Keys To An Impotent Church

Conform to the world at every turn

Know the world’s filth to be relevant

Listen to the lies of Satan

Deny or water down the truth

Forget God rules creation

Most of all never share you faith

Life's Echo

To who those who listen — a turbulent life echoes out

O how I spurned the words of my Teacher. Had my Teacher been a man, perhaps I could fault him in this way or that. Since my Teacher is my maker: any fault is mine and of that I sing.

I sing of His eye for creation.

I sing of His sweet loving mercy.

I sing because the divine of divinity, met me by a stream.

Like Agur of the Proverbs so long ago, I am a brute and a beast. My knowledge of the Holy One is limited and incomplete: but I know my Savior loves me and dwells in my heart. I know that the preeminent one over Creation, died for Creation. I know that the beloved Son of God, laid life down at the cross, and took it up again. I know that He ascended into heaven and soon will return and till then I'll hunger for His hand. Now, as I wait, I am comforted by the Comforter—His Spirit. Knowing the God over creation is our comfort, knowing Him well is our goal. Communing with Him our purpose. Along the way, somewhere, we become like Him.

What would be too much to give Him who gave it all? One moment of action is never enough. I respond when you call Lord.

Help me to hear.

Help me to see.

Help me to move. 

Help me to act.

                          As You do Lord!

                          As You do.

Just Do It

As with most things I've done in life, I do “just do it.” I know it's the Nike ad campaign, but it's how I approach life. When a new hobby or interest comes a long I, jump in with both feet. Since I can't move as well a I would like, most of my hobbies I do at home. Most are musical (other than this) and most require practice. I suppose that is really how our Christian life is, we are to jump in with both feet and be immersed in God and practice. And since He wants all of our heart, soul, mind and spirit, I suppose He wants my hobbies too—to use as it pleases Him.

We can use or miss use just about everything in life. And I think I've done plenty of both. I have a tendency to do everything I do with all my heart. I don't think that's a bad thing, yet, it means I overlook one goal to pursue another. I would rather spend most of my time with Jesus in listing to Him while exploring His creation than say doing dishes or painting the house. I would rather read my bible than watch another mindless TV show. I would rather use the rest of my life serving Him in His purpose of spreading the Gospel around the earth (so we can get outta here), than working on my car as it breaks down again. Yet, while I can and do those things, I suppose the best thing I can do is to live out my faith in front of my family now. For there will still be time for more adventures in life and serving Christ means serving Him in the place He has placed us. So for now I'll keep doing the dishes. And, yes I'll keep painting the house and working on old broken cars. Even if it hurts too much, I'll keep doing what I do till I can't. And then, I know my Lord will provide help in ways I can't fathom. For our God is like that. He does the impossible.

Oh yeah and remember this, serving others is the best way to take care of yourself.

“They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.
Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said,“Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.””

Mark 9:33-35 NIV

the Comforter

Our Father dwells in unapproachable light

Who could know Him? Save, He knew us first

He sent His Son and gave His best

He sought me and even thee

What more could He give? "the Comforter"

With the undeserved love, He gave

With unreserved emotion and all my soul

With nothing of will or worth

I come

Picking From the Tree

Perhaps as we seek knowledge, just for its sake, we are still pulling fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. True wisdom applies the knowledge we have of the Holy One and that wisdom only starts with the fear of the Lord. Today, it seems knowledge of the world systems and their operations drives us further into rebellion against our Creator. The knowledge of our world is exploding at an exponential rate, yet the souls of men stagger along and forget that ignorance was once bliss. It seems most people are too busy and preoccupied to think of a life that seems unimaginable to us now. While others, it seems, just want to be entertained. Most would rather eat, drink, and be merry or work till they drop, rather than think on eternal issues of the soul.

Blissful ignorance kept our first parents from even being aware they were naked. In fact, who told them they were naked? Who urged them to break God's command and then condemned them for doing so? We know who. In the beginning, humanity lived in harmony with it's Creator . It was called the Garden of Eden. Humanities parents, Adam and Eve, walked with God and all was well. Our Father's rules were simple, there was just one. Well, we broke that rule (or, rather they did and we would have) and we've been trying to be our own god every since. Yet, fortunately God, our Creator knew all of this ahead of time and made provision for even that (the rebellion).

He made provision in Christ, for our Father knew we would sin—even before the world began. Our Father knew we were rebellious and stiff necked. He even knew after we found our provision in Christ, that some of us, rather most of us, would still need to be reminded quite often that God is God, His ways are pure, and ours are being purified as we look at Jesus.

In Christ alone, we are pure.

In Jesus we find the Tree of Life.

A New Creation

When my lips and tongue collide, I trip over the words and they seem to fight.

When my pain and thought collide, I stare off in the sky, hold the words in, or even cry.

When my past and present collide, I've made excuses and sometimes I've even lied.

As my flesh and spirit collide, I tear down the self alter, and let Jesus reside.
Re-birthed in spirit, I'm growing forth as His child.

In Christ I am a new creation and to that I hold.

In Christ, though I am timid I am bold.

In Christ, I put off all my human weakness and go boldly to our Father's throne.

Jesus our priest offered one sacrifice for sins for all time. Then he sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time, he waits for his enemies to be put under his control. By that one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.
The Holy Spirit also gives witness to us about this. First he says,

"This is the covenant I will make with them
after that time, says the Lord.
I will put my laws in their hearts.
I will write my laws on their minds." —(Jeremiah 31:33)
Then he adds,
"I will not remember their sins anymore.
I will not remember the evil things they have done." —(Jeremiah 31:34)
Where those have been forgiven, there is no longer any offering for sin.
Brothers and sisters, we are not afraid to enter the Most Holy Room. We enter boldly because of the blood of Jesus. His way is new because he lives. It has been opened for us through the curtain. I'm talking about his body.
We also have a great priest over the house of God. So let us come near to God with an honest and true heart. Let us come near with a faith that is sure and strong. Our hearts have been sprinkled. Our minds have been cleansed from a sense of guilt. Our bodies have been washed with pure water.
Let us hold firmly to the hope we claim to have. The One who promised is faithful.

Hebrews 10:12-23 NIRV

Dove of the Spirit

If you look around, you can't help but see God. As someone once said, “His finger prints are everywhere.” Walking down my little Rusty down the road at dusk, the quiet of night was settling over Loma Rica. We passed by the smiles and waves of neighborly faces and the sun setting behind the trees and mountains. Walking worship time! This is all normal stuff. What reminded me of God tonight, was a cooing dove coming in for a landing on a power line. It brought me back to another event at church months before. About three months before our pastor went home, one Sunday morning I had finished the sound checks and chores to be ready for service. I went in the kitchen and was stretching and praying, all the while looking out the window. A white dove came and flew up to the property line and fluttered in mid air for at least 30 seconds. A known behavior I'm sure, but it reminded me of John the baptist as he saw the Spirit settle on Jesus. Latter after the resurrection Jesus baptized the believers with this same Holy Spirit. Being Spirit filled readies one for effective service (but don't think it makes one sinless and fully sanctified, that takes a life time). So, if you are not filled for service, you can be, Just ask Jesus, he wouldn't give you a snake if you asked for bread? So, trust Him to give something good in the Holy Spirit.