So many great things have been written about Christmas over the years that by now all that needs to be said has been said. While that may be true, the audience keeps changing so the story must continually be told to an ever increasing and expanding audience.Go and make disciples.
The Christmas season is not bound and contained by the month of December. If we look close enough we can find it year round. 2009 brought many Christmas memories for me, few of them in December. But God revealed them to us through his Spirit.
In February I traveled to Africa and witnessed hunger, poverty, and despair in the slums of Nairobi. I also witnessed hope, love, and Christmas in those slums. Christmas came in the form of men and women who have dedicated their lives to sharing Jesus Christ, and providing a way out of poverty through education. These men and women have a vision of eliminating poverty and ignorance through the power of the Holy Spirit. Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hear us
As I prepared the message for Good Friday, I explored what Jesus meant when he said it is finished. Jesus forever ended our separation from him. We would never again have to be isolated or alone. Christmas came on the cross when Christ gave us the most precious gift, his life for ours. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Christmas came again to me in October as I shared the life giving message of Jesus Christ with a cancer patient days before her death. Although I do not know where she placed her faith for the majority of her life, I do know where her faith was when she went home to be with Christ.
Three days from now it will be Christmas. This year the only gift I want is the ability to always remember my role in the Christmas story, and to live it out. You will be my witnesses...
Merry Christmas
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Monday, November 30, 2009
Parental Advice
I've been working my way through first and second everything over the past month. This morning in 1 Chronicles I found this advice to Solomon from his father King David, I am quoting directly from the Life Application Study Bible.
1. Get to know God personally.
2. Learn God's commands and discover what he wants you to do.
3. Worship God with a perfect heart.
4. Serve God with a willing mind.
5. Be faithful.
6. Don't become discouraged.
In this season of thanksgiving, I am truly thankful for the wisdom found in God's word. My prayer for all is to have the courage to apply God's words to our lives.
1. Get to know God personally.
2. Learn God's commands and discover what he wants you to do.
3. Worship God with a perfect heart.
4. Serve God with a willing mind.
5. Be faithful.
6. Don't become discouraged.
In this season of thanksgiving, I am truly thankful for the wisdom found in God's word. My prayer for all is to have the courage to apply God's words to our lives.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Lukewarm
I have recently finished reading “Crazy Love” by Francis Chan. In the book Chan talks about lukewarm Christians and says they won’t make it into the kingdom of heaven. This statement does not sit well for many readers of the book. Chan goes on and gives examples of what it means to be a Christ follower and examines the Gospels message of Christ to us. He discusses at length lukewarm believers.
In Revelation 3:16 John writes “So because you are lukewarm-neither hot nor cold-I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” The Greek word for spit is actually the word for vomit, Jesus seems to say lukewarm Christianity literally makes him sick and he will vomit lukewarm believers out of his mouth. That is not a pleasing thought or image if one considers himself a lukewarm believer.
Matthew 7:21-23 21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' Verse 24 goes on to read “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”
Lukewarm Christians show up on Sunday and get their fill for the week. God is not thought of the other days of the week, nor is He an influence in the way lives are lead. Church is an obligation or a duty to fulfill just like any other task in our routines. Boring, mundane, next task please. That’s tepid Christianity.
God is a verb. Following Him leads to action. “He who does the will of my Father in heaven.” “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice.”
The will of God is found in Luke 10:27 He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' "
Love God, serve others. There is nothing lukewarm in that.
In Revelation 3:16 John writes “So because you are lukewarm-neither hot nor cold-I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” The Greek word for spit is actually the word for vomit, Jesus seems to say lukewarm Christianity literally makes him sick and he will vomit lukewarm believers out of his mouth. That is not a pleasing thought or image if one considers himself a lukewarm believer.
Matthew 7:21-23 21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' Verse 24 goes on to read “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”
Lukewarm Christians show up on Sunday and get their fill for the week. God is not thought of the other days of the week, nor is He an influence in the way lives are lead. Church is an obligation or a duty to fulfill just like any other task in our routines. Boring, mundane, next task please. That’s tepid Christianity.
God is a verb. Following Him leads to action. “He who does the will of my Father in heaven.” “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice.”
The will of God is found in Luke 10:27 He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' "
Love God, serve others. There is nothing lukewarm in that.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Point of View
Over the weekend I realized I take my faith for granted. Now I often have secretly expected that I do or have in the past. Most of do, or have, or will. Faith becomes familair, comfortable, and routinue. Yes true faith can ebb and flow like any other relationship or part of our lives, without being controversial, faith can become boring.
We meet the one, our hearts burn with desire and love, we marry, children come, the heart burning with love ebbs, the inferno becomes embers. Over time, we take people for granted, the spectacular becomes mundane. Hopefully something will reignite the old fire.
Last weekend Kelly and I met a woman who rekindle my faith. In all my life I have never heard a testimony quite like hers, she shared openly and without prodding. The testimony that rekindle my faith went like this. "There is no god." There was no room for discussion, dialogue, or debate. Simply and emphatically without any emotion she repeated herself god does not exist. You see she was taught from the time she could remember that "religion was the opiate of the masses." She was born and raised is Russia, in Russia the state teaches there is no god, she is a good Russian and listens to the state.
I/we have been blessed to live in a country and in homes that love the Lord, we were brought up that way, and we take that way for granted. I will stop. No matter how emphatically the world says god is a lie, I will not believe it. I will breathe his love and I will share his love. His love will not be tamed,or taken for granted. If we his followers don't share his love who will?
To my friend from Russia: He lived, died, was buried, on the third day he rose. I hope others tell you the same, I hope you believe them just as you believed the state.
We meet the one, our hearts burn with desire and love, we marry, children come, the heart burning with love ebbs, the inferno becomes embers. Over time, we take people for granted, the spectacular becomes mundane. Hopefully something will reignite the old fire.
Last weekend Kelly and I met a woman who rekindle my faith. In all my life I have never heard a testimony quite like hers, she shared openly and without prodding. The testimony that rekindle my faith went like this. "There is no god." There was no room for discussion, dialogue, or debate. Simply and emphatically without any emotion she repeated herself god does not exist. You see she was taught from the time she could remember that "religion was the opiate of the masses." She was born and raised is Russia, in Russia the state teaches there is no god, she is a good Russian and listens to the state.
I/we have been blessed to live in a country and in homes that love the Lord, we were brought up that way, and we take that way for granted. I will stop. No matter how emphatically the world says god is a lie, I will not believe it. I will breathe his love and I will share his love. His love will not be tamed,or taken for granted. If we his followers don't share his love who will?
To my friend from Russia: He lived, died, was buried, on the third day he rose. I hope others tell you the same, I hope you believe them just as you believed the state.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Isolation
The more telecommunications develop, the more computer technology increases, the more online access we have, the more connected to one another we should become. Seemingly that's true. My sons both have face book accounts, I don't know the exact number, but I know their friend count is in the 200+ range. I've seen people with over 500 friends. We are more connected then ever, we have more friends than ever, and yet studies tell us we are lonelier than ever. Just guessing here, it seems the more we use technology the more disconnected from one another we become. Real relationships are displaced by online relationships. Real dialogue is replaced by brief three or four line postings on our face book pages, it's easier that way yes, but, it also come with a price. We know others less, and we are known less, even when we have 200+ friends. We are isolated.
That's not the way we were designed, we are created for community, we are cast in God's image. God exist in three persons, in community. When God created Adam, God saw that Adam was alone, and declared that it wasn't good and so God gave man woman so he would not be alone. Why is it then we are more connected in theory, but in reality we are increasingly alone? What are we so busy with that keeps us from truly feeling connected? Busier than ever before, isolated like never before, how can that be? Maybe we traded quantity for quality. We substitute two or three real relationships with hundreds of online relationships, and wonder why we are isolated.
Solitude is different from isolation. The gospels are filled with passages telling us Jesus rose early in the more to pray, or Jesus went off by himself to pray. Jesus wasn't isolated, he was in solitude, and in that solitude he continued to be with his father, alone yet in community. I think that's the model for us to follow regularly, practicing solitude, in that solitude we find we are not isolated or alone, in that solitude we commune with our creator, and in that solitude we learn. We learn that we are not alone, we learn that we are to go into others isolation and bring them the good news of Jesus Christ. In solitude isolation disappears.
That's not the way we were designed, we are created for community, we are cast in God's image. God exist in three persons, in community. When God created Adam, God saw that Adam was alone, and declared that it wasn't good and so God gave man woman so he would not be alone. Why is it then we are more connected in theory, but in reality we are increasingly alone? What are we so busy with that keeps us from truly feeling connected? Busier than ever before, isolated like never before, how can that be? Maybe we traded quantity for quality. We substitute two or three real relationships with hundreds of online relationships, and wonder why we are isolated.
Solitude is different from isolation. The gospels are filled with passages telling us Jesus rose early in the more to pray, or Jesus went off by himself to pray. Jesus wasn't isolated, he was in solitude, and in that solitude he continued to be with his father, alone yet in community. I think that's the model for us to follow regularly, practicing solitude, in that solitude we find we are not isolated or alone, in that solitude we commune with our creator, and in that solitude we learn. We learn that we are not alone, we learn that we are to go into others isolation and bring them the good news of Jesus Christ. In solitude isolation disappears.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Omni's
God is omnipresent, meaning He is everywhere, all the time, in the past and in the future. Before us, during us, and after us. He is two places at the same time or a million and two places. Doesn't matter if we can or not, He is God and He can we are man and we cannot.
So why do we try? Looking at my schedule for Thursday morning I now see I have a meeting from 6:00-7:30am, which just happens to coincide with another meeting across town, scheduled from 7:00-8:30am. I seem to have doubled booked myself. Naturally both meetings are of equal importance and of course I need to be at both of them, I must, I scheduled them. Thinking back it never crossed my mind that I was omnipresent, never even entered my mind, if I were omniscient, all knowing, it would have occurred to me. Since I am not all knowing I have this slight dilemma.
If I were omnipotent, all powerful I could easily handle this, I'd stop the sun in it's tracks, make time stand still, cover all I need to in the first meeting and then move on to the next. You may have guessed by now though, I am not omnipotent, not even close.
So here it is, I am not any of the omni's, since I am not omni anything I am giving myself permission to screw up my schedule every now and be doubled booked, I'm going further, I am going to try to stop knowing everything and acting like I do, lastly since I am not all powerful I, will try to stop fixing and being involved in everything. You can call me omni-less.
God is all powerful, all knowing, and ever present that's all I have to say on that.
All this to say, Ken I won't be at Caribou 7:00 Thursday morning.
So why do we try? Looking at my schedule for Thursday morning I now see I have a meeting from 6:00-7:30am, which just happens to coincide with another meeting across town, scheduled from 7:00-8:30am. I seem to have doubled booked myself. Naturally both meetings are of equal importance and of course I need to be at both of them, I must, I scheduled them. Thinking back it never crossed my mind that I was omnipresent, never even entered my mind, if I were omniscient, all knowing, it would have occurred to me. Since I am not all knowing I have this slight dilemma.
If I were omnipotent, all powerful I could easily handle this, I'd stop the sun in it's tracks, make time stand still, cover all I need to in the first meeting and then move on to the next. You may have guessed by now though, I am not omnipotent, not even close.
So here it is, I am not any of the omni's, since I am not omni anything I am giving myself permission to screw up my schedule every now and be doubled booked, I'm going further, I am going to try to stop knowing everything and acting like I do, lastly since I am not all powerful I, will try to stop fixing and being involved in everything. You can call me omni-less.
God is all powerful, all knowing, and ever present that's all I have to say on that.
All this to say, Ken I won't be at Caribou 7:00 Thursday morning.
Monday, October 5, 2009
When and Where
Really, for sure, this month I'll focus a little more on getting my thoughts online, I have been a little lazy in the past 34 days, okay a lot lazy. I should have done what another blogger did, simply posted a note that said "I'll be gone for month." That way I could claim that it was all part of my plan, I scheduled not blogging into my month, I meant to not blog. Another great thought after the fact, actually a good lead in for something I've been mulling over for awhile, or as a friend says "I've been chewing on this far awhile."
How many of our days are centered on when and where? Whens the next big thing and where is it. In high school we seem to live and die by the when and where. We've yet to learn so many important lessons that will eventually lead us to discover the when and where are not as important as we think. All we know is acceptance is found in the when and where. If we know the when and the where we can be there, and in being there we find acceptance. Seems we never really out grow our need for the acceptance found in when and where.
The when and where never asks two important questions, who and what. That's where the difficulty comes in. Without thinking of who and what, and focusing on when and where we expose ourselves to just about anyone and anything, and that is never wise.
Parent are aware enough to ask those four simple questions, where are you going, when will you be home, who will be there, and lastly what will you be doing? The answers to those questions may not always be entirely accurate, but they are always important.
These questions are equally important to everyone, a when and where life attitude leaves too much to chance, acceptance isn't really found there. The only things found in the when and where is loneliness that comes in being where you shouldn't be when you shouldn't be there. How many stories end with someone being in the wrong place at the wrong time? Unbridled when and where leave too much to chance.
How many of our days are centered on when and where? Whens the next big thing and where is it. In high school we seem to live and die by the when and where. We've yet to learn so many important lessons that will eventually lead us to discover the when and where are not as important as we think. All we know is acceptance is found in the when and where. If we know the when and the where we can be there, and in being there we find acceptance. Seems we never really out grow our need for the acceptance found in when and where.
The when and where never asks two important questions, who and what. That's where the difficulty comes in. Without thinking of who and what, and focusing on when and where we expose ourselves to just about anyone and anything, and that is never wise.
Parent are aware enough to ask those four simple questions, where are you going, when will you be home, who will be there, and lastly what will you be doing? The answers to those questions may not always be entirely accurate, but they are always important.
These questions are equally important to everyone, a when and where life attitude leaves too much to chance, acceptance isn't really found there. The only things found in the when and where is loneliness that comes in being where you shouldn't be when you shouldn't be there. How many stories end with someone being in the wrong place at the wrong time? Unbridled when and where leave too much to chance.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Tee Shirt
This morning I went to the gym, it’s been awhile, in the summer I try to get my exercise in outdoors so I don’t usually notice other people. I saw a fellow exerciser wearing a shirt that proclaimed:
“Wings Hockey”
“51 minutes”
“No Mercy”
“No Excuses”
Four statements all combined into one walking billboard of a tee-shirt. Oddly enough four statements can speak volumes. I’m guessing somewhere there is a hockey team named “Wings”, that this particular league plays three 17 minute periods (never knew that, always thought periods were 20 minutes). This team works very hard, takes responsibility for their actions and results; they accept those outcomes as the inevitable conclusion of hard work. They are without a doubt dedicated and committed to the pursuit of excellence. I did not speak with the individual, but the gist of the tee-shirt leads me to think that good is never going to be enough.
No mercy, this is the one I couldn’t quite grasp. It implies that regardless of the score, up a lot or up a little the team never lets up, they continue to be a team that shows no mercy, they are unable to discern when enough is enough, rather they can discern, they just choose not to ever let up. No retreat, no surrender, no regrets.
Justice says the law is the law. We practice harder, we have more talent, better coaching, and better equipment, therefore, we will run up the score. Justice is served every time punishment is meted out. Driving 75 in a 55 zone, fine is $235, next case please. Late for class, 30 minute detention. Payment is two days late, $34 fee please. Justice is black and white, the time matches the crime. Justice is rigid and alone.
Mercy is justice with compassion. Yes we are better, no we won’t take any more shots on goal, we’ll let you come to center ice unchallenged, and we’ll play our second string. Yes you were doing 75 in a 55, I’ll knock it down to 68 so the fine is less. Thirty minute detention turns into 15 minutes when mercy abounds.
Grace is unwarranted mercy. Mercy says I’ll show compassion, justice demands the letter of the law to be carried out. Grace says yes the letter of the law should be carried out, yes we can be compassionate and lower the punishment demanded by justice through mercy, but, we’re not going to. Grace is the complete and total forgiveness of our debts, even though we don’t deserve it. 2000 years ago grace came to all in the form of Jesus. Today be full of grace in all you do.
“Wings Hockey”
“51 minutes”
“No Mercy”
“No Excuses”
Four statements all combined into one walking billboard of a tee-shirt. Oddly enough four statements can speak volumes. I’m guessing somewhere there is a hockey team named “Wings”, that this particular league plays three 17 minute periods (never knew that, always thought periods were 20 minutes). This team works very hard, takes responsibility for their actions and results; they accept those outcomes as the inevitable conclusion of hard work. They are without a doubt dedicated and committed to the pursuit of excellence. I did not speak with the individual, but the gist of the tee-shirt leads me to think that good is never going to be enough.
No mercy, this is the one I couldn’t quite grasp. It implies that regardless of the score, up a lot or up a little the team never lets up, they continue to be a team that shows no mercy, they are unable to discern when enough is enough, rather they can discern, they just choose not to ever let up. No retreat, no surrender, no regrets.
Justice says the law is the law. We practice harder, we have more talent, better coaching, and better equipment, therefore, we will run up the score. Justice is served every time punishment is meted out. Driving 75 in a 55 zone, fine is $235, next case please. Late for class, 30 minute detention. Payment is two days late, $34 fee please. Justice is black and white, the time matches the crime. Justice is rigid and alone.
Mercy is justice with compassion. Yes we are better, no we won’t take any more shots on goal, we’ll let you come to center ice unchallenged, and we’ll play our second string. Yes you were doing 75 in a 55, I’ll knock it down to 68 so the fine is less. Thirty minute detention turns into 15 minutes when mercy abounds.
Grace is unwarranted mercy. Mercy says I’ll show compassion, justice demands the letter of the law to be carried out. Grace says yes the letter of the law should be carried out, yes we can be compassionate and lower the punishment demanded by justice through mercy, but, we’re not going to. Grace is the complete and total forgiveness of our debts, even though we don’t deserve it. 2000 years ago grace came to all in the form of Jesus. Today be full of grace in all you do.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Friday, August 14, 2009
Funk
Funkadelic, funkalicious, won't you take me to funky town? I'm in a funk, and I'm not feeling very funky, you could say I'm in a grand funk. The good thing is I realize I'm in it, and because I realize that, I can get out of it. Realizing it alone helps me to pull out of it. I confided my funk to a friend, and by funk I mean to say I am spiritually and emotionally covered in gunk (no attempt to be Dr. Seuss). My friend asked how long has this been going on. Normally I would have no idea, but because I journal and keep an exercise log I'm able to pinpoint when the funk hit. My funk hit three weeks ago. I went from riding 100+ miles per week to 40 miles, I went from eating healthy to eating often, I went from journaling to channel surfing.
Maybe it's been going on longer than I realize, I don't know and I don't care. I can come out of it because I now know where I am. I've been mired in it for a few weeks but have woken up enough to find the way out. The first step is simple. Be still. Ps 46:10 Be still and know that I am God. He is God and I am not. In my mind I see God smiling at me like a parent smiles at a small child who takes those first few steps, or races around the block without training wheels for the first time (wearing a helmet of course).
The second step is simpler, it's time to do something. It's time for movement.
1 Cor 9:25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Training is regular consistent applied effort towards a predetermined goal or outcome (I made that up). My goal is to get people to realize if they know Jesus they need to do something about it, if they don't know Jesus they need to do someting about it. So now I train, I'll ride today and tomorrow, it may not be 100 miles but it will be a start. Most importantly I will be still and know, and I will focus on my goal one pedal stroke at a time.
Maybe it's been going on longer than I realize, I don't know and I don't care. I can come out of it because I now know where I am. I've been mired in it for a few weeks but have woken up enough to find the way out. The first step is simple. Be still. Ps 46:10 Be still and know that I am God. He is God and I am not. In my mind I see God smiling at me like a parent smiles at a small child who takes those first few steps, or races around the block without training wheels for the first time (wearing a helmet of course).
The second step is simpler, it's time to do something. It's time for movement.
1 Cor 9:25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Training is regular consistent applied effort towards a predetermined goal or outcome (I made that up). My goal is to get people to realize if they know Jesus they need to do something about it, if they don't know Jesus they need to do someting about it. So now I train, I'll ride today and tomorrow, it may not be 100 miles but it will be a start. Most importantly I will be still and know, and I will focus on my goal one pedal stroke at a time.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Random Summer Continued
My favorite sporting event just wrapped up, the Tour de France. Being an avid biker I love watching the pros ride across France, Spain , Italy, the Alps and other mountain tops. This year I learned not everyone thinks it's the greatest sports event in the world, guess you have to pedal a lot to appreciate the effort. Lance came back, finished third, actually impressive since he's 37 and the winner is 24, great to see him back. He also provided this years most quotable moment for me. Asked what he plans to do now, Lance replied "I'm going on vacation." I love Lance and what he means to cancer patients everywhere, but I need to point something out here. Lance, you just spent three weeks touring France and staying at the finest hotels with your own personal chef, that sounds like a vacation to me.
I ride the Drumlin bike trail often. I've seen deer, fox, roosters, cats, dogs, all kinds of animals on the trail. Why is it of all the animals I see, only the chipmunks want to play chicken? Why are they so aggressive this year? They literally sit in the center of the trail daring you to hit them, I have not hit any yet, but I've come to close to hitting a tree because I swerved. From this point on, any chipmunk that wants to play chicken, game on. All I know is I never see skid marks in front of squished chipmunks.
Last random thought, I work with some great witty pranksters. Just last week while I was alone in the auditorium, so I thought, a couple of the jokesters sneaked up on me and blasted an air horn 15 feet from my ears. I jumped high and far, almost had to go home and change my shorts if you know what I mean. This morning, and this is still killing me, they poured salt in my unattended h2o bottle, oh what will they think of next? Nothing like good old pie in the face humor. I just wish I was that clever, maybe I can get them to fall for the old "hey your shoes untied" joke. I'll follow up and let you know how that turns out. Man, I wonder what I could do if one of them left town for ten days???
I ride the Drumlin bike trail often. I've seen deer, fox, roosters, cats, dogs, all kinds of animals on the trail. Why is it of all the animals I see, only the chipmunks want to play chicken? Why are they so aggressive this year? They literally sit in the center of the trail daring you to hit them, I have not hit any yet, but I've come to close to hitting a tree because I swerved. From this point on, any chipmunk that wants to play chicken, game on. All I know is I never see skid marks in front of squished chipmunks.
Last random thought, I work with some great witty pranksters. Just last week while I was alone in the auditorium, so I thought, a couple of the jokesters sneaked up on me and blasted an air horn 15 feet from my ears. I jumped high and far, almost had to go home and change my shorts if you know what I mean. This morning, and this is still killing me, they poured salt in my unattended h2o bottle, oh what will they think of next? Nothing like good old pie in the face humor. I just wish I was that clever, maybe I can get them to fall for the old "hey your shoes untied" joke. I'll follow up and let you know how that turns out. Man, I wonder what I could do if one of them left town for ten days???
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Random Summer Moments
The summer is always an enjoyable time of year, it's warmer, the days are longer, we're outside more, seems so much is going on and usually all at the same time. A couple of weeks ago I took a little time off and took part in the summer activities.
Went to two baseball games with my son, one professional, one high school. The high school game was the better of the two. Maybe because a bottle of water at that game was a buck, same bottle 24 hours later in the major league park was four bucks. Maybe it was because it cost more to park at the stadium then we paid for the tickets. Maybe it was because our team won. To be fair, there's no dog like a stadium dog, that's worth the extra money.
Things that make you go hmm... moment of the day. Went to the hardware store to refill the propane tank for the grill (outdoor oven, that's a different topic altogether)they had me remove the manufactures label wrapped around the tank. New regulation requires them to visually inspect the tank for, are you ready? A flammable decal. Yep, seems someone in government discovered propane is flammable and we need to get the word out. I am happy with the new decal they put on my propane tank, I feel safer.
Went to some great bike races on Downer avenue in Milwaukee and in downtown Waukesha. The races took place on a closed course of city streets, one lap was approx. one mile. These bikers fly, speeds in excess of 45 mph, the cool thing is in the pro categories these riders are Olympians, former Tour DE France riders, world class athletes right here at home and it was all for free. Great way to spend an afternoon.
I was so inspired I entered a 20k time trial. Big time racing here, I had to purchase a one day race license, so I think that means it was legally ok for me to go fast(I think it made me faster). I had the same hmm... feeling when I picked up my flammable decal.
I ride a lot and I carry a spare inner tube, a tire changing tool, co2 cartridges to inflate the new tube in case of a flat, I have never used my emergency kit. So applying the wisdom lesson just taught at my church, I removed my kit so my bike would be lighter and I would be faster. I convinced myself that the 10 ounces would be crucial to my performance, never mind the 200 lbs I weigh, and the 18 lbs my bike weighs, that 10 ounces had to go. Hmm... can you believe 22 minutes before I was scheduled to race I got a flat? I'll skip the frantic phone calls to my wife who was at church sending off the high school students on a mission trip, I won't mention the repeated unanswered phone calls to my oldest who was soundly sleeping through all my attempts to reach him. Instead, I'll focus on the race director who not only gave me a tube, but he put it on for me, and got me to the starting line with seven minutes to spare. I raced, I finished, it was fun.
Proverbs 4:6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you.
Race day I turned my back on wisdom, fortunately not everyone did. I learned a lesson that day, it's good to reach out and utilize the wisdom of others when we need to. Like the prepared race director, others are waiting to help.
I can't wait until I have the chance to repay the favor to a stranger with a flat.
Went to two baseball games with my son, one professional, one high school. The high school game was the better of the two. Maybe because a bottle of water at that game was a buck, same bottle 24 hours later in the major league park was four bucks. Maybe it was because it cost more to park at the stadium then we paid for the tickets. Maybe it was because our team won. To be fair, there's no dog like a stadium dog, that's worth the extra money.
Things that make you go hmm... moment of the day. Went to the hardware store to refill the propane tank for the grill (outdoor oven, that's a different topic altogether)they had me remove the manufactures label wrapped around the tank. New regulation requires them to visually inspect the tank for, are you ready? A flammable decal. Yep, seems someone in government discovered propane is flammable and we need to get the word out. I am happy with the new decal they put on my propane tank, I feel safer.
Went to some great bike races on Downer avenue in Milwaukee and in downtown Waukesha. The races took place on a closed course of city streets, one lap was approx. one mile. These bikers fly, speeds in excess of 45 mph, the cool thing is in the pro categories these riders are Olympians, former Tour DE France riders, world class athletes right here at home and it was all for free. Great way to spend an afternoon.
I was so inspired I entered a 20k time trial. Big time racing here, I had to purchase a one day race license, so I think that means it was legally ok for me to go fast(I think it made me faster). I had the same hmm... feeling when I picked up my flammable decal.
I ride a lot and I carry a spare inner tube, a tire changing tool, co2 cartridges to inflate the new tube in case of a flat, I have never used my emergency kit. So applying the wisdom lesson just taught at my church, I removed my kit so my bike would be lighter and I would be faster. I convinced myself that the 10 ounces would be crucial to my performance, never mind the 200 lbs I weigh, and the 18 lbs my bike weighs, that 10 ounces had to go. Hmm... can you believe 22 minutes before I was scheduled to race I got a flat? I'll skip the frantic phone calls to my wife who was at church sending off the high school students on a mission trip, I won't mention the repeated unanswered phone calls to my oldest who was soundly sleeping through all my attempts to reach him. Instead, I'll focus on the race director who not only gave me a tube, but he put it on for me, and got me to the starting line with seven minutes to spare. I raced, I finished, it was fun.
Proverbs 4:6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you.
Race day I turned my back on wisdom, fortunately not everyone did. I learned a lesson that day, it's good to reach out and utilize the wisdom of others when we need to. Like the prepared race director, others are waiting to help.
I can't wait until I have the chance to repay the favor to a stranger with a flat.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Excellence
Excellence is the state or quality of excelling. I never have liked definitions of words that include a form of the word itself in the definition. That's just a side thought though. This morning I read another article on excellence, pursuing excellence, seeking excellence, striving for excellence, accepting only excellence, and settling for nothing short of excellence. The author suggest, if we cannot do something with excellence we should not do it, or even attempt to do whatever it is.
I thought about that for a very long time today and have decided that excellence can be very limiting. Most of the things I do are not excellent by my standards and certainly not by my critics standards. Much of what I do though is pretty good, and more often than not, good is excellent. I'm discovering the excellence concept is stifling. When I think about all the wonderful, crazy, insane good ideas that turned out far better than ever imagined, I realize that excellence is over rated.
So I am not a fan of excellence. Excellence becomes an unrealistic standard setting people up to fail. That's why I'm a fan of good.
My son has been has been saying this unknown to me quote lately, "If the sky is the limit, there would never be footsteps on the moon." Those footsteps are a collection of really good ideas, and not one of those ideas alone was excellent. I think excellence is over rated, I think excellence is an illusion that wastes time and energy or worse, stops good from growing.
Do something good today, if it turns out to be excellent well, that's excellent!
I thought about that for a very long time today and have decided that excellence can be very limiting. Most of the things I do are not excellent by my standards and certainly not by my critics standards. Much of what I do though is pretty good, and more often than not, good is excellent. I'm discovering the excellence concept is stifling. When I think about all the wonderful, crazy, insane good ideas that turned out far better than ever imagined, I realize that excellence is over rated.
So I am not a fan of excellence. Excellence becomes an unrealistic standard setting people up to fail. That's why I'm a fan of good.
My son has been has been saying this unknown to me quote lately, "If the sky is the limit, there would never be footsteps on the moon." Those footsteps are a collection of really good ideas, and not one of those ideas alone was excellent. I think excellence is over rated, I think excellence is an illusion that wastes time and energy or worse, stops good from growing.
Do something good today, if it turns out to be excellent well, that's excellent!
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Forgiveness
I heard a great definition of forgiveness this week. To forgive means, we will never bring up the topic again with the person we are forgiving and we will never bring it up to anyone else again, ever.
Yes, we'll still remember the transgression and yes at times the pain of the memory will hit us with a force beyond our endurance and at times it will seem like it just happened yesterday. When we forgive though, we let go and the only way to do that is to never mention it again. The pain stays, we no longer name it, we rob it of it's power with our silence, and yet we remember.
God doesn't remember, Is 43:25 "I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.
That's the difference between us and perfection, we remember, He blots out. Our sins are as if they have never occurred, never to be brought up again, never to be remembered.
In His perfection we are made perfect.
Yes, we'll still remember the transgression and yes at times the pain of the memory will hit us with a force beyond our endurance and at times it will seem like it just happened yesterday. When we forgive though, we let go and the only way to do that is to never mention it again. The pain stays, we no longer name it, we rob it of it's power with our silence, and yet we remember.
God doesn't remember, Is 43:25 "I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.
That's the difference between us and perfection, we remember, He blots out. Our sins are as if they have never occurred, never to be brought up again, never to be remembered.
In His perfection we are made perfect.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Responsibility
I subscribe to one magazine, it comes out eleven times a year, after you read four or five issues they all start sounding the same. I still like it, the back issues pile up and since they all are basically the same, they always seem new. Deep reading it is not, but as I said I like it.
Recently they sent me a postcard to inform me that a. my subscription is do for renewal and b. the last time I subscribed I registered for automatic renewal at a significant savings off the cover price. So far so good right? Knowing things are not always as they appear, I called the company to find out how they defined significant. The cover price is $38.50 per year, my significant savings off cover price renewal offer was $21.95. 43% savings is significant indeed. Funny thing is though, inside of the magazine there is an offer to renew one year for $15.00 which represents a savings of 62%, I'd call that more significant. Funnier yet, they offer a three year renewal for $10.00 per year, or 75% off the cover price, now that's highly significant... The best part of the phone call, when they asked me where I got that savings certificate. Could have heard a pin drop when I told them to open to page 27 and they could read it themselves.
My church is currently doing a series called "text", it's all about getting into the bible and checking it out for yourself, and that's important. As I learned from my magazine ordeal it's important to check things out for yourself, because if you don't you could miss something highly significant. That's called responsibility, check things out for yourself. Read the bible, study God's word, train yourself to hear his voice, learn the significance of Christ firsthand. You see, often times the best offer is found after doing a little reading.
Recently they sent me a postcard to inform me that a. my subscription is do for renewal and b. the last time I subscribed I registered for automatic renewal at a significant savings off the cover price. So far so good right? Knowing things are not always as they appear, I called the company to find out how they defined significant. The cover price is $38.50 per year, my significant savings off cover price renewal offer was $21.95. 43% savings is significant indeed. Funny thing is though, inside of the magazine there is an offer to renew one year for $15.00 which represents a savings of 62%, I'd call that more significant. Funnier yet, they offer a three year renewal for $10.00 per year, or 75% off the cover price, now that's highly significant... The best part of the phone call, when they asked me where I got that savings certificate. Could have heard a pin drop when I told them to open to page 27 and they could read it themselves.
My church is currently doing a series called "text", it's all about getting into the bible and checking it out for yourself, and that's important. As I learned from my magazine ordeal it's important to check things out for yourself, because if you don't you could miss something highly significant. That's called responsibility, check things out for yourself. Read the bible, study God's word, train yourself to hear his voice, learn the significance of Christ firsthand. You see, often times the best offer is found after doing a little reading.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Auditing or Applying
So... ever have one of those moments with a friend when you innocently ask something and they proceed to tee off on you? You're completely caught off guard, you're biting down hard on that tongue of yours and trying not to say anything that will add fuel to the fire, and you're hurt. It's kind of a drag, I was recently in that spot.
Let me paraphrase the wise sage Dr. Seuss, "Oh the thoughts you'll think", in my shock, I also discovered most of those thoughts should never be uttered, nope not even once. Some people have good days and bad days, others have good days and better days. I lean towards good days and better days myself. What happens when someone decides to make their bad day yours also? You have to respond, you really only have two choices.
Choice number one, you choose to audit the bible. You know what the bible says, you know what you should do, and your gonna do just that, next time. Cuz this time someone needs to be put in their place and your just the person to do it.
Choice number two is application. Nehemiah 5:15... "But out of reverence for God I did not act like that." Out of reverence we hold our tongues, out of reverence we honor God, out of reverence we live our faith. This time I applied the bible, I hope I do next time also.
Let me paraphrase the wise sage Dr. Seuss, "Oh the thoughts you'll think", in my shock, I also discovered most of those thoughts should never be uttered, nope not even once. Some people have good days and bad days, others have good days and better days. I lean towards good days and better days myself. What happens when someone decides to make their bad day yours also? You have to respond, you really only have two choices.
Choice number one, you choose to audit the bible. You know what the bible says, you know what you should do, and your gonna do just that, next time. Cuz this time someone needs to be put in their place and your just the person to do it.
Choice number two is application. Nehemiah 5:15... "But out of reverence for God I did not act like that." Out of reverence we hold our tongues, out of reverence we honor God, out of reverence we live our faith. This time I applied the bible, I hope I do next time also.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Simple Prayer
Still my heart and mind Lord that I may hear the things you hear. Guide my thoughts Lord that your thoughts are my thoughts. Quiet my words so that your words will be heard. Make me aware of you in my life.
Awareness brings knowledge. Jesus died, was buried, and he rose again. Three facts that lead to action. Stand firm, let nothing move you, always give yourself fully to the work of the Lord.(1 Cor 15:58)
Awareness, knowledge, and action three small steps in pursuit of him.
Awareness brings knowledge. Jesus died, was buried, and he rose again. Three facts that lead to action. Stand firm, let nothing move you, always give yourself fully to the work of the Lord.(1 Cor 15:58)
Awareness, knowledge, and action three small steps in pursuit of him.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Unlikely Hero
I have found a new hero in a place I never would have suspected, my latest hero is a beauty pageant contestant. No, she's not my hero for her outer beauty, she's my hero for the inner beauty she allowed the nation to see when she was placed in one of those rare moments in time when the next 60 seconds will define her next 60 years.
Carrie Prejean, Miss California was seemingly moments away from achieving a lifetime goal of winning the Miss America Contest, the tiara was within her grasp, and with the answer to one question the dreams of a young girl becoming Miss America ended. Carrie was simply asked what her thoughts were on gay marriage, I am certain she knew
that her answer would determine whether or not she would win the crown. Carrie spoke from her heart and declared marriage "should be between a man and a woman." Instantly he response became the "answer heard round the world."
I'm not familiar with how one becomes a contestant in the Miss USA contest, I'm sure it takes years of practice, dozens, countless prior pageants and thousands of hours of preparation. I think winning Miss USA would be the ultimate goal for pageant contestants. When Carrie Prejean answered it was the equivalent of Tiger Woods needing a two foot putt to win the Masters, and picking it up. Brett Farve needing to make a key first down in the Superbowl instead takes a knee. Michael Jordan with the clock running down, holds on to the ball rather than taking the winning shot. It was in her power to reach the pinnacle, but not if it meant selling out her beliefs. That's why a pageant contestant is my new hero.
She did the right thing. Today she is being both vilified and commended for her response. Had she answered the way the eventual winner did "I'm not going to say whether or not I think it should be defined as marriage because that's up to our politicans and our elected officials.", she would have sold out.
The bible tells us not to store up treasures on earth, rather we should store up treasures in heaven. The bible says let your yes be yes, with her answer Carrie Prejean choose the ways of God, not man. Today Miss Prejean you are my hero.
Carrie Prejean, Miss California was seemingly moments away from achieving a lifetime goal of winning the Miss America Contest, the tiara was within her grasp, and with the answer to one question the dreams of a young girl becoming Miss America ended. Carrie was simply asked what her thoughts were on gay marriage, I am certain she knew
that her answer would determine whether or not she would win the crown. Carrie spoke from her heart and declared marriage "should be between a man and a woman." Instantly he response became the "answer heard round the world."
I'm not familiar with how one becomes a contestant in the Miss USA contest, I'm sure it takes years of practice, dozens, countless prior pageants and thousands of hours of preparation. I think winning Miss USA would be the ultimate goal for pageant contestants. When Carrie Prejean answered it was the equivalent of Tiger Woods needing a two foot putt to win the Masters, and picking it up. Brett Farve needing to make a key first down in the Superbowl instead takes a knee. Michael Jordan with the clock running down, holds on to the ball rather than taking the winning shot. It was in her power to reach the pinnacle, but not if it meant selling out her beliefs. That's why a pageant contestant is my new hero.
She did the right thing. Today she is being both vilified and commended for her response. Had she answered the way the eventual winner did "I'm not going to say whether or not I think it should be defined as marriage because that's up to our politicans and our elected officials.", she would have sold out.
The bible tells us not to store up treasures on earth, rather we should store up treasures in heaven. The bible says let your yes be yes, with her answer Carrie Prejean choose the ways of God, not man. Today Miss Prejean you are my hero.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Inertia Part II
My last post was intended to convey a simple message, two of my esteemed colleagues have pointed out the simple message was not necessarily clear. It is to them I dedicate this summary.
We are all creatures of habit, if we are in the habit of reaching out and helping others we will continue to do so. Our efforts will connect us with like minded individuals who are also excited to reach out, this connection to others will create a synergy, momentum, or inertia. Our energies will feed off each other, and we will become further charged to continue and increase the work we do. As Newton states: "A body in motion tends to stay in motion."
The converse is true, we know what we should do, but we don't do it. The longer we remain at rest, the more familiar that habit becomes, we end up doing nothing. The more nothing we do, makes doing something all the harder, and that is a bad thing. As Newton stated, "A body at rest tends to stay at rest." Today is too important to let it pass without making a positive contribution.
So, get your cold weather gear on, start doing something, and get in the game. We are created in the image of God, and he came to us a servant, so lets serve.
We are all creatures of habit, if we are in the habit of reaching out and helping others we will continue to do so. Our efforts will connect us with like minded individuals who are also excited to reach out, this connection to others will create a synergy, momentum, or inertia. Our energies will feed off each other, and we will become further charged to continue and increase the work we do. As Newton states: "A body in motion tends to stay in motion."
The converse is true, we know what we should do, but we don't do it. The longer we remain at rest, the more familiar that habit becomes, we end up doing nothing. The more nothing we do, makes doing something all the harder, and that is a bad thing. As Newton stated, "A body at rest tends to stay at rest." Today is too important to let it pass without making a positive contribution.
So, get your cold weather gear on, start doing something, and get in the game. We are created in the image of God, and he came to us a servant, so lets serve.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Inertia
According to Wikipedia inertia is the tendency of a body to maintain its state of rest or uniform motion unless acted upon by an external force. It's the body at rest, the body not moving, the body ready for movement, it's me and it seems I'm not moving much.
A body at rest tends to stay at rest, a body in motion tends to stay in motion. These are seemingly simple concepts, yet the difficulty arises in knowing when to be at rest and when to be in motion. Sometimes its easy to figure out, a long work out is followed by rest, work six days and rest on the seventh. Those examples are easy ones, we rest with the expectation that we will continue to move, our rest in the present is only so we can move in the future.
I'm training for a 100 mile bike ride June 6th, at least I should be training. I'm letting the lingering grasps of cold weather, keep me from doing what I know I should be doing, I should be pedaling but I'm not. The funny part, I have all the cold weather gear I need to be warm as I ride. The body at rest tends to stay at rest.
So is it lethargy? Romans 7:15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but I do what I hate to do. Paul understood inertia. Paul knew we all know what we should do, he knew we wouldn't do it, and he knew we would hate not doing it. I love timeless truths, you see it's not lethargy it's inertia, the body at rest tends to stay at rest, even when rest is no longer required. That's why we need an external force to come and change our speed, so we begin to move, because a body in motion tends to stay in motion.
We are the Body, and the body is built for movement. Right now is more than just a gap between ice ages, right now is the time for the Body to be in motion, the season of rest will come later, time to move. Time for the cold weather gear.
A body at rest tends to stay at rest, a body in motion tends to stay in motion. These are seemingly simple concepts, yet the difficulty arises in knowing when to be at rest and when to be in motion. Sometimes its easy to figure out, a long work out is followed by rest, work six days and rest on the seventh. Those examples are easy ones, we rest with the expectation that we will continue to move, our rest in the present is only so we can move in the future.
I'm training for a 100 mile bike ride June 6th, at least I should be training. I'm letting the lingering grasps of cold weather, keep me from doing what I know I should be doing, I should be pedaling but I'm not. The funny part, I have all the cold weather gear I need to be warm as I ride. The body at rest tends to stay at rest.
So is it lethargy? Romans 7:15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but I do what I hate to do. Paul understood inertia. Paul knew we all know what we should do, he knew we wouldn't do it, and he knew we would hate not doing it. I love timeless truths, you see it's not lethargy it's inertia, the body at rest tends to stay at rest, even when rest is no longer required. That's why we need an external force to come and change our speed, so we begin to move, because a body in motion tends to stay in motion.
We are the Body, and the body is built for movement. Right now is more than just a gap between ice ages, right now is the time for the Body to be in motion, the season of rest will come later, time to move. Time for the cold weather gear.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Prophecy
I was doing some research last week on Old Testament prophecy fulfilled in the New testament and came across the following calculation:
Peter Stoner a mathematician, came up with these probabilities in his work titled Science Speaks. The odds of one man living throughout history and up to today fulfilling just eight of the hundreds of prophecies of the coming messiah in the OT are 1 in 10 to the 17th, or 100,000,000,000,000,000. Let me give a visual. Take the entire state of Texas cover it two feet deep in silver dollars, mark one of those silver dollars with a red x, and mix them all up. Blindfold a person, tell them to go as far and wide as they would like, they can reach down and pick up one coin. The odds of coming up with the right coin are the same odds of one man fulfilling just eight of the hundreds of prophecies fulfilled by Jesus. In other words, it’s mathematically impossible for one person to fulfill eight prophecies, Jesus fulfilled hundreds.
The following probabilities are taken from Peter Stoner’s work in Science Speaks to show that coincidence is ruled out by the science of probability. The analysis is concerned with the following eight prophecies:
1. Messiah is to be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2; fulfilled in Matt. 2:1-7; John 7:42; Luke 2:47).
2. Messiah is to be preceded by a Messenger (Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1; fulfilled in Matthew 3:1-3; 11:10; John 1:23; Luke 1:17).
3. Messiah is to enter Jerusalem on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9; fulfilled in Luke 35-37; Matthew 21:6-11).
4. Messiah is to be betrayed by a friend (Psalms 41:9; 55:12-14; fulfilled in Matthew 10:4; 26:49-50; John 13:21).
5. Messiah is to be sold for 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12; fulfilled in Matthew 26:15; 27:3).
6. The money for which Messiah is sold is to be thrown “to the potter” in God’s house (Zechariah 11:13; fulfilled in Matthew 27:5-7).
7. Messiah is to be silent before His accusers (Isaiah 53:7; fulfilled in Matthew 27:12).
8. Messiah is to be executed by crucifixion as a thief (Psalm 22:16; Zechariah 12:10; Isaiah 53:5,12; fulfilled in Luke 23:33; John 20:25; Matthew 27:38; Mark 15:27,28).
This Easter remember, we worship the Lord of the universe who is all and in all.
Peter Stoner a mathematician, came up with these probabilities in his work titled Science Speaks. The odds of one man living throughout history and up to today fulfilling just eight of the hundreds of prophecies of the coming messiah in the OT are 1 in 10 to the 17th, or 100,000,000,000,000,000. Let me give a visual. Take the entire state of Texas cover it two feet deep in silver dollars, mark one of those silver dollars with a red x, and mix them all up. Blindfold a person, tell them to go as far and wide as they would like, they can reach down and pick up one coin. The odds of coming up with the right coin are the same odds of one man fulfilling just eight of the hundreds of prophecies fulfilled by Jesus. In other words, it’s mathematically impossible for one person to fulfill eight prophecies, Jesus fulfilled hundreds.
The following probabilities are taken from Peter Stoner’s work in Science Speaks to show that coincidence is ruled out by the science of probability. The analysis is concerned with the following eight prophecies:
1. Messiah is to be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2; fulfilled in Matt. 2:1-7; John 7:42; Luke 2:47).
2. Messiah is to be preceded by a Messenger (Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1; fulfilled in Matthew 3:1-3; 11:10; John 1:23; Luke 1:17).
3. Messiah is to enter Jerusalem on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9; fulfilled in Luke 35-37; Matthew 21:6-11).
4. Messiah is to be betrayed by a friend (Psalms 41:9; 55:12-14; fulfilled in Matthew 10:4; 26:49-50; John 13:21).
5. Messiah is to be sold for 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12; fulfilled in Matthew 26:15; 27:3).
6. The money for which Messiah is sold is to be thrown “to the potter” in God’s house (Zechariah 11:13; fulfilled in Matthew 27:5-7).
7. Messiah is to be silent before His accusers (Isaiah 53:7; fulfilled in Matthew 27:12).
8. Messiah is to be executed by crucifixion as a thief (Psalm 22:16; Zechariah 12:10; Isaiah 53:5,12; fulfilled in Luke 23:33; John 20:25; Matthew 27:38; Mark 15:27,28).
This Easter remember, we worship the Lord of the universe who is all and in all.
Friday, March 13, 2009
One Month Later
Almost a month has come and gone since my return from Kenya. The images, smells, and sounds of the slums are somehow fading. I find that fact almost surreal, images I thought would never leave me, are slowly fading into the past. That's a shame. To say I will never forget would be folly, everything fades, Kenya, my father, everything.
I will remember some things though, I will remember people care, I will remember people are working towards meeting the needs of others. I will remember the dying words of my father, "Remember the poor." I will dad. I will remember how a small amount of money in the right hands can do so much good, I will not allow all of the memories to fade.
Faith Akini Opondo, I may have seen her in Baba Ndogo, I will never be sure. I see her everyday on my refrigerator and on my office wall. $35.00 a month, she will be in school, educated in Christ, fed and clothed. I have two sons, they always wanted a sister, today they do, she's adorable.
I opened my 401k statement last week for the first time in months, I should have waited, 50% of my investments are gone. My first reaction was to think of all the hard work gone, my second was to think of all the "stuff" I could have purchased, I could have paid off the mortgage. God sees it differently, he asked how many people could I have helped with that money? Max Lucado calls it crying over spilt champagne, we just don't seem to get it. We have so much more than most of the world, they cry over not having milk, I'm crying over the spilt champagne.
We are blessed to be a blessing to others and to point them to Christ, bless some one today.
I will remember some things though, I will remember people care, I will remember people are working towards meeting the needs of others. I will remember the dying words of my father, "Remember the poor." I will dad. I will remember how a small amount of money in the right hands can do so much good, I will not allow all of the memories to fade.
Faith Akini Opondo, I may have seen her in Baba Ndogo, I will never be sure. I see her everyday on my refrigerator and on my office wall. $35.00 a month, she will be in school, educated in Christ, fed and clothed. I have two sons, they always wanted a sister, today they do, she's adorable.
I opened my 401k statement last week for the first time in months, I should have waited, 50% of my investments are gone. My first reaction was to think of all the hard work gone, my second was to think of all the "stuff" I could have purchased, I could have paid off the mortgage. God sees it differently, he asked how many people could I have helped with that money? Max Lucado calls it crying over spilt champagne, we just don't seem to get it. We have so much more than most of the world, they cry over not having milk, I'm crying over the spilt champagne.
We are blessed to be a blessing to others and to point them to Christ, bless some one today.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
After Africa
During the past two weeks I have come to view the world through a different lens, the blinders I have worn in the past have been raised enough for me to realize things are not exactly as they appear. The trouble with the new lenses, is that they allow me to see, not only the failures of politicians and governments, I also see my own failures. That is never comfortable.
As a Christ follower, I have the tendency to assume growing in faith means daily bible reading, praying, the occasional fast, tithing, and lending a caring and compassionate ear when needed, because I do these things I am mature. These are all good practices, and they help in the maturing process, they are not however what defines a mature Christian. Maturing in Christ means responding to him as he reveals his will for us through those practices. I am not mature because I do those things, rather I mature as I respond to God's leading that resulted from practicing spiritual disciplines. I am mature in Christ when I make myself available to his leading's, and when I act act upon those leading's. Biking is a release for me, I train so I can race. The training does not make me a racer, entering and competing in races makes me a racer. It is always the doing that shows the maturing of the believer. James paraphrased: Faith without deeds is dead, I show my faith by what I do.
Two Kenyan women, Elizabeth and Frieda, I am sure neither one reads. Both former prostitutes, neither keeps the same spiritual practices I do, yet they are more mature in Christ then I. Christ followers, they turned away from their former lives to embrace Christ. Frieda, a widow has 23 people living in her 10'x 10' shack, she recently opened her home to her orphaned nephew, both parents dead from aids, she no longer has a source of income, yet opens her home to an orphan. Becoming a Christ follower has made her life harder, for the first time in my life I see firsthand, suffering because of loving Christ. I see maturity as she relies on God for her daily needs, if they are to be met, it will be a miracle, in the Marthae Valley, miracles happen. Elizabeth, a young mother of two, has a business selling tortillas, men reject her, she will not do what they want her to. She turned her life over to another man who lived 2000 years ago, her life was easier before she did, she is mature in her reliance on the promise offered in the next life.
These new lenses have shown me my immaturity, my self deluded pride, and my failures as a Christian. These new lenses have shown me hope.
As a Christ follower, I have the tendency to assume growing in faith means daily bible reading, praying, the occasional fast, tithing, and lending a caring and compassionate ear when needed, because I do these things I am mature. These are all good practices, and they help in the maturing process, they are not however what defines a mature Christian. Maturing in Christ means responding to him as he reveals his will for us through those practices. I am not mature because I do those things, rather I mature as I respond to God's leading that resulted from practicing spiritual disciplines. I am mature in Christ when I make myself available to his leading's, and when I act act upon those leading's. Biking is a release for me, I train so I can race. The training does not make me a racer, entering and competing in races makes me a racer. It is always the doing that shows the maturing of the believer. James paraphrased: Faith without deeds is dead, I show my faith by what I do.
Two Kenyan women, Elizabeth and Frieda, I am sure neither one reads. Both former prostitutes, neither keeps the same spiritual practices I do, yet they are more mature in Christ then I. Christ followers, they turned away from their former lives to embrace Christ. Frieda, a widow has 23 people living in her 10'x 10' shack, she recently opened her home to her orphaned nephew, both parents dead from aids, she no longer has a source of income, yet opens her home to an orphan. Becoming a Christ follower has made her life harder, for the first time in my life I see firsthand, suffering because of loving Christ. I see maturity as she relies on God for her daily needs, if they are to be met, it will be a miracle, in the Marthae Valley, miracles happen. Elizabeth, a young mother of two, has a business selling tortillas, men reject her, she will not do what they want her to. She turned her life over to another man who lived 2000 years ago, her life was easier before she did, she is mature in her reliance on the promise offered in the next life.
These new lenses have shown me my immaturity, my self deluded pride, and my failures as a Christian. These new lenses have shown me hope.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Africa Friday
The sights, sounds, smells, images of the week confuse and anger me, angry that our governments know this exist, angry that it is allowed to exist, angry that little is done. I am confused and left speechless by the seemingly lack of importance placed on helping these needy people. I am confused that the nations of the west ignore the plight of the poor; I am confused why until now I have ignored the cries of the desperate. I am a different person today than I was last week. My eyes are open, my God has shown me his children, God loves these people so much is moving hearts around the world to help.
Once our eyes are opened, once we have shown by God his will for us, we can never be the same. We are called to serve one another; we are to love others as ourselves. The time has come to spend a little money on the needy of the world. We can change this slum ridden, poverty infected world by being obedient to the word of God and the will of God. Now that we have seen, a day will come when we stand before God and he will ask what we did for the least of his brothers, we are accountable. In that moment every chance we had to serve God by serving others will be brought forth. May we all be able to say, “When you were naked I clothed you, when you were thirsty I gave you drink, when you hungry I fed you.” In that moment may we hear God say “Well done my good and faithful servant, well done.”
The week in Kenya is over; the work to help our brothers and sisters in Christ living in poverty is just beginning. This week will always be remembered as a turning point in my life, turning away from self and turning towards others. I pray that though you were not here, that someday you will come to witness first hand how plentiful the work is. I pray you will not wait to help support the efforts in Nairobi another day. I pray through your financial support you will become a fellow worker in the harvest. May God lay on your hearts the needs of your brothers and sisters in Christ as he has laid it on me. We have been blessed, to be a blessing to others, and to point them to Christ. God Bless you from Kenya. Bwana asa feeway (God is great)
Once our eyes are opened, once we have shown by God his will for us, we can never be the same. We are called to serve one another; we are to love others as ourselves. The time has come to spend a little money on the needy of the world. We can change this slum ridden, poverty infected world by being obedient to the word of God and the will of God. Now that we have seen, a day will come when we stand before God and he will ask what we did for the least of his brothers, we are accountable. In that moment every chance we had to serve God by serving others will be brought forth. May we all be able to say, “When you were naked I clothed you, when you were thirsty I gave you drink, when you hungry I fed you.” In that moment may we hear God say “Well done my good and faithful servant, well done.”
The week in Kenya is over; the work to help our brothers and sisters in Christ living in poverty is just beginning. This week will always be remembered as a turning point in my life, turning away from self and turning towards others. I pray that though you were not here, that someday you will come to witness first hand how plentiful the work is. I pray you will not wait to help support the efforts in Nairobi another day. I pray through your financial support you will become a fellow worker in the harvest. May God lay on your hearts the needs of your brothers and sisters in Christ as he has laid it on me. We have been blessed, to be a blessing to others, and to point them to Christ. God Bless you from Kenya. Bwana asa feeway (God is great)
Africa Thursday
We all have our own stories, our hopes, dreams, and aspirations; the common thread in all of these is our desire for an improved way of life. We are blessed and fortunate enough to live in the greatest country in the world, with hard work, perseverance, and a little time we can realize most if not all of our wants and dreams. Sadly the world does not work like that for everyone.
Work is hard to find, 60% of Kenyans are unemployed, every day they attempt to get casual labor jobs, some days they do, some they don’t. If they are fortunate enough to find work, they can maybe earn 100- 200 Kenyan Schilling, which is$1.50-$3.00 American. Most of the people in the world who live on less than $1.00 a day live in Africa. In Africa, that dollar does not go far enough. Rampant corruption runs the government; food designated to the poor is often redirected and ends up padding the wallets of officials rather than feeding the stomachs of the nation. Give us this day our daily bread, a very real and urgent daily prayer, sounds so different in Africa than it does back home.
The church in Africa is alive and well. The church is working with least of my brothers, whatever they do for the least, they do for God. They do more work with fewer resources than is imaginable. They are pressing onward, time is short, people are dying and the workers are few. They keep working.
Joy, hope, and love are found here. We have been first hand witnesses to the living gospel, through our host, at the sites we visited we saw Christ at work in and through them. In these moments that we spent with them the living God, the same God we worship has made the needs of his children known, we have been witnesses to the will of God. The only question left is what we’ll we do now that we know?
Work is hard to find, 60% of Kenyans are unemployed, every day they attempt to get casual labor jobs, some days they do, some they don’t. If they are fortunate enough to find work, they can maybe earn 100- 200 Kenyan Schilling, which is$1.50-$3.00 American. Most of the people in the world who live on less than $1.00 a day live in Africa. In Africa, that dollar does not go far enough. Rampant corruption runs the government; food designated to the poor is often redirected and ends up padding the wallets of officials rather than feeding the stomachs of the nation. Give us this day our daily bread, a very real and urgent daily prayer, sounds so different in Africa than it does back home.
The church in Africa is alive and well. The church is working with least of my brothers, whatever they do for the least, they do for God. They do more work with fewer resources than is imaginable. They are pressing onward, time is short, people are dying and the workers are few. They keep working.
Joy, hope, and love are found here. We have been first hand witnesses to the living gospel, through our host, at the sites we visited we saw Christ at work in and through them. In these moments that we spent with them the living God, the same God we worship has made the needs of his children known, we have been witnesses to the will of God. The only question left is what we’ll we do now that we know?
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Africa Wednsday
Jambo Kenya,
I am not even sure I know what that means, rather I don't know what that means, every time I say it people smile, so I keep saying it.
I pray some day you will know what I know, I pray you will see what I saw, I pray you will be here, the harvets is plentifull my friends, plentifull. Just got back from twelve hours in the savanah, dirty, dusty, smelly, and blessed, we are almost natives.
Today God blew us away again. We went to an area of the slum called the "abyss", I thought we had seen everything, seems we only see what God wants us to see, today he showed us evil. The abyss, bottomless pit, is where the glue boys hangout, they are gone for ever their brains no longer function they sniff glue all the time, the glue makes them forget to eat, they die young. Satan was there, we felt the presence, it weighs heavy on you. The light of Jesus was with us, we were kept safe, you will not believe the photos are real.
Six thousand miles from home, in a corragated steel shed in the middle of the African savanah, at a school called Joska, with the winds swirling, the dust blinding I was called upon to preach to 600 Kenyans. God is good all the time, we love and worship Jesus Christ our Lord and savior together, no matter the time zone or language. Praise Him.
Fun stuff
We saw a #4 jersey, go pack go.
I am really thankful for cipro...
Traffic laws are non existant, pedestrians beware.
Showers, seem to be optional.
Not everything is foreign, we are served mandazi's for breakfast, small fried, sugarless donuts, today we were served something different, Steve expecting some exotic description asked what it was, answer cake.
God bless more later.
I am not even sure I know what that means, rather I don't know what that means, every time I say it people smile, so I keep saying it.
I pray some day you will know what I know, I pray you will see what I saw, I pray you will be here, the harvets is plentifull my friends, plentifull. Just got back from twelve hours in the savanah, dirty, dusty, smelly, and blessed, we are almost natives.
Today God blew us away again. We went to an area of the slum called the "abyss", I thought we had seen everything, seems we only see what God wants us to see, today he showed us evil. The abyss, bottomless pit, is where the glue boys hangout, they are gone for ever their brains no longer function they sniff glue all the time, the glue makes them forget to eat, they die young. Satan was there, we felt the presence, it weighs heavy on you. The light of Jesus was with us, we were kept safe, you will not believe the photos are real.
Six thousand miles from home, in a corragated steel shed in the middle of the African savanah, at a school called Joska, with the winds swirling, the dust blinding I was called upon to preach to 600 Kenyans. God is good all the time, we love and worship Jesus Christ our Lord and savior together, no matter the time zone or language. Praise Him.
Fun stuff
We saw a #4 jersey, go pack go.
I am really thankful for cipro...
Traffic laws are non existant, pedestrians beware.
Showers, seem to be optional.
Not everything is foreign, we are served mandazi's for breakfast, small fried, sugarless donuts, today we were served something different, Steve expecting some exotic description asked what it was, answer cake.
God bless more later.
Africa Tuesday
Hey praise God, for he is good all the time. The sights, sounds, and the reality of the slums have hit hard. Living conditions we cannot begin to fathom, nothing in my background has prepared me for the last two days. Hunger and despair stalk the people of Marthe Valley, witch doctors, gangs, thugs all prey on the people of Marthe. When you have nothing, how can anything be taken from you? Yet, it happens everyday. Just when I though I’d seen everything, when I knew I was jaded, unable to be phased further, God continued to show us the misery and suffering of the valley. Amidst these extreme conditions there is hope, and God is here. I learned to understand the bible deeper, I hear God clearer in familiar verses, and I am beginning to grasp Jesus’ teaching a little deeper.
Matthew 5:11 Give us this day our daily bread, I am slowly comprehended the power in these words, it’s not a simple string of words that have been memorized since childhood. Give us our daily bread is a powerful plea, the only source of food today needs to come from God’s provision, these words aren’t hastily repeated in Marthe Valley, like they tend to be in the US. These words connect the body of believers to the creator of the universe; this plea for daily bread is urgent and powerful. This is the hope they have.
I want to be your hands, I want to be your feet, I want to go where you send me, go where you send me. So the song goes, and that’s good. Matt 9:37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” We can be workers and help with the holy harvest in so many ways, our prayers are felt and needed, our financial resources can buy so much more than a café mocha loca grande, or a value meal. We can come and do kingdom work, we can let He who breathed all into existence use us for his purposes, through the blessings Christ has given us we can bring hope.
Matt 25:40 The King will reply. “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” Did, whatever you did, you did for me. I have met the least of Christ’s brothers. We are to do for them as Christ himself would. Our eyes have been opened to a need greater and far beyond my imagination, this new found awareness requires action and prayer. One day God will say “I showed you need, you met that need, well done good and faithful servant’ or he will say, “I tell you the truth whatever you did not do for the least of these, you did not do for me.”
The first and greatest commandment, Love the Lord you God with all your heart mind soul and strength, the second is like it love your neighbor as yourself. God teach me to love others as you do, teach me to see them as you do. Bless the people of Marthe Valley today
Matthew 5:11 Give us this day our daily bread, I am slowly comprehended the power in these words, it’s not a simple string of words that have been memorized since childhood. Give us our daily bread is a powerful plea, the only source of food today needs to come from God’s provision, these words aren’t hastily repeated in Marthe Valley, like they tend to be in the US. These words connect the body of believers to the creator of the universe; this plea for daily bread is urgent and powerful. This is the hope they have.
I want to be your hands, I want to be your feet, I want to go where you send me, go where you send me. So the song goes, and that’s good. Matt 9:37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” We can be workers and help with the holy harvest in so many ways, our prayers are felt and needed, our financial resources can buy so much more than a café mocha loca grande, or a value meal. We can come and do kingdom work, we can let He who breathed all into existence use us for his purposes, through the blessings Christ has given us we can bring hope.
Matt 25:40 The King will reply. “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” Did, whatever you did, you did for me. I have met the least of Christ’s brothers. We are to do for them as Christ himself would. Our eyes have been opened to a need greater and far beyond my imagination, this new found awareness requires action and prayer. One day God will say “I showed you need, you met that need, well done good and faithful servant’ or he will say, “I tell you the truth whatever you did not do for the least of these, you did not do for me.”
The first and greatest commandment, Love the Lord you God with all your heart mind soul and strength, the second is like it love your neighbor as yourself. God teach me to love others as you do, teach me to see them as you do. Bless the people of Marthe Valley today
Monday, February 16, 2009
Africa-Monday
We left Milwaukee forty four hours ago, all went well. I was sure I’d be writing about the trip over, stories of cramped planes, screaming babies, and bad food. We arrived at our hotel exactly 24 hours and one minute after leaving Milwaukee. It was night time here, Nairobi is nine hours ahead of Waukesha, I am actually writing this tomorrow as you read it today. My thoughts of the discomfort we went thru have been replaced by the reality of life in the slums of Marthe Valley (Mar-the, the rhymes with way). Our trip over cannot even be described as an inconvenience in comparison.
Marthe Valley is home to 800,000 people all living in conditions that would be described as criminal in the United States. The valley is divided into ten villages, the valley runs approximately ten kilometers in length, or 6.2 miles. In that small stretch of land there is misery, disease, despair, alcoholism, drug abuse, hunger, fear, death, prostitution, this is where the forgotten people live, this is where people survive, live isn’t the right word.
In Nairobi unemployment runs at 60%, adult HIV rates are over 40%, the social services, the safety nets we have in the U.S., don’t exist in Kenya, people don’t fall through the cracks, the plunge into the abyss. This is their reality, this is the story we never knew.
Thoughts from the slum tour today:
Drug use is rampant, the drug of choice is glue, the epoxy that holds our shoes together, we saw and talked at a thirteen year old boy who will never remember we were there, his mind is gone, for him it seems so is hope. We went into the home of Frieda; rather we went into the shack of Frieda. Frieda is not sure of her age; it’s fifty something, a 12 x 10 shack, made out of corrugated steel is her home. Frieda used to abuse alcohol; she drank so she could do her job, as a prostitute. Today she is a sister in Christ, 22 people live with her in her tiny shack, no plumbing, water, floor, nothing. For the first time today I have seen nothing, until now I always thought there was something I now have seen nothing, yet in that nothing I saw God. Frieda prays to keep her faith strong, that her family would grow in the hope that is Christ and for God to provide for her and hers for one more day. I thought I relied on God and trusted in him; today I met people who just do it, no thinking, just prayers. Raw sewage everywhere, we walked around the corner and saw a young child squatting in front of their house like a dog would, I’d like to say that was odd, it’s the norm. Home distilleries, making alcohol in rivers of filth, drunken men and women, in the midst of all of this there is hope, the church is alive in Marthe Valley.
Marthe Valley is home to 800,000 people all living in conditions that would be described as criminal in the United States. The valley is divided into ten villages, the valley runs approximately ten kilometers in length, or 6.2 miles. In that small stretch of land there is misery, disease, despair, alcoholism, drug abuse, hunger, fear, death, prostitution, this is where the forgotten people live, this is where people survive, live isn’t the right word.
In Nairobi unemployment runs at 60%, adult HIV rates are over 40%, the social services, the safety nets we have in the U.S., don’t exist in Kenya, people don’t fall through the cracks, the plunge into the abyss. This is their reality, this is the story we never knew.
Thoughts from the slum tour today:
Drug use is rampant, the drug of choice is glue, the epoxy that holds our shoes together, we saw and talked at a thirteen year old boy who will never remember we were there, his mind is gone, for him it seems so is hope. We went into the home of Frieda; rather we went into the shack of Frieda. Frieda is not sure of her age; it’s fifty something, a 12 x 10 shack, made out of corrugated steel is her home. Frieda used to abuse alcohol; she drank so she could do her job, as a prostitute. Today she is a sister in Christ, 22 people live with her in her tiny shack, no plumbing, water, floor, nothing. For the first time today I have seen nothing, until now I always thought there was something I now have seen nothing, yet in that nothing I saw God. Frieda prays to keep her faith strong, that her family would grow in the hope that is Christ and for God to provide for her and hers for one more day. I thought I relied on God and trusted in him; today I met people who just do it, no thinking, just prayers. Raw sewage everywhere, we walked around the corner and saw a young child squatting in front of their house like a dog would, I’d like to say that was odd, it’s the norm. Home distilleries, making alcohol in rivers of filth, drunken men and women, in the midst of all of this there is hope, the church is alive in Marthe Valley.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Busy
Without a doubt, as I write this or perhaps as this is being read, the reader and the writer are both incredibly busy. This fact is no longer even questioned, we are busy. From the time we wake in the morning to the time we retire for the evening, our days are filled with a constant velocity and fury of busyness. In line at the local grocer, I heard this exchange, "Young man, hurry up I am very busy today", the clerk responded "Lady the world is busy."
Sir or madam, for the last time let me tell you now, the world is collectively busy. From this point forward, just as no one walks around and says "I'm breathing", forever more henceforth there is no need to disclose our busyness. We get it, enough said, we are busy. We are busy with things we can control and with things we can't. Declaring our busyness is justification of why we don't do the things we really should. Put another way, when we are too busy to do the things we ought to, maybe we're not busy at all in the sense we've come to expect.
I once heard, busy is short for buried under Satan's yoke. Seems we may not be as busy as we thought we were, instead it seems we're merely distracted. The distraction is deliberate, diabolical, and deadly. Maybe all this busyness is by design. I was going to read my bible today but... I was going to spend time with my kids today but... I was going to stop and see my parents today but... I was to busy. Satan is called the great deceiver, maybe some or most of our busyness is designed to distract us from God and the things God loves. Maybe when we're buried under the yoke of Satan we aren't busy we're simply not focused.
Matthew 11:30 "For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Jesus offers a different yoke, our busyness keeps us away from him. Maybe it's time to re-focus.
Sir or madam, for the last time let me tell you now, the world is collectively busy. From this point forward, just as no one walks around and says "I'm breathing", forever more henceforth there is no need to disclose our busyness. We get it, enough said, we are busy. We are busy with things we can control and with things we can't. Declaring our busyness is justification of why we don't do the things we really should. Put another way, when we are too busy to do the things we ought to, maybe we're not busy at all in the sense we've come to expect.
I once heard, busy is short for buried under Satan's yoke. Seems we may not be as busy as we thought we were, instead it seems we're merely distracted. The distraction is deliberate, diabolical, and deadly. Maybe all this busyness is by design. I was going to read my bible today but... I was going to spend time with my kids today but... I was going to stop and see my parents today but... I was to busy. Satan is called the great deceiver, maybe some or most of our busyness is designed to distract us from God and the things God loves. Maybe when we're buried under the yoke of Satan we aren't busy we're simply not focused.
Matthew 11:30 "For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Jesus offers a different yoke, our busyness keeps us away from him. Maybe it's time to re-focus.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Cow, pig, or chicken?
Think for a minute, what are you having for dinner tonight? What did you have last night, or the night before? Let me guess, you had cow, pig, or chicken. I know there's a chance you had fish, maybe you went the vegetarian route, for most of us though, we ate from the big three. As a matter of fact, most of the time were going to eat the big three. So why don't we get bored with our diet? Presentation, presentation is everything. We've all heard it many times, and it's true. The variety is in the presentation and that is why we can have one of the three over and over again, and say things like this is the best meal I've ever had, when in reality we have eaten the same things literally hundreds and thousands of times. It's the presentation that keeps it fresh, new, and exciting.
Move, eat, sleep. Today that's all we're going to do. It's all we did yesterday, its all we will do tomorrow. It's all we ever do. Sometimes more of one and less of another, but it's all we do. How do we keep it fresh, how do we keep it exciting, how do we maintain the spark? Presentation, presentation is everything.
Today we can present ourselves to others in many different fashions and manners.We're going to move. We can be the encourager, the discourager, we can be the yes, we can be the no, we can be the go, we can be the stop. The truth is we get to decide how were going to act. We move, we choose. We can move selfishly, we can move for the greater good, we choose. We can't move yesterday, we can't move tomorrow, we can move today. We can control how we move in front of others.
Our movements don't always align with who we are. Like a cook who tries to drown the overcooked cow, pig, or chicken in a sauce. We can hide in a myriad of movements. We direct, and redirect. We cover up and we justify, we blame yesterday, and fear the way we will move tomorrow. We settle for less than we should. We control how we move, we hide how we move. The truth is we move, alone or in groups, we move. Many of our fathers no longer move, they moved their last time.
Today we move, it may be our last time. Psalm 95:7-8 Today if you hear his voice do not harden your hearts. Move in harmony. Psalm 2:7 I will declare the decree of the Lord: He said to me you are my son today I have become your Father. Move in knowledge. Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Presentation is everything. Move in Him.
Move, eat, sleep. Today that's all we're going to do. It's all we did yesterday, its all we will do tomorrow. It's all we ever do. Sometimes more of one and less of another, but it's all we do. How do we keep it fresh, how do we keep it exciting, how do we maintain the spark? Presentation, presentation is everything.
Today we can present ourselves to others in many different fashions and manners.We're going to move. We can be the encourager, the discourager, we can be the yes, we can be the no, we can be the go, we can be the stop. The truth is we get to decide how were going to act. We move, we choose. We can move selfishly, we can move for the greater good, we choose. We can't move yesterday, we can't move tomorrow, we can move today. We can control how we move in front of others.
Our movements don't always align with who we are. Like a cook who tries to drown the overcooked cow, pig, or chicken in a sauce. We can hide in a myriad of movements. We direct, and redirect. We cover up and we justify, we blame yesterday, and fear the way we will move tomorrow. We settle for less than we should. We control how we move, we hide how we move. The truth is we move, alone or in groups, we move. Many of our fathers no longer move, they moved their last time.
Today we move, it may be our last time. Psalm 95:7-8 Today if you hear his voice do not harden your hearts. Move in harmony. Psalm 2:7 I will declare the decree of the Lord: He said to me you are my son today I have become your Father. Move in knowledge. Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Presentation is everything. Move in Him.
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