"they know not what they do"

I was out this morning with a friend for coffee and this woman came up to us and proceeded to talk about whether or not we love the Mexicans who have apparently invaded our country and are destroying our economy. She asked me several questions:

1. Do you love illegals?
2. Do you want more money?
3. Would you tell the prisoners that you love them?
4. Would you let them go free if they murdered your sister?

It was honestly quite odd. I didn’t know quite what to say or how to respond.

It was Just like the interaction I had a few weeks back with a Hindu monk who was willing to sell his possessions go homeless and give away books for a living.

It always amazes me when I see people willing to give up their comforts for a cause. The woman this morning with the illegal issue and the monk who wanted to get the Bhagwad Gita out to everyone. Things like that.

But I think these interactions have made me realize how hurt we all are from the society that we live in. Each of us with wounds that need to be dealt with and the various ways we go about trying to fix it unsuccessfully. I’m not going to get mad at this woman who lives in a broken world and is fed up with the way it is and not going to bash her cause and method although she is doing it in the name of God. Because quite honestly I don’t blame her it is a hard broken shattered world we live in where there is seldom love and if there is love it is noted as being of a selfish nature.

I don’t blame the majority of Christians who live in a broken society and with the money they spend on animals they could end poverty. Because quite frankly there is a lack of true religion in this society. You can’t merely blame and not do. Things are broke that is why we need God!

I asked the woman this morning what she was going to do about this “issue” she said she was just merely raising awareness. But got fed up with us that we would not join her in her crusade against the mexicans.

But I think that we can learn from such a thing and apply it to reaching the world as christians. One person one interaction at a time you do what you can and let God do the rest: the impossible stuff. You raise awareness about what needs to change and live it out. You ripple out from Your own city first.

I love people but I swear“ they know not what they do.”
JG

Where I left off

It has been a while. Almost two weeks since these hands have touched this keyboard.Two weeks since my eyes seen this page I come to when I write such things. Seasons are changing and the world appears to be paceing in its perfect circles awaiting what the new day will bring. Final projects are done. Finals are just beginning. Christmas is coming, advent is here. And in it all God is God the eternal ever the same unalterable steadfast unwavering beautiful trinity in perfection.

And when I title such a thing and say "where I left off" I mean that as much as many men will try and undertake describing God as I often do with creative phrases and extensive metaphors...they still do not even reach into the depth of what God is like.

And isn't that what this is. A summary of continuing things: of a God who is was and will be as Hebrews declares?

And I think such a thing a knowledge of such things would strike a writer speechless and quite in awe because His words are living. I feel I should continue but what to say when my metaphors and words are certainly pale.

And that is what I am coming to more and more each day is that anything is because God has chose it so. Nothing is of myself everything is from him through him and to him as Romans declares in the last chapter.

There is an awe that comes with humility and a correct context.

I was having a conversation with my best friend who has just began to experience what happens when God shatters the glass box we cage Him in. The awe in his eyes. The new that is springing up because of such a gaze fixed on One thing: on God.

The very God who outshines the Sun
Who has Shattered my flesh into a million crosses
To where new life begins

The One, God in this very room
Whose breath began the universe
The very air I breathe

The very God who outshines the Sun
Who has Shattered my flesh into a million crosses
To where new life begins

The one, God in this very room
Who made the universe by mere words
The God who holds it in the palm of his hand
The very God who touched me

The very God who outshines the Sun
Who has Shattered my flesh into a million crosses
To where new life begins

Our God
The indescribable God
The One


To His Glory,
JG

Fixing a broken thing: lonely people

I am home! My home in Colorado that is. I arrived this afternoon and have had sufficient time to relax do laundry eat etc.

I get to spend the next week relaxing...meditating etc.!

Home highlights what God has done within me. It is a strange thing to know people who have been through it all see all and heard all about you your life etc. from the very beginning.

And this one thing that strikes me so is that we are really bad at developing these types of relationships the ones that are of the long type. I was eating lunch today in a local bbq place and the thought struck me 'sports ruin relationships.' It's a crazy thing many men take the easy way out in developing relationships.

I remember a week ago one of my good guy friends stopped by and it dawned on me that our friendship will never be the same :our friendship has changed and will never look like the one I have with my best friend. I look at the relationship I have with my best friend and I look at friendships have with other friends and they all pale not because of desire on my part but we don't know what it looks like.

JG

Don't Look Back!

“Don’t look back!”
Grace is poured upon Your lips
Oil upon your brow

“Don’t look back!”
Your hand has surely rested

Commander of my victory
You call, I shall answer
The winds billowing in the sails

Beconing me to onward go
as angel wings stir the still water
Your messengers with a burning coal for my lips
this is not my war but Yours,
Command victories for Jacob

Your voice across the waters
“Turn Your Eyes!”
Faithful from generation to generation

My heart ever fixed
Upholder of Justice
Giver of all

JG

I get it!

I think it is funny how there are points where I see what God has been trying to teach me for a while. I tend to wonder why I did not see it before in those blind times inbetween the signposts but never the less I think I finally get it...what God is doing.

God is being God bringing a new humble leadership to the church creating oversight under His leadership alone.

1. I see it in Mar's Hill who are to in the words of Mark Driscoll" approach this new season on their knees." .

2. A worship Band I respect greatly writing this.

We couldn't be more exited about our new release coming November 6 called Everyone Overcome. As many of you know, we've been through quite a year and we're exited, humbled, and grateful to say that we are weaker than ever. thats right...weaker. the brokenness that came our way this year was the place where God could mess with us exactly how He wanted to. so we made a commitment...we never want to be strong again. when we are weak...we are strong. so really...we're stronger than ever. i think you'll hear it on this record. and when i say we...i mean the thousands of young people that showed up to sing. the thousands of young people who each have a story... a testimony that will bring darkness down. a generation of overcomers!

3. The salvation of a guy I met Saturday who accpeted Christ on Sunday. Hearing about God literally pursuing his heart and the many people that helped lay the road that led him to such a point. God is so incredibly good!

4. A dear friend who has taught me about the friendship God brings and how in humility stripping ourselves of any armour we may have can move each of us to a place where God can move in incredible ways.

5. A campus ministry who was scattered this year in order that God may oversee it and its victory be found in His moving and going before alone.

6. A deaf girl who has heard a little better each day ! Who in humbleness would only be able to proceed forward through this long restoring process leaning on God alone.

7. A church plagued with discouragment and a man who can somehow encourage it realizing it is not he but God who does such things.

!!!It's not me! It's God alone! A hope who will never dissapoint!

To His glory,
JG

Call to arms against our enemy

The devil's main weapon is discouragment. If we could render such a weapon useless what would the church look like? In full knowledge of faith and trust seeing what was meant to be? We have no idea yet...

JG

Wind:swept

Come on and dream with me
About something in the winds
Come on and dream with me
About this prophecy

The Divine mystery:

Windswept to meet the morning
Warm breeze upon the oceans blue
Could something grander come
to one already with such a destiny

And may the manuscript record
These words: Subtle and unseen

Come and dream with me....

For me to know and you to ask about...

Click to Play

-John 3:8
JG

Enough!

I can't help but think that we all know and agree something in this world is broken.

It pains me to see such a thing.

I have over the course of life had many conversations and experienced enough of friendship to know that we are all broken.

I have seen grown men cry.

I have seen enough of the world to know what I have.

I have seen beggars

...grafittied streets.

And I know enough about interaction and the world to know and pen what I see.

I know enough to know to address the root instead of the issue.

I know enough about emotion to know what response has.

I know each will choose a different way

...whether or not it actually trully helps.

I know about intimacy enough to know it is hardest to be truthful with those that are closest to you.

I know. I have seen.

I know enough about the issue.

Enough! about the issue.


I have seen though that life can push through death.

I have seen it.

I have seen heaven come down for a time.

I have seen it.

JG

Some More Recent Work

I am glad that FLickr is there for me when blogger is not. Blogger has been having issues with uploading for the past weeks or so. Thank you Flickr I love you!

Anyways this is some more recent work. And as I said before more to come!

JG