you will soon be dust your deeds already are

what a great phrase for a burned out Christian

There was a foot path that wound through Barry County
An area now bordered by Guernsey Lake and Enzian roads
It snakes through woods , swamps and meadows
Up a hill to a spring in a field that has never been sowed


Everyday old lady Rahab walked the winding path
To get a drink of water and fill her jugs for the day
The water was the sweetest she had ever tasted
It always satisfied her and made her feel so alive


She circled seven stones to mark the spot
A secret location she swore she would never tell
A spot she kept close to her heart
A spot she fondly called Rahab's well


One day she was resting at her favorite fishing hole
A tall handsome stranger came walking along
He was withered by his journey and the hot July sun
And kept whistling some oddly familiar song
He asked Rahab if she had any clean water
Rahab just stared back biting her tongue
Then something stirred inside deep inside her
For once her heart overruled her mind
And she gave the tall stranger directions
To the sweetest water he would ever find
He walked off into the sunset whistling that familiar song
She knew it from her childhood, it would haunt her all night long


A few weeks later Rahab began to notice
Her footpath grew wider and easier to find
Some of the trees along the path were marked with arrows
At the edge of the field was a make shift sign
"Living water lies just ahead"
Rahab grew angry and her face raged red


As weeks became months and months became years
Footpaths became trails and trails became roads
The fields became farms and the farms became towns
Strangers became neighbors and neighbors became friends
Rahab's world was changing all around her and she didn't know why
She just worried about her spring and her life source would run dry


One day Rahab was walking her new path to the spring
Enjoying the peace and the solace that only the swamps could bring
She heard a noise in the distance the sound of voices starting to sing
She sprinted through the field and up the hill
Excited to see what could be happening
She stood there exhausted her hands on her knees
On her spring stood a well circled by a huge crowd


She recognized an old childhood Psalm
They were all singing out loud
There were red and yellow and black and white
Grandparents and grandchildren and all ages between
Some of the strangest people she had ever seen
She moved through the masses to get a better look
Standing at the well was that tall stranger from long ago
He offered her a drink and said "welcome friend"
The same sweet water she feared would soon end
But it was just a sweet as she remembered all through her years
And her anger and rage was washed away by her tears
Rahab stood up and braced herself leaning on the well
Her secret was discovered but she no longer feared her loss
Her seven stones were still circled, now at the foot of a cross

U2 40 Live from Red Rocks

I just decided tonight that I am going to see U2 at Spartan stadium this summer. I had to empty my paypal account just to do it. Do not tell Hazel LOL
I first saw U2 at Fountain Street Church in Grand Rapids Michigan back when I was in college.
I was dragged there by a guy from my dorm named Sid who was the expert 80's new wave guy in our dorm. He introduced me to scary weird hair bands like the Police,Thompson Twins, Ultravox and his new favorite band U2. I wonder where Sid is today?
I picked the song "40" for this blog because I am trying to get into the Psalms. I just do not relate to them like I feel I should.
I like the Old Testament Prophets
Jeremiah was a bullfrog
sorry I couldnt resist
DDV

Lead Me (Acoustic - with Lyrics) by Sanctus Real

Today I learned of another couple at our church who were separated. It came to me as a total surprise. After hearing the news I did realise that I noticed seeing one of them in church alone on Sundays. I did not think too much of it at the time because while Hazel is pregnant I have attended alone several times in the last month. My heart just broke as I told Hazel about it. It is hard to understand the pain and changes that occur in relationships. I think about the group I call the Sunday morning widows who show up every service without their husbands. I'm not talking about the ones that work, but about the ones that just do not have a desire to go to church or they have been upset by the church and choose not to attend. My heart breaks again when I think of a man who worked with me in Evangelism Explosion and now does not attend church because of some incident or misunderstanding with our church. I am sure their is plenty of blame to go around and I would probably sympathise with him based on my relationship with some staff people at our church. This man was passionate about leading people to Christ and needs to be standing at the front door on Sunday mornings welcoming people. I debate when it is time for me to stand up and try and reconcile the bridge that has been broken. I guess I just might have answered that question. Pray for me to find the strength to enter a very uncomfortable situation.

I wonder why (or I know why) it is so easy for a man to be passionate about watching his favorite sporting activity, or immerse himself in his job, but has no desire to get up Sunday morning and accompany his wife to church. It is so wonderful to come to church on Sunday morning walking hand in hand with your wife and beautiful children to worship God. There is such a beautiful bond that happens when your worshipping together. Try it once, it might even improve your sex life! When we get married we all take this vow to be the spiritual leader in our house. I know there are Bible verses to support it. It's kind of like the beer commercials which ask you to "man up". We all like to put on an appearance of a perfect life. I know through friendships that women are especially good at it.

As a husband and a head of house I need to have strong hands and be willing to fight to show my family that they are not alone and that our house is a home. I hope others can "man up" and do the same thing. God will help us!

Judas Priest

I always love it when I can take a topic I am passionate about and relate to some past interest of my past. Judas Priest was one of my favorite heavy metal bands and I still enjoy cranking up a tune once in awhile. How could you not enjoy songs like "Sinner , Victim Of Changes ", Living After Midnight and of course "Another Thing Coming". I remember when me and my best friend Rick went and saw Judas Priest, Iron Maiden and 38 Special at wings stadium. What a great concert. We both dreamed about being the dual guitarist for Judas Priest. Iron Maiden was amazing and stold the show. I have to dig out that "Number of the Beast" record.
I attended are church Bible study on Lent and we listen to Doctor Mark talk about the second to the last supper and the last supper. As he talked I started thinking about Judas of Iscariot and his whole role in the story. I am sorry but how did poor Judas get picked to be the one who betrayed Jesus? Did his family do something to really upset God? How could this infant turn out to be the one who betrayed Jesus? I guess he was not one of the elected. When Satan talked to Judas about betraying Jesus did he have a chance to say no? Obviously not if it was God's plan. Why was Judas picked over the other disciples? Was it his greed? Jesus really seemed to have a problem with the greedy in his parables. Was Judas sin of betraying Christ worse than Peter denying Christ three times? Is Judas sitting in hell somewhere mulling his decision to betray Christ and having regrets? Or is he hanging out with Satan talking about strategy to help delay their eventual defeat at the end of days. Did Judas realise that Christ was actually the Son of God and repent or ask for forgiveness before he hanged himself? Are these questions blasphemy? Jesus said it was better that Judas was never born. Should we thank Judas for his role in the whole story. Sorry about your luck but I appreciate my only comfort in life and death.
What do the Jews think about Judas?

God owes us nothing

I have been reading this new book "Letters to a Young Calvinist" and have one striking memory so far. The chapter is called "God owes us nothing" No answers, no grace, no piece of mind?. Well there is one piece of mind. Answered by the Heidelberg Catechism. I am also reading criticism of the new Rob Bell book "Love Wins" by his description of Heaven.
How can my finite mind understand the infinite God?
I have this Calvin College sweatshirt I wear almost everyday. Now that I have become a proud graduate. I love wearing it because it is a great conversation starter. Today I was sitting in the park watching Iris and Lily play and a guy walked up to me and said: You must have paid allot for that sweatshirt" He was a Calvin College graduate and was a member of the RCA. We sat and talked for awhile and I made my little smart ass comment of how you joined the Reformed Church after being raised Christian Reformed. He told me that he moved back to Michigan and started attending a CRC church. The pastor visited his family and after the pastor found out his kids went to a public school he chastised him for it. From that moment on his wife said they would not attend that church. Thank God his faith was strong enough where he did not stop attending church, but moved to a church he was more comfortable with. I felt a little embarrassed because I was one of those elite CRC members who saw those public school kids as pre-damned? Would if this preacher met a person who did not have any church background? This person probably would have left the church with a bad taste in his mouth. God owes us nothing? Not even an explanation for these kinds of actions. Actually the explanation can be found in the Bible and it all begins with love. Tonight I am watching the news and its all about Libya. The reporters are all to happy talking about our no fly zone and cruise missiles. I know there are too many innocent people dying there tonight! And of course the nuclear/ tsunami incident in Japan is also big news. I know I can ask God why and I should ask why? God owes me nothing. No answers to my questions? no grace? I still have piece of mind?

50

Yesterday I did the first thing ever in my life!
Actually the exclamation point should be a frown but it was a noteworthy day in my life! I paid $50 for something I never had before. It wasn't a mint condition copy of a Wonder Woman comic, or a autographed copy of the new Rob Bell book "Love Wins" which I believe everyone should read. I have thought about paying $50 for a CD copy of Rob Jungklas "The Flame" if I could find a copy because I love it so much. I pulled up to a Meijer gas station and filled up the old Saturn. The pump shut off at $49.02 and I managed to squeeze a a few fumes out to make it an even $50. Wow I just filled up my own car for $50. I am sure glad I am not driving that old "Grand Am" I had in college. I can laugh about it right now, but what if it takes $75 to fill my car up or even $100. The next thing you know we will be in "Road Warrior" territory.
I have also started reading a short book for "Letters for Young Calvinist" The whole TULIP thing is starting to make sense. Read the new Rob Bell book "Love Wins".

Icons of Filth

Back when I owned my record store there was a particular popular crusty punk band named "Icons of Filth" I never really gave it much thought back then and kind of forgot about it until this past week. I had an assignment in my commissioned pastor program to interview a Catholic or Orthodox priest. I knew interviewing a Catholic Priest would be too easy so I opened up the phonebook and and searched Orthodox Churches until I found a Russian Orthodoc Church located in Woodbury Michigan. I emailed the Church and was responded to by Father Michael. I was invited to come visit him and talk and it has become one of the highlites of my year. He was very open to explain the Orthodox faith and give me some serious second guessing on some of my thoughts about my Calvinist theolgy. I will be posting the interview on my RCA commissioned pastor profile soon. The majority of my interview with Father Michael was a tour of the church and a introduction to each of the many Icons that were hanging on the walls or situated around various objects of worship. I t was a great tour through history, but I never really grasped the concept. Father Michael explained to me that the icons along with the candles and incense were a sensual aspect that can draw the average person a little closer to a heavenly experience. The reverence displayed for each Icon was amazing and gave me a new aspect of respect for the idea. The reason this is important to me is the contrast of where I was back 15 years ago selling "Icons of Filth" T-shirts and never realising the total disrespect the name would have to a person of Orthodox faith. I wonder if some of the band memmbers were raised in the Orthodox church and had a total miserable experience and this was there way of lashing out. Kind of like some of the experiences I had in the CRC church. I feel a new found respect for a beautiful traditional religion. I could never get comfortable with the emphasis on the icons, but I do admire the history and story behind each one.

Dropping the ball on 2010

Happy New Year everybody. New years eve was a nice family day. A nice quiet ending to a year that could have been allot better, but also could have been much worse. There has been some stress in our lives over jobs and money and personal relations with fellow employees. We lost our health insurance and had to buy it on our own. I know that does not get much sympathy but its a adjustment. New years eve here in Michigan was a soggy affair. It was if God was crying tears all day after the very emotional funeral of Pat Coughlin the day before. I am sure they were tears of joy from him, but they felt like tears of sorrow to us.
Iris and Lily were getting stir crazy and therefore so was I so we decided to get our gift certificates and some cash and go out on a last splurge for 2010. Just like Dave Ramsey would tell us to do. First we went out for a late lunch and then it was over to the mall to gets some exercise. The mall was packed as usual and we headed down to the Magic Mushroom to let the kids play. The play area was packed with kids from 1 year old to 6 so we pointed Iris and Lily towards the center and said "good luck, be careful". The thing I hate about these mall play areas is the total lack of any control. The sign says the area is for children under 42 inches, but who enforces it. If you say something you are the bad parent and will probably end up getting into a cursing contest with another parent who is stressed out from trying to keep an eye on their kid. All sorts of kids are running around knocking each other over so that ads a few kids crying which makes matters worse. There was one particular child who might have been under 42 inches, but he was over 42 inches wide. He would plow through kids like a bulldozer. I kept giving is dad the evil why don't you watch your son eye, but he never got the message. And then there is the dad walking around the kids with a cup of coffee in his hands. I kind of wish the little human bowling ball would have taken him out. Anyway after an hour there was no broken bones and it was off to Barnes and Noble. We read a few children's books to the kids, purchased Avatar on Blue Ray and I picked up a U.K. magazine on Classic AOR rock that just begged me to read about how Journey and Styx and the such are making a comeback. With our gift certificates spent we went home. We ate a light dinner with the kids, cleaned the house a little and sat down to watch Avatar with a big bowl of popcorn. The kids lost interest about an hour into the movie and Hazel was chatting on skype with her family so trying to watch the movie became more of a challenge than enjoyable experience. I tried to put Iris and Lily to bed around 9:00 and read some books to them but they were so wired I gave up. About 10:30 the online chatting was done as well as the movie so it was time to go to bed. Hazel put the kids down and said "stay awake I want to spend the new year with you" and I said "OK and went to bed and read "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" for awhile until she returned. Last thing I remember is her coming to bed at 2:00 and I said "Happy New Year" and that was it. Nice quiet and tired ending to the year. For 2011 we have some goals in place and we made a budget for spending. We will put our trust in God to help us carry them out. A nice resolution.

Funeral for a Friend

This past week has been a sad week for me with one of my co deacons and friend Pat Coughlin passing away. His death remains a question in my mind and a reason for some righteous anger. Wednesday December 29 and Thursday December 30 were the days of his family visitation and funeral. I went to the visitation early in the afternoon only to become one of a thousand or so who passed through the doors. It was a standing room only crowd from 1:00 in the afternoon to 8:00 in the evening. Such a great testimony to all the lives he touched in the Wayland area. The funeral was at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday and the parking lot was full at 10:00 when I arrived. I sat with a few Friends from church and just watched the mass of people enter the building. I probably recognised 10% of the people there. It was a very nice funeral. There was one particular event during the funeral that kind of gave me a reason for me for Pats death. The music was nice(Amazing Grace) Chris Tomlin style, Psalm 23 and a great tribute from a close friend and minister. However Pats niece read letters from his 4 children to Pat. These letters included how the missed Pat and how read stories to them, played games with them, made them recite their ABC'S when they were bad and just a laundry list of great things Pat did as a father with his children. This brought tears to my eyes as I reflected on what my children might write to me if I died tomorrow. It was if Pat was tapping me on the shoulder and saying "Dan pay attention to your children and family". "It's the most important thing in your world"
After the funeral I talked to a few more friends and each one of them had the same feelings of guilt that I had. I went home after the funeral and just took Hazel and Iris and Lily in my arms and prayed and asked God to help us become a more loving caring family and take time for our children and make us even more a blessing to them as they are to us. A little less time on Face book or EBay and a little more time involved in their world. I have found one silver lining in a very dark cloud of Pat's death to apply to myself. Hopefully the 400 or so fathers in attendance that day received the same message and the children in the Wayland area will benefit also.