Taking a Stand

Whatever you do, If you believe something stand for it. This is particularly true if you are a Christian having your faith dashed against the rocks by detractors. Don't stand for it. Christ died for you and me and for those in opposition to your witness. The worst thing you could do for the soul of a detractor is back off and hide in a corner. That doesn't mean being nasty or condemning. What it does mean is that person needs Christ as desperately as you and I ever did and Christ shed an equal amount of blood for them as you and I. Souls are on the line. Time to forget about what people might think of you. We are all running out of time but for the lost this is a matter of great peril. Take your role as a believer seriously and take a stand for those who would rather you didn't.

Love notes from the Father.

I've been away from this for a while but I haven't forgotten it! People who know me know that I have been having lots of struggles in my personal life but I want to say that God is incredible! Things are improving and I am maturing as a result of the battles. There's a reason God doesn't let us see the whole war we have been placed here to fight for Him. If we saw it as a whole we might not charge in. But instead he takes us through it one battle at a time. Victories interspersed to keep us motivated. It's like taking someone who can deadlift 200# and then throwing them onto 600# and asking them to pull it. It's overwhelming and we can't do it because we haven't been through enough to carry that kind of a load. So we train, we gain experience and strength from the exposure to carry us on through similar situations and even tougher ones.The past few days I have gotten several love notes from the King that have got me kind of cranked up! Improvements in my marriage, affirmations about a new direct to take for church life, opportunities to share God, and so on. And every now and then God even spoils us:Today God even gave me a piece of candy. What do I mean by this? We have a gym at work that I use during lunch. For months I have been battling and stuck at 485 on deadlift and every time that weight came with extreme effort, pain, and almost passing out from head rushes. Today, with absolutely no exploding feeling from the neck up I nailed 500# without a hickup in the pull. I haven't done that much weight since I was 19! There was no world record in this and no fanfare. God could care less if I deadlifted a cockroach but He knew I've been wanting to hit this for a while and there is no doubt in my mind it was a gift. Before anyone says I am attaching too much to this being from God I need to say that I was listening to Casting Crown's "The Voice of Truth" as I was prepping for the lift. I wasn't really paying attention to the timing of the pull but as I approached the bar this is what was playing:"The giant keeps on telling me time and time again'Boy you'll never win, you'll never win.'and just as I locked out this is what I heard:"But the voice of truth tells me a different storythe voice of truth says "do not be afraid!"and the voice of truth says "this is for my glory"Out of all the voices calling out to meI will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth"Coincidence? I don't think so. No such thing and definitely no such thing for God's kids.I yelled so loud I expected people to run into the gym from the assembly floor but noone came in and that was good. All was well.What choice did I have but to raise my hands right then and there and thank my King for the sweets?

Dad

Why Should I Cry For You?-Sting
Under the dog star sail
Over the reefs of moonshine
Under the skies of fall North,
north west, the stones of farve

Under the arctic fire
Over the seas of silence
Hauling on frozen ropes
For all my days remaining
But would north be true?

All colours bleed to red
Asleep on the oceans bed
Drifting on empty seas
For all my days remaining
But would north be true?

Why should i?
Why should I cry for you?

Dark angels follow me
Over a godless sea
Mountains of endless falling,
For all my days remaining,
What would be true?

Sometimes I see your face,
The stars seem to lose their place
Why must I think of you?
Why must i?
Why should i?
Why should I cry for you?
Why would you want me to?

And what would it mean to say,
That, i loved you in my fashion?
What would be true?
Why should i?
Why should I cry for you?

February development and visual experiment

This is for me again. Sorry. Avert your eyes before it's too late!!!

Development Tracking

This is here for my sake and not to scare anybody. The picture was taken 11/27/06 and since the pic I have added another 12 pounds on. Once 6 months have passed I will take comperable pics to see if anything gets better. This is posted to annoy myself and keep me motivated to lift.