Caught Up In History

Ever notice that old country music, aka hillbilly music, has a distinctly Hawaiian sound coming from the steel guitar? Why? Because Nashville hadn't yet developed the non-Polynesian tuning we know today. Why does that matter to me? It's not the sound that intrigues me, it is the story. Further, do you know where the hillbilly comes from? Hillbilly originally referred to Scottish or Irish settlers who lived in the Appalachians. billie is a synonym for fellow and hill stands for hill. So Hillbilly would be a fellow who lives in the mountains or foothills.

This is how life presents itself to me. I have information coming in through various sources and I process them with the knowledge I already possess on the subject. I fit things together like puzzle pieces, then I stand back and admire the intricate tapestry of time. I am woven into it, my part may be a swift cross stitch or it may be a centerpiece. I do not care. If I spent my time wondering about greatness I would never achieve it.

There is a quote that someone says. I find it ridiculous. It goes something like, "Do something so big, God would be embarrassed to not show up." Really people? Either God has directed you to do something or He has not. We can build large monuments like the Bakkers and Swaggarts and Billy Graham and the Tower of Babel and He will show up.

He shows up every time to thwart the imperialist leanings of men. He shows up every time we think we are so big that we don't need Him. He shows up every time Billy calls the audience to respond to an altar call. Make no mistake, God is there.

The ramifications of the quote by itself are preposterous. It is a dare that screams "I am doing something...so honor it!" But God is no respector of man. And what is the definition of big? Is it the granduer of a stadium and 50,000 people crying out to God in unison? Is it giving change to a bum on fourth and then walking away? What is big? Are we stretching our imagination into the territory of vanity?

Why was Jesus so "big?" It was because He magnified the Father. He was tangible, He alone was righteous, He was God incarnate in flesh. How can we be "big?" By living like Jesus. By being tangible to people; that is to be felt by the needy, to be seen by the poor, to love your neighbor and listen when they need to pour out there troubles. We are big when we are little. When we are humble and lift of Christ, even as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness. He is the answer. There is nothing in us but Christ that can prevail. We can be big by being righteous; by living justly and by loving mercy.

The life that honors God is the life that God shows up in. At the end of our existence will we step back and say, "the crowds were there, but they were fickle. The stadiums were full, but no one responded." Or will we say, "I went into the crowds and gave them what I had in Christ. That is the only answer I know."

Please, look at life and where you are as the story of time. Everything that has happened thus far as led to you like a single stitch and weave from beginning with Adam to the end of Omega. See the tapestry, make the stitch, do your part.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

This morning was my first class. I came in, received my temporary gi and then headed for the mat. We stretched and learned three different moves. Each one was practical and easy to follow. After fourty minutes of practice we ended by sparring. My limited knowledge of the art caused a lot of exertion with meager results.

I am definitely sore and ready for more on Tuesday.

Wrestling With God

Once, I observed the closed combat art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. During grappling, the first thing I noticed was that the main strategy is to create as much space between you and your opponent as possible. Once that space is established, the next step is to use the opponents pressure on your body to create pressure on his by finding a hook and reversing his hold. If all goes right, the final step is submitting your opponent.

How many times have I tried to wrestle with God about the issues of life? I am a Christian and therefore the Holy Spirit is inside of me and seals me to God as an adopted son. Despite this close relationship it seems, at times, that I like to create as much space as possible between myself and Him while still maintaining my Christianness. After all, God will forgive, right?

So although my being is intimately entangled with Him, I am still trying to push him away. I exert pressure and try to find a hook to reverse the hold and submit diety. Unfortunately, there is a reason He is called Almighty God. No matter how much I rebel in attitude or action, there is nothing that can separate me from His love.

When I am tired of fighting I either give up or get out of his clasp and walk away on my own. When I give up I submit and He lets me go with a reminder, much like Jacob's that He is in control. When I walk away, He lets me wander until I come back and admit my finite nature. Either way, I will submit. I can do so at His hands or at the world's.

When Jacob got off the ground that night, he was not rewarded because he wrestled with God in rebellion, it is because he perservered with God and with man. He did not give up after 14 years of working for a dishonest man, nor did he give up when his hip was dislocated. He continued to persevere.

Read the following verses about perserverance. Then pray that you would persevere with God and not wrestle against Him. Finally, thank God for His promises to you.

1 Timothy 4:16
Hebrews 10:36
Hebrews 12:1
James 1:3-4, 12
James 5:11
2 Peter 1"5-7
Revelation 2:3

Best of Damien Jurado

This is by far my favorite artist over the years. If I compiled my favorite songs from all of his albums this is the result...

1. Yuma, AZ from Waters Ave. S.
2. Ohio from Rehearsals for Departure
3. Tornado from Rehearsals for Departure
4. Tonight I Will Retire from Ghost of David
5. Parking Lot w/Rosie Thomas from Ghost of David
6. Johnny Go Riding from Ghost of David
7. Omaha from Where Shall You Take Me?
8. Abilene from Where Shall You Take Me?
9. I Am The Mountain from Where Shall You Take Me?
10. I Am The Greatest of All Liars from Holding His Breath
11. East Virginia from Gathered In Song
12. To Those Who Will Burn from Gathered In Song
13. And Now That I'm in Your Shadow from And Now That I'm in Your Shadow
14. Survived By Her Husband from And Now That I'm in Your Shadow
15. Intoxicated Hands from Where Shall You Take Me?

Favorite Indie Songs

Of Minor Prophets and Their Prostitute Wives by Pedro the Lion
The Perfect Crime #2 by The Decemberists
We Rock Harder Than You've Ever Seen by Fine China
Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Pt. 1 by The Flaming Lips
Snowbirds and Townies by Further Seems Forever
Red & Blue Jeans by The Promise Ring

Favorite Music Videos

Good Life by Kanye West
Headz in the Cloudz by Danielson
Snowbirds and Townies by Further Seems Forever
Wicked Game by Chris Isaak
No New Kinda Story by Starfler 59
Buddy Holly by Weezer

Favorite Country Songs

Whiskey Lullaby by Brad Paisley
He Lays in the Reigns by Calexico/Iron and Wine
Concrete Angel by Martina Mcbride
In the Palm of Your Hand by Allison Krauss
There Goes my Life by Kenny Chesney

Favorite Soul/R&B Songs

The following ar currently my favorite songs.

1. Love and Happiness by Al Green
2. Pass Me Over by Anthony Hamilton
3. People Get Ready by Aretha Franklin
4. None of Us are Free by Solomon Burke

Tattoo

You know, that little dude in Fantasy Island...."Luke boz, de plane, de plane..." Yeah, that guy and there is Tattoo Face from 50 First Dates, and then there is me. What do we have in common? No, I'm not changing my name to Tattoo or any such derivative. I should though, I mean George Lucas was clearly thinking of tattoos when he named Luke Skywalker's home planet TATTOOine.

Anyway, I have been debating getting a tattoo for years, but never very seriously. More like, I think one day I should get a tattoo. The problem is I could not never decide on something that I would want to have on my body for the rest of my life. The other problem is that I cannot be buried in Jewish cemetery, be a secret agent (because of identifiable body marks), and my dad may try to dust it off like he did to my sister's.

Tonight I finally decided what tattoo I want...if I ever get one...I have a low pain threshold so leave me alone. It would be on my back and centered between my spine and right shoulder blade and about two and a half inches from the base of my neck. The image is a ring with the inner border of the circle bordering a symmetrical cross. In the ring are block Latin inscriptions, "Credo in Unum Deum" at the top and "Solus Christus" at the bottom. They mean, "I Believe in only one God" and "Only Christ."

Why would I get something engraved on my body that I believed so steadfastly? I think that perhaps it is an overwhelming conviction that cannot be contained inside our beings and so must be manifest on the outside. I'm not just talking about faith here, I am talking about life in general.

In order us to do something, it starts with the thought, "I want to do x." The next step is taking the thought and making it action or manifesting it outwardly. If this is the case, why do I feel the need to get a tattoo about my beliefs? Shouldn't they already be known to those around me?

Listen to 2 Corinthians 3:3, "You show that you are a letter from Christ...written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts." Our lives are supposed to be obviously committed to Christ and the glory of God our Father. The author of a letter does not hide their identity, so we should not hide our identity from the world as being sent from God to proclaim His goodness. What good is a letter that is never presented and never read? It is useless.

Let's make sure our lives are not useless. Let's proclaim that today is the day of salvation. That today we refuse to be silenced by circumstance or criticism. We are living testaments of God and we cannot be hidden, we are to be read aloud on every corner, street, and alley. We proclaim that there is one God and He is Christ!

So, what about the tattoo? The tattoo is irrelevant. I may or may not. My love for the Creator is represented in my attitudes and thus my actions. Am I against them? No, but it may be that a tattoo could limit me in future foreign endevours. Who knows, one day I may show up at your doorstep with a bandage and some ink on my right shoulder blade.

Thoughts

What is love? Baby, don't hurt me...

I was reading through an article about love/relationships and the thought struck me that love is more fleeting than the vapor of life. How is this possible? Isn't love forever? Simply put, if love is contained inside our lives and we are not always in the act of loving, then love is more temporary than our finite existence. When we say, "Until death do us part," we are recognizing the situation of mortal love and that it is affixed upon another being only as long as we ourselves exist.

Then I thought about God. 1 John 4:16 says that He is love. Unlike temporal man, who can only express shades of love, He is its essence. Since God is the progenator of all good things, when it says, "God is love," it refers to His interaction with man. This is obvious since the audience of Scripture is man.

Since God is endless and boundless, His love knows no limitation. He is eternal, with no beginning or end, thus is His love. Romans 5:8 says, "but God demonstrated His love for us while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Also in 1 John 4:19 the author declares, "We love because He first loved us." These two passages act as a bridge in explaining the path of the believer versus the non believer.

In effect, the writers are saying that God's love was demonstrated by Christ's death, which according to Scripture was the very cornerstone of our existence, and that the believer is simply embracing the action of being loved as a receptor to God's omnipresent love. Those who reject the testimony of Christ and therefore the love of God, reject God.

Love is the reason for the relationship. God is love, His love was demonstrated by Christ's death. Those who accept and reciprocate this love are then deemed Abraham's seed and therefore heirs according to the promise (Galatians 3:29). Love was the physical force that perpetuated our existence. Without existence we would be unable to choose to reciprocate because of our non-existent state.

Part of who I am...

I hate these sort of introspective jaunts. They are somewhat depressing and self centered by their very nature. I do not have any fixes for life or helpful hints for our spiritual journeys. This is who I am.

I like to schedule things. I hate last minute details that intrude into my life like thorns on the crown Jesus wore during the crucifixion.

I can count the number of impromptu events attended by shuffling my phalanges.

From Dream to Reality-Acts 12:1-9

In the beginning of this passage we see that Herod arrested Peter because it pleased the Jews. He kept Peter in prison and was surrendered by four squads of eight soldiers each. At night, he slept bound with two chains between two soldiers and the rest were there to guard the prison.
But Peter wasn't alone in his confinement. The church was in constant prayer of petition for him to God.

Listen what happened the night before Herod planned to bring him before the Jews to kill him.
“Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell of his hands. Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so he did. And he said to him, “Put on your garment and follow me.” So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.”

Taken in its historical context, this is simply a miraculous narrative. Without changing the meaning of the passage we can make some parallels. Let's go over the cast. We have The Jews, Herod, Peter, the soldiers, and the church.

The Jews can represent the multitude of religious people. Herod is the leader of the Jews, the soldiers are religious people you know, the church is the active, living body of Christ that we are supposed to be, the angel represents God, and imagine that you are Peter.

OK. We have the cast of characters, now let's see the back story. The prequel to this saga is simple; Herod killed John, who was also a disciple of Christ. This move was popular and Herod seized on the opportunity to be the cool kid so he planned to do the same with Peter.
We have a cast, characters, and a back story, now here comes the plot. Are you ready?
Do you know anyone who is holding your dream captive? I have seen people in many churches sit in the sanctuary and never lift a finger outside of it for the name of Christ. Why? Because they have not been released to do it! Ephesians 4:11-12 talks about “the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ...” The word equipping means complete furnishing and implies an enabling.

As church leaders we must enable our congregations, our friends, and our small groups. We cannot let our position dictate how we react to people. We can only react in two ways; God's way and the fleshly way. God's way is to liberate the priesthood of all believers that the Bible talks about from the clergy/laity relationship.

The fleshly way is herd people. This is a hallmark of church sayings like “the pastor and his flock.” How sad that the pastor is given the title of shepherd. Paul made it clear that we do not follow a man, but Christ when he said, “Follow me as I follow Christ.” That is not to say that there is no need for pastors, but it does highlight the inequality of spiritual recognition in Christianity.

Let's get specific about the story now. Herod is the leader that says, “You can't do that because you're not qualified.” Whenever someone says that you can't do something because you don't have a title, they are binding you with chains of limitation that you were simply not meant to be in. These people are soldiers that are following the orders and thought patterns of religion. Thankfully, the last time I checked, all the promises in the Bible were for all believers!

Finally, we are like Peter. God is striking us to wake us up. He wants to turn our dreams into a reality. Why does He want us to do that? Because if we are truly seeking Him, then the dreams we have are God given. Peter's disposition is somewhat puzzling to me. He had to be struck to wake up and he still thought it was a dream until after they had passed through the prison gates.
Why is this strange? Because the next day he was going to be martyred! Even so, he slept peacefully knowing that it was not Herod or any other religious person that held the keys to his future, it was God. This is a true picture of meekness; knowing that God is in control.
Everything above must fit into the context of scripture. There are many safeguards that churches have in place to protect people from being led astray and hurt. My intention is not to attack clergy or lay leaders, but to attack a faulty way of thinking that permeates modern Christendom. This thinking elevates the clergy above the laity and improperly puts the focus on figureheads instead of the entire body.

We are the bride of Christ and we are continually being cleansed through the work of sanctification. Since all of us are of the body our value is the same to the bridegroom. Although some of us may stand in front of thousands and testify to God's goodness at a crusade, most of us will simply live “normal” lives as we traipse from job, to errand, to home. The responsibility is the same; we must at all times be aware of the one we represent, bringing Him glory through all we do.

Please do not come away from this feeling validated that you disobeyed authority. Come away from this knowing that the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells inside all of us. The Holy Spirit guides and directs us, the Bible says, “...the Lord directs his (our) steps.”

Study Points.
Acts 12:1-9
Hebrews 10:24-26
Ephesians 4:12
Matthew 6:25-34 (Notice the context)
II Corinthians 10, especially verses 7-11

I Swear

By the moon and the stars in the sky...I swear...I'm working on a great blog. It should be up tomorrow evening.

In the meantime, happy 21st birthday Joanna Varela Lince.

Translation

I listen to Alejandro Alonso quite often. Every time I listen to the words, I am reminded at how good God is. The song is not full of metaphors and simile, it only has one verse and one chorus, and the accompaniment is sparse.

Every time I hear the words, I feel like I am Moses in the cleft of the rock.

Tu santidad me envuelves
Tu santidad me envuelves
Tu hermosura Oh Dios, sin obscuridad
Tu santidad me envuelves
Tu santidad me envuelves

Y santo eres mi Senor, mi Redentor
Y santo eres mi Senor, mi Salvador

Taking Every Though Captive

I was reading an article that said we should take every thought captive in the same manner as how we skip a mediocre song on our Ipod. Ingenius! Face it, we never stop thinking and we sometimes get thoughts that just need to be skipped over to get to the good thoughts, the hits of our mind.

Right now, I'm going through my music library and removing songs. In the same way, if we want to think less defectively, we must remove the root issues that cause defective thought. We must define what our moral code requires of us, what our true goals are, and how we will achieve those goals. Once we have assessed ourselves, we can then begin to attack the roots of our dysfunction.

It is through the process of sanctification that we are able to do this through the washing of the Word and the renewing of our minds in the Holy Spirit. Hmmm...I think God had a plan for us from the beginning! According to Phillippians 2:5, He wants everyone to take on the attitude and purpose of Christ! Christ's purpose was to reconcile man to God and bring Him glory in total obedience and surrender. In the same way, as members of Christ's body, we must find how our dream brings glory to God and pursue it madly!

The Surge

You may be tired of the running analogies, but I am not. Running is a cerebral sport that has as much to do with will as it does ability, strategy as much as strength. Imagine this...

We have been running for 14 minutes. This is not a jog. This is not comfortable. We have run up the terraces twice, our strides breaking simultaneously as we neared the top. My torso shifts forward as we come down the incline, yours stays stiff and straight. I begin to surge ahead, sensing that this is my only chance.


There are less than two minutes and six hundred meters remaining. I can see the finish line around the corner and you out of the corner of my eye. My peripheral vision never loses sight of you. I am gasping for air, reeling in the static finish. There is no room left for error and then I feel it. It's your hand on my shoulder.


Why are you touching me, why are you trying to slow me down? You are trying to pull me to the ground so you can stand and laugh. All this time, since I saw the starter pistol's smoke, I have been pursuing the prize and you have been pursuing me. I am running to outrun you, to overcome you.


Now I see how close I am, the spectators urging me on and I can barely believe that you are still here. Old man, pack it up and go home. But you don't, you are a virus that attacks at the most inopportune times-when I am succeeding, when I am bleeding, when I am fragile. You are the doctor who insists on amputating when I am suffering from the common cold. Your response to everything is death and despair. You are hopelessness.

But I am better than that. I am better than you. I am clothed in Him. Each step of this race has been with purpose. I strive and gasp painfully as I cross the line. I look behind and up, you are gone and the Timex reads "Eternity."

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Keys Verses:

I Corinthians 9:25-27
II Timothy 4:7
Galations 5:7
II Corinthians 5:21
I Peter 5:8
Psalm 37:25

Substance Over Speed

During my LSD...or Long Slow Distance, I realized that correct form or is more important than speed. In running there is a general understanding that speed work helps with your form. Speed training involves intervals, fartlek, sprints, etc, but is never something you do on a regular basis. Speed training helps the runner become more efficient in stride length, breathing, foot striking, and mentally. Unfortunately, speed workouts will not give you endurance and if done with too much frequency greatly increase the risk of injury.

It is with these thoughts (yes, I do think like that) that I remembered the children's story about slow and steady wins the race. In my younger years I was a great runner. I had the build, the endurance, and the speed. I am not naturally gifted with speed and often times I would become discouraged by this. My coach always had these words to say about speed, "Everyone has enough speed to win, just not the endurance."

It is my goal to run with endurance. Notice that Paul does not mention speed or quickness when talking about running the race nor does he specifically mention endurance. He simply says to run the race to obtain an imperishable crown. Hebrews 12:1 says, "...let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." This further emphasizes the need for technique and proper form.

I am not referring to an empty form or some sort of ritual, I am talking about the sharpening of our faith in Christ! When you begin running, your body is inefficient and it is only after training and several miles that your body begins to become efficient. It may not look pretty, but your body is adapting to the challenge of the race and as long as you put one foot in front of the other, you are succeeding.

What I have learned is that when you are running and tire, there is a tendency to quit running with proper form. At the time, it seems like a great idea, but it's not. When your body is tired, it does not perform at it's most efficient and therefore makes you more tired. We must constantly make the decision to control the pace and run with the correct form instead of letting circumstances waste our time.

Remember, we are in this together. We are not lonely distance runners. We have a common goal and the best guidebook around. If you need help, reach out and we will pull you up.

Key verses:

Ecclesiastes 4:12
Proverbs 24:16
Hebrews 12:1
I Corinthians 9:23-25
II Timothy 4:6-8

Random Phrases

Detours get you to the same place, they just take longer.

The Bucket List

Ok, Jack and Morgan were very inspirational. More so than I thought...I'm not referring to Daniels and Captain, rather Nicklaus and Freeman. I have seen a few bucket lists and I realize that I have a much shorter list than others. This leads me to several conclusions such as; I am boring, I lack vision, I am simple, or I am focused.

Let me begin...

1. See Walker never have to go to the hospital again.
2. Live in Finland
3. Obtain a Phd.
4. See all of the Spanish speaking world.
5. Visit Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Ethiopa, South Africa, and Lesotho.
6. Take a photograph of all my childhood musical heroes together. That would be Jeremy Enigk, David Bazan, Damien Jurado, and Poor Old Lu.
7. Start a school.
8. Get married.
9. Adopt.
10. Make my mom and dad grandparents because I know they'll be good at it!
11. Learn Portuegese.
12. Speak Spanish better.
13. Plant a church.
14. Teach my kids.
15. Spend the winter in a beach cabin on the Oregon coast. Where I can write a book, snuggle, and create memories with the one who I love.
16. See my wife and I be like my parents with love that grows and shows more with each day.
17. Watch mine and my sister's children grow up together and say things like, "Remember when we were their age?"

Different Ways.

Remember the commercials that proclaimed, "There's no wrong way to eat a Reese's." The commercials had people eating the candies whole, from the inside out, from the outside in, and even by sucking the peanut butter out. The point of the commercial was not about the product, it was about how people consumed the product.

Similary, I have a friend who has a great affinity for caramel filled chocolate squares. When I eat these chocolates I simply put them in my mouth and swallow. My friend on the other hand, eats them quite differently. She opens the wrapper like there is a treasure inside, not wanting to waste any chocolate, her fingers deftly manuever the wrapper so that her hands will not touch the morsel, her mouth covers the square and when it is removed the top is gone. She then licks the caramel from the center, savoring the taste until it melts away. The delight is not just in her mouth, the reaction is evident from her lips and eyes.

Both of these instances tell us something about how we read the Bible. Some people feel that there is no wrong way to read the Bible. The problem is that many of us read it with the intent to just consume words like I consume chocolate squares. We read the words with our preconcieved ideas and no regard for the richness of the whole text, acknowledging the love story of Redemptive history, or understanding the context in which the words were scribed.

Instead, we need to handle the Bible like my friend handles her chocolates; with awe and wonder, savoring every morsel and suckling at the sweet honey that is the Word. We cannot live our lives merely consuming The Bible, we must live it. In order to live it, we must understand or savor it. Rick Warren said something like, "The Bible left unapplied is abortion." It is strong language that is rooted in the reality of James 2:26.

Desperately Seeking

SCM (Single Christian Male) desperately seeking after God and His righteousness. Has assurance that when he boldly knocks that the door will be open, that when he seeks he will find her. She is a priceless, hidden gem. He is a blind man.

He is seeking God’s favor to find her. His knee is bent, his head lowered,, and his voice wavers like wind. Unashamedly he petitions, “Lord, grant me favor, I pray. Open the eyes of this sleepy heart to see the beauty of your horizon. She is the rising sun, providing joy. She is the setting sun, providing rest.

What can I give her? Only my love. Lord, perfect my love for perfect love casts out all fear. Let me be a safe place. Let tenderness reign. Bridal my tongue, that I would not pierce her heart with bitter arrows. Instead, let my mouth release arrows of flame that stoke passion.

As we grow old and watch our days grow shorter, let our love grow wider and when it is over, help me to say that I lived a life of sacrifice. Laying my life down like Christ for the church. Let my bride be pure and spotless. Let her be complete in You.

The Sound of Music

It is not a movie about a flibbertigibbet named Maria. It is melodies and harmonies moving up and down in sine waves of ecstasy. It reaches my ears and instantly vivid memories are placed in front of me like a picture book.

I can hear the trumpet pulsing along, driving the song with each push of its valves. It is my father. He is playing to scripture songs during a worship service. I am three, perhaps four, but I understand its beauty. I cannot hear the drums nor the guitar, only the piano and the trumpet dueling for supremacy.

I wanted to be like my father. Nothing has changed, inside I still want to be the man I perceive him to be. I wanted to play the trumpet. I received a toy one that broke right away. It said made in Taiwan on its sad plastic brow. I wanted a real one, a brass one, but we could not afford it. His instrument was borrowed and his time of playing was numbered.

Later I found out that he was an accomplished player in high school. He was offered second seat in a fledgling symphony orchestra, but turned it down. He declined because of me and mom, because of responsibility. His true love was not music it was us.

My father is like a spy. When he is questioned about his past he is often elusive and divulges only enough to further intrigue you. There was the time I asked what he did for work and he did not tell me. Later I found out he was protecting my pre-kindergarten ears from tragic and gruesome stories of medical rescues. It is as if he holds every memory as a precious secret and needs to make sure that those with whom he shares them will treasure them the same as he has.
In the world there are two positions we take. We are first listeners and then players. We hear the notes oscillating from their instruments as they reach our ears. Those notes form chords or patterns and those patterns form our lives.

For me, memories hold music. They are bard's tales and symphonies, pop songs and jingles. Some are epic and some I wish I'd never heard.

Next time you sit down and think about your life, think about it in song.

What is the music of your life? I know mine is still unfolding.

Nigeria

I read an article yesterday about Pentecostal Christians smashing family idols. Some of these idols are hundreds and even thousands of years old. They hold cultural and historical signifigance and the government is upset. They are upset enough to start fining people that are destroying these idols.

Why are these Christians making news? For years Muslims destroyed these idols and without making the AP or Reuters wire. Why were the Muslims destroying the idols? It is because they unequivocally believe in one God and that they must destroy anything that is an idol.
Unfortunately, many colonial attempts at Christianity were founded not on the uncompromising truth of the Christian God, but on syncretism and over eager "missionaries" who sought easy conversion vs. true Christianity.

Now we have these Christians finally standing up and doing like Gideon did and destroying family idols. The government stated that the people could not separate themselves from their past, but I know that Jesus preached, "He whom the Son sets free is free indeed." So even though we cannot rewrite our history, we can separate ourselves spiritually.

The act of destroying these idols is then an outpouring of Christian belief. If taking to the extreme conclusion we can justify the destruction of things like the Buddha statue in Afghanistan. I am decidedly on the side of these Christians. They own the idols and are destroying something that they own because they feel it is a spiritual neccesity.

This is a sensitive subject because it could end in a dark age of ancient religious art which helps us see how religious subjects are depicted throughout history. The key is personal discretion. God gave us free will, but he also put us under authority.

Your thoughts...

Directions

Today I undertook the challenge of running 10 miles. About half way through the mini marathon an older woman in a white Ford Windstar stopped me. She was trying to get to Point Loma Seafood. She seemed very excited about getting there and she should've been. Point Loma Seafood is the best place to get a cup of clam chowder and fresh fish in San Diego.

I told her to go back down the street and take a left. I said it with full assurance, selling her on my expertise in directional bearing. Unknown to her is my total dependence on the goodwill of Google maps to find every unknown location I go to.

As I struggled back down Scott Street I saw the wooden sign with reddish lettering announce "Point Loma Seafood." It was then that I realized that I sent her in the opposite direction. It became painfully obvious that I gave directions when I clearly should have either said nothing or something extremely general like, "It's on Scott."

How many times during my life with I give someone wrong directions? For this lady it probably just made her frustrated and late for dinner. For others it could mean a life that was left unexamined or one that was ruined because of the advice I gave.

How do I avoid this? The Bible says study to show yourself approved, a workman that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. As a teacher or mentor, we are building the body of Christ. In order to do so, we must correctly interpret Scripture. It is my hope that as I read the text and alway the Holy Spirit to guide me through it, that all preconceptions fall away and I stand with a naked heart waiting to be clothed in the righteousness of God which is in Christ Jesus.

I encourage everyone who reads this to not only read the Bible, but believe the Bible. Study it out, find out the historical and cultural situation, and recognize that the Bible is the inerrant, God breathed story of redemption. If you do this, the word will become alive to you and you will be changed by it.

The Marquee of Life.

Bunyan, like Paul wrote from prison. They both wrote with the resolve and conviction that the truth must be known. But for what were they thrown into jail? They recognized the supremacy of the gospel and the call of Christ.

Both were beacons of truth in the midst of Pharisaical times. Today it is much the same. Semi-recent failures are Jimmy Swaggart, Jim and Tammy Faye, Todd Bentley, and Ted Haggard. To the world, these names shine like marquees from the forehead of believers. Regardless of the failure and the aftermath, it is not solely the fault of the person who fell, the guilt lies equally with those whose raised hands held the figurehead up.

This is an old problem. Paul addresses the issue in 1 Corinthians 1:11-13. It is a historical observation to note that the name Christian was given because the followers of The Way Sect talked about Jesus Christ so often. You see, 1 John 4 says that the world looks from the viewpoint of the world, meaning not from the standpoint of faith.

They see us when we talk about the revival or the TV show or the healing and we attach names to them instead of connecting it with the power of God. Acts 5 tells the story of Gamaliel before the Sanhedrin.

Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”

From this passage we see that following after man leads to destruction, but following after God leads us to salvation. We must learn to put our lot in with Almighty God and not fallen man. Similarly, we cannot follow church movements, revivals, renewals, and camp meeting. Instead, we must follow Christ.

People that follow these men and events are like those that followed Simon the Magician in Acts 8.

Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, "This man is the divine power known as the Great Power." They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic.

And like Simon, they have a fundamental misunderstanding of the Holy Spirit.

When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money and said, "Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit." Peter answered: "May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin." Then Simon answered, "Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me."

My prayer is that our life is the one that follows Christ not the events on a calendar or the face on television.

Imitation

Often imitated, never duplicated is a brand slogan. It Indicates that their product is the standard or benchmark upon which all other products are compared. Many things are imitated from brands to people, but why are things imitated? They must be worth imitating. They hold value to the imitator.

Many times lobster, shrimp, and crab are imitated because they are expensive and people simply want a taste of the real thing. The same is true of Vanilla extract. It is a potent ingredient and requires very small amounts to flavor a large batch, but when imitation is used it often takes a larger dose.

And finally, if you have ever walked into a market in another country or down certain streets in our own, you have probably seen the fake Rolex watches, Nike apparel, and whatever other brand you can think of.

Question:

Why do we make the decision to purchase the thirty dollar fake Rolex that will quit working in 30 days?

Answer:

It’s because we have counted the cost and these things are worth the style, but not worth the true price. We want to invest in the appearance, but not the substance. The word “Christian” comes to mind. The Bible talks about people that exchange the truth for an imitation. They practice religion, but deny God’s power. Jesus made it clear to the self-righteous Pharisees that they were like white washed walls, but were rotting on the inside.

This is not a new problem for the church. Since the beginning there have been those who choose to use the name Christian and refuse to invest in their relationship with Christ. Make no mistake. Christ is real. His power is real and lasting. Count the cost.

Is it worth it to be a Christ follower? God thinks it is. He set the universe in motion knowing that one day, you would exist. In His infinite foreknowledge He set the world in motion. He balanced the axis of existence on the sacrifice and triumph of His son, Jesus Christ.

1 John 4:20 says, “we love because He first loved us.” Everyday we must decide if our faith is worth the price of authenticity. Are we imitating Christ or following the Pharisees? Don’t let your faith be a cheap imitation or counterfeit. Instead let it be deeper than the oceans, higher than every mountain, and its breadth wider than the expanse of sky,

Dressed to Go Out

One night after watching the Padres, I wandered the streets of downtown San Diego taking photographs. A couple of blocks from the Gaslamp, one of life’s stark contrasts was pointed out to me. It was the disparity between the rich and the poor, those dressed to survive and those dressed to go places.

It amazed me how one north-south street could be lined with men and women going into a club and how the east-west street was lined with homeless men and women lying on the ground sleeping. Out of this observance, the Bible leapt off the page and rhema illuminated my mind.

The people going to the club are like people trying to get into heaven. They are dressed up and waiting at the door. The bouncer is like Jesus who judges people based on what they are wearing. In this illustration, Jesus is also the designer of the clothing. As each person walks towards the door, they hope they are clothed in the righteousness of God that is Christ Jesus.

Some of these people are good people who made their own clothes. Just like Adam and Eve they fashioned their own clothing. They knew they were naked and were ashamed and so they put on the raggedy robe of good works and the insufficient belt of self-reliance.

Some of these people are true believers. They wear the robes of righteousness and the designer tag of God Almighty is tattooed on their foreheads. Like clothes from the most exclusive designers, their robes came with a very high cost; their lives. Some were told they were foolish and others were even killed for their clothes. Regardless, it was not the change affected on the exterior, but the one on their heart that differentiate them from those who are denied entrance to heaven.



Those on the east-west street are those that Jesus came to save. They are the lost and the wicked. They live on a horizontal plane not knowing where they are, not caring what they are. These men are what Bertrand Russell called the instinctive man. They are unable to see past their immediate physical needs and therefore are, except by extreme providence, unable to obtain success even in material things.

The other parallel I drew was that of the religious person waiting to get into church. They dressed correctly and like other actors waited for the director to call them onto the stage of a tragedy. It tells the story of the Pharisee who appears outwardly clean, but whose heart is darker than that of Conrad’s Kurtz. While we wait to get into heaven, we walk by those that are perishing with no regard for their condition.

Either way, we must heed the words of James when he wrote that faith without works is dead. Our proclamation of faith means little without proper application.

Lord, I pray that today I would walk in a manner that is worthy of being called “Christian.” Let my life bring glory to your name and not shame. I thank you for the blood of your Son, Jesus Christ and that I can overcome the world with the word of my testimony and by living selflessly in You. Amen.