Rip-Roar Get High On Life

Answer to question 3 of an online interview

2010-12-17T12:39:00.001-06:00

3. Briefly describe a time when you achieved a goal in the face of challenges (or while balancing multiple responsibilities). What specific steps did you take to ensure you would meet your goal, and how did you know you were successful? How will you apply that experience to set goals and measure your success in the classroom?

I have five children and I wish they all would just do what I say and believe what I tell them one-hundred percent of the time, but they don’t! I have goals for my children, each are individualized based on what I perceive to be their strengths and weaknesses and personalities. What I found is even though I know each will learn to swim, each will do it on their own time. I realize I cannot throw them into the middle of the pool and yell “you can do it.”

One of my children had no fear of the water, which was good and bad. She often jumped into the pool without the proper swim gear and we would have to fish her out. To protect her and ensure she did not have a bad experience with swimming, we had to suit her up in the appropriate swim safety equipment before she went out to the pool.

Another one of my children was a natural athlete, more so than the others, but his nature was to be cautious. Even though I knew he could get into the water and step down on the steps, he would not, but he loved being in the water. So, with him, I simply left him alone, because when I tried to push is comfort zone to match mine, he regressed rather than moved forward.

My oldest child, never had a fear of the water and could naturally sustain himself without any training at all. When swimming, we could not get him out of the water, I’ve watched him swim for eight hours. He had watched me swim, I am a previous competitor swimmer, and he started mimicking the breaststroke. Witnessing this natural ability, I attempted to teach him more and to my surprise he was desirable of the coaching. In was only weeks before he mastered the breaststroke and the freestyle. I took him to the local summer recreation team and they too were impressed with his ability and took him on as a member. Every swim practice he cried. His first meet he would not even jump into the water. And no matter what I did, all methods tried, he would simply not compete and continued to fear swim practice, he quit.

By age 13 he had matured some. He had a summer of success with Football, so I offered swimming to him once again. Because swimming was so natural, he did not believe he had much talent. His first year of competitive swimming, he qualified for the top meet of the summer in 3 events and was the fifth fastest breaststroker in his age group.

My goal was for each of my children to learn to competent in the pool, not be competitive swimmers or even know any of the strokes. What I did was accommodate my teaching style, my motivation, my instruction style to inch each child along the way to the point where each in their own time were safe around the pool.

I originally hoped to accomplish getting them pool ready in one summer, but because of my work travel work schedule, family and friend obligations along with maintaining a house and pool and maintaining my own goals, I threw away the time factor and focused on the next step. And the next step was simply getting into the pool and just being their for them and for me to be a role model for them.

This is the very same technique I will bring to the classroom. I learned to have an overall goal, big goals are great, but the path to accomplishment can take many different routes. This is what I would bring to the classroom, is having the desired goal of success, but not measuring success by reaching the goal, but by how far we have come. And success cannot be compared to the child next to them, the child’s success is their own and they themselves need to learn how to be proud of what they have accomplished. This leads in my mind to them taking what they learned and applying it in other places in life.

Answer to second question to an online interview question

2010-12-17T12:38:00.003-06:00

2. The most important responsibility of a teacher is to ensure high academic achievement for all students. Explain how one skill or ability that you possess will help you ensure success as a teacher, and describe how you will apply this skill or ability to ensure high academic achievement for all your students.

High achievement is relative to the student. It depends on their base starting academic level and their aptitude to learn and their desire to learn. So, moving a child from lacking the desire to learn to wanting to learn is a high achievement or moving a child with low academic base to within the academic parameters and challenging the high achiever to be even better are all elements of helping students be a high achiever.

I do have skills and abilities I believe will be successful helping all levels of students reach even higher academic achievements, but the first and most important impression the children should feel from me is love, compassion and caring. With love and acceptance, the bond of trust starts to develop.

My next sense is to get a good feeling for each child, who they are, where they are from, what are they like, and build a sense of how best to approach each child in the learning environment. For example, children who have already had excellent success may not need much supervision, but they may need to increase their desire to be even better. The child with low academic success, they may need the revelation of “I can”, this is done through helping them take small steps of success. Other students may need just love and patience. My goal as a teacher is not to push children academically but pull them and they themselves create the push thus the desire to learn even more.

Answer to an online interview question

2010-12-17T12:38:00.001-06:00

1. Nearly all Fellows are hired to teach in 'high-need' schools that are located in low-income communities. Why do you want to teach specifically in a high-need school in Fort Worth? What challenges do you expect, and what experiences have prepared you for the challenges of teaching in a high-need school in our community?

I cannot specifically explain why I would like to teach in a high-need school located in low-income Fort Worth communities. My only exposure to high-need school is through the news and from teachers I have met who have had the experience. The news seems to report the negative of the schools, the children not getting educated, the lack of good books, crime, language problems, and discipline. However; in my conversation with teachers, I also hear of the positive, the reward, the way it has made them better teachers, educators and individuals.

I equate teaching to that of becoming a parent. When expecting my first child, opinions of friends, family, co-workers and acquaintances deluged me with their perspective of the good, the bad and mostly the ugly of parenting. Had this influenced me, I may not have had any children. What inspired me was not what anyone told me, it was what I desired, what I had a passion to be, and this was to be a parent. In addition, with my desire and passion, the good, the bad and the ugly is an expected part of the role.

I enter teaching with the same passion and desire, I want to be a teacher, have an impact on those I have the opportunity to touch. It does not matter whether I am teaching in high-need schools or top notch schools, my desire is the same, to do the best I can with whatever tools I have available.

The Hill is Flat

2010-08-13T20:06:00.001-05:00

In life, I learned from cycling, to approach the hill In the gear and at the rate I intend to go over the hill. I found I can always develop momentum and gear up; but the strain on my legs, body and mind to gear down because the strength is not there or the pain is too much does not go away, it stays painful and tiresome the entire climb.

I have found it odd when I have been riding my road bike on a street which looks like it is going down hill; yet when I stop peddling, I slow down as I am going up hill, what is this optical illusion; terrible for optimism.

I have also found myself riding my road bike on streets which look up hill; yet my rate and pace steadily increase as if I were going down hill, love those lucky breaks.

I found all hills appear flat when I simply focus on the few feet of pavement directly in front of me, then going over the hill takes care of itself.

I have also learned I can talk myself into pushing the pedal just once more, a lot of times in a row!

I have learned and need to keep learning how to apply what I've learned from cycling into my everyday life.

What is your Rhythm?

2010-08-08T18:26:00.000-05:00

Rhythm of Life

How we pick our lives; the pace and what we do to me is no different than those of athletes. Each athlete seems to find a sport, and event which fits there body, there personality. And when they train, they train in way which maximizes there potential. Why is this obeservation of value; well to me picking what we do for our lives is just as important as an athlete picking the right sport and event.

But it seems like many, many of us don't take this into consideration when we start our lives. And this is reflected in the incredible increase in people stressing, needing drugs to sustain a pace, to calms themselves down, to wake themselves up. And in all of this; it seems that there are some who are naturally able to constantly work at a high rate; yet there are many of us who are not designed to work at this incredibly high expected rate of work.

Think about it this way, if a sprinter spent his career trying to be a long distant runner, would they be as successful and would you guess it would be an incredible strain on them physically and mentally? The same as a long distance runner trying to run the 100 M, how would it effect them. And if they could not be successful, would we call them failures?

My point is, I believe we each have a unique rhythm, a rhythm which brings harmony to our lives; but so many of us are trying to run our lives at someone else's rhythm and pace, one our body and mind cannot sustain, thus the gradual break down of our physical and mental soundness.

Have you found your rhythm?

Are you stuck in a dance you cannot get out of, does your health and mental soundness have to digress before you change?

Are we teaching or telling your children, how important it is to find a life style which fits there personal rhythm?

This morning ...

2010-06-30T15:43:00.000-05:00

These thoughts and questions presented themselves, I wrote them down.

It's about 9:00 AM and I am so lucky to have this moment to sit here at Shady Grove Park located at Eagle Mountain Lake in Azle, TX. As I sit here, I wrote.

How did we get to where we are in our own society, in the world?

Where is the line between cheating and progress?

It's interesting - everything seems to have a life cycle, yet man seems to relentlessly trying to eliminate them from their own.

Does progress mean better, better in the long run?

Man seems to only be willing to act on what they can directly see, the eminent; those that can see further are often called 'nut' , 'lunatics', 'freaks'.

What is the key that causes a tornado or a hurricane to suddenly change directions? Is it God's will?

The same is for the weather, it does not seem as though the weatherman are correct very often. Is it because they are trying to predict God's will? Like so many are trying to predict the second coming of Christ?

Love leads to the path of good behavior. Rules are followed because they are following love.

The Holly Spirit is the center of my being.

My flesh, muscle and bone can be taken from me, but my spirit is like the air, it simply is.

Why do we spend so much money and time on learning about our planet; do we think if we "know it all" we can then control our destiny?

I am amazed in the beauty our world has to offer, I wonder why so few of us see so little of it?

The house will fall down, it is unsafe I argue, but no one is listening; they simply cannot see the cracks in the foundation.

I can only change if I give God time to change me.

The US seems to have gone from independent to dependant; our strength comes through not what we can provide, but through what we consume.

Can the world really work as one, I think the US is a great example of a possibility.

Ready set go said God: see if you can discover the mysteries of the world before you destroy yourself in doing so. The joke Is on us.

Separating church and state a brilliant strategy by Satan.

If Church and State are truly disconnected; why do churches get tax breaks and other benefits from the Government? I thought Jesus said give to Caesar what is Caesars' and to God what is God's, I think Churches should pay there own way.

If you are swimming and you cannot find the purpose of swimming, then why are we still swimming.

The mistakes our leaders and corporations make seem to be along the same level as a child, where were there parents?

Don't try and change the world, ask God to change you and then show others. Force resists force. As a physics professor!

First Year Anniversary

2010-05-16T15:58:00.004-05:00

May 10th of last year, Mother's day I was baptized. Getting baptized to me was just like getting married. I felt the commitment, the love, the passion, but how would my life, my relationship with Jesus Christ will change?

As I got up May 10th 2009 partially to my alarm and partially to my fear of being discovered, I felt an excitement, a peace, a relationship I thought I would never have.

I knew I had to be up and out of my storage shed, where I had been staying for the last couple months, before people started entering and the manager showed up.

Like most mornings while sleeping in this shed, which I had made into a makeshift apartment, I went over to my bucket of water I renewed last night and take a relatively fresh towel and douse it and then proceed to 'sponge bath' myself. I do not know why, but the face is the most important part, if my face feels clean, the rest of me feel even that much cleaner.

The choice of clothes of narrowed since doing laundry is not a luxury; my last batch was hand washed in my bucket using left over shampoo I happened to have. From time to time, I did receive some money, either a loan from my friend or because I sold some of my belongings. With some money I had, I bought a spray which contained bleach. This spray, as with bleach changed the color of the clothes, thus I only used it on the inside of the clothes. This spray was a great saver, it killed of course germs, like under the arm type stuff but also made the clothes smell fresh out of the laundry, and at least I thought and hoped.

I dressed in my best jeans, cleanest T-shirt and today even shouldered a button down shirt, for I was going to be baptized. I Finish up by wetting my hair and brushing it straight back. Found the shoe string I extracted from my tennis shoe the night before and tied it around my right angle, over the pants, so my jeans would not get caught in the spokes of my bicycle.

I also had to pack my bag carefully and make sure I did not miss anything. Returning to the storage shed during the day was not a smart maneuver. It exposed how the storage shed was setup and indicated it has more than just objects in it. I had to make sure I carried even a change of clothes in my bag, computer, books, power cords, food, or anything else I might need for the next 18 hours.

I looped the shoulder bag over around my back so it sat just about middle, I mounted my faithful Mountain Bike and glided over the push password box and entered my code. Slowly the gate would slide open and I would peddle my bike through and then make a sharp right to get to my first destination, Starbucks, without much notice.

To get out with as little notice as possible, I was usually heading to Starbucks around 6:30 AM and today, my baptism does not start until 9:00 AM, so I have a little time to myself. Today, as most days, I start by reading the Bible, writing in my journal and responding to potential job offers.

Around 8:30 AM, I mount my bike again, which I hid around the corner by the trash bin at Starbucks, and throw my bag over my shoulder, but this time it does not sit right on my back, it hits the bike seat and causes it so swing right or left when I stand to mount the seat. This causes two challenges, firstly I am off balance and two it gets in the way of riding. With effort, I try to swing it back to where it should be without causing me to swerve into something stationary or cause the swaying of the bag to throw my balance off enough to where I have to start over getting going again.

The ride to the church is uneventful. As usual, I am the only bike on the road, an odd feeling in a town with sidewalks, young people and great weather one might think they would be filled with them. I have my routine down. I cross the street back towards Starbucks then ride behind the RaceTrack gas station, then dart back across the street in a free break in traffic and charge up the side walk.

Down to the Town Square, where multitude of shops, restaurants and the movie theater are, then back across the street. I will stay on this side of the street for the remaining part of the ride. The sidewalks are partial here; I know I have to cross four thresholds of grass before I will arrive at the church driveway.

Some mornings everything goes very well across these tracks, but it depends on the path, speed and how much they water the night before to whether it is a clean crossing. Today, even though my day to be baptized, one patch of grass has been watered and a bit sloppy lake like, so I get a spraying of water and mud all over me, but it's not to think and appears to have the ability to dry without a mark.

The parking lot of the church is full, there are a total of 5 services available, thus the parking lot is continually full until after the last service and people are always around. I am somewhat self-conscious riding my bike to church, thus come in the exit and enter from the side cars don't usually drive through.

I found a great spot for my bike, to hide it from being noticed, thus limited embarrassment and for protection from being possibly stolen. In front of the church there is about a 5' white brick wall, it hides the AC units for this section of the church. There is enough room between the wall and the A/C units to put my bike, so I gently slide it between the two. I grab my bible from one of compartments of my bag and place it gently next to the front wheel of my bike.

I head over to the sanctuary I am to be baptized. In my pass over, I stop in the main lobby and grab a donut and a quick cup of coffee and then I run into Ed. Ed is a member of the church and is part of a group called "Stephen's Ministry" and he has been there to counsel and listen to me and to help guide me for the last several months. As I shake hands with him and embrace in a hug, he asks me, "Did you ride your bike?" I smiled and said of course!

That was about a year ago. Today, I went to church. I work up to the same alarm I did a year ago, but I did not have to get up and leave because of lurking possibility of being discovered, in fact, I ignored the alarm and continued to sleep a bit longer. My bed is soft and my blanket and comforter soft and clean. I have a selection of clean clothes to choose from, but wonderfully more is I get up and get into a warm shower and shave with ease.

I walk down the few stairs from my loft of a bedroom; admire the art work of my younger children abound on the walls and the floor. I open my front door of my warm, carpeted apartment and get into my 1995 excellent running and reasonably kept Lincoln Continental and drove to Church.

Today I still wonder how my life has been changed by my renewed relationship with Christ. Even though a tremendous amount has changed, I still this question, I ask this question because I do not feel as though I can have a close enough relationship with Jesus Christ and never feel like I want to be content with the relationship I have. Each day, I want to try harder to server Jesus Christ even more.

Even though, with all my honesty I could tell you I feel as close to Jesus Christ today as I did last year the day I was baptized, my life, my outlook, my faith and love have all changed for the better. Is my life easier, no it has not, if anything it has gotten harder? Harder because I have greater wisdom, faith and love I did not have before. So why is my life harder, it is because I struggle against my own vision of my limitations and the ones God has for me. And constantly, when I feel I am out of capacity, I continue to have more. And having more love, faith, forgiveness, argues against my personal self logic of why I should extend myself anymore. But I realize, I am not extending anything, it's is God's will and if God can do it and ask me to do it, then I can do it, but it does not always make it easy.

I guess it's no difference than a coach believing the student can do more than the student believes themselves they can do as well as the teacher knowing the why the student needs to learn the lesson.

I look forward to my next year. I know I still have so many obstacles to overcome, I know I will feel like I did this last year, that I was making no progress, my relationship with God and Jesus Christ needs even more work, but in the end I can say I learned even more lessons and been able to extend my love, grace, faith and forgiveness even more.

With All My Prayers and Blessings,

The Battle to Death

2010-05-14T10:24:00.000-05:00

The second scenario was when two people were battling it out face to face, the future of their lives ride on who wins. If my enemy wins, then of course they take whatever I posses, if I win, I simply get to live my life in piece and harmony. But instead of it being a fight to the finish and the stronger wins, my nemesis falls and puts himself into a vulnerable position. All I have to do is not do anything and my enemy falls to his death, I win. Yet, I have a few challenges with this action. Firstly, I would not have won nobly, meaning I really did not beat my opponent, to me knowing I won because I was the 'better' more 'talented' is important. Just as I am sure, a person who ends up winning the Gold on a technicality does not feel as noble as winning it straight out. Secondly, this would give me the same feeling as not trying to save the person from the bus. But the third part her is different, this situation has contemplation built in. My enemy is not going to drop to his demise right now; maybe in a few moments, maybe in a little while, but I have time to think. I think this was fair and this was his fate, accept it. I also have the chance to consider this person is a child of God as I am a child of God, if my Father, Jesus Christ, was standing right there, would he say "let your brother drop, for he is evil and deservers it." Or, would he say, "Save your brother for he is my child as you are. "But Father, if I try and save my brother, I could easily slip and fall to my own death or my brother, who is evil, might use this as a way of saving himself and bringing my own demise."

My decision is to try and save my enemy, God's son. Why, even though it may cause me my own life. One thought comes to mind Jesus Christ said. Mt 10:39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. "

Because I am ok with my relationship with God, and because I trust in God, Love God with all my heart, soul, strength and mind, I don't have a problem putting my life in jeporady to save my brother, what my brother does depends on his relationship with God. If he decides to take advantage of me and save himself and throw me to my death, I am ok, because I have already made my peace with God, Jesus Christ is my savior and my enemy will have to deal with God directly for his actions. If my enemy decides to returnd the grace I have offered, that is not in my hands. So my decision would reach out my hand and allow the other person the action they want to take, but by me not reaching out my hand, I have then decided the fate of my enemy for him, this is not what I believe is within my realm of being a servant to Jesus Christ.

The Bus of my dreams

2010-05-14T10:22:00.002-05:00

I promised to answer respond to the dilemmas I posted a week ago or so ago. The first dilemma was the event of an oncoming bus was about to hit and kill an emotional enemy of mine or yours. Do I respond or how do I respond.

In the bus scenario, my relationship with the person would not matter, it would be automatic for me to do my best to elude the fate of the person in peril. I would react without thinking, but with hope and prayer I could cause this person not to have their fate ended by this bus. My concious would be the greater evil, my faith, belief and love of God would drive me to WANT to save this person, I don't believe the danger I would be putting myself into would come into mind, I would only be thinking about how I would feel if I did not do what I believed is the right thing to do. So thinking would not occur; only my true inner nature.

If I saved this person, my reward would only be for doing the right thing and I would walk away feeling exactly that, I did what I had to do, which was the right thing. No difference than stopping to help someone along side the rode.

Ethics, Morality, Love, Faith?

2010-05-04T13:07:00.002-05:00

I was walking down the street and struck with this dilemma. Coming across the street was someone who is causing my life pure misery, hell to be blunt. I sigh, man just cannot get away from this person, it seems like they haunt me everywhere. The sight of the person causes my heart rate to rise, a sizzle of intensity, just a plain dislike for this person to be named or be seen. As I ponder these feelings and wish I had them not, I see a bus coming down the road. As I gaze and follow it's path, I realize it is going to hit this person who emotionally I wish did not have to be in my presence, ever again.

I quickly calculate the speed of the bus, the guess of the burst of my speed, voice and capability, can I move this person who I despise out of the way of the bus and yet not put myself in jeopardy. Wouldn't that just be great, I end up in the hospital while they still are running around free and causing harm to others and maybe even laughing at my misfortune. What do I do, what would you do?

It's another day, another battle with a sworn enemy. The fight is very intense, challenging and maybe evenly matched. My opponent struggles with me and in his release looses his balance and puts himself in a precarious position. A position which seems to say "I won the fight" But I did not win, it was an accident from the result of another action. I did not pin him, force him to say uncle, regardless though, his mistake is my opportunity, isn't it. As I evaluate my opponents position, I realize death is evident for him, he will slip from his precarious position, I want to walk away, knowing this person and their grief will never effect me again. At the same time, I know if I reach out to help him, pull him to safety I will then put myself in a precarious position and be vulnerable to my enemy. Meaning, my enemy could save himself while at the same time causing me to fall to my demise. What do I do, what do you think you would do.

I will post my thoughts to these questions soon.

Ever Feel This Way?

2010-04-24T13:47:00.000-05:00

Sunshine go away today, I don't feel much like dancing
Some man's come he's trying to run my life, don't know what he's asking
When he tells me I better get in line, can't hear what he's saying
When I grow up, I'm gonna make him mine, these ain't dues I been paying

How much does it cost?
I'll buy it!
The time is all we've lost
I'll try it!
He can't even run his own life,
I'll be damned if he'll run mine--sunshine...

Sunshine, go away today, I don't feel much like dancing
Some man's come he's trying to run my life, don't know what he's asking
Working starts to make me wonder where fruits of what I do are going
When he says in love and war all is fair, he's got cards he ain't showing

How much does it cost?
I'll buy it!
The time is all we've lost--I'll try it!
He can't even run his own life,
I'll be damned if he'll run mine--sunshine...

Sunshine, come on back another day,
I promise you I'll be singing
This old world, she's gonna turn around,
brand new bells will be ringing

Jonathan Edwards

This was a song I heard when growing up and I felt it had value then and even more now.

Looking for Rip-Roar Moments in your life

2010-04-12T15:51:00.004-05:00

The definition of a rip-roar moment is when you recognize a unique moment in your life and take advantage of it and it becomes a great moment, a memory, in your life, rather than a moment you wished you could have back. Would you share yours with us?

I am putting together a talk about how so many people miss these type of moments and how we can begin to capture them so when we look back instead of seeing moments we missed, we see the moments we had.

Some examples:
- Friend and I in college played racket ball at 1:30 in the morning.
- Stopping in the middle of my workout to listen to my son's issue.
- My son sharing his popsicle with me without me even asking.
- Taking the day off of work to see my daughter sing at her pre-school graduation.

Would you mind sending me some of your rip-roar moments, I would love to be able, which your permission to use them in my talk.

Are you afraid of the Atheist?

2010-04-12T12:58:00.002-05:00

Monday, April 12, 2010

12:37 PM

There seems to be a building concern about the movement of atheism, an assault on us Christians lately. I would say it has grown to a point of fear, a fear to the point where I am seeing Christians thinking we need to defend ourselves, strike out, write nasty letters, feel like victimizing the person, or group trying to minimize Christianity.

I understand these feelings. Just last Sunday in Church I was shown a clip of a documentary demeaning religion and Christianity; it flared up in me without want, but I was mad at the person narrating the movie, I wanted to write him a letter, I angered he should have something horrible done to him AI felt.

The instant these feelings hit me, I stopped and wondered why, what do I have to worry about, who cares who believes him, is it really an assault on Christianity or Religion as a whole or me personally. And even if it is, so what, is may desire to strike out because I am afraid he might be right, because others will think I am wrong, will I not have justification for my belief?

Christianity has become defensive; the movie "Davinci Code" came out and Angles and Demons. Christians were outraged and even the Churches 'investigated the movies to see if there was anything offensive - but even if there was - so what, why are we so afraid.

Shouldn't our faith be our faith? And are we not already forewarned this would happen?

The best way to respond is to not acknowledge and not to justify but to stand strong in our faith. We do not have to justify our faith, faith is not logical this is why we are called on it to have it and thus rewarded for it.

If you are afraid of Atheism it might be because you are afraid atheism might catch on and we will be outcasts, then what? Again, we were forewarned of this and my prayer is you have had your faith tested and your character strengthened so when the time comes when our faith is put at the will of the guillotine, we use these moments to demonstrate our faith, not prove it.

Words don't prove faith, it's how we show it!

I am 48 almost 49...

2010-03-12T16:38:00.003-06:00

I am 48 almost 49…

When I get up from lying on the carpeted floor, I sense my weight and my lack of conditioning. I rise to one knee, I pause to balance, I shift my weight forward and exert both legs to lift my torso upward. The pain! Not too severe, jolts through my knee. I grunt to help with the effort, I waver slightly in my ascent, and again I was able to overcome the immense gravitation pull on my body.

Getting to the floor is easier, but I am not sure with less effort or potential damage to my knees. I stand erect and position myself in the approximation of where my torso will land; I slowly bend my knees which turn into buckling. They cautiously but forcefully hit the carpeted floor with a slight skid. I can feel the compression in my knees from the impact, then the thud of my torso hitting my target.

Shortly after comforting myself, the aching my right shoulder starts. It is not the type of aching which is annoying but can be ignored. It is more like a grind aching – maybe even pain, the type which cannot be ignored – kind of like the pain one feels with a toothache. If I leave my arm in this position the high pitched ache gets worse. Over the years I have learned how to lodge a pillow under my arm in such a way which brings down the screeching pain to a low monotone bass. Something I can withstand for a reasonable amount of time. My favorite way to watch TV, read a book, or write is on the floor on my stomach – well it used to be.

When my right should developed the ache, I attributed it to an accident I had while riding my bike. I crashed and the brunt of the fall was directly on my right shoulder. When I got up, I could not move my shoulder, it hurt and I knew it was badly hurt, but luckily at this point it was one of the low wave pains. Ironically, I was on my way to a Chiropractor appointment.

The Chiropractor made sure my arm was not dislocated and took a couple x-rays, which revealed I had a hairline fracture in my shoulder blade. Since the accident, I have been limited to how much I could use my right arm – I am right handed too. I could not throw baseballs or footballs for very long and exit swimming practice early before my arm would flair up It was a long time before my right shoulder felt close to normal, but it never recovered fully.

My shoulder was never examined by a MD. I never had a follow up appointment to make sure my shoulder healed correctly. I simply learned to live within the limitations I had developed.

Up until the last few years, I had attributed this chronic pain to my bicycle accident. But I noticed something about my body. I noticed if I slept on either side, the shoulder I slept on ached. I also noticed when I raised my hands and put them behind my head, my favorite TV watching position, both shoulders felt like they were glued in place.

Family history. Oh my goodness, my memory revealed to me. My mom – it’s her fault I say in jest, but apparently I did inherit some of her genetics, one being arthritis. I remember my mom having significant should issues throughout my childhood. In fact, she was told not to do anything physical which caused her to raise her arms above her head for any duration. Today, this is when my own shoulders seem to act up – interesting coincidence.

After years of believing my accident on my bike was the cause of my suffering, this new revelation has redirected my blame from the accident or lack of quality care to that of inheritance. The accident may have escalated the onset of arthritis, but it was not the catalyst.

We Jump years ahead into history. I am a dad of five children. Two of my children have been harmed by genes in part from me. In both cases, there were events in their lives which I believe escalated the early onset of their illness.

As I worked through my shoulder injury from seventh grade, the accident was not recognized as the initial cause, but it became a problem of my own and by some peoples my own inhibitor which I just needed the fortitude to work through.

This very same attitude is being attributed to my son and daughter. Those around look at them as the source of the problem and they put all the pressure on them to correct ‘their’ problem and just learn to be ‘normal’. Yet, they have no more control over these issues than I do with the ache in my shoulder. The can as I have, recognize their limitations and work around them, find ways to cope and improve, these won’t heal, they won’t go away, and every time I lie down on the floor, my shoulder will ache too.

I am 48 almost 49 and I often sit down at a table and a numbness creeps into my right arm, from the shoulder down. It hurts, like a low hum, you know it’s there but not bothersome enough to do something about. It’s kind of like the how your foot feels right before the pricking pin feeling kicks in. I operate just fine, but I have to admit there is a small nuisance which comes with it.

I get a pinched nerve in my ankle every once in a while. It is so severe I cannot walk, although sometimes I can walk if I do so on the side of my foot. And from time to time, when I lay down on the floor without shoes, my foot rolls over and puts pressure on the outside edge of the ball of my foot, this causes it to inflame. Last year, twice, something in the heal of my foot became inflamed and I could not tell you even with a wild guess how it happened. The doctor joked seriously maybe I should just stay on anti-inflammatory medicines!

And a couple years ago, I was running on my treadmill and a flash of heat went across my ‘good’ knee. Within a few days I could not move without sever pain to myself. I slept in a chair for several nights because it was the only position the pain would reduce to low enough to allow for periodic sleep. I went to the doctor, he had no idea. He sent me to a specialist, he had no idea, so he sent me to have a special x-ray taken of my knee. This all took several weeks. By the time I got back to the doctor to review the results of the x-ray, my knee had healed itself. The result, I had arthritis in my knee – or did.

So I am 48 almost 49 and getting up and down from the floor is strategic. I have a tail bone with a cracked or broken vertebrae, thanks to a dumb event at five years old, my right shoulder aches and goes numb, both shoulder grin with pain if I raise them above my head for a period of time. I get inflammations for what seems to be no apparent reason. My knees feel as though they will explode while squatting, I have to wear 1.5x reading glasses which sometimes make everything look better!

I am 48 almost 49, I am down to my last dollar and I am starting my life over. I still carry the wounds from the past, but just as I have always done, I will work around them and/or strengthen them, but they will not stop me from moving forward, this I write.

I write therefore I am...

2010-03-09T12:37:00.002-06:00

Today, I am writing as if it is for my life, like someone who might be exercising to keep themselves alive after they have been diagnosed with a terminal illness. I have a terminal illness it’s not a physical one but a mental one, it called fear and procrastination, lack of faith.

My concern is not doing what I need to do before it becomes too late! I have to question – am I just a complete failure? I scream YES because how would I get myself into this situation in the first place, yet again? But then again, how did I get this far if I was a complete failure? I guess having three women loving me enough to marry me is a compliment rather than I have three failed marriages. Or, maybe I can like Alexander Graham Bell and say I did not fail three times, I simply found three relationships that did not work. Regardless of my situation, I have something to say, I have the ability to say it, yet I let each day go by with the thanks it is over. Yet, then I fear sleep even though I long for it, the warm comfort of the bed the sweetness of my dreams, I know I will awake tomorrow with the same cancer I had yesterday.

The difference between me and terminal cancer, I can cause terminal cancer to withdraw, go into submission and cure myself just by doing what I need to do. In fact, every word I write here is one word towards my cure.

So what is wrong with me I cry. And even my family and friends condemn me for my cancer, but to me it is no difference than being confronted with a deadly situation, the mind and body freeze, thus I am the deer in the head lights.

You have it or not and it grows

2010-02-23T11:26:00.000-06:00

Would you agree with me. One either has faith or they don't. You believe or you don't. It's like you are pregnant or not. Love however; seems to be a continued growth. Each day I learn to love more and when I feel like I've reached my max, I still can love even more. What are you thoughts, are continually challenged to find even more love in your heart, more compassion, more empathy?

What is your version?

2010-02-05T14:37:00.002-06:00

This might be a question you get from a fellow Christian and might be used as a way of classifying you as a Christian.

I was never aware there was a debate about which translated version of the Bible is the "best" until a friend of mine just happened to say "you aren't using the NIV are you?" And continued to tell me about a couple 'acclaimed' errors in the NIV, which I validated.

This prompted me to do some research on the different versions of the Bible. My findings were very, very surprising. Firstly because there is a very heated debate over the versions of the Bible and which one is the 'best' or most accurate. Secondly, I have been around all faiths of Christians my entire life and never heard of this debate, which means I guess I am ignorant.

In short the results of my brief research;

Their seems to be as much evidence of inaccuracies of every version.
It is agreed none of the English translations can be considered 'Devine' because it is still a translation and even more importantly, we don't have the true originals to compare.
Many of the arguments against one version or the other are details none other than a true Bible scholar looking for such discrepancies would notice.
The version YOU choose should be based on your desired use.
It is recommended to have more than one version for example: the NIV for ease of reading and the NASB for study.

One concern did come from my research. There seemed to be a sense of 'thou greater than you' if you do not use a particular version. We already have a division of the churches; debating or separating our brothers and sisters individually by insisting they are not true Christians by the version of the Bible they read is breaking braking up the church at its foundation, the people!

If your brother and/or sister believe as you do; then embrace and love each other as Jesus Christ commanded of his disciples.

Doing What is Good

2010-01-28T13:17:00.003-06:00

Titus 3:1-12 NIV

Doing What is Good

Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.

At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.

He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.

Rediscovering Moral Values … Not going to happen!

2010-01-06T15:14:00.001-06:00

If my memory serves me well, my grandma talked about how morals had gotten worse since she was a child. My dad talked about the same of his generation in comparison to mine as I do to my kids.

I truly do not think this will ever happen, it's a truth I agree with; and I am not saying not to try, but from my understanding of society and combine this with what the Bible says, moral degradation is going to continue; what will change is what we think is acceptable.

Think about the sex, violence and language on TV. Even me, in my short 48 years remember when you had to go to a 'R' rated movie to hear and see what is on now during family time TV!

"We have" tried to reverse this for years, "we" have complained about it, yet; it is still getting more explicit isn't it? Shoot, I was just thinking about a movie I was watching with my daughter, it was it had content on it you had to be 18 to see in my day!!! Amazing.

As a Christian I am not a believer we can save the world, the Bible already tells us this; but I do believe we have the chance to save each other. So as a Christian, do not rediscover our moral values; demonstrate them by who you are and the way you live.

I found this quote very profound…

2010-01-03T11:54:00.000-06:00

"Through this universe I own, I possess not a thing, for I cannot know the unknown if to the known I cling"

from the book "The Knight" by Robert Fisher

Confirmation

2010-01-01T17:22:00.000-06:00

I wrote not too long ago about not to let anyone judge your relationship with God. I came across these versus in the Bible this afternoon and thought you might enjoy them as well.

I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. 4 My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.

1Cor4:3-5 NIV

Decreasing into his purpose

2009-12-22T13:12:00.000-06:00

He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3:30.

If you become a necessity to a soul, you are out of God’s order. As a worker, your great responsibility is to be a friend of the Bridegroom. When once you see a soul in sight of the claims of Jesus Christ, you know that your influence has been in the right direction, and instead of putting out a hand to prevent the throes, pray that they grow ten times stronger until there is no power on earth or in hell that can hold that soul away from Jesus Christ. Over and over again, we become amateur providences; we come in and prevent God, and say—‘This and that must not be.’ Instead of proving friends of the Bridegroom, we put our sympathy in the way, and the soul will one day say—‘That one was a thief, he stole my affections from Jesus, and I lost my vision of Him.’

Beware of rejoicing with a soul in the wrong thing, but see that you do rejoice in the right thing. “The friend of the Bridegroom . . . rejoiceth greatly because of the Bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease.” This is spoken with joy and not with sadness—at last they are to see the Bridegroom! And John says this is his joy. It is the absolute effacement of the worker, he is never thought of again.

Watch for all you are worth until you hear the Bridegroom’s voice in the life of another. Never mind what havoc it brings, what upsets, what crumblings of health, rejoice with divine hilarity when once His voice is heard. You may often see Jesus Christ wreck a life before He saves it. (Cf. Matt. 10:34.)

Chambers, Oswald: My Utmost for His Highest : Selections for the Year. Grand Rapids, MI : Discovery House Publishers, 1993, c1935, S. March 24

Anxiety / Depression

2009-12-15T11:09:00.001-06:00

These definitions popped into my head this morning…

Anxiety is lack of confidence in the future.

Depression is lack of hope in the future.

To have both is to lack faith.

3rd Response to Honor Your Parents

2009-12-14T16:52:00.003-06:00

I have to prerequisite this reply with this information. David is a friend from HS, who would of know we would reunite here, only God knows. Dave it's good to be in touch with you again and look forward to more conversations.

Hi Lee! The issue of parental authority is one of law, and has been from the beginning. The role of Father in the family has been under attack from the beginning, as well. The question of "who's your daddy?" certainly applies here. The fact is, we've all been led astray by forces working against the family and through structures that have been built up in the imagination of fallen men, and not of God.

Each of the respondents below referred to context as being critical, and this is quite true. The context of Honoring one's father and mother comes from Deut 5:16. The context has to do with remaining on the land that the Father in heaven was going to give to Abraham. The object of the promise is freedom, and dominion, and authority.....liberty.....the right to do as one pleases, without the hindrance of ill-advised contracts which subject oneself to foreign governments and their gods. God wants mankind to be free souls under Him, not subjects of a foreign god. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

The ignorance of the law of the Father has brought the role of the Father into disrepute, and has caused the near annihilation of the family. Patrimonial rights have been surrendered from the very moments following the birth of our children. Find me a "minister" who can justify the process of Novation. That is, the process of signing over the authority of the role of Father to the State in the moments following the child's birth. We have all been warned that Satan waits at the womb! You lost your parental rights when you ignorantly signed them over to the State. The State maintains a record of that forfeiture in their database. They gave you a copy of the Contract you signed. It's called a Birth certificate. It is the first cord in a three-fold cord which is used to bind a child to the State from cradle to grave.

The Bible teaches us to Call no man on earth Father. This has nothing to do with Catholic priests, but everything to do with calling someone other than your bio-dad a father. You and I went to public school. We learned all about our Founding Fathers. These are the gods of this country. These are the ones that God said we are not to call father.

When Moses was born his mother sent the tiny tot down the river, just as you did with your own children. And, the daughter of Pharoah received the baby of the Hebrew woman and called for her, and told her to take the baby home and give it suck and when it was of age, she would take it back. Can you see the parallel between surrendering your child to the State at birth, and then taking it home and raising it up until it's 18, and then sending them off to be ruled by the State? It's no wonder that children are disobedient to the parents, instinctively they know they've been sold out...sent down the river!

There is a second cord that binds a child to the servitude of the State, rather than the Father, and that is the process called Tutor. That's where I met you. We both had parents that participated in that sin. Tutor is "free" public education. The third cord that completely binds a child into servitude for life is called Corban. You can read about that at Mark 7:11. It is the exact same system today, as it was 2000 years ago. Today we refer to it as Social Security, and everyone has their SSN. Almost all the countries of the world have their own version of Social Security, and those that do not are presently at war with the USA. Those are countries which still maintained the role of the Father. By the way, in Canada, their program of Social Security is called Social Insurance. They quite candidly abbreviate their program as such, SIN. Gotta love the Canadians for their disclosure.

The Bible warns us about this three-fold cord which is not easily broken in Proverbs. Now you know what the process is to accomplish that object, and the goal is to destroy the role of Father, family, and freedom.

Yes, we must obey God rather than men, so why does anyone have a Social Security number? Why do they "vote" in an indirect democracy for men that call themselves Father, in a system with centralized top-down authoritative style government, who by design and stealth take children away from their families, and send them off to war, who have a central bank, and who plunder to poor, the widow, and the fatherless? Moses stood against such practices and would've body slammed everyone of the Founding Fathers for creating such a debauched system. The Prophet Samuel railed against such a corrupt system, and God told him that if the people wanted such a system it was because they had Rejected God, not Samuel. God told Samuel to go ahead and let them have their way, and that they would pay a heavy price for their disobedience. Such governments were abhorrent to Jesus, and he told His disciple, it shall not be so with you! He taught them to build a system of service from the bottom-up. The greatest amoung you shall be as the least, a servant of all.

Lee, if you want your children to be obedient to you, you need to be obedient to God. In order to do that you need to repent. Repent from the evil works that you and I were led into by those we trusted: our parents, teachers, government leaders, and "ministers". We need to chart a new course and follow Christ. In order to accomplish that you will need divest yourself of the platitudes of modern day Churchianity, and the sophistry of seminarians and translators. You need to roll up your sleeves and get busy learning what no one else ever taught you before today. The leaders in the "church" so-called, have been blinded by their own ignorance, and are the modern shephards who flee when the enemy approaches, because the flock is not their own.

A man's enemies are those of his own household, and of his own "church", and community, because they've all gone astray from the womb, speaking the lies they were taught by well-meaning, but nevertheless ignorant people. No man can serve two master's. And, those who try to walk in the camp of Saints and the world, will be torn asunder. The Church is not the State, and "ministers" alledgedly proclaiming Christ have NO authority under God to translate their congregations to the power and dominion of the State, which is what every single 501C3 "minister" does. These are State "churches", State organizations, and they are silenced in their abilithy to speak out against the corruptions of the State, which include the destruction of the family....from the moment of the creation of the union of man and woman. ALL 501C3 "ministers" perform ceremonies of marriage by the "Power and Authority vested in me by the State of __________". Your marriage License is on record with the State, is it not? Because of this your children, the fruit of your marriage, are also promised to the State. This is why the State can dictate how your children can be raised. They come into your home and dictate the care of their health, education, and welfare. You completed the necessary contracts to allow that to happen. Your trusted "minister", ought not to have been trusted.

These "ministers" of 501C3 "churches" have no business telling anyone to be obedient to God, for they are the greatest offenders of that statement of all men. These are the hypocrites of our day. Ignorance of the law is no excuse.

In the day that Christ was beginning His ministry, there was a blind man from birth who was made to see by Jesus. His family was called to give an answer as to how it was that their son was made to see. Their answer was quite illustrative. You can read about that in John 9. The point of that was that if anyone was professing that Jesus was the Christ, they were agreed to put that man or woman out of the synogogue. It's easy to see this incident as ex-communication, but, men forget that Isreal was a nation set apart by God. It was to be a "religious" example of how a nation was to live according to the dictates of God. When the leaders of the synogogue ex-communicated someone, they were actually expelling them from the benefits, privileges, and opportunities offered to them through the system of Health, Education, and Welfare they had set up in that nation. In fact, these people were being focibly ex-patriated. In the Greek Interlinear text of the NT, the word Father is often untranslated, from the Latin word Pater. It is where we get the words Patriate, ex-Patriate, and Patriotic. Are you a Patriot? Do you call upon the founding fathers of the nation, or upon the President to solve your troubles, or do you call upon Our Father which art in Heaven, whose name is hallowed? Who is your father?

There are MASSIVE problems in the modern "church", old friend. The slumber of the "ministers" has caused the destruction of the Father, the family, and the nation.

However, Christ Jesus has given us a way out, and that is through Him. You may also want to read Galatians 4.

I recommend the following sources for further information and guidance:

George Ricker Berry Greek Interlinear

Strongs Concordance

Vine's Expository Dictionary

In Caesar's Grip, by Peter Kershaw

www.hisholychurch.info There is a specific article written addressing this very concern, Call no man Father

Blessings to you Lee! It's been too long!

Blessings to all those who have ears to hear, and eyes to see. The time is very short.

David

Pasted from http://www.allaboutgod.net/forum/topics/honor-your-parents-but-jesus?xg_source=activity>

I am lucky…

2009-12-14T10:50:00.001-06:00

During my time of severe tribulation, I was and continue to be a very luck person. For I have found God, Faith, Trust, Love and perseverance which has honed my character into someone God knew I could be.

I found God reaching out to me from places I did not expect and closed doors to places I thought were safe; but God directed me away from these places; for I was misled.

My tribulations are not yet over; and I am glad, because I do not yet feel sharpened; hardened; developed and full in my Love, Faith and Hope.

I am thankful for my circumstances because had they not in a sense been forced on me, I might never of known what God's plan for me was… at least not early enough to execute it.

A few short years ago I had accepted my life was over - not in physical death, but in my soul. I had figured this was as good as it was going to get and I resigned to let all my other aspirations die like the leaves on a tree and just blow away in the wind. These just were not personal aspirations; but aspirations for all parts of my life, I had resigned that my function was merely to go to work, produce a paycheck and shut up. My value to those I loved respect the most was none apart from my children, yet even this was being challenged.

I am thankful for all of this; because this trial has brought out the best in me, God has shown me strength I had hidden within me, Love beyond my own ability, forgiveness of the most sinful.

As I mentioned, I am not done, God is not finished with me yet. I feel like an athlete in training; one knows for the most part when they have reached their peak or overcome an obstacle which has kept them from moving forward, I have developed momentum and this I pray I keep.

And what a perfect time to be aware of God's grace and gifts, at the time of his birthday. My biggest gift I hope people will accept this Christmas is the acceptance of God into their lives; I pray this be the gift you receive.

God Bless and Happy Birthday Jesus,

2nd Response to Honor Your Parents...

2009-12-12T14:34:00.002-06:00

Leland,

The verses you cited are not contradictory. Everything must be understood in the wider context of all the Bible says about family relationships.

God's original design for the family is that there be a husband and wife committed for life to one another under the authority of God, worshipping and serving Him, and raising their chidren "in the training and instruction of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4). Since sin has entered the picture, members of a family are under the influence of sin, so some family members may now be obeying God and other's not.

The general principle in God's Word is that children should honor, respect and obey their parents ineverything (Ephesians 6:1), EXCEPT where their commands are unrighteous and directly contradict or violate the Word of God. An example of this is found in Acts 5:27-29 where the religious rulers commanded the apostles not to speak about Jesus (in direct contradiction to God's command). The reply of the apostles was correctly,"We must obey God rather than men!"

If parents are commanding their children to break God's law, then the child should obey God rather than the parent, which may set in motion the chain of events in Matthew 10:34-35; "...a man's enemies will be the members of his own household."

A word of caution: Children must make absolutely sure that what the parent commanding is a direct violation of the Word of God before deciding to disobey it. The should pray and ask God and get advice from other mature believers before they deliberately disobey, otherwise they may face the wrath of their parents and they will not only be sinning against their parents, but God as well. Just because the child feels the parent's command may be unjust, it does not necessarily make it a violation of God's Word.

Children who disobey parents should be prepared to face the wrath of the parents. If the child suffers as a result of chosing to obey the Word of God over their parents they are being persecuted for Jesus' sake. They should rejoice because they will receive a great reward in Heaven (Matthew 5:10-12).

Pasted from <http://www.allaboutgod.net/forum/topics/honor-your-parents-but-jesus?commentId=1383940%3AComment%3A518505&xg_source=msg_com_forum>

Response to Honor Your Parents…

2009-12-12T14:32:00.002-06:00

Leland, the first rule of Biblical interpretation is to read each passage in it's context. That is, to first understand who is speaking, to whom they are speaking, and what they are speaking about. While every passage of scripture is "God breathed" and is intended for our edification, not everything is addressed specifically to us today. Rather, it is meant that we will learn the precepts that God is teaching.

The first passage you quote is Jesus explaining to his disciples that he has not come at that time to bring a universal Messianic reign of peace. His point is that the Gospel will not be accepted by everyone and therefore it will cause division. He is not saying that he INTENDS for there to be division, but rather that he knows his message will offend those who do not receive it. This is a general principle that we call "the offense of the Gospel".

In your quote from Ephesians, the Apostle Paul is instructing the church on precepts that bring order and blessing to life. He is explaining that we have a responsibility to remember the commandment to honor father and mother - because this is the one that specifically carries a promise of blessing. We learn that it is a vital precept to have an understanding of authority structures and to submit ourselves appropriately.

These are not in conflict, but rather are in fact different topics. Jesus is NOT commanding strife in a family. He is explaining that the Gospel will divide people. I will give you three examples:

1. In the first century many people were put out of the Synogogues for faith in Jesus as the true Messiah. This was a matter of social disgrace and shame. Some people were therefore abandoned by their adult children for it - in violation of the commandment. Until the destruction of the Jewish temple in AD 70, Jewish Christians were persecuted by Jewish non-believers with great hostility. The story of Paul the Apostle is just one of many such accounts.

2. When I first became a believer, my extended family rejected this. We had come from a religious tradition that did not fully accept the Bible as the word of God. Instead, our historical tradition held to many teachings of people in addition to the Bible. As a result of my stand on the Word of God alone - and salvation exclusively by faith in Christ, my family rejected me. I was once expelled from my Grandfather's home for trying to explain the wonders that God had done in my life by faith in Christ. Some of my family grew very hostile to me; Not because I sought it, but because they refused to accept my beliefs. My own mother pled with me to come back to the family tradition and I told her I could not. She said "then you don't love me". To her, I was being hateful and unloving by my commitment to Christ.

3. In 1999 I met a Muslim from Afghanistan and we became good friends. I asked him if he had ever heard the Gospel or if he knew of Christian missionaries that had ever established a church in his country; I asked him to consider becoming a Christian. He said to me "you don't understand, no matter how compelling the message of Jesus, I cannot." I asked him "why?" and he said "to follow Jesus, I would have to deny my father and mother, my brothers and sisters; I would have to deny my entire nation and even deny myself!" I said "you have actually just quoted Jesus; and you are right".

Now, I can also tell you that it is possible to honor your father and mother, even if they do reject you for your faith. I know people who have been blessed for doing so. I also know many who have later won their family to faith in Christ by their faithful commitment to honor.

Pasted from <http://www.allaboutgod.net/forum/topics/honor-your-parents-but-jesus?commentId=1383940%3AComment%3A518505&xg_source=msg_com_forum>

It's not new...

2009-12-10T17:19:00.002-06:00

I find these versus incredibly brilliant and insightful. Today, psychologists go to school and get Ph.D's to learn what James knew and understood 2000 years ago.

Jas 4:1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. James 4:1-3 NIV

Both Honor and be enemies …?

2009-12-10T10:27:00.002-06:00

Mt 10:34 "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn

" 'a man against his father,

a daughter against her mother,

a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—

Mt 10:36 a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.'

Children and Parents

Eph 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 "Honor your father and mother"—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 "that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth."

Eph 6:4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord

These two versus seem to be somewhat contradictory.

I believe in Eph 6:1, it is referring to CHILDREN, not grown children . But, the Eph 6:2 states "honor your father and mother"… yet in Matthew 10:35 Jesus Christ states: "For I have come to turn "'a man against his father, a daughter against her mother…"

Do these two statements seem contradictory - or maybe not, but how does one be against his father or mother and in Matthew 10:36 "a man's enemies will be the members of his own household." and uphold the commands in Eph 6:1-4.

The question is…why did I try anyway?

2009-11-30T18:29:00.002-06:00

A Rip-Roaring Moment is...

2009-11-30T14:32:00.002-06:00

A rip-roaring moment is the moment you have in front of you because that moment can never be replaced, thus good or bad, it's a moment to be recalled, to gain from, learn from, thus embrace it and Rip-Roar

Lost is relative...

2009-11-28T23:36:00.001-06:00

The answer is "NO! I am not lost, I just don't know where I am!"

On the Mount with Mark Isherwood

2009-11-24T09:38:00.001-06:00

I don't know where I got it from, it could be from backpacking, but my friends enjoyed the same type of events.

On any given weekend, we would party like any teenagers, however; our partying was to the hillside where we could see the city lights from some heights. It would be "Sliding Hill", Shell Ridge, Berkley Hills, Oakland Hills, Black Diamond Park. And it most always included a healthy dose of exercise…climbing hills, hiking, exploring.

On this particular night, for some reason we had limited time and resources for a party. Mark and I went to what I would call a 'mound' just on the edge of town and technically at the foot of MT Diablo. This overlooked a neighborhood near our High School in Walnut Creek.

As we sat there in peace...

I guess I never really noticed before because we were always much higher and focusing on being able to see other hills, cities and sights. This night, I noticed how uniform the street lights were. As my eyes followed the pattern of street lights, I also focused on the houses, each was so similar. One house was the same as the next, maybe one had a driveway on the right the other on the left. The front yards were about the same size, varying the type of walkway from the driveway. We had painted houses that summer, so I was able to zoom in my mind and realize the house floor plans were also similar and from our view, all very close in size - and the backyards the same; fenced in rectangle size.

Wow, I said to Mark, have you ever realized how the houses are almost all the same? Pulling from memory; I realized the cars I had seen were all very similar too. They may have varied by make, but they virtually were the same.

Why were people living in such a copy-cat neighborhood? Ahhhhh…. Similar houses, cars, location, similar costs, thus the people in this neighborhood probably made the same amount of money.

TRAFFFIC - oh my gosh, these people do the same thing, earn the same amount and all have similar jobs!!

They all get up at the same time to similar alarm clocks, get coffee from similar makers, dress in a similar fashion, get into similar cars and go to similar jobs - and leave for their jobs at the same time - TRAFFIC.

It was that moment I knew what was waiting for me and I did not want anything to do with it!!

But I tried anyway...

Christmas = Thanksgiving

2009-11-23T14:14:00.001-06:00

How well we are doing economically, thus personally, seems to be directly dependant on how well we do each year at the retail stores. Increasingly, more and more jobs are dependant or indirectly dependant on retail sales. With the expectation of optimal performance each year along with what seems to be intense pressure from advertisers to shop and impress for Christmas, combined with the shopping madness. More and more people on the roads, usually during the worst weather to be driving, stores stuffed with people, the competition to get the best deal or the best present, our commitment to buy outside our income, thus putting future economic pressure on ourselves, all of this during a time where it seems as though we have less time and less patience.

It seems this dependency on making things good at Christmas has led many of us to be so glad when the holiday is over, thus missing the entire meaning of a Christian Christmas.

Even though Thanksgiving is the idea of giving thanks for our country, family and friends, it would be wonderful if we could unite the custom of Thanksgiving with the reason for Christmas. On Christmas, I don't think we should be only giving thanks for the quality and/or quantity of presents we get or give, but for what we have and most importantly, be thankful to God.

Posted previously 1/4/09

Thanks Giving and Christmas Together

2009-11-23T13:58:00.001-06:00

It's been a long time and something in the back of my mind was not sure it would ever happen again, being able to share time with almost all my children.

For the past year, this has eluded me, but this weekend I received a gracious phone call from my children's mom. She was going out of town and our oldest daughter did not want to go, thus called me and asked me if my oldest daughter could stay with me and her two younger siblings. "Of course" I said with delight, cheer and astonishment in my voice.

What an joyful weekend! We played Wii, watched TV, went to the park, laughed, kidded and acted like a family and even more so, it felt like a family. You see it's been a while since we were all able to be together and these moments are something I started having to accept that might not happen again any time soon.

I witnessed a wonderful relationship between her two younger siblings, As my oldest was sitting watching TV, I saw my son go and sit down next to her and lean on her an outward sign of affection and Samantha accepted this so graciously.

They played competitively on numerous Wii games and there was no sad faces, fighting or fits of things being unfair - well a time or two, but it usually was the younger ones just not getting there way. Can't be perfect.

The love and respect they have for their older sister was remarkable, the love and respect she showed for her two younger siblings was beyond what one might expect - especially from a teenager! ;) No offense Samantha :)

This was a rip-roaring weekend because I not only was able to participate and enhance my relationship with my children, I was able to witness the incredible relationship these three children had between them and most wonderfully, I was able to participate in it.

Thanks for giving us this opportunity, I have so much more to give thanks for and it was like Christmas came early, it was the best gift!!

The 3rd Dream in one night...

2009-11-20T10:52:00.001-06:00

A dream.

I pulled my 1968 MG Midget Orange Roadster into the parking lot. Over to my right, over my right shoulder sat another MG. This was a very special MG, it is my mom's. Amazing, it sat there so perfect, did not need a wash, it's Cherry Red color was glowing in the sunlight and the Chrome spoke wheels glimmered.

This was a very strange day, I had to get both MG's home some how and the worst part was I was running out of gas in my car, thus hoping my mom's car had some gas in it.

Ok, I am stumped, I know have to cars both very low on gas. I sat and wondered how am I going to get two MG's home with both so low on gas. I figured I was going to have to take one to get gas and somehow bring gas for the other one.

I reasoned I would use mine, the logic was I figured my car was less likely to overheat…

My mom called last night…

2009-11-18T00:15:00.001-06:00

A dream

I was driving around trying to find a gas station in a town I was unfamiliar with. In the middle of my frustration I got a call from my mom on my cell phone. She asked me where I was with a lonely sounding voice. I told her I had to return to Chicago … and to make the situation worse, the cell phone took this opportunity to have broken reception, so I had to repeat myself 2 or 3 times. In a voice only a mother could muster for a son, she said, "You should come home, it's the holidays, I was expecting you to be home…"

A visit with my mom …

2009-11-16T09:14:00.001-06:00

A dream

The visit was wonderful, as it always is with my mom. I enjoy being around her, her personality is wonderful and she loves to get delighted about the simplest of things, life is not complex with her.

What made this visit with my mom is it was the first I have had with her in over 8 years and it was at her favorite place in her favorite car.

I love the wind in my face, especially on a day like today, the sun was high warning everything it touched and the wind was steady and calm with a cool crispness to it that did not provide a chill. As we toured the down town area with the top down on her pristine bright red MG Midget with chrome spoke wheels, I was awed by the sights and mentioned to my mom, "wow, this is a perfect down town area, everything you need is right here, so convenient to get too" As we pulled into the driveway of her Shelter Cove home, she said "that is what I have been trying to tell …"

A most special question.

2009-11-13T18:26:00.001-06:00

I don't know why, but I feel so honored when my 4 year old daughter asks "Will you color with me?"

A Rip-Roar Moment

2009-11-13T15:54:00.003-06:00

Last night I was laying on the floor watching TV with my 5 year old son and my 4 year old daughter. My son came over and laid down on my back, but immediately got up because he said he was cold. His return was immediate, we have kid blankets readily available for these moments.

He again laid down on my back as he has done before. He usually props his head up by placing his chin in his hands propped up by his elbows which generally feel a tad uncomfortable.

I did not feel the needle like elbows in the center swell of my back, but thought he had gone to a cross arm approach. He had, and something else too. When I prompted the two of them to bed, Stefan did not object nor did he approve, he was quiet. Hmmm, I could not see him, so I shook my back some and still no answer. Leanna, I asked, can you check to see if Stefan's eyes are open, she confirmed they were closed and he appeared to be sleeping.

A warmth I think only a father can feel came over me. It was a wonderful feeling for him to want to be so close to me, it was a wonderful feeling he felt secure enough to fall asleep, it was a wonderful affectionate moment.

To try and save the moment, I did gently slide him off my back and gently placed him in bed with a kiss good night.

Dear Dr. McKellar

2009-11-09T09:14:00.001-06:00

I almost spoke this morning, but sometimes I think my thoughts are too profound for such a large and diverse group.

Your excellent description of marriage inspired the following epiphany about marriage.

Does a marriage truly exist in God's eye's if He is not the unifier of the marriage? My understanding of marriage is we pledge to each other, but we don't pledge to God. Without God being the unifier of the marriage is almost destined to fail.

It's kind of like local TV when we had just TV antennas. It was easy for something to get in the way of the signal. Thus the unification is local, such as just between the man and woman, like we pledge to each other at our marriage.

God might be looked at a little bit like Satellite TV, both the send and the receiver go through Satellite, thus the local object which might normally obstruct the signal are no longer an issue.

My thought of why Jesus, as you interpreted, so many people won't be able to stay married is the same reason so few will get into heaven. If two people shared the same love and faith of God, then how can the marriage fail?

In a book I read, "The reason for God" by Tom Keller, he talks about how we base who we are on anything else other than God is doomed for failure, because God is the only permanent thing in our lives. He implies, we seek marriage to fill the gap, thus putting an unreasonable demand on the spouse to be "God" like and when they are not, well, the marriage fails.

Third Rock from the Sun…where?

2009-11-02T13:06:00.001-06:00

I can't get over how 'man' believes we can solves all the problems of our world.

Well, first of all, they cannot 'scientifically' explain how we exist.

Secondly, they have no idea of where we are. Think about this a moment; we are the third plant from the sun and the sun is where in the universe?

So, two fundamental questions we cannot answer how we got here and where we are.

Seems like someone should know….maybe it's God?

Evolution…? What!

2009-11-02T12:54:00.001-06:00

I know I was taught the theory of evolution, I know there has been a big debate in our education system in regards to teaching the theory of evolution and or the teachings of the Bible.

I did not learn until just a couple of years ago, there is no proof of evolution NONE. Ok, I accept my ignorance; but in all the shows I have watched, newspapers, magazines and books I have read, this fact was never disclosed.

Does anyone feel as outraged as I do. They taught us the theory of evolution like it was FACT, they had hared evidence!!! But in truth, there was none, still isn't and remains only a theory.

Are any of you as outraged as I am and simply dumbfounded by the hypocrisy?

Jesus wept…

2009-11-02T12:23:00.001-06:00

In the NIV of the Bible in the Gospel John 11:35 it states "Jesus Wept" In the next verse 11:36 John states: 'Then the Jews said, "See how he loved him!" '

In all the sermons I have heard and studies I have read, I still don't agree with the implication John wrote. In this story, I feel empathy for Mary and Martha, and with the grief they show, I comes across to me, Jesus demonstrated one of the most powerful forms of love, empathy.

Firstly, I don't think Jesus reacts for feels the same way 'we' do about death, for us death in permanent and was implied by Mary's comments in John 11:21 and even after Jesus told her he would rise again, Mary still did not understand the full meaning of his comment for she said in 11:25 "I know he will rise again in the resurrection of the last day."

Even in the reaction Jesus had to hearing of Lazarus's death, he did not come to his aid until 4 days past his death and not once during the dialog captured from the time Jesus heard of Lazarus death to the time he met with Mary did he reveal any empathy, sorrow, for Mary, Martha or Lazarus.

It is my humble opinion, Jesus was not weeping because he loved 'him', I am assuming Lazarus, it is he is weeping because he felt empathy for Mary and Ruth for the feeling of loss they are feeling.

Has one of your children or someone you know reacted to a situation which is reasonable for them, but since you may have gone through the process before, your reaction is not as heightened?

Here is an example from my own life. My daughter is playing with her favorite doll, her older brother comes over and grabs the doll and yanks on the dolls arms, legs and head, all departing from the body. My daughter screams in horror her favorite doll just 'died'. I hear the screaming and my daughter races to me to tell me of the victimization of her doll and I need to come take care of her pain right now. To her dismay, I am in the middle of something and can't get to it right now. Now, even if I am not busy, I already know I can put the doll back together, I've done it before. Yet, when my daughter shows me the broken doll and I see the sadness on her face, I am feeling empathy for the pain she went through to watch her brother dismember her favorite doll. My compassion is for her feeling of loss, thus I too get moved to tears because I feel and understand her feeling the emotions she went through believing her doll was gone. Even when I tell her it will be ok, she does not stop crying, I assure her we can fix the doll just like new. And offering her a new one is not good enough, she liked 'this one'. After I reassemble the doll and present it to her, does her disbelief, tears and doubt go away.

As a parent, I have often cried behind closed doors for losses my children go through even though I know it will be ok in the end. I think Jesus was doing the same for Mary and Martha.

I know I may be wrong and I firmly know what is written in the Bible, but ever time I read this story, I continue to feel Jesus was showing the same compassion we would show to someone we care about having gone through or is going through a tragic event.

I often find myself feeling empathy for those who I care about, I think empathy is one of the most powerful emotions, it's a powerful form of love.

Jesus Comforts the Sisters

Jn 11:17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.

Jn 11:21 "Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask."

Jn 11:23 Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."

Jn 11:24 Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."

Jn 11:25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

Jn 11:27 "Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world."

Jn 11:28 And after she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. "The Teacher is here," she said, "and is asking for you." 29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.

Jn 11:32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."

Jn 11:33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 "Where have you laid him?" he asked.

"Come and see, Lord," they replied.

Jn 11:35 Jesus wept.

Jn 11:36 Then the Jews said, "See how he loved him!"

Jn 11:37 But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?"

Versus from NIV gospel of John 11:17-37

Respect

2009-10-30T12:13:00.001-05:00

First thought: Giving respect is a demonstration of how much you respect yourself. What I mean is how we treat others. It does not mean we have to agree with them, like them, trust them, and it is independent of how they treat us, but we should always demonstrate respect in how we deal with others because that is who we are!

These are epiphany I am having. It's part of my journey to having an even closer relationship with Christ.

Dear John,

2009-10-28T21:50:00.001-05:00

I have not yet found my voice in the men's Monday morning bible study - I almost did today. Even though I did not speak up, I feel the motivation to share with you my thoughts on today's topic.

I have one discovery and a one perspective. I did not realize we have a natural instinct to pass blame to another, it started with Adam and Eve. One of my personal frustrations with myself and our society in general is the lack of taking responsibility for our actions, behaviors and thoughts. I notice in the news, blame is looked for in the cause of anything bad which might of happened. We want to get to the root of the problem…

More so, here is what I had in my mind this morning:

It seems to me the essence of sin is doubt. In other words, we doubt God's word, as Adam and Eve did, thus we give in to temptation. God is our heavenly father, he told his children not to eat from a particular tree, Satin was able to instill doubt into Eve and thus Adam.

I thought of myself as a parent and how often I will tell my children something similar to what God told Adam and Eve; yet they do it anyway. The difference between myself and Adam and Eve is I know the outcome if my children do not trust my word, Adam and Even did not know the consequences of their actions until after they sinned.

It seems to be innate for us to "have to learn it ourselves", we see this as parents and one of the toughest parts of being a parent is to quit trying to protect them and trust 'we' did a good job of teaching them to make the right decisions, to get themselves out of the jams from their decisions.

I believe Jesus Christ's emphasis on Faith is so strong because it means belief, trust, the same way we would want our children to have faith and trust in us.

My thinking we don't have the faith in our own parents as children rides on the fact, firstly; we are not taught about faith at a young enough age. Secondly; like Satin did with Eve, we hear in the back of our minds, our parents don't want us to do this because then we will be equal with them. And unfortunately; this is often too true. Parents don't want to be outdone by their children; like the older brother does not want to be outdone by the younger one.

So in one sentence; it seems as though we let doubt outweigh Faith; thus temptation pulls so strongly.

Thanks for your time to read this and I sure I will find my voice in the bible study soon!

Both have doubt…

2009-10-28T11:30:00.004-05:00

What do people who succeed and don't succeed have in common… give up, "Doubts" This is what Dr. Stan Harris said in his inspirational/breakthrough talk at the FT Worth Christian Chamber of Commerce luncheon. So what actually separates them?

“The people that are successful, doubt their doubts and believe their beliefs, the people not succeeding believe their doubts and doubt their beliefs.” stated Dr. Stan Harris.

http://www.drstanharris.com/articles.htm

A Parents Manual

2009-10-26T20:56:00.001-05:00

God created the world
I define my children's world by my beliefs, desires, attitudes, actions, behavior
God Created us in his image
I have children who are an image of me
God gave us rule to follow
I set rules for my kids
In the old testament, God Punished for breaking the rules
When I first started parenting, I did not tolerate rule breaking
God asked us to trust in him, to believe in him, to have faith in him
I tried to demand this from my kids, because I was the Father.
God realized rules and punishment were not keeping people from sinning.
My children rebelled against my demands and rules.
God wanted us to know he knew how we feel.
I shared with my children my challenges, frustrations, failures with my children
God put us first by demonstrating his love by demonstrating he knows/understands by sacrificing his only son.
I put my children first by showing empathy, sympathy, listening,
Jesus taught we were forgiven for our sins, but we must first admit we are sinners.
I show my children they will never be punished for doing something wrong.
We are to repent for our sins.
I help my children solve the problem and how not to repeat them in the future.
We trust God because he has never broken a promise.
I always try and follow through with a promise to my children
Jesus Christ taught us and demonstrated loving our heavenly Father, we learn to love ourselves and our neighbors
I have learned by showing unconditional love to my children, rules, laws, respect, trust and faith follow.

When I think about what I was taught about parenting and my experience as a parent, I am amazed how my process was so similar to God's. I did not have to go through the rules, regulations, punishment, had I followed the teachings of the Bible, I would of known to start with Love.

My mom told me; "kids don't come with an instruction manual"; yet for over 2000 years, God was teaching us how to be parent, because he is our Father and he set the example.

It's very simple

2009-10-24T15:41:00.002-05:00

Have you felt the same way as I have. I used to feel those who were Bible Scholars, self acclaimed Bible scholars and anyone who seemed to be able to recite Bible versus, were closer to God and my faith in God was weaker than theirs, I was not a disciple of Christ?

None of those are indications they have a better, stronger, closer relationship with Christ than you or I do. As in the title, it's simple.

Have Faith in Jesus Christ
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. NIV MK 12:30
"… Love your neighbor as yourself." MK 12:31
Repent

If you are working on these, then it does not matter how much knowledge another has, it does not matter what they say about your beliefs, it does not matter what they think!

Your relationship with Christ is a personal intimate relationship not to be shared, evaluated, judged by anyone other than…Jesus Christ himself.

A High on Life

2009-10-15T10:54:00.001-05:00

I have a philosophy which might have been noticed. It's the idea of simply getting high on life no matter what it brings.

Yesterday, I was dropping off my oldest daughter at her mom's house; my youngest son and daughter were there to greet me. As my son gave me a hug, I noticed he had a Popsicle in his hand, thus was not able to give the normal tight hug.

As I was talking with him, all a sudden it looked like a light went on and he took his two stick popsicle and broke it in half and offered one half to me. I accepted gladly. What a neat, wonderful, selfless moment I experienced, I felt so honored by his thoughtfulness and exhibit of love. That's a rip-roaring moment to me.

Will you share some of yours too?

The First Reason:

2009-10-13T09:17:00.001-05:00

Real Forgiveness Is Costly Suffering

"Someone may have robbed you of some happiness, reputation, opportunity, or certain aspects of your freedom. No price tag can be put on such things, yet we still have a sense of violated justice that does not go away when the other person says, 'I'm really sorry.' When we are seriously wronged we have an indelible sense that the perpetrators have incurred a debt that must be dealt with. Once you have been wronged and you realize there is just a debt that can't simply be dismissed- there are only two things to do. Pg 188

The first option is to seek ways to make the perpetrators suffer for what they have done. … If the perpetrators suffer, you may begin to feel a certain satisfaction, feeling that they are now paying off their debt. …. Cycles of retaliation can go on for years. Evil has been done to you - yes. But when you try and get payment through revenge the evil does not disappear. Instead it spreads, and it spreads most tragically of all into you and your own character. Pg 188

"There is another option, however. You can forgive. Forgiveness means refusing to make them pay for what they did. However, to refrain from lashing out at someone when you want to do so with all your being is agony, it is a form of suffering. You not only suffer the original loss of happiness, reputation, and opportunity, but now you forgo the consolation of inflicting the same on them. You are absorbing the debt, taking the cost of it completely on yourself instead of taking it out of the person. It hurts terribly. Many people would say it feels like a kind of death." pg 188-189

He continues in his example stating that the person which inflicted the injustice on you will continue to have defeated you until forgive them.

"Forgiveness must be granted before it can be felt, but it does come eventually. It leads to a new peace, a resurrection. It is the only way to stop the spread of the evil." pg 189

'Shouldn't they be held accountable?' The wrong doers… " 'Yes, but only if you forgive them.' " pg 189

"Only if you first seek inner forgiveness will your confrontation be temperate, wise and gracious. Only when you have lost the need to see the other person hurt will you have any chance of actually bringing about change, reconciliation, healing. You have to submit to the costly suffering and death of forgiveness if there is going to be any resurrection" pg 190

"Forgiveness means absorbing the debt of the sin yourself. Everyone who forgives great evil goes through a death into resurrection, and experiences nails, blood, sweat and tears." pg 192

All text within quotes "" are from the book "The Reason for God" by Timothy Keller.

I might be the cause…

2009-10-09T17:24:00.003-05:00

After I wrote my piece about the effort and mind set one might need to have in order to be able to continually forgive someone or people who continually seem to make a conscious effort to hurt us.

I thought for a moment even if we see them as people who are hurt and they are simply striking out at us because of their own internal pain. But, what if we are the cause of their pain. Maybe we did something or even ourselves do something we may not even be aware of which causes this continuous striking out?

It seems, from my perspective, when we are being lashed out at, it is easy for us to become the 'victim'; but as I mentioned in my previous post, if we view their hurtful behavior as an indication of their own painful experiences within themselves, then it is easier for us to forgive them, approach them with love and take their 'punishment' with understanding.

In the same thought process, if "I" am the cause of their pain, it is my hope and prayer, they will also forgive me for the pain I may or am causing them.

So, here and now, I pray for your forgiveness as I pray and work towards forgiving you.

When I thought about this cycle; I have experienced this so many times in my marriages. It is the inability of one to forgive the other which causes the continual downward spiral to the death of the relationship. I am guilty of this…

In my next post, I am going to quote some thoughts from a book I just finished "The Reason for God"

Last thought here and I hope you'll throw in your opinion on the above and this too.

Faith is what starts our relationship with God, Love is what opens the door to eternal life and to love as Jesus Christ asks us to love, we have to learn to forgive.

Forgiveness

2009-09-24T11:18:00.003-05:00

I have a question about forgiveness and wondering if you can help me.

How does forgiveness work?

I don't mean the forgiveness we generally give each other for the small things in life; the ones where after you say "I forgive you" we act as though nothing happened.

But what is it is an act which violates your soul the boundaries of reason and is persistent with their act and the person responsible is your spouse, father, mother, sister, brother, son, friend, relative?

Can we say "I forgive you" and continue? What if every time you talk to this person they continue their attack, every time you hear of them talking to someone about you they are persistent in their attack. And…what if you cannot get away from the relationship you are intertwined for life?

An epiphany hit me as I am writing;

If I first don't take the attacks personally; then I can forgive. If I continue to take them personally, then it's like a wound which never heals.

If I understand they are in pain thus is why they attack, then it is their pain which is the cause. My analogy is the likeness of trying to approach a Tiger or Bear; they defend first.

What if this Tiger or Bear was hurt and we are trying to help. The animal strikes out in protection of itself; but we know these attacks are not meant towards us personally, they are simply defending themselves.

Since we don't take the attacks personally, meaning we forgive them for the attacks; we don't let it detour us from trying to help. Thus we approach with love and if we get injured in the process, we did so in an act of love.

If you are interested, the book; "The Reason for God" by Timothy Keller has a great chapter on forgiveness. I could not get past this chapter for months because I am struggling with forgiveness.

What I have written here is my first large step into understanding true forgiveness.

I am curious; what have been your experiences and how did you come to forgive, or maybe you haven't yet, I would be interested in hearing your story.

Leland

When we found each other.

2009-08-10T13:45:00.001-05:00

I knew about religion and God since I was a kid. My parents did take us to church for a period of time, the challenge was, we were too young to sit through the traditional service, thus we may have eventually been a cause for them to stop. I understand with two young children, it is challenging to have them with me, they love to NOT sit still.

Have you ever wondered how your spirit connected to God? My experience came as Mother Teresa explained in an interview with Dan Rather, silence. When I was in my late youth and teens, my dad took us camping and backpacking. I found plenty of alone time, just sitting on a rock watching the stream, or looking over a lake or viewing a heavenly valley below. My mind was free to think without limit and this is when the word of God entered me.

I did not even realize the word of God had done so, but as I became even more familiar with the Bible, I found the thoughts I thought when alone matched the words and philosophies of the Bible.

But, it still took me over 30 years to finally build a solid relationship with Jesus Christ. Why, because those thoughts I had, the words of the Bible did not seem to fit in with what I was observing, being taught, I thought this was great philosophy, but had no place in the real world.

I admired those like Mother Teresa, Ghandi, The Pope who truly lived their lives so closely to their beliefs, I always wanted to be one, but I thought that was not for me. Thirty years later and not a lot of society success to show, but definitely a trail of unhappiness, I am praying I find the courage and strength to live the life I found once, found again and to be. All things are possible with God and if God is for us, who can be against us.

I pray.

Amen

I don’t believe we can change the world!

2009-08-10T01:01:00.000-05:00

I don’t believe we can change the world! As a Christian, the fate of the world has already been decided, thus instead of trying to save the world, I believe we should be trying to save each other.

Do you understand?

I cannot explain it to you.

2009-08-08T18:11:00.007-05:00

Last week listening to one of the local Christian radio stations, I heard this story about Dan Rather and Mother Teresa. The point of the bringing up the story was in relevance to how to pray, the commentator brought the story up as a perfect example of the essence of prayer. I then have checked on the story to make sure I had the facts correct and found many verifications, thus I share the story with you and welcome your thoughts on these thoughts.

Learning To Be Still by Bishop E. Earl Jenkins

"Be still, and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10

Former CBS anchor, Dan Rather, found himself unprepared for a television interview with Mother Teresa. Ron Mehl described the encounter this way: "All of Dan's standard approaches were inadequate. And the little nun from Calcutta didn't seem inclined to make his task easier. "When you pray," asked Dan, "what do you say to God?" "I don't say anything," she replied. "I listen." Dan tried another tack. "Well, okay…when God speaks to you, then, what does He say?" "He doesn't say anything. He listens." Dan looked bewildered. For an instant, he didn't know what to say. "And if you don't understand that," Mother Teresa added, "I can't explain it to you."

Pasted from http://rawmom.com/blog/?tag=bishop-e-earl-jenkins>

when you pray, do not keep on babbling

2009-07-21T14:19:00.001-05:00

NIV Matthew 6:7-15

7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Mt 6:9 "This, then, is how you should pray:

" 'Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

Mt 6:10 your kingdom come,

your will be done

on earth as it is in heaven.

Mt 6:11 Give us today our daily bread.

Mt 6:12 Forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Mt 6:13 And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from the evil one.' 14 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

NIV

Are you ready…

2009-07-11T16:45:00.003-05:00

Being a Christian today does not seem to carry the drama it once did. In the day of Jesus Christ, not only was Jesus crucified for his beliefs as were his disciples and others who followed the calling of Jesus Christ.

But today; accepting Jesus Christ or claiming to be a Christian an 'in thing' to do, in fact over 75% of Americans identify themselves as Christians. Amazingly, this is down from a high of 86% in 1990. Regardless, I would be my bet if we compared this percentage to the percentage of those in Christ's day, the percentage then would be significantly less.

Jesus Christ continually warned us about the cost of following him, for example in: Mt 10:17 "Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils…" and 22 All men will hate you because of me…" and Jn 16:2 "They will put you out of the synagogue…"

To my question are you, right now, where you are sitting, ready for Christ to come today. Are you as strong in your faith as your brother's demonstrated from Christ's day? I ask because when you read in the Book of Revelations 13:15-17 "He was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that I could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. 16 He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, 17 so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark…"

The Bible reveals what the mark is in Rev 13:18, …"it is man's number. His number 666."

So, the Bible states, we will have to bear this mark and without it, we will be evicted from society and even killed, thus forcing us who will not wear the mark to live under the radar. One detail about the mark is not revealed, but here is my take which will be the ultimate test for disciples of Christ. It is so tough, if you are not ready, then you may give up your beliefs and/or be fooled into false belief.

We are true believers in Christ, disciples of Christ, we love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, we love our neighbor as ourselves, we follow the ten commandments, we admit we are sinners, we have invited Christ into our lives, we live the word of God, yet!

Imagine, not only are we identified as not wanting to follow this false profit, but this false profit has been able to convince the masses that we are not just non-believers in him, but we are not Christians, we are not followers of Christ. So, not just everything is taken from us, our lively hoods, our loved ones, ability to function in life normally, but the false profit now has convicted us as not being disciples of Christ.

Are you ready to hold the line on your beliefs? If this life has tested you and brought you to God, the praise the Lord for He has given you what you need to get into Heaven. If your life has been easy, you have not been tested, then pray, pray that God will give you the strength necessary to pass the threshold into Heaven.

The Mysteries of the Bible…

2009-07-02T13:51:00.003-05:00

I am inquisitive, are you? Wanting to know and understand what the Bible is telling us? The hidden meanings in the Bible are so numerous, the answers even less to those questions. Have you noticed in your quest to find information, the information you find is not much better than the question you had? In other words, after 2000 years of these words being in written form and over 500 years of the Bible being available in mass, those who spend their life studying the Bible so often don't have any better of a clue to the answer than you or I who may have just opened the Bible for the first time.

But then we are attacked and defended by inference, the one phrase used by those attacking and those defending is "it could have been…" In addition, both sides try to come to a complete conclusion based on the information in the Bible, but there is a huge assumption. THEY are basing their conclusion with the assumption they have been given all the information!!

To me if there is one thing God does not give and that is not all the information. When he created the world in Genesis, he just used his word, he did not tell us scientifically how, when he flooded the world, he did not tell us all the details, when he parted the sea, he did not tell us all he details, when he performed miracles he did not tell us all the details. Despite the Bible purposely not being detailed, the scholars try and make inference from a source which has not provided throughout its content enough details to make a concrete inference which is indisputable, except for one.

So, I ask especially the nay sayers, the people which try and use the Bible against itself, how are so arrogant to believe you have enough evidence to reach a conclusion against the word of God? Did not the parables need to be explained to you, did you not have to study to learn the meaning of versus from the Bible? If God created the heavens and the earth and yourself, how do you expect to understand the full implications of God's word, is this not another indication of trying to separate yourself from God, to place yourself equal with God, to try and bring others down with you.

You should at least have the humbleness to admit you may not have all the facts - and you cannot believe you do.

Intolerance on both sides…

2009-06-28T14:58:00.002-05:00

It's about midnight, I am sitting in Town Square, Southlake, TX in a court yard behind a restaurant Brio's. I am talking with my friend Ryan Griffin. As usual, we are talking about life and learning from each other how to be better Christian's. Out of no where, a women approaches us and hands us 1,000,000 fake bills with a cartoon picture on it. Ryan recognizes it immediately as a solicitation to talk about Christ. Trish, the women, states they are a community founded by the actor Kirk Cameron. Ryan was not familiar with the actor, so I updated him on who he was. The lead actor of a family program named "Growing Pains" and in the height of his career, he became a born again Christian and caused the show to go sideways because he tried to instill his belief onto the others.

The conversation started out ok, but things started turning wrong when Trish started telling us how she approached people using the TenCommandments as a reflection to get people to realize they are sinners. It came across innocent enough, yet very judgmental in her demeanor. She was using this fact and sudden awareness to scare people into becoming a Christian. I don't know if I can explain fully, but it came across as though she was being very judgmental.

So, then she introduces to us to a couple of other folks in their group. She tells them we are thinking of doing open air preaching and I am reading, "The Reason for God" by Timothy Keller and Armilo supports my reading. As we are talking, another group of people come into the square, they all stopped talking and the focus went to this other group they identified as Muslims and acted as though an enemy had just showed up and they would need to get ready for battle, they showed no tolerance or acceptance towards these people

The out of the blue, Trish asks me how I deal with the liberalism of the Church I attend, women in the ministry and their acceptance of homosexuality. I said, I am not that involved in the Church to be aware of these issues and I did not care about women in the ministry because…but I was interrupted by Armilio and challenged me and my faith and whether I was a Christian. I told him just a minute I wanted to answer Trish's question. He then interrupted me again and I said wait your accusations are going to get you an ass whipping. Now, I know what it sounded like, but I did not have a chance to let him know I meant verbally, but he continued to be insistent. His intolerance was more than I could stand. I was not going to defend my beliefs to this attack based on his intolerance. I looked at my friend Ryan and excused myself.

Ryan, however; stayed. Now, I am not sure why Ryan stayed, but this type of a situation is where I think Ryan does his best. To challenge him on his faith and worse to challenge him on his knowledge is an area not very many people can equal Ryan. So, I am guessing that this group who thought they were the preachers are now being the students. I am also guessing, they won't change their sense of intolerance, they will be impressed with Ryan's knowledge and possibly be humbled, they also will be more educated on what the Bible means and says. Yet, I feel there hearts are hardened and minds closed.

Ryan came back about an hour later, it was now 1:30 AM Sunday morning. In the end, Ryan realized the group in fact had formed opinions of who/what a Christian was by taking only pieces of scripture rather than applying it to the whole and seeing how scripture/the Bible was communicating overall. What went from a one or two person conversation turned into 4 to 6 of the group challenging Ryan. And instead of sharing knowledge, they attacked Ryan on his interpretation of scripture, his own personal beliefs, habits and values, which most of the personal items had nothing to do with the conversation.

I end this description of the encounter with this. Firstly, I believe this group is almost a cult, they have formed opinions which are not supported in the Bible, but they use parts of scripture to justify their beliefs. Secondly, they try and break people down to agree with them, they are not open to other interpretations. Finally, they seemed very judgemental, meaning they automatically judged you not to be a brother or sister if you did not believe what they did and finally, the way they reacted to the muslim group, showed an incredible intolerance for others as well.

Now, I just beat up on them, but intolerance went both ways. When I felt like I was being attacked by Trish, the Armilio, I showed an intolerance for their behavior. Instead of acting graciously and finding out more, I acted aggressively and then excused myself because I could not tolerate their behavior and opinions.

And Ryan, why did he stay there and talk, discuss, argue, defend. Because he was being intolerant of their intolerance. What burns him more than a non-Christian is another Christian not only disrespecting other Christian, but misusing the Bible to support their personal beliefs and values. So, he had the tools to 'defeat' them and I believe, whether they want to admit it or not, he did defeat them.

I did not walk away from this encounter feeling good and neither did Ryan, what we all did is exhibit our own weakness and intolerance. As I talked with Ryan about it and we were discussing our understanding that we too demonstrated equal intolerance and we felt we sinned, that the best thing we could of done once we felt the intolerance, would have been not to engage, but to disengate immediately and walk back to our bench and continue our conversation, demonstrating good Christian behavior.

What would you have done or what would you have recommended we do?

By the way, Armilio handed Ryan a card, on the card it identified Armilio as the Pastor of the Church - Ryan just defeated him in battle.

Honor who first?

2009-06-26T17:04:00.001-05:00

Question: Did we love and respect our Heavenly Father first, or did God display his love and respect for us first? If I am right, it is God who has constantly reached out his 'hand' to us and offered us his unconditional love and in doing so, we do the same back. We give God our respect, all our love, devotion, faith and obey him because of what he has given us. Despite our own failings, he continues to love us and what is incredible, he has not failed us once. All promises have been kept, he has never forsaken us.

So, then why don't the earthly fathers take the lesson from their Heavenly father, how does an earthly father expect to be loved and respected if they don't demonstrate it and show it. Remember, it is not enough to say you love and have faith, it is through our works that clearly show whether we believe this to be true.

I will gladly die for my father, will he gladly die for me? My sense is, he'll push me out in front of the bus and them blame me for doing something so stupid.

Did Jesus demand a title?

2009-06-26T13:37:00.002-05:00

Are you amazed as I am how people demand to be called by a particular title because with the title they believe it comes with respect, honor, glory, authority. But so often they miss the point, the title does not give these, the person does. A person is given a title because they demonstrated the qualities which deserve it and when they stop, the title also goes. So, if you have a title, it does not mean much if you as a person are not honoring it first.

My suggestion is skip the title, be the person, accept the title if given.

Justifying our existence

2009-06-22T17:11:00.004-05:00

Every person must find some way to "justify their existence", states Kierkegaard. to stave off the universal fear that they're 'a bum.' In more traditional cultures, the sense of worth and identify comes from fulfilling duties to family and giving service to society. In our contemporary individualistic culture, we tend to look to our achievements, our social status, our talents, or our love relationships. Some get their sense of 'self' from gaining and wielding power, others from human approval, others from self-discipline and control, But everyone is building their identify on something.

Identify apart from God is inherently unstable. For example, if I build my identity on being a good parent, I have no true 'self'' - I am just a parent, nothing more. If something gores wrong with my children or my parenting, there is no 'me' left.

If anything threatens your identity you will not just be anxious but paralyzed with fear. If you lose your identity through the failings of someone else you will not just be resentful, but locked into bitterness. If you lose it through your own failings, you will hate or despise yourself as failure as long as you live.

Only if your identify is built on God and his love, says Kierkegaard, can you have a self that can venture anything, face anything.

From the book "The Reason for God" by Timothy Keller

A need for Self-Worth begins

2009-06-22T17:03:00.004-05:00

as a child, says Ernest Becker in the book "The Denial of Death" he continues, it is the condition for his life so much so, that every person is desperately seeking what Becker calls "cosmic significance."

Becker uses romantic love as an illustration:
"The self-glorification that 'modern man' needed in his inner-most nature he now looked for in the love partner. The love partner becomes the divine ideal within which to fulfill one's life. Spiritual and moral needs now become focused on one individual."

Becker continues:

"No human relationship can bear this burden of godhood...If your partner is your 'ALL', then any shortcoming in him becomes a major threat to you...What is it that we want when we elevate the love partner to this position? We want to be rid of...our feeling of nothingness...to know our existence has not been in vain. We want redemption - nothing less. Needless to say, humans cannot give this."

From the book "The Reason for God" by Timothy Keller

The Meaning of Sin

2009-06-18T12:31:00.003-05:00

Sin is: in despair not wanting to be oneself before God…Faith is: that the self in the being itself and wanting to be itself is grounded transparently in God.

Sin is the despairing refusal to find your deepest identity in your relationship and service to God.

Sin is seeking to become oneself, to get an identity apart from him.

From the book: "The Reason for God" by Timothy Keller page 162

The Fiery Furnace

2009-06-08T19:13:00.003-05:00

Could the story of the "The Image of God and the Fiery Furnace" be as much about how we feel emotionally when we are pressured to submit as it is in description physically.

The story shows how when we hold to our beliefs, God will be their to protect us, it is worth staying the course, not letting go to other people's pressure, no matter how tough it is for us. Think about his, if you are like me, I have given in more times than I can remember, I was afraid of the fiery furnace, and suffered for it, living a tortured life. Holding to what I believe is much easier for me now. Firstly, because I believe in God's word, and I would rather be wrong with man than with God. Secondly, I cannot ever go back to a daily feeling of being tortured in the fiery furnace, whatever is being pressured upon me now, is nothing to the hell I will live not just now, but after death if I ever give up my beliefs again.

So, the moral of the story of Daniel 3:16 is trust God to protect you, live your beliefs or suffer a personal hell now and later too, there is no rescuing you.

"The Image of God and the Fiery Furnace"
Da 3:16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."

Da 3:19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual 20 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21 So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. 22 The king's command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, 23 and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.

Da 3:24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, "Weren't there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?"
They replied, "Certainly, O king."

Da 3:25 He said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods."

Da 3:26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!"

So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, 27 and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.

Born into it…

2009-05-31T16:27:00.002-05:00

Imagine, when you were born, you believed the truth which was told to you. This truth was verified by the world around you, there was no reason to question it. But the truth was, you were actually born as the child of a POW, but you did not know it, the truth was hid from you as people before you and others that knew the truth, simply accepted there fait, they would never leave. Other's not just accepted their fate, but adopted this new life as their own. Figured out how to gain additional comforts, privileges.

As you grow, you are told there is a book which will lead you or anyone to a life of freedom, away from this camp. Amazed, you ask around. You here that some just thing it's a fairytale, others say it can't be proved, others don't want to give up their current life style to start all over, for they like what they have achieved in 'this world.'

After reading the book, you accept it as truth, you begin your journey to freedom, but there is no guarantee you will get to 'freedom' alive. The journey starts simple enough with a commitment to follow the directions in the book to the letter, to trust it, to have 100% faith in it, for you heard, if you do not trust it and have faith in it, failure is eminent. But in your journey, you find you are in the middle of nowhere, you have no bearings on where to go, what to do, but this book. In addition, in the journey, you encounter incredible dangers. You must travel across deep ravines, down steep waterfalls, swim in swift rivers filled with Alligators, Parana's and other dangerous obstacles. The days are incredibly hot, the nights super cold, food is scarce and abundant, pain is always and never. Some people stumble and fall to their death, some get hurt and cannot continue, some need your help, some turn around and go back.

To me, the gift Jesus Christ gave us, was the book which was a foolproof escape plan from our POW, but in the plan, he never said it was easy, simple, gentle, he simply states, understand the truth about this world and then, here is a path to rid yourself of this world to a new world, a freedom unbound by anything you can imagine.

My question is; are you willing, have you been willing, to go through the most treacherous jungles, encounter the most dangerous obstacles for freedom from your POW.

Would you agree: the desire for freedom, the quest for freedom; is freedom in itself.

Do what Glorifies God...

2009-05-21T10:01:00.002-05:00

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil.

Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.

18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you,

live at peace with everyone.

19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath,

for it is written: "it is mine to avenge: I will repay, says the Lord.

20 On the contrary:

"If your enemy is hungry, feed him;

if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.

In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

NIV Romans 12:17-21

The Ego is like a bag of Potato Chips…

2009-05-20T13:20:00.001-05:00

When I was home, growing up, I was always hungry. Every once in a while, we would have a bag of potato chips sitting around. I would dive into them and continue eating them by the handful, my mom would notice the intensity I was eating them and would say "Leland, you can't fill up on potato chips, eat something of substance." I did not understand, I was hungry and I liked potato chips and they were right in front of me, more importantly, eating them was easier and tastier than fixing something "nutritious"

I attribute our ego similar to the bag of potato chips, it seems endless in what our ego can consume. And it is easier to satisfy the ego, then feed the soul. But, If only we would prepare or look for something which would satisfy the thirst for fulfillment in our soul, our need for the ego might lessen.

As we should, fill our stomachs with good food, food which sustains us for the long term, we should also fill our souls with good food which sustains us for the long term.

In my observations, it seems as man pulls away from God, we try and fill the gap with the ego, a self-centered perspective.

Challenge yourself to move closer to God, to have a better relationship with Jesus Christ and see if those necessities derived of the ego, diminish.

Perfection…

2009-05-20T10:10:00.002-05:00

Perfection is allusive, unattainable, but we experience it, see it every moment in every way, everyday!

Perfection seems to be perceived as a static state, not needing to be changed. Yet, perfection around us is always evolving. The flame of a fire, the sunset, sun rise, the waves of the ocean, the tree's in your backyard.

To some, we see things as perfect, we cannot see what "we" would change, but to the creator, there is always work to be done. Just ask any artist, author, musician, athlete.

To bring this personal, we as individuals are always evolving, changing, trying to improve in something in our lives. Yet, we continually cry out how imperfect we are, and we are overall, but like the oceans, sunsets and flame of the fire, we are perfect at this moment, being perfect is only when it is improved upon, by the creator.

Think about that.

If we would only recognize our gifts and use them to Glorify God.

2009-05-16T11:28:00.003-05:00

Romans 12:6-8

We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

A Letter to a dad...

2009-05-12T12:36:00.003-05:00

This is a rough draft - first typing, but would enjoy your thoughts and comments.

Dear My Earthly Father,

I do not use your first name with disrespect, but the opposite, I use it with the intention of great respect. I am not writing to you as your son for that relationship has passed, but I am writing to you as a parent, a parent of children we love and cherish.

We both share being a son to a mother and a father, but we don't share the same experiences, but as parents, we do, thus if in reading this letter your perspective of what I write is the same as yours, as a concerned and loving parent, then I think what I am to say will be received in the tone, perspective, of my intent.

Firstly, I love you with all my heart and all my strength, not just as a loving carrying parent, but also as a child of God. Being a parent is probably the most challenging role imaginable. I feel such a great burden of responsibility to my children, to their outcome. How will they reflect on me now, tomorrow, in the future and as adults and parents themselves? How everything I do and say effect them and those things I do and say, are they because I am being selfish or am I truly looking out for their good?

You may share these very same questions. I have realized when my children are young, I pas the message to my children primarily with love. Love being unconditional, unattached to what they say or do, but a gift of love pure is transferred with a hug, a soft voice, a kiss, a gesture.

I have also found as my children grow in intellect, they can and will question my love, my devotion, my honesty, my truth. I feel so broken when they do not listen, they question my intent and even directly go against what I have told them is the truth. I have to admit, it was not until one of my children challenged me and was willing to be honest with me did this revelation take place. She was capable of showing me fallacies in my logic, intentions, and inconsistencies in my behavior. I cherish this child for the reflection and honesty.

Never did I ever have any forethought to my intentions and I always thought they were pure, but I realized, I did have inconsistencies

Truthfully, as she grew into more independence, I felt threatened that my value to her was nothing. What could I give her, teach her, how could I be an influence, a positive force on her life? I realized that even though I was teaching or telling, to my children that independence was the proper way to move forward in life. It did have a threatening appeal on me as a parent, a value, for me as a person. If they do not need me for guidance, for my wisdom, than what is my purpose? Again, I am sharing with you my experiences as a parent, the same thing we definitely share and have in common we are both parents.

Not being around my children as I once was left me with an incredible feeling of emptiness. I thought about this emptiness, something I never felt before. I realized I based my feelings of value and existence based on my relationship with my children. I wondered how many other parents do this and it is was healthy. I have listened to many people on TV, Radio, read in magazines, newspaper, news, about marriages breaking up when a young child dies, or even after many years of marriages, the couple found they had no relationship; they simply had connected through a mutual relationship, their kids.

As I stood back and evaluated this dependence, I asked myself, can I force my children to like me, follow my 'Wisdom', come to me for advice, make ME feel important and valuable? I realized the best I could be for them is to be there for them, always no matter what. And to help them find their own answers to life, to be independent

I think we have talked, read, and discussed many times, about the challenge of parenting knowing when to let go. And the challenge of letting go, I have found requires two (2) beliefs. Firstly, as parents, I have done a good enough job to trust my child will do well solo. Secondly, the outcome of their life does not rest on my shoulders. Ok, a third belief; Once I let go, is it for me to intervene when I think they are of track or simply help them through the challenge? A little bit like a young boy or girl riding their bikes, now and again, they are stuck and cannot push the peddle forward. I do not pedal the bike for them; I just give them the necessary support to get going again.

I read a book "Discipline With Love and Logic" it related a child at thirteen (13) should be ready to be independent. They cannot provide for themselves because of the laws, but they should be ready to make decisions for themselves witch means to me as a parent, around thirteen, years of age is when I have to get out of there way and what is funny and the opposite of what I once thought, is it not the child that needs me, is it really that I need the child. Thus, this brought me back to the realization that when I was not with my children, why did I have such a feeling of emptiness, yet the children seemed to be fine.

I realized I was in the boat with so many other parents; I then went back to my questions. Why did I feel the necessity to be so involved in their lives? They have an independent life, when I am not with them, should I not have an independent life too?

Thus my next question. Why do I feel this need? I already revealed one reason, which is I banked my value of a human being a father based on what I perceived my children's dependency on me was. Then, for me not to have this feeling what is it I need to do or not do in order for me to allow my children to grow, as they should without my interference?

Firstly, I had to decide I had a life outside my children; my sole role in life was not to be a dad to my kids. Then I had to realize at the same moment in time, I had to believe I have done the best I could to make sure they will survive on their own. Moreover, what if I disappeared from their lives today what would I want to leave them with what if anything would be of value that might last a time?

Here is what I came up with. What is unique, this is the same list I had many years ago, but as many of us parents do, my personal value was mixed in and this polluted my thinking.

First: it is not as important what I give my children in regards to what I think is important; it is showing them what is important through my behavior and attitude. For example; Jesus Christ not only spoke of how to live, he demonstrated it or backed it with is attitude and actions. Thus, the most important thing I believe I could give my children is love. If I had to end my connection with my children today, would each of them be left with a feeling I loved them?

Second: How to survive the hard times. For each even we go through, we can get coaching, consulting, counseling, but the root of getting through life's challenges is with a foundation of faith. I can tell them about faith, but what is strongest is demonstrating it. Did I crumble when times were tough? Did I talk strong but act week, did I hold my head high no matter how bleak the circumstances?

When I think of leaving my children with the best gifts, ones they can keep and use at their own discrepancy, I hope internalize them. I think of the late Randy Pausch, he is the author of the book "The Last Lecture." He did not have the luxury of philosophizing about what he wants to leave his children, he was dying of an incurable cancer, and he had to make his plans now. Therefore, as I think about the things I can give my children, which are gifts they can use in their life:

First on the list would be unconditional love.
Second, to have faith in themselves, that faith will carry them through the tough times, faith based in their belief and love of Jesus Christ.
Third: Hope, hope I demonstrated

Faith well enough for them to follow, or at least well enough to know where and how to get more of it, if needed. In that hope as well, I hope I demonstrated the courage to be honest and have integrity and to be self-responsible. Above all of these, because this is where the above comes from, is I hope each of my children find Jesus Christ and invite him to be a part of their lives. Each one will do this in their own way at their own time, but I hope each des. When someone asks them, where did he get is strength, I hope each will say from Jesus Christ!

I believe in all my children. I believe in them because I believe I have been able to give them the love, demonstrate it as well as show them faith, hope, honesty and integrity. I trust they will live the best lives they can, I believe they know enough, to understand the gifts I have hopefully passed to them. They know of my commitment to Jesus Christ, they know my strength as come from him, by inviting him into my life and having a life, which glorifies God, to have unconditional love to all people and all things, and to demonstrate faith and courage through Jesus Christ and inspire hope when one feels lost.

My hope is to be around for many, many more years, I hope to see all my children blossom into wonder flowers, into the best people then can be. I hope to be able to say, I have grandchildren, but mostly, I hope my children want to include me in their lives, not because of obligation, not because I am their dad with great wisdom and knowledge and they need me, but because of what I bring to the relationship. In addition, when I get old (very old), they will love regardless. But, mostly they love me as unconditionally as Jesus Christ loves me and I hope, have loved them.

If I had to leave this earth today, I hope my children will live lives that will Glorify God. I would leave this earth, putting them in God's hands knowing he will take care of them. I have met so many people that apparently have it all that lost it all, and I have met so many people that seemed like they lost their souls, yet to have found them through Jesus Christ.

My dad, time has passed where my father is no longer the father. I was born too, I have been reborn into a new life and accepted Jesus Christ as my savior, and he now is my Father, my Father in heaven. For I am no longer your son, I am your equal, a parent, a friend, a person that wants the best for my personal family, but for all and I hope and pray, you invite Jesus Christ to be your personal savior and become an intimate part of your life. I say this not because I want to change you, far from it, I say this because I love and I want the same great things for you as I have experience through my relationship with Jesus Christ.

I have a friend, I am not sure of his motive all the time, but that probably is more me than him, but I never questioned his heart or his integrity. In a surprise for my birthday in 1981, he bought me my first Bible ever and was the only Bible I ever had until 2006. I never realized what an incredible gift receiving a Bible is. As I have learned, the heart, soul and teachings of Jesus Christ is Love and the gift of the life hereafter, this person offered me the most precious gift, a gift of love and life. God loves us all, regardless of how we judge each other, each person deserves to have the same opportunity to have a relationship with God, and they just need to be open to it.

Since I have started my relationship with God through Jesus Christ, I understand what a gift of love the Bible offers, thus have bought a Bible for my family and extended family, I even have one for you.

I end this letter with my favorite prayer:

Mt 6:9 “This, then, is how you should pray:
“ ‘Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be your name,

Mt 6:10 your kingdom o come,
Your will be done p
On earth as it is in heaven.

Mt 6:11 Give us today our daily bread.

Mt 6:12 Forgive us our debts,
As we also have forgiven our debtors.

Mt 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, s
But deliver us from the evil one.’ For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

I forgive you my father for all sins I perceived were against me, I pray you will find even greater peace in your life. And if we can again find that common element which allows us to be willingly and lovingly a positive part of each other’s life, I pray we invite the other to do so.

Remember: "The bond that links your true family is not of blood, but of respect, and joy in each other's life" Richard Bach - Illusions.

Sincerely,

Leland Bartlett

Blame the mirror...it's not at fault

2009-05-09T16:21:00.003-05:00

How many of us blame the mirror for the reflection we see. Is it the mirror's fault it reveals the truth and should we expect anything different.

'I Think Therefore I Exist'

2009-05-09T09:23:00.003-05:00

Stated by Rene Descartes. I don't know what caused me to reach into this line of thought - but I would like to add my two cents to this line of thinking. Firstly, I stated thinking, an intellectual exercise. My minimal understanding of Rene Descartes statement, is purely from an intellectual perspective, thus in my terms of applying this to other nouns of our universe, if something 'thinks' then it exists, thus those things that do not think, shall not exist.

As it applies to the living world, I would make the statement which allows the living to live and that which does not to remain, a statement which proves life to me is extenuated from the intellect, but overrides it which makes us humans, that is "I feel therefore I live"

I don't believe we can confirm whether buildings, rocks, even plants think, or even the animals of the world, I said prove. With regards to plants, we can visualize they feel pain in the sense if they are not taken care of, they die. There has even been inference a plant can wilt if the plant feels emotional abuse, but again, I don't believe we can prove this. Animals; again, I don't believe we can prove, but with great inference, they demonstrate they can feel.

Let's separate thinking from other types. The assumption of thinking is 1) logic 2) there has to be a language to demonstrate, communicate logic. Feelings, no language, like laughter, a reaction and a common reaction.

I have read, people who have fell into immense pain have never felt more alive in their entire life, not through ecstasy, but because the pain lit up almost every nerve of FEELING in their body. The same is for a positive experience. Someone skydives, goes down a river rapid, rock climbs, drives at 200 MPH or any event which rides the edge for them, their nerves light up and they FEEL more alive than they ever have before.

I guess we cannot argue with Rene Descartes principal, but if we only exist, then we are no different than something that does not think, thus to be alive, we need to feel, thus if you feel, then you are alive.

What is the one commandment Jesus Christ stated as being the most important, was it a commandment of intellect or a commandment of feeling or both?

What was the commandment?

Rene Descartes Philosophy: WSM explains Rene Descartes 'I Think Therefore I Exist' in Space. Rene Descartes Meditations

2009-05-09T09:02:00.000-05:00

Rene Descartes Philosophy: WSM explains Rene Descartes 'I Think Therefore I Exist' in Space. Rene Descartes Meditations: "http://www.spaceandmotion.com/Philosophy-Rene-Descartes-Philosopher.htm"

Announcing Baptism

2009-05-08T19:36:00.002-05:00

I just looked at the date I wrote in my current Bible, NIV Life Application, it is December of 2006, I was very surprised, I thought it was more like 2007 when I started my quest to have an even better relationship with my Lord and savior Jesus Christ.

During the last two and half years, I have heard witnessed and read about many baptisms, during this time, I often felt like I should, but I did not feel right about it, I felt like I would be a fake if I did it during this time.

In the last month, I have grown considerably in my relationship with Jesus Christ, my understanding, my faith and most of all my Love for my Lord, Jesus Christ.

Now, my feeling is I am a fake if I am professing my Faith, Love and Devotion to Jesus Christ and I am not baptized; thus I feel God has authorized me to be baptized into the Holy Spirit.

I hope you will join me in spirit and/or presence this Sunday @ 9:30 AM in White Chapels Founder's Chapel for my Baptism by my friend and Pastor, Steven Bell.

To Love Me is …

2009-05-07T09:49:00.002-05:00

to Love God

My love and faith to Christ is not negotiable. In other words, my relationship with God resides above all others. Because I Love the Lord your God with all my heart and with all my soul and with all my mind and with all your strength, then one who also loves me, Loves the Lord. There is no separation.

I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, being a Christian is not what I do, it is who I am.

A point to ponder...

2009-05-07T09:08:00.001-05:00

Jn 15:9 "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 17 This is my command: Love each other.

John 15:9-17 NIV

Where are you …

2009-05-04T18:57:00.002-05:00

I was thinking about how busy we are - all the time, always on the move, cannot have idle time, plan, plan the day and hope nothing interferes. As I contemplated this, I was riding my bike down Southlake Blvd here in Southlake TX witnessing the hustle and bustle of life, a question came to me and I thought I would share it with you.

If we are always on the move, where are we, where are you?

The Bible as a Blue Print…

2009-05-04T16:32:00.004-05:00

Aside from the fact the Bible is an account of the life, death and rebirth of Jesus Christ and with the promise of him dying for our sins and by believing in him, Jesus Christ, we will be saved and be taken to heaven. Wonderful, but I started my journey of faith on simple practical principals taught in the Bible. My faith grew as my belief in the truth grew.

Firstly, I enjoy the reading the bible simply for pleasure. I enjoy the stories, the thought provoking analogies, and parables to stimulate thinking.

Secondly, the insightfulness of the writing, the explanations, the use of words, the reason and logic are all done superbly and stimulate conversation and complex deep thinking.

Thirdly, from the Ten Commandments forward, the concepts of how to have a happy, productive life caught me as being the truth and make sense. It shows to me it makes perfect sense since not following it seems to have caused incredible hardship of all kinds around our world.

So purely from a practical standpoint, the Bible made sense to me, God's word lived in me from the beginning, it was just reading it and following it which was the challenge that took me 30 years.

Our challenge has two elements today: Firstly, being willing to follow and live life through Jesus Christ as pure as Jesus states in the Bible. Secondly, being able to survive in our culture today while living our life purely through Christ.

I am a follower of the Bible, firstly because I belief in the principals about humanity the Bible teaches. I am a follower of the Bible because of the wisdom it preaches, I am a follower because of the logic it derives.

I am a follower of God's word, because when I follow it, I am at most peace with myself and my life is more peaceful.

How I was living my life and what I believed were clashing, the truth from God found harmony in my heart, but not pleasure in life. I have found I have to choose to only live one life, I have chose to live life in Jesus Christ's name, Amen.

A book recommended to me named: Ishmael by my son, Ryan, does an excellent job in understanding how we got away from living the principals God offers in the Bible and explains how tough it is to be able to follow the words of Jesus
Christ. Here is a link to it on Amazon.com Ishmael at Amazon

The challenge I find with my faith in Jesus Christ is I can be deemed as to faithful; but that seems hypocritical to me, does it to you? If what Jesus Christ states is true, and I personally believe it to be, the path into Heaven is very narrow and I don't believe the requirements mean, just get close or whatever you think or your friend thinks or what society thinks. I believe, Jesus Christ told us what the requirements are and I am not to be one to argue and most importantly, I want to pass through the pearly gates and meet Jesus Christ personally and I want all of you to join me.

Do not Worry Matthew 6:25

2009-05-02T11:17:00.003-05:00

In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus tells us not to worry, he uses the fact God provides for the animals and they do not worry, nor do they have the capacity to worry. The fields of lilies grow, they do not labor, they are taken care of, therefore, we should not worry about how ourselves needing to provide these means, as well, worrying does not add one minute to our life.

Read from the NIV what Jesus said about worry...

Mt 6:25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life ?

Mt 6:28 "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

When I read this, I like it, it makes sense. Why worry, it does not add to our life. In fact, Dale Carnegie wrote a book about it. But worry is a prelude to planning. I worry about my future, so I plan my finances today. I worry about my childrens health, thus I take steps proper to secure it.

As much as I like what Jesus Christ states in Matthew 6:25 -34, I do worry. And what adds to my worry is now on the Discovery channel, we get to see when the food dries up for the animals, the flowers do wilt, the birds do die from starvation. The worst one I eve saw on Discovery is the dying of the animals living in the water source as it dried up. Alligators, Hippopotamus were slowly being covered with mud, drying out and either dying to heat exhaustion or starvation.

In my mind, this challenged the statement by Jesus Christ, for the animals of the planet were not being taken care of and they were dying, thus confirming, I should worry, shouldn't I?

Before I write the rest of my commentary on this, I am in hopes, you my friends that my read this, supply me with you thoughts, insights and commentary.

Here is what I found:

There is scarcely any sin against which our Lord Jesus more warns his disciples, than disquieting, distracting, distrustful cares about the things of this life. This often insnares the poor as much as the love of wealth does the rich. But there is a carefulness about temporal things which is a duty, though we must not carry these lawful cares too far. Take no thought for your life. Not about the length of it; but refer it to God to lengthen or shorten it as he pleases; our times are in his hand, and they are in a good hand. Not about the comforts of this life; but leave it to God to make it bitter or sweet as he pleases. Food and raiment God has promised, therefore we may expect them. Take no thought for the morrow, for the time to come. Be not anxious for the future, how you shall live next year, or when you are old, or what you shall leave behind you. As we must not boast of tomorrow, so we must not care for to-morrow, or the events of it. God has given us life, and has given us the body. And what can he not do for us, who did that? If we take care about our souls and for eternity, which are more than the body and its life, we may leave it to God to provide for us food and raiment, which are less. Improve this as an encouragement to trust in God. We must reconcile ourselves to our worldly estate, as we do to our stature. We cannot alter the disposals of Providence, therefore we must submit and resign ourselves to them. Thoughtfulness for our souls is the best cure of thoughtfulness for the world. Seek first the kingdom of God, and make religion your business: say not that this is the way to starve; no, it is the way to be well provided for, even in this world. The conclusion of the whole matter is, that it is the will and command of the Lord Jesus, that by daily prayers we may get strength to bear us up under our daily troubles, and to arm us against the temptations that attend them, and then let none of these things move us. Happy are those who take the Lord for their God, and make full proof of it by trusting themselves wholly to his wise disposal. Let thy Spirit convince us of sin in the want of this disposition, and take away the worldliness of our hearts.

Henry, M., & Scott, T. (1997). Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary (Mt 6:25). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems.

Some other finds on specific versus and words:

6:25 do not worry. See Php 4:6 and note. worry. Undue anxiety, not a legitimate concern to provide for one's daily needs (cf. Lk 10:41–42; 2Th 3:6–12).

Php4:6 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

4:6 anxious. Self-centered, counterproductive worry, not legitimate cares and concerns for the spread of the gospel (see 2:28 and note; 2Co 11:28; see also Mt 6:25–31; 1Pe 5:7). in everything, by prayer. Anxiety and prayer are two great opposing forces in Christian experience. thanksgiving. The antidote to worry (along with prayer and petition).

6:27 add a single hour. But anxiety may very well shorten one's life span, as modern medicine has shown.

My thoughts after some praying and thinking and studying...

If in truth, we trust in the lord, for good and/or bad, it does not matter what life brings to our doors now, for it is the life in heaven with God we should be focusing on, thus we should accept life without complaint like the rest of nature does.

Do Not Worry, I understand, but…

2009-05-02T09:47:00.002-05:00

Read from the NIV what Jesus said about worry...

In my mind, this challenged the statement by Jesus Christ, for the animals of the planet were not being taken care of and they were dying, thus confirming, I should worry, shouldn't I?

Before I write the rest of my commentary on this, I am in hopes, you my friends that my read this, supply me with you thoughts, insights and commentary.

Lyrics - I Dreamed a Dream

2009-04-29T11:28:00.001-05:00

Comments: I love these lyrics, they are sad, but so relevant to so many.

There was a time when men were kind

When their voices were soft

And their words inviting

There was a time when love was blind

And the world was a song

And the song was exciting

There was a time

Then it all went wrong

I dreamed a dream in time gone by

When hope was high

And life worth living

I dreamed that love would never die

I dreamed that God would be forgiving

Then I was young and unafraid

And dreams were made and used and wasted

There was no ransom to be paid

No song unsung, no wine untasted

But the tigers come at night

With their voices soft as thunder

As they tear your hope apart

And they turn your dream to shame

He slept a summer by my side

He filled my days with endless wonder

He took my childhood in his stride

But he was gone when autumn came

And still I dream he'll come to me

That we will live the years together

But there are dreams that cannot be

And there are storms we cannot weather

I had a dream my life would be

So different from this hell I'm living

So different now from what it seemed

Now life has killed the dream I dreamed.

I praise . . .

2009-04-29T11:25:00.002-05:00

The times for me now are tough, they may not be as tough as some, but for me they are dreams of nightmares only they could produce.

Even though I get down and maybe a tad depressed from time-to-time, I do not stay that way, for I have faith in the Lord, this brings me continued new strength.

I have survived tough times before, I will survive this as well, however; this time is different, I have someone on my side I have never known before, my savior Jesus Christ.

I will not turn my back to the wind, I will face my challenges straight on, I know I am being challenged to be stronger, thus I will stay my course with faith, dedication, patience and most of all love.

In the name of the Lord, Jesus Christ

Amen

Hoping to Pass Wisdom…

2009-04-29T10:54:00.003-05:00

My vow is firm; I don't believe I will marry again. I have made three attempts and have failed at each to my distress. The fortunate part of my marriages are you and your brother and sisters! I am content to fill my life with my relationships with God and my family. I cannot afford for anything to direct me away from this. I will not discount friendships; it seems friendships are the only relationships, which last a lifetime.

As I look back, much of my improvement of myself was and is now based on friendship. If I love and respect then I will improve myself to continue the relationship. Also, I will work within the friendship to help the other. What cannot happen is to try to change the character of the other or be willing to change our own character to "keep" a relationship. But in truth, most refinements in ourselves comes from the company we keep. If you think about it, that is why we can't help be like our parents and why married couples become like each other, assuming they stay married a significant amount of time.

If you concur with the previous thought, I believe you can understand why parents get concerned about who their children are hanging out with.

The sad part about how we are raised is we are raised to be like our parents. Parents don't know any other way, plus the continual statement: "I never could do that when I was your age…" Then at 18, we send them (our kids), out into life - to be an adult! Will the parent accept the child for who they are once they start discovering the child in fact is very different from the parent? Or, what if the child is exactly like the parent - and the parent does not want either? Here lies the challenge of the child, a growing adult. I am not accepted for who I am, my parents reject me. Many children including myself spend a majority of their life, if not all, trying to mold themselves into a form the parents will accept. Most if not all, the parent won't accept…

The child has one of the most challenging decisions of their lifetime. Do I love my own life the one God created for me or do I try to live a life through someone else's eyes and acceptance? The bond between parent and child is so strong, but it has to be broken. The sooner the child achieves this the better off the child will be. May the child be in their own identify to allow the child to grow to be independent and build the father-son relationship on mutual respect and on interest and love of one another.

As I relay these things, if the child is to "be" the unique person they were designed by God to be, if they are rejected by their own parents, what guidance should the child look to? Our heavenly Father. With our faith and love, we are all children of God and if all looked to God for guidance, the Father would not reject the child, and the child would not reject the parents. This does not mean it is one big happy family, but it does mean each person respect and love the other as they are for who they are as children of God.

By the age 12 or 13, a child no longer truly needs a parent. In cultures all over the world and in history, this is proven. What a child needs at 12 or 13 is to learn and understand relationships. We, the parent and the child re equals in God's eyes. The child looks to the parent on how to conduct themselves, how to treat others, and hopefully, the parent is wise enough to know this and most importantly help the child have a relationship with Jesus Christ and invite Jesus Christ to live within thee. To follow his guidance with faith and love. Think about this, would all families get along better if they all shared life with Jesus Christ?

As I write this, I am wise enough to see my own mistakes, yet I am hopeful for the future. I am hopeful we all can invite Jesus Christ into our lives and share our lives together with him.

Nothing is personal

2009-04-27T19:45:00.001-05:00

When I stopped and thought about what my goal as a Christian is: Everything I do and say is to glorify God. To Glorify God, means to follow the wisdom of Jesus Christ. And to do this, what happens now, in this life, is not meant to be personal.

So, quit taking everything so personal, realize the more you glorify God, the more treasures in heaven you store. When it is not personal, it seems easier, doesn't it?

Amongst Us

2009-04-20T21:28:00.005-05:00

I see Susan Boyle as a Pardox, the theme of our church Currently. She seemed to me to present a gift, the same way Jesus Christ did...she/Jesus Christ was not what we expected, but delivered through what they said and did an incredible gift. I am not say anything like Susan Boyle is equal to Jesus Christ, just that the gift she gave us was from an unlikely source.

Susan Boyle, a simple, but confident, independent person comes out to sing on Brittan's "You've got Talent.” At first, she did not radiate the qualities one might be looking for on this show, one might say she was frumpy, but she sure had personality, confidence and demonstrated she was very comfortable with herself.

Therefore, what does she seem to represent to me? Firstly, hope. During this incredible trying time, our Nation, Nations all over the world are having challenges, but then out of nowhere comes this person and gives us a gift, not of just greatness, but a gift everyone that did not know her, did not expect. I would imagine it is easy to understand why not everyone followed Jesus in his day. He had the same type of humble beginning, but when he talked, it was then they knew he was a man from God.

Why such inspiration and tears when we here her sing. Well, I think she gives us hope because in her is purity, not just her voice, but her as a person, it reminds us and tells us that God did not forget us and he is among us, he delivered to us, a 47 year old women with a gift of hope and beauty that brings us to tears as an individual, as a people, as a nation.

Thank you God for Susan Doyle!

Matthew 8:20-22

2009-04-16T19:10:00.003-05:00

Mt 8:21 Another disciple said to him, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."

Mt 8:22 But Jesus told him, "Follow me, d and let the dead bury their own dead."

My question: What did Jesus mean in Mt 8:22, doesn't that seem harsh? What are your thoughts on the verse?

Here is one perspective I found in my research:

Let the spiritually dead bury the physically dead. The time of Jesus’ ministry was short and demanded full attention and commitment. This statement stresses the radical demands of Jesus’ discipleship, since Jews placed great importance on the duty of children to bury their parents.

Shared Parenting from Canada

2009-04-13T11:29:00.002-05:00

Dear Leland,

This just in from ACFC Advisor Dr. Jayne Major about the phenomenal success of her presentation on parental alienation at a recent Canadian Symposium on Parental Alienation. It seems the Canadians are ahead of most of the American legal profession on this issue. Many Canadian judges get it and have ruled appropriately to contain the disturbed parent...at least there have been some landmark cases. Go to http://www.cspas.ca/ and read about them.

Also read a summary of her presentation, The Macabre Dance of Family Law, which describes a three Tier mediation protocol for reform of family court practices. It begins with a presumption of 50-50 shared parenting to "level the playing field" and thus make real mediation possible, as opposed to the inherently inflammatory "winner-take-all" sole custody model that all too often is the spark that ignites conflict that then explodes out of control in our currently dysfunctional family law system.

Dr. Major reports that an attending American judge asked her to train judges in America. Is it possible that reform could be coming to America through enlightenment of judges, despite the benighted opposition of bar associations pandering to the dysfunctional ideology of sociopathic radical feminism?

We suggest our readers print out The Macabre Dance of Family Law, and hand it out in courthouses, and anywhere else where some folks might benefit from a dose of its eminent common sense.

ACFC Washington Office 1718 M St. NW. #187 Washington, DC 20036
Telephone: 800-978-3237 Email: info@acfc.org

Easter 09 Thought

2009-04-12T12:07:00.001-05:00

April 12^th Moral dominion

Death hath no more dominion over Him . . . in that He liveth, He liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God. Romans 6:9-11.

Co-Eternal Life. Eternal life was the life which Jesus Christ exhibited on the human plane, and it is the same life, not a copy of it, which is manifested in our mortal flesh when we are born of God. Eternal life is not a gift from God, eternal life is the gift of God. The energy and the power which were manifested in Jesus will be manifested in us by the sheer sovereign grace of God when once we have made the moral decision about sin.

"Ye shall receive the power of the Holy Ghost"—not power as a gift from the Holy Ghost; the power is the Holy Ghost, not something which He imparts. The life that was in Jesus is made ours by means of his Cross when once we make the decision to be identified with Him. If it is difficult to get right with God, it is because we will not decide definitely about sin. Immediately we do decide, the full life of God comes in. Jesus came to give us endless supplies of life: "that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." Eternal Life has nothing to do with Time, it is the life which Jesus lived when He was down here. The only source of Life is the Lord Jesus Christ.

The weakest saint can experience the power of the Deity of the Son of God if once he is willing to 'let go.' Any strand of our own energy in ourselves will blur the life of Jesus. We have to keep letting go, and slowly and surely the great full life of God will invade us in every part, and men will take knowledge of us that we have been with Jesus.

"MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST The classic, best-loved treasury of daily devotional readings Oswald Chambers"

From the ashes. . .

2009-04-07T12:39:00.003-05:00

You may often see Jesus Christ wreck a life before He saves it.

Some of you, if there are any of you, know I am going through some growing pains in my life. There are many factors to why I am going through these growing pains, but none of them is important, it is more important what I take away from this experience.

In some ways, I have to thank the influences, which have brought me to this place, it's possible, if I was not for them, I would still be living in a state of hell. So, am I saying life is better than before, economically, no, family no, but spiritually yes! Do I want to stay where I am at, NO, do I want to improve and resume my full responsibilities, YES and ASAP; but I will be doing so responsibly to myself, God and most importantly to my family.

How can I say this, my family will be better off, because as I improve, the relationships and the things I draw to me will improve. Thus, before I was living a life of wants, and presenting a false sense of who I was. Today, through my faith and Love in Jesus Christ, I am stronger, and have the character to live an honest life, one that I can look back on and not evaluate on what achievements I made of which others can evaluate, but on my relationships with my family, and myself, Jesus Christ.

My value of who I am is no longer dependant on what others think, view, project; it is based on my relationships with Jesus Christ. It is my belief, my life has had a significant amount of challenges, maybe not as many as others, but surely more challenging that I ever imagined, regardless, I have been struggling between my 'out-self' and my 'inner-self', and after a significant amount of time and struggle, I have found myself and with courage and faith, follow this self. In addition, I thank those intentionally or not, who have placed those barriers in my way to help me be a better me, which makes me a better father, son, brother, husband… I found this statement below by accident thumbing through his book at Barnes and Noble, I felt then how appreciative I was of all of those in my life to help me get here.

PS – thank you to the person or persons that signed me up for Living Christian Bible Study program for my PC, it had the book I reference below as a part of the program, coincidence? In addition, the program is outstanding in bible study, so thank you.

March 24th

Decreasing into his purpose
He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3:30.

If you become a necessity to a soul, you are out of God's order. As a worker, your great responsibility is to be a friend of the Bridegroom. When once you see a soul in sight of the claims of Jesus Christ, you know that your influence has been in the right direction, and instead of putting out a hand to prevent the throes, pray that they grow ten times stronger until there is no power on earth or in hell that can hold that soul away from Jesus Christ. Over and over again, we become amateur providences; we come in and prevent God, and say—'This and that must not be.' Instead of proving friends of the Bridegroom, we put our sympathy in the way, and the soul will one day say—'That one was a thief, he stole my affections from Jesus, and I lost my vision of Him.'

Beware of rejoicing with a soul in the wrong thing, but see that you do rejoice in the right thing. "The friend of the Bridegroom . . . rejoiceth greatly because of the Bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease." This is spoken with joy and not with sadness—at last they are to see the Bridegroom! And John says this is his joy. It is the absolute effacement of the worker, he is never thought of again.

Watch for all you are worth until you hear the Bridegroom's voice in the life of another. Never mind what havoc it brings, what upsets, what crumblings of health, rejoice with divine hilarity when once His voice is heard. You may often see Jesus Christ wreck a life before He saves it. (Cf. Matt. 10:34.)Chambers, O. (1993, c1935). My utmost for his highest : Selections for the year (March 24). Grand Rapids, MI: Discovery House Publishers.

Mt 10:34 "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn

" 'a man against his father,

a daughter against her mother,

a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—

Mt 10:36 a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.'

Mt 10:37 "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38 and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Mt 10:40 "He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me. 41 Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward. 42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward."

Love

2009-03-17T21:29:00.001-05:00

As I began my quest to have a deeper relationship with God, accepting Jesus Christ as my savior, being a born again Christian the single most important attitude I thought to develop is faith. I have previously written about faith and in fact challenged myself and you in regards to your faith. Do we have the strength of knowing God is behind us no matter what the circumstances of our life, we are not to worry and have faith regardless?

I have been told by my Christian friend, Glenn Perry since I can remember, the bible was a book of love. I could not find that being as evident as having faith. Faith is constantly talked about in the NT, Jesus Christ challenges his disciples several times about their faith, Romans talks about faith, but I did not read about love. Of course, love I perceived it is more of the flowers, hand holding, the love I could see.

But after some reading and combing that with what Jesus Christ states is the most important commandment: Mark 30: The Holy Bible, New International Version. Pradis CD-ROM:Mk 12:30.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' m 31 The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' n There is no commandment greater than these."

I started thinking about outside myself, I realized that loving all things God created, regardless of what they do to me, for me, against me is the largest challenge of my soul. I believe we all experience this to some degree in parts of our lives. A mother /father with their small children, maybe our pets, especially when they get older and senial, but not with everyone and everything.

Faith is definitely necessary to walk through this world ourselves, but to let go of everything and to love it as our own creation is when we can get closest to God.

Oh, in the Bible I did not see 'love' by what they said, it is what Jesus Christ did which demonstrated love, we show love by the way we are, not by what we do. Love cannot be delivered in a box of candy o a card, it only comes from our heart and soul.

If this blog sounds a tad choppy, I will smooth it out soon, I wanted to write this why I was thinking about it again.

Inside Looking Out - Outside Looking In?

2009-03-11T10:11:00.003-05:00

I am reading the book "WIDEOPENSPACES" Beyond the Paint-by-Number Christianity by Jim Palmer. On page 23 he writes:

"For years I was taught 'faith' is believing there is a God even if you can't experience him. Maybe instead, faith is believing that what you are experiencing is God."

Lessons of 2008

2009-01-05T14:14:00.001-06:00

I learned having a loving and respectful relationship with my children are more important than presents under the Christmas tree.

I learned a house does not form a family nor the people in it, it is the respect and joy in each other's life.

I learned God is the only one who will not judge me, nor make his love conditional and most importantly, he will never forsake me.

I have learned to trust and believe in myself and by doing so; I strengthened my faith in Christ.

I am learning to be a passenger in this life and let God do the driving.

What is it about 3?

2009-01-05T12:30:00.001-06:00

I often think of this, but to this date have not heard of anyone drawing a correlation between them. Christians already know the correlation between baptism and Jesus Christ. The other unique quality of water and Jesus Christ is they come in three forms. Water: liquid, solid, gas ( water, ice, steam), Jesus Christ: the Father, Son and Wholly Ghost. And how about the fact we are the 3rd planet from the sun, I find all of this interesting.

In our daily life, we use the number three as a way of measuring. Such as in baseball, 3 strikes and your out, in contests, we reward the top 3 finishers, in writing, it seems to illustrate a point, we have 3 reasons. Movies sequels often end after the 3rd one. In our daily life, we use three as the turning point, I have asked you three times, I warned you three times, this is the 3rd time. Traffic lights come in three colors.

I would imagine, if we looked harder, we could find many more instances of how we use three, I am interested to learn from you other examples and your feedback regarding our correlation with Water, God and Earth.

Christmas should be like Thanksgiving

2009-01-04T14:36:00.002-06:00

It seems this dependency on making things good at Christmas has led many of us to be so glad when the holiday is over, thus missing the entire meaning of a Christian Christmas.

Faith is Stronger Than Reason

2008-12-31T14:36:00.003-06:00

That is how the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary gives definition to faith in its second definition "Faith is stronger than reason."

There are four events I have read in the Bible which cause me to stop and question the strength of my faith in Jesus Christ. The first one is when God asked Abraham to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. Abraham did so without question, that is faith. The second is the story of Joseph who was sold by his brothers to lead a adventurous life of which included being placed in prison and eventually being placed in charge of Egypt. The third is the story of JOB, where everything he had was taken from him but his last breath, yet he would not curse God. The fourth example is of the opposite, it starts with Matthew 8:23, Jesus Christ and the disciples are in a boat on the lake and a furious storm developed, the disciples became so afraid, even though they had Jesus Christ in the boat, they woke him; his statement to his disciples was: Matthew 8:26 "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?".

This last example helps me question my faith. Even though I have accepted Jesus Christ as my savior, in a way, he is in my boat, how do I respond when my life becomes turbulent like the lake did on the disciples. Do I proceed with faith, or do I do what the disciple did and become afraid and have to wake Jesus Christ to take care of my troubles.

Even if I can recite versus from the Bible, I go to church every week, I engage in church activities, work on knowing about God and Jesus Christ, is my faith as strong as Abraham's, Joseph's, and JOB's. I believe our faith in God, Jesus Christ our savior should far out weigh our knowledge of the Bible. If there is one thing I would teach anyone, it would to have unwavering Faith in God. Is your faith stronger than reason?

My favorite versus from the Bible on Faith are from the Book of James:

James 2:14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

James 2:18 But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds."

Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

James 2:20 You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless ? 21 Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. 24 You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.

James 2:25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

Top 10 List. Inspirational Life Quotes!

2008-11-29T16:35:00.010-06:00

Check out Quote #4

Inspirational Quotes On Life #1

Remember this - very little is needed to make a happy life.

Marcus Aurelius

Inspirational Quotes On Life #2

Rise above the storm and you will find the sunshine.

Mario Fernandez

Inspirational Quotes On Life #3

How do you go from where you are to where you want to be? I think you have to have an enthusiasm for life. You have to have a dream, a goal and you have to be willing to work for it.

Jim Valvano

Inspirational Quotes On Life #4

I believe life is to be lived, not worked, enjoyed, not agonized, loved, not hated.

Leland Bartlett

Inspirational Quotes On Life #5

No trumpets sound when the important decisions of our life are made. Destiny is made known silently.

Agnes De Mille

Inspirational Quotes On Life #6

The expectations of life depend upon diligence; the mechanic that would perfect his work must first sharpen his tools.

Confucius

Inspirational Quotes On Life #7

It is a funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it.

Somerset Maugham

Inspirational Quotes On Life #8

Look within! The secret is inside you.

Hui-neng

Inspirational Quotes On Life #9

Make your life a mission - not an intermission.

Arnold H. Glasgow

Inspirational Quotes On Life #10

The quality of a person's life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.

Vincent Lombardi

I hope you've enjoyed this Top 10 List of Inspirational Life Quotations.

Inserted from <http://www.inspirational-quotes-and-quotations.com/inspirational-life-quotes.html>

Why Curse God

2008-11-24T23:49:00.004-06:00

Do we really miss the mark that badly? In Genesis, after Adam and Eve ate the apple, God specifically states that life will now be hard for all humanity thereafter! In Job, we know, but Job does not know, that it is not God delivering the wrath, but it is Satan. I believe in a way, God stated, I never promised you a rose garden.

Another view, God does not give us anything he does not believe we cannot handle. I would imagine, this is the same as any parent with their child, a coach with their pupil. We don't curse our parents, coaches, teachers for pushing us, we thank them. I know at the time we get angry, we get mad, we want to curse them, but we don't quit, we keep pushing on. God is our life coach; He is not giving us anything we cannot handle. If we are feeling pushed, uncomfortable, beaten up, maybe it's because God believes in us and wants us to be the best we can, no difference between our parents, coaches, teachers.

Be angry with God, but don't curse God, then say thank you and believe in God, ask for His wisdom an strength and guidance to help us work through the tough areas of our lives, he truly is our life coach

The Pyramid of Marbles

2008-11-24T12:05:00.002-06:00

This need to be accepted is one dimension of who we are. We also base whom we are on how we believe we related to others in our circle of acceptance. It is the father / son older sibling to younger sibling. A friend. We may have always been more successful, smarter, or whatever with our circle. One friend might be greater than us, so we find ourselves hanging out with them because the relay a feeling to us that we are comfortable, we then may also try and hold our friends in check because that is how we see ourselves in respect to others. For example, if we are always the one that does not argue, then those in your circle will then always do things which may irritate you, but you don't argue, they are used to controlling the situation when you are there. However, if you change this behavior, it threatens their position. They find themselves feeling less because you did not take your normal stance, they will then try and somehow get you back into your position of acceptance.
It's kind of like how planets have orbits because of the gravitation pull on each other. The earth travels Around the sun, the moon travels around the earth. When we launch a rocket towards space, it takes an enormous amount of effort to move out of the earth's gravitation pull.

Gravity does not want to let go, yet that is very similar to how we define our relationships, it is a gravitational pull, it is however, defined in how we define ourselves, how do our relationships make us feel. We are successful as long as we are more successful than our younger sibling; we are successful as long as we are more successful than our children.

I noticed something also when I pass people and I do it too. When I am trying to pass someone on the freeway, it seems as though they always speed up just as I get to them and it frustrates me. However, I have noticed if I choose to go past someone, if I do it with a burst of speed, they don't seem to speed up, because I am caught up and ahead before they can react, I went out of their gravitational pull before they could grab me. Runners in marathons have noticed this too, if they spend a bunch of time catching up to a person, if they don't pass with some speed, the person they are passing will gravitate to their speed and end up keeping up with them, this ends up tiring the passer out, but if they time it right, they run by quickly, before the other runner has a chance to react, then they don't gravitate to the person.

I notice also when driving, that people like to hang on, let's say you pass someone, for someone, all of a sudden, they have you in their sights, kind of like a Pluto to the sun type of relationship, they just don't want to let you out of their gravitational pull, I have noticed, that if I can break their line of sight, then they no longer keep up the increased pace and they resort to going back to the pace they were before. Have you ever noticed that, a car will be happy going whatever speed they are going until you pass them, and then they wake up and want to keep up with you? I may be alone on this, but I just like to drive without anyone being my partner.

So this entire setup is to talk about this: I feel that our relationships are like a pyramid of marbles or maybe even a jar of marbles. I believe we all have seen like what happens at the supermarket when a person pulls out the one piece of fruit and the entire display of fruit then crashes to the ground. The same is happening within families and individual relationships and how they are built, there are dependencies. The concept is that if one person decides to change the relationship, maybe go to a completely different pile of fruit, the rest are so dependant, thus they begin to do anything to keep the one that is leaving to stay, the gravitational pull. If the one leaving does not have enough energy, they can get sucked back in. The challenge here is, the others do not know what they are doing and they are willing to do almost anything to keep in their mind, their pile from crashing down like in the fruit section of the grocery store.

So the person trying to in a sense not be dependent on those relationships with the way they are set up has to be like the runner, like the car passing the other car like the rocket trying to leave the gravitational pull of the earth, like the moon trying to pull away from the earth, strong determined.

Now here is the challenge, as we try and move away from this predestined matrix of relationships, in many ways, we have now entered a place where we have never been before, we are in a sense at this moment leaving our support team behind us. No matter how much we believe in that we are doing the right thing, we have spent our entire life dependant on others choosing our life for us.

You see, we spend our lives building this relationship, the others spend their time building their relationships, and then we venture out. I remember the first time I went backpacking by myself. My friend and I drove to the trailhead, we did not know what to do at first, we were always with an adult and they seemed to always tell us what to do, here we were all of a sudden, having to make the decisions ourselves. We called my dad, we did not ask, we just called to let him know we got there, of course in record time. We had to make our own decisions and we continued throughout the trip, it was a step of independence, but inside the circle with my dad.
This concept and the understanding of how we have build our jar of relationships and how the other marbles are dependent on us and the strength they have to hold us in place and the strength we have to have to remove ourselves from the particular pyramid.