FLY OVER STATES

Snippet

Ironically, it is in choosing the stability of the monastery or the plains, places where nothing ever happens, places the world calls dulls, that we discover we can change.  In choosing a bare bones existence, we are enriched, and can redefine success as an internal process rather than an outward display of wealth and power.  Dakota: a Spiritual geography Pg 203 Kathleen Norriss.

Scripture

The Spirit then compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness, 13 where he was tempted by Satan for forty days. He was out among the wild animals, and angels took care of him. Mark 1:12,13 NLT

Song

Fly Over States Jason Aldean

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1GZzucDMlQ

A couple of guys in first class on a flight

From new York to Los Angeles,

Kinda making small talk killing time,

Flirting with the flight attendants,

Thirty-thousand feet above, could be Oklahoma,

Just a bunch of square cornfields and wheat farms,

Man, it all looks the same,

Miles and miles of back roads and highways,

Connecting little towns with funny names,

Who'd want to live down there in the middle of nowhere?

They've never drove through Indiana,

Met the men who plowed that earth,

Planted that seed, busted his ass for you and me,

Or caught a harvest moon in Kansas,

They'd understand why god made

Those fly over states,

I bet that mile long Santa Fe freight train engineer's seen it all

Just like that flatbed cowboy stacking US steel on a 3-day haul

Roads and rails under their feet

Yeah that sounds like a first class seat

On the plains of Oklahoma

With a windshield sunset in your eyes

Like a water-colored painted sky

You'll think heaven's doors have opened

You'll understand why god made

Those fly over states

Take a ride across the badlands

Feel that freedom on your face

Breathe in all that open space

And meet a girl from Amarillo

You'll understand why god made

You might even wanna plant your stakes

In those fly over states

(Ya)

Have you ever been through Indiana?

On the plains of Oklahoma?

Take a ride.

Sentence Prayer

Holy one, holy and eternal,

Awesome, exciting and delightful in your holiness;

Make us pure in heart to see you;;

Make us merciful to receive your kindness

And share our love with all your human family;

Then will your name be hallowed on earth as in heaven. Amen

(A New Zealand Prayer Book pg 111)

WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE

Snippet

Sin is the failure to grow Gregory of Nyssa

Scripture

May the Lord make your love grow more and multiply for each other and for all people so that you will love others as we love you. 1 Thessalonians 3:12

Song

Avicii - Wake me up

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnNXyEswXo0

Feeling my way through the darkness

Guided by a beating heart

I can't tell where the journey will end

But I know where to start

They tell me I'm too young to understand

They say I'm caught up in a dream

Life will pass me by if I don't open up my eyes

Well that's fine by me

So wake me up when it's all over

When I'm wiser and I'm older

All this time I was finding myself

And I didn't know I was lost

[x2]

I tried carrying the weight of the world

But I only have two hands

I hope I get the chance to travel the world

But I don't have any plans

Wish that I could stay forever this young

Not afraid to close my eyes

Life's a game made for everyone

And love is the prize

So wake me up when it's all over

When I'm wiser and I'm older

All this time I was finding myself

And I didn't know I was lost

[x2]

I didn't know I was lost

I didn't know I was lost

I didn't know I was lost

I didn't know I was lost

Sentence Prayer

Eternal God,

Grant to us this day and every day

Such readiness and delight in following Christ.

That whether our lives are short or long

We shall have lived abundantly.

Amen

THREE WOODEN CROSSES

Snippet

Our salvation is fastened with God’s own hand , and with Christ’s strength to the strong side of God’s unchangeable nature.  Samuel Rutherford

Scripture

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.   He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:16-18 KJV

Song

Three Wooden Crosses By Randy Travis

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfdMU2TcxH8

A farmer and a teacher, a hooker and a preacher,

Ridin' on a midnight bus bound for Mexico.

One's headed for vacation, one for higher education,

An' two of them were searchin' for lost souls.

That driver never ever saw the stop sign.

An' eighteen wheelers can't stop on a dime.

There are three wooden crosses on the right side of the highway,

Why there's not four of them, Heaven only knows.

I guess it's not what you take when you leave this world behind you,

It's what you leave behind you when you go.

That farmer left a harvest, a home and eighty acres,

The faith an' love for growin' things in his young son's heart.

An' that teacher left her wisdom in the minds of lots of children:

Did her best to give 'em all a better start.

An' that preacher whispered: "Can't you see the Promised Land?"

As he laid his blood-stained bible in that hooker's hand.

There are three wooden crosses on the right side of the highway,

Why there's not four of them, Heaven only knows.

I guess it's not what you take when you leave this world behind you,

It's what you leave behind you when you go.

That's the story that our preacher told last Sunday.

As he held that blood-stained bible up,          

For all of us to see.

He said: "Bless the farmer, and the teacher, an' the preacher;

"Who gave this Bible to my mamma,

"Who read it to me."

There are three wooden crosses on the right side of the highway,

Why there's not four of them, now I guess we know.

It's not what you take when you leave this world behind you,

It's what you leave behind you when you go.

Sentence Prayer

Randy Travis underwent surgery Wednesday evening following a stroke. His spokesman released this statement: 

"As a complication of his congestive heart failure, Travis has suffered a stroke and is currently undergoing surgery to relieve pressure on his brain. He is in critical condition. We will have updates as they become available. His family and friends here with him at the hospital request your prayers and support."

We set out hearts on heaven,

Where Christ is at God’s right hand.

Christ is our life and when he appears.

We too will share his glory.

Christ lives in us.

Though our bodies will die.

Yet for us the Spirit is life;

The Spirit of God raised Jesus from death.

This is out secret.

Christ is in us;

We will share the glory of God.  Amen!

(A New Zealand Prayer Book pg 105)

TAKE THE BULL BY THE HORNS

Snippet

The straightest line between me and satisfaction in life is obedience to God.

Scripture

Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices

    as much as in obeying the Lord?

To obey is better than sacrifice,

    and to heed is better than the fat of rams.

 For rebellion is like the sin of divination,

    and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.

Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,

    he has rejected you as king.  1 Samuel 15:22,23

Song

Becoming The Bull Atreyu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FCyvV5V8Jo

Come on!

Grab the bull by the horns the old adage goes.

Nobody tells you where to go from here.

Seems like fates pulling you.

Decisions have to be made.

The best path is the hardest earned.

Back and forth the struggle consumes us all.

Trying to keep a level head.

In the most unsettling of times.

Today I'll become the bull.

There is so much to stake.

I stumble, I lose my place.

Pride and arrogance surrounded by sin.

Destiny takes it's hold.

Fight it or let it go.

But I choose how the day will end.

Back and forth the struggle consumes us all.

Trying to keep a level head.

In the most unsettling of times.

Today I'll become the bull. [x2]

This walk can get lonely

I lose myself inside my head.

No one can touch you when you're outside staring in.

Remove myself from this rat race.

Back and forth the struggle consumes us all.

Trying to keep a level head.

The most unsettling of times.

Today I'll become the bull. [x5]

Sentence Prayer

Father;

Help me take the bull by the horns

for my own actions, and learn from Jesus

example to obey!  Holy Spirit when my spirit is weak and

the desire to sin strong, take the bull by the horns and keep

me in your will!  When I fall apply the blood of Jesus, so the Holy

Spirit can set me on my feet to continue to walk with you; always!

Amen

BLOWIN SMOKE

Snippet

For anything to change, someone has to start acting differently.

(Switch how to change things when change is hard. Chip & Dan Heath pg 4)

Scripture

Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 1 Corinthians 15:51-53

Song

Blowin' Smoke Kacey Musgraves

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEsEUpk5rU8

Between the lunch and dinner rush

Kelly caught that outbound bus for Vegas

We're all out here talking trash, making bets

Lips wrapped round our cigarettes

She always thought she was too good to be a waitress

Well, we all say that we'll quit someday

When our ship comes in

We'll just sail away

But we're just blowin' smoke

Hey yeah

We're just blowin' smoke

Hey yeah

Out here goin' broke

Hey yeah

We're just blowin' smoke

Well Janie got divorced again

Her ex-husband's in the pen

From two to five, five to ten and longer

Brenda's traded smokes for cake

Still hadn't lost that baby weight

And that baby's about to graduate

From college

I'm just flicking ash

Into the tray

Tell them both it'll be okay

But I'm just blowin' smoke

Hey yeah

I'm just blowin' smoke

Hey yeah

I'm out here goin' broke

Hey yeah

Yeah we're just blowin' smoke

We all say that we'll

Quit someday

When our nerves ain't shot

And our hands don't shake, yeah

We all say that we'll

Quit someday

When our nerves ain't shot

And our hands don't shake

Wipe down the bar, take out the trash

Light one up and count my cash

Swear I'm never coming back again

I'm just blowin' smoke

Hey yeah

I'm just blowin' smoke

Hey yeah

Out here going broke

Hey yeah

Yeah we're just blowin' smoke

Sentence Prayer

There are lumps under our carpet

That the vacumn won’t vanguish.

There are cats tied in bags

Would be off like  a flash.

Skeletons in the cupboards

Tap tap on the doors.

There is nothing hidden

But that’s going to get out,

So let’s get over with, God.

Silence

There’s a pile at the foot of the cross

Of the things we could without.

Make us glad we brought them to you,

Who carries away the sins of the world,

And grant in their place

Pardon and grace

And your call to be following always.  Amen

(The Pattern of our Days worship in the celtic tradition from the Iona community Pg 111)

FAITH WITHOUT WORKS!

Snippet

Some things cannot be perceived. They can only be conceived.

Some things cannot be deduced.  They can only be imagined.

Some things cannot be learned.  They can only be revealed.

(Primal Mark Batterson pg 62)

Scripture

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”

Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. James 2:14-19

Song

Faith Without Works Rich Mullins

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lZzp1u1PDQ

It's about as useless as

A screen door on a submarine

Faith without works baby

It just ain't happenin'

One is your left hand

One is your right

It'll take two strong arms

To hold on tight

Some folks cut off their nose

Just to spite their face

I think you need some works to show

For your alleged faith

Well there's a difference you know

B'tween having faith and playing make believe

One will make you grow

The other one just make you sleep

Talk about it

But I really think you oughtta

Take a leap off of the ship

Before you claim to walk on water

Faith without works is like a song you can't sing

It's about as useless as a screen door on a submarine

Faith comes from God

And every word that He breathes

He lets you take it to your heart

So you can give it hands and feet

It's gotta be active if it's gonna be alive

You gotta put it into practice

Otherwise....

It's about as useless as a screen door

On a submarine

Faith without works, baby

It just ain't happenin'

One is your right hand, one is your left

It's your light, your guide

Your life and your breath

Faith without works is like a song you can't sing

It's about as useless as a screen door

On a submarine

Sentence Prayer

May the Peace of the Lord Christ go with you,

Wherever he may send you.

May he guide you through the wilderness,

Protect you through the storm.

May he bring you home rejoicing

At the wonders He has show you.

May he bring you home rejoicing

Once again into our doors.  Amen

(Celtic Daily Prayer Northumbria Community pg 19)

RELIGION

Snippet

Jesus is God spelling himself out in language that man can understand Samuel D. Gordon

Scripture

Fix your thoughts on Jesus Hebrews 3:1

Song

My Religion Skillet

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SO6zbNAmNQ

Verse 1:

Who's gonna save my soul

Nothing and nobody but you

Who's gonna make me whole

Nothing and nobody but you

Can't change me, sway me

Don't know what to make of me

You've got my devotion

Fanatical though it may be

I love you mind, heart, body and soul

You're the only sanctuary that I know

CHORUS:

I don't need to stare at stained glass and a steeple

I don't need to dress to impress all of the people

Don't need no priest

Don't need no pew

You are my religion

My religion is you

I don't need no other purpose

You give me a reason

Ain’t their business what I wanna believe in

You are my priest

You are my truth

You are my religion

My religion is you

Verse 2:

Who's gonna heal my pain

Nothing makes me feel like you do

Who can drive my demons away

Nothing makes me heal like you do

I love you mind, heart, body and soul

You're the only sanctuary that I know

CHORUS:

I don't need to stare at stained glass and a steeple

I don't need to dress to impress all of the people

Don't need no priest

Don't need no pew

You are my religion

My religion is you

I don't need no other purpose

You give me a reason

It ain’t their business what I wanna believe in

You are my priest

You are my truth

You are my religion

My religion is you

Bridge:

Mind, heart, soul and strength

Belong to you, belong to me

Got my devotion I will follow where you lead

I won't be told what to feel and how to show

My love can't be stopped

Love you any way I want

Sentence Prayer

Jesus (Pause)  Jesus (Pause) Jesus (Pause)

Sweetest name on heaven and on earth Amen!