Cheers!!

Hello readers! This being the first post in a rather long-ish time, I would like to introduce a topic that has NOT been on my mind much lately. At all. That is, until I was reading through my Bible, and I stumbled upon a verse in it that thoroughly convicted me.

So, I do not know if any of you have this problem or not, but, for me at least, whenever I’m doing something hard that I’m supposed to do that I do not want to do AT ALL, I tend to feel sad. Now, if this is a RIDICULOUSLY hard thing that you are doing, I am not saying you have to always be happy about it right off the bat. But, try this verse on for size…

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Random Reader (RR): WAIT, but this is a RIDICULOUSLY hard thing!!!! Aren’t I allowed a little sad-ness??

Read the verse again. And remember, this is Jesus talking.

RR: Uhh… so what am I supposed to learn from this?

Look, you think what you are going through is hard, or tough? Maybe it is, but is it as tough as anything Jesus had to do?

For one, He lived a blame-less life, then He sacrificed His entire life for His ministry on earth. Then, after all that sacrifice, He was attacked ruthlessly by people He could have vaporized into thin air with merely a thought in His head. Keeping His patience on the Cross while beaten by sinners, and even continuing His ministry there, as He witnessed to a thief who was crucified next to Him… He TRULY overcame the world.

If you claim Jesus as savior, and Lord of your life, you have EVERY reason to be joyful, and happy. And that’s more or less the point of this point.

A very good friend of mine reminds me often “things we think are big deals often seem a lot smaller in hindsight.”

RR : Why do bad things happen to Christians? Why can’t God just make everything perfect for us, since we have Him?

Answer:

1st, tough things happen to grow us. When we are stripped from all comforts, the things we thought we could not survive without, God gives us grace to continue, and uses these times to draw us closer to Him. We adjust our perspective and recognize that God is the only thing we cannot live without.

2nd, tough things happen to witness to others. God uses us in the most difficult times, to prove that we have Something… bigger than life itself, guiding us, and giving us joy. When we have what we care about most, a hobby, a talent, something we care about more than anything else, taken from us with the world watching- THAT is when the world is watching- we have an opportunity to show them that life is not about what you gain, who you know, or what you do. It’s about WHO KNOWS YOU.

None of these good things come about with poor spirits… so I guess that was where the conviction kicked in.

If we are commanded to try to be like Jesus, and are commanded BY Jesus to be of good cheer, why not?

Thank you, and I hope this post is convicting you as much as it’s convicting me. :-/

Cheer up, everyone!

Your thoughts? : PeRsPeCtIvE…

What is important to you?

I had asked and answered this question so many times in myself. Everyone does, I think. For me, it was rather easy to answer. But, how about this question?

What is MOST important to you?

If you had to choose ONE thing in your life that was more important than everything else, what would it be? Now, we may say one thing, but as most of us know, saying isn’t doing.

What can this dude possibly mean by that?

Simply this: what is TRULY most important to you is discovered by a few things:

1. What do you spend your time on?

2. When you wake up, what is the first thing on your mind?

3. What is your motivation to keep going? When you’re tired, or you feel like you can’t continue, what is it that spurs you onward?

Recently, I’ve been reading in Colossians, and I stumbled on this IMPOSSIBLY difficult passage:

“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:1-3)

Need to read that again? I did. About twenty times.

Does God mean what He says? Yes!

Is He saying you shouldn’t love anything on earth? NOOOO!!! (imho)

What I’m addressing, is PERSPECTIVE.

“Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33)

You see, I have the same problem as MOST people. Up until recently I couldn’t answer a single one of those questions with “God”… I’m still struggling with it. Every day. But God says that our perspective, our focus, our time, our energy, our inspiration, EVERYTHING should come from Him.

Look guys, God is EVERYTHING. He sees all, knows all, controls all, offers everlasting life, and condemns to eternal punishment. THAT should be our perspective. Love for others WILL come out of a life that is devoted to seeking God.

Your thoughts?

God does it best!

So, I went running tonight, and got lost in the neighborhoods in downtown Derby, Kansas. It was an exhilirating run, I just love Christmas time, and one of my favorite things to do is run around neighborhoods looking at the lights.

One of the first things I noticed, though, as I began my run, was not the colorful lights; Not the large santa’s in the sleighs led by scores of colorful reindeer- it was not the extravagantly lit trees, or wreaths layered with holly. No, the first thing that grabbed my attention could not be bought, sold, or artificially reproduced.

It was the sky. That’s right, after all the money spent on Christmas lights, all the time spent making them look just right, I was not as dazzled as I usually am by them. The moon was full, and it was beautiful. The stars shone with what seemed to be a renewed brilliance, and I could hardly take my eyes off of them!

Don’t get me wrong, here. I’m NOT by any stretch of the imagination dissing, or otherwise putting down Christmas lights. But rather, pointing out that, well, God does it best!  

[Is] not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are! – Job 22:12

When I consider the heavens, the work of your fingers the moon and the stars which thou hast ordained; What is man that thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that thou visitest him? – Psalm 8:3-4

“The moon and stars to rule by night; for His mercy endureth forever.” – Psalm 136:9

He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by [their] names. – Psalm 147:4

Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light. -Psalm 148:3

I’m sorry…

Have you ever felt that the phrase “I’m sorry” was simply, inadequate? You feel so bad, that those two words couldn’t possibly express the depths of your regret?

Me too.

Why do we apologize?

Because we have done something wrong.

Too often, apologies are cheapened. People say “I’m sorry” just to make the other person feel better, (in order to make themselves happier) and not to truly express their feelings of regret, humility, and repentance.

So what does “I’m sorry” really mean?

Firstly, I’m sorry means  that you realize what you are apologizing for is your fault. Meaning, if you had not done wrong, the problem would never have existed. To apologize sincerely, you must recognize this:

It was my fault.

The second thing you must realize, when you are apologizing, is that you do not deserve to be forgiven. You have done something wrong, and you already recognize this. You must continue to go back to that wrong, and realize that it was purely because of you. “I’m sorry” is not a magic formula that makes everyone happy. The very meaning of “I’m sorry” proves that the person to whom you are apologizing to is under no obligation whatsoever to forgive.

I do not deserve forgiveness.

The third and final thing you must realize before sincerely apologizing, is repentance. Repentance is more than just realizing you did wrong, and asking for forgiveness. Repenting means you are acting out your regret, and turning from that which caused the problem in the first place.

I will do my best to never let this happen again.

It is always best to consider what you are apologizing for VERY carefully before you apologize. Make sure that each of these steps is fully recognized. Probably the most important thing to do before you ask for forgiveness from someone, is to ask forgiveness to God, and to yourself.

God will always forgive, when we repent. Forgiving ourselves is a little more difficult. But if we do not realize what we have done, and we cannot forgive ourselves, it can only be because we did not truly feel repentant. If we are repentant, self-forgiveness will come. And only when we forgive ourselves, can we truly ask someone else to forgive us. If we do not forgive ourselves, we are not truly sorry.

A friend of mine recently shared this verse with me, and I thought this was a great verse for the topic.

Philippians 4:5-7 ~ “Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord [is] at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.“

Forgiveness is a supernatural thing. For someone to forgive the wrong-doing of others is an action that can best be described as “Christ-like”. Therefore, in order to best achieve true forgiveness, is to make sure that you have talked to God first.

After all, who is more important than God, in the end?

Thus ends my rant for the day, I hope you have learned something, or have been other-wise touched by this post. Thank you all!

Something to say!

Dear readers,

My deepest regrets and apologies for my constant epic failures as a writer, and the utter neglect of my blogging responsibilities over the last few months. Life is crazy right now. (no excuse, I know)

However, as I have a few moments to spare at this time, (yay!) and I am feeling somewhat inspired, I feel I should shall share something with ya’ll.

Some of you may be aware, or have heard somewhat of my “exploits” with my co-workers. Namely: the sharing of my Faith.

Faith

I feel an update is in order, as it has been a good 2 months since this all began with a simple question from a co-worker: “Do you believe in God?”

It has been eye-opening– a TRUE spiritual WAR! Some nights I find myself entering the car after work- shaking all over- teeth chattering- knees knocking together- all the result of an adrenaline rush from a recent spiritual discussion.

I have been sharing my faith there for the last 2 months, and have yet to see a convert. But is that the reason I share my Faith? Purely in order to convert people?

During a more recent conversation, one of my co-workers (whom I shall call Calvin)  asked me, in the middle of our discussion “why is this so important to you? what are you getting out of this? Why do you take the time to answer my questions?” It really got me to thinking… WHY do I share my Faith?

Jesus commands us to ” Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15 -KJV)

Matthew 10:32 says “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.” Do you think sharing our Faith is important to God? I can find numerous more verses commanding us to witness of the Gospel.

But aside from the COMMAND of Christ, to share the Good News… another reason to share The Truth comes to mind.

A few months ago, when I was first starting this job, I had asked myself the same question over and over again. I knew the Bible verses by heart, an I knew what I had to do! But I was simply TOO scared! And when I asked God to help me understand, and over-come my fears, God brought a picture to my mind.

It was of my friends. All my un-saved friends that I had never shared my Faith with, being condemned before God on the Day of Judgement. I’m standing with my hands by my sides helpless, only watching them, the people I knew being led to a place of everlasting torment. This picture is ingrained in my mind and is brought to remembrance any time I am afraid to Testify.

I realized my PRIDE! How DARE I with-hold the news of free everlasting life from people, merely for fear of what they MIGHT THINK of me??

How proud am I?

God calls us to Love our neighbors as ourselves. How then, can we watch our friends and neighbors live lives of Godlessness, bound for eternal torment and not be moved. We indeed have The Answer to eternal life! How can it be silenced?

Imagine yourself walking through the desert. A friend is walking with you, but, oddly enough, is walking backwards! He does not notice that he is a mere 10 feet from a cliff about to walk off and plummet 1000 feet to his death on the sharp desert rocks below. Would you not SCREAM “Turn around! You’re walking off a cliff!”? Would you be silent, afraid to be chided for your “lack of tolerance.” or scolded for your “harsh judgments” and “inability to have fun”?

Like I said, I have yet to lead a co-worker to Christ. But I feel it is my duty, as a loving neighbor, and a child of God, to make known the Truth. To Testify of God’s power to make the weak strong, save from the eternal punishment of Sin that is due us, and turn our lives toward Him with the reward of everlasting life and limit-less reward.

If my testimony never leads a single sinner to Christ, that is not my business. I can only do what I can, and no more. I cannot force anyone to listen, but the Duty, and the Call to Share is mine. What happens after that is God’s.

“Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel…” Ephesians 6:18-19

Calvin has recently asked me for a Bible, and some tracts, as has one other co-worker named Matt. Please pray for both of these, as they consider their eternal destiny! Pray that I will remain Faith-ful, and that some-how, through my weaknesses, Christ will be glorified, and His strength will be shown!

Grace and Peace to you all!

In Christ Alone,

Ben C (Da’ Cameronian)

Man’s best friend.

Hello all my wonderful, and faithful readers! I feel suddenly inspired to write to you all about man’s best friend. The dog. To tell you all the truth, I’m suffering from major “doggy withdrawals” right now. It has been 2 and a half months since I’ve last seen my dog, who is currently in Texas in the care of some of our good friends.

Boomer

So in this post, I will be remembering Boomer, by showing some pretty amazing pictures of dogs, and explaining exactly why they are known throughout the world as “man’s best friend”. Enjoy!

What is it about dogs, that makes them so deserving of the title “Man’s Best Friend”? Obviously, horses are more useful, beautiful, and enjoyable. Not to mention they’ve been with men since… well, forever!

Is it that dogs are more readily available to everyone than horses– that they are less expensive?

Or is it something more?

Something about the way a dog will sit beside you all day, content to listen. Or how the dog will be equally happy to play and run for as long as you can possibly stand. How a dog will love you, and remain loyal regardless of one’s ethnicity, disability, age, or social status.

It doesn’t matter if you’ve had a bad day, or the best day of your life, the dog will remain a constant companion, through thick and thin. Ready to sit and listen, or run and play.

:) Happiness is: a field of puppies.

Dog’s seem to also have a sort of “personality” about them. Some dogs have perky personalities, and will jump around all day, wanting nothing but attention in the form of a moving rope, bouncing ball, or running hose. Others are happiest with a comfortable place to lie down, curled up on their master’s lap, with the careful comforting stroke of a human’s hand on their fur.

But there is something else, that all dogs have in common; Something that separates them from other animals competing for the title ”man’s best friend”:

Loyalty.

Horses, and other animals don’t seem to attach to owners like a dog does. Truly, there is something special about a dog.

I hope I will be able to see Boomer again someday, I do miss her, quite a lot. I miss the runs we would go on, her ever-listening ear… play-wrestling… watching sunsets… I miss guitar on the front porch, where no-one could here me. Boomer would always sit at my feet, never budging no matter how poorly I sang. (now, that is loyalty)

I know that whatever happens, wherever she is, wherever she goes, she’ll always have been one of my very best of friends.

Boomerang and I.

Sept. 11 : Illusions…

8 years ago today, our country was shaken to its knees.

The Twin Towers

2,603 people died that day, in the towers, and on the ground around it-because of a few terrorists bent on the killing Americans. And nothing more.

Why so shocked? This happens all the time in other countries!

A good question. The answer: illusion.

You see, people (and especially Americans) tend to put their trust in government to keep them safe. We go about our business as usual, and will generally not even think twice about the WORLD outside of our cars, jobs, churches, and friends. Not realizing the dangers of the world we live in, of the fact that there are desperate suicide bombers intent on the demise of freedom, and the spread of Islam.

We live in our protective shells, and look at clippings of genocide in 3rd world countries thinking “that could never happen here!”

I remember watching the attack as it was happening. I thought “this is not possible!!” … “I must still be dreaming!”

I distinctly remember, as they showed photos of ground zero, how much this looked like those bombings in Europe, and India that had flashed on the news so often.

All our illusions, reduced to rubble...

But this… this WAS AMERICA!! My HOME! My countryman!! I remember a feeling of rage sweeping over me, at the attackers… Then something else hit me.

As we were watching, and the towers were beginning to crumble… I saw, as it was happening, something that I shall never forget. As long as I live.

I saw people, regular people, like ME… Jumping to their deaths to avoid the hot flames. These people, over 2,000 of them, were still in their suits. They were conducting business as usual, an average day!

Ecclesiastes 8:8 says it pretty nicely “No one has power over the spirit to retain the spirit, And no one has power in the day of death. [There is] no release from that war, And wickedness will not deliver those who are given to it.”

All of our “securities”, our false illusions that made us feel safe, were peeled away on that fateful day. We realized that we cannot possibly acheive complete safety on our own. We continue to try, but as the above Bible verse states, “no one has power in the day of death.”

Our time will come. And just like those people who were having an ordinary day, where sipping coffee one second, and deciding to jump out window for their lives all in the space of about 30 minutes, death will come, whether you are ready or not. Whether you expect it or not. No matter your illusions:

“It is appointed unto man once to die, after this, the judgement.”

- Hebrews 9:7

So, the question is, are you ready?

“But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

-Luke 21:34-36 (NKJV)

Grace and peace, and God bless the United States, and the families of those whoes lives were lost on September 11, 2001.

Fireflies…

One of my favorite things about Kansas thus far, has been the fact that there are fireflies here. A lot of fireflies.

fireflies…

I’ve always liked fireflies… I don’t really know why.

Maybe because of the memories that flood my mind when I see them. I remember the first time I saw a firefly. At my grandparents house in Tennessee. We would spend hours at night catching them and placing them in jars… then we would poke holes in the top of the lids and set the jars next to our beds…

Or maybe I  like them so much because of their uniqueness, and beauty. The careful and intricate design of the bugs by The Creator God. Their breath-taking beauty as they light up; it shocks me every time, and seems to never get old.

But, I think there’s something more then that… something even more intruiging..

The other day, as I was running through a park near my house, it was just about dusk, and the fireflies where coming out. One blinked next to my path, and I couldn’t help but stop, to try to catch the little fella’. (Hereafter, I shall call him George) After about 30 seconds of crazy antics and jumping in the air waving my arms around, I finally caught him. Holding him in my hand, I began to contemplate: A few of George’s aspects struck me, right then and there.

1st, the ugliness of the creature. I’m sorry guys but, during the time that a firefly is not blinking, it looks like an ugly beetle… nothing special whatsoever. Sorta’ similar to a potato bug.

So what is it that makes the bug beautiful?

Its light.

The 2nd thing I noticed was the fact that, completely enclosed in my hand, the bug continued to blink. Even though there was only a single slit in my hand, too small for the bug to crawl out, he continued to shine his light.

The 3rd aspect of the firefly that caught my attention, was that he only blinks. He does not shine.

This last aspect was the one that really convicted me. At this instant, I began to realize things that the firefly and I have in common.

1st, we are both ugly.

“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” – Isaiah 64:6

What makes us special then, is the light that shines through us. My light comes from Christ. Therefore my response should be praise to Him, for using a filthy rags like me, and an ugly bug like the firefly to accomplish His purposes and bring honor to Him!

2ndly, as the firefly shines when there really seems to be no reason, I felt convicted to continue to allow Christ to shine through me. No matter what the circumstance, or whether you think anyone around you can see it- God is there, and He is watching.

And finally, George’s light blinked. So many times I feel like I turn my light off, and choose not to help someone who needs it, or, I keep silent when I should have spoken. As humans, we are imperfect. And fireflies cannot sustain their light.

But, does our imperfection mean we should stop trying? Of course not!! Our imperfection should lead us to the feet of Jesus in repentance. It should bring about in us, a humble spirit – realizing that the only good light in anyone comes STRAIGHT from Christ. And Christ alone!

I let George go… and he was very grateful to be out of my hand, alive. ;-P Maybe I’ll see him again tonight!

a firefly.

The Armour of God: Shield of Faith

The moment we wake

and our feet touch the floor.

there are battles ahead

But our Armour we ignore.

There are “better things” after all

to do with our time

So we go on our way

Leaving our Armour behind.

It calls to us

From our old dusty shelves

To protect us and save us

From attacks against ourselves.

How can we forget

to bring our shield and sword

When arming is as  easy

as receiving His Word?

Armor

So, we’ve all heard the phrase “Armor of God” at least a few times before… and most of us  know where we get the phrase…

Ephesians 6:10-18

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places].

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:”

But do we really know HOW to get it, or… WHY we should get it? is it really important to us? REALLY??

The first step to properly utilizing the Armour of God, is the realization of its necessity. 1st off, we need to recognize that we ARE in a battle. A spiritual battle:

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places].

In 1st Peter 5:8, we are warned to: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”

We are in a warzone… continually. Whether you like, or accept the fact or not. We MUST remain vigilant.

So now that we see that 1st, God has called us to remain vigilant, and that Satan is our adversary and that our Armour is what will keep us spiritually alive… another question must be asked: How do we put on the Armour of God?? *drum roll!*

The Bible

You probably noticed that I highlighted the Shield of Faith. This is because it is the most important (as stated in the above passage). Faith is what keeps Satan’s ever-so-persistent attacks from succeeding.

“well then, where do we get Faith?”

Romans 10:17 “So then Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by THE WORD OF GOD.”

"Sharper than any two-edged sword..."

Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

My Sister… Change

For those of you who don’t know me very well…

I LOVE my family. A. LOT.

My Family

Everyone experiences change.  Some like change,  and some do not. For me, there’s a good, and bad type of change.

I like the changing of the seasons, from warm to cool…cool to cold…green to brown…to white…

I like change when day turns to night…the sky pink as the sun’s rays make their final attempts to illuminate the earth’s surface, as darkness takes its place.

I like change when night turns to day, as the darkness flees, and hides its face from the sun’s powerful light, that beats on the morning’s dew.

But some change, I don’t like so much… at all. Though change is a fact of life, and accepting the change is a matter of Faith, God allows us all time for sorrow.

Ecclesiastes 3:4 “A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance…”

In fact, there are times we are called to mourn, and weep.

Matthew 5:4 “Blessed [are] they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.”

Romans 12:15 “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.”

As I stated before, I love my family.

My sister, Charity, left for college last night. She’ll be going to a college 8 hours away from here. I don’t know how long it will be before I see her again, but I know, that my love for her will never be lessened by distance. I will miss her, maybe more then she’ll ever know. She’s been such a blessing to me, always loving, always considerate… life will not be the same without her.

My beautiful sister, Charity

Come home soon Charity, I miss you, and I love you!