May 2012
14 posts
“Things often need to get worse before they get better.”
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness,...”
– Not one physical thing but rather characteristics.
Returning to the Pigpen
Often times I neglect all the good abundant blessings in my life in exchange for that one thing I can’t have.
I pout. I manipulate. I snarl. I become caustic.
The sinner within me grows stronger and I begin to shift my eyes away from God and good things He has provided and continues to provide for me.
I grow bitter. I become gollum. I don’t like being starved of what I want. I reject all things...
Paschal Troparion
Christ is risen from the dead, Trampling down death by death, And upon those in the tombs Bestowing life!
“It’s not about vision, it’s about obeying God in that next step, and...”
I Shall Believe
Come to me now
And lay Your hands over me
Will You find me tonight
Say it will be alright
And I will believe
Broken in two
And I know You’re on to me
That I only come home
When I’m so all alone
But I do believe
That not everything is gonna be the way
You think it ought to be
It seems like every time I try to make it right
It all comes down on me
Please say honestly You...
Vulnerability + Empathy
Vulnerability is the birthplace of change
Empathy is the antidote for shame
Maturity = Taking Responsibility For My Thoughts...
Deciphering Me
It’s love, it’s love that holds us We will be alright Its truth, its truth that shows us If we’ll walk in His light.
Serenity
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that You will make all things right
if I surrender to Your Will;...
Break me O Lord, For my flesh grows strong. Restore me gently O Lord, The way only You can.
“Practical works satisfy the body. Celebration satisfies the soul.”
– Joel
Impulse Control
“If you’re thinking about a fix or prescription you’re not really...”
April 2012
43 posts
The Source
It’s pointless to do anything in ministry unless we keep firmly rooted to the reason why we labor, live, move, and breathe. Jesus.
The one true source of our strength and wisdom.
By following the commandments:
1. Reading His word
2. Praying back to Him
3. Resting and sabbath
We can remain in the right state of mind. Preaching the Gospel to ourselves day by day. Falling in love...
“It’s ok if you’re a mess because you’re not supposed to have...”
Practice for Marriage
It seems weird but the best practice for being a husband is to be loving to your guy friends around you. No, not romantic love, but deep rooted commitment and sacrifice, patience, and presence.
Teachability
… is the most important thing to God.
Am I ready for God to show me a different way at any moment?
Will I humble myself and take it in stride, trusting in His goodness and control?
Guilt
So often those of privilege use their money to buy off their guilt. Throwing money at a problem until it no longer haunts their conscience until later.
Or fantasy and escape - into TV, pop culture, pornography, staying busy and averting our eyes.
I’m offender #1.
But there is another way. A more difficult way but one that brings more fruit. More lasting effect. More glory to God.
Deep...
“Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life.”
Pray
Anytime I feel a strong emotion what I should do is Pray.
Anger
Fatigue
Loneliness
Happiness
Sadness
Apathy
In all seasons, all circumstances, I should remain connected to Him.
Sometimes the best way to pray is to just sit and listen. When I shut up, He can begin to speak.
Rescue
Any relationship built upon ‘rescuing’ the other person doesn’t lead anywhere good.
There is only one Savior. His name is Jesus. He moves through everyone’s lives through the Holy Spirit.
All else are unworthy substitutes. Me included. You included.
There is no rescue unless it is found in Him.
Oakland Rising
Walking down Broadway on a Friday night, I have no more doubts.
God is doing something great in Downtown Oakland.
Now let’s bring that down to the 100s.
“Why are the liquor stores open till 11 at night but churches only open till...”
Strange Freedom
There’s strange freedom in committing to something.
So my future is set. I don’t need to worry anymore.
When I have made my choice, everything else is off the table. Then God can begin to move within these constraints. And I go deeper.
Deeper, not wider. A new feeling. A good feeling.
fulfilled covenant: No Middle Ground in Repentance →
sungyak:
Moralistic legalists view repentance as a means to avoiding God’s wrath. Liberal relativists view repentance as unnecessary. Both views are mistaken. So is the incorporation of both, swerving from repentance out of fear to not repenting at all. This third view is perhaps the most dangerous, for it…
Clear description of repentance. I pray I can repent out of humility and not...
Testimonies of peace
In the midst of a lot of angst, I am comforted by God.
I am experiencing peace that surpasses understanding.
Wow.
Perspectives: A Final Reflection
This Perspectives course has definitely changed me, but certainly in different ways than I first imagined when I enrolled. Coming into the course, I had been prayerful for God to show me His heart for the nations and His perspective on the context in which He was working in the world. In all actuality, I was keen on His election for me to go out into the mission fields of East Africa and China. In...
A Goal
Stop looking at other peoples’ happiness with disdain.
Encourage, love, nurture in all circumstances.
See beauty and joy for what it is. Even if it isn’t mine at the moment. It can be… if I choose to embrace it.
This is true friendship. This is true support. This is true love.
A Call
God’s call on my life is strong. He has placed resources and training in my midst so that I can utilize them and grow into a Kingdom worker. In Oakland. In the US. In the world.
This is His will for my life.
Yet so many times I feel like I lack certain things. Comfort, drive, skills, money, stability, acceptance, self-image, a significant other.
But my God is not a God of...
“Are the things you are living for worth Christ dying for?”
Accepting. Loving. Forgiving.
“Teaching heavy theology before one learns loving, childlike obedience is...”
Nothing really good happens after midnight.
I'm not in the business of fixing people, God is.
Stop forcing emotional intimacy with self. Direct...
To Him who knows all hearts in all wisdom.
Not mine of limited knowledge and temperament.
New Rule: Invest a Lot in a Little
Sow deeply
Be faithful to His call
Don’t let my eyes or mind wander
Grow friendships and water them in prayer and servanthood
Build the church
Restore relationships
Renew the city
Passive Aggressiveness is a Sure Sign of...
“I’m quitting Facebook because it makes me feel like a loser… I mean...”
– Heart-wrenchingly true.
Family
The constant upon which I can always rely on.
Thank You God, for an amazing privilege.
I pray I don’t take it for granted.
Stop serving with the mindset of "or else" and...
Romans 8:24-25
Now hope that is seen is not hope.
For who hopes in what he sees?
But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it in patience.
The freedom of singleness can be used to bless...
Relationship? Responsibility.
Marriage? More responsibility.
Kids? Even more responsibility.
Signs You Need to Grow Up
As a general rule, you lack self-control in your life. Whether it’s your spending habits, how much you eat, the amount of time you spend watching TV or your constant obsession with being online (checking email, Facebook, Twitter or YouTube), these are signs of immaturity, and are a crucial red flag that points to an inability to control your desires.
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You always play the...
Gold or Sand?
My own kingdom is made of sand and dust.
His is made of Gold.
To which will I sow to?
He is no fool to give what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.
2 Cor 4:5
We do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.
“The more we have learned to deny ourselves, to accept our weaknesses and to...”