Trapped in this desert, a barren land. living in the gloom, surrounded by sand. however shall I find a thriving oasis, a relieving place to free me from this stasis. Am I stuck in this hole to wander alone? Is this the place I have been sown? what is this beautiful flower? a Rose? rare glory deserving of great prose. how can something so divine be here? know this marvelous gain is you my dear. feels like a dream to find a woman so fair in a place where such things come so rare. you are a God given gift so far above the norm, worth holding on to through every trial, trouble and storm. how did I ever deserve this treasure? my Rose.
One Girl I "dated" used to say I have the ultimate "man hands". Dry, covered in scars, deformed at parts and often bleeding from cuts and dried scars; they are the ultimate tool of a working man. My hands have been through everything like; being bitten, scraped, burned, cut, broken, and more. The most noticeable part being the scars across the top of my knuckles.( thus giving me the nickname "knuckles")
Every year about winter time my hands start to dry out from the weather. Since the skin on my knuckles is scar tissue it dries out the worst. When dry, scar tissue is very hard to get moisturized and keep it there. Once the cold and dry weather sets in my hands are done for; the knuckles dry out and crack open. This brings me a lot of pain having open knuckles with all I do to my hands. Chemicals, hot water, and just about anything that touches my hand amplifies the pain felt by the open wounds across the back of the hand. There have been many nights I have not been able to get to sleep because my hands hurt so bad. It sucks working at a coffee shop and dealing with hot liquids and chemicals all the time.
A person uses their hands so much how could you help but be reminded of the wounds you have.
With our hands we inflict and receive pain to others. We use them to build and destroy the physical, they are the means to interact with material things. I just thought of a little prayer about my hands to say during my problems
"God, Here are my hands; broken, imperfect and hurting. Seems they are not too far off from what I was and currently am. Lord, that in my pain it would remain a reminded of what you have done for me. That in my pain I would be something that sets my heart to bring peace and love to others. Oh, my hands are because of what they have been through, not too different from what I now am. Thank you, even for the pain. You are good."
Let me start of with a laugh......hahahahahahahahahahahahaha! Okay, now that thats out of my system let me explain.
I work part time (might as well be considered full time) at a local coffee shop here in Lima, Ohio. On the side of the shop we have a conference room that we rent out to groups in the community. We have one group in particular that really gets on my last nerve, The Allen County Patriots.
The Allen County Patriots are an extremely Right-wing group that meets in here on thursday nights. The only thing I like about them is when one member tells them to, they tip really well. There are a few people in the group who seen to be really great people, but most of them are what I would label as nuts. I have had a few different private conversations with a bunch of them and I find them at best to be very homophobic, racist, one sided, religiously blind, ignorant and more that I will not say in order to keep this PG. Remember gay Pepsi coke guy? (from a post a few months ago) ya, thats the constant foolish thinking I deal with in this group.
Now don't get me wrong, I am not a liberal, nor am I conservative. I find that both sides take their thinking to extremes and are too one sided for me.
There is not one person of the considerable "minority" in their group. It is very understandable considering their racist point of view. I wanted to announce to the group one day that if they want and feel more comfortable; "we will allow them to wear their bed sheets and pillow cases as long as they don't set anything on fire". As the manager, this would most likely just get me fired, especially since 2 of the 4 owners are part of this group.
Marvel Comics' Captain America has always been fighting for the American way of life against all who would threaten to destroy it (No Bush is not the same person). In a new comic released by Marvel Captain America is trying to investigate along with his African-American sidekick the Falcon a right-wing anti-government group called "the watchdogs". He sends Falcon to watch them from the rooftops at a tea-party protest. He realizes that trying to be with the group an infiltrate them will not work with a "black man from Harlem fitting in with a bunch of angry white folks".
This comic has sparked much controversy with multiple tea-party groups for the depiction of their organizations. Thought not completely true of all of them, so far from what I have seen it is not too far off from the truth. United States of America? I think not, the states are but the people are not. Why did is stir up such controversy and anger? Maybe it is questionable because its not too far off from the truth.
I found the article on Yahoo!
P.S. the group announced once that they should start working in conjunction with the Allen County Tea-Baggers. I thought they said the wrong thing. I just recently learned what a tea-bagger really was in that situation. Being from a younger generation with video games to tea-bag is a completely different action. lol. I would like to tea-bag the tea-baggers. ROFL!!!
Not to burst your bubble, but it seems to me that it needs to be popped.........Oh God, that my words would come out kindly.
I am in the middle of reading a book called Un-christian by David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons. They work for the Barna group doing research and taking stats of different ideas or issues. This book is all about what outsiders think of Christianity, how/what to changes it to, and what biblically should be the perspective that people have of our ideas and actions. Each chapter deals with different issues that are viewed of modern day American Christians. He deals with six of the main complaints against christians; Hypocritical, anti-homosexual, too political, judgmental, and our topic for tonight Sheltered.
I was discussing with Dan the beard about how I was annoyed with how christianity in America had become more of a secluded subculture than a following of beliefs. Think about it! We become so secluded that we don't Understand or know the world that is around us.
sub·cul·ture: A cultural subgroup differentiated by status, ethnic background, residence, religion, or other factors that functionally unify the group and act collectively on each member.
se⋅clud⋅ed; 1. sheltered or screened from general activity, view, etc.: a secluded cottage., 2. withdrawn from or involving little human or social activity: a secluded life.
With this definition there is nothing wrong with christianity being considered a sub-culture, but when it becomes one that is secluded and sheltered it becomes a problem. We go from one sheltered Christian activity or dwelling to the next. The beginning of the week we start out with church, then monday off to our jobs (often staying seperated with the other Christians there), Monday night bible study, Wednesday night service, etc. You get the picture, its not hard to see what i'm talking about.
Much of the world doesn't know what we are/should be about because of the religious seclusion we have that keeps us separated from them all the time. When Christians are the ones doing something in the world then they can be the ones who influence its spiritual direction. "When Christians shelter themselves, letting "someone else" answer the world's doubts and address its problems, they abdicate their biblical role to be spiritual influencers." When we are closed off from the world we have no influence on it.
My biggest problem is when we come from a secluded lifestyle it is obvious to those we are trying to witness to. If they already don't like you because of your being sheltered, why would they want to listen to you? What makes you think that you can have any effect on what they think? People often wonder why I have such large holes in my ears (gauges). I have them because I find them to be something that is well defining of my style, I enjoy having them, and they open me up to a wider variety of people than the average slacks and tie christian. If a person can quickly stereotype and categorize you under a label that is narrow minded and bigoted they will not listen to what you have to say. Christianity is has secluded it self to the point where a stereotypical thought is not too far off from the norm. Is it only a belief of a certain type of people, or did Christ come to save all people he created of all race, personality and style?
The idea of in the world but not of it seems to come from John 17:13-19. How can live by this when we are neither being in the world or of it? The more I read the more i notice that Christ did not hang out with the religious groups of the time, but that of shunned sinners. He did not scorn or push away those who needed to know the love of God in order to be with those who already knew him. He chastised the priests for being too caught up in the religion and details, and yet we live maintaining a secluded religious lives concerned about details more than the big picture.
Romans 12:2!
This may not have been the greatest rant ever, but I think it served its purpose.
Now the question is not what you have learned, but What are you going to do with it! -B3[\]
It has been a while since I have listened to Jars of Clay. As a kid they were one of my favorite bands for a long time. Once I got into hard rock they kind of fell to the wayside. I recently started listening to them again, and never get tired of hearing their music. They truly are one of the most poetic and heartfelt groups of musicians I have ever heard. There are two songs that I am particularly fond of listening. The songs Hymn and Oh My God stuck me as very meaningful and are constantly stuck in my head. The poetic manner in which they are written I find to be very meaningful and soothing. I just wanted to share them with you so you too might see the beauty in their music.
Hymn: Oh refuge of my hardened heart Oh fast pursuing lover come As angels dance 'round Your throne My life by captured fare You own
Not silhouette of trodden faith Nor death shall not my steps be guide I'll pirouette upon mine grave For in Your path I'll run and hide
Oh gaze of love so melt my pride That I may in Your house but kneel And in my brokenness to cry Spring worship unto Thee
When beauty breaks the spell of pain The bludgeoned heart shall burst in vain But not when love be pointed king And truth shall Thee forever reign
Sweet Jesus carry me away From cold of night, and dust of day In ragged hour or salt worn eye Be my desire, my wellspring lie
Spring worship unto Thee
Oh My God: Oh my God, look around this place Your fingers reach around the bone You set the break and set the tone Flights of grace, and future falls In present pain All fools say, "Oh my God"
Oh my God, Why are we so afraid? We make it worse when we don't bleed There is no cure for our disease Turn a phrase, and rise again Or fake your death and only tell your closest friend Oh my God.
Oh my God, can I complain? You take away my firm belief and graft my soul upon your grief Weddings, boats and alibis All drift away, and a mother cries
Liars and fools; sons and failures Thieves will always say Lost and found; ailing wanderers Healers always say Whores and angels; men with problems Leavers always say Broken hearted; separated Orphans always say War creators; racial haters Preachers always say Distant fathers; fallen warriors Givers always say Pilgrim saints; lonely widows Users always say Fearful mothers; watchful doubters Saviors always say
Sometimes I cannot forgive And these days, mercy cuts so deep If the world was how it should be, maybe I could get some sleep While I lay, I dream we're better, Scales were gone and faces light When we wake, we hate our brother We still move to hurt each other Sometimes I can close my eyes, And all the fear that keeps me silent falls below my heavy breathing, What makes me so badly bent? We all have a chance to murder We all feel the need for wonder We still want to be reminded that the pain is worth the thunder
Sometimes when I lose my grip, I wonder what to make of heaven All the times I thought to reach up All the times I had to give Babies underneath their beds Hospitals that cannot treat all the wounds that money causes, All the comforts of cathedrals All the cries of thirsty children - this is our inheritance All the rage of watching mothers - this is our greatest offense
I recently got the new MuteMath album, and I am quite impressed. Any good band knows that you need to evolve their music in order to keep a fresh sound. Even during such a change the band still should keep its own element, this can be seen in many different bands; U2, the beatles, etc. MuteMath seems to have nailed it with this album, between its lyrical content and musical prowess it is one of the best albums to come out this year.
The song Clipping seemed to hit me most. The lyrics and music are simple but if you sit and dwell on them for a while it makes you think a lot about the world we live in. Clipping is the first part of the video I have posted for you.
Here are the lyrics for you. Feeling overload Carrying bottled skies around I've been drowning all along Wearing out in a faltered sea And i give up
Common sense failed again Meddling in a foreign scene Foreign dream Time won't spare another sun Daring me with another choice another choice
Anymore i don't know who to fight anymore I don't know what is right anymore anymore
Anymore i don't know who to fight anymore I don't know what is right anymore anymore
Anymore i don't know how to feel anymore I don't know what is real anymore anymore
Anymore i don't know who to trust anymore I don't know what i want anymore anymore
Anymore i don't know who to blame anymore I don't know what to say anymore anymore
Anymore i don't know what i want anymore I just don't know anymore
My buddy Jason told me about this song and how the chorus(es) just hit him because it is constantly how he is feeling. It truly is the theme song of a messed up world.
I often feel the same way these days. Who do we trust? Who is to blame for the problems we are facing today? Who are we fighting and why? What do I really want?
Though the world changes and becomes more confusing we know who to trust in and what is right. even when man changes God is still the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Hebrews 13:8 "8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." As much as we are often confused we seem to forget this fact.
