Tag Archives: Jesus

Blogposts, Musing

Coding, Operating Systems And Us

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Binary Coding
Binary Coding

Coding

This morning I had a dream. In the dream I found myself viewing HTML (HyperText Markup Language) coding or the ability of a person to build a web page. For someone such as myself who has been involved in the internet and the building of pages (Well, since Al Gore invented it…) this dream was interesting.

In coding there are a lot of things you do not see. These codes or strings of code, determine everything from font color, style or size, to where a picture or column is located. For instance, <font color=”red”>will give you this 6.

In the dream I saw the hand of the Lord touching people behind the scenes, putting code in lives. There was also code that was predetermined through birth or DNA (a code of its own that determines genetics like hair coloring, size, etc…) and then there is additional code which has a lot to do with what you put in your life.

In many respects, our lives are often like what we may now call a web page. A web page for the most part operates on three levels. The operating system (what you do not see.), the output or page(what you do see) and the “personalized” page that reflects answers you may have given in the past or choices you have made.

Life is a lot like that and I saw it in the dream.

The Operating System or OS
There is a code that runs the whole site. That may be more like what the Lord puts in to “run the whole system. And then there is the individual code of the page that has a lot of similarities to DNA coding. And then there is an additional process that revolves around forms where you may be asked for email addresses, etc.. The information you put in here determines what you may receive in coming days, etc..

One of the things I have noticed is our “operating system” or what goes on behind the scenes, never changes. God died as you and an operating system of God is always at work in your life. Whether you accept it or see it is irrelevant. You can choose never to see the wonder of what He does. You can be content only with what is in your life and what you do.

The Web Page
Then you walk in the DNA or the output of your parents and the generations before you. You may resemble Aunt Tilly or Poppa Don. You may act like your father or smile like your mama. There is little you can change outside of reconstructive surgeries, additions or subtractions. It is interesting that many are concerned with this to the extent that perhaps billions are spent in this area to change the visual or the “page” itself. So many work to get away from the “code.” It is here that appearance is changed, corrupted or distorted.

Personalization
The data entry of personal information builds a database that becomes uniquely you to even further extent. It can be the result of upbringing, education or culture.

When I gave my life over to the Lord I was given what can only be called a new “operating system.” It was more than an upgrade. Everything became different. (Scripture tells us that once we were “darkness.”) Up until that point my operating system was “corrupt” and my output corrupt. With this new operating system, many things changed. Not all, but many. Instantly it was like the Lord removed my database of profanity. On the hand I would try to reverse or operate this new system from the direction of the old with results that were less than productive.

I still had the DNA of parents and the personalization of experience, but now I had to run it on a different system. I found that some of my favorite “programs” I had used no longer produced or in some cases no longer existed.

In the dream the hand of the Lord was giving not just “upgrades” but new systems of operation. I felt the Lord saying “this is a day of great harvest. The corruptions of this world are not what you are to be concerned with. Be concerned with the newness of the operating system.” Too often we bring people out of their culture and encourage them to do what they have always done…but differently! We need to put emphasis on Him and not the output or the result. Christ and Christianity is not self help. The best “coding” in the world will not and cannot run without a proper operating system.

I am not being disrespectful or irreverent of Christ. He is the “system” that made way for my corrupt ways to change. It was not for lack of trying I had been unable to accomplish these things before Him. Let us stop trying to change the person. That job belongs to Christ and Christ alone. Let us not see conformity to a system of “proper” output but let us seek the transformational change that comes with Christ.

Encourage the operating system change and you will see the results. Stop focusing on the output of people and concentrate on He who can change.

Blogposts, Musing

Chaim-Life The Search For Chaim

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Just a thought?
Just a thought?

Yesterday I received a vision

from the Lord about the upcoming season. Some have already taken me to task about the aspect of “love” in it. That’s okay. You do not have my life and I do not have yours.

This morning I was awakened from a dream with these words ringing in my head. “Will you come down here?” Huh? I started to process the dream while drinking my coffee and laughing about a friend’s inability to acquire a Starbucks at BOS at 5AM.

I began to think about being in Him and what is protected by “being in Him. No discourse here other than to say a lot more is hidden in the life of Jesus than you can imagine.

In the dream I was trying to locate a man. His name was Chaim. He had appeared so young in my first meeting, but as I inquired as to His whereabouts, people talked about how old he was. Chaim was known by many and seen by few. The talk of Him was histories, anecdotes and stories but no one seemed to know him personally. I was on a mission. He had touched my life. I remembered it vividly.

Finally I caught up to him. We met at a sidewalk café in France. He was seated. His life beamed life. We sat there saying nothing. The glory was much upon his face.

I awoke from that dream, be asked “will you come down here?”

I will be honest in saying, I am not sure who is being asked to come “down here.” Years ago I was seated in a meeting where men prophesied over me for nearly20 minutes. One of the lines was “come down out of the clouds and get the smell of sheep upon your garb.” I am more inclined to believe it was a call for help, much the call Paul received to Macedonia in the book of Acts. I have to leave this one on the table for a day or so.

But Chaim? Chaim means life in Hebrew. Many people added even the name to their name to add health to their life. There IS power in the name.

I sensed I met Him who is the essence of all life in the dream. Why a café? Why not?

Blogposts, Lee Johndrow, Ministry, Musing

The Fence Around The Church

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Who comes to your church? I often ask myself does it look like those of Jesus’ companions. Tax collectors, prostitutes and those not “allowed” in church. I can honestly say our fellowship looks more and more like that. I am excited about that! Why? It means they feel welcome. Did you know they felt welcome to be with Jesus, despite their sins, their strongholds and their belief?

Many of my friends are crying out that “God lost America” yesterday. If He is that weak then why would you serve Him? I assure you He is not. The difficulty for many is to realize God gave a group of people all authority here. It is on us.

For years we built a fence to keep “them” out. If you think I am talking about immigration you would be wrong. I am talking about the fence we “built” around the church. Before I was saved, I was a them.  Now I am an “us”? Does that really make sense in light of scripture?

The Supreme Court ruling yesterday does nothing for me except to highlight the need for “limited” or smaller government. There are many reasons for limiting government. One is people get to live life as God intended it…with freedom. Whether that freedom sends “chills” up your back or not, that is the freedom God intended and Jesus advocated. He never was “okay” with their sin but He wasn’t okay with them being outside His “reach” either. I want small government. My opinion, my choice. (Have you read the papers? Are you seeing any overriding value to “bigger is better” when it has to do with control?)

With that said.

There is a difference between influence and control. Jesus never intended to “control” anyone. Dominion “can” come by control, but it is better when the people buy into it.

For years our “us vs. them” mentality has grown. We have taken scripture, used it without context, to control or condemn, and forgot about love. We pulled our children out of schools and bemoan the lack of educational values, including morality. (I am not against Christian schooling or home schooling, my question is your reasons. My wife and I have done both.) Paul said “And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?” Romans 10:14

One of the reasons I appreciate being in business and around people is I am around the “sinner.” I was speaking to a friend of mine who works in business. He was “bemoaning” the fact that employees are getting saved and coming to work saying “I am interested in church.” He said it makes it hard to find people to work Sundays!

God never intended our reach to be confined to a building of “good” people. His intent all along was to reach the broken, the downtrodden, the sinner. He intended His death, burial and resurrection for all mankind.

After 20 plus years of life with Him, I feel I can say so many have become “churchified,” failing to be subjects of the King, hence the word Kingdom, that sight of the goal has been lost. It tells us that the “heathen” was given for our inheritance yet many poo poo the idea of the lost, their thinking on various subjects and more.

Let me be frank. We have lost inventors, singers, businessmen and more because of our ungodly attitude towards people. We have acted like the world too often to have influence a lot of the time. If our neighbors do not know we are believers that to me, is a problem. If our coworkers do not know that is a problem. And last but not least, if our children do not know.  In the latter I am speaking of the child who goes to church and sees parents “pose” for the cameras and go home, lacking love or affection.

Before we denigrate those in Congress, the Senate, the Presidency or the Supreme Court we must look at our own actions. I am painfully aware of the difference between a believer and an unbeliever. I know the end game. I am not saying do not hold those accountable to their oaths of office. BUT, do not hold them to a higher standard than you hold the church.

All sin was paid for. Theirs, yours and mine.

Let us get back to the place of practicing the walk of Jesus. Not in a religious manner but with the love that He walked in.

I read today of a famous pastor and government leader who in light of the Supreme Court ruling on DOMA said, “Jesus wept.” If Jesus wept, it is because His church is quick to point the finger anywhere but at their own efforts. We pulled out of government, we pulled out of schools, we pulled out of life, all for the sake of bad teaching and theology. We missed the very thing He was trying to do. Establish HIS kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven.

If you are dismayed about the ruling, can I suggest it is time to search one’s soul and ask the obvious. Have I influenced those about me with His goodness? Have I made known His name? Have I condemned or have I freed? Have I locked them out and locked myself in?

For the sake of this generation I lay down my life(My thinking, my desires, my hopes and I supplant them with his!) to carry out His words and His will. God was not looking for a democracy or a republic. He was looking for a people. For He is God and that is a theocracy. Where He is the head and we are the body.

And that folks…is a wrap.

 

 

 

Blogposts, Interrupted Process, Lee Johndrow, Musing

Seasons of “Set Aside”

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I always wake up with interesting thoughts, songs and visions.

At 3:30 the song “Nothing But The Blood” was running over and over in my mind. I began to sing the words softly. I felt the presence of God in the room “increase.” (Rally, probably just that more cognizant of He who is always there.)  The next few hours were dreams that included our president, a friend in the hospital and an acquaintance who has decided it is ok to beat me out of a couple of grand. Upon my final wake up I heard the lyrics from the Bee Gees and their song “To Love Somebody.” (Not a song I sing…)

Lyrics are below…

So what is God speaking? I think God speaks to us all the time. In pictures, words, impressions and more. Now theologically the words have some “error” but the words have power.

What if God is singing this to you?
You don’t know what it’s like, baby
You don’t know what it’s like

To love somebody
To love somebody
The way I love you

Yesterday a very good friend and I chatted. In many areas, we are in the same “walk.” We often find similarities. Currently both of us would like to see life get “on with it.” The inactivity is frustrating. I am not saying go do something just ‘cuz you can. I gave that up a while ago. There is the occasional activity that is necessary for priming the “pump” so to speak to get everything moving. But both of us have been feeling like God is “holding” us in play. Limbo is his word.  Others are seeing various things move, jump and leap ahead. I am rejoicing with you. I am excited for you.

And it always comes back to seasons. The President is daily being faced with choices. He needs wisdom. My friend in the hospital needs healing. The man with the money owed to me? He needs Jesus. In all of these people, it is “nothing but the blood.”

God will speak to you in many ways. He wired you for community and communication. And even when you are “not hearing” Him He is speaking.

I do not like inactivity (Sounds like a Dr. Seuss book!) nor do I like the feeling. Our natural thinking and culture easily “translate” inactivity to worthlessness, (I spent much of yesterday morning listening to “praise breaks” to get out of that feeling.) concern and “what am I missing” thoughts.

As my friend and I talked, I began to prophesy into his life a little. The amazing thing about words spoken is they have the power and potential to change you, those that hear and the atmosphere about. I know he felt better as the conversation went on.

Why can be “set aside” for a season? I am not sure the reasons, but I do trust in the Lord and His hand upon my life. Maybe we need a rest. A time of respite.  A time of reflection. (Pretty sure that is not for me. I spend WAY too much time there.) But I think it is extremely important that we are prepared for the goodness that is coming, increasing. Benjamin Disraeli asserted, “The secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his time when it comes.”

So perhaps it really does come down to…faith.

 
There’s a light
A certain kind of light
That never shone on me
I want my life to be lived with you
Lived with you
There’s a way everybody say
To do each and every little thing
But what does it bring
If I ain’t got you, ain’t got faith ?
You don’t know what it’s like, baby
You don’t know what it’s like

To love somebody
To love somebody
The way I love you

In my brain
I see your face again
I know my frame of mind
You ain’t got to be so blind
And I’m blind, so, so, so very blind
I’m a man, can’t you see
What I am
I live and I breathe for you
But what good does it do
If I ain’t got you, ain’t got faith ?

To Love Somebody lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group

Blogposts, Lee Johndrow, Ministry, Musing

The Garden Culture Of His Grace

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Hitting the target
A word for today.

The culture of grace is at hand…

This morning I received an amazing letter from a friend of mine. He has not be around that long. It was pretty amazing.  Over the last few weeks, He has seen the blessing of God and His hand move. Last night he wrote me to tell me of many new blessings, but here is the last part.

“So last night for the first time in 17 years I ran 2 miles . When I got off the treadmill I was sweating but hardly winded. AMAZING .I realize that 2 miles may not seem like much but for me with all my “issues” that was like running a marathon. God is amazing , his word is true, and he is always faithful. Thanks for listenin.”

Frankly , I needed to hear it. The last few days have been rough. Lots of amazing things have been happening. But lots of difficult things have happened too. I have felt like “lots” has been on fire. Finances, health, etc.. But you can never give up or stop contending. God did not promise you a rose garden. I rejoice in the fiery trial because there is a promise at the end. 1 Peter 4 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. Continue reading The Garden Culture Of His Grace →

Blogposts, Lee Johndrow, Ministry, Musing

The Preparation Of The Craftsman

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Planing
The planing of materials

I was in worship at our fellowship and while contemplating a picture I began to see this.

A large piece of wood, with planed shavings, all about and a large plane moving across the surface.

I began to have multiple thoughts and saw subsequent pictures, heard various scriptures.

Proverbs 8:30 Then I was beside Him, as a master workman; And I was daily His delight, Rejoicing always before Him,

As the wood was planed to thickness, and the shavings fell to the side, I watched the firm strong hands. I felt the strength, the peace, the meticulousness of it all.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. Ephesians 2:10

I saw the process and I was mesmerized.  Why? Because it was “right there.” In the sanctuary. “God-what are you showing me?” He instantly reminded me of the “setting in place” I had seen the week before.

“I am preparing a people for ‘setting.’ Today is the day that some will be set in place if they will let me. Today is the day that I will make them ‘fit’ if they will let me. It is these, the maturity of my body, that is what I said when I said, ‘For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the

revealing of the sons of God.’ “

I felt that the picture I was being shown was for individuals and corporately. (Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before obscure men. Proverbs 22:29) That God is doing a might thing in individuals. In the setting He will bring forth a corporate man for this region. (In Jerusalem he made engines of war invented by skillful men to be on the towers and on the corners for the purpose of shooting arrows and great stones. Hence his fame spread afar, for he was marvelously helped until he was strong.2 Chronicles 26:15) That He has

given gifts and talents to be used, that will come forth and shine abroad. (And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, See, I have called BY NAME (emphasis mine) Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, Exodus 31)

God is specifically calling people to His setting. Ask God to make you the craftsman He has called you to be. To be excellent in your gift, your talent, your calling.

Isaiah 41:7 So the craftsman encourages the smelter, And he who smooths metal with the hammer encourages him who beats the anvil, Saying of the soldering, “It is good”; And he fastens it with nails, So that it will not totter.

Chuck and Anna Maher were visiting our fellowship while this was happening. He then spoke on declaration and decree. On the regional piece.  On the people coming forth. On the connections.

Blogposts, Musing

REST-He is in it!

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I woke up this morning from a dream where an old friend of mine was involved. We had been invited to a meeting. We were staying in a large hotel. We had beautiful rooms. And a noise.  In the dream there was this “mystery” sound. It took me all night to isolate and determine what and where it was. It has taken me much of the morning to understand the thought process behind it.

Yesterday I spoke about set at a table, set in place and set in motion. I believe that is where much of the church is right now.  What is going on? Where is the motion? Where is the “answer”?

I was talking to a friend last night. A savvy business person and good friend, we talked about the current state of life. Like he and myself, many have felt like the motion of things has stopped. We discussed the reasons. Without getting into lots of detail we cleared governments, economies and people. No, something has people in a place of “slowed” or a holding pattern. Even as I thought about the holding pattern, I thought what it was a prelude to. Landing, disembarking, new positions and places all follow. The holding pattern can be discouraging, as it can create impatience or anxiety. Especially when you look out the window and see others “in the air,” circling alongside of you.  (Die Hard 2 maybe?)

My answer is, many are in the place of “what’s next.” Often we see it in an individual or two, but it does seem like many are waiting. What if how well you wait determined how well you “land”?

In my dream we were distracted until late into the night, looking for the source of the noise. When we got close to it, it seemed as if it changed. Direction, sound, volume. I finally got into bed and got some sleep(rest) only to hear the sound a few hours later. I jumped out of bed, opening the door and I saw the source of the noise. A type of “knocker” had been affixed to my friend’s door. I opened the door and there he was, asleep. He was worn out from the night’s explorations. The sun poured through the window.

Only when I was in my room and resting was I able to determine the source of the sound. It was on a door. As we moved about the hotel the previous night, we heard it but could not locate it. There is a new day coming. The Lord is behind the “distractions” but not as you perhaps think. He is not making it hard for you, He is making it easy. There is rest He is calling you to. And only when you are in that rest will you hear the sound. The sound of Him at the door calling you to a new day. A day that is bright. Why a door? Because He is not making this hard or difficult.

I personally just went through a frenzied time. A time that began with a flat tire a few weeks ago. And then a car accident and my wife’s injuries. Finances, vehicle and residence, all seemed to take a hit. It is not “over” but I felt the Lord asking for trust. He is knocking. He has knocked at many people’s “door.” The answer is “open the door.” (It is like, how do you remove the darkness? Turn on the light!)

This is a season of unraveling of thinking, discarding of old thoughts and process and the listening for the sound. My answer in the dream was “right there.” But we could not find it. We did the room to room search, the examination, the interviewing of others…everything but “lie down.”

REST-He is in it!

 

 

Blogposts, Musing

Was His Face Marred for a reason?

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Sloth-from the movie the Goonies
Sloth-from the movie the Goonies

I have been meditating on the marring or the misshaping of His face in the last week or so. I read this scripture…
Just as many were astonished at you, My people, So His appearance was marred more than any man And His form more than the sons of men.

What is the connection, I thought? People astonished at me? At you? The preceding verse speaks of not being in a rush. Of God going before you and being behind you.

But His face? When I felt touched to think about it, I thought it had to be “marred” not just fulfill a prophecy but to do something else.

It’s funny. The Lord had been stirring in me Psalm 27 and the phrase about “the land of the living.” And for nearly a week this statement has been typed on my computer with nothing added. “Was His Face Marred for a reason?” I would look at it multiple times a day. Today I began to clear the deck so to speak. And here just a few scriptures later in Isaiah 53, “For He was cut off from the land of the living;”

What is the land of the living? I felt this. A stream in a wilderness. A family of descendants. Where life is.

The other day, I felt that His face must be marred to “balance” it for us. He had no beauty it says, nothing to draw us. If the holes were still visible in His hands, what about other wounding?

I came to this conclusion about His face. I realized it while watching the Goonies with my grandkids. When Jacob saw Sloth he could only ask “why is his face like that?” I think we ask the same thing about the face of Jesus. Why is it like that? Why will it not draw you? “He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him.” Isaiah 53:2

With this, “He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care.”

Not only to accept him, but to serve Him, we must accept the difficult parts. I think we have looked at things through the human lens and made Him “palatable” to our way of thinking. Hence, we “mar” His beauty. We in our unredeemed state could not accept His goodness.

We often see people dealing with shame not able to look others in the eyes. Perhaps that is what happened. Or even in the “I am better than you” mode, underrating the spiritual value of goodness. Pushing it away.

Whatever the reason, my final thoughts are that we tried to make Him like us, when His goal was to make us like Him.