I’ll leave an update

I’ll leave an update if I think of anything….

Looking for another topic

I thought I would post to let whoever may still follow my blog that I am considering writing more, but it will be under a different blog title so this content will stay up.

 

Looking For Something Else…

I think I’m done “Looking For Church”. That may be why I haven’t wrote in so long. Not much left to say. Probably more to be erased than to be said.

There seems to be something, actually a lot more to know. I know Him, therefore, I want to know Him, and the more I know of Him, the more I seek Him.

Paul said;

That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; -Philippians 3:10

More to come… maybe somewhere else, so this site can may be found by others and help… somehow.

But my conclusion?

I want to know Him.

A Place to Think

A few days ago I decided to get up early, (instead of sleeping in now that I am unemployed), to make sure I don’t get lazy.

I packed my bike and set off. I decided on a short 3.5 miles out to a tiny cemetery I’ve road to before. It was the only place I could think of that was quiet and close, plus, I thought it might offer perspective.

On the way, I was inspired to stop and click a few pictures, Pondero style. (A few others didn’t turn out well, even worse than this one.) Nice to see some trees for a change.

This looked like an old road heading out into nowhere. The path looked grown over by 20 years.

It was a good ride. I took some coffee, not quite as cool as this, but it worked. I also brought some reading material, Psalms 48 and 49.

For this is God,
Our God forever and ever;
He will be our guide
Even to death. -Psalm 48:14

Very fitting considering my location… along with:

This is the way of those who are foolish,
And of their posterity who approve their sayings.
Like sheep they are laid in the grave;
Death shall feed on them;
The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning;
And their beauty shall be consumed in the grave, far from their dwelling.
But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave,
For He shall receive me. -Psalm 49:13-15

I’m usually amazed at how God’s word just fits.

It’s also a bit different being alone. Something you kind of have to get used to. But I’m up for it. We need that sometimes.

Before I left, I had to take one more picture.

Took the Vibrams on a short test ride. They did fine. Not for long or hilly trips though.

Looking forward to giving it another go, hopefully will be a little less windy next time.

Surreal

I forget how surreal it is to walk through something for the last time. It almost doesn’t feel real anymore. As the minutes tick away toward that end, the dream takes over more and more.

Today is my last full day with the company I’ve worked for for the past 4 years. I’ve sat at this computer staring at a screen almost every day for literally 1,000 days. Wow!  If someone would have asked me back when I was young if they could pay me to sit at a desk on a computer for 1,000 days (nearly in a row) I’d have said “No way!”

But life doesn’t turn out like we always think. Its been a blessing to work most of those 1,000 days here, for one I’ve worked with some great people. I’ve made a few good friends, and one great friend. Second I would have never started this blog.

Many of those days I spent listening to audio sermons I found online. After exhausting several preachers’ archives, my search for a new topic of audio enjoyment lead me to ask a few questions about what might be missing in my “religion”.

That is when I stumbled upon a few videos that gave me, well, kind of an upside down “Aha!” moment. More like an, “Aha?” moment. They are the first several videos I posted on my Video Blog site, particularly the first called Rethinking Church. So I am more than grateful for my time here. 

Stumbling onto this video and others has spurred so much valuable study and discussion and friendship, I couldn’t put a value on that time. Funny how now I would pay money for what I gained, and even spend another 1,000 days doing something I may not be that fond of, for what I now have.

So now I am putting my trust in God opening another door as this one closes. I know he will. I’m excited to see how it turns out.

I try to remember, too, that the next open door may not be very attractive as I look in, but that when I come out on the other side, I’ll look back through another closing door with such grateful joy, holding buckets full of gifts and blessings just as I do today.

So when discouragement comes (maybe Monday), someone remind me to reread what I just wrote.

What’s Optional?

We have freedom in Jesus, but what’s optional in obedience to Him.

What is optional as we follow Jesus?

If we ask that, do we really get it?

For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.  -2 Peter 1:9

So… have you forgotten? Are you still trying to deciding what’s optional?

Twittered…, Tweeted..?

I was checking out Arthur Sido’s blog, and noticed my name in an odd spot.

Thanks Arthur, what a thrill.

I am assuming it is more of a thrill to me since I’m not on Facebook or Twitter, and I’m not sure how common place this is, but it is the first time I have seen myself twittered, or tweeted, or whatever it’s called.

Thanks for sharing my post Arthur, I feel like my blog was highlighted on Yahoo!’s front page or something, though it’s probably not a the big deal I’m making.

But it’s still pretty cool. (Everyone can stop laughing at my ignorance now and go back to the super important awesome stuff you were doing.)

Relationships or Agenda

Alan Knox at The Assembling of the Church wrote a post a few days ago about What do you do when you can’t find fellowship with others? I followed the link to the LifeStream Blog post Loneliness and the Journey which had another link at the bottom of the post High Risk/High Reward of Relational Community.

Sorry for the rabbit trail, to make it simple, the page I am pointing to is here. It is a podcast by Wayne and Brad on The God Journey, that I listened to, and learned something very valuable.

Stop making such a big deal out it. Stop with the agenda.

I have put too much pressure on myself in trying to do it right. Why can’t I just share my life with others, invite them over for dinner just to get to know them better, have lunch with them, or even go on a bike ride or play a game of tennis with them. It doesn’t have to be all about God… because loving others is all about God. Does that make sense?

`A new commandment I give to you, that ye love one another; according as I did love you, that ye also love one another; in this shall all know that ye are my disciples, if ye may have love one to another.’ -John 13:34-35

Others will not know that we are disciples of Jesus because we schedule a Bible study, or organize a charity event, or invite a coworker to church, or any other act besides just loving each other. That seems to be what Jesus said, if that means anything (my interpretation, not asking if Jesus’ words mean anything).

Can it be loving to do those things, sure, but I think I’ve had an agenda for doing those things; starting something in my home, being visible in the community, growing the Church, etc.

That hasn’t been 100% of my agenda though. I have wanted to share Jesus and get to know others better, but the double agenda has gotten my off track. It has muddied the waters in my mind. I think I’m just going to try to focus on relationships for a while, then maybe other things will simply grow up around those relationships.

There’s No Place I’d Rather Be

I sing a simple song of love
To my Saviour, to my Jesus
I’m grateful for the things You’ve done
My loving Saviour, my precious Jesus

My heart is glad
That you’ve called me Your own
There’s no place I’d rather be
Than in Your arms of love

In Your arms of love
Holding me still
Holding me near
In Your arms of love

-Words by Craig Musseau

He Knows My Name

I have a Maker
He formed my heart
Before even time began
My life was in his hands

He knows my name
He knows my every thought
He sees each tear that falls
and He hears me when I call

I have a Father
He calls me His own
He’ll never leave me
No matter where I go

He knows my name
He knows my every thought
He sees each tear that falls
and He hears me when I call

-Words by Tommy Walker.