What is your picture of heaven?

Our Pictures of Love  

The crisis of hope that afflicts the church today is a crisis of imagination. Catholic philosopher Peter Kreeft writes: Medieval imagery (which is almost totally biblical imagery) of light, jewels, stars, candles, trumpets, and angels no longer fits our ranch-style, supermarket world. Pathetic modern substitutes of fluffy clouds, sexless cherubs, harps and metal halos (not halos of light) presided over by a stuffy divine Chairman of the Bored are a joke, not a glory. Even more modern, more up-to-date substitutes—Heaven as a comfortable feeling of peace and kindness, sweetness and light, and God as a vague grandfatherly benevolence, a senile philanthropist—are even more insipid. Our pictures of Heaven simply do not move us; they are not moving pictures. It is this aesthetic failure rather than intellectual or moral failures in our pictures of Heaven and of God that threatens faith most potently today. Our pictures of Heaven are dull, platitudinous and syrupy; therefore, so is our faith, our hope, and our love of Heaven.
(Everything You Wanted to Know About Heaven)

If our pictures of heaven are to move us, they must be moving pictures. So go ahead—dream a little. Use your imagination. Picture the best possible ending to your story you can. If that isn't heaven, something better is. When Paul says, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him" (1 Cor. 2:9), he simply means we cannot out-dream God. What is at the end of our personal journeys? Something beyond our wildest imagination. But if we explore the secrets of our heart in the light of the promises of Scripture, we can discover clues. As we have said, there is in the heart of every man, woman, and child an inconsolable longing for intimacy, for beauty, and for adventure. What will heaven offer to our heart of hearts?

- Eldredge - Sacred Romance

Who does this kind of thing?

2 sheets of tin, a gift from God?

"Champak and Sadhri were working on their roof—again—when a visitor came by. That they were hard at work should have made it obvious they weren't in the mood for his "sales pitch." The booklets he presented did look interesting, but how could a couple patching the roof with tree leaves afford his wares? They had struggled to

The God who is at war

The Religious Spirit
I was reading the prophet Jeremiah a few weeks ago when I ran across a passage that referred to God as "the Lord Almighty." To be honest, it didn't resonate. There's something too religious about the phrase; it sounds churchy, sanctimonious. The Lawd Almiiiighty. It sounds like something your grandmother would say when you came into her kitchen covered in mud. I found myself curious about what the actual phrase means in Hebrew. Might we have lost something in the translation? So I turned to the front of the version I was using for an explanation. Here is what the editors said: Because for most readers today the phrases "the Lord of hosts" and "God of hosts" have little meaning, this version renders them "the Lord Almighty" and "God Almighty." These renderings convey the sense of the Hebrew, namely, "he who is sovereign over all the 'hosts' (powers) in heaven and on earth, especially over the 'hosts' (armies) of Israel." No, they don't. They don't even come close. The Hebrew means "the God of angel armies," "the God of the armies who fight for his people." The God who is at war. Does "Lord Almighty" convey "the God who is at war"? Not to me, it doesn't. Not to anyone I've asked. It sounds like "the God who is up there but still in charge." Powerful, in control. The God of angel armies sounds like the one who would roll up his sleeves, take up sword and shield to break down gates of bronze, and cut through bars of iron to rescue me. Eldredge - Waking the Dead

Say Cheese! (Dedicated to our good friend!)

• 12/9/2013 at 10:36 AM
 
• 77Comments

2013 Was a Big Year for Naming Your Baby ‘Cheese’

• By Dan Amira

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In a sign of the increasing Georgeification of American baby names, the number of newborns named Cheese soared 450 percent this year. Admittedly, the above graph, from BabyCenter.com, shows that only nine American babies were named "Cheese" in 2013. However:

(a) BabyCenter's data comes from a survey of about 500,000 parents. There are about 4 million babies born in the United States each year. That means 72 may be a more accurate figure for the number of babies named Cheese in 2013.

(b) The correct number of babies who should be named Cheese is zero. 

BabyCenter is unsure about the origin and meaning of the name Cheese:

The origin of Cheese is cheese. The meaning of Cheese is cheese

Proof that God exists!

[Guatemala bloggers] Proof that God exists
Posted on September 24, 2013 by Matthew Paul Turner in Child Sponsorship

The World Vision bloggers returned home from Guatemala a week ago, having witnessed firsthand how World Vision’s work helps transform the lives of children, families, and communities through child sponsorship. Matthew Paul Turner writes about his prayer during the trip to be able to feel and witness the experience.

The post below originally appeared on Matthew’s blog.

*     *     *

Today I woke up in Guatemala.

As I walked out of my hotel room toward the bus that would drive us to our first stop, I prayed …

G

Can a piece of paper really make a difference?

As a sponsor, the special relationship you build with your sponsored child through your letters and prayers is crucial in helping to meet that child’s needs. A relationship is a two-way street. The letters you receive from your sponsored child can open your eyes to life in different parts of the world, inspire you and broaden your understanding of what it means to be part of the kingdom of God.

But the impact on sponsored children can be even more profound. Your letters can inspire them to study

Food for thought ....

(Sorry, can't remember where I found this, so credit goes to:  The Author)

It is also a motivating factor for us as believers while we are still here living on earth. We are to look for any opportunity, whether it is an open door to share or initiate a conversation to begin to open a door.
If all of us discipled 1 person a year the whole world would have the potential of being saved within 20 years (those who are called by God).

Consider the statistics of there being one a billion Christians now. If only a 100 million Christians (10%) would disciple 1 person each year this turns to 200 million in the first year- then it multiplies to 4 hundred million the second year- 8 hundred million in a three years. Then on the 4th year to one and half billion- to three billion on the fifth year, to 6 billion in the 6th year. And that is if we disciple only 1 person a year.

Of course not everyone will believe and even less will witness. It’s obvious we have a problem with timidity and confidence that the message will do what Jesus said it would. We are told that the Lord has not given us a spirit of fear but power (a sign of being filled with the spirit), courage, love, (a living care for those unsaved) and a sound mind (one who is able to think through the arguments to refute them biblically). The church would be far more successful in God’s eyes if we did the works He called us to.

My lawn mower has a better place to live.

Recently, a couple on staff had the opportunity to travel to the mission field and visit one of the largest slums in Asia. Through their time spent in this slum, they saw just how real the importance of basic health and hygiene is to those living in poor conditions. This is

Are we becoming the righteousness of God?

Yup, here's Os again . . . . (I probably should stop posting him, and you could just read every day at

utmost.org, it's awesome, simple, truth)

Substitution

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him —2 Corinthians 5:21

The modern view of the death of Jesus is that He died for our sins out of sympathy for us. Yet

Mas Fotos

More Pictures from last week's Honduran influenced Pabama run.


Trying to figure out exactly what should be done. Funny, once we prayed about it, things just seemed to fall into place.  Funny.

What is it like for God?

For some reason I often wonder what God thinks.  He can see everything at once, he can see what I am doing, while he also sees what is happening around the world . . . 

I got a small picture again today (11-12-13) of what this must be like, in the headlines .... 

A Dios Sea La Gloria! (To God be the Glory!)

This past week was a special Pabama run for many reasons.  One reason, of course, was the fact that 4 of our new friends from Honduras joined us.  While the rest of the Hondurans were practicing for their AWESOME concert Friday night, Manuel, Maria, Mimi, and Rolando ("Lolo") joined us for a great time helping out a brother and sister from church that are hurting.

As always, this was a completely serious event, right Sabatino!  (Chia Willie?)

Blast that metronome!!!!

Why?  Why Etienne Loulié in 1696 did you create a mechanical metronome?  And then, Johann Maelzel, why did you have to go ahead and polish up and first produce the device that now, today, haunts me so?

Without them, what might have happened, who could I have been?

Instead their dastardly device still roams at the edge of my thoughts, always ready to hop in with it's haunting <tick----tick----tick----tick>.  Never ending, never changing .....  always there to remind you: 'You don't belong here.  You can't keep time.'

So, what has drawn this beast back from the edge of my thoughts into the forefront?  

The needs right here at home . . . .

Unemployment chief cause of homelessness

By Annette.Manwell

@hollandsentinel.com
(616) 546-4270 
Posted Nov. 12, 2013 @ 7:00 am 

Holland, Mich.

The Holland area might enjoy an unemployment rate lower than the state and national averages, but unemployment and, more specifically, underemployment, are the principal causes of homelessness.

The Holland Rescue Mission houses a number of people who work steady jobs, said Holly Bekius, the men’s ministry assistant at the mission. But people earning minimum wage up to $10 per hour struggle to find affordable housing.

One woman, who will be called Jenny for the purpose of anonymity, was working and “doing

You are a child of God, you are not a mere mortal

What if we treated ourselves and others as God sees us?

As C. S. Lewis wrote in The Weight of Glory:
It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare. . . . There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal.

Or Marianne Williamson in A Return to Love:
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Food stamp cut is tough on pantries

<Article in the Grand Haven Tribune> Early November 2013.

Local volunteers and human service workers say the decrease in federal food assistance dollars, which began Friday, is on theirs and their clients' minds.

Benefit levels through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as food stamps, fell after the temporary federal stimulus package increase of 2009 expired. That means more than 22,000 Ottawa County recipients will see their Bridge card amounts fall when they reload them this month, according to David Akerly, acting director of communications for the Michigan

Normally, I wouldn't post something on this.  But really?  We have now let Black Friday suck in Thanksgiving to create Black Thanksgiving?  I am speechless.

http://themattwalshblog.com/2013/11/17/if-you-shop-on-thanksgiving-you-are-part-of-the-problem/

Brown Friday!

Instead of Black Friday, you can celebrate Brown Friday!

(Sternberg, this has you written all over it!)

(Scroll down after the video)

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/brown-friday

(Yup, it's real, and I would love one of those shirts.  People is Singapore have a great sense of humor!  But, this is a serious problem, 2.5 billion people don't have access to a private toilet.)

A great resource to connect your kids to God

How do you get your kids compassionate about God's children around the world?  (Well first, you have to care)  Then, one piece of the puzzle could be:

http://www.compassion.com/multimedia/explorer-magazine-fall-2013.pdf?referer=86255&utm_source=SilverpopMailing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=SP_USCOMM-0380_NOV_2013_IMPACT_ENEWS%20(1)&utm_content=

Matthew 25:40 - “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ "

It's Friday!

It's Friday, and I have a challenge.

Turn off the TV, sit down with your spouse, and read this:
http://www.worldvision.org/resources.nsf/main/press-reports/$file/201303_Child-Miners-Speak_REPORT.pdf

All of it.

I John 3 - 16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

Do you trust Jesus?

Trust Fall from worshiphousemedia on GodTube.

Happy World Toilet Day!

It Is Officially Not a Joke- Today is World Toilet Day!

November 19, 2013

Since 2001, the World Toilet Organization has been celebrating World Toilet Day along with its partners.  This year the United Nations has made it official- November 19th is World Toilet Day!

This may sound funny, but it is not a joke. When we talk about water, sanitation and hygiene,

Turkey Giving

As Dyk said in his last post, it is great to imagine what God will do with 28 turkey meals.  And yes, I am confident that HE will do more than we are even aware of, despite our human flaws.  However, one other thing I am confident of - not only is God watching what we are doing, and the world, but very importantly, many little ones are being raised thinking that Pabama is normal.

This picture says it all.

God, to You alone belongs the glory!

Further Saturday Thanksgiving:

Some verses that describe why we do what we do:

1 Chronicles 29:14 - 'But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this?  Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.'

2 Corinthians 9:12-15 - 'This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.  Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.'

To God be the Glory!

Another picture:

To God be the Glory!

27 birds, 10 men, 5 kids.  It's great to imagine what God did with this already and what he will do.

God rocks!  Not much organization, 27 meals are all purchased, without any counting of the funds.  Just simple obedience and buying . . . .   To God Be The Glory!  We lay at all at your feet Lord.  We love you so

Sparty On!

Well, first we are watching the Ohio State band for inspiration, and now this.  Fellow Knight Nienhouse posted this on Facebook.  I still do not understand how to embed a video.  Maybe some day some techie guy will show me....again (ahem, Dyk).  Anyway, check out this video clip about Chris Norman who is definitely inspiring.  Even if he is a Spartan!  (a little long, but definitely worth the watch).

(Here you go Sterny!!!)


Drafted: Why Chris Norman Said No to the NFL from Desiring God on Vimeo.

Welcome the latest Knight - Ryk Henry Tre-bois!!!

On 3:31am (ouch!) on 11-12-13 weighing in a 7lbs 14oz, Ryk Henry was born to Ryan and Kelly Tre-Boys (You used to know them as the DuBois, but with the birth of their 3rd son . . .  you get the idea).

Congratulations!!!

Salvation from what?

You are standing at the communion table.  You are eating the bread, so grateful that Jesus gave his body.  But what are you grateful for?  Are you grateful for salvation from the punishment of hell?  Or do you love God so much that your sins against him make you sick, and you are grateful that by giving his body he amazingly, suddenly holds you blameless for those sins, and will work in you toward a life of no sin?

Really ask yourself, what are you grateful for salvation from?  Does it show in your life?

What if eternity and heaven were real . . . . ?

What did you wake up and do today?  What were your goals?  What did you think about?  If heaven is a real place, and if I will spend eternity there . . . . should I treat this world as a separate place, operating in a  holding pattern until I go to heaven?  Wouldn't it make more sense if I focused on things that had value in the life to come as well as this life?  Did I do that today?

Are you walking with God?

Are you learning and applying principles, or are you walking with God?  Which method does the Bible model for us . . . . . ?

What IS Discipleship?

What have we come to accept as "discipleship"? A friend of mine recently handed me a program from a large and successful church somewhere in the Midwest. It's a rather exemplary model of what the idea has fallen to. Their plan for discipleship involves, first, becoming a member of this particular church. Then they encourage you to take a course on doctrine. Be "faithful" in attending the Sunday morning service and a small group fellowship. Complete a special course on Christian growth. Live a life that demonstrates clear evidence of spiritual

Captives . . . marching

Os . . . . is he nuts?  Or is he relaying the truth?  Yeah, it's important that you decide.

From utmost.org

The Proper Perspective

Thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ . . . —2 Corinthians 2:14

The proper perspective of a servant of God must not simply be as near to the highest as he can get, but it must be the highest. Be careful that you vigorously maintain God’s perspective, and

What Smells?

Well, Coopersville Pabama is in full swing!  Last week, 3 members of the Coopersville Pabama Branch (the CPB), with financial assistance from a fourth member, went out right after school on a Pabama run.  The gist of it:  6th grade student has ADHD medicine stolen from him from older brothers to sell on the streets.  Police look into it, along with other complaints from the house.  Child Protective Services actually takes the student and older sister out if house THE SAME DAY they get Pabamad.  Student is now living with dad, with no meds, not sure of if/when he will go back to mom or possibly moving to a different school.  Very sad situation all around.  But the mom did find a bag with a gift card to Family Fare, as well as a gift card to the Admiral gas station.  Praying that they acknowledge God's love and presence.  Nice work boys! - Hunter, Jake, and Doug.

Jake, in a good mood.

And what would a Pabama run be without Sternberg getting lost (thanks a lot Hunter!).  But it did give us a chance to say hi to Bessie.  Finally got that "mud" off my car.

Dreams . .

It is so hard for me to chose between Movunvivatah & Meena . . . . 
But you talk about 'Getting some Nuts!' to have dreams in the situations they are in . . . . it makes me think about my situation . . . .

---

World Vision Blog:

All this month, we’ve been encouraging our friends and supporters to participate in our #Dreamshareproject by sharing your dreams — for the world, your community, your family, your sponsored child, or particularly for Syrian refugees.

Today, we’re sharing with you the dreams of children from around the world. In the photos below, the children are holding up signs that display their dreams, sharing them with the world.

1. “My dream is to be an English translator because that is what my dad is.” –Nary, age 7, Cambodia

(Photo: World Vision 2013)

I have found God's will!!!

From Oswald at utmost.org :

Is God’s Will My Will?

This is the will of God, your sanctification . . . —1 Thessalonians 4:3

Sanctification is not a question of whether God is willing to sanctify me— is it my will? Am I willing to let God do in me everything that has been made possible through the atonement of the Cross of Christ? Am I willing to let Jesus become sanctification to me, and to let His life be exhibited in my human flesh? (see 1 Corinthians 1:30). Beware of saying, “Oh, I am longing to be

Your glory . . .

Are you veiling your glory?  Do you even acknowledge it?

God wants you to come fully alive, reflecting his glory, get to it.

A Veil over Your Face?
 
If you'll recall, Moses put a veil over his face, first to hide his glory, then to hide the fact that it was fading away. That, too, was a picture of a deeper reality. We all do that. We all have veiled our glory, or someone has veiled it for us. Usually some combination of both. But the time has come to set all veils aside:
Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?.. . Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away . . . And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (2 Cor. 3:7-8, 12-13, 18)
We are in the process of being unveiled. Created to reflect God's glory, born to bear his image, he ransomed us back to reflect that glory again. Every heart was given a mythic glory, and that glory is being restored. Remember the mission of Christ: "I have come to give you back your heart and set you free." For as Saint Irenaeus said, "The glory of God is man fully alive." Certainly, you don't think the opposite is true. How do we bring God glory when we are sulking around in the cellar, weighed down by shame and guilt, hiding our light under a bushel? Our destiny is to come fully alive. To live with ever-increasing glory. This is the Third Eternal Truth every good myth has been trying to get across to us: your heart bears a glory, and your glory is needed . . . now. This is our desperate hour.

John Eldredge - Waking the Dead

Marching band - cool? (No offense Baker!)

Sterny, this isn't for you.  But everyone else check out at 1:45 & 6:00 minutes . . . . pretty cool.

Do you think you understand God's love?

The Depth of His Love

Have you ever had to literally turn a lover over to a mortal enemy to allow her to find out for herself what his intentions toward her really were? Have you ever had to lie in bed knowing she was believing his lies and was having sex with him every night? Have you ever sat helplessly by in a parking lot, while your enemy and his friends took turns raping your lover even as you sat nearby, unable to win her heart enough so she would trust you to rescue her? Have you ever called this one you had loved for so long, even the day after her rape, and asked her if she was ready to come back to you only to have her say her heart was still captured by your enemy? Have you ever watched your lover's beauty slowly diminish and fade in a haze of alcohol, drugs, occult practices, and infant sacrifice until she is no longer recognizable in body or soul? Have you ever loved one so much that you even send your only son to talk with her about your love for her, knowing that he will be killed by her? (And in spite of knowing all of this, he was willing to do it because he loved her, too, and believed you were meant for each other.)

All this and more God has endured because of his refusal to stop loving us. Indeed, the very depth and faithfulness of his love for us, along with his desire for our freely given love in return, are what give Satan the ammunition to wound God so deeply as he carries out his unceasing campaign to make us into God's enemy.

John Eldredge - Sacred Roomance

Start thinking about Thanksgiving Turkeys

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so here's a picture to help you think about the run on November 14 & 16:

(Picture taken at Merge!)
Get ready, we are shopping for Turkey's on the 14th, and assembling/delivering with our families on the 16th.
 Luke 3:11 - “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”

Private life with God . . . . how is yours?

We lead busy lives, all of it 'good'.  It may be good from societies perspective, but is it good from God's perspective?  Here is Oswald Chambers take:

The Unheeded Secret

Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world —John 18:36

The great enemy of the Lord Jesus Christ today is the idea of practical work that has no basis in the New Testament but comes from the systems of the world. This work insists upon endless

Obedience . . . .

Here is Os, again hitting me with the truth.  I think I often treat obedience as a gradual thing.

How Will I Know?
Jesus answered and said, ’I thank You, Father . . . that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes’ —Matthew 11:25

We do not grow into a spiritual relationship step by step— we either have a relationship or we do not. God does not continue to cleanse us more and more from sin— “But if we walk in the light,” we are cleansed “from all sin” (1 John 1:7). It is a matter of obedience, and once we obey, the relationship is instantly perfected. But

Mitchem, Oreos and 1,000 lbs of cinnamon

It has been a little dis-appointing.  When Mitchem took his new job we thought the job was re-grinding Oreos (defects etc.) to be used in making new Oreos.  It seemed like a match made in heaven!  And we all would get free ice cream topping!  Then we learned that he makes the machine that re-grinds the Oreo, and then he ships the machine out to Oreo . . . .

But it's still really cool, as this video with Mitchem (at the end with the mask) & 1,000 lbs of cinnamon, shows:

Dyk loves numbers

Numbers fascinate me, here are a couple I found:

26,266 - The number of lakes in Michigan
3 -  The number of practicing psychiatrists in the whole of Somalia.
3.1 million - The number of Somalis that either are or have been affected by mental illness

Bonus:  118 - The number of patients each psychiatrist would have to see every hour, 24/7, 365 days/yr. to see everyone.  Instead they chain them up, sometimes with hyaenas - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-24539989

Is the whole team in?

God has been challenging me . . . am I all in?  He made me aware that if he has dealt me the guaranteed winning hand (Royal Flush), why would I not be all in?

Then I run across this song:  'All In', by Flame from the album 'Royal Flush'
I think I must be on to something . . . .

I’m putting it all on the table man

2-P-1:3 (2 Peter 1:3)

I’m all in

2-P-1:3

The whole team all in too

2 Peter 1:3

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

Marathon Update

It's over!  Krazy & I made it!  It was by far the hardest thing I have ever done.

I finished in 4:45, well under my hoped for finish time (Krazy was around 4:10).  I was disappointed, but, if it's really not about me, then this should not matter, since World Vision raised:
$1.3 million and 26,000 people have clean water for life - all

The Spirit - 'She moves in mysterious ways'

Last Thursday was our run.  Pretty simple, buy a
bunch of random stuff at Meijer, trying to match it to
someone we have never met, and then drop it off.  No big deal, right?  Read below, proof that we have the power of the Spirit within us.

This Wednesday is her double mastectomy, let's join together and pray on Wednesday

Our contact for this run received this email from the recipient:

Oh my! I was thinking we were about to get booed and then I peeked out the window and was shocked to see many men carrying heavy bags to the porch--along with a beautiful orchid. I was still dressed so I answered their knock. They handed in bag after bag of groceries, all

A Love Affair of the Heart

For above all else, the Christian life is a love affair of the heart. It cannot be lived primarily as a set of principles or ethics. It cannot be managed with steps and programs. It cannot be lived exclusively as a moral code leading to righteousness. In response to a religious expert who asked him what he must do to obtain real life, Jesus asked a question in return:

"What is written in the Law? . . . How do you read it?" He answered: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live." (Luke 10:26-28, emphasis added)

The truth of the gospel is intended to free us to love God and others with our whole heart. When we ignore this heart aspect of our faith and try to live out our religion solely as correct doctrine or ethics, our passion is crippled, or perverted, and the divorce of our soul from the heart purposes of God toward us is deepened.

John Eldredge - Sacred Romance

You are wealthy!

I am sure you have heard me beat this drum.  I would apologize for this . . . . but I think the 99% would get pretty pissed . . . and if I were God, I would be pretty pissed.

You are in the top 1% of wealthy people in the world.  The top 1% . . . . (Actually you are probably higher, but this should catch all of us since you simply need a household income of $40-$50k to hit the 1%)
This really makes me think about how I seem to live paycheck . . . .

Check it out at:
http://www.globalrichlist.com/
(It's interesting, someone making $10/hr. is in the top 5% . . . . do we train our kids to think of 'menial labor' jobs in this light?)

Also some interesting facts
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_inequality

P.S.  God can see the whole world.

Ephesians 5

Ever since we read Ephesians 5 in church I have been reflecting on it:
The way of love ... not a hint ... children of light .... rise from the dead .... be very careful how you live .... sing to the Lord ... always giving thanks.

Heavy stuff.  No real studying needed here, just some surrendering ..... just some joining hands with the Spirit.

1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse

Treat others the way you want to be treated...

Dangerous?

"Jesus did not die just to keep us safe. He died to make us dangerous"

Hedging Our Bets

So long as we imagine it is we who have to look for God, we must often lose heart. But it is the other way about—He is looking for us.  —Simon Tugwell

Can it possibly get any more uncertain than this? We so long for life to be better than it is. We wish the beauty and love and adventure would stay and that someone strong and kind would show us how to make the Arrows go away. We hope that God will be our hero. Of all the people in the universe, he could stop the Arrows and arrange for just a little more blessing in our lives. He can spin the earth, change the weather, topple governments, obliterate armies, and resurrect the dead. Is it too much to ask that he intervene in our story? But he often seems aloof, almost indifferent to our plight, so entirely out of our control. Would it be any worse if there were no God? If he didn't exist, at least we wouldn't get our hopes up. We could settle once and for all that we really are alone in the universe and get on with surviving as best we may.

This is, in fact, how many professing Christians end up living: as practical agnostics. Perhaps God will come through, perhaps he won't, so I'll be hanged if I'll live as though he had to come through. I'll hedge my bets and if he does show up, so much the better. The simple word for this is godlessness. Like a lover who's been wronged, we guard our heart against future disappointment.

Edlredge

---

Are you guarding your heart, or have you given it to God?  Answer truthfully, it's a very important question, that he and you both know the answer to already . . . . how can we do anything (Love God, Love Others, be sanctified, etc.) without this first.

Our Situation  
Let me say this again: the story of your life is the story of the long and brutal assault on your heart by the one who knows what you could be and fears it. I hope you are beginning to see that more clearly now. Otherwise, much of the Bible will not make sense to you. Much of your life will not make sense to you.

I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name. (Isa. 45:2-3)

Now that's music to my ears!

These kind of stories absolutely ROCK!

Lives in a house of concrete and sheet metal, and makes it to the National Symphony at 18.  Can I get a Pabama!?

http://blog.worldvision.org/sponsorship/former-sponsored-child-makes-guatemalas-national-orchestra/

School has started . . . .

http://blog.worldvision.org/stories/back-to-school-backpacks-bring-joy-to-seattle/

Simply awesome . . . .

I Shall Not Want

Here's a prayer, in the form of a song written by Audrey Assad, that I am praying a lot these days.  It's called "I Shall Not Want", taking its refrain from Psalm 23 and its verses from the Litany of Humility.  Maybe it will help give a voice to you as well, as you commune with God.

I Shall Not Want
From the love of my own comfort
From the fear of having nothing
From a life of worldly passions
Deliver me, O God.

From the need to be understood
From the need to be accepted
From the fear of being lonely
Deliver me, O God
Deliver me, O God

And I shall not want, I shall not want
When I taste Your goodness I shall not want
When I taste Your goodness I shall not want

From the fear of serving others
From the fear of death or trial
From the fear of humility
Deliver me, O God
Deliver me, O God

And I shall not want, I shall not want
When I taste Your goodness I shall not want
When I taste Your goodness I shall not want

Here's a link to hear the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8WgHGOak1c

Do You Know?!?! (D.Y.K.)

For anyone that wants a happy family - it seems as though we have access to some serious help.  Read the second picture closely.

We Need Life

I struggle . . . I struggle a lot.  Let me try to capture it.  Last year one of my children was learning the Lord's Prayer.  As we recited it I asked, 'What does Hallowed mean?'  She had no idea, I asked if they were learning anything about the Lord's Prayer.  They were not, and next week they were on to the next verse.  So when I read the below, it really hits home.  We need Life, we need God.

We Need Life    

Christianity is often presented as essentially the transfer of a body of knowledge. We learn about where the Philistines were from, and how much a drachma would be worth today, and all sorts of things about the original Greek. The information presented could not seem more irrelevant to our deepest desires.

Then there are the systems aimed at getting our behavior in line, one way or

What if we really believed . . . .. ?

<Another post courtesy of Jim Baker.>

Bob Tamasy: An Atheist’s Perspective On Proselytizing

Thursday, August 01, 2013 - by Bob Tamasy

Are you familiar with the entertainer Penn Jillette?

He’s not a household name in the Jim Carrey or Tina Fey or Steve Carell sense, but Jillette’s built a solid résumé over the years. He’s perhaps best known as the speaking half of the Penn & Teller illusionist team. A comedian, musician, actor and best-selling author, Jillette appeared briefly on the TV show, “Dancing With the Stars,” demonstrating that despite his best efforts, there was no magic in his dancing.

Wikipedia states he’s also known for his advocacy of scientific skepticism, libertarianism and free-market capitalism. And Jillette’s a straight-forward, unapologetic atheist, stating he’s confident there is no God. So I was surprised to view a video in which he expressed unexpected thoughts about followers of Jesus that evangelize or, as he states it, proselytize.  He described an evening following one of his comedy shows when an individual approached him, very complimentary about his performance. Then the guest, who described himself as a businessman, offered Jillette a pocket New Testament in which he’d inscribed a few notes.

Rather than taking offense, Jillette said he accepted the gift, despite his disbelief. Then in the video the entertainer observed:

“It was really wonderful. I believe he knew that I was an atheist, but he was not defensive. And he looked me right in the eyes.

“I’ve always said that I don’t respect people who don’t proselytize.... If you believe that there’s a heaven and a hell, and people could be going to hell or not getting eternal life, and you think that it’s not really worth telling them this because it would make it socially awkward – and atheists who think people shouldn’t proselytize and who say just leave me alone and keep your religion to yourself – how much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize? How much do you have to hate somebody to believe everlasting life is possible and not tell them that?

“I mean, if I believed, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that a truck was coming at you, and you didn’t believe that truck was bearing down on you, there is a certain point where I tackle you. And this is more important than that.

“This was a really good guy. He was polite and honest and sane, and he cared enough about me to proselytize and give me a Bible.”

What a interesting perspective in our politically correct, “tolerant” society in which intolerance toward people of faith is soaring.

We often hear objections about how “judgmental” and “intolerant” and “narrow-minded” Christians (I prefer “Christ followers”) are in “imposing” their views on others. How “unloving,” critics declare. But as Jillette points out, if you really believe in a heaven and a hell, along with all the gospel message promises, why wouldn’t you want to tell others about it?

If we saw someone drowning and had a life preserver or a rope to save them, wouldn’t it be unloving not to throw it to them? If they chose not to grab it, that’s their problem, not ours. Or as Jillette said, if you saw someone standing in harm’s way and they ignored your warnings, wouldn’t you try to push them to safety?

The Message paraphrases Proverbs 24:11-12 this way: “Rescue the perishing; don’t hesitate to step in and help. If you say, ‘Hey, that’s none of my business,’ will that get you off the hook? Someone is watching you closely, you know – Someone not impressed with weak excuses.”

If we truly believe Jesus spoke the truth when He said He is “the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6), the unloving thing is to not tell others. It’s a matter of death – and eternal life.

And if you’re easily offended by those who wish to talk with you about Jesus, consider this: If you accidentally stepped in front of an approaching car on a busy street, would you be offended if someone reached out to pull you out of harm’s way? You might not agree that Jesus is the one and only way, but someone cares enough to tell you about it.

Do you actually know Him?

Oswald says that it is not true to say that God wants to teach us something in our trials: through every cloud He brings, He wants us to unlearn something. His purpose in the cloud is to unlearn something. His purpose in the cloud is to simplify our belief until our relationship to Him is exactly that of a child - God and my own soul, other people are shadows.

(Noonan) Our lives are all noise on the horizontal if we DON'T know God deep in the darkness of our empty souls. Denying our beliefs, religion, understanding and self for the sake of seeking God first. We are called to lay naked on a cross and make our lives a living sacrifice. Losing grip on our idolatry and embracing the flesh of our complete brokenness. Letting everything go and seek Him first, above all else, regardless of

Forgiveness

Written by a child who attends an after school program at Restoration Ministries in Harvey, Illinois.

XXX church

Jim Baker was not able to post this, so I am posting for him: (As Jim stated, I would not watch this one with your younger kids, and it confirms something I have heard numerous times. When she talks about how she started she says 'They made me feel beautiful . . . ' My daughters NEED to know that I find them beautiful. They NEED to know that they ARE beautiful since they are God's creation. If I don't give them that, they will find it somewhere.)

Jim's comments: It was especially interesting to hear her talk about looking for "love" in the wrong places, and finally finding that God is Love.... just thought I'd pass along something that kind of impacted my heart today.

Krazy's house - July run

Our July run was to Krazy's house.  We did some construction work, but the good news is, it was demolition!  (Something we were all qualified for!)   We tore off a little roofing, and then destroyed some kitchen cabinets.  Krazy just sent me these pictures of the new cabinets in, waiting for the sink and counter-top:

Still Radical?

"Radical obedience to Christ is not easy; it is dangerous.  It is not smooth sailing aboard a luxury liner; it is sacrificial duty aboard a troop carrier.  It's not comfort, not health, not wealth, and not prosperity in this world.  Radical obedience to Christ risks losing all these things.  But in the end, such risk finds its reward in Christ.  And HE is more than enough for us."
                                                        - David Platt  (Radical page 181)

New Brothers and Sisters

I met some amazing people in Chicago, with amazing testimonies to match.


On my right:  Jeff.  Grew up in great Christian home.  Went to Christian school.  Brother currently at Calvin!  Got into Pot and Heroin, etc, etc, etc.  Gave his testimony to our group.

On my left:  Sean, aka Popeye.  He was a favorite of the group.  Many great memories of this guy.  The kind of guy everybody loves, which makes his story even more incredible.  Grew up in foster system. Beaten many times.  He is the oldest, with 22 siblings, but is the only one that is not either on drugs or a

Happy National Pecan Pie Day everyone!!!!  (I sure wish I knew about this ahead of time, I probably could have gotten mom to make one . . . . )

Dyk???

Berlin Raceway.  July 19.  Please tell us you are in, Pastor Dyk!  What else was all that hard work for?

Chicago Work

 A lot of cleaning was done in and around the Boxing Club in Chicago.  This included the mirrors,

 bathrooms,












and even getting rid of some foliage outside.