Everything that I have found to be true about life and related topics can be found in the bible. Scripture is our primary resource. We ought to read it sometime. All of scripture points to Jesus as the answer to all our questions. We ought to seek Him sometime.

“I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.
John 16:5-15 (NIV)

What could be better than hanging out with Jesus? I personally have never taken a long walk or shared a meal with Jesus, but it is hard to imagine anything better than being with Him.

According To Jesus, having the Holy Spirit living in us is better. So I guess that many of us, if not all of us, are missing out on the greatest opportunity of our lives. If having God’s Spirit in us is better than having Jesus Himself here, then we have a great treasure hidden inside. The key to a full life is not in possesions, self-fulfillment or relationships but in dieing to ourselves so that God’s Spirit may shine through.

Eschatological report - Jesus hasn’t returned yet. Check back tomorrow.

I enjoy life. I consider it to be a good thing. Actually God said it is a good thing, so therefore I am safe in saying life is good. Furthermore it would be hazardous to say that life isn’t a good thing since God has already decreed that it is good. There is no wisdom in arguing with the Almighty.

I am aware that this world has a lot of suffering. Jesus said that in this world we will have tribulation, persecution and various difficulties. These issues do not change the fact that what God made is good. Our creator made us, you and me, for good works. We are to help, aid, assist those in trials. We are to feed the hungry. We are to be a light to those living in darkness. Taking every opportunity to share the goodness of God with others.

Of course, we have our own issues too. James tells us to consider it all joy when we encounter trials and difficulties. Paul, in Romans tells us that God will work all things out for good as we live our life according to God’s purposes. I realize that it is often easier to feel sorry for ourselves than to mature into the man/woman God has made you to be. I have to tell you that if we never mature then life going to be one long miserable ride taking us nowhere fast. We might as well get on board with Jesus and learn to rejoice in all things and enjoy the Goodness of God.

So the bottom line, life is good.

Today I turned 50. My back hurts and I don’t seem to be any wiser than before. This ancient of days thing only works for God.

As a young christian (I’ve been thinking about that lately) it seemed to me that the church didn’t know Jesus. I mean they understood salvation and looked forward to heaven but they didn’t seem to have any experiencial knowledge of Jesus. I decided that someone should fix that problem. So I’ve spent most of my life trying to show and tell Jesus to the world around me.

Now I’m an older christian ( I’ve been thinking about this too) and it seems to me that things haven’t improved much. The world around us is coming apart at the seams and we seem content to let them. The Bible says we should be and I want to be like my savior Jesus:

Jesus came to earth as a missionary
Jesus’ first priority was His mission
He had time for relationship with His Father (prayer and meditation)
He had time for relationship with friends and family (disciple making)
He had time for the community around Him (outreach)

People don’t know what they’re missing and I’m not sure if they are going to hear. It is time to throw off the distractions of this life and get to work on the mission Jesus gave to us.

MESSAGE FROM SOLID ROCK - PLEASE READ
Hello everybody.

Our friend and my wonderful brother Larry passed away at 2:45 Sunday morning. Kristin and I were with him, holding his hands and sitting in bed with him when his heart finally slowed to a stop. We spent this past week laughing, singing, and praying with him, and all the while he had us taking notes on new song ideas and instructions on how to continue his ministry and art.

Several of you friends here got to come and visit with him in the last couple of weeks and were a great source of help and friendship to Larry. Ray Sievers, Derek Robertson, Mike Makinster, Matt Simmons, and a few more. Thank you guys. Larry appreciated your visits very much. And he greatly appreciated the thoughts, wishes, support and prayers that came from all of you Army members on a daily basis. Thank you for being part of his small circle of friends over the years. Yesterday afternoon he knew he was going to go home to God very soon and he dictated the following message to you while his friend Allen Fleming typed these words into Larry’s computer:
________________________________

I feel like a prize in a box of cracker jacks with God’s hand reaching down to pick me up. I have been under medical care for months. My wounds are getting bigger. I have trouble breathing. I am ready to fly home.

My brother Charles is right, I wont be here much longer. I cant do anything about it. My heart is too weak. I want to say goodbye to everyone. In the past you have generously supported me with prayer and finance and we will probably still need financial help.

My plan is to be buried in a simple pine box with some flowers inside. But still it will be costly because of funeral arrangement, transportation to the gravesite, entombment, coordination, legal papers etc. However money is not really what I need, I want to say I love you.

I’d like to push back the darkness with my bravest effort. There will be a funeral posted here on the website, in case some of you want to attend. We are not sure of the date when I will die. Goodbye, farewell, we will meet again.

Goodbye, farewell, we’ll meet again
Somewhere beyond the sky.
I pray that you will stay with God
Goodbye, my friends, goodbye.

Larry
________________________________________

Thank you to all of you who were so nice to my brother over the years. Kristin and I will post funeral information in the next day or two. Right now we’re not able to function very well, but the whole family is here… our mother Margaret, our sisters Nancy and Kristy, Mike Norman and his new wife Tiffany, and Silver.

We miss him beyond words. Thank you for everything.

Peace to you all in Christ,

Charles Norman

http://www.larrynorman.com/

When I was young (10 or 11 years old) I discovered Christian music for young people. Except I didn’t think any young people I knew would like it. I’ll just say that the stuff that was supposed to be for youth seemed to me to be for very old youth.

One day I heard a song being pounded out on a piano. The song was short, barely a song really. It was only about seven lines long, but it rocked. What was that? I asked my piano playing friend. He smiled and played another. That day I heard a half dozen Larry Norman songs and I was hooked for a lifetime.

No friend of mine ever got saved listening to Norman songs, but in a dozen or more concerts I saw many hundreds respond to the gospel. I have used Norman songs as a way to start christian dialogue with unbelievers in prisons, in street ministry, in every imaginable outreach. He wrote well and conveyed important truths in a way that touched a large part of my and following generations.

Larry was odd, he seemed to have a difficult time with many of his relationships, I guess he was a sinner saved by God’s amazing grace. I doubt that Larry’s songs will be in hymnals one hundred years from now, but Larry was a gift from God to our generation.

“Father of Christian rock” is often how he is described. Titles like that are for earth-bound minds. Larry was a servant that was only visiting this planet hoping and praying we would all get ready.

My perception of God is small. It’s part of the definition of God that I should not understand all of it. I know that when I make God big in my mind, I’m only simplifying and enlarging qualities, rather than giving God room to be something different from what I expect. The most impressive thing I’ve learned in the last two years is that I’m not as smart as I think I am (note: I consider myself to be a very intelligent person, don’t worry about that), and that God works in little things.

It is apparent that God is big–that in 6 days the world was created, in a moment the sea was parted, with dirt and spit blindness was healed. But God works in the small ways, too. Makes himself small and smooth, rolling about in consciousness or subconsciousness reminding each person “you are mine”, whether you like it or not.

I can’t remember a time when the thought of God the Father, and the memory of “you are mine” did not incite a desire to be useful. When the Father’s love is clear, when it’s sitting there in front of you or rolling around in your mind, something bursts inside and says, “what can I give?” This might only last a second for you, if you don’t believe, or have reasonable reasons not to believe, or are just not paying attention–but that is the only response to have, and it happens in me constantly.

So that’s why I’m here, wandering foreign streets at night as an alien. That’s why it doesn’t matter if you agree with why I’m here or what I’m doing. That’s why it doesn’t bother me that I sometimes doubt God, or dislike the Church, or think people are crazy (not a comment on my current situation). That’s why it’s not a problem that I struggle with many things in my job right now. It’s why I’m secure in my strengths and weaknesses and happy to tell you about it.

You can read the post in its entirety here.

Often I am aware of my weakness. I want to change the world but I can’t even change my own habits.

I want everyone to experience this amazing love that God has poured out in us but I forget His love for me.

I don’t want anyone to spent this life or the next in hell but I forget to help them.

I sure am glad that He hangs in there with me.

Sometimes I have vision but no energy to create. Often I work at things for no creative reason.

Days go by with nothing important said or done, Empty words and busy work lull my spirit to sleep.

Sometimes I know why I’m here on earth, and I speak and work to show it. These are the best days, the days I’m really alive.

So if we can’t remove strife, we need to find an inner peace that transcends our issues.

The world offers alcohol, drugs, or the never ending pursuit of personal pleasure as a remedy for life’s pressures.

Jesus offers Himself. A relationship with an ever present friend and helper.