About
February 1, 2006 — Monte
I want your help.
I think God is all over the place, talking to people and through them. If I’m right, there’s a lot could be learned by listening - both to God, and to people.
I put these reflections and Scriptures out there each week in hopes of learning how they strike you. In confidence that the way they strike you is important.
So I need you.
Enjoy yourself. Mess around with my links (that’s why I put them there). I’ll add to the posts almost every day, and others will leave comments, too - so there’ll usually be something new.
Clicking on the word “Comments” at the bottom of any post will give you a box in which you can write what you’re thinking.
If you can delight in it, I’d be honored if you’d leave me a glimpse of how the words you read affected you today.
Thanks!
to this blog
September 7, 2006 at 6:38 pm
I wanted to leave a post here, to let those of you who have prayed with me about Elizabeth, know what’s up.
She has found her passion! She went to Violet, Louisiana, two weeks ago. She is volunteering / working at a place called Emergency Communities. http://www.emergencycommunites.org
She is finding joy and excitement and is really happy. I haven’t heard her voice like this in years!!!
She wants people to know how much help is still needed in the area. The government help is dwindling and many areas look like the storm just hit. She told me that she is going to be staying there for quite awhile. She is plugged in and very involved.
She hasn’t said that she is living for Jesus, but has asked me to pray…!!!
God is so good, …..after years of praying, he is letting me in on the plan. I have always thought he was preparing her for quite a life, with all she’s been through….here we go!!!
I feel a little silly about the discouragement and sadness I have experienced over the years. Kind of insulting to God…he is growing me all the time….. Paul says: “Don’t be anxious about anything” If only I could live it all the time.
thanks for your ongoing prayers on our behalf,
Krista
September 8, 2006 at 1:31 pm
Ahhh, so very right-on! Isn’t God the best?
October 7, 2006 at 2:29 am
Hey I am finding your blog really interesting thanks for sharing. Exploring.. :-)
God bless you,
Diana
October 10, 2006 at 12:42 pm
Thanks, Diana, you’re welcome here!
Monte
December 2, 2006 at 10:19 am
Monte: Please send me your e-mail address.
I continue to be utterly amazed at your insights and at the vitality of your congregation. Yours is a blessed community.
December 8, 2006 at 12:20 am
I will definitely be visiting here often. Thank you for being a blessing. Lynn
December 8, 2006 at 12:05 pm
Thanks, Lynn!
December 21, 2006 at 5:33 pm
Nice blog. Have a very Merry Christmas.
January 21, 2007 at 4:21 am
Hi,
Do you interest in exchanging links between blogs? If you interest then let me know. I will add your blog as a link to my blog and you can do the same.
Thanks.
Nice blog.
Michael
February 14, 2007 at 2:46 pm
hello, sorry for the delay…it’s been awhile since i came back on my blog….life’s been so busy lately and i find it so hard to catch up with all the work on the computer..i’ve been reading Isaiah every morning and not be able to spend all day writing posts…but thank you for stopping by and i will come visit often for sure….
and about my husband’s family, i don’t really know where they origionally come from, all i know is that his grandfather is from Arkansas…
but funny i saw “Bateman” on some movie too some years ago, thought somebody wrote that movie must have some relations with this family, but no….i don’t really wanna open this history door…lol….
yes i’ve been so close to God myself since i came to america and he’s given me so many blessings as every day goes by… but i am still growing up in a way that he sees me unique.
Wayne Muller says ” your life is not a problem to be solved but a gift to be opened”
and i believe so.
God bless!
February 15, 2007 at 12:10 pm
Just wanted to stop by and say Hello. Great blog! Love some of the posts I’ve read so far.
February 28, 2007 at 11:28 pm
I have just visited your website
I would appreciate your visiting my site http://www.liturgy.co.nz
It focuses on providing resources for liturgy and spirituality. You would get an idea of the “flavour” of what it offers by visiting http://www.liturgy.co.nz/html/collect573b.html and http://www.liturgy.co.nz/html/collectlent2.html (commenting on your collect for next Sunday). I hope you will place a link from your site to mine and I provide HTML code for this in my next paragraph. If you place such a link, please would you let me know as I acknowledge this on my site and link back.
Liturgy: Christian worship & spirituality - serving individuals and communities seeking to have worship and spirituality that is vital, transforming, and faithful.
God bless your Lent and your mission and ministry on the web
July 9, 2007 at 3:53 am
If God is all over the place. Why does He not stop tyrants from committing horrible crimes ?
Monte said: Thank you, Munaeem; it is an excellent and difficult question. Allow me some time to reflect, and I will respond.
March 1, 2008 at 8:47 pm
Thank you Monte for visiting my blog. You have an incredible site here.
I couldn’t help but notice the comment above (from Munaeem) in which the person asks why God does not stop tyrants?
In my opinion, the answer is simple: God created everything, including the tyrants. He just knows that regardless of what He does for them. they will continue on the path of tyranny. Yet, He is Merciful and awaits their “return” to the right path. This He knows that they would or wouldn’t but the creation (us) do not. So equally, we’re responsible and are required to help them find the straight path. As Moses did with the Pharaoh.
And on Judgment Day, God will question those tyrants about their deeds. What He does with them then is up to Him. But we will also be asked if we extended a hand - for His sake - to help!
And don’t forget, a day to us is not even a fraction of a fraction of a second if even that, to Him. So what we consider years, to Him they maybe less than a millisecond. Why am I saying this? I visited a blog (forgot which) but I did keep the link about the Glory and Majesty of God in a video that was probably created for fun. See this here… and after you watch it, just think how God hears our prayers - all of us - as if each of us is the only one praying to Him.
Video: http://youtube.com/watch?v=Zr7wNQw12l8
Peace
ATW
Monte Says: ATW - thanks very much for your kind words and insightful comment!
June 1, 2008 at 10:24 pm
munaeem Says:
July 9, 2007 at 3:53 am
If God is all over the place. Why does He not stop tyrants from committing horrible crimes ?
Monte said: Thank you, Munaeem; it is an excellent and difficult question. Allow me some time to reflect, and I will respond.
I was interested in reading your response to Munaeem, Monte. Was it on another post? Do you have a copy of your response?
malachi
June 2, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Munaeem (and Malachi): Please forgive my long delay in answering your question. I have thought about it much, and have thought on the various answers I have heard to it.
Everywhere I look, when I look closely, I seem to see God. What others see, I can’t tell.
And why tyrants can commit horrible crimes if God is present, I also can’t tell. I have some guesses - but all of them are
partial, and only deductions from things I think I know about God.
Here’s the dilemma: on one hand, in my world, I believe I do perceive God’s presence. Into those worlds where my influence and understanding are so faint - the worlds of tyrants - I can’t see. I am convinced that it is my responsibility to do whatever I can to cause tyranny and horror to stop (and I view Mr. Bush’s acts upon Iraq as tyranny and horror). But as to why they persist, I am no expert.
And while there is much that could be said, what I’m only willing to admit I know is that Presence. While the existence of horror is indeed perplexing and dreadful, and I despise it, yet I can’t say the presence of that perplexity changes what I see around me personally, which is indeed wonderful.
I wish I could give a more satisfying answer. Perhaps some day I will be able to do so.