The Mad Hatter Strikes Again

From a guy who makes me incredibly happy....just by being a humble brother in the Lord. He makes me smile and chuckle and laugh out loud. Really, a lot of times something like this can make me realize the power of the Body of Christ. Simple and yet so touching. The internet community that I have the pleasure of being connected into has provided something most valuable in my life. A great source of information, heart cries, and just good support in a fun and Truth filled way. I may not have the time to always be involved in all the antics and joy but I read about it and it makes my day a lot ..... We are all far from perfect in our flesh but we recognize our perfection in Christ and He is our Life. God bless you Leonard and thanks for having me on your "hit list". I accept the honour knowing it came from someone who is living the Life out loud of my Jesus!
Check out this guy....he is the bomb! http://a-branch.blogspot.com/2009/01/head-gear.html

Been Reading

Read Bo's Cafe by John Lynch, Bill Thrall, and Bruce McNicol. Actually just finished the last few chapters this morning. Started it yesterday. Good sign. It captivated me. Don't comment on the fictional aspect of this book. I live in fiction. The real world is too intent on fixing everyone in 5 easy steps. I love the idea that comes through that freedom is not immediate and is a journey. I know that Freedom is Christ but this is more about appropriating that. Check out a website: http://www.boscafe.com/site/ It is all about living an authentic Christian life and coming alongside others who are broken and hurting just like the rest of us....whether we let it show or not. Forget performance driven acceptance.....unconditional love is a key in this book.

I Will Trust You

Tuesday Music Fest - Kutless

One of my favourites

Glorious - Paul Baloche

For Alvin

Why Denominations Cannot Complete the Great Commission

I really enjoyed reading this post written by David Watson and introduced to me from Guy's Blog as well. Guy has a unique and constantly evolving thought on living from God and I respect those thoughts. Always a joy to read and discover what is happening in their particular corner of the world.

A View Around the Global Neighbourhood.

Check out this response by Shelly from "La Bella Verita" brought to my attention by Guy Muse's post "Our Changing Roles".

I kind of thought it was profound.

Dying to self is...

-When you are not forgiven or you're neglected or purposely set aside and you hurt with the insult or oversight, but your heart is happy and you're content to be counted worthy to suffer for Christ- that's dying to self.

-When your good is evil spoken of; when your wishes are crossed, your advice is disregarded, your opinions are ridiculed, and you refuse to let anger arise in your heart or even defend yourself but take it all in patient loyal silence- that's dying to self.

-When you lovingly and patiently bear any disorder, any irregularity, or any annoyance; when you can stand face to face with foolishness, extravagance, spiritual insensitivity, and endure it as Jesus endured it- that's dying to self.

-When you see another brother prosper and see his needs being met and can honestly rejoice with him in spirit and feel no envy nor even question God while your needs are far greater and in desperate circumstances- that's dying to self.

-When you can receive correction and reproof from one of less stature than yourself and can humbly submit inwardly as well as outwardly, finding no rebellion or resentment rising up in your heart--that's dying to self.

-When you never care to refer to yourself or record your own good works or seek commendation; when you can truly love to be unknown- that's dying to self.

Truly loving to be unknown...faithfully serving so that others may prosper and draw closer to Jesus. Accepting any and all tasks, regardless of where that leaves you.

Get the message?

Not so grand a video but the words work for me!

Folk Festivals of the 70's (A Standard)

Never the same

Wow

Thanks to Guy from the M Blog for pointing this out. http://guymuse.blogspot.com/
Just "heard" on a radio talk show that Facebooking also increases your life span. Hmmmm....what do I think about that?

Jesus You're Everything to me!

I am Yours

Thinking and pondering and singing!

I have not been sharing too much as of late (as a brother blogger has suggested to me as recently as today :) It gets tiresome - blogging and facebooking and twittering and all of it, you know. Is anybody out there listening? I am reading though, and sometimes a gem comes through as I read and I think "leave it to the Quakers to speak through Paul Anderson Walsh to me this morning". I remind myself this blog and all communication from me stems from Abba, my Father and through Him and in Him and through me (as insignificant as I feel and as significant as I am to Him...), I remember I am totally enjoying rest in Him at times as I also am sharing Words of Life from Him at other times.

Sharing this from Paul from his posting on Facebook.

"Our Life is Love, and Peace and Tenderness; and bearing one with another, and forgiving one another, and not laying accusations against one another; but praying for one another, and helping one another with a tender hand." (edited by me). ("Yes, if only, Father", I respond).

I checked out the Quakers, I am not sure they would like this term but I did. I came up with this quote. I like it. I don't love it but I like it. I think I could be a Quaker. Silence is nothing short of Heavenly at times. :)

"The Life that intends to be wholly obedient, wholly submissive, wholly listening, is astonishing in its completeness. Its joys are ravishing, it peace profound, its humility the deepest, its power world-shaking, its love enveloping, its simplicity that of a trusting child."

Thomas R. Kelly

I am here! Alive, fully in Him and at times just listening :)

True Colors

A Little Sax - Good to Remember the Places We've Been

A Little Nostalgia

Happy Father's Day

Sustenance

"Those people in your life who love you also sustain you."

I came across this quote in my reading over the weekend. Thought long and hard on this. Not sure that this is the case. As I looked up the definition of sustain....I decided that truly it is not. Parts of sustaining can be attributed to those we love, but for me, there is only one source of sustenance. It has always been this way. Even when I thought I was being sustained by other things and other people...I was mislead. I heard some teaching on love and the acts of laziness being not laziness but self-centeredness. I truly believe this. I think we all are so self-absorbed and self-focused that we forget from where our sustenance comes from and we fail to showcase Him in our daily life. Had I understood this at a much younger age.....I would definitely not believed it! (This aside comes from a quote given by Mike on Facebook today.)

"I am not young enough to know everything." Oscar Wilde.....

Anyway.....I am thankful that there is the One True One who sustains me in every single aspect of my life, no matter what is going on.

I also agree that sometimes we can love ourselves and our intimate community so much that we forget to love others or we forget to just let God love others through us. (That is my way of putting things, anyway.) It is difficult and lonely to live without community or fellowship or whathaveyou....but it is much harder to live without True Sustenance. Having one does not preclude having the other.

Just thinking out loud today. :)