I am undone

jeolmstead · Sep 17, 2010

I find myself saying and doing stupid things a lot lately. This seems to be the lot of myself and my race.

Reflecting on this, I thought about Isaiah as written in chapter 6 “I am a man of unclean lips from a people of unclean lips”

I had always seen this as a statement about himself and his people. It occurs to me that this has more to say about all people than I ever gave thought to.

God then took me to a place where he and I go on occasion. It is a vast piece of property. I am not sure how large. I do know that it is in my own heart.

The first time he took me there it was a vast desolate plane; beautiful but empty dry and barren. He told me that he would build a habitation here. When I see it now it is a land filled with lush vegetation and lately I’ve seen all sorts of fruit bearing plants now ripe to the point of bursting.

He said “this is who you are now”

I thought what a contrast and what a disconnect there seems to be between who God says I am and who my actions as of late indicate.

Yet, I know He is right and that the desert has indeed become a garden. I do not understand the disconnect but I do see the change.

My lips are unclean and my people’s lips as well, I am undone. I see this as who I am. My words and actions prove this, but, God has sent the angel. He toughed my lips with the coal. His breath upon the fallow barren ground in my heart has transformed it into a beautiful garden.

This is who I really am.

John O.

GrapeGirl · Sep 17, 2010

I said it once and I'll say it again.... you are a beautiful disaster!!!

imperfectchristian · Sep 17, 2010

GrapeGirl said:
I said it once and I'll say it again.... you are a beautiful disaster!!!

Nice

GrapeGirl · Sep 17, 2010

I can only say that because I have realized that I am just a mess! We got these pictures taken at church...a professional photographer came in and sold everyone packages. We got three touched up photos on canvas, and a cd of all the pictures they took, untouched. I was looking at them today and I had to stop or else I was going to start crying. Not that I was appauled by a huge zit or something....but I saw my arms. I saw what everyone else sees when I let my arms show and I had to fight back the tears. Those scars are not who I am, but who I was. Even though that may be true though, it is hard to look at. I have never actually looked at my scars in a photo. There is one up on the band website that I don't look at. So to see these untouched photos in their raw form....hurt. It is very painful for me. I have family asking for these pictures of my newly formed family and I DON'T WANT TO SEND THEM!

I'm just another tree in the beautiful disaster forest John, but you encourage me to keep trying. So I just want to do the same for you.

jeolmstead · Sep 18, 2010

GrapeGirl said:
I can only say that because I have realized that I am just a mess! We got these pictures taken at church...a professional photographer came in and sold everyone packages. We got three touched up photos on canvas, and a cd of all the pictures they took, untouched. I was looking at them today and I had to stop or else I was going to start crying. Not that I was appauled by a huge zit or something....but I saw my arms. I saw what everyone else sees when I let my arms show and I had to fight back the tears. Those scars are not who I am, but who I was. Even though that may be true though, it is hard to look at. I have never actually looked at my scars in a photo. There is one up on the band website that I don't look at. So to see these untouched photos in their raw form....hurt. It is very painful for me. I have family asking for these pictures of my newly formed family and I DON'T WANT TO SEND THEM!

I'm just another tree in the beautiful disaster forest John, but you encourage me to keep trying. So I just want to do the same for you.

Girl, your scars have become a testimony of the love and grace of God, just like the scars on Jesuss arms and the stripes on his back.

Thank you for blessing me.

John O

SharonL · Sep 18, 2010

You both are such beautiful witnesses of the Glory and love of our Lord - Jesus is smiling down on both of you now and all he sees is a big heart full of love.

imperfectchristian · Sep 20, 2010

It is better to be a prostitute who works so she can feed, provide and care for her children, than a preacher who in the name of furthering God's kingdom doesn't think it is important enough to make time for his or hers.

My point: maybe you are not looking at the same things God is looking at.

jeolmstead · Sep 20, 2010

imperfectchristian said:
It is better to be a prostitute who works so she can feed, provide and care for her children, than a preacher who in the name of furthering God's kingdom doesn't think it is important enough to make time for his or hers.

My point: maybe you are not looking at the same things God is looking at.

Such a preacher only futhers his own kingdom

John O.

Alive_Again · Sep 20, 2010

Do you need your photos retouched? It's only the clone tool or healing brush tool. It only takes 2 minutes.

The important thing is what's on the inside. You want God's love to dwarf any disfigurement you may have. Do you know that there is a place in Heaven where they have new body parts? A number of people have been and seen them. Check out Gary Wood's testimony on Youtube or on Sid Roth's website. He's only one of several I've heard who have seen them. There is nothing that is impossible to him or her who believes. He makes all things new. Your primary concern, knowing Him, because all of the healing and restoration that is His ministry is found there.

Don

Alive_Again · Sep 20, 2010

Hey John O.

I have to ask. Why the REM slogan next to your login name? No offense, but I can't help but associate that like the millions who hear the REM song would. He bemoans how pointless religion is (which dead religion is), but the world doesn't know otherwise, and thinks that is what Jesus offers. It seems to reaffirm that. Of course we as believers are the ones who are supposed to be shouting from the rooftops that He lives and does make a difference! We're salt and light.

I'm sure you're a fine person and love the Lord. I really mean this constructively because it's the first thing apart from your picture that people see.

I often question people why they wear tshirts with devils and dragons on them. Demonic symbols of death, magic, deadly animals and things that minister despondence and the sorrow of the world. Your's doesn't go to that extreme. Something to consider!

Some people's avatars have things you'd find under a rock.

jeolmstead · Sep 25, 2010

Alive_Again said:
Hey John O.

I have to ask. Why the REM slogan next to your login name? No offense, but I can't help but associate that like the millions who hear the REM song would. He bemoans how pointless religion is (which dead religion is), but the world doesn't know otherwise, and thinks that is what Jesus offers. It seems to reaffirm that. Of course we as believers are the ones who are supposed to be shouting from the rooftops that He lives and does make a difference! We're salt and light.

I'm sure you're a fine person and love the Lord. I really mean this constructively because it's the first thing apart from your picture that people see.

I often question people why they wear tshirts with devils and dragons on them. Demonic symbols of death, magic, deadly animals and things that minister despondence and the sorrow of the world. Your's doesn't go to that extreme. Something to consider!

Some people's avatars have things you'd find under a rock.

My friends know and understand why I use this as a tag line.

For the record more people are in bondage to religion than demonic symbols of death. And while the overtly evil is easy to see and expose religion (on the other hand) is a subtle snare that slowly blinds men to the grace God freely provides through Christ.

John O.

Alive_Again · Sep 25, 2010

I was hoping it was something like that!

As a result of that song, the world immediately assumes otherwise. Anyone who didn't know you already and hear the explanation previously would be left wondering.

It' sad that songs like that become popular. The enemy no doubt served up something catchy in order for the words "losing my religion" to go forth from their lips.

The prophets of the enemy are not doing the world any favors. They already have lost faith in empty church going. That's why people turn to cults. They point to the empty form, then they throw in the lie about how the entire church is apostate, as though the gates of Hell could prevail against it.

No offense. We have to avoid the appearance of evil. The world points to the first little thing they can object to, to confirm their fears. Our lives witness to the risen King.

jeolmstead · Sep 26, 2010

I understand your point, however, my call is to avoid the appearance of false piety and dead religious rote.

If there are any REM fans reading my posts they already know that the song is about loosing your temper. Not a good thing to do, but, certainly not on par with overt Satan worship.

The truth be told, I’d rather offend the religious (as Jesus did) and reach out to the REM fans who don’t know Christ.

John O.

KleinerApfel · Sep 26, 2010

I think John's little slogan there is just fine.

If anyone doesn't know him, and if they don't know the Lord, then those words might make them look again at what John says in his posts, might stir their curiosity as to what he really means by "religion".

I don't think anything he writes would leave them in any doubt that he is anything other than a true son of God.

imperfectchristian · Sep 26, 2010

jeolmstead said:
I understand your point, however, my call is to avoid the appearance of false piety and dead religious rote.

If there are any REM fans reading my posts they already know that the song is about loosing your temper. Not a good thing to do, but, certainly not on par with overt Satan worship.

The truth be told, Id rather offend the religious (as Jesus did) and reach out to the REM fans who dont know Christ.

John O.

Actually John...I was so curious as to Stypes meaning that I went and googled it the other day. He didn't write the song thinking it would be a hit or with the purpose of making any type of religious or spiritual implication.

He said the song is about unrequited love. Considering that, I don't think you could have picked any better song title to express your position.

I am an REM fan and "Losing my Religion" is probably my favorite song they ever did. It really expresses that basic need to be loved and how we try to perform to others standards in order to get their love, acceptance and approval and how we inevitably fail in some way or another.

imperfectchristian · Sep 26, 2010

Reading just a little between the lines, "Losing my Religion" is about Michael Stype being a closet homosexual (at the time he wrote it) and the disapproval he faces from society for it. When you watch the video, it becomes pretty obvious.

I am undone

-That’s me in the corner, losing my religion

Freakin' ray of sunshyne

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Freakin' ray of sunshyne

-That’s me in the corner, losing my religion

Senior Veteran

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-That’s me in the corner, losing my religion

Resident Alien

Resident Alien

-That’s me in the corner, losing my religion

Resident Alien

-That’s me in the corner, losing my religion

When I awake I am still with You

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