Run’n Like A Vagabond

Mark Stegall found THIS program to do some changes to your image.

This is fun…

Me Now:

Me Tomorrow:

Me as a Different Race:

Haha, I love programs like this.

This is becoming one of my favorite days to post. I love going through old photo’s. This I am introducing my blog to two of my older brothers. Nathan[26] is in the yellow outfit, while Lucas[28] is supporting the Top Gun shirt. Me? Of course I’m in the middle trying really hard not to be serious.

What did you look like as a kid? An infant? Or even last year if you’ve changed a lot? Post a picture and have fun. Comment HERE, letting us know you did, so we can come laugh…I mean look at it and enjoy the experience.

Scripture Release:
Partnered with Jeff over at Consuming Worship, we are releasing week four’s scripture for the Blogger Small Group. If you unaware of what this small group still is, GO HERE to read the expectations, instructions and guidelines.

We will dive straight into James chapter four(4) this week. Chapters one through three so far have been as one member said, “a slap in the face”. Not a bad slap in the face, but in a way that has kept all of us accountable. I can only expect this week’s to do the same.

Anyhow, remember, next Tuesday is when we get together and meet to share where this scripture lead us, and to discuss with each other in whatever way God leads us. Don’t forget to invite others to share this journey with us.

WEEK FOUR SCRIPTURE: JAMES 4 (click the link to go directly to the passage)

Alive

Movement

Hands & Feet

Speechless

Powerless

Death

ABORTION

I was browsing some blogs and came across a blog discussing abortion. (Read it here)
It’ll piss you off
Make you sad
It’s truth
Powerful
Real
Depressing
Unignorable
Abortion needs a reaction

How many time do we react to the act of abortion but in a way that makes God disgusted that we reacted at all?

As Christians, we are called to love, regardless. Do we love them when we find out they have done something we hate? Do we love them in the midst of their sin?

This goes so much deeper than just abortion. However for now the question is as followed:

How can/should we react towards abortion, for the woman and the child?

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This is a part of WaterCooler Wednesday @ Randy Elrod’s site.

This I felt was appropriate for Creative Chaos. It might not be what you think of when you think of where Ragamuffinsoul has taken Creative Chaos, however, Lauren does something that I believe in her eyes and in the eyes of most of us, is creative, new, fresh, something we’re afraid to do. She will humble you.

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Last night I took the evening went to Indianapolis.

I did something for me.
I hit pause on my crazy life and did something enjoyable.
I deserve it right?

I took the evening and my friend Lauren and I took off to downtown Indianapolis. One of our traditions is bringing a variety of R&B cd’s and listening to them and laughing the whole time. This trip our music selection looked something like this:

• 90’s Usher
• 00’s Usher
• KC&JoJo
• Boyz-2-Men
• Brian McKnight

Needless to say lots of laughs and lots of singing.(be thankful you weren’t in the car for the terrible singing by myself, lol) Anyhow, once we got there she had a few things she needed to buy, so we took our time and walked around Circle-Center for awhile. She ended up with a new pair of “fancy” shoes and some clothes from Hollister. (side note: any shopping done by my future daughter in Hollister will be closely monitored by myself)
After the mall we walked around downtown for a bit. Enjoyed an evening where the weather wasn’t too bad.
It was nice.
No crap.
No stress.
No “have to’s”
Just Lauren and I enjoying the company. We ended up eating at HardRock Cafe. Our normal restaurant we eat at when we go is Champps, but we decided to mix it up a little. As we walked past Champps, I felt like the whole restaurant was glaring at me.

Here was the best part of the evening. Lauren didn’t eat a lot of her food, so she asked for a box to go. As we were heading out the door she said this:

“I’m going to give this to the homeless guy sitting outside of Circle Center, is that okay?

I looked at Lauren and just smiled. Her heart is beautiful. She didn’t even think twice about it, she knew as soon as she asked for the box that that is what she was doing with her food. Honestly, I was so proud at that moment that she allows me to be her friend. I was the lucky one. The truth is, I wasn’t even thinking about feeding the homeless or even talking to them. If anything, sadly, my intention was to not make eye contact so I could go about my evening the way I wanted to.

When Lauren asked the man if he would like her food, he responded with, “Oh yes I would. God bless you princess.” All of this made me want to cry. You see, Lauren is not a believer in our God that we serve. However, Lauren noticed a need, and acted.
Lauren’s heart is HUGE.
She see’s God creative nature, just doesn’t know it’s his.
Her love for others is simply undescribable.
It left me proud, ashamed, and humbled.

What humbling experience have you had recently?

It’s arrived again. Another week for the Blogger Small Group. No more waiting, diving straight into James chapter three. (Side Note: If you haven’t read James chapter three(3), but want to participate. Read it now and write about it. Any input is better than no input. Everyone is welcome.) [Mr. Linky is at the bottom]

James 3:1-2 - I think it’s interesting here that he starts out with saying:

“Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.”

The reason I think it’s funny that he starts out with that is due to his next verse:

We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check”

He tells us that not many of us should presume to be teachers because of our mouth’s, however he then tells us that we all stumble in many ways. Not only that, but he goes on to tell us that we all mess up with our mouth, and that if you don’t, then you must be a perfect man. I think he might have been using sarcasm here since he just finished saying “We all stumble in many ways.” There is a flip side to what that meant to me as well. Since there was only one truly perfect man, when I read it I took it as James was basically saying, only Jesus is perfect, the rest of us will mess up. Idk. Just a lot of little thoughts there. Take em or leave em.

James 3:3-6 - Wow, this whole section of the James is powerful. My favorite verse in this section would be:

“The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body.”

How many times has what I said backfired and made me lose all credibility to the person or people I was talking to? The answer is an resounding TOO MANY. I think sometimes as christians we live by the, “not what you say, but what you do” line. However, God clearly tells us throughout scripture that we need to speak truth and love out of our mouths to people. I know for me, I sit here some days thinking in my head, “I am loving people, caring for them, so no matter what I say they already know by my actions that I love them.” I’m the same guy that tells students when teaching about love that if someone says they love you, but then punches you in the face, doesn’t it make those three words pretty hard to believe? Switch that around though, if you are showing someone love, but then curse at them or belittle them, is that love. I would argue that what you say is tied in directly to your actions. Now your actions aren’t always directly tied into what you say however. Sort of like a square is a rectangle, but a rectangle isn’t a square. (sorry, bad reference)

James 3:7-8 - Here I feel like all hope is lost in taming the tounge. What happened to “I can do all things through Christ who strengthen’s me”. Here however he says:

“but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.”

Hmm? I think James is clearly making a point that we will never be perfect. He’s trying to help us understand of the importance of Christ. The importance of where we focus our desires and attentions. Maybe the part of Phillipians 4:13 where it says, “through Christ” is a key point. Because “man” cannot tame anything on his own. Through Christ however, we are affirmed throughout scripture that we can do anything, again pointing everything back to our full basic need of Jesus in our lives.

James 3:9-12 - I read this and my first thought is, “did he just talk about this in verses 3-6?” Perhaps James just realized that he need to reemphasize his point. Clarify better what he means. I take out of this that James is just emphasizing stronger that no matter what you say positive, anything you say negative will be held higher but nonbelievers and believers alike. That’s true isn’t it. I think of the media here. No matter how many good things a nationally recognized coach does, the media only reports on when he messes up. No matter how much money a person in the national spotlight donates somewhere, it will never make it on the news over that coach and the affair he had on his wife. Is it right? No. However, we’re warned a long time ago that this is how the world is going to hold us, not for our good doings, but for our sins.

James 3:13-16 - Let me start by posting this:

“But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts”

I’ve been there so many times, and really not even that long ago. I struggle deeply with envy. I don’t think he mentions selfish ambition and envy together by accident. Is it possible to harbor envy in your heart and not be selfish? I believe envy is a selfishly desired sin. It’s basically saying God, what you’ve given me isn’t enough, “I” want more. I want bigger and better. I suck at this, so I won’t even try to speak words of great wisdom on how to conquer it. (side note: i still can’t believe verizon named one of their cell phones after one of the seven deadly sins…odd.)

James 3:17-18 - Now this is the wisdom I want:

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.”

Is there really much more that needs to be added? Full of mercy. Sincere. Those two stand out to me. Not because I lack a lot in those areas, but because I believe the people close to me have slipped in that area towards me. When I think of the things that hurt me most in friendships, it’s when the person is not sincere in their words or when mercy is an after-thought.

I have great anticipation for how the rest of you were spoken to during the readings of these scripture. Mine were a lot of personal convictions.

Anyhow, now you, go, write in your blog over this weeks scripture and make this a small group. If you’re unsure of what to do, the original instructions link is below.

INSTRUCTIONS

[p.s. Don't forget to link back to here so everyone can go back and forth easily and to leave a comment. Be blessed]

[due to wordpress.com to post your link or see links to others blogs and findings from this weeks scripture, you have to click the Mr Linky icon]

I’ve hit it.

I have no clue what to blog about right now. Normally I have a list of things that I want to blog about, yet today my mind is blank.

So you tell me, what do you want me to blog about? Anything, you name it, and I’ll blog about it.

So start the suggestions!