irony.

top 3 ironies (scandals?) this christmas...

#3
Town Halls allowing "nativity scenes" (celebrating the birth of Jesus, uh... CHRIST-mas) but only allowing a manger, and animals (no mary, no joseph, no shepherds, no JESUS!)

#2
neil diamond (a practicing Jew) singing Christian Christmas songs (glorifying... uh.. JESUS!)

#1
the message that the Creator of all, the God of heaven and earth, has come to visit earth, to save earth, and comes in the form of a dependent little child, born of poor parents, in a small town, in a manger out back, and his first visitors are societies lowly rejects from "the norm".

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth... And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known."
Gospel of John 1:14, 16-18.

Eve-eve.

it's Christmas eve-eve.

i am wondering... what is different from tonight... more than tomorrow?
and why can't we start giving away presents on December 28th (after they are REALLY on sale, or returned?)...

i hope everyone has a merry little christmas eve-eve.
and december 28th also!

Death.

i have a friend who recently lost his father.
what do i have to say about this... anything can happen at any week.
do the people you care the most... know it?

maybe the most significant gift of this season is a baby in a manger...
a baby screaming, crying.... a God from the heavens screaming through this baby,
"I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU... I WILL DO EVERYTHING FOR YOU!"

maybe we should take this example and take time to write, text, call, stop by...
and to say " i love you. i would do anything for you."

that may cost you more than a $10 gift certificate...
and i guarantee that kind of gift won't be forgotten this time next year.

perhaps you will cause people to be like mary (the mother of JESUS) and "ponder things in their heart" over this season.

Clean.

i've noticed somthing today. i gave kathryn an early Christmas present (a ikea bedroom set). and now the bedroom is sleek (slick?). well, it looks nice. however all the mess of the bedroom is a trail that leads out to the living room where the mess finally died. and this is the mess that also joins the current mess outside of our computer desk here (as we are cleaning out that area as well).

makes me wonder how many times in our lives we "clean out" one section of our life and just push that junk (sin, stubborness, pride, envy, etc) into another area... and don't really clean anything up. we give ourselves a false impression that we are better off.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones." Proverbs 3:4-7

Friday (12.07.07)

Movies.

i'm not sure about this Golden Compass thing. i am wondering really what these books are saying. the author is an agnostic/atheist and wishes to "kill God" in the minds of all readers by the end of the trilogy. i will probably see these movies, nonetheless, but it is good to understand that this is not a safe movie for kids and teens that don't have spiritual guides to help them see what is going on... really.

mmmm..... undecided in MPLS.

Tuesday 12.04.07

See.

i have been forced to take a real look at my life lately. didn't really like what i saw. priorities. i have looked to find fulfillment in the wrong things. the motivation was good. but i was looking at the different areas of my life to fulfill me in ways they could not.

so now begins another journey in this race. i often experience grace by seeing how weak i am. how many mistakes i make, and then seeing a wonderful woman at home and several dozen students and their families at church. i wonder "what are you doing, putting me here?"

not so much doubt. but awe and wonder. if it was me--i would have given up on me long ago. but i can slowly see how God uses the foolish to shame the wise. even if it is my views of wisdom and foolishness and the battle that goes on in my mind.

"Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him" I Corinthians 1:26-29

Sunday 11.25.07

1000.

they say it's worth that many words... i just enjoy kids smiling.

Saturday 11.24.07

time.

as we spent 24 hours on the road this weekend, for a 72 hour visit...

nothing is better than the mathematics of love!

we will miss our beloved parents as they leave for india next month, and probably won't see them for another 18 months. robert now is also teaching in africa. at least the paroubek clan is around. i hope you had a good turkey weekend.

go packers. go cowboys.

Monday 11.19.07

out.

my nickname is the doctor. and this week the doctor, is out. vacation. rest. sabbath. much needed. i had 48 hours of it last month. this month i get 96 hours. and i need it. really. seriously. i need it.

i hope your thanksgiving is good. i am planning on a great time with mine. revived to get back to work when i return.

"All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30

Sunday 11.18.07

laugh.

we were reminded today to laugh during this life. laugh at the possibilities when GOD is working for you. ah, yes... grace (GOD being for us, for our best, working on our behalf)... what a beautiful word.

i hope you find time to laugh at life this week.
and chuckle at the audacious claims and promises of your life in CHRIST JESUS.

"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires." II Peter 1:3-4

Saturday 11.17.07

sick.

i am sick of being sick after 2 days.
funny though... here i am at church because 9am doesn't take a break tomorrow. sometimes, "he makes me lie down" is our body's ability to have the wisdom to just shut down when we are not listening to it. i think i will listen next time.

"Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you." Psalm 51:12-13

thursday 11.15.07

happYness.

not so much that we can do anything as long as we work hard at it. but "the pursuit of happyness" was a pretty inspiring movie to watch this morning. it is better to go 100% and fail then to take it easy and never risk, and... never really know if you really failed. there is a lot that i have not been able to do here in the last 18 months. but i have the hope of focusing in and doing that at 100%. then i will know (the doubt that plagues me at times....)

new priorities.
new motivation.
new results?

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving" Colossians 3:23-24

Wednesday 11.14.07

empty.

i related living out a life for JESUS to being spent for GOD's kingdom, this last sunday. it's an interesting questions to ask ourselves each day--am i really being used for GOD's kingdom. i am being spent...or am i spent? not so much am i busy all the time. charles wesley mapped his day planner out according to each 15 minute time slot.
no.
not this kind of spent.

could you look back and say that you became empty for JESUS today. that all GOD gave to you, to give to others (time, money, encouragement, etc) has been used up? i wonder if we can be come a sort-of "manna" for humanity. hum-manna-ty?

can we arrive on the scene as christians. early in the morning, when the dew is evaporating. can we provide the words, the actions and the deeds that JESUS would be doing if he was still on earth? carrying out his ministry?

or will we keep it to ourselves, and not trust that GOD will supply more for us to give to those around us tomorrow? will we receive the manna from GOD to give to a waiting world...

Tuesday 11.13.07

one.

it is interesting that the "oneness" of GOD has many facets. however we are clearly called to be one, and even JESUS prayed that we would be one in him, and he was one with the father. how can we be united? by truth. GOD's truth, revelation, provide the platform for us to stand together on. we must allow something outside ourselves to be what we are drawn to. far too many times have christians settled for the lowest common denominator to agree on. and this even leads to churches like the "church of canada" whom don't preach an actual resurrection of CHRIST any longer. we must discover what GOD has made and unite on this. we can be one. JESUS prayed for it.

"There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." Ephesians 4:4-6

There is one Faith, one Family, one Hope in Christ alone
There is one Lord, one Holy Spirit, one Father over all
Keep on holding on my friends we'll be together
Keep on holding on my friends
(we'll be together... in the dreams of God)
"Together" Enter the Worship Circle: Third Circle

Sunday 11.11.07

quite please.

it is amazing how we can shut our mouths... but not our lives. we are great at zipping the lip for a period of time. but we are pathetic at shutting down--even for 2 hours on a sunday--to listen to GOD. today i wasn't distracted during dave's sermon (which you can find all of our sermons at www.valleycc.org resources, sermons, etc). i like that version of a sermon better than the distracted one.

"Then Moses and the priests, who are Levites, said to all Israel, "Be silent, O Israel, and listen! You have now become the people of the LORD your God." Deuteronomy 27:9

Saturday 11.10.07

4 hands.

it is true that we can accomplish many things alone.
it is true that two people often accomplish less together than they could alone.
it is true that serving another means putting your agenda on hold.

but somedays it just isn't about productivity and agendas. today it was good to spend 3 hours with a friend and to eat, fish and help put a door in his chicken coop. ab early afternoon well spent.

"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" Mark 10:45

Friday 11.09.07

valley.

like a bridge, our faith is only sure when we test it. or rather, when GOD tests us i suppose. our tendency in american christianity is to attempt to divide faith and life so that we are sure without sacrifice, without testing. consider if your relationship with GOD is worth anything to you if it doesn't hold up when you don't get your way, or you find you are in a valley of life. "dark night of the sould" as it has been called. not discipline--testing. not belief -- but faith. will the promises of GOD and the hope of heaven be your anchor in the storms of life? are will you be drifting?

" So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him." II Corinthians 5:6-9

Thursday 11.08.07

listening.

usually people will tell you exactly what they need if you only take the time to listen. it is amazing. and as soon as you understand what they are looking for, give twice as much time to that specific thing (even at the cost of missing your lunch) and you will gain more than you can imagine.

"Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people." Titus 3:1-2

Wednesday 11.07.07

wisdom.

i discovered today that "words of encouragement" and the ability to be completely honest and truly transparent with a friend is worth more than a million dollars. i know many men in my life who have never found such trust, peace and grace through friends.

i hope that the reader can also find true friendship where you can say anything that is on your mind and know that grace fills the room in which you speak. meaning: there is nothing you can say to make the person across from you love you more, and nothing you can say to make the person across from you love you less.


"Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future" Proverbs 19:20