Culture vs. Spiritual Oppression

Why do you want to change their culture?

This is a question that I have been running across lately while exploring how missionaries have gone out into the world to share Christ with those who not have heard. Why do I want to change their culture by sharing Christ with them? What most people in this world do not understand is that, in most cases, "culture" is the special packaging that the world-centered view puts on spiritual oppression. Hinduism is a prime example of this. India's religion is mostly Hindu. And do you think it is a cooincidence that India has the largest number of people groups in the world who have never heard of Jesus? Not only that, but the fact that the Hindu religion have over 3 million gods? The rules and regulations that are in place for those gods, not even mentioning the oppression of society that comes from it, are enough to send an entire nation into spiritual darkness forever.

So why do I hear this question? Ignorance? Most likely. Most people in the world (i.e. the United States as that is our mindset as Americans) do not have a clue as to what Hinduism and other world religions do to a society of people.

A simple analogy: I live in the Pacific Northwest and there is a lot of moss and mildew here. Why? Because there is a lot of cold rain and darkness. If there was less rain there would be less darkness because of lack of clouds. Where the sun is, mildew and moss cannot survive. The same can be said of world religions. "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through the me." -Jesus (John 14:6). Without the son darkness prevails and oppression flourishes. Are the people at fault for denying Jesus? Maybe, maybe not. I would say that most have never even heard his name, and of those who have they do not know the significance of his existence.

Bottom line is I love people. "Hate the sin, love the sinner" as it's been said. I have looked into the eyes and faces of many, many Hindu people. How can I walk by them without sharing the hope and love that I KNOW in my heart of hearts will change their lives for eternity? I cannot. In my eyes, to do so would be to condemn them to hell. Maybe someone else may tell them... but I can't take that chance. I want to share my hope with as many people as I can because I know that hope is real.

The Message in Art

Kind of going off track of where I normally go with my posts, I wanted to put up some artwork that I think speaks volumes to our culture today and some to our past. Some of the images below may speak differently to you than to me. I'd like to hear your comments on them so please leave me a message if you feel moved to do so.

"White Crucifixion" by Marc Chagall 1938, Art Institute of Chicago
Chagall is a Jewish artist - he painted this in response to anti-senisism and the plight of the Jewish people. Little did he know that his painting would have a much different meaning to those who follow Jesus, prominently centered in a beam of light and anchoring the chaos around him.

"Dream of Solomon" by Luca Giordano ca. 1693, Museo del Prado, Madrid
Take close note of the images and icons around Solomon and the image of God.


"Tower of Babel" by Pieter Bruegel the Elder
Take a close look at the focal point, the tower. Notice the crumbling foundation, yet the top is new and still being built. There is a slight to the tower to the left - notice the city in that direction. Also notice the group of people in the lower left that appear to be following a figure in a white robe, bowing to him and holding spears.


"The Calling of Saint Matthew" by San Luigi dei Francesi, ca. 1599, Rome
This painting has an obvious message in it. Jesus (extreme right) calls upon Matthew (behind the table in the middle) to join him. Matthew, then Levi, is a publican, collecting taxes for the Romans, by no means a popular profession. Everyone is astonished. There is light on Levi's face. Jesus' finger is reminiscent of Michelangelo's spark of life for Adam in the Sistine Chapel. On the right, in front of Jesus – Peter.

And now to more modern day icons:

Mural of Statue of Liberty with a skull face in front of an American flag, former US Embassy, Tehran, Iran. Photo speaks for itself. This is typical anti-American propaganda initiated by Muslim extremists. This photo does not show it, but the red stripes turn into barbed wire down the wall.

Notice in this version the small cross on the upper lip of the face (click to enlarge).






And just for fun (but not very funny):
The 2018 White House lawn...


The hidden meaning to this post? To show that throughout history man has been called to serve God and that Jesus has been the center of this calling, from the tower of Babylon to the missionaries of today. Who is a missionary? You are! Every Christian man and woman IS a missionary. We are ALL commissioned to "go into all the world" and "make disciples."

More importantly, Jesus came to offer forgiveness to the world, including those who are raised from birth to learn hatred as a way of life (Jihads), by living a sinless life and dying on the cross. Did you know Jesus fullfilled all Bible prophecy in the Old Testament to the coming Messiah (over 400)? A Muslims' search for God (or any person for that matter) can be found in Jesus Christ. Once realization has been made that although God serves different functions through the trinity, He is one and only God. This is what is so hard to grasp for Muslims and Jews alike.

I pray that the God of peace and justice will soften the hearts of those who hate him so much.

Sold Out?

Are you sold out to Christ? If you claim to be a Christian, you should be. What does being "sold out" mean? It means doing what Jesus commanded us to do (a mandate) when he told us to go into all the world and make disciples (Matthew 28:9-20). Esther 4:14 tells us that "such a time as this" is the best time of all to tell others about Christ. "Do the work of an evangelist" is what we are told to do by Timothy (2 Timothy 4:5). Don't just merely believe in Jesus. Tell others! As a follower of Christ, you should know that those who do not know your savior Jesus, will be condemned to hell for eternity (Mark 16:16). This life is short and God gives us many opportunities to share our faith in Him with others.

But are we willing to listen? Are we willing to lay down our agenda and plans for His? Are we willing to pick up our cross and follow Jesus? What does that mean? It means you would die for Christ. It means that telling others about Jesus would be the most important thing in your life! If you don't, you are not sold out. You are lukewarm. Do you know what the Bible says about "lukewarm Christians?" Jesus tells us that we will be "spit out" (Revelation 3:16). Think in your head for a moment the kind of imagery that puts across. The Bible also tells us that in the last days (which have been occurring since the church was established in the first century) many hearts will grow cold. Hearts that have followed Him at one time... read on.

If you feel you are one of these people who calls himself or herself a Christian, but knows deep inside that your money and lifestyle comes before Christ, if you know that there is never any time to pray or have fellowship with God because of the time it takes to earn your money, party, play with all the toys that money can buy, read/watch pornography, enjoy R-rated movies, or just sit in front of the television for hours, then you are a "lukewarm Christian," and it's time to make a turnaround, before Christ spits you out, which I think means, you may be on your way to Hell.

God doesn't want us to just live. He wants us to LIVE! Living out loud, sold out to Jesus. Telling others, people we care about and love, what Jesus has done in our lives. Showing them by our past that He has made an eternal difference in our lives and showing that transformation in our lives. Live out your faith and tell others about Jesus. Show them that you are sold out to Him.

Artwork credit: Dave Kinsey © 2008 Check him out - incredible, sometimes disturbing visuals

Discipleship

Discipleship, by definition, involves following and obedience. In John 14:23 & 24a, Jesus clearly says, “If anyone loves me he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching.” Our western way of thought quickly rebels against this word. We are not legalists. We do not live by rules to be obeyed. How dare Jesus equate obedience with whether or not we love him! Oh, I suppose Jesus can do that – HE IS THE TRUTH!

Actually, it is quite simple. If we love God, we trust God. We believe he desires the best for us and that he knows what is best for us. Therefore, if we love him, it would be foolish to disobey. We don’t have to understand everything; we do need to obey. After obedience, not before, we learn that God’s instructions are way cool, and they actually protect us from having a painful and messy life.

• “God, I don’t understand why you aren’t healing Lucille, but I will still pray for her healing.”
• “Lord, it is hard for me to love my enemy, but I will act good toward them.”
• “Jesus, I can’t afford to give tithes and offerings right now, but I will because you told me to.”
• “Father, I am so busy! Still, I will come and worship you and dedicate a portion of my time to ministry.”

Did you notice the promise that is given to those who obey? “My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” I want that!

RUB OFF – RUB ON
We are witnesses of God’s love and guidance only when we are obedient. Through obedience we reveal to others the truth and ways of God. The unbeliever sees you acting so unworldly, and you are either ridiculed or you create wonder and curiosity in those around you.

• “ What’s wrong with you? You never take things from the supply closet?”
• “How come you never join with us when we’re telling jokes? Don’t you think they’re funny?”
• “Why won’t you tell us what you think of her new boyfriend?”
• “Why don’t you just call in sick if you want to go to the party?”
• “Come on, take it, use it, do it! No one will ever know!”

I will know, and my Lord, who I love, will know. My life is good because I love and obey him, and I would be a fool to think I knew better than God!

IN THE MIRROR
For some odd reason, disobedience has become a common response in our lives, and is often considered not to be a big deal. Here is the truth:

• “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” James 4:17
• “We know that we have come to know him (Jesus) if we obey his commands.” I John 2:3
• “The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives for ever.” I John 2:17

Too often we, like John’s audience, over-spiritualize stuff. We do not connect our daily life with our relationship with God. We borrow money, but we refuse to pay it back, or are late with payment. Is this the good thing to do? We think our homework is boring, so we blow it off. Is this the good thing to do? We are supposed to work our shift, but we call in with excuse after excuse. Others have to double up or come in on their days off. Is this the good thing to do? Our parents tell us to do something. We don’t like it, and we do what we want to do instead. Is this the good thing to do? The movie we rented is foul. We spent $3.49 to rent it, so we have to watch it! Is this the good thing to do? No, no, no, no, and no! And those acts of disobedience are sin because they damage others, yourself, and your witness for God.

Parents, it is of great importance when your kids disobey. If you do not punish and discipline when they disobey they will learn that disobedience is no big deal. Obedience is a big deal! Teach them consistently the truth of God: “Discipline your son, and he will give you peace; he will bring delight to your soul.” Proverbs 29:17

Live it out! Obedience is a matter of life and death for you and your children.

Too Busy to Pray

John Wesley said, “It seems God is limited by our prayer life—that He can do nothing for humanity unless someone asks Him.”

Jesus was a man of prayer. Most often He prayed alone, and the supernatural pervaded the natural. The heavens opened, and the will of God was revealed as the natural was changed into the supernatural, and the Father was glorified.

Obviously, the disciples recognized the importance of prayer. And they must have marveled at His ability to minister to the needs of people they knew and lived with. Their lives were transformed. They never dreamed they would leave their life-long occupations to follow a man from village to village.

They knew about miracles, and maybe they thought the day of miracles was over. Their heroes of faith—Moses, Elijah, Elisha, Daniel, and David—accomplished great feats.

They knew about supernatural provision, the dead being raised, and lepers healed. The Old Testament prophets performed the miracles Jesus was performing. They asked the Master to teach them to pray!

So often our prayer life is directed by circumstances, and we fail to see the core issues. The Holy Spirit helps us pray when we don’t know how—if we will wait before the Lord in quiet meditation. He will show us things to come. If we ask and listen expectantly, He will give us the wisdom to handle situations correctly. When we’ve made mistakes, He will give us the tools for setting things right.

Do not allow the enemy to steal your prayer time. If you have been too busy to pray, don’t waste time berating yourself. Repent for your prayerlessness, receive your forgiveness, and worship the Father. If you simply don’t want to pray, tell Him how you feel, and ask Him to draw you to a place of prayer. Prayer is talking with the Father.

Unite with thousands who are praying for the will of God to be done on earth as it is in heaven. Change begins with us. Our families, our communities, and the nations will acknowledge that Jesus is Lord! Purpose to pray prayers that avail much!

As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? —Psalm 42:1–2

But those who wait on the Lord.
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.—Isaiah 40:31

Marriage was made for a man and a woman

To those who cannot "understand and appreciate" the views of those opposed to same-sex marriage, I would like to provide some reason behind this opposing viewpoint.

You might say that marriage is not honored in our society (1 in 3 marriages end in divorce - see research), but this doesn't mean we should disregard its sanctity. Most who oppose same-sex marriage say that it's immoral and against their conscience. The Bible, being our moral foundation, gives reason as to why it's wrong.

Jesus said, "Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, 'Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate" (Matthew 19:4-6).

Marriage is defined in the Bible as one woman and one man becoming one flesh by covenant and sexual union.

The Bible also defines homosexual behavior as "dishonorable" and "contrary to nature" (Romans 1:26-27). Many will respond that this is imposing convictions on others. But all laws impose convictions on a culture, and all convictions come from worldviews.

This view is not to "control the lives and decisions of others," and it is not out of "ignorant discrimination and intolerance" as many claim. It is taking a stand in defense of what marriage is. As a follower of Christ I am entitled to my worldview - please do not be intolerant of this. It is man's right to choose what he believes. The choice to sin, the choice to not sin. To choose "right" or "wrong." I know what I believe to be true because I have a foundation for my beliefs and morals, not just simply I want to believe what I want to believe.

Muslims becoming Christians

There is a revival happening in the Muslim community. There are more Muslims coming into a belief in Christ than in any other time in history. In the 1980's there were only 500 Christians in Iran. Today there are well over 1 million!! These are all Muslim converts. They are realizing that there is pain, fear and hate in their Muslim communities and beliefs. Please don't misread this. I AM NOT A MUSLIM HATER. I love these people and have spent time with them in parts of Asia. I pray for them daily as I know the hope that they need through Christ Jesus. He is the same today as he was 2000 years ago... please pray for the Muslims.

Israel is GOD's chosen country...

Against all odds, Israel has become an independent nation since 1948. What most people do not know is that the DAY after the signing of independence, Israel was attacked by every Arab nation in the middle east. Think about this for a moment. Israel has a population of 700,000. The Arab nations combined that attacked Israel on this day in history equals 50 MILLION muslims. They HATE Israel. Again, against all odds, Israel defeated these armies and defended their independence. Israel did not have any tanks. The Arab nations had nearly 5000. How did Israel win? Purely by a miracle of God on His chosen people. God protects those who he favors and who follow his laws.

Most people do not know that in 1973 the U.S. was very close to war with the Arab countries. Russia, who has always supported these Islamic countries, threatened the U.S. to remove their support of Israel during this time. Nixon responded by putting the nation on Defcon 3 alert and told Russia that such a notion is grounds for war (in so many words). Russia stepped down their support of the war after this.

One other thing most people don't realize is that a key Islamic leader was very good friends with Adolf Hitler during the world wars. The holocaust is one of the outcomes of this...

The reason I write these things is that we are involved in a Holy War. Whether you are "religious" or not, we are all in this together. THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT NORMAL! They are not like Americans, or anything that we know of. Do Americans forget about 9/11? This was a terrorist attack. It was a MINOR attack! It did not involve the military.

I am concerned that the people of our "western world" have become blind to how the Islamic world views us. DO NOT BE DECEIVED. This is serious! Go ahead and think I am crazy if you must, just look at the facts in our world today. Consider the old testament book of Ezekiel 38:1-6 (the War of Gog). This is prophecy to what will come.

Revival?

A touchy subject lately among evangelical and conservative churches and Christians in general is whether or not we are entering into a revival, much like the days of the Great Awakening of the 1700's. A revival is considered spiritual renewal in the life of the church. Are we entering into a revival? Many events throughout the world point to this. The 1960's through the 1980's was the official 4th revival in the history of the U.S. (called the Fourth Great Awakening). I think that the reason revivals occur is due to the extreme circumstances of our culture and where we are at, as a nation, spiritually, morally, and whether or not the Christian population is willing to step out in faith and believe that God can do anything.

The Bible says that in the last days, the Spirit of God will be poured out among the believers (Acts 2:14-21). Whether or not you believe this or not, the last days are NOW. Jesus' first coming, as God in human form, was the beginning of the last days. Jesus' second coming will be THE final day. So we are in the last days... why should we not expect that scripture is true and that the words in Acts (and many, many other passages) are for us NOW.

Let me rewind a little and enlighten... The U.S. is very much a blessed nation. And yes, it IS founded on biblical principles (whether you believe that or not is not an issue here - it is fact). Around the world are many other nations that have been suppressed by those who do not seek God and do not want him to rule over their land... and they have seen terror and calamity for ages. The Holy Spirit is very active in oppressed nations among the believers there. It has to be because of the power Satan has on other nations. I have seen things in third world countries (specifically India) that would scare people into belief in Jesus. Satan is real and his power is real. Just like the Holy Spirit, Satan can live IN us and I have seen this firsthand. Now why do I explain this? Because the U.S. is BLESSED. God has found favor with the leaders of our nation. He has found favor with our people. We are, in a sense, an extension of Israel. But this is slowly eroding away. As our culture embraces immorality (laws apart from God's laws), we drift further from God. Without belief in God (foundation for a moral truth), there is nothing to weigh morality against. As we take God's word away from our nation (removing scripture references, the 10 Commandments, prayer in public/government places, etc.), what we are doing is taking God away.

We either revive our nation or we perish. We are not invincible. God is. Do you want the power of the Holy Spirit? It will be poured out if only we ask. Believe in the power of God and share his saving grace through faith in Jesus Christ with people around you. He will give you gifts of the Spirit if you only believe that He can.

To sound like a drunkard (as the apostles were called in Acts), the end IS near.

Lord, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I'm not scared because your holding my breath, I only fear that I don't have enough time left, to tell the world that there's no time left...

Marine in God's service

This post is copied from my friend at sleepybearhollow.blogspot.com. It was important enough to share:

A United States Marine was attending some college courses between assignments. He had completed missions in Iraq and Afghanistan . One of the courses had a professor who was a vowed atheist and a member of the ACLU. One day the professor shocked the class when he came in. He looked to the ceiling and flatly stated, "God, if you are real, then I want you to knock me off this platform. I'll give you exactly 15 minutes." The lecture room fell silent. You could hear a pin drop. Ten minutes went by and the professor proclaimed, "Here I am God. I'm still waiting." It got down to the last couple of minutes when the Marine got out of his Chair, went up to the professor, and cold-cocked him; knocking him off the platform. The professor was out cold. The Marine went back to his seat and sat there, silently. The other students were shocked and stunned and sat there looking on in silence. The professor eventually came to, noticeably shaken, looked at the Marine and asked, "What the hell is the matter with you? Why did you do that?" The Marine calmly replied, "God was too busy today protecting America's soldiers who are protecting your right to say stupid things and act like an idiot. So, He sent me."

Heaven or Hell - Does it matter?

Eternal bliss far more surreal than we can ever imagine, without pain and suffering.
OR
Eternal pain in a lake of burning sulfur and fire...

What does it matter? Who cares? Live it up! Do what you want! You only have one life to live! Who are THEY to tell US how to live?! Why do they think they are so righteous? What hypocrites....

This is the scenario today. Complacency plagues our churches today. The typical Christian is merely existing and not being an example or expressing the forgiveness that they have received. People are dying daily without knowing Jesus. Do you know where they are now without having a personal relationship with Jesus? Hell. There are only 2 options. Yes, options. Are you making a difference? Do you know what God can do with you? Are you willing to let go of your SELFISHNESS and let God use you? You are NOT too weak. You are NOT too timid. You are NOT too short, too tall, too fat, too skinny. God can use you. Just be willing!

I am fed up. Sick even. Sick of people telling me that we must be "all love" and "no war." I didn't realize it was still the '70s... Does anyone even realize what God is capable of? He CREATED you. He created everything. EVERYTHING. Think about it. Don't you think that God can do infinitely more than you could ever hope or imagine? (Ephesians 3:20)

There is a sect of Christians today that claim that we should not express our belief on others, but to only live our life as an example. We should do this, but we are also told to go into the world and make disciples (Matthew 28:19). Do NOT for one moment take a scripture out of the Bible and use it against another without taking the WHOLE Bible into context. We are COMMANDED by Jesus himself to go into the world and make disciples! This means getting off your butt and telling people about the saving power, grace, mercy, hope and love of Jesus! Tell someone! It is by His grace we are healed. Allow Him to work in you and move you to share you faith with others.

Too bold? No. Too outright? No. Uncaring? NO! Do you want your unsaved friend to burn for eternity? Seriously. Hell has become an image of pop culture, one of Satan's ways to deceiving us into believing that it is cool (fire, skull and crossbones, demonic images, etc.). THIS IS REALITY. Don't let this world trick you into thinking otherwise. If you are OF the world then you are OF Satan. He has rule over it and will use all those who are OF it. To be IN the world means you understand this and will do as God wills you to share your testimony of coming into faith in Jesus with others. It is by the power of the Holy Spirit that this happens. This isn't just preaching as it might sound. This is real.

Fear tactic? Maybe. God uses fear to help us. Would you jump off of a cliff to your death if you didn't have fear? Probably. God gives us MANY examples to be fearful of Him so that we might turn to Him and ask for forgiveness. With fear also comes love. If we know God and fear Him for who He is, then we know we are loved by Him. Does a father let his child do whatever he pleases? No, he disciplines him and the child fears him. This fear is backed by love because the father knows what is best for the child. The child learns between right and wrong and in turn loves his father for his discipline. God wants what is best for us and it is clear that Satan has control over Earth. But God is greater than Satan. God created him. Don't be deceived by those who claim we shouldn't share our faith. Do we want to "convert" people to Christianity? YES! If they do not believe in the one and only Risen Lord, Jesus Christ, they are going to Hell.

The words are the same today as they were yesterday or 20, 100, 2000 years ago... "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God." (John 3:16-21)

Taking it to new levels...

This post is dedicated to those adrenaline junkies (you know who you are) that are looking for the next thrill. Remember, wear a helmet.

Find your Purpose

As we go day-to-day through our lives, what stands out to you? What is your purpose? What are you good at? Do you excel in an area of your life? Does it have a positive influence on your life? Have you used this ability to help others? Why or why not? Do you want to excel or improve in an area that you feel you have a talent or ability in?

These are the kinds of questions we should ask ourselves every day. We have a purpose here, each one of us. We are each given things we are good at. But sometimes it is difficult to realize these abilities in our culture. America is full of people that are only out to please themselves. This is a destructive lifestyle. We need to look at what we do, as a career, as a hobby, everything we do and analyze it. Does it improve my life or does it take away? Does it give to someone else or does it harm them?

I didn't know what I wanted to be when I grew up... I am now grown up. But I have discovered through various events in my life that I am good at making things better. I have realized that seeing how something could make someones life easier or improving the way things were accomplished came from an early age. When I was 6 years old, I was very neat - still am. My room was never messy and I had an almost obsessive compulsive way about me to have things in order. Order equaled peace. Without order I was a mess. No pun intended.

In my early teens I realized I had an ability to invent. I have always been into cars no matter what the make or model. I loved the idea that you put the key in, turned it, the engine started, the gas pedal made it go, the shifter made it go faster, etc., etc. I loved to know how things worked. When I saw ways to make these things better, I would dream about how to do that. My mind would race (and still does) to the furthest expanse of my imagination. Then I would reel in to reality and decide what part of these dreams could actually be accomplished. In 8th grade, I went to a private school, Neskowin Valley School, nestled in the foothills of the Coast Range at the base of Cascade Head near the little beach town of Neskowin. There I discovered this ability even more so. I remember a project in particular where we were asked to invent something for our science class. Being a private school, we had no official school bus so we would carpool. I rode in another classmates parents minivan (a Ford Aerostar) that I got to know very well. Being into music my entire life (I had my first "walkman" when I was 8 and "Men at Work" and "The Cars" were my first exposure to "modern" music) I hated wearing those old foam headphones, so thought of adding small speakers into the headrests of the minivan and attaching them to the stereo controls in the back seats of the van. There were several other things I did that were "inventive" that are actually now standard in minivans today.

Later, after high school, and after encouragement from my wife, I went into college to study Computer Aided drafting. After a year of that I was bored so moved onto graphic design. This led to web design, photography, painting, and currently organizational skills for use within the college where I work. The whole purpose for explaining all of this is not to gloat about how "special" I am. It is meant to be an illustration of how we can look back into our life and see a pattern. Sometimes the patterns are not obvious at first but they ARE patterns. We can use this information to narrow down what we are good at and then consciously use these abilities.

The bigger reason for this post is not only to discover abilities. At the age of 19 I accepted Jesus as my Lord and savior. To most (non-Christians) they don't really know what this means except that it has become a "catch-phrase" among Christians and Evangelicals. At the time, I really didn't know what it meant, except that I believed (like a mustard seed size) that I was not in control of my own life (rather I shouldn't be in control). High school was a blur and I did not want to keep down that beaten path. Something needed to change and I knew it wasn't within myself to make this change. My journey into my 20s went from surfing with Christian bros to partying again in Salem with old high school buddies during college years. My marriage, only 3 years old, was suffering because of my destructive behavior. A change was needed - again. My wife and I committed to going to church every weekend and haven't looked back. Since my recommitment 10 years ago, God has done amazing things in my life. I am humbled by his grace and mercy on my dirty soul. And best of all, I am forgiven for all that bad stuff I have gone through and every day of my life.

Abilities are given to us for a purpose. God's purpose. He buries them deep within us and slowly molds us to a point where we realize these are gifts from him. That is where the real fun begins. You want to know where JOY and HOPE comes from? It comes from changed lives. It comes from forgiveness. It comes from knowing Jesus on a personal level - not an unreachable god but a personal, loving, gentle, strong GOD. He loves you and wants a relationship with you. If you would like to know more about this contact me: corey@salemsurfers.com.

FIND YOUR PURPOSE

Hindi translator on Blogger

Hello friends! This post is specifically for my friends in India who may have trouble translating my blog posts। There is now a great feature with Blogger that translates English into Hindi! This translation is into the Devanagari typeface, which is a common Hindi print script. I am not sure how this will translate to the 18 different languages of Hindi or to the many more dialects of theses languages, but this is a start. Most of my Indian friends are from Tamil Nadu (Tamil dialect) so they will need to either read Dvanagari or know how to translate. Hopefully this will be useful to others!

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See below for the translation of the paragraph above:

हेल्लो फ्रिएंड्स! थिस पोस्ट इस स्पेसिफिकाल्ली फॉर माय फ्रिएंड्स इन इंडिया व्हो माय हवे त्रौब्ले ट्रांस्लातिंग माय ब्लोग पोस्ट्स. तेरे इस नो अ ग्रेट फेअतुरे विथ ब्लॉगर ठाट ट्रांस्लातेस इंग्लिश इन्तो हिन्दी! थिस ट्रांसलेशन इस इन्तो थे देवनागरी त्य्पेफस, व्हिच इस अ कोम्मों हिन्दी प्रिंट स्क्रिप्ट. इ ऍम नॉट सुर हाउ थिस विल ट्रांस्लाते तो थे १८ दिफ्फेरेंट लंगुअगेस ऑफ़ हिन्दी और तो थे मानी मोरे दिअलेक्ट्स ऑफ़ ठेसेस लंगुअगेस, बुत थिस इस अ स्टार्ट. मोस्ट ऑफ़ माय इंडियन फ्रिएंड्स अरे फ्रॉम तमिल नाडू (तमिल दिअलेक्ट) सो थे विल नीद तो एइठेर रीड द्वानागरी और क्नो हाउ तो ट्रांस्लाते. होपेफुल्ली थिस विल बे उसेफुल तो ओठेर्स!

तो उसे थिस ब्लॉगर फेअतुरे, इंस्टाल आईटी इन्तो यौर प्रेफेरेंसस.

Song's words sum up my life

Mark Hall, lead singer and creator of music group Casting Crowns, uses words that we can all relate to in his music. Honestly, I have never really liked his music, probably because it is overplayed on Christian radio stations. But I actually listened to the lyrics of their most popular song "East to West" and it hit a chord with me (no pun intended). I was curious as to how this guy goes about his life and discovered that he is very humble and realizes his gifting. I read recently this from him concerning his new album The Altar and The Door:

“When we’re at the altar, everything makes sense,” Hall says. “We know what we’re supposed to do. We know how we’re supposed to live. Everything’s black and white. But somewhere between the altar and the door, when we leave and go out into our lives, it all leaks out, and everything gets gray again. The Christian life is the journey between the altar and door, trying to get the things you’ve got in your head, into your hands, feet, into your life. The Altar and The Door is all about the journey. The realization on the journey, the struggles and the victory of seeing it as possible.” (source)

And here are the lyrics that caught my attention, realizing that we all struggle with this as Christians and dealing with our day-to-day walk with Jesus.

East to West
By: Casting Crowns

Here I am Lord and I’m drowning
In your sea of forgetfulness
The chains of yesterday surround me
I yearn for peace and rest
I don’t want to end up where you found me
And it echoes in my mind
Keeps me awake tonight

I know you’ve cast my sins as far
As the East is from the West
And I stand before you now
As though I’ve never sinned but today
I feel like I’m just one mistake away
From you leaving me this way

Jesus can you show me
Just how far the East is from the West
Cause I can’t bear to see the man I’ve been
Come rising up in me again
In the arms of your mercy I find rest
Cause you know just how far the East is from the West
From one scarred hand to the other

I start the day the war begins
And less reminding of my sin
Time and time again
Your truth Is drowned out by the storm I’m in
Today I feel like I’m just one mistake away
From you leaving me this way

Jesus can you show me
Just how far the East is from the West
Cause I can’t bear to see the man I’ve been
Come rising up in me again
In the arms of your mercy I find rest
Cause you know just how far the East is from the West
From one scarred hand to the other

I know you’ve washed me white
Turned my darkness into light
I need your peace to get me through
To get me through this night
I can’t live by what I feel
But by the truth your word reveals
I’m not holding on to you
But you’re holding on to me
You’re holding on to me

Jesus, you know just how far
The East is from the West
I don’t have to see the man I’ve been
Come rising up in me again
In the arms of your mercy I find rest
(The arms of your mercy I find rest)
Cause you know just how far the East is from the West
From one scarred hand to the other (x2)

(Just how far, the East is from the West) (x3)

From one scarred hand to the other…

Isaiah namesake

So it's been some time since I last posted. I have been busy with school and just finished a class in Isaiah (the namesake of this blog). If you ever have the desire, pick up the book "The Message of Isaiah" by Barry Webb ($10 at Amazon). It is a short commentary of Isaiah (which in most cases means boring - believe me, I wouldn't last long with a typical commentary). The way Barry Webb writes is done as if you are reading a fictional book.

The story: political turmoil and spiritual brokenness - the warnings of God as given by Isaiah the prophet.

The characters: Isaiah the prophet, King Ahaz and his descendants, and a furious God.

The place: The land of Judah and Assyria.

Special features: history and poetry woven with prophecy... events yet to pass, judgment yet to come, people yet to be born... and a virgin birth of a savior foretold 700 years before.

The reason this blog's namesake is Isaiah 6:8? He was a sinful man given the opportunity to be the voice for God Almighty, to go and share the message of judgment, peace, and salvation with the world. The angels came to him and purified him in order to share this divine message. I am saved only by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is through this salvation that I am able to share the message of God with you. Not that I have complete understanding of the Almighty or that I have taken hold of any of this, but that I am willing to do this... willing to serve... to live is Christ, and to die is to gain. Do you understand that? It is better to be with God and Jesus in Heaven, but while I am here I will go.

SEND ME!!!!

Best surfing clip ever...

Longest wave in the world

Can I focus for more than one minute?!

This is random... I was reading through my blog getting ready to post something insightful... hmmm. Nothing. Does anyone ever feel this way besides me? Most of the time my mind wanders like going through a fairy-tale land where there are stories of all kinds at every turn. And, yes, it is all animated...

I remember being in 2nd grade and my teacher had me take a hearing test because she thought I had a hearing problem. Well, listening problem would have been more accurate. I scored 100% on the test. I find every day things very boring. I even find myself wandering in my mind when someone is trying to have a conversation with me. This happens every day if not several times a day. I can hear the words they say, but they just go through my head as words not sentences or comprehensible conversation. Of course if it is something I am really interested in I am very focused. I will spend hours on something that is interesting to me. I could write for hours if I was allowed. But only on things of interest. I feel as though I am a good writer. I would love to write more, but then again, it's the whole focus thing...

There are so many things that interest me, probably because I can't stay focused on one thing in particular for too long. I read an article recently written by Tim Kimmel. He is a speaker and author of several books and the founder of Family Matters, a ministry focused on keeping families together. He has the same tendencies as I do. I can really relate to him. He made an interesting point in his article--he started off saying he would love "clock" the person who came up with the diagnosis of ADD and adding the last "D" to include the word "disorder." He goes on to say that he was never good at learning and at schoolwork. I can relate. He finishes up his article pointing out that we are all created different for reasons. And the personality traits associated with ADD is simply one of those "molds," as I like to call them, that God made us fit into. I too, have a problem with the word "disorder." Just because someone learns in a different way than our government likes us to, they are labeled as a disfunctioning part of society. I guess I should just get over it as there really isn't anything that griping will do.

But my point is that I have been created in a way that makes me unique, more so than the majority I believe. I have posted before about the blog SleepyBearHollow and how the author of this blog connected ADD tendencies to some of the most successful (in the worlds terms) and most influential CEOs in the world. I think this is due to the extreme focus that occurs when attempting to achieve something that is of interest to the person. I have seen this in my oldest son, Gavin. He has a tough time when it comes to organized learning, but if he is given a task that he enjoys, he will do it until it is perfected (or nearly so). I am proud of the fact that my son has the same traits as me... I am able to understand better what he is going through and how he learns best. It is not a disorder, but a rare gift.

And speaking of focus, I found a killer video of the world's longest wave, a ripple in the middle of the Amazon river... check it out.

New Book Suggestion

It has been some time since I last posted, thus the reason I opted to leave dates off my posts. It's actually embarrassing for me because I am such a slacker at posting regularly. But since my life is slowing down a little lately (I have finished a 16 month education program) I will be posting more regularly.

No time for any "insight" to events in my life right now, but I did want to share a book that I purchased recently. It was recommended by someone I highly respect and trust--the only reason I am suggesting it before I read it! It is a fiction book, which I normally don't read. I personally think they are usually a waste of precious time, plus the fact that I can't stick with a book long enough to finish the story. Part of the reason I like factual books or books that help in understanding behaviors and personalities of people or books that delve into an insightful area of spiritual beliefs, Christianity, leadership, etc. I can take bits from them without needing to dedicate a lump of time to them.

So anyway, below is a comment from the author from his blog site. It is something I would like to remember and also something I thought would benefit others. To visit his blog go to Windrumers.com. To visit his book website go here: The Shack.

The Need for Control

In my opinion, much of our drive to control (circumstances, others etc) is based in fear (fear of failure, fear of others, fear of being embarrassed, fear of the future etc) and if our fight to control is not an exercise against outright fear, we at least want to minimize the uncertainties in our lives. I am not talking about fear of ‘real’ dangers, but the fear that is linked to ‘imagined’ potentials.

Many think the opposite of fear is courage or bravery, but really the opposite is love. Perfect love casts out fear - there is a direct relationship between the fear in mylife and the settled-ness in my heart that I am loved (the one who fears is not perfected - has not come to wholeness in the matter of being loved). To use a metaphor: the small child of the greatest potentate enters his presence without any fear while others quake. Why? Because he knows he’s loved.

Another way to put it might be that in the process of becoming whole we are continually given opportunities to exchange all the uncertainties of life for the certainty of God’s character. This is an exercise in dependence and we should recogize it for the revolutionary action and rebellious stand against the systems (who are so quick to promise all manner of ‘certainties’).

As we trust God’s character of Love and particularly His active and involved love toward us, we don’t have to understand the circumstances of our lives in order to live freely and live loved. Faith sees past the uncertainties, and in some sense even embraces them, knowing that the certainty of Papa’s love is the only place where there is real solid ground.

Fear, on the other hand, runs from uncertainty or tries to erect systems and devices or gives allegiance to anyone or anything that promises to make life more certain. But the ultimate little child pointing out the emperor’s nakedness, is death. Death is a mockery of every attempt at certainty and why the world lives in fear of death, the one ‘potential’ that is assuredly ‘certain’.

The life of being loved and the life of faith is a life of risk; learning to hear the voice of One who loves in the midst of screaming uncertainties and demanding necessities. It is a journey and process…this learning to live loved. We will make lots of mistakes, but like Peter and Mack, we will come to understand and actually be overwhelmed by joy when we begin to realize that we would rather be sinking out on the water with Jesus than ’safe’ back in the boat, without Him.

-willie