Logan, the Sky Angel Cowboy

From a young man who cared...

The Journey Together: Continued

I will take a chance here with a commercial that captures a big idea, are we creators...or created?
Are we masters of our destiny, or products of our journey,

Does God place the flowers around us, by accident?

What is a journey? A journey is not a trip. It’s not a vacation. It’s a process.
A Discovery It’s a process of self discovery A journey brings us face to face
with ourselves A journey shows us not only the world, But how we fit in Does the
person create the journey Or does the journey create the person The journey is
life itself. Where will life take you?

I thought about my friends at home while on a journey yesterday with a sales team that had gone through "sales boot camp" together about a year ago. Last night I was asked to tag along as they went out for dinner (about 10 folks).

I got into a conversation with one of them ( a guy named Kevin) and found out that the boot camp experience had forged them into a team...they learned to trust each other for help as they struggled with daily problems. None of them was viewed as the local expert, but peers who had different experiences in life, and cared about each other. That night it was interesting to see how much they were able to enjoy each other's company, a very close knit group.

This rookie sales team came in second in the nation in sales performance, beating teams who had been around for 5, 10 15 years, and get to go on a trip to the Bahams in a few weeks to celebrate. What a picture of what God can do among people that work together, not out of knowledge or deep experience, but out of difficulty and common concern for each other.

From the heart of a sojourner:

20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear 21 so that I return safely to my father's house, then the LORD will be my God 22 and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God's house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth."

Costa Rica: A Mission Possible

The team leaving for Costa Rica on February 29th, joining Dan Salas
Ministries. Katy, Amanda, DJ, Brad, Jose, Lisa, Scott and Anita along with Bill and Linda (not pictured).

"God isn't looking for people of great faith, but for individuals ready to follow Him."
Hudson Taylor

"God's work done in God's way will never lack God's supply."
Hudson Taylor

"If a commission by an earthly king is considered a honor, how can a commission by a Heavenly King be considered sacrifice?"
David Livingstone

"my heart be broken with the things that break God's heart."
Bob Pierce

"No reserves. No retreats. No regrets."
William Borden

"He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose."
Jim Elliot

"You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving."
Amy Carmichael

Reading these quotes reminded me of the presidential race, when the suppoters of one candidate were described as talented, but those of his opponent were inspired to the point of AUDACITY: That they had to win in order to change the world. How much more should each of us feel audacious about the hope that Jesus brings to our lives, those around us...and those in other lands. Lord increase our faith.

Pray for .....
1.... God's favor with those we minister to
2.... daily logistics of travel and health
3.... God's supply for the missionaries, leaders, and Christians we will be ministering with
4.... team members
5.... God to set-up "divine appointments" for us with key people He wants us to encourage and minister to
6.… that God will provide for all our needs, and those on our team
7.... creative ideas, and for the Lord to show us particular people to
share our need with
8....strength and wisdom to stand against the attacks Satan will bring to discourage us or hinder our ministry
9. Rejoice over the opportunity to share Jesus with the nations

If you want to track our trip, you can check in here,
our Google group.

If you want updates e-mailed automatically, you can check
out Scott's Blog, he has a sign up.

Joshua. A good name

In the reading the New Testament during the NT challenge in January, one thing that really stood out to me is the repeated use and high honor given in the phrase "the name of Jesus". As a result, people believe, do miracles, communicate with God, and gain a new identity (In Christ, IN the name of Jesus we pray). What is so powerful?

The name Jesus has no intrinsic meaning in English whatsoever....It is most proper to call Him Yeshua. It was indeed his proper name, given to him by his parents, and only in Hebrew does this name have any meaning. In Hebrew Yeshua means both "Salvation," and the concatenated form of Yahoshua is "Lord who is Salvation."

Yaho-shua

The LORD saves
The LORD (is) salvation
LORD (is) a saving-cry
LORD (is) a cry-for-saving
LORD (is) a cry-for-help
LORD (is) my help

Salvation....really? Made right with God. Really? What if its true. How would we live differently if we really believed completely that we were on speaking terms the creator of the universe, as in the beginning like the Garden of Eden? Or like the shepherd-king David, who writes "my light and my salvation". In both cases we an identification and fellowship with the LORD. A conversation with God that recognizes our need for him.

A Cry for Help.

Joshua of Nun, who delivered the Israelites into the promised land had the same name. He must have cried from the wilderness for protection from the elements, from the Cannanites, for Moses, for the land given to his ancestors, for his people. He had plenty of clarity about his need for and fellowship with God.

Joshua. A good name, our hope, destination, journey, and importantly ...our identity.

• The Name of Jesus & the Name of God
• Names and titles of Jesus in the New Testament

'jaws of life' to free boy

Created: 2/4/2008 2:40:39 PM
Updated:2/4/2008 6:59:26 PM

Play Video for Vic Gideon's story
DOVER -- What may have seemed like a good idea to a Tuscarawas County boy turned into a rescue using the "jaws of life" after the child became stuck in a washing machine Sunday night.
Four-year-old Donovan Hasseman climbed into the washer and ended up becoming trapped with his back stuck up against the agitator."I was petrified," says his mother Jennifer Hasseman. "I didn't know what to do. I was beside myself."Donovan's mother called 9-1-1 when she couldn't get the boy out of the washing machine. Firefighters then worked for half an hour to free the boy. At one point firefighters enlisted the help of a local appliance repairman for advice.In the end, firefighters used the "jaws of life," a piece of equipment normally used to extract accident victims trapped in wreckage. Firefighters used the "jaws of life" to cut through the walls of the washer to create enough space to get Donovan out.On Monday, Donovan was treated to a tour of a Dover fire station and was given a ride in a fire truck. "From the situation they were in, they were pretty helpless and trapped and to see him play like a regular kid, that's a pretty good feeling," says Dover Fire Department Captain Brooks Ross."I owe them my son's life," says Jennifer.The family did lose their wash machine in the rescue."One of the questions was,'Do you think you repair that?'" joked Jim Gibbs of Jim Gibbs TV & Appliances, who was giving the firemen advice on freeing him. "I said, I could have before you guys started on it!"Despite the ordeal Donovan was not hurt. He was taken to the hospital as a precaution and was released. The boy was given a stuffed bear which the family has since named "Agitator."

http://www.wkyc.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=82634&provider=gnews

Do you have a rescue story?...maybe you should.

Gratitude is the natural response.

Lifehouse

I was reminded by a friend the other day of a very special video, and there are not many. This one does justice to the rescue and the Love that Jesus has for us.

Adventure or inconvenience ?

An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered.


An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered.



GK Chesterton
(1874 - 1936)

A few more from GK...
I believe in getting into hot water; it keeps you clean.

The Bible tells us to love our neighbors, and also to love our enemies; probably because they are generally the same people.

Where is the other penny?

A penny for your thoughts.
Here is my two cents worth.... Where is the other penny?

Could this the answer to the riddle?
It is taken by the one who asked the question, and turned into 30 other questions, answers and flow of ideas and relationships. (Jn 12:24, Matthew 13:23)
If so, it is better not to get both your pennies back.

Nehemiah's Compassionate God brings them home

A brother offerred to fast for me, to set the captives free....this is what he found: a compassionate God that returns his love, time after time despite the treachery of his people. He does not abandon them, but delivers them to their neighbors. And when they are oppressed and call out to him, he delivers them. Upon their return to from exile, they declare to not neglect the house of the Lord, bringing oil, wine and bread to those who serve.

What does this mean? Being created in the image of God I am to Love those that rebel against me. Not abandoning yet yeilding my desires, and handing them over to their neighbors. Making ready for the day of rescue, as with a salted conversation, when they choose to listen.

Being on both ends of that gift, I owe a debt of gratitude to God who has rescued me, of grain wine and oil, especially to the ministering priests, gatekeepers and singers. Don't we all?

Nehemiah 9:17 They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles
you performed
among them. They became stiff-necked and in their rebellion
appointed a leader
in order to return to their slavery. But you are a
forgiving God, gracious and
compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in
love. Therefore you did not desert
them,

19 "Because of your great
compassion you did not abandon them in the
desert..

27 So you handed them over to their enemies, who oppressed
them. But when they were oppressed they cried out to you.
From heaven you heard them, and in your great compassion you gave them
deliverers, who rescued them from the hand of their enemies.

31 But in
your great mercy you did not put an end to them or abandon them, for you are a
gracious and merciful God.31 But in your great mercy you did not put an end to
them or abandon them, for you are a gracious
and merciful God.

28 "But as soon as they were at rest, they again did
what was evil in your sight. Then you abandoned them to the hand of their
enemies so that they ruled over them. And when they cried out to
you again, you heard from heaven, and in your compassion you delivered
them time after time.

31 But in your great mercy you did not put an end to them or abandon them, for you are a gracious and merciful God.

33 In all that has happened to us, you have been just; you have acted faithfully, while we did wrong.

36 "But see, we are slaves today, slaves in the land you gave our forefathers so they could eat its fruit and the other good things it produces. 37 Because of our sins, its abundant harvest goes to the kings you have placed over us. They rule over our bodies and our cattle as they please. We are in great distress.


Then Nehemiah 10....
.......39 The people of Israel, including the Levites, are to bring their contributions of grain, new wine and oil to the storerooms where the articles for the sanctuary are kept and where the ministering priests, the gatekeepers and the singers stay. "We will not neglect the house of our God."

Chris Hammer-Hodges writes ...the thing that spoke to me from the [Joel 2] was the great promise of abundant blessing: "I am sending you grain, new wine and oil, enough to satisfy you fully." Grain speaks of financial or material blessing (Lk 17:35 Lk 12:18, 2Co 9:10, 1Ti 5:18 etc) Wine speaks of the joy of life (Ps 4:7, Jer 48:33, Ecc9:7 etc) and oil speaks of the anointing of the Spirit (1Sa 16:13, Isa 61:1 etc, etc) It is thus a reflection of God's will to abundantly bless every area of our lives: materially, emotionally, and spiritually.

The Journey Together

The Road goes ever on and onDown from the door where it began.Now far ahead the Road has gone,And I must follow, if I can,Pursuing it with eager feet,Until it joins some larger wayWhere many paths and errands meetAnd whither then? I cannot say.
- J. R. R. Tolkien


There is so much more to discover in this journey we are
taking. More of the beauty of the Gospel to unveil. More of your own story
to uncover and understand. More wisdom for the road. More cunning for the
Battle.

Shamelessly "borrowed" from the John Elderidge site about the ransomed heart, but so appropriate after a day on a hike at Eagle Creek with my family, where we wandered off the trail, but then found where others had been, then off the trail again, until we came to a mystical place where the river was frozen and we could hear the ice give under our feet, but not break. The snow glistened iridescently in the sun, and the none of the paths and creeks followed the line of sight(the way a man builds a road), but the line of the land. A place where one could simply be....and be together with others, marveling over His creation and the journey.