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Art's blog

Jonah and Me

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Jonah and Me chapter 1 - Madison thoughts

God gave Jonah a mission, a clear calling as to what He was meant to do. There was no misunderstanding what the Lord had said. He said, "Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it" (Jonah 1:2)

Instead of getting up and being grateful that the Lord was so straightforward with him, Jonah decided to run. He boarded a boat and went the total opposite direction. He literally, turned his back on God.

I hope you get one too: Dear Dad

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Dear Dad,

maddie3.jpgmaddie2.jpgmaddie1.jpg In my mind I see you always wearing tight Levi 501 jeans, face smiling and body smelling of fresh paint. It's no wonder I find comfort in a freshly painted room, or on a canvas, because to me, you are there. Always there, hiding elephants under my bed and singing softly "Jesus draw me close."

The Consuming Life part six

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THE CONSUMING LIFE part six

"Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends". John 15:13(Jesus)  Sufjan Stevens sings Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

squirrel.gifDoes my followship of Jesus invite, require, evoke life giving? What does that mean? Can I really serve without ulterior motive, help only to become more like Jesus who loved and gave because he cared? Sometimes the vision of who you are Jesus just gets lost, like the bright sun on a hazy or cloudy day. I know you are there. I can feel your warmth still. My attention wanders and the rest of me benignly follows. Before long my navigational skills are worthless, I have lost my bearings. Like adrift on the open sea subject to unforseen weather, circumstance drives my heading. Its your committed love, hesed is the Hebrew, steadfast faithfulness that alone can refocus me, that can lead me and keep me enlivened on your path.

THE CONSUMING LIFE part five

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THE CONSUMING LIFE part five

"Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends". John 15:13

knees.jpgDoes my followship of Jesus invite, require, evoke life giving? Does my followship of Jesus, volunteer, willfully submit, consciously offer all that I am, all I am becoming, for his purpose? My heart aspires to cry, "Yes, Yes, Worthy is the Lamb." However, the path that comes into focus as I turn to review the less than linear line by which I arrived at this point decries the myth I would propose.

The Consuming Life part four

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THE CONSUMING LIFE part four

"Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends". John 15:13

feet.jpgIf I were able to look from above, to observe from a vantage point on high, my foot steps on the path that shows my followship of Jesus they would probably look more like skipping than walking. Rather than a unbroken series of feet on the ground pace by pace trail that faithfully trails Jesus’ own footsteps, you would find omissions, places where the footsteps disappear, veer of the path in new and irregular directions, oh there is another one back on the path.

The Consuming Life part three

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THE CONSUMING LIFE part three

"Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends". John 15:13

Isn’t that beautiful?

I think that but I don’t want it. I mean in one final gasp televised where I get some glory sure, but on a daily ongoing basis to largely undeserving friends. Friends like Jesus had who don’t understand him, who will abandon him, who will deny and even betray him, heck no. I mean the idea is beautiful, the execution is, well, repellent. Oh I want to be that person deep and passionately on the inside, but the desire to be seen at that person is too often equally compelling.

"That's a God Thing"

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That’s a God Thing

"That’s a God thing," Susan said. What I asked?

Susan use to come to our church about 6 years ago then got into something else. So did her daughter Brittany.

For from days of old they have not heard or perceived by ear, Nor has the eye seen a God besides You, Who acts in behalf of the one who waits for Him. Isaiah 64:4 (NASB)

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