Saturday, January 23, 2010

I See You


Although I have not seen the wildly  successful - $1.12 billion in revenues and counting, Avatar, I have not been able to miss the hoopla around it.  As I flip through the channels, I see Oprah shouting to her audience to 'Go see Avitar!', actors being interviewed and the producer being awarded.  It seems like the whole world is embracing this technological wonder.  I have read the reviews and its content (http://www.pluggedin.com/) and find it not surprising all the spiritual undertones.  However, I think the theme song says it more than the average listener hears. 
In the song 'I See You', the artists theme is about being seen. The truth is everyone wants to be seen and heard.  We all want our prescence to be acknowledge and validated, we all want at least one person in this life to say 'I see you'.  The question I ask myself is 'Do I really see those around me? Do I see the people I come into contact with on a daily basis.  Do my eyes, my smile, my words convey the message ' I see you'?  I am determined to do a better job to validate those around me and let them know I see you. 

However,  I want to take this song a little deeper.  Not only are we all wanting to be seen but the one who gave us life is gently whispering "I see you".   God is not saying I see you as the all seeing eye ready to punish and pass judgement on all those who don't measure up.    He is the El Roi - “The God Who sees".  Before the begining of time God saw (Genesis 1) He saw as he created the earth and continues to see throughtout the ages.  He is whispering to you and me 'I see you', 'I love you' and I have reedemed you.  Take a close look at the words of the new popular song and can see the words of the El Roi repeated in many of the verses. 
(Just roll over the text to read them)

I see you

I see you
Walking through a dream (Jeremiah 23:24)

I see you
My light in darkness breathing hope of new life ( John 8:12) (Colossians 3:1, Romans 6:4)
Now I live through you and you through me (Galations 2:16)
Enchanting
I pray in my heart that this dream never ends (John 3:36, John 6:47, Jerimiah 31:3)

I see me through your eyes
Living through life flying high (Isaiah 60:20
Your life shines the way into paradise (John 14:6)

So I offer my life as a sacrifice (I John 2:2, I John 4:10, Romans 3:25)
I live through your love (John 4:8)
You teach me how to see (Luke 16:15, 2 Corinthians 5:17)
All that’s beautiful (Philipians 4:8)

My senses touch your word I never pictured (1 Corinthians 2:9-10)
Now I give my hope to you (Psalm 119:49)

Heartaculturist

Jesus said explicitly in Luke 18:16-17:
"Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God."
I just finished teaching earliteens today. I absolutely love to teach this age group. This age group is a time of vital spiritual importance. It is the time of life when the seeds that parents have planted now become the child’s personal responsibility to water and grow. Sure the parent must still assist the child in this growing process – but it is here that the child must learn the tools to grow and cultivate a spiritual life.

It was at twelve that Jesus pronounced to Mary and Joseph that he must be about his father’s work. It is at this time our kids must set out to develop and grow the seeds of the fruit of God’s spirit that lay dormant in our lives without water* and nurture**. Inversely, it is at the age of 12 the devil through the guises of the world turns up the heat of temptation to scorch those seeds. The average age most kids start experimenting with drugs, alcohol and sex is 12-13. The enemy knows if he can capture and destroy young minds by entrapping them in a life of self indulgence (sex, drugs) and self entitlement he can scorch the seeds of the spirit.  Making this time of life important in the great controversy. 

You hear often lamented “Young people are leaving the church in droves. The future of the church is at stake and something has to be done about it.” Even more frightening the future of the church is the future of the individual! I believe the church will prevail until the end of time…Jesus predicted that when he said “upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail (Matthew 16:28). But Jesus gave one of the strongest admonitions to those who hinder the development of children (and new believers) when he said, ‘But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea. God is not nearly as concerned about the church as he is about the spiritual development of His children!


I am committed to teaching the tools of "hearticulture" (the development of the seeds that have been planted in the young Christian heart. With the primary focus on the why and the how. Giving each child that I can the vital tools to sow a beautiful lifelong love with the giver of all that is good. To expose the “environmental” hazard that will destroy the sowing, reaping and harvest of the heart. I pray that more teachers, pastors, churches, and parents will take up the challenge and build a commitment to join the master Gardener in the development of eternal life.



*Water of life = John 4:10
**How to grow: 2 Peter 3:18

1. In order to grow we need to eat—The Bible



2. In order to grow we need to breathe—Prayer


3. In order to grow we need good spiritual hygiene—Confession of sin


4. In order to grow we need a caring family—Fellowship


5. In order to grow we need regular exercise—Service


6. In order to grow we need protection—Temptation


7. In order to grow we need to give—Stewardship

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Who's to blame when your world is shaken


On January 12, 2010 the life of millions were dismantled. The ground shook at a road ripping 7.0 magnitudes as the countries worst castrophy rocked the island of Haiti. It is reported that 100,000s of people have lost their lives. The country is devastated and beyond repair. As lives slip silently away under the rubble of work places, schools and homes, the world looks on in disbelief, horror and sadness. Those who did not die instantly are dying as survivors. Simple medical aid cannot be administered quickly enough and people are dying of broken legs and gashes due to systemic infections. Many have raised their eyes to heaven and have asked God to help, to heal and to save. Many have shaken their tiny fist at the God of the universe cursing him for not protecting, for not warning, for taking the lives of so many people. So much is lost and the giver of life is to blame!


Why!?????????? The painful guttural cry is pushed through the grief constricted vocal chords. ‘Oh God!! Oh, God!! ‘Why????” The pain of grief and loss weighs heavier than the bricks that lay upon the chest of the dying. It is the living that feels this crushing pain. This unbearable, unfathomable pain of loss and betrayal from the God they thought so little about until this moment. The God whose very name is used to describe the horror and mass death that lies lifeless around them. For this devastation can only come as an act of God. This freak of seismic nature is accusingly called an ‘Act of God’. Who is to blame but God?

Act of God!? Not at all. This and all other catastrophes world wide from the devestation of the Haitian people to the bombing of hundreds in Baghdad, the slow painful battle and final loss of a loved one to the ravages of cancer are NOT God’s doing or fault. It is not God ‘calling those loved ones home because he needs them.’ It is my dear friend the results of living in a sinful world that is reeling for relief from the dominion of the god of this world who claims it as his govemental dominion but does not take responsibility for the result his leadership has caused in the lives of those who choose to consciously or unconsciously follow his ways. Life on this planet is filled with pain, sorrow, tears and death – not because of God. But because of the enemy of us all. The enemy who is walking the streets of destruction as I write. Exciting anger, disbelieve and greed amongst the survivors toward God. He smiles with glee at the mass loss of lives that are no longer either working for the government he opposes or through death has sealed their vote, their choice of whom they will serve.

From the beginning of time as we know the enemy has focused all his anger and hate on to mankind. We have been clearly told that the devil has come into this world to steal and kill and destroy (John 10:10). With laser like perfection the thief has entered every living thing on this earth has stole peace, removed life and brought about destruction. And the beauty of his beastly ugliness is that he has cast the blame on God. The enemy is the father of lies, (John 8:44) the master deceiver, for in him is no truth, light or love. As God so loves he gave and gives the enemy hates so inversely proportional that he takes, kills, destroys and falsely accuses. He is the great, lying accuser (Rev 12:10). He is not only accusing us but the very true character of God. Our God is on trial not only for the universe but in the heart of everyone who is born into life. Who do you say he is? It is in time of great darkness that our hearts accurately portray our belief in the character of God. If we truly know the God of comfort we will recognize the source of all that is bad (Satan) and the true, pure source of all that is good - Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17 22We know that the whole creation[all that is in earth, sea and sky] has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time waiting to be relieved and restored. The tree branches reach to the sky, bending and contorting under the strains of sin. It was by satanic cohesion that put thorns on roses, causes the earth to heave, the oceans to leave their borders, the animals to fear and devour, and mankind to kill, steal and plunder (Romans 5:12) . The blame should be acutely pointed to the true cause of all waste and death – the same sinister fallen being who lied six thousand years ago, as he slurred the words, “surely you will not die”. Ever since that lie and our acceptance of the lie, all of mankind must die – not because of God – but because of the enemy. The wages of sin is death. But the truth of that verse is the hope and comfort “The gift of God is eternal life” (Romans 6:23).

For my family and my God, I will fight valiantly for the reputation of God. I want the finger pointing and blame to be directed to the true source of pain- the enemy. I want everyone to come to know the one true, loving God - the Creator and Restorer. The God in whom all he promises will come to pass (2 Corinthians 1:20). The God of all life (not death) the redeemer and restorer of all that is living. The God who can do nothing but love, because He is love (I John 4:8). The God who says, ‘blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted (Matthew 5:4). The God who comforts and reassures us that one day this world and the government of our enemy will be destroyed (I John 3:8). And along with the destruction of the enemy, he will also destroy tears, suffering, pain, sorrow and death (Revelation 21:4). He will swallow them in victory! Meanwhile, hold fast to what you know (1 Corinthians 15:2) and let the God of all Comfort see you through (Deuteronomy 31:6, Psalm 48:14)

I love you Lord, you are my strength!

Psalm 18:1

Click this link to experience
2 Corinthians 1:3-7, 20
http://www.interviewwithgod.com/comfort/index.htm