The Lord wants us, not our usefulness.
"Our tendency today is to put the emphasis on service. Beware of the people who make their request for help on the basis of someone’s usefulness. If you make usefulness the test, then Jesus Christ was the greatest failure who ever lived. For the saint, direction and guidance come from God Himself, not some measure of that saint’s usefulness. It is the work that God does through us that counts, not what we do for Him. All that our Lord gives His attention to in a person’s life is that person’s relationship with God— something of great value to His Father. Jesus is “bringing many sons to glory . . .” (Hebrews 2:10)."
Have a great day men.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Sunday, August 28, 2011
The Resistance
Dearly beloved brothers,
This song reminds me of you whoppaheads. Men of the Resistance. Listen. Tell me if you agree:
I first got hooked on this song as I was reminded of late night whoppahead flag football. The air a little chilly, the lights glowing over the fields, and your brothers joining you in the march to the battle. Click, Clack, Click, Clack........
Thats you guys to me... My brothers in the Resistance. To God be the Glory. With you beside me I trust and know the goodness of the Lord to a deeper level and for that I am grateful.
Listen, enjoy....and download for free. Its a pretty awesome album. The excerpt of lyrics below say it best.
And this begs the question
My rest is a weapon against the oppression
Of mans obsession to control things
Look at the long line of make believe kings
The lord of the flies want’s you to kiss his ring
Follow new rules with invisible strings
And become a puppet in the diabolical scheme
How do good men become part of the regime
They don’t believe in resistance.
Hold fast like an anchor in the storm
We will not be moved
Don't be moved. God is with you always. And your whoppas have your back.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Saturday, August 20, 2011
deviation
I have had a stressful week. It was a very good week in some ways, but my focus was shaken from the Creator amidst the busyness many times.
DAD, can I come home and work for you again? Please forgive me.
As leaders, we cannot linger too long looking back at mistakes. Maintain bearing.
Luke 9
61Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family.”
62Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”
1 Kings 19
19So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. 20Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. “Let me kiss my father and mother good-by,” he said, “and then I will come with you.”
“Go back,” Elijah replied. “What have I done to you?”
21So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his attendant.
Philippians 3
12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
15All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
17Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. 18For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. 20But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
I want to thank you men for repeatedly pointing me to the cross and reminding me to die so much in the recent past months. Also thank you for listening to my thoughts and emotions. The respect and loyalty I have for you is immense.
DAD, can I come home and work for you again? Please forgive me.
As leaders, we cannot linger too long looking back at mistakes. Maintain bearing.
Luke 9
61Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family.”
62Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”
1 Kings 19
19So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. 20Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. “Let me kiss my father and mother good-by,” he said, “and then I will come with you.”
“Go back,” Elijah replied. “What have I done to you?”
21So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his attendant.
Philippians 3
12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
15All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
17Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. 18For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. 20But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
I want to thank you men for repeatedly pointing me to the cross and reminding me to die so much in the recent past months. Also thank you for listening to my thoughts and emotions. The respect and loyalty I have for you is immense.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
have a great week brus
“But, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.” 2 Corinthians 10:17-18 NIV
Monday, August 15, 2011
Drive In Jesus, ASK and SEEK
I jog in the evenings.
When the night is sultry and at its peak, just before the sun relents to the beckoning of the moon's inevitable draw, I jog.
There's much purpose in jogging. Yes, I appreciate the physical benefits. But, to the glory of God, I see the Spirit at work in these times unlike any other.
Last night, I jogged; it was warm, maybe 75, and I sweat. I ran 3 miles, then stopped in a small park and did some sit-ups, pull-ups, and jumping exercises. Then, I walked for a while and just asked the Spirit to move; asked the Spirit to speak.
Coming off Mike's wedding weekend--Michael and Jodie for president!-- I was prepping for my first day of my new job in Manassas, VA. I also haven't seen my girlfriend in 10 weeks, a circumstance that I really have struggled through, probably more tahn I've been letting on. I also just feel confind by the season of life sometimes, by the question that pulls at the heart and mind of every man at different points: am I really living out my purposes? An important question, yes; but one that a man needs to resolve in order to...well, live out his purpose.
Purpose: I walked, wrestling with my heart toward Lauren, toward life, toward myself, my family, my friends...wrestling for peace there. God, display your glory admist struggle; triumph over sin; redeem the day; let your kingdom come; let us see you as we...
I hesitated in mid-prayer as the Ford F-150 drove by me with a burst that thrust me back into my present circumstances. The truck was impressive, yes; it wasn't teh truck itself that really awed me, though--it was his license plate:
IN JESUS
No two words could have elicited better praise as my grin peaked open and my lips whispered the finish to my prayer, "Let us see you as we drive In Jesus."
Delicious Spirit-leadings dripped from my spiritual palate as I walked on, rejoicing in God's sovereignty to literally form my prayers in my environment around me. I prayed for the community I was in, for the people and families I was passing, for the guys across the street who were black.
Why do they have to be black? I thought. Can't they just be people. I felt ashamed and hurt by my thought and frustrated with that, which gave room for frustration with feeling frustration about not hearing from Lauren for several weeks, which gave rise to frustrations about my own heart-- when will it settle, be at peace, even now in this evening of great praise, I don't know what to do just to find...
A dark-blue Toyota two-door sudan rolled by almost silently, at least compared to the truck from earlier, but two bright lights dimly illuminated a tiny license plate hanging from its back bumper:
ASK SEEK
I stopped. I smiled the coy, ironic smile of a young man wholly-contented, whose father provides even before his asking.
Then, I jogged.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Sunday, August 7, 2011
book club perelandra
Mike, Bettwy, David Perks, and I are probably going to start a discussion on the book Perelandra by CS Lewis. Once MacFarlan returns from Jodi-fest! If anyone else is interested then let me know.
pooper scooper
BW
pooper scooper
BW
Saturday, August 6, 2011
walking, more like hiking
I have heard that some scholars believe that Jairus' walk with the Lord could have been up to 15 miles. Probably the longest walk of his life knowing his daughter is already dead and all this man has said is to have faith, lets keep walking.
Luke 8:40-56
New International Version (NIV)
Jesus Raises a Dead Girl and Heals a Sick Woman
40 Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. 41 Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house 42 because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying.
As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. 43 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years,[a] but no one could heal her. 44 She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.
45 “Who touched me?” Jesus asked.
When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.”
46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.”
47 Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. 48 Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”
49 While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher anymore.”
50 Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.”
51 When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child’s father and mother. 52 Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. “Stop wailing,” Jesus said. “She is not dead but asleep.”
53 They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 54 But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” 55 Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. 56 Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.
Luke 8:40-56
New International Version (NIV)
Jesus Raises a Dead Girl and Heals a Sick Woman
40 Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. 41 Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house 42 because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying.
As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. 43 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years,[a] but no one could heal her. 44 She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.
45 “Who touched me?” Jesus asked.
When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.”
46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.”
47 Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. 48 Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”
49 While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher anymore.”
50 Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.”
51 When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child’s father and mother. 52 Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. “Stop wailing,” Jesus said. “She is not dead but asleep.”
53 They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 54 But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” 55 Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. 56 Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.
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