Surprise! My First Tooth

Today, Josh lost his first tooth. While we were at the K-House office, I wrapped some floss around the wiggly tooth, and it popped out!

Josh's Comments:
"I can't believe it's so little! Sometimes you might get a loose tooth when you are five years old or six years old. Maybe when you are seven, eight or nine. It's very cool. But why is there blood in it? I can see blood in that tooth. How can you get it out. Can I wash it out Dad?"

What's it like to loose your first tooth?

"It's cool!"

Going on Empty

I'm late. I need to get to Othello, WA for a meeting. The fuel gage of my Honda Civic hovers above empty. 110 miles to go. Logic states that at 30 miles per gallon, and with an estimated three gallons left in the tank, I can make it. Prudence shouts to take the time to fuel up, so as not to be stranded.

I decide not to fuel up. I'm too busy to take the time to get gas. With my fuel gage near on empty, I start out. One by one the towns of the Palouse roll by: Colfax, Dusty, the turn off to Endicott and the road to Hooper. The warning light fades on and off in Washtucna, WA. I've made it this far, so I keep on going. After conquering another hill, the low fuel warning light comes on and stays on. The light means that there is enough gas to go 30 miles before running out. Anxiety seizes my heart as I imagine myself facing the consequences of my foolish choice. Going on empty can leave you stranded.

At last, I see the refreshing sight of an oasis in the desert! A truck stop. I stop and fuel up. With a full tank, I take a deep breath, and thank God that I have learned a lesson. Get gas or be stranded!

In our spiritual journey, we find myself going on empty. We are stranded on life's road by relying on our own dwindling spiritual resources. Our Gracious God offers us spiritual refueling, and gives us a console of warning lights on the dashboard. Here are two warning lights that indicate the need to stop and fill up your spiritual gas tank.

• Grinding Relationships
The friction from grinding of "relationship gears" from conflict can be great. Misunderstandings, and lack of communication, with a spouse or child, a coworker, or classmate are examples of this warning light. Ask God for the lubricant of the Holy Spirit to prevent this grinding in our human interactions. Ask someone close to you to see if your grinding gear warning lamp is on. Hebrews 12:14 Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.

• Overheated Finances
Incurring excessive consumer debt is one way to overheat your spiritual engine. Gambling, impulse buying, or credit card debt can signal an unresolved spiritual or emotional issue. Ask for help from a Christian counselor, and a financial advisor. Make God a partner in your finances by investing 10% of your income into the spreading of the Gospel. God promises to cool overheated finances by opening the "windows of heaven" and pouring blessings upon those who return a faithful tithe. Malachi 3:10 "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this," says the LORD of hosts, "if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows. New American Standard Bible

If you are experiencing grinding relationships or overheated finances, spend some time at the pump with God. Take time to fill your spirit by reading His word, the Bible. Invite His Spirit to lubricate your interactions with others. Don't get stranded in life by going on empty.

Prescription for Pride

Journal October 3, 2000

Here's a prescription for pride that God gave me during my recent visit to the soul clinic . . .

- An attitude adjustment
Why should I care? I could care less...
Why should I give a rip? Whatever!
If you’ve done it to others – then you’ve done it to God!
Matthew 25:40, 45

- A temperature adjustment
Crank it up – to Hot or Cold
Fire it up, or put it in the freezer
Revelation 3:14, 15

- Get Real!
Are you wearing the emperor’s new clothes? You may think you look good & you’re “stylin & profilin”, but you’re really buck - stark naked! Use the mirror of Scripture & schedule the Holy Spirit consultation with your conscience
Revelation 3:17

- Go shopping!
Buy the real stuff! The real thing! Accept no imitations
Revelation 3:18

- Timber! Get ready to fall
Proverbs 16:18

- The bigger they are... the harder they fall
Isaiah 2:11

Other “Big Cheeze” Heads who were popped (or will be popped soon)
- Lucifer Ezekiel 28:11-19, especially vs. 17
- Pharaoh of Egypt Exodus
- King Nebuchadnezzar Daniel 4:29-37

Tired of DISNEYLAND CHURCH?

Journal entry March 8, 2001

You can go to California to Disney Land for vacation – The Magic Kingdom where everyone is happy, wearing colorful costumes, and masks. A place of make believe, where dreams come true.

Dogs & cats get along. Mice play with cats. Working girls become ball room beauties. Seven dwarves get along & live in one house. Yeah right. Ever look in at a frat house?

But do we have to live in Disney Land? It’s a nice place to visit, but do I have to live there? It's shallow. It’s hollow. Facades on the buildings, smiles are mandatory. In the real world, when we see a mouse running around – people shriek. Sorry to pop your bubble but Disney Land is fake.

I don’t want to discount Walt Disney’s dream of a happy place to escape. But this is not the real world - can we be real?

Church. Many say “It’s not relevant. It’s for the weak. It’s for the uneducated.” Yet to the thinking people I share my dream with you.

Church – a safe place. Together we can be happy, in good times, and then when life happens, we stand together united to support each other when we fall.

Cotton candy is a nice treat – but you eat an entire kettle full & are you satisfied? More like you have sticky fingers & are sick with a stomach ache. Cotton candy faith – light & fluffy.

John 10:10b
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

2 Timothy 3:1-5
Those how have the Christ follower label, but don’t access His life changing power.

1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God-- 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.

If you are tired of cotton candy faith & a Disney Land church experience – Try a real place.

A place where grace is demonstrated
A place where forgiveness can be seen
A place where you belong.
A place where you are accepted.
A place where you are supported when you’re down
A place that parties with you when you have excelled

Plastic Faith - I can't stand recycled religion!

Plastic faith
Journal Entry March 8, 2001

I’m a rabid environmentalist – no air pollution on the basketball court of the blue air of profanity.

I like to recycle, so that way I am a good steward of the earth God gave us. Used, second hand, it's all good for me.

Here's a list of things I recycle.
- Newspaper - Plastics (#1-6)
- Tin Cans - Aluminum foil
- Aluminum cans - Plastic bags
- Card board - Paper

But I’m tired of recycled religion

But what about for my walk with God?
- I want to mine deeper each day – to find a new vein of ore
- I want fresh every day – day old faith isn’t for me
- I want Zesty –
- I want to go directly to the source of the Living Water, not to take your bottled water

But what about in church?
- Can you share your story?
- Will you share the gold that you’ve found in your faith exploration?
- Will I share my struggles?
- Can we share your joy?

That’s what “It’s My Turn Now” is all about
Fresh Manna. 6 days only . On Friday a double portion given out.
No maggots.

Numbers 11:7-10

Exodus 16:14-32
14 When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. 15 When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, "What is it?" For they did not know what it was.
Moses said to them, "It is the bread the LORD has given you to eat. 16 This is what the LORD has commanded: `Each one is to gather as much as he needs. Take an omer for each person you have in your tent.' "

17 The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. 18 And when they measured it by the omer, he who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little. Each one gathered as much as he needed.

19 Then Moses said to them, "No one is to keep any of it until morning."

20 However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them.

21 Each morning everyone gathered as much as he needed, and when the sun grew hot, it melted away. 22 On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much--two omers for each person--and the leaders of the community came and reported this to Moses. 23 He said to them, "This is what the LORD commanded: `Tomorrow is to be a day of rest, a holy Sabbath to the LORD. So bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil. Save whatever is left and keep it until morning.' "

24 So they saved it until morning, as Moses commanded, and it did not stink or get maggots in it. 25 "Eat it today," Moses said, "because today is a Sabbath to the LORD. You will not find any of it on the ground today. 26 Six days you are to gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will not be any."

27 Nevertheless, some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather it, but they found none. 28 Then the LORD said to Moses, "How long will you refuse to keep my commands and my instructions? 29 Bear in mind that the LORD has given you the Sabbath; that is why on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Everyone is to stay where he is on the seventh day; no one is to go out." 30 So the people rested on the seventh day.

31 The people of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey. 32 Moses said, "This is what the LORD has commanded: `Take an omer of manna and keep it for the generations to come, so they can see the bread I gave you to eat in the desert when I brought you out of Egypt.' "

Reflections on Mary from the movie, "The Passion of the Christ"

Here are a few of my theological reflections from Mel Gibson's movie, "The Passion of the Christ".

Mel, your theology is showing! I noticed several places where Mel's belief that Mary is a Co-redeemer was portrayed.

1. During the crowd scene, Mary and Satan were “floating” through the crowd in a stare down. Only Jesus and Mary could see Satan.

2. Mary wipes up the blood of Jesus

3. During the scourging Mary & Jesus lock eyes, he regains the strength to stand up after the caning.

4. When Jesus drops the cross, Mary comes to Jesus, and touches his face. He regains his strength and courage after Mary’s touch. Dialogue is key.

5. Mary's dialogue with the other characters is key.

6. Peter’s denial and his encounter with Mary. Dialogue – “Oh Mother! I’m not worthy!” and he shrinks back from her touch, and runs away. She longs to touch him.

7. Mary is stoic.

8. At the cross, Satan & Mary stare down

I'd be interested in exploring what the Bible has to say about who our Redeemer is . . .