inside the narrow corridor

difficult scripture

noreply@blogger.com (tone614) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 21:06:00 +0000

From a blog I read-

The most difficult ever written

"The books of Israel's prophets are among the most difficult in the Old Testament, and probably among the most difficult books ever written."

Delbert R. Hillers, Covenant: The History of a Biblical Idea, page 124.

God did not give us a comic book. But precisely because the Bible is so challenging, it's satisfying. God treats us like adults.

There's something about our culture that leaves us men feeling deeply trivialized: "My capabilities are video games, pornography and goofing off, I will never change, and I see no reason to change." Then along comes the gospel and tells us that we matter to God. Along comes theological grandeur that lifts our minds into lofty things. Along comes the cause of Christ that gets us working in ways that will still matter a bazillion years from now.

At the center of this revolution is the Bible. It gets us reading and thinking and studying and discussing and going deeper than we've ever gone before, deeper than we've ever dreamed of going.

Thank God for the Bible. Difficult, but not impossible.

the wine press

noreply@blogger.com (tone614) — Thu, 14 May 2009 14:07:00 +0000

God is good.

I'm sure there is a greater biblical meaning to the term 'wine press', but for now, I can feel its' pressure as I seem to be entering it. Maybe my actions, or lack of actions has started the wheels of God's wine press ready to iron out some wrinkles I've been creating. Though uncomfortable I must endure for on the other side lays change.

My wife and I have discovered that our growing baby is a little boy. The joy I felt at that moment was best described as awe. From my perspective, my family has been generations of 'what could have been.' Not that I lost hope...actually I had lost hope but it humbles me to see that God did not and has seen fit for my family name to continue. He sees something in us. Where I am faithless, He is faithful.

What scares me is what lies ahead in terms of the type of man, husband and father I will be to my wife and son. The wine press will surely get to this inner place where a lot of darkness and sinful ways seem to be hiding out. I'm sure the exposure of some of this in the wee hours of the mornings as we are awakened again and again by crying baby are inevitable.

Ideas of ministry and following Christ's direction in our lives is part of the wine press as well. Indifference and apathy have held a place far too long in my heart and in order to iron that out, God must move again and so the wheels of the wine press turn- forcing us out from under or comfortable lives and in to the adventure that is God's Kingdom coming.

The term 'press on' means a bit more today.

God is good.

the open space of a re-orbit

noreply@blogger.com (tone614) — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:33:00 +0000

In Traverse City, MI, there is a place that sits just off the little town that the locals call 'the open space'. No secret to what it is, just open space. The area is a cool hangout and provides a quick get away, if you need it, from the already small town. I love open space in the physical sense. I love the blank canvas, the open air, the breeze, the change of scenery. All of it seems to bring a refreshing that I can't find in the daily background of where I live. Parks also provide a nice get away so you get my point.However, when it comes to open space in the internal areas of my soul, I do not deal with it well.

I've never been one to attack life. My circumstances growing up only taught me to REACT to life and I've been fighting against this ever since.
I long for structure but want to test authority.
If I am free to roam, I long for boundaries.
If I'm told I can't- I want to.
If I'm told I can- I don't want to. And on and on.....and on.

But at this point in my life, I have entered the open space of my soul. I have re orbited to a place that I'm not too familiar with. After being forced to grow up so fast, I have been able to finally catch up to the speed at which my life was going. For the first time I have ground underneath me on which I can walk and there is a stability that I do not really know what to do with. I guess this is what they call becoming an adult. Funny thing is, though we age, it doesn't always mean we can get to this point.

Of course, there is a huge God story in all of this. I tend to be more Calvin in my theology because I KNOW what is IN me and I KNOW that it has been the grace of God and nothing good in me that has brought me to this point. But what does it all mean?

As I think of it, within the open space is God. Within the Red Sea, God was in the open space. In the desert, God was in the open space. God is always leading us, though the path may be too hard to discern. Up to now, I've been carried most of the way, like the man and the footprints story, but I feel like I've been set down. For me, this is a defining moment, where I turn over the fear of being loved by Love itself. The moment where I start following the Great Navigator of the open space and trust Him. I'm not much for hiking but the journey must continue.

The Way normally is through a crooked and narrow path, but I've reached this open space and I still find this part of the journey less traveled.

He knew me from my mothers womb...

noreply@blogger.com (tone614) — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 14:15:00 +0000

My name is Tony, and the year is 1979
Beginning of me, therefore I could see
Through my belly button window who I am in time..

I existed in a womb, just like an abyss
Created from God’s hand, my hands balled in a fist
Punching on my moms stomach, kicking on her cervix
Twitching cause I'm nervous
Though my intended purpose
Was to be born again, not in scorn or vain
But to glorify His name, and the path chose for me
Bloodstream full of red cells
Developing eyes
looking out my belly button window
My father's face wears a smile
but I'm wondering will my parents stick it out
Cause if not I'll go back to God’s town
So I could rest longer before I come back down
The chute again, in the near future when
My moms and dad can agree on this
Sister here before me it seems all good now
they got a 120 days to do what they want
But as for me coming out this is my only time
So stay together, keep me, and just make up ya mind

They must wanna keep me, cause 4 months past and I'm still alive
Guess I got what you call an ill-will to survive
When I look hard the lights is killing my eyes
I know when moms is laying down cause I get bored and start to get live
Move side to side hear loud music and vibe
this little baby was born with rhythm thats no lie
Solar energize, mineralize food through my mothers tube
I'm covered in this thick layer of goo
Month two was the least most comfortable
My umbilical cord choking me
But month 3 was closer, see
Watching 'em yell, heard my moms voice well
no fist fights, but I was terrified when they yelled
While they sat silent and only looked at the wall
I wondered if I am born will I be safe at all
This place they call the world though my view was so large
Couldn't wait to get up, grow up and take charge
Month 5, Month 6 went by, hoping I'm born in July
But the Lord already figured out a date and time
October 16th, 79
Get ready world, doctors in the front waiting for the time
Arms open cause they know when I drop, the family curse gonna stop
See how Satan will start re-thinking his plot
Month 9, I’m making my move- no labor induced
Dad told my mom to push and take deep breaths too
Said stay calm, holding her arm, I'm trying to hold on
Surgical gloves touching my scalp, my head pops out
Everything blurry, my first breath screams out
Tears pouring down my dads face he's so proud
Wanted to hold me, but I was so bloody
They washed me off and he said " Hey, he isn’t so ugly!"
Placed me in his arms snuggly, laid me on my mother
Finally, I got to see who held me in her body
She loved me….

Inspired by the Nas song "Belly Button Window"

Coffee Theology

noreply@blogger.com (tone614) — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 12:12:00 +0000

I have been working on a post about my issues with the topic of open theology for the past...say....two weeks. I was in over my head right after I wrote the words open theology and about half way through, I had to stop because one- I had to get back to work and second because there is no way I'm fitting inside an appropriate blog length. So there it sits under "edit posts" like my hallway wall waiting to be painted.

What I realize now is that I started writing that in Starbucks after a nice iced mocha. When the espresso hits me, I am changed. My thoughts become clear and it's as if I have insight and perspective that rival the reformers. Luther, Calvin, Frabott, Wesley. Open theology was there as a sitting duck and I was positioned for the shot.

Now, two weeks later, it is evident that my shot missed. It's sad I know that I need coffee to stimulate my brain and that my natural energy is comparable to solar energy running a car but I'm wondering how many others have coffee theology? Is coffee is the Jesus juice of the church? We serve it in our church and no matter how bad I think it tastes, I love every drop of it.

This was just an observation post with a bit of exaggeration in order time finishing my open theology post ,which I will, but when I'm not drinking coffee you can see what I write about here- http://1stand20.blogspot.com/

Drink up!

"Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again'.

noreply@blogger.com (tone614) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:17:00 +0000

Oh Nicodemus, how I can relate.

I marvel at this because it is such a miracle. The rebirth of someone from the inside out is more impressive than anything I can ponder, outside of resurection. Healings and casting out demons only go so far and I'm sure they are cool but to actually change someone in the inner most parts and have them become a new person is untouchable.

Someone close to me once said that they can't buy in to the 'born again' idea. They, like Nicodemus, get caught up in rational thinking. I can't blame them, it sounds crazy. Also, the label of being 'a born again Christian' as opposed to just 'Christian' is a bit wierd even for me.

"That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."

Here is the division from the old to the new self. For some, it is quite the contrast and for others, outwardly, not as much. Internally, for both though, it is the difference between night and day. The drastic inner invasion of the Holy Spirit is irrevocable and the regeneration of one's soul is uncontainable. This is the true miracle and can only be done by God Himself. Once God is in you the journey begins.

"Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?"

I have 2000 years of more information than Nicodemus and I still don't REALLY get it.
I don't get why if being 'born again' such the work of God why I still try to earn His approval.
I don't get why after writing the lines above I still fight the Spirit working in my life.
I don't get why I want to change, yet change is so scary and uncharted.
I'm sure I can go on. I won't for my own sake.

It's the journey of faith. Questions are welcome and santification takes a whole life. It's God's grace that leads us to repentance. It's His righteousness on me and not my own. That's all part of the great miracle.

I marvel today. I marvel at what He has done for us. I don't need to understand it all. Maybe today He just wants me to.....simply marvel.

Things not to say when you are married

noreply@blogger.com (tone614) — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 00:51:00 +0000

I've been on an unintentional blog fast- I cant seem to muster much of anything lately. In the meantime, this post was inspired by a marriage book- so I added my own

Things not to say when your married.

"How long have you been here?"

"My mom does the same thing."

"You're dressed like you are going to the library."

"Wait... I thought you did the dishes"

"Show me what split ends look like"

"How long did it say to cook this?"

"I've been thinking about something else the whole time"

"I didnt even think to call you."

end times

noreply@blogger.com (tone614) — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 19:28:00 +0000

Matthew 24:8 "All these are the beginning of sorrows"

....not quite what Jesus was talking about but c'mon.

"Working" in the Spirit

noreply@blogger.com (tone614) — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 15:00:00 +0000

"sacrifice is beautiful \ it decimates my preservation"- manchild

Recently, I've been gaining back some ground in my battle with my image management.

I remember sitting in a large church service years ago and a man went up during an alter call... for healing I think. I clearly, as if it were yesterday, can still hear the preacher yelling that "this man has just been delivered from the opinions of other people!" Wow, I thought, that would be cool. I guess I wasn't in the path of the Spirit that night because I have to experience that.

Not that I deny these experiences of the Holy Spirit...healings, tongues, prophecy etc, but my experience is that God is more concerned with a deeper, inner work in our lives. Sure, God could take away all the struggle at once but Jesus taught that we would have trouble in the world. Jesus talks about taking up our crosses and not being able to love your father and mother more than Him, that is far from instant deliverance. Even in the Old Testament we hear God saying, I will walk with you in the flames and floods of life. Don't get me wrong, if God wills to do an outward miracle, I'm all for it I just can't live seeking a sign. He lives IN me, so He's always at work.

The power of God happens in the soul and inner being of a person. The real miracle happens when someone is "born again" when the spirit is regenerated and the soul becomes "alive"! People begin to change their attitudes and beliefs and their will confirms to God's will and they soon desire what He desires. They have a personal relationship with Jesus and He knows them and they know Him. That’s the power of God, salvation.

Back to my image management, I cannot wait around to be "delivered" from the thoughts of others. I must act! God has given me his Word and I need to fill my mind with Truth from Him. I need to act despite my feelings, its when I do this that God walks with me through those moments when I may not speak up or may be too concerned with others thoughts of me. It takes work to change but the One who changes is inside me, molding and shaping, I need to allow this to happen.
This is the molding and shaping that lasts, it’s harder, but the change is stronger than if one is just "delivered" from something. This applies to all aspects of my life! (God is more concerned about our character then our comfort)

We are called to sacrifice and obedience to Him but those do not come naturally for us.

How then shall we live?.....

The Holy Spirit is at work but it takes work to let Him work.

The Love of the Creator

noreply@blogger.com (tone614) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 13:55:00 +0000

"He who does not love does not know God, for God is love"- 1 John 4:8

As the Lenten season and Easter Holiday closed it's chapter for this year, the past 40 days have been the most fruitful that I've had in a long time. The themes that I followed through lent was that God would provide my needs and learning to give up more of myself for His purposes (i.e die to self) I never mastered them by any means but I came across the verse above about God "being love" for God is love and it summed it all up for me. I've heard it before but again....believing it is where the heaven scrapes the pavement.

Though God "as love" is much more than I even know (see I Corinth 13 for more); for now I'm defining the love portion "as a voluntary, unselfish choice to commit to another person or persons despite condition, circumstance, feelings or merit"

We were created in the image and likeness of God- (Gen 1:26) Therefore, we are able to do things that resemble God. We must remember our "likeness" attributes only resemble God's and are not perfect. I have mentioned a few below but we still get it wrong at times. Our shortcomings should only magnify the perfection of these attributes in God

God is creative. Humans are much more than instinctive, we have souls. God breathes into us the 'breath of life'(Gen 2:7) that was not said of the animals. Like our heavenly Father we are creative. As He created the heavens and the earth (Gen 1:1) so we have been given the ability create things from art, music and architecture all the way to software engineering, air transportation, automobiles and even space shuttles. It's in our being to create.

God is just. (1 John 1:9) We all have a longing for justice. We "innately" understand that there is right and wrong in the universe. There is that feeling that those that commit offense of our laws should be punished. A life for a life, an eye for an eye. Those who slip through the justice system are still held guilty in the court of public opinion. This need, to set the wrongs to right, comes from the likeness of God in us.

God is love. John 3:16- talks of God's love for the world and the lengths at which He goes to demonstrate it to us. If God IS love than unlike us, He cannot NOT love. We have the capability to love and not love. As humans, we do this more than we know. We love ourselves more than our neighbor. We ignore parents and neglect children. We ignore the vows of marriage and leave our spouses for others etc...it is easy to see where we can lack love. God though, CANNOT. But, to the best of our ability that we can show our imperfect love to our children and our spouses and our families and how much we want to be involved in their lives, how much more does God, in His PERFECT love want to be involved in ours.

Before creation- God did not exist alone. Had he existed alone, there would have been no such thing as love, for love by definition is selfless. God cannot love himself alone. In the beginning with God, were the Holy Spirit and God's son, Jesus the Christ. (Gen 1:26) ..."let US make man in our image.) The existence of the other two formed a perfect community where God would give and receive from the Spirit and the Spirit from the Son and the Son from God and the Son to God and the Spirit to God...and around and around it went. This love, seemingly unable to be contained, flowed out in to creation.

God's love is not forced, God created us with free will to love Him back or not love Him at all. As all of us have sinned (Romans 3:23), the just part of God requires that these wrongs (sins) are made right before we can enter back in to this this relationship with Him, for "He chastens those He loves" (Heb 12:6). Unable to make these sins right on our own accord, as we were dead in our trespasses (Eph 2:1), God intervened and sent His son Jesus to pay the wages of sin, which is death (Rom 6:23). Those that choose to love God back, are justified by the faith they have in Jesus, for God has chosen to justify people not by actions but by faith.(Gen 15:5-6)
Those that do not choose to love Him back are faced with God's judgement. The question of 'Why would a loving God send people to hell?' is not biblically grounded. I Timothy 2:1-6 states that God our Saviour desires all men to be saved , not punishing sin that has not been taken to the cross of Christ would be against the character of a just God. He has chosen to deal with sin, through Jesus, people with sin left undealt with will be cast into the lake of fire (aka-hell)(Rev 20:15) reserved for the devil and his angels. We don't want to hear that part of the story but though disturbing, it is completely avoidable.

To conclude, God loves us. There is no part in Him that cannot love. But, we like sheep have been led astray, each to our own way... (Isa 53:6). Lets not be so prideful as to think we have done nothing wrong. Let us turn back to God and let us embrace the love of the Creator, the lover of our souls. We were made for this relationship and this is the relationship that completes us to the core.

Lent...in my pocket

noreply@blogger.com (tone614) — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 14:48:00 +0000

(warning...internal struggle exposed)

Ash Wednesday represents the beginning of the Lenten season-the 40 day period before Easter. The tradition, and I'm highly paraphrasing here, usually goes hand in hand with giving some "thing" up that you love for this 40 day time period in hopes that you will come to some self-realization of how much you are dependent on that one "thing" and hopefully turn to God to fill this need. At least that is how I see it on the surface.

Honestly, it never works for me.

The one thing I love the most, myself, is what I should give up. But I just can't quit me. Don't know how and don't know if I want to. That is the reality.

I've become so self perserving to the point where I've come face to face with what it means to follow Jesus whole heartedly and I'm stuck, unable to fully move forward in discipleship. Why?

"Because birds of the air have nests...and the Son of Man has no place to lay His head"- Jesus
I am obsessed with comforts that this life provides. I want somewhere to lay my head.
I go to any length to stabilize the scales of balance in my life. That is my addiction.

"No one, with hand to the plow, looking back is fit for the Kingdom of God."- Jesus
I can't quite kill my old self. I think one of the hardest things for me is making sense of my past. I want to figure it all out, instead of leaving it behind and pressing forward, I lug it like luggage behind me, unable to let it go.

This year, may be the year. I want to give up myself for lent. I want to give up my need to preserve self and let go of the past that I lug behind me. My prayer is that I can enter in to this discipleship of Jesus with a heart that is open and willing to listen and obey.

So I come with nothing but my baggage in to this Lenten season. I literally have nothing to bring but the lent in my pockets. Paul urges us to be living sacrifices to God, that is scary for me. It's scary to lay on the alter and let God have His way in me. If I can do it for 40 days, maybe God's grace will keep me there the rest of my life....

go in peace...

noreply@blogger.com (tone614) — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 16:03:00 +0000

Worldly speaking, I would say my head knowledge of the things of God is decent. I am at a point where I can communicate them to others and I can allow my knowledge to shape the way I may view life events. I'm not a scholar by any means but I can talk confidently about Jesus.

It's my heart that suffers though.

What good is having a voice like an angel but not having love? You are but merely sound.
What good is head knowledge if in your heart, you are unable to reach it.

To my folly, I have come to accept the lack of 'experiencing God' as the norm. I have held tight to my head knowledge, not letting my heart drink fully from the streams of living water.

(For example...I've become very weary of outward signs of the spirit, yet I believe in them. Maybe its fear but I'm obsessed with "doing it right". If you speak in tongues, do it right or not at all...etc. Actually 'experiencing God' for me has been a journey back and forth through my head and my heart.)

I don't think it has been on purpose. The world is so busy that it is easy to neglect my soul's cries and rely on what I already know.

After listening to a sermon about the woman who wipes the feet of Jesus with her tears, I was taken back by the words of Christ.

"Your sins are forgiven, go in peace."

I felt the dam in my head break and the living words of Christ flow down into my parched soul carrying this truth to the deepest recesses of my being that only He can reach. This area is the 'God shaped hole' inside us that we all talk about but are not aware of it until God fills it.

I see a need for more of this experience. God wants to meet all of my needs, even emotionally. 'Going in peace' is a feeling. A feeling I've longed for but have not had much experience with. It felt great though and I still carry this with me a few weeks later. The gospel is to be experienced. It brings change and change is an experience. Head knowledge is good but it can't reach fill that hole mentioned earlier.

That is a God thing and God things are to be experienced. I'm looking forward to finding out more about this.

go in peace....

OH-NO!

noreply@blogger.com (tone614) — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 21:12:00 +0000

Forgive the lack of posts recently. Creativity tank is lacking. Either that or I just have nothing literary to add. I'll take the latter. I'm opting for a sports theme this time....

So Ohio State lost again. The sting of it is less irritating this year though still present. There more it happens, the more you get used to it.

I didn't want to believe all the hype about not being able to compete with the SEC teams but that is the current reality. It's one thing if your team earns the spot to play in the National title game and then loses, but seeing that the Big Ten is not a very good conference, it's easy for us to get to this game, it's just way harder to win. We will probably be right there next year again as we are the class of the Big Ten, but if the Big Ten is not very good, what does that really make us? Thankfully the Big Ten is a BCS conference or else we would never see the championship game after these last two performances. Look, I love the Buckeyes but I also follow college football and it's not too hard to see this fact. In addition, I don't see the conference improving soon, outside of Michigan.
Weak competition all year makes playing good competition a lot harder if you only face it once a year.

LSU played 6 teams in the final top 15 this year, OSU played- 1 and that was LSU. We were not ready for them.

Also, it was not so much the speed of the teams. I watched the game and both teams had fast, strong players. The problem is playing that type of team once a year,with 50 days off doesn't really give us much chance against them. It's not an excuse but playing Akron doesn't train us for 'SEC' talent.

September 13th, 2008. OSU plays at USC. This game is HUGE for the Bucks. IF we win, we can still salvage some respect across the country...if we lose...it is to the pit of mediocreity we go, it may take years to come back from that.

do not lose heart....

noreply@blogger.com (tone614) — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 14:27:00 +0000

Luke 12:37-38

....and if he should come in the second, or come in the third watch

Christianity can turn into a fad. It can become the "in thing", it can become the cool thing to do, especially when we are young. We become so caught up in the moment and love of Jesus and the feelings and the experience of a new fresh life in Christ that we run as fast as we can after "the things of God" and suddenly find ourselves stuck in the middle of reality.
Suddenly, in the real world, faith is no longer as "cool" and no longer the "in thing"- but will we follow Him?

The sacrifices of following Jesus begin to interfere with our social lives and suddenly do not mesh with our co-workers plans to go out that night- will we follow Him?

The relational sacrifices of purity that have been made to honor God have not produced a wife or husband or even a date for that matter- will we follow him?

The wedding is over but marriage has not delivered what we thought and the constant fighting or problems with children have chipped away our will to continue in the relationship- will we follow Him?

Our jobs have not exactly helped fulfill our monetary goals and now the financial future looks grim- Will we follow Him?

This parable in Luke 12 describes the master coming back from a wedding hoping to find his servants waiting and watching for him...no matter how late he returns.

I'm seeing many of my peers lose heart. Many who have trodden the path of faith for years becoming uninterested and drawn away by empty promises from the world. Choosing popularity and compromise instead of Christ. The effects are evident to everyone except them. The verse goes on to say that those who stop watching and waiting for Christ will have their portion with the unbelievers.

I am encouraged by this verse in Luke. We have heard from Sunday school to the pulpits that Jesus will be coming back, yet we have yet to see it.
Still, the promise is out there to be fulfilled....no matter how late it may seem. Even if it is in the second or third watch.
He will come on a day "when he is not looking for him and at an hour he is not aware"

Lord, let us not lose heart. May we be caught waiting and watching for You.

Turkey Bowl 07'

noreply@blogger.com (tone614) — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 15:22:00 +0000

Historically, this is a one side ordeal. The Yost vs. Riddells annual Turkey Bowl for yearly bragging supremacy normally defaults to the Yost Family. But once in a while every garbage-can gets a steak.

In 2006, this game was lopsided from the start as the Yost Family shut down and shut out the Riddells in a game that was basically called 'finished' out of mercy. The game was 'for fun', but I could see that the other side of the family had begun to plan for next year. The embarrassment was exposed, excuses came rolling in and 364 days would pass before The Riddells would get another chance.

This year the game was to kickoff first with a 30 minute time limit. The emails that circulated for the past few months hinted that no one forgot the 2006 Yost domination and that the rematch was heavy on the minds of the Riddells. Jen and I were worried that we'd be a bit "to dressy" for football, meaning we wanted to look like we cared but not really, just in case no one cared. I told Jen to give it her all and she responded with cleats and gloves.... that's my wife! End the end, everyone cared and the do-rags and cleats and jeresys came out and the game was on.

Turns out that the Yosts were out numbered this year 7 1\2 to 6 1\2...the half is for Cam. The little one was on both sides of the ball at all times to even it out.

We were up for the challenge. The Riddells responded first with a defensive stop of the Yost offense lead by QB Gary "cool as a fan" Yost. The Yosts then, as we always do, clamped down on defense behind the surprise pass rush of Jess "just doing what I'm told" Hodson. She was told to rush the QB and that she did. After a few exchanges, we realized that the Riddells had come to play and we would have to step it up a notch. Time to open the playbook.

Trick plays always work in Turkey Bowls.

Gary hiked the ball and threw it over to Joe "94' Hurricanes forever" Hodson who changed in to an All-American QB after the lateral and rolled to his left under heavy pressure, then, dug his cleats in to the soggy turf and launched a 30 yard pass to the endzone.

At this point, no one was going to deny me this touchdown, my defender was beat by a mile and I dove to make the catch....1-0 Yosts. So pretty. Joe and I locked eyes...we knew we still had that brother in law connection.

Normally against the Riddells one TD will do it. This year though, they were a bit feisty. Andrew returned an interception for the first ever Riddell score after Pete's bull rush overwhelmed my "protection" of Gary. Gary's last ditch effort to complete a pass ended in the hands of Andrew and it was 1-1.

No problem. The Yosts stormed down the field after trick plays from Jen "I'm suffering from hives in the cold, yet still playing....are you watching husband?" Frabott to Joe Hodson. Then, to end the drive, Gary Yost redeemed the interception with a beautiful, "Rex Kern like" pass to the corner of the endzone where only Joe could snag the ball. Gary, gleaming like Joe Namath, hadn't lost a step. 2-1 Yosts. Time expired......

Oh, if we just stuck to the rules. We decided, though the time limit was up, to let the Riddells finish the drive. Offensively, they had done nothing in two years, why would they do something now? The game went on.

It was fourth down and the Riddels needed only one completion to keep the drive alive. I assumed they would throw short and get the first so I wanted to keep them in front of us but Uncle Pete had different ideas. As he dropped back, it became evident they were going for it all. I was covering Andrew soft, thinking he would cut the route short but he kept going....I'd seen this before. Doug Flutie did this and no one had ever forgotten about "Hail Flutie". In any case, Pete threw the ball deep and threw away any chance of victory. Almost in slow motion, I had dejevu. Earlier in the game I knocked down several passed just like this so I lined up to do the....slip.

I slipped.

I was not wearing cleats but my shoes had not failed me all day. I was running and jumping and cutting the whole game and NOW a slip?

I was out of the play. Andrew jumped up between everyone and caught the ball at it's highest point. Touchdown. 2-2. Ridells win.

Wasn't it a tie? Yes it was, but it felt like Ohio State losing to Walnut Springs.

Sure it's all in fun but though we tied, no one in the family will forget about "Uncle Flutie" and the "Catch" or in my case the "Slip". For them, that tie was a win for them and loss for us.

358 days.......358 days....358 days and counting.

Starring Michael Keaton as "Tony Frabott"

noreply@blogger.com (tone614) — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 16:02:00 +0000

He is actually too old to play my current life stage so I'd have to settle with someone else.

Anyway I have a few thoughts to jot down.

I heard a talk from Donald Miller, the guy who wrote Blue Like Jazz and a few others.

The premise was that our life is like a movie or story being written and the climax of our life story has already been laid before us. The climax comes when Christ will say to us "Well done, good and faithful servant." How we get there, however, is up to us.

Like a movie, my life is being played on the big screen of life.
If I were to watch it, would I be bored to tears?
Is the story I'm writing a page turner?

Not that God doesn't have a plan for my life. In fact, His plan stretches across eternity but I wonder just how much freedom I actually have to "write" my story. Every decision I make adds to the pages of my narrative. The problem for me is, am I waiting on God to write it or am I writing my story with God's help and guidance? Am I taking risks or fleeing them? Facing obstacles or avoiding obstacles?

Would I even need a stunt double?

I want my life to count....at least to be worth the price of admission.

demons.com 2008

noreply@blogger.com (tone614) — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 15:36:00 +0000

In Luke 9 there are passages concerning demon possession and the casting out of such demons. The casting out is happening not only by Jesus but by those "not even following him" according to His disciples. Throughout the gospels this topic is rampant and has me thinking a bit more about it. As a follower of Christ, how do I respond to this? I have never "cast out a demon". How does this act look in 2007?

I have heard sermons stating "how smart" satan is. Apparently, he has the ability to regroup his troops to discuss how to keep up with the times and keep temptation fresh. I'm sure these meetings happen over coffee somewhere in a skyscraper of a commercial giant. If satan is so up on the times, which, though it sounds silly, is not a bad argument, if you look at our world, I'm sure that he has left the actual 'inner human possession' for more of a blanket of oppression of affluence approach.

(Here some thoughts about demons in the dot.com era.

1- Being Gothic is so 1999. Acting and dressing like a demon, is the farthest thing from being possessed. Though it is associated with the demonic, why posses someone who has voluntarily decided to act like one of you anyway? Being goth passes with acne. If anything is a phase, its being goth.

2- It is far more effective to just distract people from spiritual needs. As information and technology increase, today the thought of demons and possession seem a bit old fashioned.

3- "The blind see"- This is more than just a physical miracle, but pertains to our spiritual eyes as well. In the same way that in biblical times you could see the physical possession of an individual by a demon, today, if you follow Christ, you can "see" a much more larger oppression that "blankets" our society. Jesus has opened our eyes this reality. )

George E Ladd- states- "....the Kingdom of God has come among men to defeat satan and to deliver men from the domination of satanic power."

I think this domination of satanic power goes much further than just being "demon possessed" Could satan have changed is agenda to more of an influencing force, less actual inner possession?

I'm not saying that it never happens today but I am thinking that demon possession may look different than the stereotypes we have in our culture.

"Our battle is not with flesh and blood but against the principalities and powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual host of wickedness in the heavenly places."

The battle is still raging. How can we be better equipped to adjust to the changing times? How can we be made more aware of our clever enemy?

the seed among thorns

noreply@blogger.com (tone614) — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 15:17:00 +0000

"Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches and the pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity."- Luke 8:14

The Word of God lies fruitless on these dry lands of thorns and thistles.

A distinction is made from those who gladly receive the Word of God and those in which It bears fruit.

The dilemma for me is that the cares, riches and pleasures of this life seem to go hand in hand at times with the blessings of God. I am thankful that I have never had to go without. Though I have wondered what my next meal would be, I never had to wonder where my next meal would come from. My entire life up to this point has been bountiful. It has been a blessing but at what cost?

Have the blessings I've experienced been "choking" out the fruit of the Word in my life? Oh... I have received the Word gladly, but am I bearing Its healthy fruit?

My aim in life is not to gain material riches, but to be able to provide for my family- this of course means giving a lot of my time to this world and its cares in order to see this through. Yet, I don't want to give so much to the world that I'm spiritually "choked out" by it.

thus the internal struggle continues...

facebook

noreply@blogger.com (tone614) — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 13:36:00 +0000

just read an article that mentioned Facebook is worth more than $15 billion dollars.

The Internet site is not even five years old and the CEO is 23.

I read these staggering articles and my mind races around like NASCAR at the Daytona 500. How in the world did that happen? How do you even begin something like this? What do I want to be when I grow up?
Part me feels as if I'm falling behind in life and the other part of me sees a great bay window of opportunity.

I desire to make a difference, yet seem to lack that inner gear that some are able to shift to. Professionally, I have always been the worker, never the innovator. "Show me what to do and I'll do it....then I'll go home." That attitude will only get me so far. Not that I want only worldly success, but I would at least like a bit more passion about my career.
Sadly, that is true for me in my walk with Christ as well. The passion nowadays only flickers like a candle in the wind. I cannot manufacture feelings or this drive to see the world come to Christ. I want to see it happen, I just have a hard time these days getting off the bench to contribute.

The good news is I was created to impact the world...for Christ.That is what God says about me. That is my calling. It is in me somewhere. I do have that gear I can shift to that will shake the world around me. It might not be through the headlines of CNN Money or FOX news or through some website but it will make the angels in heaven sing. I must allow myself to enter into this place and believe it is there. "The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak." My prayer is to allow the Holy Spirit to fan the flame that flickers and light the fire again.

So, I guess for me all I want is for Jesus to write on my wall " well done good and faithful servant"

I'm sure I would have 15 billion reasons why that would be cool too.

do you feel sick?

noreply@blogger.com (tone614) — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 23:19:00 +0000

"those who are well have no need of a physician but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."

Luke 5:31-32

We spent a week in San Diego this past July and it truly was one of the best places in the country to be. I couldn't grasp that this place even existed in the states. The weather was amazing and the views were so picturesque. But today, this wonderful place lies in a blazing inferno that is destroying the homes and lives of many, not to mention the damage done to the environment.

It makes me realize how fragile life is.

It is great to see the relief effort taking place. Lessons learned from the Katrina disaster has helped the situation in southern California even though it is still grim. These are the times that we come together as a human race. We can see the danger, we can see the need... so we react. I'm thankful for that.

Unfortunately, when it comes to our spiritual needs, we are not so quick to react.

Jesus did not come to call the righteous to repentance.

If you were to poll the average person, my guess would be that they would say that they were not righteous. They would probably make a reference to some mistake they made in their life and hope that when they die they will be allowed in to heaven. Biblical, it is sin that keeps us from this desired location.

Our society has such a twisted view on what sin is. The word "sinner" or "sin automatically births thoughts of particular actions one does. The word itself also seems a bit old fashioned. The fact is, sin encompasses a whole lot more that just actions. Sin invades our thoughts, actions and motives. It encompasses our whole beings. Instead of the word "sin" how about using the word "sick" in its place. We are sick and we don't realize it.

How is it that we are sick? For one, if we say that we have no sin (sickness), we deceive ourselves. Second, there is none well (righteous), no, not one. (Funny how Jesus did not come for those that are well (righteous), but for the sick (sinner)). Third, there is none who seeks after God, because we seek after ourselves. Fourth, by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified. Fifth.....you get the picture.

Sin is like high blood pressure or kidney failure. You can go almost your whole life without realizing it and then one day....its too late to fix it. But, if caught early, the effects can be reversed!

Thankfully, Jesus is the great physician. In Luke 6, multitudes of people came to Him to hear Him and to be healed from their sicknesses and diseases. It says that " they sought to touch Him... (as)power went out from Him and healed them all."

I love the picture that paints. Jesus left no one out, He healed them all. He took all the time needed to meet everyones need and everyones prayer. His compassion for the people overwhelmed their sicknesses and infirmities. For once, it seemed, the worlds problems had met their match. This, I believe is only a foreshadowing of His return when this becomes reality.

Until then, can we recognize that we are sick in the eyes of God and need healed? We need to seek Jesus and hear from Him and let Him heal our sicknesses (sins), before it's too late.

28-24

noreply@blogger.com (tone614) — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 16:22:00 +0000

Buckeye Post-

Saturday at 3:30pm I will be at Ohio Stadium cheering on the #1 Ohio State Buckeyes as they face the Michigan State Spartans. This game for me is not like the others.

I remembered a fall day back in 1998 when the then #1 Ohio State Buckeyes faced the Michigan State Spartans at Ohio Stadium in a 3:30pm game. The 98' was the team, this was our year, we were going to win it all, for the first time in my life! In fact, I was so sure of winning this game ( we were a four touchdown favorite) that I remember only watching the first half and then doing whatever I did and then catching the end on the radio....Buckeyes lose 28-24. I was not supposed to get sick over a stupid game but I thought...."I feel sick."
We finished number 2 in 1998. That is all I remember... being second.

Sure we won it all in 2002 and almost did it again last year...sooo close....kinda sick about that too, but I was watching tv this week when the Big Ten network aired the OSU MSU game from 1998.- it was like I discovered an open wound I did not know about. (Jen, I confess, I have been watching this game, you ask what game is on at 5 in the afternoon...this is the game...this is reality) I DVRd the game and have been watching it slowly- hoping to change the outcome....I thought OSU being up 24-9 in the third quarter was a large enough lead that if I somehow slowed it down, OSU would hang on to win. DVR is not that cool. OSU still lost.

So here we are once again....funny how things come full circle. We are supposed to win, just like in 98' but I'll be there this time though. In the flesh, until the clock runs out win or lose. If OSU can win, it would lay to rest the 98' nightmare and patch the sports wound that I have....if they lose...

its just a game?

28

noreply@blogger.com (tone614) — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 13:13:00 +0000

today is my personal New Years Day celebration- some call it "birthday". Actually, I still call it birthday but in my case there is more to it:

8 years ago on this day i decided to follow after Jesus. I stepped off of the wide and spacious way I had been comfortable on and began to navigate through the crooked and narrow paths of Christ.

that decision changed the course of my life forever. Following Christ means not following anything else. At the time, those closest to me remained on the wide and spacious road, unable to part from the temporary comforts that it offered and I ventured out on my own. However, I would not be alone for long.

As walked the less trodden paths, there were others there along the way, to walk with me, to direct me, to encourage me, to lead me. There too many to name and more come along everyday. For this I'm deeply grateful.

Honestly, I can't say that I've never looked back. Many times I've wished to see those that I parted ways with be found on these paths as well. I have yet to see them.

Sometimes, I have wondered where I would be had I continued in my ways and continued on the wide and spacious road. These times of wondering were a waste at best and tool of the adversary to keep me from moving ahead after Jesus.

But as I woke up today, to breakfast in bed from my wonderful wife ( I must say...my fellow companion on this road of faith and the biggest blessing in my life), a new year had dawned.

My personal prayer for this year is Philippians 3:7-14. After 8 years of walking this path, it remains crooked and narrow, faithful to it's design. The only option is to press forward toward the goal.

So on I go....

forever greatful

The Blessed Mother

noreply@blogger.com (tone614) — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 17:17:00 +0000

One of my issues with Catholicism is the worship and\or praying to the saints, including Mary. I just don't see that within the texts of Scripture. It frankly doesn't make sense to me. Christianity is not a dualistic religion. We worship God alone, God being- Father, Son, Holy Spirit. We are not called to worship or pray to anyone else. Besides only God can forgive sins.
However, I do wish to give Mary a bit more respect than I have recently. I think worship should be for God alone, yet, I do want to give Mary her reverent due.

What I do see, when reading Luke 1, is God beginning to move again after years of silence when He sends Gabriel to visit Zacharias and Mary. God is up to something again and you can almost sense the Spirit "hovering over the face of the waters" again. God is doing something big.

Well, Gabriel appears to Zacharias and tells him about his future son John the Baptist, yet Zacharias does not believe Gabe and its made mute until Johns birth. (Can you imagine if God acted that quickly when we don't believe). Mary though she believes the more ridiculous of the two stories, that she will be bear a child not even "knowing" a man. It is then later that she sings out and says " For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed." Mary humbly lives out her role as the mother of Jesus, the savior of the world.

I admire her faith and obedience. As His mother she had a connection to Jesus that we could never know. (Considering, she conceived Him as a virgin, how do you ever get over that?) I wonder what she felt watching Him grow in to a man. Watching Him grow in the knowledge and power of God. She has few words throughout the texts after Jesus is born, but she keeps many things in her heart concerning Him. She had to let Jesus go, just as any other mother would have to let her boy go and grow in to a man. Ultimately, she had to watch Jesus die on the cross, which to her probably did not match the promise from Gabriel that Jesus would reign over the "House of Jacob forever". Yet she never wavered. Mary lived her life faithful to God and to her Son. She truly is blessed and blessed among all women.

Breezing through these texts does not do them justice. I admit to rushing through parts of the Bible I "know". The fact is, I don't know much. God is constantly revealing Himself through His Word- like my view of Mary. Mary was a huge part of God's plan, yet sometimes we non-Catholics are quick to put her in her place among all of us other "sinners". Sinner or not, Mary was "highly favored" by God for this task. There is something to be said of that.

Just as Paul is a prime example of how we should live out our faith as Christians, is not Mary the prime example of the ultimate mother surrendered to God and His work?

Much adoration due.

The Hardened States of America

noreply@blogger.com (tone614) — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 20:22:00 +0000

"North America is the only continent in the world where the church is not growing," says Eric Ramsey of the Southern Baptist Convention's North American Mission Board (NAMB).

Despite what some say, the United States is not a post-Christian nation. It's more half Christian and half post-Christian, trying to make up its mind. A sizeable share of Americans describe themselves as Bible-believing Christians. In many places and contexts you can still reach people simply by opening the doors and offering a worship service.

There are also places and contexts where Buddhism is better understood and more admired than Christianity. Pockets of Sonoma County, California, where I live, certainly fit the description. It's deep-blue America, defined by organic veggies, fine wines, and high tech.

"Sonoma County is a tough nut," church-planting pastor Dan Boyd of Hope Chapel told me. "America is a tough nut. We've seen it all and done it all. In America, we don't need God."- Tim Stafford- Christianity Today

The Starbuckians

noreply@blogger.com (tone614) — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 12:58:00 +0000

If you've ever walked in to a Starbucks I'm sure you've noticed the people sitting inside the store, drinking coffee and doing whatever they do. However, most people go in and order their outrageous $9 drinks, filled with enough of "the legal drug" to keep an entire city awake and run out the door. If you are like me though and have been able to spend some extra time sitting IN the Starbucks you will see the people inside with a whole different perspective. In fact, I am one of those people. I am a Starbuckian and here is a glimpse in to our world-

1. The expensive drinks are not for us.
- We are pastors and writers and readers and sales people we don't always have the money for those so we stick with the simple 3$ drinks and leave the others for those who can afford it.

2. Actually, we are actors and we want to play roles of readers, writers and sales people.
- Lets be real here. Don't be fooled. That copy of War and Peace you see the guy in the glasses reading- he's been "reading" that for months! People who ARE readers...have ALREADY read that. (i.e Joe)Also, I may be wrong but I have yet to run in to Karen Kingsbury or John Grisham in Starbucks. Probably because they are actually writing somewhere.
As far as the sales people....well that is what I am and I'm blogging in Starbucks right now so you be the judge next time you see us "working".

3. We are in the front lines of God's work
Being a Christian I am highly aware of this. In a days time I have seen pastors come in and out, people having discipleship time, bible studies, quiet times, mentorship and conversations about Christ. In fact, people are saved in Starbucks quite a bit.
I sat so close to a meeting of Vineyard leaders one time that I was even able to chime in and throw out some of my ideas.

4. Did I mention we are inspiring actors and actresses?
I think we sit here to be discovered. Our talents run deep. I can play a good salesman....but the good salesman is actually out there getting the sale....you get the picture

5. We love commercialism. We love capitalism. We love America. We love George Bush.
- Dont' be fooled by the music that plays in the background as if it is trying to make a political point or don't be confused by the anti-establishment person that just walked in and ordered something with soy milk. Starbucks is the essence of a capitalistic country. How more established and commercial can you get than Starbucks? They are everywhere! I love how all the music that is advertised is "not-mainstream" when the place it is sold in is the very place where the stream begins.
Everyone in here is a republican. Anyone who appears not to be is acting.

6. We are in process.
We will figure it out someday. We will grow up and do the responsible thing...just not yet. We are hesitant to break away from being a Starbuckian. There is a real world out there and we aren't sure how to handle it yet. We are not ready to leave the nest.

*The workers are exempt from this post. They work at Starbucks for the benefits. They serve the drinks but you never see them just hanging out. When their shift is over, they are out the door to face the real world. They know the truth about us, yet, let us live in it because we keep them busy. Vicious cycle.