Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas Mr. Bilson Blogaholics!

I hope you are enjoying the festivities as much as I. Me and my posse have just come back from another loooong winded service at PMC. Just kiddin!' We finished on time today which is short of a miracle.

I woke up today to the sound of my dear friends and mentors, heroes! They're P & B of course. I sure miss them. They gave us a shout to tell us they love us as always and were thinking about us. I just relish the sound of their voices. I wish I could be with them and hang out and have fun and learn and grow and mature with them. Why do we have to be oceans apart? Why?

Now, my cousins in TX are on the phone to check up on us. I'd love to see them as well. I just love them. We have so many fond childhood memories and want to make new ones. It has been a couple of years since the last time we've met with them. I loved to catch up with them again.

Well, we will be getting ready to go to Dav's. He invited us over for Christmas. Is is snowing outside and Biji is at their house. OHhhhh. She is the most sweetest lady on earth. I can't believe she is related to Dav. They're worlds apart!

Let me end by saying thanks for taking the time to hear about life in my part of the world. I just wanted to say Merry Christmas to you and thank you for journeying with me. Until than...

"The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you." (Romans 16:20)

Christmas

"Christmas has really become a hopeless muddle of confusion. The humility and the poverty of the stable are somehow confused with the wealth of indulgence and selfishness of gift giving. The quiteness of Bethelehem is mingled with the din of shopping malls and freeway traffic. The soberness of Incarnation is somehow mixed with the drunkeness of this season."

- John MacArthur, The Incarnation of the Triune God

JC

Jesus Christ came to our wall;
Jesus Christ died for our fall.
He slew Queen Death.
He crushed King Sin.
Through grace He put us together again.


"... wherever there is sin, there must have been a preceding sinner. And wherever there is a sinner, there must be a Savior."


- Chuck Swindoll, Growing Deep in the Christian Life

Diaspora Preferences...

I had a hilarious conversation with a good friend just now. He is a diaspora Christian like myself who was born from a traditional Indian family but brought up outside South Asia, in Africa to be precise. The comedy started when his Grandma found out that he was dating a white girl.

My friend's Grandma decided to express her concern over my friend's relationship. Mixed marriages or marriages of different cultures is a foreign concept to her. She was seemed unaccepting and unyielding to my friend's, 'preference.' She expressed her desire for him to marry someone a little more in tune with their cultural background and questioned whether my friend knew where his/her cultural roots are.

My friend, in turn, told her that he did know where his cultural roots are. They are in AFRICA!

Ha! Ha! Har! I found this rebuttal quite hilarious!

You probably don't but that is because you weren't there. It was one of those, "You have to be there to understand moments."

Inanimate objects

It is that time of year again. It is called Christmas. I get a kick out of the sermons preached out of the pulpits these days. They are usually about the focus on presents, objects and everything that has nothing to do with Christ in Christmas. But you know what? These pulpiteers have a point.

What is our fascination with inanimate objects? I was caught in the gulf of thinking about what to get and give for Christmas and putting together a 'wish list' of things I wanted to give and receive. I thought about how I'd love to get a new guitar or even a guitar effects unit called a Tonebone and maybe throw in a new amp like the Vox kind and so on and on and on... I also thought about the other objects I'd love to give to my dear friends and family and other close folks.

But really, are our lives better of with all the extra inanimate objects we get at this time of year? I was wondering about that for my own life. I've been recently listening to allot of inspiring Christian rock with some stellar guitar moves. My wish list of inanimate objects would all just be used to raise some sweet and creative praises to the Chief Shepherd... not to say that this has always been my motives for desiring certain objects. And how about the rest of us? Do the objects we really want bring anything to Jesus? Or do all these objects just help fill our closets and storage areas to collect dust? To they really contribute to the cause of Christ and further His awesome message of love? Maybe we need to ask those shepherds who went to greet the baby Jesus?

I was thinking about these questions after hearing some sermons and recalling the message of Jesus in John 12. Here we have a man who wants his inheritance for selfish things and doesn't seem rich towards God.

"13Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."

14Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?" 15Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."

16And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. 17He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.'

18"Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." '

20"But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'

21"This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."

(Luke 12:13-21)

Apparently life is more than taking life easy and eating, drinking and being merry and storing up things for self at the expense of being rich towards God. Real life is caught up in the Savior and using our wealth to treat Him.

Well, I'm not sure what the point of this blog is and I lost my train of thought but I'll get back to you about what it was about when I find out... I'm just thinking out loud at the moment and I hope you got something out of this little splurge.

IMPOSSIBLE!

Do you know how to spell IMPOSSIBLE?

"I"

"AM"

"POSSIBLE!"

"For nothing is impossible with God" (Luke 1:37)

"Moses said to God, "Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' Then what shall I tell them?" 14 God said to Moses, "I am who I am . This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.'" (Exodus 3:13-14)

Growing Deep in the Christian Life!

"Beleive me, nothing is worse the preaching a sermon without the Spirit's help. Well, maybe one thing is worse - listening to that sermon! It is the longest period of time you can endure. As a friend of mine once said, "Without the Spirit's blessing, everything is just toothpaste."

- Chuck Swindoll, Growing Deeper in the Christian Life.

Bonhoeffer

"It was a mistake for me to come to America. I had to live through this difficult period in our nation's history with Christians in Germany. I will have no right to participate in the reconstruction of the Christian life in Germany after the war if I do not share the tribulations of this time with my people... Christians in Germany are faced with the fearful alternatives either of willing the country's defeat so that Christian civilization may survive, or of willing its victory and destroying our civilization. I know which of the two alternatives I have to choose but I cannot make the choice from a position of safety."

- Dietrich Bonhoeffer became involved in the opposition against Nazi's in Germany

Responcibilities.

"I prayed for twenty years but received no answer until I prayed with my legs."

- Frederick Douglass

Sometimes we use prayer as an excuse to avoid taking on our responsibilities. "I'll pray about it!" we say but really we can feel so inhibited to take on the things we need to get done. It may be the result of a lack of faith the we can get things done. It could be that we are just to lazy at times and prayer seems like an easier option. It could be that we just never learned to prioritize the right things first. Or maybe we are just too hedonistic and would rather put our pleasure ahead of our responsibilities. What could it be?

Well, the key to the word responsibility is the word RESPONSE! And that response must be tangible and practical and productive and what God wants for the moment.

Mother Teresa

"I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much"

- Mother Teresa

And This Concludes Another PMC Christmas Drama!

Dropping like Flies!

"Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace." 2 Corinthians 13:11

Ahhhh... I'm just pulling out my hair. They are dropping like flies... the actors that is. We have our final rehearsal tonight and there is a B-Day and other things going on and so many people will not be able to come tonight. I feel kinda wrecked.... The cues for the music are not quite in place and some props need some work and yada, yada, yada. At least our B-Day girl is supporting us saying that she wouldn't start without us and I was quite honored! God bless her!

I was just thinking about all the common sense stuff we hear from preachers saying let God do what only He can do and you do what only you can do... Still, I feel the call to strive for perfection especially after reading 2 Corinthians. At the moment I feel we are far from perfection and I'm needing more peace at the moment.

I don't know what will happen tomorrow. We have so much to pack and do and we can only do the best with what we got... I feel restless... Serenity now!

Five Gives you Fifty

Approximately 50% of cancers are preventable. There are five primary risk factors:

1. Tobacco Use

Avoid smoking!

2. Body Weight

Achieve and maintain a healthy body weight.

3. Diet

Follow a proper diet that includes plenty of vegetables, fruits and other plant based foods.

4. Physical Activity

Maintain a proper level of weekly activity.

5. Sun

Avoid UV-radiation and prevent sunburn, especially during childhood.

No Christmas Tree!

1 Hear the word which the LORD speaks to you, O house of Israel.
2 Thus says the LORD:


“ Do not learn the way of the Gentiles;
Do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven,
For the Gentiles are dismayed at them.
3 For the customs of the peoples are futile;
For one cuts a tree from the forest,
The work of the hands of the workman, with the ax.
4 They decorate it with silver and gold;
They fasten it with nails and hammers
So that it will not topple

(Jeremiah 10)

Anberlin (I love good live music!)

Make us meanderings...

Make us bold but not impulsive.

Make us confident but not arrogant.

Make us able to see what we can do together.

Make us bring out the best in each other and not the worst.

Make us merciful and not self centered.

Make us see past the offenses and not just at our wounds.

Make us one Father! Make us one!

"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me."

(John 17:20-21)

Disciple - RISE UP! YC Edmonton

Lost and Found!

I got some good news. We just found our brick wall backdrop! Some friends from DPC liked it so much that they wanted to use it and didn't know it was ours. It was flattering to have them ask us to use something of ours for a change. We are always borrowing from them they always go the extra mile for us. It is great to change roles for a change.

We have one more practice and things have been progressing which is a good sign. We just need prayer for a couple of specific things in no particular order:

• Salvation of souls through this event
• More laborers
• Actors/voices to know cues for their roles
  
• Sound system and music because we don't have an official sound person
• The Backdrop frame for holding the backdrops which is constructed by BV
  
• Patience and against nervousness and tempers
• More Expression from actors
• Final props

I'm grateful for having you journey with me so far. We want to see Jesus lifted up! He is the Man with the Plan.

Changing...

"Philosophers have only interpreted the world differently, the point is, however, to change it."
-Karl Marx

"If I had to live my life over again, I would live it to change the lives of people, because you have not changed anything until you have changed the lives of people"

-Warren Webster (Missionary to Pakistan)

"A mature person is one who has learned that there is both good and bad in all people and in all things, and who deals charitably with the circumstances of life, knowing that... all of us need both love and charity.

- Eleanor Roosevelt.

"For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers."

- Paul's letter to the Romans (8:29)

A Retrospective on Life.

Here are some words that have spoken to me so far....

Ecclesiastes 9:10

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom

Grieving

I just love how courageous Jesus is! He showed his strength at the most appropriate time!

"17On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, 19and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.

21"Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask."

23Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."

24Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."

25Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

27"Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ,^[b] the Son of God, who was to come into the world."

28And after she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. "The Teacher is here," she said, "and is asking for you." 29When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.

32When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."

33When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34"Where have you laid him?" he asked.
"Come and see, Lord," they replied.

35 Jesus wept."

(John 11:17-35)

J.O.Y

J - Jesus First!
O - Others Second!
Y - Yourself Last!

There are two kinds of people in the world - those who come into the room saying, "Here I am!" And those who enter a room saying, "Ah, there you are!"

- from David Jeremiah's, 12 Ways of Christmas (Turning Points Magazine and Devotional)

The Right Influence.

"A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray." (Proverbs 12:26)

It is very important to know who are the ones who will act as a voice of influence in life. If we allow the wrong people to become the person who has a marked influence, we can head into a downward spiral.

I've seen many who have put the wrong people in that place. One example was a person who would identify himself with a certain group that had unreasonably strict values and exalted expectations. This person could never live up to those expectations and values and yet still allowed the group to influence his/her life. This group would see his/her disadvantage and demean his/her self-worth and confidence when he/she didn't make the mark. The person would always struggle with self-pity, low self-esteem and constant feelings of defeat. This pattern continued as so long as he/she would identify with this group. As a result he/she lived the defeated life as so long as they allowed this group to influence them.

What this person needed was to find people who would edify or build him/her. These are people who are marked by genuine love, encouragement and a raw sincerity to bring out the best in the person. They'd show a deep level of acceptance for who the person is as a child of God. They would see the goodness and greatness in the person and move him/her in that gifting. They would temper his/her areas of weaknesses by offering constructive criticism in fully communicating God's faith in their ability to overcome or strengthen those areas. If they are really discerning they will be able to spot God's power in those weaknesses and even allow him/her to see it as well.

"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."
(2 Corinthians 12:5)

I love to be around these kinds of people. They are the Barnabas which means Son of Encouragement (Acts 4:36-37). These are the people who have not chip on their shoulder. They have no pride or need for the praise of people to inflate their egos. They are marked by wanting to build up and encourage and put others ahead and even above themselves. They are fully secure in themselves and the proof is in how they seek to give out compliments rather than receive them.

"Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet." (Acts 4:36-37)

The Cold, Crisp Air

I was talking to my ol' pal Pr P again. I remember his timeless words about the cold crisp air in Buncouver. I must say I find the cold, crisp air here quite refreshing. It wakes me up like wasabi. It is cold... crisp... It was matched with a light sprinkle of snow here. Most people have never seen snow in their life.

Not me! I was born with 5 feet of snow outside. It brings out the Christmas season out here. It brings on new feelings and memories and experiences. I can't quite put my finger on it. It reminds me of forgiveness.

"Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." (Isaiah 1:18)

Pop Marters

Attention Popmarters! Jesus died for your sins!

Impressions

I was sleeping sound last night dreaming of palm tree's, rice patties and warm tropical weather. I saw a scene of a base of a mountain slope. There was this wide and deep expanse of a lake/rice patty in front of it. I was with my bro and a beautiful person I met on the way to London and it was so peaceful, joyful and beautiful. I remember staring at this palm tree and thinking how beautiful God made this tree. It was so real, clear and distinct. I was filled with peace, joy and comfort for my restless soul.

During the day I was doing my work and felt a warning or impression in my heart. I know the feeling from before when CN passed on. He was in critical condition and dieing of cancer. I remember having a deep sense that he had already gone on to be with the Lord. When I reached home, I got the news that he was gone as I suspected. I had the same impression yesterday that APA was very near as well.

My mom woke me up and told me how my ol' friend APA had passed on. It had happened last night. The beautiful dream was over. APA and I met a couple of times before he went into the hospital. He told me he believed deep inside that Jesus was his savior and died for his sins. He did admit to struggling with doubt and so on. He was reading his Bible and drawing comfort from it. I told him to read a particular Psalm. The next time I saw him he talked about the Psalm and how special it was for his wife.

Now, again I'm here and left with memories. We walked to school together, watched movies and ate pizza. We had times where we studied together. Later on in life we lost touch until I got news of his health condition.

I've been in this place before. Before CN died, he came to visit me from Manitoba. His baseball team made the finals and was coming to Abby. We spent quality time together and a few months later I got news that he was gone.

The past summer I lost another friend. She was my childhood buddy's mom. She would treat me like a son as well. She died as well....

Than there was CRM. She gave me great comfort when I was grieving over CN. I didn't want to go to the funeral and just wanted to bury all my grief. She didn't let me and told me to go. I did and finally received closure over the death. A year later, I'd meet her again and was going through a whole new season of trials. Probably the most intense one's of my life. She again comforted me in her supernatural way that only comes from God's grace.

Later I found out that she passed away as well.

What did all these people have in common? Well, it goes beyond how much of a blessing they are to me! They all died of CANCER! I HATE CANCER! However, now they are in a place where nothing and no one will ever be able to harm them again.

"Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted." (Matthew 5:4)

Music

... It is interesting to note that whenever the evil spirit came upon Saul, David (the heir apparent to Israel's throne) would play his harp and the evil spirit would depart (1 Samuel 16:23). How pathetically unaware we are of the biblical prominence of music in the spiritual realm! When Elisha was about to inquire of God, he said, " 'Now bring me a minstrel.' And it came about, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him" (2 Kings 3:15). During the reign of David, over 4000 musicians were assigned to sing in the temple night and day (1 Chronicles 9:33; 23:5). It is the mark of Spirit-filled Christians to sing and make melody to their hearts to the Lord and speak to each other in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Ephesians 5:18-20)

- Neil T Anderson, "The Bondage Breaker"

Unstoppable!

"Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city."

(Acts 14:19-20a)

Who can beat Paul! He was a zealous and unstoppable man of God. Have you heard what he did after he was stoned and dragged out of the city. He got right back up on his feet and went straight back to the point of threat. He didn't shrink back or complain or whallow in self pity licking his wounds. No. Not Paul! He took on a different approach! He went back up on his feet and kept on with the calling!


Most people would shrink back and run and flee so to speak. Paul wasn't one of them. His mission for Jesus meant more to him than his life! He didn't stop in his tracks. He kept on going! He is unstoppable.

But you know what? Many people will think that is great for Paul but what about me! I've seen the stain glass images of him and know about his legacy and accomplishments. I can't measure up to a man of God like him.

Oh our culture of shallow comparisons. Who knows, maybe no one can measure up to Paul but that may not be the point. Paul's serves as an example or an inspiration of what we all can attain to. We may look at our lives and see all the things stopping us from measuring up to what we can attain to. We may even use them as excuses. But what was Paul's reaction to opposition?

"We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything." (2 Corinthians 8:3-10)

The opposition is his life was never used as an excuse. No! It only fueled his zeal! It made him resolute, focused and even more determined. It sharpened his conviction, strengthened his burden to do something about his cause and made him strong, firm and steadfast.

We can all learn from him. We can all react in the same way! And if we do, nothing can stop us! Absolutely nothing!

"And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast."

(1 Peter 5:10)

Some Good Friends.

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
(Proverbs 17:17)

Here are some of my good buddies. Our friendship spans over a decade! I was just looking at my facebook freinds list and I'm at 84 friends. I never imagined ever meeting that many people in my life. I still remember the years I was alone with no one in my life... Years used to go by and I'd go to school and come back with no interaction with anyone. No conversations or relationships with anyone. I had no one I could call a friend or who was there for me. But God decided to change all that and bring some wonderful people in my life! You are looking at just a couple of them. There are many more...

I've met others who were like me who have no one. They know lots of people but those people are never there for them in the worst of times. These people are just users and not friends. It can be lonesome. I've meet millionaires who have whatever wealth and achievement can give but have no one to trust. Even the world famous feel secluded. I'm glad to say that I'm not one of them anymore! Not to brag but I never felt richer when I have the right people in my life! God bless them! Thanks again Jesus!

"...God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5b)

"A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."
(Proverbs 18:24)

The Gossipers!

"The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man's inmost parts." (Proverbs 26:22)

Gossip! Gossip! Gossip! There is just so much of it out there. I could never understand the ones who spread it. Why are they so quick to trust just anyone with information that is no ones business. They just go on and on and on and on and than tell you not to tell anyone. Oh, and who can forget their other lines like, "Don't tell anyone you heard it from me!" That is an interesting line. Essentially they are saying to go ahead and spread the word out but don't trace it back to me or quote me! When will they ever learn?


Then there are the people who have to hear this garbage. There are all sorts of things that go through the listeners head. For some, there is the question asked of, "HMmmm I wonder what this person says about me behind my back?" or how about, "Yeah! I'll know now that there is no way I can trust this person!" It reminds me of Proverbs 20:19, "A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much."


Sometimes I wonder how gossipers would feel when they are the victims of gossip? How would they respond? Throw more dirt at their adversaries? I wonder how they felt if they got a dose of their own medicine? I wonder how they would react if they personally felt all the pain they have inflicted on others? HMMmmmm

I just want to close with some chilling words from Jesus.

"For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."
(Matthew 12:34b-37)

My Favorite Preacher Lines!

"Nowhere in all the land were there found women as beautiful as Job's daughters, and their father granted them an inheritance along with their brothers."
(Job 42:15)

I just heard a funny sermon today! It was quite humorous! The preacher said he is often asked, by women of God, if it is okay to wear make-up. The preacher said, "If the house needs paint? PAINT IT!"

Don't worry, he put it in the context of being godly first!

"Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion."
(Proverbs 11:22)

C-Note!

"John's clothes were made of camel's hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey."

(Matthew 3:4)

Poor John. I bet he would be wishing he was me in moments like this. I'll tell you why. You wouldn't believe who pulled up at the office the other day. It was C-Note and you wouldn't believe how she had blessed me once again? I was starving with my tummy GROWLING and she came down with some amaaaazing food! She gave me hash browns! Pancakes! Scrabbled eggs and bacon to top it all off! I was in cloud 9! On top of it all it was all fresh. Can you say FRESH! MMM MMM Good! Thanks again C-Note. You should meet her. She can sing, cook and raise 3 kids! What a resume (CV)!

Okay so I love to eat. I'm getting a little over weight and you know life is really hard if you complain about having a full stomach. It ain't easy is it! Living in a spacious home, driving a descent car, having great work with clothes on my back and living alongside some great friends with Jesus to make the adventure more thrilling... This is the life! It's got it's ups and downs and all arounds but sometimes He just wants to tickle us, spoil us and even treat us! I'm all for it! Now living life for all its worth is thrilling when you know your future is secure with Jesus. Sometimes he likes to love us in the little things. But boy do they make a BIG difference.

Thanks again master for giving me a life and thanks for willing to shed the blood on the cross for me! Thanks again!

"Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people." (Matthew 15:36)

Youth Leader Blues!

Ever get the blues? Sometimes I do. And it goes something like this...

I've been involved in youth ministry for a number of years now. It is challenging, satisfying, and even exhilarating at times. But sometime I get the blues over it. One thing that I've learned over in the church ministry is that we have this very shallow measure of fruitfulness. It is called #'s. It is shallow measure when you look at Jesus' life. Sometimes there were great numbers and other times there was no one around him. Check out John 6 if you'd care to look.

I've learned that I can shoot big numbers when fun events are planned well ahead of time and the youth get a chance to tell all their friends and they come along and we all have a blast. But than some leaders have a wonderful team of overseers and they aren't to impressed by numbers... most of the time.

It stinks when you have people over see you who only see the half empty cup. It can be discouraging and quite disheartening at times... I'm glad that I'm not in that zone but most youth leaders are! The critics come out and say all the wrong things at the flesh's right time. They'll say that it isn't 'spiritual' enough? How have they grown doctrinally? Where is the growth in their prayer life? How about a burden for missions?

All these are valid concerns and I ask these questions all the time. So back to the drawing board to plan out something that will bear some spiritual fruit that is somewhat quantifiable and tangible. Than a new drawing takes place with worshipful music and wonderful teaching and who can ever forget the altar call and sharing time. It is planned, rehearsed and prayed over and implemented to come back to the critics again. The numbers have dwindled this time and the critics start picking at the lack of big #'s they weren't impressed with in the first place.

What can we learn in all this? People are fickle! No matter what's done, It can't please them all. And it is to this conclusion that I used to get the blues. But than I remembered Saul who was planning to please the people over pleasing God. It landed him in some BIG trouble. It was a tough break. To refresh you memory read 1Samuel 13-15. Than we realize another profound truth that brought allot of comfort and freedom! We've got nothing to loose now. Really we don't! What is the worse they can do to us? Criticize us?

So back to the drawing board yet again and to start on a new move. The challenge this time is to balance the fun stuff youth like with the growing in spiritual disciplines (which is the stuff I really like!) I wonder what it will look like? How can it be done? What form or shape will it take? What colors should we use? And how about the textures? There is still more out there to be discovered. Are you ready?

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." (Ephesians 3:20-21)

Balanced Christians

Balanced Christians are realistic tolerant people, patient with those who disagree. Serious when necessary, yet still having fun, still enjoying life. They are less and less intense, free from fanaticism. Furthermore, they are not afraid to say, " I don't know." They are still discovering. They listen and value another opinion, even one with which they disagree. They uphold the dignity of others, refusing to put them down. They are not easily threatened. Why? They're balanced! They realize they don't have all the truth. They're open to the possibility of alternative positions that give new slants and fresh perspective.

- Chuck Swindoll's "Growing Deep in the Christian Life."

The Greatest!

"He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

(Matthew 18:2-4)

Who's the greatest? Well according to Jesus it is children. It isn't the world famous or the wealthy or the best looking people. It isn't the talented musicians and athletes or the scholars. It isn't political leaders either... unless of course they humble themselves and become like a child. Children! We have allot to learn from them about greatness. Care to take some notes?

Boldness

"Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ."
(Acts 28:31)

I was just at a PMC home group on the other day and an interesting question came up. The question asked to give an example of a bold person. A-Bomb mentioned Pastor P. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, I must agree. He reflected on how much this man of God wouldn't take 'no' for an answer. He is a man who wants to see people reach their full potential. He would hand out a task to someone and would not allow them to refuse it. He isn't scared of rejection or being put to shame when taking a leap of faith. He is a true thrill seeker driven with a real passion for Christ. Yes A-Bomb, I must concede. You are correct.

Than M said MDeep is another prime example. Absolutely! He will go up to anyone and talk with them. His Tourettes Syndrome does not make him the least bit timid. He has no inhibitions and will gladly tell anyone that he has Tourettes after starting a conversation. Most people without Tourettes wouldn't do the same. Way to go MDeep!

I must say that I'm really inspired but such people. They are truly great!

"... the world was not worthy of them." Hebrews 11:38

Tears of the Saints by Leeland!

Woody Allen interview Billy Graham

Joking Around!

Atheist in the woods An atheist was walking through the woods. "What majestic trees"! "What powerful rivers"! "What beautiful animals"! He said to himself. As he was walking alongside the river, he heard a rustling in the bushes behind him. He turned to look. He saw a 7 foot grizzly charge towards him. He ran as fast as he could up the path. He looked over his shoulder & saw that the bear was closing in on him. He looked over his shoulder again, & the bear was even closer. He tripped & fell on the ground . He rolled over to pick himself up but saw that the bear was right on top of him, reaching for him with his left paw & raising his right paw to strike him. At that instant the Atheist cried out, "Oh my God!" Time Stopped. The bear froze. The forest was silent. As a bright light shone upon the man, a voice came out of the sky. "You deny my existence for all these years, teach others I don't exist and even credit creation to cosmic accident." "Do you expect me to help you out of this predicament? Am I to count you as a believer"? The atheist looked directly into the light, "It would be hypocritical of me to suddenly ask You to treat me as a Christian now, but perhaps You could make the BEAR a Christian"? "Very Well," said the voice. The light went out. The sounds of the forest resumed. And the bear dropped his right paw, brought both paws together, bowed his head & spoke: "Lord bless this food, which I am about to receive from thy bounty through Christ our Lord, Amen."

Finding Community in Cambodia by David Jeremiah

32All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. 33With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. 34There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.

36Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), 37sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet.

(Acts 4:32-37)

"... a small church meeting in the slum learned that one of their members had relapsed in his struggle to defeat alcoholism. They found him comatose on the floor of the room where he lived - no running water or toilet facilities - surrounded by garbage, trash and human waste. They tried to help him as best they could but the next day he died. All the equally poor church members spent three days honoring their destitute friend in the traditional burial procedures. Mike (a missionary) later wrote, "I learned so much from my church (in Cambodia) about what community means and what it means to be one family in Christ."

- from David Jeremiah's, "Turning Points Magazine and Devotional"

Love

Love ever gives Forgives, outlives, And ever stands With open hands; And while it lives it gives, For this is love's perogative To give, And give, And give!

- John Oxenham

Reliving London

I know SAGC London is done but I still want to re live every single moment. The peace, freedom, clarity, life and visioning is just beginning. Thanks again Jesus!

"For long ago, in the days of David and Asaph, there had been directors for the singers and for the songs of praise and thanksgiving to God." (Nehmiah 12:46)

7th Day Slumber Testimony!

Fo Toes!

A-Bomb posing!

SAGC 2007 London Shots!