by the way

not long ago, i asked ya'll to lift up our friends eric and his wife jen in prayer and i think i can give you some update now.  jen was admitted into the hospital just a few days after delivering by c-section her and eric's son elijah.  she had been diagnosed with an infection in her blood stream and was given only a 40% chance of survival at the onset!  well, she has since returned home after a long stay in the hospital and some rough and painful moments.  she is safely home with her family now but has to go in for dialysis 3 times a week for at least the next 10 weeks and possibly for the rest of her life!  thank you so much for your prayers and please if you would, i ask you to pray that her kidneys would return to functioning at full capacity allowing her to get off of dialysis. 

also, i would like to ask you to please pray for sue mills.  she is our dear friend beths mother who has stage 4 lung cancer and is not doing well at all.  i hope she wouldn't have to suffer and that her family would feel the loving arms of our prayers holding them tightly and bringing them comfort in such a difficult time.  

thank you all so much.  love those in your life lots and love them constantly.  

of macs and men

sooo, my computer (the nothing ever goes wrong with a mac) has gone crazy on me and thinks that its memory is full.  i could park my tractor and trailer in the amount of space this silly machine made by mere man has available in it.  i am going today to get the marvel by man fixed...or so i hope anyway.  i wonder if one of the ways God relates to us is by having a creation that had all the potential to be amazing and flawless go stupid on Him?  i don't mean to compare Gods flawless ability to create with absolute perfection with a silly manmade computer...however, His creation was somewhat similar to my mac.  it was made with great care and precision.  it is built to be the latest and greatest.  when it came out of production, it was ready for anything.  there are certain things for both of their protection that they need to be conscious of.  for example, don't throw yourself from the top of a tree cause you might break yourself to the point of unrepair...same with my mac.  do not sleep under water, you'll croak...so will my mac.  beware of anything or anyone who would miss inform you as to how to properly operate according to your creators instructions: anti-virus protection!  i guess one of the differences between God and the creators of the mac book is that at least God can repair all of us whereas some mac books have no hope of repair.  go God! 

what is your profession

so as a guy, i really like those cleverly manly moments in stories or movies that make you wanna be on "that guys" team or even be "that guy".  i have posted a video from the movie 300 which shows one of those moments for me.  as a christian, i want whoever i lead to respond back when i turn to them and ask "besideus, what is your profession?!?" to hear in one roaring militant reply "Jesus!" i also want to be in the crowd of warriors roaring as the one i follow asks me that question.  enjoy. (by the way, i'm still learning this blog/video thing so just know the video i intended to show singly is the third one down from the top.)  now...enjoy...

dark black friday

so i think i'm going to write a song called dark black friday.  i will use the day after thanksgivings materialistic gluttony as my theme.  I just want to be up front about this.  for the last week i have been trying hard to place my focus completely on dying to myself and living for God and God alone.  i am a wretched man!  this black friday was for me what naughty pictures are for a guy struggling with porn!  while my wife was excited to find great deals for others, i had completely relapsed into a "me" frenzy running around stores looking for crap for "mmme".  God help me!  feel free to lift your pal "jeremy the selfish" up in your hourly prayers!  "DARN YOU BLACK FRIDAY!"

p.s. lions are 0-12.  huh.

will they lie down or will they roar

alright.  it is thanksgiving sooo: "Happy Thanksgiving Ya'll!" from Christi, Holmes, Willis, and I!!!  we're getting ready to have some family and friends over.  but before I get on with the festivities, I must address our 0-11 detroit lions.  today they play the 10-1 tennessee titans.  I'm really not the biggest football fan but i am a big fan of detroit.  i never really got into the lions because, well, it's the lions.  i just can't help but wonder and watch today though because maybe, just maybe they can end their losing streak...end of the first quarter titans 21 and the lions...3!!!

thank you

so, tomorrow is thanksgiving.  actually, it'll be thanksgiving in like an hour.  Christi and I have been having fun cleaning our house and preparing dishes for tomorrows feast!  as I've been doing my chores and helping Christi in the kitchen, I have tried to keep in mind all that I have to be thankful for.  our little house is adorned with symbols of our faith.  so it is easy for me to think of my savior and King Jesus.  if all I had in my life was Jesus and I really lived trusting Him completely, than I could say with confidence "Jesus, you are all I need!"  but that is not why I'm thankful right now for Jesus.  deep down in my spirit, I know that Jesus is all I need.  I know that He is more in love with me and interested in me than I am in Him.  It isn't because I'm not in love with my King or that I have no interest in Him...but I know that His love is greater than mine and He knows more about this life than I will learn while I'm here.  I know that He is all I need, but there are still parts of me that believe that I need something in addition to Jesus.  That I need my wife, my family, my friends and my house.  I can't live without my job and my t.v. and ipod.  what would my life be without my laptop, my movie collection, my t-shirts and tattoos?  I am grateful tonight because I know deep down in my soul that all I really do need is Jesus.  He is so graceful to me and to all of us because the truth is for most of us, we struggle with letting go of the things this world says we need and just needing Jesus and trusting Him to provide for us.  when I look at my bride, I see a gift from God.  when I see my family and friends, I realize that these are all provided for me by God.  when I just need God, He takes care of me better than I can for myself.  but I am most thankful for His patients and grace to forgive me when I look to things other than Him.  thank you that you love me and never leave me but wait for me and even pursue me when I go off course.  thank you for loving us more than we love you and patiently awaiting our hearts.  have a great and happy thanksgiving!

sincerely, Jeremy

sometimes I think that a song says it all.  I am a huge fan of great, clever, well thought out and meaningful lyrics.  today, for me, one of my heroes (andrew schwab from project 86) paints a picture with words that very accurately show my mind, my heart, my soul, even my spirit today.  what he says in this song is what my soul cries out!  i stand before a mirror, sword drawn.  i stare my enemy in the eye.  i know him well.  he is a dictator.  he is weak.  but he has been able to beat me into submission for oh so long now.  but then saturday happened.  finally, after years of hiding it, i confessed that i have allowed him to rule over me...not Jesus.  i have let this filthy, lazy, sub-par, luke-warm vile cancer plant itself quite comfortably in my life...allowing him to tell me what to do and what not to do.  he has a name.  it is a typical one, common like john or james.  his name is mediocrity.  he also goes by the name of bill, steve, kevin, tina, joshua, lisa, betty...his names are as endless as ours.  i'm starring at him right now, he's looking at me with that smirk on his face that says "you don't really want me to leave.  you love me.  why, you neeeeed me.  everyone else loves me because they need me too!"  then, i smile back at him, raise my sword high above my head...and with a steady, steady hand i hammer my blade through his sweaty skin.  

sincerely ichabod

by andrew schwab (Project 86 , from the album titled "and the rest will follow...")

we once drew

some lines in black

and right now it's about time

we took them back

so bored of losing ground to the heresy

in our hearts...

with a steady steady hand hand hammer hammer blade blade through your sweaty sweaty skin skin skin

please don't stay

we're well past asking

this time we'll make it clear 

our point is made

you're no longer welcome here

(but we) wish you well...

with a steady steady hand hand hammer hammer blade blade through your sweaty sweaty skin skin skin

OFF WITH YOUR HEAD!

WE'LL TAKE IT ALL BACK AND THEN SOME

NEVER AGAIN

OFF WITH YOUR HEAD!

WE'LL CUT OUT ALL THAT'S A HINDERANCE

BLEED THE OLD MAN

and just in case you want to protest

your eviction, imminent 

with a rolling head 

on the dirty pavement

and just in case you want to contest

your destruction, evident 

the decision, permanent

we'll send you out so you'll know that you will find a bright shiny new home on the other side

(never again never again will you)

you're no longer welcome here

(but we) wish you well

with a steady steady hand hand hammer hammer blade blade through your sweaty sweaty skin skin skin

OFF WITH YOUR HEAD!

WE'LL TAKE IT ALL BACK AND THEN SOME

NEVER AGAIN

OFF WITH YOUR HEAD!

WE'LL CUT OUT ALL THAT'S A HINDERANCE 

BLEED THE OLD MAN

OFF WITH YOU HEAD!

I know who I am in the depths of

spirit and truth

I've seen the face of redemption

and He isn't you

I'm through indulging the tastes of

my cruelest nature

so I think this blade better suits you

since we're the ones

who occupy this temple

we'll be the ones 

who'll show you out

blown away

so i gotta tell you about this past saturday.  it was about 36 degrees out and pouring rain.  besideus was planning to give away packed lunches and warm clothes to the needy and homeless in detroit at cass park.  now on a nice day, it would have been nice to see like 6-10 people show up to help serve (6 of them being leaders) but on this cold and rainy saturday, 23 people came excited to serve, not caring about the cost of discomfort.  they came and served with smiles and an unexplainable joy that you can only experience if you participate in something like this.  besideites continue to blow me away with the hearts they have.  that day we allowed Jesus to stand in the midst of the needy in cass park as i know is His desire and serve as is His nature.  He did it through us and it was awesome!  that afternoon we got to serve Jesus lunch and clothe Him (Matt 25).  i am so inspired by besideus...you make me believe we can truly impact this world and see lives changed.  nothing is impossible with Him.  if you're reading this and you had some part in saturdays service project, please share your thoughts or even something that happened that day.  if you just want to share what you think about what we're seeing God do in besideus, that would be great too.  i would love to know what you guys are thinking and what God has been showing you.

before i go, i would like to address anyone who responded to the poll question which asked who God sees when He sees you.  if you answered anything other than "His child, born again" i would really like to talk to you.  if you are willing to talk to me, we can do it in person or you can stay anonymous and just write me.  i would like to understand why you think God sees you the way you believe He does.  

ok, well, i'm looking forward to reading all your responses. 

love you guys

in Christ,

jeremy

My Bad

Hi everybody,

I'm super sorry for the delay on the blog.  I have been super busy with "life stuff"!  So today I want to ask what you guys are thinking about the Church today.  I know this is no small question, but I'm curious where all of you are at in your thinking about the body of Christ.  Since this is the topic we are learning about in besideus right now, I thought I would give you all a chance to share what you think about the church today in the world, in America, in Michigan, in your life???  I want you to share it all...BUT this is NOT for church bashing!  I want you to give your honest views on the body of Christ whether the body as a whole or even just the one you attend.  What do you think is working well?  What do you think needs some improvement?  I want you to feel free to express what YOU see happening in todays church.  Now before you get crazy on your soap boxes, I need you to be honest and ask yourself what you are doing in the whole mix of things.  I really want to know how you all feel about the church, but I want to know what you are doing to be part of the church too.  I'll give you my thoughts on the church next time!

Before I go, I have a BIG prayer request.  I have a great friend named Eric whose wife just had their second child (Elijah) which is awesome.  But only 3 days after she delivered him by C-section, she discovered she had a major infection in her blood!  She has been fighting for her life for over a week now and needs our prayers!  Please join me in lifting Eric and his wife Jennifer up in prayer as well as their kids and family.  He is hurting watching his wife suffer and she is not only suffering, but unable to be with her new born son.  Thank you so much for all you who choose to answer this request.

Till next time, love you guys

in Christ,

jeremy

the wait is over!

alright.  i'm sorry for the delay.  here we go!

first of all, i can't answer this previous question without taking a moment to tip my pistons hat to joe d. for his brilliance with the a.i. trade.  the answer to the greatest basketball team was and still is: the detroit pistons.

okay, now for the meat and potatoes.  what does Jesus mean when he says "blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God."

i think that after reading all of your comments that you all had great input on the topic.  this is my take on it.  if i have a desire to please God, to see Him, i myself am unable to accomplish this.  romans 3:10-12 is clear about my nature.  i am a sinful man with a sinful nature.  when left to myself, i do not seek God nor the things of God.  when left to myself, i have no desire for Godly virtues nor do i desire to see God.  for though i have no desire to do good on my own, i know He is nothing but good and to be in His presence would be a terrible thing to me.  all that is ugly about my nature would be exposed and no matter my arguments about my entitlements, i know that i am truly guilty and left with no excuse before my creator.  so then, how does ones heart become pure?  i believe the answer is by dying and being resurrected as a new creation.  you may ask how is this possible, but i assure you it is possible and many have done it already!  when i say that one needs to die, i do not mean a physical suicide by any means!  what i mean is to simply stop living the life of a sinful man and to put on the life of a clean man.  this can only be done when you have heard the truth about the Son of God and choose to accept the free gift of forgiveness and grace offered to us.  what i mean is, we must be born again.  Paul writes one of the most astounding and hearts-eye opening statements in 2 corinthians 5:17: "therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things pass away; behold, new things have come."  so you see, in order to please God, i must desire to please God.  and in order for me to desire to please God, i must have the kind of nature to desire such a thing.  now then, once i have a new nature about me with the desire for the things of God, i will desire not only the things of God, but i will desire God Himself.  One cannot hear about a thing so lovely as the God of the bible and not desire to see HIm!  that would be like looking at a glass of lemonade on a hot summer day and not wanting to drink it all up!  one might even say that the person who does not drink it all up is missing a few screws in his head.  my point is that once we have tasted the goodness that is our God, we want more.  we want to please Him.  we want to make him smile and hear Him say back to us "I am so proud to call you mine" or "I love you...you were worth every nail and I'd do it all again to be with you"  just typing the things that i hope so much to hear my Dad say to me makes me want to go out and do whatever it takes to ensure my ears to hear those words spoken to me.  in the end, my pure heart is not the one i was born with, but the one i was reborn with.  and it is with this new heart that i can hope to see God.  for this heart is not my own, but it belongs to Jesus Christ whose heart is completely pure.  because we now share the same heart, it is now possible for me to see God because of this new heart.  how great is our God!  those of us who are born again have the great joy of seeing God because He sees Jesus when He sees us.  if you are unsure who God sees when He looks at you, do not waist another second wondering.  when the check book is in front of you and you are unsure about whether or not you have payed the rent, you do not just sit there and keep wondering...you open the book to see whether or not you have.  and if you haven't, you get to it right away!  for when the landlord comes to throw you out, it will have been to late.  so don't delay.  this is what God is all about.  redeeming us so He can be with us.  if you want it, just ask Him to forgive you.  then put your faith in Jesus.  one day i made the decision to stop doing things my way cause my way wasn't working out so good.  so i started to do things Gods way and i have never been the same!  now if you already are born again, celebrate!  this is no small thing that has happened!  live out your salvation to the fullest, with fear and trembling, but with joy as well!  

alright, well, that's all i got today.  thanks for reading...i can't wait to see what we'll talk about next.

i love you all...

in Christ

jeremy