Faith ....

Roger Waters wants to know - Is there anybody out there?

Os nailed it today:

Then God withdrew His conscious blessings to teach you to “walk by faith” (2 Corinthians 5:7).
....
Faith, as the Bible teaches it, is faith in God coming against everything that contradicts Him— a faith that says, “I will remain true to God’s character whatever He may do.” The highest and the greatest expression of faith in the whole Bible is— “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him” (Job 13:15).

(I am slowly learning to not look for things to be 'easy' or 'simple' or 'make sense'.Lord, give me this type of faith, and make me content to simply be your disciple.)

Do you believe prayer can do this?

THE HOT WATER BOTTLE - A True Story By Helen Roseveare, Missionary to Africa

One night, in Central Africa, I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in spite of all that we could do, she died leaving us with a tiny, premature baby and a crying, two-year-old daughter.

We would have difficulty keeping the baby alive. We had no incubator. We had no electricity to run an incubator, and no special feeding facilities. Although we lived on the equator, nights were often chilly with treacherous drafts.

A student-midwife went for the box we had for such babies and for the cotton wool that the baby would be wrapped in. Another went to stoke up the fire and fill a hot water bottle. She came back shortly, in distress, to tell me that in filling the bottle, it had burst. Rubber perishes easily in tropical climates. "...and it is our last hot water bottle!" she exclaimed. As in the West, it is no good crying over spilled milk; so, in

Content to be your disciple ...

Awfully quiet out there, anyone still around?

I read an interesting prayer in my Seeking God's Face yesterday:
'Bruising God, if you haven't abandoned me to chance or fortune, then help me to understand the suffering of Job, of this world, of my life.  I don't know what to do with a God like you - too free, too wild, too beyond my control.  I know you are not safe, but I trust you are good.  Amen

This means a lot to me now.  I have been struggling with prayer.  I have an assignment on prayer, and I struggle as I watch friends around me suffering, while prayers go seemingly unanswered . . . . 

The prayer above was written in response to Belgic Confession Article 13 (If you don't read these things, you should, they are amazing!)

Article 13: The Doctrine of God's Providence
We believe that this good God, after he created all things, did not abandon them to chance or fortune but leads and

I've changed my mind, I do want to be rich!

Yup, tonight I say down and changed my direction.  I want to be rich.  It only took 1 item to change my mind:  The World Vision 2012 Christmas Gift Catalog.  

I started paging through it and I dreamed, and dreamed.  I dreamed of #1051, 5 ducks for only $30!  (Ducks lay eggs, and if you haven't checked they [the ducks] float.  A huge plus in Bangladesh where they constantly lose their chickens to flooding).  Wait, I'm rich, so it's #1435 for 10 ducks!

What about #0669, for only $40 I can outfit an entire family with a fishing kit.  Why Toe Dip?  For only $200 I can get #0649 - 'Dig and stock a fish

Harbor House Success

The first ever Harbor House Invasion Project was a huge success.  Although Mr. Dyk was nowhere to be found (resting up from his near death cold), it was an enjoyable experience for all.  A nice conversation with one of the residents, Chuck, made me once again realize that "these people" are more like us than I thought.  Chuck comes from Coopersville, of all places, so of course we connected on that.  He graduated not long before I began working there, and has fallen on hard times.  But praise be to God for people like Eric, Joyce, and Mark (as well as many others I am sure) and the work that they do at  the Harbor House and Hope House (women's side).

 

Looking forward to next visit (first Friday evening of the month, Dyk?)

Take that pew warmer!

Prayer I read recently from 'Seeking God's Face':
King of kings, in your anointing is a new life.  Drenched with your baptizing and anointing Spirit, called by my new name, I rise up with Jesus, not a marginalized pew warmer but a member of Christ, a prophet, priest, and king.  Alive to Christ, let me live out my true identity today.  Amen.

Take that pew warmer!
Do you believe this?  In Christ you are a prophet, you are a priest, you are a king.  Do you live like it?    Or do you feel like you are not able, you need something, like more knowledge, then you can.....

²⁷ But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should

What is Pabama! ?

Who knows?  We have the definition above, which covers quite a bit of it.  But it's also a word you yell when you see/feel something that is simply of the Spirit.  It's your tribute to the Spirit and the great works he does quite often through others.  My example from tonight of yelling (well, as much as I could yell) 'Pabama!'

I have been lay down sick for 2 days, and tonight is a church event that my 4 children are all eager to attend. My wife could bring them, but ..... she is acting in the event (Merge) and has to be there ahead of time.  So a fellow Knight splits up his family, drives to my house, picks up my four daughters to bring them.  My daughters are a pretty excited bunch, and he and his wife will have to herd the 4 of them, as well as their own 3 children, through dinner and the performance.

That, my brothers, is 'Pabama!!!!'

Mike & Laura Sternberg, God has tears of joy in his eyes as he looks at your picture on his refrigerator right now.

Pabama!!!

The darkness ....

Read this one at your own risk . . . .

Why did I pray? posted at 5:01 AM PST by Kari Costanza, World Vision senior communications officer TAGS: Democratic Republic of Congo, malnutrition, Rwanda, War and conflict

Baby Esther is held by her mother, Solange, in the child malnutrition unit of a hospital. (Photo: Kari Costanza/World Vision)

World Vision’s Kari Costanza traveled to Rwanda, where she met Solange, whose life was turned upside-down in a short period of time.
Fighting caused Solange and her family flee their home in the Democratic Republic of Congo. After arriving in Kiegeme refugee camp, Solange lost her 3-year-old daughter, Rebecca.
Kari met Solange in a hospital, where she was staying with her baby, Esther. Kari shares her thoughts on

Due to Popular Demand: Moon Runs

Due to the awesome prayer and Spirit led worship that happened through the test 'GoddoG' run at Kozak's, I introduce:  'Moon Runs'!

Why the name?  I reference philosopher Noonan's quote:  'We are like the moon, we reflect the sun/Son before it/he arrives.'  (Absolutely brilliant in my opinion.)

What do we do, how is this different than Pabama?  Pabama runs are accomplished under the cover of darkness, isolating ourselves to ensure that the activity/worship can only be about God, and not about us.  To God be all the glory!  Moon Runs are us saying:  'Hmm, if this is really such good news maybe I should share it with someone!'  The test run did not involve any spiritual discussions with others, and I would think many will not.  They will involve