Just Want To Be Loved?

To be refused is a very hurtful thing. Many times in my life I have been refused, cast away and completely mocked. Sometimes I was merely passing through an area other times I was actively trying to help others. It is easy to want justice to make things fair and lash back. In places where I have been trying to do good and help my fellow man it may make me want to recoil and withdraw and cease the aid that I was trying to bring, but that is not Christian. To be a Christian is to be merciful, to love, to provide acts of charity and accept the fact that you will not always be accepted. Jesus came to teach his people about love. How to love and forgive and to serve their fellow man. In return because he upset the powers that be and was not the great military/political leader that many sought he was arrested, beat, whipped and mocked. He was made to carry his instrument of death across town for all to witness and he was mocked and spit on some more. At the end of his journey he was nailed to a cross and raised and he did so to take the blame and pay the price of our sins. God could have sent wrath. Jesus being God himself could have removed himself from the situation and leveled a healthy dose of revenge, but he didn’t. He loved, he took the hate and the pain and the suffering and was merciful. God forgave, Jesus forgave and we are the better for it. Through Jesus’s kind and merciful act we can find our way to heaven. All we must do is accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour; to become baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit; to love God with all our mind, body, soul and to love all others as we love ourself. With that we can learn a treasure trove of ways to make our lives on earth so much more peaceful and worth while and through faith and good works we can find our way to heaven in the afterlife. Jesus asks us all to take up our cross and live as he did. He wants  us to worship God as he did. Jesus wants us to care for the sick as he did. He wants us to feed the hungry as he did. He wants us to love and care for the poor as he did. Will we me refusal along the way? Yes, but that should not deter us from trying. Will we be mocked along the way? Yes but we shouldn’t stop loving. Will some try and strike us or threaten us for following Jesus’s ways? Yes, but should not return in kind. For if we give up, stop loving, and strike back we only help this world turn into a hell on earth with pain, hate and poverty instead of trying to build a heaven on earth where there is peace, prosperity and where no one is left behind. 

Luke 9:51-56

51When the days drew near for him to be received up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. 52And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him; 53but the people would not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. 54And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, "Lord, do you want us to bid fire come down from heaven and consume them?" 55But he turned and rebuked them. 56And they went on to another village.

A Poem: I Wonder, I Question

I Wonder, I Question

So I question, I wonder

Where are you today?

So I question, I wonder 

Where am I supposed to be going

I know my home 

I know my path

But how am I supposed to get there?

So I question, I wonder

Are you proud of me?

So I question, I wonder

Am I worth it any way?

I know that you believe me

I know I could if I could see

I know I know but still I fall from time to time each day

So I question, I wonder

Why did you ever make me?

So I question, I wonder

Can I make it some way?

I know I have a purpose 

I don't want to let you down

I know that I can make with you by my side

So now I question and I wonder

All that's deep inside

Because I know you're out there 

Always waiting deep with pride

 Even when I stumble 

Even when I fall

I know that you believe in me 

If I will only follow you 

I'll make it out through this all 

Lost Without a Map?

It's a sad thing to be lost. It can be down-right frustrating. You try to get somewhere but you just keep spinning your wheels. No matter how hard you try you get absolutely no where. After a while your sense of urgency can be lost and if you continue lost with no resolution you might just give up, perhaps you might even shift your focus altogether and try to go somewhere new, somewhere easy. To keep pushing on is really not that hard if you learn to deal with the setbacks, though it feels so much easier to just give up. For those that push forward and don’t give up, such joy will rain down upon them. It’s making that touchdown, it's sinking that put 3 under par, it’s sinking that shot far past the 3 point line at the last second. First the release and relief of accomplishment and then the joy in realizing the win, it’s having that feeling that you belong that you have earned your way and you only feel that better things are to come. Finding that, “OH YES”, moment with Jesus is a similar feeling. When you finally hit that moment when you believe, the pieces fall into place and a clarity surrounds you feel as if you have encountered like no other and you have. Its different things for different people what might bring clarity for one won’t another. We all have unique journeys that we are on but we can all find our way to God. We get there through Jesus. He came to help pave the way by dealing with that Original Sin. He teaches us how get right, get clean and how to navigate life. He loves us no matter what we have done and he will love us no matter what we do in the future. Will we make mistakes? Yes, but because of Gods mercy and love he understands and forgives. He forgives because he loves and that is all he asks of us. He wants us to love him, God, and everyone we meet. He wants us to forgive when we are wronged and before we are even asked. Seeing Jesus for who he is really is an amazing moment but thats just the beginning. It gets so much better, there is so much more to experience and receive and enjoy. I encourage all to spend some time with Jesus’s teachings and to study his ways. For in them and to travel with him you will find glorious peace and salvation. You will find love and acceptance for Jesus is the son of God.

John 1:47-51

47Jesus saw Nathan'a-el coming to him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!" 48Nathan'a-el said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." 49Nathan'a-el answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" 50Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these." 51And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man."

A Poem: My Child

My Child

The sky is wide and clear

My mind full of hope for your days

While you frowns are a pause

Your smile is with me all days

I see the possibilities

I see the fruitful fields

I see strength inside each day

Like an artisan molds clay

I too take great care

Each pass each spin

Each line cut

I do my best to bring out your beauty

Your base I toil to make strong

To suffer any storm

I build upon a warm strong core

I support the heart inside

With careful words I reinforce

The teachings that are right

I've never been a perfect man

I know I never will

I rely on what I learn each day

To help you grow with what's right

My hands are old and fragile

Though know that I take care

And when I do misstep

I take corrective care

With water, time, and knowledge

I will re-sculpt again

I try my best to correct

Imperfections in your will

Forgive me you deserve better

You are so great indeed

I can only hope 

Through you I keep learning

One day you'll walk away

And I'll become to tired

Please help me in those days

To not forget all that I aspired

I only mean you love 

For each and every day

For I am so grateful

God let me share your days

Who am I and Who are You?

It took me a long time to figure out who I am. I felt so lost for so long. Make no mistake I knew what I did. And much can be told of a man by what he does. However I was wandering the world aimlessly walking and dealing day by day. It important to know who you are. To find what your purpose is. For if you know who you are you have insight to where you are going, what your call is. Sometimes I think I was just a wandering soul lost with no purpose. For a time I thought I was a musician, a writer but I was just babbling about things that were off the top of my head. Now I have purpose I have vision. I know who I am. I am a sinner trying to sin no more raising children to love, forgive ,work hard and respect. I am someone who toils when it is necessary to feed as many as I can but also who sits, prays and meditates to become better than I was yesterday. I am a Christian who tries to love God with all this heart, mind and soul and tries to love others and when I fall short I ask for forgiveness and try again. I know that Jesus is the son of God. I know this from studying the Bible and through that, my human reason and the gift of faith I believe it to be true. I believe in Jesus because I study his teachings and put them into practice. I have reaped the rewards of my stewardship. I have found peace and love. I have found happiness and community with others and him. I believe that there is a God. For when I open my eyes for the day and see the sky that rains and shines to grow the earth; which yields plants for me to eat and provide oxogen to breath; which gives home to all the creatures of the world I see purpose. I see the design of something beautiful and with each layer I pull back looking inward or outward I see purpose. I see hope and beauty and wonder. With sciences discoveries I do not find doubt, I see my creators ways. In times of conflict, pain and persecution I pray and ask for help and I feel the presence sometime of the Holy Spirit come upon me and aid me in my travels. I am no one special. I am just a soul on a mission to put as much love into the world as possible and to share where that comes from. Its important to know who you are and to know the people around you. I hope you know that Jesus is the son of God. If not encourage you to look with and find out with me. For he is and he is wonderful. The lessons to learn are unending and so is the peace and happiness that awaits, and so I ask, who are you?

Luke 9:18-22

18Now it happened that as he was praying alone the disciples were with him; and he asked them, "Who do the people say that I am?" 19And they answered, "John the Baptist; but others say, Eli'jah; and others, that one of the old prophets has risen." 20And he said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" And Peter answered, "The Christ of God." 21But he charged and commanded them to tell this to no one, 22saying, "The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised." 

A Poem: Inside My Path

Inside My Path

The ground shakes with great force

The metal clanging echoes all around

With each shriek the metal shard dives down my back

Mouth gagged and bound I merely hang

Roaring applause rains in from the crowd

Fists in the air they cock loaded ready to fire

Stones at hand some with knives torches still some others

My eyes are calm

I take the pain

I look into the windows of their minds

They seem to look past me

Their rage glaring past my soul

How many bridges were burnt to flame this fire?

When will it end?

Where will I go?

The road I might not know

I do not care 

For each place I go 

I have a shoulder at my side

I feel the rain or so I think

Yet it feels like more a wave

My eyes focus

And yes I see 

A wave of spit rains down on me

A moment in pain

In a life of faith

And hope knows well my name

A tear it shed 

Though not for me

Cause I don't feel their pain 

Every Move You Make, I’ll Be Watching You

Try as I may I cannot hide. I am the things that I do and they are out for all to see. In this age where everything is recorded it seems we have to be on alert 24/7. Who is watching and what for, never before in America have there been so many cameras ready to catch our every move. Don’t worry I am not going to delve into conspiracy theories but even if the cameras weren’t there we would be watched all the time. Should it be that way? I remember one of my favorite priests saying one time, “If you are about to do something and you find yourself looking around to see if anyone is watching then maybe you shouldn’t be doing it.” As Christians we need be mindful for people watch us not for us but to see what Christians are like. Do we swear, lie, cheat, covet? Do we pray before meals? Do we goto Church on Sunday? More importantly how do we act when we are not in church? Convexly the opposite is true. Do we not pray before meals because we fear ridicule? Do we not read our Bible openly because we fear to be thought of as uptight? Do we fear to teach lessons referencing God because we are afraid of stirring up religious conversation? Know this, above all else God is always watching. I know that for some of the things I have done in my past I am surprised God has not struck me with lightning. I chuckle a little over that but he is always watching. He is always hoping that not only will we choose the right way but also share why we choose what we choose if it is for him. If we walk a life where we do as God asks and talk about God and try to share his ways and love will we find ridicule? Yes, but thats part of our call to take up the cross. Accepting Jesus as my lord and savior has given me gifts beyond imagine. Never did I think in days past that I would be where I am and have what I have. Its is all because of God, the teachings of Jesus and help from the Holy Spirit. Think of this though, the lonely soul, lost and beaten, dirty and ashamed, not knowing where to go or how to get where peace and love flourishes.  Could you look that person in the eye and not feel remorse that you did not help them and allowed their continued suffering? God calls us to love others as ourselves. If we were the one in pain how would we feel if we found out someone had the answer and did not share it. I think maybe we would be hurt, perhaps angry or confused that someone thought us unworthy to share with. Make no mistake there are those looking let us not hide the light of Jesus that we hold inside. Let it be a guiding light for others. And for those lost, welcome to the doorstep, please come in for on the path and in the home of Jesus love is in abundance and you are wanted.

Luke 9:7-9

7Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead, 8by some that Eli'jah had appeared, and by others that one of the old prophets had risen. 9Herod said, "John I beheaded; but who is this about whom I hear such things?" And he sought to see him.

Crooning Bout the Sidestep

I remember one day I was at work and I was having a terrible day. Everything was going wrong and I was completely stressed out. I hated my job. I did it cause it provided for my family but everyday I would dream of doing something else. I always thought I would get to work for God by for him songs and get to support my family do so also. It hasn’t worked out. I chuckle and it's okay. This one night in particular though I started to pray, I was begging actually. “God, I hate it here I wish I could just work for you”, I said. Flash forward I get a call, “Hey Michael just wanted to see if you wanted to teach CCD again this year?”. My gut reaction, no. I have a family of 4 and an old house I am trying to fix up and a job that can be demanding in certain ways and this and that. My mind was focused on what I wanted and what I was trying to do. I don’t know why but I said yes. My tone must have be something other than thrilled cause I was asked again, “Are your sure?” I replied yes, and the next day as I was trying to figure out how to get out of it popped in my head. “You did ask to work for God (me) didn’t you?”, and I was like, “YEAH BUT NOT LIKE THAT!” God can see what we need and what is better for us than our wants. Maybe I’ll still get where I want to go but this is the path I need to take. I trust in God. I try to learn from Jesus everyday. I will confess I have been bit by the bug. I was a worthless sinner doing all kinds of stupid stuff. Feeding my ego relentlessly for quite sometime and I was completely unhappy. So I started studying, learning and growing. I found that giving myself out of love like God requests was very fulfilling. So now I teach. Am I the best? Nope, I don’t even teach every Sunday. I am lucky that I get to work with one of my heroes this year. So while I am teachings a bit I am learning way more. So out I go, everyday I walk out into the world with my little book and a heart full of hope. I pause and listen hard. I pray several times a day and listen. I share as much as I can when I can and I listen. I am no one but a sinner asking for forgiveness and trying to help make the world just a little bit better than yesterday. Not by my means but by Gods through the teachings of Jesus and with a little help from the Holy Spirit.

Luke 9:1-6

1And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, 2and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal. 3And he said to them, "Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics. 4And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. 5And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them." 6And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.

A Poem: Pondering the Pain

"Pondering the Pain"

Alone I hear the screams 

Anguish, fear and pain

Blood flows all too freely

And yet I hear nothing

The breeze flows uninterrupted over the plain

Murmurs and laughter pepper the air of slaughter

Where is the rage?

Where is the disgust?

And yet another nude is held high

With my head low I retreat

Into my mind where I find solace

I find calm and I regroup

Many times will I walk the path

Many times will I wonder

How to stop the hate

Why and where it comes from

Circles are burnt into the pastures of my mind

Packing over and over again

The earth shown 

Rocks now dust from the constant travel

I ask, I beg

I pray for resolve

I could fall

I could hate

I could turn as cold as a stone

But the path that leads is empty

It never fills

And it allows blood to flow too freely

Like precious seeds parachuting through the air

I search for resolution

I await for my descend

I await my new surroundings

Will I nestle in a rich soil

Or shall I land among the thorns of man

I ask for help

To be strong

To rise up

I will throw my branches to the sun

I will shelter those that need shade

I will hold the lost 

Make a home

Or a place of rest

For the rage of man is temporary

Do You Hear the Chains Clanging?

Slave has such a negative connotation and it should. When we think of slave we think of all the injustices of the world where one group of people took away the rights of another. I remember once after playing a concert with my band a woman came up to me and asked if we were Christian. We were a 2 piece Heavy Metal band and we wore suits, sounded like a good idea at the time. Anyway my drummer confessed that he didn’t believe and before I was so struck by the question that before I could answer the woman declared that, “God just makes you a slave”, or words to that effect and stomped off. I have been a Christian for most of my life. For a few years I faded away but I never felt like a slave following God. Are there things that God does not want me to do? Yes, he doesn’t want me to abuse drugs because he wants me to fill my life with something meaningful and he loves me so he doesn’t want to see me physically deteriorate. He wants me in the here and now rather than hiding in a chemical illusion. Yes, he wants me to wait until I am married to have sex. He doesn’t want me catching diseases and he wants me to save that most intimate special movement for the highest love between two people who are ready to bring new life into this world in a relationship the is commented with no end. Yes, he wants me to love him with all my mind, body and soul. Its not because God is an egomaniac, its because created me out of love and wishes to have it reciprocated. Yes, God wants me to stop thinking about myself and help my fellow man. He wants me to feed the hungry, cloth the naked and tend to the sick. Does doing all these things make me feel like a slave? No, I don’t feel like a slave, rather than eat as much as I want and get drunk all the time and try to have sex with every woman I see and take drugs that put me in a state of false euphoria I focus on the “we” not the “me”. Doing all those things makes me feel like a selfish jerk. It makes me feel like I only care about myself and feeding my ego. God calls me to give up my life. To give up looking inward and to take up my cross. He asks me to look outward like Jesus. He asks me to help others to no end. All the rules that make me a slave as some say are this. 1. Love God (God, Jesus, Holy Spirit) with mind, body and soul. 2. Love others as myself. Thats what it all boils down to. So each day, even the trying ones, I suit up with my cross and head out. Am I perfect, no, but God still loves me. When I make mistakes I ask for forgiveness and trod on. Free of the chains of pain, addiction, ego and sin. Because as I see it sin is where the slavery is cause enough is never enough and you keep trying to get more chained to a cycle slavery feeding my ego.

Matthew 16:24-27

24Then Jesus told his disciples, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what shall a man give in return for his life? 27For the Son of man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay every man for what he has done.

Where is That Whisper Coming From?

Sometimes life can be a real beating. I am not going to lie, I going through what seems something like that right now. These are the crucial times. This is when you can be really susceptible to making bad decisions. The times of trial are the ones in which you can fall, hard. You’ll be told, “Hey you work so hard and they don’t appreciate you. Come on treat yourself you deserve it. Just take a little vacation.” You can but where will you be? So many times I have made the wrong decisions. I have gone with the easy out. I have given up. Did I feel good? Was I justified? Did I feel whole? Giving into sin is a deal with the Devil. Lets make that clear, you may want to dance around and justify your actions but sin is sin and its still wrong. Believe it or not this is the time when your faith can strengthen. Anyone can be your friend on good days but its the bad ones when friends really count. God has never let me down. He’s always hung in there with me in good times and in bad, and just because I can mess up and he will forgive me don’t mean that I should test his friendship and do whatever I want. Being a Christian people are always watching you. They think, “Oh thats how Christians act eh?” Thing is am I acting like a Christian should? God has given me some great gifts. I could walk away and focus on the “me” but then I risk letting those gifts sour. I risk letting that light burn out, and in the darkness the light is what keeps me on the right safe path. I know that some will think I am pretty stupid but I will pray, I will hold with my faith. I will stay strong and endure. I will thank God everyday for what I have and what I am. And I will see the momentarily stress and strain fade. I am no nobody special its not me I need to focus on right now is the “we”. For I know often what I learn on the journey far outshines the potholes in the road and the grace I receive makes me stronger.

Luke 8:16-18

16"No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a vessel, or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, that those who enter may see the light. 17For nothing is hid that shall not be made manifest, nor anything secret that shall not be known and come to light. 18Take heed then how you hear; for to him who has will more be given, and from him who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away."

Nothing Like a Road Trip!

Being lost is something that can be very frustrating. Usually you are trying to get somewhere important and you have to be there by a certain time. We may fret and worry because few like being late. Its sets a bad example, and in this day an age it seems to be a mortal sin now to make a mistake or be wrong. Often I have been caught up in this scenario, though I will have to admit it can make for a rather interesting adventure. While in the moment I may be worrying about whether I will ever reach my destination, once I arrive I can look back on the events of the journey and chuckle. As humans we have developed roads and back roads, maps of great detail and now with GPS we can find out how to get anywhere, until. Until the GPS goes hay-wire or someone put up a confusing detour sign or we left the map at home. Life is like that, wether we know it or not we are going home. Is it the one we want though? Rather will we be happy when we get there? Are we going were we think we are going? With so many distractions in the journey of life it important to make sure we haven’t taken a wrong exit somewhere. Its okay if we have there are so many backroads to take to get back on the road that leads to heaven. There is an exit through redemption that leads the way at nearly every turn, but you have to take it. The road won’t bend to you. You have to acknowledge the exit and turn. You have to make the decision. Once making that exit Jesus is right there along the side of the road. You can stop and ask him questions but he is all so ready to jump in the car with you and go for a ride. he wants to share the beautiful sunrises and sunsets, but also be there as a helping hand when you have a flat tire. I have been on this journey for quite some time and it brings much joy and peace. It all starts with a seed. Plant it by taking Jesus into your heart, nurture it, feed and water that seed and watch it grow, and with it your strength and ability given by God. Cause really, where do you want to go?

Luke 8:4-15

4And when a great crowd came together and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable: 5"A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell along the path, and was trodden under foot, and the birds of the air devoured it. 6And some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. 7And some fell among thorns; and the thorns grew with it and choked it. 8And some fell into good soil and grew, and yielded a hundredfold." As he said this, he called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." 9And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, 10he said, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God; but for others they are in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand. 11Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, that they may not believe and be saved. 13And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy; but these have no root, they believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. 14And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. 15And as for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bring forth fruit with patience.

Follow But Don’t be a ZOMBIE!!!

Some people get hit by God/Jesus and it totally changes their lives. Many grow up with it so its not so much a hit, but rather a slow slide. Though for most though there is an opportunity in live where the realization of who Jesus is and what he brings hits. With this moment you can become “born again” if you choose to do so. Changing you life can be a pretty serious thing depending where you are. It can also be scary. It can be easy to say no and life stays the same boring thing. Or you can as I say, “level up”. There is no doubt God wants you to make a choice. He doesn’t like wimbly, nibbly, luke warm attitudes. He prefers to have you full in or full out. Do you like friends that are fair weathered? Do you like friends that hang in the good times but leave as soon as you need help. You read stories of thousands of people following Jesus at times like when he fed the 5,000. That’s what people did. They met him and found him amazing by his works and his word. They got “zinged” and felt they had no other choice than to follow. The world was anxiously awaiting a savior now God anxiously awaits you. He wants to share his, love, knowledge and word. He wants you to follow so you get to experience the wonderfulness of being a Christian. Will it always be easy? No, you will have tough times, but you will not be alone and what waits for you is so much greater than the joy you can receive along the way. It all starts with accepting Jesus letting him heal your wounded soul and then letting the journey begin.

Luke 8:1-3

1Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, preaching and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, 2and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Mag'dalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3and Joan'na, the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.

How Many Balls You Jugglin?

Sometimes I wonder what I got myself into. I am an artist you see, and well being a father of 4 now can be rather challenging. Many artists stay single and I now know why. Its easier to focus on the art. However when I contemplate that my life I begin to feel rather hollow. Yesterday I came home and had to shift gears and become Plumber-man! My toilet was whopper clogged and seeing that we only have one in my house, well, thats a big deal. Especially because my wife runs a daycare. Little bodies don’t like to wait. Often I shift from auto mechanic to carpenter to graphic designer, business consultant, therapist, tutor, teacher, lawn specialist and so much more. I do it all thankfully and while I sigh from time to time, I really do enjoy it. So many times I hear, “God is so demanding. He has all these rules and wants so much.” God understands. All God wants is for you to love him and love others like yourself. He wants you come to his Church once a week so he can help calm and juice you back up. That’s it, I know those are rather broad strokes but thats what it all comes down to. Does he want you to drink or do drugs? No, cause he wants you to base your life in the here or now and he wants you healthy. Does he care if you have unmarried sex? Yes, cause he doesn’t want you to catch disease and he wants you to know true love and happiness is not a momentarily perversion of pleasure. Its the building block of a magnificent relationship. I could go on but it really all boils down to so little. In comparison to what I do each day, what God wants me to do, its so very little. 

Matthew 11:25-30

25At that time Jesus declared, "I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes; 26yea, Father, for such was thy gracious will. 27All things have been delivered to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and any one to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

The Call of the Cheeseburger!

Sometimes I get this major feeling to stuff like 50 cheeseburgers down my throat. There were days past when after a hard days work I would want to drink a 12 pack, just to get warmed up. I hear cohorts at work many times throughout the day speaking about wanting to hook up with this guy or that girl for seductive pleasures. Human is 2 parts. We have a physical body or “flesh” that desires. We also have a soul which makes us spiritual. Unlike animals though we have free will and reason that allow us to make decisions and choices. Jesus wants us to rise above feeding that flesh or filling that empty hole with earthly desires. He wants us to love. He wants us to reach for something higher. We were made out of love and God wants that back just like a good parent. Everyday and everything is a gift. He wants to see our acknowledgement, love and appreciation. He wants us to take care of this planet through love for each other. Jesus taught us to give up our desires for something higher, better.

Luke 9:23-26

23And he said to all, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake, he will save it. 25For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? 26For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

In the Presence of, What?

Many times we don’t see what is right in front of us. We may have an inkling but don’t really know. Its important at all times to be in the here and now for if we don’t we never know when we are in the presence of greatness or great evil. Lives can so quickly change direction. One day everything is well its seems we are blessed and nothing can go wrong. We take it as a gift, but do we say thanks? We may even think things are going well because of us. That we willed it. While we to have a heavy hand on our days in our time we rarely are so great. Those days we hit all the green lights in traffic, is it us that makes that happen? God loves us and wants us to have a good life like any parent to child. He knows all and sees all and gives us rules and guidelines, not to be a dictator but to light a path that will help us through life. For many on the bad days we pray in desperation, “God please help me! Just get me out of this and I will do and be yours forever!” The question is do we follow through? Do we forget until the next calamity. God loves you and is waiting to hear from you. Like a parent with a small child he wants to hear the good and the bad. He wants to comfort us and help us with skinned knees and broken hearts. And just as much, he wants to hear “Thank you’s” and “I love you’s”. For how hollow is a relationship of yours where you give and love till it hurts and all your loved one does is take. How full is that relationship and how much more will you give if you get back. 

Luke 7:11-17

11Soon afterward he went to a city called Na'in, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. 12As he drew near to the gate of the city, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a large crowd from the city was with her. 13And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep." 14And he came and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, "Young man, I say to you, arise." 15And the dead man sat up, and began to speak. And he gave him to his mother. 16Fear seized them all; and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has arisen among us!" and "God has visited his people!" 17And this report concerning him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country.

A Poem: Jewels

"Jewels"

Round and round I go

So much my head begins to spin

Looking for an anchor

Looking for my home

So many ideas pepper the land of my mind

They shine like jewels so precious

Which to choose

Which to grab

My arms so full already

As I pass through the hills and valleys

Up the grade and down the slope

My arms begin to wear

Soar and stiffness sets in

Sweat rolls like the falls in paradise

To the plains I reach 

A sigh of relief comes over me

But the sun shines bright and bother my eyes

I cannot shade them

My arms so full

Hard to see squinting in pain

The temperature drops

The sun fades behind the clouds

And the thunder begins to clap

I hurry my pace to nowhere

Sting my arms cling to those jewels

The wind it hammers

Hardly can my feet stay beneath me

The rain sheets down

Soaked I weigh twice as much

Hurry hurry I run to nowhere

The path now rocky

I try to navigate

But I fall

All is out of my arm

All on the ground now dirty some broken

Release from my body

The stress the strain

Only one of the jewels now shine

Simple and small it calls to me

I pick it up and move forward

My burden light

My hope full

Easy I shall move

The storm has lifted 

Now I can see

I unencumbered 

I move forward and can see

Home

Somewhere Out There…

Its important to know where you’re from to figure out what you need to do to get where you want to go. Jesus came from the most unlikely of places. A unwed, poor mother in a time when poor unwed mothers would be stoned to death for having sex out of wedlock (adultery). Out of those circumstances we receive Jesus, a man that changed the world and has taught so many. He teaches to not judge but forgive, to not hate but to love and that he was willing to die a most horrible death for mistakes you have and will make. I invite everyone to take some time to study the teachings of Jesus. Whether a Christian or not he has some very powerful words. Even Grandi was a fan of Jesus, it was being turned away from a Christian church though that turned him off. I encourage all to love with blind eyes and welcome everyone. Jesus calls us to feed the hungry, cloth the naked and tend to the sick. There was not caveat there. He didn’t say feed, cloth or tend to those that look like you. He didn’t say to just pay taxes that say are supposed to do that. God wants us to get our hands dirty. He wants us to humble ourselves and serve others in need with our own two hands. As someone who is a sinner I know that I have much to learn. I want to be a better person so I need study and practice. I look to Jesus for that. He fills me with a hope and a light that lifts me higher than I have ever felt. Each week I goto Church to learn and to give back. I go for community and to study and to find opportunities to help others. I thank God everyday for blessings he has bestowed me. With my eyes forward and my talents in hand I kneel humbly in the service of God and my fellow man. With God, Jesus and Holy Spirit as my guide I know I can accomplish anything.

Matthew 1:1-16, 18-23

1The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. 2Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, 3and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, 4and Ram the father of Ammin'adab, and Ammin'adab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, 5and Salmon the father of Bo'az by Rahab, and Bo'az the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, 6and Jesse the father of David the king. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uri'ah, 7and Solomon the father of Rehobo'am, and Rehobo'am the father of Abi'jah, and Abi'jah the father of Asa, 8and Asa the father of Jehosh'aphat, and Jehosh'aphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzzi'ah, 9and Uzzi'ah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezeki'ah, 10and Hezeki'ah the father of Manas'seh, and Manas'seh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josi'ah, 11and Josi'ah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon. 12And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoni'ah was the father of She-al'ti-el, and She-al'ti-el the father of Zerub'babel, 13and Zerub'babel the father of Abi'ud, and Abi'ud the father of Eli'akim, and Eli'akim the father of Azor, 14and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eli'ud, 15and Eli'ud the father of Elea'zar, and Elea'zar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, 16and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ. 18Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; 19and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; 21she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." 22All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23"Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel" (which means, God with us).

A Poem: Pull of the Hole

Pull of the Hole

Walking along the path I see that hole

Deep and wide anguish lies within

My attention wanders as I reflect

What am I?

Where am I going?

What is at my feet again?

Again the hole

I feel your pull as you neglect

Again and again I speak

I see your eyes wander

The disgust of your thought painted on your face

Boiling is the feeling that rises

The heat of my pains scorches my heart

Into your eyes I watch the blank stare

I wonder why you stab me so

I wonder why you choose to be blind

You're lost and in pain 

Yet you refuse my hand

Cool and welcoming from the heat of pain

Continue to walk I do

The sky wide and bright

So cool and free is the horizon

Trees reach to the sky

Clapping their hands for the beauty the see

Again I look down to ponder

And again I see that hole

Pull it does 

The gravity so strong

Into you eyes I feel the pull

I see the stare

I feel the bond

And you should not be left behind

Into the hole?

Out of the pain?

Where will I find the answer?

I pick flower on this day and try to reflect

Where, what rock holds the answer 

Lost In the Rule of It All?

“Yup yup, gotta follow the directions”, so many times I hear this echo in my mind. Particularly because I am a man and most times we don’t even take the directions out of the box. So many do I meet that want to “follow the directions”. It can be very helpful indeed but it doesn’t always work with humans. We are not entertainment centers that will be all good if we just follow the directions. Jesus came at a time when the Jewish people were lost. Many didn’t know the meaning of the word and some took it so strictly that they took the humanity out of it. Its like my step-son, who everyday is to come home and to his homework. I was taught by my father that its important to work hard and do the job right and from that I have reaped many benefits. I in turn try to teach that to my children. However, sometimes after a particularly bad day at school I should set the work aside and help him mend before moving forward. 

Jesus came at a crucial time to “reset” the law. It became about rules and commands rather than about love and ways to keep God’s people safe. Jesus came among us and loved us and tried to teach us to love. Many thought that the Son of God would bring a military victory over the romans and when the Jesus came acting like a “hippie” preaching peace and love many were confused, distraught and angry. Those in power in the Jewish temple were upset because Jesus was threatening to remove them or make them unimportant. So arrested him, had him beat, spit on, mocked. They made him carry his own cross across town, laid him down on it, nailed him to it hung him to hang and then stabbed him in the side for good measure. This to a man that preached peace and love and forgiveness. Some of his final words were even, “Forgive them father for they know not what they do.” With even his dying breaths Jesus loved. He loved to death rather. So, does God have rules? Yes, and they should be followed, but take time to understand them. God is no bully. He is full of love for all.

Luke 6:1-5

1On a sabbath, while he was going through the grainfields, his disciples plucked and ate some heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands. 2But some of the Pharisees said, "Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the sabbath?" 3And Jesus answered, "Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: 4how he entered the house of God, and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those with him?" 5And he said to them, "The Son of man is lord of the sabbath."

A Poem: Mother

"Mother"

How can I understand you

All around it is hard to see

Where is the end or beginning

In each day like each breath

You rest right before my lips

Holding off the walls that fall

Protection is my aim

A shield with I cover

With my hands I try to hold all the pain

Water pulls the sand 

And so it tries to erode

Though I stand strong

In each days long

Sometimes I sorrow for fault

My metal weak for time distraction

And you deserve so much better

As the sun should rise high in the sky

So should you

A North Star for many

Guiding without asking 

She leads the lost and keeping them safe

The pit of hunger aches 

And the found trembles with disarray

Yet you fill the hole and stand last in line

Through the chaos of the storm

With debris thrown all over

You walk the aftermath

And regain order once again

The ground again seen

Order again returns

All by you loving hands

Giants may tower

The seas may be vast

The stars in the sky so endless

However this may be

You are more great

You hold much more

And love farther than it may be

I know your head may hang

And wonder where to go

But know that you are not over looked 

And we are glad that you make this home 

Trying to Jam in That Square Peg?

Far too many times I have been guilty of trying to stick a round pet in a square hole far too many times. I always say its something that might accomplished but you’re going to make a pretty big mess. I decided a long time ago how I was going to help Jesus. It was my way, not his, and of course my way was flawed and I didn’t accomplish a thing. For years I wrote songs from a  Christian perspective but I would stop short at actually proclaiming the word or where I was coming from. As I walked further and further down that path I got farther and father away from my goal. I wanted to tell stories and enlighten and all I did was take part in far too many nights being surrounded by the excesses in life and eventually succumbing to them. I thought I was getting a taste of the good life, but I was bound in slavery. There was never enough drink, drugs, music or easy relationships. I was empty inside and felt alone. No matter how much I tried to consume I only got hung over, burnt out and no one was around to help when I was in trouble. I was left by the side of the road to die.

God was always waiting for me to come back. I finally did come home and I had to learn life all over again. I had to learn what real love was. That it wasn’t some time in the bedroom but truly caring for someone and putting them before me. To disregard my wants and desires for someone else’s in a righteous way. Instead of looking for a high that was false based on chemical reactions in my brain I found one what was through love and true by studying how to love and more importantly forgive. That fills the hole permanently and spreads from Jesus through me to others and hopefully forward. I learned that a celebration is truly for those that were once lost and now found when they also learn the true meaning of love and forgiveness that comes from God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. I know some might think this is stupid. That I am weak, but I don’t care. I have what I want and the suffering has faded. I invite you to a new way. No matter if you think you’re lost or not. Life can be better. 

Luke 5:33-39

33And they said to him, "The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink." 34And Jesus said to them, "Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? 35The days will come, when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days." 36He told them a parable also: "No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it upon an old garment; if he does, he will tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. 37And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; if he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. 38But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. 39And no one after drinking old wine desires new; for he says, `The old is good.'"