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.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
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”.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Hard to Love
Unlovable - (adjective) incapable of inspiring love or affection
Unlikable – (adjective) difficult or impossible to like [Dictionary.com]
This is an issue that causes me grief in my heart. It makes my head spin to try with due diligence to be kind and Love other like we have been instructed to do.
You might notice that the two definitions above seem very vague and very subjective. They are, but none the less it dawned on me as I was pondering that these are two very different issues.
I get hung up sometimes on the fact that I have a genuine dislike for a person and I begin to feel a yolk pressing down on my neck that was not put there by my Savior.
Love & like are two very different animals it seem to me. You may be saying, “Well, duh!” But I know I have heard it a hundred times and have said it myself; it’s is hard to “Love” folks like God has commanded us to. I think though that we need to make up our minds that we are not talking about being the worlds buddy. We are not talking about finding a way to befriend and like every person we meet. What an impossible task and not, I think, what we are called to do.
I find myself in a situation at the moment where I am in a group of folks who thrive on stirring up strife. Their existence is so devoid of grace and peace that the can find no relief other than the entertainment they derive from making others miserable. Through this situation I am sensing His call to love these folks and to see them as He sees them, but I am coming to realize that I have gotten bogged down in the fact that I cannot “like” them. How can I love and not like?
Looking at the definitions above I can tell you that we all fit into these categories in some ways and at sometimes in our lives. God sees it differently. He sees that to “Love” is a choice that He made. He found, by choice, something to love in us. He chose the possibility over the circumstance. He gave us Grace, Peace, and Understanding and he made a way for us to become “Likeable”. You see, likability only come through relationship and that is what he gave us the opportunity to have through the cross.
It’s not the likability He wants us to see in others it’s the fact that He saw something worth choosing in any of us.
We are called to “Love”. We are called to love the way He loves; by choice freely extending Grace, Peace, and Kindness regaurdless of the circumstance………..even if it kills us.
Relationships may come or be restored by Love or not. Love might not be received by some. In fact you may be rejected altogether, but Love remains and without that Hope fades………..
Unlikable – (adjective) difficult or impossible to like [Dictionary.com]
This is an issue that causes me grief in my heart. It makes my head spin to try with due diligence to be kind and Love other like we have been instructed to do.
You might notice that the two definitions above seem very vague and very subjective. They are, but none the less it dawned on me as I was pondering that these are two very different issues.
I get hung up sometimes on the fact that I have a genuine dislike for a person and I begin to feel a yolk pressing down on my neck that was not put there by my Savior.
Love & like are two very different animals it seem to me. You may be saying, “Well, duh!” But I know I have heard it a hundred times and have said it myself; it’s is hard to “Love” folks like God has commanded us to. I think though that we need to make up our minds that we are not talking about being the worlds buddy. We are not talking about finding a way to befriend and like every person we meet. What an impossible task and not, I think, what we are called to do.
I find myself in a situation at the moment where I am in a group of folks who thrive on stirring up strife. Their existence is so devoid of grace and peace that the can find no relief other than the entertainment they derive from making others miserable. Through this situation I am sensing His call to love these folks and to see them as He sees them, but I am coming to realize that I have gotten bogged down in the fact that I cannot “like” them. How can I love and not like?
Looking at the definitions above I can tell you that we all fit into these categories in some ways and at sometimes in our lives. God sees it differently. He sees that to “Love” is a choice that He made. He found, by choice, something to love in us. He chose the possibility over the circumstance. He gave us Grace, Peace, and Understanding and he made a way for us to become “Likeable”. You see, likability only come through relationship and that is what he gave us the opportunity to have through the cross.
It’s not the likability He wants us to see in others it’s the fact that He saw something worth choosing in any of us.
We are called to “Love”. We are called to love the way He loves; by choice freely extending Grace, Peace, and Kindness regaurdless of the circumstance………..even if it kills us.
Relationships may come or be restored by Love or not. Love might not be received by some. In fact you may be rejected altogether, but Love remains and without that Hope fades………..
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