Happy Anniversary #1….

This is a picture right after we were married a year ago.  Did she really know what she was getting into?  I don’t think so.

It’s been a great year.  God has been good to both of us and our family! 

I love you Lori!!

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Jesus said, “What a generation! No sense of God! No FOCUS to your lives! How many times do I have to go over this?” (Matthew 17:17, The Message).

The disciples were asking Jesus why they couldn’t cast the demon out of the boy.

Jesus replied in verses 20-21, “The simple truth is that if you had a mere kernel of faith, a poppy seed, say, you would tell this mountain, ‘Move!’ and it would move. There is nothing you wouldn’t be able to tackle.” (The Message).

Last night we watched Facing the Giants.  Tonya told us we needed to watch it.  Early in the movie I sent her a txt, “So, you think I’m a loser.”  (I was just kidding).  This was an extremely inspiring movie.  Scene after scene I just laughed because I could see so much of my life in it.  Why did I laugh?  I guess I’m warped.  I did shed a tear or two as well.

About two weeks ago we had someone in our church portray the life of David… specifically the portion of David’s life when he faced Goliath.  I sat there that morning and I thought about the giants in my life.  I thought it’s time to stand up and face them. 

The movie last night reinforced the thought that it’s time to stand up to the giant.

While reading, praying, and journaling this morning the phrase came to mind, “Let go let God.”  I wrote it down in my journal and began to think about what that really means.

I read Isaiah 56 and 1 Peter 1.  My thoughts are about faith, hope, and trust.

A song came to mind by David and the Giants.  I couldn’t find the one I was looking for on YouTube but I did find the song “Let Go Let God” by David and the Giants. 

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…and God is unlocking it all. 

Alright… here I am.  Computer keyboard in hand and ready to type.  I have a world of things racing through my mind at this moment.  The Holy Spirit is working double time on me.  (Maybe I’m just being honest with what He has been telling me for over 20 years – for the first time). 

It’s like I’m a book with a bunch of unfinished chapters in the middle of two bookends (Brad and James).  Thanks guys for the love and encouragement.

To reinforce matters Oswald Chambers hit me upside the head today too.

Our Lord’s making of a disciple is supernatural. He does not build on any natural capacity of ours at all. God does not ask us to do the things that are naturally easy for us— He only asks us to do the things that we are perfectly fit to do through His grace, and that is where the cross we must bear will always come. (My Utmost for His Highest, September 25).

So why all of the fear?  What is there to be afraid of?

Do you even know what in the world I am talking about?

I’m talking about 1 Peter 1:7 and Romans 10:14-15.  I’m talking about what Joel said to me back in Summer of 1985 - after I talked with him about 1 Peter 1:7.  He doesn’t remember it I’m sure… but I do.  I’m talking about the Holy Spirit speaking to me in the Fall of 1985 in Old Testament class through Romans 10:14-15.

It’s amazing how our minds recall the “God moments” in our lives. 

It’s amazing how it takes 20+ years to say yes… for such a time as this.

I have been challenged by The Ephiphany to intervene in a matter concerning the “cheating” ways of AWIP.

Obviously, AWIP has been convicted.  He has now added the map feature to his blog.  Now the world can follow the map.  It was overheard yesterday at the Harvest Street Fair that AWIP was handing out business cards advertising his blog.  What a competitor!

Walker was telling the She Rambler that he felt sorry for his Pastor.  (Walker was referring to the cancellation of the mission trip to India.)  The She Rambler immediately thought my 6 year old was talking about AWIP’s blog… I think that is giving AWIP a little too much of a glory bone to think a 6 year old would be following his blog.

… the only baggage that you can bring. It’s all you can’t leave behind. (U2, “Walk On” Bono).

I love the opening to the song “Walk On” by U2.  I was listening to it today while burning up some of that cheap fuel I bought last Saturday!!  The words just captivate my heart… it’s a captivity that leads to freedom. 

Think about it:  Love is not easy… yet Paul says it’s the greatest of all gifts. (1 Corinthians 13).  I guess in the context of this verse love is the ONLY baggage you can bring… when a believer in Christ dies the only baggage allowed is love.  Love is the only thing you can’t leave behind.

I realize this song is dedicated to Aung San Suu Kyi.  She is a political prisoner in Myanmar.  As for her faith, she is a Buddhist.  She has been a political prisoner under house arrest because of her fight… dream… of democracy for her country. 

Because of this song I pray for her and people like her.  People who are held captive for what they believe.  It’s people like her who have a quality inside them that bars, prison, and persecution can’t hold. 

That quality is LOVE.  The truest form of this love is a gift given by Jehovah -  The Lord God Almighty.  This love was lived out and expressed in it’s deepest form in a man named Jesus Christ.  The man who came to bring freedom to all men and women who would believe in him.

For God so loved the world – how beautiful are those six words.  I sit here so late at night thinking almost imagining this love – in a way I’ve never known before.  This kind of love gives and gives and gives.  Seventy times seven this love gives… love is not the easy thing / the only baggage you can bring / It’s all you can’t leave behind.

You see – I have this thing.  If you keep up with things here at focus, you will know something of this thing.  I desire peace… not just some mamby pamby passive peace… I’m talking a strong victorious kind of peace.  Peace must be found.  I must not allow the love of God who fills me be tarnished by all of the opposing feelings, thoughts, and attitudes that try to win me over.  I know it’s not the easy thing.   And the fight must be waged on a spiritual level. 

Jesus said, “Take up your cross and follow me.”  Love is not the easy thing.

I know I have posted this song recently.  I hope you will take a moment if you haven’t already to think about the lyrics here.  They are posted below the video…. if you don’t want to watch the video and just listen and read them… think… pray… whatever God leads.  For me they are inspiring and I hope they are for you too.

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And love is not the easy thing
The only baggage that you can bring…
And love is not the easy thing…
The only baggage you can bring
Is all that you can’t leave behind

And if the darkness is to keep us apart
And if the daylight feels like it’s a long way off
And if your glass heart should crack
And for a second you turn back
Oh no, be strong

Walk on, walk on
What you got they can’t steal it
No they can’t even feel it
Walk on, walk on…
Stay safe tonight

You’re packing a suitcase for a place none of us has been
A place that has to be believed to be seen
You could have flown away
A singing bird in an open cage
Who will only fly, only fly for freedom

Walk on, walk on
What you’ve got they can’t deny it
Can’t sell it, or buy it
Walk on, walk on
Stay safe tonight

And I know it aches
And your heart it breaks
And you can only take so much
Walk on, walk on

Home… hard to know what it is if you’ve never had one
Home… I can’t say where it is but I know I’m going home
That’s where the hurt is

I know it aches
How your heart it breaks
And you can only take so much
Walk on, walk on

Leave it behind
You got to leave it behind
All that you fashion
All that you make
All that you build
All that you break
All that you measure
All that you feel
All this you can leave behind
All that you reason
All that you sense
All that you speak
All you dress-up
All that you scheme…

Focal [foh-kuhl] of or pertaining to a focus.

Giant [jahy-uhnt] a being with human form but superhuman size, strength, etc.

So, why a blog?  Why do I strive to keep up posting something here everyday?  Is it about the “stats”?  My pastor seems to think that blogging is all about the stats.  His wife seems to have her head in the game for the right reasons.  Now, don’t get me wrong I’m addicted to my stats just like the next blogger.  And when the hits aren’t rolling in I may need to seek out my therapist… (Lori is such a wonderful, loving, encourager on the days my blog tanks… She says, “get over it!”)

But why do I do this?

I remember the first several blogs that I posted and the fear I had clicking that “Publish” button for the first time.  It was a commitment to lay my words out there for anyone to read, enjoy, make fun of, be challenged by, and dare I say ‘inspire’.

Still the question remains, “why a blog?” 

My good friend Joel (who doesn’t have a blog and who’s wife limits his blogging time) is the one I credit for getting me hooked on this thing.  He was asking me if I read this blog or that blog… bloggity – blog – blog.  I started reading some – but for the most part those I read were negative, critical, and not edifying to the body of Christ.  I was reading blogs by those who proclaim Jesus in their personal and professional lives.  For the most part, what I had been reading was all about stirring up a bit of controversy thus attracting… “hits”.  Just another way to boost the stats.

I may not have the power of an email data base from a church to propigate my blog with tons of hits.  I don’t have a congregation that I hold hostage for information ONLY to be found on the pastor’s blog.  There are times I would think I may not even have a reader… in fact, the hits I get each day just may be Joel hitting the update button several times per hour.  I know Randy, She-Rambler and others do read…  To validate that others do read from other places I added the map to see just where the hits are coming from.  That’s pretty cool.

So, why a blog?

For me its about being a [foh-kuhl] [jahy-uhnt].  I was reading the comments posted on The Epiphany’s blog where my pastor (AWIP)referred to me as the “Focal Giant”.  It’s not just that I am 3 feet taller than AWIP. (I’m about 2 feet taller than most).  It’s not about my “all seeing eye”.  I know that my eyes have caused night terrors for some.  I hear Joel has done well with overcoming his night terrors. 

Back to the “why a blog?” question:  It’s all about keeping my focus.  I challenge myself each day to pray, read the Bible, devotionals, and live my life for JESUS CHRIST.  He is the lover of my soul.  He is the reason why I blog.  I want to be challenged in all I do.  I want to make the most of every opportunity I have to glean from my experiences in life. 

Back in the day of leading teenagers I would talk about life being a test and trust… today I would add a blog.

In the sight of God, all of our lives are written out in the ultimate blog of all time “The Book of Life”.  I know my name is there.  My life is being written out each day that I live.  What an honor to be found within the pages of God’s Book. 

God’s a great God full of love mercy and grace.  I would bet he even keeps tabs of His hits too.  What do you think?