i was reading in job last night, with Joy. and some things lept out at me, yet again. the first time i read the passage, a few years ago at camp, my understanding of Job chapter 9 was limited. I knew the chapter was showing our need for Jesus. and i found many parts of that chapter that reflected that. for instance... Job 9:2..."Indeed, i know that this is true, but how can a mortal be righteous before God?" verse 4 "His wisdom is profound, His power is vast. Who has resisted Him and come out unscathed?" how obvious can that get? we as Humans or "Mortals" cannot be righteous before God. it isn't possible. And can you tell me who has resisted God and come out alive. if you think you can storm into Heavan someday demanding that God let you in, beleive me. it won't work. God will not allow it. when i realized this, it almost made my life hopeless. if i had not been a beleiver in Jesus I would have been depressed. i wouldn't have known what to do. But i knew. But this chapter just doesn't leave us dangling...it Hints deeper. now don't get me wrong, it doesn't blurt out! "you need Jesus! He is the only way!" but it does make it clear we need someone to intercede, and that someone came to earth hundreds, probably thousands of years after this chapter was written...Job 9:32-34 He is not a man like me that I might answer Him, that we might confront each other in court. If only there were someone to Arbitrate between us, to lay His hand upon us both, Someone to remove God's rod from me, so that His terror would frighten me no more."
That's so awesome. I had read the whole book of Job so many times, but always never understood or just plainly skimmed by that section. but it is so crucial. now...here's the definition of "Arbitrate" just in case you don't know what it means as i do...

arbitrate
v : act between parties with a view to reconciling differences; "He interceded in the family dispute"; "He mediated a settlement" [syn: intercede, mediate, intermediate, liaise]

so. that's where Jesus's Mediation role comes in. I've always heard Jesus is like a Mediator...but i never knew where it was found. although I'm sure there are tons of other places that Have that statement...now i just have to find them!

Chi Chi's Mild Salsa
This is a great base recipe that can easily be adapted to your tastes. Ingredients
1 can sliced-style stewed;
(14 ozs) tomatoes 2 large green onions;
snipped quite w/scissors 1 large ripe tomato;cored;
diced
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 dose Tabasco; or to taste

Directions
Cut up stewed tomatoes and combine in saucepan with onions, fresh tomato, salt and pepper. Bring just to a boil. Boil hard 1 minute and remove at once from heat. Put half of mixture through blender just to mince fine but not to puree. Return to remaining half of mixture. Cool and refrigerate in tightly covered container to use with a few weeks. Freezes well to use within 6 months. NOTE: For hot salsa: Add 1 tsp canned green chopped chilies or to taste, freezing unused chilies to use in other recipes.

mmm. tasty salsa. it makes your mouth water doesn't it?

here are some things that i found really awesome. i got them from an e-mail...and no. it wasn't one of those "if you don't send this to 59 friends you'll have a bad love life for 7 years" kindof a thing.

come on, just read it.

On Sunday He Is God
There are very few who in their hearts who do not believe in God, but what they will not do is give Him exclusive right of way. ... They are not ready to promise full allegiance to God alone. Many a professing Christian is a stumbling-block because his worship is divided. On Sunday he worships God;on weekdays God has little or no place in his thoughts. I want people to place their faith in Jesus and motivate them to live more obediently. D.L. Moody

He Is the Son of God

“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: 'I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept His claim to be God.' That is the one thing wemust not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic - on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg - or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is,the Son of God: or else a mad man or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to."
C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity


Take up Your Cross

This is a cheerful world as I see it from my garden under the shadows of my vines. But If I were to ascend some high mountain and look over the widelands, you know very well what I would see: brigands on the highways,pirates on the sea, armies fighting, cities burning; in the amphitheaters men murdered to please the applauding crowds; selfishness and cruelty andmisery and despair under all roofs. It is a bad world, Donatus, an incredibly bad world. But I have discovered in the midst of it a quiet and holy people who have learned a great secret. They are despised and persecuted, but they care not. They are masters of their souls. They have overcome the world. These people, Donatus, are the Christians--and I am one of them.
Cyprian, a third-century martyr.

Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost

All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost.
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring.
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king.
The character Bilbo Baggins in J. R. R. Tolkien, The Lord Of The Rings,1956.

well. that's enough for now. have a good day. you should read Job chapter 9 and tell me what you think1 ok!?

well. does anyone have free kittens? Free kittens anyone!?

or a free puppy! especially a tibetan mastiff...for those of you who know me best, you know how much i LOve! Tibetan Mastiff's! they're the most amazing Dog Breed that God could ever make (Excitement is personal, as is the view and statement...) aside from the Really! awesome Great Dane!
let me tell you of my first encounter with a Tibetan Mastiff...

it was warm, almost muggy, but absolutely just right. we were touring Steven's son's art\furniture Gallery. that's not really what it was, but me being an artist, that's what i saw. all of it was really awsome. as we stepped through the open doors, the indian air got just a tad bit warmer. Joshuah and Isaac handed each of us a complimentary hanger. :) hahah! (that was pretty funny...) WHICH! i don't have...darnit! i just remembered that...i think Brent has it. anyways...
so we step out of the old building and begin to walk back to the car, all the guys talking. especially Jake who was enamoured with there building skills and tools and whatnot. when steven steered us toward the front door. he said "you want to see our puppy?" i was curious. i didn't know what kind it was, but i knew i loved puppies. so me and lanelle went over to see it.

and there it was.

the most innocent ball of fluff you could ever lay your eyes on. staring at me. beckoning me to finger my hand through it's soft warm fur. lanelle got to it first. she squatted down and petted it for what seemed like an eternity for me. i Needed to touch it! finally she scooted away. i was free to look at it and talk to it. it was so sweet. it wasn't more than a month old, and it was quite tiny. i didn't realize what a monster it would turn out to be, but a gentle monster. i kept petting it. i couldn't tear myself away. some lady came out to stare at me, while Brent kept telling me to get away from it because we had to leave...but i made my moment with this tiny creature last...

right now it's probably Ginormous. like 50 times the size i left it in. but i hope i get to see it again. we really had a connection. a bond. ok that sounds corny. but i did fall in love with the breed.

so that's the story.

you need to get a tibetan mastiff.