Faith Notes

Stole this from my research, but it fits my mood too perfect tonight to not pass it along.

"Faith thanks God beforehand. 

If a husband tells his wife that he has placed a hundred dollar bill in her purse for her birthday, she thanks him immediately. Why? Because she trusts him. She knows it is hers before she sees it.

Jesus says,
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. (Mark 11:24).
God does not answer biblical prayer with "No" or with substitutes.

Paul says,
For no matter how many promises God has made, they are `Yes' in Christ. ... (2 Corinthians 1:20).

Faith will endure to the end. 

Abraham waited 25 years for Isaac to be born. Caleb waited 40 years for his land. Noah waited 120 years for his physical salvation. Faith does not look at the calendar, but to Christ. Hope may last a few minutes or a few months. Faith will endure until it is replaced by the thing for which we are believing."


So simple I have to reject my practical mind to begin to wrap my head around this... The Mountains I see looming really never were. Just keep believing and they will throw themselves into the sea and it will be as I had hoped. For someone who loves a good plan like myself, how reassuring it is in a time when I just don't know what the plan is. I have faith and hope for that end picture in my dreams. I ask for it, I long for it, I hope for it, I have faith in it... someday.


SOMEDAY


Now to just enjoy the twist, turns, highs, and lows of the road from "back when" to SOMEDAY, the spaces between A and B.

An Update

I’m going to make a butcher’s block kitchen island in 2013.  I’m designing it as I fall asleep every night.  It is going to be better then the likes of this one, but similar.

Also I am pondering on writing a paper about moving mountains… I know there is a huge symbolism in a mountain that moves for me every time I drive to my childhood home of Lebanon.  On the road after Greendale in the twisting turns there is a Mountain that looms over the hills I am winding through.  But when I pass over the river the mountain is nowhere to be seen… I can’t wrap my head around that yet… I have a mountain that moves for me every time I drive home, how amazing is that?

And currently I'm full of a weird nervous energy, like I drank 3 pots of coffee.  Feels like anything is possible again.

A late night meal

I get home from work generally between 9:30 and 10:30 at night.  And I don't have time to eat at work so I am starved by the time I get home.  Which leads to making bad dinner choices that late at night.  So I have changed plans and started eating healthier that late at night.  Here are some pics.

Salmon Cesar 

Curry Egg and Maui Maui

Asian zing Salmon on bed of water chestnuts and lettuce

Some kinda indian sauce with chicken

Chicken and mushroom with feta cheese

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

The other day I was working in the pharmacy as normal.  Being the nice pharmacist I always try to be with my patients and employees.  It was busy as normal too.  With lots of noise from people talking, background music playing, phones ringing, fax machine receiving, printers printing, computers whirling, one ear on the phone, another listing to a conversation in the drive-through between a technician and a patron.  And what was being said in the drive-through wasn't %100 accurate, so I called for my technicians name trying to get her attention… no response… I tried louder… still no response… so I switched to my stadium voice and yelled her name… I must have skipped a step up level of volume because everything came to a stop… I had got EVERYONE’s attention.  What a saw in the faces around me stood out in my mind.  It was the look of shock because that move was out of character for me.  I gave the technician the correct information and went on about business as usual and didn't think anymore of it.

But then last night I started thinking about Jekyll and Hyde and icebergs… I've never read the novella, but I understand the concept.  The basic idea is there are two opposing truths living in a person, a good and an evil side.  This concept rings true today as much as it did back in 1886 Scotland when “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” was published.   There are two sides to every living person, the side that they show, the public face if you will, and the side that is unseen.  This is much like an iceberg.  For your typical iceberg towering above ships visible to the whole air breathing world to see is just the tip, only %10 of its volume.  The other %90 percent is beneath the waters, unseen and unknown, in the dark deep blue. 

In an effort to not be two faced, back in college I made it a policy to live my life on my sleeve.  I'm not going to proclaim the wild stories and conquest of my past for the world to hear but if someone were to ask me about it, I will answer their questions the best I can remember.  If someone has the balls to ask a question too personal in polite society, I will repay the ballsiness with an answer.  But if I were to answer all the questions one could ask, that’s only a fraction of who I am.  If I ever get married, I'm sure my wife will know me more that the visible %10, but even after years and years of being married she will still only know a fraction of my being.  I like to think I have a good heart, but I know my ledger has a lot of red ink.  I’m not a goodie two shoes nor will I ever be.  I enjoy pushing the limits and testing boundaries.  I know if I yoke up to someone who doesn't have a strong character I will tear them to pieces over time.  Someone shallow I will get bored with quickly.  Someone who has stopped growing, I will unintentionally mow them down.  The %10 percent you see is just the tip of the iceberg, and I go deep.

My epiphany in all this is that no matter how much I try to live my life out in the open there is more to me that will be forever unseen.  What you see publicly in a person, whether it be “he’s a nice guy”, “A real Jerk”, “A saint”, “A sinner”, “Mother Teresa”, “Larry Flynt”, you don't really know them.  No matter how long you're in a relationship with someone, you may know their essence, but you don't know their whole being.  Only God knows us fully and He loves us no matter the Hyde side.  So don't be quick to judge a book by its cover, there is more.  There is always more and no matter how long you have known someone, they will always surprise you.  Hopefully it’s a good surprise. 

Providence

Prov·i·dence   [prov-i-duhns] 

Noun

1.  (Often initial capital letter) the foreseeing care and guidance of God over the creatures of the earth.

2.  (Initial capital letter) God, especially when conceived as omnisciently directing the universe and the affairs of humankind with wise benevolence.

3.  A manifestation of divine care or direction.

4.  Provident or prudent management of resources; prudence.

5.  Foresight; provident care.

Providence… It’s a word that has been echoing within my soul over the past few weeks.  There is a notable Providence over my life, my acquaintances, my actions, my thoughts, my heart, and my future.  Where I may be led in life has already been foreseen and will be guided with divine care.   I do not know His plan for my life, but should I not have faith that the Being who breathed the heavens so great and vast and interlaced the quantum fabric of matter so small and mysterious has a providential plan for me?  He is the one who weaved my very existence within my mother’s womb.  God knows the longings of my heart long before I do.  For the aching and longing within my heart that has lasted years beyond my reason or want.  I must trust God’s Providence over my life in all things, there is a rhyme and a reason even if I know not why today.  Someday all will be revealed in good time.  Providence... It’s a word with weight, demanding of faith, and requiring trust that will grant peace in return.

Waiting on God

I stole this from a ministry's daily note. I felt if fitting in my current time frame. Hope you can find use for it too.


"Isaiah 40:29-31 – Waiting on God

He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:29-31 ESV)

This whole idea of waiting goes against what we naturally and culturally do. When our natural inclination is to step on the gas, God is often telling us to hit the brakes. Waiting is often difficult because we equate it with inactivity. But waiting, which can also be translated as hoping, means to wait with expectation, to look for. The implication is that we are waiting and watching with expectation towards what God is going to do.

During these periods of waiting, God is often refueling and refining us for what He has in store. Everything around you needs to be refueled after much use. Your car has to stop for gas, your body needs to sleep, and your cell phone needs to be recharged. So, why can’t this be the case with our spiritual life as well? What may seem like inactivity from our perspective is often purposeful preparation from God’s perspective. Be encouraged that those who wait end up even stronger after the Lord renews them.

- Iron Men Ministry


Love Always,

DW

Holding Pattern Continued…

5 years…. 

I feel like I have been in a holding pattern for five years now.  Life has been like a plane circling the airport waiting to land, mundane and monotonous.  I hate it not having a goal or a finish line to work towards.   It has been frustrating for a doer like me, but I know this had to be.    It’s not been all misery.  I've had a lot of fun, done many things, learned new talents, and have been blessed to set up a seemingly comfortable living.  But my soul has longed for something Greater.  My soul longs for a Greater purpose, Greater impact, something of Immortal Importance.  I think God has left me on hold to develop myself in the fires of pain and frustration to forge someone stronger.  I am not a finished product yet by far, but I feel like the holding pattern is coming to an end soon.  Thank God!  I don’t know what is around the corner, no clue in the slightest.  But I’m ready for it!  Bring it on.  Change will be like a refreshing rain on the sun scorched land.  Bring the Rain God, bring me change.  

Not a Race Fan

I’m not a race fan, but after this weekend I am a fan of going to the race.  I haven’t had such a good time in a long time.  I’m tired come Sunday night but it was worth it. 

Things I learned this weekend:

11.        I live 18 minutes from house to parking spot at Bristol Motor Speedway

22.       Wear sunglasses because there is some major people watching to do

33.       Act like your checking you phone’s Facebook to take a covert picture of said people

44.       Get some subway and double bag that sandwich to save some $ in the stands

55.       Bring plenty of beer, good chance you will be sharing

66.       Rent headphones with a scanner/video (only way to go)

77.       Know how to use the scanner (took me 100 laps to figure it out)

88.       Park were you can get out quickly or plan on getting home late

99.       Tailgate like a champ

110.   If you don’t get free tickets, scalp them its way cheaper

111.   Bring a jacket, comfortable shoes, and lots of cash

112.   Did I mention the people watching?  Wow.

I can’t wait for next year.

On the other hand

I’ve never enjoyed weddings and recently I might have figured out why, they make me feel lonely.  But on the other hand I do really enjoy seeing two dear friends start their life together.  Having two flat tires in as many days (one of which was in the rain, late at night, after working 12 hours) is very frustrating.  But on the other hand I totally added a few notches to my “man card”.  

No matter how bad a day goes, it is important to look at the other hand.

Functional Design

Alright, first things first.  My mom is an antique-er in a major way.  She is an expert in antique glass and a few other things that I am ignorant to.  And I would go so far to say that her collection is worth twice or more what the house that holds them is worth.  So needless to say my whole life I have been living around, eating off of, sleeping in, and sitting on antiques.  But I have not had much respect for the things, UNTILL this past weekend.  Now rewind to Saturday night.

After spending the day on the lake I came back to the house to relax by myself and I decided to do that best by smoking a tobacco pipe while enjoying a microbrew in front of the fire pit on the patio (this might be the summer of the fire pit). 

Well with all fires outside I have come to expect the “cold back”.  That’s what happens when the side of your body that is not facing the fire feels cold.  And this fire experience was no different.  Once the fire turned to red hot coals my back started getting cold while I was sitting in one of my collapsible chairs.

As I was sitting there with the cold back in my collapsible chair I pondered on ways to remedy the “cold back”.  And then it dawned on me!  Those antique chairs of mom’s I have been sitting in all my life were designed to combat the cold back. 

They remind me of something strait out of an Edgar Allen Poe poem.  

In the past I really disliked sitting in chairs like this because the side wings hinder eye to eye conversation, but now I know they weren’t’ designed for that.  

Those high backs, deep cushion, and winged sided chairs were made to reflect and focus that radiant heat from the fire back onto the person sitting in it.  They were made to capture the warmth from a hearth!  The design makes total sense to me now.  I have this new respect of antiques and the geniuses who designed them.  In today’s life we don’t sit around hearths anymore so the chairs are just around to look nice and have lost their real functionality.  I’m going to have to start keeping my eye out for antique functional design.  Now to make an outdoor fire pit chair with that a similar design.

The best things in my world

 

To date the best things in my world are the small things… i.e. Laundry baskets with a curved side for your belly, it feels just right.  Brie cheese, God bless that cow and farmer who came up with that.   Sweat pants… need I say more?  Back up cameras on cars, you want to bet how close I can back up to you without hitting you?  Literally this close ß--------à  less than an inch.  Spell check, HA if you only you knew.  All these things make me go, “man that was a great invention/discovery” along with:  flip-flops, washer/dryers with steam, 4x4 drive, hard wood floors, mothballs (quick giggle), triscuits, knife sharpeners, guitars, boats, beer,  domesticated wolves, iphones, grass, mail boxes, doors… the list goes on… I mean think about it, could you imagine a world without doors…. Think about it.

 

It is all about the small things.

I love the snow.  In watching it fall to earth there is a cleansing beauty to it that I find mesmerizing.  But I have discovered as I get older on cold days like this I am reminded of warmer days past.  I find myself lost in memories of warmer days relaxing on the lake with the sun’s energy beaming down on me.  An energy that is lost in winter.  This picture of Basil growing in my bay window on a snow blown day gives me hope for the carefree summer days to come, when the sun has a force to its light again.

The question is always the same just said in a diffrent ways.

"You can have everything in the world and still be the loneliest man, and that is the most bitter type of loneliness.  Success has brought me world idolization and millions of pounds, but it's prevented me from having the one thing well all need---a loving, ongoing relationship." - Freddie Mercury 

"Is there any meaning in my life which will not be annihilated by the inevitability of death which awaits me?" -Leo Tolstoy (author of War and Peace)

"The line separating good and evil passes, not through states, nor through classes, nor between political parties... but right through every human heart and through all human hearts." - Alexander Solzhenitsyn

"It hasn't been easy combining religion and rock.  It's the most rebellious thing I've ever done.  Drinking beer is easy.  Trashing your hotel room is easy.  But being a Christian, that's a tough call.  That's real rebellion" -Alice Cooper

The theologian and philosopher Paul Tillich described the human condition as one that always involves three fears: fear of guilt, fear of meaninglessness, and fear of death.  Jesus Christ meets each of these fears head on, because He is "the way and the truth and the life" -Questions of life by Nicky Gumbel