Walking in the Spirit of Grace

Fear of flying

2011-07-16T07:07:00.001-05:00

I used to fly; I remember this. How to unfold winged hope and enfold the wind in free-falling trust.

I remember thinking the sky all empty space. This can make a sparrow brave.

I remember believing that the wind and faith were enough. How did I forget?

How is it possible — that fear can make you forget how to fly?

How do you remember joy — when some life sliver pierces through your wild pulse?

How does a small sparrow in a wide world extend the brief span of her wings and let go — to climb higher?

Ann Voskamp

Reopening for business

2011-07-15T19:53:00.002-05:00

I have decided to start my blog back up. Don't know what direction it will take, but I want to have fun with it.

New Blog

2010-02-26T09:18:00.002-06:00

I reckon this will be my last post here. I am moving to Wordpress and my wife and I will be sharing a blog...unless she kicks me out. It's not too Girly, so it should work out pretty good. The new link is http://www.notsoveryordinary.com/ so update your links and readers.

Pop Quiz

2010-02-15T08:54:00.002-06:00

True or False

1) Christians should ask God to forgive and cleanse them when they sin.

2) Christians struggle with sin because of their old self within.

3) We should wait on God even before making everyday decisions.

4) When we sin against God, we're out of fellowship until we repent.

5) Old Testament Law is written on Christians' hearts so we want to obey it.

6) The Bible tells us that Christians can obtain many rewards in heaven.

7) Christians will give an account for their sins at the great white throne.

8) Christians should tithe at least 10 percent of their income to the church.

9) God gets angry with us when we repeatedly sin against him.

10) God looks at us as though we are righteous, even though we are really not.

Questions posed by Andrew Farley. Feel free to post your answers. I will post Andrew's answers in a day or two.

50 Most Annoying Things About The Internet

2009-10-16T07:25:00.002-05:00

Clickety

I would move CAPTCHA to number 1.

Bo's Cafe

2009-10-09T11:12:00.006-05:00

I just finished reading it. It normally takes me a couple of weeks to read a book, but I read this one in two days. To me, it's kind of got the "feel" of some of the other books Windblown has published, but without all the buzzwords. I highly recommend it. Here is one of my favorite passages:

"Grace is a gift that only the nonreligious can accept. They're the only ones who can get it. They're the only ones who can use it. Religious folks see grace as soft. So they keep trying to manage their junk with their own willpower and tenacity. Nothing defines religion quite as well as a bunch of people trying to do impossible tasks with limited power while bluffing to themselves that it's working...It takes a whole lot more than willpower to get anything done in the human heart. You gotta allow yourself to receive something you can't find on your own."

Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah

2009-10-08T08:43:00.001-05:00

One of my favorite movies...

Hear here

2009-10-06T18:56:00.003-05:00

I saw this and thought of Joel's Desperate Housewives Facebook post.

asbojesus

Dear Friend,

2009-10-01T20:34:00.002-05:00

I make the glad announcement to you that the Lord is in your heart. Since the day of your conversion He has been dwelling there, but you have lived on in ignorance of it. Every moment during all that time might have been passed in the sunshine of His sweet presence, and every step have been taken under His advice. But because you knew it not, and did not look for Him there, your life has been lonely and full of failure.

But now that I make the announcement to you, how will you receive it? Are you glad to have Him? Will you throw wide open every door to welcome Him in? Will you joyfully and thankfully give up the government of your life into His hands? Will you consult Him about everything, and let Him decide each step for you, and mark out every path?

Will you invite Him into your innermost chambers, and make Him the sharer in your most hidden life? Will you say "YES" to all His longing for union with you, and with a glad and eager abandonment hand yourself and all that concerns you over into His hands? If you will, then shall your soul begin to know something of the joy of union with Christ.

Hannah Whitall Smith

The Best Place Ever

2009-09-29T20:53:00.004-05:00

No, I'm not talking about Alabama, but it's close. Actually the best place to be is at the end our your rope. I know that doesn't sound very pleasant. The image that pop's into my mind is in the movie, "Trading Places." Winthorpe, the character played by Dan Aykroyd, lost his job, his home, his fiancee and his wealth. He finally reaches the point where he dons a Santa Claus suit, gets a gun, gets drunk and goes on a rampage at his former company's Christmas party. He finally reaches the end of his rope standing in the street still wearing the Santa suit. A dog pees on his leg, the rain starts to pour, he puts the gun to his head and - CLICK - nothing happens. Disgusted, he throws the gun to the ground and it goes off. That was the beginning of his climb out of the hole.

I have heard the testimonies of people who have come to the end of their ropes not too much differently than Winthorpe did and it is always in regard to salvation. But there is a type of "coming to the end of our rope" that occurs in the life of every Christian. I remember reading an illustration in a Hannah Whitall Smith book. I will paraphrase it as best I can.

There was a man that was compelled to climb down a rope into a dry well. The rope that was provided was supposed to be of sufficient length for him to reach the bottom. As he climbed down the rope, he soon reached the end of it and, much to his dismay, his feet weren't touching the bottom. His mind raced, "what now?" The well was pitch dark and he couldn't see anything below him. He looked up and could see to the opening of the well and decided to climb up. He climbed up a little way and was soon exhausted and could climb no farther. He lowered himself back down to the end of the rope and waited there. He soon lost all of his strength and let go of the rope just knowing that he was going to fall to his death. He fell about three inches and found himself standing safely on the rock bottom of the well.

God does the same with each of us. He brings us to the end of our rope of self effort, to the end of our struggling, to the end of our pride. God doesn't want us to hang there and struggle on the rope, He simply wants us to let go and stand firmly on the solid rock of Jesus. So you see, the end of your rope is the best place you can be; it's not meant to be a struggle, it's meant to be a blessing and a cause for rejoicing. You are about to enter the rest that God wants for all his Children and all that is required is that you let go and stand on the Rock, to put your faith completely in Him and surrender your work to Him.

Jesus said, In this world you will have trouble.

2009-09-27T09:16:00.003-05:00

Yet, isn't this the view that many have...

http://www.nakedpastor.com/

Source

2009-09-05T08:19:00.002-05:00

A couple of years ago I posted a statement:

"I am a child of God, absolutely loved, and totally acceptable in His sight."

I had someone email me ask where the quote came from. He said several people told him it was from "Classic Christianity," but he has read the book and can't find it. I don't remember if I came up with it or if I read it somewhere. Does anyone recognize it?

Jesus Laid Himself Down

2009-09-01T22:06:00.003-05:00

When you're weary
Feeling small
When tears are in your eyes
I will dry them all
I'm on your side
When times get rough
And friends just can't be found
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down

When you're down and out
When you're on the street
When evening falls so hard
I will comfort you
I'll take your part
When darkness comes
And pain is all around
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down

Paul Simon

Headed to the beach

2009-08-02T20:51:00.002-05:00

Do you see?

2009-07-28T21:45:00.001-05:00

Don't fight against the darkness, turn on the light.

Chuck Smith

Pure Intention

2009-07-17T19:24:00.003-05:00

The perfect love of God's will is a union so close that God Himself both utters and fulfills His will at the same instant in the depths of my own soul. Pure intention, in this highest sense, is a secret and spiritual word of God which not only commands my will to act, or solicits my co-operation, but fulfills what He says in me. The action is at once perfectly mine and perfectly His. But its substance comes entirely from Him. In me, it is entirely received: only to be offered back to Him in the silent ovation of His own inexpressible love.

Thomas Merton

True Grace

2009-07-15T20:08:00.003-05:00

We can never grow in grace by our own efforts. True grace flows from the heart of the Father through the love of Christ. To know God is for you, that He loves you, is the greatest source of security you will ever know. That is grace --- and that is what makes life worth living.

Chuck Smith

Introducing the new Grandboy

2009-07-10T09:33:00.012-05:00

Waiting...

At last

Happy Family

I don't know about you, but I'm tired

Hi there

My baby brother

Getting ready to go home

First elevator ride

Home at last

The Line

2009-06-27T09:22:00.000-05:00

There's a line in the sand with religion on one side and Jesus Christ on the other. Religion harshly judges the people that Jesus loves. I want to spend the rest of my life being on the right side of the line, don't you? Who knows what difference you will make in somebody's life if you do.

Steve McVey

Ye shall be My witnesses

2009-06-17T21:42:00.003-05:00

Our joy in Christ speaks a language that all hearts can understand, and is a testimony for Him, such as mere knowledge and utterance can never give.

Robert C. Chapman

We are not called to do witnessing; we are called to be witnesses.

Paul Anderson-Walsh

The Gospel

2009-06-10T21:40:00.003-05:00

How is it then that we've come to imagine that Christianity consists primarily in what we do for God? How has this come to be the good news of Jesus? Is the kingdom that He proclaimed to be nothing more than a community of men and women who go to church on Sunday, take an annual spiritual retreat, read their Bibles every now and then, vigorously oppose abortion, don't watch x-rated movies, never use vulgar language, smile a lot, hold doors open for people, root for their favorite team, and get along with everybody?

Is that why Jesus went through the bleak and bloody horror of Calvary? Is that why He emerged in shattering glory from the tomb? Is that why He poured out His Holy Spirit on the church? To make nicer men and women with better morals?

The Gospel is absurd and the life of Jesus is meaningless unless we believe that He lived, died, and rose again with but one purpose in mind: to make brand-new creations.

Brennan Manning

The Gospel

2009-05-29T21:46:00.002-05:00

The Gospel can be summed up by saying that it is the tremendous, tender, compassionate, gentle, extraordinary, explosive, revolutionary, revelation of Christ's love.

Catherine de Hueck Doherty

The Finger

2009-05-29T01:24:00.005-05:00

No not THAT finger, I am referring to the one we Christians might use to point out what’s wrong with the world and pass judgment on the behavior of others. It’s the one we use when we yell “murderer” to the woman walking into the abortion clinic or to point out our distaste at the drunk laying in the gutter or when we are whispering about the couple in the church that just filed for divorce. I am not saying that any of those things are OK, but in our fervor to pass judgment on the actions of others we often overlook the fact we are pointing at people who are really no different than we are. They are often faced with circumstances that have completely shaken up the world they knew. They are placed in situations, not always by choice, they see no way out of and every choice they are presented with looks no better than the other.

Yet it seems that many Christians when given the blessed opportunity to minister to the needs of a hurting person instead choose to act as if they have some sort of moral imperative to point out their failures and to tell them, in their view, just what God thinks about it. Where is the love of God in that? Where is the love and grace from them that Jesus showed the woman who was caught in adultery? Instead of condemning her as the Law required and the self-righteous demanded; Jesus chose instead to give her the one thing she really needed and desired, love and acceptance. Not acceptance of her sin, but He loved HER and he accepted HER just the way she was.

The longer I am a Christian the more I am convinced that people can’t come to Christ simply to avoid eternal punishment, to get a “get out of hell free pass.” Yet that seems to be the message that I have heard preached in most of the churches I have been part of in the past. It is summed up in the phrase “turn or burn.” I simply don’t believe someone can be saved with a message like that. I think it leads to many false conversions. I know it did in my case many years ago when a preacher scared me down to the front of the church to say a prayer and get dunked.

No, people come to Christ by being convinced in their hearts of His love and acceptance and forgiveness for them and to be joined to the One who can give them, eternally, His life and hope and love. That is the good news that Christ died for. But people will not come to Christ unless the love and acceptance of Jesus is made real to them in the way we Christians live out our lives. Unless they see the love of Jesus in us, they will walk the other way. That love isn’t best expressed by trying to change their behavior. A change of behavior isn’t what they need the most. What they need is Jesus and to see His love expressed in us.

It's all about....ME

2009-05-13T21:11:00.002-05:00

The beginning of love is to let those we love be perfectly themselves, and not to twist them to fit our own image. Otherwise we love only the reflection of ourselves we find in them.

We are so obsessed with doing that we have no time and no imagination left for being. As a result, men are valued not for what they are but for what they do or what they have - for their usefulness.

To consider persons and events and situations only in the light of their effect upon myself is to live on the doorstep of hell.

Thomas Merton

CelebrateGrace 2

2009-05-12T21:19:00.002-05:00

I didn't get any feedback, so I am not sure if anyone listened to the audio I linked in my first post about our first annual CelebrateGrace Conference. I said I would post the other two sessions, so below is the link to the audio from the second session:

Part 2

CelebrateGrace

2009-05-01T17:47:00.005-05:00

This past weekend our church hosted its first annual CelebrateGrace Conference. The primary speaker, Dr. Murray Wilton, spoke twice on Saturday and again on Sunday morning. Murray is originally from South Africa, but now lives in the Huntsville area. If you have never heard him speak before, you are in for a blessing. I will provide the next two parts in subsequent posts.

Part 1

Part 1 (Downloadable)

()

Why I Follow Christ

2009-04-29T20:25:00.001-05:00

by John C. Hutchinson Jr

I have not seen clear statistical evidence that fewer Christians die of cancer than non-believers or that they are immune in greater degree from the diseases that afflict the human race.

Some of the kindest, most selfless persons I have known have had more than their share of bad health. The fact that they belong to Christ did not insulate them from disease.

Therefore, I will not follow Christ for promised healing.

I will not deny or dispute evidence of restoration of health. I will rejoice at every recovery from what seems to be hopeless, threatened death. I will not hesitate to pray for recovered health for my loved ones and acquaintances. I will set no limits on what God may do but I will not follow Christ for promised healing.

I see no sign that Christians escape disaster and accident more often than others. I've helped dear friends empty muddy water out of dresser drawers and new appliances after a disastrous flood. I remember as a child taking clothes to a widow with five children whose house had burned to the ground. A bullet makes no detour around the body of a believer.

Therefore, I will not follow Christ for any promised protection from disaster.

I will not scoff at amazing survivals nor deny that providence has and continues to work for the good of God's own. I will continue to pray for protection from wicked men and tragedy, but I will not follow Christ for promised protection from accident or catastrophe.

I do not observe that Christians are especially favored with prosperity. Like James, we've all seen the rich oppressing the poor and justice is rarely perfect in this world. The psalmist has said that he "had not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread" and in the deepest needs of this life, that is certainly true but all of us have known people of integrity who have not prospered.

Therefore, I will not follow Christ for promised freedom from physical want or hope of affluence.

I'm not sure that Christians have stronger personalities or fewer neuroses than non-believers. I do know that there is no bitterness like religious bitterness and no arrogance more insufferable. I have watched Christians suffer emotional and mental disabilities and though it may seem heretical, I am not sure that I would really enjoy living in the same house with either the Apostle Peter or Paul.

God wills that the mind of Christ be formed in us and there is no doubt in my mind that the Christian's attitudes and actions will be improved by his Christianity, but I will not follow Christ for any promise of personality enhancement or perfection.

Why then follow Christ? Why become a disciple of Jesus when life may become more complicated as He so often warned?

For one reason alone:

In Jesus we behold the face of God. He is the truth, the everlasting truth, God in the flesh. I know that in His life, death, and resurrection, I am reconciled to God, the giver of life.

I believe that nothing can separate us from the love of God. He has all power and goodness and I trust Him and His promises. To him, I offer my life, damaged or whole, brief or full of years. It matters not. He is the one certain thing in an uncertain world. He is to be worshiped, not so something will happen to me or to the world. Something already has happened to me and the world, but because He is God who, through Christ, has reconciled the world to Himself. He saves me. He is my justification. He is the center that holds. To worship the God of our salvation, to offer sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving; that alone is our vocation. We offer our lives to God, not so as to be healthy, wealthy, or wise, not even so to gain the strength to do great things for Him; we offer our lives to Him because He alone has claim upon us. God is not a means to an end.

Chile

2009-04-26T08:41:00.022-05:00

Most of you probably didn't know it, but I just returned yesterday from nearly a week in Santiago Chile. I was there on business visiting with several different organizations:

Chilean Army -
Directorate of Technology Development
War Academy, Center for modelling and simulation (CEMSE)
FAMAE who manufactures Chilean Army weaponry

Chilean Navy - They are teaming with an American company (Thorpe SEEOP) to develop Spin Wing UAV technology.

Contractors -
IDETEC, Technology Institute who manufactures UAVs for commercial and military applications.

I enjoyed the trip...mostly. Spending 10 hours on an airplane in economy class SUCKS. We took the red-eye from and to Atlanta with, I assume, the goal of sleeping during the trip. As it turns out, I can't sleep very well on a plane. Needless to say, I am tired. I slept some when I got home from 11am to 5 pm. We went out to eat last night and I went to bed at my normal time and slept all night. I got up about 7 this morning, but I could have slept longer.

Santiago is a very modern city of 6 million and the people are small town friendly. Most of the people I met spoke a little bit of English and a few spoke it very well. I only know a couple of words and phrases in Spanish. We were escorted by someone from the US Embassy that also translated for us when needed. The part of the city where we were staying was very nice with stores and restaurants within walking distance. We felt safe walking around even at night because crime is low in that area. We did drive through some of the poorer areas and living conditions looked pretty bad. The air pollution was very bad because of all the factories and automobiles. Santiago is surrounded by mountains so the pollution is trapped especially in the winter due to atmosphere inversion.

When we got to the airport we found an ATM and got a cash advance in pesos. There was a Chilean man (not our driver) waiting there as we walked outside to the van...he grabbed the luggage from my traveling companions and carried it to the van. I carried my own. When we got to the van he loaded their luggage into the van. He grabbed mine and loaded it into the van as well. He then started saying, "Tip....Tip..." Each of of us reached into our pockets and gave him the smallest bill we had from the ATM (5,000 pesos), which we calculated later to be about $10 each (three of us). It aggravated me some that I gave a man $10 just for putting my bag into the van, but I got over it.

All-in-all, it was an enjoyable trip. We stayed in a nice hotel, the InterContinental. We had very little free time so we didn't get to do any sight-seeing. I did take a few pictures, mostly around the hotel. Here are a few:

My traveling companions in the hotel sitting area

Hotel entrance

View of the mountains from the hotel (barely see them due to pollution)

One of the restaurants where we ate (served Argentinian beef...good)

Another restaurant

US Embassy

Hotel lobby

View from the hotel room

We also ate at another restaurant, Los Adobes de Argomedo, which was very nice. It had a live band and Chilean dancers and also dancers from Easter Island, which is a territory of Chile. The dancers from Easter Island kind of reminded me of hula dancers in Hawaii.

For Fun...

2009-04-14T19:48:00.005-05:00

Have fun with this.
Copy and paste this list into your own blog and bold the items that you have done.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo (so low you couldn't hear)
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

He is Risen!

2009-04-11T21:54:00.005-05:00

Passover Lamb

2009-04-11T08:03:00.005-05:00

Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. (Matthew 5:17)

Redemption Prophesied

Passover lamb was a spotless lamb
Your lamb shall be an unblemished male a year old; you may take it from the sheep or from the goats. (Exodus 12:5)

Passover lamb was a sacrificial lamb
You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month, then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel is to kill it at twilight. (Exodus 12:6)

Passover lamb was a saving lamb
Moreover, they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses in which they eat it...You shall take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood which is in the basin, and apply some of the blood that is in the basin to the lintel and the two doorposts; and none of you shall go outside the door of his house until morning. (Exodus 12:7,22)

Passover lamb was a shared lamb
They shall eat the flesh that same night, roasted with fire, and they shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Do not eat any of it raw or boiled at all with water, but rather roasted with fire, both its head and its legs along with its entrails. (Exodus 12:8-9)

Redemption Fulfilled

Jesus is a spotless lamb
Knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. (1 Peter 1:18-19)

Jesus is a sacrificial lamb
Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed. (1 Corinthians 5:7)

Jesus is a saving lamb
That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Jesus is a shared lamb
Therefore let us celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (1 Corinthians 5:8)

For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. (Matthew 5:18)

Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. (John 19:30)

Thank You, Jesus

2009-04-10T06:03:00.002-05:00

He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins!

But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all. He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth.

Unjustly condemned, he was led away. No one cared that he died without descendants, that his life was cut short in midstream. But he was struck down for the rebellion of my people. He had done no wrong and had never deceived anyone. But he was buried like a criminal; he was put in a rich man’s grave. But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands.

When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins.

Isaiah 53

Anxiety

2009-04-08T21:44:00.002-05:00

It is a perverse malady and sad contortion of the religious mind that it seeks to find reasons to be anxious.

Paul Anderson-Walsh

Look Up

2009-04-08T05:50:00.002-05:00

Look up to see our great God on His throne. He is Love - He longs and delights to bless. He has inconceivably glorious plans concerning each of His children to reveal in them His love and power by the power of His Holy Spirit.

Andrew Murray

Romance

2009-04-02T19:24:00.002-05:00

http://www.reverendfun.com/

Radical Sonship Conference

2009-03-29T18:26:00.009-05:00

My wife Sherry and I had the pleasure of attending the "Radical Sonship" conference in Atlanta Friday and Saturday. The conference was led by Steve McVey and Paul Anderson-Walsh. It was an awesome conference, which was made even better because I got to meet my some of my friends from the blogospere. There was Joel and Matthew, it was wonderful to finally get to see them face-to-face. I also met some new friends, Ryan and Jamie Weeks and John Fincher.

Here are some picts from the weekend:

Lazing around the hotel room

Me, Matt and Joel

Ryan and Jamie

John and Joel

Matt

Joel, Jamie, John, Matt, Me

Faith, Hope, Love

2009-03-26T19:37:00.003-05:00

Jesus replied, This is the work (service) that God asks of you: that you believe in the One Whom He has sent [that you cleave to, trust, rely on, and have faith in His Messenger].

But the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.

For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

What If?

2009-03-21T08:09:00.002-05:00

Steve McVey had a interesting post over on his blog and I thought I would pass it on...

What if we've got it all wrong about God in the modern church world? What if He is nothing like we've imagined Him to be? What if the most basic understandings we have about His nature, His personality and His approach to us completely misses the point?

What if God the Father didn't send Jesus the Son to come alone to earth so that the Father could vent His anger over sin against the Son instead of us, but instead so that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit could together come to deal a death blow against sin in order to free us from its grip before it caused us to waste away into eternal nothingness?

What if the work of Jesus on the cross wasn't to change God's mind about you, but to change your mind about God?

What if God isn't nearly as concerned about what you're doing or not doing as He is about how you see and understand Him?

What if God is smiling as He looks at you right now and you could never do anything to wipe that smile off His face?

What if the coming of Jesus wasn't God's reaction to Adam's sin, but was carrying out a plan that had been made long before Adam was even created?

What if the primary characteristic of who God is has nothing to do with being a judge, but has everything to do with being a gentle, loving, Father?

What if you could never cause God to become angry or even disappoint Him?

What if you didn't need more faith, but only need to depend on Jesus to express His faith on your behalf?

What if you were the child God always wanted?

What if fulfilling God's plan for your life didn't depend on you at all?

What if God loved Muslims and atheists and homosexuals as much as He loves you?

What if you were a part of the inner circle of love shared by the Father, Son and Holy Spirit?

What if?

Poverty

2009-03-17T21:47:00.002-05:00

It is a sad thing to be impoverished by the things you want, while God is waiting to give you the things you need.

Major W. Ian Thomas

Eight is Enough

2009-03-13T18:01:00.002-05:00

I know this isn't my usual sort of post and I certainly don't want to offend anyone, but I thought this was a hoot (that's southern for, "gosh that was humorous").

All You Need

2009-03-12T21:40:00.005-05:00

If you are born again, all you need is what you have, and what you have is what He is! He does not give you strength - He is your strength! He does not give you victory - He is your victory!

Major W. Ian Thomas

Why is it so hard for us to rest there sometimes? Why is His grace not always sufficient in times when weakness makes the victory unclear? I don't know, but I am so glad that the Good Shepherd makes us to lie down in green pastures...He gives us rest for our souls. We grow when we are at rest and rest can only come when we know we are cared for. We see Him more vividly when we are still and hear Him more clearly when we are quiet. Our fears take flight on the wings of Love.

We Live By Grace

2009-03-10T21:12:00.001-05:00

We live by grace, guys! And it teaches us how to handle our freedom. It is the forgiveness of God what encourages me to forgive others. It is the love of God what motivates me to love others. It is my acceptance by God with all my weaknesses what enables me to accept others with all their weaknesses.

Bino Manjasseril

Motivation

2009-03-04T18:52:00.005-06:00

Source: http://asbojesus.wordpress.com/

Dour Christians

2009-03-01T13:37:00.002-06:00

Dour Christians! Have you ever been around them? On one extreme, they are either mad at themselves or mad at the world and at the other extreme they are depressed and defeated. They are like the monks in Monty Python and the Holy Grail, continually paying penance.

I think both extremes are related and the issue is with our perception of God and how He relates to His Children. How do you see your Heavenly Father? How do you think He sees you? I think that these are the most important questions to get right, aside from "are you saved?"

Perfected

2009-01-18T13:49:00.006-06:00

So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You" He said to him, "Tend My lambs."

He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Shepherd My sheep."

He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You" Jesus said to him, "Tend My sheep." John 21:15-17

Most say that these three questions Jesus asked Peter relate back to Peter’s threefold denial of Jesus before His crucifixion. These denials came after Peter swore, even boasted, that he would die for Jesus; that he would sacrifice himself. They say that this reminding him of his failure is what cut Peter to the quick. This interpretation seems reasonable, but I think there is more there than meets the eye. I am not a Greek scholar, but I don’t think you need to be one in this case. The two words for love that are used in this passage are:

Agape – A divine, unconditional, self-sacrificing love.
Phileo – A friendship kind of love – brotherhood.

If you were to rewrite the passage above using the above definitions, it would read:

So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you have an unconditional, self sacrificing love for Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You as a friend" He said to him, "Tend My lambs."

He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you have an unconditional, self sacrificing love for Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You as a friend." He said to him, "Shepherd My sheep."

He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me as a friend?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You as a friend" Jesus said to him, "Tend My sheep. John 21:15-17

Isn’t that interesting! Jesus knew that Peter didn’t have an unconditional, self sacrificing love for Him, but still He asked Him anyway. Given his denial of Jesus, Peter knew it too. God is so good to reveal our hearts to us, although it can be painful. Gone was the boastful Peter who thought he was capable of loving Christ with the same love as Christ revealed on the cross. It was replaced by the Peter that knew he was only capable of loving Christ as a friend.

So it is with us! We don’t have the ability, in our flesh, to love with an unconditional, self sacrificing love. The best we can do is to love Jesus as our friend, as our brother. But, praise God, it doesn’t end there. Look what happened in verse 17 and following. Jesus met Peter where he was as if to say, "Peter, I know that you don’t have an unconditional, self sacrificing love for Me, but that’s OK; it’s enough that you love me as a friend…I can work with that.” “You abide in me Peter and I will teach you, by my Spirit, to love unconditionally and when that love is perfected in you, you will even lay down your life for My sake.” (v18-19).

May God’s love be perfected in me.

It's Been 25 Years In The Making

2009-01-14T19:29:00.003-06:00

Happy Anniversary Baby got you on my mind...

This picture goes back a little longer than 25 years.

Love, Love, Love...Love Is All You Need

2008-12-31T20:53:00.003-06:00

We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.

No matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.

We have three things to do...Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly [because He loves extravagantly]. And the best of the three is love.

For if we are in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but [the only thing that counts is] faith activated and energized and expressed and working through love.

Taken from 1 John 4, 1 Corinthians 13 and Galatians 5

Africa needs God

2008-12-31T16:22:00.003-06:00

I thought this article was interesting. It is by an atheist and runs counter to what I hear from other atheists who want to rid the world of religion, positing that it is of no value. Here are a few excerpts:

Now a confirmed atheist, I've become convinced of the enormous contribution that Christian evangelism makes in Africa: sharply distinct from the work of secular NGOs, government projects and international aid efforts. These alone will not do. Education and training alone will not do. In Africa Christianity changes people's hearts. It brings a spiritual transformation. The rebirth is real. The change is good.

I used to avoid this truth by applauding - as you can - the practical work of mission churches in Africa. It's a pity, I would say, that salvation is part of the package...I would allow that if faith was needed to motivate missionaries to help, then, fine: but what counted was the help, not the faith.

But this doesn't fit the facts. Faith does more than support the missionary; it is also transferred to his flock. This is the effect that matters so immensely, and which I cannot help observing.

There is much more to the article. He makes some good observations, but misses the mark as to why the transformation takes place. I guess "the power of God" doesn't factor into his mindset.

Hunger

2008-12-28T21:17:00.001-06:00

You called, You shouted, and You broke through my deafness. You flashed, You shone, and You dispelled my blindness. You breathed Your fragrance on me; I drew in breath and now I pant for You. I have tasted You, now I hunger and thirst for more. You touched me, and I burned for Your peace.

Augustine of Hippo

Evolution of Dance

2008-12-20T21:18:00.001-06:00

I thought this was hilarious

What Type of Blog Do I Have?

2008-11-26T07:47:00.002-06:00

According to typalyzer

I am an ISTP - The Mechanics

The independent and problem-solving type. They are especially attuned to the demands of the moment are masters of responding to challenges that arise spontaneously. They generally prefer to think things out for themselves and often avoid inter-personal conflicts.

The Mechanics enjoy working together with other independent and highly skilled people and often like seek fun and action both in their work and personal life. They enjoy adventure and risk such as in driving race cars or working as policemen and firefighters.

Sounds about right...

Secure

2008-11-22T08:47:00.002-06:00

Now to Him Who is able to keep you without stumbling or slipping or falling, and to present you unblemished (blameless and faultless) before the presence of His glory in triumphant joy and exultation with unspeakable, ecstatic delight.

But the Lord is faithful and will give you strength and will protect you from the Evil One.

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope, comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say.

Praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is so good, and by raising Jesus from death, he has given us new life and a hope that lives on. God has something stored up for you in heaven, where it will never decay or be ruined or disappear. You have faith in God, whose power will protect you until the last day. Then he will save you, just as he has always planned to do.

Taken from Jude, 2 Thessalonians 2 and 3, and 1 Peter 1

Falls Mill

2008-11-08T19:23:00.010-06:00

The Mrs. and I went to Falls Mill today. The leaves weren't as pretty as I hoped they would be. As a side note, the owner (John Lovett) was my "Materials and Manufacturing Processes" instructor in college. Here are a few pictures from the trip.

The Assurance of Grace

2008-11-04T21:59:00.002-06:00

What the law demands from us, grace promises and performs for us. The law deals with what we should do, whether we can do it or not. The law, motivating us out of fear and love, stirs us up to do our best. But it gives no real strength and thus only leads to failure and condemnation. Grace points to what we cannot do and offers to do it for us and in us.

The law comes with commands on stone or in a book. Grace comes in a living, gracious Person who gives His presence and His power.

The law promises life if we obey. Grace gives life, even the Holy Spirit, with the assurance that we can obey.

Andrew Murray

It's Tough Getting Old

2008-11-04T21:07:00.003-06:00

(Copyright Gospel Communications International, Inc - http://www.reverendfun.com/)

Vienna

2008-11-03T19:49:00.002-06:00

It has been over 30 years since Billy Joel released "The Stranger" album. It has always been in my top 10 list of favorite albums. It is one of the few albums I have listened to where I like each song on the album. One of my favorite songs on the album, if you haven't already guessed, is "Vienna." I am not sure if there is a Christian lesson in there, but there is a lesson there about living. I found this on YouTube...the quality of the graphics isn't that great, but Enjoy!

In Jesus Name

2008-10-18T21:42:00.002-05:00

And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. John 14:13-14

What does it mean to ask in the name of Jesus? Does it mean that we should tack, “In Jesus Name” onto the end of all our prayers? Possibly! I have heard others explain that it really means praying with His authority and asking God the Father to act upon our prayers because we come in the name of His Son, Jesus. That sounds like a reasonable explanation and it’s probably true, as far as it goes. But I believe that there is more to it than that. Look what it says in 1 John 5:14-15

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us and if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

John 14 tells us to ask in the name of Jesus and 1 John 5 tells us to ask according to his will, is this a caveat or a contradiction? I think that is neither.

Who is the only one who knows the will of the Father? Matthew 11:27 tells us:

All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.

If Jesus is the only one who knows the Father, doesn’t it follow that He is the only one who can pray according to God’s will? But what about the name of Jesus? What if we were to take onto ourselves the name of Jesus like a bride takes on the name of her husband? I know, it’s a rhetorical question! So, what is it to pray?

Prayer is to put on, as if a garment, the holiness, righteousness, worthiness; yes, the very name of Christ and appear in them before God the Father on the behalf of Jesus. It is Jesus praying through us, as us, on the behalf of ourselves and others.

I am still rolling this idea around in my pea brain. I will continue to pray about it as well. If you happen by, feel free to give me some feedback.

Happy Birthday Matthew

2008-10-14T06:11:00.001-05:00

May the Lord bless and keep you

May his face shine upon you

And be gracious and give you peace.

Have a blessed day!

Who Am I?

2008-09-13T20:14:00.002-05:00

I am one who knows, by the Word and Spirit of God, that I am in Christ, and that my life is "hidden with Christ in God." In Christ I died to sin and the world. I am now taken out of them, separated from them, and delivered from their power. I have been raised together with Christ; and in Him, I live unto God. My life is "hidden with Christ in God." I can come to God to claim and obtain all the divine life that is hidden away in Him for today's need and supply.

Yes, this who I am. I say it to God in humble, holy reverence. I say it to myself to encourage others, as well as myself, to seek and expect nothing less than grace to live the hidden life of heaven here on earth. I am one who longs to say, who does say, "Christ is my life." The longing of my soul is for Christ, revealed by the Father Himself within the heart. Nothing less can satisfy me.

Andrew Murray

I thought I was Nonsense

2008-08-25T19:37:00.001-05:00

You Are the Sense of Sound

You love to talk, but you also love to listen.

You are simply a natural conversationalist.

You can have a deep conversation that lasts for hours and come out of it feeling energized.

You have a good ear for foreign languages and accents of all sorts.

You can imitate people quite well.

You also are a huge lover of music. You probably love music more than most people you know.

Which of the Five Senses Are You?

Do as you please!

2008-08-12T19:40:00.005-05:00

If it pleases you, always and only, to do what pleases God...you can do as you please!

The Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, "You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased."

So Jesus said, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me and He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him."

Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever.

Amen!

Quote by: Major W. Ian Thomas

Scripture taken from: Luke 3, John 8, Hebrews 13

Apparently I Am Well Balanced...

2008-08-10T21:52:00.002-05:00

Your Brain Usage Profile:
Auditory : 64%
Visual : 35%
Left : 50%
Right : 50%

Gary, your hemispheric dominance is equally divided between left and right brain, while you show a moderate preference for auditory versus visual learning, signs of a balanced and flexible person.

Your balance gives you the enviable capacity to be verbal and literate while retaining a certain "flair" and individuality. You are logical and compliant but only to a degree. You are organized without being compulsive, goal-directed without being driven, and a "thinking" individual without being excessively so.
The one problem you might have is that your learning might not be as efficient as you would like. At times you will work from the specific to the general, while at other times you'll work from the general to the specific. Sometimes you will be logical in your approach while at other times random. Since you cannot always control the choice, you may experience frustrations not normally felt by persons with a more defined and directed learning style.

You may also minimally experience conflicts associated with auditory processing. You will be systematic and sequential in your processing of information, you will most often focus on a single dimension of the problem or material, and you will be more reflective, i.e., "taking the data in" as opposed to "devouring" it.

Overall, you should feel content with your life and yourself. You are, perhaps, a little too critical of yourself - and of others - while maintaining an "openness" which is redeeming. Indecisiveness is a problem and your creativity is not in keeping with your potential. Being a pragmatist, you downplay this aspect of yourself and focus on the more immediate, the more obvious and the more functional.

I think it's mostly right...I don't believe I have problem's making a decision and I think I am creative, just not in an artsey-craftsey way.

Braintest

Simeon's Moment

2008-08-10T13:17:00.005-05:00

And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,

"Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace,
According to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation,
Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
A light of revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel."

Available Here

Over Saved

2008-08-07T19:31:00.001-05:00

I know that I have someone in mind...

Only Believe!

2008-08-04T21:44:00.004-05:00

Cast yourself into the arms of your Father who gives His children the Holy Spirit much more readily than an earthly father gives his children bread. Only believe and count on the love of God. All your self-dedication and surrender, all of your faith and integrity, are not works by which you have to move God or make Him willing to bless you. Far from it.

God desires to bless you and will Himself work everything in you. God loves you as a Father and sees that, to be able to live in perfect health and happiness as His child, you have need of nothing but this one thing - to be full of His Spirit. Jesus has by His blood opened up the way to the full enjoyment of this love.

Enter into this love, abide in this love, and by faith, acknowledge that it shines on and surrounds you, even as the light of the sun illuminates and animates your body. Begin to trust this love. I do not say trust in its willingness, but in its unspeakable longing to fill you entirely with itself. Your Father's love waits to make you full of His Spirit. He Himself will do it for you.

Andrew Murray

Father's Love Letter

2008-07-29T18:53:00.003-05:00

My Child,

You may not know me, but I know everything about you. Psalm 139:1

I know when you sit down and when you rise up. Psalm 139:2

I am familiar with all your ways. Psalm 139:3

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered. Matthew 10:29-31

For you were made in my image. Genesis 1:27

In me you live and move and have your being. Acts 17:28

For you are my offspring. Acts 17:28

I knew you even before you were conceived. Jeremiah 1:4-5

I chose you when I planned creation. Ephesians 1:11-12

You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book. Psalm 139:15-16

I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live. Acts 17:26

You are fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14

I knit you together in your mother's womb. Psalm 139:13

And brought you forth on the day you were born. Psalm 71:6

I have been misrepresented by those who don't know me. John 8:41-44

I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love. 1 John 4:16

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you. 1 John 3:1

Simply because you are my child and I am your Father. 1 John 3:1

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could. Matthew 7:11

For I am the perfect father. Matthew 5:48

Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand. James 1:17

For I am your provider and I meet all your needs. Matthew 6:31-33

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope. Jeremiah 29:11

Because I love you with an everlasting love. Jeremiah 31:3

My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore. Psalms 139:17-18

And I rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17

I will never stop doing good to you. Jeremiah 32:40

For you are my treasured possession. Exodus 19:5

I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul. Jeremiah 32:41

And I want to show you great and marvelous things. Jeremiah 33:3

If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me. Deuteronomy 4:29

Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

For it is I who gave you those desires. Philippians 2:13

I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine. Ephesians 3:20

For I am your greatest encourager. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you. Psalm 34:18

As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart. Isaiah 40:11

One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes. Revelation 21:3-4

And I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth. Revelation 21:3-4

I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus. John 17:23

For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed. John 17:26

He is the exact representation of my being. Hebrews 1:3

He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you. Romans 8:31

And to tell you that I am not counting your sins. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19

His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you. 1 John 4:10

I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love. Romans 8:31-32

If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me. 1 John 2:23

And nothing will ever separate you from my love again. Romans 8:38-39

Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen. Luke 15:7

I have always been Father, and will always be Father. Ephesians 3:14-15

My question is…Will you be my child? John 1:12-13

I am waiting for you. Luke 15:11-32

Love, Your Dad
Almighty God

Grace

2008-07-26T12:22:00.002-05:00

Thank You Lord, For Being There!

2008-07-23T21:52:00.006-05:00

The Lord searches all the earth for people who have given themselves completely to him. He wants to make them strong.

Lord, you are my shield, my wonderful God who gives me courage.

The Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.

I love you, LORD! You answered my prayers. You paid attention to me, and so I will pray to you as long as I live.

Taken from 2 Chronicles16, Psalm 3, 2 Thessalonians 3, and Psalm 116

Good and Evil

2008-07-16T06:33:00.002-05:00

A man in our Sunday school class made several comments on the material we were studying, but one kind of stood out in my mind, "All evil is sin, but not all sin is evil." His claim was that a man can do good yet sill sin (wrong motives, etc), but he is still doing good, not evil. I know that in the eyes of others the man is doing good, but in the eyes of God is the man doing good? Is man capabable of good apart from God? Does anyone care to weigh in? Any verses you can think of to support or deny this assertion? Verses that come to my mind are:

Genesis 6:5
Romans 3:12

Never Less Than Adequate

2008-07-13T21:34:00.002-05:00

"If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit," and this is what it means to walk in the Holy Spirit: to take one step at a time, and for every new situation into which every new step takes you, no matter what it may be, to hear Christ saying to your heart, "I AM," then to look up into His face by faith and say, "You are! That is all I need to know, Lord, and I thank You, for You are never less than adequate."

THE LORD is my Light and my Salvation--whom shall I fear or dread? The Lord is the Refuge and Stronghold of my life--of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1

Major W. Ian Thomas

Repentance

2008-07-11T13:31:00.001-05:00

I am sure that every Christian has heard the word “repentance.” To many, the word means that we stop doing something. We stop worrying, we stop fornicating; we stop our adultery; we “JUST STOP SINNING!” Is that what true repentance means? Surely we will stop those things if we are repentant, but is the act of stopping equal to repentance or is it the result of repentance?

Maybe I should start by looking at how God deals with His children when they sin. Note that God isn’t dealing with His children on the basis of condemnation and punishment, but out of a loving caring for our wellbeing and for our relationship to His other children. He knows what’s good for us and He doesn’t want to see us hurt ourselves and to hurt others.

So when we sin, God brings about a conviction in our lives. He says, “Gary you made the wrong choice!” “The path you have chosen will only bring you pain and will hurt those who are close to you.” At this point I have two choices, I can choose to agree with God (confess). I can say, “You are right Father, I made a choice that was wrong; I was choosing to do it my way instead of trusting you.” The other choice I can make is to go my own way. I can say, “Father, I hear what you are saying, but I am choosing not to trust you with this, I think my way is better.” Of course most of us don’t actually verbalize it in that way, but the result is the same as if we had.

I still haven’t got to repentance yet. I have talked about conviction and I have talked about confession, but what is repentance? The Greek word for repentance is “Metanoia” and literally means “to change your mind.” So what are we changing our mind about? Well, in the context of what has been discussed thus far, it means to change our mind about our direction; to choose God’s way instead of our way and it takes the form of a change from unbelief to belief; from distrust to trust. It is telling God that I no longer want control of this area of my life and that I am giving Him control of it…I am trusting Him with it.

Notice that in all of this there is no mention of an attempt on our part to change our behavior. That is because I have only been talking about our part in this. It is up to us to change our mind, but it is up to God to change our direction, to change our behavior…for we can do nothing apart from Him!

The Force

2008-07-09T22:08:00.005-05:00

The "force" of religion* always makes it about the battle, about the doctrines and theology and layers of tradition that man "needs" to pile on top of Jesus. But Paul scraped through all of that in his first letter to the Corinthians:

And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.

To me it all boils down to Jesus and His power working in our lives. Unfortunately, I get so caught up in stating my case; trying to prove my point; and never giving up until "I win," that I forget we are part of the same body. In the end, what did I win if I caused my brother pain.

There is nothing in ourselves that seeks after God; correct theology can't bring us to Him and incorrect theology can't keep us away. Our gracious God meets where we are. He knows we are stubborn, prideful, weak and slow to understand, yet He loves us and patiently works in our lives to break through our fog and reveal to us the depths of His love. I believe that we can only love (agape) others to the extent that we are convinced of His love for us.

I certainly don't know all of the answers and I have asked God to deliver me constantly believing that I do. I have given up on the wisdom of men, even my own. My desire is to rest my faith in the power and wisdom of God.

*that thing that MAN has created to put his relationship to God in a neat little box that somehow makes sense.

Happy 4th of July

2008-07-04T08:41:00.002-05:00

Have a happy and safe 4th of July!

The Answer

2008-07-03T20:29:00.001-05:00

(Copyright Gospel Communications International, Inc - http://www.reverendfun.com/)

My Husband Test Score

2008-07-02T05:06:00.001-05:00

110

As a 1930s husband, I am
Very Superior

Take the test!

The Past is Forgotten

2008-06-28T13:33:00.004-05:00

Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new.

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.

When you were dead in your sins, you were not set free from the sinful things of the world. But God forgave your sins and gave you new life through Christ. We had broken the Law many ways. Those sins were held against us by the Law. That Law had writings which said we were sinners. But now He has destroyed that writing by nailing it to the cross.

I, even I, am He Who blots out and cancels your transgressions, for My own sake, and I WILL NOT REMEMBER YOUR SINS.

Taken from 2 Corinthians 5, Romans 8, Colossians 2, Isaiah 43

Emphasis Mine

I Met God in the Morning

2008-06-24T20:27:00.008-05:00

I met God in the morning
when the day was at its best,
And His Presence came like sunrise,
Like a glory in my breast.

All day long the Presence lingered,
All day long He stayed with me,
And we sailed in perfect calmness
O'er a very troubled sea.

Other ships were blown and battered,
Other ships were sore distressed,
But the winds that seemed to drive them,
Brought to me a peace and rest.

Then I thought of other mornings,
With a keen remorse of mind,
When I too had loosed the moorings,
With the presence left behind.

So, I think I know the secret,
Learned from many a troubled way:
You must seek Him in the morning
If you want Him through the day!

I have found that to be true in my life. I make it a practice to get up every morning and get on my knees and pray. Not in a legalistic way, but in humility I seek His face and admit to Him that I can do nothing without Him and need His wisdom and guidance to see me through the day. I ask God to fill me with His Spirit so that I might bear the fruits of righteousness and to teach me by His grace to say no to unrighteousness. By faith, I trust that God has given me all that I have asked for and then I go out to face the world. I have found that when I do this, I have peace and rest in stormy seas, but when I don't seek God in the morning, it's like the poem says...I get blown and battered

Has anyone else noticed this in their walk?

Poem by Bishop Ralph Cushman

Rooted and Established in Love

2008-06-16T21:40:00.003-05:00

I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him.

Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Taken from Ephesians 1 and 3

Thank You

2008-06-15T20:50:00.001-05:00

If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is "Thank You", it will be enough."

Meister Eckhart

Written in Stone Before the Foundation of the World

2008-06-12T21:35:00.005-05:00

Even so Abraham BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham. The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU." So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.

For you are ALL sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are ALL one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise.

Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called "Uncircumcision" by the so-called "Circumcision," which is performed in the flesh by human hands--remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who MADE BOTH GROUPS INTO ONE and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into ONE NEW MAN, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both IN ONE BODY to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. AND HE CAME AND PREACHED PEACE TO YOU WHO WERE FAR AWAY, AND PEACE TO THOSE WHO WERE NEAR; for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.

Taken from Ephesians 2 and Galatians 3

(Emphasis mine)

Guidance

2008-06-07T05:58:00.002-05:00

The Lord will always lead you. He will satisfy your needs in dry lands and give strength to your bones. You will be like a garden that has much water, like a spring that never runs dry.

People may make plans in their minds, but only the Lord can make them come true. Depend on the Lord in whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Taken from Isaiah 58, Proverbs 16, and Romans 12

I Saw God Today

2008-06-05T22:14:00.002-05:00

I heard this song on the way home from work...liked it...thought I would share.

Cool High Nerd

2008-06-03T19:50:00.001-05:00

Apparently that's what I am...

I don't think I agree with the percentages

To know, know, know me...

2008-06-03T19:17:00.003-05:00

In your entire life, have you ever...

gone on a blind date? Yes

skipped school? Yes

watched someone die? No

been to Canada? No

been to Mexico? Yes

been to Florida? Yes

been on a plane? Yes

been lost? No, just momentarily disoriented

been on the opposite side of the country? Yes

gone to Washington, DC? Yes

swam in the ocean? Yes

had your booze taken away by the cops? No

lettered in a high school sport? No

cried yourself to sleep? No

played cops and robbers? Yes

played dolls? Do GI Joes's count?

recently colored with crayons? Yes

sang Karaoke? No

paid for a meal with coins only? Yes

done something you told yourself you wouldn't? Yes

cheated on an exam? Yes

made prank phone calls? Yes

laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose? Yes

caught a snowflake on your tongue? Yes

danced in the rain? No

written a letter to Santa Claus? Yes

been kissed under the mistletoe? Yes

watched the sunrise with someone you care about? Yes

been arrested? No

blown bubbles? Yes

gone ice-skating. Yes

been skinny dipping outdoors? Yes

had a nickname? Yes

been to Africa? No

eaten cookies for dinner? Yes

been on TV? Yes

stolen any traffic signs? Yes

been in a car accident? Yes

What is your....

mother's name? Marjorie

favorite drink? Sweet tea

favorite alcohol? Rubbing

birthplace? Demopolis, AL

favorite vacation spot? The Beach

favorite salad dressing? Honey Mustard

favorite pie? Pecan

favorite number? 11

favorite movie? Star Wars

favorite holiday? Christmas

favorite food? Pizza

favorite day of the week? Saturday

favorite brand of body wash? Coast

favorite toothpaste? Crest

favorite smell? Grilled Steak

Do you have any...

tattoos? No

body piercings? No

Do you drive a 2-door or 4-door vehicle? 4

What do you do to relax? Rest

How do you see yourself in 10 years? Chasing Sherry

His Joy is in Us

2008-05-31T11:20:00.001-05:00

It is the consciousness of the threefold joy of the Lord, His joy in ransoming us, His joy in dwelling within us as our Saviour and Power for fruitbearing and His joy in possessing us, as His Bride and His delight; it is the consciousness of this joy which is our real strength. Our joy in Him may be a fluctuating thing: His joy in us knows no change.

James Hudson Taylor

Our Hope is in Him

2008-05-28T20:32:00.003-05:00

The best-equipped army cannot save a king, nor is great strength enough to save a warrior. Don’t count on your warhorse to give you victory—for all its strength, it cannot save you. But the Lord watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailing love. He rescues them from death and keeps them alive in times of famine. We put our hope in the Lord. He is our help and our shield.

What can we say about all this? If God is on our side, can anyone be against us? God did not keep back his own Son, but he gave him for us. If God did this, won't he freely give us everything else? If God says his chosen ones are acceptable to him, can anyone bring charges against them? Or can anyone condemn them? No indeed! Christ died and was raised to life, and now he is at God's right side, speaking to him for us. Can anything separate us from the love of Christ? Can trouble, suffering, and hard times, or hunger and nakedness, or danger and death?

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. "The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him." The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.

Taken from Psalm 33, Romans 8, and Lamentations 3

Quote of the Week

2008-05-26T09:24:00.000-05:00

Constantly practice the habit of inwardly gazing upon God. You know that something inside your heart sees God. Even when you are compelled to withdraw your conscious attention in order to engage in earthly affairs, there is within you a secret communion always going on.

A. W. Tozer

Three Things

2008-05-22T19:04:00.004-05:00

Three jobs I have had in my life
1. Pizza Delivery Man
2. Draftsman
3. Mechanical Engineer

Three movies I watch over and over
1. Star Wars
2. Raiders of the Lost Ark
3. Sling Blade

Three places I have lived
1. Huntsville, AL
2. Hazel Green, AL
3. Denial

Three shows that I watch
1. House
2. Bones
3. Two and a Half Men (Sorry to say)

Three places I have been
1. San Diego, CA
2. Boston, MA
3. Washington, DC

Three people who e-mail me regularly
1. Sherry
2. Junk
3. Spam

Three of my favorite foods
1. Pizza
2. Steak
3. Ice Cream

Three places I’d rather be right now
1. Beach
2. Coast
3. Waterfront

Three friends I think will respond
1. Moe
2. Larry
3. Curly

Three things I am looking forward to this year
1. A deeper revelation of God's love
2. Some time off
3. Another year together

Quote of the Week

2008-05-20T21:34:00.002-05:00

Dear Lord, grant me the grace of wonder. Surprise me, amaze me, awe me in every crevice of Your universe. Delight me to see how Your Christ plays in ten thousand places, lovely in limbs, and lovely in eyes not His, to the Father through the features of men's faces. Each day enrapture me with Your marvelous things without number. I do not ask to see the reason for it all; I ask only to share the wonder of it all.

Joshua Abraham Heschel

Accepting Our Humanity

2008-05-19T21:38:00.004-05:00

I have to admit that my flesh isn't a very pretty thing to behold. It's impatient, short-tempered, selfish, covetous and fearful. I could probably think of a few more things to add to the list if I took some time. My wife could probably come up with a sizable list without having to strain too hard.

Isn't the grace and mercy of God such an awesome thing that Jesus would stoop down and drag such a filthy thing as myself out of the mud and wash me white as snow. He accepted me and adopted me as His son just the way I was. I didn't have to clean myself up...at all...not one speck of mud did I have to scrape off for Him to accept me and to receive me as His own.

Now that I am His child am I to think that this same God now somehow doesn't accept me when I act like I did before my adoption? Does He withhold the grace and mercy from His children that he freely gives to those who don't yet know Him? If you're His child I hope you can answer NO to both questions. Yet, isn't that how many of His children live their lives? In fear and depression because they believe that God doesn't accept them just the way they are...warts and all.

Now don't get the idea that I am saying that sin is OK or that sin is acceptable to God. I am also not saying that Father will not work in our lives to turn us away from the things in our life that will harm us and others (sin). He loves us too much to let us play with matches around a gas can. I think Dan Stone said it better in his book, "The Rest of the Gospel"

Every one of us has something about our humanity-our personality, or for some of us our body-that we wish God would change so that we'd look better for Him, at least from our perspective. We think, "God, if you'd just take that thing away, I'd look better for You." That "thing" may be with us until they plant us six feet under.

We come to a place where we say, "Lord, even though that thing is still in my humanity, I'm going to praise You for it." You know what I discovered? The minute I started praising God for my impatience, I didn't see it anymore. I don't mean it disappeared, but I didn't have a fixation on it. I wasn't anxious about it any longer. That's the way God moves on in us, when we accept ourselves as He does.

I'm not advocating sin, by any means. I am saying that when we shift our focus from ourselves-some neutral aspect of our personality that we don't like, or, yes, even some flesh pattern that keeps recurring-and instead focus on Christ in us, God does His work in us. We are transformed into His image as we behold Him, not as we behold ourselves (2 Corinthians 3: 18).

God takes those things that are fixations in us when we're flesh-oriented and turns them into blessings when we're spirit-oriented. What I despised became a blessing in somebody else's life. Those things become the years the locusts ate that God restores, the dung that God makes into a compost pile. He lets it sit there until it's done a work in us. Then we can take our humanity back and say, "It's perfect to God right now. If He wants to do any altering of it, He is at work in me to will and do of His good pleasure. If He wants to change it, He who began a good work in me will bring it to pass. He can finish what He started."

I'm not going to take my humanity back on my own terms. I don't want it back that way. It took me long enough to get rid of it-as the source of my life. When you see it's no longer the starting point of your life, but rather the means by which God's life is manifested, you can take it back. You can accept yourself as you are. You can accept yourself as God's asset.

Finally we are able to say, "Lord, through my family tree and all of the circumstances I've come through, You've made the outer person that I am. You live in that person, and you set that person in the world in a way that's going to attract some people to You. I'm not going to attract everybody. The ones You don't attract through me, You'll catch through someone else."

We don't have to be anybody else; we don't have to submit to anyone trying to make us like anybody else, either. We are free to be ourselves. God is pleased to manifest His beautiful variety of expression through each of us in our uniqueness.

Point of Reference

2008-05-18T19:49:00.004-05:00

Matthew had a great post over on his blog, which set me to thinking about grace. Many Christians embrace the grace of God, which is freely given, but are content to feed on (rely upon) that grace to see them through even while they live their lives mostly in the flesh. They can do that, but as Dan Stone pointed out in his book, "The Rest of the Gospel," why would they want to? Here is an excerpt:

It is impossible for a person to know their union with Christ, and live out of that union, if they don't know that they have died with Christ. If I think that the old me is still alive, I am still my point of reference. If I am still my point of reference, I am still trying to correct me, straighten me up, make something out of me, or do something to change me. As long as my emphasis is upon me, it can't be upon Christ in me. So I am a divided (double minded) person.

You know what the Bible says about double minded men...

When Paul asks the question, "Shall we continue to sin just to prove the grace of God?" He concludes, "People who go on living like that don't really know they have died in Christ." In other words, their point of reference hasn't been changed. Their point of reference is still themselves, and they think they are no good and want to sin. Consequently, they are excited about all of this grace of God that they can keep drawing on. Paul would say, "Yes, you can keep drawing on the grace of God for everything you ever do, for every sin you ever commit. But WHY? Why not instead draw on the LIFE of God?"

Quote of the Week

2008-05-12T19:42:00.002-05:00

The root of all virtue and grace, of all faith and acceptable worship, is that we know that we have nothing but what we receive, and bow in deepest humility to wait upon God for it.

Andrew Murray

The Blessings of Righteousness

2008-05-12T11:57:00.004-05:00

Lovingkindness and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Truth springs from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven. Indeed, the LORD will give what is good, and our land will yield its produce. Righteousness will go before Him and will make His footsteps into a way.

For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD gives grace and glory; no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, how blessed is the man who trusts in You!

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.

Taken from Psalm 84 and 85, 2 Corinthians 5, Ephesians 1

Humility

2008-05-10T21:08:00.002-05:00

A man can counterfeit love, he can counterfeit faith, he can counterfeit hope and all the other graces, but it is very difficult to counterfeit humility. D. L. Moody

The only humility that is really ours is not that which we try to show before God in prayer, but that which we carry with us in our daily conduct. Andrew Murray

The meek man will attain a place of soul rest. As he walks on in meekness he will be happy to let God defend him. The old struggle to defend himself is over. He has found the peace which meekness brings. A.W. Tozer

Whatever makes us feel superior to other people, whatever tempts us to convey a sense of superiority, that is the gravity of our sinful nature, not grace. Phillip Yancey

Humility and love are precisely the graces which the men of the world can understand, if they do not comprehend doctrines. They are the graces about which there is no mystery, and they are within reach of all classes... The poorest Christian can every day find occasion for practicing love and humility. J. C. Ryle

Humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less. Unknown

The man, full of himself, can never proclaim the Christ who emptied Himself. Jacquelyn K. Heasley

A heart that understands what is implicit in God's tenderness is humbled beyond any hope of goodness or worth in itself. Marian Scheele

God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. 1 Peter 5:5

Computer Heaven

2008-05-05T18:06:00.003-05:00

I had someone ask for a picture of my monitor setup at work, so here you go.

Quote of the Week

2008-05-04T18:38:00.001-05:00

When the living Lord Jesus resides in and is vitally active within a Christian, He cannot and does not overlook the selfishness and sinfulness of a person's motivations, attitudes, and behavior. To do so would be to deny Himself, His character, the essential purpose of His Being. Since the personal relationship the Christian has with Christ is a relational union that establishes our spiritual identity as a Christ-one, the indwelling Christ must be allowed to express Himself in the Christian individual by overcoming all selfishness that is contrary to His character. "All things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do" (Heb. 4:13), and He will lovingly expose and root out all that is not consistent with Himself. Christianity is Christ, and true to Himself He will counter and overcome all that is contrary to His absolute character until He is "all in all" of the Christian's life.

Jim Fowler

Grace, Grace, God's Grace

2008-05-02T20:41:00.006-05:00

Grace that is greater than all our sins. Where would we be apart from the grace of God; where would we be without the completely undeserved favor that has been lavished on us through His Son, Jesus Christ? For...

We have received grace upon grace. (John 1:16)
Grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. (John 1:17)
Grace encourages us to remain true to the Lord. (Acts 11:23)
We are justified by Grace. (Romans 3:24)
We stand in His grace. (Romans 5:2)
The abundance of grace causes us to reign in life, in Christ Jesus. (Romans 5:17)
Where sin abounded, grace much more abounded. (Romans 5:20)
Sin is not our master, because we are under grace. (Romans 6:14)
The grace of God leads us to be thankful. (2 Corinthians 4:15)
We were made rich by His grace. (2 Corinthians 8:9)
Grace provides abundance for every good deed. (2 Corinthians 9:8)
Grace causes us to yearn for each other. (2 Corinthians 9:14)
His grace is sufficient for us. (2 Corinthians 12:9)
We have redemption and forgiveness according to the riches of His grace. (Ephesians 1:7)
The riches of His grace is kindness toward us. (Ephesians 2:7)
We are saved by grace. (Ephesians 2:8)
By grace, we have eternal comfort and good hope. (2 Thessalonians 2:16)
We have a holy calling, according to His purpose and grace. (2 Timothy 1:9)
Grace brought salvation to all men. (Titus 2:11)
Grace instructs us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly. (Ephesians 2:11-12)
By the grace of God, Jesus tasted death for everyone. (Hebrews 2:9)
Grace helps in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)
We are strengthened by grace. (Hebrews 13:9)
Grace is given to the humble. (James 4:6)
Our hope is completely fixed on the grace of God revealed in the person of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:13)
We are stewards of the manifold grace of God. (1 Peter 4:10)
We are to stand firm in the grace of God. (1 Peter 5:12)
Grace is multiplied to us in the knowledge of God and Jesus. (2 Peter 1:12)
We are to grow in grace. (2 Peter 3:18)

Amen.

Pretty Amazing Grace

2008-05-02T08:12:00.005-05:00

I don't know if any of you watch American Idol, but I this week was Neil Diamond week. I can usually take him or leave him...I like some of his older stuff, but in general, meh. He sang one of his new songs and I really enjoyed it. I thought I would share it for those who didn't get a chance to hear it.

Here are the lyrics:

Pretty amazing grace is what You showed me

pretty amazing grace is who You are

I was an empty vessel

You filled me up inside

and with amazing grace restored my pride.

Pretty amazing grace is how You saved me

and with amazing grace reclaimed my heart

love in the midst of chaos

calm in the heat of war

showed with amazing grace what love was for.

You forgave my insensitivity

and my attempt to then mislead You

You stood beside a wretch like me

Your pretty amazing grace was all I needed.

Stumbled inside the doorway of Your chapel

humbled in God by everything I found

beauty and love surround me

freed me from what I fear

ask for amazing grace and You appear.

You overcame my loss of hope and faith

gave me a truth I could belive in

You led me to a higher place

showed Your amazing grace

when grace was what I needed.

Look in a mirror I see Your reflection

open a book You live on every page

I fall and You're there to lift me

share every road I climb

and with amazing grace You ease my mind.

Came to You with empty pockets first

when I returned I was rich man

didn't believe love could quench my thirst

but with amazing grace You showed me that it can.

In Your amazing grace I had a vision

from that amazing place I came to be

into the night I wandered

wandering aimlessly

found Your amazing grace to comfort me.

pretty amazing

You overcame my loss of hope and faith,

gave me a truth I could believe in.

You led me to that higher place

showed me that love and truth and hope and grace were all I needed.

(arrrgh...sometimes the formatting on blogger drives me crazy...the text above is supposed to be divided into paragraphs, but blogger refuses to cooperate.)

Quote of the Week

2008-05-02T06:30:00.003-05:00

Creation discloses a power that baffles our minds and beggars our speech. We are enamored and enchanted by God's power. We stutter and stammer about God's holiness. We tremble before God's majesty...and yet we grow squeamish and skittish before God's love.

Brennan Manning

Religion....NOT!

2008-04-30T20:04:00.003-05:00

Joel's excellent series of posts on "Jesus is not a Religion" reminded me of something I wanted to share.

We were having a discussion in Sunday school, this past Sunday, about religion and tradition. It was my turn to lead the class, so I got to steer the class in a direction to talk about some things that were on my mind. I didn't steer it too far off topic as we were discussing what "good works" meant in Ephesians 2:10.

We were wondering what church would look like if you removed all of the man-made traditions and trappings of religion that have been injected over the years. Note that I am not saying those things are necessarily bad, but what would happen in your typical church, for example, if you threw the order of worship out the window and worshipped and shared from your heart.

What a wonderful thing it must have been, when He walked the earth, to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to Him teach and share the heart of the Father. The good part is that we still have that same privilege today, but how much of our Sunday is spent running around like Martha?