Joshua Tree

Did you know if the text of the New Testament were written in Hebrew and then translated into English we'd know Jesus the Christ as Joshua the Messiah? I've always thought about this when going Joshua Tree every Easter Break in high school. I started my real journey as a Christian there in that desert place and the name took on a new significance for me. I know it now as Joshua's tree...Jesus' cross. Since I became a Christian there near Easter, where we celebrate Christ's victory over sin and death, it's nice to have a place to point to when times go nuts. Every morning and afternoon i'd climb rocks to take in the view, knowing God made it, made me, made the stars I'd see at night and the people surrounding me at the camp, i knew that i could point to what He showed me there. I was just thinking about this place tonight and was reminded again of the wind against my face as I stared off the rocks into the distant lands of the horizon, painting a picture for what still is to come as I rely on my Life, my Friend and my God!

What would the neo-reformers think??

Reading James (who's half-brother was Jesus the Christ and who's name was probably either Judas or some form of Joseph and was changed to James later by the King James version as a variant) who can come off abrasive but always the better for it, I read the verses...

"14What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?
15If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food,
16and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled," and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?
17Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.
18But someone may well say, "You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works."
19You believe that God is one You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.
20But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?
21Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?
22You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected;
23and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS," and he was called the friend of God.
24You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.
25In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?
26For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead


What do you think....

If i have faith and love that doesn't have love in action is my faith worth anything?
Am I doing what God would do if I just merely believe, even if I have a great doctrine?
Who's more Christ-like the one who acts or the one who talks?

I'd really love to read your opinions...everyone and anyone! The more the merrier!!

:-)

Thin Places...

"Thin Places"- Has nothing to do with dieting. It's an idea that I came across when I was reading I BECAME A CHRISTIAN AND ALL I GOT WAS THIS LOUSY T-SHIRT By Vince Antonucci. He talks about seeing God in the unexpected places; flickers of God's handy work. He says in the book that he gets the idea of the ancient Celtics held that there were places and times where the veil between Natural and Supernatural was the "thinnest". He says, "When you're in a thin place you are able to catch a glimpse of God, and it becomes easier to sense His presence." He goes on to give examples of watching a movie and your heart clenches up or a sunset causes you to stop and to say "thank you" and so on. For me it's usually when listening to music. There are words or phrasings that draw me to the Divine One or they reflect His love, grace, forgiveness, mercy or justice. The other day there was a song called SEAN by Stavesacre I was listening to what was said:

"Come on out – it's only rain
Don't you miss how it feels on your skin?
Come on out – it's only rain
I like how it feels on my skin
It feels clean
So come on out"

For some reason I couldn't help thinking of some of my friends who shut themselves inside, which isn't always literal. usually it's more of the idea of either not becoming like those "outside" or afraid of being hurt by others or circumstances on the outside. This song took me to a thin place where we as people wish we could escape the messy, wet world we live in and in not engaging the world around us we can become sullied by our own underdeveloped longing for connectivity. We sit in the mire we've created instead of letting God and/or others to help us clean up. Those who stay "inside" may not get "wet" but they also don't get cleaned! At least this is the thin place where the song took me. I hurt for friends who refuse to "come on out" to feel the rain on their skin to be made clean once more. I just get sad when I think about it.

So what are your "thin places"? It could be a place you go that helps thin the veil or it could be a time or event or what have you. I want to hear about it. Maybe we could be strengthened by what we read here from each other!

His Peace,
-mark-
(08/28/2009)

Some funny for fun

These were funny and so i thought i'd post them for your enjoyment also....

This is for those who think worship is getting too mainstream:


Things you should NEVER say to your wife:



And last but not least this song is a bible story about a bible character from the bible:

"You Are What You Read..."

...I'm not sure what that makes me then...you decide

A few nights ago i was looking at what has become a pile of books next to my bed, thinking have I read all of these books this year? This 2009? Like from January until now? Alas, I had. It's so weird to think that in High School I hated reading, would never read the book for English or History or whatever. I usually skimmed the books and got the passing grade. That and I was in the Lower English classes the slight step above the E.S.L. (English as a Second Language) classes. So maybe I would have passed without skimming too. But here I am a lot older and maybe a schosh wiser and I've read a pile of books since the 1st of the this year!! It's weird how we grow and change. Anyhow just for the sake of it here's a list of books I've read this year thus far (in no particular order)...

LAST OF THE MOHICANS by James Fenimore Cooper
METAMORPHA by Kyle Strobel
I BECAME A CHRISTIAN AND ALL I GOT WAS THIS LOUSY T-SHIRT by Vince Antonucci
HOW TO BE A PIRATE by Cressida Cowell
(All)
.....THE CHRONICLES OF NARINIA by C.S. Lewis
(for the 2nd and 3rd time)
.....THE GOBLET OF FIRE, THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX, THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE, THE DEATHLY HALLOWS by J.K. Rowling
THE THREE MUSKETEERS by Alexandre Dumas
ELLA ENCHANTED by Gail Carson Levine
THE DEVINE CONSPIRACY by Dallas Willard

Currently Reading: PARENTING WITH LOVE AND LOGIC by Cline and Fay

This of course does not include books of the bible that I've been reading through also. I'll add to the list (as a separate blog) as I continue to read. For those who are members of "GoodReads.com" Sorry I just want to keep one site for all this info that no one reads of mine :-)

Anyone have a suggestions as far as books to read. Ones that have impacted you or are just fun to read? I'd love to hear it!!

Spoke at church on April 26th 2009....

Here it is!! Just click the link below:

"Don't Just Listen...Do" My Message 4.26.09

Not the best I've ever spoken...but tell me what you think about it!! Thanks!

I hope the real world never operates like this...



My dream last night:



My friend picked me up for church. He had called me and asked if he could. I said sure but that I'd have to get there early to practice for worship. He didn't mind so long as we got a bite to eat before. We got to church had practice. Then service began. Then the musical part of the service. The music was good if not great. I wasn't leading but it was still the best I've ever played. I felt good about the music but bad about the way we were worshiping. We even ended the service with people sitting or kneeling on the ground as a sign of humility. The only problem was, it didn't seem like anyone was humbled. Somehow it felt like everyone was just as haughty as ever, which made me sad about the whole church service. As the time came for me to pack up my guitar and such I see my friend leaving the sanctuary seemly angry, not to mention I wasn't getting a ride home. I went after him to see what was up. He was angry but he wouldn't say why. I asked to wait a sec so I could get my stuff. He said, "couldn't someone else take you home. How about the lead singer from Coldplay?!" The truth was the lead singer was there at church that day, but no one seemed to pay him much attention either because they didn't know him or because they thought they were better than he was. Back to the scenario; I said "FINE!" to my friend...who wasn't being much of a friend and seeing how mad he was about stuff happening at church he wasn't doing much to counteract the trend he so despised! I turned and headed back towards the sanctuary, for I hadn't caught up to my friend until he crossed the street. On the way back I noticed the outside of the building was a gas station with lots of people filling up their cars. I saw another guy from church sitting in his car. I literally flew across the street and waved to that guy while flying. When I landed I got a lot of disgusted looks for what seemed like me being white. I said hello and went back inside the sanctuary to grab my guitar, that still wasn't packed in its case. Upon entering the building one of the elders told me we had to get out soon and pointed to the group assembling behind us. I told him I still had to get my guitar so they'd have to let me in. I got back into the building and the guy who was in charge of the group function, just another lay-person from the church, stops me and says, "Hey we have this building until 4pm you gotta get moving!" I said "Look, I am getting my guitar." He says, "Take a chill-pill, goi!" When I got further in I realized it was a birthday party. They weren't going to let me in because of a birthday party?! Lame, I thought. It took me two seconds to get my guitar packed up and leave the place.

Another attempt at a video blog...

Please ENJOY this attempt at humor!! It was fun to make and took all of 15-20mins. This isn't really what i do at all...but in my head i do this from time to time!! Enjoy!!

Little Reminders

In my office i have hanging on the wall little reminders, reminders that tell me to say thank you to God for little things, big things and even in-between things. The reminders tell me to be thankful for other's big-small things and that there are others who, like me, forget from time to time and need reminders. Reminders of God's love, care, providence, leading, etc. Mostly reminders that God is still here still in charge and still leading. These are what a small group of people were thankful for on a particular Sunday, the small group of people was everyone who showed up to church that day. I love reading them and re-reading them. It reminds me to LOOK UP! It reminds me I'm not alone in my journey. It reminds be to be thankful for things that I forget to be thankful about. From the simple to the complex, from the weird to the straight-laced, the prayers go up daily and this wall reminds me of that. So I've put the wall up here so you can read it too and maybe be reminded as well!

HIS Peace!