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I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, to discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practice resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms, and, if it proved to be mean, why then to get the whole and genuine meanness of it, and publish its meanness to the world; or if it were sublime, to know it by experience, and to be able to give a true account of it in my next excursion. -thoreau
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Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples: “The scribes and the Pharisees are seated in the chair of Moses. Therefore do whatever they tell you and observe. But don’t do what they do, because they don’t do what they say. They tie up heavy loads that are hard to carry and put them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves aren’t willing to lift a finger to move them. They do everything to be observed by others.
Matthew 23
Jesus speaks to the so called leaders of church, the ones who are supposed to be the examples, the one who are supposed to be servants of God. But there is a drastic difference between saying and doing. I have to ask myself Do I really do what I say? Do I follow Jesus like the Bible talks about, and serve others with compassion for God’s people? Do I talk with Jesus and tell others he is True? Do I compromise and take the easy way at home, at work, when no one is watching? Or does integrity and discipline mark my life?
Would others say that my life is marked by Love for God and love for others unconditionally? The pharisees were actors. fakers. wannabes. They faked themselves mostly. But one day the Bible says all will be laid bare. When no one else is around to impress is He truly my shepherd and do I have everything I need because of that truth? I WILL BE REAL AT ALL COSTS! The Lord is my shepherd I have everything I need.
Andy
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I work in one hour. Battlefields are everywhere, this is mine tonight. My armor? Indestructible and Indispensable. My gear tonight? Tuxedo (my uniform) with black dress shoes (one with electrical tape on the heel.) So, I may not be the classiest guy around, but God gave me this job (crazy story) and I have free reign to share Jesus by how I work and live.. So I do! Pray that I would be used with every opportunity presented tonight.
Andy
Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out. Ephesians 6
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Discipline is acknowledging your ability to take the short cut, and then not to take it.
Andy
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A man with no name stands patiently in line with his hands half folded on top of the box he would be sending. The script is ukrainian and it’s obvious that he works hard by the hardness of those hands. Parted, thin, dark hair is swept to one side and a navy blue jacket keeps him warm.
He is a pleasant fellow, this man with no name. Standing there, I wonder about him. I wonder about his story. I wonder about the moment he first experienced love, the first moment he was rejected by the world, the best dinner he ever had. I wonder about his family if he has any. I wonder where he came from, where he is going. I wonder about him.
Does he know Jesus? Does he even speak English? Standing there I play these questions in my mind and ask myself once again, What is this life? How will I leave a legacy? How I admire this man! Simple, honest, a worker. He proceeds to the counter and attempts to mail his package, with broken english and a stallone accent he begins to explain that he is sending “Two shirts, two pens, two t-shirts, and four socks.” I smirk to myself. I love this life! It’s so simple and yet a real moment.
he complexity of the mind is gone and can again grasp the simplicity of a humble, hard working ukrainian man wanting to send things precious to a loved one. He is told that he must write out everything in the box on a piece of paper, he places the pen to the page and pauses. He says “I can’t really write, I only speak english.” I walk over and dictate for him the contents of the package and then walk out the door.
I can’t put it into words but moments like these really profoundly speak to me. The small, real, true moments of life. REAL Life happening before my eyes. Goodness seen everywhere even with crazy things going on. I love to watch people when they don’t know they are being watched. They look like Jesus to me.
andy
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When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. – 1 Corinthians 13:11
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. – Matthew 18:1-4
What a paradox! Becoming a man I must put childish ways behind me AND unless I change and become like a little child I will never enter the kingdom of heaven. The best part? These fit together with no conflict. How can one understand this? My first take on this subject will be the content of this blog.
Age and time kill passion. Kids are filled with passion for everything. But time, business, stress, lack of (fill in the blank), cause something to happen where adults really don’t hold a strong opinion about anything. They simply are “alright” with it, it being everything. Do you like this music? For the adult, “it’s alright” is the common response. But the kid? “This is the best song ever!” or “This is absolutely terrible.” Kids tend to be I love, or I hate kind of people. Adults just seem to be tolerant.
But is this unavoidable? Does growing up and being responsible force one into a box of adult-hood where no opinion is strongly held, thus creating a life with little adventure and lack of passion? NO! NO I cry! With mercy new every morning we are not sentenced to adult-hood. We are renewed everyday if we make our lives an offering to God.
So back to the paradox, simply put.
More passionate; More responsible.
I will live both.
Andy
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In order to move forward we must rediscover our pioneer spirit, our first love, our creativeness. So that those who were never told of Him will see him, and those who’ve never heard of Him will get the message.
-Chilly Chilton
4 years ago on a back porch vision was cast and pioneers broke ground for a church that was only dreamt of. The verse that stood out was Romans 15:19-21 in the message, yet this version still sticks out in my mind. Vision became reality. Fast foward to 2008, here again with great excitement I throw myself into rediscovering my pioneer spirit, first love, and creativeness. All things to all people at all costs, I am willing to do whatever it takes to win the lost. Jesus is coming soon, lets not hold back now for fear we may be disqualified after we have so faithfully spoken to others. (1 corinthians 9:27)
Pastor Chilly spoke recently about sticking your flag in the ground. Just like the foundations of America, we stuck our flag in the ground only to see that that was simply step one. They had to fight for it. We have fought/ are fighting/ will continue to fight, and as always if we decide to fight, we must decide to win. WE WILL WIN! Join the fight, this is a GREAT WORK. I am not coming down.
Andy
