Deep, Baby. (vlog10)

Hangin' out thinkin about ancient and new stuff. Hm... people will flip for a dead culture (dead religion, too!) like Egyptology, but they won't pay any attention to an ancient and effective (and supremely controversial!) faith such as Judaism/Christianity! Wonder why?

Don't follow the crowd. Truth calls us to say no to sin. People generally don't like to do that. Truth will not only preserve you (and enhance you), it will last throughout your generations and build true wealth in your children.

... now where is that darn stuff...? (truth, that is!)

Deep, Baby (vlog10)

A Thinking Man's Man - Jesus! (vlog09)

Northridge Church got just a few more skeptics to come in and check 'em out.

And I'm another one!

A Thinking Man's Jesus (vlog09)

One thing that impresses me most about these two thinkers' observations is that the reason for church itself - the holy, infinitely wise, scriptures (and, of course, Who they reveal!) - was replaced with "entertainment."

This is what many have come to call "seeker friendly" or "post-modern" churchianity, er, ah... oh yah... Christianity.

Observe.

The first thinking seeker was given the "seeker-friendly" breakdown:

"Before setting out, I'd called the church and asked a few questions… According to the man I spoke with, the weekend service is essentially an intro to Christianity, built for the kinds of people that never thought they’d find themselves in, or, for that matter, be welcomed in, a church. (He kept saying that I could come, even if I’d always thought that I could never step foot inside a church without it crumbling down around me. He said that the church was full of people who had thought the exact same thing. (Which, by the way, caused me to think that the place must be crawling with pedophiles and murderers.)) He called the weekend sermons 'Christianity 101' presentations, and stressed that they were heavy on the entertainment and light on the scripture. He mentioned that there were things taking place at the church every day, however, and that if I wanted a deeper relationship with the Bible, that I might want to come back for one of their weeknight '202' classes." ( from markmaynard's blog )

and from the other fellow thinking being -

"I was hoping for a critical analysis of the Bible with some real-world applications of its more valuable teachings, and I didn’t get it." ( from Jan's blog )

...heavy on the entertainment and light on the scripture...

I, (a little bit) like Daniel, am more worried about what the Maker thinks than any confused product of the National Education Assoc!

"Lord, you are great and deserve respect as the only God. You keep your promise and show mercy to those who love you and obey your commandments. 5 We have sinned, done wrong, acted wickedly, rebelled, and turned away from your commandments and laws. 6 We haven't listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, leaders, ancestors, and all the common people. 7 You, Lord, are righteous. But we -- the men of Judah, the citizens of Jerusalem, and all the Israelites whom you scattered in countries near and far (Ed. and, now, the non-Jewish Church in America) -- are still ashamed because we have been unfaithful to you."

It's all about the words (commandments and laws) of the Most High (whether you think He's there or not). And the Church does a disservice to go "light on the scripture" as if it weren't "relevant" or might offend.

Along these lines, Yeshua said, "The earth and the heavens will disappear, but my words will never disappear." (Luke 21:33)

Important enough to cherish... even to share?

Macromedia (a subsidiary of Adobe?) has said recently, "The most recent trend in rich content is integrating video with the interactive experience."

In that spirit, I offer this latest vlog. Yeshua (the Guy in the Bible) has the words of life... nevermind the seekerfriendly mega-churches!

She'ilah - the Question of Observance (vlog08)

So, here you have it... perhaps the beginning of a vlogging trend... the AtomSound vlog! I SO love this stuff! Go to www.freevlog.org and take some lessons on how to do this yourself - PLEASE! The networks and cable television are LOSIN' IT! Give us some INTERESTING TV!!!!! PLEEEEEEEEEESE!!!! (Especially if your views are rational and conservative!)

Give Jesus (Yeshua) a chance!

She'ilah - the Question of Observance (vlog08)

Showing a moment of the edit fiasco. (vlog07)

Working for YeshuaMyMana.org, I ran into a bit of a snag... ooh, say 8 hours worth of work down the toilet! But, bless Yahweh, there is hope for a newbie like me!


This is vlog #7. It's really fun doing this stuff, ya know. You should do it too!

[061905 - Hey, Here's what I did, if you're interested! Se Habla Espaniol]

Poor, strange, sick and in prison.

What makes the difference is the way we respond to the hungry, the thirsty, the strangers, the poor, the sick and the prisoners. The ones who fail to feed, clothe and visit were told:

"'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life" (Matthew 25:45-46).

"The way I see it," said my friend, "you can't call yourself a Christian if you're ignoring the poor, the sick and the oppressed. And that scares me."

It scared me, too. What did this mean? Were my dreams of doing great things for God not enough? Was there a chance that I might end up on the goat team, despite the fact that I was the funniest, funkiest and most spiritual goat around?

It made me think. My ambitions were out of sync. I'd come so far down the line of believing in the importance of doing great things for God that my idea of spiritual success had become about as deep and meaningful as a real-life gym-bunny body. I mean, looking like Brad or Jennifer might be nice, but it would hardly make any of us better people would it?

The above isn't mine, it's Craig Borlase - the author of The Naked Christian (Relevant Books). The Chorleywood, England, native has written and led worship for Soul Survivor and now lives in London with his wife and daughter.

Here's some stuff to get involved in - Compassion International will allow you to sponsor beautiful, hopeful children like Happy. (That's her up above!)

And how about lending moral and financial support to the victims of the frontline of the war against terror (Michael Moore lied. It's actually real.) OneFamily allows you to send support letters/prayers and even financial aid.

News from Iraq CNN won't tell you.

DID YOU KNOW THIS?

Did you know that ...

47 countries have re-established their embassies in Iraq?

the Iraqi government employs 1.2 million Iraqi people?

3100 schools have been renovated, 364 schools are under rehabilitation, 263 schools are now under construction and 38 new schools have been built in Iraq?

Iraq's higher educational structure consists of 20 Universities, 46 Institutes or colleges and 4 research centers?

25 Iraq students departed for the United States in January 2004 for the re-established Fulbright program?

the Iraqi Navy is operational? They have 5 100-foot patrol craft, 34 smaller vessels and a naval infantry regiment.

Iraq's Air Force consists of three operation squadrons, 9 reconnaissance and 3 US C-130 transport aircraft which operate day and night, and will soon add 16 UH-1 helicopters and 4 bell jet rangers?

Iraq has a counter-terrorist unit and a Commando Battalion?

the Iraqi Police Service has over 55,000 fully trained and equipped police officers?

there are 5 Police Academies in Iraq that produce over 3500 new officers each 8 weeks?

there are more than 1100 building projects going on inIraq? They include 364 schools, 67 public clinics, 15 hospitals, 83 railroad stations, 22 oil facilities, 93 water facilities and 69 electrical facilities.

96% of Iraqi children under the age of 5 have received the first 2 series of polio vaccinations?

4.3 million Iraqi children were enrolled in primary school by mid October?

there are 1,192,000 cell phone subscribers inIraqand phone use has gone up 158%?

Iraq has an independent media that consist of 75 radio stations, 180 newspapers and 10 television stations?

the Baghdad Stock Exchange opened in June of 2004 and that the Iraqi economy is BOOMING?

2 candidates in the Iraqi presidential election had a recent televised debate recently?

OF COURSE WE DIDN'T KNOW!

AND WHY DIDN'T WE KNOW?

BECAUSE OUR MEDIA WOULDN'T TELL US!

Because a Bush-hating media and left wing liberals would rather see terrorism prevail in the world rather than exercise unbiased reporting and any expression of patriotism.

The lack of accentuating the positive in Iraq serves only one purpose. It undermines the world's perception of the United States and of our soldiers in Iraq and around the world.

I AM ASHAMED OF THOSE AMERICANS WHO WOULD RATHER SEE TERRORISM SUCCEED THAN A REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT.

All of these fact are verifiable on the Department of Defense website and many independent sources.

Please pass it on!

Childlike Wonder

Talking with the wife (eternal)...

My Michelle says, "When I was coming of age, I had a thought about how I had been closed off to the world - always busy doing adult things. I'd lost the childlike wonder. I had the thought (from my nannying and being around children alot) that as we grow taller we start to look down on life. Children, being small, are always looking up at adults and at everything else... because they HAVE to! In that, they're looking around and taking in everything. As we grow up and get taller and don't look up as much, we find ourselves focusing on TASKS instead of enjoying the world - being awestruck about everything."

So accept the forgiveness and healing from God through Jesus and become more childlike. Slow down! Enjoy the beauty! Receive from the One who, from Eternity, says "YES!" to you!

News from the Newsboys

A few lyrics from a really nifty band. Steve Taylor probably had something to do with these lyrics, too.

Newsboys \ Million Pieces

They all fall
Like a million raindrops
Falling from a blue sky
Kissing your cares goodbye
They all fall
Like a million pieces
A tickertape parade high
And now you're free to fly

Carryin' a millstone malaise
It's been pulling down your gaze
You pound the pavement
It don't give or care
This weight ain't yours to bear

Why you holdin' grudges in old jars?
Why you wanna show off all your scars?
What's it gonna take to lay a few burdens down?
It's a beautiful sound

When they all fall
Like a million raindrops
Falling from a blue sky
Kissing your cares goodbye
They all fall
Like a million pieces
A ticker tape parade high
And now you're free to fly

When that muffled sigh
Says you're barely getting by
Cut your burdens loose and just simplify
Simplify

This is not your floor
You're going higher than before
Drop the weight now
Wait for the lookout guide
Look outside

As they all fall
Like a million raindrops
Falling from a blue sky
Kissing your cares goodbye
They all fall
Like a million pieces
A ticker tape parade high
Now you're free to fly

You've gotta lay that burden down
You're gonna lay that burden down
It's time to leave your burdens in a pyre
Set a bonfire

'Cause when you lay your burdens down
When you lay your burdens down
When you drop them burdens
What a free-fall
What a thrill
Bury them all
In a landfill

-----

This one about little ol' Israel... did you know that RIGHT NOW US troops (in unmarked uniforms) are gathering in the Negev?

newsboys LYRICS
Israel

Rise up and shine, oh nation of Israel
Don't you know you are the apple of His eye
Rise up in power, you chosen people
It's time for you to take your wings and fly
Rise up and shine
Your hour has come

Chorus
End times are coming
I know you'll go the distance
End times are here
I know you will not fall

All nations will sound up in these final days
They come from everywhere just to see you fall
Keep your eyes fixed upon the mighty Saviour
Don't let your heart despair at all

Rise up and shine
Your hour has come

Scratching the Surface of the Tip of the Fireberg

We who worship God, the Maker of the Universe, Holder of the Atom, King of the Jews, are upset sometimes. It's a subtle discomfort usually and it stems from not experiencing in the gatherings of our peers in belief the MASSIVE FIRE AND POWER AND WISDOM AND ETERNITY that we KNOW is due our God! We know within ourselves that we're only scratching the surface of the depths and passion of our God.

Heart of Worship . com is a website that grapples with this question... and apparently it's going away in 3 weeks! (Today's March 26, 2005) It's one of those strange Christian phenomenon that strikes deep in the less-than-casual observer of the faith. It's a gathering of believers who THIRST for the streams of life that flow from the heart of the Creator! These chaps (mostly from England) are INTENSE about their craft (music) and about WHO it is they're seeking.

May we all dig deeper for the Truth and His True One, Yeshua (Jesus), the Moshiach (Messiah) from Israel. He is wanting us to see Him as the King of the Jews again, I believe. We TRY SO HARD to ignore Israel and those "pesky" Jews! But Jesus is saying to us now (and has spoken in the written testaments of the Holy Bible for millenia!) that His heart is focused on Jerusalem! If we could look into that "pandora's box" of sorts and understand some of the positive, passionate fire of God for His "Zion" - His plan for the world (it's not a bad one, actually. Only the little hitlers would have you think it was!)... we would be so stunned, absorbed by and amazed with His loving foresight and wisdom!

In a world stunned with perversity and terror, there is one book which outshines all books but, alas, remains the most unread and most hated. That is so odd. This book will reveal a Maker and Savior who will change your world most radicly and save our planet from our self-destructiveness...

Worship only Him... and delve into the depths of His firey heart!

........... forever ............

Watching our Church online this morning (Friends of the BrideGroom Media Signup - Sunday Sessions are free!), our pastor Mike Bickle, was conveying the true idea that our current decisions for God and for His eternal kingdom will last forever! My children were watching as they munched on PBJ sandwiches (something being there in person doesn't allow!) and so I re-hashed what he was teaching, "So you guys, what he's saying is that your decisions to love God and His words and to love people in His name will last forever!" I asked my 4 year old what she thought "forever" means...

"It lasts a really, really long time, and it never stops." she said without hesitation.

That one got her a kiss on her beautiful brain!

His kingdom IS coming... He IS answering "YES" to the prayers of humankind, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done - on earth as it is in heaven!"

Get ready.

Start now in fact!

Taking Notes

I happened to have been offered a framing job with some friends of mine for a few weeks. Framing is my new "fallback" skill. It used to be secretary/office-assistant work, but I'm SO over that! Get me in the sun building things and I'll be quite happy. You can HAVE those office politics... eeeewwww!

So, anyways, because I can't stand office politics and I happened to be out and about doing this framing gig, I was privileged to be in the right place at the right time on the way home. Some other friend's of mine have an website gig (Cities Unlimited) and I saw yet another friend's car in front of their house (an office-in-a-house house, that is) and I thought... "Hm... maybe I should go in and see if there's anything of note."

Note-taking note, that is.

And what an AWESOME conversation that was! It's so exciting to see 2 people spark together in the realm of internet marketing! How cool that was. Took alot of notes, too!

I actually believe that being in the right time at the right place (did I say that right?) happens every day all the time... in varying degrees and for different reasons. We walk (sleepwalk?) through our lives which are a beautiful tapestry of interacting people and opportunities. But RARELY do we see it! And when we do see it, it's also rare that we invest our moments in our "soul-bank." We don't take note of the phenomenon.

Ever notice how children FIXATE on fun little thoughts? "Buzz Lightyear! To the Rescue!" And they'll say something like that over and over, weaving it into various other imagined scenarios until ... well, until they drop, usually! That practice is what I'm talking about... only on a more ... adult scale.

Me, I'm 41. And I'm just beginning to take notes.

Although I am still selective. I don't watch everything within 100 feet of me (like some control-freaks do). I'm just about handling the person inside my skin (his peace, his connection with God) and the person or people God has put in front of me.

And, uh... That's it.

And sometimes the people in front of me are obviously NOT placed there to receive my peace! So I look the other way.

But I try to take notes from that perspective... and to groove on the things that sing. And I'm not talking about resonating with any Rolling-Stone/Vogue prejudice - that's plain ol' materialistic HOGWASH. I'm referring, rather, to looking at the soul of the person through the lenses of God's grace.

And a lot of times, the angels get involved! There might not even be people around and stuff is just plain SINGIN!

That's another good time to take note.

Make Way for the Terrorists! NOT.

Israeli children play for the last time (?) on their beautiful (and fully legal!) homeland in Israel... before they are evacuated and it is destroyed... BY OTHER ISRAELI'S!!!

25 neighborhoods to be torn down to make way for the terrorists!

Picture this:

Husband looks up from reading newspapaer. Sees commando outside his window violently motioning he vacate the premises. A hungry bulldozer waits behind the commando.

"Uh, honey. The army is here to destroy our house!"

Wife responds, "WHAT???!!! What on earth are is their reason?"

Husband, in disbelief, "Dunno, really... Perhaps our peaceful coexistance with the terrorist entity?"

In case you don't care about what's going on in Israel today, please be aware of the complete dismantling and demolition of 25 Jewish communities. Here is some reliable background on the legality and history of the Jewish communities in question.

[FYI - The Jewish Virtual Library is the most balanced and comprehensive archive of all things Jewish that I know of... I highly reccomend taking your questions there before you trust CNN or the New York Post! Also see Honest Reporting!]

This from www.israelnn.com article: "The first group of communities slated for destruction includes only three: Morag, Netzarim and Kfar Darom - the more isolated of the Gaza towns. Morag is appended to the east of the southern tip of the Gush Katif communities, while Kfar Darom is three kilometers to the north of Gush Katif. Netzarim is another ten kilometers further north, in central Gaza; residents and visitors travel to and fro Netzarim accompanied by military convoys roughly every hour."

"The second group of communities to be forcibly transferred includes the four in northern Shomron – Ganim, Kadim, Sa-Nur and Chomesh. The third group is the largest, including all 15 communities within the approximately 85-square kilometer (33 square miles) area of Gush Katif. The fourth group is the three secular communities of northern Gaza – Elei Sinai, Nisanit and Dugit. The final order of the groups' expulsion has not yet been set."

Isn't it interesting that our own Condoleeza Rice calls for a "contiguous Palestinian state within the borders of Israel," thus rewarding the very entity, the Palestinian Liberation Organization, aka The Palestinian Authority, created and nurtured by the godfather of terrorism himself, Yasser Arafat, with EVERYTHING THEY WANT!!!

But Condy and the rest of our good American representatives didn't react so kindly to al Queda when our own towers were "bombed"! We took to whoopin their butts as I recall!!!

So why the double standard with Israel? Why are they being forced to REWARD the terrorists in their land?

Really.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. AND for the peace of Gush Katif!

I'm a POST "post-modern" kinda guy.

I vehemently disagree with the following statement:

" The nice thing is that since we're all post-modern now anyways, you can choose anything you want and it can be your 'good'! :) "

It was discovered on an email list I'm a member of... a bunch of film industry gurus from Hollywood (and elsewhere) were arguing about the new HD technologies versus film. The statement was slightly tongue-in-cheek but it clarifies my suspicion that "post-modern" thinkers use their intellectual gymnastics to excuse all sorts of philosophy and behavior as acceptable in the sight of God.

But it ain't necessarily so!

I firmly believe that, although there is some value in questioning tradition, there is infinitely more value in doing so with a whole-hearted study of the ancient scriptures of the Hebrew peoples! The Bible is more than another world-wide bestseller (tops the charts every year, in fact!). It's the Truth written by a Being who exists outside our time-space realm - and also, thankfully, within it.

Israel is OBVIOUSLY the center of attention in our planet and for what reason? It is more than coincidence that a bunch of people (for the first time in history) who were scattered across the globe are re-united and see resurrected their dead, ancient language and participate in restoring a barren wasteland of a desert to be the only non-oil-producing democracy in the Middle East. It is providence. At least Leo Tolstoy saw it.

Look at the ancient scripture and ask your heart if it's applicable to today's sleepy, over-indulgent and EVER SO POST-MODERN Hollywood, er, I mean.. America -

2800 years ago (and does that, therefore, mean "less relevant"? Ask your heart. I pray for your insight.) Isaiah spoke and it was written and indelibly communicated in chapter 5, points 20 through 23 -

20 How horrible it will be for those who call evil good and good evil, who turn darkness into light and light into darkness, who turn what is bitter into something sweet and what is sweet into something bitter. 21 How horrible it will be for those who think they are wise and consider themselves to be clever. 22 How horrible it will be for those who are heroes at drinking wine, who are champions at mixing drinks, 23 who declare the guilty innocent for a bribe, who take away the rights of righteous people.

And Paul's letter to the Ephesians (circa 57 AD), chapter 2, in verses 1-5, makes the point that the Maker cares for us in this condition -

1 You were once dead because of your failures and sins. 2 You followed the ways of this present world and its spiritual ruler. This ruler continues to work in people who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us once lived among these people, and followed the desires of our corrupt nature. We did what our corrupt desires and thoughts wanted us to do. So, because of our nature, we deserved God's anger just like everyone else.

4 But God is rich in mercy because of his great love for us. 5 We were dead because of our failures, but he made us alive together with Christ. (It is God's kindness that saved you.

Give up on making up your own rules with absolutely no regard for the writings of those who have gone before you! And, I beg you, look at the writings of the apostles of Jesus, Yeshua, King of the Universe, who was so busy healing people and doing good things on this planet that He didn't have time to write, only to speak and love and do. Read the gospels of John, Mark, Matthew and Luke.

Ask how post-modern a thinker was Yeshua!

You might find yourself chucking the whole (supremely cool) post-modern ideology and clinging gratefully to ...

THE TRUTH IN YESHUA.

The Downtown KC Ramp is for Riders. (vlog06)

Skating the downtown ramp has been very satisfying for this oldschool dog. I can't thank the city of KC enough!!! Thank you Kansas City!!! You ROCK!!! ALSO Baruch atta Adonai Elohaynu, Melech HaOlam... who give us RAMPS TO RIDE and WHEELS on which to RIDE THEM!!!!

Also posted here. back in Feb. 2005.


Downtown Ramprider (vlog06)

Aspiring Vlogger... (vlog05)

Been reading about VLOGS lately. A "vlog" is a "video web log." There are various people doing it. Like this guy.

And me!

One stop shop for vlogs.

How to do vlogs.

A convention about about vlogging.

A note about the FIRST VLOGGER... perhaps it was Edison Carter (or Max) of the infamous sci-fi show, Max Headroom! Note the "in-the-face" style so characteristic of vloggers... the "on the spot" stream-of-consciousness... hmmm....

And, hey, where are all the CONSERVATIVE ARTISTS out there?

Aspiring vlogger (vlog05)

Vision Quest Until You Get It!

The Emergence of my Strongest Steps

Visions are born out of necessity.

There is a sense of terrible, shaking, beckoning purpose on your horizon... or perhaps right there in your chest as you read this.

Most of us live our lives in a stale mediocre existence. We live in the flow of humanity as the fortunate cow - grunting and shuffling in and out of the corral - the same way sun up as we do sun down.

We don't think to live wildly. We don't think to listen to that fantastic challenge that calls us to greatness from inside and outside.

But call to you it does... that voice inside says "There is MORE to LIFE than this ... PLAIN EXISTENCE. And it's muffled call to you is of the grist of your purpose - grand purpose in life.

Each of us is born with a specific set of potentialities and must recognize those unique values and enhance them with all our focus and energy. We have heard of a "vision quest" of the Native Americans. I would like to relate that to the way of the ancients of the Middle East, the Hebrews. They have a way of teaching their children from the ancient scripture most thoroughly and profoundly. This is the vision quest we seek. It is one that first wishes to be "washed with the pure water of the word." It seeks to rest in God's promise the way the native american youth would rest alone in the wilderness as he sought the direction of the Great Spirit. But the promises of God in Christ Jesus are "Yes!" and "Amen!"

2nd Peter 1:19 - So we regard the words of the prophets as confirmed beyond all doubt. You're doing well by paying attention to their words. Continue to pay attention as you would to a light that shines in a dark place as you wait for day to come and the morning star to rise in your hearts.

And these core talents or gfitings in our beings will coalesce as we strengthen them into various steps... sequential endeavors profoundly predestined for us in Christ Jesus -

Epheseians 2:10 . God has made us what we are. He has created us in Christ Jesus to live lives filled with good works that he has prepared for us to do.

This is the vision for our lives. And once those steps are clear, the strongest steps for achieving that vision of destiny specifically tooled to fit our being... our loved ones, acquaintances and complete strangers will follow that birth with rapt attention... even the invisible angel beings will long to look into our lives as we walk that vision path!

1st Peter 1:11 So they (students of the Word from ages past) tried to find out what time or situation the Spirit of Christ kept referring to whenever he predicted Christ's sufferings and the glory that would follow. 12 God revealed to the prophets that the things they had spoken were not for their own benefit but for yours. What the prophets had spoken, the Holy Spirit, who was sent from heaven, has now made known to you by those who spread the Good News among you. These are things that even the angels want to look into.

Sometimes fears can hide your vision
The loss of purpose chains you down
You think I’ve forgotten all you’re dreaming of
But how could I forget the one I love
And it’s...

Not by might, not by power
But by my spirit says the lord
Not by might, not by power
But by my spirit says the lord

Before the vision can be seen, we must go through a process of LEANING!!!

Picture again that native american lad, if you will. He returns from his vision quest - alone in the wilderness for weeks - leaning upon his Source, the Creator, the Great Spirit. So does the Jewish boy who prepares for his coming-of-age - his bar-mitzvah - by casting his whole soul into the "wilderness" of the Word - until he is one with the Voice of the Lord who alone speaks Truth. And we - in our modern various pursuits (ANYTHING sincere that leaves the TV OFF and is in pursuit of Truth!) - we must come from our vision quest LEANING on GOD ALONE!

Song of Solomon 8:5 Who is this young woman coming from the wilderness with her arm around her beloved?

Once the mind has left the comfort of the old paradigm and embraced the possibility of extraordinary achievement, the question that never fails to ignite the necessary creativity and passion is; what do we need to do to get there? Pay attention to all of the ideas and methods produced during your vision-gestation period and don't prejudge them. The winning steps will emerge, and often will do so, from the unlikeliest of places... from the very mysterious space of God's vast, eternal horizon!

Ephesians 5:13 Light exposes the true character of everything 14 because light makes everything easy to see. That's why it says: "Wake up, sleeper! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." 15 So then, be very careful how you live. Don't live like foolish people but like wise people.

25 Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave his life for it. 26 He did this to make the church holy by cleansing it, washing it using water along with spoken words. 27 Then he could present it to himself as a glorious church, without any kind of stain or wrinkle--holy and without faults. 28 So husbands must love their wives as they love their own bodies. A man who loves his wife loves himself.

Autistics are observing more than you think!

"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious.

He to whom this emotion is a stranger,

who can no longer wonder and stand rapt in awe,

is as good as dead:

his eyes are closed."

--Albert Einstein

I was gonna write about Autism... but, altho I highly identify with autism myself, I really know so little about that aspect of me, I decided not to.

But that quote (from an Autism page) HAD to go in here!!

First Black President of the United States of America! (vlog04)

[post script - This accounts for my 4th vlog... published before I knew what vlogs were!]

Mae C. Jemison is, quite likely, going to be one of the first women to be president of the United States of America!

On this Martin Luther King Junior Day, I'd like to let her speak to you about dreams.

You have dreams to better the planet and the condition in which its people live life on it... don't let anyone tell you to stop!

1st Black President movie (vlog03)

An Atheist in a Mouse Suit

Following is my "sorta-kinda" film review of the Israeli movie, Broken Wings, by Nir Bergman -

I don't subscribe to self-delusion although I'm probably more prone to use the word, I, than the next guy.

But, seriously, self-delusion (in or out of a mouse suit) isn't only limited to atheists. I'm prone to it, actually (probably? maybe? - better to suspect I am than to ignore the possibility, wouldn't you think? especially considering the nature of self-delusion? but I digress...). And I don't want to live the separated, muffled life that such a mouse suit imposes. So I continue to search for less selfish ways to live... while maintaining a vibrant sense of self that I can liberally share.

And I'm not talking about not living in fear... that's a whole nother battle that is no longer daily fought by those who have "died to self" (1st Peter 4:1).

I'm talking about the battle to cling to life after death has shaken your hand and greeted you with its grisly "Hello." This is the battle to (once again?) regard others in the sphere of life ... life ... with childlike wonder and respect.

The character in Broken Wings, Yair, dresses in a mouse suit to "preach" the hopelessness of existance... "We're all meaningless specks of dust," he drones as he shuffles along without hope... in his complete self-absorption. He is in deep pain of loss over the recent, utterly surprising death of his father.

And it takes a moment of naked conversation with someone who probes him deeply for a shred of honesty to shake him awake from that slumber.

But don't we all need a moment of naked awareness... utterly vulnerable to our surroundings... and, much more, the people in our spheres of sight and thought?

Without these moments of repentance... moments of realization of the deep need we have of those who love us most... we are sad, shuffling mice.... nay, specks of dust!

May we all wake up to love... love for God, yes... first and mostly! But isn't that love expressed by our love for those whose rays of reflected light enter our eyes daily?

Yes, first let's take off our mouse suits so we can better see them... and hear them... and hold them.

So, check out Ephesians 5 in that light...

13 All things having their true character exposed by the Light and are made manifest; for that which makes everything manifest is Light.
14 Therefore He says, "Wake up, you who sleep, and arise up from among the dead, and the Messiah shall shine upon you."
15 Watch carefully therefore how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,
16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 For this reason don't be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
18 And don't be drunk with wine, because it is needless indulgence in sensual pleasures; but be filled with the Spirit,
19 speaking to each other in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and chanting with your heart to the Lord;
20 giving thanks at all times for all things to Him who is God and the Father in the name of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah,
21 submitting yourselves to one another in the reverence of Messiah Yeshua.

House of Invention

This morning I had a dream that gave me the same sense I get often when I spend time with the saints of Kansas City ("saints" defined as "average people who stumble but get up and get under the Blood of Jesus... again and again...") in their prayers and praises to the Most High. It's the sense of invention and wonder. It's that scintillating atmosphere you feel in higher institutes of learning... but without the hubris and anxiety that often attends those. It's that sense of freshness you feel when stepping off the plane or the boat in those first moments of discovery in some strange, distant land.

So I wrote this song tonight to celebrate that real thing... that I happened to dream about this morning.

House of Invention

Funny. It's mysterious and dreamlike... but real... in the House of Invention, His "House of Prayer for All Nations."

Mark 11:17 Then he taught them by saying, "Scripture says, 'My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations,' but you have turned it into a gathering place for thieves."

The religious among us steal our souls... they steal our endurance... they are thieves of our wonder, thieves of our joy, thieves of our play, thieves of our worship, thieves of hard-earned dollars, yes, but they are also thieves of creative enterprise from our homes, thieves of our family life, thieves of our adventure... and they are thieves of our inventions.

Let us become as children and explore again, shall we? There is no place safer and more expansive than in the "house" of the Maker of the Univers... He who created us has also redeemed us... for a Kingdom of Wonders Unimaginable.

If you turned out as many inventions as Nikolai Tesla... you'd just be scratching the surface.

Creed for a Unified Life

I'm an American, yes, but also a Canadian... Although I was offered Canadian citizenship at 18 and ignorantly turned it down, my Mother was born Canadian and I lived there for 3 years growing up. Not bad, eh? And it doesn't stop there.

I'm truly a global citizen. I was raised by the famous American fighter pilot, Wayne R. Chaffer, who was awarded the medal of honor by a nation from half way round the world, Viet Nam. And during his tour of duty, i lived in 4 different countries - traveling through 15 different nations altogether. And since leaving home (is that possible if I'm really a global child?), I've travelled through 2 more - that's 17.

Not that it matters, though. In today's world ANYONE can live globally through the internet and the worldwide distribution of goods and services. I have friends from several nations and am now doing business with several outside the Americas. And (like everyone else) I'm buying a WHOLE LOT of products from "Big Red" half way around the world and some other products from yet several more. I regularly play my drums which are handmade from Nigeria, for instance.

All that to say that I'm not called to have a grid for just one small little nook in this huge planet of ours. I'm called to live as I have been raised... globally.

I need to just get used to that. I tend not to want to admit it... but I'm a citizen of the world - no political manipulation meant at all - it's just the simpe and honest fact! Tonight I spent quite some time reading posts in a forum surrounding an investment opportunity I'm interested in from Malaysia - PIPS, Inc.. It's quite an amazing global community that chats there (about some pretty interesting things, financially!) and I'm so impressed by the special scent, the rich flavor of people willing to meet different cultures in one place!

The amazing outpour of horror and soul that was wrought by last week's Indian Ocean Tsunamis is an event that, alone, has probably brought more people out of their "head-in-sand-like-ostriches" reality in recent history. In much the same way that 9-11 did, as it was a "world trade" center that was hit...

And just this week, we were visited here in my house by 2 dear friends who live in Nepal. They shared the rich, ancient, fresh, soulful flavor of Nepal.

And how does that pan out? pan-continentally!

It means I need to stay outside of the little box many put on their thinking which says "think locally."

Why limit your activism for the betterment of humanity (you ARE an activist for justice aren't you?) to just your neighborhood or city? You don't have to limit the think-realm to just that! You could be acting for just your locale but still THINKING about all people everywhere! I think the more accurate popular phrase should be said,

"Think Globally - Start ANYWHERE!"

You can make a difference right where you are, but you can make MORE of a difference if you're SENSITIZED to the many cultures of people who live on this balancing-ball with you!!!

Christopher Cross, the singer/songwriter who wrote Sailing ("takes me away to where I'm going...") also wrote,

"Open your heart until - everyone's in - it's never too late to believe - and begin."

And that's my theme song for this Creed for a Unified Life. Have a sing!

6, 7, 8!

"Everything you know is wrong."

Evolution is a lie. We're not billions of years old. We're thousands of years old. Can you say "worldwide cataclysm" and "frozen munching mammoths" and "super silly geologists"? This planet has been around for 6 THOUSAND years! Period. Adjust your thinking. You've been thinking wrong.

We're heading towards the 7th millennium (see Psalm 90:4 - 2nd Peter 3:8 - Revelation 20:2-7) and the Millennial Reign of the God in Messiah Yeshua who made it all! And that "7" is there for a reason. It's not coincidence. It's not overtly mystical. It's just a fact of perfection, completion and maturity - the essence of the "7th day!"

Isaiah 2:3 - And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

And after the 7th millennium is the 7000th year and the dawn of the 8th Day Reign. (Year 0000 - 1000, being the first Millenium)

The Jews understand the "8th day" very well. They look forward to the "eternal day" when all is summed up in God. The number 8 has such extreme significance for eternity and the infinite nature of the Creator of the Universe and what He wants to ultimately impart to humanity.

Us humans feel deep inside we are meant for so much more - more emotion - more understanding - better living conditions - better stewardship of the world around us. And what we're MEANT for - our ETERNAL NATURE - will come to pass! We are eternal in the ETERNAL ONE who MADE us "in His image" (male and female)! And we're being brought tenderly and relentlessly into that eternal perspective, wisdom, and nature.

And, friend, this eternal nature, in it's very essence, is not sprinkled with evil or tainted with defiling, deprecating features. Our destructive choices and lifestyle will be put aside as boring, passe and quite a ridiculous waste of time! We're not meant to bring destructiveness ("sin") upon ourselves in ANY capacity. And God's eternal nature unveiled and patiently taught by Yeshua, the Prince of Peace ((as it's scope reaches ALL ASPECTS of our humanity) will COMPLETELY DELETE that destructive thinking and behavior! Because we are meant to be a people filled with INVENTING and CREATING - unhindered by exploitative, selfish and oppressive corporations and individuals - with no more need for war!

Isaiah 2:4 - And He hath judged between the nations, And hath given a decision to many peoples, And they have beat their swords to ploughshares, And their spears to pruning-hooks, Nation doth not lift up sword unto nation, Nor do they learn any more--war.

So "sin" (that perennially misunderstood concept) is destructive and God is teaching us now and will teach us exponentially more in the 7th day how we ultimately and completely LIVE OUTSIDE of destructive thoughts and behavior and live in the VAST, OPENNESS AND WONDER OF INFINITE CREATIVITY AND INVENTION - ALL SEEDED, INCUBATED AND HARVESTED IN LOVE!

So, thinking about where we're at at now - the END of the 6th millennium (due in 245 years by the uncorrected Jewish calendar) - we're seeing an era of "666, a number representing mankind's will. But it's very symbolism indicates there is a 667... and a 7th millennium of wonder and maturity and fulfillment just around the corner!!! The ignorant and proud, fallen nature of mankind is passing. God's full original intention is coming and will be manifest here on Terra Firma in a neighborhood near you!

And beyond that 7th epoch, the thousand years of tutoring and "higher education" by the Maker of Everything... there is the 8th Millennium!

The 8000th year will bring the new beginning - having unlearned everything that was WRONG with our thinking and living, we will begin anew, being fully trained and fully READY for the PERMANENT, NON-EXPLOITATIVE TRUTH that lays ahead of us!

No more exploiting women... No more exploiting children... No more exploiting the earth's resources... No more exploiting the tender biological balance of the animals and plants... and no more exploiting the naivete of humanity to achieve the above!

I'm just so fascinated to explore the aspects of this new beginning, this 8th, eternal DAY. What will we do when technology and humanity have reached their pinnacle in perfection of maturity and, truly, not even the sky will limit us! Neither the sky of the earth nor the sky of the soul...

To infinity and beyond! Boldly going where no one has gone before!

Not only is OUTER SPACE and it's innumerable stars the "final frontier," but the space within us - our unlimited ability of inventiveness as restored humanity - is the means to get us into that final frontier!

And WHO will guide us? Who will restore us to "original concept design"?

The same One who has inspired "EVERY good and perfect gift" -

Yeshua, the Son of God, from above!

James 1:17 - Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Worship Him alone and not yourself (or your local inventor!)!

REST ASSURED, these things WILL come to pass... Isaiah 28:15 says, "Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone , a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste."

Hebrews 13:20-21 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Original material © 2004 by Tom "Toma" Chaffer and AtomSoundMedia