Well my friends, I've been inspired, after hitting the ole doctors office recently, I've realized I need to be eating healthier. So its been about 1 month, my wife and I have revamped our diet, let me tell you I feel much better, in only a month! All that aside I think I will share a bit of the new way of living as I go, here is what I will tell you.
Eating healthy and taking care of your body is honoring to God, many of us overlook it and think oh whats the big deal. Take some time to study what you are putting in your body, "high fructose corn syrup" = poison. God never intended us to fill our bodies with junk, as the temple of the holy spirit we should be taking care of it. I want to be around for my family and hopefully kids in the future ;). Its sobering to know that we are finite, but also good to remember, what choices will you make today? Peace love and uh...tofu (ok that is going to far....I dont endorse tofu, nasty nasty yuk yuk).
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
The purpose of "Study"
When did the gospel become a topic to debate? When did it become an item to pull apart and have a "smart" conversation about? This question has been brewing in my heart for a while now. Yes I'm sure someone will comment about how we need to study and show ourselves approved, I agree. Study is different though than becoming a philisophical thinker who prides themselves on neat big words. Our lives are to be impacted by hearing the voice of the Lord and obeying. We obey out of his love for us. If we dont understand that as Christians, we are no more than pharisees who are stuck in the law. Let us experience Christ.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
A great gift
This morning I am truly thankful. For my wife, she is my best friend, the one I laugh with, live life with. She is beautiful, patient and kind, gentle and strong. The Lord has blessed me with a great gift.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
It has been way too long....Post 4 eyes
So its true, after 32 years of living life with two eyes, I shall soon have 4. I wondered why things were really blurry, turns out, I needed glasses. It slowly snuck up on me, very gradual thing, but once I saw with glasses, I was literally amazed at the difference. You can tell where I am going with this..... :). Mankind is born into a world where we see very blurry, we smack into things, we hurt others, we get hurt. We are separated from Almighty God. Sin. In Gods great love and mercy He sent His Son to redeem us and bridge the gap to a relationship with God. John 3:16. Quoted, many times on neon colored signs at football games, yet its significance is many times passed over. I recently watched Amazing Grace the movie, in the extras it talks about the creation of the song amazing grace, this song has been sung at funerals, recited on the battle field, sang in churches with tall steeple's, and yet its meaning is lost. I once was blind but now I see, we don't know we can't see until we have the truth revealed to us of what it means to truly see. This Christmas season, remember that great moment from Charlie Browns Christmas- The reason is Jesus, he came to bring sight to the blind and light the way for us to come back to him.
Monday, October 17, 2011
I'm not here- John Eldridge/C.S. Lewis
"I'm Not Here"
Incredible. What a self-indictment. "Nothing dangerous is happening here." Those men have already been taken out because they've swallowed the Enemy's first line of attack: "I'm not here-this is all just you." You can't fight a battle you don't think exists. This is right out of The Screwtape Letters, where Lewis has the old devil instruct his apprentice in this very matter:
My dear Wormwood, I wonder you should ask me whether it is essential to keep the patient in ignorance of your own existence. That question, at least for the present phase of the struggle, has been answered for us by the High Command. Our policy, for the moment, is to conceal ourselves.
As for those who want to be dangerous (cutting-edge), take a close look at 1 Peter 5:8-9: "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings."
What is the Holy Spirit, through Peter, assuming about your life? That you are under spiritual attack. This is not a passage about nonbelievers; he's talking about "your brethren." Peter takes it for granted that every believer is under some sort of unseen assault. And what does he insist you do? Resist the devil. Fight back, take a stand.
Incredible. What a self-indictment. "Nothing dangerous is happening here." Those men have already been taken out because they've swallowed the Enemy's first line of attack: "I'm not here-this is all just you." You can't fight a battle you don't think exists. This is right out of The Screwtape Letters, where Lewis has the old devil instruct his apprentice in this very matter:
My dear Wormwood, I wonder you should ask me whether it is essential to keep the patient in ignorance of your own existence. That question, at least for the present phase of the struggle, has been answered for us by the High Command. Our policy, for the moment, is to conceal ourselves.
As for those who want to be dangerous (cutting-edge), take a close look at 1 Peter 5:8-9: "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings."
What is the Holy Spirit, through Peter, assuming about your life? That you are under spiritual attack. This is not a passage about nonbelievers; he's talking about "your brethren." Peter takes it for granted that every believer is under some sort of unseen assault. And what does he insist you do? Resist the devil. Fight back, take a stand.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Seen but not Understood
Have you ever felt as if someone was watching you? Especially when you are doing something that you would need to explain? For example, have you seen those people who wander around talking to themselves? Maybe you are even walking down the street and you wonder..."Are they talking to me?"
Maybe they are in their car chatting away at a red light, you slowly look over to catch a glimpse of who they are talking to....uh nobody is next to them. Ah ha! but they turn their head and you see this little piece of plastic in their ear, the bluetooth of course.... (I have no idea why the word tooth is in that word) but if you didn't see that you could think they are crazy, even worse what if you are on the opposite end? One of the things I can say that I hate is being misunderstood. Especially if I look like a schmo.
In my life I have gone through heartache, what seems to be extreme pain but there is no bandage to put on it. No quick fix. Pain of the soul can create havoc inside you. I have had people see me, wondering why so emotional or say just shake it off. "Seen but not Understood". We so long to be understood and really to Understand. We read God's word, His real alive and active word, but sometimes we just see words and don't understand. We see His truth and yet don't understand because our circumstances aren't lining up.
The Fact is Jesus understands, scripture tells us that we don't have a priest who isn't able to sympathize with our problems, but instead was tempted in every way we are but yet didn't sin. He also endured pain, physical, emotional, real pain. The Son of God was "Seen but not Understood" by many. I believe today it is still the same. God's word tells the story of His redeeming of the world through His Son on the Cross so that all may come to know Him. To Know Him. Problem is we try to look upon things of this world with our own eyes, our own understanding. Proverbs 3:5-7 says to trust in the Lord with all of your heart, to lean not on your own understanding, it goes onto say that He will direct your path. I don't pretend to understand the things of this life so I can see God in them. Rather my heart is directed to see God Himself, through that experience, my heart and spirit gain peace and understanding. "We don't need more faith to understand, but rather a greater understanding of who we put our Faith in." Faith is a gift of God. Reality is we are dead in the water without Him. Reality is that with Him, we are loved, accepted, 100% Children of God. He gives us the choice, our way or His?
Maybe they are in their car chatting away at a red light, you slowly look over to catch a glimpse of who they are talking to....uh nobody is next to them. Ah ha! but they turn their head and you see this little piece of plastic in their ear, the bluetooth of course.... (I have no idea why the word tooth is in that word) but if you didn't see that you could think they are crazy, even worse what if you are on the opposite end? One of the things I can say that I hate is being misunderstood. Especially if I look like a schmo.
In my life I have gone through heartache, what seems to be extreme pain but there is no bandage to put on it. No quick fix. Pain of the soul can create havoc inside you. I have had people see me, wondering why so emotional or say just shake it off. "Seen but not Understood". We so long to be understood and really to Understand. We read God's word, His real alive and active word, but sometimes we just see words and don't understand. We see His truth and yet don't understand because our circumstances aren't lining up.
The Fact is Jesus understands, scripture tells us that we don't have a priest who isn't able to sympathize with our problems, but instead was tempted in every way we are but yet didn't sin. He also endured pain, physical, emotional, real pain. The Son of God was "Seen but not Understood" by many. I believe today it is still the same. God's word tells the story of His redeeming of the world through His Son on the Cross so that all may come to know Him. To Know Him. Problem is we try to look upon things of this world with our own eyes, our own understanding. Proverbs 3:5-7 says to trust in the Lord with all of your heart, to lean not on your own understanding, it goes onto say that He will direct your path. I don't pretend to understand the things of this life so I can see God in them. Rather my heart is directed to see God Himself, through that experience, my heart and spirit gain peace and understanding. "We don't need more faith to understand, but rather a greater understanding of who we put our Faith in." Faith is a gift of God. Reality is we are dead in the water without Him. Reality is that with Him, we are loved, accepted, 100% Children of God. He gives us the choice, our way or His?
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Scared or Compelled?
Do you live life afraid or compelled by truth? Over the years we as Christians have been brought into the kingdom of God on a Fear basis. Let me explain, when the turn or burn item comes up, its natural to not want to burn in a lake of fire for eternity. Also this is a truth of the gospel, but not all of it. I repeat not all of it.
Christ himself said, "Eternal Life is that they may know me and He who sent me".- John 17:3. When we speak of Eternity and the issue of Salvation, it is absolutely essential to speak of this verse. If we believe that God is a relational God, that He died upon the cross because He loves us, why would not include "Relationship" when describing the Gospel? How great it is to not be headed to eternal separation from God, dare I say even greater it is to Have the living God, call you His child and to know him. We obey because of His great love for us, we are compelled because there is "a fire shut up on our bones". Where did this fire come from? Did we "stir" it up? Absolutely not. This is the power and love of Almighty God that has set our hearts ablaze.
When was the last time you let God set your heart ablaze? I'm not talking about throwing bibles around at people like Frisbee's, but you see people as God sees them. That He is in Love with them, He wants to restore them. They aren't just someone to "convert". My friends, it is OK, rather it is essential that we first receive from the Lord His Love, before we can display it.
Christ himself said, "Eternal Life is that they may know me and He who sent me".- John 17:3. When we speak of Eternity and the issue of Salvation, it is absolutely essential to speak of this verse. If we believe that God is a relational God, that He died upon the cross because He loves us, why would not include "Relationship" when describing the Gospel? How great it is to not be headed to eternal separation from God, dare I say even greater it is to Have the living God, call you His child and to know him. We obey because of His great love for us, we are compelled because there is "a fire shut up on our bones". Where did this fire come from? Did we "stir" it up? Absolutely not. This is the power and love of Almighty God that has set our hearts ablaze.
When was the last time you let God set your heart ablaze? I'm not talking about throwing bibles around at people like Frisbee's, but you see people as God sees them. That He is in Love with them, He wants to restore them. They aren't just someone to "convert". My friends, it is OK, rather it is essential that we first receive from the Lord His Love, before we can display it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)