Aiming For The Center

05/07/2026

Cycles

In a real faith journey with Jesus, who is God over all, there are cycles.

Faith must be tested. Not like a school test to judge capability, but testing like training of muscle.

To failure.

I favor the Mike Mentzer method, one set to failure. Ok, maybe just an additional small set to make sure I hit real failure not just a whimping out because I feel like it.

That is testing that initiates a growth response. It really does work.

God, being in control of every molecule and circumstance, is throwing at His chosen troubles, questions and pain in order to test that faith.

Failure makes it grow.

Being His work, not yours, instead of beating yourself up over failure sit back and trust, watching Him make your faith grow like muscle.

You may not see fast results, but if you are patient, you will visibly see the gains...and so will others.

05/07/2026

The Master Builder

If we fully accept that we are the workmanship of God, why is it so hard to accept that so is everyone else?

Are you judging His work on either front? He works better than any of us. So, there is that...

05/07/2026

First Things First

You know, when you are afraid that if you let go and trust God, that you will do evil things... you are not trusting God at all.

Faith comes first.

You know, when you are afraid that if you let go and trust God, that you will do evil things... you are not trusting God at all.Faith comes first.

05/07/2026

Cognitive Dissonance

Pensive today. Yesterday, while walking around Tokyo, Martha and I found a market near a rather large mall. I pulled out my 360 camera to take some video and we came across a shrine right in the middle of all the tents, awnings and shops. We went up to take a look.

The craftsmanship is amazing at these things. Wonderful woodwork. As I was walking with the camera on its selfie stick, there were folks praying to either ancestors or deities that they believe in. I think these folks are Shinto or maybe Buddist.

As someone who has walked with God, The God, I ended up with questions on why these people believe what they believe. Was it due to their family and how they were raised? Was it due to a personal search? Was it because of a spiritual experience?

Oh, and when I mean spiritual experience, I am not talking about a feeling strong or otherwise. I am talking face to face with an entity or power, evidenced by material action.

Yes, those things happen in every religion. Yet, what makes mine true and theirs not?

He does.

OK, So, not being a complete du***ss, I do realize that the One who I walk and talk with could be an imposter. I absolutely do not believe that to be so, based not only on scripture (which He said was His) but also on personal interaction with the Guy.

I have never met anyone better. Additionally, I have seen Him do things to protect my sorry backside more often than I can count.

I am His. He has made this clear to me and even to spiritual beings who wanted access. I have seen, with my own eyes, HIM step in and say NO!

Many times.

This poses a question, a serious question, based on what I know of Him and what others do not.

Why? Why, does He show me and not show that guy over there?

I am not better. I am probably worse. I am not particularly smart. I am not good looking. I am not even skilled at anything. My career was actually pathetic. My "ministry" effort failed miserably. My family even disowned me (Not Martha or Brianne, they are particularly stubborn). I can't play an instrument. I cannot sing. I am in OK shape for a 63-year-old man, but no where am I in good shape.

So, why show me anything of Himself. Things that obviously He doesn't want many others to know.

Yes, I know, you think He wouldn't do that, but sorry, He does. Biblically, and personally, the truth is there. Ah, but that is the truth of it. If He doesn't want someone to see it, they will not. If He does, they will. It isn't because they choose it. It is because HE chooses it.

I know, I know, you are SOOOO tired of me talking about choice and predestination. They are in fact both true though! We do make choices, yet those choices were made by God, The Father, before any of us existed. That IS what the bible says.

In light of this truth, I have no way of condemning anyone for not seeing this truth, or any truth.

Cognitive dissonance... this is a stupid term for a man choosing to believe a lie because they want to. It is on one hand true, but in the bigger picture, it is absolutely not true.

No, there is no conflict here. It is a perspective of understanding. From God, The Father's perspective, HE chooses or rather chose. This is predestination.

Yet, we choose. We choose without any knowledge of what was pre-written. This doesn't offer an illusion of choice. We really do think and choose what we do. However, we are merely acting out what choice He made before we were born. This is best understood as a character in a book, movie, or play. From the perspective of the story, each character is free to choose. They, as a character unfamiliar with the Author's intent, move through the story choosing this or choosing that.

Unfamiliar. This is where the story changes.

What if you as a character see THE Author and understand like Don Quixote who and what you really are? Oh, but not just as a side character, but a character that is important to The Author?

What would you struggle with? What would you do with that information?

Me, I want to tell everyone.

Would it help them? I think so. It has helped me greatly. I am much less of an ass that I would have been. I am more peaceful internally. I do not struggle with guilt or shame. I do not see myself as better than anyone.

How could I? I am just a character with no special abilities or gifts. I am like a rich kid who understands the only thing I have got going for me is my Dad. Ah, but my Dad! HE is the absolute best! I think that is more of why I want to tell others.

Could I walk around arrogantly and say others should treat me with respect? Probably, I mean I have seen Him slap both demon and angel for approaching me without consent.

I don't. I don't because I know that I am only His because He willed it so. Like a Father adopting a pathetic boy in an orphanage. I appreciate my position in a huge way but wish other "orphans" would join me in the Family He made.

Still, knowing that others can only see what He wants them to see at any given choice, that they are not dissonant cognitively or otherwise. They don't want to see only because He doesn't want them to see... This makes for a frustrating experience in my endeavor to share.

I get mad at Him. Why, why, why.

He knows.
He has a fabulous reason.
He has a wonderful plan.

No, no one is going to be able to stand before Him and shout THIS WAS UNFAIR! I can tell you confidently, that this is not going to happen.

He is fair.
No, He is way nicer than fair!

Still, He chooses who will become close to Him and who will never get near Him.

It is what it is.

I asked Him last night. "Why do you not have them ask you why?"

His response? "Why do you ask why?"

You will get this wrong. I am sorry, but you will... or did.

He wasn't saying to me not to ask. He was answering my question with a question. You see, when He talks, it comes with a seriously huge depth. I cannot explain it more. He may say a phrase, but there is deeper understanding packed within it. Most of the time it makes it very hard to tell others because of it. They can't "see" or "feel" the deeper meaning attached to it. This IS what He did last night.

He wanted me to go down a rabbit hole of why I ask, and others do not.

It is Him.

No, I don't really understand it. Yet, I do.

What I do know. We walk in a world that has a vastly larger purpose than the visible life choices of get the girl, build a business, create a family, then die well. Every moment, every struggle, every thought, feeling and pain, all work toward something HE is building. Not something WE build. We really don't have much to do with it.

Seeing this, is freeing. This is why there is no guilt, regret, struggle with my past. Oh, sure, there are twinges when I remember things, yet even those are brought to my brain on purpose to initiate deeper responses. HE is pruning, always pruning.

We, if we are His, ARE His work.
As Jesus said, He is always working.

When I get mad at Martha, even if I am right, it doesn't matter what the argument or disagreement was, I just need to trust His working in it. Because of that, I can let go of my idea of what should be and what isn't.

I yield.
I submit.
I surrender.
Because I trust Him.

Everything, and I mean everything I experience is Him working. Much of it I don't like, particularly the aches and pains as I age, but even more so the family angers, hatred and distance.

I trust Him. He has proven extremely trustworthy. He could fix all my problems with a mere thought... no hand gesture or even eye movement needed. Just boom! And there would be change.

If He does great!
If He doesn't great!

I really don't have to worry, because it isn't up to me. It never was.

So, all of those who worship something in error, have a little grace on them. Sure, they are bowing to something that isn't there. So, what if they don't listen to you? It isn't up to you!

It is all on Him.

Yes, tell when you can. I do.
Share everywhere. I do.

Ah, but the result of these efforts are not yours. They are His.

Knowing this helps you see, why you see, and they do not. Why you ask, but they do not.

It is always Him.

He is much better than you are anyway.

He is always good.

Pensive today. Yesterday, while walking around Tokyo, Martha and I found a market near a rather large mall. I pulled out my 360 camera to take some video and we came across a shrine right in the middle of all the tents, awnings and shops. We went up to take a look. The craftsmanship is amazing at th...

04/29/2026

Idol Comfort

Scrolling through new TV shows to watch as we travel around the world, I end up rather disturbed at the available content.

I'm using a Firestick with subscriptions to Prime Video, Disney+, and Hulu. There isn’t anything openly pornographic, but the storylines can address some rather sick topics. Knowing what I know about God's sovereignty, it poses some difficult questions.

Yes, God created evil. I believe biblically, He is even in complete control of it. At the very least, any believer should know that if He wasn't controlling it completely, then He could at the very least stop any evil event when He wants and where He wants. He has already done that in scripture. Remember the story of Mordecai?

If you can stop a thing, you can control a thing. If you can both start it and stop it, why would anyone think you somehow lost control in the middle?

That's just lazy.

God, in His infinite wisdom both started everything and has an in-progress plan to end it. He IS the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. He NEVER lost control of the middle.

Questions, questions, very hard questions. Questions that He is not afraid of. Questions that if you really want your faith and trust in Him to go beyond baby food, you are really going to want to ask Him.

Oh, it is comfortable to just sit in the place where God lost control of His creation because of a wee thing called Freewill. The idea is that God is unable to get involved because He gave mankind a choice that He will not interfere with. Basically, God lost control because He supposedly wanted us to love, and they say love requires a choice.

But it doesn't. Look, dogs love their families, families they didn't choose. Now, of course if they are chosen by a bad abusive family, then love isn’t so easy and they may just fear them. However, no one can deny that a decently treated dog will die for it's family.

Isn't that love? Die for your friends? Was it a choice?

No, we are not dogs, nor are we robots. We are more like characters. Robots can act autonomously, biblically, we do not. Yet, hard as that is to accept, we are not less than robots and not equal to God, we are somewhere in between. We are more, because God is more and we are His.

All I know is biblically, we are chosen and everything is in God's control, yet, because God is so far beyond us that we are being crafted into something we cannot yet understand.

However, if we limit God by saying He lost control, even if He supposedly did it by choice, then we cannot trust Him at a level to become that something more.

Back to the sick and twisted things going on in our Author's story... Why?

Why does any author have awful things happen in a storyline? Each author has their own reasons. For one it may be money, for another to push an agenda, and still another because the struggle and overcoming it is important to them.

We don't know why God created this world the way He did. We know He did it. We can know He is in charge of it, and we can trust in His purpose for it. All of it.

Or we can deny His power and never really trust in His persona.

That is when we make up our own for Him.

It doesn't have to be made of wood for it to still be made up.

Scrolling through new TV shows to watch as we travel around the world, I end up rather disturbed at the available content. I'm using a Firestick with subscriptions to Prime Video, Disney+, and Hulu. There isn’t anything openly pornographic, but the storylines can address some rather sick topics. K...

04/29/2026

I Would Die for You

If you consider value based on consciousness, stepping on an ant means nothing to you.

What consciousness does the ant really have compared to a man?

Seeing the apparent panic it reacts with, when you miss on your first effort to step on it, it does have some level of consciousness.

Oh, I agree, comparing the fear in an ant isn't even close to the fear of a human in a similar circumstance. Ants are more like little programs than sentient beings.

Ah, but consider the value placed on a man by say, an angelic being? Do we seem like ants to them? Does our fear matter to them?

Oh, but then consider the top of the food chain, GOD. To HIM even angels are made like little programs, or characters in a story. What does it matter if they are afraid, in pain, or suffering with a situation HE created?

Now, consider the way God has written in His book about HIS children, the chosen, the elect, the predestined...

NOW we are talking!

The value HE places on HIS own is vast! He would move heaven and earth for them.

Actually...HE created heaven and earth for them.

Kind of makes you feel a wee bit special...doesn't it?

If you consider value based on consciousness, stepping on an ant means nothing to you. What consciousness does the ant really have compared to a man? Seeing the apparent panic, it reacts with when you miss on your first effort to step on it, it does have some level of consciousness. Oh, I agree, com...

04/29/2026

Sorry Princess

Claiming biblical promises without really addressing who the promise was made to, is no different than claiming one of these Facebook games "Which Disney Character are You?"

Sorry, you are not Cinderella no matter how good the game makes you feel...

Claiming biblical promises without really addressing who the promise was made to, is no different than claiming one of these Facebook games "Which Disney Character are You?" Sorry, you are not Cinderella no matter how good the game makes you feel...

04/29/2026

Know your place.

God is not obligated or required to do anything for you, any more than you are required to give your imaginary friend a happy life.

Know your creator.

God is not obligated or required to do anything for you, any more than you are required to give your imaginary friend a happy life.Know your creator.

04/28/2026

How Valuable?

Matthew 10:37
[37] "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;

Obviously, this includes things you should love less than your kids and parents... you know, like your job, your friends, your time, your hobbies, your addictions, and pretty much everything.

Matthew 10:38
[38] and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.

Yes, everything.

Matthew 10:39
[39] Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

A finite life in trade for a forever one?

I thought it was a great deal.

I always will.

How important is He to you?

Might be better to find out now...

Matthew 10:37[37] "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;Obviously, this includes things you should love less than your kids and parents... you know, like your job, your friends, your time, your h...

04/28/2026

Why I write What I Write

I'm not looking for a following. God has made it clear that He is not going to do that, at least anytime soon. I really just want to share my learning journey.

I got saved in 1982, so I have been on this journey for a while. Most of the teaching on the TV, Radio and in books is basic. I'm not being arrogant, but simply honest.

I outgrew baby food a long time ago. I like the hard questions. I ask Him the hard questions. I freely share the information I get from Him.

Yes, it is from Him. I am happily not smart enough on my own. That makes identifying His voice easy for me.

I have stated many times that I would like discussion, the sharing back and forth of information and perspectives that God shares with us individually.

Unfortunately, I don't see it, and I should.

One of the greatest reasons for the Church is to come together and get a collective perspective, a more expanded view of God. He is vast, so there is no other way to see it.

For this "perspective" to be shared, It must be done with humility. Where winning is not in the argument itself, but in the understanding of truth after the argument is completed.

Truth IS.

There are different perspectives of God as a whole because He is so vast, but there are not many truths. There are many lies, but always One truth. The argument, the discussion, should always be to help each other see THE truth.

Winning is that... seeing the truth. It is never winning the argument

Not engaging, well that is useless for everyone.

So is disengaging when your view is challenged. Each argument should show both sides truth. If one side quits without completing the course, it is a definite fail. They admit failure without saying a word. Their failure isn't in just the argument, it is in their admission that they were never looking for truth at the beginning of the argument.

It would be better that they didn't engage in the first place.

So, in light of this, I again put forth a challange. If you disagree, say so and why. Do it yourself, not with a link to Reverend Professor So and So. Use the book.

Do not insult. No "if you could only see", "If satan hasn't blinded you", or "if you have only studied as much as I have". If you do, you only show you are not arguing with the right heart.

I will disengage then. You cannot hear, with a heart to just win the argument. I won't delete your argument, even if you use foul words. It is always a good example for others to see what not to do.

Argument has been dismissed for far to long. It is not only for the "clergy". We should all be doing this... unless you are really not on the same journey I am... to grow in faith, by growing in the knowledge and love of God.

Paul speaks of this at the beginning of almost all his letters.

Otherwise, all my effort to engage is terribly disappointing.

I really get the feeling it is for Him too.

I'm not looking for a following. God has made it clear that He is not going to do that, at least anytime soon. I really just want to share my learning journey. I got saved in 1982, so I have been on this journey for a while. Most of the teaching on the TV, Radio and in books is basic. I'm not being....

04/28/2026

Spiritual Zombies

You do realize that you were once dead and now you are alive, blind but now you see.

Born again, born of the Spirit.

If you are not born, you are not alive. If you can read this, but have not been born the second time, you are not eternal, you are a spiritual zombie.

When this life is over...so is everyone who didn't get eyes to see.

Eternal life, the Kingdom of God, spiritual presence, is a gift from God. The Spirit is that life. It is the connection to the Eternal Life. It is becoming part of His Kingdom.
Part of Him.

Connected.
Powered.
Permanent.

Seek and you will find.
Don't and you won't.

You do realize that you were once dead and now you are alive, blind but now you see.Born again, born of the Spirit. If you are not born, you are not alive. If you can read this, but have not been born the second time, you are not eternal, you are a spiritual zombie. When this life is over...so is ev...