The Great Separation

Love is Forever!

Refrigerator Poetry: Though Night May

Stickin' it to the.... - Here's another entry in my line of fridge poetry.

I know it's late. I actually had this one for last week but somehow overlooked posting it. Which turns out to be a good thing. I didn't like what I had and so ended up changing a few words this morning.

Feel free to leave me feed back. I'd like to know what you think.

Click pick to enlarge if necessary for your reading pleasure.

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Technorati tags: Refrigerator, Poetry, Night, morning, Hope, Yesterday

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When Our Fellow Christian Grieves Us.

Scripture for the Week. - Is not our righteous God amazing?

Isn't it wondrous how our heavenly Father knows us so well?

As a man much in need of the grace of Christ in my life, I stand in awe of the patience of Christ with me. Indeed, I'm in awe at his patience with fallen man. Why he doesn't just speak a word and bring a complete end to our sinful existence is a testimony to his love, to the very cross of Christ.

I was reminded this morning of God's grace with us in reading from Matthew 18. This particular verse stood out to me today:

“And if thy brother sin against thee, go, show him his fault between thee and him alone: if he hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.” (Mt 18:15 ASV)

Isn't it amazing that still today, after so many years from when Christ taught this, that we Christians still have problems along this line? We Christians can be terribly guilty of not following this advice. Often times the sin or grievance we feel another Christian has done against us is easily rectified by going directly to that brother or sister and honestly letting them know of the perceived wrong.

But the manner in which we do it must be bound in love that ignores pride and self; the same love that would be willing to be nailed to a cross for that brother or sister.

If we go to them in accusatory tones, or seeking an offensive tack, then they will become defensive.

To often in the Church today we immediately make the grievance public and all that does is weaken our testimony to the world from which we are called to be set apart - consider 1 Corinthians 6.

In all things we should act not out of our hurt but in obedience out of the Father's love. It's not easy. My God knows it's not been easy for this fallen but redeemed man. So often I've reacted out my injury and for that I can only ask forgiveness. I only hope I haven't damaged my fellow Christian or put a wall up before a non-believer.

Striving forward in Christ.

The Great Separation continues.

That's One Tough Buc.

Playing Hard. - I was watching the Bucs game today and saw Chris Simms go down. Now I know why. He took some major hits and suffered a ruptured spleen. And continued to play!

Bucs Beat | Tampabay.com - St. Petersburg Times.

Quarterback Chris Simms had his spleen removed in emergency surgery after Sunday's 26-24 loss to the Carolina Panthers, Simms' mother Diana has told the St. Petersburg Times. She said her son's spleen apparently was ruptured early in Sunday's game.

Diana Simms said her son was listed in critical condition.

Right now they don't know exactly when the spleen was ruptured but it looked to me like it happened early in the game.

It's impressive no doubt, but it makes me think of our men and women over seas fighting hard who have done heroic deeds when even more severely injured. True heroes. My prayers and gratitude go out to them.

To Have the Faith of a Canaanite Dog.

Desiring crumbs. - Would you settle for just a smidgeon of Christ's blessing? Would that be enough for you?

There are times when we are so burdened, when life seems only bent upon crushing our very souls that we would settle for the merest of relief.

One of the scriptures that has always been shocking to me is Matthew 15:22-28:

“And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, [thou] Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.

But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.

But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.

But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast [it] to dogs.

And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.

Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great [is] thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.” (Mt 15:22-28 AV)

It's shocking to me because of Christ's reaction to this woman. But that is perhaps a lesson to us from the Master.

I could say something about the realization of what we are in our sinfulness before Christ. Or I could note the importance of perseverance in taking our needs to Christ.

But I think, right now, the most important thing I take from this passage is that Christ's blessings are not crumbs. Instead they are complete.

This woman received the full blessing of Christ. Her daughter wasn't just partially healed from demon possession. She was healed in full!

So no blessing from Christ, though it appear a crumb to the world, is incomplete. Instead it is whole and sufficient to the need.

Now, to write that upon the heart.

The World Awaits Noah James!

The wonder of God. - It's a grand honor and privilege to announce the imminent arrival of young Noah James. To be born to two of my best friends, Caleb and Sara.

That's him in that there picture.

His big sister, Hannah, I'm sure will give her little-bro a huge smile and laugh upon his arrival next year.

Psychological Discovery on Mobile Computing and Single Guys.

You're creepy. - I'm sitting at my favorite mobile computing spot in Pinellas Park. Panera Bread.

I tend to work better on my writing in this kind of environment. At least for this season in my writing life. I like the busyness around me. For some reason it helps me to concentrate on my writing.

Perhaps too, I like the feel of being around people. I like to people watch and, yes, eavesdrop on conversations; making mental notes of characteristics like clothing, mannerisms, and dialogue flow.

Anyway, I'm nursing a cup of decaf and a scrumptious cinnamon chip scone with the laptop before me and Penelope Stokes's, Writing & Selling the Christian Novel, cracked to page 218 and I've discovered something disturbing. I must be creepy.

I don't know, maybe it's because I'm sitting in the back nook of the store, my back to the wall, and the computer screen hidden from eyes that might want to pry. I love this spot because it gives me a great view of the dinning area, has one of the few places where I can plug in my laptop when the battery gives out (way too fast), and has an incredibly strong wifi signal as opposed to the far end of the restaurant were other power plugs are located.

When I came in several hours ago, this spot was vacant so I quickly grabbed it. But the young woman (the only person in this area at the time) who had just grabbed a seat at a table for two just in front of it picked up her soda and napkin and moved to a table some twenty feet away.

My ego was bruised a bit, but I guess I could understand it. She was joined by a female companion shortly there after and they had some animated discussions, she being the listener. But since then no one, with the exception of two older men, have sat within two tables of me.

My ego was further bruised, and prompted this post, when an attractive woman came around the corner with her drink and started to sit two tables away and looked at me. I attempted a charming smile as her motion drew my eye from the LCD screen and she picked up her drink and moved to a booth some thirty feet away where she was joined by her husband and young child.

I have showered and am freshly shaved, combed, and dressed presentably enough for a Florida Panera.

So I can only imagine that people find a lone guy sitting in a Panera strange and weird enough to change tables.

Perhaps I should sit with my back to the dinning area and see what develops. I would think curiosity might prompt others to sit and sneak peaks at what I'm working on with my back to them and my face the to wall (maybe that's my best side). Or perhaps I could attempt to sit sidways, sort of half-n-half - my favorite coffee additive - and see what the reaction of other patrons would be.

A lone guy just sat down two tables in front of me with his back to me. So perhaps I'm not as creepy as I fear.

Well, back to Sins of Our Fathers.

Nun & Body Guard Murdered in Mogadishu.

They hate you because of me - A nun returning from a children's hospital was gunned down along with her body guard in Mogadishu on Sunday.

An Islamist told Reuters that it was highly likely the assassination was the result of the quote the Pope made in a speech that made mention to the of the Islam "religion to be innately violent."

You can read the full speech by the Pope here at the 522.

Here's some more reaction to the speech:

"We shall break the cross and spill the wine ... God will (help) Muslims to conquer Rome ... (May) God enable us to slit their throats, and make their money and descendants the bounty of the mujahideen."

My hope for these people is that they find the forgiveness and peace of Christ.

The Great Separation continues.

For further information on Christian persecution around the globe the Persecution Blog is a good source.

Yeah, I see it. You're a 29-year-old Toddler.

Safe flying? Right... - In a time when terrorists do their all to get on planes and bring said planes down, you would think that security would pay special attention to passports.

Particularly a passport handed to them by a 29-year-old-man featuring with the picture of a toddler:

Ananova - Man, 29, passes for toddler.

'Course maybe I'm funny that way.

Christian Persecution Round Up, 2006.09.14.

They hate you because of me - Knowing Christ, following after Him, enjoying an intimate relationship with Him will mean that there will be suffering of some kind in our life. Not because God enjoys putting us through suffering, not because our Father is some sadist, but because the world in which we live and the ruler of this world will recognize Christ's consciousness in us and seek to harm us out of hatred for Christ.

That suffering will take many forms. Some will be derided for their faith. Others will be tortured. Others will be murdered. But one fact remains. God is sufficient in all and will bring good out of evil. Our righteous and holy Father will use it in our lives and make us more like His son, Jesus Christ.

It's easy to forget about the struggles our brothers and sisters face in lands not as free as here in the United States. Of late I've had to step back from it to a degree as you may have noticed if you have been a reader here for some time. The reason is a bit of burnout and frustration at seeing it all happen and not being able to do much of anything.

But today I was reminded of what the cost really is and how important prayer is for our fellow brothers and sisters.

Stacy Harp, of The Right View, has an incredible interview that you must take the time to listen to.

It's with Kevin Turner, a man who has been called the Christian version of Indiana Jones. The ministry the Lord has given him is to the persecuted and lost in dangerous areas of the world. His organization is, SWI: Strategic World Impact.

SWI has ongoing operations in Eritrea/NE Sudan, Pakistan/Afghanistan, and Thailand/Burma. We are committed to an evangelical response in these areas pertaining to relief, medical aid, community health, and physical needs, but our primary goal is to minister to the spiritual needs of people by planting churches where none exist.

Please take the time to listen to this man. You will hear Christ.

On that note, here are a number of items in the news on the web about recent Christian persecution:

AsiaNews reports on the arrest of a bishop in China:

On 11 September, a unit of around 30 policemen scaled the wall of the parish where Mgr Wu Qinjing lives. They took him away without charging him with anything, after mistreating an 80-year-old priest and some sisters. The bishop from the official church had been ordained by Mgr Li Duan without government permission.

The Christian Monitor reports on two incidents in India:

Two places in Madhya Pradesh, both close to each other but in different districts saw violence against the Christian community by members of the Jagran Dharma Seva, a Hindu Fundamentalist Group. The attacks took place when prayer meetings were going on.

WorldNet Daily reports on persecution here in the states:

A military jury today convicted a Navy chaplain of a misdemeanor count of disobeying his commanding officer for wearing his uniform while delivering a prayer "in Jesus' name" at an assembly in front of the White House.

And here is another item from WorldNet Daily which details a pattern of persecution upon pastors in another region of India.

Christian pastors in India's "beautiful country" district in Karnataka state, where the government website highlights a native dance as a "common form of worship," are facing an apparently organized pattern of arrest, destruction of property and beatings for their faith.

The Great Separation continues.

For further information on Christian persecution around the globe the Persecution Blog is a good source.