I'm not really sure of myself....what to write.
I know,sitting here in the light of the sun setting behind the mountains,listening to the sprinklers rotations,and watching the wind move through the grass that I am in a blessed place. For a moment everything looks as beautiful and serene as it should be,eventhough the rest of the world screams of chaos. I am warmed by the yellow rays of sun and cooled by the soft breeze. It is perfect. How much would the average American give for this? I believe it would be alot...
I don't have any qualifying traits or virtues,no reason in the world that this wonderful view would be bestowed on me. It is not like I deserved this somehow...but here I am. I know I am not grateful for it and I take it forgranted alot of the time. But...Thank you God.
What does the word 'life' make you think of? Whats a good word picture for it?
I think of a roller coaster. All the dips,curves,ups and downs....the slow treks up and the sudden stops...backwards,forwards,upside-down....beginning and end. Some people tend to enjoy the ride more than others. Some fear they will fall and so they close their eyes and grit their teeth. Some throw their hands in the air with a smile on their face,thrilled with every second. Some simply go along for the ride and some wish they never got on.
Life is about more than the mountaintop. It's what you do in the valley that sets you apart.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Friday, May 23, 2008
How Should the Bibles True Revelation About Abortion Apply to Our Own Lives and the Life of the Church?
We were all fetuses once. We were all concieved,carried,and birthed. And as the Bible says in Psalm 139:
"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."
God created us,body,soul,mind,and spirit. God views us as a living,functional being from conception. He chooses to make us,to guide and protect us,and to give His only Son for our sake. We must remember this and show our gratitude to our Creator. He did not leave us in darkness,He gave us a light to show us the way. He did not bind us,He gave us an intelligence and a free will. He did not enslave us to sin,He sacrificed His son so that we might have everlasting life. We must rejoice also in the fact that He gave us parents who did not abort us,but treasure and love us.(In regards to those who have to live under unfortunate circumstances concerning their parents,I am indeed sorry. But do not forget that you are alive,and life is precious,someone gave you that life.) We should take great care to steward what He has given us(bodies,minds,souls,and spirits). We should also become well-related to our Maker. God created all of us a certain way,with certain destinies; and,the fulfillment of those destinies relies on a right relationship with Him and aligning our dreams with His own. As a part of the life of the church,being a Christian; it is my duty to not only pursue God's plans,but to seek to give life to the rest of the body by learning to function in the spirit properly.
As a church, we have the responsibility to live according to God's law and to direct those in fellowship with us in that same way. If we know what is right but see our nation doing wrong, we have to make a response. We have NO excuse for not taking a stand,knowing our position, and speaking out of a revelation of the truth. We are supposed to be the salt and light,the bearers of good news,and the planters of the seeds of life and liberty. How are we doing our job if we allow sin and death to prevail? Frankly,we are not.
"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."
God created us,body,soul,mind,and spirit. God views us as a living,functional being from conception. He chooses to make us,to guide and protect us,and to give His only Son for our sake. We must remember this and show our gratitude to our Creator. He did not leave us in darkness,He gave us a light to show us the way. He did not bind us,He gave us an intelligence and a free will. He did not enslave us to sin,He sacrificed His son so that we might have everlasting life. We must rejoice also in the fact that He gave us parents who did not abort us,but treasure and love us.(In regards to those who have to live under unfortunate circumstances concerning their parents,I am indeed sorry. But do not forget that you are alive,and life is precious,someone gave you that life.) We should take great care to steward what He has given us(bodies,minds,souls,and spirits). We should also become well-related to our Maker. God created all of us a certain way,with certain destinies; and,the fulfillment of those destinies relies on a right relationship with Him and aligning our dreams with His own. As a part of the life of the church,being a Christian; it is my duty to not only pursue God's plans,but to seek to give life to the rest of the body by learning to function in the spirit properly.
As a church, we have the responsibility to live according to God's law and to direct those in fellowship with us in that same way. If we know what is right but see our nation doing wrong, we have to make a response. We have NO excuse for not taking a stand,knowing our position, and speaking out of a revelation of the truth. We are supposed to be the salt and light,the bearers of good news,and the planters of the seeds of life and liberty. How are we doing our job if we allow sin and death to prevail? Frankly,we are not.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Have You Ever Been In The Presence Of God's Holiness?
Holiness is such a nearly indescribable word. God's holiness is such a nearly indescribable feeling or thought,notion or experience. I have never felt that, except in my times of full surrender. Because God has placed a special heart for worship in me, those times usually occur when I'm before Him in praise, humbleness, and inquiry through worship. I have never felt it in the exact same way, it isn't some spiritual peak that you get to, it isn't a conjuring. I'm afraid no matter how much you try, you could never achieve that level of vulnerability without the Holy Spirit. When I know that I know I am before a Holy God, and that Holiness is apparent and vivid, my first reaction or feeling is a sense of wanting to just hide my imperfections. When your impurities are so obvious to your own self, you do feel vulnerable and open. Something like,"I have nothing to offer,except imperfection". Then in His holy,perfect love he touches us and lifts us up,once we see our inadequecies. It is a tender moment when you feel helpless to your fallenness,which we are without God, and even then He never leaves us without hope.
Poem: "Hold Fast"
I wish there was something that I could do or say
That would make all of this just go away
A tender touch to help you trust
And all your burdens fall to dust
Many a mile I know you've tread
And many a breath spent living for death
Time doesn't give you much hope
And patience is a feeble way to cope
It isn't easy watching you hurt
The pain cut deep and the anger burn
I don't know how to bring you faith
Or a genuine smile to your face
It isn't that I'm giving up
It's not that there's nothing left
"It's not that I'm still holding on
I'm never letting go"
Be free of the ache
Let loose your cage
Don't settle for darkness and despair
There is no peace there
Destruction is not your only path
There's something to build,
Something to last
Finding out love can stand fast
And dreams don't have to fade
Hold fast,my dearest friend
That would make all of this just go away
A tender touch to help you trust
And all your burdens fall to dust
Many a mile I know you've tread
And many a breath spent living for death
Time doesn't give you much hope
And patience is a feeble way to cope
It isn't easy watching you hurt
The pain cut deep and the anger burn
I don't know how to bring you faith
Or a genuine smile to your face
It isn't that I'm giving up
It's not that there's nothing left
"It's not that I'm still holding on
I'm never letting go"
Be free of the ache
Let loose your cage
Don't settle for darkness and despair
There is no peace there
Destruction is not your only path
There's something to build,
Something to last
Finding out love can stand fast
And dreams don't have to fade
Hold fast,my dearest friend
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
God Is In Control
Times like these
When my life is slow
When my world crashes
But my dreams lie intact
When storms rage then cease
When I am saved from pain
When I find peace in adversity
This is when I know
God is in control
Moments of joy
Flickers of happy memories
When I remember special songs
When a smile breaks across my face
The laughing for no reason
When theres stillness in the chaos
And that calm keeps me alive
That is when I feel
God is in control
When I have no words to say but 'I love you'
The hugs and the tears
When I kiss the forehead of a dying friend
When I hold a new life in my arms
The times that I've spent on my knees
And others running away
When in all the darkness I find light
Then is when I see
God is in control
When I hear the music of the wind
The birds sing to me the harmony
Trees sway and clap to the anthem
And the oceans beat against the shore
Then in all of the noise of the world
I hear a still small voice
Thats when I hear
God is in control
When I dance without fear
When I find unadulterated truth
When I look at the stars
When I sleep deep and well
When I know there is hope
Every second I breathe
God is in control
When my life is slow
When my world crashes
But my dreams lie intact
When storms rage then cease
When I am saved from pain
When I find peace in adversity
This is when I know
God is in control
Moments of joy
Flickers of happy memories
When I remember special songs
When a smile breaks across my face
The laughing for no reason
When theres stillness in the chaos
And that calm keeps me alive
That is when I feel
God is in control
When I have no words to say but 'I love you'
The hugs and the tears
When I kiss the forehead of a dying friend
When I hold a new life in my arms
The times that I've spent on my knees
And others running away
When in all the darkness I find light
Then is when I see
God is in control
When I hear the music of the wind
The birds sing to me the harmony
Trees sway and clap to the anthem
And the oceans beat against the shore
Then in all of the noise of the world
I hear a still small voice
Thats when I hear
God is in control
When I dance without fear
When I find unadulterated truth
When I look at the stars
When I sleep deep and well
When I know there is hope
Every second I breathe
God is in control
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Poem:"Alive"
Swaying to the music at midnight
I make a smile at the full moon
And carry on the dance
The stars sing a melody
The milky way moves with me
Eyes closed to the darkness
I step out on the wind
And I'm carried away
The clouds clear,the sounds ring true
And nothing stands in the way of the morning
When the sun will break through
And I will go to be with you
The cold has become so stinging
My thin skin holds no weight in this world
I hope my children remember
To hold on to the warmth while it lasts
The curse of youth is
That beauty belongs to the past
On the morrow
My reflection will not cause me pain
In the light of the Son
My bones will remember their strength
When I leave my footprints on the earth
And walk on a staircase of swirling airs
To the place of golden streets of rebirth
And to the tender fountain of grace
Please rejoice in my going
Think fondly in knowing
I will be with you all of your years
Gentle scents of the dew fall on my lips
I hear the morning-bird singing
The sunrise is hastening on
I am being drawn up to the arms
The everlasting arms of rest
My head now lies against his chest
I feel like I can dance
I am truly alive
I make a smile at the full moon
And carry on the dance
The stars sing a melody
The milky way moves with me
Eyes closed to the darkness
I step out on the wind
And I'm carried away
The clouds clear,the sounds ring true
And nothing stands in the way of the morning
When the sun will break through
And I will go to be with you
The cold has become so stinging
My thin skin holds no weight in this world
I hope my children remember
To hold on to the warmth while it lasts
The curse of youth is
That beauty belongs to the past
On the morrow
My reflection will not cause me pain
In the light of the Son
My bones will remember their strength
When I leave my footprints on the earth
And walk on a staircase of swirling airs
To the place of golden streets of rebirth
And to the tender fountain of grace
Please rejoice in my going
Think fondly in knowing
I will be with you all of your years
Gentle scents of the dew fall on my lips
I hear the morning-bird singing
The sunrise is hastening on
I am being drawn up to the arms
The everlasting arms of rest
My head now lies against his chest
I feel like I can dance
I am truly alive
Monday, May 12, 2008
Poem:"Marine At Mt. Suribachi"
Their country's flag soon to unfurl
Atop a mount of useless woe
For upon that day doom had fallen
Six would come, four would go and
Only memory could revive
The precious moments of their lives
The stories don't recompense their cries
Agony upon a beach
Writhing pain nevermore to cease
Dying for days and days on end
Our guilty soil to defend
The captive soldier best not hope
For soon enough he'll die by rope
On that day you'd hear angels sing:
"If the Army and the Navy
Ever look on heaven's scenes
They will find the streets are guarded
By United State Marines"
A doctor,a farmboy,an indian
A teammate,a leader,a follower
Together forged a vision
Of desire,hope,and strength
A symbol of unity
A rise in morale to make
Forever and eternity
Rememberance of the war
The debt we have,the blood they shed
The freedom they insured
For soldier on, they do
And fight the good fight o'er
The seas,the earth,the wild lands
For all the world to see
Determined to destruction
They sacrifice their years
They thunder in,with gun hand
In a rain of blood,sweat,and tears
Those who carry on the burden
Of the comrades now deceased
Flashbacks filled with horror
Wake them furious in their sleep
Peace,peace they seek for
They hang their heads in despair
Why did I not die alongside
All the others who were there?
No matter what the cost
In the end,they would never
Take back the choice
To raise their voice
Shout "gung ho"
And boldly go
Where a few good men
Have never gone before
America now stands
Home of the free
Because of the brave
A warrior til your dying day
No mortal can undo your deeds
Some men must die
So others can sleep
Semper fidus,Semper fidelis
Always faithful, ever-true
All men of war
Hats off to you
---------------------------------
I wrote this after having seen Flags of Our Fathers and reading the book. Soldiers have always inspired me,and their sacrifice is among the most honorable of all. Thank you Men of War,Men of Honor....you will be remembered.
Atop a mount of useless woe
For upon that day doom had fallen
Six would come, four would go and
Only memory could revive
The precious moments of their lives
The stories don't recompense their cries
Agony upon a beach
Writhing pain nevermore to cease
Dying for days and days on end
Our guilty soil to defend
The captive soldier best not hope
For soon enough he'll die by rope
On that day you'd hear angels sing:
"If the Army and the Navy
Ever look on heaven's scenes
They will find the streets are guarded
By United State Marines"
A doctor,a farmboy,an indian
A teammate,a leader,a follower
Together forged a vision
Of desire,hope,and strength
A symbol of unity
A rise in morale to make
Forever and eternity
Rememberance of the war
The debt we have,the blood they shed
The freedom they insured
For soldier on, they do
And fight the good fight o'er
The seas,the earth,the wild lands
For all the world to see
Determined to destruction
They sacrifice their years
They thunder in,with gun hand
In a rain of blood,sweat,and tears
Those who carry on the burden
Of the comrades now deceased
Flashbacks filled with horror
Wake them furious in their sleep
Peace,peace they seek for
They hang their heads in despair
Why did I not die alongside
All the others who were there?
No matter what the cost
In the end,they would never
Take back the choice
To raise their voice
Shout "gung ho"
And boldly go
Where a few good men
Have never gone before
America now stands
Home of the free
Because of the brave
A warrior til your dying day
No mortal can undo your deeds
Some men must die
So others can sleep
Semper fidus,Semper fidelis
Always faithful, ever-true
All men of war
Hats off to you
---------------------------------
I wrote this after having seen Flags of Our Fathers and reading the book. Soldiers have always inspired me,and their sacrifice is among the most honorable of all. Thank you Men of War,Men of Honor....you will be remembered.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
