The Morgan Church Devotional

A New Post

2009-06-16T07:12:00.002-06:00

well...this thing has been dormat for almost a year. the good news is i had posted the lyrics to a song called "never far from me"...i really like the song...but i had lost the lyrics...i had the first verse memorized and had 2 other verses on the hd...but, to be honest, they stunk...last year 2 new verses hit me (keeping the same sort of pattern to the first verse)...but (i guess) inever saved them. i tried remembering them, but had no luck.

so, i'm glad to be back for that reason...

but i also want to begin posting regularly again...so, once or twice a week, i will do my best to do that.

Life in a Cage

2008-08-04T07:55:00.000-06:00

during the children's story yesterday (it's everyone's favorite time of the service. to be honest, people remember teh children's story more than they do the sermon...i've even thought of doing the sermon like i do for the kids...anyway)...

i asked the kids what kind of bird they would choose to be...we had fun listening to their choices. robins, bluebirds, later one boy told me he would like to be an eagle.

none of them said they wanted to be a parakeet stuck in a cage. i know lots of people have birds as pets...but i wouldn't want to be that bird. birds were meant to be free...birds were meant to fly, not to live in a cage for someone's entertainment.

but, i must say, it's an easy life for it. lot's of food...no predators (except the cat)...i guess you might even say they have some sort of companionship...

it's easy living in a cage. but it's living in a cage. it's not living as living should be. it's less than. it's existing.

there are lots of cages for christians.

the devil's lies. people's expectations. guilt. selfishness. comfortableness. fear. anxiety.

you weren't meant to live in a cage. you were meant to live free.

it's risky.

but it's worth it.

Never Far From Me

2008-07-30T06:33:00.000-06:00

I am reminded by the blue sky
I am reminded by the rain
I’m reminded by the gentle healing
Yet reminded by my pain

That You are never far from me
Never far from me
Never far…never far…never far from me

I am reminded in the quiet
And when things get kind of loud
I’m reminded in the closet
And I’m reminded in the crowd

When I’m floating on the current
And caught in the undertow
I’m reminded by the ravens
And by the rooster’s crow…

Inspiration Move Me Brightly

2008-07-26T14:41:00.000-06:00

we have a blessed family. we are blessed with the desire to make music...to not just repeat music that has already been made, but to make new music...music that has never been heard b4. making music (esp new music) is a lot of fun. there is much joy in the process (even when the process is difficult) and more joy when there is a finished product.

there is a melding of forces involved.

there is the force of human wit and wisdom, where the maker of music toils and labors and sweats out a finished product in the same way a carpenter builds a house or a chef prepares a meal.

there is also the force of the Maker of music's gift to the maker of music. where the natural born talent (of supernatural origin) is applied and the maker of music surrenders to the gift in him/her and (so it seems) music is effortlessly born.

now, when these two forces are combined, "magic" happens. i know that term bothers us xians. but what i mean by it is, it cannot be explained...even by one who is within the process. i don't mean sleight of hand...or illusion. nor am i giving some sort of endorsment to new age spirituality. there is something unexplicable when a person takes their learned & earned effort and combines it with their God originated talent. whether it's beethoven or the beatles it is absolutely amazing what these two forces bring about.

that's not to say this music is (or is not) acceptable. it is only saying all talent and "natural" abilities come from God. He is the creator of all life and He puts "things" in us that we can use to make a contribution to society...whether we are xian or not. i am glad the mechanic i bring my car to--who often reminds me in various ways he is not a xian!--has the God given ability to figure out what is wrong with my car and fix it. i'm also glad he as the resources to purchase equipment to help him figure things out...i see that as God at work...i try to remind him that God works thru him...that his abilities are a combination of God born talent and his own hard work and learning.

there is, of course, one last force to mention. it is God Himself. there are times God drops a piece of music ready made onto the lap of the musician with little or no effort on their part. it comes differently than just the normal gift for music God gives. it is special...it is singular...it is...rare. even for great musicians, it is rare.

well, i began writing about something else entirely...i was going to write about love...i will later today or tmw....in the mean time, i hope this was at least a little bit interesting.

Get in the Game...

2008-07-23T19:38:00.000-06:00

so, today, july 23rd, is a cold, rainy october day. it's about 60 degrees, but the steady rain makes it feel a bit colder. i'm sitting at home in pajamas imagining a nice warm cup of coffee but am too lazy to go make one. i'm using the excuse it will keep me awake tonight (which it probably would).

we just came in from joe's soccer game...they don't cancel soccer games for rain...only lightning. it didn't lightning at all, so, they played.

joe had a lot of fun. he and the other kids ran and splashed. they mushed their hair into faux hawks and other odd shapes. they pretended they were really hot and were sweating up a storm. they slid in the mud and laughed at each other. it was a blast for them. they didn't notice it was cold. the rain didn't bother them too much...they were having fun and a little rain and cold wasn't going to change that for them.

on the other hand, bella, carlo, our friend bill and me were standing on the sidelines watching. it was fun for a little while watching them have fun. we laughed as joe licked his finger and stuck it up in the air (as if to see which direction it was blowing) and then miss the ball with his kick...we huddled next to each other to keep warm. i offered my flannel shirt to the kids (and they very graciously said "no thanks").

after just a short while it wasn't any fun for us. we were just hanging on till the end...and with every whistle blown we hoped time was up. we moved around and even went to the other side of the field so the wind would be at our backs...but, by then we had had it. we couldn't wait to get home and dry off and warm up.

all the while joe had a big smile on his face.

so...what am i getting at?

there are a good many people in a good many churches on the sidelines watching the game. the cheer the players on; they give encouragement to them; they even help support the action. they have a vested interest in what is happening on the field...it's important to them. and on nice days...when everything is going well and people are getting along and the preacher is saying what they want to hear...they are happy as can be.

but, on a day when it's rainy and cold and the preacher been dragging a few old sermons out and people are grumpy and blah, blah, blah...then it's easy to hunker down and wait for the final whistle, er, trumpet.

put me in coach, i'm ready to play today...

I Walk the Line

2008-07-22T06:23:00.002-06:00

or, at least i try to.

there is a continual need to create balance in our lives.

the balance between work and leisure.
the balance between faith and action.
the balance between justice and mercy.
the balance between eternal security and personal responsibility.
the balance between culture and tradition.
the balance between tradition and relevance.
the balance between grace and obedience.
the balance between blessing and blessing.

in other areas, we must be careful to "not cross the line from:

charity to enabling.
challenge to unrealistic expectations.
discipline to abuse.
contentedness to apathy.
contentedness to pride.
responsibility to control.
concern to gossip.
a couple to a few too many.

i suppose there are many other areas of balance in our lives...some of us keep the balance in some areas very well...others cross lines far too often.

we would be wise to slow down and become intentional. those are the first steps to balance.

sermon outline 20 july 08

2008-07-20T13:25:00.001-06:00

One way to start effectively praying for unbelievers is changing your attitude about them

Are they “lost” or are they “bad”?

"Lost" view:
Spiritual focus.
Considers own sinfulness. Humble.
Encourages helping and addressing the needs of the heart.

"bad" view:

Religious focus.
Considers own morality. Prideful.
Encourages judgment and seeks to change behavior and/or society.

We may disagree/dislike immoral behavior
But God is first concerned with the issue of belief
John 3:18

Always Consider Eternity
Passages relating to hell: Mt 5:22-29; 25:31-46;
1 Thes 1:9

Another thing we can do for the unbeliever is to
begin praying for them (from Colossians 4:2-6)

Be devoted to prayer
Pray consistently
Regularly (daily). Specifically (by name).

Pray earnestly
Remember the importance of evangelism.
Be passionate.

Pray rightly (IAW God’s promises)
God desires people to be saved
2 Pet 3:9 & 1 Tim 2:4
God is able and willing to answer prayer
James 5:16

Pray God will “send out workers”
Matthew 9:37

Who is an evangelist?
Some have a special gift, but we are all witnesses

A witness _______ the story of what they saw

And invites the person to experience the same

Pray God will “open doors” for evangelism

Don’t push (or pull) doors to open them
Let God have His time to work

Recognize we are a part of that person’s process

What can we do (beside prayer) to open doors?
(see vv 5-6)
Be _________ take _______________

Be _________-full be “_____________” w/salt

Key verse 1 Pet 3:15

God Bless You...This Morning

2008-06-28T08:14:00.000-06:00

God bless you in the morning
as you first begin to rise
and you put your feet down on the floor
and rub the sleep from your eyes

God bless you with your coffee
and as you eat your toast
as you ponder your busy day
and what thing you should do first

God bless you as you get the kids up
and they complain and gigle
God bless their little arms and legs
as you dress them thru their wiggles

God bless you with the car keys
and as you shut the door
and sit sighing as you start it
remembering some undone chore

God Bless You...This Afternoon

2008-06-28T08:12:00.000-06:00

God bless you as you're driving
and weave the morning mess
God bless you on your arriving
& as you sit down at your desk...

God bless you this afternoon
as you finish up your meal
and wish you could take a nap
for your waning zeal

God bless you amidst the papers
or among the hammers and the nails
or about your many students
or the milk pails

God bless you on your ride home
and as you share your meal together
and as you chase a thousand ways
God bless the ties that tether...

God Bless You...This Night

2008-06-28T08:08:00.000-06:00

God bless you as He finds you
as this day turns into night
as you tuck your kids into their beds
and turn on their night lights

God bless you in the silence
or in the din of the t.v.
or in the pleasant conversation
or (sadly) in the animosity

God bless you in the covers
as you lay there and thoughts stew
and as the sleep dust hovers
may indeed, God bless you

A Re-run...but a Good One

2008-05-28T09:19:00.000-06:00

"i tried to make you like me with some words and a six string;
i was starving for a deeper love...my God, what shallow reasoning.
and even when it got cold, i hardly knew i'd died;
i guess you go a little numb before you go empty on the inside"
from "songwriter" by Bill Mallonee

i was recently reading a series of articles on "people who died young"...as you might expect, there were a great many musicians on that list. some died in accidents, but many, if not most, of them died either by suicide or overdose.

we aren't surprised by it, sad to say. but why is that?

to not exactly quote Augustine, we were made to be at home in God and our hearts are restless until we find Him...

and life is full of dis-satisfaction. life is full of angst. life is full of empty...there's one for you. life is full of empty.

and the musician (particularly the songwriter) has the job of relating life's experience to people...it's a daunting task, to mess with your own emptiness and even delve into someone else's.

even when the songwriter isn't writing (or singing) about emptiness...it lingers...it hangs around...it is there...it's ominous presence shading the black and white textures of the song, evoking feelings of longing and yearning and...dis-satisfaction. it's easy to fall prey to this hunter called depression and isolation...and he's an expert killer.

to be honest, most of my own best written songs are borne of this feeling...this ache...this dullness...this longing for God. i haven't always understood it...and still don't completely; but it was always a part of me.

then.
something.
changed.

i didn't know it changed...but then, one day, i noticed the ache was gone. i also noticed it was a while since i wrote a decent song...but that ache...that hurt...that restlessness was gone. i stumbled on the cure for the life full of empty.

it wasn't that i met Jesus...i had become a christian years before. sincerely. but, i guess, i finally stopped striving with Him...and just began to believe Him.

it's funny, i kind of miss that ache, to be honest. it was like a drug...and it was impossible to think of giving it up, and if it (the cure) didn't "sneak up on me", i'd still be an addict.

you may not be a songwriter. you may not think yourself creative...but you may have that dull ache of longing...and it drives you...it motivates you...it's a part of you. sometimes you think it is you.

it's not.

you are restless....you were made to be home, and you are not. you know where home is...you know, on some level, you want to be there, but you are not.

i know that feeling. i've bottled that feeling up in songs. i've been drunk on that feeling. and i've been bitten on the butt by that feeling.

i've felt like the songwriter, who said:

" in the end, when i just ain't got the time
oh well, i'm wasted and i can't find my way home"

or the teacher who said:

"Everything is meaningless," says the Teacher, "utterly meaningless!" What do people get for all their hard work? Generations come and go, but nothing really changes. The sun rises and sets and hurries around to rise again. The wind blows south and north, here and there, twisting back and forth, getting nowhere. The rivers run into the sea, but the sea is never full. Then the water returns again to the rivers and flows again to the sea. Everything is so weary and tiresome! No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content.

but my heart found it's home when it just started taking Jesus at His word.

and, by the way, it's only been my art that has suffered.

My C-Log About C-Logs

2008-04-05T09:20:00.002-06:00

This C-Log is written with tongue sometimes firmly planted in cheek...it is yours to figure out when, i guess...

i’ve never worn clogs. chances are i will never wear clogs...no matter what words we call them or how stylish and acceptable it is for men to wear them. it won’t happen.

that’s a short rant about clogs. but, i want to rant about something else. i call them "C-Logs".

i (probably like you) keep a blog. "blog" is (i know you know this) short for "web-log...it is a journal of sorts...a journal that other people can read. so, we probably shouldn't put too too much info in them...lest we reveal something that might get "used against us". and, as long as i’m complaining, i might as well say this, remember, other people read your blogs. lol...

but that still isn’t my rant.

why i do this, i don’t know...my wife tells me not to...and she’s right. i should listen to her a little more often than i do...

but i read several C-Logs somewhat regularly...they raise my blood pressure and get my dander up...etc etc...sometimes i even try to "fix" them. i’ll ask a question or (only once, honest) let go with guns blazing and firing all over the place. i think i might regret that one time i fired on someone...not bc i think i said anything wrong or mean...bc i don't think i did(the C-Logger might disagree)...but bc, hey, it is his C-Log, right? he can write what he likes.

but, i do like to fix things...so i tried to fix his C-Log.

"wait a minute", you say "what in the world is a ’C-Log’?"

ahhh yes...the C-Log. if a blog is a "web log" a C-Log is a complaint log. a running log of complaints...not your normal run of the mill complaints...they (the complaints) aren’t about the weather (i can complain abou that...we still have 2 feet of the stuff and it snowed again yesterday...grumble...mumble...), or about traffic (i could there, too...man...i was in derby yesterday and there was 5--count them! 5 cars in front of me at the traffic light! [alright i can't complain about traffic, lol...but, gromble momble, anyway...), or about this or that...every day stuff.

no, these two C-Logs i mention complain about important stuff.

one of them is written by an atheist. i found her C-Log through a friend’s blog...so, i guess we have a mutual friend. she doesn’t post often...but when she does she tells the world just how stupid religious people are (esp christians). she informs us just how smart and noble she is since she has dismissed the notion of God...how healthy and happy her children are bc they aren’t force fed religious fairy tales and how dysfunctional my children (well, not me personally of course, but ...you know...) are, bc i do raise them to know God is real. i find her to be quite mean spirited and unhappy and abrasive. this C-Log is dedicated to complaints about religious matters...so, bc i’m a curious guy, i read her other blog. i wasn’t too surprised to find it to be another C-Log...albeit this one dedicated to the trivial things of life. like coffee drinking "some people are so stupid!" she writes "they don’t even know how to make coffee! it takes 2 TABLESPOONS of coffee to make one cup!!! don’t you _________ know anything/???" and numerous other matters...

but, you know, altho i find it sad, i read it. for a couple of reasons...one is, i want to know how the unbeliever thinks. i’ve been a follower for 20 years now...i remember my life back then...but it is hard to go back to that way of thinking. most of my friends are christians...i work in a christian environment...i need the "fresh air" (like going outside when you live in the city) of an unbeliever. another reason i read it is bc, like a car wreck, it is captivating in it’s brutality.

the other C-Log is different. it is written by a christian. he’s sincere in his belief. and on a lot of levels, he is a nice guy. i knew him for a few years, some years back...i won’t say when...i don’t want people from the various stages of my life trying to figure out who it is...(btw, the thought does hit me...then why C-Log??? bc i think i might explode if i don’t and i have to preach tonight...lol)

the problem with this C-Log is his condescending manner of writing. every one else is wrong...i know we all have opinions...and we all think our opinions are right...i do (think my opinion is right, that is). but this is different. nearly every post is about how someone (or someones) is wrong about this or that. he often focuses on one word (or a short saying) of what they said and runs with it. he is a very smart and studious guy...but...man...he can just put you off with his words (or his attitude???). any way...

i think the saddest thing about this is after i read my christian friend’s C-Log i ahve that same empty, just got hit by a bat feeling i have when i read the atheist’s blog...

probably how you feel right now after reading my C-Log...so:

i really should listen to my wife more...and

as God helps me, may this be my last C-Log.

Who's Driving That Thing?

2008-03-29T08:32:00.001-06:00

i remember once during college a friend and i decided to have some fun. it was a spur of the moment thing, which is when fun (and trouble) are most had. we were in his car and for some reason he put his seat down...i told him to start driving and he did...all around campus. as we passed by several different groups of people i told him to honk and i enthusiastically waved at them...it was funny to see the looks on their faces change from odd curiousity to laughter as they tried to figure out who was driving.

was it a right handed steering wheel? i had one of the them when i was in greece...it was fun to drive and surprisingly easy. the muffler fell off after a while, but greece didn’t have (or enforce) those sorts of laws...plus i fit in with the locals, so i never fixed it.

i don’t think driving that way was too dangerous. we were on a closed campus and we were only going 5-10 mph. it was easy to warn dave to turn or stop or anything like that. i wasn’t afraid at all. plus, driving this way required dave to pay attention...which he didn’t always do otherwise.

but i don’t think i would drive that way in town...or on the highway...or any where else, really. driving blind was was fun and fine going 5 mph...but change the scenery and it is dangerous and dumb.

when we make decisions in life...we have to admit a few things. first off, we’re driving blind. blind to how our decisions affect our future. blind to how our decisions affect the future of other people. sometimes we’re even blind to how our decisions affect our (and their) present.

"i didn’t mean for that to happen" or "i didn’t see that coming" are two of the saddest statements we can ever utter. they are also two statements that God NEVER makes.

we can drive blind at 5 mph...

but life doesn’t move at 5 mph, does it?

Get the Led Out...

2008-03-25T16:40:00.003-06:00

i want to be led by God. every step. i think one of the first things we have to do b4we begin to understand what it means to be led by God is learning what interferes with being led.

a common bill mallonee metaphor is the idea of communication with God being like a radio receiver...esp if you remember the old days of dial radios...you would fanangle that dial and get it in just the right spot to get your radio station in w/o static...if you were driving, it would change as you moved; you were forever reaching for the dial as you drove...esp when a good song was playing. if i was listening to the radio in my room, sometimes my mom or dad would be doing something downstairs and interfere with my station...eventually my older brother rigged up some sort of antenna that which worked well...except for when an airplane flew over head.

currently in our home we don't have cable/sat tv. don't want it either. our poor, deprived kids. but i miss baseball. alot. i listen to games on the radio...but it's a hassle...even tho the radio station is less than 10 miles away, i can hardly get it in. one day, i was listening to the sox playing the indians...and the announcers were obviously indian fans...and then i realized i was listening to a cleveland OHIO radio station...it over powered our little nickle and dime radio station...i tried the old tin foil on the antenna thing...i got to get my older brother to come up and rig somehting up...

what are the things that get in our way? sin, obviously. it's great that our sins are forgiven...i love the thought that all of my sin paid for on Calvary's tree. that Jesus died for all of it (even the sins i will commit tomorrow). i don't have to get hung up on worrying about being forgiven. i am.

i walk in newness of life, bc God has forgiven all of my sins. oh, how i need that!

but, at the same time, i realize that sin corrupts my relationship with Him. it gets in the way...blocks the signal...brings static...confusion.

bad attitudes get in the way...unforgiveness...senses of entitlement ... selfishness ... anger ... well, unchecked anger. self pity...when i think about it, these things are all "me-focused". they aren't God focused...if God is the signal we are trying to tune in, other signals (including "me") just get in the way...
and i'm stuck trying to put tin foil on my spiritual ears in order to hear God...or i get duped into listening to the wrong station.

i want to be led by God.

focus...pay attention.

amen.

Rez Sermon Outline

2008-03-22T12:13:00.001-06:00

Make a Plan for L.I.F.E.
Not having a plan is a plan to fail
The Morgan Church theme for 2008 is “P.L.A.N. B.:
Producing a Loving Active Network of Believers”
“Plan A”: is our plan for our lives; “Plan B” is God’s

People living according to “Plan A” often live:
Carelessly (sinfully): sexual immorality; impurity, selfish ambition; drunkenness,
Carefully (religiously): factions, envy, dissensions, idolatry
Both ways leads to death (and being unfulfilled)
(Gal 5:16-26)
“Looking for the Living amongst the dead”

God has a plan for you that leads to Life.
and He invites you to join in and Plan for L.I.F.E.!
Being Led by God
A common human need is Belonging—
bc we were created to belong to Him
Until we commit to following Him our hearts are restless
And we fill our lives with “Plan A stuff”
It requires making a choice and a commitment

Being Intentional
Being intentional is not living a perfect life it is
Living a life of ministry
It fulfills another common human need: Purpose

Peter’s story in John 21
Peter made a mistake (he would make more)
But he committed to intentionally doing God’s work

Experiencing Forgiveness
God’s forgiveness fulfills the human need for peace
Peace is not the absence of conflict—it is God’s presence
We experience His presence by:
We must ask God for forgiveness
Trust that He has forgiven us
Remind ourselves over and over we are forgiven
This results in our being willing to forgive others
If we are unwilling to forgive others, it is an indication
We haven’t fully experienced God’s forgiveness

We can Expect God to be at work in us!
We can always expect God to do what He promised
He promised:
Eternal Life His Presence His Peace His Provision

When we Intentionally Follow Jesus, we give Him complete control of our lives
We choose what He wants for us
We develop His character
(we think, act and speak like Him)

If we fail to do so, we ask Him for forgiveness
And re-commit to Intentionally Following Him

We are assured we Belong to Him
Our lives have Purpose
Our hearts are at Peace

Our human need for Hope is fulfilled
Hope brings Meaning

And that is a Plan for L.I.F.E.

March 23 VOTD

2008-03-22T11:10:00.001-06:00

Sunday: Luke 24:5-6 Plan for LIFE: Being Led by God
But the [angels] said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!”
In what ways do people “look for the living among the dead?”
What things might God be leading you away from?
What are the things God may be leading you to?
Some other verses you can look up: Prov 3:5-6; Gal 5:16-26

hmmm....

2008-03-22T10:56:00.001-06:00

so, yesterday my son and i were in a local store waiting at the counter while a lady helped us fill our order. she didn’t have children...well, at least i don’t think she had any children.

she very nicely said to carlo "is the easter bunny coming to your house?" carlo looks up at me and i nod

>>we don’t make a big deal about santa, the tooth fairy and the easter bunny (altho last week the tooth fairy "forgot" to show up)...but eb doesn’t do much in our home...easter is far too busy for us to really do anything<<

carlo looks at the nice lady and says "yes".

"is he going to bring you lot’s of toys?" she asks, sweetly. carlo looks at me with eyes the size of kansas...hoping i’ll nod "yes" again.

"is he going to bring you bubbles?" she continues...sweetly as ever. i lean over and say "sssshhhhh".

"is he going to bring you a frisbee? a motorized car?"

"sshhhhh!"

"how about a new bike?"

SSSSHHHHHHH!

what the heck?!

carlo is about to have a seizure he’s expecting so much!

the lady looks at him, looks at me (i had that "you’ve got to be kidding me" look on my face)...and says in a pathetic voice:

"oh... i guess you’re just going to get some dumb candy, huh?".

yeah. and a hard boiled egg.

now you know why i said she didn't have kids?

Ain't no Disco

2008-03-20T17:52:00.000-06:00

And I wish I had a map
that would lead me down this narrow path
And show me all the booby traps…
That’s life during wartime

My heart beats and jumps in my shirt
As I lie down there in the dirt
And I didn’t think it would really hurt, like this…but

That’s life during wartime

There are friends, and there are enemies
But when the bullets fly, it’s all the same you see
You just cover your head and say, “no, no, no, not me…”
That’s life during wartime

Chorus

A promise was given to I…
That I may perish, but I’ll never die…
It just gets so cold when the marsh gets high…
But that’s life, during wartime

Spring

2008-03-19T14:39:00.000-06:00

*disclaimer: i have no idea how accurate the information herein is...it sounded good to me...*

the engineer started the enormous deisel engines. He wore a Casey Jones hat on his head and big leather work gloves on his hands. He took the gloves off when they weren’t needed but he always left his hat on. He said it "made him right for the job".

It took a while to start those engines. Sometimes, in late fall or in the cold of winter, he wished starting up the engines was more like atarting his car; just turn the key and go; you don’t even have to step on the gas pedal anymore, fuel injection does it for you.

But most times he relished in the process. Turn the key and wait. Wait until the fuel warms and is able to fire. It took a patient man. He sometimes thought he would be better off applying this gift of patience to other parts of his life...traffic, his wife, his kids...oh, how he needed to be more patient with them! But a gift is only good for what it’s good for and he had a gift for waiting for these engines.

Soon enough the engines had the power to begin moving and he’d ease the engine down the tracks to pick up the rest of the train. This was always the most dangerous part of the trip. There were other trains in various stages of passage; some coming in, some going out, some warming up or cooling down and there were always men around the tracks, deaf to his train in the din and clang of all those other trains. He had many friends maimed and a few killed in the process. He was glad he became an engineer and was off the tracks. So was his wife.

She had the patience he lacked. She calmly said things over and over to him when he couldn’t hear her. She didn’t scold him for not wearing his earplugs when he was on the train (the reason he cited for not being able to hear her). she smiled serenely at him when he shouted "GOOD MORNING, HON. I LOVE YOU" all the way from the other side of the bed.

but she was glad he was off the tracks.

the engineer picked up his load. They (he still doesn’t know who "they" are) decide that the train is large enough to warrant two engine cars. It’s a good thing he is a patient train man. He walks the half a mile or so to get the other engine and starts the process again.

(In what seems like a half a day later) the engineer has both engines hooked up to his load and begins the long pull. The engines are too big to whine, but whine they do, as they strain to budge the load. There is an art to starting trains; you have to use force, but you can’t jerk it, God forbid stall the engines. As he always does, he leans his weight forward, co-operating with gravity to move the train. He thinks it helps and chuckles everytime he does it, remembering his wife’s good natured ribbing about being able to "will" something into existence.

Soon, the train is chugging along as rough as a ride along the surface of the moon. The engineer likes this part of the trip. He enjoys the fits and starts and the Ralph Kramden like lurches and halts. He enjoys the overwhelming noise of the engines that seems to surround him and embrace him like a heavy winter coat soaked in warm water. He enjoys the pull of the engines and glances at his watch and makes a mental note of when inertia begins to kick in. He enjoys the chug of the engine and gets a thrill at the exact moment when the train’s momentum makes stopping a seeming impossibility.

He thinks of March snow storms and the rough and tumble of winter’s end. He knows that, like Spring, the train is slow in coming, but come it always will.

With Nothing to Say...

2008-02-27T15:11:00.002-07:00

should we even try to speak? or would that be like splattering paint on grass and trees?

when the meloncholy comes...does one listen to the meloncholy of others, or something else?

sometimes...sometimes...sometimes...

sometimes you listen to nick drake

other times you listen charles wesley

and sometimes it makes no difference.

today it is nick drake...

and i could swear it is charles wesley.

Two Posts about God, Floyd and Me...

2008-02-20T21:07:00.002-07:00

Money, So They Say...

2008-02-20T20:33:00.003-07:00

is the root of all evil, today...

well, mr. waters quoted the bible wrong....

money isn't the problem...loving money is the problem.

i remember a lunar eclipse when i was in college. it was early in the evening and there were a few dozen students outside the student center waiting for it to start. just as it was beginning, a friend of mine came out of the student center, stood at the top of the stairs, raised his hands in the air and said in a theatrically eerie voice "people, listen to me... i will make the moon disappear unless you give me all of your money"...it was quite comical.

this story is kind of like that...only less comical

on one of christopher columbus' later journeys to the new world his crew was in harbor in jamaica...the ship had a worm problem and was in danger of sinking. they were there for a year or so...

all that time they were living off the indians...and, to be honest, they were taking advantage of them. the indians had had enough of it and started to rebel a bit. they stopped supplying the crew's needs and (i would guess) maybe even began make some sort of threats...

CC knew he was in trouble...without the indian's help his crew would never last until a new ship arrived...it could be days, or weeks or (probably) months.

but CC was a smart cat. like all sailing captains, he was familar with the seaman's almanac...it mapped out various solar and lunar events and was very precise. he knew that in 2 days there was going to be a lunar eclipse and scheduled a meeting with the indian chief for just prior to it.

he told the chief that his (CC's) god was very displeased with the indians bc they stopped helping him. and bc he was so angry, god was going to make the moon disappear! i'm sure the chief scoffed at the idea...but CC gave him the exact time...

and...

then...

it...

happened...

the moon disappeared. gone. the indians were in a fright. what could be done? what could they do? what would happen next?

the chief came to CC and asked him to implore his god to have mercy on them. CC retired to his study to do so and watching the clock...came back out just b4 the moon began to return...assuring the indians that, if they continued to provide for CC's crew, god would have mercy on them.

i'm a capitalize God kind of guy. in these posts and in email...i rarely capitalize anything, even my own name. but i always capitalize God...or Jesus...or He or Him...i think it's right to. i don't neccesarily think you have to...but i like to.

but when i wrote about columbus' disappearing moon trick...i couldn't use capitals...i don't know if CC was a christian...he may have been in the church...but i don't know if he was a follower of Jesus...i've heard the stories that he was... but, in this situation, his god was money...or himself

and this thing here...what he did...was wrong. it was out right deception. it was brilliant. it's even pretty funny...but it was wrong.

and it makes me think of all the wrong that's been done by christians...especially when it's done "for the cause of Christ"...and it's flat out heartbreaking.

i don't think twice when someone rejects what i say to them as i try to tell them about Jesus...i can't blame them.

we're guilty.

God help us to own our corporate sin...all the things the Church has done thru the centuries that are so far out of His character that (if it weren't so terrible) it is sad sad sad...

and then help us to own our personal sin...all the things we've done out of His character...all the grudges we held...all the gossip we spewed...all the lies we smiled thru...

and then, maybe, we might have some standing to tell them about God's love.

Everything Under the Sun is in Tune...

2008-02-20T20:03:00.005-07:00

but the sun is eclipsed by the moon...

our family went out to take the garbage and saw the beginning the the lunar eclipse. i told the kids that God was hungry and took a bite of it.

we came inside and i sent the kids up to brush thier teeth and get in bed and told them i would be up in a minute to put them to bed and watch the rest of the eclipse. i fiddled for a few and carlo came down for something and i said "go on up...i'm going to pick out some music to listen to as we watch the eclipse." "what are you going to pick, daddy?"

what else is there to listen to during an eclipse????

dark side of the moon.

so i went up stairs and put it on...very atmospheric...perfect. i guess those floyd boys new what they were doing when they made it. we sat and told stories (the stories you just read and others about george washington ["he lives near the bridge", bella said]and martin luther king--i don't why...they asked about them)... then we just listened to the music.

the moon continued to slip away...

half gone...

three quarters gone...

almost gone...

then it hits me...the moon is going to "disappear" at about the same time as the last line of the album (well...cd).

how weird...how cool...

but it couldn't happen exactly, could it?

the lunatic is on the grass...

disappearing...

the lunatic is in my head...

almost gone...

and if the band your in starts playing different tunes...

a slice...

i'll see you on the dark side of the moon...

a sliver...

all that you touch..

a shaving...

all that you buy, beg borrow or steal...

a glimmer...

all that is now...

a shimmer...

all that is gone...

a gleam...

all that's to come...

a shine...

and everything under the sun is tune, but the sun is eclipsed by the moon...

gone.

so, what does it mean?

God digs pink floyd? you mean, it really is ok to listen to secular music??? does this in some way validate "dark side of the rainbow" ?

i don't know what it means, other than life is pretty cool when things like this happen. those little moments when it feels like God takes direct concern for your life and your loves and says "i think i'll zap that jake guy with a 'howzit?!!' and let him know i love him".

we all appreciated it. we talked for a moment...then had a prayer thanking God for His goodness and kindness and His interest in our likes and lives.

kissed and said goodnight.

Outline for 16/17 February 08

2008-02-17T11:46:00.001-07:00

“Being Active”

“Good Things are the enemy of Great Things”
God can & will do Great Things in us and thru us!

When we become active and join Him as
“co-workers” (1Cor 3:9, 2Cor 6:1)

Everybody is active, but active doing what?

Are you content with your life?

We can be active doing bad things
Gal 5:19-21

God puts parameters on things

Because going past God’s limits hurts us
— think of a fence —
He is our designer (Ps 95:6-7; 103:13)
God isn’t a “killjoy”
He knows what is best
And He knows what will hurt us
(For an explanation see Rom chs 1 & 2)

Note: Gal 5 is one list—it’s not a “tiered” list—
one is as bad as the other
Because sin “interrupts” our relationship with God

What to do if you find yourself in sin:
Change your way of thinking (Acts 2:39, 3:19; Eph 4:23)
Confess your sin to God (1 Jn 1:8-9)
Ask for forgiveness and trust you are (Mt 6:12)
Stop that behavior (Mt 3:8)

We can be active doing things we think are good but in reality are fruitless

Doing religious things* is fruitless
*We define this as our efforts to earn God’s love and favor
Religious things produce some of the “works” in Gal 5

Just thinking about being spiritual is fruitless
Prov 28:19

Just “doing church” is fruitless
Like going to the pool and not swimming

We can be active doing good things
See Eph 2:10 and Heb 10:24

Good Things are things that lead to your spiritual growth
Worship
Some info on worship: Jn 4:21-24; Mt 22:37-38, Rom 12:1-2

Or things that lead to other’s personal spiritual growth
Evangelism (Mt 28:18; 1Pt 3:15)
Discipleship (Lk 17:24; Eph 4:20-32; 2 Tm 2:15)
Fellowship (Acts 2:42; Heb 10:25; 3:13)
Service (1 Pt 4:10-11)

We measure activity against what it brings in return

Bad things bring sin & death & disillusionment
Fruitless things produce frustration

Good Things bring earthly blessing & eternal reward

VOTD

2008-02-17T11:45:00.002-07:00

i put up all of the verses of the day for this week bc i thought i would not have enough ink in the ol' printer to print them all out for every one. turns out i did have enough...

VOTD for Saturday 23 February 08

2008-02-16T14:00:00.002-07:00

Saturday: 1 John 2:15 (MSG)
Don't love the world's ways. Don't love the world's goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father.

VOTD for Friday 22 February 08

2008-02-16T14:00:00.001-07:00

Friday: 1 John 2:13-14 (MSG)
And a second reminder, dear children: You know the Father from personal experience. You veterans know the One who started it all; and you newcomers—such vitality and strength! God's word is so steady in you. Your fellowship with God enables you to gain a victory over the Evil One.

VOTD for Thursday 21 Feb 08

2008-02-16T13:59:00.000-07:00

Thursday: 1 John 2:12-13 (MSG)
I remind you, my dear children: Your sins are forgiven in Jesus' name. You veterans were in on the ground floor, and know the One who started all this; you newcomers have won a big victory over the Evil One.

VOTD for Wednesday 20 Feb 08

2008-02-16T13:58:00.002-07:00

Wednesday: 1 John 2:9-10 (NLT)
If anyone says, "I am living in the light," but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is still living in darkness. Anyone who loves other Christians is living in the light and does not cause anyone to stumble.

VOTD for Tuesday 19 Feb 08

2008-02-16T13:58:00.001-07:00

Tuesday: 1 John 2:7-8 (NLT)
Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment, for it is an old one you have always had, right from the beginning. This commandment—to love one another—is the same message you heard before. Yet it is also new. This commandment is true in Christ and is true among you, because the darkness is disappearing and the true light is already shining.

VOTD for Monday 18 Feb 08

2008-02-16T13:57:00.000-07:00

Monday: 1 John 2:3-6 (NLT)
How can we be sure that we belong to him? By obeying his commandments. If one says, "I belong to God," but doesn't obey God's commandments, that person is a liar & doesn’t live in the truth. Those who obey God's word really do love him. That’s the way to know whether or not we live in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Christ did.

VOTD for Sunday 17 Feb 08

2008-02-16T13:55:00.001-07:00

Sunday: 1 John 2:1-2a (NLT)
My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if you do sin, there is someone to plead for you b4 the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who pleases God completely. He is the sacrifice for our sins.

VOTD for Sunday 17 Feb 08

2008-02-16T13:55:00.000-07:00

Upon Discovering I Wasted My Time

2008-02-12T11:24:00.000-07:00

one of my favorite albums is chicago IX...it's a greatest hits album, the one that has the band falling off of scaffolding while painting the familiar chicago emblem. it is a great album...it isn't one of my top ten...but it is well loved and listened to often...when i'm feeling down and need a little pick me up. it does that for me.

starts off rocking with "25 or 6 to 4"...who knows or cares what it means. then comes the existential wondering of "Does Anyone Really Know What Time It Is?"...can you keep from smiling as the horn section comes in? it slows down quite a bit for the prom favorite "Colour My World"...a song i thought was cool bc it used the british spelling for color...kind of like pink floyd's "Any Colour You Like"...you kind of have to say it different...but i digress. "Just You and Me" gets skipped sometimes, but it isn't half bad (trks 8, 9 and 10 always get skipped and won't even be mentioned other than this).

then comes "Saturday in the Park"...a great little smile as your toe taps song. first, that great carol king piano...organ and then the horns. sweet.

it has a line in it "a man selling ice cream, singing italian songs" that we'll get back to in a few.

it took me a while to listen to "feelin' stronger everyday"...i thought it was chicago smaltz...but it grew on me and rocks at the end.

and then the last song, "Beginnings". great rhythm guitar riff...great percussion... great for the entire (almost) 8 minutes.

so, let's skip back to "sat/park"...

he sings: "a man selling ice cream singing italian songs"...and then this wonderful (i'm sure) italian phrase...every time it comes on i think i should know it. so i start thinking about it. i should be able to understand it! i mean, i'm italian (well, half)...i'm good with languages...i could even appropriate some of the spanish i learned over the course of 10 years of overhearing dina talk to her mom.

i put it on again. and again. then i start scrolling back and listen to that phrase over and over (having USAF flashbacks of listening to tapes over and over trying to figure out what...oops, that's as far as that goes)"...comay' aday...esay nodre'..." or something like that. that's all i could come with. but they must be very meaningful, right? so i keep trying.

then i get an idea...find the lyrics on line...well...every where i looked it said something like "unintelligable italian words"...they can't figure it out either!

then, it hits me, wikipedia! of course! they'll have it! i hear they have everything.

as it turns out...the phrase is made up italian sounding syllables. they aren't real words...in italian, portugese, spanish...or anything really...it's just nonsense.

and i wasted my time.

and the question hit me...how much time do we waste on things we will never figure out and wouldn't change anything even if we did?

just wondering...

and perhaps the bigger question is how did the band that recorded all of the above songs end up recording junk like "you're the inspiration"?

I Live in a Silvermine and I Call it Beggar's Tomb

2008-02-11T19:17:00.000-07:00

i think if i were allowed to steal one lyric and say it was my own...it would be this hunter line from "uncle john's band".

think about it...close your eyes...paint the picture...

our place of abode is full of precious metal. it's every where...in the floor, in the walls, in the ceilings. we have to kick it out from the treads of our shoes.

our joyce meyer limited edition commode is made out of it.

we cover it up with rugs and pictures and paintings. we drill thru it to make more space...we even sweep it up and dispose of it in a big pile in the back where nobody can see it.

all the while cursing the drudgery and crying poverty and begging for...something.

we are oblivious.

oblivious to our blessings. oblivious to His promise. oblivious to His provision. oblivious to His presence. oblivious to His person.

we are rich. i don't mean with money...altho if you compare our lot to most of the world's, we are rich that way too, believe it or not.

but we are rich. we have a God who loves us with a love that is bigger than the sky. bigger than the sky. bigger than the sky.

do you get that? His love for us...His love for you is bigger than the sky . say it a few times.

His love for me is bigger than the sky. tell yourself...like this (it may sound silly, but please PLEASE please do it..."mike, God's love for you is bigger than the sky. it is bigger than the sky and it is for you".

i've seen some big things in my life. i've been to texas. i've seen the wtc and empire state building. i've sailed on the ocean and seen a whale. i've seen mt. rushmore (it wasn't as big as i thought, btw).

when i was a kid my dad a '62 cadillac with slip slidy leather seats (and no seat belts. it had those tailfins...it was...a yacht. there was no way in the world i was going to take that car to my driving test...how do you parallel park something that big?

i've laid on my back on a bright summer day and watched the clouds and picked out shapes...there's a mountain...there's a whale...there's a building...whoa...there's a cadoo! can't you see the tail fins.

amazing how even the biggest things we can imagine can fit in the clouds of the sky...we see them, white and dreamy, floating by...shifting shapes all the while. i often wonder how big a particular cloud is...does someone in another state see that same cloud? how about in florida or california or honduras or...china? i don't know.

but i do know that of all the big things i've seen in this life...there's nothing bigger than that great, big, blue, sky.

and God's love for me is bigger still.

thanks be to the God who loves me bigger than the blue sky. i'm glad He forgives me for calling it my beggar's tomb.

Outline for 10/11 February 08

2008-02-11T12:28:00.001-07:00

Producing a Loving, Active
Network of Believers
“In the GRIP of Love”

Because God loves, He is GIVING
Some verses to look up later:
1 Jn 3:16; 4:8-10; Jn 3:16 & 2 Cor 5:17; Phil 4:19
He also gives us trials: Jas 1 & Heb 12

Because God loves us, we can RESPOND in Love
We love because we are loved
We can only love to the degree we realize
how much we are loved
For a great story illustrating this see: Luke 7:36-50

People might get INSPIRED to seek God
if they see His love in us See 1 Jn 4:1-12 (esp v 12)
People look for God, but have trouble finding Him
We have the privilege of “showing Him” to people
INSPIRING and helping someone to seek God
is a wonderful feeling

Love is shared on PURPOSE & w/ PURPOSE
Jesus had a PLAN
He didn’t give in to temptation (Mt 4)
He didn’t give in to pressure (Jn 2:1-11)
He didn’t give in to feelings (Mt 26:36-46)
He didn’t give in to opposition (Mt 26:47-27:54)

Decide you will love with the Love God has given you
Commit verbally to someone that you will do so
Think about how you will show love to people
Follow thru with loving people

A Dad's Dream

2008-02-07T14:58:00.001-07:00

like most musicians, i always thought the idea of my kids being musicians very cool. we didn't want to push it, however.

music is almost always playing...whether it's the radio or just me...but we never imposed it on them...i was very afraid of turning them away...souring them...

joe chose the violin. he chose it. we didn't suggest it...we didnt' even encourage it. he always loved the sound and wanted to learn to play it. it is a hard (maybe the hardest) instrument to play and he struggles at times; but as he says, he likes to persevere.

carlo chose the drums. altho i think it would be safe to say the drums chose him. i think he's amazing...sometimes we're playing and he's just lost in the rhythm. out of the three, he likes music the most...he always asks for it to be on, and he has exceptional taste in music...he likes the clash the most--gotta love that.

bella chose the piano. she has a knack for playing with both hands and staying in key...that's pretty cool. sometimes she just plays b4 church in the morning...she's just playing...but it sounds lovely, like a symphony. i don't think it's bc i'm her dad either...but it may be.

any way, the coolest thing happened last night. i came in and the twins had my electric guitar (which i had left out after partially restringing it)...they were struming it and then (as only twins can do) they both said "daddy, your guitar is out of tune". they were right.

it made my day.

The Island's New Start

2008-02-07T06:45:00.001-07:00

tonight we'll be watching lost...

but this post is from last week's recap episode.

the narrator (ben) wonders why the losties (they are often referred to as "our gang" ) would want to get off the island. he says something akin to: "why would they want to leave? the island has given them a new start. their old lives are over and they all had something to hide".

jack betrayed his father and his marriage crumbled. kate is a murderer on the run. sawyer is a con man. hurley cursed with good luck for him and bad luck for others. jin and sun are unhappy and trapped in it by her dad. rose has (island induced in remission) cancer. charlie a washed up rock star addicted to heroin. sayid was a torturer tortured by his memories. every body seems to be hiding from something...and those who aren't? well, we just haven't seen their back stories yet.

but here on the island they've found a bit of redemption. a newness of life. sure, there are hardships...there are mysteries...there are dangers...but there is a new start. plus, there seems to be abundant food and adequate shelter. they have the support of their fellow refugees...companionship...friendship...they even have old dharma beer.

so, why would they want to go back to egypt...er, the real world? for convenience? for validation? for pleasure? for what? the old life wasn't a good life, don't they remember? they were universally unhappy and thouroughly unfulfilled. thier best sides have come out on the island...they have a chance to fulfill their potential.

i suppose you might say that they ought to learn to live within the "confines" of the island...learning to live within it's parameters...adapting themselves to it's ways.

that's what you have to do with new life.

hey...check out the band i'm currently listening to...a bunch of american white folk playing indian-christian music sung in hindi...amazing. click on the lyrics tab to read what they are saying (you have to do it twice, if you aren't familiar with myspace)

http://www.myspace.com/aradhnamusic

18-1

2008-02-06T19:04:00.000-07:00

my oh my...

when the scripture says "hope deferred makes the heart sick"...it knows what it's talking about.

i grew up about 15 miles from giants stadium...saw a few concerts there...drove by it a thousand times...

but i was never a nyg fan. my dad was a jets fan...so, i was too. in my mind (for right or wrong) the "new york football giants" were akin to the yankees (but w/o all the world titles). they were the "other team" in town...plus my snotty nosed cousin liked them, so i hated them.

plus, i'm an afc fan. with the exception of the packers, there isn't a team in the nfc i would root for.

so when we moved to new england 10 years ago, i slowly made the transition to being a patriots fan (i've always been a red sox fan...we have a common enemy in the yankees). it was quite easy...the jets (the team i root for) have been...well, the ny jets and that isn't going to change anytime soon...and the pats have been awesome.

but, i'm not a real fan. i'm a fair weather fan. if the pats went to stink...i'd keep my own misery with the jets, i suppose. however, i was rooting for them.

i was rooting for them bc i adopted them as my team.

i was rooting for them bc they are a great team.

i was rooting for them bc everybody outside new england wasn't.

i was rooting for them bc they were playing the giants.

i was rooting for them bc they had a chance at history.

so, at about 10:30 on sunday night...i think that was what time it was...i had a dull ache inside. it didn't hurt...i wasn't going to cry...i didn't get angry at every little thing...but there was a dull ache.

i can only imagine what a "real" patriot fan must feel. worse, what any of the patriot's players or coaches must feel. that dull ache must feel like they had surgery done with a butter knife and a spoon...a table spoon.

there are other dull aches in life. there are other disappointments that are far worse than a football game.

people disappoint us. friends do...family does...our kids might...our parents, too. polititions...preachers...cab drivers...bookies...our dogs do...cats, too (but they don't care).

life is full of disappointments. and sometimes the spoon borne pain is so great (not searing, not piercing, not burning...just aching), we don't know what to do, or where to go, or where the pills are.

i remember those pains. i remember the zombie stare it brings. i don't look forward to ever feeling it again...but chances are i will at some point.

but i've learned something...altho life isn't as trivial as a football game, alot of things are trivial. i still sweat some small stuff...far more than i should. but i try not to.

i've learned another thing...i've learned that the most important thing in this life is my relationship with Jesus. i guess i should have known that sooner...well, i think i did know that, at least in my head. and i try to let everything that happens, whether good or bad or indifferent, drive me closer to Him rather than become a wedge between me and Him (if that last sentence isn't grammatically correct, it is theologically correct--think about it). and i find that when i live this way, it makes handling disappointment a whole lot easier.

Sermon Outline for Feb 2/3, 2008

2008-02-06T17:53:00.000-07:00

Producing a Loving, Active Network of Believers

If their “life needs” are met (food, nourishment, etc)
Healthy organisms will always produce

God intends for His people to produce

He wants us to “Bloom where we are planted”
Ref: “Hind’s Feet on High Places” by Hannah Hurnard

We bloom when we recognize God’s work in our lives
See Rom 8:28-29; Heb 12:5-11; Jas 1:2-4
Just as a flower pushes thru dirt and stone to grow
We should also push thru the difficulties in our lives
(whether great or small)

God’s love is revealed in nature
Ref: “To Own a Dragon” by Donald Miller
Psalm 19; 36:5; 103:11

Reasons people become a Christian
1. To be moral
2. To go to heaven
3. To be a part of an organization (church)

These are all good, but:
The best reason to be a Christian is to be in relationship with God
That’s God design for us

Jesus called it being born again: John 3
It is a complete new start
2 Corinthians 5:17
Ref: “Lost” Clip show
Narrator: “Why would they want to get off the island? They all had a new start when they came here. If they leave, they lose that”

If we are in right relationship with God, we can/should be in
Right relationship with each other

A part of being in right relationship is not trying to control each other
When we control our (or someone else’s) we act as if God isn’t in control

Where are you?
Going thru difficulties?
Need a new start?
Need to “lose control”?

hey ho let's go

2008-01-29T18:17:00.000-07:00

lost starts tmw...

*excellent*

Wasted Worry

2008-01-19T07:56:00.000-07:00

i was once a young man with a head of hair that, apart from it's lack of color, looked like exploding fire works.

there was a lot of hair up there.

i used to be able to hide several bright yellow pencils in it.

once it measured 22 iches across...we measured it. it was huge. it was every where. it was unruly and curly and frizzy and coarse; and, to be honest, i don't know why i ever wore it that way.

it was pretty freaky. i attended a vocational school...i took four years of technical drafting and design...3 hours a day we drew machine parts in orthographic projection...i was pretty useless in it. my mind never worked mechanically...i am definitely an abstract sort of thinker...but iwas in td & d.

do you know why? bc it was the only shop that would allow my hippy head of hair in.

welding didn't want me to catch on fire. carpentry did want me to get caught in a saw. sheet metal didn't want me scratching up the tin with the giant brillo pad on my head.

i guess the drafting dept wasn't worried about me getting my hair caught in the pencil sharpner...

any way...it was a lot of hair. when i finally got it cut (as in, i met a girl)it filled a kitchen garbage can...

what was i thinking?

anyway...at the height of my "nest head" (as my friends called it and me) i was visiting a friend's house and his uncle said to me "you are going to be bald headed!"

i laughed.

he said it again "you are going to be bald headed, i'm telling you". "now way" i replied, "look at all this hair". "lots of people have hair in their teens, son. i can see it. you are going to be bald headed".

wow...i thought. my older brother had already started thinning on top...could he be right?

"no" i told the man. "i'm not. i just have a high hair line...like my dad". i think i was trying to convince me more than i was trying to convince him.

i can't go bald! i thought. i'm nest head...i have more hair than absolom (2 Sam 14:26 & 18:9--you have to stop right now and look up those verses!)...and i dismissed what the man said.

but i wondered. he might know...he's been around...he's bald. what if i go bald?

soon, wondering became worrying. and you know what you say about worrying! so, then i was worried about being so worried...all the while thinking that all my worrying was going to cause my hair to fall out.

occasionally i noticed hair caught up in the drain...it's starting, i thought. man...how would i look? maybe i should just shave my head bald now...why wait? why go thru the torture of explaining? why feel bad all the time? just get used to it!

well...even with all that worrying, those of you who know me today know i have (high hair line and all) a thick, wooly head of blue (that's a whole nother story) hair. of course, thanks to my own uncle (sam) i've learned to wear it a bit closer to the bone...but it's all there.

i was worried about something i couldn't change. it did me no good...why bother?

don't worry for your life...live it. love it. grow in it. trust God.

Bogey-men

2008-01-17T14:27:00.000-07:00

"look over your shoulder and tell me what's coming
tell me what is the bogey that you're so afraid of
the eyes in the back of the head can persuade
that just for the moment
mercy has swayed"

from "look over your shoulder"
by mark heard

so, the other day the kids had a friend over and they were all outside playing. after awhile they came in and said, excitedly, "daddy! there's an animal in the field!"

"an animal? what kind of animal?"

"i don't know!" they screamed.

"but it's down by the trees. we saw it!" said joe. "yeah! he was right down there!" said carlo. "he was down by the tree. and he sat up and looked around just like this" said austin (looking like a prairie dog from mutual of omaha's wild kingdom).

"what did he look like, austin?" i asked. he looked kinda funny imitating it. soon all the kids were doing the audy prairie dog.

i stopped them by asking, again, "what kind of animal is it?" "we don't know, but he's down there".

so i put on my boots, coat and hat...contemplate going to get the shotgun (if it's a wounded or rabid animal...), get the dog's leash and head out with the kids to see what kind of animal is down in the brush inthe back of the yard.

from up on the driveway i see what they are looking at. it is dark...brown or probably even black. what can it be? it's not a skunk (thankfully). it could be a porcupine...maybe it's a beaver heading over to the stream. i doubt it's an otter...i wish bob was here, he knows this stuff. maybe it's the elusive fisher-cat (a weasel like mammal that is common up here in vermont, but still seldom seen).

before we start to get close, i try to get the dog's attention. i don't want him getting to whatever it is first. he won't come...altho, he doesn't pay any attention to the fisher-cat in the yard. i know it should have been a clue to the final outcome of the situation...but hey, i was caught up in the excitement of children's imagination. the kids caution me..."daddy, don't get too close!" and "here! take this", giving me a plastic toy sword. "i don't think i'll need that" i say, still thinking about going to get the shot gun.

i finally lure the dog close enough to me to get his leash on (some good it would do me if it was something...i don't think i could really hold gordon!). and we begin our advance toward the bob-cat.

the kids are all saying "did you see that?! it moved!". and "i wonder what it is?!" as we creep closer adn closer...wondering why the panther doesn't just run away. "it must be hurt", i think to myself. "hmmm...this might be dangerous." i say to the kids. "every body get behind me" (the great hunter)

you could feel the tension in the air, even tho there was quite a breeze (that's why gordon didn't know the bear is down there...the wind was blowing the other way and he couldn't smell it).

as we get closer...i begin to focus on the animal. as i do, my mind races about what our next move will be. put the dog in the house...get the gun...proceed with big sticks and plastic swords...

what a minute. the big animal that's moving around and picking it's head up and looking back and forth...?

it's an old log.

i knew it.

there's a ton of lessons in that story. i'll write about that later...

i have an ambush to plan with the twins. joe is coming home late from school and we have a handful of those popper things and we're pretending the power is out and when he comes into the music room, we'll toss the poppers at his feet!

oh, the imagination of children.

yeah that's it.

When Nothing Becomes Something

2008-01-17T13:26:00.000-07:00

funny how just a few words changes everything.

the other night bella wouldn't fall asleep. it was getting late andthe boys were both asleep, but bella? bless her stubborn heart, refused to allow herself to fall asleep. it may have been that she fell asleep in the car earlier in the day, i don't remember...but regardless, it wasn't a big deal.

not yet.

after awhile i went to her room to see what the problem was...it smelled. not bad...but not good. now, with boys around you get used to bad smells; but it wasn't a smell like that.

it was...almost good. or...it was supposed to be good...but, either way, it was overwhelming in it's strength (i've a sensitive nose)...

speaking of noses...

me: my dog has no nose.
you: really? how does he smell?
me: terrible. but that's beside the point.

ok...back on track here...

so, bella obviously has doused herself in cheap, girly-girl, dollar store, flowery-fruity, perfume. her hair was even matted with the stuff...i don't like it (the smell, that is)...but it's not a problem.

well, not yet.

so i ask her, "bella, why do you smell?" lifting her arm and sniffing at her underarm (hey, she has 2 brothers), she replies "i don't smell".

"you do, bella", i say, scanning the room for a bottle. "you smell like you are wearing perfume. are you?"

"no daddy."

"of course you are. i can smell and i can feel it in your hair. why would you lie about it? it's not a big deal. where did you get the perfume?"

"i'm not wearing perfume."

oh my.

must it come to this? this is senseless and needless...i just want her to tell me the truth.

bc it wasn't a big deal...but it is now.

what's happening in major league baseball is similar. ok...steroids are a bit more of a big deal than cheap perfume...but, bb didn't have any rules against for years.

it was/is wrong...but it wasn't criminal. at least it wasn't felonious...it was unsportsmanlike. it was cheating. it was desperate.

but it wasn't a big deal.

not yet.

but then, they lied about it. over and over and over and over and over. they lied and lied and lied.

they lied to the press. they lied to their peers. they lied to their competitors. they lied to their families. they lied to themselves. they lied so many times they must have forgot they were lying...

bc then they lied under oath.

and now, it's a big deal.

There are Three Things I Don't Understand

2008-01-15T18:11:00.000-07:00

four that just confuse me...

how boats sail on the water
how a snake moves on a rock
the way of a man with a maiden

and a compact disc with a music lover...

this happens with me occasionally.

i've owned the cd "whatever" by aimee mann (she of "voices carry" fame) for at least 10 years. i suppose i listened to it when i bought it...or at least tried to listen to it. but i don't remember it at all. in fact, i remember not liking it.

but it's been sitting on my shelf (at least it's not in the box with the other "unlistenables") for most all of that time. i was really convinced i don't like it. i don't know why...i just was.

today i looked at it and said...it must be decent, right? so i put it in.

and...well, it's been in all day. it is very, very good.

she deserved her fame with "voices carry" (an excellent 80's tune)...she deserves more now (well...when this came out anyway).

expanded outline for bible study use 13 jan 08

2008-01-15T09:30:00.000-07:00

Make a Plan

Remember: God has a plan for your life! (Jer 29:11)

Making a plan for spiritual growth

Step One:
Assess your old plan (or lack of a plan)

Ask: Is it working? Are you growing?

Read the following passages:
If you aren’t growing, you have : Works (Gal 5:19-21)
If you are growing, you have: Fruit (Gal 5:22)
Ask:
What are some of the works of the flesh you see in people?
What are some of the works of the flesh you see in you?

What fruit do you see in others (around the table)?
What fruit do you want them to see in you?

If your plan isn’t working and you need to talk to God
See 1 John 1:8-9

Step Two:
Set some goals for spiritual growth
Spiritual Goals are difficult because they aren’t concrete

Avoid goals like:
“I will do __________(read, pray, witness, etc) more”

This is a “works” based solution
Works = Religion
Works is trying to please God so that He will love you

We need to have a “promise” based solution
Promise = Spirituality
Spirituality based on God’s promise wants to please God because He loves you

Choose to grow in your relationship with Jesus

Step Three
Align your plan with God’s plan
Proverbs 19:21 “man has a plan, but God’s purpose wins”

His plan for you involves:
Sharing your faith (Has to do with Evangelism)
Tell your story! In your words. (Mt 28:18)
To whom can you tell your story?
Name some people in general (ie: Co-workers, neighbors)
Now be specific ________________

Sharing your gift (Has to do with Service)
Grow to maturity (Eph 4:11-12)

What are some gifts listed in the Bible
(1 Corinthians 12:4-11; Romans 12:1-8)

Sharing your life (Has to do with Fellowship)
Be like Jesus (Rom 8:28)

How has God been working in your life?

What are the things Jesus did in His earthly ministry?

How can we imitate Him and do the same?

Outline for 13 Jan 08

2008-01-14T18:11:00.001-07:00

Make a Plan

Remember: God has a plan for your life! (Jer 29:11)

Making a plan for spiritual growth

Step One:
Assess your old plan (or lack of a plan)

Ask: Is it working? Are you growing?
If you are growing you have: Fruit (Gal 5:22)
If you aren’t, you have : Works (Gal 5:19-21)

Step Two:
Set some goals for spiritual growth
Avoid goals like:
“I will _______ more”

Choose to grow in your relationship with Jesus

Step Three
Align your plan with God’s plan
Proverbs 19:21 “man has a plan, but God’s purpose wins”
See also Acts 26

His plan for you involves:
Sharing your faith (Evangelism)
Tell your story! In your words. (Mt 28:18)

Sharing your gift (Service)
Grow to maturity (Eph 4:11-12)

Sharing your life (Fellowship)
Be like Jesus (Rom 8:28)

Outline for 13 Jan 08

2008-01-14T16:54:00.001-07:00

Make a Plan

Remember: God has a plan for your life! (Jer 29:11)

Making a plan for spiritual growth

Step One:
Assess your old plan (or lack of a plan)

Ask: Is it working? Are you growing?
If you are growing you have: Fruit (Gal 5:22)
If you aren’t, you have : Works (Gal 5:19-21)

Step Two:
Set some goals for spiritual growth
Avoid goals like:
“I will _______ more”

Choose to grow in your relationship with Jesus

Step Three
Align your plan with God’s plan
Proverbs 19:21 “man has a plan, but God’s purpose wins”
See also Acts 26

His plan for you involves:
Sharing your faith (Evangelism)
Tell your story! In your words. (Mt 28:18)

Sharing your gift (Service)
Grow to maturity (Eph 4:11-12)

Sharing your life (Fellowship)
Be like Jesus (Rom 8:28)

Commentators, Coaches and Preachers

2008-01-12T12:28:00.000-07:00

"always pray. and while you're praying, pray for me. pray that God would give me an opportunity to preach the gospel and that He would enable me to speak it with clearity and power that people could hear it and understand it and put it into practice"
Colossians 4:1-2 (TMSD version)

i was just reading an article where 3 commentators gave the "keys for jacksonville to upset the patriots".

they said things like:

"Well, nothing replaces experience and the bottom line is that Garrard just doesn't have it in this situation"

"Tempo, tempo, tempo...The best way...to help...is to slow the game's scoring pace."

"There are two keys, really – the first and most obvious is patience; the second, and one that must be achieved for the first to have any realistic chance of being relevant, is staying within striking range"

such things are all true. but, how do you do it? sure, the key to winning the game it to score more points than you allow the other team to score. to have your offense play better than their defense and your defense better than their offense. you have to keep brady-moss contained. you have to keep them from getting first downs. you have to avoid going 3rd and long all the time. you have to tackle and not get tackled. of course.

but the real question...the question the coaches have to answer is: how do you do it?

that's the difference between commentators and coaches.

oh, that i would be a coach and not just a commentator when i preach.

There is a Goodness to God and a Curse to the Numbers

2008-01-09T06:06:00.000-07:00

isn't there?

a patience...a kindness...a gentleness...a graciousness...an other-worldly love that is so very different from what we normally experience in this life.

it's more than a "get out of jail free" card. it's more than being excluded from punishment...it is a grace-filled offer of relationship with God.

it is an offer of a relationship that could not exist otherwise. it is a door with no outside handle or lock being opened to us and for us.

hmmm...kind of like the hatch in season one of lost.

locke and boone "accidently" come upon a metal hatch...a bunker buried deep in the ground with hurley's cursed numbers etched into the side.

after excavating it, they see that it has a door, but no handle or opening device of any kind. they begin trying to open it in various ways...banging it, beating it, using a device that is based on the game mouse trap. nothing works.

they don't know what is inside...they just want to get inside.

for some of them it's the mystery of what could possibly be inside.
for others it represents a way off the island.
for others it's a safe place to hide from the bad(?) guys.

but, regardless of why they want in, it is impossible to get in.

it begins to affect locke and, filled with despair and confusion, he beats on the hatch, begging for an answer. at that moment a light from inside the hatch goes on. we later find out desmond turned on the light. also filled with despair and ready to kill himself, he heard locke's pounding and viewed it as a life line...help is on the way.

in the end, they blow open the hatch. it is an "unnatural" or unintended way to get in. and in the end, they become slaves to what is inside.

there's a great metaphor here...

God's vast, immeasurable, indescribable, wonderful, amazing grace is offered to us. but when we seek entrance to it in any way other than in the intended mannner (humbly, contritely)...we become slaves to religion.

when we seek God to get out of the trouble we're in. or to gain something we don't already possess...or to get rich...or for any other like reason...we don't get the real thing...we don't get His grace, His unmerited favor.

we're stuck with a cheap imitation of relationship with HIm...pushing the numbers in obedience bc it will be the "end of the world" if we don't.

what are you settling for in life? what is the nature of your relationship with God? are you pushing the numbers in fear based obedience, or are you enjoying His presence?

080106 sermon outline

2008-01-07T16:03:00.000-07:00

God has a P.L.A.N. Pt 1.

God has a P.L.A.N. for your life and for His Church
Key verse Jer 29:11

No plan = stagnation
(see Pro 12:11; 28:19)
Think of a person’s garden

Am I actively “working the field of my heart”;
Or do I just think it’s a good idea?

Growth is Always Intentional
Keywords: Decision, thoughtful, responsible, accountable
(see Lk 9:57-62)
Why do people put off their decision to follow Jesus?
Bc of what others might think
Bc of what they might lose
What happens if you look backwards when you plow?

Growth Always Requires Commitment
The cost of discipleship is great
It costs your life

Growth Always Happens in Response to Challenge
Why does God allow bad things to happen to us?
What are some challenges we face?

Follow Paul’s life
(see Acts 20:23)
Read thru Acts 13-28
What are some things that happened to Paul?

Growth always produces benefits
What are some things we can “grow” thru difficulty?
(see Jas 1 & Gal 5)

Every believer should have a PLAN for growth—do you?
Start with a decision & a commitment
And then follow thru!

My Poor Amish Kids

2008-01-03T14:58:00.000-07:00

dina and i have resisted getting video games for the kids. but we finally gave in and my mom brought her old N64 to give to them. they are in there now...and my kids are clueless as to how to do it!

give 'em a week.

Explanation of Previous Post

2008-01-03T14:25:00.000-07:00

"Were I to focus on a defect
I could be the actor
And play the devil
Who casts grey skies and doubt on what is certain otherwise"

hmmm...jim eliot once wrote (quoting robert browning):

"only two people knew what i meant when i wrote that: me and God. now, only God knows"

it took me a few...but i think i remember...lol.

but i was thinking about how we can focus on one (or a few)character flaw in an individual and sully their reputation and have them remembered poorly.

i thought of my own dad...i think he was a great man; and, to be honest, there is no one else i would want to model my life on than his.

he was honest.
he was kind.
he was good.
he was gracious.
he was wise.
he taught better than anyone i know...and he never taught me once.

i miss him dearly...it's coming up on six years since he died.

but anyway...for all of my father's goodness, he was also a man with faults. if i chose to focus on them...i could probably paint a different picture of who he was and convince people he was...well, fill in the blank.

when we do that in someone's life we become just like the devil, the "accuser of the brethren".

we can choose to make people look good or make them look bad...

i don't want to be in league with the devil.

A Few Unfinished Thoughts

2007-12-27T18:29:00.000-07:00

There’s a sadness that comes silently
Slithering through the grass
And hisses very quietly
As it politely asks
Questions that will undermine
Questions that cast doubt
Questions that don’t bring the rain
Just leave you with dark clouds

>>unrelated<<

Were I to focus on a defect
I could be the actor
And play the devil
Who casts grey skies and doubt of what is certain otherwise

A Christmas Parable

2007-12-24T10:50:00.001-07:00

A Christmas Parable

There once was a man, a wealthy man
A man who had both been born into money and
Who worked very hard at building his wealth

His factory was the sole economic source for
the people of the valley

He was, overall, a kind man
He thought he treated the people right…
Although as a business man who was concerned with the bottom line, he had made a few enemies in his time

One day this man, now old, looks out his window
This window overlooked the valley
Where poverty reigned
He often wondered why the people of the valley
Lived in such squalor…
Why they remained poor…

And, moved with compassion…a desire to help them change
He gathered up 4 of his latest gadgets
He called it the “prospero6000”
A machine designed to eliminate poverty
It worked differently for each person

But it did work

He stood up…dressed in his overcoat, hat and
He made his way to town

He thought to himself that he didn’t want to be recognized as the old man on the hill so he pulled his scarf close over his face
And his hat down
And began pulling his wagon to the town

All the way praying the people would be open to receive his gift

He came to the first door
Knocked…waited. Knocked again. Waited some more.
Knocked a third time.
And just as he was about to leave

A bitter and angry man appeared at his door.

The old man offered his gift to the bitter man
The bitter man just stared
Another time the old man offered the gift
And, never breaking his stare, the bitter man slammed the door

He was a poor man…and in his poverty he became bitter
Blaming God and the old man
And every one else for his poverty

The old man, a bit sad, but still determined, began making his way to the next house.

He knocked and waited again. Soon a man came to the door
Not quite as mean as the first man
But not happy either…let’s call him disinterested

The old man offered his gift, and, surprisingly the disinterested man took the gift. And immediately shut the door.
He didn’t care much for gifts
Even tho he was poor…
He took that gift, unopened, and thru it on his junk heep
And it sits there to this day

The old man made his way to the third home and barely knocked b4 the door opened.
He offered his gift to the amiable man who answered the door
The man readily took it…thanked the old man with a handshake and a smile and closed the door.
He looked at the gift…called his family over
Opened it up
And confused as to what it was
Put it up on the shelf

They take it down now and again
And use it for a paper weight or a door stop
But mostly it sits up on the shelf

The old man made his way to the fourth home
And b4 he could knock the door opened and the old man was greeted with a hug from a friendly man
The friendly man recognized the old man…he had been helped b4
He felt the old man was his friend
He gladly accepted the old man’s gift, hugged him, thanked him
Called his family over and opened the gift
They knew immediately what to do with it
And they became very prosperous

In fact, they gave their machine away to other people who needed it and wanted it.

There is a poverty in our world that doesn’t have to be.
It is a spiritual poverty
And just as the old man was moved with compassion and decided to do something
So is God

Now this poverty has lots of symptoms
Emptiness…bitterness…anger…hatred…jealousy…hurt… depression…infidelity…abuse…alienation…dissatisfaction… disaffectedness…feelings of frustration feelings of failure…failure…anguish…sickness…alcohol and drug addiction…murder and mayhem and so on and so on

Those are symptoms and our world is full of them
Maybe you have a few of those symptoms
Or you’ve felt the effects of them

They aren’t the sickness, though
The sickness is sin
We are products of a fallen world
And we are, therefore, born out of fellowship with God

That is the sickness…and we look for remedies
And our remedies cause all the symptoms

But, in reality, God knows our plight
Knows our problems
Knows our sickness
And He sent the Remedy

His Name is Jesus
We’re celebrating His birth tonight
He was born in a stable and laid in a manger
The shepherds came…the wise men came
His mom was a virgin
It’s all true…the story is.

But it’s not the end of the story.
The babe became a boy
The boy became a man
The man was the Saviour of the world
Who died for your sin
He became our sin
He suffered the punishment that was due us
To cure our sickness
To heal our souls
To relieve our symptoms

Who are you tonight?

The bitter man…angry with God for some perceived slight?

The disinterested man…even tho you are spiritually poor, rejecting the gift that will make you well

The amiable man…
Taking the gift but not using it for it’s real purpose…

The friendly man…the receptive man…who willingly and happily takes the gift and is blessed and begins to bless others

Your choice. Choose well.

Thanks to Bill for being the old man
Now, we have a part to play

Lighting of the candles

A Well Rounded Year

2007-12-23T20:47:00.001-07:00

this was an interesting year for me. i've never thought much of "synchronisity"...but sometimes you have to wonder.

in august, my wife and i celebrated 10 years of marriage.

in october i had my 20th "birthday" as a christian.

come january 2nd, we will have lived in/around morgan, vt and pastored at the morgan church for 10 years.

here are some things i've learned:

marriage:

"good love, there ain't no denying; bad love somebody isn't trying" (from "frying pan" by victoria willaims)

for us it has been no denying. i sincerely love and appreciate my wife more today than when we were just married. she's smart. she's sweet. she's beautiful. she's determined. she's fun. she's...lot's and lot's of other things.

i think we've "worked" hard at being happy in our marriage. i put the " " around work because it isn't really work...it's like fun work. like how some people view gardening. or how a musician views playing guitar.

dina and i are mutually committed to making this work. there is nothing either of us want more. and there is no length that either of us wouldn't go to to make it work. right hon? hon? hon? are you there?...lol.

seriously, i would chase that girl around the earth begging and pleading and promising and doing anything i could do to win her back, if i ever was fool enough to lose her in the first place. i have a deep seated and substantial belief she would do the same.

dina and i were friends for about 6 years b4 we started dating (long story). we are still friends...only better friends. i could bore you to death with how much i esteem her and her friendship to me.

i believe that any couple can have the same type of relationship we have. it's based on mutual selflessness and forgiveness (in the times that one of us isn't selfless). get with it, brother. get with it, sister. sit down together and sincerely look each other in the heart and make a promise you will live by:

i will be selfless with you. i will ask for forgiveness when i fail to be selfless. i will offer forgiveness to you when you aren't selfless (even if you don't ask me).

following Jesus:

"and on the road to salvation, i stick out my thumb and He gives me a ride" (from "elijah" by rich mullins)

i marvel at God's unfailing love. indeed, it extends to the heavens. i want to be faithful. i want to follow truly and fervently. i want to be pure and holy and full of love. i want to be like Jesus.
sometimes i get it right.

but, o the times i don't!

but what i've learned from God is this. He covers me. He forgives me. He receives me. He does.
i spent years trying to convince Him that i was worth loving. but i finally realized i would never be worth it, but He loves me anyway. that's the point where our relationship starts. His benevolent love and abounding grace. we start at the ground level...every day.

i used to try to please Him so that He would love me.

i've learned to try to please Him because He loves me.

there is a world of difference between those two statements...my prayer for you is that you discover the difference.

pastoring

"There's an oasis in the heat of the day, there's a fire in the chill of night; a turnabout in circumstance makes each a hell in it's own right" (from tip of my tongue" by mark heard )

i don't know if there is a job like pastoring a church. it is deeply, richly and amazingly rewarding. what a priviledge and honor to be invited to the nitty gritty of people's lives. what a great thing to share God's word with people (whether it's in a sermon or with our lives) and see the light go on. it's great.

growth. hope. change.

there is no reward greater than being a part of that. the difficulty is when someone resents that...i can't explain it. if i could, i don't think i would. but it happens.

if you attend a(nother) church. be kind to your pastor. pray for your pastor. say good things about and to your pastor. defend him/her. let them know you are for them...bc someone is doing the opposite.

The Center Candle

2007-12-17T08:20:00.000-07:00

there is an object lesson in the Advent wreath that shouldn't escape us.

there are 4 candles around the wreath (usually) representing hope, peace, joy and love. they are (again, usually) 3 purple and one pink.

at the center of the wreath sits a white candle which represents Christ.

we all want to have hope.
we all want to have peace.
we all want to have joy.
we all want to have love.

but when we spend our time seeking those things (as opposed to having Christ "at the center" of our lives) we often don't find them...or we settle for things like them.

the distortion of hope is "wishful thinking" or "dreams"...nothing wrong with them, per say. but they accomplish nothing. there is a great proverb that says "he who works his land will have abundant food; but he who chases fantasies will be poor". hope comes from actively putting your trust in God's promises. it comes from seeking Christ first above and before all things. it is the certainty that, regardless of what comes your way, my hope is secure in Jesus.

the distortion of peace is financial security, personal blessing, and ease of life. again, fine in and of themselves, but they are not God's peace. you might add a lack of conflict being a distortion of biblical peace. .. the bible tells us we can have peace all the time...in spite of what goes on around us. peace is a promised "wholeness"...it comes from trusting God is in control.

the distortion of joy is happiness. nothing wrong wth being happy. we could use a little more happiness in our world. it is an unhappy place. but happiness gets very self focused. i'm happy when things go my way. i'm happy when i get what i want. i'm happy if...blah blah blah. when things don't go my way and when i don't get what i want--i am distinctly unhappy. joy is different. it comes from a deep and personal relationship with Jesus and a conviction that He is in control of your life...that He is "at the center"...just like that candle in the Advent wreath.

the distortion of love is sex. nothing wrong with sex...ahem. let's not get into that...lol. but our world is preoccupied by sex. it no longer is just an expression of passion and love between two committed (married) people...maybe it never really was. but at least we had the idea it was supposed to be, even if our own lives didn't match up with it. sex has become the focal point of just about everything. even when it isn't very sexy. we need to love like God loves...without personal gain, without personal advantage, without manipulation, without wavering...with sacrifice, with grace, with blessing, with commitment. when we love like that...everything is better...including sex.

Santa’s Single Character Flaw

2007-12-14T11:52:00.000-07:00

Most of us have at least a few character flaws. We have tempers and tantrums; we gossip and sometimes we even tell (ahem…little white) lies. But Santa, well, it seems as if Santa is pretty much perfect. I guess you could say he over eats, but he’s been around for a long time, so I suppose it hasn’t hurt him too much.
But, all things being said, Santa does have one very noticeable character flaw. Santa Claus is a procrastinator. He is. He puts off his one job per year until the last minute and then scrambles to get it done.
I recently read that if Santa left the North Pole and started in Kyrgyzstan and travels against the earth’s rotation (this, they say, is the most effective route), he would need 34 nanoseconds (per home) to deliver presents to the world’s 2.5 billion homes within the 48 hours of Christmas Eve-Day. Now, I don’t know what a nanosecond is, but it doesn’t sound like a lot of time.
Wouldn’t it make sense for Santa to deliver gifts to children all through the year? Think about it, he could start in Europe in January; go to Asia in February…well, Asia’s big and February is short, so he might take March for Asia as well. He could swing over to Australia and New Zealand in April. Do you think Aussie kids leave Santa a vegemite sandwich near their stockings? He could come over to the Americas in May and June and then be done with it! And he’d still have 6 months of prep time!
You see, if Santa would co-ordinate a little, his life would be a lot easier and stress free. Why leave the job to the last minute? Why leave yourself with 34 nanoseconds per home? Why deliver presents to 2.5 billion homes around the world in just one day?!
Santa Claus procrastinates. Now, I know what you’re thinking, chimney calling the coal black (I didn’t get this in till its due date); but, the interesting thing about Santa is he’s always on time—me? Well, let’s not go there. Santa is never late and he rarely (if ever) forgets anyone.
In that way, Santa is a bit like God.
God is always on time. We may think He’s going to be late, we may think He has forgotten us, we may think we’ve been left on our own, but it’s not so. God will not be late, He will never forget us, He will never abandon us. He promised us so!
My favorite Christmas verse in the Bible is not a traditional Christmas verse. It comes from the book of Galatians 4:4 “but in the fullness of time, God sent His Son...”
In other words, “at exactly the right moment, God sent exactly the right person, to do the exact thing that needed to be done”.
My comfort in difficult times is that God has promised me a few things:
1. He would never forget me “I will never leave you or forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5)
2. He would always love me “Nothing can separate you from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38)
3. He would take what ever bad I’ve been through and make it work for my good (Romans 8:28)
So, if you are going through a difficult spot this Christmas season, find comfort in God’s promises. You can find them in the Bible; you can hear about them in church, you can see them played out in the lives of His people. Believe them; they are for you, too.
Our Christmas Eve service is at 6:30pm, please join us!

A Lesson From My Son

2007-12-08T11:00:00.000-07:00

so, the DeSena band was practicing this afternoon. we had run thru "Away in a Manger" with dad directing (counting out the measures and bringing us in); and we were about to do "Silent Night"...i started counting it out and joe stopped us saying he wanted to direct us and count us in to start the song...i told him, no, that i was the leader/director.

joe got very upset with me...and passionately (as only a 6 yo can do) he said to "but daddy, it's justlike the beatles!!!"

i think i laughed harder than i have in ages.

hope

2007-12-08T10:59:00.000-07:00

hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune with the words and never stops at all and sweetest in the gale is heard and strong must be the storm that could abash that little bird who kept so many warm...

i memorized that poem years ago...not bc i had to for school...or bc i wanted to to impress a girl (well, maybe it was partly that--but i guess it didn't work)...i memorized it (like i memorize most things) by accident. i read that poem. i read that poem. over and over and over, i read that poem.

bc that little bird inside my heart has been beaten down a few times. it's funny how it starts...you see the storm brewing on the horizon--but you figure you'll be ok. chances are it will dissapate b4 it gets here. but still it comes and you feel the beginnings of wind and rain and maybe some sleet...but you'll be ok...you're under a tree. then the lightning starts and you realize you aren't in a safe place. you look for somewhere to run...somewhere safe...somewhere dry... somewhere...somewhere...somewhere.

b4 you know it...you are in the midst of the storm. and it's a doozy. and it kicks your ass like there's no tomorrow.

we often hide in things that aren't safe...we hide in drugs...we hide in alcohol...we hide in sex...we hide in dreams...we hide in human love...we hide in food...we hide in busy-ness...we hide in work...

we hide. but we're not safe.

bc storms are storms and storms bash birds. and sad is the person who's little bird is bashed on the rocks.

there is a nautical term i love. i know it not from seafaring (God help me, i get sick in the bath tub), but from crossword puzzles. it is alee...it means to return to shelter...to safe harbor...away from the danger of the storm.

we have a hope. no matter how dark it gets. we have a hope...founded on God's promises and apprehended by faith. believing the unbelievable. walking onthe water...

our hope is God Himself. and when we hope in Him, we are not dissappointed.

hope.

Doing the Disconnect

2007-12-04T09:30:00.000-07:00

there are a number of ways to "disconnect" from God...

and only one way to stay connected.

things that lead to disconnection (in no particular order):

busy-ness
being spiritually lazy

being self-centered, self-focused, self absorbed, or plain ol' selfish,
ignoring your personal needs and burning out

not praying
not reading
not witnessing
"having to pray"
"having to read"
"having to witness"
"having to do" anything

ignoring the thing that God keeps speaking to you
doing 100 things you think God might be saying to you

the one thing you can do to keep from the big disconnect:

depend on God's promise(s).

i struggled for years with distortions, distractions, disruptions and occasational (and temporary) disconnections.

i spent times not praying, reading or sharing my faith. i spent other times praying, reading and sharing so i wouldn't feel so crappy.

i've been way to busy and way to lazy and i've felt crappy both ways.

i've shut my ears to what God was speaking and i've tried doing all kinds of other things...maybe trying to impress Him or earn some favor with Him...or something...but always ended up feeling crappy.

then something changed.

first off, i started believing God didn't want me to feel crappy. crappy is not a part of God's plan or intent for the believer. they may have troubles (i'm up at 1am bc i can't sleep...). they may have to experience His discipline. they may go thru great tribulation. but they don't have to feel crappy while doing it.

so, if God didn't want me to feel crappy, why did i feel crappy? why did i see promises of hope and peace and joy and love and fail to experience it? were they real? were they true? were they for me?

i always believed they were real.
i always believed they were true.
but, i guess, i didn't always believe they were for me.

and that's what changed. i decided i should start believing God's promises.

i believed that God loved me and sent His Son to die on the cross to satisfy His wrath.

i believed that God didn't send Jesus to condemn me, but to save me.

i believed He bore in His body all of my sins (all of them...even the ones i hate to admit to).

i believed that He forgave all of that sin.

i believed that He still forgives my sins.

i believed that there is nothing i could do to change this (with the exception of outright repudiating it in a conscious and deliberate manner).

i believed i was adopted into His family and called His child.

i believed i am loved with an everlasting love.

i believed. well, not always.

i often didn't believe it. i often struggled with it. i spent time going thru the torture of feeling helpless to earn God's love and desperately trying to over and over again.

so, i just pretended to believe it. i just accepted it was real and true, and real and true for me, too. and when i had doubts i just said, but it's true. it's there in the book in black and white (and red).

i know "pretended" sounds funny...and i would gladly insert a different word...if i could think of one. but i can't.

i read those promises and acted like they were true.

guilt? well, sure i have some. but i feel it's sting and confess it (my sin) to God and i believe Him when He says He forgives it.

confusion? yep. it happens...but i walk in the promise that He orders my steps and live my life intending to be a blessing where ever i find my self.

bad days? ugh. well, they come along to. i take what i can learn from them...try to grow...accept God's grace and then i move on.

there is a huge problem with "disconnect"...it breaks my heart to see lives ship wrecked...i think a good many would be saved if we just started believing God.

My Kids Have Good Taste in Music

2007-11-30T06:40:00.000-07:00

so, i went to pick up the twins from school the other day and when we got to the car, they both yelled "daddy, put on lenny colin"

what?

"lenny colin! you know what we dance to. put on lenny colin. the cd!!"

lenny colin?

"yeaaaaaaaah! lenny colin!"

i don't have a cd by 'lenny colin'. never even heard of him.

"daaaddddyyyy! put on lenny calling!!!"

ohh....i say, figuring out the mystery cd.

"you know daddy (kids making guitar noises) errrr errrrr errrr dooo dooo dooo doooo...errr errr errr dooo dooo dooo dooooooo"

yeah!(boy making wolf sounds) awhoooo oooooo ooooo ooooo oooooo!

you mean "london calling"?

yeaaahhhhhh! lenny calling!!!

well....ok then.

Much Ado About...

2007-11-21T14:07:00.000-07:00

"and the devil wants to cast all manner of doubt on the real Lover with the key dying to let you out from the bars that you fashion with your stolen clout"
from "parting shot" by Bill Mallonee

so, winter has come to northern vermont right on time (it feels early, doesn't it?) and we were not ready...we got caught without snow tires.

friday afternoon i get a call from dina that her car was stuck on the road and i chuckled to myself bc i had just got the van stuck in the driveway. she ended up getting some help and came home and the next day i got the van out and parked it up near the garage.

funny thing tho, the next day we couldn't open the doors. i tried. dina tried. i tried b4 church. dina tried again too. frozen solid shut. what do you do about that?

we came home from church and i tried opening them again...come on! it's sitting in the sun! it can't be that cold, yet!! so i try pouring very hot water over the door. still nothing. i put some more water on the stove and try again. nope.

i went and got the blow torch...

man...i was pulling so hard i thought the handle would break off. come on! every door...frozen? solid? how can that be? what could we possibly do? wait till spring?

so, last try b4 i do something drastic (which i hadn't decided what just yet).

what? what's that?

the doors are LOCKED!????

oh. (sheepishly goes to get the key).

what a great metaphor for the spiritual life. we waste our time trying to fix ourselves and we waste even more time trying to fix other people...

we go and get hot water and pour it over the door...

we pull and pull and pull...

we yell and curse and kick dirt...

we call the car stupid.

we call the weather stupid.

when, in the end, we just need the key. we wasted our time doing it our way...we wasted our energy doing it our way...we risked burning ourselves...we risked breaking our car...and, to top it all off, we looked pretty foolish.

Jesus died to set you free.
that's still all there is to it.

believe Him. and let Him use His key.

Asleep at the Wheel

2007-11-21T11:25:00.001-07:00

i've been.

but, i think i will start posting again, soon.

outline for 03 November 07

2007-11-05T10:14:00.001-07:00

Membership in the Body of Christ

Some words God uses to describe His people are

His body His family His bride

There is a sense of permanence to these words

1st step: Membership in the Body of Christ

Through Faith: The Gospel is as easy as ABC:
Accept the claims of Christ

He is the Son of God
He died for our sins
He was raised to give us new life
He lives to walk with us in newness of life

Believe He died for you

Commit your life to following Him

2nd step: Affiliate with a local body

It brings accountability

It gives identity

It provides opportunity to serve

outline for 04 November 07

2007-11-05T10:10:00.000-07:00

Growing in Character
5 character traits for Christians to develop:

Humility
Humility deals with our lives and our sins
For further study: Matthew 5:5; Romans 12:3;
2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Grace
Grace deals with other people’s lives and sins
Grace is an outgrowth of humility
“But for the grace of God go I”
For further study: Ephesians 2:8-10; Mathew 7:1-5

Compassion
Compassion is gracious understanding
that leads to action
We bless people with the overflow of God’s compassion in our own lives
For further study: 2 Corinthians 1:1-2

Willingness
To be used by God
God did what He did for us, we should respond appropriately
For further study: Ephesians 4:11; Isaiah 6:8

Commitment
To growth
For further study: 2 Peter 3:18

outline for 28 October 07

2007-10-28T18:17:00.000-06:00

Using our Gifts Pt. 3 Who Does God Use?

He Uses: Younger People
He Uses: Older People
He Uses: Old People
He Uses: Women
He Uses: Men

Age, gender, & race are irrelevant to God
What matters to Him?

People’s heart: see 1 Samuel 16:7

God uses people with a:

Humble Heart
Enemy: Pride

Grateful Heart
Enemy: Self Pity

Willing Heart
Enemy: Resentment

Surrendered Heart
Enemy: Control

sermon outline 07-10-20

2007-10-20T18:22:00.000-06:00

Using our Gifts Pt 2

God gives every believer a gift
(12 Corinthians 7:7)
Your gift is meant to benefit other people
(1 Corinthians 12:7)
One gift isn’t more important than other gifts

Not using our gift leads to a breakdown in our relationship with God (see Eph 2:10)
Why?

You must discover your gift

Prayer—ask God (1 Corinthians 12:31)
Reason—consider likes/dislikes, abilities etc
Education—study Scripture & take the survey

3 reasons people don’t use their gift

1. They think they don’t have one
(or that it’s not good enough)
Moses’ problem
Resolve: Read Exodus 3 & 4
God answers our excuses

2. They don’t recognize their gift as spiritual
The Corinthian church’s problem
Resolve: Read 1 Corinthians 12 & 13
God uses those who practice love

3. They are afraid to fail
Resolve: Read Matthew 14
God covers our faults

From the: "I Should've Thought of This Before" File

2007-10-17T10:38:00.003-06:00

just about every week we include an outline for the sermon preached...in the future we will do our best to include it here.

sermon outline 07-10-13

2007-10-17T10:32:00.000-06:00

Using our Gifts to Influence our World

The Christian’s greatest duty is to worship God
Every right choice in life is worship
(see Romans 12:1-2)

The 2nd greatest duty is to influence our world for Jesus
Evangelism & Discipleship

The un-churched--to help them know Jesus (evangelism)
Other Christians--to help other Christians Grow (discipleship)

Living life w/ this in mind helps us to live with purpose
You benefit from purpose

Purpose leads to meaning—Meaning leads to hope
Hope leads to change—Change leads to growth
(see 2 Peter 3:18)

Living an E.P.I.C. life

Everyday
Deeper study verse (DSV): Eph 5:15-16; Col 4:5-6
Key words:
Point to Ponder (PtP): What is my everyday life like?

Passionately
DSV: Gal 4:18
Key story: John 4
PtP: What am I passionate about?

Integrity
DSV: Prov 10:9
Key thought: Eph 6:13-18
PtP: What message do I give people with my choices?

Compassion
DSV: 2 Cor 1:3-5
Key thought: God gives, we receive; we give to others in return
PtP: Am I a vessel of God’s compassion?

620 update

2007-10-16T10:04:00.000-06:00

the old saying "no news is good news" is true. very little has changed in the past few days...but that is a good thing. she is sedated and under medical care and getting stronger day by day.

620

2007-10-13T08:45:00.000-06:00

at 6:20 this evening (saturday) we will all pause and pray for cindy, asking God for His mercy and grace.

May He perform a miracle.

pmike.

So, What Does This Mean?

2007-10-12T19:51:00.000-06:00

i saw a mouse today…
it didn't make me jump.
i was about to jump anyway;
i just did so a little quicker...
and a little higher...
and with a little more noise.

Another Good Tunes Alert

2007-10-12T19:46:00.000-06:00

http://www.myspace.com/closertotheburning

Notes on Stella Blue

2007-10-12T16:56:00.001-06:00

one day we will walk the vale, as they say. our lives will hover, if even for a moment, between life and death. we've all heard the cliche's...and none seem to satisfy.

but because something is cliche doesn't mean it isn't true. most cliche's are true (or at the very least, have large elements of truth to them), that's why they've hung around for so long.

life flashes b4 your eyes. it's a dream...it's a song...it's so short, even if it's been so long.

that's what (tonight) i got out of stella blue.

cindy's life is hanging in that great balance between life and death. i write with hope she will live many more years...add more stanza's to her song...dream more dreams. but we've no guarantees.

so we pray for mercy and grace.

for cindy.
for her children.
for her husband.
for her grandchildren.

God, You who ordains our days and counts them up before one of them even is, we ask for mercy and grace. if You should lengthen days we are grateful for your mercy and grace. if You should not, we ask that Your mercy and grace speak loudly to those in need and bring grace and and comfort.

through Christ, our Lord,

amen.

Prayers for Cindy...

2007-10-12T16:51:00.000-06:00

Stella Blue
lyric by robert hunter

All the years combine
they melt into a dream
A broken angel sings
from a guitar
In the end there's just a song
comes crying like the wind
through all the broken dreams
and vanished years

Stella Blue

When all the cards are down
there's nothing left to see
There's just the pavement left
and broken dreams
In the end there's still that song
comes crying like the wind
down every lonely street
that's ever been

Stella Blue

I've stayed in every
blue-light cheap hotel
Can't win for trying
Dust off those rusty strings
just one more time
Gonna make em shine

It all rolls into one
and nothing comes for free
There's nothing you can hold
for very long

And when you hear that song
come crying like the wind
it seems like all this life was just a dream

Stella Blue

simple = easy ?

2007-10-06T20:16:00.000-06:00

Things that are simple but aren’t always easy:

Truth.
Honesty.
Relationships.
Gifts.
Sobriety.
Love.
God.
Right.
Wrong.

Good Tunes Alert

2007-09-30T05:19:00.000-06:00

if you have afew minutes of computer time, spend it listening to some good tunes

www.myspace.com/johnmarkmcmillanworship

uplifting...heartbreaking...reaffirming...good

if grace is an ocean we're all sinking

pmike.

Karma Vs. Grace

2007-09-29T11:57:00.000-06:00

i think i've posted this b4, but it is a great read and worth re reading:

http://www.christianitytoday.com/music/interviews/2005/bono-0805.html

What Does This Mean?

2007-09-27T15:25:00.000-06:00

i saw a mouse today…
it didn't make me jump.
i was about to jump anyway;
i just did so a little quicker...
and a little higher...
and with a little more noise.

New Song Up

2007-09-26T13:37:00.000-06:00

at www.myspace.com/sunlightsplatters

Stand Oblivious

My mind races it plods and paces the floor to the door
to shut in spaces of my heart in the dark and I must face it alone
here in the shell, I hear the bell; the tone of alone
in my own private hell, of my heart in the dark,
and I must face it alone

this cage can enrage the calmest of people, the walls of this stall even under the steeple
can smother a brother, a sister, while others surround them

my mind jerks that’s the way that it works; snap shots and crap shots and malevolent spurts like sparks in the dark
and I can’t face it alone
reliving the sorrow of each dark tomorrow, shamelessly blaming refusing to borrow
a spark for the dark and I must face it alone

the spell of shell in which one’s entrenched the beauty of duty
to brave it’s dark stench
can smother a brother, a sister, while others surround them

I don’t mean to demean or condemn but it seems
the slough of despond is a deep, deep stream
that can mire a swimmer who tries to deliver
his life from the strife of every day’s river
but can’t get a grip and struggles and slips and groping for hope
he stumbles and trips
and falls down the hall where his nothing is waiting
his heart in the dark, but at least it’s still beating
and I can’t face it alone (I need someone)
I can’t face it alone

This tomb is the womb in spite of rebirth,
a mind can be blind to knowing it’s worth;
it can smother a brother a sister while others stand oblivious

Over Flow

2007-09-25T06:34:00.000-06:00

Overflow
22 september 07

The wine is pretty in its bottle
The deep, deep red
Behind the fancy label….
But wine’s not meant for its bottle
The deep, deep red
Is meant for the table

So pour it out; So pour it out
So pour it out To over flowing

His blood is perfect in His Body
Pure and holy
Holy and pure
But He poured His blood out for His body
Pure and holy
Holy and pure

He poured it out; He poured it out
He poured Himself out to overflowing

Love is simple in its bottle
And sits lovely
Like a treasured stored
Love is not meant for a bottle
Love is love only when it’s poured

So pour it out; So pour it out
So pour it out To over flowing

Isaiah 53:5

2007-09-25T06:08:00.000-06:00

when Jesus was pierced, He was pierced because of my sins--not for His own.

when the nails were driven into His hands and feet, when the thorns were pressed into His head, when the spear was thrust into His side, He was doing something for me--purchasing my salvation.

when He was crushed, He was crushed for all of my rebellion against God--not for His own.

the peace i now enjoy as a follower of Jesus Christ was purchased not by me, but by Jesus taking the punishment that i deserved.

it is thru His wounds that i am healed.

Help On The Way

2007-09-19T06:21:00.000-06:00

"Tell me the cost
I can pay
Let me go
Tell me love is not lost
Sell everything
Without love, day to day,
insanity is king"

from "help on the way"
by hunter/garcia

admittedly, the KUKUKACHU post was bleak. i didn't mean it to be, however. i had just heard the lemonhead's cover of mrs. robinson and was struck with the joltin' joe lyric...and how it was a cry for a simpler, saner time...a cry we can all relate to from time to time. maybe i didn't take the time to adequately express myself...sometimes that takes a lot of thought. or, maybe, the times are that bleak.

i do know this, however. "envy not the wicked", says the psalmist. they (those who cheat or hurt others in their pursuit) may have much--right now...but it won't always be that way. notthat we should be overly concerned about it, but they will "get theirs"...but, like i said, we shouldn't be too concerned about that, we should be too busy trying to get it right ourselves.

it's so easy to concentrate on the wicked in our world. whether we are indulging or lamenting, our eyes seem to be drawn to it...like the mole on the face of the principal in "uncle buck". it's not that we want to look, honest. but we can't help ourselves.

we christians do it alot.

we do it bc it concerns us.
we do it bc it offends us.
we do it bc it scares us.
we do it bc we want it to change.

and that is a good sentiment.

change.

we want the world to be a better place for our kids. i do.

but we have no guarantee that it will be. in fact, it might just be that the opposite is true. it might be worse.

so, what are we to do? hide ourselves? hide our kids? not have kids? build monasteries? stand around and remember joe d?

no. what we should do is teach our children. teach them...prepare them...catechize them...get them ready for what they will experience in our world.

in deuteronomy 6 we see a little outline about teaching our children. read the chapter some time...or at least the first 12 verses or so...

amongst other things the passage tells us that we should be:

instructional--we should actually teach our children about our faith and how our faith relates to life...and how to live this life in regard to our faith. teach them about Jesus and what He did while He was here on earth. teach them about what He's doing know...praying for us...and awaiting the time when He will return for us. teach them everything you know...you'll learn alot.

conversational--teach them life lessons...whether it's during a walk in the woods or in the mall or about an experience they had in school or you had in work...while you are driving in the car or cleaning the yard. talk to them about...stuff. take an interest in what they think and help guide them in thier thought process. remember, they are learning...they are in process. things that come "naturally" to you, wont to them (they didn't to you either, you just don't remember learning them). let your conversations naturally be full of Jesus.

intentional--regardless of what we verbally teach our children, the greatest teaching tool we have is how we live our lives. i was driving home last night and heard the old beastie boys song "fight for your right to party"...one line says:

"You pops caught you smoking and he said, "No way!"That hypocrite smokes two packs a day"

our children will repeat our behaviors, both good and bad. and it is silly for us to say "you can't do __________" ...when we are doing it ourselves. you must...must...live your life like you mean it. you must...must...put your faith into practice...

don't just think about it. do it. don't just plan on doing it. do it. don't wait until next thursday at 6pm (bc then you'll feel better prepared), do it now, even if you aren't as well prepared. bc chances are, you won't be prepared next thursday either.

what are the values you want your children to have?

honesty. fidelity. generousity. grace and mercy. perseverance. faithfulness. kindness. purpose.

then, put them into practice in your own life.

it's the best way to instill them in thier's.

KUKUKACHU

2007-09-17T08:57:00.000-06:00

"where have you gone, joe dimaggio
a nation turns it's lonely eyes toward you;
what's that you say, mrs. robinson,
joltin' joe has left and gone away"

so i can't figure it out...

am i pessimistically optimistic, or am i optimistically pessimistic?

am i a cynic...or a realist?
am i a realist...or is that just an excuse to be a cynic?

we live in a cynical world, don't we? every body is messed up. everybody lets us down. every body...yep.

we have a highly regarded coach being caught cheating. we have a washed up pitcher re-born as a hitting phenom caught cheating. we have a highly regarded minister and leader...caught cheating...doing the very thing he preached against over and over. we have celebrities...oh, who cares about celebrities...but we have them...and they are messed up.

where have you gone, oh st. joe? where have you gone?

An Apple a Day...

2007-09-15T13:24:00.000-06:00

we just ate the first apple off the tree we planted 2 years ago.

cool.

and tastey.

Dust, Rust and Trust

2007-09-14T07:03:00.000-06:00

this week's readings kinda went like this:

a request that God remind us just how short life is.
since we are just passing thru, God remind us how we should live.
we are aliens here on earth, our citizenship is in heaven; and we await our Saviour.
since God will judge us by our deeds, we should live accordingly.
sin fights against our very souls. avoid it.
we should use the things of this life for God's glory.
when we get too attached to them we become unfaithful to God.

we know some of this by experience. no one can deny life is short and it seems to get shorter every day. in fact, if i continue talking about it, i'll just sound cliche, that's how short it is.

as the bible says, we are but dust. *cue cheesy song* ("dust in the wind)

in contrast, eternity is different. we often think of it in terms of "longer"...like the song says, "when we've been there 10,000 years..."; but, mainly it's different. it is our true reality. it is the giant NOW. it is, truly, God's Presence.

it's more than just waiting for a page to load when you have dial up.
it's more than being stuck in traffic.
it's more than waiting for dinner to cook.
it's more than Christmas morning.
it's more than waiting for...anything.

it is fulfillment.
it is.
it is.

but, our reality isn't quite our reality yet. our reality is made up of hard choices, easy choices we make hard, easy choices we ignore and then, more hard choices.

exciting, huh?

well, that's why we need a reminder or two of life's brevity. we need to refocus and live our lives with our heavenly goal in mind. we need to curtail our own desire to get derailed and resist the enemy's schemes set to derail us. whether its out and out sin...or the mere ease of life...it is rust sent to destroy us...*cue cheesy song* (rust never sleeps)

bc our reality is worth it. *cue cheesy song* (Trust)

Ever Feel Like This?

2007-09-11T16:53:00.000-06:00

Top Hat and Cane
The sinner hates a mirror, the soul hates a cave
That I run to when I misbehave
Like the belly of a fish, oh how I wish
I would have listened the first time

You with your top hat and cane
Me, with my map of dead ends
With right turns and left turns I learn
A new wrong way every time
And I know where I’m going
I’m just not so sure how I’ll get there….

2 plus 2 equals 4, and the pope, he’s a catholic
These are some things that I know
Like soda bottles are plastic…
You say them so clear, all that I like to hear
But please, no; not what I need

Is that a knock, a knock at my door;
someone see who that man is
I don’t the time, to even open the blinds
And see who it is that I hear

A Little Help, Please

2007-09-06T06:31:00.000-06:00

for years i've thought about submitting articles to our local paper. then a few months ago the paper invited local clergy to write articles for their "faith for today" (or something like that) series.

any way...it's about time. as i was writing the last article, i figured this would be a good topic...and then, hey! i've probably a few good ones in the archives of this blog.

so, if you have a few extra minutes in your day, would your peruse the archives and pick out a few entries you feel would make good newspaper articles (even if they need a few additions/subtractions)?

you can email them to me or just comment here...i'd prefer the email.

thanks.

Mmmm...What's in That?

2007-09-06T06:02:00.000-06:00

every cook has a secret spice or two...

when we first came to vermont we searched for a good pizza place. we would go out on a friday night or sunday afternoon and try different places...we never had much luck.

one place we tried in sherebrooke was interesting tho. the crust was excellent. the cheese was great. but the sauce...it wasn't that it was bad, but it was...

different.

we didn't like it all that much...but we kept on eating it, trying to figure out what the spice was.

was it extra garlic? no.
how about basil?
could it be a different kind of oregano?

we emptied the italian spice rack, took a look at spanish spice rack (ok...everything is thrown together in the same closet, but you get the point)...

we could not place that spice! what could it be.

thru the years (on the perfect pizza quest) i've thought about it; and thru deductive reasoning i've figured it out.

it was cinnamon. cinnamon...in pizza?

yep.

like many restaurants, this was owned by greeks and there is a very traditional greek food called mousakka. it is a delicious casarole type dish with ground beef and eggplant and this creamy bichemal sauce on it...sometimes they serve it with a marinara type sauce on it...and one of the "secret" ingredients is...

cinnamon (i hope i'm spelling that right). just a pinch...a tiny, tiny bit. but that little bit changes the flavor drastically. but, bc cinnamon is associated with breakfast or dessert (at least in my mind) it was a very difficult flavor to detect in this pizza. it was out of place...

what are you adding to your life of faith? what are you mixing into your life that makes it pleasing to God? what are you stirring in to make your life an effective witness to those around you?

maybe your adding some stuff that makes christianity distasteful to those around you...search the spice racks of your heart...add some good stuff. here's a helpful list from st. peter:

2 Peter 1:5-8 (NIV) For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Wind (again)

2007-09-05T12:06:00.001-06:00

a few months ago ( i think) i shared a song...

well, it has changed (as songs sometimes do)

Wind

I want to listen for the Wind
That isn’t just the wind
As it rustles thru the trees

I want to listen for the song
Although the night is long
In the morning hear the breeze

The wind is something a man can’t explain
i hear a voice talking but I tell you I’m sane

I’m tired of chasing after wind;
That is only wind
As it blows round the dead leaves

I’m tired of dead air,
the kind that just hangs there
Cause in the end it always leaves

The wind is one thing that leaves a man with nothing
When he thinks it something until he sees his empty hands

the wind, where it comes and where it goes
where it is and where it blows
for all our wisdom no one knows

Skewed Polls

2007-09-05T07:06:00.000-06:00

i used to love calvin & hobbes. i miss reading them everyday...especially sunday. one shtick i loved was when calvin would go to his father with the lastest poll of six year olds...his father always was on the losing end. the funny thing is his fatherhood was not an elected position which would be affected by polls; but hey, a kid can dream, right?

if we polled 1000 Christians if they were being "fruitful and productive" (ala 2 peter 1) in thier christian lives i would guess that approximately 67.6% would say yes.

but is that a skewed poll?

if we polled 1000 christians if their church was being "fruitful and productive" we might get similar results...

but is it so? i don't know.

but i do think, if you wanted the truth about fruitfulness and productivity, you would speak to their (the christian's) friends. esp their non-christian friends.

you might ask them these sort of questions:

did you know your friend considers themself a person of faith?
do you know what kind of faith your friend has?
has your friend ever talked about their faith with you?
where they able to talk about it w/o arguing?
has your friend being a person of faith had a positive effect on you?
have they generated an interest in you to seek out a faith of your own?
have your seen your friend's faith expressed in ways other than verbal?
has your friend ever invited you to church?
would you go with them if they invited you?

what would your friends say?

And Just One More Thing...

2007-08-30T05:46:00.000-06:00

this longing for home is never (and should never) be totally absent from our lives. bc we weren't just created for this life here on earth...we were created for eternity in Heaven. and until we are there, we will always feel a little bit out of place. we can have wonderful and deep experiences with God Himself, but it isn't the complete real thing. we can feel His power and be filled with His Spirit...but it's still only a glimpse of WHO HE REALLY IS.

I have climbed highest mountain
I have run through the fields
Only to be with you Only to be with you

I have run I have crawled
I have scaled these city walls These city walls
Only to be with you

But I still haven't found what I'm looking for

I have kissed honey lips
Felt the healing in her fingertips
It burned like fire This burning desire
I have spoke with the tongue of angels
I have held the hand of a devil
It was warm in the night I was cold as a stone

But I still haven't found what I'm looking for

I believe in the kingdom come
Then all the colors will bleed into one Bleed into one
Well yes I'm still running
You broke the bonds and you Loosed the chains
Carried the cross Of my shame Of my shame
You know I believed it

But I still haven't found what I'm looking for
lyric by bono

i used to hate this song...i would scoff at the lyrics..."see" i would say, "if he were really a christian he would know he's found what he's looking for"...

pretty judgemental on my part. i understand him a bit more now...

i love Jesus. i'm ever grateful for His love and His grace. i could never live a normal life without following Him. He's everything to me...it's true, cliche'd or not.

but, my experience with Him here on earth pales in comparison to what it will be.

there.

so, sometimes it's ok to be homesick.

Another thing about that...

2007-08-30T05:41:00.000-06:00

i was thinking about how the change to faith took place. i think, in large part, it was due to teaching.

me teaching others.

the more i talked to others about believing God's promises the more i believed them myself. the more i tried to convince others to walk in faith believing what God said is for them, the more i found myself walking in those very same promises.

teach sunday school. lead a small group. gather your kids round the table and instruct them. talk to them about God's promises while driving in the car, or howing the garden, or taking a walk.

teach, and be taught.

The Life Full of Empty

2007-08-29T08:16:00.000-06:00

I Hope This Makes Sense to You...

2007-08-27T05:42:00.000-06:00

ways my life has not changed since i met Jesus:

i don't hurt
i don't get angry
i always get it right
i always love selflessly
i always resist temptation
i don't even get tempted anymore
life here now makes comeplete sense
life is always free from pain & suffering
i fully understand everything about Jesus

ways my life has changed since i met Jesus:

my life has meaning and purpose
i've seen the hurt sin causes
i've seen the joy He brings
i have hope for the future
i have peace prensently
i've recieved real love
i now give real love
i trust Him for it-
when its dark-
or it hurts-
or i can't-
or won't-
or don't

Sowing Seeds

2007-08-24T07:48:00.000-06:00

"Some come to laugh their past away
Some come to make it just one more day
Whichever way your pleasure tends
if you plant ice you're gonna harvest wind" ''

lyric: hunter

there are different kinds of people in the world...those who desire to grow and thrive...and those who don't.

those who yield themselves to God's work in their life and those who explain away thier faults and never really grow at all.

those who own and those who blame.

why is that? i don't know.

i know i (like most of us) have the tendency to be of the latter group...but really strive to be in the group who grow...

nonetheless, if you plant ice, you harvest wind.

if you plant seeds of discord, you'll reap more discord. if you plant seeds of hurt, you'll reap more hurt. if you plant even more hurt. if you plant seeds of discouragement, you'll reap discouragement. if you plant belittlling little seeds of anger and resentment...you'll have a field full...maybe even more than you can manage.

check your sack...what kind of seeds are you sowing?

Words

2007-08-24T05:24:00.000-06:00

i'm (along with some others) still thinking about last sunday's sermon. words...words...my words.

what am i speaking?
what are people hearing?
what is the tone i use?

it is very challenging.

that's why james asks: who can tame the tongue? we use a bridle to control a horse and rudders to control ships...but our tongues? we barely have a hold on them.

and we allow our loose tongues to wreck havoc in places we shouldn't.

home.

i recently had this realization. i was at a one day seminar about dealing with anger in children. as part of the process, we were asked about what makes us angry and where we get angry the most...

one woman said "i get angry the most at home. bc they annoy me the most". i was put off by her comment...it's only half right. we get angry the most at home...that's true. but, not bc they annoy us the most...that's avoiding the issue...it's placing the blame on them. we get angry the most at home (or, better said, we act out in our anger most at home) bc we feel we have some sort of right to act out at home...

a few weeks ago i recieved a phone call from a person who needed help. no problem. he asked, can i come bring him the $ and food...well, no. i'll meet you at the church building at 130pm. then, at 12pm i get a phone call from a lady from our church---"uhm...there's a guy here who says he is supposed to meet you. he said he'll just wait for you, while i work."

well, i can't leave a man i don't know in the building with a lady. that's not wise. i also can't tell the lady to go and leave a man i don't know wandering around our building. what could i do? stop what i'm doing and go over to the church building and take care of it...even tho i am right in the middle of something that i didn't want to interrupt...i was inconvienced. and...i was, at least a little, angry.

but, of course, i couldn't act angry. i couldn't rant and rave...or even speak unkindly...after all, i'm the pastor. and, at least i like to think, i'm professional about my duties. i did remind him of our appointment time and that i wasn't planning on coming over this early and that this put me out a little...he didn't care much about it. which made me a bit angrier! so, i gave him some help (and he asked for more...) and sent him on his way.

later that day, my wife inconvienced me in some way...it was so minor, i don't even remember what it was!

but...i was angry. and, worse, i acted out in my anger.

now, i didn't say mean, cruel or even off color things. i didn't hit or bite or smack. i didn't demean or debase with my words.

those things ARE NEVER ACCEPTABLE for any one (esp a follower of Jesus) to say or do. it is never ok for us to assasinate character...it is never ok to use our words to belittle or hurt other people.

never.
never.
never.

it is not acceptable for us to use words like dumb, stupid, ugly, no good, wish i never met you, you were a mistake or any thing of that nature...

those words cripple and hurt and escalate the situation rather than resolve it. those are words that lead to death, not life.

none the less, in my own way i acted out in my anger against my wife in a way i was unwilling to with a stranger.

why is that?

bc her infraction was greater than his? no.

bc she made me angrier? no.

for no good reason, really.

here's the saddest thing:

i did it "because i could". God help me.

it isn't fair. it isn't nice. it isn't acceptable. it isn't Christ-like. we shouldn't do it.

i was honest with you...you can take this and run with it...exaggerate what i said to mean things i never said or say...you can use to to say what a bad guy that pmike is...he's just a hypocrite...

that's scary to me...i don't want that to happen. that's the risk of trying to be transparent and honest.

but i hope you listen...evaluate your own life, your own actions, your own words (instead of evaluating mine)...

and (if need be) make a decision to grow and change and become more Christ-like.

bc that is the whole point.

Give me My Rapture, Again.

2007-08-20T13:00:00.000-06:00

lyrics by Van Morrison

There are strange things happening every day
I hear music up above my head
Fill me up with your wonder
Give me my rapture today.
Let me contemplate the presence so divine
Let me sing all day and never get tired
Fill me up from your loving cup
Give me my rapture.
Won't you guide me through the dark night of the soul
That I may better understand your way
Let me be just and worthy to receive
All the blessings of the Lord into my life.
Let me purify my thoughts and words and deeds
That I may be a vehicle for thee
Let me hold to the truth in the darkest hour
Let me sing to the glory of the Lord.
Give me my rapture today.

Give Me My Rapture

2007-08-20T10:28:00.000-06:00

well...your answers were thoughtful and correct. the only thing i would want to add i cannot add. at least in words...for there are no words that can convey what i wanted to accomplish (in my own life as well as communicating it to you...

we christians need to be filled with wonder and awe and reverence and gratitude and wonder and awe and reverence and gratitude and wonder and awe and reverence and gratitude and... ad infinitum...

it starts with seeing God for Who He is...

He is God. completely other than...not just bigger than us...not just other than us...not just superiour than us or to us...He is God. HE IS GOD. we must ponder...contemplate...think over...mull it about...chew on it...stew on it...review on it...stop worrying about cheesy rhymes and really, really, really...think about it.

that's where it all starts.

then, after we begin to get a glimpse of what appears to be a representation of God (see Ezekiel 1:28 for similar wording)...we'll never truly get a hold (completely) of who and how God is...but we can see flashes...and when mr. ezekiel got this tiny, little, insy-binsy, modicrum of a fleeting view of God, what did he do?

"i fell face down."
"i am a man undone", cried isaiah.
"i fell down as if i were dead" said john the beloved of his experience on patmos.

what a friend we have in Jesus...and i'm glad we do. but, when we ponder our wonderful opportunity of friendship with God in Jesus Christ, without pondering WHO HE IS, we miss out on something.

once, when i was a teenager, a couple of friends went to nyc to see our favorite guitar player, jorma kaukonen...he really is an extraordinary guitar player. quite amazing, really. and, especially at that time (as a budding guitarist) i was taken with him...he was a bit of a hero, in that teenage way. i wanted to be able to play like him (well, without all the practice anyway...). he was jorma! unique (not just in name!).

we got to the venue early...it was a tiny place called "the lone star cafe" and as we walked in, who was there doing a sound check...but jorma...right there...in front of me...all purple hair and tattoos and guitars and...jorma! after he soundchecked (a mere 5 feet from us), i said, "hi jorma" and he put his hand out to shake mine...wow!! then we shook hands. it was a cold fish handshake, limp as overcooked macaroni...like he was a girl or the pope expecting me to kiss his hand.

i was disappointed. almost devastated. jorma has a cold fish handshake! jorma's a sissy. jorma isn't masculine! i was bummed. jorma did not live up to my expectations...altho he did later during the show...he still was an amazing guitar player, lame handshake or not.

so it is with celebrity. they are people. not really different than us, truth be told...whether it's a guitar player or an actor or a politician...they are people who eat, drink, fart and sleep...they get colds and lose thier tempers and put up grand facades all the while.

and it's not that we think of God that way...but, sometimes we act that way. and we take His friendship for granted.

He is God. fill us with wonder, fill us with awe.
He is God. far and away removed from anything ordinary, never mind anything sinful.
He is God.

He ought to be completely seperated from anything ordinary, never mind sinful.
and we are sinful, nevermind ordinary.

but.
but God.
but God condescends.
but God condescends to us.
but God condescends to us, even tho we don't deserve it.
but God condescends to us, even tho we don't deserve it bc we are ordinary.

that is grace. and we should be humbled and awed and full of thanksgiving and praise.

give me my rapture today.