2009 Year in Review

**There was a correction made. I went to Souda Bay, Crete instead of Moron AB, Spain. Thanks The Coffee.**

This year has been a complete change. I started this year debating to stay in England or return, and was this return w/ or w/o military ties. Shortly after the New Years I broaded a KC-135 and head south to Crete where I was stuck in NAS Souda Bay, Crete. It was an okay way to start the new year. Shortly after souda, I went to the South Eastern Hemisphere for a 50 day deployment to NAS Diego Graica in the middle of the Indian Ocean. I returned to England in April and had to make a quick decision about where I was going to. After finding out that I could not extent in England and after talking to a Christian Brother. I saw that the military full-time was not worth it, even at $20,000. So I applied to Liberty University and applied to 459th ARW for a crew chief position. I received both and June was time to start getting ready to leave. July 13, 2009 was the last time I was in England this year and there would be no returning. Late July road trip to Lynchburg, Va to see the area and also to find an apartment was not a successful as I like. As I left Lynchburg to return home God was faithful and I had an apartment. A 2 bedroom 2 bath for more that I wanted to spend. After being home for a couple days, I spent 2 weeks traveling to Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Utah. What a great time to spent with friend from my military days. In August, I would official move to Lynchburg and had one week to get settled in before school started. I would start as a Senior taking Freshmen classes. After trying to be a better student, I received my first 4.0 semester ever. My class were not that hard but challenging enough because of constant multiple test on the same days.

So as I remember that has happen, it is better to remember what God was doing through out the whole year. He taught me that he is faithful and also that I need to be more faithful in him. This really hit me when I was hard press to find an apartment in Lynchburg. I left a 2pm a mere 8 hrs later then I wanted to return home and I had a hotel booked in St. Louis. He came through as the place that I placed a deposit on would open 30 mins after I left. I had a place, God came through. I was upset and almost losing my man card b/c of emotions but God came through. I had to trust him and he came through. It was tough. So as I started to school again, just like 4 years ago I had to trust him that I was going to make it through Basic Training, I would have to trust him again in school. I thank God that he has been faithful and will to help a wretched sinner like me. What amazing love and grace.

So there you have it, a year in review. I am eager to see what God has for me this summer. I have my plans but what does God have plan for me will be way a better.

Dealing with the Heart.

I was going to title this peice dealing with the Matters of the Heart but it is already a book and I am not going to talk about the same subject that was addressed in the book. I want to lie out a message that I heard and some of the impact since it deals with me. The message was about being a powerful servent for God. In history, we see that many of the top theology or bold witnesses for Christ had certain qualities. The message today at convocation was about these qualities. I want to talk about the last because it has impacted me the most. He talked about being proud in the heart to be elevated above God. It is the motivation that we have when we to something for God. Are we doing it for His glory or ours? I ran in to a case of it yesterday, that is why I think it hit me pretty hard. I went witnessing yesterday and got into some different conversation. I then went to a Center of Worship Christmas Worship. It was so powerful but a thought that keep was someone was getting a feeling from God about what I just did. THIS IS SO NOT RIGHT! That is why I was impacted. Was I really giving God the glory with the people I talked to? I would give you some scripture but I have not taking the time to search but I think we all know that I am talking. So prayer that God sets my heart in the right direction.

A post from another blog that I have posted on my Blog

Here is a post that I font on one of the Christian Satire sites. Enjoy!

Squirmeneutics

squir-me-neu-tics (skwûrm'mə-nōō'tĭks)
n. (used with a sing. or pl. verb)
1. the science of misinterpretation, esp. of the Scriptures, to such a degree that it causes listeners with any common sense to squirm.
2. misinterpretation of the Scriptures so absurd that it causes one to question whether or not it could possibly be for real.

You can read the rest at Tominthebox.blogspot.com.

The Manhattan Declaration

I do not know if the dust that read this blog know about the Manhattan Declaration, and you also may not know about it. The Manhattan Declaration is a letter between Orthodox, Catholic, and Evangelical leaders about Abortion, Marriage, and Christian Convection. While I agree with the statement that was made, I could get myself to sign it online. The biggest reason is that indirectly it is trying to unify Catholic, Orthodox, and Evangelicals that are far apart theology and do not have the same gospel. I do not know about Orthodox Churches but I believe that they are the same as Catholics with some Trinity theology. I know for a fact that Catholic believe in infused righteousness and working towards heaven by doing the sacraments to receive these grace bits. As a Evangelical, somewhat, I do not agree with joining with other groups that do not believe in the same fundamental Christian doctrines.

I will admit that this reason is why I will not sign it. I do not know if that is a hidden agenda with the Manhattan Declaration. I will encourage you to read two different view of the declaration. They are brothers in Christ and will do Together for the Gospel 2010 in Loiusville, KY. But first is the Manhattan Declaration for you to read (it is about 7 pages). The first view is Albert Mohler who is for it and John MacArthur who is against it. Enjoy!

Thanksgiving, oh Thanksgiving.

I hope that everyone has recovered from the Thanksgiving long weekend. I had my first holiday with my family in about 3 years. I was excited maybe because of pride. I mean I have not seen my dad's side of the family for over 2 years. It was not so exciting. I did not realize how much people change in a short time. I knew but I just did not realize. 2 years seem to be short time but yet some much changes. I felt almost like an outcast. I am know that my parents kept people inform but I seem so distant to these people that are to be my family. I think that some of it is that in England, less so in Oklahoma, that we are truly at as family because that is all that we have. Last year, I had Thanksgiving with a great Christian families, Christmas with other families of equal status. It felt like a giant family. So my Thanksgiving was a let down in that since but it was good to spent time with my biological family.

As much as they have changed, I would be dishonest that I have not changed either. I when some orders a salad on top of a burger has changed some how. My family has know that I am more of the L-word (literalist). They often tell me that everyone interprets the Bible and I agreed and also said that everyone read literal. We also discussed women as pastors. Beside that part, I also tend to get uncomfortable around many people especial when I seem to know people. This might be the fact that I spent many hours a day alone. I know a couple people here are Liberty but I usually only spent time with them before or after class. So I have changed too.

I would ask for some prayer. I have been in a slump of not reading my Bible or praying. Also for the replacement of my crown on tomorrow (Wednesday 2 Dec.). This has been a nightmare since my insurance will not pay for replacement crown b/c it has been less than 5 years. Also pray for my Ipod. It is going out on me and it will cost some money that I do not have.

"Winter in the soul is by no means a comfortable season, and if it be upon thee just now it will be very painful to thee: but there is this comfort, namely, that the Lord makes it. He sends the sharp blasts of adversity to nip the buds of expectation: He scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes over the once verdant meadows of our joy: He casteth forth His ice like morsels freezing the streams of our delight. He does it all, He is the great Winter King, and rules in the realms of frost, and therefore thou canst not murmur. Losses, crosses, heaviness, sickness, poverty, and a thousand other ills, are of the Lord's sending, and come to us with wise design. Frosts kill noxious insects, and put a bound to raging diseases; they break up the clods, and sweeten the soul. O that such good results would always follow our winters of affliction!" C.H. Spurgeon 1 Dec Morning Devotional.

Just in case...

you are wondering. I am still alive, I think.

This is what I did in Cambridge.

Here is a video that shows a little of what I did in Cambridge. There is a part of the video where a guy get smacked while doing open-air preaching. That is the part that I was part of. That is my friend George and he is the one that induced me to street witnessing. You can view it here.

Living Waters Easter 2008
Uploaded by herrdavidwong. - Videos of family and friends from around the world.

Another Liberty Spirit Rock post.

I have to admit that I do not always look at the rock when I go to class. It is not on my normal route to classes. So last night while on campus after a prayer meeting, I decided to bring a night verison on the Spirit Rock @ Liberty University. I was amazed at the fact that the rock had changed so quick to ask for prayers for the victims of the Ft. Hood Shootings. I want everyone to pray for the victims and the people who are in custody that they realize that God is with them and he is still there.

Reading Some Old Comments.

I was taking some time to read old comments that have been posted on my blog. But one hit me a little harder back on Feb 3, 2008. The blog title was "Why is Leaving so Hard?" This was just after my speeding ticket trying to get to church on time. The point of the blog was about how it was hard leaving Oklahoma and returning to England. I thought that I made a bad decision. Well, I am not in Oklahoma and I know it is for the better. There is a lot of heart ache that is going that is still on my mind. At that time, I did not know what I wanted to do. I knew nothing about witnessing and never heard of Liberty University. I think that it was a radical decision that was more feeling based than what God wanted to do. It would 1 year and 3 months when I decided to attend Liberty to pursue a Bible Study degree not knowing what God had planned but God is still working me into where he wants me to do his work. I have come to a realization that I do not do my ministry but I do God's ministry for His glory. I remember that the time was troubling since I was doubting my salvation which resulted in a deployed friend calling me. It was at that point that I realized that people read this really terrible blog. I am still amazed that people still read this blog.

I guess we can never know what will happen. As I have been learning more about other world views, like post-modernism, and how they believe that as long as I do not hurt people, I can do what ever I want. The problem is that to know that an action will not hurt anyone, they must know the future and no one knows the future. Then there is God. The one that transcends all understanding. He knows the future because He is outside the bounds of time. I think that as I study and figure out what God wants me to do exactly will take many prayers and a while to wait.

Well, I have wasted to much time reading old posts so I must go.

Sacred Sandwich Interview

So if you are like me, you might like your dose of sarcastic remarks about Churchianity and it downfall of the American Church. Sacred Sandwich is where I get my dose when not listening to Wretched Radio. Here is an interview with the producer of Sacred Sandwich from the blog titled "The Church of No People." Click on interview above (or just a couple words back, same link) to read and get a good chuckle. Also another funny site is "Stuff Christians Like" once know as "Stufffchristianslike.blogspot.com" (Notice the 3 "f"s).

Liberty Spirit Rock Part 2,3, and 4.

So when I orginally saw that the Spirit Rock here at Liberty changed to honor the Vets for Military Week. So I decided to take a picture before I went to Convocation. After noticing the change since I first saw it when I went to Convocation I refused to take a picture and waited after convo. Well it changed again to the Support Our Troops. This time I got all 4 sides instead of 2. This first picture is on the right side and front side. In the red blocks is the 3rd edition of the Liberty Spirit Rock which said "Vote Valentine Nov. 3rd." It also had a heart. Mrs. Valentine is running for VA governor. I heard that she is pro-choice. I guess she lost my vote. The right side had a small yellow ribbon on it for the 2nd and 3rd but was increased for the 4th edition. The left and back side are shown here. I guess since the back side is not as visible they so it is just really badly painted. You can see that the US Military star that is on all aircraft I have worked is on top the the Spirit Rock. The "Thank a Vet" replaces the vote Valentine. You might not recall but she is running fot VA governor (sorry). So as you can see that their is a lot of changes to the Spirit Rock. So as trusty as I can be, I will continue to share the Spirit Rock with all my readers.

Mid-terms Over and Regestered for Classes Already.

My grades came in from all the mid-terms and I did well. I posted a 91% in my O.T. survey class, 80% is the study of God creation (aka Biology), and impressive 2% wrong on my N.T. survey class (that would be a 98%). I took those 3 tests in one 1 day (yay!). I also got a 107% in my Theology class. Overall, this semester has been fairly easy as I continue to learn theology and background information of the Old and New Testaments. Next semester, I will have harder. I am taking a whole 16 credits. I am taking 3 easy classes (Contemporary Issues II, Evangelism, and Praise Orchestra). I am going to finish my theology classes by learning about theology of God (i.e. theology proper, christology, etc) instead theology that applies to man(anthropology, soteriology, eschatology). I am also going to take a class about the Apostle John, who, according to the Mormons, is still alive (I do not personal believe this because if he is still alive, he would be like God and he is not). I am also taking a class on Church History and the hardest class on inductive Bible Study. My Bible study class has about $130 worth of books that I am required to have. I have been told that I will have avout (there is a little German for ya) 2hrs worth of homework for that class. On top of this, I might get a job. I know, I know, you are saying, you do not have a job and you live off-campus. Well, I have a job but it is only paying about 150 a month plus I need a grinder for my coffee that was sent by a good friend in N.M. and also I would like a new Mac Laptop since my Windows Laptop is slowing dying of old age.

The Liberty Spirit Rock Series Begins

I have not really talk about Liberty besides rants about the people. I am going to try and start a series that will show the Liberty Spirit Rock. A little info on the rock. It is a rock near nothing that is painted over a couple times a week. I did not get a picture when it was first done but the here is when people added a couple of things. I hope that I will remember to grab a picture or 2 when I get a chance. As you can see they had painted to remember the mother land but some added the "V" from V for Vendetta. The other picture is where the spirit rock is located.

I do not know what to say.

I have decided to write something but I do not have a clue and to keep my blog free of rants b/c they really do not do any good and do not edify the church. I could off on speeders and cheatin' cheaters. I did come across a new word, Zweiohrküken. It is German for chick with 2 ears. I am pretty sure that means nothing to anyone but again I do not know what I want to blog about. I guess I could talk a little about my trip to N.C. to visit some friends that I meet in England or the meat and cheese gyro that a group of friends decided to give a friend that was getting married. I guess I could talk about how funny it is when Facebook changes something because everyone get mad and changes their status and also create groups to get Facebook to go back. They never got the change they wanted.

So I am going to leave with a picture of a part of the Liberty Campus.

Studying, Studying, and Super Chicken.

So I am doing a little bit of studying every once-in-a-while. It it has been fun sometimes but most of the time it has been a little drag. The biggest problem is that I spent quite a bit of time alone and we all know that it is not good for man to left alone. The verse is in the context of marriage but it is a good principle that everyone should live by. I have meet some people but nothing has develop but I am getting to know one person who is in a couple of my classes. Thursday I get an oppertunity to meet with some other off-campus students in a prayer group. This will allow me to get to know a couple of more people like 8 girls and 2 guys (I am only saying).

My classes have been full useful information that allows me a better historical grammatical hermeneutics for better understand what was original intended instead of the interpretation based on what the English is saying. It is kind of amazing to understand how to apply the Bible to your life when one understand why an author wrote the letter.

FYI -- Gideon is also known as Super Chicken according to my O.T. Survey Teacher.

Wow! A second post in one day.

So it is not a record but I want to express something that I has been bugging me. I was reading on a post to pray for a twenty-something that is, I would guess, deathly ill because the person stated that she was to young to die. The more I thought of what was said the more I started to bug. I started to think about was the person really to young to die. Is it even possible to die to young? I do not think that it is possible to die to young because God has control and not me. If God was not a kind God (like he is), he has all the rights to destroy us and think twice about it because of our sins. It is God who gives and who takes away and also God who allows us to live on his earth. So if God desires us not leave past a certain point then he will takes from this earth. I know that people might have a problem with this but I like that logical it is how it stands. Now, I have not searched the Bible to make sure I am right but I know some verse that could prove my claim but I need to make sure that in context that they are right.

I do want to stress that I do feel sorrow and that it is a bad thing when it happens but God is in control and I can rest in that assurance that not matter what happens he is there.

Husker Football

So I was taking a break for the study thing and went to do the facebook thing and find myself watching the 300th sellout of a Nebraska Football. Now some readers of this blog might not understand the why this is sufficient. I do not know either but I was watching it. At one time, just like disc golf, I was completely focus of Husker Football every Fall. I was so focus, I would not go to my high school games. I also worked at a place that got season tickets and we would get to choose what game we wanted to go to. So I am been to my share of football game. In fact, I have been to more NU games then Iowa State football which includes the ISU/NU football game in Ames. I have seen Nebraska play in 3 different venues live where all but one game not paying for a ticket (I had to pay for the ISU football season tickets therefore paid for the ISU/NU football games). So Husker football is kind of a big deal. I made a joke I should have but Husker Football as my religion when I went to college. So much dedication to a team and I would drop everything to attend or watch a game. I hardly missed a Nebraska football game unless I could not watch it on TV.

This does not even began to show the dedication that I would give to Husker football. Will reading the daily Grace Gem, they sent me a quote from Spurgeon. It is the post before this one (Oct. 5th). Again, that quote was about reading books beside the Bible but you can also see how that the desire is not to follow Christ even if the reading. I think that it is fine to be a fan of football and I will like to go to another game but my desire would be that I desire to be committed to God and glorify him.

A Head Full of Froth

This is a Grace Gem that I received a couple of days ago. You can get great quote like this at gracegems.org. This is a quote from C. H. Spurgeon as it appears in the Grace Gem E-mail.

"Many of you know more about your magazines and novels--than what God has written! Many of you will read a novel from the beginning to the end, and what have you got? A head full of froth when you are done! But you cannot read the Bible--that solid, lasting, substantial, and satisfying food goes uneaten, locked up in the cupboard of neglect--while anything that man writes, a best-seller of the day--you greedily devour!"

It makes you think a little about what we choose to read. Does the book you read have the same impacful information like the Bible? Even books that contain Biblical information do not come close to what the Bible brings to the table.

She Roller Her Eyes at Me.

The point of this blog is not about a girl that rolled her eyes at me when I ordered 2 shots of espresso. That is it. I ordered 2 plain shoot (so w/o milk or foam or anything else) ans she thought I was weird. She needs to learn the fine art of espresso. Okay she does not but she should realize that some of us like dark bold coffee.

So this post is really about nothing like most of my other posts. It is more of an update than anything else. So here it is:

No girlfriend,
have a witness partner,
mad at the VA b/c they have not paid me yet.

I think that covers everything. Actually, I have been really excited about have someone to go witnessing with me. I would like more people or even a team but 1 other person is enough. That was a big blessing that I was able to meet someone else to go a preach the word of God to a die people group called America. I have been upset about a speaker I heard here at Liberty that suggested that the only true missions were missions over see to unreached people group. I want to inform him that America needs more witnessing done in it then any other country. The reason is that the American Church is bigger than it ever has been but yet it give the less then 20 years ago. See the problem. We have more so-called "Christian" in America but we do not give more money to mission work. I want everyone to know that we need to stand up and grab a back bone and PREACH the gospel or at least support people who preach the gospel. The more and more I think about it, the more and more I see the need to get out and preach. There are people that will die and not have a chance for eternal life because they were not witnessed to. There are people in American that need the gospel now.

All I really want is the church to focus on spreading the gospel with words to lost people, rich and poor. Lets stop this action only gospel thing and preach Christ Crucify.

Also, I have been trying to realize that I do not need to do something big in my life but all God requires is that I am faithful where I am at.

Stand to Reason: 10 Tips to Help Your Prayer Life

The article from Stand to Reason are some tips that might help your pray life out more. I have noticed that I can always pray more then what I do. I think most people have the same problem so here a resource I found. STR is a great site also to find answers about different topics that people might have like post-modern thing to abortion. STR tries to present the facts in a logical way and also prove why Christianity is a thoughtful reason in the areas of philosophy and ethics. I hope that you enjoy the article.

Stand to Reason: 10 Tips to Help Your Prayer Life

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A verse that has shown a weak spot in me.

I had a gentlemen that might become my new witness partner to save the people of Lynchburg from the pending doom of the Lord. He called and asked me about Thomas Road Baptist Church not witnessing tomorrow. He also shared a verse that read in a book, I believe it is called The Road to Jerusalem, and it was Jeremiah 48:10, ""Cursed is he who does the work of the LORD with slackness, and cursed is he who keeps back his sword from bloodshed.". He was saying that how we are fighting a fight against Satan and how we should enter Heaven with blood on our swords. This verse is explaining that God desires to judge Moab is so great that he will not spare those who are slacking in killing them. Now I know that we are not to kill people because of God's desire to judge people unless in a just war. God's desire now is to have everyone saved and as Christians we must not work with the slackness. People are going to hell because of the sins and we have the what they need to be saved. I think that our works in ministry should be one that helps spreads the Gospel. I am not talking about giving to a ministry but instead one that will promote the gospel near where you attend church. Our job use the Sword of God so the Spirit of God convects people of sin, that will have the Father to save. This is applies to me more than anything else. I have so many opportunities to witness to lost people everyday and I am slacking in the work of the Lord. There are people in the world that preach the Gospel knowing that it might be the last time before they are beheaded. How much more should I be preaching since I have the freedom and knowing that they just can not behead me. Oh, how I need to trust in God more so he can same people. The harvest is ready to reap but the workers are few. Are you ready to promote God and share a message that will save people from an eternity away from God's goodness.

Has Calvinism Merged with the World.

I was reading an article from the Metropolitan Tabernacle's Sword and Trowel. Dr. Masters was talking about conferences and preachers in America that have seemed to merge Calvinism and the world together. Some on the names that are mention are people like John Piper, John MacArthur, Joshua Harris, C.J. Mahaney. As I read his review what the new Calvinist are doing here in the America, I see what he is talking about. The American church in general has embrace the world and accepted some of the culture that the world enjoys. I want to deal with music, and how we have lost the reverance for the Lord. I have been to the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London and have experience how Dr. Master has set up worship in the church. It is not like any American church, in fact, I do not think that you will find a church like that in America. The service was refreshing and simple. There was nothing special. The music was old hymns and an organ.

What Dr. Master is talking about is has the new Calvinist embraced the world to much. He uses an example of when a rapper made Curtis Allen was saved, he stop rapping but Joshua Harris convinced him to continue rapping but for Christ. Dr. Masters has a believe that we should not be do anything that resembles the world in our church or conferences.

I would agree that our churches have become less reverent for the Lord and that Christians are looking for like the world. I also think that some things like Christian rap is not bad as long as Christ is preached. He also states that we use the worldly things to attract the world to church, which I also think is wrong. If I want to attend a concert, I will go to a concert. When I want to attend church, I do not want to attend a concert with preaching. Can Christian rap have a place in a Christian life> I would say yes when working out or when you are at home and want to listen to music but not in church.

I do think the assessment of the new Calvinism is a valid assessment. Dr Masters is noticing that the New Calvinist are not following the standard Calvinist thinking by allowing the world to influence the church.

You can read the article here.

A more meaningful post.

I have been wanting to post something that kinda deals with what I am learning in school but for now here is something that I think we can never stop thinking about.

All I need is Christ. When everything else fails, Christ is the one that is faithful. Not only that, God also provides me the necessary material things that will keep me alive even if I can not afford them. This seem strange than he would do such a nice thing to a person that will never honor him with every waking breath and constantly dishonoring his name. The question is why has God, who hates evil, allow me a evil person to live? He does it so we can see his grace and ultimately glorify his name. So I deserve his wrath but he allows me to live so he can be glorified. He desires all to be saved because he personal set humans apart to praise his name.

I want to explore an anthropological argument on why God desires all to be saved. I think that it will help us to understand why we need to preach the gospel to lost people.

God of this City

Here is a song we sang in convo today. It is by Chris Tomlin called God of this City.

[Verse 1]
You're the God of this City
You're the King of these people
You're the Lord of this nation
You are

[Verse 2]
You're the Light in this darkness
You're the Hope to the hopeless
You're the Peace to the restless
You are

There is no one like our God
There is no one like our God

[Chorus]
For greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done in this City
Greater thing have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done in this City
-------------------------------------------------------
I want to use this song to encourage us that God is never done with a city. There is always hope to change a community and it starts with out choose to reach the lost. Let us not forget that our God wants all people to be saved because he create people to glorify his name. Let us fight for the glory of God. Not all have been called to preach on the streets day after day but we all are called to share our faith. One person at a time. I feel that we have been praying for a revival but we fail to get out to start it. Let us start to be faithful in sharing our faith so God can start the revival.

Books, Books, and More Books.

So I have to use $400 to use at the campus bookstore. I making a careful consideration on what books I want. So I bought:

The Truth War Dr. John MacArthur
Just do Something Kevin DeYoung
One Thing You Can Not in Heaven Mark Cahill.

I also ordered:
Christless Christianity Michael Horton
Stop Dating the Church Joshua Harris.

I still have about $220 left to buy books. I am thinking about about getting some on my textbooks for next semester. I know that I will not need all new books because I am taking the first part of my theology class (that class teaches theology proper, if you do not know what theology proper is then I think you might not be a Christian. Just kidding about being a Christian but look it up) .

I also went to Lifeway Christian Books to get Worldliness by C.J. Mahaney. I guess I have some books to read.

I Know, 3 posts in one day.

I thought that this is LU File worthy. I meet a young woman today named Sarah. I guess she is a fan of hot tea, guess she spilled some on me. I thought it was coffee because of its whiteish brown color. I guess it must have been British tea. Anyways, I used that to introduce myself. She is the 2nd person and a female on the bus this year. I would notice that she is also in my BIBL 105 class. She was carrying the study book with the notes in it. Fun times here at LU.

MORE SONG LYRICS!

I have to say, a lot of the lyrics are going from Coveant Life Church in Maryland. It is the same here. This is the NA Band and I have is Christ. Enjoy. Here is a video with song at Sovereign Grace Music. The video is at the bottom.

I once was lost in darkest night
Yet thought I knew the way
The sin that promised joy and life
Had led me to the grave
I had no hope that You would own
A rebel to Your will
And if You had not loved me first
I would refuse You still

But as I ran my hell-bound race
Indifferent to the cost
You looked upon my helpless state
And led me to the cross
And I beheld God’s love displayed
You suffered in my place
You bore the wrath reserved for me
Now all I know is grace

Hallelujah! All I have is Christ
Hallelujah! Jesus is my life

Now, Lord, I would be Yours alone
And live so all might see
The strength to follow Your commands
Could never come from me
Oh Father, use my ransomed life
In any way You choose
And let my song forever be
My only boast is You

The Difference Between Professing Faith and Possesing Faith.

In the last post, I mention that there was 150-200 people now have a professing of Faith in Christ. I wanted you to pray that it becomes a possessive faith. Some might not know I mean when I use these terms. First, let me began with what I believe of salvation. This will help a little to understand where I am coming from. I will use scripture to show the difference.

I do want to note that people might not have the same view. They are not heretics, we just do not believe in the same. They are still saved.

First, I believe that you are either saved or not saved. There is no middle ground called carnal Christian. The term comes because we have people who profess to have faith but do show signs. This happens because the church will pronounce them saved. We do not know if they are truely saved unless God tells us that person is saved. I know the promises and if they true repent and trusted there is more.

So a person who professes to be a Christian just says that they believe. They will have faith without works.

So a possessing Christian is a Christian that professes with their mouth and HAVE works to back up their claim. NOTE: WORKS DID NOT SAVE THEM, but merely prove that one is saved. We see this clearly in James 2:14 and surround verses.

The main reason I do not like it when people pronoun people saved when they first convert is because 98% of evangelicals will not be part of a church within 1 year. The sad part is that we proclaim to them that they are saved.

I hope this cleared up what I mean. Any Questions, please comment. I will do my best to answer but remember I am no preacher or a theologian. I am merely a college student with a desire to see people saved and to study the word of God.

200th Post.

This is the 200th post here on the England/LU file blog. I started it about 2 years ago and it has been a place that I could stop and think about my life. There are many painful posts to reread and there are also post that show God's grace for this sinner. I want to tell you all that there is going to be some posts that reflect the Spiritual Emphases week here at Liberty. I will be publishing notes as I get the typed up. It started today and it goes through Wednesday (I think). Today was about true conversion in the Lord. The highlight was that about 200 Liberty Students profess Jesus as their savior and repented of the their sins. I ask all to give thanks for their profession but to also try that their professing faith in Christ turns into a possessing faith in Christ for God's work on this world. More to come about tonight's sermon.

UPDATE: I guess it is the 201st post, my dashboard was wrong and is off by one. My apology.

A Refreshing Post

This post should not be so harsh in nature. I want to take some time a review what God has done my life lately. It is has been amazing watching God move as I got ready for college and now as I move into the college experience. I do still do not know what I want to do with my degree but I am waiting for God to move. A couple of ideas have been teaching and speaking as an apologist. I could also go into the ministry as a ministry or a chaplain in service. It has been a calm ride as I started school besides finding an apartment in 3 days ordeal. God was still faithful and provide an apartment at the last minute when I had to lean on him to work things out. Now as I go to find a church home, I get the joy of searching for a church that will lead me to a deeper faith and walk. I know that Liberty will do the same but a good church home is hard to find now-a-days. I will look at a couple more churches before I decided which one I would like to go to. Seeing how God has been faithful in finding an apartment, I can trust in him to be faithful in finding a good church home.

The church that I went to today and will go to the Sunday Night service to see how that works, was really great. The word was preached and it was not my first choice. It is done in the more traditional way with old hymns instead of the new repetitive lines songs.

God has brought a professor, who lead me to join the worship orchestra, to spent some time with. This could be a start to a new friendship with other Christians. He attends the church that I visited.

There is a lot that I still must trust God for like finding a wife and other friends. I also have been thinking about starting an evangelism group to reach Lynchburg. I think that Liberty needs to get out and witness to the community. I am praying that God presses on my heart so much that I have to act.

I hope this is more refreshing then the last couple of posts.

The Afters and What is Wrong with the Frosh.

So I went to the Block Party even though it rained about half way through. I got beat in some Madden 09. All is still well.

The main part of the post is about the freshmen that are here. My dad warned my that I people are not going to be, lets say, mature. I guess father knows best. He also used the GI Bill to attend college and also moved off campus. I guess this bugs me because I am here to find a godly wife and she must be ready to be married. I guess that there are some women that are ready but they did not seem to at the concert. Anyway, it started to rain and it postponed the concert a little bit but it allowed to see frosh jumping in the puddles. I was thinking that these are college students, these are fellow classmates. It is a going thing that I am graduating a year before them. I also though a 13 year old named Deborah. She lives in the UK and she is on FIRE for God. She happen to have a documentary done on her by BBC 3 and can be view in parts on Youtube. It is actually really great to watch if you have time. They went witnessing with her in the streets. She does it the Law-Grace method, same as Way of the Master. She does not know what really TV is. She would put all the freshmen, there might have been some upper-classmen also, to complete shame.

But then there was the concert, the beginning almost felt like a B-1 was taken off with the bass kicker. Fortunately, the B-1 has more bass and is much louder. It was a okay concert but there was a lot of things I would change. I like the concerts with out all the base, it made it hard to hear the voices, even though that is why the bass is turned up so much. The Casting Crowns concert I went to was at the right mix. The bass was heard but not overpowering. The Casting Crowns concert was a better time for me (Kyle can you back me on this one, not really). I recognized some songs from the radio and of course had more information for why the wrote certain songs. There were people crowd surfing which I thought was a little secular. The concert was definitely something that the world would have enjoyed. They did mention God after about 1/2 the show. I could not tell if the lead singer was trying to give a gospel presentation or trying to talk about God unfailing love. I am going with the God unfailing love because it was a terrible gospel presentation.

I think that this is enough for tonight (Sunday Morning). It is time for bed. Later and break a leg for God.

A rainy? Block Party.

So I am at one of the hangouts that I go to. It is Starbucks because I know that all you are wondering where I will be at.

As I seat outside at Starbucks, I have been pondering if I should go to the LU Block party tonight. They have a couple of bands one is The Afters. I really do not know if I want to go but they said there is free food. I guess that is a plus. Although I have some Runza casserole waiting in my frig for me to eat it. It will be a change to meet some people to get to know. Although I did meet with a Professor from Liberty that I meet at a church that I will attend tomorrow. I went to there Sunday night service. So I decided this week that I will attend both Sunday morning and evening service to get the feel of the church. They do a program with some homeless every other Thursday, it is awesome that are caring about the people in Lynchburg. I have noticed that many time we neglate to witness within our own communities. Not just to the homeless but also to the professional and college students. I am looking for a group that is will to go out to the streets and win some souls for God.

Anyways, back to the block party. Why I have rainy? in the tittle is because it just stop raining and there are more clouds in the sky. Being the military man I am, I have my BDU Gore-tex because it is cleanest. (I have 2 of them plus an ABU one that is about black.) My fear is that I will not enjoy myself and not get accomplished what I want to do. I have been trying to get to know people in my classes a little but I am not one of those Hi my name is kinda guy. I am more of the "Have you gotton one of these" (hand a million dollar tract and smile). It is different coming to a new city. I was thinking about all the places I have been to. I was either forced or I knew people before I got there. Like my college roommate Adam, I was forced to get to know him because we lived together. When I went to England, I knew a Mormon that I went to Tech School and to Tinker AFB with. I also talked to a Chaplain before hand so I some I could talk to. Anyways, Liberty has not been that kind of experience. Although God is working his will and stuff have been falling into place. I guess I look at these time and wonder why I seem to question God and what he is doing.

This block party should be an adventure maybe worthy enough to get published on the LU File (dramatic music plays).

I hope that everyone is enjoying the new design. See everyone on the flip side.

Mikie-Man out!!!

A New Name for a New Time in my Life.

AS you might have seen, the blog has a new look and a new name. I have not decided if I like the new template because of the buttons on the side being cut off. I do have the old template saved in case I revert back. I will have to see about that. One thing you not notice is that the music is gone. There was no room to place it at the bottom, I know everyone is sad. So the new name is the LU file. LU= Liberty University. I think it is best for the time that I am currently in. The blog content might change a little but not that much. So for everyone info, Name Template, New Name, New Description, BUT the same content.

A new Adventure at Liberty Univeristy

I guess this could be the official start or the Liberty or Lynchburg File. I have using my terrorist watching skills that was taught to me by the US Government. I have am feeling that I might feel some resists from what I believe. I guess I look at how I am a L-word when it comes to reading and try to figure out what the author meant instead of reading in between the lines. It seems that I will be reading some good solid books but people can change what they say. I have also notice that it is kind of a pretty boy school. It is a private school and so it appears that people might have a holier than thou attitude (which I am trying to work on). I am trying to remember that I am no better that everyone else in the school.

One of the biggest things I have noticed is how immature I was when I was a Freshmen and now I see it in the freshmen at Liberty. I can see that the military has shaped my life and I have some respect that these others have. The biggest is cell phones. This is purely military, but STOP WALKING WITH A CELL PHONE TO YOUR EAR AND PLEASE DO NOT DRIVE WITH A PHONE TO YOUR EAR (that was illegal in England)!!!!!!

I am sorry that complete bugs me and also texting and walking. Bad deal.

I have noticed more, because of different blogs, that people will seat with each other and not talk but text other people or check their cell phones when with other people. I do think that is rude and needs to stop.

I am not perfect at all manners like opening doors for ladies, which I am working on, but there is some things that I think need to change.

As I end this rant, I am excited to threw these judgmental thoughts and learn to be more tolerant with people I do not agree with.

Some things to pray for:
1. finding a church that will glorify God in my life.
2. A group of friends to help to become a better Christians so I can Glorify God Better.
3. To find a godly women looking for marriage and able to pursue her so that God is Glorified.
4. To show and proclaim to the world that Christ is the only way to heaven and act in a way that will glorify God is word and deeds.

Made it Lynchburg, VA.

So I made it Lynchburg, VA. I left at 0800 on the 27th from Kearney, NE and made it Lynchburg, VA at 1630today the 28th. It was a long drive to do myself. I listen to R.C. Sproul, Ravi, and some Todd Friel from Wretched Radio. It took me longer then I thought but I made some stops to get maps so I could out Thunder Stroms if need be. I need to explore the area more but I think this fall Lynchburg will be a cool place. For now, I am off.

The Time has come.

So the time has come. It is the final countdown. I am mere hours away from leaving the UK to attend university. Like I said in the last post, I try and not think that I am leaving. I am aware that I the day is coming. I have some lose ends to tie up and then I am gone, leaving on a jet plane to go home. I keep think how God has grown me this past few months. How I have learned to make bolder steps in faith by sharing the ultimate gift to the world, the salvation from hell.

The one thing I have not talked much about is what I will be doing. Starting this August, I am going to be a full-time student again but this time at a Christian University. While at university, I hope to find a wife because I heard Christian universities have Christian women, again that is only a rumor. I will also do part work for the USAF Reserves at Andrews AFB, MD with the 459th ARW working on KC-135s (or the same airplane I worked in here in England).

So that is the plan so far.

TTYL maybe next time in the States.

It is July.

This is exciting to write to you on this fine 3rd of July. The fact is that in 10 days, I will no longer be living in the UK. I turned my house back to the landlord and received the deposit check which is now the deposit check for my next apartment. As I have been looking back at my time in England, I can not but think about the wonderful growth I have had in this seeming godless country. (They worship a god but not the true God. I think is name is Darwin but I might be wrong.) I think about how spiritual weak I was in my walk. I am still weak but I am growing. As I have broke out to witness to the Brits, I have learned to but everything I know in action. I also have been developing better communication skill that uses time and words that express what I am thinking. You know think before you speak. If it is true, which I found out is, you have no more that 8 seconds to respond to someone with out being uncomfortable (all y'al know what I am talking aboot ah.(the comment is a US-southern Canadian)). But I start to realize that my season in England, I have to thank all the people that made my time possible.

As I start to get ready to leave, I realize that I need to continue to do what I learned herein England. It is that the world needs a savior and I know one that is willing to same you. Jesus Christ is the savior that this world needs. It does not need a queen or a president that wants to kill black babies. No it needs Jesus and as Christians we need to start praying for the salvation of the US. When US was it greatest is when God was placed above everything. As I leave England, that land of John Wesley, C.H. Spurgeon, George Whitfield, and John Newton (are just some) to the land that was truly made from Christian valves, I see the need to step out and witness to people one by one and preach at events. If we want to change this country we MUST STEP OUT WITH FAITH NOW because the next generation will do the same thing that we are doing now. We must stand up in faith because God's word return void.

Who is ready to join the fight, the fight for souls?

True Forgiveness

What does true forgiveness look like? My view is that when a person has been wrong, I would accept any apology because I can not know the heart of a person. I am writing this blog because of a situation. I decided last night that I need to get involved into the situation that is hurting relationships that was once strong. I do not exactly what happen and I am taking the stand that I actually know very little of what is happening. A reason why I am getting involved is because there are many people involved that might not see what is wrong as of today. I believe that some are trying to heal the wound but not all parties involved are willing.

What I think true forgiveness looks like is when someone has done something wrong, you forgiven and forget. If it is not easily forgettable, I think then a plan has to be made to grow where it is forgotten. I see that as when we sin against the Holy God, as Christians he forgets our transgressions. We must able that same thing. God is great to forgiven without holding a grudge but we humans are not. The word forgive in Greek means to let go, to send away. We must remember all the sins that God will not hold against Christians when they are judge be he cleanse us of all unrighteousness when we ask for his forgiveness (1 John 1:9). As I looked for verses that will help to understand forgiveness, I came across three: 2 Corinthians 2:5-11, Ephesians 4:31-32, and Colossians 3:8-14. Each one of these verses explain how forgiveness should work. The person who forgive should be loving those people the person forgive.

What is missing is the love of the other in this situation. I understand that the friendship for now is lost but by God's sovereign grace these relationships can be repaired and grow.

I want to make note that comments have been disable for this post. The reason behind this blocking of comments is because I feel that the annyoistiy of the post should remain. Now people who know about the situation will understand the post. The people involved can e-mail or call me. I think that this is a problem on both side of the situation.

Fellowship

I am just back from a church in the town of Isleham. It a church that I thought about going for sometime now but God called me to attend today. What a blessing it was. I meet a couple of people and the pastor and his wife. He is a John Piper fan. The sermon was a great sermon in Nehemiah 2 about prayerfully waiting on God, acting and praying to God. Nehemiah prayed to God about the burden of Jerusalem. He waited and served God where he was placed. The preacher, who was an elder, spoke on how we must pray and wait for God to move. In Chapter 2 of Nehemiah, we see that Nehemiah wanted to rebuild the walls and gates of Jerusalem. He talk about how they, the church, needs to pray and they try to rebuild the church in England (and American also). That we need to sit back and look at the problem but go an attack the problem within and outside the church. To rebuild the walls so we can defend ourselfs.

The reason why I felt the need for going was due to the lack of word this morning. I guess I was not engaged in the sermon this morning but this sermon had me engaged until my mind wondered but I got it back in focus. The sermon encouaged me to reach the lost even more to define Christianity and false Christianity. During these hard time we must continueto reach the lost and attack the culture with Bibical truth.

All that and that is not even the reason for the post. The reason of this post is because of the great fellowship I had with the pastor. I can not thank God enough for the blessing. We talk for a long time and everything was Christ centered. It restored my soul to talk to a Christian brother that I just meet. I do not know much about his life but in Christ we have a connection that will never end. My only regret is that I did not change church sooner. I will thank God that he has showed me a church that is Christ-centered and on fire for God. I now know what a real Christian church looks like. Now the church hunt begians. I can truly say that I can not express in a blog how I feel right now. I wish that I could have more fellowship with believers that can never end. It was God who showed my what true fellowship in His son is like and I want to glorify him with.

I leave with only idea. Have you truly been a fellowship that cannot come close to being defined?

In the Middle of a Battle that I do not want to be in.

This post is written as I am sadden by some events. I am in the middle of a battle. This is a very difficult place to be. I am split between two parties that I want to continue to hold dear. Since this is on the internet for everyone to read, I am not mention anything about this battle. I am going to talk about the feel that I have. It is to a point now, that I will have to choose a side. This choice is a tough decision and one I wash I do not have to make.

A new Blog Name

I was thinking of a new blog name. Here are some of my ideas.

The not-in-England-anymore England File
Just another blog that has no meaning.
The Liberty File (formally know as "The England File")
I can not think of a name that suits the randomness of this blog, so this long line will work.
or:
The life of Mike Miller

More lyrics!!

Only if newer songs where all like this (and this is a newer song):

Verse 2
This story starts at the climax, we find that time’s lapsed- don’t mind that
It’s kind of like a night cap filled with divine acts
We zoom in the lens on Christ's agony in the garden
Doomed for His friends- it had to be for the pardon
And delivery from misery of kids who speak wickedly
Sinfully, inwardly slick with the iniquity
We see disciples sleep and mock today with a lot to say
But we do the same thing when we don’t watch and pray
Like Judas, we sell Christ out to get the treasure
Whether it’s the cheddar or forbidden pleasure
Like the chief priests, we want Christ to surrender
But we want Him out the way when He doesn’t fit our agenda
Like Peter, we have misplaced, fleshly confidence
But we’ll deny the Lord when faced with deadly consequence
Like Herod, we’re curious about Christ because He’s famous
But we quickly get bored with Him when He doesn’t entertain us
Like Pilate, we see Christ and find nothing wrong with Him
But when the world chooses the wicked, we go right along with them
Despite His kindness, we seek to do our Maker violence
The fallenness of humanity at its finest
So now He stands before the crowd doomed to die
An angry mob who’s yelling out “crucify”
The way they treat the Lord of glory is debased and it’s foul
But you miss the point if you don’t see your face in the crowd

HOT NEWS!!!!!!!!!!

This is the first place I will publicly break the news.

I AM LEAVING THE UK IN AUGUST or July.

It will be hard because of the great people I know in England. It will be for the better. There is always Facebook and phone calls. I will be moving to Lynchburg, VA to attend Liberty University. I will remain a member of the AF but just as a Reservist fixing KC-135 R models. It appears that I might make a little bit of money but will also

It has Been a Long While

It has been a long time since I lasted posted. A lot has happen since I posted the lyrics of Christ the Lord is Risen, Today. Since I lasted post, I was accepted into Liberty University residential program and will be moving to Lynchburg, VA. I am currently waiting to be approved to work for the 459th ARW out of Andrews AFB, MD. I am ending my Air Force AD run. I am will excited to move on towards my next stage of life. I am hoping that the sovereign God will bless me with a wife.

During this little hiatus from blogging, I had a birthday. According to everyone at church I am 17 but I am actually 23. The Saturday after my birthday, a friend organized a dinner at Teri Aki in Cambridge. I went there after a day on the street in the market area of Cambridge. It was a good time. I was happened to more civilized then some of the other adults (not naming names Joe and Kori).

What made that day special was the fact someone cared enough to celebrate my birthday. I tried to celebrate my birthday in college but I had to make it happen. When I got into the military, I still did not celebrate my birthday. I would eat my mom's angel food cake and tell everyone. I think we had a Bible Study birthday party because Joe (a different one then called out earlier), Asher, and myself (April 17, 21, 19 respectfully). It was not anything special.

This dinner was a simple but profound. There was not present besides that I did not have to pay for my meal. I guess it shows how the body of Christ is to act.

Anyways, I need to study and get ready for my family to come to England. Later,

Solus Christus!!

Christ The Lord has Risen Today.

Enjoy these 6 verses from Charles Wesley "Christ the Lord has Risen Today."

1. Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia! 
 Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia! 
 Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia! 
 Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia! 

2. Love's redeeming work is done, Alleluia! 
 Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia! 
 Death in vain forbids him rise, Alleluia! 
 Christ has opened paradise, Alleluia! 

3. Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia! 
 Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia! 
 Once he died our souls to save, Alleluia! 
 Where's thy victory, boasting grave? Alleluia! 

4. Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia! 
 Following our exalted Head, Alleluia! 
 Made like him, like him we rise, Alleluia! 
 Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia! 

5. Hail the Lord of earth and heaven, Alleluia! 
 Praise to thee by both be given, Alleluia! 
 Thee we greet triumphant now, Alleluia! 
 Hail the Resurrection, thou, Alleluia! 

6. King of glory, soul of bliss, Alleluia! 
 Everlasting life is this, Alleluia! 
 Thee to know, thy power to prove, Alleluia! 
 Thus to sing, and thus to love, Alleluia!

First Witness Encounter Every!

This beautiful, yet cloudy rainy, English Saturday, I went with other Christians to Cambridge, England. This has been the first time I was able to go out with the group since I have been back from my deployment. This Saturday, I wanted to step out beyond handing out tracts but do a 1-on-1. I got my 1-on-3. I handed a 1 million pound sterling gospel tract and these young men asked what they were. I told them that it was a gospel tract. I started to talk to them for a little bit. I used the law, they questions side track me a little, but once I got back on topic I presented to good news. It was a tough first encounter but I learned a little, like stop following rabbit trails. This encounter was different from my encounters on Facebook with false converts. Since they got see my facial expressions, they knew that I was not there to discriminate against them. Although at time for me, I might have seemed a little holier-than-thou. That is a problem that I will need to work on. Anyways, it was a comfortable first time; it was not a scary as handing out tracts for the first time.

Vlog 3 Maybe 4

I decided to use my great Mac to film yet another vlog aka video Web log. You are going to need and stop the music that is at the bottom of the page. There is a giant pause button so you need to click on it.

"Be still, and know that I am God

The Psalmist wrote in Chapter 46 verse 10, "Be still, and know that I am God." This was a verse I read today in my quiet time. So I was still and look at the nature around me. I watched and thought about how God causes the waves to crash against the shore and at the same time he causes me to breath. Nothing happens without God causing it. It is the same that only God can cause someone to come unto him. I have been thinking about the predestination of people to Heaven or Hell. Since God is not bounded by time and the fact that he knows everything. He knows everyone that will be saved. Although we have free will, God's knows every decision that can be made and knows the outcome.

But more than that God has already predestine people, he is still in control of everything and it is when we are still among our life and focus on what he has done for us. This is when we know that he is God.

SO be still and know that God is in control about everything.

Grace Gem

Here is a Grace Gem from 2 Mar. You can get Grace Gems at GraceGems.org

The chief danger attending a state of prosperity, is that it strongly exposes us to the temptation of becoming "lovers of pleasures, more than lovers of God," 2 Timothy 3:4. This danger is considerably increased, when people have been introduced into mirthful and fashionable circles. People in such circumstances may be said to stand on the brink of a dangerous precipice. They run the greatest risk of being drawn into a vortex of folly and dissipation, in which all sense of piety is likely to be swallowed up.

The Last Couple of Posts, Gone into Draft Status.

After reading a post about discernment on James McDonald's Blog (read it here). I decided to remove the last couple of posts. After thinking about why I wrote them (I still think that they are correct), it was not in the interested of the spirit but because of my human sin. I still think that Christian music has gone astray but my post would more on the lines of dividing and not a solution for the problem. The lent post is again about the a problem I think exist in the church and again it was because of my own sinful nature that the post was not in good taste to edify the church. Sorry about creating division.

Feeling empty? I am.

Why am I so empty. The preacher does not preach the word. I went to church yesterday and left feeling nothing. I was not glorifying God but questions the message. We are suppose to go to church to worship God with singing and preaching from his word. The word should be taught with principles which is theology. That was not the cause here at NSF Diego Gracia. The music seemed to be slammed together and the message was weak. The messages was about divorce. He started out good by exampling the what just happen before and about the people that was challenging him. He went off the deep end when he started to preach morality. It was a more do not do this but do this. This is not how we learn. The message just made me feel I was missing the food, the word of God. I think that God was not in the message. One thing I have found out about preaching is that the best preachers teach the word of God. Listen to Piper, MacArthur, Dever, Washer, Spurgeon, and many others and you see the difference. NSF Diego Gracia is a good place but the worship with other believers just is not there. Anyways, I am going to read now by the ocean and I will catch everyone on the flip side.

Where is the Love?

It has been just over a year and 2 months since I wrote about who I was not saved. It has been a hard time since as I slide in and out of sin. I just got done watching "Fireproof." I think it is a little weird since I am not even close to know what marriage is about. I watched it to see the gospel. What I got was a glimpse of my single life. I have been dealing with a couple of sins that have taken a toll on my life. The first one, I want to talk about is this thing called love. If a recent debate, this post-modern Christian said that we love God first, then self, and finally the world/neighbors. I noticed that this is completely wrong. I was talking to a good friend about a group that I was part of. He said that everything has changed, they have lost the love. After reading "Why We're Not Emergent: By Two Guys Who Should Be" I told me to study Revelation 2:1-7. I also told someone else to study the same and present it. So I decided to study it also. What I found that I have also become the Church of Ephesus. What I found in my lonely life was a feeble man isolated from the world. A man that did love people enough to tell them the Gospel still afraid of men. I have become a very bright knowledge man about God but have not put the characteristics of God into practice. I have not loved. I get into debates with post-modern Christians and in my self-righteousness it seems that I am more-righteous then thou attitude. I loved myself and not God. I treated him as if he was not a Christian before knowing him. Even if his love God, then self, and finally neighbors is wrong, does not make him not in God. He just not understanding. God does not want you to love yourself. He wants to love your neighbors like you love yourself. When you are hungry, you feed yourself, so when your neighbors are hungry feed them. If you are out in the rain you find shelter, help you neighbors find shelter when rain falls on them. I can find someone that is wrong in their theology, like the Church of Ephesus, but like what Paul says if you do it and have not love, it is nothing (1st Corinthians 13:2-3). Utlmatly, it is love for God that is what the Ephesians were missing. That love for Christ is what allows us to love everyone else more than us. So as I try to find the love of God for my life, I will encourage everyone else to find the love of God in their life.

Shark Risk.

As many know, AF have some of the worst deployments ever. For example my deployment. I get to study on white sand beaches and watch the waves crest. I do all this for the American people. There is a possible for me to get attacked by large teeth sharks. This comes at the expense of the US Government. So as I watch out for sharks deep-sea fishing. Please pray that I manage to stay alive. Thanks.

This has been another sarcastic post my mikemiller117.

Deployed

I am deployed to an island somewhere in the world. This island has white sand beaches with clear blue water.

Girl Scout Derails Church’s New Building Campaign

They may look cute but they are dangerous.

-------------------------------------

After a short investigation by their finance committee, Badger Creek Baptist Church has uncovered the reason why their “God’s Dream” Building Campaign fell short of its fundraising goal in January. The main culprit? Girl Scout cookies.

In their final report, the committee faulted Deacon Buford Collins for allowing ten-year-old Brittany Tanner of Troop 187 to set up a Girl Scout cookie sales booth in the church foyer during Sunday services last month. As a result, the distracted congregation began spending their extra cash on cookies instead of giving it to the building fund.

“Everyone knows that Baptists start salivating at the sight of a girl in a khaki uniform and green sash,” explained Finance Team Leader Joyce Franklin. “Deacon Collins would’ve been better off letting a bacon salesman loose in our church.”

According to several eyewitnesses, not only was the cookie booth a frantic mob scene as parishioners clamored for the famous baked goods, but the young girl scout proved to be a shrewd cookie marketer as well. At one point the plucky Miss Tanner hooked some fishing line to a box of Thin Mints and slowly trolled past the church classrooms, luring several woman away from their Beth Moore Bible study.

“I knew things were getting bad when little Brittany was down to her last box of cookies and she made us arm-wrestle to see who could have it,” said Assistant Pastor Frank McClurg. “I hate to say it, but Edna Dollenkamp has quite an arm for a ninety-year-old woman with arthritis and a hip replacement. I’m pretty sure I would have beaten her if she hadn’t lost her dentures in my lap and scared the snot out of me.”

Though Badger Creek church members were generally embarrassed by their lack of restraint in the face of temptation, some in the congregation blamed a shortage of complimentary donuts at the church’s snack bar for their decision to purchase Girl Scout cookies with their building fund money.

“Look, I feel bad about what I did,” admitted one male attendee who wished to remain anonymous, “but I can’t worship without a little bite to eat and a cup of coffee. When the donuts ran out, I had no choice but to buy 5 boxes of Thin Mints, 3 boxes of Caramel deLites, and 2 boxes of Shortbreads.”

In a brief emotional statement to the congregation during last Sunday’s service, a broken and tearful Deacon Collins apologized for letting the evil girl scout into the church, but said he was already paying the price for his error in judgment. “I’ve gained 10 pounds from binging on six boxes of Peanut Butter Sandwiches, and my wife is making me eat rice cakes and lettuce until I lose the weight. Somebody kill me now.”

Afterwards, Collins was escorted from the podium as he sobbed hysterically and muttered something about a double cheeseburger.

Despite these tragic events, Finance Team Leader Franklin is confident that the fallout from “CookieGate” (as church officials have dubbed it) is only a temporary setback. “We know that building a bigger facility for our church is God’s dream, so we’re pretty sure we can make it happen for Him,” she said confidently. “In fact, Pastor Dave plans to cancel his planned sermon series on Great Marital Sex, so he can start a new series called, ‘Come On, People, Fork It Over.’ ”

Added Franklin, “By the end of February we expect the congregation will feel guilty enough to help us exceed our fundraising goal by a wide margin. Then we’ll have the additional money we need to purchase larger seating for those members who recently put on some extra weight.”

Miss Tanner, who posted the largest cookie revenue for her troop’s district in twenty years, could not be reached for comment. She was busy negotiating with Keebler to become their new cookie liaison to the Southern Baptist Convention.

Taken from SacredSandwich.com.

Distrubing

I read today that only 1 out of 3 people believe in Barna. What was the Christian world come to? Read it at SacredSandwich.com.

Word!

Word! This Blog has been hijacked by the word people.

Ok not really I was wondering if it is weird to buy a movie about marriage when I, myself, and me (it is not nothing like the Trinty, I just wanted 3 readers and myself and me agreed) is a single guy? Post myself and me.

No really, I do have any time left.

I thought that I would give you a taste of what my schedule is looking like this week. I work 5 days 12hrs each day. The days are Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday Nights (2200-1000). For one of my classes I have to read 180 pages in my books or around 11 chapters. I also have to read all of Genesis, Job, Exodus, and Leviticus adding 139 pages from my Bible. That is over 300 pgs in one week. That would be an entire book. It normally takes me a couple of months to read 300 pgs in a book. My other class has about 100 pgs of reading. I also have to study for PMOC this Thursday and AWANA for Sunday. I do tell you this to pity me but instead pray that I will be able to remain fruitful in God.

Watch for Fall in the Number of Posts

I will not be posting as much for the next 8 weeks. I started to really sweet classes that are Top Secret. Ok not really they are THEO 104 Christian Thought and BIBL 104 Survey of the Bible. I am also going to move my blog series on the difference Strips of Christianity when I get a chance to the Bible Study Blog. Well I need to read a lot before this weekend. Have a good rest of the week.

AWANA, PMOC, and Marriage. This is what is on my Mind.

1st. AWANA

So I was thinking about AWANA and the Trek students that I teach. I have often thought that I was not getting through to them. I think that is not that I am not getting through to them as much as me not putting Christ first in my teaching. I often wait for that last minute and tend to destroy what I am teaching. Often realize that what I was teaching is not what they can grasp. I some time that I am being a rebel since I do teach (or at least try to teach) is not what is heard at the Chapel/post-modern Christianity. (Yes, I go to a church that is now post-modern and I do not like it one bit.) But as I was listening to "Listen Up," (01-09-2009) it struck me hard. I was not doing it until Christ. I was doing it for me. I wanted to be the one that sparks a problem by telling the truth. The problem is that Jesus does not want me to start a problem by telling the truth. He wants me to just tell the truth. He wants me to teach only the Truth which is found in his world. Please pray for me as I learn to life for Christ alone.

2nd. PMOC

So many might be asking (I guess that would mean I have readers let me rephrase that. Insert this instead...). For the 1 reader (which is me), what is PMOC? PMOC is an abbreviation for Protestant Men of the Chapel or a adult men Bible study (why am I in it, I do not know either). I always was the one that would buy the food and give my 2 cents but the days I had a study ready no one would show up. So I started to ask the Lord why. I was thinking that it was a sign for me to not teach men older than I. So I was trying to sleep (which did not happen because I was thinking about these three subjects), I was thinking that I am not fit for teaching PMOC. Looking at 1 Timothy 2 and the standard what which an elder/overseer should be like. Looking at the fact that I am not above rebuking. I still need a lot of rebuking. How can I lead a group of men that are all older than I? How can I lead a group of men when they should be teaching me? I know as a pastor (if I am truly called), that I will be teaching men and women that are older than I. I just do not think I am ready to teach these men. Since I do not think that I should teaching, I want to find somebody else that will teach instead.

3rd. Marriage.

Finally, the last thing that caused me to remain up this night. Marriage. I must admit that I was watching High School Musical 1 & 2 because I was not interested in watching anything else on AFN. I really do not like watching movies about high school years because 1. they are never right and 2. I did not have a single good high school year. Even though my high school years no longer define who I am, I still missed an opportunity. So I look at my life as a 22 year-old some-what of a man writing on a blog about stuff that really does not matter. Oh, did I mention that I have never been on a date or even properly asked a female on a date. I listen to a podcast, and I feel like I am so behind that I can never catch up. As I plan out my immediate future, ie after the military, it must involved finding a female to get married to. I also must do something about it but I know myself and I know that I will not be able to ask a girl out. That is why beyond my comfort zone. I could not even ask a girl to dance with me (which I remember very little on how to dance). It makes it hard to decided whether to return to Oklahoma and find a women there while hanging out with old friends or attend Liberty University in Virginia where I can get plugged into a good Christian group. The problem with attending Liberty is that I promised my friends in Oklahoma that I would move back. The one problem with Oklahoma is that I would attend different churches with singles groups and pull away from the friends that I promised I would see. I could also hang with my friends and hope that a single female would attend our Bible study (if there is one when I return).

Finale.

So as I think about these 3 topics during my 6 hr flight. I pray to God that he will revival a path that is part of his plan. Thinks for reading that rambling post about nothing.

NO Gyros!!!

This makes me a little upset that I can not get a decent gyro in Greece AT 2300. The main reason is that I would have to be back on base at 2400.

What do we need more, A moral straight congress people or Biblical Preachers?

Answer the question at hand now. What do you like is more needed in the USA right now? This question is based of a conversation I had a friend. He wants to be a congressman. I think that he might be a good congressmen, I do not think he will be elected into a high office based on his worldview. We will face block because of people claiming separation of church and state. I believe that the only thing to be separated is state owning a church. The church should own the state, okay not really, just look at the Catholic Church.

So my answer to this question is that we need more Bible preaching pastors that will not itch the ears of the people. The state can not create morality but the church can lead people to God. God is the one you changed unmoral people to moral people. Look at what is happening in the state of California and Propositions 8. The immoral of a few is creating a big problem when the majority said yes to prop 8. Prop 8 does not band Homosexual marriage, it redefines that marriage is between 1 man and 1 female as described in Genesis 2.

SO we need pastors like R.C Spour, John Piper, C J Mahaney, John MacArthur, Paul Washer, Jeff Noblet. They do not need to be famous, just Biblical. Our goal is to get out a preach to the lost. Christians we are to seek the lost and teach them about Repentance and Trust. God " 'now he commands all people everywhere to repent,because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.' "(Acts 17:30-31)

I work like everyone to pray for people to share their faith in God.

SIDE NOTE: Look for a Bible study on Revelation 2:1-7 at my Bible Study Blog.

ALSO, Happy New Year.