Through Christ Alone

"For through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father" (Ephesians 2:18).

Only in Christ can we draw near to the Father. We draw near to God when we pray. The prayer relationship transforms us into Christ's likeness, because the Spirit is at work in us. Prayer is not really all about getting God to grant us favors.

Did you notice that the Trinity is mentioned here in this verse? I was once told that Paul was not trinitarian, but here you have mention of the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 13:14 is another good example of Paul including all three members of the Trinity.

Christ is our all in all! He is "the way, and the truth, and the life." Only through Him do we approach God in relationship. Only through Christ do we experience the blessings of heaven and eternal life. The only way we can come boldly before the throne of God in prayer is because we are "in Christ."

Help me, Lord, to have a growing desire to spend more time with You in prayer. Guide my thoughts, words, and actions. Forgive me of my sin against You. Help me to learn from the wise and to be an example to the young. May everyone see Christ in me. I praise You, my God, for all Your mightiness and holiness. Thank you for saving me. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Waiting for the Soul to Ripen

"My soul, wait in silence for God only, for my hope is from Him" (Psalm 62:5).

Have you ever had a conversation with yourself? Do you ever give yourself instructions? David did. He instructed his soul to wait for God. He faced dangers, toils, and snares all around him, yet David would rely on His God for help. David recognized that only God could provide his salvation. He calls God a "rock" and a "stronghold" (62:2). You should also take notice that, for David, it was personal. He called God "my rock" and my stronghold." Is God your rock? Is He your stronghold? Your defense? Your help in times of trouble? He wants to be; won't you let Him?

David also waited in silence for God. He didn't get loud or pretentious. He simply waited on God to act, for God would act and He did act. Remember that. God will act!

David waited in silence for God only. Many people look to many things for help, only to find that all those things don't help at all. In fact, more times than not, those "helps" only make matters worse. Depend on God alone. He is able! He is trustworthy! Indeed, He is God! David realized that hope, true hope, comes only from God.

How much time do you spend in prayer and Bible study? My hope is that these practices will improve as I continue walking with Christ. May God continue to mature me in Christ through His Word, the Bible, and through prayer. May He use my Bible reading and study to train me to think biblically, like Christ. Continue to ripen me, Lord, for Your glory!

Dear God, thank You for waiting on me. Help me always to wait on You and Your guidance. May I long for You all of my days. I love You, Lord. Thank You for loving me. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Waiting Is Good

"But I don't want to wait!" We hear this so often. We think this too often. Who really likes to wait?

"When is this pot of water going to boil?" "How long is this redlight?" "Will this take very long?" "Three minutes is too long to wait on this popcorn. I want it now!" We frequently think of waiting in negative terms.

But waiting is also a good thing. Hear the Word of the Lord: "The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him" (Lamentations 3:25).

There is blessings from the Lord in the waiting period. Actually, if we take this verse to heart, the waiting can be more profitable than the thing for which we are waiting. God is good. He is good to those who wait on Him. In waiting on Him, we can seek Him and His desires for our lives.

We might just discover that the thing we desire simply isn't desirable. Seek the Lord! Knowing Him is better than anything else. Seek Him while there is opportunity.

I thank You, Lord, for being good to me by saving me and calling me into Your service. Your blessings overwhelm me. Help me to always wait on You. Encourage me daily to seek you. Forgive me where and when I fail you. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Baby Doll High Chair

This is my second carpentry project. I found the plans on ana-white.com. It was a gift for Isabella. Sophia's has been cut out, I just have to assemble it.

Are you a frog or a lizard? That's a funny and strange question, right? Let me explain.

I've been reading a book called Show and then Tell: Presenting the Gospel through Daily Encounters by Kent and Davidene Humphreys. In it I read about the difference between the eating habits of frogs and lizards.

A frog will simply sit and wait. If a bug happens to come near, the frog simply sticks his tongue out and gets his meal.

The lizard, however, has to hunt for his food. I'm told that if a lizard sits and waits like a frog, he would starve to death.

The book went on to explain that there are two types of ministers: the frogs and the lizards. The "frogs" are the pastors, associate pastors, youth ministers, etc. Like the insects coming to the frog, ministry opportunities come to them automatically by the nature of their job. The "lizards" are the so-called regular people. They are doctors, nurses, teachers, mechanics, grocers, bankers, clerks, lawyers, architects, homemakers, secretaries, managers, salesmen, etc. They have to be intentional in their pursuit of ministry opportunities. They have to hunt for the opportunities to share the love of Christ with others.

Frogs and lizards are both useful to God and His plan here on earth for salvation and for helping others.

So which one are you? When I ask myself this question, I must confess that I feel like some sort of bizarre creature who can transform from a frog to a lizard and vice versa. Since I am bi vocational, I spend time as a frog and as a lizard. However, whether I am a frog or a lizard, my aim everyday is to bring honor and glory to Jesus Christ. I hope that is your goal as well.

"Stick with me, friends. Keep track of those you see running this same course, headed for this same goal. There are many out there taking other paths, choosing other goals, and trying to get you to go along with them. I've warned you of them many times; sadly, I'm having to do it again. All they want is easy street. They hate Christ's Cross. But easy street is a dead-end street....Don't waver. Stay on track, steady in God" (Phil. 3:17-4:1, The Message).

The Red River Shootout

That's right folks! It's that time again...time for the Red River Shootout, which features the OU Sooners versus the UT Longhorns. Now, I know that the NCAA would prefer me to call it the Red River Rivalry, but that's just dumb. They say "shootout" promotes violence, but after all, it's football (and not the powderpuff kind).

In honor of the big game, here are some jokes at the expense of UT's recent reputation for getting into trouble with the law. Enjoy!

1. What do you call a drug ring in Austin? A huddle.


2. Four UT Longhorns in a car , who's driving? The police.


3. The UT Longhorns have adopted a new "Honor System". Yes your Honor, no your Honor.


4. The UT Longhorns knew they had to do something for their defense, so theyhired a new defensive coordinator: F. Lee Bailey.


5. How do the UT Longhorns spend their first week at fall practice? Studying their Miranda rights.


6. What do you say to a Longhorn in a suit? Will the defendant please rise?


7. If you see Longhorn football player on a bike , why don't you swerve to hit him? It might be your bike!


8. The Longhorns employ scouts. But to look out for cops , not to scout high school kids.


9. I heard a rumor that the Texas Department of Corrections plans to build a new prison in Austin , Texas. It will allow players to walk to school.


10. What do you call it when a Longhorn goes on vacation? Time off for good behavior.


11. Why couldn't the Longhorn get into a huddle on the football field? It's a parole violation to associate with known felons.


12. Obviously Coach Mack Brown is not paying his players if they have to resort to robbing people.


13. Book 'em, Horns!

BOOMER SOONER!!!

September Reading

1. Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Faith in Community - Dietrich Bonhoeffer. I recommend this to any committed Christian.
2. The Dangerous Book for Boys - Gonn & Hal Iggulden. This is for boys of all ages.
3. The Plague - Albert Camus. I don't recommend this to anyone. This is the worst book I've read this year.
4. John Newton: Author of "Amazing Grace" - Anne Sandberg. I recommend this wonderful little biography to anyone.
5. Confessions of a Reformission Rev.: Hard Lessons From An Emerging Missional Church - Mark Driscol. This is for the pastor or church planter.

August Reading

1. The First Man - Albert Camus
2. The Abolition of Man - C. S. Lewis
3. Velvet Elvis - Rob Bell
4. When Hollywood Says Yes, How Can America Say No? - Gene Wolfenbarger
5. Destined For The Throne - Paul E. Billheimer
6. Gems For The Journey - Bob Cole

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Today is Nauru Awareness Day!

Nauru is a tiny island in the middle of the Pacific. Today let them know they're not completely forgotten by sending the President a friendly postcard at Office of the President, c/o Ministry of Works, Yaren Nauru.

Nauru became independent as a republic in 1968. It's six-time president is Bernard Dowiyogi.

Isn't It Ironic?

I have been installing windows in XTO's fifteen-story Petrolium Building in downtown Fort Worth since June 11th. Yesterday when I entered the lobby to sign in through security, I noticed a flyer posted on the wall that was advertising a fundraiser for the American Heart Association that XTO is hosting. I casually glanced at it and quickly noticed something odd. The flyer listed the food and the prices. The prices were not the problem...after all, it is a fundraiser. What dumbfounded me was the food they are going to be serving: hotdogs, chili dogs, nachos, and frito pie--you know, foods like that which one doesn't usually put together with health in mind.

Perhaps through this fundraiser, the AHA is trying to further their research by getting people to eat more food that is bad for the heart. I don't know. Regardless of the reasoning, the security guard and I had a good laugh about it.