Other than turn it on and get ready, this is the only thing that I have done on my computer. And it is because I have just come to realize (and it is just the very beginning) how truly awesome God is!
As humans we honestly cannot even begin to realize this. We cannot even think that He could know and be involved in each persons life, but He can and is!
He hears each and every prayer and He will be there at judgment knowing what each of us has done. And yes this is far more than we can begin to understand or know how to do, but He does it!
I just finished breakfast and as of this morning my roommate has left for a few days to help his father move in San Francisco, and some things have happened in my life recently that had me scared and I (honestly) didn’t even want to be out of bed let alone eat breakfast and begin a very busy day. No, I was scared!
But breakfast went well, even though I spilled milk all over the table! Yes, I did and I even cleaned it all up. And I have got to be honest-that was the WORST thing that could have happened! But it is all cleaned up now. How? I did it! How? The only way I could. Why? I can only know for a fact the Lord helped me! How do I know that? Because everything and I mean everything was against me but it happened!
So you can begin to KNOW that the Lord is there!
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Friday, September 12, 2008
I’m not so important anymore
Before my injury I used to always think and ponder Is this going to satisfy me? And if I thought that it would then I would do it. I was very intelligent and always had an excellent job and made a lot of money. Yes, I was satisfied. But, there could always something else that could be better. That’s why I interviewed for a job in France and for Microsoft and Starbucks. I always looked to satisfy me.
Now, I don’t do that. One thing that’s different is that I have a Traumatic Brain Injury (among other things) and I cannot work. So I’m no longer viewed as a Genius. Do I still have a brain? Yes. But can I use it? Yes I do, but the most vital thing that Jesus has taught me is that there are other human beings that are more important than I am. I would never have realized that on my own and I am very thankful for that understanding.
Think about it. Really think about that. This world always, and I mean always, tells you that you are #1 and that how you view things and that is the deciding factor for all decision making. You, you, you. But, surprise! It’s not really that way!
That’s why Salvation is so important to people. We view it as the one, most important thing that you can do for yourself. Well, surprise! Jesus did that for you. He did something that you couldn’t do for yourself! If you can understand that, then this should begin to make sense to you.
Everyone else is more important than I am. I could be wrong, but I believe that that is why Jesus came here to this Earth. Read this:
John 1:1-5
1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning.
3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.
NIV
Phil 2:6
6 Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
NIV
Are you beginning to see what I’m saying? If Jesus was always looking out for Himself (#1), then we wouldn’t have these scriptures, but we do. And we’ve got to realize this: Jesus, our Savior and our God, didn’t think of Himself, no He thought of others FIRST! Most importantly He thought of YOU!
So with you out of the way (which I have experienced), all of the sudden everything is about OTHER PEOPLE. Are thy happy? What God given gift do YOU have to satisfy OTHERS? Many times they are your brothers and sisters, so you are responsible for THEM!
Now your entire focus is changed! Things are no longer about you, things are about them! And you’re a human with some God given gifts so think like He did. If He didn’t consider that equality with God was something to hold on to so He came to save you, and you possess Him, then you should be reaching out to others.
It didn’t matter to Him what people were or what they were going to become-He came! Do you see? It wasn’t about Him, no it was about us. And if He lives in us (which He does) then that’s how we should be.
Before my injury I used to always think and ponder Is this going to satisfy me? And if I thought that it would then I would do it. I was very intelligent and always had an excellent job and made a lot of money. Yes, I was satisfied. But, there could always something else that could be better. That’s why I interviewed for a job in France and for Microsoft and Starbucks. I always looked to satisfy me.
Now, I don’t do that. One thing that’s different is that I have a Traumatic Brain Injury (among other things) and I cannot work. So I’m no longer viewed as a Genius. Do I still have a brain? Yes. But can I use it? Yes I do, but the most vital thing that Jesus has taught me is that there are other human beings that are more important than I am. I would never have realized that on my own and I am very thankful for that understanding.
Think about it. Really think about that. This world always, and I mean always, tells you that you are #1 and that how you view things and that is the deciding factor for all decision making. You, you, you. But, surprise! It’s not really that way!
That’s why Salvation is so important to people. We view it as the one, most important thing that you can do for yourself. Well, surprise! Jesus did that for you. He did something that you couldn’t do for yourself! If you can understand that, then this should begin to make sense to you.
Everyone else is more important than I am. I could be wrong, but I believe that that is why Jesus came here to this Earth. Read this:
John 1:1-5
1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning.
3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.
NIV
Phil 2:6
6 Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
NIV
Are you beginning to see what I’m saying? If Jesus was always looking out for Himself (#1), then we wouldn’t have these scriptures, but we do. And we’ve got to realize this: Jesus, our Savior and our God, didn’t think of Himself, no He thought of others FIRST! Most importantly He thought of YOU!
So with you out of the way (which I have experienced), all of the sudden everything is about OTHER PEOPLE. Are thy happy? What God given gift do YOU have to satisfy OTHERS? Many times they are your brothers and sisters, so you are responsible for THEM!
Now your entire focus is changed! Things are no longer about you, things are about them! And you’re a human with some God given gifts so think like He did. If He didn’t consider that equality with God was something to hold on to so He came to save you, and you possess Him, then you should be reaching out to others.
It didn’t matter to Him what people were or what they were going to become-He came! Do you see? It wasn’t about Him, no it was about us. And if He lives in us (which He does) then that’s how we should be.
Monday, September 8, 2008
God is very good
You know, if you haven’t thought about this, I have and you should.
God is very good.
When I got hurt, my brain stem was completely severed. The normal thing for someone is death. In fact the doctor’s said: He’s either going to die or he’ll be a vegetable all of his life, but I lived and not just lived but I lived well.
Even though I was extremely sinful when I was hurt, my wife came from Virginia to Seattle, Washington and saw me and wouldn’t turn the life saving devices off, called everyone and stayed 6 whole weeks for the trial, was badly shocked at me and very hurt but she didn’t divorce me.
And now she has moved from Virginia to California. All of this while she had an adult son who is Developmentally Delayed and has ADHD. She is Bipolar and an alcoholic. My adult son has many disorders. And our adopted adult son is Educably Mentally Retarded. Was God involved in this? Well, you figure it out. 1+1 does not equal 2, so obviously yes.
And now there’s no Conservator or Board & Care. No, I actually live in an apartment and have a roommate who I am helping. And I am trying to start a ministry. Do I love God? Oh yes I do! With my body, my soul, mind, strength and spirit!
Do you understand how far I’ve come? God has to have been involved because in view of what initially happened according to mankind, I should be dead or at best a vegetable. But I’m not dead and I’m not a vegetable.
God is very good.
You know, if you haven’t thought about this, I have and you should.
God is very good.
When I got hurt, my brain stem was completely severed. The normal thing for someone is death. In fact the doctor’s said: He’s either going to die or he’ll be a vegetable all of his life, but I lived and not just lived but I lived well.
Even though I was extremely sinful when I was hurt, my wife came from Virginia to Seattle, Washington and saw me and wouldn’t turn the life saving devices off, called everyone and stayed 6 whole weeks for the trial, was badly shocked at me and very hurt but she didn’t divorce me.
And now she has moved from Virginia to California. All of this while she had an adult son who is Developmentally Delayed and has ADHD. She is Bipolar and an alcoholic. My adult son has many disorders. And our adopted adult son is Educably Mentally Retarded. Was God involved in this? Well, you figure it out. 1+1 does not equal 2, so obviously yes.
And now there’s no Conservator or Board & Care. No, I actually live in an apartment and have a roommate who I am helping. And I am trying to start a ministry. Do I love God? Oh yes I do! With my body, my soul, mind, strength and spirit!
Do you understand how far I’ve come? God has to have been involved because in view of what initially happened according to mankind, I should be dead or at best a vegetable. But I’m not dead and I’m not a vegetable.
God is very good.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
My opinion?
I received a comment from my BLOG saying: Do you always have to be right?
So I thought that I should tell you this. When I get an idea or even a thought about something the very first thing that I do is research it in the Bible. And sometimes I will find out something that I didn’t know!
And that’s ok! I do tell you when that happens. My ultimate goal is to share the gospel with you, so I send it out to you and publish it.
So everyone can see the topic, the research and the results. So it is not a matter of opinion, it is fact and I explain scripturally why it is there! And when (not before) I have thoroughly researched it and believe it meets my goal of sharing the gospel, then and only then do I send it out and publish it in my BLOG.
It is not a matter of my opinion.
I received a comment from my BLOG saying: Do you always have to be right?
So I thought that I should tell you this. When I get an idea or even a thought about something the very first thing that I do is research it in the Bible. And sometimes I will find out something that I didn’t know!
And that’s ok! I do tell you when that happens. My ultimate goal is to share the gospel with you, so I send it out to you and publish it.
So everyone can see the topic, the research and the results. So it is not a matter of opinion, it is fact and I explain scripturally why it is there! And when (not before) I have thoroughly researched it and believe it meets my goal of sharing the gospel, then and only then do I send it out and publish it in my BLOG.
It is not a matter of my opinion.
Disassociate
There have been some questions on this, so I decided to make it clear. And since society views the dictionary as the Bible of words, I will use that to further explain my point and I am using Webster’s dictionary.
According to it, Dis means no longer.
Therefore, according to the dictionary, Associate means: Associate: to join in companionship or partnership, or To connect in thought.
And in like manner Disassociate means to no longer join in the explanation of associate.
Therefore when a Church disassociates itself from a member, in effect that group as a group will no longer join in companionship or partnership and they do not connect in thought with a member.
Now, I can only imagine that this is the case when people cannot get along but that’s why Jesus was here—we were sinners and did not, would not and could not agree with God the Father’s way. Thus we were forever separated from Him.
But, to remedy this situation for US, God sent His son to die for us on the cross and then to rise up from death to show us clearly that there IS life after human death!
And, as a human He NEVER disassociated Himself from anyone, there is not even one scriptural example of Him doing that. And WE ARE HIS BODY IN THIS LIFE, and so we should do the same thing!
But we don’t. We cut them off and have nothing to do with them. People criticized Jesus for hanging around with sinners and He said “I didn’t come for those who are well, I came for the sick”. So, as His body, we have to understand that and follow that.
I agree that this is a step way beyond where we are as humans. But Jesus was a human too when He came to this Earth and He did it, so SO CAN YOU.
Talk about something being “Out of the box”, Jesus went “Out of the box” and we celebrate what He did and He lives in us. He wasn’t concerned with what society thought, no He was there for them and so are we!
There have been some questions on this, so I decided to make it clear. And since society views the dictionary as the Bible of words, I will use that to further explain my point and I am using Webster’s dictionary.
According to it, Dis means no longer.
Therefore, according to the dictionary, Associate means: Associate: to join in companionship or partnership, or To connect in thought.
And in like manner Disassociate means to no longer join in the explanation of associate.
Therefore when a Church disassociates itself from a member, in effect that group as a group will no longer join in companionship or partnership and they do not connect in thought with a member.
Now, I can only imagine that this is the case when people cannot get along but that’s why Jesus was here—we were sinners and did not, would not and could not agree with God the Father’s way. Thus we were forever separated from Him.
But, to remedy this situation for US, God sent His son to die for us on the cross and then to rise up from death to show us clearly that there IS life after human death!
And, as a human He NEVER disassociated Himself from anyone, there is not even one scriptural example of Him doing that. And WE ARE HIS BODY IN THIS LIFE, and so we should do the same thing!
But we don’t. We cut them off and have nothing to do with them. People criticized Jesus for hanging around with sinners and He said “I didn’t come for those who are well, I came for the sick”. So, as His body, we have to understand that and follow that.
I agree that this is a step way beyond where we are as humans. But Jesus was a human too when He came to this Earth and He did it, so SO CAN YOU.
Talk about something being “Out of the box”, Jesus went “Out of the box” and we celebrate what He did and He lives in us. He wasn’t concerned with what society thought, no He was there for them and so are we!
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Sometimes I do stupid things…
I don’t mean to…I think that things are just fine, but I tend to sometimes forget that there are risks.
One time in Occupational Therapy this woman had me actually standing up alone and playing a game at a table and she was clear across the table from me. Now that wasn’t safe, but at that time I didn’t know.
Well, the next second I found myself laying on a mat with a pillow and a rag under my head and they had called an ambulance.
I had no idea of what had happened, but obviously something had. As I am told, I was standing up and all of the sudden I fell down and hit my head on something so it bleeding and that is why they had called an ambulance.
I ended up having to get 3 staples in my head. And I never had any pain. Obviously it wasn’t a safe situation for me to be standing alone and playing a game, but hindsight didn’t allow me not to get the staples in my head.
So I should have known that I was not to be trusted, but no, no, no! I’m a proud 50 year old man! And last night (because I had figured out how to do it) I took a shower without telling my roommate. This was and is a problem for me because sure I had figured out how to do it but that doesn’t mean that I can and will do it!
I could have fallen or worse and no one would have known! I have got to think out the possible risks and start asking for someone’s help in prescience or assistance! But that’s hard for me to do because although I live this life in a wheelchair, I don’t realize that I am crippled or handicapped.
If something needs to happen, I just figure out how to do it and then do it! I’ve got to stop that and think about and plan for the risks. I’m not in a facility anymore! This is an apartment, and if I want to keep living then I’m going to have to start telling others what I am doing!
I have probably never done that, so this is new, necessary but new. And it’s not going to be easy, but I have to do it.
I don’t mean to…I think that things are just fine, but I tend to sometimes forget that there are risks.
One time in Occupational Therapy this woman had me actually standing up alone and playing a game at a table and she was clear across the table from me. Now that wasn’t safe, but at that time I didn’t know.
Well, the next second I found myself laying on a mat with a pillow and a rag under my head and they had called an ambulance.
I had no idea of what had happened, but obviously something had. As I am told, I was standing up and all of the sudden I fell down and hit my head on something so it bleeding and that is why they had called an ambulance.
I ended up having to get 3 staples in my head. And I never had any pain. Obviously it wasn’t a safe situation for me to be standing alone and playing a game, but hindsight didn’t allow me not to get the staples in my head.
So I should have known that I was not to be trusted, but no, no, no! I’m a proud 50 year old man! And last night (because I had figured out how to do it) I took a shower without telling my roommate. This was and is a problem for me because sure I had figured out how to do it but that doesn’t mean that I can and will do it!
I could have fallen or worse and no one would have known! I have got to think out the possible risks and start asking for someone’s help in prescience or assistance! But that’s hard for me to do because although I live this life in a wheelchair, I don’t realize that I am crippled or handicapped.
If something needs to happen, I just figure out how to do it and then do it! I’ve got to stop that and think about and plan for the risks. I’m not in a facility anymore! This is an apartment, and if I want to keep living then I’m going to have to start telling others what I am doing!
I have probably never done that, so this is new, necessary but new. And it’s not going to be easy, but I have to do it.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
To “Withdraw”
Let me start this document by telling you that the human man who is writing this to you was (this is from what I’ve been told because I don’t remember a thing-nothing) living an extremely sinful life 8 years ago. And any Church would have withdrawn from me, And another shocker is that my wife didn’t divorce me and my kids still love me and to top it off (it seems impossible) the one who made my brain stem in the first place came and healed my completely severed brain stem—thus I lived! Now that’s a miracle!
I didn’t deserve it! No, just the opposite! So, you bet, I’m grateful! Yes and so things like this topic, while you may not agree, it’s so simple and normal for me because I’ve been blessed and now I want to bless you!
A “short” description of this would be for a group to disassociate itself from a member; therefore that member is no longer a part of that group and the members of that group are not to have any contact with that person or persons.
According to the dictionary, Associate means: Associate: to join in companionship or partnership, or To connect in thought.
I have been withdrawn from a Church in So. Cal. It was horrible and it will remain in my mind for years,
Basically what it meant was that they thought that I was a bad person and NO ONE from that Church was allowed to have ANY CONTACT with me.
Now, most Churches regardless of the denomination believe and do that.
I’m thankful that God doesn’t because if He did, Jesus would never have come: Rom 5:8
8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
NIV
If it was wrong to associate with someone who has gone in the wrong direction then God wouldn’t have sent His Son, but He loved us and He did send His Son. And we’re very thankful!
And Jesus lives in us when we accept Him. So, in effect we are we as Christ’s body and where is His body when people do the wrong thing? Do we teach them? Do we love them? No, we withdraw from them.
In other words, we take Christ away from them and forget that they exist. They can come back ONLY if they stop doing wrong things AND admit that they did wrong things and can prove it and ask to come back.
Didn’t we, as Christians have to do that too? No, we didn’t. All we had to do was believe in Jesus. And God saved us. It was His gift. We didn’t deserve it, but we got it! God knew our hearts and it was up to Him. We, on the other hand don’t KNOW other peoples hearts. We probably think that we do, but is it up to us? No it‘s not. We won’t be in control at judgment, but God will, and it’s up to Him.
So, now that song: Don’t tell them that Jesus loves them till you’re ready to love them too has a whole new meaning to me.
We need to start loving others like we were loved by God. No exceptions.
No we don’t have to love or accept what they have done, but we need to just be patient and love and accept them.
Don’t cut them off and take Jesus away and give Satan the upper and the first hand. Let Jesus win!
When Churches withdraw from people they are shutting off what Christ in us can do for people and that is NOT what Jesus did!
If this is true,:
1 Cor 12:27
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
NIV
then we absolutely can not withdraw Christ from people who need Him.
We just have to remember who we are and why He came here.
If Christ came to me at a time like that (and He VERY OBVIOUSLY DID) then we MUST allow Him to continue to come to anyone who needs Him at any time
YOU ARE THE BODY OF CHRIST.
More than anything else, I want for you to know that.
Don’t tell them Jesus loves them till you’re ready to love them too.
Let me start this document by telling you that the human man who is writing this to you was (this is from what I’ve been told because I don’t remember a thing-nothing) living an extremely sinful life 8 years ago. And any Church would have withdrawn from me, And another shocker is that my wife didn’t divorce me and my kids still love me and to top it off (it seems impossible) the one who made my brain stem in the first place came and healed my completely severed brain stem—thus I lived! Now that’s a miracle!
I didn’t deserve it! No, just the opposite! So, you bet, I’m grateful! Yes and so things like this topic, while you may not agree, it’s so simple and normal for me because I’ve been blessed and now I want to bless you!
A “short” description of this would be for a group to disassociate itself from a member; therefore that member is no longer a part of that group and the members of that group are not to have any contact with that person or persons.
According to the dictionary, Associate means: Associate: to join in companionship or partnership, or To connect in thought.
I have been withdrawn from a Church in So. Cal. It was horrible and it will remain in my mind for years,
Basically what it meant was that they thought that I was a bad person and NO ONE from that Church was allowed to have ANY CONTACT with me.
Now, most Churches regardless of the denomination believe and do that.
I’m thankful that God doesn’t because if He did, Jesus would never have come: Rom 5:8
8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
NIV
If it was wrong to associate with someone who has gone in the wrong direction then God wouldn’t have sent His Son, but He loved us and He did send His Son. And we’re very thankful!
And Jesus lives in us when we accept Him. So, in effect we are we as Christ’s body and where is His body when people do the wrong thing? Do we teach them? Do we love them? No, we withdraw from them.
In other words, we take Christ away from them and forget that they exist. They can come back ONLY if they stop doing wrong things AND admit that they did wrong things and can prove it and ask to come back.
Didn’t we, as Christians have to do that too? No, we didn’t. All we had to do was believe in Jesus. And God saved us. It was His gift. We didn’t deserve it, but we got it! God knew our hearts and it was up to Him. We, on the other hand don’t KNOW other peoples hearts. We probably think that we do, but is it up to us? No it‘s not. We won’t be in control at judgment, but God will, and it’s up to Him.
So, now that song: Don’t tell them that Jesus loves them till you’re ready to love them too has a whole new meaning to me.
We need to start loving others like we were loved by God. No exceptions.
No we don’t have to love or accept what they have done, but we need to just be patient and love and accept them.
Don’t cut them off and take Jesus away and give Satan the upper and the first hand. Let Jesus win!
When Churches withdraw from people they are shutting off what Christ in us can do for people and that is NOT what Jesus did!
If this is true,:
1 Cor 12:27
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
NIV
then we absolutely can not withdraw Christ from people who need Him.
We just have to remember who we are and why He came here.
If Christ came to me at a time like that (and He VERY OBVIOUSLY DID) then we MUST allow Him to continue to come to anyone who needs Him at any time
YOU ARE THE BODY OF CHRIST.
More than anything else, I want for you to know that.
Don’t tell them Jesus loves them till you’re ready to love them too.
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