to be more than a toy soldiers

I could quote you a number of authors if you wanted, but you would not know anything about me. If you wanted to hear my thoughts on any number of sermons or concerning the men that I respect I could list them for you in impressive fashion. I once talked to a fellow who followed Sir Mix-a-lot, the famed Bremerton rapper, through the aisles of a retail store. I have a quote for almost anything. There are key terms that I have logged away just to make me comfortable in many educated circles. Vanity, all vanity. Do you know what it is like to chase after the wind? I do. Many will come in that day and say, "Lord, Lord!", and the Lord will say, "You only read about me and talked about me." O heart, what is your true song? O life, what is your testimony? When will we be real. There must be something within the houses that are being built, and all rocks and gold will be burned away. Have you drank from the cherished water of another, but find yourself thirsty when you are alone. Can you feel rushing within you the fount of living water that Jesus offered the Samaritan woman. He offers it to you. You CAN live a life worthy of the calling--"Not by might nor by strength, but by My Spirit." I often feel that words take on a more authoritative tone when I am quoting dead puritans, even though the Spirit dwells within even me--"not a Spirit of timidity, but of POWER and LOVE and of a SOUND MIND." Perhaps there are deserts or nights or even heights that God has taken you through with His strong hand and has given you an intimate look at His character--you know what it is like to hold His hand--but there remains something that keeps us from praising and testifying. Most serious Christians have a fear of being too holy. It is not their non-christian friends that make them feel awkward. It is more the lonely, sideways silence of seriousness that slips in when God is brought into discourse among believers. I do not want to have to warm-up to talking about God. God needs no ice-breaker. God created you and all your senses of delight and emotions. He is the man of all seasons. He created the moon and the stars and the galaxies far beyond the reach or imagination of our largest zoom lenses or fantastic fictions. He created life and fun and falling leaves. "He formed the light and created darkness." Yes, darkness too. "Let EVERYTHING that has breath praise the Lord!" There is a need for full hearted Christians that are not given to parroting ideas. God wants men and women that live brilliantly--inspired by the Holy Spirit to do the works that He prepared for them. He is not putting out want-ads for argyle sweater wearing, pipe smoking, dark beer drinking, church historians, not even for the cool abercrombie, ripped-hatters (though He'll all who come humbly). He wants men and women who love Him with all their heart and soul and mind. There are some that would take issue with this and seek to clarify. There are those that string together lists of things that must be taught and learned before anyone can teach the scripture. I think that even the down syndrome man can tell the whole truth with speaking the name of Jesus and beaming a smile. Yes, there are many ways to preach it wrongly, but let us not hinder the many ways that there are to preach it right. Do not silence, rather encourage and instruct, those who "cannot help but tell all that God has done for them." Was it not the dirty smell of fish, the missing education, and the power of the Holy Spirit that stood out to the pharisees when they looked at the Apostles. Can you compare notes on how it feels to be ready to be burned at the stake? We all can stand with David's wife, Michal, and try to sensor his dancing, but we will never be a people who are remembered by our heart of God (gasp!). Honestly, I think I would feel uncomfortable around someone who was silly in love with Jesus. Oswald Chambers asked me a question one morning that burned into my heart: "Have you ever be carried away for Him?" God, here is my heart. Please do something with it. Something.... Let us give our lives, not just build our libraries!!! "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me...The I said, "Here I am...I have come to do your will, O God."