Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Something So Wrong

Dr. Paul Meier mentioned Paul Simon’s song “Something So Right” as a good picture of someone who tries to avoid pain in life and, inevitably, finds more pain.  It is funny how, in life, people tend to attract what they don’t want. 

I had a dear friend who grew up in an abusive household.  And so who did she wind up with?  Guys who beat her, abused her, and mistreated her.  She was miserable, but couldn’t really see herself being happy.  When she met someone who treated her like royalty, she ran away from him and into the arms of another abuser.  How sad...

You’ve got the cool water
When the fever runs high
You’ve got the look of love light in your eyes
And I was in crazy motion
’til you calmed me down
It took a little time
But you calmed me down

When something goes wrong
I’m the first to admit it
I’m the first to admit it
And the last one to know

when something goes right
Well it’s likely to lose me, mm
It’s apt to confuse me
It’s such an unusual sight
Oh, I can’t, I can’t get used to something so right
Something so right

They’ve got a wall in China
It’s a thousand miles long
To keep out the foreigners they made it strong
And I’ve got a wall around me
That you can’t even see
It took a little time
To get next to me

When something goes wrong
I’m the first to admit it
I’m the first to admit it
And the last one to know

when something goes right
Well it’s likely to lose me, mm
It’s apt to confuse me
because it’s such an unusual sight
Oh, I swear, I can’t get used to something so right
Something so right

Some people never say the words “I love you”
It’s not their style
to be so bold
Some people never say those words “I love you”
But like a child they’re longing to be told, mm

When something goes wrong
I’m the first to admit it
I’m the first to admit it
And the last one to know
when something goes right
Well it’s likely to lose me, mm
It’s apt to confuse me
because it’s such an unusual sight
I swear, I can’t, I can’t get used to something so right
Something so right

Isn’t that such an accurate portrayal of life? But it doesn’t have to be that way, does it? I am taking a note from my buddy Charlie Peacock’s songbook... his song “Personal Revolution” is a point-of-interest on the GPS of life that I’m ready to follow.

How about you?

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Ben Stein Expelled...

Pastor Mike Macintosh referenced Ben Stein’s movie -- noting that there is a movement to deny the existence of God. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools. In Psalm 139, David describes that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. One single cell in our bodies is more complex than anything an engineer can design or build.


Don’t be a carnal, fleshly person who dies a Godless life and faces eternal separation from God. Your breath will leave you one day... and your thoughts and mind will cease. Once you shut down, make sure you are prepared for what follows.

Atheists say that nothing exists after death. But wouldn't you rather have insurance for your soul? If you never crash your car, it didn't hurt to have insurance. If there is no afterlife, it doesn't hurt to insure your soul.

Own the peace of the Rock.

Like a Good Neighbor, Jesus is there!


Sunday, April 13, 2008

Leave the Past Behind

Are you a runner? If so, running a mile is not such a difficult thing. Even if you were only able to walk... one mile is not an impossibility.

But imagine if you were on that mile journey and you paused to put a heavy backpack on. It was filled with broken pieces of bricks and rocks... and some metal joint and pipe pieces.

It would be quite difficult to run or walk that mile with such a heavy backpack on... but it is similar to what Marines and some other members of the armed forces do in training.

But now, let us take some hooks and wire and hang a half-dozen cast iron frying pans to the back of the backpack.

This would make the mile a bit more difficult. The added weight would drag you down. Also, the awkward motion of the swinging pans would compromise your center of gravity. Also, as the pans swing and your legs move, they would begin to bang painfully into your legs. The pain would hinder your progress.

But you are barely a few steps into your mile and now you have added a 25 pound sack of beans carried across your shoulders. The weight of the beans makes you lean forward to maintain your center of gravity. This places more stress on your leg muscles and makes it even more difficult for you to run or to move forward.

You may even collapse under the weight of it all.

Spiritually speaking, that is what happens when we allow our past to occupy and consume us.

The Bible tells us to cast aside sins and weights that would hinder us from running the race of life.

THEREFORE THEN, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us,
[Hebrews 12:1]

I once had a dream where I was in a labyrinthine building. In each room, I saw disturbing images of some relatives who had hurt me as a child. It appeared that some were dead and laying in state, others were alive. I reached a room where a mental patient was frantically reciting dates as if his mind was gone. I sat across from him and spoke PEACE to him in the Name of the Lord. He stopped, calmed down, and smiled.

I awakened confused. That seemed a strange, yet vivid dream.

Later, the Lord revealed that this was symbolic of my being bound by my past... and that I could only have peace by forgiving things done in the past, forgetting those things that I can do nothing about, and looking forward for those GREATER BLESSINGS that are in Christ Jesus.

Forget those things that are behind...

Launch ahead to the things that are before...

And move into the sweet communion of the Holy Spirit and enjoy that peace that passes all understanding.

PEACE BE UNTO YOU RIGHT NOW IN THE NAME OF JESUS!

Friday, April 11, 2008

Ben Stein Expelled

EXPELLED

Ben SteinDon't miss this movie!
Coming out on April 18th

EXPELLED: No Intelligence Allowed starring Ben Stein follows his journey around the globe where he proves that scientists, educators and philosophers are being persecuted in a modern day witch hunt because they dare to go against the theory of evolution. These pillars of education are being fired, ridiculed and ostracized for merely challenging Darwin's theory. Take a look at the movie trailer here.

Kirk's Comments: "I saw EXPELLED and thought it was tremendous! The sheer intellect on the ID (Intelligent Design) side of the debate clears the notion of 'fairy tales' and the honesty of famous atheists like Richard Dawkins and his minions is shocking. Ben Stein does an excellent job using humor, tenacity, and personal passion to expose the anti-God, anti-American, Big Science agenda, linking Darwin's theory to the horrors of the Holocaust. A must see for every believer, agnostic, and atheist."

Ray's Comments: "If you have felt frustrated by all the lies about Intelligent Design, you will be thrilled with this movie--especially the concluding interview with Richard Dawkins. Please, go to EXPELLED! Take your church, your youth group, your neighbors, your mother. It will spark interesting conversations."

The secular media are going to ignore this movie. So what can you do to help promote it? You can call your local theater, speak to the manager and ask him to screen the movie. Tell him that you will push it through your church, and that you will bring a group of people. If he gets it in, make sure you keep your word. You can also visit the EXPELLED website for more information on making sure this movie is shown in your city.


Thanks Judypie for alerting us about this movie!

Thursday, April 10, 2008

O Church?

Disclaimer: Not our views... just an interesting bit of video...


Hmm... we don't necessarily endorse 100% of what is being said, but this is food for thought...

Get Service

Thanks again to Judypie for this great find!

Saturday, April 5, 2008

Why Brian Welch Walked Away

Thanks again, Judypie!


Another Gem from Judypie

“For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.”

Matthew 24:21

General Omar Bradley said this about our generation:

“We know more about war than about peace. We know more about killing than about living. This is our 20th Century’s claim to progress — knowledge of science outstrips capacity for control. We have too many men of science, too few men of God. The world has achieved brilliance without wisdom, power without conscience. We are a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants.”

I think he said a mouthful. Jesus said there’s coming a time like never before seen in history — the Great Tribulation — when all our progresses and advances will come down to one thing — Jesus Christ.

Where will you be on the day of Tribulation?

Where do you want to be?

Guide me in Your truth and faithfulness and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You do I wait all the day long. Laus Deo!

Thanks for Judypie for keeping us inspired every single day!