Independence Day

Our country celebrates our independence from England today. I am very glad that they don't rule us.

Top 10 Reasons why I am glad that we kicked England's butt 1776

1. Other than Beef Wellington their food tastes like boiled wood

2. Cricket confuses me

3. I would have bad teeth

4.English cars have bad electrical systems

5. I don't get Monti Python

When life was simpler.

I look back at my childhood and even though there was some pain, it was very good. I learned how to be a son,brother, friend mostly without knowing I was. I learned not to betray a friend when I was betrayed. I learned not to lie to my parents when I lied and got away with it and stewed in my own guilt. I learned to be a brother when I saw my brothers in trouble - I helped.

GOSH IT WAS SO MUCH EASIER THEN!

I still have stuff to learn but I can't go back and play "army men " with my brothers and friends to learn this stuff. How do you convince folks that what you say is what they need to hear when they just think your a WACKO. Oh , Please don't think that I haven't searched the bible for an answer. What happens to guys that say what God wants them to say? They get their head lopped off , mamed, stoned or crucified. Lucky for me they just think me a goofball. WHEW!

I Am Not A Poet

I have never been accused of being an eloquent man. I have lots of stuff in my head that just stay there because typing is very hard for me - that's why I don't blog consistantly . And it;s also kinda embarassing because my spelling is poor(people love to scoff at the bad spelling guy- and assume him to be an idiot). Truth is I'd write all day long if I didn't stink at writing and typing . I wish I could express how much it hurts not to express how much it hurts to have all this stuff locked up inside me. Enough lamentation!

Here's some words from  my head:

I once had ink on my skin 

it was painful to get on 

the image saved me 

but not the ink

the image was indelible before it was on and in my skin.

it was more painful to come off

marlboros can be useful

this ink is gone now for years

the image still saves me 

indelible

the image alive and willing to save 

to give a new skin 

the scarred  hand (scared and sacred would have worked as well- God loves this bad speller)

so faint now 

now one knows it was ever there

but the indelible image 

the indelible one 

I hope that they can see it 

I hope that you can see him 

on my skin?

COMING THROUGH IT!

Reaction Time vs Response Time

This mornings Gospel is on the calling of Simon ,Andrew , James and John. From the Gospel we get the picture that as soon as these men were called they responded. They were called and immediately left their fishing business and followed Jesus. 

Most reading this have responded to the initial call of Jesus to follow him and even though we may limp along , we do follow him. But what about the specific ministries that he calls us to. Regretfully I believe we react immediately but do not respond obediently for some time if ever. 

We react as silent paralytics questioning God's choice, our own abilities  and what responding to God's call will mean to the human comfort zone that we have spent a life time creating. 

 The four  men in this mornings Gospel JUST RESPOND OBEDIENTLY !

I want to be like that. How about you?

My Brother is mourning and it hurts me

The Lord has always been generous to me in that the friends that he has given me are almost always men I can truly call brothers as if we shared the same parents.  I have two biological brothers and a handful of men that are also brothers to me. 

One of these men called me yesterday with a distressed voice and told me that his mom had died suddenly. He said " I have gone through the worst thing in my life - there is no grief worse than this -  I got to hug ,kiss  and say good bye to her - I'm so glad God gave that to me " 

This brother is my hero. He sees God's grace in all things. He has gone through more adversity than anyone i know in the last two years yet no ones knows it . He was a great son to his earthly mom but also a great son to his heavenly Father. I am purposely omitting his name as he doesn't like notice in this way . 

I FEEL HIS LOSS AND I WANT IT TO GO AWAY BUT I KNOW GOD IS WITH HIM.

Father, comfort your son ,my brother.

So, If You Have An Extra 1.3 Million Laying Around. . .

As I was fishing on a beach in Ventura this afternoon , I  received a call (aren't cellphones great?)from someone who comes to our church sometimes and is also a local realtor.  They told me that there is a church property for sale in town for 1.3 million dollars. I know what building  it is and we could make it work very well. I am normally a very practical person - which is as total odds with the pentecostal part of me. I am seriously praying about his. 

You see, our church doesn't have two nickles to rub to together but I believe God is doing something here. Our church is 10 years old yet we are virtually unknown in our area while churches that are well funded  that have been around for a couple of years are already institutions in this town. I repent of envy almost daily . 

Buildings absolutely don't make a church but they do help minister to  community much more than a limited rental space.

 I'm good with where ever God puts us, but this call was so random and very timely in some ways. It might just be God . The money will have to fall from heaven . God can do this - I know he can. 

But for now I'l pray until Gods speaks clearly one way or another and until then focus on bringing souls to Jesus Christ- I'll let the Lord worry about a place to put all them newly saved souls. 

Please pray with me on this . And let me know if the Lord gives you a word on this subject. 

Going Big

There Is Still Joy