Fire Proof My Feelings

Over the years I've had my share of challenges in my marriage and family. Many times I've consulted with older wiser pastors, counselors, and yes even psychologists. I have a wonderful marriage, and my wife is my best friend and my greatest confidante, besides Jesus. But of all the things I've sought to help me understand who I am or who my wife is, none of the above really had the deep and lasting impact we were needing.
Several years back, my wife and I began our deepest quest to date, to become the people God desires us to be. What we thought might be the next class or seminar to equip us, never really happened. As a matter of fact, by the time we began to calculate the time, money and emotional equity spent on seeking tools to improve our marriage, ministry and our own selves, we realized most of those efforts produced little change.
In our exhaustion and frustration (Mark 5:26) we found ourselves at the Mercy of God. What a glorious place to be (you just don't realize it at the time). What we discovered was, we each of us had an enormous set of buttons, that from time to time would get pushed. As a result, ouch, usually happened. Because ouch or pain would occur, then our behavior would become less like Christ than it should be. In other words, our pain, insecurity, frustration, yada, yada, yada, all caused us to sin (Galatians 6:1 KJV; Hebrews 12:1). You know, the kind of sins that slow a persons progress. You know, the kind of sins that we so easily entertain or enable (Christian codependency) to exist in the church and clergy, because they've become so prevalent.
Ultimately, we discovered that how we "feel" about something really does matter. And that if and when we would let Jesus show us where those bad feelings were coming from, He would speak to the lie that was the source of our pain.
As for Fire Proofing our marriage, I think we've been doing that for years, but as for pain proofing our lives and marriage, that's been nearly impossible, especially in the ministry.
UNTIL NOW. May I say that God is doing something not short of a miracle. We are experiencing a process of healing and growth like I've never known. We have high anticipation that God is preparing us to restore and reconcile others, because that is what He is doing in our hearts and lives.
For what it's worth. Feelings do matter! If you don't believe me, just try making it one day without your feelings causing you to interpret your daily situations, and thereby dictating your actions. Go ahead, I dare you. You will find, good and bad, ALL OUR ACTIONS, are predicated upon how we feel about the matter. Oh, we may have tons of information, raw data, and even biblical precedent, but all of us act upon how we feel, regardless of how much grit and spizeringctom we can muster.
This has become a long discourse, so I'll end it for now.
But, I'm anxious to see the movie Fire Proof. I'm sure it will have a powerful impact on many, but until we get all our feelings in order, until we get the lies eliminated from our thinking and our memories, no amount of biblical Asbestos will prevent a marital conflagration from occurring and burning the daylight out of us.

RAK

Why the Word?

Just a short thought... John 1:1-5 describes the "Word" of God and it's place and connection to the cosmos. It further indicates that an element within the cosmos is "darkness" in contrast to "the light".

If you read no further in the Bible or if this passage were all you had access to, how important would the "Word" be to you, if we are to be reconciled and restored to God? Assuming you believe we are, without God, unreconciled and unrestored.

It seems that God originally created and connected with His creation, by His Word. From the very beginning until now, God speaks. He speaks and has spoken with an audible voice, with a still small voice, and even with a gentle knowing in the hearts of man even sometimes through man.

Further, as He spoke in these various ways, those spoken to, recorded His Words, instructions, commands, helps and healings. Essentially God, by speaking to us, has become our ultimate "Life Coach". In doing this, He's established a way by which He communicates with man. He speaks Words that have power to change, to give life, to reconcile matters between God and man, and even man to man, to restore lost hope and fortune to those taken captive by the thief, liar and murderer - the enemy of our souls.

In short... Words matter... to God... and to us!
Think about life without words. Would it be life?
RAK

Feelings Nothing More Than Feelings

It seems to me that years ago there was a song with those lyrics. I'm sure there are many more today that talk about feelings. Hey, I bet that most TV shows appeal to people's feelings [joy, fear, excitement, anger, lust, hope, etc.].

I think I'm finally coming to the conclusion that almost everything in the world revolves around feelings. And if we can, eliminate the bad ones, things just might improve.

I know that over the years, when I've done stupid things or even found myself falling into sin, it's most likely because of my feelings about something. I'm hurt, I'm lonely, I'm angry, I'm offended, I'm insecure, I'm not confident. On and on the list could roll.

I wonder, have you ever noticed how your feelings effect you? Just wondering, because I know, I'm really coming to a new understanding of how powerful my feelings on any matter really are, and how important it is to let Jesus speak to those feelings and reveal the lies behind them.

I hope to be back soon. Send me a comment and check the poll off to the right.

Remember, we're all broken inside.

RAK

Monday Morning Thoughts

What a wonderful Sunday we had in the presence of the Lord! It was communion Sunday and it was very easy to sense His presence as we worshiped and ate at the sacred supper. My heart is always touched by our times around the communion table, because that's what my [our] relationship with Jesus is all about. A fellowship meal that provides a powerful reminder of what He did for us on the cross, but also what He continues to do and will do in the final consummation of His will for the days we live here on earth.

Just in this morning: Cyclone kills nearly 4,000 in Myanmar... thousands (still) missing. Father God, may your grace and mercy be shed upon the people of Myanmar and may they turn to you alone who can give strength to endure the pain and suffering they're going through.

Indeed, most us us have little, if anything to complain about. As a matter of fact, when you hear about things like a storm killing over 4,000 people in one fell swoop, it makes a few damaged trailers or barns seem terribly insignificant.

God's hand of protection and blessing is STILL upon His people, but may we never take for granted how privileged we are as Westerners as well as children of the Living God.

Have a blessed and grateful day in Him!
RAK

Looking Forward

I was just thinking about how hard it would be to drive my truck in a forward direction, while only looking in the rear view mirrors. I suppose I could eventually get the hang of it, but I'm sure I'd crash many times before I finally perfected it, if ever.

Much like trying to drive by only using our rear view mirrors, looking back at the good times, the bad times, the high times, and the low times will never allow for a safe and accurate journey forward. May we each look forward to what God has in store for us, because His heart is for us NOW and IN THE FUTURE.

I'm LOOKING FORWARD to this Sunday... Many great things are ahead. Let us all keep LOOKING FORWARD!

PS: Please take a moment to vote in the surveys to the right. Thanks!

RAK

Cosby's Right

For years I've loved Bill Cosby as a comedian, but now I love him as a prophet. Well maybe he's not really a prophet, but his words echo in my heart like the words of a prophet.
For quite sometime now, he's been an unwelcome mouthpiece for the Black community. It seems that his no nonsense style or as he puts it, his "blunt" way of putting things, continues to raise people's ire. I think he does raise powerful and important questions - allot of cultural interrogatives that tend to rightfully place blame where it should be - on us. Oh, what a novel thing, personal responsibility.
I don't know where Bill's at in terms of his relationship with Christ, but I will say that what he's saying, should be said by the people of God.
We of all people should speak the truth in love, but we don't. We just speak "love" and we never get to the heart of the problem.
And then on top of the Cosby issue, CNN splashes a headline across the screen "Blood in the Streets" 36 people shot, 9 die, this weekend alone.
Where is the answer to these and so many other problems found?
IN CHRIST ALONE! Whether anyone wants to believe it, we are living in the Last Days, and we're getting closer and closer to that Last Day.
Can we as Christians, the people of God, finally begin to open our mouths and speak out about our dyer need for God's intervention? Can we take up the torch where Jesus and John the Baptist left off, "REPENT... FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NEAR".
I just believe that we have a responsibility to speak the truth in love, and we'd better start in our homes and in our churches... before it is too late.

RAK

The Clock is Ticking

Just a quick thought. Will there soon be a day when the mention of God or Intelligent Design will be illegal [see the movie Expelled], or will the day come when true followers of Jesus Christ will have their children taken away, because we are poisoning their minds with "hate" doctrine [see the polygamist issue - granted they're deceived, but the government did just take away over 400 of their children, for the children's protection - I agree with protecting children and prosecuting pedophiles], but could we too someday be prosecuted and have our children taken away? And what about the Reverend Wright? Was he wrong? Maybe, but the very fact that "guilt" by association may genuinely upset Senator Obama's chances of a bid for the White House, should cause us to at least think. Will the day come that New Testament doctrine RE sin, become such an offense to the culture around us that individuals become targeted by the government, due to their guilt by association - the length of time you've been a member in a church, or sat under "sin" preaching?

Just makes me wonder... How about you? Are we actually discerning the signs of the times?

RAK