home.

I read a lot. Not as much as I'd like to, but much more than I ever have before.
As I read, my goal is diversity as much as it is development. So I make it somewhat of a priority to read books (and blogs) that challenge my thinking and assumptions. What I've found is that some of my assumptions were hollow and inherited sort of like a huge oak log that has, in part, become weak and rotten.

Our thinking becomes hollow when we cease to think about the things we profess to believe. Following Christ is not about assimilation, but at the core, abandonment. In fact, I would say that abandonment is the essence and true measure of acceptance.

Earlier I read this post by Winn Collier, pastor of All Souls (Charlottesville). It made me think of the depth and weight of a person's continual decision to live an abandoned life that echoes of the Kingdom come. May your life reflect the Kingdom ahead and its King who ransomed all for you.

The beginning of repentance is homesickness. (Will Weedon)

Longing for home, for wholeness, for love, for life as God intended. Even if, truthfully, we don't want God today, perhaps we can begin by just allowing ourselves to feel the weight of the whole mess. There's plenty of that to feel, I think. And for this reason, Lent is a gift.

curious.

How do you
feel about
questions?

When is it OK to question something? What should be questioned?
Is
there
a
line
not
to
cross
(or to cross)?
How do you respond to the questions you have within?

Why are you or why are you not questioning things that you have measured to be true?

told you so.

"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body. But rather, to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up,totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming...WOW what a ride." (Mark Frost, author)

I love quotes that help to re-frame and recalibrate my perspective. At times during our journey, we easily become disoriented. We loose sight of the fact that we are headed a particular direction in the first place. Our path feels more like a super highway bogged down with traffic. In those moments we are reminded that we probably cannot do what we set out to do. We examine our dreams and goals and determine that they now seem rather lofty. We adjust.

Life is not about making adjustments to avoid failure or to try to fix the outcome. I was reminded of this this morning as I read the account of Israel's exodus out of slavery into the land promised by God via the wilderness. Keep in mind, Moses had a pretty decent inferiority complex and did not think this was a good plan to begin with. Yet in spite of Moses' fears, he found himself leading a nation out of slavery. The plan seemed to be working except for the fact that Pharaoh and his armies pursued them and caught up to them. Failure seemed certain.

There was no escape.
The people were unraveling.
A sea stood between them and the rest of the path.

As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up and saw them—Egyptians! Coming at them!

They were totally afraid. They cried out in terror to God.11 They told Moses, “Weren’t the cemeteries large enough in Egypt so that you had to take us out here in the wilderness to die? What have you done to us, taking us out of Egypt?12 Back in Egypt didn’t we tell you this would happen? Didn’t we tell you, ‘Leave us alone here in Egypt—we’re better off as slaves in Egypt than as corpses in the wilderness.’”
Exodus 14:10-12 (MSG)

In fear and doubt you certainly have the opportunity to shrink and adjust, but you also have the chance to trust and move. Don't worry so much about eliminating fear and doubt. Instead resolve to trust in all circumstances and transcend adversity with the strength and ability that God will provide.



one love. one life.
Guy

DOWNLOAD this...thank me later!

Mad Church Disease (Anne Jackson)
Hint...click the pic or the book title above.

It is a download for Kindle. Don't have a Kindle, neither do I. What I do have is the Kindle application for my iPhone. What to do if you don't have a Kindle or an iPhone...? Download the book still and read it on your computer as a pdf file. If you still have questions: 1) catch up technologically (paper's gonna be obsolete soon...Al Gore will probably use it as fuel to run his jet to warn you of the global warming epidemic) 2) save yourself the frustration and buy the book (paper version) and support this amazing author.
Happy Ash Wednesday! Guy

Oooppps!

To my dear faithful subscribers:
Sorry for unnecessarily filling up your inbox this morning with multiple entries for the same posts. As you can tell, I'm still quite the novice.

Texas Blizzard II

With the events of the last few days (i.e., record snowfall in TEXAS!!), I have been on a bit of a hiatus from blogging. As I stated last week, I will be sharing my thoughts on Jesus' idea of the blessed life. Two words come to mind almost instantly as I read through Jesus' teaching: counter-intuitive and freedom.

For now, here are a few pics from our snow day(s)...here's the photo album.

BOOK REVIEW: Hear No Evil

Matthew Paul Turner is a blogger, author and speaker. You can read his blog here and his website here. I follow his blog regularly and enjoy his insight and humor. I think you'll enjoy it, too.

Leave a comment on why your fav 80's band was the raddest on the planet, and I'll send you a FREE copy of HEAR NO EVIL.

Below is a brief overview of his newest book which releases today.

If you’ve ever had the opening bars of a song transport you back in time or remind you of a pivotal spiritual moment, Matthew Paul Turner’s honest—and frequently hilarious—musings will strike a chord. Straightforward and amusing, Hear No Evil is Turner’s “life soundtrack,” a compilation of engaging personal stories about how music—and music’s ability to transform—has played a key role in his spiritual life.
Groove along on his journey as young evangelical Turner attends forbidden contemporary Christian concerts, moves to “Music City” Nashville, and dreams of becoming the Michael Jackson of Christian music. Cosmic and compelling, keen and funny, every page is a new encounter with the people, places, and experiences that have taught the music-editor-turned-author some new things about God, forced him out of his comfort zone, and introduced him to a fresh view of grace along the way.

A collection of wise, compelling, and often uproariously funny essays built around the experience of music as a transformational element in a moment of truth, Hear No Evil mines Matthew Paul Turner’s humorous memories of his evangelical youth and invites readers to groove along on his journey.

From attending forbidden contemporary Christian concerts to moving to “Music City” Nashville, Hear No Evil chronicles Turner’s “life soundtrack” which morphs seamlessly into the stories of people, places, and experiences that have taught the music-editor-turned-author some new things about God, forced him out of his comfort zone, and introduced him to a fresh view of grace along the way.

Buy the book here.

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

NEW MUSIC POSTED.

Check out the new music posted in the SOUNDTRACK TO HAPPY LIVING section.

enjoy.
live happily.