Okay so I have had an interesting week to say the least! Heres the short version... I'm an idiot!! haha no jk .. heres the real story. I lost my keys in the snow...
It was a snowy afternoon and I had had just left work. The crystalized snow shimmered on the ground as I sat comfortably in my now nice warm car. I never exceeded 20 mph, But did I care? Not a single bit. My little car pulled itself along the nicely marked out tracks that all the previous vehicles had blazed for me. The intersection was piled on pile of snow and so I kept moving for fear of getting stuck in it. Thereby adding misery to all the other drivers already slow moving drudgery. I went straight to my brothers home where I knew I would have to get out into the blistery weather. I cranked my heat as to offset my temp so I would not feel as cold when I stepped out. I thought "if I get too hot It will only feel good when I get out Right?" I hit the gas and went full speed into a drift of snow where there was once a parking spot. My vehicle stopped just short of my intended space as the snow fluttered to the ground all around me. "Good enough Ill deal with it later " I thought to myself. I stepped out and the blistery wind hit my eyes and only for a moment it wasn't so bad. I then hooked my keys on my belt loop. (or Did I?) I wiped off the snow and put My little nephew in and drove my Sister to her Party! I must admit driving the Durango with all wheel drive was quite an escape from my normal routine in my tiny Honda. This time I was the one blazing the trails for all the other drivers to follow. It truly gave me a sense of strength to have some power over what happens as opposed to being subject to it. At any rate I moved on. The rest of the evening was full of its usual conundrumness, if thats even a word. My brother and I even ventured out to tackle the delicate subject of buying the woman you love the perfect gift. Known to men the world over as the yeti or bigfoot of the season. Even if its a falacy its still fun to hunt for that elusive item. The point of the story may be coming I can feel it!
So Dinner was over, Gifts were bought and the excitement of the hunt had died down. Time to warm up the car and dig it out. God bless the Snow plow, He is only trying to do his job. And cake snow all around the vehicle that had been stuck there all day! God knows that must give the driver some kind of excitement, to push snow all around the car that sits annoyingly in his way. I thought about moving it earlier for him, but just never had the right moment. So there we stood, Two men who had defeated the the snow many times. We stared at the pile of snow as if we were about to go to war. I think somewhere in the background I heard some horses snuffing from the cold and their hooves digging in the ground. We stood, Shovels in hand just waiting for the big pep talk before mighty fight! The adrenaline pumped though are fingers and we no longer felt the cold. I think behind us, the archers had already strung their bows, the fierce fire dancing at the end of their arrows laughing in the face of danger. At least that is how I remember it anyway. Just one last important task before the charge. Grab the key and GO! Okay... wheres the key? The rest is hisory... its lost in there somewhere. Somewhere between here and there, The battle was lost before it ever began.
The moral of the story is what you want it to be. I was defeated maybe by the snow, maybe by hurried preoccupation, and anticipation clouding my mind taking me from the task at hand. If Your always looking ahead you will surely miss(or in my case lose) whats right in front of you.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Monday, December 1, 2008
Heaven=7 11..
Okay seriously,.. I go to 711 almost everyday of my life. Its right by my work and they have anything you could ever want. Seriously who doesn't love 44 ounces of Soda... But really, I have had to take a hard look at the things I spend my(Gods) money on. I am starting to think about the things that I carelessly buy and the simple things I take for granted.
It was thanksgiving and I was thinking about the things I am thankful for... No one in my family hungry, and everyone going to bed full. I Thank God for such a blessing. I take food for granted. I spend a buck on a soda that has no nutritional value for my body. All the while people all around the world are starving. Should I feel ashamed? That's the question I ask myself. Can I really spend 3 bucks on an energy drink (death in a bottle)? Who invented that stuff anyway, that what I want to know.
I think the real question I need to ask myself is "What can I do"? Its not enough for me to just pretend like the problem isn't there. That is honestly what I have done. I have looked at the problems of this world and felt overwhelmed to the point of doing... nothing. Now that is something to be ashamed of! I have had to recently take sacrifices... Can I even use that word? Its almost shameful to call the things I have had to put away- a sacrifice. So many have given so much more. In this country we look at driving a "Beater" car as a sacrifice. I can remember the times I had to drive a car that you cant drive with the windows up, or you might die, or its so loud it doesn't matter that there is no radio, and the window doesn't go down unless you push it hard from the outside. But I know there were times I praised God for that car because it started everyday, even if it only got me 10 miles per gallon. Now I thank God for a car He got me that is an old 92 honda and gets me 30 miles per gallon... Its not pretty but I thank God for it everyday.
God is so amazing when you give to Him. He hooks You up. I recently decided that I couldn't buy something because It would be selfish to do when I had plenty. Not only did I have more to give, but God gave me the item anyway in his own way! God IS that awesome... So what can we do? Anything, is a step up from nothing.
Mat 25:40
"And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'
It was thanksgiving and I was thinking about the things I am thankful for... No one in my family hungry, and everyone going to bed full. I Thank God for such a blessing. I take food for granted. I spend a buck on a soda that has no nutritional value for my body. All the while people all around the world are starving. Should I feel ashamed? That's the question I ask myself. Can I really spend 3 bucks on an energy drink (death in a bottle)? Who invented that stuff anyway, that what I want to know.
I think the real question I need to ask myself is "What can I do"? Its not enough for me to just pretend like the problem isn't there. That is honestly what I have done. I have looked at the problems of this world and felt overwhelmed to the point of doing... nothing. Now that is something to be ashamed of! I have had to recently take sacrifices... Can I even use that word? Its almost shameful to call the things I have had to put away- a sacrifice. So many have given so much more. In this country we look at driving a "Beater" car as a sacrifice. I can remember the times I had to drive a car that you cant drive with the windows up, or you might die, or its so loud it doesn't matter that there is no radio, and the window doesn't go down unless you push it hard from the outside. But I know there were times I praised God for that car because it started everyday, even if it only got me 10 miles per gallon. Now I thank God for a car He got me that is an old 92 honda and gets me 30 miles per gallon... Its not pretty but I thank God for it everyday.
God is so amazing when you give to Him. He hooks You up. I recently decided that I couldn't buy something because It would be selfish to do when I had plenty. Not only did I have more to give, but God gave me the item anyway in his own way! God IS that awesome... So what can we do? Anything, is a step up from nothing.
Mat 25:40
"And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'
Thursday, November 6, 2008
O- My- Bama
New president, new post. i heard a speech by the new prez, and I was deeply saddened. He was speaking to a group called plan parent hood which is apparently for abortions. He started his speech by saying "I would like to thiank you all for your work you do for women everywhere and Men, who have enough sense to know your helping them too." It was a joke and the crowd of course laughed, I was on the other hand disgusted. To make a joke about killing babies, That is just Lunacy. I cant even imagine someone saying something like that (or people voting for that person). Anyway, I know that Obama supports Abortion. And many people say "NO one is FOR abortion" But whatever helps you sleep a t night right? Anyway, I try not to judge, Who am I too anyway! but for someone to support partial birth abortion is sick to me,and abortion as a form of birth control! How can anyone say that> When I found out that people are actually promoting abortion as a form of birth control, I was in shock. Where in the world have we gone as a nation. I just cant believe, The idea of abstinence as birth control is seen as a crazy idea and this form of birth control is acceptable to people. Maybe people just want to live in a society where there are no consequences to our actions, You get pregnant, throw the baby out in the trash and get a do over.
My late wife had an abortion, due to health reasons. She regretted it every day that she was still alive, I now look back and think about it all. I know that nothing can ever change what happened, and there's no use trying to go over it all, But even the doctors acted as though there was no other choice. This was the only way to save Rach, Or risk losing them both. Where was my godly counsel then, I didn't look for it, My hope and trust was not in Christ, My faith was in the words I heard from Doctors, I had one choice and one alone, I hope that I have grown since then, I am sure I would be quicker to get Godly counsel and listen to God speak to me now. All that just to say this, I would hope that our trust is in GOD. Obama is in charge of our nation, And in the bible it says everyone is in position because HE has put them there, I will not put my trust in a man, any man, Only on the solid rock of Christ, We all have to pray for him, That's our job now.
My late wife had an abortion, due to health reasons. She regretted it every day that she was still alive, I now look back and think about it all. I know that nothing can ever change what happened, and there's no use trying to go over it all, But even the doctors acted as though there was no other choice. This was the only way to save Rach, Or risk losing them both. Where was my godly counsel then, I didn't look for it, My hope and trust was not in Christ, My faith was in the words I heard from Doctors, I had one choice and one alone, I hope that I have grown since then, I am sure I would be quicker to get Godly counsel and listen to God speak to me now. All that just to say this, I would hope that our trust is in GOD. Obama is in charge of our nation, And in the bible it says everyone is in position because HE has put them there, I will not put my trust in a man, any man, Only on the solid rock of Christ, We all have to pray for him, That's our job now.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Free! -style
Im constantly arrested by the manifest presence of the blessed, tried true stood and was tested,
He told me I was free, I could do it if I believe, Told the boogey man He cant squeeze me
Instead I roll forward, not looking back in constant horror, Not condemned as a pillar of salt,
or smushed together like a mound of asphalt, never do I halt, My heart is like a catupult, shooting me like a bronze dagger, I stroll intently with a wicked swagger,
My truths grounded in the everlasting, My Body No longer a form but a molten casting,
Shaped and molded in the intense fire, His will becomes my desire,
Now knowing I am steadied by this intense glowing, Consumed to the point of blowing,
In constant state of knowing, I am a beacon now set apart, With a force pulled deep, seeking and searching my heart, from this truth, only wickedness departs, I am no king Im only the messenger, Bestowed with wings, Carried on a rocket that zings, never to be layed to eternal rest, But if only to have been able to withstand the test!
staring into the eyes of destruction was the failing way,
Instead never an alien abducted from this path do I stray,
He told me I was free, I could do it if I believe, Told the boogey man He cant squeeze me
Instead I roll forward, not looking back in constant horror, Not condemned as a pillar of salt,
or smushed together like a mound of asphalt, never do I halt, My heart is like a catupult, shooting me like a bronze dagger, I stroll intently with a wicked swagger,
My truths grounded in the everlasting, My Body No longer a form but a molten casting,
Shaped and molded in the intense fire, His will becomes my desire,
Now knowing I am steadied by this intense glowing, Consumed to the point of blowing,
In constant state of knowing, I am a beacon now set apart, With a force pulled deep, seeking and searching my heart, from this truth, only wickedness departs, I am no king Im only the messenger, Bestowed with wings, Carried on a rocket that zings, never to be layed to eternal rest, But if only to have been able to withstand the test!
staring into the eyes of destruction was the failing way,
Instead never an alien abducted from this path do I stray,
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Git'r Done..
Let me start by saying God don't like lazy and at times, I am lazy!!
Sometimes i take a step back and think about all the things I need to do and get overwhelmed and end up doing nothing! When I was in High school, I took higher math classes like pre cal and for some reason, I thought I could pass this class by doing nothing! What a concept, achievement based on laziness. Not only is this not possible, its not even biblical. In 2nd Thessalonians it says if a man doesn't work, he doesn't eat! I would do just enough to get by and pass the class and looking back if I would've worked at it, I would have done so much better.
Sometimes there are things I need to do and I make a decision to put it off until... who knows. Whenever I get around to it I guess. I don't think I am a lazy person. I try to do things with all my effort and the truth is sometimes, that effort is postponed and causes the end result to be rushed. I get the "Good Enough" mentality going on and it becomes acceptable to me, only because I just didn't have enough time! But the truth is I waited so long to start, that I caused myself to be constrained by a time crunch. I would much rather be the person that comes to "class" prepared, instead of rushing to get it done just in time to realize I left my notes at home and have no time to go back for them. This is difficult for me since I have always lived this way in certain areas of my life.
I recently have been put in charge of some great responsibilities, and I now realize when I am unprepared, It not only makes me look bad, but a whole ministry and sets a low standard for others to follow. Its a fight in myself. And then when I fail, I realize it and tell myself, "that wont happen again", But then I also have my leaders, telling me the same thing, "Raul, this can't happen again." Ouch... This is where the choice comes in. I can either make the choice to accept my failure, Learn from my mistakes and move on, or make excuses. Hopefully I am someone that can learn, I know that I don't know it all. I need people to tell me the difficult things I don't want to hear. I need to stop making excuses for why I am the way I am, and try to be more like the way Jesus taught me to be. I am a mess without His help. I thank God for the people I am surrounded with, and love me enough to tell me when I suck!
Sometimes i take a step back and think about all the things I need to do and get overwhelmed and end up doing nothing! When I was in High school, I took higher math classes like pre cal and for some reason, I thought I could pass this class by doing nothing! What a concept, achievement based on laziness. Not only is this not possible, its not even biblical. In 2nd Thessalonians it says if a man doesn't work, he doesn't eat! I would do just enough to get by and pass the class and looking back if I would've worked at it, I would have done so much better.
Sometimes there are things I need to do and I make a decision to put it off until... who knows. Whenever I get around to it I guess. I don't think I am a lazy person. I try to do things with all my effort and the truth is sometimes, that effort is postponed and causes the end result to be rushed. I get the "Good Enough" mentality going on and it becomes acceptable to me, only because I just didn't have enough time! But the truth is I waited so long to start, that I caused myself to be constrained by a time crunch. I would much rather be the person that comes to "class" prepared, instead of rushing to get it done just in time to realize I left my notes at home and have no time to go back for them. This is difficult for me since I have always lived this way in certain areas of my life.
I recently have been put in charge of some great responsibilities, and I now realize when I am unprepared, It not only makes me look bad, but a whole ministry and sets a low standard for others to follow. Its a fight in myself. And then when I fail, I realize it and tell myself, "that wont happen again", But then I also have my leaders, telling me the same thing, "Raul, this can't happen again." Ouch... This is where the choice comes in. I can either make the choice to accept my failure, Learn from my mistakes and move on, or make excuses. Hopefully I am someone that can learn, I know that I don't know it all. I need people to tell me the difficult things I don't want to hear. I need to stop making excuses for why I am the way I am, and try to be more like the way Jesus taught me to be. I am a mess without His help. I thank God for the people I am surrounded with, and love me enough to tell me when I suck!
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Praise and Malfunction?
So as you may or may not know I am worship leader at my church. All that means to me is that I am the voice that is loudest (only because I got the Mic baby) but seriously, Some days everything that could possibly go wrong, Does!! And honestly I try not to let it bother me. I don't think God cares how great we as a team sound (not that we want to sound bad or dont strive for excellence). The truth is things are always going to malfunction. As long as its not a "wardrobe malfunction".Right? As I learned from years being a maintenance Tech; Everything built by man will eventually break! I dont care if its Foreign, Domestic, Pc, or Mac and not to mention my personal favorite, Operator Error! Thats good for me as a repairman. But what is all this anyway, why do we do this? Every church service is the same, We go in sing a couple songs, listen to some Dude tell me about how sweet God is and then strum a couple bars at the end and go home.
I've found for sure that the times I live my week that way that it is not as fullfilling, all the songs are just songs, just music, just words! And conversely when I take my whole life and live it in worship to God, A song service is incredible. Everything I sing is so true. I've seen God and know he's real. He doesn't feel so far off. Taking and living out the truths I learn is difficult, but extremely gratifying. One thing I have learned is that when I give my life and time to him, Crazy things happen, and I know that there is no other way, other than God did it. Serving God is the true act of worship. Because I do it with out selfishness in mind, its all about him, not me! To show the world who he is. And then sunday worship time is exciting, all the things I am singing about are so true. I can sit back and say, Yea thats the truth, Yep God you are awesome, and wow you really do love me, and I love you too!
Nothing is ever going to go as smoothly as we plan, But that is not what the service was about anyway. And God isnt interested in joining in our plans, but only wants us to join him in his.
I've found for sure that the times I live my week that way that it is not as fullfilling, all the songs are just songs, just music, just words! And conversely when I take my whole life and live it in worship to God, A song service is incredible. Everything I sing is so true. I've seen God and know he's real. He doesn't feel so far off. Taking and living out the truths I learn is difficult, but extremely gratifying. One thing I have learned is that when I give my life and time to him, Crazy things happen, and I know that there is no other way, other than God did it. Serving God is the true act of worship. Because I do it with out selfishness in mind, its all about him, not me! To show the world who he is. And then sunday worship time is exciting, all the things I am singing about are so true. I can sit back and say, Yea thats the truth, Yep God you are awesome, and wow you really do love me, and I love you too!
Nothing is ever going to go as smoothly as we plan, But that is not what the service was about anyway. And God isnt interested in joining in our plans, but only wants us to join him in his.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Don't Make Sense
So God is so amazing, Why? Well let me tell you. Nothing that He does ever makes any sense. And really who am I to understand God . Is it even possible? He is so Great and has everything planned out, to work out perfectly. Life does not go on by any means easy and perfect. There is always something that is going on and falling apart and God is still always there. Okay so He is God and He knows everything. So is He standing there watching me going "ohh come on make the right choice", Just like we watch children when they dont know we are watching them, just to see what they do when they think no one is around? I don't know, I kind of like to think that He is. And just like us, maybe He is happy when we do the right thing. But Still God makes the impossible possible! It says in 1st Corinthians, that the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than Man's strength. The words Foolish and weak and God just don't seem like they go together. I think its just a way of putting it in a way that we can understand it. Of course God is not foolish or weak, But that is how much greater than us He is. Our Wisest is still only as foolish to him.
God takes situations in my life and says "Here, have this", even though it makes no sense. I lost my wife,Rachael, a year and a half ago. And somehow God brought me to a place where I was thankful for Him, and In love with Him. Now He has brought an amazing person into my life that I'll get to spend it with, and to me it makes no sense. I lost my job. I was making good money on a terrible shift, and it was a blessing from Him. Then I lost that job, and that was a blessing from Him, I was able to spend the entire summer serving and spending time with Alyssa, And doing ministry that I love. It makes no sense. Now I get a better job with better hours in an economy that is broken, It makes no sense. Sure it made less sense while I was going through it, and at times it was difficult to serve, to give money, and to be positive. But obedience to God always pays off, Because He works for the good of those that love him. Right now My Future wife is 3000 miles away and when I talk to her it always seems that we are learning the same things! For some reason God decided to seperate us for 3 months, to teach us the same thing! It doesnt make sense, But one thing is for sure, God's plan never makes sense to me. So I am going to trust him. He's got it all together and it's all for a reason. So like it says at the end of 1st Corinthians chapter 1 "Let Him who boasts, boast of the Lord", So I will just give Him all the credit, since He did it all. And its all so that he will get the glory. Maybe your going through something that is difficult. Just trust in him and obey, And He will suprise you and bless you for it, even when it makes no sense.
God takes situations in my life and says "Here, have this", even though it makes no sense. I lost my wife,Rachael, a year and a half ago. And somehow God brought me to a place where I was thankful for Him, and In love with Him. Now He has brought an amazing person into my life that I'll get to spend it with, and to me it makes no sense. I lost my job. I was making good money on a terrible shift, and it was a blessing from Him. Then I lost that job, and that was a blessing from Him, I was able to spend the entire summer serving and spending time with Alyssa, And doing ministry that I love. It makes no sense. Now I get a better job with better hours in an economy that is broken, It makes no sense. Sure it made less sense while I was going through it, and at times it was difficult to serve, to give money, and to be positive. But obedience to God always pays off, Because He works for the good of those that love him. Right now My Future wife is 3000 miles away and when I talk to her it always seems that we are learning the same things! For some reason God decided to seperate us for 3 months, to teach us the same thing! It doesnt make sense, But one thing is for sure, God's plan never makes sense to me. So I am going to trust him. He's got it all together and it's all for a reason. So like it says at the end of 1st Corinthians chapter 1 "Let Him who boasts, boast of the Lord", So I will just give Him all the credit, since He did it all. And its all so that he will get the glory. Maybe your going through something that is difficult. Just trust in him and obey, And He will suprise you and bless you for it, even when it makes no sense.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Guglie..whattie!
I have been pondering this situation for the past week or so and was really thinking about it today. I had a long drive and was listening to some praise songs..The song "Healer" came on... I started singing along as I usually do. It made me start thinking.
Worship songs are amazing sometimes. God has blessed people with gifts and talents to write amazing songs, with great melodies. Musicians that can just make music come alive with their creativity and self expression. I know that I am guilty at times of just liking a song. Yea it talks about God and I think that makes it even better, because you are talking about How great God is and having fun doing it. Some songs make you want to dance and others make you want to ponder who he is. The fact is at the end of the song.. God is still there, We may not know it, but he is. Sometimes us christian people think that when a song starts God is there. When in fact he is with us always. Just to think that he was there when I said... or I thought... or I did... We can all fill in those blanks i 'm sure. The writer of the song "Healer" decided to fake being sick and even dying! As someone who has experienced A loved struggle with disease, It is detestable to even fathom how someone could do such a thing. And go to such great lengths to do it. At first I was angry at the fact that I bought into a lie. Then I was sad for his family, Now I have to come to forgiveness. God forgave me when I was still a sinner. That doesn't mean I'm not a sinner now, It just means God is way too good to me.
No one deserves to take the place of God. Sometimes I see the writers of these amazing songs and think wow, what an incredible person to be able to do that. To do What? Use the gift God has given. We are all sinners. I don't say that as a cop out. Micheal Guglielmucci just had to step up and do something we all should have the courage to do. Confess his sin. Yes it affected many, and that is why no one should come before God. No matter who it is that we look up to, they will never live up to the standards that God does! They will always let us down, just as we will let others down. But we press on towards the goal
So does that make the song any less true to me? When he wrote the song, did he believe God is his Healer, of perhaps a different disease than we thought at first. I'll never know that. But I will know that God will never leave me and never forsake me. He is with me always even to the end of the age.
Perhaps there is something to be learned from all of this after all...Proverbs28:13
"He who conceals his sin does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them, finds mercy."
He could have gone any other way, maybe even claiming to be healed, Who wouldn't have believed that, I am sure any doctor would have agreed that there was nothing wrong! But he chose the route that led to mercy, and although he did a horrendous thing in making up the story, Maybe he did the right thing by confessing, after all who am i to judge.
Worship songs are amazing sometimes. God has blessed people with gifts and talents to write amazing songs, with great melodies. Musicians that can just make music come alive with their creativity and self expression. I know that I am guilty at times of just liking a song. Yea it talks about God and I think that makes it even better, because you are talking about How great God is and having fun doing it. Some songs make you want to dance and others make you want to ponder who he is. The fact is at the end of the song.. God is still there, We may not know it, but he is. Sometimes us christian people think that when a song starts God is there. When in fact he is with us always. Just to think that he was there when I said... or I thought... or I did... We can all fill in those blanks i 'm sure. The writer of the song "Healer" decided to fake being sick and even dying! As someone who has experienced A loved struggle with disease, It is detestable to even fathom how someone could do such a thing. And go to such great lengths to do it. At first I was angry at the fact that I bought into a lie. Then I was sad for his family, Now I have to come to forgiveness. God forgave me when I was still a sinner. That doesn't mean I'm not a sinner now, It just means God is way too good to me.
No one deserves to take the place of God. Sometimes I see the writers of these amazing songs and think wow, what an incredible person to be able to do that. To do What? Use the gift God has given. We are all sinners. I don't say that as a cop out. Micheal Guglielmucci just had to step up and do something we all should have the courage to do. Confess his sin. Yes it affected many, and that is why no one should come before God. No matter who it is that we look up to, they will never live up to the standards that God does! They will always let us down, just as we will let others down. But we press on towards the goal
So does that make the song any less true to me? When he wrote the song, did he believe God is his Healer, of perhaps a different disease than we thought at first. I'll never know that. But I will know that God will never leave me and never forsake me. He is with me always even to the end of the age.
Perhaps there is something to be learned from all of this after all...Proverbs28:13
"He who conceals his sin does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them, finds mercy."
He could have gone any other way, maybe even claiming to be healed, Who wouldn't have believed that, I am sure any doctor would have agreed that there was nothing wrong! But he chose the route that led to mercy, and although he did a horrendous thing in making up the story, Maybe he did the right thing by confessing, after all who am i to judge.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Only the Lonely
I am definitely feeling the sting today of being Human, It seems every time I have a passion to serve God with all my heart, something gets in the way...Me! I am afraid to point to myself as the reason and so I begin to point to everything else in my life. This is why I am this way or that, or this circumstance is too difficult to handle, God I need Your help! He said he is always with me even to the ends of the age, Why do I feel so alone? If He is for me who can be against me, Only myself, my fears and insecurities. I can rely on him when he is my focus. But sometimes I focus on the "Giant" in my life just like the Israelites, When I should be focusing on God. He thrives on the impossible, and with him nothing is impossible, That's right nothing! I say it, I sing it, I sure better believe it!
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Silence is... Shamefull
My Brother had asked me to come over on Thursday to watch Smallville, for those of you not familiar. Smallville is a TV show about how Superman came into being, well, superman. I used to watch this (and many other shows) religiously and practically arranged my life around them. I would tape the shows sometimes (By tape I mean an actual Tape not DVR) when I absolutely could not be there in time. I could see the anticipation in him as we chilled out waiting for it to come on and it reminded me how I had felt the same way at times. I am not at all saying that what he was doing was bad, Don't get me wrong. But it just made me think about my own life. When was the last time I was that excited about God? Still you can sit back and say "well TV is entertainment and God is just God" I was sitting last night at a High School football game and there was hundreds of people around me, Mostly teenagers! I began to look around and just wonder about them all and just what it is that they are all going through! I believe God is real. I know it. Do they know? Can they see the excitement on me about a God that is so amazing that he can save each of us. And do it in a personal and unique way with us all. Am I displaying the Love of God that people think I am crazy? I want to be that person. I truly do and yet at the same time. It scares the heck outta me! I have to ask myself this question. What is there to be afraid of? Here are the answers I came up with
-People will look at me like I am crazy
-People will reject me
-I might seem like an insane Jesus Freak
-I may be associated with Christians that are a bad portrayal of Christs Love for us all
When I look at each one of these I realize one thing, And that is that they all are concerned more with what People think, Than with what God thinks! I say I am a follower of Christ, I say he is with me always, But it makes me a wimp when I care what people think. I am too much of a punk to tell anyone about the Truth. His is a kingdom that can not be shaken! My prayer today is that we would all lose our lives for him. Especially me,
Now I think what might happen if I say nothing, show nothing, stay seated
-Someone might never know him
-People may go to Hell
-God will be ashamed of me, Just as I was ashamed of him
-I am NOT like Christ, He loved too much to let people continue to live destructively, I pray I can be more like him!
Romans 10:13 For whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved,
14-How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?
-People will look at me like I am crazy
-People will reject me
-I might seem like an insane Jesus Freak
-I may be associated with Christians that are a bad portrayal of Christs Love for us all
When I look at each one of these I realize one thing, And that is that they all are concerned more with what People think, Than with what God thinks! I say I am a follower of Christ, I say he is with me always, But it makes me a wimp when I care what people think. I am too much of a punk to tell anyone about the Truth. His is a kingdom that can not be shaken! My prayer today is that we would all lose our lives for him. Especially me,
Now I think what might happen if I say nothing, show nothing, stay seated
-Someone might never know him
-People may go to Hell
-God will be ashamed of me, Just as I was ashamed of him
-I am NOT like Christ, He loved too much to let people continue to live destructively, I pray I can be more like him!
Romans 10:13 For whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved,
14-How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?
Friday, September 19, 2008
Greater Things
Here is the story of the song "God of this City" and how it was written by a praise and worship Band from Belfast, Northern Ireland,
God of this City
Nov 2007, Bluetree are heading out to Pattaya Thailand to participate in an event arranged by Belfast missionaries living in Pattaya, Thailand called Pattaya Praise. We’ve no expectation of the event; we were just looking for an opportunity to serve somehow.
We didn’t know much about it before we left, but Pattaya is a dark place. It’s a small seaside town notorious for it’s sex trade. Throughout our time there we heard countless stories of girls who are bought from their parents for a price, sold to the sex industry at ages as young as 5 years old. Arriving in Pattaya the spiritual climate seems to change, it’s hard to define, but there is a very tangible change. On the bus journey in we’d been our usual cheery selves, but entering Pattaya at 10am and turning on to a street lined by girls ready for business, the bus became very quiet. We’re in total shock. It’s a sunny day but it’s incredible how dark it feels.
’Walking street’ we learn is the epicentre of the sex trade in Pattaya, it’s about a mile long and at night springs to life with neon signs. Thai people are generally conservative in their dress sense – it’s generally considered provocative to bare your shoulders. But on their street the girls are wearing very little, and offering anything you can imagine for a price. It’s easy to look around with human eyes, see the depravity and get angry. You see older men walking hand-in-hand with young girls – as a daddy, that’s hard to take in. It’s easy to get angry, it’s easy to judge – but that’s not our job, so we grit our teeth.
We were in Pattaya to be part of a praise event not far from this street, the soul purpose of which was to worship and show God’s light in a dark place. We wanted to play more than the scheduled slots while we were there, so we found out that one of the bar owners would let us play a worship set in her bar on the proviso that we brought as many from the missions team who would buy coke-a-cola all night. We walk in to the bar which is about the middle of walking street, girls are lined up on the stairs waiting for business. We get set up, we’re really nervous and quite uncomfortable but we kick in to a familiar beat of worship and soon it’s ok. God starts to speak and we started to move in to this spontaneous song. The truth is when you worship in a place, you start to see God’s heart for that place. What would God say to a place like this?
Amidst the depravity God say’s, I’m the God of this City, I’m the King of these people and Greater Thing are Yet to Come, Greater Things are Still to be Done HERE. The song wasn’t written before that night, but we came out of the bar having worshipped with the song that is now the title track of our album – God of this City (Greater things). The song isn’t just for Pattaya – it’s for your city, and it’s true. By faith we must expect that greater things are still to be done.
What more can I really say!
God of this City
Nov 2007, Bluetree are heading out to Pattaya Thailand to participate in an event arranged by Belfast missionaries living in Pattaya, Thailand called Pattaya Praise. We’ve no expectation of the event; we were just looking for an opportunity to serve somehow.
We didn’t know much about it before we left, but Pattaya is a dark place. It’s a small seaside town notorious for it’s sex trade. Throughout our time there we heard countless stories of girls who are bought from their parents for a price, sold to the sex industry at ages as young as 5 years old. Arriving in Pattaya the spiritual climate seems to change, it’s hard to define, but there is a very tangible change. On the bus journey in we’d been our usual cheery selves, but entering Pattaya at 10am and turning on to a street lined by girls ready for business, the bus became very quiet. We’re in total shock. It’s a sunny day but it’s incredible how dark it feels.
’Walking street’ we learn is the epicentre of the sex trade in Pattaya, it’s about a mile long and at night springs to life with neon signs. Thai people are generally conservative in their dress sense – it’s generally considered provocative to bare your shoulders. But on their street the girls are wearing very little, and offering anything you can imagine for a price. It’s easy to look around with human eyes, see the depravity and get angry. You see older men walking hand-in-hand with young girls – as a daddy, that’s hard to take in. It’s easy to get angry, it’s easy to judge – but that’s not our job, so we grit our teeth.
We were in Pattaya to be part of a praise event not far from this street, the soul purpose of which was to worship and show God’s light in a dark place. We wanted to play more than the scheduled slots while we were there, so we found out that one of the bar owners would let us play a worship set in her bar on the proviso that we brought as many from the missions team who would buy coke-a-cola all night. We walk in to the bar which is about the middle of walking street, girls are lined up on the stairs waiting for business. We get set up, we’re really nervous and quite uncomfortable but we kick in to a familiar beat of worship and soon it’s ok. God starts to speak and we started to move in to this spontaneous song. The truth is when you worship in a place, you start to see God’s heart for that place. What would God say to a place like this?
Amidst the depravity God say’s, I’m the God of this City, I’m the King of these people and Greater Thing are Yet to Come, Greater Things are Still to be Done HERE. The song wasn’t written before that night, but we came out of the bar having worshipped with the song that is now the title track of our album – God of this City (Greater things). The song isn’t just for Pattaya – it’s for your city, and it’s true. By faith we must expect that greater things are still to be done.
What more can I really say!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Worship Leader?
Truly what does that mean! I want to know! I have had the opportunity to be called this for years now and I am so incredibly humbled when anyone calls me this. First off God has set everyone in their place for a specific reason and purpose. Maybe, just maybe God in his infinite wisdom, trusts me with something I would never trust myself with. I know myself too well. Yet he knows me so much more! I have to put MY trust in him every week. I know I cannot do this on my own, And truly why would I want to?
I am not here on this world to make my name known. I am here to be a reflection of who he is! So that all Nations would know him! It takes the burden off me a bit. I trust he knows what he is doing, I'll just sing for a while and tell him how great He is and possibly, He will Meet with people and reveal Himself to them.(if they want him too) I am honored to be a part of His work. It says in the bible that He chose us! That is incredible to me, I surely would have chosen someone else! But He is God after-all. What do I know compared with Him.
I was thinking recently about the fact that I want God to send people my way who are talented musicians that Love him with all of their hearts. They will most definitely be more skilled than I and have more to offer and I openly welcome that. It is my deepest desire not to see a ministry grow, but to see people in and around this church building come to know the truth and Hope that is in Jesus. We all have something more amazing than we realize to offer in service to God, We just have to trust him and he will trust us to carry his message, And he'll even give us the words to say, so that we know how Great He truly is. Lets just think of one of the greatest of the men in the Bible-Paul. He states it perfectly in 1 Corinthians 2:1-5
And I ,brethren, when I came to You, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God.
For I determined not to Know anything among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much Trembling.
And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
That your faith should not be in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
I pray that all of us who are followers would have the same attitude that
Paul had and realize that our strength is in the Power of God and not our own.
With him all things are possible! It says it in the Bible, Do we truly believe it?
I am not here on this world to make my name known. I am here to be a reflection of who he is! So that all Nations would know him! It takes the burden off me a bit. I trust he knows what he is doing, I'll just sing for a while and tell him how great He is and possibly, He will Meet with people and reveal Himself to them.(if they want him too) I am honored to be a part of His work. It says in the bible that He chose us! That is incredible to me, I surely would have chosen someone else! But He is God after-all. What do I know compared with Him.
I was thinking recently about the fact that I want God to send people my way who are talented musicians that Love him with all of their hearts. They will most definitely be more skilled than I and have more to offer and I openly welcome that. It is my deepest desire not to see a ministry grow, but to see people in and around this church building come to know the truth and Hope that is in Jesus. We all have something more amazing than we realize to offer in service to God, We just have to trust him and he will trust us to carry his message, And he'll even give us the words to say, so that we know how Great He truly is. Lets just think of one of the greatest of the men in the Bible-Paul. He states it perfectly in 1 Corinthians 2:1-5
And I ,brethren, when I came to You, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God.
For I determined not to Know anything among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much Trembling.
And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
That your faith should not be in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
I pray that all of us who are followers would have the same attitude that
Paul had and realize that our strength is in the Power of God and not our own.
With him all things are possible! It says it in the Bible, Do we truly believe it?
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