Fun on a Friday afternoon

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Reflections

I like the fact that I'm more than the sum of me because of God's work in me. Without him there really isn't much to us...flesh and bones, passions, desires, hopes, dreams....but add the ingredient of God and suddenly a simple life reflects the very God that made it. I'm more than the sum of me because of the God who made me. Because of him working in and through my life I am a reflection of his life....at times it's even magnified through me as I depend on him.

A simple drop of water is clear by itself...not much to it, but let it reflect something more and suddenly a drop of water becomes beautiful beyond imagination. We are a lot like that....not much by ourselves...but let us reflect the very life of God through us and wow!

I like the fact that I'm more than the sum of me because of God's work in me.

Php 1:6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

Col 1:27 to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Sober thoughts

I just got back from a meeting with the police department for our city. I work with the police department here as a chaplain. Tonight we were discussing process and procedure for dealing with situations where our services will be needed- family notifications of death, talking people out of suicide...how and who, and a number of other situations. It was a very sobering meeting. Sitting there I thought, "This is sure a sad world we live in. It's so broken." Dealing with the results of sin and sorrow is a serious business and often brings dangers of its own. I am so looking forward to seeing how this world will be when sin and its influence is removed. What will it look like? What will surprise us? I have thought about this several times in this blog simply because I have to deal with it so often, so maybe I'm more acutely focused on the world as it is and thinking about the way it was really meant to be. Let me just say I can't wait for "that day"...it will be amazing!

Innovate or Die - Aquaduct: Mobile Filtration Vehicle

This is a great idea! It's ideas like this that really make a difference for those in developing countries. I hope they are able to develop this and get it into the areas where it's needed.

The mundane

A lot of life is very simple, and sometimes rather mundane. There are the simple things that must be done...sleep, eat, work, rest, and breathe.....they are simple because we don't even think of them, but we must do them. Then there is the mundane....the tasks which must be done, but are hard because of the tedious, boring nature of the task. It is often a simple thing, needed, tiring, maybe boring, but important. And yet, while I'm doing those simple needed tiring boring things life happens. One day fades into another and soon we find that we have lived our years and missed the best part of life....simply doing it all with God involved in every moment. I talk to many elderly in my work, and many who are nearing the end of their lives. They think that because they didn't do anything significant their lives were wasted....and yet.....significance isn't measured here and now. It's measured by God, and it looks completely different than you think it does. It's doing the simple mundane things of life in fellowship with God himself. In those simple moments light comes to dark days, life comes to dead hours, eternity invades short lives.....the mundane suddenly becomes something more than you ever dreamed.

Examples

We all find ourselves examples to those around us. People watch us even when we don't notice. To your children you are an example of what a parent is like. To your co-workers you are an example as well. They watch to see if what you say about yourself is true or not. Are you really who you claim to be?

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We are being watched. Am I an example of how NOT to do something? Do I lead the way for others to follow or do I show them the path to avoid?

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Don't forget that people are watching. I still remember eating out with my wife. The food wasn't that good, the service was poor, and I was grumpy.....it showed. Then someone nearby asked, "Aren't you a pastor.....?" What a reality check! Watch how you live, others are watching as well.....

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Mat 5:16 "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

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1Peter 2:12 Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Quote of the day

"Long ago the voice of God went out to men and called them to the possibility of a uniquely human greatness. Possessed of a divine spirit, they were capable of transcending their genetic makeup and leading lives of romantic monogamy, parental purpose, and communal commitment. It is time for that voice to be heard again."


-SHMULEY BOTEACH , The Jerusalem Post

Monday's cartoon

Thinking....

Last Friday night I "hit the wall." I was exhausted! We got home from one of our home groups about 10 and I was spent to the point of feeling physically ill. A good day of rest helped, but I'm thinking....how did I let that happen? How did I so foolishly live last week that I found myself at that place? I know it was my foolishness that brought me to that point. I get so busy so easily that it takes a crash to make me stop and remember that I'm not God. I don't have to do it all myself. So here's a reminder for those of you who, like me, are trying to do it all....stop it! You can't. Slow down, get some rest....take some time to stop and rest physically, mentally and spiritually. God intended us to use our rest times to refresh. Rest is a good thing because it reminds us that God is in control and we are not.

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Psa 127:2 It is vain for you to rise up early, To retire late, To eat the bread of painful labors; For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.

The purpose of pets

(Postscript: On of my readers, Mike McM., sent this to me. I thought it would be a great postscript for these photos-

Subject: A Dog's Purpose (from a 6-year-old)

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife, Lisa, and their little boy, Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation.He said, "People are born so that they can learn how to live a good Life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?" The six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."

Remember, if a dog were the teacher you would learn things like.......

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.
Take naps.Stretch before rising.Run, romp, and play daily.
Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
Be loyal.
Never pretend to be something you're not.
If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.
ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY)

Alarm

One of our mission partners as a church is a ministry called Alarm. This great ministry works in most of North Africa in the area of reconciliation and discipleship of the pastors in the local churches. Tonight we had the great opportunity to hear their president, Celestin, speak to our church family about their ministry. When you are praying...pray for Celestin and Alarm.

Grandkids are great!

Grandkids are great! Here's just one of our beautiful grandbabies having fun in the leaves.

The bible says grandchildren are a blessing from the Lord....I sure feel blessed.

Chasing lions

Last year my wife read a book by Mark Batterson titled In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day. He's a young pastor who started and built a large church on the east coast. He had some great things to say in this book. One that I see often quoted is what he calls the Lion chaser's manifesto. My wife, Joye, wrote about it and used it in a message she gave last year as well. It's a thought provoking challenge. Let me share it with you and invite your thoughts. Here it is:

the lion chaser's manifesto

Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Set God-sized goals. Pursue God-ordained passions. Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention. Keep asking questions. Keep making mistakes. Keep seeking God. Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution. Stop repeating the past and start creating the future. Stop playing it safe and start taking risks. Expand your horizons. Accumulate experiences. Consider the lilies. Enjoy the journey. Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can. Live like today is the first day and last day of your life. Don't let what's wrong with you keep you from worshipping what's right with God. Burn sinful bridges. Blaze a new trail. Criticize by creating. Worry less about what people think and more about what God thinks. Don't try to be who you're not. Be yourself. Laugh at yourself. Quit holding out. Quit holding back. Quit running away. Chase the lion!

Saturday's cartoon

Who is Jesus?

I have been reading different blogs and have come across several which discuss Jesus. The ideas of who he was and what he taught are amazingly different. I posted a comment on one that I simply couldn't let stand. Some of the posts are outright lies about Jesus!

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For me it's difficult to let a lie about my savior stand, so I have to respond. Therefore, to erase any confusion, let me clarify who I believe Jesus is:

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He is God, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace, Creator of heaven and earth, The obedient Son of the Father, 100% God and at the same time 100% man, The Perfect Servant, The Son of Man, The Prince of Peace, The King of Kings and the Lord of Lord, He is the only Savior of man, He is risen and seated at the right hand of the Father, He is the second person of the trinity, He is the only Worthy One, He is the one who holds all things together, He is the Great Intercessor, He is the soon coming King of the World, All angels bow down and worship him and soon all mankind will bow to worship him as well, He is the Great Healer, He is the only way to heaven, the only hope of mankind, the only perfect man, the only example I can trust, the only one who never fails, He is God.

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Now, if that's not clear enough I can add about 100 other things to the list to help with clarity, but let me leave no doubt for anyone who might ask- I believe he is exactly who the bible says he is....He's God!