Darkness and light

There is a song called, " I want to be in the light." written by Charlie Peacock that has been one of my favorites for a long time. I was first introduced to the song after winning a 3 cassette set of Charlie Peacock's from a local christian radio station years ago. Every chance I could get I'd play those cassettes in the tape deck of my little Ford Escort hatchback. I wore out the cassette before I wore out the car.

There is such a contrast between darkness and light. Sometimes the space between seems impossible to pass through. Biblically speaking, when Moses went up to the mountian to receive the ten commandments, the physical nature of his face was changed. His face seemed to "glow"! When Jesus takes Peter, James and John up to the top of the mountain to pray, his face's appearance changed and his clothes became dazzling white!

When we draw near to G-d, we soak up the light like a thirsty sponge. When we walk away from G-d, we dry up like a sponge without water. Soaking or dry, light or dark are contrasts that make spiritual and physical sense. Maybe the reason I wore out the tape with that song on it all those years ago was because I was thirsty or needing a little light in my life.

We all need refreshment and light in order to live.
"I want to be in the light as You are in the light, I want to shine like the stars in the heavens..."

I keep trying to find a life
On my own apart from you
I am the king of excuses
I've got one for every selfish thing I do

(Tell me) what's going on inside of me
I despise my own behavior
(This only) serves to confirm my suspicions
That I'm still a man in need of a Savior

(CHORUS)
I wanna be in the Light
as You are in the Light
I wanna shine like the stars
in the Heavens
Oh, Lord be my light
and be my Salvation
'cause all I want is to be in the Light
All I want is to be in the Light

This disease of self runs through my blood (through my blood)
It's a cancer fatal to my soul
Every attempt on my behalf has failed
to bring this sickness under control

Tell me what's going on inside of me
(Whats going on)
I despise my own behavior
(Despise my own behavior)
This only serves to confirm my suspicions
That I'm still a man in need of a Savior

I wanna be in the Light
as You are in the Light
I wanna shine like the stars
in the Heavens
Oh, Lord be my Light
and be my Salvation
'cause all I want is to be in the Light (yeah)
All I want is to be in the Light

(BRIDGE)
Honesty becomes me
[There's nothing left to lose]
The secrets that did run me
[Your presence have defused]
Pride has no position
[As riches have no worth]
The fame that once did cover me
[Has been sentenced to this Earth]
Has been sentenced to this Earth

Tell me what's going on inside of me
(What’s going on)
I despise my own behavior
(Despise my own behavior)
This only serves to confirm my suspicions
That I'm still a man in need of a Savior

I wanna be in the Light
as You are in the Light
I wanna shine like the stars
in the Heavens
Oh, Lord be my light
and be my Salvation
'cause all I want is to be in the Light
All I want to be is in the Light (3x)

[There's no other place I want to be]
[No other place that I can see]
[A place to be that's just right]
[Someday I'm gonna be in the Light]
[You are in the Light]
[That's where I need to be]
[That's right where I need to be]

Sunny and rainy day friends

There are two kinds of friends in the world: Sunny day friends and rainy day friends. This is a statement that my Mom used to remind me of when I was in the midst of drama or conflict with one school friend of another. There are lots of people that we define as friends, but they are really acquaintances. Two men were out hunting in the northern U.S. Suddenly one yelled and the other looked up to see a grizzly charging them. The first started to frantically put on his tennis shoes and his friend anxiously asked, "What are you doing? Don't you know you can't outrun a grizzly bear?" "I don't have to outrun a grizzly. I just have to outrun you!" This story is funny, but it does help define the distinct difference between a rainy day friend and a sunny day friend. The sunny-day-friend is more concerned with watching out for their own health and wellness, than their friends' wellbeing. On the other hand, a rainy day friend is willing to take risks, work fo

FCE - Dog stroke in spine

Kahlúa is our 15 year old dog that we adopted from the Humane Society when she was four. She joined our family and has been with us for eleven years so far. This morning we found her laying on the carpet in the dining room and was unable to get up and go outside. After letting her rest for a few hours, I gave her some bread to eat and she got up. She was wobbly so I scooped her up and took her outside to go to the bathroom. She managed to remain standing for a few minutes, but was back down quickly. Her back legs did not want to support her even though she was trying to walk. By this point, she had begin to cry so I called the vet and they said to bring her in for an evaluation. My kids and I tearfully wrapped her up in a blanket and drove to the vet. It seemed as if we were sitting in the waiting room forever. The vet told me that her heart, eye function, and lungs were great - also taking into consideration her age of 15! The problem seemed to be FCE - firocartilanginous embolism: w

Gifts we have to give

So often people will think of the areas of life that they fall short or what may need some improvement. I think there is some wisdom in knowing where we need some work as humans, but I also feel it is equally important to learn, foster and use the gifts each one of us are instilled with. So here is the challenge or question that I'd like to present: "What gift(s) has God given to you that can be used in the care and ministry of loving others?" How have you seen that gift used in the past? How would you like to use it? If you dream big and I dream big together - how could God work in that big pool of gifts in the lives of others??? Let's share our gifts today and dream of what they can accomplish for God's purpose! 1 Peter 4:8-10 (New International Version) 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others,

Uphill idealist

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