JUDGEMENT

The low-down on judgement.......
I am a professional at judgement. I think everyone would agree that we all are. The intense scrutiny we apply to our own lives, what we lack, what we fail at, what we didn't do, what we did. The frustration and anger that comes from reliving these things everyday, just can't help but make us lash out at others. What they lack, what they fail at, what they didn't do, what they did. We are so good at it because we practice on ourselves so much! The easy faults we pick out in others, should give us a sign on what we need to work on ourselves.

Christians are very good at this. We spend everyday meditating on someone who was perfect, wanting to be just like Him. We struggle and fail and then become frustrated with ourselves. We have missed the point entirely! He says over and over in His word, that what we are trying to attain is not possible. We should not expect it from ourselves or from others. What a relieving thought.

Here is an idea. The next time someone does something that you would like to judge. STOP. THINK about it. Think about when you made that same mistake and have compassion. Share your trial, struggle, victory or failure. You just might find a friend in the person you thought you didn't like.

YOURSELF!

A Christian, a Muslim and a Jew walk into OfficeMax

Just the other day I was working with my co worker who is a muslim. He is a very devout muslim, to the point of taking his breaks at the given times to do his rituals. We were in the office because someone else was given the supervisor job and he had wanted it. He was very upset and wanted to talk to me about it. I was trying to figure out a way to tell him that sometimes we have to be patient. Sometimes, we don't get what we want. Sometimes we have to just continue to do our best and work on what we know we fall short with. In the midst of this I looked at him and said, "you say to me all the time, "if God wills", what if God wills that at this moment of time, you are not to be promoted." He told me that he respected me for that but had to go home to take a mental day.

I left the office, short a person on a truck night, and was wondering what else could go wrong. On the contrary, it went right! I saw an old friend of mine sitting on the furniture pad, writing. He is Jewish. I pulled up a chair and took a minute to talk with him. His name is Gershon, I hope I spelled that right, he is very devout and is a poet. I have his poetry sitting in the dining room now. He is one of the most sincere men I have ever met. As I was sitting there, he asked me if I knew the meaning of Adam. I gave the common christian answer, he didn't.

He said that Adam is like FBI or CIA in hebrew. Since they don't count the vowels, it goes like this, ADM. The A is for Adam, the D is for David and the M is for Messiah. I couldn't believe what I was hearing! it was absolutely awesome! in the New testament, Jesus is considered the second Adam and He fulfills all three letters. A - He is the second Adam, D - He is from the lineage of David, M - He is the messiah. Not to mention the awesomeness of the whole trinity concept here! 3 in 1, how beautiful!!!!

This is not Joke!

an essay

When do I graduate?

Ever since we were kids, there has been a method to our madness. We started with preschool. A prep time. A time to get us ready for the real learning. We learned how to be socialable with other kids and how to eat healthy and take a nap. We abandoned all of these concepts as soon as we reached High School but that is not my point of this writing.

We then reach first Grade. We start our building blocks on which the rest of our education rested. We continued through elementary school and then to High School. When we reach the tender age of 18, we find ourselves in the position of graduating. Oh, to graduate. Our school tells us that we now have the foundation we need to continue on and do whatever we can dream of. We now have our High school diploma and we don't have to go back!

Each of us then have the choice to continue their education through college and so on. However, eventually we graduate. You might be asking what I am trying to get too. Ok, here it is.

As believers in Christ, we understand that there is no limit to what we can learn about God. We understand that our relationship with Him is an ever growing, ever deepening relationship and will continue to be thus through eternity. With that understood, however, there seems to be a graduating point in the scripture for individuals from the basics (milk) to the not so basic (meat). The growing up knowledge from when we first become believers (infant) to a person who lives and acts knowing their responsibility to Jesus and are working in the very gifting that they were blessed with (adult).

Hebrews 5:11-14 says this:

11 There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen. 12 You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word.[c] You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. 13 For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. 14 Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.

There then seems to a maturity level that all of us who claim to be christians must come to. When is this spot? How is it graded? Who is the one that decides if we are there or not?

One thing that is quite evident in this passage concerning these questions is the ability of the person to decide what is right and wrong. In fact it seems to be the deciding statement as to who is mature and who is not. Those who are still needing milk or those who have gone on to eat the meat. In the beginning Paul also refers to the fact that we should only be taking milk for so long. That we shouldn't continue to be on the milk but there is an age of a believer that they should be teaching others. He says of those he is writing to in this passage that the reason why they can't understand the more difficult things is because they are spiritually dull and don't seem to listen.

Question:

What does it mean to be spiritually dull?

I think that the answer is something we can find ourselves. I believe we all at one point of time have felt that we are spiritually dull. It goes something like this. A restlessness that won't leave. A feeling of inadequecy. A feeling in our hearts that we are not doing enough. A desire to want to learn more or dig into scripture more. Being sick of the status quo. Wanting to do more for him.

Sound familiar.

We continue to go to church on wed. and sunday nights. We continue to listen to the same teachers and same sermons. We have it told us that we need this. We need to be reminded of the basics over and over again, but when is the point that we graduate and began to teach others? When do we graduate? Isn't our job to go from the milk to the meat? Are we not suppose to go from being infants to adults? Do we need to continue to here the same messages over and over again because we are spiritually dull and hard of listening? Are we keeping ourselves in the spot or are those who claim to be our overlookers? When do we start to teach? Not because we want fame and fortune but because it says we are suppose to in scripture.

I believe that the current structure of things depends on us not graduating.

In science we learn that the body is a flowing fountain of cells. The old ones move out why the new ones are created. Isn't this the way that the body of Christ should be. The old ones moving out to teach and newer ones taking their spot. But we have the idea that big is good. We continue to hold on to the old ones for number purposes and not releasing them. I am not talking about new preachers taking older for the old ones. I am talking about each and every Christian growing to a maturity level that they are able to distinguish what is good and what is bad. We are all suppose to become teachers with our lives. Be good, patient and kind. Show people how powerful truth is by being honest with your life and others.

When do I graduate? Good question to ask for any christian.

long time - - - no blog

As I was reading my wife's blog this morning, I realized how long it has been since I blogged. Sometimes my mind is on so many other things that I don't even think about writing or reading but just making it through that day. Sounds sad "making it through the day". Shouldn't life be more then that. I have been sick and tired, literally. My work has been exhausting. It seems, no matter how hard I work, that there are still things that are wrong. I have been the complaining board for everyone and their mother to post on at work and I am getting tired of being poked. Eve is the ultimate goal of the day. If I could just make it through the 10 to 11 hours of work to get home to her, I know I will be fine. Lately, we were watching a 5 week old for a friend and I enjoyed watching Eve be a mother. I will admit that I enjoyed being a father as well. I couldn't help but start to think about things that I love about my wife. Here are a few.......

She is caring beyond belief (like the Petra song!)

She is patient and a good listener

She is loving and kind (the way Jesus is)

She thinks of others

Eve is my best friend

She is strong and courageous

She hates evil and embraces good

Eve is insightful and knows what you are saying, even when you don't have the words

I could go on and on and on but this blog would end up to long. If you are someone who is reading this post who knows my wife, feel free to enter in some qualities that you see in her as well. I love you Eve

A place I have gone wrong.....but now I am going to do right

Romans 12:14-16"...Laugh with your happy friends when they're happy; share tears when they're down. Get along with each other; don't be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don't be the great somebody."
When I was interning at my first church, I remember very vividly how my down days would go. The pastor's wife there, whatever good intention she had, would see that I was down and tell me I had to not let my emotions rule me but I was to rule my emotions. She would then advise me to put on church music and worship my way out of it. She had a very caring spirit but here is where I believe this scripture comes into play and where she was wrong.
What is it saying when we say we need to worship our way out of sadness? Logic would tells us then that sadness is bad. Is sadness bad? NO. It is an emotion that God gave us. In fact, in this specific scripture, God tells us to be sad with those who are sad. We are not to force our way out, OR TELL OTHERS TO DO IT, but we are to get down with them. I am reminded while I type about scenes in the old testament where someone's family member has died. They would rip their beard and tear their robe and fall down to the dust. They would literally pour the dirt over their heads in anguish. Think about the symbolism here. To them they believed the creation story, where we came from dust. Obviously rolling around in it would remind us that that is where we came and that is where we will go. To help us understand that death happens, doesn't totally cure our mourning but it does take the sting out a little. Also, the beard was a sign of pride, the longer the beard, the better the man. To actually pluck out your beard, I can't imagine, is to say you are nothing. God gives and God takes away. It is a sign of saying that you are not in control.
I seem to be ranting. What I mean is this. When you see a person falling to their knees and ripping out their beard and throwing dirt on their face. Don't pull them up and slap them and tell them to get it together. Get down on the ground, rip out your beard and start throwing dust on your own head. Show them that you understand or that you want to understand, that is a true friend.

Am I willing to jump.......?

I have studied many times

The marble which was chiseled for me-

A boat with a furled sail at rest in a harbor.

In truth it pictures not my destination

But my life.

For love was offered me, and I shrank from its disillusionment;

Sorrow knocked at my door, but I was afraid

Ambition called to me, but I dreaded the chances.

Yet all the while I hungered for meaning in my life

And now I know that we must lift the sail

And catch the winds of destiny

Wherever they drive the boat.

To put meaning in one's life may end in madness,

But life without meaning is the torture

Of restlessness and vague desire-

It is a boat longing for the sea and yet afraid.

(Edgar Lee Masters)

Chapter 1

verse 5

"Through him and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith."

"Obedience the comes from faith" This phrase is very interesting and is setting up the whole letter of Romans for what it is. A message that says our faith comes not of works but grace. Paul is saying in this simple line that the school teacher is not needed anymore. The law is not needed anymore. Obedience can and must come through someone's faith. They can try to follow rules and regulations all they want but it will lead to nothing but condemnation and guilt. Because that is what the law was made for. It was made to show us how guilty we are but Grace happened to show us how (despite of all sins) accepted we are.

The other day I was helping our print center at work print a banner that said "Revival Fire or Ruin" I looked at the associate I was helping and said "They would probably get more people to stop at their booth if they said 'Grace greater then all my sin' The law is very dangerous in the hands of the breakers. It will, more often then not, be used to build a fake cast system. This system is not based on truth at all but hidden lies. The people at the top of the cast system are just as bad as those they say are at the bottom but they are better at hiding it. Their motives in some way might seem good to them but the result is not freedom.

The idea of 'Obedience by Faith' says that when we accept Christ by faith and realize what He has done for us, then we are filled with a desire, passion and love for others. What were those two commandments again......? Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and your neighbor as yourself. By doing this you fulfill all other commandments.

A study in Romans

Before I start this study in Romans. I want to invite feedback, comments and thoughts. There is no corner on the Bible but God Himself.

You will have to look hard for a Bible that does not contain chapters and verses. However, the first Bible did not. The New Testament is compiled by letters and these letters were written to believers. That is very important to remember. They were not written to non-believing heads of state, just believers. I want to study more in depth Chapter 1 but before I do, I want to clarify. Remembering that there is no chapters or verses, we need to not take this chapter out of context. The beginning clarifies that Paul is writing to Christians, please keep this in mind. Because of verses and chapters, we (Christians) like to compartmentalize verses. Each verse in each chapter is meant to compliment the other. It is much like notes in music. By themselves, they make just a sound but put together they make MUSIC!

The history of the use of Chapter one is to define non-believers. Those who are of the world. Preachers use this on Sunday morning to show what people of the world look like. Unfortunately, they also use it to enforce their view to their congregations on homosexuality. In many situations it ends up degrading a person in such a lifestyle and making it seem as if they are leprous. This is one of the main reasons why I talk about chapters and verses not being there. Many of these preachers do not continue preaching on Chapter 2. All you have to do is read the first two verses and you will see what I mean.

The idea Paul is trying to get across is that we are all sinners. Not to condemn but to help people understand that we are not alone. We are in this together and together we are strong. More on this later.

A poem

You might not think my story is familiar

but please read more

I grew up as a slave

A slave with no cage

my master went by the name "man pleaser"

he promised me love

he promised me acceptance

he promised me a home

a place of comfort

where I would be taken care of

but he lied

I was abused

I was stripped of my innocence

I was taken advantage of

I was told, this is what you do to survive

When I started to see

they told me I was blind

when I started to know

they told me I was stupid

when I started to hear

they told me I was deaf

when I started

they told me not to finish

Walking has become easier

one row of chain at a time

first, the truth

second, the guilt

third, the hurt

one at a time

then i started to run

running became easier

with no burden on my shoulder

there were others running beside me

grabbing my hands

at first I didn't understand what they were saying

so I started to listen closer

in soft whispers and then in loud voices

they said "spread your wings"

I looked and couldn't believe it

where did these wings come from

they told me I had them all the long

I was born with them

They said I was born to fly

I WAS BORN TO FLY!

Paul Bunyan and Jesse's yellow foot

Deep in the heart of Wisconsin there is a place called Paul Bunyan's pancake house. It's a monster of a building, just like the man. A log cabin that seems like it stretches forever. Inside of the building is a picnic table that runs the whole length. It is here where you sit. It is here where you eat. It is here where you eat like a logger from the bygone days. It was also here that my brother's foot turned yellow.

We had pulled up to Paul Bunyan's with logger appetites. We were so hungry. We were very accustomed to eating pancakes. When I was a kid, my dad would make pancakes for us in the morning. He would top off your plate with 3 of them and when you weren't looking, he would add three more. I never could tell how many pancakes I ate when he cooked, I just simply lost count. My brother and I were so hungry when we got there that we didn't hear dad tell us to watch the yellow lines. That's not logger talk, if your wondering. They were painting the yellow lines in the parking lot.

When you walked into the building, there was wood everywhere. Wood walls, wood counters, wood ceilings and wood floors. Beautiful coated wood floors. You could see your face in them. We were greeted by the hostess at the end of the gift shop and we soon found ourselves seated at the long picnic table, eating to our hearts content.

Afterwards, we started roaming through the gift shop, looking to bring some key chain or postcard back from our trip and we came across 4 waiters and waitresses scraping the floor. My dad laughed and said "oops, someone stepped on the yellow line" It was after about 5 minutes that my brother came over to me and whispered into my ear "we need to get out of here and we need to go now" I looked at him like he was crazy, then he lifted his shoe. We slowly walked over to my dad and told him we had to leave. He didn't buy a postcard.

An hour and a half to brew one pot of coffee!

An hour and a half to brew one pot of coffee! You might think that this to long to wait for a cup of coffee. Let me explain.........

Our coffee maker broke down a week ago. Yes, a week ago!!!!!! However, since the money is slim, we had to wait. Well, today, we decided to buy one. I did some research on line and found what I thought to be the cheapest but not too cheap coffee maker. The plan was simple. I was to drop Eve off at Aldi where she was to pick up the essential vegetables and I was to go to Kmart to get the coffee maker.

I got to the coffee maker aisle and started to look at all the different coffee machines and found an even better buy! This was a Black and Decker coffee machine that had a pot that felt good to hold. You know what I speak of. There are those pots that are so cheap that you feel it. I was also in Luck because the maker was only 19.99! ON SALE! How could I go wrong............

they had none in stock.

I proceeded to try to find an associate, and proceeded, and proceeded until at last I found one. I was hoping to capture his pot of gold but I digress. I asked him if on the shelf was the only stock they had for the coffee pots. He said he thought so. I told him I was looking for the Black and Decker that was on sale. He told me he would be back and a couple minutes later came with a telxon gun. I was wondering what he was going to do with it since Kmart labels don't have scan bars. He proceeded to FAKE SCAN the label. FAKE SCAN!!!!!! I didn't mention to him that I have worked 13 years in retail and use one of these guns every day. He said "it's not reading" I said "the numbers are printed on the label" He then proceeded to take his cell phone out and take a picture. He told me he would have to check the main computer. 5 minutes later he came back to tell me that they had 5 in stock. "Where are they?" I said, "I will have to talk to a manager" was the reply. While waiting for him to find a manager, which I know from experience takes awile, I walked further down the aisle and low and behold, right in front of my eyes, was a top of the line Hamilton Beach coffee maker on CLEARANCE for only 4 dollars more!

An hour and a half later, I am enjoying the best tasting cup of coffee in a long time.

The lesson............we think we know what we want, we go to get it, we face trials and tribulations, we become discouraged, we search for an answer, find something we didn't even expect, it is actually better then what we planned and in the end we come out smelling like fresh brewed French Roast.

God Bless

because I am not enough

I read somewhere that today will bring trials

That I would face temptation

I heard that I would find troubles

come face to face with tribulation

I saw that I would need patience

and the strength that God gives

because mine was not enough

I read somewhere that today will bring joy

That at some moment I would smile

I heard laughter would fill MY heart

and stay for awhile

I saw that I could hope, that I could dream,

that I could love

because He is enough

I read somewhere that I have the victory

That it is I who will win

I heard the trumpet sound the entrance

and my march was to begin

I saw all those that shared my trials

and gave me strength to overcome

because mine was not enough

I read somewhere that I will rest

my breathing will become light

I heard that I will be avenged

and all will be made right

I saw the seat that brings judgement

but also righteousness flowed from its throne

because mine was not enough

Break Down

My lawn mower broke down in the middle of mowing yesterday. I tried to fix it but it was getting dark and harder to see. I had to give up. I then proceeded to think about how I have two mowers that are both broke down, a car in the driveway that's broke down and if you could believe it or not, I broke down. It was like I blew a gasget. I started swearing at the lawn mower. Swearing! I barely ever swear. I made sure to slam the door on my way in and then started to complain to my wife about everything that is going wrong with the vehicle and the lawn mowers. I was surely in the pit all night. I called a friend later last night to get his address and started to talk to him about what I was frustrated with.

Here's the funny thing. All night, when I wanted to have my own pity party, about all the things that were going wrong. It was like the Lord kept reminding me of my wife. How could I really have it that bad when I have Eve. Like the stubborn Judy man that I am, I continued to force the pity upon myself even though I didn't have a leg to stand on but I did ruin what could have been a great night with my wife. I could have enjoyed conversation being guilt free from how long the lawn was because the mower was broken. I had an excuse to spend more time with Eve and I squandered it in unearned self pity.

Just goes to show ya.

Simple.

Colossians 1

We teach in a spirit of profound common sense so that we can bring each person to maturity. To be mature is to be basic. Christ! No more, no less.

There are thousands of pastors and priests. Evangelists and missionaries. Monks and nuns. Professors and teachers. All of them to some degree having had some schooling. They attended some college or internship to learn how to do their positions. They might even have had to pay thousands of dollars to get their degree. The question I am proposing is “For What”?

The gospel is simple. To simple for some. There are those who struggle and might even not accept it because it sounds to simple. This is why scripture says that it is a stumbling block to the well learned. The gospel was so simple that Jesus entrusted it with fisherman and tax collectors and prostitutes. No pharisee was part of the 12. No king or priest. Just the unlearned. Those who had been rejected. Those who were not considered as the wise.

It is quit certain if you look throughout history that it doesn't take 4 years of college to be one who understands the mystery of God. That mystery being Christ! It is no kept secret. God makes it available to those who are closest to His heart. The poor!

Diplomas are for walls. Education is for respect. College is for profession. Profession is for stability. The idea of college for those who would like to be in ministry is to bring validity to them being paid for what they do. Why would you pay thousands of dollars to go to a college where you learn to minister to people for free and never be able to pay it back? Is Christianity a profession? Here, I believe, we have gone awfully wrong. Hurting people, the poor, the stranger, the widow, and the orphan don't need educated answers. They need LOVE! No matter what kind of answer you give me, you could never convince me that you could learn Love at a college. No matter what kind of college it is. Shall I quote 1 Corinthians 13 here or refrain? It is time that we start dealing with this issue as the church. It is time that we stop paying people to do the work for us. That is what we are doing, aren't we?

We will go on living our lives the way we want to and feel good about it, as long as we pay our tithe, which in turn pays the pastor so he can go and visit the sick in the hospital and prepare a message for Sunday and read and pray for the rest of us because we just don't have the time. What a great arrangement. We pay money so that we don't have to be spiritual all the time! Shall we flip the coin over? The pastor continues to preach every sunday messages that challenge the congregation to become more spiritual. To read their bible more and to pray more. He sees that they are not doing it as much as they should so he continues to validate in his mind the importance of them paying him. They need someone to watch over them. They are children and he the nanny. This silent agreement happens twice a week all across America. They are satisfied with the status quo. The people expecting the minister to be spiritual because they pay him and the minister expecting the people to be ignorant because they pay him. This, I don't believe is right and it is time for God's people, His body, to grow up.

Hospitality!

Hospitality

To invite someone into your home is to invite them into your life.

This picture is a picture of my grandparents. I think the world of my Grandpa and Grandma. My Grandpa passed away a couple of years back and my Grandma still lives in the Winona area. If hospitality had a name it would be Charlie and Eleanor Judy. My Grandpa use to tell me stories of when they lived in South Dakota. If there was anyone in need, they knew they could go to their home and they would help as best they could. The Native American culture in that area was devastated by alcohol. There were many times that my Grandpa would find them passed out in the ditch. He would pick them up and take them home. My Grandma would make sure that they had something to eat and that they had a place to stay if they had to. There were many stories of when they would just show up at Grandma and Grandpa's door for food and shelter.

I remember when I visited my Grandpa one of the last times in the hospital. I was concerned with his salvation. At the time I was caught up in works and naively thought that if someone didn't go to church, then they weren't saved. I remember asking my Grandpa if he believed in Jesus and had accepted what He did for him. He looked at me and said, "The Good Lord has been with me for a long time, Adam"

My wife and I just finished a stretch of time where we had many people staying at our home. We shared meals together. We shared laughter, anger and sadness. I think about Jesus and the ministry He had for others. In fact, even now, I recall very few times where Jesus was ministering to people in the temple and many times where He was at the table. Jesus lived a life of meeting the needs of those around Him. Food and Friendship.

How have we confused this with services and sermons? My Grandpa had a relationship with Jesus. Not by his extensive knowledge in scripture or his faithfulness to a denomination but his willingness to not turn away the hungry, naked or homeless. He cared for the stranger. He in no way was perfect but understood the needs of those around him and desired to meet that need. I thought that I had it down what it was like to have a relationship with Jesus but I am finding myself starting all over again. It's much sweeter this time!

Grace, Grace and more Grace

Lately I have been very exhausted from work. Parched really. Last night I had a little refreshment from the Lord. I had decided to give the guys I was closing with that night a break right after I closed the doors. I started to talk to one of them about God's grace. How I was thankful that I don't have to jump through hoops anymore to get acceptance from Him. I never did really. It was me who had put these unbearable burdens on my shoulders. He was like a friend constantly asking me if he could take them off. I for some reason thought that they were some kind of covering. I thought that if he was to take away my works that he wouldn't love me anymore. I was afraid that he would see my weaknesses. Why didn't I understand that He already did? I didn't understand what scripture meant when it says that in our weakness we are strong. Why are we so afraid of being weak? Our culture has made things that are the key to relationships, weak things. Sensitivity, emotions, caring, honesty and truth. No wonder so many marriages struggle. Men think that they have to be strong not weak. So they show no sensitivity or emotions. They decide not to have a conversation about things that they struggled with when they were young. Men don't cry. Men don't cry! On the contrary, what which our culture considers weak, is the very thing that makes a marriage or a person strong. My wife knows me! My God knows me! and they both Love me! It is the sharing of my weakness that makes me strong. I served on staff at churches for 12 years and didn't understand the most basic principle of Christianity. GRACE You and I don't need to do anything to get Jesus to love us. He already does and He sees our weakness as our strengths, not a burden. We are to rejoice in this Grace and in our weakness!

A husband's thoughts

This is the verse today on Biblegateway;

“Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church—a love marked by giving, not getting. Christ's love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness. And that is how husbands ought to love their wives. They're really doing themselves a favor—since they're already "one" in marriage.” Ephesians 5:25-26 MSG

I remember talking to a dear friend of mine. It was a cold night in a cab of a truck. We were both plowing/shoveling snow to make some extra money. We had a 2 liter of Mountain Dew between us so that we could stay awake and he was talking about moving. You see, him and his wife, were going to be having a baby and his wife wanted to move closer to her family which was all the way on the west coast. His family lived here, in the midwest.

He had asked me what I would do in this situation and I mentioned that if I was him, I would move. He looked surprised. I said that this woman is going to be by your side for the rest of your life. You are not just sharing a bed with her but you are sharing yourself. What you do for her, you are doing for yourself.

I remember after I was just married that my friends would say that I was "whipped". They were mad because we didn't get to hang out anymore. I didn't want to disappoint my friends but now I had this beautiful person, that just vowed her life to me, wanting to be by my side. I chose my wife! And it was the best decision I have ever made. Jason, Tim, Mike, Billy and all those other guys couldn't hold a candle to my wife. I am thankful for the brotherhood (which carries on in its own way) that God had for that time but I am most thankful for God giving me someone as wonderful and beautiful as my wife. I know that sometimes I fall short of this scripture. I also know that I am not perfect. But I do know that my marriage is a perfect marriage, not because we do nothing wrong, but because it was meant to be.

Love and Fear

1 John 4:18
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

I was thinking about this verse yesterday. Do I do the things I do in LOVE or in FEAR. Even the little things. What we say or decide to do throughout the day. When we walk by things that we can do but leave for another person, is that action in love or in fear. You might say, How would something like that be in fear? One example is that you might be afraid that you are going to do it wrong. Love pleads another case. Love would stop and do it. I know that sounds simple.

Another example of love and fear is in the words we say. This has become more and more evident since my wife and I started our honest crusade. I actually just coined that now but its true. When you decide to be honest, it becomes hard. Truth really is a narrow road. Are we honest with those in our family about the things they do that hurt us. They might not be doing it on purpose but it still doesn't change the fact that it is hurtful. Or do we fear their retaliation. Do we fear that they will not love us anymore. Many times we are weighing in our minds the cost of the truth or a lie, honesty to deception. That is what it means to lie, don't fool yourself. To lie is to deceive. You are deciding in your mind if you would rather tell the truth to the person you are talking to or you are deciding to deceive them. In the end, if we decide deception, we don't realize that our whole relationship is based on a lie. Even if it was little and that lie was rooted in Fear. That is why Jesus said "The Truth Shall Set You Free!" Free from false relationships, false religion, and false self. Free from the fear of what people think of you because you are honest. This is what makes Jesus Love for us so awesome. He loves us even though He knows the honest self. We come before Him as if we were still in Eden. Fully naked (nothing to hide behind) and Fully honest! He knew this even when He decided to die! Awesome!

How much time did you spend with God today?

Yesterday we had our family over to eat. It was a wonderful time because of so many things but there was one specific thing that caught my attention. So many times in the past we had all sat down and prayed before we started eating but for some reason I just sat down and started. This, however, did not go unnoticed! My nieces, who are 10, came into the room and saw their Dad and me eating from our plates and asked in a very adult tone, "Did you guys pray yet?" I simply replied "I have a prayer for this one, Bless this food upon our plates, and all the food Adam already ate!"

Everyone laughed and went on with their meal but I started to think. My nieces had no idea what they were doing but unknowingly they were acting out what we do all the time as believers. "Gotchya" HaHa, you thought you could get away, you didn't pray before your meal. As I thought about this through the day, I started to say to people, "No Guilt in this House" We have this set of rules in our heads that people have to follow to be Christians......

Go to Church

Read your Bible

Pray before your meal

Raise your hands in worship

Take Sunday off from work

Have a quiet time in the morning

Tithe

Volunteer

Send your Kids to camp

Did I miss any?

What would happen if we didn't do these things. Would this stop us from being Christian. What if all we did was trust Christ and what He did on the cross and go on and live our lives telling others about it just by the way we lived. What if someone accepted Christ and never stepped into a church, never had a quiet time, never raise their hands in worship, never tithed (God forbid). What if? That's my question. It says that we are not saved by works, lest any of us should boast or be proud. Isn't that what we have done. We grade what makes a good Christian by the amount of laws they follow. I don't follow any of these. What does that make me? What does that make me?

Slow life Movement

My wife and I have been part of the slow life movement for about a year now. Over that period of time we have discovered a lot of gems. Here are some of them.......

1. Eating at home.

This is quit amazing if you think about it. You would think that you don't have time to eat at home. Let me take some time to make an argument for this. The average american eats out 3-4 times a week. 25% of americans eat fast food 200 times a year. The average cost per person to eat out at a restaurant is $12 and the average cost per person to eat out at fast food is 4-6 dollars. With that said, considering that you might not be a coupon cutter, the average cost per person to eat at home is a little under $2! That number is a little conservative considering some of the sites I looked at said under $1. Ok, so here we go............

The 25% of americans who eat at fast food (family size of 3) spend $3000 a year on fast food when if they ate at home they would have spent 1,800, which would have saved them 1,200 dollars!

The average family who eats out other then fast food spend an average of $5184 a year when if they ate at home spent 1800, which would have saved them $3384!

These numbers don't even include the gas prices for driving to these places, wear and tear on your vehicle or the health risks from eating all the greasy and fried foods.

Although these numbers don't justify one of the family members going from Full time to part time, they make a good argument for what we are spending our money on. The idea that going to a fast food restaurant is fast and cheap is totally bogus. Who gives us that idea anyways. I will tell you, the fast food joints! It's like believing a certain uncle is your favorite because he told you so. Eating at home allow time because you don't have to make so much money and besides, it is a great time to get to know the ones you love better!

2. Minimize......

If you look at my wife's blog (www.letthefreedomcontinue.blogspot.com) you will see photo's of our house and some of the steps that we have taken to minimize. So what does minimizing have to do with the slow life movement. Clutter = Chaos! the Phrase "cleanliness is next to godliness" did not come from scripture but relates to a tried and true belief that when things are where they are suppose to be, there is peace. Besides it literally slows you down to have a clean house because when my mother (who works in the same town we live) calls and says she is coming over for a cup of coffee, instead of freaking out and busting a move for over an hour in a frantic mode, you can just say yes and maybe just do some light vacuming or a load of dishes before she gets there.

those are just some examples of the slow life movement. Hope you enjoyed and find ways of your own to slow your life down.