Seeker of Light

The Practical Truth

2012-02-12T16:32:00.000-06:00

While listening to the praise reports and all the things people were thankful for at this mornings gathering, I began to think about the practical ways God brings us to live this life. I thought about how we actually put feet to doing something or how we respond to the words of God, spoken or read in the Bible. I didn't want to leave our gathering without doing something about those things I heard spoken. So I determined to begin looking at the practical truth of what God is saying to us.

I have mostly been an individual who goes to the "What will we do about that?" question after talking about a problem or challenge in my life. Maybe that is because I am a man and I'm told that men usually go to the point of "fixing things"; especially with their wives. I'm not sure about all of that but I do know my tendencies are to analyse and break everything apart to discover the best or most efficient way of accomplishing a task at hand. Sometimes that is a blessing, other times not.

I wonder, when we read the Bible, or hear someone speak of the things of God, does it make us want to do something about it? Or do we just think about it and accept the warm fuzzy feelings as enough of a response? Do we think, "Those were great thoughts and I feel really wonderful hearing all about it, but I'm comfortable where I am at. Please don't ask me to do something"?

The practical truth is that we most times do just that. Otherwise we may have a variety of lessor responses. Sometimes we even respond in a way pleasing to God! What ever that may be for you, I personally wish to respond in a Godly way. I don't always do that, due to laziness, business, forgetfulness or fear of making a mistake. In my heart and mind I do want to please God. Sometimes I just don't know what to do. It all seems so overwhelming at times.

That is where I see the practical truth of changing the way we think. We don't want to repeat the mistakes of our past or the ineffective ways we have embraced. We want to find new ways of thinking and seek out what works. We want to discover, understand and act in a more practical way towards God. We don't want to be enslaved to our old habits of destructive thinking and act out of them. We want to change. We want to be different.

How can we do that? I believe there are a few ways of doing that. One is to look at the lives of others. They can be inspirational to us if we believe we can learn to do the things they have learned to do. Another way is to seek and find what God has given us as examples and instruction in the Bible. Most always we can find something there if we look. That's where the practicality of "seeking and finding" comes into play. I have an electronic Bible and the Internet, where I can type in a word or phrase and find thousands of resources. God has given us an abundance of resources if we are willing to use them. A good place to start is to talk to God and ask Him to show you what you need to do. He will show you if you are sincere and diligent to look.

Finding those thoughts and examples are the beginning of what to do. We must put into practice the truth we discover. God will reveal to us those deep truths if we seek Him. Revelation then produces reality. Response is what revelation produces when it is married to the earnest desire to follow and please God. Every thought will bring a response of simple action. It may not be the groundbreaking announcement of historical revolution but it may revolutionize your life.

Let's talk about reality for a moment. Reality is simply what is real. It is the state of things as they actually exist, rather than as they may appear or might be imagined. Not just what you think about a thing but what is true about it. It takes an inspection of our lives and thoughts. This is something which is very unlikely to have happen through your own judgments. We need others to look at our lives and speak to us about what they see. We must exercise bravery and ask people to tell us what they honestly see about us. Then we must honestly look at that and respond to the truth.

What if you don't think what is said is true about you? Then go ask another person, and another person after that. Keep asking until you have a good collection of inspections from other people who care about you and love you. Pay attention to what they have to tell you. It most likely will hurt or grate you the wrong way, but you want to be in reality, don't you? Thank them and thank God for revealing the truth about your thoughts and actions. Then start getting over yourself. You are not all that and a bag of chips. Step into reality and life will be much more enjoyable.

I am starting a new blog called "The Practical Truth" and my hope is to write about the practical working out of things we see in the Bible and hear God telling us to do them. I'm not looking to persuade people to my way of thinking but to challenge people to act upon their faith. "Faith without works is dead..." You can check out my new blog by clicking here. Become a follower or just visit when you wish to find some fresh new ways of working out your salvation.

Maybe you would like to contribute to this blog. If so, there will be a page designed for you to contribute your thoughts and share them with others. Until then, please respond as you can. Email me with things that have helped you. See you at "The Practical Truth" .

Whom Shall I Fear?

2012-01-26T11:57:00.000-06:00

"The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1)

I recently read a story on Alpha Omega Publications "Daily Focus" which fit so well with what is happening in our household. Not this set of circumstances but the dealing with our fears part. The story goes like this:

"An emergency in my brother's family required me to give up our normal homeschooling day to watch his children. Looking out the window, I observed his children and mine playing together in the big tractor tire sand box. Considering that seven children were crowded into one small area, they were getting along quite well. Then, the inevitable happened. One of my brother's sons got upset because his space was violated, and he pushed my oldest daughter out of the sand box. Amazingly, my four-year-old son stepped up to defend his big sister. Raising himself to full height, he said, "You can't treat my sister like that!" My son never even considered the consequences of defiantly challenging his older cousin. The love for his sister filled him with a righteous courage that was ready to take on someone twice his size!"

There are a couple of things in this story that impacted me. The verse from Psalm 27:1 also impacted me in light of impending threats of weather. Tornadoes and thunderstorms loom on the horizon as they push their way towards us during this time of year. Fear seems to be on the edge of all our thoughts, everyday.

Fact # One:
Fear can be a product of Satan as unbelief and unreality. Yes, there are times when a sense of fear is good for us to heed, especially when there is a tornado narrowing it's path towards you, or an unattended child is about to fall over a railing guarding the edge of a long fall into harm. But there are times when we are afraid because of something we cannot wrap our brains around and see God in the midst of it. Fear of talking to people, fear of the reactions of others we need to have a hard conversation with, or other such circumstances where we don't want to look foolish or be thought poorly of. Sometime it is just plain unreality in thoughts we entertain.

"If God be for us, who can be against us?"

The Bible gives us many examples of men in the church, standing against all odds, to share the Gospel of Christ. (see shamah's website) These are great stories of faith and endurance we should remember. But there is another thing we need to remember.

Fact # Two:
We are here on this earth to have relationships with God and with people. Those relationships, in the body of Christ, are called love. "Love one another." That means we have to get involved in each others lives. Sometimes that looks pretty messy. Even though it may look difficult, it is what we are to be about doing. It's not always going to feel safe and secure, confronting someone about their behavior, their lack of a relationship with you or just finding a way to communicate with them. It's gonna feel scary and uncomfortable for a while. That's OK. Jesus had to do that, too. He had to speak the truth in love and press forward in the knowledge that He was building relationships between people and God. Men tried to kill Him and they threatened him, spoke evil of Him. The same happened with the apostles Peter, James, John and Paul. You're in good company! Rejoice

"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me."

Fact # Three:
Our relationship with God is the first and most important relationship we must pursue. If our lives are all about ourselves, our preferences, the saving of our lives and ways, then we will lose our lives. Our lives must be put down, put to death, in order to take up a different life which is the reality and life of Christ.

You cannot serve two masters. You will either serve YOU or you will serve God. You cannot serve both. If you are living the life of Christ then you will be walking into situations every day that challenge the very strongest of relationships with God. But you will stand up to the challenge without fear because your spiritual reaction will be to love and not fight. "Perfect love casts out fear." and "God is Love."

Conclusion:
Our natural reaction to facing fear is to hide or run away. Adam and Eve did just that. They hid themselves. We must ask ourselves, Am I hiding?

Maybe it's hiding behind a bedroom door so you can spend your time on yourself instead of others, or putting on a smile or a frown to hide the real way we feel. Maybe its acting shy and withdrawn or acting hard and critical to avoid facing interaction with people for fear of being found out for what you are doing or have done. Maybe it's joking and making fun of all sorts of things so you don't have to be serious and accountable for your actions. Maybe it's being unavailable to talk or participate in something social so you are not having to give up your life for other people.

What ever the reason might be, that fact remains that we can hide from people and even try to hide from God. It's a way of escaping the reality of life and facing our fears. It's a lie because it is not the real you in Christ coming out. It's that fleshly, dead things that is leaking out all over the place. It stinks and everyone can smell it except for you.

Stop consuming your time and energy on being afraid to give up your life and die to yourself. Death is not the end of anything you need to hold on to. It is a transformation into a much better life and way of thinking. It is the freedom you need to experience the real life of Christ. Not a fake religious behavior that tries to imitate real worship and love for God and others.

Our lives are to be given up for something much more than our own satisfactions, our own preferences and our own comforts. Jump out in front of the bullet. Take hold of sacrificial love for the King and His Kingdom. Enter into His sufferings and participate in real Life! Be a disciple of Jesus Christ our Lord. I dare you.

If you want to fear something, fear God who can destroy both your body and your soul. That's a worthy cause for fear. Stop messing around with unworthy things and embrace sacrificial love. You will never regret it. And you will not be afraid of anything ever again.

I Am The Lighthouse

2012-01-01T13:10:00.001-06:00

There is a story I heard a long time ago about a captain of a navy vessel coming in contact with another vessel and arguing over who was going to go which way around each other when they met. The story goes like this:

In the midst of World War II with tensions running high...
Off the eastern seaboard, one dark and foggy night...
The captain sighted out ahead, just off the starboard side,
the beacon of another ship.... The two would soon collide.

"Adjust your course ten degrees to the north," he radioed ahead.
Much to his amazement, the 'ship' replied instead...
"Adjust your course ten degrees to the south."
The captain felt a chill.
His eyes grew cold and narrowed, and the two drew closer still.
"I'm the captain of this vessel, and this is a command.
Adjust your course ten degrees to the north, or receive a reprimand."
Again, the voice replied, as calm and smooth as glass...

"Adjust your course ten degrees to the south. I'm a seaman, second class."
I'm a U. S. Naval Destroyer," snapped the captain with a shout,
"Now adjust your course, ten degrees, no discussion. Over and out."
They drew unnervingly closer; his eyes fixed on the light.
This time the voice ripped through the air like lightning tears the night.
"I am the lighthouse.

This story was told in song by the Gaither's several years ago and it had a great impact on me then. I remember thinking that the captain was like me. He wanted his own way and be in charge of his ship or life in my case. I wanted God but I wanted him my way. I wanted him to help me the way I thought I needed help and when I wanted help.

But God is an immovable force to be recconed with. He is there and we must adjust our thoughts to his thoughts, our ways to his ways. If not we will be dashed upon the rocks and crushed into pieces. That's what happened to me.

What I saw more plainly was the story of the seaman second class. He has a confidence and assurance that was derived from the source of the lighthouse. He lives "in" the lighthouse. Christ is the lighthouse. When we are in Christ we have the confidence of knowing the source of his presence. He is the immovable rock of salvation we will be eithe dashed upon and fought to the end of ourselves or will will navigate around and avoid.

There is such a depth and strength of the lighthouse that is built upon a mighty fortress of God almighty. The lighthouse reveales the true nature of the foundation and warns us of the destruction to come. That foundation is also the strength we live in and upon when we enter into Christ.

I looked up every verse in the New Testament on "in Christ" the following list is the result of that search. What it says is that we have a rich and full life "inside" of Christ. The multitudes of blessings are our, when we are "in Christ". Star your new year off by confirming your position in Christ. Reconcile the course you are an on and decide if you are going to steer around God or enter into the lighthouse. Let your life be dashed and destroyed upon the rock. Be shipwrecked and saved. Then enter into fellowship with the source of life.

Act_24:24 faith in Christ.
Rom_3:24 justified – redemption in Christ Jesus;
Rom_8:1 no condemnation in Christ
Rom_8:2 of life in Christ
Rom_8:39 no separation in Christ.
Rom_9:1 truth in Christ
Rom_12:5 one body in Chris.
Rom_15:17 boasting in Christ
Rom_16:3 helpers in Christ Jesus,
Rom_16:7 kinsmen and fellow prisoners in Christ
Rom_16:9 helper in Chris.
Rom_16:10 approved in Christ.
1Co_1:2 sanctified in Christ
1Co_1:30 wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption; in Christ Jesus
1Co_4:10 wise in Christ strong honorable
1Co_15:19 we have hope in Christ
1Co_15:22 alive in Christ
1Co_15:31 rejoicing in Christ Jesus our Lord.
1Co_16:24 love in Christ
2Co_1:21 confirming and anointing us with you in Christ
2Co_2:14 triumph in Christ
2Co_2:17 sincerity in Christ
2Co_3:14 Unveiled vision in Christ.
2Co_5:17 new creature in Christ,
2Co_5:19 reconciliation in Christ.
Gal_2:4 liberty in Christ
Gal_2:16 justified in Christ
Gal_3:17 ratified by God in Christ
Gal_3:26 sons of God in Christ
Gal_3:28 all one in Christ Jesus.
Gal_6:15 a new creation.in Christ
Eph_1:1 faithful in Christ Jesus.
Eph_1:3 Blessed in Christ;
Eph_2:6 raised us up together and made us sit together in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus,
Eph_2:10 God’s workmanship, created in Christ
Eph_2:13 made near in Christ.
Eph_3:6 partaker of His promise in Christ
Eph_3:11 eternal purpose in Christ
Php_1:1 saints in Christ
Php_1:13 bound in Christ
Php_2:1 encouragement comfort of love tendernesses and mercies in Christ,
Php_2:5 mind of in Christ
Php_3:3 confidence in Christ
Php_3:14 a high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Col_1:4 faith in Christ
Col_1:28 perfect in Christ.
Col_2:5 order and steadfastness in Christ.
1Th_4:16 risen first in Christ
1Th_5:18 thankful in Christ
1Ti_1:14 faith and love in Christ Jesus.
1Ti_2:7 speaking the truth in Christ
1Ti_3:13 boldness in Christ Jesus.
2Ti_1:1 the promise of life in Christ Jesus,
2Ti_1:9 saved and called in Christ Jesus before the eternal times.
2Ti_1:13 sound words in Christ Jesus.
2Ti_2:1 strong in the grace in Christ Jesus.
2Ti_2:10 salvation in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
2Ti_3:12 live godly in Christ
2Ti_3:15 wisdom in Christ Jesus.
Phm_1:6 every good thing in Christ Jesus.
Phm_1:8 boldness in Christ
1Pe_3:16 good behavior in Christ.
1Pe_5:14 Peace in Christ

New Years Resolution

2011-12-29T16:59:00.000-06:00

This year I am resolving to doing everything right. By that I mean the following:

1. I am going to slow down and think about the things I am doing.

2. I am going to take life one moment at a time. Some things more time than others. I want to enjoy those moments that are enjoyable and proceed cautiously with those that need more attention.

3. When something goes wrong I am not going to freak out about it. If it's a mistake I'm going to admit it was a mistake and find a way to correct it. If it's something I want but can't have I am going to accept God's providence and be thankful for His way, not mine.

4. I am going to spend more time with my children. I want to find more ways of being a positive influence for my children without killing them in the process. Emotionally, that is.

5. I am going to learn how to love being with people and not find ways to avoid confrontations. I want to work through those really hard times when people don't see eye-to-eye and find God in between us.

6. I am going to learn how to appreciate cats, dogs and other animals that I don't really have much interest in.

7. I am going to find a way to help my brothers and sisters in Africa. My preference is to be there in person, but if God chooses to do something else I am going to refer number three.

8. I am going to pray more, read more, spend more time with God and learn how to teach others to do the same.

9. I am going to help people with their businesses and make the ones I have a vested interest in profitable.

10. I am going to be thankful for everything I have, let God and others know I am thankful by saying cheerful things to them and looking for the good in everything and everyone around me. (Thank you Polly Anna)

There may be others I think of but for the most part, I will work on these first. I'll let you know how things go. Maybe you can provide some suggestions. Maybe you can make you own list of resolutions. Nows as good a time as any.

Holy Boldness

2011-11-27T21:08:00.000-06:00

I once wrote a song called Holy Boldness. There was a time in my life where I wrote over 150 songs, mostly about God and His wonderful life. I wrote about how His life affected me and things it made me think and feel. I remember the boldness that filled my soul when reading the scriptures and being filled up with the expectations of seeing Christ return to retrieve His bride. It gave me a sense of worth and value that I had a place in His heart. I gave me a boldness to speak of Him to people I worked with and met on a day to day basis.

I remember a young man coming to the church I attending for a while in Florida. It was the early eighties and this young man spent a week of revival messages that stirred me up to be bold in the Lord. We went out on the streets to witness to people who were on the Miracle Strip in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida. We were excited and bold to proclaim our faith to strangers. It was a miracle that some of us were not arrested or injured.

That led to a group of us learning how to become disciples and taking up the visitation of those who visited each week at the church. We would meet together Sunday mornings to memorize scriptures, pray and learn what the Twelve did to follow Christ. Each Monday night at 7pm we would meet again and take the visitors card, pray over them and go out to look up these visitors. We were suppose to be encouraging them to come back to the church there but we spent our time visiting with them about a man called Jesus. We were more concerned about their salvation than talking them into coming to the church building the next week. I was asked to leave that church after that.

So, we started meeting in my house. We were bold in following God. Those small upsets were not enough to cause us to give up or quit being bold. We boldly went out and shared out faith with many more people. There were more than a hundred people that passed through that little house in Florida. Many I have lost touch with, some I have reconnected with and they have moved on, some I have the pleasure of living with on a day to day basis now.

But I don't think I'm as bold as I used to be. You see, I sometimes feel like I have a really cool place to live in where disciples are all around me and there is a unity of spiritual fellowship everyday. I don't have to be too bold around those who love me with the love of the Lord. Or do I? I am thinking there is some level of boldness still around me. Maybe it's unreality. In comparison to what I used to think and do I would call it passivity. I used to teach, now I listen. I used to write music and sing the songs God gave me, now I harmonize in the congregation of the Saints. I used to pray for an hour or more at a time, read the scriptures for even more. Now I can fall asleep reading and my prayer life is minimal at best. I used to stand up and share deep things of God in front of a whole building full of believers. Now I shake at the thought of getting up in front of a small group in a household meeting.

What has happened to my holy boldness? Where is that spiritual man I used to know? How in the village did I get to where I am now? Why am I not able to find that holy boldness? What is wrong with me?

The scriptures tell me that "God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power" (2Tim 1:7) "The righteous are bold as a lion" (Prov 28:1) "the people that do know their God shall be strong and do exploits" (Dan 11:32) Brothers grew confident and were "much more bold to speak the word without fear" because of Paul's imprisonment. God’s servants were secure in their identity in Christ. And they stood confident in Jesus’ righteousness. Therefore, they had nothing to hide; they stood before anyone with a clear conscience.

It is to my detriment that I forget just that reality. To know who I am in Christ and move in the confidence of Jesus' righteousness. Not my own righteousness, my past failures or weaknesses. There is a work I must do and that is a work of consecration. I have to dedicate myself completely to the love and life of my Lord and Savior. I have to rise every morning acknowledging the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the Love of the Father. Why?

Because that is reality. Not my pathetic unrealistic view of who I am not. I have to see me as God sees me. I have to draw my strength and boldness from a close knit relationship with God. If I don't sense the boldness then I am not fostering a close relationship with my Lord. And I had better find out what is getting in between me and God. I had better get that thing out of the way. It is imperative that my relationship be right at all times in order to be able to do those bold and confident things like I used to be able to do. Not that I can brag about anything, for bragging is all about me if I do. If I brag on anything it is the love and grace of God for me.

Holy Boldness only comes through a deep and consistent walk with God. A relationship that is filled with prayer, time in the scriptures, keeping myself unspotted from the world and worldly things, consecration to God and an open, humble and learning mind given to following Christ every day. I have to start with today and then move on from there. One day at a time. One step at a time. One act of obedience at a time. Time and space filled with the things of God will bring about that Holy Boldness.

I'm starting anew today. How about you?

The Nature of Sin

2011-10-07T17:49:00.001-05:00

Over the past few days I have been reading Oswald Chambers devotionals on the Nature of Sin, Redemption and Reconciliation and there is such a richness about this, I couldn't help but write about what I am reading. Forgive me if I have said any of these things before. This is a new spiritual year for us and I think it is good to remember the foundational things of God in our lives. Our salvation hinges upon the things he writes about here.

I think it is important to understand what the "Nature of Sin" is. We have to come to terms with where we are at in our agreement with God. Sometime, somewhere, there is a time for us to examine ourselves and see where we stand with God. Whether you have done that recently or sometime in the past, it must be done. There is a day of judgment and you will be required to account for your words and deeds.

Everything we do is based upon the one point of whether we are in agreement with God or not. Either God is the creator of our life and we submit ourselves to His control or we don't. That decision and the living out of that decision determines our destiny. It is a decision that confronts us every day, several times a day. We are in perpetual motion towards that day of reckoning with God. It is inevitable that we will arrive at that time and place. No one can escape this place in time.

So there are some things we need to understand. One of them is what is the "Nature of Sin". What makes me do what I do? Why do I sin? What can I do about it?

Three days ago Oswald's devotional talked about the origin of that "Nature of Sin" and it was plain to see that we can be easily deceived into thinking we are the gods of our own lives and the destruction which follows after. We tend to live our lives without thought of what we are doing, as it pertains to the whole picture of God, and who He is. We get up; go to work, start our day and live our lives based upon what we were taught to do. We barely think about the things we habitually do each day. Our lives are filled up with what we want to do and most often that does not contain the mind of God. It contains our mind, our will and our abilities to decide things for ourselves.

However, that thinking and habit is the "Nature of Sin".

Oswald says that the "Nature of Sin" is "my claim to my right to myself" and that the attitude of “I am my own god” is what separates me from a relationship with God. I desperately need a saving relationship with God. I am condemned when I refuse to be in reality and see God, recognize that He is Lord of my life and try to hide from all that is revealed by Him. We call a right relationship with God "walking in the light" because He is the light of the world. He says, "Condemnation comes when I realize that Jesus Christ came to deliver me from this heredity of sin, and yet I refuse to let Him do so".

In order for me to be saved from this "Nature of Sin" I inherited, I have to be redeemed. I cannot redeem myself. I can't work my way out of it because I have no control over it. I can try to fight it, grit my teeth and be as good as I can, but it will never be good enough to redeem myself. Even if I could, it would eliminate the need for God and especially Jesus Christ. His whole existence would be nothing but a waste of time if I were able to redeem and save myself.

No, there is no getting around the fact that there is a "Nature of Sin" in which I "... had no say or decision; I am not holy, nor am I likely to be; and if all Jesus Christ can do is tell me that I must be holy, His teaching only causes me to despair." He must do a work in me of redemption. He is the only One who can replace that "Nature of Sin" with "His Nature". I must agree with God that the "Nature of Sin" has been judged and dealt with on the cross.

Once I am reconciled to the fact that I cannot change the "Nature of Sin", I can then agree with God that it must be redeemed in me. I can then see my need for reconciliation and redemption. Unless there is that need burning within me, I am not able to be redeemed. A hopelessness of changing on my own must come to light. I must be able to see, in the light of God bringing me to reality, that I am desperately lost and in need of His very life. His life, the very essence of God himself, must replace that "Nature of Sin". It is my act of obedience to believe, trust and hold on to the reality of redemption working life in me through faith in Jesus Christ. The life he possesses becomes the redeeming power, I need, to change me into a new creation. (Romans 5:12-19)
Redemption means that I can be delivered from the "Nature of Sin". Through Jesus Christ I can receive a pure and spotless heredity, namely, the Holy Spirit.

It is a wrong relationship that condemns us and keeps us in sin. It is our "deliberate and determined independence from God" that keeps us trapped in the nature of sin. That relationship is what Jesus dealt with when He walked this earth. It was the "Nature of Sin" He looked at and said repent and follow Me. Repentance was the key to redeeming the relationship and being reconciled to God. It was through Jesus Christ that reconciliation was completed.

The power of the Christian gospel is weak in that we forget that the "Nature of Sin" must be dealt with and not just sinful actions or deeds. Sinful actions and deeds are the result of having a "Nature of Sin". Jesus identified Himself with us and the "Nature of Sin" in order to redeem the entire human race. He completed the work that He was sent to do on the cross and took with Him the "Nature of Sin" to death. The "Nature of Sin" died with Him on the cross. We were set free from that nature and given the opportunity to receive a new nature. That nature of Life through the work of Jesus Christ as the sole basis of our redemption.

We can now experience reconciliation with God and become one with Him. A place in our spirit had to be emptied for us to receive such a reconciliation. The "Nature of Sin" filled it before but now it can be filled with the Life of God. We can receive grace to live the life of Christ and be holy. What an awesome work! What an awesome God!

What is your response to all that? Can you believe that and receive that new nature of God? Or will you dismiss it and choose to remain in control of your life? Either way you have a decision to make. Every day when you wake up you have to decide what you will do with that fact. You can flee evil and follow Christ or you can flee from God and follow your own opinions and thoughts. Each one has it's own reward. Each one is available for you to choose. The choice is yours. Life or Death.

And so you don't deceive yourself into thinking that you have all the time in the world to make that decision, consider that while you are in the process of deciding to choose God and Life you are living in the decision and choice of the "Nature of Sin" and Death. Just saying . . .

ATTENTION: Choose Wisely

2011-10-01T13:48:00.002-05:00

In a recent post by Shammah [CLICK HERE] a statement he made about the Communist underground movement reported by a congressman was this, "Today, however, no one is shocked at such awful advice. It’s now the American way to live, ...". This statement was made in regard to the way people were living in California and how Americans in general live today.

When I was growing up in the 50's and 60's this communist agenda was going on and we did not know that it was even an agenda. We were impressed with information from newspapers, magazines, radio, movies, television (B&W) and what we were taught in school. It never crossed our minds to check out what was being said. We trusted that our parents and teachers, the media and all those in higher places were being careful and taking care to direct us in a moral and righteous way.

It is obvious to us now that even though we thought those things and those who were influencing us were not as aware as we thought. I can't directly blame them for what influenced me but they are responsible for what they passed along to us. They will be held accountable for what they knew. I hate to think that most of them were not paying attention to what was going on or even knew at all what the communist party was doing in America.

Understand that I am not a patriot or flag waver, I am concerned about what my children and others around me are receiving with regard to the truth. The truth is that many things are happening under our noses that we are not aware of. These things are spiritual in nature and are manifested in the physical realm through the actions of those that are either purposely carrying out this agenda or unconsciously passing along what they believe to be true.

So, what am I saying? What is the point of this raving?

I'm saying we need to pay attention! We need to be serious about what we take in and consider to be true. We need to look more carefully at the information we accept from the news, Internet, email, TV, radio and in general, everyday conversation and rumor. I'm also saying we need to be careful how we communicate information as well. We are guilty of passing along false information without even knowing it is false. We do this by not being careful with what we receive. We react to an emotion created from the information we see or hear.

There is nowhere on this earth, that I know of, that we are not influenced by false information every day. Even our own mind will deceive us into thinking things about people and events that are not true. We trust what we perceive to be the truth. Our perception is not always what is the truth. It's just our perception of the truth. Think about how your mind thinks that a scary movie scene is real and you react with an emotional response. Your mind perceives the scene to be real and you respond. But, you know it is a movie yet you accept that the images and sounds on the screen are real. Shouldn't we pay attention and check out what we perceive to be the truth before going forward and acting upon it?

YES! We should prove all things. But we don't.

As men and women of God we are especially needful of sound judgement. We have a responsibility to God as his children, to follow after those things he commands us to do. We have a responsibility to share those things of God that are honest and truthful to others as we evangelize, teach and shepherd those who need to give their lives to God as the body of Christ.Teachers hold a position of accountability for what they teach to others and will be judged for it. It is a wise things to prove what is true before teaching it to others.

We should be like the Bereans who "... received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." Acts 17:11. They called upon God and were sensitive to His Spirit to check out the truth and reality of what was said about God. Paul wasn't offended but encouraged by their diligence and prudence as responsible people of God. What a great example for us to follow.

Paul says to the Romans "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." Are we any less in need of this advice for today? I think we should be sober minded in things of such great importance.

When we were in Africa, we experienced the effects of well meaning Christians who were taught from evangelical missionaries many years ago. Their traditions were passed along to the people of that country and they gave them an evangelical gospel. However, the people needed a full gospel of God, in a sense that would equip them for the work of sharing their lives with one another and caring for those around them. They needed to see an example of how the church functions and not just a salvation message. Their traditions of loud boisterous shouting, charismatic singing, dancing and prayer left the indigenous people of that area with a partial picture of what they were to do. They were not able to enter into the fullness of Christ and his body.

Kingdom Hikers

When we shared several truths from the scriptures, their reactions were, "We thought that was true but we were not sure. Thank you for helping us understand what that means." They were excited and elated that God really did mean what was recorded and not what someone had dismissed with liberty to twist and traditionalize the truth. They saw for themselves what God had said was true and found a new freedom to live out the life of Christ in a much fuller way.

Today, there are many who teach a false doctrine, a watered down, socialistic, greasy graceful gospel and call it the truth. There are many who bring prophesies about the end of the world, the rapture, the unconditional salvation of God and many more things which need to be proven. Don't just sit back, relax and enjoy the show. Get up and prove what is said and done. Be an active participant in the living out of this life we have. There are principalities, powers to be in spiritually dark places and demonic things that have captured the minds and wills of many people to do their bidding. We need to guard ourselves against them and turn our attention to walking in the light of the Truth.

As one radio celebrity used to say, "WAKE UP AMERICA!" and I follow with, "WAKE UP SLEEPER, ARISE FROM THE DEAD..." because your time is at hand to be delivered either into the hands of the enemy or into the hands of your Lord and Maker. It's your choice.

ATTENTION: CHOOSE WISELY.

Rosh Hashanah and Teshuvah

2011-09-29T12:38:00.001-05:00

Rosh Hashanah

Significance: New Year
Observances: Sounding the shofar (ram's horn trumpet)
Length: 2 Days (Some: 1 Day)
Customs: Dipping apples in honey; Casting off "sins" into a river

Greeting: L'shanah tovah! (For a good year!)

...In the seventh month, on the first of the month, there shall be a sabbath for you, a remembrance with shofar blasts, a holy convocation. -Leviticus 16:24

Rosh Hashanah occurs on the first and second days of Tishri. In Hebrew, Rosh Hashanah means, literally, "head of the year" or "first of the year." Rosh Hashanah is commonly known as the Jewish New Year.

Ingathering 2009 at Rose Creek Village

We celebrate a new beginning of our spiritual year as well. We call it Ingathering. There are significant similarities with our Ingathering celebration and Rosh Hashanah. Just like Americans start their New Year with celebration we celebrate also. Ours is not a celebration of party's, noise makers and football but we do celebrate the spiritual aspect of a new year with physical representations like the Jewish festival of Rosh Hashanah.

NOTE: Rose Creek Village is not a Jewish community or a representation of a Jewish religious following. We may see that God has given us a heart for celebration and remembrance of His wonderful life in ways that the Jewish nation celebrated but we are not holding to any and all of the traditions represented here or otherwise. We believe that the Spirit of God can use many things to bring us closer to Him in our pursuit of living this life, together, in Christ.

Tishri 1 (Rosh Hashanah) is the new year for years (when there is an increase in the year number. Sabbatical and Jubilee years begin at this time). The similarity between the Jewish New Year and the American one is that many Americans use the New Year as a time to plan a better life, making "resolutions." Likewise, the Jewish New Year is a time to begin introspection, looking back at the mistakes of the past year and planning the changes to make in the new year. You can read more on this concept can be seen below or at Days of Awe.

At Ingathering we take time to reconcile ourselves to God in many different ways. On the first night of Ingathering, we assemble ourselves before a fire and cast those things that are actual or representative of sin or sinful ways, that God has revealed to us, into the fire. We desire to rid ourselves of anything that would keep us from experiencing Gods life and walking in honesty and clarity before God and one another. It is a time of releasing and turning away from sin. The fire represents the burning away and cleansing that comes from God. His fire removes the effect of that sin in those things that we repent of. God is also an all consuming fire who burns away everything that is not of Him.

Teshuvah

Shabbat Shuvah literally means "Sabbath of Return," but it is also a play on the phrase "Shabbat Teshuvah" (Sabbath of Repentance). It is the Shabbat that occurs betweenRosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur and is a time for reflection leading up to the atonement of Yom Kippur. Shabbat Shuvah has two special haftarah readings, one dealing with the importance of heartfelt repentance (Hosea 14:2-10) and one praising the Creator's mercy (Micah 7:18-20). [See verses at the bottom of this post for reference]

Among the customs of this time, it is common to seek reconciliation with people you may have wronged during the course of the year. The Talmud maintains that Yom Kippur atones only for sins between man and God. To atone for sins against another person, you must first seek reconciliation with that person, righting the wrongs you committed against them if possible.

The month before Ingathering seems to naturally follow the reconciliation period of Yom Kippur for us. It is a time of looking at our lives and reconciling them to God and one another. Those who have offenses with each other take steps to be reconciled and find forgiveness from God and each other. This is especially important as we celebrate the Lord's Table on Friday night and we want to be clear with each other and God before we do this. Following this we will be spending time together at our "Love Feast" which is a sweet time of fellowship and breaking bread together.

A popular observance during the Jewish holiday is eating apples dipped in honey, a symbol of a wish for a sweet new year. Bread in honey (instead of the usual practice of sprinkling salt on it) at this time of year is done for the same reason.

Tara's Baptism 2009

Each year on the day after our "Love Feast" we take time to baptize those who are wanting to enter into Christ and His Body here with us. It is a time of covenanting our lives together as the Body of Christ with those who are interested in being joined to this local body of believers. We gather together and celebrate our new lives in Christ and renew the tie that binds us together as the family of God.

Another popular practice of the Jewish holiday is Tashlikh ("casting off"). A walk to flowing water, such as a creek or river, on the afternoon of the first day and emptying pockets into the river, symbolically shows a casting off our sins. Small pieces of bread are commonly put in the pocket to cast off.

The casting off of sin, baptism, forgiveness and reconciliation are all elements of our Ingathering each year. It is a very effective way of remembering why we are here together and choosing to live this life we live in Christ.

Days of Awe

The ten days starting with Rosh Hashanah and ending with Yom Kippur are commonly known as the Days of Awe (Yamim Noraim) or the Days of Repentance. This is a time for serious introspection, a time to consider the sins of the previous year and repent before Yom Kippur.

One of the ongoing themes of the Jewish Days of Awe is the concept that God has "books" that he writes our names in, writing down who will live and who will die, who will have a good life and who will have a bad life, for the next year. These books are written in on Rosh Hashanah, but our actions during the Days of Awe can alter God's decree. The actions that change the decree are "teshuvah, tefilah and tzedakah," repentance, prayer, good deeds (usually, charity). These "books" are sealed on Yom Kippur. This concept of writing in books is the source of the common greeting during this time is "May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year."

Chamley Family Ingathering

We don't follow or hold to this tradition or belief but we do recognize that God does know what we do and remembers when there is no repentance or forgiveness. It's important that we understand and know that there is a day when all we have done in this life will come under review for judgement. The Book of Life is a real thing and we want to be remembered in it. We want our names to be found written in it for life everlasting with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

The Sabbath that occurs in this period is known as Shabbat Shuvah (the Sabbath of Return). This is considered a rather important Sabbath. Reference the Jewish Virtual Library. This Sabbath of return reminds me that there is a day when Christ will return to earth and begin a new reign on earth. There is an expectancy of meeting the Lord at Ingathering time here. Not we come to be blessed by Him but that we come to remember and bless Him for all He has done for us this past year. Also to honor and worship Him for He is worthy of all our worship and praise.

The name "Rosh Hashanah" is not used in the Bible to discuss this particular Jewish holiday. The Bible refers to the holiday as Yom Ha-Zikkaron (the day of remembrance) or Yom Teruah (the day of the sounding of the shofar). The holiday is instituted in Leviticus 23:24-25. We use shofar's to announce the beginning of our Ingathering. We also announce events with the blowing of the shofar during the Ingathering.

The shofar is a ram's horn which is blown somewhat like a trumpet. One of the most important observances of this holiday is hearing the sounding of the shofar. There are four different types of shofar notes: tekiah, a 3 second sustained note; shevarim, three 1-second notes rising in tone, teruah, a series of short, staccato notes extending over a period of about 3 seconds; and tekiah gedolah (literally, "big tekiah"), the final blast in a set, which lasts (I think) 10 seconds minimum. Click the shofar above to hear an approximation of the sound of Tekiah Shevarim-Teruah Tekiah.

The Bible gives no specific reason for this practice. One that has been suggested is that the shofar's sound is a call to repentance. We use the shofar to announce the beginning of our Ingathering and a call to repentance also. We proceed in a large processional to the gathering place where we cast our sinful elements into the fire as a repentance from those things and ways.

Several men own shofars and can actually blow them with quite beautiful resonance. The sound is awesome and a bit eerie as the resound throughout the village on Friday night. There is an excitement in the air as they announce the time of our gathering together.

Ingathering 2010

Well, I hope this gives you a little insight to what we do each year at this time. I'm not as familiar with this celebration as those who have been here longer than I, but I am as dedicated and plugged into the delightful presence of the Lord as any that are here. It is a blessing to be surrounded by those who love God and are walking in the life of Christ each day. No, we are not perfect, nor do we do everything perfectly, but we are together and we are walking with our Lord each day.

We are a local assembly of believers that have chose to stay together as the body of Christ here at Rose Creek Village. I love that we can do this together. I love that we can celebrate the life of Christ each year like this also. I love how God meets us in all of our trials, fears, struggles, sadness's, separations, pruning, and losses in order to bring us freedom, love, joy, peace, unity, cleansing and salvation. May our God and Redeeming Lord Jesus Christ show you, as He shows us, a life filled with all the joy and love he has to give.

References:

Leviticus 23:24-25

²⁴ “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. On the first day of the appointed month in early autumn,^[a] you are to observe a day of complete rest. It will be an official day for holy assembly, a day commemorated with loud blasts of a trumpet. ²⁵ You must do no ordinary work on that day. Instead, you are to present special gifts to the Lord.”

Footnotes:

Leviticus 23:24 Hebrew On the first day of the seventh month. This day in the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar occurred in September or October. This festival is celebrated today as Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year.

Hosea 14:2-10

² Bring your confessions, and return to the Lord.
      Say to him,
   “Forgive all our sins and graciously receive us,
      so that we may offer you our praises.
³ Assyria cannot save us,
      nor can our warhorses.
   Never again will we say to the idols we have made,
      ‘You are our gods.’
   No, in you alone
      do the orphans find mercy.”
⁴ The Lord says,
   “Then I will heal you of your faithlessness;
      my love will know no bounds,
      for my anger will be gone forever.
⁵ I will be to Israel
      like a refreshing dew from heaven.
   Israel will blossom like the lily;
      it will send roots deep into the soil
      like the cedars in Lebanon.
⁶ Its branches will spread out like beautiful olive trees,
      as fragrant as the cedars of Lebanon.
⁷ My people will again live under my shade.
      They will flourish like grain and blossom like grapevines.
      They will be as fragrant as the wines of Lebanon.
⁸ “O Israel,^[a] stay away from idols!
      I am the one who answers your prayers and cares for you.
   I am like a tree that is always green;
      all your fruit comes from me.”
⁹ Let those who are wise understand these things.
      Let those with discernment listen carefully.
   The paths of the Lord are true and right,
      and righteous people live by walking in them.
      But in those paths sinners stumble and fall.

Micah 7:18-20
¹⁸ Where is another God like you,
      who pardons the guilt of the remnant,
      overlooking the sins of his special people?
   You will not stay angry with your people forever,
      because you delight in showing unfailing love.
¹⁹ Once again you will have compassion on us.
      You will trample our sins under your feet
      and throw them into the depths of the ocean!
²⁰ You will show us your faithfulness and unfailing love
      as you promised to our ancestors Abraham and Jacob long ago.

Re-Entry

2011-09-23T14:54:00.000-05:00

I've been told by reliable sources that it takes two weeks for the re-entry process to be completed after being gone overseas on a mission trip. I am into this process about half way and I will concur that this is a true statement. It is a most disorienting feeling. Sort of like being spun around on a merry-go-round and then quickly getting off and trying to walk a straight line. There are a lot of falling down sessions until you get your footing and start waling a straight line.

Tara and I at the Crater Rim

The first obstacle that I had to overcome was the waking up at 3:00am in the morning and not being able to go back to sleep. This happened after traveling to Africa as well. Seems the re-entry process is also a reversal of the entry process first begun 8 weeks ago. The waking up portion of this event has progressively lessened and I now am able to get a full nights sleep from 11:00pm till 6:00am. This is a constant variable for me at any rate. I am not one who sleeps a solid 8 hours at any time. A normal nights sleep for me is between 5 and 6 hours.

The second obstacle was and still is to some extent, going to work. I literally have no motivation for going into the office and working. It is not that I don't want to eat (there is some bit of reservation there due to lingering health difficulties) but just that my habit has not been getting up and going to work. So, I find myself wandering into work about 8:30 - 9:00am with no sense of direction and disoriented with thoughts of "Where am I again?". It's getting a little better but I am working on the timing and motivational issues more each day.

George's Bathroom

Thirdly, I am facing the obstacle of lingering health issues. (I mentioned that in the previous paragraph.) I have thought about writing a blog on Hemorrhoids and facing all the life choices of living with or without the conditions which become a permanent part of your discomfort. I'm just not sure if I can tactfully write about it without offending someone and embarrassing myself in the process. See? There is what happens when I try to write something that does not have anything relative to my condition. I may have to employ the assistance of someone a bit more tactful than I to do that with me. Any volunteers?

My last big challenge for re-entry has been finding what God wants me to do here, now that I am back in the village. I'm looking to start computer lessons for the kids here and wanting to be more involved in some of the industries we have on the land. I'm looking to see where God would have me and what he will allow me to do. Meantime, I'm working part-time for the building company and listening to what God has to say about all that.

Us in the Hotel Parking lot

I've taken up a course for Bible study currently. I need to review a lot of things that I've been seeing in my life and feel God has a lot to say to me. I'm a definite piece of work that needs a lot of shaping and refining. I'm OK with that but I don't want to become complacent in my re-entry process and miss what God has for me. Ingathering is at hand also and there is so much more that God can show me about who I am in this body of believers as well. I love it here. I love Kenya, too. I'm just one happy camper trying to get my feet back on the ground and walk a straight line again.

Pray for me, if you will. Especially for physical healing. Could it be that all I need is already there and I just need to meet it face to face? Could be. Probably is. All I know at this point is that I need to get through this re-entry.

Week Seven in Nakuru

2011-09-12T23:53:00.000-05:00

The last week in this beautiful country has been a different experience than all the rest of the time I have been here. Mostly because I have been fighting a series of unfortunate events. Those events should not shadow the rest of what we have been up to but they definitely cast a shadow on my last week here.

The pastors conference was on Thursday and it was a great turn out as well as a great time of seeing and hearing pastors from around Nakuru, soak up God's words as Noah shared his heart about what and how God wants us to minister the Word of God. Their eyes were opened to many new thoughts about who God is and how to care for those He has entrusted to them. At the end of the day, every person there had a chance to share their heart about what they had learned that day and the previous Wednesdays we had met. Every one of them was excited to begin a fresh walk with God. They have committed to working together for accountability and encouragement for one another. What an awesome experience it has been for us as well!

Last weekend before last I was able to share what God put in my heart for my our friends and family here. Noah was visiting another church of one of the pastors we had been meeting with on Wednesdays. (Pastor Ben) It was the day before that I fell victim to the dreaded cold which lasted most of this past week. With a medicated body and heart full of love for our Nakuru family, I shared my heart. I heard it was good but I just know that I felt hindered by the cold and cough I was trying to deal with at the time. Noah had several standing ovations and I think they would have kept him there had they the opportunity to do so.

This week was a week spent mostly in bed and recuperation for me. I did manage to make it through the important days with medication. The most painful part of all that was the stomach bug I caught. Very painful cramping and then driving for several days. The driving has stopped but it left me with very painful hemroids, which I am in serious contemplation over seeing we will be sitting for HOURS during our trip back. Pray for me that this trip will be memorable and eventful in a good way. Thank you Shammah for being an example of faith through times of difficulties similar in region. No pictures are available for this paragraph.

I feel like I have not been able to complete some of the things I would have liked to finish this past week. Mostly in reference to assisting George and Nellie with financial scheduling and starting his website. I know that we can do that on-line though so I am not overwrought with concern. Also the computer students only got minimal time and I so wanted to finish our coursework with them. They are very special to me in more than just a "nerdy" way. They are so excited to learn something new. There is a freshness there that you don't often see.

So once again, "Our bags are packed. We're ready to go."

We leave in a couple hours for Nairobi and will spend the day doing some shopping for gifts and saying our goodbyes to George. Our plane leaves at 2:50AM in the morning and we get to hopefully sleep for 6 hours before arriving in Istanbul, Turkey. Then we have a 12 hour flight to the US (Chicago) after a 2 hour layover in Istanbul. We have our seats close together coming on both those flights so hopefully we can talk and reminisce about our time here and all the great things that are to happen at Ingathering.

This has been a great trip for me. One that I am hoping to do again soon.

We will be seeing you all real soon now. Can't wait to see my boys and friends back home.

Week Six in Nakuru

2011-09-02T08:41:00.003-05:00

Time is coming to a close now. We have two weeks left here and there just seems to be more we want to do than there is time to do it. I’m hoping that is a good sign. A sign that God is blessing what is going on and we are going to have fruit from the labor all of us are putting into this work of God.

This work we do here is not just those who have traveled to Nakuru but all those who are in support of the work that goes on here. Like prayer sent up from all those who are prayer workers and those who are given a burden for Nakuru here and there. Money that has been and continues to be given to cause the supplies needed for the church and other needs that are a part of the church. The grain distribution, Kingdom Hikers, and many other important things that are needed here are more of those needs. The friends, brothers and sisters, who take up the tasks that we have left behind for work, planning, and caring for those we love. There are numerous others who are unseen and unheard that contribute to the caring and well-being of the saints here in Nakuru. Thank you for loving this people and this work.

Tired travelers at George's Parents

The old house that George built.

We were able to visit George’s parents on Monday and after a long and grueling ride through the everlasting diversion we made it there safely. The land is beautiful and the people are more beautiful. For a full version with details and comments, please see Tara’s Blog.

We are continuing to move forward on the computer training and getting websites and blogs set up for the church and the Kingdom Hikers here. Our goal is to hand over the responsibility and care of these two sites, with blogs and email, to a group of young men and ladies for updating and writing about the things that are going on here. Be watching as they fill out their sites and blogs. Click Here for the “Amazing Life Fellowship” church blog and Click Here for the “Kingdom Hikers” blog. You can email the church or Kingdom Hikers at amazinglifefellowship@gmail.com and kingdomhikers@gmail.com respectively.

The church here is growing spiritually and learning how to be one with one another. They are learning how to discern between the traditions of men and the commandments of God. They are learning how to become the disciples of Christ and lay down their lives for Him. They are learning what it means to really see each other and care for one another. All these things are taking root in their hearts and beginning to grow, changing them into the character of Christ Jesus.

As well the local pastors of Nakuru churches are growing in the character of Christ also. Abba has been teaching about the principles of being a disciple and the pitfalls of human, cultural traditions, filled with emotionalism and unscriptural ways being used to draw and hold people instead of the Holy Spirit and the grace of God. They love everything they are hearing. Our last meeting with them will be a small (the term small may not be accurate) conference for the pastors, held in one of the local hotels. We will be there all day and Abba will be teaching on “Ministering the Word of the Lord”. They are ecstatic!

Our days continue to be filled with meetings, occasional outings, and training. The ladies are constantly on the go for food, household needs, supplies for people and events, cleaning, blogging and taking care of the men. Be sure to ask for a double blessing for them and an abundance of grace for their daily tasks. They are great and the men couldn’t do this without them.

Next Monday we are taking a little time off and going on Safari. George has promised a great day of chasing rhinos, baboons and lions. Well, maybe not chasing but running from is more accurate. We are looking forward to the break and being able to relax and see some of his Africa while we are here. Tara got a Safari hat so she is ready to go. The rest of next week will be visiting homes, training and the other daily things we are doing here. This coming Sunday Abba will be sharing at another church and I will be sharing at Amazing Life Fellowship. Pray for us that we will deliver just what God wants said and in His power and not our own.

We can’t wait to see you all soon. Less than two weeks now. We are excited about Ingathering. This is such an awesome life we have been giving to live. Thank you Lord!

Week Five in Nakuru

2011-08-28T09:14:00.002-05:00

So many things have happened so quickly it is now becoming a task to keep them all in my mind. I’ve found that I have to rely on reading my wife’s posts to remember what has happened in the week. That seems to help jog my memory and then I can put words to paper, or electrons to images as it might be.

I am beginning with today as it is freshest in my mind, and thinking that the day was good because of the men. The men have begun a work as brothers and they are beginning to experience the great joy of doing things together. We know that joy because we live it every day. They are not used to being together like we are so it may take some time for them to fully understand or appreciate what we mostly take for granted.

We ate and worked together after the gathering here. Eating was Ugoli, Greens and Goat. This is best eaten with clean hands, since you do not use utensils to eat this food. Fingers are the utensils of choice and so we shared in the washing of hands together. Next there is the passing out of the food and eating together. This is very primitive and special as men eating with their fingers and digesting meat and veggies with ugoli balled up into the works.

After eating and consuming some filtered water, there is another washing of the hands before embarking on the work at hand. This involved cutting grass, digging up stones, picking up garbage, burning it and then grooming the area with rakes and brooms. Now the picture you are forming in your mind is completely wrong. There are no powered tools involved in this process, hand sickles of sort, flat blade madix’s, machete’s, toy looking grooming rakes, brooms that look like a long tuff of stiff grass and a small fire to burn the rubbish we picked up. Everything done by manual hand and back labor.

Earlier in the week we made a few trips into town for shopping, eating, coffee, Stoney’s and such. Wednesday was the weekly pastors meeting at Kokeb and growing closer to those men who are caring for the people of God. They are such interesting men and very intent on hearing what God has for them. We are two weeks from the pastors conference that we have planned. I have the programs ready made so they will have an outline of the 4 sessions we will present to them. We have just to lock down the timing. That is a great undertaking here as hardly anyone is on time for anything. I heard a few guys here we actually late for their funeral.

I spent a couple days at home (Tue & Wed) training Kingdom hikers on computer skills and then again on Saturday for another group of Hikers. They love to learn. I don’t know how to say that with more emphasis but they actually like being trained to learn the computer skills I am showing them. It’s like I said, “Hey, who would like to eat banana splits and go to the amusement park?” It clamps my brain, as George would say.

Tara fell ill this week but has recuperated well. She was suffering from terrible stomach cramps and driving. (That’s Swahili for diarrhea) We believe it was brought on by a bacterial infection from the water or some food. Anyway, Dr. George brought medicine to help with the illness. She is doing much better today. She made it all the way through the gathering and then came home for a short nap.

Tomorrow we go to visit Georges Dad and Mom in the village George grew up in. It’s quite a trip there as it will take us 5-6 hours of driving to get there. George promises that it is well worth the trip and we are looking forward to being there, not so much the ride there. Along the way back we will stop and eat fresh fish from Lake Victoria for supper. It should prove to be quite the experience. But, that's a whole 'nother blog.

Week Four in Nakuru

2011-08-23T06:29:00.000-05:00

Summer Camp Extreme

Summer Camp was always a time of the year I enjoyed as a young boy growing up. Maybe you had an experience like this as well? Maybe not, but it was a time that concentrated things I really enjoyed into a short amount of time, but left memories for a lifetime. Things like camping, cooking, making new friends, outdoor activities, campfires, singing, swimming, and hiking were all things that touched my soul. Add to that the time we spent centered around God in prayer, worship, scripture study, singing, crafts and activities and I felt like I was in heaven. I believe Heaven will be filled with those things we love so much and cherish in our hearts.

Compared to those years of summer camp, both as a camper and then as a counselor, our stay in Kenya is very much like that time. Yes, I am older and admittedly less in physical shape for strenuous activity, but many of those summer camp feelings have returned. I am feeling like this is a time God has set apart for us to get closer to Him and experience the things He has for us. But, this is not just an experience centered on me. It is a time for giving of myself. I love giving of myself to others in the many things God has enabled me to do. I love it because I know it pleases God and there is a blessing inside for everyone, every time.

The most special part of summer camp was meeting new people and making friends. Friends are the most important part of living this life of God, no matter where we are or how old we get. It is important to God as well, since he has a great investment in us, to be our friend and for us, to be his friends. Our friendship with others is a gage for us to see where our friendship with God is. How we make friends and treat friends is an indicator of our well being in relationship with God. John says, "If we don't love our brother or sister, we don't love God." So loving those who are walking in this life with us and loving those God brings into our lives is primary in our learning process of loving with God's love.

Once you met new people you start developing friendships through all the activities you do together.

Guys bunked together in a cabin or tent while the girls bunked together in separate areas. There were several cabins or tents and we were all grouped together by group names. Sometimes we had tribal names, woodland names or names of elements, spiritual or earthly to define us. The week was divided into thematic chapters for Biblical study and the end of our stay was highlighted with the overall theme and a large celebration. There was never a boring moment as we were deeply involved in each others lives throughout the day and sometimes through the night. Slipping out of the cabin and raiding the girl’s area held a certain unique interest to boys. The girls enjoyed retaliating as well. Each person had a part of the cabin group and held a value as part of that group.

Games and activities were always filled with some competition, bravery, tests of strength and some level of foolishness. You had to show off until you were satisfied those you were trying to impress recognized you. Of course, that happens out of summer camp as well. Do we ever grow out of that?

Eating together was another enjoyable and memorable event. Not only did we get a chance to cook, wash dishes and server others, we got to learn how to slurp Jello squares in one swallow and blow milk out of our noses as we laughed and joked with each other. Memories like that are quite endearing. And there was the occasional bean sucked up the nose as well. It was a time for connecting with others outside of your cabin or tent group and aligning your self with everyone else. Daily schedules and event announcements were made and the whole of the summer camp staff and campers were together in one place.

There were talent show moments around the campfires at night. Most often a recap of the day and stories were told of events that transpired while the occasional “ghost story” slipped in from time to time. Sitting by the fire, singing songs, leaning against your friends and listening to people share brought closeness you felt designed by God. It had to be a special time for the disciples and Christ as they traveled and sat around the fire to eat and talk each night.

There were occasions where we got real serious and sad also. Like the time one of our friends might have been injured or even killed. Accidents of life don’t have a defined time in our daily schedules but when they occur they demand our attention. There were moments like that, both as a camper and especially as a counselor, where you struggle to understand the purposes of God. A deep inspection of those spiritual matters inward and outward takes place. It causes us to get closer to each other and God.

When the time to leave grew close at hand, we were saddened at the thoughts of leaving our new friends and wondering if they would be there next year. An exchange of addresses and phone numbers transpired the morning of our departures. Plans to get together again were chatted about. Crying was the common sight. Hugs, kisses and handshakes were exchanged as we piled into our respective vehicles. The ride home was a long and reflective one. Hearts ached and thoughts whirled through our minds as our hearts were torn a little from the separation of those new friends we made during the week. It was a hard thing to do. It was a bitter-sweet experience that embedded memories for a lifetime.

As I write about summer camp there is the sound of kids playing outside, hammering of nails, sawing of wood and people entwining there lives together through the activities of daily life with one another. It’s the daily living together that I experienced at summer camp that propelled me into this way of living I now live. I have my best loved friends around me, all wanting the life of God and living it with me. I have new friends who are going to tear holes in my heart when we have to leave. I have memories built on the activities we have shared together and God has changed my life forever with the opportunities He has given us to blend our lives together inside of Christ.

Three more weeks and we will be crying, hugging and saying goodbye to one another. We will be piling into the vehicle, speeding off to the airport and spending hours riding back to our homes while we reminisce about our new friends and the time we have had together.

Our hearts will be thoroughly tenderized as we meet our life-friends at home and are welcomed back into the lives and homes of the village. Our children, friends and housemates will become the main emphasis of our lives again and God will have changed them as well. We will walk with God together and look towards the time where we will all be together in Heavenly places for all time. Until then, we will have to suffice with this summer camping experience to get us by.

And then there is next year . . .

Week Three - More Grace for New Birth's

2011-08-17T13:43:00.000-05:00

The third week of this incredible journey has brought us closer and closer to the family of God here. We love the looks on their faces when they "see" what Abba is saying. Their lives are changing and there is new birth in the midst of the Church here. They have never heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ like this.

The nature of the people here has been a creation of Kenyan cultural traditions, evangelical missionaries and the worldly influences upon both. It's no wonder they are as confused as those who are in our country. The primary impulses of the religious realm here is Charismatic Evangelical behavior with a touch of the world peppering their music and talk.

The big difference here from where we are in the US is that there is rich fertile ground here to plant seeds. No, I'm not talking about physical agricultural considerations but spiritual considerations in respect of peoples hearts. Their faces are open and so are their minds. They are so tired of hearing the same things which are empty promises of things to come and watching the heads of those establishments fall into deceitful ways, grow rich and prance around on stages built to address their empires. They are not so easily moved by all that.

At least, this group of people the Lord is calling for his Church here is willing to listen and look to see the difference between the prideful demonstrations of the prominent prophets and bishops here against the truthful demonstration of power and life coming from us. Not that we ourselves are anything alone but rather a corporate demonstration of a life that God has given us to share with those who are here.

Today at the pastors meeting, when Noah told the pastors the story of how we became the church we are today, they were amazed that such a life could actually begin and continue for so long a time. They could hardly believe that there was something other than what they had been seeing for decades. They were glued to their seats and exclaimed afterwards that they are jealous for that kind of love and life here in Nakuru. They were given the answer of how that could happen and it was the same words that Jesus used when calling his disciples. You must be willing to give up everything that stands in the way of you having a relationship with the Author of Life and follow him everywhere He goes. Do not hesitate when He calls you to give up your traditions and religious ways. Be ready to do the hard things that God requires of you in obedience to His call.

Time will tell who will actually do it or not, but there are several men there who I believe will respond and do everything God is requiring for their own salvation and the salvation of the churches they are in care of. They are a great group of men, about 12-14 of them, who take every Wednesday morning to be with us and listen of testimonies, exhortations, teachings and ask questions about what God is doing in Nakuru. More specifically, what is God doing with them and the churches they are responsible for. September 8th will be a pastors conference where we will spend the whole day (6am to whenever the fun stops) hearing what God is saying to the church as a whole in Nakuru. Please pray for this and let others know we are asking for prayer for these men.

One amazing that has happened with George was the doors that God open for him after we had talked with him about being available for work during the week and letting us fend for ourselves with transportation. He was rather convinced that he would not be able to get work because he had previously told the people he normally works for that he would not be available until after we left. We asked him to just give them a call and find out, but he refused saying he was sure there wasn't anything. So, we back off and said "OK, we'll just trust God".

No more than 30 seconds after we said that, George's phone rang. Guess who it was? Right. It was the people he normally works for and they had work for him. And not just one job but several days of work. He also got a call from a car dealer to help with a new car that they could not figure out how to get started. He figured it out and they paid him handsomely. When the phone rang and he answered it, his eyes were as big as saucers. He realized that God was in control and not him. It was an awesome thing that God did. George's faith leaped 10 feet at that moment. He's learning that God can speak through his people.

This week we went to town a couple times, visited the monkeys at the park, climbed the crater in the safari van, went to a clan meeting, a gathering, men's meeting, pastors meeting, leaders meeting and spent some time resting and eating at home.

This next week we will be starting computer lessons for the Kingdom Hikers. Seven candidates will begin and learn how to teach others to do the same. Another leaders meeting, gathering, KH meeting, men's meeting, and we will start over again with the process. But you know, it is rather enjoyable knowing that what we are doing is taken seriously by our Kenyan brothers and sisters. They are in love with our Lord and wanting to walk in His ways. We are so much alike in all those things and more.

Week Two in Africa

2011-08-11T07:05:00.002-05:00

The second week is coming to a close and the third week is in sight. God has blessed us in so many ways! It is always a blessing to me to get up in the morning and know that I am in a place where God wants me to be. No matter if I am here in Kenya or back home in Tennessee, Gods grace is always sufficient for the day. And best of all, I am right smack in the middle of it.

The experience of being here in Kenya is giving me a broader sense of who we are as the body of Christ. Seeing the faith of these lovely friendly people has increased my faith and given me an enlarged vision for what Keith Green had sung about years ago. Open Your Eyes was the title of the song I believe and it made me see that going to minister Gods word and give of my time was much more beneficial than giving a few dollars each month to an organization which may not direct those funds to those that need it.

Being here and being a part of this life here gives me the opportunity to touch people's lives and directly affect them in a positive way. Not necessarily with money but with a helping hand to physically construct a structure, pray with someone, share words of encouragement, teach new skills, and when required, donate money to a worthy cause which will benefit many people in the church. This, to me, is a better solution. More personal and more productive.
Our friend and fellow God follower, Steve Saint, says we should not just give a man a fish, not even just teach him how to fish, but we should teach him how to teach others how to fish.

What an awesome thought about provisioning those who are without. Yes, the short term provision needs to be supplying those who are hungry. But the longer term provision is to teach others how to do the things necessary to earn a living that will provide for themselves and their family. Then the final provision is for them to pass that knowledge along to others in their village or community.
We are here in Nakuru Kenya, where over 300,000 people live in currently the fourth largest urban centre in the country located about 6000 feet above sea level. Tourism and agriculture are the primary industries and there are many small business shops within the main streets of Nakuru. Many more small shops line the many streets of dirt roads within the numerous neighborhoods. These are a economically depressed people but very industrious and willing to learn how to better themselves.

Our purpose is not to better them or Americanize them, but to love them and share with them this wonderful and awesome life that God has given us. They are open and willing to hear and learn all that God has done and is doing right now. They are having to unlearn many things also. (Didn't we do likewise?) The Charismatic and Evangelical missionaries that originally helped to place a Christianized religious foundation here have trained the people here to work with soulish excitement to motivate people into an environment of audibly painful expression of song, shouting and preaching.

We have challenged many traditional way they are using to express themselves, not to squash them but to cause them to look honestly at the roots of their praise and worship before the Lord. We have challenged them to live out their profession of faith on a daily basis and not just on a Wednesday or Sunday service. We have asked them to consider why they act so radically different on Sunday at church than they do the rest of the week. Where is the consistency in their walk with the Lord?

So, I might ask the same question of us in America? Where is our consistency in our walk with the Lord? Maybe there isn't any consistency. Maybe we live like saints on Sunday morning and like heathens the rest of the week. If that is our testimony then can we really call ourselves Christians? I understand the term Christian to mean something more than just acknowledging there is a God, spending some time on Wednesday night and Sunday morning to sing Christian songs and talk about things that pertain to a watered down gospel of apathetically recited Bible stories.

Where are the real Christians? Are there any disciples around any more? Does anyone really care to give up their lives and follow God every day, all day long, seven days a week? Where are those Christians that pursue finding God in every place, person and thought they meet? Are there any of those who may be warriors or champions for the cause of God's life in us?

As we address the little church here in Nakuru, we find that they are not much different than those in America. They live different lives during the week than they do on Sunday.

How can we help these here and those back home see the difference between those who are caught up in the world and those who call themselves Christians?

I believe the best way is to show them how to live that life. We need to demonstrate how our lives are in consistent keeping with what God tells us to do if we want to name the name of Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour. We need to get involved in the lives of those around us by giving up our personal lives of preference. We obtain our many splendored things, stuff that we collect around us, that makes our lives so much easier to enjoy OUR life. We spend our substance upon activities, outings, meals, movies, and anything that will entertain us or make OUR lives more comfortable. The same thought process is about doing it's work here in Nakuru, too.

It's not how much you own or want. It's not how often you visit the pew you sit in on Sunday. It's not how many times you curse or praise in the name of the Lord. It's where you live with God. Is He in you and you in Him? Is He your best friend? Does he come into consideration for every thought and word? Does He go everywhere you go and do everything with you? Are you following Him or expecting Him to keep up with you? Is your life His life or are you just finding a place to somehow fit Him into your life, when you feel like it?

You have the answer to these questions. But hear what the Psalmist David has to say.

Psa 111:10The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all they that do his commandments:

Be wise. Get smart. Get Life. Get in line with what God requires of you. Seek and you will find. Find His Life and live it to the fullest. Live it every minute of the day and every day of the year. Set the pace for those around you. Demonstrate the full life of the Christian life and cause an effect in the lives of others. You don't have to come to Kenya to do that. You can start right where you are. Maybe one day we will see you in the midst of those who are in need of your testimony and consistency with the Life of God.

I hope so.

Week One in Africa Comes to a Close

2011-08-04T16:15:00.000-05:00

Here I am again.

I say that because I wrote a painfully slow processed blog on my I phone and was finishing it up when I got a Skype call. I answered the call and then went back to finish the blog and it was gone. Usually it would auto save but I am using a blog app that apparently does not save your blog to draft when interrupted. So, ...

Here I am again, trying to recap this last week,

I think I started to tell you that we arrived safely and after some weathering of our minds through jet lag, we fell into the household of George and Nellie, their daughter Michelle, BT and Mary who cooks for them on occasion. Abba, Amma and Yashanah had already taken up residency 5 weeks prior to us coming in.

You probably have a lot better details on that and the last week if you follow my wife's blog. She is much faster at it than I am. She is also more humorous than I. Here blog is located here if you want to skip mine and read hers, Then again, I'll make you wait till the bottom of the page to find her link.

My first project was to install a Sawyer water filtration system (see the picture} which is a necessary item for here since the tap water is not drinkable. This allows us to filter tap water into 5 gallon jugs and with a hand pump, fill our water bottles and pitcher for meals. Clean, unpolluted water for drinking. A gentleman's delight and a ladies friend for drinking and cooking. It saves money as well since it costs about $5 per bottle to buy about twice a week with the six of us all drinking it.

My next challenge has been acclimating to the Kenyan cultural lifestyle. There are many things to say about the Kenyan life and most of them are very good. The problem is when an Americanized couple drop in for a 7 week visit it is a cultural shock to the system. Mostly the huge change in activity.

I am used to going all the time from work to home, meetings, work days on Saturdays, kids, household, clan men's meetings and any other number of visits and activities throughout the week. It is pretty much go go go until you drop then sleep and get up to do it again. Here is is not the same. Actually it is far from that. I am going a little stir crazy at times as I feel like I am stuck in the twilight zone. Time here is based on a 48 hour day with hours between doing activities. A ride to town breaks the monotony of the week or day as we bump and swerve our way into the downtown section of the city. All the while avoiding the numerous species of livestock, people from many countries, bicycler, motorcycles, men pushing carts, took-tooks (three wheeled motorized taxi's), cars, buses, cans and people walking in the middle of the street. Never a dull ride as we bump our way there and back.

Today we took on another challenge of grand proportions in African Engineering. We constructed an addition to the tent we are using for meeting with the church here. I know that sounds funny but it is a definite reality here. The church is not wealthy enough to do such a thing so Noah and I put our thoughts together an constructing a wooden pole extension to the tent. (pictures are worth a million words.) it is actually a pretty well constructed extension and once finished will accommodate the musicians and choir along with a podium for a speaker. A few poles, nails, rope, tools and Shazam! A tent sun-room.
Hey, Nathanael, I found a new construction model we can adopt for expanding the building business.

Wednesday we met with a few of the pastors in the area for tea and discussion about their churches and living a different life that the traditional church model found around the world. It was interesting as the traditions of men have well rooted themselves in their lives and the lives of their church members.

We have been shopping several times and discovered a new exercise program. See my other blog for more details on the correct process but I can tell you it involves a lot of following and dodging.

This evening we met with the clan leaders of the church and studied Ephesians 1 thought 4. They meet every Thursday night. Saturday is the Kingdom Hikers talent show and Sunday Noah has graciously invited me to talk at the service. I have many things that I can say God has blessed me with and many things I own that I could speak about but for some reason I am at a blank, waiting on God to show me what to speak on. I have a couple drafts but not a solid plan yet.

I did find a new way to lose weight here. There is a way to do that while not even recognizing you are. I'll write more about that in my Diet blog soon. I can tell you that it involves George though. I call it the Eco Wappi George Diet. See link below.

Six more weeks of this visit and then we will have to go home. I wish it were such that we had a gatehouse of sorts here and had a more permanent place here to work from. But for now this will have to do until God shows us another way.

Don't forget to check out Tara;s blog and Brandon's blog and videos. Here are the links

Tara's Blog Brandon's Blog My Diet Blog.

Good night for now and lalla salama.

On Our Way - Aaaahhhh

2011-07-26T13:51:00.002-05:00

Ok we have arrived at the airport, checked in our bags, ate lunch, said our goodbyes, passed through security, found our gate and are sitting here taking a deep breath of somewhat fresh air.

Our first puddle jump is from Memphis to Chicago, a mere 2 hours away. Then a relaxing 6 hour wait for our 11 hour flight to Istanbul. Aaaahhhh

My only dilemma is what to do with all that time? Since I only sleep 5 or 6 hours a night, I am going to have a lot of time on my hands.

Well, they are calling us to board the plane so we will figure out what to do when we get there.

UPDATE:
We are in Africa and I have not bee blogging since the beginning of our trip. You can catch up on news and goings on from Tara blog CLICK HERE or Brandons videos Click Here. I will try to get a blog out tomorrow.

Cleaning Up

2011-07-17T21:13:00.001-05:00

We have 8 days till we leave for Africa. It's not quite registering yet but the fact still remains we are leaving. We have our bags packed, we're ready to go, we're standing here, outside the door of the restaurant ( you thought Peter, Paul and Mary, right?) feeling really bloated.

Why do we do that?

Why do we go out to eat and stuff ourselves?

Is there some unwritten rule that says we have to eat everything that is set in front of us? I mean every last morsel of food on the plate.

Growing up, my mother harped at me to eat everything on my plate because of the starving children over seas. It didn't make sense to me that mother would make me eat all the food when she could send it to those starving children instead. None-the-less I ate it all. She would demand I "clean up" my plate.

Maybe it was that early training for cleaning up my plate that prepared me for my eating habits today. I would hate to think that my mother only wanted me to do that so she didn't need to scrape food into the waste can. I just can't seem to help myself though. I must eat whatever is on my plate.

It doesn't matter how much is on my plate, I have got to finish everything. Heaven forbid that I would waste a single bite of food. I must set a good example for my kids as well. How would it look to them if I left food on my plate and they were expected to clean up their plates?

I will eat a huge helping of food even if I can't possibly eat it. Why? Because somewhere out there my mother is watching, saying "I'll bet those starving children overseas would love to have that food to eat!" and so I bow my head, pick up my fork and continue to shovel it in. Moaning afterwards, "ooooooohhhhhh, why did I eat so much food?"

So, as I was saying earlier; our bellies are packed, we're ready to go. We're standing here, outside the restaurant door ..... (music in the background)

Dave says it's the right sized portion. Aaron says it the America sized portions, Shalom says the plate sizes are too large. Tara says you get a to go box, ya know?

I just hear my mother telling me to clean up that food.

My Plea to You for Earning Money for Rose Creek Village

2011-07-09T19:52:00.000-05:00

Dear Friends, Brothers and Sisters,
There is a great opportunity for us to help with the financial status of our village and those missions of ours, who are in need of assistance. Please don't miss this. Shammah has sent this message out at least two different time in the past but I'm not sure people are even using this or not. If you are, Thank you! If you are not, I am offering to help you get set up for FREE on your computers.

What is the GREAT OPPORTUNITY?

FIRST: You can get this set up for FREE.

SECOND: Rose Creek Village can earn 1 Cent on each and every search we perform from GoodSearch when you have Rose Creek Village selected as your Charitable Foundation. This happens automatically when you are set up correctly.

THIRD: Rose Creek Village can earn a percentage (some percentages are very large), on every item you purchase online, from all of the on-line stores associated with the GoodShop website. This also happens automatically when you are set up correctly for the GoodSearch and GoodShop toolbars. It includes Amazon and eBay websites plus a whole lot more. There are no catches to this. No money to spend. No intrusions of privacy and no danger of viruses or other nasty stuff. It is Covenant Eyes approved.

Every search, every purchase provides an income to Rose Creek Village Ministries which will be able to help out with our expenses and contributions to other mission work we are involved in. Mexico, Kenya, India, and Myanmar missions we support can all utilize this type of income. We can even support needs we have here at home.

PLEASE think about having me set this up for you if you do not already have this installed. If you do have this installed, please check to make sure this is working correctly. You will be doing a great service without doing anything out of the ordinary things you already do on the computer and Internet.

Thanks!

Doug Chamley
doug.rcv@gmail.com

I GoodSearch & GoodShop for Rose Creek Village.
Raise money for your favorite charity or school just by searching the Internet with GoodSearch (powered by Yahoo), or shopping online with GoodShop

Pruning Pains or More Fruit?

2011-07-06T12:49:00.000-05:00

Pruning Pains or More Fruit?

"Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit" (John 15:2).

As I read this devotion today I was reminded of the many farming and gardening process that go on each day on this land as well as the farming experiences in my own life as a boy growing up in South Dakota. My grandfather had a large farm and there were many similar questions formed in my mind about livestock and crops that needed tending each day.

As I came to understand who God was and turned my life over to His care, I quickly saw the correlation between the two. Jesus taught about those processes and used many examples of earthly things related to heavenly truths.

We have been going through many pruning processes here this past few month. An intense cutting back and pruning of this church in regard to producing more fruit. And that is what I want to bring to this post. It is painful to experience the pruning process but the result of all that pruning and chopping and cutting and pain is "more fruit"!

And isn't that what we want to achieve anyway? Don't we want to be productive instruments of God? Fruit bearing and good for consumption to bring health and healing to those who are hungry and sick? If we can bear up under the pain and allow God to do His pruning we will bear the fruit He has intended for us to bear.

He is the Vine, we are the branches.

If we will submit our lives to Him and allow Him to us us for what we were created for, we will bear fruit! Not because we have done anything special. We are branches. Branches don't strain and grunt their way into producing fruit. Branches abide in a vital attachment to the Vine. They let the life flowing energy of the Vine to pass through them and into the fruit that they were created to produce.

Every branch has it's purpose and every vine gives the branches the life it needs. The branch is the vessel for the production of the fruit. The direct result of the life force of the vine flowing into and out of the branch. It takes submission to the Vine to be the attachment for the production of the fruit.

So my friends, take heart that the Root of the Vine and the Husbandman of the Vine and the Branches are fulfilling the purpose intended to produce the fruit. It is such a joy to be the branch and allow the fruit to grow out from us! God is in control of what happens and knows how to grow the fruit. The pruning is necessary and yes, it hurts a little, but not as much as being completely cut off and thrown into the fire.

So, let it grow, let it grow, let it grow!

Oh, sorry. I was thinking of another song we sing in the wintertime. That's a whole 'nother post.

Fasting from Movies

2011-06-18T19:52:00.000-05:00

My family is on a movie fast and I am convinced it was well overdue.

Why? Well, because we have forgotten how to do things with each other that don't include sitting in front of a movie or TV screen. It's called entertainment. Artificial entertainment in the sense that it is manufactured and reproduced on a screen. We all sit and watch the same thing, eat popcorn and laugh or cry about the manufactured images we see on the screen.

I think there is a better way to be a family. I'm not saying all movies are evil, even though some probably fall into that category, but a steady diet of manufactured electronic entertainment is not good for us. It robs us of real, one on one time, looking in each others face, touching each other physically and emotionally. I replaces the reality of human interaction on a deeper level than entertainment we devour today.

Our appetites are ravenous for electronic entertainment and I personally know this to be true since this week of fasting. Attitudes get real cranky, biting each other verbally, boredom sets in, listlessness and plain old laziness. We need a touch from God, a life giving transfusion into our souls. It is shameful how attached we have become to movies and electronic entertainment. Even, I would venture to say, bordering on adulterous.

We have replaced God with The TV screen. What comes off that screen is recited afterwards for a long time. Remember the commercials songs you were fed as a child. You still remember them don't you? Reciting lines from movies is next. My kids can almost tell you word for word what those movies said and the physical activity that goes with them. They know the names of the characters and how they dress and talk. How well do they remember the Bible verse we talked about or the stories we read last week?

Now there is a lot to say about all this but I am experiencing first hand the repercussions of a movie-less week and thinking we really need to change some things around here. We put out DVD's and VHS tapes (yes, we still have some of those things) into storage. It helps to not be tempted by them sitting around for us to lust after.

How will this experiment turn out? I'm not sure yet, but I do know that we need to address the cravings and the addictions we have for electronic stimuli. The rest we will see as we seek God for a balance or negation of what we have been doing. We need to repent from the addiction and trust God will show us what to do from there.

How about you?

That Dark Spot Within You

2011-06-14T16:58:00.003-05:00

As I was listening to the testimonies and hearts of people sharing last Sunday, God placed a verse inside me that I thought I knew the meaning of. It started to haunt me as I pondered its meaning again. The verse was: "If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!" Matt. 6:23

I love how the Contemporary English Bible translates that whole verse. "Your eyes are windows into your body. If you open your eyes wide in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a dank cellar. If you pull the blinds on your windows, what a dark life you will have!"

The part that strikes me, as a soul, seeking God, is the "eyes wide in wonder and belief" part, so as to drink up all that there is to what God has to give. That soul is completely given to the entirety of Gods life flowing into them and through them. Such a stark difference from what follows with the picture of darkness.

This is the message we hear from John 3:19 in the Message version: "This is the crisis we're in: God-light streamed into the world, but men and women everywhere ran for the darkness. They went for the darkness because they were not really interested in pleasing God. Everyone who makes a practice of doing evil, addicted to denial and illusion, hates God-light and won't come near it, fearing a painful exposure. But anyone working and living in truth and reality welcomes God-light so the work can be seen for the God-work it is."

When you are operating in the dark, thinking in the dark and walking in the dark, as opposed to walking in the light, something happens inside your mind. A dark place begins to form and a void begins to fill up with all sorts of nasty thoughts. The blinds are pulled shut. Lack of light and communication continues to forms a darker spot yet and then comes the double whammy. That darkness creates confusion and fear. Dread comes over you so you avoid looking people in the eyes, coming out of your room, and just plain fearful of any confrontation from anyone about anything.

So we have the opposition of light and darkness. However, darkness cannot exist when there is light. It seems quite simple that you would just replace the darkness with light. Right? That only works if you want to be in the light and look at what is being exposed by the light. But if the light that is in you is darkness, then you can't really see what the light is exposing because you are really still in the darkness. You just don't know it. You can't admit that you are in the darkness (sin) and that you may be doing something other than what you think you are doing. You have convinced yourself that you are right and the others are wrong. Dark vs. Light. Light and Dark. Not the same!

Have you ever been in a cave? when the lights are turned out it is pitch black in that cave. It is scary and confusing. You cannot see your hand in front of your face. You can't see anything. If you try to walk, you will be sure to run into something or fall in some hole. You are in a dangerous place and not able to guide yourself out. You need help. You need someone to guide you. But if that person can't see anything either you will both end up in the peril of life threatening stumbling and wandering in the dark. What you need is light. You don't have any light nor are you filled with light. Darkness and light cannot co-exist in the same place at the same time so without any light it will be dark.

When our minds get darkened and deceived by the deceitfulness of sin, we hide from God and run into the darkness. Then when we are in the darkness we are overcome with it and we can't find our way out. We are too proud and stiff-necked to admit we might be standing in the dark or can't find our way out. We refuse to ask for help and we continue to think we are OK but we really are not. We need some light. We need someone who has light.

That is what that verse means. "If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!" Matt. 6:23

So how do we over come that darkness?

When you were standing in that pitch black dark cave, just a match or small light could illuminate the entire area around you. You could see where to walk and not stumble or fall. You could even lead others who were in that darkness out as well. That small light could drive out the darkness. You need someone to give you some light.

Now imagine that place being flooded with light. Imagine that a hundred people in that cave all had very bright lights. Imagine that a giant spotlight was then turned on and everything around you was revealed. You could see the walls, crevices, small little creatures, fine lines in the walkway, every inch of every surface all around you. Nothing would be left to your imagination. Nothing would be in a shadow or hidden from your view. You would have no problem at all in defining the place you were in or what was around you. That is what the saints and the Holy Spirit of God is like.

How do we find that light?

There is a plan that God has for your life. That plan centers around you walking in the Light of His Son, Jesus Christ and in the presence of His Body, the Church, those who are called according to His purpose. Put away the childish thoughts and the ways of your own understanding. Put into practice the ways of Light and Truth, demonstrated by the love God has placed before you, in unity with His Bride. Relinquish your own selfish thoughts and ways and join with those who are walking on the God-path. You will find a new and glorious life that only God can give you when you empty yourself. Embrace the Light. Look full into the face of God and let your eyes be wide in wonder and belief. Give up and let the God-light direct you out of darkness.

Good Intentions

2011-06-04T23:45:00.000-05:00

"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do." James 1:22-25

Your good intentions are not righteousness in the eyes of God. Talking about, dreaming about or just thinking about doing something righteous does not equal a good or righteous act. Imagine telling God, as you stand before Him one day,"But, Lord, I had so many good and righteous thoughts about doing everything you commanded me to do, I just didn't get around to getting it done!". We shall all suffer shame from our procrastination and slothfulness. It is our lack to follow through on the commands of God that judges us guilty.

I want you to go to the mirror and look at your self right now. Then look deep into the eyes of that person who is facing you and ask God, "Please show me where I am being disobedient and slothful. Please show me Where I am lazy and where I just don't care about doing what is right but what I want to do." I dare you to walk away and not admit how bad that person is that looks back at you in the mirror. I want you to get tough on that person and be in reality about all those things that you continually put off. We can be so painfully lazy.

Did I say lazy?

Yes! You and I can be lazy. Sinfully lazy to be more precise. We continually look for a place to sit down, relax and let someone else do that thing we just cannot bring ourselves to do. We can turn on the TV, watch movies, eat our snacks, lounge in our recliners and become a part of the good ole American way of living. But we won't give up our comforts or time to do what it takes to be a friend to the friendless, hope to the hopeless or salvation to the lost. We have out limits and there are just certain things we will not do. We don't subscribe to giving up our lives. We want to "live it up and enjoy life today, while it is called today, before we die and don't have a chance to live the good life any longer." Isn't there a Bible verse that says that?

How lazy are we?

We are so lazy we will avoid all appearance of laziness by talking bad about everyone else and draw the attention to them, rather than us. We will hide in our rooms or homes, to avoid contact with people who will hold us accountable because we want our own own way. We want to be entertained. We feed our bellies and satisfy our lust for whatever makes us feel good. We are shallow and insincere. We are only interested in doing what pleases us!

Getting the picture?

So where are the good intentions?

All over the place. We speak of love but fail to do it. We complain about our neighbors, relatives and people we don't even know in order to make ourselves look good, but all the time we are just hiding behind those good intentions. We will send our money, (Only what we have left over after we get what we want.) but we won't lift a finger to DO anything other than dial the number or click on a pay button. We don't really care about doing anything, we are just interested in looking good in front of our peers. We want people to think kindly about us and befriend us. We think that God will reward us for being so generous. What a sham! Are we really this evil? YES. We are evil and we are worse than that.

I don't know how many times I have said I was going to do something and didn't follow through with it. I can't even remember all the things I have had good intentions about doing. I'm sure they sounded really good at the time I said it, but there was not one ounce of effort put into doing anything about it. Not even the effort to write it down so I wouldn't forget to do it. And what about all those to-do lists that items never got checked off? And the things that were half done and not finished?

I'll be right back . . . an hour and a half later . . .

The meeting starts at 7 PM . . . 7:38 you arrive and want to get an update on what was talked about for the past half hour. This happens every week.

Even the things I really felt inclined to do failed to produce any fruit because the vigor and feeling of"I want to" dimmed and went away. It was there, just a little while before but other interests took its place and those good intentions became a fleeting series of thoughts only. After time I couldn't even remember what they were.

What about the phone call you were going to make? The person you were going to visit? That box of clothes you were going to take to GoodWill? The car that hasn't been cleaned out since you bought it? The refrigerator you were going to clean out? The visit to the dentist? Do you have a problem showing up on time to anything that is scheduled? I don't mean a few minutes late, I mean actually a few minutes early.

What in the world are we doing? Is there any hope for any of us who meet these descriptions? Can we possibly think that we can change and become doers rather than talkers? No. We cannot. We are just deceiving ourselves if we do. There is not one ounce of ability in us to do anything different. Why? Let's be honest and tell the truth. Because we just don't care! We certainly don't care about doing anything about the way we are or we would have already started doing something more than talking about it. Don't be deceived into thinking your thinking is different than it was before you read this. It's not. You are still just reading these words and thinking, how can this guy, who admitted to being as lazy as I am, tell me I am this lazy bum who will never change?

Because it is the truth. You may not want to admit it but it is.

DO you want to do something about it? If so, WHAT do you want to do about it?

Let's see . . . Nothing? Something later? Something one day? Something when I have to? Something right now? Good Intentions? Lot's of talking but no action? What has to change for you to start doing something different?

I'll tell you what needs to change. You need a heart transplant and you need a brain washing or a new mind to think new thoughts with.

The only way you are going to ever change is to experience a transformation inside of you. You are going to have to get on your knees and pray to God that He doesn't kill you before He forgives you for being so totally wretched and wicked inside of your lazy and worthless self. And then you are going to need to ask Him to change you so you can learn how to do the things you need to be doing. Ask Him to change you from a lazy bum into a doer of His commands. From a wicked person to a righteous saint. Pray for mercy and grace. Then and only then do you have a hope of actually changing.

I know there are those that struggle with doing the right thing and are not just slothful. There are those that are trying to do the right thing. They are working in their own strength and they are trying day after day but meet with failure over and over again. They just can't quite get it to happen. Eventually they will slide into despair and give up. They lose hope of ever being different. They join the ranks of good intenders. Or should we say great pretenders?

Once you give up all hope of fixing yourself and muscling through all your good intentions with the might of your hand, you are started on the right track. You must give everything you have become over to God. He will change you, save you from yourself and all you think you can do. When God changes you, you will have what it takes to do those things you have in your heart. You won't become the victim of your circumstances or the wimp with every excuse known to man. You will be empowered to do those things that God has for you. You will start caring about those things and people around you. You will learn to love and give up your life.

So here is my hope for you and all those that are the great pretenders and have good intentions. That the God of all that is will visit you in person and pull you out of the fire of destruction. I pray that you will give up the personal fight for perfection or the flight from responsibility and embrace the hand of God that is reaching out to you. Commit your life to being led in every way, every day, by the one who loves you far more than I could ever be trained to love. Look in His face and see who you are. Then let Him change you and empower you with His Life forever.

No more "Good Intentions"!

No more pretending!

Be real to a real God and enjoy the Life He has to impart to you. Let Him change your "good intentions" into the "righteous acts of God" before it's too late.

Drifting into Delirium

2011-05-11T11:56:00.000-05:00

This posting from the Alpha Omega Publications really nailed it for me this morning. It reads:

"Complacent Christians are of no use to the Lord. Weighed down by sins or entangled in the affairs of the world, their effectiveness for Christ is nullified. Allowing Satan to lure them to sleep, they no longer have the passionate fire for serving Christ. Assured of salvation and wanting only enough of God to get by, they live life to please themselves rather than to serve God. In Revelation, God clearly states His feeling about lukewarm Christians: "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth" (Revelation 3:15-16).

Has complacency wrapped its ugly fingers around your heart? If you haven't felt a burden for the lost, gone to church, or even spent time in prayer and Bible study for ages, chances are good that your fire is almost out. Before "I don't care" becomes a permanent part of your spiritual vocabulary, heed God's warning and let the Holy Spirit fill you anew. "That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind" (Ephesians 4:22-23)."

I think this speaks volumes to the world around us. We are drifting into delirium, unreality of who we are and what we are to be doing as followers of God. We think it's all about us. Our wants, our needs, our desires, our preferences, OUR LIFE! Our attitudes become seared with the distaste for anything that opposes our choices of what we want to have in OUR LIFE. OUR LIFE becomes our god and we no longer have God at the center of life any more. We have placed ourselves upon the throne of OUR LIFE and tell God he can have some room at the footstool.

WRONG!

God does not operate that way. We are not the dictators of OUR LIFE if we are to be named children of God, followers of Christ. Why? Because God is not satisfied with a part-time relationship. He wants a full time relationship with us. We don't know how to do that so we have got to let God have total control of OUR LIFE until he can transform us into HIS LIFE.

YOUR LIFE

Unless we are willing to give up OUR LIFE we will only have OUR LIFE to live. Nothing else! You cannot life HIS LIFE and OUR LIFE at the same time. It is always an "either/or" situation. Don't be deceived into thinking you can do anything else. You will drift into delirium and miss the turn in the road your traveling on. The turn that is marked "This way to HIS LIFE". It is the turn to reality and it will save you from falling off the cliff at the end of the path you are now traveling called YOUR LIFE.

Everybody Needs Somebody

2011-04-13T16:47:00.001-05:00

In a popular kids movie by Disney there is a song that chants "everybody, needs somebody".

God has built in us the need to be loved.

We need the 5 A's. They are Acceptance, Attention, Appreciation, Affection and Adoration

When we are deficient in one of these our view of who we are and everything else is set eschew. There is a natural progression of these needs.

Acceptance - There is a natural needs in all of us to be accepted by others. We have that need with God also. To know we are accepted by another produces an acceptance in us. We feel and rest in a level of a relationship with an individual or group of individuals that fulfills that empty spot we have for being accepted. That acceptance gives us value. We all long to be part of something and we need to be Associated with others in a way that says we belong together.

Attention - Once there is an acceptance there can be a process of attention. Attention cannot be given without acceptance unless it is in the negative. This negative side brings rejection and not acceptance. Negative attention shows us that the person giving it has a distaste for us and brings about the feeling of being rejected. The positive side of this attention brings about the feeling of acceptance in a new level of understanding and glues the relationship together even more. Attention is given to detail in our appearance our speech and in our mannerisms. We find the common and uncommon things about one another through attention. We learn to appreciate those things in each other. We are cared for and loved.

Appreciation - With attention a process of appreciation come about. We learn that as we are accepted and given positive attention, we are then appreciated for the values we have to offer and can produce with others. We begin to see ourselves as a unit and not an individual. We feel a part of something greater than ourselves and we can learn to appreciate others. There is a freedom of knowing that we have value not only in ourselves but without ourselves. We find that there is a joy much greater than what we could produce on our own. We are able to exercise our gifts and be a valuable contribution to the whole.

Affection - Affection is often associated with a feeling or type of love. PDA is the physical demonstration of affection for another person while in the view of others. Similar terms include: attachment, fondness, good will, kindness, love, passion, or tenderness. Next to acceptance, affection is one of our greatest needs. It is a gentleness that we handle people with and a personal touch that reinforces our acceptance from others.

Affection is defined as:

Bent of mind; a feeling or natural impulse or natural impulse acting upon and swaying the mind; any emotion; as, the benevolent affections, esteem, gratitude, etc.; the malevolent affections, hatred, envy, etc.; inclination; disposition; propensity; tendency.
A settled good will; kind feeling; love; zealous or tender attachment
Usage note: often in the plural; formerly followed by "to", but now more generally by "for" or "toward(s)"; as, filial, social, or conjugal affections; to have an affection for or towards children

Adoration - Adoration is love given with deep affection. It is a step further in our process of learning to love. Love requires adoration in order to have any depth. Without adoration there is a shallowness and a hollowness about our relationship with others. Adoration does not imply something physical but something more spiritual in the sense of a deeper appreciation of others. It finds a level of meaning to give homage or worship to someone. You know there is a deeper level of spiritual connection when adoration is present in your relationship of another.

Summary - We are taught by the world to be strong in our own power, Self reliant, and not to be week or needy. It is our way of passage into adulthood. We are taught to buck up and dry our eyes and dig in our heals and pull ourselves up by our bootstraps and many other cliches which are not based on God's truth but the worlds view of independence and self reliance. However God did not make us that way.

God made us needy. Needy for him and one another. Adam was found to be needy for a mate. All the other creations had a partner which provided a companion and partnership as their mate. Man needed a mate also. Woman was created as mans mate with needs as well. The need was for her mate. They together were one and their need was for a spiritual union with God.

We know that their choice was not a spiritual union with God and the rest is history. So God lays the foundation for repentance and restoration through a personal visit to his creation. He had a need also. God needs a mate and in Christ we are his bride. We are the perfect compliment to Gods need for fellowship and the 5 A's.

I ask you to look at your relationship with God today and see if the 5 A's are present. Are you practicing those key elements of a real relationship with Him? If not, why? Are you perhaps not in the practice of demonstrating those traits with people around you? Maybe your spouse, you children, your parents, your friends? If you are having difficulty with those around you then it is no wonder you are having difficulty with your relationship with God. Sounds like it may be time for a "time out" to collect your thoughts and examine where you are with all of this relationship stuff.

Practice the 5 A's. Acceptance, Attention, Appreciation, Affection and Adoration. They will change your life.