Changed By Time

Lately I have been having old memories and old dreams come to remembrance. It's really strange to remember a dream vividly from years and years ago.

Today while I was at work I got a flash back of Captain Kangaroo. I even felt the same strange feelings flood over me when the show used to come on at 7:00 AM before school. I felt myself yearning for that feeling again. I can remember how great I thought it was to have the Captain and Mr. Greenjeans with me every morning. Now, when I'm older and look back on stuff like this I see how old, out of date, and lame it seems now. Kind of a disappointment. It is truly amazing how time changes things. We discussed this issue at Bible study last night. How back in those days you didn't have to worry about seeing or hearing profanity on television or radio. Now its everywhere and people just don't blush anymore.

Mr. Greenjeans would be proud of me. I got my entire garden planted today. :-}

What You Talkin About

Lately I've been noticing words and phrases being thrown around loosely. I'm sure everyone has done it from time to time. But we should possibly watch our tongues closer than we do. I feel that we confuse our spirit man when we do use words that don't fit or phrases that don't make sense. Of course they seem to make sense to us because we are a people of slang terms these days.

I have many slang words and phrases that I use but am looking to correct this. At my noon hour the other day I was finishing a book. This is a good book that I definitely recommend. It has opened my eyes to several different areas of my life. Under The Overpass by Mike Yankoski, check it out if you ever get the chance. When I got to the last page of this book one sentence stood out like a sore thumb. "The next step on a journey of faith always feels risky and a little scary. But it's also terribly important and incredibly promising-and it's always up to us to take."

The words "terribly" and "incredibly" stick out to me most. I hear people say how incredible God can be. But wouldn't you say that God is credible. If something is incredible I don't have the notion to put my trust in it. I hear the phrase "wickedly cool" and my brain goes wait a second, being wicked is far from cool. especially considering cool in real terms means cold. Is any of this making sense to you. I'm not sure where I am going with this so I will end it here. We all now that scripture states that "we have what we say" and that we should gaurd our tongues.

Learning To Journal

I'm sorry if I seem over spiritualized on this blog. Some people get sick of hearing the same things over and over. I'm not out to get anybody to like me through this blog. I'm not looking to impress anybody either.

Recently when I attended the Elevate conference we were given special journals and taught some initial skills for studying our Bibles. I have yet to completely apply these principals to my everyday life but am looking forward to living it out. This particular journal has a bible in a year program in the back and a place to journal each day of the year to memorate what we read and learned through it. (if memorate isn't a word, it is now) We learned a simple procedure to studying our Word from God. Soap.

S cripture
O bserve
A pplication
P rayer

We talked about the different types of prayer and how God speaking to us through His Word is one of the highest forms of prayer. After this session I spoke to my pastor about journaling. He told me this whole learning to journal and Financial Peace University revolutionized This mans church. I told pastor how I used to journal all the time when I was first saved and how now it's more of an every now and then thing. He mentioned my blog and asked, "Isn't that what you do through your blogging". I never looked at it like that before. I guess that is what I do a lot of the time.

Thanks for actually taking time to read this blog even if it's over spiritualized. :-)

Sanctify Me O' Lord

I've been dwelling on sanctification lately, asking God to continually change me. I know that I can't expect God to change me unless I'm in His Word daily learning of Him and His Will for my life and acting on it. Being a doer of His word. I know God is getting ready to move me to the next level but it's my move first. Will I obey?

I woke up this morning refreshed and ready to dive into the Word. I grabbed a cup of coffee my Bible and sat. I started off with a quick prayer. "Lord teach me, speak to me through your Word. I want to grow spiritually by this time in your Word." I told the Lord that's why I'm doing this Bible in a year deal to begin with. I want to know You and Your Word. I want to help better Your Kingdom through this knowledge. With that I dove in and read a few chapters in my reading in a year program. When I was finished I was still hungry for more. So I picked up my new Voice of the Covenant magazine. I looked at the contents of it and found an article called Growing Up. I thought that is for me at this time.

I read a few pages that were all speaking to my heart when I got to The Heart and Mouth Connection of this article. Part of my prayer before getting in the Word was that I wanted His Word planted deep in my heart so I could take it with me and use it with my mouth in faith. Part of it reads "The sad thing is that many Christians never develop beyond the baby stage and become skillful enough to speak God's Word from their heart and change their world. They may have been born again forty years ago, but they have never learned how to apply the Word and live victoriously in life." How true is that? I continued reading on down the page and it goes into 1 Corinthians where Paul was calling these Christians babes in Christ. Paul called them unspiritual, carnal Christians. Because they walked under the control of ordinary impulses like envy, jealousy, strife, and divisions, and were behaving after a human standard like "mere unchanged men" At that very moment God spoke to me saying is this what you want to be, "a mere unchanged man?" I said no Lord I don't. He said, "Then put more time aside for Me and My Word." I agreed.

After pausing and listening to the Lord I continued reading and it said, "It is not a fun thing to discipline our flesh, but it can be done." Let me clarify that just a few weeks ago when I was communing with the Lord I was telling Him I just want more of You Lord. He said "If you can budget your finances you can budget your time." I feel bad because I have done nothing to budget my time with God and His Word Since He spoke this to me.

I've got to share something I read just last night from a completely different source all together. This was talking about three faith actions. implement, engage, and press. I won't cover them all because this post is getting long. But Implement is an active verb meaning "to carry into effect, to fulfill or to accomplish." It also means "to give practical effort to a thing. Throughout the Bible His words brought faith to whomever He spoke. They gave direction, explanation. I don't see in the Bible that God ever spoke a word to anyone except to bring change into his life! Whatever His purpose was for any word He spoke, He was speaking to get something done in the life of the hearer! Jesus' words were the same. Cast your net...Be made whole...Seek first the kingdom of God....Hebrews 11 tells us faith is the substance...and evidence...of God's promises. We continue to read in that chapter, by faith...people acted on God's Word and received all He promised."

"Faith is what brings God's plan into our lives. Our faith is the implement of God's Word that brings His plan to pass in our lives."

At the beginning I said I know God is getting ready to move me to the next level. All these articles and Him speaking to me through them in such a short time is enough evidence for me. Like I said, it's my move. I came up with a plan to discipline my flesh. I will strive to get up earlier to spend time with the Lord. This is something I have tried in the past and have failed (gave up). The Word should be the first thing you think about in the morning and the last thing you think about before you go to sleep. I just want more of Him.

God's Planting - I'm Watering

Sometimes I wish God would plant things in me and they would just flourish. This would make things so much easier. Things like mercy, forgiveness, love, patience, wisdom in every subject. Take love for example. When I was born again God planted a special seed in me called love. For this seed to grow in me properly I must water it. I have to go love people on purpose, it's not just going to happen. This doesn't naturaly happen without some effort on my part.

I make a daily choice to show others mercy. Daily I choose to follow Christ with all my heart. Our daily choices determine our spiritual growth. I fail repeatedly but continuously learn from these mistakes. I don't always feel like being nice and showing love to my co-workers. I have to make that choice not to gossip about that person who ticked me off. Again I fail repeatedly but turn to Jesus for wisdom. As I continue in this walk of faith I can see myself growing in certain subjects as I nurish the seeds God has planted in me.

Special Thanks

I want to give a special thanks to everyone for all the cards, texts, tweets, and e-cards wishing me a happy birthday. Oh joy, I'm 31 now. This is where I stop counting, right.

Ruth, Your card was funny. Actually I feel like I've been flushed down a toilet some days. =)

Radical Or Mild

I was listening to a song on the radio. You might now it. I can't recall the artist or the name of the song. But it says something along the lines of, I don't want to go on without that all consuming passion inside of me. The singer mentions not wanting to feel regret for not giving everything to the Lord. What if I had given everything.

I made up my mind when I gave my life over to Christ my Lord. I will be all that I can be in Christ. I'm not in this part way. It's this way of life or nothing. That's what living your life as a Christian is. I've been called a radical Christian by others who call them selves Christians but use Christ as a scapegoat. They use Jesus to justify their sinful desires and lusts. One man in fact said, "You're just more radical than I am. I think I can get to heaven and still drink and use tobacco". He also said, "When I'm in worship service I just go through the motions". That was part of that song to. I don't want to go through the motions and then later regret not giving everything. These individuals are in a lot of trouble. God gave me many, many scriptures showing me what these men are to Him and what He calls them. One scripture in particular comes to mind. Revelation 3:16 "So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth." Scary to think of rejection from the only one who can save us. There is no such thing as in between.

Press Forward

As a new Christian I have made many mistakes. I can admit I am far from perfect. As I grow in Christ I can look back and see were I have gone wrong. Sometimes I can see where the Holy Spirit has tried to warn me of danger, yet I proceeded. When driving down the road I have a large windshield to look out of and a small rear view mirror to view what I have gone past. I can say the rear view mirror is smaller because what is behind you is not as important as what is ahead of you. I can either fixate on the past, with its failures, disappointments or I could learn from those things and move on. I keep my eyes fixed on the prize. (Philippians 3:14)

Heed not past failures, but strive

for the prize, Aiming for goals fit

for His holy eyes. ~Brant~

Elevate 2009 Photos

We are back from our Elevate 2009 conference. This was an experience for sure. Not just in the conference but spending all day with these yahoos. It was fun. Stop by my church blog to see the slide show. Thankfully the picture where they got our waitress and 5 other girls to sing me happy birthday at the restaurant didn't turn out so well. Yep it was really cute how they put a candle in my ice cream and everything.

My New Coloring Book

I have taken the privilege of turning my bible into a coloring book. Any one else do these things?
I would like a few different colors so I can color code by subject. I think that I'm a dollar short and a day late on that idea. Too many subjects in yellow.

About Saturday

I've been looking forward to going to this church conference for some time now. I was excited but now I'm a bit nervous considering I really don't know what to expect. I will be in a separate learning area as most everyone else. Mine will be Spiritual Growth. Everyone else will be in either children's ministry, church leadership, or student ministry. I sure hope that there will be some people I know in my group. That always helps. It looks like this study will cover Close Encounters of the Spiritual Kind. Thats my favorite. This is something I am very interested in. We will focus on the person and work of the Holy Spirit. I am definitely into the supernatural things of God. I love to see how He works and touches peoples lives so divinely. That reminds me that Sid Roth is on tonight at 9:30 on Daystar. Its a weekly routine in my house.

One more thing about Saturday. In Cedar Rapids, Iowa the Rock & Worship Roadshow is taking place. This concert is hosted by Mercy Me, Tenth Avenue North, Sanctus Real, Hawk Nelson and John reuben. This concert is only ten dollars at the door. All proceeds are going to charity. I thought me and a bunch of people from church were going to go until I realized it was the same day as the conference. Oh-well...spiritual growth is much more important to me.

Thoughts In My Head Before Bed

• The Kids on the church van route were extra annoying tonight.
• I think a couple girls have a crush on me.
• I think one girl hates me because I made her cry once.
• I dedicated tomorrow evening to helping an elderly lady with heart problems. Her physical heart is weak and her spiritual heart needs Jesus. I'm going to till her garden so she won't over do it.
• We had an awesome Wednesday night service with a guest speaker who gave a prophetic word over our church. It gave me goose bumps.
• I leave at 5:30 in the morning on Saturday. Heading to Elevate 2009 Conference. I'm pumped. Let us see how pumped I get at 5:30 am.
• Normally I drive the church van for the kids every other Wednesday night. Tonight I was asked to take over for the next two months. AAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa......Wha?? I accepted.
• Next Wednesday night is our churches talent night and I have to drive van and it's my 31st birthday.
• Talent night is the biggest night of the year for our Wednesday night program. It only happens twice a year.
• I have no gray hairs yet. Next week that is questionable.
• It is already 10:00 at night and I am blogging instead of doing my bible in a year reading. Priorities, priorities...Need to get my priorities straight.
• Although, I love reading scripture before dosing of to sleep. It's my thing.
• I had to block a person on twitter. There is a difference between being fed the Word of God and being choked to death by it.
• My dog is nudging me for attenti0n...it's late...I have to get up early...still have to read...ok bye

Prayer And Science????

Yesterday I got caught up in watching a show that was talking about prayer. Doctors and others were discussing how they have witnessed people's recovery just from prayer. People who were on deaths bed and refused any medical treatment except prayer had a 100% turn around. The show turned for the worse in my thoughts. They were trying to discuss how prayer works scientifically. This saddened my heart. One man said "Just like when we discovered penicillin and didn't know how it worked, we used it anyway because it did work. In the same way I believe that someday we will know how prayer really works." I thought DUH...pick up the BIBLE dude...how simple is that. The Bible explains it all. I bet the Angels hanging around him were like duh dude pick up the bible, it explains everything. We are constantly surrounded by angels recording everything that is going on. They ended the program by saying that someday the only thing they will have to prescribe people is daily prayer. (If they find out how prayer works of course.) That will be the day...

Share The Voice Of The Savior

I am amazed as I talk with my pastor at how many times he is given the chance to witness to others about Christ. Be it at the gas station, supermarket, on the dock fishing, or chopping wood at his wood pile. It makes me wonder why I don't get so many chances. Or do I? I think that God gives us so many chances but we only take advantage of certain obvious ones. How many times do we keep moving along even when God opens a door for us to share Christ. In our minds we think they won't receive what we have to say. Or they'll just think I'm crazy. Sometimes God puts things at our feet but we refuse to pick it up. Think about how the Israelites were given manna from above. If they didn't go out and pick it up they would have starved. In the same way I believe if we don't share what Christ opens up for us, they will starve. The people need what we have. Their everlasting souls are banking on it. What if you are the one that puts that notion in their head that Christ is king, He is the Judge and they need Christ before they die. What if you choose not to look foolish and they never get another chance to learn about Jesus or get their curiosity up about Him. What does that make you and me? Sometimes we have to pick up the manna. Sometimes we need to speak up no matter what. Keep your eyes and ears open and share.

The Day With No Name

It's Saturday on planet earth; will Sunday ever come? That dark, Golgothan Friday can only be called good because of what happened on Sunday. Easter opened up a crack in a universe winding down toward decay. And someday God will enlarge the miracle of Easter to cosmic scale.

Meanwhile, we wait in hopeful anticipation, living out our days on Saturday, the in between day with no name. It's Saturday. But Sunday's comin'.

If we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. (Romans 8:25)

Who Crucified Jesus?

I must say that Jesus was on my mind almost all day today. I don't think I've ever dwelt on the Lord this much on a Good Friday ever. I was sure to watch the clock to mark when Jesus was hung on that cross and constantly thanked Him. Even up to 3 o'clock when He finally breathed His last breath I thought I felt the ground move a little and remembered when Jesus said it's finished. I have ran the entire scenario through my head and feel so sorry for helping nail Jesus to that cross with my iniquity. Here is a little something I read today....

When looking at Rembrandt's painting of The Three Crosses, your attention is drawn first to the cross on which Jesus died. Then as you look at the crowd gathered around the foot of that cross, you are impressed by the various facial expressions and actions of the people involved in the awful crime of crucifying the Son of God. Finally, your eyes drift to the edge of the painting to catch sight of another figure, almost hidden in the shadows. Some art critics say this is a representation of Rembrandt himself, for he recognized that by his sins he helped nail Jesus to the cross.

Someone has said, "It is a simple thing to say that Christ died for the sins of the world. It is quite another thing to say that Christ died for my sins....It is a shocking thought that we can be as indifferent as Pilate, as scheming as Caiaphas, as callous as the soldiers, as ruthless as the mob, or as cowardly as the disciples. It wasn't just what they did, it was I who nailed Him to the tree. I crucified the Christ of God. I joined the mockery."

Place yourself in the shadows with Rembrandt. You too are standing there. But then recall what Jesus said as He hung on that cross, "Father, forgive them." Thank God, that includes you and me. ~Henry Bosch~

Kingdom Dog

I love the simple message that is being put out here. Many times we find ourselves witnessing not to the 'Jew' but to the 'Greek'. Sometimes simple is good. Sometimes that's what it takes to get the Good Word out.

Pranks Are Fun

Did any one play an April Fools day joke on someone? Did any one have a joke played on them? I used to love a good prank once in a while. Last year I had my mother believing that I lost my job. I got her good. She had people praying for me and everything.

I guess I should be careful. I'm not much for having pranks played on me. If it's in good humor I'm alright with it. Some of the kids on my Wednesday night van route played a joke on me. They gathered all the money they could between all the kids on the van. They were trying to get me to tell them my middle name. I wasn't very cooperative until they showed me two dollars that would be mine if I told them. I gave in and told them my middle name and when I asked for my money. "April Fools", I had been duped.

Once upon a time in a town not too far from here where I worked a factory job I played a prank. Something I don't recommend doing but has an awesomely funny outcome. This wasn't April Fools day but jokes are for all seasons. We had a small winter storm and I didn't much feel like going to work. So I called the local television station and radio station and canceled work for 2nd and 3rd shift that day. The outcome wasn't good. They never did find out it was me but half the employees didn't show up for work. If they had found out it was me I would have been instantly terminated. Or perhaps prosecuted.

Anybody else have a funny prank story?

What Not To Do To Your Jeep

What My Weekend Persisted Of

The happy newlywed couple.Me and my old family.

Me and my new family.

The Bible, The Book Of Books

I was inspired to post this from here.

This book contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of life, the doom of sinners, the happiness of believers. Read it to be wise. Believe it to be safe. Practice it to be holy. It gives light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveler's map, the soldier's sword, the Christian's chart. Here Paradise is restored: Heaven is opened and the gates of hell described. Christ is its Theme, our good its design and the glory of God its end.

It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, a river of pleasure. It is given us in life, will be open in judgment, and remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, rewards the greatest labor, and condemns all who trifle with it. The Bible sets forth two things-the Cross and the Throne.

The Old Testament points toward the Cross. The Gospel tells the story of the Cross. The Epistles point toward the Throne. The Revelation tells the story of the Throne.

The Old Testament tells us what sin leads to and ends with the words; "Lest I come and smite the earth with a curse". (Malachi 4:6 KJV)

The New Testament shows the way out of sin and ends thus: "the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all". (Revelation 22:31 KJV)

If you happen to disagree with anything in the above paragraphs, it's not my problem. I didn't write it; I just copied it. :-)

The Bible is the greatest of all books:

To study it is the noblest of all

pursuits; to understand it, the

highest of all goals. ~Charles C. Ryrie~

Humility And Greatness

True greatness is shown by humility, not pride. This was powerfully demonstrated and taught by Jesus Christ, who told His ambitious disciples: "Whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many" (Matt. 20:26-28).

True greatness does not lie with those

Who strive for worldly fame,

It lies instead with those who choose

To serve in Jesus' name. ~D. De Haan~

We can do great things for the Lord if we are willing to do little things for others.

Final Thought

Final thought of the day. Where do children get all this energy. The things I could do if I had that energy again. I have been entertaining a 3 year old tonight and I am beat. It's now past 11:30 and she is finally going to bed. It makes me think. If I have children will I have the energy to keep up with them? Do I want to have children at all? Why do I feel so old all of a sudden?

I pray that someday God does grant me a family of my own. I also pray for the energy to raise this family. I pray that God prepares me for what's ahead.

And Now For Some Useless Information

Rhinoceros Facts

• There are five types of Rhinos...the Sumatran, Javan, Black, White and Indian.
• The Javan and Indian Rhinos have only one horn, and the Sumatran, Black and White Rhinos have two horns.
• Just like our fingernails, the Rhino's horns are made of keratin and grow throughout their lifetime.
• Rhinos are about 60 inches tall at their shoulders.
• Rhinos live for 35 to 40 years.
• White Rhinos live in grasslands or open savannas with water holes, mud wallows and shade trees. Black Rhinos have various habitats, but mainly live in areas with dense, woody vegetation.
• Rhinos weight varies based on their type. Black Rhinos weigh 1 to 1 1/2 tons while White Rhinos weigh over 2 tons.
• Rhinos thick, hairless, gray hide looks indestructible, but their skin is actually quite sensitive, especially to sunburn and biting insects, which is why they like to wallow in mud.
• Rhinos have an odd-toed ungulate (three toes on each foot).
• Rhinos have large heads, broad chests and thick legs.
• Rhinos have poor eyesight...they are very nearsighted, which is probably why they will sometimes charge without apparent reason.
• Rhinos have a very good sense of smell and hearing.
• Rhinos have an extended "vocabulary" of growls, grunts, squeaks, snorts and bellows.
• When the Rhino attacks, he lowers his head, snorts, breaks into a gallop reaching speeds of 30 miles an hour, and gores or strikes powerful blows with its horns.
• Gestation period for Rhinos is 16 months.
• The closest Rhino relationship is between a female and her calf which lasts from 2 to 4 years.