A walk through the Forrest

Separation

2009-06-01T06:25:00.000-07:00

Distance cannot diminish the bond we have with God. The bond we have is not one we work at, it is there, it just is. It is called Grace... One way you could describe grace is to liken it to the air around us. You can do nothing to remove the air from around you, nor can you out run it, nor destroy it. We live in it. And like air Grace is a gift given by a loving God whom knows our weaknesses, and CHOSESS to love us despite them. Choosing to believe otherwise, will not harm grace nor will it remove you from it. It will simply remain.

Are there consequences for our sin, YES. Are there consequences for our misdeeds and wrong doing to others, YES. But Grace remains, the Love God has for you cannot be broken! More later. Out of time.

Speak to me…

2009-05-27T12:27:00.000-07:00

The radio turned on, and as I do many days I laid in bed and began to speak to my Lord! My question was how do I know when I hear from you Lord? Please speak to me to help me understand… That was pretty much it word for word. I pressed snooze as I laid there and believe it or not, I fell back to sleep…

7:17 am… Queue the radio again…. In big green numbers I see 7:17. I guess I nodded off again.

"Look up John 7:17", In my ½ awake and ½ asleep stage I heard a small voice say. Strange I thought as I hit snooze again…

I don’t remember exactly what time I did get up today, one of the blessings of being the boss I guess, but in the back of my mind I knew I was supposed to look up some scripture, but couldn’t for the life of me remember what it was… John 3:17 kept coming to mind but when I looked it up, I thought well that was just me talking to my self, and I put the bible away and took another sip of my coffee! Then I remembered it was 7 O’clock when I heard the voice not 3 O'clock. So I looked up that scripture.

John 7:17 (New American Standard Bible)
17"(A)If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself.

And with the faith like a child, it kind of made sense. So that was today. I guess I am willing to do his will! Or want to be willing! So did God just answer a Question with a Question? I don’t know but I do know that it cool and it made me happy! It is nice to be simple minded! Trevor OUT.

Practicing forgotten Gifts

2009-05-22T12:22:00.000-07:00

Mark 9:23-24 23" 'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."
24Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"

I AM THAT FATHER!

Some background

A long long time ago, in a land not that far away, a young impressionable boy of 17 was at a Pentecostal meeting where speakers came and talked of this POWER, this HOLY SPIRIT…
Now 13 years later, I am reminded of those meetings where I was filled/baptized in the HOLY SPIRIT! The single most empowering event in my life, when I experienced (for the first time) LIFE in this Christian walk, and Gods love for ME?! I saw with my little eyes, people who had demons, on or in them, and those demons come out, I heard them speak… I saw God touch people, in such a way that their physical body could not stand, could not function normally, and also experienced such an encounter my self! I prayed for people and God moved through me, to touch people in that way, and pride crept in… At 17, I thought I was pretty cool to be able to do this… I thought to my self, and maybe even said it to a couple of people… My youth pastor quickly stomped that out! I believe his words were “You know that had nothing to do with YOU”!!! Ouch, that sucks, and it hurt, and he was right! I was willing, and that was all it had to do with me. More on that later…

The important part is: God took time to speak to Trevor!!!!

Do you realize how amazing that statement is? GOD, you know the guy who spoke and all we know came to be, Spoke to Trevor!!! How could I continue to go on living the same life after that point?

Well it came to pass that distraction after distraction came into his life, and being young and foolish he chased nearly all of them. And as time passed the memory of what God had done for him faded to a distant foggy memory. There were times in his life where he would remember, and yet the distractions would come. Now I am 30 years old, and last weekend I was reminded of who JESUS is, and who the Holy Spirit is and why he is here! So now I practice, I will practice praying for people again, and sharing my testimony with them, and loving them. OUT OF TIME I HAVE TO RUN MORE LATER!

2 Corinthians 10:8For even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than pulling you down, I will not be ashamed of it.

The "Thanking" has me!?

2009-05-14T08:15:00.001-07:00

Thankfulness… If there is such a thing… grabbed me this A.M. as I awoke. I stared up that the ceiling with the sound of my alarm clock going off… I hit the snooze button and like so many other morning, I began to ask for a blessing or for something from God… But this morning was different. I thought, as I laid in bed, how like every other morning, I am constantly asking for a hand out from my creator. And decided to just thank Him for all of the blessing I could think of… Time passed and I realized that I had so much to be thankful for, it was hard to ask for more. In America, despite your political, or religious views, you have a lot to be thankful for.

So that is all. It has been a long, long while since I have posted, and that time is now over. I am thankful for that!

Blessings to you today.

Trevor out.

Letter to a friend?

2008-06-27T08:27:00.000-07:00

Point Way Church In Brainerd!

Hey, we have never formally met, but like most Minnesotans, I have seen you in concert. I am currently heading up the worship team… (ME) for this new church plant. We are planning to launch in September. Currently we are a cell group based church we have 3 cells, of 6-10 people in each group, hard to nail down that number yet as people are always coming and going.

My pastor, Steve Erickson, contacted you to see if you would come and help us… I am an insurance agent here in Brainerd, (who knows how that happened), but can play guitar, and sing, (a little of both) but I am not an experience worship leader… , I would say I am a worshiper, and love the Lord, and have a strong desire to bring people into the presence of God, but when it comes to the actual practice of Doing the worship leading, I have always helped out, but not often been the leader.

This is the second church I have helped to plant. And may be it is because I am in sales, but I know that unless you ask, they aren’t going to know you would like them to help. SO this is me asking. If you would like more information! Or would like to meet us, we will be holding a BBQ this Saturday the 28th starting at 11 at the pastors house. 218-838-9802 Steve Erickson for directions, Or my self 218-251-2107. I know with the lack of notice you will probably not be able to come, but if you are free, you are invited to come up chill out and grill out with us may be learn a little more about our vision, and how we want the family of God to be realized here in Brainerd!

****, I would love your help, I need some one who can give me some pointers, on leading people into the presence of God through worship. Even if you cannot commit to coming up, I would still love your ideas as to what a good worship set consists of, song ideas, tip, and or any wisdom you think my be helpful for a guy who feels like he is over his head. Thank for your time.

Sincerely
Trevor F. Tobin.

Encouragement, and a cattle prod!

2008-06-25T08:19:00.001-07:00

Encouragement, and a cattle prod!

Hey guys, I just wanted remind every one to examine their hearts today. I was doing that this morning, and needed to scrap away layer upon layer of apathy. Thought may be some of you would be dealing with same. I want to encourage all of you to invite Godly people, who you respect to come along and help us grow this church! To help reach the lost, to help create a church where you don’t need to be perfect, or be afraid to share your struggles with the pastor, or your bother and sisters in the church. The family of God needs to be realized, as there are times when our earthly families will let us down. But I would challenge all of you to go step outside your comfort zone today, and talk to that person or people you have been hesitant to. If you are just waiting for the right time, consider this your notice, Today is that day, and now is that time. Don’t be afraid to share that love that saves you and I, with those who are searching. They may not realize that their actions are all pointing to the hole that is with in them, no matter how much of this world they throw in there, it will never be filled. We are the keepers of the well that never runs dry, that will fill the void in there lives.

Thanks for striving with me to plant a church that will be a light to those in darkness, that will be that well for those who thirst, that will be the safe haven when they are in need and will Point the way to Christ!

God bless!

Your Brother
Trevor

"Gun-Free Zones Are Not Safe"

2008-05-02T07:27:00.000-07:00

by John R. Lott Jr.

Americans' fears over the safety of schools continues.
Last Monday, three colleges and four K-to-12 schools were shut down by threats of violence.
This week over 25,000 college students at 300 chapters in 44 states belong to a group, Students for Concealed Carry on College Campuses, that will carry empty handgun holsters to protest their concerns about not being able to defend themselves.
With the first anniversary of the Virginia Tech attack last week and the discussions that it created, we clearly have not been able to put that and other attacks behind us. There are good reasons why the safety measures adopted over the last year to speed up response times or hiring more police haven't eliminated the fear people feel.
The attack earlier this year at Northern Illinois University proved that even six minutes was too long. It took six minutes before the police were able to enter the classroom, and in that short time five people were murdered. Compared to the Virginia Tech and other attacks, six minutes is actually record breaking speed, but it was simply not fast enough.
The Thursday before the NIU murders five people were killed in a city council chambers in Kirkwood, Mo. There was even a police officer already there when the attack occurred. But as happens time after time in these attacks, when uniformed police are there, the killers either wait for the police to leave the area or they are the first people killed. In Kirkwood, the police officer was killed immediately when the attack started. People cowered or were reduced to futilely throwing chairs at the killer.
There is a problem that people just are unwilling to recognize.
Just like attacks last year at the Westroads Mall in Omaha, Neb., or Trolley Square Mall in Salt Lake City or the recent attack at the Tinley Park Mall in Illinois or all the public schools attacks, all these cases had one thing in common: They took place in "gun free zones," where private citizens were not allowed to carry their guns with them.
The malls in Omaha and Salt Lake City were in states that let people carry concealed handguns, but private property owners are allowed to post signs banning guns and those malls were among the few places in their states that chose to post such signs. In the Trolley Square attack an off-duty police officer fortunately violated the ban and stopped the attack. The attacks at Virginia Tech or the other public schools occurred in some of the few areas within their states that people are not allowed to carry concealed handguns.
It is not just recent killings that are occurring in these gun-free zones. Multiple-victim public shootings keep on occurring in places where guns are banned. Nor are these horrible incidents limited to just gun-free zones in the US.
In 1996 Martin Bryant killed 35 people at Port Arthur in Tasmania, Australia. In the last half-dozen years, European countries including France, Germany and Switzerland have experienced multiple-victim shootings. The worst school attack in Germany claimed 17 deaths, another 14 deaths; one attack in Switzerland claimed the lives of 14 regional legislators.
At some point you would think that something is going on here, that these murderers aren't just picking their targets at random. Yet, when one thinks about it, this pattern isn't really too surprising.
Most people understand that guns deter criminals. The problem is that instead of gun-free zones making it safe for potential victims, they make it safe for criminals.
Criminals are less likely to run into those who might be able to stop them. Everyone wants to keep guns away from criminals, but the problem is who is more likely to obey the law.
A student expelled for violating a gun-free zone at a college is extremely unlikely ever to get into another college. A faculty member fired for a firearms violation will find it virtually impossible to get another academic position. But even if the killer at Virginia Tech had lived, the notion that the threat of expulsion would have deterred the attacker when he would have already faced 32 death penalties or at least 32 life sentences seems silly.
Letting civilians have permitted concealed handguns limits the damage from attacks. A major factor in determining how many people are harmed by these killers is the amount of time that elapses between when the attack starts and when someone with a gun is able to arrive on the scene.
In cases from the church shooting in Colorado Springs, Colo., last December, where a parishioner who was given permission by the minister to carry her concealed gun into the church quickly stopped the murderer, to an attack last year in downtown Memphis, to the Appalachian Law School, to high schools in such places as Pearl, Miss., concealed handgun permit holders have stopped attacks well before uniformed police could possibly have arrived.
Twice this year armed Israeli citizens have stopped terrorist attacks at schools (once by an armed teacher and another by an armed student). Indeed, despite the fears being discussed about the risks of concealed handgun permit holders, I haven't found one multiple-victim public shooting where a permit holder has accidentally shot a bystander.
With about 5 million Americans currently with concealed handgun permits in the U.S. and states starting having right-to-carry laws for as long as 80 years, we have a lot of experience with these laws, and one thing is very clear: Concealed handgun permit holders are extremely law-abiding and lose their permits for any gun-related violation at hundredths or thousandths of one percentage point. We also have a lot of experience with permitted concealed handguns in schools.
Prior to the 1995 Safe School Zone Act, states with right-to-carry laws let teachers or others carry concealed handguns at school, and several states still allow this today. And there is not a single instance that I or others have found where this produced a single problem. There are today even some universities, including large public universities such as Colorado State University and the University of Utah, that let students carry concealed handguns on school property.
With all the news media coverage of the types of guns used and how the criminal obtained the gun, at some point the news media might begin to mention the one common feature of these attacks: they keep occurring in gun-free zones.
Gun-free zones are a magnet for these attacks. But, even without the media, considering that 15 more states this year debated legislation to let concealed handguns on school campuses, possibly the issue is becoming clear anyway.
John Lott is the author of Freedomnomics and a senior research scientist at the University of Maryland.

The power of a day…

2008-04-16T08:24:00.000-07:00

We take most days as they come, taking for granted that when we are through with this one, another will be on it’s way. Expecting things to just keep right on rolling as they have, but I am amazed at the power of a day. Life can end, life can stop, your whole world can crumble, in just one day. When I look back at the last 4 days, I have been up and down the emotional roller coaster. I am deeply sadden by a good friends actions, concerned about those I love most and what they are experiencing and the decisions they have to make, and my inability to help or change the course of what is to come. Or so I feel. I don’t want to take my days for granted any longer. Just expecting the next one to roll on by followed by the next and the next. Yesterday I had two prayer meetings, and experience God in both of them, but in very different ways. The first was seeing God move in others around me, and the second was feeling God move in me deep down inside. Tears started to flow and I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to control them. Due to my foolish pride, I fought to control them; when every thing deep inside me said "let it come, let it out!" But I didn’t. I don’t understand what that was all about, maybe all the stress of what friends and loved ones are going through, or the pain and destruction I see some of the causing! Or was it that I have wanted to feel God in my life again like I used to. Or is it the uncertainty of a day, and what it may bring. Life begins, relationships end, lives are turned upside down, people become damaged and destroyed all in one day, no different than the next.

Something profound happens in me everyday, and for too long I have taken it for granted! A miracle every day!

2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is(Y) in Christ, he is(Z) a new creation.[b](AA) The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Lord, help me live this day, as that new creation. Let the peace only you can give come, and wash me as white as snow!

COLD!

2008-02-21T11:10:00.000-08:00

This February was just plain too cold. I am boycotting February from here on out. Who is with me?

My Valentine

2008-02-14T08:36:00.000-08:00

Song of Solomon 4:9 (English Standard Version)

9You have captivated my heart, my(A) sister, my bride; you have captivated my heart with one glance of your eyes,

This morning… I am trying to get over a cold, as I finished up a teleconference, was trying to get some more tax preparations taken care of, checking my production for the month, wondering how I was going to come up with the rest of the business I need for the month, wondering about staffing issues, wondering about the balance of my checking account, wondering about the church plant I am helping with, wondering about plans for valentines day with my honey, when I began to become burdened and overwhelmed with where I am, and all that I have to deal with today… When the thought corssed my mind… Small as it is, you have to catch them when they come because they are only here for an instant… “you ought to be on your knees in prayer” Good idea!

So at my office I got on my knees, in the front room and looked out the widow at the beautiful sky, mostly blue with some streaking clouds and a white line of clouds near the horizon…

Beautiful,

and as I sat still in Awe of how beautiful this show is that God puts on for us every day… Peace came… the clouds looked to be stationary, but I could see the beam out front and against the clouds I could tell they were moving slowly to the east, I sat there for a minute and then remembered that it was valentines day, and that I really ought to make God my valentine… I know he delights one glance of my eye…

I guess it just reminded me that we get so caught up in day to day things, and in holidays, that we forget to be IN LOVE with our first love! Are you in love?

Don’t forget this valentines day to give one or two or a thousand glances of your eyes to your ONE TRUE LOVE!

Blessings to you all, on this cold valentines day!

Why does God, want to know me?

2008-02-11T13:12:00.000-08:00

What is this place, earth, what was meant to be a blessing and a wonderful place to live,

Gen 1:31
And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

but due to our sin, turned out to be a place of toil, death, and pain.

Gen 3:16

16To the woman he said, "I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; (O) in pain you shall bring forth children.(P) Your desire shall be for[f] your husband, and he shall(Q) rule over you."
17And to Adam he said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree(R) of which I commanded you, 'You shall not eat of it,'(S) cursed is the ground because of you; (T) in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;18thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field.19By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread,till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken;(U) for you are dust, and(V) to dust you shall return."
Thankfully he didn’t leave us there! Although due to our choice to sin He would be justified in doing so. Yet, because He wants to be with us; wants us to be with Him, more than we can imagine wanting anything in this world. He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not(D) perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
Why? (As I scratch my head) and then after some time, as my brain begins to smoke, because the equation does not compute… I realize, I don’t care WHY! We don’t deserve a relationship with him, yet
“6You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:6-8
So we could be justified in his sacrifice… The bridge that was destroyed by SIN, (which = separation from our loving creator) has been rebuilt by a master carpenter. Why he wants to know us doesn’t matter. Who cares why this amazing God wants to know me, or you? THE GREAT NEWS IS!!! He does, and, he has demonstrated this countless times throughout history, and to this day continues (through his holy spirit) to show me his love. Though I don’t measure up, (See Exodus 20:1-17) He wants to walk with me, and talk with me, and He wants me, to spend time with Him.
What a mystery this place called earth… Well enough time spent writing this, I have a God that wants me to notice him! See you all later.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoYWDCwxExs

Crazy good listening skills make a good leader?

2008-01-31T10:45:00.000-08:00

Proverbs 5:11-14

11and at the end of your life you(O) groan, when your flesh and body are consumed,
12and you say,(P) "How I hated discipline, and my heart(Q) despised reproof!
13I did not listen to the voice of my teachers or incline my ear to my instructors.
14(R) I am at the brink of utter ruin in the assembled congregation."

Opening ones eyes, and stepping back from our current point of observations can often times enlighten us to many things we miss... Duh, you might say, but how often do we actually practice this? Do we daily, weekly or even monthly, take the time to look at our surroundings, and imagine how others are perceiving us, rather than how we see ourselves fitting in? I read something today that made me question the above.

“A leader’s communication must e consistent, clear, and courteous. But leaders must also be good listeners… Ultimately, poor listening leads to hostility, miscommunications, and a breakdown of team cohesion. How are your listening skills? Give your self a 360-Degree review. Ask for feedback concerning your ability and willingness to listen from your boss or mentor, your colleagues, and your subordinates. If you don’t get good grades from all of them, then quiet down, listen up and work to become a better communicator.”

-The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork-

How often do we assume we understand what someone means, buy their actions… Because if I acted in such a way it would mean such and such… And there in lies the problem… They are not us, and they don’t necessarily mean what we would when they act in such a way.

I am out of time… Trevor out

Willing... I am.

2008-01-16T06:38:00.000-08:00

Now I have a hard time getting up in the morning… It really doesn’t matter what time it is. I have tried repeatedly to start a morning devotional time, but have had little success. I think it is partially due to what I get out of the study times I have had in the early morning… I will sit there and wonder where the pages have gone. I started in Luke 1 and now I am in Luke 4… Not knowing what happened in the mean time… But I am willing to do whatever God asks of me. So after praying about it for a couple of weeks, I decided to act. This thing will always just be an idea if we never make it more than that. God needs us to take action.

A good friend of mine “Steve Erickson” once said, “Truth and action in Christ is a ‘holy knot’, Teaching and doing are a package that must not be separated”.

I have to agree, it is the same way in business. We can have great business plan and ideas, but unless you get out there and take action, it will always be just a plan. Someone has to bring it to life. So Lord. I am willing to do the foot work! More than willing, I am excited and love the Idea of helping further your Kingdome! It is you who will have to bring it to life.

So the first Monday of every month, Lord willing, I will open my office, invite everyone to pray with me.

Mark 14:38Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."

Trevor OUT>

We all do?

2007-12-20T06:15:00.000-08:00

My first post, on my first blog… You would think I would spend more time trying to come up with something worth while to read… but no, so here is some thing I have thought about in the past, and now I can post comments on my friends posts!

We all do… We all forget that it is not about us, it is not about what we can get for ourselves, it is about people, and how we interact with them. When we are on a trip across the state or even the country, or even town, when we stop for gas, do we just stare at the counter when we go to pay and hand them our credit card and take our receipt and leave. Or do we look them in the eye, smile say Merry Christmas, and hope they can feel the love of the spirit of God living inside us. Or does it even matter? We will probably never see them again. Will it make a difference in their lives ever? Will it make a difference in ours. Does it make a difference to the God we say we live for? Do we remember after years of being married, that the spouse we chose once made our eyes sparkle?!!! Sparkle!!!! And yet so many times, I see married couples speak to one another with contempt for each other… They respond to the most simple of questions with barbed phrases and sharp tones. Where did the respect, and honor for that person go? I have experienced it myself, I see it almost every time when I hang out with married couples. The gentleness is gone. The person we are supposed lift up and honor and cherish most has some how become the person we treat with the most insensitivity, carelessness, and least respect. WHY? We all do… From time to time… But this Christmas, stop for a long moment, really stop……. ….. ….. and remember what that person was to you when you stood with them in front of God and a congregation of people, and VOWED!!!! I will take you, to have, to hold, to honor and cherish, till death do us part… Are you living out the vow you made before God and man? Or are you breaking your vows? Are you breaking your covenant? Look up the words in the dictionary, the ones you used to convey to that person how you pledged to take care of them, how you pledged to hold them in high regard… Who am I to talk? I am just a screw up, just like you…

But in Gods eyes I am one of his, loved and forgiven! What a gift, I receive that this Christmas, and I need in more than ever!