The basilisk sometimes runs as a biped. Basilisks have the unique ability to “walk” on water and, because of this, they have been dubbed as “The Jesus Lizard” or “The Jesus Christ Lizard” in reference to the biblical passage of Matthew 14:22-34. On water, the basilisk can run at a velocity of 1.5 meters (4.8 feet) per second for approximately 4.5 meters (14.75 feet) before sinking on all fours and swimming. Flaps between their toes help support the basilisk, creating a larger surface and a pocket of air. They can also sustain themselves on all fours while “water-walking” to increase hang time by about 4.25 feet.
This word derives from the Greekbasilískos (βασιλίσκος) meaning “little king”.
Agreement. That’s a great thing in marriage. Agreeing together on common goals, ideas, and working as a team for the betterment of the relationship and the overall health of said marriage. As we have learned in our many struggles, triumphs, stumbles, achievements, hurdles, and conquered mountains, it takes work, time, effort, and love. The kind of love found in a relationship that is founded on Christ.
As a married couple, we have now had many years together. Those many years have seen all the things listed above and much more. Today we embarked on yet another journey into that pursuit of continued togetherness, with plans for new ways to continue to see our relationship strengthened and enhanced. (Enhanced? Is that a good way to described increased closeness? Maybe, I dunno – I am sure there are more descriptive approaches but that will have to suffice for this post
Today we discussed several ways we can, as a couple, look at the things that have fallen short, consider things that have never quite taken off, and endeavor to improve that which is not currently operating at maximum potential. We decided that we would each offer three things that the other one must do in order to demonstrate a stronger love language approach. While I won’t go into detail with each of these, I will share a little….
My wife has been involved in the “Fit for Life” small group / class at our church. This has been a great thing, but I have not been involved. Maybe I think I am physically fit enough, or maybe I am not ready to pursue the regimen and self disciplines associated with fitness, or maybe I am just lazy. More likely the latter is closer to reality, since the only fitness I have ever enjoyed was karate.
We decided to start routinely going for walks. Not only will this aid in producing life giving heart exercise, but it will draw us closer by having more time together. As we walk and talk, we can unwind and discuss the mysteries of the universe while getting physically fit in the process. Like eating cake for breakfast (eggs, flour, milk – all health food) – Joking aside, it will indeed give us more opportunity for closeness and it is one of “her” wants for me so I have agreed.
My first of three requests for her was a bit less healthy physically, but it is something that I think will benefit her as well as myself. You see, she has never been big on technology and isn’t too impressed with email, facebook, myspace, youtube, or anything else that requires a chair to keyboard interface. My request was simple – familiarize and learn to be more interactive by signing up for a facebook account, learn how to navigate it and seek out some old friends and reconnect at the same time. In that same process, read your email more than once a month, and spend some time on some recommended blogs. I must tell you she received this with much more enthusiasm than I expected. Having been with her for 15 years, it will be a first but also a great step in the technological direction for her.
Her next request was one that should be fun for both of us. We decided to do a “love dare” program for each other. Typically these are done when marriages are struggling, but we decided it would be fun just to do as a surprise each day for the other. For those unfamiliar, a “love dare” or similar ideas is basically a 20-40 day program where each day you do something different for the other. An example might be on Day 1 “Do something unexpected” for the other, and so on. Should be fun!
I suppose I’ll stop there since the rest of the story gets a little more private (in a good way but nonetheless: )
We as a married couple would encourage everyone to spend more time nurturing their relationship and less time focused on the day to day struggles of life. God intends for us to be happy, to enjoy our lives, and to enjoy each other. Spend time exploring mentally, physically (yes, that means have more sex – very biblical you know) and emotionally. Work on discovering what each other values, needs, wants, hopes for, desires, and do it with confidence that God is in the midst of it. He intends for our marriage to prosper in these ways, and if you’ll seek him he will guide your steps.
Treasure the gift he has given you in your mate. Look deeply into their eyes, heart, and soul and find the sparks of love and togetherness that were there on the first date. You’ll be glad you did….
Psalm 107:14 He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom
and broke away their chains.
Tonight several of us were together for a followup on previous theological discussions. While this was to be the thrust of the meeting, it did not turn out that way at all. In fact, the only followup was done in the parting few minutes. What did happen was something that only can be described as freely receiving.
While it may be true there is nothing new under the sun, there is always something new when real faith and believing prayer are at work. When Christ becomes the center of our focus, when we allow Him to move in and through us, when we truly seek to love on and care for others, when our desire for change is not about self but about selflessness, real faith begins to happen.
That is what happened tonight. As a group of friends and believers, we saw real change and real chains being broken.
Many of us are familiar with Christianese buzzwords like bondage and chains, but do we really know what these things mean? Tonight we experienced healing through the breaking of these bondages and chains. So much of my past has been colored with false prophets and false gospels that when the prayers and hearts are genuine it seems almost too good to be true.
“breakin the chains”
Claustophobic
Feelin’ scared
You need somebody
But no one seems to care
A one way ticket
A change of pace
You’ve had enough
Can’t take no more
While I am reminded of this song by an old Heavy Metal band Dokken, I am also blessed by the Christian friends and family I have today. As we gathered together and prayed for healing and restoration, prayed against false witness and enemy lies, for a renewal of faith and hope, hope for a bright future and hope for companionship, we saw the miraculous happen.
So often we forget that God IS there, that Christ is IN us, and through FAITH he works to heal the pain from the crushing blows of believing that no one cares. The discouragement that comes from feeling like the purpose is gone, the heart ache that stems from the desire for a mate, the lack of self esteem that comes from people who try to tear us down, are all symptoms of illness that can be healed when we turn to the one great physician.
Tonight we experienced love for one another that won’t stop because the meeting was over. Through relationships built on the foundation of Christ, we will see each other tomorrow. We will be able to remember what we prayed, and we will be able to stand together. When we see each other at coffee or at church, at Tuesday night dinner or on the way to work, we will be able to ask “hows it goin and how is your……” with a deeper understanding of each others struggles.
Jesus understood these things. He surrounded himself with friends he called brothers and sisters, and as he cultivated love through relational living, he drew unto himself those committed to this ideal.
My past experiences with shallow prayers and meetings about getting to the end of the next program taught me what not to do. Tonight Christ showed me what he wants us to do.
Trying to live and be Christlike is only a shadow of what we are if we don’t pursue relationships with the knowledge that true love requires work and sacrifice.
So goes the story. At least for me anyway. As I struggle trying to “unravel the mysteries of harmony and focus’ (a line from Kung Fu Panda), I am also struggling to make this new website work. This great blogging / content management system is being difficult, and as a result, the ability to comment or interact with others has yet to actually work.
While I would like to somehow spiritualize that into some issue related to satan and technology, it really is probably more basic than that. This issue does parallel my current spiritual struggle though.
Often times I would critique those whom I believed were not spiritual, or not following in Christs footsteps, and by that I mean pastors, leaders, TBN preachers, televangelists, etc. While I still believe much of what we see in these arenas is not correct, I find myself learning to be quiet and listening more. I find that rather than comment on everything I see, I believe it may be more prudent at times to refrain from verbal commentary and pray instead.
In prayer I can seek God and his direction in these issues. These things that make me so angry. These things that make me want to shout from the rooftops that the Propserity Gospel is killing those who are being led astray by it. These things that make me weep with frustration that there are those who do not fear God, but rather see him as the golden egg.
With that said know I am not saying we should always be quiet, nor do I believe we should sit idly by and watch Gods people have their life, love, and banks accounts be sucked out of them – What I am saying though is that it is good to be patient, kind, forgiving, and discerning. Discerning devils is a fantastic gift, but it must be accompanied by compassion, just as Christ had for everyone, especially those who hurt him.
So for now I will work diligently to repair the inability to comment. I will also be asking the Lord to help me repair my ability to comment….
Nehemiah 9:17 “They refused to listen,And did not remember Your wondrous deeds which You had performed among them;So they became stubborn and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt But You are a God of forgiveness,Gracious and compassionate,Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness;And You did not forsake them.
Well, I have been wrestling with the idea of starting my own blog. While there are a few blogs I follow religously, I have needed to update my website for a very long time. The site was primarily centered around prophecy and end times discussions, as well some news and things of this nature. That’s all well and good but truth be told, my life has changed SO dramatically in the last couple of years I had to remove myself from being labeled a dispensationlist.
This first post will not be reflective of the discussion regarding dispensation, because in and of itself, it deserves much in the way of explanation, however I do want to say that to all the visitors who used to come to read, review, discuss, and otherwise find prophetic tendencies I want you to know I have NOT gone off the deep end. The reality is I have simply moved deeper into my relationship with Christ, and through that I have come to a place where my outward expressions of faith have changed.
I will create pages and sections within this site that are reflective of this, so please come back often, feel free to comment, etc.
My journey of faith and Christianity has taken me on a wild ride this last many years, and through that I have come to realize the importance and value of walking in the footsteps of Christ. While my faith was being strengthened, my belief system was molding and shaping. So many things have died within me, several things have come back to life, etc.
For instance I have begun to play the guitar again. And, let me tell you, it is NOT like riding a bicycle. I put it away about 12-14 years ago, and only played it a bit here and there, maybe for five minutes to show my son something. As with all the things that are beginning to change in me, this is one of my passions that I had forgotten.
This year for my birthday, all my kids (6 boys, 1 girl, and now 6 grandkids) purchased a beautiful guitar for me. It was an amazing gift, with tears in my eyes I exclaimed “Holy Sh**” accidentily because yes, I am still a sinner who struggled with colorful speech my whole life. I took it as a sign from God to begin to revisit the things that I allowed to fade. As I mentioned, it is not like a bicycle, but slowly I am relearning and prayerfully, thankfully seeking God for the opportunity to praise him in this way. God ROCKS ya know!!
Our life has been a roller coaster in many ways, but so much good has come from it that I now know more than ever in my life that we are indeed on the right path. That God has allowed me to take steps both good and bad in a way that ensures both the strengthening of my faith, and growth that can only happen through the grace and mercy of our Lord.
This 1st “short” post is getting lengthy so I’ll wrap it up by saying that for all who have come in past years, all who find this site by searching for rapture and prophetic theology, please understand there is a place and time for these things and I will elaborate as time goes on, so please come back. Just know that as we endeavor to live out our Christian walk, it begins to mold change us into the image of Christ. What that looks like for each of us is different, but we all serve the same Christ (Well, we should be anyway) – He is the same today, yesterday, tomorrow and forever.
Visit our home church website Jacob’s Well or visit our Jacob’s Well Community Resource Center site, and if you are interested visit my YouTube user page. I recently uploaded a new video that documents some of what we do here as a community, the refugee resettlement we are involved in, and some other info.
