In the Good

In the ever growing expanse of moral decay that faces human civilization, we have bastardized the good.  We scoff at it in our decrepit jealousies and debase it in our hearts - when secretly we know that being good rings of something long forgotten in our souls. 

It is in the Good where romance still lives. It is in the Good, where chivalry is more than opening a door. It is in the Good where a rose smells sweet, stars are amazing things, falling leaves are inspirational, and home cooked meals are savored - not for their flavors, but for the laughter and the sharing of the meal. 

It is in the Good that we find inspiration instead of aspiration. 

Life blooms in the good. Yet we have been dying for so long that we fear to remove the cancer of our warped sensibilities. We are afraid of the gaping hole that will be left in our soul if we were to truly embrace the whole of Good. But I contend that it is to the Good, and to God that we must direct the course of our lives - for little time is left. 

With what breaths we have remaining, we should seek out and enjoy the vibrancy of lives like those that do good - but not because of who they are, but more so for who they represent and follow (Christ Jesus). And we should seek to emulate them in our own lives. 

To die some day without eternity harbored in our soul - clean, pure, and vibrant, is a waste.  

No my friends, being good is not boring. It is a hallmark of truly living - it is divine.

Perspective: The Basis of Apologetics and Scientific Review - Genesis 1-1a

Before we move on to Genesis 1-1b, I thought it would be good to highlight a key take away from the previous post.  A good friend of mine (and Atheist) pushed back on something that I wrote:
 

faith must come before reason, or the Biblical Account of Life, the Universe, and Everything After is nonesense and subject to debate
 

In the first three words of Genesis we encounter "In the beginning God created..." and I lay a case that the emphasis placed on the word Beginning in Hebrew clearly points to the beginning of all reality.    And I then make the claim that if one is to believe this, then the believer must assume God's existence prior to creation - that God, in essence, exists outside the boundary of conventional time as we observe it.  So I argue that faith in God comes first, the validity and content of the Bible is secondary.

Why is this point so important?  Well, it colors our perspective on our interpretation of observed facts.  A person who rejects God will naturally interpret the same set of observances in a different manner - even if the statistical probability of that interpretation is less than the probability of an interpretation that includes God.

Consider Fibonacci and Lucas numbers.   On my blog I have posted three videos on the tab that give a great and easy and fun introduction into these numbers and their patterns.

The fibonacci sequence:  0+1=1  1+1=2  1+2=3  2+3=5  3+5=8  5+8=13 and so on (1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21)
occurs everywhere in nature - plant leaves, pine cones, star fish, nautilis shells, cellular chromosomes, our brains, dog brains, electrons, the periodic table, the distribution of any given sand on any given beach, the frequency differentials between light in a rainbow, and on and on....  it also happens to be real good in engineering, space flight, computer programs, human speech and language, the patterns of poetry, the chordal arrangement of music, tempo, and modulating torque on engines.

For a person who observes this phenomena, and who is predisposed to faith in God, naturally will be inclined to believe that this is a symptom of  God's order.  And it is statistically more probable that this pattern is caused rather than random (considering how non-random the sequence is).

Yet a heart that does not naturally resonate with a belief in God, or rejects a belief in God, will be forced to attempt to reconcile these occurances through some other mechanism.  And it is here where we must first contend with the illogical mind attempting rationality.  That is the proposition that from Chaos, order chaotically arose.  It makes no sense and is statistically improbable.

Perhaps if such order were to arise in one subset of the natural world - the evolution  of animal life for example - then it would be slightly more probable?  However for this pattern to exhibit everywhere, and for other such patterns to emerge everywhere an apologist and any rational mind must contend with the likelihood of a Creator.

As we move forward into the next part of Genesis 1:1 and then throughout the rest of our study, we must keep this perspective in mind.   The world is quick to label something scientific and yet ignore the very basic foundations of scientific and philosophic review.    It creates much contention between the secularist and the Christ follower.

We must view the world through a lense of God existant, and not a lense of God yet to be proved.  We must learn to express our understanding not through rote, robotic "tracts" but through our own world view.  We must clearly start with a statement that we have an inherent belief in God.  We must teach our children the basis for this belief and catechise them into this view.  In this manner we can demonstrate that defending the faith is supported by scientific review rather than refuted by it.  In this manner we can move forward in earnest search for truth without any fear that our faith will be shaken.

Thanksgiving is coming up, so I need to end this rant and prepare for Thursday. 

Be well, enjoy your turkey time.   Comment and feedback is encouraged.  Please invite others to join and contribute.

Two Words

your life is your life
don’t let it be clubbed into dank submission.
be on
the watch.
there are ways out.
there is a light somewhere.
it may not
be much light but
it beats the darkness.
be on the watch.
God will
offer you chances.
know them.
take them.
you can’t beat death
but
you can beat death in life, sometimes.
and the more often you learn to
do it,
the more light there will be.
your life is your life.
know it
while you have it.
you are marvelous
Jesus waits to delight
in you

My World View (Again)

This statement of my faith is not debatable, meaning that I do not enter into argument/debate over these issues. My focus is fellowship with the Father and the Son, and then with YOU as an outflow of that fellowship (1 John 1:1-4). I am not focused on convincing others of the correctness of my views. -It took me 38 years...but I will debate with you your beliefs, until you concretely tell me what you believe - and why.

I BELIEVE the only true basis of Christian fellowship is Christ's ("agape") love, which is greater than any differences we possess, and without which we have no right to claim ourselves Christians.

I BELIEVE worship of God should be spiritual. Therefore, I remain flexible and yielded to the leading of the Holy Spirit to direct my worship.

I BELIEVE worship of God should be inspirational. Therefore, I give great place to music in my worship.

I BELIEVE worship of God should be intelligent. Therefore, I place great emphasis upon the teaching of the Word of God that He might instruct me how He should be worshiped.

I BELIEVE worship of God should be fruitful. Therefore, I accept reality as His love in my life and my recognition of this perspective as the supreme manifestation that I am truly worshiping Him.

I BELIEVE in all the fundamental doctrines of orthodox evangelical Christianity.

I BELIEVE in the inerrancy of Scripture, that the Bible, Old and New Testaments, is the inspired, infallible Word of God.

I BELIEVE in the trinity - one God eternally existent in three separate persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

I BELIEVE that God the Father is the personal, transcendent, and sovereign Creator of all things.

I BELIEVE that Jesus Christ is fully God and fully human, that He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, provided for the atonement of our sins by His vicarious death on the cross, was bodily resurrected by the power of the Holy Spirit, ascended back to the right hand of God the Father, and ever lives to make intercession for us.

I BELIEVE that after Jesus ascended to Heaven, He poured out His Holy Spirit on the believers in Jerusalem, enabling them to fulfill His command to be His witnesses in the entire world, a responsibility shared by all believers today.

I BELIEVE that all people are by nature separated from God and responsible for their own sin, but that salvation, redemption, and forgiveness are freely offered to all by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. When a person repents of sin and accepts Jesus Christ as personal Savior and Lord, trusting Him to save, that person is immediately born again and sealed by the Holy Spirit. All his/her sins are forgiven, and that person becomes a child of God destined to spend eternity with the Lord.

I BELIEVE in the gifts of the Holy Spirit mentioned in the Scriptures, and that they are valid for today if they are exercised within the scriptural guidelines. I covet the best gifts, seeking to exercise them in love that the whole Body of Christ might be edified. I believe that love is more important than the most spectacular gifts, and without this love all exercise of spiritual gifts is worthless.

I BELIEVE that church government should be simplistic rather than a complex bureaucracy, and I depend on the Holy Spirit to lead, rather than on fleshly promotion.

I AWAIT the pre-tribulation rapture of the church and I believe that the second coming of Christ with His saints to rule on earth will be personal, pre-millennial, and visible. This motivates me to holy living, heartfelt worship, committed service, diligent study of God's Word, regular fellowship, and participation in adult baptism by immersion and Holy Communion. (I was baptized as an adult the day prior to my marriage, for how could I be ready to be married to my wife, if I could not first be married to God?)

I SEEK to teach the Word of God in such a way that its message can be applied to an individual's life, leading that person to greater maturity in Christ.

I REJECT: (1) The belief that true Christians can be demon possessed. (2) "Five point Calvinism" (i.e., a fatalistic Calvinistic view that leaves no room for free will. Specifically, I reject the belief that Jesus' atonement was limited, instead I believe that He died for all people, and I reject the assertion that God's wooing grace cannot be resisted or that He has elected some people to go to hell. Instead, I believe that anyone who wills to come to Christ may do so). I REJECT (3) "Positive confession" (the faith movement belief that God can be commanded to heal or work miracles according to man's will). (4) Human prophecy that supersedes the Scripture. (5) The incorporation of humanistic and secular psychology and philosophy into Biblical teaching, and (6) the over-emphasis of spiritual gifts or experiential signs and wonders to the exclusion of Biblical teaching.
So there you have it. Now tell me, what do you believe?

Holes

I haven't seen, touched, spoken with my brother or sister in over 10 years... I look at my children, my brother and sister in laws...Nelson and his brothers, Melissa and her siblings... I see the closeness... elusive to me. They touch without touching, and are loyal regardless of worth. I don't even have pictures.. some fading memories. It feels like they are dead, yet I never had the shock and grief associated with death. I feel as if a hand grenade was thrown through that part of my life leaving shrapnel and scars...and deadend nerves. I have in my life family and friends and siblings - deep emotional connection. It is fulfilling but I still have holes. Holes but no grief... I guess that is good. Apathy on the subject actually. Because I don't have them, my own family is so precious to me. I am close to only one cousin- but even there, the eternal warring between our parents have created a chasm between us. We can't be as close as we once were because of the damage our parents are causing -- funny, perhaps sibilings in the bloodline are cursed? We even cancelled a family trip because we didn't want to offend our parents. Must we wait until they are dead before we can resume our relationship? I want my children to grow close to their cousins. I see holes in my family fabric - they weaken what was -- render the fabric of who I am a bit worn. And yet, I have peace in my siblings- gained through life and through Christ. Mike, Rob, Mark, Heather, Dima, Jane, Callie, Karina, Carrie, Jim, Jerry, Nelson, Scott, Carey, Nick... and others yet to come. Still, I pause on birthdays and moments like today. Why do funerals remind me of my siblings? I don't miss them, yet I love them... my siblings, not funerals.
I want to save my children from a fate of distance. I hope my wife can teach them about being bonded to each other - I'll do what I can, but I suppose my own testimony is horrible on the subject.
And yet, if the opportunity arose, I would and will naively run towards both my brother and sister - just for a chance to see their faces, feel them, hear their voices, play with their children... I long for this, yet I do not weep. Is that weird?
I love my sister in laws and brother in law deeply... they fill the gap a lot... but the holes remain. I always want to spoil them, because I have such a distance from my own. I see the strength they have with eachother, I undersetimate at times. Especially when they fight... but it endures. I wonder what that type of love/loyalty is like?

I guess we all have holes. At least mine are manageable.

Where the Feeling Comes From

the heart. the brain? God?

Does it matter? We can feel. joy, love, pain, hunger, hope...

I want to sing from where the feeling comes from.

I spent the day enjoying so many things... morning at Starbucks... with my little girl, catching up with Jerry... then my wife and I strolled through a farmers market...then Sophia and I played in the park... cooked some tamarind chicken, then I caught up with Scott O. at another starbucks... then met the new babysitter, left for a gathering of church peeps... came home, snuggled in bed and watched some Netflix...It's midnight now.

My Jesus, this life is worth all the emotions, good and bad. I do want Heaven, but I am glad you gave me today.

Through the Lense of Yesterday

36... don't remember 36 too well, but I was a father for the first time
35... that rocked, celebrated - truly celebrated -- my parents were able to be there for the first time since age 27.
34... don't remember too much - just my amazing wife... our new business..our new home
33... my wife took us all to the Chart House, Jane made me the best birthday card ever, and Katya put my face on my cake (tres leches)...AND I recieved the entire collection of Babylon 5 videos...
32... did a lot... dancing at Big Texas, dinner with a ton of friends - Jerry Jones told me the key to life (Hanging with others, good peeps = good life) Katya (not my wife yet) sneeks me away to get dessert at Perrys... she spent the entire day with me actually. such a good friend.
31... HUGE dinner... i think all of Clear Creek community young adults were there - including Jerry (lol). Best memory: Jerry jones: Let's go surfing... Sid: I can't surf Jerry: Bro' I'll teach you Tommy: Uh... HOW ABOUT ITS NOVEMBER AND FREAKIN COLD!!! Old dudes tryin to be kids *facepalm. Jerry: you're just jealous.
30... Small dinner at Churascos... Chocolate Tres Leches.... Sonia argues with me over who should pay the check (idiot, I should have let them pay... just think about the interest I would have made on the savings...lol) Phone call from mom: You need to get married.
29... don't remember
28... huh....
27... uh... nope
26... you know family is important... a god daughter in my arms, home made macaroni and cheese, pork chops... and the resounding love and promise of family...a restless heart was calmed by Good O'l fashioned food and a sister deeply loved
...24...Old friends. Spent the entire day walking through the Emerald Necklace... climbing trees, Yours Truly... Sold two of my rental properties for a tiny profit...
...22...hard year... lots of transitions...cathyrn clark... oof... you sure know how to put things in perspective -- one of the most spiritual birthdays ever...
..21... Peppermint Schnapps...yuck Deepa, what were you thinking? A tattoo? Really Matt Cotner? A birthday baked potato bought at the Overoak Pub by Shabnam..call from Karrie Langer --> why do friends have to talk so seriously and be so frank... but so loyal
20... Phone call from a pay phone in the pouring rain... one of the best gifts ever....deeply touched, eternally remembered.
19... The last time I talked to my sister on my birthday
18-17: Veronica, Chris, Peter, Alex... good times... can't remember the specifics... but I have pictures... yes Veronica, you at one time had frizzy hair, and Alex, well you had hair. Karrie -->what do you mean the world doesn't revolve around me?
16: Melanie --> you mean I am not Actually God? Tough blow...The Elam family --> Son go buy a birthday pizza.LOL...
15... hmm don't remember
14...nope...
13...uhuh...
12... Bon Jovi... enough said....

Pax Americana

This country is great, perhaps the greatest ever known. Wake up and give yourself a gut check. First of all, our country, even before 9/11 was supporting the rest of the world... financially: our dollar supports more world currencies than any other, and if we were to stop, those countries would fail.

Militarily: our military provides support and protection FOR FREE across the globe; philantrhopically: more than any other country our citizens provide more $s and volunteers across the globe than any other. We have built other nations, we have built our own. We provide a safeguard agains fascism, nazism, and un fettered monarchies...

We are a light unto the world and yes, we have the freedom to be cynical, lazy, selfish, but it is a minor position versus the greatness of who we are as a people.

And whether the majority would like to admit it, we are a nation built by God, Under God, and for God... by Jesus.

I am proud of this country, proud of being an Eagle Scout, a member of the Army and a citizen. So in your young view that Americans only care about others when they are the others, please think again.

There would be no Europe, if it were not for us. There would be no electricity if it were not for us. There would be no flight, not telephones, no cars, no computers, no cell phones, nor internet. There would be no plastic - yup americans invented that too. Let me continue, China would still be abusing, starving, and massacreing their people, if it were not for our economy and our dollar. 2/3rds of Africa would be dead of starvation, war and plague if it were not for the US. NATO exists because of the US. India would still be a colony if they didn't have our example (read up on Ghandi's influences). I can go on and on... How about the Glory of Christ? No other nation has more churches, more expressions of christ, produces more missionairies, provides more services and charities. We provide teachers who bring Christ with them. Our laws are based on the bible, our legal system relies on it. And new democracies (Russia, India, Iraq, etc... well they model their laws off of ours.) As a nation and a people, being only 200 years old, we've been graced with a lot. I care deeply about our society. I ask that you respect those people who have come before you, those people who cared about things and ideas greater than themselves, those people who not only dreamed of a better society, they helped build it.

Christmas 2010

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,
but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all...

Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a savior who is Christ the Lord.

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men...

Merry Christmas, may your soul have rest and your yoke be light.

And the World Waits

And the world waits...


Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.



If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me… I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.

Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.

I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.

On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'

For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.

Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.

If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

Same Sex Unions, ooof

I am upset that the debate on same sex marriage even exists! Marriage should be an institution left to the church - not government! The government should never have provided unfair advantage for married couples versus others in the first place. Since we live in a country with a strong culture of "fairness" and "equality" - we have a mandate to provide equal opportunities, services and advantage to other union types. By allowing the unequal treatment of people to persist we risk too much - Constitutional integrity is at risk. By allowing government to define "marriage" we have opened the door to something that we can never shut again. oof!

Advice For the Reader

God has given me a wonderful life....lots of interesting experiences.

I want to write them here, but I am afraid what I would write, intended for praise, would be seen as boasting... so, I will just be content in being thankful for my blessings....

My advice:

learn to talk with God
maximize the body, mind, and soul that he has given you
don't eat too much, don't focus on food at all...
relax
point your every thought to god, as if in conversation, and you will make better decisions and be less stressed
love people - even the ugly ones, the fat ones, the mean ones, the selfish ones....

BIG LESSONS:
1. We have no free will
2. People act and react based on their level of happiness and or pain
3. Happiness is inversly correlated to Selfishness
4. Love is a choice - it requires sacrifice
5. Don't try to use your own mind to solve problems, seek God and the counsel of lots of other people older than you.


HOW TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS:

do not be original, copy those who are better than you, improve upon those who have good ideas, always surround yourself with people that are older than you, smarter than you, and more liked than you (trust me, it rubs off).

One of my best friends is about 15 years older than me, he has been married (happily) for a LOOOONG time, has 5 kids, a great house, has spent his entire career in my industry, loves God, has a better understanding of polymers and engineering than I do, and has a good understanding of who he is...

I have watched him sooooo closely....how he thinks, prays, talks with his wife, does his business, manages his kids....fix his car, handle emergencies....and I have learned his dreams and goals...

By being around him, he has "rubbed off on me"... he is one of many people like that in my life.

OH AND LEARN TO PRAY. PRAY ALL THE TIME FOR EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE....it works.

Simple Truth

You are loved deeply. If you haven't heard the words or felt the touch of love, then you are not listening to the right music nor holding the right hands.

Noone should die thinking that love is far away. Love is here -- always.

It is whispered in your ears all the time, all day long. Learn to cancel out the noise of a distracting life, and learn to feel loved.

Love others and you will find peace, rest, and sanctuary.

Talking with God

"you mean you actually speak with God?"
"yes"
"you mean you pray to Him?"
"no, well I pray too, but we speak, have dialogue...its cool"
"you're insane..."
"faithful"
"How do you know its God and not the devil, or just your brain?"
"The content of the conversations are different... and he just whispers..."
"huh?"
"The devil speaks AT everyone, he talks, whispers, yells, pleads in your ear... and he always wants you to keep talking, keep thinking, keep going in endless circles of diatribe... never finding peace, never finding progression, always stressful, or distracting...EVERYONE speaks to him."
"uh, yeah... ok" *sarcasm*
*sigh*
"when I pray, God doesn't talk back.. .he just lets me talk, and talk, scream, yell, whisper, plead.... I end up talking at Him, not to Him..."
"So you're like Satan" *grin*
"In a way, but unlike satan, I've learned to shut up, to get quiet, to listen, learn - to let myself be loved, and to obey."
"Obey? - Sounds like slavery"
"It is, we all are slaves, we all serve a master... some the Devil, others money, others lust, drugs, power, amusement, family, duty, righteousness, charity, philanthropy, careers, pride...no one can serve two masters, I bow to God. If anyone will be a good master, it will be Him."
"I'm not a slave, I have free will"
"Sure"
"I DO. I am not a robot - what would the point be in that?"
"African slaves were able to think, feel, sing, cry, but they were still slaves. They only had one choice, to obey or not. All humans are the same."
"What's the point in having religion, or belief in God, if there is no free will? - That would make God responsible for all the evil in the world..."
"Depends on how you define Evil...evil from your point of view is not the same as His..."
"whatever, bad is bad, good is good... you're crazy"
"man is hungry, his family is starving, he sees a huge field with tons of corn, and he has a gun...
farmer has worked all season, fingers to the bone, yielding a whole field of corn - and yet the harvest wont be enough to pay the mortgage....if the hungry man takes the corn to feed his family is he good or is he a thief? Are all thieves bad? If the farmer defends his farm and kills the thief, is he defending his family or a murderer?"
"You're an ass... that's a hypothetical"
"It happens all the time, the first time recorded is the story of Cincinattus...the american civil war and WWII were started in much the same way...just not over corn. BUT if the murderer and the thief, learned to listen, speak and obey God THEN the thief would have asked the farmer, the farmer would have fed the thief...God would have been glorified..."
"Dude, over my head"
"I know. I can't explain it, I am not God."
"So when you speak to him, he speaks back..."
"NO, when HE speaks to me, I shut up and listen."
"When does he talk?"
"All the time...but I am not always listening"
"Why?"
*shrug* "I let life lure me into disobediance, God whispers, he refuses to talk above the chatter and confusion of life... I must seek Him"
"You're weird"
"yup"
"You really believe in a God like that"
"I believe in a God that has broken me, rebuilt me, broken me again, rebuilt me again, given me riches and poverty, heartbreak and a physically broken heart, a career that many would spend their whole lives questing for, a beautiful intelligent loving wife, a future, and GRACE. I exist to serve him, good or bad, better or worse, young and old, rich, poor, sick, healthy, in this life and the next...he has placed the begining of wisdom on my poor shoulders, and softened my voice... he has replaced my boyish laughter with a steady voice that can sing and command, and my innocent eyes have been opened to all that I have done, will do, and am doing...in essence, I speak with God and He speaks to me... and that God I trust - to do less would be insane."
"too deep for me..."
"you should learn to swim then..."
"shallow water seems fine" *smirk*
"thats where the sharks are"
"ever thought that I am one of those sharks"
"no, you are a lamprey feeding off the shark, dependent on it, rather than swimming on your own. I want you to swim... like we are doing right now"
"hmm"
"gotta go, my wife needs me... "
"see ya"
"bye"
"Uh, tell Him hi, the next time you chat"
"He heard you" *grin*

--True Account