I still think about that guy I met on the plane from Kyiv who told me he’d left his 15 year old son behind to apprentice to the missionary family there. Wow. Still excites me and rattles my soul to think about it.

I guess this is why God has kept me detached from a biological family as well….and I pray that when and if the Call comes, I’ll be able to answer clearly even though I know what’s left behind. You’ll get a cat.

Jeremiah 29:11 [+/-]Jeremiah 29:11
[11]For I know the plans I have for you, declares the
LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a
future and a hope. (ESV)
….plans for A hope and A future….HIS hope….HIS future…HIS plan. I love it!

Here I sit….in a motel near Tybee Island with a kind of “oasis” mentality. Just a little more than thankful for this time away from my normal routine. It’s the first time in I can’t remember how long. This wee bit of time will hopefully rejuvenate us for the weeks and months ahead. But I get what you’re saying.

What I’ve noticed about this phenomenon has come mostly through the eyes of my children who see other families going away for big trips every 6 months or sooner or who have extravagant weekend getaways more often than I’ve ever considered. The jealous wonderings plague them and ultimately come home to haunt us. (Not to mention, we’ve got a graduation coming up and a child wondering why we’re not going to give her an “after” party.) Who sets these ridiculous precedents?!? It’s a crazy, pleasure-laden, pain-free illusion out there and our kids expect that’s the norm from what they see from here.

It’s been difficult but rewarding trying to teach them about what is really valuable which is part of the reason why we’d rather spend our time and summer “vacation” $$ on a family mission trip–to teach and model to them that a life of service to God can be rewarding and you’ll have some fun along the way. Mickey Mouse can’t touch that.

No answers more than you have except to keep on trucking with the Truth and be honest about the fact that it’s the best life I’ve ever known. Bar none.

See ya soon!

I’m willing if you are!

You are so right about the hunger–it’s amazing how it never gets satisfied and I’m praying for that revival–that beautiful wind to blow! In the meantime, I want to be found busy in the middle of the Gospel work.Thank you so much for all your time, effort HONESTY and encouragement. My life is forever changed by the word of God spoken week after week through your humility and wisdom.

And he said, “Go, and say to this people:
“‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand;keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’
– Isa 6:9 (ESV) [+/-]Isaiah 6:9
[9]And he said, "Go, and say to this people:
"'Keep on hearing, but do not understand;
keep on seeing, but do not perceive.'

God hardened their hearts. Even though they heard, they were clueless, isaiah however was still required to tell.

Thats where I find myself all to often talking to deaf ears that wanna hear luvy dovey stories that tickle their ears and make them feel good about themselves.

Romans 10
[10:1]Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for
them is that they may be saved. [2]For I bear them witness
that they have a zeal for God, but not according to
knowledge. [3]For, being ignorant of the righteousness of
God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not
submit to God's righteousness. [4]For Christ is the end of
the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
[5]For Moses writes about the righteousness that is
based on the law, that the person who does the commandments
shall live by them. [6]But the righteousness based on faith
says, "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into
heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down) [7]or "'Who will
descend into the abyss?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from
the dead). [8]But what does it say? "The word is near you,
in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of
faith that we proclaim); [9]because, if you confess with
your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart
that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
[10]For with the heart one believes and is justified, and
with the mouth one confesses and is saved. [11]For the
Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be
put to shame." [12]For there is no distinction between Jew
and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his
riches on all who call on him. [13]For "everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved."
[14]How then will they call on him in whom they have not
believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they
have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone
preaching? [15]And how are they to preach unless they are
sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of
those who preach the good news!" [16]But they have not all
obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed
what he has heard from us?" [17]So faith comes from
hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
[18]But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for
"Their voice has gone out to all the earth,
and their words to the ends of the world."
[19]But I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says,
"I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation;
with a foolish nation I will make you angry."
[20]Then Isaiah is so bold as to say,
"I have been found by those who did not seek me;
I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me."
[21]But of Israel he says, "All day long I have held out my
hands to a disobedient and contrary people." (ESV)

So, as far as you referencing the two different preaching styles yesterday…I tend to agree with you. People want to hear something that relates to them – I believe it has to do with retention – although, if they are not familiar with the Bible then they have no idea whether that guy’s story is Bibical or not. In our society, there are still Bibical based churches and I am thankful for that.
Thank you for breaking it down verse for verse and putting in appropriate jokes and stories when needed!

1 Corinthians 12
[12:1]Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not
want you to be uninformed. [2]You know that when you were
pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were
led. [3]Therefore I want you to understand that no one
speaking in the Spirit of God ever says "Jesus is
accursed!" and no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except in the
Holy Spirit.
[4]Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same
Spirit; [5]and there are varieties of service, but the same
Lord; [6]and there are varieties of activities, but it is
the same God who empowers them all in everyone. [7]To each
is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common
good. [8]For to one is given through the Spirit the
utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of
knowledge according to the same Spirit, [9]to another faith
by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one
Spirit, [10]to another the working of miracles, to another
prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between
spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another
the interpretation of tongues. [11]All these are empowered
by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one
individually as he wills.
[12]For just as the body is one and has many members,
and all the members of the body, though many, are one body,
so it is with Christ. [13]For in one Spirit we were all
baptized into one body--Jews or Greeks, slaves or free--and
all were made to drink of one Spirit.
[14]For the body does not consist of one member but of
many. [15]If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand,
I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any
less a part of the body. [16]And if the ear should say,
"Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,"
that would not make it any less a part of the body. [17]If
the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of
hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the
sense of smell? [18]But as it is, God arranged the members
in the body, each one of them, as he chose. [19]If all were
a single member, where would the body be? [20]As it is,
there are many parts, yet one body.
[21]The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of
you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of
you." [22]On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem
to be weaker are indispensable, [23]and on those parts of
the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater
honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater
modesty, [24]which our more presentable parts do not
require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater
honor to the part that lacked it, [25]that there may be no
division in the body, but that the members may have the
same care for one another. [26]If one member suffers, all
suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice
together.
[27]Now you are the body of Christ and individually
members of it. [28]And God has appointed in the church
first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then
miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating,
and various kinds of tongues. [29]Are all apostles? Are all
prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? [30]Do
all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do
all interpret? [31]But earnestly desire the higher gifts.
And I will show you a still more excellent way. (ESV)

Norman Thompson <

I must confess that with my limited personal reading time, along with the complexity of the work itself, it took me almost 6 months to read, digest and re-read most of The God Who Is There. It was so worth it and still, to this day, it continues to change and realign so manyof my current understandings.

I have to be careful though, not to just read this stuff so as to get some “notches” on my bookshelf, but to somehow put into practice what I’m learning so I can bring glory to God and others into his throne room. Fortunately, everything I’ve read so far has done great service to how I can read and understand and live out the Truth of Scripture.

The second, was my grandmother who recently passed away. She was a hard woman of Czechoslovakian and Catholic descent but with no real faith in a strength other than her own. As a child, I was really close to her and spent a great deal of time with her in the kitchen, in the parlor learning to crochet and in the garden. Fractured family issues and painful experiences jettisoned me away from New Jersey and the distance between us grew until there was nothing there. One by one the relatives died and finally, she was the last living from her generation. She was being “cared for” (as in given food and shelter) by her son and his wife but there was not love involved–only duty. I went to visit her this last time and found her confined to bed with an injury and what I found shook me to the core; there she was, in a dark and dusty room. A whisper of the woman I had known, her hair was matted with vomit and tangled, her fingernails long and crusted with unknown substances. She lay under a thin blanket with only her shirt on. I barely knew where to begin. I grabbed a hairbrush and began to untangle her hair, talking to her as she asked me questions about my family. After all these years, she still knew who I was. She was very much in her mind. I only had an hour before leaving to get to the airport and it was all I could do to hold back the tears and answer her questions while ministering to her needs. She complained of pain in her leg and pulling back the covers revealed bedsores on her leg and feet. Finding a pillow to place between her knees I realized that my time was short and that this was most likely the last time I would see her. I also knew that she didn’t know Jesus no more than the rest of the family. Cautiously, I began. “Grandma” I inquired, “What do you think happens after you die?” I was not prepared for her answer: “I don’t like to think about it. I’m too busy thinking about this here and now. Ah such is life. Such is life.” I was stunned and wrestled with where to begin. Time was short and so I started talking to her about heaven and God. But she would hear none of it. A voice downstairs yelled that it was time to go and I was at the end. I hastily straightened her room and her blankets one last time and told her I love her but I had to go. “So soon?” she said, “You just got here!” Another yell from downstairs and I had to go. “I love you grandma. I wish I could stay longer but I have to go.” I turned to leave as I heard her say one last time: “Such is life, such is life.” As it turns out, she died 3 weeks later at the age of 95 and as far as I know, she died without Jesus.

I’m marked forever by these experiences. Because I know that’s not the truth–that’s not the whole, the sum of what God wants for us….to live to a stage of decrepitsy without his truth…to work and invest in ourselves only to come up empty at the end. That’s not living long or living well. I agree with you Al, that’s not “living” at all.

2 Kings 20
[20:1]In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the
point of death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came
to him and said to him, "Thus says the LORD, 'Set your
house in order, for you shall die; you shall not recover.'"
[2]Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to
the LORD, saying, [3]"Now, O LORD, please remember how I
have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole
heart, and have done what is good in your sight." And
Hezekiah wept bitterly. [4]And before Isaiah had gone out
of the middle court, the word of the LORD came to him:
[5]"Turn back, and say to Hezekiah the leader of my people,
Thus says the LORD, the God of David your father: I have
heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will
heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of
the LORD, [6]and I will add fifteen years to your life. I
will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king
of Assyria, and I will defend this city for my own sake and
for my servant David's sake." [7]And Isaiah said, "Bring a
cake of figs. And let them take and lay it on the boil,
that he may recover."
[8]And Hezekiah said to Isaiah, "What shall be the sign
that the LORD will heal me, and that I shall go up to the
house of the LORD on the third day?" [9]And Isaiah said,
"This shall be the sign to you from the LORD, that the LORD
will do the thing that he has promised: shall the shadow go
forward ten steps, or go back ten steps?" [10]And Hezekiah
answered, "It is an easy thing for the shadow to lengthen
ten steps. Rather let the shadow go back ten steps."
[11]And Isaiah the prophet called to the LORD, and he
brought the shadow back ten steps, by which it had gone
down on the steps of Ahaz.
[12]At that time Merodach-baladan the son of Baladan,
king of Babylon, sent envoys with letters and a present to
Hezekiah, for he heard that Hezekiah had been sick. [13]And
Hezekiah welcomed them, and he showed them all his treasure
house, the silver, the gold, the spices, the precious oil,
his armory, all that was found in his storehouses. There
was nothing in his house or in all his realm that Hezekiah
did not show them. [14]Then Isaiah the prophet came to King
Hezekiah, and said to him, "What did these men say? And
from where did they come to you?" And Hezekiah said, "They
have come from a far country, from Babylon." [15]He said,
"What have they seen in your house?" And Hezekiah answered,
"They have seen all that is in my house; there is nothing
in my storehouses that I did not show them."
[16]Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, "Hear the word of the
LORD: [17]Behold, the days are coming, when all that is in
your house, and that which your fathers have stored up till
this day, shall be carried to Babylon. Nothing shall be
left, says the LORD. [18]And some of your own sons, who
shall be born to you, shall be taken away, and they shall
be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon." [19]Then
said Hezekiah to Isaiah, "The word of the LORD that you
have spoken is good." For he thought, "Why not, if there
will be peace and security in my days?"
[20]The rest of the deeds of Hezekiah and all his might
and how he made the pool and the conduit and brought water
into the city, are they not written in the Book of the
Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? [21]And Hezekiah slept
with his fathers, and Manasseh his son reigned in his
place. (ESV)

In chapter 18, he is like David, and does right in the eyes of the Lord, trusted, held fast, the Lord was with him, etc. While it might should bring me comfort to know that even men such as these failed, it doesn’t. It scares me to pieces.

I think deep down inside David was sad too–this is his first year in the last 4 that he doesn’t get to go. And someday I will!

Have fun!

Golf is $30.

Todd Ware is our speaker. It is going to be a great time of fellowship and rejoicing in the Lord!

But I have to confess that the whole concept of the use of the word “first” is still confusing me. Are you saying that this was the “first” registration/census as in it is the first of it’s kind? And how does this resolve the difference in dates known for Quirinius and Herod’s rule used here to pinpoint the time of the birth? I’m not doubting now more than I have ever before, but this is a curious thing.

Thanks.

THEN…we have to wrestle with the hearing, listening, submitting and obeying. We can no longer–especially knowing our unworthiness and the nature of his holiness and grace–no longer, can we go on as if we never heard him. From that point on, we are accountable to the Call and have to change course in EVERY area of our life.

Doing this requires daily submission, daily grace and the empowering of the Holy Spirit. It requires honesty and commitment to fellow believers as we struggle together to honor the Lord, seek his face and do his will. We CANNOT do this alone no more than we can procure salvation on our own.

Aren’t you glad that God was speaking and you were listening? That he doesn’t let us go our own way? That, by Divine appointment, he sends His people into our paths to speak to us one more time?

Wow! It makes Isaiah 6:7-10 [+/-]Isaiah 6:7-10
[7]And he touched my mouth and said: "Behold, this has
touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin
atoned for."
[8]And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall
I send, and who will go for us?" Then I said, "Here am I!
Send me." [9]And he said, "Go, and say to this people:
"'Keep on hearing, but do not understand;
keep on seeing, but do not perceive.'
[10]Make the heart of this people dull,
and their ears heavy,
and blind their eyes;
lest they see with their eyes,
and hear with their ears,
and understand with their hearts,
and turn and be healed."
all the more exciting:

“With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”

8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”
And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

9 He said, “Go and tell this people:
” ‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding;
be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’

Where is he sending us today?

We’re glad you’re there doing what God does best through you.

Does anybody see that when Jesus is removed from the center as the sole manifestation of the sovereign God in whom alone is salvation that the center of the Gospel has collapsed so that the conservative has nothing then with which to reach the Muslim?

I have been watching this happen…slowly but surely, from my point of view as an “outsider” in education where more and more we are unable to speak even HISTORICALLY about the personhood of Jesus Christ as a figure in the history of the world, nevermind as THE Savior of the world. And yet, it’s wholly acceptable to talk about Mohammad and to discuss the nature of Islam as a history and as a religion. And we, as Christians, bought wholesale into this notion of tolerance which left the door open for the heresies to come rushing in upon us. We thought, blindly: “Oh, if we just let them have their say, then we can have our say and then the Truth can be known”. Or worse, we had no understanding of the Truth we thought we could speak of and were immediately swallowed up by the Muslim rhetoric in the face of our lack of preparation, knowledge and basic relationship with the One we thought we represented.

I was listening to Ergun Caner the other night–in the weeeee hours while finishing up the newsletter and he said something which speaks to the problem. Basically, and I’m sure he’s not the only one saying this right now (I know Ravi Zaccharius is) , that Christians have so watered down the message of the Gospel and have so poorly prepared our seminarians that they are not able to teach or reach into our culture with the truth that so desperately needs to be heard. They are nursemaids passing out bottles of milk to a people unprepared for meat. As a result we have churches that are “a hundred miles wide and 2 feet deep”. Whoa. That’s profound.

SO Pastor Al….How can we face this Islamization? What is our response….our prepared statement? What does it look like? See, the problem our little community faces is that it is–a little community. We feel “safe” and “insulated” from the problems which are somewhere…out there. The enemy is very crafty and we are the sleeping church if we think it’s not lurking in the bushes on every street corner from one end of town to the other. How do we prepare for this battle? What would we as a community do or feel–how would we react if we knew that Islamist militants were stationing themselves all around waiting for a word from their commander? Because you know, it’s not that far-fetched of a notion.

I have found personally, that grief is like a rollercoaster. One minute screaming, next minute laughing, or perhaps the next crying, and sometimes even throwing-up. 7 weeks ago, my birth-father was called home. He, like Sheila, had many struggles. I can look back and see the work God did in His life. The forgiveness, the grace, the mercy….restoration. Wow. I remember watching our friend, Sheila grow in that grace, as well, watching as prayers were answered. She was already beautiful, but when the Son of God got ahold of her, she beamed for His glory! She never met a stranger, and her love for Jesus and fellow-man was evident as she lived each day. When I got the news that sister Sheila had been called home to Glory, I was having these little memory clips flash back in my mind. I could see them just like I was watching a movie, and all the way to the Coleman house, I laughed and cried. I thought about Sheila and I goofing off singing that old country song “Delta Dawn….” I thank God for allowing me such a friend as Sheila and for the memories that are a reflection of His love. I thank God that He will comfort us all, especially sweet Michael, and the Coleman family. I thank God for the work I know He will perfect in the lives of those who struggle daily. Finally, I thank Him for “taking her to His mansion in the sky….”

I think about her while doing the most mundane tasks and what’s funny is that it’s been that way for a long time. I remember her when cleaning my house because that’s what she did and she introduced me to my “favorite” cleaning solution: Fabulosa–second only to the original Pine Sol. I remember her when setting up the Sunday School coffee because she didn’t like hazelnut coffee (it reminded her of Frangelica liquor which she detested)…and for a long time I had a tremendous stash of hazelnut flavored coffee I wouldn’t use “just in case” Sheila came to Sunday School. I remember her when I remember Ron Melton because she helped me clean his apartment–well, she did most of the cleaning because she wouldn’t let me do anything! I remember her when I make my recipe for “Backpack Spice Cake” because it was the only recipe she ever asked for. I’d give her some on the side…and she’d be like “Ooooh Oooh OOOH! This is so good it’s BAD!”

Shelia got under my skin and stayed there. When she went “missing” I set out to find her and realized quickly that she didn’t really want to be found in the place she had gone. So I did the the only thing possible and prayed. I left text messages. I prayed. I wrote her name in my prayer journal and next to that entry is an update set for May 19. It reads: “Prayers answered! Sheila came home!”. And like you, I realize now that she wasn’t home…yet. None of us are.

Yesterday I picked blueberries for 3 hours with David and the boys and the whole time…the whole darn time, I thought of Sheila. How much I loved her. How much I wanted to be more like her in the ways that count. She has left us a gift in that her life was always open for example to others–the good, the bad and the ugly. No, we can’t and won’t exalt her life to “sainthood”, that would be a mockery in every way possible. But in her life….and death….there is hope. It’s the only hope any of us has as struggling sinners. It’s the promise that He who began the good work in us will carry it on to completion until that last day. (Philippians 1:5-6 [+/-]Philippians 1:5-6
[5]because of your partnership in the gospel from the
first day until now. [6]And I am sure of this, that he who
began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the
day of Jesus Christ. (ESV)
) And beyond!

I am confident in that God’s good work in the life of Sheila is now complete. However, His good work THROUGH the life of Sheila has only just begun. Her life and death is now bringing hope to others who are struggling in many of the same ways and I can think of no greater testimony to a life so well and wildly lived than for others to come to know God’s mercy, grace and the ultimate forgiveness of salvation. That’s one of the marks of Sheila’s life: she gave passionately and abundantly and she continues to give in spite of herself. She’d like that.

I guess I thought it would make me feel better if I had anything to do with salvation..but I’m actually more humbled and grateful to know that it’s not at all about me.

I can still remember the night I got “saved” but I know I responded from an emotional impulse. I NEEDED something that the minister spoke of and made the action to come forward. What I didn’t know then was that God was calling me to that moment and when I think back…waaaaaay back, I can remember God-filled moments from before that time. I am evermore convinced that those moments were the beginnings of God’s calling and drawing me towards Him.

This information is a strange relief in one sense, and a terrible tragedy in another when I realize the awful truth of those who are on their way to Hell. I’ve been trying to reconcile this information and have thought that it might have something to do with God’s endless existence outside of time and our being bound by the constraints of time. Then it would make perfect sense that God of course knows who is/was chosen from the beginning til the end, because he exists outside of time and looks upon us from a omniscient position. We can not fathom such a thing simply because we are mortal and bound by our linear existence.

As confusing as it is…somehow, I can manage these things a little better in this light.

It’s only recently that I’ve started thinking about these things and recognizing the beautiful, awful truth. Up until 3 months ago, I had spent my time believing that I chose Jesus. What a wonderful revelation to discover that actually, Jesus chose me!

It doesn’t take much for me to recognize total depravity…I see it in the mirror everyday. I, like Paul, am confounded the problem of the struggle to do good while constantly falling on my face through the bad I do even while I’m trying not to.

Yeah, I don’t need medicine…I need resurrection. No doubt.

When someone refers to me as something, its so hard to fight the instinct to defend myself. But if I do try to explain that their opinion is likely incorrect, my eyes leave my clearly biblical focus (Christ) and start looking toward men.

I was recently called charismatic. The first thing I had to do was go read what it meant. From the description of the word I found (which you know how that goes), there are some traits there that would fit. I do believe in the Holy Spirit, I do believe in the importance of prayer and I do believe in looking for opportunities to praise and worship God throughout my week and daily life.

But there are also many characteristics that don’t mark my beliefs; I’ll leave the ones I disagree with out of this comment to show respect for those who do hold those beliefs. Suffice it to say that the characteristics that do not mark my beliefs outweigh those that do. If you wanna call me charismatic, my guess is that you’d probably be about 30% right.

Being called this, though, helped me more clearly define what it is I do believe. And inspecting the label clearly took the sting out of the comment.

I am probably the biggest get-my-feelings hurt and cry-like-a-baby person you’ll ever meet. It has affected every one of my relationships and whew! I’d like to say I have whooped this bad boy, but nope. So, don’t make me cry!

Journey on!

When the modern American church fails to uphold masculinity, is it any wonder why the modern church in America is dying for want of men who will dare to lead the charge in an effort to turn the tide even within the walls of our “safe” churches?

This is Ravi Zacharius Ministries.

I am convinced that if you are not clear about your priorities and convinced at your core that they are right, then you will live life bounced between the poles of confusion and chaos. Your life will be spent running from one fire to the next. You will find yourself in crisis mode all the time. No matter who you are or what you do, you must heed the words of Karl Jung who reminds us that if we do not set our own priorities, the world will gladly do that for us.

Wow. That describes me to a “T”. I never intend to be that way and there are many days I start out on the right foot only to discover that I’m on the wrong path!

It seems to me that it’s another subject to fall under the heading of “daily dying to myself”. I’m challenged by this notion and the sermon series of late to re-evaluate my priorities and what makes me tick. The problem is how to stop the madness……..I’m tempted at first to go “off the grid”, so to speak–to withdraw and build a booth at the last place I experienced God’s presence and just stay there. Not possible and not what I’ve been commanded to do. So then, how do we live a life of intentional ministry without being overwhelmed by the world’s chaos?

http://www.linein.org/blog/2008/02/23/dog-screen-cleaner-screensavers-4-different-dogs-win-mac/

Psalm 24
[24:1]The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof,
the world and those who dwell therein,
[2]for he has founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
[3]Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD?
And who shall stand in his holy place?
[4]He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to what is false
and does not swear deceitfully.
[5]He will receive blessing from the LORD
and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
[6]Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah
[7]Lift up your heads, O gates!
And be lifted up, O ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
[8]Who is this King of glory?
The LORD, strong and mighty,
the LORD, mighty in battle!
[9]Lift up your heads, O gates!
And lift them up, O ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
[10]Who is this King of glory?
The LORD of hosts,
he is the King of glory! Selah

Who can stand before the Lord in His holy place?
Who can walk upon the hill of the Lord?
Only he who’s hands are clean–
Only he who’s heart is pure–
Can stand before the Lord.

I will stand–I will come
Before the presence of the King
For His blood washes me from sin…
I enter in.

This song is a reminder to me every time we sing it (and the Psalm as well, every time I read it) that God is holy and by His choosing, He has made a way for me to enter into His presence–here and now through prayers and the scriptures, and eventually with Him in eternity.

I bow my life before Him as best as I can and use the intellect He has blessed me with to discern His will through His gift of His Holy Spirit as He is revealed through time spent with Him in prayer, scriptures reading, circumstances, and the godly people found in my spiritual family.

I’m glad Phil dispelled the myth most people claim in Proverbs, but it was a bit dissapointing that he didn’t simply stop with it being a principle of wisdom. Though his conclusion that sound teachings (especially from the Bible) stick and his analogy with Adam and Eve and Judas was actually pretty good.

I haven’t always been a proponent of homeschooling…in fact, I once declared that I’d never do it because “I’m not raising hothouse flowers–these kids need to be able to stand up to the elements! They’ve got to learn how to be salt and light!” What I didn’t realize at the time was that the soup is a lot thicker than I had ever imagined and it quickly overwhelms what little “salt” most kids are prepared to offer.

And the world is a whole lot darker. It used to be that the bit of “religion” kids got in church combined with what they got during the time they were at home and added to what was allowed to be professed in the classroom was enough to ward off most of the darkness. Now….the Christian God isn’t (although other “gods are) allowed in the schools (most of them–as Pastor Al said, Waynesboro schools are a RARITY), God can’t be found in most homes–even homes where the parents would describe themselves as “christians” and sometimes, God can’t even be found in the church the family might choose to attend. Welcome to Babylon, population: millions.

I learned after trying the public school for 4 years that the instruction my children needed in order to make a difference in the world was gonna take more than just a little bit of time…and it was gonna need to be INTENSE. I’ve also learned that there is a BIG difference between wisdom and knowledge and all the school can offer in most cases is knowledge. Logic? The schools have never heard of such a thing.

Am I qualified? No. Every day, I am reminded that this job is way bigger than me and only God can do what he wants to do through me. On those days it’s helpful to remember that God called me to this ministry and HE calls me “qualified” according to 1 Corinthians 1:26-30 [+/-]1 Corinthians 1:26-30
[26]For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you
were wise according to worldly standards, not many were
powerful, not many were of noble birth. [27]But God chose
what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose
what is weak in the world to shame the strong; [28]God
chose what is low and despised in the world, even things
that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, [29]so
that no human being might boast in the presence of God.
[30]And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became
to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and
redemption, (ESV)
which reads in part,
“…But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” (vs 27)

That is my homeschooling mantra!

The problem with this ruling is that it further solidifies the separation of faith and reason and wrongly assumes that some arbitrary credentials are needed before reliable information can be transmitted.

I wonder what it would do for our society if we were to return to the place where knowledge and reason, whomever speaks it, is affirmed and upheld after careful scrutiny instead of relying instead on titles and contrived credentials…

I once was so discouraged to discover that this is a life-long process. I just wanted to “get it right” and be done with it. But what I’m learning is that God will continue to use my need for “thumpings” and admonishments to draw me closer to Him and to set the example before others if I’m humble enough to bear the witness.

Its always a tough subject to tackle when it comes to the faith/works debate that has split the Christian church over and over again for centuries and even though its still a struggle to put the proper emphasis on the works of righteousness displayed in my life, it is very encouraging to know that those works can be used as a measuring stick and evidence of the work Christ has done in my life and the lives of others.

As Terry Nichols once said, its a call to be “fruit inspectors”. Thanks for helping us learn how to properly thump the melons!

Then I get interrupted with my own daughter who wants to gush to me some event or recount something I already know, sometimes all too well, and I’m reminded that God’s desire is a real, honest, relationship with me which requires that I enter His presence regularly with all my human frailties and simply lay my life before Him.

Yes, our helping hands are necessary. James reminds us of this in chapter 2:15-17 that it does no service to a brother in need to only ever pray and not help when we can…but our help is actually secondary to the primary need of prayer. We need to hear from God about how BEST to serve him (not ourselves; not others) in a given situation.

The Spanish congregation has been on my heart for a while and often I’ve wondered what I could DO to help. When they first started meeting here, David and I offered several things and they didn’t accept. But God knows what he wants to do and if it includes us, then I wanna hear from him and be ready.

Speaking of which; What was your take on “Blue like Jazz” Al or anyone else who might have read this book by Donald Miller?

BTW: Could someone who thinks they think ever be wrong in their assumption?

What if their thoughts they think they thought were really not theirs? Do they still get credit for thinking the thought?

But if we look at them out of their context, they covey completely different messages. The first gives the impression that we humans are a necessary part of the Lord speaking as it is our heart that hears the Lord. While the ESV version says He spoke. He did not require any human interaction at all. Our hearts didn’t do anything in the process except respond when we heard Him.

Makes me want to buy an ESV version.
Mountains….molehills….maybe….

And Clint can write and chew gum at the same time! What an amazing God we serve!

I find this blog very interesting on several levels. On many occasions in high school while my friends were out, I would stay locked in my room reading. This was a very strange occurrence back then and I assume this behavior would be almost belittled today. I remember reading Terry Brooks and his series the Sword of Shannara. I was so enamored with the lives that the characters lived in the books. Most of the settings in my earlier readings were fantasy mixed with medieval. I was so fascinated with the Knight in Shining Armor theme. I could even picture myself living in a castle with a moat and riding my horse around saving damsels in distress. LOL!!!! Then I remember reading the Lord of the Rings. WOW!! Being the nerd that I am, I actually read this series twice! After that I got a copy of The Chronicles of Narnia. This was an excellent series and ones I recommend to this day. From the time I was 15 till I was 25, I read on average 3-4 books a month(not counting school books). I had a period of inactivity for several years where I would read a book here and there. Then I met Lisa. My damsel in distress!!! LOL!! Actually I was in distress and she rescued me. Before I go any farther, let me elaborate on where my passion for epic novels blossomed. As a youngster I was so enthralled to characters in the Bible like Sampson. I would daydream of having super strength and battling the forces of evil for Jesus. I would picture myself bowing before my King and Him asking me to slay the evil dragon. I grew up alone (I had a sister, but she was a GIRL!!) and most of the time I had to entertain myself outside. I would carry a knife and stick and beat up on trees that I would pretend were Goliath. I had no fear because I was fighting for Christ. I lost that passion somewhere. Then I met Lisa who saw and understood my passions and recommended a Frank Peretti book. For those who are not familiar, that book was This Present Darkness. This opened my eyes to a whole new world outside the realm of fantasy. Now don’t misunderstand me. I don’t base my religion on these books. But after reading them, you can’t help but see that some of the content is extremely possible. These books rekindled that passion to arm myself and go fight for Christ. Since then I have read many Christian Fiction books. Including a book by Shaunti Feldhahn called The Veritas Conflict. In this book she delves into the life of a Christian girl trying to make it at Harvard. Be warned, this book does explore the realm of spiritual warfare. This is a must read for anyone who decides to go to college. If you read this Blog, please get this book!! I even read some books that Lisa would call “Girly” books. The author was Francine Rivers and the series is the Mark of the Lion. These were really good books and ones I highly recommend. There is one thing I have learned from my numerous battles in and out of the ring: KNOW YOUR ENEMY!!! Because of the latest Harry Potter fad, and trying to understand what all the hype was about, I picked up the latest copies and read the whole series. Surprisingly, these are really entertaining books. I know Wes, BLAH,BLAH,BLAH. I can hear you now. LOL!! Well anyway, as you can see, this blog brought back some very fond childhood memories. And this being my first BLOG ever, I don’t know when to quit. So I will quit right here!!

From where I sit, I can honestly see what you say about our state of confusion and nearing collapse as truth. It’s scary. I have to confess that one part of me would like to get all excited about it–Jesus is coming! But then there’s the part of me that has to recognize that it could be a while and depending on how we want to look at things, we might have to endure a whole lot before that happens.

In the meantime….there’s a lot to do and pray about.

I think the biggest change in the Church in the 20th century has been the adoption, albeit unknowingly, of post-modernism in much of it’s philosophy by giving up on the laborious process of “testing the spirits”.

Then again, the Church has abdicated many other critical offices it “historically” held prior to the 20th century so I guess the abdication of the mind is just the next logical step…

I remember when I first heard about Jesus–cognitiviely, and accepted–it was ALL emotional. I was responding (at the age of 12) to the filling of a void. Needless to say, the emotions didn’t last too long before the questions began and there were very few answers anyone could provide. After marriage, David and I just got “busy” doing church stuff and figured that was the answer. Nope. We were met with dissatisfaction, not only from within ourselves and our relationship, but there was still this gnawing sense that God was dissatisfied with us too. I just knew there HAD to be something more to this church thing! And there is! And it’s not religion….it’s relationship. But you won’t find that out in very many churches..and we’ve tried several “brands”! Relationship is simply not something you talk about and heaven forbid if you allude to inerrancy of Scripture. When David and I left the last church we left as certified Jesus Freaks…we just didn’t fit in and now, after having been at FBC for 3 years, I know why.

The church experiences we’ve left behind were largely governed by committees dedicated to marketing their programs designed to appeal to the maximum number of people while stepping on the minimum number of toes. I’m ashamed to admit that we, as video producers, had a part in one church’s marketing scheme through the production of what we called “visitor outreach videos”. Our job was to produce a video which would give a general warm-fuzzy to first-time visitors about the chruch and it’s programming. Oh, and we can mention Jesus too. Yuck…I repent.

So yeah…the church…the TRUE church and what it means to BE the church has been scattered, smothered and covered by the culture in our day and age in a completely misquided effort to somehow make the Gospel “culturally relevant”.

My two and a half cents