Unconditional Surrender

Currently, I am contemplating what it would look like if every Christian were to unconditionally surrender to our Lord...mainly, the author of this, but what if every Christian did......

I think the gospel would be preached, the lost would be found, relationships restored, captives would be set free, the sick would be healed, the lame would walk, the deaf would hear, but for sure all Glory would go to our Lord and our God.

Write, Run, Wait and It will Happen

This is has been marinating in my soul for a long time.....Hopefully, it is not way to long....for all my 2's or 3's of readers (that count may be high)
Habakkuk 2:2-3

2 Then the Lord answered me and said, Record the vision and inscribe it on tablets, That the one who reads it may run.
3 For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail.
Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay.

For those of you who are Bible Expositors, I know the interpertation of this passage is a propehcy, but I am going to focus on the application for me. I would like to do an exercise and write the vision that I think is to come for me, and that it will come soon......

The format of this will be, The Vision, The Obstacle and What it will take to overcome that obstacle.

The Vision: To find a life's work that I either enjoy or care about, preferably both.
The Obstacle: It seems I might be stuck in the industry that I am currently employed (which is Retirement related, and I don't think retirement is really a Biblical concept (see Luke 12:16-20) Right now is not the time to be making career changes and unfortunately, my college education is causing me a great deal of frustration because there are very few options for extending my education....ah ABC, money well spent (written with even more than usual sarcasm for me......if that is possible).
The Overcoming: Well, Jesus said with man things are impossible, but with God all things are possible (he was talking about salvation, but the application applies). I intend to learn another language (espanol, and really pray about this). Life is not meant to be lived just doing something to do something......The Bible says to redeem the time, not to pass the time. I am currently seeking how to redeem my alloted time in this life.


The Vision: to be a man who really knows the Bible, and more importantly the God of the Bible (His name is Jesus).
The Obstacle: The Bible is a long read, that is written in an ancient context. Fortunately, it is a living word and the Holy Spirit illuminates the meaning. I am easily distracted and start reading everything but the Bible. Want to know any of the rosters of the Rangers, or any of there several minor league affiliates......Well, then ask me......I would much prefer that I know the Holy Word of God like I know things about the Rangers........
The Overcoming: Read, Reread, Study, Study some more, give priority to the Word. I am currently in the market for a good book on the customs of the Bible......Also, I hope to be a life long student of the Word.....I feel like I am in about Kindergarten right now....maybe one day, i will get to a junior high level

The Vision: To marry a good and godly woman, to lead her spiritually, love her like Christ loves the Church (which is to say selflessly, and without condition), to have kid or kids who grow up in a Home where they are discipled in that home.
The Obstacle: Girls, I am not good with the ladies
The Overcoming: someone else will have to tell me........I spend a lot of time studying Family driven faith, what a man should be and things along those lines.........but right now they are all just ideas in my head......I need to figure out how to put these in practice.......I think the line in the book I most identified with was from the biography of Tony Dungy, he said he was only married because someone stepped in and helped him out, if not he would probably still be single...

The Vision: This is for my current abode.........I would like to start having people over more often and serving them and finding out their story.....when they became a Christian, what are they trying to accomplish in life, How has God ordained that path etc.......
The Obstacle: Well, it does not seem like there any......I just need to start doing this.
The Overcoming: I just need to start doing this......I think July will be a good time to start, if anyone will come......we will see

The Vision: Part II for my current abode. I think once or twice a month I would like to have people over for a prayer time.....no format, no conditions, just plain old fashioned crying out before God and for one another.
The Obstacle: None really, I just need to start doing this.
The Overcoming: The same as above, I just need to take initiative and get it done......why does that word keep coming up so much lately.....initiative, initiative and initiative?????. Everything I read keeps telling me to take initiative, maybe I should take some initiative.

This seems long enough for the time being......

Memorial Day

Today is Memorial Day, a holiday we probably enjoy without the proper consideration of those who died for our freedom. I think a good question to ponder on this date, is what would you die for. I have not known a lot of people in the military, my Grandfather served in WWII, my Uncle in Vietnam and one of my friends has served in the current military campaign. Fortunately, none of them paid the ultimate price in the line of duty, but each was willing. I hope that there are no war protests going on today. Today is not a day to state your opinion concerning if you think any of the wars that have been fought or are being fought are just, just a day to remember those who died so that you can state your opinion.

Now, back to my question. Some have paid the ultimate price and given their life for our country, what are you willing to give your life for? I think most people would say for their family and most people would probably say for their country, but this is the most amazing thing about the incarnate God, who is Jesus Christ. He gave His life for all of us. He knew that we would be in constant rebellion to Him, that we would deny that he existed, ignore what he has directed and live our lives in direct conflict to Him. For most countries this might be enough to start a war with a people who were like we are toward God, for God this was enough to finish a war for us, by paying the ultimate price, the life of His son, Jesus.

So on Memorial day, please remember and honor the soldier even if you do not agree with the wars we are fighting. Also, remember Christ, because just as a soldier fought for our physical freedom, Christ fought and won for our spiritual freedom, He paid the price and He was now won the war so that we may live in peace with Him here in this world, and for eternity in the World to come.

Very Shortly I shall resume regular blogging activites, for my mind and heart are being stirred.......
I have now finished reading the OT, and am very ready to move into the NT and see what God has in store. I will be anxious to see what is recalled to my mind as I go through the NT.....

Which World are you worthy of?

I have so many things on my mind right now, but this passage of scripture keeps popping in my head, and I have to wonder for myself and all of us, which world are we striving to be worthy of?
This one, or the world to come?

Hebrews 11:37-40

37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about i sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, il treated 38 (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground. 39 And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.

Opening Day

It is one of my favorite days of the year. Actually, it is my favorite day of the year. Baseball is back, and soon to follow is the warm weather that I have dearly missed for the winter. The 1st game everyone starts tied for 1st, nothing has gone wrong and we can all hope that this year our boys will come through. For the time being I will forget all the reasons why the Rangers will probably not be good and look to seeing Josh Hamilton in his second full season, seeing Chris Davis for a full year, seeing this defensive whiz Elvis Andrus at shortshop and hoping Ian Kinsler will stay healthy for a full year. I will be interested to see Hank Blalock and how he reacts to his final year of his contract. I am going to believe that McCarthy will be healthy all year and pitch to his potential, that Matt Harrison will develop and tha Millwood and Padilla will go out throw 2oo innings. If all this happens then we can hear "The Rangers win the Pennant".

"Spring Hopes Eternal"

Pressing On

Philippians 3:13-14
13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Today, when I was at the park, this scripture kept popping up in my head, and I think there are some things I learned while joggingh and meditating on the above mentioned passage.

1. You have to press on even when you don't feel like it. Each time I run, there comes a point when I want to stop. This point is always long before the distance I want to run. I have a choice to make, I can give myself credit for how far I have run and quit, or I can forget about what I have done so far, and keep moving to the goal I set when my run started. (sometimes, I press on, sometimes I quit). As we walk with God, the same thing happens. We are going to have tough times where we just aren't "feeling it" and the choice will come to I quit, or do I press to the High Calling of God

2. You must forget those things that are behind, but you also must understand that those things in the past affect your current situation. For example, I normally run a little over 7 miles 2 or 3 times a week. Well, for the last couple of weeks, I have had a pulled hamstring. Therefore, I have not been running for 2-3 weeks. Well, today the result was that I could not near as long as I normally run. This application makes sense spiritually too, for when I take a week or two away from God's word and prayer, then it makes my spiritual walk that much harder for me.