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HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

I hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving and a great time eating, laughing and being thankful.

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I am personally thankful, most of all, for the Mercy and Grace of God in my life.

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I am thankful for my Family.

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I am thankful for all of my friends and all you great people in blog land.

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May God bless you all on this great day!!

Time Changes Everything

Little Milupa, Timmy and Stephen

Years later.. Stephen, Tim and Milupa.

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Time is one of those subject we don't necessarily like to discuss the older we become. And yet time is inescapable. There is no way anyone can escape the harsh reality that time continues regardless of circumstances and events. Time is no respecter of person, place or thing. All of our decisions are revealed through the process of time. Our characters and true identity is revealed through the ongoing elapse of time. Time is the means by which we measure experience and durability. It is also the means by which we measure failure and expiration. Time is in every aspect of our lives. While you are reading this blog post, time is moving forward and not returning. Even as I sit and type this post, time will only determine the amount of people who will read it.

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By time we determine when we should rise and when we should retire. It is through time that friendships can grow ever closer or further apart. Time seems to run faster everyday. Can we really come up with a definition for time? Is it enough to describe time as being the system or method of measuring space between sequential events, and being indefinite and continuous, and the means by which we judge things to be the past, the present or the future? Time is hard to nail to one certain definition. And yet I think the best way to describe time is, Mystery.

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I would like to know from everyone who reads this post. What do you think Time is?

I know...its been a while!

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

(This one is long. I had to make up for the break.)

I am quiet certain that everyone who has any interaction with the general public has been annoyed at some point by those of us who ask questions. Often times we are uncomfortable with questions when they become too personal or when the questioner passes the, ‘questions allowed’, mark we have subconsciously created in our minds. It is very easy for us to dismiss those who ask questions as being nosey or way too curious. In my own experience there have been many times I walked away from a conversation and labeled a person as being entirely too inquisitorial. However, I had to stop and ask myself a few questions. Was that person asking questions just for the mere fact of being nosey? What were they intending to gain from asking me so many questions? Why am I annoyed that they are asking me questions?

I must first of all stop in my rambling to inform you, I do believe there are those who ask questions just to feed their starving curiosity. Many people are hungry for information and they thrive off the idea of knowing everyone’s personal details. People of this nature will go through great hassles and jump through many hoops to gain information and get a fix for their addiction. These are the types of people who will spend multiplied hours and long nights browsing blogs and constantly checking people’s profiles on various social networking sites to make sure to keep up with the latest events. I don’t believe that all who browse blogs or webpage’s are nosey or overly curious, just some.

I have come to write this post because I find great pleasure in meeting and getting to know people beyond just a hand shake and a back slap. There is a communion and a connection that can be gained through knowing more about the other person. Questions can often times be uncomfortable to answer and also to ask. Sometimes we get the feeling that the question we would like to ask someone is going to be received in a hostile way. And rather than thinking the question through and finding a way to communicate what we have in mind, we dismiss the question and often feel somewhat frustrated in the end when we walk off. The problem in most cases is not the question itself; it is the manner in which the question is asked. It also has a lot to do with the timing, the setting and the mood in which the question is being asked. Another issue that arises is how the recipient will perceive our inquiry.

I understand that I could write an entire book on the what, when, why and how of questions. And yet my goal is to point out one thing that has always amazed and intrigued me. Every conversation that we engage in is made up of questions and answers. Sometimes the questions and/or answers are not verbal. We can ask a question in the way we speak by changing the pitch, tone and/or volume of our voice. We can also answer in the same manner. Many times people will ask a question or answer verbally one way and yet you can tell by their expression that their words are in contrast with their thoughts. As you begin to know a person better, you will feel more of a liberty to ask them questions and bring to them certain propositions you would not ordinarily bring to just anyone.

This is how we draw closer to God. If you desire to know God in a deeper and more powerful way than ever, you must begin to try and understand his ways. And the only way to know more about God is to ask him to reveal himself. This action requires questions. Have you ever kneeled down and just began to pray “God what’s your will for my life? Can you teach me to pray? Will you give me a desire to worship and a passion for your kingdom?” I wonder what we would feel like if God looked at us in disgust and exclaimed to his angels that he was getting annoyed at all the questions those nosey people are asking. I’m sure we wouldn’t want to draw closer or know him more.

The good thing is that God loves for us to ask him questions. Because he loves to answer and when he answers, we get to know him more and more. It is through the process of questions and answers that we build a strong and powerful and unmovable relationship with God. And once that type of relationship is built, then it will be near impossible for others to convince you that God is this or that. It is through the questions and answers that you find out who God “REALLY” is. God will also ask you questions and listen to your answers. And when the adversary brings false charges against you, God will dismiss them and smile because he knows who you “really” are.

So next time you get annoyed at someone for asking you questions be sure to stop and think. Are they being nosey or do they care and if they do care, how much do I care. I believe that it is through questions and answers that we all will find close friends and lifelong comrades. My word to you in conclusion is, ASK A QUESTION!

Switzerland

The Great Fall (Part 3)

There is a war that rages within the heart of every individual between the flesh and the spirit. Paul makes it very clear in Romans 7 that there is a constant battle between wanting to do right and yet still being drawn to the things that are sinful. Paul was struggling with a desire to do the right things and yet he would continue to fall into the very things he was trying to stay away from.
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Paul was trying to get us to understand that he really and truly wanted to do right. And yet he still found himself falling back into the same sin and into the same temptation and back into the very things that he hated. Paul lifted up his voice and said;
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Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
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Paul however, did not leave us in that place of self despair. But he went on to say;
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Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Rom 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
Rom 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Rom 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
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Paul realized that if it was up to him he would still be fighting against the things he tried to leave behind. But he let us in a little secret that Adam and Eve didn’t have. Even Satan in his uplifted pride and arrogance went to visit Jesus in the wilderness. And knowing that Jesus had been fasting for 40 days he came to him at his weakest point. And the old serpent began to tempt Jesus the same way he tempted Eve. And yet Jesus response to each one of those temptations was “It is written.” The devil tried the lust of the flesh and he tried the lust of the eyes and he tried the pride of life and he found out that it didn’t work.
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Adam and Eve were tempted and they failed. And Because of the offence of one, sin entered the world to condemn all men. Yet when God looked down upon his creation it was his desire to bring mankind out of the bondage of sin and back into fellowship with himself. He came down in the form of a man and walked this earth and bore in his own body the sins of humanity. And he did this because he wanted us to be able to live in total victory and not be bound by the sins that haunt our lives. It is the good will and pleasure of our Lord to give his children freedom from the failures and mistakes of the past and to not live in that fallen state.
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1Jn 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
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We have victory and receive strength through fellowship with Christ. As long as we try to accomplish victory in the flesh and by ourselves we will continuously echo the words of Paul in Rom 7. But when we step aside and allow the spirit of Christ to govern our minds and direct our hearts we will not have to spend another day in what has been so often referred to as the The Great Fall.
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2Co 12:8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
2Co 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2Co 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

The Great Fall (Part 2)

Sin works in such a way that if you continue to look at the things that God forbids it won’t be long until you will find yourself desiring or lusting after those things. And then it won’t be long until you reach out your hand and you will take it. The battle against sin begins in the mind. I believe that when Eve started looking at the tree she began to ponder in her mind why God did not want them to eat of that tree. And in her mind she no doubt tossed the question around and most likely she started looking at the tree from a distance and it wasn’t long until she found herself right in front of the tree and that’s when the serpent began to speak to her.
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The next step after Eve took was that she “did eat” the fruit. The process of sin is a downhill plunge. I have a feeling that when Eve began to look at the tree that she never intended to take the fruit and when she took it she never intended on eating it. And yet once she allowed the desire toward that forbidden fruit to work in her spirit the end result was death. After Adam and Eve ate of the fruit the Bible said that their “eyes” were opened and they knew that they were naked and they were cursed. Sin looks appealing to the flesh and it might seem to be harmless and yet once sin is embraced it will expose you and it will leave you running and hiding from God. And the things you loved will become the things you run from and the happiness you knew will be replaced by an effort to cover up your shamefulness. James said it like this;
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Jas 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
Jas 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
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James is using the example of birth here in this passage. And he is telling us that lust is conceived or another way of saying it is that when lust is seized or clasped. It brings forth sin. And sin when it is finished brings death. The idea is of a woman when she is with child there is a process of growth within the womb and then the child is born. Sin works much like that in that the lust or desire of sin begins within the heart of an individual and if it is allowed to grow you may not be able to tell at first but as it continues to grow you will see notable differences with that person. Attitudes will begin to change, moods will start to change and appearances will change. And in the process of time you will see what caused it all along.
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to be continued...

The Great Fall (Part 1)

Gen 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
Gen 3:2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
Gen 3:3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
Gen 3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
Gen 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
Gen 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

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Now there are three things that took place before Eve even took the fruit from the tree. The Bible tells us that first she saw that the tree was good for food and second that it was pleasant to the eyes and thirdly a tree to be desired to make one wise. Eve was then tempted in three particular areas and that is what caused her to reach out and take hold of the forbidden fruit. This became the very first act of disobedience ever recorded and it was one that brought down the curse upon man. The whole world was brought under the curse of sin when the tempter was able to beguile Eve and she ate of the tree. When Eve ate of the tree her life was cut short. God intended for man to live on the earth forever and to be his glory and image in the earth and yet through disobedience God cursed man with death. There are many who would say that the devil always throws new tricks at the church, but John took pen in hand one day and began to write unto the church and said;

1Jn 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1Jn 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.

Do you notice that these are the very things that Eve faced in the garden before she ate of the tree? The lust of the flesh being the notion Eve had that the tree was good for food. The lust of the eyes, being that she saw that it was pleasant or another word for pleasant is desire or lust, to the eyes. And the pride of life being that the tree was desired to make one wise. The very things that Eve was faced with in the garden John realized were the same things still facing the church thousands of years removed from the creation of the world. And he warns the church that these things are not of the Father and if the love of the world is in your heart you will be subject to the sins thereof.

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The battle for the heart of man has been raging since God gave man to have dominion in the earth. And yet Gods desire is still for man to have dominion in the earth. The desire to fulfill the things of this world and to appease the flesh is still constantly warring against the body of Christ. The devil took note of what he had done when he tempted Eve and he has made it his mission to use these same tactics on other believers. The game has never changed only the players have.

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It is also important to note the progression that a desire for sin will produce that took place when Eve was tempted. The first thing we note is that she “saw.” There is something about the eyes that can affect the brain in a way the other 4 senses can not. There are visual images in your brain that you can recall all because they entered through the mediation of your eyes. There is something special about the eyes that the prophet Jeremiah said;

Lam 3:51 Mine eye affecteth mine heart because of all the daughters of my city.

There is a direct connection between your eyes and what you look at and the things you desire. Your eyes control your appetite in the sense that what you set your focus on will become what you want. Job even said; “I’ve made a covenant with mine eyes that I should not look upon a maid.” That was Eve’s first mistake. She “saw” or she was looking at the very thing that God commanded them not to eat. And I want you to notice what happened next. The Bible tells us that she “took.”

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to be continued...

THE FALL IN THE GARDEN!!

ADAM AND EVE

'The Great Fall'

'The tale of how one man and one woman changed the course of history forever'

Coming up is a reflection into the past and I want to take a look at what took place in the garden of Eden. I believe that the story of Adam and Eve relate to us in so many ways that it is sometimes mind boggling.

If you would like to read about it please leave me a comment and let me know. I would like to get some feedback and know what you think.

A Box of Secrets

We all have a box of secrets. We place all of the most intimate and esoteric parts of our lives into this box. We hold the keys to this box and no one will ever receive it. The box contains the most hidden parts of our personal makeup. The very essence of our being lies within this box. We guard it and cherish it. We labor not to allow anyone near it and most definitely not to ever glance into it. The contents of this box are made up of both evil and good. We are quick to place within it our failures and yet we also place within it our accomplishment. We shelter it from the ugly peers of those who would try to access the box with undeniable, scornful jealousy. And we protect it, with some measure of uncertainty, from the curious and yet seemingly truly compassionate friend.

There are many items within the box. Although we have placed many of the items in it, we still do not fully know what it contains, even though we search it through and through. Some have allowed others the chance to peer into the box, and soon they found that they became subject to them emotionally, fearing that the items contained within would be shared with those who were forbidden to ever see them. This box is the source of who we are and what we become.

This box has a name. It is called the ‘Heart.’ There are differing characteristics that give evidence to the fact that everyone has a heart. The most obvious is that you are reading this post.

The amazing reality is that our outward actions come from an inward influence. That inward influence is comprised of the contents laden within the heart. Our external affairs are only the reflection of various mirrors that line the walls of the heart. We experience varying emotions based on how we relate to circumstances within ourselves. Our thoughts are a result of our heart, our passions grow out of our heart, our understanding, our hopes, our dreams and everything else that is a part of our life is directly connected to the heart.

Gen 6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

In this passage we find the harsh reality of what our hearts produce when left up to simple, finite humanity to control. God was not pleased with men and what had become of mankind. This verse gives us a chronological view of what the contents of the heart produce.

First - The heart creates thoughts. Our thoughts can be defined as mental activity, meditation, reflection, recollection and considerations. But the fact is that our thoughts must come from somewhere and are the product of some source. This source is the heart. Now how do we know what is in our hearts? We don’t really know the fullness of what is in our heart.

Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Second – Thoughts provoke imaginations. Imaginations can also be referred to as images. We relate through the medium of images. The example of a learning child gives evidence to that. When we get ready to teach little Johnny and Suzie to learn their ABC’s we show them pictures and images pertaining to each letter. A stands for Apple, B stands for Boy and so on. This then produces a dependency in our mind for images. When you hear the word elephant hopefully you do not think of a tree. After we have images in our mind we desire for there to be a realization of those images. First we see a picture of the elephant and now we want to visit the zoo to “really” see an elephant. This brings us to the third point.

Thirdly – Imaginations create reality. The evil that we produce in our lives have their root within our hearts. And yet the good and precious things that we produce also stem from that same heart. Our hearts are the producers of who and what we are. That is why the Lord takes the heart and fills it with his spirit because he knows that from it flow out all the “…issues of life.” (Pro 4:23).

Often times we hide in our hearts the hurt the confusion and the worries of life. And we think that they will remain safe and sound and that no one will ever see them. And yet God is the one who controls the hearts of men and he knows all that we deal with. We may have a key to this box, but God holds the ‘Master’ key.

There is an answer to the question of whether or not we are able to produce good even though our hearts are filled with evil at times. The answer is YES you are able to produce good fruit and you are able to live in victory continuously. And this is how:

Psa 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

The Reality

The day breaks with the sun rising with great brilliance across the horizon of the eastern sky. He awakes to find himself yet again frustrated at the lack of sleep. And yet as he wipes his sleepy eyes and stretches his aching body he knows that it is the beginning of a new day.

The four hours of sleep seemed to have been moments in heaven. And now all that has changed and he is back on earth to fulfill his earthly duty. Strolling into the office he faces his overly emotionally stirred boss. And the deep longing to be back in bed and dreaming of another world plaque’s his mind all day long. He finds himself day dreaming and disconnected from his usual duties and has to constantly refocus and redirect his wandering thoughts.

He is like everyone else in the office who realizes the importance and even the necessity of their jobs. And yet there is a desire within each one of them to participate in something greater. They long to be a part of a world that would change their current mundane and boring lifestyles into one that has purpose and meaning.

This is the desire of every human on the face of the earth. It is innate within the heart of mankind to reach higher and to look further. The carnal day to day operations of our lives seem to get us agitated and give us a feeling of claustrophobia. The tendency of our minds is to wander, often leaving us unprofitable and to be quite frank, robbing our employers of their time. But this is the natural process of all who occupy this great universe. In all the accomplishments that we are able to look back at and all the celebrations we host for great achievements, we walk away still feeling like there is something missing.

This is no accident. It is not an unsatisfied, unthankful, greedy and ego-centric attitude that produces this feeling. But it is the spirit within us that desires to be made free from the bondage of this corruptible and mortal flesh. Our very existence is to reveal the image and glory of God and yet we all must admit that more than not we fall short. And still we want to participate in a world that is beyond our own human and finite comprehension. The Apostle Paul gave us his own description of this very fact:

Rom 8:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
Rom 8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Rom 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
Rom 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

Paul was letting us know that we are a part of a world now that is filled with vanity. The word vanity here is used to imply futility, being useless and unsatisfactory repetition. It would seem more logical in this case to stop with all the trying and all the hard effort to accomplish great things. And yet it is through this feeling of constant reaching for more and longing for something bigger that has brought us to where we are. Would there have been an Israel, if Jacob was satisfied being known as a supplanter and a deceiver? Would there have been a man after Gods own heart, if David was content watching sheep? Would Peter have preached on the day of Pentecost if he settled for being a fisherman? Would Paul have written two-thirds of the New Testament if he grew quiescent with his conversion?

The fact of the matter is that all these characters and many more unlisted became great and reached the heights of accomplishment they did because there was an inward drive and passion that made them reach beyond what the eye can see. And you, the reader, are not what you are today and haven’t become the person you are now by settleing for just living your normal life. You can never be used in the kingdom of God if your sights are set on the here and now. But it is that dream and that desire to become more for God and to not be satisfied just being “you” that has brought you thus far. It is the longing to participate in a greater cause and a response to a higher calling that has made you what you are.

This, my dear friend, is truly “The Reality.”

The Dream

The loud shrill seemed to have been directed right into his ears, piercing and almost rupturing his ear drums. He threw himself into a half attention position as he tossed the warm comforter off to the side.

‘Come on! Just fifteen more minutes would be great!’ He exclaimed harshly.

He pushed the snooze button of that dreaded, unrestrained and inconsiderate piece of equipment. Then, as though he were in some sort of trance, he slowly lay back again and tried with some frustration to regain his previous position before he was so rudely interrupted. The room grew still again and the sound of a low hum coming from the only vent in the room set the stage for another attempt at going from this normal mundane life into a world filled with peace and everlasting adventure. The room finally grew completely quiet and with a sudden thrust he twisted his body violently and buried his face deep into the cotton filled pillow.

It seemed as though only seconds had past and he was flying through the air and being cheered on by waving parents and excited children. The big yellow ‘S’ on his shirt gave out a bright radiance that seemed to light up the midnight sky and give hope to the hopeless, comfort to the bereaved, richness to the poor, happiness to the saddened, outstretched hands to the desolate, liberty to the bound, peace in the storm, height to the beat down, strength for the weak, fathers for the fatherless, a home for the homeless, sunshine for the withered, healing to the sick, silence to the troubled, fun for the bored, cash for the credit crunched, mortgages for the sub-prime, sugar for the coffee, burger for the bread, ranch for the salad, honey for the ham and everyone seemed to love him. But all this bliss came to an abrupt end when the same familiar noise began to makes its way deep into his ears. The sound of the large tribal gong being beaten to death ferociously once again made its entrance into his head and was able to disrupt him in mid flight.

‘Arrrrgh! Why does that thing always go off at the best part?’ He said through clenched teeth.

With a deep yawn and a full stretch he hopped out of bed with a pep in his step and while wiping his eyes, his stern sleep depraved face gave way to a smirk. The slight smirk was replaced with a full grin as he walked to the sink and turned the water on. His mind traced back through the events that just took place and soon he laughed quietly at the amazing and realistic occurrences that were placed within that ‘Dream.’ He brushed his teeth, freshened up and took care to eat some breakfast before he headed out of the house to begin his work day. All throughout the day he faced challenges and seemingly insurmountable odds and yet he pressed on. He comforted himself in knowing that within just a few more hours, he would be able once again, to leave everything in this world behind and take part in a world where the impossible and unexplainable are the very fractions that are combined to create an integer more commonly known as the ‘Dream.’

In Memory Of Cowboy

It wasn't too long ago that I sold my horse. His name was "Cowboy" and he was a Sorrel Quarter Horse. He was a great horse and created many memories for me. Ask me sometime and I'll tell you about them.

Getting ready for a ride.

Fully prepared and ready to go with ears perked.

Sarcasm

I was brought to a sudden desire to see and understand the true meaning of sarcasm through a recent conversation I had with a very intellectual and scholarly individual. The question that came to my mind was, Is Sarcasm wrong or is it just a sense of expression that is only for those who are not faint at heart and are wrapped with a thick epidermis? As I have pondered this question in my mind I began to realize that many of us find sarcasm as a means of being mentally sharp. But is Sarcasm really a sign of mental sharpness and quick wittedness or just another form of degradation? What purpose does sarcasm really serve? Do we edify one another with a spirit of meekness by displaying just how fast we are able to spit words out to counter the words spoken by another individual?

Sarcasm is very enjoyable to the person who is being sarcastic. And yet to the person who is the receiver it can be unpleasant. I confess that I have had my share of sarcastic moments in which my flesh was very well pleased at how I was able to make some nitwit look silly. But have you ever stopped and thought about what you said after you said it? As the words that leave your lips bounce off the expression of your victims face and back into your ears and straight to your brain, your heart falls into your stomach. You find yourself getting uncomfortable as you realize that your words were sharp and cunningly hurtful. And yet because of the pride within your heart you try feverishly to laugh it away and comfort the now ashamed person by telling them that it was just a joke. But you know yourself that they were greatly embarrassed. And now they display a wounded and helpless persona while those that stand around laugh with pleasure and delight as they sing your praise.

In all of this action the question is the same, did you help someone or did you in fact do the opposite and tear them down? I contend that sarcasm is often an attempt to lift ones self up by pushing others down. It’s like the bully at the playground who isn’t able to climb the monkey bars so he doesn’t allow others to get on them. Many times we don’t intend on hurting others and yet in our own attempts to not be seen as intellectually challenged we make others feel small by being sarcastic.

James understood the power of our words.

James 3:5-6; “ Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity; so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. “

And yet how often do we forget what an effect our choice of words can have on others around us? To those who have made it a habit of being sarcastic it becomes a natural part of their being. And yet sarcasm can be a sign of a lack of discipline one has over their tongue. Sarcasm is not just a fun way of expressing ones view point, but it can become cynicism very quickly and unnoticed. As one writer put it “It is a line that is smudged and blurry so that one can not know the exact moment when they have stepped from one side into the other.”

What is interesting to me is where we get the word “Sarcasm.” The word Sarcasm comes from the Latin word; Sarcasmus, and the Greek word; Sarkasmós and is a derivative of the verb Sarkázein. The word Sarkázein in its original sense meant “to tear flesh like dogs.” Sarkazein is in turn derived from sarx, “flesh.” A form of this Greek word is found as sarco, in the English word sarcophagus, which literally means “flesh-eating” in Greek.

This then gives evidence that Sarcasm in its true context and original formation is an action of destruction. If we stop and think about sarcasm isn’t that exactly what we do? Sarcasm is something that we use to make a mockery of our target and this is why we make mention that only those with tough skin are able to handle Sarcasm. But what is the purpose of Sarcasm then if it’s true purpose is to make one feel broken and beaten?

Another interesting fact is that the word Sarcasm is synonymous with the word “Derision” which means; to make a mockery or ridicule. The word “derision” is used 15 times throughout the scriptures and expresses the judgment of the Lord. This gives a new meaning to Sarcasm. The power we have in our mouth must be recognized and the use of our words must be weighed within our mind before we speak. This will allow us as the children of God to be able to be more effective.

Is Sarcasm a sin then? Is it our place to rend our brothers and sisters with words and to declare judgment upon them as if we are God? What is the fine line between Sarcasm and Irony? All I can say is that after really looking and beholding these facts I have a new outlook on the use of Sarcasm. I pray that God will give me the ability to be effective both in word and in deed. However, I understand that we all are flesh and no one is perfect, but the goal is to not be hurtful to others. You be the judge and governor of your own words and always stop and ask yourself. Why am I saying this and what purpose does it serve?

Disclaimer: This is just my thought on the subject. I don’t have this all figured out myself. “He’s still working on me.” Enjoy and please comment.

PEAK

First of all I must say that PEAK was AWESOME. The services were just filled with power and the whole atmosphere was just great. I enjoyed very much the opportunity of being with some really good friends again and being able to catch up on old times. But I also was thrilled to have met a whole lot of new folks. I had a great time hanging out with all of my new friends and just being able to rare back and have a good time was worth the trip. I will never forget the memories that were made on Friday night/Saturday morning. Village Inn holds many memories in its hand and I shall never forget the pleasure of drinking a Villaccino. God Bless Village Inn!!

This is Bro. Andrew Dillon enjoying some pancakes.

Full House!

Bro. Marks surrounded while preaching.

This is Stephen, Andy, Myself and Carl.

Carl, Stephen, Myself, Andy and Cory all leaning on Carls suave Escalade.

Sri Lanka

This is my Moms country.

Explanation

Many of you might be somewhat taken aback by the outlandish title of my blogspot. It is very intriguing even to myself. I was intending on sounding very intelligent and yea even convince those of great wisdom and understanding that I might be considered worthy to be placed in the same category of a philosopher. However, for those of you that have met me that fact has already been established and there is no need for further discussion. I suppose this is the part in the text when the use of the abbreviation "rofl" would be appropriate.

Now to explain my choice of words. It is my intention in life to become the best at whatever I handle. The truth is that I will not always accomplish this goal and yet it is one that I strive for. The reason I chose to use the words "Nutritive Cogitation for the Cranium" was to evoke curiosity within the minds of the readers. I will not endeavour to explain what the words mean at this point. I will speak the words that Jesus did in the early part of Matthew 9:13 "But go ye and learn what that meaneth,..."

Isn't it amazing that even Jesus did not always give direct answers for the things that he spoke and/or did. The scripture reveals to us that God is desirous to see man take the things he has given him and continue in faith. In my opinion the greatest act of faith and trusting in the simple words of God was displayed in the story of Abraham. Abraham was called by God in Gen 12:1 to leave all that he had known and everything he had worked so hard on acquiring and go to a place "...that I will show thee." The very request would have shot me through with mixed emotions of wanting to obey the Lord and yet questioning the authenticity of such a request.

It is the nature of man to question the Lord. Since the very beginning of time when Adam and Eve ate of the tree it was an act of not believing God. That is why Satan used the trick on Eve of getting her not to just eat of the tree based on what he himself told her. But he caused her to question herself and what God said by asking her the question in Gen 3:1 "Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?" This caused Eve to be confused and she ended up replying to the serpent in Gen 3:3 "God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die." God never said that they were not able to touch it. But it was the flesh and the desire of man to take what God said and hold it up to his own fragile and finite concepts and judge what the creator of all things has to say by his own immature understanding. This is how we fail and fall short of what God has for us.

But Abraham was not of the same mind set and way of thinking. That is why the Bible declares in one of my favorite passages in the word of God in Gen 12:4 "So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him;..." That first part of the scripture is enough to make me want to run all around the city with a leap in my step and a shout in my lungs. Because that is what I am striving for. We as the children of God will not be blessed as long as we try to figure out what God is going to do and trying to come up with reasons why he does certain things. The question is not whether God will accomplish his work or will he drop the ball. God will always have his way with or without us. And yet he gives us promises and speaks words of instruction to us to try our heart and see how we respond to his call.

If we are able to set aside our own longing for reason and just obey what God has placed before us, the will of God will be wrought. The Bible declares in Num 23:19 "God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?"

So.... why did I not explain to you what the meaning of my blog description is? The answer is "I don't know, maybe cause I don't feel like it..."