where your treasure is

Interesting,
If I bash the President some will cheer others will sneer
If I preach the Rapture many will repose, others will thumb their nose
If I promote conservation some will hug a tree – shout with glee
If I build a faster car the sales line will grow far
Another Gadget- most must have it
A new toy and we are filled with joy

Posta comment about hunger and the Sound of Silence echoes on
I have to wonder we kneel at our alters ignoring the answer in the wind.

hungry? thirsty?

The other morning I caught part of a TV show with James and Betty Robinson. I have a little history with James Robinson, he spent a week teaching at my alma-mater. Jim was much more full of vinegar back then. Apparently he and I have spent some time in the same rock-tumbler.

Coincidently I am currently reading a book by Brenan Manning “the Ragamuffin Gospel” (Brenan also shared residence in the tumbler. ) The night before I caught Jim and Barbra on TV and saw a vid clip from them about their water well projects I read from Brenan that 1 in 5 Americans go to bed hungry. What a sobering thought! While mainstream America stands in line to purchase the latest 4G gadget there are people, probably within walking distance, who don’t have enough food.

I did a very little research and found
http://feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/hunger-facts/hunger-and-poverty-statistics.aspx

Apparently Brenan’s numbers may be slightly off, BUT not by much.

Here are some of the numbers
• In 2009, 43.6 million people (14.3 percent) were in poverty.
• In 2009, 50.2 million Americans lived in food insecure households, 33 million adults and 17.2 million children
Before your defense systems go into overdrive to explain why this isn’t “my” problem please another look above. “ 17.2 million children” Just to put that number into perspective that is 2 time the entire population of the state of NJ or almost equal to the entire population of the State of New York. Just think about that for a moment. Enough children to populate the entire state of New York are without enough food. AND THIS IS IN AMERICA!

Right now in the land of plenty, (where over 20% of the population is obese *) 40 MILLION Americans are hungry and may go to bed that way. Worse still is that tomorrow looks no better.

That begs the question, What “shall” we do about it?
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Matt.25: 37-40
http://www.livestrong.com/article/348674-statistics-for-obesity-in-america/

Regarding Comas

My daughter Jenn came and Had dinner with Katherine and I last night to celebrate my “return from the dead” see blog posts dated 7/11. 1/17 & 8/15.

During the course of the evening our talk naturally returned to those strange days of the come. They talked about what was going on around me and to me from those who medically cared for me and those who love me (sometimes the same people). I spoke of what I recalled and dreamed.

My perceptions of those days/hours and weeks are at times somewhat strange and vastly different from reality (?) but there is cohesiveness between the two. Sometimes it is clear and obvious- sometimes veiled.

I have had the chance since I woke up to talk to others who have lived in that shadow world and all agree that they were aware of the time. The awareness varies but we were aware.

Here is my point. If you are caring for, praying for or holding the hand of someone trapped in “that darkness” be aware, they hear you. They are alone in a place that is very confusing, very lonely and at times-many times—most of the time terrifying. Speak softly to them, they need you now more than you can ever understand.

Re-Born

Today is my anniversary.
In a very “very” real sense it is the anniversary of my re-birth. At 8:35 AM- one year ago I took that 30’ fall and spent the next 6 weeks in a coma. Some of that time “mostly dead” When I awoke almost 6 weeks later I had a new understanding of His grace and love.
I hope you know and or discover the depth of Him in a less traumatic way.

Building a pillar of stone

Building a pillar of stone

Throughout the Old Testament we read how “heroes” of the faith built pillars of stones to mark events and commitments regarding God and their fellow man. Gen. 31:52 sheds an adequate light on the concept. “This heap is a witness, and this pillar is a witness,” The pile of stones stands as a physical reminder of a decision.

I feel drawn to write, always have. This posting it intended as a “pillar of stone” to say I will. Telling you about it is like building a pillar of stone. Now that it is built there is no denying it existence. It’s up to me now to live up to the testimony of the stone. Psalm 118:22

He calls to us

One of my biggest frustrations with most organizations is a lack of planning and clear goals. (The what why and how that caused them to come into being.) They may have goals, or had then, but somehow they have been covered over with layers of function that amount to busywork. Eventually most seem to exist for the sake of existing.

This seems very true in the case of most local churches and denominations. If asked why they exist the wrote answer, in evangelical circles, will be: to lead others to Christ- to mature the believers-to grow the church- etc.-etc.

The problem is that those we want to bring the message to couldn't care less about " church" and they dont know anything about and care even less for the Church. For the new believer or the person who has a yearning to be part of “the church” (flock, herd, group, crowd) this is often enough. Depending on the new believes “type” he/she may be content to mill around with the rest of the flock for years, possibly a lifetime. Others come and go from the flock or trade one flock for another –depending on the quality of the grass or the season.

Unfortunately, the flock normally consists mostly of…. ‘flocktypes”. It wasn’t flocktypes who received the great commission, began to and did change the world.
The men/women who changed the world and those who will ignite the next great awakening had a goal- a purpose and a plan.
(What WHY and how) Then they infected others with that goal-purpose and plan.

I think God is waiting for a few to catch the fire – really see His plan not just to build a group or grow a church but to upset the world- and start a bonfire. I think you have seen the flame.

Not politics, not “church” we have seen over 4000 years of this. He calls to us.

Time confuses truth

Time confuses truth

8,400 hours 12 Minutes ago on Aug 9, 2010, many questioned if I would survive the 30’ fall. For weeks they wondered if I would survive the next night.

8 months ago many wondered if I would ever walk or have the use of my right arm and hand.

6 Months ago, Doctors told me I should find new interests, they said I shouldn’t drive, shouldn’t try and would never sail again

4 months ago I was still in a wheel chair and needed help bathing

On April 27, 2011, with much help, I set a ladder next to our sail boat and struggled 9’ up to begin preparations to sail again.

On June 23, 2011 we returned to the sea.

July 22, 2011, 10 days and over 400 miles sailed.

“Against all Hope”, Almighty God has continued to coax me forward