Tales From The Yellow Brick Road

Reposted From: Kem Meyer On Less Clutter & Noise

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WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN IT COLLAPSES?

“This is a man with a history of duty and patriotism. Not as punch lines, but as core beliefs. Some people don’t know what to do when their belief system collapses. - Colonel Issac Johnson, Shooter

I actually hit rewind when Danny Glover’s character said this and listened to him say it again. It caused me pause. I reflected on so many examples that affect our world because of that reality. Some people don’t know what to do when their belief system collapses.

A core belief is something we accept as true, without question, without argument. Running in the background at such a discreet level, we are usually not even aware it is there. Many times our sense of reality can get so tied up, polarized and distorted it is almost impossible to see which beliefs are working and which are holding us back.

• People believe their work is their identity. What happens when that systems collapses?
• People believe they are worth something because of their accomplishments. What happens when that system collapses?
• Culture teaches us to not to show emotion, look like you have it all together and self-medicate to cope. What happens when that system collapses?
• People believe that our loved ones won’t disappoint us. What happens when that system collapses?
• Media tells us to accelerate sexuality. What happens when that system collapses?
• People believe if they are a good person, everything even outs in the end. What happens when that belief system collapses?
• Churches make promises they can’t possibly keep. Become a Christian and your troubles will go away…your daughter will be healed…your marriage will be saved…your addiction to alcohol will end…your struggles with loneliness and depression will be replaced with overwhelming joy…What happens when that belief system collapses?
• We believe if we go to church, stay married and attend church as a family, our children won’t radically rebel and hate us as teenagers. What happens when that belief system collapses?
• Expectations can be a belief system. But, then what we think is going to happen, doesn’t. What happens when that belief system collapses?

Why do I give my life to what I do? Not because I don’t have trouble. Not because I never mess up. Not because I think I’m better than everybody else. Not because I have all the answers. Not because the Church doesn’t disappoint me. And, not because I don’t ever have unhealthy belief systems.

I give my life to what I do because I know Jesus is the only hope when a belief system collapses.

But I’ll take the hand of those who don’t know the way, who can’t see where they’re going.
I’ll be a personal guide to them, directing them through unknown country.
I’ll be right there to show them what roads to take, make sure they don’t fall into the ditch.
These are the things I’ll be doing for them—sticking with them, not leaving them for a minute.” Isaiah 42:16 (The Message)

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I wanted to share this article with you because I am asking all of you who read my blog to pray. Pray for a miracle. Pray for deliverence. Pray for healing. Pray for the comforting of the Holy Spirit. And most of all pray for God’s will.

Ooops!!! Looks like someone needs to get fired!

I’ve learned a lot about firestorms this week:

1. Firestorms come quickly and with little warning.

2. Firestorms can turn your fondest dreams and ambitions to ashes within a matter of minutes

3. No matter how much you prepare for firestorms are too great for any one person to control.

4. In a firestorm you have to know when to stand your ground and when to evacuate.

5. If you flee the firestorm make sure you’ve got the right paperwork with you. It’ll comfort you to know that your contract with the powers that be is something that is tangible hope in the midst of a disaster.

6. If you stand your ground in a firestorm be prepared to be called names and be mocked.

7. You can’t trust a neighbor to defend your house from the firestorm when they are smoking a cigarette.

8. Smoke and ash from a firestorm make catching your breath difficult, especially if you have respiratory problems

9. He who starts the firestorm is not only responsible for the loss of life and property, but they are responsible for keeping a firefighter employed.

10. If the firestorm has burned your house down the hardest decision you will make will be whether or not to rebuild in the same spot or to start over somewhere else.

The following is a quote taken from a Yahoo News Article about a man who killed his girlfriend, cut her up and ate part of her body. His defense attorney said the following:

“He killed her because he was high on cocaine,” said defense attorney Humberto Guerrero Plata. “He didn’t eat her, he just cut her body up.”

Oh? He “just” cut her up? Well I guess that makes it okay then right? Gee, how could they be making such a huge mistake prosecuting this guy. Come on he “just cut up her body.”

The immediate fire danger to Santa Clarita is over.

The Buckweed Fire is almost contained and is no longer threatening structures.

The Ranch Fire is headed toward Ventura and has burned over 50,000 acres.

The Magic Fire is headed toward open country and is 40% contained.

This will conclude the updates on the fires in the Santa Clarita area unless another incident occurs.

I have temporarily escaped the fires in Santa Clarita and I have spent the day at home.

As most of you know almost 1 million people have been evacuated from their homes all over Southern California. Some of those residents are friends and relatives of folks at TMC.

Today TMC sent out prayer teams to local evacuation centers to minister to the people displaced by the fires.

The Buckweed Fire has moved away from the Canyon Country toward Magic Mountain and up toward Green Valley.

The Magic Fire and the Ranch Fire may merge into one complex fire in the next 8-12 hours and will head for Fillmore and Ventura County and may possibly move as far south as Simi Valley.

Masters has not been evacuated or directly threatened for the past 12 hours and will probably remain open.

As Of 3:15pm

Fire broke out at Magic Mountain Parkway and the Old Road and has burned 300+ acres. The fire has possibly reached Stevenson’s Ranch and is headed south-west into the community. (Pictures to come.)

The Buckweed Fire is still burning and is only 20% contained and is headed south-west toward Saugus and Magic Mountian.

Classes are still in session at TMC for now.

Just so you all know my sister had to leave the home she was staying in, in Canyon Country. The fire was outside her house just up a hill from her. She had no warning to evacuate from any authorities and only had time to grab a few clothes and the dog. She is safe and is staying with her landlord and her daughter in a safe location away from the path of the fire. She is without her medication for now but should be able to get some tomorrow. I’ve been listening to the scanner and the Buckweed Fire has burned over 10,000 acres as of right now and is heading toward the college. It’s still over a hill and a little ways away but I’m packing something in advance just in case. I’ll keep you updated via iPhone if need be.

Please be praying for those that have already lost their homes and for the people that were injured when their vehicle ran off the road and was overtaken by fire.

The Ranch Fire Near Copperhill at about 12:45pm on Sunday
(As seen from Rio Norte Junior High)

The Buckweed Fire in Agua Dolce at about 3:15pm on Sunday
(As seen from the Hotchkiss Parking Lot at TMC.)

Guest Blogger: My Mom

Thank you to all who have been praying and please continue to pray. God is so Awesome! We are all on this journey together, God does not give us the details He only asks us to obey Him, and Praise Him in all things.

This journey is of His choosing and my request is you pray that anyone and everyone our family comes in contact with on this journey, sees Jesus in and through us and that God gets all the Glory!!!

“13I can do all things through him who strengthens me”

Philippians 4:13

Nuff said…

My friend, and fellow Slight-mate, Micah Lugg has posted some thoughts on the I-5 tunnel accident that happened not far from here. It’s been all over the news and has snarled traffic around TMC and has affected our commute times since the Freeway detour runs down the main road that is by our school. All in all it’s been weird to think that a tragedy would affect you. It reminds me of the Minnesota disaster that happened recently and how people there are affected by that tragdey. No one ever thinks it will happen to them.

Anyways, HERE IS THE LINK to his post… it’s much better then anything I had to say.

Here is where you can see pictures from the Oklahoma Trip…

 http://gallery.mac.com/dnrmusic/100056

Right now I am reminded of the stories of Ezra and Nehemiah. Ezra and Nehemiah are two books that take place after the deportation and exile of Israel as a result of their rebellion and disobedience to God. It seems, when their stories begin, that Israel as a nation has been abandoned by God and that God Himself has been defeated because He allowed His people to endure death, suffering, enslavement and exile. But the book of Ezra and Nehemiah show that God cannot and is not defeated. Even in the midst of trying and difficult circumstances, He is still on the throne, actively overseeing all things that happen.

All that is in preparation for what I am about to tell you. Most of you know that my Mom was very ill recently but had been healed and was doing better. Today we faced some tough news that her disease is coming back. Please be praying for her and my family.

Right now I am blogging from my iPhone. Of course this is nothing new to most of you except I have downloaded a template that allows me to post using a special modified interface that works better with the phone.