The Oddity of the Ipod

Have you ever thought about how weird it is to walk around with your own personal theme music for a day? In a sense, that’s what we do when we pop those classic white ear buds into our ear with the flimsy, matching wire running down to the Ipod power module which seamlessly transports us into our own musical Universe. It’s not our musical universe because we choose what’s being played, rather it’s ours because each song chosen has meaning and feeling that is related specifically to us. Its meaning may be known to all, it may not, but it is always known to one…you. It’s that connection that makes the Ipod (or any pocket music device) so odd. Not odd as in “unique”, but odd as in peculiar. This strange little device has the power to make an individual walk around with a flood of emotions in which the individual unconsciously assumes everyone around them understands. Because you hear the music of your universe, yet you exist in the conscious reality of the living, you are a paradox. Yes, you have something special going on and you can feel it! If someone shoots you a weird look, you shoot one back as if they’re crazy for not hearing the music that announced your grand entrance. The feeling is undeniably incredible to walk around blasting your own personal theme music for the moment, while you unconsciously assume everyone else here’s it and knows it's YOU coming! It’s almost like walking in a movie and you’re the star that gets music played in every scene that you’re in. It’s really weird, isn’t it? I mean, if we walked around thinking people could hear the voices in our heads…wouldn’t we all be crazy?


Strangely enough, Christians ARE crazy…right? Don’t we go around as if everyone can hear and understand the music we walk in the room to? Don’t we act as though everyone gets it and if they don’t they are an idiot for not understanding and so there for, they get condemned? We all have different tastes when it comes to music. And simply because your music is great to you and fits your personal walk doesn’t mean its music that everyone likes. However, we all love music. That’s the Christian approach to telling others about Christ. Our personal theme song is our approach and delivery. However, the music is Christianity. So what’s your theme music sound like? Is it too much for others to understand?

Blessings in Christ,
Derek

Putting on the Armor...again.

Have you ever thought about what it means to put on the full armor of God? We all have read the passages in Ephesians that refer to this armor. In case you need a refresher, let’s take another look.

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 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. 13 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. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. – Ephesians 6:10-18

Have you ever noticed how much of God’s “armor” is the Bible? The belt of truth in verse 14, that truth is the Bible. Our feet of readiness that comes from the Gospel of peace…that Gospel is the one and only in the Bible. Our Helmet of salvation and our Sword of the Spirit, both are the word of God which is, of course, the Bible.

So much of the “armor” God wants us to put on is about being prepared with knowledge and wisdom of God’s Holy word. Some of my friends and I have had a recent revelation about just how important this armor is. We all deal with sin and the struggle to keep Satan out of our lives. Whether it be depression, confusion, fear, addictions, time management, or a whole list of other possibilities, one thing that stands true is the battle is real. Paul is aware of this in his message to the Ephesians. That’s why this protection we seek from the Lord is referred to as “armor”. Here’s the catch though; just because we put the armor of God on one day doesn’t mean it stays on every day. In other words, we have to find ourselves in God’s word daily in order to remain protected from whatever foothold Satan can get on us. The moment we stop the routine of daily living in the word is the moment we have handed our armor back to God and said, “I don’t need this anymore, I can do it on my own.” Guess what friends, you can’t…and neither can I! No one can. It is not by our own accord or own strength that we ever defeat Satan, it is through the power of the Holy Spirit. So remember, your daily time in the word is extremely valuable and important whether you feel it daily or not. Every bit you read will better prepare you for when Satan attacks. My experience is, when I’m solidly in the word, I don’t even see the attacks around me because the Spirit goes before and fights my battles for me. So, put on the full armor of God today. And then tomorrow, when you get up, be sure you put it back on again!

Blessings,
Derek

Roman715

Well, this isn't your regular poem from me. But, nonetheless, I'd love to hear your thoughts, interpretations and so on...

Roman715
She’s more than an addiction, I have to have her to live
But there’s a chance for my redemption just beyond the fib
And the truth I hold so loosely is lost within the light
Of the ramblings deep within me and of which I hold so tight

I can’t wait for the next fix the second she hits my veins
Waiting on her next hit to take away the pain
she brings me to my knees, knockin on deaths door
But I’m lost in the disease as I attempt to use my lore.

The help I need is there, waiting for me to agree
But the disguised hope’s what she offers and it’s calling out to me
Lies, lies, lies fill up my heart and head
As I climb down from the highs, I know I’ve been left for dead

Her love is the drug, it overwhelms my soul
But the darkness in that love keeps me from being whole
It provides the calm I seek and offers me release
And I’m not willing to leave the safety of deceit

It’s really not her fault, I’m the one to blame
And I’m awfully convincing so no one can see my shame
She just keeps on chasing and I can’t let her go
Freedom, oh freedom, I guess I’ll never know
Freedom, oh freedom, Lord come and save my soul

The Old Black Train - Song

So, I put the poem to music. Hope you enjoy. Please share your thoughts if you like.

The Old Black Train

The old black trains, runnin it’s tracks
When the whistle blows, aint no turnin back
I can ride those rails or choose to stay
I’ll ride those rails any day

Carry me home, train don’t stop
Go on, go on, I’ve made my plot
The whistles blowing, I’m heaven bound
Where I’m goin, is where I’m found

I’ve seen the train, it runs river side
For all those goin it’s a bumpy ride
The rivers cold if the people get wet
But the ebb and flow washes all regret

Starts with judgment and ends the same
Regardless your stop, you’re to blame
The tunnels dark will make you blind
But freedom lies on the other side

Carry me home, train don’t stop
Go on, go on, I’ve made my plot
The whistles blowing, I’m heaven bound
Where I’m goin, is where I’m found

Derek Markgraf
12-20-2010

What's Right?

Today I heard an interesting story. Apparently there is an unwed woman that has attended a church around, though infrequently. She's pregnant and showed up at church this past Sunday. She didn't attend either service, but came in between services with invitations. She was throwing herself a baby shower. There is an attitude of some members that this is wrong. Not only is she not attending services, she's asking people to come to her baby shower while on the property. It's clear she wants people to bring her things for her baby. She's "using" the church. I have to wonder though, should people even be able to "use" the church? That sounds like I'm against her coming and doing this, but it is really quite the opposite. What I mean is, if we're ministering in light of the way Jesus ministered...should people even have a chance to make it their agenda to "use" the church to help their needs. In other words, this woman is clearly seeking help from a place she has at least made prior connections to. I wonder, what if the church would have thought to provide her with a shower first. Wouldn't that have been right? Some will say, "no, not if she's not giving back to the church." But that makes me wonder, what is the church's role? Aren't we as a body instructed to care for the poor and any in need?(1 John 3:17-19) Didn't Jesus himself say he was the least of these presented before us? (Matt. 25:33-40)When did Jesus first require a commitment to the church before healing anyone. Isn't that what this woman is seeking?

Sure, there are always people who are out to beat the system. There are people waiting to make the church a "sucker" who they plan to play and get all they can and then move one. Oddly enough though, I don't think the church can be a "sucker". If we are to love all the way Christ loved us, that involves offering the same grace to others that Christ offers to us. I'd like to say all churches would do this, but I'd be foolish to believe that. I know there have been situations where I certainly have been on the other side of this argument. We are imperfect and I am certainly no exception. With that, I'll leave us with something from the gospel of Luke.


Luke 6:30-36

30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.

32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Am I a man of God...are you?