We are all about stability and consistency. Even if you think you are not … You are. There is something admirable about those people who are ‘unshakeable.’. More than admirable… Enviable!

But you know what? Even those that appear unshakeable are still very much shakeable. The recipe for stability, strength of character under any situation, integrity, dependability … (you choose the word) is right below. Psalm 15

Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent?
Who may live on your holy mountain? The one whose walk is blameless,
who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from their heart; whose tongue utters no slander,
who does no wrong to a neighbor,
and casts no slur on others; who despises a vile person
but honors those who fear the Lord;
who keeps an oath even when it hurts,
and does not change their mind; who lends money to the poor without interest;
who does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
Whoever does these things
will never be shaken. (Psalm 15:1-5 NIV)

Since I am supposed to be taking this site more seriously this year then let’s say that it is under construction. Some of my old pictures were more than 3 years old and I have totally neglected the layout. So I am going back to plain and then building up from there.

The Problem with the Gospel is NOT the Gospel. How can good news be a problem? Good news is a problem when we are unprepared or unwilling to accept the news as ‘good.’ It is ironic but the more I wander and read what folks are writing the more this idea is proven and confirmed in my heart. Many are still trying to mould the good news of Jesus Christ into our own human and limited image. Viewing the Story and the Author of that story through our own dirty lense.  We apply our opinions, our hurt, our biases and everything else to God.  We bring Him down to our level and of course the magic, the beauty the wonder of it all simply fades.   The glory and awesomeness of the story is lost in our own abridged and twisted versions.

One of the messages from my pastor over December spoke a little about this. Somewhat indirectly but it did talk about recapturing the glory and awesomeness of the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Think back to when you were a child in December. There was a sense of wonder, awe, amazement and mystery in our minds as we thought about Christmas and the legend of Santa Claus. Our culture works hard to cultivate that sense of wonder and they call it the “Magic of Christmas”. As we grow older we lose this sense of anticipation and excitement when we realize that the story of Santa isn’t true. The tragedy is that for many people the same thing happens when we think of the real Christmas Story and the birth of Jesus. It is a story filled with miracles, signs and wonders and yet for many the sense that this miracle working God could perform any of those miracles today seems to fade in our lives. The sense of wonder, awe and anticipation and miraculous possibilities of the Christmas story have given way to the focus, cares and concerns for this life. How can we recapture the sense of wonder and awe of the Christmas story?

Go here to listen to the message: The Magi of Christmas

This message was part of my own journey as God prepares for 2o12.  In the weeks leading to this message there was a strong sense from God about gratitude and beauty.   To be grateful in all things… and to understand that beauty is found only in Him.  I can appreciate and enjoy all things under all circumstances only in Him and through Him.  His Story becomes my story.  His Good News is my good news.  His meaning and purpose become mine as I gain meaning and purpose in my life.

As we change our perspective and rid ourselves of those things that hold us back from Him … then we no longer see problems with the Gospel … because we recognize that all along we were the ones with the problem.

(I realize I am all over the place here… but I am trying to catch up and in some strange way it does make sense to me)

Monkeying around.

I am about to board my plane to Chicago. Going there for work.

Wanted to take this moment to praise and thank God. He is truly faithful… I was feeling very dry, distant … almost parched. I cried out to Him and He answered my plea. And is feeding me and I feel Him and my hunger is increasing.

A new cry is being birthed deep inside me. A cry of praise a cry of gratitude.

Thank you Lord!

There are things that the world economic system demands of us that is irreconcilable to what God asks of us and teaches us through Jesus.

Something has got to give?
What?

The ticking clock continues to be my enemy. Time passes me by as I seem to move in slow motion in certain areas in my life. Need to finish some course work and need to spend more time with the Lord. And in His Word.

But the clock does not wait for me… it just seems to go by quicker every day.

The new job has certainly helped me put things into perspective as has the work we are doing with the seasonal workers. Each of these is opposite to each other so I have had no choice but to begin taking inventory of what is important. I recognize (and I believe have recognized for a few years now) that I want to spend the rest of my life serving the Lord.

I just pray that in a few years down the road we can be in a position where we do just that.

Lots of things happening as we are looking for a new home church and I am still settling into my new job. Right now we are ‘trying out’ a very nice church in Burlington. It looks like the one … but we just want to be sure this is what the Lord has for us.

Just random words right now.
Will make more sense later… maybe.

Sometimes you get expected human behaviour from people you never expected it from.

And then you feel sad or even worse -betrayed.

Does that make sense? Not really…

Well… as always it has been a while since I posted anything personal. Lots to say but not much to say. I just removed the header image that I liked so much to give this site a less personal touch. Hopefully over the next few weeks as time allows I will be able to place a different header … less personal and just for fun.

BTW – I am terribly (in a good way) excited to be taking two courses in preparation to entering into a MTh program. One of them is Exegesis which is so but so much fun. I feel my heart tingling (is that possible) with excitement everytime I am doing my homework. To be honest with you I don’t know how I ever made it through life without what I am learning on this course (actually I do know… it is by God’s grace and His provision of good, sound and Godly teachers). Exegesis is both basic and critical. I am loving every moment and I can’t wait to learn a little more about it.

As you may recall it was a Hermeneutics course about a year and a half that put the bug to learn and study the Word of God in a different, deeper, more serious level.

From time to time I may post some homework up on the site… the only problem is that the levelling courses I am taking are actually all in Spanish.