Love. opening up a dialog…

Love.

What is it? God is it. We are called to do it. Yet in our culture, society, and in my heart and yours, it’s a massive conundrum. You often hear about people falling in love and out of love. Is it possible to fall either way? Love is a choice. A decisive action that can be made without feeling, yet it’s also a complex emotion that you feel down to the bottom of your very core. In all thy getting, love is the most important. Without it life is worthless. Love is the end of man’s gain. Humanity substitutes sin, where love is lacking. Some say love can be found, some say love is inside. Love is sexual, yet not sexual at all. The need for love is the only thing John Lennon and Jesus would’ve agreed on… but was it the same type of love? Are their different types of love? Or is love simply defined wrong. Love is the most important thing on both sides of eternity. It’s possible to love someone with out liking them.

I could go on and on.

My point is love is a tricky thing, and in our culture has many definitions. However it’s also the only thing we can be absolutely sure we are called to, and the primary thing we’ll answer for before the throne in heaven. God requires us to love him and others.

Over the next week I intend to talk about the subject of love. So before I begin I’d like to hear from you! If you had to sum up love into one sentence, how would you define it?

What is love to you?

I realize asking questions is always risky because you might not get any response, so don’t leave me hang’n! Let me know what you think!

‘not punking out’ deleted

Dear readers

As many of you know the general purpose of this blog is a way for me to work on various styles of writing. I wrote a story called “Not Punking Out” for a writers critique group that I meet with every Friday. The story was part of an exercise where you take a situation, or story from life expound and fictionalise it. I changed all the names of the people who were involved but 4. I left their first names because I thought it was arbitrary enough that no one would draw any conclusions. However I was wrong and I have offended those I once called friends. Please forgive me.

Some people have felt I presented myself as a goody-to-shoes in highschool, let me clarify the type of person I was:

I wasn’t a perfect guy in High School I don’t mind admitting that I was, loud, obnoxious, at times hypocritical, arrogant, and some how amidst all my immaturity still found a way to at least stay as faithful to my faith as best I knew how. I was an insecure young man, and acted out of insecurity. As I think most probably did. I would still be that arrogant punk if today if God had not humbled me into the man I am today.

The man I am today is a man still riddled with many faults, yet leaning on the grace of God. Something i lacked in my youth. I boast in my weakness, that Christ’s strength maybe be a testimony. Without him I’d still be the person I was in highschool. But with him I’ve been given a second chance. Because of his love, because he made me alive when I was dead, my life is his.                        

The story was meant to be a fictional comedy. Some were offended. So to honor you all the story has been deleted.

Thank you all for reading. It’s a privilege to have an audience to write for!

Random Rantings Friday

Welcome party people at the place to be, I’m Strong-Zack! Please leave all your moneys and gold nuggets at the door. This the randomness of Friday’s pa-tuclarly called random rantings fridays. If you know what character I was imitating you win …

Mahmoud got shafted at Columbia, and the U.N. this week.  So he went straight to his buddy Hugo for a little TLC. They formed an anti-American alliance, or as they put it, anti “imperialism”. I find it funny that they think they are so powerful together when Chavez couldn’t even rally the countries people, and leaders behind him just a few months ago. Look out for the Iran-Venezuela pact they might just take your lunch money.

Has anyone else noticed that lately my “Random Rantings” posts have been much more random then ranting.

My legs are sore, and by sore I mean I can’t walk normal. I feel good though, but this new workout is killing me. Although I feel the inner jock that has hidden away my whole life is beginning to awaken. I’m thinking of trying out for Left Tackle for the Chiefs next year… ha!

No but seriously, The Kansas City Chiefs O-Line has looked so bad that I think just about anybody could do about the same job.

While I’m on the subject of sports does anybody remember the Larry Johnson “Grandmama” commercials for Converse? I loved them because they often co-stared Kevin Johnson, may all time favorite basketball player.

In London you can go to PRISON FOR UP TO 2 YEARS for texting while driving! I thought the whole point of prison was to put people who are a real threat to society behind bars. No matter how you feel about texting, those who text are not a menace to society… I’m sorry London, I’m glad we emancipated ourselves from your country!

Favorite quote of the week: “humanity will always suffer from one thing; it’s insatiable desire to distract it’s self” - Aldous Huxley

Carrie and I went on a double date with Jessie and Char Wells Saturday night. It was a great time. Char and Jessie are delightful people…even if Char did threaten to knee cap me. I had a really good time.

I think I solved my house’s drainage problem… the need for latex caulking.  After buying a ladder and doing a little investigation I’m going to have those gutters sealed like a scroll. Which should keep the basement from leaking.

The news hasn’t been very interesting to me lately. Which being a news junky I realize that’s weird. I just can’t take anymore regurgitated arguments over the Iraq debacle.

I want Jesus. That’s the cry of my soul. maybe that’s why news, entertainment, everything thing seems second hand. I want to find my delight in his heart. I love pleasure, I want to know the God of pleasure, for real

So I’ll cease the randomness because all I really want to do is pray…

An embarrassing mistake

So here is how it went down. I’ve been helping a guy get his life in order by letting him sleep on my couch the last month. I love this guy, but because of his history with me I told him if he was going to live with me some guidlines were going to be put into place. I told him he already had two strikes with me, which meant he followed the rules or found a new place to live. Well last night he skipped town with some girl, and drove to Arkansas. This is where my hilarious, but embarrassing mistake took place.

I heard from his friemd that he had skipped town. So I texted him this message: “I heard you just ran off with some girl and drove to Arkansas, and are skipping out on work, is that true?” I did not want to assume guilt, I wanted to hear it from him first. Only one problem… when I went to text him I texted the wrong person! In my fury to get the info, I texted a friend of mine by the same first name. This friend of mine is happily married, a great guy, and someone I don’t see often. He texted back after my text woke him up. “I’m sorry, I’m slightly confused”, this caused me to realize my error. Honestly it was pretty funny, but embarrassing at the same time. I called him and sorted it out.
Guess I’ll pay more attention to who I’m texting in the future::.

Enough Apologetics…

I love reading through the apologetics. It’s fascinating to me. I’ve been eating up Ravi Zaccharias lately, and have studied Origin, Schliermacher (spelled his name wrong), Barth, and others. However I came to a conclusion today as I was listening to Ravi talk about morality being an essence of God’s sovereignty in Man. I threw down my notes in protest and declared, “enough apologetics!!!”

Now I appreciate the arguments trying answer questions concerning God’s existence, and they have their place. But at some point supernatural revelation has to take place.(eph 1:17) At some point the Holy Spirit has to reveal the mystery, and convey that soul from darkness to light. I will continue to develop my understanding of doctrine, but it’s absolute vanity with out Holy Spirit unction. The disciples had the ability to articulate about Christ but with out Acts 2 its just words.

I don’t want just the gift of articulation, I want power! I want unction. I want to stand before unbelievers and see Jesus Christ grip thier hearts not my ability to communicate an idea.

For if all they buy in to is an idea, then that’s all it will ever be to them. It has to come from Heaven. It has to come from the same power that rose Christ from the dead.  Because it’s so much more than an idea. It’s so much more than wise words. It’s reality. God sees, God knows, and God feels, and He is really sending his son Jesus, who did not remain in the grave but rose in victory, and is coming with the hosts of heaven to judge the wicked, set the captives free, take governmental control of the Earth, and give us eternal life. It’s not an idea its real

Oh Father reveal this glorious Mystery of Christ!

folks hes real

day one… few!

So today was the first day of an 84 day diet and exercise program. A former college football player, and friend Jaime Pridgeon is training me. He’s a beast of a man and is convinced that in 3 months he’ll have me in NFL ready shape. So today was day one. I can’t lift my arms above my head and I’m hungry! Check back in tomorrow, it’s spints and conditioning. Pray for me! Needless to say, it could be a long 3 months!

Controversy Mondays: Immigration

“In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person’s becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American…There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn’t an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag… We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language… and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.”-Theodore Roosevelt 1907

I love this quote by Teddy. It kind of sums up my view on the immigration debate.

I was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. A city smack in the middle of this debate. I remember speaking at a public school in West Phoenix about citizenship back in 2001. Citizenship was the last value in the six part character series we taught in public schools. The six parts were trustworthiness, respect, responsibility fairness, caring, and citizenship. Basic character values to help young people be productive members of society. During the citezenship talk however teachers at a predominantly hispanic school become irate with us because we talked about our duty as American citizens. (i.e. paying taxes, voting, not littering etc.) They blasted my self and my co-orators for being so racist toward Mexicans in saying the word American. “American citizens!?” one teacher quipped, “How dare you call us Americans, we are Mexicans! not Americans!” This statement baffled me. I asked her if she was a legal citizen of this nation and she said yes, but she lives under only one flag and that is the flag of “Mehico”.

Now let me be clear. I don’t subscribe to a very conservative, or patriotic idea of America. Nor am I a member of a political party. I’m a citizen of Heaven first, then America. I first serve the King of the ages, then the government I’m under. I want to say that so you know that I have no agenda politically. I’m not left, not right, not neutural. I’m a member of the theocratic kingdom of heaven, may the Lord’s will be done. Therefore I bring you this debate because I simply want to hear some different views as this subject is such a conundrum.

I think, like Teddy did, If someone wants to become a productive member of the American society, and obey the laws and duties that come with that, then bring um on in, no matter the number. However Mexican citizens wanting to come here to work, and send money home to Mexico should not become citizens of America. You can’t have millions of people acting like members of one country while pledging allegiance, and support to another country. (By the way in most societies thats defined as treason punishable by death… which I’m not suggesting at all) To have a working government, and a habitable, successful society, you can’t have people claiming citizenship in your country if they consider they allegiance somewhere else. It’s just not practical. Nor is it good leadership of a nation. It leads to instability.

On the other hand I feel for Mexican citizens wanting to flee poverty, and find a life outside their oppressive government. I think work visas should be allowed for those people, however only for 6 months to a year at a time. At which time the opportunity is given to become a citizen, if they renounce the country they came from.

In the kingdom of Heaven no man can serve God and the World. That’s a governmental principle set in place by Jesus himself. I think you can translate the same government principle to immigration. Either serve one country and renounce the other, or you serve the other country and renounce this one.  But you can’t serve both… just doesn’t work.

thoughts? Am I wrong? Am I right? Am I daft? I want to know! It’s controversy Monday so bring the heat.

Fantasy Football Sunday R.I.P.

I’m killing Fantasy Football Sundays. I like Football, but have so many other, better things to talk about than football. I thought I’d reach out to the sports fans in my readership, but don’t have the energy to do so! I’ll replace it with something soon. any ideas?
But I did win this week! I rode Aquain Boldin all the way to victory! Adrian Peterson and Thomas Jones had good days for me as well. Next week I face Kyle… crossing fingers… he has a killer team… Romo, Chad Johnson, T.O., Larry Johnson, and others not sure I have a chance but gonna sure try.

peace friends!

addendum

2 weeks ago I outlined a daily plan for my blog. Just so you know there is one exception to the plan: My priority list.

My priority list is as fellows:

1. Personal time with the Lord.

2. Family and relational responsibilities (i.e. building a strong relationship with my girlfriend, family, and friends when we all have time.)

3. Prayer Room time. Has to happen.

4. Missions base responsibilities. I do a number of thing around IHOP I must put those things before blogging.

5. Writing/ blogging

So if I haven’t posted (i.e. the last 3-4 days) It’s because the previous 4 things took priority over the blog.

Explaining is this is important so you know that If I’m gone for a few days thats why. This way you know.

Also like Mike says in the power of a focused life, my aim is to meet my schedule 80% of the time. Which means some things may slip, but only because of previous responsibilities.

so know you all are in the know!

thanks for the e-mails, and thanks for reading!!!

.::zack

Christmas!! are you serious!!!

So yesterday I went to Wal-Mart to buy a few necessities. As I walked into the Lawn and Garden section I was astounded to find a sight that made me cringe; Christmas decor already set up and for sale! That’s right since September 1st Wal-Mart has already rearranged their store for the Christmas Holiday season 3 months in advance. See cell phone pic I took for evidence.  Apparently the marketing of Christmas gets earlier and earlier every year. So what’s next!? Decorations going on sale in June??

Absolutely baffling