Within this heart, certainly just a chemical pump, made for maintenance, regulation, delivery and recovery.  Why then does it matter so when considering those things which reside at the center of our relationship to the universe, to God and each other?  Does the heart have memory?  It appears there are no such capabilities attached to its physiognomy.  Does it have depth, perhaps as a unique, specially crafted device for maintaining the primary plasma?  Why then do we assign to this organ the romantic or credible allegiance to God, Family and Country?

The head thinks yet the heart feels.  Aren’t those both functions of the head?  I mean all electro chemical impulses, memories and response are from the brain, sent through the central nervous system.  Why would these be assigned to the heart for what appears to be the history of mankind?  Because there is something there that is not of logic, not of simple thought or comprehension.  That spot where idea passes some intangible boundary to become belief and then further to increase in to dependence and faith.  We do not look to a man who has character and courage as a man of “head” but a man of “heart”.  Because at the center of our chest resides the core of who we are the blood pumping oxygen regulating, cell energizing mechanism that makes us who we are?  I don’t just simply think therefore I am, my thoughts Matter, therefore I am.

In this moment I resemble my Maker.  Knowing that although it is always important to be a thinking man with ideas, reasoning and wisdom, it is also equally, perhaps of greater importance to be a man of Faith, without which it is impossible to please God.  Father, this thing is complicated and I count my joys that I have been able to face diverse temptations, lusts, angers, envies and fears that patience has been employed which left to do its good work will at some point lead to perfection.  I understand the difficulties of that task that you face with me and I am sorry for the troubles you will inevitably encounter with this nearly impenetrable cranium.  But Lord you have my Heart, that has always been open and I believe it is there that you reside.  For I know you, not idyllically, not ideologically, not conceptually, but know you for the awesome Father God that you have always been, are and will always be.  My Heart tells me it’s true and that is good enough for me.  In Jesus’ Name I thank you for sparing me for whatever purpose it is you have before me.

No confusion in the moment where the Lord and you meet and he says clearly it is not yet your time son.  No hesitation you fight, stick your finger in your wound and run toward battle, knowing if the Lord has left you here then he will certainly preserve you through the storm.  It rages, your head feels like it will rupture from the pressure, but somehow you breathe, take a moment, wipe the sweat and blood from your brow and act.  That is the moment of disambiguation, where you have traveled beyond event horizon and there are no lies, only truth and that truth is that God wants you to survive.

You thought that you couldn’t get any funnier looking, but then you have to laugh and a young Mexican girls runs to her Mother’s skirt in fear having seen your outstanding condition.  Bloodied, battered, scrape, scratched and swollen you must appear a gruesome sight, but you are still alive and that makes only laugh harder when the little girl points to you.  Defenders of life, we are not always pretty, but to see out hearts as God sees you would think again.  How they see you and who you really are may be two different things, only one of which truly matters.

They loved me and many tried their best to care for their Brother.  Though I was beyond reach and communication, I felt their mighty prayers, bidding me stand up and fight.  So I stood and cried out to Jesus, running in his strength for mine had gone, still focusing on the fact that none of these creatures can hurt us as the Word clearly says.  So it was the promise that preserved me.  The firm stand in His righteous promise to cover me, provide for me and protect me.  Sure, He may allow the enemy’s fiery darts to reach my flesh, but that too is for larger purpose, a purpose that may yet be seen, oh but my growth, my faith, my testimony they have been changed by that interaction.  It is never me who fights, I overcome, I depend, I stand in courage knowing that the Lord fights for me and will deliver us from our trials.  I love you Lord and will follow you even to the shadow of the valley of death, if that is where you bid us go.  In Jesus’ Holy Name.

How do I do nothing?  It seems an impossible thing, to stand bye while that monster on the wall marks time as metronome marks the four four of a Gershwin tune.  Nothing!, Really, I am to simply watch while my eye twitches and my hands quiver admonishing my feet for beginning to walk without command.  Oh, this has got to end, this agony, but how can doing nothing be such burden, such trial?  I know people on their couches that crave this thing, this nothing, gazing slumberly at a energized rectangle, hypnotic, filled with pleasures, history and words they would have you remember.  Not for me this nothing, but as the Lord bids, his will be done.

Doing nothing, seems an irony, for one action and the other the lack thereof.  But, it is a psychological nothing to which I am referring, doing nothing meant to bring about a result tailored to my own desires for completion.  Meaning, this nothing is not doing the something that I desperately want to do to evoke the other something that I wish to turn out right.  Letting go is the first step of a control or willfully disobedient man of God, after letting go an prized moment of voluntary surrender, the true toughness begins.  For at this point when God bids us stay in Jerusalem or go to Jerusalem we understand that the something that needs to be done is the something for which he has commanded us WAIT.  What you are telling me that doing nothing and waiting are one in the same.  Yes, I am.

There are so many times that I have embarked on travels ill advised or left situations meant to teach me the next component of my training simply because I could not tolerate the frustration of not being in charge of the whole thing and being incapable of waiting upon God.  Especially in tough circumstance this is vital, as the Lord is the one who delivers and sometimes if we try and save ourselves we will do unnecessary or further damage that need not occur.  The Lord is my shepherd, which means me being the sheep of his flock I go when he says to go and stay when and where he tells me to stay.  Doing nothing ought to be something with which I am entirely comfortable.  The problem is that it isn’t, entirely comfortable that is.  In fact, it still drives me up a wall.  Standing still for an accomplished man, a doer, a people pleaser, a manipulative man with a fixer mentality is tantamount to failure.  And logic would dictate in worldly terms none of us wants to be known failure so doing something, anything, even the imprudent thing is better than failing immeasureably.  The complication and learning is that waiting upon God is the Best thing that can be done as always indicated by the results of that discipline.

So doing nothing it is and learning to unclench my teeth and untwist my toes and take a big long breath is exactly what I am going to do, for the Lord is in charge and He knows best.  In Jesus’ Name I rest and wait for the proper time to act.

Polished wonderlands, avatar bodies of steel and ironed flesh, memories reprogrammed for the purpose of seeing utopia on Mars, or Sweden or perched in pendulum at Hilton’s L4.  It’s okay they’re just forgotten family, no need to pay heed to their apoplectic pleas for nicety and nurture.  This is the drome, the dome the gathering of tremendous accolade and proportion within which you too may compete for the fate of your brethren.  Snapshots of old tomes reflecting the placating coliseum of empire where innocence was lost or burned for the delight of masses craving, more.  We’ve got no need to remember for in the past lay the failed dreams of yesteryear, forgotten, buried deep, non recyclable rubbish.  Hardened maidens designed for battle, resistance and rebellion dissolve all reflection upon the blessings of motherhood and fealty to good man.

I look to the dream for what it does not possess.  It is full of domination by violence, conquest at means that will matter not as time dwindles memory, forgotten norms of innocence nor investment for sake of others and Spirituality not emanating from self.  Certainly I am as my Fathers before, a warrior, basking in my name echoing against the clouds as my fans clamor for glimpses, sweat and treasure.  What need have I for imagination?  It has all been designed before me with naught but for me to part the curtain and take my honored call, bowing for obeisance in the normalcy of nothingness. Food grown, crops harvested, land tended, water cleansed and captured or children reared, these are jobs for those who have no fancy, no acclaim, no worth in the systems of neon and flame.  What matter have I for feelings, especially my own, for all things will be given or taken by blade, torn, severed or shackled for the purposes of pleasure?

The device, oh the grand pixelated master, beckoning never rest for the price of entertainment and service to digital experience.  When will they convert me to signal that I might live in the blessed dream, sucked from sadness of green, rock and ocean to the limitless horizons of ions, photons and flux?  Wearied of interaction with these frail victims of a life with time and tension.  Escape is my pleasure, to worlds without sand but crystals and suns doused in the silken madness of dimension, holes, within worlds within storms, scorched by stars of tourmaline and tarot.  Where we are all gods and none bid us linger, but fly on to be measured by the game.  Resetting for a time to slumbers rest, questing for that moment to be dead to life but alive to venture unknown worlds in silicone splendor and synaptic fulfillment.  Make me again part of the dream, that I might not struggle with identities and ideals and this tawdry thing I am.

The happiness of helplessness.  Couldn’t make it in sports, academics, music, engineering, computers or even gardening.  Lost my way trying to be all things to people just so I might encounter that love of which so many had spoken.  Lured by its romanticism, called longingly by its promised brotherhood, edified by its warm embrace of encouragement and blessed that some day the ship of contentment would be at the dock precisely as I prepared to board.  The dream was a dream that I chased as I thought the dream was more than a dream but the treasures of reality, a reality I sadly misunderstood, chasing after romance, friendship, folly and approval.  The joy of being empty, the joy of not experiencing love is where we are drawn to the only place from which we could ever experience it unconditionally and be finally, hopefully acquainted with the Reality of the Love of God for each of us.

I’ve got nothing in the tank, but all I have to do is wait and the Lord will provide, not only material need but also energy, thought, words, counsel and comfort.  Being poor is no longer a thing from whence I run or plead victim to be removed from its anguish, it is a thankful, humble, faithful spot upon which to reside in the trust of God’s Promise.  If I am meant to be empty, unloved, hungry, cold, tired, naked and alone for a while, then good, for this is the purpose to the Good Glory of God.  Having walked this valley I will be able to truly appreciate my perch when once again sitting at pinnacle’s peak gazing on the victory of the mire I traveled below.

Please don’t misunderstand this is not a thing where I seek self denial or masochistic indulgence for the sake of spiritual perfection through longing and trial.  It is a thing of faith and trust knowing that God sent me to this planet for His purposes, one of them being my preparation by trial and crucible of sorts.  I welcome it for at the end lay true happiness and resounding joy in the victory of endurance and overcoming.  The trials are God’s message of faith in my capacity to reach out to him and be propelled beyond each obstacle to the finish line of realized faith.  I am not saying that I want to be cold, naked, tired, hungry, poor and alone.  Rather I am saying that I see the personal faith opportunity in each of these circumstances, knowing that the God who loves me dearly will deliver me, provide for me and call me once again to the mountain for prayer after I have walked through that horrid valley absent fear, longing and disappointment.  This life is not tragedy but only opportunity to learn and express the faith I’ve found in process.  Life is its own meaning, found in the living of each day to its fullest.  In Jesus Name.

The passions of tribal peoples.  Celebrating with unquenchable joy the exuberance of life. Not measured by things but by the size of their hearts and willingness to come together in reason, faith or season to do for the good of all what must be carried by all to be achieved.  What have we become without allegiance to something greater than our own belly full of dreams and wishes?  I want this and that and can’t wait to get my eyes, hands and aspirations all over the other.  Can I live a life of work that others might live a life of plenty or experience freedom from the efforts of my diplomacy, my persistence my production?

Today we dream.  Some dream of a time gone bye.  Views a simpler past where less complications and complexity gave a man the chance to breathe more slowly.  Putting together the components of a recipe for sovereignty, trying to recreate that which appears slipped away or consumed.  Preparing another batch of that most favored punch, hoping that the substitution of missing ingredients and improper sweetening will somehow taste equally refreshing.  Some dream of a sailboat dashed upon the rocks of new landing.  Leaving everything behind, sinking to the bottom to be buried for antiquity as memory, bad or fond, matters not for the newness of things will bring forgiveness, forgetfulness and investment.  They hunger for that new place but neither have direction, ownership or security of knowledge. So it remains simply dream.  Others hope to gather together the frail, windblown patches of today’s tapestry.  Holding their fists in passionate discussion claiming all will be lost without coalescence of thought, a thought that has already dissipated for lack of nurture and maintenance. But still they pound the desk, unwilling to do what it would take to heal the division and too afraid to admit the consuming maw of change.  What are we to do with these options few?

To me, I yearn not for the past as it is a thing to be remembered, in pain or pleasure it is history for the reasons of its failure.  I quest not for contentment in a world that sees no joy in the simple things of righteousness, togetherness and surrender to the concept of mutual determination.  I will not cry peace in a world that has no understanding of its machinery.  Nor will I look to new fresh lands for the frontier here exists no longer.  No where left in order to escape, perhaps Mars, or moon or interdimensional travel will remain the cry of those who would see our past submerged.  Free to perpetuate the same folly on new shores, new floors and doorways to distant lands.  No this future is not mine.  For I dream of true peace, the only peace brought about by the Creator of this and every land.  Life made anew without this sin and death and dying found currently in our crucible of preparation.  I seek the new land, the new life, life everlasting with God before me that I might know the answers to all my present yearning and curiosity.  This is where I will make my stand, not for a past that has gone, not for a people who serve themselves and have no desire to come together for mutual understanding, nor for escape to lands distant or moons of Saturn.  I wait and prepare for the return of Christ, loving you and working to endure the trials of this the era in which we find ourselves, forgiven.  If I dream it is of answered prayer for a good life for you and I, together hand in hand full of the Lord’s Joy in preparation and working for the harvest of God.  In this I find the peace necessary to withstand the fire and rain without complaint.  In God rests my trust.  In Jesus’ Holy Name.

When you’ve got so much love in your heart that you are filled to overflowing and you’ve got no spouse, kids or kin with whom to share that excess what do you do with it?  Well you become a pastor or online speaker, so that love might be spread among as many people as it may, edifying them, encouraging them, calling them to the source that brought you to overflowing.  I am here to give you the love he gave me.  You are the designated recipients of that powerful love, energy and care.  Of course, with love once a giver has determined to offer love it must be understood that the recipient may decline to accept that love, in which case I am going to love you in secret, praying for you. smiling at the mention of your name and sending waves of kindness and care your direction.

Will you help me with this problem, an overabundance of love that seeps from my pores, flows from my fingers in word and has given me a heart too big for one man to carry?  Will you see the gift of grace waiting in reserve with your name upon it and come to Christ that he might fill you up with love, giving you in turn my dilemma?  You may think it odd a man filled with love, even for his enemies to the point where he looks past their sin, illness, oddity or hate to the root of his calling, that they might be healed of it all and be set free by God’s Hand of Mercy.  I don’t know much. In fact. I am constantly reminded of my inadequacies by and enemy and my own self loathing that I am insufficient to this task and that I should immediately quit.  But you see that spurs me on, because of the simple fact that if there is an enemy taking so much time and effort to tell me these things in order to effect my palsy, then what I am doing must be so important, more important then my own feelings or true inadequacies.  What I am doing is the greatest thing any of us can do in life, give love to those who need it freely.

I am no fine example of manhood, talent, style, etiquette or purpose.  What I am is a conduit, a cup, a vessel, vehicle and voluntarily disciple of God to deliver His message of love to a world that without it would die in hopelessness.  We need God.  He Loves us.  He sent me to tell you that.  Simple.  I give what I have been given freely.  Freely I go before God and thank Him for whatever His reasoning for selecting me to do this job of enormous importance.  Freely I walk this path, in love with the Lord and Loving You.  In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

Telling you whom I love that there is a simple, direct or effective way to protect yourself from the tribulation that this world is facing would be the greatest lie I desperately wanted to tell you.  It is not that easy in this man’s world where we are determined to continue the fight with God.  Having stood in their shoes of rebellious indifference, I sympathize with that ignorant approach.  However, that is what it remains and ill informed or worse yet determined decision to chose the losing side of the greatest conflict in man’s history or future.

If we were to chat, I would tell you of the enemy’s intention of enslavement, deprivation and deceit, tragically designed based upon our flawed simplicity to lure us away from the only bastion providing protection from this onslaught, the Waiting Grace of God.  The electronic, auditory, communicative and brain technologies being perfected are designed to enslave the unwilling and will clarify the protected from the vulnerable.  The only way to be shielded from the these intentions is the indwelling Holy Spirit of God.  God is the only one powerful enough to guard you from the great deception and tribulation that will face this Earth as we near His return for Judgment.  I would gladly tell you that there is an alternative truth, because I love and wish to protect you, but this truth is not one from which there remains options.  I know we believe in the many shades of grey, but don’t let them sell you that ideal, because in this instance their is only and has only been black and white, yes and no, on or off, in or out.  Two choices set before us, stay or go and only one of the answer provides freedom, love, safety and relief.

Yes, if there were a way to arm yourselves physically, mentally, spiritually that would adequately sustain you to withstand the coming deluge, I would gladly and appreciatively inform you.  There is only one door, one way, one truth, one saviour, one spirit and in Him alone we find the truth of prophecy, history and heaven.  His Name is Jesus Christ, He died that your sin debt might be paid, buying you back from satan’s clutches to have everlasting life spent in the presence of God.  This day is a unique one, 3-16, for it reminds all of us of the scripture that tells that simple yet glorious truth stated in John 3:16.  For God so loved the world he gave his only begotten son so that whosoever shall believe in him, shall not perish but have everlasting life.  Take my advice, cry out to God, even if you are struggling with doubt.  He is there waiting to accept your call and will give you the faith necessary to make that choice and be filled with his Holy Spirit that is the only thing which can shield you from the travesty of events about to confront humanity.  Do it right now with me please.  Lord, I want to believe.  I want to be saved and washed clean of my sin to spend eternity with you.  I repent and apologize for my sin.  Lord give me the faith to make that choice.  Come into my heart and live with me in this life and the next, guiding, counseling, providing for and protecting me.  I want to be set free.  Won’t you set me free?  Thank you Jesus for showing me the way to truth and everlasting life, Amen.

Do I really know what He has planned for me or perhaps are there several other possibilities constructed from my fear or desire to control the outcome.  Let’s say I have a plan.  I am going to live here or work there, save up buy a boat save the children, feed the poor, construct a monastery or simply live leisurely roaming the countryside.  Those are still my plans, and having made the same mistake that got David into trouble “EVERY” time, not having asked God what He wants before proceeding, how can I expect to follow God’s Plan for my life while traipsing out my own choreography?

I don’t know what He has planned for me, nor have I been able to safely or honestly say that when I review what He has done this past year could I have predicted, manufactured or written the emerging script that He has delivered for my foot steps.  The only way to see what He has planned for each of us is to go to Him in surrender first, then let Him guide our thoughts, steps and subsequent actions.  To do so we will need to be well acquainted with the use of His Spiritual Armour for it is likely and probable that we will be directed into direct conflict with the enemy.  We will need to have the courage, the courage to leave our past conceptions and control behind and follow a road unknown, which is frankly one of the hardest things for this man to do.  I don’t know maybe you are better at facing the unknown than I am, but I will say that after a while you begin to embrace the anticipation and just as a child waiting to unwrap the gifts you look forward to the surprise having left predictable and same ol same ol in your wake.

God is faithful, God is True and Trustworthy to lead us onto the path of His Good Will.  That doesn’t mean that I will never see the darkness for I must admit it probably means the opposite.  What it does mean is that if I muster the courage to face that darkness, the Lord will fight ahead and behind me with his warring angels paving the way to my victory as I proceed in faith, truth, courage and a firm reliance upon His promises.  I don’t know about you folks but I found my plans rather simple, meager, boring and frankly when I reached the goals I set for myself there was always an accompanying emptiness and unfulfilling emotion, as if, “is that it, is that all this was supposed to be?”

He is writing my plans, my script and my footnotes.  I am not only on board but excited to have lost sight of the shores of my own surety, venturing into the unknown, embracing the joy that comes with that abandon.  I am not out of control, but rather within the grasp of the God of order, carefully unfurling the flag of my willing contentment.  I don’t know what the future will bring but I know who is bringing it and upon Him I place my courage, understanding and willingness to move forward to horizons yet conquered.  In Jesus’ Name I pray that you follow Him each and every day of this life and the next.

He wept for no one was found worthy to look upon the scroll and open its seals.  That is how John felt when heaven stood in frustration that no one could look upon what we assume is the title deed to the Earth, nor open the seals of God’s Wrath to be cast down upon it.  Then the angel reminds John that the Lion of Judah is worthy to take the scroll and open the seals of God’s awaiting judgment.

Do you know the Lion of Judah?  Does anyone for that matter know the Lion of Judah?  You may remember reading in the Bible, “behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the World”.  We all know that to be Jesus, as he was sent to be the sacrificial lamb for the sins of all mankind.  But wait the Lion of Judah, couldn’t be the same person could it?  The Lamb and the Lion of Judah.  What if I told you that I know the Lion of Judah?  Would you laugh and mock me, saying something about he thinks himself a prophet or utoh, here goes the Christian again?  That’s okay, I know him anyway.  You see it is that same Jesus who came the first time as the suffering saint to take away the sins of the world, will return this next time to proclaim judgment and take his rightful place upon the Throne.  I do suggest entirely knowing him now as opposed to meeting him when he returns, because there is a huge difference between relationship now and judgment then.

Jesus is going to open up the title deed of this Earth and take back his rightful position of reign upon it, taking it back from satan who has been ruling here in stead of Adam when he lost that position.  The first day that he comes back he is going to fight personally and defeat three different armies aligned against him.  One where the damage will be so terrifying that the Earth will shudder at his Wrath when he defeats the single largest mustered army set against him in the valley of Jehosaphat, in Israel.  He will strike them with the two edged sword that comes from his mouth.  Don’t laugh this His Word which is sharper than any two-edged sword and will simply speak them into death. Then God will drop pieces of ice in excess of 100 pounds upon them that he has been saving up since the beginning of time turning this valley into a 180 mile long disaster.  Why is he going to do this, for one simple reason because these people will have rejected his offer of peace and instead join with satan to rise up against the sovereign authority of God? They will come to fight Jesus and they simply and utterly, Lose.

You want to know this Lion now.  Get to know Jesus that you are seated behind him when this battle is fought, not in front of him to be destroyed in moments.  He is Jesus Christ the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords and all will bow a knee and confess this truth, either voluntarily or be forced to do so at the day of judgment when sentences are pronounced.  He loves everyone, loves them enough to have died for all mankind, but he was resurrected and lives now waiting for that fateful day when he returns for his church and judgment.  The Lion of Judah, Jesus Christ my King.  In His awesome name I pray.