A Challenged Train of Thought

There is this fantastic ruler known as God that we've been given the privilege to call our very own Father. He created us, in fact not only did he create us but he also created everything there has ever been and ever will be. He's a master artist. Imagine Da Vinci or Michelangelo, Beethoven or Mozart, and then multiply their genius and skill by the largest number you can think of and this still won't even come close to touching on the skill, genius and depth of the One who created the masterpiece that we live in and take part in. That's the God we serve, the God we GET to call our Father. The Father who, imagine this, sent His one and only son to die so that our broken relationship could be mended. No earthly father who truly loved his son would ever let his son willingly die for something; he'd rather give his life so that his son could live. But Jesus Christ offered and God granted His permission, knowing it was Him and only Him who could fill this role. This is the God we serve, the God who calls us His children, who wants to be in a relationship with us, to be our best friends.
Now here's the thing I've been challenged with lately. Why after all this grace, mercy, love, blessings, well let's face it the list could go on forever, after all this why do we find it acceptable to live a mediocre, comfortable, luke-warm, average, non-radical, half hearted life and relationship with God? How can we do this? Why aren't we so thankful for the blessings and grace he's shown us that we are completely on fire with passion for Him? The goal of our life is to become more like Christ, to be filled with His love and glory to the point where people will look at us and not see Clark, or so-and-so, but Jesus Christ. I want to live consumed by this love, this light, and this truth. I want to be a beacon of love, light and truth in this dark, depraved and wicked world. A world consumed with taking care of #1, getting what’s mine, self-centeredness. I want to be so in love with Jesus that I no longer care what other people think about me. I'd be totally loving and transparent with every person I meet, so much so that after meeting me they'd be so shaken that they'd ask why I'm so different, and that they question the life they're living and the things they've put their faith and trust in. I want to become a fool in the eyes of this world, a fool for Christ. This is all I can offer Him for the grace He's poured upon this sin filled sorry excuse for human being. I fail at this everyday, but the great thing about being a Christ follower is that our lives are second chances, so I will keep on trying. This is how I want to change, this is how I want to live my life, and serve my God.
In 1 Corinthians 3:18-23 it says, “Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a “fool” so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”; and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.” So then , no more boasting about men! All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future – all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.”
In 1 Corinthians 4:10 it says, “We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored!”
The man that carried a big stick, Theodore Roosevelt once said:
“It’s not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena … who, at best, knows in the end the triumph of great achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly. So that his place will never be with those cold timid souls who know neither victory or defeat.”

Gregg Levoy said:
“Jesus promised those who would follow him only three things … that they would be absurdly happy, entirely fearless, and always in trouble.”
Herman Melville says:
“He who has never failed somewhere, that man can not be great. Failure is the test of greatness.”
Helen Keller stated:
“Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.”

Late Night Poetical Fires

Midnight approaches, and five tightly bundled shadows collect the necessities: notebooks, wood, and their witts. They set off down the dark road, breathing in the freezing air, and chatting away, with the crystal clear skies and gloriously bright moon and stars lighting there way. Upon reaching the frozen pond, one started to prepare a fire, missing one handy material: paper. A few blank sheets were torn from notebooks, and went up in futile attempt at starting the dense wood. Another ran back for blankets and paper, the others gave up on the fire and munched some food waiting. The frustrated boyscout's mind kept turning till it laid eyes on the leaves. "These are dead, these are dry. They should burn." A few handfulls were snatche up and taken to the small amount of embers left from the last futile attempt. A couple crumpled leaves were gently place over the embers and a gentle breath blew life into the embers. They glowed bright, and after a few more breathes ignited into flame catching the leaves. More and more leaves were slowly added, more breath blew in providing much needed oxygene. The flames grew brighter as they devoured dead leaves and licked their way around kindling. Slowly but surely the wood caught flame and sustainted the flame on their own. Skills and ingenuity were the key and bright flaming success was the result. Five shadows gathered round the meager flames that were trying to ward off the icy claws of the cold, and illuminated faces looked up into the wide open sky, and the shadows began to share their poetical works. Thoughts they've put down on paper, graceful stanzas flowing from within. Thoughts of life, love, pain, and faith were shared. Then they just sat and stared. Stared at the fire, at the moon and the stars, the frozen pond, and the depths of their mind. Finally the fire was scattered, dirt was kicked upon the glowing coals, and the shadows melded into the dark, shivvering their way home.

Merry Christmas eve from England!!!

Merry Christmas eve one and all! Enjoy this day before Christmas, the wood fires; friends and family. The love and the lights, the candles and cookies. Enjoy this little respite from the busy, highpaced, and a lot of the time hectic lifestyle we live. Stop and reminisce, think back on days of happiness and love shared with the ones you love. Most of all think about the person who has made this wonderful life for us to enjoy, our Father in Heaven, the Lord most High, the King of Kings, Emmanuel, God with us. Let us be thankful for the life He has blessed us with, and the opportunity to leave our own small mark on this world.
God bless

Pain and suffering.

Pain and suffering are all too real in this broken and lost world we live in. Just drive down the streets in Managua, Nicaragua past the posh shopping centers, and movie theaters into the trash filled streets leading towards the Managua dump. Through the entrance look left and you’ll see a brown and scummy pond. Straight ahead you can see mountains of rubbish. People and cattle rummage through the piles looking for anything worth surviving on. Let the overwhelming stench of burning trash nearly suffocate you, see the small naked children peeping out of the cardboard and tin shacks. What hope is there in a life like this?
Walk down the streets of Seattle and look into the faces of the homeless bums and passerby’s. Look into their eyes and you’ll see the hurt and confusion that fills their eyes. It’s the same in the bum as it is in the wealthy businessman. Each person can find a time in their life when pain has gripped its icy claws into their backs. What are we doing as people who have been given the greatest cure for pain and suffering, Christ’s love and sacrifice, doing to help these desperate and needy people? Not much. How hard is it to smile as we walk by, or befriend a bum? You’d think that after being given so much grace and love from our Heavenly Father we would be chomping at the bit to have a chance at loving the lost and broken people who surround us every day. Why not try it next time you’re walking down the street take out your headphones, slip your cell phone back in that pocket, look up and say hello to someone new. Walk over to that bum on the sidewalk and start a conversation. Be a friendly face in the sea of masks.

19

Some musings about another birthday that has rapidly come upon me.

19 is such a small number when compared to eternity, but it’s no less important. It’s still a year God has given. A year full of new love, lessons, pain and hurt, redemption, growth, failure and triumph. New adventures will begin and the end of current ones will come oh so quickly, new friendships will begin and the ends of others shall come. There are so many questions still to be answered, so many things to learn, and to accomplish. So much will try to distract and derail one who is trying to follow a difficult path. But I must keep a hold tight on the one who has gone before me and walks alongside holding my hand, for He will hold me up when I stumble, be a light for my feet to follow when I begin to lose my way. He will be a strong shoulder to lean on when my legs grow faint, and the provider of sustenance when my body longs for nourishment. There is no obstacle to big, or complicated that can fool Him, no enemy who can ever defeat Him, and none more zealous for my success.

Life...part 2

Some thoughts about that oh so great adventure we live: Life is so fragile and uncertain. We never know when our health will crash or the spark of life will leave our bodies. There is only one certain thing, God is faithful and gracious. He gives us the strength to continue on through any difficulty, trouble, or situation. He lifts us up on wings like eagles and shows us the bigger picture. Tells us He loves us, and holds us in His strong and safe arms. All we have to do is make the choice to run into them. 

life...part 1

Over a month has slipped through the passages of bustling hallways since I left my home. It seems like just a week ago that I was saying good by to my friends and family, but now as I have a weekend of peace, while the majority of students are away on travel weekend, I can stop and think about what has happened in the month that has fallen into the past. 

When you leave home, all alone, everything can be so overwhelming and sometimes scary. The flood of new faces, places and facts can overload a human brain. The daily pouring of knowledge, facts, relationship building, studying, and everything else that floods a person when they are surrounded by 180 other people and a million different activities and opportunities to choose from can be very tiring. A weekend off can make all the difference. Having the entire castle almost entirely empty and being able to relax for once, brings a much needed sense of peace.