THE BALLAD OF CHRISTOPHER BAUER
Now listen up children and I will tell
Of the night I stormed the gates of hell
To do battle with the devil himself
And see who came out stronger

It was just another late night stint
But I was sick and tired of my besetting sin
And decided this time that lose or win
I’d live with this no longer

Now I’m smarter and stronger than any man’s son
So I strolled right up to those gates of flame
To stand toe to toe with ol’ Satan himself
And take him for a ride

So I banged on the gate and sounding tough
I said, “Lucifer! You might think you’re rough
But let’s see if you’re just man enough
To have me whip your hide!”

Well just like that buddy he was there
His putrid smell was everywhere
He smiled and said, “Then let’s clear the air
Cause I’ve been waiting for you.”

I didn’t like the way he smiled
Or the way he talked, or the way he smelled
And I knew right then the powers of hell
Were stronger than I figured

Well he threw a left when I threw a right
And sparks flew out where our fists collided
And fires sprang up on every side
As we began our rumble

I tell you he was smart and strong and mean
He fought like no one I had ever seen
And it wasn’t long before I could see
That I was in big trouble

This fight wasn’t for turf or pride
It was for my very soul inside
And I could see the stakes were far too high
If this fight would go against me

He seemed to know my every move
He was ten times stronger and twice as smooth
And there was nothing now that I could do
To stop him or to trick him

Then he picked me up and he spun me round
And like a child’s toy he threw me down
And then he pinned me to the ground
With the weight of forty thousand men

As he sat on me and crushed my chest
I gasped for one last final breath
He choked me while I tasted death
And the devil started talking:

He said, “Remember back in ‘59
When you had your first taste of cheap wine
Well I knew right then that you were mine
And I because your rightful father.

“And since that day I’ve added sins
With sex and pride and greed and shame
And you should know by now you’d never win
This game has long been over.

“I’m here to take you down with me
You’re going to spend eternity
In torment with my angels and me
In pain that lasts forever.

“I think you underestimated me
And somehow you just didn’t see
That I own you, you belong to me
And you don’t have an answer.”

I knew right then that he was right
That though he was the father of lies
He owned my soul and had my life
And I was his forever.

It was over then, I was out of breath
As I was being crushed to death
I whispered, “Jesus save me by your
blood!”

And the devil he leapt up off of me.
He screamed, “Don’t you ever use that name
Don’t speak of the blood the Lamb of God
Or I’ll crush you first and take you down
I swear I’ll make you sorry!”

But by then I knew that dude was done
That by God’s grace the battle was won
And Satan can’t stand against the Son
And he would have to flee

So I stopped trying to fight him by myself
And I spoke the Name, I claimed the blood
And you should have seen that devil run
Back to the place reserved for him.

I said, “Alpha and Omega, Beginning and the End
My Savior the Messiah, My Redeemer and my Friend
The Wonderful the Counselor Almighty God is He
Yeshua Ha’Meshiah, He is the Coming King
Lion of Judah, Lamb of God, Atoning Sacrifice
Prince of Peace, King of kings, Lord of lords, The Light

And that was the night of my deliverance
When I fought and lost but Jesus won
And since that day I wear the name
That is above all others

He leads me in the paths of right
He makes me choose to walk in light
And I know I have eternal life
And I no longer live in fear

For I can claim his holiness
My guilt is paid, my sin is gone
I don’t do the things I used to do
Cause I have a new heart

And life is different since that day
I’m born again, I’m here to say
All things are new, and I am clean
I got a brand new start

Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise Him all creatures here below
Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts
Praise Father Son and Holy Ghost
Praise Father Son and Holy Ghost
Praise Father Son and Holy Ghost
Amen!

Doing the Father's Business
so, how do i know whether i am in the center of God's will, doing exactly what He wants?
God's will is not doing what i WANT to do. just because i like it doesn't mean i am called to do it.
God's will is not doing what i am GIFTED to do. just because i have the talent doesn't mean i am called to use it.
God's will is not doing what OTHERS ASK of me. i am not called to passively respond to every need, just because it is urgent.
in each of these cases, i often feel conflicted. i suppose that conflicted feelings are an indication of conflict, usually the conflict between what the Holy Spirit is calling me to do and what i commit myself to do. as the Nouwen article says, i think the only way to discern is to listen in silence to the call of God, and then do exactly what brings a sense of "rightness" and joy that is discerned in those moments.
i feel a bit of resolution over my busyness. but walking in it is not as easy as writing about the principles.
speak, Lord, for your servant is listening....

Can You Drink the Cup?

"Action . . . can help us to claim and celebrate our true self. But . . . we need discipline, because the world in which we live says: 'Do this, do that, go here, go there, meet him, meet her.' Busyness has become a sign of importance. Having much to do, many places to go, and countless people to meet gives us status and even fame. However, being busy can lead us away from our true vocation and prevent us from drinking our cup.
"It is not easy to distinguish between doing what we are called to do and doing what we want to do. Our many wants can easily distract us from our true action. True action leads us to the fulfillment of our vocation. . . . The most prestigious position in society can be an expression of obedience to our call as well as a sign of our refusal to hear that call, and the least prestigious position, too, can be a response to our vocation as well as a way to avoid it.
"Drinking our cup involves carefully choosing those actions which lead us closer to complete emptying of it, so that at the end of our lives we can say with Jesus: 'It is fulfilled' (John 19:30). That indeed, is the paradox: we fulfill life by emptying it. In Jesus' own words: 'Anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it.' (Matt. 10:39)
"When we are committed to do God's will and not our own we soon discover that much of what we do doesn't need to be done by us. What we are called to do are actions that bring us true joy and peace. Just as leaving friends for the sake of the Gospel will bring us friends, so too will letting go of actions not in accord with our call.
"Actions that lead to overwork, exhaustion, and burnout can't praise and glorify God. What God calls us to do we can do and do well. When we listen in silence to God's voice and speak with our friends in trust we will know what we are called to do, and we will do it with a grateful heart."
-Henri Nouwen (submitted by Michael Wilson)