I just spent a lot of time on arguing with some good christian men about reconciliation.
The conflict is over the validity of culture in christianity... one side sees it as the great divider, which I can see.
But there are also a lot of enhancements that could make our lives as christians more effective.
Why are we so threatened by differences?
Why can't we shop and find what works for us and find our lives more effective in evangelism, and worship and liturgy.
As a white guy, indian music is easier to dance to. Its' simpler rhythms are easier to play. The instruments are very quiet, and haunting.much to say, but all said quietly, passionately.
The Orthodox, refer to themsleves as the "The Church" and believe that their liturgy is superior to all others, and each group following- each denomination feel the same way.
I loved that Rick Joyner said that each has a truth that they are keeping, protecting lest we forget. But we still look at our own as superior, and those who pride themselves on being open etc, will go on the offensive if felt threatened. It's just human nature to need to dominate, and this is one more way to do that.

I was just thinking about the idea of the "twinkling of an eye." I have always heard about Jesus coming in the twinkling of an eye and catching up the saints in the air...
I heard it in a very different light this weekend.
The bride groom is waiting for the "bride without spot or wrinkle" and I caught sight of him waiting anxiously and when His eye sparkles it will signal that he can no longer wait, and gets the okay from the Father.
Still getting a handle on that whole Bride of Christ deal.

Last night Bonnie had a word about a red and a silver thread that are attached to me, and have been for a long time, weaving a new medicine bag and soon He'll be putting new things in it.

Just being confronted with so many things at once... Have you ever carried so much before that hadn't been given to you? Have you ever loved so deeply or so selflessly? Is any of this what you think that it is? Is it enough to have sought the best? To have offered your life? To be willing. How will it end?

Why do we speak as though we are an authority on things that we can really only have opinions about? It seems that there is a possibility that we may preach something other than the gospel and that it will stumble many who are being drawn into the kingdom.
I believe that it was Isaiah who said "How lovely on the mountains are the feet of them that bring good news"
Paul referred to the "good news of the gospel" and admonished us to preach "Christ and Him crucified" (I realize that I'm using a little king james here, but that's how I know these verses off the cuff.)
I believe that Paul taught that it was not up to us to preach the law any longer, but to preach grace, that Jesus wants to know us and that He wants to convict us of sin. He actually went out of His way to tell us to cover the sins of our brothers and sisters, and not seek legal counsel if at all possible, I would say to keep too many from knowing one another's dirty laundry as we tend to disqualify those who we know too much about from ministering to us.
Thus gossip is a heinous sin. It's always on the list when ever He makes one. And the first mention of real gossip was when Ham told his brothers of their fathers drunken nakedness.
I think that the gospel is that Jesus will go to any length to get us to choose Him, and that we being in Him need to work that out in ourselves and be encouraging to others that He has made a way... a narrow way because He is the "door", He is the way, the truth and the light/life. You don't do those things that will stumble someone else in their walk, and the rest is working out your own salvation.

Saturday I invited Mark to go with me to hang out with some of my wilder friends... real warriors in the spirit- He is one, he fit right in.
We went to Hammond to play, pray for a depressed areas intercessors and pastors, and to give some folks an excuse to gather together. I don't really know what happened there, and I think that's probably a good thing. It was covered.

One woman shared the path the God has had her on has been to break her of pride and prepare her to receive new young converts. It has drawn much controversy and judgement upon her, and yet she knows that this is the past that God has lead her down- it was quite interesting, encouraging and challenging.

When we got there I began to feel the oppression of the place only I felt it very personally- low on purpose, lost identity, I felt as though I would be offensive on a number of levels (as I often do anyway) and Mark reminded me that I am called to provoke the church to truly good works. That THAT is a large part of my identity, and one that I don't always embrace. It's hard to find people who can really commit to loving you when you are a provoke... And then it comes across , to some extent, as bitterness from being left alone. I've thought it myself, but I begin to know better.

I recently remembered a a prophetic word that I heard during a practice kind of a time and he began to tell me about my wife. In 1998, after I returned from Ireland, it was at a pseudo school. The man said that she was having financial trouble, a health issue and something that I don't remember about the kids. He asked me to verify what he told me, but I couldn't as I hadn't met her yet... funny how things go sometimes.

Well, I almost broke the most important rule that I laid down for myself regarding this blog. I just went in and changed something that was previously published because I didn't want information to flow quite the way that it might. The most important part of this the honesty_ if it gets written down, it stays on the page, just as though it had been spoken... once it's out there, you can't take it back.
There's always something that you wish that you could take back, but that's part of the game of life- like Bruce Cockburn said, "You pay your money and you take your chance."

I was listening to Graham Cooke and he was saying something to the effect that what you are going through is as much about those around you and how they react and interact with you. The important thing to do is to ask th eFahter what He would have you be in a given situation to those people.
I have known people who have been judged for their short comings (okay, maybe I am one of these people) or lack of health or finance, and people just tell them what to do with their lack and don't help them deal with the actual issues- I think that God is going to call them out for that. It sounds too much like "but didn't I cast out demons in your name?" and I think that God is more worried about the level of glory that you bring to the table than whether your tie is straight.

Today was the consumation of a couple of weeks expectation gone awry. My mother was near by and didn't give a word in my direction. She didn't call, nor did my sister, who apparently took charge of the trip. She called my one of my best friends to say that they'd be around, but never me, and the plans made with my friend were so contorted by the time to perform them, no one knew what was happening.
Anyway, I am praying to God that He will get closer- allow me to really get a dose of His "Papa" side. He's going to have to or these abandonment issues that I can't seem to get past will continue to fester. And it's hard to be a child when it wasn't ever really a big part of your youth... BUT I have a promise that He will activate a fathers heart within me by giving me that confidence and showing me that He will in fact never leave or abandon me. I think that He's even big enough to beat this one- but I guess that I'll have to give it to Him for that to happen... Well... I'm tryin' to.
iyokiphi

I've been thinking about the verse that speaks of the foolish man who looks in the mirror and walks away forgetting what he saw. Contextually speaking, I've always considered this to be about forgetting what slime I am, but that never seems to be much of a problem.
Last saturday night He challenged me that when He shows me who I am in Him, I forget that.
I forget His grace.
I forget His mercy.
I forget that His plans to use me were tailored for me, or I was designed for them.
The thing that I remember best is that is that everthing that I think of myself, is common for a man like me to think of himself. God doesn't really need for me to take on so much responsibilty, that is why He speaks so often of us as
children. I think that He's serious about that whole children thing, and I'm exploring it's virtue.
iyokiphi
(he is pleased)

Is it possible that I have, at last met "neo" - "the one"
I have thought of this whole "thing as horse-hockey for a very long time, but today I am becoming forced into considering someone who actually seems to fit the list.
At first I thought tht the list would be too hard for me, because I could only get as far as physical attributes, and then I was lost, but I've begun to realize that the women that I've found to be attractive have had other very attractive bits... music, administrative gifts, servant hearts, similar understanding of the mess that the church is in and why, people groups...
I don't know where the list went, but it is in my head in some form, and I'm feeling pressed to move on it.
I felt as though something was about to happen earlier in the week. I got out a prophetic word that exerts some pressure on my movement that mentions a train and timing. Today I was in corporate prayer and I heard a cuckoo-clock signaling the hour change, and the last words that I heard come out of Neo's mouth were, "I've given God 18 months to give me a spouse"
Can I just say, "oowwwwwww!" I wonder if it's too late to get her e-mail address... Doh!

He walked into the kitchen to fill his coffee cup (a task much better done in the dark).

...And so I felt as though the blind couple deserved an explanation for my hidden snickering in the front of the bus (he was always pretty straight laced and she was quite gregarious) so I told 'em, "My mind runs in some pretty odd paths at times. I was just thinking about a story that my Pastor told about a bumper sticker. Pastor Kate asked Pastor Rick to read the bumper sticker on a car and Rick read out loud 'Dyslexics are people too' and Kate began to laugh. 'Read it again Rick' - 'Dyslexics are people too' - Kate is really laughing now, 'Read it again s-l-o-w-e-r' Dyslexics are teople poo!

And so then one of the guys from work shared with me about a new mothers organization- DAM... Mothers Against Dyslexia

So then naturally following- I asked the nice blind couple in the back of the bus, "Do people ever read braille dyslexia, to which she responded, "I've never heard of such a thing" and He said, "Yes, Bill"

Hmmmm... Last day of July and I have something to say. It may not be as profound as it feels, stirring within me, but I need to commit it before I forget it, so hear it goes in all it's poorly organized glory (organization comes through discussion).
I have come to the conclusion that the point of the bible is personal- God didn't mean for us to quote it the way that we do, clubbing people over the head with it in order to scare them out of hell- citing it as a resource to bolster our arguements with people who don't believe it to be a viable resouce- people using it to justify their loveless lifestyles-

Sorry to use KJV here, but it is the one that I've memorized... "Thy word have I hid in my heart..." I think that (aside from it saying that it aids in avoiding sin) one can use this verse and others to say that we are to have the "word" within to the extent that it permeates your speech and comes out of you without you even knowing that it did, and the impact of the truth in it should be the impacting force behind your statements and your lifestyle.

Then you can draw people to Jesus instead of away from hell, which is really the only effective way of evangelism.

Just something that I had pass through my brain. I'm challenged to get this right... I hope that you may be as well- something about "provoking to good works."

Forgive me my friends for it has been 4 months since my last entry. I have got to get a pc. So much has happened in the last four months, and yet nothing has changed- still single, still not making the big bucks, BUT
He has shown me that by the standards that I have always measured myself by, I am a success. Twice, now in the past three weeks. I wanna tell you about it, but I'm getting off the PC for now. I just wanted to check in because I hadn't in sooooo long.

This isn't really about anything but my thoughts, this blog business, but I share it because I know that there are people who love me and check once in a while to see that I'm okay and still in the fight. I'm really not going anywhere. I can't really quit. Jesus may want more of me, but He has enough that I'm not going to go anywhere without Him.
I just get bored with my lessons. I rarely really feel as though I've done well on a test. I don't seem to hear Him as others I know do... but then again, it's only been in the lasty couple of years that I realized that I hear Him and think that it's just my brilliant mind. That should be an easy thing to recognize the difference between, but for a long time I didn't. Children should be taught to hear so that when they get older they won't be confused about it. They'll be aware of the similarities and know to judge the difference.
I think that sometime after I get more regular access to a pc, I'm going to have to flesh this one out, but for now, I've got to go. Time is a cruel master... or at least somewhat demanding.

Interesting. Somehow my last post missed publication. Oh well, I just pretty much have more of the same to say today.
I am so tired of being alone. I am about ready to quit. I know that there are people who would regard me as someone who they could settle down with, but I just can't "settle" for them. I meet these ladies periodically that show me what it is that I seek. That I am not looking to find someone who doesn't exist, but they are already married and have kids.
And kids- I believe that I want to be blessed by offspring. It's such a blessing in the lives of others that I know. I think that I want to experience kids as well. Shouldn't I have that choice? Have I messed up that opportunity as well as others? I am no where near where I hoped to be by this time. I never thought to be wealthy by the worlds' standards, but by MY standards I had hopes.
What is this curse that hinders me? Will it gain strength from the promised letter from "home" or will I be exposed as the man that I have always hoped that I'd be?
I still hear that haunting phrase that "even the very elect will be deceived if it's possible" and question all my choices again. My soul seems to deflate through my heart as I contemplate this whole thing, this eventual turn of events.
I am forced to ask "God, just what is the purpose of these tricks that you seem to play on me? The promises that I want so to believe for but never quite see? The miracles that You seem to do so readily for others and yet I cannot seem to lay hold of?
Was I dreaming when I heard you say to believe for a new car? Was I dreaming when your apostle laid his hand on my head and prayed for my hair to return and not just with the original thickness but the original color? Was it fantasy when your prophetess told me that my youth would be restored? Did the dream confirming the nearness and identity of my beloved spring from my own feeble mind? I really can't take much more of this. I am ready to come home and bathe in your goodness and peace.
I look in my bag and all my mustard seeds are impotent, spent, cracked or consumed by mold and I find none to spend. I feel as inconsequential as dust waiting for rain.
God help me.
Jesus help me.
Spirit help me.

I was invited to a friends house last night to do some, "sweeping and cleaning" in the home. He desired to get help ushering out some things that he felt pressure from. Things that encouraged behaviour in him that could cause a seperation between him and God, and so we went. We sat, we prayed and we listened to the Spirit. I could go into some of the seemingly spooky stuff, the stuff that if you were likely to understand you would know what it was anyway. Not necessary.
So anyway, we prayed. We began to dig into the soul of a man and saw a hidden bitterness purged that would cause any man to have some hidden struggles. We actually saw this thing as a seed that was buried, but in the wrong kind of soil. Mucky, mirey soil that isn't good to grow anything in but that which can gain it's nutrients on it's own, but this is not how a man was created nor designed. We are, in fact, interdependant, and must learn from, give to, teach each other and and that is what turns the soil and makes it ready for planting.
As my brother Dave was pointing out some lack in answering the call for progeny, I was hearing about learning to walk and seeing the quartet from the Wizard of Oz dancing together down the street, wondering which one he was when I realized that he was all of them, he just wasn't actually walking in step with himself.
And through it all the Lord was letting me know that He has been working in me, manifesting His goodness and today, as I looked in the mirror, My hair is getting a little darker. There are some new little black hairs growing up on my head, but that's for another day. Work is early, too early for no coffee and sitting around listening to well, again, another time perhaps. I'm just not prepared to go there yet- but God is up to something there as well... And God has broken through my enemies by my hand like a breakthrough of water. Yeah!

I will also say of this man, as I had intended to post last night. It's not about comparison so much as aspiration or inspiration. I have in the past considered myself pretty good in the realm of "armor-bearing", but I have learned things every time I come in contact with this tremendous servant of the Lord. Humility, mercy, grace, I believe that there's about 6 other fruits of the Holy Spirit that are growing on that tree. He is another whom I am glad to call "brother" from now until forever. A mighty man of God.

I am rarely speechless, but I had a moment of it today.I was incredibly blessed by a friend who I cried on the shoulder of, and told about my woes, not considering that God would use them to be a large part of His answer to my needs and, even though I think that God warned me so my heart wouldn't just out and out stop- I was truly "verklempt". I am now solvent, in addition to being employed come monday. I have never received a monetary blessing like this one... It was of the size that I am anxious to be able to give. I don't even know ho to express it, nor do I know that it is appropriate here, in particular, as I have already sent an e-mail to my friend. I don't know that I can say it better than here in the pasted e-mail.

My words would sound empty if I told you that I can't 
accept it, it's too much because, well, for one thing,
I'm not overdrawn at the bank any longer, and I'll be
getting the name of a guy tomorrow for car insurance.
I guess that God lets us get into situations so that
He can bless people big, and believe me, I was.
Mrs Maclain (Sue) was standing in her kitchen talking
to Dave (Mr) when I opened the envelope. Can I tell
you that the first thing that I thought was that $4
was too much to spend on a 32, or 37 cent stamp. I
thought that was extravagant, but when I opened it up
I was speechless. Sue handed me the phone and I just
waved her off. She told Dave that I was speechless,
and then handed the phone my way again. I just
breathed into the phone... God tried to prepare me
for this, but again, I'm not a quick study.
Anyway, if I know you, this is a little embarrassing
for you, and so I'll shut up now. Let me know if I
need to post thanks to many, or if the "we" that you
mentioned earlier is of the "royal" nature.
I am being convinced of a different future as you have
encouraged my soul as well as my spirit.

Well, little Jaquie O'Neill wins the prize for the question about the bear. She hit the nail on the head. Among other revelations tonight, hers is the one that will be best remembered. Here is what she posted on the Streetfire website...
"A bear to me is very strong, shows no fear or weaknes, and totally relies on its own strength to survive. (I"m now saying you are like that!) Maybe God is wanting you to rely on Him instead of your own strength, and let Him work through your weakness? That is what I got out of that? Praying for you Todd. Jacqueline"
Aint that a kicker. She hit it dead on. She hardly knows me, we've been in the same airspace about four times in her young life. She just graduated college and was invited to intern with Cindy Jacobs and Dutch Sheets- do you s'pose that's a hand in glove kind of fit? Uhhh, yup.
So God's calling me on my self reliance. I don't prophesy so much because of my self reliance. I probably don't get healed because of my self reliance. I have not dyed my hair because that would be such obvious self reliance to lack any credibility. And I've tried not to be so.
I ask all the time for God to do things, but I think that the way that it really works is kind of like this.
"Whatcha doin' there, God? Oh that looks like a pretty cool thing, can I watch? Well here, let me help. If you'd just step back a little I could... would you hand me that wrench, you know what I really need is a sandwich, could you go inside and get me..."
Like a parent doing his kids science fair project only in reverse. Why would I trust Him to do these things right, after all I live here on the planet.
And it may be why I don't have the cash flow that I know that He'd like to see me with. I'd be handing money out because "they need it" like it was my own money. It wouldn't be. He provides me with this body as a shelter. He has provided me with food to eat. I really don't know anyting about this gratitude thing at all. If I work, I earned the cash, not that He made certain that I was healthy and able to work.
Well Lord, I confess that I am self reliant, but I'm asking you to help me to learn this lesson and drive the bear out of my life. Like Edmund losing the dragon's scales, make quick and lasting work of it. Amen.