this is debatable, but i think Paul has two main points in all of his writings:
1.) be holy
y'all already know how strongly i feel about this one.
and
2.) we are no longer under the law, but under grace.
my thoughts:
if we're not under the law anymore,
then why do we try to use Pauls letters like a new law?
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Sunday, January 28, 2007
love is all you need...but what KIND?
Quality Time: 11
Physical Touch: 8
Words of Affirmation: 8
Acts of Service: 2
Receiving Gifts: 0
these are my results for my "love language."
apparently i give and receive love primarily through quality time.
and apparently i never give gifts, nor do i care to receive them. :o)
i wasn't at all surprised by my results. mmhmm.
this test got me right. of course. because i already knew what i like before i took it.
kind of like spiritual gifts tests.
#1. do you speak in tongues.
a.) yes
b.) no
if you checked a.-- you have the gift of tongues!
#2. have you ever healed anyone?
a.) no
b.) yes
if you checked b.-- you have the gift of healing!
so if you're really interested in knowing what your spiritual gifts are, then i recommend being involved in community where you are free to use them-- they'll come. then you can take a test to make sure you're right ;o)
and if you really want to know what your "love language" is, though i'm sure that you already know, you can take this test--
this test
until then-- spend lots of time with me. and tell me i'm wonderful and hug me. and sometimes help me out. and i'll do the same for you-- just don't be expecting any expensive gifts any time soon.
Physical Touch: 8
Words of Affirmation: 8
Acts of Service: 2
Receiving Gifts: 0
these are my results for my "love language."
apparently i give and receive love primarily through quality time.
and apparently i never give gifts, nor do i care to receive them. :o)
i wasn't at all surprised by my results. mmhmm.
this test got me right. of course. because i already knew what i like before i took it.
kind of like spiritual gifts tests.
#1. do you speak in tongues.
a.) yes
b.) no
if you checked a.-- you have the gift of tongues!
#2. have you ever healed anyone?
a.) no
b.) yes
if you checked b.-- you have the gift of healing!
so if you're really interested in knowing what your spiritual gifts are, then i recommend being involved in community where you are free to use them-- they'll come. then you can take a test to make sure you're right ;o)
and if you really want to know what your "love language" is, though i'm sure that you already know, you can take this test--
this test
until then-- spend lots of time with me. and tell me i'm wonderful and hug me. and sometimes help me out. and i'll do the same for you-- just don't be expecting any expensive gifts any time soon.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
more from pray the Bible
Ezekiel 33
7 "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. 8 When I say to the wicked, 'O wicked man, you will surely die,' and you do not speak out to dissuade him from his ways, that wicked man will die for [a] his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. 9 But if you do warn the wicked man to turn from his ways and he does not do so, he will die for his sin, but you will have saved yourself.
(Olivia's comments:
this was a Word that William Booth prophesied over the Salvation Army. we are appointed as watchmen-- if we don't warn people to repent, and then they die in their sins, we will be held accountable for their sin. eek.)
12 "Therefore, son of man, say to your countrymen, 'The righteousness of the righteous man will not save him when he disobeys, and the wickedness of the wicked man will not cause him to fall when he turns from it. The righteous man, if he sins, will not be allowed to live because of his former righteousness.' 13 If I tell the righteous man that he will surely live, but then he trusts in his righteousness and does evil, none of the righteous things he has done will be remembered; he will die for the evil he has done. 14 And if I say to the wicked man, 'You will surely die,' but he then turns away from his sin and does what is just and right- 15 if he gives back what he took in pledge for a loan, returns what he has stolen, follows the decrees that give life, and does no evil, he will surely live; he will not die. 16 None of the sins he has committed will be remembered against him. He has done what is just and right; he will surely live.
(Olivia's comments:
the Salvation Army will not be preserved for its former righteousness, if it continues in sin. but, it also is a Word of hope-- we won't be judged for our wickedness if we repent. it's not about the past, whether good or bad.)
Ezekiel 34
1 The word of the LORD came to me: 2 "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? 3 You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock. 4 You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally. 5 So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals. 6 My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered over the whole earth, and no one searched or looked for them.
7 " 'Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD : 8 As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, because my flock lacks a shepherd and so has been plundered and has become food for all the wild animals, and because my shepherds did not search for my flock but cared for themselves rather than for my flock, 9 therefore, O shepherds, hear the word of the LORD : 10 This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock. I will remove them from tending the flock so that the shepherds can no longer feed themselves. I will rescue my flock from their mouths, and it will no longer be food for them.
(Olivia's comments:
the "shepherds" of the Salvation Army are also held accountable for the flock. it's a grave sin for a shepherd to only feed herself and not her flock. it is also a grave sin to neglect the weak, and lost sheep)
11 " 'For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. 12 As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. 13 I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land. 14 I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15 I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign LORD. 16 I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.
(Olivia's comments:
hallelujah!)
17 " 'As for you, my flock, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will judge between one sheep and another, and between rams and goats. 18 Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of your pasture with your feet? Is it not enough for you to drink clear water? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet? 19 Must my flock feed on what you have trampled and drink what you have muddied with your feet?
20 " 'Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says to them: See, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. 21 Because you shove with flank and shoulder, butting all the weak sheep with your horns until you have driven them away, 22 I will save my flock, and they will no longer be plundered. I will judge between one sheep and another. 23 I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd. 24 I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David will be prince among them. I the LORD have spoken.
(Olivia's comments:
it's easy to pick on the shepherds. but if you're a "fat sheep" then you're in trouble as well-- for pushing the lean sheep out of the way. hm.)
7 "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. 8 When I say to the wicked, 'O wicked man, you will surely die,' and you do not speak out to dissuade him from his ways, that wicked man will die for [a] his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. 9 But if you do warn the wicked man to turn from his ways and he does not do so, he will die for his sin, but you will have saved yourself.
(Olivia's comments:
this was a Word that William Booth prophesied over the Salvation Army. we are appointed as watchmen-- if we don't warn people to repent, and then they die in their sins, we will be held accountable for their sin. eek.)
12 "Therefore, son of man, say to your countrymen, 'The righteousness of the righteous man will not save him when he disobeys, and the wickedness of the wicked man will not cause him to fall when he turns from it. The righteous man, if he sins, will not be allowed to live because of his former righteousness.' 13 If I tell the righteous man that he will surely live, but then he trusts in his righteousness and does evil, none of the righteous things he has done will be remembered; he will die for the evil he has done. 14 And if I say to the wicked man, 'You will surely die,' but he then turns away from his sin and does what is just and right- 15 if he gives back what he took in pledge for a loan, returns what he has stolen, follows the decrees that give life, and does no evil, he will surely live; he will not die. 16 None of the sins he has committed will be remembered against him. He has done what is just and right; he will surely live.
(Olivia's comments:
the Salvation Army will not be preserved for its former righteousness, if it continues in sin. but, it also is a Word of hope-- we won't be judged for our wickedness if we repent. it's not about the past, whether good or bad.)
Ezekiel 34
1 The word of the LORD came to me: 2 "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? 3 You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock. 4 You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally. 5 So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals. 6 My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered over the whole earth, and no one searched or looked for them.
7 " 'Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD : 8 As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, because my flock lacks a shepherd and so has been plundered and has become food for all the wild animals, and because my shepherds did not search for my flock but cared for themselves rather than for my flock, 9 therefore, O shepherds, hear the word of the LORD : 10 This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock. I will remove them from tending the flock so that the shepherds can no longer feed themselves. I will rescue my flock from their mouths, and it will no longer be food for them.
(Olivia's comments:
the "shepherds" of the Salvation Army are also held accountable for the flock. it's a grave sin for a shepherd to only feed herself and not her flock. it is also a grave sin to neglect the weak, and lost sheep)
11 " 'For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. 12 As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. 13 I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land. 14 I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15 I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign LORD. 16 I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.
(Olivia's comments:
hallelujah!)
17 " 'As for you, my flock, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will judge between one sheep and another, and between rams and goats. 18 Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of your pasture with your feet? Is it not enough for you to drink clear water? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet? 19 Must my flock feed on what you have trampled and drink what you have muddied with your feet?
20 " 'Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says to them: See, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. 21 Because you shove with flank and shoulder, butting all the weak sheep with your horns until you have driven them away, 22 I will save my flock, and they will no longer be plundered. I will judge between one sheep and another. 23 I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd. 24 I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David will be prince among them. I the LORD have spoken.
(Olivia's comments:
it's easy to pick on the shepherds. but if you're a "fat sheep" then you're in trouble as well-- for pushing the lean sheep out of the way. hm.)
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
free at last?
"Revivalist Charles_Finney was the Billy Graham of the 1800s.
When you came down the aisle and accepted Jesus as your personal savior at a Finney revival, he took you in the back room, where there were two tables, one table to sign up for the anti-slavery movement and the other for the feminist movement.
When they took you in the back room, they didn’t give you a Gospel of John. You had to sign up for what he believed God was doing in the world at that time. And at that time, he saw that the great movements of God were the abolition of slavery and the liberation of women from their servitude."
taken from "Let the Women Preach" by Tony Campolo
ought we still sign up for the anti-slavery movement, and the feminist movement?
yes.
slavery of today-- prostitution and human trafficking.
anti-feminism today-- the sex-trade, domestic violence.
but one could argue that the majority of anti-feminism, at least in the Western World, is found in the Church. hate to say it.
so, i'll take after Finney.
if you're a believer, please, sign up to join the great movements of God: the abolition of slavery, and the liberation of women.
"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:27
When you came down the aisle and accepted Jesus as your personal savior at a Finney revival, he took you in the back room, where there were two tables, one table to sign up for the anti-slavery movement and the other for the feminist movement.
When they took you in the back room, they didn’t give you a Gospel of John. You had to sign up for what he believed God was doing in the world at that time. And at that time, he saw that the great movements of God were the abolition of slavery and the liberation of women from their servitude."
taken from "Let the Women Preach" by Tony Campolo
ought we still sign up for the anti-slavery movement, and the feminist movement?
yes.
slavery of today-- prostitution and human trafficking.
anti-feminism today-- the sex-trade, domestic violence.
but one could argue that the majority of anti-feminism, at least in the Western World, is found in the Church. hate to say it.
so, i'll take after Finney.
if you're a believer, please, sign up to join the great movements of God: the abolition of slavery, and the liberation of women.
"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:27
Monday, January 22, 2007
til the day i die
every Monday morning i lead the War College in praying the Bible, out loud, to God, for 30 minutes. the Lord continually blesses this time.
as i was preparing, i kept hearing the Lord say the word, "remnant."
so we prayed for the remnant, and that we would be the remnant, in the Army today.
there are some good verses about remnant in the Bible:
Isaiah 1:9
"Unless the LORD Almighty had left us some survivors, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah."
Isaiah 10:20-23
In that day the remnant of Israel, the survivors of the house of Jacob, will no longer rely on him who struck them down but will truly rely on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel. A remnant will return, a remnant of Jacob will return to the Mighty God. Though your people, O Israel, be like the sand by the sea, only a remnant will return. Destruction has been decreed, overwhelming and righteous. The Lord, the LORD Almighty, will carry out the destruction decreed upon the whole land.
Isaiah 37:4b
Therefore pray for the remnant that still survives.
Jeremiah 23:3-4
"I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and increase in number. I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing," declares the LORD.
Micah 7:18
Who is a God like you,
who pardons sin and forgives the transgression
of the remnant of his inheritance?
You do not stay angry forever
but delight to show mercy.
okay, so that was a lot to throw at you, but read what you like.
basically, there have been quite a few prophecies about the Salvation Army thrown out there recently. Here are two of my faves:
Major Janet Munn heard the Lord say, "the Salvation Army is coming into its finest hour."
and Captain Andrew Bale, heard a lengthy prophecy, based on Isaiah 1 (i blogged it a few days ago if you're interested to read more), the gist of which is: Salvation Army, repent and be cleansed. I, the Lord, will keep a remnant of Salvationists who will be faithful to me.
and there are many more prophecies not mentioned here.
i do believe that the Lord is beginning to do something in the Salvation Army.
i'm not quite sure what it's going to look like.
but i know that He'll only do it if we repent from our sin, humble ourselves, and pray.
Lord grant it that i may be in the emerging remnant of Salvationists who will be a part of this great move of God.
the world for Jesus.
as i was preparing, i kept hearing the Lord say the word, "remnant."
so we prayed for the remnant, and that we would be the remnant, in the Army today.
there are some good verses about remnant in the Bible:
Isaiah 1:9
"Unless the LORD Almighty had left us some survivors, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah."
Isaiah 10:20-23
In that day the remnant of Israel, the survivors of the house of Jacob, will no longer rely on him who struck them down but will truly rely on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel. A remnant will return, a remnant of Jacob will return to the Mighty God. Though your people, O Israel, be like the sand by the sea, only a remnant will return. Destruction has been decreed, overwhelming and righteous. The Lord, the LORD Almighty, will carry out the destruction decreed upon the whole land.
Isaiah 37:4b
Therefore pray for the remnant that still survives.
Jeremiah 23:3-4
"I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and increase in number. I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing," declares the LORD.
Micah 7:18
Who is a God like you,
who pardons sin and forgives the transgression
of the remnant of his inheritance?
You do not stay angry forever
but delight to show mercy.
okay, so that was a lot to throw at you, but read what you like.
basically, there have been quite a few prophecies about the Salvation Army thrown out there recently. Here are two of my faves:
Major Janet Munn heard the Lord say, "the Salvation Army is coming into its finest hour."
and Captain Andrew Bale, heard a lengthy prophecy, based on Isaiah 1 (i blogged it a few days ago if you're interested to read more), the gist of which is: Salvation Army, repent and be cleansed. I, the Lord, will keep a remnant of Salvationists who will be faithful to me.
and there are many more prophecies not mentioned here.
i do believe that the Lord is beginning to do something in the Salvation Army.
i'm not quite sure what it's going to look like.
but i know that He'll only do it if we repent from our sin, humble ourselves, and pray.
Lord grant it that i may be in the emerging remnant of Salvationists who will be a part of this great move of God.
the world for Jesus.
Sunday, January 21, 2007
she loved me as herself.
last night on my way back from work a met a girl.
she was walking down the sidewalk in front of our house, crying.
i asked her "what's wrong?"
she responded, "i lost a family."
i'm still not sure what she meant.
so, as we walked along, i just replied, "mm."
she looked at me and said, "do you do drugs?"
"no"
"what, did you just get out of jail or something?"
"no, i was just working at the shelter." (though some do get the Haven and jail confused)
this may seem silly, but i was a little thrilled that she thought i might be a drug user and a felon. sometimes i feel hurt when my neighbors tell me that i don't belong in their community, but i should move to the West End. the East side is my home, and i don't like it when people think that i don't fit in, and that i should leave.
but she saw me as one of her neighbors, and not a foreigner! yay!
she didn't ask me for money or anything, she just chatted with me, her neighbor. as she left, i handed her a sweatshirt, and she seemed so confused by the gift. i was unbelievably happy that she was interested in talking with me, not because she was expecting a gift, but because she just wanted to talk.
she walked away and continued crying.
she lost a family. i hope she gets grafted into mine.
she was walking down the sidewalk in front of our house, crying.
i asked her "what's wrong?"
she responded, "i lost a family."
i'm still not sure what she meant.
so, as we walked along, i just replied, "mm."
she looked at me and said, "do you do drugs?"
"no"
"what, did you just get out of jail or something?"
"no, i was just working at the shelter." (though some do get the Haven and jail confused)
this may seem silly, but i was a little thrilled that she thought i might be a drug user and a felon. sometimes i feel hurt when my neighbors tell me that i don't belong in their community, but i should move to the West End. the East side is my home, and i don't like it when people think that i don't fit in, and that i should leave.
but she saw me as one of her neighbors, and not a foreigner! yay!
she didn't ask me for money or anything, she just chatted with me, her neighbor. as she left, i handed her a sweatshirt, and she seemed so confused by the gift. i was unbelievably happy that she was interested in talking with me, not because she was expecting a gift, but because she just wanted to talk.
she walked away and continued crying.
she lost a family. i hope she gets grafted into mine.
Friday, January 19, 2007
finest hour.
read Andrew Bales blog:
http://www.beyondthebrook.blogspot.com
read it on your knees.
grant it that we may be in the remnant.
http://www.beyondthebrook.blogspot.com
read it on your knees.
grant it that we may be in the remnant.
rich.
first of all,
knee drill last night was slammin. moved slowly from the fear of the Lord to the joy of the Lord. good times indeed.
secondly,
in one of my teen cells on Wednesday, we had a long, and rather in depth, holiness chat. we don't usually go that deep, believe me! but we brought forward the verses from 1 John 3, and particularly these verses:
"No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him." 1 John 3:6
"No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. " 1 John 3:9
we struggled through the verses with the teens.
we allowed this tension to remain: it is impossible to stop sinning, but God commands it. if He commands it, He must make it possible, otherwise He'd have to punish us for not doing something that isn't even possible to do!
it would be like if our parents told us that if we didn't jump over our house then we would be grounded. how mean is that?!
but we know that God isn't mean. so there is a tension. we let it sit.
we all agreed that our experience does not match up with these verses.
but then we agreed that we shouldn't water down the Scriptures to match our experience...rather we should pull up our experience to match the Scripture.
if our experience and the Bible don't match up, it is our experience that is wrong.
i had never seen these guys struggle with a verse so much. it was great! they actually listened to what the Word said, and that's why it messed them up so much.
"Is not my word like fire," declares the LORD, "and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?" Jeremiah 23:29
"The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon." Psalm 29:5
"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Hebrews 4:12
When He speaks it's like fire, a hammer that breaks rocks, a double edged sword...His voice is powerful enough to break cedars. just His voice. woah.
praise Him, i believe He spoke on Wednesday night. He burned some uncomfortable places in the teens. He smashed some mindsets they previously had. He broke into pieces some sin that they had settled into. and He penetrated, and cut deep inside.
so they won't be the same. because God spoke, not just their silly leaders.
thirdly,
these lyrics are stellar:
"I've paid my vows-- no turning around.
i've burned my bridges, they can't be found
i am Yours."
it's about covenant, surrender, and that huge leap from giving 99% of your life to the Lord, to giving 100%.
nice.
knee drill last night was slammin. moved slowly from the fear of the Lord to the joy of the Lord. good times indeed.
secondly,
in one of my teen cells on Wednesday, we had a long, and rather in depth, holiness chat. we don't usually go that deep, believe me! but we brought forward the verses from 1 John 3, and particularly these verses:
"No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him." 1 John 3:6
"No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. " 1 John 3:9
we struggled through the verses with the teens.
we allowed this tension to remain: it is impossible to stop sinning, but God commands it. if He commands it, He must make it possible, otherwise He'd have to punish us for not doing something that isn't even possible to do!
it would be like if our parents told us that if we didn't jump over our house then we would be grounded. how mean is that?!
but we know that God isn't mean. so there is a tension. we let it sit.
we all agreed that our experience does not match up with these verses.
but then we agreed that we shouldn't water down the Scriptures to match our experience...rather we should pull up our experience to match the Scripture.
if our experience and the Bible don't match up, it is our experience that is wrong.
i had never seen these guys struggle with a verse so much. it was great! they actually listened to what the Word said, and that's why it messed them up so much.
"Is not my word like fire," declares the LORD, "and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?" Jeremiah 23:29
"The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon." Psalm 29:5
"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Hebrews 4:12
When He speaks it's like fire, a hammer that breaks rocks, a double edged sword...His voice is powerful enough to break cedars. just His voice. woah.
praise Him, i believe He spoke on Wednesday night. He burned some uncomfortable places in the teens. He smashed some mindsets they previously had. He broke into pieces some sin that they had settled into. and He penetrated, and cut deep inside.
so they won't be the same. because God spoke, not just their silly leaders.
thirdly,
these lyrics are stellar:
"I've paid my vows-- no turning around.
i've burned my bridges, they can't be found
i am Yours."
it's about covenant, surrender, and that huge leap from giving 99% of your life to the Lord, to giving 100%.
nice.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
extended rations, skipped pray the Bible...whoops.
i am relatively vulnerable on my blog.
i'm even more vulnerable in my journal.
but there are some things that even my blog and my journal never see.
my blog saw the quote i posted yesterday.
my journal saw that same quote, and a fiery entry to go along with it.
but only the Lord and the bed bugs saw me put down my journal, collapse on my pillow and weep over how much i hate sin.
only the Lord and the mice saw me tremulously and frantically put on my shoes and coat, and head out the door to an undecided location, where i would finally be alone.
only the Lord and the sparrows saw me sitting on the icy dock at Crab Park, where i finally engaged my vocal chords. i sobbed. i shouted my prayers.
even the bed bugs, mice, and sparrows had no idea what was going on in my heart. only the Lord did.
i told the Lord how confused i was. i felt like there was a MASSIVE conflict inside of me, but that Handbook of Doctrine quote made me think that perhaps i wasn't sanctified.
while i don't consider my journal or my blog to be creatures, like the bed bugs, mice and sparrows (though the pig on my journal could confuse you...), my blog readers, and my journal (whom i love to personify) also will never understand fully what is going on in my heart. only the Lord.
back to the story:
i emailed captain Court and asked him to explain this quote to me, because i didn't know if it was true or not. praise the Lord-- he clarified very well. if you're curious to understand it deeper, then you should read his blog entry yesterday: armybarmy
so, hallelujah, i feel much better now.
i recognize that my tears were not present because i keep on sinning and i feel bad about it.
my tears were present because i was tempted to sin, but i hate sin with such violence that i fought the enemy hard and refused to give in.
it was all a good thing. phew.
so you may not be the Lord, my journal, or even the vermin in my house, but now at least you know my life a little bit. i hate sin.
i'm even more vulnerable in my journal.
but there are some things that even my blog and my journal never see.
my blog saw the quote i posted yesterday.
my journal saw that same quote, and a fiery entry to go along with it.
but only the Lord and the bed bugs saw me put down my journal, collapse on my pillow and weep over how much i hate sin.
only the Lord and the mice saw me tremulously and frantically put on my shoes and coat, and head out the door to an undecided location, where i would finally be alone.
only the Lord and the sparrows saw me sitting on the icy dock at Crab Park, where i finally engaged my vocal chords. i sobbed. i shouted my prayers.
even the bed bugs, mice, and sparrows had no idea what was going on in my heart. only the Lord did.
i told the Lord how confused i was. i felt like there was a MASSIVE conflict inside of me, but that Handbook of Doctrine quote made me think that perhaps i wasn't sanctified.
while i don't consider my journal or my blog to be creatures, like the bed bugs, mice and sparrows (though the pig on my journal could confuse you...), my blog readers, and my journal (whom i love to personify) also will never understand fully what is going on in my heart. only the Lord.
back to the story:
i emailed captain Court and asked him to explain this quote to me, because i didn't know if it was true or not. praise the Lord-- he clarified very well. if you're curious to understand it deeper, then you should read his blog entry yesterday: armybarmy
so, hallelujah, i feel much better now.
i recognize that my tears were not present because i keep on sinning and i feel bad about it.
my tears were present because i was tempted to sin, but i hate sin with such violence that i fought the enemy hard and refused to give in.
it was all a good thing. phew.
so you may not be the Lord, my journal, or even the vermin in my house, but now at least you know my life a little bit. i hate sin.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
S.A. HANDBOOK OF DOCTRINE, 1940
.
"The sanctified soul has no enemies within, but has a fierce conflict without."
"The sanctified soul has no enemies within, but has a fierce conflict without."
Saturday, January 13, 2007
"Love lifts us up where we belong..."
i'm safe back "home" in Vancouver. what is my home, anyway? New York? surely not. Maine? i don't think so. Vancouver? i don't know. it's easier not to choose, and just to say, "i'm a citizen of Heaven." anyway, i'm back in Vancouver, where i happen to reside right now. hm.
i've been awake now for close to 24 hours. woohoo!!
this exhaustion--combination of jet lag, an early flight, and general silliness-- was not a healthy state in which to watch "Moulin Rouge."
i'd never seen it before, and i'd only heard dodgy things about it, like the fact that it's set in a brothel. but, oh man. it was scintillating. visually creative, musically excellent, and full of passion and depth. i don't think i've ever wept so much over a movie! (except maybe the Passion...but there's really no comparison)
i'm not sure if you're aware, but the faithfulness of the Lord is something that gets me every time. i don't even fully understand it, and i doubt i can put it into words...but it's there. anything to do with covenant, His jealousy, the book of Hosea...wow. even thinking about it as i type brings tears to my eyes and causes my throat to close up. every song i write is about this same thing-- His faithful love for us.
He never leaves us. we might go out and prostitute ourselves, but He draws us back again, wipes off our makeup, and speaks tenderly to us.
He keeps His covenant of love to us. we broke our covenant with Him. but He doesn't want us to have to experience the punishments that go along with breaking covenant. so He became one of us, and kept our part of the covenant. He kept His part perfectly, and then when we failed, He kept our part perfectly for us. thank You, Jesus.
if you humble yourself, and can see how you have failed your part, and how He has never failed-- you can restore your covenant with Him! reconciliation--yay!
thank You Jesus for Your unfailing love, which covers over a multitude of wrongs. we need You.
ANYWAY--
(sometimes i tangent like Paul did)
Moulin Rouge meant so much to me because it's all about faithful love. she gives herself to all kinds of men, in order to get what she wants...and he is torn apart by jealousy. he never gives up on her though...sigh...he promises to always love her.
i wept and wept and wept and wept...
my usual weeping buddy, Kirsten, had eyes as dry as...something really dry :o)
and Darren Hailes was no help in the weeping department either.
maybe, next time, i'll watch it after a full nights sleep, with people who understand my ridiculous emotions.
and, maybe, next time, i'll blog when my sentences make sense, and when my eyelids don't feel like marble.
goodnight
i've been awake now for close to 24 hours. woohoo!!
this exhaustion--combination of jet lag, an early flight, and general silliness-- was not a healthy state in which to watch "Moulin Rouge."
i'd never seen it before, and i'd only heard dodgy things about it, like the fact that it's set in a brothel. but, oh man. it was scintillating. visually creative, musically excellent, and full of passion and depth. i don't think i've ever wept so much over a movie! (except maybe the Passion...but there's really no comparison)
i'm not sure if you're aware, but the faithfulness of the Lord is something that gets me every time. i don't even fully understand it, and i doubt i can put it into words...but it's there. anything to do with covenant, His jealousy, the book of Hosea...wow. even thinking about it as i type brings tears to my eyes and causes my throat to close up. every song i write is about this same thing-- His faithful love for us.
He never leaves us. we might go out and prostitute ourselves, but He draws us back again, wipes off our makeup, and speaks tenderly to us.
He keeps His covenant of love to us. we broke our covenant with Him. but He doesn't want us to have to experience the punishments that go along with breaking covenant. so He became one of us, and kept our part of the covenant. He kept His part perfectly, and then when we failed, He kept our part perfectly for us. thank You, Jesus.
if you humble yourself, and can see how you have failed your part, and how He has never failed-- you can restore your covenant with Him! reconciliation--yay!
thank You Jesus for Your unfailing love, which covers over a multitude of wrongs. we need You.
ANYWAY--
(sometimes i tangent like Paul did)
Moulin Rouge meant so much to me because it's all about faithful love. she gives herself to all kinds of men, in order to get what she wants...and he is torn apart by jealousy. he never gives up on her though...sigh...he promises to always love her.
i wept and wept and wept and wept...
my usual weeping buddy, Kirsten, had eyes as dry as...something really dry :o)
and Darren Hailes was no help in the weeping department either.
maybe, next time, i'll watch it after a full nights sleep, with people who understand my ridiculous emotions.
and, maybe, next time, i'll blog when my sentences make sense, and when my eyelids don't feel like marble.
goodnight
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
yo hablo espanol.
i feel a bit at a loss for what to write about-- life is fast-paced, and exciting, and when i pause to blog about it, so many thoughts run through my mind and it's hard to squeeze them out my fingers in a clear and concise format. that's why i ramble :o)
i am in San Juan, Puerto Rico right now. b-e-a-utiful. my Vancouver-saturated-self is soaking up as much sun and warmth as it can. it's nice not to have wet shoes and pant legs for a few days.
i think that the most beautiful part of San Juan is La Perla. it's a small slum community on the outskirts of Old San Juan, right on the coast. apparently the government is trying to pay La Perla citzens big bucks to move, because it's smack dab in the middle of tourist heaven. they think it's an eye sore. but i thought it was beautiful...because it's real. i can only deal with so much idyllic scenery, so many shops and starbucks and ancient ruins, before i get bored. those shacks however...i could have walked through there for days.
La Perla means "The Pearl," ironically.
to the human eye, this place has nothing in commmon with a pristine, valuable, sparkling white pearl. but-- "the Kingdom of God is like a pearl..." (Matthew 13).
614 La Perla? i'm in.
yesterday i took a trip to St. Thomas. i think that it was the most beautiful place i have ever been in my entire life. literally. aqua blue water, flowers everywhere, high mountains, Tommy Hilfiger stores (meh), cruise ships, Caribbean music (i dug that). it was a lovely trip. when i arrived they said, "welcome to Paradise!"
i met a 5 year old boy who is holy.
when he was introduced to me, they said, "he is a very good boy. he never does anything bad. his heart is pure."
hallelujah. this supports Brengle when he says-- "holiness is not maturity, but purity." it also supports our Salvation Army Doctrine # 10 when it says "We believe that it is the privelege of all believers to be wholly sanctified, and that their whole spirits, souls and bodies may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."
all believers. even a 5 year old.
the Uprising: a holy revolution? is complete.
it's being edited, and i'm working on a discussion guide after every chapter.
and we're working on a package deal: a division buys books for all of their Youth Councils delegates, and Stephen or i will come out and either preach or do a workshop.
deal? good! just let us know.
i am in San Juan, Puerto Rico right now. b-e-a-utiful. my Vancouver-saturated-self is soaking up as much sun and warmth as it can. it's nice not to have wet shoes and pant legs for a few days.
i think that the most beautiful part of San Juan is La Perla. it's a small slum community on the outskirts of Old San Juan, right on the coast. apparently the government is trying to pay La Perla citzens big bucks to move, because it's smack dab in the middle of tourist heaven. they think it's an eye sore. but i thought it was beautiful...because it's real. i can only deal with so much idyllic scenery, so many shops and starbucks and ancient ruins, before i get bored. those shacks however...i could have walked through there for days.
La Perla means "The Pearl," ironically.
to the human eye, this place has nothing in commmon with a pristine, valuable, sparkling white pearl. but-- "the Kingdom of God is like a pearl..." (Matthew 13).
614 La Perla? i'm in.
yesterday i took a trip to St. Thomas. i think that it was the most beautiful place i have ever been in my entire life. literally. aqua blue water, flowers everywhere, high mountains, Tommy Hilfiger stores (meh), cruise ships, Caribbean music (i dug that). it was a lovely trip. when i arrived they said, "welcome to Paradise!"
i met a 5 year old boy who is holy.
when he was introduced to me, they said, "he is a very good boy. he never does anything bad. his heart is pure."
hallelujah. this supports Brengle when he says-- "holiness is not maturity, but purity." it also supports our Salvation Army Doctrine # 10 when it says "We believe that it is the privelege of all believers to be wholly sanctified, and that their whole spirits, souls and bodies may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."
all believers. even a 5 year old.
the Uprising: a holy revolution? is complete.
it's being edited, and i'm working on a discussion guide after every chapter.
and we're working on a package deal: a division buys books for all of their Youth Councils delegates, and Stephen or i will come out and either preach or do a workshop.
deal? good! just let us know.
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
what's next, Lord?
i hesitate to blog again, because i want everyone to listen to the clip that i posted on January 1st. if you haven't yet, listen to it now.
This photo is a treasure that my father recently showed me--
it is my grandfather preaching at an open air decades ago.
isn't that a stellar picture? high collar tunic, finger pointed heavenward, crowd gathered...it's classic.
i love the history of the Salvation Army.
but even more, i love what the Lord is beginning to do, and what He is going to do, in the Salvation Army.
previously this week my mom said something which i promptly declared "bloggable."
so here i am, making the bloggable into the blogged:
my mother hears from God, as we all can. what makes her a rare breed is that she listens to, and believes, what He says.
she heard Him say this-- "the Salvation Army is coming into its finest hour."
this is HUGE. colossal. paramount.
i was struck by this simply because the Army has had so many fine hours. and the majority of them were over a century ago. my heart deeply desires to see the Salvation Army return to its roots, and move and serve and grow just like we used to.
HOWEVER--
i believe what my mother said was indeed from the Lord.
i honor the past, BUT-- i look forward to the new things that the Lord is going to do among us.
He is alive.
He is moving.
He is a warrior.
and He is advancing.
He is not done with the Salvation Army. our great movement is coming into its finest hour.
i have hope, then.
i hope in the Lord. and i hope in an uprising (i'm not trying to promote anything by saying that!)that is about to begin. i'm in.
p.s. here is a photo of me found on the Urbana website.
clearly i was oblivious to the picture being taken.
this was the communion service on New Year's Eve-- i chose to abstain from the blessing of communion, because i'm still not sure of my view on the whole matter. but that didn't stop me from meditating on the suffering and sacrifice of Christ.
This photo is a treasure that my father recently showed me--
it is my grandfather preaching at an open air decades ago.
isn't that a stellar picture? high collar tunic, finger pointed heavenward, crowd gathered...it's classic.i love the history of the Salvation Army.
but even more, i love what the Lord is beginning to do, and what He is going to do, in the Salvation Army.
previously this week my mom said something which i promptly declared "bloggable."
so here i am, making the bloggable into the blogged:
my mother hears from God, as we all can. what makes her a rare breed is that she listens to, and believes, what He says.
she heard Him say this-- "the Salvation Army is coming into its finest hour."
this is HUGE. colossal. paramount.
i was struck by this simply because the Army has had so many fine hours. and the majority of them were over a century ago. my heart deeply desires to see the Salvation Army return to its roots, and move and serve and grow just like we used to.
HOWEVER--
i believe what my mother said was indeed from the Lord.
i honor the past, BUT-- i look forward to the new things that the Lord is going to do among us.
He is alive.
He is moving.
He is a warrior.
and He is advancing.
He is not done with the Salvation Army. our great movement is coming into its finest hour.
i have hope, then.
i hope in the Lord. and i hope in an uprising (i'm not trying to promote anything by saying that!)that is about to begin. i'm in.
p.s. here is a photo of me found on the Urbana website.
clearly i was oblivious to the picture being taken.
this was the communion service on New Year's Eve-- i chose to abstain from the blessing of communion, because i'm still not sure of my view on the whole matter. but that didn't stop me from meditating on the suffering and sacrifice of Christ.
Monday, January 01, 2007
urbana.
wonderful time-- got to reconnect with old friends, promote the war college (something i do already as if i were getting paid for it), and worship with more than 22,000 believers.
good times. a lot of deep stuff went down. hundreds got saved. thousands rededicated, and surrendered. thousands more received clarity about how the Lord wants to use them.
do you feel that you are not being used by God, and does that frustrate you?
i did for years.
check this out:
The Man God Uses By Commissioner Samuel Logan Brengle
A while ago I was talking with a Christian merchant who expressed a great and important truth. He said: "People are crying to God to use them, but He cannot. They are not given up to Him; they are not humble and teachable and holy. There are plenty of people who come to me and want work in my store, but I cannot use them; they are not fit for my work. When I must have someone, I have to go and advertise, and sometimes spend days in trying to find a man who will fit into the place I want him for, and then I have to try him and prove him to know whether he will suit me or not."
The fact is, God is using everybody that He can, and using them to the full extent of their fitness for His service. So, instead of praying so much to be used, people should search themselves to know whether they are usable.
God cannot use anybody and everybody who comes along any more than the merchant could. It is only those who are "sanctified, and meet for the Master's use, and prepared unto every good work" (2 Tim. ii. 21) that He can bless with great usefulness.
God wants men and women, and He is hunting for them everywhere; but, like the merchant, He has to pass by hundreds before He finds the right individuals. The Bible says: "The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him" (2 Chron. xvi. 9).
Oh, how God wants to use you! But before you ask Him again to do so, see to it that your heart is "perfect toward Him." Then you may depend upon it that God will show Himself strong in your behalf. Glory to His dear, dear name!
here is the highlight of my time in Urbana:
http://www.urbana.org/u2006.mediaplayer.pop.cfm?clip=214
every time this guy rapped i found myself in tears. something deep within me resonated with his words. he's got something rare, and beautiful, and it made me weep.
good times. a lot of deep stuff went down. hundreds got saved. thousands rededicated, and surrendered. thousands more received clarity about how the Lord wants to use them.
do you feel that you are not being used by God, and does that frustrate you?
i did for years.
check this out:
The Man God Uses By Commissioner Samuel Logan Brengle
A while ago I was talking with a Christian merchant who expressed a great and important truth. He said: "People are crying to God to use them, but He cannot. They are not given up to Him; they are not humble and teachable and holy. There are plenty of people who come to me and want work in my store, but I cannot use them; they are not fit for my work. When I must have someone, I have to go and advertise, and sometimes spend days in trying to find a man who will fit into the place I want him for, and then I have to try him and prove him to know whether he will suit me or not."
The fact is, God is using everybody that He can, and using them to the full extent of their fitness for His service. So, instead of praying so much to be used, people should search themselves to know whether they are usable.
God cannot use anybody and everybody who comes along any more than the merchant could. It is only those who are "sanctified, and meet for the Master's use, and prepared unto every good work" (2 Tim. ii. 21) that He can bless with great usefulness.
God wants men and women, and He is hunting for them everywhere; but, like the merchant, He has to pass by hundreds before He finds the right individuals. The Bible says: "The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him" (2 Chron. xvi. 9).
Oh, how God wants to use you! But before you ask Him again to do so, see to it that your heart is "perfect toward Him." Then you may depend upon it that God will show Himself strong in your behalf. Glory to His dear, dear name!
here is the highlight of my time in Urbana:
http://www.urbana.org/u2006.mediaplayer.pop.cfm?clip=214
every time this guy rapped i found myself in tears. something deep within me resonated with his words. he's got something rare, and beautiful, and it made me weep.
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