01.29.04

Posted in Uncategorized at 21:49

YMCewwww

For as long as a can remember, I’ve gone to my Dad’s several times a year. My dad likes to keep in shape so he runs and swims most days. He’ll usually run by the river near our house. Swimming… that’s a different story.

We used to go to the YMCA of Greater Sacramento (greater than what I wonder…) But more recently, it’s been kind of… grody. Like, flies in the showers. And… gunk on the bottom of the pool. And its fun to dive all the way to the bottom of the 12 foot and touch the drain so that your ears feel like they’re going to explode. But not when there’s hair and band aids and bubble gum and gunk on the bottom. Yuck

So my dad did some shopping around. And he found Capitol Athletic Club. Probably more than he can afford to pay, but he uses it enough to justify it I guess. At least 4 days a week I’d guess. And it’s nice. Like really nice. The pool is outdoor and much smaller than YMCA’s, but it’s heated and clean. The weightroom has newer equipment. And the locker room… Okay, so it’s two floors. The bottom floor, restrooms, jacuzzi, swim-suit-really-fast-spinny-wringer-outer-thing, chaise lounges where you can lay naked and watch golf on the TV (nope, I don’t get it either…), showers (body wash, shampoo, and conditioner included), sauna, and a steam room where the visibility is literally 1.5m and eucalyptus vapors are strong enough to make the n00bs cough like smokers (surprisingly refreshing.) Upstairs are lockers along with sinks and every personal care product you can imagine. Combs in pretty jars of Barbicide. Lather machines that deal up a fresh dallop of hot lather for your shave (and shock you if you’re not careful), multiple choices of aftershave, soap of course, mouthwash, hairspray, hairgel, blowdryers. There’s also some stuff to spray on your feet to prevent foot fungus. Good stuff. And everywhere you look are fresh towels…

Oh, and there’s like excercise balls and pilates and racquetball courts and basketball courts and who knows what else for the people who are into that stuff.

Anyway… Like I said, *Capitol* athletic club and ymca of greater *Sacramento*, and it’s a pretty ritzy place, so who do you expect would have a membership? Someone who likes to work out maybe? That every knows lives in Sacramento? Maybe near the Capitol? Arnold of course. The other day my dad saw a lot of people in suits with earpieces loitering about. When he walked into the weightroom who do you expect he saw? So yeah. My dad works out with Arnold. Or did. Once. I don’t think they talked. But yeah.

01.22.04

Posted in Uncategorized at 22:04

Pressing In

I’m just barely coming in to a new place in my relationship with God. The idea of hearing the voice of the living God of the universe scares me a little. But I’ve been receiving revelation from Him. He’s talking to me and He’s showing me things.

What is Christianity? Is it being saved? Is it walking in a way that honors God? Having an understanding of the Bible and the theological stuff? Engaging in fellowship activities? Witnessing? “Getting something” out of sermons? Praying and reading the Bible daily? Being baptised? Taking communion? Singing love songs to God? Does that pretty much sum it up? Forget it. I don’t want that. I ask you, how is that any better than Mormonism? Buddhism? It’s just another religion. If that’s all it is then I’m not going to waste any more time being a Christian.

But that *isn’t* all it is. You’re still living in the Matrix.

God knows everything there is to know about you. He knows you better than you know yourself. And you can know Him. Oh sure, you can read your Bible. You can know Christianity. Your pastor might have some insightful things to say on the topic. But the Bible can’t show you, you can’t show you, your pastor can’t show you, who God is. Only God can show you.

Why are you satisfied? Don’t you know there is more? You must come to a place of dissatisfaction with your current relationship with God. Cry out to Him, Jesus I want to know you more, I have to have more of you. KNOWING HIM. That is what Christianity is. Fellowship with God. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all that other stuff shall be added unto you. Don’t you realize that the virgins that didn’t have enough oil were Christians? The men that cast out devils in His name but Jesus knew not? Christians. DON’T BE THEM!!!

God made the Bible, established the church as an accompaniment to personal revelation from Him. In the Bible, there’s two Greek words that refer to the word of God. One is logos which is the written word of God, aka, your Bible, and there’s rhema which is word that comes from God himself. Get the logos in your head, but get the rhema too. Fellowship with God. Get fed. Balance your spiritual diet. Get spiritual exercise. You ever lift your hands in worship? You think people do that just to look all religious and stuff? Try it. Keep doing it. Realize that the Holy Spirit is inside you. Offer yourself to God as a living sacrifice. Tell Him you are His. Mean it. Really mean it when you tell Him how good He is and get a little bit excited about it. It’s not about the singing. He doesn’t want singing. He wants you. The value of your relationship with God is proportional its cost. Take the red pill. Press in.

01.11.04

Posted in Uncategorized at 21:46

This morning after prayer for the service, God touched one of the depth1 girls. He tickled her. I felt the same thing when I was baptised in the Holy Spirit, but not to this extent. She laughed hysterically for at least twenty minutes without stopping. I don’t know about you, but I don’t think there’s anything in the natural that funny. She couldn’t walk and two people had to all but drag her out of the sanctuary before the service started (she was still laughing uncontrollably.) Prayer before was powerful. The worship was powerful. The sermon was powerful. I serve a powerful God. One that tickles people.

1depth is an internship at my church where post-high-school students pay to spend all of their time serving in various ministries at the church, taking courses at the church’s bible college, and learning from each of the church’s pastors.