Wednesday, 21 January 2009
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Little Victories
I'm gonna be lazy and copy somebody else's post. It's great. Very encouraging. :)
"...walking slowly, the young child gazed dauntingly at the enormous mountain before him. the shear size of it's individual facets were enough to make one feel smaller and more inadequate than a single grain of sand asked to make up the entire length of shoreline. the child's thoughts wandered, leaving his body motionless and without progress. The child then dropped his head and began to turn away, just then, a voice smoke gently from beneath the shade of the aged arms of an oak tree. 'too big for you' asked the voice. 'yes sir, i could not possibly tackle such a journey on my own' the boy replied. 'ah yes, it would seem' the voice trailed into a murmur. 'ah, have you ever taken such an enormous undertaking before?' the voice asked the child. 'No sir, I get just far enough to see more of the path at one point than i can travel in one time.' the boy said with embarrassment. 'what if i were to tell you how to continue on your journey in a way that would most definitely lead to the end without jumping from here to the top in a single bound?' asked the voice. 'Yes sir, I would like that very much' cried the child. with that the voice told the child 'close your eyes.' confused, the child staggered and asked 'but how will i know which way to turn?' the voice did not reply and still waited for obedience in the first request. finally the child closed his eyes. the voice then spoke 'i have been to the top many times before, and i shall guide you there. No, you cannot avoid feeling the burn in your legs and feeling the sting of the stones beneath your feet. but i promise to get you there safely.'"
How often do we feel like the child? do we feel like there is a mountain in the way and it is too heavy to move, too large to go around, and seems too dangerous to trek. I have felt that way so many times and it is then that God simply waits for me to respond "alright lord, i have no clue how to do this" and at that the lord says, "all i ask of you is total obedience. trust me to see whats ahead, and you take this one step at a time. as i ask" God waits patiently as we stagger and procrastinate the closing of our eyes.
I wanted to remind you that it is not the entire journey that is considered a victorious battle. it is with each step. with each moment the determination moves on inside of you. that confident hand-in-your-back that reminds you that someone is going before you. that God is reminding us that he will deal with the mountains, we are to obediently put one foot in front of the other.
I recently experienced a little victory that reminded me how important those steps are...not only are they important....they are completely necessary. no matter how determined you are, you cannot hope take the last step across the finish line without initially taking your first.
There are so many of us out there who have issues that seem like mountains rising in front of us, and we hang our head in shame and turn and walk away, when it was not the last step that stopped us but the first. we must take that first step to lead to the next to finally lead to the last.
I just want to encourage those who have "mountains" in front of them, who are hanging in the balance of taking that first step into a little victory or turning back. hang in there, it won't be forever...one way or another.
Thank all of you for all of your encouragement to me. for, through each of your lives, i have found truth and landmarks in order to remain oriented in this crazy world. confusion creeps on me ever so often, but it is the people God has put in my life that through direct communication or simply by my watching how they live, i have been able to thank God for many little victories.
Go out, Make a difference
-Daniel Sayger
Sunday, 14 December 2008
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On my facebook I have 35 photos of the awesome snow we had, and 16 photos of a few snowmen and such that we made. At the end of this post are a few of them.
One thing about winter: When it's cold... when it's at its coldest, and my hands and feet get incredibly cold... and I'm shivering, then warmth is like the source of life. A fire just seems to radiate life from it. And above all, my greatest physical focus is getting as close to the warmth, the fire as I can. For it comforts me, and it gives life to me, and provides light, and even if it is so blazing hot that it kinda burns, it's still a life-giving warmth... And one thing cool about winter is it reminds me that God is that way... This world is a dark cold winter, but God is a blazing fire- He shines light in this darkness, He gives us warmth. And winter always brings that visualization to life for me. That's why I like the cold.
Snow at home: (Flash used to get the snow falling)
Blurry background:
Woodpile:
Narnia: (the woods)
Magical pine forest:
Awesome beech leaves:
Lil sis!:
Nice snow and water:
Meltin':
Snowkip, my sister made:
Murt, the slightly disproportionate snowman my bro made:
My first little snowdude:
My second snowdude:
And again:
Portrait shot
:
Snowshark!:
Snowowl:
And my snowdude and snowowl :
---Kris
Wednesday, 03 December 2008
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Dreams
The other night, I had a very weird dream that had nothing to do with flying saucers except that in the dream I saw a flying saucer flying thru the sky hooked to a gooseneck camper trailer. I guess that means they're coming to stay.
Last night I dreamed many things. Like one dream: I bought a bluebook for final exams. Yeah, exciting. Now I get to see if bluebooks really looked like they did in my dream.
I also dreamed that there was an evil king, oppressing people. And I was a bug. And there were three other bugs. And we 4 decided to make some magical muffins that would make the king a good king. Then a guard smelled the muffins and came and went "mmmmm, that smells good!" and then I moved on to the next dream...
Yeah, I'm weird... I'd have to agree.
Wednesday, 05 November 2008
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Gold?
We do not know what good things may come from bad things. I say that Obama is obviously a "bad thing" in that he supports what God has condemned: abortion, homosexuality... How can this bring about "good things"?
You know... here in America, it's comfortable to be a "Christian." Comfortable and easy. And so we use "Christianity" as a social status or a mask to make us look "holy" or "good". After all, if we can be "Christian" and not make sacrifices, then why should we? So this results in a lot of fake christianity... and a lot of slack churches...
You know... I've read and heard stories of, say, over in China. First hand accounts of Christians. Christians that are willing to suffer for Christ. And that do suffer. It seems that the persecution purifies the gold... kicks the fakes out out church so all that is left are those that are empowered by Christ to follow Him no matter what!
You know- This country falling away from God may indeed end up purifying the Gold...
I mourn that this nation was so blind that it voted for Obama... but I rejoice that God has His hand in all things, and nothing can come about except that He allows it! I mourn that our government is falling, but I rejoice that such falling may indeed purify the church.
Maybe Obama is the hammer that God will use to purify the Gold (the Church)...
So mourn, but be comforted. God's hand is on this.
And don't lose focus... don't let the nation's problems distract you from fixing your own problems. Don't let POLITICS or the world's PROBLEMS or CONSPIRACY THEORIES or COLLEGE or WORK or MONEY or SAFETY or COMFORT or RELATIONSHIPS or ANYTHING distract you from being a light to the world...
Monday, 06 October 2008
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It started with a chunk of concrete...
Today, a man working on my car windows started talking to me and my brother... he started by asking what church we go to, and moved on to talk about how Jesus is the only real solution to our problems. He said that from 11 years old to 10 years ago, he tried to find life in drugs, drinking, and women. But it just wasn't enough. So he tried to commit suicide- and failed. The next day, somebody took him to church and he gave his life to our Lord- and he said that ever since he has had joy and purpose in his life.
He talked some about when he went to China. Bringing Bibles into the country. He said, among other things, that some of the people would fall to the floor crying when they'd see the Bibles being brought in. That's an amazing hunger for God's word! That's a passion I want to have! It's all too easy to get too 'busy.' He also talked about a man he met in China. The man had been in handcuffs for so long that his skin was growing around them... But in that man's captivity, he never once hated his captors... and the man talking to us said that he never saw the other guy without a smile on his face! Do you feel ashamed? I do. Zeal. That's the word. Lord, help me to have zeal for You! Help me to have a stronger relationship with you. Help US lord... to live for You... no matter what it takes.
Tuesday, 02 September 2008
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I'm sitting in Modelling and Manufacturing class- there's a dude from England lecturing today. I'm enjoying the accent. :D He's talking about machining. He lectures way better than our professor - makes it interesting.
But anyway, I haven't been very connected with the online world lately. Basically, I've been living in the world immediately physically surrounding me. I'll let y'all know what all's been happening.
- My brother got a couple of brown recluse bites. Stuff swelling up, and nasty stuff. It appears to be getting better now.
- I caught a cold.
- Hurricanes. Power is out at home right now. I'm way north of home though. I'm being spoilt up here at college. Almost makes me feel like I'm cheating.
- My birthday is on Friday! :D
- I installed a new version of Linux on my laptop and I love it! Everything works great so far. And you can get all sorts of cool free programs. I'm using it right now as I type. :)
- I finished reading Skin by Ted Dekker. Crazy book. Interesting. ;) Captivating. I need to go back and try to digest the point. Seems each of Ted's books make a point - try not to miss them!
That's all I can think of. Until next time!
---Kris
Tuesday, 05 August 2008
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irony
a rather lively photo of death
-kris
Friday, 01 August 2008
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I saw me.
I was driving down the road today, and the car ahead of me had a license plate that simply said "ME" in big green letters. A little while later, I looked in my rear view mirror and noticed the same car behind me. And I said out loud: "Is that me back there? Sure enough! That's me back there!"
...
Then I realized just what I had said.
Me back there. Haha!
Friday, 25 July 2008
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Erik the Flutemaker
Erik the Flutemaker
"Political activist, kidnapped for three years, lived with Indians, bitten by snake, slept in cave, chicken coops and jungles as he traveled North, Central and South America. Vegetarian for six years, delivered his first born, walked with a staff and white clothes seeking answers from the guru maze of eastern philosophies."
Erik Sampson was indeed a confused fellow. But his life changed in two ways -> He began flutemaking, and he gave his life to Christ. That was over 20 years ago. His creations are shown at eriktheflutemaker.com.
Here's Erik on a mission trip at a children's home in Guatemala.
Erik makes all sorts of instruments, with beautiful artwork added on some flutes by his wife and his apprentice, examples of these artworks shown respectively:
(All these images are linked from Erik's website.)
There's several cool videos of Erik playing the flute and sharing about Christ on YouTube. One particularly fun video is The Spiel in which he demonstrates most of his instruments, with a Renaissance-ish accent.
Also see the Parable of the Flutemaker, Part 1 and Part 2.
---Kritter
Friday, 04 July 2008
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Freedom
Well, I usually wait a while before I post again. If you didn't read my marble post (the previous one), please do. I have a pulse also. (and some knuclehead says "who doesn't have a pulse?" )
But today is the fourth of July - Independence Day - a national holiday. Holidays aren't just to have time off work. They are time to celebrate, and to remember. Well, my mind just went to brewing and so I went to typing, and this post is what I came up with. It's not really about the meaning of Independence day or such, it's an offshoot thought on freedom.
Most of my subscribers reside in America. Probably most have never been outside of America. I haven't. I've never had a first hand look at other cultures. But when I read about them, or hear about them- I see that we, if anybody on this planet does, have freedom. In many other countries, to serve Christ is to risk rejection, death, or even torture! But then again, what is freedom? In most places here in the United States, we have freedom to go and preach the gospel openly. We have the freedom to worship openly. I don't hear of people getting tortured for Christ here in the U.S. Indeed we are free to be Christians, and I'm thankful for that...
...but what is freedom? What is TRUE freedom?
I once drew a picture. I still have it. There's a table, with a fish bowl in the center. The bowl of water represents freedom- true freedom. Life in God's hands. And there are fish. That's us. Some of the fish decided to pursue 'freedom' from the bowl- they wanted their own will. So they jumped out of the bowl. And now they are on the table, gasping for air, dying. Free? No. They may have expanded their boundaries, but who can call a fish in the air free?
The liberals (at heart) in this country seek freedom to pursue their every desire. Liberal - liberty - get the connection? They seem to think that freedom is found in one's own will. Don't they see that GOD is at the controls? that freedom is in GOD's will! We live in the land of the FREE and brave, but some take this the wrong way - and try to free themselves from God.
Seeking one's own will only leads to ruin. Like the fish on the table. Truly, doomed. Perishing. Only GOD can change this. Pray the tide rises and brings the beached fish into His hands. God made the fish to live in the water and He made us to live in Him.
Now let's think about countries that are not free. That are not 'blessed'. Life in those countries might be death in our eyes. But do you ever hear those stories - those TRUE stories of men and women who endured unthinkable cruelties for the accomplishment of God's will? And those Christians who meet in secret to worship the Almighty? Are they free? In a physical sense, no. But what is most important? Those things that are temporary, or those things that are eternal? Spiritually, they are free! And that is what I refer to as TRUE freedom! That's the freedom that I want to shine from me! How easy it is to fall slack, to grow lazy in seeking God when we can live 'comfortably' without turning our heads to him. But, OH the JOY it is when I turn my head back towards God, when I am indeed striving to fulfill His commands!
Lord, I pray that we do not forget those that give their lives that this country may be free and how You gave Your life that our spirits may be free!
But also, Lord, help us to remember- to seek, to find, and to SHARE true freedom!
Lord, help me to pray.
