Today at Wally-World...

A co-worker of mine was struggling with a pile of boxes today, and said: "Jesus hates me..." I asked her if I could lend a hand and she told me what she needed help with. I said: "Jesus didn't stack this pallet, I watched the person who did, are you a Christian?" I told her that Jesus was telling me to help her with the pallet, and wanted her to know that He still loves her. she said: "I don't think that's what He's saying". It was awesome to see God at work today.

Staggering Chapter...

                               Psalm 24

1. God owns the earth, the world, and everyone in them.

2. Because He was the architect and Builder of each one.

3. Who will make the hike up Yahweh’s hill?

    Or who will stand before Him?

4. Someone who has washed their hands with clean water (Eph. 5:26), and who’s heart has been made pure through shed blood; one who’s mind, will, and emotions only hear truth (falsehood can enter the ear, but not reach the heart) and they keep their promises.

5. This pure hearted person will receive blessing from the LORD

They will also receive righteousness from the God of their salvation.

6. God-seekers have their own generation

-Those that seek His face.

7. Lift up your heads, O gates!

        And be lifted up O ancient doors,

              (Let the real King come in.

                     The High King of heaven.)

                            The King of Glory.

8. Who is this King of glory?

          The LORD strong and mighty,

                The LORD mighty in battle!

9. Lift up your heads O gates!

         And lift them up, O ancient doors,

                That the King of glory may come in.

10. Who is this King of glory?

           The LORD of hosts,

                 He is the King of glory.

-Paraphrase by N.L.  Vss. 8-10 From the ESV

Do you see the picture painted by David?

We’re part of this huge procession of people who are God seekers. We are in the capital city waiting and watching as the King returns. As He approaches the entrance of the city, we give the command that the gates and the ancient doors be opened, so the King of glory may enter. And when He enters we introduce Him as the LORD of Hosts – The King of Glory!

Journal Entry October 20th 2011

      Daniel took some significant risks in his walk of faith. Daniel refused to eat the king's meat, even though he knew that he and his friends, and the captain could be severely punished for it. Daniel easily could have battled in court over the crazy religious laws that were put into effect, and with the kind of position, and reputation he had; he would have easily won, but instead he willingly "took up his cross", he was thrown into a den full of lions, these were ferocious beasts, and I wouldn't be surprised if Daniel had already witnessed others who were eaten alive, having their flesh removed and their bones crushed. Daniel wasn't afraid to go before the king who had already planned his funeral, knowing full well that this could expedite his execution or bring about a more torturous death. Daniel knew that the "safest" place he could possibly be, was in the center of God's will.

No Title...

...he turns off the TV after enjoying MI-3, returns the DVD to it's case, places his thumb on the flat surface of the PS-3 and waits for the system to respond with a beep and power off. he thinks: "I could be some kind of Special Ops hero, the PS-3 powered off after sensing my thumb."
"When Jesus saw the crowds..." (the people who recognized Him as their conquering hero) it says He went up on a mountain, He walked away from the crowd. But His disciples followed Him, and He hiked up the mountain and sat down. Then He began to teach them, He said: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven." This is the Hero, the conqueror, the one you normally would call strong in spirit, The new king who will conquer the Romans, perhaps like Alexander the great conquered. But He says something quite different: "Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." We're in a different kingdom, the victory is already ours, but we're not the heroes, Jesus is our Hero, and we serve Him...
       Our is not the conquering
                 Ours is learning humility...

Tis the night before Christmas...

Thinking back on my childhood Christmas experiences

Bing Crosby...
Louis Armstrong...
Julie Andrews (joy to the world)...
Our old record player...
Making a fire in the fireplace...
Decorating the tree...
Setting up one of my many trains (I loved trains)...
Singing with kids Choirs...
Caroling...
Baking...
Canasta...
               ...And right in the middle of all my childhood Christmas memories is my parents, who always tried to make Christmas special for us... and to be honest, I think they did a great job at it!

Merry Christmas Ya'll!

A couple of Days ago...

A couple of Days ago... I had the opportunity to talk with a co-worker who was raised Buddhist. She asked me if I had gone to church the previous Sunday, and I told her that I had. We talked for a few minutes about Church, Buddhism, Christianity, and freedom in Christ, she told me that she could not go to church any more because she is Buddhist, she showed me her green Buddha necklace and said she needed to go a the temple instead of a church. Before she left my department she asked if I went to a baptist church, and she told me that I sounded like a baptist, I laughed, but I'm not actually sure what it means that I sound like a baptist. After she went off to do her job I asked the Lord: "what would you say to a Buddhist?" And He responded with a verse: "Come unto me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest..." So when I had finished work, and clocked out... I went and found her; I told her, Jesus said: "Come unto me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest..." and she responded: "I know, that's why I came."

      Have a blessed Christmas!

                                                   Nicholas Locke

A sermon I did at IMI this last spring.