Thee_Journeymin's Xanga

It's time I write somethin'

Sat, 13 Dec 2008 20:49:54 GMT

I never did write what the big surprise is-- by now everyone knows that Mark and Elizabeth are having a baby, a daughter to be exact. The name is still a mystery; we'll find out mid-January. that's only a blink away.

What's new with me ? Well, I'm moved into my new place, a trailer in the same park as my Dad. It's old but in good condition, ie. new heater, windows, carpeting, paint. It's good to have something that is actually mine. Please pray for a roommate-- a Christian. It's always good to share what you have with others. Mark & I had some good times and I'd like that again. I even have a library and an empty bedroom already to go.

Christmas is fast approaching. I finished my shopping today. Honestly, I've been listening to Christmas music since mid-Novemeber. I do enjoy the songs that are so festive. I copuld do without Rudoolph and Santa though.

My Mom got a couple of kittens, ragdolls. Ollie and Otis ( I call him Fatface because he has such a wide face and big eyes.) They are so cute. I'll try to post some photos.

I've been thinking on how God is a reconciling God. ( 2 Corinthians 5). I have a brother who is diovorced and his wife is confused. They have three children. It's been hard on the famiily, but we still get together ech Saturday and pray that they might be reconciled. First, that the wife's relationship would be healed with Jesus and then her with her husband. It has been yeares, but we are reminded of the widow who kept petitioning the king. He waits to be gracious. I'm still amazed that I'm reconciled to God, in spite of all the things I've learned that were wrong, He still loves me and hears my cry. He calls me His own and my sin is forgiven and put behind me. Now that is a miracle and gives me hope for this family.

I recently read A Case For Christmas by Lee Strobel. In there he says, that when Jesus was walking on water he said," Fear not, I AM." In the KJV it says," It is I " But the Greek says more than that, it is a declaration that " I am God", not just, "I am Jesus." !! Some things are just lost in translation.. Another, when Peter says, "I love you Lord." in answering Jesus question, " Do you love me ?" Peter says," I love you like a brother ( phileo)"-- but Jesus was asking," Do you love me like God ( agape)" That's a larger picture !

We have so much to be in awe about. What makes you get qiuet and worship Jesus or perhaps jump up and shout ? What is it about God that you love ?

If I don't see you-- have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS....

I shall be satisfied when I awake in His likeness.

Fri, 23 May 2008 21:51:16 GMT

Can you imagine to what we are destined ? We will be perfect, holy, always doing the right thing, and nevcr missing a beat. We shall awake-- death is just a sleep. And that word, that powerful word, "satisfied"-- finally after all that searching and hungering. He shall never thirst, never hunger; that is, if we have Jesus in our lives. His likeness, what is it ? Adam had His likeness before the fall. It's more than just having a great knowledge or ability. It's being as He is for eternity ( now that's a very long time.) It's more than Heaven-- that alone is wonderful; but we will be LIKE Jesus is now. And yes, it is a SHALL BE-- we have not arrived yet. It is a hope, an exprectancy. It is a promise.

I just got off the phone with a close friend, my old roommate. He and his wife had some exciting news! I don't want to steal their thunder so I'll wait a day or two to share the excitement. Three guesses:

Saturday, April 19, 2008

Sat, 19 Apr 2008 15:20:55 GMT

Spring is a time to take the camera for a walk and let the Lord show your some beautiful sights like this ground cover. There are some twin churches I pass along the windy road that have such wonderful flower beds this time of year.

There are hundreds of daffodils surrounding some ornamental pear trees. Here is where I started driving years ago. I was seventeen driving my Dad's Toyota 4x4 up and down that windy road with boulders all along the way.

No matter how close you get to a flower the intricacies of its parts amazes me. The shapes and colors ! Georgia Okeefe was right in painting such masterpieces. ( that is, close-ups of flowers )

Wednesday, April 02, 2008

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:53:48 GMT

Man devises his way, but the Lord guides His steps. It is good to know the Lord and His heart is bent towards us, always thinking of us in love and directing us personally as He knows us so well. Every moment is from Him-- even the frustrating ones are from a compassionate God who has our best in mind.

Spring is such a time of freshness: the rain today, the crocuses, snowdrops, and tulips blooming. Another season bringing forth life and hope. Soon the trees will be green; already the birds are busy with their nests. You ever think how quite it is in the winter without the robins and others that have left before the snow ? It was almost overnight the air was filled with the praise.

I'm going fishing this Saturday after work with my brother. Perhaps a trout will be in my future....it'll be nice just to be outside with Andy. He's the pro and maybe I'll learn a thing or two. We had fish for supper Sunday and it was delicious !

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 18:20:09 GMT

Whne you feel as though you have the World on your shoulders and the burden is heavy, what do you do ? You stop yourself and rest. You go to the Bible and relax and pray and ASK Jesus what to DO and what to SAY. I have Jesu inside, but I'm not Jesus. I am a man who gets burdened with sin, my own and others. Mostly others nowadays--intercession can be very tiring if not taken with JOY. Every one has their own responsibilities. I have my priorities...my future wife ( then the children) , the Church, and then my family ( who I trust will be saved.and become the Church.) What will this look like ?

We all must do things we don't enjoy and for me that would include working on the computer. This tires my eyes and frustrates me to no end. Yet it is something that will benefit others. Hopefully too, music will be a part of what I'll share: writing songs and poetry.

Even this morning I was driving past PEACE VALLEY PARK and viewing the fog over the lake with the beauty of the green was so inviting. Then around the corner beams of LIGHT were piercing through the canopy onto the road below. Jesus has made a beautiful WORLD and I am glad for the part I'm in.

Maybe you think I'm crazy-- then perhaps you don't know the LOVE OF GOD.

Thursday, September 13, 2007

Thu, 13 Sep 2007 13:04:15 GMT

Of Ships and Souls

Last month (March, 2007) I was on board a cruise liner on the Aegean Sea. An urgent voice came over the intercom. I swiftly slid my life jacket off the shelf in my cabin and secured it around my neck. Then I made my way to the eighth deck.

Thousands of other passengers followed suit. I sat on the long bench outside, under my lifeboat, waiting. Crowds were pressing all around me. But the lifeboats were not lowered. Not one passenger or crewmember got away from the ship. Why not? Simple. There was no emergency. The whole thing was a practice drill.

Now, I hate to waste time, so while we were waiting to be dismissed, I told a story. I pulled out my wallet and showed a photo I have to those around me. It was of John Harper, the last hero of the Titanic.

He was a Scottish preacher who was on board during that fateful voyage. When the ship struck an iceberg, it was John who shouted, "Women, children, and the unsaved first into the lifeboats!" When the ship went down and he was thrown into the ocean, John swam about declaring the Gospel. Above the screams of the perishing, his voice rang out, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved!"

He swam to one fellow who desperately clung to a piece of wreckage.

"Are you saved?" John called.

The answer came, "No!"

"’Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved!’ Do you want to trust in Jesus?"

The man, in shock, replied, "N-no!"

Said John, "Then you need this more than I do," and threw his own life preserver to him. John swam away, sharing Christ with the many others struggling to stay afloat in the freezing waters.

Sometime later, he returned to the man on the wreckage.

"Are you saved?"

"No," was the repeated answer.

"’Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.’ Are you ready to trust in Jesus?"

This time the answer was "Yes!" John led him to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Then, swimming to tell others, John finally succumbed to the cold. He sank beneath the waves, his last words being, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved!"

I told his story as we huddled on the deck. I finished, saying to all who could hear, "I don’t know if we will sink on this trip, but I want to go on record as saying: ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.’"

That was last month. While on the cruise to various Biblical sites, I was able to witness to a few people. I wish I had done more. The name of the ship I traveled on? The Sea Diamond!

On April 5, 2007, a month afterwards, that very ship--the Sea Diamond--sank off the coast of Santorini. Nearly everyone escaped. Thank God for His mercy and longsuffering. I pray for the crewmembers that I met and gave tracts to, and who were on that vessel when it sank, that they will be drawn to salvation through Jesus Christ, through the seed of the Word planted.

Let me ask you a question: "Are you saved?"

If the answer is "Yes," then here are a few more questions. What on Earth are you doing for Heaven’s sake? Are you studying the Scriptures to show yourself approved unto God (Ephesians 5:10)? Are you a workman that needeth not to be ashamed (II Timothy 2:15)? Are you abiding in the Vine, staying close to Jesus (John 15:5)? Are you on your knees often, praying for the lost souls in your family, your circle of friends, your country, and around the world (I Timothy 2:1-4)? Are you standing up for the truth (Ephesians 6:14) and standing against the evil in our midst (Proverbs 31:8,9)? Are you spending time with godly friends (Proverbs 13:20), so you can edify each other (Proverbs 27:17) to be doers of the Word (James 1:22)? Are you taking advantage of opportunities to share the gospel with the unsaved (I Peter 3:15)? Hold fast to the Word (II Timothy 1:13), brethren, and may He who is coming find you so doing (Luke 12:43)!

But if the answer is, "No," then I have a message of good news for you, called the Gospel:

God created the earth and it was perfect (Genesis 1). Mankind has fallen into sin (Romans 5:12) and must be punished (Romans 6:23). The judgment is death and Hell (Hebrews 9:27). All of us, you and I included, have broken His law and deserve the coming eternal wrath of God (Romans 3:10). But God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, gave His own life’s blood on the cross in your place, was buried, and came back to life (Romans 5:8, Ephesians 1:7, I Corinthians 15:3,4). Because He took your place, you can be saved from Hell and instead go to Heaven when you die (John 3:16). He is the only way (John 14:6, Acts 4:12). Turn from your sin and trust in what Jesus did for you to save you (Romans 10:9,10,13). Then follow what He says in his Word, the Bible (I Peter 2:2).

You may choose to put it off. But remember, you are not promised another hour. Those on the Titanic, the passengers of the Sea Diamond, and those living all around us have at least one thing in common with you. Not one knows exactly when he or she will take his or her last breath. And so, I urge you, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved."

The Titanic sank April 14^th, 1912, 95 years ago.

To learn more of the man, John Harper, read The Titanic’s Last Hero, by Moody Adams. ( just a suggestion)

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Wed, 12 Sep 2007 19:08:22 GMT

Have you ever been angry at the World ?

(Grumpy isn't the word for it. )

Speak the truth in Love.

Friday, September 07, 2007

Fri, 07 Sep 2007 17:06:37 GMT

The depth of love surpassing sin's wound--

Healing words cleansing the scarred spirit;

Grace penetrating the soul of a broken man.

Christ answered in truth the cry, though silent.

He hears all hearts yeilding, repenting:

Yet no condemnation is heard in His voice.

Forgivenness full and free is the outcome,

Cleansing streams of thankfulness flow;

Joy overtook pain and sorrow:

Peace overcame guilt and despair.

It all started," In the beginning God,"

"It is finished" was His conclusuion

Faith was created from beginning to end.

6-22-04

Thursday, September 06, 2007

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 14:36:54 GMT

As a follower of Jesus Christ I seek to please Him and honestly struggle with pleasing my Brethren or for the others that I love. Yet Jesus constantly challenges me to have Him preeminent in my life. He alone is worthy and I seek to speak and to sharee only that which He gives me. It's tough.

I am a part of a house church, though I worship in traditional ways as well ( Jesus and Paul both taught in the synaguages as well as house 2 house) The sisters danced as the Jews did and do and it was an encouragement to see the joy of the Lord as they raised their hands to the Lord. This was done modestly and humbly. The two younger sisters played a lively Hebrew sounding spiritual song. I forget the title. And we each shared what the Lord gave us, whether it be a song, or a testimony, or a word (teaching), or a prophecy. (1 Cor. 14:26) Each was the first fruits, what was real in their lives that week that was from Jesus, His Holy Spirit.

One brother shared a vision and I saw it; it was a blessing to me. The picture was of a town at twilight filled with different steeples of all sorts of religions peeking through. Above was a hill and was there Jesus hugging His knees sitting down at the edge, resting. And He had a question to those below, " Do you know Me ?" He asked all of this, do we know Him and His presence, His word, His joy. He is available to all. He is just a prayer away. Maybe someone is Jehovah Witness, Mormon, Catholic, or Muslim....but do they know the True Jesus ? He is God in the flesh and dwelt among us. He has died for us, taking our shame, our sin. He physicially died. But He had power to take His life and raise Himself from the dead. I can't do that. " I haven't learned that trick." Yet Jesus raises each of us who were once dead in sin and has made us spiritually alive. Now that is a miracle.

I believe in miracles I know of healings and know Jesus answers prayers. What has the Lord done for you ? How has He made His love REAL in your life ?

1Cor 12:4-14

Rom. 12:1-18

Eph. 4:2-7,31.32

LOVE GOD / HATE EVIL

Wednesday, September 05, 2007

Wed, 05 Sep 2007 19:27:29 GMT

If you could be anything in the world what would you be ? How would you impact the community, or the state or the nation ? "Picture a hand placed in a bucket of water-- that's the affect on the world you will make." ,a man said to me years ago. But I challenge that and say, Picture a stone thrown into a lake and the ripple that it creates-- and let that be me.

I was in a church years ago with friends, on a family vacation with them. There we heard about the river mentioned in Ezekiel and how some will go ankle high, others to their waist, then few will go over their heads-- and I imagine a boy diving off a tire swing plunging himself into the depths of Christ's love and mercy. Swimming in an ocean of forgiveness. That is what I chose for the children of the generation following and I pray that they will know His presence and His joy.

What we say and do has a vast impression on their hearts and consciences. It isn't that we need the "word police" or anything, but our words must be seasoned with grace and filled with laughter and blessing. We should challenge them to seek first the kingdom of God and be creative in helping them follow the Creator. If we lack wisdom we can ask of God and He will give us insight and lead us where we need to be led in order to lead and help guide them.

It is a hard reponsibilty to care for youth. I have seen many of those in my life grown now with families of their own and it is a real blessing and joy to see the fruit of His labor in their lives. His word will never return void. Brethren, sow the seed in faith and couragously point them to their Saviour. He will honour those who honour Him.

Shaloam