Thoughts For The Journey

Puppy Love

2006-05-07T07:30:00.000-04:00

Well, we got a new dog about a week ago. Not that our dalmation is old, but we have been looking for one for our daughter for a while, and we had the opportunity to buy one last week. So, we did. We got a AKC purebreed golden retriever, who is seven weeks old. Her name is Zoie's Amber Glow or Zoie for short. She is awesome and our daughter is head over heels for her.

Anyway , it is said in numerous articles about the golden retriever that they are highly intelligent and love interaction with thier masters or owners. They also have a knack for wanting to please their owners or masters. I can see this in her already, but as you know puppies are puppies and the benfits of training and interaction with them usually are reaped years later. Zoie's favorite thing is to play in our flower beds which have the cypress mulch laid down in them. She loves the mulch. When I take her out to go tinkle, she immediatley goes for the flower beds and forgets the primary mission at hand. And for the most part, I calmly pick her up and put her back to the place where she needs to go tinkle. This process happens about 15 times everytime I take her out. Let her down, she goes for the mulch. Pick her up. Let her down, she goes for the mulch. Over, and over, and over. I get so fustrated because she just wont listen. But I can't get mad because she is just a puppy and doesn't know better yet. However, this sometimes leads to "accidents" in the house when I think that she doesnt have to go.

The subject of obiedience training and just the personality of a golden retriever has been stirring around in me for a while. Not that Zoie needs it, but, I wonder when exactly does she decide to obey me for the enrichment of our relationship together, and not just for obiedience sake? This process that I have been going through with her and her tinkling has opened my eyes to the process of obiedience and pleasing God.

Much like Zoie, I try and obey God for the most part. And when I was younger, I just obeyed out of fear that God would take something from me or punish me in some way. Much like the way I hope Zoie would feel after going back to the mulch for the 15th time. As my relationship with God grew stronger, I realized that doing the things that God tells me to do actually enriches my relationship with him. I actually want to do those things that he tells me. And, still there are times in my life where I too, have a mulch pile; a place I love to go to that gets me off track with my primary mission at hand. It is there that the self-seeking pleasure often gets me as dirty as Zoie does when she rolls around in the cypress mulch.

In my walk with God, the point where I started obeying for His pleasure, and His benefit was when I realized that when I should have been punished for "going to the mulch pile" for the 15th time he calmly picked me up and put me back in the very place where I needed to be to continue on with my primary mission. It was that revelation that makes me think about what John says in his gospel. John8:29 says "i will always do what pleases him." God is not some task master barking out commands like I do with zoie. He understands that we are human and tend to make the same mistake over, and over, and over. That is why i like to obey. Grace and mercy when i should get a pop.

Whip.........

Space Invaders

2006-04-27T20:45:00.000-04:00

I wanted to share what we talked about in our small group on Thursday night.

I feel the Holy Spirit tugging me, drawing me closer to him. I have no clue what this means, or what it even looks like. However, in the past month or so I have felt and gone through situations that bring the issue of my closeness, my intimacy with God, to the forefront of "Greg's
Agenda(s)". When we make the decision to become closer in our walk with God, it leads to a change in us. Always. Or, it leads us to choose whether to progress, or remain still. Progression leads to change, they go hand in hand.

In scriptures, we read about a man named Moses, who chose to progress in his walk with God. (Exodus 34:28) If we read this we realize a couple things.

1. If progression(closeness) leads to change there has to be a stimulant or desire to change. Moses' stimulant was the long list of promises and commands that God had just laid out to him. Look at them.
(Exodus 34:10-12) The Message Bible

I will work wonders that have never been created in all Earth.

I'm clearing your way by driving out Amorites, Caananites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.

Tear down alters. Worship only God-his name is The-Jealous-One- is a jealous God.
Do not make molten Gods.
Keep the feast of unleavened bread.
Every firstborn from the womb is mine.
Redeem each of your firstborn sons.
No one is to show up in my presence empty-handed.

There is alot more but you get the point.

God is setting up the peramiters of the covenant with Israel. God is, not another man. God.

God is moving into Israel's neighborhood. And this alone made Moses want more, more God, more. I think God gave him all he could handle. Scriptures say that his face glowed and everyone was afraid to get close. He was changing, progressing in a walk with God. Master...Creator...God.

This is how God wants us to be.

A lot of people want to feel the fire of God, The Holy Spirit, but are afraid to get close. The are afraid to get burned. If you ever have been burned by fire, two things happen.

1. It hurts like hell, and there is nothing to take the pain away, except time.
2. Where you are burned, it leaves a permanent mark.

Getting closer to God in your walk is going to hurt like hell. Why? Because you are human and he is God. As we progress closer there are things, emotions, hang-ups, sins, addictions, emotional battles, that we will have to let go of to progress toward the consuming fire of God's presence. The decision to go through this battle is where most of us decide whether it is going to be more pleasant to stand at a safe and comfortable distance to maintain a sense of warmth from God like we have been doing, or to go head first and let God's consuming fire burn the things that keep us away off. This is where I am at. I'm making the plunge, or maybe I'm letting God plunge in me.

Moses wanted to see God's glory because he realized that God wanted to be close to him.

Men dropped there nets because they were consumed by the realization that Immanuel, God with Us, Jesus, wanted to be close to us.

Rich men anguished over the battle to give up everything they built themselves out of; the hang-ups, the selfishness, the addictions, the corruption of thier minds, to be close to God.

And what makes me feel like I can do it is, that these guys are just like me.

Paul was one of these people. In the Book of Phillipians, Paul was as he says a Hebrew of Hebrews. The best God-fearing Jew in the land.

We have to take these things that we are, that we have accumulated, or become, whether "good" or bad, and treat them as dog dung. Why? To become closer to God. Paul says "I want to know Christ." I have said that millions of times. But what i rarely say is, I want to know what it is to suffer like he did. Create me to be discipined in your ways, to experience the liberation that salvation truely gives, which is not just forgiveness but wholeness, and mold me to be the creature that will go all the way, even if it means dying in the name of Jesus.

Paul didnt have it all together and he admitted it, even though he was "The Man". Why should we even think that we do. We are half the men that Paul was. But what he says is that he is on his way, he is progressing. He went all the way, till death for Jesus. Just read the new testament.
It seems like everytime you read about him he is in jail. The truth is, we have this open template of a story just waiting to be written about us. Just like Paul he went all the way.

Daniel's friends went all the way. You remember them. Shadrach, Meshach, and Nebendago.
In fact they told the King. "Your threats mean nothing to us. If you throw us into the fire, the God we serve can rescue us. But even if he doesn't, it wouldnt make a bit of difference, we still wouldnt serve your Gods or worship the gold statue."

I want for people to read about me like i just read about them. I want to be a story that when people think about God, they talk about me. Not to puff me up, but to let out this story of a God who came down to us and let us in on his plan and our parts in that plan.

Ive often heard people say, "Don't invade my personal space". "you see this circle? Dont cross it. Your too close."

Well God I'm about to invade yours and I brought my SPF 60 with me because i burn easily.
I have plenty for those who want to join me. Its a big bottle.

Let the invasion begin.

Whip......

Easter Greetings

2006-04-13T09:32:00.000-04:00

Hey all,

Just wanted to say hi and happy easter to everyone. I got a great opportunity last weekend to share in our church. My Dad was in church for the first time in ...well I cannot remember my Dad being in church. However, I choose to speak about connecting with God. It was rough since I was time-pressed all week, and didnt get some points out as much as I liked. The cool thing was is that his wife loved the church, which is always good! At lunch she even admitted to tearing up in one of our worship songs. Hopefully it wont be the last time they come to visit with us. Thanks to all for the support you give me when these times of speaking come around. It really uplifts me. And also, H thanks for the prayer. It meant a lot.

Whip.......

Alternate Route

2006-03-10T19:58:00.000-05:00

OK in an attempt for more exposure (Yea i know how lame) I am also posting on an alternate blog. www.myspace.com/thedustyscribe
I am currently working on a book/story which has most of my time. Sorry for the lack of input over the last month. However I'll be back scribing in a few.

Whip.......

Cherry Blowpops Unwrapped

2006-02-06T17:38:00.000-05:00

My daughter and I have lots in common. One is that we both love cherry blowpops. She loves the fact that she gets a two-for-one deal. Sucker and gum all in one. We will often go to the store and get a couple on my day off when she plays hooky from day care. However she needs help getting the wrapper off because between her little fingers and her short patience she has a little trouble. So after a couple minutes of wrestling with the wrapper and bending the stick up, she swallows her pride and asks me for help. It was in this situation that God spoke to me about several things.

I had a pastor friend who is involved in a real estate deal tell me the other day that he was sketching building plans out on a piece of paper. He was mapping out his vision for a cluster of buildings when he realized that he didnt have the money or resources to accomplish the vision, even though he has been working on this plan for years. So he put the paper down on his truck seat and prayed to God. "God I dont know how this is going to happen, I dont have the money to pay for it, but I know you can do it." Immediatley the phone rang and the plans that he had a hard time figuring out seem to be on the way to completion through this phone call.

In both situations there was a Father figure who gave something of great joy and importance to each person. I gave my daughter a blowpop, and God gave this pastor a vision. Both had trouble handling it on their own, both to the point of fustration. However, when my daughter gave the blowpop back to me, she was able to enjoy what I had to give her. When the pastor realized that the vision could only be accomplished by leaning on the outstreched hands of God, things seem to start to fall into place. If you are struggling with something in your life that seems to be out of control, or over your head, ask God for assistance. Remember, he is the one who gave you that blowpop in the first place. Dont get so fustrated that you compromise what you really want for something that is easier to do or to handle.

Just a few thoughts for the journey

Whip........

I'm lookin for a good pair of walking shoes

2006-01-20T13:19:00.000-05:00

It has been a while since my last post, however everything goes well.

Today I had an interesting "conversation" with God. During the past week there have been some situations that have come up that have made me mad, frustrated, and quite frankly pissed off. My apologies to those for the rudeness of my chosen words. I wont go into details to protect the privacy of those people of whom I shall speak of.
There is a aching in my spirit, the kind of aching that is best described as a dog that awaits patiently for his master to come home after a long day at work. Or put superspiritually, as a father awaiting the return of his prodigal son. I'm this way because the church plant that I am a part of is about an hour away from its master to bust through the door and send me out into the yard to play fetch. Or put superspiritually, I can see my son about a mile up the road on his way back from a long journey away from home and I cant wait to put my arms around him.

This week the aching has been worse than others, and what I thought was a piece of the big puzzle of our church plant coming together turned out to be something that seemed to fit, but unfortunately is going to fit into another puzzle, and that pissed me off and frustrated me for a bunch of reasons. With this in mind lets talk about my conversation with God. This very vague situation that I describe has been drilling away at my head for about a week now, so I questioned God on why the piece of the puzzle didn't fit. I was driving in my car venting to Him about all this when some song lyrics from my CD player interupted my tantrum. As I listened, I realized God was talking back to me through these lyrics.

Lyrics:

I don't understand your ways
Oh but I will give my song
give you all of my praise
you hold on to all my pain
with it you are pulling me closer
and pulling me into your ways

Now around every corner
up every mountain
I'm not looking for crowns
or water from fountains
I desperate in seeking, frantic believing
that the sight of your face
is all that I'm needing
I will say to you

Its gonna be worth it,
Its gonna be worth it all,
I believe this.
Its gonna be worth it,
Its gonna be worth it all,
I believe this.

What struck me was the lyrics in the chorus. The writer realizes that this life we live as Christians is not about crowning ourselves with the talents that God graciously gives us to edify the church. Its not even about seeking to be crowned "king worship leader","queen children's pastor",or "King Senior Pastor".The Holy Spirit is not a spiritual coke machine that we draw from when we are needing refreshment. These are the kind of things that I have seen in The American Church and have been purged out of my spiritual system.This is the reason for the aching I feel for the real thing to show up and bust throughout the doors into our church plant. Our lives as Christians are about seeking God. It is a journey. Journeys are hard, long, and require the patience and endurance to see them through.

With that in mind lets go back to what pissed me off. I can understand why Jesus used the term "those with ears let them hear what the spirit says to the church." With all the knowledge and wisdom of friends, pastors, and spiritual leaders it seems that some followers of God just don't get it. They don't get that seeking requires "seeking". Searching requires you to search. Following requires you to follow. All these things require action which in turn requires time. So there are some that I come in contact with that don't understand the concept of the process of the journey even though they have been spoonfed the same gospel as I have.

It is these Christians who often will settle for the crowns of righteousness as the finish line in their pursuit of ultimate spirituality. They consider these "titles" as careers, thus they seem to become the spoils of victory in Jesus. This thinking makes me upset. These crowns are the important spiritual positions that every Christian is tempted to acquire but few attain. It is unfortunate that these same people are the ones that often are the ones that lead us to the fountain to drink of the water from God. Now, there are some that do this with humility, however more often than naught these leaders often ban together and concoct a wild potion of spiritual gifts on Sunday in hopes of bringing down the Holy Spirit in a supernatural event. Now, once again, I love the presence of God, however those who seek to make Sunday as the day that you meet God and put pressure on themselves to perform their talents to somehow attract God's attention...Those are the ones I'm pissed off at. Those are the people who ,like the multitudes just took from Jesus. They didn't join him on the Journey. They didn't follow, they didn't seek, they just took from a gracious God who loved so much that he gave to all. These same people unfortunately are in our churches, at the alter Sunday after Sunday, taking instead of making the hard effort to follow. More often than naught they are lead by those who seek crowns and not sandals.

I am walking this journey, this wild adventure with the Holy One. That is why I ache. I ache because I am desperately seeking, frantically believing that the day I see his face is all I needed, is all I'm searching for. And I haven't seen it yet. I see blurry visions of Him, and it keeps me going. It is going to be worth it.

I say all this because God in our conversation told me our church plant aches as a whole because we don't seek crowns. We don't treat him like a vending machine. If you happen to stumble upon us, chances are you won't be able to tell who the pastor is, who leads worship, or who our awesome youth pastor is. We kinda like it like that. We move as one body together, caring for each other because we know that if one part is hurting or damaged, the whole is affected. People who search for crowns, who treat God as a vending machine, hurt the body. People who search, who walk, who seek, strengthen the body through their personal journeys, and stories of God in their lives. I love when God's presence fills our sanctuary, but that is not the end result of my relationship with him, like good sex at the end of a date. I love to pastor and teach our fellowship, however that is not the crown of victory for me. The crown is with Jesus up there in heaven, and it is a long journey to get there.
And God says to walk.. Because its going to be worth it all. All of our travels up the mountains and down in the valleys of our lives is going to be worth it one day.

I'm lookin for a good pair of walking shoes.

Whip......

Happy New Year

2005-12-31T23:43:00.000-05:00

May the our eternal God who is infinant, the Alpha and the Omega, He who was and is and is to come, our God who never changes yet continues to abide in us everyday of our lives, may he bring you peace, joy, comfort, and good tidings for the next 365 days of this grand scheme of our lives that He pens down in His unending story.

Whipp

Happy Berfday

2005-12-27T16:16:00.000-05:00

Yes today is my birthday, I am celebrating my 22nd birthday for the 13th time today.

I just hope i have enough breath in me to blow out all the candles.

WHIP......

Merry Christmas!!

2005-12-26T09:20:00.000-05:00

Hey yall....

Just wanted to say Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to everyone out there. We here at the house are recovering from the "Annual Toy Drop Off" for our little one. Hope you are having, and have had a great time with your family and friends during this holiday. Ill be writing soon. Drop me a line and let me know your out there so I don't think IM talking myself.

Whip....

VH1,tarnished badges, and the Da Vinci Code

2005-12-23T09:22:00.000-05:00

Well i was watching Tv the other day and caught a VH1 commercial that was pretty cool. It opened up with a bowl of mashed potatoes, then the narrorator went into this lengthy discussion on how they were going to spend all this money on making a mashed potato snowman, and use a claymation like technology to bring it to life and sing a carol or something. But then they decided to just show a bowl of mashed potatoes and spend the money they would have spent on the animation technology on Toys-for-Tots. Which leads me to my next subject, tarnished badges. When I was a child, I used to see these ambasadors from different organizations in our local christmas parade. You could tell them apart by the floats they were on, but more importantly you could tell them apart by the badge they wore. It had all the information right on the badge. Yesterday, I was driving and saw a sign with the words Jesus and a circle with a line through it. Kinda like the ghostbusters thingy. It caught my attention so I read it. It was a sign that was made by a christian organization opposing the making of the movie version of the Da Vinci Code.
At first it kinda made me happy, like YEA go get em!!! But, as I drove on home, it really struck me. Just what good can come out of opposing a movie?

I mean it seems like a good cause, but really what kind of people are these christian ambassadors representing? Me? You? I mean think about the money these people are raising, and time spent on opposing a movie that lies about Jesus and his upbringing. Some things come to my mind when I see this. First is that, what is the root cause of this opposition? Because if we were really ambassadors we would understand that our job is not to try and mold this world into opposing movies that wont make an impact on 75% of america. I mean are we afraid that the Da Vinci Code will lead some of our chrisitan brothers or sisters away from the faith? Surely not if they have the foundation of christ. Or, maybe we think that if more movies come out like this that our voice will become faint in todays society. Or maybe that the message of God will have no effect on the world today? Surely not. Or are we mad that someone would misrepresent Jesus and lead them to think another worldview of Jesus? Hmmmmm....

Now Im taking the last reason. Not that i think that way, but really what are we saying. Are we saying that someone has more influence and power than us? Come,now we are sons and daughters of God. We have the power of the Holy Spirit and words of God written on our hearts. If anyone is misrepresenting Jesus it it these organizations that oppose the Da Vinci Code, Holiday Trees, and nativity scenes. I dont see many organizations in Jesus' time or shortly afterward going to court or opposing people for talking trash about Him. It just seems like these Christian organizations don't get it. They dont get that He was about compassion, helping, healing, and teaching about the great love of God for us. What are these organizations teaching when they picket and put up signs on the highway in the name of Jesus? Makes me wonder if they even know Jesus. They dont get it.

Vh1 gets it.... They chose to spend thier resources on helping those who need help, instead of spending thier money on pushing thier agenda in a commercial. Just think of all the kids and families that these Christian organizations could help with the money that will be spent on opposing the Da Vinci Code movie. Someone get me a cloth to shine thier tarnished badges.

Whip....

Christmas vs. Christmas

2005-12-09T14:17:00.000-05:00

Well i wanted to throw out a lil something to chew on for you all today. It seems that Christmas is losing some of its luster. This is true especially among us adults as we get older. The meaning of christmas is getting lost in the shuffle in my opinion. It is not that we dont understand that it is a time of giving and sharing, but however if we really choose to participate 100% with our hearts. I love this time of year because i get to give gifts. However, there are those that is see, and even in my family who use the Christmas holiday as a time of buying necessities for people. Now this is not bad mind you, but the whole meaning of christmas looses its luster. We go from asking ourselves what does a gift recipient want to asking ourselves what does that person need. Now mind you again this is not bad. There are things that i would love to get for christmas that i really need. But.......The greatest satisfaction i get is when my wife opens up a present from me that she has no clue of what it is, because it was not a pre-determined present by us or wasn't on the "I need this X-mas list". So when buying presents this year, stop and think about what someone would go "really coo-coo" over as my daughter would say. It puts everything in perspective. After all, God did the same for us when he sent Jesus down. He soo loved us the scriptures say. Show that love to someone this holiday whether in present form or in service form, like i said it puts the real meaning of Christmas back in your heart.

Whip............

2005-12-05T20:47:00.000-05:00

Hey Jon from Lystra's Silence!!!!

2005-12-03T18:46:00.000-05:00

Hey Jon thanks for postin on my blog. I was just going through some old posts and came across yours. My CD player begs me to play another CD, however my car speakers always win the arguement with the sounds of your music pumping through them. If you are ever in the Charleston area we would love to cook for you again, it was a blessing for us. Thanks once again and Merry Christmas

Whip..........

Turn the cheek

2005-12-03T17:36:00.000-05:00

My good friends, as we enter into another season of giving and sharing, (ie. showing the love of Christ to the world) let us carefully consider our responses to the "war on Christmas". I have been for the past couple of weeks mad, angry, sad, and amused at what I see and hear in reference to the rights( and offenses ) of celebrating or even calling this time of the year Christmas. In my humble opinion, if you really stood back for a good couple of minutes or days or hours, and surveyed what is really going on you probably wouldn't get as upset up as some of our fine christian brothers and sisters. Yes, there is a definite shift in our culture as it pertains to this time of year, but then again that is not a newsflash. People have been taking Christ out of their lives and preventing their conscious from thinking about him from the beginning of time. It is however, increasing at a rapid pace in these last days. Yes, there are businesses and important voices of our generation blatantly renaming such cultural icons as Christmas Trees to Holiday trees. They are trying to make laws against religious scenes such as the nativity scene, which seem offensive to those who don't want to have a reminder of the birth of Jesus Christ in their rear view mirrors. I could counter these people and businesses with their own behaviors which are offensive to me, but I am going to turn the other cheek per say.

Why? Well if you did stand back and survey the mess that Christmas time is now you would see that it is more about the attack of our faith in Jesus rather than the trivial arguments of Holiday Trees or Christmas trees, or the right of nativity scenes in our yards. Really now think about it. Arguing and bickering about these things seems like the right thing to do, but is it going to change the fact that Jesus is the Savior? If it does in your mind then you are doing the exact thing the enemy wants you to do. The world around us is going to get worse. The challenges to Christians in America are going to get tougher. If next year the government or businesses did not recognize Christmas, outlawed nativity scenes, and only made holiday trees, would it be the end of the world for you? Would it change the fact that you are saved, loved by the God of the Universe, filled with His spirit, and sent out to do the things that Jesus did? No, I didn't think so.
That is why it takes all that is within me to overcome my feelings of taking a bat to those who treat the day we honor and remember the gift of Jesus as October 4th. Just another day. But, be rest assured that this world we live in will not quickly give up on holiday we call Christmas too soon. It is the one holiday that sometimes makes or breaks a corporations profitability, and we know how that corporations will do everything to entice Americans to love and bow to the Almighty Dollar.

So now we know that it is an attempt by the Enemy and those who he controls, prods, and directs to somehow steal, or suppress your faith in Jesus. Remember to fix your eyes on those things that are eternal not here on earth. Have a Merry Christmas...and turn the other cheek.

Whip........

Back Again

2005-12-02T15:22:00.000-05:00

Hey guys,

I've had a wild couple of weeks since I was last on. Went to my grandmas funeral in good ole' Valdosta GA. Also had another crash of my CPU. But during the time away from the web God has really been close and I'll be sharing some stuff online in a few. Trying to get my thoughts together so I can best communcate them well.

Whip...

Grandma Ray

2005-11-04T00:22:00.000-05:00

It has been a tough week for us here at the house. On Tuesday my grandmother passed away. Her name was Eloise Ray and she was i believe 93 years of age. We will be going to her memorial service on Saturday. I will be speaking in the service so pray for me so I can communicate the message of God to those in attendance. I will tell yall about it when I get back on Monday.

Whip.....

"Your going into the ministry, right....?"

2005-10-16T16:06:00.000-04:00

This is one of the most asked questions I get when the topic of my "pastorization" comes up. This question used to fustrate me to no end because by God's standards, I was already a minister. My answer to this question was always based along the standards that our present society that thinks that ministry is a "occupation" could dictate. My answer used to be:

1. I am in seminary and just waiting for God to "open the door."

2. I have graduated my internship and am "waiting on the Lord."

3. I am working in a church plant. (Which then the next question would be "So, your part-time then, right....?") Which would lead to :

4. When our church gets big enough then I'll go into the ministry.

So from this set of answers my conversation with the person or persons listening would severely dive south. In their eyes, I haven't made it to the standard that they were looking for, possibly even to answer a question or two. I was just a common church goer, or at best a bible student.
Which both could be, and are, admirable in some circles of our society. I would often shy away from conversations about God because of this "pressure" to fulfill my divine destiny. How absolutely lame of me...

So today, I am in conversation with a co-worker, and what do you think comes up on a Sunday morning? But of course, God-talk. So with my guard up I proceed to get involved with a person who isn't a Christian ( I assume, God forgive me if she is) about God. And of course, the question is asked... "It's Sunday right?", my friend asks. "Yes, today is Sunday", I said. " I thought you went to church." "I do", I said. And then it happens, "Your going into the ministry, right....?"
But, Instead of answering from answer 1, 2, or 3. God opens up a new answer. Its like he took over my mouth

"I am in ministry, I am a minister." This answer made her head do a double take because, in her mind, I the Bakery Manager am now a pastor, working on a Sunday. I see the wheels turning in her head. Which leads her to, "how are you a minister and not at church now." From this I got to explain how every Christian is a "minister" and has the duty to preach, just like a Pastor, the message of Jesus Christ. And then I got to explain how even on my job, I am a minister because God has put me in a place to be his representative to show the love and grace of Jesus. And from then I was able to further explain how, it didn't matter to me whether or not I will be able to work "full-time" in a church because maybe my whole purpose was to "preach" here at my place of employment. Pretty cool huh.

I just want to encourage those out there who are like me and have not "attained", either by the modern church's standards, or society's standards, the occupation of "ministry." God has shown me countless times how my education in seminary and my internship has, and will pay more dividends outside of the church alters and pews. I know that there are many who have the vision for a position at the pulpit. It will come. However, sometimes God has to work some things out in you, and more importantly use you in society, to work some things out in the people whom he loves so much. Keep up the work of the ministry.

Whip..........

Carribean Vacation

2005-10-13T15:45:00.000-04:00

I have been writing off the blog for a couple weeks on a couple of "longer" stories that God has placed on me. Sorry if there are any out there who have been wondering where I am at. However, I do want to share a few thoughts on this old hymn that I was recently introduced to. I listen to a guy called Robbie Seay every now and then, and he sang this hymn.

Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me

Jesus, Savior Pilot me
Over life's tempestous sea;
Unknown waves before me roll,
Hiding rock and treacherous shoal.
Chart and compass come from Thee;
Jesus, Savior, pilot me.

As a mother stills a child,
You can hush the oceans wild.
Boisterous waves obey thy will,
When you say to them be still.
Wonderous soveriegn of the sea;
Jesus, Savior, Pilot me.

When at last I near the shore,
and the fearfull breakers roar,
grant me long and peaceful rest.
Then while leaning on on thy chest,
May I hear you say to me;
Fear not, I will Pilot thee.

As you can probably deduce it is a hymn for sailors, which leads me into our conversation.

Last year God blessed us with the ability to take holiday on a cruise to the carribean islands. It was a great time spent with friends and of course with my wife. Every morning my friend and I would wake up and sip coffee on the balcony while the cruise ship would enter the port of call for that day. On one particular day i noticed that we did not just slip into port, but waited on a small boat that transported a man on to the ship before we then went in. I questioned one of the crew about this later in the day and he explained that the man was a harbor pilot.

Harbor pilots, you see guide the ship through very difficult stretches of water and dock these huge ships into the bays and rivers and harbours that vacationers visit. They are allowed entry into the heart of the ship, and the ability to command these huge multi-million dollar vessels, because they know the currents, and the depth and height of the harbour's rocky floor in any given location. The captian has to give up control of his ship that he has spent sometimes years learning how to steer and manuver into the hands of someone who he rarely sees or sometimes knows. All of a sudden I get the vision of handing over the keys of my car to a 18 year old valet at the local hotel. This must be how the captian feels as this pilot comes out to meet him on the outskirts of the dangerous harbor and its currents. However, this pilot knows how to perfectly steer the boat into position and guide it through the rocky shoals and breakers of the harbour. It is a stark contrast to the 18 year old valet who drools at the turbo decal on your ride and speeds off into the parking garage.

With this said, you can start to see how this hymn is affecting me. Jesus being the pilot, comes out to meet us before we get into trouble. He asks permission to "come aboard" into the heart of these "vessels" that we have that take us on the journey's of life. He then guides us through the tough times, the tight situations that we encounter, so that we can get to our proper destinations without significant harm to our "vessels". He only does this after we give up control of the ship, this ship we have spent a lifetime mastering on our, training, knowledge, and human wisdom.

It is amazing to see these pilots in action. If you ever go on a cruise you should wake up early one morning, sip some coffee with one of your best friends, and watch as the ship you are on is guided through the port or destination of call effortlessly by someone you rarely see or know.
It is my prayer that if or when you come to a difficult time in your life, and you see Jesus or maybe even a christian friend of yours come up beside you and offer assistance, let them come aboard and guide you through the difficulties that are presented before you.

Whip.........

Na na na boo boo

2005-09-29T21:35:00.000-04:00

Ok i totally feel like a 9 year old right now. I was just given a mark eugene grace rookie card from my bradda (who unfortunatly has not repented of the sinfulness of yielding to the temptation of rooting for the Cardinals) . If he only knew the value that it holds. Please hold him up in prayer as we ask God to turn his ways to those of the friendly confines of the sanctuary that we all know and love dearly.......Wrigley Field. Na Na Na Boo Boo Tim... Go Cubs ummm next year.

Whip.....

"The Rip"

2005-09-26T17:43:00.000-04:00

When I was younger I was a pretty good athlete. However, I did not participate in the run of the mill sports offered in High School. There is a huge difference in high school sports between the northern states and the states in the south that I have lived in. There is more of a "variety" of sports I find in the north than in the south. One such is boys gymnastics. When I used to live in Chicago I was on the high school gymnastics team. Boys team that is. I was pretty good as there were many gymnastics clubs around the state that supported boys gymnastics from age 4 until 18. However when I moved down south after my freshman year of high school I found that gymnastics was for girls and that it not only was a sport, but was only included in a dance class if your princess was able to afford them. Anyway enough of my venting.

When we used to work out and practice our routines in the gym our hands went through a lot of stress and strain. To make things easier on them we used hand grips that were made out of leather that helped us hold on the the high bar and rings events. Well if you were not fortunate enough to have these or you had a very sick coach who wanted to toughen up your hands, you would eventually get these huge calluses at the palm of your hand underneath each finger and thumb. After months of building up these calluses on your hands so that you could grip the bars and rings there would come a moment that every gymnast dreads, "The Rip".
The rip was the most awful feeling, and sometimes looking, thing that gymnasts go through. (besides breaking a leg or arm or running into the vault). The rip was bloody and nasty and it stung to the point that you couldn't do anything for the rest of the time of practice. The rip you see, was the calluses on your hands becoming so big that... The tension and friction caused by the twisting and swinging hands on the bars rips it off your palm, exposing raw untouched skin. Yeah...Ouch is right. All the way down to the white meat as they say. It actually looked like someone ripped part of your palm away from your hand. That is why you might see some gymnasts filing there hands with fingernail files to keep the calluses down to a manageable level.
This picture I have just painted you leads me to places in many parts of scripture where this same event, in a way happens with the Jews and then to Christians as well. For the Jew God commanded them to circumcise themselves. This was part for cleanliness, but more importantly to foreshadow to them of a unique closeness to God that no other man could feel. Truly a feeling that cut through physically to expose the most tender part of the body, and emotionally to expose the most tender part of the soul, the heart.

For the Christian a callous represents stubbornness, sin, and separation from the feeling of love from God. Kinda like when God talks about a hardened heart. Nothing can get through it. That is why we learn about having a tender heart so we can feel no separation from the feeling of God's touch and to our souls. Imagine what it would feel like if I never had calluses and always swung on the bars without getting a blister. I could feel everything on the bar, the circumference, the diameter, even the nicks and cracks on the bar itself. That is how God wants us to feel with Him. He wants a relationship where there is nothing that is in the way, no leather grips, no calluses, just the hand and the bar in perfect synchronsity. So what about the rip you say?????

The rip represents God's ability to take away the sin of our lives. He is the bar that we swing from. With the bar we can do twists, flips, and handstands. But as we become accustomed to the bar sometimes we take it for granted, we use it for our good, and we find better ways in our own minds for us to swing from the bar. Kind like using leather grips for stability. All this leads to that dreadful day when our separation becomes to much for us and God rips away the dead useless junk away to expose the tenderness that he so desires to feel. Our tender heart. It is at this point that most of us find ourselves, Away from the bar. We look at our bleeding hand and wonder if the pain of swinging again without a callous is worth the accomplishments of what we can do in unison with the bar. That is why we must always try and file down as much sin and separation from our God as possible. Yes it hurts more than having a tough calloused person, but, wouldn't you want the satisfaction of knowing that you are feeling what is real and good and true? The other alternative is having to remember way back when on days of old when you were close and try to swing going through routines that you halfway feel. And that is what a callous is, dead skin that separates your tender skin from anything it touches so it can "handle" the feeling. And that my friends is another definition of sin, a callous that separates our tender hearts from feeling the closeness of the circumference and diameter of Gods love for us.

Let God rip it off.........

Grace

2005-09-21T10:50:00.000-04:00

No matter where I am
No matter where I hide
I cant fight this feeling
That you put inside

Take me to the place
The place where we meet
Surrounded by your presence
And the love that covers me

Your all I've ever had
Your all I've ever needed
Your love surrounds
And It covers me

No matter where I am
No matte what I've done
Can I feel the presence
Of the Holy Son?

Take me to the place
The place where we meet
Surrounded by your presence
And the love that covers me

Your all I've ever had
Your all I've ever needed
Your love surrounds
And it covers me

Joseph's Journey

2005-09-20T20:37:00.000-04:00

When I think of where I am, where I've been, and where I'm going to....
This pit I find myself in is nothing new.

Digging out is half the problem
The pain reminds me of the peace that is in you.

Take me out
Hold my hand
Lead me on
Help me stand

Brush my feet and gather my cloak.
It's time to walk
My spirit is broke

The love and acceptance that comes from repentance pushes me to the brink
Help me Lord to reach you now i need another drink.

Traveling to the well my feelings and emotions begin to swell
As you sit and wait for my return, for this Lord, my love begins to burn.

To your feet Lord I bow
Accept me please here and now

I've traveled your path
Receive me now

Restore me
Fill me
Heal me now

Detox

2005-09-19T17:04:00.000-04:00

Well on a serious note I wanted to write about the subject of detoxification and our walk with God. There are some areas in my walk that God has pointed out in a way that can only be described as " don't go there anymore". And of course these are the areas that are the constant struggle within myself between the Good Greg and the Bad Greg. What's even worse is that I know that to actually repent of something is do a u-turn and walk the other way, so the war between good and evil starts at the first step of the turn. So with this the battle ultimately is initiated by me. So far so good. But, as I begin to walk I realize that the cravings of the old Greg become bigger, the burden of temptation is heavier, and this is where battles for good sound men and women of God are won or lost. It reminds me of a couple things, one is that repentance is a process of weeding out areas in your life that are taken up by things that are not godly. The other is the story of Lot's wife. In this process of "not going back" many Christians are in the struggle of whether or not what is behind you is better than what is in front. Even with divine intervention, Lot's wife and her desires lead her back to what was #1 for her. Everything she had was in Sodom. The thought of losing something that was so close and real was more than the idea of following someone, who in her eyes, was not as close and real to her as it was to Abraham.
So what about detox? Well ask anyone who has been through chemical dependency
detox, and I think you know what I'm talking about. From what I've seen it is a pretty harry experience. The body so dependent on the chemical that has been a part of the normal function of the being will rebel against itself. But as the days of not having the chemical draw longer the body miraculously recovers and once again returns to normal function. They call it "being clean". For the Christian we live a similar experience. The body so dependent on sin will rebel against itself and make the being seem like the only way to stay alive and well is to do the one thing that will ultimately kill it. Just like Lots wife. Poof! A pillar of salt. But if we choose to live and walk day by day, ultimately we will overcome our sinfulness."But, Greg" you say. "We are not confined to a padded room and supervised daily." Yes this is true, it is harder to live "on our honor" without depending on our sinful addictions to help us cope. But remember we are no longer addicts feenin for a hit, we are spiritual beings filled with the same spirit that rose Jesus from the dead. The same spirit that conquered not only that thing that keeps wanting to turn your head back to turn you into a grotesque pillar of nothing, but every sin that wants to get into your path on the way to the destination that God has for you.
I guess that is where I am at. In detox. Am I a terrible person? Do i do terrible things? No more than the average guy. But, God has not called me to be average. God has called me to loose my life, Greg's life, So I can preserve the life that God is leading me on. Do I feen? Yes. Absolutely. To be comfortable is better than to work, but God doesn't want sloths. In fact he doesn't even associate with them. The only hope I have, we have, is that Jesus promised us he would never leave us nor forsake us. He also said he would send His Spirit to guide, to walk, to talk, to reprimand, and to comfort us so that when the battle comes we can lean on Him to help us through the body's temptation to rebel against "being clean."

Interactive Post

2005-09-19T17:03:00.000-04:00

Well here is something for you all to chew on. I decided to use this as a discussion starter. Here it is

Church is_______ ( you fill in the blank)

I am officially bone-ifide

2005-09-19T16:54:00.000-04:00

Hey yall,

Just am getting back on. Had a long weekend. Lynn and I with the help of our bud Larry got an awesome opportunity this weekend to cater dinner for a youth event here in charleston. We served dinner for the rapper T-Bone, the band Lystra's Silence, and Membaz Only on Saturday night. It was pretty cool. Didnt get to meet the Bone but Lystra's Silence were cool cats. (And they loved our food). The concert was pretty good. Lystra's silence was by far the best band overall. Couldnt here what T-Bone was saying. His sound man was having issues along with the DJ. But all in all kids were saved(which is the main goal) and a good time was had by all. I do want to say how proud I am of those in the church who came and who were volunteers for the event. Everywhere I looked there was someone from faith working the merchandise tables or feeding hungry guitar players or workin security. This might not be such a big deal to some, however considering the size(or lack of) our church we definatley made our presence known.

Recovery

2005-09-09T11:57:00.000-04:00

Hey Im back. After a long stint offline with a pc virus im back in the saddle. I have been watching the Katrina stuff as well as spending alot of alone time with God. Went on a vacation with my family to seaworld. Hopefully we will get some pictures up. Shoot me a line and let me know you are out there.

Whip....

On Sandberg and Lauren's Hall of Fame

2005-08-02T21:03:00.000-04:00

For those of you who know me personally, you know that I am a huge Cubs fan, so Sunday was a big day for me. Finally my childhood baseball idol was inducted into the hall of fame. As i grew up watching Ryne play at Wrigley Field, the phrase "future hall-of-famer" was tossed around in conversations surrounding Ryne. So Sunday my brother and I(who named his son after Ryne) were set to watch his speech. After speeches by other inductees he was set to go. This was the big moment. We were huddled around the TV at my mom's house ready to hear what this hall-of-famer had to say. Suddenly my daughter burst into the living room, "Daddyyyyyy its time to go saawimmin!" in her best Lizzie Mcguire attitude. I did promise her that we would go swimming, and it is one of the few activities that tend to bond us together. I tried to shoo her away as Ryne stepped up to the podium. But the instant that I opened my mouth, I heard and felt deep within God speaking. "You watch and admire this man for his achievements and set him in a place of honor, your actions with your daughter will do the same, or not, in her eyes."
I got up from the couch and went straight to the pool. I didnt even look to see what my brother's reaction was(though I think it was something like a deer in headlights), however in some way I felt that it might have made an impression on him. Some things are more important in life than others. I just hope that my actions, good and bad will be imbedded in my daughters mind and thoughts when that time comes when she looks at me like I looked upon Ryne Sandberg. I hope that she talks in a hall-of-fame like attitude and view when ever people talk with her about me.

Many men will drink the rain, but turn to thank the clouds.
Many men will hear you speak, but they will never change thier minds.
But I will not forget you, you are my God and King. With a greatfull heart I bring my offering.

Col 3:3
You should have as little desire for this world as a dead person does. Your real life is in heaven with Christ and God.

Dogs in Heat

2005-07-17T22:38:00.000-04:00

Having a dog for a pet is probably one of the most underrated rewards of living as a human being. They are a constant source of companionship, they are reliable (more than some of our human friends), and because of that these traits become an intrigal part of our lives. In our human relationships, the more you spend time with one another the more you expose and are exposed to quirks, personality traits, and overall general mannerisms of each individual. The relationship between man and dog is no different.

I have an 11 year old dalmation. Actually its not technically mine, it was given to my wife before we were married as a graduation gift from college. My wife and I have been together for 16 years between dating and marriage and Speckles has become a welcome addition as our relationship blossimed to what it is now. Over the years I have noticed certian quirks and personality traits that truely make this dog one of a kind. One of the traits is that she hates cold weather. Luckily we live in South Carolina where true winter-like conditions last for about 2 weeks in February every year. She is the ultimate "heat mooch". She has been known to be found asleep in the laundry basket of freshly dried sheets. She is known for her insistance of sleeping in the bed, under the covers, and plastered to your side for HER sleeping pleasure. This of course does not make for a good nights sleep if you are insistant on keeping her out of the bed. She will "cold-nose" you, grunt, and try and dig her way to the ultimate source of comfort and pleasure, which is your body heat.
But this does not compare to the most hilarious of all heat mooch mannerisms which is her uncanny knack of finding, and napping in the space where the sun shines through the windows of the house.

In our previous residence, our house was built with many windows both upstairs and down. This allowed for maximum exposure to sunlight. After 2 or 3 years of living in our house, Speckles had mastered the art of finding the "secret place" where the sun would shine through the house. It was her special private space, her private time where nothin else mattered, and she cared about nothing. The lengths that she would go through to get into the spaces was comical. I would come home from work sometimes in the afternoon and find her on our sleeping on our stairs. Her head was on the top set and her body on the lower just to get to that place where the sun shone through the window at that specific time. She would sleep on the top of couch cushions, on tile floors(which she hated because there was nothing comfortable about tile), & even brave sleeping in the middle of the living room floor while the baby raced by her in a walker. It wasnt until one day when I was home off from work that I noticed the lengths that she went to get into the light. She would follow, in circuit-like motion, the sun from room to room until it became night-time just to get into the sun.

I think we can learn a good lesson from this. My dog will do anything it takes to get into the sunlight. She will risk falling down stairs, she will risk a toddler racing over her tail in a walker, she will climb the heights of our couch backs to get into the sun. And when she is in it, there is nothing you can do to get her out. No scooby snack or frosty paw is going to lure her out of the secret place. She knows the exact location and time of where in every room the sun will be during the course of the day. She puts herself in postition to recieve the basking glory of the sun pelting her till she falls into a state of eternal bliss.

We as Christians as supposed to hate separation from God. As believers we are told to be "in Christ". Actually the word translates in some portions of scripture as "clothed in righteousness" so that his power might be evident in our lives. But, for some reason, we have a hard time finding the light, getting into that "secret place" where nothing else matters, where the Son shines on us and through us. It is almost as if we live our lives in a big house with many rooms, and we only catch a short period of time where the Son shines through a window of light. We wait for that special time where God in our minds coincidentaly crosses our path. We need to be like my dog. We need to position ourselves, to strategize, to take hold of opportunities. to learn when and where to be so we can be in the Light. It becomes a lifestyle of continually moving in circuit-like motions to stary within, to clothe ourselves in the Light of the Son. As believers, there is no substitute for a mindset and life where the comfort and healing warmth of the Son, where the enveloping heat protects us from the cold reality of the world around us. It is a time where visions flourish, where dreams come true, where the healing qualities of the Son energize our bodies, where our darkest fears subside in the comfort of the Light of Day.

For those reading who maybe do not know, this Jesus that we follow and claim as God provides us with this comfort, this protection, this peace that passes all of our understanding. Maybe you feel like your life is one where you are lost in a mansion of many rooms and the only comfort is the one where there is chance encounters with the light that pours from above through the windows of your life. Learn from this dog. Position yourself, strategize, take some time out and step into the light and see how it feels. Step into that secret place with God where all believers seek to be. It is a place where the comforting warmth of His love casts away the coldness of your fears. It is a place where dreams and visions you have for your life become tangible. It is a place that drives you to seek and plan out how to become continually clothed in his love.

He is a refuge for the poor, a shelter from the storm.
He will wipe away your tears, and return your wasted years.

He is a father to the orphan, a healer to the broken.
He brings peace to our madness, and comforts our sadness.

He is a fountain to the thirsty, a lover for the lonely.
He brings glory to the humble, and crowns for the faithfull.

This is our God. Step in and see what your missing.

The return of the scribe

2005-07-17T22:17:00.000-04:00

Hey guys,

Wow has it been a month since ive been here? Sorry to be gone for such a long time. I have taken some time off to just chill a while during the summer. In our small group we have taken time out of study and spent a time of fellowship going to Tim's daughters swim meets. I felt it is important for Tim's daughter (as well as mine) to see that we are involved in every part of thier life, not just their spiritual life. I felt that validity of what we preach in the gathering times on Sunday and Thursdays must be shown in order to make a mark in our childrens lives.
It is one thing to love someone in your heart, but another to love in our actions. I know Tim's daughter was a little embarassed about us being at the swim meets in the begining. My vision for her as well as the the other youth that we interact with is that we will show a validity of the message of the gospel by showing our support for them in the non-spiritual aspects of thier lives week after week. Hopefully will plant a seed in their hearts as we continue to follow this wild-eyed crazy preacher that Jesus was. It was truely awesome to cheer her on and then rejoice with her as she showed off her ribbons for excellence.

The Price of Peas

2005-06-06T17:00:00.000-04:00

Here they come.... Like a brewing rainstorm they thunder across the land. Though they come against me as One, I feel a peace within. My patriots, my people have left my side. I alone am left to face the Enemy.
As a child I grew up playing war with other children as our fathers went to fight this same Enemy. When I was younger, I was David slaying the Champion Goliath. Now my dreams have come full circle. I am David's warrior fighting the same Enemy. Could I do the same? All my life I have heard, I have been taught, I have scribed the glorious deeds of God. Is this what my life has come to encompass?

This is my destiny. This is part of my lot, and I accept my order. I will honor my God and My King. They shall not come one step across this field. May this day be as the Day of Moses & The Red Sea. May this day's ending be the same as my master Davids' as he tore off the head of Goliath. Be glorified my God on this day. I see them coming and I do not feel alone anymore. 1,2,3,4,5 they shall fall as the timbers of lebanon. I feel my help, my strength, It is the Lord.

No...No...NO!!! Not this time. The days of the Enemy encroaching on Jehovah's land end this day. I See You!!!! You band of raiders. You plunder land that is not yours. You kill the righteous of the Lord, You destroy what our hands till!!!

No...No.. Not today. This day the Lord will destroy the whole lot of you!!
Though my help has deserted me, my hope rests upon the Mighty Hand of the Lord. Do you not remember?? Have you not been told??? Have you not seen the deliverance of God? Through Him it was David, my king,which psalms are written and songs sung about the glorious victories he stores up for Jehovah. Have you not heard the wives of your dead repeat the prayers of the Israelites as they drag the wretched carcasses of your dead back to your pits? Surely the same will be sung over your rotten souls.

This is my field, my land. Though famine and wars destroyed this lot, You
God alone have restored its life. You trust me with it, and I shall not dishonor my portion. I will defend what little you give to me. I shall defeat
the Enemy. Not one pea shall be eaten, nor shall one of the Enemy be spared. May you oh Lord be glorified.

Many are those who rise against me.
Many are those who say to me, "There is no help for him in God".
But You, Oh Lord are a shield for me, my Glory and the One who lifts my head. I cried to the Lord with my voice, and he heard me from His holy hill.
I lay down and slept.
I awoke for the Lord sustained me.
I will not be afraid of the 10,000 of people who have set themselves against me.
Arise O Lord, Save me Oh My God, and he will slap them in the face, he will insult them and break off thier teeth. Salvation belongs to God. Your blessing is upon your servant.

Here they come. I am not alone. This is my field. Not today.....Not today.

2 Samuel 23:11

War On christian soldiers.........

War On..From the Beachhead

2005-06-05T17:00:00.000-04:00

During the past couple weeks I have been sensing a certain feeling in the air from believers around Charleston as well as the country. As I sat in our small group Thursday, it came again like a pungent smell of perfume sprayed on to much. It is a feeling of a fight, like the kind of fight you get in when some unfortunate person talks about your momma. I feel it too...

When I was about 12 or 13 years old I was involved in the only physical fight of my life (outside beating on my little brother) that I can recount. I had a friend who everyday would pick on me in one fashion or another. Everyday that I walked up to catch the bus, I could count on him making fun or pushing or just being a perfect ass to me. Everyday my anger built up. He was bigger than me, older than me, and I just took the abuse
. Till one day..
I remember it even now as I type. I walked up to the bus stop and this "friend" immediately went into his little mental abusive state of mind on me. He began his tirade with the name calling, and then the little physical intimidation, and then something about my height. His actions pushed me into a place where my anger, my pride, my weakness, and my strength were all mixed together in a volatile concoction that erupted like a volcano. No more, no way, no how, not any more I thought. I snapped..

I quickly wiggled my bookbag off my back and began to swing wildly at him. Left then right, then left, in a flurry of punches. The next thing I remember is someone picking me off the ground. I had not landed any of my punches, and my friend hit me once and I was down. There was no damage done to my face, but the unexpected blow knocked me off center, and the humiliation of the apparent defeat kept me down on the ground.
To my surprise, my friend asked me if I was alright, and seemed to have some newfound respect for me, even though I was the defeated. I never had another problem with him in the five years that I lived on that street.

I write this to tell you what I think God has been speaking to me. He reminded me of this event a couple days ago after our small group session. He told me that the reason that I did not defeat my friend in our little skirmish was that I did not have the skills to defeat him. He was taking karate classes and I wasn't. He was two years older than me and a lot taller than I. He had experience in fighting, I didn't. I let my emotions dictate how when and where to blow up, I didn't have a plan.

God then began to speak to me about spiritual warfare. Right now a lot of us feel like I felt at that bus stop. We have been kicked around, abused, taunted, phyiscally, mentally, and spiritually, by our common enemy. Satan contiues to be the mastermind behind these attacks because we let him, just like I let my friend pick on me day after day, somehow hoping that it would just go away, or he would forget it, or get bored. But, as was told, that was not the case. We however, have the skills to defeat our common enemy. We have been taught the proper way to fight, we have been given the proper weapons, and have been given the authority to fight Satan. Just think of what you could do if you really started to stand up against Satan. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish stronghold in our life, and in our families, in our church, in our community, and in our friends lives. Pray, fast, read, think, exhort, comfort, give, speak, believe and those things which come against you will falter. They will be defeated. Know this, that you have the right to stand, you have the right to call the enemy out, even when you think you have nothing to stand for. God will always be with you, in front, in back, and on both sides of you to protect you if you decide to block the attacks that drag you down.

Our common threat reminds me of my past self, of my present behaviors and failings. Good, lets let all the facts out on the table. But, I remind him of who I am as I put on my boots, as I fit my helmet on my head, as shine my shield, as I buckle my belt, as I put on my breastplate, and as I put my bible in my backpack. Now I begin to walk out to the "bus stop" again, but this time I have a confidence, I have faith, I have belief that those things planted in me will come out when we meet again.

I remind him of the victories that I have fought for God . Greg D,
Michelle C, Nathaniel G. I remind him of those who we have taken for God. And now I taunt him... Who can stand against those in Christ? I have the skills to dismantle his armies. I am defended on all sides by my allies. I have the armor that will keep me from his blows. I am going to win, starting today. I will war on....he will not take that which God has trusted me to.

Newsweek and the Quran

2005-05-16T20:14:00.000-04:00

So Im watching the news tonight and up on the screen pops the "BIG STORY". Apparently an "inside" source to newsweek told about "apparent" mistreatment of the quran in the
guantanamo bay prison facility. This triggered outrage amongst the muslim community. Some calling for a jihad or holy war against the USA. So, of course the newspaper retracted its remarks, which made things even worse. The quran is the equivalent of the Bible to followers of Christ.

So... all I can think is "what a bunch of idiots" they are. They just dont get it. After all these years the National Media just doesnt get how eastern religion is practiced. And then the Holy Spirit speaks to me like this, "if they had better examples around them in the USA they would have NEVER dared to print a story like that , true or false." Whoah...

I tend to forget sometimes that Christianity has its roots deeply embeded in Judiasm. I tend to forget that (for the most part) american christians are the only religion that does not live. Watch it dont choke on the latte....

When I look at 10,000 outraged muslims on TV shouting, screaming, and crying over their written word being treated as human feces, I get jealous. Almost.... Almost in agreement with them over thier rage. I get jealous because thier reaction is a direct reflection of living out what they believe. And for a moment I get mad because we, us, the american church could have had a impact on our media by living out what we believe. If we lived what we believed there would be 10,000 outraged christians over more ethical and moral issues here in the United States. But there are not. There are maybe 10.

Yes read it slow so you dont choke on the hot latte grande 1/2 caramel 1/2 hazelnut that you sip while reading on your laptop from the confines of your bedspread. And that is why newsweek doesnt get it. Because they know Harry and Susy Christian are on thier bedspread drinking thier latte while watching 10,000 angry muslims on CNN and then going to sleep. They know that they will only have to deal with 10 outspoken christian voices that might stand up for social injustice, whatever the cause or beliefs. And they know that comments like this about religion in the past were forgotten by next week's Sunday Edition, but this is not the american church they are commenting on, this is Islam, where infedels are to be put to death, so my only hope is that God would change thier hearts somehow. One question for you and I shall go....

What would you do if someone flushed your bible down the drain?

Yes, i know you have 10 others, but really would it matter to you?

The Word was first, the Word present to God, God present to the Word. The Word was God, in readiness for God from day one.

Think about those words as you flush your toilet tonight, or tomorrow morning after your morning coffee high.

Whip.......

Missions Trip

2005-05-12T18:47:00.000-04:00

For two or three months God has been speaking to me about a missions trip for our fellowship. Because of my schedule, I asked the Lord for assistance and maybe someone to help me. Last Sunday, my prayer was answered. I spoke with one of our guys in the church and we immediatly connected. I am currently working on a missions trip to assist the native american people who our churches out west minister to. I have spoken to a couple of traveling evangelists that go that way about contacts, and am waiting on thier answers. Here is the lowdown so far:

1. We will be taking the church van and the Armada out west somewhere towing two uhaul trailers with supplies and clothing.

2. The cost will be minimal because we will be trying to camp out up there and on the way back. WHOOHOOO!!

3. As the trip comes together we will be calling churches along the way for possible assistance (maybe a special service by us in exchange for gas money), and/or clothing and supplies for these who we are going to minister to.

4. When???? I dont know yet, that depends on who i can get ahold of. If you know of any native american ministries/churches in OK, TX,KY, SD, NE that you know needs assistance PLEASE respond to this post. I am looking to go end of June Mid to late July tenetively.

5. If you are in the above states and are looking for a team of individuals that are going to minister physically and spiritually, please respond. We want to be the hands and feet of our Lord. Yea we can sing and preach too..... LOL

6. Who can go?
Right now we are looking to take about 10-12 people, but that could change. Hopefully for the more than the less.

7. Cost..... hmmm

Gas: $900 for both vehicles combined
Food: figure $20 a person for 10 days/ $200x12=2400
Uhaul rentals: two trailers $240 each/ $500
Supplies....that will be determined.

Total (rough estimated cost) cost= $3800 total/12 people= $316.66

This is of course with out adding in supplies/clothing needs.

8. After we get a confirmed destination we will contact local businesses for help in offsetting the cost of the trip. I have two business already lined up for presentations
. If you are a business and would like to contribute to this cause,

Please email me at gregw@minister.com

Thanks to all who are involved and are going to be involved.

Whip.................

Attack of the poison oak

2005-05-12T18:06:00.000-04:00

As springtime moves into the lowcountry, two things are sure to happen. Yardwork and pollen. Most of the pollen has fallen and gone, as we all get over our scratchy throats and sinus infections. However the 1st is here to stay until november or so. My first time out in the yard this year was eventfull. We built up two planters around our huge oak trees in the front yard. 500 # of mulch and 800# of topsoil and potting soil. Flowers and shrubs to boot. Took us like 2 weeks on and off to finish. As my reward I got a good base tan, and unfortunatly got into poison oak. Got a good bit on my legs and arms, but i am on steroids and some cream to take out the oil that the leaves produce. Been diggin in on my former post about fasting... I will comment in later blurbs as to what God has been teaching and leading me.

Laurens quote of the week: "Daddy, whats a happy camper?"

In the cd player: Enter the Worship Circle: Third Circle

Customer Service?

2005-05-03T22:50:00.000-04:00

As I have recently posted I have been in kinda a "skitso-kind" of mentality lately when it comes to my thoughts along the path. Here are more thoughts that are spiritually stuttering in my mind.

There is a word going round these days in the business circles of retail goliaths that we feed.

Customer Service.

Everyone is trying to "achieve" a certain level of service that entices their prospective clients or consumers back to spend time and money with them. There is sooo much money spent on programs and training that it really is mind boggling. Yet as I look at these programs and companies, i think that the more they "try" and give quality service the more they are missing the root of the problem that they face.

You can lead a horse to water but only the horse makes the decision to drink. You can have training days, workshops, and guest speakers to lead people to serving, however....
There has to be something in that horse that makes it want to go the next two steps to finalize the journey that the leader has led. It has to submit to its leader, and its own self to walk bend over and take the drink. It is this act of submission that companies in their training days miss, and submission is in the very root of service, or serving, or servanthood. It is a mentality that few posses, because we live in a "all for me" society. However, we as Christians have the missing key. Few choose to open the door to let others see what service is all about, because sometimes we ourselves have become much like the stubborn horse.

In Matthew 20:28 we see Jesus outlining what "customer service" is all about. If you want to be the best you must be willing to act like the least.

To 1. Humble yourself before the one your serving.
2. To surrender power & authority to the one your serving.
3. To be able to meet the needs or satisfy the requirements that is being asked of you.

Have you ever got a gift certificate from a local retailer in the mail? Pretty cool feeling huh?

Or maybe been taken out to a very fancy restaurant for a free meal? Pretty Cool feeling huh?

Was your first reaction one of "Noooo, this cant be, there must be a mistake, I didn't do anything to deserve this"? Mine always has been. It is this gift of service that makes us feel like we are special, moreover undeserving of such service.

Look at John 13:5

Jesus now is the one giving the gift certificates out, however it is in the kind of a free pedecure.

Peter realizing he is no position of authority to receive such a gift, declines. Jesus however, tells him that if he cannot do this thing that he cannot have any part in what he is about to do for him.

Once again Jesus fufills the three earlier points.

Ever wonder where the word deacon came from?

Look it up

It can be applied in two ways

1. It can be applied to all those who are called to serve Jesus Christ. This is seen in the broadbased ministry of household servants.

2. It can be applied to the official appointment of certain "servants" (deacons) as representatives of the local church. Ex. Stephen and Philip, Acts 6:5-8:40

In the early church it was believed that an official capacity of serving the people was very important. Key word there is serving, submitting to the people, waiting on their needs.
Paul even went on to tell deacons to use their office in the right way, implying that maybe one day that because of the authority they might use it improperly, say to create deacon boards, or committees, or deacon appreciation services. ( I Timothy 3:10, 13)

The new testament writers borrowed the Greek word "deacon" and developed it as part of their vocabulary. Originally, the word referred to waiting on tables (as Stephen did in Acts 6:1-4).
Later, it broadened to include the idea of providing or caring for any need of another person in a personal way, as from one friend to another.

Think about that the next time you tip your waiter......

Or think about that the next time you vote for the new deacon board.

Whip........

mumblings and hearding my thoughts

2005-05-02T20:11:00.000-04:00

Ive been mumbling things to myself and with God lately, trying to lasso my thoughts together to put on a post. Here are the murmers and scetchy thoughts

Fasting.... trying to take another look at this. Is it just about abstaining from "something" that we covet? Or is God trying to show us more. Yes i know the definition, and the uses, different types of fasts, but after it is all said and done, what has been accomplished? Isaiah 58's definition is soo much different than what i see christians doing these days. Like I said just some murmers going through my head.

What is your definition of fasting? (quick before you google the word)

If God were calling us to a fast, individually or corporately, what kind would please Him?

What kind would have the greatest impact for the Kingdom of God?

I keep going back to the passage of Isaiah 58 and think that maybe just not eating a meal and praying during a specific period might not be what God is wanting right now.

LOL in my churchy mind i was going to put together this grand lesson of fasting on here, however, Im going to throw this out to you hounds out there and chew on it.

Update to the Update to the Update

2005-05-01T23:15:00.000-04:00

Well, it appears that God still is in the miracle business. Friday night our late friend Greg's ex-wife got wonderful news. Her son was found ALIVE off the coast of NC.
The two teenage boys that were missing were found ALIVE off the coast of NC, just outside of cape fear. They were found by a fishing vessel about 8 miles off the coast. Praise God for his steadfast covering over these two boys. I dont know which one is her son, but will find out for you.

Whip......

Update to the Update

2005-04-27T23:32:00.000-04:00

As if our friend Greg's family has not been through enough..... My wife just told me that one of the two boys that are missing off of the charleston coast in thier boat is Greg's ex-wife's son. Please keep your prayers going for this family.

Whip.......

Update

2005-04-20T12:17:00.000-04:00

Our friend Greg passed away this morining after a tough battle with cancer. We recieved a phone call at 8:00 am this morning telling us that he wouldnt make it through the day. I said a quick prayer after the phone call thanking God for such a wonderful man , husband, and father. About two minutes later we recieved another phone call telling us he passed on. He will surely be missed here on by all of us. Now our attention is focused on his family and doing whatever they need in this time of mourning. Thank you all who have took time to pray for him and his family. His journey has ended and now his rest begins. Thank you Father for a wonderful man.

Whip......

Identity Theft

2005-04-07T11:34:00.000-04:00

It is a strange world we Christians live in. I have been "saved", "following Christ", or whatever phrase you insert when talking about you and God, since 1997. The more and more I try and follow the teachings and disciplines of Christ the more I feel like I am who I am not I am. Well this must bring about some great applause out of most of you. Yea!! The old man has gone and the new one has taken over!!! Wooohooo, however I kinda feel like Matt Damon's character in "The Bourne Identity". In the movie Jason Bourne is a CIA agent that loses his memory after getting shot in a blown assassination operation by the CIA. During the course of the movie he slowly recovers some of his memory while being chased by the very people who hardwired him for his job as an assassin. In one of the scenes , he looks into the mirror and asks himself "who are you"? It is funny because I find myself doing the same thing some mornings.

In the movie, Jason Bourne little by little starts to figure out who he is when put up to some task involving the abilities and strengths that have been hardwired into him by the CIA's mental and physical training. In one scene he is confronted by two police officers, who after agitating Jason, get beat down by him in a matter of seconds with Jason standing over them both with their guns in his hands. It is soo ironic that me, and maybe you, might be in the same world as Jason. Let me explain.

I know who I am, I think.... Because there are things hardwired in me. Abilities, strengths, words, motions, that when I am confronted by Opposition, come out and defeat the attacks. These abilities were there from the beginning when God put them there. However, in this world that's sinfulness casts me to and fro, I get amnesia sometimes because I do not act like who I am, and honestly it is more comfortable that way. And I get hurt by my carelessness in my spirituality. So there are days, weeks, when I look into the mirror and ask myself, Who am I.? The Word says that I am more than a conqueror, a high priest, an adopted son by the maker of the universe. But my life is a foggy reflection of what my dreams, my thoughts tell me who I am.

I let you into my thoughts a little to tell you that I am human just like you. I struggle, I cry, I worry, and I doubt. However, there is this vision of myself that has been hardwired into my by my creator. It is one of strength, of power, of care, and compassion. I believe that we are involved in the greatest deception of the Enemy, and that is the theft of who we are in Christ.
It is Identity Theft at its greatest cost. This theft will take your courage, your strength, your will, and your abilities that have been hardwired into you for a specific job. It will leave you teeter-tottering everyday with who you are. The scriptures say to renew your mind daily. Why?? Because everyday there is an attack from every angle of society that tries to tell you who you are. Right now I can tell you who the world is trying to make my family. I know . Want me to show you? OK

1. My 4 year old is a drama queen who needs to be treated like a princess. That is the agenda that is being pushed. Look around what is on your DVD's, your child's bedspreads?

2. My wife needs to make as much money as possible because the SUV that we were told we had to get costs money, the house that we were told we had to get cost money because of the square footage, the location, and the schools. She is told that she is independent, which is something that is a bonus in today's society. She doesn't need anyone to help her, except when her work is piled up on her and I have to get the child from daycare, which is something else we were told we had to have. She is told that the husband is the other child in the family, who just needs to do the lawn and work, if needed, to have the roof over his head and a bed to sleep in.

3. Me LOL. Where do I start? WOW. I am told that I am successfully if I drive a Benz or any other car that is over $30000 . I am shown on TV, comic strips, and other media outlets, that I am lazy, an adulterer, an alcoholic who goes to football games with my other lazy whoring men friends. I do not have control of my kids, and oh yea my kids call me Greg and not Dad, or even Father. That is only the tip of the iceberg. I could go on and on. However.........

This is why we must read the Word, stay close to God, pray, have fellowship with others. We are losing our identities as Sons and Daughters of the Most High God because we let those who oppose our thinking, our beliefs, tell us who we ought to be. I am tired of looking in the mirror after some kind of weak moment that I have been involved in and asking myself, Who the *** am I? I remember when God gave me a word, when I spoke in other tongues, when I prayed and it was answered in a way where the only conclusion was that God answered and He is real.
Why is it that I seem to have amnesia.

That is where I was, but now I strive to be just like Jason. He went through hell to find out who he was. I believe that the situations we go through in our lives are all a part of revealing who we are, and what we are supposed to do here. We will come up against opposition, but in those times our hardwiring will come out if we do not become comfortable with who society wants us to be.

New Direction: The Thursday Skinny

2005-03-25T22:08:00.000-05:00

Hey all......

This Thursdays small group was great. I felt led to talk about Jesus and the garden of gethsemene when Peter chopped off the guards ear. He told Peter to put away his sword because Jesus told him that all the things that would happen to Him in the near future had to happen so that the scriptures may be fulfilled. Basically that his suffering had to happen for God to be glorified through His son's certain death.

As some of you know from previous posts, we have a friend who has cancer. As I pray and try to "figure out" what is going on with the whole situation and how God is working in it, I keep coming back to the words that he spoke. All these things must happen so that the scriptures may be fufilled. So as I pray, I realize that sometimes people suffer so that the story of thier lives and how we as christians interact with them can come to pass in God's plan and purpose for all of our lives. Now for the people and families of the people who are doing the actual suffering, this sucks. Its not fair, and I have to fully agree with them as a human being. Pain hurts. I dont understand it.
There is a scene from "The Apostle" that comes to mind where the main character ( a preacher) drives up on a bad car wreck and runs to aid the crash victim. He runs through the field to the scene and begins to say the sinners prayer with the victim, who is going to die of his wounds. Imagine all the things that had to happen in both of these peoples lives so that one day they would cross paths and that because of the apparent catastrophy of the wreck, the preacher is involved God's biggest miracle.

Salvation.

As I pray for this man and this family, my "ministry", my place in the worship band, my place in church, churchiness, everything fun and cool about being in organized religion becomes non-profitable. Jesus said what does it prosper a man to gain everything and then lose his soul? I am asked this question by God as I pray about this family. What is profitable to ME? What is Whip doing that will gain equity for God in eternity? Is it my abilities as a minister doing churchy things, or placing myself in the story of this man's life in his time of suffering? Maybe I should talk with him and share some Good News.

It is sad that bad things happen to good people, but as we talked Thursday, there is such a greater purpose. This is one of the hardest things to grapple as a human being.
God's purpose in peoples pain and suffering.

We are doing some practical things for this family, and as we pray we realize that we are going to impact this family and God is getting the glory. We have started cooking dinner for them a couple times a week. Monday I am taking the morning off from work to help transport this man to the hospital. I believe that this will be the appointed time that I will be introduced as a character in this mans story.

As a boy I always rooted (and still do root) for the underdog in movies and in sports. In my favorite movies the best part is when, at the end of the story, a minor character who is just introduced for a while at the begining of the story suddenly appears on scene and saves the day , and in turn answers all the unanswered questions, solves the mystery in my thoughts, and leaves me feeling good about the movie just watched. I am praying that we are the underdogs who save the day for this man and his situation with God, and we answer all the unanswered questions, and leave God feeling good about what He sees going on in our lives.

Whip..........

Pray

2005-03-23T10:28:00.000-05:00

Hey guys.....

In one of my earlier posts I wrote about a family that we are "adopting" because the families Dad was sick. He went to the doctor today to get a biopsy. He was having pain in his lungs. It turns out that he has cancer, inoperable cancer. It is in his lungs, his shoulder, his hip, and his back. His name is Greg. All I can think of right now, all I hope right now is that, somehow, someway God would heal this man. I dont really care about the method. Whether It be through divine intervention or by the skilled hand of doctors, I just pray that he would be healed. His wife is numb now, cant think, cant act. If anyone has had any experience in ministering to those families with cancer, please post some good practical advice to me. Keep Greg and his family in your prayers. Thanks

Whip..............

But Daddy!!!!!!............

2005-03-22T22:40:00.000-05:00

It seems that some of my conversations dealing with obedience with my 4 year old are at best peacefully negotiations, and at worst a battle of self-imposed will. As any parent of a 4 year old knows, it is the best of times and the worst of times. The best is seeing the blossiming of the fruits of your labor come out due to the knowledge and teaching that your child has gained in the past 3 or so years of childhood. I love to talk with my daughter because she is finally connecting the dots and starting to ask and answer some good thought provoking questions. However, on the flipside, after attaining enough knowledge and teaching from us she is starting to understand that there are ways, or opportunities, to try and get around what my objectives are when dealing with obedience.

This situation usually comes to a head when it is time for her to go to bed. Now, I understand that what I am about to write about is normal behavior for a 4 year old so hold off on the parent bashing until I finish. (smiles) Bedtime usually starts off around 7:45ish with reading stories 2 to 3 short stories milk in hand and a "lil snack" as she calls it, storytime is usually over about 8:15ish. Then we say our prayers.This is where it gets tricky. She knows that It is time to go to bed, however she tries everything in her power to negotiate, squander, and sweet talk her way into staying up later. This is where I try to nip it in the bud and say a firm "No, its time for bed." No to quadruple kisses and hugs. NO to "just one more story" . NO to "more milky". NO to bedtime backflips. NO to "got to go PP". NO to "draw on my back again". All the while she is steady talking to me. She is resorting now to the But Daddy phase of the debate. Now the reason for all of these intense negotiations on her part is, well, partly my fault. At one time or another I allowed her will to be done over mine and hence there were at times quadruple kisses and hugs, 1 more story, more milky, and many nights of drawing her "squirt dawg" and "speckle dawg" on her back. This of course led to a later bedtime, which led to less sleep time, which interuppted her daily routine at daycare, which caused her because of the later bedtime to miss her nap. This usually led to a conversation with her teacher because of the wonderful mood that sleep depreciation puts her in the later it gets in the day, which leads us to part two of the story.

During the course of last week, there happened to be one of these days. Upon picking up this wonderful child, I noticed that she was not in her class. She was sitting in the directors office in the "naughty chair". My heart sank because I knew this had to be serious. I can take a sad face on her daily note from her teacher, but this was the "naughty chair". The story went that she had a shoving match with a girl in class and turned into my child taking the other ones throat in her hands.( Over who was going to be Mulan). This was of course an automatic use of discipline on my hand, which she knew because of our rules of obedience that we have taught her. So, all the way home she tried to negotiate her way out of her punishment, tried to puff the story up to get out of my wrath, and at last resorted to the "But Daddy!!!" phase of the conversation. When we got home she got her punishment, and it hurt us both deeply. Her behind, and my heart.

The reason I tell this story is because I feel that there are times that I find myself in my daughters shoes when it comes to my relationship with "my Daddy". He tells me to do something, and because of the times that he graciously let me have my way over His way, I try and negotiate my way out of obeying him when its time to. I try and replace the fun things in our relationship with the things that are hard to do. I try to go to his soft side, maybe a lil good worship time, or prayer time instead of doing exactly what he wants, when he wants.Finally it leads to a desperate plea of "But Daddy!!!!! This leads to a life out of routine for me, which leads to me acting out in ways that are disobedient to Him. And I find myself in the "naughty chair" knowing that what I have done will have consequences. This in the end hurts us deeply. My walk and His Heart. I'm tired of saying But Daddy, I'm tired of sitting in the naughty chair, and I'm tired of the feeling that I let My Daddy down, again........

I just want to say I'm sorry and crawl into His arms and feel right. But we all know that its not that easy. I reap what I sow, and there are consequences for my actions.
The only hope I have in times like this is that, just like me, I don't stay angry at my daughter for long, and all I want to do is what's best for her.

Lord help me to be obedient to your ways, no matter how strange or unwanted they are to me.

Return To Me

2005-03-20T19:08:00.000-05:00

This is a song that I wrote down from http://www.jasonupton.com.

It is on the Return To Me streaming video link on his website.

It really ministers to me so I will share the words with you.

Return To Me

What have I done wrong

Is it something that I said?

Is something that you wanted?

Something I withheld?

What could be the reason that you turned and walked away?

Where could you be going?

Are you coming back someday?

My Heart is slowly breaking,

and one question still remains.....

How long will I be waiting to see you here again?

I love you.........

And I still believe

that you will love me too.

I love you.......

If you return to me

I will return to you

To this place I last saw you

Ive returned a thousand times

1000 tears have fallen

1000 dreams have died

I believe that day has gone

I see you coming down the road

I had a ring made for your finger

And the servants, they are old

The cap has been made ready

Your favorite feast is overdue

There is one chair at the table

Its empty without you

I love you....

And I still believe

That you will love me too

I love you....

If you return to me

I will return to you

Lyrics by Jason Upton

Re:Imagine

2005-03-20T18:10:00.000-05:00

Imagine.....You find out that this is the last week of your life on Earth.

Imagine.....You know in advance that there will be noone at your funeral.

Imagine.....You find out that one of your closest friends will be responsible for your death.

Imagine....After years of getting strait A's on your report card that your parents and teachers think you cheated and that you got all your hard work is not of your own efforts.

Imagine....The worst thing in the world you have to do. Then being told that you have to do it...No questions asked.

Imagine....After providing your family everything that they needed to live a healthy, wealthy life, that they would deny knowing you after receiving their inheritance.

Imagine....Having your best friend turn their back on you, getting beat unconscious by the biggest bully at school, and losing all your friends....All in one week.

Imagine....Being set up by the police for a crime that you didn't commit. Then being sentenced to death by a judge who knows you personally because you saved his wife's life earlier that week.

Imagine...Imagine after years of explaining to your Math Teacher that 1+1=2 he still doesn't get the equation and calls YOU uneducated and a fool.

Imagine....Having to lug a 200 weight for 2 miles... Uphill... In 90 degree heat after being beaten by a gang of men...After not eating or drinking for a day.

Imagine....That you have to forgive everyone...Every single person in every single incident that they have done and will do in the future that will cross you either intentionally or unintentionally.

Jesus did.....Imagine that.

Every single example that I gave you Christ went through. He did It all. Except I put it into modern day format.

This is the story of Jesus

He forgave us in advance (Luke 23:34)
He knew we were bad
He knew we were imperfect
He knew we couldn't do things on our own

So he did it for us

He lived a lifetime of pain in one week so we could live an eternity of happiness with Him.

He said Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.

Do you know what your doing? Look at your life. What are you living?

There are two certain things that will happen

1. You will die

2. You will live for eternity

Where is the question

Jesus came to Earth and went through every type of pain that we can imagine. He did this so he could minister through the Holy Spirit to you . He knows your situation, he lived through betrayal, pain, and separation. He knows what your going through. He also did this because he knew you can't handle life alone. You will stumble, you will fall, you will fail God at some point in your life. He knew this, so instead of you getting the punishment, he stepped in and took your number instead. Your punishment for failing is now his. All you have to do is acknowledge that he is the reason your not going to be punished, and live by his commands, live his ways, live by his words, use his life as your blueprint for living daily.

This Easter week think on these things... Then go to your nearest place of worship and hear the story of Jesus, see the play, experience in person the love of God that is for you. It is the reason Jesus died, so that you could live in fellowship with God.

New Direction : the thursday skinny

2005-03-17T22:38:00.000-05:00

Well this thursdays study group meeting was a lil different. God really impressed on me to put the "studying" to the backburner and to have a time of prayer and worship. So, with just a outline of the direction of service, off we went. We started off with a time of thanksgiving to God for our friends. This theme was prevelent throughout our time tonight. We shared some issues that God has revealed to each one of us personally, and talked about how blessed we are that God has placed within the stories of our lives such an awesome cast of friends and mentors. We tried to get some songs in, however the intimate feeling that we felt just led Tim to pick out some songs as background music to the prayers, praises, and words of thanks to such an awesome God we serve. Also playing in the movie room was Mulan. Must have been a good one to watch. Lorny, Abs, and "Madison" all watched with intensity as Mulan saved China from the Monguls (sp)? On a much more serious note, we felt impressed to start our missionary work by adopting a cooworker's family. This family is really going through a hard time. Thier father, husband, has a potetially serious condition in his lungs. He goes in for biopsy tommorow. It looks as if it is cancer, but we are praying for the best in a bad situation. As a group, we are going to find out the needs of this family and help, as a group, in any fashion that we can. We started a collection to fund our mission work, and we are praying that God would indeed show Himself through our work, our hearts, and our faith to this family in need. Please, for those in our fellowship, pray for this family, ill let you know more Sunday. For those in our extended body of God please pray as well, maybe even just post on this blog that you said a quick one for this family. It would mean alot to us and to this family as well. Following in his footsteps..........

Whip......................

Surface Tension

2005-03-17T17:54:00.000-05:00

Matthew 14:22-32

As I look upon the task ahead, I feel helpless in the storm I find myself in. It is a storm of Will, Wanting and Waiting. I know that I am fighting the waves of uncertainty in these area. I know also that the Father has asked me to do a familiar thing, row my boat. Yet, I find this thing, this task, this calling is much more than a "journey across the lake." I can see Jesus walking on the water next to my boat and I am frightened. I am not frightened at the sight of the Savior, but at the notion that with the quiet calling of His Voice, He is asking me to do exactly what He is doing. He is walking on the water with a beckoning hand. He is asking me to walk unlike the others pressured to stay in the boat. He is asking me to leave the comfort of the boat and walk on the turbulent waters that are in front of me. He is asking me

to walk upon the very waves of uncertainty, the will of my flesh, the wanting of my desires, and the painfull waiting of the fufillment of my call on my life. I am beginning to walk upon these turbulent waters, among the storms of my life that try and drag me down to the lowly depths of my soul. I am walking on the water and the only thing that keeps me going is Jesus' calming words. Take courage.......

Don't be afraid.......It is I..............Come..........................

My oars are set down and my feet are wet. Such a strange feeling.................

New Direction Study Group: the thursday skinny

2005-03-10T20:52:00.000-05:00

Well we had a great study group this thursday! The discussion centered mostly around our "assignments" and our mission in a world thats beliefs and views change almost daily. I brought up several points from our two resources("thinking against the grain", and "the emerging church") as well as scriptures to compliment the discussion.
1.It is totally amazing how God has made us, molded us through our own life stories and experiences , and then uses those experiences along with our personal makeup use us to minister to those around us everyday.
2. We need not fear "the outside world". Jesus immersed himself in the cultures around the areas he ministered to. He knew politics, theatre, as well as the everyday struggles and triumphs of the people of the areas he walked. It was in these areas that he ministered and where we gain insight to the hope that we can do the same.
3. We need in a world of no absolutes, hold close to the voice of God. We need to renew our minds daily. A) To filter out the bad. B) for personal illumination and enlightenment. C) So that we can convey the truth effectively to those who we are sent to reach out to.

Also for those reading please pray for one of our families. They have had a 3 year old grandchild killed in a car accident. They are going through alot of pain right now.

New Direction

2005-02-20T20:31:00.000-05:00

As God moves our church body in different contortions, I'd like to ask everyone in (and out) of our church family to pray for our "study groups". It is a needed step in acheiving what God's plan is for us at Faith Fellowship. To those who are in the North Area and read this blog, I will be contacting you shortly before Tues for times and the "lowdown". Our area of focus will be the commitment to following Christ within the culture that we find ourselves living in. We are going to be using the book "Thinking against the Grain" as a resource to help us convey the reality of Christ to us, and in turn helping us to convey his message to a world were there is no absolute truth.

Should be a wild ride, I promise not to make it as bumpy as possible.

Whip.................

Sommelier

2005-02-10T13:02:00.000-05:00

This was a story that I wrote for the pastor's
of our fellowship. I am putting it on the blog because I realize that there are more young men and women in this emerging movement that might need to know that there are people who see what you did, what you "gave up", and what you are doing to reach this world for the Kingdom. You are not forgotten nor far from my prayers. To those who read this who might work in the wine community, I'd love to get the proper titles of the characters of the vineyard in the story if you get the gist of what I am trying to convey.

There once was a Winemaster who dad many vineyards in his possesion. One day he called his young sommelier into the wine cellar. The WineMaster said, "You know everything there is to know about wine, now produce what you know so well." This young sommelier was one of His favorites because of his faithfullness to the work of the vineyard, and the love he shared for the people of His vineyards. He told the young sommelier to take over as the Head Winemaker of a "dormant" vineyard on the fringes of his territory. So, he gathered hes family and all he possesed, and left the comfort of the Main Vineyard to settle in the foothills of his new home.
The exicement of first sight of the vineyard was soon dashed by the visual condition of the small vineyard. The wine cellar was empty, the fields were barren, and the vines seemed to be dead or at the least dying. Unmoved by what thier eyes had seen, the family began to inspect the vines in the field. Digging deeper, they found that thier was still life in the roots of the vines. Hope was not lost. He immediatley called for his team of farmers and vinters, and they began the slow task of cultivating the fragile vines to produce fruit for the harvest. Over the course of time, many workers were called to work the fields of the small vineyard, the vines grew in strength and in numbers under the direction of the former sommelier, who was now becoming a respected winemaker.
The day of the harvest finally came. A great celebration was planned. The Winemaster,the members of the family, and workers came together as one to feast and give thanks for what they had accomplished. But, there was one person missing. Where was the young winemaker? The feast would not be complete without toasting the young winemaker. Unbeknownst to them, the young winemaker had taken on his former roll as sommelier for the celebration, serving everyone the fruit of thier hard work. Humbled by his actions, they praised him and gave thanks for his loving kindness. With this, they all sat and ate the fruit of thier labor, and it was good.

To my pastor, as well as all pastors, elders, worship leaders, clergy, and everyone else who took the risk of faith; Thank you for leaving the comforts of the "Main Vineyard" to work in the fields with us. Thank you for showing us how servents become leaders, and in turn, how leaders become servants. May God bless you for your hard work and personal sacrifices in serving Jesus Christ.

Replay: Song Mode

2005-02-02T17:59:00.000-05:00

Here I am again

In that place again

Turned left when I should have turned right

Here I am again

In that place again

Searching without any sight

When this world that I seek comes crashing on me

Please dont be so far away

When this pain inside becomes to much to hide

Please dont be so far away

Here I am again

In that place again

You broke my heart and changed my life

Here I am again

In that place again

You won the war I just couldnt fight

When this world that I seek turns its back on me

Please dont be so far away

When Ive cried all my tears and released all my fears

Please dont be so far away

Please dont be so far away

Please dont be so far away

Replay: Poem mode

2005-01-29T10:07:00.000-05:00

I went there again.....I took that turn

Left and not Right

Down and not Up

West and not East

I went there again.... Listening to the will of the world

Inflating my ego

Serving my desires

Breaking my spirit

Conforming my thoughts

Changing my mind

And I know that You know........

Here I am again.....I took that turn

Right and not Left

Lifting Up and not pulling Down

North and not South

Here I am again.....Listening to Your Word

Deflating my ego

Serving my Desire

Breaking my spirit

Conforming my thoughts

Changing my mind

And I know that You know............

The Dumpster

2004-11-28T22:48:00.000-05:00

One of the worst feelings in this world is to loose something of great value. One year I gave my wife a gift. It was a necklace for our anniversary. Well, to make a long story short, the cross was lost shortly after giving it to her with much fanfare and anticipation. The feeling that I received after hearing that it was lost was gut-wrentching. I felt like someone had taken all the air out of my lungs and then sucker-punched me in the gut. My emotions ran from mad, to sad, to angry, until I came to this feeling that I had to find the cross no matter what the cost. After all, there is no such thing as a replacement . In my work as a Bakery Manager, one of the worst feelings I get is when a special cake order is misplaced or lost. It is absolutely gut-wretching to tell parents that you are responsible for loosing thier child's cake order. It is a conversation I dread because, after all, there is no such thing as a replacement cake.
Last Friday night, one of the worst possible situations that could happen in a bakery did. ALL of the cake orders for Saturday had been misplaced. Someone had not put back the file with the cake orders for Saturday in its rightful place. I was frantic. On any given week, we do 150-200 special cake orders. Saturday alone accounts for 40-50 of those orders. I looked everywhere under the tables, in coolers, in freezers, in offices, on bread racks, in storage areas. Nothing. There was not one sign of the file with the orders in it. In my investigation, I talked with the person last seen with the file. The employees said that they counted the cake orders and then took out the trash at the end of there shift. My mind raced as the words came out of their mouths, then the dreadful conclusion hit me. The cake orders might have been thrown away with the trash. The orders might be in the dumpster.
The dumpster in a grocery store is a merry combination of trash from every department in that store. It is a blend of bad produce, chicken and meat containers, and yeasty dough. The smell that this mixture produces is awful, and just the sight of it is enough to make even the finalists of Fear Factor quiver in their boots. So, there I was, neatly dressed in a all white bakers uniform contemplating the options. A: Should I go into the trash, get totally messed up by the trash that would engulf me? B: Face 40-50 mad parents and others wanting, and most likely waiting for their cakes? I chose A and began preparations for going in. I got my latex gloves on, my apron, said a quick prayer, and started to climb in.
As I put my foot in the dumpster shoot, one of my associates shouted over the store intercom. GREG TO THE BAKERY!!! GREG TO THE BAKERY!! Upon arrival my quick prayer had been answered. The file had been found and everything was back to normal.
The reason why I am telling you this story at great length is because I believe that there is a Life Lesson in this situation. All of us who are Children of God were lost. We were all "in the dumpster" at one point or another, mixed up with the trash of this world. This to God was a gut-wretching feeling. because God doesn't make trash.
So, he sent His Son to find us in this dumpster of life. However unlike me, he did not have the option of not going in. In fact he gave up that option purposefully so you could be taken out of the trash. There is a saying that "one man's trash is another treasure." Section by section he scoured the trash, eventually saving you, and I, and others that are now considered to be "treasure". And, He is still there today among the trash of the world, on a relentless treasure hunt, searching.............
Jesus has this feeling about His work. He is not mad, or sad, or angry at the fact that He who is spotless, without blemish is getting stained and reeks of the smells of this world. However, he has this feeling of finding the lost, no matter what the cost. You see He knows that there is no such thing as a replacement for you or me in His Father's eyes. Even though you might be in this "dumpster", know this, he is searching for you. And if you are lost, raise your hand, yell, scream His name if you have to, and He will find you and lift you out of the mucky trash that you are in and
clean you up. You are treasure in Gods eyes.
By the way, after much searching, we found the cross and it is one of her favorite pieces of jewelry in her collection.

Just some thoughts for the journey.................Whip

pic6.jpg

2004-11-13T02:17:00.000-05:00

pic6.jpg
Originally uploaded by The Dusty Scribe.

just a view from the vineyard

Spanish 101

2004-11-03T16:30:00.000-05:00

I spent Halloween 2004 face-painting and giving out candy at "Halloweenfest" this year. It was a organized event by my employer to provide a "safe" alternative to trick-or-treating. It was cool. I dressed up as Cleatus, complete with dickies yard clothes, suspenders , hiked up pants over my belly, a camoflauged birdseed hat, and those ugly teeth you can buy at Spencer's in the mall.

There were alot of childern I talked to that night, but one conversation in particular gave me some possible revelation of my/our relationship with God. Its funny how God will use our life experiences to teach us about "us". I had been painting pumpkins and rainbows all night on children's (and parent's)faces when a cute latino boy sat next to me ready to get painted. I noticed that he was speaking mostly spanish to his mother, so I gathered up the 20 or 30 words I knew in Spanish to use them in conversation. I then proceeded to fluently tell the boy my name and then asked him his name. He replied in Spanish that his name was Jorge. I then asked him his age and where he lived in Spanish. I must admit I was impressing the "gringos" around me as I then replied to his remarks. He went on to tell me his age and that he lived not far from the store. As we were conversing, his mother would chime in from time to time in spanish. I didnt really pay much attention to her because in my limited vocabulary, I couldn't understand her. It was then that she grabbed my dickies shirt and strongly said something about her sons face and a lettering. I tried desperatly to piece the setence together in my head but I still didn't get it. Realizing that I couldnt understand her , I sheepishly said in spanish that I new very little spanish. Her reply was less than enthusiastic or understanding. It was then in perfect English that she "spelled out" in a matter of speaking what she wanted. She wanted the Japanese lettering that was on her son's Japanese Anime costume on his face. My situation went from bad to worse. I am also not the best painter. Pumpkins and rainbows are easy, but Japanese alphabet?????? Luckily I am blessed with a little artistic ability. I proceeded humbly to draw the lettering on his cheek. As they were leaving, I almost let a "bueno!", and a "adios" slip out but I knew that I had lost respect in the mother's eyes for trying to be something I wasnt. I said goodbye in English as they walked away. I felt like a total bum. That next Sunday, as my Preacherman was teaching on the subject of remaining in the vine (John 15), God began to use the face painting fiasco to teach me about His relationship with His children.

You see, many of us know the basics of the "language" of God. We know just enough to get by, to look like we know what we are talking about. The Bible says that we are likened as sheep to a shepard, and we can pick out His voice from the speech of the world that surrounds us. Yes we know His voice, but our problem is that we don't take the time to listen to his speech. We dont remain with him long enough to learn to converse with Him to the point of fluency and understanding of speech. If I would have "remained" in my education of Spanish I would have been able to talk freely and fluently with Jorge. However, because I fled my study of the spanish language, I was excluded from the conversation. Ever happen upon a crabapple tree? The crabapples look good, smell good, but when you put them to the mouth they taste awful and are spit out. I felt like that crabapple. I looked good, talked good, but when It came to the real test, I couldn't speak the language and was spit out.

Somtimes I wonder If that is the reason to some of our fustrations as we try to live out our lives that have been spoken to us by God. We learn just enough about God to speak the basics, but when He tries to carry on a conversation with us, we act like a confused deer staring at a set of high beems. Yes I know the conventional arguement that "His thoughts are higher than ours", but He also said that he would reveal to us his plans for us. So, that leads me to a burning question. How do we learn to speak the language?

There have been days when I have used my limited language in prayer, and His answers to me were so "out there", that I felt like He was Jorge's mother screaming in a language I couldn't understand. Then he would patiently spell it out plainly in some life lesson. It is at these times where I would humbly go, "OHHH, that is what you meant!" It is also at these times where I realize that I have to remain close, even "in Him", so I can become more familiar with His speech. I realize that the only way to do these things is to continualy spend time with Him. I have to pray, read, and come together with other members so I can become "fluent" in this language we call christianity. There are times when I can carry on a conversation with my wife without saying a word. It is a simple head nod, a smirk, or an eyeglare that tells her everything that is on my mind. This is because I have over 13 years, become so close to my wife, so fluent with her, so "in her" that words sometimes are not needed. This is where I want to be with God. So, I guess its time to brush up on my Spanish. I think I'll start with the Book Of Proverbs.

Just some thoughts for the Journey...........Whip

Test

2004-11-01T18:16:00.000-05:00

Ok, this is the test run before the first strands of thoughts begin to flow. See you very soon. Whip...