I’ve got these 2 dogs, KoKo is a hundred pound chocolate lab and Glock is a 75 pound black lab. They are extremely cute, but they are HUGE pains! They are extremely spoiled rotten, (it’s my wife’s fault I assure you). These 2 dogs are full of energy, in true lab fashion. There are certain things that really send them over the top, though. Playing fetch, wrestling/fighting with each other or me, going on walks, and even watching T.V. just to name a few. If the dogs even catch a glimpse of a swimming pool, pond, or lake, forget about it. We could have them tied to the bumper of our car, and they would drag the whole thing in just to get wet. Then, it takes almost an act of Congress to get them out of the water!
But, there are a few things that get them fired up just by saying a word. You can ask them, “You wanna eat?”, or “You wanna go for a walk?” and they will LOSE THEIR MINDS!!!! Especially KoKo. She will start spinning around in circles, barking, jumping up and down. She even does this little jump and wiggle move where she looks like a salmon swimming up stream. You know the video, the fish jumping out of the water trying to make it over little falls and rapids. They jump and wiggle trying to make it up stream to where they were born. Then they jump up right into the mouth of a expecting grizzly bear. Yeah, so picture a hundred pound lab, doing that jump about 2 and half feet off the ground, over and over again. All I have done is ask if they want to eat and start walking towards the food bin.
What causes them to go bananas like this? It is anticipation and expectation. They know that when I ask that question they are going to get fed. You would think they hadn’t eaten in about a year and half, but it’s only been a few hours. But the anticipation of the meal, and the expectation that I am not going to disappoint, has got them fired up. They can not contain themselves.
After seeing this for the last couple of years, something dawned on me the other day. In John chapter 14 Jesus told us,
1"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4You know the way to the place where I am going."
Remember what I said about KoKo and Glock and the lake? Well it is the same thing with the front door. If the doorbell rings or we open the door for someone, we have to hold the dogs back to keep them from running out front to go play. They get so excited about the thought of swimming or playing out front that they can’t contain their excitement. It should be the same way for us. We know that Jesus is in Heaven right now preparing a place for us at the table. He told us that it had to be true in verse 2 above. We know the way there, we know they are expecting us there, and we know it is going to be greater than we can ever imagine. Yet, nobody has to hold us back to keep from running out into the front yard of eternity.
This past weekend my wife and I went to the Love and Respect Marriage Conference at our church. It was amazing! If you get the chance to go, I suggest you do so. It will bless your marriage beyond your wildest imagination, but I digress. At the conference, the speaker, Dr. Emerson Eggerichs, talked about the ‘unending 1st moment’. You know the moment a child walks into the living room on Christmas morning, and he sees not only the bike he has been asking for all year, but also every toy and gift he could imagine? He or she might let out a gasp of excitement. That “HA” moment is something that we are going to experience over and over in heaven as we are amazed by the many awesome things about God’s nature we will discover for all of eternity. That is the ‘unending 1st moment’ that is waiting for us. We should be so stinking excited that even though our leashes are tied to the bumper of this world, we should be dragging it as we try to dive into the cool, deep, refreshing water of God’s glorious presence. Jesus should have to hold his hand up and tell us, “Not yet. Now get back and sit on the carpet. I’ll come and get you when it’s time.” Instead, for some of us we have become so comfortable that we almost dread getting to heaven.
As I have written before, and as Ted Dekker wrote in ‘The Slumber of Christianity’. The church of today has lost focus of the prize that awaits us at the end of this life. Look folks, in 2 Corinthians the 12th chapter, Paul tells us that he got to see paradise. He then goes on to talk about a messenger of Satan that God allowed to torment him when he started become proud of this revelation. He asked God 3 times to remove this “thorn in the flesh”, but God told him “My grace is sufficient. My power works best in weakness.” That’s all Paul had to hear. After seeing paradise, he was glad to endure his torment for the rest of his life knowing what was waiting on him on the other side.
Jesus told us that HE is preparing us a place in God’s house. I don’t know, but I bet Jesus is a pretty good carpenter. I can’t wait to see what is in store. I am pretty stinking excited. In fact I can hardly contain myself. I am at the front door of this life spinning in circles and making my, ahem… 175 pound self…..o.k. fine 200+ pound self, do the salmon jump, in anticipation to get out and into His beautiful swimming pool.
Showing posts with label Slumber. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Slumber. Show all posts
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Please R.S.V.P
Hello there. It’s been awhile, AGAIN! I am not very good at this being consistent thing. I have wanted to write for a while, but I am pretty busy with doing absolutely nothing. Of course, I have the wife and kids, and the whole saving lives thing, but other than that I don’t do much. I digress.
Originally, I have been planning on writing about something I was reading the other day in the book of Revelation. Now, I know that I am not an ‘expert’ in end-time prophesy, but something jumped out at me when reading about the 4 horsemen of the apocalypse (Revelation 6). Those of you that know me, or have spent about 30 minutes with me, know that I love to talk about politics and religion. People will say that you’re not supposed to talk about either one of those at work or in general, but like a radio program called “Politics & Religion” says, ‘Politics determine how we live here on Earth, religion determines how we will live for eternity.’ So I tend to talk about these two issues quite a bit, and I get quite passionate about both. So, naturally, I was going to write about what I read. Before you jump the gun, I was not going to write that I think Obama is the ‘Anti-Christ’ that is prophesied about in the Bible. It was about things that are going on in the world and how I think they kind of possibly may come close to resembling some things in the sixth chapter of Revelation, but then I feel God laid something else on my heart.
No, this morning I felt like God spoke to me. This is what He said, “It doesn’t matter.”
That’s right, it doesn’t matter. It does not freaking matter one iota. God does not care about politics. He does not care who is President of the United States. He does not care who really won the election in Iran, or that North Korea may try to blow up Hawaii soon. He just doesn’t care, and don’t think He wants us to care either. Let me explain.
See, I just finished a book called “The Slumber of Christianity”. It was written by Ted Dekker, who is my favorite author. I recommend any of his books. He is mostly a fiction writer, but this is his only non-fiction so far. It is very good. In ‘Slumber’ he talks about how Christianity as a whole and the ‘church’ has fallen into a slumber. He thinks we have lost focus.
We as the church have started to focus on the here and now. We are focused on making life better for us and those around us now. Many churches are preaching about ‘health and wealth’. They are teaching that Jesus wants us as believers to be healthy and wealthy. They are telling non-believers that when you give your life to Christ, things get better. They may not say that when you become a Christian that you will automatically become this super blessed person and you will basically be moving to Sesame Street, but they are close to saying it. Some will go as far to preach the ‘health and wealth’ or ‘name it, claim it’ ideologies. Again, I am not saying that every single church in the galaxy, every preacher under the sun, and every single Christian has strayed off of the path to salvation, but we are looking at life a little differently.
Like I said before, God does not care about politics. He does not get caught up in the things that we do. He has one thing on His mind, and that is Heaven. What I mean by that is He is only concerned about us living with Him in Heaven for eternity. He does not want us to get our hope from our lives or our world in the now. He wants us to get our hope from Him and our lives everlasting after this world.
Dekker talks in the book about the earliest Christians in the Bible. They talked about the kingdom of God and all of His glory. They got their hope and joy from knowing what was waiting for them on the other side. They still got joy out of the lives that they lived, but because they knew what they were doing was for the prize ahead. Paul was a man who got a glimpse of God’s glory. He walked through life with the end in mind. He suffered more than we can imagine, yet because of the hope that was rooted in heaven he considered it all good. Several of the writers used the comparison of a runner running a race. They said that the runners ran for the prize at the end of the race. It wasn’t about the race, or the road, scenery, crowd, none of that. It was about the prize at the end of the race.
That is what God wants us to worry about. He is planning this party that is going to last forever at His house when it is all said and done. He is putting out billions and billions of invitations for us humans to come to the party. We just have to accept that invitation.
This was supposed to be a short writing, but we all know I tend to ramble. I apologize for that. I just get fired up and like to talk about this stuff. If you get the chance, check out ‘The Slumber of Christianity’ by Ted Dekker. Also, you read Blessed Child by Ted as well. It does a great job of painting a picture of God’s glory. I tend to need a visual of that glory to keep me rooted. Ted’s books do a great job of doing that. I can give a list of books to read if anyone is interested. Here is an invitation for the party God has planned, for those of you that also need something visual. Enjoy. Take care, and I hope to see you there!!!!
You are invited to the party of a lifetime. It is being held at God’s mansion in Heaven. The party will begin right after your life. There will be plenty of the best food that Heaven has to offer. All you can drink from God’s spirit. There will be live music from the ‘Hosts of Heaven’. Dancing, laughing, fellowship, and an all round good time is guaranteed. The cover charge has already been paid. Come as you are. Please R.S.V.P sometime before you die; the sooner the better. There is plenty of room and board available to please bring all of your friends and family as well. You will NOT be disappointed.
To R.S.V.P simply say this: Jesus I want to come to your party. I want you to be the Lord of my life. Please come into my heart and make me whole. Thank you for dying for me and forgiving me. Take control of my mind and draw me close to you. Thank you.
Life may not be easy all the time. Just keep this invitation in mind. See you at the party!!!
I know it’s cheesy, but it’s true. If you prayed that prayer for the first time or to recommit again, Congrats!!!! There is already a party going on just for you accepting the invitation. I would like to know who all has. IF and again I say IF you feel comfortable, please let me know that you have answered the call. I want to celebrate with you and I want to pray for you. That is all. Send me a message or comment on here. I won’t broadcast your name or send you anything, I am just curious. You might want to get yourself a Bible so you can start reading and getting familiar with this new life of yours and the life that waits. Please feel free to comment, complain, ask questions, or ask for prayer requests. I am always looking to talk. Take care and God Bless!!!
Jason
Originally, I have been planning on writing about something I was reading the other day in the book of Revelation. Now, I know that I am not an ‘expert’ in end-time prophesy, but something jumped out at me when reading about the 4 horsemen of the apocalypse (Revelation 6). Those of you that know me, or have spent about 30 minutes with me, know that I love to talk about politics and religion. People will say that you’re not supposed to talk about either one of those at work or in general, but like a radio program called “Politics & Religion” says, ‘Politics determine how we live here on Earth, religion determines how we will live for eternity.’ So I tend to talk about these two issues quite a bit, and I get quite passionate about both. So, naturally, I was going to write about what I read. Before you jump the gun, I was not going to write that I think Obama is the ‘Anti-Christ’ that is prophesied about in the Bible. It was about things that are going on in the world and how I think they kind of possibly may come close to resembling some things in the sixth chapter of Revelation, but then I feel God laid something else on my heart.
No, this morning I felt like God spoke to me. This is what He said, “It doesn’t matter.”
That’s right, it doesn’t matter. It does not freaking matter one iota. God does not care about politics. He does not care who is President of the United States. He does not care who really won the election in Iran, or that North Korea may try to blow up Hawaii soon. He just doesn’t care, and don’t think He wants us to care either. Let me explain.
See, I just finished a book called “The Slumber of Christianity”. It was written by Ted Dekker, who is my favorite author. I recommend any of his books. He is mostly a fiction writer, but this is his only non-fiction so far. It is very good. In ‘Slumber’ he talks about how Christianity as a whole and the ‘church’ has fallen into a slumber. He thinks we have lost focus.
We as the church have started to focus on the here and now. We are focused on making life better for us and those around us now. Many churches are preaching about ‘health and wealth’. They are teaching that Jesus wants us as believers to be healthy and wealthy. They are telling non-believers that when you give your life to Christ, things get better. They may not say that when you become a Christian that you will automatically become this super blessed person and you will basically be moving to Sesame Street, but they are close to saying it. Some will go as far to preach the ‘health and wealth’ or ‘name it, claim it’ ideologies. Again, I am not saying that every single church in the galaxy, every preacher under the sun, and every single Christian has strayed off of the path to salvation, but we are looking at life a little differently.
Like I said before, God does not care about politics. He does not get caught up in the things that we do. He has one thing on His mind, and that is Heaven. What I mean by that is He is only concerned about us living with Him in Heaven for eternity. He does not want us to get our hope from our lives or our world in the now. He wants us to get our hope from Him and our lives everlasting after this world.
Dekker talks in the book about the earliest Christians in the Bible. They talked about the kingdom of God and all of His glory. They got their hope and joy from knowing what was waiting for them on the other side. They still got joy out of the lives that they lived, but because they knew what they were doing was for the prize ahead. Paul was a man who got a glimpse of God’s glory. He walked through life with the end in mind. He suffered more than we can imagine, yet because of the hope that was rooted in heaven he considered it all good. Several of the writers used the comparison of a runner running a race. They said that the runners ran for the prize at the end of the race. It wasn’t about the race, or the road, scenery, crowd, none of that. It was about the prize at the end of the race.
That is what God wants us to worry about. He is planning this party that is going to last forever at His house when it is all said and done. He is putting out billions and billions of invitations for us humans to come to the party. We just have to accept that invitation.
This was supposed to be a short writing, but we all know I tend to ramble. I apologize for that. I just get fired up and like to talk about this stuff. If you get the chance, check out ‘The Slumber of Christianity’ by Ted Dekker. Also, you read Blessed Child by Ted as well. It does a great job of painting a picture of God’s glory. I tend to need a visual of that glory to keep me rooted. Ted’s books do a great job of doing that. I can give a list of books to read if anyone is interested. Here is an invitation for the party God has planned, for those of you that also need something visual. Enjoy. Take care, and I hope to see you there!!!!
You are invited to the party of a lifetime. It is being held at God’s mansion in Heaven. The party will begin right after your life. There will be plenty of the best food that Heaven has to offer. All you can drink from God’s spirit. There will be live music from the ‘Hosts of Heaven’. Dancing, laughing, fellowship, and an all round good time is guaranteed. The cover charge has already been paid. Come as you are. Please R.S.V.P sometime before you die; the sooner the better. There is plenty of room and board available to please bring all of your friends and family as well. You will NOT be disappointed.
To R.S.V.P simply say this: Jesus I want to come to your party. I want you to be the Lord of my life. Please come into my heart and make me whole. Thank you for dying for me and forgiving me. Take control of my mind and draw me close to you. Thank you.
Life may not be easy all the time. Just keep this invitation in mind. See you at the party!!!
I know it’s cheesy, but it’s true. If you prayed that prayer for the first time or to recommit again, Congrats!!!! There is already a party going on just for you accepting the invitation. I would like to know who all has. IF and again I say IF you feel comfortable, please let me know that you have answered the call. I want to celebrate with you and I want to pray for you. That is all. Send me a message or comment on here. I won’t broadcast your name or send you anything, I am just curious. You might want to get yourself a Bible so you can start reading and getting familiar with this new life of yours and the life that waits. Please feel free to comment, complain, ask questions, or ask for prayer requests. I am always looking to talk. Take care and God Bless!!!
Jason
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