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Just_a_Branch
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Name: Shan
Country: United States
State: Pennsylvania
Gender: Male
Interests: Hanging with my wife and kids/
Reading Calvin and Hobbes/
Fall days/
A hammock and a good book/
Snow Delays/
Competitive Volleyball/
Indianapolis Colts - Go Manning!/
Helping Teens/
Deep Bible Studies/
Leading worship/
Missions trips to Jamaica
Expertise: Preaching Sermons/
Teaching Lessons/
Counseling teens/
Driving a Limo in a parking garage
Occupation: Other
Industry: Other
Message: message meEmail: email me
AIM:  cleckmeister
Member Since:
12/23/2004
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| Like a foolish dreamer, trying to build a highway to the sky
All my hopes would come tumbling down, and I never knew just why
Until today, when you pulled away the clouds that hung like curtains on my eyes
Well I've been blind all these wasted years and I though I was so wise
But then you took me by surprise
Like waking up from the longest dream, how real it seemed
Until your love broke through
I've been lost in a fantasy, that blinded me
Until your love broke through
All my life I've been searching for that crazy missing part
And with one touch, you just rolled away the stone that held my heart
And now I see that the answer was as easy, as just asking you in
And I am so sure I could never doubt your gentle touch again
It's like the power of the wind
Like waking up from the longest dream, how real it seemed
Until your love broke through
I've been lost in a fantasy, that blinded me
Until your love, until your love, broke through
I think Keith Green understood how new every day with Christ can be. This song was not written from a non-beliver's perspective who finally found Christ. I believe this song is written as a testimony of a Christian who conitunally missed out on the extra-ordinary blessings of Presence that God desires to rain down on us every day. Maybe you are a high school student, attending a Christian school even, just trying to keep up with the busy schedule and the grades. Maybe you are a college student, still trying to figure out this thing called 'adulthood' and decide what you want to do with the rest of your life. Maybe you are a parent, just continually keeping up with the busy demands of each day. Maybe you are a pastor who has been in ministry for over 9 years. It doesn't matter. God still wants to reveal his mercies to us every morning in a new and refreshing way; in a way that makes every day different from the one before. Do we look for it? Do we understand that the Christian life really IS worth living? Do we really believe life with Jesus is the best life a person could have? If so, then why do we stiffle it so much? Why do we act like Christ doesn't matter, or Christ isn't relevant to our teenage years. Why do we give movies and TV more attention than the only book that can make life better? Why do just 'add' Jesus to our lives, instead of live life through Him? Can a Christian really be so blind?? Jesus said, I have come so that you may LIFE, and have it more abundantly. I don't know about you, but I am ready to live a little more abundantly. It could be like...well like Waking Up! Seek first the Kingdom of God - It is the essence of epiphany. No, the Kingdom of God is not all about me and you. But we get to experience it!! Lord, wake me up! | | |
| "If Christians were putting into their spiritual walk the kind of discipline that athletes put into their chosen sport, the church would be pulsating with revival LIFE !" | | |
| Well, here we are in the middle of the summer, and I have not updated again since about 2 months. A lot has been going on. I am currently serving as Senior Pastor at my new church. Last week was a great first week. Sarah and the Boys have all made new friends already, and the church has made us feel very welcomed. I don't have time to give all details right now, but thank you for your prayers. God has definately confirmed that this is where we are to be. We miss you all at NP. Drop a line sometime! | | |
| The Heart of God - who can know it? Well...we can know a little....
I am currently studying the book of Jeremiah. It is a very sad
book. It speaks of the Lord's anger and sorrow at his people,
Israel. He rescued them from the oppression of slavery in
Israel. He parted the waters for them to cross from their
enemies. And he continued to promise they would have success and
prosperity if they would follow His ways and walk in His truth.
The book of Jeremiah is God telling his prophet to warn Israel and
Judah that enough is enough. He has constantly called them to
come back to Him, and to serve Him. But they will not
listen. They have turned to idols, and worshipped them. And
God has decreed that the land will be destroyed, the people will be
brutally killed, and an evil king will rule over them.
What I am seeing as I read this, is God's heart is constantly calling
His people back to Him. God is grieved that His people will not
listen. Even the priests have compromised the commands and
message of God.
And I was actually thinking why idolatry would bring such a harsh
punishment. But then I realized something - somewhat of an
epiphany. God knows how awesome He is. He created
everything. But His people were foolishly worshiping created
things, not the Creator. And God put this silly picture in my
mind.
I go to work everyday and 2 times a month bring home a pay check.
With this paycheck, I buy food for the family, pay rent and utilities
so we have a place to stay, and buy presents and toys for my wife and
kids. But how strange would it be, if every morning, my wife
would go into the kitchen and say to the coffee pot - "O great and
awesome coffee pot. You take such good care of me by providing
this house, and providing our food. Reverent coffee pot, how can
I thank you? I will cut off my finger for you..."
Meanwhile, I am standing in the kitchen saying "Hello? It is
me. I am the one who takes care of you." But she just
continues to sing louder, "O Holy Coffee Pot, Your glass is like
crystal. You bring gladness to my heart. Protect me from my
enemies..." You get the picture.
God hates idolatry. He created us so we could have fellowship
with him. He is the best person we can try to get to know in our
lifetime. He fulfills us, he protects us, he provides for us, he
helps us grow, he brings us joy. He is the awesome God.
So then, if He is worthy of all our worship, why do we worship other
things. We exalt the media world for providing us with hours of
mindless entertainment. We will vote for the next American Idol
more than we will pray for a friend. I get caught up in idolatry
as well. But now something has changed. I am seeing it for
what it truely is. It is not just a matter of poor decision on my
part. It is a blatant disrespectful insult toward God. It
is substituting other things, for Him. God showed us how he feels
about idolatry in Jeremiah. He did everything he could to get
their attention...Will he have to do the same for me?
"Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands,
you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve,
mourn, and wail. Change your laughter into mourning and your joy
to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you
up." James 4:8-10
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| I am going through the book of Romans again. In case you were
wondering where I have been. I just do not get to the Xanga as
often as I used to. But anyway, I have a different kind of
Bible that I sometime like to read to get a different
perspective. It is called, Word on the Street, and it reads the
Bible as if it were on the streets. Since I am in Romans 5, I
thought I would see how this reads. This is Romans 5:9-11
in 'street talk'. "Since Jesus' death got our lives sorted, how
much more will we escape God's fury through our connection with his
Son! 'Cos if, when we were at war with God, he brought us back
close through Jesus' death, how much more, now we are back, will we see
total life, 'cos Jesus' death-defying life pulses through our
veins. It's no wonder we are beside ourselves. We're in
with God!"
We are IN with God. Truer words have never been spoken.
When we have faith in Christ, God's wrath against sin is not longer
directed toward us. We were His enemy, but even when we were,
Christ died to bring us on His side. Once on His side, we are no
longer an enemy, but an accepted child. Makes you feel, secure,
doesn't it. As Paul goes on to say in Romans 8, "If God is for
us, then who can be against us". Whoever it is, we have nothing
to fear, for we are God's!
Awesome thought for the day...
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