warming

is it wrong to pray for global warming when we are getting 3 inches the night before APRIL!!!! ??????

Can't we get along with just a 2-4 degree difference in the world?

i watched a wonderful documentary (from the "brits") today again.
"the great global warming swindle" (obviously brits from the word swindle).

recommended highly to those who read this post!

an "endginning"

how does one describe the transition of goodbyes and hellos...

i am leaving a ministry near and dear to me today. one that has consumed me at times. one that has frustrated me at times. and one that has been a fuller, real, and great experience. i love valley christian church... i hate leaving it. but the timing is perfect to "END" or...

is it perfect for a new "BEGINNING"

as we have 3 months to slowly sift through life, to regain composure of self, to work on our marriage... to lose material we have latched onto, or gained (in the case of 30 lbs in 2 years... yuck!). but to begin the process of letting our hearts connect with our Lord again... and then with eachother... then to reconnect with friends... etc.... and finally to move to indiana...
to help kathryn's parent's mission (see "emrys and usha" on the links to the right)... and to find a new church family/fellowship.... part time labor work... but to focus on helping Benevolent Social Services of India (B.S.S.I) [[ or for you canadians Love in Action Trust of India -- L.I.A.T.]]. maybe the first step is a new name for a new era?

so we stand on a "endginning" an ending and a beginning at the same time.

progressively seeking a step of faith, a trust to shift all of your weight to that step... and then.. to step again.

Jesus hasn't failed me yet.... though i have him... hope beyond hope that i am not just a servant, but a friend.. and not just a friend but an adopted son of the CREATOR. one who doesn't slumber or sleep.
and now... i must retire...

it is 12:12 am... in 12 hours i will be eating at a "g-bye potluck" for us...
in 24 hours.... i will be ....

me.

mmmm...church

okay...vent...

sometimes the churchianity instead of christianity really gets under my nerves...

okay... most times...


okay.... always.

Easter...

Happy Resurrection Day everyone!
Hope your Sunday is blessed

1 Corinthians 15: 12-19 . . .

Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead,
how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
But if there is no resurrection of the dead,
then not even Christ has been raised.
And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain
and your faith is in vain.

We are even found to be misrepresenting God,
because we testified about God that he raised Christ,
whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised.

For if the dead are not raised,
not even Christ has been raised.

And if Christ has not been raised,
your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.

Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
If in Christ we have hope in this life only,
we are of all people most to be pitied.

were you there...

Thank God for his unfairness today.

HOLINESS (being fair)
Jesus lived a perfect life ==> gets heaven
I(we) have failed ==> eternal separation from God (hell)

GRACE (being unfair)
Jesus gets what I deserve....
I get what Jesus deserves.

amazing love!

"...that's what grace is. grace costs the giver everything, so that it costs the receiver NOTHING." (Philip Yancey)

5000 year leap

i am in the middle of reading a "patriotic" book on the constitution (and events surrounding it) and the 28 major values/ideals/principles (what have you) that the founders . i just read over the intention of the 10 amendment last night. it was a great chapter. i decided to print out a short form of the constitution as it now is to compare with the ideas that the founders presented.

the 10th amendment basically says, anything not expressed in the constitution is not the right of the government to legislate or to control--it becomes states rights. and the 9th amendment is close to it (to make sure that any new amendments do not hinder the first 8). the point? the founders wanted a very small, spread apart in powers, constantly changing (every 2,4,6 years) government so that the states had more rights, and that the states should follow the example so that the counties and towns do like wise.

i guess i would say it this way... example
founders wishes would be a tax system that is low and prioritized: 10% tax (5% to county/city, 3% state, 2% Washington).
currently we have something like this: 5% local, 5% state, 15% Washington.

i am learning quite a bit from the pens of our founders. for instance, America was set up to prevent a large welfare state. and now 33% of the budget for the D.C. government is a distribution of wealth for others (farmers, welfare, social security, unemployment)...

i am learning that senators were set up to advocate for the state. the legislators of the state and the representatives from the "house of reps" would sent 2 senators to Washington (not a vote till the 17th amendment) to keep Washington in check with state rights.

i am learning that the American my great great grandparents came here to live in was more like the government that the founders wanted. they warned against a system of full time politicians (career), a system where the free market would leave 25% of the population with 75% or more of the money... and to then allow the remaining 75% of the population to vote (pure democracy and not a representative government like we have).... to hire men (Washington) to professionally rob those who produce the most (help society the most) and distribute to those who cannot work as well, have more hurdles, or did not prepare/have insurance, etc.

anyhow. "The 5000 Year Leap" (recommended). gets a person thinking.

music.

lately i have been listening to scott phillips quite a bit.

www.scott-phillips.com

underdog

i am certainly not impressed at all with our current "big 3" picks for president. however, i am impressed that a 3% polling McCain in july ends up a nominee, and the 20 points down Clinton comes back last night to keep this thing going. if nothing else i hope this engages more than the 40% of america that usually votes and understands the power and the limits of d.c. i don't see how that could be bad.

angel eyes

one of my favorite songs was written by Jeff Healey (of the Jeff Healey Band). he is centered on the pic. age 41, died of cancer.
he lived a life more full than the average man, for sure, but it would have been amazing to see his creativity grow into his 60's...

my thanks to Jeff for some great 7-8th grade dance memories...
"what did i do? what did i say? to turn your angel eyes my way?"

yesterday.

Yesterday I officially resigned at VCC.

I have begun to realize, as I stood behind a curtain with Kathryn, that my life (while plagued with unfaithfulness, problems, pride and failures) is soo much more full because of my time with Valley. Many of the failures would have happened no matter where I served...

and what remains is the gold.
the kind of gold that is worth it all.
my life is better, fuller, greater because of our two years here.
i hope that we have blessed this church the same way.