Don't you want somebody to love...

Most of the new blogs posted will express a theme now. The theme will last for as long as I am in this sullen state that I am in. I am a victim and a perpetrator of a broken heart. To deal with love lost, I am posting my romantic fetes. These include actions throughout the years that may have been either romantic or eccentric. I will do my best to go in order, paralleling these actions in direct relation to my age (starting at my youngest fete). Although I am trying to start in order, I also know I have forgotten many. If you were a recipient of such an action not listed, be so kind as to remind me. A first attempt at true romantic ism that pops into my head was performed when I was a junior in high school. It was sweetest day, and I was attempting to enchant my sweetheart at the time. I overwhelmed her by showing up at her door with 6 dozen different colored freshly cut roses and a potted plant (a daisy or something I think). Not 6 roses, 6 dozen roses. That?s whopping 72 roses in all. It cost me about one hundred dollars. That girl is now married to a friend of mine. Moral of the story? A young sappy boy in love goes broke real quickly.

Thanks for all I have...for I have much!

As a person who has had some amazing experiences, I consider myself blessed. Yet, what if all the gifts I have and blessings I have experienced were not for me, but so I could benefit others? And what if the more gifts you have means the more in debt you are to those around you who are lacking? There are a few who have more than I, but the majority around the world have allot less. You don't have to go far to see some one whom would love to have a roof over their heads or a decent meal. There are many who would love to be as smart as you, as well off as you financially. Many who would die do have a family like yours and have friends like your friends. Some want the confidence that you have, or the musical ability; the nice figure you have, or the athletic skill. You and I may feel at times like those who have not. We are not those that have not, we are people who have, and just don?t realize how much we have. I encourage you to give to those who lack your gifts. Give your intelligence, lend your confidence, give of your support. Share your Kindness or finances, Your health or tech skills. Even the ability to operate all your limbs is a gift, I have friends who would love to have that ability. While your thinking of all the things you have to fit in to your schedule, think of what you can do today to help out somebody else. What gift will you contribute to them that are lacking?

1 Thessalonians 5:14&15
We encourage you, brothers and sisters, to instruct those who are not living right, cheer up those who are discouraged, help the weak, and be patient with everyone. Make sure that no one ever pays back one wrong with another wrong. Instead, always try to do what is good for each other and everyone else.
Acts 20:35
I have given you an example that by working hard like this we should help the weak . We should remember the words that the Lord Jesus said, 'Giving gifts is more satisfying than receiving them.'"
Ephesians 4:16
He makes the whole body fit together and unites it through the support of every joint. As each and every part does its job, he makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
Luke 12:48
?From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

Where the heck is Anytown?

If you have ever been on a mission trip or had to raise funds for some worthy cause, you may fully appreciate this story. I had spent many hours finishing a support letter to raise prayer support and financial support. Unfortunately, there was some information I was not aware of while writing the letter. I was unsure how much the trip would cost, or even the exact dates of the trip. In fact, I wasn?t even sure of what address to leave so people could send financial support. I guess I just figured that any details could be filled in at a later date. Sure, it may have been wiser to leave those spots blank so I wouldn't forget I made up crucial information. Unfortunately, wisdom is best served in hindsight. A couple weeks went by until deadlines began approaching. I would have to retrieve and finalize my letter. I put the finishing touches on it, and had one hundred copies printed out. I then sent out 28 letters to friends and family, with 22 on standby. It was then that the phone calls started coming in and those who felt that bad news was better meant to be in person. What was the bad news you ask? I had forgotten to change the stuff I made up. Luckily the price I put was only around $800 over, and the dates of the trip were pretty darn close. It was the wrong address that was a devastating blow. The address that directed people where to mail the financial support was completely fiction. As we speak, the US post office will be continually reminded why return addresses are such a wonderful Idea. The many envelopes addressed to:
1234 Main St.
Anytown, US 12345
will never make there destination. What glint of wisdom can you derive from such a sad story? It is this? to proofread. I don't care who you are, just proofread the stupid thing.

stagnant- it exists, but not in life

stagnant (stgnnt)adj.
1. Not moving or flowing; motionless.

2. Foul or stale from standing: stagnant ponds.

3.

A. Showing little or no sign of activity or advancement; not developing or progressing; inactive: a stagnant economy.

B. Lacking vitality or briskness; sluggish or dull: a stagnant mind.

The definition for stagnant, so there is no question on what I mean by stagnant. Can one be stagnant in life? If I am sitting in a pond perfectly still, the water is stagnant around me. In life, can we be sitting still in stagnant water? Although life may feel like that at times, I consider that feeling only an illusion. Any movement in the still water can create a ripple, and with the rapids of life in time moving all around us, we are anything but stagnant. I will say this though, if you?re not swimming or moving, you?re being sucked under with the current. I want to be one of those stubborn people who refuse to move with the current, instead fighting it. But the next dilemma that comes is exhaustion. Like those who struggle against an under toe, struggling may cause us to drowned. So now what do you do? You swim with strength that?s not of your own, that?s out of this world (I am referring to strength that comes from the Holy Spirit). But do not be deceived my friend to think that you are living a stagnant life in stagnant waters. In rapids such as the rapids of life, we can only wish to be stagnant. If you think you?re stagnant, perhaps something else is occurring. Perhaps you?re drowning.

A Crappy Christmas and the fertilizer it brings?

It?s interesting that when God wants to use us in his plans, we tend to neglect the amount of suffering that will entail. We assume that pain is bad and happiness is good. When I think about the people who changed the world, many of them lead very painful lives. Nelson Mandella had to be put in jail forty years for his desire to change his country. You know what he did when he got out? became president and changed his country. Martin Luther King had constant death threats on him, until he was assassinated on April 4, 1968. Ghandi changed the world of India and was key in aiding their freedom from Britain through peaceful protesting. All these men had callings and followed through with them?yet they also all suffered greatly. Does anyone recoil at hearing the words of the Lord to Ananias in Acts 9:15&16, "But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name." To hear the way the Lord talks about suffering, it is quite challenging I must confess. Yet look at the impact their lives filled with suffering had on the world.
With Christmas approaching, Mary is an appropriate example. God?s blessing on Mary, the honor of being the mother of the Messiah, lead too much pain. Her peers most likely ridiculed her for belief that she was unfaithful. Her fiancée? would come close to leaving her. She had to watch her son be rejected, and murdered. But through her son would come the world?s only hope. Did she have an impact on the World? I?d say so.
And finally, with this Christmas season approaching, I would like to bring up something else about Mary; a poor, young, female. The situation of Mary really made her seem unusable by God for any major task. But God chose Mary for one of the most important acts of obedience he has ever demanded of anyone. When we think that another?s abilities, experience, or even their education make them an unlikely candidate for God?s service, think again. I do not believe God?s favor brings instant success or fame, nor does he need to use the successful or famous. It seems to me He chooses the lowly in status and to bless the world (James 1:9&10), and he uses the pain of those he calls to change the world.
For my final thought, if your suffering this Christmas like many are, let Jesus use you to change the world around you. You don?t have to be happy to better others, but you have to be willing. If Christmas gives you crap this year, use it as fertilizer on others lives so that they may grow through your pain, and so our broken hearts may change others.

Imagine you are in front of an auditorium full of people, one thousand people. You have to do a drama presentation in front of the entire assembly. You?re dressed up as a shepherd, wearing a dark multi colored striped bathrobe over your nicer cloths. Six other people are in the sketch, all with previous acting experience. Unfortunately, you have little to none experience. Your lines are memorized, yet you feel this fear swell up inside of you in the bottom of your stomach. You have no time though to dwell on your fear, to think of all the things that could go wrong. You have a show to perform, and your heading out on stage right now. You run out to the stage and play the part, spouting your lines with dramatic emphasis. Things are going smoothly?.until the middle of the sketch. You begin to draw blanks on your lines. Blanks become what seem like long periods of pausing. You panic, not knowing what to do?you start to make up stuff. Shoot, it?s your line. You start it right, ? I don?t know, but I trust God, and know that scripture says?? Yet you don?t remember what the scripture says. You stumble, and say, ?If you believe that the Lord will come, He will come.? ?Great? you think to yourself, ?I just made up scripture?. The other angles in the play are mad at you, the screwed up the first chapel drama, and you made up scripture in front of 1,000 Christians. Sounds like a nightmare? It was, and you can imagine how horrible I felt. Not only had I wrecked it for the experienced, I made up a bunch of stuff that didn?t even fit. So next time someone tells you to be wary of the magic of the stage, I suggest two things. One, This magic isn?t a lucky charms magically delicious good kind of magic, its mean. And second, practice in front of a large flashlight that temporarily blinds 70% of your vision. Then you will find a similar environment to when the magic on the stage hits. 

Broken...

You do know this but today (Thursday) I have been under attack spiritually. I feel battered and broken....I feel like all is standing right now of my sanity is a shell. I am in so much emotional pain...I wish you wouldn?t have left. Oh how I wish you wouldn't have been scared of my pain. I wanted you to hug me, but I know you couldn't. You didn't know what I was going through, you didn't even know I was under attack. I wanted you so bad to pray for me right there and then. I wanted you to come to the rescue for me, like I had did earlier for you. But you left, and it has helped me to realize...in the end God is first because God is absolute. Absolutely there, absolutely caring...and has an abundance of strength that He offers to me. I need that strength right now...but why am I so afraid to reach for it, why will I not take His strength, and be victorious in my emotional and mental state. Because His strength means the death of me...I know that. I need that, if only I would want that. Sometimes I do...but not now. Forgive me Father, and pick me up back into your tender grace. Forgive me for loving myself more than you. It is through you that I have a voice in eternity. Amen.