The blog of Sterling Franklin (DJ Sterf), servant of Jesus Christ.

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Status Time


1. Done with the first sermon on Habakkuk
'How Long, O LORD?'
...in Shockwave format:
http://www.djsterf.net/sermons/habakkuk-1.swf
OR in .pdf format:
http://www.djsterf.net/sermons/habakkuk-1.pdf

2. Starting on the second sermon on Habakkuk
'How Just, O LORD!'

3. I keep getting 1 on hard stuff on DDR Extreme.
One of the most frustrating things about playing now -- I always think about getting a Great, and then I'll end up with a Great on a random easy step. I have numerous pictures of 1 on Paranoia Survivor, and I hope to get 0 soon on it and be done with it.

4. Internship Stuff
Hopefully it'll go through. The four main categories I have been commissioned to do --
1. Start an Evangelism Training/Evangelism Group: I'd teach methods and then go out with people to tell others in the community about Jesus. I'm really excited about this.
2. Teach a Sunday School class: I'm going to come up with either an 8-week or 10-week lesson series on either a book of the Bible (more likely) or a topic (less likely). I'm really excited about this.
3. Start/Restart a College & Career group: I'm not really excited about this. It's probably just because I've had bad experiences with them in the past, especially relating to kick-starting it at an old church and having no support whatsoever. This is not my passion, and I think, by a friend's advice, that it might be overload. I may get a few interested people to work on starting it up, and then help them out where needed.
4. Counseling -- Have open hours for counseling, though it doesn't look like there will be much traffic here. Who knows? Maybe something will amount. I'm really passionate about pastoral counseling, so I wish this category would ramp up.

5. Red Xena is the truth now.
I asked my friend Andrew about this. I mean, she may have been the truth 10 years ago? What about today? Andrew said that she was the truth...now. lol um

6. Graduating in May
...then what? Hopefully something pastoral will open up soon for that time period! Yikes, it's coming fast.

7. Two Poems

I Worship
© Sterling C. Franklin

In every circumstance, Lord, I worship,

Whether I’m joyous or stressed, bubbly or miserable,
On occasions in which I find abundance or in which I have want,
Respecting You for Your providing Hand in all things.
See to it, Lord, that I am grateful, and I will certainly be so,
Have mercy on Your servant, for You know that my frame is dust,
I see my frailty, and I desire to please You,
Please continue to tilt your gracious ear, for I worship.

-Romans 12:1-

Shepherd
© Sterling C. Franklin

The Lord is my Shepherd,
He provides for my needs,
He keeps my way straight,
In all of my deeds,
He puts me at Peace,
He knows my desires,
He patiently guides me,
And keeps me from briars,
He takes me through darkness,
With His staff and His rod,
He is humble and comforting,
My Shepherd is God,
And because He’s my Shepherd,
And has called me as such,
I will be a faithful shepherd,
Relying on the Good Shepherd’s touch.

-Psalm 23-

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Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Bargaining -- Such an Odd Phase

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Bargain
© Sterling C. Franklin

Oh, Lord, I want something,
It seems so sublime,
So I thank You for listening,
And lending me Your time.
If only You’d bless me,
In this certain way,
I’d rejoice endlessly,
I’d do it every day!
I’d read the Bible better,
I’d pray extra hard,
I’d be kind to others,
I’d go the extra yard.
I’d speak more gently,
I’d give you my trust,
I’d do anything, Father,
I must have it, I must!

But how much more, really,
Is the Lord telling us,
In Me, dwell securely,
In Me you can trust.
In Me is fulfillment,
In Me is joy complete,
In Me you will prosper,
And never deplete.
In Me is salvation,
In Me is True Life,
In Me is the wisdom,
With which to live life.

So pray your heart out, child,
I hear every plea,
I deal with you justly,
Help your blind eyes to see.
Do those things anyway,
And faithfully go,
Show the world you’re a Christian,
Through even this grief, also.

But know that true joy,
May come with the light,
Just trust in Me fully,
Though you bargain at night.

For I love you, my dear child.

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Psalm 20:4 - May he grant you your heart's desire and fulfill all your plans!

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Friday, October 26, 2007

Poems Ahoy!

After praying through a lot of things tonight, the Lord showed me that I needed just to write and get focused on some issues. So here are a few of the things I wrote tonight, followed by a final poem that was from about 5 years ago. I hope you are encouraged or blessed by these. Writing is definitely helpful to me.

We are Nothing
(C) Sterling C. Franklin

I am the Vine,
And yes, You are.
You’re the root of existence,
And the Bright Morning Star.
All was made for You,
And by You, and through You,
You’re the reason for life,
Let our worship be true.

You are the branches,
We represent You, Lord,
We stem from our Vine,
And draw Your Life with one accord,
You command us to Go,
And truly Go we must,
For we are your servants,
And in your Truth do we trust,

Apart from Me,
Life makes no sense,
Are we just to live nicely,
With a white picket fence?
Just to have fun,
Or just to get by?
Without you, Lord Jesus,
We’re destined to die.

You can do nothing,
But through our deep weakness,
Your strength is made perfect,
And life loses bleakness,
We can do all things through You,
But without You, we’re shot,
Let us realize we are nothing,
And that You are all that we’ve got.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” – John 15:5 [ESV]


Desire
(C) Sterling C. Franklin

The desire of a man seeking a wife,
The desire to cherish a woman for life,
The desire for love in a mutual way,
The desire to be there for her every day,
The desire to bless and be blessed through and through,
The desire in a marriage to honor You,
The desire for commitment to a woman for life,
I commit my desire to You, my Lord.

The desire of a man seeking a Call,
The desire to be loving and caring toward all,
The desire to pastor a flock of your sheep,
The desire to help them grow spiritually deep,
The desire to listen and be there for them,
The desire to preach my heart out and never condemn,
The desire to proclaim the Cross that You bore,
I commit my desire to You, my Lord.

The desire of a man to have many a child,
The desire to raise them up to be humble and mild,
The desire to raise them up to honor You,
The desire to be a loving parent, faithful and true,
The desire to enjoy them with a wonderful wife,
The desire to be there for them throughout length of life,
The desire to be such a God-honoring father,
I commit my desire to You, my Lord.

Psalm 37:4 - Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.


What things?
(C) Sterling C. Franklin

What things seem so distant?
What things seem so far away?
The Lord has always,
Provided a Way.

What things seem impossible?
What things seem so dim?
The Lord provides,
When at first you seek Him.

What things seem important,
Though hard to obtain?
The Lord will prosper you,
And grant you the gain.

What things are hopeless?
What things seem so odd?
The Lord is merciful,
And Nothing is impossible with God.

Luke 1:37 - For nothing will be impossible with God.


Empty and Dry
(C) Sterling C. Franklin

The cares of this world, and the matters of this age,
The pursuits of our flesh, the plans of our own,
The advances of mankind, the wisdom of the sage,
The desire to be young, the desire to be grown,
While all is left to search for, while the Lord hears our cry,
While the depth of our being leaves us hungry inside,
While we want and we lust and we all seek to thrive,
How much do we seek that is empty and dry?

The dreams of our future, the hopes of our lives,
The beauty of things, the wonders of time,
The pleasures of fun, the pursuit of our drives,
The plans to succeed, the ladder to climb,
While the world has its offers, while it promises lie,
While it offers us riches, though we hunger and die,
While we seek for it emptily, though the Lord hears our cry,
How much do we seek that is empty and dry?

Matthew 6:19-21 - Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.


All Things
(C) Sterling C. Franklin

Through Him who gives me strength, I am more than a conqueror,
With my God, I can jump over a wall, and I am a mighty warrior,
I am part of a spiritual battle, and the battle has already been won,
And all things are possible through Him – Jesus the Son.

Through Him who gives me strength, I am a gifted child of God,
I have been blessed and not cursed, I am persecuted but not abandoned,
I go through trials, though I rejoice, and when the trials are done,
I can agree that all things are possible through Jesus the Son.

Through Him who gives me strength, I mount up with wings like eagles,
And though I grow tired and weary and frazzled, I wait upon my Lord, my Savior,
I rely on Him, and He is my fortress, and He orders my steps as a chosen one,
And truly all things are possible through Jesus the Son.

Through Him who gives me strength, I am blessed to follow His ways,
I strive as in a race vigorously, giving my all for the prize to which He’s called me,
I am blessed both in this life and the next, and through Him, I can do a ton,
I can do all things through Him who gives me strength – Jesus the Son.

Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through him who strengthens me.


Everything (A Haiku)
(C) Sterling C. Franklin

My Lord and my God,
Everything is possible,
Through You and not me.


Lord, Let me Serve You
(C) Sterling Franklin

Lord, let me serve You,
How Faithful Thou art,
Let me praise you forever
With all of my heart.

I need You more each day,
You are awesome indeed,
You water my spirit
After planting Your seed.

I have found I am nothing,
But You are Everything,
Lord, I want to exalt You,
To lift my hands to You and sing.

You take care of my sickness,
And You heal my disease,
Oh, the Love that I get
When I fall to my knees.

You comfort me to smiles,
And you wipe away my tears,
And have set me on Your Path
For all of my Years.

How Glorious You Are,
And I will truly serve You,
For the harvest is large,
But the workers are few.

Lord, You hear all my prayers,
But just grant me this plea,
I want to give you everything I have
And give You all the Glory.

I will worship You, Lord,
My Infinite King,
For You have Power over darkness
And over death's bitter sting.

Psalm 84:2 - My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.

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