God - Part 1

I have been thinking a lot about God. Who is he? What do we know about him? How do I view him?

I think this is vital, essentially vital. Why? Who cares? This view of a God is a lens that alters how I apply what I read in the Bible. It is a lens that alters my activities. It is a lens that alters how I live my life. It's the foundation of my Christianity.

(Don't you wonder about this? A man recently dies, and his wife posts of Facebook starting with 'God is good .... my husband has passed on'. Would you have that attitude? I know it would be a struggle ....)

This seems like an overwhelming task, after all we are the created, trying to understand aspects of the creator, but I think we can do it. After all, we have the Bible, and part of what God's done is reveal 'attributes' of himself to us, in his Word.

Just starting to think about it, I think of stories like Job. When Job has been questioning God a little, God confronts him, and Job is left saying 'I am unworthy—how can I reply to you?'

Or I think there is a nugget in Esther, I think this shows some of the balance that is so tough to understand. The Jews are set to be slaughtered, but a Jew (Esther) is the favored queen of the king. Her uncle wants her to try to help her people, the Jews. He says: 'For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”' God will get it done with or without her, but he wants to use her.

Probably the best way is to observe someone who does have a piece of the answer. There are simply no words to describe this video, enjoy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=th6Njr-qkq0

Job 1:21 - The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.
Job 40:4 - I am unworthy—how can I reply to you?

to GOD be all the glory!

Are you experiencing 'Much more?'

From Oswald:

“Consider the lilies of the field . . .” (Matthew 6:28). They grow where they are planted. Many of us refuse to grow where God plants us. Therefore, we don’t take root anywhere. Jesus said if we would obey the life of God within us, He would look after all other things. Did Jesus Christ lie to us? Are we experiencing the “much more” He promised? If we are not, it is because we are not obeying the life God has given us and have cluttered our minds with confusing thoughts and worries.


So, are you experiencing the 'much more'?  For me, currently, I am filling my mind with the confusing thoughts and worries.  I need to focus on God, and where he has me planted.

I often think of a destination, a future, where then I will do things.  I will be stronger, or more equipped, etc.  Therefore I don't take root anywhere.  God wants me to bloom where I am, and he does make it easy: (even though I try to complicate it)

The Crib:  At a recent church meeting, a gentleman told how his wife was at work.  A co-worker came in tears running down her face as she told about how her friend received a crib the night before.  (He had no idea that I knew about the story, it was so Pabama!  To GOD be ALL the glory!)

The Card:  A couple, the husband struggling heavily with cancer.  They are each sent a card, the Holy Spirit included Romans 8:38 on the wife's card.  The writer of the card is a little nervous, 'Isn't this insinuating that the husband is dying?'  Months later, the card is forgotten, and the husband does pass on.  At the visitation, the wife, tears in her eyes,  says:  'We were struggling hard one day, Romans 8:38 was on our mind.  Then I opened the card, there was the same verse.  My favorite verse.  It was great to know God saw us, God cared, he confirmed that we will never be separated from him.'

The Pictures:  Same couple.  Some 15 kids spend 20 minutes praying and coloring pictures.  The envelope is sent, and life moves on.   For them, the pictures are forgotten.  But for the man, they are an inspiration, they bring joy.  He tapes every one up on his wall.

Bloom where you are planted.  God will do awesome things.

Early reports from the Coopersville Mission Field

Sternberg has been walking around, beating his drum on the Coopersville Mission Field.  He has reported hearing a 2nd drum, and possibly a 3rd and could it be, even a 4th?  Stay tuned for more from Sternberg as the situation on the ground develops ...

Pu-BAM-uh! - homework assignment

For a video definition of Pabama, please click the song-link below.

http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=FJ2F91NU

Now it is your turn.  Find your example (video, picture, or other) of Pabama.  Assignment due - when you get it done.

A challenge - an essential challenge

Everyday I become more and more convinced that the Word of God is something that I need to be reading on a daily basis. I claimed to want to follow God, to know his will, but yet I seldom referenced the written manual he left me! It is an ongoing project, but with the help of you guys I have been able to start down the path of consistent reading. Thank you!

So, in the back of my mind, 'memorization' has been percolating. I have tried in fits and starts to memorize scripture, I even met the memory champion of the US! But, sadly, shaking his hand didn't seem to impart any powers upon me . . . it was still hard work.

Anyway, I read the following this AM.  I highlighted a section below that really spoke to me.  I know how to worry!  I am probably a professional at worrying!  So, read, enjoy, and let me know if you want to join me!  I don't know when the journey will begin or what form it will take, but it's time to start meditating on the scriptures.  Pabama!!!!

Focus on Scripture, not Worries
by Rick Warren

“I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.” (Job 23:12b NIV)
The Bible repeatedly urges us to meditate on who God is, what he has done, and what he has said.

It is impossible to be God’s friend apart from knowing what he says. You can’t love God unless you know him, and you can’t know him without knowing his Word. The Bible says God “revealed himself to Samuel through his word” (1 Samuel 3:21).

God still uses that method today. While you cannot spend all day studying the Bible, you can think about it throughout the day, recalling verses you have read or memorized and mulling them over in your mind.

Meditation is often misunderstood as some difficult, mysterious ritual practiced by isolated monks and mystics. But meditation is simply focused thinking — a skill anyone can learn and use anywhere.

When you think about a problem over and over in your mind, that’s called worry. When you think about God’s Word over and over, that’s meditation. If you know how to worry, you already know how to meditate! You just need to switch your attention from your problems to Bible verses. The more you meditate on God’s Word, the less you will have to worry about.

The reason God considered Job and David his close friends was that they valued his Word above everything else, and they thought about it continually throughout the day. Job admitted, “I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread” (Job 23:12).

When you read your Bible or hear a sermon or listen to a CD, don’t just forget it and walk away. Develop the practice of reviewing the truth in your mind, thinking about it over and over. The more time you spend reviewing what God has said, the more you will understand the “secrets” of this life that most people miss.

Hi-Ho-a-Dairy-O - The Cheese Stands with Friends

It's all over!  'The Courageous Campout.'

DVD's are in hand for those brave souls who stayed all night!

- The 3 C's - Coffee, Chowder and Cocoa
- An awesome group of guys turned out
- Worlds Strongest Man marathon!  (Thanks Steve!)
- Laying hands on Clausing
- Above freezing in January?
- Bible study in the AM

Was it successful?  O' yeah!  We may never know how, it could be the Family Christian Store employees, it could be the ladies at Starbucks, the Mall Guy 'Michael's' secretary, or Corbin, needing to connect with some men glorifying God.  To God be ALL the Glory.  Thanks for the setup Cheese, I am confident God smacked it out of the park!

BE THE LIGHT...

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. " Martin Luther King Jr.PABAMA!!

January run - 'Bedder' than we thought ....

Another successful run, and thanks fellas, I needed it!

The run kind of needs a little background story. Ruby is now in a big girl bed. So we have 2 cribs we are not using. So we decide to get rid of one (again, Pete, we still have one, so no conclusions can be drawn!). It's quite nice, but we bought it used, so we want to donate it. I load up the car, and start with the Lakeshore Pregnancy Center. They won't take it. I try Goodwill, Once and Again, no one wants cribs . . . Our goal is to have this thing go to a good home, so I check with Diane. Diane says she may have a lead, but not sure. I wait. The whole time this thing is in my car, with a changing table, rocking chair and footstool. I can't take the kids to school. I don't want to trash it, so I finally put an ad on Craig's List, the whole ensemble, $20. Finally a taker! The car is empty and useable again! 2 days later, email from Diane: the people do need a crib ..... Well, I had learned there were nice cribs on Craig's List, so a week after selling mine, we bought a crib! Pabama! It is fun when you know God is laughing.

Fogel contributed some sheets, it came with a new mattress, we threw in some Goodwill certificates, braved 'snowmaggedon' or whatever they are calling it, prayed over the crib, drove to Muskegon, and assembled the crib. Not a typical Pabama! since we entered the house, but we didn't use the word Pabama!, and they didn't know us, so it worked out splendidly!

It just feels so good to help out someone, instead of pursuing the things of this world. Pabama!

To God be ALL the Glory!

(Oh yeah, don't worry, we did get Fogel out of the crib)

If I am out of mind, it is for the Lord

“if I am out of mind, it is for the Lord”. - 2 Corinthians 5:13

As some of you know; the last 60 some days I haven’t been my old self. I saw a movie called Courageous; which led to a book called The Resolution.
God has put it on my heart to help expose this film to more families. I don’t understand it, it’s rarely happened to me like this in the past. It’s become a conviction for me; it’s still a little weird to admit to people (“Hi; I’m Cheese and a small budget film is changed my life) but the fact is I AM admitting it; I am telling people. The changes have been so drastic that my college friends would think I had a head injury…. I have to call this a “God Thing” (Dyk would remind me that it’s a Holy Spirit thing; and I would agree…). Talking with a friend; we said “man the people who camped out on Black Friday was so sad and spoke volumes of the priority system of a large number of Americans. Wouldn’t it be cool if somehow we could do that for the Lord? Hey; what about camping out the night before the DVD release of the Courageous movie?” Well; the more we talked about it; the more my heart told me that this is something I needed to do; in a small way; to be part of “the solution”. So;
The DVD release date for Courageous is Tuesday January 17th. So starting on January 16th at 8:30pm...

• A group is gathering outdoors at Norton Shores Family Christian for some type of supper.
• We have permission to set up tents near/next to the building. At 9:00pm the store official closes.
• A group of us will spend the night; outside. (we will have limited power from the building and generators have already been offered). Some form of entertainment will be provided!

I Believe by making a spectacle ourselves it might draw some media attention and we can (hopefully) redirect that attention:

• How the movie led to a book called the Resolution and the principles behind it.
• There are guys that value their belief’s more than their TV screen size or Face Book hits.

I believe this demonstration could be a front page story however; I want to somehow focus the way the local media could spin our intentions;

• I'd prefer to remain anonymous so any press coverage will focus on how Courageous accurately portrays our culture; even among church going Christians.

Although I could do this alone; I recognize that this will be stronger and speak louder with others involved.

• I’m asking for your prayers that God will use me to bring the message to others.
  · Pray for descernment on the part that God might have for you in this event.

I don’t want to “guilt” anyone into joining me at Family Christian; this isn’t a “required” Pabama event, or a display of your testosterone (although it might viewed as a measure of your sanity!) I believe your participation should be because you believe in the film and/or the Resolution Book.

You could;

(a) join me just before closing time (9:00pm) Monday evening. This time slot is probably easier on most schedules (some have off from work because that Monday is MLK day).

(b) join me in the morning when they open (10:00am). I believe this slot will have a higher visability than in the evening howver this option creates a time conflict with Men's Tuesday AM Bible study. This will be the first time I have missed a Men's morning activity in roughly three years; that's how important this is to me...

I know you are men of courage; but we all have different gifts and sitting out in the cold isn’t for everyone. However; if you are interested please drop me an e-mail or catch me this week either Tuesday or Thursday mornings. If you know someone who might be interested (but doesn’t visit the Pabama website); please share news of this event with them.

And I Thank you for your support.
Cheese

Tent City - Anyone thinking about Round 2?

Tent City, what is going on with Cookie, Popeye, Don and company?

1.  We have learned that winter brings more drinking, and more fighting.  Don especially has been having issues. The best thing recommended, take him to breakfast.  Supposedly he is up by 7:30am . . . .

2.  Mitchem found the following:
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B4URDI4YOXY0NmVkY2IxMWYtOWFiYi00YmI4LTliY2YtZDM1MTUyNTkyZjFm

Comment if you feel led to make a Tent City 'run'!

Oh Me, Oh My, Oh Nehemiah!

I remember our church youth group doing a skit on Nehemiah (actulally it was a year or so after I was out).  Don't remember much about it, but he must have been a good guy to get the Overisel Reformed RCYF group to do something about it.  I was reminded of that importance today when I read Nehemiah 10. 

The first thing that struck me was the fact that after many years, the people decided (again) to rededicate themselves to God and his commandments.  The wall had just been finished, and the people made a vow to God.  Note the very first sentence of the vow:

          "We promise not to let our daughters marry the pagan people of the land, nor to let our sons marry their daughters."  (verse 30).

First part of the vow was to lead and protect the next generation!

Verse 35 - "we promise to always bring the first part of every harvest to the Lord's Temple."
Verse 37b - "We will bring the best of our flour and other grain offerings, the best of our fruit, and the best of our new wine and olive oil."

So, in this new year, I/We are reminded again - am I keeping the vows I have made to God?  Will I bring Him the "first part of my harvest"?  Will I give Him my best?  And again, am I raising my children in the faith: leading them, teaching them, preparing them to lead families of their own one day?

Thanks for the reminder Nehamiah.  I needed it.

Happy New Year!!!

I just wanted to take the time to say:

- I have the first post in 2012!
- You guys are incredible, and I so appreciate you locking shields with me in this battle.  This is a journey that I have proven I cannot do on my own.  And I so greatly appreciate your brotherhood as I work toward working out in my life the fact that only Jesus can get me through this journey.  I look forward to 2012, 'getting some nuts!', pulling my toe out of the pool, reading the Bible, praying and swinging my sword with you guys.  Thanks fellow Knights, I am truly blessed to call you brothers!

Dyk