Sojourner's Journal

Don’t Tempt Me with the Ho’s

2006-02-10T11:49:00.000-06:00

Ok, so I do recognize that I often talk too much. Case in point, a nice light hearted and Mike-embarrassing story.

So I was at Gulliver’s on Wednesday night with some friends and I put my foot in my mouth with a joke, which will never be uttered again ever. The second time is when the topic of the conversation changed to food and how late it was. I said, “I won’t be eating out anymore tonight.” instead of my intended, “I won’t be eating out anymore this week.” So my buddy Jeff says, “Unless of course we go to Tim Horton’s after this.” To which I so tactfully responded with, “Oh no, don’t tempt me with the ho’s.” Everyone, here is a little advice from the massively expansive experience of Michael Boorman (not!). When you say something like that, expect VERY strange looks to come your way. Man oh man oh man did I feel like an utter tool. We had a good laugh and I was pleasantly humbled by everyone’s relatively quiet acceptance of my well-intentioned but poorly said comment.

The reason I shared this? Because I thought it was funny. What is the deep theological meaning/lesson to be seen here? No lesson, at least not intentionally. I just thought I’d share a funny story. ☺ Blessings everyone!

Not To Worry

2006-01-16T22:38:00.000-06:00

Ok so I figured it was probably a good idea to post something on here. I realized that my last blog may have left everyone kinda wondering what to say or do. Well folks no worries. As always, God has been more than faithful and my time to mourn has kinda long passed. My bad for not posting that earlier. Anyway, it’s not that I still don’t have regrets and the sort, but I must press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me (from the song “Hold on to Jesus” by SCC). So yes, God is doing some exciting things in my life and I wish I could give more detail. Some of you are thinking, “Mike, you do that all of the time!” Yeah I know… and to be honest… I like doing that :D. Oh yes, I also have 3 or 4 different blogs in the works so hopefully you’ll be seeing more activity in the near future. Blessings you guys.

A New Man-WARNING! This is not an easy read!

2005-12-07T08:37:00.000-06:00

Well everyone, I must admit, I'm not the same person I was 5 days ago. Actually, on Sunday I could've said, and actually did say, that I wasn't the same man 24 hours ago. Partly I think, because I wasn't man before. Sure physically I'm 'full grown' but that is a very minor thing when it comes to manhood (don't worry, this isn't going to get weird or uncomfortable).
I have been sick for the last couple of days and I think it has partly to do with the events that have transpired over the past 5 days. I saw something very dramatic change in my life and I must admit it wasn't that great. But through it all, God has used it to change me, in such a dramatic way that I'm not sure I'll every fully know the extent. I have never prayed so much as I have in the last 5 days. On Sunday morning (very early Sunday morning) I prayed for around 3 hours. Now before you start saying, "Wow Mike! What a prayer warrior!" or "Whatever Mike, stop bragging." let me explain. I'm not a prayer warrior. Prayer is one of the things I've struggled with for quite sometime. Not that I don't like praying, or that I can't do it. But I've never been able to pray for long periods of time by myself. I get distracted. My mind wanders. It's not good. But I truly believe I was 'praying in the Spirit.' Not speaking in tongues or anything like that, but being compelled by the Holy Spirit to pray, and pray, and pray.
God desires communion with His children, and He and I hadn't communed through prayer in a long time. I have wept many a tear this week everyone. This has been by far the hardest week of my life. And the crazy part is, it's looking like it's going to be the hardest month and possibly longer. But the amazing part is that God has allowed this to happen so that I would draw near to Him. And after all these years of letting Him down, I don't want to disappoint Him this time.
But I have to again thank one person in particular for being used by God. You will remain nameless here, but I've already thanked you for what you've done and consider this another thank you.
Everyone, I don't know how to express what has happened to me! I'm not a very emotional guy, those who know me would agree. I'm passionate, but not really emotional (and yes I know you could probably debate if there is really a difference).
I have said time and time before that when finite beings such as us are confronted with the awesomeness of an infinite God it will, without question, produce an emotional response. That is the place emotions have in worship. I have been extremely emotional this week, as I believe I have been confronted with a trial I am terrified to face. But face it I must knowing that the testing of my faith produces endurance, which when it has its perfect result will make me perfect and complete, lacking in nothing (James 1:3,4). According to James 1:2, I'm supposed to consider this all joy. I could've probably honestly told you that I had considered my trials up until this point all joy. Sadly, I cannot say this anymore. This sucks. I'm glad that it will continue to draw me closer to God. But I don't like it. I don't like it at all. I am ashamed that God has had to bring me to this point to break me. I have not had a humble spirit.
Not to scare anyone, but right now I would be quite content with the Lord either coming back or taking me home. No, I'm not thinking suicidal thoughts or anything like that. But with the pain and hurt and sorrow that I'm facing right now on a regular basis, I would much rather be home with my Saviour. I suppose that is a good thing and I hope and pray that after this trial has passed that my desire to be home would still be just as strong.
I have so many lessons to learn in the next little while. Pray for wisdom please folks. Wisdom that the Holy Spirit, the Great Teacher, would not allow me to act in ignorance any longer. That I would live according to the spirit of power, love, and discipline that I have been given (2 Timothy 1:7).
Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4 says, "There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven--A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance." I wish it wasn't so, but right now I'm afraid it is my time to weep and to mourn for so many mistakes made and blessings squandered, one blessing in particular.

But I won't fear, and I pray I won't grow weary. For my time to laugh and my time to dance will come again.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Thanks for listening everyone.

A Race Yet to Run

2005-10-22T12:46:00.000-05:00

Ok so I was driving home tonight completely exhausted. Thankfully not like the spiritually exhausted I was the other day. I was partially exhausted in that respect but I was completely exhausted mentally and physically. So started to pray about it, just thinking things through with God. And He brought to mind 2 Timothy 4:7, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;” It made me ask the question, “What am I running for?” In 2 Timothy 2:5 it talks about competing as an athlete. So in this race of life, what am I running for? What prize am I seeking to gain?

At the end of the day, when I drive home, can I say with pure conviction and clear conscience that I have done the will of God for my life? Sadly friends, I haven’t had many days like that in the past short while. Not to say that I am completely out of the will of God, far from it. But I question certain aspects of my life as to whether I am doing it in my own strength (which is no strength at all) or in the strength of Christ, where my weaknesses are laid aside. But in the craziness, and sometimes brutality, of it all I ask myself, “What is really pushing me on?” Well there are probably a few reasons, but to stay with my theme I’ll stick to this one…

I love to run! Despite the torn ligaments, sprained ankles, broken bones from falls, I still love to run for my Lord! There are days that I don’t really feel like it but that’s usually in the midst of the trial or tribulation, during the harder parts of the course. But the good parts of the course drown out any and all bad parts! I hope and pray that I will continue to run fervently and passionately for my Lord Jesus Christ. Bit of a different blog for me, but I hope you like it.

Blessings.

But if not...

2005-10-19T07:13:00.000-05:00

So I was reading in Daniel this morning in my quiet time (along with a brief Daily Bread commentary) and in the D.B. is said the phrase “But if not!” I was reading in Daniel chapter 3, the story of Hananiah, Misheal, and Azariah. Known by most as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, these guys were threatened with being thrown into the fiery furnace. And their response had always caused a burning question in my soul, “Would I do the same?” Let’s review….

17"If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king.
18"But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up."

WOW! Oorah! So here’s my web log… I came to the conclusion a few weeks back that I’m truly tired of doing things the world’s way. I am going to stand up for God’s truth, nothing is more important than that. Now, I’m not talking about evangelism. Truth be told, that’s a part of my ‘salvation’ that I’m still working through. But when it comes to blatant disregard for God’s Truth, I’m not going to be silent anymore. Just a few weeks ago I crossed out an evolutionary teaching in the science curricula I am teaching. Could I get fired? Oh possibly. Do I really care? In a sense yes, I would like to keep my job. But if I had to choose between losing my job and agreeing to those things that I know to be a lie, would I still have done what I did? Absolutely!

There are other jobs out there (though this one is a great ministry opportunity). But I want to focus on what really matters, eternity. And what I do here greatly effects what happens in my eternity. Now don’t get confused. The reality of my presence in eternity is already guaranteed, Christ did that for me. However, for lack of a better phrasing right now, the quality of that eternity in heaven will be determined by what I do here on earth. This I know to be true, I want to hear the words, “Well done, My good and faithful servant.”

God can always rescue me from my trials and tribulations. He can even rescue me from my fiery furnaces.

But even if He doesn’t, let it be known to you, O world, that I am not going to serve your gods or worship the golden images that you set up!

Blessings

Shadows in the Dark

2005-10-17T16:38:00.000-05:00

I went for my morning jog this morning and as I started to head east I noticed something I hadn’t much lately… I saw my shadow. Now that isn’t really the intriguing part, as I have seen my shadow many times before. What made this time particularly interesting? It was dark outside. The sun hadn’t even begun to come up yet I could see my shadow almost like it was mid-day. As you may know, the moon is full now and the radiance of the moon this morning was incredible! The light reflected created a “full detailed” shadow.

It got me thinking… God is so incredible that His creation allows for such things! Now yes, there is a perfectly scientific reason for it, and yes I know the gist of that reason. But it got me thinking about how radiant the sun is, that it’s light could be reflected so strongly off of another celestial body. Then I thought about Revelation and the new heavens and new earth and the holy city. In there it says that there is no sun as the Lamb of God is the light for the city. That’s amazing! The sun is an incredible testament to the power of God and it fails to compare to the awesomeness of our God. Incredible! Hmmm… I think I’ll write a poem.

Shadows in the dark, reflections of You
Of all that You’ve created, of all that You do
The world that you’ve created,
Upheld by Your great hand

A testament to You, O God
Indeed You’ve left Your mark
The heavens declare Your majesty
As do these shadows in the dark

Blessings all

GSAR - To Seek and to Save

2005-10-16T12:04:00.000-05:00

So I was at the Manitoba Emergency Services Conference this weekend. It was most interesting and fun, especially when I found out that I had been bumped from Vehicle Extrication (which I had signed up for b/c it was better for the dept) to Ground Search and Rescue (which, not so secretly now, was actually what I wanted to do). I passed the course and did a practical exercise on Saturday. So I can now proudly wear my long-sleeve GSAR Search and Rescue shirt! If you’re ever lost, I’ll come find you!

But just in case you’re wondering that is not nearly the end of the story for me, as I have this slight tendency to think a little too much. So here’s where I went from there…

The point to Search & Rescue to is to go to a usually remote area and seek out a person who is lost and, essentially, save them. Got me thinking even more about Jesus Christ who came to earth to seek and to save that which was lost. I find it incredibly ironic that I am now trained to do on the physical side what Christ came to do spiritually almost 2000 years ago. I also find it amazing that I, who am now Search & Rescue, was once (spiritually) the one who was searched for and rescued. To that I say, “Thank You Lord Jesus for finding me when all my hope was lost!”

So now, on to practical application as none of my blogs, short or long, is complete without). I am a search & rescue member both in the physical and spiritual sense. I am called to both search and rescue a person’s body (GSAR) as well as their spirit (Matthew 28:19, 20).

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
- Matthew 28:19, 20 –

Remember, the nations in Matthew 28:19, 20 are all lost… every last one of them. Including the ones we live in (Canada, United States, United Kingdom, etc.).
We are part of God’s Search & Rescue Team. We point them to the only One who has the power to save, Jesus Christ.

We are GSAR (God’s Search & Rescue). We are here to seek and to save those who are lost.

Blessings

I Fight What You Fear

2005-08-13T12:06:00.000-05:00

August 9th, 2005... in the still early morn, the dew still thick on everything it touches, a call goes out. “Oak Lake/Sifton Fire, we have a report of a fire.” Again it sounds, “Oak Lake/Sifton Fire, we have a report of a fire.” I throw the covers back feeling the sharp chill as I leave the warm shelter of my bed. I grab the nearest clothes, trying to run through my head what I’ll need. “Quickly! Quickly!” I think to myself. I’m up, dressed, and out the door in less than 90 seconds. I jump in my car and quickly but quietly (after all, it is 5 o’clock in the morning) make my way to the Fire Hall, my hazard lights on so any who might be on the road at this insane hour of the morning will know why I’m speeding. Second one there, not bad for my first time out.

I run to my gear and jump into my boots, up with the overalls, on with the jacket, on with the helmet and gloves. Full turnout gear, I’m ready to go. I jump in the pumper, I’ll be one of the first on the scene. Where are we going? What kind of fire? What can I do? Am I ready for this? What will it feel like? These questions will have to wait. I’m not nervous though, not even really anxious. I can praise God for that, He is my Sustainer and shield. He upholds me with His righteous right hand (Psalm 18:34-36, Psalm 54:3-5, Psalm 63:7-9).

Well I figure I won’t make this one too long so I’ll stop the short story there. But needless to say, it was an incredible experience and I loved it! I had been hanging with some friends of mine at a bonfire earlier this week and one of them (who happens to be a firefighter himself) had a shirt on that said on the back, “I Fight What You Fear.” And I thought to myself, “Man that is really true. Firefighters go running into a building when everyone else is running out of it.” I love doing it because I love helping people. Sure, I’m young and adventurous so the adrenaline rush is nice too. But I simply love to help people. And if I can use that opportunity of aid to share with them the Good News of Jesus Christ, praise the Lord! If not, at least I have loved my neighbour as myself.

As I close this blog, I want to leave you with a short way to express what I think of it...

It comes as a thief
Stealing what it can
Leaving people with
Nothing but ash

It’s a taker of hopes
A destroyer of dreams
Leaving families with
No place to go

But it’s time has come
It’s life’s at an end
I will leave it with
No place to go

Let no one be troubled
The path’s been made clear
For I am the fighter
I fight what you fear

By the way everyone, I could really use your prayers for a couple of big things coming up in my life. More to follow when I know more.

2005-05-20T16:45:00.000-05:00

“I see in your eyes, the same fear that would take the heart of me.” Many will already know where this is from, others once I tell you will want to throw it out immediately, but please hear me out. As Aragorn speaks this to the men of Middle Earth in Return of the King (The Lord of the Rings) they are about to face overwhelming odds. The heroes of the story can either run or face what they know they must, do what is right and just. To stand and fight could mean death but would also mean freedom for them and possibly many others. Or they can run, die another day, and forever feel the regret of running instead of fighting.

We are faced with situations such as this everyday. Not in the sense that our physical lives are threatened everyday, but decisions with much graver consequences. Everyday, as Christians, we are faced with the decision to impact eternity. To fight for our souls and the souls of others or to surrender them to an Enemy who has nothing but our destruction on his mind. To fight for the glory of God, or to surrender such a marvellous prize to an Enemy who wants nothing better than to blaspheme and mock the name of our King. I don’t like it when people talk down about the town I live in (though sometimes what’s said is true). I don’t appreciate when people dog the province I live in (again as much as it is sometimes true). I am very put off when someone insults this great country that I have pledged allegiance to defend (though I admit it is far from perfect). I should be absolutely livid and indignant when someone mocks, insults, or attacks the place from which I am a citizen, that which I call home!

Heaven is my home! It is where I was born and it is where I will one day return (guaranteed by the way, would be happy to discuss this with anyone). There dwells my King, Jesus Christ. He is the King of all Kings and Lord of all Lords. He is the Alpha and the Omega, and Sovereign Lord of the universe. And I am His friend, His child, His servant, His soldier. He is all to me and I am all to Him.

So why do I let such petty a thing as fear drive me from obedient love? Why do I allow something that is so beneath Him (and as such me) to take such debilitating control over me? I do not believe there is a valid answer. There is no explanation for such acts, situations, or states of being... only excuses. And excuses are no reason at all for action.

So where does that put me? Where does that put US? Well my friends, it essentially causes us to draw a line in the sand... and to make a decision. Do we cross that line into faith? Do we cross into a life that is most likely harder but more rewarding? Do we cross the line to where we can see the true meaning of our existence come to fruition? Do we cross into a land flowing with milk and honey? Or do we stay where we are, choosing to walk through life unhappy, unfulfilled, unsatisfied... and unrepentant. For a life walked without faith is a life walked in disobedience.

Let us not live in fear, as the pagans do. For they look to us for courage. And they are right to do so, but in looking to us they see Christ. And He is the bravest of all, who endured the cross for our sins, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

“1Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,2fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
- Hebrews 12:1-3 -

There’s the World’s Way and there’s God’s Way. Which way will be our way?

2005-05-04T12:15:00.000-05:00

Ladies and gentlemen can I have your attention please! This is the first ‘rant’ blog that I have every done! It’s Biblically based and all (I hope) but it’s coming from a frustration that I have with an attitude I see around me.

I have asked many people many times, “Why do you think people don’t remain friends after they break up from a relationship?” I have heard many different, though all similar, answers. “Well they probably hate each others guts.” “You’re too hurt to have a friendship after a break up.” “It’s just not possible to have been close and/or intimate (physical or non-physical) with someone, break up, and then still remain friends.”

Not once when questioned have I ever heard someone say, “Well because the Bible says that when you’ve broken up with someone you shouldn’t continue to have a friendship with them.” Why is that? BECAUSE IT’S NOT THE BIBLICAL WAY TO APPROACH RELATIONSHIPS/FRIENDSHIPS!!!

Nowhere in the Bible are we commanded, or is it even suggested, that we cease friendships with the people we know because it’s difficult. If anything, we are commanded to not give up for that reason. We are commanded to love our enemies, yet we think that it’s ok to stop friendships because we’ve been hurt by someone. Chapter and verse folks?

To those that argue, “Well it’s just really difficult.” I say, when has anything in the Christian life been easy? The world may hold to that standard for relationships but God certainly doesn’t and likewise we aren’t to either. I find it difficult to share my faith with someone on the street, does that give me excuse not to do it? (Rhetorical question-NO!) I find it difficult to believe that God loves me despite my sin, does that mean I stop believing it? (Again, rhetorical) If I find it difficult to breathe one day when I wake up, does that mean that I stop trying? (Y’know, Paul was the king of rhetorical) NO! No, no, no, no, no. “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,”(Hebrews 12:1) I am not to give up on anything in my Christian life! This would include relationships.

The only time in the Bible that I see we are to sever our relationships is when a brother/sister in Christ continually sins and will not repent of it. And even then, we are still to love them and show them grace, and to welcome them back when then return.

Now I’m not advocating just instantly changing your relationship into ‘friendship mode’ when you break up with someone, that is sometimes asking too much. BUT, this does not mean that you treat the person any less than as a brother/sister in Christ. That is the LEAST we can do to honour Christ’s name.

Again, this is a standard that Christian’s are held to. Why? Because it, like so many other actions, sets us apart from the world and shows them that Christ does make a difference in our lives. That He enables us to do things we wouldn’t normally be able to do, like remain friends with people after a good or bad breakup. Yes there is time needed for healing, yes things may be different to an extent, but I honestly and truly believe that God can heal those wounds and restore a friendship. I really do. I will not put God in a box when it comes to this. If I have a relationship that doesn’t heal, it’s because I and/or the other person won’t allow it to.

This is just a ‘rant’ blog, I know I haven’t covered every angle or developed/explained my thoughts thoroughly, but maybe that can come later.

Hope this stretches us all a bit.

Wander in the Wilderness

2005-05-04T01:30:00.000-05:00

If you haven’t read Wild at Heart by John Eldredge, I would recommend it. It’s a pretty good book. I’m going to be taking a series of treks to have some alone time with God. Why you ask?

Escaping the everyday stresses and the hurried life that our North American culture & society has impressed upon us can be rather taxing. Plus, I’m unemployed! I have piles of time to kill!

Anyway, back to the whole wandering thing. A man (or person, I’m not sure how it works for women) needs to go the wilderness sometimes to truly listen. To go to a place of nothingness where there is none of man’s contraptions, concoctions, or false conceptions to cloud what we see and hear. It is among the others of God’s Creation, separated from all of man’s idols, that we can listen for our Creator.

My good friends Brodie and Jared often talk with me about the vastness, greatness, and amazing complexity of God’s Creation. Yet for all it’s complexity it is the most beautiful, and most beautifully simple, thing I’ve ever seen. Nothing man has ever created, or could ever create for that matter, even compares to the wonders of His works!

And so I will venture back into His world, where I belong, to seek that which may be lost. To find what direction I’ve lost, or gain what direction I never had. To see what I have been blind to, or to have revealed to me what I could not have seen before. To hear the voice of my wonderful Creator, be it still soft or thundering shout, with clarity that can rarely be found elsewhere.

Why? Because I love my God and I love His Word and I love His creation and I desire to be more for Him. To do more for Him. Why? Caedmon’s Call put it well, “This world has nothing for me and this world has everything. All that I could want and nothing that I need. This world is making me drunk on the spirits of fear. So when He says, ‘Who will go?’ I am no where near.” Every now and again we need to step back from our lives and earnestly pursue God for release, in repentance, for renewal.

I’m done, I won’t be on very often for the next little while. This is probably the last time I’m gonna just jot down what I’m thinking at 1:30 in the morning. We’ll see what the morning brings, I may want to change this post before long. Ah well.

Well it is the next morning and indeed I am going to add, more like sum up but I think it's necessary. So what is the point of wilderness adventures? To have fun, enjoy God and His creation, and to get away from distractions and see if things look different. There I think that is good.

Blessings all

A Break from Study

2005-05-01T09:06:00.000-05:00

Well some of you may have been wondering why I decided to cease blogging after starting just a short while ago. Well I've decided to start aggressively pursuing my theological studies and would like to finish my Bachelor of Theology. Now while I am going to eventually upset a few people with near future blogs, I want to set a bit of a foundation so that I don't get my head viciously ripped off (though I do expect to have it ripped off in some way or another).

The Bible is my ultimate authority for life and godliness, according to the promise made in 2 Peter 1:3, "³seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence." I hold the Bible in highest regard and I take it very seriously. The inspiration and validity of Scripture has been tested time and time again since it's writing and has been shown to be absolutely, 100% true in all things that can be proven (remember, logical assertion says that you must prove the negative, not the positive).

The way I interpret the Bible is called historical-grammatical literal interpretation and is pretty much the standard for all conservative theologians (which I hope someday I will be worthy of in title). What this means is that unless the Bible specifically indicates, through it's grammar and context, that is it talking allegory, metaphor, or symbolism, we take it in it literal meaning. This is not to say that the passage cannot be used to apply in different areas (application and interpretation are two TOTALLY different things), but the authority is to the contextual topic, not what we'd like to 'think' it can apply to.

So what am I saying? When/if I ever make comments about the incorrect interpretation and/or application of Scripture, please know that I am in no way attacking the person/publisher who is doing it. I am merely expressing my concern about the method used as I believe the above stated method of interpretation is the only consistent way to do so. Now I know some with disagree and that's totally okay. But I figure I might as well get that out in the open so that you can take me ( and whatever I say) for what it is.

And like I said in my first post, my goal is not to anger or offend, simply to educate and encourage others.

Blessings to you all (especially you Terrin! ;))

The Lie of Distance

2005-04-11T22:19:00.000-05:00

Ever had a day when you felt really distant from God? Ever had a week that had more than one of those days in it? I know I sure have. In fact, I dare share with you that I have gone weeks and possibly months with feeling that everyday.

However this feeling is a LIE! A deception of the devil, the world, and our flesh! This feeling is completely contrary to Scripture and we should not so lightly accept it as ‘the way things are.’

For the sake of brevity (which for those who know me means this will probably only be 10 pages long) I think we can look at one passage of Scripture that, through clear Scriptural assertion and logical implication, will show us that we have no right, rhyme, or reason to believe that feeling when we get it. I will break Psalm 139:7-18 down and we will exam it a bit at a time. As much as I like my New American Standard, I think we’ll use the New Living Translation today. Pardon the expression, but I’m not being a ‘translation whore,’ I simply think the NLT does a good job of making a minor interpretation(more explanation) of verse 11 and instead of rhetorical questions (which is indeed the literal translation), gives the answer to them in verse 7.:) Alright, let’s look at God’s Word...

“ 7 I can never escape from your spirit!
I can never get away from your presence!
8 If I go up to heaven, you are there;
if I go down to the place of the dead, you are there.
9 If I ride the wings of the morning,
if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
and your strength will support me.
11 I could ask the darkness to hide me
and the light around me to become night--
12 but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day.
Darkness and light are both alike to you.
13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
and knit me together in my mother's womb.
14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvellous--and how well I know it.
15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
16 You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed.
17 How precious are your thoughts about me, O God!
They are innumerable!
18 I can't even count them;
they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up in the morning,
you are still with me!”
Ok so I’ll try to make this more brief (ya right). Look at verses 7 - 10... pretty straight forward to me, there is no place on earth I can go that is away from God, He is everywhere. It goes right along with Romans 8:38-39, “38For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” I’m not sure if that really needs more explaining right now.

Ok so on to verses 11-12. Isn’t it amazing? We cannot hide from God, the light and dark are the same, He pierces all. The interpretation is to be literal, but if we use it in an applicatory way with the support of Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” we see that God, through His Word and conceivably other ways, sees everything about us all the time. We cannot hide our feelings, thoughts, intentions, actions, anything. What does this have to do with our topic, don’t worry, it will hopefully all become clear soon.

Verses 13-15 talk about God creating us so intricately and being so intricately involved in our creation, and making us so amazingly complex, so detailed, and how wonderful His work was, and how we watched us forming even in the womb. “So what?” you may be asking. Not to worry, we’re almost there.

Ok, last but certainly not least... verses 16-18. Dang guys I can’t tell you how awesome these verses are! God recorded every moment of every single day of our lives in His book! The passage says His thoughts about us are precious and that they outnumber the grains of sand.

So what am I getting at? Here it is...

If God took so much time and effort into making us, sent His Son to redeem us, and is completely omniscient (everywhere)... it is impossible for Him to be any closer or farther away from us than He already is. We cannot base our lives on our feelings because they don’t always reflect reality. No matter how far God may feel from me is irrelevant, I need to act on what I know. And thanks to God’s Word I know this... that because I have trusted Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour that I am His child and that He loves me and will never leave me or forsake me (Hebrews 13:5). His grace through Christ’s sacrifice will always cover my worthlessness and unworthiness. His strength will uphold me, His love will surround me, His peace will fill me, and His light will guide me. I need to know and believe this. And when my feelings conflict with this, I need to live by what I know, not what I feel.

Blessings

Eternity is Primary

2005-04-08T11:01:00.001-05:00

I’m going back to a book I read back in college called ‘Eternity’. And it’s fitting because last night I had a very interesting encounter if you will. I had just finished watching Man on Fire at 4:30am. At this point in the morning I find myself very susceptible to more involved thoughts. And to make matters ‘worse’, Enya had been playing throughout the movie and her Celtic style music has a way of invoking deep thought patterns.

So as the movie finished I began to think of how precious life really is. This led to me thinking about how much of my life I have wasted on pointless things. How much time do we spend on pointless things? I was chatting with some friends the other day about the importance of keeping those things which enhance our spiritual lives a priority, instead of making them the first things that are cut out when we have exams, homework or other pressing matters.

Television, games, even athletics... all of these things are not bad in and of themselves, but how often have they actually taken the place of our time with God? Be it study time, quiet time, prayer time... All removed to make way for something more engrossing, more entertaining, more ‘profitable.’ “Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?” (Romans 7:24) In this short treatise on keeping the law and being holy, Paul hit it on the nose. Many of the things I do are vile and wicked. I am a constant inner-struggle with my flesh and spirit warring against each other. Back to eternity...

Solomon wrote an entire book dedicated to the pursuit of frivolity and the folly of that pursuit. “‘Vanity of vanities,’ says the Preacher, ‘Vanity of vanities! All is vanity.’ What advantage does man have in all his work which he does under the sun? A generation goes and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever...All things are wearisome; Man is not able to tell it. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, Nor is the ear filled with hearing. That which has been is that which will be, and that which has been done is that which will be done. So there is nothing new under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 1:2-4,8-9)

The wise king knew what he was talking about. In his dissertation on the meaning of life, he describes his pursuit of happiness in all venues of life. Women, power, money, treasures... none of it satisfied. All these things, probably taking half a life time to pursue, left him empty and unsatisfied. In the end he had this to say: “The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgement, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)

So why? Why do we do these things? What makes us believe that these things we do will have any impact on eternity? Could it be worse than that? Could it be that we know that these things have little or no impact but choose to do them anyway? Could it be that we are so out of tune with the things eternal that they no longer echo in our minds? Temporal things can, at best, provide temporal relief, pleasure, or satisfaction.

Is this to say that temporal things are evil? Absolutely not!! But when temporal things begin to influence our time spent on eternal things and worse yet alter our frame of mind to the temporal, we have in a sense committed idolatry. We have placed something of this earth above He who is the only one worthy of eminence. We have in essence called God a liar as He has decreed that the things of heaven are of utmost importance. “Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” We are to have Him first in our lives, yet we sacrifice the things that bring us closer to him for things that provide and shallow, short-lasting pleasure.

Back to the question why... why do we do such things? Well I suppose there are many different reasons and motivations as we are all of different characters and live in different circumstances. But I offer this as one of possibly many reasons: Fear. But this is best left for next time...

Blessings to all of you.

A Point? Let's Hope So...

2005-03-28T13:59:00.000-06:00

Well I must admit that I wasn't big on the idea of this whole Blog-fad. But I have recently respected my friends enough to read some of their blogs and I realized that it could indeed be used to some kind of constructive purpose. Not for the purpose of venting (I prefer to do that in the quietness of my heart and/or house) but for sharing my thoughts and ultimatley to, hopefully, impact others and give them something to think about or possibly offer some sort of encouragement.

Call me and idealist, I'm ok with that. I consider myself more of a realist defined by his ideals. With that, I might as well include a short a-typical blog here...

Ok I changed my mind, I had a nice blog written out here but for some reason the website was brain farting. So no thought provoking ideas or encouragements today folks. Pity too, I enjoyed writing what I had... oh well.