Relational Trash

i can relate to trash. i was asked how.. it's quite simple...

trash is not created. trash happens. no one wakes up one morning and says "i'm going to make something that people will just throw away.." in its created form, the thing we call trash has value and worth. empty paint cans could be considered trash. but were they created to be empty? no. they were created to hold paint.. to keep it protected until the time of use. it is after being used that the trash happens. trash is the left over product.. the result of being used.

when i was created.. God had a purpose for me.. God created me.. as well as everyone else.. with a purpose in mind.. to serve Him.. to do His will.. to carry His Holy Spirit.. however.. having been used and abused by sin and sinful lifestyle.. i became empty.. no longer holding that Holy Spirit.. left over trash..
God did not create me to be empty.. but filled... and blessed so that i could be a blessing..

for the paint cans.. their original use may have been spent.. but paint is still created.. paint is still poured.. and even if the purpose of carrying paint is no longer.. there are still other uses for a paint can...

one man's trash.. is another man's treasure. and what if that Man is the Son of God...

even in my empty state.. Christ sees me.. and sees what i CAN be.. and He loves me.. and He pours out Himself into me... so that i can go from trash to treasure..

Equipped

i was mowing the lawn the other day... something i typically do weekly..

at one point last year i came across a black snake in the woodpile, but i had no way to dispose of it.. so since then i have carried a machete.

every time i mow, however.. i ended up getting cut up and scratched up by branches and bushes.. tree limbs that hang down smack my head and rip my glasses off.. i usually just suck it up and take the pain.. then it finally hit me...
i have a machete on my side... it is used to chopping limbs... so i removed the problem..

i was equipped to remove the hinderances in my task, but failed to use it properly..

how many times in daily life do we stumble or run into things that hinder us... things that could be easily taken care of if we just pay attention to what we are equipped with.. God gave us His word.. His Holy Bible to help us deal with pressures.. pains.. temptations...
it's more than just something to follow along with the pastor on sunday.. but a training source and motivator..

delight yourself in the Lord.. draw near unto Him..

equip yourself with the sword of the Holy Spirit.. the word of God.. and cut through branches that scrape and cut your soul...

Next Week, and thensome

I'll be preaching at Little Hill United Methodist Church. the passage to be preached will be Acts 2...

it's gonna be called Tongues of Fire and Common Men..

it's amazing how God can use just about anyone to fulfill His purpose.. He used Nebuchadnezzar and even the mouth of a jackass to speak to Balaam. the kingdom of Christ was not accelerated by religious leaders, even the ones that followed Christ... but it was common men.. fishermen, tax collectors, shepherds... that spread the word and changed people's lives...

this means we can all be used by God.. in one way or another...

what bothers me the most is when people who claim Christ in their lives, live like He's not there... they try to get people "saved".. but act like they're going to hell with everyone else... there is no fruit... no reason for people to even see a change that will want them to take up this radical belief.. i've been guilty of this... but i know the error of my ways..

Clayton King wrote in a book that he drove past an old church... it was 200 years old and had seen countless revivals and acts of God... but as the years wore on.. politics and less spiritual things came into it.. and eventually.. the church was dead.. . he was sad at first.. but then realized... if it was no longer effective for Christ.. it needed to die.. so others may grow..

people that make God a mockery... would be better off dead than living their ineffective lives... being a stumbling block to those that are actually seeking Him..

harsh, yes.. but Christ said that if anyone causes one of these little ones to stumble.. it would be better that they have millstone tied around their neck and thrown into the sea...
there is no such thing as a Grace Period when you know that you're not living for God.. its' a deception period where you're in the devil's sights... do i lack compassion? probably.

but i think the church as a body lacks committment and values.. we all wait for the big time preachers to cause change.. and then persecute them when they collapse under pressure.. we commit sexual sin and then burn the evangelist in effigy when he gets caught doing something that we were worse with...

i'm a hypocrite... deal with it.

if i were dead

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

i'm dead.... (not really) Current mood: artistic Category: Religion and Philosophy (before anyone gets all screwed up about this blog.. i am NOT suicidal.. this is not a cry for help.. it is how i am dealing with something that i never got over... ..) [i had wanted to write a letter as if this was my last day on earth.. and the words that i would wish everyone to know] Dear Friends, Family.. and almost lovers.. the journey has ended and i am with God. i have not lived a perfect life but served a perfect King.. even tho i did it in imperfect ways.. tho my work has not been finished, my job is done, and i pass the gauntlet on to the next soul that feels God's call to take it up. to my family... i am sorry for the shame i brought. to my friends.. i am sorry for using you. to my almost lovers.. i'm sorry i wasn't more... in death i will find peace and the spiritual battles will be ended.. i will stand before God and praise Him in His holy temple.. in my life all i ever wanted was for you to know that Jesus Christ was love... that .. my words.. even tho masked with death and destruction, were meant to love.. and never hurt.. there is nothing i can or could do to make you believe me. i could only live the way i knew how to live.. will i call you out by name? no. you know who you are and you know where you stood in my heart. you know where you stood in my life. i may never speak to anyone ever again.. but i pray my words ring loud and true in your ears.. the words i spoke or wrote by God's urging... death has no hold over me.. and has no hold over any of you that are born again in Christ's forgiveness. the world has nothing to offer but pain and grief. posessions and status only create ways to fall from grace and into oblivion. too many times i and my loves ones have cared more about what others think, than what God thinks... i pray for our forgiveness. i pray God's redemptive blood over our vain souls. i wish there had been a way to go back in time.. to see the ones i loved.. the ones that have gone before me... and tell them of Christ.. and tell them of His love.. and show my love... but i was too busy with my own agendas... and i had lived in regret. i did not truly die to self and in turn.. they died before me.. so i go on.. praying.. and hoping that maybe someone else reached them... that someone else picked up the gauntlet beyond where i dropped it. and i pray that you who read this... will know that what i have believed is not just a phase.. not just a delusion, but something i know is real.. My God was not and is not and never will be a magic 8 ball.. He is not the amazing kreskin, nor is He santa claus that gives us everything on our list of wants. He is the King and Creator of the Universe and He holds the powers of death and life... He sent His Son to correct a corruption that occurred. rather than destroy everything and everyone, He chose to save them. no more redos.. no more drawing boards.. just a patch that.. when accepted, was a fix for eternity... to those that never believed.. never understood.. i wish you well.. to those that do know and understand.. i will see you on the other side... in my dreams i have seen the visions of the life i had lived.... and the hurts and joys brought before me... every hurt.. every passion.. every joy.. created me... formed me... and as i am gone...my God lives on... and i will only be remembered as a name.. in His Grip Bones

Obedience

For 10 years I had two callings on my life. I had run from them. I was unsure how to go about them so I put them on a backburner. About a month and a half ago, I was speaking to a minister and he began speaking to me as if he could read the first calling I had received. It was amazing..

I had run for so long I had finally tired out. I met with my pastor to speak of the calling. This is, the calling to preach. I accepted it, and now am on the steps to achieving said goal. I went back to the minister that I had first mentioned, and he said.. "I can't wait to see how many souls are going to be in heaven because of your obedience."

WOW!! How do you respond to that? When you look at it in the grand scheme. Obedience is good for us... but it also affects the WHOLE WORLD.... like.. if you take a dog to obedience school.. not only does the dog learn to listen, so he doesn't get in trouble... but he also keeps from biting people or eating their shoes...

Our lives are not our own and the choices we make, the things we run from, will affect the lives of multitudes. I had often thought of myself as a loner.. or an island.. and in fact.. removing myself from humanity.. just meant I was missing out on the blessings others had for me.. and being a blessing towards others..

I am learning so much more with each passing day. It is amazing and I'm blessed by the people in my life that are supporting me on this journey.

Blessings
Bones

The Storm

Friday, April 03, 2009

The Storm *funny music* Category: Religion and Philosophy Jesus Stills the Sea 35On that day, when evening came, He said to them, "Let us go over to the other side." 36Leaving the crowd, they took Him along with them Z)">in the boat, just as He was; and other boats were with Him. 37And there arose a fierce gale of wind, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up. 38Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?" 39And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Hush, be still." And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. 40And He said to them, "Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?" 41They became very much afraid and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?" -------Wow.. so yea.. it hit me the other day that Jesus was sleeping. you see, He was in the boat WITH the disciples and they were still being overwhelmed with the adversity of a storm. You figure there's all these guys running around in panic mode.. they're not in sin.. God is actually with them... IN THE BOAT.. yet they finally wake Him up and freak out that they're all gonna die.. ITS JUST TOO MUCH FOR US!!!! how many times do we say that? and then we turn to God and He puts up His hand and says.. "hold it".. and everything stops... Jesus Christ can calm the storms in nature, and in our lives. sometimes its like we're just about to the breaking point before He finally says "enough".. It's part of what builds character, strength, endurance... faith.. the wind and the seas obey Him... and in a moment when they land.... so will the demons.. sometimes it feels like we're far from God.. or He's ignoring us.. but does anyone really think Jesus was unaware of the storm? sure the boat was rocking and waves crashing and lightning flashing (i'm gonna start singing People on a Boat).. but it didn't worry Him.. because He knew the authority which He had and has.. being in His fold... He uses that same authority over our lives.. in our lives.. and through our lives.. God has the power to calm the sea.. and He can loan us the power to do these things... and greater things... all honor and glory belongs to Christ.

All Shall Know

Thursday, April 02, 2009

all shall know... Category: Religion and Philosophy Ezekiel 37 Vision of the Valley of Dry Bones 1The hand of the LORD was upon me, and He brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of the valley; and it was full of bones. 2He caused me to pass among them round about, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley; and lo, they were very dry. 3He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" And I answered, "O Lord GOD, You know." 4Again He said to me, "Prophesy over these bones and say to them, 'O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.' 5"Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones, 'Behold, I will cause breath to enter you that you may come to life. 6'I will put sinews on you, make flesh grow back on you, cover you with skin and put breath in you that you may come alive; and you will know that I am the LORD.'" 7So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold, a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to its bone. 8And I looked, and behold, sinews were on them, and flesh grew and skin covered them; but there was no breath in them. 9Then He said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they come to life."'" 10So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they came to life and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army. The Vision Explained 11Then He said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel; behold, they say, 'Our bones are dried up and our hope has perished We are completely cut off.' 12"Therefore prophesy and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I will open your graves and cause you to come up out of your graves, My people; and I will bring you into the land of Israel. 13"Then you will know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves and caused you to come up out of your graves, My people. 14"I will put My Spirit within you and you will come to life, and I will place you on your own land. Then you will know that I, the LORD, have spoken and done it," declares the LORD.'" ------ i love the Valley of Bones vision. in fact, that's actually where the name Bones came from in my name.. but that's a whole other story.. i've been listening to Judean RadioStatic's song Valley of Bones and it got me thinking and praying. God does all these wonderful things... He showed a vision of dried, dead bones... in the book of Joshua, He caused the sun to stand still.. why? why does He do this stuff? Why does He restore us when we fall away? so that all will know that the Lord is God. He let His own son be handed over to men and beaten, spit upon, and ultimately killed. but Jesus ended up getting out of the grave. why? so all would know that THE LORD IS GOD. He came so we would believe in Him, accept His death and resurrection, and let the world know that He is God. it's easy to get caught up in daily life. it's easy to end up having your spiritual walk dry up and be nothing but a pile of dry bones. but God can speak life into us. He will restore us to our full potential and take us exceedingly further... why? so that ALL WILL KNOW THAT THE LORD IS GOD!! i was nothing but bones... but now i'm a voice telling you... He is God.

Trials (repost)

Friday, December 14, 2007

Trials Category: Religion and Philosophy Rocky III was a great movie.. Sylvester Stallone, Mr. T... wow. i wanna watch it again.. one of the best illustrations tho, is the whole Eye of the Tiger that Apollo Creed talks about.. the idea that you will fight hard for something if you desire it more than anything.. to be a champion.. you have to train hard.. fight harder.. in life.. we have trials.. we have temptations and we have tests.. these are training.. and sometimes.. they are battles.. as Christians.. we need to have faith.. perserverance.. and all those other things we talk about when the sun is shining and life seems peachy... but we also need to remember to praise God in the storm.. Job lost everything.. but he would not curse God.. his wife told him to curse God.. but he did not.. he suffered.. and he mourned his suffering but he knew God was in control. Back to Rocky III .. when Rocky accepted Clubber Lang's challenge.. the training he did was a cakewalk.. it was all showy.. not really into it.. just kinda wishy washy...and when the battle came.. he didn't know what to do.. he lost.. it wasn't until he lost what was most prized to him, that Apollo came.. took him back to the dirty depths of training, and through hard physical and mental training, got Rocky back to a place where he could be a champion again.. the easy life is nice.. but when the hard times come.. will we be able to stand up to them or throw in the towel? God is faithful.. He loves us.. even tho we don't understand what goes on.. and why things happen.. just remember.. He allowed His Son to die as well... . He knows the loss of a child.. the suffering of friends.. and He knows that we can be strengthened if we trust Him.. i thank you all for everything... i thank you for being my friends.. this is just what is on my mind..

Greetings

Ok, so I've been doing the whole "blog thing" on myspace for a bit. I decided I'd do something a little more CRAZY and come on here. so I'm going to end up posting some of my favorite blogs from Myspace over on here, they will have a much older date in the body .. just so you don't think you were hanging around with Eli Brown..

my name is Lucas Jeremiah Bones and I was born to serve Jesus Christ. so... that's about it..