If you are hungry then there is not much else more satisfying that some fresh bread. If its just been cooked then I'll eat it without even putting butter or anything else on it
Food is something we need, but its also interesting and exciting, its something to be enjoyed. Jesus must of thought it was important as he did several miracles with food and wine. There are also many accounts of Jesus meeting with others around the dinner table. Still Jesus' own words show that there is something much more important that food.
"People need more than bread for their life; they must feed on every word of God." Matthew 4:4
As much as food is important to our survival, the word of God is even more important! The living bread is crucial to our survival. We will die unless we're getting fed. When we're hungry and starving, it doesn't take us long to remember 'oh I didn't eat breakfast this morning' and go and get some food. But for some reason when we get spiritual hunger pains, it can take a while before we do go and feed. We don't need to be force feeding ourselves, we just need to realize that this bread is interesting and exciting. God's words aren't any old bread, no matter how old they are they will never get stale. They will always be fresh! How cool is that!
For myself my consumption is still more like nibbling, but really I'm starting to get more hungry. I'm also realizing different things in my life, are in fact hunger pains telling me I need to eat more.
March 30, 2006
From the family of an Indian Christian killed
I originally posted the prayer below almost 2 years ago and reading it again I find myself moved by it even more now. It really does speak to me because I feel like now I'm desperate for a breakthrough ... but for that to happen something has to break!
I asked for strength -- and God gave me difficulties to make me strong
I asked for wisdom -- and God gave me problems to solve
I asked for prosperity -- and God gave me brain and brawn to work
I asked for courage -- and God gave me dangers to overcome
I asked for love -- and God gave me opportunities
I received nothing I wanted -- I received everything I needed
My prayer has been answered
March 21, 2006
Dare to be Different
Interesting advertisement ... Not exactly sure what they're getting at there, but I like the PINK ;) Maybe they're making a statement, that pink can now no longer be associated with girliness ... or being gay.
Some people are still dead set against guys wearing pink, others simply don't like the colour. I myself didn't really like the colour that long ago, but at the moment I seem to like it.
It is amazing how things change over time, how some things become acceptable and other things become taboo. It has now become acceptable for guys to like pink and to wear pink, but it has become taboo to share your faith with someone. It does make me think a bit though, now I'm happy to stand up and say I like pink because not many people are going to bash me for that, but to get up and tell people how cool Jesus is, I will think twice because thats likely to get me into an uncomfortable position.
I might be confident enough of who I am as man to proclaim "I love pink and I'm not ashamed of it" but I'm sad to say there are times when I'm not confident enough of who I am (in God) to proclaim "I love Jesus and I'm not ashamed of it!"
Its easy for me go along with what is publicly acceptable, but since when has God called me to simply fit the mould and expectations of the world. And how could I be ashamed of Christ, after all the shame he took on my behalf. God is not even ashamed of us, in spite of what we have done to defame his name!
There have been many times I've prayed to be more like Christ, but haven't been ready to be persecuted to even a fraction of the extent that Christ was. I end up just doing the little things that aren't going to draw too much attention, or even just do the things around people I know expect that from me. But God didn't make me just to fit in and do the acceptable, He called me for more than that.
Two questions on a website got me thinking "Are you willing to be expendable for Christ?" "Are you willing to count not your life dear unto yourself?"
I want to be ... I want to not care about my reputation ... I don't want to hold onto what I have at the moment, but right now I'm needing God's help to do that. For my life to really count ... I need to give up the little that I have. Its wierd though how I can cling onto something that really has no worth when its in my hands.
"If any of you wants to be my follower," he told them, "you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross, and follow me. If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will find true life. And how do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul in the process? Is anything worth more than your soul? If a person is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, I, the Son of Man, will be ashamed of that person when I return in the glory of my Father with the holy angels."
Mark 8:34b-38
Some people are still dead set against guys wearing pink, others simply don't like the colour. I myself didn't really like the colour that long ago, but at the moment I seem to like it.
It is amazing how things change over time, how some things become acceptable and other things become taboo. It has now become acceptable for guys to like pink and to wear pink, but it has become taboo to share your faith with someone. It does make me think a bit though, now I'm happy to stand up and say I like pink because not many people are going to bash me for that, but to get up and tell people how cool Jesus is, I will think twice because thats likely to get me into an uncomfortable position.
I might be confident enough of who I am as man to proclaim "I love pink and I'm not ashamed of it" but I'm sad to say there are times when I'm not confident enough of who I am (in God) to proclaim "I love Jesus and I'm not ashamed of it!"
Its easy for me go along with what is publicly acceptable, but since when has God called me to simply fit the mould and expectations of the world. And how could I be ashamed of Christ, after all the shame he took on my behalf. God is not even ashamed of us, in spite of what we have done to defame his name!
There have been many times I've prayed to be more like Christ, but haven't been ready to be persecuted to even a fraction of the extent that Christ was. I end up just doing the little things that aren't going to draw too much attention, or even just do the things around people I know expect that from me. But God didn't make me just to fit in and do the acceptable, He called me for more than that.
Two questions on a website got me thinking "Are you willing to be expendable for Christ?" "Are you willing to count not your life dear unto yourself?"
I want to be ... I want to not care about my reputation ... I don't want to hold onto what I have at the moment, but right now I'm needing God's help to do that. For my life to really count ... I need to give up the little that I have. Its wierd though how I can cling onto something that really has no worth when its in my hands.
"If any of you wants to be my follower," he told them, "you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross, and follow me. If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will find true life. And how do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul in the process? Is anything worth more than your soul? If a person is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, I, the Son of Man, will be ashamed of that person when I return in the glory of my Father with the holy angels."
Mark 8:34b-38
March 18, 2006
iSolating
There is no doubt that iPods are here to stay, they're a beautiful piece of equipment, I use something similar called and iRiver, which suits me better than and iPod. But no matter what your preference is ... there are alot of these babies around. Because of its ease to carry and to play music, people will take it and listen to it anywhere they go. But I wondered the other day what effect are these having on our society? Are people closing themselves off to the world even more and more. Now when you go outside, go for a run, or sit on a bus, you limit your interaction with people.
I love listening to my portable music device, and I love being able to listen to worship music, sometimes it makes me feel good, sometimes God speaks to me, but should I be relying on my iPod-like device. I'm wondering whether just talking to somebody on the bus would allow me to worship God. Or would that be 'true worship'
I see nothing wrong with chilling out to worship music or any music for that matter, but am I giving myself an easy way out by iSolating my self with some music, rather than engaging in a conversation with someone on a bus.
I don't think there is one answer ... its more like a bunch of ponderings... and the one conclusion I have come to is that I need to commune with God more than I am, but also commune with others more than I am, rather than just being inward focused and selfish. Whether its listening to my iRiver/iPod or its chatting to the person next to me. I should be doing it for the glory of God.
I love listening to my portable music device, and I love being able to listen to worship music, sometimes it makes me feel good, sometimes God speaks to me, but should I be relying on my iPod-like device. I'm wondering whether just talking to somebody on the bus would allow me to worship God. Or would that be 'true worship'
I see nothing wrong with chilling out to worship music or any music for that matter, but am I giving myself an easy way out by iSolating my self with some music, rather than engaging in a conversation with someone on a bus.
I don't think there is one answer ... its more like a bunch of ponderings... and the one conclusion I have come to is that I need to commune with God more than I am, but also commune with others more than I am, rather than just being inward focused and selfish. Whether its listening to my iRiver/iPod or its chatting to the person next to me. I should be doing it for the glory of God.
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