Happy Reformation Day

Oh! You were expecting "Happy Halloween"?
So sorry to disappoint.

Much to the Horror of the Papacy and Religious leaders of his day Martin Luther wrote a list of 95 Theses protesting common church practice and ideology as unbiblical political babble. On October 31, 1517 he nailed, yes NAILED, the theses to the church door where everyone could read them.

The fact is that today Martin Luther would probably be considered a terrorist. He launched the Protestant Reformation. But what has happened? Where is the protest in Protestantism? Luther's ideas were that the religious practices made it impossible for people to fully be a part of a Christian life because these practices were exclusionary. But Haven't modern day protestants done much of the same thing. We protest political ideas, notions, laws, etc and have lost sight of what really matters to Heaven. The human soul. We've been caught up in things like abortion, gay rights, defending marriage, capitol punishment and do not even bat an eye at the person who will never have an open ear to the Gospel message because of these irrelevant stands. It's time for so-called Christians to stand up and LIVE the Christian life; a life of consideration, love and compassion, tolerance and understanding. Fuck the politics!

Thanks for reading,
mobius faith

At the Edge of Forever

So many of us are stuck at the edge of forever. Some have had the bad experiences with Christianity; the church, so-called Christians, evangelists, preachers, missionaries, bible-thumpers, whatever you want to call it/them. For one reason or another you have been turned off and don't really give a damn about this thing called Salvation and this book called the Bible. And you know what? I don't blame you.
Yep you read right. I do not blame you. I can't think of anything that's been so misrepresented over time, especially in the 20th and into the 21st century.

I do want to tell you about something in the Bible that is seldom preached, and almost never effectively, that you may have never heard or read before. Ephesians 2:4-10.

You may want to sit down for this if you're not already seated.
One of the great "but"s in Biblical literature.

"But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved."

I just want to stop right there for a moment. This is the key. God saved us, you and me, while we were still in darkness. The word is "transgressions" which is analogous to darkness, ill mannered, destructive, and self-destructive behavior. You did, and do not have to, change anything. You are already saved. How do like that?
Another way to make this clear is this. Think about what you've done, and maybe are doing and maybe will do. Anything that could be considered anti-social, self destructive, illegal, a vice, whatever it may be. It could be drugs, alcohol, abuse, dishonesty, mismanagement. You name it. Whatever it may be. You may even want to write it down on a piece of paper. Now think about it, if you've written it down, look at. Did you know that while you were doing those things God was there? You didn't see him, you didn't hear him because you were preoccupied. God did not stop you, did not beat you down, did not preach against you while you were in that "dark space." Instead, God said, "I love you, in spite of what you are doing, I love you and I want to have a relationship with you." Think about that. While we were in that dark space of crime, misbehavior, abuse, etc, God loved us. There is nothing we've done for that love. It just IS. In fact God so much wants to have a relationship with us that he sent his own son, Jesus Christ, as a human being, created in God's image to teach us and show us and by dying make it possible for God to give us this gift of his love, his salvation (from our own wrong doing and destructiveness). As I said before; it's a gift. It's FREE! The gift is there. We only need to accept it. The only thing that can be done to make a new beginning is to accept the gift. You may want to make a new beginning, or you may be happy where you are at. The choice is yours. The gift is there. You can either accept it (no strings attached - remember you didn't have to do anything to get it).

So why would God do this for us? How could he love us so much to do this? Why?
God knows our potential better than we know it ourselves. He knows because we, you and I, were created in his image. Verse ten really answers this question of why very succinctly.

"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

There it is in a nutshell. We, you and I, ARE God's workmanship. That's how he knows our potential. He created us. He built us. And he gave us a choice. We can turn things in our lives around. We can do good work. And part of that relationship he wants to have with us is the empowerment to do good. All things are possible. Notice I didn't say "easy". I know from personal experience these changes aren't easy since I've had a whole life of saying "no" and doing my own thing. I'm not going to tell you that it will be easy for your either. For some it may be easy. And for some it will take a lot of time. Some may even reject this until later. That's okay. It doesn't minimize the gift, it's value, or the spirit in which it is given. I know it's a bit early for Christmas gifts and greetings; but, MERRY CHRISTMAS from the edge of forever.

Peace.
mobius faith
Thanks for reading.

Starke Realities

I almost gave up photography this past weekend. I almost put my camera on the shelf never to be used again. Literally.

I've been so uninspired. No desire. Nothing that I've shot in the past month has really grabbed my personal attention. I'd look at things and it was as if I was blind. I couldn't "see" anything. I had no imagination or sense of creativity left. As a result I have a total of 6 days of photo files that I couldn't look at. I even saved them to my portable hard drive because I had given up. I was pretty depressed. I thought to myself, "fine if God doesn't want me to photograph anymore because he's taken this desire away I'll just have to accept that. I was all ready to move on "without regret" when I started thinking about regrets.

I've mentioned in previous blog entries how I do not regret decisions I've made. (I'm thinking of the entries called GOD SAID, NO on 10/26/08, and A SENSE OF HOME on 5/23/08) Having no regrets is so important it means that there is purpose. I started thinking about why I got into photography and would I truly be able to say I don't regret leaving it behind. The fact of the matter is - I would regret it terribly. The reason is this: I have always felt that photography is a gift from God. That in some way I can make a difference in peoples lives by what I photograph. One of the main ideas in my work is the fact that God sees beauty where others see ugliness. That's one of the reasons I have photographed mostly abandoned, decayed, forgotten subjects. I would, and will, photograph people at some point. But right now I must press on. I couldn't help but think that God would not give me this gift to just put it on a shelf because I don't "feel" like taking pictures anymore. If it is truly a gift it should not matter what I feel because God will still be able to use it for his benefit, revelation, encouragement, beauty or whatever is needed in peoples lives.

So I will press on toward the goal, not giving up. I have a mission, a purpose behind my photography and that does not change regardless of how I feel. I thank God for this gift and for making it possible; in spite of the overwhelming odds I've faced over the past two years.

Thanks for reading.
mobius faith

Overcome

This image is called Overcome. When I took this photo I was amazed at how the rust was overcoming the white and gray painted portion of the subject.

Part of my Bible reading today included John 16:33. I have always found this verse so amazing. Jesus had just finished telling his disciples that they would be outsiders, hated by the world. He says they will be all alone and scattered. (vs 31-32) But he ends with this wonderful verse of encouragement. He not only says that even though he was alone and lonely in this world he was not alone because God, the Father, was with him. He is also suggesting that God, the Father is with us. He continues:

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

WOW!!! What a revelation. In essence Jesus is saying, hang in there, if I can do it so can you.
This is another acknowledgment not only of Jesus humanity but also his ability to transcend the limits of humanity. Not only that but he tells us that we can do the same. How often do we get bogged down by our life's circumstances, being angry about this or that, how others are acting or reacting. These things that upset us are all part of a troubled world. Bad things done by people who claim to be good, or at the very least mean well. All part of our troubled world. But we can overcome. Like the rust in the photo it does not happen overnight but over time. We may suffer greatly in the process but still, we can overcome. Rust is a process of decay and indeed our bodies will decay overtime but our spirits can overcome, with the help of God through Jesus Christ to create beauty. That's why Jesus says "in me you may have peace."

So if you are angry, upset and thoroughly pissed off about what you see as people cramping your style, acting in a way you find offensive or not acting in a way that you think they should:
Take a deep breath.
Breathe in peace.
Accept the peace.
Know that this is all because of our troubled world. No one ever said it would be easy. Sometimes life sucks.
Know that you can overcome. (Why? Hey, if Jesus Christ can do it - so can I - with God's help).
Decide and determine to overcome through patience, understanding, and kindness, and mercy, and forgiveness by putting on the armor of God. (read Ephesians 6:10-20)
Don't take it personal.
Make it personal in the actions you take to overcome. Love. (read I Corinthians 12:31b - 13:1-13)

Thanks for reading. Peace Out.
mobius faith

What We Believe Determines How We Live

Topic today is healing.
In my morning reading the text I got "stuck" on was from the Gospel of John, chapter 5, verses 1-8. It's the account of the lame man being healed by Jesus. There was a pool in Jerusalem that had healing properties, most likely a mineral water solution, which people would flock to for therapeutic reasons. It was quite a popular place. People who were blind, lame, and paralyzed were dropped off here. Jesus came upon at man at the pool who had been an invalid for 38 years. For some reason Jesus observed something different about this person and went up to him and asked, "Do you want to get well?" The man answers with an explanation of why he believes he still isn't well saying, "Sir, I have no one to help into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me." And Jesus told him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk." The man did just that.

I started thinking; for such a popular place, why was this man singled out? Why were others NOT healed? Jesus could have just as easily healed every one there - but he didn't. I started thinking about our own time. I wonder if there are those who have no alternative but to accept a healing from a source that is separate from modern accepted medical practice. Just as this man in the story, who most likely never would have made it into the pool, had no alternative but to accept the healing that came from Jesus. Even myself, I've experienced physical, psychological, and spiritual healing from God through the Holy Spirit. If I had the means and ability to get so-called "professional medical" attention I surely would have done so. So I don't criticized those that have the ability to get human-based medical help for surely God has enabled people to deal with all the ailments that humanity may suffer from. But there will always be those, like me who do not have the means or ability to get the same help. For us there is God. That help and healing from God is part of the reason Jesus Christ was born into this earth. God is the ultimate alternative medicine. So if you can afford modern medical care and medical insurance, thank God, who made it possible for you to have the means to do so. If you cannot afford medical care or insurance, thank God that he has provided an alternative and is there as the ultimate healer.

Interested in your ideas.
Thanks for reading,
mobius faith (healed)

Now on Wordpress.com

I now have a new blog located at Wordpress.com
You can get there by clicking the title above or by clicking the following link.
http://mobiusfaith.wordpress.com/2009/08/15/welcome-to-mobius-favorites/
This new blog will be a photoblog of images I've taken or created that are personal favorites. Most have been deleted from other sites like flickr for lack of interest from other people. So in short I'm using this new blog as a gallery of sorts. The images will not be deleted from this new blog. So check it out when you get a chance.

Unlimited

Limits.
They are everywhere.
Parents place limits on their children.
Communities, states, and countries create laws that put limits on society.
Religion puts limits on it's practitioners.
Objects and things in the natural world have limits. Water can erode rock, heat can evaporate water, cold can relieve the heat, on and on..... there are limits everywhere.

What do we do with these limits?
We spend our entire lives rebelling against them or, at the very least, as Eagles sang, "Take it to the limit....one more time". There was even a business based book about pushing limits, called, PUSHING THE ENVELOPE ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP. It's almost as if we see every limit as an opportunity to go 'beyond' where we are supposed to. We are curious individuals.

Now there have been many discussions on limits and laws - whether they are beneficial, productive or destructive. I think they are all those things when we view these limits as an end in themselves. Now I do not want to get into a discussion on whether this is good or bad. But how often do we think about the things that have no limits? Yes, you read correctly; NO LIMITS, unlimited, infinite, never ending.

Maybe as human beings we have a difficult time, because of our fallen nature, to focus in on the unlimited in life. Maybe that's why we are always looking to enforce laws that already exist and create new laws that will pose limits on us while at the same time trying to break those laws. I will say that for the most part, laws and limits are good, they can help to protect us and create a safe environment for our day-to-day lives. But we so often become so focused on these limits. Sometimes our focus is a result of fear. Other times it can be an issue of control. Ever since the original fall from grace we have struggled for control of ourselves, our environment, our planet, and worst of all other people. This is obviously the dark side. But let me return to the light of the unlimited.

Are there things against which there are no limits or laws? Yes.

"...the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law."
~ Galatians 5:22

You read right: NO LAW against those things. So why are we so selective when we practice those things? Is it our control issues from the sinful nature that are getting in the way. I suppose we could say that we are lucky whenever we practice these things. But that is a cop-out by trying to justify our control issues. If we made a greater effort to control ourselves (no easy task) and practice actions of love, joy, peace, Patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control we will transcend the limits of law; the law, all laws.


Thanks for reading,
mobius faith (the unlimited)

[a quick word about the photo: it was taken from the side of a box car along a rail line. I was intrigued by the abbreviation for the word limit and thinking about how we all have limits; even objects like this one where there is a limit as to how long paint will stay on steel before the rust starts to corrode the paint slowly eating it away - not to mention the obvious limit of how much weight this rail car can carry.]