My Brother gave me one of the best gifts I've received in a long time.
It was one of Ravi Zacharias' lectures on CD.
Previously to this present I had not heard that name. I did not know who Ravi was or how to pronounce his name. No nationality was apparent in his name, but my family told me he was Indian (as the CD would confirm through his heavily apparent accent, which I might add, "makes him seem 'Xtra Learned'").
Of course he is "Xtra Learned" he has to be, because he's an Apologetic. One of the things that the faith needs most at this time.
Below is a link to Ravi's Website:
http://www.rvim.org
Here is a link within the website that talks more in depth about apologetics and why the church needs it:
http://www.rzim.org/JustThinkingFV/tabid/602/ArticleID/10475/CBModuleId/881/Default.aspx
Before you do a ton of reading on the website or decide you don't want to do a ton of reading on the website I want to share a few nutshell ideas that I stole from Ravi. Consequently, I will offer my testimony to vouch for them.
Ravi Zacharias states the main reason for apologetics in the church is and has been the opening of the mind to the thought that God might exist. He states that duplicity in the mind cannot work. Meaning someone cannot believe in atheism and God at the same time. Like-wise people cannot accept God if their mind believes in certain philosophical and or scientific theories that contradict belief in God. Their mind cannot begin to be open to any part of God if they hold these theories dear.
Apologetics takes a learned, intellectual stand to prove there is room for completely intelligent people to believe in God.
Without the information that refutes doubt in their mind they will not be able to believe, and would not want to believe (as I did not want to believe at first).
The Christian faith promotes intellectual thought. It in fact wishes for all people to search out knowledge. One of the many verses that the Bible has that advocates learning and not burying our heads in the sand is 2nd Timothy 2:15
"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." KJV
This particular scripture has an obvious connotation to understanding the Bible in its entirety, as it would have been understood when it was written. However the new testament was not compiled yet, and God was not moving in ways he had moved before.
At this time in the Christian faith there is no firm doctrine or experience driven truth, because everything they are operating in is new. Because of this Paul wanted Timothy to enlighten himself that he may be able to tell why heresy is heresy.
If he wanted he could have made a check list of all the things to allow and not to allow, but that would have been like the old law which Jesus fulfilled. Instead he tells him to study. Embrace learning, embrace an open mind to ideas, and put them through the fire to see if they hold up to the standard of truth.
Because truth is exclusive. There cannot be two truths that exist if they contradict one another. In this Paul's telling Timothy there cannot be Relativism. There is a reason the world goes round, and there is a truth behind it. Find the truth in the world and it will support what is true with God. All we have to do is get rid of the lies, because we don't fight truth. We don't make a business fighting truth, because truth is God.
I am the way the truth and the life no many comes to the father but by me.
-Jesus Christ- John 14:16
This quote isn't arrogant, because it makes sense. Jesus claimed to be the son of God that would save the world from their sins. Meaning after he died and was raised people would have a way through him to be reunited with God. There would be no other way.
It's not arrogant at all. It's true. When you think about apologetics like that it's more discerning what is true than "defending the faith" as some have put it.
Many believers have seen no reason for apologetics, which is funny because I became a Christian mainly because of an apologetic. More funny is the fact that for a time I believed that apologetics was unnecessary, because I believed God would somehow supernaturally make himself known to the people or that simply being nice would be enough. While God sometimes does save people supernaturally or through our kindness he also saves people through logic.
C.S. Lewis had been raised a Christian similarly to I, but rejected Christianity pretty early on in his life. Traveling through Highschool and College he remained a devout atheist. His conversion I count as remarkable, because without anyone leading him along he began to believe. His account is of himself alone in his room working, while he reasons to himself that there must be a God. This step for him isn't easy. Read a biography on him or his autobiography, "Surprised by joy". You'll learn his personality. He never wanted to believe in God until he started. In his own words he was the, "The most dejected, reluctant convert in all England."
and at that point he hadn't even become a Christian merely a theist. whether he was to become a polytheist or monotheist or Christian was still up for debate at this time.
Paving the way for me to become a Christian was C.S. Lewis, the great Christian apologetic. Without him I wouldn't have given Christianity a chance (funny isn't it, it's my life now). I viewed worship as hype, prayer as calming yourself down (similar to meditation), and that knowing that God existed provided a sense of security to us as humans.
I couldn't bring myself to agree with these views completely, because my mind couldn't very well dismiss some intelligent people I had met in my own life who were Christians.
Other facts chafed at my atheism, such as the fact that most of the world claims a religion or a god of some sort. Yet I knew that to agree to something soley, because a lot of other people did was stupid (Strait/Straight up in every sense of the word).
The Screwtape Letters was the first book I read by C.S. Lewis, and it was especially vital to my faith.
Doubts that I had thought to be exclusive before were revealed to be inclusive to most all people. Above all it made me see that I was not alone, and that other people who experienced a Christian background had doubted.
I had asked Christians about doubt etc. and they claimed that they always knew God and perhaps couldn't answer everything that I was asking, but remained faithful no matter what doubt I could throw at them.
It was strange talking to them. I likened them to desperate orphans swearing that some day their parents would return for them. Then I, as the mean orphan, enters demanding proof of their parents return. All the time keeping in mind that they claimed their parents would rescue me too.
It seemed almost as if they were brain-washed, yet now I can see where they are/were coming from. God had reached them, but only because they were young enough to accept the teaching without question and search for him. God reacted to the whole-hearted devotion they showed, because they truly believed.
As a young believer I did not fully understand the commitment that went along with becoming a follower of Jesus like they did. I was all for not burning in hell, but I never quite followed the Jesus as Lord of my life. Prolifically after my conversion I told people that I had never understood that God was supposed to be in control of everything in my life. Somehow growing up in the church I had missed that part. Because I did not search for God and submit my life to his. As a result he never responded to me as a child, and as my mind developed it rejected God for secular theories and ideas. Experience had told me that I had not encountered God, because if I had encountered him certain things would happen in my life that had not happened. While I had touched God at certain points and claimed religious moments; the summation of my childhood-teenage experiences with God only piqued my interest. Overall, I was a skeptic of most everything, as such I liked philosophy a great deal. :)
Apologetics stepped in and opened up my mind to God again.
No matter how many people told me about their personal testimonies I couldn't relate, because we were speaking different languages. They said, "I feel him," I said, "You feel emotion and psychology working on you in the hype of the atmosphere created in the church building environment."
Along with the reading of the philosophes (and light reading on sciences that mainly dealt with evolution) I indulged in apologetics. soon apologetics would show me uniting truths that explained God, and made much more sense than some of the philosophies I was reading. In a nutshell: apologetics had paved a way for my mind to accept Christ.
Looking back at my conversion it was an astonishing thing. Forces were at work that I was not aware of, and I'm sure that I'm still not aware of all of them.
Apologetics may not be placed as the most important piece that led me to Christ, but it was the gate-way to allow my mind accept a belief in God.
Many other things ensued afterward in the oncoming months, and the end product was my being saved.
Apologetics I believe is a neglected category of the faith that is equally important as something such as worship.
Read what Ravi has to say in that second link. He's able to explain it much better than I.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Praise
IHOP
stands for the International House of Prayer.
they're such a powerful part of the church down in Kansas City Missouri.
24 hour prayer worship and fasting....
That's all I've heard about them...and that seems to be all they're about...
I've looked into them quite a bit. They have multiple worship bands that switch in and out in shifts of 2 hours...
they have a university training people in worship and so many other things that advance the kingdom
Many of you have probably heard of Misty Edwards. In case you haven't: she's the lead worship leader down there. She writes Amazing worship songs. They are Simply, wonderful. They definitely have the anointing of the Lord on them.
The coolest part of this is that in the university they have a song composition and songwriting major. You can go to Ihop.org look around at all the amazing artists that have come through. They're all anointed, legit. and sincere in all their songs. There are so many of them...
and it's not just there. I mentioned Catherine Mullins before. completely different place in the country
I feel like the spirit is moving through worship so strongly right now, as if it were a rallying cry. That God is getting pumped up as it were. He's assembling his church to praise him and Love him so they can Love the world.
When people talk about revival they always talk about amazing moves of God and power and miracles and being spirit led.
however...
they tend to forget the Love.
They don't always neglect Love. Sometimes I hear about amazing moves of Love from people to people, but I generally don't hear that as the main focus of their conversation.
it's God
Love God with all your heart.
Love your neighbor as yourself.
Not as you Love God.
I believe truly that God is starting to get people to know What Love is.
It's a mystery isn't it?
We have no Idea :)
we have good imaginations though :)
it's an outpouring. That's what Love is.
Jesus said apart from me you can do nothing.
I don't think he's in the habit of Lying.
Love is such an unattainable thing for us. It must be poured out on us.
so this 24 hour prayer, fasting and worship is asking for it.
It's asking for God's Love to fill us.
that's why it will start with worship. Worship is the Front-line
Chains will be broken.
Idols cast down.
but not because of any song.
but because he can't help but respond to our cry. (It hooks in with my last blog.)
when his Love fills it takes over. If you've ever met someone crazy enough to pray for you without ever seeing you before, it's that kind of power. it's something that says perhaps I don't know what is going on, but that doesn't matter, because i know what my Lord would have me do.
then do it.
it's a confidence
Isaiah 32:17
"And the work of righteousness will be peace,
And the service of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever."
Isaiah 42:10-13
"Sing to the Lord a new song, sing His praise from the end of the earth!
You who go down to the sea, and all that is in it.
You islands, and those who dwell on them.
Let the wilderness and its cities lift up their voices,
The settlements where Kedar inhabits.
Let the inhabitants of Sela sing aloud,
Let them shout for joy from the tops of the mountains.
Let them give glory to the Lord
And declare His praise in the coastlands.
the Lord will go forth like a warrior,
he will arouse His zeal like a man of war.
He will utter a shout, yes, He will raise a war cry.
He will prevail against His enemies."
it's pretty clear as to what happens when we praise him...that's where we are. We sing to him and He arouses in us Zeal and defeats his enemies.
it gets better though...(that's where most people stop)
Isaiah 42:14-25
"I have kept silent for a long time,
I have kept still and restrained Myself.
NOW like a woman labor I will grown,
I will both gasp and pant.
I will lay waste the mountains and hills
And wither all their vegetation;
I will make the rivers into coastlands
And dry up the ponds.
I will lead the blind by a way they do not know,
In paths they do not know I will guide them
I will make darkness into light before them
And rugged places into plains.
These are the things I will do,
and I will not leave them undone.
They will be turned back and be utterly put to shame,
Who trust in idols,
Who say to molten images,
'You are our gods.'
Hear, you deaf!
And look, you blind, that you may see.
Who is blind buy My servant,
Or so deaf as My Messenger whom I send?
Who is so blind as he that is at with Me,
Or so blind as the servant of the Lord?
You have seen many things, but you do not observe them;
Your ears are open, but none hears
The Lord was pleased fro His righteousness' sake
To make the law great and glorious.
But this is a people plundered and despoiled;
All of them are trapped in caves,
Or are hidden away in prisons;
They have become a prey with none to deliver them,
And a spoil, with none to say, 'Give them back!'
Who among you will give ear to this?
Who will give heed and listen hereafter?
Who gave Jacob up for spoil, and Israel to plunderers?
Was it not the Lord, against whom we have sinned,
And in whose ways they were not willing to walk,
And whose law they did not obey?
So he poured out on him the heat of His anger
And the fierceness of battle;
And it set him aflame all around,
Yet he did not recognize it;
And it burned him, but he paid not attention. "
hang in there it gets better
Isaiah 43:1-13
"But now, thus says the Lord, your Creator, O Jacob,
And He who formed you, O Israel,
'Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine!
When you pass through waters I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they will not overflow you.
when you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched,
Nor will the flame burn you.
For I am the Lord your God,
The holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I have given Egypt as your ransom,
Cush and Seba in your place.
Since you are precious in My sight,
Since you are honored and I love you,
I will give other in your place and other people in exchange for you life.
Do not fear, for I am with you;
I will bring your offspring from the east,
And gather you from the west.
I will say to the north, 'Give them up!'
And to the south, 'Do not hold them back.'
Bring My sons from afar
And My daughters from the ends of the earth,
Everyone who is called by My name,
And whom I have created for My glory,
Whom I have formed, even whom I have made.
Bring out the people who are blind, even though they have eyes,
and the deaf, even though they have ears.
All the nations have gathered together so that the people may be assembled. Who among them can declare this and proclaim to us the former things? Let them present their witnesses that they may be justified,
Or let them hear and say, ' It is true.'
'You are My witnesses,' declares the Lord,
And My servant whom i have chosen, so that you may know and believe Me And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, And there will be none after Me. I even I, am the Lord,
And there is no savior besides Me. It is I who have declared and saved and proclaimed,
And there was no strange god among you;
So you are My witnesses,' declares the Lord,
'And I am God.
Even from eternity I am He,
And there is none who can deliver out of My hand;
I act and who can reverse it?'"
what catches my eye the most is 42:14
God will gasp and pant like a woman in labor
and this is all still because our worship...it's a seem-less transition there.
verse 14 in my American standard Bible has a heading right before it...but the headings weren't part of the original Bible.
it's redemption
that's what it is.
he told them to break forth with new song,
because he was gonna' redeem them.
that we might be witnesses to God.
There's much more in there....but in a nut shell.
sing break forth with song and God will stir up new zeal enough to give redemption, because he Loves you
go back and read the beginning of Isaiah 42... up to verse 10...
they're instructions...what is true then is true for us today...
While Jesus has already been born, died and raised...
he is not known to the islands.
something is known as an island when it is isolated or having little or no direct communication with others.
in this sense it is an isolation from God starting in verse 10
it starts to make more sense.
there are islands all around us.
http://www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/Kedar.html (read about what Kedar means his origins)
http://www.grandview.com.jo/biblical_petra.html (read about Sela/Petra and what it means...)
He's Kedar is of the seed of Ishmael
and Sela is the place Esau and many other people who did not have God on their side.
He's saying he's pulling them towards Him. And how? with Song :)
it's a foreshadowing of Jesus coming to for both Jews and Gentiles.
It's saying He's gonna' fix this broken family that has been split.
He's gonna' heal them with new songs that they sing to him
and we need to sing to him with all we are so that they know the words. so they know who it is.
don't take my word for it. pray about it. fast about it. find out.
on another note.
IHop has a free CD available for download...and it's got a little bit from each artist...and plus they have monthly free songs you can download...
they're at forerunner.com...check it out...it may be easier to find them through Ihop.org though.
I would Love to hear any questions or comments on here or facebook :)
May the Lord be welcomed into your hearts :)
stands for the International House of Prayer.
they're such a powerful part of the church down in Kansas City Missouri.
24 hour prayer worship and fasting....
That's all I've heard about them...and that seems to be all they're about...
I've looked into them quite a bit. They have multiple worship bands that switch in and out in shifts of 2 hours...
they have a university training people in worship and so many other things that advance the kingdom
Many of you have probably heard of Misty Edwards. In case you haven't: she's the lead worship leader down there. She writes Amazing worship songs. They are Simply, wonderful. They definitely have the anointing of the Lord on them.
The coolest part of this is that in the university they have a song composition and songwriting major. You can go to Ihop.org look around at all the amazing artists that have come through. They're all anointed, legit. and sincere in all their songs. There are so many of them...
and it's not just there. I mentioned Catherine Mullins before. completely different place in the country
I feel like the spirit is moving through worship so strongly right now, as if it were a rallying cry. That God is getting pumped up as it were. He's assembling his church to praise him and Love him so they can Love the world.
When people talk about revival they always talk about amazing moves of God and power and miracles and being spirit led.
however...
they tend to forget the Love.
They don't always neglect Love. Sometimes I hear about amazing moves of Love from people to people, but I generally don't hear that as the main focus of their conversation.
it's God
Love God with all your heart.
Love your neighbor as yourself.
Not as you Love God.
I believe truly that God is starting to get people to know What Love is.
It's a mystery isn't it?
We have no Idea :)
we have good imaginations though :)
it's an outpouring. That's what Love is.
Jesus said apart from me you can do nothing.
I don't think he's in the habit of Lying.
Love is such an unattainable thing for us. It must be poured out on us.
so this 24 hour prayer, fasting and worship is asking for it.
It's asking for God's Love to fill us.
that's why it will start with worship. Worship is the Front-line
Chains will be broken.
Idols cast down.
but not because of any song.
but because he can't help but respond to our cry. (It hooks in with my last blog.)
when his Love fills it takes over. If you've ever met someone crazy enough to pray for you without ever seeing you before, it's that kind of power. it's something that says perhaps I don't know what is going on, but that doesn't matter, because i know what my Lord would have me do.
then do it.
it's a confidence
Isaiah 32:17
"And the work of righteousness will be peace,
And the service of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever."
Isaiah 42:10-13
"Sing to the Lord a new song, sing His praise from the end of the earth!
You who go down to the sea, and all that is in it.
You islands, and those who dwell on them.
Let the wilderness and its cities lift up their voices,
The settlements where Kedar inhabits.
Let the inhabitants of Sela sing aloud,
Let them shout for joy from the tops of the mountains.
Let them give glory to the Lord
And declare His praise in the coastlands.
the Lord will go forth like a warrior,
he will arouse His zeal like a man of war.
He will utter a shout, yes, He will raise a war cry.
He will prevail against His enemies."
it's pretty clear as to what happens when we praise him...that's where we are. We sing to him and He arouses in us Zeal and defeats his enemies.
it gets better though...(that's where most people stop)
Isaiah 42:14-25
"I have kept silent for a long time,
I have kept still and restrained Myself.
NOW like a woman labor I will grown,
I will both gasp and pant.
I will lay waste the mountains and hills
And wither all their vegetation;
I will make the rivers into coastlands
And dry up the ponds.
I will lead the blind by a way they do not know,
In paths they do not know I will guide them
I will make darkness into light before them
And rugged places into plains.
These are the things I will do,
and I will not leave them undone.
They will be turned back and be utterly put to shame,
Who trust in idols,
Who say to molten images,
'You are our gods.'
Hear, you deaf!
And look, you blind, that you may see.
Who is blind buy My servant,
Or so deaf as My Messenger whom I send?
Who is so blind as he that is at with Me,
Or so blind as the servant of the Lord?
You have seen many things, but you do not observe them;
Your ears are open, but none hears
The Lord was pleased fro His righteousness' sake
To make the law great and glorious.
But this is a people plundered and despoiled;
All of them are trapped in caves,
Or are hidden away in prisons;
They have become a prey with none to deliver them,
And a spoil, with none to say, 'Give them back!'
Who among you will give ear to this?
Who will give heed and listen hereafter?
Who gave Jacob up for spoil, and Israel to plunderers?
Was it not the Lord, against whom we have sinned,
And in whose ways they were not willing to walk,
And whose law they did not obey?
So he poured out on him the heat of His anger
And the fierceness of battle;
And it set him aflame all around,
Yet he did not recognize it;
And it burned him, but he paid not attention. "
hang in there it gets better
Isaiah 43:1-13
"But now, thus says the Lord, your Creator, O Jacob,
And He who formed you, O Israel,
'Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine!
When you pass through waters I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they will not overflow you.
when you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched,
Nor will the flame burn you.
For I am the Lord your God,
The holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I have given Egypt as your ransom,
Cush and Seba in your place.
Since you are precious in My sight,
Since you are honored and I love you,
I will give other in your place and other people in exchange for you life.
Do not fear, for I am with you;
I will bring your offspring from the east,
And gather you from the west.
I will say to the north, 'Give them up!'
And to the south, 'Do not hold them back.'
Bring My sons from afar
And My daughters from the ends of the earth,
Everyone who is called by My name,
And whom I have created for My glory,
Whom I have formed, even whom I have made.
Bring out the people who are blind, even though they have eyes,
and the deaf, even though they have ears.
All the nations have gathered together so that the people may be assembled. Who among them can declare this and proclaim to us the former things? Let them present their witnesses that they may be justified,
Or let them hear and say, ' It is true.'
'You are My witnesses,' declares the Lord,
And My servant whom i have chosen, so that you may know and believe Me And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, And there will be none after Me. I even I, am the Lord,
And there is no savior besides Me. It is I who have declared and saved and proclaimed,
And there was no strange god among you;
So you are My witnesses,' declares the Lord,
'And I am God.
Even from eternity I am He,
And there is none who can deliver out of My hand;
I act and who can reverse it?'"
what catches my eye the most is 42:14
God will gasp and pant like a woman in labor
and this is all still because our worship...it's a seem-less transition there.
verse 14 in my American standard Bible has a heading right before it...but the headings weren't part of the original Bible.
it's redemption
that's what it is.
he told them to break forth with new song,
because he was gonna' redeem them.
that we might be witnesses to God.
There's much more in there....but in a nut shell.
sing break forth with song and God will stir up new zeal enough to give redemption, because he Loves you
go back and read the beginning of Isaiah 42... up to verse 10...
they're instructions...what is true then is true for us today...
While Jesus has already been born, died and raised...
he is not known to the islands.
something is known as an island when it is isolated or having little or no direct communication with others.
in this sense it is an isolation from God starting in verse 10
it starts to make more sense.
there are islands all around us.
http://www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/Kedar.html (read about what Kedar means his origins)
http://www.grandview.com.jo/biblical_petra.html (read about Sela/Petra and what it means...)
He's Kedar is of the seed of Ishmael
and Sela is the place Esau and many other people who did not have God on their side.
He's saying he's pulling them towards Him. And how? with Song :)
it's a foreshadowing of Jesus coming to for both Jews and Gentiles.
It's saying He's gonna' fix this broken family that has been split.
He's gonna' heal them with new songs that they sing to him
and we need to sing to him with all we are so that they know the words. so they know who it is.
don't take my word for it. pray about it. fast about it. find out.
on another note.
IHop has a free CD available for download...and it's got a little bit from each artist...and plus they have monthly free songs you can download...
they're at forerunner.com...check it out...it may be easier to find them through Ihop.org though.
I would Love to hear any questions or comments on here or facebook :)
May the Lord be welcomed into your hearts :)
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Christmas Blog :)
I've just been ministered to by Catherine Mullins....
she's this worship leader down at this place called lakeland in Georgia...
She has a wonderful worship leader....great voice...it's just amazing
She has this one song check it out....i've only found it on myspace
http://www.myspace.com/catherinemullinsworship
it's such a great powerful song it's called cry of the bride
"For you cannot help but respond when we cry"
those words stuck out most to me when she was singing...there a ton of other lyrics that are great... such as
Cover your heads I am coming
Cover your faces I am here
It's such a powerful song...I don't think I've ever been moved by God so much by a song...
but I had never thought about it like that God responds when we cry...because he can't help it...cause he loves us....
God confirmed it in my spirit...and with his word...I went upstairs and read my Bible...at lightning speed...
The Chapter I opened up to....Because i'd been reading through Isaiah...was Isaiah 38...
this chapter talks about Hezekiah's Illness...Isaiah tells Hezekiah to make everything right in his household...cause he's not gonna' recover from this illness
38:2-6
"Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, "Remember, O Lord, how I have walked before you faithfully and with whole-hearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes." And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
Then the word of the Lord came to Isaiah: "God and tell Hezekiah, 'This is what the Lord the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will add fifteen years to your life. And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the King of Assyria I will defend this city."
there it was right in front of me. God heard his prayer and saw his tears...and responded.
He Loves us too much to not do anything when we're loyal to him.
then a few chapters down it talks about God answering the World's cry
With sending Jesus
Isaiah 40
Comfort, Comfort my people, says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for , that she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins.
it goes on...but you have to read it to get the whole picture later....
I don't know it just never struck me...before...
I've been told God answers prayer....and I believed/believe it too...but perhaps....I really didn't believe...and I just sorta' agreed..that God did that...
and now God's breaking it down...
I've been thinking a lot about that...Jesus rebuked his disciples so much for not believing..even after he had done so many things....bet they would say if you asked them...of course he can raise the dead of course he can heal people, but in their hearts did they really believe...perhaps they knew...but they didn't believe...I don't know it's a complex...thing....
I truly wonder if I truly believe or I just sorta' follow along..and agree with the whole thing...
I read the Bible and sometimes it's hard to take it for real...I agree with everything in it, however as far as application...it's difficult...but God generally works it through...and this one is just great..amazing...Awesome :)
she's this worship leader down at this place called lakeland in Georgia...
She has a wonderful worship leader....great voice...it's just amazing
She has this one song check it out....i've only found it on myspace
http://www.myspace.com/catherinemullinsworship
it's such a great powerful song it's called cry of the bride
"For you cannot help but respond when we cry"
those words stuck out most to me when she was singing...there a ton of other lyrics that are great... such as
Cover your heads I am coming
Cover your faces I am here
It's such a powerful song...I don't think I've ever been moved by God so much by a song...
but I had never thought about it like that God responds when we cry...because he can't help it...cause he loves us....
God confirmed it in my spirit...and with his word...I went upstairs and read my Bible...at lightning speed...
The Chapter I opened up to....Because i'd been reading through Isaiah...was Isaiah 38...
this chapter talks about Hezekiah's Illness...Isaiah tells Hezekiah to make everything right in his household...cause he's not gonna' recover from this illness
38:2-6
"Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, "Remember, O Lord, how I have walked before you faithfully and with whole-hearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes." And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
Then the word of the Lord came to Isaiah: "God and tell Hezekiah, 'This is what the Lord the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will add fifteen years to your life. And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the King of Assyria I will defend this city."
there it was right in front of me. God heard his prayer and saw his tears...and responded.
He Loves us too much to not do anything when we're loyal to him.
then a few chapters down it talks about God answering the World's cry
With sending Jesus
Isaiah 40
Comfort, Comfort my people, says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for , that she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins.
it goes on...but you have to read it to get the whole picture later....
I don't know it just never struck me...before...
I've been told God answers prayer....and I believed/believe it too...but perhaps....I really didn't believe...and I just sorta' agreed..that God did that...
and now God's breaking it down...
I've been thinking a lot about that...Jesus rebuked his disciples so much for not believing..even after he had done so many things....bet they would say if you asked them...of course he can raise the dead of course he can heal people, but in their hearts did they really believe...perhaps they knew...but they didn't believe...I don't know it's a complex...thing....
I truly wonder if I truly believe or I just sorta' follow along..and agree with the whole thing...
I read the Bible and sometimes it's hard to take it for real...I agree with everything in it, however as far as application...it's difficult...but God generally works it through...and this one is just great..amazing...Awesome :)
Monday, December 21, 2009
I Thirst
I've been waiting to write this one...
My heart has been yearning for more than there is. I want change. I want difference. I want to be better. I want to do greater things, yet I hold myself back.
I made this stop-motion animation that personifies dirt that is dried out and incredibly thirsty.
Here's the video
The dirt looks for water when There is water all around it, but there's this transparent layer. You can see what's on the other side. You see what you want, but can't get to it. It's clearly out of reach, but you want it...it's so close...but you know where you are now is not near there.
It makes me Thirsty.
I've seen people healed.
I've known people healed.
I've seen the world flipped upside down by God.
My world has been flipped upside down by God.
YET...
there is so much I want.
and no it's not...a new car...the brand new video Game...a girlfriend...or anything like that...
it's ability...
it's opportunity...
it's Love
and all from a higher power...
I could care less how fast you can do scales on your instrument...
I could care less about the stock market opportunities...
I could care less about your girly-girl cute romantic tv flick "loves" coming to life...
I have a passion
Get it out of your mind...
what you've been thinking...
up till this point you've been judging what I say weighing it with a measure...
throw it out...
the lord doesn't need people who are so scared of making a mistake...that they never do anything...
he's waiting for a people with passion...he's waiting for a people who don't care what the paradigm is...he's waiting for a people who want to do his work so much that they don't care if they say something wrong, because they're humble enough to admit they were wrong....
that's where growth begins....
with a will...
that's where healing begins...
with a will...
it's time you started to make God's will yours.
his will isn't for you to go to a church building or group...his will is for you to be the church...to THIRST FOR HIM!
don't get me wrong...children of God are amazing...and we should not forsake the gathering of ourselves together...
but when God can only use you in that space...he's not using you....
"assemble the preachers to preach to one another..."
Hell NO!
Jesus' ministry was absolute....
There is Truth Jesus is that truth
I so desperately want people to actually do what's in the Bible, and yes I understand that God moves it at his time...but
...I have a hard time believing that God needs time...to work on people...
yes God has different things for each of us...he told a rich young ruler to sell everything and follow him...while he told a demon possessed man to stay where he had lived and offer a testimony...
but I feel like the modern day Christian is the rich young ruler...they've followed all the commandments since they were young...but still can't bring themselves to be like the chosen who sacrificed everything....
as much as we try to tell ourselves we did....we made that decision...isn't strange that change happens so pain-stakingly slow?
what if instead of the pleasures we wasted our money on...like movies or ice cream...or some sort of indulgence we gave them back...what if we fasted like Jesus said we would when he had left us...and used the Xtra (that's for you pastor Matt) cash to do some good...what if we actually did do the little things that would amount to benefits for other people...
what if we did care enough about people in Africa and Asia that we would actually learn about them...and learn what problems they're going through...so we could help them out...instead of just sending them some really cheap toys in a box once a year...so we can pretend we're "Christian"
Cause that's what we do...we offer up cheap toys in offering..
I'm not asking you to go yell on a corner...though I've come very close to yelling in many places...(but that would just be way too easy wouldn't it...to just yell "Jesus Loves you" "you said that very convincingly young man...I believe you" *I wish* :)
Our generation is one of results...and if anyone knows anything about results they would know they come from something else...
results result..from something else...
however our generation has forgotten that...
they expect their lives to yield fruit...to result without the work that goes in before...and the world recognizes Christians by talking about results...but never yielding....
well...
I'm tired of talking I'm ready to yield amazing things...Brought about by God inside me....he gave you a spirit use it...
and the main reason why we don't use it...is because...we're not serious about God...I'm guilty too...but that doesn't nullify or make it right....
You're relationship with God is not to be compared with anyone else's...
but I can't help look at my own and ask...and long for more of God
once you've tasted that he's good
how can you look at the world...and
the answer is when we look at the world...we look at everyone else...other Christians...we see them doing what is "normal" and we automatically think whatever they're doing is ok...and we lose track of what God was saying to us...
if we were truly serious about God...we wouldn't have awards for Best Christian...
We would have...prayer...constantly...and not just while we're doing everything....but we would have hours long prayer...by ourselves...cut out with God...and on a regular daily basis...
we would see him move....we would fast on a whim...and do it often...we wouldn't care about routine....we would hear God's voice...because his Children hear his voice...and if you don't you can't be his Child...
We're a generation that doesn't like to hear with our ears....we don't want to understand in our hearts...and we don't want to turn....and we don't want to be healed....because it would be too much trouble....
Ever since I've become a Christian I've been asking if I am one.....am I really one...is this really what it's all about....
and the time that I knew when I was a Christian without a doubt was right when I began...because I heard God's voice...and I did it...every time....and after being immersed with other Christians....I learned norms...and let go of that Intimacy...
being reduced to pastors...to try to tell me what I'm doing wrong...and that's just it...pastors shouldn't be telling me what I'm doing wrong...
I'm all for people correcting me...I'm all for being humbled....by pastors or whoever...but God should tell correct you way before any person...God has the first say....
I could totally relate with Shane Claiborne....he wrote the irresistible revolution...
I don't feel like There's a whole lot that separates "Christians" from nice people....
because nice... is a luke-warm term...and those who are luke-warm are spit out by God...
but if we truly moved beyond nice....and moved to Passionate, Loving people...now there would be something.
we didn't do the regular Christians things....and don't worry if you're not creative...God is...he's got a lot of history with problem solving....trust him he'll tell you stuff...
I've come across fiery Christians without any know-how.... (they don't know how to hear God....they don't know the Scriptures) but they know how to Love...like it's nobody's business....and eventually you see them start to hear God's voice...and they learn the scriptures...
and...
they start to say....hey...I've already been doing all this...because they're sold out to God...
they didn't have any remorse when they gave...and they gave anything and everything....
I'm sure if you're a Christian reading this...You've wondered...would you give your life for God...would you die for him...and I'm writing this wondering...would you live for him...cause it's SO MUCH HARDER!...
or is it easier...because...if you are living for God...you do what he wants you to do....you listen to him..and you do it...
sounds easy...
but we shy away...
I don't wanna' pray I wanna'....do this...or I need to relax blah
I'm so tire of writing this...you guys know what I'm talking about...do it...and not because I say so...not because you respect me...or don't....or you think what I'm doing or saying is right....
find out. stop agreeing...
Talk to God!
he confirms things to be true...because he is Truth... pray fast until you find out
"why weren't you at church?"...."because I was praying"
My heart has been yearning for more than there is. I want change. I want difference. I want to be better. I want to do greater things, yet I hold myself back.
I made this stop-motion animation that personifies dirt that is dried out and incredibly thirsty.
Here's the video
The dirt looks for water when There is water all around it, but there's this transparent layer. You can see what's on the other side. You see what you want, but can't get to it. It's clearly out of reach, but you want it...it's so close...but you know where you are now is not near there.
It makes me Thirsty.
I've seen people healed.
I've known people healed.
I've seen the world flipped upside down by God.
My world has been flipped upside down by God.
YET...
there is so much I want.
and no it's not...a new car...the brand new video Game...a girlfriend...or anything like that...
it's ability...
it's opportunity...
it's Love
and all from a higher power...
I could care less how fast you can do scales on your instrument...
I could care less about the stock market opportunities...
I could care less about your girly-girl cute romantic tv flick "loves" coming to life...
I have a passion
Get it out of your mind...
what you've been thinking...
up till this point you've been judging what I say weighing it with a measure...
throw it out...
the lord doesn't need people who are so scared of making a mistake...that they never do anything...
he's waiting for a people with passion...he's waiting for a people who don't care what the paradigm is...he's waiting for a people who want to do his work so much that they don't care if they say something wrong, because they're humble enough to admit they were wrong....
that's where growth begins....
with a will...
that's where healing begins...
with a will...
it's time you started to make God's will yours.
his will isn't for you to go to a church building or group...his will is for you to be the church...to THIRST FOR HIM!
don't get me wrong...children of God are amazing...and we should not forsake the gathering of ourselves together...
but when God can only use you in that space...he's not using you....
"assemble the preachers to preach to one another..."
Hell NO!
Jesus' ministry was absolute....
There is Truth Jesus is that truth
I so desperately want people to actually do what's in the Bible, and yes I understand that God moves it at his time...but
...I have a hard time believing that God needs time...to work on people...
yes God has different things for each of us...he told a rich young ruler to sell everything and follow him...while he told a demon possessed man to stay where he had lived and offer a testimony...
but I feel like the modern day Christian is the rich young ruler...they've followed all the commandments since they were young...but still can't bring themselves to be like the chosen who sacrificed everything....
as much as we try to tell ourselves we did....we made that decision...isn't strange that change happens so pain-stakingly slow?
what if instead of the pleasures we wasted our money on...like movies or ice cream...or some sort of indulgence we gave them back...what if we fasted like Jesus said we would when he had left us...and used the Xtra (that's for you pastor Matt) cash to do some good...what if we actually did do the little things that would amount to benefits for other people...
what if we did care enough about people in Africa and Asia that we would actually learn about them...and learn what problems they're going through...so we could help them out...instead of just sending them some really cheap toys in a box once a year...so we can pretend we're "Christian"
Cause that's what we do...we offer up cheap toys in offering..
I'm not asking you to go yell on a corner...though I've come very close to yelling in many places...(but that would just be way too easy wouldn't it...to just yell "Jesus Loves you" "you said that very convincingly young man...I believe you" *I wish* :)
Our generation is one of results...and if anyone knows anything about results they would know they come from something else...
results result..from something else...
however our generation has forgotten that...
they expect their lives to yield fruit...to result without the work that goes in before...and the world recognizes Christians by talking about results...but never yielding....
well...
I'm tired of talking I'm ready to yield amazing things...Brought about by God inside me....he gave you a spirit use it...
and the main reason why we don't use it...is because...we're not serious about God...I'm guilty too...but that doesn't nullify or make it right....
You're relationship with God is not to be compared with anyone else's...
but I can't help look at my own and ask...and long for more of God
once you've tasted that he's good
how can you look at the world...and
the answer is when we look at the world...we look at everyone else...other Christians...we see them doing what is "normal" and we automatically think whatever they're doing is ok...and we lose track of what God was saying to us...
if we were truly serious about God...we wouldn't have awards for Best Christian...
We would have...prayer...constantly...and not just while we're doing everything....but we would have hours long prayer...by ourselves...cut out with God...and on a regular daily basis...
we would see him move....we would fast on a whim...and do it often...we wouldn't care about routine....we would hear God's voice...because his Children hear his voice...and if you don't you can't be his Child...
We're a generation that doesn't like to hear with our ears....we don't want to understand in our hearts...and we don't want to turn....and we don't want to be healed....because it would be too much trouble....
Ever since I've become a Christian I've been asking if I am one.....am I really one...is this really what it's all about....
and the time that I knew when I was a Christian without a doubt was right when I began...because I heard God's voice...and I did it...every time....and after being immersed with other Christians....I learned norms...and let go of that Intimacy...
being reduced to pastors...to try to tell me what I'm doing wrong...and that's just it...pastors shouldn't be telling me what I'm doing wrong...
I'm all for people correcting me...I'm all for being humbled....by pastors or whoever...but God should tell correct you way before any person...God has the first say....
I could totally relate with Shane Claiborne....he wrote the irresistible revolution...
I don't feel like There's a whole lot that separates "Christians" from nice people....
because nice... is a luke-warm term...and those who are luke-warm are spit out by God...
but if we truly moved beyond nice....and moved to Passionate, Loving people...now there would be something.
we didn't do the regular Christians things....and don't worry if you're not creative...God is...he's got a lot of history with problem solving....trust him he'll tell you stuff...
I've come across fiery Christians without any know-how.... (they don't know how to hear God....they don't know the Scriptures) but they know how to Love...like it's nobody's business....and eventually you see them start to hear God's voice...and they learn the scriptures...
and...
they start to say....hey...I've already been doing all this...because they're sold out to God...
they didn't have any remorse when they gave...and they gave anything and everything....
I'm sure if you're a Christian reading this...You've wondered...would you give your life for God...would you die for him...and I'm writing this wondering...would you live for him...cause it's SO MUCH HARDER!...
or is it easier...because...if you are living for God...you do what he wants you to do....you listen to him..and you do it...
sounds easy...
but we shy away...
I don't wanna' pray I wanna'....do this...or I need to relax blah
I'm so tire of writing this...you guys know what I'm talking about...do it...and not because I say so...not because you respect me...or don't....or you think what I'm doing or saying is right....
find out. stop agreeing...
Talk to God!
he confirms things to be true...because he is Truth... pray fast until you find out
"why weren't you at church?"...."because I was praying"
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Isn't it Love that Moves you?
Haven't you ever wondered
isn't Machiavelli such a jerk...to think that being feared is better than Loved...
isn't it a sad fact that as a ruler it probably is better to maintain power by making your populous fear you...
he talks about how Love is weaker than fear...and less consistent...
While your populous may love you today they may grow weary of you tomorrow...
isn't that so true...
I didn't like reading the prince...twice...in highschool both times...first time...was sorta' weak attempt though....anyway...
it's such a dry book....
but there's wisdom in it....
cynical wisdom...
he goes into the most minute detail...this is how you should go about acquiring territory...this is how you should set this up...blah blah blah...
but it's all true...he backs it up...
it's worldly knowledge...
and doesn't apply much to Christians...
Fear is the opposite of Love...I can't think of anything worse...yet he says it motivates better....
and for a large majority of the population it does...
but that's because they don't know Love...
My Jesus is Love
He's the one...don't you Love it!? :)
it's still the same...after all this time....the message is so simple
let's keep it simple :)
Jesus came to earth to die in our place isn't it so simple...accept him as Lord and Savior....let him lead you and you will live eternally...not as a servant, but as a Child of GOD!
it still surprises me to this day...the power of it all....
The Lord of HEAVEN'S ARMIES would have me as a son...do any of you get Why I Love him so much!? :)
Don't you understand... we were slaves to sin....a ruthless master...a SLAVE!
someone who has no place in the family
and he not only takes us to be in a greater family where it would be an honor to be a servant, but makes us sons and daughters! :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) !
John the baptist cries out in the wilderness IT'S HIM! IT'S HIM!!!
I must decrease that he might increase...He got it 2 thousand years ago before anyone even knew who Jesus was...same with Mary...and some shepherds....and really really really wise men (they had to be...they came from far away...and most people couldn't even see it right there in front of them)
So what is it that Moves you?
what Are you crying out? what is it?
is it Love
FAITH HOPE LOVE
the three things that will never pass away and the Greatest is Love
I Love the story of the Blind beggar Jesus Heals...
he's got nothing he knows nothing...EXCEPT who healed him...he was told to go wash mud off his eyes...and then he could see and Jesus had moved on...
so he's got all these leaders of the law lookin' at him...askin' him if he REALLY was blind...
do you have witnesses that you are blind...isn't that just like the devil..."did Jesus really do that much for you?"
YES!!!!!!!
YESSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HE DID!
they ask him who healed him..they ask his parents...
and all he can say even after being disowned by his parents is the truth...
I WAS BLIND BUT NOW I SEE! THE ONLY REASON I CAN SEE IS BECAUSE OF JESUS!!!
it's sooooooooooo simple... :)
your testimony is more powerful than it looks...
how can someone dispute you?
"well there was a lot that went on....it's all psychology....church is where people meet and give community...and they're nice people"
I've met nice people before...
"it's the idea of having someone there that gives you comfort...a higher power that makes you feel more significant"
COMFORT! SIGNIFICANCE! I couldn't feel more insignificant and Love it so much! :)
"well a lot of religions do that for people"
I could care less about other religions...my God doesn't compete! He is! "I am the way the truth and the Life no man comes to the father except through me"
Isn't it great we can get to the Father!
"Sounds a bit exclusive"
NOT at all!
anyone can come to the lord...:)
If heaven is a place and there's only one God wouldn't it make sense that he made only ONE way! :)
why would he create more than that...
does he think it would be funny to watch us get lost along the way? :)
There is truth and there is Love
and they motivate people to die willingly...and there is no fear
we minister to the truth, the good news that Jesus our SAVIOR has come
There is great motivation! why should we fear any, but God? A Loving God who's anger has been satisfied! A God who created Life and Conquered Death...is there anything apart from him?
How can we fear?
we are sons and daughters of the Most High! The Lord of Heaven's Armies! The Almighty! The Creator! The Provider! The Truth! LOVE!
For the Son can only do what He sees the Father doing :)
What A Lineage We are a part of :)
isn't Machiavelli such a jerk...to think that being feared is better than Loved...
isn't it a sad fact that as a ruler it probably is better to maintain power by making your populous fear you...
he talks about how Love is weaker than fear...and less consistent...
While your populous may love you today they may grow weary of you tomorrow...
isn't that so true...
I didn't like reading the prince...twice...in highschool both times...first time...was sorta' weak attempt though....anyway...
it's such a dry book....
but there's wisdom in it....
cynical wisdom...
he goes into the most minute detail...this is how you should go about acquiring territory...this is how you should set this up...blah blah blah...
but it's all true...he backs it up...
it's worldly knowledge...
and doesn't apply much to Christians...
Fear is the opposite of Love...I can't think of anything worse...yet he says it motivates better....
and for a large majority of the population it does...
but that's because they don't know Love...
My Jesus is Love
He's the one...don't you Love it!? :)
it's still the same...after all this time....the message is so simple
let's keep it simple :)
Jesus came to earth to die in our place isn't it so simple...accept him as Lord and Savior....let him lead you and you will live eternally...not as a servant, but as a Child of GOD!
it still surprises me to this day...the power of it all....
The Lord of HEAVEN'S ARMIES would have me as a son...do any of you get Why I Love him so much!? :)
Don't you understand... we were slaves to sin....a ruthless master...a SLAVE!
someone who has no place in the family
and he not only takes us to be in a greater family where it would be an honor to be a servant, but makes us sons and daughters! :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) !
John the baptist cries out in the wilderness IT'S HIM! IT'S HIM!!!
I must decrease that he might increase...He got it 2 thousand years ago before anyone even knew who Jesus was...same with Mary...and some shepherds....and really really really wise men (they had to be...they came from far away...and most people couldn't even see it right there in front of them)
So what is it that Moves you?
what Are you crying out? what is it?
is it Love
FAITH HOPE LOVE
the three things that will never pass away and the Greatest is Love
I Love the story of the Blind beggar Jesus Heals...
he's got nothing he knows nothing...EXCEPT who healed him...he was told to go wash mud off his eyes...and then he could see and Jesus had moved on...
so he's got all these leaders of the law lookin' at him...askin' him if he REALLY was blind...
do you have witnesses that you are blind...isn't that just like the devil..."did Jesus really do that much for you?"
YES!!!!!!!
YESSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HE DID!
they ask him who healed him..they ask his parents...
and all he can say even after being disowned by his parents is the truth...
I WAS BLIND BUT NOW I SEE! THE ONLY REASON I CAN SEE IS BECAUSE OF JESUS!!!
it's sooooooooooo simple... :)
your testimony is more powerful than it looks...
how can someone dispute you?
"well there was a lot that went on....it's all psychology....church is where people meet and give community...and they're nice people"
I've met nice people before...
"it's the idea of having someone there that gives you comfort...a higher power that makes you feel more significant"
COMFORT! SIGNIFICANCE! I couldn't feel more insignificant and Love it so much! :)
"well a lot of religions do that for people"
I could care less about other religions...my God doesn't compete! He is! "I am the way the truth and the Life no man comes to the father except through me"
Isn't it great we can get to the Father!
"Sounds a bit exclusive"
NOT at all!
anyone can come to the lord...:)
If heaven is a place and there's only one God wouldn't it make sense that he made only ONE way! :)
why would he create more than that...
does he think it would be funny to watch us get lost along the way? :)
There is truth and there is Love
and they motivate people to die willingly...and there is no fear
we minister to the truth, the good news that Jesus our SAVIOR has come
There is great motivation! why should we fear any, but God? A Loving God who's anger has been satisfied! A God who created Life and Conquered Death...is there anything apart from him?
How can we fear?
we are sons and daughters of the Most High! The Lord of Heaven's Armies! The Almighty! The Creator! The Provider! The Truth! LOVE!
For the Son can only do what He sees the Father doing :)
What A Lineage We are a part of :)
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Black Gold
I don't Feel Like Blogging...but this topic is important...and applicable...
In my cultural anthropology class...we watched this movie called black Gold
it's about the coffee trade...
The movie talks about how the coffee farmers sorta' get screwed in the coffee business...getting about 1% of every coffee item sold...
so a $3 cup of coffee gives them about 3 cents...
when they do a good amount of the work...
I already sorta' knew...about that
I didn't know it was to that extent...
but I knew it....
Black Gold...is a documentary...
real people...
the main character...is this guy trying to get better coffee prices for his workers in Ethiopia...
It really touched me...
he was talking about how the coffee prices were set
they're set by our economies...
mainly the New York and London...economies...
which as everyone knows is set by supply and demand...
our demand...
so mainly...because we want a cheaper cup of coffee these farmers aren't getting enough to feed their families...or send their children to school...
that sounds harsh I know....but it's true...
and it's not just American demand...
it's everywhere...England France Italy...all over Europe and America...
crazy...
In the movie...the cameraman asks this guy who's trying to get better wages for his farmers what people watching the documentary can do...he said...it's up to the consumer...to make the change...he asked that they only buy free trade coffee...
This impacted me...because I saw on the actual effects in video......
I'm not a coffee drinker...never have been.
but this made me think about all the other things we own that may not have been produced ethically...
because it really is up to us as consumers...to boycott and take the stand....
I mean it's American...
that's how this country started...
boycotts...
Obviously the first company that jumps to mind is Starbucks...
well I'm not so sure about this...Starbucks...I know has at least some free trade coffee...where they give the farmers a more fair price...
I don't know i'll have to look into it more...
and I'd love for anyone who's more knowledgeable about trade and how workers are treated within companies to give me some info...
I really feel like God has put this on my heart....to boycott...pretty much everyone who doesn't treat their workers properly...
because when you think about it...that's what leads to our bad economy...other countries having their populations forced to work under minimum wage...
it would level the playing field...against people like China if....we boycotted their goods until they complied with a reasonable minimum wage...
yes it would force us as consumers to pay more...but I really feel like I could do without...a pleasure that would pass away as soon as I ate it....
you know?
Faith Hope and Love
The greatest of these is Love
right now I'm not asking for any sort of action yet....I'm asking people to be aware...and to get info....and send me info...so we can all be educated...about this...I really want to help people in Africa...
The one African that stood out to me the most was this guy who said....we care more about trade than aid....
because they're getting beaten in the trade world, which makes them dependent on aid...instead of giving them philanthropy...it would do them much better if we gave their economies a chance...
they can't compete...all they have are resources...so they're at the mercy of ruthless and compassionate buyers...
here's the trailer for the documentary...
it's actually really entertaining...believe it or not...I liked it better than a lot of other films that were legit made to entertain....
if you're interested in this they have a website...
http://blackgoldmovie.com/
it's wonderful...gives links on how you can buy the movie (I'm thinkin' about doing that)...and also has links to internet sites where you can watch it online...(they really just want to inform the populace)
I couldn't get those to work....so I found it on youtube.com if you guys are interested in watching the whole thing....it's a little over an hour...
here's the url to the first video....it'll be split up, because it's on youtube.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8r4Fut8cvM
but please anyone...who has info on businesses that treat their workers well...and those that don't....for any industry...clothing...diamond...cereal industry...I wanna' know....
I really feel this is probably the next step for us as people to take...getting reasonable wages...or a universal minimum wage....
I know end times stuff...but I just wanna' help these people...
please help me...help them...:)
In my cultural anthropology class...we watched this movie called black Gold
it's about the coffee trade...
The movie talks about how the coffee farmers sorta' get screwed in the coffee business...getting about 1% of every coffee item sold...
so a $3 cup of coffee gives them about 3 cents...
when they do a good amount of the work...
I already sorta' knew...about that
I didn't know it was to that extent...
but I knew it....
Black Gold...is a documentary...
real people...
the main character...is this guy trying to get better coffee prices for his workers in Ethiopia...
It really touched me...
he was talking about how the coffee prices were set
they're set by our economies...
mainly the New York and London...economies...
which as everyone knows is set by supply and demand...
our demand...
so mainly...because we want a cheaper cup of coffee these farmers aren't getting enough to feed their families...or send their children to school...
that sounds harsh I know....but it's true...
and it's not just American demand...
it's everywhere...England France Italy...all over Europe and America...
crazy...
In the movie...the cameraman asks this guy who's trying to get better wages for his farmers what people watching the documentary can do...he said...it's up to the consumer...to make the change...he asked that they only buy free trade coffee...
This impacted me...because I saw on the actual effects in video......
I'm not a coffee drinker...never have been.
but this made me think about all the other things we own that may not have been produced ethically...
because it really is up to us as consumers...to boycott and take the stand....
I mean it's American...
that's how this country started...
boycotts...
Obviously the first company that jumps to mind is Starbucks...
well I'm not so sure about this...Starbucks...I know has at least some free trade coffee...where they give the farmers a more fair price...
I don't know i'll have to look into it more...
and I'd love for anyone who's more knowledgeable about trade and how workers are treated within companies to give me some info...
I really feel like God has put this on my heart....to boycott...pretty much everyone who doesn't treat their workers properly...
because when you think about it...that's what leads to our bad economy...other countries having their populations forced to work under minimum wage...
it would level the playing field...against people like China if....we boycotted their goods until they complied with a reasonable minimum wage...
yes it would force us as consumers to pay more...but I really feel like I could do without...a pleasure that would pass away as soon as I ate it....
you know?
Faith Hope and Love
The greatest of these is Love
right now I'm not asking for any sort of action yet....I'm asking people to be aware...and to get info....and send me info...so we can all be educated...about this...I really want to help people in Africa...
The one African that stood out to me the most was this guy who said....we care more about trade than aid....
because they're getting beaten in the trade world, which makes them dependent on aid...instead of giving them philanthropy...it would do them much better if we gave their economies a chance...
they can't compete...all they have are resources...so they're at the mercy of ruthless and compassionate buyers...
here's the trailer for the documentary...
it's actually really entertaining...believe it or not...I liked it better than a lot of other films that were legit made to entertain....
if you're interested in this they have a website...
http://blackgoldmovie.com/
it's wonderful...gives links on how you can buy the movie (I'm thinkin' about doing that)...and also has links to internet sites where you can watch it online...(they really just want to inform the populace)
I couldn't get those to work....so I found it on youtube.com if you guys are interested in watching the whole thing....it's a little over an hour...
here's the url to the first video....it'll be split up, because it's on youtube.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8r4Fut8cvM
but please anyone...who has info on businesses that treat their workers well...and those that don't....for any industry...clothing...diamond...cereal industry...I wanna' know....
I really feel this is probably the next step for us as people to take...getting reasonable wages...or a universal minimum wage....
I know end times stuff...but I just wanna' help these people...
please help me...help them...:)
Saturday, December 5, 2009
The Manhattan Declaration
I understand that not many of my readers are 18 or over...but I would like to take some time...to make this declaration known...even if you can't sign it...
This is a wonderful declaration...
I would love for most everyone in the world to read it...because it proclaims some fundamental truths about Christianity...
in a glimpse here they are
Life
Marriage
Religious Freedom
The document uses scripture to support our stances on these issues...
I have read it and agree completely with it...I hope that everyone who reads this would read the Manhattan Declaration and sign it...if they are of age
follow this link to get to the website...
http://www.manhattandeclaration.org/
This is a wonderful declaration...
I would love for most everyone in the world to read it...because it proclaims some fundamental truths about Christianity...
in a glimpse here they are
Life
Marriage
Religious Freedom
The document uses scripture to support our stances on these issues...
I have read it and agree completely with it...I hope that everyone who reads this would read the Manhattan Declaration and sign it...if they are of age
follow this link to get to the website...
http://www.manhattandeclaration.org/
Friday, December 4, 2009
AHAHAHAHAHHHHH!!!!!!!!
What can I do?
How can I fight what my body wants to do?
JESUS JESUS JESUS!!!!
I know the answer, I know he Loves me from the bottom to the top of everything.
BUT WHEN WILL I LOVE HIM!
When will it happen I want to love him...I feel like crap right now...and I know I shouldn't cause....guilt is not what he wants...I want to know God....
I want to see his face...
I want his elegance to dazzle me...
I want this world to fade away...
I see now how beautiful Justice is...how beautiful it is for those who are wicked to receive what they deserve...
and I know that I deserve nothing...yet have been given everything!
My God I want you to anoint me...MY GOD I WANT YOU TO RESTORE ME!
MY feelings can't describe what I am...and my actions can't either...
my person is in Christ...but i can't accept that...I have to do something...because if someone can just be accepted by the state of their heart....then we're equal...
I can't accept that
have you ever had something so disgusting thrown in your face....
when really it's beautiful...that God Loves us all...and that his opinion won't change based on actions...but I've been raised such that this doesn't fit correctly....I have to be able to make someone like me...I have to be able...to be more important....isn't this how we're raised...isn't this what I work for....
acceptance...
for Love
we have to work on our relationships with God?
NO WE DON'T
He's LOVED us...do you even know what that means?
do you even know how to Love or what kind of thing this is....
no conditions...
1 corinthians 13
Love is patient love is kind it does not envy etc....it's so impossible..
unattainable without God....
i can't Love,
but i can love
I can't Love
they're completely different....
I wish for Joy....I wish for understanding...I wish for sleep.....
my heart my spirit my mind...my body...my thoughts my blood my skin it all yearns...
but hell if I know for what...
Plastic trees and Garbage bags..?
I'm yearning for more...I want more...of God...
I want more!
MORE!
MORE!
and there are times when I feel God and I know...and I hear him and he moves me...
BUT NOW!
he seems so non-existent..
But I must be still and know that he is God.
and like that...
It is well...
When I know...
When I am sure of it...and I know without a doubt I am...because of where I've come from...and where I've been and where I'm goin'...
there is such a difference...from now to then...
That being still has such immense power...
I was pissed at the beginning of this...but now I am well... :)
I can't explain it...
it's not simply defusing or channeling my anger...
I've done that....and usually...doesn't work...I've tried so many things to get to normal...but in perspective looking back...
all I needed was to know
that he is God... :)
I can't describe it...I'm in shock myself... :)
I was trying to "tap into" God and it wasn't working...and it was making me even more angry...but I suppose...I have to do it God's way :)
This has been a rant ramble....
Ranble or Rantble
Ramt
Rantle Ramtle ?
:)
How can I fight what my body wants to do?
JESUS JESUS JESUS!!!!
I know the answer, I know he Loves me from the bottom to the top of everything.
BUT WHEN WILL I LOVE HIM!
When will it happen I want to love him...I feel like crap right now...and I know I shouldn't cause....guilt is not what he wants...I want to know God....
I want to see his face...
I want his elegance to dazzle me...
I want this world to fade away...
I see now how beautiful Justice is...how beautiful it is for those who are wicked to receive what they deserve...
and I know that I deserve nothing...yet have been given everything!
My God I want you to anoint me...MY GOD I WANT YOU TO RESTORE ME!
MY feelings can't describe what I am...and my actions can't either...
my person is in Christ...but i can't accept that...I have to do something...because if someone can just be accepted by the state of their heart....then we're equal...
I can't accept that
have you ever had something so disgusting thrown in your face....
when really it's beautiful...that God Loves us all...and that his opinion won't change based on actions...but I've been raised such that this doesn't fit correctly....I have to be able to make someone like me...I have to be able...to be more important....isn't this how we're raised...isn't this what I work for....
acceptance...
for Love
we have to work on our relationships with God?
NO WE DON'T
He's LOVED us...do you even know what that means?
do you even know how to Love or what kind of thing this is....
no conditions...
1 corinthians 13
Love is patient love is kind it does not envy etc....it's so impossible..
unattainable without God....
i can't Love,
but i can love
I can't Love
they're completely different....
I wish for Joy....I wish for understanding...I wish for sleep.....
my heart my spirit my mind...my body...my thoughts my blood my skin it all yearns...
but hell if I know for what...
Plastic trees and Garbage bags..?
I'm yearning for more...I want more...of God...
I want more!
MORE!
MORE!
and there are times when I feel God and I know...and I hear him and he moves me...
BUT NOW!
he seems so non-existent..
But I must be still and know that he is God.
and like that...
It is well...
When I know...
When I am sure of it...and I know without a doubt I am...because of where I've come from...and where I've been and where I'm goin'...
there is such a difference...from now to then...
That being still has such immense power...
I was pissed at the beginning of this...but now I am well... :)
I can't explain it...
it's not simply defusing or channeling my anger...
I've done that....and usually...doesn't work...I've tried so many things to get to normal...but in perspective looking back...
all I needed was to know
that he is God... :)
I can't describe it...I'm in shock myself... :)
I was trying to "tap into" God and it wasn't working...and it was making me even more angry...but I suppose...I have to do it God's way :)
This has been a rant ramble....
Ranble or Rantble
Ramt
Rantle Ramtle ?
:)
Monday, November 30, 2009
Mark it!
So that I come back to it :)
Just so yah know.... my biggest fault in my walk with God is taking too much...
my heart yearns...
and then is apathetic...
I guess you could call it trying to play God...
I reprove most every single one of my actions to align with the Bible...which....there's nothing wrong with wanting to align yourself...
but i so often forget that I
Can't do that...
constant surrender to God can...
and it's funny cause then...my head says...to my heart..."are you surrendering?"
almost like a sarcastic serious joke...
my heart says "no....oh crap i should be surrendering to God!"
(and Loving him etc. just insert...religiosity)
then my mind forgets it was a joke in the first place and starts to believe because my heart is so disturbed....
because that's a thing I gotta' do...If I'm not surrendering it's me whose living my life...and I suck at that...right...so
I
decide that for that few moments it's a good time to surrender...and I say phew.... glad I got that squared....away now what do I have to do....
it's not that I'm beating myself over the head...it's just very paradoxical...or maybe...not so much that...but hypocritical..... :)
NO ANYTHING BUT THAT!!!!
yup :)
everything especially that....
just think about it...if I weren't a hypocrite...what would I need God for....wouldn't I be purely the things I aspire to... :/ ?
This is probably the most common American sin...not necessarily hypocrisy....but independence...
I've got this God...and I surrender to him when I remember or when I need help :/
isn't that what should make me as a Christian different...that fact that though...I'm broken...and go through hard times like all the unsaved... (pre-Christians as I've heard some refer to them:) I have Jesus in my spirit...that influences my soul that influences my body...that drives out sin...
because I can't have two masters..and I'm already in Christ...
read some of romans....ch5-7 wonderful :)maybe a little longer than that...I'm not exactly sure..but the Bible is Good
what I'm gettin' at is...
...trying...
doesn't produce anything in the Christian walk...because you are...already in Christ...the more you put your hands off of trying to be like God the more you are :)
at least that's how it works for Christians...
well you should read...Romans...it says it much better....and clears it up much better.... :)
I'm just sorta' para-rambling :)
Just so yah know.... my biggest fault in my walk with God is taking too much...
my heart yearns...
and then is apathetic...
I guess you could call it trying to play God...
I reprove most every single one of my actions to align with the Bible...which....there's nothing wrong with wanting to align yourself...
but i so often forget that I
Can't do that...
constant surrender to God can...
and it's funny cause then...my head says...to my heart..."are you surrendering?"
almost like a sarcastic serious joke...
my heart says "no....oh crap i should be surrendering to God!"
(and Loving him etc. just insert...religiosity)
then my mind forgets it was a joke in the first place and starts to believe because my heart is so disturbed....
because that's a thing I gotta' do...If I'm not surrendering it's me whose living my life...and I suck at that...right...so
I
decide that for that few moments it's a good time to surrender...and I say phew.... glad I got that squared....away now what do I have to do....
it's not that I'm beating myself over the head...it's just very paradoxical...or maybe...not so much that...but hypocritical..... :)
NO ANYTHING BUT THAT!!!!
yup :)
everything especially that....
just think about it...if I weren't a hypocrite...what would I need God for....wouldn't I be purely the things I aspire to... :/ ?
This is probably the most common American sin...not necessarily hypocrisy....but independence...
I've got this God...and I surrender to him when I remember or when I need help :/
isn't that what should make me as a Christian different...that fact that though...I'm broken...and go through hard times like all the unsaved... (pre-Christians as I've heard some refer to them:) I have Jesus in my spirit...that influences my soul that influences my body...that drives out sin...
because I can't have two masters..and I'm already in Christ...
read some of romans....ch5-7 wonderful :)maybe a little longer than that...I'm not exactly sure..but the Bible is Good
what I'm gettin' at is...
...trying...
doesn't produce anything in the Christian walk...because you are...already in Christ...the more you put your hands off of trying to be like God the more you are :)
at least that's how it works for Christians...
well you should read...Romans...it says it much better....and clears it up much better.... :)
I'm just sorta' para-rambling :)
Friday, November 27, 2009
Playing
Today, as I tried to finish off reading an essay for a certain college class I fell asleep...
imagine that...
I like to sleep...
but unlike most of my sleeping times I was granted a dream...
as strange as it may have been...
I can only really remember what I wrote down directly after having woke up...
i dreamt there was this old British guy with the funniest accent...moustache and all..and we were on this beautiful, outdoors, backwoods pond with the sun shining down down on us and a little triangular type row boat...old-fashioned and made of wood...
and he was the type of Britain that says things like "What? What?" alla' time and "good show"
somewhere along the line, i thought it would be funny to kill him..fake invisible sword in hand I lunge for him..and he parries back with his sabre which seems for some reason to be lighter...(though...they're both invisible :/ )
then we rush through invention...and the ages...dueling...first with sword now with ridiculous old pistols...it's unclear whether they're fake or not at this time...whether they're cap guns or airsoft or bb guns...but we keep at it...we dive throughout the pond hiding from one another...both of us hoping to get the drop on the other...
now we're finally up to modern age equipment...machine gun in hand strafing bullets...jumping and laughing still all the time...we're both having the gayest of times....
I finally get the drop on him...
only I don't have anything left...and neither does he...
so I make an invention..."air-grenade" right on the spot...I take some air bite off the top and throw a grenade towards this elderly man...whom seems fit enough to have been in the army or marines...
and it explodes and....
the man dies....
He Died...
my laughing continues for a spell...but silence envelopes my laughter...
The lord revealed to me through this dream...that I am and many others are flirting with sin
from the point the thought krept into my mind..."kill him" I was flirting with sin...playing with the thought...
God showed me that while I might not be thinking about physically killing someone...I do play with my sin...
I give it a chance...I make war a game...in a sense...
when it's not...
at all...
it's a very serious matter...that I dumbed down to fake sabre fights and make believe explosions...
that can actually kill...
you cannot see the effect of your sin until it is too late...until your laughter is enveloped in silence...
so be rid of it...completely...
so your laughter never dies out :)
imagine that...
I like to sleep...
but unlike most of my sleeping times I was granted a dream...
as strange as it may have been...
I can only really remember what I wrote down directly after having woke up...
i dreamt there was this old British guy with the funniest accent...moustache and all..and we were on this beautiful, outdoors, backwoods pond with the sun shining down down on us and a little triangular type row boat...old-fashioned and made of wood...
and he was the type of Britain that says things like "What? What?" alla' time and "good show"
somewhere along the line, i thought it would be funny to kill him..fake invisible sword in hand I lunge for him..and he parries back with his sabre which seems for some reason to be lighter...(though...they're both invisible :/ )
then we rush through invention...and the ages...dueling...first with sword now with ridiculous old pistols...it's unclear whether they're fake or not at this time...whether they're cap guns or airsoft or bb guns...but we keep at it...we dive throughout the pond hiding from one another...both of us hoping to get the drop on the other...
now we're finally up to modern age equipment...machine gun in hand strafing bullets...jumping and laughing still all the time...we're both having the gayest of times....
I finally get the drop on him...
only I don't have anything left...and neither does he...
so I make an invention..."air-grenade" right on the spot...I take some air bite off the top and throw a grenade towards this elderly man...whom seems fit enough to have been in the army or marines...
and it explodes and....
the man dies....
He Died...
my laughing continues for a spell...but silence envelopes my laughter...
The lord revealed to me through this dream...that I am and many others are flirting with sin
from the point the thought krept into my mind..."kill him" I was flirting with sin...playing with the thought...
God showed me that while I might not be thinking about physically killing someone...I do play with my sin...
I give it a chance...I make war a game...in a sense...
when it's not...
at all...
it's a very serious matter...that I dumbed down to fake sabre fights and make believe explosions...
that can actually kill...
you cannot see the effect of your sin until it is too late...until your laughter is enveloped in silence...
so be rid of it...completely...
so your laughter never dies out :)
Monday, November 23, 2009
Sound Out Loud
This is a Film I made for my 4D art class...I really like how it came out :) and I think It's true :)
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
From Russia with Love :) (puns)
As some of you know...
I am taking a Russian culture class...
and I find the whole culture to be just fascinating to tell you the truth, and sadly not too far away from our culture.
but
different...
I'm writing because I read this passage out of my "textbook" and found it just heart-stopping the relationship between these two individuals..
for those of you who know nothing about Russian history...Peter the Great was this guy who westernized the whole of Russia very quickly and it's amazing...read about it...
well he died and only had two daughters (the rest of his children died)....and Anna was the first one...and Elizabeth the second...
Anna sucked as an empress...but Elizabeth was pretty good...
just to sorta' give you the idea of her personality....here's something she did which I find awesome...in the winter...she had all the doors in the palace opened..and had water poured over the floor...
this water turned to ice and she enjoyed ice skating on this...
another illustration is that she made her court (working stiffs and all nobles etc.) go camping- it began to rain...she enjoyed the rain and the mess it made of all her provisions and her delicacies that she had ordered from Europe...While everyone else freaked out...
sorta' makin' the best of every situation...she's adorable...I love reading about her...apparently she's pretty good looking too...and could dance a mean waltz....anyway..I was attracted to this love story between the empress and this peasant...I just love it...
I'ma be pretty much copying from the text book here on out...but I really hope you'll read it...It's moving trust me...
"One day in 1731 when she (Elizabeth) was twenty-two and attending services at the court chapel, she suddenly heard a splendid voice in the choir. She asked to be introduced to the talented new singer. He was tall, with a bronzed complexion, black hair and the expressive black eyes of a poet; a Ukrainian named Alexei Razumovsky. Alexei was from a small village north of Kiev, the son of a rustic Cossack shepherd. Alexei was a dreamer and his father was continually enraged at him because he was always trying to read. One day when, as often happened, his father was drunk, Alexei was caught once again with a book. in rage his father threw an axe at him, narrowly missing his head. After that, the boy went to live with the village priest, and his beautiful voice soon made him the finest singer in the choir. One day a court envoy passing through the town heard him sing and brought him back to sing in the court chapel. There, when he was twenty-three, Alexei met Elizabeth. Very soon after, she attached him to her own household as a bandura player. During her lifetime, the ebullient Elizabeth's interest was sometimes briefly captivated by other men, but her heart, once given, was true. Alexei and Elizabeth were devoted all their lives, a story of a peasant and a princess, of Catherine and Peter in reverse." (Peter, her father married a peasant girl also...and were really devoted...no intrigue or cheating or anything like that followed their relationship...pretty amazing :)
the story goes on to infer that they got married, but there's no proof of it...and it was just sorta' an implied thing that they were...
well eventually Elizabeth dies...in her 50's, so...Alexei is left on his own...and Catherine the Great takes the throne...
this is the part that really gets me...
"Still faithful and loving, Razumovsky was with Elizabeth when she died. Even after death, he remained gallant to her memory. Some years later, when Catherine the great contemplated marrying her love, Grigory Orlove, she sent her Chancellor, Count Mikhail Vorontsov, to Rasumovsky to try to obtain firm evidence that the two had really married. Cunningly, Catherine held out a golden carrot by suggesting that she would raise Razumovsky to the title of Imperial Highness and Prince Consort if he would reveal the truth and allow her to examine the documents. When this was proposed to him, Razumovsky said nothing but went over and took from a locked ebony casket a parcel of papers wrapped in pink silk. He carefully read them in silence. Then he kissed the papers, made the sign of the cross and threw them into the fire. With emotion, he turned to Vorontsov and said, "I have never been anything but the late Empress's most faithful slave. Now you can see for yourself that I have no documentation of any kind."
I JUST LOVE THAT!!!!
don't you?
It reminds me of parts of God's love, but it's human too, which I love the most about it...the fact that humans can love that much...
a man who is brought to prominence by his Love...and saved from his abussive father...
and he trusts her so much...
I love the last part...because I feel like Catherine and her cohorts...are sorta' like the devil...and they ask proof that we are God's children...(they ask if we're saved by God)
and he reads it one last time and burns the conformation...and all that crap...cause he knew who he was...
it's such confidence.
confidence that Christians should have that they are Christians...
and understanding what that means...
I really doubt he had any sort of trouble throwing those papers away, because look at his situation... he came from a lowly peasant family to being "the late Empress's most faithful slave"....
when you undergo such transformation and feel such love...a piece of paper doesn't mean anything...and certainly doesn't prove anything... (God tie in ;)
whether they were "officially/ceremonially" married...they were definitely married in spirit...
just that faithfulness
:) AHHHHH! :) that Love :)
I am taking a Russian culture class...
and I find the whole culture to be just fascinating to tell you the truth, and sadly not too far away from our culture.
but
different...
I'm writing because I read this passage out of my "textbook" and found it just heart-stopping the relationship between these two individuals..
for those of you who know nothing about Russian history...Peter the Great was this guy who westernized the whole of Russia very quickly and it's amazing...read about it...
well he died and only had two daughters (the rest of his children died)....and Anna was the first one...and Elizabeth the second...
Anna sucked as an empress...but Elizabeth was pretty good...
just to sorta' give you the idea of her personality....here's something she did which I find awesome...in the winter...she had all the doors in the palace opened..and had water poured over the floor...
this water turned to ice and she enjoyed ice skating on this...
another illustration is that she made her court (working stiffs and all nobles etc.) go camping- it began to rain...she enjoyed the rain and the mess it made of all her provisions and her delicacies that she had ordered from Europe...While everyone else freaked out...
sorta' makin' the best of every situation...she's adorable...I love reading about her...apparently she's pretty good looking too...and could dance a mean waltz....anyway..I was attracted to this love story between the empress and this peasant...I just love it...
I'ma be pretty much copying from the text book here on out...but I really hope you'll read it...It's moving trust me...
"One day in 1731 when she (Elizabeth) was twenty-two and attending services at the court chapel, she suddenly heard a splendid voice in the choir. She asked to be introduced to the talented new singer. He was tall, with a bronzed complexion, black hair and the expressive black eyes of a poet; a Ukrainian named Alexei Razumovsky. Alexei was from a small village north of Kiev, the son of a rustic Cossack shepherd. Alexei was a dreamer and his father was continually enraged at him because he was always trying to read. One day when, as often happened, his father was drunk, Alexei was caught once again with a book. in rage his father threw an axe at him, narrowly missing his head. After that, the boy went to live with the village priest, and his beautiful voice soon made him the finest singer in the choir. One day a court envoy passing through the town heard him sing and brought him back to sing in the court chapel. There, when he was twenty-three, Alexei met Elizabeth. Very soon after, she attached him to her own household as a bandura player. During her lifetime, the ebullient Elizabeth's interest was sometimes briefly captivated by other men, but her heart, once given, was true. Alexei and Elizabeth were devoted all their lives, a story of a peasant and a princess, of Catherine and Peter in reverse." (Peter, her father married a peasant girl also...and were really devoted...no intrigue or cheating or anything like that followed their relationship...pretty amazing :)
the story goes on to infer that they got married, but there's no proof of it...and it was just sorta' an implied thing that they were...
well eventually Elizabeth dies...in her 50's, so...Alexei is left on his own...and Catherine the Great takes the throne...
this is the part that really gets me...
"Still faithful and loving, Razumovsky was with Elizabeth when she died. Even after death, he remained gallant to her memory. Some years later, when Catherine the great contemplated marrying her love, Grigory Orlove, she sent her Chancellor, Count Mikhail Vorontsov, to Rasumovsky to try to obtain firm evidence that the two had really married. Cunningly, Catherine held out a golden carrot by suggesting that she would raise Razumovsky to the title of Imperial Highness and Prince Consort if he would reveal the truth and allow her to examine the documents. When this was proposed to him, Razumovsky said nothing but went over and took from a locked ebony casket a parcel of papers wrapped in pink silk. He carefully read them in silence. Then he kissed the papers, made the sign of the cross and threw them into the fire. With emotion, he turned to Vorontsov and said, "I have never been anything but the late Empress's most faithful slave. Now you can see for yourself that I have no documentation of any kind."
I JUST LOVE THAT!!!!
don't you?
It reminds me of parts of God's love, but it's human too, which I love the most about it...the fact that humans can love that much...
a man who is brought to prominence by his Love...and saved from his abussive father...
and he trusts her so much...
I love the last part...because I feel like Catherine and her cohorts...are sorta' like the devil...and they ask proof that we are God's children...(they ask if we're saved by God)
and he reads it one last time and burns the conformation...and all that crap...cause he knew who he was...
it's such confidence.
confidence that Christians should have that they are Christians...
and understanding what that means...
I really doubt he had any sort of trouble throwing those papers away, because look at his situation... he came from a lowly peasant family to being "the late Empress's most faithful slave"....
when you undergo such transformation and feel such love...a piece of paper doesn't mean anything...and certainly doesn't prove anything... (God tie in ;)
whether they were "officially/ceremonially" married...they were definitely married in spirit...
just that faithfulness
:) AHHHHH! :) that Love :)
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Definition
I asked people to summarize me in one word...but I did sorta' the same...but with many more words...
these are the first words that I thought of before I saw anything that anybody else wrote...
I think they're pretty interesting...cause obviously not all of them are true...and some of them are pride and others are lies from the devil....it's just really interesting I'll explain more once you've read both lists...
Christian
Godly
Artistic
Lovable
Disgusting
Smelly
Short
Flabby
Determined
Hard-working
Crazy
Confused
Average
Cute
Scruffy
Fiery
Musical
Whimsical
Foolish
Dangerous
Insane
Unaesthetic
Deep
Introverted
Spirited
Arrogant
Ignorant
Obstinate
Distant
Close
Familiar
Kid
Un
Re
Creative
Unique
Stream-lined
Revolutionary
Folk
Burdensome
Sin-natured
Loving
Polite
Sincere
Malleable
Talented
Indecisive
Frantic
Forceful
Dominating
Retrogressive
Progressive
Weak
Watchful
Interesting
Interested
Intricate
Sensitive
Thick-skinned
Anti-religion
Ridiculous
Funny
Strange
Queer :) (HAH!)
Gay :) I like the old meanings (gay=happy and queer=strange…they’re different from just saying happy or strange…cause…they convey something different...that's how I see them...)
Different
Perverted
Gluttonous
Dumb
Deaf
Blind
Out-of-shape
Regimented
Free
Humble
Pride
Intellectual
Learned
Striving
Idiot
Silent
Soft-spoken
Loud
Inspiring
Cowardly
Forgiving
Judgmental
Industrial
elemental
Imagine ending with elemental...that's actually funny....I don't know what mood I was in...but it must have been a weird one to end with elemental...I don't even know what I mean by that... :)
Now I've shown you this list not to reap sympathy, empathy...or encouragement...
so don't show up and say, "Stephen you should know you are....this...."or "Stephen you should know you aren't... this....
this is about the tricks that we play on ourselves...
humility is one thing...but the devil takes hold of it...and pushes it...many times...and changes it...
and perverts it...
I know what I am...and it's definite...and this is where words fail...because they are abstract...
a word is so abstract...
you say something and a million pictures come to mind...but a picture is much more definite...a picture is worth a thousand words...but a word is worth many more pictures than a thousand....
God we have this whole book trying to explain...and this picture trying to capture even just a part of what God is like...
That's why art fails...it's taking something and relating it to someone else with abstraction...
imagine trying to tell of how great God was without his spirit giving you the right way to convey it...cause not only does your mouth speak abstraction, but so do your actions...and imagine all the different combinations there are...for saying something...and then all the different combinations of things and how everyone reacts differently to them...
where one combination of communications...would repulse someone...while that same combination may bring them close...or even challenge another...
yet if we have God moving through us....he conducts our actions and speech in such a way to communicate perfectly what God is to someone who doesn't know...
now think about that when you see this second list...which is by people...most of whom I've known for quite some time and would not lie....
now to each one I've conveyed something different...yet predominately....these are positive connotative words...because that's what God does...He's pleasing...
I suck at communication...but when God moves through me...he gives me the right things to do and say :)
awesome!
quiet
real
Thoughtful
FUN!
...Confident. ;-)
Awkward. (You have taught me well, sensei) :)
Faithful.
Honest
Cleveland
christian
Devoted
True
brother
so think about that...when you're down...when you're struggling...think about...why....
is it because of God...is it because God is moving through you...and if it is...then it's cause for rejoicing...
if not...ask yourself...who are you taking your cues from....who is moving through you...who is motivating your actions...if not God...if he's not moving through you...
do you really trust anyone else...to dominate your actions...do you really trust anyone to love you like God...and have your best interest at mind...to accomplish what he wants...
God loves me more than I could ever love me...even if I was the most prideful arrogant person on earth...he would still love me more...than I could ever love myself...
and truth shines when he's in me...my mind is right..and things like the second list shine through...
but when I'm taking control...things like the first list sorta' distort and pervert my view....which is sin...because it's separating myself from God by taking control of my life... :)
these are the first words that I thought of before I saw anything that anybody else wrote...
I think they're pretty interesting...cause obviously not all of them are true...and some of them are pride and others are lies from the devil....it's just really interesting I'll explain more once you've read both lists...
Christian
Godly
Artistic
Lovable
Disgusting
Smelly
Short
Flabby
Determined
Hard-working
Crazy
Confused
Average
Cute
Scruffy
Fiery
Musical
Whimsical
Foolish
Dangerous
Insane
Unaesthetic
Deep
Introverted
Spirited
Arrogant
Ignorant
Obstinate
Distant
Close
Familiar
Kid
Un
Re
Creative
Unique
Stream-lined
Revolutionary
Folk
Burdensome
Sin-natured
Loving
Polite
Sincere
Malleable
Talented
Indecisive
Frantic
Forceful
Dominating
Retrogressive
Progressive
Weak
Watchful
Interesting
Interested
Intricate
Sensitive
Thick-skinned
Anti-religion
Ridiculous
Funny
Strange
Queer :) (HAH!)
Gay :) I like the old meanings (gay=happy and queer=strange…they’re different from just saying happy or strange…cause…they convey something different...that's how I see them...)
Different
Perverted
Gluttonous
Dumb
Deaf
Blind
Out-of-shape
Regimented
Free
Humble
Pride
Intellectual
Learned
Striving
Idiot
Silent
Soft-spoken
Loud
Inspiring
Cowardly
Forgiving
Judgmental
Industrial
elemental
Imagine ending with elemental...that's actually funny....I don't know what mood I was in...but it must have been a weird one to end with elemental...I don't even know what I mean by that... :)
Now I've shown you this list not to reap sympathy, empathy...or encouragement...
so don't show up and say, "Stephen you should know you are....this...."or "Stephen you should know you aren't... this....
this is about the tricks that we play on ourselves...
humility is one thing...but the devil takes hold of it...and pushes it...many times...and changes it...
and perverts it...
I know what I am...and it's definite...and this is where words fail...because they are abstract...
a word is so abstract...
you say something and a million pictures come to mind...but a picture is much more definite...a picture is worth a thousand words...but a word is worth many more pictures than a thousand....
God we have this whole book trying to explain...and this picture trying to capture even just a part of what God is like...
That's why art fails...it's taking something and relating it to someone else with abstraction...
imagine trying to tell of how great God was without his spirit giving you the right way to convey it...cause not only does your mouth speak abstraction, but so do your actions...and imagine all the different combinations there are...for saying something...and then all the different combinations of things and how everyone reacts differently to them...
where one combination of communications...would repulse someone...while that same combination may bring them close...or even challenge another...
yet if we have God moving through us....he conducts our actions and speech in such a way to communicate perfectly what God is to someone who doesn't know...
now think about that when you see this second list...which is by people...most of whom I've known for quite some time and would not lie....
now to each one I've conveyed something different...yet predominately....these are positive connotative words...because that's what God does...He's pleasing...
I suck at communication...but when God moves through me...he gives me the right things to do and say :)
awesome!
quiet
real
Thoughtful
FUN!
...Confident. ;-)
Awkward. (You have taught me well, sensei) :)
Faithful.
Honest
Cleveland
christian
Devoted
True
brother
so think about that...when you're down...when you're struggling...think about...why....
is it because of God...is it because God is moving through you...and if it is...then it's cause for rejoicing...
if not...ask yourself...who are you taking your cues from....who is moving through you...who is motivating your actions...if not God...if he's not moving through you...
do you really trust anyone else...to dominate your actions...do you really trust anyone to love you like God...and have your best interest at mind...to accomplish what he wants...
God loves me more than I could ever love me...even if I was the most prideful arrogant person on earth...he would still love me more...than I could ever love myself...
and truth shines when he's in me...my mind is right..and things like the second list shine through...
but when I'm taking control...things like the first list sorta' distort and pervert my view....which is sin...because it's separating myself from God by taking control of my life... :)
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Love
I am now in a 4D Art Class
I really enjoy it...cause it's really spiritual
It's not so much about making crap...it's about translating an idea in a way that affects an individual
there are tons of ways to do this...
but performance art is what we're on now...
this is not performing art
this is performance art...it's actually a very liquid category..but it's not regular...i'm not even sure I know what it is....
but one famous performance artist is John Cage and he deals with music....and he just talked about music and you could tell that he just loved it...
and it was a pure, innocent, lovely sorta' love
I see some people with a love for music and they run after it with a lust and then throw it down after they're done...just like sex...or a meal or something like that...
I don't know and it just seems to me like they're using it...and there's nothing wrong with that I suppose....
but I love what he said...cause he truly understood what it is to love....I don't know if he's a Christian or not...but he had the same attitude that God has towards us...that of Grace...
He said I love music...and sound so i don't require it to be any certain way...I like it how it is...I like to hear traffic...I don't want someone to conform sound to mimicking something else....or pretending that one sound is in love with another...I would never want that because I love it...and I want it to be how it is...
those aren't his exact words...but he just had such a great impact on how I should be and what i should do and how I should love people...
his most famous piece was called 4 minutes 33 seconds
he wrote the piece for piano and it was all rests...4 minutes and 33 seconds of silence...and then the crowd started talking and complaining..and that's what he really wanted to hear...
here's the video where he talked about sounds
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcHnL7aS64Y
you should really watch it...it's amazing...and once more the comments on the video say he's insane...but I think he's amazing... :)
I really enjoy it...cause it's really spiritual
It's not so much about making crap...it's about translating an idea in a way that affects an individual
there are tons of ways to do this...
but performance art is what we're on now...
this is not performing art
this is performance art...it's actually a very liquid category..but it's not regular...i'm not even sure I know what it is....
but one famous performance artist is John Cage and he deals with music....and he just talked about music and you could tell that he just loved it...
and it was a pure, innocent, lovely sorta' love
I see some people with a love for music and they run after it with a lust and then throw it down after they're done...just like sex...or a meal or something like that...
I don't know and it just seems to me like they're using it...and there's nothing wrong with that I suppose....
but I love what he said...cause he truly understood what it is to love....I don't know if he's a Christian or not...but he had the same attitude that God has towards us...that of Grace...
He said I love music...and sound so i don't require it to be any certain way...I like it how it is...I like to hear traffic...I don't want someone to conform sound to mimicking something else....or pretending that one sound is in love with another...I would never want that because I love it...and I want it to be how it is...
those aren't his exact words...but he just had such a great impact on how I should be and what i should do and how I should love people...
his most famous piece was called 4 minutes 33 seconds
he wrote the piece for piano and it was all rests...4 minutes and 33 seconds of silence...and then the crowd started talking and complaining..and that's what he really wanted to hear...
here's the video where he talked about sounds
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcHnL7aS64Y
you should really watch it...it's amazing...and once more the comments on the video say he's insane...but I think he's amazing... :)
Friday, October 30, 2009
Are we not all murderers
Are we not all murderers?
Have we not all destroyed one another.
Snuffing out the very life that God and replacing it with death and defeat!
I watched a clip of Schindler's list...it was two minutes...it was nazis destroying a town...."cleansing it" of jews...and people saying "GOODBYE JEWS!" regular people...
but is that not happening today!
my heart stopped....
when you harbor hatred against someone Jesus said it is like murder before his eyes!
I see people do that everyday...and I get used to it....I know it's wrong...i detect it's wrong...I tell them that, but it doesn't STOP!
It breaks my heart! (easily becoming a new catch phrase sadly) to see what it must do to God...to have a constant genocide going on constantly...to see blatant hatred and disgust...and lies being spread...
"I have the right to be angry at this person for what they did to me!"
YOU HAVE NO RIGHTS AT ALL!!!
For Love is what you were made to do.
Anything else is not of the father!
You have heard it said that you are not your own!
Believe it...and believe that the people you come in contact with are not yours either and are not even in ownership of themselves.
What right does this us vs. them attitude have?
what good can come from water poured on the floor...
I tell you the truth that your lives are just as water...and there is only so much...and you are pouring it out on the floor...and it is only being stretched...and will evaporate sooner than if you had not done anything in the first place.
Are our hearts in the right place or are they being wasted on what desires enter them at a given moment?
It is written six things which God HATES (proverbs 6:16-19)
Haughty Eyes
Hands that shed innocent blood
Heart filled with wicked thoughts
Feet that run to mischief
Lying tongue
A man who stirs up dissension among brothers
yet we do not stop.
we do not yield to what is detestable in God's sight
instead we run to God with our mind perverted, our hands stained, and our tongue twisted telling others that God should accept us as we are...for he made us...
but I tell you...unless the spirit of God is upon you...
you are no creation of the God most high...You were never created by him
For how could he make anything that is less than perfect...and how can we be perfect without the saving grace that is in Christ Jesus?
I am the worst of you. I have hated the Church I have hated my very brothers. I have taken what truth they spoke to me twisted it and spat it back in their face...and killed them in my heart...for death seeks to expand it's domain more than ever in the hearts of this generation.
But light that came to me was was in the form of grace that I never deserved...a grace that was so powerful it moves men to tears...and leaves them fallen...on the floor...and raises them up with strength to overcome this world...
Peace!
how much destruction?
how many wars will you wage in your mind before the populations of the earth will die out?
What will become of our God when we think with our hearts, we are deceived, we do not turn, he does not heal us and all the world is clothed in grey?
For it is not Darkness that the world sees or light...but Grey!
Have we not all destroyed one another.
Snuffing out the very life that God and replacing it with death and defeat!
I watched a clip of Schindler's list...it was two minutes...it was nazis destroying a town...."cleansing it" of jews...and people saying "GOODBYE JEWS!" regular people...
but is that not happening today!
my heart stopped....
when you harbor hatred against someone Jesus said it is like murder before his eyes!
I see people do that everyday...and I get used to it....I know it's wrong...i detect it's wrong...I tell them that, but it doesn't STOP!
It breaks my heart! (easily becoming a new catch phrase sadly) to see what it must do to God...to have a constant genocide going on constantly...to see blatant hatred and disgust...and lies being spread...
"I have the right to be angry at this person for what they did to me!"
YOU HAVE NO RIGHTS AT ALL!!!
For Love is what you were made to do.
Anything else is not of the father!
You have heard it said that you are not your own!
Believe it...and believe that the people you come in contact with are not yours either and are not even in ownership of themselves.
What right does this us vs. them attitude have?
what good can come from water poured on the floor...
I tell you the truth that your lives are just as water...and there is only so much...and you are pouring it out on the floor...and it is only being stretched...and will evaporate sooner than if you had not done anything in the first place.
Are our hearts in the right place or are they being wasted on what desires enter them at a given moment?
It is written six things which God HATES (proverbs 6:16-19)
Haughty Eyes
Hands that shed innocent blood
Heart filled with wicked thoughts
Feet that run to mischief
Lying tongue
A man who stirs up dissension among brothers
yet we do not stop.
we do not yield to what is detestable in God's sight
instead we run to God with our mind perverted, our hands stained, and our tongue twisted telling others that God should accept us as we are...for he made us...
but I tell you...unless the spirit of God is upon you...
you are no creation of the God most high...You were never created by him
For how could he make anything that is less than perfect...and how can we be perfect without the saving grace that is in Christ Jesus?
I am the worst of you. I have hated the Church I have hated my very brothers. I have taken what truth they spoke to me twisted it and spat it back in their face...and killed them in my heart...for death seeks to expand it's domain more than ever in the hearts of this generation.
But light that came to me was was in the form of grace that I never deserved...a grace that was so powerful it moves men to tears...and leaves them fallen...on the floor...and raises them up with strength to overcome this world...
Peace!
how much destruction?
how many wars will you wage in your mind before the populations of the earth will die out?
What will become of our God when we think with our hearts, we are deceived, we do not turn, he does not heal us and all the world is clothed in grey?
For it is not Darkness that the world sees or light...but Grey!
I am just overwhelmed :)
GOD!
MY GOD :)
He just pours out his spirit and makes divine appointments for me...I can't even sleep without feeling his love on me...
I've been having more dreams...but They're getting more serious....I have people dying in my dreams...and
God just keeps putting me in situations in my dreams where I should die...but he does miracles for me in the dreams....and the thing he keeps repeating is, mainly that I have spoken things about your future that have not yet come true....
it's impossible for you to die....at least until they do...and just gives me power...when I hear that...
not that i'm gonna' jump in front of a car or anything...but just that his love is watching over me...it's empowering! :)
MY GOD :)
He just pours out his spirit and makes divine appointments for me...I can't even sleep without feeling his love on me...
I've been having more dreams...but They're getting more serious....I have people dying in my dreams...and
God just keeps putting me in situations in my dreams where I should die...but he does miracles for me in the dreams....and the thing he keeps repeating is, mainly that I have spoken things about your future that have not yet come true....
it's impossible for you to die....at least until they do...and just gives me power...when I hear that...
not that i'm gonna' jump in front of a car or anything...but just that his love is watching over me...it's empowering! :)
Friday, October 23, 2009
One of my Stranger thoughts.
Right before I began to write a paper for school my mind wondered ever so far away from the normal spectrum of thought. Encompassing a whole new dimension to the Love Hate relationship I have with...relationships is this new and unique thought. What if I were female. The obvious question that would follow would be my attraction level as a girl. Would I be hot. Could I perhaps be even hotter than I am now as a member of the male sex. Would I be smarter, more driven, have more self-control, would I still have struggled with the things I did, if I were girl would I even retain what people may call my personality, would I be small, would I be tall, would I be the kind of girl that beats people up or the kind that is insanely nice, would I flirt with everyone, would I flirt with myself if I were two people and one was a girl?
Can you see the flood gates? This question is just too !''! @ ehhh
However the question stream of thought that Ranked in at #1 on the insanely strang-o-meter and prompted this blog was:
What if I were a Girl? What if as a girl I was a lesbian? Would I be hotter as a girl? Would I be hotter as a lesbian? As a lesbian would I get hotter girls than as a man? Am I more attractive to girls as a girl? Do I make a better man being a lesbian?
I don't know weird stuff...
This isn't my normal stream of thought...
but it's funny :)
Can you see the flood gates? This question is just too !''! @ ehhh
However the question stream of thought that Ranked in at #1 on the insanely strang-o-meter and prompted this blog was:
What if I were a Girl? What if as a girl I was a lesbian? Would I be hotter as a girl? Would I be hotter as a lesbian? As a lesbian would I get hotter girls than as a man? Am I more attractive to girls as a girl? Do I make a better man being a lesbian?
I don't know weird stuff...
This isn't my normal stream of thought...
but it's funny :)
Sunday, September 20, 2009
My Dream
For those who may not know...
I'm in a hearing from God class at my church...which is just amazing...
the teacher is just constantly hearing from him....and he's taught me to listen to God so well...through this book called dialogue with God....by Mark and Patti Virkler
it's so good read it....it'll clear up a bunch of stuff about prayer...with Scriptural references....they pick out so many verses to back up everything...
well we're goin' over verses that deal with dreams...cause that's one way God talks to us...and today i was just worn out...and cranky and frustrated...and i would just try to push into God....and all i was hearing was...Go to bed...
God just kept telling me to sleep....
well hears why...
he gave a me a dream...and I'm not exactly sure what it means...but i have an idea....
ok it was me at an amuzement park...huge one...everyone there is and everyone is split up into couples...except me...and they all just don't even care about...one another...it's so strange...
they just do whatever...and no one is happy there...and they just fool around...and don't even enjoy the privilege that they have...they just complain...
There was one person i remember specifically it was...Shane's dad...Mr. Starr...he was there...
but he wasn't one that was sorta' tossing off his wife....and not caring....he was just by himself...i can't remember what he said...
oh yah and everything was run by McDonalds....and they were celebrating something about the corporation...
but it began to rain....i do believe....
but then something picked up..and i sorta' jumped up in my bed...but even though i was awake...i still saw the end...which was everyone running in terror...
and i really think...that this is God telling me that...some sorta' corporate collapse or downfall is coming....and we upperclass.... countries...like america... are gonna' be hit hard...and it's gonna' rip the foundation out from under us...and the un-fun amuzement park is gonna' be broken and abandoned...
that is i think unless we repent...so i walked down the hallway....cause i also this was sorta' for a college too...cause college is sorta' an amuzement park in a sense...so i talked to this kid and as God was showing himself....and right as i'm about as i was gonna' ask him to accept Christ...
he gets a call from his dad that a big loan didn't go through or something...thousands of dollars...and it just sorta' lined up....and i really think that...is a specific instance of the dream...but it's much broader...
I'm in a hearing from God class at my church...which is just amazing...
the teacher is just constantly hearing from him....and he's taught me to listen to God so well...through this book called dialogue with God....by Mark and Patti Virkler
it's so good read it....it'll clear up a bunch of stuff about prayer...with Scriptural references....they pick out so many verses to back up everything...
well we're goin' over verses that deal with dreams...cause that's one way God talks to us...and today i was just worn out...and cranky and frustrated...and i would just try to push into God....and all i was hearing was...Go to bed...
God just kept telling me to sleep....
well hears why...
he gave a me a dream...and I'm not exactly sure what it means...but i have an idea....
ok it was me at an amuzement park...huge one...everyone there is and everyone is split up into couples...except me...and they all just don't even care about...one another...it's so strange...
they just do whatever...and no one is happy there...and they just fool around...and don't even enjoy the privilege that they have...they just complain...
There was one person i remember specifically it was...Shane's dad...Mr. Starr...he was there...
but he wasn't one that was sorta' tossing off his wife....and not caring....he was just by himself...i can't remember what he said...
oh yah and everything was run by McDonalds....and they were celebrating something about the corporation...
but it began to rain....i do believe....
but then something picked up..and i sorta' jumped up in my bed...but even though i was awake...i still saw the end...which was everyone running in terror...
and i really think...that this is God telling me that...some sorta' corporate collapse or downfall is coming....and we upperclass.... countries...like america... are gonna' be hit hard...and it's gonna' rip the foundation out from under us...and the un-fun amuzement park is gonna' be broken and abandoned...
that is i think unless we repent...so i walked down the hallway....cause i also this was sorta' for a college too...cause college is sorta' an amuzement park in a sense...so i talked to this kid and as God was showing himself....and right as i'm about as i was gonna' ask him to accept Christ...
he gets a call from his dad that a big loan didn't go through or something...thousands of dollars...and it just sorta' lined up....and i really think that...is a specific instance of the dream...but it's much broader...
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Love
Today was a completely take my breath away crazy good day...
God has just showered me with privilege...not only am i at college pursuing a career that i just love...i'm getting the opportunity to just reach all those who have any sorta' contact with me on a day to weekly basis...
Today it was just a culmination of all the things i've done in this first month that i've been here....
My art project which some of you may know as the Bible Bashing project....where for the past few weeks i've torn apart Bibles for my 3D foundations class trying to make an abstract modular piece
a modular piece is a sculpture that is made out of tiny little things..like one guy made a gorilla outa' hangers and got famous for it...
well God said to me in the dollar store when i was looking for materials....he just said BIBLES
and i was like what...Bibles? dollar stores have Bibles?
so yah they do i bought some and God just put this vision in my heart of a Bible just being ripped apart..and the pages flying out...sorta' like a whirlwind, fire, bush, tree...crazy things...and i was just blown away by that...
but as i worked so hard to get that real..it didn't work...
but i did twist the Bible and warp the back..and have all these pages flying out...which was really cool...
and we had to have one word to describe a process that occurs in nature...to describe...it...
and mine was gonna' be transformation...like how the Bible transforms you...and God does and all this stuff...but
as the critique or our projects started...he said...it's not about you...it's about me...your word is Love...
and it fit so well...
to just look at this completely trashed Bible that has all these cuts on the back..and all the inside coming out just to show love
and it's not gold plated it's a humble $1 paper back Bible that's giving it's all just to stand up...on this plain strait out...piece of wood...that's rigged with fishing line holding it in place...
I felt like i had crucified Christ...and so i...
told them my word was love..and they just all got it...
they were like the spine looks like it's been whipped like Jesus...and it looks like it's just giving it's...
and the inside is coming out...and they said it looked so POWERFUL...and that it wasn't just a weak feeble Bible...
i take no credit for any of this artwork...it was completely God all the way...i just praise him with all my heart....
God has just showered me with privilege...not only am i at college pursuing a career that i just love...i'm getting the opportunity to just reach all those who have any sorta' contact with me on a day to weekly basis...
Today it was just a culmination of all the things i've done in this first month that i've been here....
My art project which some of you may know as the Bible Bashing project....where for the past few weeks i've torn apart Bibles for my 3D foundations class trying to make an abstract modular piece
a modular piece is a sculpture that is made out of tiny little things..like one guy made a gorilla outa' hangers and got famous for it...
well God said to me in the dollar store when i was looking for materials....he just said BIBLES
and i was like what...Bibles? dollar stores have Bibles?
so yah they do i bought some and God just put this vision in my heart of a Bible just being ripped apart..and the pages flying out...sorta' like a whirlwind, fire, bush, tree...crazy things...and i was just blown away by that...
but as i worked so hard to get that real..it didn't work...
but i did twist the Bible and warp the back..and have all these pages flying out...which was really cool...
and we had to have one word to describe a process that occurs in nature...to describe...it...
and mine was gonna' be transformation...like how the Bible transforms you...and God does and all this stuff...but
as the critique or our projects started...he said...it's not about you...it's about me...your word is Love...
and it fit so well...
to just look at this completely trashed Bible that has all these cuts on the back..and all the inside coming out just to show love
and it's not gold plated it's a humble $1 paper back Bible that's giving it's all just to stand up...on this plain strait out...piece of wood...that's rigged with fishing line holding it in place...
I felt like i had crucified Christ...and so i...
told them my word was love..and they just all got it...
they were like the spine looks like it's been whipped like Jesus...and it looks like it's just giving it's...
and the inside is coming out...and they said it looked so POWERFUL...and that it wasn't just a weak feeble Bible...
i take no credit for any of this artwork...it was completely God all the way...i just praise him with all my heart....
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