THE CALL

One of the most remarkable and crucial places in scripture is Ex. 3:5.  Moses stands before the Lord God almighty and God requires something of him…the shoes.  Moses has a decision to make here.  If he fails God by NOT taking off the shoes, Israel will be lost.  The people of God will remain in slavery and torture.  The ‘seed’ of God will be lost forever and Messiah will not come.  If Messiah isn’t come, we are all lost in our sins.  This is where it all hinges.  I believe all of heaven is watching as the Voice calls from a burning bush.  Do we realize that our obedience or disobedience to God will effect future generations?  Moses’ decision will affect the whole natural nation (Israel) and the whole Spiritual nation (the Church).   

Let’s look at these shoes for a minute.  These were no doubt sandals and were hand-made.  This is the only MAN-MADE element in this whole account.  God is there.  The bush that God made is there.   The ground God made is there.  The man (Moses) God made was there. But the shoes were of man.  God says simply “Put them off.”  Now let me chase a rabbit or two.  I believe God was saying to put off man-made things.  The only thing separating Moses and the Holy ground was something man-made.  What are we standing on?  Our thoughts and ideas of God and church for centuries have the influences of man.  Are we standing on man-made things?  Do we realize that only the thickness of a sandal keeps us from standing on Holy Ground?   We can simply miss God THAT MUCH! 

In our lives we all have closets full of ‘shoes’ that keeps us off Holy ground.   Our sandal might be a job or a career.  It might be a ministry or some other good deed.  To Abraham it was his son Isaac.  To Jonah it was his homeland.  To Peter, James, and John it was their nets.  To many it was their Dads and Moms and friends.  To Paul it was his intellect and religious training.  What separates us from standing on the spot God has made?  What’s your sandal?  Why would God ask Moses to remove the smooth leather sandal and stand on a rough, dry, uncomfortable ground?   Because God is found in the hardness of life.  He is found in the rough and dry times of life.   Sometimes God requires something as simple as a shoe.  He never asked Moses to slay his son.  He never asked Moses to leave His family or to give up his career…but He could have.  This time it was only sandals.   It could be a habit, a car, a CD, a book, or a number of other simple things.   Or it could be a bank account, a farm, or a relationship.  These are all sandals that keep us off our holy ground.  

Moses had dwelt in this land for 40 years.  I’m sure he had passed by ‘this spot’ many times.  What was so different about this time?  I think it is very possible to miss God day after day as we go about our daily routine.  He places burning bushes everywhere we go.  God used a bush.  Did you ever wonder why?  God speaks through the thorns.  What a picture of Christ.  He is our burning bush! God could have just ‘spoken’ to Moses.  God chose a ‘bush’ or something frail to speak through.  Often God will use the frail things in our lives to share His voice.   God can speak through the weakest of the weak. God often inspires me through my children. Or sometimes though trees or grass.   I’m sure Moses had stood on this very spot lots of times before.  He had been tending sheep for some 40 years.  Teacher Rob Bell asks, “Do you and I walk on holy ground all the time, but we are moving so fast and returning so many calls and writing so many emails and having such longs lists to get done that we miss it?” 

Remember what Jacob said about his dream.  “God is in this place and I wasn’t aware of it.”  (Gen. 28:16)

I think we have made God so religious that many times we miss His sweet voice.   As God used a simple bush to save a nation, he may speak to you through any element of nature.   His voice is like the sound of many waters…again, something of nature. (Rev. 1:16) Are we listening?  Are we watching?  

June 09

James H. Coates

When I look at a patch of dandelions, I see a bunch of weeds that are going to take over my yard.
My kids see flowers for Mom and blowing white fluff you can wish on.

When I look at an old drunk and he smiles at me, I see a smelly, dirty person who probably wants money and I look away.
My kids see someone smiling at them and they smile back.

When I hear music I love, I know I can't carry a tune and don't have much rhythm so I sit self-consciously and listen.
My kids feel the beat and move to it. They sing out the words. If they don't know them, they make up their own.

When I feel wind on my face, I brace myself against it. I feel it messing up my hair and pulling me back when I walk.
My kids close their eyes, spread their arms and fly with it, until they fall to the ground laughing.

When I pray, I say thee and thou and grant me this, give me that.
My kids say, "Hi God! Thanks for my toys and my friends. Please keep the bad dreams away tonight. Sorry, I don't want to go to Heaven yet. I would miss my Mommy and Daddy."

When I see a mud puddle I step around it. I see muddy shoes and dirty carpets.
My kids sit in it. They see dams to build, rivers to cross, and worms to play with.

I wonder if we are given kids to teach or to learn from? No wonder God loves the little children!
 

Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away."

James

When I look at a patch of dandelions, I see a bunch of weeds that are going to take over my yard.
My kids see flowers for Mom and blowing white fluff you can wish on.

When I look at an old drunk and he smiles at me, I see a smelly, dirty person who probably wants money and I look away.
My kids see someone smiling at them and they smile back.

When I hear music I love, I know I can't carry a tune and don't have much rhythm so I sit self-consciously and listen.
My kids feel the beat and move to it. They sing out the words. If they don't know them, they make up their own.

When I feel wind on my face, I brace myself against it. I feel it messing up my hair and pulling me back when I walk.
My kids close their eyes, spread their arms and fly with it, until they fall to the ground laughing.

When I pray, I say thee and thou and grant me this, give me that.
My kids say, "Hi God! Thanks for my toys and my friends. Please keep the bad dreams away tonight. Sorry, I don't want to go to Heaven yet. I would miss my Mommy and Daddy."

 When I see a mud puddle I step around it. I see muddy shoes and dirty carpets.                       My kids sit in it. They see dams to build, rivers to cross, and worms to play with.

I wonder if we are given kids to teach or to learn from? No wonder God loves the little children!
Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away."

James

When I look at a patch of dandelions, I see a bunch of weeds that are going to take over my yard.
My kids see flowers for Mom and blowing white fluff you can wish on.

When I look at an old drunk and he smiles at me, I see a smelly, dirty person who probably wants money and I look away.
My kids see someone smiling at them and they smile back.

When I hear music I love, I know I can't carry a tune and don't have much rhythm so I sit self-consciously and listen.
My kids feel the beat and move to it. They sing out the words. If they don't know them, they make up their own.

When I feel wind on my face, I brace myself against it. I feel it messing up my hair and pulling me back when I walk.
My kids close their eyes, spread their arms and fly with it, until they fall to the ground laughing.

When I pray, I say thee and thou and grant me this, give me that.
My kids say, "Hi God! Thanks for my toys and my friends. Please keep the bad dreams away tonight. Sorry, I don't want to go to Heaven yet. I would miss my Mommy and Daddy."

 When I see a mud puddle I step around it. I see muddy shoes and dirty carpets.                       My kids sit in it. They see dams to build, rivers to cross, and worms to play with.

I wonder if we are given kids to teach or to learn from? No wonder God loves the little children!
Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away."

James

This is a RE-POST from back in June 08...James

6/4/08

Well...here I go again.  Folks, I get SO TIRED of hearing people say things, religious things, to God that really make no since at all!  I flipped on a Christian radio station the other night (mistake) just to see what was on.  I heard this minister saying things like: Lord, just come down....Lord, just abide with us...Lord, fill this house (building) and several other ridiculous things.  The minister seemed to be very serious and very pure in his motive.  Well, the truth is the Lord has already come down 2000 ago and if we are His, he already abides IN US.  Also, the Lord will NEVER dwell in a building again.  True, He did live in the first Temple in Jerusalem, BUT now He lives in us.  It's really totally unbiblical to ask God to live in a house that man has made.  This is OT talk not NT reality.  This makes no since!!  People gather these OT verses and pray them in NT days.   You often hear folks say, "Lord just rend the heavens and come down."  (Is. 64:1).  People sure spend a lot to time asking God to do things that He has already done IN CHRIST.  Can you imagine me buying a car for my son's birhtday and then in a few days he asks me for a car??   How silly would that be...to ask for something you already have?   Well, I made this same silly mistake for years until my eyes were opened and are still being opened.   People also spend a lot of time asking God to to things that He's never gonna do.  Deception is everywhere it seems.  The serpent tricked Eve.  He took something SHE ALREADY WAS and deceived her with it.  He said 'you will be like god.'  Folks, she was already LIKE GOD!   This mistake got her and us in a lot of trouble.  He said, ' you will know good from evil.'  She already knew she shouldn't taste of the fruit.  Paul said 'I fear as the serpent tricked Eve THAT YOU TOO WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE SIMPLICITY OF CHRIST' 2 Cor. 11.  May we stop asking God to do what He has already done.  May we see and walk in what Christ has done for us.  And may we STOP believing God for OT patterns to work in NT reality.  Alot of prayers that are being prayed each Sunday 'at church' or in general, have already happened.

Just Thinking...James 

Last week we were hit with the worse storm (ice) in Ky's history.  It was SO BAD at our place!  It's amazing how God uses the natural things, like nature, to speak to our hearts.  On Tuesday (Jan. 27th) I was looking outside the window.  What a total mess!  Trees were falling every few seconds.  I noticed something about the trees.  They were all covered in ice...much ice!  I noticed the trees falling the most were those that didn't have a lot of branches.  The trees with lots of outreach were not falling as much.  The heavy extended branches brought a balance to the tree.  Those with no mighty limbs were falling left and right.  Then it dawned on me...WOW!  We have got to reach out to those around us.  No matter how spiritual we get or no matter where God has us at the moment, we have got to be like the trees in our back yard and reach out!  Men and women are dying all around us.  Many of them are not ready to meet God.  Like the trees, we all get weighted down with things.  Those that will stand are those who are reaching out to the other trees.   I realize that most of us view 'outreach' differently.  Some people think that if we can get people to church and build up a large congregation we have done well.  We need to look at what we are bringing them in to.  It is so easy to bring people into a religious mess.  Having a full 'church-house' doesn't really mean that we are reaching people.  Jesus brough people into the Kingdom (His circle).  In future blogs I want to talk about the Kingdom of God and what it is.  What was it that turned the world (of the first century) upside down?  God help us to be like the trees (Ps. 1) and extend our arms to the trees around us.  Let's be Jesus to someone.....REACHOUT!

James

For about a week now my friend and Brother in Christ, Lonnie Hatfield has been in Kenya.  I am so glad I had some time with him before he left.   Last Sunday we visited his local gathering.  Afterwards, we went to Taco Bell and then to his house for coffee.  Lonnie is probably one out of five people I can truly talk to.  I can talk to lots of people, BUT there is only a few I can REALLY share my heart with.  Three years ago God begin in open my eyes about lots of things concerning, church, and the true body of Christ.  Lonnie was going through the very same thing.  We were working together in a large network and had no idea that each other was being questioned by the Holy Spirit.  We had no idea that each other was being flipped upside down.  We resigned from the network and gained a KNITWORK....Hearts Knit Together (Col. 2:2).  Lonnie is in Africa today.  Fulfilling his heart's desire....working with orphans and just LIVING the life of Christ without any religious performances.  Knitting his heart with many people like Johnny Brooks and family and others.  I envy you Lonnie...we love you and miss you!  See you in April!!

You can keep up with Lonnie by going to: www.babulonnie.com

Also you can go to my 'photo' link and see our house gathering with Lonnie and several men.

James 

On Tuesday morning at approx. 1:00 AM, we were hit with the worse ice storm in Ky's history.  Right now, I am sitting at a friends house in Leitchfield, KY.  Our power went off at 3:00 AM (Tuesday morning).  Joy and I quickly put our 4 children (and us) in a 8 by 8 bedroom.  We sealed off the window and stuffed things under the door to keep the cold air out.  We lit the candles and tried to stay warm.  I would love to able to say that I was in a great mood and everything just right (like us men of God do) BUT I failed over and over.  God is amazing how He reveals how bad we really are... We DID have a lot of fun and we had been needing some quality 'family time' and WE GOT IT!!!   As Joy and I laid there in the darkness, we counted 81 trees that fell all around us.  We prayed for the safety of God.  Not one single tree touched the trailer.  Praise HIM!  There were over 300 trees down on our road alone.  Our area looks like a tornado ripped though or something!  On Wed., we were rescued by 4wheelers (ATVs).  We were taken to Leitchfield KY to the nearest shelter; the Grayson County High School.  There were over 500 others there.  We were provided for and we truly thank God for all those who worked hard to pull off such a task!  We later moved to my Mother-n-law's for the night.  The next morning we moved to my Sister-n-law's neighbors house for the day.  Then, later that night, we moved to my friend Bill's house.  What a Week...What a God!  Most of the county is still out of power.  Our county has partical power and it may take 3 weeks for all the power to be restored.  One thing for sure, even thought we knew this storm was coming, we had no idea how bad it was really going to be.  I believe this is how it is with God.  We know things are going to get tough...the signs are all around us... BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA HOW BAD IT'S REALLY GOING TO GET... This is only a small taste of what is coming to this country.  I'm not a prophet...JUST LOOK AROUND US.  Joy and I are going to learn how to simplify our lives.  We are going to learn how to live closer to the land and to each other.  We are spoiled ladies and gentlemen...we are spoiled.  My complaining shows it!!!  We don't know how to handle inconvience.  Going 4 days without a shower and a change of clothes was very hard.  There are people who have to live like this and are more happy than we are.  At the High School there were no MP3 players...now Wii Systems and very few cell phones.  Nothing really mattered but SURVIVING!  All of the sudden ALL THAT STUFF really meant nothing...only being together and taking care of one another.  I truly thank God for meeting all our needs and taking care of us.  However 3 people have been found dead. 

Thankful Indeed...James 

When we think about 'great people' in the scriptures, usually our minds goes to folks like, Moses, who parted the red sea...or Elijah who prayed down fire from heaven...or maybe King David....or Daniel who survived the lion's din.   The disciples came to Yahshua (Jesus' Hebrew name) and asked Him, "Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?"   I'm sure they thought that maybe He would say one of those names or perhaps one of THEM.  Apparently the way we measure 'greatness' and the way He measures it are two different things!   I'm sure they were waiting on JUST the RIGHT answer.  Maybe they were thinking "will He pick me."  Jesus brings a CHILD out in front of them and says, "Unless you become like THIS, you can't inter the Kingdom of Heaven.   I'm sure they thought, "well, there He goes again....not making sense."   'Verily I say unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.’   Why would He tell these men they would have to be converted and BECOME as little children.  Appreantly they had some misunderstandings about God that were simply NOT TRUE.  Sound familiar??  Jesus knew these men would have to be torn down in order to be built up.  They would have to forget ALL THEY BEEN TAUGHT and become as a little child in the sight of God.  I have a 7 year old boy named Cameron.  Cameron is a great child.  He is so special to my heart.  However, he knows nothing of the 'real world.'  He cant pay bills, drive, carry on 'adult' conversation, hold down a job or anything like that.  He is a child.  Cameron totally believes anything that I tell him.  Right now, I could go home and say, "Guess what Cameron...on my way home, I saw a pink elephant up in the sky."  He would say, "Really??  Take me to see him!!!"   My other children, however, wouldn't believe me at all and would say 'NO WAY DAD...YOUR CRAZY!!!'  God is saying, in order to understand who I am and what I have to say, you have to become like a child....you have to be converted...you have to be reduced down.   This deal soul, is a painful process!  Paul said in Phil. 3 "Forgetting those things that are behind..."  THOSE THINGS Paul was talking about are the 'religious' things he used to be and do!  Who is Greatest??  Those who really don't know anything...contrary to what we have been taught.  We have been taught (in church) the more we know, the better we are...KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!   However, God teaches the opposite...the LACK of KNOWLEDGE IS GREATEST!!   This IS how we increase in HIS KNOWLEDGE...by becoming like children and forgetting all we know.   

I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR YOUR COMMENTS.......

Just Thinking.....James

Not a lot going on today...I've been to E-Town with a friend to take care of some media stuff for a friend.  My friend, Bill, and I have started a new business called Hope Media Service... www.hopemediaservice.com  and trying to get some folks interested in what we do.  It's snowing pretty hard here in Ky and I've got about a 30 drive home.  Just wanted to tell my readers how much I appreciate you for reading this blog.  I know sometimes I say some pretty odd stuff BUT please know I am hungry for TRUTH and sometimes when you are still RE-LEARNING things I have to share what I'm learning OR BLOW UP!! 

I have such a desire in my heart to see those who truly love God come together.  We hear a lot of talk today about 'revival' and so forth.  I think more than 'revival,' I want to see God make His people ONE (John 17).  There are 39,000 denominations today.  What if your body was cut and divided up in 39,000 different pieces??  I love to see people 'at one' with each other.  To lay down our differences and live life together and to share love, real love one for another.  I have a freind in TN who is maybe going to come here each month to bring people together.  NOT to build something, but to get together with folks and share together and to watch God do what He does best...bring us together.  I am very excited about what might happen!!  Even if it is monthly for now, who knowns what might happen as our hearts unites in His love...The last thing we need right now is MORE MAN-ISM...man's way of building 'church.'  We ARE the church...I can see (in these last days) pockets of people being together...helping each other and laying down our lives and differences.  Little house churches or communities of people who are together...really together in love and unity.  Not just for a two hour meeting on sunday, but real unity that only God brings and we dwell together.  This is real heavy on my heart today. 

God make us one!

James

On my last blog, I talked about 'seeing Christ.'  I want to continue the same thought on this blog.  When God provided BREAD for the children of Israel, they called it, MANNA.   The word MANNA means- WHAT IS IT?  They didn't know what it was.  They were looking at something that they had never seen before.  God provided all that they needed and they didn't know what it was.  They had seen bread many times BUT this was different...totally different.  Jesus was referring to this (Ex. 15) in John chapter 6 when He said, "I am the bread of life..." 

TYPES OF CHRIST

1. Manna came from God...like Christ
2. Manna was white (pure)...like Christ
3. Manna was round (no beginning and no ending)...like Christ
4. Manna had to be received...like Christ
5. Manna had to be picked up or you would step on it...like Christ
6. Manna had to get IN YOU...like Christ

THE MOST AMAZING TYPE OF CHRIST...

The most amazing part of this typology is the 'not knowing' part.  God provided the Manna, BUT they didn't know what it was.  Just like today.  A lot of the 'church world' today doesn't know Him for who He really is.  He is still manna (Bread) today...people are still saying, "What is it."  Do we really know what Christ looks like?  Is He this altar boy who hangs out at 'church' that we go and worship on Sunday?  We have made the living Christ this religious figure that go and visit for a couple of hours a week.   Do we really think that He lives in a building?  Or this mystical being that sweeps by as we worship or when we get into 'one accord' for two hours?  God help us!!  Just like the children of Israel did in their day...we are still saying...what is it??? 

James...... email  me  ....jameshcoates@yahoo.com

First let me say Happy New Year to all the readers!! 

Today, i've been thinking about how Christ really looks.  I've often said that we know SOME about the Christ in heaven, however, we know VERY LITTLE about the Christ HERE...THE CHURCH!  Does the church resemble the one that walked amoung us?  I don't think so...for the most part.   Seeing Christ can be a shocking thing!!   I remember a few years ago listening to a certain person on the radio.  I listened every day and I really had a mental picture of what I thought He looked like.  Every time I would hear this person's voice, I would see him in my mind.  This went on for months before I actually met him.  I just knew he looked JUST LIKE the person in my mind...HOWEVER, I was no where close!  I couldn't believe my eyes!   The voice matched but the face wasn't even close!  I just couldn't belive it!!  This is the way we are with Christ.  We have things drawn up in our minds that are simply not true.  When we really actually SEE the Real Christ, we are shocked and can't believe it!  

Remember, Mary didn't know Him in the Garden.  The very Christ stood before her and she thought He was a gardener (John 20:15).  She had been with Him BUT she didn't know him.  She knew Him from only ONE WAY...the way she had always known him.  Now, the resurrected Christ stands before her and she don't know who He is.  Folks, this happends all the time TO US!  How many times has He stood before us and we didn't know Him?  We have a mind-set of how He looks and we can't see Him for who He REALLY IS.  Our religious minds are God's worse enemy.  Mary knew Him 3 days ago, but now, she thinks He is someone else....wow...this blows my mind!!  Ask God to reveal Himself to you and fasten your seat belt!   But don't be suprised if He leads you to people....

Just Thinking Again....

James

Do we (As American Christians) even know what the voice of the Lord is?  According to some folks, God is saying lots of things that aren't adding up!  Have you ever been around that 'super saint' that is always saying, "The Lord said this and the Lord said that...?"  People are making the Lord contradict His own word....  How many time in the early church (book of Acts) do we find people saying, God said this and God said that?  We do have a time or two where the Spirit spoke to people in the book of Acts, but we sure have a lot of it today and with little results.  The early church don't talk about the Lord speaking all that much and they were turning the world upside down.  Are we REALLY hearing the Spirit?   Sure I believe God can speak...He can do anything He wants to do...but I don't think what most people are hearing in today's church is God at all.  I have had the Lord to reveal a scripture passage to me or help me to see this or that.  Maybe it's not wrong to say "The Lord shown me..."  BUT I could probably count on both hands the times I have actually heard His voice.  I have never heard it audibly.  But the times I really knew God was speaking to me, it knocked me to my knees.  It totally broke my spirit.  It is so easy to put words in God's mouth and say that He said this or that when in fact maybe He didn't say it at all.    The Spirit is very much able to speak at any given time, but IF it is really Him, LOOK OUT for some major changes in your life.  Those that took God's word to heart, experienced great change!  Are you ready?  Do you really want to hear? 

Thinking Again,

James

I love this time of year...I truly do...BUT, there are LOTS of things I don't like about it!  I saw a note that was hanging on our Post Office door that said, "Closed on the 25th..."  "Will be back open on the 26th at our normal hours..."  Sometimes I get an 'inner sick' feeling and don't know really why until later as I think abou it.  Christmas is known as a time of, LOVE, GIVING, SHARING, GOOD WILL, PEACE, ETC.  Was the sign at the Post Office saying that all these things are over for another year?  Why do we call the rest of the year 'normal?"  Shouldn't "NORMAL" be Love, Giving and so forth?  Why do we take only a few days out of the year to be NOT-NORMAL?  I really hate this about the Christmas holiday.  Because IT'S NOT how we really live....We are only going through the motions... Isn't this hypocrisy??  I guess it's back to normal...YUCK!!!

Just Thinking, 

James

 I've been hearing a lot of Christmas songs with the word 'YULE' and/or 'YULE TIDE' in them...thought I would check it out...WOW!!

Yule or Yule-tide was a Germanic midwinter festival involving a sacrificial feast that was absorbed into Christmas. The pagan Germanic peoples celebrated Yule from late December to early January on a date determined by the lunar Germanic calendar, and various theories surround the festival. The term is still used in the Nordic Countries and to a lesser extent the Anglosphere to refer to Christmas. Customs such as the Yule log, Yule goat, Yule boar, Yule singing, and others stem from Yule. In modern times, Yule is observed with religious rites by some Christians and by some Neopagans.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

James   www.clearblogs.com/shakennotstirred

  Part of my work is, duplication.   Duplication is where I take a 'master' copy (a CD or DVD) place it in a duplicator and out comes copies of the master.   As a matter of fact, the copies are so much like the master that you can't even tell the difference between the master and the copies.   I'm sure there are some differences between the two, BUT the differences are not really noticeable to the ear.  This really preaches to me.  In this we see the making of a true 'disciple'  a copy of the Master.   Truly, we are all a bunch of blanks.  We have nothing to offer.   We are totally nothing!  What good is a blank CD?  You can place it in the CD player and nothing happens.  It has no sound to share.  However, it goes through the motions of a real CD....it spins and spins yet NOTHING comes out.   There has to be a transfer from the Master to the blanks.  This was Jesus' life and ministry while on the earth.   Making people sound and look (His nature) just like Him!  I believe we have a lot of blanks today.  People who haven't had the transfer from the Master.  Their lives are blank and empty.  But, they try to sing and to preach and to put off a good sound.  BUT, they are blank...they have no data from the Master.   Most of the time, He will have to remove all the old data and RE-MASTER us.  This is a very painful process.   Religious data and worldly data and tradational date must be removed.  Thank God we are RE-RECORDABLE!  Not just a ONE TIME use!  Are we true disciples of Christ?  Has there been a transfer from Him to us?  Do you sound like Him?  Do we have His nature?  How can we claim to be His disciples and not sound like Him?  Let's get in the duplicator and receive His data...

Just Thinking,    James

www.clearblogs.com/shakennotstirred

I was at a local restaurant today having a hot cup of coffee (on this rainy day).  I was sitting there and thinking about the true Gospel that Jesus brought to earth and about what the heck is the meaning of my life.  I noticed on the counter was a small Santa figurine...on another part was a small Jesus figurine.  That's funny, I thought, it was only 6 weeks ago (on this same counter) that there was a halloween figurine and a haunted house and ghosts.  How fast things change.  The other day I was driving and saw a house with a Christmas Tree in the yard and a HUGE jack o lantern on the porch.  People really don't know what they believe anymore.  Many just do what everybody else is doing.  Many Christians are the same way.  We say 'one thing' and live 'another way.'  We say we love God and many times won't take time for a brother.  We can say 'God is love' and be cranky and even too sharp to our families and to those we love.  We say we are disciples and haven't laid down anything that He said we MUST to be one.  We say we want the life of Christ and we run from our cross.  We live a double standard and the sad part is we don't even know we are!  That's real deception folks.  To be so 'doing' stuff and don't even know that most of it is a double standard.  Does our walk match our talk and does our talk match our walk.  God help us!

Thinking Again,

James

I love this time of year!  I love putting up the Christmas Tree and spending quality time with my family.  We put up 'part' of the Tree on Friday night and part of it Saturday night.  Friday night we discovered that most of our lights (for the tree) were bad.  On Saturday morning I went to the store to buy some more.  That night, I really had a lot to do.  I had planned on going to a church gathering in Leitchfield to see someone, but the kids were SO excited to put the Tree up and to decorate.  So, I decided to stay home...I am so glad I did!  We had a WONDERFUL time!  After the tree was all ready, we turned out all the house lights and I kicked the Christmas Tree lights on!!  The kids all started clapping their hands and shouting!   Later, we did something real Spiritual...we watched Frosty The Snowman and several other Christmas classics!  This was one of the best evenings we have had as a family in a long time.  Oh, I almost forgot the eggnog!!  Our evening together was truly communion together in Christ!  Just to see our kid's smiling faces...to feel the warmth...and to see the love that we have for each another made up one of the best nights I've ever had.  To some folks watching 'Frosty' isn't too Spiritual...WELL, maybe Frosty in himself ISN'T....But for people who love Jesus all snuggled up together on the sofa sipping eggnog IT IS VERY CLOSE AND SPIRITUAL!   I'm seeing 'communion' in a whole different light...I truly praise God for my family!!!

James

Acts 17:28 "For IN HIM we live and move and have our being..."

 This is part of a teaching from my friend- John Fenn...go to www.ifaithhome.org for more...james

 The ‘pyramid’ that I refer to is the traditional structure that began in 495AD that has 1 person at the top, the pastor, unto whom all submit. He (or she) is the speaker, director, and font of God’s wisdom for a congregation. The symptoms listed below vary only by degree and frequency determined by the size of the church or ministry. Being a man made device, I’ve seen these traits in churches of 25 people and mega churches, it’s the structure that is inherently flawed, therefore these elements are common no matter the size.

The steepness to the sides of the pyramid are determined by the strong will and drive of the head person. Whether the pyramid is very steep or relatively shallow, the same principles apply: To move up in the pyramid one must sacrifice part of himself and his identity to ‘the vision’ or ‘the man’ or ‘the call’.

Draw a triangle, a pyramid, and place your pen along the base on the inside of the structure. As you ascend straight up, you eventually run into a side wall running at an angle to the very top. In the church world, if you want to make your way towards the top, you must change direction once you hit the side wall...you must change from moving only vertical to moving sideways while moving up, and herein lies the compromise; moving sideways is usually political. This is where you give up part of yourself. The reward for this compromise is that you get to stay within the pyramid, making a name and territory for yourself. For many within this system, everything else from this point on is done either to maintain position, or continue to move up by manipulating the system and person at the top to get your way.

www.ifaithhome.org

For years now I have been a Digital Editor.  Digital editing is a passion I've had for a very long time.  Being in radio now for 19 years, I have grown to really love it.  My job as a Digital Editor is to remove everything (out of a recording) that's out of context or that's not stated right such as tripping over words and the 'uhh' everyone seems to have.  I also remove little 'side statements' like "water please" and "can someone turn the air on."  Over the years I have edited thousands of recordings.  I have to listen very very closely to what is being said.  Sometimes a 30 minute recording can be reduced to 25 minutes or shorter.  Like trimming the fat off a good steak, so to speak.   I was thinking about God and if He was editing all that He heard.  What would be remove and what would be keep.  He listens very closely to what's being said.  I wonder how much would actually be left once He was finished?  Once He removed all the endless rhetoric that goes on in His name and all the 'out of context' stuff.  What would be left?  Maybe this is why 'prayer' doesn't seem to work sometimes.  Maybe this is why at times nothing seems to work..after all, we've been told to say all the right 'christian' phrases...right?  We've been praying for 'revival' for years now....we've been praying 3 hours a day...we've been on a dozen 40 day fasts....we preach 12 times a week....we cast out devils in your name....Surely God see's how spiritual we are...???

Should we pray? Fast? Speak and all these things?  Maybe so...But in many cases these are 'spiritual tread-mills' that get's us no where...at all.  Rhetoric! Rhetoric! Rhetoric!  How much of this is God actually saving on His hard drive and how much is He removing from off the screne?

Thinking Again....James

Readers of this blog....please note the following information.....

PALM DESERT, Calif. -- Two people were shot to death in a crowded toy store on Friday in a confrontation...   Palm Desert Councilman Jim Ferguson said police told him two men with handguns shot and killed each other.  The confrontation was believed to be over a toy.

A TOY????    Americans have totally lost it!!!!!!!!!!! 

What is this world coming to....oh yea....AN END!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

James

"IT NOT THE SCRIPTURES THAT I UNDERSTAND THAT TROUBLE ME....ITS THE ONES I DO UNDERSTAND THAT TROUBLE ME"---MARK TWAIN

HOW TRUE.....JAMES 

   “Thanksgiving” has come to be more of a “holiday” or “celebrated tradition” more than a way of life for most. Sad to say, it isn’t a true reflection of our attitude in living and it isn’t usually a true expression of a genuine thankfulness, gratefulness, and appreciation to God, and others, in our “everyday life”. It doesn’t even seem to really be very important or acknowledged any other time of year, even among ‘believers’. But as you observe the history of the Pilgrims, and the “first Thanksgiving”, you will see it was their genuine thankfulness of heart in their every day living that produced the very first Thanksgiving. It was a sincere desire to express their gratitude and joy, not an attempt to establish some type of tradition or ritual to be followed.

                                                               The First Thanksgiving

   During the first year that the Pilgrims lived here, they suffered many hard things. They landed in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, on November 21, 1620 (they later scouted out land suitable to build a colony, which they named Plymouth). New England winters are cold and snowy, and their food supply was limited. They had to wait until spring to plant crops. Even the animals took shelter, so there was little game for the hunters that first winter. They also had to build a ‘Common House’ that would have to be a house, fort, and ‘church building’ for all 102 Pilgrims that winter. Many became sick, and at one time there were only 7 strong enough to care for the rest that were sick. By spring, half of the Pilgrims had died. Yet, when the Mayflower sailed back to England in April 1621—not one Pilgrim returned with it.

   That spring, God sent some ‘Indians’ (Native Americans) to help the remaining Pilgrims learn to plant crops, fish, and hunt more effectively in the “different” land they had come to. They were also able to build some individual homes that spring. The Pilgrims were so thankful for God’s mercy during their first hard year, that on November 21, 1621, after the crops had been harvested- they set aside a special time for giving thanks to God and feasting. They had over 90 Indians join in their celebration. It lasted for 3 days! They hunted, gathered berries, cooked, played games, and the Bible was read out loud for everyone to hear (including the Indians that joined them). The Pilgrims and the Indians offered prayers and thanks unto God.

    In a letter to a friend in England, Edward Winslow, one of the Pilgrims, described the first Thanksgiving:

The first Thanksgiving, they ate deer and fish as well as turkey; and among all the corn, pumpkins, berries and nuts, they had popcorn!

                                                      The Second Thanksgiving of 1623

I know this has been lengthy, but I couldn’t speak of the history of Thanksgiving without mentioning the second Thanksgiving of 1623. It really touches me to see their dependence on God and their faith that prayer would make a difference…and it DID. What a witness and testimony to the Indians, as well as to US!

   Although the previous winter had been damp, the summer of 1623 was so dry that it soon seemed as if the Pilgrims’ crops would perish for lack of rain. The Pilgrims set aside a special day for prayer and fasting, and for nine hours they prayed to God for help. Some Indians, hearing that the Pilgrims were going to pray for rain, watched the sky to see what would happen. When the sky finally clouded over and a gentle rain began to fall, the Indians remarked in awe-stricken tones that the God of the white man had heard the white man’s prayers. Ten days of rain followed this day of prayer, and the crops were saved. The Pilgrims were so grateful for God’s mercy that they again set aside a special time of thanksgiving. At each plate they placed five kernels of corn, so no one would forget God’s provision during their time of great lack and need.

 Thanksgiving didn’t become a national holiday until Abraham Lincoln declared it in 1863, during the War Between the States (the Civil War). Four other presidents had denied it, but a lady named Sarah Hale was very persistent in writing and petitioning each president (for 38 years!) to see that the whole nation would celebrate Thanksgiving on the same day every year. In those years, Thanksgiving had almost been abandoned altogether. Thanks to the perseverance of Sarah Hale, and the honorable heart of President Abraham Lincoln, Thanksgiving is now a national holiday.

   I hope you have been as touched and inspired as I have, and hopefully your personal celebration of this holiday will be enriched as you reflect on its beginnings as well as the hearts of those who first celebrated unto Yahweh; our great God and Creator.

Well....usually when I blog, I try to share a thought about God or the church (as best as I see it).  On this blog I've got to air-out some thoughts NOT from me, but about me.   I'm still grieving over the loss of my Mother.  I loved her so much!  She was such a strong voice in my life.  I don't know if I will ever recover from this.   But this only adds to my preasure.  Joy and I have talked for thousands of hours about 'the church.'  We spend hours of talking and with many tears trying to know what it is we need to do and how to do it.  We know that God has revealed 'body-life' to us over the last two years.  Question is, how can you have body life without creating an "IT?"  ITS come in many ways.  I've have never seen 'relational leadership.'  Is it possible for a group of Christ's people to be together WITHOUT 'leaders' telling you what you can or cannot do?  Or, is this right?  I have looked at many communities over the last 27 months, and it seems that most of them have a set of rules and/or conformities for you to conform to.  In other words, If you want to be here, here is what we do and what we don't do.  Then, all you have is another IT to serve and uphold.  It's really no different than some local church that's in the church-system of today.  On the other hand, it seems without rules or something, people would get out of control and do what is pleasing in their own eyes.  Some Christians think it okay to do just about anything; rock music, drink, watch certain movies, while others couldn't be around it at all.  What is it that brings the UNITY we read out in the Bible?  Conforming to some set of rules (for the sake of being together) isn't real unity!  Biting your lip to keep from killing someone for their smart mouth isn't unity either.  If anyone reading this has some answers for me, please email me.....   jameshcoates@yahoo.com   Where is the 'common unity' that makes community?   Just learning to adapt to 'leadership's' rules can't be the unity in scripture.  What made Christ and the Father ONE?  Was Yahshua living by the Father's rules?  What made them ONE?   This IT takes on many different forms.  One could be serving IT for years thinking it was God.  We can serve a system and not Jesus. 

I Need Help!   James

Joy and I want to thank everyone for their prayers and thoughts during this time.  On November 12th 2008, my Mother (Donnie Coates) passed away.  We had no warning at all.  This is the hardest thing I have ever faced.  Thank God I don't have to do it alone.  God's peace is totally awesome!  We truly praise Him for His comfort.  I believe with all my heart Mom is in a better place than we.  I don't think she would come back here if you offered the whole thing to her.  She loved her Lord and Master, that's for sure.  I've been reading the stack of notebooks she left us.  We are and will miss her greatly!  Thank you friends for standing with us.  You can view her slide-show at www.pattonfuneralhome.com  and then click on 'obits.' 

 See ya later Mom, this isn't over!

James & Joy

Acts 9:18 is an incredible verse of scripture!  Saul/Paul had just met Jesus/Yahsuah on the road to Damascus.  He saw a light brighter than the noon-day sun.  He heard the voice of God telling him what he was called to do.  This must have challenged Paul's religious mind, because Paul thought he was already serving GOD.  After this life-changing experience with God, Paul goes to the city to met 'his Ananias.'  We as followers of Christ MUST have our Ananias.  Ananias lays his hands on Paul and immediately there fell (as it were) scales from his eyes.  Did you ever wonder why Jesus didn't make the scales fall away?  We can encounter Christ and the revelation of who He is and STILL have scales on our eyes.  God sends him to A PERSON.  Here is where THE BODY of Christ comes in.  Instead of Christ removing the scales, Ananias does.   I have many Ananias' in my life.  Many I have met and many I have not met.  These precious people have (through the Spirit) have laid their hands on me and scales have fallen from my eyes.  Some of my Ananias' were passed away before I was ever born.  Paul needed BOTH.  The encounter of Christ and the touch of the body.  Many people today have never had the second touch.   It's sad to think that there are many today EVEN PREACHERS of today who still have scales; scales of religion.  Some have encountered Christ, but have never seen the church of the Lord Jesus.  Once the scales fall, things become more clearly.  Have you ever wondered why certain Christians, it seems, just can't seem to understand certain things about God.  Often we say THEY ARE HARD-HEADED!  Well, maybe they are, BUT they, more than likely, still have scales.  Scales blind you!  You don't even know you have them until they fall off!  We need Ananias to come and lay his hands.  We need each other.  Many people today attend a 'church' but have never seen the true body.  Inside the Kindgom of God/the body, is where and what the Lord uses to break the scales of us.  Who is your Ananias??

James

I was talking to a friend today and he made this statement...he said, "I don't put a lot of stock in gatherings...I want my whole life to be a gathering."  Very well said!   I think it is very important to meet with other believers.  The Heb. 10:25 verse kicks in here.  This is NOT a verse to support the 'church mess' we have here in America.  It is NOT a verse to support most I have ever seen or been involved with in my 20 walk with Christ.  It IS a verse that deals with getting together with others/friends/believers.  And as much as possible realizing we are living in the last days.  The Bible places little emphasis on 'church services' and 'church meetings.'  But it places MUCH on BEING the Church of the Lord Jesus.  Jesus did not go around arranging 'church meetings.'  Nor did the Apostle Paul or any other person in the NT.  We spend much time doing this type of stuff.  Christ's LIFE is what messed people up!   Not the meetings or conferences He put together.  It may sound like I'm opposed to meetings and I am!!  IF you think that's what Christ came to establish.   Again I will say I think we should get together with other Christians for prayer and edification in a non-religious way without the 'fast songs' then the 'announcements' then the 'slower songs' and then 'the message' and then the 'altar call.'   This non-Bible pattern is NO WHERE practiced in the NT.  It comes from the 3rd and 4th century.  (www.paganchristianity.org)  Yet this goes on year and year in most places.    Have you ever wondered 'WHY?'  Most Christians have NO CLUE where these pracitces came from..they just do them... whole heartily.   May our lives be a 'worship' to God.

Just Thinking Again,

James

I've often shared how God showes me things in the shower.  Today I was thinking about all the prayer that went up to God about this election and the new president.  I thought, "God, so many were praying...many churches prayed around the clock for many days."  Then, this thought hit my mind.  "Why aren't they praying today?"   I thought, "Yes," today is the day we should be praying.  Why did we stop?  It isn't over friends, LET ME REMIND YOU- IT'S ONLY STARTED!   If we are really concerned, why aren't the churches filled today?   Why aren't the parking lots full of cars?  Why aren't we crying out to God over this country?  Why haven't we been this whole year?  Why do we wait until we think we MIGHT NOT WIN?   The truth is most of us aren't really concerned over this country...we are concerned over US and OURSELVES!  The truth is most people aren't really people of prayer.  We say we are...we like to think we are.

  This could be a sign that God has lifted His hand OFF this country.  In the book of EZ, (14)God was going to judge the house of Israel and He made an amazing statement.  He says that even if Noah, Daniel, or Job were to pray it wouldn't do any good (my version).  God said they would deliver themselves, BUT it would not stop what He was going to do!  Not even NOAH, DANIEL, OR JOB could not have stopped God's judgement.  Prayer is a powerful thing BUT there comes a time that not even prayer will work.

God Help Us!

James

Well, it's been a while since I've blogged....I just wanted to share a quick 'spiritual' thought.  The other day I was shooting a game of pool with a student (where I work).  We were talking about how 'off' this particular table was.  You could see the ball (you were shooting) , fall way short of the pocket.  Several times, he would make a shot and miss and say, "Man this tables is off."  And I would do the same too.  I told the student that he had better NOT play to much on these tables or it would totally mess his game up.  He asked me what I meant by that.  I said, if you get 'real good' on this table, you won't be able to shoot on a perfect table.  As soon as I made the remark, I felt that inner nudge on what I had just said.  I think this is so true about lots of things we have been taught about God and 'church.'  I think a lot of people have gotten real good at playing the game (so to speak) on a crooked table.  The truth is we don't realize its crooked until we see the right way.  Then when we try some of our old shots on the straight table, they don't work and we miss.  Those who have been playing the right way for any period can clearly see the difference, but you will never see the difference until you see the straight way.   One might even say to the straight way (perfect table) "This thing is OFF, LET'S GO BACK TO THE OLD TABLE...AT LEASE I CAN SCORE!"   Truth is, we CAN score on a crooked table because that's all we have played on for so long.  God help us to see the differece and play on the STRAIGHT table.  If you're good on the bad, you will be bad on the good...If it's easy on the bad, it will be bad on the easy...understand?

James