Kid Talk

I have been reminded how much my children love Grandpy.

I had to explain to Zoe why she wouldn't be able to play with grandpy anymore.

"Granpy's heart was so sick that he couldn't get fixed here on earth, but Grandpy new Jesus as his Savior so God took Grandy to heaven so he could totally fix him there."

Zoe then claimed she was really sick and needed to go with Grandpy, but we told her she would get better here with us. Then Jen and I explained that her friend Charlie would get better on earth too and she would see him again soon.

For those who don't know:

Zoe is 3 and a half.

Charlie, he is one of the guys in our HINGE young adult ministry and a good friend to us all. He is suffering with a disk problem in his back. We our praying for you Charlie!!!

Grandpy was my best friend and father, and he is greatly missed!

Now

Now we have passed the point of simply praying for healing.
It is the time to put knee to floor and face to ground and ask that we see a true miracle.

It is now when people will look to see whether we believe what we profess
Or if we like many others simply cling to a hollow straw man that collapses under life's pressure

Now is when we find out f we will succumb to the disparaging remarks of Job's wife.
Will we simply curse God and die.

It is now that little eyes will look to see if daddy truly believes in hope eternal
And whether or not his stories hold more substance for life then the colorful fairytale books

Now we can no longer sing our hymns of thanks with full stomach but detached heart
We have had our guts checked and our hearts wrenched back to true feeling.

It is now we will seek God's face, to feel His strength and know His comfort
And we will learn to let go of the unnecessary things we cling to.

Now before we reach our end when reason and love can be over taken by hopeless anger
Here is when we need to take a moment to pause and prepare for the unbearable.

Is it now that I will curse God because the system is broken
A system I understand that He did not create it so faulted

Now I take full responsibility for my part in this world so ravaged by the curse of sin
And thank the Creator that He did not abandon the rebellious this child

Is it right to curse God that gravity allows me to walk or that the sun causes plants to grow
Though I may bemoan the soreness of muscles and burn of skin.

Now is the time for the real hope to be praised for all that is truly given by a loving Father
In this life and in the life to come is not a promise of flowery words but of tangible power

It is power of life and power over death, it is hope eternal for the temporal plain.
Though there is pain, sorrow and grief there is also hope, faith and love.

Now is the time for us to praise the God who gives and takes away
In this time our souls can find wellness that comes only from the well of living water.

It is still hard to see a broken system taking only what belongs to it, only the flesh, only the shell
Though it threatens, rages and presses against the soul that it can't touch

Now the soul belongs to another and the Spirit gives it life
And my trust is in He who can touch the soul and body

It is His who has healed the spirit and He who can heal the flesh.
He who sees as grander design in all the chaos and pain

Now I understand that though everything happens for a reason
Sometimes it is reason enough to know we live in a broken world of our own making

It is more than enough to know the plan of escape has been laid
And the price of the trip has been past paid in blood.

Now is the time for tears, now is the time for grief
And the time for joy and love and faith and prayer and hope.

It is the temporary loss of fellowship and momentary separation
And the pain of knowing I must stay away from my true home though you may enter in.

Now is when people will look to see whether I truly believe what I profess
And they watch on and wonder how and what they will see

It is not my will that will be done no matter the outcome it is not by my power
So I hope and I pray that it is not my face they will see

Now I have passed the point of simply praying for healing.
It is time for me to put knee to floor and face to ground and ask to see a true miracle.

Is it now that my feeble flesh fixed to this ground will cry
And it is now when Father lifts my soul and mouth to proclaim my God on high


_________

My Fathers' Will To Live

How can I stand under the weight of life?

I do not understand the way of it all.

This grip that holds me up against the down.

Hands unseen that hold my life, my breath.

The God that formed me now keeps me formed.

My father who lays now in the bed of affliction.

A father no less in the hands of the Father.

This good Father who gives and takes away.

Will I praise Him only in the giving I enjoy?

To then curse Him when I don't so easily understand?

If my understanding were the limit of God, He is no god.

But I stand not in my self, but by grace.

My Father too has given my father grace.

This Father of grace holds my father in life.

And a gracious Father holds my father beyond death.

He gives and He takes away, blessed be His name!

In this name I pray, please Father give today.

For Your will not mine is not easy to live, once easily said.

A New Type Of Pain

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America is in need of a time machine...

Should I keep holding my breath or go ahead and inhale whatever it is that the masses are smoking these days. This is the change we've been waiting for? I will give Washington the benefit of the doubt a little longer, but I do have to start thinking for my self again by Sunday. I'm preaching this week.

This pic has been floating around the magic email universe and makes me laugh and cry.

Now first off I don't own a gun. My hands and wit are a strong defense. Second I don't want to take guns from anyone with a clean record. Third I love cheese.

So here we go.

No one has offered to give me any change, and I did ask for some.... although I have had some change forced into my pocket while I was asleep. It wasn't the change I was asking for and it looks an awful lot like the change we got rid of in the early 80's.

Interesting fact #1: Did you know that my daughter Josie has a middle name and that middle name is Reagan?

She was named after someone I miss very deeply.

You know I've been thinking. Maybe if I had a gun I wouldn't be forced into things so much. Maybe if I had the arms of a bear politicians would respect me more.

Interesting fact (I'm looking into) #2-4
Thomas Jefferson

• Favored the death penalty for treason and murder.
• Believed there should be a revolution every 50 years.
• Died 50 years to the day after he signed the Declaration of Independence.

He may have died do to the shock of no revolution, but I can't prove it. Then again who has to prove anything these days. Not trial lawyers. FACE!!! (Ya I'm trying to bring it back)

If only the founding fathers had thought to add something to the constitution to stop this from happening. If only there was a system of checks and balances in government. If only judges where given the duty to uphold the law instead of just legistlating from the bench. Oh Thomas Jefferson you fool! Why didn't you guys go back and add some type of bill to the constitution that would ensure that the people would be protected and free from........

Well my editor is telling me to stop beating the dead horse or something (He mumbles so I can't always tell what he's saying)

Have you ever wondered what you'd do if you had a time machine?

Well if I had a time machine I'd move back to America.

....better work on my sermon now, but what will I talk about that won't get me thrown in jail?

Maybe I'll quote the great prophets Lennon & McCartney.

You say you want a revolution- Well you know We all want to change the world-
You tell me that it's evolution- Well you know We all want to change the world-
But when you talk about destruction- Don't you know you can count me out
Don't you know it's gonna be alright Alright Alright

You say you got a real solution- Well you know We'd all love to see the plan
You ask me for a contribution- Well you know We're doing what we can
But when you want money for people with minds that hate All I can tell you is brother you have to wait- Don't you know it's gonna be alright Alright Alright
You say you'll change the constitution- Well you know We all want to change your head
You tell me it's the institution- Well you know You better free your mind instead
But if you go carrying pictures of Chairman Mao You ain't going to make it with anyone anyhow- Don't you know know it's gonna be alright Alright Alright

Guys is it everything you dreamed it would be?