Naked Pastor

That's a title that will grab your attention. That is the title of a blog created by David Hayward, who describes himself as a pastor trapped in an artist's body. His art and his blog posts are usually very pointed, insightful and disturbing. But, by disturbing, I mean creating turbulence much like a swimming pool cleaner creates turbulence within the water to get the muck moving towards the filter. In our nation, stagnation seems to occur rapidly and having a little disturbance now and again may be what the doctor ordered.
Take a look at his blog and take a look at his postings on Flickr. Here are a couple of my favorites....
The first time that I saw a few of his cartoons, I thought for sure he was some non-believer slamming Christians. As it turns out, he's a pastor slamming Christians who profess Jesus with their mouths, but deny them with their lives............ I'm alright with that; I need slammed on occasion apparently.
So, I warn you. If you are easily offended, you will be offended. But, if you are offended, chances are there is a good reason why you were offended, and you may want to spend some quiet time reflecting on your relationship with Christ.

It's not as if I had nothing to say......

I have not posted an entry onto this blogsite since October, but it's not as if I had nothing to say. As a matter of fact, I feel like my lack of blogging speaks volumes. You may be totally different, but I doubt it. But, do you find that right about the time you are settling into a pattern of good, healthy routines that involve either prayer, exercise, organizational skills, quality time with loved ones, eating habits, money budgetting or sleep habits, life just seems to throw nasty curveballs at you? My life has become so amazingly busy just out of the blue, and the pathetic thing is that if I really admit it, despite the busy-ness, I am accomplishing very little each day.
So, tonight I have elected to post something....anything.... and this has been just that.
Quite edifying, wouldn't you say?

Comments on Comments

I saw a post on someone else's blog that discussed the joys of blogging. One of the great joys that comes with blogging is having someone read your blog and make a comment on it. Even if the comment is, "I agree with that", it is great to get feedback.
The purpose of this blog from the outset was to function as a forum for followers of Christ. So far, however, it appears to have functioned primarily as a soap box for one voice, mine.
I really desire having your comments regardless of what they may say.
This would be a good discussion point: Do you ever comment? Why or why not? If you have a blog, how important are comments to you?
So, let's hear it. Hit the comment button.

Comfort

Over the past 3 months, Debi and I have talked about how the Amish have got it right in terms of denying themselves worldly pleasures and conveniences and being rewarded by a richer family life and spiritual life.
A fellow blogger responded to the Gospel For Asia article and commented that he is currently serving with GFA in New Zealand. I checked out his blogspot and saw an article titled "Comfort" that really spoke to me. I thought I'd share it with you. Check out his whole site, there are some really remarkable photos and articles. Enjoy.
Here is a quote from the "Comfort" article....
“Comfort, that stealthy thing that enters the house as guest, and then becomes a host, and then master. Ay and it becomes a tamer, and with hook and scourge makes puppets of your larger desires. Though it’s hands are silken, it’s heart is of iron. Verily the lust for comfort murders the passions of the soul, and walks grinning to the funeral” - Kahil Gibran

Movement

I have stumbled upon a guy's blogspot that I find remarkable and refreshing. He appears to be living a fairly heroic Christian walk. His profile states, "Joe co-leads an effort in Mexico City to launch missional Christ-centered movements on more than 400 university campuses before 2010. He joined the staff of Campus Crusade for Christ in 2003 and served for three years in Albuquerque, NM, where he launched movements with Latino students and athletes that are still active today. In 2006 he moved to Mexico City to work with "Enfoque Mexico", the Campus Crusade church partnership strategy he helps lead today. "
If you are interested in knowing what it takes to launch your own movement, here is a good starting point. "How to Launch Your Own Movement"
Regardless, if you are a regular blog reader, add Joe Cross' blog spot to your regular destinations. Check out his profile, because in addition to his personal spot, he is also co-blogger on a few other blogspots that are worth checking out.

First Blog from a man in need of a Savior

Greetings blogging world. It is absolutely amazing how in a world where people are too busy to sit down and have dinner with each other, too busy to sit on the front porch swing, too busy to visit each other and too busy to spend a few minutes in prayer to a Lord that desires a relationship with them, that Blogging has absolutely exploded in popularity. I have been impressed with many of the sites that I've visited in terms of thoughtfulness, creativity, and clarity. Without being overly idealistic, it is almost as if journaling in this fashion has become a type of prayer method for some people...... expressing their pains, joys, fears, hopes, frustrations, needs and awe of their life experience.
Over the past decade, I have become increasingly convinced that humans are utilizing their brains less and less. It has been my contention that a majority of Americans have very rare occasions when they actually venture into an original thought, and are blissfully walking through life as dumb driven cattle; similar to a close up on Homer Simpson's brain processes displaying a TV Test Pattern. However, scanning through multiple different blogs, over the past few weeks, has radically altered my opinion. I have read real people writing on topics of meaning utilizing correct grammar and making valid points that obviously required the use of grey matter.
So, what's the point? My thought is that if we are actually capable of generating original thoughts and are capable of finding time in this overly busy world to reach out to the world to express ourselves and to respond to others' expressions of self, then maybe we can become capable of treating each other with love as Jesus expressed as major priority.
It is my hope/desire to utilize this blog not as an opportunity to demonstrate my immense intelligence......... because it usually only takes about a sentence, if not just a word or two, to demonstrate my amazing ignorance.... but, instead to utilize it as a way to reach out to a world in need of a Savior. I pray that God will be able to utilize His servants to encourage each other, extend their hand to others and do His Will for the purposes of His Kingdom.
Heavenly Father, you are the maker of all things and you are deserving of our praises and our service. Thank you, God, for your forgiveness, mercy and faithfulness. Thank you for the beauty that surrounds us, and allowing us to share in this world that you created for us. Forgive me, Lord, for my pride in myself and quickness to judge others in my own ignorance. I ask you to mold me into the servant that you would like me to be. Conform me to meet your needs. Lord, I ask you to place an urgency within me to seek your Kingdom first, and supply my needs for seeking your Kingdom. Utilize our website and this blog to your glory and purposes only. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen