I Hold Up Black History Month…Caption Please.
6 hours ago
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
passivity??
Just a thought, not something thing I have studied yet (I'm starting to) As i was taking a pee today I asked myself, what kills passivity, and passion popped into my mind. The more I thought about it the more it made sense. If passivity is lack of willingness to do anything, remaining disconnected and un-motivated to fully follow Christ (what Canada is full of), Then Passion would combat that head on. Passion drives past the signs that say stop. Passion pushes the limits and beyond the limits. Passion allows you to do things when the odds are stacked against you. Passion will get you off you spiritual but and force you to pursue what your passionate about. Soo in a society that is completely passive when is comes to their relationship with Christ, my question would be, what are you passionate about?
Monday, October 19, 2009
Intimacy!
This past week the theme of intimacy with Christ has been hitting me over the head over and over again. Through Pod casts, and Chapels, the idea that Christ has been deprived of the intimacy He so much desires with His wife. Hosea 2 talks about how Israel was unfaithful like a harlot, an unfaithful bride. In the beginning verses we see God explaining how He will discipline His bride to get her to come back to Him, but then starting in Verse 14 we see the tone of scripture turn to a redemptive feel.
Verse 14- 14 “But then I will win her back once again. I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her there.15 I will return her vineyards to her and transform the Valley of Trouble into a gateway of hope. She will give herself to me there, as she did long ago when she was young, when I freed her from her captivity in Egypt.16 When that day comes,” says the Lord, “you will call me ‘my husband’ instead of ‘my master.’- New living translation.
The message phrases it this way:
Verse- 14 “And now, here’s what I’m going to do: I’m going to start all over again. I’m taking her back out into the wilderness where we had our first date, and I’ll court her. 15 I’ll give her bouquets of roses. I’ll turn Heartbreak Valley into Acres of Hope. She’ll respond like she did as a young girl, those days when she was fresh out of Egypt. 16 “At that time”—this is God’s Message still— “you’ll address me, ‘Dear husband!’ Never again will you address me, ‘My slave-master!’- The message.
The saddest downplaying of the Cross today is that Christ died just to forgive us of our sins. Christ died for Intimacy! If you can't see/feel the passion and heartbreak in these scriptures I question if you can feel emotion at all. Far to many times Christian treat the cross as a get out of jail free card. If salvation was the only reason Christ died after he rose again He could have said "alright i did it, peace out ill see you in heaven." there would be no need for Him in our lives after salvation. Salvation is only the beginning
Now this next bit is intended to offended with the purpose of self reflection, I have been mauling this thought over all week.
In my opinion the Church today, Myself included, is a Whore, or Harlot as the Bible phrases it. Now before you completely close me out, hear me out.
How many of you picture your wedding day like this:
You stand their staring at your bride/ husband you have waited for your entire life, and you say to them, "I promise to be faithful for my entire life and give myself fully to you." only to hear in response, " Well that's a load off my mind, but I'm not going to promise that, for the honeymoon period ill be faithful while I am still twitterpated with you but in all seriousness I will probably be with you on Sunday's, maybe Wednesdays if my nights are free, and if the hockey game, friends, or TV don't win over you, possibly one other night a week. All the other nights I will have other lovers that i will give myself to, I will still call myself your wife, and you my husband, and if anyone asks I will put on a front like everything is OK, but in reality I will have many other Lovers." ABSOLUTELY NOT, that would probably be the end of that relationship correct.
Before you get to judgemental, take a second and observe the Church and yourself, as the BRIDE of Christ.
How many times do we get all fired up and passionate about the things of God like a Honeymoon period then burn out, and other Lovers such as, socialization, work, friends, seduce us away from our Intimacy with Christ. Further yet how many times do the Church give themselves to Pornography, Lust, Affairs, Disbelief, Disunity, Half participation, Rebellion against authority at any level anything less the full comitment? We have given ourselves to other lovers. Yet on Sunday and Wednesday or a Bible study, we will cry out for Intimacy with Christ. Praying prayers such as. God we want to see you move, we want to see your Kingdom come, We want to see miracles. And if asked by anyone we will profess to be the Wife of Christ. Yes if someone were to ask "are you a christian" your response every time would be yes, and you will put up the front that everything is perfect in your marriage with Christ.
Throughout this week I have spent my time on my knee's or on my bed in tears and repenting for being an unfaithful Harlot in my relationship with Christ. But if we look back to Hosea 2 we see the promise that Christ will take us into the wilderness, and it seems like we are in the dry times of our lives, or the dessert seasons, He will speak tenderly towards us. Then we will give us our vineyards back, and we will see fruit in out lives again. I don't have time or room in this blog to exigent this whole passage tonight, although i think i May and blog it. But in verse 16 we see the promise the Israel, The Church, I, will no longer call God master, but Husband!
WHAT A PROMISE! Yes God died to forgive you for your sin's and you have turned to Him, but their has been no intimacy, God has not been able to know you like He so longs to. I'm left to wonder, if we spent less time begging God in our 2 days a week for miracles and Him to move, and more time every single day growing in our Intimacy with Christ if we wouldn't see His Glory in a new way, If we wouldn't see more miracles, If we wouldn't see His Kingdom here TODAY.
Please I beg you, put away your Idols, Put away your other lovers, and become fully committed to Intimacy with the LOVER of your soul.
Sorry if i have offended anyone, If I have, it was not my intention.
Verse 14- 14 “But then I will win her back once again. I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her there.15 I will return her vineyards to her and transform the Valley of Trouble into a gateway of hope. She will give herself to me there, as she did long ago when she was young, when I freed her from her captivity in Egypt.16 When that day comes,” says the Lord, “you will call me ‘my husband’ instead of ‘my master.’- New living translation.
The message phrases it this way:
Verse- 14 “And now, here’s what I’m going to do: I’m going to start all over again. I’m taking her back out into the wilderness where we had our first date, and I’ll court her. 15 I’ll give her bouquets of roses. I’ll turn Heartbreak Valley into Acres of Hope. She’ll respond like she did as a young girl, those days when she was fresh out of Egypt. 16 “At that time”—this is God’s Message still— “you’ll address me, ‘Dear husband!’ Never again will you address me, ‘My slave-master!’- The message.
The saddest downplaying of the Cross today is that Christ died just to forgive us of our sins. Christ died for Intimacy! If you can't see/feel the passion and heartbreak in these scriptures I question if you can feel emotion at all. Far to many times Christian treat the cross as a get out of jail free card. If salvation was the only reason Christ died after he rose again He could have said "alright i did it, peace out ill see you in heaven." there would be no need for Him in our lives after salvation. Salvation is only the beginning
Now this next bit is intended to offended with the purpose of self reflection, I have been mauling this thought over all week.
In my opinion the Church today, Myself included, is a Whore, or Harlot as the Bible phrases it. Now before you completely close me out, hear me out.
How many of you picture your wedding day like this:
You stand their staring at your bride/ husband you have waited for your entire life, and you say to them, "I promise to be faithful for my entire life and give myself fully to you." only to hear in response, " Well that's a load off my mind, but I'm not going to promise that, for the honeymoon period ill be faithful while I am still twitterpated with you but in all seriousness I will probably be with you on Sunday's, maybe Wednesdays if my nights are free, and if the hockey game, friends, or TV don't win over you, possibly one other night a week. All the other nights I will have other lovers that i will give myself to, I will still call myself your wife, and you my husband, and if anyone asks I will put on a front like everything is OK, but in reality I will have many other Lovers." ABSOLUTELY NOT, that would probably be the end of that relationship correct.
Before you get to judgemental, take a second and observe the Church and yourself, as the BRIDE of Christ.
How many times do we get all fired up and passionate about the things of God like a Honeymoon period then burn out, and other Lovers such as, socialization, work, friends, seduce us away from our Intimacy with Christ. Further yet how many times do the Church give themselves to Pornography, Lust, Affairs, Disbelief, Disunity, Half participation, Rebellion against authority at any level anything less the full comitment? We have given ourselves to other lovers. Yet on Sunday and Wednesday or a Bible study, we will cry out for Intimacy with Christ. Praying prayers such as. God we want to see you move, we want to see your Kingdom come, We want to see miracles. And if asked by anyone we will profess to be the Wife of Christ. Yes if someone were to ask "are you a christian" your response every time would be yes, and you will put up the front that everything is perfect in your marriage with Christ.
Throughout this week I have spent my time on my knee's or on my bed in tears and repenting for being an unfaithful Harlot in my relationship with Christ. But if we look back to Hosea 2 we see the promise that Christ will take us into the wilderness, and it seems like we are in the dry times of our lives, or the dessert seasons, He will speak tenderly towards us. Then we will give us our vineyards back, and we will see fruit in out lives again. I don't have time or room in this blog to exigent this whole passage tonight, although i think i May and blog it. But in verse 16 we see the promise the Israel, The Church, I, will no longer call God master, but Husband!
WHAT A PROMISE! Yes God died to forgive you for your sin's and you have turned to Him, but their has been no intimacy, God has not been able to know you like He so longs to. I'm left to wonder, if we spent less time begging God in our 2 days a week for miracles and Him to move, and more time every single day growing in our Intimacy with Christ if we wouldn't see His Glory in a new way, If we wouldn't see more miracles, If we wouldn't see His Kingdom here TODAY.
Please I beg you, put away your Idols, Put away your other lovers, and become fully committed to Intimacy with the LOVER of your soul.
Sorry if i have offended anyone, If I have, it was not my intention.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
All I got to Stand on
The Validity of the Word of God and it's Author.... is that doesn't make you want to make sure you know who your God i don't know what else will.
I was doing one of my "intro to counseling" assignments, and I had to write a response paper on "Secular counseling leaves little to no place for the Bible in therapy. How would you explain to a non-Christian why you would choose to counsel from the Bible instead of from a secular point of view?" As I thought about this, I could only come to the answer of, I have to believe that the bible is true and the claims that it makes are true, and that it's Author is who the Bible says He is.
If either of those are not true, we are all screwed....I don't know about you but that make be a little anxious at first realization. If either of those two facts are not 100% valid and truth full, Everything I have given my life to and play to give my life to, all my parents money, all my time and effort to, was all for nothing... That is so like God! I love it.
The Bible wasn't kidding when it said God will use the foolish to shame the Educated of the world. Imagine having a debate with a physiologist that has their doctorate and listening to them go into great detail who they believe what they do and how they try and prove it, in elegant and convincing manner and language, and your only response is, well I believe God is real, and His word is true, and the Bible says all I need is the Bible. ITS SOO FREAKIN SIMPLE!! I dunno if I am able to communicate what I'm trying to say as clearly as I can I wish I could.
All that to say this, I believe two things. God is who He says He is, and the bible and everything it claims is absolutely true. If any part of that last statement is false.... I'm a lier. HAHA I LOVE IT.
Thank you Jesus for making it simple enough for me to grasp
I was doing one of my "intro to counseling" assignments, and I had to write a response paper on "Secular counseling leaves little to no place for the Bible in therapy. How would you explain to a non-Christian why you would choose to counsel from the Bible instead of from a secular point of view?" As I thought about this, I could only come to the answer of, I have to believe that the bible is true and the claims that it makes are true, and that it's Author is who the Bible says He is.
If either of those are not true, we are all screwed....I don't know about you but that make be a little anxious at first realization. If either of those two facts are not 100% valid and truth full, Everything I have given my life to and play to give my life to, all my parents money, all my time and effort to, was all for nothing... That is so like God! I love it.
The Bible wasn't kidding when it said God will use the foolish to shame the Educated of the world. Imagine having a debate with a physiologist that has their doctorate and listening to them go into great detail who they believe what they do and how they try and prove it, in elegant and convincing manner and language, and your only response is, well I believe God is real, and His word is true, and the Bible says all I need is the Bible. ITS SOO FREAKIN SIMPLE!! I dunno if I am able to communicate what I'm trying to say as clearly as I can I wish I could.
All that to say this, I believe two things. God is who He says He is, and the bible and everything it claims is absolutely true. If any part of that last statement is false.... I'm a lier. HAHA I LOVE IT.
Thank you Jesus for making it simple enough for me to grasp
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
His presence....Wow
I am doing a passage study on Exodus 33:12-23, I had to choose a passage in Exodus, and ever since Pastor Scott preached on it this summer.
The passage is when Moses tells God that he and the Israelites will not go unless the presence of God goes with them. Moses had such a high value on the presence of God that he refuse to go any further if the presence did not go with him. He ask God, "Is it not by Your going with us, so that we, I and Your people, may be distinguished from all the other people who are upon the face of the earth?" WOW! God had promised to send angles, mircalces signs and wonder before them, all of their enemies and trials would be moved out of their way, and that the would receive their destiny, yet Moses and Israel refused to move without the Presence of God.
So why are Christians found seeking miracles, or signs and wonders? Why are a majority of our prayers focused on asking God to remove the obstacles between us and our destiny? Are we holding a higher priority on what God is doing for us rather then spending time with God. The fact remains if we have healing, miracles signs and wonders and receive everything God wants for us, but do not have the presence of God with us, we are not distinguishable from the world.
So as I go to finish my word study I would like to challenge you to take a sober evaluation of your life (I know I will). Is the majority of my time talking to God focused on asking God to do things for me, or is it just spending time with Him? Am I more focused on my destiny or making sure I am in the presence of God daily? (by the way if you spend time in the presence of God it is IMPOSSIBLE to miss EVERYTHING God has for you.) I know I need to up the amount of time I spend just basking in the presence, how about you?
The passage is when Moses tells God that he and the Israelites will not go unless the presence of God goes with them. Moses had such a high value on the presence of God that he refuse to go any further if the presence did not go with him. He ask God, "Is it not by Your going with us, so that we, I and Your people, may be distinguished from all the other people who are upon the face of the earth?" WOW! God had promised to send angles, mircalces signs and wonder before them, all of their enemies and trials would be moved out of their way, and that the would receive their destiny, yet Moses and Israel refused to move without the Presence of God.
So why are Christians found seeking miracles, or signs and wonders? Why are a majority of our prayers focused on asking God to remove the obstacles between us and our destiny? Are we holding a higher priority on what God is doing for us rather then spending time with God. The fact remains if we have healing, miracles signs and wonders and receive everything God wants for us, but do not have the presence of God with us, we are not distinguishable from the world.
So as I go to finish my word study I would like to challenge you to take a sober evaluation of your life (I know I will). Is the majority of my time talking to God focused on asking God to do things for me, or is it just spending time with Him? Am I more focused on my destiny or making sure I am in the presence of God daily? (by the way if you spend time in the presence of God it is IMPOSSIBLE to miss EVERYTHING God has for you.) I know I need to up the amount of time I spend just basking in the presence, how about you?
Monday, October 5, 2009
ok justtttt to clear things up i wasnt saying my mother doesnt laugh, she most of the time is the one to make me laugh!
Should I be paying rent?
Well once again I find myself sitting at Starbucks with my amazing, Chai Tea with one Pump of white Moca, doing homework. I have gone to Starbucks to do homework every day since last Monday. I either need to seriously work on being productive and not get distracted with other things (like blogging) or I have wayyy to much homework. By the way all the assignments I have been working on i have gotten 100% in so something is working. Unfortunately the amount of Starbucks is working against my bank account which leads me to remind people I am still accepting Starbucks gift cards!!
Well on to Study about Alexander the great and write a paper..... that is due tomorrow and i have to read 20 chapters in Genesis and all of Exodus. I love college.....Thank Jesus for websites that read the bible to you!!!!.
Free B of the Day:
If you having a ruff day where nothing is going right, like work was today... JUST LAUGH, I know this is tough for people like my mother, but I don't know if you have ever noticed, if someone is trying to be serious with you and confront you, If you can get them laughing (like i try and do to my dad...) they loose all the air in their balloon and just laugh. Same is to be said with work. If you want to scream, cuss, or punch a baby, Laugh instead, realise that God is still on the throne, He is still mighty to save and at 4:30, or 5:00 for you 9-5ers, you get to go home!
Well on to Study about Alexander the great and write a paper..... that is due tomorrow and i have to read 20 chapters in Genesis and all of Exodus. I love college.....Thank Jesus for websites that read the bible to you!!!!.
Free B of the Day:
If you having a ruff day where nothing is going right, like work was today... JUST LAUGH, I know this is tough for people like my mother, but I don't know if you have ever noticed, if someone is trying to be serious with you and confront you, If you can get them laughing (like i try and do to my dad...) they loose all the air in their balloon and just laugh. Same is to be said with work. If you want to scream, cuss, or punch a baby, Laugh instead, realise that God is still on the throne, He is still mighty to save and at 4:30, or 5:00 for you 9-5ers, you get to go home!
What Leadership!
WOW!
I am soo blessed to be under a leader and pastor like Pastor Frank Damazio. Today at our Annual Leaders meeting as we were being inspired and having vision cast for the next year I was absolutely blown away by pastor Frank. He truly is a Leader who is laying down his life for God's Church,
From realising the need for Change and asking for younger leaders to come and give insight and teach him how to reach this next generation. A man that is willing to preach things that go against his humanity but knowing that this is what God has to say and want to speak, decides to go against his preference and preach it anyway. Not only obey and preach it, but with passion and zeal. It is soooo easy to follow a leader like this! Not only was I encouraged and inspired for this next season of ministry at City Bible Church in Portland Oregon, But for a split second as I looked at Pastor Frank I heard God say, "Now THAT is my leadership, and THAT is what I have called you to." All i could say was wow....wow
I am soo thankful for where God has chosen to grow me in this next season of life!
Other updates:
- in the last two days i have done a 19 page "Word study" on Diligence
- I have finished a 8 page "Book study" on Jude
- I have watched Portland State football team get owned
- Cleaned some gutters for people
- Attended my first "Pearl Campus" church service
- I have adopted Ashley's I-pod
Free B of the Day-
I had to pee in the Girl's washroom today at Starbucks because the men's bathroom was our of service....Girls bathrooms are just weird I'm not sure what it is, the smell, the look or just knowing I am not in the right place (there is a sermon serious in there somewhere!)
I am soo blessed to be under a leader and pastor like Pastor Frank Damazio. Today at our Annual Leaders meeting as we were being inspired and having vision cast for the next year I was absolutely blown away by pastor Frank. He truly is a Leader who is laying down his life for God's Church,
From realising the need for Change and asking for younger leaders to come and give insight and teach him how to reach this next generation. A man that is willing to preach things that go against his humanity but knowing that this is what God has to say and want to speak, decides to go against his preference and preach it anyway. Not only obey and preach it, but with passion and zeal. It is soooo easy to follow a leader like this! Not only was I encouraged and inspired for this next season of ministry at City Bible Church in Portland Oregon, But for a split second as I looked at Pastor Frank I heard God say, "Now THAT is my leadership, and THAT is what I have called you to." All i could say was wow....wow
I am soo thankful for where God has chosen to grow me in this next season of life!
Other updates:
- in the last two days i have done a 19 page "Word study" on Diligence
- I have finished a 8 page "Book study" on Jude
- I have watched Portland State football team get owned
- Cleaned some gutters for people
- Attended my first "Pearl Campus" church service
- I have adopted Ashley's I-pod
Free B of the Day-
I had to pee in the Girl's washroom today at Starbucks because the men's bathroom was our of service....Girls bathrooms are just weird I'm not sure what it is, the smell, the look or just knowing I am not in the right place (there is a sermon serious in there somewhere!)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
