The wind is like the breathe of God, washing our hair, our clothes, our faces. Refreshed, renewed, revived.
His touch is gentle and harsh, like the love of a parent, more understanding than anything we've ever defined in a word or a feeling.
His love surrounds us, even when we don't feel it, he is there, in all things there is life.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Collateral Damage
Since the dawn of mankind there has been fallout from decisions mankind has made, whether it was wrong or not, whether it was well intended or not, whether it was deliberate or not, whether it was done for the common good or not, whether it seemed like a good idea at the time or not, whether we were tempted or not....
Let's look at it this way, we are all failures in one way or another. I am both ashamed and not ashamed to admit it. If I had been a better financial genius maybe both my daughters would have attended ivy league schools, maybe if I had been a better husband my wife would not worry as much, if I was a better boss maybe those who work with me would be more eager to come to work each day....this could be a big list.
So whats the point? In everything we do there is some form of collateral damage involved, no matter the intent of our decisions, steak instead of fish for dinner might add unnecessary fat to our blood stream, making time for God an flexible commitment, you know for other more important things....getting closer to the point here, not much further. Keep reading.
How do we value time with God less than anything else in existence. Consider the enormity of consequences we incur, that collateral damage thing again, when we do not place time with God above and foremost of all the things we do each day, dang you mean I should do this everyday???
Go to your nearest graveyard, look at the names of those laying in rest there. Consider what they might say about spending at least one more second in God's presence, oh sure you might have time, after all you know you'll have plenty of time, right? No one ever dies suddenly, you'd sense these things, and after all you are a christian, you go to church almost every Sunday, you pray when you can.
If you believe Jesus, the Son of God turned to prayer, and so did Moses, so did Paul, so did John. Shouldn't this be telling us something? Is prayer something we don't have time for right now? You collateral damage leaves behind a legacy for family and friends.
Just as a boat traveling through the water leaves behind it a distinctive wake, collateral damage, we do as well. Collateral damage effects all of us. Make your choice wisely.
Let's look at it this way, we are all failures in one way or another. I am both ashamed and not ashamed to admit it. If I had been a better financial genius maybe both my daughters would have attended ivy league schools, maybe if I had been a better husband my wife would not worry as much, if I was a better boss maybe those who work with me would be more eager to come to work each day....this could be a big list.
So whats the point? In everything we do there is some form of collateral damage involved, no matter the intent of our decisions, steak instead of fish for dinner might add unnecessary fat to our blood stream, making time for God an flexible commitment, you know for other more important things....getting closer to the point here, not much further. Keep reading.
How do we value time with God less than anything else in existence. Consider the enormity of consequences we incur, that collateral damage thing again, when we do not place time with God above and foremost of all the things we do each day, dang you mean I should do this everyday???
Go to your nearest graveyard, look at the names of those laying in rest there. Consider what they might say about spending at least one more second in God's presence, oh sure you might have time, after all you know you'll have plenty of time, right? No one ever dies suddenly, you'd sense these things, and after all you are a christian, you go to church almost every Sunday, you pray when you can.
If you believe Jesus, the Son of God turned to prayer, and so did Moses, so did Paul, so did John. Shouldn't this be telling us something? Is prayer something we don't have time for right now? You collateral damage leaves behind a legacy for family and friends.
Just as a boat traveling through the water leaves behind it a distinctive wake, collateral damage, we do as well. Collateral damage effects all of us. Make your choice wisely.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
My Sabbatical Journey
This weekend will mark the beginning of a journey for me, a spiritual awaken, rest, rehab, refit, rearm, okay you get the point. After talking to a few men I love and respect; sometimes taking small steps is a good thing. Time to turn inward in my daily reflections, rid myself of the vices, (constant electronic companions, Galaxy Tablet, MP3, blue tooth, cell phone, whatever else I unknowingly turn on and pickup and use almost every hour.
Aside from the constant feeds of updates from Facebook and You Tube. I am stepping away from come parts of lay ministry. In this new year I wanted to budget time for reflection as well as for ministry in a better, healthier manner, which I am doing.
So there you have the beginning of a journey in a few short paragraphs; In six months I prayerfully expect to be a better steward of my time, new focus on ministry, (juggling more than just one outreach), healthier physically and morally, remember loosing some of those vices, (aggghhh no 4 G!!!), yep already feeling much better.
Be blessed. Will continue this thread until we meet back on FB in the fall, just in time for some Happy Valley Magic....be well and be at peace...
PointMan Jim
Aside from the constant feeds of updates from Facebook and You Tube. I am stepping away from come parts of lay ministry. In this new year I wanted to budget time for reflection as well as for ministry in a better, healthier manner, which I am doing.
So there you have the beginning of a journey in a few short paragraphs; In six months I prayerfully expect to be a better steward of my time, new focus on ministry, (juggling more than just one outreach), healthier physically and morally, remember loosing some of those vices, (aggghhh no 4 G!!!), yep already feeling much better.
Be blessed. Will continue this thread until we meet back on FB in the fall, just in time for some Happy Valley Magic....be well and be at peace...
PointMan Jim
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Diary of a Mad Man
For some it may be fairly easy to let go. While for others it takes quite a bit more effort. I fall into the last of these two categories. For the past 5 months, I have experienced one of the most dreadful situations someone can encounter. The murder of a family member, in this case my sister.
It isn't just the shock of losing my eldest sister, it wasn't because we had built up a 25 yr old wall between us -- neither of us speaking to one another, for me it was because aside from all this, someone willingly took her life by choice. For me the hard part of letting go was the anger, I was unprepared.
Up until a few weeks ago I was consumed most days of how I would exact revenge on not just the man, but on any remaining members of his immediate family. I wanted him to know how this pain felt. For me the several month journey was in bad company, everyday.
All the while God was sending forth those who could help me, I was just as busy pushing them away, too blinded by the rage I felt inside. Too short sighted to see the blessing he had given the rest of us if we would just open our eyes. Open our hearts to his comfort, his love for us.
A very good friend, finally gave me the last piece of advice I needed to hear on the matter. Nothing I can do from this point on will bring her back to life or change the tragic ending to her life. Punishment on this earth is up to those in law enforcement and the courts, but know this now that a much higher court of accountability lays in store for each and everyone of us, the court of God.
Basically it goes something like this, if I do not distance myself from this and truely forgive and forget this man's trespasses against my sister and her children, then where does this leave me. I am guilty of the same, robbing God of his gift of forgiveness.
Forgiveness sets free the anger from within, which entraps my ability to forgive the smaller day to day things that we are all mostly guilty of; cutting someone off in traffic, or getting angry at someone who made us mad at work, or maybe it was our spouse who doesn't seem to understand us. Everything seems to get added in.
Rather than concentrating on what the problem is or where it is at, I find the better solution for me, is to concentrate on where the answer is. To turn our attention to the voice of our shepard, his words heal the hurt, calm the stormy sea that rages around us, encourages us, loves us, unconditionally, no matter how far or near we stray, a great celebration is at hand when we entrust ourselves to the hands of our shepard.
Society as we once knew it no longer exists with its civility towards one another, moral decay has eroded most of what we knew growing up or which commonly existed in the old neighborhoods, not even our church communities have escaped the decay.
It's never too late to turn our eyes toward our shepard, slow down and take his hand, feel the comfort and security, know the power of their love in all its abundence. Anger is an energy robber, steals all breath from all endeavors, work, home, or recreation. Turn your ears towards the horn of our savior, he is calling us.
No longer consumed by anger, no longer a slave to being mad at everything, being mindful that there will always be temptations, I do not have be a victem to them, I have a choice to take ahold of my shepards hand and go in peace or wage war with a dead man.
It isn't just the shock of losing my eldest sister, it wasn't because we had built up a 25 yr old wall between us -- neither of us speaking to one another, for me it was because aside from all this, someone willingly took her life by choice. For me the hard part of letting go was the anger, I was unprepared.
Up until a few weeks ago I was consumed most days of how I would exact revenge on not just the man, but on any remaining members of his immediate family. I wanted him to know how this pain felt. For me the several month journey was in bad company, everyday.
All the while God was sending forth those who could help me, I was just as busy pushing them away, too blinded by the rage I felt inside. Too short sighted to see the blessing he had given the rest of us if we would just open our eyes. Open our hearts to his comfort, his love for us.
A very good friend, finally gave me the last piece of advice I needed to hear on the matter. Nothing I can do from this point on will bring her back to life or change the tragic ending to her life. Punishment on this earth is up to those in law enforcement and the courts, but know this now that a much higher court of accountability lays in store for each and everyone of us, the court of God.
Basically it goes something like this, if I do not distance myself from this and truely forgive and forget this man's trespasses against my sister and her children, then where does this leave me. I am guilty of the same, robbing God of his gift of forgiveness.
Forgiveness sets free the anger from within, which entraps my ability to forgive the smaller day to day things that we are all mostly guilty of; cutting someone off in traffic, or getting angry at someone who made us mad at work, or maybe it was our spouse who doesn't seem to understand us. Everything seems to get added in.
Rather than concentrating on what the problem is or where it is at, I find the better solution for me, is to concentrate on where the answer is. To turn our attention to the voice of our shepard, his words heal the hurt, calm the stormy sea that rages around us, encourages us, loves us, unconditionally, no matter how far or near we stray, a great celebration is at hand when we entrust ourselves to the hands of our shepard.
Society as we once knew it no longer exists with its civility towards one another, moral decay has eroded most of what we knew growing up or which commonly existed in the old neighborhoods, not even our church communities have escaped the decay.
It's never too late to turn our eyes toward our shepard, slow down and take his hand, feel the comfort and security, know the power of their love in all its abundence. Anger is an energy robber, steals all breath from all endeavors, work, home, or recreation. Turn your ears towards the horn of our savior, he is calling us.
No longer consumed by anger, no longer a slave to being mad at everything, being mindful that there will always be temptations, I do not have be a victem to them, I have a choice to take ahold of my shepards hand and go in peace or wage war with a dead man.
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