I’m coming back to the heart of worship

Have you ever experienced a season “going through the motions?” Unfortunately, I admit, that my relationship with Jesus has been more of an intellectual exercise as of late. It is amazing how easy it is to fall into a pattern of stagnation, yet still takes the appearance of a fulfilling life for Christ.

With the turn of the New Year, one tends to evaluate their growth or lack thereof. We identify the highlights of the past year and determine how we want the next to occur. In that same vein, I’ve seen tremendous difficultly in 2008 and have grown so much that I want 09’ to be more of the same.

However, the past 3 weeks in Canada, although enjoyable, I haven’t spent much time with my Savior. I miss that intimacy, but to be honest, not enough to drive me to my knees to seek it. I was aware of the growing distance in my relationship because any relationship without regular quality time begins to decay. If a plant isn’t watered regularly it withers and dies.

Why is that we, those who have experienced the saving grace of Christ, forget so easily the gift that is our salvation? Why do we persist to do things our way, not his, and then expect nothing less than a fulfilled life? And although there are a plethora of books and material out there to help you increase your intimacy with Christ, the bottom line for me is, I don’t care.

All I want and crave for is the conviction of the Holy Spirit. I love to read great books. I will drive a great distance to hear a powerful preacher speak. And I am willing to drop cash for worship conferences. But I fail with embarrassing regularity to do the one thing that is freely available, yet costs more than any other commodity humanity has at its disposal.

I don’t spend the time. Time with Him for Him.

Generally, I feel like I have to go through man to get to God. How bassackwards is that? I ask people to pray for me, which is good. I read the Bible and books written about it and that is good to, but I find that my first instinct is not to go straight to God.

I believe that we do not run after God in every circumstance stems from the false misconception that God is in a constant state of fault finding. It’s as if He is some angry, overbearing, controlling father who is better at telling us what we did wrong than admonishing us for what we have done right.

The only antidote for misguided stereotypes, is the infusion of truth through personal experience. To be rid of the “angry dad” God, we must spend time with Him and see that He is good. We must humble ourselves, even in the midst of recent sins, and seek the grace that He willingly bestows. If He grants us salvation into eternity, not by our merit, then how much more is He willing to forgive the daily transgressions we commit habitually? This is not license for insolent behavior, but rather motivation to live a better life. Perhaps, the passion of a life of love is found in believing more than ever, that God does love us unconditionally.

Perhaps my focus should rest on the a God who constantly reveals more and more about himself to infinitum, and in turn I may understand that His forgiveness goes as deep as I am willing to believe it does. Then and only then will I taste and know He is good.

Thanks to Joseph for your sermon.

Get your NTCT's Calendar today! Complete with Anthrax, plastic explosives and Top 50 Most Wanted

The National Counterterrorism Center has just dropped their latest edition on the American internet that Al Gore invented. I know, I know, stop taking shots at Democrats.

But it's so fun mommy!

Anyway, here is how the NTCT describes this wonderful product:

"The National Counterterrorism Center is pleased to present the 2009 edition of the Counterterrorism (CT) Calendar. This edition, like others since the Calendar was first published in a daily planner format in 2003, contains useful information across a wide range of terrorism-related topics: terrorist groups, wanted terrorists, and technical pages on various threat-related issues. The Calendar marks dates according to the Gregorian and Islamic calendars, and contains significant dates in terrorism history, as well as dates that terrorists may believe are important when planning “commemoration-style” attacks."

"Commemoration-style" attacks? What does that look like?

Terrorist: "Saad Elkhadem Min Aqwal Al-Arab Wa-Tashbihatihim Alb-Sadabiyah"

Translation: I dedicate this great act of blowing myself up, in which I shall punish the infidel and reap eternal bliss with all my virginal property, to my mom. Oh, and to praise to Allah!

Now, each day that I see the mug of a terrorist who wants to kill me won't seem as bad unless, of course, it is a commemorative day in which I should curl up into the fetal position and cry while I shake uncontrollably in the dark. Thanks NCTC.

But really, the calendar has some useful information like being at least 7,000ft from an exploding semi or 1,850ft from an suitcase fireball may keep my head recognizable.

My favorite fun fact is found in the section about Indicators of a Possible Chemical Incident. If you look at the table under unexplained odors.

"Smells ranging from fruity to flowery to sharp/pungent to garlic/horseradish-like to bitter almonds/peach kernels to newly mown hay; the particular odor is completely out of character with its surroundings."

OMG!!! I farted today and I swear it covered the gamete listed there! But wait...

Fruity to flower? Sharp/pungent? garlic to horseradish? newly mown hay? out of character?

So, what you're telling me is if I roll up into someone's house, who I know can't cook, and I walk in smelling potpourri, see some garlic bread, prime rib with horseradish and peach cobbler for desert...

The government is telling me to run like hell? I don't think so.

I'm gonna die in that house with with my lips savoring every tantalizing bite. My taste buds are salivating just thinking about my death.

Here I come heaven. Please forgive me for the chemical fart incident from earlier...

Rusty + Gun (Round 2)

Today, Tim and I are pulling out the weaponry, putting on our Screw liberals trucker hats and hopefully let nature feel the wrath of a ninja with technology. Weaponology, that is...

I'll be sure to update this blog upon our return and you'll be the first to know if I shoot Tim in his buttocks by accident...or was it?

Update: Well, we didn't get to kill anything today. And I wasn't forced to shoot anyone in the bum, so I was kind of bummed. We did get to do some target shooting and I almost froze my fingers trying to reload the clips but it was enjoyable and I feel more like a man.

Mission Accomplished.