so how was your weekend...

.. cause ours was pretty smooth.

what's lost.

what’s lost... and I’m not talking about the tv show.. I’m talking about what was lost in the soul of Man after the fall. We’ve been talking about it in one of my classes.. and I just have to share it.

As John Eldridge declares so profoundly in Epic.. the story of Man did not start with the Fall in Genesis 3.. but instead in the Creation of all that is Good in Genesis 1. Well my professor, Dr. Lyle Dorsett, shared with us a list of the five major things lost in man because of the fall.. these have been shared in thought of many theologians thru the years... I hope you get the chance to ponder on the reality of life without these things..

Innocence :: God breathed life into Adam and it was all good.. naked in the garden.. walking in beautiful relations with the Creator... then the fall and what happens.. Adam and Eve discovered they were naked and hid... innocence was lost.

Intimacy :: Adam and Eve walked, talked, and live with the Lord.. not just in a personal relationship, but in an intimate one... lost in the fall.. separated because of sin.

Life :: When Adam and Eve were told not to eat of the fruit, it was said that if they did.. they would die.. not kick-the-bucket dead right there.. but the breathe of God within their spirit – the true source of life – would die.. it did in the fall.. and we are born still-born because of it today... sin brought forth death.. and our true life was lost.

Identity :: Adam and Eve knew exactly who they were.. they heard it straight from the lips of the Creator.. but sin changed all of that.. and even today souls are still trying to find out exactly “who they are”... identity was lost.

Dominion :: Adam and Eve were placed in authority over all the creatures of the Earth... they were told to name each animal.. there is huge authority in that. We now try to get to the top.. climb the corporate latter.. be number 1. We are always trying to regain control through our flesh... only because that dominion that was once there has been lost.

These are each things that we were created with.. deep down each of our hearts long for these things.. and our flesh tries and tries to satisfy these needs still. But they are lost...
How can they be found... I’ll share the truth and what the Lord has moved in my heart with this soon.

Dear Lord,

"Grant me the grace of wonder. Surprise me, amaze me, awe me in every crevice of Your universe. Delight me to see how Your Christ plays in ten thousand places, lovely in limbs, and lovely in eyes not His, to the Father through the features of men's faces. Each day enrapture me with Your marvelous things without number. I do not ask to see the reason for it all;

I ask only to share the wonder of it all."

- prayer of Rabbi Joshua Abraham Heschel

this is my prayer - my Lord, my Jesus - amaze me with Your glory and grace... shine Your love upon me in a new way or open my eyes to a way of old.

make your vote...

so Mer and I have been looking all over birmingham for the perfect house for us... and we thought we should get your input... so take a look and post your vote...



this has definitely been an exciting time for us, but we don't just want the house that we like... we want the one that the Lord has for us. so if you would... pray for us to be lead to it... that is our biggest prayer these days and we would treasure it if all of our friends and community could join us in lifting up our requests to Father... then when HE comes through, because we all know HE will... we can have one heck of a party after move in day!!!

and okay... so one of them is alittle bit out of our price range... but still... our God is big!

two e-mails.

so I got two very moving e-mails today… both coming from special people… the subjects of each one being completely opposite than the other… yet each stirred my heart powerfully for the Word  >> and there was God.    

the first e-mail that I got was from an incredible old friend, who the Lord has used in my life in a big way. this is a brother who is living up the journey of life… never knowing exactly what the Lord is doing within him, but following the lead of his heart continually. I was moved with excitement for this dear friend as he told me of his time “walking on rocky ground”… by the shear truth of the Lord’s hand being upon his life… and the thrill of knowing the destination of his next journey being one absolutely filled with the beauty and glory of our Creator in His creation. the words to Wonderful Maker began to resound within my heart for this brother… with joy in the truth of God’s sovereignty and grace.

then I opened the other e-mail, this one coming from one of my real brothers… in regards to the grandmother of his dear girlfriend. Amanda’s grandmother had been in my prayers as she was put in the hospital last week due to an asthma attack. this e-mail told of her passing away early this morning. the news of which took my heart to a time of mourning.. so small in comparison to what Amanda’s entire family were experiencing, but my heart went out to them – and still does. that’s when I turned to the Word… not in search of answers so much.. but because it was what I wanted to do. and that is where the hope in the truth of God’s sovereignty and grace was revealed.

I turned to the pages of Romans.. as that is what I have been reading through.. to find these words.. "If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living." (Romans 14.8-9) 

my heart still goes out to Amanda’s family for the loss of a loved one.. while still being excited for the adventure to come for Joey >> and it is only by the unfailing truth of God’s sovereignty and grace on our life and our death that I can declare it. We are the Lord’s!!

one true sign

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen... By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise... For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. - Hebrews 11.

these are words that inspire me greatly in this time... this time of preparation for things to come... this time of training and learning... this time of great dependence on the Lord to fulfill his promise in my calling. oh how I cannot wait for that "city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God."

this world tries to lead us to do so many things... to try this... to pursue that... saying that this is how to obtain that "wonderful" life you are suppose to live [thanks ktb]. but the One True Source of life declares... "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect... Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." - Romans 12.

so I chose to rejoice in the hope of His faithfulness in all things promised to us - His beloved sons and daughters... and trust in His leading of my heart, made pure by His blood, to test and find those things that are declared "good... acceptable... perfect." Thank You my King for them.

the christmas season

Christmas was an awesome time of celebration for Mer and I… a time definitely on the road – as is every holiday – driving from B’ham to Montgomery to Fort Payne to Montgomery to B’ham within four days… but always worth the distance, when we get to spend the time in such great company – including the always eventful Christmas throw-down at Lele’s (this could have been one of the best out of the many years – thank you Lele for all of them.) and the marvelous reunion with old friends – from Cali to ATL and Nashville to the Plains - loved every minute… and not to forget it all kicked off with an outstanding Abbeville wedding!! Here, Here to the New Kuhlers family!


I have to say that we were blessed tremendously with incredible gifts from loved ones, and had the total joy of giving some great ones too. I got hooked up with great gifts from my many Santa’s helpers :: gifts that were mainly as Biscuet put it “old person stuff” (even though I did get Mrs. Pac-Man!!) but I was moved in realizing the amazing grace in and through those who love me… my brother Ty said we should do this like every three months – Amen to that!!

And as always… with all four boys at the house in Fort Payne… Mario Cart definitely comes out of the closet… and the winner is…

finals...

so my "finals" are alittle bit different..

but the celebration of being done with them is about the same.

sing it... then repeat it.

so friday night i got to have a great time and enjoy an incredible concert like days of the old... many of you can remember the fervor of my past.. seeing vertical 19 times live.. traveling anywhere for a good show... and definitely making sure that somehow (sometimes not so much on the up and up) i would have a great seat. well its been a while since i've really loved a musical concert >> that wasn't a worship event. for some reason that fervor just hasn't been brewing up much. but i gotta say that friday night mer and I went out with some good friends (Robert, Betty, Josh Brooks, Erin, Susan D., and a few others) to a smooth venue (WorkPlay) to see an awesome performance (Mike Warren and Howie Day).

the night started with a good meal at the Jazz Cafe, with friends Josh Brooks and his girlfriend, Erin, and Robert, Mer's brother, and his girlfriend, Betty. We thought we were hitting up St. Anthony's - an italian restaurant that Josh recommended - but came to find the place was bought and changed to the Jazz Cafe, which still had all the favorites from the St. A's menu, with a few new extras. It was a great atmosphere, and good company... even though JBrooks and Erin had to cut out alittle early in order to save some seats at WorkPlay, which we were all so glad they did.


then we rolled over to WorkPlay after the great Beth (SD) joined up with us to get her tickets. to find jbrooks early leaving to be such a value as a booth in middle was held for us... perfect location, and even better when the booth right next to us opened up for friends to join in.

its was great show, with Michael Warren opening up and even getting in alittle "church" - pumping out a song of praise with great harmony - was really glad he took it to that level.. which had me thinking all about how awesome that venue would be for a true church service - couldn't help it... thats just who i am.

then with howie hitting the stage the jams of the place continued. it was awesome to see him live once again - i think the last time i saw him was back in '99 opening at an Aware show - T.Lyles representing! but to see his powerful transition into the world of looping was awesome. for him to pull a rhythm, record it, loop it back, then move on to the next beat on top of that, then the next... too smooth. its a must see. but it was a fun show.. not the cleanest.. but humorous.

but it was good for me to enjoy the show... and my heart was honestly moved in worship through the music.. which is something i never used to get out of it. plus a vision for why can't church look like that.. a "cool" place where His presence is felt. i'm just loving where the Lord has me right now.

this ones for the REV.

so this one goes to the matteo, whose ordination last night only legitimized on paper what has been brewing up and overflowing from within him for years now... and has been constantly affirmed by so many... i definitely throw all of my two-cents (nickel worths for ktb, aka "ki.ki") into that bucket.

mr. (now the reverend) matthew david dean is one whom i value greatly to call my dear friend. one in whom i honestly don't know if i would be doing what i am if had not been for him. one whose life has been a joyous celebration of the Lord's forever faithfulness... even through all of the toughest of times in his life. the Lord's hand has always been upon him. it was through his painful journey that the Lord used to reveal truth into my blessed situation and guided me to the best of things. it was in my phone call to him one january night from the C-zone parking lot in Auburn, while he was in birmingham (cool place switch there), that i was led to tell Meredith my true feelings way back when. [[a call that i am forever grateful happened... i won't want to be in this thing without the woman thats now my bride]]

and speaking of brides... let me just state was is so well known by anyone around them (and stated by himself last night)... Matt would not be the man he is now, if he had not married the amazing April. the joy that it is to see them together - in life and in ministry. i remember praying in our original small group over April (after her date with a depute sheriff - ask her about that one) for the dynamic man who could lead her like she deserves to be led... then the Lord answered in Matt. the combination of hearts within those two could not be meshed any better. it has been exciting to see how God has blessed so many - myself included - and how their beautiful family will bless so many for the generations to come.

but it was a true honor to be there as a tiny part of the formal proclaiming of the calling on Matt's life in ministry. i would not have missed it for anything.. just to see matt in that sharp new blazer was worth my drive. but what a blessing it was to join in that beloved community in celebration of who God is and what He is doing. I thank Him for it, and for my brother the Rev. Matthew Dean.

(( insert picture from 10th grade with curly haired Matt, Stanley Raye Lawson, and myself sporting our new 'foakleys' - those are fake oakleys - at the washington monument for DC/LA 97... representing the 4 mosegrooves and a wigwam... oh yes, oh yes.))

John 4:13-14

Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty forever. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

>> have you been thirsty??

the game...

all i gotta say >>
WAR.EAGLE

happy birthday to mi madre

she is a stunning 31 years old, with only a few years of experience.

I hope that it is a marvelous one >> cause she deserves it.

i hate that mer and i will not be able to celebrate it with her today..

but oh the fun it will be celebrating in Auburn!

2 smith birthdays!!

so this weekend Mer and I got to throw down a big time celebration >> Luke’s 3rd Birthday Party!! Luke [[my youngest bro]] was decked out in his Wiggle’s gear, with every type of play ball around him. And you think that my family is allllllll about boys… well every kid that came to this thing was a boy… for real like 12 of them out running around… sorry, but just no room for the girls – except for the awesome ladies who prepared it all.

..Mr. Luke Motlow Smith..

but the day wasn’t just all about Luke,,, because in the craziness of the Smith family… my Dad and Luke have the same birthday >> November 14th. So HAPPY BIRTHDAY >> LUKE :: the big 3… and TED :: looking good for the double nickel!!

happy birthday to this stud with four of his sons...

JESUS >> i need HIM.

so how great is our God?? do you know? cause i thought i did... and then He showed me more and more that i ain't got a clue!!! let me tell you about it...

so late last night i was studying hebrew - it ain't that impressive... things weren't clicking like i needed them. so i was like, "Lord, i need You." and the response to my heart was so strong, i was blown away once again. cause His reply to my heart was, "Jared, you need me a whole lot more than just in Hebrew." the realization of the truth in that took me to my knees... in humility and brokeness.

you see, i don't know about you, but i go through my day thinking things are going pretty well. i can't count the number of times that i have the "how are you,, good,,, and yourself,, good" talk... and it has really gotten in my head that I am doing good. that things are going well because of what i got to offer. that it comes down to me >> but oh how the Lord has changed that one.

me - in my strength - ain't got nothing to offer, but here lately i've got myself relying on what i can produce - in class, in relationships, in sports, in business, etc. i get talking with friends - old and new - cutting up and laughing, talking about how good God is... and what He has done... but for me, it has been only from the reflections of what Christ has done in my past,,, not so much doing in me now. and thats where it hit me last night... i need Him >> Now more than ever... cause HE is all that i got going that is good!! how about you?

brokeness by Christ is such a gift... cause from it we can realize more and more that in our weaknesses, HE is truly is made stronger!! - Amen for that.

:: lets kick it :.

so check it.. i figured that i needed to quit being a busta >> just reading up on everybody else's lives,, without giving up anything on my own. i've really been loving all the posts from so many,, all the laughs in fun and the inspirations in depth.. and i hope to give some of both.