Yeah, That Thing Called Life

If you have been following my Twitter updates and blog over the Holiday’s you know that a family member has been going through some trials. I haven’t and won’t go into the details but today … the situation has taken another turn for the worse.

It brings an incredible level of sadness so those inclined to pray … I would be very grateful. Just know, that *I* am ok … nothing out of order here.

Today, I did do my normal Bible reading and I thought that I would write about one of the scriptures that was *perfect* for the situation at hand but I am sensing I need to hold on to it for a bit. Which then got me thinking about if it is really possible to post a daily highlight here. After today, and this evening, I don’t think that is feasible. Sometimes I need to study the word for the sake of studying the word and share here want seems obvious to share here. Having the “daily” mindset introduced a dynamic of “what’s bloggable?” into the mix and today I simply need to spiritually sit still and think about it.

So I will.

I know I will share about today but I need some time to process, pray and think through. I also do think that this *IS* a new element to my blog so those scripture highlight posts are going to come frequently. As always … feedback is welcome.

Christian Network Helping Homosexuals Find Freedom Doubles in Size

This is great!

Christian Network Helping Homosexuals Find Freedom Doubles in Size
Ministry Will Expand Efforts to Help Churches in 2009

January 6, 2009

Orlando, FL- Churches in denominations troubled over homosexuality such as the Anglican and Presbyterian churches are experiencing growing concern over the issue and have turned to Exodus International for help. As a result, the world’s largest Christian ministry to those seeking freedom from homosexuality has doubled in size.

For over 30 years, Exodus International has helped those affected by unwanted same-sex attraction to live a life congruent with the Christian faith. In the last six years, the organization has grown from 117 member agencies in 2003 to 234 by 2009. Half of those member agencies are churches that have recently joined the Exodus network and have committed to assist church members affected by homosexuality. The remainder of the network is comprised of professional counselors and local parachurch ministries.

Helping pastors and churches know how to address the topic of homosexuality with biblical truth and compassion is a primary goal for Exodus International. In 2008, the organization held six conferences across the nation that provided practical resources and information to hundreds of pastors.

In 2009, Exodus plans to improve upon this initiative by offering a variety of web-based resources and educational DVDs to churches across the country. In addition, a new book, written by Exodus President Alan Chambers, will help pastors and church members alike to understand practical steps towards leaving a gay-identified life and pursuing God-centered living. The book, published by Harvest House Publishers, is set to be released this summer.

“Though the world is getting spiritually darker, the future of the global Christian church has never been brighter,” said Alan Chambers, President of Exodus International. “We have a tremendous opportunity to demonstrate grace and bold love to a generation longing for real, life-giving truth. We are excited about the opportunities that 2009 holds to do just that.”

Exodus reaches more than 305,000 individuals with a message of hope and freedom through conference events and personal communication with those who call the organization for help each year.
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[From Exodus International - Christian Network Helping Homosexuals Find Freedom Doubles in Size]

The Travolta Tragedy

Today at work I was swamped. I didn’t even get to check out my news sites I usually check in the early morning and at noon. I didn’t get the news of what happened to Jett Travolta until a few moments ago. In the past hour and a half, I have heard several times how horrible the gossip blogs and online sites are being toward the Travolta family. I refuse to google his name as a result. I was going to blog about a second scripture from today’s reading on a personal note but I think I would rather pray it over The Travolta’s.

Psalm 4:4-5, 8

4 Be angry, and do not sin;

ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah

5 Offer right sacrifices,

and put your trust in the Lord.

…

8 In peace I will both lie down and sleep;

for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

I know the Travolta’s are Scientologist’s but … I can pray that any anger (part of the grief process as well as the potential anger toward those mean … jerks people … blogging about them) would be allowed and recognized but not carried to the point of being a hindrance on themselves and hurting to others. I would think they have a deep and true “righteous” anger and I hope that they simply allow it to be what it is and grow from it and not feed the blogger or media trolls. I pray as they are alone in their homes and weeping they will hear the voice of a comforting Lord and consider what He is saying. One of His Names is “The Prince of Peace.” I will pray a supernatural peace to fill the Travolta home. God knows what it is like to be a grieving parent … and to be persecuted for it.

And I pray someday they will be able to offer sacrifices of faith and worship … that they can place their trust in the Lord.

I also pray for us … that we wouldn’t look at the Travolta’s and shake our head in sorrow only to keep up with the gossip and forget them until the next commentator comes up to bat. I pray that each of us would say a prayer for them when they are flashed across the screens and headlines … every time. I also pray that we would meditate on mortality, human frailty and the common denominators of life for all of us. That’s what makes this such a powerful “story” … it’s something we all connect with on a very basic “human” level.

I pray we will ponder these things and not just dismiss the life lessons being lived out in front of us as completely detached from us.

* image credit travolta.com

***

On a completely separate note.

Did you notice? The word “ponder” (v. 4) appears for a second day (click here for yesterday’s.) I even got an email from a stranger using the word today completely unrelated to my blogpost about it. ::: pondering pondering :::

Oh Lamech … Lamech Lamech Lamech

From today’s reading …

Genesis 5:28-29

When Lamech had lived 182 years, he fathered a son and called his name Noah, saying, “Out of the ground that the Lord has cursed, this one shall bring us relief from our work and from the painful toil of our hands.”

Poor Lamech sure missed the boat ark on that one. When I read this I thought how hindsight is always 20/20 but boy howdy did he miss this one. For those who have never seen the movies or heard the story, Noah and his immediate family were the only humans to survive the destruction of the Earth by flood. His life is known for prophesying the doom of the world, working his tail off to build the ark to preserve mankind and the animals of Creation the Lord chose to spare.

To be sure, Noah is a very inspirational figure of following God’s voice while facing facts (no devastating floods of the entire earth before or after that date) and persevering in faith. Plus, he had to do his work with the derision of the people all around him. And, that ark was HUGE and hard to construct. Yet, he did it and we are all here as a result.

Noah rocks my face off.

But, he was not the one who brought relief from work or painful toil. Just sayin’ … Am I wrong?

*image credit goes to AllPosters.com

Lisa Kudrow: The Three Minute Therapist

OMW(ord) …. Lisa Kudrow does “webisode” therapy … ::: grin :::

The Ponder Principle

Ponder is a wonderful word …

ponder

–verb (used without object)

1. to consider something deeply and thoroughly; meditate (often fol. by over or upon).

–verb (used with object)

2. to weigh carefully in the mind; consider thoughtfully: He pondered his next words thoroughly.

I love pondering the stories of Christ and His teachings. I also enjoy the sense of communion with Him when working through current meditations on … whatever. It’s a special communion.

And it’s something exemplified in scripture … From today’s reading. It concerns the birth of Jesus and the reports of those who came to see Him and Mary’s response.

19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.

[From ESV Study Bible (ESV Bible Online)]

I think this scripture stood out today because I have been pondering several things over the holidays. Then at church, and then lunch after church, several things just seemed to all fall in place. It was great. One example is I was wondering if this angle I am bringing into my blog (highlighting more scripture) was something I felt the Lord had put on my heart or … what. Then, Pastor Clark preaches Psalm 1 as his New Year’s Sermon. I blogged about Psalm 1 day before yesterday.

Now, some would say it was coincidence but I don’t believe in coincidence and was encouraged to know that the Lord is having me “ponder” this particular Psalm. I have always prayed that the Lord would bring a scripture to mind as often as possible until I finally pay attention and consider what He is trying to say. So, today’s sermon fit with what I had blogged about as well as rounded out some other issues that I hadn’t thought of.

I also took it as affirmation that this is topic (scriptural highlights) is something I should really be pursuing on this blog. I will of course still blog about the issues I alway blog about and just add this to the list of potential blog posts. I haven’t blogged about my daily meditations before before because I have always held them close and personal so it will be an interesting journey to see how it all manifests here.

Back to the Ponder Principle (laugh.) I think pondering is purposeful consideration. It’s not worry … it’s not daydreaming … it’s chewing something over mentally. An analysis for the purpose of working something out or to “grow” from. For the Christian, pondering is most beneficial when seeking God’s will or perspective. He’s always been faithful to meet me when I come looking for Him.

So, have a ponder-full day :-).

The Rage of Nations

From today’s reading:

Psalm 2

The Reign of the Lord’s Anointed

1 Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying,
3 “Let us burst their bonds apart
and cast away their cords from us.”

…

10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
be warned, O rulers of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear,
and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son,
lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
for his wrath is quickly kindled.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

[From ESV Online Study Bible | Crossway]

The study Bible explains about how this Psalm could be naturally attributed to what Israel was going through at the time the Psalm was written. It also says that it could be directly interpreted as the nations who rage against God and His kingdom.

I just thought how odd it was to read this Psalm on the exact same day that Israel begins its land invasion of the Gaza strip and world leaders are rushing to the UN to use pressure diplomacy to do whatever it is they feel is best. I leave it to others to determine if the nations are raging against Israel and ultimately against God or not.

Before becoming a Christian I didn’t hear much about Israel or the Jewish people outside the history books concerning the Holocaust. Then I met and befriended a Palestinian man named Rateb. I knew him for thirteen years while I lived in the Dallas area. While we weren’t close friends, we saw each other enough to where he let me know a lot about his life and beliefs. He was not at all favorable toward Israel. He wasn’t a man given to lying so it was easy to believe his testimony of how awful things were for the Palestinian people … I can believe enough of it to know that even with all the propaganda … there is so much on both sides to be grieved by. I could tell when he would go beyond the line of true experience to overall propaganda but some o the things he shared were not things he would want, or even need, to make up.

Again, sorrow on both sides.

Ever since becoming a Christian I have an increasing fascination and spiritual affinity for the Jewish people. It’s also tempered with a reasoned acknowledgement of their place in God’s History, present and their future in His plans come. At the same time, they are human and the scriptures clearly show that sometimes, as a people, they haven’t made the best of decisions even with the favor of God.

I do believe they still carry God’s favor, and a agree with their current offensive, I think it would be foolish to assume that they haven’t, can’t or won’t make bad decisions.

So, when it comes to the popular Christian mantra of “pray for peace in Israel” … well of course. Of course I will and I pray they are successful in Gaza. I think that what they are doing there is a wise move. I will support Israel in several ways and I think it is important for the United States to stand strong in helping Israel succeed as a sovereign nation.

With regard to the current situation, if Cuba was bragging about their rockets and sending them, daily, toward Key West and Miami all the while threatening the lower half of the Floridian peninsula … I would hope the US would take care of business swiftly and powerfully. Even to the point of overthrowing Castro and helping the Cuban people determine their course as a nation. This example does not translate beyond the immediate crisis and even there it’s incomplete. Even so, I think it is worth making the comparison.

Earlier I tweeted …

… praying for the innocent on both sides of the Gaza conflict.

So while you can put me firmly in the Pro-Israel camp, I cannot dismiss that Rateb’s family (? … don’t know where they are right now) and friends are facing one of the scariest nights of their life. Whether Hamas brought it on themselves or not … I pray God’s will and protection for the innocent … justice and mercy for us all. While I think Israel is doing the right thing, my heart is saddened thinking about Rateb and his family.

I am personally glad that the Son has come and we can take refuge in Him. On this side of the Cross the above mentioned Psalm takes on the added dimension of God’s grace and mercy. Even so, it reminds me to revere (fear) a Holy and Just God. I pray the world leader’s will not rage against Him and will seek His counsel.

Photo credit: FoxNews

Thought Cloud For January 3, 2009

• The essence of Christianity - I love the Trinity.
• Online Friendship - Definition Defined in 2009 - vewy intewestink … thanks Fay!
• Dinner at El Coyote Sunday 01/04 - If I lived near there… I would totally go … well … if they’d let me.
• How To - Move From WordPress.com To WordPress.org - k… some of y’all need to do this. Just sayin’
• Censor Kitty … ::: laugh :::
• Meditating on God’s Word - Good ideas.
• happeh noo yeer frum ICHC! - it was all good but number 2 was very funny.
• Cat in the hat? - surprise ending but adorable all the same.
• 10 Hot Photography Tips and Tutorials from 2008 - very cool article … thanks Jonathan G.
• Time-Warner Vs. Viacom - I am all for dropping every single one of those cable channels. I don’t want them to begin with and like the feeling of not paying for their salaries.
• Bible Reading Plans -  just do it.
• Leave the Light On - New Years Note from Dr. Brown.
• Where the GOP is Could Be Better off than the Democrats - … and the cycle begins anew with the other side of the same coin.
• The Social Costs of Pornography - Very interesting and a wealth of information.
• The Top Ten Best (and Worst) Communicators of 2008 - Very interesting. Thanks for the tip Fay!
• Ten for the History Books from 2008 - … well … that was depressing.
• Fractured Christmas carols - I am laughing and depressed at the same time.
• Diddy Pays for Your New Year’s Cab Ride to the Next Bar - Hmmmm… I like that he wants to help with cab fare for people who have had a bit too much but … how many people actually drive out of Times Square on New Years Eve. Even if it is just one … and even if it is another way to advertise … if Diddy helps keep one drunk off the road, I am grateful.
• A Tough Dog to Train - Yeah… surprise ending on this one.
• SQUIRRELS + COFFEE - ::: laughing ::: and still laughing :::

Palestinian vs. Israeli Conflict … In Fort Lauderdale

This happened … like … three hours away from me. There are no words. Watch the whole thing. Thanks for the heads up Cat. Film originally made by watchobsession.org

Are You Wicked?

From today’s reading:

The Way of the Righteous and the Wicked

1 Blessed is the man

who a walks not in the counsel of the wicked,

nor stands in the way of sinners,

nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

3 He is like a tree

planted by streams of water

that yields its fruit in its season,

and its leaf does not wither.

In all that he does, he prospers.

4 The wicked are not so,

but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

[From ESV Online Study Bible | Crossway]

And here I thought that the wicked just melted … you know wicked + water = green squealy hissing puddle.

This passage got me to thinking about how you never hear the word “wicked” except in the context of being equivalent to “cool” or “groovy” or “extreme.” My New England friends are “wicked awesome” does not mean that they are awesome spawns of satan … it means they are cool/hip/fun. Saying I’ve got a “wicked headache” means it is really bad but not like satan himself has a talon stuck in your soul.

Although, with my migraines, sometimes I wonder. ::: one eyebrow arched :::

I never hear the word wicked used for like … wicked people or wicked acts.

Which then got me thinking, who in today’s world is wicked? Obviously there are wicked people … but … are you a wicked person? Do you walk with … scoff with … stand alongside … wicked people?

I mean it’s easy to peg Osama Bin Laden as evil. Maybe we can’t find him because he melted? ::: ponder :::

But I think it is probably going to be very hard for Westerners to say that they are or someone they know is wicked. Now I totally believe they have someone come immediately to mind … but they … we … would be very reluctant to say it.

In case you can’t think of a wicked person, I will introduce you to one.

Me!

Hi! My name is Randy and left to my own devices I am completely and utterly wicked. Now, you will be glad to know that I shower daily with an occasional bubble bath. So far I have not melted or blown away like chaff.

Hey! No fat jokes “watchers.”

In fact, the only thing that keeps me delighting in God, that keeps me meditating on His Ways and Word, that keeps my “leaf” green and life “fruitful” is the love, grace and faith afforded in my relationship with Jesus Christ. Even then I am quite capable of wickedness. As a matter of fact, I was wicked at least twice today. One involved a red light and a high need for me to stop and a high desire not too. The other was some selfishness of the heart that I need to surrender to God and spent at least two pages in my prayer journal working it out in my own head.

Some people would say that I am wrong to refer to myself as wicked. They might also say that it is wrong to consider others wicked in this age of grace (the New Covenant of Jesus’ atonement.) I am going to leave that to the Theologians. I know that I am a redeemed “saint” of God and that He no longer views me as a wicked person. At the same time, I don’t think God causes Himself to have amnesia or go into some codependent denial of my potential for wickedness. His Grace covers my past/current/earthly future propensity to do wrong. Thank God for Jesus and His Grace because that is the only thing that saves me from the wickedness of worshipping any number of things including self-sufficiency.

Also, under the new covenant I still must remove my own “plank” before removing another’s “speck” and that changes the whole plot line. Christians who forget their own need for a Savior are scary Creatures indeed. They are blind, uncomfortable to look at (get it … “look at” “plank eye”) and are in no position to help others “See.” (Capital “S” on purpose.) At the same time, that very same verse says that when we do remove the plank from our own eye, we can see clearly how to remove the speck from another’s eye. Meaning …

With proper humility before the Lord and our peers, we can help those who don’t See clearly come into Focus.

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