Follow The Call... No Matter What

"[Jesus is] not calling you to the same life everyone else will live. He's not even calling you to the same path that every follower of Christ will walk. Your life is unique before God, and your path is yours alone... Some barbarians survive the night in the lion's den; others experience their darkest night and wake in eternity." -Erwin McManus, The Barbarian Way

I Miss My Friend

Today I stood in the hospital room of a friend recovering from triple bypass surgery. He had a heart attack last week. He was on a ventilator and under anesthesia for almost a week following, and continuous dialysis for a day or two, since his kidneys had shut down due to lack of oxygen in the blood.

We spoke about his plans to be released in a day or two, continue dialysis at a local hospital and do his video editing work from home.

We laughed as he poked fun at the "food" (his words) and the super strict diet they had him on, since he is also diabetic. he spoke the words "Mrs. Dash" with contempt, and spoke of a local spice blend he preferred, but could not have.

We prayed together- Russ, Donna, Pastor Charles, and myself- thanking God for His obvious care and provision. I hugged him, told him I loved him, and off we went, so he could get ready for dialysis.

Less than two hours later I was told he had thrown a blood clot in dialysis and had passed away.

...

I miss my friend.

I will miss the look on his face as he praised his God.

I will miss the joy he showed as he sang with his wife and daughter.

I will miss that look he gave when he thought I was full of crap, and then laugh.

I miss Russ.

...

But Russ knows that, doesn't he? Even now he's with his Jesus, singing and praising in a way he NEVER experienced on earth. I can actually visualize him, a pure, white robe, standing in the choir, singing for his King. (He wore robes for Christmas and Easter program. He was a very convincing Jesus, Joseph, or Peter.)

I want to stand by Russ one day.

Thank you, God for the time I had with your son, Russ. Thank you for his heart for worship, and his head for sound. Enjoy my friend- I know I'll see him again.

I knew it! LOL (via @danielmosley)

Death Is Not The Point

Check this out: "Like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be recovered, so we must die. But that is not what God desires; rather, he devises ways so that a banished person does not remain banished from him."

What a great verse! What a wonderful explanation of why Jesus came! What a concise statement of the Gospel!

Except that it's from the Old Testament; and these words were spoken to David by a "wise woman" in 2 Samuel 14:14.

This shows us something about the character of God, namely that He DOES NOT CHANGE. Peter reiterates this idea in 2 Peter 3:9, "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."

Is ours an Amazing God or what?

JW

Why Do We Read This Bible, Anyway

"The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law."
(Deuteronomy 29:29 NIV84)

This is the whole reason in a nutshell: while God takes care of those things hidden from our knowledge, there are things He has revealed to us. Our duty is to know those things- to seek out that knowledge that God has made available to us.

This is the purpose of this space- to see what God has revealed to us and share them together. Feel free to comment, even post what God has revealed. We've committed together to read through God's Word. Let's share it here.

JW

What Are You Willing To Do?

"Love each other in the same way I have loved you." As you strive to be like Christ, be ready to lovingly sacrifice something for others. It may be. The most important thing He calls you to do. -Tony Dungy, http://tinyurl.com/7dc35dn

Why Are We Here?

"[God] creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing." http://ebible.com/m?redirect_path=/msg/ephesians/2/10&scripture=1