I was listening to a pod cast the other day and I think I got this quote right, if not it is really really close, but if not I think you’ll get the message.
“You know you have created God in your own image when He hates exactly the same things you hate.”
Hummh???? Now that puts ME to thinkin’.
Babu Lonnie
A lot of my frustration as of late has come from a first hand view of how unfair life really is. I am referring to my father in laws situation. He was a brilliant man, an intellect but now at age eighty four years and eleven months he struggles to remember anything that happen less than sixty years ago. He has dementia. I too am getting to an age that “old” is becoming a relevant term for me. I qualify for the senior discount at most businesses, if I could, I am at the age of retirement and I have moved from my daddy’s little man to the grandfather of five. Getting older is not a bad thing if there is someone to get old with. I know I don’t appreciate and treat my wife, Patti, the way she deserves but I do appreciate the way she is helping her dad and me grow older. Neither of us want to recognize the fact that in some areas we need help, hey but we are men you know. I rambled to get to a quote I heard years ago but It really didn’t mean much to me at the time but now it takes on an entirely different perspective. Here is a quote from the prophet John Prine who said “Old trees grow stronger…Old rivers grow wilder…Old people grow lonesome, waiting for somebody to say hello in there”. The emptiness of lonliness can be filled with such a simple solution. Why do smile and speak to children and pass by older folks? Perhaps we fear they will share some experiences of a life lived that negates the expectations of the life we have not yet lived. Who knows, but don’t stop talking to the children and let’s all start at least saying hello to those who are older than we are, they may have something to tell us. Hello in there…will you come out and talk to me, experience is the second best teacher. The best teacher is the Holy Spirit.
Babu Lonnie
I have been notified privately that my blogs as of late have been irrational. I have never intended to be a source of confusion or contention with my blogs. My desire was to supply a spark of what I see as truth to stimulate some thinking. Apparently I have missed the goal. I may take some time off from the blog to make sure what I’m seeing is in fact truth or just some unattainable dream. I am struggling with everything in my life except Jesus right now. He is the only truth I can be sure of. I hope I haven’t hurt or confused anyone over the past week or so during this bout of depression. Till I know…………
Babu Lonnie
This quote came off a little boys shirt I saw walking with his dad in the mall. “Do Do Occurs!” Wish I’d said that.
Babu Lonnie
I have two very good friends who have opposite views on a particular doctrine. The doctrine is “prosperity of the believer”. I want to say before I start this post I love them both very much and this is not about taking sides it is simply a matter of right and wrong. As a follower of Christ I enjoy teaching the way Christ taught…with questions. Where do we get the idea that biblical prosperity has to do with the flesh? I know the scriptures well enough to debate with most folks on this subject but this is not a debate but a clarification. I can if you are interested show you numerous scriptures that promote spiritual prosperity. We have made the flesh “the thing” in Christianity, we want it pampered, petted and pursued. We have become very selfish. The original flesh of God, (Jesus), had to be brought into subjection and even crucified how can we think this new flesh of God, (you and I) should be any different. I believe the Old Covenant scriptures is what it is, a book of examples. That Old Covenant also has been fulfilled or filled full of life by the Lord Jesus Christ and Jesus, God in the flesh, supersedes and and gives life instead of ritual or law. I said that to say this, the proponents of the modern day prosperity doctrine have taken a majority of what they believe from the Old Covenant and tried to dress it up in the New Covenant. That simply won’t work as hard as we try and move words, stories and characters from death to life from old to new it can only be done by God through Jesus and the transformation He brought about. Let the old be the old and allow the new to be alive. We kill the new when we try and dress it up in the old and the old has only letter and law and it kills. I see no value to the modern version of the prosperity doctrine.The only upside is it has made millionaires out of some men and women who got in on top of the scheme. But have they given it all back or are they just tithers? Old Covenant says 10% but the New Covenant say 100%…oh maybe that’s why they had rather live under the law and profess grace, who knows? GOD KNOWS!!!
Babu Lonnie
In a couple of weeks my friend from Kenya, Johnny Brooks, is coming for a visit. When he comes if there are any of the readers of this blog who would like to meet him we would be honored to meet with you to discuss the ministry that we are involved with in Kenya. Of course with gas prices as they are our travel may be limited but if you are serious and not just a spiritual tire kicker but are wanting to invest yourself in ministry that is making a difference please leave a comment with a contact and I will get with you. Your help is needed greatly for a consistent monthly financial commitment and a continuous commitment of prayer. Johnny is bringing a pictorial presentation and personal experiences to share with those who are interested. He will be here in Kentucky with me for a while before going on to Texas. Will you join Johnny & Kate as they do all they can to see His will be done and His Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. They are fertile soil for your investment.
Babu Lonnie
It is 2:30AM and sleep has not come or perhaps because I have not gone to sleep. Either way I am wide awake and struggling with my life as it presently is. I know that as “Christians” we have been led to believe we are not supposed to have problem, we can just claim the victory over any and everything. That is a load of crap!!! I know well intended people who are suffering greatly and they continue to claim the suffering will somehow magically be taken away by repeating some prayer or memorizing a verse of scripture. If that were the case I will assure you I personally would never have a sick day, a day of overpowering depression or any such thing. I say that because I have a pretty good grasp of scripture, (I’ve read the whole book in several different translations) I’ve prayed tens of thousands of prayers but still here I am. My problem seems to me that I have relied on a “church” that has fallen from it’s foundation and won’t get up. I have allowed it and all the traditions of men to drag me to undoubtedly the lowest place in my life. At age 56 I feel like I am trapped and the escape is as hurtful as anything I have ever experienced but not as eternally harmful as the trap it’s self. This awareness has brought me to the depths of depression and only God knows what I need. It is something that I don’t even have words to express. If in fact what I am experiencing is a Godly need, He’ll supply but without fleshly man hinting or telling Him what to supply. It will be a spirit thing. I want more than anything to get through this but it has to be God. Unless you are SURE you’ve heard from God, please don’t leave me some B.S. comment. I don’t need “a word” I need a living God who is relevant for today. James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. I’ve confessed, if any of the readers of this blog are the righteousness of God pray!!! If your prayers prevail and are effective, you’ll hear from God. I want to be healed. This may be a test, maybe I know the answer already???
Babu Lonnie
I believe the Lord has finally allowed me to see and hear “the answer” to all my questions. He has given me a surety of what I need. And this answer has been right before me the entire time I was asking all my questions. It is really very simple but the hardest thing I have ever faced. The answer is in the form of a question and HE asks the question with such love, grace and mercy. The question and the answer is this…”ARE YOU MORE THAN WILLING, WILL YOU FOLLOW ME AT ALL COSTS”? Simple but so hard. Truly following Him will cost you everything. He’s asked me whether or not I will I give all or will I allow what I have or don’t have rule the life He’s given me to live. This is killing me and I know that’s what He wants but I am absolutely miserable in this time of mental, emotional, spiritual and physical transition. I may be changing from what I assumed to be life to true life IN HIM…It is real but this dying process to get there is painful.
Opening my heart, thoughts and life for to those who have ears to hear.
Babu Lonnie
Today will be one of the most memorable days in the history of our nation because of the tragedy that occurred on this date in 2001. What is so sad we have continued to be driven by the events of that day. I am a firm believer that we allow our past to control our future instead of letting our present be the controlling point of our lives. We miss what God has for us right now by our bondage to the past or our obsession with the future. Heb 11:1 ¶ Now faith, if it is not “NOW” it is not faith. Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. If it takes faith to please God and faith is a present moment experience then how can we expect to be what God has planned for us to be by our being controled by the past or trying to live in the future. As for me, I’m trying to get over the past and not be so “next life” focused that I miss the “this life” God has given me. And by the way it is a loney miserable place. This present moment is fleeting and must be embraced, it will never be offered again and cannot be relived…let the past be the past, and the future will take care of it’s self but this precious present moment is given us to be it’s caretaker and to be used to present a living Christ to a world who is still trapped by the tragedy of 9/11 2002 or those who are so heavely minded they miss the opportunity to be the glory of the risen savior. Psalms 118:24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. The psalmist was saying today, the present moment in time is what God gives us but we must make the decision or relinquish our will to rejoice (a primitive root; properly, to spin round under the influence of any violent emotion.) and to be glad (a primitive root; to brighten up, gleesome:–cheer up, be joyful, be merry.) I can’t change yesterday and I’m not guareented tomorrow, I choose to live today for Kingdom of God!!! At all cost?????????????
Wazimu Babu Lonnie
I have had to visit the doctor this week. I love my doctor, he is a born again believer and unlike a lot of the brethren he is even honest. As some of you know I’ve had some health issues over the past few years. Diabetes, Hepatitis “C”, kidney problems, blood pressure, ect. Well doc and I have discovered that a majority of my “health Issues” are self inflicted. I have made some very bad choices over the last four and a half decades. I can explain them all…diabetes is not just genetic it is also determined by what we put into our bodies, aka the garbage we eat and call fuel. Hep “c” is from days of shooting dope (good choice there ehe?), kidney problems is a compilation of the first two choices and blood pressure problems are simple to explain…I have caused my heart have to pump harder than it should through veins and arteries that are being pressed on every side by gobs of fat. In short my life since about age thirteen has been a series of bad choices. I have sown to the flesh and now the flesh is paying me back. I have no right to complain, blame or seek pity from God or any of humanity because of the results of those choices. I do however have the ability to make good choices from this point forward. In short my biggest (literally) enemy is not the devil, it is me. I have reached a staggering weight by my non stop elbow bending habit. My weight has steadily climbed to 367.75lbs. My doctor has told me that a majority of my health issues will subside with weight loss. I have tried every diet know to man and cannot make them work. I am at the point of utter desperation, I have to change and take control of my flesh or my flesh will continue to change and control me. I am miserable!!! I am not asking for anything but wanted my friends and family to know as of September 9th, 2008 I am choosing to take control over my flesh, to subdue it’s passions and for me that starts with my eating HABIT. If we meet please don’t even offer me any fried food, sugar, more than 6 oz. of red meat, processed foods, white flour products or artificial sweeteners. If you invite me to dinner I will eat beans, raw or steamed veggies, fish is my new preferred meat. Water, coffee or tea to drink. Of course ugali, sukamawiki, a little kuku and rice is also acceptable. I have made a major public commitment by posting this for the world to see. I am asking that those who read this will from time to time keep me accountable by asking about my subduing the flesh and subsequent weight loss. I am going to lose at least 100lbs. by June 25th, 2009. I have figured that is about 40 weeks and at 2.5 to 3lbs per week that would be a weight loss of 100 to 120lbs. My goal before I take any rest from this journey is 225lbs. I have not been at that weight since I was a sophomore in high school. I said all that to say this…I’m not sure that a majority of our “health issues” couldn’t be remedied with good choices but we Christians had rather keep on doing what we’ve been doing an hope our god we have on a string will jump when we yank his chain. I’m In search of new life and deliverance from making the same bad choices again and again…Choices may be the root of the issue of health.
Please no negative response to this post and don’t get overly spiritual with me, I’m hungry and I may get really nasty. Encouraging words will be appreciated. I’m not being negative about myself, just truthful, so don’t even go there either!!!
Monono Babu Lonnie (fat grandfather)
