Last year my friend Rocky Green was diagnosed with a brain tumor. You may have seen this posted on the blog for prayer. Well here we are in the new year (2008) and there is so much to thank God for concerning Rocky. The surgery went well and his recovery was good too. He does proton treatment weekly and is healthy. He is engaged to be married, working as a music teacher & private music lessons and looking forward to what God has for him possibly with a music school.
As a friend of Rocky I am so grateful for the power of the Lord to sustain him through this time in his life and also in the midst of it bringing an amazing woman alongside of him. I'm so stoked for them and their future together! I want to thank all of you who prayed for Rocky and I would ask that you contend for him and his sustained health and future.
God, You rock! Praise You for all You do and for all You are!
Tim
Why "Blackbird"
Names are important. After a mom and a dad find out what the sex is of their child, it's the first thing they do. Matter of fact, before they even know what the sex is they have a name for each; boy and girl. The story of how they come to choose that name, what inspired them to name their child with this name, is as important as the name they choose. It's one of the only things we have with us from the time we're born til' we die. The name 'Blackbird' is important to me. Kinda like a parent I named the boards before the first one was 'born'. But there is more to the story of why I chose the name.
I began to pray about a name for the surfboards. I love the inspiration of God. He is the inspiration of the universe; even the Bible is a result of His inspiration. (2 Tim 3:16, 17)
I was reading about the prophet Elijah in the Old Testament. The story is found in 1 Kings 16:29 - 18:46. I'm going to paraphrase the story, so give me grace as I am taking liberty to explain only certain parts of it. Elijah was pretty much a bad-ass. All of the prophets were. (Check out how people responded whenever Samuel came into town). He and the King (Ahab) were the leaders of Israel. Elijah spiritually, Ahab politically. But God judged Ahab because of his wickedness, he worshiped a false god named Baal. It even says of him, "Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all of the Kings who were before him". So God sent Elijah to tell Ahab that it wasn't going to rain, not even 'dew' until Elijah said it would. The reason is this. Baal worshippers believed that Baal controlled the rain, and all the other elements too. So it was kind of a show-down between God Almighty and Baal. As if He was saying through Elijah to Ahab and anyone who worshiped Baal, "We'll see who controls the rain". Don't miss this. For Elijah to proclaim a drought on King Ahab was to proclaim a drought on the Kingdom he ruled. Israel. The kingdom Elijah was a part of. Not to worry mate! Got ya covered. "Elijah. Go over to this place called Cherith, there's a brook there and while you're hanging out there, RAVENS will come with bread and meat to feed you with every day!" For me the whole thing boils down to this. God is soveriegn. He wants each of us to have relationship with Him. He could demand this of us and never given us an option. But in His soveriegnty He gave us free will; choice. Because that is what love is; a choice. Ahab chose not to worship God. Elijah did. Love and obedience come together like the 'head and tail' of a coin. So when it came time to break the bad news about the drought to Ahab, Elijah's love for God led to his obedience to God. Even though it would mean no more water for him too!
BUT GOD! Two of the best words in the Bible! "Elijah, obey Me. I got your back. Ahab chose not to worship Me. You have. Creation doesn't have that choice. I've given it only to humans. I command the rain to stop and it does. The winds to blow and they do. The waves to be still and they rest. I have commanded the RAVENS (blackbirds) to feed you at this brook named Cherith. If you obey Me and trust Me I will care for you even when there is no water and no food. It's your choice though. The ravens have no choice but to bring the bread and the meat to you there. Will you meet Me there?"
Elijah chose Him. And I do too. I choose to trust and obey. Although I don't always come through on my desire too, He always comes through for me. I have definitely gotten the better end of this relationship. His grace and His love overwhelms me. I pray you experience the overwhelming grace and love of God through Jesus Christ too!
I began to pray about a name for the surfboards. I love the inspiration of God. He is the inspiration of the universe; even the Bible is a result of His inspiration. (2 Tim 3:16, 17)
I was reading about the prophet Elijah in the Old Testament. The story is found in 1 Kings 16:29 - 18:46. I'm going to paraphrase the story, so give me grace as I am taking liberty to explain only certain parts of it. Elijah was pretty much a bad-ass. All of the prophets were. (Check out how people responded whenever Samuel came into town). He and the King (Ahab) were the leaders of Israel. Elijah spiritually, Ahab politically. But God judged Ahab because of his wickedness, he worshiped a false god named Baal. It even says of him, "Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all of the Kings who were before him". So God sent Elijah to tell Ahab that it wasn't going to rain, not even 'dew' until Elijah said it would. The reason is this. Baal worshippers believed that Baal controlled the rain, and all the other elements too. So it was kind of a show-down between God Almighty and Baal. As if He was saying through Elijah to Ahab and anyone who worshiped Baal, "We'll see who controls the rain". Don't miss this. For Elijah to proclaim a drought on King Ahab was to proclaim a drought on the Kingdom he ruled. Israel. The kingdom Elijah was a part of. Not to worry mate! Got ya covered. "Elijah. Go over to this place called Cherith, there's a brook there and while you're hanging out there, RAVENS will come with bread and meat to feed you with every day!" For me the whole thing boils down to this. God is soveriegn. He wants each of us to have relationship with Him. He could demand this of us and never given us an option. But in His soveriegnty He gave us free will; choice. Because that is what love is; a choice. Ahab chose not to worship God. Elijah did. Love and obedience come together like the 'head and tail' of a coin. So when it came time to break the bad news about the drought to Ahab, Elijah's love for God led to his obedience to God. Even though it would mean no more water for him too!
BUT GOD! Two of the best words in the Bible! "Elijah, obey Me. I got your back. Ahab chose not to worship Me. You have. Creation doesn't have that choice. I've given it only to humans. I command the rain to stop and it does. The winds to blow and they do. The waves to be still and they rest. I have commanded the RAVENS (blackbirds) to feed you at this brook named Cherith. If you obey Me and trust Me I will care for you even when there is no water and no food. It's your choice though. The ravens have no choice but to bring the bread and the meat to you there. Will you meet Me there?"
Elijah chose Him. And I do too. I choose to trust and obey. Although I don't always come through on my desire too, He always comes through for me. I have definitely gotten the better end of this relationship. His grace and His love overwhelms me. I pray you experience the overwhelming grace and love of God through Jesus Christ too!
Links:
Contact Info:
tim@blackbirdsurf.com
760.644.4744
CREDITS WHERE THEY'RE DUE:
I want to acknowledge the people who have influenced me and inspired me in shaping.
The first person to expose me to shaping and the surfing industry as a whole was Chris Ruddy, founder and former owner of Ukulele Surfboards. Reuben Garcia, also formerly of Ukulele. Brian at Fiberglass Works Unlimited. Chris Christenson (both past and present) made a direct impact when he allowed me into a shapers "Holy of Holies", his shaping room. It was after this that I really was inspired to go back into shaping. Chris possesses creativity, innovation, discipline, a passion for excellence and a work ethic second to none! Thank you Chris. Dan VanZanten for getting my shaping room set-up with custom racks and light boxes. I'm very grateful for your generosity, thank you Dan! Al Merrick. I met him at Trestles during the Boost Mobile Pro ('06) during the time I was praying about shaping again. Thank you Al for 30 minutes on the beach! And to all of the other shapers who inspire creativity and innovation while maintaing the essence of what surfing is all about! SPORT!
The first person to expose me to shaping and the surfing industry as a whole was Chris Ruddy, founder and former owner of Ukulele Surfboards. Reuben Garcia, also formerly of Ukulele. Brian at Fiberglass Works Unlimited. Chris Christenson (both past and present) made a direct impact when he allowed me into a shapers "Holy of Holies", his shaping room. It was after this that I really was inspired to go back into shaping. Chris possesses creativity, innovation, discipline, a passion for excellence and a work ethic second to none! Thank you Chris. Dan VanZanten for getting my shaping room set-up with custom racks and light boxes. I'm very grateful for your generosity, thank you Dan! Al Merrick. I met him at Trestles during the Boost Mobile Pro ('06) during the time I was praying about shaping again. Thank you Al for 30 minutes on the beach! And to all of the other shapers who inspire creativity and innovation while maintaing the essence of what surfing is all about! SPORT!
Blog Archive
- May (1)
ironic...
roots & wings
What's the irony?
Birds are meant to fly. That's the way they were created by God. It's their purpose. A bird sitting on a wire doesn't inspire me as much as seeing a bird with wings spread...skimming the surface of the ocean only inches above it, rising and falling with the swell. A bird in a cage, clipped wings, pooping on yesterdays paper...eating seed his owner placed in a little plastic bucket and a water feeder. A little wood stick hanging from fishing line. Placed on a stand in the living room of his owners house. The bird sings and chirps. And I have to wonder if his songs aren't of longing to fly. To do what comes naturally. To fly. To be a bird. The way God created him to be. To live in purpose. To be wild. Not to be domesticated.
Too many of us are like my ironic icon. We were meant to fly, but things have attached us to the ground. Roots hold us down as we attempt to fly. We have become the bird in the cage; domesticated. Far from destiny. Near the window that seems like a picture in a frame of the life that has been taken from us. We stay in our cages seeing the world outside and it's realities as another universe.
God can restore our ability to fly, heal our clipped wings and set us free.
Do you want out of the cage?
Too many of us are like my ironic icon. We were meant to fly, but things have attached us to the ground. Roots hold us down as we attempt to fly. We have become the bird in the cage; domesticated. Far from destiny. Near the window that seems like a picture in a frame of the life that has been taken from us. We stay in our cages seeing the world outside and it's realities as another universe.
God can restore our ability to fly, heal our clipped wings and set us free.
Do you want out of the cage?
@ Moonlight
bonzer for Jeff
santa cruz, ca
santa cruz, ca
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
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