Chew on this...

"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength; loving someone deeply gives you courage." - Lao Tsu

A word for Fathers

Psalm 127
1 Unless the LORD builds the house,
its builders labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,
the watchmen stand guard in vain.

2 In vain you rise early
and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat—
for he grants sleep to those he loves.

3 Sons are a heritage from the LORD,
children a reward from him.

4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are sons born in one's youth.

5 Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame
when they contend with their enemies in the gate.

Greatest Father's Day Gift Ever

The day started like every other Sunday. Wake up, dress, feed the kids, go to church. Church is where my life snapped into focus.

I was sitting in the back of the sanctuary with my boys and they started to act up. I tried to settle them and Charlie calmed down, but Ethan yelled at me during a very silent time in the service.

I quickly removed him from the service and took him to a quiet corner and had him stand there facing the corner. I told him he needed to stand there and think about how he had just treated his dad. After the time was up I got down in front of him and told him that he needed to apologize to me. He looked away and said "I'm sorry." I told him that now he needed to do it like real men do it. I told him to look me in the eye and say it again. He did, and I told him I forgive him. When people say it like that you can see it in their eyes if they are truly sorry. I told him that now we need to shake hands and go back to service.

We got back to the service and their behavior was a little better, but still inappropriate for the setting. I continued to struggle with them, up until the time that it was time for the children to be dismissed from the service. Before they were dismissed Jay, our pastor, instructed all the fathers in the room to stand. He ask they we be applauded for our efforts and then asked that everyone in the room lay hands on one of the fathers in there area as he lead a prayer. It was good prayer and when it ended, I turned and looked at Charlie and he had tears in his eyes. He had been pouting a lot during the service, so I thought it was just more of the same. Regardless, I could not let him go without knowing what was wrong. I walked out with him and asked him why he was crying, he did not respond. I took him to a more private location swatted down in front of him, and told him that I can not help him if he does not tell me what is bothering him. He fell into my arms and started to sob. Through his sobbing he said "It just makes me feel so good to pray for you. It makes me feel so happy. It made me cry."

I just held him in my arms at told him that I love him and asked him if he knows how happy he makes my heart. I held him until he stopped crying, and took him to class.

There are moments in peoples lives that are referred to as life changing. The stories normally surround a very traumatic "eye opening" experience.

My experience was not traumatic and was also not eye opening. It was "heart opening."

I forgot what is was to feel loved like that. I forgot that I could be loved like that. I don't remember the last time that I allowed myself to feel loved like that. I hear the words I love you come from peoples mouths, but I find myself having trouble really trusting those words. Those words hold strong meaning to me. They come second only to the phrase "I promise..." I have trusted too much and gotten hurt too often. I have turned my anger on myself, because if I give it to the person it belongs to they might pull away the conditional acceptance they have extended. This is why I cling to my Savior with all that I am. He will never leave me. He will never deceive me. He desires only to see my successes in His name. His promises are written in blood. Never to be broken.

I pray that my children know that it is my deepest desire for them to feel love like that.

Words are not enough

The bible tells us this about death-

“For the fate of the sons of men and the fate of beasts is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no advantage over the beasts; for all is vanity. All go to one place; all are from the dust, and all turn to dust again.” (Ecclesiastes 3:19-20 RSV)

To sum up this passage – there is no way around it, everything and every ones time on Earth will have an end. This knowledge of death’s inevitability does not lessen our suffering. Today our grief still pours out as a sign of longing for one more moment to share with Grandma whose physical death and we gather to grieve today.

Even though grief tends to be a very personal experience,. we gather together today as family and friends to support each other and try to find a way to fill the void created by our loss Painfully we recognize that Grandma’s compassionate words are not here to console us as we grieve, but instead her shell now lies peacefully, and with the Lord her spirit is rejoicing. She is now absolutely free of all worry and pain. An important point to keep in mind for those of us still living is that while Grandma would certainly expect those of us left behind to grieve, she wouldn't want us to be completely devastated by our loss either. Life must go on, and no one would be more emphatic about making that point to us than grandma. She fought the good fight until she was overcome. Death happens, but it must not be allowed to defeat us.

We all have our personal reasons and we share many common reasons we grieve Grandma’s death today. The memories that we have of the lessons she taught us, and the laughs that we shared will forever be a part of who we are. I loved her playful attitude, and she often shared with me her love for nature . I remember the long walks we used to take and the times we would just get quiet and listen to the world around us. It would help us both to escape for a few moments and feel free in who we are. I will miss sharing those moments of freedom with her.

My faith reassures me that she now feels nothing except that freedom. All the pain of this world has been left behind. The darkness of her illness has only claimed victory over the shell that carried the spirit that was Grandma. The memories of her will forever live on in our hearts and our minds and we can rest in the peace that she will forever live in the place that has been prepared for her.

I LOVE BEING A DAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Interesting

Today at lunch, I decided it would be a great day for a walk. I did not get far before I came to a man with a megaphone. He was standing across the street from the central bus stop in the city. Next to him stood his female friend\wife holding signs that read "Repent" (not a bad suggestion)

I decided to stop my walk there and listen to the message that he was sharing with the crowd.

It turned out his message (technique) was to scare people to God. I heard very little reflecting the hope that is found in Jesus. I was lead to pray silently for this man, and the people hearing his voice, to truly come to know freedom in Jesus.

There is a need to fear life without God, but the people of this area, and of the world for that matter, need to also be told about the freedom and joy that comes from a relationship with our living God. Repentance is a step toward that, but where do they go from there. Why should they do it? After they receive forgiveness, how do they show their thankfulness? What does it mean or feel like to truly repent? I understood his words, but what was lacking in his message was sharing a knowledge of God's desires for us to know his love, live for Him and be free from ourselves.

Accepting Jesus out of fear limits the intimacy that can be achieved in a open an trusting relationship with God. That is what God desires most for us. Knowing Him, trusting Him, pursuing Him, honoring Him and ultimately reflecting Him. He loves us and he wants everyone to know that. He wants us to know that so badly that He came down to Earth and walked among us.

Romans 8

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, 4in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.

To: Kory From: Kory

Kory,
When will allow yourself to feel free?  How can you be scared to be yourself
in front of yourself.



Staind - Right Here

I know I’ve been mistaken
But just give me a break
And see the changes that I’ve made
I’ve got some imperfections
But how can you collect them all
And throw them in my face

But you always find a way
To keep me right here waiting
You always find the words to say
To keep me right here waiting
If you chose to walk away
I’d still be right here waiting
Searching for the things to say
To keep you right here waiting

I hope you’re not intending
To be so condescending
It’s as much as I can take
And you’re so independent
You just refuse to bend
So I keep bending till I break

But you always find a way
To keep me right here waiting
You always find the words to say
To keep me right here waiting
If you chose to walk away
I’d still be right here waiting
Searching for the things to say
To keep you right here waiting

I’ve made a commitment
I’m willing to bleed for you
I needed fulfillment
I found what I need in you
Can’t you just forgive me

I don’t want to relive all the mistakes
I’ve made along the way

But I always find a way
To keep you right here waiting
I always find the words to say
To keep you right here waiting

But you always find a way
To keep me right here waiting
We always find the words to say
To keep me right here waiting
If I chose to walk away
Would you be right here waiting
Searching for the things to say
To keep me right here waiting 

New beginnings in a long story.

The noise inside his head has quieted. The look of constant anguish has vanished from his eyes. His fragile physical frame has been fortified with much needed mass. Smiles are visible more often on the faces of his children. There is a new peace present in what was just one week ago his valley of death.

What does this all mean? It means that truth and peace can be your reward no matter how far you fall. It means that even over all of the noise of this world God hears prayers. It means that the truth WILL set you free.

Answered prayer never fails to bring tears of joy to the eyes of my soul.

John 16:24
24You haven't done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy

The wages of sin is death

But to you my brother I say

Rage, rage against the dying of the light!!!

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