A Prayer Request

I will change the name to protect the innocent. Our brother in Christ Mr. R had an accident with a pitchfork the other day. I'm not sure of the details, but his wife reports it ended up stuck in his arm (should make an interesting story).

The resulting wound was fairly deep, but it didn't break any bones. Unfortunately, he now has an infection in the injury and he's been admitted to the hospital.

Please pray for our friend and brother. Pray for his speedy recovery and for some peace in his family. May God receive all the glory in this situation.

Just in Case You Missed It

Just win, baby!

Venom

This is the European Cross Spider. I was Googling to find a cross image for another post when I stumbled across this picture. I thought it was beautiful....and creepy and gross at the same time. It's a dichotomy. And it became my muse of sorts for this post.

26If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. - James 1:26-27

Venom.

It's reflexive and spills forth without thought. Anger feeds its lethality.

Venom.

It kills ideas before they take flight. It values right above righteousness.

Venom.

It destroys friendships and prevents growth.

Venom.

My words, offered in anger and fraught with venom, are counterproductive to bringing glory to our Father.

Venom.

It causes me to hate. It causes me to forget my beliefs. I can't love someone with venom.

I'm tired of venom.

I want to share ideas, discuss strategies, build relationships, and encourage my brothers. Who am I to decide right from wrong?

I'm tired of venom.

Enough is enough. I want to unite my brothers and sisters, not divide them with words.

Love.

Love conquers all.

Love.

Love unites believers and draws others to Him.

Love.

And then these three remain: faith, hope, and love. The greatest of these is love.

Love.

Love listens when others speak. It hears their thoughts and values their ideas.

Love.

Love builds relationships and feeds our growth.

God's infinite love.

It rescues my soul.

A Cyber Rose for Begoña

To my wife,

If I accomplish nothing else through this blog (can you accomplish anything through a blog?), at least let the world know how much I love you.

As smart as I like to think I am - always so quick to chime in with my opinion, you'd think I'd always get things right with you. So why am I constantly slapping my head saying, "Stupid, stupid, stupid!" One of these days, I'll get things right.

You are my love, my partner in life, my best friend. You're irreplaceable. I miss you when we're apart and I cherish the time we spend together - even if I don't always show it.

So, here I am, transparent to the world, thanking God He brought you into my life.

There just doesn't seem to be anything more important to post today.

Do I Really Need to Say More??

Dominance!! Silver and Black dominance!! That is all.

How Big Is Your Box?

Do you have to fit into my box or I into yours?

So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. - Genesis 1:27

God made us all so different - all so unique - yet ALL in His image.

So, I ask the question again: Do you have to fit into my box or I into yours?

I submit to you that Church, the place where Christians gather to learn, encourage, grow, and worship in corporate harmony, is nothing more than a box. It's a location, typically with doors and windows (but not required), where people gather.

Some of those boxes have extensive rules, including a dress code and restrictions on acceptable behavior. The people who worship there tend to be wired by God to need such things.

Other boxes have little or no rules. Freedom of expression and exploration are openly encouraged. This box might not even have any walls, just wide open spaces.

While the people in these two examples might not be comfortable exchanging boxes, they can still be united in purpose - God's purpose.

The recognition and acknowledgment that God did not create us all the same and yet all in his image is vital to finding the common ground we all share: Jesus Christ.

I'm a Wiener!!

I'm a Wiener!!

Woo Hoo!!! I won two LUXURY box tickets to a regular season Raiders game!! Yes, I'm gloating. Yes, I know it's wrong. But it feels so good!! Check it out above. This will be my climate controlled view of the game as I stuff myself (gluttony?) on free food! Oh, and did I mention the VIP parking? Now...the only question is...who should I take? I wonder....

Is It A Possible Sign?

I had to do it. I just had to. Couldn't help it.

Doing a little research, I found the following for the Laurelwood House on Websters.com:

laurelwood (noun) : tropical American tree; valued for its hard durable wood

When you think about it, that really fits where I'm at. I'm hard headed and just won't go away (durable). And, I'm American and I like the tropics. Wow, could be a sign, don't ya think?

Okay...okay...it's just a little tongue-in-cheek. Havin' some fun witcha. But...it could have some significance...maybe?

Wow! It seems like only yesterday I stormed into the factory where you worked, picked you up in my arms, and carried you off while everyone else cheered. Okay, that's not exactly how it happened... but... still, ya got to admit we have an amazing story of our own.

Who would have thought that when I ventured off to Spain with the Air Force I would meet the love of my life...my soul mate...the one who completes me? We grew up literally a world apart, yet God brought us together and made us one. That's incredible. That's only something God could work out.

I love you, Begoña! More today than ever! Happy almost-sorta-kinda anniversary (she knows what that means)! Seventeen years! Man, I can't believe you haven't traded me in for a newer model yet.

Te quiero para siempre mi preciosita. Te quiero. Te quiero.

You Are Superman

Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.And pretty cute too. No wonder you're the most popular superhero ever!

What Superhero Are You?

I'm Superman?!?! It must be rigged! Always figured myself for a Wolverine ('cause I don't like shaving).

A Conversation…

Opposing views? Or…ineffective communication? How much can you really communicate through a blog posting anyway?

I had a great conversation with a well-respected and much loved friend yesterday. We hadn’t had the opportunity to speak for a while. It’s funny how two people can be so much on the same page and not even know it.

I don’t want to guard my personal views to the point of closing myself off to different ideas. But it’s hard…especially when God has given me clear direction. Defensiveness is a character trait I’m trying hard to suppress. I want to be the loud one in the room. “Hey, everyone! Listen to me!”

All this follows a minor epiphany in my life. In the book of James, the first chapter and fifth verse, it reads:

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

So, here’s the deal. When we see the word wisdom in the New Testament, it means knowledge and understanding of the Word of God. It doesn’t mean street smarts, it doesn’t have anything to do with what they’re selling in the universities; it means knowing the Bible and how to apply it to life.

Where’s the epiphany in that? When this verse was written, there was no Bible. People relied on other people (priests and prophets), discernment, and prayer to get wisdom. But, God has now given us the Bible – His Holy Word. And that means He’s already delivered on His promise to give wisdom to all who ask for it. That’s the epiphany.

So, I turn to the Word to find answers. In the Word, I find unity and not division. In the Word, I find God opposing division in His church.

10 I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.
- 1 Corinthians 1:10

For sure, God has given some people a different vision for what church should look like. How do we make church relevant to the world we live in? That seems to be the question of the day.

Could it be that God doesn’t want a model church…a one-size-fits-all church? Could it be that God wants some to move from traditional church to something completely different? And could it be that God wants us all to support the idea that there is no model church?

In the end, He will be glorified. And that truly is the point.

So, I will continue to defend the traditional church - because I see the relevance. I will also continue to lead towards change - to foster an environment that supports all God's work. Through Christ, the body of Christ unified and moving on one accord - to glorify Him and reach the lost for Him.

Thank you, my brother, for sharing your heart and opening the dialogue. It was long overdue.