CAPTAIN OF MY SOUL

   

You were like sheep who were wandering away. But now you have returned to the Shepherd. He is the Leader of your souls.  (I PETER 2:25 NIRV)
The leader of my soul. What is my soul and where does it start and end? That which makes me me. I like to think of that place that I go when things get confusing, painful and sometimes just right after some really good news. That place that I think is only mine. This place is where I like to think I stand eye to eye with my creator. I go to this place to relax and wind down. Out of this place comes my reactions to life. I love and hate this place but the most important thing is that this place has a leader and its not me. I just keep the place as clean as I can. How wonderful it is to understand that I really can give up ownership of this place knowing that its best for all.
My life has been full of responsibilities. My new duties as a father , missionary and house parent bring responsibilities that I cannot bear alone. Its nice to know that I have  been given a community that will guide me through the process. Best of all I have the person of CHRIST who is the Captain of my soul.

LIFE'S GREATEST MEMORIES

I had to visit my own blog site and discover that I had not entered a word for a long time.   The reflections since my last post  have been rich with memories. Memories that remind me how fragile my life really is. Since my last post one of my closest Brothers in Christ DJ passed away. DJ was daily reminded me how wonderful and sometimes horrible it is to serve my fellow brothers. He taught me that life really is fun even under bad circumstances.
He taught me that the Kingdom of God is seen in relationships and communication with other people and not the dry pages of theology. He showed me the spirit of generosity because we shared life so close together. He needed me and I needed him. I bathed in that spirit of joy that DJ gave out. DJ was truly a mans man because he was strong and
courageous. Their was nothing that he would not attempt and in his mind  despite being visually impaired  "all things" were truly possible. What a privilege to see my need for someone like DJ. I know that he cannot be replaced but that need for and love towards a person with a disability is the rich gemstone that remains as the gift from DJ. Thank you brother for altering the direction of my life in a Godly way. I will always cherish that need in my heart for someone like you and when I find that person your gift will life on and my learning will continue.
                  The second thing that has occured since my last post has been the birth of my

 son MJ. (Marceaux Joseph Bury Jr.) MJ has quickly reminded me of his need for me. He has shown me that I need to pay a little bit more attention in life. The enjoyment of the moment is the beckoning of his cry. I was terrified at first because I really did not always know what to do and because I really only cared about myself first. This was quickly rearranged and "MJ is King" I kind of like that better. It makes my  life simpler. Like DJ I bath in the joy from MJ. The joy of watching him walk through life is priceless. I have been called to serve him and that is what I really need. Once again this need for each other is the schoolmaster that lifts me kicking and screaming to a new spiritual awairness.

Happy Easter With Jesus

Easter is upon us. I think about all tthe things that I have not done. I think about all the things that stand in the way of that relationship with Jesus and me. I think about how much respect do I give Jesus. How much trash is their in that inner place of myself where only I go but a few times. Kind of like what the apostle Paul said in Romanns 7. O wreched man, who will deliver me from this. I know all that, I have heard all the verses, all the advice, but their is something in me that keeps riding the fence. I want the best of both worlds. Thats not the way my Lord had it in the garden of Gethsemane. I wish I could be courageous enough to just move on, to move to a new place, a place where it is fresh and new. Maybe that what Jesus offers me everyday, maybe thats what is being offered to me at the Lords Supper. My best to those who find that intimate place with Jesus this season and maybe you could drop me a line and tell me how you did it.

1 Corinthians 10:21-22 NIRV-ENG

You can't drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too. You can't have a part in both the Lord's table and the table of demons. Are we trying to make the Lord jealous? Are we stronger than he is?

Our new landlord, DJ

Last Thursday DJ invited the Camp Daniel family to his new house to celebrate and dedicate it to God. DJ was blessed to be able to purchase this home, 4 miles from camp.

Marceaux and I are blessed by DJ asking us to move in with him. This has created a mutual dependent relationship between us both. Dj will depend on us for daily needs and we depend on him for a beautiful place to live. We all will depend on each other for relationship and family and the lessons we will teach each other.

Freshness

The new year should bring a fresh start but as my experience has shown me, that is not allways the case. I get chained to some of the prespectives that I had in the old year and my mind just will not open up to the new way of doing things. It should not be like that. What do I have to do? I don't want to go down that road again, the roads that I have choose in the past have been a distaster, is their someone who will give me a better route? I am caught between a rock and a hard place. Jesus offers me this all I have to do is follow!!


Acts 3:19 NIRV-ENG

So turn away from your sins. Turn to God. Then your sins will be wiped away. The time will come when the Lord will make everything new.

What Matters?

The new year is moving right allong, it has not stoped or slown down because I am not ready.  I allways like to see just how long it is before I'm doing those things that I allways do. The same ol same ol. Sometimes change comes and I do embrace the freshness that comes. Kind of like getting a new set of tires on your car. That pink cloud period of goodness dulls to the mundane routine of life. What realy mmatters?
I got a new camera and have been studing how to use its many features. Its incredible how complex just taking a good photograph realy is. My experience has been that all of those features are useless if the purpose for taking the photograph is not right. The expert photographers teach you that you should ask yourself a few questions before taking a picture to try making the composition of your photograph more clear. Why I'm I taking the picture?  What's the story in the picture?
Maybe in the begining of the new year I should take some time in seeing what type of picture of JESUS CHRIST I am painting the people around me.  Matthew 6:33 (NIrV) "Put God's kingdom first. Do what he wants you to do. Then all of those things will also be given to you."  It may not get the picture that I desire but at least if I do what the Bible tells me Jesus will be respected and maybe even those in the very home of Jesus will crack a smile!! And that my friend is what realy matters!!

Thank you Jesus

Here we are in the new year and I needed to start out well. What has been in my mind is just the great testimony that our Lord has given all who sacrifice for Him. I have spent some time with a former boss of mine. We shared a meal at his home and shared our lives with each other. We both gave each other the varification of our relationship with Jesus and what that looks like or should look like. What an amazing brother quiet on his protective roll as an officer but shines that light on all of us that we do not see and even take for granted. What a gift to varify each others character as we walk on that journey that we both have been given. Hidden was a message for the new year. That was  let your light shine that others may see your good works and give Jesus the respect and honor that He is due. I guess that means communication, friendship, and just plain spending more time with others with the intent to enjoy the work that the Lord has all ready done in their lives. Celebration is a great action and attitude. It is one that brings a smile on the face of our maker. HAPPY NEW YEAR