Featured Stories
0

Flee and Pursue

I Tim. 6:11 and II Tim. 2:3

Paul twice told Timothy to take a two pronged approach to evil. Once regarding the love of money. And two lust. He told him to first flee. And then pursue.

Flee evil. Pursue God.

May try and have more strength than evil. The great leader Paul knew it was best to run from a situation of evil. Avoiding the sensuous and greedy world was the way to go when tempted.

And it isn’t enough to not do evil. Something will still fill the void. The void must be filled by pursuing and being filled with God.

0

Drunken Sailors

Its often said that “we only live once!”

How true it is.

Someone I know responded back to the statement, “Isn’t that enough?”

Truth is we all have only one life. We can’t change that. But we can see that the duration of that life goes on. We can receive eternal life from Christ (John 3:16).

Lots of people I know spend their life like they are drunken sailors. You do get one life. Invest that life well. It will pay you back well.

0

Unknown

Human beings are most alive when living in the unknown, for it’s in this place where anything and everything is possible.

0

Most Impacting People

A few weeks ago t.v. talk show hosts and pundits and bloggers were spending time talking about the most influential or interesting people of 2011. I put some thought into it and here are the folks that caught my interest living and dead last year.

  1. Tim Tebow – this life has really caught me. He is the real thing far beyond athletes in actions cliches of the athletic Christian. I think we will hear more of him in 2012.
  2. Seth Godin….biz guru. His books really got me thinking down a different channel this year.
  3. Mumford and sons- the unique sounding top selling group from England. The group is actually led by a major leader in the Vineyard movement.
  4. Jimmy Falon….Jimmy is going to be and is a prime mover in our culture. He is the new SNL.
  5. Newt Gingrich….watch Newt something is ticking there whether you like him or not.
  6. Swtichfoot… Jon Foreman….. awesome records – awesome life.
  7. Guy Kawasaki… everyone one of his books should be read by any leader. I read most of them this last year.
  8. James Thurber…comedic writer of the depression years. I rediscovered him last year.
  9. Chris Hitchen…fanatical atheist who died last year. Awesome writer. But a declared enemy of religion. I found his writing superb and actually move of his criticisms were accurate of the church.
  10. Steve Jobs…and obvious one we will all miss.
  11. Donald Trump…. bad t.v. show…bad hair…big ego but always around.
  12. Erwin McManus…in my opinion the best Christian writer out there.
  13. Oprah — her starting her own t.v. network is yet to be the culture shaper it will be.
  14. Rob Bell…. former mega church pastor who released a book that got everyone talking about hell again.
  15. Charles Wesley…the first Christian rock star…. I read his bio this last year and started meditating on his hymns. One of the most fascinating people in church history.
  16. Last – Frederick Beuchner…. I have re-read his entire library and catalog this last year and am a better person for having done it.
0

Holy Appliances

I am not a goofy person. And I feel no need to pump up the God factor in my life. He is there. And he is powerful.

About eight months ago our microwave and dishwasher went out. I paid sixty dollars to have the microwave checked out by Sears. They tore into it and checked the power supply and decided it was dead and could not be repaired without it costing more than a new one would cost me. The fan didn’t work either. It just all sat there reminding us how most things made today aren’t made to last.

Soon we had another appliance fatality. Our dishwasher just up and quit. I called in an independent repairman this time. Again it cost just forty dollars this time. Again I was told it was about as useful for a boat anchor as it was a dishwasher. The lights didn’t come on and it flat out didn’t even tried to work.

We knew at the time our future was going to have some possible changes to it. And I didn’t want to spend the money on appliances we could do without for a short period of time.

I make it a practice to pray for all things. And I even keep lists of things I am praying for to note answered prayer. About two months I put getting some new appliances on my prayer list. Lori read my list and joined in as well. We of course were looking toward a book contract or some such thing to come in to allow us to by top line appliances. It didn’t.

Here’s where the story is going to make me suspect in your minds. But it really happened.

Last Tuesday morning I was making bacon for breakfast. Lori said I wish this fan would at least work. She reached to the button (which I had pushed dozens of times) and the fan came on. In fact the microwave started working in all capacities.

I said, “Wooo push the dishwasher and see what happens!”

Lori stepped across the kitchen and pushed the button to start a wash cycle and to both our shock it started washing. It has worked since. As has the microwave.

Now I told my dad and he proposed that the power must have been shut off at the breaker.“ This wasn’t what happened though. Two paid professionals had tried every possible problem.

Does God heal appliances? I don’t know.

Lori and I have been laughing at each other for believing God could repair an appliance.

I am not sure what all this really means. But it does mean I don’t have to come up with $2500 for new appliances.

Could it be a little – miracle of encouragement to me and Lori in a rough time? It really could.

I think this story in time will make its purpose clear. Right now I am just stunned. And I feel a bit concerned as to what you will think of me. And I have thoughts of starting and appliance healing ministry.

As the guy said, ”All I know is I was blind but now I see.“ I say, ”All I know is I was sashing dishes by had for eight months and now no longer because the dishwasher is working.“

0

Breath of God

Hymn – Breath of God, Breath On Me

Breath on me, Breath of God. Fill me with life a new,
That I may love what Thou doest love, And do what thou wouldst do.

Editors' Picks
  • Now that I am a grandfather I look at raising children very differently. I wish I had been smarter when my kids were growing. Thankfully they have the intelligence and...

    Curiosity and other things

    Now that I am a grandfather I look at raising children very differently. I wish I had been smarter when my kids were growing. Thankfully they have the intelligence and...

    Continue Reading...

  • I am preparing for a free webinar titled: Finding Your Voice. As part of my preparation I pulled out one of my favorite books, “The Christ of the Indian Road”...

    Christ On The Indian Road

    I am preparing for a free webinar titled: Finding Your Voice. As part of my preparation I pulled out one of my favorite books, “The Christ of the Indian Road”...

    Continue Reading...

  • Painting has taught me much more about life that most things. Sports illustrations are many when speakers try and identify the essence of Christianity. And we usually think of the...

    Painting

    Painting has taught me much more about life that most things. Sports illustrations are many when speakers try and identify the essence of Christianity. And we usually think of the...

    Continue Reading...

  • I have come across two interesting observations. Older Millennials are in surprising numbers in favor of Republican candidate Ron Paul. I asked two family members why? They said, “Everyone is...

    Anecdotal

    I have come across two interesting observations. Older Millennials are in surprising numbers in favor of Republican candidate Ron Paul. I asked two family members why? They said, “Everyone is...

    Continue Reading...

  • According to the Nov. 6th 2011 issue of Forbes Magazines many of the boomers who are being cut from the work force are taking their great ides for their own...

    Reverse Mentoring

    According to the Nov. 6th 2011 issue of Forbes Magazines many of the boomers who are being cut from the work force are taking their great ides for their own...

    Continue Reading...

  • Our distrust is very expensive – Ralph Waldo Emerson

    Distrust

    Our distrust is very expensive – Ralph Waldo Emerson

    Continue Reading...

  • Praying for lost or lapsed friends is a core task for believers. INtercession is a job and directive. I realize often we don’t know how to pray for folks needing...

    Prayer for Others

    Praying for lost or lapsed friends is a core task for believers. INtercession is a job and directive. I realize often we don’t know how to pray for folks needing...

    Continue Reading...

  • Challenges are great these days. And opportunities are many. These kinds of times require the wisdom of experience. Churches often need outside input to commandeer their journey. Sometimes a little...

    Coaching — A Friend in the Fight, Square 1 Network

    Challenges are great these days. And opportunities are many. These kinds of times require the wisdom of experience. Churches often need outside input to commandeer their journey. Sometimes a little...

    Continue Reading...

Latest Headlines