Orthokardia's Weblog

Introspection

Bart — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 13:04:56 +0000

The idea comes to me that introspection is critical to full fill the call of living in the light (1John1). The key to introspection is the inspection of the interior, my heart, must be done with the Eyes of God not the eyes of man. If I engage in introspection using my own eyes then I am vulnerable to the lies of satan as I compare my heart against the worlds standards. Only the eyes of God can see the motives of my heart and only God fully knows the standard against which I should be measured. That standard is Jesus!

The good news is this required inspection can be accomplished by the helper. God as the Holy Spirit living inside me has a direct line to my inner self….to places even I can not go……to the yearnings of my heart. I must only be open to the spirit.

Holy Spirit please search my heart and show me the darkness you find that I may repent before Father by the blood of Jesus. Please help me meet my sin with your strength as it is far beyond my own strength. I love you…..bart

Glass House Living?

Bart — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 01:21:07 +0000

The book Contrarians talks about glass house living as an alternative or supplement to accountibility groups. What do you think?

deep water solo?

Bart — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 22:21:12 +0000

should one engage in this activity?

Ale

Bart — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 10:40:48 +0000

May this life be,

in balance containing good ingredients in the right proportion,

exciting….a story worth living..as the hops spice and preserve,

of you not the world lest the wild yeast sour your perfect plan,

expectant waiting in faith for each new batch…that first draft,

filled with awareness of your divine spark of making it all good.

Lord may I be like this Ale.

Restart Virtual Accountability?

Bart — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 02:02:55 +0000

I am considering restarting or reviving the virtual accountability group on this blog. I found it an important tool for growing in faith and discipline during the season it was active. So….if there is anyone out there who would be interested in becoming an accountability partner please comment on this post. All that is required is checking in each day with a post or comment detailing your struggles for the last day. Look through the archives and you will get the idea.

grace, peace, and awareness,

bart

I love “the silver chair” by C.S. Lewis

Bart — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 21:48:56 +0000

Deuteronomy 6:4-9, Moses to the Israelites Listen, people of Israel! The Lord our God is the only Lord.5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.6 Always remember these commands I give you today.7 Teach them to your children, and talk about them when you sit at home and walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.8 Write them down and tie them to your hands as a sign. Tie them on your forehead to remind you,9 and write them on your doors and gates.

The Silver Chair, Aslan’s instructions to Jill (pg 25) “But first, remember, remember, remember the signs. Say them to yourself when you wake in the morning and when you lie down at night, and when you wake in the middle of the night. And whatever strange things happen to you let nothing turn you from following the signs.”

Spiritual Formation

Bart — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 15:11:23 +0000

Some important text dealing with meaningful membership are

Pliny letter 10.96-97, http://www9.georgetown.edu/faculty/jod/texts/pliny.htm, talks about the early church meetings one small group and one communion meal,
Henderson- a model for making disciples, http://www.amazon.com/Model-Making-Disciples-Wesleys-Meeting/dp/1928915701/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1231686268&sr=8-1, talks about the class meeting, and Cole- Search & Rescue, http://www.amazon.com/Search-Rescue-Becoming-Disciple-Difference/dp/0801013097/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1231686308&sr=1-1, talks about the life transformation group (LTG)

Important Post, class meeting

Bart — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 22:41:29 +0000

Follow this link http://deeplycommitted.com/2009/01/09/class-meeting-as-guarantor-of-meaningful-membership/ to a very important post by Kevin Watson. It is short, but very powerful.

I am thinking of quitting the meat packing plant

Bart — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 01:34:34 +0000

I have worked at a meat packing plant all my life. Lately I was promoted to the sausage department. I used to love sausage, but after a few years in that department I have negative associations with the plant. The problem is now that I know the ingredients and process that goes into producing sausage all meat is somehow different.

My problem with the ingredients lies not in the quality of the meat, but in the other stuff that is added so it will be edible after the processing. The man made stuff that goes into sausage is pretty gross. Preservatives, flavors, and dyes are not what I want when I eat meat. The process of grinding, mixing, and stuffing the sausages take what is a really decent cut of meat and really screw it up in order to achieve the look and texture we desire.

I am thinking of becoming a vegetarian. The idea of planting a seed, waiting for it to grow, harvesting, and finally enjoying is very appealing. I must be willing to give up the control I had with sausage, but I trust the end product will be both healthier and better tasting.

You probably guessed I am not really talking about food, but it describes how I feel about what we have done to Jesus.

Lord please have mercy on us.

Good Will shopping

Bart — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 11:10:28 +0000

I was shopping at Good Willl Sunday afternoon. When I say shopping I mean watching my girls play in the toy area while my wife shopped. As I watched the kids playing with the other kids I realized they did not care if the other kids were dirty or sloppily dressed. There was even one boy who had on a pair of jeans that were way too large and no underwear and to make matters worse he had them on backward. The kids just played together. The only time there was trouble was when one would not share or grabbed a toy from another. There was no notice of social status.

Later that night I was watching the show where Tye demolishes a needy families house and rebuilds it to fit their particular needs. The son was being interviewed. He was blind and in a wheel chair, but a talented musician with a great outlook on life. He said that he saw blindness as an ability and sight as a disability. He explained that sight hinders seeing people as they really are on the inside.

Sometimes I think someone is trying to get my attention.

bart