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Tuesday, January 30, 2007: Last night, I was reading my normal chapter from the Old Testament, chapter from the New Testament, and chapter of Revelation. I have lately felt like God has been distant in my readings. I used to get some really great insights and understanding from the Holy Spirit after reading. Lately, I have felt like my relationship with God has been ritualistic and not the intimate friendship it was for the last couple of years back...not that I felt abandoned by God, but that He has not made his presence known in such intimate fashion as of late via reading. My prayers had become stale and repetitive, and seemingly unanswered in what to me are vital questions that I need answers to...guidance and such.
Well, I was finishing the Gospel of Luke, chapter 24 v. 51, "And it came to pass, while he (Jesus) blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven." when I noticed a cross-reference to Psalm 68:18, a prophetic verse about Jesus, which reads: "Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them."
When I read that I felt like God had reconnected that personal touch to our relationship because that verse answered one of the vital questions I had been seeking guidance on. THANK YOU, JESUS!!!!!!!!!!
Then I came across Psalm 142-144, which were of even more comfort to my soul. I really felt like God was still with me. And then I turned on the television and came across a new favorite "preacher" (more of an educator of Jesus and apostles' histories), the late Dr. Gene Scott. I got turned onto his show after I could not take my eyes off his widow Pastor Melissa Scott (until just now I thought she was his daughter, then I looked at their website http://www.drgenescott.org/ ). She is difficult to follow sometimes, but one of the most beautiful women to watch, and she sings well too. Dr. Gene Scott's presentation last night focused on Psalm 143, which was one of the above mentioned Psalms which I felt was God's way of comforting me and answering me at the same time. The show focusing on said verse just made that feeling even MORE substantial. THANK YOU, FATHER GOD, JESUS, AND HOLY SPIRIT!!!!!!!!
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Monday, January 29, 2007: Last Friday or Saturday on the job (I'm a handyman's assistant...the handyman is my pastor), we went to buy tin roofing for a room addition we are finishing up. The business is owned by a Christian, so when we went in the office to pay for the materials, on the counter was a business card that read, "Please take one with you" and beneath it was "The Resume of Jesus Christ". I thought that was really cool, and I'm sure this has probably been an email circulation, but I thought I'd post it anyway. Here are some pics of it:
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Thursday, January 11, 2007: Belated Happy New Year! Actually, I'm early for Chinese New Year and Muslim new year I think...maybe it's just Iranian new year...yeah, that might be it. Anyway, I am reconstructing the front page in hopes that I will better organize the clutter monster the blog has become...Thank you God for helping me find the search engine code!
I had an odd dream image from a week or so ago. I remember seeing about 5 or 7 railroad spike type "nails" that would be used in crucifixion. I remember that each one was in front of me, and each looked a little different from the others. Some looked nice and shiny, others old and worn, some with designs or unused, others plain or used. I think they were in a hand...not through a hand, but presented on the palm of a person's hand. Well, today I was working on a roof on a mosque, and I find this on the roof (I had been up there before and not seen this):
This is a much smaller version of what I dreamed, but it looks VERY much the same in shape. Weird that it manifested into my reality. This looks like a miniature railroad spike that I imagine is a smaller version of what pierced Jesus' hands or wrists in crucifixion. I keep wondering, should I be worrying???
Well, I have been very lax in my website duties, but vow to improve my postings, especially more scripturally relevant, spiritually important, and still fun stuff.
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This past Sunday for my words of exhortation by the ministers, I did a bit about the movie Run Lola Run, and how as a movie unlike others, it gives us a better idea of how far above OUR ways God's ways are. The Bible says that God's ways are so far above our ways, that "the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men" 1Corinthians 1:25 . What I mean is that most movies go in a linear fashion, or in the case of Pulp Fiction, a disjointed linear fashion...something happens, the characters react to situation, movie continues on that line of reaction to situations. In Run Lola Run, the first 20 minutes of the movie sets up the situation: Lola gets a frantic call from her boyfriend Manni stating that he lost the American equivalent of $60,000 of his mob boss's money and if she can't help him come up with that money in the next 20 minutes, he'd be a dead man. The movie then takes the viewer through 3 different versions of what happens in the next 20 minutes of their lives. What does that have to do with God's wisdom, or how his ways are so far above ours?
Well, Proverbs 5:21 tells us "The ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth all his goings." In the movie, the three different "next 20 minutes" result in drastic results for each of the characters involved (or encountered by Lola or Manni). The movie does a "photo flash forward" of each of the characters Lola or Manni encounters, showing what happens to each of them in the near and distant future. In each of the different 20 minute scenarios, the characters either end up going a certain way and getting mugged, but from that meeting their future wife, or in one or another character will die by the end of the 20 minutes. The point is that tiny little changes (like Lola tripping down the stairs at the start of the second 20 minute sequence) made her get to her dad's office (the only person she could think to rely on to come up with the $$, since he works at a bank) results in her walking in on her father in the middle of an argument with his mistress. This time her anger gets the better of her and she robs her dad's bank. In the first sequence she got there a little before the fight, but still walks in on her dad and his mistress talking, and he says he'll help her as he escorts her out in her confusion. Proverbs 14:12 says "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." In the first 2 sequences, it doesn't turn out well for neither Manni nor Lola. But in the third sequence things obviously come out the best way possible for everyone. Well, God has a plan for our lives and he wants our lives to be lived abundantly and fully. We can ONLY receive this kind of life when we are in line with His word and have a personal relationship with Him. He considers every possibility and outcome, and wants to give us those things we want and need (the Bible says "we have not because we ask not" (exact verse: James 4:2-4). The movie only considers 3 scenarios in the lives of a limited number of people and the variety of outcomes possible from simple and seemingly unimportant happenings...like someone stopping on your car to delay you long enough to avoid a fender bender (in the movie). God considers a multitude more possibilities for each and EVERY one of our lives...imagine the complexity of THAT!!! And he has our best interests at heart, so it's best to get in line with him.
A nice side-story in the movie is the character Mr. Meyer, as business associate of Lola's dad. In each of the 20 minute sequences this poor man gets in fender bender. In the first 2 sequences, Lola runs past his vehicle as he exits a parking garage, and distracted by her he ends up hitting the same white car...first time in the front broad-siding the car, and in the second broad-siding the rear of the same car. In the third sequence, Lola jumps stumbles onto his hood and stays long enough for Mr. Meyer to miss the car, get to her father on time to pick him up for a lunch meeting, thereby making Lola miss her dad entirely by the time she gets to his office at the bank. So, she finally gets it right and prays to God that he help her, saying she'll keep running and she'll leave it to God to stop her at the right place. On the way, a truck nearly runs her over, but sees her chance (I won't give it away, but don't try it if you see the movie). On her way back to Manni, an ambulance stops suddenly near her, and she hops in, only to discover Mr. Meyer inside and the paramedic frantic and unable to stabilize his condition or his vitals. Mr. Meyer extends his hand, and Lola takes it in her hands, sits there holding his hand looking him in the eyes. His vitals become slow and steady. The paramedic is astounded and relieved. Lola became Mr. Meyer's comforter. "Comforter" is another name for the Holy Spirit. This scene demonstrates healing touch, which is mentioned numerous times in the Bible (touch is usually a precursor to many healings in the Bible). Mark 1:39-45 is a perfect example, in which a leper showed his faith in Jesus by saying if he willed it Jesus could will that he (the leper) would become whole (healed). In this scene, Mr. Meyer didn't have faith in the paramedic, and he was undoubtedly afraid. Lola, because he knew her and she was with him was his comforter, and by touching him, he felt that comfort even more.
I challenged everyone to be more like God and consider the possible consequences of their actions or inactions (like not talking to people about Jesus and getting saved)...it could result in their death or the eternal loss of those peoples' souls. Also, I challenged them to be comforters to others. That is part of our duty...to comfort those that need comforting...just look at the parable of the good samaritan (Luke 10:30-37).
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Tuesday, December 19, 2006 (PART 2): Another clip from Clerks II. Got Christ? Boredom's the first step on the road to relapse, says Jay.