The Many Uses of Toilet Paper: part 1

Adorning my house.

Hearing from God

Sometimes I expect to hear God's voice, expect him to talk to me and I want it to be easy.  Require nothing from me.  Just like hearing a passing car.  It takes no energy at all.  Perhaps that is my problem...

Feral Adults

Feral children struggle with language, socializing, clothing, personal hygiene, emotions, and generally adapting to society.  Some, upon re-entry, slowly adapt, but not without lifelong problems.  Some never are able to completely re-enter into society.  All this because of isolation from normal human interaction.

What happens when normal adults are isolated from the hurt, hardships and suffering of a large portion of the world?  I believe we run the risk of developing into feral adults, unable to, or very slowly learning how to relate, adapt, and interact with those that are under such terrible circumstances.

Doing life with special people:friends

I've found a community.  A group of people, old and young, who interact with profound intensity and intimacy.  We share thoughts, feelings, ideas and sentiments.  We look out for each other. We are brutally honest with each other.  Sadly, this is not common in North America.  So I extend an invitation to come and join us...

If you know what someone needs, it does not mean that you love them. But if you love someone, then you know what they need.

So a pirate walks into a bar, sits down and orders a drink. The bartender can't help but notice that the pirate has a rather large steering wheel from a ship in his pants. Curious, he gives the pirate his drink and says "Do you know you have a steering wheel down your pants. The Pirate looks at the bartender and replies "Arrg me know, it drives me nuts!"

and speaking of driving me nuts, lets talk about church signs...potentially the best way ever discovered to share the story of God and his love and grace with people, even better than just having relationships with people.
Some of my favorites include:

Wal-Mart isn't the only saving place!

God's web pages is never down when accessed by prayer

Jesus has myspace reserved in heaven

Our church is heir conditioned--it's cool to be a child of God

You can't be a good egg forever--you must hatch or go bad.

Snowmen fall from heaven unassembled.


Okay, you have to be kidding me. These are short, catchy, and really cheesy. Are people turning in droves to visit the church that is clever enough to make faith seem cute. I actually found a book, titled '701 Sentence Sermons: Attention Getting Quotes for Church Signs......VOLUME 3' Why was this successful enough to make at least three volumes? And even more sadly is this is just brushing the surfuce of misdirected efforts.

What Is This Time For?

It is amazing how much my perspective has changed when instead of asking "What time is it?", I now am asking "What is this time for?"

--thought from 'The Rest of God' by Mark Buchanan

God didn't send us a doctrine to learn, or a religion to live, or a philosophy to debate...He sent us a brother to love, a madman to trust, a servant to serve and a mystery to embrace.

prophets yell because
their hearts are on fire.

they scream at the world
trying to wake us up.

they can't help it.
after all,
God is in their throats.

-stephen james

"A woman's heart should be so close to God that a man has to seek God to find it."

mmmm hmmm. that is all i have to say about that. Well actually all someone else had to say about that, but I'm not really sure who said it. Probably that Anonymous guy, he says a lot of things.

God in the dying

I often wonder, "Where is God in places like Rwanda, Sudan, Concentration camps, the slums? Why is he not there?" Then I remember that God resides in His temple... which now is me and I understand why God may not seem to be there. . . because here I sit.

goodness to the world

Jesus, when dealing with evil in people's lives would focus on calling them toward something rather than away from something. Instead of blatantly pointing out obvious errors (sins) he would rather show them how life could be. This was how he brought out the goodness in each person and in turn brought goodness to the world. That is another reason why so many people were initially attracted to him.