Tsunamis

A lot of people ask a lot of questions about Me. Often when they can't get their questions answered sufficiently, they decide to put Me back on the shelf...until they experience chaos or trauma in their lives, in which case they forgot about the answers they need and call out for Me and hope that I AM forgiving and loving and will forget about their aforementioned attitudes.
Actually I AM a lot like that...I forgive and forget.
I know there are a lot of questions that don't seem to have answers. Some of them you will understand as you mature and go through some struggles. Some you will never get. some you will get just by human logic.
When people ask why bad things happen, they often get their answer just by realizing that you can't have an "UP" without a "DOWN," a front with a back, light without dark--and you just can't have good without bad. We could go into that a lot further and talk about free will and how you have to be able to choose to love or you can't have love.
but that isn't what this blog is about.
I want to talk today to those people who really love ME and who are often the recipients of the hard questions. I've watched a lot of you lately. And when one particular question is posed, you either give a naive answer or a dumb one...or many of you have no answer at all, and you begin to wonder about me yourself when you contemplate for a while.
I guess you're ready for the question now.

Earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, 9/11... WHERE IS GOD IN ALL OF THAT?????

If He is a loving God, why would He let that happen?
I'M not going to give you an answer to this hard question. Actually, you're asking the wrong one. It shouldn't be "Why, God?" or, "Where were You, God?" as much as it should be, "Who are You, God?" But as I said, this blog isn't about answering the question. I'M just going to tell you what I desire. Often when you know what I desire, the questions don't bother you as much.
My desire is for all of you to be with me for eternity. You will live on earth for a little while first. The earth is flawed. So are the people who live there. That's why you'll only be there for a little while. You weren't even created for that to be your home...it's just a stopping off place. My desire is for as may of you as possible to get to know Me and love Me and serve Me. To put Me above all else. One of the ways you do that is by serving others.

When buildings fall and tsunamis hit and the flood waters take away life, My desire is this--that those who know Me, serve.
When the world is sending millions of dollars for relief, then Christians should be sending billions.
When the organizations of the world are sending relief to countries who are devastated, My people should be there in convoys...holding, helping, giving, building, loving, feeding.

The world should see that when the natural course of this flawed world causes chaos, the God of the universe works through...HIS people, and it is HIS hands that are holding on to those who have lost loved ones, His arms that are embracing those who need HIM. It is HIS love that has brought them food and money and water.
His heart hurts, and his people hurt...and they are the first ones there to help and the last ones to leave.
An interesting thing happens when someone comes alongside people going through trauma and walks with them through the turmoil, and they experience love and grace and help. Something changes. Ten years down the road when they look back, the grief is still there, but it is softer. What is still very strong and very vivid is the love and strength and support that was given by others, and the relationships developed and then continued. (The trauma is never remembered or forged in minds nearly as much as the good stuff...the God stuff.)
My desire is to use the hard things that come your way to strengthen and solidify your character, faith, and relationship with me. Everyone will die. Everyone will suffer at times. My desire is to hold on to you and love you during all of your hard times.
Where am I in the midst of all the chaos?
I AM right there in the middle, working through My people, helping, loving, guiding, giving all that is needed.
My desire, however, is...that a whole lot more of you realize what you are on the planet for, and you allow your hands and feet and dollars and hugs and hopes to be Mine in someone else's life.
Here's another thing to contemplate. If everyone was doing what I hope for them to do, then millions of people all over the world would already be telling other millions about Me and My love and My grace and what life was all about. And then of course that would create a big cycle of that happening all the time all over the place.
Then when the weird stuff happened (and don't get Me wrong here because I AM not trivializing this...when you hurt, so do I), here would be the result:

There is another life after this one...some people get to go there sooner than they expected.
For the survivors...if they let Me, they get to experience My grace and mercy in ways they never could have otherwise. Going through awful times together can make us grow closer, making the future much greater.

Here's something else for you to think about.
You see on the news the big events. You are aware of the earthquakes and floods and bombings. What you don't see is that many more thousands (than in any disaster that has happened) are dying every day of starvation and disease because they live in areas where they have no food and no knowledge of nutrition, no sanitation, no education.. Compared to any disaster in the headlines, the numbers are staggering.
If you all would work together and look at this short time I have given you on your planet and decide what is really important, you could make a magnificent impact.
Interesting, isn't it?

Some people are asking of Me: "Where are You when disaster hits?"

I'm asking you the same question.

Donoho 2005

God Blog

Human Date: 0/0/00

Wow! I really started something this week.
I created a universe.
Yep, a whole universe with stars and planets,

galaxies,

and big black holes,

lots of movable parts and colors and
everything.

Its pretty cool.

I got a little carried away. I started with just little pieces: atoms or smaller protons and electrons. Most of you know about those. Some of you even know about the smaller pieces called neutrinos and quarks and subquarks...There are even smaller pieces...but you haven't found them...yet. You will, and you'll be amazed!!!
Anyway, I took these tiny little pieces and formed space and moons and solar systems and somethings that you can't imagine but are BIGGER than anything you can get your head around.
I focused a lot of my attention on this one ball of dirt and water.
I made living creatures, the sky, clouds, grass, trees, oceans, elephants, whales, insects, amoebas, slugs, frogs, hippos, kangaroos, pandas, opossums, skunks (that was fun) and the list goes on and on.
Sorry for the long list...I get carried away every time I think of it. It was just a great fun week.

Then toward the end of the week...I made My most astounding creation. It's amazing what God can do when He mixes some dirt and water and cells and then breathes some God-life into it.

It's the closest thing to
ME
I've ever created.

When My first human opened his eyes and took his first breath, we just stared each other in the face.
Then I started laughing,
and he didn't know what to do (mainly because he had never done anything before).
But as he looked at Me and saw Me smiling...
it was just natural for him to smile back
(that's the way I made him).
I was so excited and elated and laughing all over!
For a while all I could do was just watch him.
Then we talked...and new synapses formed in his brain (just like I made them to) and he learned...and we both had experiences that had never existed before...even for Me.
It was great, but the whole time, I knew something was missing.
He felt it to.

What happened next almost made Me surprise Myself! I took part of that man and formed something...some ONE...that made both of us step back in wonder...
When the man stepped back, he almost fell into a canyon..
When I stepped back, I almost fell of the edge of eternity (metaphorically speaking).

SHE WAS INCREDIBLE.

I laughed again, and then I cried. The man did the same thing I did; (he's a lot like Me).

Pledge of Allegiance

"I had this one teacher…to me this was the greatest teacher, a real sage, of my time anyhow, had such wisdom. Mr. Laswell was his name. And we were all reciting the Pledge of Allegiance of day and he walked over and said, “I’ve been listening to you boys and girls recite the Pledge of Allegiance all semester and it seems as though it were becoming monotonous to you. If I may, may I recite it and try to explain to you the meaning of each word.

I
me, an individual, a committee of one
Pledge
dedicate all of my worldly goods to give without self pity
Allegiance
my love and my devotion
To the flag
our standard, Old Glory, a symbol of freedom. Wherever she waves, there's respect because your loyalty has given her a dignity that shouts freedom is everybody's job
United
that means that we have all come together
States
individual communities that have united into 48 great states. Forty-eight individual communities with pride and dignity and purpose; all divided with imaginary boundaries, yet united to a common purpose, and that's love for country.
And to the republic
republic: a state in which sovereign power is invested in representatives chosen by the people to govern. And government is the people and it's from the people to the leaders, not from the leaders to the people.
For which it stands, one nation
one nation, meaning "so blessed by God"
Indivisible
incapable of being divided
With liberty
which is freedom -- the right of power to live one's own life without threats, fear or some sort of retaliation
And Justice
the principle or quality of dealing fairly with others
For all, for all.
which means, boys and girls, it's as much your country as it is mine.

And now boys and girls, let me hear you recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Since I was a small boy, two states have been added to our country and two words have been added to the pledge of Allegiance: under God. Wouldn't it be a pity if someone said that is a prayer and that would be eliminated from schools too?"
- Red Skelton

He Is

Father, let the world just fade away
Let me feel your presence in this place
Lord, I’ve never been so weary
How I need to know you’re near me
Father, let the world just fade away

Till I’m on my knees
Till my heart can sing

He is
He was
He always will be

Even when it feels like there is no one holding me
Be still, my soul
He is

Father, let your Holy Spirit sing
Let it calm the storm inside of me
As I stand amazed
Lift my hands and say

He is; He was; He always will be

He lives; He loves; He’s always with me

Even when it feels like there is no one holding me
Be still, my soul
Through every fear
And every doubt
And every tear I shed
Down every road
I’m not alone
No matter where I am

He is; He was; And He always will be

He lives; He loves; He’s always with me

Even when it feels like there is no one holding me
Be still, my soul
Be still, and know
Be still, my soul
He is

Hold My Heart

How long must I pray, must I pray to You?
How long must I wait, must I wait for You?
How long 'til I see Your face, see You shining through?
I'm on my knees, begging You to notice me.
I'm on my knees, Father will You turn to me?

One tear in the driving rain,
One voice in a sea of pain
Could the maker of the stars
Hear the sound of my breaking heart?
One life, that's all I am
Right now I can barely stand
If You're everything You say You are
Would You come close and hold my heart

I've been so afraid, afraid to close my eyes
So much can slip away before I say goodbye.
But if there's no other way, I'm done asking why.
I'm on my knees, begging You to turn to me
I'm on my knees, Father will You run to me?

One tear in the driving rain,
One voice in a sea of pain
Could the maker of the stars
Hear the sound of my breaking heart?
One life, that's all I am
Right now I can barely stand
If You're everything You say You are
Would You come close and hold my heart.

So many questions without answers, Your promises remain
I can't see but I'll take my chances to hear You call my name
To hear You call my name

One tear in the driving rain,
One voice in a sea of pain
Could the maker of the stars
Hear the sound of my breaking heart?
One life, that's all I am
Right now I can barely stand
If You're everything You say You are
Won't You come close and hold my heart.

Hold my heart, could you hold my heart?
Hold my heart.

Missy's Song

Breath in me...deep
That I might breathe...and live
And hold me close that I might sleep
Soft held by all you give

Come kiss me wind and take my breath
Till you and I are one
And we will dance among the tombs
Until all death is gone

And no one knows that we exist
Wrapped in each other's arms
Except the One who blew the breath
That hides me safe from harm

Come kiss me Wind and take my breath
Till You and I are one
And we will dance among the tombs
Until all death is gone

WM. Paul Young 2007

Once, a long time ago all people had four legs and two heads.
And then the gods threw down thunder bolts and split everyone into two.
Each have then two legs and one head; but the separation left both sides with a desperate yearning to be reunited, because they each shared the same soul.
And ever since then all people spend their lives searching for the other half of their soul.

Did you know there are two verses to Ring Around the Rosy?
Ring around the rosy, pocket full of posies
Ashes, ashes we all fall down.
The cows are in the meadow eating buttercups
Ashes, ashes we all stand up!

I had no idea. The things you learn from a toddler cd.

Did you know that the song dates back to the bubonic plague in London in 1665 and that the lyrics may refer to the plague itself?
"The symptoms of the plague included a rosy red rash in the shape of a ring on the skin (Ring around the rosy). Pockets and pouches were filled with sweet smelling herbs ( or posies) which were carried due to the belief that the disease was transmitted by bad smells. The term "Ashes Ashes" refers to the cremation of the dead bodies!" (http://www.rhymes.org.uk/ring_around_the_rosy.htm)

Retropackum

Looking back through the past months and years of this blog I have noticed that I often start with something along the lines of 'Update' or 'Catch Up' or, when I can't or don't want to spend the time and brain power to write what is going on in my own life I post something that I received in an email or read online or something.
In 2009, I posted 18 times. That's one and a half posts a month. Pretty pathetic.
In 2008 I posted 24 times. That's twice a month!!! A portion of that was copied stuff but for the most part it was actually thoughts and what made me think them, or more specifically, the things that made me think.
2007 showed less posts, but more personal stuff.
2006 was really the year for this blog. Most of it was walking through day by day stuff. Reading all that now its no wonder no one ever read it and its a wonder I even posted it; although it is interesting for me to go back and read what was going on in my life then. 2006 was also the year Daddy got so sick and died so there's lots of that stuff in there too.
I started this blog in 2005, right before I moved to Simpson. So in reading through all that I find that I talked a lot about what I did each day and didn't really hear a lot back from folk. Interesting...

I'm not really sure why I started this retrospective, but it is now done. I've said a zillion times 'I'll post more I really will!' I may, I may not. It all depends what happens that worth posting about.

As my RA my freshmen year ALWAYS said: TTFN
Colonel Skippy

Business vs. Family

"Its not personal, its business."
"What does that even mean? Whatever anything is it ought to begin by being personal."
- You've Got Mail
At church last week Brad started a series on the Lord's Prayer. His focus was on the first phrase, "our Father who are in heaven." He talked about the word 'Abba' and how it wasn't a word describing familiarity but a "deep and trusting reverence". He talked about the differences between business and family.
A business relationship is about doing, what you can do for me. A family relationship is about being, being who you are.
In a business relationship you are expected to perform, and only if you perform adequately will you be accepted. In a family relationship you are accepted, and out of that comes a performance, or not - yet another aspect specific to family.
A business runs on reciprocity - I sell means you buy and we both get what we want. A family runs on whats needed - if you need and I have, then I give and if you never give it back, you're still family.
In a business you make a list of problems to bring to the attention of the management. In a family, there is no chance of eviction.

Later Brad posed the question: why would God listen to my prayers? The answer is simple: because He is still my Father. No matter what we do or don't do or say or don't say; no matter how we act or how we fail, He is still our Father. "And no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand." (John 10:29b) We are family, and that means forever.
Have you ever heard anyone say, "I'm in business with God"? I never have. But I constantly hear about the family of God, the family that is the church, "God our Father, Christ our brother" (Casting Crowns 2009) "I'm so glad, I'm a part of the family of God". Business contracts end, family never does. Blood is thicker than water and all that.

The point is: when we pray the Lord's prayer, when we pray at all, are we addressing a business contact or a family member? Do we finagle and bargain and negotiate or do we boldly ask for what we need? Brad has mentioned several times that when a member of the congregation wants to talk to him in his office they quietly knock on the door and wait for him say 'Come in', but when one of his children need or want something they come straight in. Not only is it amusing to watch Brad tell this story but as a child who barged into Mom's office often, regardless of who was in there or how busy she looked, I completely appreciate the point. It never mattered who Mom was talking to or what she was doing, when I wanted or needed something from her or that was in her office I opened the door and walked into the office. I wonder what my walk with God would be like if I approached Him the same way I approached Mom.

"The only person who dare wake a King at 3am for a drink of water is his child." Would you wake a King in the middle of the night for something as simple as a drink of water? You would if you were his child. And the reality is, we are children of king, THE KING, so why don't we act like it?

The WORD is ALIVE

"Looking out from His throne, the Father of life and of men, chose to make Himself known and show us the way back to Him.
Speaking wisdom and truth into the hearts of peasants and kings, He began to unveil the Word that would change the course of all things.
With eyes wide open, all would see the Word is alive! And it cuts like a sword through the darkness with a message of life to the hopeless and the frail; breathing life into all who believe! The Word is alive!! And the world and it’s glories will fade, but It’s truth it will not pass away. It remains yesterday and forever the same, the Word is alive.

Simple strokes on a page, eternity’s secrets revealed. Carried on, from age to age, speaks truth to us even still.
And as the rain falls from Heaven, feeds the earth before it returns; Lord, let Your Word fall on us and bring forth the fruit You deserve
With eyes wide open, let us see the Word is alive! And it cuts like a sword through the darkness with a message of life to the hopeless and the frail; breathing life into all who believe! The Word is alive!! And the world and it’s glories will fade, but It’s truth it will not pass away. It remains yesterday and forever the same, the Word is alive.

The Bible was inscribed over a period of two thousand years in times of war and in days of peace by kings, physicians, tax collectors, farmers, fishermen, singers, and shepherds.
The marvel is that a library so perfectly cohesive could have been produced by such a diverse crowd over a period of time which staggers the imagination.
Jesus is its grand subject, our good is its design, and the glory of God is its end.

With eyes wide open, all would see the Word is alive! And it cuts like a sword through the darkness with a message of life to the hopeless and the frail; breathing life into all who believe! The Word is alive!! And the world and it’s glories will fade, but It’s truth it will not pass away. It remains yesterday and forever the same, the Word is alive."


Argue with that.

Opportunity knocks, temptation leans on the doorbell.
Thoughts?