Apostle David Johndrow - Fire And Grace

I live near the "T," Boston's subway and commuter rail. At some point in my day, I cross the tracks two or more times. Today, I started to think about my train rides -- the rhythmic clickty-clack of steel wheels, the gentle side-to-side sway going around corners and the flash of lights along the tunnel walls -- people with headphones and newspapers -- spinning red marquees with destinations and advertising -- it's all part of getting to the station. Life seems a little bit like a railroad track. It has two parallel paths, one positive, and the other negative. One rail shapes us, and the other rail blesses us, but both are leading in the same direction. There is something unique about the "T," it has a "third rail" electrified with thousands of volts. It's the one with the power. Without out, millions of commuters would be at a stand still. Like the experiences that shape us, and the ones that bless us, it too is going in the same direction prov...

Today Mary Anne and I celebrate our 6th wedding anniversary. And tomorrow will mark the passage of eight years since we sat across from each other at the Way-Ho, peering into each others eyes over a flaming Pu Pu Platter-- her in a floral blouse and blue skirt-- me probably in jeans. On our weekend retreat, we laughed about her shaking hands at the altar, and my miraculous inability to say "I do" with not so much as enough volume to be heard by even her. We talked about the ceremony starting late because the hairdressers were one short that morning. Last year we laughed about the candle ceremony, in which all the guests held a lit candle, which the pastor was certain would start a fire. However; he forgot to ask for everyone to extinguish them. To the relief of all our friends and family, I stepped in and suggested to him that it was probably a good idea to do that before moving on. I can still hear the music -- With You I'm Born Again -- as she and her dad walked the a...

Ecclesiastes 3:1 "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven." Today is a somewhat emotional and eventful day. It has been five long weeks since I was gainfully employed; I start a new job on Monday! The good news is that during this time, I have graduated my high-schooler and my preschooler, I had date nights with Mary Anne, I celebrated Father's Day, my child support ended, I learned the country code for France so I could speak to my oldest daughter in Paris, wrote blogs, played guitar, consolidated boxes of "stuff" from my 50-year history here on earth, and took our little JA to daycare and back almost everyday. JA's been with us three months, and she is going to live with another family tomorrow at 10 am. This morning she came in my office to say "I love you Daddy J." Last night we took the little ones to the carnival. (If you are on Facebook, you can see the photos there.) They road the dragon coaster, fishe...

Have you been to church just knowing it's going to be the same old thing? What if you went this Sunday with the idea that church should not be business as usual? What if you went believing that we could cause a stir for God-- shake things up or be a little bold? What if you decided that church was not just for singing a few songs, listening to a message and having a little coffee afterward? Here is a video of a couple of kids that decided that Bass Pro Shops wasn't just for fish and fisherman. I think it's a sign! LINK TO VIDEO

How come church people are so ridiculously stupid sometimes? I have to wonder if they were born that way, or take stupid pills for it. Really! I spent most of the day with three different friends that I have met at church. One, a pastor, and occasional mentor. He and I took a walk and discussed the church, politics, and where do I think I will be in five years (more on this some other time). The other was a guy that I have kept up with from men's group and spent some time with at a retreat. We grabbed a coffee and took a ride in my Mustang. The third is a friend of mine that I played on the worship team with at my old church. He and his wife have been to the house a couple of times. I also played guitar at his son's memorial service back in March. So why am I upset about stupid church people? In talking with a grief stricken father, a gentle soul, and loving dad, I found out that more than one-- count 'em 5 -- well meaning Christians told him that his son would live and...

Here is a collection of my most popular Blogs if you haven't read them. Every once in awhile I run though my stats and post the most interesting links. So, here you go, Fire and Grace's most read blogs. Do You Need A Miracle Preach the Gospel at All Times Rhema - Hearing from God, Right Now 5 Fold Ministry Everyone Gets to Play Intimacy - A Really Personal Relationship Parable of the Water Buffalo (Humor) The Case Against Fundamentalism (Theology) Facebook 10 Commandments (Humor) Glory Glory Hallelujah, He Reigns Sound of Rain Why I am Not for Federal Healthcare (Humor) Supernatural I Supernatural II Supernatural III

I like to laugh-- it's one of the things I enjoy about my wife, Mary Anne-- she makes me laugh. Laughter is the music of the soul -- even if mine is heavy metal sometimes. I just received the details of a class reunion that I am looking forward to attending in July. A gal that I used to yak with in homeroom is going to be doing stand-up at one of the events. I'm looking forward to a few laughs and some "clean comedy." I was reading her bio - sounds like a fun job. She converted to Judaism and was formerly a protestant -- one who puts tarter sauce on gefilte fish. Me, I'd like to become a stand-up comic, all I need now some material. I don't know about you, but what I find funny is a unique perspective on the ordinary. I love things that little kids say-- it's insight into their world. Here's a favorite "Dear God, Please send me a pony. I never asked for anything before, You can look it up." My own daughters offer a wealth of insight-- My ...

I got a chuckle out of some of the comments from my previous blog, The Miracle of Facebook . I also noticed a few online faux pauxs from some of my more intelligent readers. :o] So, for those that want to be on Facebook, here are the 10 Commandments and 10 Suggestions for the survival of the over 40 crowd on Facebook. 1. You shall have no other gods before me. - This includes Twitter, MySpace and Plaxo and Classmates. 2. You shall not make for yourself any carved image; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. - Buy a flat screen monitor and dump the CRT! And don't give it to your parents! 3. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain. - Even if your stupid !*#%$ Internet connection is down, and tech support doesn't answer. Yes, and try checking the power-strip under the desk. 4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day i...

I don't know about you, but I have been online since AOL was text based chat and Microsoft had a six page web site with a black & white photo of Bill Gates. I was there in the early days of AIM, Yahoo mail, Amazon, eBay, MySpace-- I probably have some AOL floppy discs some where. And, I even owned my own Internet Service Provider and hosting company (see my promo pic 1997)... but I was not prepared for Facebook. What makes Facebook so different? I actually know some of these people-- and for a long time! Like how about 1964! Sure there are issues with social networking sites-- social "not working" sites if you use them on the job. Too bad for those that abuse them and do stupid things. I guess that after all these years; all within the last few months, faces and profiles of my now, over 50, childhood friends are appearing at the rate of about one per day. I scoured Google, Yahoo and MySpace for years trying to look up some of these kids- now turned AARP members! Sure,...

This morning I got up to do a few medical errands. I was scheduled for standard blood tests to go along with my yearly physical. Because I am starting a new job, I decided to put all this on my old insurance and just get it done. I also scheduled a check up with my dermatologist, two dental appointments and some other stuff-- OK, a colonoscopy-- there I said it. My doctor has considered me number one for 10 years. I guess after all this time we are now so close he needs a picture. Blood tests require fasting. I am pretty good in the morning and can usually put off eating. I was, however; thinking about getting blood tests on other occasions... like when you get married. On one of those outings, a woman went in for her blood test, and fainted; crashing to the floor from the little chair. Of course I could only see this in silhouette through the "sheet." It was a bit like a scene from Hitchcock's psycho. The phlebotomist got her off the floor and she promptly got sick. They...

Have you ever noticed that folks with kids are easy to spot-- even when the kids are not in tow? You can hear them whistling the theme songs to Winne the Pooh and Scooby Doo on the elevator and in the break-room at work. Of course they'll deny it, and try to come up with a classic rock tune just to prove you wrong. Really? Middle aged men and woman humming the opening riff to Ozzy Osborn's Crazy Train , yeah right, I am not convinced. Non-parents will not have a clue about this - and label it and you "old," with no further ado. Parents, they are usually not the best dressed in line at the grocery store either. I have studied this phenomenon on the Discovery Channel. The real clue is the amount of them that end up with Stacy and Clinton on What Not to Wear . The evolution of the species parenta nurotica is very closely related to daddytodamntired . There are some other mutations within the species including joggasaurus which developed as a defense mechanism against...

This morning I was awake around 3 am. I just wasn't feeling that well -- having a coughing fit, which finally subsided. I had left the bedroom window open even though it was cold and rainy. And outside in the darkness, I could hear the rain falling on the saturated ground. If you listen carefully, rain makes a different sound when it falls on dry ground, then it does on a rain soaked lawn. There is something captivating about the sound of rain -- even the words in Portuguese "som da chuva" and "faz chover" (make it rain) have a meaning beyond the words, don't you think? Our beloved Holy Spirit is often symbolized by water-- falling water, the rain, the river-- a cool refreshing drink -- the ocean; deep calling deep -- our spirit longs for His. Please forgive my out-there-ed-ness as I ponder my early morning moment, which now seems like a dream. As I listened to the rain fall, I thought of Noah as the flood came and rain fell forty days. What was it like to w...

I have an old friend named Percy that I have known since I was in first grade. This is him (2nd from left) in 1967, posing with me (1st on left), and some others, at my brother's birthday party. We grew up in a small Connecticut town, spent years in the same schools, knew each other’s family, and did stuff together as kids. We haven't seen each other since high school graduation about 30 years ago, but we have reconnected on Facebook. Percy is, in my estimation, a genius; holding at least one software patent. Our discussion threads have been about politics, religion, the origin of life, intelligent life, evolution, global warming, creation, and a host of other subjects with which normally identify folks as liberals or conservatives. I really hate labels and stereotypes, preferring to simply think for myself. The two of us could easily be labeled any number of ways. But that is not what Jesus would do; therefore, I am not going to either. What I do know about my friend is this: ...

This year two of my girls graduated, one from High School and the other from Preschool. Sure, I am proud dad. My kids worked hard in many way to get to the podium. They are special, but average kids-- average like their dad. We are not the best, or most talented at anything. But to God, the three of us are extraordinary kids. As I sat in the chairs here are some of the things that struck me. First, I am amazed at how many people can stand for the Pledge of Allegiance, and not hold their right hand over their heart. I guess now that we have tossed Bible reading and prayer out of school, now we can toss patriotism too. After all, that word "God" could offend someone. At the Barnstable High ceremony I cried during the Star Spangle Banner as the competition winning band played. I also welled up for the pledge of Allegiance as it was said by two dozen 4 and 5-year-olds at Little Folk Farm. There is something about childlike faith that cuts through the bologna (thanks Oscar Meyer) ...

I was listening to the pastor this morning. He asked us at what point we think Peter got saved? When he met Jesus and followed him? When his nets overflowed and he wept bitterly about his sinfulness? When he said Jesus was the Messiah? When Jesus said "Satan get thee behind me?" while Peter blabbered on about his faithfulness to his friend? When he denied Jesus 3 times? When he said "Lord, you know I love you?" It is a good exercise. My wife and I had a frank discussion about where we are with church today. We indulged in expressing some dissatisfaction over a list of things that have happened to us at church these last eight years. We actually think we're justified in becoming atheists, but we'd like your opinion before pulling the plug on Christianity all together. So here's the drill, at what point should we have left Christianity, and called it quits? - The time the home-group leader said he would like to invite us for dinner and never made plans. ...

This week has been intense... job hunting, kids, cars, graduations... I have also had some back-and-forth about "the church" with some of my blog readers. We've discussed the fact that many folks are disenfranchised regarding church, and leadership simply blames it on the world's influence. They say, "We are a fast food society and we want church the same way." "We are too busy." "I can't fit in anything else." I just want to know why? It is not biblical to be too busy for God, or His people. Romans 12:2 "Don't let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold." Phillips For those of us living in first world countries, we are all working hard; usually both parents in a family, just to have a house, a couple of cars, and a few creature comforts. Some are working seven days a week and not taking a Sabbath. Now I am not saying that the Sabbath is a particular day, but it is a day of rest; a day OFF! It is one of the 10...

Yesterday my blog had record high readership! I guess you folks would rather laugh a little at satire and sarcasm, than read my religious rants and political diatribes. ;o] That sure says something about my marketing image! It's been a strange few weeks, looking for work, interviewing, and now entertaining an offer -- seeing old friends at the church anniversary, buying a car with my eldest daughter, the warm weather, a date night with Mary Anne, good night kisses from the little ones -- lots of things to be grateful for. Thanks, God, you're awesome! Most people would say, "you're good!" and I am-- but not because of all that I have. Emotionally that is all very gratifying, and things have been a lot worse for darn sure! As I was meditating this morning, I started to think about the following verse. It all started when an old classmate (Don't you love Facebook!) shared how difficult things were for her, her health, her relationship and her job. Do not lay up f...

Skirmish after skirmish, battle after battle, finally we have taken down the stalwart and sturdy steel water buffalo! This war of wills, brawn and finance -- I mean liars, cheats and thieves -- wasn't pretty. And we are out of coffee. The "deal," an intriguing and illusive creature itself, finally lead us to our pray; the 3,200 pound Yaris (Japanese for water buffalo I think...). The two have a symbiotic relationship. Our hunt has become a war. The water buffalo, now being fiercely protected by a rogue group of pirates patrolling the Auto-Mile. The Toyota Yaris, its actual species name, is easy pray once you get her out in the open. They can easily be downed with correct caliber financial instrument. The problem is the network of small but dangerous obstacles, terrain and somewhat spooky creatures we encountered on our 5 day safari. Like true survivors, we dealt with each one as we encountered them, some with stealth and others with a barrage of small arms fire (code for...