VIA EMAIL-- GO!
wow, did u know that u could email urself blogs? well, u do now! (doesnt make too much sense though, given the fact that, since i'm online to email, i'm online to post). but hey, it's cool!
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
aah, man!
so i noticed that, when i would put www.blogspot.com instead of www.BLOGGER.com, it would take me to a "page not found" page. then i thought, "hey, seems like that's a blogger address ready for the taking!" (in the style of anarbek.blogspot.com, u know). yeah, i tried. no, can't do it. sum-uh-nuh...
and instead of doing another post (and in an effort to write about my life instead of just ideas and all that) i'll talk about my night at work! woo!
when i got back from mexico, i just really didnt want to call in and tell them i was back. just something about working. anyway, i did and my first shift was tonight (tuesday) and i was dreading it as well! just the idea of being overwhelmed by coffee-learning-things and not knowing anyone (doesnt sound like me, does it?). but i prayed and God is cool. not only did He help me manage my ridiculousness but He also set it up that I worked with/got trained by someone i had talked to before and was kinda cool with and the trainer i thought i was going to have (who i didnt really connect that well with previously) showed up later. the coolest part of all this, though, is that during my other-person-training time i got to connect with this guy by joking and stuff, so now, when he trains me tomorrow, we'll be at that cool, "hey, we're cool" stage.
now leave me alone. i got a support letter to hash out (that wasnt a drug reference, i swear! that one was though).
and instead of doing another post (and in an effort to write about my life instead of just ideas and all that) i'll talk about my night at work! woo!
when i got back from mexico, i just really didnt want to call in and tell them i was back. just something about working. anyway, i did and my first shift was tonight (tuesday) and i was dreading it as well! just the idea of being overwhelmed by coffee-learning-things and not knowing anyone (doesnt sound like me, does it?). but i prayed and God is cool. not only did He help me manage my ridiculousness but He also set it up that I worked with/got trained by someone i had talked to before and was kinda cool with and the trainer i thought i was going to have (who i didnt really connect that well with previously) showed up later. the coolest part of all this, though, is that during my other-person-training time i got to connect with this guy by joking and stuff, so now, when he trains me tomorrow, we'll be at that cool, "hey, we're cool" stage.
now leave me alone. i got a support letter to hash out (that wasnt a drug reference, i swear! that one was though).
Monday, April 16, 2007
attitude of gratitude
i was looking back at one of Chris's (cwhitler.blogspot.com) blogs "Faith=risk" and it reminded me of this thing i wrote out 10 or so months ago that josh and i were planning on putting in a 'zine that we never got around to writing. i hope u like it!
"walk in the light, as he is in the light"
drugs were a problem as long as i didnt think they were a problem. life gets out of control as long as i think i have it under control. i'm a slave to sin as long as i'm in denial about my sin and i'll never grow through it until i give it to Christ and to my brothers.
"Pray and give thanks in all things...for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus."
God is a pretty funny guy. what seems so backwards to fallen/natural man is the greatest blessing and tool for our relationship with Christ. so being thankful in all circumstances is what God really wants for me as i walk with my Brother and God, Christ. that means God wants me to actually thank him, give him glory and praise, for all the frustrating, annoying, hard and scary times and not just the "isnt life great, look at all i have and have done" moments of joy and reflection. but why does he want that for/from me? how does that help mend our broken relationship with God?
first of all, the mere act of thanking God for feelings of, let's say, frustration/impatience, for example, allows us to accept the fact that we are pissed off or annoyed and don't have Christ's peace. "God, thank you that i feel really agitated right now because my boss won't get off my back." easy enough.
the second thing it does is shows us where our flesh still has control of our lives and hearts, ie, what and where we arent allowing Christ to reign. "Thank you that feeling agitated means i havent learned Christ's patience."
now we are accepting the fact that our feelings arent bad, they are a tool for growth. God's Truth becomes more and more evident to us, thereby it will be more apparent through us as we live our lives of love and point back to Christ.
this is the part where it all comes together and that gratitude will start to feel real. this is the part of growth. this is what Christ is anxiously fidgiting in his seat (at the right hand of the Father) waiting for us to find -- realizing Christ's sovereignty, direction and love in our lives. "And thank you, Lord, that by showing me how i'm not like you, it means that that's where you are going to do some growing in me!"
now it's all back on Christ's shoulders. we just have to walk the Way. the next time we find our selves in a frustrating situation, instead of resorting to our old man, we realize that it is Christ pruning us, molding and shaping us, into his glory. tough times kinda' lose their edge when we see that it's God lovingly teaching us to be like God.
another tool God lovingly gives us, and another example of the way life is truly meant to be lived, is open relationship and community with our Christian brothers and sisters. when we become Christians, when the Spirit of God and Life is born within us, we become new people in a new family. and family is meant to be close (regardless of the way our society has made it appear). "Hey guys, recently Christ has really been showing me how easily annoyed and pissed off i get at people, especially my boss." now, i know my family isnt going to judge me or condemn me because they know what it's like to be human growing to be like God, also. so it allows me to be real and get things off my chest. it also gives me people who i can count on to pray for me, encourage me when things start getting really hard to handle (growing isnt always easy, even when Christ is doing it!) and if i slip up and cuss out my boss (at least mentally, if not physically) i dont have to let my failures eat at me in secret. i can walk in the Light and be free to be me in Christ as i grow to be more like him.
this is where i give a quick shout out to all my family (physical and spiritual) who has been Christ and community to me in prayer, accountability, a mentor, an ear and a friend! life (especially these last 5 months) would have been impossible without every last one of you. thank you, and thank God for you.
let's top it off with one more praise then we'll tie it all together. "Thank you, Brother, that you care enough about me to reveal your life to me, how my flesh doesnt measure up and that you are the only Way to experiencing true Life. Thank you that you want me to have true life with you. thank you that you care for someone who needs as much work as i do."
so basically, God is worthy of our praise because he wants us to live the life we were meant to live, in his image, in his glory and in his love. he gives us the Spirit of Truth and his Word to reveal it to us, shows us the Way to walk it out and grow and gives us the desire for true Life so we will. and he gives us our Christian brothers and sisters so we have physical people to talk to and love on. all praise and glory be to God our Father in heaven, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Ahh-yeah!
"walk in the light, as he is in the light"
drugs were a problem as long as i didnt think they were a problem. life gets out of control as long as i think i have it under control. i'm a slave to sin as long as i'm in denial about my sin and i'll never grow through it until i give it to Christ and to my brothers.
"Pray and give thanks in all things...for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus."
God is a pretty funny guy. what seems so backwards to fallen/natural man is the greatest blessing and tool for our relationship with Christ. so being thankful in all circumstances is what God really wants for me as i walk with my Brother and God, Christ. that means God wants me to actually thank him, give him glory and praise, for all the frustrating, annoying, hard and scary times and not just the "isnt life great, look at all i have and have done" moments of joy and reflection. but why does he want that for/from me? how does that help mend our broken relationship with God?
first of all, the mere act of thanking God for feelings of, let's say, frustration/impatience, for example, allows us to accept the fact that we are pissed off or annoyed and don't have Christ's peace. "God, thank you that i feel really agitated right now because my boss won't get off my back." easy enough.
the second thing it does is shows us where our flesh still has control of our lives and hearts, ie, what and where we arent allowing Christ to reign. "Thank you that feeling agitated means i havent learned Christ's patience."
now we are accepting the fact that our feelings arent bad, they are a tool for growth. God's Truth becomes more and more evident to us, thereby it will be more apparent through us as we live our lives of love and point back to Christ.
this is the part where it all comes together and that gratitude will start to feel real. this is the part of growth. this is what Christ is anxiously fidgiting in his seat (at the right hand of the Father) waiting for us to find -- realizing Christ's sovereignty, direction and love in our lives. "And thank you, Lord, that by showing me how i'm not like you, it means that that's where you are going to do some growing in me!"
now it's all back on Christ's shoulders. we just have to walk the Way. the next time we find our selves in a frustrating situation, instead of resorting to our old man, we realize that it is Christ pruning us, molding and shaping us, into his glory. tough times kinda' lose their edge when we see that it's God lovingly teaching us to be like God.
another tool God lovingly gives us, and another example of the way life is truly meant to be lived, is open relationship and community with our Christian brothers and sisters. when we become Christians, when the Spirit of God and Life is born within us, we become new people in a new family. and family is meant to be close (regardless of the way our society has made it appear). "Hey guys, recently Christ has really been showing me how easily annoyed and pissed off i get at people, especially my boss." now, i know my family isnt going to judge me or condemn me because they know what it's like to be human growing to be like God, also. so it allows me to be real and get things off my chest. it also gives me people who i can count on to pray for me, encourage me when things start getting really hard to handle (growing isnt always easy, even when Christ is doing it!) and if i slip up and cuss out my boss (at least mentally, if not physically) i dont have to let my failures eat at me in secret. i can walk in the Light and be free to be me in Christ as i grow to be more like him.
this is where i give a quick shout out to all my family (physical and spiritual) who has been Christ and community to me in prayer, accountability, a mentor, an ear and a friend! life (especially these last 5 months) would have been impossible without every last one of you. thank you, and thank God for you.
let's top it off with one more praise then we'll tie it all together. "Thank you, Brother, that you care enough about me to reveal your life to me, how my flesh doesnt measure up and that you are the only Way to experiencing true Life. Thank you that you want me to have true life with you. thank you that you care for someone who needs as much work as i do."
so basically, God is worthy of our praise because he wants us to live the life we were meant to live, in his image, in his glory and in his love. he gives us the Spirit of Truth and his Word to reveal it to us, shows us the Way to walk it out and grow and gives us the desire for true Life so we will. and he gives us our Christian brothers and sisters so we have physical people to talk to and love on. all praise and glory be to God our Father in heaven, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Ahh-yeah!
hmmm
You’re St. Justin Martyr! You have a positive and hopeful attitude toward the world. You think that nature, history, and even the pagan philosophers were often guided by God in preparation for the Advent of the Christ. You find “seeds of the Word” in unexpected places. You’re patient and willing to explain the faith to unbelievers. Find out which Church Father you are at The Way of the Fathers! |
Saturday, April 14, 2007
here's the thing...
...tell me what u think!
yes. you read that right. it's not too hard.
i remember when i had myspace and no one would ever really respond to my blog! i want feedback! what do u think my email is for? why else do i write my thoughts to the world? and how else am i supposed to think about what i think about if no one gives input on what i think about?! think about it!
and for those of u who do... thanks!
(and i know, chris, that you are the first one to even read my blogspot, let alone respond to it, so dont think that that is in response to u leaving a comment. this is for future blog-readers who just dont get it!)
yes. you read that right. it's not too hard.
i remember when i had myspace and no one would ever really respond to my blog! i want feedback! what do u think my email is for? why else do i write my thoughts to the world? and how else am i supposed to think about what i think about if no one gives input on what i think about?! think about it!
and for those of u who do... thanks!
(and i know, chris, that you are the first one to even read my blogspot, let alone respond to it, so dont think that that is in response to u leaving a comment. this is for future blog-readers who just dont get it!)
so He says...
the words and examples are taken from Dr. Scott Hahn, from his interview with Mike Acquilina on "Swear to God," named after Dr Hahn's book. i'm taking them and running!
so not only can God not lie b/c of His supreme uprightness, but He cannot lie due to His Infinite Power. if God were to say "John is a dog," then i would have to-- every cell in my body and every fiber of my being, in the full reality of the physical and spiritual-- would have to become that of a dog because all things in all existence must bow in submission to Him. if He states something as such, it is such.
"My Flesh is Real Food and My Blood is Real Drink." (Jn6.55) there's no ambiguity here. Jesus doesnt go on to explain Himself as anything but what He matter-of-factly states like He does everywhere else in the New Testament when He's misunderstood. Just as He is the Temple that housed the Spirit and Presence of God on earth that was destroyed and raised up in 3 days as He states (cryptically, but not symbolic- or figuratively), so too is His Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity mysteriously present in His gift to us, the Eucharist. All of nature, both seen and unseen, must bow down to not only the Words of God, but to the Word of God, no matter how "hard to accept" (v60-66) it may be.
i'd rather risk taking Him seriously and being wrong than short-changing the very Words that came from His mouth.
so not only can God not lie b/c of His supreme uprightness, but He cannot lie due to His Infinite Power. if God were to say "John is a dog," then i would have to-- every cell in my body and every fiber of my being, in the full reality of the physical and spiritual-- would have to become that of a dog because all things in all existence must bow in submission to Him. if He states something as such, it is such.
"My Flesh is Real Food and My Blood is Real Drink." (Jn6.55) there's no ambiguity here. Jesus doesnt go on to explain Himself as anything but what He matter-of-factly states like He does everywhere else in the New Testament when He's misunderstood. Just as He is the Temple that housed the Spirit and Presence of God on earth that was destroyed and raised up in 3 days as He states (cryptically, but not symbolic- or figuratively), so too is His Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity mysteriously present in His gift to us, the Eucharist. All of nature, both seen and unseen, must bow down to not only the Words of God, but to the Word of God, no matter how "hard to accept" (v60-66) it may be.
i'd rather risk taking Him seriously and being wrong than short-changing the very Words that came from His mouth.
from me to you
It’s about time we got in line
I’m not here
to attack your church,
but you need to know
that Christ’s Heart hurts.
There’s fear
of vain repetition,
but Jewish Tradition
Jesus was living.
You go to church
and sing your songs,
a few handshakes
and a service not too long
Sounds like a
watered-down Mass to me.
Jesus is our Friend,
but lack of reverence for our King?
We get stuck on
our ten “fave” songs
but reciting a prayer
is all of a sudden wrong?
Jesus will lead us
into all Truth;
led by the Spirit
He’ll give our hearts the proof
Jesus is the Word
in Scripture and Flesh,
but it’s too true—
Scripture alone cane make a mess
There’s a decided lack of
discipleship these days.
Not just convert, but
“make disciples” my Bible says
So if we all started
on the same page
all the confusion
would be laid to waste
If only Christ
had the wisdom
to leave someone on Earth
with the keys to His Kingdom
If only His Bride
was given a leader
who used the Spirit, Scripture
AND history to feed her
Someone to lead
Christ’s army into war
because all of these ronins
our Kingdom can’t afford
How can we survive
without Authority and Structure?
That’s why Christ set the example
of the submission posture
“Not my will,
but Yours be done.”
That means it might not
always be fun
You think you
always have to agree?
No, we sacrifice “self”
for the sake of the Team
The most pressing thing
on Christ’s Heart before death
is that we would be united
to prove He was sent
But it’s more than just
avoiding disunity, man.
We need to passionately charge,
not just stand!
These separate agendas,
or factions, as I call them,
are the “divide and conquer”
that Christ fore mentioned
So who should we follow
in the authority of the Head?
Well, who did Christ lovingly
leave in His stead?
I believe He made
Peter the Point.
And I think Christ knew
who he’d anoint
It’s in the nature of kingdoms
to name successors
and the Church obviously needs someone
to set the measure
I know not every Pope
has been perfect
but that isn’t grounds
for us to reject
something Christ gave us
for our own good—
a way to guide us
when He’s misunderstood
The Early Church
understood this
for example, when the circumcision
issue was laid to rest
Resolution came
and the sides embraced.
They heard Paul’s words,
authority-laced
So if we wont yield
to who He put in charge,
can’t it be said
that our loyalty’s a farce?
We are no longer foreigners
in God’s nation;
a holy people—
and we’re not on vacation!
If we are to bring
God’s Kingdom to light
then in this dark world,
for Truth we must fight
The One Truth
isn’t subject to relativity
“to each his own”—
no recipe for longevity
Witchcraft and rebellion
we’ve all been set free from
So let’s all submit
as citizens of God’s Kingdom!
(by the Spirit through John Rosenbaum)
I’m not here
to attack your church,
but you need to know
that Christ’s Heart hurts.
There’s fear
of vain repetition,
but Jewish Tradition
Jesus was living.
You go to church
and sing your songs,
a few handshakes
and a service not too long
Sounds like a
watered-down Mass to me.
Jesus is our Friend,
but lack of reverence for our King?
We get stuck on
our ten “fave” songs
but reciting a prayer
is all of a sudden wrong?
Jesus will lead us
into all Truth;
led by the Spirit
He’ll give our hearts the proof
Jesus is the Word
in Scripture and Flesh,
but it’s too true—
Scripture alone cane make a mess
There’s a decided lack of
discipleship these days.
Not just convert, but
“make disciples” my Bible says
So if we all started
on the same page
all the confusion
would be laid to waste
If only Christ
had the wisdom
to leave someone on Earth
with the keys to His Kingdom
If only His Bride
was given a leader
who used the Spirit, Scripture
AND history to feed her
Someone to lead
Christ’s army into war
because all of these ronins
our Kingdom can’t afford
How can we survive
without Authority and Structure?
That’s why Christ set the example
of the submission posture
“Not my will,
but Yours be done.”
That means it might not
always be fun
You think you
always have to agree?
No, we sacrifice “self”
for the sake of the Team
The most pressing thing
on Christ’s Heart before death
is that we would be united
to prove He was sent
But it’s more than just
avoiding disunity, man.
We need to passionately charge,
not just stand!
These separate agendas,
or factions, as I call them,
are the “divide and conquer”
that Christ fore mentioned
So who should we follow
in the authority of the Head?
Well, who did Christ lovingly
leave in His stead?
I believe He made
Peter the Point.
And I think Christ knew
who he’d anoint
It’s in the nature of kingdoms
to name successors
and the Church obviously needs someone
to set the measure
I know not every Pope
has been perfect
but that isn’t grounds
for us to reject
something Christ gave us
for our own good—
a way to guide us
when He’s misunderstood
The Early Church
understood this
for example, when the circumcision
issue was laid to rest
Resolution came
and the sides embraced.
They heard Paul’s words,
authority-laced
So if we wont yield
to who He put in charge,
can’t it be said
that our loyalty’s a farce?
We are no longer foreigners
in God’s nation;
a holy people—
and we’re not on vacation!
If we are to bring
God’s Kingdom to light
then in this dark world,
for Truth we must fight
The One Truth
isn’t subject to relativity
“to each his own”—
no recipe for longevity
Witchcraft and rebellion
we’ve all been set free from
So let’s all submit
as citizens of God’s Kingdom!
(by the Spirit through John Rosenbaum)
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