Pensive and Quiet

First off, the new Anathallo album "Floating World" is absolutely incredible. Everyone should at least give it a listen.

On to my real point. I haven't written in a while. In all honesty, I have had things to write about, just not the state of mind to write them. I have been so confused and very pensive these past few weeks, it is rather wierd. I have no idea why I am this way. At this point in my life I just don't know much of anything. The only thing I know is that I am to glorify God in everything that I do. My spiritual life is great. My job life is better than ever, I got a new job at National City Bank. My friends are awesome. I guess college is on its way. I feel as if the world is spinning as fast I can't focus on anything and I don't have enough time to do anything. Some days anymore seem to me as if I accomplished nothing. I have come to accept the calling of humility to Christians and don't mind being in the background as long as I am impacting the world for the good of the Kingdom in someway. Trouble is just asking myself if I am really doing that much in my life. I have been playing soccer every Monday night on the waterfront (anyone is welcome to come join us at 9p.m.) with a bunch of guys, most of which are Christians, one who isn't, and I am not sure about the random, different guys who we play with, but I try to set a good Christian example for them in hopes that they might see Christ through me. The hardest part is figuring out how to do that.

I have also been inspired by the sermon that Barb and Josh gave this past Sunday. It got me to thinking that if one were to look back at the early church in the New Testament, they would find that when one person was proclaiming the Truth, someone else was always with them, sort of like back-up. For example, Paul and Timothy were together alot. Paul and Barnabas, Barnabas and Mark, Paul and Silas, Paul and Silas and Timothy (all of this can be found in the book of Acts). It just kind of woke me up to the realization that in today's church, alot of evangelism is solo when we should be there backing our friend who is trying to minister to someone or bring someone to church. I also believe that the truest, and most effective way to show people the love of God is not by cramming the Bible down their throat, but by loving them no matter what they have done. And for other Christians, if you see a Christian hanging out with someone who gets drunk or high, don't strike them down as a sinner. If they are doing no wrong leave them be, just back them up in their ministry. I will use this common expression, "Love the sinner, not the sin".

This also leads me to another thing on my heart. 1 Thessalonians 4:11 - "Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you,". My main focus in that verse is MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS. Or for those that speak Spanish, "a procurar vivir en paz con todos, a ocuparse de sus propias responsabilidades y a trabajar con sus propias manos. Así les he mandado," or French for that matter, "en mettant votre point d'honneur à vivre dans la paix, à vous occuper chacun de ses propres affaires, et à gagner votre vie par votre propre travail, comme nous vous l'avons déjà recommandé" or Chinese, "? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?". 1 Peter 4:15 also say "If you suffer, it should not be as a murder or theif or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler." Meddler being one who is in others business. I particulary like the way the New Living Translation puts it, "If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people's affairs." You see, Christians in the modern world seem to have to know evrything about every other Christian in the world. Well, I know that for me personally, I am tired of having Christians second guess me on every move I make in one area of my life in particular. If another Christian is falling into sin, it is one thing to say something and make sure that they don't fall into sin, but if it is their own personal life that doesn't relate to you or is not a sin, let them handle it.

Well, I guess I am done for the night, it is 1:18 a.m. and I have to work tomorrow but here is a little bonus question for all of you, is it possible to pray "in reverse", or to pray for/in the past and effect things in the past that have already happened. Comment this blog and tell me what you think. After a while I will blog with my thoughts on that question and my reasoning for my answer. Until then, here is a passage that shows the greatness and the glory of God, meditate on this, the image that you see in your head, the words said by the animals and elders, and the true majesty of God. Make the praises your prayer and praise to God.

Revelation 4
1After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this." 2At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. 3And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne. 4Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. 5From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. 6Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.
In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 7The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come." 9Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
11"You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being."