The ignorant fear that which they do not understand and that which their parents and society taught them to fear.

Reverend Fun

I loved these cartoons years ago and am happy to have discovered them again.  Sometimes a tad irreverent, but always a laugh as we look at our religious selves!

Reverend Fun

This is the Stuff

Francesca Battistelli reminds us not to let the little stuff get us down!

Lyrics to "This is the Stuff"

I lost my keys in the great unknown

And call me please 'Cuz I can't find my phone

This is the stuff that drives me crazy
This is the stuff that's getting to me lately
In the middle of my little mess
I forget how big I'm blessed
This is the stuff that gets under my skin
But I gotta trust You know exactly what You're doing
It might not be what I would choose
But this is the stuff You use

45 in a 35
Sirens and fines while I'm running behind
Whoa

This is the stuff that drives me crazy
This is the stuff that's getting to me lately
In the middle of my little mess
I forget how big I'm blessed
This is the stuff that gets under my skin
But I gotta trust You know exactly what You're doing
It might not be what I would choose
But this is the stuff You use

So break me of impatience
Conquer my frustrations
I've got a new appreciation
It's not the end of the world

Oh Oh Oh

This is the stuff that drives me crazy
This is the stuff
Someone save me
In the middle of my little mess
I forget how big I'm blessed
This is the stuff that gets under my skin
And I've gotta trust You know exactly what You're doing
It might not be what I would choose
But this is the stuff You use

Oh Oh Oh Oh
This is the stuff You use

I'm on My Way

Nate Fowler's "I'm On My Way"

Listen here

It's been so long since we've talked
It's been so long since I've seen your face
I try to cover my scars and hide my guilt and shame
But I'm turning my back on my only friend

And my heart is drifting further away
And I can't keep pretending that I'm okay

I'm on my way
To wherever I need to be to see your face
Cause I need your strength
I need your grace
I'm on my way

I need to believe in what you're saying
Even though it's so hard to admit that you are right
It's from myself that I've been hiding
My worth in your eyes is what I'm denying

And my heart is drifting further away
And I can't keep pretending that I'm okay

I'm on my way
To wherever I need to be to see your face
Cause I need your strength
I need your grace
I'm on my way

All these faces constantly changing
All these places are never the same
But you remain
You always hold on
You're grip is so strong even when
Even when I think you're gone

And my heart is drifting further away
And I can't keep pretending that I'm okay

Lyrics courtesy of NewRelease Tuesday

Nate Fowler

more to come ...

home for the holiday

Yep, it's that time again; for some it's pretty new clothes for the ladies, egg hunts, bunnies, chicks and  peeps, ham dinners and the semi-annual trip to church.

For Christendom, the day marks a special observance.  No, it's not the actual anniversary of Jesus' resurrection, and it's not a biblical holy day, but it is a day of gathering, a unique day of  observance for those who are called by His name.

We observe and reflect on the sacrifice Jesus made for us and His triumphal return, the vanquishing of physical death and His glorious return to the right hand of the Father in heaven.

"O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O  DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?"  ~ 1 Corinthians 15:55

We are reminded, if need be, that this physical life is temporary, temporal, short term.  We are reminded that Jesus waits for us, that He paved the way on that cross to our return to God as well.  We are reminded that we who are called by His name are aliens, strangers in a strange land, once destined for a second death but now born again and  looking forward to a new life with Him who is our Lord.


Born once, die twice; born twice, die once.

We raise our hands in church and sing "Hallelujah" but i'ts more than that; i'ts the quiet reflection of our position in His family, of His glorious love for us and, through His love, our ability to love one another.

I confess, my church attendance has been poor lately and I am sore in need of renewed fellowship, but it's not about church and i'ts not about pomp and ceremony.   It's about the power of concerted, purposeful prayer and the gathering of sincere hearts to praise, to worship, to cry out His name and, in doing, to partake of restoration, of peaceful gathering, of the deafening serenity of His presence among us.

Yes, where ever and whenever we are in mindful communication with Him, there He is, but, oh, what a time when we are joined together in synchronous praise!  Hallelujah indeed!

"Praise the LORD! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty expanse.   Praise Him for His mighty deeds; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness.  Praise Him with trumpet sound; Praise Him with harp and lyre.   Praise Him with timbrel and dancing; Praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe.   Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD! Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with resounding cymbals."  ~ Psalm 150

delusional?

It's not uncommon to hear lost folks refer to saved folks as "delusional"; the irony does not escape us.

1Co 1:18  For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

So often I wish that I could easily explain the concepts of God, the reality of our world, the inescapable truths to those who can not begin to understand, as I also could not before, in a manner that would be quickly understood, believed and accepted.

Each time I watch "The Matrix" I ponder the similarities between this fictional "reality" and the same unreality that exists here for those who are not lined up with God's Holy Spirit.

How do you explain to the "Neo's" of this world, that there is another existence, more real than can be imagined, but not attainable until one lets go of "reality" and steps out in faith to receive the unimaginable existence that is God's grace unfolding?

How do we get them to "take the blue pill"?

We don't.  We just tell them what we know to be true, prayerfully and with tenderness, and allow the Holy Spirit do His job, warming the heart and mind of those who are called.  We know He will, because He did the same for each of us in His family.

Awakened, reborn, alive.

1Co 13:12  For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.

share the blessing

forwarded by a friend

This Easter season take the initiative to share the good news of Jesus with your family, friends, and neighbors.  Here are some good pointers I read recently and wanted to pass along to you.

1. Go to people. The heart of evangelism is Christians taking the initiative to actually go out and "fish for men." Acts 17:17 describes for us how Paul was effective in his day and time: "Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the gentile worshippers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there."

2. Communicate with people. Engage them. Sharing the Gospel involves communication. People must be focused upon and then understand the Gospel to respond to it. It is our responsibility as Christians to make it as clear as possible for all who will listen. "Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men" (2 Cor. 5:11).

3. Relate to people. Effective witness involves not only the transmission of biblical information; it also includes establishing a relationship with the other person. Hearts, as well as heads, must meet. "So, affectionately longing for you," said Paul to the Thessalonians, "we were well pleased to import to you not only the good news of God, but also our own lives, because you have become dear to us" (1 Thess. 2:8).

4. Remove barriers. Part of our responsibility involves having the skills to eliminate obstacles, real or imagined, which keep an individual from taking the Christian message seriously. When God sent the prophet Jeremiah forth, He said, "Behold, I have put my words in your mouth . . . and I have ordained you to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant." Sometimes our task as well is one of "spiritual demolition," of removing the false so the seeds of truth can take root. Apologetics sometimes serves in that capacity, of preparing a highway for God in someone's life.

5. Explain the gospel to others. We need an army of Christians today who can consistently and clearly present the message to as many people as possible. Luke says of Lydia, "The Lord opened her heart so that she heeded the things which were spoken by Paul" (Acts 16:14). Four essential elements in sharing the gospel:

• someone talking (Paul)
• things spoken (gospel)
• someone listening (Lydia)
• the Lord opening the heart.

6. Invite others to receive Christ. We can be clear of presentation, but ineffective because we fail to give someone the opportunity and encouragement to take that first major step of faith. "Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we beg you in Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God" (2 Cor. 5:20).

7. Make every effort by every means to establish them in the faith. Stay with them, ground them in the Scripture, help them gain assurance of their salvation, and get them active in a vital fellowship/church.

grace

"Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.  The LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.  The LORD said, "I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them."  But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD."   ~ Genesis 6:5-8

Noah found favor; grace.

The Lord gave grace to Noah; grace for God's children is an established characteristic of God.

God was graceful.

God is graceful.

God is grace.

Thank you, Lord, for your grace, for your mercy, for your kindness, for your love fo me.
 
Undeserved, grace poured out, and mankind is saved to begin anew.

overflowing love

A friend, married in recent weeks, learned of the sudden death of his new mother-in-law and traveled far to attend the funeral and comfort the family.  While there, his new family heard the news that his stepson had taken his life at the opposite end of the country.

As he relayed this news to me, struck with grief, I began to weep for my friend and for his family and he began to comfort me.

He began to comfort me.

He reminded me of the comfort of the Lord; he reminded me that we have the strength of the Lord to endure the trials and tribulations of this world.  He praised God that he knew Him and that He knew him.

I grieve for my friend and for his family.  I rejoice for my friend and for his family that may know our Lord as well.  I take comfort that comfort is given by a mighty God.

A Song of Ascents. I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From where shall my help come?
My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.
He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, He who keeps Israel Will neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade on your right hand.
The sun will not smite you by day, Nor the moon by night.
The LORD will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul.
The LORD will guard your going out and your coming in From this time forth and forever. 
~ Psalm 121

Essential Life

a sloppy spirit and loose lips

"With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor, But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered. When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices, And when the wicked perish, there is joyful shouting. By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, But by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down. He who despises his neighbor lacks sense, But a man of understanding keeps silent; He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets, But he who is trustworthy conceals a matter."
~ Proverbs 11: 9-13

I confess that there are far too many occasions when my pride, arrogance, selfishness and sloppy spirit allow me to fall into the sin of tearing down my neighbor.  My silence frequently falls to my need to be heard and to be heard OVER the words of others.

Pride, arrogance, selfishness and sloppiness fell my chance to be an uplifting influence as surely as an axe fells a rotten tree.

Words are permanent reminders to others of who we are today.

Today, I want to be a blessing.

"He who restrains his words has knowledge, And he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent."
~ Proverbs 17:27-28

"Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips. Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, To practice deeds of wickedness With men who do iniquity; And do not let me eat of their delicacies. Let the righteous smite me in kindness and reprove me; It is oil upon the head; Do not let my head refuse it, For still my prayer is against their wicked deeds."
~ Psalm 141:3-5