God holstered His pistol, but why?

“You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you.”- Psalm 86:5

There might not be any greater truth in all the world.

"Vices Like Toys" by chad brownThe path of men is wrought with destruction. Their paths are covered in ruin and blood. I could give you lots of personal examples but I'm not too excited about sharing my sins on the world wide web. trust me I am no good. God has had plenty of reason to pop a cap in me. I have more than once given God the proverbial slap in the face. Yet he continues to bless me.

Now you might say its coincedense. But I don't believe so. because of two reasons. 1) I have made a regular cycle of trusting and obeying God and then walking away from him to pursue my own selfish desires. Guess when I feel the most miserable. Yep when I am away from God. And when I return he is always faithfulto take me back. I guess he rejoices like the Father of the prodigal son story because it feels as though there is a party in my honor when I return. I can't believe that is just coincedense. 2)there have been a couple of real experiences with God in my life that are un shakable to me. times when I have called on him and he has responded, leaving little doubt it was Him who answered me.

Call on Him. And feel the love that abounds.

chad

Jackie Chan and Jesus Christ have the same initials

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”- Ephesians 4:2

I'm not anti-gun or anything. I have one in my house. I believe in defending your family. and I know this country would not exist without the men and women who took a stand an killed when necessary. And believe me when I tell you that few people like fighting in movies as much as i do. I am a fan of Jackie Chan, Steven Segal, and Jet Li. My favorite movies are the Matrix, the Bourne Identity, The Transporter, and Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

painting by chad brown 2008

I am not anti-gun but I am Pro-Imitator of Christ. Christ loved us so much he took the bullet for our sins. While we were still his enemies (Romans 5:10) he took the bullet. And he when to great measures to do so. Peter was about to hand a servant of the High Priest his own ear when jesus stopped him and said,"Put your sword back in its place," Jesus said to him, "for all who draw the sword will die by the sword." Jesus Was humble even though he was God. He was gentle even though he was pursecuted. And was he not the most patient man to ever live?!?! Just think, GOD walking along side of you listening to you bicker about who was the greatest (Mark 9:34). And he didn't back hand you and let you know without doubt who was the greatest. I'd say he beared with others in love. He went to the tomb knowing there was and is more to life than saving yourself, your family, your posessions. He was self sacrificing not self defending.

OH LORD, Help me to be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

“Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.”- Mark 9:35

mewithoutYou is perhaps one of my most favorite bands. Aaron Weiss the lead singer of the band wrote a song where this was part of the chorus: "If I could become the servant of all, no lower place to fall." I am sure he took it from Mark 9:35. But the rest of the song is one vague analogy after another describing, I think, his life. How his parents viewed his birth and his first maybe 25 years. 25 years of being "king" of his life. 25 years of being fed and taken care of. and then reading Mark 9 I imagine he feels over whelmed. How is he to become a cheerful servant after being served for so long?


I have the same question. How am I to become servant of all when for the last 37 years I have been served. atleast by my own hands. I have sat on a black leather couch embracing a cup of coffee in a hand made coffee mug morning and afternoon for the last 5 years. I listen to music on an iPod ( the ultimate in music listening convenience but not without cost) How am I to break that habit and become the servant?

Dear Father, create in me a more serving spirit. give me the desire to reach out beyond my bubble of comfort and help another. Give me the vision to see the needs of others. Do not let me neglect my own family but take away the codependency I have on material things. So I might give freely of my time and possessions. I know you are faithful and will take care of me. you will bless me, so I have no worries.

I love you Father

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”- Ephesians 6:12-13


I was just thinking at first that everyBODY was against my desire to have routine, and schedule. I want consistency in my life. I'd be happy with two hours of consistency. But it turns out that PEOPLE don't even have to be involved in the moment of inconsistency. I can be in a room by myself about to do something that I had planned to do (scheduled) and all of the sudden I change my mind and -poof- there goes the ounce of scheduled moment I had yearned for.

It is not flesh and blood that is against me. it is ethereal. it is not something I can touch or fight with my hands. I have to fight it with my mind and spirit. I have to meditate on the words of God and fill my mind with his consistency. His never changing all conquering mindset has to be my mindset. I must put on the full armor of God (which is described in full somewhere else in the bible) in order to stand against the disorder and chaos that Satan is shoveling into my life.

Pray for me that I might take a stand moment by moment day by day till this evil in my life is worn down and defeated.

Thanks,
Chad

I wanted to think back through the sermon I heard tonight from Chris King at Bayou View Baptist Church. So I copied and pasted the scripture and then typed what I remembered in blue. It is for the most part what Chris said but I do not promise I remembered him right.



A psalm of David. and thoughts of Chad Brown and Chris King. Mostly Chris King

1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. David said he had never seen the righteous want
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, sheep don't lie down. it is against their skittish nature.- Cchris King
he leads me beside quiet waters, imagery of peace and tranquility comeing from a man who had seen alot of war

3 he restores my soul. Turns my soul back to Him
He guides me in paths of righteousness Actively takes part in my life directing me towards righteousness
for his name's sake. For His Glory. there is no one more deserving or more worthy of glory

4 Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death, [a] Imagery of evil
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me; GOD IS WITH ME WHAT DO I HAVE TO FEAR?
your rod and your staff, shepherd's tools. an offensive weapon and a hook for the salvation of the sheep.
they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies. preparing a table with me and my enemies together is ridiculous except that GOD can do it.
You anoint my head with oil; A good thing since David was out in the sun all day as a shepherd with no sunscreen.
my cup overflows. this is miraculous since back then there was no place to stop and pick up a soft drink or bottle of water. there was no tap or refridgerator full of drink. in fact I do have a refridgerator full of drink. so I must be blessed as much or more than David. MY cup overflows.

6 Surely goodness and love will follow me Follow = pursue, to chase after.
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD the HOUSE OF THE LORD! can you imagine actually living in the house that God lives in? First off it has got to be a more amzing place than anything you can imagine and second GOD lives there!!!
forever. eternally. a real real long time.



God is amazing. His word is infallible. Glory be to God.

f,m,b,t

right now i am on facebook, myspace, blogger and twitter all at the same time!

about me.

I am on facebook, myspace and twitter. why not blogger too.

I love God, Yvonne and Eva, in that order.

I am an artist. check out my art on myspace and facebook.

I teach students to make art.

I have to get back to work.

I am not a spammer.

I will eventually write some decent stuff. but right now I need "referalls". a totally legitimate site called Transcendental Innovations has a system for giving away free electronics. I am trying to get a Wii. it is free to sign up and all, but you do have to buy aproduct. well don't take my word for it look them up for yourself. But when you are ready to join and buy something click here: freewii

google transcendental innovations and you get more info. do a search for them on youtube and youget videos praising them. they are legit. It does take alittle work but it is well worth it if you want the product but don't have the cash.

you will basically work as a sales man to earn your Wii. but I all you have to do is sell 5 -7 products. you'll see!

later Chad