Since my marriage to Stacie in 2011 we have been blogging over at www.JosephJGraber.com
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Saturday, April 19, 2014
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
A Six Flags Moment
I had a grand time at Six Flags Over Texas with my siblings on Memorial Day. We rode rides that Rosemary and Dorcas loved(Crazy Legs, etc.). We rode rides that scared Rosemary and Dorcas. (They actually rode Tony Hawk and Batman) There were some rides that they didn't even see- they had their eyes closed the whole time (Batman). We rode rides that David loved. We rode rides that scared David. After one ride (Superman) he said, "Remind me never to ride that one again."
I was exhilarated (Batman, Flashback, etc.). I was dizzy (Tony Hawk). I was terrified(Texas Giant). I got a headache(Texas Giant). I had a great time. There were a few rides that none of my siblings would do with (Texas Giant, Flashback) me so I did them with Gen while they did other things. There was one ride (Superman) that my sister Ruth, who has a season pass, has never ridden but we rode it yesterday.
A lot of great things happened. But one of the things that left me breathless happened on Superman. Ruth, Dorcas, David and I rode. The seats are three across so we went two and two. On the side where David and I were a little girl took the third seat. As we were strapping in she struck up a conversation. She told me she really liked Superman. I asked if she screamed for this ride. "I never scream." And she didn't. But... well let me just tell you about it.
After a few moments of beautiful suspense we shot up about twenty stories. Exhilarating. Superman has three towers: red, blue, and yellow. Each tower has four sides with three seats per side. While we were suspended at the top waiting for the drop the little girl turned to me and calmly asked, "Why aren't they using the yellow tower today?" I said I didn't know.
Then we dropped. On the way down I heard the little voice beside me continuing the conversation. She said, "It's either the red and the blue, or the red and the yellow, but never all three." It sounded as if she was talking to me so I answered, "Maybe they don't have enough workers to operate all three towers at the same time."
"Yeah, they probably don't, but we wouldn't have to wait so long if they were all three going."
I agreed. "The lines were long today."
"Yes, they're almost always long..." At this point the ride was slowing down and soon we were on the ground again.
How many times does a ten year old have to ride that thing to be able to converse freely in the midst of a free fall? Superman is one of my favorite rides, but something about having a calm conversation in the midst of the free fall just leaves me a little breathless.
I was exhilarated (Batman, Flashback, etc.). I was dizzy (Tony Hawk). I was terrified(Texas Giant). I got a headache(Texas Giant). I had a great time. There were a few rides that none of my siblings would do with (Texas Giant, Flashback) me so I did them with Gen while they did other things. There was one ride (Superman) that my sister Ruth, who has a season pass, has never ridden but we rode it yesterday.
A lot of great things happened. But one of the things that left me breathless happened on Superman. Ruth, Dorcas, David and I rode. The seats are three across so we went two and two. On the side where David and I were a little girl took the third seat. As we were strapping in she struck up a conversation. She told me she really liked Superman. I asked if she screamed for this ride. "I never scream." And she didn't. But... well let me just tell you about it.
After a few moments of beautiful suspense we shot up about twenty stories. Exhilarating. Superman has three towers: red, blue, and yellow. Each tower has four sides with three seats per side. While we were suspended at the top waiting for the drop the little girl turned to me and calmly asked, "Why aren't they using the yellow tower today?" I said I didn't know.
Then we dropped. On the way down I heard the little voice beside me continuing the conversation. She said, "It's either the red and the blue, or the red and the yellow, but never all three." It sounded as if she was talking to me so I answered, "Maybe they don't have enough workers to operate all three towers at the same time."
"Yeah, they probably don't, but we wouldn't have to wait so long if they were all three going."
I agreed. "The lines were long today."
"Yes, they're almost always long..." At this point the ride was slowing down and soon we were on the ground again.
How many times does a ten year old have to ride that thing to be able to converse freely in the midst of a free fall? Superman is one of my favorite rides, but something about having a calm conversation in the midst of the free fall just leaves me a little breathless.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
My Twin Sister
When I was growing up I dreamed of having a twin sister. I read stories of boys who had twin sisters and they always had such good times. I had good times with my sisters and my older sister and I had a fairly close relationship. We planned things together. We worked and played together. But still I thought, "If I had a twin sister, we would be really close. It would be so much fun."
I never did get a twin sister- it is rather difficult to get a twin years after you're born. But this morning something occurred to me. It occurred to me because of something else that I was trying to figure out. Let me just tell you the whole story.
Back in 1994 I made a conscious decision to let Christ live in me and for me to live in Christ. In 1995 I sensed the Spirit of God calling me into His service. I thought the date of my salvation was Saturday, January 22nd 1994, however I didn't know the date when God called me. I remembered it was in June, and it was a special service at church. I remember seeing the tour buses parked beside the church. The Nelson Coblentz family with Gospel Express Ministries came and sang (this was my first introduction to Southern Gospel music- I was hooked) and Nelson preached about family relationships. Afterwards I went forward to pray, and Nelson came and laid his hands on me and several of my friends and asked God to send the fire down upon us. I can also remember that was the night when my Dad hugged me and told me he loved me for the first time in living memory. I could remember all of this but I could not remember the date.
I wanted to know the date so I did the only logical thing, I called my sister Ruth. Ruth kept a journal very faithfully, I imagine she still does. She is like a Graber family historian. I called her several days ago and asked her when that happened. She said she would look it up. This morning she called me. Gospel Express came to Kootenai Christian Fellowship in Eureka Montana on Thursday June 15th 1995. That is the day I first sensed God calling me into the ministry. Ruth and I reminisced awhile about that summer. Then Ruth said, "Now I know the date when I was saved, January 20th, 1994."
I said, "Wait a minute, we were saved on the 22nd." But Ruth had the journal, and she is older, so she won. For years now I have been telling people I was saved on Saturday, January 22nd, 1994. But in one fell swoop that all changed. My sister, according to her journal, says that we were saved on Thursday, January 20th, 1994. And that is when it hit me. We were saved. Both of us. The same day. The same hour. With the same parents. We're spiritual twins. I have a twin sister!
We were saved in our living room. Dad and Mom explained the Biblical plan of salvation to us and the four of us knelt by our living room couch and Ruth and I prayed to receive Christ that day. That makes us twins!
Boy, I sure hope that when people look at us I have a spiritual resemblance to my twin sister.
I never did get a twin sister- it is rather difficult to get a twin years after you're born. But this morning something occurred to me. It occurred to me because of something else that I was trying to figure out. Let me just tell you the whole story.
Back in 1994 I made a conscious decision to let Christ live in me and for me to live in Christ. In 1995 I sensed the Spirit of God calling me into His service. I thought the date of my salvation was Saturday, January 22nd 1994, however I didn't know the date when God called me. I remembered it was in June, and it was a special service at church. I remember seeing the tour buses parked beside the church. The Nelson Coblentz family with Gospel Express Ministries came and sang (this was my first introduction to Southern Gospel music- I was hooked) and Nelson preached about family relationships. Afterwards I went forward to pray, and Nelson came and laid his hands on me and several of my friends and asked God to send the fire down upon us. I can also remember that was the night when my Dad hugged me and told me he loved me for the first time in living memory. I could remember all of this but I could not remember the date.
I wanted to know the date so I did the only logical thing, I called my sister Ruth. Ruth kept a journal very faithfully, I imagine she still does. She is like a Graber family historian. I called her several days ago and asked her when that happened. She said she would look it up. This morning she called me. Gospel Express came to Kootenai Christian Fellowship in Eureka Montana on Thursday June 15th 1995. That is the day I first sensed God calling me into the ministry. Ruth and I reminisced awhile about that summer. Then Ruth said, "Now I know the date when I was saved, January 20th, 1994."
I said, "Wait a minute, we were saved on the 22nd." But Ruth had the journal, and she is older, so she won. For years now I have been telling people I was saved on Saturday, January 22nd, 1994. But in one fell swoop that all changed. My sister, according to her journal, says that we were saved on Thursday, January 20th, 1994. And that is when it hit me. We were saved. Both of us. The same day. The same hour. With the same parents. We're spiritual twins. I have a twin sister!
We were saved in our living room. Dad and Mom explained the Biblical plan of salvation to us and the four of us knelt by our living room couch and Ruth and I prayed to receive Christ that day. That makes us twins!
Boy, I sure hope that when people look at us I have a spiritual resemblance to my twin sister.
Friday, November 7, 2008
America's Magic Lamp?
This election is past now. The Presidential die has been cast for another term. Some of you who are my friends are happy, elated even, because your candidate of choice has been elected. But many of you who are my friends are experiencing very mixed feelings right now. Your candidate of choice has been defeated. You may be surrounded with people who are prophesying doom and certain destruction for our country.
In the days leading up to the election many of you met with your churches to pray for our country. Many of you were praying very specifically about the outcome of the election. For some of you this may have been the first time in four years that you prayed for our country.
Remember 9-11? For months afterwards we gathered in churches and town squares, in parks and community centers and prayed for our country.
I am glad that we meet together to pray at election time and at times of national tragedy. I am glad that we look to God for help. But sometimes I am afraid for us as a people. Do we really just want to keep God around like a magic lamp? You know, “The (insert something scary here) are coming! Pull out the lanterns! We need to rub in another miracle in order to avert this national tragedy!”?
If we seriously think that it is sufficient for us to pray and do our duty just on Election Day then we must change our thinking. Every day of our lives must be spent in such a way so as to prepare a way for God to bless us, our children, and our country.
We need to pray continually for our country. We need to pray like Daniel did in chapter nine. We need to pray like Nehemiah did in chapter one. We must allow God to be God. We must seek Him, not only for help in times of great scariness, but also to learn His righteousness at all times.
If we as a country only keep God around for emergencies, what if He decides not to keep our country around any more?
In the days leading up to the election many of you met with your churches to pray for our country. Many of you were praying very specifically about the outcome of the election. For some of you this may have been the first time in four years that you prayed for our country.
Remember 9-11? For months afterwards we gathered in churches and town squares, in parks and community centers and prayed for our country.
I am glad that we meet together to pray at election time and at times of national tragedy. I am glad that we look to God for help. But sometimes I am afraid for us as a people. Do we really just want to keep God around like a magic lamp? You know, “The (insert something scary here) are coming! Pull out the lanterns! We need to rub in another miracle in order to avert this national tragedy!”?
If we seriously think that it is sufficient for us to pray and do our duty just on Election Day then we must change our thinking. Every day of our lives must be spent in such a way so as to prepare a way for God to bless us, our children, and our country.
We need to pray continually for our country. We need to pray like Daniel did in chapter nine. We need to pray like Nehemiah did in chapter one. We must allow God to be God. We must seek Him, not only for help in times of great scariness, but also to learn His righteousness at all times.
If we as a country only keep God around for emergencies, what if He decides not to keep our country around any more?
Monday, November 3, 2008
War In Heaven
“And there was war in Heaven:” With these words John the Revelator begins the story of an epic battle between good and evil, replete with angels and dragons. The Enemy of God lost the battle that day, was driven from the high ground, but continues to battle elsewhere. The dragon is a great deceiver. Apparently he has deceived himself and his followers into thinking they might yet win the war, and so he fights on.
“And there was war in Heaven:” This simple sentence has the elements of an oxymoron. Heaven: peace, joy, eternal freedom from sorrow, and everlasting life. War: turmoil, pain, destruction, and death. War, in Heaven?
“And there was war in Heaven:” What a thought. If Heaven itself experienced the ravages of war, what makes us think that we can avoid war here on earth? What makes us think that we can convince the nations of this world to lay down their weapons and establish peace? When the insurrection started did Michael the Archangel piously stand by and say, “Actually, I live in Heaven and do the will of the Father. There is no way that I can take part in this fighting”? Did he say, “Wow, enemies, gotta love 'em”? No. Michael in direct obedience to the Father, rallied his troops, fought a bitter battle, and vanquished the enemy. (If you want to hurt your head, try thinking about this: Did any angels die in the battle? And if they did- what happened to them?)
External wars seem inevitable here on earth. Perhaps we should stop focusing on the external wars and start focusing on the epic battle between good and evil that still rages on. Perhaps we should stop hiding behind religion or ideals and join the battle and fight against the Enemy of God. Perhaps we should quit trying to stop the killing and start living a God conscious life.
The Dragon is still out there. He is after you and your posterity. Are you going to let him win? He wins when we live our lives apart from daily, personal communication with God. He wins when we are so concerned with our own causes, reputations, and religious ideas that we can't even see the people around us. He wins when we pass judgment on sinners because of their sin instead of showing them the truth, love, and mercy of the Saviour. He wins when we begin to think of people as our enemies. He wins when we start to think we can solve our own problems as individuals, as communities, as a nation, and as a society.
Let us bring Michael's battle to earth. Let us surrender to the God of Heaven and declare war on the dragon. And let us take counsel from the Word and the Spirit and fight advisedly. Do not be deceived. Deception is our Enemy's chief weapon. Let the Truth of God's Word cut through the deception of the Enemy.
May you overcome him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of your testimony.
Oh, and did you notice the way peace was restored in Heaven? The good guys won. What a concept: restoring peace by fighting and winning a war.
*Revelation 12:7-11
“And there was war in Heaven:” This simple sentence has the elements of an oxymoron. Heaven: peace, joy, eternal freedom from sorrow, and everlasting life. War: turmoil, pain, destruction, and death. War, in Heaven?
“And there was war in Heaven:” What a thought. If Heaven itself experienced the ravages of war, what makes us think that we can avoid war here on earth? What makes us think that we can convince the nations of this world to lay down their weapons and establish peace? When the insurrection started did Michael the Archangel piously stand by and say, “Actually, I live in Heaven and do the will of the Father. There is no way that I can take part in this fighting”? Did he say, “Wow, enemies, gotta love 'em”? No. Michael in direct obedience to the Father, rallied his troops, fought a bitter battle, and vanquished the enemy. (If you want to hurt your head, try thinking about this: Did any angels die in the battle? And if they did- what happened to them?)
External wars seem inevitable here on earth. Perhaps we should stop focusing on the external wars and start focusing on the epic battle between good and evil that still rages on. Perhaps we should stop hiding behind religion or ideals and join the battle and fight against the Enemy of God. Perhaps we should quit trying to stop the killing and start living a God conscious life.
The Dragon is still out there. He is after you and your posterity. Are you going to let him win? He wins when we live our lives apart from daily, personal communication with God. He wins when we are so concerned with our own causes, reputations, and religious ideas that we can't even see the people around us. He wins when we pass judgment on sinners because of their sin instead of showing them the truth, love, and mercy of the Saviour. He wins when we begin to think of people as our enemies. He wins when we start to think we can solve our own problems as individuals, as communities, as a nation, and as a society.
Let us bring Michael's battle to earth. Let us surrender to the God of Heaven and declare war on the dragon. And let us take counsel from the Word and the Spirit and fight advisedly. Do not be deceived. Deception is our Enemy's chief weapon. Let the Truth of God's Word cut through the deception of the Enemy.
May you overcome him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of your testimony.
Oh, and did you notice the way peace was restored in Heaven? The good guys won. What a concept: restoring peace by fighting and winning a war.
*Revelation 12:7-11
What A Day That Will Be
“There is coming day...” It isn't here yet, but it is coming.
“...when no heartaches shall come...” Not even one heartache?
No tuggings at the heartstrings because of something,
somewhere that isn't quite right?
No more heartaches, not even one. Wow.
“...No more clouds in the sky,” We shall see the Son face to face
“...when no heartaches shall come...” Not even one heartache?
No tuggings at the heartstrings because of something,
somewhere that isn't quite right?
No more heartaches, not even one. Wow.
“...No more clouds in the sky,” We shall see the Son face to face
with nothing between us.
“No more tears to dim the eye:” God will wipe away all our tears.
“All is peace forevermore on that happy golden shore,”
No more wars anymore,
and all the little things that take our peace will be gone.
No minor disagreements, like flies in our ointment,
to mar an otherwise beautiful day. Peace, and the sound of the waves
of the ages running up on that golden shore. What a day!
“What a day, glorious day that will be.” Glorious is a big word, but
it is still too small for that day. “What a day...” What a Day!
“...that will be when my Jesus...” Jesus- my Lord,
“No more tears to dim the eye:” God will wipe away all our tears.
“All is peace forevermore on that happy golden shore,”
No more wars anymore,
and all the little things that take our peace will be gone.
No minor disagreements, like flies in our ointment,
to mar an otherwise beautiful day. Peace, and the sound of the waves
of the ages running up on that golden shore. What a day!
“What a day, glorious day that will be.” Glorious is a big word, but
it is still too small for that day. “What a day...” What a Day!
“...that will be when my Jesus...” Jesus- my Lord,
the one who looked down the ages
and loved me, died for me, redeemed me, rose again for me, and chose me
to be His servant, no, more than a servant- His friend, His especial friend.
Jesus, the Anointed One of God!
“...I shall see...” I will see Him. Really truly see Him-
His face shining with the light of eternity.
and loved me, died for me, redeemed me, rose again for me, and chose me
to be His servant, no, more than a servant- His friend, His especial friend.
Jesus, the Anointed One of God!
“...I shall see...” I will see Him. Really truly see Him-
His face shining with the light of eternity.
His eyes full of the love that drew me to Him.
His hair rustling in the breeze from the cherubims' wings. I will see Him!
“And I look upon His face...” See the face of the Man of Galilee!
See the face of the Son of God! My King! My Lord! My Saviour! My Jesus!
His hair rustling in the breeze from the cherubims' wings. I will see Him!
“And I look upon His face...” See the face of the Man of Galilee!
See the face of the Son of God! My King! My Lord! My Saviour! My Jesus!
I will SEE Him!
“The One who saved me by His grace...” Grace: it looked like death...
...actually tasted like death....and He drank it...in my place-
“The One who saved me by His grace...” Grace: it looked like death...
...actually tasted like death....and He drank it...in my place-
And I call it Grace?
To Him: Suffering. To me: Peace.
To Him: Raw Death. To me: Fullness of Life.
To Him: Torturous Pain. To me: Escape from torture.
To Him: Tears of Agony. To me: Tears of pure Joy.
To Him: Ugliness. To me: Beauty.
Its called Grace.
“When He takes me by the hand...” Just like friends.
To Him: Suffering. To me: Peace.
To Him: Raw Death. To me: Fullness of Life.
To Him: Torturous Pain. To me: Escape from torture.
To Him: Tears of Agony. To me: Tears of pure Joy.
To Him: Ugliness. To me: Beauty.
Its called Grace.
“When He takes me by the hand...” Just like friends.
He IS my Friend. He said so.
His hand: Nail scarred. My hand: Battle worn, or soft and pudgy?
“...and leads me through the Promised Land.” He'll show me everything:
Where Lucifer was cast down. Where Ezekiel saw the wheels.
Where the fiery chariot with Elijah arrived.
Where He stood to watch Stephen die.
Where John stood to watch the opening of the seals.
Wow. What a Day!
“What a day, glorious day, that will be.”
Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus.
His hand: Nail scarred. My hand: Battle worn, or soft and pudgy?
“...and leads me through the Promised Land.” He'll show me everything:
Where Lucifer was cast down. Where Ezekiel saw the wheels.
Where the fiery chariot with Elijah arrived.
Where He stood to watch Stephen die.
Where John stood to watch the opening of the seals.
Wow. What a Day!
“What a day, glorious day, that will be.”
Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus.
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