Life. It moves at break-neck speed, always a journey, and never a tiresome one. These past few weeks have been a new learning experience for me. I have begun a new life, a new beginning with my new bride. It has been great getting to know Kathryne, and being a part of her life. From our wedding day to our first thanksgiving together. There are many things that have changed in our lives over the past few weeks, and we are still getting to know each other better, but we are making it. I can't wait to see what it is that our future holds; especially after the week of Thanksgiving this year. At the beginning of that week Kathryne told me that she had taken a pregnancy test, and that it was positive. I'm going to be a dad, and while that at first scared me half to death, I can't wait to have that wonderful experience in my life, and to share it with my soulmate. I know that shes frightened, I am too times, but I know that God will find a way, physically, mentally, financially. He already has a way, and its just a matter of time before he shows us his plan for our lives, for our marriage, for our child.

About a week ago, I sat in the Pastor of Family Life's office at church with my fiance. We were there for one of our final sessions of premaritial counseling just about a month away from our wedding date. Our time here was well worth the effort spent, and I do believe that we were both able to take away a lot from it, from what animal we were by our traits, to budgeting and finances, to what God intended marriage to be. (More on that topic later!!!) This particular session has stuck with me, however, not because of the marital topics at hand, but because of the mention of spiritual gifts. Pastor Rodney was speaking of spiritual gifts that God gives us and he happened to mention my playing in the praise band. He briefly mentioned how God had given me that talent, not to sit at home and play to myself with the door closed, but to share with others. I have been unable to shake that thought. For such a long time I have wanted nothing more than to share God's music with others, but I don't know how. I don't know where to get started. I know that God has put me in the church and praise band that He has me in for a reason, but in a way I feel as if theres soo much more that I should be doing to share singing God's praises. I get frustruated with one thing or another, from the key to the chords, to the orchestra, and none of it matters, except bringing praise to God. It truly doesn't matter to me if there are one or one thousand people there in the crowd; I'm not there to perform, I'm there to praise God, and to be used by Him, to be an instrument of God. Several years ago I started praying that before each and every service, that God would use us, the praise band as His instruments. That His music would flow through us to His people, to honor Him. It is sometimes a fine line between performing and praising, but I will gladly praise instead of perform any day.
Which brings me back to my original thoughts for this posting which is God's gifts and how we use them. We should never neglect our gifts from God, whether they may be physical, spiritual, monetary, etc, etc. God gives us certain things, things that are His for us to take care of and delight in. When we neglect, abuse, or take these things for granted we are not using them for the glory of God. If we neglect to budget our money, time, or abilities, we may end up wasting these precious gifts. On the other hand, if we bury these things and never use them, we will neve reap the harvest brought about by correctly managing these gifts of God.
I do not know how God would have me to use what He has given me, but I am beginning to pray and seek His will. I want to be spiritually, physically, morally, and financially fit with the things that God has given me charge of in this world.

-Brad

Campus Crusade for Christ

I read the news story today from fox news, that Campus Crusade for Christ is changing its name to Cru. According to the article, it was to remove the connotations of the medieval Crusades from their organization, however, it also stressed that there aren't many other Christian organizations that specify Christ in their name. So, they decide to be followers, instead of leaders. They follow the rest of the sheep of the world, being politically correct. Granted, it may be easier for the organization to reach some people without Christ in their name, but will they also remove Christ from their message? Only time will tell.

Last time I checked we as Christians are supposed to be set apart (Romans 12:2, I Peter 2:9) I don't openly shout from the mountain tops that I am a Christian. I am more subtle in my personality than that. I do, however, try to live my life according to God's will, and follow His word as best as I can. I want people to see me, whether it be at work, or anywhere else and know that 'Theres something different about him... he doesn't cuss or drink or do the things that the rest of the crowd does... I wonder why? Maybe I should ask him.' Being set apart, whether by name, or deed, is a full time job. Even the smallest slip could turn someone away. Even the slightest show of weakness, the smallest act of conformity shows the world that "they're not so different from the rest of us after all".
I hope that this decision was made after many long hours of prayer, not just long hours of marketing strategies.

from the ground up...

The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;

Psalm 24:1

Living Life in a Mirror

James 1:22-27

22.
But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.
23.
For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror ;
24.
for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.
25.
But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.
26.
If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless.
27.
Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this : to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

Whats the first thing that you do when you look in a mirror? You take everything in, and see how you look. If you aren't happy with your appearance, you fix whats wrong, comb your hair, check your makeup (if you wear makeup) then once everything is satisfactory, you continue about your daily business. As far as you are concerned, you appear the same way that you did the ast time you looked into a mirror until you see your reflection in another mirror.

II Cor 3:18 & 4:4

3:18.
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

4:4.
in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Living a mirror image of Christ means beng changed from the old life; becoming more like Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, as soon as we step away from our mirror, something is bound to happen. Our faces get dirty, a hair or two falls out of place, makeup gets smudged, that ketchup from lunch gets just out of reach on our cheek... We don't realize how dirty and ugly our lives (both physically and spiritually) become until someone brings it to our attention, which may not always happen, OR, until we look into the mirror again.

Some people use church as their mirror. On Sundays they check their salvation, make sure its on straight, and then live life in the world of filth until the next Sunday's "look in the mirror". We fool ourselves into thinking we're doing okay, yet we become "dirty" living in the world.

Romans 12:2-3

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
3.
For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think ; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.

Don't conform... avoid the temptions of the world... avoid the dirt. Carry your spiritual "mirror" with you always, check it often, not just on Sundays; take account of your life and your actions, always thinking in the back of our minds about that spiritual mirror, that Christ like life that we are supposed to strive for; and take care of your brothers and sisters... they can't always see what their own lives have become, sometimes it helps to have someone else show you where those smudges are!

James 4:8-10
8. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash
your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you
double-minded.
9. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning
and your joy to gloom.
10. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will
lift you up.

There aren't a lot of things in the world that I'm excellent at. Years ago, when I started learning how to play guitar, I never wanted to be the best guitarist in the world. To me, I'd rather know how to do 10 things well than to know one thing excellent. The most important thing is to know where those talents and gifts come from. It was always funny to me when I played basketball in high school, whenever we got on a winning streak, we got big heads and thought that we were the best. It never failed, God always made sure to put us back in our places whenever we got this haughty attitude. He humbled us, because we refused to humble ourselves. Instead of giving God the glory for our victory, we put faith in ourselves, and quickly fell on our faces in the next game. Ever since then, whenever I have to speak in front of a group or play guitar or sing, or whatever it may be, the first thought that comes through my mind when I pray is to ask God to use me as his instrument. It helps me to recognize my place, as just a tool for God to use for his power and glory. My mind gets clear and the nervousness never forms. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you... Humble yourselves first, and He will lift you up.

Rushing Wind

I FEEL YOU HERE IN THE RUSHING WIND
I NEVER THOUGHT I'D SEE YOUR FACE AGAIN
THEY SEALED MY FATE WHEN THEY SEALED YOUR TOMB
BORROWED GIFT OF GRACE YOU LEFT AN EMPTY ROOM
NOW I'M ON MY KNEES NO WHERE TO RUN
I GIVE MY LIFE TO THE FATHERS ONLY SON
BROKEN AND BEATEN I'LL LAY IT ALL DOWN
BUT ONE DAY SOON I'LL WEAR A ROBE A CROWN
THE PATH IS HEAVY, THE ROAD IS LONG, BUT
EVERY DAY I GET A CHANCE TO SING YOUR SONG
I'LL TELL THE WORLD WHAT YOU DID FOR ME
HOW YOU GAVE YOUR LIFE JUST TO SET ME FREE