Switchfoot - I dare you to move

Since this blog is actually just for me. To remember things I've discovered, or to throw some of my thought out in the air, I thought I might as well be free to post even a year after the last one.

By the way,(in advance): Happy 2009 ;-)

The last time when I was as tired as I am now, I was 17, school seemed to be too much for me, and in that year... I met Jesus.

It turned out to be a year where I learned so much, even though it seemed like a very frustrating year at first. Jesus dared me to step into a new life with Him.

I can say, the past few weeks it feels like He's daring me again.

Switchfoot has this great song, "I dare you to move". Find it on youtube somewhere. The song is just really "my song" these day's even though I have no clue what next step to take.

So, when I like a song, because of the lyrics I usually try to come up with an illustration. And I mix the lyrics with some picture. I couldn't help sharing this one.

Everytime I look at my desktop, it makes me smile.

Hope it makes you smile TOO

And if you put it on your desktop, it may remind you that there's more to life.

Or that right now is the moment to make that choice you never dared to make.

Or to finally speak up for what you really believe or...

...or to finally step out in the thing you know God's had put in your heart since you were little...

...believe me... I'm preaching to me.

But I already HAVE this picture on my desktop ;-)

Merry Christmas and a Blessed 2008

Relationship with.... God?!

"It's a mind-blowing concept that the God who created the Universe might be looking for company, a real relationship with people, but the thing that keeps me on my knees is the difference between Grace and Karma."
"You see, at the center of all religions is the idea of Karma. You know, what you put out comes back to you: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, or in physics - in physical laws - every action is met by an equal or an opposite one. It's clear to me that Karma is at the very heart of the Universe. I'm absolutely sure of it. And yet, along comes this idea called Grace to upend all that 'As you reap, so will you sow' stuff. Grace defies reason and logic. Love interrupts, if you like, the consequences of your actions, which in my case is very good news indeed, because I've done a lot of stupid stuff"

(quote from BONO - U2)

To me, Christmas is the evidence that God wants a relationship with us people so bad.
We mess up everything He created (the world, nature or our own bodies), we deny Him, don't recognise Him, mock Him...
His the Most High King Who is offering an eternal life with Him, a life based on Love - His love for us - and a life based on His acceptance.
As a Mighty creator, He could've easily make us love Him, but He wants voluntary love.
So He came down to this earth and reached out to win our hearts.... to win my heart... to win your heart.

As Julie Miller sang: "How could you say no to this man"

No Buts

"gerald troost" and "nobuts" were playing in de Peppel here in Zeist yesterday evening.
It's been a while since I got surprised by music... but here it was.
gerald troost is Dutch worship but with a personal toutch.
The style of music wasn't particularly my cup of tea, but the honesty and the lyrics was!
Nobuts was my style: three guitars (accoustic, electric, bass) and a drummer is all it takes to play good Dutch songs.
Strange to mention this in English...
...but I like good Dutch lyrics. :-)

On of the songs they played was (translated) called: Fear not!
Somehow I sense that that's a word for all christians for the coming season.
Whatever comes, God is with you so be of good courage and fear not!
It's not even a suggestion, it's more like a command: "Fear not!".
:-)

I had the opurtunity to talk to Gerald and his wife for a minute. The thing that struck me was, that he is really sharing his own life/songs/music.
It's really courageous to open up like that on stage. And to experience that in a small place like "De Peppel" (quite small , it can contain like 200 people) is really encouraging me to be like that.
I've experienced what it's like to play music in front of a group.
But when it's your own song - that's more fragile.

I hope I'll be albe to translate my emotions/thoughts in songs one day.
Until then, I'll just have to post entries like this and redirect you to websites from people who have developed that gift and put it into practice: "gerald troost" "nobuts"

LIFE

I'm totally aware of my ...
... lack of posting any entries during the past few months really...

I couldn't possibly summarize all that has been happening
or briefly share all the small and big thoughts and revelations that have going through my mind.
So I'll just share today's thought as if it was last week that I posted.

This morning, as I was walking to go to work...
...it was colder then before,
...a bit darker outside when I woke up,
...a bit gloomier in the sky,
...trees were beginning to loose their leaves already!

And I just can't get around it: Summer has ended again, and Fall is coming.

Somehow I tend to take the seasons as a picture of how our lives can be.
Fall always seems like life is slowly going out...
trees look cold, pale, empty... and it doesn't look like they'll have any fruit/green on them anymore.
Sometimes I feel like I'm not fruitful in things I do...
and there are moments I feel less alive.

There are two really hopeful pictures in the Fall...
one is, whenever it feels like your life becomes dry and empty of life, you may get the most beautiful colors at that moment! You just may look more beautiful then ever.

When you finally let go of all the outward ' things' you're showing off with - the core of you becomes visible...
...and it's not dead at all...
...it'll get stronger during the storms and cold.

You need hope (for springtime to come) and faith (that you're really not dead, but being strengthened in who you really are, and one day you'll be fruitful again)

I hope this makes sense,
since it's late for me as I'm writing this.
But for me Fall, this new season, is a hopeful season.
colorful, challenging, from strength to strength.

I like it!

I'm An Orange Moon

The Light That Never Fails

We all, with unveiled face,
beholding... the glory of the Lord

(2 Corinthians 3:18)
We must build our faith not on fading lights but on the Light that never fails.
A Christian servant is one who perpetually looks into the face of God and then
goes forth to talk to others.

(Quote from "My Utmost FOR HIS Highest" by Oswald Chambers' one minute devotions)

I read this truth two days ago... And experience it for myself time and time again.

When I'm in a meeting, knowing myself to be out of fear for what people may think about me, and determined to meet with God, I know this is true; We are made to reflect the Light.

Erykah Badu, however weird her mindset may be, had this song, and it comes to my mind quite often. This song "orange moon", is what I feel when I've had not just another service where we just sing our songs and leave unchanged

(I'm fed up with those kind of meetings, our prayer should be that a meeting will honor God as God, will not leave us unchanged, and will be a real meeting with God instead of just a humanistic 'nice' gathering going on),

but sensed a glimpse of His Light. Whenever that happens, it hits me. Because every time I'm deeply honored that God Himself continually tries to come into relation with us.

Im an orange moon
Reflecting the light of the sun

I praise the day
He turned my way
and He smiled at me
just smiled at me

How good He is
How God He is
I'm an orange moon
I'm brighter than before
Reflecting the light of the Son

Poodle

I'm about to post more 'spiritually justified' information...
I just laughed out loud reading this while searching for some kind of technical information

... While this is indeed the "best practices" approach for creating a box with rounded corners, it is not always feasible for those of us who are developer teams of one, and whose artistic skills match those of a brain-damaged poodle...


:-)

Article on www.4GuysFromRolla.com/

BECOME

There's so much more about you

that you never let them see

You turn away

But not to Me

And I know how they tried to take you

Held you up and meant to break you down

But you can't be

For so long I tried to reach you

I know I'm almost there

I'm close enough for you to see

You've been hiding in the shadows

Have you forgotten how we used to dream

Let me remind you

The light doesn't blind you at all

It just helps you see

Can you see

You have become

You have become beautiful

- become - googoodolls -

- This song came to my mind last week.

Last summer on the airplane to Minnesota, while skipping through several albums they had,

I listened to this song and it struck me.

And even though I didn't buy the album, I didn't forget the lyrics.

It's not a christian song, but I believe Jesus wants to tell me (us) the same:

DON'T HIDE from me,

DON'T be scared to come into the light...

You know light helps you see,

Which is positive, but not always appealing, because

standing in the light of Jesus will make really clear all your deeds, thoughts, faith and unbelief.

But He sais:

Come close, don't be afraid, because I am the Light, and I won't hurt you, I want to open your eyes, I want to give you LIFE.

I want you to get OUT of this world that is breaking you, and invite you into Mine.

I want to open your eyes and show you who you really are.

I try to reach you, please don't hide in the shadow, let me come closer,

I'll enlighten you and free you, but first you got to open up.

Come into the light.