Thursday, January 1, 2009

Where I stand (for lack of a better word)






A very wise man once quoted to me “There is no marking time(Standing in one spot) in Christianity, only forward march or full retreat.” So that is why I say lack of a better word or phrase.


Where I am at the moment is a place of great need. I need a renewal of Spirit, Mind, Strength, Health, and Peace of Mind.



Its so easy to get off track in your life with all of the stress of school hunting, job hunting, scholarship hunting. With social stresses at home and school, and with friends when people assume there is a ‘thing‘ going on. With the stress of unfair teachers, cruel peers, and more and more tension with less time to resolve it all. But all of this is just an epic excuse for simple spiritual laziness.


Where I stand now is crying out to my God, asking for a personal revival; renewal, and a quick awaking, to the severity and reality of the evil time on earth today. Waiting on every drop of life and breath that He gives me. I know now how much I love my God for I know not what I would do without the hope, peace and joy that He brings. Even in the smilingly bleak times your Mountain tops never out weight your Valleys.


Now therefore, Arise, O LORD God, to Your resting place, You and the ark of Your strength. Let Your priest, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation, And let Your saints rejoice in goodness. O LORD God, do not turn away the face of Your Anointed; Remember the mercies of Your servant David- Psalm 132:8-10


For now I have chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there forever; and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually. 2 Chronicles 7:16


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Now which of these armies looks more powerful? Which ones progression stopped? The George Washington Birthday Parade is the first picture. The second a retreating German army after WWI.

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Humble Poem







Oft have I seen at some cathedral door
A laborer, pausing in the dust and heat,
Lay down his burden, and with reverent feet
Enter, and cross himself, and on the floor
Kneel to repeat his paternoster o'er;
Far off the noises of thw world retreat;
The loud vociferations of the street
Become an undistinguishable roar.
So, as I enter her form day to day,
And leave my burden at this minster gate,
Kneeling in prayer, and not ashamed to pray,
The tumult of the time disconsoalate
To inarticulte murmurs dies away,
While the eternal ages watch and wait.








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This is a poem in the perface of Dante's Inferno. I just found it so simple, moving, and true. That I thought that I would share it. I wish that I knew the composer. It maybe latter in the book. Not sure yet. I'll more that likely post more of my more liked parts of the book.

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Excessive Ignorance, Conscience Disobedience, or Plain Laziness?




I was on the way home form Lake Charles one time and a pasted this sign and thought it was incredibly funny; that the officials in LA would have to post it. Let me tell you about it. There is a side road that runs parallel to I-10 and the road that the point of the sign has been strait for almost two whole miles. You can see way ahead there is a huge oak tree and about 10 feet in font of the tree is a stop sign; with large yellow caution placards. I just had to chuckle at the thought of some one being that dumb as to not stop at the end of the road where the pavement stopped and the huge tree started. Or that someone needing money would crash and sue the LA government for not having a sign. I drove a little further and say a sigh that said “Buc-ee’s Only 262 mile you CAN HOLD IT!”. Theses signs I don’t expect you to believe but for the more obvious ones. Yes I do expect you to see, obey.

But then as I was driving home by myself I reasoned how often as Christians do we do the same thing? How often do we just keep 'driving' and not see the signs that are posted right in your front glass, or how often do they just not listen to the GPS that is screaming at them?


For an example. A dear friend of mine a long time ago asked me what I thought about a guy. I gave her my response. I told her that I didn’t like him that he wasn’t going to be good for her. That I didn’t like the idea at all. She said okay took the advise in one ear the strait out the other. She wound up mistreated, abused, and no one to help her one bad night he almost killed her... She lives in Florida now.


Another I was in the presence of this. We a large group of friends where talking and a guy said “Okay guys. ______ and I have been dating for two weeks now. We have been on 3 dates and the weird 'Get to know each other part' is almost over. And I want to avoid the appearance of evil with her. I want to uphold her honor, her witness, and her purity. How do I do that?” John said “Dude I know it’s hard and it’ll sound crazy, but group dates. Group dates with more that just ya’ll in the car. Hang out at HER parents house. Be with her siblings, always be with some one else. There is almost no available time to do any thing; when you’re with other people especially family.” Alex replied “Dude never thought of that! That should work great.” Three months later (Name of Girlfriend) was pregnant. With him now living in Montana, and her, I am sad to say I lost contact with about a year ago. I have no idea how she and her child are doing.


How about the less obvious things? Like not cheating on a test. Then the teacher catches you, and you are down the creek with out a pattle to get back up with. That teacher that thought 'That kid he is such a good Christian." Now thinks "Fake".


Or your driving at night with your best friend, and there aren’t any head lights to be seen so you pull over and deiced to still a sign and the cop that has been sitting on the side of the road with engine treble walks around the corner and your hanging off the sign with a wrench in your hand. That one...if a Federal Crime. That is Jail.


Since we are on the topic of cops how about this old dozy? You are sitting at a red light 2:55 am one hour from home, and your head in bobbing up and down because you are dowsing off; you are the only on in the car. You have been sitting at this read light for 15 min. On the line. At the light. 15 min. only person on the road. So you just go…and you are pulled over buy the cop in the shopping center that have been watching you for the 15 min you had your car in park on the high way waiting for the light to change. Yes you can fight it. But what is the use?


So the point that I am trying to get across is do what is right. Do what is expected of you. No matter how awful it may feel, no matter how it may put you out. No matter how embarrassing it is. The ‘signs’, the advise is there for your betterment. For you providence, for your use, and above all for your good.


Some of the best advise comes form the people that have been there before you. Some times they just know there way around a big hole in front of you. Listen don’t make the same mistake they did. Don’t let there screw up be in vain. Let them help you.
Let you compass the light in your life be The Holy Spirit of the Living God. Yes you'll screw up. But go, run the course set in front of you, fight the good fight. So that at the end of your life God can treat you like a cake. So he can pull you out of this 'oven' of life, and say "Well done."(Cheesy I know but it gets the point across)




Monday, November 3, 2008

Chivalry Fact or Legend?


What has happened to this woe begotten term?


Do you even know what Chivalry is?


It has undergone such a metamorphoses that most know the word. But do not understand the full term of the definition.


This definition was stolen in good cause form this web site. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chivalrous


chiv·al·rous Pronunciation: \ˈshi-vəl-rəs\ Function: adjective Date: 14th century 1: valiant2 : of, relating to, or characteristic of chivalry and knight-errantry3 a: marked by honor, generosity, and courtesy b: marked by gracious courtesy and high-minded consideration especially to women synonyms
see civil


There are modernist that say “This is a made up concept. The Knight Code didn’t not exist but in fairy tales. They were just mean blood thirsty men that were out for there earthly desires” NOT true. They were highly respected men of there times. That were the role models, pop icons, idols of the day.


Now I ask this question in the fear and complete udder disgust for the male gender. Last night was senior night at my high school. This is the night that Mom and Dad walk me out on the field. As the announcer tells things that I have done in my high school career. All and all a fun thing to do.


Every thing was going really well and fun. After my name time was over on the field I went back to the stands with the band. Mom and Dad stayed a little while and watched me direct a few things; while I showed a little of the leadership that my amazing father instilled in me when I was younger.


Every thing was just loads of fun. Then my Mom and Dad leave to sit in the stands. Mom and Dad sit and are watching a little bit of the game and a guy while putting on his jacket hits my mom with his coat sleeve. She didn’t mind at all and jokingly said “Boy you had better be more careful with that thing or I’ll take it away form you ‘cause I am cold!” Right thing out of (Word of the Day!!!) Chivalry he should have yielded his jacket to my mother. Not because she is MY mother. But simple form the respect that she should be treated with respect. But do you know what he did? He looked over his shoulder at her and turned up his nose, and very rudely laughed.


Then a friend of mine said “Dude you just hit that lady with your jacket say your sorry!” and the guy said “H&LL NO!!!”


I did not over hear all of this or then would I have done something other than type out a blog on the falling standards of Masculinity. My father stands up and demands an apology. Demands that the boy say he is sorry and leave there presence. The boy stands up (he is about 10th grade) and said he would when H&LL freezes over”. Then my father stands up. O boy was this fun to hear about. My father stands up all in all about 6’2” in his most demanding voice said “Now.”. Once again the boy said “Never” then my father said “ONE…More…Chance…” and got on the level he was on. And towered over him. Then the boy’s girlfriend was standing behind him and said. “Just say your sorry…it’s not worth getting killed over.” So the boy then turns to mom and gives a very humble, terrified apology, and turns to walk away. The dad said “No Sir” The boy stopped in his tracks. Spun around and said “What now?” in a very rude voice. “You tip your hat to her.” The boy looks confused. “NOW BOY” He tipped his hat and walked off really fast. As the fans around then were cheering for dad.


Now none of that would have happened if the boy after tapping my mom would have said “Ma’am I am sorry I will be more careful next time. It will not happen again.” Mom then would have excepted and that would have been the end of it.


But no. Then is almost no Civility to anyone at this day and age. It makes me sick to know that there are men, who do not know God. Which in turn makes them lack the full role of what they are supposed to do in cultivating this world. That the lack the drive form the God of this universe to fulfill what they where designed to do. It simply put makes me sick!Men step up and fulfill your role in the home and society.


Simply put Be a Man, A Godly Man.


Thursday, October 23, 2008

Is Just “Warm” Okay?

Yesterday we were out on the felid marching. And there was just something wrong. There was something that just seemed in a matter of specking off. Just out of the ordinary. There was no life, no power, no energy, in the music. It was just blain.

As I was walking to class I remember the Lukewarm church in Laodicea that was vomited out.

And I got to thinking….(always dangers I know…) I love hot coffee, piping, steaming hot. I love hot tea. I have a tea kettle. It has to boil to whittle. Boiling water is hot. Elementary principle I know. But stick with me.I like that stuff hot…piping, seaming hot.

But these things I like cold. Milk, Water, Coke, Water-melon, Popsicles, ice cream. Those are cold.

Now do I like my water warm, or my coffee after sitting there for a while? Not at all…

One time I was in Beaumont bye my self and ran it to some friends at the mall. We all decided about 15 of us to go and see a movie. We all load up in the Jeep, and one of my friends Impalas and head over to the theater. I really only know 2 of them. So I was somewhat shy, and didn’t talk much. We watched the movie…don’t even remember witch one it was. But I remember after that I wanted to go home. I had spent more money than I had planed on. And was tired. But NO NO NO every one was hungry. So what is open after the midnight showing were 15 people can eat? IHOP of course! So in this epic tale we drive on over. Walk in…If you have never been to IHOP w/ 12 people you don’t know…it’s very interning to say the least. The only people in IHOP at 2:45 am is People with the munches coming off there high. Old people that can’t sleep. Travels and/or truckers. And the teen group…We the last spoken of was us. were the only people under the age of 30 in there. As stated before I didn’t want to spend much more money plus I wasn’t hunger. SO I ask for a cup of coffee. It comes out and it’s okay…not the best and not the worst…but still not the best. I drink it down. And ask for more. She looks at me like “You retard” and points to the pitcher on the table. I pore a cup not looking stop ¾ of the way up.. Take a gulp.

BLAH!!!!!!! Icy cold.!!!! Nasty!!! Bitter, blah makes me cringe now. The only reason I swaled it was because I didn’t want to spit if all over the pretty young lady sitting across form me. So I choked it down. She buy the way thanked me very deeply.

My feeling of pure disgust in its most primitive form for something I love not being the way I loved it came in to being.

Now I know how He felt when He made the author pen these words. “I am going to vomit you out of My mouth” Revelation 3:16 I see now the sickness of God. For He loved us so much that He sent His son to die for us.

And we play act like we are hot when really we hide in a vessels that just looks like it will keep us warm. That appear to be just fine on the outsiders that look in.

When we as Christians start the drop in our spiritual temperature. We don’t need to sit there stagnate in our thermoses that will only allow us to plummet more. We need to be warmed back up.

We need to boil as the water dose in my kettle. Water as it boils. It turns, bubbles, agitates it’s self. As it heats up. It will not/can not just sit there, stagnate. It moves.

We as The Body of Christ must move. We must turn. We mustn’t sit there waiting to be vomited out. God doesn’t have to hold back His feelings as I did. Why would you want someone that loves you to vomit you out?

Wouldn’t you want every that you do please the one that loves you? So lets heat up, lets run the race, lets push for the prize, lets not just sit, and stagnate.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Plan of Salavtion


I googled that title that you see written above. “Plans of Salvation” Guess how many results there were? "Results 1 - 10 of about 6,490,000 for plans of salvation. (0.23 seconds)" . There where 6,490,000 results. How many of those were right? How many of those were a crock of bull? So with so many answers, how do you know how to explained it when asked on the spot?

This first web site gives a very good and detailed explanation to what the plan is. The url is hear. http://www.bible.org/page.php?page_id=276 . But it was to deep, and most 'Non-church' people will not understand it. So...

But what dose it truly boil down too? What dose it mean at the chore of the decision that you are making? What is it? It is many things, 1) it is allowing Christ Jesus to be your personal Lord and Savior. 2)It is the remission and forgiveness of sin. 3) It is a relationship with the most high God. That you are conversed in the fingerprints of. 4)it’s a ticket out of Hell 5)true LIFE 6)Joy 7)Something to live for. 8) Peace

All of this is well and good. But how if I asked you would you describe it? If a simple (this will not be politically correct!!! For give me if you take offence…But that is a gift reserved for the righteous. The vast majority of the population that will read it is not righteous!) What would you say to a simple ‘Back Woods Red Neck’? I mean a R-E-D-N-E-C-K?

I my self am guilty of writing out an eight step plan of “Salvation” in the back of my bible to have it when I need it. The majority of the time it is in my back pack that is either on me at school, or in my car. But in the line at Wal-Mart what do I do? “Could you hold that thought for one seconded?” While you hope that they weight right there as your jog to the book isle? Of course not. And this is the long drawn out version of my plan that I copied to the back of my bible.
1)Confess
Romans 3:23
2)Repent of Sin
Luke 13:3
3)Believe
John 5:24
4)Confess Publicly
Romans 10:9&10
5)Baptism
Mark 16:16
6)Associate with other Christians
Hebrews 10:25
7)Read the Bible Daily
Romans 10:17
8)Assurance of Salvation
Acts 2:21

How and when is that a practical thing to tell someone? And even if you do manage to hold there attention long enough to tell them that. They (that is the redneck) will think (or thank) “Look at this person suren off that high fulton education. They don’t know didly if the canet speack my laungeage!” Once again I know that isn’t nice but how true is it? Am I not correct?

I am not a modernist that says ‘Lets Stream Line’ the Christian life! But I am one that says the culture has changed. It is fast moving with little dead time to just have fun with during the work day. Lets have a way to tell them fast, and ‘dumb-it-down’.

So then what are the basics? The must haves?
1)Realization that you’re a sinner.
2)Believing on Christ
3)Confessing your Sin.

So to in an essence ‘stream line’ this it could be what? Think. Think. Think. Admit. Believe. Confess? Would that work? ABC’s of Christ? Admit you’re a sinner. Believe on Christ Jesus and be saved. Confess Jesus as your Lord? YES!!! that’s it! The ABC’s of Christ.

A) Admit you’re a sinner. Romans 3:23 For ALL have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God
B) Believe John 3:24“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
C)Confess Romans 10:9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

So is that easier than the eight step plan that you are never going to remember? The ABC’s. I think so.

Neal Dulley

Monday, October 13, 2008

Confidence Problem Philippians 3:1-11



Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.
Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. For we are the real circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness, under the law blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Philippains 3:1-11


There are three types of confidence problems. Over-confidence is pretty self-explanatory. This type of person knows that they are good and has no problem letting other know it. The second problem is low self-esteem. This person views himself as worthless, inadequate, and without purpose. The last is false humility, where a person will put soon a mask of fake modesty to cover up deep-seeded pride issues. All three of the problems have something in common: they all center far too much on self and not nearly enough of God. Which one of these affects you/ How can you overcome this problem?
In his letter to the church in Philippi, Paul dose a wonderful job of outlining what our attitude and behavior should be as Christians. In chapter three he uses himself as an example of one who has very reason to be overly confident and is not. Why is this? What make Paul different form so many of the attractive/talented/rich people that we know? Simply pit, Paul understood where he was and who God is. Paul was not blind to the fact that he had a lot of stuff going for him. he makes it very clear that if he wanted to be cocky and arrogant, he would justified in the flesh to do so. However, when Jesus appeared to him on the Damascus road, Paul's perspective on life was forever changed. It was no longer about him and what he could gain form life, but rather it was about Christ and how much he could give in spreading the Gospel.
A wise man once said, "When you come face to face with Jesus Christ, you can not be the same." If you rally have a relationship with Jesus and are allowing Him to be Lord of Your Life, you r attitude will be different. you will focus more on who God is and less on who you are. Ask yourself, "Is my attitude what is should be" If it is not, "What is it that is keeping me form having a proper attitude?" maybe you should ask if you have really had that face to face encounter with Jesus after all. Whatever it is, pray that God would humble you and give you His perspective rather that your own.