In all the hassle of the elections that are coming up, i find it really helpful to not listen to the media a lot. I'll look at FOX News and get the scoop of whats going on there. But ultimately, i look at the platform of the person (after all, everyone knows that the candidate actually runs the platform ((the issues)) and then we just vote for the person who runs the platform that we like).
For myself, I will be pulling the lever for Huckabee. he seems to have the best conservative platform, and his life lines up with it.
I have a deep respect for McCain in that he's a POW and faught to defend my freedom, and for that, i thank him and our other men and women in the armed forces.
And i deeply respect Guiliani for what in New York during 9/11. I'm grateful for the leadership he gave during that time (of course, i'm sure there are those who were there and have different opinions, and possibly even merited against him.
I'm glad that Thompson dropped out of the race because he was in deep against Huckabee. And had Huckabee not run, i probably would've voted for Thompson. But it just seems that with Huckabee being a good bit younger and having more notoriety, he seems like a good choice. I think Thompson was pulling votes away from Huckabee. and i'm hoping and praying that those who were pulling for Thompson will now pull for Huckabee.
Below are some sites to help those of you who may be struggling in how to know if your registered to vote or even who to vote for. I pray that the Holy Spirit gives you wisdom and clarity in direction as far as who to vote for when the time comes.
http://www.vote-smart.org/election_president.php
http://election.msn.com/podium08.aspx?GT1=10252
http://youdecide08.foxnews.com/
I'm sure that there are plenty of other sites out there. If you know of one, please email that to me so i can look it over.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Just keep praying, just keep praying....
I kinda jokingly say this while thinking of the scene in "Finding Nemo" and the one fish in their at one time says "just keep swimming.. just keep swimming".
But in all seriousness, in reading a friends blog and hearing about her and her husbands plans for missions and their journey thus far. But this gets me to thinking about my life at this point. I'm a year and a half out of Bible school. And i'm currently working at a call center to troubleshoot for computer peripheral. I've been asked numerous times "so what are you doing here at this job? shouldn't you be serving in a perish or something like that?" And at this time, i have numerous things burning in my heart. More than anything, i want people around me to experience the presence of Jesus in their lives, resulting in either their salvation or a deepening of their relationship with Jesus.
The other nite, i was at a prayer meeting here in town and i was standing in back. And they were streaming in media from another prayer meeting. And right there in front of me, the youth around me are just worshiping Jesus and lifting up their hands to Him. I can't tell you how i loved this! I thought "this is success right here to me. seeing a generation worshiping Jesus." And what's awesome is that this is happening all over the place. There is a cry in the heart of a people crying out for something more.
I've come to build some good relationships with these people and just getting to know them more and having them to get to know me more, which is great b/c then that gives me more say into their lives.
But what next? How long will I be here? That's a good question. I figure i will eventually be moving back to PA. But for the time, i'm here to serve the local church. I'm here to serve and just be someone who has a bit of wisdom and understanding and some insight into the things that are currently happening. I mean, i've been in this mess for years, i've seen a lot and been through a lot of heart ache and awesome triumph and jubilee and victory. But the Holy Spirit is on the move. He's stirring hearts and minds to be yearning and praying for something more.
At times, i'm wondering why the Lord hasn't given the green light to move out yet. But i like the idea of our church here joining with other churches to seek the face of God and to pursue a revolution/revival of some sort. Just within those two words, there is a lot of explaining as to what each really is. Perhaps for another time.
But at times, i feel like i'm not doing much of anything. But right now, i'm in transition. Just like in an army, from battle to battle, their traveling and marching. And right now, thats what i feel i'm doing. I'm in transit. Going from one battle to the next. All the while, staying vigilant.
But in all seriousness, in reading a friends blog and hearing about her and her husbands plans for missions and their journey thus far. But this gets me to thinking about my life at this point. I'm a year and a half out of Bible school. And i'm currently working at a call center to troubleshoot for computer peripheral. I've been asked numerous times "so what are you doing here at this job? shouldn't you be serving in a perish or something like that?" And at this time, i have numerous things burning in my heart. More than anything, i want people around me to experience the presence of Jesus in their lives, resulting in either their salvation or a deepening of their relationship with Jesus.
The other nite, i was at a prayer meeting here in town and i was standing in back. And they were streaming in media from another prayer meeting. And right there in front of me, the youth around me are just worshiping Jesus and lifting up their hands to Him. I can't tell you how i loved this! I thought "this is success right here to me. seeing a generation worshiping Jesus." And what's awesome is that this is happening all over the place. There is a cry in the heart of a people crying out for something more.
I've come to build some good relationships with these people and just getting to know them more and having them to get to know me more, which is great b/c then that gives me more say into their lives.
But what next? How long will I be here? That's a good question. I figure i will eventually be moving back to PA. But for the time, i'm here to serve the local church. I'm here to serve and just be someone who has a bit of wisdom and understanding and some insight into the things that are currently happening. I mean, i've been in this mess for years, i've seen a lot and been through a lot of heart ache and awesome triumph and jubilee and victory. But the Holy Spirit is on the move. He's stirring hearts and minds to be yearning and praying for something more.
At times, i'm wondering why the Lord hasn't given the green light to move out yet. But i like the idea of our church here joining with other churches to seek the face of God and to pursue a revolution/revival of some sort. Just within those two words, there is a lot of explaining as to what each really is. Perhaps for another time.
But at times, i feel like i'm not doing much of anything. But right now, i'm in transition. Just like in an army, from battle to battle, their traveling and marching. And right now, thats what i feel i'm doing. I'm in transit. Going from one battle to the next. All the while, staying vigilant.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
The Call DC and 5 Love Languages
First off, anyone interested in going to The Call DC 2, lemme know. i'm in contact w/ some folks from the area here that want to go and are willing to take anyone with them who wants to go.
On a completely different topic... i just took this quiz about the 5 Love Languages. i kinda knew which i was. I'm a 'touchy' person at times. i like to give good hugs. and i like to spend quality time w/ people. so the below isn't something i'm surprised about.
Physical Touch and Quality Time.
Take the quiz
On a completely different topic... i just took this quiz about the 5 Love Languages. i kinda knew which i was. I'm a 'touchy' person at times. i like to give good hugs. and i like to spend quality time w/ people. so the below isn't something i'm surprised about.
The Five Love Languages
My primary love languages are probablyPhysical Touch and Quality Time.
Complete set of results
| Physical Touch: | 9 | |
| Quality Time: | 9 | |
| Acts of Service: | 7 | |
| Receiving Gifts: | 3 | |
| Words of Affirmation: | 2 |
Information
Unhappiness in relationships, according to Dr. Gary Chapman, is often due to the fact that we speak different love languages. Sometimes we don't understand our partner's requirements, or even our own. We all have a "love tank" that needs to be filled in order for us to express love to others, but there are different means by which our tank can be filled, and there are different ways that we can express love to others.Take the quiz
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
My Music Preferences
Today at work, a buddy asked me about music preferences. i told him i pretty much stick w/ worship stuff. One of the bad things about some of the music i have is that i have like 4 different versions of the same song. And sometimes i have to go into my ipod and delete songs from it.
But on one of my friends blogspots, she mentioned that she loves some of the old hymns. I'd have to say i agree. Some of that stuff is just soo powerful! I mean, its just meat!
i do listen to some CCM (Contemporary Christian Music) from time to time. I have some Switchfoot, Casting Crowns, some stuff like that. But at times, i have a hard time stomaching the music. I have a problem when the people are up on stage saying one thing and then doing back stage and doing something different. I haven't been to a concert in years. And i can't say as that i regret it. I've been to Creation Fest a couple times (its basically a 'Christian' version of Woodstock). And from what i remember, they reasonably preach the gospel. I know my mom said that Larry Norman was there once and basically rebuked everyone for the lame music thats being put out... lol. ah Larry Boy... of course, they never really got into the Baptism of the Holy Spirit at all. And i'll admit, you don't need to be baptized in the Holy Ghost to get into Heaven. Now, i don't know how i'd live w/o being baptized in the Spirit... but that's me.
I have a 30 gig ipod. And i have it half full of music and some pictures on there. That's not counting the hundreds of sermons i have on it. I'm subscribed to my churches podcast, John Piper at Bethlehem Baptist and FIRE Hollands podcast. i still have yet to listen to over half of the sermons i have on there. And that doesn't include the revival sermon archives i have on their.
Of course, when it comes to sermons, i can't sit there and stand the weak message that is commonly preached nowadays. Where is the cross mentioned? At salvation altar calls, i always wait for the cross to be mentioned. if its not, in my book, your preaching a false message. or least a watered down message.
"But we might offend someone.."
you might? how about you probably will. its one of the most narrow minded messages out there. there's no back door into Heaven. You can't buy your way in. It's either you accept the atoning blood of Jesus (because He loves you)and you get in or you don't and you don't get in. Pretty simple.
But on one of my friends blogspots, she mentioned that she loves some of the old hymns. I'd have to say i agree. Some of that stuff is just soo powerful! I mean, its just meat!
i do listen to some CCM (Contemporary Christian Music) from time to time. I have some Switchfoot, Casting Crowns, some stuff like that. But at times, i have a hard time stomaching the music. I have a problem when the people are up on stage saying one thing and then doing back stage and doing something different. I haven't been to a concert in years. And i can't say as that i regret it. I've been to Creation Fest a couple times (its basically a 'Christian' version of Woodstock). And from what i remember, they reasonably preach the gospel. I know my mom said that Larry Norman was there once and basically rebuked everyone for the lame music thats being put out... lol. ah Larry Boy... of course, they never really got into the Baptism of the Holy Spirit at all. And i'll admit, you don't need to be baptized in the Holy Ghost to get into Heaven. Now, i don't know how i'd live w/o being baptized in the Spirit... but that's me.
I have a 30 gig ipod. And i have it half full of music and some pictures on there. That's not counting the hundreds of sermons i have on it. I'm subscribed to my churches podcast, John Piper at Bethlehem Baptist and FIRE Hollands podcast. i still have yet to listen to over half of the sermons i have on there. And that doesn't include the revival sermon archives i have on their.
Of course, when it comes to sermons, i can't sit there and stand the weak message that is commonly preached nowadays. Where is the cross mentioned? At salvation altar calls, i always wait for the cross to be mentioned. if its not, in my book, your preaching a false message. or least a watered down message.
"But we might offend someone.."
you might? how about you probably will. its one of the most narrow minded messages out there. there's no back door into Heaven. You can't buy your way in. It's either you accept the atoning blood of Jesus (because He loves you)and you get in or you don't and you don't get in. Pretty simple.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Need prayer, make them mad
I found a good way to get people to be praying for you: get them irritated with you.
A friend of mine once told me that i had annoyed her a good bit at some point in time. I thought me? Annoy someone...? NEVER. in any case, she said that that caused her to start praying for me. so i decided one thing: one way to get people to pray for you is to get them annoyed with you.
(this was just a funny little note i thought of. i don't actually recommend you do this.) :)
A friend of mine once told me that i had annoyed her a good bit at some point in time. I thought me? Annoy someone...? NEVER. in any case, she said that that caused her to start praying for me. so i decided one thing: one way to get people to pray for you is to get them annoyed with you.
(this was just a funny little note i thought of. i don't actually recommend you do this.) :)
Nice people vs Christian
One of the things that i find myself doing a lot is trying to convince people that they're being good really doesn't amount to anything in the Kingdom of God. Do you realize that you could be the next Mother Teresa figure and not have Jesus in your heart as your Lord and Savior, you will go to hell when you die? Isaiah 64:4 says that that your righteousness, your trying to be a good person, is like filthy rags to God? its like smelling old gym socks.
On my ipod, i have a Christian comedian with a couple of his comedy routines. And he's funny, a great guy because he's clean and still funny. But one statement that he makes gets to me. He's talking about people who don't know Jesus and they're going about their lives, having fun in their sin (sinners sin, its what they do.. do we realize that?) In any case, he's mentioning these people and he makes the statement that these are the kind of people that 'us nice Christian folks' wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole.
Now, what kind of stupid sense does that make? If we don't touch these people, what good are we. It's like a doctor only dealing with people who aren't sick. Isn't kinda like the doctor's job to deal with those who are sick? That's kinda why he went to med school for 7 years... to be able to treat people. It's the same way with Christians... what good are you as a person who has asked Jesus into your heart to be your Lord and Savior, to not deal with sinners? That's like saying that i'm a mechanic and yet i don't deal with any cars that need fixing... how weird would've that been had Jesus only met with the religious leaders of His day. It just doesn't make sense.
Sometime ago, i was in New York City and i was on the subway with the group i was with. A homeless guy comes walking through, asking for money, and i remember seeing one of the people in my group do all they could to come no way near to this person, although the homeless guy went right past them.. guess we don't want our clothes to get touched by this person. i mean, he's all dirty and smelly... lets not get our selves muddied up by people in the world.
I've had the awesome privilege of going down into the streets of Philadelphia and doing a homeless outreach. in the dead of winter, when the temps are in the teens, we'd go into the streets and give our sandwiches and hot chocolate and pray for these people.
It just really irks me when we think soo highly of ourselves that we don't want to get soiled by the world and its dirt. Now, i understand being wise about the situations we go into. And believe me, when we're on the streets, i'm always on the lookout for the folks i'm with. Especially the girls i'm with, if we have any. If anything happens to them, i'm at fault. I'm to be looking out for their safety and making sure that they're ok.
but if your soo afraid to get down and dirty with people and get into their lives to an extent, your dead weight. people who won't want to get touched by the homeless because they smell and they don't have the nicest clothes... at times, it just gets to me. Sinners sin, its what they do. it's their life. They don't know Jesus. What do you expect of them? For them to live according to your standards?
But just hearing this statement by this christian comedian got me thinking and praying... is their stuff in my life that i'm holding dear to me that i shouldn't?
On my ipod, i have a Christian comedian with a couple of his comedy routines. And he's funny, a great guy because he's clean and still funny. But one statement that he makes gets to me. He's talking about people who don't know Jesus and they're going about their lives, having fun in their sin (sinners sin, its what they do.. do we realize that?) In any case, he's mentioning these people and he makes the statement that these are the kind of people that 'us nice Christian folks' wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole.
Now, what kind of stupid sense does that make? If we don't touch these people, what good are we. It's like a doctor only dealing with people who aren't sick. Isn't kinda like the doctor's job to deal with those who are sick? That's kinda why he went to med school for 7 years... to be able to treat people. It's the same way with Christians... what good are you as a person who has asked Jesus into your heart to be your Lord and Savior, to not deal with sinners? That's like saying that i'm a mechanic and yet i don't deal with any cars that need fixing... how weird would've that been had Jesus only met with the religious leaders of His day. It just doesn't make sense.
Sometime ago, i was in New York City and i was on the subway with the group i was with. A homeless guy comes walking through, asking for money, and i remember seeing one of the people in my group do all they could to come no way near to this person, although the homeless guy went right past them.. guess we don't want our clothes to get touched by this person. i mean, he's all dirty and smelly... lets not get our selves muddied up by people in the world.
I've had the awesome privilege of going down into the streets of Philadelphia and doing a homeless outreach. in the dead of winter, when the temps are in the teens, we'd go into the streets and give our sandwiches and hot chocolate and pray for these people.
It just really irks me when we think soo highly of ourselves that we don't want to get soiled by the world and its dirt. Now, i understand being wise about the situations we go into. And believe me, when we're on the streets, i'm always on the lookout for the folks i'm with. Especially the girls i'm with, if we have any. If anything happens to them, i'm at fault. I'm to be looking out for their safety and making sure that they're ok.
but if your soo afraid to get down and dirty with people and get into their lives to an extent, your dead weight. people who won't want to get touched by the homeless because they smell and they don't have the nicest clothes... at times, it just gets to me. Sinners sin, its what they do. it's their life. They don't know Jesus. What do you expect of them? For them to live according to your standards?
But just hearing this statement by this christian comedian got me thinking and praying... is their stuff in my life that i'm holding dear to me that i shouldn't?
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