward and not looking back.
If the option of being turned into the contents of a shaker interest you go ahead and look back. As for me I think Abraham's results are much more appealing.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Words that struck a cord - 9/12/2010 Part 2
After talking with Mandy, reviewing what I wrote yesterday and reviewing what I had been pondering it became aware that I missed something. So if you have read yesterdays post and walked away scratching your head wondering what I was thinking. Or maybe you just read it and when you finished all you can remember is the head ache you where left with. Okay so maybe you didn't do either but my thoughts were not complete so I hope to shed more light on what I was trying to express.
I feel as if I left everyone with an expression that I that the creation is true and any form of evolution is contrary to the Bible. Now I do feel this way but that was not my point that was not the revelation from my pondering. Lets go back and try to retrace where I wanted to take you in my thoughts.
First point was to realize that when we view the Bible it is a whole unit. It is a complete package. So either the whole thing is historical and true or the whole thing is fiction and false. Why because if one part is not true or historical then the whole can not be historical or true. This is accurate for our view of creation, miracles, the Resurrection, God himself and any other topic or discussion regarding the Bible.
The other point I was trying to express was I realized that this was the stance I had to take myself. For me when I looked at the Bible I had no problem viewing it as scientific or historically true and accurate. Some think that such a view is simple minded and not one based in logic or intellectual reason. For me I don't feel that is at all accurate. I have done my share of reasoning, studying, researching, and intellectual processing to arrive at my point of view. If that is so then what struck about believing the Bible as true.
One of my greatest struggles is seeing myself as God sees me. This was where I needed to decide the Bible was true. I had to decide that what the Bible says about how God views me as a part of his creation and as a part of his people are true for me. I need to hold on to the promises of God in the Bible. Promises like what we find in the book of Jeremiah.
Jeremiah 29:11
I feel as if I left everyone with an expression that I that the creation is true and any form of evolution is contrary to the Bible. Now I do feel this way but that was not my point that was not the revelation from my pondering. Lets go back and try to retrace where I wanted to take you in my thoughts.
First point was to realize that when we view the Bible it is a whole unit. It is a complete package. So either the whole thing is historical and true or the whole thing is fiction and false. Why because if one part is not true or historical then the whole can not be historical or true. This is accurate for our view of creation, miracles, the Resurrection, God himself and any other topic or discussion regarding the Bible.
The other point I was trying to express was I realized that this was the stance I had to take myself. For me when I looked at the Bible I had no problem viewing it as scientific or historically true and accurate. Some think that such a view is simple minded and not one based in logic or intellectual reason. For me I don't feel that is at all accurate. I have done my share of reasoning, studying, researching, and intellectual processing to arrive at my point of view. If that is so then what struck about believing the Bible as true.
One of my greatest struggles is seeing myself as God sees me. This was where I needed to decide the Bible was true. I had to decide that what the Bible says about how God views me as a part of his creation and as a part of his people are true for me. I need to hold on to the promises of God in the Bible. Promises like what we find in the book of Jeremiah.
Jeremiah 29:11
I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out - plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.
Is there a part of the Bible you have a problem with holding to as true? If I can help you process and work through it please let me know. I truly feel this is very important topic to wrestle with and come to a decisions about. I hope when you get to the end of the process you will be standing with me holding onto the truth of God's word.
Is there a part of the Bible you have a problem with holding to as true? If I can help you process and work through it please let me know. I truly feel this is very important topic to wrestle with and come to a decisions about. I hope when you get to the end of the process you will be standing with me holding onto the truth of God's word.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Words that struck a cord - 9/12/2010
I have been processing and digesting over the last couple of days some things I have been reading a book called The Controversy by Donald E. Chittick. A part of my pondering became very clear to me this morning during the worship at Living Waters Special United by One Service at St. Martin's Pavilion. We sang a few worship songs and I am not sure if it was one worship song or two that spoke about joining in worship with all of creation. Now it may seem weird that I can't tell you if it was two different songs or one song but I was so deep in worship and thought I just can't dig that information from my head. And as some of you may know music and memory are not strong points for me. Another layer that added to my thoughts, about what I am going to share, was a portion of Pastor Burt's message this morning also.
Let me start by presenting a question. How do you view the Bible? Is it a history book? A collection of myths, legends and stories? Or how about a guide, a rule book, a self help book or just simply a religious manuscript? Do you see it as fact or fiction? Maybe like many you find some parts easy to hold as true and factual and other parts as story and fiction. For me today it became clear that this question is an important one. If you are a Christ Follower, a Jew, a Muslim, a Pagan, an evolutionist, an atheist or whatever other category you can find out their your view of the Bible effects how what is contained in that book can effect or interact with your life.
Pastor Burt brought it to a point by saying there are two positions we can take with the Bible. Either it is true or it is false. Lets narrow this down just a bit and focus on a specific portion of the bible which is what Doctor Chittick was focused on that started my pondering. Lets look at the book of Genesis and to narrow it further let us go back and ask ourselves the question about our view of the first 11 chapters. If you attend Sunday school as a child you may remember some of the events and people talked about in these chapters. Does the creation, the fall, the flood or the tower of Babel ring a bell? Or how about Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel or maybe Noah. Where these just stories to teach children or are they historical events in the history of man kind? Let me share with you some of Doctor Chittick's words in regards to a theological/scientific stance which many have taken over the year called Theistic Evolution which simplified means God used evolution to create the world.
The Controversy: Roots of the Creation-Evolution Conflict
Chapter 6: Truth and Consequences
If theistic evolution is adopted, there are consequences. A straightforward natural reading of the Bible cannot be used. One must manipulate historical statements into myth. Hence one must always be on guard against the normal, natural meanings of words in the biblical text on creation because they indicate real historical statements rather than myth. Such an approach tends to kill enthusiasm for Scripture. The creation account in Genesis, if studied in detail, is extremely exciting and fascinating. However, if one is told that it has no basis in historical fact and is just a myth or poetic writing, the excitement vanishes. If one must superimpose myth on what seem like natural historical statements, why stop at the first few chapters of Genesis? What is to prevent later statements which seem like historical events from being translated as myth? One could do this throughout the Old Testament and on through the gospels and epistles as well. This not only greatly diminishes one's enthusiasm for reading the Bible, but it also leads to serious doctrinal consequences.
Another effect of theistic evolution is to diminish enthusiasm for evangelism. The burden of explaining to a non-christian how to account for statements that seem historical but must be interpreted as myth is a massive burden. The first eleven chapters of Genesis are the ones that talk about the creation and the fall. If these are mythical, how then can we say that the fall is an actual event? If the fall is not an actual event, then why do we need a savior?
Doctor Donald E Chittick
Here is my final thought. We must decide what we believe about the Bible. What good does it do to worship God and call Him the Creator or talk about joining all of creation to worship God if our view of creation is based on what we have deemed a myth, just simply a story. It is like saying I worship you oh God the story maker and I will join with the story to worship you. That to me almost doesn't sound worth saying or believing.
If you need more to help you with your pondering and digesting try reading 1 Corinthians chapter 15. Here is just a small taste of Paul's words.
Let me start by presenting a question. How do you view the Bible? Is it a history book? A collection of myths, legends and stories? Or how about a guide, a rule book, a self help book or just simply a religious manuscript? Do you see it as fact or fiction? Maybe like many you find some parts easy to hold as true and factual and other parts as story and fiction. For me today it became clear that this question is an important one. If you are a Christ Follower, a Jew, a Muslim, a Pagan, an evolutionist, an atheist or whatever other category you can find out their your view of the Bible effects how what is contained in that book can effect or interact with your life.
Pastor Burt brought it to a point by saying there are two positions we can take with the Bible. Either it is true or it is false. Lets narrow this down just a bit and focus on a specific portion of the bible which is what Doctor Chittick was focused on that started my pondering. Lets look at the book of Genesis and to narrow it further let us go back and ask ourselves the question about our view of the first 11 chapters. If you attend Sunday school as a child you may remember some of the events and people talked about in these chapters. Does the creation, the fall, the flood or the tower of Babel ring a bell? Or how about Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel or maybe Noah. Where these just stories to teach children or are they historical events in the history of man kind? Let me share with you some of Doctor Chittick's words in regards to a theological/scientific stance which many have taken over the year called Theistic Evolution which simplified means God used evolution to create the world.
The Controversy: Roots of the Creation-Evolution Conflict
Chapter 6: Truth and Consequences
If theistic evolution is adopted, there are consequences. A straightforward natural reading of the Bible cannot be used. One must manipulate historical statements into myth. Hence one must always be on guard against the normal, natural meanings of words in the biblical text on creation because they indicate real historical statements rather than myth. Such an approach tends to kill enthusiasm for Scripture. The creation account in Genesis, if studied in detail, is extremely exciting and fascinating. However, if one is told that it has no basis in historical fact and is just a myth or poetic writing, the excitement vanishes. If one must superimpose myth on what seem like natural historical statements, why stop at the first few chapters of Genesis? What is to prevent later statements which seem like historical events from being translated as myth? One could do this throughout the Old Testament and on through the gospels and epistles as well. This not only greatly diminishes one's enthusiasm for reading the Bible, but it also leads to serious doctrinal consequences.
Another effect of theistic evolution is to diminish enthusiasm for evangelism. The burden of explaining to a non-christian how to account for statements that seem historical but must be interpreted as myth is a massive burden. The first eleven chapters of Genesis are the ones that talk about the creation and the fall. If these are mythical, how then can we say that the fall is an actual event? If the fall is not an actual event, then why do we need a savior?
Doctor Donald E Chittick
Here is my final thought. We must decide what we believe about the Bible. What good does it do to worship God and call Him the Creator or talk about joining all of creation to worship God if our view of creation is based on what we have deemed a myth, just simply a story. It is like saying I worship you oh God the story maker and I will join with the story to worship you. That to me almost doesn't sound worth saying or believing.
If you need more to help you with your pondering and digesting try reading 1 Corinthians chapter 15. Here is just a small taste of Paul's words.
1 Corinthians 15:1-5 (New Living Translation)
1 Now let me remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News I preached to you before. You welcomed it then and still do now, for your faith is built on this wonderful message. 2 And it is this Good News that saves you if you firmly believe it -- unless, of course, you believed something that was never true in the first place. 3 I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me -- that Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. 4 He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, as the Scriptures said. 5 He was seen by Peter and then by the twelve apostles.Saturday, September 11, 2010
Words that struck a cord - 9/10/2010
Elijah: A Man of Heroism and Humility
Chapter 7: Sure Cure for the Blues
God has not designed us to live like hermits in a cave. He has designed us to live in friendship and fellowship and community with others. That's why the church, the body of Christ, is so very important, for it is there that we are drawn together in love and mutual encouragement. We're meant to be a part of one an others lives. Otherwise, we pull back, focusing on ourselves -- thinking how hard we have it or how unfair others are.
Page 121
This is a hard one for Mandy and I. One of the things we had hoped for and expected to see with our Journey to Washington was more opportunity for fellowship. We have not seen this come to fruition in our lives. My schedule has still not allowed for the ability to have fellowship outside of our weekly church service attendance. We sit here and question ourselves and God if this could be part of God's plan. In light of recent messages we have heard at church. In light of words such as Chuck Swindolls. In light of what we believe the Bible says about the design of the church. The lack of fellowship seems not to be as God would want it. So why is it this way? Why are we here asking and pleading for the chance to be in fellowship? How much longer will this draught of fellowship go on?
I have come to the conclusion of two possible responses. We can grumble and whine, while we feel pity for our current situation. Or we can look to God with the expectation and faith that He is working in our lives. We can see this as a Cherith or has a threat of Jezebel. The way we respond is ours to choose.
Even in the absence feelings of fellowship and community, we are not left alone. We our not with out love and or support. We have family and friends all over, who are praying for us, supporting us and loving us through it all. Yes the face to face, day to day fellowship is lacking but the community is there if we keep our eyes and hearts open. We can and will find it. The choice is ours. It is not always an easy choice so stand with us, pray with us and love upon us as we daily face the choice.
Chapter 7: Sure Cure for the Blues
God has not designed us to live like hermits in a cave. He has designed us to live in friendship and fellowship and community with others. That's why the church, the body of Christ, is so very important, for it is there that we are drawn together in love and mutual encouragement. We're meant to be a part of one an others lives. Otherwise, we pull back, focusing on ourselves -- thinking how hard we have it or how unfair others are.
Page 121
This is a hard one for Mandy and I. One of the things we had hoped for and expected to see with our Journey to Washington was more opportunity for fellowship. We have not seen this come to fruition in our lives. My schedule has still not allowed for the ability to have fellowship outside of our weekly church service attendance. We sit here and question ourselves and God if this could be part of God's plan. In light of recent messages we have heard at church. In light of words such as Chuck Swindolls. In light of what we believe the Bible says about the design of the church. The lack of fellowship seems not to be as God would want it. So why is it this way? Why are we here asking and pleading for the chance to be in fellowship? How much longer will this draught of fellowship go on?
I have come to the conclusion of two possible responses. We can grumble and whine, while we feel pity for our current situation. Or we can look to God with the expectation and faith that He is working in our lives. We can see this as a Cherith or has a threat of Jezebel. The way we respond is ours to choose.
Even in the absence feelings of fellowship and community, we are not left alone. We our not with out love and or support. We have family and friends all over, who are praying for us, supporting us and loving us through it all. Yes the face to face, day to day fellowship is lacking but the community is there if we keep our eyes and hearts open. We can and will find it. The choice is ours. It is not always an easy choice so stand with us, pray with us and love upon us as we daily face the choice.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Words that struck a cord - 9/9/2010
Elijah: A Man of Heroism and Humility
Chapter 6: A Man of God . . . A Promise of God
Can you imagine the thoughts that must have been running through King Ahab's mind about this prophet of God, who was sprinting alongside his chariot in the rain? At the very least he must have thought the man bizarre. Strange. Weird.
But Elijah wasn't weird. "The hand of the Lord was on him," and he lived expectantly. And if that's weird, well, then, I want to be weird. It's not easy to be in Elijah's league. It's not easy, but it's also not impossible. I'd like to start a brand-new club that only Elijah-types can join. What fun we could have outrunning chariots, shocking the Ahabs that are bogged down in the mud of monotony and mediocrity, held back from the fun of running with God through the downpour of His blessings!
Page 106
Mandy, Jilly and I have been attending Living Water Church since almost the beginning of this year. The word and focus of the church for this year has been "Expect and Encounter". That is how Elijah lived. He was expectant in his walk with God and that expectation is what made him a prophet and man of God.
Can we live life in this day and time like Elijah and the members of the Hebrew Hall of Fame? Many times in the 30 plus years I have been breathing air on this planet I have held on to the 'no' and the 'yes' of that question. Right now I am crawling across the teeter-toter of no versus yes from the 'no' side to the 'yes' side. It is not an easy crawl especially when I think of the comfort of the 'no' side, the lack of faith and risk that are welcome there. The 'yes' side is scary. I have to have faith, I have to stand firm, I have to be on display, and I have to hold onto an expectation.
So what is my expectation in this time. I could go for an easy cliche answer like peace on earth, the salvation of the lost, or the expansion of God's kingdom. None of which are bad things. They are all part of God's plan and we each can have a part of that. But what do I expect him to do personally in my life, in my needs, to confront my fears, my insecurities and my future. If you are thinking that sounds selfish then I am sorry and God and I can work that out. I am his tool, I have a purpose and he is working on me. And just like I have to take care of and maintain my tools so I can use them God is and wants to do that with us. He wants us to be people of character, people of right living, people who effect the world around us. And that is part of the plan. I need expectations so he can show himself through the fulfillment of them and show the world Who He is. There are criteria we need to be aware of for our expectations and they need to be in line with the Word of God. I am not promoting any claim it mentality. I just want to have expectations for God and to live life with the faith it takes to hold on to them.
Mandy and I both believe and it is a very deep rooted desire that after the next baby comes that she is not to be a full time employee. I am in need of a new Job. My schooling will be done in the end of December. If I am to be as close as we can to the sole provider for our family it will take a new job and some favor as I compete against others with either more experience or bigger degrees than I have. So this is the expectation we are holding onto. That God will work it out in our lives so we can live out this deep desire of our heart.
The Other Expectation which in some ways is the more important one. Is that God will not let us be a member of the Ahabs stuck in the mud of monotony and mediocrity any longer. We want to be part of the Elijah club.
Chapter 6: A Man of God . . . A Promise of God
Can you imagine the thoughts that must have been running through King Ahab's mind about this prophet of God, who was sprinting alongside his chariot in the rain? At the very least he must have thought the man bizarre. Strange. Weird.
But Elijah wasn't weird. "The hand of the Lord was on him," and he lived expectantly. And if that's weird, well, then, I want to be weird. It's not easy to be in Elijah's league. It's not easy, but it's also not impossible. I'd like to start a brand-new club that only Elijah-types can join. What fun we could have outrunning chariots, shocking the Ahabs that are bogged down in the mud of monotony and mediocrity, held back from the fun of running with God through the downpour of His blessings!
Page 106
Mandy, Jilly and I have been attending Living Water Church since almost the beginning of this year. The word and focus of the church for this year has been "Expect and Encounter". That is how Elijah lived. He was expectant in his walk with God and that expectation is what made him a prophet and man of God.
Can we live life in this day and time like Elijah and the members of the Hebrew Hall of Fame? Many times in the 30 plus years I have been breathing air on this planet I have held on to the 'no' and the 'yes' of that question. Right now I am crawling across the teeter-toter of no versus yes from the 'no' side to the 'yes' side. It is not an easy crawl especially when I think of the comfort of the 'no' side, the lack of faith and risk that are welcome there. The 'yes' side is scary. I have to have faith, I have to stand firm, I have to be on display, and I have to hold onto an expectation.
So what is my expectation in this time. I could go for an easy cliche answer like peace on earth, the salvation of the lost, or the expansion of God's kingdom. None of which are bad things. They are all part of God's plan and we each can have a part of that. But what do I expect him to do personally in my life, in my needs, to confront my fears, my insecurities and my future. If you are thinking that sounds selfish then I am sorry and God and I can work that out. I am his tool, I have a purpose and he is working on me. And just like I have to take care of and maintain my tools so I can use them God is and wants to do that with us. He wants us to be people of character, people of right living, people who effect the world around us. And that is part of the plan. I need expectations so he can show himself through the fulfillment of them and show the world Who He is. There are criteria we need to be aware of for our expectations and they need to be in line with the Word of God. I am not promoting any claim it mentality. I just want to have expectations for God and to live life with the faith it takes to hold on to them.
Mandy and I both believe and it is a very deep rooted desire that after the next baby comes that she is not to be a full time employee. I am in need of a new Job. My schooling will be done in the end of December. If I am to be as close as we can to the sole provider for our family it will take a new job and some favor as I compete against others with either more experience or bigger degrees than I have. So this is the expectation we are holding onto. That God will work it out in our lives so we can live out this deep desire of our heart.
The Other Expectation which in some ways is the more important one. Is that God will not let us be a member of the Ahabs stuck in the mud of monotony and mediocrity any longer. We want to be part of the Elijah club.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Words that struck a cord - 9/6/2010
I have been wanting to write and share for the last two days but. Other things had become more pressing. The desire to write and share my life even in just little bite size portions has amazed me almost as much as God has been lately. So on to the good stuff.
Mandy and I had what we are seeing as a testing of our faith Sunday night early Monday morning. Mandy had been asleep for a period of time and I had just finished the next chapter in Elijah: A Man of Heroism and Humility and had picked up another book which I has started close to a year ago. This was the setting for our test. We have had a great week end and we have both been getting into this Elijah book. It is Sunday and I am reading and studying about faith related materials while Mandy sleeps. As has become a frequent occurrence Mandy wakes to use the restroom. Shortly after, she returns to the room in tears, she had signs of blood on her tissue after using the restroom. For some of you who have had to face the experience of a miscarriage you may understand the significance of the blood which can be a sign of one occurring. I try to be brave and reassuring. But she is sure that it has happened. All day she had been referring to the lack feeling of pregnant. That plus blood in her mind means the worst has happened and just within days of letting the 'cat out of the bag'. So we make the call to the midwife and she tries to reassure Mandy also, the whole time Mandy is shaking her head no. She knows that the miscarriage has happened. We are told to keep an eye out for more blood or cramping and if the bleeding keeps happening or worsens or if cramping occurs call her back. Otherwise we are to come in Monday afternoon and we will see what we can hear.
The mood is gloom and the weight of the unknown and the thought of the tragedy is overwhelming for both of us. I am trying to stay positive, and trying to lean on faith that God knows our hearts and desires, trying to hold on to what we have seen, heard and felt about this baby. The battle of faith has begun. We talk for a bit and then try to get our hearts and minds to stop so we can rest. But my mind won't and I start to question. If this miscarriage has occurred I don't know if I am strong enough to handle it. I begin to fear that all the work and growth I have seen the past week the change in what I see in my eyes will all be destroyed and I and my faith will be crushed. During this time Mandy has gone to the restroom again and no blood. But the fight for us both is still happening. I recount some of what I read early that night to Mandy. That I want to have faith to speak with the authority of Elijah and I admit my fear. That I am not strong enough for this tragedy. Not now, not at this time.
Mandy said something to me that struck me deep inside. "You are strong enough, all you have to do is choose to be." Talking about striking a cord. Those words struck deep and they reminded me of what Chuck Swindoll said about Elijah.
Elijah: A Man of Heroism and Humility
Chapter 5: The God Who Answers by Fire
Isn't amazing how often people try everything but that(Prayer)? It's like the old saying: "When everything else fails, read the instructions." So it goes with prayer. When everything else fails, try prayer. "Okay, okay . . . maybe we should pray about it." But Elijah didn't use prayer as a last resort. Prayer was his first and only resort. A simple prayer of faith was his major contact with the living Lord. It set everything in motion.
He believed in God and had faith. He had dedicated his life to the Lord and had chosen to live each day by walking in faith no matter what. This confidence and faith in God had led Elijah to Cherith and Zarebeth and had allowed him to step up and do things that had never been recorded as being done before him. So I decided to step up and believe. To take whatever faith I had and place it where it belongs, in God. At the beginning of the unfolding events I had felt two things: One have faith. Two walk in authority. But both of these feelings had been washed away by fear, doubt, and disbelief as the events kept unfolding. But with the words of love and support spoken by my helper I came back to those feelings. This time I acted on them. I prayed and knew that Mandy needed to pray also.
As my hand lay on Mandy's pregnant belly and I laid out to God my desire and spoke with as much confidence and authority I could muster. I felt movement. I asked Mandy if she felt anything and she hadn't. I thought maybe it was her breathing so I asked her to hold her breathe for a moment and there it still was. It wasn't like a baby kick or even movement of the baby. The only word that struck me as I tried to figure out what was going on was knitting. There was knitting going on in there. I knew God was working. My heart had become happy again. I was no longer weighed down with fear and disbelief. There was hope and I was sure things were alright. Mandy asked me how I was feeling and I was able to tell here what I had felt and the hope I had. There was a question about if I was really feeling that way or just butting up the brave soldier face for her. I was able to confidently say why don't you just look into my eyes, Because I knew the life is back in them.
We waited all day Monday. We tried to take it easy with a lazy day of rest. There was still no spotting but still no 'pregnant feelings' either. Mandy canceled her morning workout session with a friend but did go into work. My confidence in the baby being alright had been high all day. There had been no further signs to be concerned over and Mandy had even a slight moment of 'feeling something pregnant'. Our appoint arrived late Tuesday afternoon. There was a lot of expectation and hope in the room. But just as the midwife was trying to find the heartbeat, there was a knock of doubt in my head. Which was quickly shut down by the sound of a strong healthy heart beat. The moment of hearing that heart beat over the speaker was like a victory celebration in my soul. It was as if God was just smiling at us and gently but his arms around us. Then quietly over all the noise inside He said I love you and everything is going to be alright.
Now if only Mandy would stop laughing every time we hear the heartbeat. We could be able to get a good recording so we can share.
Mandy and I had what we are seeing as a testing of our faith Sunday night early Monday morning. Mandy had been asleep for a period of time and I had just finished the next chapter in Elijah: A Man of Heroism and Humility and had picked up another book which I has started close to a year ago. This was the setting for our test. We have had a great week end and we have both been getting into this Elijah book. It is Sunday and I am reading and studying about faith related materials while Mandy sleeps. As has become a frequent occurrence Mandy wakes to use the restroom. Shortly after, she returns to the room in tears, she had signs of blood on her tissue after using the restroom. For some of you who have had to face the experience of a miscarriage you may understand the significance of the blood which can be a sign of one occurring. I try to be brave and reassuring. But she is sure that it has happened. All day she had been referring to the lack feeling of pregnant. That plus blood in her mind means the worst has happened and just within days of letting the 'cat out of the bag'. So we make the call to the midwife and she tries to reassure Mandy also, the whole time Mandy is shaking her head no. She knows that the miscarriage has happened. We are told to keep an eye out for more blood or cramping and if the bleeding keeps happening or worsens or if cramping occurs call her back. Otherwise we are to come in Monday afternoon and we will see what we can hear.
The mood is gloom and the weight of the unknown and the thought of the tragedy is overwhelming for both of us. I am trying to stay positive, and trying to lean on faith that God knows our hearts and desires, trying to hold on to what we have seen, heard and felt about this baby. The battle of faith has begun. We talk for a bit and then try to get our hearts and minds to stop so we can rest. But my mind won't and I start to question. If this miscarriage has occurred I don't know if I am strong enough to handle it. I begin to fear that all the work and growth I have seen the past week the change in what I see in my eyes will all be destroyed and I and my faith will be crushed. During this time Mandy has gone to the restroom again and no blood. But the fight for us both is still happening. I recount some of what I read early that night to Mandy. That I want to have faith to speak with the authority of Elijah and I admit my fear. That I am not strong enough for this tragedy. Not now, not at this time.
Mandy said something to me that struck me deep inside. "You are strong enough, all you have to do is choose to be." Talking about striking a cord. Those words struck deep and they reminded me of what Chuck Swindoll said about Elijah.
Elijah: A Man of Heroism and Humility
Chapter 5: The God Who Answers by Fire
Isn't amazing how often people try everything but that(Prayer)? It's like the old saying: "When everything else fails, read the instructions." So it goes with prayer. When everything else fails, try prayer. "Okay, okay . . . maybe we should pray about it." But Elijah didn't use prayer as a last resort. Prayer was his first and only resort. A simple prayer of faith was his major contact with the living Lord. It set everything in motion.
He believed in God and had faith. He had dedicated his life to the Lord and had chosen to live each day by walking in faith no matter what. This confidence and faith in God had led Elijah to Cherith and Zarebeth and had allowed him to step up and do things that had never been recorded as being done before him. So I decided to step up and believe. To take whatever faith I had and place it where it belongs, in God. At the beginning of the unfolding events I had felt two things: One have faith. Two walk in authority. But both of these feelings had been washed away by fear, doubt, and disbelief as the events kept unfolding. But with the words of love and support spoken by my helper I came back to those feelings. This time I acted on them. I prayed and knew that Mandy needed to pray also.
As my hand lay on Mandy's pregnant belly and I laid out to God my desire and spoke with as much confidence and authority I could muster. I felt movement. I asked Mandy if she felt anything and she hadn't. I thought maybe it was her breathing so I asked her to hold her breathe for a moment and there it still was. It wasn't like a baby kick or even movement of the baby. The only word that struck me as I tried to figure out what was going on was knitting. There was knitting going on in there. I knew God was working. My heart had become happy again. I was no longer weighed down with fear and disbelief. There was hope and I was sure things were alright. Mandy asked me how I was feeling and I was able to tell here what I had felt and the hope I had. There was a question about if I was really feeling that way or just butting up the brave soldier face for her. I was able to confidently say why don't you just look into my eyes, Because I knew the life is back in them.
We waited all day Monday. We tried to take it easy with a lazy day of rest. There was still no spotting but still no 'pregnant feelings' either. Mandy canceled her morning workout session with a friend but did go into work. My confidence in the baby being alright had been high all day. There had been no further signs to be concerned over and Mandy had even a slight moment of 'feeling something pregnant'. Our appoint arrived late Tuesday afternoon. There was a lot of expectation and hope in the room. But just as the midwife was trying to find the heartbeat, there was a knock of doubt in my head. Which was quickly shut down by the sound of a strong healthy heart beat. The moment of hearing that heart beat over the speaker was like a victory celebration in my soul. It was as if God was just smiling at us and gently but his arms around us. Then quietly over all the noise inside He said I love you and everything is going to be alright.
Now if only Mandy would stop laughing every time we hear the heartbeat. We could be able to get a good recording so we can share.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Eyes that struck a cord - 9/5/2010
I have been writing a lot about words. My response to a verse, devotional or something I have taken in that day which made me ponder or think. Today at the Church of Living Water service held at Lacey Regal Movie Theater I had what at first seemed like almost the worst seats in the house. Now for viewing the big movie screen during the sermon they where not the best seats.
However to be able to look Pastor Tim and the worship leaders eyes it was the second best seat in the house. The one seat in front of me may have been better, there was only one seat in front of me. How can some ones eyes make you think or ponder. it wasn't the physical eyes but what I saw in them that struck me and spurred me to think. The Passion, The Joy, The love, The hope, and the sincerity I saw is what made me think.
I wondered what others see in my eyes. I thought about looking in the mirror recently and having the thought that I looked tired and lifeless. What do you see in my eyes? What do you see in your eyes when you look in the mirror? Are you afraid to look someone in the eyes? Why? I heard once that the eyes are the window into the soul. If so what are we seeing in each others souls. I want my eyes to show more than I feel they do. So I need to get the good stuff into my soul.
My challenge to us all is to look into your own eyes this week. Ask yourself what you see. Then look into the eyes of a child. What do you see? Find someone who has seen years and years of life and look deep into their eyes. Find that leader or authority figure you admire and look deep inside through the window of the eyes. It is not easy and can be quit an uncomfortable thing to do. You might see something there which you don't expect. You may even catch a glimpse of your Creator in the eyes around you.
However to be able to look Pastor Tim and the worship leaders eyes it was the second best seat in the house. The one seat in front of me may have been better, there was only one seat in front of me. How can some ones eyes make you think or ponder. it wasn't the physical eyes but what I saw in them that struck me and spurred me to think. The Passion, The Joy, The love, The hope, and the sincerity I saw is what made me think.
I wondered what others see in my eyes. I thought about looking in the mirror recently and having the thought that I looked tired and lifeless. What do you see in my eyes? What do you see in your eyes when you look in the mirror? Are you afraid to look someone in the eyes? Why? I heard once that the eyes are the window into the soul. If so what are we seeing in each others souls. I want my eyes to show more than I feel they do. So I need to get the good stuff into my soul.
My challenge to us all is to look into your own eyes this week. Ask yourself what you see. Then look into the eyes of a child. What do you see? Find someone who has seen years and years of life and look deep into their eyes. Find that leader or authority figure you admire and look deep inside through the window of the eyes. It is not easy and can be quit an uncomfortable thing to do. You might see something there which you don't expect. You may even catch a glimpse of your Creator in the eyes around you.
Words that struck a cord - 9/4/2010
Sometimes the hardest part of a journey is the process of going from one step to another. In some cases the time it takes either is longer or seems longer than we want. This can be made even more difficult when you have to wait for the next step of the journey.
http://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/bigpicture/
Wow 7 Minute Daily Bible Reading
Mathew 28:13
'When they had gone, an angel of the LORD appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him."'
This is a struggle we find ourselves in now. We have listened to the direction "go". But now we sit waiting for the "until I tell you". The waiting is much harder than we expected. Disillusionment is setting there knocking and waiting for us to give in. How easy it is sometimes to give in and say God must have forgotten us, we must be doing something wrong, maybe we misunderstood the plan, or what are we being punished for.
Please walk beside us in prayers and through your living with us. If you are in a similar place and need us or someone else to pray or live along side of you? Reach out!
God,
I pray for our journey. Help our doubt, our fear and our impatience. Bring our lives into alignment with your plan and with your children. We must not journey alone but with You and with the family we have been so graciously adopted into. Help us to hear and follow you today, tomorrow and everyday. This is a new process for us and we need encouragement and strength.
Thank you for all you have done. Help us to be mindful and grateful for each blessing, each directing, each prayer lifted for us and each life we get to be a part of.
In the name of Jesus,
Amen!
http://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/bigpicture/
Wow 7 Minute Daily Bible Reading
Mathew 28:13
'When they had gone, an angel of the LORD appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him."'
This is a struggle we find ourselves in now. We have listened to the direction "go". But now we sit waiting for the "until I tell you". The waiting is much harder than we expected. Disillusionment is setting there knocking and waiting for us to give in. How easy it is sometimes to give in and say God must have forgotten us, we must be doing something wrong, maybe we misunderstood the plan, or what are we being punished for.
Please walk beside us in prayers and through your living with us. If you are in a similar place and need us or someone else to pray or live along side of you? Reach out!
God,
I pray for our journey. Help our doubt, our fear and our impatience. Bring our lives into alignment with your plan and with your children. We must not journey alone but with You and with the family we have been so graciously adopted into. Help us to hear and follow you today, tomorrow and everyday. This is a new process for us and we need encouragement and strength.
Thank you for all you have done. Help us to be mindful and grateful for each blessing, each directing, each prayer lifted for us and each life we get to be a part of.
In the name of Jesus,
Amen!
Friday, September 3, 2010
Words that struck a cord - 9/3/2010
Elijah: A Man of Heroism and Humility
Chapter 4: Standing in the Shadow of God
"On the bed of your life place the remains of your broken and scarred past . . . the emptiness of your poor character traits . . . the habits that have so long controlled you . . . the limited vision that continues to characterize you . . . the slight irritation that nags or the large one that looms . . . the anger or violence or lust or greed or discontentment or selfishness or the ugliness of pride. Lay these things before the Father and stretch yourself out under His shadow as you ask Him to bring about remarkable, even miraculous changes in your life"
Page 69
This is where I find myself today and many others for about the last nine or ten months. Placing myself before God asking Him to reach out his hands and touch this minute, mediocre and unknown life to most of the world. I have been seeking a miracle? I have been asking God creator of all we see and even more of what we can't to change me. To take over 30 years of programming, training, view points, paradigms, habits, values and beliefs and somehow make me like Jesus. Mind blowing is one way to describe the faith needed to truly believe that he will answer this prayer. Some how at a certain time you reach a point where the audacity and foolishness of such a prayer is over shadowed by the hope and desire of such a prayer.
I have found myself here before and have made it varying distances down the path to Son-likeness. To me this time seems different. Is it just me and my perceptions? I am just downplaying the past experiences, disqualifying the past experiences? I know I am not who I desire to be. I know I am not functioning in all my giftings and talents. I know I have dreams going unfulfilled. I have seen far greater than I am right now and I want to see even greater than I have.
It made since for Elijah to experience God's touch, leading and provision. Elijah was a Prophet a great man with a message. What about me? What about Mandy? What about my sweet Jillbacca(Jillian)? If I answer no to any of those I am selling myself and God short.
My faith is growing inside me. It is a journey. At times it is from one dried up brook to the deathbed of widows son. At others, which I am looking forward to, it is the building of an altar and the calling of fire from heaven.
Chapter 4: Standing in the Shadow of God
"On the bed of your life place the remains of your broken and scarred past . . . the emptiness of your poor character traits . . . the habits that have so long controlled you . . . the limited vision that continues to characterize you . . . the slight irritation that nags or the large one that looms . . . the anger or violence or lust or greed or discontentment or selfishness or the ugliness of pride. Lay these things before the Father and stretch yourself out under His shadow as you ask Him to bring about remarkable, even miraculous changes in your life"
Page 69
This is where I find myself today and many others for about the last nine or ten months. Placing myself before God asking Him to reach out his hands and touch this minute, mediocre and unknown life to most of the world. I have been seeking a miracle? I have been asking God creator of all we see and even more of what we can't to change me. To take over 30 years of programming, training, view points, paradigms, habits, values and beliefs and somehow make me like Jesus. Mind blowing is one way to describe the faith needed to truly believe that he will answer this prayer. Some how at a certain time you reach a point where the audacity and foolishness of such a prayer is over shadowed by the hope and desire of such a prayer.
I have found myself here before and have made it varying distances down the path to Son-likeness. To me this time seems different. Is it just me and my perceptions? I am just downplaying the past experiences, disqualifying the past experiences? I know I am not who I desire to be. I know I am not functioning in all my giftings and talents. I know I have dreams going unfulfilled. I have seen far greater than I am right now and I want to see even greater than I have.
It made since for Elijah to experience God's touch, leading and provision. Elijah was a Prophet a great man with a message. What about me? What about Mandy? What about my sweet Jillbacca(Jillian)? If I answer no to any of those I am selling myself and God short.
My faith is growing inside me. It is a journey. At times it is from one dried up brook to the deathbed of widows son. At others, which I am looking forward to, it is the building of an altar and the calling of fire from heaven.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Words that struck a cord - 9/1/2010
So when I first grabbed Elijah: A Man of Heroism and Humility Mandy asked me why I choose it over the plethora of other books on our shelves. I had no answer and wasn't sure if it was the right book to read. But after 3 days and 3 chapters and reading and discussing some of it with Mandy. I am sure it was the book for us now.
Elijah: A Man of Heroism and Humility
Chapter 3: Advance Training at Zarephath
"Have you ever been blindsided by first impressions? Have you ever made plans for going to school or a new church? Or moving to a new town to take a new job? Or taking on new challenges? Then, suddenly, it's different than you planned. But it's not only different . . . . it's worse. This is what I call the the first impression blues. They can be terrible!"
Wow talk about hitting the nail, or in this case the Kenton, on the head. After I came up with this brilliant idea to move to Washington. Okay I don't think I really came up with it. It was sort of uploaded into my head. We took a huge step of faith unlike any we have ever done as a family and we put our house on the market and headed north after Mandy got a job with the state. All the stones where falling into place forming a nice visible and easily followed path. But now we have been here for almost nine months and some of the very things we hoped this move would solve are still there staring us in the face and it now almost seems worse than what we left.
However there is a lot of work going and growth going on in both Mandy and I. Some of Mandy's is physical, being pregnant and all. This very blog is a testament to some of that growth. Over the last few days I have delved into the writings of God followers. The bible, the book I have quoted, some writings of Godly people I know. All of this is more than I have done for a long time. This is growth that I will step out on a limb and say probably is a result of taking the path of faith that brought us here.
One of the things I am learning is that sometime worse is just a perception. Sometimes it is the reality but only because we need to face it so we can grow past it or through it. That is where I know deep in my heart and mind we are at right now. In some areas the worse is just perception and in others it is where we need to be for growth. Are you in this place also? Or have you been there recently or in the distance past? No matter where you are please stand with us in prayer that we will see the reality of our current situation and we will reach out to God. Making an effort to grow through this time and be willing to share our life with God and others so we can all see His glory and power in such a time as this.
Elijah: A Man of Heroism and Humility
Chapter 3: Advance Training at Zarephath
"Have you ever been blindsided by first impressions? Have you ever made plans for going to school or a new church? Or moving to a new town to take a new job? Or taking on new challenges? Then, suddenly, it's different than you planned. But it's not only different . . . . it's worse. This is what I call the the first impression blues. They can be terrible!"
Wow talk about hitting the nail, or in this case the Kenton, on the head. After I came up with this brilliant idea to move to Washington. Okay I don't think I really came up with it. It was sort of uploaded into my head. We took a huge step of faith unlike any we have ever done as a family and we put our house on the market and headed north after Mandy got a job with the state. All the stones where falling into place forming a nice visible and easily followed path. But now we have been here for almost nine months and some of the very things we hoped this move would solve are still there staring us in the face and it now almost seems worse than what we left.
However there is a lot of work going and growth going on in both Mandy and I. Some of Mandy's is physical, being pregnant and all. This very blog is a testament to some of that growth. Over the last few days I have delved into the writings of God followers. The bible, the book I have quoted, some writings of Godly people I know. All of this is more than I have done for a long time. This is growth that I will step out on a limb and say probably is a result of taking the path of faith that brought us here.
One of the things I am learning is that sometime worse is just a perception. Sometimes it is the reality but only because we need to face it so we can grow past it or through it. That is where I know deep in my heart and mind we are at right now. In some areas the worse is just perception and in others it is where we need to be for growth. Are you in this place also? Or have you been there recently or in the distance past? No matter where you are please stand with us in prayer that we will see the reality of our current situation and we will reach out to God. Making an effort to grow through this time and be willing to share our life with God and others so we can all see His glory and power in such a time as this.
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