!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> rachman-unprecedented: December 2006

rachman-unprecedented

So what is this going to be? A little bit of everything I think. Maybe that's it. What I'm thinking. What I'm believing. I hope what I'm knowing. And why would anyone care what I think I know? There's no reason in the world that you should. But then why are you here? Cuz you have to be somewhere I suppose. I've never been here before. I may not be back. I might get too busy to care; time is short. That's fine. Nobody can deal with it all at once. There is a lot to deal with.

My Photo
Name:
Location: The Great Plains, United States

I try not to take myself too seriously, but I know I have far too much. So I'm trying to learn how to laugh again, as I had forgotted for a while there. Also I'm relearning to enjoy life; you know, like when we were kids. The biggest challenge ahead is learning how to love God with all my heart, and soul, and mind, and strength. This one is not really that hard when you know the truth. But along with it comes learning to love others as I love myself, and that one is, as they say, "a horse of a whole different color." I think I need to learn to love myself a little more, but the problem may be that I know all these facts about me. Sometimes the facts are simply wrong or they are just stuck in the past. I'm trying to get my facts to line up with the truth. As someone once asked a great man, "what is truth?" If he had only known.

rachman's weblog

Sunday, December 31, 2006

Open The Door!


The year ahead of us is like a door, beyond which is great opportunity. In the past many doors have been slammed in our faces. Some doors we simply did not know how to unlock. Many we were too afraid to open. Yet others we may have kicked in and then didn't know how to deal with whatever we found there. As a result many of us have become fearful or have given up.

What's the biggest door in your life? For many it is a financial door. For others it may be the door leading to their health. Or perhaps it is an emotional door. It could be a door that keeps you from having the relationships for which you have longed. Whatever it is most of us have a door that needs to be opened.

This new year open your door. It lies before you waiting. The God of the Universe has said: I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.

What are we waiting for? Open your door and walk in. It holds your future.


~ rachman
.

Friday, December 29, 2006

In Memoriam P.G.

I knew something was wrong when I had not received her Christmas card by the 23th. I called but only got twenty-plus rings. I thought that maybe it was a sign of something good. I knew better, but what else was there to do. I called again today and was told by a recording that the number was not a working number. As it had worked for the last twenty or more years, I got on the internet and found the obituary. I thought I was being a little hasty at first, but before I had time to change my mind and go another route, there it was.

She was one of the most loving persons I had ever known. Yet I suspect that she was also one of the loneliest. I love you P.G.

I will need to call my sister tomorrow and tell her. They were really the ones who had first become friends years ago. Some how P.G. then became part of our family. My mother thought of her as one of her own daughters. Now, I don't know what kind of response I will get from my sister, indifference I suspect, as their friendship became quite strained a long time back. I always wondered if it was because my sister was jealous of the affection shown to "the outsider." It is not really any of my business I know. I just believe that my sister will want to know so she can grieve in her own way.

She, the one who is now gone, had become like another sister to me. She always remembered my birthday and never forgot me at Christmas time. When I was younger I wondered why she always remembered. Later I think I began to realize that she truly wanted to be a part of our happy family. Perhaps any happy family. As I said she was the most loving person I had ever know, but I think that may be she was just too afraid to be a part of the world. Her fears and perhaps her circumstances kept her from having a family of her own. Once her mother was gone, and with no brothers or sisters of her own, she was truly alone. Now I will not try to make excuses for her. After all that is all done with now. But I can't keep from weeping abit at the thought that she was a terribly lonely person. Yes, I do wish I had called her a little more often.

I hope that you are at peace now, my sister. I hope that you now have all the love you longed for here on this sphere. I miss hearing your voice and your kind words. I miss your lovely face. I miss your gentle spirit, P.G.

I don't know why some people don't seem to connect, but I know that some don't. I see it in myself at times. Sometimes I'm the life of the party and other times I can't seem to open my mouth and speak. Why the differences at different times? I'm not sure. Our many little feelings of insecurity I suppose. But I know that we all need to make the most of every opportunity. If some don't work out--that's fine, as long as some of them do. Don't give up. Keep reaching out to world with love, for love.

On Mother's Day, P.G. would call me and ask if I would be agreeable to her sending my mother flowers. Of course I didn't mind. I regret that I never sent flowers, if my memory is correct, to my now long lost "sister." I suspect that she never received enough of them in life, but I now resolve to send them to my real sister who, though miles away, still needs to be reminded that I love her.

P.G. you have shown me some things I needed to know. I hope I can be as loving as you always were to me. I also promise to reach out in love and not give up or hold back, just because one person said no. They still need that love and so do I. Oh yes, and I also hope, P.G., that you now have lots of flowers.


~ rachman
.

Who Are You Afraid Of?


I am trusting you, O Lord, saying, “You are my God!”

My future is in your hands...Let your favor shine on (me), your servant.


My heart is confident in you, O God; my heart is confident. No wonder I can sing your praises!

For your unfailing love is as high as the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. Psalm 31: 14, 16; 57: 7, 10

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. Romans 8:38

Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7

So we can say with confidence,“The Lord is my helper,so I will have no fear.What can mere people do to me?” Hebrews 13:6

Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear.
1 John 4:18

And from the throne came a voice that said,“Praise our God, all his servants, all who fear him, from the least to the greatest.”
Revelation 19:5 (NLT)

I will now fear no one except God Himself.
.
.
~ rachman
.

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

O Holy Night


O Holy Night. The stars are brightly shining. It is the night of our dear Savior's birth. Long lay the world in sin and error pining. 'Til He appeared and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices. For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn! Fall on your knees, O hear the angels' voices! O night divine, O night when Christ was born.

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming, with glowing hearts by His cradle we stand. So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming, here came the wise men from Orient land. The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger, in all our trials born to be our Friend! He knows our need; to our weakness is no stranger. Behold your King; before Him lowly bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another; His law is love and His Gospel is peace. Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother. And in His Name all oppression shall cease. Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we, let all within us praise His holy Name! Christ is the Lord! O praise His name forever! His power and glory evermore proclaim!


~ lyics by Placide Cappeau
~ English translation by John Sullivan Dwight
~ photo by FreeFoto.com
.

Saturday, December 16, 2006

Christmas at Last!

The reason I celebrate my birthday in September, is because that is when my parents told me it was. As a kid I didn't really have a clue as to when my birthday was except that in the middle of every September, my parents gave me a cake or a party or presents or all three. That was enough for me. Today a great part of the world is preparing to celebrate the birth of a king, not because we know for a fact that it took place on December 25, but because someone at some time decided that we would celebrate this birth every December. So enjoy it.

Many complain that Christmas is too commercialized, or too expensive, or too secularized (or pagan), or just too crass, or too whatever else you might want to come up with. Well who decides what kind of birthday you will have. For the most part you do. If Christmas is not what you want it to be, you are the one who has to change it. The original circumstances of what we call Christmas were quite simple and humble. If we desire to simplify things, then by all means, do so. We would then start to remember the reason we were celebrating in the first place.

Christmas, if you recall, means "Christ's festival" or "celebration of the anointed one." A celebration is a time when we overeat. It is a time when we gather together with family and friends and enjoy one another's company, in whatever ways we know to do it. It's a time when we may give gifts to one another or send written greetings. We do these same things on birthdays, national holidays, weddings, and so forth. Let's face it, people are always looking for ways to party about something. So why are we surprised that something like Christmas has become what it is. It's up to us to remember what we are celebrating. (Reminder: We are celebrating the advent, [or the arrival] of the King back into the earth.)

So as the time approaches, try to leave off the fretting about the way others are celebrating and think about how you are celebrating. If you can't get it all done, remember the holiday (holy day) was made for you to enjoy. You were not made to make the holiday a perfect fantasy. Go see the "Nutcracker" and get that out of your system. Watch your favorite old movie, shed a tear, and then go live your life with your family or friends in the here and now. And as you do these things, remember that the King has returned. Make Him a part of the days ahead.
.
.
~ rachman
.

Friday, December 15, 2006

Spirit Beings



I am not a human being having a spiritual experience;

I am a spiritual being having a human experience.

.

.

~ rachman

.

Saturday, December 09, 2006

Dedications


I decided to take a break from this blog back in October. No, that's not true. I didn't decide, but rather I sensed that God wanted me to take a break from the ole' weblog for a time. Does that sound a little egocentric? That God was talking to me about my blog? Or does it just sound wacky? That I was hearing God talk at all? Well, first I will say that there was some ego involved, because I didn't want to stop blogging after just getting started. And remember I said that I "sensed" that God wanted me to lay off for awhile. We have all sensed that we needed to do this or that at one time or another. I happen to believe that God can and will communicate with us if we will learn to listen. So yes, I surmised that God was talking to me about my blog. If this hearing from God part bothers you, I guess you might as well move on or get used to it. Or you might try listening a bit more. Either way that's who I am. It took me this long to get as wacky as I am and I'm only going to get worse as time goes on.

When I started blogging it was because I felt the need to add my "two cents worth" to the blogosphere. In fact while I'm being egocentric, let me quote myself from six months ago:

June 29, 2006:
One reason I was prompted to start a web log (well, one of several) was I noticed that many of the blogs I read were by folks who seemed to hold a different world view from the one I hold. Now some blogs were really good and even down right hilarious, but beyond the humor there was a vast difference in core beliefs...What I mean is whether "religion" is good or bad. Is God good or bad? Is there a God? Other blogs...left me sad and depressed. I think because the blogger seemed to be sad and depressed. I know we all have felt this way at one time or another, and people tend to journal, express emotions, listen to sad music, talk to friends, or blog when they are dealing with these oppressive feelings. What bothers me is the "numbers" of these bloggers who describe themselves as atheists, agnostics, or people who want to be free from the restraints of religion. (Actually being free from religion is a good and proper goal in my book. As one of my mentors says, "it's not about religion, it's about relationship.") Anyway, I realize that's life. That's people. Ergo, that's blogs. Nonetheless I decided that if these humorous and sad people all felt inclined to write, then maybe it was my turn to do the same. (Perhaps I had missed the memo. My boss, Cindy, sometimes complains that I have.) If their blogs had influenced me, one of the millions, who happened to chance upon their site, then why shouldn't I be an influence on whoever chances upon my site and cares enough to linger. So I dedicate this little blog to those who made me laugh and to those who made me sigh. And then they made me think.

Those were my thoughts when I began this experiment in reaching out to the world in this new millennium. As time went by I discovered several different things about me and about blogging. For one I enjoyed being able to share my views without having anyone interrupt me before I finished my thought. In real time I'm not good at sharing my own thoughts with others though I think that I'm a pretty good listener. As a result I know many people quite well, but I have realized that few people know me. So I'm not blaming anyone else, but a blog is the place to say what you want and take as long to say it as you need. I'm hoping the skills will transfer over to real time. We will see.

One thing I've learned about blogging itself, is that it can consume all your time if you let it. If time were limitless this would be fine, but obviously this is not the case. I admire those who produce the quality blogs that I have come across and still live quality lives, but I'm having a hard time discovering how to do it. I will work on this a bit more as I go. It's part of the learning process, so I will continue to learn.

One thing that I have discovered from my 40 day fast from the weblog is that there are things which are more important to me than my blog. (Well, duh!) I don't mean that in a sarcastic way, it is just that I believe that there is so much that needs to be done in this world. I'm not saying that blogging doesn't have it's place, but I'm not sure how much of a place it deserves in my life. Once I got over the withdrawal symptoms from not blogging, I really didn't want to come back to the blog because of the time that I knew it would take from my life. It will take some more trial and error on my part.

I'm probably just over reacting to the whole thing. Many people do far more than I do, and I don't pretend that I'm called to do everything. Just because there is a need doesn't mean that I can meet it. There are 6.5 billion people here and we all have our part to play. I'm only called to the things that I "sense" God wants me to do. Thus as I originally dedicated this weblog to the people of the blogosphere, I also now dedicate it and set it apart unto God. My life is not my own, nor is this weblog.


~ rachman
.