WHOA....and all those sorts of things.....

So, I was talking to a friend the other day, and they  suggested that I read a book called "The Shack."  They told me it was Christian fiction, and I thought to myself...."that sounds real lame."  I do, however, always trust this friends assessment of things, and their taste in what is relevant and helpful.  I somewhat begrudgingly went to Barnes and Noble to get the book, and innocently took it back to my house and decided I had nothing better to do.....so I opened it and started reading it.  WHOA!  It is changing my life with every passing chapter.  In fact, I can't believe there is a book that describes God and His relationship with us equally like the Bible.  

I wondered why this book was so awesome, and why it is changing me.  Well, I feel like God showed me some things.  Well this is a story within the story of any of our lives.... Jesus is the great story teller...and what He says resonates in our souls.  I just can't believe how awesome it is.  

I would suggest that you run, don't walk, to Barnes and Noble and get it.  I also suggest that you  clear your schedule when you open it up.  If you are anything like me, you will get lost in it.  Get lost has NEVER been so fun!  

Shootings

It rang in my ears early this morning.  Another school shooting, 5 dead and the shooter made six.  It breaks the souls and brings tears to the eyes.  Tonight the landscape of 5 families will forever be changed.  I am sure agony is ensuing them as well.  The dinner table will be less one person.  I am sure there will be second guessing, and thought of the last conversations, and the field of shoulda, coulda, woulda's.  I hope they cling to some resemblance of peace.  I can't imagine, and I hope I never can.  

Why?  Why?  Why?  I am sure that's being asked by many, and while that is a relevant question, I think sometimes even if we know the why's we would have just another why.  I feel like knowing wouldn't help us comprehend, but further question the reasons.  I can't imagine the parents of the shooter.  I can't imagine how they feel.  The little boy they raised from birth, turned into this one man killing monster.  I am sure the family is going through the worst grief and thoughts of, what could we have done.  

The power of prayer at this time.  While it seems like everyone needs more than that, the truth is, prayer sustains us in these times.  

I have already started my mourning process.  I have turned on Joni, as I do when things like this happen.  I am totally broken hearted.  I love Joni, she changes the way I feel.  I want to leave you with some lyrics.....

BOTH SIDES NOW

Rows and flows of angel hair

And ice cream castles in the air

And feather canyons everywhere

I've looked at clouds that way

But now they only block the sun

They rain and snow on everyone

So many things I would have done

But clouds got in my way

I've looked at clouds from both sides now

From up and down, and still somehow

It's cloud illusions I recall

I really don't know clouds at all

Moons and Junes and Ferris wheels

The dizzy dancing way you feel

As ev'ry fairy tale comes real

I've looked at love that way

But now it's just another show

You leave 'em laughing when you go

And if you care, don't let them know

Don't give yourself away

I've looked at love from both sides now

From give and take, and still somehow

It's love's illusions I recall

I really don't know love at all

Tears and fears and feeling proud

To say "I love you" right out loud

Dreams and schemes and circus crowds

I've looked at life that way

But now old friends are acting strange

They shake their heads, they say I've changed

Well something's lost, but something's gained

In living every day

I've looked at life from both sides now

From win and lose and still somehow

It's life's illusions I recall

I really don't know life at all

I've looked at life from both sides now

From up and down, and still somehow

It's life's illusions I recall

I really don't know life at all

Vaya Con Dios!

-broc

God HELP Us!

Watch with care!!

sow, sow, sow Misunderstood

I was thinking about the concept in the Bible of reaping and sowing.  Now, for me this is a very simple concept.  I live in rural Texas, where if there is an open field it's plowed and planted with a crop.  But there is a place in the Word that specifically talks about this concept, and its stated very easily and plain, so that everyone can understand God's thoughts on the idea and concept.  

Galatians 6:7-9

"Do not be deceived,  God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows."

Interesting that it says don't be fooled.  I guess that's God's way of pointing out this concept has the ability to deceive.  Then it says God can't be mocked.  So I guess that means that if you don't believe or follow the message that is coming next you are making a mockery of God.  Then plain as day....what a man sow he reaps.  VERY PLAIN!  I like that God gave us a the flags to point out this really needs our attention.  He is drawing us in and letting us know how important this philosophy is; and He is drawing attention because maybe it holds an important concept or idea that we need in our foundation.  I am not sure why He flags this for us, I only know He is placing a bet.  He is betting us at the expense of His mockery, that we will reap what we sow.  I don't know if you know this, but God always wins His bets, and He never asks us questions because of His lack of knowledge.  

WE will REAP what WE sow, and I don't think He is just wheat, barley, maize, and bananas.  I think He means in every area in our lives.  I find it extremely sad when I hear, I am a good person, that's how I am getting into heaven.......They are sowing their lives to be good people but in the end....they get hell.  They were deceived.  God has me revisit this concept when He gets jealous of my time spent on things that don't glorify Him, or when there is a disconnect in our relationship!  it's just like Him to bring that gentle reminder in my life.  As I start to value sleep more than I depend on Him to give me energy, He reminds me.....So gentle..."Broc stop sowing in your bed."  "As  a door turns on it's hinges, so does the sluggard on his bed."  When I start to value my friends thoughts, opinions, and judgments above how highly I regards God's, He just speaks to my heart...."Broc, the time you spend entertaining deception, you will deceive yourself."  I love those rebukes!  I know that sounds about like it's impossible to love correction, but I think that comes with the seasoning God brings to us.  

So, I sow

I sow generously.....and I in the end...know according to the Bible I will reap even more than I sowed.  Isn't that what plating is all about.....INVESTMENT!  The farmer doesn't get back seed for seed.  He gets multiple seeds for one seed.  I think that's important.  We have to get our minds around the fact that when we are sowing....and it's not just money.  It's time, patience, understanding, wisdom, love, happiness......etc.  But when we sow....it's tiny compared to what we reap.  Now, this is good and bad news.  Good because, getting love back is awesome....and patience, and understanding......BUT....gossip, laziness, and such are not at all fun.  Not even a little bit.  We learn everywhere we go....when we sow the things that aren't out of a heart of goodness, we reap the things that are not good.   There is this belief that travels around Christian circles, that we should give and not expect anything in return.  As if investing in the kingdom of God isn't a good investment.  Now, my heart is not giving to receive, but to know that I am going to be taken care of.  Saying sow into God without wanting a return...is just like a farmer throwing seed and saying....well, if God wills it will yield a crop.  No, that's crazy and silly to think that way!  

Just some thoughts

Vaya Con Dios

-broc  

Granola!

I love it, and am making it right now!  I love the way it tastes and how good it is for you!  MMM.....it's from Jesus!

SUB-Culture

I was discussing with a friend the other day about how there is a subculture in Christianity.  This new culture is very aware of what's going on in the society in which they live.  They are concerned about the environment.  This doesn't mean the subscribe to the thoughts about global warming.  They just simply feel like it is their responsibility to take care of that which God gave to them.  I think it is interesting that God used the pandering about global warming to wake up a culture of people to take care of things that can be taken care of.  This doesn't mean we always recycle, always eat organic, hug trees, think creation is more important than The Creator.  Truthfully this is our world handed to us by The Creator, and it is our responsibility to do the right thing.  

This culture is more than thanking about the environment, but they are also concerned about the political nature of the world.  They are ever increasingly separating themselves from political parties; while asking hard questions to candidates on each side.  They didn't do this because they don't think Iraq is going in the right direction, or that they were lied to as to the reason that we are even in Iraq; they are just decided that this country is worth fighting for.  That EVER life is worth saving, and humanity needed them.  

This culture fights for all human life.  They see people in need and they are spurred to action.  When they see injustice they fight for it, and fight hard.  Not breaking any of the rules, and being peaceful, with one voice.  This means when they see children in Africa shattered by AIDS, homeless and hungry in their communities, unborn children who's right are subject to being violated, people having to chose between food or medicine, and elderly having their freedoms removed; they will take the actions necessary whatever they might be....barring murder, stealing....and any other despicable unrighteous behavior to see it the policy change.

It's funny to watch this.  It offends their families, who, for lack of a better analogy, drank the kool-aid,   and didn't look for the truth.  It doesn't mean their family is wrong or the culture is right, but the truth is, the sub-culture has realized the importance of being in the culture and influencing it.  

Cultural relevancy is not a new term in the Christian circles, but I am not sure it has ever happened until now.     I am not sure the culture has always been wrong, but it just that Christians have been scared to be in the culture of America and help either turn it or keep it from turning.  It is so interesting.  It is just a thought and some observations that I have noticed over the past few years or so.  

Vaya Con Dios

-b

       

stem cell

WASHINGTON - A breakthrough in stem cell research could

give President Bush and his anti-abortion allies a political I-told-you-so in a

debate Democrats have long been planning to use in next year's elections.

Bush's twin vetoes of bills to put taxpayer dollars

behind embryonic stem cell research, Democrats said, showed that he would let

ideology block progress in finding cures to diseases that afflict millions of

people

.

Bush insisted that medical advances could be made

without destroying embryos. On Tuesday, two teams of scientists on different

continents reported advances in research that might prove him right, giving his

administration a dose of vindication in an otherwise grim last year of office.

In the journals Science and Cell, the scientists

reported that they had coaxed regular human cells into mimicking the

disease-fighting potential of embryonic stem cells - without destroying budding

human life.

Debate over, according to White House officials.

"This is evidence ... that we can get the good results we want from science without cutting corners on ethics," said Karl

Zinsmeister, Bush's domestic policy adviser. "Let's not set up a false choice between on the one hand, progress, and on the other hand, ethics."

Stem cells extracted from embryos a few days old can morph into any type of tissue and are widely considered to hold the greatest promise of treatments and cures for cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer's and other ailments. But extracting the stem cells destroys the embryo. Bush and his allies consider that crossing an ethical line that taxpayers should not be forced to finance. Proponents of the process say public money would only be used on embryos that would be discarded anyway under the vetoed legislation. And they say the scientific breakthroughs reported Tuesday changes nothing about the debate. All types of stem cell research should be promoted with federal funding, proponents say.

Additionally, said Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo., the years of vetoes and the personal nature of the debate have educated voters to the nuances of the rhetoric. Research on cells derived from adults is not a substitute for embryonic stem cell research, she said.

"The argument that we need to have all types of ethical research is the argument that sways voters," DeGette said Tuesday. "The White House and the opponents of stem cell research have been saying for years that they think adult stem cells are substitutes. This is not a new argument that they're making."

"Scientists may yet find that embryonic stem cells are more powerful," said Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa. "We need to continue to pursue all alternatives as we search for treatments for diabetes, Parkinson's and spinal cord injuries."

Still, the research and the holy grail rhetoric used by some of the scientists who have championed stem cell research can't be anything but persuasive and memorable to voters less than a year out from balloting. Every House seat, a third of the Senate as well as the presidency will be up for grabs during the 2008 election.

The Iraq war, Bush's terrorism-fighting strategy and legal scuffles with Congress over executive power have sunk the president's popularity rating to around 30 percent. But the science announced Tuesday could insulate him from attacks by Democrats on an issue that once left him more vulnerable.

"It solves the ethical dilemma," said Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla. "This should put an end to" the debate. "Maybe we can all now reach agreement on what has been an all-too-divisive issue and advance this promising research through the power of federal funds," said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

Nevertheless, the question of whether taxpayers should finance embryonic stem cell research will make an appearance on the 2008 campaign trail, said its proponents.

"It's terribly wrong for any politician to be trying to pick and choose one type of ethical research over another," DeGette said. "That issue isn't going away."