THE POWER

Chapter 3 "Radical" - David Platt

Here is what I believe are the main points

• The holy spirit (ghost) has the power
• Pratt says that these days the spirit is dead because it has been oppressed by all the finely old machines. Finely oiled mega churches and many other church today. They have great entertainment, strong leaders, excellent programs for every age group, but there is no room for the spirit to move. The churches are relying on themselves, not being depended on God.
• We rely to much on ourselves, as it is the American dream, it is on our culture according to Pratt.

Have you ever heard this statement- God helps those who help themselves. That is the biggest lie from the pit of hell. It is not in the bible, God says just the opposite. We are suppose to rely on God. I have found that most of what is opposite of our culture is true of God.

Our culture - The survival of the fittest

God - The weak will be strong.

God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. How you may ask. With the power of the holy spirit.

Here are some of the names of the power you can get from the holy spirit. You just have to ask and believe.

• wisdom 
• knowledge
• comforter
• grace
• council
• truth
• sound mind ( I need to start praying for this one)

To many to list.

I have been where the holy spirit moved in a room. Sometimes as a whisper, sometimes as a gale force wind.  I call it the holy roller power. Oh how I love that. I miss that. I long for that. I have personally felt the presents of the Lord. What a joyous and glorious thing. I know it sounds crazy. Until you have the holy spirit, been there a done that, their is no way to explain it.

Fat Boy

My boy dog Jack is making me laugh so hard. Thank God for dogs. Jack is a very smart dog, in fact his nick name is Lassie. Jack's other nick name is fat boy. He is getting a little hefty as he ages. Jack can sit, shake, turn around, lay down, "take a nap" (play dead), he can open and close doors, he can back up. Jack likes to bark and rattle the front gate to scare people as they walk by for kicks.


Tonight Jack decided I need to give him a "cookie" from the cookie jar.

I am in my office checking facebook when I hear Jack giving me that I have to go outside whine. I go out to the kitchen and there stands Jack, looking at me and then looking at the cookie jar. I said to him what do you want? Jack looked at the cookie jar and looked at me again, wagging his tail 90 mph. I acted like I did not know what he wanted, so he goes to his dinner bowl and starts eating out of frustration. (I think I have mention before he is an emotional eater) I said again, What do you want? Jack runs over to the cookie jar, looks at me, looks at the cookie jar and barks. What you want a "free" cookie? You don't want to "work" for it I ask him. He whines, barks and wags his tail again.


Ok I admit it, I am an enabler with my dogs.

Jack did all the work as usual and Sara just stood by in-case something good was going to happen. So they both got a "free" cookie with out doing any work for it tonight. Spoiled little doggies. If they were kids they would be those little tyrants that Shorty talks about. I would be the mom who says her kids are perfect.

I would like to know

I would like to know how much people in other states are countries are paying for

• One gallon of milk
• One gallon of Gas
• Their monthly cell phone plans 
• 40 - 60 lbs of dog food
• A cooked hot dog at a restaurant
• Girl Scout cookies

Today my dad took me and my gig a low out to dinner in Ice Cube.  We went to Kaspers and had a hot dog. The hot dog's were $3.00 a piece. That did not include a drink, chips or anything.  At Costco hot dogs cost $1.50 with a drink. We also got the "Nacho Platter." The Nacho platter was a hand full of tortilla chips with liquid cheese on top. The cost of "Nacho Platter" was  cost $4.95. So I took them back and said I wanted real nachos with chili and onions on top of the liquid cheese. She changed me .80 cents for the chili. I thought that Kaspers was a rip off.

We came home and watched Survivor. I like Boston Rob. I pray that Russell has a born again experience. hehe.

It is very cold. BRRRRRRRRRRR. I hope it snows tomorrow!

Gas Prices (corny)

Every time I drive by a gas station and see the price of gas, I think of the old Johnny Cash song "6 feet high and Rising" Here is my version.

How high's the gas prices, mama?
$4.00 a gallon and risin'
How high's the gas prices, papa?
$4.00 a gallon and rising'


Well I can't aford to drive my car to my job,
All the money is going to the gas lord slobs.
I sold my SUV for a smaller car, I should ride my bike
I could get just as far. 
$4.00 high and risin'


How high's the gas prices, mama?
$5.00 a gallon and risin'
How high's the gas prices, papa?
$5.00 a gallon and rising'

Hay Mikie I like it

This "semesters" bible study is Radical: Taking back your faith from the American Dream, by David Platt.
 I complained and moaned and grumbled about this book.  I told everyone I am a Radical Christian already, why do I need to read a book about it. One day to prove how radical I am I wore my Camo's to church. Nobody asked me why I was wearing Camouflage to church. It was my own protest to this book.  Did I have to go to this bible study? no. SO why did I feel like I needed to put up a fight?
No doubt you have guessed what has happened. I like the book so far. I am only on chapter 2.

The main points in Chapter two are

• God is not only a loving God, but he is also judge and jury.
• Luke warm believers will not go to heaven.
• In America many people go to church for the entertainment value. The dance, the drama, the coffee bistro, the cool videos, the music label worship band.
• Many people long to hear God's word with out all the props.

I have to say I am one of those people. I long to hear, read and discuss God's word. I love to get in a room with people who I called "spiritual heavy hitters." I want to hash out the things I read. Gods word is alive and exciting to me. I am thank full my pastor reads out of the bible. Verse by verse. Chapter by chapter.

Pratt makes this point is God does not need us, we need him. How true. This is not a shock or a revelation to anyone who has come from the world of addiction.

Pratt is also right that the scariest words in the bible are "I didn't even know you." (Jesus talking about the future and judgment day for believers.)

I kind of like being "worldly." I don't really like being "set apart." I like to blend in with everyone else. I know what your saying, RQ you have never blended in with everyone else. Wishful thinking I guess. 

So what am I going to do to change? Hummm.

 

Ice Cube

My dad bought a new car. It is a Nissan cube. I call his new car Ice Cube. He loves his little car. So today we went to IKEA so he could drive it. We got there early so we decided to eat breakfast upstairs. Because it was early IKEA was not packed. We wanted to get a window seat because they have a beautiful view of "the City," the bay, the Bay bridge and Golden Gate Bridge. So I asked this man if he could save the table next to his (you literately are sitting shoulder to shoulder) the 40 something man said "do you have kids?" I thought maybe he had been talking to Shorty. I said no, just me and my dad why? He mumbled something under his breath about bratty kids and there being so many of them at IKEA. I told him not to worry, no bratty kids here, just me. I have a feeling he would not of saved our seat if I would of said yes I have kids.

So me and dad ate the #3.99 breakfast special and enjoyed the view of the bay, and the traffic. The $3.99 breakfast special included "ham" not sure if it was from a pig. It was kind of grayish brown, and tasteless. Undercooked bacon, "scrambled eggs" that were yellow and dry and must of been made from powder, and "french toast sticks." More like Wonder Bread that was slightly toasted. I have to say I loved the loganberry syrup. I poured it over everything and tried not to look at what I was eating. Who cares anyways when you can sit and look at our beautiful city and world famous bridge. Not only that I was spending time with my dad.

Me and my dad had a grand time looking at everything in IKEA. We spent a long time in the kitchen department. We must of shopped for 3 hours.  I bought some new bowls. They said they were made in china. I have to wonder if they are full of lead? Oh well, you cant beat the price. I got a "Madagascar palm" for my gig a low.

Then it was back upstairs for Swedish meatballs. My dad almost fell off the escalator. I had to catch him. I almost broke his arm in two as I grabbed it. (I had to load dad up on the carbs I was afraid his sugar was low.)

This time there was no way we could sit by the window.  There were thousands of people who wanted to eat Swedish meatballs. I stood in line for 20 min. Dad and I had swedish meat balls, "gravy" that was like brown water, "mashed potatoes" from a box and a piece of old garlic bread, one slice of strudel cake" that tasted like apples and flour. The best part was the loganberry jam. I mixed it with everything so I could get some sort of taste. I also had their canned pear sparking cider. I liked that.

We took the long way home, so my dad could drive his new car. Ice cube is very roomy inside and comfortable.  It seems like the perfect car for my dad.

We drove by my property, that is 6 feet long and 8 feet deep. What a nice view of the bay I have. My dad asked if we should stop by and visit the relatives. NO not today dad.

I had a very good day!

Shine

 We had our 2 annual crab feed. The crab was so fresh and saltwater tasty in a clean spring day kind of way. Man, it was good. There is nothing better then fresh Dungeness crab right off the boat! Tonight our little church shined!

For some reason I have the song Shine Jesus Shine song in my head.  Ok sing along with me. If you don't know the words here they are!

Lord the Light of Your Love is shining,
In the midst of the darkness shining,
Jesus light of the world shine upon us,
Set us free by the truth You now bring us,
Shine on me. Shine on me.

Shine Jesus shine
Fill this land with the Father's glory
Blaze, Spirit blaze,
Set our hearts on fire
Flow, river flow
Flood the nations with grace and mercy
Send forth Your word
Lord and let there be light.

Lord I come to Your awesome presence,
From the shadows into Your radiance,
By the blood I may enter Your brightness,
Search me, try me, consume all my darkness,
Shine on me. Shine on me.

As we gaze on Your kindly brightness.
So our faces display Your likeness.
Ever changing from glory to glory,
Mirrored here may our lives tell Your story.
Shine on me. Shine on me.