It's hard being eclectic. Maybe eclectic is not the right term. Multifaceted...? Well-traveled and/ or experienced maybe. Possibly narcissistic. OK, I've got it....."ecletifacitravissistic". Well, what ever the term, I have too many interest and hobbies and likes and wants and not enough time and money to satisfy them all. Then there is relationships. So many valued friends and loved ones that I am able to neglect with style and ease. Yes, it's all about me no matter how you slice it.
Or is it?
God speaks to his creation in so many different ways. He is ever there pointing, whispering, shining light on our everyday lives. He is constantly trying to gently remind us that He is who He says He is and that he loves us with a love beyond our capacity to understand it. He is so loving that he speaks to us in ways only we will understand at that very moment in time.
Often times we take that "God contact" for granted. We think, "OK, that was weird" or "what a coincidence" when that unique, specific, thing happens that fits our situation to a T or when that small voice in our head gives us a word that answers, guides, or sheds light on our thoughts from outside our own head.
You know, if you do any studying at all to find out who God is and what He's about you will come to the conclusion that He has a plan for all this stuff He has made and for you and me. That plan is for us to join Him in bringing His creation back to perfection by building His kingdom here on earth, in all our hearts, and in the hearts of all people. That is a lot of "christianese" but what it means is; God is always building and moving towards His goal and he wants for us to see that and join with Him in what He is doing.
To get us to that point, He continually touches us and speaks to us in a unique way so that we will come to recognize His presence in our daily struggles, wants and needs and so that we will begin to adjust our self-centeredness to a more God-centeredness.
Yes, Virginia, there is NO Santa Clause. But there is an amazing, interested, providing, God who is in love with His people.
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Monday, March 5, 2012
Monday, August 31, 2009
Remembrance
Many and poetic words have been spoken about remembrance. Time passes and mortals memorialize what has gone before. Standing in twilight hues some pause and call to mind a life or event, but what about remembrance; what about truly taking time out of our day to consider the evidence that the past has displayed for our hearts and minds to digest.
Remembering the past is not something our society in this country desires or even considers relevant anymore. There are many movements a foot to seek and find “a better way” without regard to bygone wisdom; being considered too wrought with imperfection.
“Why should we shackle ourselves to the ideologies of men fallen from grace one and all? Why should we consider the weight of what they said upon our lives when they couldn’t walk the path they had laid out for society themselves?”
Dangerous and rebellious thoughts all, but none the less good questions; questions that need good answers when souls of men return from their sojourn devoid and starving for truth.
It’s not the failings of men or the reoccurring of destruction that needs deep thought. Nor is it the magnitude of a life spent in the pursuit of such thought that we should ingest.
One does not chop down a tree to consume the fruit. One nurtures the tree in order to consume the fruit. The fruit is what we are after. Even undesirable fruits are a source of learning for the orchard keeper. One can predict future outcome by discovering the cause of the defect in the fruit. One can also enjoy stability through the process of gleaning a correct growing procedure.
That is all well and good but what does it have to do with remembrance?
If we disregard what has gone before as useless and meaningless due to the undesired outcome, how can we learn from it? We are doomed to the repeating of mistake and dysfunction.
We assume that because we have, through the passing of time and evolution of technology, somehow become smarter and less prone to making mistakes. The fact is that we have not changed, only the reliance on external device and stimulus has increased making us less prone to think……..at all.
The creator of all wisdom beckons us in scripture to remember, ponder, consider, and pursue truth. Not just righteous outcomes but truth as a whole. Moreover He calls to us to remember who He is and His goodness.
How much do we remember on a daily or even hourly basis? Remembrance will afford us the ability to trust and know that we need not struggle to find our own way. We need not strive to discover a new truth. We need only to call to mind over and over the provision, wisdom, healing, peace, mercy, and loving kindness that He has given moment to moment to be able to grasp the reality of what truth and wisdom are truly for.
They are a torch to light the path we travel and not the roadmap to travel by.
David Mayo
Remembering the past is not something our society in this country desires or even considers relevant anymore. There are many movements a foot to seek and find “a better way” without regard to bygone wisdom; being considered too wrought with imperfection.
“Why should we shackle ourselves to the ideologies of men fallen from grace one and all? Why should we consider the weight of what they said upon our lives when they couldn’t walk the path they had laid out for society themselves?”
Dangerous and rebellious thoughts all, but none the less good questions; questions that need good answers when souls of men return from their sojourn devoid and starving for truth.
It’s not the failings of men or the reoccurring of destruction that needs deep thought. Nor is it the magnitude of a life spent in the pursuit of such thought that we should ingest.
One does not chop down a tree to consume the fruit. One nurtures the tree in order to consume the fruit. The fruit is what we are after. Even undesirable fruits are a source of learning for the orchard keeper. One can predict future outcome by discovering the cause of the defect in the fruit. One can also enjoy stability through the process of gleaning a correct growing procedure.
That is all well and good but what does it have to do with remembrance?
If we disregard what has gone before as useless and meaningless due to the undesired outcome, how can we learn from it? We are doomed to the repeating of mistake and dysfunction.
We assume that because we have, through the passing of time and evolution of technology, somehow become smarter and less prone to making mistakes. The fact is that we have not changed, only the reliance on external device and stimulus has increased making us less prone to think……..at all.
The creator of all wisdom beckons us in scripture to remember, ponder, consider, and pursue truth. Not just righteous outcomes but truth as a whole. Moreover He calls to us to remember who He is and His goodness.
How much do we remember on a daily or even hourly basis? Remembrance will afford us the ability to trust and know that we need not struggle to find our own way. We need not strive to discover a new truth. We need only to call to mind over and over the provision, wisdom, healing, peace, mercy, and loving kindness that He has given moment to moment to be able to grasp the reality of what truth and wisdom are truly for.
They are a torch to light the path we travel and not the roadmap to travel by.
David Mayo
Thursday, August 6, 2009
All is well
As if there was ever any doubt!
Why yes, of course there was. There was all kinds of doubt and fear leaking out in little droplets and spurts from this broken vessel. But God............ That is the statement that has colored my life for the past two months, But God............
Saying more would just be words and words have no power to convey my real experience of faith that has blossomed to a new level.
But God..........In deed, But God!
Why yes, of course there was. There was all kinds of doubt and fear leaking out in little droplets and spurts from this broken vessel. But God............ That is the statement that has colored my life for the past two months, But God............
Saying more would just be words and words have no power to convey my real experience of faith that has blossomed to a new level.
But God..........In deed, But God!
Thursday, June 18, 2009
On Strike
Life takes a left turn just when you think you have it going your way. Leave nothing to chance as they say, but we always do. We always think, "I've got this, it wont happen to me." Then that big Great Dane called circumstance comes along and takes a big dump right in the middle of the living room of your life while you watch helplessly.
I work for an aircraft manufacturer and we just went out on strike for some nefarious issues on a new contract that the majority of voters in my union thought worth fighting over. It's difficult to say who's right. There are good arguments on both sides (yes I am being purposefully vague).
I guess the reason I'm writing this entry is to say that we have a choice to make when we find ourselves in hard situations. We can panic and begin to fret over pennies or we can be wise and cautious, gauging everything for truth, looking for opportunities to overcome the circumstances.
For me, I know that God has the wheel of this ship and I will go where ever He goes.
These things can serve to make us into neurotic messes or make us stronger for the experience of seeing God move on our behalf.
I work for an aircraft manufacturer and we just went out on strike for some nefarious issues on a new contract that the majority of voters in my union thought worth fighting over. It's difficult to say who's right. There are good arguments on both sides (yes I am being purposefully vague).
I guess the reason I'm writing this entry is to say that we have a choice to make when we find ourselves in hard situations. We can panic and begin to fret over pennies or we can be wise and cautious, gauging everything for truth, looking for opportunities to overcome the circumstances.
For me, I know that God has the wheel of this ship and I will go where ever He goes.
These things can serve to make us into neurotic messes or make us stronger for the experience of seeing God move on our behalf.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Dream
As I lay sleeping many years ago I had I dream. It was one of those “real” kinds of dreams where you feel and sense things. I had this dream only twice at close intervals. It was a dream that both disturbed me and gave me great joy at the same time for I knew that my Lord was communicating with me.
I found myself in a great hall with ceilings several stories high and wider than sever football fields. There was no beginning to this hall that I could perceive but it did lead somewhere. As I walked slowly and cautiously, I could see that there were great pillars from floor to ceiling along the walls with vast tapestries hanging there between. All scale was immense yet I did not perceive a sense of smallness for myself.
All the walls, floors, ceilings, an pillars were made of a pink and grey flecked granite. The Hall seemed to be illuminated in the, low, soft light of candles but none could be seen. Soon I found myself standing in a line of people and we marched single file as a bride would down the isle with a hesitated step, step, step. The line seemed to go on towards what I could now perceive as the south end of the hall.
Step by step we all moved closer to something that I could not see. The line seemed to begin to turn to the left and spiral in upon itself. The spiral seemed large and yet small at the same time. I could not see to the middle of the spiral but only could perceive that there was a middle and that there was something going on there.
I made circuit after circuit until all at once I found myself in the center in front of a beautiful old man. He wore a brilliant white gown that seemed to be almost illuminated from within. He stood next to a small table with a bowl, a towel, and a flask. He spoke not but held out his hands to take my hands. I reach instinctively and he took them and turned them palms upward. The brightly beautiful old gentleman then took the flask and pored out a small portion into his hands. He them put his hands in mine anointing them with, what I could now feel and smell was, oil. He then placed his right hand on my forehead and smiled at me discretely.
Just as suddenly as I had found myself in the center of the spiral face to face with the anointer, I was alone in the end of the hall. On the left side of the end of the hall was a
Tall black curtain that I could not see beyond and on the right side was a doorway with a portico through which bright sunlight oozed.
I felt a slight pressure on my elbow and someone lead me out through the doorway. The brilliant light was almost unbearable and created a haze around everything I could see, but my eyes adjusted rather quickly and I found myself being lead across a court yard. It was a large square affair surrounded on all sides by one and two story buildings. All the colors were so vivid and perfect and bright. It was almost too much to look at.
The building on my right was large and seemed very central to the place. It was several hundred yards long and had a domed capital with a spire on top in the middle of it. It gave this place a very collegiate feel.
Still being lead by someone across the court yard I asked out loud, “What is this place?”
I turned to see a young woman that I seemed to know from my past, maybe even from grade school. She was dressed the same way as the old man in the hall and she only smiled politely.
She walked me to what seemed to be a set of classrooms with children coming and going in and out of the doors. We stopped in front of one of the rooms and I proceeded to look in the door. There was no one inside; in fact it was pitch black inside. It was so dark in the rooms that I could see nothing; no desks, or chairs or anything. I turned and asked again, “What is this place?” The young woman smiled politely with a sort of a bow and said only, “You will find out in time.”
Directly I felt another hand on my elbow. It was the old man from the hall. He began to lead me back across the court yard to what looked like and old dorm. As we walked I scarce could take all of this in and began to feel urgent and overwhelmed. I asked the man, “What is this place?” He too responded, “You will find out in time.”
He led me inside and upstairs to a room and opened the door. He led me inside and pointed at a bed in the middle of the room, “You will need your rest,” he said.
Insistently, I began to inquire once again of my whereabouts but before I could finish he put both hands on my shoulders and spoke those same words, “You will find out in time.”
The room was small like a studio apartment with one room and a kitchen and bathroom. The place was decorated very sparsely and had a very 1950’s feel to it. I proceeded to explore my new surrounding as I had been left to my own devices. Even the kitchen utensils seemed to be of the 50’s era.
The room was on the second floor and had a balcony at the back of it. I opened up a sliding glass door and stepped outside onto the wooden covered patio. Below me I could see what looked like a playground basketball court with what looked like a large cafeteria style kitchen on one end to my right. There were pick nick tables set up in rows over the entire surface of the court. The court was covered with a lattice work roof that was thoroughly entangled with vines providing much shade. A cool breeze blew through the place.
I felt as though I had to get down there to it. It was more than a desire; more like a drive. I walked out the front door of the small apartment and down the hall. I could find no way to circumnavigate the dorm building. I was very frustrated so I went back to my room.
As I walked back out on the balcony I could hear voices murmuring and laughter of a sort. Dishes clanked as I leaned over the rail to look. The place was now full of what seemed like older children, maybe teens. Some seemed to have afflictions and some seemed to be broken in their bodies. Some appeared to be with child. I couldn’t stand it.
I had no desire to be with these people but every urge to be in the place. I hoisted myself over the railing and climbed down.
When I reached the ground I could see a man working in the kitchen. I walked to where he was and watched him for some time. I seemed to be almost invisible to everyone. I drew nearer to this older portly gentleman now busily washing dishes and asked, “What is this place?” He turned towards me with a deliberate nature and smiled a slow broad smile.
Suddenly I felt a tug on my clothing from behind. I turned to see a small child of seven or eight years smiling up at me. He pointed a small straight finger at me and asked, “ Are you an angel?”
Upon this note I awoke with a start, heart pounding and sweating. As I sat in the dark trying to interpret what I had just witnessed as a peace settled over me. A peace that truly surpassed my understanding.
I found myself in a great hall with ceilings several stories high and wider than sever football fields. There was no beginning to this hall that I could perceive but it did lead somewhere. As I walked slowly and cautiously, I could see that there were great pillars from floor to ceiling along the walls with vast tapestries hanging there between. All scale was immense yet I did not perceive a sense of smallness for myself.
All the walls, floors, ceilings, an pillars were made of a pink and grey flecked granite. The Hall seemed to be illuminated in the, low, soft light of candles but none could be seen. Soon I found myself standing in a line of people and we marched single file as a bride would down the isle with a hesitated step, step, step. The line seemed to go on towards what I could now perceive as the south end of the hall.
Step by step we all moved closer to something that I could not see. The line seemed to begin to turn to the left and spiral in upon itself. The spiral seemed large and yet small at the same time. I could not see to the middle of the spiral but only could perceive that there was a middle and that there was something going on there.
I made circuit after circuit until all at once I found myself in the center in front of a beautiful old man. He wore a brilliant white gown that seemed to be almost illuminated from within. He stood next to a small table with a bowl, a towel, and a flask. He spoke not but held out his hands to take my hands. I reach instinctively and he took them and turned them palms upward. The brightly beautiful old gentleman then took the flask and pored out a small portion into his hands. He them put his hands in mine anointing them with, what I could now feel and smell was, oil. He then placed his right hand on my forehead and smiled at me discretely.
Just as suddenly as I had found myself in the center of the spiral face to face with the anointer, I was alone in the end of the hall. On the left side of the end of the hall was a
Tall black curtain that I could not see beyond and on the right side was a doorway with a portico through which bright sunlight oozed.
I felt a slight pressure on my elbow and someone lead me out through the doorway. The brilliant light was almost unbearable and created a haze around everything I could see, but my eyes adjusted rather quickly and I found myself being lead across a court yard. It was a large square affair surrounded on all sides by one and two story buildings. All the colors were so vivid and perfect and bright. It was almost too much to look at.
The building on my right was large and seemed very central to the place. It was several hundred yards long and had a domed capital with a spire on top in the middle of it. It gave this place a very collegiate feel.
Still being lead by someone across the court yard I asked out loud, “What is this place?”
I turned to see a young woman that I seemed to know from my past, maybe even from grade school. She was dressed the same way as the old man in the hall and she only smiled politely.
She walked me to what seemed to be a set of classrooms with children coming and going in and out of the doors. We stopped in front of one of the rooms and I proceeded to look in the door. There was no one inside; in fact it was pitch black inside. It was so dark in the rooms that I could see nothing; no desks, or chairs or anything. I turned and asked again, “What is this place?” The young woman smiled politely with a sort of a bow and said only, “You will find out in time.”
Directly I felt another hand on my elbow. It was the old man from the hall. He began to lead me back across the court yard to what looked like and old dorm. As we walked I scarce could take all of this in and began to feel urgent and overwhelmed. I asked the man, “What is this place?” He too responded, “You will find out in time.”
He led me inside and upstairs to a room and opened the door. He led me inside and pointed at a bed in the middle of the room, “You will need your rest,” he said.
Insistently, I began to inquire once again of my whereabouts but before I could finish he put both hands on my shoulders and spoke those same words, “You will find out in time.”
The room was small like a studio apartment with one room and a kitchen and bathroom. The place was decorated very sparsely and had a very 1950’s feel to it. I proceeded to explore my new surrounding as I had been left to my own devices. Even the kitchen utensils seemed to be of the 50’s era.
The room was on the second floor and had a balcony at the back of it. I opened up a sliding glass door and stepped outside onto the wooden covered patio. Below me I could see what looked like a playground basketball court with what looked like a large cafeteria style kitchen on one end to my right. There were pick nick tables set up in rows over the entire surface of the court. The court was covered with a lattice work roof that was thoroughly entangled with vines providing much shade. A cool breeze blew through the place.
I felt as though I had to get down there to it. It was more than a desire; more like a drive. I walked out the front door of the small apartment and down the hall. I could find no way to circumnavigate the dorm building. I was very frustrated so I went back to my room.
As I walked back out on the balcony I could hear voices murmuring and laughter of a sort. Dishes clanked as I leaned over the rail to look. The place was now full of what seemed like older children, maybe teens. Some seemed to have afflictions and some seemed to be broken in their bodies. Some appeared to be with child. I couldn’t stand it.
I had no desire to be with these people but every urge to be in the place. I hoisted myself over the railing and climbed down.
When I reached the ground I could see a man working in the kitchen. I walked to where he was and watched him for some time. I seemed to be almost invisible to everyone. I drew nearer to this older portly gentleman now busily washing dishes and asked, “What is this place?” He turned towards me with a deliberate nature and smiled a slow broad smile.
Suddenly I felt a tug on my clothing from behind. I turned to see a small child of seven or eight years smiling up at me. He pointed a small straight finger at me and asked, “ Are you an angel?”
Upon this note I awoke with a start, heart pounding and sweating. As I sat in the dark trying to interpret what I had just witnessed as a peace settled over me. A peace that truly surpassed my understanding.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Epic Excerpt 3:
I am blown away by the story of Abraham being called by God to take his son to Moriah to offer him as a sacrifice to God.
There was no questioning of God this time as in the past when Abraham continually probed the Lord on behalf of Sodom and Gomorra or when God had said that Abraham would become the father of many nations. He had no son and his wife was barren. How will You do this great thing oh Lord?
I don’t think Abraham was all that concerned with whether God could or would do it. I think he just wanted to know how. “Can you let me in on the secret, Lord?” After all Abraham had already recognized that this was God he was talking to and Lord whom he met in the flesh as the three travelers passed by on their way down Sodom. He knew there was no question of whether He could do what He said. How?
When God called to Abraham and told him to take his only son on a long journey to give him as a burnt offering to the Lord, there were no longer any questions in his mouth, but what about in his heart? What a gut wrenching thing it must have been to take the promise of the future (the only son that he had waited all his life for and had given up on until God provided) to offer him as a sacrifice, never in doubt that God had a plan and purpose for what He commanded. He had seen Gods commands and His promises come to pass many times now, but in his heart I can only imagine the question, “How God?” He knew there would be a “how” I’m sure, but he kept his question to himself because his hope was in God.
God had already promised that Isaac would be the future and father of many nations. How could that come to pass if Isaac were lost forever in the eternal flame of worship?
There was no need for an answer in Abraham this time because he already had the evidence of God’s word being true. I’m sure he had no idea how it would come to pass; would God raise his son from the dead, would He tell him never mind, would He cause it to rain so hard that they could not build a fire?
Has God made you any promises? The answer is yes according to scripture. He has promised us many things about our lives in His Kingdom; dominion, power, peace, healing, and the hits keep coming. You can read it for yourself. Maybe God has even given you a specific promise for your life. What do we do with all of this?
Do we believe in the fact that God makes good on all His promises or not? Maybe we should turn to Abraham’s example and know the God can and will do what He says He will do. All we need to do is keep our eye out for the “How”.
There was no questioning of God this time as in the past when Abraham continually probed the Lord on behalf of Sodom and Gomorra or when God had said that Abraham would become the father of many nations. He had no son and his wife was barren. How will You do this great thing oh Lord?
I don’t think Abraham was all that concerned with whether God could or would do it. I think he just wanted to know how. “Can you let me in on the secret, Lord?” After all Abraham had already recognized that this was God he was talking to and Lord whom he met in the flesh as the three travelers passed by on their way down Sodom. He knew there was no question of whether He could do what He said. How?
When God called to Abraham and told him to take his only son on a long journey to give him as a burnt offering to the Lord, there were no longer any questions in his mouth, but what about in his heart? What a gut wrenching thing it must have been to take the promise of the future (the only son that he had waited all his life for and had given up on until God provided) to offer him as a sacrifice, never in doubt that God had a plan and purpose for what He commanded. He had seen Gods commands and His promises come to pass many times now, but in his heart I can only imagine the question, “How God?” He knew there would be a “how” I’m sure, but he kept his question to himself because his hope was in God.
God had already promised that Isaac would be the future and father of many nations. How could that come to pass if Isaac were lost forever in the eternal flame of worship?
There was no need for an answer in Abraham this time because he already had the evidence of God’s word being true. I’m sure he had no idea how it would come to pass; would God raise his son from the dead, would He tell him never mind, would He cause it to rain so hard that they could not build a fire?
Has God made you any promises? The answer is yes according to scripture. He has promised us many things about our lives in His Kingdom; dominion, power, peace, healing, and the hits keep coming. You can read it for yourself. Maybe God has even given you a specific promise for your life. What do we do with all of this?
Do we believe in the fact that God makes good on all His promises or not? Maybe we should turn to Abraham’s example and know the God can and will do what He says He will do. All we need to do is keep our eye out for the “How”.
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