Hello to you who just stumbled across my blog, are you enjoying life? I always say "in a perfect world...this would happen." Like in a perfect world Allen Iverson's career would be resurrected and he and Dikembe Mutombo would dominate the NBA again. Or in a perfect world I could hog-tie my professors when they tell me I have to write a capstone paper for their class. There are many situations in my life that call for my version of the perfect world-you feel me? Then things would be all good, right? Anyway, let me give you a quick update on the happenings in my imperfect, but manageable world:

Jesus is pursuing me: to someone who doesn't have a relationship with God this'll make me sound like a crazy man-but whenever I put down the 20 credits I am taking this semester, the desires for running fame, the friendships with the 26 guys in my hall (11 are freshman!), my future, fears, anxieties, and all that jazz, and I open up to Jesus, he's been giving me that warm, fuzzy feeling lately. Like when you're in love with a girl and you find out she's in love with you, for the first time. That's what's been happening in my conversations with Jesus-I'll explain more later.

Other updates: I miss my family in VT, I am working hard to finish school (I have to take 44 credits in 2 semesters), and I have something to share with you, reader, you today.

My prayer for this blog is that God would direct my words and teach me, so that when you read this you'll be changed for God's glory!

Quick question for you to think about for 30 seconds: how do you know someone is passionate about something?

I've always wondered what it would be like to reach the top, be a pro-athlete, be a Steve Prefontaine, hold a world record. Would I have what it takes to be adored by fans, beat every obstacle including my own mind?

A lot of kids have the dream of entering the NFL. It is the pinnacle of this world. College football is just incredible-thousands of athletes push their bodies beyond limits, break bones, play through injuries, and reach with all their might for the first down, and we love it. We want to be them. The bible tells us why. We were created by God to be passionate. He gives us these desires.

I looked through the "Libronix Digital Library System" for every passage of scripture that referenced the word "lukewarm" because it is what the bible defines as the opposite of how we were created. There were many references and I couldn't really understand the lesson they were teaching. And then I found three parts of God's Word that brought them all together.

Read on.

A)     Matthew 22:1-14

There is so much to take away from this passage theologically: I am just going to focus on one piece: Matthew 22:4-5. It talks about a king who chose guests for a great feast he had prepared-"the oxen and fattened calf [had] been butchered, and everything [was] ready." My mom gets so mad when my brothers and I are in an intense video game battle and dinner is getting cold, but we cannot pry ourselves from our own business. She gets furious and sometimes even says, "alright, we'll eat without you." It's a little picture of how God is depicted in this parable. Verse 5 says: "But they paid no attention and went off-one to his field, another to his business." The end result is tragic: eternal separation from the king.

B)     Joshua 18:3

In Joshua 1:11 God sets aside this beautiful land "flowing with mild and honey" for his chosen people. They had to take it by faith in God. Many obliged and rode out, but others gave into apathy. In Joshua 18:3, Joshua, the leader of his people, cries out to the seven tribes of apathy: "How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your fathers, has given?" The Hebrew word behind "wait" means "to be slack" (The New Bible Commentary). The tribes had failed to take the land from God by faith (The New Bible Commentary).

C)     Revelation 3:15-17

This is a letter to the church in Laodicea. Again, much can be said about the implications and imagery, but you can research that on your own. Jesus cries out: "I wish you were either hot or cold!" (my paraphrasing). The church settled for the opposite of passion: "lukewarm." They were half-hearted towards the life of Christianity. They were comfortable, tepid, lacked heart, spirit, and interest in God (Nestle-Aland Greek New Testament). Could they be equated with the people the king called for in Matthew 22? Yes. In fact, later in Revelation 3:20 Jesus says: "Here I am! Hear my voice, listen to my knock and respond with faith. Open the door, take action, and we will sit together in this wonderful feast!" (my paraphrasing).

Christians, are you passionate for the feast Jesus has prepared, or are you passionate only for your own business in the world? Passion for things we do (like jobs, relationships, etc.) are perfect, but does Jesus come first? Do you listen for his knock every day? I want to come in second in every race I compete in. I want Jesus to come in first every time.

Are you not a Christian? Then what are your passions? What if they are fully achieved? What then? Please, read this article posted on CNN on September 8th, 2011. It's about those in the pinnacle of life: The NFL. http://www.cnn.com/2011/OPINION/09/08/nfl.life.after.the.game/index.html?hpt=hp_c2

Hello my reader, what is bakin' in your day today? It's a glorious day in Vermont today. 85 and clear skies. What is new in your life? The following is a quick outflow of what is baking in my life. It is just a few things that God is teaching me--the relational God, not the aloof coffee drinker-golfer, sumbrero-wearer. It's directed at anybody that it convicts, and it challenges me to spend more time talking to God, rather than serving him. Bombs away:

Your 30 seconds is up.

Feel me? Hear me?

Dear me,

oh I'm tired from helping her out,

what a nice opportunity to serve that was:

Oh, I'm stressed from work,

I just want to gel on the Tee Vee,

watch the ten o'clock news.

24 hours in the day, seven days in a week-

do the math: 168 hours in a week.

For us, it's for me actually...

God, stay on the fringes.

You my Sunday God,

my church smile,

my bedtime story.

Bedtime hello goodbye.

We go to the end of the earth,

make sacrifices for our friends,

for their ends,

for family--

not like it's an anomaly.

Can't you see?

Ecclesiastes baby-all the labor of the world is vanity.

We reap what we sow-sow what we reap.

So why's Jesus the last on your list?

Like an afternoon piss:

30 seconds of joy,

relief,

ease,

then goodbye-I've-got-work-to-do.

But it's for you,

don't worry Jesus.

I got it under control.

He stands defending you and me-

'Surely Father of all, he will come through.

He knows our power,

the wrench of humanity in my hand,

astronomical vision in my eyes.

We are the beginning and the end.

Surely he's heard.

Surely he knows.

Gleaning from our hand

is like the fountain of youth.

Like king Midas-I've got the touch

to turn the rust to pure gold.

So don't worry Father, he will glean from us,

learn from us,

trust us,

we've come through time and time again.

Just look at his job.

Look at his car.

Surely he knows-we give him the punches in bunches.'

But not even five minutes a week,

what a rotten sheep.

'He can't know my plans

in his sleep.

He can't keep

the serving of other sheep

without conversing with someone other than his mans.

Talk to me son.

I'm the risen one.'

Says Cross Movement:

"It's do or die, truth or lie, you and I

Refuse to try, and trust the Crucified 

< Yo what do you see when you close your eyes? <What will you see when your life goes by?"

But God I'm tired, I'm stressed.

Giving you mah besst.

Serving you with all my flesh.

Hands worn, feet a blistered mess.

My back aches.

Those kids are overjoyed and safe.

I'm a star in the church,

sparkleplenty in my home,

the rulah of the school,

dancin' on the world

like its me who rules,

but it's all for you.

All for you.

But I won't talk to you,

walk with you,

learn from you,

glean from you,

discern from you,

gain wisdom, the knowledge of you.

The books help.

But God don't talk to me,

I'm just too busy.

     Pues, Buenos dias! Estoy muy emocianado a escribir este blog! DO you know that I work with two Chileans at my job? We talk in Spanish all the time so I get my Spanish fix (and don't have to bug my family by speaking in an unknown tongue to them). If I ever answer the phone with an hola, it means that I haven't gotten my fix yet. Be prepared. So in case you were wondering, God is still my savior, and life still has insane things in it for me. And they are bloggable things too! God has sent me back to Job Corps, which is full of people with the most curiosity as to why a white, blond haired kid in sandals would want to visit them? Also, I am amazed at the Vergennes High School students who share their faith in school and on Church Street. That is insane!

     Well the whole Carter family is back home for the first time in a while. We take all challengers on the basketball court. Bring your dogs, chickens, and mice, it'll be a fight.

     Well, I wrote this blog a couple of weeks ago and meant to post it. I forgot my journal at Mrs. Marshall's house-that's my excuse. Anyway, I sat down and reread it this morning and felt very strongly that it needed to be posted. Disfrutalos! Enjoy!

     5,400 legs-most trim. 2,700 hearts beat with anticipation. The governor blares on the loudspeakers, sealing the deal-this is a legit, anti-mamby-pamby 5k race. One foot in front, everyone leans forward: flashes of grueling workouts like an electric current light up the mesh of minds, which are ready to be shocked.

     The air horn sounds waaaaah! and everyone goes as fast as their hopes will drive them.

     And that's just it! I got a unique perspective on racing the other day. Of course, my dad charged to the top 30 jerseys, head set forward, testing, sifting thoughts-can I run with these guys? Bear as much pain as him? And I yell all the tricks of the trade I can muster. Then something weird happens at mile one. My dad goes by in a group of thirty, pushing the envelope-and then, not thirty more, but 2,670 more, mostly with just as much focus and drive, just as worthy of my cheer, run by.

     Each man woman and child is on their own unique mission. There are only a couple of races I have competed in where I wasn't dead set on getting first. Yet there are people I've heard say that they are dead set on not getting last. And we both might go through the same amount of pain with very different results.

     A peak performer is someone who performs at their very best. A pastor at my school once said that in order to be a peak performer you have to be full of hope and highly optimistic. This is a beautiful crown on the forehead, lovely to look at. Right? It becomes sure when tested, set in stone, deeper through endurance. The bible promises Christians they will undergo many trials (could be depression, rape, joblessness, etc.).

     Think of the classic example of Paul in his personal letter to the Corinthians: 2Corinthians 1:8-10 "We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened so that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead...on him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us..." Hope in what? Huh what? Romans 5:1-6 is great. Here's verse 6: "you see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly."

     When Jesus Christ finished the race the results were in Romans 5:18 "Consequently, just as the results of one trespass was condemnation for all men (Adam and Eve in the garden), so also the results of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men."

     Am I bragging on Jesus Christ's victory? It is another key part of peak performers: they make a big deal out of their savior, of that person or thing that is a solution to all the world's problems.

There's only one winner. In the track world everyone knows Jim Ryun, the first high schooler to break 4 minutes in the mile. But there was a guy just behind him. You know the line-you're only famous if you win, who the heck cares about second place? They are the first loser. Let me tell you that Jesus already won the race. The rest of us don't need to make a name for ourselves-as long as we put our heads down, run full of hope, and celebrate Jesus' victory, we'll get to the finish a peak performer. Jesus will stand there, waiting, tears streaming, giving us the most important ovation of our lives. Find the mission, have hope and optimism, and boast on your savior.

Well, I pray that God helps you to perform at your very best, for his glory alone.

Love, Joe Carter.

You know, the question "what do you believe" can be the question that leaves you with your pants down. I have seen it happen to many people-and if you can say what you believe, if you are a select few, then can you defend yourself against attacks? Recently, some Christian friends and I were approached by someone who caught us with our pants down-they believed in the same God and bible, but we differed in a crazy way as to how you are saved from your sins. I'll spare the details, but the bulk of what happened was that he knew the scriptures and hit us with not one verse from memory, but what seemed like an eternity of verses supporting his views. I was left to defend myself from what I know to be true about God (deep down from what I've been taught), and I didn't have a good defense from memory verses on the fly. But since then, God keeps showing me from his word that I can soak in scripture, commentaries, and teaching to have a deeper defense for what I believe.

Here's a journal entry of mine written today that is what I want to get across to you, I went back and filled in where each verse was found later:

Lord, today I feel that child-like excitement at the truth of the gospel-it is the power of God for the salvation of all who believe (Romans 1:16). Wow-Jesus Christ, who never sinned, took all of my dirty sin onto himself-and all (insert your name here) sin too. He took all the consequences of them onto himself-from us (http://kevinivy.com/2009/04/wrath-of-god-conclusion.html). Already, not will. But who has believed this message? The one who will see eternal life in Heaven (Acts 16:31). Oh, but the power of the Gospel, who can resist the true gospel? Only those who the Devil has blinded (2Corinthians 4:4). God, take off the many veils at Basin Harbor, among my friends, and give us workers (Christians) the opportunity to pour the gospel into their lives.

Why?

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16.

Does salvation change you?

It was said long before he lived on earth: "...he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (http://www.abetterhope.com/whois/titles.html)

What to do?

I agree with John Ortberg, who writes, "The Life You've Always Wanted," we all need to celebrate more often. Ortberg views it as a spiritual discipline. First, he comically describes the Los Angeles marathon-at the start line, besides that stallion-like anticipation we runners get, that quivering anticipation of the pain about to ravish our bodies, there is this "one guy in full circus makeup...'T-bone the clown'" and many other LA characters that crept in, including a chain of a human centipede. They are wee little Red Ridinghoods, oblivious to the pain ahead.

During our race towards Heaven, we are promised a finish line "Not that I have already obtained all this (the resurrection from the dead, a complete faith, become fully like Jesus), or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me...one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize...and we eagerly await a savior...the Lord Jesus Christ...who will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body." Philippians 3:12-21.

See, we press on each day-this is not fake-the day we put our faith in Jesus...he the "Author" and "Perfecter" of our faith...we continually walk further away from the man or women we were yesterday...and strain through trials...to "get there," to that glorious golden finish-line and bring as many people with us, under the forgiveness and continual aid of Jesus Christ and his Holy Spirit. Celebrate with me today those trials, those mini-hills I climbed and have reached the top, to come closer to the continual beckon of Jesus, my coach, my strength, my gold medal.

#1 August 6^th I arrive in Nicaragua (to lead a missions trip) and realize my luggage is lost by TACA Airlines and virtually no one had done their job to prepare ministries for the 15 people who would arrive in 24 hours.

August 15^th Everything is swaying in my head, I am about ready to pass out, but through the awesome team that came, equipment given to me by God each day, the willingness of a past team to pass on their ministry schedule, and many helpers God gives me, the trip is an overwhelming display of God's power and grace and 15 Americans return home after being used by God every day (which, includes lending me clothes and toothpaste each day).

November 18^th A Spanish accent tells me over the phone, "Mr. Caht-ere, we hahve your bag, it weiill be in Vermont tomorrow night." To this I shout, "Praise God!" My mom worries the consequences of having dirty socks in a confined space for so long.

Love Joe Carter.

      Heyy, how is life today? What is new? Why didn't the skeleton go trick-or-treating?? Because he had no body to go out with! Haha....Hey did you know I had 0.0% plans to write a blog today? I faced some strong emotions and prayed God would help me to express them in a journal and he did. And then I saw an opportunity to let you in on what I am thinking. Without further adieu, aqui esta mi message.

Today I don't know whether to cry spit or sing. You don't know what to do sometimes when you undergo and choose sin. Does that hurt to say? Heck yes. I stand in this golden-throne-room, a room nobody enters hastily, or should because the one with the scepter can crack your skull like snap-crackle-pop. I stand there and he knows me, a grain of sand on the shore, he knows me. But Grema Wormtongue darkens the King's splendor and slips a nasty whisper in his ear.

"Darkness knows not light, it does not comprehend it," the King rumbles in return.

"This man has the seal, he knows Jesus Christ and Christ knows him-Leave our counsel at once!"

       I have never seen someone wield a sword with such grace and ferocity like my king. Grema is a pitiful sight now, he can't even make a decision for himself, he is a rag, torn away from the King's robe, coming a going, destitute in the wind, who takes his side? This is when my singing cries ouuuwt with sad tears-I defend my accuser, Wormtongue, each day before the King-I fit right into his dissertation with the thesis statement:

"Joe Carter deserves to be destroyed, cut off from your kingdom and thrown into the fire, for his rebellion against your majesty." I say aloud-to the King!

"Amen," cry the servants in high places around us, at thunderous volume that crushes me. Maybe they think I said, "does not," there must be some misunderstanding. So I take a deep breath until my lungs fill with breath and time is still-all the encouragers appear faintly around me, my parents, Mrs. Marshall, John Rood, Seth Barnes Jr, Bill O'neil, Jamie O, my Panton church, my pastors, Dan Kehoe, my RLB brothers and many other brothers and sisters. It is as if my life is reaching the final culmination. My diaphragm pushes the air out and with all the man-power, gusto, will-power, track drive, school focus, human strength, and vocal power I yell to the chorus around me the thesis statement,

"JOE CARTER-" Out from behind the throne a familiar face jumps and he covers my mouth with his scarred hand-all in the matter of a second. He thunders, "-IS FORGIIIIVEENN!" The whole place erupts and wine is thrown everywhere and I'm Michael Jordan kicking in the air and I'm endorsing this scarred man like a Nike product, choking on the microphones in my face and all I can talk about is how great the continual moment is and I am Kevin Garnet shouting "ANYTHING IS POSSIBLLLLEEE!" and how it is all thanks to him. If this is the story after every time I rebel, what will the celebration be when Grema Wormtongue's dissertations and schemes are taken away forever?

We quiet down and quickly hush and step back. The man gets behind the throne-Grema has found another rebel. It's you and I can't help but think, do you know the scarred man is eagerly waiting to save you too? Will you force your way to the conclusion and smack his hand down? We want to celebrate badly. Grema whispers maliciously in the King's ear and spits on you. Will you rise above the shame? I wait eagerly...

Hebrews 2:10-11 "In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers."

2:14-15 "Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death-that is, the devil-and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death."

3:1 "Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy in our time of need."

We need Jesus Christ!

Amen.

Thanks for spending the time to read my blog, I pray that we'll celebrate together one day at that throne because of the immense debt that Jesus cancelled for us! All for his glory-

Love Jose Carter

         Man, these past weeks were wicked tiresome. I try pretty hard to keep God number one in all my relationships, homework, fun, mornings, nights and this means praying as often as I can, seeking his will throughout my day and trying to keep my heart thankful and pursue joy and peace. This is difficult when I constantly juggle school assignments, time alone with God, friendships, exercise, hard issues of people all around me, and my own view of myself-though I am a positive person I hold myself to a really tough standard a lot. One thing that has kept me sane is this:

Through a conversation with Seth Barnes Jr. and then some intense prayer out back, God strongly conveyed that I needed to grab these two guys, challenge them, and pray with them often. I took them out back with me in "the spot," we had some tough talk (lots of issues surfaced), hit a possum and chased it with a stick (very nasty creatures), and then I shared my heart. Since then, Zach Filtz, Carl Heinly and I meet every night to talk about struggles, good things, and things we want to see change and always end with prayer. They have been sick! God always show up. Other guys from the hall come sometimes and the darkest secrets/struggles come to light. It is weird, I don't pry, cut, break thumbs, chant or do a dance, I just ask the person what's up-God does the rest through the Holy Spirit's conviction. It is one of my favorite times of the day.

Struggles. "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us" (Romans 8:18). "We...groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved" (23-24). "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution...danger or sword?...Neither present nor the future...will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus."

For a while now the waters of your troubles rise to surround my head. Such awful struggles people have! You seem to fall all around me-your hearts cut out and bleeding. Your parents hurt you, you hurt yourself, you hate yourself, depression takes its stand, you just want sex or alcohol, the church threw you out, sin is too hard sometimes, God is absent, you won't believe in Him, your stuff is broken, you're sick. I'm sick, I sin, I hurt, I'm tired, school is hard, I want to give in! Oh, but what great, great hope I have! This peace, do you know it? Do you possess a love that will never be wrenched from your grasp? That is a blanket for you at night? Whose love letters you can carry with you everywhere? Despite all the insanity and unbearable hurt around me and within me, this torrent, there is this unshakeable, unchangeable promise that stands when I smile, cry, get sick, am content, am nervous. You get the picture. Without my love, Jesus, I break away like a dam in The Lord of the Rings, into the hot lava below and take people with me! I am desperate to stay firm in my hope in Jesus Christ, and you with your problems, I love you. So does Jesus, but more so. Stand firm and let Jesus lead you to the ultimate rest planned since the creation of the world!

         See? No one in this world has the hands to wipe away your hurt, I don't have the power. I am merely a buffer-if that. God is this intimate in Heaven and can be just as intimate on Earth. He keeps me standing, loving the hard people to love, and alive. I love my Savior and God and the rest He gives!

         Wow, after a long hiatus we finally meet again-my writing after a long journey from Cedarville, Ohio is reaching your eyes. Where you are, who in the world knows...in the physical or in your heart and mind, I have no idea but I pray that God will reach you and communicate at least one thing that resonates in your head today. If we could just pray that God help us with one thing, let's say pride, for one day, and you honored what God says in his word (http://focusongod.com/James-05.htm) think of who you could encourage by abandoning the "it's all about preserving my pretty face and strutting my abs and buns of steel about the place" for a day. 

         So at the beginning of the year I got roped into this church ministry by a friend from a bible class (Robby-big tall basketball player). Of course, before starting I got on my knees before the Potter, who cares enough for his lumps of clay to spin us in the direction that will yield the most beautiful/wicked awesome shape.

         Before I move on I just want to relay what a privilege it is for me to pass on what I know to be God's interaction in my life. I pray God will teach you to act on faith through this blog like he is teaching me.

         I want to tell you a story of fruit. A juicy, bursting pear.

         That church in Dayton, Ohio, do you want to hear about it?? I thought it was awful for a long time. The worship sounded like a bunch of dying cows and everyone in the church looked fake, always greeted with the same, "How you doin'?" "Okay" "Great!" I was doing the same old riggamarole trying to have a "real" convo with someone when something moved on me. My eyes catch a man right in his scraggly beard all by himself, sitting down. I felt my Jesus say, "Sit next to that man!" I went to my seat-the usual one next to my ballin' Christian friends in a cluster. This time I checked with God and remembered his verses about the marginalized and needy and how Jesus treated them horribly right? Haaa No. I also "remembered" I would look weird/feel weird/could flat out creep the guy out. I stood straight up, screamed in my head for the Lord to bring love and before I knew it I asked the guy to sit with him and was feeling sick again-and it wasn't a pre-track meet nervousness. I was swimming in cat urine. This was Daryll and he reeked.

"God, what have you gotten me into?" I question once again in my mind.

         It took a lot of prayer to get through the service and more to see Daryll through God's eyes-a beautiful creation. I got to know Daryll, who sang baritone in high school, then and over the next weeks. One day as we were walking he said he once owned a bookstore in California, had a wife and a kid-pretty good considering shortly after his birth he was found by a policeman in a dumpster.

         Christmas Eve his wife and child were killed by a drunk driver and "snap" he flowed back into his old ways in foster care-heroine/alcohol, you name it. I tell you this in choppy sentences because this is how I learned of his life story before he became homeless. I wanted to cry and hug him and swear at the top of my lungs because the 40-year-old Daryll I had come to know had a giant heart and was friendly. Instead, I just listened to his stories with my mouth open in awe that God had preserved his life through it all.  I should say that he told me all this after he and I were finishing up evangelizing to a local neighborhood (I convinced him after about ten minutes to come with our group). 

After his stories I saw him with new eyes. I had no idea the homeless man I had chosen to sit next to actually had a reason to be homeless. Sounds ignorant on my part because it is...I am not perfect by any means. Well, we both dreaded my last day before summer-I didn't want to leave him because it meant three months away while he didn't want me to leave because of "bad news." There is a foot-long tumor in his back and he was pretty certain he'd die soon. 

         I did what I had been taught by my teachers in Nicaragua, I put my arm around him and prayed God would heal him. Daryll put his arm around me and prayed for me (it was awesome, yes!) and I gave him a Bible and letter with challenges in it and we said goodbye...

         Paul wrote the churches in Galatia about what grows on the vine that we can choose to be on. Gal 5:22-23 "Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." Since I chose to live on the vine (Jesus Christ), when God said "Sit next to that man!" I chose to pluck love and gave Daryll what God gives to me. He downed that pear so heartily that I hope he ate the seeds too because I know God will grow them. Mrs. Marshall (my neighbor up the hill!) thinks God is not done with Daryll...and I pray he isn't either! My relationship with Daryll is what I call a hand-picked, giant pear given to me by God because of love. You can pray for him-he has an awesome testimony but needs courage-and can also pray God will remove his tumor.

 

         Hey, what is shakin' where ever you are? Have you been watching the college basketball tournament? I have watched a bit...all I can say is down with Duke...down with Duke! It feels like so long since I have written and I know that if you are a Christian, God has done some wild things in your life or taken you on a journey since then and if not, God is asking you, "Why won't you accept these gifts I give you?" We have a patient God. Trust me...if anyone could exhaust his patience I would have already. It took me 19 years of my life to start understanding what it truly meant for for Jesus to die for me, and I still am not even close to understanding the implications!

         The first thing I am going to do...after I finish weeping and crying for joy at Christ's feet for a hundred years is take a run with the risen Jesus and experience unpolluted air and a body with some actual flexibility and praise God not only in my heart but with words to his face. He'd give me advice on my form and encourage me like he does now and I'd say, "Oh, so THAT'S what you were talking about!" Where would I run? To the chorus of trillions of angels and people praising God as one! NO racism but all races! NO communication barriers that are leapt upon by the Devil who loves it when we argue and go to bed angry at our brothers and sisters (can you recall a miscommunication? I bet.)

         So, what are the facts? "But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him"-1Corinthians 2:9

         Also, as Paul questions, "Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?"   Do you think that you deserve to go to Heaven because of how many times you prayed today? Or how someone insulted you and you turned the other cheek? Or because you work so hard at your job? Or because you have so many friends? Or maybe even because you fulfill your church box checklist each week? I have a running check list, yesterday the box: "Whistle at a raccoon while sitting in a tree while he walks under you and convince him you are a large bird," was checked. 

         

         "Because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. When they hurled insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed." So go and live in these implications, not out of obligation, but out of freedom.

         By the way, if someone beat up your wife, would you stand by and walk away? Or would you fight the guy? If you truly loved your wife, you would stand up for her. In the same way, we are God's bride; we who have been welcomed to the family. We are being insulted, persecuted all over the world, killed, shot, mutilated-read Hebrews 11:36-38 or CNN. You think when God comes back he is not going to conduct holy wrath on all who do this? A loving God will. A loving God will also send his love, his son to die for all these sins and pour his holy wrath on him in ways we cannot imagine...this is a passionate God.

         Back to the implications of the future we are promised! You've heard it; imagine Jesus Christ wiping away your tears forever and healing your deepest scars and satisfying your longings. Imagine never longing for companionship again because it is always satisfied. Imagine if that desire in every man's heart to win...at everything, is finally quenched when we touch Jesus' scars and stand in his victorious rays! I am still learning more great things that God promises for us who perservere in the faith...tell me more things please!

         I leave with one final comment from Simon Peter, that burly fisherman who is just like you and me who denied Jesus three times, yet stood firm to the end after Jesus was raised from the dead and had a short meeting with him. "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen."--2 Peter 3:18

         I hope you are smiling as you revel in the implications of Heaven. I hope it shows you how quick this life is and how the pains we go through will be more than worth it in this life and when we kick the bucket. Just a shout out real quick to Seth Barnes Jr.-the guys in my hall and I had a day of solitude with God in the wilderness yesterday! It reminded me so much of the good times in Nicaragua with the scorpions and howler monkeys and the great teaching I had!

         A shout out to Bill O who is famous for having great conversations over coffee, and Mrs. Marshall who is famous for those cookies (and of course her joy found in Jesus), to Pastor Nathan who is leading the charge back home and who belongs on a Harley, to my old pa and my mutha who meant right, and I thank God that he had you read this.

Have a wicked wonderful wild week (adjectives compli(e)ments of my hall friends).

Love Joe Cartier IIIVVVI