A man's search for grace in all the unusual places. I may amuse, I may stand accused, I may anger you, but all in all I am a sinner, in a need of a righteous God, just like y'all.
The light rail stopped at the Denver Auraria Higher Education Center. The students were pushed this way and that at the light rail, we were all expecting to be taken on home to a place without hurts.
Our hopes were high, but these hopes have been pushed this way and that. People have lost faith in a turning around and stand still watching the sand granules slowly slip through the hourglass. Americans are beginning to feel discouraged.
Harold Myra published the bookThe One Year Book of Encouragement, in order to provide a life line from the traumatic state in the United States today. Myra sees that Christians need “refreshment …in the deep authentic rivers of our Christian Heritage.”(v) He sees the insight of our Christian Heritage as authentic because the truth from these authors was “hammered out on the anvil of life’s realities.”(v)
The book succeeds in providing encouraging and challenging thoughts for people amidst the tension of today’s economic recession. The author includes scripture verses that encourage the reader to look deeper into the word of God. Also the author models a prayer each day that will encourage your prayer life.
This book is a keeper and a definite cluck.
Personally, I look forward to starting my day each day by reading an encouraging word from this book.
Sometimes I get so teed off, that I want to put
on a head band and be a Ninja?! I would sneak
into your bed - room and
read all of your dirty magazines!
Only an Expert a Classic Worship Song
Read the Lyrics for some insight into the world today...
Now only an expert can deal with the problem
Cause half the problem is seeing the problem.
Only an expert can deal with the problem
Only an expert can deal with the problem.
So if there is no expert dealing with the problem
It's really actually twice the problem.
Cause only an expert can deal with the problem
Only an expert can deal with the problem.
In America we like solutions. We like solutions to problems.
And there are so many companies that offer solutions
Companies with names like: The Pet Solution, The Hair Solution
The Debt Solution, The World Solution, The Sushi Solution.
Companies with experts ready to solve these problems.
Cause only an expert can see there's a problem
And only an expert can deal with the problem
Only an expert can deal with the problem
Let's say you're invited to be on Oprah and you don't have a problem
But you want to go on the show and so you need a problem
And so you invent a problem. But if you're not an expert in problems
You're probably not going to make up a very plausible problem
And so you're probably going to get nailed
You're going to get exposed
And you're going to have to bow down and apologize
And be for the public's forgiveness.
Cause only an expert can deal with the problem
And only an expert can deal with the problem
And only an expert can deal with the problem.
And on these shows, these shows that try to solve your problems
The big question is always: How can I get control? How can I take control?
But don't forget this is a question for the regular viewer
The person who's barely getting by, the person who's watching shows
About people with problems, the person who is one of the sixty percent
Of the U.S. population 1.3 weeks away, 1.3 paychecks away, from a shelter.
In other words a person with problems.
So when experts say let's get to the root of the problem
Let's take control of the problem cause if you take control of the problem
You can solve the problem
Often this doesn't work at aII because the situation is
Completely out of control.
Cause only an expert can deal with the problem
And only an expert can deal with the problem
And only an expert can deal with the problem.
Now sometimes experts lend you money
And sometimes they lend you lots of money
And sometimes when the subprime mortgages collapse
And banks close and businesses fail
And the crisis spreads around the world–
Sometimes other experts say: Find More lyrics at www.sweetslyrics.com
Just because aII the markets crashed
Doesn't mean it's necessarily a bad thing.
And other experts say: Just because aII your friends were fired
And your family's broke and we didn't see it coming
Doesn't mean that we were wrong.
And just because you lost your job and your house
And all your savings doesn't mean you don't have to pay for the bailouts
For the traders and thd bankers and the speculators.
Clause only an expert can design a bailout
And only an expert can expect a bailout
Cause only an expert can deal with the problem
And only an expert can deal with the problem
And only an expert can deal with the problem.
Only an expert. Only an expert. Only an expert.
Only an expert. Only an expert. Only an expert.
And sometimes when it's really really really really hot and it's July in January
And there's no more snow and huge waves are wiping out cities
And hurricanes are everywhere and everyone knows it's a problem–
But if some of the experts say it's no problem
And if other experts claim it's no problem or explain why it's no problem
Then it's simply not a problem.
But when an expert says it's a problem and makes a movie about the problem
And wins an Oscar about the problem
And gets the Nobel Prize about the problem
Then all the other experts have to agree it is most likely a problem.
Cause only an expert can deal with the problem
And only an expert can deal with the problem
And only an expert can deal with the problem.
Even though a country can invade another country
And flatten it and ruin it and create havoc and civil war in that other country
If the experts say it isn't a problem and everyone agrees they're experts
And good at seeing problems then invading those countries
Is simply not a problem.
And if a country tortures people and holds citizens without cause
Or trial and sets up military tribunals this is also not a problem
Unless there's an expert who sap: This is the beginning of a problem.
Cause only an expert can deal with the problem
And only an expert can deal with the problem
And only an expert can deal with the problem.
Cause only an expert can deal with the problem
And only an expert can deal with the problem
And only an expert can deal with the problem.
Cause only an expert can see there's a problem
And seeing the problem is half the problem.
Cause only an expert can deal with the problem.
Only an expert can deal with the problem.
Do the Russians love their children too? Is the United States the only country dealing with new issues of relevancy in the 21st century? 12 is a completely new, original work based on 12 Angry Men (by Sidney Lumet. The movie examines the rare truth, in an post-modern age where anything is true as long as you think it is.
The movie asks: How can we trust each other when are pasts have colored so much of our present? What biases do we look through in order to see the OTHER? We must seek to make clear the centrality of God's wisdom in our daily lives, this movie shows why!
"A Man is never more honest when he acknowledges himself a lier!" Mark Twain. We view others often in a dishonest light. The above maps illustrated by Alphadesigner, illustrate the truth of what makes us look at others with a dishonest xenophobic spin.
I pray that we look at each other; truly look at each other, by first looking at our misconceptions, and then coming to each other in honest repentance. Maybe then we can pray for reconciliation.
1.1 God's mandate was for man to be true stewards of Eden, working in it, judging it, caring for it, and doing the role of Stewards (to work it and keep it) Genesis 2:15 in the image of God.
1.2 This all changed the day Eve decided; yummy fruit, lets eat this apple. Genesis 3:1-7
1.3 We are now cursed and the land screams out like the heart in a tale by Edgar Allen Poe. Now the world is full of lusts and desires. Genesis 3:8-24
2.1 God asked Noah to fill the earth and be fruitful. He carried with him in the arc 7 sets of all animals. 7 is a heavenly perfect number.*
2.2 Noah had Ham Shem and Japheth who represent the archetypes of man in the world: Genesis 7:1-3
2.3Ham(Canaanites) represents sin in the world.
2.4Shem(Semitic People) represents the people who are chosen by God and are redeemed in his over all plan.
2.5 Japheth-represents the people who live between being saved in Gods house (bethel) and ruin (Ai). They will be enlarged and will live in the tents of Shem and make Ham their servants. (Genesis 9:27)
3.1 God's mandate is to get back to the original mandate; where man once again can rightfully steward the earth and be part of the spreading of heaven, from a centralized point outward into the world; spreading Bethel** across the globe.
3.2 In order to get back to the original plan he needs a remnant. The remnant will be the New Adams who will now be able to steward what God creates anew in Jesus Christ. And will steward his plan with righteousness for they will be in perfect communion with God. This was what God had intended the first time, with Adam. (2 Peter 2:4-10)
Was Lot Righteous? Yes, according to God's word he was:
2 Peter 2:14
5if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others;6if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly;7and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men8(for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)—
9if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment.[c]
*(Maybe that's why John Elway was so good, his number seven made him a complete heavenly type quarterback, NAH that's blasphemy).
** Bethel means temple house of God.
Was Lot Righteous? Yes, according to God's word he was:
2 Peter 2:14
5if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others;6if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly;7and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men8(for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)—
9if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment.[c]
There have always been social critics of American Culture. We need to remember our past in order to remind ourselves that we have been here before. Currently I am reading The Ten Cent Plague by David Hajou, where he shows that our nation cracked down on comics in the 1900-1940's because they believed them to be a danger to kids. I do not believe that mass media is the sole work of the devil. But it is neat to see what others have viewed as the devils work:
"Are we parents criminally negligent of our children, or is it that we have not put our minds on the subject of continuing to allow them to be injured by the inane and vulgar "comic" supplement of the Sunday Newspaper?" Ladies Home Journal "A Crime Against American Children" January 1909.
I was staying at the Marriott With Jesus and John Wayne I was waiting for a chariot They were waiting for a train The sky was full of carrion "I'll take the mazuma" Said Jesus to Marion "That's the 3:10 to Yuma My ride's here..." The Houston sky was changeless We galloped through bluebonnets I was wrestling with an angel You were working on a sonnet You said, "I believe the seraphim Will gather up my pinto And carry us away, Jim Across the San Jacinto My ride's here..." Shelley and Keats were out in the street And even Lord Byron was leaving for Greece While back at the Hilton, last but not least Milton was holding his sides Saying, "You bravos had better be ready to fight Or we'll never get out of East Texas tonight The trail is long and the river is wide And my ride's here" I was staying at the Westin I was playing to a draw When in walked Charlton Heston With the Tablets of the Law He said, "It's still the Greatest Story" I said, "Man, I'd like to stay But I'm bound for glory I'm on my way My ride's here..."
We as Christians need to be careful of being too inviting to Islam. There is a war, and we are in it, for Islam sees non Islams as degenerated heretics of the faith. They fight a jihad to bring back degenerated sinners back to the flock through all means necessary.
Man's means are limited and fail to do what the cross does for sinners (who are now accepted by Christ).
We need to fight in truth and love, only through the white light of Christ, will the shadows dissipate and truth will stand purely apparent. The problem with the Gainesville preacher is that he is spreading hate not love. Hate begets hate begets hate, sending us outward away from the true relationship promised to Abraham by God. Hate only spreads a cloud over the truth, a cloud spreads over God, we no longer hear the clear voice of God; for our emotions have taken over. We are fastened to an emotional cloud that deludes the mind.
10 Points of Light for the deluded minds of today:
Align our hearts in Love to be obedient to the LORD who is there and who cares.
We need to join community groups and churches that have a backbone based in biblical truth (the word comes first).
We need to get back to reading the bible daily. So we can discern if the Church we belong to is truly biblical. (I do not mean to do reading out of obligation, but for a love of the truth). If the bible is not center in our worship than we often go astray and do our own things, thinking we are doing what God wants us to do, but in reality the Diabolical Forces are whispering chaotic thoughts into our minds.
We need to get to the basics, back to the reformers like Johnathan Edwards and his signs of true Christianity.
We need not tolerate antics from amateur pastors who are leading their fifty to millions of members astray.(Read # 3). If our church has made our Pastor the God then we need to first confront our Pastor, then if this does not work ask to join another church that is more biblically centered. We should not join a church until we know that the biblical leaders are centered in the truth of the word.
We need to get back to prayer. (Corporate and Individual).
As well as imprinting the word through memorization of true biblical passages. God's word found in the bible should be grafted on the front of our minds as we go out into the world.
We need to budget our time and our expenses really be stewards of God's gifts, this includes tithing.
We need to grow in love with others who may not see how Christ is the savior. We must be firm in our understanding, but loving in our approach to others.
We must ask god to forgive our mannishnes the need to put man first in worship and god last in our worship.
Abraham was a shadow of one who is prophet, priest, and king. This would be completed in Jesus Christ our LORD.
Abraham attempted to petition God on the behalf of Sodom, God can not change his promises. God is bound by his own words.
Sodom was destroyed. because:
Sodom does not repent of its sinful ways.
Sodom was guilty of Sinning in the following ways:
Sexual Depravity (Jude 7)
Arrogance and abuse of the poor. (Ezek 16:49-50)
Failure to show hospitality (Genesis 19:8)
The LORD Looks for 10 righteous and can not find them. He stops at ten, here is maybe why:
The number 10 is very significant as it symbolizes "completeness of order" "nothing lacking" "everything in its proper order" Thus the number 10 represents the perfection of "divine orderThe "
10" Commandments (Exodus 20:2-17)
The "10" Righteous" (Gen 18:32)
The "10" Generations
10 is symbolic of "the start of a whole new order" and the culmination of all the numbers that came before it. (From Wiki Answers)
The most common activity requiring a minyan is public prayer. Accordingly, the term minyan in contemporary Judaism has taken on the secondary meaning of referring to a prayer service.
Sodom had no way to go back and repent of their wrong doings, because 10 righteous dudes were not found. No Ten Righteous Dudes means No Quorum. No Quorum means religious obligations including worship are not held. One needs a place of prayers in order to ask forgiveness of Sins and repent of ones wrong doings.
The Reformation Study Bible R.C. Sproul Ed (Orlando, Florida: Ligonier Ministries) 2005.
