Pursuing a Passionate Priority

It's official -- I'm MOVING.

2005-11-13T22:17:00.000-07:00

Haven't been getting many hits or replies, responses or anything that shows that this blog is making a difference. So, I've moved my focus, engeries and writing to a new blog. You're more than welcome to come visit and post there. Please bookmark the following address:

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/hubby

Hope to see you over there and to read replies and comments from you all!

Selah and Peace of Christ be with you.

Get yer red, hot hell... get it while it's hot!!

2005-11-09T11:14:00.000-07:00

The UpWords Weekly Email Devotional
MaxLucado.com/newsletter
11/9/05
_________________________________
YOUR CHOICE WILL BE HONORED
by Max Lucado

We don’t like to talk about hell, do we? In intellectual circles the
topic of hell is regarded as primitive and foolish. It’s not logical.
“A loving God wouldn’t send people to hell.” So we dismiss it.

But to dismiss it is to dismiss a core teaching of Jesus. The
doctrine of hell is not one developed by Paul, Peter, or John. It is
taught by Jesus himself.

We are free either to love God or not. He invites us to love him. He
urges us to love him. He came that we might love him. But, in the
end, the choice is yours and mine. To take that choice from each of
us, for him to force us to love him, would be less than love.

God explains the benefits, outlines the promises, and articulates
very clearly the consequences. And then, in the end, he leaves the
choice to us.

Hell was not prepared for people. Hell “was prepared for the devil
and his angels.” (Matthew 25:41) For a person to go to hell, then, is
for a person to go against God’s intended destiny. Hell is man’s
choice, not God’s choice.

Consider, then, this explanation of hell: Hell is the chosen place of
the person who loves self more than God, who loves sin more than his
Savior, who loves this world more than God’s world. Judgment is that
moment when God looks at the rebellious and says, “Your choice will
be honored.”

To say there is no hell is to say God condones the rebellious,
unrepentant heart. To say there is no hell is to portray God with
eyes blind to the hunger and evil in the world. To say there is no
hell is to say that God doesn’t care that people are beaten and
massacred, that he doesn’t care that women are raped or families
wrecked. To say there is no hell is to say God has no justice, no
sense of right and wrong, and eventually to say God has no love. For
true love hates what is evil.

Hell is the ultimate expression of a just Creator.
_________________________________
From And the Angels Were Silent
Copyright 1992, Max Lucado
http://wwwmaxlucado.com/shop/detail2.php?pid=B108H

*** Thanks, DL.

Practicing what I preach...

2005-11-02T21:59:00.000-07:00

So on Wednesdays in Seminary, I've been taking this class on Developing Leaders who Develop Leaders. It's been quite the show, I must say! This has been by far one of the most educational classes I've ever taken. One of the topics we're going over is about taking risks with people and opening up the opportunity to get hurt as we speak Truth in love to them. After all, that is totally what Jesus has done for us all. Anyway, in light of the recent marital tragedies I've experienced and the ever mounting pressure from the devil to fail at any given moment has caused me to be very sensitive to people and there actions toward the opposite sex.

I'm reading a new book called "Hedges" by Jerry Jenkins on building and growing hedges of protection in your marriage and quite frankly, it is an awesome book so far. It talks about how as men, the devil will sneak up on us and tempt up before we ever know what is happening and if we don't put up these hedges, then it may be too late. I totally am plugging this book! Go buy it and read it. Married or not, it'll help you out tremendously.

So this one particular guy in class (wonderfully awesome, humble and graciously spirited man of God) has shown compassion to an otherwise vulnerable person of the opposite sex. This was not sexual in nature, neither even sensual. It was purely motivated by a heart to serve the person and show them the love of Christ. What he however failed to understand was how dangerously close he could have been to getting this vulnerable female emotionally tied to himself, a more than happily married guy, well on his way to pastorship.

The Holy Spirit totally jabbed my ribs on this one. I felt the conviction laid upon my heart to share the dangerous position he had put himself in and was totally chicken to do it. I began to feel the spiritual warfare rise up within me. But in light of the gruesome tragedies I've witnessed recently, as outlined before, I could not nor would not allow this uncomfortable feeling deep within my stomach to sway me and conquer in the name of sin. No, Christ would win this time. At break, I tried and tried, but felt sick when thinking of approaching him. I said to myself, "self, you better at least make the contact, or you won't follow through, you yella’ bellied chicken!" So, I asked him if he'd chat with me after class. He obliged.

Class ended and I walked toward the door and waited. Not long as he was eager to meet with me to see what problems I may desire to share with him and seek his counsel after. As we neared the parking structure, we small talked and then finally he said that it was great that I'd ask him to talk with me and was curious as to how he could help me. The guy is great! I'm not insinuating pride here, he was just totally ready to serve as best as Christ would allow him. I began to unwrap this delicately fragile topic by first explaining that I was a dirt clod and hoped that he'd understand and that I hoped that these implications were TOTALLY wrong. I explained how utterly unworthy I was to even bring such charges against anyone, but that I had noticed something and wanted to warn him of it's implications.

His reaction was so Christ-like and very humble. I couldn't believe it. He looked at me in awe and was like; I'd never have seen that coming. I explained that what I've learned from my wife is that most of the time, we are dumb, blind men and don't see the warning signs until its too late. I saw this one through the power of the Holy Spirit and therefore wanted to protect him. I told him that I NEVER thought that his heart was in any place other than to compassionately comfort a hurt individual, a bloodline of our fellow Christ.

What’s so interesting about this is that there is this speech or mini-sermon I'm preparing for in November on the discussion of mutual accountability in our lives. What's so awesome is that I'm getting ready to preach on the very thing that I was exercising tonight. What is so great about this is that even if my sermon is a flop, I'll know that the preparation I undertook prepared me for tonight; to face the spiritual battle and help carry a brother another step toward victory.

I praise God, our Father and give all thanks and glory to the Son, Christ Jesus our Lord for blessings to each of His kids. Through me because of Him, He is changing lives.

Hail to the King, kiddies!

Microfox?

2005-10-25T21:55:00.000-07:00

Microsoft gave the press an MSN Search screenshot – using Firefox, but denies that it had done so

Oddly enough, Microsoft is promoting Mozilla Firefox. The company recently provided the press with a screenshot of MSN Search displayed on the open source browser. Microsoft's PR firm denied using Firefox for any of MSN Search's screenshots
Alert reader Dror Levin read a review of the new MSN Search on the Seattle Post Intelligencer. He noticed something strange about the screenshot in the article, found a larger version of it and was surprised to find out that while the OS was Windows XP, the browser used was Firefox.

The photo credit says "(AP Photo/HO/Microsoft)", which means it was distributed to AP by Microsoft.

Brian Peterson, of Microsoft's PR firm Waggener Edstrom, said: "None of our approved/distributed screen shots of MSN Search were made using a Mozilla Firefox browser. Moving forward, we will not be commenting on this issue".

Recently, MSN.com's Tech and Gadgets section's "Today in Downloads" recommended software was Firefox. But that may not have been done by design, as the software recommendations originate in CNET's Download.com. Microsoft declined to comment on this.

(source: http://www.nrg.co.il/online/10/ART/825/507.html)

Well, poop on ya'll, then! (j/k)

2005-10-25T21:53:00.000-07:00

Only one person replied to the caption contest?!?! Wow, okay, then.

The winner is.... (drum roll):

THE MRS! My very own wife!! Yeay, her.

Friday Caption Contest #2!

2005-10-20T14:47:00.000-07:00

It's Friday again. Help me out and give this image a caption! Winner of the contest gets a pat on the back by the winner him(or her)self!!! Happy Captioning...

Oh!!! This is FUNNY!!! Thanks Granddad.

2005-10-20T14:31:00.000-07:00

1. How Do You Catch a Unique Rabbit?
Unique Up On It.

2. How Do You Catch a Tame Rabbit?
Tame Way, Unique Up On It.

3. How Do Crazy People Go Through The Forest?
They Take The Psycho Path

4. How Do You Get Holy Water?
You Boil The Hell Out Of It.

5. What Do Fish Say When They Hit a Concrete Wall?
Dam!

6. What Do Eskimos Get From Sitting On The Ice too Long?
Polaroid's

7. What Do You Call a Boomerang That Doesn't work?
A Stick

8.. What Do You Call Cheese That Isn't Yours?
Nacho Cheese.

9.. What Do You Call Santa's Helpers?
Subordinate Clauses.

10. What Do You Call Four Bullfighters In Quicksand?
Quattro Sinko..

11. What Do You Get From a Pampered Cow?
Spoiled Milk.

12. What Do You Get When You Cross a Snowman With a Vampire?
Frostbite.

13. What Lies At The Bottom Of The Ocean And Twitches?
A Nervous Wreck.

14. What's The Difference Between Roast Beef And Pea Soup?
Anyone Can Roast Beef. Can you pea soup?

15. Where Do You Find a Dog With No Legs?
Right Where You Left Him.

16. Why Do Gorillas Have Big Nostrils?
Because They Have Big Fingers.

17. Why Don't Blind People Like To Sky Dive?
Because It Scares The Dog.

18. What Kind Of Coffee Was Served On The Titanic?
Sanka.

19. What Is The Difference Between a Harley And a Hoover?
The Location Of The Dirt Bag.

20. Why Did Pilgrims' Pants Always Fall Down?
Because They Wore Their Belt Buckle On Their Hat.

21. What's The Difference Between a Bad Golfer And a Bad Skydiver?
A Bad Golfer Goes, Whack, Dang!
A Bad Skydiver Goes Dang! Whack.

22. How Are a Texas Tornado And a Tennessee Divorce The Same?
Somebody's Gonna Lose A Trailer

Now, admit it. At least one of these made you smile. Never Get Too Big For Your Britches, Trust In God and Never Forget a Friend.

Hail King Jesus!

Yay, me!

2005-10-20T12:57:00.000-07:00

I changed my rotors and brakepads this morning all by my self like a big boy and didn't kill myself or amputate a limb! In spite of my cheap floor jack that basically doesn't lift the truck much higher off the ground than the height of an ant. Thanks to God, I'm still alive and in one piece.

Hail to the King, baby!

Friday Caption Contest

2005-10-14T19:16:00.000-07:00

Okay, so this idea has come from a buddy in the programming industry. He does this on his site. Hope you don't mind, Chris.

It’s FRIDAY! Come up with a funny caption for this photo and post it in the comments. Please keep it clean. Thanks! Have fun, too!

Quote(s) Of The Week: Oct 9-15, 2005

2005-10-14T18:58:00.000-07:00

I wonder if other dogs think poodles are members of a weird religious cult.
- Rita Rudner

Traffic signals in New York are just rough guidelines.
- David Letterman

I believe that people would be alive today if there were a death penalty.
- Nancy Reagan

Busy busy busy...

2005-10-14T18:51:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it's been 10 whole days since I last posted! Sorry, I know there are a few of you who check back often and I haven't updated and I'm sure its dreadfully disappointing! (riiiiight)

I need some help, I think. I've been SO busy with work and school and ministry, I don't even think I could focus long enough to share with you what has been going on with that. It's all such a blur! It really is.

So lets do this: Anybody with any good questions or even bad ones, post a reply here. I'd love to be asked anything. Like why does it always rain right after I wash the car? Or, is the direction of the flow of the water in the toilet when flushed really determined by which side of the equator we live on? Try to be either as creative as possible or as funny as possible and I'll take a stab at it as best as I can. I know you all are DYING to hear from my little mind. Mwah ha ha ha!

Our Red Egg Rental

2005-10-04T17:38:00.000-07:00

So, more testing... On my way home last night (my birthday) from seminary, on my way to have dinner with the family that the Mrs. cooked up special, my truck died - I mean, it just plain stopped! The engine shut off at about 35 miles an hour as I approached a stop sign and I later find out that it's due to a timing belt failure. I'll find out tomorrow just how much it is going to cost to repair. So I went and rented a little red egg to get me from A to B in the meantime. It's really a great driving car! Even at $37.20/day for a self-employed seminary student.

The problem is not that my vehicle failed, in fact, I was able to share with a friend of mine how awesome it is that this happened, because as I struggle, I know God is working on me. It's not a comfortable position to be in by any means, but, at least I'm being molded. Thats my attitude.

What the problem is: I wasn't at first thankful that God blessed us with the money in savings to get the vehicle repaired. No, instead I had a poor attitude that I had to spend money in savings to repair it. I have always struggled to save money. Now, God blesses me with it and I'm upset because I have to use it! You know what verse went through my head? Yeah, something about storing up treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy? Kinda convicting.

God had used this to show me that MY money isn't mine at all. He filled my account so that I can take care of these things with a JOYFUL heart! I thank God for that.

Spiritual Warfare?

2005-09-27T13:29:00.000-07:00

On my way to a meeting this morning to pray and talk with an guy I'm mentoring, I got into an accident that basically delayed my meeting. I mean, it wasn't a big deal, there really wasn't anything either of us could do about it, it was just that; an accident. The Sherriff's Deputy found no one at fault because of the particular situation and no one was hurt.

So my question is simple (yeah, right!): Was this spiritual warfare or was this just a coincidence where two people weren't paying attention?

Some insight on the details of what happened are as follows. I was to meet with a guy at 9 am. I left half an hour early to get to my destination with 10 minutes to spare. At least that was the plan. As I came to an intersection where the roads did not intersect at 90 degrees, visibility was poor, traffic was high and large vehicles were in the way. Leaving details out, so we don't get off on an tangent as to who was really at fault (because at this point, I don't think that matters), I want to move forward to discuss the reality of Spiritual Warfare in our lives as Christians. Satan like to attack generally two of the three types of people; 1. the spiritually unsaved or lost and 2. the Justified moving toward Christ-likeness. The third, lukewarm Christians, are rarely attacked because neither are they susceptable to loosing their salvation, but neither are they gaining souls for Christ's sake. They are generally right where Satan would have them if he had a say in it.

What is joyful to be able to report is how this guy I'm mentoring is admittedly coming out of a lukewarm relationship with Christ right now and moving forward, learning and growing in all love and grace of Jesus Christ. We discussed this this morning and how his job was trying to get people to go into work this morning and how he had actually wieghed the options of calling me and cancelling or not responding to work.

Job 1
1:12
And the Lord said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person." So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.
1:16
While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you!"
1:19
and suddenly a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you!"

I really believe that this was an attack to try to discourage us from meeting because Satan could discern that we, together, were going to be building one another up in Christ and he wanted that to stop. He's loosing a lukewarm Christian. I believe that Satan has this ability to attack us. So how should we handle this?

Ephesians 6
6:10
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.
6:11
Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
6:12
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
6:13
Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
6:14
Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,
6:15
and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE;
6:16
in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
6:17
And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
6:18
With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,

A Story of Depravity

2005-09-23T10:03:00.000-07:00

If you were to see a door situated with a plaque thereon that read ‘door of screams’ what do you suppose would be on the other side? I found myself in a hall, standing there confused and bewildered, gripping tightly this tethered key in my hand around my neck. Looking at the golden key, you read it’s stamping: ‘RM623’. Very odd, room 623 perhaps. It’s all very strange. This is but one door in the hall. As I dare not open the door, I turn to view the hall in its length. Walking, I pass other doors with such plaques thereon as ‘door of the imagination stripped’, ‘door of the sorrowful’, ‘door of unfulfilled lusts’, ‘door of dissatisfaction’, ‘door of the disquieted’, ‘door of the fright’, ‘door of embarrassment’, ‘door of empty’ and ‘door of the running’. Continuing, the door plaques stop appearing. Instead, scrawled upon the wood thereof are each a statement, ‘their throat is an open sepulchre’, ‘with their tongues they have used deceit’, ‘the poison of asps is under their lips’, ‘whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness’, ‘their feet are swift to shed blood’, ‘destruction and misery are in their ways’, ‘and the way of peace have they not known’. What’s now becoming very scary and an improbable reality is what is engraved on the doorframe of each door at the top: Room 623, seemingly matching the golden key hung from my neck. Every door was locked to which this key would match a fit. Would this key, my key tumble the lock? Hundreds upon hundreds of doors, all labeled Room 623! A beam of light, faint as it is, pours out of each keyhole. But from where did they come? “I dare not!” fright has me hesitant to try the key. Instead, leaning down to the keyhole, I peer inside and find a dark room and a picture reel spinning and casting its contents upon the wall opposite of the door. Watching, I become mortified: the camera contains a first-person perspective of recognizable instances of my very life.

I can smell the grass. I feel the cool autumn air. It’s like I’m really there. I was 12 at the time and I found a mouse in the backyard of my parent’s house and placed it in a mason jar. It screamed. It was terrified, frantic. I shook that jar violently, feeling the mouse slam against the jar’s wall. I looked and saw the creature bleeding and breathing hard. Sickened with myself, I buried it alive in the jar to dig it up a day or so later…

I ran from that memory painted on the wall in that room before watching it in its entirety. I remember what I did. I didn’t need to watch myself replay the actions that the next day or two held. Another door. Could this really be me? My life? This light beaming from each keyhole is drawing me. Reading the plaque, ‘door of regret’, I bend down to peer in.

I recognize this bar I’m at. I can smell my cigarette. The pool tables with green felt and walls painted maroon with pictures hung carefully. This was a nice establishment. “It’s your turn, man.” My boss smiles at me and I swallow a drink before taking aim on the corner pocket. I can taste my beer I was drinking that night as I watch. I remember how intoxicated I was trying to get. As I sink it, I hear her say, “alright! Nice shot.” Her face is so familiar, but she’s not my wife. And I’ve taken my ring off. I go home with her. More than once, in fact two times while my wife is out of town, pregnant with my baby.

I can’t look any longer; I look down breathing deeply while my stomach churns. Oh the tears, the tears. How sorrowful. Then anger – like a righteous indignation – sparks. I stand up with resolve in mind, firmly grasp the plaque in my hand and rip it off the door. I’ll remove every one of those plaques off each of the countless thousands of doors in this hall that seems to not end. Casting the plaque to the side, I look up, wipe a tear and notice that another plaque has replaced it. This time it reads, ‘door of infidelity’. I collapse. I lay there on the hallway floor. Just lying there. Silent.

Some time has gone by, how much I don’t know. It seemed like days. Maybe a week went by. I felt weak. I can hear this white noise like sound, like what comes from florescent lighting in a warehouse. My mouth was dry and taste of metal was on my tongue, my eyes were stingy and crusty from the tears. It’s a very dark hall, but there is a distinct sound of buzzing off faintly. As I open my eyes, I realize I’m lying fetal against the wall next to the door of my sins. I hear laughter this time. Intrigued, I sit up and listen with great concentration. It’s my voice. I’m laughing. I look back in the keyhole. This time the plaque read ‘doorway to the damned’.

I’m on a pornographic website. I smell the marijuana I’m smoking, masturbating and laughing. It’s so real to me. It’s more than a memory, like I’m transposed into the film. I can feel the emptiness I felt at that very moment in my life’s timeline. All I can do is breath. Shallow as they were, I breathed my breaths and watched. I couldn’t look away this time. As I sat watching in disgust, horror and sorrow, the view of the camera pans back and to the right from a first person perspective to third person. I see the back of this guy’s head. It’s not me! But that’s all my stuff I had at one point. But that’s not me. I even remember doing that very thing – he even smokes the pipe the way I used to. But that’s someone else. I don’t get it. I watched with hope, perhaps I’m imagining my mistakes. As this guy, this much different looking guy than me, leans over to clean out his cashed pipe, I see horrible scars. Like these deep wounds on the back of his hand and cuts all up his arm. He leans further yet. Reaching with his other hand to continue his thorough job of cleaning his pipe, I see his wounds and scars match both limbs. He’s turning just a bit. This lends to the view of his face ever so slightly and I see scars on his forehead, temples and ears. I mean deep scars. He looks at least ten years my senior. What is going on? Then I see my roommate walk in the door. “For Christ’s sake, man! What are you doing?!” He says this disgustedly and I realize he’s cursing; then I realize the irony in his statement. What’s really sick about all this is that when I first realized that it wasn’t me, I was HOPEFUL. Remember? Now I’m hopeful that it isn’t me and I see that it’s Jesus Christ. Can I try to describe my feelings at this point? Disgust, deep sorrow, humility, disgrace, nausea. My heart is so heavy. My mind is numb. My hands are cold, clammy. My knees are weakened and feel warm and numb. I can’t swallow and all I want to do is moan indescribable sounds of sorrow and deep, deep pain. I feel so small and the reality of my insignificance is only compounded by the reality of how my sins have grieved others and affected the lives of countless, very much more significant lives than mine. It’s not just about me, my sin, my scars and wounds from what I’ve done in my life. It’s about how others have been affected, wounded and scarred by my ridiculously selfish lifestyle, prior to my salvation and even now in my sin as a Christian.

I want these films stopped! He’s in every one of these films of MINE. They must stop playing. I thrust my key into the keyhole and turn and turn and it just spins and spins. Door after door, my key spins unsuccessfully gaining entry to a single hatch. Locked still, I take the key out. As I walk back to the door marked ‘door of infidelity’, I put the key under my shirt, against my chest so it won’t fly in my face. I’m preparing to kick in that door. I step back, determination perspiring off my face, yell fiercely and hurl my foot, body in tow, toward the door. Just to the inside of the knob, I strike the door at it’s weakest point to learn quite painfully that it is solid, shut up from the inside out with little hope of breaching it’s frame. Three times I kick. Three times I fail. Frustration sweeps my countenance and I somberly walk down the hall, exhausted from the events. I walk, head hung low, tired, broken, ashamed and disappointed. As I lift my head, I fall to my knees, then to my side, limp and seemingly lifeless. I’ve given up. I blink, then blink some more and look just ahead of me, which is downward in the hallway. I’ve come to its end. My key fit no door, all of which were labeled Room 623 and here I am lying in front of this door at the end of this hallway. It’s different as one would expect. It contained no plaque of simple description. It simply read at the top, just above the doorframe on the wall on a golden plate: Romans 6:23. The same type of gold the key was made from was this plate made from. The doorframe, from the bottom left portion of the framing up to the top then over the cap and all the way down the right side of the frame, read:

“For the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

My key tumbled this door. This door opened wide up and the glory of God poured out and around me and through me and in me. It healed me, cleaned me off and made me whole. I had been justified and Jesus took my faults and sins and blamed them on Himself for the sake of my relationship to Him. He took every keyhole of every door in that hall and changed the lock so my key wouldn’t fit. Matthew 7:14 says:

“For narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leadeth unto life, and few are they that find it.”

To take my key, my “life” and misinterpret it’s meaning, I put my Romans 6:23 gift key into the wrong doors time and again. We think we know what we’re doing, a key with “RM623” on it and doors that say Room 623 on it, I mean, they seem like they’d match, right? No, because narrow is the gate, and not many find it. Straitened (very, very narrow) is the way to that narrow gate, and few find it. It was a long hall with many doors labeled with what seemed to be the right answer to all my problems, pains, issues, frustrations, grieves and more. But it was Jesus Christ’s involvement in my life that guided me to the right gate. I couldn’t have done it without Him, either.

Eternally grateful,
His servant.

Revisited Strength and Honor

2005-09-20T22:58:00.000-07:00

Lately I've felt discouraged, tired, grievous and distressed over brothers and sisters, decisions, the world and even the church as America sees her and the choices being made. There is no question of me giving up, I wouldn't know how to. For me, my pathway of present is a way of life. It's who I am to my very core being. And giving up on that would be denying who I am and who God is calling me to be. At that point, I might as well be through with the purpose of my life here on earth. The discouragement comes in when I realize that my pathway is an exhausting one. One where I find little rest from grievous and distressed situations such as hearing of people I know of going through abortions, divorces, fights, death without Christ. It's all very distressing and exhausting.

Irony is serving the Lord in hopes that the work He has given you for this moment might minister to someone when in fact just months later, it ministers to you. Half a year ago I wrote this bit and sent it to some that are important to me. I just reread it and was encouraged in it. Here it is to share once again:

Joshua 1:9 (NIV) – Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.

Joshua 1:9 (KJV) - Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

I remember watching Gladiator where in the very beginning where General Maximus was riding the line and all his soldiers collectively offered by utterance, “Strength and honor!” It was more than a salute to them, it was their way of battle, survival and life.

Not so much unlike those warriors, we too are warriors; but of a higher purpose. The battles we war over aren’t about land, lust or power. We know that as Christians we fight for the sake of eternal life; that we might know Him, the one true God, and Jesus Christ, whom He sent. Being a former combat Marine, I was trained hard and diligently that my enemy was a person. Terrorists don’t wear uniforms, so they aren’t very easily identifiable, however, they were nonetheless human. Our enemy isn’t merely the powers that feed the unsaved (where we then combat that power by preaching Christ to those unsaved). The enemy is so much more than that; it’s the flesh we live with daily. Our lustful desires to satisfy our selfish cravings for pleasure – be it money, sex, drugs, eating or drinking or really anything that doesn’t bring glory to the only Worthy One, our Father and Lord.

Wars are won one battle at a time. Each battle has it’s missions which are crucial to that battle’s success. Every mission requires planned objectives thoroughly and thoughtfully executed. So, what’s my point? Simple; pray. Often, too. We must be in constant communication with our CO (Commanding Officer). Ha ha, just had a thought: General Jesus. That’s cool! LOL. Anyway, pray for strength and courage, because we are commanded to be strong and of a good courage. The mere fact that this is a command transcends to a promise to us – God doesn’t command us to do things that we are unable to do, and through Him we will prevail. So, He commanded us to be strong and of a good courage, then have His strength and be of His courage. We are ordered to be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed. DO NOT be afraid! He is there. Always. Everywhere. With all power and grace, He lovingly protects us and guides us. But just as Peter began to sink in the water when he took his eyes off of Jesus, let that remind us to remain focused, stay the course and be in the light and in doing so WE WILL WALK ON WATERS!

GOD IS

2005-09-20T22:24:00.000-07:00

He is the First and Last, the Beginning and the End!
He is the Keeper of Creation and the Creator of all!
He is the Architect of the universe and
The Manager of all times.
He always was, He always is and He always will be…
Unmoved, Unchanged, Undefeated, and never Undone!
He was bruised and brought healing!
He was pierced and eased pain!
He was persecuted and brought freedom!
He was dead and brought life!
He is risen and brings power!
He reigns and brings Peace!
The world can’t understand Him,
The armies can’t defeat Him,
The schools can’t explain Him, and
The leaders can’t ignore Him.
Herod couldn’t kill Him,
The Pharisees couldn’t confuse Him, and
The people couldn’t hold Him!
Nero couldn’t crush Him,
Hitler couldn’t silence Him,
The New Age can’t replace Him, and
Dr. Phil can’t explain Him away!
He is Light, Love, Longevity, and LORD.
He is Goodness, Kindness, Gentleness, and God.
He is Holy, Righteous, Mighty, Powerful, and Pure.
His ways are right,
His Word is eternal,
His will is unchanging, and
His mind is on me.
He is my Redeemer,
He is my Savior,
He is my Guide, and
He is my Peace!
He is my Joy,
He is my Comfort,
He is my LORD, and
He rules my life!
I serve Him because His bond is love,
His burden is light, and
His goal for me is abundant life.
I follow Him because He is the Wisdom of the wise,
The Power of the powerful,
The Ancient of Days, the Ruler of rulers,
The Leader of leaders, the Overseer of the over comers, and
The Sovereign LORD of all that was and is and is to come.
And if that seems impressive to you, try this on for size.
His goal is a relationship with ME!
He will never leave me,
Never forsake me, never mislead me,
Never forget me, never overlook me, and
Never cancel my appointment in His appointment book!
When I fall, He lifts me up!
When I fail, He forgives!
When I am weak, He is strong!
When I am lost, He is the way!
When I am afraid, He is my courage!
When I stumble, He steadies me!
When I am hurt, He heals me!
When I am broken, He mends me!
When I am blind, He leads me!
When I am hungry, He feeds me!
When I face trials, He is with me!
When I face persecution, He shields me!
When I face problems, He comforts me!
When I face loss, He provides for me!
When I face Death, He carries me Home!
He is everything for everybody, everywhere,
Every time, and everyway.
He is God, He is faithful.
I am His and He is mine!
My Father in Heaven can whip the father of this world.
So, if you’re wondering why I feel so secure, understand this…
He said it and that settles it.
God is in control, I am on His side, and
That means all is well with my soul.
Everyday is a blessing for GOD IS!

Strength in Grace

2005-09-10T23:39:00.000-07:00

2 Timothy 2:1 – “You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”

Grace is a wonderful thing, no? I daily thank God for His grace in my now renewed and meaningful life. I have not, however, thought of being strong in it. My professor said, “The more you understand your depravity, the more you’ll welcome God’s enabling grace.” Being humble and knowing that grace is what sustains me all day long is one thing. But to actually live in boldness and to profess that grace is a completely earth shattering fundamental that I think many Christians have a difficult time remembering to do. It’s obvious; Paul is reminding Timothy to do so in Scripture to him.

Often times, I see my brothers and sisters (in Christ) justifying why they’re not doing something because they feel that they’re not worthy enough. Witnessing is a great example. So many people tell me that they don’t do it because they’re not good at it, they’re not preachers, they don’t speak well, they have nothing to offer to the world, etc. If we’ve received grace, we have something to offer to the world. At least, that’s the way I see it. The problem is that the very grace that enables us to walk in the light (1 John 1:7) is the same grace that people seem to forget is what will enable them to be about their Father’s business and witness effectively.

Effective witnessing is done by the power of the Holy Spirit alone. We are only a vessel chosen to deliver a message that is straight from Him. I mean, how many times have you ever started saying something to someone and next thing you know you’re sharing things from Scripture that you didn’t know you’d remember? “Man, where did that come from?” I’ve asked myself that very question before only to be reminded immediately that it came from God the Spirit.

So if we think we can’t witness or share or love or go or do whatever we’re feeling pricked in the heart to do, we must remember that by grace are we saved, not by works – be strong in that same grace and be about your Father’s business.

This is totally COOL!

2005-09-10T22:59:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I just figured out how to post to my blog from my cell phone and include pictures I took from my phone with the posting! This is so great!! I love the people at Google.

BTW, that's the Mrs. preparing homeschool curriculum for the girls. Ain't she a purdy one? She's going to kill me if she sees this. It'll be worth it, though; she's hot.

My first day of school!

2005-09-09T13:06:00.000-07:00

It’s been nearly 8 years since I’ve been to school and as I prepare my books, bag, pens, pencils, highlighters, rulers, glue, scissors, tape (just kidding … you get the point), I thought about how they might initiate the newbie’s by making fun of them, or what kind of things might I do that would make me look like a total idiot. Um hello, isn’t this BIBLE COLLEGE I’m attending?? Talk about a little paranoid and anxious! I mean I really didn’t know what to expect and was very excited but still my mind was a little off. I kept reassuring myself that those thoughts were ridiculous, but they kept popping back up in my mind.

Anyway, I head off to class, 50 miles one way from home in the middle of rush hour traffic, pull into the parking lot over an hour later and realize by the bright light bulb that goes off in my head that I forgot something. A very detrimental tool for attending seminary: my bible. I couldn’t believe it; my first day back to school, bible school no less, and I forget my bible? Wow, talk about a humbling experience. I’m going over in my head all the things that I’ve been going through over the past three weeks or so and how I’ve been praying that God give me patience and humility (yeah, I know, I’ve heard it a million times: NEVER ask God for patience). So, I have a copy of the bible in 4 translations on my Treo 650 palm cell phone and was at least able to follow along.

Class was great, I survived, wasn’t ridiculed nor berated. I'm going to learn so much! I met some really cool people that I look forward to learning more about and studying the things of God with.

The many choices I’m faced with today.

2005-09-06T22:39:00.000-07:00

I have a lot on my plate these days. My Beautiful and I are currently involved in two small groups; a blended family small group and we co-lead a 20’s – 30’s small group. My pastor thinks that it is a good idea to be leading a (third and separate) small group fulltime so that I get the experience of such a responsibility, so that I’ll experience the growth associated with that responsibility and also because he believes that I have a lot to offer a small group. He encouraged me to continue on with the idea of leading a group because I was thinking that perhaps God was telling me that I should focus on Seminary and my family and work more and less on my small groups.

My justification for such a claim is based on what has been happening in my life the past week or so. We have had small group sign-ups for three weeks now at our church and this past Sunday was the final “official Sunday sign-up” before the groups get kicked off the following Monday. Over the course of these three weeks, no one has signed-up for our fellowship. My take on it was that God just wants me focusing on something else (as if I don’t already have enough irons in the fire, I thought this might be nice to step back a bit). My pastor seems to believe, while he acknowledges all that is on my plate, that I should continue on with this endeavor to lead a group. So, I have a lot going on, but I have a lot going for me, too.

My issues are complicated: Do I stay at my home church and continue to be fed there? Do I venture out with this new church plant from Chicago that’s starting in my neighborhood? We’ve asked God for a ministry in our neighborhood. Is this Him giving us this prayer? Or, do I stay at my church and continued feeding from that and then go and be a part of a church plant from a distance as an apprentice pastor? And how does small group fit into where my time and focus will be at? These are all questions we wrestled with today as we met and talked for over an hour and a half.

What answer is right? What answer is wrong? Are there any clear answers right or wrong? I love my pastor; he is a very godly man, full of wisdom. He says to me, “the Christian Life is not a science, it’s an art.” Our Father is the Master Artist, let us follow after Him and allow Him to lead us.

I have many choices I’m facing. Much prayer is to be done. I think I’ll go spend some time with God now.

Crazy church!

2005-09-03T00:26:00.000-07:00

My wife, Beautiful, has these magazines called ‘GoodNews’ published by International Church of God. She’s had them for quite a while as a free subscription and never really had the time to read into them with any depth.

Tonight, she sat here at the table with me (all alone - our children off with grandparents and family which means uninterrupted study time!) and decided to look through a couple of them while I was reading my bible and referencing the places that Joshua conquered in Joshua 8 – 10 or so in my Bible Atlas I was required to obtain for class.

She came across an Article about Noah’s Ark, which intrigued her because that has been the focused bible study in home school this past week. She read the article and then started reading some of the letters from other readers that they sometimes publish. We were surprised to see a healthy mix of ‘atta boy’ letters as well as letters of discontent. One letter in particular peaked our curiosity equally regarding the previous month’s article about what the bible really says about where we go when we die.

The article denied the doctrine that we are immediately in the presence of the Lord (2 Cor 5:8) and said that we sleep until our bodily resurrection. This quite disturbed me, to think that they’d be so bold in denying certain scripture! This was only one of a few scriptures they denied. I started a little bit of research on the affiliated church who published the magazine, the International Church of God, and found some very interesting claims by their leadership.

Needless to say, I’ve learned a lot about that sect and was quite eager to be ‘forced’ to search out the scriptures myself. I love studying with my wife.

PPPoE?

2005-09-02T23:52:00.000-07:00

I'm pursuing my passionate priority over ethernet! Wow, I'm really a big geek. PPPoE it a data transport protocol; the acronym stands for Point to Point Protocol over Ethernet. I have changed it to Pursuing a Passionate Priority over Ethernet - PPPoE!!! Enjoy growing in the knowledge of the Lord our God, Christ Jesus.

Continuing my Journey

2005-08-30T09:54:00.000-07:00

Anyone who believes they have “arrived” in life has completely missed the point of living.

My Calling:
• The specific nature of my calling
• How I have concluded this calling
• What I’m going to do about my calling
• How it will happen and who can help

Thanksgiving of 2001, drowning myself in pity through a nurtured addiction to drugs, God picked me up, brushed me off and polished me up. For the first time I could hear Him tell me, “Don’t you know? You are My child.” Did you catch that? I HEARD. Jesus said numerous times throughout scripture, “For those with ears, hear.” It’s one thing to listen to the pleas of your summer camp leader or a Sunday school teacher’s lesson time and again. And let’s be brutally honest here: No one likes to have the Truth beat into him or her repetitively – even if it needs to be said. But when you hear it, you hear it!

From the moment of my conversion, I knew that God would use me differently. I knew that I had a specific calling that would lead to something great for His Kingdom. It was a gut thing. Something deep down that would drive me, day in and day out. It was, and continues to be, a powerful force: the One Powerful Force, the Holy Spirit.

The nature of my calling is a specific one. Time and again through prayer, study and church leadership counsel, God has confirmed that, not only will I be used in a pastoral capacity in my calling, but also He will use my voice to speak, preach and teach the Word of God. This letter is recognition of the responsibilities of such a role.

When someone asks, “How do you know it’s a God-thing? How do you know this is a calling?” It’s a bit of a cop-out to say the least, but a Christian’s answer is more often than not, “You just know – I can’t explain it.” Allow me to attempt to articulate the divine certainty of my calling: If you’ve lived long enough and purposefully enough to have a knowledge of yourself, then you may relate to the feeling of emptiness when you’re not carrying out that purpose to the fullest of your ability. You feel empty, left-without or numb. You get through your day; you live your life with dedication to the day-in, day-out responsibilities. You may even find happiness or satisfaction in your life. But when you do what you’ve been created to do in life (be it a ditch-digger, professional golfer, home school mom, firefighter, teacher, burger-flipper or police officer – not just ministry minded work), your walk blossoms, your eyes open up, you’re energized, and you begin to recognize a thirst that you’ve forgotten about that is being quenched! You think to yourself how you just can’t get enough. For me, it has been serving the Lord by revelation of His word to those who would listen. It’s been praying for and with people and finding ways to love people that seem so unlovable. It’s been about healing hearts, souls and bodies in the most powerful name of Jesus Christ our Lord. It’s been about showing the love Christ has given me through abundance and seeing that it is properly distributed to those in need. It’s been about studying the Word in preparation to make insightful and meaningful inclusions to a small group meeting. It’s been about serving the 4 and 5 year olds as a Sunday school teacher. Do I say this to boast? No! It is not of me that these blessings came. The Lord my God has blessed me so graciously with a heart that yearns to see people grow closer to Christ and to see Christ in all I do. The more of ME that I give away, the more of Jesus IN ME I see and that makes my heart melt! These things are the things that get me totally jazzed up, energized, on fire for Jesus and motivated to go and keep going. It is my passion to serve. I want to see Christians grow. I want to see them learn to use their bibles. I want to help them worship with more passion, be closer to God and have more of Jesus and less of themselves. This is not the sole reason for my calling. There are NUMEROUS more reasons I could share, but the resources of time and trees I haven’t got.

So, my question I’ve been posed within the past that I now stare back in the face and answer with all boldness: When, as a Christ-follower, do we call it a day? When do we stop the witnessing, ministering, healing, teaching, helping, loving, caring, learning and sharing Jesus? How far do we take it? When do we stop following our Christ? In Matthew 22:37 and Mark 12:30, Jesus quotes from the Torah, Deuteronomy 6:4 and 5, 10:12 and 30:6 to be exact. He says,

“…Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.”

How ought I love the Lord my God? With all: With every atom of my being.

We all do this all the time. Or, we ought to as Christ-followers. According to Ephesians 4:11 and 12, we are all called to minister to the Body of Christ. We each have gifts we ought to be administering to the Body. It is my calling to minister to the ministers.

“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:”

These roles are for the work of the ministry, to help along and guide the brothers and sisters. My purpose that God is identifying in my life is to pastor this Body of Ministers to learn to do this scripturally and to the utmost of my ability. I don’t think that I’ve arrived anywhere, as if I were looking back and beckoning people to come to me or follow me. I am on the same path as the rest of the Body. Are we not all part of this one in same Body of Christ? Aren’t we following the same Jesus? Just check out 1 Corinthians 12:15 & 21:

“If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? ... And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.”

I have arrived nowhere; I have merely answered a call that will help guide the path our Body is on. Pastors are simply ministers just like the rest of the Body, but they are charged with a mightily heavy responsibility. Paraphrased, 2 Timothy 3:1 states it is a good work that he who desires after to be in church leadership. But with this desire comes great responsibility to the Christ’s Body. Later on in this same letter in chapter 4, Paul urges Timothy, the recipient of this letter to

“Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine: continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.”

I recognize that I have a long way to go to effectively shepherd a flock in a way that will bring honor and glory to Jesus Christ. In such recognition, I have chosen with prayerful consideration, and discussion with my wife, two of my pastors and one of my dearest friends that enrollment into seminary will help enrich my walk and give more purpose to my already pointed calling. God doesn’t need a diploma. He doesn’t need a piece of paper in order to use His children. While I recognize this fact, attending Phoenix Seminary and setting a goal of obtaining my Graduate Diploma in Biblical Studies will be a journey that, while taken out of obedience to my particular calling from the Lord, will shape my life and shape others around me in a positive manner that will only lead to the glory and honor of God in Christ Jesus.

I have applied to, gained entrance and start classes this fall 2005 semester at Phoenix Seminary starting with 4 credit hours taking ‘BI503a: Prophets’ and ‘LD502: Developing Leaders Who Develop Leaders’ and will continue on in my studies in the spring 2006 semester.

Please allow me to petition you for prayer support. My wife and I firmly believe in the powerful name of Jesus Christ and the gifts He gives to us as His followers. Again, scripture tells us how great a gift this is: Matthew 18:19-20 quotes Jesus saying,

“Again I say unto you. That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

This is but one evidence of the power of laying on of hands while we pray in one accord. This is a promise from our Lord Himself that if we ask our Father in Heaven for the things that He Himself would ask for, the Father will grant it! What a wonderful blessing (Oh, the miracles I’ve seen through the faith of a few followers praying in earnest for the Father to bless in the name of Christ Jesus!). We would request prayer specifically for wisdom and guidance for the family; My wife is homeschooling the girls and I am running a blessed business out of my home that allows for my classes to be taken throughout the week. Pray that God continues to bless my business with work. Pray for clear direction as I continue through my studies and pray also for unity, patience, love and gentleness as husband and wife and as father and mother.

As stated, your support is so humbly and gratefully appreciated! I count it an honorable blessing to have you in my life to call on as my brother or sister in Christ for support. May our God bless you in His grace.

We have arrived on our journey only when our spirit parts from our body and reunites with Christ in everlasting adoration.

“We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8)

In His loving presence,

SomeCleverIdentity