Almost here….

First of all. Prayer

Sent from my iPhone

church, shepherds, popcorn, etc.

What an amazing day at real church. Truly, Truly great. God’s word was so impactful. Shepherds were the ones who were able to see Jesus first. Not the religious, not the wise, no! It was the grimy, third watch, poor, nobodies. What a true representation of the full life of Jesus Christ. He let the left-behinds in the world’s eye nearest to him. I am so thankful.

We then cooked 12 pounds of popcorn. Riley and I burnt ourselves and got covered in oil in the process; not to mention that we got popcorn everywhere. But we cooked popcorn, served hickory farms, and watched the polar express. REAL Cup and the Refuge became REAL Theatre. As usual, every walk of life was there. There were several who couldn’t wait for the popcorn. Most were under four feet tall, but a few grown-ups were extra excited as well.

God’s word was preached, people got saved, we ate free food. I saw a bunch of smiles.

Serving God is the best adventure of all.

Andy

favor

He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He does not take pleasure in the legs of a man. The LORD favors those who fear Him, Those who wait for His lovingkindness. Psalm 147:10-11

How to know God’s favor first hand?

Fear Hiim.
Wait for his Lovingkindess.

I must do this. The favor comes from not acting on my own understanding. It’s just waiting for him to do it. I can lift the stone and learn nothing from it, (only sooner than later have to lift another stone under my own strength.) Or, God can lift the stone, with me as a part of it, I grow in faith. I experience true joy. I testify to others. God gets the praise. He grows in me. I walk closer to him.

Is there a choice? But then why do I choose to do it on my own so many times? Jesus, help me to wait!!!!!

Andy

top ten!

Last night, I was at steak and shake for a traditional night cap. (Milkshake and crappy diner food.) Among those who were there, there was Anthony, Erin, Kari, Luis, Meriah, Jihun, and myself. I decided to make a top ten list. Of what? Of anything. If I say top ten list, what is the first thing that comes to mind? So most of us did it, and here is what I came up with. Zero was a bonus. Ha!

2007 Top Ten (in no particular order)

10. The Word – Jn 1:1, Jn 1:14
9. Adventure – Acts 27
8. New Experiences – Philippians 3:12-14
7. Travel – Romans 15:19-21
6. Culture – Acts 28:2
5. Rome – Acts 28:30-31
4. Communication – Acts 22:2, 2 Tim 4:2
3. Family Meals (Italiano) – Acts 2:46
2. Late Nights – 2 Corinthians 6:5
1. Pastor Chilly – Hebrews 13:7, 13:17
0. Close Calls – 2 Corinthians 6

Andy

CHRISTmas

Christ was born in a stable, wrapped in rags, laid in a manger–
so unimportant was this child apparently, so meagerly valued.
And immediately afterward this child was so valuable that it
costs the lives of the children in Bethlehem. Such is the squan-
dering that can take place in connection with this child. -Kierkegaard

hope against hope

Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be."Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness." The words "it was credited to him" were written not for him alone, but also for us,  to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
                                                                                                        -Romans 4.19-25

Against all hope. Can you imagine? Ever been there?  Ever wavered in the time between the promise and the fulfillment?  In every promise their is wavering or strengthening. Do I have the guts to be fully persuaded bthat God has the power to do what he Promises…YES, I want to! It’s almost Christmas….See in this passage, all FOR US, it says. It can be credited to us, for us who believe, death for our sins, raised for our justification!!!!! Man thank you Jesus. Born for US! Jesus help us see your promises and be strengthened anytime there is hope against hope.

I love the part of the song "A thrill of HOPE, the WEARY world rejoices." Against all hope, there is a thrill of hope in the Birth of Christ, both then and now. To everyone, anyone. me.

Andy

belief

As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they replied. Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith will it be done to you”; and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” Matthew 9

Belief is a funny thing. Where is your belief? How can you tell? “Put your money where your mouth is.” I find that there as many who claim to believe in something or someone, as things to believe in. The interesting thing is, when it comes to putting your money where your mouth is, most trust in themselves. I have done it, I continue to do it on occasion. Action is demanded or a situation calls for a quick decision, and many of those times reverting to human knowledge or reasoning is the only route taken. In this, I repent. Why do we do this though? I think the answer is simple. We know more things than are necessary. Paul said, I know Christ and Him crucified. I think that answers every situation. I must set out to know nothing except Christ and Him crucified. In the dark night, (whatever that means to you), where is your belief? Your trust? Do you pray when action is demanded, knowing that that is indeed the very action to take? Do I have pages and pages of God’s word (His voice) written on your heart? Will I let God be true and every man a liar? Will I allow the wind to blow and shake knowing that I am rooted on rock? Am I willing to contend with despair knowing that He has beat it? How long will I go? I am going all the way.

Andy

remember you

God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times;

                                               Romans 1:9

>whole heart

              -indicates "with all"

  "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind strength."

                                                            Mark 12:30

              -indicates completely and without any division

  "devote yourself to prayer, with an alert mind and thankful heart."

                                                            Colossians 4:2

      >>devote (defined) "give all or a large part of one’s time and resources to one thing

>How constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times

I believe there is much to be said about this verse, because each part goes hand in hand. Paul prayed all the time because he had an undivided heart fully committed to God, and he had a undivided fully committed heart because he prayed all the time. I think back to my post "Thoughts from a caucus at my house last night,"  I want to get this. People who became professionals at anything, simply stated, "just did it alot." It was the hobby they just never let go of, the class they loved so much, the studying they did for fun,  or the game that was more than a game. Whatever it was, they just did it alot. It’s the same way with prayer. We just have to do it more. It’s not a book away, a prayer meeting away, the next revival meeting, it’s the next second you lift your heart to God. Lift your heart and leave it there. It’s the best! Why so hard sometimes? We give our hearts away. Simple. I need not make a case against giving my heart away, I know too well, I just must give it back to Jesus and not take it again. But in the rare case that I do, I will quickly recognize this and once again return to give it back. One may argue that this happens everytime we come to prayer and that our lives are merely the act of giving it only to take it again. I would say this is not accurate. I believe it has happened and will happen to anyone willing. Only we must admit the division and repent. We must acknowledge our weakness so we can be strengthened, otherwise we are merely fakers, who are members to the gym, but never actually train there. There will be a day when my heart will ALWAYS be fully his for the rest of days.

For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him." 2 Chronicles 16:9

This post wouldn’t be complete without mention of the "what of his prayers."

>I remember you

        He prayed all the time for the people he never met and yet would one day minister to? Are you praying for the people you haven’t met yet? Those who YOU will be the answer to their prayers? The faces you will touch, encourage, strengthen, and even lead to Christ?

Remembering,

Andy

one note

I am currently sitting in the refuge (sanctuary) of REAL Church listening to our baby grand piano get tuned. We were given this piano which was headed for the junk pile, and now enjoy it on a weekly basis thanks to our dear friend NETTA! For those who don’t know piano tuning is a enormously tedious process. It deals with tuning 244 strings individually. Each time this process is hitting the string repeatedly until the correct pitch is reached. The tuner may hit the same key 20-30 times before moving on. One note, one pitch at a time. So you hear a monotonous sound that is neither dynamic or enjoyable, each time changing pitch ever so slightly. The tuner of the keys cannot move on to the next string without achieving the correct pitch on the string in question. I feel like this is true of our lives. We may have “244″ different pieces in our lives God is working on to achieve correct pitch. If I play “my piano” and I realize that I have some out of tune keys, I am generally inclined not to play those keys, and yet, God wants every key in tune for eternity. I must be willing to let God work the note he wants until it is the correct pitch. How foolish that many live one octave lives not embracing the tuning process of God. We would rather fake like we are in tune than admit we are out of tune so that we can be tuned. This may be frustrating and tedious but God wants our lives to fill the room with incredible music. Anyone who has ever heard a truly gifted pianist knows that there is no sound like the sound of the Master of the Keys filling the room with sound from his instrument. I am a piano, meant for great sound where everyone can hear it. I will be tuned.

God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed. Hebrews 12

Andy

thoughts from a caucus in my house last night

I had a thought last night. Something that makes an intense amount of sense to me.

here goes.

I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. 2 Tim 1:3

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Ephesians 6:17

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6

I believe here and many other places Paul speaks about prayer as habitual. I certainly do not discount the amazing power in prayer by saying this, I believe I only confirm the spirit in which Paul prays. Often and always. It is second nature. This amazing, practical, unlimited gift of prayer becomes something so second nature that you in essence respond to it and interact through it without even thinking.

I think the ideal prayer life truly resembles a smoker. Yep, that is what I think. Let me explain.

To those of you who have never smoked before, I am sure that you have seen smokers around you. It is nearly infuriating how obvious a habit it is. Everything a smoker does in a day is bent around the idea of the cigarette. Wake up for a cigarette. Grab a cup of coffee with a cigarette. Drive in 20 degree weather with your window cracked the smoke from the cigarette doesn’t kill you. (ironic) Go to gas stations to buy gas where you can also get your brand of cigarette. Go to restaurants where you can smoke, because after eating you like a cigarette. (This becomes diners, and 24 hour places.) (Why do smokers always stay up late?) A smoker gestures with his cigarette. He takes great care to ash properly and keeps ashtrays around. Uses great caution not burn a hole in his clothes or anyone else because he knows the power of the flame. He relates to everyone through his cigarette. He stands outside with others and cigarettes. He builds relationships by the cigarette. His clothes smell like smoke, his teeth are affected. His hair, gums, car, and everything are affected. It is maddening how something like a cigarette literally becomes this persons life.

They call it a vice or a habit.

This is real prayer.

Real prayer. Waking up with, and talking to Jesus, driving in the car talking to Jesus, going to a restaurant talking to Jesus. Prayer becomes the way that you relate to everyone and everything. Just as Paul would say “Constantly making prayers for you.” You deliberately go everywhere with everyone to talk with Jesus. Your gestures and movements are prayer. You look for the 24 diner for a place to pray. You stay up late and wake up early, walk outside in the freezing cold, meet people through prayer and everyone you ever meet immediately can tell you are a man of prayer because of the impossibility of being known otherwise. It has become you. Your eyes show confidence only found with Jesus, you smile is genuine because you have been smiled upon by Jesus, your walk is steady because he has ordered your steps, your speech is clear because he has given you words, your love is evident because he has first loved you, you are compelled to everyone because Christ is compelled to you, you go farther because he went farther for you……AND EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE KNOWS YOU BY IT.

This is real prayer.

Too bad many Christians today, myself included treat prayer like they would a cuban cigar. We make paryer an event, a serious time not to be taken lightly, we enjoy the taste and are very contemplative regarding prayer. We are civilized and do not take to the “Fiends” very well. We have rooms, and tools, and jackets that show we are people of manners and dignity, worthy of some honor. WE have no idea of prayer, if this is our view.

Paul was a fiend. Prayer was his vice.

I want it as mine.

Andy.

p.s. I smoked two packs a day and chewed tobacco for 3 years. Jesus saved me. That night I quit. its been 4.5 years! Praise God.