Baring Mikes Thoughts

Testimonies of God’s Faithfulness and Love

mikeysthoughts — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 23:59:12 +0000

There I was lying on a hospital bed, awaking from a traumatic experience. This experience has outlined how I see God interacting within my life. Though I must admit before I continue, that I am still a man that has doubt, with that said from this experience over fourteen years ago I find belief in my unbelief. Have you ever found yourself in that paradox, of believing but still having unbelief?

This experience I have eluded to happen in late September of 1997. I was struck by something as I was walking home from work around 1 o’clock on a Saturday morning. There was no reason of rhyme for this malicious attack, after I was struck I began to black out and the only thing I remember before I was found, was crying out to God for help. Another interesting detail to this event was where I was found. The place I was eventually found was the other side of a four lane road, about 40 yards from that road. I am not sure what drew the officer to look over there, but I can only thank God’s Spirit to guide that person out into that field at 3 am in the morning.

After I was rushed to a local hospital and went through CAT scans, various doctors looking me over as well as the nurses. I was placed in a Hospital room alone and scared. As I was laying there in that bed, I realized that my life came from moments from ceasing to exist and I was confronted with this question from the Spirit God, ‘are you done running?’ At that moment when there was no one around, it was just God and I, my response was, ‘yes I am done running’.

You might be asking, what were you ‘running’ from. That is a great question to ask, I was running from God’s calling in my life. That calling was that He was calling me to become a ‘mighty preacher/pastor’. I doubted that God knew whom he was calling to live out this calling. This call came at a time when I was young Christian as well as a young man, of the age of 18. Though I received it the calling in faith, but my doubt set in that how can God use a person like me in such a service to His kingdom. I allowed fear to rule my life in this area of, so I ran until I came to that moment where this life here was nearly over. I lost sight of how God is faithful to His people of old and the present and the future to come.

From that act of running from God I am left reminded every day of that frightful morning from the physical scars I carry, not to mention the psychological scars as well. I bring this experience to the table to speak of a truth that the Psalmist King David wrote about; is that God’s love and faithfulness is found within His testimonies of His word, within in our lives, those around us and throughout history. The testimonies of God speaks to His character of forever being faithful, forever loving, and forever showing His mercies.

In the 25^th Psalm, King David writes:

‘All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.’ (v.10)

David understood his need to follow God’s commandments for they were put in place to show David that he needs God to accomplish the task set before him. David did this in faith knowing that God would keep His promises of taking care of David and the people of Israel. David also realized that God wants His people to trust Him and to seek after Him continuously (Ps. 25:4-5), in response how God has meet the needs of His people through God’s testimonies of His love and faithfulness.

As you and I grow in obedience with God in knowing His ways as He teaches us through His Spirit, we ought to remember and even mediate on how He has provide for us. The act of remembering His testimonies is for us to be reminded of who is in control of the uncontrollable. We may never truly know or understand why God allow certain things to transpire in our lives, however we can reflect on his faithfulness through those moments and become thankful for His faithfulness and enduring love for us. Then we can echo part of the prayer of Cardinal Newman called ‘A Meditation’:

“Therefore I will trust Him. Whatever, wherever I am. I cannot be thrown away. If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him; in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him; if I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him. He does nothing in vain. He knows what He is about. He may take away my friends. He may throw me among strangers. He may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink, hide my future from me – still He knows what He is about.” –

In applying this truth into our daily routine we live out the principle of being thankful & grateful of God’s provision, guidance, and protection.

It is not easy to remember to live this principle out, for we are people of ‘what have you done for me lately’ or God is only as good as His last greatest miracle in our lives. I know at times this true for me, is this true for you?

After my family and friends finally were notified about what happen to me and came to the hospital to comfort and embrace of this life being spared, I realized my life was spared in this world for a reason, and that reason is to share of His testimonies those found in His word and in my life. In which His testimonies propel me to share of His Gospel, which is life in the Kingdom of God through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, His son.

God’s love and faithfulness found in His testimonies are the markers for us to rejoice for He cares for us and He will never forsake us.

Riding the Llama

mikeysthoughts — Fri, 20 May 2011 17:36:52 +0000

How can you ride a llama allow it spit you in the eye and still fight those giraffes that charging at you? Ever feel like you are in a place in life where you have been dealt a llama to ride, a creature that spits, and possibly in your eye, and the things that are attacking you are giraffes. Why a giraffe cause there are odd animal that you would never suspect of having the ability or capability to attack you. A very weird but provoking thought. When we are in such a weird and strange place, we tend to think we can get ourselves out it, by our raw determination. Some cases yes and some no, however we turn to our own device, for at the end of the day it is our greatest weakness.

This weakness is one area in life all humankind struggles with or embraces is Pride. Pride is what tells us we have all things in the palm of our hands. Pride tells us that we are our own end and our means are those people or things we use to that end. The truth of the matter is pride keeps us from admitting how hopeless we really are in not being able to control the world around us. A self-abasement, self-centered, self-conceited Pride will kill us and bring havoc into our lives as well as others. This pride in which I am talking about is not the one that gives you confidence in your abilities or joy for others around you; it is the all consuming self-indulgent pride, which thinks of no one else but thy self.

Why this rant and rave about Pride, it is due to pride I have lost much in my life due to my own self-indulgent pride. My prideful thinking has led me to be the savior to my own problems. My pride ways are my finite wisdom. My pride is what I offer only to me alone. Self-indulgent pride stifles life from becoming joyfully, from truly being grateful, from seeing life from another point of view.

I wrote this entry about 3 years ago. I was reminded at that time of the relationships that have been lost to me through self-indulgent pride of my own and from others. What brought this up was I was told 3 years ago my niece was diagnosed as being deaf. There are other devastating news a family can receive such as cancer or heart failure. What caught my attention was due to my sister’s and mine estranged relationship, I was not able to offer comforting words, a note of encouragement all due to our self-indulgent pride. At that time I thought I would never get the chance to meet my niece, but I was granted that chance, it was a short and brief, but I was overjoyed with that moment. Though I will most likely never know her due to pride in my life and the pride of my sister, but there is still is hope. My niece was born into a world of self-absorb people, like you and me, and is deaf because of the pride of life. Though many would say that her genetics went awry, this is true, but since the fall of humankind over thousands of years ago by our forefather and foremother. From that fateful occurrence humankind has suffered greatly due to self-indulgent pride. It is the thorn in our flesh that plagues all humankind, not one person is immune. Except for one in our own history, His name is Jesus the Nazarene. The only person that can right the wrongful act of pride that (sin) that leads farther from our Sustainer.

How can we stay seated on a llama that spits in your eye and is taking you towards giraffes as they attack you. Because as stupid an idiotic as that statement is, we have a choice. How will you choose? How will I choose? The chose is simple; choose to Love as God Loves, it is hard to do, for we are so full of ourselves.

“These things I have spoken to you,that my joy may be in you, and thatyour joy may be full. ”This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:11-13, ESV)

Maybe it is beneficial for us to ride on a llama that spits in our eye as we are being attack by giraffes.

Whole

mikeysthoughts — Tue, 17 May 2011 23:24:25 +0000

I have been challenged in these past months to see my life as a whole, not just its individual parts. Honestly it is difficult to see life as a whole, for the smaller parts of this life is much easier to examine, to see their faults, and really see the faults that lie within me. There are moments for such reflection, but to swing the proverbial pendulum to one extreme is not healthy. As to have it swing to always see your life as whole not the parts or ingredients that consist of what is called your life. The reason for this reflection being a whole is to see myself as God the Father sees me.

Have you ever cook or baked something and wonder how can all these ingredients create something so delicious? Have you considered flour, for an example, it is the basis for all baking and most sauces. It is the base or glue that helps binds all other ingredients together. But if you taste flour all by itself it is plain, flat in taste and chalky. But it is needed to bake and cook. How about cinnamon, everyone’s favorite (well maybe), unless you are highly allergic to it? But have you tried to taste it or even take a teaspoonful of it? It is something that is hard to consume, but if you mix it with sugar, it becomes eatable and sweet, well thanks to the sugar of course. There are many ingredients we use to bake and cook that will turn most people’s faces into squinting spasms, but they are needed to create something great.

Why is that we focus a great majority of our time on the ingredients or in our cases inadequacies that can make us sour, bitter, or even course to others? Truthfully, in my case I sense and taste those inadequacies on a daily basis. If we are honest with ourselves, we even get sick of our selves, this might be true with most of us, but do we need to live in this state of deconstruction of our being? May it never be the case, we can give ourselves all the great motivating speeches, get the best life coaches, read all the top-notch self-help books in the end all these avenues stills leaves us un-whole. What can help us see ourselves as whole? The answer for those that follow after Christ is simple, but is hard to accept for we know what makes us sweet or sour. We ought to see ourselves as God the Father sees us, which is perfect through the blood of Christ and for His victory of sin and death. As it is written, “God spoke: “Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature” (Genesis 1:26, The Message) Though we are a fallen race, Christ has redeemed us if we accept his offering of His life for ours, in turn we can truly see ourselves as God the Father desires to and does through the work of Christ our Lord, which is perfect, whole, without blemish.

Here is a part of prayer that sums up what I am trying to communicate:

In my deepest place, I am naked spirit now clothed in the righteousness of Christ. I am precious in God’s eyes. From all eternity, God calls me His beloved. He holds me with an everlasting embrace”

This is how God the Father sees us, being whole as we are clothed in the righteousness of Christ.

The Apostle Paul penned in a couple of places in his writings that Christ grace is our sufficiency in our greatest weaknesses. (2 Corinthians 3:5; 12:9) This gives great encouragement that God will and use the tasteless things in our being to be used to be tasteful for the many around us. There is however a disclaimer here, it is that we have to surrender our will or control unto His, not blindly but willing to live for His purposes so that our being is being made whole for all to see, even for ourselves. My choice is simple allow Christ to be sufficient where I am weak or tasteless, so that I may be made whole and truly see myself as God the Father does. For He will call me, ‘His beloved’ .

Some of our ingredients might be tasteless, bitter, and even sour to others and even ourselves, but through the aide of the Spirit of Christ, we can be made whole which is pleasing to our Father in heaven and to those around us.

130 Days In

mikeysthoughts — Mon, 11 May 2009 20:24:22 +0000

In Process of Maturing

I can not believe that 130 days have past in this new year, well not so new is it. We are a bit over a third of the way done with this year. WOW! Time definitely flies whether we are having fun or not, hmmm. Which leads me to why I am posting a now, for alike so many my life has had incredible moments of great fortune and great turmoil. In both extremes we live in the mundane of route behavior and actions that define how we deal with the two great extremes of our existence.

I have become a greater cynic than once before, is it due to a lack of faith or a lack of conviction. At times is a little of both. Truly my misunderstandings come from my lack of false assumptions of who I appear to be or try to be. Then it stems deeper then my shallowness, the deepness is placing assumptions upon the Father of all. Here is where my world and the Kingdom collide in great travesty.

This year the Father has impressed upon my heart to make mends with certain people of my family. In all honesty it is a good and honorable thing to aspire to do. But, the path to reconciliation is a painful one, and who in this world wants to experience any more pain than needed. What I have seen within me is a mere man that is truly selfish and hypocritical. I confess with my mouth I truly desire God’s Kingdom and His ways to live, but in action deep within I long to please self. I can hear what you are saying, we are struggle with the great tension between the spirit and the flesh. The fight is over wanting to feel emotion and act upon it, rather than act upon logical reason then feel the emotion.

For if any has experienced hurt of any kind our tendency and desire is to feel the emotion of the pain then act upon it, which could lead to a causation that is not of one we truly desired, but it could be. Our Lord has called us to consider life, family, friends, His will, His Church with prudent eyes to see them for what they are, not for what they may appear to be. I must confess I desire to see them for what they may appear to be.

In this post I am not saying I have given up the good fight, but the fight as become a time of walking through the valley’s of doubt and pain, ones in which I have created an some in which I have been drawn into by mere association. I am confident that Jesus the Lord of all will continue to purge the dross of selfish evil within to perfect the image of Him in whom I bare His name.

In spite of myself the Lord has greatly blessed with family and friends, and even new friends to connect with to carry out this journey. I am excited to see where He is truly leading. I look forward to connecting with you all in your thoughts.

Coffee House Survey

mikeysthoughts — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 03:33:54 +0000

Hello all, I am conducting a survey on what kind of Coffee House that you may like to become a patronage of. If you can give 5 minutes of of time to answer 10 simple questions I would be very appreciated of it. Here is the link..

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=aNVwhqJfPYImih2CRBJyVQ_3d_3d

Thank you for your time and insight.

Mike

Weekly Thoughts

mikeysthoughts — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 22:49:47 +0000

Fracture Thoughts

Saturday has arrived the time is 11:30 am and college basketball is being watched. I enjoy watching all out hustle from college players which sometimes you just don’t see the same intensity at that Pro level. Well this post will not be all about basketball, though when I watch and even play I cannot help myself be taken back to a time I started to play the game. Especially when I got my first Basketball backboard and rim, I believe it was around Christmas, when I was 12 yrs. old. The uniqueness of this gift was it was to be mounted above the garage door at the 10 ft. regulation height. That is not the uniqueness of it, the unique part was the drive way had a incline of a 30 degrees or so, so at the end of the driveway one would shot the ball at 15 ft. basketball hoop. If you can imagine a young boy of 12 yrs. old maybe 5’2″ just over about 80 lbs. and no real muscle mass to shoot the ball with a effective stroke. Well as I played day in day out, rain or shine, windy(I mean 30 to 50 mph winds), hot or cold I was have hours of shoot arounds. My game develop and I used those times to imagine playing with the greats such as Magic, Kareem, Worthy, Bird, Thomas you name the bigs in the mid-80′s I played against them or with them with my imagination on that driveway-court. As you can deduct that I did not just play at home, I played on other courts and realized that my shoot had to adjust significantly if I wanted to play effectively. Once I realized this I decided to play that much on my home court that much for I really wanted to develop my game on a ‘normal’ court where I was not over shooting the ball. Those times showed me that life changes and the courts we play on differ from one season to the next. Also to note is that our game changes, or maybe does not change as we hope it would or it just doesn’t change due to our pride. Whatever the case may be the court does change whether we change with it or not.

I am finding myself in another season where the court is being changed and my game needs to develop to those changes. Honestly, I don’t want to change my game or the development of it, my current one is just adequate for me. I realize that is not how God wants me live my life, for He is constantly changing me from within as I surrender to His will and His purposes. Some of the last few posts have been personal in dealing with issues that involves my mother and how I am struggling with re-establishing that relationship. I am not come to a complete conclusion on how I am to interact with her. I am seeking Godly wisdom and advice. Most are wondering what the deal is, she is your mother, well yes she is and I will always honor her for that fact. Where the rubber meets the road is that there are many issues that can be forgiven and look passed , but the question I am now faced with is do I want a relationship with her, for it has been 7 years of non communication on both sides. Does what she have to offer to the relationship truly benefit my life, than what she has already given? This is one thought one I am covering in pray for insight and wisdom.

Other thoughts of this past week are how the hype of President Obama is such the man for the job in our need for change. I think he brings a sense of newness to that role on a few fronts. 1) Being young and energetic. 2) Have fresh ideas. 3) Having a majority supporting him. The other part of his newness is changing things that could have potential disaster for this nation as well as others. One issue is the closing of Gitmo detention center and saying that the U.S. will not torture anymore. I am not sure his will bring the results he and the democratics’ are looking for. This world is a fallen world and those who want to terrorize will heighten their efforts against us and others if there is no fear of what can happen to them if they are caught and punished for their crimes against humanity. Our freedoms will be in jeopardy if our leaders lead softly and not firmly. Not to mention the fact that Obama sign a bill that allows our federal tax dollars to pay for global abortions. Thank you Obama, I hope your conscience is clear before your Maker, for that action is will create more of a world-wide genocide of human life. Not to mention his stimulus package will put the U.S. more in debt than stimulate the economy. Have the citizens truly elected a President to work within his authority per the Constitution or have the citizens asked and got a self proclaimed ‘king’. Enough personal thoughts on these political issues. (blood pressure rising)

Another thought that is arising is that of living a simple life. Simple in the meaning that my finaces, my time spent with friends, time spent watching TV/movies, reading, planning need to be done with great intentional efforts. If there are things that need to be eradicated from my life I need not to be proud in thinking I can do all, and let those things go, I am hoping not friendships, but if that is what it takes to fulfill God’s purposes so be it. A simple life is a life that is prudent, let me quote a Proverb to illustrate this, “The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps.” (Pro 14:15). I have thought being prudent was a terrible thing to be, but as I understand it better now it is a great thing to do. Being prudent is looking at all possible roads and seeking Godly wisdom and advice to see which one is the best one to take. I think of it as a game of chess where a player has to see more than two or three steps ahead of them, it is really seeing how the first move ought to bring them to the completion of bringing the king to a checkmate. But life is a bit more unpredictable than a game of chess; nevertheless the idea is about the same plan, plan, plan, attack, plan, plan, plan, and attack. For me this is a prudent action of living a simple life. On the onset it appears not a simple life, but taking time to think of particular outcomes will save time, money and stress which leads to a simple life of enjoyment as best as could be experienced.

I know this is a long post of weekly thoughts, but this is a combination of a couple of weeks, so next weekly thoughts will be shorter, well I hope so. Have a blessed week and may God blessed your thoughts as you think about Him and how you are to interact with this world.

“O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools, learn sense.” Pro 8:5

The Quilt of My Life

mikeysthoughts — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 05:22:00 +0000

The elevation of the woes of this life have subsided. I do not mean that they have gone away, for that would mean that I have left this place of human conscience to enter into the realm of God’s celestial shores of serenity. At this moment I am not feeling the pressure of all collapsing on me like that of ones oxygen being drained from its life source.

I must confess I realize that pressure is a good thing and I among others ought to embrace it for it shows us truly who we are and who we are not. There have been many that have stated that truth, but it is one that ought to be revisited at least once a day if not shortly there after, for the reason that we believe we arrive well before we actual have. Even when we arrive to an understanding of ourselves or of the circumstance we still really have not arrived, at least in my perspective. I am considering the words of the Apostle Paul when he stated that, “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.” (1 Cor. 13:12) There will be a day I believe with great conviction that I will know fully as I am known fully by God my Lord, Savior, and Creator.

The uncertainty of this life has proved itself once again of a young man leaving this world in an manner that was peaceful, but sudden. It happen sudden and unpredictable, nevertheless the life that was lived was not in vain, nor did the persons toil come to an utter end, the end of the persons toil is lay before us in his legacy in the foundations that was laid upon the Rock, who is Jesus our Lord. My heart and prayer concerts that of those most effected by this sudden tragedy.

I state the previous antidote for a purpose of a story I was told a few days removed from today. The story is of a lady that reached the Heavenly places and found herself quilted her life story among others one day in heaven. Then an Angel was passing by and ask to see what she has done and to see if it was completed to present to the Master. The lady was ashamed for her quilt was ragged and had holes in it, and not matter what she did she could not cover up those holes. She was also fearful (in heaven..) due to that the others quilts were made with gold threads, sliver, and precious colors. The Angel insisted in seeing despite her protest. He held it up, her eyes fell with shame, but what she heard was gasps of awe and wonderment. When she raised her head she saw that those holes she could not cover up or fix, the face of Christ filled the holes. Not only did He fill them, He face radiated the quilt beyond compare. The Angel replied to the lady, the Master will be well pleased with this quilt, take courage and hope for He is truly your all in all.

This story spoke to me of God’s provision of His Son to help me fill the holes in my life when I can not do it myself, which is about everyday. It is a story of hope, a story to tell us that faith is required of us each day no matter how bumpy or non bumpy or road is at that moment. For in my life I lose hope, lose faith, lose perspective for I get caught up in the attempting to fixing one hole and then see another hole appear and try to fix it at the same time. I guess you can say it is like playing twister by yourself and your spinning the dial to see what color you ought to touch next. Wow! We would never do such a thing in the game for it is impossible, but the contrary is true if we step back in trying to fix the holes in our own power, but rely on His to aide to fix matters that we could never. I am not saying we ought to become lethargic in this approach we are to be active of our actions, but the Lord will help change hearts, change situations, change perspective as we surrender to His will.

I am convince that these holes that appear in our quilts is merely the trials of life. Some are larger than others due to us involving only ourselves to fix them verses those that are smaller due to that we saw it fit to seek God’s aide on the onset on the initial tear. I know for a fact I will have some large holes to come, but I hope that I will see my folly quicker and again surrender to the Master craftsman to aide to the repair of this beautiful quilt that one day will be on display for all of the Kingdom to see His face instead of mine.

Remebering When….

mikeysthoughts — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 03:42:00 +0000

There are moments in time when memories surface some funny, some sad, and some you think why in the world did that happen, or what was I thinking. Well tonight as I was watching for I do not know the 36th time, the movie Colors. If you have not seen it is was a movie in the late 80′s or early 90′s that dealt with the issue of gangs in L.A. Well what spark the momentary flashback, was the seen when one of the young men wanted to be jumped into his Neighborhood set or known as the barrio. I remember when I was approached to join a gang in the 9th grade. Yes this white boy was ask to join a Latino gang. Prior to this request I was apart of little group called a posse, so I had somewhat of a reputation, not one of great proportions, but some knew me. Well I remember when I said sure why not, what do I have to lose, I was looking for friends, a group to belong to. My initiation was like most gangs at that time you get jumped in. Basically you fight 3 or more guys to prove you can hold your own. Stupid, yes, but other cultures have other rights of passages to that you might think are stupid, nevertheless people do them to have a sense of belonging and achieving status within that group. We can discuss the sociological and psychology of this later. There I was in the guys restroom at Alder Jr. High taking on 3 guys throwing punches, pushing guys off me, being thrown into the stalls. It was a melee for about 2 minutes or so, I remember all I was doing smiling and laughing thinking wow is this all what there is to this. So at the end of it, I now belong to a set in little ol’ Fontana. Really what was I thinking? Why didn’t just join a sports team to belong? I came from a middle-class family at that time. I lived in a nice neighborhood. So why? What was the pull to that life? How could I be so selfish and endanger my family? Well to answer those questions, I look back and really didn’t care at that moment if I did endanger my family, if I was being selfish. The pull was I look up to those guys that where in my classes, in my school, in my neighborhoods. I wanted to be like them, I did not want to be like my own family. What was the point they were selfish, meaning my parents. Always wanting things there way and I do not mean how they wanted chores done in the house. In how the related with each other and us kids. So I thought I be selfish as well. When one day I saw that what I needed to do for the set I belong to could one day harm my sisters, ones that I did care about, I decided to back out. Well if anyone knows something about gangs you just simply just do not walk away. Thankfully that the set I was apart of was still small and new it had no real structure to carry out discipline upon its members. though they did jump me to have me not “rank out” or back down for the set. But I was able to walk away without any repercussions.

Why blog about this time in life? The reason is my past is riddle of moments in which I have try to fit into other crowds of people to feel a sense of belonging. I never had that sense when I was growing up in my home. Yeah I knew I belonged for I was a son and there were parents, but never felt that there was solidarity in the family. Do you know what I mean? Now fast forward 18 years that sense still exists today with some family members. Mostly in regards to my mother. Most tell me she is your mom, you need to love her and honor her, for that is God command to you. I hear that, but I just don’t see how I can honor someone that is not worth honoring. I know that sounds harsh, but if one could watch the film tapes on her behavior and actions one can conclude what I have concluded. I am really struggling in this area, for I want to but it is hard. Most likely due to a harden heart that does not want to be hurt anymore. But seriously it has been 7 years since I spoke with her. The reason being is that she still harbors ill feelings towards my father and kept bringing us children into the middle of those feelings. I said until she deals with those feelings and seeks reconciliation with my father, not in marriage for she has remarried, but forgives and seeks forgiveness I am going to stop all communications. Well I have live by my words and stood by a principle that many have question and I do at times. I am asking should I reach out again? Should I reach out and keep the same context as before? Should I just let her be and let God move her to reconcile relationships with my father… with me? I am just lost in drowning thoughts… What a way to start a fresh new year, huh? I just feel at this moment in time I never really was apart of my mothers community.

Unforgettable…

mikeysthoughts — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:55:00 +0000

Well I have been putting this post off for to long now. It is another review of a previous year that went better than I expected, but had those reliable hip-cups in life. Where to start lets go to the blessed points, then the not so blessed well as of yet… (these are not in any particular order)

Blessed….

1. New direction in working towards of being a steward of a business – Coffee House Style.

2. Ministry to the young men and women has been a blast at CFA.

3. Church life has been awesome, seeing a healthily model strive to serve the Kingdom

4. Settled on attempting a Master’s in Christian Ed./maybe a Master of Business, one thing at a time.

5. Having family attending Church with me, this stokes me every Sunday.

6. Connecting with old friends and hearing of their journey.

7. Having a mentor to help guide in life

8. Learning what is means to prudent, wow what a lesson I am learning

9. Friendships growing every day, I am a blessed man for those friends.

10. Growing in Fatah, an area I struggle

Not so Good….

1. Not in full-time youth ministry, God directs even when it is not your plan.

2. The elusive full-time gig

3. Losing friends.

4. Death in the family

5. No where limit the bleeding of debt.

6. The elusive lady friend… God bring her quickly…

Well it is sweet to see that the blessed is out weighing the not so good. I am seeing this unfolding this year is already not going how I envisioned it. I guess that is a good thing, for my plans might not really survive the test of time. I am excited in what God is doing in me at the moment, though is a bit painful, but it’s implications will be for the betterment of where He is leading. I look forward to expounding on my difficulties and blessed moments as this year unfolds. Until then enjoy that cup of Joe and live in community.

Like Father, Like Son

mikeysthoughts — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 18:16:00 +0000

There was a movie many moons ago when I was a pre-teenager called Like Father, Like Son. It stared Dudley Moore and Kirk Cameron (1987). The plot of the movie was a gender switch of Freaky Friday. Well the movie portrayed both characters as the dad being a stuffy doctor and the son being lazy and unmotivated (sound like any modern day family). The story unfolds to describe both the father and son as they begin to understand each other through their particular struggles each face as a professional and a student. I remember watching it and thinking if only my dad could understand who I am and what I am about. To be honest, I did not want to know truly who he was or about, for at the time, like most pre-teenagers was at odds with pops. Be that as it may, fast forward 21 years later, just a bit over 2 decades I have realized in one conversation with my father that we are so much more alike then I ever had imagine.

The similarities range from personality, to personal experiences in school, to how we process information. I was listening to my father I was chuckling inside and out loud of the things he experience in his youth, and thought I am replaying deja vu moments of my youth. At that moment I thought how weird is this that a man I knew, but barely knew as a kid, developed the same walk of life. It is also not a surprise on the other hand, for we truly in many respects become like our parents whether good or bad. I think all we can do is hope that we take the good and discard the bad or change the elements to allow us to become more effective citizens of the Kingdom of God.

I remember growing up and in my 20′s that my aim was to divorce myself from all that my father was in personality, character, person and etc., but as I sit here and type these words, I am believing how wrong were my thoughts. God knitted me specifically in my mother’s womb with the DNA make-up of my parents to create a one of kind person in me (thank God that mold is done with.. lol). For I a product of the specific details of my parents in genetics as well in how they handle life as it was work out in front of me.

Now what is generally the question most will ask, well for me, I am going to be doing what I know what I am to do, but this insight illuminates more of how God crafted me and why I was born into the family I was, though I dislike the painful experiences, but I am becoming grateful for the family I am part of for from it I came to be and the man I am becoming.

I hope this personal anecdote helps bring in perspective we are mirror representations of our parents, whether good or bad we ought to embrace that God purposely placed us in that place for reasons greater than us. At least that is where I am with it.