randomness_w_rach's Xanga

challenged...

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 01:11:34 GMT

I was listening to a sermon series called "Why I'm not a Christian" done my J.D. Greer at the Summit church. It has been a great series. But this blog isn't really about the series, its about a quick history he gave in the middle of one of the sermons. There was an emperor, i think it was Nero, but i could be wrong, that wrote a letter to one of his friends. He talked about trying to stamp out Christianity. The problem he said was that the Christians not only were taking care of their own need, but also those of the non-Christians in the city, therefore making it impossible for them to be stamped out.

It really made me think. i don't think Christians do that to much anymore. Typically we're doing good if we're taking care of our own within our own church's. And even then we put stipulations on "helping". If i give this money then xyz must happen. Or I'll help you build this if you'll....or, I'm not helping them b/c i just can't tolerate them very well.

I wonder, is that being Christ like? Don't misunderstand, i'm not saying we have to do everything that comes along. There's a difference between being a servant and being a doormat. There are times we have to say no to things. But i'm talking when God shows me a need, or a place to serve, and i ignore it for "better" things.

God has been challenging me lately to work on my heart's reaction for people's need for help. instead of analyzing it and determining if its worth my time, if He shows me a need, i should step up and help where i can.

So that is what i've been trying to do. Keeping my ears open for the needs of others and not just saying, well that stinks, i hope it all works out for you. God can move any way and any how he chooses, but i think he uses his children to be his earthly hands. But he can't use hands that aren't willing.

So that's where I'm at.....trying to allow God to use me to met needs that arise, not just within the Christian community, but to the people he has placed in my life. I must admit, i'm some how suprised (even though I shouldn't be), being a servant to others is a huge blessing.

pimp my train.........revisited

Sat, 24 Jan 2009 01:59:25 GMT

I have found it exceedingly interesting that my original blog on "pimp my train" has turned up in a lot of searches lately. (I like to look at the footprints left on my blog, b/c I'm weird like that) Mainly from overseas....The UK, Australia....etc. It makes me wonder, what is going on over there? Are they pimpin' trains over there?

If so, that's fascinating. But Anyway, i ment to get pictures up last year, but due to my camera's issues i couldn't. however At Christmas, Santa was gracious enough to bring me an awesome new camera, so now i get to post photos of the pimped train, woo hoo!

If you're wondering what i'm talking about, my best friend connie has the game Mexican Train Dominoes, its a very fun yet addictive game. Well it has little plastic trains, which i thought were boring. So one night after a rousing game, i stole my train, took it home and pimped it out, then snuck it back in the game for fun. Needless to say....she thought i was a little weird, but atleast she laughed.

This is one of him with his friends. Isn't he cute!

Him poppin' a wheelie....b/c he has new rims, and he can do that.

And then a nice close up shot.

Fun times!

O and.....Hi people overseas! You guys have awesome accents!!!!!!!!

And thus ends, pimp my train: revisited.

slow fade........

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 01:08:27 GMT

I was driving down the road the other day and a song came on by a Christian group called Casting Crowns. The song is titled "Slow Fade." The chores of the song was very profound, and the line that has been singing through my head says, "people never crumble in a day, its a slow fade."

Isn't that so true. Very rarely have I ever heard of a Christian who wakes up one morning and just says, you know what, skip you God, I have this covered. Usually its more of waking up one morning and wondering how did i find myself so far away from you? Where did I take that turn that ended me up here? Then you find yourself wrestling, desperately wanting to be back where you once were and fighting against that part of you that says, eh, why bother.

From the outside your life seems the same as it was, but on the inside there is turmoil that nobody can see but God and you. You drive down the road and your heart cries out to God b/c you miss him so much. You miss that peace that He has it under control. You long just to be held by Him and feel his hand moving you, and then knowing all along that he never went anywhere.

What is it that pulls us away so easily? Why does the heart wonder so far so quickly? Why do we wrestle so strongly against God? Where does the slow fade begin?

Life becomes overwhelming and you feel as though you will break. People you love become distant or move away, job demands change, finances become tight....things just change and you wonder how in the world you can handle it all. The truth quickly becomes you can't. And its in that moment that you realize: run home. Run with reckless abandonment.....give back the control you have gradually taken. Find rest again in the peace and knowledge that He has your best at heart.

I don't know where the slow fade begins, I just know it is here, and my heart is wrestling to be home again in God's peace.

Music Lyrics

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 01:00:26 GMT

I once heard a comedian say that there are some songs, that once you understand what they're saying you can never like it again. And I have found that to be true. Tonight i was driving down the road flipping through the various channels and was listening to a newish song that kind of has a reggae sound to it and one of the lines says

"Its our God forsaken right to be loved, loved, loved."

And that's when i became confused and no longer found the song amusing.

if something is God forsaken, isn't that a bad thing? Wouldn't it be better to say its a God given right instead? sure lyrically it may not go as well, but at least it wouldn't sound as stupid as the right to be loved as God forsaken.

but anyway, i just thought it was odd.

Merry Prostate Exam?

Sat, 06 Dec 2008 01:56:27 GMT

was watching Numb3rs....fun show, and a commercial came on. This pretty blond woman comes on the screen and says in a sexy voice, "Want to know what to get your man for Christmas?" "Schedule him a prostate exam!"

LOL! WHAT THE CRAP? Nothing says Merry Christmas like the snap of a rubber glove and hearing bend over and cough.

I understand that these things are important, and men should do it, just like women should get their yearly exams done....but i don't think wrapping up an appointment for a prostate exam and calling it a Present is the way to go, but maybe that's just me. lol i think that might actually fall under the category of nagging.

Spootie Professor!!

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 01:20:56 GMT

Last week in one of my classes the professor said, when talking about the final, "Tell you what, bring your Bible and your notes with you next week." Of course the whole class is thinking SWEET! Open book test! That rules!

So I didn't study. Open notes.

Get to class he tells us to put our notes away....WHAT THE CRAP?! He thinks we can do it without them. But you know what, that's not even the point.

You can't tell people to bring their notes and then tell them to put them away.....that's just wrong. Nobody studied. We're all a little ticked.

He also gave us 2 bonus questions...from the notes that we didn't study. spootieness!!!

i'm not sure what to think about all this.....except that i think i passed my final. i hope, lol.

Popping....

Thu, 27 Nov 2008 22:06:19 GMT

So I e-mailed all my co-workers to wish them a happy thanksgiving. I typed something to the effect of "I hope you have a great turkey day, eat until you feel like popping, its just one day!

But then i realized i didn't type poping. So basically I told my co-workers to have a have a great turkey day, and to eat until they felt like pooping.

crap.

literally.

there is no fixing that.

someone is always watching.....

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 01:13:11 GMT

i'm a people watcher. I find it fascinating to watch people...i don't know why. over the years i've developed a theory, and that is there is always someone watching you. even if you don't know it, someone is paying attention to you.

today was stinkin' cold....the wind was blowing, the sun was coverd by clouds....it was just stinkin' cold. but i needed gas. in fact my little light was on, so i had to stop. Apparently i selected the slowest pump on the planet. it seemed silly to get back in the car....its not like i'm filling up a huge honkin' truck, but still it seemed to take a while. So to try and stay warm i started jogging in place. it never really dawned on me that people were driving by, all i knew is i was cold and i needed to do something about it.

i saw a sheriff's car circle by the gas station and didn't think anything about it....i just kept jogging then i saw them again....then they pulled in and honked and waved at me. all i could do was laugh.

so, always remember someone is watching....

Squirming.

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 01:13:55 GMT

Its rather annoying..... that there are days when its ok. You're fine with how things are.

Then there are days that you find yourself squirming....hoping for something that is not...and you try to keep yourself from running in front of God to try and take control.

Everything in you is having to pull back on your heart and mind and rest in God and what he has for you not what you want for you.

I'm squirming. Squirming for something I hope will be, but not sure will ever be. and the squirming makes me just want to scream.

Spootie Squirminess.

pondering......

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 00:42:38 GMT

i went to a friend's most awesomest church today. as i was driving down the road to get there i drove past this guy on the side of the road. he was in a bright royal blue shirt that had a collar on it like a priest, wearing a big huge wood cross around his neck that was literally the size of his chest. Beside him he had a piece of plywood that had pictures of him and his family taped to it and on the plywood he had written something like, "Preacher needs job to help family survive."

My initial reaction was, sad day! But then as i drove away my brain began to ponder it some more. Now without knowing his circumstance i can't say that i can make a judgment call about his life but here were my thoughts and questions.

I know that God has called some men to be preachers/pastors. And there might come a time in that man's life when he is inbetwen churches, but does that mean he should only work as a preacher and not anywhere else? If you need a job for your family to survive, as the leader of your family is the best option to be standing on the side of the road with a piece of plywood saying you're a preacher in need of a job? Isn't the better option to go over to wal-mart, or lowes, or wherever and get a job to help with your family's bills until God leads you else where?

Now like i said, I don't know the circumstances of his life. For all I know, he has prayed about his situation and this is what God has lead him to do. But then again.....maybe not.

I know i can't judge what is between him and God....it just seemed an interesting thing. Next time i go to my friend's most awesomest church, if he's still there, i might just pull over and ask him what his story is.