Chambers on Justice

"'. . . I am with you to deliver you,' says the Lord." (Jeremiah 1:8)

"The Sermon on the Mount indicates that when we are on a mission for Jesus Christ, there is no time to stand up for ourselves. Jesus says, in effect, 'Don’t worry about whether or not you are being treated justly.' Looking for justice is actually a sign that we have been diverted from our devotion to Him. Never look for justice in this world, but never cease to give it. If we look for justice, we will only begin to complain and to indulge ourselves in the discontent of self-pity, as if to say, 'Why should I be treated like this?' If we are devoted to Jesus Christ, we have nothing to do with what we encounter, whether it is just or unjust."

From the entry, "The Overshadowing of God's Personal Deliverance."

Sensei "Mean" Gene Lebell R.I.P.

I briefly met Judo Gene in the early 90s down at Gokor's. I would go down with a few friends to do "drop in" classes. While I was back in LA from Bible school one summer, I found myself back at the Judo mecca in West Hollywood (or least that's where I thought it was). When Sensei Lebell found out that I was attending school in Regina, SK, he grabbed me by the collar and dragged me outside. Surprised at his reaction, I thought that I was done for. Sitting outside of the school on a chair was his lovely wife Midge. Sensei drops me off in front of her and says "Regina, meet Manitoba" then returned back to class. The man was kind, thoughtful, and tough. When the Gracies were challenging everyone in LA to MMA, Sensei joking thought "sure, I'll fight their dad since he's closer to my age" (Helio). I still remember one of the first "drop in" classes I attended. He looked up at me and said "I need a fresh neck, come here boy." When he demonstrated the choke - which I had never seen in my life - all I was fixated on was the patch on his pink gi that said "when in doubt, choke them out." That was the last thing I saw before passing out . . . or did I even tap? Rest in peace sensei, may God have mercy on your soul.

The Life to Know HIm

"It is not the baptism of the Holy Spirit that changes people, but the power of the ascended Christ coming into their lives through the Holy Spirit. We all too often separate things that the New Testament never separates. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is not an experience apart from Jesus Christ— it is the evidence of the ascended Christ." 

(Oswald Chambers, "The Life to Know Him" from "My Utmost for His Highest")

20 Years later . . .

We must remember . . .  https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/tim-kellers-sermon-9-11/

"8 Reflections on Racism and Riots" by Brian Najapfour

Never Forget

The Bass Walk: Abraham Laboriel