The Measure of a Mike

Back To Old Stomping Grounds That I Never Reall Stomped On

noreply@blogger.com (MIKE) — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:50:00 +0000

I am sitting in the 7th floor waiting room at USC University Hospital, Waiting to go in to see my mom. (She is doing well, by the way.) And her new kidney is doing well also. I was actually a patient here in this hospital about 4 months ago, this is place where I had my craniotomy done where they took about a 2 square in piece of my skull removed an artery from my temple area and then sewed it into my brain. Up to that point I was having some strong mini strokes as well as up to 5 to 10 little mini strokes in a day. Since I had the surgery I have had only two mini strokes and only one of them was big enough to send me to the hospital. My family has been showing the places I was staying at here when I was here in the hospital. I have always wanted a cool head scar and now I have one. his hospital is a teaching hospital so there are a lot of young looking doctors in here. I am sure they are tired of me asking how many times they have performed this or that procedure and how far they are in their residency. I am glad my mom had her surgery here I know, personally, what kind of care they are capable of providing.

Constants You Can Count On #3

noreply@blogger.com (MIKE) — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 01:25:00 +0000

I started this series in the early part of last year and never got around to fininshing the list. Its a new year, but our God remains faithful and unchanging, so these constants being grounded in the faith and in God remain unchanging as well.

3. The Holy Spirit will still move.

2 Peter 1:21New King James Version (NKJV)for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.2 Peter 1:20-21 (in Context) 2 Peter 1 (Whole Chapter)New Living Translation (NLT) or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God.2 Peter 1:20-21 (in Context) 2 Peter 1 (Whole Chapter)

These verses talk about prophecy and it being spoken as the prophets are being moved by the Holy Spirit and in all cases this is very true. I think all prophecy should be given as directed by the Holy Spirit. But in I don’t believe the Holy Spirit is just going to move in the instances of prophecy. I think the Holy Spirit moves us and in us in various ways. Sometimes it is obvious as is the case of prophecy and wonders like healing, other times it is more subtle like a quiet tugging at the heart to give when we have the ability to, or to help out a friend who needs help, sometimes it is simply just stepping out in faith when we don’t feel like it. The Holy Spirit is constantly moving around us and He will move in us and through us if we will let Him. It is not always in a big and extraordinary way. Sometimes it is the still small whisper we hear compelling us to do something. But in either case big or small we can be assured that the Holy Spirit is still indeed moving.

Managing Me and You

noreply@blogger.com (MIKE) — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 01:06:00 +0000

I had coffee with a friend tonight. It was a very pleasant evening. A lot of reminiscing. A lot of catching up. And a lot of just being relaxed and being me. I am finding that people are a big part of my life and managing the friendships and relationships becomes a little hard to bear sometimes. While sitting across the table with someone looking them in the eye remains the preferred method that I would like to meet with people. It is not always that feasible. With that I realize has come the need to manage our relationships in alternate means. Hence the arrival and need for networking sites like My Space and Face Book. I have joined Face Book (at last), I had resisted up to this point fearing that I would seem the creepy old guy lurking on line. But once I realized my 40 yr old sister had a Face Book page I didn't quite feel that way anymore. One thing I will commit to is remaining true to the people on my page ( making sure that I do indeed know them and not be a "friends" whore just trying to increase the number of friends on page). I know I am going to love this Face Book thing, I have already ran into ans chatted with some people I have not talked to in 14 years. That is absolutely amazing to me.

2009 Is Here

noreply@blogger.com (MIKE) — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 22:43:00 +0000

There is so much that has happened in 2008 that in ways I am very glad to see it go and there is still a piece of me that is sad to see it go. I am glad to see it go because it held some of my scariest moments in terms of my health in it I was in the hospital for about three weeks in August and also I had a surgery that was kind of a surprise for me. It went from I was going to have the surgery to I was not going to have the surgery because there was no room on the surgery schedule for me to have it, to me actually being told in the morning that I would actually be having the surgery later in the afternoon of that same day. I am sad because this year was a big self realization year for me. I realize a lot of what I want out of life in terms of family and friends. I have also come to realize that there is a lot of need in the world and that there is something that I can do help alleviate some of that need no matter how small it might be. Even if it seems small to me and the person I am helping it may very well be a big deal in our lives. When I started this blog quite some time ago I did it because I wanted to see how a man should measure his life, I am learning that the people that should be measuring a person's life are the people that he touches in his life and the people he leaves behind. I want to make the biggest dent in people's live that I possibly can. I am taking a step to do so real soon. As soon as I take that step I will make sure and write about it here. There is so much to be done in the world that needs to be done that I personally think that we all should look to do our part. I have yet to decide on a new years resolution because they never really seem to work out for me but I think I have decided on one while I have been writing this. 2009 is going to be a year of "doing" for me. There are a lot of things that I have always talked about doing and I think this year I am going to start doing them. Lofty goals and aspirations have never gotten anything done except take up time. I am going to put mine to work for me this year and let them keep me busy. So here's to 2009 and walking the walk

SOMEONE WAS IN MY HEAD

noreply@blogger.com (MIKE) — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 04:48:00 +0000

one month ago today someone was in my head literally. almost two months ago i walked into a local emergency room with symptoms of yet another TIA or mini stroke That led two a three week stay in three different hospitals and a brain surgery after about 2 years of these mini strokes eith no apparent cause of them someon thought to run a different test that no one had un on me yet and diagnosedme with moya moya syndrome arare brain disease that affects asian women and children . I had an STA/MCA BYPASS they took an artery out of my scalp and sewed it into the artery in my middle brain i now have a 2"x2"scar on my right side of my head and a reason to finally get a mohawk the great neurosurgery team at USC University hospital did a great job on the surgery even though I did technically die on the table twice I stopped breathing once and my heart stopped once.

Prayer Will Still Work

noreply@blogger.com (MIKE) — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 21:10:00 +0000

2. Prayer will still work.

James 5:16 (NKJV) 16…The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
James 5:16 (NLT) 16…The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results.
James 5:16 (TMNT) 16…The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with.

I look at the NKJV translation of this verse and there are four words that automatically pop out of the page and grab my attention—effective, fervent, righteous and avails. The fourth word appears to be conditional of the first three. In other words you don't gets the "avails much" until you are righteous and are praying effectively and fervently.

How is it that a person prays effectively? I love to pray and sometimes I get lost in my communication with God that people say I should pray next time and not preach. There are times that prayer actually becomes more like worship. In moments like those I think it is better to call that time worship instead of prayer. Our friend Webster defines prayer as 1) an address (as a petition) to God and 2) an earnest request or wish. Neither of those definitions mention praise, worship or flowery language. Nor do they mention tone or length of the prayer. To be effective in prayer you have to know what you are requesting and the basis on which you are requesting it.

James makes a reference to Elijah when he said the heavens were to be sealed up because of Ahab's rebellion. He knew what the word said about worshipping false idols and turning your back on God. It was also that Elijah by the same token was able to call fire down from heaven to consume his offering to God after Ahab and his prophets realized there was no power in Baal. After the prophets had been trying to call down fire from Baal all day, dancing and cutting up there bodies they had no response. Elijah who prayed a prayer to God that was less than 10 seconds in length got an immediate response because he knew he was praying God's word and was praying from a solid foundation.

God tells us to bring Him in remembrance of His word—not that He has forgotten but that we know the basis on which we are asking things of Him. Jesus said "The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They're full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don't fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply." Matthew 6:7-9 (TMNT) Praying effectively is praying God's word back to him as the basis for your requests. Praying effectively is praying God's will fulfilled in your life and in the lives of others—whether that be healing, prosperity, favor with the people you deal with—if it has a foundation in the word of God then it is fair ground for requesting it from Him.

Fervent prayer is not so difficult to understand either. When Elijah said that the heavens would open up and pour out rain it did not happen immediately. He had just called down fire from heaven and it took less that 10 seconds for him to utter that prayer. He asked for rain and the heavens did not open up right away. He sent his servant and asked him to look for clouds and the servant returned saying the sky was clear. So Elijah put his head between his knees again and prayed a second time. Still the servant reported clear skies. He did this 5 more times until the servant reported that a small cloud was surfacing on the horizon.

It is important to note that even though Elijah was used to prayers that received quick response from God, he did not give up when he did not receive and immediate answer this time. He knew the word of God and he knew the will of God for his people, now that they were reconciled back to Him. It is also important to note the posture that Elijah took when praying—he put his face between his knees. In ancient times this is posture that women used to take when they were giving birth to their babies. It wasn't that God needed Elijah to pray over and over again. It wasn't that He was testing Elijah, God trusted him as His mouthpiece. God was asking Elijah to form a deeper relationship with Him—asking Him to enter into His presence a second, third, fifth and seventh time. When there is no immediate response from God sometimes we need to pray the fervent prayer. We know w to pray effectively, fervently is entering into the presence of God over and over again coming before the almighty and trusting Him. The more we trust Him the more we realize that He has our best interest at heart and the issues we bring before Him fade and the relationship we have with Him becomes the source of everything that we need. We don't pray fervently to get Gods attention, we pray fervently to birth a deeper relationship with him.

Righteousness is another word that cane seem intimidating to someone who reads that praying fervently and effectively is not enough to avail much, but that effective and fervent prayer needs to come from a righteous man. The intimidation that the word righteous brings is simply a misunderstanding of its meaning. People understand righteousness to be a behavior. That is not the case. The righteousness of a man comes from his beliefs. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NKJV) If we believe that you have become a new creation like Paul says you have in 2 Corinthians 5:17, then you are a righteous individual. I know that seems way too easy. Let me offer one more example from the bible to confirm my theory. "For the Scriptures tell us, "Abraham believed God, so God declared him to be righteous." When people work, their wages are not a gift. Workers earn what they receive. But people are declared righteous because of their faith, not because of their work." Romans 4:3-5 (NLT) Abraham did nothing except believe that God was who He said He was and would do what He said He would do. That is what made him a righteous man. It is not a person's behavior that makes him a righteous person it is his belief.

Knowing the meaning of these three words should help remove the intimidation of praying fervently and effectually, especially in the light of the fact that righteousness is determined by our beliefs and not our behavior. Our prayers can be something that is powerful and that brings about wonderful results—our prayers can be a force to be reckoned with. (James 5:16, NLT, TMNT)

Be Blessed and Be a Blessing!
Mike

The Bible Will Still Have All the Answers

noreply@blogger.com (MIKE) — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 20:30:00 +0000

1. The Bible will still have all the answers.

2 Timothy 3:16 - 17 (NLT) 16All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. 17It is Godâ™s way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do.

2 Timothy 3:16 - 17 (TMNT) 16Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or anotherâ"showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live Godâ™s way. 17Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.

When I am truly searching for the answer to a question I am facing in life the best place I turn for the final answer is the Bible. When we try each and every situation to the standards that are detailed in Godâ™s word we find that we are either in line with His plan for our lives or we have overstepped the boundaries of His will for us. If we allow it the Word of God will do exactly what 2 Timothy 3:16 saysâ"show us truth, expose our rebellion correct our mistakes and train us to live the way God intended us to live. God uses His word to speak to each of us differently. He uses it to prepare each of us as individuals so that we will be fully equipped for the work he has purposed for our lives.

Constants You can Count On

noreply@blogger.com (MIKE) — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 20:19:00 +0000

I have heard it time and time again that the only thing that remains constant in life is change. When there is so much that is changing around you, sometimes you get lost in the whirlwind of it all. I need more sometimes. I need that place of constancy. I need to know that there are things that I can turn to that are going to be the sameâ"the same in every wayâ"no matter what situation or circumstance I am facing in my life. I can handle change, but I need to be able to rely on a rock of constancy somewhere in my life.

Considering this I was browsing through some of the messages in my email box that I had marked as read without really reading them (the number of unread messages became so daunting one day I almost couldnâ™t catch my breath) knowing that I would eventually get a moment to read them. I came across an email from a friend with the title âœThe Top Ten Predictions For 2008.â Being the middle of March, I decided it would be interesting to see if any of them were true. Sitting there reading this email message which was supposed to be a rare entertaining moment for me (which as of late come few and far between) actually became an answer to my search for constancy. In a matter of moments I had ten truths, foundations, I could cling to when I needed them because none of these would change. They are the same today as they were yesterday, last week or even last millennium. They would remain the same tomorrow, next week and until the very day that Jesus comes back for His people.

These ten items moved me when I needed to be moved and they spoke some peace into my spirit when I couldnâ™t have needed it more. If we really take some time to meditate on the truths that God has provided for us in His word, the world becomes a much more bearable place to exist. In studying and understanding His word our lives take on purpose and meaning. It is my hope that this Top Ten List will provide something that you can hold on to when you are grasping for something to steady your walk in life when the whirlwind of change comes roaring by.

Be Blessed and Be A Blessing!!
Mike

Hiatus Is Over

noreply@blogger.com (MIKE) — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 22:16:00 +0000

It has been a long time since I last wrote about anything here on my little space on the web. It is not to say that my life has been become that boring or monotonous that there has been absolutely nothing blog worthy. It is to say though that the whirlwind known as life has caught me up and sucked away my time and my energy at times that the thought of being able to blog was, if anything, inconceivable. There has been so much going on in my mind and life lately that I had to write to get some of it out. I can sum it all up in three words: GOD IS MOVING. I feel the tug in my spirit that HE is about to move in a big wayIn my life and in my family's lives for sure. It is my hope and prayer that He moves in huge ways in the church and the fresh spirit of revival falls on all of His people. BE on the lookoutit's coming!

Be Blessed and Be A Blessing!

Mike

I had a Stroke

noreply@blogger.com (MIKE) — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 19:20:00 +0000

Yesterday was a big two week anniversary for me. It was the anniversary of something life changing and something that has left its mark on me forever. Two weeks ago yesterday at 3:34 PM I had a stroke. Over the course of the next two hours it would be the first of at least two strokes that I would have that day. The tests would come to show that the strokes I had that day were not the first ones that I had. There was some damage that was visible in the MRI which is evidence that there was at least one (possibly more) stroke that left its mark on my brain. To make things more interesting the MRI also showed that I had had strokes on both sides of my brain unlike most people who only usually have them on one side. I have had stroke-like symptoms for the last year and a half--though none of the tests has ever shown that I actually had them. I have had several tests done MRI's, EEG's, CT Scans, EKG's, Echos, Sonograms, Ultrasounds, EMG, TEE, and none of them have been able to tell the doctors what was causing my numbness and loss of muscle strength--that is until now. Though it sucks to have had a stroke, now they know what is wrong with me and they can treat it. I am on blood thinners and most likely will be for the rest of my life, and with that comes the weekly blood tests or $20 finger prick to make sure my blood is thin but not to thin. Out of all of this I am more sure today than I was two weeks ago that God has a plan for my life, because what could have disabled me for the rest of my life has indeed left no lasting damage in my body function or brain processes. To not give Him the glory and praise for such a personal miracle would be just silly. He takes care of those who serve Him.

Note To Self: I Am OK

noreply@blogger.com (MIKE) — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 16:53:00 +0000

The more I learn about discipleship the more I love God and who He truly is. Two years ago I was chained to my need to climb the corporate ladder and see more zeroes on my paycheck. When I felt God saying it was time to leave my job--the only job I had had since I was 19--I admittedly started panicking. With each confirmation I received that I had heard correctly I challenged the idea even more. I had grown accustomed to the lifestyle that my job had allowed me to lead. I never had to tell myself no if I wanted something. When I finally said OK give me peace and I'll take the step--He did. A job that I loved I was suddenly filled with contempt for. When I thought about the money part of the decision, again I was accustomed to my lifestyle, I was almost instantly filled with peace. The words that gave me the peace that quieted my fears? "You were born in this earth to be the righteousness of God. My word says 'I have never seen the righteous forsaken or his seed out begging for bread.'" I know now that the reason I had to leave the job I once loved wasn't only because God was calling me, but because it was becoming something that I could have ended up worshipping and serving. I also know now that the more I stayed at that job the closer I was to bringing my life to an early end. I was literally working myself to death. It wasn't until I stopped working that my body was able to tell me just how ill I truly was. It had been living off of ambition and stress. When those two components were gone it was like the tape coming off a broken window pane. A little more than a year and a half of not working and just studying the word of God, and I am still learning my call and my direction I am to follow. I bless God because of His faithfulness, Love and provision. I love him and am truly indebted to Him for His life changing nature. My way to pay off this debt I feel towards Him? Offering my life to Him to with as He pleases. Two years ago I would have said I was nuts. Today I am OK with that. Even more than OK--I am excited. No income coming in right now. But that is OK too. I can honestly say that I have not missed anything. He has truly changed my priorities. The most awesome part about that for me is that the less I have, the more that I have been able to give--and give with faith knowing that my Father is going to take care of me. I know there isn't a need (past, present or future) that my father doesn't know about and that He won't be faithful to provide for. It is amazing to me to think that even if I don't have money or things to give, I will still be able to give something amazing away. Peter taught me that. Acts 3:6 was my lesson: "But Peter said, 'I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!'” I love the verse in The Message too: "Peter said, "I don't have a nickel to my name, but what I do have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk!" He grabbed him by the right hand and pulled him up. In an instant his feet and ankles became firm. He jumped to his feet and walked." I don't know why I am writing this today...Maybe for you or maybe it is just a message to myself that I need to read when I get it in my email today. If the second option is the reason then pay attention Mike and keep this message near the top of your email so you can reference it when you need to remind yourself that God is faithful, you are more blessed than you ever thought was possible, you are happier than you ever thought was possible, and of course, you are OK.

Be Blessed and Be a Blessing!
Mike

Saturday Morning Worship

noreply@blogger.com (MIKE) — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 16:45:00 +0000

I love worship music that moves me. It moves me when it says what I am feeling and helps me to say what I am feeling even better. I love it when I find that song I can play over and over and over and over and I just feel like I am sitting in the throne room of God. This is that song for me right now. It's from a guy named Coffey. Truly gifted and I know his career is gonna take off.

Holy Is The Lamb.m...

Be Blessed and Be a Blessing!
Mike

Healing the Body and the Heart

noreply@blogger.com (MIKE) — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 23:08:00 +0000

So often throughout the scriptures we see that Jesus had compassion on people. He allowed them to follow Him, and He ministered to them. He allowed them to interrupt Him, and He heard their needs. He allowed them to touch Him and take what they needed. There were times when He just simply spoke the word and the need (whether it was deliverance, healing, or forgiveness) was met. It wasn't His touch that healed their body or met their physical need or quieted their emotional distress, it was His words. There is so much we can do with our words; we can encourage, we can support, we can correct, we can edify and we can heal with our words. Then again there is only so much that we can do with our words; we can only speak them, they might help someone understand the point we are trying to make but they can never demonstrate the point we are making. If I tell you that I support you or that I forgive you, I might quiet your emotions but there is still something instantaneous lacking in our exchange. But if I say those things to you and then I reach for you and hug you, then I have conveyed physically what I have said verbally. When we take the time to touch we put a physical punctuation mark on our verbal statements. For some that touch is what it takes for them to understand what you have been saying. If I told you I loved you but didn't touch you, would you believe me? If I told you were healed or that I had faith your were healed but wouldn't touch you because you were contagious or had sores, would you believe. Sometimes touch is required for people to finally hear what we have been saying. Touch the untouchable. When we do that we do what our words can't--we heal the heart. When Jesus touched people and took time for people He healed their hearts because oftentimes they were the outcasts of society--the untouchables. Who are the untouchables around you? Are you ready to be His hands, to heal hearts?

Matthew 8:1-3--The leper only wanted the words to heal his body, Jesus said the words, touched him (an untouchable) and He healed his heart too.

Be Blessed and Be a Blessing!
Mike

Whirlwind Stop!

noreply@blogger.com (MIKE) — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 22:44:00 +0000

I imagine as a whirlwind gets stronger it gets bigger. I don't know for certain, but I picture it getting more devastating as it grows and needs more space to destroy. The headache that won't quit for me is often the result of the the mind that won't rest. When that mind that won't rest does not rest for days on end, the headache that won't quit needs more room to grow into and overflows in my neck and back. That's where I am at today. there is so much going on around me and only some of it is mine. I need to put it all down on paper and attack it one thing at a time. But then the war starts as the things in my head fight to see who is going down on the paper first and then to see which item is going to get crossed off first. I can't take it much more the whirlwind stops tonight. I need rest.

The Fog

noreply@blogger.com (MIKE) — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 23:31:00 +0000

Some days I feel like I am maneuvering through the fog. I don't know where I am going, the road may seem familiar, but I cannot be certain for sure if it is. Though I may have been down the road before I still move apprehensively not knowing if something new will be in my path. I travel uncertain of what lies in the whiteness that is in front of me, separating me from my destination. The blessing in moving through the fog is that I am moving at all. That I still get up and move through the fog without having to fight myself is a miracle in itself. That is progress in my discipleship walk, I think. Discipleship is allowing yourself to be led blindly to someone else's purpose for your life, at least the faith part is. Thank God for foggy days and the revelation that comes with them.

Be Blessed and Be a Blessing!

Mike

Loving the Right Way

noreply@blogger.com (MIKE) — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 15:03:00 +0000

I was reading in Philippians chapter one this morning about loving each other. In The Message version of verses 9-11 it says it so well that I am sure I will be thinking about it all morning.

9-11So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well. Learn to love appropriately. You need to use your head and test your feelings so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush. Live a lover's life, circumspect and exemplary, a life Jesus will be proud of: bountiful in fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God.

You know it is great to love people and to be all lovey and stuff like that in church, but is it sincere or is it the sentimental gush that Paul mentions here. I understand what it is saying to use your head and to test your feelings so that the love I share is sincere. Reading that this morning has me going mentally through each of my relationships with people and testing my feelings. Is my love for that person sincere or is it a basket full of sentimental gush? It is truly my heart's desire to be able to say that I love people sincerely and intelligently. I want to be able to say that not only do I love much, but I love well.

Be Blessed and Be a Blessing!
Mike

Walking Through Philippians

noreply@blogger.com (MIKE) — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 22:37:00 +0000

I am reading through the book of Philippians tonight. I have read through this book times before, but tonight there is just so much that is jumping out at. I love how faithful God is. It always seems that I am in a spot in my life where I am crying out for a good word of comfort or direction and He always takes me to His word and gives it to me. I mean I can have read the passage over and over and over again a hundred times before and then read it when He leads me and it is like I am reading it for the first time thinking "I didn't know this is what it said!" He really is faithful to meet me right where I am at.

One of my favorite verses is in the first chapter of Philippians. 1:6 (NLT) "And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns." I like it in The Message version as well: "There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears. "

I like the verse in the NLT because it uses the word "finally." The word finally, to me, represents the fact there was a process involved in the undertaking of some task that had to be completed. To me it gives justice to the fact that most processes involve work that sometimes includes struggle. I know that the work that Jesus has begun in me has been a struggle at times, especially when it involved me changing. Change is not an easy thing for me, especially when I had to learn to redo things in my life after I had been decades doing them the wrong way. I had to learn to trust my destiny and life to someone else that I couldn't see. If that doesn't involve struggle then I am not sure what would.

I like the verse in The Message because it has a more celebratory feel to it. It tells of a "flourishing finish" to the work that Jesus has begun in us. When we have accomplished all that we have been called to accomplish, or we have been found faithfully working to accomplish what we have been called to accomplish when Jesus returns we will be greeted with a "flourishing finish" to our work--a celebration for a life time of work that has been successfully completed. I also like this version because it is more definitive in the words it uses to describe the author's certainty of the fact of Jesus' faithfulness to watch over His work in us. "There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind..." sounds more secure in the knowledge of a fact than simply "I am certain..." To me the first method of explaining certainty is more emphatic than the second.

Beyond the wording of the verse in the two different versions, it is one of my favorite verses simply for what it says. It says that Jesus has made an investment in our lives, and just like any good investor, He is going to diligently watch the investment to make sure it accomplishes what it is supposed to. His investment is going to achieve the purpose He had planned for it. It is exciting to me to think that Jesus believes in me that much and that He cares about my success in His kingdom enough to personally watch over what I have been called to do. When I stumble He doesn't sell all the shares He has invested in me, but rather He redirects them to get me back on track to make me profitable again.

Be Blessed and Be a Blessing!
Mike

My Sunday....Downtown Disney

noreply@blogger.com (MIKE) — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 21:38:00 +0000

We celebrated my niece Rebekah's Birthday this past Sunday at Downtown Disney. She celebrated with all of her cousins at Libby Lu and then walked Downtown Disney until it was time for lunch at The Rainforest Cafe. I was lucky enough to be able to share the time with them and my Canon Rebel XTi. Here is the little video I put together from the pictures I took that day. Enjoy--we did!!

Be Blessed and Be a Blessing!
Mike

Matthew 18:3 Revisited

noreply@blogger.com (MIKE) — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 02:58:00 +0000

I just finished a post with Matthew 18:3. I think it was more of a mind clearing than a post. I needed to get that all out of my head before I could post what I was really thinking on that verse. Here it is in the NIV :3 "Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven." And now in The Message(v2-5): "For an answer Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room, and said, "I'm telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you're not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God's kingdom. What's more, when you receive the childlike on my account, it's the same as receiving me. "

Think of a little child. Innocent. Pure. Trusting. Loyal. Naive. Ignorant. Those last two descriptors aren't meant to be to mean spirited--they are meant to be positive and in the same light as the first two adjectives. The innocence and purity of the whole becoming like a child thing really isn't as hard as it may seem. Dedication, will power and self discipline can all lead to those things if they are applied to our lives. The parts that seem almost unattainable are the trusting, loyalty, naivete, and ignorance. How is that we are supposed to become like a child in these situations. How do you unlearn hurt, pride, anger, and fear? How do you learn to trust when you have been let down so many times before? Beyond that, how do you learn to trust someone and something you can't see? How do you unlearn the outcomes to situations you have played out in your life time and time again? How do you rely on someone to take care of you when you have fended for yourself for so long? These questions are the battleground that has to be crossed before someone can become like a child again.

The Message version breaks it down nicely. It says we have to become "simple and elemental" again. Childhood broken down to its elements. That's tough. I can tell you I would love to be there completely. I would love to be at that point in my life right now. I am ready to resign from being an adult. Just when I think I have reached that point though, something comes up in my life when I feel the need to become the navigator and all mighty in my life again. I feel at times like a hypocrite because it is almost as I know what it says in the Word and I can preach it and believe it for you, but when it comes to me I always miss the mark. It's normal, I know. But I am not one for normal I want to be extraordinary. Really at this point in my life I just want to know God is in charge and be content with it. I want to be able to resist the urge to take control back because I don't feel things are going the right way or going fast enough for me. I want the childlike faith I know exists in me to be the only faith I have and live. Pray for me and I'll pray for you because I know I am not the only one.

Be Blessed and Be a Blessing!
Mike

Right Now..

noreply@blogger.com (MIKE) — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 02:57:00 +0000

I have been accused of being childish on more than one occasion. It was probably well deserved as I have often wished I had some of my childhood and childlike instincts back. It was good to be a kid. I didn't have to deal with all this yucky adult stuff that I am facing right now. Paying bills, finding the faith to hold on to the dreams and calling God has given. Finding the faith to believe that what seems impossible is indeed possible. At least when I was a kid I knew what I was going to be when I grew up. I find myself now at 31 asking myself what I am going to do with the rest of my life. Rather I find myself asking God what He is going to do with the rest of my life. When He speaks is usually when I need that childlike faith to believe that it will all come to pass. Being a kid was great. I knew I was going to eat but didn't have to worry about where the groceries were going to come from. I knew I had a place to sleep but didn't have to worry about the mortgage that had to be paid to make sure I could have that place to sleep. I flipped on the light switch and the lights came on, I didn't think about the light bill being paid. I had new clothes to wear but didn't have to wonder what was going to be sacrificed in the budget that month to be able to have the money to buy the clothes. I want that kind of faith and trust again. In a way this is a testament to my mother, the single woman that raised three kids alone in a middle class neighborhood and kept us in the lifestyle we were always accustomed to. We knew money was tight at times but I don't think we ever really knew just how tight it was or the sacrifices she made for us to have what we had. I want to be a child again. I need that faith. I know it will all be OK because it always is. But this time I want to feel it.

"Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of Heaven." Matthew 18:3

Some Days...

noreply@blogger.com (MIKE) — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 14:13:00 +0000

Some days I just want to crawl back into bed and hide under the covers. Not because I am depressed or upset or going through some other form of emotional distress but because I am a Christian. I know that seems like a horrible thing to say, but sometimes it is true. Being a Christian in itself is not what makes me want to hide it is some of my brothers and sisters in Christ that make me want to hide because of their actions and words. I speak love and think love. It has taken me a long time to get here for me to be able to that. I was always about justice before I was about mercy. I think it is better to extend a hand to someone to help them or welcome them than to preach at them and tell them how horrible of a person they are. I saw this video this morning when I was going through my RSS feeds. It is from MMI. I will not say that I agree with abortion or that I think it is the right thing to do, because that is farthest from my beliefs. I will say though that this video upset me and made me a little angry. Maybe it was because of the content and I think it was partly because it was a little kid that was the center of the video. I felt like I was a little kid again having my gifts exploited. Anyhow, here is the video. Try not to want to go and hide.

glumbert - Young Preacher

Be Blessed and Be a Blessing!
Mike

Ignored and Overlooked

noreply@blogger.com (MIKE) — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 22:42:00 +0000

Ignored and overlooked. As a kid on the playground none of us wanted to be the last kid picked for the team. None of us wanted to be passed over or passed by. We wanted to be a part of the action that was going on around us. We wanted to be a part of the group--to have something to belong to. We had a need for association. As we have grown up, has this need changed or diminished? Maybe to a degree it has, as we are more selective of the groups that we look to associate ourselves with. Thinking in terms of society, I still can't imagine one of us that wants to belong to a group that either of those two labels applies to. Overlooked for a promotion because of our gender. No that's not good. Ignored in political realms because we don't have a high voter turnout percentage. That's not a good feeling either. How about ignored because we are in prison for committing crime or worse yet crimes. What if I was in prison because I committed the same crime over and over and over and got caught each time--should I be ignored or overlooked? I don't have a job right now because I am sick. What if my life was reduced to holding a sign on the corner because I have exhausted all my other means of support? Would you ignore me because it was my fault? Ignore me because you have your own problems? Overlook me because I am overweight so I must be eating somewhere? One of the things I have heard most from people who have AIDS is that the thing they miss most is being touched. Would you let someone who is sick with AIDS die without being hugged simply because their disease carries a stigma just as big as its death sentence? Overlook them because of what they did to contract the disease? Pretty tough questions. These are roaring through my mind right now. Especially now. I don't have a job. I am not made of nor was I born into money. Yet I have so much more than I need. I have the luxury of deciding what, when and where I will eat. I hear God calling again. I know He is going to move again in my life soon. I feel it.

Matthew 25:37-40 (The Message)"Then those 'sheep' are going to say, 'Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?' Then the King will say, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.'

Be Blessed and Be a Blessing!
Mike

Looking To Get Away

noreply@blogger.com (MIKE) — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 22:57:00 +0000

I am looking to get away for a couple of days. Not because I am burnt out or fed up or anything like that, but because I am longing for silence. I feel my insides yearning for quiet and alone time. I love my family, but we love a busy life. There are times in my day when I am alone and the house is quiet but in that quiet time there is too many distractions that I am familiar with. I need a break. I need a mountain to climb or a garden to escape to with no distractions of any sort. I want to be quiet and just be able to listen to what God is saying to me and to my spirit.

Steve Harvey In A New Light...

noreply@blogger.com (MIKE) — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 22:39:00 +0000

I used to listen to Steve Harvey when he had his morning show on the Beat in LA on the way to work. I was always impressed when he started his show with praise to God for the day and an encouraging word to those who were locked up. I found this video of him and it just brought back those memories. How amazing would it be if Jesus got this kind of ovation everywhere He was talked about?

Be Blessed and Be a Blessing!
Mike

Man's Two Best Friends

noreply@blogger.com (MIKE) — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 22:50:00 +0000

I have had this picture in my collection for a while. I absolutely love it. I don't know either of the subjects in the photo but I think this is a real cool picture. I know I want another dog, but I think I am starting to want a kid too (just for moments like these).

Be Blessed and Be a Blessing!

Mike