Now I UNDERSTAND

 

2 Corinthians 5:1

King James Version

5 For we know that if our earthly house 

of this tabernacle were dissolved, 

we have a building of God, 

an house not made with hands, 

eternal in the heavens.

GOD made me study Architecture for a reason.

He made my father make me take it up.

He made me love writing.

He made me think independently.

He made me do research on my own.

He made me figure things out on my own.

He made me study, instead of socialize.

So many things make sense now.

Like I just finished listening to Amir Tsarfati's sermon:

"The Next Temple"

Now, it's clearer than ever.

There was a first temple.

A second temple.

A third temple to come.

And a fourth temple in the future.

Many of the things Tsarfati said, ties up with where SPIRIT led me.

With the NEW Jerusalem, there will be no need for a temple.

Revelation 21:3

King James Version

3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, 

Behold, 

the tabernacle of God is with men, 

and he will dwell with them, 

and they shall be his people, 

and God himself shall be with them, 

and be their God.

Revelation 21:22

King James Version

22 And I saw no temple therein: 

for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb 

are the temple of it.

My soul knew there would be no need for structures one day.

Perhaps, that's why I've never really been interested in structural engineering.

Or anything that pertained to construction.

Much less catering to people's egos.

Now, I know why.

John 4:24

King James Version

24 God is a Spirit: 

and they that worship him 

must worship him in spirit and in truth.

GOD made me take up Architecture, through my father.

That I may know ancient and modern structures.

That's how I got to know about builders and architects.

That's how I got to know about primitive "mounds".

That's how I got to know Greek, Egyptian, and Roman structures.

Such as the Parthenon, the pyramids, and the Vatican.

All useful to my Scripture studies under SPIRIT now.

I've always loved "theory", now it's all "practice".

GOD mad me take up Architecture, for another reason.

That I may know about "perspective".

That I may see from many "points of view".

As born again, I now see from GOD's point of view.

And that's all that matters.

Proverbs 29:18

King James Version

18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: 

but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

He made me love studying, and writing.

That I may be a good student to SPIRIT.

He wanted me to share GOD's WORD with you.

2 Timothy 2:15

King James Version

15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, 

a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, 

rightly dividing the word of truth.

All these things only make sense, when GOD makes you born again.

Now, I know I was really doing something right, early on.

Even if it seemed contrary to how the world ran.

I never wanted to be caught up with its ways.

As if, on a deeper level, I know I shouldn't.

Who was guiding me then?

Surely, it was the SPIRIT of GOD.

Isaiah 30:21

King James Version

21 And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, 

saying, 

This is the way, walk ye in it, 

when ye turn to the right hand, 

and when ye turn to the left.

Everything I did had to be clear, simple, easy, purposeful, thoughtful, caring, fuss-free, economical, and efficient.

My motor really ran differently, even when I was a kid.

Now it really makes so much sense, all my curious ways.

I'm eternally grateful GOD saved me.

That I may be of use to GOD, and you.

All that I was, is all that I really am.

According to GOD's will.

For He had a purpose.

Related material:

Lessons from Architecture

Image: Clipart Lbrary

BUILDING blogs of FAITH

 

The LORD JESUS said:

John 7:38

King James Version

38 He that believeth on me, 

as the scripture hath said, 

out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

I am not meant to build physical structures.

I am meant to build blogs honoring GOD.

That's what GOD made me for.

I was made to take up Architecture.

My heart was in words.

GOD had the final say.

His WORD.

I searched everywhere.

Looking for absolute truth.

Not realizing, GOD was in my heart.

All that lengthy, arduous time.

Took me a long time to come around.

But GOD's got patience.

He's got eternity.

I don't.

Grieve not,

that it took you a long time to know GOD.

Grieve,

when you don't seek Him at all.

What were you made to do on this earth?

Keep seeking.

Keep searching.

Keep praying.

Wait, watch, listen.

You will have your answers.

GOD hears the faithful.

Just when you think GOD isn't there.

Oh, He's very much there!

Waiting for your call.

From a humbled heart.

From a grieving heart.

From a lost heart.

From a defeated heart.

Even from an angry heart.

GOD has no use for pride.

Leave it outside your door.

Better yet, throw it into the ocean,

and have the sharks gobble it up.

Like eats like.

We started knowing nothing.

Through JESUS,

we learn everything.

Why remain hard-hearted?

Your heart of flesh

needs the HEART of GOD.

All we know on this earth

is as nothing

compared to what JESUS knows.

Who do you listen to?

What is the company you keep?

Are they good for you?

Are you good for them?

Or are you all bent on destruction?

JESUS loves children

because they are pure, teachable,

joyful, open-hearted, fun, trusting.

Adults are a different story.

The word "adulterated"

isn't by chance.

It has the word "adult" in it.

The secret of GOD?

In every word.

There is a real battle going on.

GOD's pure WORD,

versus the enemy's corrupted words.

It isn't hard to tell them apart.

One makes us live.

One makes us die.

When you think you know much.

You probably don't know much at all.

A born again doesn't expect worldly freedom.

This fallen world won't offer you that.

Only through GOD's SPIRIT 

do we have true liberty.

The world as we know it,

doesn't know GOD.

The world to come?

It's all GOD.

This world can't offer you,

anything of lasting value.

Only GOD can.

When GOD makes you born again,

the learning sticks.

You will be forever changed.

When the world makes you born again,

you will still be subject

to man's fallenness.

The day you acknowledge your sins,

is the day GOD will show up.

The day you acknowledge your ignorance,

is the day GOD will teach you.

The day you thank the LORD each day,

is the day GOD blesses you even more.

Authenticity.

That's what my soul searched for.

For the longest time.

Now, I'm no longer lost.

I live, and breathe GOD.

The enemy of CHRIST

is a pretender.

He pretends to have a throne.

Or, at least, aspires to have one.

Only GOD has a throne.

Slow learner, that one.

When you are truly GOD's own,

your work will change.

You will change.

You will take that 180-degree turn.

And never look back.

By never looking back,

we mean that you won't want your old ways.

Who wants to put on old clothes,

when JESUS gave you new ones to wear?

You are a new person in CHRIST, remember?

Working for JESUS

is the most sublime work.

Every day is full of surprises.

Tons to do.

But there's nothing like it.

Who would have thought 

I'd be writing this way?

Who would have thought

I'd be teaching this way?

Only GOD did.

Come down from your towers.

Come down from your lofty abodes.

Those won't last.

Only JESUS does.

Do you care to be popular?

Or would you rather

your heart is right with GOD?

Do you care to be rich?

Or would you rather

see the mansion JESUS saved for you?

What citizenship do we speak of?

Believers are citizens of heaven, 

not of this earth.

Does it matter you are not liked?

Does it matter you are not loved?

Does it matter you are not accepted?

The world doesn't care

for those who love JESUS.

Accept that.

Aspire?

Or expire?

The choice is easy.

Every blog,

every post,

came from JESUS.

They were my

building blogs of faith!

Related posts:

MOST enjoyable WORK

LIFESAVING vital information

BORN AGAIN articles

BORN AGAIN classics

SPIRIT of GOD

ROCK steady

BLOOKS

Image: Clipart Library

GOOD for BRAIN health

 Isaiah 64:8

King James Version

8 But now, 

O Lord, 

thou art our father; 

we are the clay, 

and thou our potter; 

and we all are the work of thy hand.

Has it really been that long?

That I've been inspired by a structure?

Thanks to a feature I saw on cable today.

Frank Gehry's structure was stunning.

A fantastic, convoluted structure.

And I learned that building was called Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health.

So very fitting it would also be located at quirky Las Vegas, Nevada.

Wikipedia reports:

"The center is approximately 65,000 sq ft (6,000 m2) and includes 13 examination rooms, offices for health care practitioners and researchers, a "Museum of the Mind", and a community auditorium. The center also serves as the headquarters for Keep Memory Alive, the Las Vegas Alzheimer's Association and the Las Vegas Parkinson's Disease Association."

Had this building appeared when I was studying Architecture, perhaps, I may have become a full-fledged architect.

Perhaps.

But GOD had other plans.

He made sure there was nothing especially interesting at school.

I've always loved studying, but there was hardly time to digest stuff.

Sure, we studied Sir Banister Fletcher's "A History of Architecture".

But history of architecture is a study in itself, and cannot be surface study.

At least, for me.

I liked to absorb what I study.

Gehry's brain health structure is a 12-year-old beauty, and it came too late for me.

Still, I can appreciate its quirky, wavy lines, use of materials, and spotless facilities.

Methinks it's good for my brain health.

I had been fed a diet of pyramids, Greek temples, European churches, American buildings, a host of other popular architects.

But I did hear of Frank Gehry then.

Just didn't realize his works were revolutionary.

Seeing the documentary, and videos on the link below, woke my dormant brain cells, regarding design.

We all need a good dose of inspiration.

As born again, GOD lifted my thinking to another level.

Of really serving man, and not ego.

Thus, the PRAISE village I was creating in my mind.

And now, Gehry gave me more ideas.

Curiously, Frank Gehry had a particular affinity for fish design.

Such that, it was incorporated in his buildings in various countries.

I also learned he had Russian-Polish Jewish roots.

And I think to myself, it would be great if he believed in JESUS, who asked His disciples:

Matthew 4:19

King James Version

19 And he saith unto them, 

Follow me, 

and I will make you fishers of men.

I am happy that SPIRIT alerted me to Gehry's work today.

May all our work honor JESUS.

And may it always be useful to man.

Ephesians 2:10

King James Version

10 For we are his workmanship, 

created in Christ Jesus unto good works, 

which God hath before ordained 

that we should walk in them.

SPIRIT gives believers lots of inspiration.

He gives us life!

I thank Him for today.

And every day.

2 Corinthians 3:6

King James Version

6 Who also hath made us 

able ministers of the new testament; 

not of the letter, 

but of the spirit: 

for the letter killeth, 

but the spirit giveth life.

Related material:

DOC Frank Gehry - Architecture In Motion

Frank Gehry's TED Talk in February 1990 - My days as a young rebel

CLEVELAND CLINIC LOU RUVO CENTER FOR BRAIN HEALTH

9 Things You Didn’t Know about Frank Gehry

13 Iconic (and Wacky) Frank Gehry Buildings

13 Outstanding Frank Gehry Buildings and Their History

Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health by Frank Gehry

Robert Harding photos

Image: Cygnusloop99

The Unpolished Part of Life

Philippians 4:12

King James Version

12 I know both how to be abased, 

and I know how to abound: 

every where and in all things 

I am instructed both to be full 

and to be hungry, 

both to abound and to suffer need.

The place was cramped.

The models were in a frenzy, rushing, changing clothes, fixing their looks, bickering, fussing, tense.

But onstage, they were polished.

You would not have detected all the mild chaos in the back room, where I had been in the thick of it.

When I saw them featured on tv, the more I was amused, for these models were true professionals, modeling our stuff with ease, and aplomb.

The reluctant designer -- moi -- not hot about fashion shows and diva models, was dragged into joining the fashion show at a Hard Rock Cafe in the big city.

This was the period I was done with my shops, and was thinking of quitting.

But, as is my quirky career, fate took hold of the reins, for I was often reluctant this, reluctant that, but when faced with having to do the work people thought I could do, well, I found myself succeeding, and that's really very strange.

Backstage is where all the real stuff happens -- the unvarnished, raw truth.

And I don't mean only fashion shows, but the work all of us do.

In shops and malls, on tv and magazines, it's all glitzy.

The products are polished, perfect, and packaged.

We don't really see the labor put out by people each day, so we may consume what we wish to consume, or afford to consume. 

We assistants, factory workers, designers, owners, and entrepreneurs, would also be working till late at night or up to early morning, making sure everything's in place.

The world also doesn't see the life each one of us lead, but only the work we put out.

That's the backstage I speak of.

And that's where most of my true writing comes from -- observing all the details that don't interest others.

There's no drama, just real, hard work behind the scenes of most anything we create.

You'd know, for you, too, put out the work you do.

As you can imagine, I have no interest in designer divas, or temperamental models, or slick ads, or expensive shops.

I prefer being with everyday workers like myself, and really feel the pulse of the people.

That's where the real stuff is.

It is rich with people's lives, strength, wisdom, and character.

Not to mention the everyday sacrifices few people see, or care about.

The kind the rich and famous don't wish to be bothered with.

Because if they cared, we'd all be up there on stage with them, too.

Thing is, I never liked the stage.

I could never "act".

Plus, I've got stage fright.

Updated 24 January 2022