Author Archives: Wayno - Page 2

Can a Christian Be Gothic?

maziGetting this question a lot — reposted here for the Facebook Crowd.

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From the Old Sanctuary San Diego Site, circa 1997

Question # Eight.
Can a Christian Be Gothic? (Pastor Ed’s response)

Answer:

This is a personal question to me, so I will address what being “gothic” means to me and why I have chosen to embrace this lifestyle. Let me start by explaining how and why I became a “goth.” I jokingly say that my dear friend Chase sired me to the “dark side,” because he was the first one to introduce me to this culture. I became “gothic” during a time of extreme sadness in my life. I was surrounded by others who were telling me to just be happy and I could not. I found solace in the dark sounds of Love and Rockets and Bauhaus. In the Cure, I found honesty of emotion, something I desperately needed.

When I became “saved” I noticed that while I had the “light of the world” in my life, I was still an outsider. I could not adapt to the cookie-cutter Christian model. Eventually, I discovered Sanctuary and truly found it the right place for my soul. Now I am a Shadow Dweller, lurking with a candle, holding it out to others, sharing the light and the love of God to those who are also living in the shadows.

It is hard to understand the real meaning of who/what a goth is if you are not a part of this scene. To me gothic is more than a fashion choice or a music preference. It is an attitude of how one views the world we live in. Some choose to look at life from a very shallow point of view, i.e., “life is one big party and fun is the big goal in life.” Others see it from a “yuppie” perspective, looking for their identity in their work, money, possessions, etc.

Life from a “gothic” point of view is one that is bleak and somber, thus the dark appearance and style of dress. The world is dark to me, because it’s so far from God’s holy plan and design, that it saddens me greatly. I express my somberness to the world by my style of dress and demeanor. I relate to the prophet Jeremiah regarded by most as the Weeping Prophet.

Being gothic to me is also being real real with myself, real with others, and real with God. I do not hide behind a mask to hide who I am and how I truly feel. When I am happy I express it fully, and when I am sad I express that as well. Most goths express their bleak sadness openly and I see that as an honesty of humanity.

I admire the culture for it’s open and honest expression of self, no matter how perverse or strange, because this is how God sees us. We cannot hide our sins from Him and it is foolish to think we can. In “normal society,” people seem so concerned with appearances, they hide their true selves in order to gain the favor of others. This mask-wearing is accepted, yet stark honesty is often shunned, even by those in the church. This is truly sad.

You see, being gothic is more than a fashion statement or a certain style of music. It is a reflection of how one chooses to see the world. This world is lost, hell- bound, and full of people in complete denial, seeking to fill that God-shaped void within them with everything except the Cross. It is a world lacking in honesty of self or honesty toward others. If I were to be anything but “gothic” in my views, I would be among the mask-wearing hypocrites. So I wear black and tell others who will listen that the world is empty and bleak. Yet it does not have to be. Though we live in the darkness, we are not of it. Thanks be to God for that.

Disposable People

Disposable People

“Disposable People” – Steve Malakowsky (Outcast Press , 2009)

There is no such thing as a disposable person. It is a description based on perception. This book is dedicated to those who live on the far edges of society. Some are easily catagorized. We call them homeless, addicted, unwanted, broken, ignored, strange, frightening and avoidable. Others blend in, but their hearts are shattered. Their lives are twisted wrecks, but they have become experts at hiding the damage.

My words will describe people I have met. Outcasts have stories. Hopefully, the more you know the more you will care. The photos on the back cover are copies of picture that Anna hands out on the street. The bright imagery represents hope, dreams and un-fullfilled destinies. These are lost elements in many lives.

My intents is that your eyes will see the shadow dwellers in your world and that your hearts will search for ways to help them. My prayer is that if you have been labelled as disposable, you will begin to grasp this important truth…your life has value.

Steve Malakowsky, outcastpress, 2009

Genetic Testing – Final Result

Test results from: 7/19/2007 (yeah 2 years ago, when I was in the
hospital!) Yes I got today, 4/23/2009!

“The sample is heterozygous for factor V Leiden, R506Q polymorphism.”

Heterozygous, means I got the clotting defect from ONE parent, but
not both. The test does NOT say which parent.

“The facor V Leiden mutation is the most common genetic risk factor
for thrombosis (blood clot) and accounts for greater then 90% of
cases with APC (tumour suppressor gene) resistance. Inherited
thrombosis due to APC resistance is considered autosomal (any
chromosome, other then sex chromosome) dominant disease;
heterozygote carriers of the factor V Leiden polymorphism (shape)
have an increased risk of thrombosis (blood clots) of 5 to 10 fold, and
homozygotes have a 50-100 fold increase risk. Estimated penetrance
(frequency) for homozygotes is close to 80 % with a reduced
penetrance for heterozygotes (approximately 12-20 %)”

Translation: I inherited from ONE parent (heterozygous) not both. I am only 5 fold increase instead of 50 fold.

All told – while not great news, it could have been much worse.

I am NOT responsible for the outcome.

Wayno

Columbine — A Decade After

from: San Diego Reader [circa 4/20/1999]

“I tried to tell people that the [Columbine] gunmen were not gothic,”says Pastor Dave, “and most of the true goths I know were bright, talented, young people who could never perpetrate something like this. But after all was said and done, it’s a moot point. This tragedy has put the gothic sub-culture in the public eye in a way that not even a year of [Marilyn] Manson’s ‘Anti-Christ Superstar’ tour could…all things dark and black will now be labeled gothic. Anyone singing sad songs in a black dress will automatically become gothic.”

Sanctuary’s cyber-minister “Wayno” Guerrini witnessed this damning misconception in action while watching a TV news report on KGTV Channel 10, focusing on local goth culture. Dismayed by the portrayal of goths as obsessed with evil and hate, he e-mailed Bill Griffith, the station’s morning and midday news anchor.

Griffith has been with KGTV since 1976, hosting the long-running daily show “Inside San Diego” as well as the station’s “Charger Report” which, for ten years, followed ABC’s “Monday Night Football” coverage. Wayno’s initial letter and the subsequent volley of e-mail is posted at www.gothic.net, samples of which include the following:

Cyber Minister Wayno: “Dear Bill, I work with Pastor Dave Hart, whom your station interviewed last night. That same interview re-ran on the 11am news, which you anchor, today. You made a statement today which is totally false: You said that most goths are into Adolph Hitler. You could not be farther from the truth! Most of these kids are into Philosophers like Nietzche (sp), not Hitler. Please, don’t start a witch hunt where none is warranted. As Dave said last night, goths are into self-inflicted pain, not into inflicting pain on others.”

Bill Griffith’s response: “Thanks much for the e-mail. I respect your viewpoint – and Pastor Hart’s – as coming from someone who works with ‘goths,’ but I plead with you not to excuse or underestimate the deeply disturbed nature of this movement. It takes only a cursory look through the internet under ‘goth’ to see the kind of Satanic, nihilistic, anti-Christian credo the ‘goth’ culture adheres to. Just because some goths don’t follow every tenet doesn’t mean we should ignore their world view.”

Sanctuary’s ministry stresses that the world view of Goth culture is anything but anti-Christian. The gothic lifestyle values the importance and value of individuality. Passivity and tolerance of others are treasured ideals, and vegetarianism, volunteerism and humanitarianism are common in practice. Goth kids have even cultivated an image of themselves as a “chosen people,” special in the eyes of a contemporary, post-Millenium God.

This concept is encouraged and reinforced by Pastor Dave. “I believe that the Christian gothic/industrial community has been called for [in] such times as these,” he preaches on the Sanctuary website. “Who else is more prepared to deal with dark days and painful times? You are a tribe of poet/priests and poet/warriors called to fight the darkness you know so well. Like Stryder and the Northern Rangers in ‘The Lord of the Rings,’ you will be used to fight the shadows of fear and terror in the dark forests and murky swamps which lie outside the boundaries of the land of the Hobbits…be confident in your unique calling. You are a chosen tribe, a holy nation of priests.”

“Be ready to die,” says Pastor Dave. “To your old life, to your dreams, to your glory, to your sin-nature, to this world, to this body. Remember it’s all going to burn. Remember that our suffering will not last forever.”

Infallible Proofs of The Resurrection

Purple Iris

This has been a week long event — I took my notes from 14 years ago (sermon given 35 years ago) and ocr’d them (gocr) – I wanted a text version of this, because before this, the only existing copy was on paper.

He is risen!

Wayno

—————-
Infallible Proofs of
The Resurrection
March, 24,1995

Excerpted notes from a sermon given, Easter, 1974 by Melvin W. Steward, of La Mesa First Assembly of God.

I. Introduction
A. Read I Corinthians l Cor 1 5:1-23

B. The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that
Jesus began both to do and teach,

Until the day in which he was taken up, after that He
through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the
apostles whom he had chosen:

To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by
many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and
speaking of the Things pertaining to the kingdom of God: (ACTS 1 : 1 _3 KJV)

C. Tekmerion — connotes a demonstrable proof.

1. All of Christianity hinges on the one doctrine
of the Resurrection. AIl the sermons preached in
the early church (book of Acts) were on the
resurrection. The resurrection therefore is an
ESSENTIAL DOCTRINE of the church. That is,
if you take it away from Christianity, Christianity
falls apart.

D. No resurrection would have openly declared Jesus as a liar.

E. Proofs:

1. Logic

2. Scripture

Page — 1

3. History

4. Experience

II. Proof of Logic

A. Resurrection occurred by either human means or supernatural
means.

B. If by humans:

1. Enemies or friends.

a. Enemies-

1. Would have spread the very thing
they were trying to prevent!

“Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that
deceiver said, “After three days I will rise again.

So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day.
Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people
that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse
than the first.”

“Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know
how.”

So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and
posting the guard. (MATT 27:63-66 NIV)

(2) What would have been the response
of the Church, if they could have
produced the body of Christ? They
would have silenced the church forever.

(3) It is interesting to note: The silence of
the Jews, is as significant as the
testimony or the Christian!

(4) So logically, it wasn’t the enemies of
Christ.

Page — 2

b. Friends of Christ

(1) They were the very ones most
surprised by the resurrection!

(2) John 20:1-1 6 records the account of
the resurrection.

(3) Luke 24: 1 3 :49 (EM on vs 43) records
the two that ere traveling on the road
to Emmaus. They didn’t get it! They
didn’t understand. He had to show them.

(4) No, it could NOT have been the friends of
Jesus — They were most surprised.

III. Scripture Proofs

A. What does the bible itself say about his the resurrection?

1. Psalm 16:1 O because you will not abandon me to the grave,
nor will you let your Holy One see decay. (NIV)

2. Jonah – Matt 1 2 :40 for as Jonah was three days and three
nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man
will be three days and three nights in the heart
of the earth. (NIV)

3. Then the Jews demanded of him, “What miraculous sign can you
show us to prove your authority to do all this?

“Jesus answered them ; “Destroy this temple, and I will raise
it again in three days.’

The Jews replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this
temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?”

But the temple he had spoken of was his body.

After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what
he had said. Then they believed the Scripture and the

Page — 3

words that Jesus had spoken. (John 2 : 1 7-22 NIV)

B. God keeps His promises. Just like he said he would. On time.
Because He;s always on time.

IV. Proof by History.

A. If you would not as yet accept the Bible as being
historically accurate, than lets examine what other extra
-biblical sources say about the resurrection of Jesus
Christ. Now, I won’t ask you to turn to your bible for this.
Instead we will examine the works of others.

1. Flavious Joeshephus — noted Jewish historian of the
first century in his book entitled “Antiquities of the
Jews” records; Book 18, Chapter 3, paragraphs 1-5.
Paragraph 3 is the Testimonium Flavianum, which
contains the reference to Jesus Christ. He states the
resurrection as a matter of fact. A matter of record.

a) 3. (63) Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man,
if it be lawful to call him a man; for he was a doer of
wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the
truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of
the Jews and many of the Gentiles. He was [the] Christ.
(64) And when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal
men among us, had condemned him to the cross [2], those
that loved him at the first did not forsake him; for he
appeared to them alive again the third day [3], as the
divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other
wonderful things concerning him. And the tribe of Christians,
so named for him, are not extinct at this day.

2. Noted Author CS Lewis writes:

a) The Resurrection is the central theme in
every Christian sermon reported in the Acts.
The Resurrection and its consequences were the
“gospel” or good news which the Christians
brought: what we call the ‘gospels,’ the
narratives of Our Lord’s life and death, were
composed later for the benefit of those who
had already accepted the gospel. They were in
no sense the basis of Christianity: they were
written for those already converted. The
miracle of the Resurrection, and the theology
of that miracle, comes first: the biography
comes later as a comment on it. Nothing could
be more unhistorical than to pick out selected
sayings of Christ from the gospels and to
regard those as the datum and the rest of the
New Testament as a construction upon it. The
first fact in the history of Christendom is a
number of people who say they have seen the
Resurrection. (C.S. Lewis).

3. “In Search of the Historical Jesus” by Harvey King Mc Arthur —
presents powerful, and compelling evidence of the fact
that Jesus was a historical figure. Unfortunately, I
don’t have a copy, but your welcome to check it our of
any major library.

4. Josh McDowell — noted Christian Apologist has written
many books on the sub)subject of Christ in the Resurrection.
“Evidence that Demands a Verdict” and “A Ready Defense.”

B. These are sources apart from The bible.

V. Proof by Experience: .

A. The most powerful of all proofs of the resurrection, is the
power to change and transform lives. Perhaps two of the most
famous martyrs (from Foxes Book of Martyrs are Stephen and
Polycarp.

B. Stephen. ,

1. Recall from Acts, the stoning of Stephen:

Page — 4

a. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to
heaven and saw he glory of God, and Jesus standing
at the right hand of God. (NIV)

“Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of
man standing at the right hand of God.” (Acts 7:55-
56 NIV)

b. Jesus wasn’t just sitting — he was standing!
Stephen had the experience of the transforming power
of the resurrection in his life.

2. Potycarp — an early Christian that lived under
emperor Marcus Aurelius — was about the be burned at the
stake sai:.

a) “Eighty and six years have I served him, and he
never once wronged me; how then shall I blaspheme
my King, Who hath saved me?”

a. See he had an experience with the Savior. They
told him to Deny His Christ. He said, “In 86 years,
he’s done me no harm! I’ll never deny my Christ!

b. What allowed him to experience a gruesome painful
death, but yet never deny his Lord? It took
an experience. A personal relationship with his
Savior. He knew the power of the resurrection to
be true in his life.

VI. Conclusion

A. Four proofs of the resurrection. Demonstrable proofs. But it
didn’t end in biblical days. The power of the Resurrection
is for us today. Through the ages, there have literally been
transformed millions of lives. Some in this very room. Lives
that would have otherwise been destroyed by drugs, alcohol,
or suicide — but because of an encounter, because of a
living relationship with Jesus Christ — we live —

B. “and because he lives — I can face tomorrow. Because He
lives — all fear is gone. Because I know — I know he holds
the future — and life is Worth the living, just because he
lives!”

Rage — 5

Genetic Testing Results

Well —

I was staring to have a cheery day — when the Cardiologist told me I have: Factor V Leiden R506 (heterozygous)

What is that? It’s a genetic clotting disorder.

My head it spinning. I am upset.

When I was in the hospital in 2007, they gave me a shot of Lovenox (blood thinner) in the stomach, and I bled out and had to have 5 transfusions. They installed a vena cava filter instead.

The truly hard thing is, that this was known in June, 2007 when I was in the hospital for a month, but they did NOT tell me till today. (2 YEARS after the fact!)

It’s hard.

Wayno

Letter to a Friend Dealing with Cancer

Robb

Ahh your soul is where the “rubber meets the road.” I have been down this road as well. We are no longer strangers, we have entered “the brotherhood of the suffering and downtrodden.” Escaping through books, instead of prayer. Oh my, how comfortably familiar. Yes, exactly what I did, as well.

Does suffering serve any purpose, or are we just pawns that God manipulates for his own entertainment?

It’s healthy to question these things. You are indeed experiencing a “Job” experience in your life, because of the Cancer. Mine is heart disease.

But unlike Job’s comforter’s, I’ll do no scolding.

You understand well there is NO assurance of healing. In fact, healing has not even been a part of my prayers for you. Now that might seem odd, but it isn’t. My prayers for you and your family is that God would give you grace, sufficient for the day’s needs. Because you are enduring this in the present. Not the past, not the future. But the here and now.

We’ ve one of two choices: Either God’s grace is sufficient, or it’s not. There’s no middle road here.

The important thing to remember, and this was a hard lesson for me to understand: Whatever happens YOU are NOT responsible for the outcome. Your only responsibility is to be obedient to what God has called you to do. And that’s never without consequences.

Obedience at times, means we suffer. Our emotions are in a blender. We stop it for awhile to sample the mix, and it churns around and around again, on a never ending merry-go-round, that seems to never stop. Our minds race away. If we dwell on it too long, madness sets in.

Don’t pray. That’s really NOT your job. It’s the work of friends. Right now, you are bathed daily in the prayers of those who reach out, and call you a friend. That’s our job, not yours.

Learn this principle:

2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,

4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

5 For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.

6 If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.

7 And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. (2 Cor 1:2-7 NIV)

Life is not joy. It isn’t wonderful. It’s often times painful.

As Larry O. Richard said: This may be one of the most important values of suffering. If life on earth were a constant joy, why would we fix our hope fully on the grace to be brought to us at Jesus’ return? If life on earth were without difficulty, how would we remain sensitive to our need for God? If life on earth were without trials or persecution how would we be forced to choose between commitment to Christ, and comfort or ease?

As Peter said, suffering does have value. It reveals the genuineness of our faith, and brings praise to the Lord.” (”The 365 Day Devotional Commentary”, Larry O. Richards, Victor Publications, 1992, pg 1109)

I Peter is nourishment for the soul. You will find understanding and compassion there. When you have a few moments, read it through.

We made it through Bible School on prayer. Whatever happens next, you have no control.

Where is Robb?

14 But Zion said, “The LORD has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me.”

15 “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!

16 See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me. (Isa 49:14-16)

You are in the palm of God’s hand. He doesn’t wonder, “Gosh where’s Robb?” He looks at His hand, and says “Ahh perfect. That’s just where you’re supposed to be.”

It doesn’t feel like it, but my prayer is that you would KNOW and EXPERIENCE God’s love and peace through this ordeal. You are NOT responsible for how this turns out. That’s God’s responsibility.

A great weight was lifted from my shoulders, as I came to realise this.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NIV)

Peace always,

Wayno

Knowing God’s Will for your Life

I’ve gotten a couple of requests for this in the last couple of weeks.  This was the “final exam” for Sanctuary’s Sanctuary International’s Intense Studies Course I took, in 1992.

———–


Knowing God’s Will for your Life

by,

Wayno Guerrini

05/16/92

“What would you say if someone asked you, “How do you know that your living in God’s will, and how do you recognize God’s will for your life?” What scriptures and Biblical principles would you use?

That’s a pretty tall order, isn’t it! Three areas come to mind, and I will further discuss and develop them in this treatise. First of course is prayer and reading (searching) God’s word. Second, is the “peace of God”, and finally, doing things through faith.

I will focus my answer’s to the question, not so much based upon, knowing God’s will (long term) for your life. I think that is beyond the limits of human comprehension. However, I will focus the discussion, on a narrower band of thinking. Knowing God’s will in a specific circumstance.

The first criterion we should utilize of course, is the Bible itself. In the absence of clear cut evidence, (like NOT murdering someone), a thorough examination of scripture to reveal what God’s intent is on the particular subject, is a good place to start.

2 Timothy 3:16 -17 tells us: “ALL Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. So that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (NIV)”

A necessary pre-requisite for knowing God’s will for our lives, is first to become familiar with His Word.

Psalm 119:105 further tells us: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (NIV)”

The Bible tells us that ALL scripture is given by God. Therefore, as Psalms says, it will give guidance to our paths, and direction to our ways.

Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us confidently: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in ALL your ways acknowledge (or know) him, and he will make your paths straight. (NIV)”

We must be diligent in our search for God’s will. Proverbs again tells us, “and if you call for insight and cry aloud for understanding and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear (reverence) of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding. (Proverbs 2:3-6 NIV)”

Our quest for knowing God’s will for our life, will lead us to really having to seek and search God’s word. But I like what Proverbs says, that if we seek after wisdom, we will understand the fear (or better translated — reverence) of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. Our seeking must be from an honest desire. God want’s to be found!

“You will seek me, and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord…” (Jer 29:13 NIV)

Prayer is of course requisite with searching God’s will. At times, we really don’t know the direction or the path God is leading us. It is important to be steadfast in prayer. James tells us:

“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. (James 1:5 NIV)

Therefore, it is important that we let God know that we need wisdom to help us in a particular circumstance. We do that through prayer and communion with God on a daily basis. Romans 12:2 forms the basis for this:

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2 NIV)

“Therefore, do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are renewed day by day.” (2 Cor 4:16 NIV)

Our walk with God is a daily walk. As such, we should be in communion with God, everyday, telling Him what is troubling us, and honestly seeking to perform his will. The one way to do that, as Romans tells us, is to renew our minds in Christ, that we will be able to prove the good, acceptable and perfect will of God.

Secondly, one of the “indicators” of God’s will for our lives, is the peace of God we have in our hearts. Philippians 4:7 tells us: “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil 4:7 NIV)

I am NOT advocating that we rely fully on our feelings to guide us at all. They are notoriously unreliable. However, the lack of peace in our lives, could be used as a “negative” indicator of God’s will. Again, one should NOT rely on feelings, but often, God’s peace will accompany or be absent in a major decision regarding our lives.

Finally, let’s examine the issue of faith.

“But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin. (Romans 14:23 NIV)”

This passage deals primarily with food being offered to idols. But upon closer scrutiny, we see that everything that is not of faith, is sin.

You see, we also know that our walk is by faith, and not by sight alone. (2 Cor 5:7)

Yet what is faith?

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1 NIV)”

Or to quote Archie Bunker — “Faith is believing what no one in their right mind would believe!”

You see, Archie’s faith, as well as that of many of us, is centred on what I can touch, feel, taste, smell or see. To often we forget the principle contained in Zechariah 4:6 “So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty. (NIV)”

You see, God’s will is not always meted out in the physical, visible, tangible things of this world. It is by his Spirit, that God accomplishes all the things in our life. We forget that sometimes.

For me, “Faith is the quiet confidence that God is working in our life, behind the scenes, to accomplish His own good will, even though our feelings may often betray us.” (W. Guerrini, circa 1992)

Also coupled with faith, is circumstances. It’s been described as looking for “open doors.” If you have to FORCE a “door” open, unless you have other strong indications that it IS God’s will, then the idea may either be against God’s will entirely, or at least be premature and ahead of His perfect timing.

Finally, one of the areas I struggle with is this: “Be joyful always; pray continually. give thanks in all circumstances. for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thes 5:16-18 NIV)”

We aren’t always very joyful going through the trials and tribulations of life. James 1:2 says “Consider it pure joy, my brothers when you face trials of many kinds. (NIV)” {NOT!}

Often we will say, “Yeah, but you don’t understand what I am going through.” God’s will for us is that we would be joyful always. The key to joy, I believe is beginning to focus our attention not so much on the temporal things of this earth, but by having our attention, and our will’s focused on those things of an eternal value: Our Salvation, God’s living Word (Jesus Christ), and lastly the friendships (relationships) we have made. This I am convinced, is the key to the joy Paul experienced in the Philippian jail.

We have but scratched the surface of knowing God’s will for our lives. But through prayer, searching God’s word, occasionally relying on our feelings, and finally reaching out in faith, we can begin to determine what God’s good and perfect will is for our lives. (Romans 12:2)

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The Challenge

A friend has challenged me to bring God into the Present. What I am doing: Today?

Ahh that’s hard for us Humans. You see we live in all three tenses at the same time. Past. Present. Future.

Our past is known. However painful it may be, we are “comfortably familiar” with it, and intimately acquainted with our past. The Future — I guess we can depend on “crystal balls” to foresee the future. But the Present. Ah the Present. We try to hide our true feelings. Some use drugs, some use alcohol. But to some extent, we find our selves in a state of discontent with our Present state of existence.

I make excuses NOT to do things. Ahh well, if I pretend it doesn’t exist, it will go away. But like a scab picked at to often, we bleed. We never want to admit to ourselves, that we do have some responsibility for the way we live our lives.

It’s called “Stewardship.” That means taking responsibility for how we utilise the things God has given us. Life, money, health, friends. Life beckons to us, but few of us are willing to admit to ourselves, we are broken, and we can not fix ourselves. Their is a gaping wound, that only God can fix.

My friend has challenged me to grow, and move beyond where I am now. I feel like I am in a rut. Ever wonder what a rut is? I like Chuck Swindoll’s definition: “a rut is a grave with both doors kicked in.” That’s where I am. That’s my Present.

But I don’t have to be there. The challenge is to LIVE in the Present, not just exist there. Mindfulness.

My prayer has been: “God, where will you lead today?” Are we up to the challenge of asking God to lead us each day?

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet INWARDLY we are being renewed DAY by DAY.” 2 Cor 4:16 (NIV)

Wayno

Happy New Year’s!

Yours truly has taken ill, requiring emergency intestinal surgery last week. It’ll take some time, but I hope to be back on my feet soon.

Wayno