Inspiration series #1 Rain Clouds

When we walk down the street

Do we take notice?

Who we might meet

Do we stop and feel the rain

Or just complain as it soaks our feet

We’d walk barefoot through a monsoon

If only a future saint God might seat

So many bridges never crossed

Crumbled before their even realized

All because our ideas for living

Go stifled down

By the crying of a baby

Or a naked man, a dying hound

The inconvenience realized

The potential ignored

We cannot be bothered

We must not be bored

God looks at the Heart

 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things human beings look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 

1 Samuel 16:7

This verse is comforting and frightening at the same time.  How cool is it that God knows who we are and what our potential is so much better than we do, he can look inside of us and say, you are a king, or a missionary, or a counselor, go and help my people, when we have no clue what to do with ourselves.  Then there are also questions.  What does my heart look like? This question haunts me sometimes, it's scary to think what it might look like.  Hopefully good, even though it scares me I think I'm comforted by knowing that I've been washed, and I have reason to believe this includes my heart, hopefully God sees the heart of Christ in me and not my own heart, filthy as I think it can get at times... I want with everything I am to be clean, just have to keep reaching for the sky and praying for Christ to show me the way to be even more like him.

What Do I Believe? An Explanation

Some would say I’m religious, but I am not.  I do not believe in standing on ceremony or any list of thal-shalt-nots or traditions that I must follow to someway earn my way into heaven.  Many people misunderstand what faith is and what true Christianity represents.  For this reason I feel the need to explain what exactly I do believe.  First of all, I believe in a creator, this creator I believe is involved in the world, he has a plan, and has orchestrated the entire universe, the good and the bad in order to display his glory, it is his masterpiece.  There are so many things that I could explain, but first to talk a bit about the Bible and what it means to me so that you can understand.   The Bible is comprised of two very different and complementing parts.  The first the Old Testament is a record of God’s historical dealings with man and particularly with the Jews, the people he chose to be the building blocks for the salvation of the world.  In the OT we see that man is sinful, disobedient to God, this started with Adam but includes everyone, the Jews included.  God gave the law to the Jews, a code of right and wrong, how God requires us to live. He gave us this law to show us that only he can be perfectly in line with this law and so since it is impossible to follow it and the penalty for not following it is separation from God and true death, we need his help so that we can be reconnected to him and so that he can save us from death or hell if you prefer the term (ultimately some form of eternal punishment for our crimes) You see God wants to spend forever with his creation, he loves us as parents love their children, but he is a just God and being perfect himself, he can not have relationship with guilty persons, namely all of us fallen people who have found ourselves incapable of perfection, since our loss of innocence at the moment of Adam’s first sin.  Since he does love us and does not want to be separated from us forever, but instead desires that we would be able to have eternal life and a relationship with him, he has made a way using history and a system of atonement to pay the price for our sin so that we can reconnect with him.  This system started with a promise to Adam and Eve that he would provide this way, and starting with them he set up a system of sacrifice that follows all the way through the OT so that the people could understand that sacrifice was necessary to pay for their sins although their sacrifices were only representative of the ultimate sacrifice that God was building up to through history in his perfect time at his perfect moment.  Ultimately we have the events that unfold as predicted in the OT, Christ, the Son of God comes and dies after living the only perfect life to ever have been lived, he proves his divinity on earth, lives sinless as a human being and then dies, giving his blood and his body as the sacrifice ultimately necessary to break the bonds of the Law and set us free from our sin.  So that covers the Bible and the basics of what it means in a nutshell.  Now let me tell you what this means to us.  Many feel uncomfortable about the topic of sin.  This is natural, we are uncomfortable with it because we are all sinners, and all guilty. We want to think that a merciful God would send us all to heaven, or we look at the world want to say that there is no God, we come up with ways to explain him away with our intellect and our science, but you can not explain away something that actually exists.  God is not an idea of mankind that we can simply do away with when he no longer serves our interests.  He is there and as much as he loves us, he cannot have a relationship with us while we are tainted, we have to be washed so to speak.  This process is called salvation, you’ve probably heard “you need to be saved” or something like it from some “crazy” religious person approaching you on the street or something. The thing is they are correct, but they aren’t giving you an explanation, that is what I’m attempting to do in some fashion here.  So we have this salvation, what does it entail? It’s actually much simpler than people try to make it out to be.  So many people believe that they cannot approach God because they aren’t good enough or they need to get their life “right” first or something, the thing is that we can’t be good enough, as I’ve already explained, this is why there is salvation in the first place.  This is why we have Christ.  This is why he went through everything he did; so that we could approach God just as we are and ask for forgiveness and have our relationship restored.  The movie “The Passion of Christ” is an excellent resource if you would like to get a better idea of what exactly Christ endured to pay for your sin.  Anyhow, all you have to do to obtain salvation is admit your faults, that you are imperfect and fall short of the glory and perfection of God, believe truly that Christ died as the perfect Son of God to pay the price for your sins so that you could be reconnected to God and have eternal life thereby avoiding eternal death and punishment for sin (the price for even the tiniest wrongdoing that separates you from God) and finally commit, you must commit to opening your heart to the Holy Spirit (the Spirit of God given to guide us back to the perfect plan that God desires us to follow with our lives).  This can be done with a simple heartfelt petition to God; any person can come to God and simply ask and receive salvation and eternal life.  Salvation begins a process and a rebirth in us, once we ask Christ into our hearts and lives we are reborn and God begins to sort of trim off the parts of us that are sinful and restore us to his perfect creation that was originally made in his reflection.  That is the basic gist of it, once you are saved you will experience new joys as you learn to enjoy life for what it is truly meant to be, there are so many things that begin to click into place as we realize that God’s way is so much better than ours.  I hope that someone who reads this can experience these joys.  One last thing, don’t worry if you aren’t perfect, you won’t ever be until this process of life is complete and you go to meet your creator, it is a constant struggle to do what is right in a world that usually does what is wrong.  Just make the most of this life, live fully and give as much as you can to the people around you, whether it be a smile or a word of encouragement or the coat off your back.  One of the greatest joys of being a believer is realizing what a small piece we are of something so large and yet we are each made to be God’s and given the opportunity to do great things in the power given to us by the Holy Spirit.  If you care to read up on what I’ve told you, pick up a bible, the best place to start is probably the book of John followed by Romans, then Acts, and Genesis.  I pray the words speak to your heart and mind, as they have to mine!

Walking Far From Home ~ Iron and Wine

I was walking far from home
Where the names were not burned along the wall
Saw a building high as heaven
But the door was so small, door was so small

I saw rain clouds, little babies
And a bridge that had tumbled to the ground
I saw sinners making music
And I dreamt of that sound, dreamt of that sound

I was walking far from home
But I carried your letters all the while
I saw lovers in a window
Whisper "want me like time, want me like time"

I saw sickness bloom in fruit trees
I saw blood and a bit of it was mine
I saw children in a river
But their lips were still dry, lips were still dry

I was walking far from home
And I found your face mingled in the crowd
Saw a boat full of believers
Sail off talking too loud, talking too loud

I saw sunlight on the water
Saw a bird fall like a hammer from the sky
An old woman on the speed train
She was closing her eyes, closing her eyes

I saw flowers on a hillside
And a millionaire pissing on the lawn
Saw a prisoner take a pistol
And say "join me in song, join me song"

Saw a car crash in the country
Where the prayers run like weeds along the road
I saw strangers stealing kisses
Leaving only their clothes, only their clothes

Saw a white dog chase its tail
And a pair of hearts carved into a stone
I saw kindness and an angel
Crying take me back home, take me back home

Saw a highway, saw an ocean
I saw widows in the temple to the Lord
Naked dancers in the city
How they spoke for us all, spoke for us all

I saw loaded linen tables
And a motherless colt then it was gone
I saw hungry brothers waiting
With the radio on, radio on

I was walking far from home
Where the names were not burned along the wall
Saw a wet road form a circle
And it came like a call, came like a call from the Lord

This song has also struck me, I'm still trying to pull it apart and get something out of the lyrics, as of now I only have bits and pieces, it's a beautiful song though, I welcome anyone who has some idea about a meaning for some of these verses. Every time I listen to it something else jumps out at me, not always a meaning necessarily, but it could be a beautiful image or a fascinating thought.  Sam Beam faithfully delivers on music that transports, invoking contemplation and daydreaming, two of my favorite pass-times!

Furr~ Blitzen Trapper

I love these lyrics:

Yeah, when I was only 17,
I could hear the angels whispering
So I droned into the words and wandered aimlessly about
Until I heard my mother shouting through the fog
It turned out to be the howling of a dog
Or a wolf to be exact, the sound sent shivers down my back
But I was drawn into the pack and before long
They allowed me to join in and sing their song
So from the cliffs and highest hill, yeah
We would gladly get our fill
Howling endlessly and shrilly at the dawn
And I lost the taste for judging right from wrong
For my flesh had turned to fur, yeah
And my thoughts, they surely were
Turned to instinct and obedience to God.

You can wear your fur
like a river on fire
But you better be sure
if you're makin' God a liar
I'm a rattlesnake, Babe,
I'm like fuel on fire
So if you're gonna' get made,
Don't be afraid of what you've learned

On the day that I turned 23,
I was curled up underneath a dogwood tree
When suddenly a girl with skin the color of a pearl
She wandered aimlessly, but she didn't seem to see

She was listenin' for the angels just like me
So I stood and looked about
I brushed the leaves off of my snout
And then I heard my mother shouting through the trees
You should have seen that girl go shaky at the knees
So I took her by the arm
We settled down upon a farm
And raised our children up as gently as you please.

And now my fur has turned to skin
And I've been quickly ushered in
To a world that I confess I do not know
But I still dream of running careless through the snow
An' through the howlin' winds that blow,
Across the ancient distant flow,
It fill our bodies up like water till we know.

You can wear your fur
Like a river on fire
But you better be sure
If you're makin' God a liar
I'm a rattlesnake, Babe,
I'm like fuel on fire
So if you're gonna' get made,
Don't be afraid of what you've learned

This song intrigues me, the idea of being a foreigner to the world, that some outside force enticed you into a different, wild, carefree state of being, even better the image of listening to the voices that no one else can hear.  I love how in the end he finds a girl that's like him, listening for the angels. Such a cool song, it gives me this ping in my soul, I love it!

Spirit and Truth

November 16, 2010:

 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 

John 4:23

When I read this all I can do is fall to my knees and say out loud…  “Lord show me” I feel as if I might understand this verse, in some senses I may have worshipped in this way, but how do I know that my interpretation is actually what spirit and truth is in reference to worship? Anyhow what strikes me, are the actual words standing each on their own. Truth is such a powerful word; this word both inspires me and strikes guilt in my heart. 

The Truth as a descriptive word for the Word of God is such an awe inspiring picture to me, it is the Truth, in it’s entirety, the Truth is a gateway to life, the way it’s supposed to be, how we can understand it in such a way as to tap into the absolute fullness of it, as much as we can now and in it’s entirety in the light of eternity.  I feel like most Christians think it is mainly eternity where we can experience this fullness, but I believe whole heartedly that the bible contains the key to getting the maximum potential out of this life as well, to squeeze every last drop of juice out of the orange so to speak.  Anyhow that is the first line of thought that Truth brings me to and that is how I think we can worship with Truth through finding the fullness of life in Christ through his Truth in which he has revealed himself, because he is Truth as he is the Word.

I know that I am not always a truthful person and the lies that taint my heart make me feel guilty and in this way the word truth is both inspiring and guilt inducing. At the same time I also know that the power of Christ and the Truth are doing a work in me, this cruddy layer of sin has already been blasted from my heart, but continues to build up residue at times, which Christ continues to wash away with the acidic Truth. I take comfort in this constant cleaning although it is at times painful.

Now moving on to the word Spirit. Notice that it is capitalized in the actual verse, I chose to capitalize Truth when referring to it as the Word of God, but Spirit was already capitalized.  I believe this to be significant; while spirit could refer to the mind and the heart, the essence of who we are, Spirit refers to the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit.  This couples nicely with Truth to give me yet another awe inspiring thought, that there is such continuity in the plan and image of God that we are given, that we can observe and worship the connection between the Spirit and Truth. I have experienced worship almost involuntarily when I look at the Word of God with a clear mind and a clean heart (although this is at times difficult). The piercing truth that comes from it is almost like a cupid’s arrow, when it hits me it incites an intense joy, a hunger, and a passion. Although I am terrible at embodying the full potential that is contained in the Truth, I cannot help but hunger for that fullness, to chase after it no matter how many times I fall flat on my face. The fact that I can always get back up inspires me to keep trying to understand and embody that Truth. The perfect plan of God and the reflection of his Son that I can see even when the human part of me wants to go the other way, to sin, is inspiring.  Even though sometimes I do fall away, it’s still there. The light at the end of the tunnel gives me such hope as I cling to my map and I hope to one day finish my journey with success. I believe that perhaps this could be the Spirit; it must be since I would for sure fall away without it.  Perhaps we could not have the Spirit without the Truth and we could not consume the Word or Truth without the Spirit. These are just some thoughts from my feeble mind, it’s completely possible that I look at this all wrong, but to me this revelation is very encouraging, enrapturing and enabling which for me also equals worship.

The King of Forever

From rags to riches I’ve been raised

Only by the will of a mighty King

Taken from my toil and raised to grace

The filthy cloth that once chaffed my shoulders

Has now been replaced

With the linens of a priest

I have been invited to stay at his court

To feast on his bread and his wine

Forever

In my King I can have absolute faith

For by him I know

That the man he has made

Will not ever be unmade

They will call him forever the Great Creator

The man who made true men

Out of mere peasants and fools

Like myself

His court is filled with peace and joy

A great spirit bursts from the hearth

The warmth and light fills his hall

Burning with an eternal flame

That fuels the hearts of his subjects

And contagiously consumes

His entire kingdom

Forever

Beach Mosaic

As I sat there atop a great rock

Listening to the waves crash against its base

I let the ocean take me away

As the sun rose

It’s reflection

Danced on the rippled mirror

That was the glistening sea

I went to a spiritual place

Quiet and still I spoke to God

And through the beach

I believe he spoke back

As I began to walk back

I meandered along the shore

The water washed over my feet

Repeatedly tumbling the stones

To wherever the sea may take them

I pondered their journey

Many had come a long way

Some were rough

Some very smooth

I thought about these stones

And I thought about people

We all have a journey

Like the sea

God takes us where he may

Seemingly random at times

But with masterful artistry

He smoothes the rough edges

Makes us into beautiful stones

Even when we are smoothed

Our journey is not complete

We continue to tumble

Until our time comes to rest

We are but singular pieces

In a greater work in progress

Originating in the imagination

Of a majestic artist

We find ourselves placed

A part of the beautiful beach mosaic

Of life

Inspired by a sunrise walk and the beaches of Nerja, Spain

Defiant Joy

My eyes would like to behold a beauty 
Such as you right now
My arms would like to embrace the same
Come climb the eternal tree
With me
To enjoy the little things
Such a pleasure outweighs the pain
What is it we are looking for?
Is it the life we are living?
Or is it always something more
What do we live for?
Such a question
Can always be answered by the Christ
But do we stop at that?
Or do we truly put up a fight?
Moving forward is what we must do
In the hands of the right God 
Life is but a glorious tool
To life in defiant joy
Lets fly on the thermal rise
Lets catch that warm breeze
Soar to highest heights
Even as we stumble
Through the valley of the shadow of living
Some must 
Some must burry their loved too young
Some must
Some must dig through the trash for food
As broken glass and metal shards
Fall before their paths
All things have come before my eyes
All you must
All I must is to run
To kick up dust on the beaten trail
Run from the wolves
Flee with the sheep
Don’t veer to the left
Or down that side street
Lets walk the straight and narrow
Lets walk it together
As we follow that pierc-ed shepherd
All the storms of life will be weathered
But not us sheep 
Though the storm is our place
Bold hearted with a rain-pelted face
We will not be weathered

If you made it this far, thanks for taking the time to sort through my incoherent babel.

Psalm 34:8

August 08, 2010

Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
Psalm 34:8

Wow what a great verse to worship by! Taste and see indeed. That sensation that I can't taste enough of him, that is what I chase after, if I could just get to the place where that is all the time! Where do I take refuge, sometimes its in God, other times... Gotta keep the eye on the ball ya know, I feel like when I get away from the Word it becomes easy to take refuge in many things. I feel like this is a good wake up in the morning verse. Also, I think good fellowship is key, my friends often remind me by the joy that we share in the Lord that he is good and there is rest in solid fellowship, it is savory! Just another flavor put there by God's design for us to enjoy!