Aspiradical 2009?

I did a web search for ‘new years resolutions’ to see what would come up. To name a few, many of these had to do with managing finances, getting a better job, eating right, getting fit, learning something new, and even helping others. I was sadden to not see any that had to do sharing the gospel or becoming more like Jesus. Granted the sites reflect our culture, but even when asking Christ followers at random I found the same candid responses and even resolutions to make no resolution for fear of failure. I too, fall to these 'aspire-radical' responses.

I too sat down, as is my custom to do around the new year, to reflect on the nostalgia, accomplishments, and even failure to see what fun stuff I could recall. Then I found my list from last year and was happy to see that I , by the grace of Christ, had done some amazing stuff… and still have some things to go.

I decided this year it would be wise to align my resolutions with the heart of Christ. I think that in doing this that any other resolution, like needing to find a job, will come as He pleases. I must not retreat back in fear, as mirrored in the history of Israel and others (ha ha.. I can say this truly because I have read the O.T.), but instead move from my Kadesh Barnea and risk all in obedience for the glory and salvation of Christ.

Highlights of 08:

• I found more and more that Jesus Christ to be my forever treasure. My life is hidden in Him.
  
  
• A Taste of radical abandonment…. Seeing a dissonance between my life and Biblical Christianity.
  
  
• We glorify Christ by making disciples of all nations
  
  
• Learning that the Gospel demands radical abandonment, compassion, urgency, giving and real sacrifice.
  
  
• I worked M-fuge and had the best summer ever and meet some amazing Christ followers.
  
  
• Graduated college with a B.S degree in nursing.
  
  
• I lost my mother (she died) and my father again (to prison).
  
  
• Got to hang out more with my sister, Ana.
  
  
• I moved to a new place (pell city, al).
  
  
• Found a faith family to covenant(join) with here in Pell City.
  
  
• Made my first trip to Nashville with my FUGE friends!
  
  
• Read through the O. T.
  
  Objectives 2009:
  
  

To move from my Kadesh Barnea and risk it all in obedience for the glory and salvation of Christ. This will require me moving more from idealistic aspiration to penetrable implications in my own life.

Answer the question, “Will I give only of my life what we can spare, or what it is going to take to make Christ known to a lost world that desperately needs Him?

To walk with God, and tread the places He is treading.

Move outside the camp to the dirty and despised places, because that is where Jesus is. (Hebrews 13)

View life from the perspective of the sovereignty of God.

Trust radically in the providence of Christ.

Pour out my life into others.

A First Time Voyage....Genesis: A 365 year walk

In times of hardship, in times of sadness, there is a place the traveler can let his mind return to. Home. I still don't know what kind of a past the traveler abandoned, when he left his home behind. I still don't know what kind of a sorrow he bears. But the traveler can keep walking forward, because he has something which sustains him, a place which accepts him. He can walk forward, step by careful step. Trigun

"It is true, we are but faint hearted crusaders, even the walkers, now-a-days, who undertake no persevering never ending enterprises. Our expeditions are but tours and come round again at evening to the old hearth side from which we set out. Half the walk is but retracing our steps. We should go forth on the shortest walk, perchance, in the spirit of undying adventure, never to return; prepared to send back our embalmed hearts only, as relics to our desolate kingdoms. If you are ready to leave father and mother, and brother and sister, and wife and child and friends, and never see them again; if you have paid your debts, and made your will, and settled all your affairs, and are a free man; then you are ready for a walk... From Henry David Thoreau's Walking

When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah. And after he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Enoch lived 365 years. Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away. Genesis 5:21-23

Can you imagine what life would be like if we walked with God daily? That's what Enoch did. He stands out in the pedigree of his family line because he remarkably walked with God. For me walking is not always an easy think to do. I am oft in a hurry and will pick-up to jog-speed without hesitation in view of my agenda. I don't want to overly spiritualize this 'walking' that Enoch did. He simply walked with God, and this pleased Him.

God Himself is not unfamiliar with walking as you might imagine. Yet does he walk by while we remain unaware? Or when He walks do we sink down in our fear because we take our eyes of the Saviour and let our attention be taken by the world around us? Would you believe that He is calling out to you and is waiting for a reply?

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?"

He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid." Genesis 3:8-10

Jesus was a phenomenal water-walker, and we too can walk with him there.

During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear.

But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."

"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."

"Come," he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"

And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." Matthew 14:25-31

Rio! What a busy, busy port.

Much could be written here, but I will point out a few things that stick in my mind. I think some of us are like Peter. We aspire to do some extreme water-walking with Christ in the midst of the windy waters, yet, often our attention is drawn away by the competing distractions of life around us. We then sink like dead weight and cry out for help.

I think some of us are like Adam and Eve. We once walked with the Lord our God in the cool of the day, yet because we are living in sin we have deceivingly been convinced that we are doomed to stay in hiding. The problem is that Adam and Eve may have had reason to be afraid because God they thought they were going to die. Today though, I think that perchance we hide because we are afraid of what the cost of obedience may truly be.

God is calling out. He knows all things and therefore, knew of Adam and Eve's sin before they told them. He still called out to them....and calls out to us.

Today I want to try again to walk with Him.... somedays in the cool of the day and other days in the midst of windy-waters. Today I choose to follow You. Today I choose to hear Your voice and truly live.

Enoch, set the record for walking with God. I too want to be commended as one who pleased God. I want to be one with a faith that trusts that my God is enough for all I want and need so that my eyes will not look away in the midst of windy-waters. I want my walking to be the adventure Thoreau and biblical accounts testify too. I am ready for a walk!!

By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Bottom Line

• How we live our life is a testimony to what we believe about our God. Is He worth the walk?


• Walking with God requires trust/faith. Without it one will sink... but sometimes to grow sinking may be required.


• Walking is not an overly complicated thing. It does require daily disciplines.


• He still is calling out!

A First Time Voyage....Genesis: A Brother's Offering

I remember a juncture in which their was this women that I enjoyed affection for and it was just the occasion to give her a gift I knew would bring delight to her heart. I spent much time in selecting this gift, taking care to see that its apparel was impeccable, and putting great effort into the words I wrote onto the card that would accompany this gift. These thoughtfully penned words reflected the truest expression of my own soul....

Strong will can stir the heart, but a will too strong can cut off the hearts visibility. The sorrow of a man bewreathed of his family turns to hate, which eventually metamorphoses into the intent to kill. The man’s finger reaches for the trigger. Sins change people. Sin begets sin. But still, I want to believe, I want to believe in the heart, the heart that feels the sin. Trigun: Goodbye for Now

It Crouches at Your Door
When they grew up, Abel became a shepherd, while Cain cultivated the ground. When it was time for the harvest, Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the Lord. Abel also brought a gift—the best of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift, but he did not accept Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry, and he looked dejected.

“Why are you so angry?” the Lord asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected? You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.”Genesis 4:1-7

I also remember an instance in which I received sundry gift in which a thank you card would have been appreciated. Thus, a thank you card was given....a token gift of gratitude.... yet, not with the same grandeur and passion in which I gave the former gift. Are you getting the picture here? Much could be written, but suffice to say that the former instance of giving reflected all my energy and resourcefulness and even help of the Lord; the latter, was a more obligatory response given in view of cultural expectations, or fear of what people would think if I did not send this token card.

When is the last time you offered something to the Lord? How often is it that we follow this same process. And we come up to the plate/alter/life.... and strike out. Why? jealously...competition...apathy...nonchalance...a flippant attitude...self focused...undisciplined...laxy...fear.... Perhaps we don't have our ducks in a nice cute row, or our priorities are out of line. I think we can relate to Cain in this way. We are out of line. We a missing the point. Perhaps many points.... This can make us angry, sulky people.

That's right. This sin,to be defined, is at the door and ready to jump out in front of you and me. When I think of Cain I have to appreciate his transparency...he was angry...then his face was downcast, his countenance fell, he began to sulk. He did not do well, and it was apparent. Why does Cain become angry? The Lord did not look on Cain's token offering with pleasure or acceptance, because he did not "do right (v7)"

How did Cain not do right? Two things come to mind:

Injured, Crippled and Diseased



You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Revelation 3:17,18




1. There is a contrast between the offerings of these two brothers. Cain offered produce and Abel offered a lamb; however, I do not believe this is the issue unless they came before God for forgiveness. This does not fit the context though. So how was Abel's offering different? Abel offered the best lamb he had. Cain offered some of the crops from the field. A token gift. His offering reflected directly where his sulking heart really was. It demonstrates what he believed about God
   
   Doesn't how we live our lives(living in this contest meaning to give all of us to all of Him), give a vivid depiction of what we believe about God? Stick with me while I attempt to bring this full circle (rolls up sleeves) While we do not offer specifically the blood of animals or grain to the Lord any longer,we are asked to bring our lives to Him. To be a living sacrifice. Paul urges us, in view of God's mercy, to "offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God -- this is your spiritual act of worship." This is a life that is radically set apart to Christ... and His gospel.
   
   Often, I aspire giving my life to this radical abandonment commanded by Christ.... yet my follow through is lacking. I follow Christ at such a distance. How often I consider these questions:
   
   
   
   • Lord, what is it to love You with all my heart, soul, mind and strength....and to love my neighbor?
   
   
   • How do I not passively waste my life
   
   
   • How do you want me to give my life to You?
   
   
   • How do I not give you what is my second best, what's left over, after I have done with my life what I want?
   
   
   
   Then...
   
   I have to ask, "Do I REALLY, I mean REALLY, want to know the answers to those questions?" If one can answer yes to this question then I think the process has begun toward this radical abandonment to Christ. If my answer is, "No" then what does this say about what I believe about God?
   
   

A half response is not worthy of the Son of God, nor will it be accepted my Him. What kind of life/offering do we bring before the our Great God and Saviour? Will the Lord look on us and our gift with pleasure? Is it our best?

A half response is not worthy of the Son of God, nor will it be accepted my Him. What kind of life/offering do we bring before the our Great God and Saviour? Will the Lord look on us and our gift with pleasure? Is it our best?

When you bring injured, crippled or diseased animals and offer them as sacrifices, should I accept them from your hands?" says the LORD. "Cursed is the cheat who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but then sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord. For I am a great king," says the LORD Almighty, "and my name is to be feared among the nations. Malachi 1:13,14

A Difference of Faith

By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead. Hebrews 11:4

Not only was there a contrast between the giving of a token gift and the best gift of these brothers, but also in their imperative of their faith. Evidently, Cain offered his sacrifice without faith. It's impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he rewards those who seek Him dilengently.(Heb 11:6)

Cain's gift reflects his heart and what he believes about God. For instance, if I really believe that God is holy, the I live my life within that internal reality. Practically, that means that I abstain from the things that would make me unholy, that is not set apart to Christ from the world. If I believe that God is holy then I am going to abide in Him daily, becoming holy as He is holy. This begs the question of me:

• Do I believe He is worthy of all my life?


• Do I trust that He knows what is best for me?


• Does He orchestrate my circumstances, experiences, education, personal development, emotions, mental and physical health, finances, intellect etc for His plan?


• Do I trust that He alone is more enough to satiate the lusts of my soul?

A Right, Obedient Sacrifice

Abel did not make an offering to achieve righteousness. He was righteous already because of his faith. God bore witness to that fact by accepting him and his offering. Conversely, Cain evidently sought to achieve righteousness by rituals of worship, going through the motions.

"That was a problem in Jesus' day also. Because of their obstinance, the Jews kept traditions which nullified laws, and then they had the audacity to worship. So, Jesus rebuked, "You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said, 'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrine the precepts of men'" (Matt. 15:7).

The bottom line:

• How we live our lives, gives a vivid depiction of what we believe about God.


• We must take care to see that our hearts are being appraised before anything we could offer to God.


• We must imitate Christ's obedient sacrifice of giving His life, thereby becoming our life, as opposed to Cain's disobedient giving of a token second-rate life.


• Will we give only of our lives what we can spare, or what it is going to take to make Christ known to a lost world that desperately needs Him?

But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. Hebrews 12:22-24

We must not rest, indulge in personal comforts, or be diverted from finding a dwelling place for God among the Tuareg, the Baluchi, the Karalkapak, and all other people groups. - Jerry Rankin

A First Time Voyage....Genesis: A Day of Rest until the Fall

A First Time Voyage....Through the Old Testament.

People who sin say this, that they had to, to survive. People who sin say this, that it's too late now to stop. The shadow called Sin dogs them steadily from behind, silently, without a word. Remorse and Agony are repeated, only to end up at Despair in the end. But the sinners just don't know, that if they'd only turn around, there is a light there, a light which keeps shining on them ever so warmly. A light that will never fade. Trigun - B.N.D.

A Day of Rest

1. Life for Adam and Eve in God's Garden begins with a day of rest. God ceased the work he was doing and set the seventh day apart from the rest of the days on which He had done His work of creating. What does mean? Why did God set this day apart....? The synoptic gospels record this story.... Matthew's version follows:
   
   At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, "Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath."
   
   He answered, "Haven't you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread—which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests. Or haven't you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple desecrate the day and yet are innocent? I tell you that one greater than the temple is here. If you had known what these words mean, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the innocent. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath." Matt 12:1-8
   
   Mark's gospel records:
   
   "The Sabbath was made to serve us; we weren't made to serve the Sabbath. The Son of Man is no lackey to the Sabbath. He's in charge!" Mark 2:27,28
   
   There are a few things we can learn about the Sabbath from Genesis and the gospels:
   
   
   
   • The Sabbath is for us. The term sabbath derives from the Hebrew shabbat (שבת), "to cease/rest". God didn't need to rest because He is the everlasting God who never grows faint or weary (Isa 40:28,29) however, He did cease from His work. He set the day apart as a day to cease from working. Exodus (31:12-17) tells us that this was a sign to set His people apart from the surrounding nations.
     
   • The Pharisees narrowly interpreted the law. They had developed these 'extra guidelines' or what they called the tradition of the elders (Matt 15:2) in keeping the law of God.. This was not the law of Moses, but rather an oral tradition based on interpretations of the law. Now at first this could have been an act of true worship...perhaps. What I mean is that that they may have justified having those "extra guidelines" as a way to not even get close to breaking God's law. If this is the case then what happened later is that the future generations lost sight of this intention, herein laying a heavy burden on the shoulders of men. (Matt 23:4)
     
     They missed the law's intention when speaking about the sabbath. Jesus challenged wittingly with, "Have you never read....," grating to the ears of men who were to be experts of the law, giving examples from the law and the prophets to illustrate God's desire for mercy, not sacrifice.
   
   
   • For I desire mercy(devotion), not sacrifice. This seems like a paradox to me. Radical devotion lends itself to radical sacrifice.(Luke 14:25-35) This devotion must be to God, however; not to self. Micah illustrates here:
     With what shall I come before the LORD
     and bow down before the exalted God?
     Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
     with calves a year old?
     
     Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams,
     with ten thousand rivers of oil?
     Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression,
     the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
     
     He has showed you, O man, what is good.
     And what does the LORD require of you?
     To act justly and to love mercy
     and to walk humbly with your God.
   
   
   • Jesus pointed out that those who perform temple service on that Sabbath are counted innocent. If the temple service warrants suspension of the sabbath, how much more the presence of one greater than the temple.
   
   
   • The bottom line: Suffice to say that the law's principles take precedence over its rituals. We can do good, save lives, feed the hungry and that sort of stuff and keep the day holy. How does this day of rest look in our busy lives today as Christ followers?
   
   
   
   
   The Fall
   
2. ... and enter in the Adversary, the serpent or nachash meaning "shining one". It is no surprise that this cunning and crafty one is indeed deceitfully shining. For some reason shining things seem to catch our eyes even today....new car, nice house, good wife/husband, family, friends, retirement, amenities..... they are quite alluring.
   
   He, with boldness and deception, tempts Eve, the beautiful crown of God's creation. Satan questions, "Did God really say...." We fall for this one even today:
   
   "I know the Bible says I should.... but.....?"
   "It is not really that bad....is it?"
   "God would not have given you this money if he didn't want you to spend it...(on something that "allures" we don't need)?
   
   

The allure...it's captivating!

A snippet: "Beauty is powerful, beauty speaks. Beauty invites. Beauty nourishes. Beauty comforts. Beauty inspires. Beauty is transcendent." Captivating by Eldredge
The beauty and image of a women points to the beauty and image of her Creator.

One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. Psalm 27:4

And then just when you are about to say "No" He comes on a little stronger, confronting even. He challenges Eve's stand on the words of God "You will not surely die..." Today He reassures us with thoughts like....

"It really is okay...."
"This is not the same times as when the Bible was written...."
"Other believers are doing it.... and they don't have a problem....."

At this point we often would continue to rationalize in the "theatre of war" found in battlefield of our human minds. "How can I get around this?" or "What is the loop hole, because I really want (or do not want) to do ___________"

Then we bite because we think we are missing out. The adversary, with seeming authority, says to Eve, "God knows that the moment you eat from that tree, you'll see what's really going on. You'll be just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil." a.k.a. Our will begins to sway... the battle at this point is intense.... the attraction and allure of sin is seemingly to great.

"Everybody's doing it,"
"If I do it this time then I will not what it is like, then I will not want to do it again"
"I really want ___________"
"I need this money"
"What will people think of me.... I have this image to keep?"

This is an enduring and typical tactic.... seems like after all this time we would have figured it out.....

Eve questioningly considers this quandary: It looks good....and it would be a good experience. Maybe she questions, "Is God holding out on me?" At any rate the bait is on the hook and presented as a deal to good to pass up: she bites... in complete rebellion to God's command. She gives the fruit to Adam, her husband who was with her, who passively follows along and also bites. And we have the fall. Wail aloud, tear your cloths, beat your chest, ask why, hang your head in despair....we now have this problem of sin...and like a fish who has been snagged by bait is still enticed by it:

....each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. James 1:14-18

Every good and perfect gift is from above.... consider though that our perspective on good and perfect may not be our Creator's perspective. Let's stop painting pictures of Eqypt yeah? (Num 14:4)

Classic tactic.... like Nintendo, a car, or something from well before I was born; however, not classic for Adam and Eve I suppose.

The Grace of God

Let's not despair as a people without hope. Here we see a glimpse of the grace and mercy of God for all mankind. Without a doubt God could have taken Adam and Eve out because of their sin, but instead He presented a hope of reconciliation between himself and us. The Lord God says to the serpent:

"And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers;
he will strike your head, and you will strike his heel."

This is often called the "Protoevangelium" i.e. the first gospel. The idea is that a wound to the heel is not fatal, but in contrast a would to the head would be. Christ has the 'bruised heel' and the nachash will in due time receive the fatal wound. God cursed the man and the women as well. Then God banished them from the Garden of Eden.

The gospel, that is good news, is that hope is given. Herein, the story of our life (Col 3:1-4) lies.

A First Time Voyage....Genesis: On Creation

A First Time Voyage....through the Old Testament

It has been amazing to see, and gain an amazing perspective of our God in reading His Word. The Old Testament is indescribable. Just a few things have stood out to me, which follow.... And I want to share what God is showing me with all of you. Along with sharing with you all my objective is also to process these things in such a way that I internalize them... that I am transformed. I hope you also will help identify any area of insufficieny and help me align Biblically.

On Creation Genesis 1,2

1. He is the Creator. Out of nothing, God made the earth by his power; He founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by His understanding. Psalm 19 comments:
   
   

   The heavens declare the glory of God;
   the skies proclaim the work of His hands.
   Day after day they pour forth speech;
   night after night they display knowledge.
   There is no speech or language where
   their voice is not heard
   Their voice goes out into all the earth,
   their words to the ends of the world

   
   
   The coolest thing is that by taking a long and thoughtful look at what God has created, people have always been able to see what their eyes as such can't see: eternal power, for instance, and the mystery of his divine being. So nobody has a good excuse not to believe.



2. Creation rightfully responds to our Creator-King. He tells the sun to shine here and it does. He tells the waters of earth to stop here or go there and it obeys His voice. He tells the one with a bleeding disorders platelet's to clot and they facilitate proper clotting.... yet we look Christ in the face and say "No". For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment.
   
   This rebellion, sin, gives voice to the current groan of creation. Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, all creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.
   
   This rebellion, which began with Adam and Eve, we take initiative to partake in . We have an inherent propensity to sin, that is to not listen to our Creator. Because of this, the wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of human beings who suppress the truth by their wickedness, because the basic reality of God is plain enough. Open your eyes and there it is! Paul's letter to Romans comments:
   
   

   People knew God perfectly well, but when they didn't treat him like God, refusing to worship him, they trivialized themselves into silliness and confusion so that there was neither sense nor direction left in their lives. They pretended to know it all, but were illiterate regarding life. They traded the glory of God who holds the whole world in his hands for cheap figurines you can buy at any roadside stand



Forbid it Lord that we could be so blind as to trifle with and presume upon and despise and underestimate the wealth of His kindness and forbearance and long-suffering patience Could we be unmindful or actually ignorant of the fact that God's kindness is intended to lead us to repent, that is, to change our mind and inner man to accept God's will?


3. We were created to have dominion over creation/stuff; yet, often we permit stuff to dominate our lives. In American Christian culture I see a dangerous tendency within myself to live for my stuff, give my life for my stuff. With such submission of living I give my life for the pursuit of the temporary while neglecting the eternal.
   
   For instance, (a rabbit hunt ensuing here) a newspaper I some time ago Headlined, "First Baptist Church _____________ (you fill in the blank) completes $23 million dollar building project." This article went on for a page or so. Also on the front page was a smaller article that said something like, "Baptist Mission relief funds sent to Sudan" How much did we raise to send? $5,ooo....really? That is not enough to get a plane to Sudan much less one drop of water. I am NOT saying that we don't need places to worship; however, lets put this in perspective:
   
   
   
   • Today (Oct 2008) over a billion people live (and die) in desperate poverty. (less than a dollar a day).
   
   
   • Close to two billion others live on less than two dollars a day.
   
   
   • 30,000 children today will brethe their last breath due to either starvation or a preventable disease.
   
   
   
   
   We are not inconvenienced by this extreme poverty because those stricken by it are not only poor... they are powerless Literally millions of them are quietly dying in relative obscurity, and we can comfortably ignore them in our affluence, pretending like they don't even exist. Will not God measure the integrity of our faith by our concern for the poor?




Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is you life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Colossians 3:1-4




4. The last thing that stands out to me is the climax of creation.... US! God made us in His own image. He breathed life into us. Wow! While working as a student nurse in my ob/gyn rotation I got to work in the nursery. Nothing I learned during this clinical resounded within me greater than this:
   
   

   I will give thanks to You,
   for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
   Wonderful are Your works,
   And my soul knows it very well Psalm 139:14

   
   
   While the creation is full of glory of God,( I mean look at only our solar system where the sun is so massive that it could fit 1.3 million of our earths inside it. It may not look that big, but it is. It hangs in space 93 million miles way from us - and that just our solar system!) It seems to me (I am biased) that the human body declares the glory of God with greater volume than a galaxy ever could....
   
   So when you look in the mirror today friends know that you are special. God made you.. you are different. You are unique. With love He formed you in your mother's womb. He fashioned you with great joy and great purpose. For those who know Him, He has rescued you out of darkness and brought you into the kingdom of marvelous light of His Son. In Him you have the forgiveness of sin having made peace with God through His blood on the cross. In Him you have new life because it was pleasing to God to quicken your dead, desolate, empty life with the gift of eternal life - You will never die.



5. *A snippet For Nurses* he he.....read it if you wish though....Humans were created from the beginning in the image of God. Herein lies the theological dimension of nursing practice; God bestowing on human beings His image makes us quite unique from the rest of creation. This biblical knowledge of creation holds immense and unsearched truth for many nurses that profess faith in Christ. Augustine, the greatest of the Latin church fathers, rightly observed that, "men go forth to marvel at the heights of mountains and the huge waves of the sea, the broad flow of the rivers, the vastness of the ocean, the orbits of the stars, and yet they neglect to marvel at themselves". This should be the perspective nurses should have regarding their clients. Many people miss that they are a unique spiritual being, which is that they are a soul. Nurses should ask their clients about their spiritual preferences, and educate clients about the finite body and how it directly relates to an infinite soul

On Suprised by Joy

All joy...emphasizes our pilgrim status; always reminds, beckons, awakens desire. Our best havings are wantings." --from an unknown letter

...These were symptoms of something more all-pervasive, something which, in the long run, did most harm to the boys who succeeded best at school and were happiest there. Spiritually speaking, the deadly thing was that school life was a life almost wholly dominated by the social struggle; to get on, to arrive, or having reached the top, to remain there, was the absorbing preoccupation. It is often, of course, the preoccupation of adult life as well; but I have not yet seen any adult society in which the surrender to this impulse was so total. And from it, at school as in the world, all sorts of meanness flow; the sycophany that courts those higher in the scale, the cultivation of those whom it is well to know, the speedy abandonment of friendships that will not help on the upward path, the readiness to join the cry against the unpopular, the secret motive in almost every action. The Wyvernians seem to me in retrospect to have been the least spontaneous, in that sense the least boyish, society I have ever know. It would perhaps not be too much to say that in some boys' lives everything was calculated to the great end of advancement. For this games were played; for this cloths, friends, amusements, and vices were chosen.

This is a remarkable segment I have extracted from Surprised by Joy of C.S. Lewis. First, I have found this tendency ever calling out today in our American culture. A search for fulfillment is not unique to America, yet America is the milieu I know. This may perhaps even be the greatest deception of our day, in regard to joy... and that depending on how you define "joy". To be economical with the truth, or believe the splendid fib, one must buy into defining joy in subjectivity or delineate and pull out all the stops in the ultimate pursuit for success. It begs the question why do we do what do? What do you mean? Consider...

• When I ....laid job, then I will....


• When I ....make some new friends, then....


• When my.... children graduate _________, then....


• When I ....make the team, then....


• When I ....get the girl/guy


• When I ....finish college


• When... they understand....


• When I ....figure out why I have...


• When I ....find a faith family

Bust my butt now and then.... or
If you will live like no one else, later you can live like no one else...

I find a deep yearning or heartrending desire for something agonizingly elusive....something working amidst the conflict that is within. It is a cry for something more. The trickery comes when the pursuit of the"you fill in the blank_____" becomes the adulation of living life. One begins to wag their tail like a fawning dog. Completely loyal and sacrificial to the very thing that could deceptively rob them or give them true joy.... Now dogs' may truly find that "joy" in abiding in their master's will, or in their next meal. ha ha ha.... I guess it depends on the pup. Yet, within this etymology we become aware of the sure-fast source of "joy". Let's digress to a second item briefly and define this sublime joy.

Secondly, and more honestly, this passage struck me so because I can recount a day in which I found self in quite the same quandary. In context, Lewis is narrating significant events within his childhood, adolescent, and young adulthood that lead him from atheism to faith in Christ....the ultimate pursuit of joy. He would classify joy as...

. . . from Happiness and Pleasure. Joy (in my sense) has indeed one characteristic, and one only, in common with them; the fact that anyone who has experienced it will want it again. Apart from that, and considered only in its quality, it might almost equally well be called a particular kind of unhappiness or grief. But it is a kind we want. I doubt whether anyone who has tasted it would ever, if both were in his power, exchange it for all the pleasures in the world. But then Joy is never in our power and pleasure often is...

As a child, I remember waiting in the afternoon, some days almost to the point of tears for my father to return home. There was such longing, and oh the exuberant joy of hearing, seeing, smelling him on His coming. He would pull up in his Big logger's truck and I would be so happy. That joy would soon fade. I don't know what created that immense longing...pain even, within my soul.

My saudade of today, is illustrated in a story from my summer adventures. As a creative ministry track leader I was responsible for taking students into various ministry environments and implementing "creative" ministry based on the needs of the people. To stay on my digressive objective, I will limit my comments to only one example.

One environment in particular you would think that I would have had the knowledge to work within, yet I found it lacking. The last place I would be very pleased to take students was working among the mentally handicapped adult population.This often brought up questions of why? "Why did God make them this way?" And this is not a new question to the ears of men and surely not the Lord. Some would ask why do the righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart. Why do the innocent suffer and the poor, why are they hungry; and the newborn and others affiliated with mentally illness or disease? Maybe this is a question that God alone can fully answer and grasp. For I have found answering it adequetely is like trying to grasp the wind in my hands; it simply cannot be done.

During our opening introduction and orientation to the week's events, many students would express apprehension at the thought of this particular site. Yet after leaving the site they would, almost without fail express that this was the best thing they had done all week. I think I can discern why.

...Through the summer this became one of my students favorite sites. The last day we were singing and inviting them to sing with us. One of our friends in particular sang to us week upon week without fail. Yet I don't think I caught the span of the words he sang until the last week. He simply sang Amazing Grace....and not with a voice of grandeur by this world's standards, yet, if you will, in demonstration of the Spirit's power, it was like he was honey-tongued singing those soul touching words. In that moment I was cascaded with desire and longing for the Kingdom of God. I think I caught another glimpse of this Kingdom. It was glorious and full of joy. This world, this kingdom is passing away and all that is in it. I and my friends here exist in a world of brokenness, a world of depravity, in which apart from faith and salvation, found in Christ alone, our only prognosis is unspeakable

Amazing grace... that saved a wretch like me I was blind but now I see
Through many dangers.... I have already come.... His grace has brought me safe
When we've been there ten thousands years.. bright shining as the sun we've no less days to sing our God's praise than when we first begun.

*I think that day I started a new song.

For Lewis, true joy was classified in a totally different category than happiness or pleasure. Joy for Lewis always contained "the stab, the pang, the inconsolable longing." Joy is, "that of an unsatisfied desire which is itself more desirable than any other satisfaction."{10} The German language has a word for this longing that Lewis describes: sehnsucht. "This is the haunting longing that touched Lewis throughout his life, that full, heavy, enveloping nostalgia for a fulfillment that awaited him—in something, somewhere."

How then shall I define joy? What is it's source? I think it is the joy that Jesus felt in the focal point of the wrath of God. We are now directed back to the picture of a dog wagging his tail. Why does he wag his tail? Is it for the pleasure for His master, or because he has his next meal? One is the source of joy, and the other is simply a illusory of joy.

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus (and wag! =), the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. Hebrews

A picture of the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of this world in collision. Yet Christ founded His joy in the love of the Father and His will. Again:

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. John

Jesus knew full well what he was saying about Kingdom people when He said:

The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went way and sold everything he had and bought it. Matthew

And again about kingdom people when He said in reply to a rich ruler:

You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor you father and mother.'

"All these I have kept since I was a boy," he said.

When Jesus heard this, he said to him,

You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor , and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth.

Therefore, I submit to you that a life that is established in Christ Jesus, the source of sublime joy, looks radically different from those who find only happiness and pleasure in a world that is already passing away.

Love and Peace!

One Way Jesus

I lay my life down at Your feet
Cause You're the only one I need
I turn to You and You are always there

In troubled times it's You I seek
I put You first that's all I need
I humble all I am all to You

One way
Jesus
You're the only one that I could live for
One Way
Jesus
You're the only one that I could live for

You are always, always there
Every how and everywhere
Your grace abounds so deeply within me

You will never ever change
Yesterday today the same
Forever till forever meets no end

You are the Way the Truth and the Life
We live by faith and not by sight for You
We're living all for You

-Hillsong

Welcome to the City of Pell City...

“Founded in 1890, Pell City today is a prosperous community of 9,600 that is booming with new business and residential growth. Birmingham is less than an hour away, while Atlanta, Chattanooga, Huntsville, and Montgomery are within a two hour drive. Pell City residents enjoy boating, fishing and other sports since Logan Martin Lake is literally in many backyards. Away from the lake, Pell City centers around more than 30 churches and a city school system with an excellent reputation statewide. Within 50 miles of Pell City are 11 colleges and universities and 7 vocational-technical schools.”

-Official Pell City website

A snap shot of what's happening in Pell City and St. Clair County (demographics, etc).

St. Clair county has been the fastest growing county or one of the fastest growing counties in the state of Alabama for the past 5 years or so. It was noted that there are 30,000 people who live within a 15 minute drive of church and 120,000 who live within 30 minutes of church. It is a growing community to say the least. Logan Martin Lake attracts a lot of people.

In recent days, Pell City has experienced a period of rapid residential and commercial growth (estimated population around 16,000, excluding the unincorporated residential areas just south of the city along the lakefront) spurred, partly, by the opening of the Honda Plant in nearby Lincoln, Alabama a new industrial park on its northeastern border and by a new retail area on the north side of I-20 anchored by a super Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Cracker Barrel (yeah!) and a movie theater, being constructed. Additional retail and entertainment development is expected in the near future.

After a period of growth in the 1980s Pell City voted to split its school system off from the county system, becoming independent. The system has over 4500 students spread across Pell City High School Duran Junior High School, Duran South, Iola Roberts Elementary, Walter M. Kennedy Elementary, Coosa Valley Elementary, and Eden Elementary. In addition, a new 5-6 grade school is under construction, eventually bringing the number of campuses in the Pell City School System to eight.

more soon.... maybe