Praying Mantis thoughts for Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Now, we have new tile downstairs. Stone. Makes your feet feel like they are landing on something solid. It reminds me of India and the homes there. Our carpet in our little shoe box, with 6 feet running over it (and a church plant), had been run into the ground. Part of it (the purchase) is justified by the fact that I will live cheaply here for a long while and think I should just improve our current conditions. Another part of me, went and looked at a 4 bedroom + loft house in Queen Creeek that is on a golf course - the back yard looks out down two fairways, through tall trees, and at a mountain in the distance. Prices are relatively cheap for such a home right now.

Fun thinkings, anywho. And I have two close friends who can't find jobs. I am praying for them, and trying to decide what is the right thing to do each day that I have.

praying mantis - Friend - John 15:15 - Call me Amadeo

Praying Mantis thoughts for Sunday, May 18, 2008

Luke 15:11-32 - The Parable of the Lost Son

11Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. 12The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.
13"Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

17"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' 20So he got up and went to his father.
"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

21"The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.[a]'

22"But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. 24For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.

25"Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.'

28"The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'

31" 'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' "

praying mantis - Friend - John 15:15 - Call me Amadeo

Praying Mantis thoughts for Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Evangelism...

What a wonderful word that has been tainted. Good news spreading.

We have to recapture that word through frienship, service, love, a recommitment to loving the world around us and inviting it into our homes, sharing that God loves them, that Jesus is God and the way to not only eternal life, but abundant life.

Evangelism. Good news spreading. This is the stuff.

praying mantis - Friend - John 15:15 - Call me Amadeo

Praying Mantis thoughts for Saturday, May 10, 2008

Guitar Hero.

praying mantis - Friend - John 15:15 - Call me Amadeo

Praying Mantis thoughts for Friday, May 09, 2008

Bono: With His Harley, making drool, cool!

praying mantis - Friend - John 15:15 - Call me Amadeo

Where there is smoke, there is probably fire.

Where there is visual reports from 5 witnesses at one place there is fire, you can be assured there is likely a fire, unless it is a conspiracy of a small group.

Where there is visual reports from 10 witnesses from two different locations of seeing fire, you can be nearly assured there is fire.

Whether Jesus rose from the dead is true, is partially verified by the many witnesses of the behavior of Jesus. The fruit of his work is part of the further verification of whether Jesus died or rose again and had influence in people's lives. Others, will be the witnesses of our own fruit...or of our own short-comings. Either way, there will be witnesses and fruit. Lord, help us to be a witness of you, rather than of our own flesh.

praying mantis - Friend - John 15:15 - Call me Amadeo