Morning Quiet

Awakened by the thunderstorm,
Safe in His hands I return the dream
As if the actors stopped the play
Until I returned from being awake

And when the scenes drifted away
And my dreams started to fade
Quiet light surrounded me
No more electricity

Children approached to say good morning
None of their voices hampered by buzzing noises
Just the morning, the sun, the quiet calm
The joy

Eventually, the electricity returns
Voices grows louder
The sound of forks and plates clinking together
As the breakfast table is occupied.

And so are my thoughts, occupied
Thoughs of His goodness, His mercy and grace,
And those of clinging, and those of longing
Thankful for now, and for the hope of a better place.

You Lift Me Up

I may have seemed to be alone
In the back of the church
Few passed by with greetings
Brief conversations ensued

But my spirit was engrossed
In the music filling that the space
Not the space around
But the space within

I knew the voice
When it came from a child
But now it dwells in maturity
Expressing a song purified for Christ

Travel to that distant place was not planned
And distress was my companion
But entering on the holy ground
Heavenly music was all around

This spiritual place of Saints
Perfect people not at all
But the there was a perfect One there
Living in the Saints, you could hear it in the air

No Oil and Dew

No oil, no dew
No Godframe too
Minus teamdplus
What's become of us

I pay 100 bucks a week
An utterance I may speak
I confess, I did foresee
The counselor lasted only 4 weeks

And here I am, typing to you
Not just because I know not what to do
(Truth be told, as it must)
I was relying on Hope and Trust

We know our flaws, all too well
And know that we don't know
How many more we could tell
Still, the accuser stands pointing at us

I can only bend on my knees
and point to the cross.

I weep and don't know why
Surrounded by silence,

Not a victory cry.

One Year

Over one year has passed since my last post. I have more to say, but haven't yet. Don't dismiss my absence as a form of procrastination. There is a monster lurking in the corner. I continue to ignore it, hoping it will ignore me. The clock is ticking.

Tempted to unbridle the tongue,
To let the words flow unrestrained,
Don't they have it coming?
Do I care anymore, anyway?

Yes, I do
Help me Lord choose life from my lips
CPR for the soul of those that hear
The daggers and swords are always there
Keep them sheathed and safely stored

Elect, Predestined, Chosen

Do these words lead you into a crises, or are they words of comfort?

How Long?

Fewer posts, fewer words, fewer options. It looks as though it may be coming to an end. Why should I fear, but I do. I sing that my hope is in you, but hopelessness abounds. I don't know what to do. There's seems to be no point in this post, only foolishness. I look to be filled, but am empty. God help me. God help my family. God help all of those that I have hurt. Help my wife to understand, and take care of her. Help my children to grow up not bitter, but in your love. Forgive me Lord.

4 reminders

Sitting in bed, I watch one of my 3 year old twins rest. A cough this morning, a slight fever and a bloody nose. There is something I'd like to do, a place I'd like to go. But this one of four children remind me, I have to stay here and weather the storm.

6 caps

6 caps to choose from
The hollow end to the head
Any one I choose to wear
I'll look the same
And my face will turn red.

At a loss for words

How can I articulate what I feel? You, who read these words, wonder why out of over 3000 'feeling' words to choose from, I've yet to choose even one. I suppose it's because whatever I choose would not do it justice. The feeling is connected in time, connected to events, connected to words, sound, emotion, thoughts, people, my arms, legs, chest, head.

I could use analogies and metaphors, to try to convey at least a shadow of the truth.

But that leaves too much room for misunderstanding. Again, I'm at a loss for words. I just want to go home.

Not discounted, not cheap, not inexpensive, ... free!

Revelation 22:17 -- And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say: “Come!” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wants it take the water of life free of charge.

Measures

You want me to find what I already have. One falls on his knees, the other upright with arms stretched to the heavens - which is the better measure of the heart? Recite another formula, rededicate, another revival, for what? The work has been done 2000 years ago. Say yes once, why say it again? Outside the temple, at work, on the freeway, in the market, how am I doing? I pray that His will be done, and that I may demonstrate the evidence of His work in me: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness. To borrow a line from a famous song, and attach to it a slightly different meaning - may I only have eyes for You.

in medias res

Mark 9:37

It's The Network

There's only one network that really matters. It is the oldest, most powerful network ever established. No signal is ever lost. It is the only one that will survive recessions, depressions, storms and wars. Being connected is literally, a matter of life and death. Who's in your network?

Go Now!

"I want it now!" cries a generation. History books, if you can find one, gather dust on the shelves. On the new plasma screen, not a speck of dust can be found. To push a button is easier than to turn a page, to passively recieve, than to cogitate. Tell me what I need, lest I discern it from what I read. The news that I see is nothing new, just a different spin on the same stories recycled again. Look beneath the surface of the glitter and glam. Go to the place where principles withstand. Go to the book that was not authored by man. Go to the source for Good News and renewal. Go to His Word. Go to His Word and you will understand.

Books

Book and books, so many books abound

On every topic imaginable - I have found.

I have yet to find one trustworthy and sound,

Except for one, penned by the author

Of everything Good, all around.

Leaves

Leaves departing from the branches,

Falling to earth, asphalt and kind.
You'd think they would stay put

And lay there motionless, dying.

But from out of nowhere

A unseen force appears.

It summons them back to life

One hear, one there, then

Entire sections arise.

A symphony of sight and sound
Whirlwinds on the ground
And the leaves are dancing

All around

Don't Try to Redefine

Those who call evil good and good evil are as good as dead,
who turn darkness into light and light into darkness,
who turn bitter into sweet and sweet into bitter.
Those who think they are wise are as good as dead,
those who think they possess understanding.
Those who are champions at drinking wine are as good as dead,
who display great courage when mixing strong drinks.
They pronounce the guilty innocent for a payoff,
they ignore the just cause of the innocent.
Therefore, as flaming fire devours straw,
and dry grass disintegrates in the flames,
so their root will rot,
and their flower will blow away like dust.
For they have rejected the law of the Lord who commands armies,
they have spurned the commands of the Holy One of Israel

-- Isaiah 5:20-24 NET

Paucity

The paucity of intelligent discourse regarding the ban of same sex marriages in California is sadly, no surprise. Just as many in the media have found that sound bites and slogans are more effective means of marketing than in-depth reporting, many people have succumbed to the same type of arguments when they posit their beliefs.

_______

The following has been deemed newsworthy by Yahoo News:

"Don't spread H8"

"We need equal rights"

"Gay is the new black"

"Catholic Fascists Stay Out of Politics"

"I just found out that my state doesn't really think I'm a person"

_______

What was severely lacking and not deemed newsworthy - any reporting about what the supporters of Proposition 8 had to say and why.

_______

For there will be a time when people will not tolerate sound teaching. Instead, following their own desires, they will accumulate teachers for themselves, because they have an insatiable curiosity to hear new things. And they will turn away from hearing the truth...

- 2 Timothy 4:3-4

Hebel

A puff of smoke that vanishes, the brevity of life. I will leave this world physically just as I arrived. Better that I think beyond my situation, beyond me and towards Him.

Reverence

What I know about myself, and what I know about Him, directs my posture when we communicate. No need for small talk, if the place permits - on bended knees; if not, still I get straight to the point.

Quiet Time

Romans 15, Psalms 69, Titus 3:2. I've awakened early, surely I will have some quiet time with His word. A child awakens, crawls into my bed then falls back asleep. My wife wakes up, strikes up a conversation about employees and work to be done for this week. Leaving the bedroom I go to the kitchen with my laptop, bible, Purpose Driven Live Daily Inspiration book, and lacking one book written by a friend about Seventh Day Adventists. One child follows me, I give her a banana and she is content for the moment. Another child, not from my seed, but taken in for a while comes downstairs playing his GameBoy. My wife comes into the kitchen, more talking, more children, less quiet. I go back to my bedroom, realizing my time is short, and I must prepare for church. She wants to go to this church, I want to go to that church - I said, "then lets go to both!" So what is God saying to me. This event repeats itself, only the details are changed. Perhaps, while not knowing all that I desire, He see that I know what I need for today. He will feed me. But that nourishment is for me to act. To everthing there is a time. Quiet Time is over.

Rods and Cones

A sound bite on rods and cones, the retina and the fovea centralis. An ensuing analogy on the perception of color, leading into to our perception of God. Should I venture into the deep waters and loose some along the way, or remain safe in the shallow waters since some have not yet learned how to swim. I see the visible spectrum, but so much more exists.

I imagine the day my physical eyes have closed, and am given the ability to see the full spectrum if God so allows it. To share in how much He greives over sin, and how He rejoices in His children.

- Hallelujah!

Friends

I've heard it said that a best friend is somebody who knows things about you that you don't want anybody else to know about. Then, truly, what a friend we have in Jesus!

Though crooked, bent and beaten down, I draw from the Living Water, and am given strength to continue.

(I have the strong desire to edit this blog for a smoother transition from the first paragraph to the second. I guess that's what makes this blog lifelike. Often in life there is no smooth transition. But I'll save that for another blog.)

Ready for Business?

"The devil knows the bible like the back of his hand."
-- Tom Waits

“I am sending you out like sheep surrounded by wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves."

-- Mat 10:16

Dance Me To The End Of Love

Playlist:

Dance Me To The End Of Love - Madeleine Peyroux

Hanging On A Star - Nick Drake

Ne Me Quitte Pas - Nina Simone

Praises

If ever I'm having a spiritual 'dry spell', I have to look no further than my children. Then praises abound. Thank you! Thank you!

Timeless Truths

No further seek the wisdom of today. Seek His face, and the truths that do not pass with the setting sun, but persist 'till the end of our days.

Temple Etiquette

Walking into the presence of God. His Holy place. The local church. I must check my heart. I am not stepping into a classroom or entering some ordinary social gathering. I am entering into his Holy presence, and only worthy to do so by the sacrifice he made. I'm listening.

Be careful what you do when you go to the temple of God;
draw near to listen rather than to offer a sacrifice like fools,
for they do not realize that they are doing wrong.
Do not be rash with your mouth or hasty in your heart to bring up a matter before God,
for God is in heaven and you are on earth!
Therefore, let your words be few.

-- Ecclesiates 5:1-2

Picture: St. Enodoc Church, U.K.