The What's Up in The Mind of El Sapo

That is right!!! I am moving.....

My BLOG - that is!

I have decided to move this blog to wordpress. I am going to give this a try for a while to see how it works. I have imported all the post of this blog over to the new blog.

I am trying to get a little more consistant and useful with my blog. We will see what happens.

See you at word press. Here is the new blog: "Reading My Mind"

Very unconsistant with my blog as of late. I hope I can remendy that (for a while any way.)

Scot Mcknight has some interesting things to say about a culture of honesty in response to the Ted Haggard confession. You can read it here. The need for real honesty in the context of our accountablity is crucial.

I just picked up The Journal of Jim Elliot edited by Elisabeth Elliot. I only read very little - but already I am encouraged and challenged by this man's devotion and love for God. I am looking forward to the read. Here is a bit more about Jim Elliot's life - see it here.

I think Elliot is one who walked honestly with God. I think we can all learn from this.

I have found myself over the past several weeks involved in "much serving." It is a constant battle I seem to face. And it seems it is a battle I lose often.

The little phrase, "distracted with much serving," is found in Luke 10:40. A familiar passage for many of us. Jesus is visiting Mary and Martha. Mary is sitting at the Lord's feet. Martha is "distracted with much serving." One is sitting one is serving. Every part of me says this is not right - the one serving should be praised and the one sitting should be confronted. But as usual I miss the point.

This is me over the past 6 weeks - distracted with much serving. Driven by deadlines and events. Consumed with accoplishment and obligations. I have been "troubled about many things." I have missed the "necessary."

The necessary is intimacy with Jesus - not the doing for Jesus. He needs nothing from me but desires from me a relationship. Jesus pursued relationships not accomplishments, intimacy not to do list.

Mary choose the good portion. I need to choose better and make the time to sit at the Lord's feet. Even if it means not getting something done.

Father - help me to choose YOU over doing.

A long time since I posted. Here are some recent thoughts from the mind of el sapo.


"For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died was raised." - 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 (ESV)

This may take two post - we will see.

There are two words that strike me in verse 14: "control" and "concluded." I found the use of the word "control" by the ESV interesting. The word here means to hold fast; to press together.

The first question coming to my mind was, "What is controling me?" Second question is "Why is my answer to the first question controling me?" Paul gives an answer as to why he says Christ's love controls us - he concluded something. This is the second key word that pops out to me: concluded - it means here: to form or give an opinion after separating and considering the particulars of a case. Barnes says this, "we thus determine in our own minds, or we thus decide; or this is our firm conviction and belief - we come to this conclusion."

Paul says the love of Christ controls us because we have come to a certain conclusion. In this case that Christ has died.

In looking at this passage I have discovered that there many things controling me that are simply based on faulty conclusions. Here are some:
- My problems are mine to handle not God's
- God is not big enough to provide for me needs
- Real Christians walk on their own - not in real life community with others
- Real Men don't struggle in life

They all are so silly - but these are actual conclusions I have made. I don't necessarly state them in my head like this but when I refuse to bring my heart and soul to God about all that hinders and hurts me, when I refuse to open up to real community with other believers and other men, when I refuse to bring my needs before an ulmighty God I am making each of those faulty conclusions allow those things to control me.

I must conclude (a firm conviction and belief) that Christ death leads to me being controled (held together by) Christs' love.

Over the weekend Rhonda and I enjoyed hosting some of our family out to our place. It was a great weekend. Check out our FLICKR link and badge to the right to see other photos. Or just go to

Lee Floyd FLICKR

to see them.

This is fun. I hope to have more up soon.

I have been studing the Psalms of Ascent (Ps. 120-134). They have been a great blessing to me. Ps 121 has been a great comfort to me. I am teaching the kids this Psalm.

Ps 121 is a powerful repeated picture of the constant hand of God "keeping" us through life. The description of God as a keeper is reapeted 5 times over the course of 8 verses.

The word for keep means to watch, to guard to care for. The entire Psalm paints God as one who constantly watches over us. Here is what I see:

The principle: I am to look expectantly to God for the help I need. Looking else where is looking for help from the created things rather than the creator of all things. (v. 1-2)

The promises:
God will enable me to stand firm. (v. 2)
God's help is constant for me day and night; over all evil and my whole life; in all places at all times. (v. 3-8)

Trusting God by looking to Him in my need and for His hand to keep me is difficult at times. God help me to trust you as the keeper of my life!

Rhonda and I participated in a dessert theater this past week. Here is a picture of our characters.

Rhonda played the part of Chair - the wife of a "wealthy" peanut farmer. She is from "old" Mexico.

Lee played the part of Bucky - the "wealthy" peanut farmer.

We had a great time and raised some money for missions.

Who knows you may see Bucky again sometime.