logging into my e-mail accounts like 45 times a minute during the last 15 minutes of the work day. Im not really sure what I am looking for, just hoping something, anything will arrive in the inbox in order help the last 15 minutes of the day move a little faster. A bill, spam, a forward of a forward, asking that I forward a four leaf clover or face dire consequences...I don't care at this point. E-mail, its like crack.
-Josh
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
A More Personal Blog
Its been a while since I wrote more of a personal blog. It's on my heart today.
Sometimes I stop and forget to think ahead to the eternal life that is in Christ. I get focused on the day by day steps, and tend not to look too far past the end of my nose if I can keep from it. Over the last few days though, I have been hearing/reading/talking about the book of Revelation. This is what I wanted to write, as I opened the Word today I opened to Revelation Chapter 21:
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."
Revelation 21:1-4
How awesome a day when we will be with Jesus, God the Father, and the Spirit? The dwelling place of God will be WITH man! I don't think there is enough thought given to something like this. We will be with God, and there will be no more pain, crying, or mourning for eternity. It makes the sufferings of this world seem insignificant in comparison huh? A few years, a few months, a few weeks of pain in comparison to an eternity with GOD.
None of us deserve this. We are all sinners, and all of us deserve death. Think about this for a moment: We are born into a world of sins, and all of us are sinners. We want to run as far away from righteousness, holiness, and the Lord as we can. We are dirty and disgusting in the site of a holy God. Yet, because of Jesus, we are given the way to God, we are given the truth, we are given life. "For God so loved us,SO LOVED US" ....."that he gave his only son, that whosoever believed in him shall not perishes but have eternal life" John 3:16. Jesus, as an obedient servant, "...who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men." (Philippians 2:6), came and lived a perfect and obedient life, never sinning, in order that the justice of God, that would righteously judge us to death for our sins, would be atoned for by his blood, which means would cover us, and our dirty, disgusting deeds.
All of this for us. What are we asked for in return? to accept this, confess this, and believe this, by believing, we choose to make Jesus our Lord and Savior. He saved us from our just punishment, and as our Lord we should give him everything, and put Him above everything else! If we lived in a society with a human king, he would be a "lord" to us, telling us what to do, more than likely whether we liked it or not, we would obey what he asked. Jesus is far greater, and far more deserving than any Earthly king, so how is it that any of us could go through life not bowing in reference and gratitude for all He has given up for us, and in return begging HIM to lead us. Hungering and Thirsty for Him to show us and guide us.
Sometimes I stop and forget to think ahead to the eternal life that is in Christ. I get focused on the day by day steps, and tend not to look too far past the end of my nose if I can keep from it. Over the last few days though, I have been hearing/reading/talking about the book of Revelation. This is what I wanted to write, as I opened the Word today I opened to Revelation Chapter 21:
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."
Revelation 21:1-4
How awesome a day when we will be with Jesus, God the Father, and the Spirit? The dwelling place of God will be WITH man! I don't think there is enough thought given to something like this. We will be with God, and there will be no more pain, crying, or mourning for eternity. It makes the sufferings of this world seem insignificant in comparison huh? A few years, a few months, a few weeks of pain in comparison to an eternity with GOD.
None of us deserve this. We are all sinners, and all of us deserve death. Think about this for a moment: We are born into a world of sins, and all of us are sinners. We want to run as far away from righteousness, holiness, and the Lord as we can. We are dirty and disgusting in the site of a holy God. Yet, because of Jesus, we are given the way to God, we are given the truth, we are given life. "For God so loved us,SO LOVED US" ....."that he gave his only son, that whosoever believed in him shall not perishes but have eternal life" John 3:16. Jesus, as an obedient servant, "...who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men." (Philippians 2:6), came and lived a perfect and obedient life, never sinning, in order that the justice of God, that would righteously judge us to death for our sins, would be atoned for by his blood, which means would cover us, and our dirty, disgusting deeds.
All of this for us. What are we asked for in return? to accept this, confess this, and believe this, by believing, we choose to make Jesus our Lord and Savior. He saved us from our just punishment, and as our Lord we should give him everything, and put Him above everything else! If we lived in a society with a human king, he would be a "lord" to us, telling us what to do, more than likely whether we liked it or not, we would obey what he asked. Jesus is far greater, and far more deserving than any Earthly king, so how is it that any of us could go through life not bowing in reference and gratitude for all He has given up for us, and in return begging HIM to lead us. Hungering and Thirsty for Him to show us and guide us.
Friday, September 15, 2006
Teacher Tammy's Blog
I want to direct everyone's attention to the links section of this page. If any of you have been having difficulty in reaching Tammy's blog, please try again. I found that there was an error in the link so it hasn't been working properly for a while. Tammy is a friend of mine in the Philippines that is currently doing some AWESOME work as a missionary/teacher to some very special kids. Her blog will certainly bless you. BTW- Hey Tammy Im praying for the driving! Philippines drivers watch out!
Seriously, ya'll check it out and please keep her in your prayers.
-Josh
Seriously, ya'll check it out and please keep her in your prayers.
-Josh
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Where are we? Where are we Going?
Do you know the Bill of Rights? If your anything like me, probably not. Somewhere in the deep recesses of your brain, you may be able to come up with one or two of them, but as far as "knowing" what they say, what they mean, how they apply to our freedom, and the boundaries which they set for the government, you are completely ignorant.
To make matters worse, as I think about the things I do know about the Bill of Rights, I can't say that the ideas, or perceptions I have about them actually were developed from reading or studying them. Most of what I think I know is probably what I absorbed through conversations, casual reading, middle school teaching, even cartoons, over the last 25 years. I am sure that back in elementary school I was required to memorize them, as far as the order they were in, but that doesn't mean that I was taught the value and importance of why I should know them. Just think, in my ignorance, the government could be making decisions right now that are in contradiction to those words, and I would have no idea. Instead, I just assume that those in power are aware of these laws, and that they are always going to line up with what the law states. So, I don't need to waste much time or effort, to compare what is actually happening to what my freedoms are. On top of this, I'm sure that I am not the only one in this country that is in this place.
Ignorance is a breeding ground for subtle unquestioned change that leads to a direct contradiction in thinking that opposes fact.
Want to think of something even scarier? The same thing can happen with our perception, and acceptance of others opinions of the Word of God! If I don't know the truth, don't study it, don't absorb it, don't develop unwavering commitment to it, and instead, take a hazy, passive, and ignorant approach to it, I can very easily be led astray. And what is more is that I can be lead astray without even much realizing it. Here is my fear. WE WERE ALL TAUGHT ABOUT THE BILL OF RIGHTS SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY, whether we liked it or not, we were exposed to something. Today, what is the exposure to the only truth? Where does it come from?
If we don't desire it? If we don't run after it? If we don't believe it? Who makes us?
As a generation and a people are we at a place where we would rather learn our convictions, and truth through a person, television show, or a non-fiction book, than from the Word that was given to us as complete and only truth, the Bible? What is our view of the Bible, is it simply another "book", Is it simply "an option" to me as a Christian! No NO NO! The Bible is it! It is the truth, it is the Word, it is the Answer. Why don't we hold it up with nothing in compare, why don't we devote ourselves to it passionately, and without ceasing?
The answer to life is found in its words, the answer to my struggles, my failures, my future, is all in its pages.
Let's examine what we think the bible is, and what it is says, against WHAT IT IS, and WHAT IT SAYS! How can we do that? By reading, studying, and knowing it!
As much as many of us don't want to hear it, WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR KNOWING GOD'S WORD. JESUS is right there in front of you all the time, He wants you to know him, He wants you find HIM, He wants you to understand......YOU have to take the responsibility to open up the word and grow with Him!
If I have a best friend, and I don't spend any time with him, how on the Earth will I ever know what he is like. I can sit and listen to what everyone else says about him, and listen to the way He has touched them and been a part of their life, and from that I can develop ideas of who He is, but until I start spending my time with him, seeking him, how in the world am I truly going to understand!? What's more, is that if my buddy and I are not hanging out, and I don't know who he is, then someone could come along, and start saying things about him, that are not true. Then what? Im standing there listening to someone making statements that are completely wrong about him, and yet I don't know enough about him to contradict the lies! Instead, I sit there absorbing the lies, and may even find myself believing them!
We have got to know Jesus! If we don't start growing our relationship with him now, then when? The Word is truth, He is right there in front of us, right there, waiting for us to want him. Isn't it about time for us to learn about and stand firm on who Our Savior is, so that we don't have question, we don't have to doubt, we don't have to search the depths of our memory to recall the things others have said about him, but that we know him. We know him, and can stand firm in that, no matter what comes in front of us.
To make matters worse, as I think about the things I do know about the Bill of Rights, I can't say that the ideas, or perceptions I have about them actually were developed from reading or studying them. Most of what I think I know is probably what I absorbed through conversations, casual reading, middle school teaching, even cartoons, over the last 25 years. I am sure that back in elementary school I was required to memorize them, as far as the order they were in, but that doesn't mean that I was taught the value and importance of why I should know them. Just think, in my ignorance, the government could be making decisions right now that are in contradiction to those words, and I would have no idea. Instead, I just assume that those in power are aware of these laws, and that they are always going to line up with what the law states. So, I don't need to waste much time or effort, to compare what is actually happening to what my freedoms are. On top of this, I'm sure that I am not the only one in this country that is in this place.
Ignorance is a breeding ground for subtle unquestioned change that leads to a direct contradiction in thinking that opposes fact.
Want to think of something even scarier? The same thing can happen with our perception, and acceptance of others opinions of the Word of God! If I don't know the truth, don't study it, don't absorb it, don't develop unwavering commitment to it, and instead, take a hazy, passive, and ignorant approach to it, I can very easily be led astray. And what is more is that I can be lead astray without even much realizing it. Here is my fear. WE WERE ALL TAUGHT ABOUT THE BILL OF RIGHTS SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY, whether we liked it or not, we were exposed to something. Today, what is the exposure to the only truth? Where does it come from?
If we don't desire it? If we don't run after it? If we don't believe it? Who makes us?
As a generation and a people are we at a place where we would rather learn our convictions, and truth through a person, television show, or a non-fiction book, than from the Word that was given to us as complete and only truth, the Bible? What is our view of the Bible, is it simply another "book", Is it simply "an option" to me as a Christian! No NO NO! The Bible is it! It is the truth, it is the Word, it is the Answer. Why don't we hold it up with nothing in compare, why don't we devote ourselves to it passionately, and without ceasing?
The answer to life is found in its words, the answer to my struggles, my failures, my future, is all in its pages.
Let's examine what we think the bible is, and what it is says, against WHAT IT IS, and WHAT IT SAYS! How can we do that? By reading, studying, and knowing it!
As much as many of us don't want to hear it, WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR KNOWING GOD'S WORD. JESUS is right there in front of you all the time, He wants you to know him, He wants you find HIM, He wants you to understand......YOU have to take the responsibility to open up the word and grow with Him!
If I have a best friend, and I don't spend any time with him, how on the Earth will I ever know what he is like. I can sit and listen to what everyone else says about him, and listen to the way He has touched them and been a part of their life, and from that I can develop ideas of who He is, but until I start spending my time with him, seeking him, how in the world am I truly going to understand!? What's more, is that if my buddy and I are not hanging out, and I don't know who he is, then someone could come along, and start saying things about him, that are not true. Then what? Im standing there listening to someone making statements that are completely wrong about him, and yet I don't know enough about him to contradict the lies! Instead, I sit there absorbing the lies, and may even find myself believing them!
We have got to know Jesus! If we don't start growing our relationship with him now, then when? The Word is truth, He is right there in front of us, right there, waiting for us to want him. Isn't it about time for us to learn about and stand firm on who Our Savior is, so that we don't have question, we don't have to doubt, we don't have to search the depths of our memory to recall the things others have said about him, but that we know him. We know him, and can stand firm in that, no matter what comes in front of us.
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