absurdities and sensibility

John 1:1-18 God Became a man to give us the Rights to be Children of God

2012-02-23T20:20:00.001-08:00

Check out John 1:1-18

Jesus came to give everyone, all of us, the addicts, the Rebels, the God haters, the atheist, the polytheist, the agnostic, the hypocritical, and the prideful religious folks (yes, prideful religious folks need Grace just like everyone else in this list) the "Sinners" the Right to be a Child of God. Its crazy to think That Jesus left heaven for people like me and you to give us the RIGHT to the inheritance that Jesus alone is worth to have. We have the Right to be called God's child but we have to believe it, we have to believe Him, we have to Trust that Jesus is who he said He is and that Jesus doing what he came to earth to do was actually enough to give us the Right to be forgiven and reborn into God's family.

We have the Right to be God's children its kinda like having the right to vote. all american citizens over 18 have the right to vote, but if you don't believe your vote matters, if you don't believe your "right" matters you'll sit at home and let election day roll by and then your vote won't matter because you didn't do anything with the "right" that you had been given.

I just want you all to know the Invitation is out there for everyone. everyone is welcome to come we just have to Believe in Jesus and step out in to the light (see: John 3:1-21) and we Have to go through Jesus there is no other way In John 14 Jesus keeps it really simple "⁶ Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

I know some might say but its not fair that we have to believe in Jesus or why is Jesus the only way. Let me put it in a different light. If I said there was a party happening on a second floor apartment and there was only one door to the party and the only way to get in was to go through the front door. would people question it? probably not. If you were standing out side the party and the person living in the house walked out side and came down the stairs to invite you in would you ask him why you cant take the back door? probably not. would you question it if he told you that is apartment only had one way in. and that the windows weren't an option? no you'd got through the front door like a normal person. Well the Truth is that Jesus came down from heaven and He knows where the front door is and he's told us we just have to believe Him.

Get some! (wisdom)

2012-02-23T19:36:00.000-08:00

Proverbs 4

Get Wisdom at Any Cost

¹ Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction;
   pay attention and gain understanding.
² I give you sound learning,
   so do not forsake my teaching.
³ For I too was a son to my father,
   still tender, and cherished by my mother.
⁴ Then he taught me, and he said to me,
   “Take hold of my words with all your heart;
   keep my commands, and you will live.
⁵ Get wisdom, get understanding;
   do not forget my words or turn away from them.
⁶ Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
   love her, and she will watch over you.
⁷ The beginning of wisdom is this: Get^[a] wisdom.
   Though it cost all you have,^[b] get understanding.
⁸ Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
   embrace her, and she will honor you.
⁹ She will give you a garland to grace your head
   and present you with a glorious crown.”

Seriously Go get some, gaining wisdom and understanding is worth the cost. To gain it you'll have to go through things. You might have to open a book, you might have to take some time and listen to some podcast, you may have to pay for those things or take some time to listen to someone who knows more than you humbly let them teach you. I say that for Three reasons:

One: I've had to do that, spent some money on books then took the time to read them, took time to listen to at least one podcast on my to and from School (I drive a lot) and Humbled my self to listen to people who've done the things i'm hoping to do better and honestly I've been blessed by those times. And I've realized I wouldn't know 80% of what I know if I didn't take the time and effort to go and get some wisdom

Two: God that it was important enough to write it down and If the wisest being in all existence thinks gaining wisdom and understanding is worth the cost even if you have to give all you have. Then I'm inclined to think its a good idea.

Three: there are blessings that come with Having wisdom and Understanding. If you want to walk rightly with God and people around you, then get some Wisdom. If you want to be able to Help others your going to need some understanding. People who have both wisdom and understanding usually end up living Lives that are worth Living. (here are some examples: Jesus, Martin Luther King Jr, Martin Luther the reformer, Paul formerly known as Saul, Some modern examples Perry Noble the guy who's podcast help inspire me to think about this, Francis Chan, Brennan Manning, all of these men Had some wisdom and had an impact on the world around them.)

I can't get over How great an artist God is

2012-01-03T03:41:00.000-08:00

I finally got a chance to get out of town this weekend with a few friends to visit the beach, and I was and still am amazed at how great of an artist God is and how gracious he is to a knucklehead like me to let me see His handiwork like he did today. I saw a post on Twitter this morning by my friend TayFin that reminded me that God's grace touches everything and as we sat staring at the beach, listening to the waves or being blown away by the sunset, it hit me. It was God's grace in action letting me see that. God freely gave us eyes to see this beautiful world live in, that we didn't deserve and couldn't earn if we tried. any ways enough Rambling Here are some Pictures from today and If nothing else remember that God loves you enough to let you see a glimpse of his glory through his creation.

Psalm 19: 1-5

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 reveal knowledge.

They have no speech, they use no words;

no sound is heard from them.

^{Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,}
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.
It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

^{Nehemiah 9:6 "You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you"

"Lord I was not there when you Created the Heaven's I wont pretend to understand How you made everything out of Nothing or How you spoke Stars in to existence But I will sit in awe of your power, and Majesty and admire the beauty in the works of your hand Thank you lord for sharing your beauty with Me. Amen" -L.J.}

Quote of the Month

2011-12-21T18:50:00.000-08:00

“The Bible is very easy to understand. But we Christians are a bunch of scheming swindlers. We pretend to be unable to understand it because we know very well that the minute we understand, we are obliged to act accordingly.”
― Søren Kierkegaard

This quote still ruffles my feathers. take a min and think about it.

Jesus didnt ask you do to anything He didn't do first

2011-12-20T12:11:00.000-08:00

The cost of being a disciple is high:

-Die to your self,

Jesus did

-pick up your cross,

Jesus did

-love your neighbor,

Jesus did

-bless those who curse you,

Jesus did

-forgive those who persecute you,

Jesus did

-Love the least of these,

Jesus did

-love the "sinners",

Jesus did

-preach the Good news, in truth and love,

Jesus did

-loose your life,

Jesus did

Jesus does ask a lot from us, but He did it first. He left heaven, became a man, Felt pain endured long suffering, resisted sin, went with out food, Feed the needy, hung out with the "sinners" of his day, shared the Good news with the "unclean" associated himself with the lowest of the low out of love for them and love for God the Father, He endured being forsaken but everyone he loved and he still forgave, He Picked up his Cross and allowed him self though all powerful, and Holy, and with out sin to be nailed to a Cross that we deserved so that we might know the fullness of God's love.

So remember next time you read something in the bible that seems to hard or crazy, remember Jesus didn't ask you to do anything he wasn't willing to do first.

Do work son!

2011-12-02T09:03:00.000-08:00

Do you ever have one of those days where you know God is standing up in heaven saying "Do Work Son!" Lately life's been increasingly busy a good busy but busy none the less. I've been getting challenged to think of the problem of pain, not just evil but Human suffering and how God is deal with it and questions like where is God when an tsunami hits people unexpectedly, or where is God when there are children being abused. I've also been reading through the 4 Gospels lately trying better understand what Jesus is like and I keep getting Hit with the things Jesus says that seem to be absent from the "normal" American christian life. I'll start to connect the dots don't worry.

I think what we're missing is that Jesus was a suffering servant (see Isaiah 53 if you want to know more) and in America we tend to shy away from both of those concepts. we live and loved to be served. In Fact we'll pay more for the same piece of meat on a bun that we could make at home If it comes with some good Service. However Jesus Didn't come to be served but to serve. We also hate to suffer. think about it, we have pills to help relieve suffering from all kinds of things. we'll try and get out of suffering even if the suffering is good for us. Example: working out, being healthy and avoiding heart problems but a lot of America (my self included in someways... I really like Bacon) isn't willing to put the time effort and hard work and sacrifice into getting the results we want. Instead we'll sit in front of our T.V.'s and wait for the next diet pill or metabolism boosting wonder drink to show up. Far to often I think we let that same consumer mentality bleed over into our spiritual lives, but If we stop and look at How Jesus lived and served others. and who Jesus said was truly blessed I have to conclude its time I stop sitting around waiting for something and get into action and Do something. I'm not going to tell you what You should do I'm pretty sure God's plan for you isn't the same as His plan for me but something tells me Its bound to include some suffering, and some serving others. Take a look at the examples below and don't just take my word for it. I'm just guy Rambling.

Matthew 25:³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
   ⁴⁰ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Luke 9: ¹ When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, ² and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

Matthew 5: ³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
   for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
⁴ Blessed are those who mourn,
   for they will be comforted.
⁵ Blessed are the meek,
   for they will inherit the earth.
⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
   for they will be filled.
⁷ Blessed are the merciful,
   for they will be shown mercy.
⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart,
   for they will see God.
⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers,
   for they will be called children of God.
¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
   for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
   ¹¹ “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Mark 10:²⁰ And he said to Him, “Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up.” ²¹ Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” ²² But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.

What are we doing Church? He is Comming back

2011-12-02T08:00:00.000-08:00

I really feel like this needs a drop mic walk away moment because that hit hard. I Still can't get over how deep this is. What have we been doing church? the Gospel was clear. God's Truth stands on its own and He alone should be our foundation, HIS word our daily bread, HIS grace should be sufficient for us. Yet we turn to other things to make ourselves feel whole, we turn back to false first loves to try and feel something to try and fill a God shaped hole. Here's to dropping the facade and letting Christ run the show. So let me get out of the way and Let God speak:

2 Corinthians ^12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

Colossians 1:22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation

Ephesians 5:²² Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. ²³ For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. ²⁴ Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. ²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her ²⁶ to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, ²⁷ and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. ²⁸ In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹ After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— ³⁰ for we are members of his body. ³¹ “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” ³² This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.

John 6: ³⁵ Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. ³⁶ But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. ³⁷ All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. ³⁸ For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. ³⁹ And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. ⁴⁰ For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

I like Boxes

2011-11-07T18:06:00.000-08:00

I like boxes. they come in all shapes and sizes. they are fun to make pretend rocket-ships, boats, castles, and bunkers out of. On top of that my love for boxes goes deeper you can organize stuff in boxes. like the little boxes on an excel spread sheet, or by stacking boxes in the closet. (Ya know old stuff you never use on the bottom, stuff you'll use once a year next, and the legos you planned on having time to use at least every other week (the legos you haven't touched in a year)

All that to say There is one problem with Boxes, some how they can creep in to your mind and you start trying to organize everything into boxes, all the information you get, into nice organized boxes in your head. Like the H2O box in my head i know its 2 Hydrogens and one Oxygen in a covalent bond, H2O makes water and its good to drink and H2O goes back in to my Chemistry box when i'm done thinking about it. But there are somethings we try to Box that can't fit into a Box and do put it into a box would not do it or ourselves justice

Somethings that don't belong in boxes:

People
Ourselves
Dreams
The Future
The Present
Infinity
Eternity
God

I'll keep my ramblings on the topic of God today. We can't put God in a box how could you limit an all powerful infinite God to the expectations and restrictions inside your head, it doesn't make since but I'm guilty of it sometimes. How arrogant of me to ever think I've narrowed God down or figured him out well enough to say I know him like I know H2O. I can barely say I've scratch the surface of knowing my best friends and parents. People are so deep and complex that we can spend our whole lives learning new things about them, there are still times when people we've known our whole lives surprise us. Sometimes when we put people or God in a box we don't allow our selves to see them for who they really are, we miss out of how funny the quite kid in the back of the room is, or how thoughtful our grandparents can be, or how much of a comedian God really is. Noticing the small things in people takes time, how much more time then should it take to really behold, and understand The creator of all things, the father of truth and reason, and the mind that created this universe we know so little about. How Great a thought that we get to spend a whole eternity getting to know The God who Made the people we love in His Image

(Some verses that come to mind: John 3:16 John 17:3 Genesis 1:26 Isaiah 55:8-9 )

Together we can be Epic

2011-11-04T12:22:00.000-07:00

I saw this Video posted on this Blog (http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com)

Murmuration from Sophie Windsor Clive on Vimeo.

And i though wow that's awesome. I'm guessing that is a shadow of what it will look like when we see 1 Corinthians 12 or Romans 12 worked out in real life when the Church acts and moves as one body forgiving each other, using all of our different gifts, talents, and personalities together in the Love of Christ I believe it will be more awesome than anything we've seen yet.

2 Chronicles 7: ¹⁴ "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."-God

love your neighbor as your self.

2011-10-14T16:20:00.000-07:00

"love your neighbor as your self..."-Jesus (mark 12:31)
I'm reading the Ragamuffin Gospel and God used it to highlight something new about that command in my life. (p.s. Go check the book out and read it you won't regret it)

-If you're to hard, to unforgiving of those you love most its probably because you are to hard, to unforgiving of your self.

-learn to love your self, extend grace to your self because God already did long before you entertained the thought of apologizing.

Back in the Game, the goal is in mind. Lets do this!

2011-10-14T15:48:00.000-07:00

After a Summer taking a small break from Ministry to Be still and know that God is God. God's blessed me with a new opportunity to do Youth Ministry, at Celebration Christian Fellowship Clovis. I'm supper excited, a little nervous because i acknowledge the responsibility, but I'm completely confident that God's going to provide and lead me as I get to teach some of His Junior high and High school students.

A solid question for the Day, whats your Big Hope? What do you hope to accomplish in life, Why are you doing the things your doing? Mine is to Know and Love God more, To Share what Jesus bought on the Cross with everyone I can impact and to see everyone I know get at least a taste of real Love, a taste of God.

As far as the youth group It would include all that,and to go and make Disciples like Jesus commaned, To teach them to love God and to love their neighbor like they love their self. To share
the Truth
the Wisdom
the Love
the Freedom
the Joy
the mercy
and the Grace that God so freely and willingly given to me with them

P.s. I want to thank Gary for the challenging thoughts and questions. It came at the prefect time Go check his blog out if you have time http://www.garymo.com/2011/10/13/big-hope/

Is God welcome in your house?

2011-09-02T08:36:00.000-07:00

I saw a post on facebook today that said:

GOD IS WELCOME IN MY HOUSE! * 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π。˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */____/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜田田｜門｜ •
If God is welcome in your house, Re-post

And then I thought for a minuet, God is one of those House guests who start messing with things when you let him in. He would either keep asking to fix things or make suggestions to make things better. and if you gave him permission to fix things He would Fix a light here, clean up a mess over there, alphabetize the books you had sorted by color and reorganizing you're CD's that you stacked with your favorites on top and sort them by genre instead.

The problem is if God is just welcome in your house your going to be battling him the whole time or he's going to keep making good suggestions that you wont want to take to heart because you still want your house to be "your" house. I say scratch that lets give God our houses instead. He's the King we're always his guest he made everything even us and He is going to be way better at taking care of us then we could ever hope to be. So today I'll give God my house because he has already said I'm welcome in his.

Proof that Jesus always saves the best for last.

2011-08-12T12:54:00.000-07:00

I believe Jesus Always saves the best for last. Therefor we should not get to caught up in this life because what comes after this will be way better. Below are reasons I believe Jesus has saved something better for us in the Future.

Reason number 1: the First Miracle Jesus did was near the end of a party. He turned water into wine and the party Host was amazed and said: “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” John 2: 10

Reason number 2: The Last Miracle Jesus did before going back to Heaven was legendarily epic He endured a beating that would have nearly killed Him. He then hung on a cross for hours, Died, was buried and got up 3 days later like it was no big deal. (he was dead and then came back to life)

Reason number 3: If you've read revelation you know that we Jesus comes back he shakes everything up He brings Heaven to earth and makes the whole thing New. Every knee will bow before His Glory and there will be peace on earth True peace, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21 :4

Reason Number 4: (the best proof ever)
What Food was reserved for people for the end times... BACON! the glorious crispy meat manna from heaven. I think God/ Jesus saves the best for last because he realizes we just aren't ready for all the Goodness he has for us. I think He new that if the Jews were allowed to eat pork, specifically Bacon they would have become gluttons and made golden pigs instead worshiped the Bacon God instead of the Lord God all mighty. This also means there is something better than Bacon wrapped prawns in Heaven I'm not sure i can imagine what it will be like but I look forward to it.
(to be completely Honest this isn't a proof just my opinion from some observations I've made)

God is Wiser that you... and me (Humble moment)

2011-07-15T16:51:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had one of those moments where you read some scripture or thought about a time when you Just didn't understand why God would do something in a certain way, Good or Bad? For example Has God called you to something or blessed you with a position, title, job, or an unusual amount of favor that you just don't understand? Like the first time God put me into a worship leader position my first thought was "God you got the wrong man, I'm not Good enough I can barely play guitar my voice cracks sometimes when I sing, God what are you thinking?" Maybe it was a Job like moment where God allowed all kinds of bad stuff to Happen to you and you wanted to respond to God like this "What the heck did I do to deserve this God? Where are you? I think you've wronged me!"

Or could you be in a place where I'm at right now. God has me taking a Sabbaticle. Just when I see him moving in crazy ways shaking my friends lives and impacting the ministries I was a part of. Just when I think now is the time for me to be there, to row harder, to have a "Do Work Son" moment and "git-er-done." That's when God tells me to pull back and rest.... why?

God Says:

⁸ “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the LORD.
⁹ “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts. -Isaiah 55

God is Smarter than me and He has better plans than I can think up. He's ways would make no more since to me than me trying to explain to puppy that People have to go to work to provide food. and that they'll be back in a few hours. God is just flat out wiser than me and if you don't believe me check out Job 38-42 and see how God answers Job after Job tries to put God on trial. The end result God the wise 1 mankind 0. In conclusion we need to Humble our selves before we step to God thinking that we are smarter than Him we're not He knows what he's doing even when we don't understand it.

Bonus:

1 Corinthians 1:²⁶ Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. ²⁷ But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. ²⁸ God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, ²⁹ so that no one may boast before him. ³⁰ It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. ³¹ Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

Check out the Clip By Francis Chan that helped Spark some thoughts on this issue

http://youtu.be/qnrJVTSYLr8

Transforming your mind... thinking beyond this world

2011-05-27T16:33:00.000-07:00

Romans 12: ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

- a transformed Mind realizes that God is not in the Box and can work and move out side of our conventional thinking. (in short Miricles can happen and with a God who is supernatural unchanging and has been doing things outside the they should continue to happen)

- If Jesus said it he probably meant it. Thats how we know he's coming back but thats also how we know We can do what he did. Because He said we could.

-The renewing of your mind is a process, changing the think patterns we have. walking by faith and not by sight (or emotions, urges, or what we hear) Instead we walk by faith by what God says is true and right.

(http://fingerofgodfilm.com/ Also http://www.furiouslovefilm.com/ is totally worth seeing and filmed by the same people)

Trying to win everything is setting your self up to fail.

2011-04-11T16:54:00.000-07:00

So i read this blog (http://hugoschwyzer.net/2007/03/12/fourteen-marthas-not-one-mary-a-retreat-report-and-a-long-meditation-on-girls-pressure-parents-and-people-pleasing/ ) and it gave me A lot to think about.

1. I find my self and many of my friends overwhelmed, overworked, and attempting to be overachievers.

2. I find that in the process of achieving we become Under-rested, unsatisfied, and unfulfilled.

Solution:
1. Stop being Martha. i know has hard as it is, I mean the whole world wants us to be Martha Hospitable, Hard working, successful, Driven, over achieving Martha.

2. Be more like Mary, Learn to prioritizes things and Sit at the Feet of the only one who really matters "JESUS"

3. No seriously try being still and listening to God, spend more time listening to him, learning from him, and enjoying his presence. Its what Mary did and Jesus approved of it.

"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10

4. Realize your worth and Value don't come from what you do, How well you do it, or How good you look while doing what you do.

5. If you must worry about something, worry about the one thing that matters^.“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”^{Luke 10:41-42}

I think i see where Gods going with this (at least what he's showing me)

2011-03-28T15:03:00.000-07:00

I know its a long video but its so good. watch it if you have time. What hit me the most is listed below. I'm only half way through but I felt like i really needed to share this.

2 corinthans 6: ³ We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. ⁴ Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; ⁵ in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; ⁶ in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; ⁷ in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; ⁸ through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; ⁹ known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; ¹⁰ sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

¹¹ We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. ¹² We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. ¹³ As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also.

So Lately there has been a lot going on in my life and the options are to walk away or to continue to push though. Some times it might feel right to just cave and walk away but I'm gonna follow Gods plan and persevere when things get tough. I'm going to trust with I feel week, and Follow the Holy Spirit where ever He leads.... and right now that means enduring through and Living this life as Christ did, and as Paul did after him, Through sleepless nights through sorrow and pain, we endure so that Gospel might be shown credible. So that i might live out the charge Paul gave to Timothy "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. 1 Timothy 4:2" In hope that the Gospel might Change the hearts and minds of those around me, starting first and for most with myself.

Center everything on Christ, the Gospel and let the Holy spirit move :)

Its been a rough week (sorry for typos i just had to get this out)

2011-03-17T23:38:00.001-07:00

This week has been one of those weeks where everything explodes in your face and you’re left wondering simple questions like “what, why, and How” but the biggest question for me is what to do now. Now that stuff has hit the fan what do you do? Do you throw in the towel and walk away or roll up your sleeves and keep going until God tells you to stop.

Personally I’m going to choose the latter option. When King David was running for his life from King Saul he had multiple opportunities to kill King Saul, Saul a man who was supposed to rule on behalf of God. Saul who was supposed to stand up right and to up hold justice, Saul who had thrown spears at, and hunted David down like a dog. David had many reasons to fill justified in Killing Saul…

Example 1 Samuel 24

¹ ^[a]After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the Desert of En Gedi.” ² So Saul took three thousand able young men from all Israel and set out to look for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats.

³ He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave. ⁴ The men said, “This is the day the LORD spoke of when he said^[b] to you, ‘I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.’” Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.

⁵ Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe. ⁶ He said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed, or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the LORD.” ⁷ With these words David sharply rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way.

⁸ Then David went out of the cave and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground. ⁹ He said to Saul, “Why do you listen when men say, ‘David is bent on harming you’? ¹⁰This day you have seen with your own eyes how the LORD delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, ‘I will not lay my hand on my lord, because he is the LORD’s anointed.’ ¹¹ See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. See that there is nothing in my hand to indicate that I am guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life. ¹² May the LORD judge between you and me. And may the LORD avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you. ¹³ As the old saying goes, ‘From evildoers come evil deeds,’ so my hand will not touch you.

¹⁴ “Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Who are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea? ¹⁵ May the LORD be our judge and decide between us. May he consider my cause and uphold it; may he vindicate me by delivering me from your hand.”

¹⁶ When David finished saying this, Saul asked, “Is that your voice, David my son?” And he wept aloud. ¹⁷ “You are more righteous than I,” he said. “You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly. ¹⁸ You have just now told me about the good you did to me; the LORD delivered me into your hands, but you did not kill me. ¹⁹ When a man finds his enemy, does he let him get away unharmed? May the LORD reward you well for the way you treated me today. ²⁰ I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands. ²¹ Now swear to me by the LORD that you will not kill off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s family.”

David acted justly and The lord eventually Blessed him for it, but it was a long journey with much heart ache in 1 Samuel 26 Saul is back at his old crazy ways and David gets another chance to Kill him but doesn’t. Why doesn’t David attach when his friends say he is justified? Because David was a man after Gods own heart who sought justice and Honoring God’s choice and rule over his own vindication. In simpler terms David realized that even thou Saul was Crazy, and evil He was still given the Title of the Lords Anointed King and David respected the Calling of God on Saul’s life and the Authority of God even if Saul was abusing that Authority. But why would God allow this to happen to a Man after His (GOD’s) own heart? I think it has something to with How David became a man after God’s heart David went through longsuffering enduring with patience holding on to Trust in God for his will to be done, In away similar to Jesus and his life that lead to The Cross. Both Jesus and David would have been just in striking back at those who attacked them. David was given Kingship by God yet was still hunted. Jesus (God himself, the king of kings and Lord of Lords) while he would have been Just in destroying all of the people who mocked him, spit on him, tortured him and put him on a cross, while he would have been Just HE would not have been shown as Gracious or as Good. That’s the kind of Heart I think God wants to put into us when he allows us to go through painful things. I think… no I’m sure That God wants us to have Righteous hearts that will Treat others well even when they treat us badly. God is calling us to trust in him and to rejoice in Him even in the middle of trials.

So as hard as this is to say sometimes, God makes every day and “This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118: 24 (go read psalm 118 if you’re going to something difficult right now)

Breakfast with Jesus 1/27/11 (sick days aren't so bad)

2011-01-27T12:07:00.000-08:00

Good morning Jesus what should i eat for breakfast today? Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" Luke4:4

I’ve been in a sort of dry spell lately partly because I haven’t been asking and waiting on God for my food and water, and somewhere along the way I did what the Israelites did. I did exactly what Moses warned them not to do. I forgot to live at every moment in reverent awe of my God who Saves, who speaks stars into existence, I somehow forgot to live in complete submission to God’s will, because I stopped taking the time to wait on his Spirit and to listen to his word. (thanks Jon for Rebuking me about my laziness masquerading as business… I don’t need 8 hours of sleep for my God is able to make me stand)

I realize that God had not left me alone in the wilderness he was there providing Manna to sustain me, His holy spirit was still there giving me fresh water but it was I who choose to only drink a few sips at a time.

God’s word shall be my food. And doing his work shall be what satisfies me and I shall let his Holy spirit be the water I drink, the river I drown in.

"The whole commandment that I command you today you shall be careful to do, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land that the LORD swore to give to your fathers. And you shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. Your clothing did not wear out on you and your foot did not swell these forty years. Know then in your heart that, as a man disciplines his son, the LORD your God disciplines you. So you shall keep the commandments of the LORD your God by walking in his ways and by fearing him. For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing out in the valleys and hills, a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey, a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing, a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills you can dig copper. And you shall eat and be full, and you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land he has given you. "Take care lest you forget the LORD your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today,

(Deu 8:1-11)

Putting off Repairs = bad idea

2010-11-02T09:10:00.000-07:00

This morning as I was driving to work and Praying "God make me new take what is broke and fix it and make me a new creation like you said you would in Corinthians" and after i finished Praying I heard aloud thunk! and though oh great the rear differential that I new had a leak probably just gave out on me. Turns out it was worse my Jeep while still running wasn't getting any power to the wheels. So I turned on my Hazards and coasted into Chevron to see what exactly had gone wrong. When I got out some one who had been driving near me pulled out and said "I think you dropped something back there." So I went looking for the missing part and i found my drive shaft in the middle of the road, which is never where you want to find your rear drive shaft.

All that to say this; Sometimes in life we know something is broke or wearing out, and it needs to be fixed but wait and put it off till later. I know I had been doing that with my time, my prayer life and quality time with God. I also know I had been doing that with my Jeep.

Mark 4:⁷ "Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain." somewhere along the way my Heart ended up being bad soil full of weeds, its time to change the soil

I asked God to fix me and make me new this morning and the reason I had to ask him that was because my life had gotten complacent, and all to busy with the things I supposedly "have" to do in this world, like work, school, hang out with friends, church, repeat. But what God is reminding me of is that none of that can and or should get done without the thing that drives you. In the case of my Jeep it wont work with out a drive shaft and Gear oil. In the case of L.J. well I can't work right with out that which powers me and I have to remember it is God, his Holy spirit working in and through me. When I try to limp by with a few minuets in the word here and quick shout out pray to God there, Its like driving a jeep with a leaky differential and a broking and cracking u joint at some point its going to break and your going to have to fix it.

I've learned that fixing things before they break is always the better option it would have saved me time and money (i have to get a tow truck now and a new muffler and fix my back tire if it can be saved since the drive shaft hit it on the way out) If only I had not been a fool and fixed the problem sooner it would have been less of a hassle. I pray I haven't broken to many things before realizing I haven't been giving God the time he deserves (all of my time) and I hope the repairs aren't as tedious as my Jeep, but either way They still have to be made, I've been absurd now its time to get Sensible

So much to think about so little time

2010-10-20T13:07:00.000-07:00

Hears the Ramble for the week God is one

I'm not just talking about the statement that there is one God but that The one God who has reviled himself as what we have called the Trinity is ONE. Unlike Us with our parts, and faces and, characteristics and traits that can change. God is ONE he is not made up of Parts.

SO what? what does that mean for me is probably what your wondering.

well it means so much but i'll keep it short.

we know God is Good, he's all powerful, God is Love, God is Just, God Is Eternal, never Changing, He is all of those things all the time. we don't get a slice of God that is different than any of the rest of Him. he is all that he is in everything he does.

When i'm weak then i'm strong.... say what?

2010-09-11T19:18:00.000-07:00

⁸Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. ⁹But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.¹⁰That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12)

It sounds absurd to think that in our weakness Christ's power is made Perfect. But Thats what Gods saying to me right now. It is when we are done. when we are at the end of our rope that God is able to go above and beyond and do what we cannot do. When we realize that we need him and His Grace, His Power, His Holy spirit to live inside of us and to be what we cannot be on our own then He can Truly have his way and amaze us, and the world.

What comes to mind when i think about God part 1

2010-08-31T10:45:00.000-07:00

"What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us."
— A.W. Tozer

When things get crazy, when the struggles of life seem to hard, When the pain we feel seems like its to much, when we it seems better to just give in to sin, or to curse God and die; its time to remember Who God is.

When I remember that God is Love,
That God is all powerful
GOD is holy holy holy
God is Just and True
That God is Merciful and Gracious
When I remember That God Loves us.

I can find strength in his word that he will never leave or forsake me, That he made me in his Image that he as redeemed me and called me for his purpose for Good and not for Evil. I can soar on wings like eagles and run and know Grow weary because my God My Father in Heaven sustains me. My God Loves Me.

He loves you all too God bless

1st Blog Give Glory to God

2010-07-12T17:25:00.000-07:00

Hey whats up This is the first of hopefully many Blogs. I had nothing really to say right now but i wanted to make sure i started this blog off right by first giving glory to God and thanking him for a chance to post the sensible things he's teaching me and the things that seem absurd that he wants me to wrap my mind around. This blog will hopefully be a place where i share my heart, things that God is teaching me and the funny things God allows me to experience or be a part of, and hopefully it blesses someone else.

proverbs 3:6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

p.s. some day you can expect to see some video's along with the post and maybe some art work too. God bless ya'll i look forward to seeing how this blog things works and hopefully getting some feedback from you, the readers.

absurdities and sensibility

John 1:1-18 God Became a man to give us the Rights to be Children of God

Get some! (wisdom)

Proverbs 4

Get Wisdom at Any Cost

I can't get over How great an artist God is

Quote of the Month

Jesus didnt ask you do to anything He didn't do first

Do work son!

What are we doing Church? He is Comming back

I like Boxes

Together we can be Epic

love your neighbor as your self.

Back in the Game, the goal is in mind. Lets do this!

Is God welcome in your house?

GOD IS WELCOME IN MY HOUSE! * 。 ° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π____*。*˚ ˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */________/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門｜ • If God is welcome in your house, Re-post

Proof that Jesus always saves the best for last.

God is Wiser that you... and me (Humble moment)

Transforming your mind... thinking beyond this world

Trying to win everything is setting your self up to fail.

I think i see where Gods going with this (at least what he's showing me)

Its been a rough week (sorry for typos i just had to get this out)

Breakfast with Jesus 1/27/11 (sick days aren't so bad)

Putting off Repairs = bad idea

So much to think about so little time

When i'm weak then i'm strong.... say what?

What comes to mind when i think about God part 1

1st Blog Give Glory to God

GOD IS WELCOME IN MY HOUSE! * 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π。˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */____/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜田田｜門｜ •
If God is welcome in your house, Re-post