reflections of me...

2005-11-24T17:52:00.000-05:00

2005-11-24T07:29:00.000-05:00

This Site has moved

2005-11-10T11:23:00.000-05:00

This has officially moved.

I have migrated all the previous posts to my new site.

All past and future posts can now be found at www.brianbowen.com

NOTE:
As of today... November 10, 2005, things over there are still not 100% the way I want them. But I have picked a default theme for now while I work on a new one in my "free time"

Technical excuse for not writing

2005-11-07T20:54:00.000-05:00

Ok, so I know I haven't written any posts lately. I've been out of town... and I'm headed to Athens tomorrow... PLUS I have been trying to learn CSS style sheets and the php that is in the WordPress themes. By learn I mean cut and paste programming. Basically looking at other templates, seeing how they did something, then cut and pasting it into mine. Then looking it up in on-line tutorials for the other stuff.

I did finally get the header navbar to align like I wanted... BUT then I tried it in IE... rrrrrg

Thats me shaking my head in aggravation. That one part works great in Firefox (the browser I use) and Konqueror if you use KDE (I personally like GNOME better on my linux box) BUT it doesn't look right in IE and I can't really test safari..

Here's the browser share for the last 100 hits:

45	45.00%	Firefox	1.0.7
30	30.00%	MSIE	6.0
15	15.00%	Firefox	1.0.6
5	5.00%	Safari	1.2
2	2.00%	MSIE	5.23
1	1.00%	MSIE	5.5
1	1.00%	Mozilla	5.0

so there's the delimia... do I advertise the new site address with a theme that only looks right to 60% of the readers? Well... I'm thinking, not yet... I think I'll give myself some more time to learn CSS.

Ok... so now that I thoroughly bored you to death... I'll sign off.

I love my air card

2005-11-02T12:43:00.000-05:00

This is on of the places I often spend my lunch. Its particularly nice today because there's no bugs, a slight breeze, the crickets are still making noise in the brush and the temperature is just right.

Not only can I sit out here in my soccer chair, which I keep in my truck, but I can get on-line too. And yes, sometimes... getting online really is relaxing even if you do work on computers all day.

I'm using one of the aircards provided through my other job. Its from Verizon and most the time you can get close to broadband speed. It does slow down on occasion. But hey... I'm sitting in a chair, on the edge of the river, drinking my Diet Dr. Pepper and STILL able to post on my blog.

Pretty cool if ya ask me.

oh yeah, if you were wondering... my Dr Pepper cap... said... Please try again... oh well, no free 1 liter today.

Testing email updateing

2005-11-01T16:06:00.000-05:00

I'm testing if I can still use blogger audio blog and have it cross post autpmatically to my new site.... we'll see

Moving to WordPress

2005-11-01T15:42:00.000-05:00

I'm in the process of migrating my blog to wordpress.

I'll post the new address soon

Technorati tag: iMosaic

The forming of a message

2005-10-28T16:09:00.000-04:00

I was sitting in burger king today finishing up a wedding ceremony I was working on. No, someone wasn't getting married at Burger King, I was writing the ceremony. So anyway...

I have this manual I received when I was ordained. It's this little black preachers book. You know the one with the how-to's of various services and such. Well inside this book I discovered two notes.

I'm not real sure if I was taking notes from something I was listening to, or jotting things down for a message I was preparing. At anyrate here's what they had written on them.

What do you have to do to be chosen? Show up!
1 Cor 15:33-34 Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character." Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame.
What type of company do you keep?
Character is doing what is right, because its right and doing it right
"I can almost land this airplane" is like saying "They are kinda saved" Thats called crashing
Prov 13:20 He that walks with wise men... but he who walks with fools...
2 Cor 6:14 Unequally yoked
Exchange of strenghts for weakness - Covenant of friendship
See who people are in a comfortable atmosphere -- around their friends
Sin is pleasurable for a season

Ok as I read those again and type them out... I can almost remember... it would have been a little over a year ago, I was listening to a sermon and at the same time beginning to form the one I was working on about Dating relationships.

So there you go, just a glimpse at how a message at times begins to form...

Technorati tag: iMosaic

Sunday Night Sex at church was great

2005-10-25T10:13:00.000-04:00

Sunday Night Sex was this past Sunday.

Imagine this, you walk into church and you hear 50 Cent singing about a candy shop... What types of things run through your mind? Well, I had a couple people rush up to me and ask... "Ummm is this THAT song?" I was like, well yes, it is. "Ummm ok, I was about to say we should probably turn it off" Then someone else was like "Ohhh I thought someone just stuck a CD from their car in or something." Needless to say, it generated a lot of conversation during the 30 minutes or so we hang out in the lobby.

You see I made a CD with several songs whose main theme was sex. I added some hip hop songs, folk music, 80's music... Different styles different times... but all about sex. It worked great. The whole idea was to get people talking about the songs and listening to what they are selling. Of course when I asked who was uncomfortable listening to those songs in church, almost everyone raised their hands... But you know, most people knew the artist, the song title and the lyrics... So if it makes you uncomfortable in church, what's the difference in your car?

This week was about the lies we are told about sex. The band did a great job as usual (sorry no mp3 of the band this time) but it was one of those services for me where I felt like I left so much out. Or like I left too many things hanging, pointing out an untruth and not providing a truth. I know I know, its pretty common after a service to begin questioning the things you said, but this time... I was hit pretty hard in my own mind. Even though I did have several people wanting to talk after the service, some with questions, some just to say it was great and a couple to say "I can't wait till next week." but still... I was still left feeling like the message was not complete. But that's ok, I don't always wrap things up in a nice tidy package anyway.

All in all, I think the service went very well. People are still talking about it and that to me... is a good thing.

I added a link to the message on the Second Sunday MP3 page or you can download the MP3 directly here.

Running away or running to?

2005-10-21T15:43:00.000-04:00

So I had a great conversation recently about why do kids do some of the things they do. It was centered around drugs, alcohol and cutting. My friends thoughts where it was a way to escape. To escape the life situations the kids find themselves in. Bad home lives and that sort of thing.

I believe escapeing is only a reaction to a deeper issue. The issue of wanting to belong. I have several thoughts on this, I just don't have time at the moment to organize them in my mind and type things out.

Certainly I believe sometimes they just want to escape the world... but I think the majority of the time... it isn't really running away from something as it is running to something.

There's this built in thing inside all of us. The need for relationships. The need to be loved. The need to.... belong.

I think in the majority of the cases it isn't running away from the junk as much as its running to a place of belonging....

I just don't have the words at the moment to express what I'm thinking. Maybe when I have some more time I'll come back to it.

Any ideas? Comments? anything????

Audioblog: Thoughts on the way to baptism

2005-10-19T17:23:00.000-04:00

Sunday Night Sex at Harvest

2005-10-19T14:54:00.000-04:00

This is the post card we just sent out for our upcoming Second Sunday series.

Today I went to Mercer with the video camera and did some man on the street interviews. It was pretty interesting BUT a lot more Sunday School answers than I expected. Maybe Mercer IS still a Baptist school... at least on camera anyway...

Here's the typical interview as students approached us (me and Riley) ...

Me: "Excuse me, do you have just a few moments."
Student: "Sure"
Me: "So, What do you think about sex?"
Student: Look of shock and amazement... slight stutter... "ummm.. it's good? But only if you're married."
Me: "What do you think God or the church says about sex?"
Student: "My church or just church in general?"
Me: "Either one."
Student: "Pretty much the same thing I believe. It should only be when you are married."

That was the typical interview. We did get a few who thought it was just plain good and thats all there is too that. Some people were like... "ummm I didn't know you were going to ask THAT, I have to go to class... sorry.." Others who thought its all good as long as you're in love.

Anyway... it sure was fun. Definitely worth seeing the look on there face as they heard the question... "What do you think about sex?"

I am planning to use the video clips in the second meeting as a bridge from what people think God says about sex to what God really says about sex. We are going to the other two Colleges here in town to get more input. Once its all together I'll try and remember to put a link to it.

The perfect note

2005-10-17T08:04:00.000-04:00

As you know, from my previous post, some of the Second Sunday group went white water rafting this weekend. Well, one part I didn't mention, was actually the BEST part of all!

I finally made it home around midnight after unloading the vans, locking up the church and taking Chris home. As I opened the door to the house a note fell to the floor.

And it read...

Dear, Dad
Plaese come and give me a hug when
you get home because I want to
see you senc youv been gone all day.

Love,
megan

Dang... talk about a perfect note! So I went into my room (yes my room, she was sleeping in my bed) picked her up and brought her to her room. Of course giving her the biggest hug and a kiss. Waking her up just enough to say I love you. "I love you too daddy"

The perfect end to a perfect day.

You know, isn't it nice to know that there is a God who loves you like I love my daughter. Sometimes I feel like God has been gone all day. Sometimes I get where I just stop what I'm doing. Stop the rush and just feel like something is missing. Its one of those hard to explain things. Then I realize, I didn't take the time to ask my father for a hug. I realize, I haven't seen him all day. So I just stop for a moment, and ask him... God... will you give me a hug?

Ok so maybe not exactly those words... but thats exactly what I am asking him... exactly what I am wanting... Just the reassurance that he is there. Just to let him know I love him and to know he loves me.

Now I know God never leaves or forsakes those he believe in him... I know its me walking away from him not him walking away from me... I know the theology behind all that...

I'm just saying, sometimes it feels like he's been gone all day and I just need a hug.

White Water Rafting

2005-10-16T18:48:00.000-04:00

I went white water rafting this weekend. Fourteen of us headed up to Tennessee and hit the Ocoee river. I woke up that morning at 3 AM, jumped in the shower, then woke my son up at 3:30. We left the house at 4 so we could make it to the Air Force Base at 4:30. You see, there was a guy who really wanted to go but didn't have a way to get to the church. So we picked him up. 4:45.... Waffle House! Ordered some food to-go and headed to the church.

We arrived at the church just after 5. Opened up the building, started some coffee and pulled the vans around front so everyone could load up. We actually got on the road at 5:45 am. The scheduled departure time was 5:30... so actually leaving at 5:45... THAT was a miracle in and of itself!

10:00 we made it to the outfitters place. No one was there because we weren't scheduled to start until 11. BUT I figured with Atlanta traffic... even on a Saturday... its always better to build in extra time. It was cool though, they had a volleyball net and a ball outside (a FLAT ball) So we played volleyball for 45 minutes or so. We had some training, gathered up the gear, and went to the river. It was very fun. The water was freezing, but the temperature outside was perfect.

The only problem... well not REALLY a problem... the guides were too good. They knew exactly where to take the raft through the rapids. So while it rocked and splashed and we all got wet, there was never that feeling of... "Oh Lord, help me Jesus" we're not going to make it. So I'm thinking, next trip on the ocoee... is gonna be in a canoe! Now THAT will be fun.

We ended up the day in Chattanooga, about 45 minutes out of the way, but it was worth it. Fortunately someone else drove our van home so I could sleep. We made it back to the church, safe and sound, and DRY, around 10:30 PM.

I'm ready to go again!!

Bumpy wheel conspiracy

2005-10-12T15:33:00.000-04:00

So I went to Wal-Mart for lunch today...

I know, I know... WAL-MART... for LUNCH...

Actually I needed to pick up some coffee, filters and cream for the office, I happen to be the coffee club person and while I was there I went ahead and picked up some flour tortilla's and chicken strips for lunch. Well in the entrance to Wal-Mart they have these rough stone tiles. Then just after those there is a carpeted area. I just developed a theory behind WHY they do it that way. Sure... they may SAY its to catch dirt and debri and stop it from tracking all over the store. And it might help with that BUT I think the REAL reason is obvious.....

They do it to trap you into keeping that cart with the messed up wheel!!! You see, when the cart is on that bumpy tile you can't tell, then on the carpet... still can't tell... but soon you escape those safe zones and enter the land of tile. That's when you first realize it... You're walking along, trying not to look anyone in the eye, and you feel it as much as hear it... bump... bump... bump... the freakin left front wheel has a flat spot on it!!

At this point you either brave the crowd in the door to get a new cart, or you think, "sigh, I don't want to go AAAALLLLL the way back there to get a new cart" and tough it out, or you abandon the cart right there and hope to find a stray one somewhere inbetween the isles. But alas, it too may be a bumper cart as well...

So what did I do today? I just kept the cart and bumpty bumped my way through the store as people gave me that sad but knowing "You got one of THOSE huh?" looks.

The catalyst conference

2005-10-12T13:53:00.000-04:00

I recently had the opportunity to attend the Catalyst Conference

I was planning to be there both days but my other job got in the way and I had to cancel a day of leave. It was still great.

While I was there I went out to my truck during on of the breaks to send a couple emails. As I'm walking back in I catch a glimpse of a familiar face. So I walked a bit closer to make sure. Sure enough it was Octavio Martinez and Alex McManus. They are a couple guys who's blogs I read and sometimes comment on. I also caught up with Tony McCollum. I met him and a couple other Georgia pastors on Pastors.com. Way back when... I was able to meet them for lunch once a month but my schedule hasn't allowed it lately. So it was nice to say hello. Charlie Pharis is one of the other guys I met from p.com. I tried to call his cell but with 9000 other people at catalyst on their phones.... it went straight to voice mail. While I didn't get to met Charlie and Tony for lunch I at least got to say hello on the phone.

A couple people have asked who my favorite speaker was. Andy, Loui and Donald where my favorites. :)

They each have a unique style that makes them very easy to listen to. I sort of felt all three of their messages blended together into one for me. Andy talking about good opportunities not necessarily being God opportunities. Then moving into keeping your integrity even in the small things. Which for me moved right into the core of worship that Loui was talking about and how we get so tied to a song or a particular experience to call it worship. I thought the whole integrity thing fit there as well. And of course Donald Miller summed them up for me... keep it real. Just be who you are. Don't try to be what the world says a Christian is or isn't. Simply follow Jesus and love people like he did.

They all just fit together for me... being real in mission, worship and relationships.

Down with the law

2005-10-07T07:55:00.000-04:00

The other day I was chatting with a good friend of mine about the bible. We started talking about the Ten Commandments and the Law. I was sharing my views on the New Covenant and how Jesus came to set us free from the law. So it was a good discussion and sort of ended with... me being asked "What bible are you reading?" ... umm the Holy one???

But really thats a great question... "Where are you getting all this?" I mean, when you throw an opinion out there, where is the authority behind it? Thats something we should always ask. Like when I look stuff up on the internet for a study or something or for some answer to some spiritual question I might have. I almost always look up, who is saying it, and what is their spiritual background. What are their fundimental beliefs and what do they base them on. Sooooo

I loved getting that question :)

Of course its taken me FOREVER to respond (forever means about a week in IRC time).

There is SOOOOOO much stuff in the bible about this new covenant that I am only going to do a brief outline here to touch on it. So the best thing to do is go look it up! Then if the bible text itself isn't clear... lets discuss it more from there. Deal??

I will however cut and paste the biblical text to make it easier. It would make this post WAY too long if I put it in here. So to get to the actual biblical text you can... (a) look it up in your bible, or (b) click here

An old testament Prophet talks about the promise of a new covenant
Jeremiah 31:31-33

The Old covenant was set in place to reveal our sins... to help us see we can't do it on our own
2 Corinthians 3, Romans 7 and Romans 8

The Law isn't a BAD thing... it still serves to reveal our sin...
1 Timothy 1

Jesus is the New Covenant...
Luke 22:13-20, Hebrews 7

More about this in Hebrews 8, the writer actually refers back to what Jeremiah says and then you can't stop there... you HAVE to continue into Hebrews 9

Living in the Spirit not under the Law
Galatians 3
There's actually a lot about this too... but I just but the one reference for now.

Soooo thats it. What do you think?

Technorati tag: iMosaic

Explaining an Audio Blog

2005-10-05T18:50:00.000-04:00

Ooops forgot to mention the children

2005-10-04T08:11:00.000-04:00

oooh and I forgot to mention the children in my previous post "What you lookin at Punk" ...

They almost always want to look at you and smile.

Just last night while I was picking up something to make for dinner, there was this little boy with his mother. He looked at me, I looked at him, we both smiled, he waved, so I waved back... then he started dancing to the Kroger music all the while making sure I was watching.

What you lookin at, punk?

2005-10-03T15:45:00.000-04:00

So the other day I'm walking through Wal-Mart and I discover... well not really "discover" but just notice again. No one looks at each other. I mean there's hundreds of people all walking around shopping, totally crowded, and no one looks directly at anyone else. People glance at the other people as they walk by but look away before they make eye contact.

Its as though they want to see what you look like but they don't want you to see them looking at you, in general anyway. I did notice several guys seemingly purposefully looking at several woman and looking long enough for her to realize they were looking... but trust me... it wasn't eye contact.

As we are headed to the truck my daughter asks, "Dad, why do people always want to talk to you?" and my son adds in, "Yeah dad, that's weird." My answer... "I don't know! It IS weird isn't it." Then I realized, I typically make eye contact with people and when they look up at me, I usually give a quick smile and a nod or a simple hello.

So just some observations...
Even in a crowd of so many, people still want to be alone. They don't want to invite you into their world. I think by not making eye contact it keeps them separte, safe in some way.

If you make eye contact and don't look away immediately, it makes some people uncomfortable, you can see it in the way they look down with a shy-like posture, many times bringing a hand up to their face.

If you make eye contact, some people just assume you are flirting with them. Even if you aren't.

Sometimes you make eye contact with people, they get defensive and bow up their chests almost as if to say "What you lookin at, punk?"

Then there's other people, just wanting to talk to someone, just waiting for someone to connect with for a brief moment... those are the people who look back... and just start talking to me.

Not sure what all that means in the big picture of things. Just seemed strange that so many people would rather just walk by unnoticed than stopping, if even for a second, and say hello.

Baptism word for September: Family

2005-09-29T14:50:00.000-04:00

As I've stated in previous posts... each baptism service there seems to be a common theme within the stories. They all center around Jesus but the way he reaches into their particular situations changes each month. It seems strange but many times there is some common thread in most if not all the stories.

In my previous post I told yall 30 people signed up this month but only 15 confirmed. We ended up baptizing 18 people. Let me share the short version of a couple stories.

One lady discovered Jesus two weeks ago. Two months before she was in a car accident. Her car ended up in a river, upside down. The current swept her out of the car before she could do anything. She was not wearing her seatbelt. Two of her children where in the back seat, tightly seat belted in. They couldn't undo theirs. As she was swept away in the current, struggling to survive, her one year old and six year old were trapped, under water, with no way to escape. Tragically they drown to death. Imagine the guilt and horror of this situation. I can't even begin to imagine. She drifted through hopelessness feeling completely alone and lost, not knowing how she could continue in life. Blaming herself, blaming family, family not saying it, but blaming her. She knew she had to continue because She has an 11 year old son who was at his grandmothers that day thus escaping the accident. Then she came to our church. She discovered this person named Jesus and through that relationship she discovered hope. Her and her son are clinging to God and clinging to each other. She told me she was so happy to have discovered a new family in God. They stood side by side last night, professing faith in Jesus and being baptized together.

Another mother was there with five of her children. Her husband left her a couple years ago. She was left with no job, no money and bills to pay. She was filled with grief and depression. Her oldest son left as well and entered into a life of drugs. She turned to drugs and alcohol, anything to take her away. She placed huge responsibilities on the next oldest son. She shared how it was so much more than a child should ever have to handle. Her family was falling apart around her. Then she too discovered Jesus. He rescued her from the drugs and alcohol. She was on the verge of eviction and miraculously things came through that saved her home. Things that can only be an answer to prayer. Her oldest son saw this change in her and he has returned home. He accepted Jesus as well. God is doing something amazing in this young mans life. The mother shared with the group....never give up on your family. She said even when your family leaves you, never give up on them. She said how amazing it was once she discovered Jesus and began attending Harvest. “This is my family as well. They are here for me to lean on when I need it.”

We had a 12 year old get baptized as well. His family didn't know what to do with him. But he has completely changed they said. Both his mother and father stood beside him, and baptized him. Welcoming him back.

One young lady said he saved her marriage... bringing restoration between her and her husband. Another gentleman said he has neglected his family for years, but things had changed now... 18 People got baptized last night. 18 different stories of how Jesus changed their lives.

What an honor to be able to share this time with each of them.

Technorati tag: iMosaic

30 people signed up

2005-09-28T13:48:00.000-04:00

Baptisms are tonight. We had 30 people sign up. I was thinking that's a lot of dunking going on.

BUT... as I began to call and talk to everyone over the last week the list started to shrink. As of this morning 15 have confirmed they will be there. 15... thats still a lot :-)

I'm excited, like I've said before, I really enjoy doing the baptism service. I can't wait to hear more of each of their stories.

Audio Blog - Shocked Accident Guy

2005-09-23T12:47:00.000-04:00

Some stories are just better told out loud...

More thoughts from a sticky note

2005-09-23T10:34:00.000-04:00

Sometimes God gives me things… ummm I’m not real sure what to call it. “vision”, “intuition”, “revelation”, “insight” I really don’t know. So let me try to explain. It’s like when I am preparing a message. I’m sitting there praying or reading the bible or even reading some supporting text or watching TV or driving down the road thinking and its like God just dumps this whole thing into me at once. I mean, I see it, I get it, I understand… it’s like I get the whole concept and I’m standing on a mountain looking down taking the whole thing in. But my mind can’t always process it all at once but I get it. My whole being knows this thing that God just said. Almost like inside me, I just know. Then I have to find a way to get it out. To begin to isolate some details about this concept or idea, that is connected with emotion, and somehow translate it into words.

That’s what happened as I read through those sticky notes I told you about in my previous post.

So here we go, I’ll try and put it into words…

From the previous post:

What did God make you?

What have you made yourself?

Gen 1:27 says we are created in HIS image

Directions:
The mystery. I'm so small in the big picture of eternity and yet God working through me can accomplish amazing things - Greatness for him.

As I sat down and began asking myself those questions again a few things immediately begin popping into my mind.

I’m a father, a husband, a college pastor, a Systems Administrator for the government. I’m a weekend manager at the Ronald McDonald House… a soccer coach… All the stuff I do was how I began to answer. But is this really what God made me or is it just the stuff I do? Or is it the stuff I have made myself? Honestly, I think it’s a combination of all three.

John 14 is another thing that I have been reading lately too…

⁸Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us." ⁹Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? ¹⁰Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. ¹¹Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. ¹²I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. ¹³And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. ¹⁴You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. – John 14:8-14 (NIV)

So you see, I think we are co-creators. The bible says I am created in His image. Jesus said I would do even greater things than he did and umm… he did some pretty amazing things. But I still have to “do”.

So in my mind there is this line somewhere… what am I making myself and what is God making me… And this is where the second note sort of pulled it together for me.

” The mystery. I'm so small in the big picture of eternity and yet God working through me can accomplish amazing things - Greatness for him.”

This is where motive comes in. Why am I making myself the person I am making myself and how am I doing it? God still amazes me. I mean, even more now than when I first became a believer. Because as I continue to grow in him and continue to develop into the creation he had in mind… I begin to see more and more its not me. Its simply allowing God to live and work in me and through me. Jesus even said “Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.”

I think there is a temptation to take credit for God things. I mean its like, I pray, I talk to God and he gives me some direction, some thing he wants me to do…

In the beginning I almost always argue with God “Umm God… you want ME to do THAT? There just aint no way!” Then I step out… I just do. Its like he tells me, “Just be who I created you to be Brian. Just do what I ask and ask me for help when you need it and we’ll get it done” Then amazing things happen and I step back in awe at this amazing God I serve.

Then the people begin to tell me… oooooh you did so good or man what a great thing you did… its like they see me and not the glory in me that actually did this thing. So I just have to be careful not to puff up my chest and get my head stuck in a door jam because it has gotten so big.

So I guess, on one hand, I am a small thing in comparison to eternity, but on the other hand I am a creation of God, created in his image, mind, body and spirit created around some God desire. I have the power of God living within me and yet… it’s so not about me, but Him.

Does that make any sense?

sometimes… its just hard to put things into words…

Technorati tag: iMosaic

The two notes

2005-09-21T08:15:00.000-04:00

Here's what was on two notes I had stuck together but written obviously at differant times because one is on a yellow sticky in pencil the other on the back of some directions to a friends church near Atlanta for a servant evengelism thing in May of 2004.

Yellow sticky:
What did God make you?

What have you made yourself?

Gen 1:27 says we are created in HIS image

Directions:
The mystery. I'm so small in the big picture of enternity and yet God working through me can accomplish amazing things - Greatness for him.

I'll write about how these came together in my mind this morning... later today.

Technorati tag: iMosaic

Thoughts from a sticky note

2005-09-21T07:05:00.000-04:00

I'm a sticky note person. Well it doesn't have to be a sticky note. Any scrap of paper will do. I have this tendency to have a random thought or will just think about things while I am driving down the road. I've tried waiting till I get to the office or whatever my destination might be to write them down, but it seems I always forget the thought. “Must have been truly inspiring” I hear you thinking...

I don't know, maybe its all the diet cokes effecting my short term memory, or maybe its just my mind seems to be constantly going, thinking through things. Whatever it is, I have developed a habit of writing thoughts and phrases on whatever happens to be around at the time... napkins, yellow sticky notes, envelopes, bulletins... whatever. Then eventually I get this pile of notes all over the place that I need to do something with so I gather them up and stick em in my bible or in my backpack that serves as my mobile office. Some times I take these notes and transfer them to a journal and other times they just get left wherever I decided to stick them. I have a couple friends who use those moleskin notebooks, I tried... I really did... but it never seems to be around when I want to write something down.

So I was looking through a used legal pad I had and stuck in the middle of it was a stack of these notes. The cool thing... well I'm planning this series called Sunday Night Sex. Right now I'm reading, studying, gathering support info, that sort of thing and what did I find in that pile of notes? Well... it was several scripture references all dealing with sex in the bible. I know... no big deal... you can do a word search or whatever and find a list fairly easy. BUT it was pretty cool finding a list I had already done.. who knows when. Actually many times I will find these notes and they speak directly into something I have been praying about or something I'm going through at the moment. Not trying to get all spooky spiritual or anything. It's just cool how that often works.

There were two others besides the sex references that really grabbed my attention too...

but this post is already getting long, and I have to go set up a training room... soooo maybe later today I'll post more thoughts from a sticky note...

Technorati tag: iMosaic

Second Sunday Band

2005-09-19T08:45:00.000-04:00

A real quick post this morning.

Our college and young adult group joined with the youth worship this month. Well, because we are giving away a car. We only had one and we wanted to make it available to anyone old enough to drive. So, we combined services this month. Its had some pluses and minuses. One down side... some of the older young adults, well they were sort of like... ummm are some of these kids a little young?

But all in all it was good. Its more about worship than hanging with your friends anyway. Sooo I said all that to say... I'm really like'n the Second Sunday Band. They rock.

“Help me daddy”

2005-09-12T13:10:00.000-04:00

September 9^th is a special day in my house. Its the anniversary of my daughters bone marrow transplant. It's my sisters birthday too btw... I sat down to write an entry on the 9^th but just never got finished or really started for that matter. But this is an amazing anniversary and I didn't want it to pass without telling yall a little.

My daughter Megan was diagnosed with a pre-leukemia when she was 9 months old. We went through countless procedures, countless doctor visits, countless hours in the hospital. The doctors really weren't even sure how to treat it because they had never seen this particular translocation in an infant before. Eventually the doctors decided a bone marrow transplant was the only hope of her survival. My wife and I were tested. My then 3 year old son was tested. My extended family got tested. Everyone I knew was tested. But no one matched. That meant going with an unrelated donor. This of course reduced the success rate. Megan was almost two when she had the procedure. In fact she had her two year old birthday party in the hospital. This was a crazy time. We faced many many obstacles. But without fail we saw prayer after prayer answered.

There's sooooo much I could write about: Detailing some of the horrific procedures, some of the terrible side effects of chemo, the mental struggle and fatigue from living in the hospital, the strain on our marriage, the courage of my son during the whole thing, the list of miracles... it was.... well it just was...

I thought I would share one glimpse of time that has been forever captured in mind... in my life... in my very essence... It is one of those things that change the way you see everything.

Imagine the scene, My daughter went through the chemo, her bone m arrow was now dead, she had zero immune system so sores began to from around her mouth, in her mouth, down her throat. She was so tiny and frail. Her hair is almost completely gone with just a few straggling wisps remaining. She is sitting in my lap, helpless, not really understanding what was happening... in terrible pain as it hurt to even swallow... Your always only moments away from tears when you live in the hospital with your dieing child.. and she's there, in my lap... she looks up at me with tear filled round brown eyes and in her barely audible voice, tears running down her face she whispers... “Help me daddy”

I was helpless. I couldn't do anything to save my baby girl. Here she was looking to me to rescue her from this terrible place... and I was helpless... alone... all I knew to do was hold her... and pray.

It was then that I experienced the love of my heavenly father. Its something I can't even begin to put into words but as I was sitting there in that chair, holding her, loving her, willing to do anything to save her... I knew... my father was sitting there... right next to me, holding me, loving me, willing to to anything to save me. Romans 8:28 became real to me that day. It was no longer just some words written in some old book. The bible came to life for me. I knew, that no matter what, God was in control here. I didn't have to worry about everything because in the end, God is, always has been and always will be a God who loves beyond anything we can even imagine and he has the ability to work all things for good.

It's now 7 years later. My daughter Megan remains cancer free to this day. She is so full of energy and life. She is an amazing miracle.

About the pictures:
Picture 1: Sitting on a rocking horse in the ROnald McDonald House waiting for check-in day

Picture 2: Check-in day

Picture 3: Ten days post-transplant

Picture 4: Going on a walk. SHe had to wear a mask whenever she left our room.

Megan was amazing. During her entire stay there was only one day she didn't smile at some point during the day. She loved the camera and I tired to capture her smiles, not the bad times, every day we were there.

Technorati tag: iMosaic

2005-09-08T09:37:00.000-04:00

Things like that always happen to you

2005-09-07T13:42:00.000-04:00

Things like that always happen to you… was a comment from someone in our college group. Things like what you might ask. Well I was recently in Atlanta for a week learning Visual Basic for .NET (yeah I know, not real pastorly huh). One day after class I was sitting in the hotel room and decided I wanted to get a cup of coffee. I really enjoy sitting outside sipping on a hot Breve watching people and cars go by. Yes, even in August, in Georgia.

So here I am, minding my own business and along comes this person. This distraught looking female, I’m guessing in her mid twenties. She begins by asking if I can help. So I say it depends, what seems to be the problem. Then she begins her story… Apparently her and her boyfriend stopped for a cup of coffee on the way to the airport. They got into some sort of argument and in his anger… he left. So here she is, stuck in this coffee shop 35 minutes away from the airport. It’s now just after 9:00 PM and her flight leaves at 10. “so Mr. can you please give me a ride.” *sigh* what do you do?

So I told her ok… she went to the bathroom… and I called the wife!

“umm honey, there’s this person here, who really needs a ride to the airport….”

I give a short synopsis of the situation, of course my wife doesn’t exactly like the idea, not because it’s a 20-something year old girl, but she worries I might get mugged or shot or something. I told her I’ll be fine, I just wanted her to know what I was doing. On the way I hear more of the story about the boyfriend and such. I had a few moments to talk about my relationship with Jesus. She gets dropped off at the front door and I head back to the hotel. Of course calling the wife to let her know everything is fine.

So, now, as I type this out, I look back and I think… “hmmm maybe I shouldn’t have done that.” Especially as my friends begin to point out the “what ifs” But as I find myself in these situations, I almost never see the.. what if they are lying… what if they kill you… what if they are really some terrible mean person… I always find myself thinking… what if no one has ever done anything kind for this person… what if this is a God appointment and he made it knowing I would keep my end… what if this is the one act of Christian love they need to begin looking to the father…

So that’s where I am now… I can see and agree with all the reasons not to help a total stranger, but I find myself compelled to do whatever I can to help. And maybe that’s the answer to the question… Why do those things always happen to you?

I think God makes appointments for us all the time and so many times we miss them because we are too busy in our life and our time schedules.

Technorati tag: iMosaic

God Speaks to Us Through Community - Part 2

2005-09-01T13:31:00.000-04:00

Ok, so I know it's been a week... but I've been just a bit busy. The funny thing is... I write SOOOO many blog posts in my mind while I'm driving down the road, they just never seem to make it here. :)

Back to God speaking to us through community. The Old Testament is filled with stories of God using the Hebrew nation to "speak" to neighboring nations or communities. I mean sometimes God said... kill them... kill them all... that's certainly speaking through a community. But that really isn't God speaking to us through community. So how did God speak to the community then? Well the Holy Spirit descended on certain people. Basically, he spoke to them and they spoke to the community. That's people like Moses, Joshua, Samuel, King Saul, David... those guys. So if God had something to say or if he wanted to give direction he would talk to one of these guys and they would talk to the people. That's certainly not talking to us through community.

Then the New testament comes along and the Holy Spirit enters into the world in a different way. Check out Acts Chapter 2. So now here's this new thing. You see, now if you believe Jesus is who he says he is and if you choose to give your life over to him. Well then the Holy Spirit not just descends on you but comes into you and you are made into a new being. It's really quite remarkable. So now, you have this direct link to God. When he wants to speak to you, well, he just does. Because he is living inside you. Pretty cool if ya ask me.

BUT this still doesn't look like God speak to us through the community, right? Looks more like he is still speaking to individuals. Here's where it comes together. Check out what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 12. He talks about how each person is gifted just as God wanted them to be. Then he talks about how we are all part of the same body. So here's the deal, God speaks to the ear, he speaks to the hands, the feet, the eyes... he speaks to the body and says "This is what I want you to do." But you see, he doesn't always tell the foot what he told the ear. Or at least he tells them different parts of the same vision. So God has this thing that he wants to accomplish and he talks to all the parts that need to come together to get it done. This is what I mean by speaking to us through the community.

Whatever it is he wants my community of faith to accomplish or do for him, will require everyone to be listening. If the foot is doing its own thing and the eyes their own thing, man, you'll never kick that soccer ball. You'll try, you might come close, may even connect, but it simply will not be kicked the way it could have been kicked had each part been doing what God told them to do.

Here's an example. On time my Sunday school class decided we wanted to go on a mission trip, somewhere. It didn't really matter where, we just knew this was something we needed to do. About this same time the seniors were talking about they needed to go on a mission trip. The youth guy... yep, you guessed it, was talking to the youth about going on a mission trip. There were four or five different groups of people all thinking they were going to plan a mission trip. BUT none of us knew the other group was even thinking about it. During this same time our Pastor went to a denominational meeting and just happened to run into someone he knew who really needed a team to come in and help. So the pastor comes back and is beginning to plan to tell people about this trip and a couple of the Sunday school teachers actually start sharing their vision. Other people started sharing what God had said to them. Then the Pastor shared what he believed God was leading the church to do. Go on a mission trip to help his friend. It was awesome. We went and saw some amazing things. We did a vacation bible school in a government housing facility and it so touched them that they asked the pastor of that local church if he could keep coming back. They started meeting there on a regular basis and a church was born.

But what would have happened had everyone keep quiet about their part of the vision? It may have simply faded away and died. Or one of the smaller groups may have gone on a trip, but they wouldn't have been near as effective as having the entire church involved.

So think about it for a moment. What has God been saying to you lately? Don't keep it to yourself. Even if it sounds impossible. Share it with fellow believers who are connected to your faith community. You may be the spark that ignites and incredible fire fueled by the very Spirit of God.

Technorati tag: iMosaic

God Speaks to Us Through Community - Part 1

2005-08-25T07:02:00.000-04:00

I had a dream last night that I was going out to eat with the family. We were driving down the road and suddenly something I heard on the radio prompted a line of thought. Then when we got to the restaurant, I quickly grabbed a napkin and began writing down these ideas. It was kind of strange because I remember the kids trying to talk and play, the waiter trying to take my order but I was to involved in writing out this idea. Then my wife says... oh that's just your dad.

The funny thing is, I was writing and writing for what seemed a very long time but I don't know what I was writing. Then just before I woke up, I was able to look down at the napkin and in all that time I had only written one phrase.

God speaks to us through community.

I almost never remember my dreams, well, maybe two or three times a year. I mean, sometimes I wake up with ideas running through my mind and I write them down. Usually its stuff that I have been working on or a problem I have been dealing with or something like that. But this time I woke up and remembered my dream and it wasn't a stream of thoughts but just that one phrase.

So after I woke up for the third time (I'm a snooze button person) and sat down for my quite time in the morning, I just sort of thought over the phrase. hmmm God speaks to us through community... but does he REALLY or was that just something in a dream? I mean, is that in the bible or just something that sounds cool?

I actually wrote down some thoughts, looked up some scripture that I think applies, but really this is just the beginning of studying this through. So, I will post again soon with some more thoughts on the idea.

Feel free to chime in with any thoughts. Maybe yall will list some things that I have already jotted down in my notebook.

Technorati tag: iMosaic

Living it on your own

2005-08-17T09:18:00.000-04:00

Ok, so I'm out of town this week and sitting through a Visual Basic for .NET class. I'm on break at the moment. It's an ok class the instructor knows what his teaching which is a good thing... BUT he isn't giving us time to work through the exercises. I mean, I see the code, I understand the concepts, I can even look at some code and tell you what its doing. BUT given an exercise that says... Search the context of a log file for X and continue until EOF equals true. (so that's actually a simple example) And then actually make up your own stuff without looking at someone elses.... well its a lot harder. It seems I need just a little peek at the solution to get me going in the right direction.

I mean, as long as I'm looking at the code and listening to the instructor talk about it, I understand. Its when I go out on my own that I get lost.

Then I started thinking... (scary huh)
Do we do that at church? How many people sit in a service and nod their heads or amen the pastor. I mean they are listening to the sermon and they get it, it makes perfect sense. But then when they get out on their own... they get lost... confused...

Sometimes I think we really fall short in the discipleship/mentoring areas. I mean the "typical" discipleship program is once again... sitting in a room listening to someone teach. It makes sense when its right in front of you and someone is explaining it. But living it on your own... that's different...

I think it sort of falls into the whole... living this life together thing. Don't just tell me what to do or how to do it... walk with me for a while but still let me stumble on my own... it's a balance I think.

Google Maps

2005-08-11T14:49:00.000-04:00

Ok so this isn't any indepth exciting blog post... but have you checked out google maps yet?

Very cool. The whole hybrid map is cool too. A satelite image with the street overlay... I'm likin it.

You mean Santa isn't real?

2005-08-04T17:45:00.000-04:00

Not long ago I had a discussion with my daughter about Santa Claus. Ok first let me say, yes I am a Christian and yes both my kids grew up believing in Santa and the tooth fairy for that matter. I know I know take the letters in Santa and mix them around… what do you get…. Satan (said in my best church lady voice)…

Honestly I have never seen the problem with allowing my children to believe in Santa. I will say though, keeping up the charade was getting to be too much and I’ve been telling my wife, we really need to tell her, since last year. You see last school year she was standing up for Santa. Several friends told her he wasn’t real. But she held firm. She KNEW.

Guess what her main point of defense was? “My dad said he is real, and my dad doesn’t lie. So if my dad said he’s real then I know he is, no matter what your dad says”

Ouch huh. So recently she asked, “Is Santa real?” That’s the question I was waiting for. So we told her. No sweet heart. Santa is not real. It’s this thing we do, you see its a tradition based on a guy who might have once been real. But he only gave toys to his village. Not the whole world. No magic, no flying reindeer. We use Santa as a way to give gifts without taking any credit at all. To help teach about how wonderful it is to be able to just do things for people without getting any credit.

She was cool with it actually. So we talked about it more. I asked both my kids, would yall have rather we not told you there was a Santa Claus. They both said quickly and decisively NO… we loved having Santa even if it was just you and mom.

I know this is getting long. I just want to share one other thing we talked about… I’ll give the short version. So then I told them the problem I saw with it. We talked about God next. You see here’s the main problem I see with Santa. We teach that even though you can’t physically see God, you can still see the effects of God. You can see the things he does. The prayers he answers. You know, the old wind analogy… you can’t see the wind, but you can see the trees moving because of it, so you know its there.

Well, here’s were the wrong connection can be made. I never saw Santa, but my parents told me he was real. How did I know he was real? Well I saw the gifts every Christmas. I saw the cookie crumbs and half drunken glass of milk. While I never saw Santa, I knew he was real. But then you discover, your parents made it all up. They faked it. How do I know they aren’t making up all this God stuff? How do I know they aren’t faking it?

So, we spent some time talking about that. It seems I was more concerned about it then they were. I was actually a bit worried about the whole thing. And I don’t typically worry about anything. But it was cool. Kind of exciting really. My kids know God is real… well… mainly because, we don’t fake it.

Technorati tag: iMosaic

Baptism word for July: Completeness

2005-07-29T08:02:00.000-04:00

We had ten people get baptized this past Wednesday. I love being able to take part in these every month. I ask all the people who are getting baptized to meet at the church about an hour before. Once everyone is suited up and ready to go we spend this time just talking. I typically ask the question, “What has brought you to this point? I mean why are you here right now, today, this place, this point in your life that you have decided to be baptized?”

It seems every month there is a common thread or theme or word that connects the stories. Last month it was new life. This month that word was completion. That internal knowing that something is not yet finished in my life. Knowing I was meant to have a relationship with God not just knowledge of him. Then there was… Jesus has turned my life around, you wouldn’t believe where we were a year ago. I feel like he’s done so much for me, I just want to make our relationship complete.

We truly do worship a mighty and loving God. If you are searching for completeness or wholeness, lift up your eyes; don’t keep searching for it in the stuff. The stuff won’t last. It’s only a band aid that covers the emptiness for a time. But if you look up beyond the things and the stuff. Look up to God who loves you.

You truly can be made whole… complete…

Technorati tag: iMosaic

Don't just remove it, replace it

2005-07-26T11:33:00.000-04:00

I have this friend who is struggling to stop smoking. I mean she really wants to stop, but is just finding it so hard. She told me she had been really praying about it. Praying that God would completely remove the desire to smoke. And it would work she said, but then its like all the sudden the urge to smoke just becomes unbearable and she gives in.

As I prayed for her, God gave me a prayer. That was, Father don't just remove the desire but replace it. You see it's not enough to just remove the desire. We need to replace it. If you remove it, there's still an empty space there. It wants to be filled and the only thing you know to fill it with is the thing that was once there.

It's like this spiritual vacuum or void. I was actually reminded of the story in Matthew 12:43-45 Jesus was talking about how when you cast out a demon if it comes back and the house is empty, it just moves back in and brings seven friends worse than he is with him.

The bible says God pours his love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. Man, THATS what needs to replace the desire. God please take away her desire to smoke and replace it with a desire for you. For more of your love. More of your passion. Replace it, with you.

Technorati tag: iMosaic

The Lost Blog

2005-07-22T10:20:00.000-04:00

Funny thing about blogs...

Last night I'm driving down the road, no radio, no kids... just driving in the silence. I was thinking over next Second Sunday and the message, the music, the stuff we need to do to make it better and I had like this revelation on passion. The whole thing began to unfold infront of me. I was like WOW thats so it. I arrived at the house, was about to enter the whole thing as a blog entry and the noise of "married with two kids" started up.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the sound of married with two kids but sometimes.... well... it's like running your fingernails down a chalk board. Last night happened to be a chalkboard moment and needless to say I didn't make it to the computer.

This morning as I sit here trying to recapture the thoughts on passion, it just isn't fitting together like it did in my truck, in the silence. So I guess it just gets filed away in the lost blog bin.

Ever have that happen to you? Have this great blog entry then before you can post... its gone...

Technorati tag: iMosaic

Shark Bite Victim

2005-07-20T15:57:00.000-04:00

Hey yall, I have another urgent prayer request. A very close friend of mines daughter was recently bitten by a shark in the Gulf of Mexico.

You can read an article on CNN here.

She had one surgery to remove debri, shark teeth, etc. That went fine. She had another surgery to reattach the tendons in her foot. That surgery actually went better than expected. The family is back in North Carolina now and the doctor there is concerned the top portion of her foot may not heal. There was a loss of blood flow for a long time so the flesh may not heal.

Please pray for a miracle. Pray the blood flows and the skin is revived on her foot. Also pray for her. Imagine, 14 years old, swimming in waist deep water in the gulf, and suddenly you now find yourself recovering from a shark attack.

Thank you all

Technorati tag: iMosaic

Please Pray for Randy and Kelsey

2005-07-20T08:45:00.000-04:00

Randy's wife needs your prayers. Please join me in praying for them.

His blog has the details here.

Technorati tag: iMosaic

Christian Cussing

2005-07-15T09:47:00.000-04:00

Ok so I said I may on occasion cuss someone when I’m driving. The funny thing is… I don’t use real cuss words… I use the Christian ones…

Oh come on you freakin idiot
Dang it, that crazy thing needs to move on…
Holy Smokes… did you see that…
What the… with a pause
Or What the Heck

So I’m thinking to myself, that’s kind of crazy, I mean somehow its ok to use those words but not the ones they are replacing? I mean, come on, I’m using them the same way, I’m using them with the same emotion, with the same intent and when I say dangit… don’t you know what word that is replacing? So isn’t it the same?

Why not just say it? I don’t know I just somehow feel better about myself by danging you to hell I suppose….

Technorati tag: iMosaic

Don't just love me, follow me

2005-07-15T09:29:00.000-04:00

More about John 21…
You know, I read a couple commentaries and they were saying Jesus is telling Peter.. it’s not about the words you say… Jesus wanted Peter to show him he loved him in the things he was told to do. I can kinda agree with that, BUT… it’s not really about the things you do. Sometimes we get so caught up in the things that we forget why we were doing them in the first place.

It’s because we love him that we do. We don’t do to try and win his love… he loves us no matter what we do. We do, because we love him. Falling in love with Jesus ignites passion… it ignites desire… it sets you on fire with this amazing desire to simply do what he did… to simply be about doing what he wants you to do.

Not doing to impress him, but joining him in the doing. It’s a love thing.

So it’s not about just saying you love him...

It’s not about just doing things to prove you love him…

Even after Jesus told Peter to go and do… he ended it with… “Follow me”

That speaks to me. Jesus says, yes I want to hear you say you love me, yes I want to see you love me in the things you do, but even more I want to take part in your loving me so follow me.

iMosaic tag

Do you love me?

2005-07-12T11:10:00.000-04:00

John 21:15-19 (NIV)

¹⁵When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?"
"Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."

¹⁶Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?"
He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."

¹⁷The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."

¹⁸Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." ¹⁹Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!"

I feel like God has really been talking to me about loving him lately. Oh how Peter must have felt when seemingly Jesus didn’t believe him or something… Come on Jesus… what’s the deal… You know EVERYTHING of course you know I love you…

More and more I begin to see the love Jesus has for people around me. But it’s still like he has to check with me from time to time. As I’m driving down the road and cuss at some one (using Christian cussing of course) for driving too slow… or driving to fast… or freakin sitting in the left lane with their right blinker on going 45 in a 50 mph zone just close enough to the other slow guy in the right lane so your stuck… it’s like at those moments… I get a tap on my shoulder… “Do you love me?”

Or as I begin to form an opinion about someone in the grocery store by the way they look or dress or the way they are acting. I’ll get that tap… “Do you love me?”

Or as I walk into a conversation where the best little piece of gossip is being wrapped around a prayer request and you know you shouldn’t take part… but… you want to know… “Do you love me?”

Most the time, it serves to draw my focus back to him. Most the time I’ll say... Hey you guys... this really is bordering on Gossip and I don’t want any part of it. Most the time, in the car, I’ll just turn up the radio or turn off the radio and just enjoy the extra time I’m being given. Most the time… I say Yes Jesus, you know I love you and I don’t even have to speak a word…. I simply feed his sheep…

But sometimes… not often… but sometimes… I say the words… You know I love you Lord… but the things I’m thinking or saying or doing speak a completely different tune…

I just thank Him… thank you Lord for loving me, so I could love you. I do love Jesus beyond words can describe and I want to do my best to allow that love to SHOW not just in the words I say but in the way I live.

iMosaic tag

2005-07-05T09:15:00.000-04:00

The following is from Octavio Martinez's blog

Check out the original post here

The Numbers Game
091101

I’m writing this post because people often quote the number of casualties as a reason to end the War on Terror. A bit of comparison is in order:

Today...
115 people will die in motor vehicle accidents.
37 more will die just from falling.
35 will die from poisoning.
15 will expire from suffocation (more than seven times the death rate in Iraq).
10 will die a horrible death as the result of fires and burns.
9 will drown.
All in one day.
And this does not consider illnesses, victims of crimes, suicides and natural causes.

Wars and Daily Death Rates
WWI - 199.5 per day
WWII - 219.5 per day
Korean War - 32.4 per day
Vietnam Conflict - 18.8 per day
Gulf War - 1.8 per day
Iraq War - 2.1 per day

Why We Fight
Monsters murdered 2300+ civilians in NYC on 9/11. And these cowards are still killing civilians: their own people!
Why do they hate us?
Why do they hate democracy?
Who cares?

Evil cannot be appeased.
Evil cannot be reasoned with.
It must be met with force and destroyed.
“Killed” as then General Colin Powell said during the Gulf War.

This Fourth, I honor all the men and women who chose to lay down their lives so that others can live in freedom.
Thank you.

iMosaic tag

Christian Radio Listeners Speak

2005-06-30T14:24:00.000-04:00

On my way back to the office from lunch I heard Nicole Mullen's version of the song "Everyday People". You know... I kinda like it...

But I remember when she first released it, I was listening to a Christian station out of Atlanta. The morning DJ's where asking the listening audience to call in and give them an opinion. You see they weren't sure if they should play a song that was first recorded by a secular artist. Even if it was remade by a Christian.

I couldn't believe the response. I mean it was overwhelming how many people bashed the song and were like "No way should you ever play THAT on the radio". Basically their argument was you as a Christian radio station should have enough integrity to not use anything secular to reach your audience. Someone even threw out the WWJD card... Something like... "I'm completely opposed to using something that was first written by a secular artist. She didn't even change the words. You shouldn't play it. Think about it, what would Jesus do?"

Really... who do we think we are using secular things to reach secular people... I mean Jesus would never do such a thing. Imagine... what if Jesus used something like wine at a party or something... or if he used a prostitute as the example for us to follow. Oh my...

And what about Paul... I mean he would NEVER do such a thing as use some statue of a god that was created for pagan worship and use it to point to Jesus... how could he even think of such a thing... well he just wouldn't do it I tell ya!!!

ummm... I have to ask... Do those people read the same bible I read???

Give me a break. The message of that song is a good one and who knows... if the radio station had gone out on a limb and played the song... some pre-christian may have been scanning stations, stopped because they recognized the tune, then actually kept it there and heard about Christ.

Funny how a song will bring back a memory. Oh yeah, I actually did call the radio station and gave Paul as an example of using secular things to point people to Jesus.

You can hear a clip here

iMosaic tag

My Personality test score

2005-06-30T08:09:00.000-04:00

I was catching up on some blogs since I've been out of town for a bit and over at david@revolution David posted his Myers-briggs score. So I thought it would be interesting to find one on-line and do mine too.

Here's the results:

ENTP - "Inventor". Enthusiastic interest in everything and always sensitive to possibilities. Non-conformist and innovative. 3.2% of the total population.

Free Jung Personality Test (similar to Myers-Briggs/MBTI)

Soooo what are yall??? Give it a try and let me know.

This site gives some deeper explanations to the different types.

Some incomplete thoughts

2005-06-29T09:47:00.000-04:00

Ok so I'm still out of town and only briefly get on the internet. I'm in Columbus today doing the same thing I was doing in Athens.

Athfest was way cool btw. Lots of pink hair, tattoos and body piercings. But other than the people, the art stuff was great too and the bands were good. We had pizza for dinner and while we were walking down the street with our leftovers in a cardboard pizza box, a homeless guy asked me if I had 15 cents... the crazy thing is... all he wanted was 15 cents and I didn't have a dime in my pocket, literally. So I told him, well, I really don't have 15 cents but I have this pizza if you want it. He accepted and was on his way. My son told me, "Dang dad, I knew as soon as I saw him you were going to give away our lunch but thats ok, he'll probably enjoy it for dinner more than we would have for lunch. But I sure was looking forward to eating that pizza for lunch."

And honestly... so was I. Sometimes I give stuff away without even thinking about it. I mean, God gave it to me, I know he won't leave me wanting, so why not give stuff away when you can? But I must say, this was some REALLY good pizza and I really didn't want to give it away. I almost told the guy, "Sorry bud, I don't have any money" and left it at that. But then there was that voice...

It's not in the storm... it's not in the earthquakes... but down in the quiet space... there's this voice that speaks to you... leads you... If you aren't careful the noise of the world will drown it out and you'll miss the silent nudge of God. The more I listen to this voice the easier it is to distinguish and I've learned it's a good thing to listen. But sometimes... even when I know I should listen... I choose to act like I didn't hear, after all, that's MY pizza.

iMosaic tag

Athfest

2005-06-23T17:07:00.000-04:00

I'm in Athens today, installing new computers and installing a Win2003 server. The cool thing is AthFest starts tomorrow and I brought my family with me for the two night trip. Sooo tomorrow after I finish everything up... it's off to AthFest.

It's gonna be too fun.

Here's the link Dad

2005-06-20T07:56:00.000-04:00

Hey dad, here's the link to the boat picture...

And Happy Father's day again. I love you dad.

Brian

I'm glad we aren't church people Dad

2005-06-20T07:28:00.000-04:00

"I'm glad we aren't church people Dad."

Was a comment my 11 year old son made as we walked out of a restaurant yesterday. Ok so let me give you a little context. We had actually skipped church because we were headed up towards Athens to drop my daughter off at Camp Sunshine. It's this great camp for children with cancer or who have survived cancer.

So sitting in the restaurant we looked around and saw all the people that sort of look alike. I mean, the suits, the dresses, the shoes... you know... church people. Now don't get me wrong. I don't think there is anything wrong with wearing a suit to church. I just don't happen to be one of the people who do. I was reading Randy Bohlender's blog the other day and he was talking about going to speak at a suit tribe and I guess the idea sort of stuck with me because as we were walking out my son says, "There sure were a lot of church people in there. I'm glad we aren't church people" So I laughed and told him, Yeah, we're more in the flip flop tribe than the suit tribe. Both my kids thought that was hilarious. Thanks Randy. :)

Of course he wasn't talking about faith in God. He wasn't talking about meeting together and worshiping. He wasn't talking about gathering in a building we call church to hear and learn about the word of God. He was talking about this idea that if your a Christian then you should look, walk and dress a certain way. Maybe it's just the Southeast but try walking into some of the "First" churches in flip flops and jeans one Sunday morning.

Truly, I'm not being judgmental. That's just their tradition. I mean, if your going to church, then you have to wear a suit to honor God.

Then my son is like.... "I'm glad we don't HAVE to be church people. We use to be church people you know dad. I'm glad we can go to church just like we are and be Christians without being church people."

You know son, so am I.

I wrote this once...

2005-06-16T10:47:00.000-04:00

salvation

slowly silently slipping away into the depths of despair. the cold steel claws of reality ripping into my flesh as the stinging waves come crashing in around me. kicking, struggling, fighting for air in an ocean of struggles. the crashing sound of silence begins pounding in my ears as my screams echo unheard in the distance. an endless darkness pressing in, surrounding me as i struggle to keep my head above the water. alone, helpless, slipping away, letting go, giving up, searching, probing blindly in the utter darkness that has become my life. my hand reaches for an old friend that becomes an icy blade slicing to my bone........
its over... i'm lost... letting go... slipping under...

slowly silently a faint shimmer of light sparkles on the edge of my destruction. growing brighter as it moves towards me. the endless darkness pushing in against it, trying to douse the flame with lies and deceit. warmth, newness, unconditional love quickly flowing over my body delivering me from the cold darkness. reaching back, groping, resisting, feeling the icy blades once again sends shearing pain through my body and yet i am somehow unable to let go. needing it, wanting it, how will i survive if i let go. a gentle breeze of music that's there and yet not, lifts through my mind with deafening clarity and gentleness filling my heart and setting me free....
i'll endure your pain... trust me... i'll never let you go... i love you

Hearing God through a bird and a wave

2005-06-13T16:25:00.000-04:00

I was looking through some pictures today and came across some of my sisters wedding. What a cool thing to be able to conduct your sisters wedding. You have to be careful not to say… Marry your sister… I live in Georgia after all, and people round these parts get the wrong idea.

It was May last year I think. They found this lighthouse in Oregon and decided that’s where they wanted to get married. So my sister rented this house for the family to stay in while we were waiting on the wedding day. I must say, the Oregon coast is quiet remarkable. This house sat on the edge of a cliff that dropped off into the ocean. Ok so it was on the other side of the road that was right next to the cliff that dropped off into the ocean. But if the wind was blowing right I could still spit from the upstairs balcony and make the edge.

One morning, I woke up early and was looking for some alone time, just me and God. I grabbed my guitar and headed for a bench that was across the street right on the edge. Man, that was wonderful. The sun had just started coming up behind me. As I looked out across the water, this chilling breeze seemed to flow over me and kiss my cheeks. It carried a slight mist and aroma from the ocean below. I remember just sitting there sort of hugging my guitar, eyes closed, listening, enjoying the moment. I stopped to play some, then to listen some, just pressing into him.

It was then that I noticed this bird. It was sitting on the water. Not that that is all that remarkable, I mean, that’s what ocean birds do. But it’s where this bird was sitting. You see the shoreline below wasn’t like the Georgia coast of lazy sandy beaches with slowly rolling waves. This was a rugged outcropping of jagged rocks and the waves didn’t slowly roll in. They crashed and banged as the ocean slammed against the shore. It was almost like the fourth of July as the waves exploded against the rocks sending water 20 feet into the air. And amidst the crashing waves and booming thunder of it all… there was this bird. Just sitting there, floating, right in front of the rocks.

I could see the wave building and approaching. I almost wanted to scream out… “WATCH OUT BIRD! Don’t you see that wave coming!!!” But just before it slammed the bird into the rocks, he softly lifted off the water and allowed the waves to crash into the rocks below. Then as the water went out, he returned to his spot, sitting on the water in front of the jagged edge.

It was at this point that God spoke to me as, I was thinking, what would happen to me if I was swimming in front of that rock as the waves crashed in around me. I began to see the troubles I had gone through and some of the troubles I was facing. They seemed to stand before me like that rugged cliff. They seemed to crash in around me like the waves rolling in and splashing up sparks in the sky. But then it was as if God said… but if you are that bird, you would be ok.

I mean, as long as you are where God wants you to be... As long as you are doing what he purposed for you to do... Or as long as you are seeking to accomplish the God desire he breathed into you… Then you’ll be ok.

But, just because you are where God wants you to be doesn’t mean the waves will stop coming. It doesn’t mean you won’t get wet when they crash into the rocks before you. The waves are still there. You still get wet. It’s still loud and rattles you a bit. But God is there with you. He helps to lift you, just above the wave, preventing you from being crushed from the weight of it all.

Sometimes I think we just need to look outside of our storm and discover God and allow him to show us where we are suppose to be and just like that bird, he’ll lift us up when we need it most.

Second Sunday MP3 Downloads

2005-06-09T14:00:00.000-04:00

Second Sunday is a worship service at Harvest Cathedral for College students and single young adults.

October 23, 2005
Sunday Night Sex Part 1
You've been lied to. (18 MB) - Pastor Brian

October 9, 2005
No MP3. After a time of music we watched the movie MOST
Followed by a few moments of refelction and a time to just hang out and discuss it.

September,2005
There are no MP3's for September. Our group joined with the youth because we had a car to give away and we wanted to make it available to both the College group and the youth.

August 14,2005
Passionate Christianity (7.53 MB) - Pastor Brian

Rain Down (4.02 MB)
Holy is the Lord (4.42 MB)
My Glorious (3.97 MB)
Heart of Worship (7.18 MB)

July
Due to technical difficulties the July stuff will not be on-line

June 2005
Removing the Noise - Pastor Darrin

Oh Praise Him (5.26 MB)
Blessed be You're Name (5.09 MB)
Grace Like Rain (5.52 MB)
Here I am to Worship (11.1 MB)

April 2005
The Essence of the Creator - Pastor Brian

iMosaic tag

If you love me, you will

2005-06-09T09:24:00.000-04:00

If you love me you will…

… sleep with me
… marry me
… help me
… mow the freakin’ lawn
… buy me roses everyday or at least on occasion

How many times do we use our love as a bargaining chip or use the love of others as leverage for something we want? As I hear people talk about love, it seems to be in the context of what they get out of it and I’m thinking, what’s THAT all about.

There’s this verse in the bible that is famously known as the love chapter: 1 Corinthians 13. I mean have you ever been to a wedding when something from there wasn’t read?? Well, I won’t post the WHOLE thing since its so familiar, you know… love is patient, love is kind, it doesn’t envy… and remember when the preacher had you put your name in for Love… it didn’t fit… but then substitute Jesus for love…

Anyway… here’s the tail end of it:

(8)Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. (9)For we know in part and we prophesy in part, (10)but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. (11)When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. (12)Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
(13)And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

As I read that today, I was thinking… you know all the stuff just doesn’t matter all that much. Man you can be this great charismatic teacher… the picture of physical perfection… you can do all these things… but in the end… was there any faith? Or hope? Or love?

Cause that’s what’s going to matter when the stuff is gone. We see love so imperfectly. We make love all about me. It’s like when you get out of the shower and the mirror is all fogged up. You reach up to do your hair, but you really can’t see yourself well enough. So what do you do? You grab the towel and wipe it away. That works for a bit, but it’s still fogged up to some degree. It’s still a cloudy reflection of you. So you wipe it some more or leave the door open or turn on the fan, but by the time its clear… you’re done.

That’s how we see love. A cloudy reflection of what it really is. Then we met Jesus and we begin to see a bit clearer what this perfect love is all about. But things get in the way. Life begins to fog up the mirror. In our attempt to express this thing we only see as a poor reflection we begin adding all the stuff.

It’s not all about you. It’s not even about the things you do. Just wipe away all the stuff and trust in your faith and the hope of a living Savior and simply love.

OK... pretend I'm a bad guy

2005-06-07T13:56:00.000-04:00

I've already started calling people for baptisms this month. I really love being able to do the baptisms at our church. You get to hear all the fresh new stories of what God is doing in people's lives. Just last month we had 6 people baptized. I thought I would share three of their stories in the interest of keeping this post from becoming an epic

An unwed couple just recently lost their adult son in a terrible accident. It was during this time that they began to look to God for help. Not being able to deal with the loss any other way, they both turned to Jesus. They both have decided to follow him and give their lives to him as Lord and as a first step, they wanted to be baptized. Not only that, they want to get married as well. Truly wanting to reevaluate every area of their lives. So we baptized them together. I mean literally at the same time. I asked another guy who was back there to baptize a friend of his to help me. They actually asked me if we could do it that way. I was like SUUURE. There aint no rules! So They entered the water together, went under together and came up together. What a great symbol of the new life they are both about to share with each other.

Another gentleman was never really a church goer. And neither was his family for that matter. They started visiting with us and believed. They believed Jesus really is real. He really did die for them and was brought back to life. And this entire family excepted Christ. Actually I have started to see more and more of families coming to follow him. Way cool if you ask me. They were all scheduled to be baptized but something came up at the last minute, so only the husband could be there. But he plans on standing side by side with his family this month as they to are baptized. How cool is that?

So here's the last one for now... but man it's great.

This last one was a 6 year old boy. Yes, I believe in a believers baptism. Meaning, you really should understand why you are getting baptized before you actually are. But about 6 months ago we were all on a camping trip. Several of the kids were having sword fights with sticks. A couple of them were trying to convince this little boy he needed to be the bad guy. They should all be bad goes and go about doing their dasterly bad guy deeds. He was like... “No I don't want to be a bad guy.” but with enough prodding he finally conceded with this statement, “Oh, ok, we'll pretend I'm a bad guy. But then we say I learned about Jesus.... and he made me a good guy again!” This little guy... he get's it!

I think I'm addicted to God

2005-06-01T14:26:00.000-04:00

I so want to get a hold of God.

There was once a lady who had this bleeding disease for years and nothing helped. All she wanted to do was touch Jesus. If she could just get a hold of him, she knew it would be ok. There was this other guy who was about to face his brother. He was a conniving deceiver of a man. He was sure his brother wanted to kill him so he was slipping into the back of the crowd. When he was alone, he met up with God. He grabbed a hold of him and refused to let go. He wanted a blessing from God. He was changed that day because he wouldn’t let go.

Man, I just want more of him. The more I learn. The more I discover about him. The more I want. I told someone the other day I thought I was addicted to God. They didn’t get it. They just gave me that funny little… “Oh isn’t that nice” nod.

If you could just touch him, experience his presence, allow him to work through you…

I wish there was some way to put into words the longing and desire touching God creates. The knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt he is there. It’s not that fear goes away, but rather a boldness from God allows you to push forward through the fear

Don’t you see? God is so real. God is alive. God is reaching out to you. Just touch him. Grab a hold of him and refuse to let go. Trust me, you will never be the same.

That doesn’t mean crap doesn’t still happen. It doesn’t mean suddenly the world is a happy place full of pink roses and daffodils. The world is still the world, but you my friend, you will never be the same. It’s not the world that changes, but how you respond to it.

Dude take off your shoes!

2005-06-01T13:07:00.000-04:00

Why did Jesus come?

Ever asked a group of people that question? You get all the Sunday School answers right away. He came to pay for our sins. He came so he could understand us better. He came as a living sacrifice. But you know why I believe he came? To restore a relationship.

I know that’s a cliché you hear all the time. “Christianity isn’t about religion its about relationship” I mean, I hear lots of good Christians spouting that off… well, because the Pastor said so and man, it sounded great when he said it. As we do church once maybe twice a week. As we pray the same prayer every night for dinner or when we put the kids to bed. As we trudge through the church service week after week, going to church because that’s what you do on Sundays. Many people have turned this wonderful relationship into a religion.

They say it, but they don’t understand what it means.

God told Moses… take off your shoes dude, this is Holy Ground! (Exodus 3) What made it holy? Well, God was there. At that point the relationship was whole. There was open communication and a direct line between God and Moses. Guess what? God has reestablished that relationship. That’s what Jesus did! Sure he paid for our sins. But in doing so, he restored our relationship with God. Once you believe in Jesus, you have that direct line.

You can be standing on holy ground. “Oh yes I know, and I wish those stupid kids would take their shoes off when they enter our holy sanctuary too. This is holy ground, and that carpet costs us a fortune to clean.” Ummmm no… that’s not exactly what I mean.

God told Moses to take off his shoes, take off the dirt and grim of your travels. Let go of all that religious junk you are dragging around. For a moment let go of your mortgage payment, let go of that secret little sin you are attempting to hide. Let go of the dirt and grime of the world and step into the presence of God. Right there, right now, while your sitting in front of your computer… you can be on holy ground.

this place is a mess...

2005-05-24T07:49:00.000-04:00

Ok, so I have been meaning to clean my office for a couple months now. I just have this habit of dropping stuff off where ever I am. I've tried in baskets, file folders, little bin thingies but I just can't seem to use those.

Soooo I'm posting this here as a bit of accountablity. Certainly now that I've told the world I was going to clean things up... I will.

And it will stay good for at least a week :)

Feels like there's an illustration in there somewhere....

very cool...

2005-05-20T16:13:00.000-04:00

So I recently had someone give me this boat. Very cool actually. We have been looking for a cheep jon boat or something just so I could take the kids out fishing. So the other day I got a call from a guy who is a member of the church I was pastoring at before I came to Harvest. Well he wanted me to do this house blessing thing. Well... honestly... I had never done a house blessing, so I did a sort of dedication/blessing sort of thing. It was cool.

Well anyway, while we are waiting for him and another guy to finish pouring some concrete my son and I go exploring a bit. In the back he has this boat sitting in a carport sort of thing. My son says, "Hey Dad, you should ask Mr. Ricky what he wants to do with that boat." I said,"I aint askin' if you want to know you ask." So my son walks up to Ricky and says... "Hey Mr. Ricky... My dad wants to know.... " little brat.. hehe

At least he says, "My dad wants to know if you want to sell that boat." He says, "You know what, someone gave me that boat a while back, so how about I just give it to you."

Of course I did the customary refusal... oh no... we couldn't... then after a little arm twisting... Ooooh OK.

So know I am trying to discover info about the boat. Who made it? When was it built? stuff like that. The tag says its a MotorKraft. Google came up with nothing.

God doesn't play hide and go seek

2005-05-20T14:32:00.000-04:00

I just got back from St. Simon’s Island. I love the Georgia coast. The weather was wonderful and it’s still early enough in the year so the bugs weren’t out yet. Walking along the trails under the outstretched arms of a one hundred year old oak tree with Spanish moss hanging from the limbs, the smell of the water, the sound of the birds and the soft touch of the ocean breeze across my face all of it captivating my senses.

Simply beautiful

I was there for a minister’s conference. One of the speakers said an off the cuff remark that wasn’t really a main point but it started my mind thinking. He said “God doesn’t play hide and go seek”

Even in the beauty of the Island, God is there.

Sometimes when we slip into some darkness or we fall in some way or we are going through something, it seems God is anything but right next to you. There have been times in my life when I found myself calling out to God… “Where are you?” “How can you let this happen?” “Don’t you love me?” it seemed as long as things were going my way and things were going good then God must be blessing me… sure... he’s right there... next to me… helping me…

Then the junk starts and it seems he goes into hiding, waiting for me to find him again. But you know what I have discovered over the years… he isn’t the one who hides, I am.

It’s like I try and handle things. I have it all under control. Then as I begin to see things fall apart I don’t want God to see me. I slip into that place of hiding, hoping he won’t see me or the mistakes I’ve made. Then slowly as I begin to forgive myself… and I start to come out of hiding… I find him there… standing in the light… not hiding at all… simply waiting for me to open my eyes and see him. Loving me even when I don’t love myself.

God isn’t hiding from us, he wants to be found.

Shaker died last week

2005-05-12T08:15:00.000-04:00

So it's early morning most the other people are not in the office yet and I hear the bang bang bang on the door. I quietly ask myself... do you REALLY want to go out there. But I hadn't seen Todd in a while so I decided to get up and meet him at the door.

You see, Todd is this homeless guy that lives downtown. I talk with him sometimes weekly, sometimes months go by and I don't see him. When he was 5 years old (I think) his family was in a car accident that killed his mom, dad and sister. It was at that point that he entered the foster care system. So anyway... I hadn't talk to him in at least a month.

Oh yeah, the bang on the door. The office is closed that early and all the doors are locked. So Todd will go to the door closest to my office and bang on it. I mean... BANG too. Scared the crap out of me the first few times he did it.

So I get up to go outside and talk to Todd and I notice immediately Shaker is not there. Shaker you see, is Todd's only family. He was the beautiful looking blue tick hound someone gave to Todd as a puppy. The cool thing was the downtown community helped take care of Shaker. He often got food from people. People paid for him to have his shots. All in all he was a pretty healthy dog to belong to a homeless guy.

Well last week, Wednesday, Shaker died. Todd told me when he woke up Shaker just couldn't breath and he was in pain just trying to get up to eat but the day before he seemed fine. Todd took him to the local vet downtown who often cares for Shaker free of charge. It was heart worms. So bad that there was nothing they could do. Todd told me he held him in his lap while the doctor injected him and put him to sleep.

Now Todd is truly all alone...

As I sit here typing this story spiritual parallels begin to form... hard hearts... fine one day... then the next your struggling to survive as worms like spaghetti entagle your heart... but I'll leave those for another day and just leave with this question...

Are you taking care of your heart... or simply taking care of the surface things?

things will never be the same...

2005-05-10T15:45:00.000-04:00

So I was reading this article that a friend of mine linked to and one comment jumped out at me.

“Things will never be the same here until he leaves,” she said.

That comment was made about the pastor. Now, I don't agree with what the guy did and all that but that comment sparked a whole line of unrelated thought for me.

I have never been one for relying on what used to be. I mean, things change, the world changes, people change. You have to be willing to look beyond what you know to discover greater possibilities. Sometimes I forget other people don't always think that way. There's this comfort in the known. It's so much easier to just stay where you are and not step out into the unknown.

Certainly tradition and time honored things have a place... it's when you get stuck in the "if it could just be like it was when..." mindset. I'm sure that lady means well. I'm sure those people mean well to as they vote out that crazy pastor with all these new ideas. I mean we never had THOSE people in our church before. Who wants a bunch of sinners in here, smelling like smoke and them there tattoos. Why if I tired to..... blah blah blah

... if we just went back to the way it use to be, wouldn't it be lovely.

Sorry, I just don't buy it. It's not about getting back to what use to be... but looking ahead to what can be. Don't focus on the rear view mirror but catch a glimpse of a vision and let it stir your imagination for a change.

We have too many dead houses of worship reflecting what use to be instead of reflecting the already right now Glory of the living God.

New word for the day: poser

2005-05-06T16:39:00.000-04:00

So I learned a new word the other day... poser

You see my son is a skater or rather an up and coming skater. He's only 11 after all. You know, the hair, the clothes, the lingo... wanting to spend a couple hundred bucks on a new board. (ummm you can forget that son...) But we did get a great deal on an element board from ebay... like $45 for the same board we saw around here for $150.

So anyway... apparently there is a fairly large group of kids at school who are skaters. Well, at least they dress like skaters, they talk like skaters, they talk about pro skaters. To look and listen to them... they're skaters. But if thats all it is, just talk. Well then you aint no skater... you're a poser.

To be a poser... isn't a good thing especially if you call yourself a skater and the other kids ask you to bring your board to school, guess what, your a poser if you don't have one or can't ride one.

OK, so I've already talked to my son about judging others, name calling and all that. This post isn't about how ruthless kids can be.... that would take an essay....

so... have you ever ridden a skateboard? I use to as a kid and I've gotten on one a Few times as my son asks "Hey dad, can you do this?" Let me tell ya, those things can kill you! They're fun, no doubt. But it takes just a bit of courage and faith to actually jump on that thing and go. You can talk all day about how to do things, but jumping on the board and doing it... thats all together different. The kids know this. They ride those things seemingly without fear. They try new tricks and fall and bust their..... umm... elbows...

To be an actual skater, you have to put yourself at risk. You get on this thing and you know it's gonna hurt when you fall and EVERYONE falls btw. But to be a skater... you have to actually skate... you have to jump out there and take the risk... and do it otherwise you're a poser.

Sometimes I see people who talk like Christians, they dress like Christians (whatever that means) they do the whole spiritual church speak... you know... if you look at em and even listen to what they say... heck.. they look like Christians.

But you know it takes more then just looking and sounding like a Christian to actually be a follower of Christ. Being a Christian isn't always an easy thing. There comes a point where you can't just talk about all the wonderful Christian things. You have to jump on the board. Knowing your going to fall. Knowing its going to hurt. Being a poser.... well... it just doesn't get it.

I heard someone say once... you either chose a lifestyle... or you chose life. Your either a poser.... or your a living, acting, being... Christian

Free food?

2005-05-05T08:21:00.000-04:00

I had someone ask me last night... Whats up with the "live music free food" thing. Seems silly to put free food on your header.

Well ummm... have you ever done anything with college students? If you have... you get the whole free food thing :)

one relationship at a time

2005-05-04T14:29:00.000-04:00

I often chat online with people from all over the world. As I begin to share about the community I live in the response is almost always the same...

I wish I had a group of friends like that...

You see I belong to this community of people who really do care about each other. Last year my friend needed his house painted so we painted it. The whole thing was finished in a day. I simply made a comment at dinner the other night that my house needs to be painted. Several people said give us the date and time and we'll knock it out. So as soon as I buy some paint and some pizza, my house will get a desperately needed paint job. I was out of town and my wife made a simple comment to a friend about how good it would be for me to get home because our lawn had become a mini jungle.... NOTE: not how good to see me... but to mow the lawn... :) Well the next day when she got home from work, the lawn was mowed.

One friends car broke down so another loaned them theirs for a couple months while it was getting fixed. Once my car broke down, I was offered another friends truck and a motorcycle. You see theres this genuine love that we have for each other in this community I belong to.

We have decided to extend this love to the community at large. One weekend we got several coolers of bottled water and stood on a street corner and just gave them out. When we were asked why we were doing this... the response... It's hot out here! We setup a stand on campus just after winter break and handed out free hot chocolate to the returning students. Again they would ask, Why are yall giving this away? the answer... umm It's cold out here. Most recently we went to a Wal-mart parking lot and gave out bottled water and popcorn. Several of us also brought peoples carts back for them. I had one lady assure me... "Sonny, I've lived long enough to know... nothing is free in this world. There has to be a catch." I simply chuckled with her and took her cart back to the store for her. I didn't have to tell her there was no catch, just show her.

Why do we do these things? to show the world God really does love them. To show the world people really do still care. We do have a simple card that is handed out with the water and stuff. All it says is... "Our simple way of showing God's love" That's it. No tracks, no bible verses thrown at them, nothing about dieing and burning in hell... Just a simple expression of love.

The funny thing is, the same people I talk to online who would love to belong to such a community instantly turn away at the mere mention of Jesus. This saddens me really. The impression the world has of the church. John said somewhere that the way the world will know you is by the way you love one another and yet the church doesn't have the reputation for love but rather one of hypocrites waiting to judge.

Slowly that can change, one relationship at a time.

RESOURCE material for another post

2005-05-01T08:13:00.000-04:00

This post was made onOct 7 2005 as a resource page for this post: Down with the law

Jeremiah 31:31-33

31 "The time is coming," declares the LORD,
"when I will make a new covenant
with the house of Israel
and with the house of Judah.

32 It will not be like the covenant
I made with their forefathers
when I took them by the hand
to lead them out of Egypt,
because they broke my covenant,
though I was a husband to [d] them, [e] "
declares the LORD.

33 "This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel
after that time," declares the LORD.
"I will put my law in their minds
and write it on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.

The Old covenant was set in place to reveal our sins... to help us see we can't do it on our own
2 Corinthians 3
1Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? 2You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. 3You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

4Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. 5Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. 6He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
The Glory of the New Covenant
7Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was, 8will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? 9If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! 10For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. 11And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!

12Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. 13We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. 14But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect[a] the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Romans 7
1Do you not know, brothers—for I am speaking to men who know the law—that the law has authority over a man only as long as he lives? 2For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage. 3So then, if she marries another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress, even though she marries another man.

4So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God. 5For when we were controlled by the sinful nature,[a] the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death. 6But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.
Struggling With Sin
7What shall we say, then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed I would not have known what sin was except through the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, "Do not covet."[b] 8But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire. For apart from law, sin is dead. 9Once I was alive apart from law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. 10I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death.

11For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death. 12So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good. 13Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! But in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it produced death in me through what was good, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.

14We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[c] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

21So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22For in my inner being I delight in God's law; 23but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

Romans 8
1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,[a] 2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature,[b] God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering.[c] And so he condemned sin in sinful man,[d] 4in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.

5Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6The mind of sinful man[e] is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7the sinful mind[f] is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. 8Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.

9You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.

12Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. 13For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.[g] And by him we cry, "Abba,[h] Father." 16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. 17Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

The Law isn't a BAD thing... it still serves to reveal our sin...
1 Timothy 1
8We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. 9We also know that law[a] is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine 11that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.
The Lord's Grace to Paul
12I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. 13Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

15Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. 17Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Jesus is the New Covenant...
Luke 22
13They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.

14When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. 15And he said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God."

17After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, "Take this and divide it among you. 18For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."

19And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me."

20In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. 21But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. 22The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed, but woe to that man who betrays him." 23They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.

Hebrews 7
11If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the law was given to the people), why was there still need for another priest to come—one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? 12For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law. 13He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. 14For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. 15And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, 16one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. 17For it is declared:
"You are a priest forever,
in the order of Melchizedek."[a]

18The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless 19(for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.

20And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, 21but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him:
"The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind:
'You are a priest forever.' "[b] 22Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.

23Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25Therefore he is able to save completely[c] those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

26Such a high priest meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. 27Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. 28For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.

THEN in Hebrews 8, we see Jesus is confirmed as the New Covenant that Jeremiah spoke about...

Hebrews 8
The High Priest of a New Covenant
1The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 2and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man.

3Every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, and so it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer. 4If he were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already men who offer the gifts prescribed by the law. 5They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: "See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain."[a] 6But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better promises.

7For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. 8But God found fault with the people and said[b]:
"The time is coming, declares the Lord,
when I will make a new covenant
with the house of Israel
and with the house of Judah.
9It will not be like the covenant
I made with their forefathers
when I took them by the hand
to lead them out of Egypt,
because they did not remain faithful to my covenant,
and I turned away from them, declares the Lord.
10This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel
after that time, declares the Lord.
I will put my laws in their minds
and write them on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
11No longer will a man teach his neighbor,
or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,'
because they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest.
12For I will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more."[c]

13By calling this covenant "new," he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.

And then you HAVE to continue in Hebrews 9!!! It explains it further

Hebrews 9
Worship in the Earthly Tabernacle
1Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. 2A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand, the table and the consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place. 3Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, 4which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron's staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. 5Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover.[a] But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.

6When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry. 7But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. 8The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing. 9This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. 10They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—external regulations applying until the time of the new order.
The Blood of Christ
11When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here,[b] he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. 12He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. 13The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death,[c] so that we may serve the living God!

15For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.

16In the case of a will,[d] it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, 17because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living. 18This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood. 19When Moses had proclaimed every commandment of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves, together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people. 20He said, "This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep."[e] 21In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. 22In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

23It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence. 25Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. 26Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

Galatians 3 talks about not living under the Law but living in the Spirit
Galatians 3
1You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? 3Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? 4Have you suffered so much for nothing—if it really was for nothing? 5Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?

6Consider Abraham: "He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."[a] 7Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. 8The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed through you."[b] 9So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

10All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law."[c] 11Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith."[d] 12The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, "The man who does these things will live by them."[e] 13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree."[f] 14He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
The Law and the Promise
15Brothers, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. 16The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say "and to seeds," meaning many people, but "and to your seed,"[g] meaning one person, who is Christ. 17What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. 18For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.

19What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was put into effect through angels by a mediator. 20A mediator, however, does not represent just one party; but God is one.

21Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. 22But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.

23Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. 24So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ[h] that we might be justified by faith. 25Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.

the wonder of imagination

2005-04-28T12:35:00.000-04:00

I was sitting in the park for lunch today. I often get away to some quiet place for lunch. One of the near by parks or down by the river. The river is one of my favorite spots because you can park under some trees and watch the water go by. You can watch the birds and squirrels and such and even watch the other people who have decided to go to the river that day.

So I'm sitting in my truck at the river eating some saltines and drinking my Diet Dr. Pepper. (no, I'm not REALLY on a diet... just trying to justify the candy bar I know I'm gonna eat later on tonight...) I saw a little boy and his mom walking on the path along the river. He was maybe 3 or 4 years old and he carried a stick obviously picked up along the way. He would stop periodically and battle some invisible foe. One time he even did this roll on the ground to escape an invisible blow.

Invisible... well not to him. As he "ha'ed" and slashed with his shining blade, I'm sure he saw a wonderful play unfolding before him. I could almost see it my self as I joined in his fun viewing from afar. I was even tempted to pick up my own sword and join the battle had I not thought his mom might think me a bit odd.

I love watching children play. Watching them make up games as they go. I really enjoy telling stories with my own children and all of us acting out the parts as it unfolds. Well, when I'm not tired, or if its not bed time, or if the lawn doesn't need to be mowed, or some other really important aspect of life requires my attention... like TV or some such.

What happens to our imagination as we grow older? It’s like we slowly allow it to drift away. After all who needs make believe? It seems the more we learn about the way it should be, we stop seeing the way it could be and our imagination slips away.

And sometimes.... it happens to me....

I just hope I can always approach God with the open mind and imagination of a child. Not limiting him with the things I know... but expecting the impossible.

Just be

2005-04-20T22:30:00.000-04:00

So the wife forgot to bring me some shorts and a t-shirt. You see we wear these scrub looking things for baptisms. I typically wear the same thing just to sort of calm ppls nerves a bit. But with nothing to wear under the scrubs... I decided it would be best to jump into the hip waiters and throw a scrub top over them. All in all that worked pretty good. But the water was low so my shirt did get wet, even with the waiters on.

As each of the people getting baptized began to share a glimpse of there lives and what brought them here and what they have been through, I decided to throw out the stuff I had planned to say and use my ride home. (see previous post)

I mean, that’s just how life seems sometimes. One moment were choosing drugs or Jesus and we triumphantly proclaim I CHOOSE JESUS... then like the next day we are headed to the tracks to share a cold one with some chick you just met. But you know, it doesn't have to be that way. I'm not talking rules and regulations and the thou shalt nots that tend to get in the way of it all. I mean, if its a rule... then heck... it must need to be broken... right?

I recently sat through some leadership training our new Students Ministries Pastor was doing and there was a statement I really liked. It was something like ... "If you focus on the being, the doing will just happen."

What a great statement! Because it isn't about doing all the right things. It isn't about rules and regulations. It isn't about filling some pre-made box that someone else thinks you should fit into. It’s just about living. Not learning how to live before you live... but living now. Living this new life and discovering the wonderful joy that comes with simply being who God created you to be.

driving home

2005-04-20T17:34:00.000-04:00

Baptisms are tonight. I've been in Columbus fixing a network problem all day today. One of the fiber switches went bad. Rerouting the cables and such doesn't take that much time but it is a 2 hour drive each way.

On the way back I was scanning the radio stations and happened to stop on a country one. This particular tune caught my attention. This guy was singing something about two roads to travel, either drugs or Jesus, and I chose Jesus. At first I wasn't sure if it was mocking the choice or a serious song, but I think he was serious.

Then the next song came on. It was something about "Meet me at the railroad tracks, I got an iced down six pack..." or something like that. I could only listen to it for so long. It was WAY country and I soon felt like I needed to stick my thumbs in my belt loops and spit. So I changed the station to some "classic" rock station... kinda crazy how some of the stuff I listened to as a kid is now classic rock. I guess that means I'm actually going to be a grown up soon.

Anyway... waiting on the wife and the baptism people... they should be here anytime.