tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60482598445442519912024-02-08T10:42:11.211-08:00Somethings ForeignHonestly Hopeful. Hopefully Honest.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6048259844544251991.post-76020299543077526122009-03-17T19:56:00.000-07:002009-03-17T20:20:11.873-07:00A Taste We Have NoneWhen all that is left is lashing out<div>When you're already juggling misery and discontent</div><div>When you're dreams are a stab wound</div><div><br /></div><div>I did this for you.</div><div><br /></div><div>Please take away my speech and my hearing</div><div>Please take my site and my taste</div><div>Please take the feelings as they spill</div><div><br /></div><div>Leave me in the cracks.</div><div><br /></div><div>And 28 years have come and nearly gone</div><div>And sadly I've nothing much to show of them</div><div>And if I live another day and another day</div><div><br /></div><div>Just let me have it real.</div><div><br /></div><div>Lift these empty spirits. Bring the real clarity. Cut right to the point. Give me the bleeding edge. Let me take the burdens on. Patience, Knowledge, understanding, wisdom,... love. </div><div><br /></div><div>Forgive me a wretched man.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6048259844544251991.post-13190245939710822632009-03-10T19:37:00.000-07:002009-03-10T19:55:01.185-07:00The eve of the NextWe sit poised in history for the next leap. I can feel it. Better yet, I know it is coming. There are many times these days when I wish I could be free from this zoo. I am bombarded by this world media and culture at a rapid rate on a daily basis. Internet, radio, television, cell phone. What did we used to do? How did we used to connect to each other. We are spending, I am spending, too much time entertaining myself. My routine is suffocating. What is it that drives this on each day? What keeps me going through these motions? Wake up at 6:30 AM, lay in bed until about 6:35 AM. Urinate, take a shower, dry off. Put on <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">deodorant and go to closet. Examine which shirt and tie to put on, put them on, put pants on. Brush teeth. Put on wedding ring, put wallet in back right pocket. Find keys in the same place you always leave them. Put keys on counter, put shoes, put on coat. Make sure heater and lights are turned off before closing door. Lock door and walk to car. Start car and turn on AM radio or CD player. Drive to work on the 94. Get to work around 7:30 AM. Clock in to work by 7:40 AM. Eat granola bar for breakfast at or around 10 AM. continue working. Eat lunch around 1 or 2 PM. Continue working. Clock out from work once 8 Hours have been reached, usually around 5 PM. Log out of computers, gather cell phone. Put on coat and ride elevator to the 2nd floor. Walk to car and. Leave parking garage and wave goodbye to friendly parking garage attendant who always opens the gate for you so you don't have to roll your window down and use the key.</span> Pull out left and proceed to the 94 to head home. Drive home and arrive there around 5:45 or 6... maybe earlier depending on day. Pull into parking garage and turn off car. Lock doors and proceed to apartment. Unlock door, enter, lock door. Take off shoes and put near other shoes. Hang up coat. Say hi to wife and hug. change out of work clothes into something else. take a piss. talk with wife about our days... my day? Poop. Eat dinner. Depending on what day it is wife might have tv show to watch. I might play guitar. I might play a video game. If we are really feeling adventurous maybe we go out to eat. Spend time with wife until bed time. Go to bed and repeat until weekend. Is this all? There has to be something wrong with me! I can do more than this..... please, let me do more than this in this life.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6048259844544251991.post-52678981122423317952009-01-23T15:49:00.000-08:002009-01-23T15:56:44.043-08:00The Harsh Critic<span class="Apple-style-span" style=";font-family:'Trebuchet MS';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Do you believe in anything you cannot see?</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">What goes on in your life that that you cannot see that you believe is real? </span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=";font-family:'Trebuchet MS';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=";font-family:'Trebuchet MS';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">The 20</span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">th</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> Century has ushered in a perverse dilution of tangible Christianity.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">God has been limited in what we “See” happening around us or in what we are told is happening.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">What happened to hearing things or smelling them?</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">What happened to touch?</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">When did we have to start proving to ourselves that God is real?</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Christians like to talk about doing the right things.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">I like to talk like I’m doing it right all the time.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">But I am not.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">There is a malicious pursuit of self-pleasure that has permeated our churches with their musicals and productions and their programmed selfish delusions.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">They have become a “safe” place in the most dangerous sense.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">There is no spine left…. Or it is barely hanging on.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Where has the will to stand up for the right things gone?</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">We turned it into F*&king WWJD bracelets!</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Come on!</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">We turned it into the Christian Music industry and Christina Book Stores.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Stop trying to apologize for having a relationship with God.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Stop trying to veil your life by quarantining all your actions into the “safety” of a church building where you and your friends go to stop thinking.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">We serve a living God and he is mighty to save!</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">We need unapologetic apostles in this new world.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Do yourself and everyone else around you a favor… start being honest with yourself.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Once you are honest with yourself then you can try and be honest with someone else.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Honesty.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=";font-family:'Trebuchet MS';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=";font-family:'Trebuchet MS';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">There is reason for us Christians to be harsh on ourselves.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">We know.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">We believe.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">That is heavy.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">We cannot hide who we are from God and since we are all part of the same body we cannot hide who we are from each other and still recognize each other as partners of the same body.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Where does this leave us?</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">This leaves us with a responsibility to be transparent with each other.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">This leaves us to grow and mature and not be satisfied with the baby formula we received when we first believed… as we grow we need to move on from these things and continue building the base… not dwell on the base that was first laid when we were younger.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">I am not speaking about age.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Age is not useless but it is also not a mandate of wisdom or a warrant of entitlement.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=";font-family:'Trebuchet MS';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=";font-family:'Trebuchet MS';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">I have one last sentiment.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Why do so many of you claim to be teachers or pastors?</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Don’t you realize that you are held to a higher standard and that responsibility is not so generously bestowed upon the masses?</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">So many of you that I have met should not be pasturing a church.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">You would do fine to lead a small group of believers and would actually be well suited for that.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Unfortunately there are too many of you getting degrees from Christian Universities and then assuming that now you can be a pastor.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">What happened to spiritual gifts?</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">It is so painfully obvious that there are too many people practicing pastoring or teaching that are neither.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Can you not see it??</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">The point is not that I want to sit here and bash you it’s that I want you to consider the word of God.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Stop trying to convince your-self the Word says something it doesn’t.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">I am by no means the author of right and wrong and I lump myself together with you in my criticism.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Our challenge is to love the Lord thy God with all our hearts and obey his commands.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Stop with the confusion and purposeful ignorance and move… just start moving toward being honest.</span></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6048259844544251991.post-67605504385389678082008-12-12T21:44:00.000-08:002008-12-12T21:59:32.356-08:00Strangers We BecomeFrom behind the stained glass I peer into space<div>Aware of those familiar things; I observe</div><div>My senses key in on the sounds, the smells, the sight</div><div>There are many people rushing about </div><div><br /></div><div>Where are they going? What are they doing? They all have a story</div><div>The seas of people going about their business leaves me feeling disconnected</div><div>This is the purgatory of confusion and discontent</div><div>My body works against the demands of my mind</div><div><br /></div><div>I am not sovereign nor am I slave</div><div>I am a free man who needs to serve his master</div><div>My fear is not of human institution nor fear of loss</div><div>It is humility I seek; knowledge, wisdom, discernment, understanding</div><div><br /></div><div>To wake up knowing you are no longer you </div><div>Your new wires send new signals aligning your body and mind</div><div>The Spirit now guides this vessel</div><div>Now a stranger in the bustle, but with clarity I wander no more.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6048259844544251991.post-695300848960912252008-12-04T20:30:00.000-08:002008-12-04T20:56:55.077-08:00Looking in the Wrong DirectionAs I read different mainstream media outlets there are increasingly alarming stories of human atrocity. I read articles on Darfur, Rwanda, Sudan... there are more. It is sickening to me that we as the current residents of this planet live out our daily lives and simultaneously there is genocide happening around the globe. <div><br /></div><div>How can this be happening? </div><div><br /></div><div>I read statistics of the millions that have been killed in the just the last few years. </div><div><br /></div><div>How can this be happening? </div><div><br /></div><div>We have got our priorities all backward. I have my priorities backward. I'm not sure how I'm to react to these thoughts. </div><div><br /></div><div>What can I do about this? I wish that I had the power to end these murders and rapes and oppressions. If I look at my life with the perspective that while I lived, these people died... for what, I wonder what my excuse is? I fear that by the time these atrocities hit the mainstream media that the damage has already been done. I feel that politics and greed have created and exacerbated these problems. </div><div><br /></div><div>What can we do to stop this?</div><div><br /></div><div>I don't know if I even any answers that are intelligent. I don't have a guide or even an indication of how it would look to end this. What I'm left with is this:</div><div><br /></div><div>God is the only force that can bring change to this. As I think about that statement it seems vague, but I think that's a good thing. We (collectively) and I (individually) are historically slow to act and unwise in our decision and judgement. So for God to be the only answer seems like the strongest medicine we can ask for. We need a miracle and who better to ask a miracle of then Jesus Christ. A figure with a history of miracles and healing. Our rock. He can point us in the right direction; for we seem to be ever moving forward but rather than looking ahead we are constantly looking over our shoulders and not seeking the way. </div><div><br /></div><div>Lord in your Mercy, hear my prayer. Please tend to your flock. Please forgive me as I know not what I do. Bring your hand of compassion to these dark corners of your planet. Deliver your oppressed peoples from their evil masters. Please feed your hungry. The church is here..... your body is here.... please use us. Please prepare us. Please grant wisdom, knowledge, discernment, and understanding. Above all, Lord, Please allow us to love unconditionally and sacrificially. To your Glory.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6048259844544251991.post-86962599597524707422008-11-18T20:25:00.000-08:002008-11-18T20:40:47.191-08:00MasqueradeThis despair is upon us now<div>it is masked in pleasant contentment</div><div>it is a charade of poison which is sweet at the first touch to the lips</div><div><br /></div><div>We have fled to our own reasoning</div><div>it has betrayed our first love</div><div>our knowledge is a plunged dagger in the back</div><div><br /></div><div>When we were younger we could clearly see truth</div><div>our youth confirmed our passion</div><div>We visited miracles and dined in the company of Christ</div><div><br /></div><div>Now, with experience has come doubt</div><div>with doubt has come fear</div><div>and fear has clouded our infant truth like a thick fog</div><div><br /></div><div>Our hope now remains with in the prayers of others</div><div>as we swagger in this world's religion of self</div><div>those that are left behind are shattered </div><div><br /></div><div>But in this weakness there is true strength</div><div>God's love is abounding and his presence overwhelming</div><div>Through His power and mercy we can rise from our own ashes</div><div><br /></div><div>God Bless you.....</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6048259844544251991.post-11452306935221543952008-10-13T18:09:00.000-07:002008-10-13T18:30:53.925-07:00Going Down?The current times will not sweep away those who have a strong anchor. Even as the markets crash and politicians come and go and the world itself groans on its axis; those with a strong anchor will not be swept away. There is another way of living in hope and prospering love. There are clear thoughts and meaningful clarities just through the haze of this media blitz and neon lighted signage. <div><br /></div><div>I feel a bit at odds with this global world. There is some kind of weird circle we go through where we work to afford to live where we live and we work to afford the things we have and then we are conditioned to "need" these things and we end up laboring for the wrong things. I end up neglecting those that need my help. I end up neglecting the one who loves me. I am guilty in many ways of being distracted. </div><div><br /></div><div>This brings me to my current condition. I am trying to get back into school to finish my degree so that someday when my wife and I have kids, we will have the flexibility financially for her to stay home and spend her time helping to raise our children. I am also in the process of finishing off two albums for two different musical projects. This music is what I wish to do with my life. It's financial success though is not guaranteed. I will continue to write no matter what because there in lies some of my most honest thoughts and feelings. The writer... the artist... these will remain and I will add additional arteries for benefit of my family. God's will be done. Where will this go next?</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6048259844544251991.post-42955182980221430672008-09-30T18:46:00.000-07:002008-09-30T19:08:38.872-07:00Changing the Hearts of ChristiansFollowers of Christ rise up! Fellow believers in love please take your stand. Anybody who has ears to hear or eyes to see, please take note. It does not matter who wins this upcoming election in the United States. Our next President and his fellow members of the House and Senate will not bring about the change this country and this world needs.<div><br /></div><div>God will bring change. When God changes the heart of a person, that's when there will be change. We need to all grow in our relationships with Christ. We are in need of his grace and mercy more than ever. Money will not change our problems. Passionate speeches or drawing lines in the sand will not bring about change. No, it is God that changes the heart of men. </div><div><br /></div><div>When God changes you from the inside out there is an amazing shift that occurs. What was once an internal struggle and toil becomes a tangible manifestation of love. Our actions begin to mimic the love God has put in us. This is the change that is needed in America today. We Christians need to start living lives of love and we will see the transformation God brings when act upon His love.</div><div><br /></div><div>I want to confess to you all sins and my transgressions. One of my main areas of sin is my anger. I sin daily when I drive to work (usually). I am so refreshed that one day out of twenty when I am able to drive somewhere and not be brought to a sinful anger. Today in particular I found myself cursing at people in cars on my way home from work. I cannot overcome this anger but God can. Please forgive me for unloving and selfish heart in this matter! </div><div><br /></div><div>Do you have unconfessed sin? The bible calls Christians to confess their sins to each other. This is a beautiful moment for us to lay bare what is hidden and be forgiven. I will have more posts where I ask your forgiveness as I know that I will continue to stumble around in this life. My hope is that God will help me grow and give me the strength to stop committing the same sin over and over again. I want to move on to the mature things the bible alludes to! </div><div><br /></div><div>-E</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6048259844544251991.post-6703484282648415212008-09-17T18:12:00.000-07:002008-09-17T18:26:19.022-07:00Hear me oh civilization!They feast on our flesh while we sleep. They try to control us as we move about. They want to know our information and our time. Who is they? <div><br /></div><div>I find these questions as I watch any TV news show or read the popular news sites. CNN, Drudge Report, Yahoo, Google, MSN, NY Times, Politico. Who are these people? There are too many agendas clouding and clawing at us. All these distractions to keep us passionate about nothing, but passionate about it. The powers of this world always trying to exert their influence. They direct us to and fro trying to sell us on products and ideas. They are trying to divide us and put us into their neat little boxes that have brought them so much comfort. </div><div><br /></div><div>I want to talk about real things. God, poverty, war, religion... take your pick, there are many more. I don't want to regurgitate someone else's opinions or conclusions. In particular, I want to talk about poverty.</div><div><br /></div><div>I feel guilty that I do not seek out the poor or take care of the widows. What do I do? So often I am approached on the street for some spare change and ALWAYS my answer is, "Sorry, I can't help you" or "Nope, don't have any." I don't remember that last time I looked upon them as people. I join the ranks of hypocrites claiming to be Christ Followers but disdaining those who ask me for real help. Please forgive me, give me another chance.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0