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with passion & gratitude — jenbish

Time to take a deep breath and look around at a tangle of brown, fallen leaves and bare branches.  Drink in the sun shining long and low, not hindered by a whisper of cloud, casting huge shadows across the pavement.  Suddenly we are present.  In lifting our heads and opening our eyes, we awaken our soul.

We engage, we walk through that magic, invisible doorway and we know it’s a beautiful day.

Click on the link and follow the centering exercise to put you in the best place for contemplating the picture below.

Gaze without words to distract.  Finish with the awareness exercise under the picture, repeat it throughout the day.  Keep it with you.

Wake up to Nature, today

Experts in motivation will all tell you that you have to have goals; you have to have a vision and you have to write it down.  Picture in your mind how you want your relationship to turn out.  Do you want to be closer than two people have ever been?  Do you just want to be good friends?  What goal do you have in mind?  Write it down.

What does this have to do with communication?  Without a clear goal you will never get through what is between the start and the finish.  A man named Habakkuk, who lived thousands of years ago, said,  “For the vision is yet for the appointed time ; It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay.”

What he means is this: Having a vision is not for today but helps you to get through today focused and with purpose.  The vision is what motivates us to press on, hurrying toward the goal.  We do not always reach the goal when we expect to; but we will reach the goal eventually. It may take time, we must keep patient, and wait for it, knowing it will come and will not taking its time but moving toward you, without pause.

Are you going to perfect your communication skills over night?  No, but if you think about where you want your relationship to end up, you will know whether or not you are on the right path.  You have to know where you are going to get there; otherwise you are just wandering around in the dark.

My goal is to be the best listener my wife and children ever have.

earl

Now, I do have to say.. I have traveled quite a bit in college. BUT most importantly, I didn’t turn 21 until my senior year, so even though I’ve been a bunch of places, I didn’t get to experience any cool bars or “adult” things. So I’ve decided to keep myself dreaming of all the places I’d like to go and start a series on my blog called, “Where am I Going Wednesdays”.

I took it upon myself to create a list of destinations (in the U.S. for now) that I really would like to visit.. and I’m going to write about one each week to try to quench my vacation thirst. It probably won’t work, but at least I can gawk at other people’s pretty pictures and pretend like I went there.. So watch out for my new series starting next week!

..yes this is a real picture from Hawaii!

PS mad props to Mr. Deeds in this video. I might have to watch that movie now.

Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality, and because of them, Jesus  Christ and his truth is slandered. In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold  of your money. But God condemned them long ago and their destruction is on the way. For God did not spare even the angels when they sinned, He cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment (2 Peter 2:1-4).

We are living in the last days, as most of us who are not blind can see. That’s why the Bible reminds us in 2 Peter 3:3-4 that in the last days there will be scoffers (mockers, people who don’t care) who will laugh at the truth, and do every evil thing they desire; This will be their argument: “Jesus promised to come back, did He? Then where is He? Why, as far back as anyone can remember, everything has remained the same since the world was created?” However, if they follow the course of history and allow God to reveal His truth they would see the changes, because the natural man can’t receive the things of the Spirit of God, because they are foolishness to him (1 Corinthians 2:14).

For all those people who are searching for the Messiah and other ways to God, Jesus said it best in John 5:39-43,

“You search the scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life, and these are they which testify of me, but you are not willing to come to me that you may have life. I do not receive honor from men, but I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you; I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not receive me; but if another comes in his own name, him you will receive.”

People in the latter days underestimate the power of God, totally forgetting or disregarding the fact that God did not spare the ancient world, except for Noah and his family of seven(Genesis 6-8). Noah warned the world of God’s righteous judgment, then God destroyed the whole world of ungodly people with a vast flood. Later He (God) turned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into heaps of ashes, and swept them off the face of the earth, this you can read in Genesis 19. This was an example of what will happen to ungodly people; however He did rescue Lot who was righteous (2 Peter 2:5-10).

The Lord knows how and when to rescue godly people from their trials, even while punishing the wicked straight up to his return and judgement day. Matthew 5:19-20 tells us that,

“Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of Heaven; But whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of Heaven. For I say unto you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of Heaven.”

Which path are you on? What is your excuse now? What will it take? How long must God wait for you? Listen time is running out. Look around you, are things getting better or worse, doesn’t same-sex marriages remind you of Sodom and Gomorrah? Well if you are interested in turning your life around go to the top of this blog, click on to the salvation page, and follow the instructions. This is not the time to play with God.

For further studies and spiritual growth go to www.Riversofrevival.com.

Now unto Him who is able to keep us from falling and to present us faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God, Our Savior, be glory, honor, praise, and thanks for using me to minister to His people. To Him belong  majesty, dominion, and power now and forever. May He also grant His children the spiritual wisdom, knowledge, and understanding as they receive His word, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Wait, I will tell you everything
If you can wait
You will understand that this is true
This light will never lie to you
And now will light my way
Say good bye and leave me broken

Help, help me look inside your soul and see that blame
[..] so my heart [..]
And you [..] maybe(?) help me inside out
[..]
How can I wait forever

Why do we break our feelings, babe
Understand that what you make
Trust me if you go one way
You will make a choice and you may (?)

And you may

Wait, I will long for every questions
If you wait, I’ll become the one that you [..]
[..] I still [..] let you play
Where are you going?

You say goodbye and leave me broken
I cannot wait forever
Where are you going?

*Thank you Allie & Anthony!*
*Or something like that, lot of gasps I know but this one is hard :< help?*

How do you get there?

These are key questions for individuals and for congregations that are essential for strategic planning. I have learned the practice of annual goals as an employee and annual strategic goals for the congregation while here at Resurrection. As Stephen Covey would suggest, begin with the end in mind. I have found that setting a measurable goal with a target date to be effective in helping me move forward in ministry and in my personal development. I hope to continue to grow in this area and utilize this skill set in the arenas to which God calls me.

I believe that this will be an important role no matter what future church setting I might find myself in.

• What have you found to be helpful in this area?
• Are there any resources or events that you would recommend?

Over the past three days, I have highlighted some of the characteristics that I hope to develop as a church leader. I am interested in your thoughts and passion. What are characteristics as a leader that you would like to develop?

A: Taxi! Taxi!
B: Where you going?
A: To the airport.
B: Sure, hop in.

Want to learn more? Click here for the PDF file

Thanks again to Raissa!

Thank you for the Music:
“Nahuhulog” by Sandwich and “Subway Station” by Makkina

No copyright infringement intended. If you like the music, go and support OPM by buying the song legally online or in your nearest music store!

If you made it all the way down here… you are scary. And in for some good news. Because what would follow a ‘why are you here’ list? Exactly! A ‘where are you going’ list… but please be patient… the wait is half the fun.

Edit: oct. 2008:
Obviously this list is enormously outdated. A new update will follow, as soon as there is something interesting to say.

Last week I started making a video for some stunning sound scape music made by my friend Dan.

The track I’m using the is called “All is Calm All Is Bright” )Also it ties in nicely as I have an assignment where I have to “dramatize a location” as part of my MA, so anyways I’m killing two birds with one stone.

Basically I have decided to dramatize a motorway to feel harshly lonely and dark, but hopefully tainted in some what of a beauty. An intensely fast stream of movement will add to the sense of loneliness as the cars just speed past the decaying area with no regard for it. On top of this, because the cars will just be reduced to rapid streams of light, hopefully it will give them less sense of identity – maybe evoking the questions who are you? where are you going? Anyway before i write too much dribble, the motorway is the infamously dodgy “Westway” so every time I come back from shooting I count my blessings I haven’t been mugged. Still time for that yet!