I'm Ashamed of You, You Who Call Yourself Human

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

— 1 Timothy 6:6-10 (NIV)

It sometimes takes a calamity to reveal the character of all we call our fellow man. Hurricane Katrina has certainly unified our nation -- the just and the unjust. Innocent and guilty. Rich and poor. We are all one. We all weep. We are all affected.

And then there's the oil companies... As I drove home last night, I was grateful to have filled up with gas yesterday morning for $2.49 a gallon. No specific insight as to the future -- just needed gas and the price was right.

During the day, the rumors started... 18 to 20 cents a gallon over night. Because of the Hurricane. Because the refineries have shut down. Because the oil companies are a bunch of greedy (names which shall not be named). Tell me that the distribution channel actually needed to make that correction immediately, even before the fact. Dr. Demming's "Just In Time" Inventory Theory is prevelant, but come on people. Greedy (names which shall not be named).

As I drove home from a long day at about 12:45 am, I was curious to see the change in gas prices. On any normal day I can see an 8 to 10 cent between the municipalities and counties I traverse. Oftentime, Wal-Mart's Murphy Oil is the cheapest.

OK, so at 12:45 am this morning, what do I spy? The usual $2.49 to $2.56 a gallon at all the open stores. No problem, eh? Murphy Oil in Siloam Springs was closed -- dark until 6 am. And the price $2.64. $2.64!!! I can verify that this was a 15 cent price hike from the 18 hours before. Anticipated at 11:00 PM when they closed last night. Give me a break!

I am ashamed of those that will turn calamity into an opportunity for greed and avarice. May their true intentions be judged by Almighty God. My God forgive me for hating them so much.

Ode To A Lighthouse

I am a lighthouse, worn by the weather and the waves.
And though I am empty, I still warn the sailors on their way.
— Nickel Creek

Lighthouses have always held a bit of a fascination for me... Always from a bit of distance... Always in a picture.

This summer, Marcia and I spent about a week on an island in the middle of Lake Michigan - Beaver Island. And the picture above was of a wonderful lighthouse on that island called Whiskey Point. Travelogue mode off (click!)

As we left the island on a two hour ferry ride it was during a thunderstorm. Rain, lightning, thunder, a little wind, choppy waters. Besides my propensity for motion sickness, I thought to look back at the island and try to spot the lighthouse through the mist and fog of the storm. I kinda knew where to look and so as a searched I believe I perceived the slowly undulating red light. My light. My guide.

The problem was I (and the rest of ferry) was moving away from the lighthouse, away from safe harbour, away from a mooring, a pier, a place to set my feet. We were heading out into the storm seas.

My hope was that there was going to be a lighthouse on the other side of the lake to illuminate our way into that harbour. Sure, the captain has navigated this route a hundred times in even more dangerous situations. But, still...

What about you? Are you willing to leave the safe harbour of your comfortable life and head out into the storm? With only the hope of a lighthouse on the other side to keep you from dashing the ship of your existance into the rocks?

Pray and obey.

I Will Not Be Silent

So I faced the entire board and invited guests yesterday and began to cry.

Pathetic? Weak? Maybe not.

You see, I have become more and more convinced that silence is not golden, that manners and propriety is not always the best choice. Sometimes we HAVE to say something. Sometimes we have to pray in public. Sometimes we have to invoke the name of LORD, open the Scriptures (which, by the way, are a lamp unto our feet...), and NOT BE SILENT.

Listening to Dave Crowder Band and the song "Sing Like The Saved" from The Lime CD, I was provoked to face the music...if we have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ, we must sing, shout, dance, live like we are saved. Not just when it's convenient or safe. All the time. No apologies. Just filled with the Spirit and the love of God.

I will not be silent.

To Him Who Is Able

When I am too busy to hear His voice...

(Selah)

Thank you God for being here and there.

Holy Dreaming Makes Heaven Closer To Earth

In the movie "What Dreams May Come" the main character played by Robin Williams is killed instantly in a tragic car crash and wpends the rest of his time in an afterlife state that reflects the impressionistic moods of his bereaved wife. As she falls deeper into despair, the painted heavenly environment of William's character turns hellish and dark. Although the film is extremely anti-God and "all roads lead to heaven"-ish, the vibe of this view of afterlife was extremely impacting.

Have you ever had Holy Dreams? Dreams about ministering, casting out demons, leading Holy Spirit empowered worship, seeing healings happen, souls coming to the LORD, etc. I have. Pretty powerful stuff.

I've also had those "other" dreams. The ones where you feel dirty, scared, vulnerable...you know what I mean.

Think about this...

If the God of all creation can order our steps, can He not also order our dreams. If we ask Him to give us Holy Dreams and He does, we awaken with faith, hope, and love at the center of our being. We have new vision, greater sensitivity to the Spirit, a powerful longing to be used by God to do the very things we dreamed about.

It's cool.

In fact, it just happened to me. While I was writing this blog, I was thinking about a phone call that needed to happen -- I was waiting for someone to call me about one of those "holy dream" sort of things. And it happened. He called. We talked. And I'm really pumped.

"Delight yourself also in the LORD; and He will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4

Dream holy dreams.

For the wonder of it all...

My Return...(Have I Been Away?)

"Everyone discusses my art and pretends to understand, as if it were necessary to understand, when it is simply necessary to love. "
- Claude Monet

My sister-in-law turned me on to the above quote last evening. I was immediately thrust into a dimensional paradigm shift as I realized how appropriate this thought is/was for most of the interactions I have. It's not so much about "my art". It's about all art. Understanding is secondary to love. That applies to people, co-workers, family, my job, the jobs of others, etc. It transcends "art" like Monet's or da Vinci's or Picasso's.

My takeaway -- love first, then let discussion emanate from that love rather than from understanding (feigned or otherwise).

Radical!