The Great Escape

“Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.” Ephesians 4:15 NLT

The first thing I think of how many times people have had to speak the truth in love to me. I'm starting out this morning with another coffee maker. This one is similar to the one we got as a wedding gift, but I have my coffee. It's so nice to be at home at night and weekends. Susan's not used to it really but, things are already getting better. Sip some coffee, I read and think. I'm kind of reluctant about this coffee maker, I've been through 3 brands so far and now just waiting to see if Kitchen aid is going to be able to work for a long time. Can I trust it? Or will I eventually have to speak the truth in love to this thing? Like when Gandolf confronts Bilbo Baggins in Fellowship of the ring or when Indiana's dad confronts Indiana to let the grail go. Then theres the Great Escape. A true story about a bunck of POW's that escape from prison. They didn't belong there and as soon as they arrived they began planning a massive escape. How many things have I held onto because my identity was in them? Many. I find in my growing up years I held onto the fact I wanted to be an actor. From there I went into video. I added music shortly after and began playing trumpet (wasn't any good). Sure I knew God, but he wasn't my identity. I wanted to escape into my own world, my own utopia whenever I felt rejected. That was my realm, that was my zone. I usually went to God last. I read and think. Truth in love is easier said than done. Christ being truth came and spoke it in love and we crucified him. I feel the same way when I feel i need to speak it in love. But when it spoken to me, I'm already aware of what's to come and don't get offended. It's really humbling to receive such hard news. It's such an oil to the fire. It's such a contrast to living this life it seems. It's such a work out. A battle between good and evil. A constant refining. You'd think, when is this going to be over? Who wants to be given the truth all the time but in love. I hate that. Why can't I do this life my own way and fit God in where he can go? Hits me, whenever someone is honest with me about anything and tells me the truth about something. All the chains are dropped. I find all the stuff I've gathered throughout my life and taken with me God was using to help me see my need for Him. Gandolf had to almost battle Bilbo for that ring because he knew what was going on. That ring represented so many things that appeared to be the answer to life. Dr. Jones quest for the grail wasn't as important as his son's safety. Even though he searched all his life for thing, in the end he told him to let it go.  At the end of the Great Escape, Hilts (Steve McQueen) gets captured and again goes into the cooler and the guards are amazed of how free he acts as he begins to play catch with his baseball.  God has used those things to draw me to Him in his own timing. When I accept that truth in love, I can regret what I've done and feel ashamed yet God will show me how He was using all that to grow me in Him. And regardless of whatever prison I find I was in, he always be my great escape and will see how I grew through all of it.

Never reuse the coffee grounds

“Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.” Hebrews 7:25 NLT

It's like I know it but I don't. It's like I have the software but I don't know how to use it. My new coffee pot is acting up again, lol. Ya I only paid $20 for it, but c'mon, it shouldn't be like this. While I wait for my 3rd pot of coffee to be made (stupid thing). I'm reminded of an incident I had with my mom about 13 years ago. We were having dessert at there house and the coffee just didn't seem right. I asked her if she had reused the coffee grounds. She told me she did, she didn't think it would make a big difference. I forgot she didn't drink coffee. I told her you never reuse the coffee grounds. That's like reusing your bath water for the next day. How many times have I thought I could reuse my thoughts or actions, habits simply because I don't think it will make a big difference. Man that coffee is taking forever. When God has given me a way to renew them in Him. Yet sometimes I don't take it. It's like I want to, but my body doesn't. I'm getting better at it. It's really tricky because unless I've tasted coffee rather than only serve it, I wouldn't know the difference. Coming to God and getting help. It's like my grounds are old at the end of the day and the refreshing of scripture the next morning is my starting with new grounds instead of just shaking them up a bit. And even when time doesn't permit, God has a way of making them new. Man I'm tired, this $20 piece of crap thing. Finally I have coffee, a little too strong but whatever. What was I talking about now? Sip some coffee, I read and think. Sometimes I forget that the coffee grounds are even there.  Whats amazing is how God knows when mine are shot and helps me to replace them in his timing. Hits me, the bible will never be old, even though I think it to be. It will never need to be changed out with a new filter because Christ is that filter and he lives. Even though I think it will at times, it doesn't. Just as I turn in for the evening with whatever baggage I have is just how I need to be looking forward to starting a new day without those old grounds (or at least try to). God will give me a new flavor too.

X marks the spot - Indiana Jones

“For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory. So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ.” Colossians 1:27-28 NLT

The first thing that I think of with this one, is telling someone something they don't want to here. Like you need to go to school. I live in such of a I want to know now society. Didn't sleep well again. Shayne is battling allergies, she and mommy and daddy were very tired last night, and went to bed early but we ended up giving her her inhaler (only for slight weezing and coughing) and allergy meds around 12:30. She slept fine the rest of the night. Coffee's good this morning. I'm actually sipping coffee as I read and think, no joke. I'm reminded of when I was in Germany and the language barrier there. I was so passionate about God but couldn't speak German. I was looking so forward to coming back to the states and just exploding the gospel. When I did, the reception wasn't what I expected. Its almost as the people already knew Jesus and didn't want to hear more. I was stumped. The more openly I spoke of his work in my life, the more restless they got. Not what I was going for. Its like being willing to watch someone make a mistake and then ask you for help in fixing it. It's almost as though I have to start with why I don't take God's name in vain. I have a shirt from high school that says "God's last name is not dammit". It goes to tell me that everyone knows God for that reason, to condemn him. I'm also reminded of when I started training in audio visual and home theater. I can now open a computer up, look in back of home theater set and understand everything. At church I can look at what they are doing and tell them why they're not getting the result they want and how they can. All the rules need to be followed even if you don't understand them. Even when they seem too complicated. It also goes along with who you trust. My church along with many other church's has that same flu bug that only someone you don't know will have the right answer but never someone who attends, because the answer is never just in front of your face. X marks the spot Indiana Jones and the last crusade. Hits me, just as the gospel message is simple, always waiting for me. Just like Indiana Jones taught his class that x never ever marks the spot, is just that one thing that proves me wrong and oh the battle I get into to face what I thought was fact and now look at it as fiction. Christ can't be condemned, even though I do, He's the answer, even though I don't want to admit, no need for understanding and troubleshooting even though I do. X marks the spot, He's in front of my face.

Little things make a Big Difference

“For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.” 1 Peter 1:18-19 NLT

At first I'm not sure what to think, the precious blood of Christ has always confused me. I'm tired this morning, Shaynes got allergies again so I'll get her in the doctor today (she's slightly weezing) if I can. I slept ok, dry mouth because of the AC last night. I have new coffee maker now, we'll see how long this ones lasts. Sip some coffee, I read and think. I'm reminded of the little things in life. The things that make me laugh, make me cry, make me mad. I'm amazed of how much they impact my day. My wife can tell when something's on my mind, and laughs a bit when I tell her and how random it is. I'm also reminded of Froto again in Lord of the Rings, mainly at the end of Return of the King, when he's trying to get up the hill. Sam says his famous line. I can't carry the ring but I can carry you". Then I'm reminded of a men's retreat I was videographer at this last weekend. 458 men gathered from from two dozen churches around the valley at Lost Canyon. Again for the same reason, a little thing. Then there's Sea Biscuit, little orphan Annie, chicken little. The sun'll come out tomorrow, bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow, their be sun. I thought it would be gold or silver to pay a ransom but no, it was blood. I started the highlights video out this weekend with an excerpt from our main speakers session. It was statics about dads in our country, how it's lacking that. That little thing us guys get so distracted from. Being a dad, you'd think it be second nature. I keep on thinking that this christian life is empty and leaves me alone from the world, when its because of Christ blood that freed me from what I thought wasn't necessary to deal with. The life I thought is empty is actually full of life and the grass I think is always greener is actually computer graphics and fake and photoshopped. Hits me, in every era, eternal life is seen in the smallest things, it was a horse and an orphan in the great depression, back in Jesus times it was Him, in this days an age it's us seeing the need to be ok with pursuing your Lord, kids and family. God's going to be knocking on my heart forever on ways to surrender, He'll show me things that I need to give up and confess. In return of the King, it was frotos task to get rid of the ring, but his fellowship was behind him. I can't live this life without my brothers, for some reason I get tempted to think that I can. This life is not about what my beliefs are, its about who I'm living for, it's about me not passing up the little things that make such a dent in my lifestyle. I can feel it with gold and silver (hey I need to make a good life for family). But if they never see me, what's the point? I can't blame my ancesters for my mistakes but look to the one who saved me. I have to remember that God didn't use a sinner to free sinners because only a sinless man could free me, someone I would have never thought.

Before there was a Nation, They Fought for freedom - The Patriot

“Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do. Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority.” Romans 13:6-7 NLT

At first I'm thinking, what government are we talking about? They are serving God? I don't think so. What a crazy week, just a lot of decisions to make. I hate decisions at times. I slept ok last night, was very tired yesterday though. Sip some coffee I read and think. I'm reminded of the line Popeye with Robin Williams. I would gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today. Paying people back has always been tough. In the moment they give you a few dollars, then that few dollars to pay them back all the sudden is sitting in your wallet forever, even when I see them I forget. I don't know much about governmment things these days but I do know they take alot of money and don't use it wisely. That's hard for me to give them.Yet my wife has told me, I need to bite the bullet and play the game and follow the rules.  It's April 15th, tax day.. Also my parents anniversary. It's very tough for me to respect people who prove that they don't know what they're doing. I hear so many nice phrases from leaders but see no or very little results. I'm reminded of the Patriot when in the meeting room they are complaining about 1 tyrant 300 miles away but fail to realize the 300 tyrants 1 mile away. It also reminds me of the lack of respect many churches have for their audio visual teams. The leadership wants so much but won't pay any money for it yet they have money and spend it other things. Then complain why things things didn't work technically. We didn't have money to fix it. I read and think, sigh. I find I have a problem with balancing personal feelings with corporate attitude. I feel it in church a lot too. But why? Hits me, Benjamin Martin had 7 kids, he had a bad past of war which only selected leaders knew about. He didn't want to take part in any of it. It wasn't until the war began effecting his family that he got involved that he took action. He went in personally which is how God wants me to be. Yes pay my taxes, even if I don't agree, give respect to those in authority, even if I don't agree. In the trailer of the Patriot, the titles before they were soldiers, they were family" fly by, then "before there was a nation, there was a fight for freedom". God knows what going on in my life for my fight for freedom from whatever holds me back, regardless if the government is behind it or not. He's bigger than them, even though it doesn't seem like that at times. He is. How many times has God aloud me to go through termoil to come out stronger? How many chances has he given me to turn back to him? To see the life through His eyes. Benjamin Martin, had to face enemies again but this time with his family. I don't want to look back at my past for strength, I want to forget about it. God's not like that though, His ways aren't my ways. He doesn't go by a calender year. Its his way of showing me how much He really is involved especially when I feel like He's not. I have to remember that He took care of that freedom on the cross and I need to share that with my nation and act like it.

You're gunna need a bigger boat - Brody

“When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” Romans 5:6-8 NLT

At first I'm appreciating this because the holiday is over and the scripture remains the same. I slept ok last night, not the best. A lot on my mind this week. Sip some coffee, I read and think, I'm reminded of Jaws. The Steven Speilberg thriller in 1975 summer (I was born a year later). In the movie, the search is on for a shark that killed a woman and then a boy. The attack attracts the attention of local shark hunter Quint and Marine biologist Matt Hooper who eventually get very obsessed with killing this massive shark. Jaws was way too big for theses guys, yet they were determined to finish him. How many times do I hold on to things that drive my boat underwater? How many times do things pop up that without me knowing it, put me face to face with Jaws? It's seems life threatening. "You're gunna need a bigger boat". How many times have I had to admit I can't do it. It's failure. These two passionate men, were in over there heads. There are moments in my life when I don't realize what I got myself into. I feel stuck or am so zoned out that I didn't realize the bondage I was in. Hits me, just as Harper and Brody battled this shark that was killing people, is the same way I try to fight the things that are out to get me. Yet that's when Christ came for me. It's that moment when I need to let someone else drive the car because I'm too tired and erase my pride, it's that moment when I have to give up the editing job because I just don't have time for it. It's that moment when I need to get off facebook and spend time with the family. Christ is my bigger boat that I never knew I needed. Because if I don't get that bigger boat, I will die, yet He died for me so I could be free and let him live in me and discover I have nothing to be afraid of because he controls all the fish out there.

Traffic Report

“The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.” Hebrews 1:3 NLT

At first I'm thinking, how could I miss that? I'm tired this morning. We had a nice Easter yesterday, I'm amazed how I hard it is for me to really ponder the true meaning of Easter, Christmas, communion, etc. So much family and friends that I never see until the holidays. Its fun, but was this all going on back in the day? Of course not. I read and think, I find myself getting tired of this bible talk. What does this mean? I find I can read this scripture and know what its talking about, but do I apply it to my life. I can walk outside and say "wow . God this is beautiful" but do I believe it the way He wants me to? Who is this character of God, what is glory? I find I have to remove the organized religion off of my face and my back and look at this word for what it is. It's so difficult to. I keep on reading this in no appreciation at all. It's like seeing a stop light and not saying anything because I know what it means. There are no words, just the color red. I know what it means and I hopefully will listen or I'll get into an accident. With this Gods' word, I find I treat it the same way, yet I shouldn't. Sure I know it, but do I obey it? The traffic reports don't tell me how to drive but where to drive, they don't tell me what the red light means, yellow, and green. They tell me where the accidents are Hits me, God sent his son to show me how he really intended for me live this life. In return I crucified him because he didn't go along with the standards I was taught to believe. By rising from the dead, everything I was taught to believe was proven to be wrong and the phrophesies were fullfilled, and I still have trouble believing it. In a way my life is like a traffic report, He warns where the danger is, will I be interested to see what happened or stay away from it? He was the very character of his Father, pretty simple. Just like red means stop and green means go, depending on the situation will depend on how much I respect those rules. If I choose not respect God's son and that he's not the character, I'm choosing not to live in that freedom that He has to offer. Sure I can just drive and decide whether or not to obey the laws depending on my urgency and get myself killed or I can accept the son and that he expresses God's own character and let him live in me and instead of fight with in me to live the way He wants me to live. His message is a simple as red yellow and green, I just have to really pay attention to His report and obey him, learn from my mistakes and trust His word, even if its something i know like the back of my hand.

Mic check...is this on?

“For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.” Romans 5:10 NLT

I'm tired this morning, had a nice time with the family though last night. Susan and I have been hooked on the old tv show Dallas this last year. We finally found out "who shot J.R.?" Susan told me, please don't make us watch "Passion of the Christ" tonight. I had forgotten about that. This whole week I was focused on other things. I felt kind of bad that I didn't put the movie in sometime when I was at home. I will this week, though. Coffee's good this morning, but this scripture has me thinking. I read and think, sip some coffee. I can't but think about the microphone. How many sound seminars have I gone to where the guy gets up and starts explaining what a microphone does and how it works. Yaaawwn. Or not even a sound seminar, he'll explain the sound board to a volunteer, or show people how to talk into a mic. Neither are helpful. How many pastors have gone to big conferences and seminars and go back to there body's with ideas and nothing changes. It's not what is a microphone or how a microphone works, or how you hold a microphone. It's how you feel about yourself and what your going to say. I'll never forget the first time I spoke into a microphone and heard my voice amplified, it was so unique and fascinating. The weird part was, I really couldn't hear myself, like I could hear someone else. When I would speak into it with many people listening, the distraction of my own voice being amplified would make me nervous and almost forget what I wanted to say (on top of the fact of people hearing me). When we are tuning a room, sure you can listen to your own voice and tweek frequencies but your really need to be on stage where the mic will be used to properly tune it (so you need someone else's help). Tuning a room is just like balancing out a lopsided boat once people get on it and sit where they sit, the balance will be different. So the sound guy has to adjust the eq slightly to keep it continuely balanced. Hits me, I many times think that God is teaching how to use a microphone when He's really teaching on how to be comfortable in following Him, and relax around other people. To live like I've been saved through the life of his son. Sure people are going to go up to a microphone and stand 3 feet away from it, aim it at the speaker, keep the lapel in there pocket, turn it off, disconnect it, tap it ahead of time, ask the audience if its on, say check 1,2,3, say nothing because they're waiting for the sound guy to turn it on, when really the sound guy needs them to keep talking so they can get a signal from it, frustrating them and the sound guy (revealing both peoples weakness).  It's not because I don't know how to use it, its because I don't quite understand what to say and that fear I was born with that was restored by the death of his son God is working on me to let His son live through me. Sure you can teach me about a sound board, how to speak into a mic, make a career change, learn something new, think before I speak, watch what I say on Facebook, love my family, fight addictions, but If God's not the audio guy, if he's not balancing my boat, I'll still put feedback into the system and have everything ruined, not because I don't know how to use it, or wasn't listening but because I still consider my self an enemy and not believe and accept that I've been restored. And as far as who shot JR went, it was his own selfish desire that got him shot and practically paralyzed him. Whats even more crazy, is that Christ died for both, regardless of how bad I blew the speakers.

Hey, You guys! - Sloth

“My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20 NLT

It's almost easter, but today is when Christ was still in the grave. It's those moments when you're remembering Him and everything he did, becuase he's gone. But so much happened after he took his final breath that through me off.. Time didn't just continue. An earthquake, the veil, all kind of prophesies came to be. I slept weird last night, Shayne kept waking up, we just didn't have a full night.
Good coffee though, I'm reminded of the ends of movies when all the hard work is done. A climactic thing happens. The unexpected, in Goonies, chunk shows up with Sloth. Sure I knew Chunk was making his way, but really didn't care. In the Matrix, when Trinity ends up telling Neo that she loves him, all the sudden Neo is able to control the Matrix and litereally breath into it. I read and think, I can't but remember the many movies about people who are needed for an assignment yet refuse to join, but end up anyway. It's almost predictable until something happens to hit home. It's like realizing I need to be nice to people that I work with and work with them too. You'd think thats common sense. What is my old self? What is my new self? Sure I know, but do I? I knew whats wrong and I know what's right. Today is a day of confusion, but knowing tomorrow was when he rose, I know the ending of the movie. But how do I live even though I know the ending. Hits me, God used his son, in the Goonies, Chunk and Sloth, saved the day, in the Matrix Neo didn't believe he was anyone and love came to show him who he was. I can live my life with many hopes and dreams of what society offers and demands. The wealthiest men never went to college. Everyday will throw me through leaps and bounds and God will give me all kinds of opportunities to see how I need to trust Him. Just as Sloth and Chunk surprised everyone when they were stuck, is the same way God surprises me with reasons to trust Him. I'll catch myself at times not trusting Him, yet He'll hint to me to come back, even when I'm downright confused on whats going on. He whispers, just be. He has to continue to remind me, even with all the knowledge I have of stuff, He lives within me, and will continue to remind me that He gave himself for me. Just as Sloth yelled " Hey you guys!" is the same way He gets my attention that He's saved me. He uses the unpredictable, because He is unpredictable. Sloth was the It, he was scary, yet became everyone's friend at the end.

It's not the size of the dog in the fight, its the size of the fight in the dog - Mark Twain

“We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.” 1 John 3:16 NLT

So if I'm not willling to give up my life for someone, I don't love them? Because that's what "real" love is? That's extreme. We slept better last night. The neighbor below us, told me he can hear me at 4 in the morning. I apologized and now feel I'm walking on egg shells with him. I'm like it all depends on how Shayne sleeps through the night. Just kind of irritates me. Sip some coffee, I read and think. True Love, real love, it's all over the movies. I'm reminded of Charles In Charge back in the 90's. Charles wanted to marry someone, so he wanted to make sure he was in love. He takes his mom out for lunch and she told him, when you care more about there love then you're in love. Now being 14 or 15, I took that to heart because I was girl crazy back in those days. I was searching for every bit of advice I could find. Now that I've been married for 4 years, love is definitely a life given. I don't go to work and say "same Sh$t different day". I go to work to see if I can get hours in. I'm working to provide, and any second I see, its not providing, I look elseware.  Then I ask myself what am I living for? to survive? I read and think, give up my life for my brother and sister? I'll be nice, but I won't give up my life for them, unless they're family. I'll help them to an extent. What does that mean? I read and I think again. Now that I think about it, I've sacrificed my family time many times to help my other brothers and sisters. It's the opposite. I find myself breaking a leg to help my friends out. Yet when my wife asks for something, It goes on the honey do list. Yet I'll spend money to make something happen for a friend. Hits me, sip some coffee, sure Jesus gave his life for me, but it's not the life giving that I see, it's how he did it, and why he did it, that baffle me. He showed me a love language that I never knew I had. He shows me everyday through his life and through experiences that he puts me in. As Mark Twain said "it's not the size of the dog in the fight, its the size of the fight in the dog". Its what's inside that Jesus gave his life for, it's what I'm all about, or a least try to be. He gave his life to renew the fight with within me, in which I don't really get, but need to accept. Like Charles I'll search and wonder about love, when really I need to ask him into my heart. I need to change course on this fight and let him redirect it where he chooses.

Living in Black and White

“Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.” 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 NLT

I'm thinking of the denial that I don't realize that I live in and the fears that I don't realize that I have. Didn't sleep well, Shayne was tossing and turning all night. Mommy had her for the beginning, then I took over at the end. It's looking like a long day. She's sleeping fine now an hour ago. Sip some coffee, I read and think. I'm reminded of Pleasantville, I watched this movie way back when it came out, and watched it again last night. Pleasantville's a movie about two teenagers in the 90's that find themselves in a 1950's sitcom where there influence begins to profoundly change its world. Everyone in this town was very deprived of anything beyond it. The biggest thing fround upon was being yourself and who you were meant to be. Exploring the world around you. It made me think entirely of life without God. Just how much I think I need to be at times, yet God and his word want to me to just be who I am. During the movie, as more and more people begin to allow themselves to go where they don't know, everything starts to be in color. I'm amazed of how my fears of God's love hold me back. In the movie, the society was all about the american dream about mans role and what the woman's role is.  When George Parker gets home from work and his wife's not there nore is dinner on the table, the town board is notified. Everyone is very concerned that things are changing. What is my old life? Am I afraid to leave it? I read and think. I find my life without Christ being in Black and White. I knew no different, until I experienced Him in the way that He saw fit, did I begin seeing things in color. It was a process and still is. There are times these days where I want to see black and white. When I fall. Hits me, David and his sister Jennifer were battling over ther tv remote and then got sucked in. All they wanted to do was get back. David knew the episodes and about the characters and insisted that they go with the flow. Jennifer disagreed and later David followed. They ended up in court due to all the changes that had happened. The town board just didn't want things to change that they couldn't control. I've always encourged people to be real, who cares what people think. Christ didn't care, why should I. If I want someones opinion I'll ask for it.  I'm going to fight my old life for the rest of my life, but with Christ's life in me, I'll know how to see life through His eyes and in full color instead old black and white.

Accepting the Unexpected

“As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside privately and told them what was going to happen to him. “Listen,” he said, “we’re going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die. Then they will hand him over to the Romans to be mocked, flogged with a whip, and crucified. But on the third day he will be raised from the dead.”” Matthew 20: 17-19 NLT

I'm thinking what's the catch? Then I'm thinking, how many times do I not used to take people seriously? I slept ok, last night, not the best. A lot going on today. Its Easter week. I can tell that Biblegateway.com is making things for the holiday. Great need for coffee this morning. Sip some coffee, I read and think. I'm amazed of how prideful I can get a times. I notice a new product, I either claim it won't last and it does. I claim it will, and it doesn't. Yet I still stick my guns and won't back down. It's like everyone tells me, they would have bought stock in apple, if they only had known 30 years ago that it would be as big as it is. Just like the Ipad. When it first came out, all of my fellow technicians claimed it was a "toy". Now they say nothing. It was like the Nintendo WII. It came out the following weekend that the PS3 did. No one was in line for the Wii but two people. Yet they couldn't keep up with the demands. Yet the competition had to follow where the customers were going, not where they wanted the customers to go. I'm also reminded of Forrest Gump, how he kept his word to Bubba and started a shrimp business. Everyone laughed but he kept his word. I think of God, how many times I have crucified him again. I have flogged him with a whip. I haven't trusted Him. How many times have I agreed with God's potential but not believed he would follow through? Why am I so fear based? It's hard to take risks. I read and think, it's crazy of how I have not taken scritpure or people seriously at times. I've learned in the past 5 years to act upon someones suggestion and trust them. doing this has taught me to be honest with people, due to there honestly to begin with. As I read it again, that's pretty intense. How would have I reacted to Christ telling me that. I would have tried to stop it. But yet again, looking at the ending goal, I would have asked if there was any other way you can do this in a safer way, that doesn't involve you dieing? Hits me, when am I going to take God seriously? I can assume, judge, go with my instinct on anything. Yet God continues to remind me of His truth that He followed through with. Forrest followed through, after people laughed and viewed him as a little slow. God doesn't do what I say, He does what His word says, I have to believe it and trust Him and not just view it as a bible thought, but as someone to live for as my example.