tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10898464885126658562024-03-18T23:00:06.498-05:00anywhere. anything.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01891325113882452164noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1089846488512665856.post-89554693924630960362015-01-18T07:57:00.001-06:002015-01-18T08:35:26.962-06:00A Love Like This<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCQPH9Zh63fyQ8go8wQA2Js-gG-ytaRgCzhLEN_wPuY_ZDgJ6Npdz8AeXreSDbwIuU2dLvmRtRXBu7VV7V3g6BTPqLwTA7zQaWoV56xXoat-5p_Qfj-fyu7LF2CmZ7Hk1xri9kCU0qV30/s1600/Unknown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCQPH9Zh63fyQ8go8wQA2Js-gG-ytaRgCzhLEN_wPuY_ZDgJ6Npdz8AeXreSDbwIuU2dLvmRtRXBu7VV7V3g6BTPqLwTA7zQaWoV56xXoat-5p_Qfj-fyu7LF2CmZ7Hk1xri9kCU0qV30/s1600/Unknown.jpg"></a><i>Let me first say that if you haven’t read my previous post, </i><span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><i>To Be Loved</i></span><i>, then I suggest you take a few minutes, scroll down, and read that before you continue on here. </i></div>
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With that being said, this message has been on my heart for a while now. </div>
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In my last post, I talked about how God created each one of us to be loved. His purpose for our lives is that we would recognize and experience just how great His affections are for each one of us. He says to you and me, “You, (<i>fill in your name here</i>), are my delight!” </div>
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We have to make that statement <b>personal</b>. We have to sit still long enough for God to communicate that into our hearts in a way that only He can. Without ever truly experiencing His love, we will find ourselves in danger of falling into a religious life based upon our own deeds. And we know that our deeds do not save us. His love does!</div>
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I am aware that the rest of this message is hard to live out without experiencing this love. To love fully, we must be loved fully. With this in mind, I make my plea. </div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">We, the church, have a problem. We have missed the central message that Jesus Christ came to teach. We have forgotten how to love. Somehow, we have shifted the teachings of Christ a bit. Rather than accepting all people, we welcome in those who look like us, speak like us, and believe what we believe. We say we love, but we are actually only loving those whom Jesus said were </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">easy to love</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">.</span></div>
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I have seen Facebook posts and articles regarding the homosexual agenda, the middle east crisis, and our rival political party and their "idiotic candidates" to name a few. We comment on others’ posts and get into lengthy debates about who is right and wrong in this world. We blaspheme those people whose values and beliefs don't line up with ours. And, yes, I have been found guilty of this as well. But…</div>
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For the sake and the advancement of the Kingdom of God, can you and I stop this?</div>
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Can we learn to love?</div>
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Can we begin acting towards acceptance and unity with others?</div>
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First of all, let’s begin by showing love to believers from all backgrounds. I think it hardly matters, if at all, which denomination you and I come from or what our “end times” theology states? We are all brothers and sisters. We are the church. We preach that Christ came, died, and resurrected. He is establishing His Kingdom here— and now. Let’s go back to the basics. Let’s start by embracing others in the freedom that we have. Christ has made us all unique. Let’s celebrate that! It’s Beautiful!</div>
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Second, let’s learn how to truly show God’s love to those who are in the world and have not yet been introduced to their heavenly Father. There are a lot of lonely, hurting people around us: in our workplaces, schools, and communities. They are screaming out for someone to love them, and they don't know that God loves them. Could you and I possibly be the ones who will break the silence and BE the love of Christ to that individual? <b>Is God waiting on you and me to make a move of love towards someone so that He can break through and bring revelation in their hearts? </b></div>
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We spend a lot of time posting and commenting on what we are against. I propose that we do something different. Most people don't need to be reminded about what sin is and how they are “missing the mark.” They already know this. Let’s blow their minds and show them how much they are accepted, as they are. Let’s take a step in that direction. Isn’t that what Christ did for us? He didn't tell us what to do in order to be accepted. And neither did He tell us what sinful habits to drop in order to be loved by him. He found us in our messy state and loved us. Thats it. And it is that simple.</div>
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And that love, if I am honest, has completely transformed my life. Can we not all say the same?</div>
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Before we post on Facebook, lets filter our thoughts through the lens of this thought: “Is there someone on my Facebook friend list who might see what I wrote or an article I tagged and be pushed away from God? </div>
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If only one person has the potential to see your agenda as hatred of any kind, then I propose that you just don't post. The time is now for the church to rise up and be the hands and feet of Christ…to show love when it seems nonexistent. <b>Lets embrace others with open arms, regardless of their background.</b><br>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01891325113882452164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1089846488512665856.post-83148169084809386222014-12-26T13:23:00.002-06:002014-12-26T13:25:40.075-06:00To Be Loved<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<i>Why would a complete and perfect God create you and me?</i> </div>
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We have all probably asked this question at some point in our life. It’s likely to have come in those crucial, malleable times when we were searching for something true. The answer will define the way we live and what course we take. It will cause us to form our opinions and make decisions that will affect the rest of our life, as well as the others around us. </div>
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<b>What if I told you that you and I were created, by God, to be loved.</b> That’s it! You weren’t created so that you would love God. You and I were placed on earth so that we would know the overwhelming love of a perfect Father. </div>
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At first, this statement may seem too simple. It may even come across as cheap. But, if you follow this out and look at what Scripture says about the nature of God, who is love, then it may begin to make more sense to you. </div>
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God, who embodies a perfect love, would have to mirror this love, right? And, if the test for whether someone is actually loving another in this way is displayed by Scripture, then we need to know what characterizes this love. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 13:4-8) reminds us that perfect love is displayed by an attitude of giving, rather than receiving. Love gives away. It doesn’t expect or take.</div>
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If love gives away, then God gives away, because God is love. </div>
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Anyone who spends any amount of time in church, will hear that God is love. And many of us can accept that God loves the world, in a collective sense. But, do we know that God loves us? Do you know that God loves YOU?</div>
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Satan has a way of planting subtle lies in our minds at strategic times. They sound something like this:</div>
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<i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“God will love you when you get your act together.”</i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“God really only loves the potential that you can become.”</i></div>
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…or even…</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><i>“God doesn't, and couldn’t ever, love you. You’re a mess.”</i></div>
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God created you to be loved, in order to love you. That is the Good News of the Kingdom. “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us,” or, paraphrased, “before we ever took a step towards him, he took a step towards us.” That is love!</div>
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Jesus found the marginalized people in his society. The woman at the well. The tax collector. The paralyzed man at Bethesda. In all of these, he did not say, “Get your act together and follow me.” He showed them how much he loved them, and their lives were completely changed. </div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Before your quiet time, God loves you.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>In your weakness, He loves you. </div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>In your sin, He loves you. </div>
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You don't have to do a thing. He loves you!</div>
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And if you have identified with this simple truth, then you can testify that your life is not the same. When we have experienced this love in our heart, it creates a thankfulness and humility that allows us to offer up everything we are to help further His Kingdom. It’s the greatest gift that the creator could ever give—himself. His Love.</div>
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Do you know? </div>
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You were created to be loved.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01891325113882452164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1089846488512665856.post-53765400338326524022013-09-29T21:38:00.001-05:002014-12-26T11:23:18.637-06:00The Song Sessions: "Great Reward" TIM TIMMONS<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/pdryKjubICA" width="480"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01891325113882452164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1089846488512665856.post-60677434802101777922013-09-05T15:45:00.002-05:002014-12-26T11:23:44.045-06:00Tim Tebow and the Gospel<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<b> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Recently</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, I read
an article regarding Tim Tebow’s departure this past week from the New England
Patriots as the third-string quarterback and how it relates to his “faith”
journey. This is my response to
said article, which you can find <a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/gospeldrivenchurch/2013/09/03/thinking-evangelically-about-tim-tebow/?comments">here</a>
if you are interested. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2_PY2oDaUvb6J_lGY21AhvNFWEhFjT6V-3iNv2a5VUBR3z11gEfLlRZIV8JHD0L4An8v-K5X5roQf3xl8irjpqbJEfX7IgRA8WxL-PzoaX2yqB-BjDE3Ny9rLhxFLSvauiJMf-caS1j4/s1600/Tebow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2_PY2oDaUvb6J_lGY21AhvNFWEhFjT6V-3iNv2a5VUBR3z11gEfLlRZIV8JHD0L4An8v-K5X5roQf3xl8irjpqbJEfX7IgRA8WxL-PzoaX2yqB-BjDE3Ny9rLhxFLSvauiJMf-caS1j4/s200/Tebow.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> As a
passionate Arkansas Razorback fan and an SEC rival to the University of
Florida, I did not care for Tim Tebow from the beginning. I respected his freakish ability as a
rare and skilled NCAA football player, and one of the best at that, but nothing
more. Around the time He won the
Heisman (and Darren McFadden placed second as a record-setting Razorback RB), I
learned of the “real” Tim Tebow involving his life off the field and his
identity in something (Someone; Jesus Christ) bigger than football. I begin to hear this passion in his speech. It was then that I personally became more supportive and
wanted to see him lead his team to victory and receive national attention in
order to give him the opportunity to represent Jesus Christ and give the glory
to God in front of a culture that so desperately needed to hear <i>the Gospel</i>. And for this reason, I still root for
Tim Tebow. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Last
week, unsurprisingly to many, Tebow was cut from the New England Patriot’s
roster. Having just fulfilled
roughly three years in the NFL, he was let go. As it stands, he is yet to be picked up by another team,
which could come about in the days to follow, even though many see his NFL
career as nearly finished. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> To say
that Tim Tebow is a polarizing figure in the sports world is a huge
understatement. Ask anyone who
knows a thing or two about the NFL and they will have an opinion about Tim
Tebow—good or bad. However, you
gotta give it to him, the man is a class act. He represents principles, sportsmanship, and a desire to
model Christ wherever he goes. And
for that, I am encouraged by his example.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> In
response to the article, “<i><a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/gospeldrivenchurch/2013/09/03/thinking-evangelically-about-tim-tebow/?comments">Thinking
Evangelically About Tim Tebow</a>” by Jared C. Wilson</i>, which I alluded to
before, I can agree that if an NFL team decides not to take a chance on the
likes of Mr. Tebow, then Tim will ultimately portray Christ in another
environment to a different people.
He has given his life and been outspoken regarding his faith in God, and
to my knowledge, has shown the world that so eagerly watches what a man of God
looks like in the flesh. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Through
the media, Tim has expressed his desire to remain in the NFL as a quarterback,
which I take to be genuine and real, and not necessarily in conflict with his
first love, Jesus. However, this
desire is mainly out of his control.
Who knows where he will land?...if even in a roster spot at all… One
thing is for certain, God is glorified!
And maybe God is saying to Tim and the world that awaits, “<i>I used you as a college and professional
athlete, for a time, to point others to Me and now I have a different plan than
you do, a part of the larger picture that you don’t see, Tim. I’m going to use you to reach more
people for my Kingdom in a different role than if you had stayed an NFL
quarterback.</i>” And if this be
the case, and time will tell which path God has for him, then we can look at
Tim’s obedience to God first, not football, as the mark of true character,
which he already seems to display.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Lets
bring this home a bit! I think its
safe to say that we do a good job of making plans for our lives based on our
temporal, shallow understanding (I am not saying that Tebow is doing
this). Making it even more
personal now, <b>I</b> am great at “playing
God” and manipulating what I think is best for me according to my desires and
needs. Ultimately, what I <i>need</i> is to pull back from my narrow
perspective and ask the daring question, “God, what do you want from me? What can I do and where can I go to
display your Son as best I can to those around me?” This mindset, this heart cry is what God wants from us, from
me. And I find myself in a time
where personal direction is desired and necessary. And now that my attitude is becoming more aligned with His
Glory and Plan, not mine, I am totally free and I am willing to follow. And at this conjunction, the place
where my desires and priorities begin to take a backseat to His, I find peace
and rest. Realignment with God’s
Plan is not a one-time decision, but a frequent surrendering to His wisdom and
will. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Assuming
that Tim Tebow never plays another NFL game, would you consider this a loss for
the Kingdom of God, considering the sheer influence and attention that he
generates as an NFL player, or do you think this devoted follower of Christ can
be used in greater ways by God who so desperately wants the world to know of
His Love? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span>Do you agree or disagree with these thoughts? Please leave me a comment below if you have an opinion
regarding Tim Tebow’s future and God’s plans.</span></i><!--EndFragment--><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i>
<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01891325113882452164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1089846488512665856.post-3756567969800085832013-08-24T23:10:00.001-05:002014-12-26T11:24:05.609-06:00Living in Healthy Community<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoBjFZDgqk84nBJo7rYjw0vh_-tKbkY75PtGJTYv72JVc0K0fPQYOFOAm7LJvtP2i2DBgvzMcw_c6qirGJMRe1p_i6gtIRuU_C7waxhvByE6N9PAqaI5_yhPKM3f3QlQbpP6xllg-yeyA/s640/blogger-image--1750454861.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoBjFZDgqk84nBJo7rYjw0vh_-tKbkY75PtGJTYv72JVc0K0fPQYOFOAm7LJvtP2i2DBgvzMcw_c6qirGJMRe1p_i6gtIRuU_C7waxhvByE6N9PAqaI5_yhPKM3f3QlQbpP6xllg-yeyA/s320/blogger-image--1750454861.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></b><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b> Recently</b>, Angela and I had the pleasure of meeting up with some friends for dinner at a local restaurant. Our married friends moved away over a year ago to work for a church in a surrounding state. We were eager to hear how things had been going for them over the past year since we too had moved away and had not caught up with them in a almost a year. </span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Our friends began talking about their experiences in a new church environment with different staff and a somewhat different method of ministry. Don't get me wrong, there is not one right way when it comes to church ministry. There are many types of churches all over the world that have different styles of worship (and I'm not just talking about praise and worship-music). And as one who has traveled to a few different cultures myself, I know and remember often the common phrase that I've heard and recited a thousand times before, "it's not wrong; it's just different." However, there seems to me to be one thing that I have noticed that many churches (especially in the US) are without-community. As our friends sat across the table and spoke about their recent hardships, a lack of community was the common theme that contributed to their feeling discouraged. Their church did not have healthy community. The people in this particular congregation aren't living life together, rubbing shoulders with one another. They work and then go home, alone. They meet on Sunday mornings and that's about it. Its challenging to drastically deepen relationships solely on Sunday mornings. They are missing something huge! And it is extremely sad to think about the masses of church attenders who do not experience true community as it was designed to be experienced. </span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> One thing that characterizes our church, as well as many other churches in the area, are its community groups. A small group of 12-15 people who come together once a week to share a meal, prayer, worship, the Word, and their lives is a powerful thing. I have experienced first hand how beneficial a community can be for me personally, as well as for the body in general. Some of my lowest times have fallen in the seasons where my sense of community was lacking, when I felt isolated and alone. And, on the other hand, God has grown me and strengthened me greatly in the times when I found myself deep in rich community. </span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> We were made to live in community, experiencing life uniquely with others, sharing in the joys and hardships. Scripture tells us that God is three (father, son, spirit) dwelling together in fellowship. God also gave us a beautiful picture of community in the book of Acts when the new church body met together to encourage one another and work to advance the Kingdom. <span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);">God has shown us-we were meant to live similarly. </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> What about you? Do you find yourself lacking community, the deep, rich, live-giving relationships that God uses to equip us, His Church? Begin praying that He would connect you with others around you in purpose and intention. If your church offers community groups, then just sign up. You won't regret it, and you will quickly see just how God intends for us to live as you begin to open up to others and experience the same in return. If your church doesn't offer community groups as an option, then consider being the first to start a group. Pray for opportunities and just start talking to others who may be desiring the same. </span>We were meant to know and be known! </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"<i>And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more, as you see the Day drawing near." </i></span></div>
</blockquote>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What about you? Have you experienced healthy community that you would like to share about? Feel free to leave a comment or a story...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">jmh</span></b></div>
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<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"> </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01891325113882452164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1089846488512665856.post-22170146260425880792013-08-20T16:04:00.001-05:002014-12-26T11:28:07.435-06:00Turning Thirty!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>I made a promise</b> to myself to journal about my life at certain milestones (every 5 or 10 years) beginning with the year that I turned thirty. Here is a snipit of the initial entry I journaled last spring...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>April 3, 2012</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i>Jason,</i></span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Today finds me on a plane across the Mediterranean Sea heading home to propose to the one I love. The next step in front of me is an exciting endeavor that I have waited for many days. Today, I am 30. I wouldn’t take back any moment in my entire life.</i></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The last 10 years have been filled with many things that I am proud of. In that span, I have graduated college, worked in ministry, been an older brother to Kirby (including baptizing him), volunteered in a children's home in Nepal, become skilled at playing guitar, spent a summer in Moscow, Russia, run a marathon, biked 100 miles, been to Mt. Everest, toured the Holy Land, and taught Math and Bible in Bethlehem. Today, I am 30. One may venture to guess that my experiences would indicate a different age as I have done things some people will never get to do in their lifetime. However, as I am glad to say, my life is just beginning. </i></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>As I look over my shoulder at the past decade, I see more clearly the picture God has been painting. Sometimes things happen and we wonder, “Why am I going through this,” or “what is God doing exactly?” I don’t claim to know extensively the connectedness of things, events, people, and experiences that God has brought in my days and how they tell of a much larger story, and even how that story lives on into the future, but I do see loose ends slowly coming together. And yet, this painting that God is designing gains more color and detail with each new day. With my last breath, like Jesus, I desire to utter the words, “It is finished,” in response to a life lived without regret...</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">jmh</span></b></div>
<div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01891325113882452164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1089846488512665856.post-55291874435086528922012-01-19T01:16:00.012-06:002014-12-26T11:27:32.727-06:00You Are Not An Accident<div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></span><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yesterday</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">, </span>I started taking my Religion students (7</span><span style="font-size: small;"><sup style="text-align: justify;">th</sup><span style="text-align: justify;"> and
11</span><sup style="text-align: justify;">th</sup><span style="text-align: justify;"> grade) through the book The Purpose Driven Life.
If you are familiar you know that the chapters are really short, and meant to
be read as daily devotionals. We usually spend ten to fifteen minutes reading
the chapters together and then discuss things that come to mind with the remainder
of class.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> Today I had planned to read
and discuss Chapter 2, which is titled, “You are not an accident.” I first had
the students turn to and read from Psalm 139. A few students expressed cool
thoughts that had risen as the passage was read. I then began reading from the
Purpose Driven Life book. I read the first page or so and stopped to spend some
time on a few thoughts: you are not an accident, you are unique, and God knows
you completely. I then turned to a student and asked her to tell me things that
she liked about herself. She hesitated. A student quickly responded, “Why dont
you let us tell her the things we like about her?” God inspired. I agreed. Then
we spent the rest of 6</span><sup style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">th</sup><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> period (7</span><sup style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">th</sup><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
grade) encouraging each other with words.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> After class, I headed up to
the high school for the last class of the day, my 11</span><sup style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">th</sup><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
grade Religion class. My 7</span><sup style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">th</sup><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> grade Religion class
is like a pastor’s first Sunday service sermon. He tests things out and then
may tweek a few things for the next service. I do the same with 11</span><sup style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">th</sup><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
grade. “Well, this went really well for 7</span><sup style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">th</sup><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
grade. Lets do that with the 11</span><sup style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">th</sup><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
graders.” So after seeing how much fun this activity was with the junior high
students I eagerly awaited the same exercise with the juniors. I followed the
same routine as the younger class by having the juniors read from Psalm 139.
Then we took turns saying unique, positive, necessary things about each
student.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> We took turns
highlighting what we liked about each person, me contributing my own thoughts
as I have gotten to know these students well. I found this exercise to be
incredibly rewarding for me to be able to speak Truth into each person’s life.
I am somewhat guarded when it comes to high school students mainly in part
because I sense that I have to be on the defensive with them, always watching
for and expecting things to be pulled over my head, like they are all secretly
planning an attack to revolt against the teacher. But that has not hindered the
potential that I see in my students. So being able to bless them in front of
the class, <i>with their peers</i>, was freeing and a blessing to me.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I could tell from the
nonverbal queues displayed by each student that when it was their turn to be
blessed with words they got a bit squeamish. Its exactly how I get too. I don’t
like having the attention on me. And sometimes I have a hard time believing
what is being said. And because I have discerned personalities and thoughts for
each student, I knew that one particular student would struggle to actually
believe what was being said about her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> After each person’s turn,
and with a few minutes left in class, I had each student write down what was
said about them. I told them the enemy would speak lies over them and probably
already had as the activity was taking place. Following that thought, I said,
“If multiple people (your friends) said all these great things about you, its
because they see that in you. They would not just make stuff up, especially if
more than one said roughly the same thing about you. The enemy doesn’t want us
to believe these things and will tell you otherwise, but you MUST know that God
has designed you with certain qualities, attributes, and talents that are
unique to you and He wants to receive Glory through those.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> With class finished, I went
to the office to grab a few things and leave and recognized the certain student
mentioned above was sitting in the office talking to the principal. I asked her
if it was hard to receive those words from her classmates and friends and she
confirmed with a nod. I then assured her that she possessed those qualities and
characteristics mentioned and that she needed to believe thats exactly what God
thinks about her and the way he designed her too. She told me that those words
made her cry, which I had seen in class but thought it was for another reason.
Her struggle to believe them as truth, followed by crying, leads me to believe
that God had penetrated her heart and her tears were the display of that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> And AGAIN (I say again
because I feel so undeserving when God does this and it has happened several
times in my first year of teaching) God showed up today, through a student’s
suggestion, and directed the class to the message that He wanted covered. And I
have to mention, this happens all the time here. I will be sitting in the
lounge with a rough outline of my plans and God will pop an idea (activity,
lesson, etc) in my head and I know thats what I should do. It usually happens
last minute, and as a friend said, probably so that I cannot claim it as my own
idea. The Spirit is leading!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>jmh</b></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01891325113882452164noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1089846488512665856.post-19067390719255863482011-11-18T14:47:00.004-06:002014-12-26T11:27:20.207-06:00How to Kill a Tiger: the Arrow vs. the Gun<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: verdana; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b> When choosing</b> your selected weapon in a hunt for a tiger you must consider a few things.</span><span style="font-family: verdana; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> The Gun. It seems like the obvious choice, right?! With the gun you can shoot from a greater distance and maybe do more damage initially. So, you raise your weapon, pull the trigger, and watch with anticipation, hoping the tiger goes down. The problem comes if you miss your target even slightly. The tiger traces the sound to your direction, racing toward you at great speed. What are your chances now with the striped beast?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana; letter-spacing: 0px;"> The Arrow. Although you would probably want to be a bit closer to the tiger to insure a targeted hit, which might make you a bit more nervous, the Arrow is actually a more strategic option. When pierced with an arrow, the tiger will visibly see it lodged in his side and equate the cause of the pain with the arrow. In this situation you are safe simply because the tiger will struggle to wrestle with the arrow, never looking for a shooter, which buys you time to shoot another arrow into the tiger and finish him off.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana; letter-spacing: 0px;"> In the Spiritual realm, Satan employs the same method. At many times during the day, one can be under attack from Satan as he pierces our hearts with deceit-dipped arrows. These well place lies hit where it hurts and cause us to focus on the arrow itself, not him, which is what he wants, honestly. When we dont see Satan standing behind the arrow, when we dont equate the voices in our head as lies from the Evil One, and when we accept those lies as truth we tend to struggle more in deceit, while Satan continually fires rounds of arrows into our heart. His lies are subtle and tricky.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> This has been a crucial aspect in the way that I view my identity in Christ. I receive lies (arrows) on a daily basis. I must be aware and recognize Satan in his work. The Spirit has really helped me distinguish truth from lies. And then, I must turn to God right then and receive His voice, His acceptance, His Truth. And hearing the voice of God is a refreshing drink on a scorching day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>jmh</b></span></h4>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01891325113882452164noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1089846488512665856.post-38922204195420945332011-11-11T23:31:00.008-06:002014-12-26T11:27:08.180-06:00"Who do YOU say that I am?"<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">Door shuts!</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;"> Praise God!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;"> I had been waiting 45
minutes this day for a bus that wasn’t packed to the door so that I could get
back to Beit Jala from Jerusalem. Usually, a five to ten minute wait is all
that is necessary to find the right bus. After watching 4 buses pass by the bus
stop without slowing at all, I was finally ready to get on. It is a Friday, the
Muslim holy day. Therefore, at this time, most of the buses I watched pass by,
without even a hint of slowing down, were crammed with devout Muslims trying to
find their way back home.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;"> I find my place in the
aisle; the only space left on this particular bus. Most of the passengers
around me are Muslim. However, I notice an American passenger sitting in the
window seat of the aisle that I am now standing. As I stand exhausted from a
day of sightseeing the Holy City, I casually notice that the mysterious
American passenger, who is sitting next to a Muslim woman, is deep in
conversation. Strangely enough, she doesn’t want to be! I can tell she is
either tired or not feeling well, and she confirms that to the lady sitting
next to her, as this particular covered, Muslim woman continues asking her
questions, trying to draw her further into conversation.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;"> The American picks up her
cell phone and places it to her ear, so as to signal an incoming call and
perhaps buy her more time to think of her next move. As she responds to mystery
Man A, I wonder if there is even anyone on the other end. She then hangs up the
phone and returns it to its position, still clinched in her hand, maybe hoping
that another convenient call might take place. “How can you believe that Jesus
is actually God,” this woman asks the poor American tourist who just wants to
be left alone. Okay, my attention is even more devoted to this pair now;
however, rather than give my cards away, I opt for the look-out-the-window
eavesdropping technique, keeping my good ear turned their way, making sure I
pick up all the key ingredients of this one-sided conversation.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;"> I look ahead briefly, so
as to keep my cover, while frequently giving a look in their direction. From
above the conversation, my eyes steal long glances, hoping that my ears follow
suit and fill in what words are being said to go along with the awkward body
language and nonverbal cues that are taking place. Another look forward. This
time, I notice the man standing in front of me is now turned around and he
looks to interject his own comments into this random conversation. He utters
something in Arabic. Muslim woman responds back before devoting more words and
thoughts to American passenger, who is now looking out the window, not making
eye contact. What response she does contribute to this conversation is very
soft, as she tries to keep her thoughts in her row only, not wanting her
beliefs to seep out into other rows, where listening ears are now apparent.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;"> Once again, I watch the
man standing directly in front of me and I am thinking, “Should I jump in this
conversation and bail this defenseless woman out?” I quickly decide minding my
own business is the route I am going to take today. “Can you believe that this
woman here thinks that Jesus is God,” the voice in front of me projects my way.
Okay, maybe I will be contributing my own thoughts. “Actually,” I offer
sheepishly, “I believe the same thing she does.” The man’s face changes. “You
believe that Jesus is God,” he prods. He then proceeds to inform me about his
beliefs, how Jesus is a mere prophet, and how there is no way that he was God.
His monologue lasts a good 7-8 minutes as I listen honestly, nodding my head
and giving him nonverbals to show I am listening.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> </o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Before I left, I read </span><u style="font-family: Verdana;">Muslims, Christians and Jesus</u><span style="font-family: Verdana;">. It
was very informative and spoke about the importance of seeking common ground
with Muslims, not trying to stir up arguments, and just listening to what they
believe. I do exactly as the book explains. After exhausting himself, he looks
at me with interest and questions, “Who is Jesus’ father?”</span></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">“Father God is,” I
state. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">“How can this be? He was born of a woman. How can Jesus be a son and God?
He is only a prophet. He has to be,” the man offers expecting a response. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">“Jesus is God the Son. Father God is
also God,” my response comes.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">“Impossible! It cannot be,” again he says.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">“I don’t know how to explain it to you in a way that is easy
to understand because God is not someone that I can fully comprehend. There are
certain things that I just have to say, ‘God is God and I am not’,” I respond
again, hoping this time he accepts my thoughts. I am becoming aware now as I
look around my proximity that more itching ears and curious eyes are beginning
to look directly at me, wondering what I will say. At this point, I am trying
to keep my voice low. I have nowhere to go, I am not trying to start a
spiritual fight or even critique the Muslim beliefs. I am only trying to
counter what this man is stating so matter-of-factly with truth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;"> We continue talking for
another 15 minutes as he shares his personal beliefs with me, trying to
persuade me in the errors in mine. I gladly share truth with him and the
conversation takes twists and turns around the Gospel. I keep my cool,
listening more than talking, and giving him all the proper cues to know that I
am not offended and I respect what he is saying. Not long after, we arrive at
his bus stop. The bus comes to a complete stop, he turns around, and proceeds
to walk down the aisle. I tap him on the shoulder, extend my arm, and shake his
hand, so as to say, “It was a pleasure talking with you.” I had hoped that he would ride the bus longer
and get off at my stop so that we could continue our conversation, but it was
not to be.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;"> I thank God for this day that I was
able to speak Truth into this man’s life. I pray that a seed was planted. I
also pray that those listening ears on the bus received the Word in their
language. God’s Word does not return void.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-family: verdana; white-space: pre;"><b>jmh</b></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01891325113882452164noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1089846488512665856.post-58856622600564457942011-11-06T23:08:00.015-06:002014-12-26T11:26:54.841-06:00Raji, Daniel, and George<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b> Three weeks ago</b> we took a trip over the weekend (our first of two in 2 straight weeks) with our soccer and basketball teams north of Tel Aviv (about a 2 hour drive). Our teams spent the day at an American School playing against a few other schools in the area. Although we didn’t fare so well against stronger competition, the students really enjoyed getting away and seeing a new landscape. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px; text-align: left;">After the tournament we traveled to a mall just off the Mediterranean Sea and spent a couple of hours of free time just enjoying the area. I was responsible for three 6th grade students: Raji, George, and Daniel (Raji is always smiling, Daniel is the “cool, athletic one”, and George is a bit more reserved but goofy). They anxiously informed me that they wanted to go straight to the beach, thereby bypassing the mall, as soon as we stepped off the bus. I had prayed that God would give us an enjoyable time. That prayer was answered immediately and tangibly.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: normal;"></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> As the sun was retiring for the evening, the four of us walked down a beautiful, white beach just down a ways from the marina that kept several sailboats. We stopped at the marina to look at all the fancy boats that were at bay before we headed to the beach. Just off the beach a few feet was a wall of large boulders that ran parallel. After immediately </span>seeing the water, the guys had a smile on their face as wide as the sea itself. This was the first or second time these boys had ever been to the beach! Think back to your childhood and imagine the excitement you felt when you first saw the beach. They kept looking at me as if seeking permission, their faces following suit as if to cry out, “Am I allowed to get in the water and have fun?” And when my response matched the desires of their youthful, adventurous hearts there was no hesitation on their parts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;"> I was reminded that these young guys had been oppressed and told “no” their whole lives. “No, you cannot leave your small and shrinking territory. No, you cannot take simple trips across the border to the beach, the zoo, the amusement park, or even the mall.” The innocence of youth does not even weigh in on a decision to allow Palestinians to travel freely back and forth, with the exception of a school game here or there, and in that case permits must be approved weeks in advance. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;"> So, when my three 6th grade students for the day asked if they could have fun, enjoy the water, and get wet, how could I offer up any response shy of, “Swim, Run, Shout, Laugh, get wet, and live in this moment as if nothing else matters!!!” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0px;"> It was the best day of the week by far, simply because God reminded me what it was to be a kid again, to approach life without worry or fear, but to simply out of Joy, Courage, and Passion, experience Life! Raji, Daniel, and George allowed me to live vicariously through them that day! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>“Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”</b></i></span></div>
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<i><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM4kV9wPYOPEYif7vsWPqNY2t7nv-MoApXy-Pp3ThqY704v9vmx-OXd0N9dTS3A2AwRNYy6Na_gSOUaVxpshq1eJmICHZLuqma0SwQWlA2iMxdbktFhlYAAu1xOmiahQenwdJaLWcLWwI/s200/IMG_0487.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672117525988615042" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; font-style: normal; height: 200px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0px; width: 150px;" /></i></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">jmh</span></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01891325113882452164noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1089846488512665856.post-1965695241839050482011-09-02T11:07:00.002-05:002014-12-26T11:26:43.441-06:00waiting...<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span>What</b> is it like to wait? After being unemployed for over a month now and waiting on the right things to line up (God's timing), I can finally say that I am in a place spiritually where I only want to go now when God opens the door. It really has freed up my mind and heart to be obedient, especially knowing that God has reasons for the things that He does, and they are far greater and globally encompassing than my mere schedule or preferences. So, when God opens the gates and lets me go, I will go. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>jmh</b></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01891325113882452164noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1089846488512665856.post-73770547758082563642011-04-15T22:10:00.017-05:002014-12-26T11:26:23.032-06:00Collision.<b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></span></span></b>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"></span></span> FIVE MONTHS AGO</b><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span>(November 2010) I sat across the table from two managers at JB Hunt and listened to the proposition that they would soon offer. The result, if I accepted, would send me to Cleveland, OH where I would become an on-site manager of a large, national customer. I knew it would be a big decision; not one I wanted to take lightly…And so, I listened.
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span> Rewind another four months…(July 2010)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Same scenario, slightly different. Replace the corporate setting for a more relaxed pizza place downtown with a fellow member of my church. In this case, the offer on the table would mean my new home would be in a neighborhood in Bethlehem. Should I accept, I would begin preparing for a year or two teaching Math and Bible, discipling Palestinian Christians, and reaching out to Muslims in the place where Christianity all began, all while living and adjusting to a completely different world than I had ever known, a Muslim world.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> My first experiences at JB Hunt didn’t have a fair chance. I struggled seeing how I was living a life of purpose. It wasn't that I was purposeless, but just that working behind a desk wasn't what I had originally wanted to do for years on end. However, I always knew that I could succeed at whatever I did. And I knew that JB Hunt could be a place for me to really grow, succeed, and be rewarded. As the time fell off the clock and the days quickly passed by, I began to become more accepting of my role at Hunt. I wanted to be recognized for my hard work and integrity. I wanted to be acknowledged. And I was.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span> So, when the offer came to move to Cleveland, OH and use the skills that I had already acquired to grow even more and expound on my abilities, I knew that I could not let that opportunity pass me by. I mean, what’s not to love about that potentially exciting opportunity; a new environment on my own, independence, career growth potential, and more money. After spending two weeks thinking, praying, and seeking counsel I told JB Hunt that if they wanted me to move I would gladly go. And at that point, I was ready.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span></span><b>SIDEBAR</b>-When initially presented in the summer of 2010 with the opportunity to go to <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span>Bethlehem the following fall I almost sensed immediately that I should go. I had been <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span>pursuing teaching before with no success and had wanted to follow what I was gifted and <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span>passionate about. I told Terry Rhodes that I would probably go with the understanding <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span>that further prayer would need to confirm that. Weeks passed and I wasn't praying much <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span>about Bethlehem, which surprised me a bit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span> One day in the car, on the way to work, I was praying. It was at that time that I thought <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span>about the fears of raising support, the fear of leaving a job that I had just acquired, and <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span>the <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span>fear that my family wouldn't understand and would ultimately look down on me with <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span>disapproval. Furthermore, the reality that I would leave my brother, whom I love <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span>spending time with and watching God pour into his life, was hard to swallow. God made <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span>clear to me that all three were fleshly fears that at the deepest, rawest level uttered, "I <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span>dont have faith in God. I will not follow. My life is my own now." <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span> I began to make subtle compromises. "I'm doing good things here. I volunteer in church <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span>ministry. I am starting to work more with the worship team at church. And JB Hunt is <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span>even recognizing me more and more and I believe that God is going to allow me to have a <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span>successful ministry in business." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span></span> A month or so later I emailed Terry and told him I would not be joining the team in <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span>Bethlehem because I was being called to stay at home and continue the things that I was <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span>already doing. (false mask)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span> (Back to Cleveland offer, Nov. 2010) I must point out that I had been told that had I moved away for a few years and knocked this project out of the park, I would be handsomely rewarded. I did not object. And gradually my mind started to ponder the large purchases I would soon be making- a big screen TV, a Blu Ray player, surround sound, possibly a new truck, a house in the future. And I was fine with that. I welcomed that. God had given me a platform at work and why not use that to bring him Glory. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span> In January, I made plans to go to Cleveland to visit the customer with 5 other JB Hunt professionals and help seal the deal on my new opportunity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Before I left, I met with a couple of really close friends, Kevin and Jen Perrine. They sadly informed me that they thought my recently made decision was not the right one. They asked me to pray that God would close doors that weren’t meant for me to walk through. But, they also asked that I pray that the right doors would be opened. I didn’t know what to do with this newly acquired perspective.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span> So, I began to pray in all humility. I prayed as they had encouraged me. My initial reaction, and a natural tendency for me, was to act irrationally and walk in and inform the project manager that I would have to return my plane tickets and decline the offer they submitted. Call it the freak out mode, if you will. And my stomach started to churn. Then, as clear as I know, I heard God's voice spoken to my heart, "Don't do anything. You have already accepted the job. You don't need to act irrationally. Even though you made this decision in your flesh, I can still trump that and reverse whatever you have done if I want you to take a different route."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span><b> PEACE</b> filled my heart. I was longer worrying about the outcome because it was no longer up to me! It was similar to a phrase I had heard before but slightly tweeked, "You got yourself into that mess but I can get you out." So, with nothing else to do but wait on God, I finished my day at work and kept praying for God's direction. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span> And then I pursued Cleveland, knowing that I had already accepted their offer and could not turn back. In the back of my mind I knew that God could close the door that would lead me to Ohio, but I had been told that the account would be ours and there wasn’t much we could do to lose it. The day after I boarded a plane to Cleveland.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span> Our time in the Midwest was short lived and filled with battle plans and strategic structuring in order for the customer to see how we could greatly increase their business. However, God’s plans were greater and He knew that He would have to close that door or else I would be walking through it. And He did. I came back the next day to Arkansas with a feeling that we would not gain the business, and an even deeper feeling of uncertainty that maybe I was not in the right life path, that maybe my time at JB Hunt was expiring and I needed to change directions. But with no clear direction, I was clueless, but hopeful. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span> I flew back early Saturday morning. At church the next Sunday (January 2011) I ran into a familiar friend whose offer in the pizza joint 6 months earlier I had refused. “What are your plans for lunch? Will you join my family and I at our home?” I accepted. Over a meal, He encouraged me to pray hard and be very certain that God was not asking me to follow Him to Bethlehem. With a new skepticism in my recent decision making abilities I decided that I better respect his advice and at least give more thought to what he was saying. He had said that four separate friends from church had come up to him and suggested that he talk to me about teaching at his school in Bethlehem. When he informed them all that I had already declined the opportunity in Bethlehem they asked him to approach me again. And he did. And he was. And I listened. I wasn’t going to make a huge decision based on what others thought God was telling me, but I could not discount the fact that not one, two, or three people had mentioned it, but four. Four separate individuals. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span> I returned home that Sunday afternoon with a renewed vision. It was as if I knew then what God was asking. All my confusion and fears were abandoning me. And at that time, as I reconsidered where my life was headed, everything became clear. And I knew that God was calling me in a different direction. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span> I revisited my three fears that kept me from saying yes before-raising support, quitting a job; security, and family approval. Supernaturally, all my fears became minimal. All my reservations paled. God was showing me His greatness and His Glory! On that day, looking down the path of my life and on into the future, I made a commitment to God that I would follow with my life, no matter the cost, what others would think, or even what I would doubt and question. At the crossroads, as a 29 year old man, God was showing me a life of <b>FAITH</b> that I would know and have, that I would taste and see. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span> That is where I find myself today. He is calling me to pursue my passions and my gifts. He is calling me to use those to passionately serve Him in Bethlehem where I will have the opportunity to teach, disciple, use my musical abilities in worship, and teach ultimate frisbee, all while connecting with Palestinians. And I am joyful!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span> I will leave in mid August. My place is already waiting. I have a new home halfway across the globe with a new community of believers. Some I know, some I dont. I will be teaching Math and Bible to junior high and high school students, as well the opportunity to disciple young men of the faith. It will be a challenging time for me and the others. More than likely, things will not come naturally. But one thing I know, God is working there in Bethlehem to bring the lost to Himself. And I get to be a part of that. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span> To most people, this change will not make sense. I know that. But, in my thinking, I will be doing something that I have wanted to do, something I feel gifted to take part in, and most importantly, something that I believe God is nudging me towards. And I pray that He will use me to form relationships as I leverage my life for His work.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span> So, I must go...</span><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01891325113882452164noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1089846488512665856.post-49486177887532778332011-02-09T08:09:00.003-06:002014-12-26T11:25:57.515-06:00"Embracing Accusation"- Shane Barnard<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> I found these lyrics so powerful and just what I needed to hear today. Thought you might like them too! The Spirit uses Shane and Shane over and over in my life to pierce my heart and give me Truth.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Embracing Accusation</span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Shane and Shane</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #545559;">The father of lies, c</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #545559;">oming to steal, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #545559;">kill and destroy</span> </span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #545559;">All my hopes of being good enough</span> </span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #545559;">I hear him saying cursed are the ones w</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #545559;">ho can’t abide</span> </span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #545559;">He’s right! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #545559;">Alleluia he’s right!</span> </span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #545559;">The devil is preaching over me t</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #545559;">he song of the redeemed</span></b> </span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #545559;">That I am cursed and gone astray</span></b> </span></blockquote>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #545559;">I cannot gain salvation e</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #545559;">mbracing accusation</span> </span></b></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #545559;">Could the father of lies b</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #545559;">e telling the truth o</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #545559;">f God to me tonight?</span></span> </blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #545559;">If the penalty of sin is death, t</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #545559;">hen death is mine</span></span> </blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #545559;">I hear him saying cursed are the ones w</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #545559;">ho can’t abide</span></span> </blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #545559;">He’s right! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #545559;">Alleluia he’s right!</span> </span></blockquote>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #545559;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Oh the devil’s singing over me a</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #545559;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">n age old song</span></span> </blockquote>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #545559;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">That I am cursed and gone astray</span></span> </blockquote>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #545559;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Singing the first verse so conveniently, </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #545559;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">He’s forgotten the refrain</span></span> </blockquote>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #545559;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">JESUS SAVES!</span></span></blockquote>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01891325113882452164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1089846488512665856.post-18944472682983854922010-10-26T22:19:00.001-05:002014-12-28T07:42:17.701-06:00October 26th, 2010<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>CONTROL</b>-something I want to have; not something I actually have. </span><br>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Steering a car. What I wear today. Where I will eat lunch. Which movie I will select at Red Box. What I will do on the weekend. These are all things that I choose to do, things that I have most control over. I make these decisions, usually effortlessly, on a daily basis. I have control in these areas. </span><br>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Choosing for someone to follow commands? Choosing for a friend to be respectful? Yet most importantly, choosing for someone to follow and obey Christ…to love and honor God…and to surrender their life to the calling and duty of Christ? I have NO CONTROL over these things. Sometimes, I like to believe that the things that I do or say will force someone to make the decision that I deem favorable and that Scripture seems to make clear. Yet, things hardly turn out the way I suspect. I am learning through much trial and yet far more error that it doesn’t come down to me. That is frustrating and liberating simultaneously. </span><br>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Campus Crusade used a motto that was taught to me when learning how to share my faith with random people on campus as a freshman in college. My mentor shared that successful evangelism is, “stepping out in faith and in the Spirit to share Christ with others and leaving the results up to God.” The last part of the phrase was very freeing for me. </span><br>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> “Okay God, I will share my faith with these people (total strangers) and its up to you to stir in their hearts. If I present myself available to You and still I don’t see any results, I trust that you are all powerful, sovereign, and you love them.”</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Its when you are dealing with people that you love and care about that this motto gets thrown out the window, people you are close to. For me, that’s where control becomes an issue. If I am available, walking in the Spirit, speaking Truth, and yet I see no tangible results, then I become frustrated and discouraged. Somehow I still believe that their choosing to be obedient to Christ is up to me: my words, my illustrations, and maybe even my example???</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> “God, I return to You. I rely on you. Use this to teach me how to relinquish control and let you work in whatever ways you choose. Your ways are greater than mine. Your strength is greater than mine. Your purpose is greater than mine. Teach me how to be available and willing and even more prayerful, but not an extinguisher of the Spirits work…”</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <i>Philippians 4:6-7 Proverbs 3:5-6 Romans 12:10 Psalms 16:2</i></span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>jmh</b></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01891325113882452164noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1089846488512665856.post-85297160526990855952010-03-23T13:38:00.003-05:002014-12-26T11:25:28.531-06:00music.<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b> This last weekend</b> I was in wedding as a groomsman. You know the drill. As a member of the wedding party I had to get there 4 hours early. I started to think of what I could do to pass the time. We relaxed in the parlor to kill a few hours after pictures were taken and a friend started playing a familiar song on the piano. "Colorblind" by the County Crows started to fill the room. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I went over to watch, wishing that I too was talented enough to leisurely play a few tunes from a piano when the time called. Justin, a fellow groomsman and friend, began to show me how to play the song. It wasn't very hard to learn and it left a craving to continue to learn how to play the piano; a skill I wished I had possessed for many years now. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> After the wedding was over, I could not stop thinking about getting to a piano so I could continue to polish my newly acquired song. The next day I found myself in a Best Buy staring at the keyboards. I ended up buying a cheaper Yamaha keyboard. I took it home, unwrapped the box, and plugged in the keyboard. I began playing, and I couldn't stop. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Today, it is tuesday. I have played everyday since for several hours at a time. If you added my total hours, I would be in the double digits. And still it is something that the time passes quickly with. Its such a cool thing to have something that I enjoy and look forward to, and to see drastic improvement in something that I just started to pick up. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I remember when I first learned a song on my guitar in college. A buddy had showed me how to play a popular song of the day and I couldn't stop playing in my room. Everyday. Playing. Hours gone. I could never get enough guitar. And I would continue to play until I developed that skill to something that now, years later, I realize I have a talent/ gifting in, even though I still have A LOT more to learn than I already know. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> It is exciting to see the same forward progression/ desire with piano. Who knows what will happen?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>jmh</b></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01891325113882452164noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1089846488512665856.post-33551230847131478602010-03-10T20:45:00.015-06:002014-12-26T11:25:18.384-06:00Ozark Highlands Trail<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS20BRzc9ll8BEXJl2ViIGhW6RQdIqZQfP6yE334QyX5U7NnhJw9jyw7OH1dgwQcp3jh39rr5Qtb7-zYyS_gJRgQkJRBu97Uz9ZJEsYv7gFdC_WFzvGWIKinEigVBkF_0s5DLqIcw8N_U/s1600/IMG_0079.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS20BRzc9ll8BEXJl2ViIGhW6RQdIqZQfP6yE334QyX5U7NnhJw9jyw7OH1dgwQcp3jh39rr5Qtb7-zYyS_gJRgQkJRBu97Uz9ZJEsYv7gFdC_WFzvGWIKinEigVBkF_0s5DLqIcw8N_U/s400/IMG_0079.jpg" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699251891782129090" width="400" /></a><br />
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The Ozark Highlands Trail</b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> is a unique Arkansas adventure.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> This last weekend Kirby(my brother), Malik, and I made our debut trip to Cherry Bend Entrance (section 2, Ozark Highlands Trail) near Cass, AR for an 8 mile backpacking hike. This section of the trail is supposed to be the most scenic, peaking at Hare Mountain, which overlooks the valley.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I have always been in love with the outdoors and in October I started working at J.B. Hunt, which freed up my weekends. It was something I had not had in several years: a friday night, saturday, AND sunday free of work. Recently, with the addition of warmer weather, I started to plan a few weekends that I could spend in the beautiful Arkansas wilderness. We had perfect weather (high in the 60s and lows in the 40s). I could not have asked for a better window of time to go.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> On Friday night after work, the three of us jumped in the car with bags packed and headed to the trailhead. We arrived pretty late and hiked about 1.5 miles in the complete dark, reminding me of a time in college a few friends gathered at the Buffalo National Park for a late night backpacking excursion. By the time Kirby, Malik, and I had found a place to camp and got our tent set up it was 10:00 pm. We bypassed the opportunity for a late dinner in order to get a head start on sleep.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The next morning came late with a headache in a cold sleeping bag. But, that is the extent of my complaints. The day was sunny and warming up fast. We stumbled out of our tent (some faster than others) and I started making banana pancakes for the fellas. Before you give me raving credit, let me first tell you that I had no skillet and no butter to keep the pancakes from sticking. I only had a pot, and by the time bananas and pancakes were added, cooked, and flipped (or tried to at least) what was left was banana pancake crumbles. However, as I stated to the guys, "its not how it looks but how it tastes that matters." They would later agree with the taste on their tongues.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> We quickly launched from breakfast to clean up camp mode...said a prayer and then away we went. I knew early on that completing the 12 mile journey, which was supposed to be a 6 mile one way trip up to Hare Mountain and back, was not going to happen. Hare Mountain is one of the highest points of the Ozarks. It has a scenic lookout with a ideal place to camp. I wanted to make it up on Saturday, stay the night, and then have a long, but downhill, trek back on Sunday. Enter Option B...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Malik had never been backpacking before. He didn't understand the concept after repeated attempts to prepare him for what to expect. He couldn't seem to breakaway from the good ole American camping ideology; you know, stuff everything in your car, sleep by hundreds others, no hiking required, hotdogs over the fire type "adventure." So, I just accepted the fact that he would have to learn "backpacking" by trial and error. He did, in fact. I knew on saturday that we would not make the top. I sensed God saying, "you are not going to make the top. I know you want to, but just enjoy where you are right now and lets make this a win, win situation for everyone, especially Malik." So, I just accepted tilling around on the trail for part of the day. It turned out to be great! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> We found another great spot, set up camp, refilled our water suppy, and then took naps. We awoke for an early dinner around a freshly created fire. "Life doesn't get any better than this." Dinner was instant meals of Chicken and Rice, Lasagna, and Beef Stroganoff for the three of us followed by cheesecake for dessert.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I had asked God what He wanted me to share at night around the fire. It immediately came to me...God spoke quickly. The whole day we had been talking about the importance of water; drinking it to keep hydrated, planning on where to find it, and refilling it with iodine tablets. So, when I asked God what He wanted them to hear (and myself as well), John 4 was where I turned to. We had a great discussion about Jesus and the woman at the well, as well as Jesus being the Living Water. It was neat to parallel how important water was to us all weekend and yet Jesus as the living water is even more crucial in our lives. Shortly thereafter we went to bed, but not without a random deer walking around our campfire in the distance that scared the crap me, allowing my mind to entertain the notion a bear was out to get us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Morning came with the sun and we were on the trail early headed back to the car.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> This weekend, the guys learned how to drink water from a stream (iodine, for sure), be responsible for their gear, prepare dinner, identify the right trails, set up/take down camp, and read a trail map. Terms they are now freshly introduced to: No Trace backpacking and B.I.F.F. (Bathroom In Forest Floor), </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> We had a great time!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>jmh</b></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01891325113882452164noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1089846488512665856.post-5037083910822910072010-01-14T23:26:00.003-06:002014-12-26T11:25:06.114-06:00stirring.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b> A glimpse of vision</b>, a passion, a stirring. I feel it. No. I feel Him. Spirit. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Answered prayer. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> He comes so mysteriously, coupled with excitement and hope. A calling?....maybe. A purpose?...most definitely! And, again, I am </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">hopeful</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. My life is opening up. Opportunities are all around. This tunneled vision that I once had has been broadened to include things once forgotten. I am alive!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Clarity?...coming. The clouds of confusion slowly disappearing to reveal a vibrant Light. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Clarity?...Where have you been?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> A sigh of relief…</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> A distant voice slowly grows louder.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> A loosely painted picture gaining colorful detail.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“We turn, and give ourselves body, soul, and spirit back to God, asking him to cleanse our hearts and make them new. And He does. He gives us a new heart. And He comes to dwell there, in our hearts. If we believed that…we could do <b>anything</b>. We would follow Him <b>anywhere</b>!”</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> -John Eldredge, Waking the Dead</span></blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Full belief?...not yet. I still have my doubts and fleshly limitations.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Joyful and hopeful?...yes!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> God is stirring my heart! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> For a week now I have been purposefully asking God to awaken the Spirit within me. My request has been for a thirst for the Word, a purpose to cling to, for my eyes to be opened, and for my ears to hear His direct call. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And, I can say that my prayers, the Spirit’s cries, have not gone unanswered. My heart is starting to believe. Freedom is out there. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Where the Spirit of the LORD is, there is freedom.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Currently, I have a lot on my mind. Good things, nonetheless! But, I struggle to bring words to the surface. I don’t know what to say about the change in my heart. The enlightenment?...Its not drastic, but like a boulder being pushed over a hill, things are slowly, or rather quickly, gaining momentum. I am certain that time will bring a clearer picture. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Basically, I have been asking God to point me in a direction…a direction specific to me. I have asked for instances to stir my passions and for my heart to be keenly aware. And though I don’t know the picture God is painting, I DO know that they will be in line with His Heart. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Please continue to pray with me that I would </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">listen</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> and </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">obey</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Part of the change I can attribute to God using a story of someone else. It was strongly suggested to me as well as others that I follow a blog about a young, Christ follower living in Africa. I mindlessly printed off her writings on her blog which dated back to the two previous years. A little pre bed reading material?...You bet! The first night I started reading and quickly became encouraged, awakened, and enthralled as I journeyed into Uganda, Africa myself. Three nights later, one hundred and fifty pages later, and still only half of her time in Africa covered. Yet she writes so simply, exquisitely illustrating with words a culture, an experience, and a god in Africa. I cant capture with my words what she does with hers. So I will add my personal recommendation to the list. If you want to see one example of an individual completely dependent and sold out for Christ and the work that requires, then you really should journey to her page and see firsthand what God is doing through her willing life. You will be moved! You will be humbled!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> If you do decide to read her story, I have found it best to start with 2007 and work your way to the present. Just click on the year of postings that you want to read on the right hand side of her page and you can read in order</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u> <a href="http://www.kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://www.kissesfromkatie.</a><a href="http://www.kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><wbr></wbr>blogspot.com</a></u></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">thanks. and goodnight.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>jmh </b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 100%;"> </span> </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01891325113882452164noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1089846488512665856.post-56678323824654734442009-01-04T14:56:00.003-06:002014-12-26T11:24:55.461-06:00"Behold, I make all things new..."<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbDZNwByi_7RfdVRewFsvEtSN5J8jUqrpEBX5tMfqG5MCSv8OCzMTwfykkXYd4U6GAmbCLGewUf015RoU2EIa0gqhtbI1qUP2XDcTW6rXYPWROwBUZb1_b3sPcIofITn-CKBKQpygwc48/s1600-h/Transformation.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbDZNwByi_7RfdVRewFsvEtSN5J8jUqrpEBX5tMfqG5MCSv8OCzMTwfykkXYd4U6GAmbCLGewUf015RoU2EIa0gqhtbI1qUP2XDcTW6rXYPWROwBUZb1_b3sPcIofITn-CKBKQpygwc48/s400/Transformation.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287548652521016978" style="cursor: hand; float: right; height: 400px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 224px;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">January 1, 2009</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“<b>Behold</b>, I make all things new…”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> A Feel Good Story…with the opportunity to infect millions of people within an ear shot of a television. It seems today’s “reality television” is overwhelmed with old and new shows alike, priding themselves on life change. Be it home makeovers, weight loss, or even pimpin cars, the message you see nowadays is written across many tv screens and infiltrates our minds and hearts. Its message is contagious, multiplying exponentially. And although results vary from newly remodeled homes, custom cars, and redefined bodies, people everywhere are catching on to the idea that dreams do, in fact, come true.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The Biggest Loser…maybe one of the more successful shows on the air, pits several overly obese citizens against each other to see who can ultimately shed the most pounds. The idea is borrowed of course, but its message couldn’t land in a timelier manner. The message is loud and clear, “Change really does happen.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> As people, not just Americans, we love feel good stories. As of lately, my entertainment tube plays episodes of Intervention, a showcase of people entrapped in addictions and the necessary means that are taken by loving family members to end a lifestyle of mainly drug and alcohol related obsessions. It doesn’t take long to connect with the characters; real life people struggling with real life problems. Without failure, I always root for the “happy ending.” Occasionally, I am disappointed. But, for the most part, lives are impacted; not just the person involved with the addiction, but the whole network of support, for example, family members and friends. I can rest peacefully with favorable outcomes in which clearly a change has taken place and you see a newly revealed glimpse of that person. The not-so-favorable outcomes, in which addicts stubbornly return to their drug of choice, and merely with the end in sight, cause me to feel as if an hour of my time has been wasted, and the hope I have for that individual is lost.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> We have reason to celebrate. “Death has no victory. Where, O Death, is your sting?” Jesus, Messiah, intervened in our lives. If an episode were written and produced today, it might possibly be the most watched Intervention ever. And yet, the story, as we know it, has already happened.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Behold, I make all things new…”</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Hi. My name is Jason Hayes and I am an addict (Hi Jason). I love myself entirely too much. I would rather promote myself than boost another. I struggle with guilt that I will not be able to make anything good of myself. And guilt rears its face when I fall. I also care too much about what others think of me. I rely heavily on the misconception that with effort I can attain perfection, or close there to it. I live for the moment, and not for the eternal. I quit when things get difficult. I am lazy. I am passive. And, the plank in my eye does not exist. I have a problem.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Behold, I make all things new…”</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Transformation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Enter Jesus.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I am blown back at how He has started a new work in me. He is faithful to complete it. My eyes have been opened wider than ever before. And now I see more clearly. Our lives are the ultimate feel good story for which God receives all the glory. I am being molded more and more to His image. As the new has come, the old has gone. When I reflect on my identity in Christ and my life here on earth, I am filled with gratitude and humility. I know that I still have my downfalls, as big as they seem. But, I also recognize that in the door of my heart stands Someone with the ability and desire to change me; to progressively eradicate every wrong habit or nature within me that has no place in the presence of Him and fill me with fruits of the Spirit. His work began on day one.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Transformation. I become more like Him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> This same message, disguised slightly to fit a secular audience, plays in homes everywhere on various television sets to the tune of, “change really does happen.” Although most fail to acknowledge the Creator by which this message is made possible, the theme is inspiring.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> God has opened my eyes to see that I cannot change who I am. Nothing I can do, physically, is going to make me more like Him. I trust Him, only Jesus, author of my Faith, that He has that ability. But He has already proven that He is willing to do whatever it takes to give us true Life. He lives in me daily and is crafting me to reflect His Glory. That’s a Transformation that I hope and believe in, and hopefully the rest of the world will come to see.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>jmh</b></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01891325113882452164noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1089846488512665856.post-59868716561737668252008-05-06T23:45:00.001-05:002014-12-26T11:24:43.158-06:00self titled--anywhere. anything.<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b> Recently</b>, I came to the conclusion that <i>Joy of Epiphany</i> was not a title that I really wanted to double as my mission and vision statement for my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yeah, it’s neat to learn new things, but that aspect is missing a few key elements that are found in Matthew 28:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">go, make</i> disciples, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">baptize</i> in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My blog needed a new identity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, now it has one—“anywhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>anything.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The concept really sums up where my heart is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am at a point in my life, and I pray that remains true until my dying day, that I will go <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">anywhere</i> Christ needs me and do <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">anything</i> that He asks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a simple concept that my mind can fathom, for right now at least.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you cut out all the details, because God knows the details, I don’t, and He will reveal them to me at the appropriate time—regardless of my desire to know His plan for me—it makes following him simpler to grasp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I simply listen to Him, remain open and flexible, and obey when He calls me somewhere for something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s when I try to make my own arrangements to fall in line with what I want God to want me to do that things get messy and tangled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> As a son, a brother, a grandson, a nephew, a friend, a coworker, a cousin, and whatever else I could possibly be, I want to make one thing clear, if I have not already:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I will go wherever Christ calls me and do whatever He wants me to do.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want everyone to know that one simple fact.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That IS my heart’s desire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When people think of me, I want to be known for that, that I live for Christ, that I seek to bring Him glory with my life and, even death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I recently heard a very empowering testimony from a missionary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My heart was stirred, my passions were revisited, and I left incredibly moved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In sharing, he said one of many things that has stuck with me and continues to resonate with my soul.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said, “God is not boring, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">we</i> are boring.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And he continued, “I had made God small all of my life, and I had decided that I was not going to make Him small anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My life had been changed and would be changed forevermore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no way that I could go back to living the way that I had when I had recently seen God do <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">impossible</i> things.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Right now, for however long, God has me in <st1:place st="on">Northwest Arkansas</st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am seeking a teaching position, ministering to kids at church and Potter’s House, and working and ministering to friends at the Marketplace Grill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am seeing God move all around me and I am content. However, if God calls me to pick up my stuff and move to another location in the <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">US</st1:place></st1:country-region>, or even…ahem…the world, I will do it without hesitation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That's where I stand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I do not follow money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; mso-spacerun: yes;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Not a job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Not anyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Not anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; mso-tab-count: 3;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I follow Christ alone!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“The chief end of man is to glorify God”</span></i></blockquote>
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<b>jmh</b> </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01891325113882452164noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1089846488512665856.post-29868732898135285572008-04-30T00:30:00.002-05:002014-12-26T11:24:30.003-06:00"Should I Stumble Again, Still I'm Caught in Your Grace"<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaXXmqXAx45DRPhN0KlGrZvopQ5fcAJXlmQFLOrA92CyNdSdk6RZ0TB9m6v3AcA3cmVLyCe0rQb0uImp6EK5EKbjiUDDufJ7S6_T233m8mCxZrQmxlZfceFyhQvnV-QhbdUsNDueDTntQ/s1600-h/tahoe-sunset_trpa.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaXXmqXAx45DRPhN0KlGrZvopQ5fcAJXlmQFLOrA92CyNdSdk6RZ0TB9m6v3AcA3cmVLyCe0rQb0uImp6EK5EKbjiUDDufJ7S6_T233m8mCxZrQmxlZfceFyhQvnV-QhbdUsNDueDTntQ/s400/tahoe-sunset_trpa.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194910205327439330" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" /></a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;"><b> Its amazing</b> how one line from a song can change your thinking about a certain thing or about a particular person. The above line, taken from a popular worship song today, has been wedged in the corner of my mind, only to be recalled when the same song is sung again. Its the part of the whole song that I look forward to, the part that reveals a new thought for me. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Working my way backwards, I have always known about grace, mentally, but I have lacked in fully experiencing the word spiritually, in a heartfelt way. Intellectually, I could tell you what grace really was. But, if you looked into my life it would hardly be found. Grace was a one-time transaction that took place on the day of my Salvation. Of recently, grace is being shown to me in a new way, in a new light. </span></span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> For the better part of my life I have lived with what I wi<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">ll call a perfectionistic, legalist mentality. My goal in life was to be as good as possible, managing a few "minor sins" along the way, and confessing anything major that occurred. The problem came with "major sins"--the label that my mind made up to distinguish tolerable sins and intolerable, and thus proving to you how messed up my thinking really was, and partly, still is. Shortly after a "major sin" occurrence, I would carry the burden of guilt and enter into a motionless period, in which I neither continued in sin, nor pursued anything holy. In logic, I believed that I had to "serve my time" for the sin that I had committed by remaining trapped in guilt and tormented by the lies of the lingering Enemy, usually lasting anywhere from one to tw<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">o weeks. On earth, it makes sense. In the heavenly realm, another truth rings louder and clearer. Jesus Christ died several years ago so that I would not have to live with guilt. And again, there it is...</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="apple-style-span">"I am</span></span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="apple-style-span"><i>caught</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="apple-style-span">in Your grace"</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-tab-span"></span><span class="apple-style-span"> I love the sound those words produce. I am</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="apple-style-span"><i>caught</i></span><span class="apple-style-span">...stuck, hooked, trapped...I cannot find myself on the outside of grace. What a glorious thing! My thoughts have been transformed. My life, from the inside out, is being transformed. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I have begun to question why all these years I have struggled with guilt when God has offered something so sweet--grace. Hear me, I do not lighten the weight of sin, but I only recognize the power, love, and sovereignty of our mighty Savior. It is now that I desire to continue in grace, striving towards perfection (Phil. 3), confessing my sin quickly (1 John 1:9), and time and time again finding myself woven into the threads of grace. I rebuke the legalistic enemy, and I cling to the promise of my Father. ..</span></o:p></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">"Should I stumble again, still I'm caught in Your grace"</span></span></o:p></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>jmh</b> </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01891325113882452164noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1089846488512665856.post-14368604061851923752008-04-30T00:15:00.001-05:002014-12-26T11:24:15.994-06:00"Into The Wild"<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD83JCRA46SJ9h0O6z3bkWzyZ6SM-ygTlL0Ikj4sL4dc3_vOcnycG0dUEzRdmQ-x1df5QZz5gQ7KVLbUFrhnA8XgLyewRiHHBjmkzfVogFHa8jODPsrJeKlbMMil6l9LuRMTisLaAj5Jo/s1600-h/into_the_wild_movie_poster_090720070508.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD83JCRA46SJ9h0O6z3bkWzyZ6SM-ygTlL0Ikj4sL4dc3_vOcnycG0dUEzRdmQ-x1df5QZz5gQ7KVLbUFrhnA8XgLyewRiHHBjmkzfVogFHa8jODPsrJeKlbMMil6l9LuRMTisLaAj5Jo/s320/into_the_wild_movie_poster_090720070508.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194904338402112946" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; margin: 0 0 10px 10px;" /></a><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><b>…<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Life is an adventure…</span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u1:p></u1:p><br /> For some time now, a bizarre hunger has lingered in the corners of my mind.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>I cannot lay a finger on the origin of this longing or even when it began, but I do know with certainty that from time to time I feel this particular desire calling me.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>I cannot tell you why, but since my college years I have wanted to live with everything I own on my back.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>I want to travel the world and see new places from a different perspective; to depend on God for even the smallest essentials of life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u1:p></u1:p> Since my junior year of high school I have taken numerous backpacking trips into the wild.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>In these times I have felt at home in the outdoors.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Everyday was a new place to be with a new landscape—sunrises in the morning, sunsets at night, streams flowing gently by, the smell of fresh pine, wildlife in its natural habitat—and I was there to soak it all in.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>It left me wanting more!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u1:p></u1:p> I used to wonder, and still do, why life cannot be more like this.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Why does life have a pattern:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>go to school, get a job, get married?Sometimes I wonder why one must be questioned, prodded, and even convinced when they fall out of line, when they take the “road less traveled,” and choose to go against the culture.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Now, I know times change and even now it is not uncommon to see people waiting longer to get married, but being twenty-six and without a “full time career” starts to cause friction with others.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>The commonly heard question, “don’t you think its time to get a job,” starts to ring louder than ever before and pressure builds up.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Should one settle into a career just out of college because it’s the thing to do and everyone else has done it?Is there any room to veer off the road and make a new path?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u1:p></u1:p> I would not consider myself ready to settle into a career yet, though it seems to be the next obvious step.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Not to say that choosing a career and taking a job sucks the adventure out of life, but I still think there is more exploring to do.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>The world is so beautiful, and to me, unseen.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>I want to see it!<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>I have been blessed to have gone to many of the places that I have been.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>My travels extend from across the <st1:country-region st="on">United States<span class="apple-converted-space"></span></st1:country-region> to<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Nepal</st1:country-region></st1:country-region>,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Russia and Germany</st1:place></st1:country-region></st1:place></st1:country-region>.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>I am privileged to experience what I have.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Yet, I want more!<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Is that so immature and naïve?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u1:p></u1:p> Tonight, my eyes have been opened wider than ever before.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>I have a renewed passion!<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>This passion has put my life into focus and given me a perspective that I have rarely seen before.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>And, I am left wondering where to go from here…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u1:p></u1:p><u1:p></u1:p> In 1990, Chris McCandless left a diploma from<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Emery</st1:placename><span class="apple-converted-space"></span></st1:placename> </st1:place><st1:placetype st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">High School</st1:placetype><span class="apple-converted-space"></span></st1:placetype> in<st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Atlanta</st1:place></st1:city>, aspirations of becoming a lawyer, his family, and $24,000 in savings to venture out into the wild.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>For two years Chris, self-titled Alex Supertramp, roamed the great American country as a hitchhiker, taking odd jobs along the way from people he met and grew closer to, all while in pursuit of truth and authenticity from life.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>His final destination took him to the Alaskan wilderness, where he would eventually lose his life to starvation when he made a mistake in choosing berries to eat.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Though he went across the grain, Alexander Supertramp, as he would want to be known, experienced God’s creation in a magnificent way.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>His journey was well recorded.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>He left a journal among other things that marked his profound thoughts on a timely basis.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>I find a little bit of Chris McCandless in me, and, his life has left a lasting impression on me.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>jmh</b></span></div>
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