I find sometimes that so many people including myself are so stuck on our own ideas we refuse the truth even when it hits us in the face. I think people take many beliefs or ideas as facts when they are not. The biggest example I can give is a physics exam before Einstein ever knew how mass, energy, and time (the most common of human elements) worked be he stuck a wrench in the system. He completely destroyed the system and built it up again. If we take this to matters of life I believe that we really don't have any clue about how things work and the stuff that is true may only work in our lives but not work in another. The saying goes that don't judge a man till you've walk in his shoes I think that might not even be enough. If we then move this to God shoot we have no hope, and really that is the case until something happened 2000 years ago.
The problem with all this is that there are stupid ideas and smart ones that look really stupid. The only thing that I can do to resolve this is to ask God to open our blind eyes and see the answer.
John James Friesen
Monday, September 24, 2007
Monday, September 17, 2007
Quote
"If you've ever known the love of God, you know it's nothing but reckless and it's nothing but raging. Sometimes it hurts to be loved, and if it doesn't hurt it's probably not love, may be infatuation. I think a lot of American people are infatuated with God, but we don't really love Him, and they don't really let Him love them. Being loved by God is one of the most painful things in the world, it's also the only thing that can bring us salvation and it's like everything else that is really wonderful, there's a little bit of pain in it, little bit of hurt." Rich Mullins
Monday, September 10, 2007
Psalm 143
1 Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.
2 And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.
3 For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.
4 Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.
5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.
6 I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.
7 Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.
8 Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.
9 Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.
10 Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.
11 Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name's sake: for thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble.
12 And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.
2 And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.
3 For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.
4 Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.
5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.
6 I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.
7 Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.
8 Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.
9 Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.
10 Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.
11 Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name's sake: for thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble.
12 And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.
Monday, September 3, 2007
Anger
So having come up with nothing else I decided to write a blog on what God has been teaching me this past little bit.
I had many situations in the past little bit that created allot of frustrations. Allot of times I find my self saying out loud "why don't you just work", then I would thinking about why I am angry and wondering if being angry helps at all. I would find many solutions and the best one came to mind as soon as I let myself get rid of the anger and see things the way they really are.
14 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:
15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;
16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.
I had many situations in the past little bit that created allot of frustrations. Allot of times I find my self saying out loud "why don't you just work", then I would thinking about why I am angry and wondering if being angry helps at all. I would find many solutions and the best one came to mind as soon as I let myself get rid of the anger and see things the way they really are.
14 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:
15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;
16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Day's of Hard Work
I find that so many times I question why is this happening? Why can't it just work?
You can see it every where that this is how life is. Plans are changed all the time. I guess the question I am trying to ask is why are things like this? How come some days it feels like you have to fight for every step?
Genesis 3:17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. (also Romans 8:22,23)
I guess it is what the serpent said we will be like God. We see the good in storing up food for bad times so we work hard to prepare ourselves. We are part God and part dust, or as Paul puts it Romans 8 spirit and flesh.
So where does this bring us for the original question why. I believe if we weren't part God we wouldn't be able to comprehend such a question and we would never worry about it. If we were all God we wouldn't need to worry about it because we would have everything that we need. So what does God want us to do with this human condition?
Romans 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
I guess the plan is to work hard at it, and to ask God for our every need, because it is impossible by ourselves.
Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
You can see it every where that this is how life is. Plans are changed all the time. I guess the question I am trying to ask is why are things like this? How come some days it feels like you have to fight for every step?
Genesis 3:17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. (also Romans 8:22,23)
I guess it is what the serpent said we will be like God. We see the good in storing up food for bad times so we work hard to prepare ourselves. We are part God and part dust, or as Paul puts it Romans 8 spirit and flesh.
So where does this bring us for the original question why. I believe if we weren't part God we wouldn't be able to comprehend such a question and we would never worry about it. If we were all God we wouldn't need to worry about it because we would have everything that we need. So what does God want us to do with this human condition?
Romans 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
I guess the plan is to work hard at it, and to ask God for our every need, because it is impossible by ourselves.
Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
strength of man and the Power Of God
The strength of man is found in the details. As they say the devil is in the details and I guess that can be true in more than one way. How does man make it to the moon and back, by looking at every single angle and possibility. How does someone control a whole country, by looking at the details.
The power of God is found in the impossibilities. How does a hardened criminal really change? How does a political pressure push the English government to provide money to free seven hundred thousand slaves? How does a church grow in the midst of the harsh punishment?
I'm not saying that the strength of man is wrong it is just a very powerful tool that has been given and like anything that is powerful it can be used for great good or great evil, and it turns out that is one of the closest things that we can get to be God with out God so Satan uses every attempt to control it. I do believe if we could get our act together down here we would explore the stars using both our own strength and the power of God, but God has his own plans. I guess the idea is to some how find a way to make the two live in peace. This proves to be the a very hard thing considering if you think about this for a bit it turns out to be Christianities struggle since Constantine gave freedom to Christians. How do we merge church and state?
I guess the only solution I can give you is one you can't put in rule books or tell to someone about where they sit in the power tree. Do as much as you can for God and trust God with the rest. I guess thats it Jesus came to destroy to rule book, because it enslaves people.
Doing the better thing always proves to be an uphill battle by your self because it disobeys all the laws of nature.
The power of God is found in the impossibilities. How does a hardened criminal really change? How does a political pressure push the English government to provide money to free seven hundred thousand slaves? How does a church grow in the midst of the harsh punishment?
I'm not saying that the strength of man is wrong it is just a very powerful tool that has been given and like anything that is powerful it can be used for great good or great evil, and it turns out that is one of the closest things that we can get to be God with out God so Satan uses every attempt to control it. I do believe if we could get our act together down here we would explore the stars using both our own strength and the power of God, but God has his own plans. I guess the idea is to some how find a way to make the two live in peace. This proves to be the a very hard thing considering if you think about this for a bit it turns out to be Christianities struggle since Constantine gave freedom to Christians. How do we merge church and state?
I guess the only solution I can give you is one you can't put in rule books or tell to someone about where they sit in the power tree. Do as much as you can for God and trust God with the rest. I guess thats it Jesus came to destroy to rule book, because it enslaves people.
Doing the better thing always proves to be an uphill battle by your self because it disobeys all the laws of nature.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Letting Go cont.
I guess today is a good day. Not all the posts were created today I had been working on them for a bit.
I decided to expand this post because it holds something else that I think is important.
Sometimes we want to see the world, do something great, make lots of money, live somewhere else only because there is something missing inside of us, feeling like we need something else. The place itself is not what fills this gap. It is a change of mind, only the all might God of the Universe can really fulfill us.
I pray that everyone including myself in our time, need turn to him for all our needs.
Luke 4:4 "And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by, but by every word of God."
I decided to expand this post because it holds something else that I think is important.
Sometimes we want to see the world, do something great, make lots of money, live somewhere else only because there is something missing inside of us, feeling like we need something else. The place itself is not what fills this gap. It is a change of mind, only the all might God of the Universe can really fulfill us.
I pray that everyone including myself in our time, need turn to him for all our needs.
Luke 4:4 "And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by, but by every word of God."
On the Verge of Something New
Stuck in this transition
between two cultures
much to gain
much to lose
How do I transition?
How do I say bye?
What do I keep?
What do I throw away?
Will I ever come back?
Will it ever be the same?
Can't stay here, God calls me on.
Things change, today only has us once.
I rejoice for the opportunity, to experience this again.
I pray experience, will give advice on this transition.
I've learn't so much, about me, about this world.
I look forward, where the hard times are the best times.
I pray I can see it.
between two cultures
much to gain
much to lose
How do I transition?
How do I say bye?
What do I keep?
What do I throw away?
Will I ever come back?
Will it ever be the same?
Can't stay here, God calls me on.
Things change, today only has us once.
I rejoice for the opportunity, to experience this again.
I pray experience, will give advice on this transition.
I've learn't so much, about me, about this world.
I look forward, where the hard times are the best times.
I pray I can see it.
Monday, July 30, 2007
Working on Progress
One step from the edge
two steps till victory
Where are you?
Why so hard?
Always right here
Always waiting for our call of help
One missed turn and we're stuck
the open road calls us to our journeys end
Where is the narrow path?
What is the question to our limited answers?
Always calling us on
Always giving us light
Demons calling us on
God calling us forward
Who to listen to?
Where do I go?
Always not as it seems
Always moving on
Wrapped up in imagined significance
Humbled by your awesome power
Why is everything gone?
Why such pain?
Aways yours
Aways your guide
Turning to you
giving you all I got
Need no answers
Need no reasons
Just complete your work in us
Until we reach our journeys end
Thank you.
two steps till victory
Where are you?
Why so hard?
Always right here
Always waiting for our call of help
One missed turn and we're stuck
the open road calls us to our journeys end
Where is the narrow path?
What is the question to our limited answers?
Always calling us on
Always giving us light
Demons calling us on
God calling us forward
Who to listen to?
Where do I go?
Always not as it seems
Always moving on
Wrapped up in imagined significance
Humbled by your awesome power
Why is everything gone?
Why such pain?
Aways yours
Aways your guide
Turning to you
giving you all I got
Need no answers
Need no reasons
Just complete your work in us
Until we reach our journeys end
Thank you.
Saturday, July 28, 2007
The Pattern Continues
Well It seems that my life revolves around four month segments, and as this is getting to the third month as usual things are getting busy so I will not be posting as regular as usual or planned. Though I do have one for today.
I was watching a documentary on the prohibition of drugs. I agreed with allot of what they said. We are not getting anywhere with our any drug "jail and fine" policy. All we are doing is making people and dare I say governments lots of money (oh wait is that an act of terrorism, shoot now I can be held in a prison for as long as they want with out trial). Like any war you need a good guy (the police), a bad guy (the drug user) and the guy selling the guns (or drugs).
If your wondering about my terrorism bit, A few weeks back I read an official White House law or what every they call it Act or something and it was pretty scary.
Anyways there is my rant.
John James Friesen
I was watching a documentary on the prohibition of drugs. I agreed with allot of what they said. We are not getting anywhere with our any drug "jail and fine" policy. All we are doing is making people and dare I say governments lots of money (oh wait is that an act of terrorism, shoot now I can be held in a prison for as long as they want with out trial). Like any war you need a good guy (the police), a bad guy (the drug user) and the guy selling the guns (or drugs).
If your wondering about my terrorism bit, A few weeks back I read an official White House law or what every they call it Act or something and it was pretty scary.
Anyways there is my rant.
John James Friesen
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