tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10318533694535511852024-03-13T09:27:09.182-07:00Keep Lookin' UP!!Keep Lookin' UPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14575166169525428231noreply@blogger.comBlogger63125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1031853369453551185.post-67417360139000682272021-02-04T13:59:00.002-08:002021-02-04T14:04:34.871-08:00Take care of your Soul<p> Millions of products that promote health and healthy living are on the market these days. Things like diet supplements, organic foods, vitamins, sugar substitutes, and essential oils have captured our attention as possible helps to living longer and healthier. All these things are focused on our physical selves, but we don't hear much about keeping our soul healthy. In these days of Covid and the added stress of political upheaval in our country, we all need to pay attention to what's going on with our souls. </p><p>As the pandemic has lingered on, I have observed in my own life and in the life of many believers that there is a hollowness that can only be explained as soul exhaustion. It doesn't seem to be physical or emotional tiredness, (although soul exhaustion can lead to those things), as much as it is a wearing out of our inner-most being. </p><p>Beyond the obvious disciplines like prayer, Bible study and time alone with God, there are some practices that can help you take care of your soul. Let me mention a few if you sense you are experiencing a worn our soul these days.</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Start reducing the time you spend on social media.</b></li></ul><div><span>Your soul is not made for the deluge of information that social media pushes out on an hourly basis. Do your really need to know about the death of every "friend's" acquaintance? You might think you do, but your soul wasn't made for that. I recently read that addiction to social media does something in your brain that is similar to addiction to heroin. I have a meter on my devices that measure my screen time and gives me a daily and weekly report. It's very enlightening how much time I spend on social media and how that is tied to my soul exhaustion. In these days of instant awareness of things that happen on a large and small scale, there is no wonder our soul is depleted most days. </span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>We all have FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out), but that fear is contributing to our unhealthy souls. The consequence of living with FOMO is that we cannot take in any encouragement from any healthy source. Therefore we are caught in a vicious cycle of fear and a desire for useless information that leads us down the path of an unhealthy soul. </span></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Get outside more.</b></li></ul><div>Our souls long to be in God's creation. We are not designed to be cooped up inside looking at screens. During the lock down last year, I found myself with a deep tiredness that was beyond anything I had experienced. It went beyond depression or gloominess, to something much deeper. When I finally woke up to the fact that my soul was in need of getting out of the house and into the world God created, I was in a dark place. Once I started getting outside, things changed. I began to work on all of the ideas I had for the landscaping around the house. I took walks with my wife. I sat out on the back patio and stared at the grass. I got outside. The more time I spent daily out in nature, the more my soul began to heal. I learned the importance of getting outside. </div></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Develop a deep relationship</b>.</li></ul><div>If your soul is suffering, who have you told? If you're like most people, there is no one to tell, and that is why you soul is suffering. All of us need one or two friends who we can be vulnerable with. Those one or two that know all the junk about our lives and love us anyway. Those who are not impressed with our persona, but love us as a person. If you have such a person in your life, you should praise the Lord. Most people do not. Why? Because we have to risk being in a relationship where we might just get hurt, or even betrayed. So, most of us stay in our aloneness and don't take the time or effort.it takes to grow beyond past hurt or betrayal. Again, fear rears its ugly head. </div></div><div><br /></div><div>If you will begin today to pray that God would bring a friend into your life that you can go deep with, I believe He will honor that prayer. Our souls are not designed to be alone. </div><div>Let me end with this one caveat; this person is never to take the place of your spouse and that most important relationship. It is a close relationship, but there are boundaries to which no friend can cross. </div><div><br /></div><div>So, how's your soul doing? These and other disciplines and practices can restore your soul. Never forget that our Father loves you and desires you to be the best you can be.</div><div><br /></div><div>Keep Lookin' UP!! MONTY</div><div><br /></div><p></p>Keep Lookin' UPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14575166169525428231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1031853369453551185.post-75837874294965720652019-08-07T09:49:00.000-07:002019-08-07T09:49:25.304-07:00I'm not going back to McDonalds<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieL7e4roGmfDYAYlFHMyAjfkUuauHBHLXG7TdoRtXyTwLb18rPEUIr5Sqelarmn3-rlShKLwpyk_I6FMTEe6m4-2a5doO4mMdtEUIddNWwKzO04H6O8DODXx8xdJVv_Wx7M034UgPRDFw/s1600/McDonald%2527s.png" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="156" data-original-width="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieL7e4roGmfDYAYlFHMyAjfkUuauHBHLXG7TdoRtXyTwLb18rPEUIr5Sqelarmn3-rlShKLwpyk_I6FMTEe6m4-2a5doO4mMdtEUIddNWwKzO04H6O8DODXx8xdJVv_Wx7M034UgPRDFw/s1600/McDonald%2527s.png" /></a>I've been on the road a little more than usual this summer. My position has required me to be on the road this summer with camps and church visits. Because of this I have needed to stop and grab a bite to eat before continuing my journey.. In case you didn't know, there are a multitude of McDonald's on the highways of our country. It seems every smallish town has one these days and many exits have one near the interstates. I used to do the drive through and continue on eating my meal while driving. Lately I've decided to actually get out, go to the restroom, order and have a seat for a few minutes. After my last trip, I have decided that I'm not going back to McDonald's. Here's why:<br />
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<li><b><u>They're dirty</u></b>. I used to rely on McDonald's for their clean restrooms. Sometimes I would go to their restroom and not order any food. (I would always feel guilty if I did this). Not anymore. Every restroom at every McDonald's I have been to lately is dirty. I won't go into the details, but it's not good. Not only are the restrooms dirty, so are the dining areas. At my most recent visit, the trash can was rounding over and 2 dozen used cups and other containers were piled up on top. Finally the manager yelled at the young lady at the register to "get off the register and empty that trash!"</li>
<li><b><u>They're poorly managed</u></b>. The manager of this restaurant was not a leader. He yelled out orders that could be heard throughout the place. His stern shouting was not motivating his "team" to pick up the pace. They were inundated with the lunch crowd in the dining room and the drive through, but it seemed to me that the louder he yelled the slower the workers worked. His lack of awareness was evident from the overflowing trash I mentioned to the dirty men's room and the uncleaned tables and booths. OK, it was the lunch rush, but I was there early and it wasn't going to get better. Because of the poor management...</li>
<li><b><u>The staff is not friendly. </u></b> Most of the people at the point of sale, the order register, are not open or friendly. Sometimes it's because the management has put the wrong person at this most important place. Most of these young adults will not make eye contact, and recite a half-hearted greeting. Most are totally bored and hate their "job". How do I know? Because their attitude reflects it. <i> (insert huge eye roll here)</i></li>
<li><b><u>The food is bad.</u></b> I feel bad enough eating this stuff, at least make it taste half way decent! With one exception the food in these places has been bad. Just bad. I mean, stale bread, cold hamburger, almost inedible. </li>
<li><b><u>When I leave, I'm still hungry</u></b>. OK I know there's a nutritional explanation for this. It might be that the food is full of so many preservatives and empty calories that my body doesn't feel full. I really don't feel like I've eaten anything. </li>
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So, I'm not going back to McDonald's. My wife with be very happy to hear this decision.<br />
Now Chick-Fil-A is another story. 1.Wish there were more. 2. Can't wait for my next visit. 3. I know the food is fresh and hot. 4. I know they will be happy that I'm there. 5. Clean! <b><i>#authentic</i></b><br />
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Think about it...what's your church like?<br />
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Keep Looking Up!Keep Lookin' UPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14575166169525428231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1031853369453551185.post-63410740403742683362019-07-18T14:52:00.000-07:002019-07-23T08:57:43.963-07:00Our Desperate Need<br />
I have been a student of history for quite some time. I have especially been intrigued with the Civil War. Lasting from 1861-1865, no conflict has left our nation more devastated or divided. It ravaged our country sometimes pitting brother against brother, dividing family and destroying the very fiber of our nation. The "Scorched Earth Policy" of the Union army left most of the South in utter desolation. The basic necessities of life were scarce. Disease was rampant. The infant mortality rate in the South reached unthinkable numbers. The reconstruction period was a slow process. In the midst of this the churches of the South were under great duress and in need of every resource in order to stay afloat. <br />
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When I was on staff at the South Carolina Baptist Convention, our historian handed me a piece of paper with the minutes of the Convention from 1869, just 4 years after the war had ended. The churches in South Carolina were scattered from one small village to another. The strongest churches had been burned to the ground.* To say they least the what was left of the membership were discouraged. As the convention met for the first time since the war, the Executive Board gave their report. I found the last two paragraphs to be the most interesting. After talking about what was going on in the churches and the state, the report concluded with these words.<br />
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<i><b>“All this is our home work. But the field is the
world. Domestic missions in other parts of the South, and foreign
missions for the benefit of the heathen, must not be neglected. Instead
of murmuring that the calls are so many, let us thank God that the channels for
doing good are so numerous, and be encouraged to summon all our energies and
direct them more wisely and systematically to the manifold work of the one
great cause to which we are pledged by our duty to the Redeemer.</b></i><br />
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<i><b> </b></i><i><b>We have waited long enough for outside help and for
convenient circumstances, and for some unknown thing to turn up. Let us
go to work resolved, under the blessing of God, to help ourselves. While
we have been tarrying souls have been perishing, other influences have been
gaining ground, the field is becoming preoccupied, and we are losing time which
may count most fearfully, or might tell most gloriously, in its influences for
eternity.”</b></i><br />
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<i><b> </b></i><i><b>1869 Committee on the Report of the Executive Board, South
Carolina Baptist Convention</b></i><br />
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The members of the board recognized that though times were hard; the opportunities were great. They knew that though the South was in ruin and the nation's soul was torn in two; they still were "pledged by their duty to the Redeemer." They were at a crossroads. Would they sit down and quit, or would they "summon all their energies and direct them more wisely and systematically to the manifold work"? The answer became clear to those messengers and over the next few decades under the direction of the Lord the churches became strong reaching many souls for Christ. In the midst of the resurgence, could not stay. Their land was so devastated that they had to move west. As they left the only place they had knew, they brought with them a desire for a faith that was alive and living through the Holy Spirit. As a result the great prairie revivals of the late 19th century spread like wildfire throughout the South and Midwest. Oklahoma (Indian Territory), was a mission field to which many from the South were sent to reach those without Christ. Much of our Baptist heritage was birthed out of the adversity of the Post-Civil War South and the desire to quit waiting on "outside help or convenient circumstance" to turn up. <br />
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Now we live in a spiritually devastated land. Our state and nation is in desperate need of Christ. We are at a crossroads and a decision awaits us. Will we sit and allow the state and country we love to go the way of the Devil, or will "go to work resolved under the blessing of God, to help ourselves"? I say let's summon our energies and direct them toward the manifold work of sharing the Gospel of Jesus. We need it so desperately. <br />
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Keep Lookin' UP!!<br />
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<b><i>*There is an interesting story of how the First Baptist Church of Columbia was spared at the end of the war. When Sherman laid siege to the city, his men targeted the First Baptist Church for total destruction because that's where the letter of succession was signed. As they were going through the city, a small group of soldiers were detached to look for the church. As they approached what they thought was their target, the sexton came out to meet them. The men inquired if the building was the Baptist church. "No sir!" was his reply, "that church is just around the corner!"</i></b><span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> pointing them to the Methodist church.</span><b><i> The men quickly found their way to the Methodist church and promptly burned it to the ground. </i></b></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><br />Keep Lookin' UPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14575166169525428231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1031853369453551185.post-16435598002301499672019-07-11T14:04:00.001-07:002019-07-11T14:20:56.428-07:0040 Years Later...40 years ago, I was ordained by the Big Lake Baptist Church in Bigelow Missouri. I would bet dollars to donuts that very few, if any, of my readers have ever heard of Bigelow Missouri. It was my first preaching church and was 94 miles from our home on the campus of Midwestern Baptist Seminary in Kansas City. I had been on campus 3 weeks when I got a call from Brother Bill Brandon who was the chairman of the deacons at Big Lake Baptist. They were looking for a pastor and wanted to know if I could come and preach for them the following Sunday. I was excited to get the chance to do what I believed God had called me to do. After giving me some detailed directions, Brother Bill said he was looking forward to meeting me and Cindy and said he would be praying for us as we came up. I don't remember what I preached that morning, but I got through it. At the end of the service I noticed Bill and several others huddled among the back few rows of the church, talking. As we were about to leave, he caught me at the back door and whispered, "Could you come back next Sunday?" "Sure!" was my enthusiastic reply. That little huddle and whispered talking went on for several weeks until one of the senior adults, Opal Kirkendall, let it slip that they were going to vote on calling them a preacher the next Wednesday night. I was sort of disappointed thinking they had been talking to someone else while I was filling the pulpit for them. Little did I know that they were voting on me! <br />
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When I arrived at the Big Lake Baptist Church the next Sunday, Brother Bill was waiting on me at the door. "Well, we voted to call you to be our preacher Wednesday night, what do ya say?" I looked at Cindy, who was crying, (that's her normal reaction to most happy things, and sad things well really most everything), and replied "I accept!" There was no negotiation of salary or mileage or annuity or health insurance; just come preach for us and an enthusiastic acceptance there on the front porch of the church. At the end of the service Bill got up and said, "Well, he said yes!" That was met with a couple of quiet "Amen's" some smiles, handshakes for me and hugs for Cindy, (you guessed it, she was crying).<br />
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Several months went by. I went to class during the week and studied for my sermons on Saturday. I did the best I could with the little knowledge and experience I had. I was nervous most Sundays, so nervous that many times I thought I would pass out right there in front Brother Bill and Miss Opal and all the rest of the Baptists from Bigelow Missouri. But God's grace and strength was very sufficient. I did my first baptism that summer, (I'll save that story for another blog, it was interesting). I did my first Lord's Supper, deacon's meeting and business meeting all the normal Baptist stuff.<br />
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That coming Spring they decided that I needed to be ordained. My home church in Oklahoma City had licensed me when I left for OBU, but the people of Big Lake Baptist saw in me a calling that came from the Lord. So in May of 1979, I scrapped up enough money for a new tie that went along with my favorite of two suits I owned, made the 94 mile trip to the church and was set aside to the Gospel ministry. 40 years have, in some ways, gone quickly. Some things have changed quite a lot, others have not. I still get nervous on Sunday mornings. I rarely feel like passing out, but the butterflies are always there whether I'm speaking to 5 or 500. Most of the people that were members of the Big Lake Baptist Church of Bigelow Missouri that day have gone to heaven. Cindy and I were by far the youngest in the congregation. The building, which was very nice (although it had no indoor plumbing), is gone and another has been built in its place. I doubt that any of the present day members remember that we were there those 3 years from 1978 until 1981. But I will never forget those folks who met there during that time. Their kindness, generosity and understanding to Cindy and me will always be in our hearts. <br />
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I'm looking forward to seeing them again. <br />
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Keep Lookin Up<br />
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Keep Lookin' UPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14575166169525428231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1031853369453551185.post-77981285651599676842018-09-13T10:11:00.001-07:002018-09-17T08:03:59.316-07:005 Spiritual Disciplines to Overcome the Drought of Worry<br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; margin: 0px;">All of us have experienced a drought sometime
in our lives.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>There are those times when
everything dries up.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The heat is
relentless and life-giving rain is nowhere in sight.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>First the grass turns yellow then the
trees.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It seems that our entire world is
headed toward destruction. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; margin: 0px;">Worry is much like a drought. It sucks the
life out of everything that lives. It also leads to other ailments and problems.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>These can be physical, emotional or even
spiritual.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdTDOs8EVwNjngq-t8SzCatgL4Eqy5Gw9mgF6mhsUxF-nMyQBQm2NEkFAuI8c-fvMKvFbJlyLL6qcDhp3jaVF_5dG9Bqd7kJj_912_1hx4FQH4ohBbwNWZTkYOXbCCW3QrlX2a696ylHg/s1600/IMG_1416.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdTDOs8EVwNjngq-t8SzCatgL4Eqy5Gw9mgF6mhsUxF-nMyQBQm2NEkFAuI8c-fvMKvFbJlyLL6qcDhp3jaVF_5dG9Bqd7kJj_912_1hx4FQH4ohBbwNWZTkYOXbCCW3QrlX2a696ylHg/s320/IMG_1416.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; margin: 0px;">Winston Churchill said, “When I look back on all these worries, I
remember the story of the old man who said on his deathbed that he has had a
lot of trouble in his life, most of which never happened.” His words ring
true today. One pastor wrote, “Most of our problems are huge, and they don’t
exist.”</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "georgia" , serif; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; margin: 0px;">I wish I could say that I have learned to overcome worry. I have
not. I have, however, found some spiritual disciplines to assist me when I
worry. Let me share them with you.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "georgia" , serif; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; margin: 0px;">Grace</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; margin: 0px;">.</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; margin: 0px;"> Both God’s grace and my grace. I have found that when I worry I
have a need for God’s grace. That comes from a life lived in brokenness.
Restoration comes to the worried heart when God’s grace comes in with its
warming love and reconciliation. I also need to express grace to myself. Most
of my worries are about my pride. It’s amazing how I can make a situation that
is totally not about me into something that totally is. It’s almost as if I
gather worry toward myself and hold on to it. How sick is that? That’s when I
need to give myself the grace to realize it’s not about me.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "georgia" , serif; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
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<div style="background: rgb(255, 249, 238); margin: 0px; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; margin: 0px;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rest</b></span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; margin: 0px;">. I worry most when I’m tired. Worry becomes emotional for me
and therefore it exhausts me. That emotional tiredness wreaks havoc on my wellbeing.
Instead of waiting until you fall in the ditch, schedule times of rest. What do
you do to recharge your batteries? Do it regularly.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "georgia" , serif; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 249, 238); line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; margin: 0px;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Praise</b></span></i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; margin: 0px;">.</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; margin: 0px;"> Not necessarily singing. Praising the Lord
and recounting how He has provided for you will conquer worry. Instead of
focusing on the problem, focus on the provision. I am astonished how people
have overcome the most devastating losses with the attitude of what’s been
given instead of what’s been taken away.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "georgia" , serif; margin: 0px;"><br /></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; margin: 0px;"> </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; margin: 0px;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Stillness</b></span></i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; margin: 0px;">.</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; margin: 0px;"> Somewhere we have learned that if we go
harder and faster we won’t have time to worry. We want to run from the draught in
our lives instead of allowing the Lord to bring His life-giving rain in the
stillness of our hearts. So we fill our lives with activities. We get up in the
morning and we run until we fall exhausted in our beds at night. It may be
raining, but we’re going so fast we don’t really notice or, even worse, we
think it’s a nuisance. Two words—Slow Down!</span></div>
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<b><i>Silence</i></b><b>.</b> Not quietness, silence. Say nothing. Turn off
everything and listen. In the silence you will hear Him and your worries will
melt, as he says, “I am.”</div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; margin: 0px;">These 5 disciplines
have assisted me in enduring and overcoming in the midst of the drought of
worry.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Hopefully you have some things
that assist you to be as vibrant as you can possibly be.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>If not, start with these and see if your
worries will give way to life giving rain.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: rgb(255, 249, 238); margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; margin: 0px;">1 Peter 5:7</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; margin: 0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; margin: 0px;">Keep Lookin UP!!</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "georgia" , serif; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<br /></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span>Keep Lookin' UPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14575166169525428231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1031853369453551185.post-39867875514725218562018-06-04T09:39:00.001-07:002018-06-04T09:39:52.637-07:00Grass Fires and Wet Toe-Sacks<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfIoDAIWmZ5MvbKgKI0V5bwEnzv3N3DSloX4EvTR2f_uKyGpyuei3VpUEBI3yeCz9J9zgHIGgbpA4m3Zl5ag3zALT7NZbNCdXYrdkvVb5YC_Fx8862FQxX-165E5KsIvh5yeDF18FBvdk/s1600/small-grass-fire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="336" data-original-width="448" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfIoDAIWmZ5MvbKgKI0V5bwEnzv3N3DSloX4EvTR2f_uKyGpyuei3VpUEBI3yeCz9J9zgHIGgbpA4m3Zl5ag3zALT7NZbNCdXYrdkvVb5YC_Fx8862FQxX-165E5KsIvh5yeDF18FBvdk/s320/small-grass-fire.jpg" width="320" /></a>One of the most dangerous and most helpful things in this
part of Oklahoma is a grass fire. I say it’s most dangerous because of the
winds that blow constantly.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>A small
spark can get out of control and before you know it a raging destructive fire
can char hundreds of acres.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It’s helpful
because although it’s destructive it also burns off old grasses and weeds and a
new landscape is born from the ashes.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Ranchers
will set them on purpose (it’s called a controlled burn), to get the new grass
to grow.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This year I noticed that it only
took a couple of weeks for the charred hills to turn a beautiful green.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
In the past, many of the grass fires were fought with wet toe-sacks.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Every small home or farm had a few of them
lying around.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>They were used for a
variety of things.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>When a fast-moving
grass fire broke out they were submerged in the horse trough and used to beat
the fire out.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>A line of residents from
around the area would be called on to step up to the fire line and beat out the
oncoming wall of flames.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>With bandanas
around their nose and mouth men, women and children would line up and beat the
fire until it was no more. </div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Every church has one or more of these wet toe-sack brigades.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The spark of a fire breaks out in a church or
in the life of someone and they gather their compatriots and head to the water
trough, toe-sack in hand.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>They usually
don’t wait too long, because they know if they let such a thing spread the wind
of the Holy Spirit will blow and the fire will quickly be out of their
control.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>To these rugged defenders of
all things status quo, a charred landscape would be devastating.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Things would not be the same.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“Sure, there is some deadness around, but we’re
used to it”, they reason.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>So, they beat
out the flames with their criticism, apathy, and down right meanness.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Before too long the fire is over and their
right back where they were, solidly in control.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
This phenomenon is nothing new.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Jesus dealt with a wet toe-sack brigade back
when he was on earth.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>They were called
Pharisees.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>When he healed a blind man on
the Sabbath they tried their best to put of the fire.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Jesus knew what they were doing and basically
called them false shepherds and thieves.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>In John 10:10 he said, “…I have come that they may have life and have it
to the full.”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Sure, he healed the blind
man on the Sabbath.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The fire blew threw
his life and burned out the old so that the new would spring forth.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Instead of rejoicing the toe-sack brigade was
more concerned about when he did it. They totally missed the point.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It was about Jesus giving life to the
full.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
It becomes increasing difficult for leaders in the Kingdom
to put down their toe-sacks.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Things are
just not the way they used to be, and we are unsure of ourselves these
days.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It’s time to let Jesus bring
life.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Let the wind blow.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Sure, it will be hard to see the old burn
off, but new life will come as a result.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Put down your toe-sack.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Keep Lookin' UPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14575166169525428231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1031853369453551185.post-23197904912432179922018-04-18T09:14:00.000-07:002018-04-18T09:14:50.057-07:00I Dare You!As a kid someone probably dared you to jump over something or stick your tongue on a flag pole on a sub-freezing day. Maybe they dared you to talk to that special person that you really admired or a host of other things. No matter, it was always something that was out of your<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> comfort zone.</span><br />
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
W<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">e all value comfort. When I was growing up we moved to a house that had central heat and air conditioning. Back then that was a big deal. Of course the system included a thermostat. The unique thing about the one in our house was it had a comfort zone printed on it. Right above 68 and 72 degree range were the words; "Comfort Zone". The heat and air company that produced the thermostat was educating their customers on how their machines could keep the home owner comfortable. It didn't take long before most people knew what their comfort zone was. It also didn't take long after that for each individual to establish their own comfort zone. I know people who are comfortable with a constant temperature of 58 degrees, still others are only comfortable at 78 degrees. I still like the old 68-72 comfort zone from my childhood. The point is we value comfort. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">I'm constantly surprised by the growing number of Christ followers that have decided that their comfort is more important than anything else. When it comes to following Jesus, they will not get out of their comfort zone. This "deny yourself and take up your cross daily" thing is not part of their life.<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">(Luke 9:23)</span> It's all about their family, their job, their church, their town, their money, their food, their plan, etc, etc, etc. That may sound preachy or a little harsh, <i>but the Kingdom of God is not intended to be safe or comfortable. </i> If you read the Scriptures carefully you will find our calling is always toward those places out of our comfort zone and many times down right unsafe. Now before you think I'm advocating for a life without boundaries or guidelines, remember that Jesus also said "...no one builds a tower without first making plans."(Luke 14:28) No I don't believe we should be like rudderless ships going wherever the wind blows, but I do believe that our Lord calls us to places that are outside of our "68-72" degrees of comfort. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS2AG0jAgpznO0ktoc31JyD2hbTuv8nyC2DTdEUg2pAb_EjNE3kPIQVBI7j2I2X0SoYdiKhP5KNp-k-e55RcP_tdgVlTLbVm7SFRpc0bVMJL3PhiPrg2r6INmuaPvb9K_DtGEEG63JS_c/s1600/THWN3181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS2AG0jAgpznO0ktoc31JyD2hbTuv8nyC2DTdEUg2pAb_EjNE3kPIQVBI7j2I2X0SoYdiKhP5KNp-k-e55RcP_tdgVlTLbVm7SFRpc0bVMJL3PhiPrg2r6INmuaPvb9K_DtGEEG63JS_c/s320/THWN3181.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">The Gospel dares us to break out of our comfortable lifestyles and risk everything for Him. It dares us to walk across the street to speak to that neighbor that you haven't met and begin a spiritual conversation that might lead him or her to Christ. For some people that is way outside of their comfort zone. In other cases it dares us to get in an airplane and fly to the other side of the world to plant seeds in the hearts of those who have never heard the life-giving truth. In every case, it dares us to move to the outer edges of our comfort in order to follow him. Jesus never said, "Just sit there and whine and complain that the temperature in the church is too hot or too cold". He never said, "Behold you shall look at your watch when your pastor goes over your time limit while preaching his sermon." No he said, "Come follow me." (Luke 18:22) His call to us is a compelling, personal call that dares us to place His will and His ways above our desires. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
The forth aspect of our association's vision is DARE. As we PREPARE, SHARE and CARE, we must DARE to go to the highways and hedges and compel others to come in. That means we will have to get out of our box of conventional thinking and comfort and follow Jesus into a Kingdom that is full of risk and uncomfortable situations. So...I dare you! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Keep Lookin' UP!</div>
<br />Keep Lookin' UPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14575166169525428231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1031853369453551185.post-6706094084337427252018-03-21T09:01:00.000-07:002018-03-22T13:46:42.298-07:00Go...disciple!<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Do...You...really
care? The young man from the children's home belted out the old tune, his
high-pitched voice ringing through the sanctuary of my childhood church.
It's unusual that a memory like that sticks in my mind some 50 or so years later.
Maybe it was the words, maybe it was the melody or maybe it was God speaking to
my heart, but I remember the feeling that stayed with me for several days
later. I had just been confronted with what it means to be a follower of
Christ. It's been said, "...you don't have do anything, but you do
have to care." Jesus taught us to care for the poor, the sick, the
imprisoned and those who had basic needs. He also commanded us to nurture
or care for our fellow Christian brothers and sisters.</span></div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjjPzjwkI15kxXjZv7_TrZ18W4Pxzb-4H40ZbDaUV7oDouGQxb3giGdlrCdkZdP19P5-potJ78ErQA5TBSpjxVrI4KAwyxlry7JBD6cON4tmVm5VRxh80QY_XBcv68QyZ55m4jfenGO5k/s1600/WFDT2873.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjjPzjwkI15kxXjZv7_TrZ18W4Pxzb-4H40ZbDaUV7oDouGQxb3giGdlrCdkZdP19P5-potJ78ErQA5TBSpjxVrI4KAwyxlry7JBD6cON4tmVm5VRxh80QY_XBcv68QyZ55m4jfenGO5k/s320/WFDT2873.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">The 3rd aspect of our associational vision is
"CARE". We must "PREPARE" the soil to take the seed
of the Gospel. We then must "SHARE" the seed itself. Once it
takes root and begins to grow it is our task to "CARE" or nurture the
plant to full maturity. If you planted a seed then went off and ignored
it, chances are it wouldn't make it. Unfortunately, that's what happens
in a lot of churches these days. We witness to people they take the seed of the
Gospel then we tend to go off and leave them to fend for themselves. It's
a tragedy that repeats itself many time in the life of the church. </span><br />
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">In Matthew 28 the Lord
is about to ascend into heaven when he tells his closest followers to "Go
and make disciples of all nations." The actual translation from the
Greek is "As you go, therefore, disciple all nations." He was
telling them to make a lifestyle of discipling others. Of course, the
first part is conversion. But the greater more time-consuming part is
caring for or nurturing the new follower. John MacArthur said, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"Our emphasis must not be on the moment
of salvation, but on the lifetime of sanctification that follows."</i>
Caring for the newly emerging seed is paramount to bringing a believer to full
maturity and fruit bearing. Without daily caring the plant will soon
wither and die. So, Jesus command means that we must pay attention to the
new convert. We must bring water when needed; fertilize, pull weeds and
prune the plant so that harvest will be bountiful. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Additionally, we must “tend
to” that which God has born in us. Self-care is essential to our continued
growth.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Mentors, teachers, pastors and
trusted friends are also important in this discipling journey. Here are a few
things that will help. They are disciplines that every disciple needs in
their life. This is a start, not an exhaustive list. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><b>Immerse Yourself in the Word.</b> There is no substitute for reading and studying the Bible</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><b>Prayer</b>. If we would pray half as much as we worry we would not worry at all.</span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><b>Silence/Solitude</b>. Try this in your car. Turn off the noise and be silent. </span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><b>Surrender</b>. We want to commit, but we don't want to surrender.</span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><b>Adoration</b>. Adore the Lord. Worship Him. Privately and Corporately. You choose the style.</span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><b>Endurance</b>. Just keep on keeping on. One foot in front of the other.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">These and several more
can help you and others become a maturing disciple, bearing fruit for the
Kingdom. Now go out and CARE. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Keep Lookin' UP</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<br /></div>
Keep Lookin' UPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14575166169525428231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1031853369453551185.post-5071352313642784382018-02-15T08:57:00.000-08:002018-02-15T08:57:07.842-08:00It's time to PLANT<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg7Qv1ehwum-uvhHFSX3neL_z3iSBZ1aU6dznj7jhMZ1uuwu-KvudcGcS6SxJfd0GHOt5uqP-jL6ZEZfgjRa8Kj2Wv_wAi8UyZaVPl2ksktYYdDP9tXYjQ-3JPgbzlJxdk1-wiHhqz2AY/s1600/SSEQ1308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg7Qv1ehwum-uvhHFSX3neL_z3iSBZ1aU6dznj7jhMZ1uuwu-KvudcGcS6SxJfd0GHOt5uqP-jL6ZEZfgjRa8Kj2Wv_wAi8UyZaVPl2ksktYYdDP9tXYjQ-3JPgbzlJxdk1-wiHhqz2AY/s200/SSEQ1308.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg7Qv1ehwum-uvhHFSX3neL_z3iSBZ1aU6dznj7jhMZ1uuwu-KvudcGcS6SxJfd0GHOt5uqP-jL6ZEZfgjRa8Kj2Wv_wAi8UyZaVPl2ksktYYdDP9tXYjQ-3JPgbzlJxdk1-wiHhqz2AY/s1600/SSEQ1308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a>Spring is one of my favorite times of the year. I really like warmer weather, blooming trees and flowers and birds singing. I also really like planting. In the many places Cindy and I have lived over the years we have made it a point to plant at least one tree. For the most part, we didn't benefit from the shade or beauty that those trees provide at maturity, but others have. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg7Qv1ehwum-uvhHFSX3neL_z3iSBZ1aU6dznj7jhMZ1uuwu-KvudcGcS6SxJfd0GHOt5uqP-jL6ZEZfgjRa8Kj2Wv_wAi8UyZaVPl2ksktYYdDP9tXYjQ-3JPgbzlJxdk1-wiHhqz2AY/s1600/SSEQ1308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg7Qv1ehwum-uvhHFSX3neL_z3iSBZ1aU6dznj7jhMZ1uuwu-KvudcGcS6SxJfd0GHOt5uqP-jL6ZEZfgjRa8Kj2Wv_wAi8UyZaVPl2ksktYYdDP9tXYjQ-3JPgbzlJxdk1-wiHhqz2AY/s1600/SSEQ1308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: left; color: #0066cc; float: left; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a>In ancient times a sower would go to a prepared field and scatter seed. Most of you have read the parable of the sower or the parable of the soils in the Gospels and know the point that our Lord was making about sowing the seed. Some fell on rocky soil, others fell on hard pan, and so on. The point is that we are called to plant the seed, and leave the results to God.<br />
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Most of us love those times when we see the fruit of the planting. It is a thrill when someone comes to Christ. It's wonderful to be part of a great harvest of souls. It could happen in series of meetings, at a camp or retreat or just through an extended period of time. We love counting and reporting the number of souls coming to Christ in our church. However, we are not seeing much of that in our churches these days. <i> Could it be that we aren't seeing a harvest because we haven't planted any seeds? </i><br />
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Let me illustrate. Recently my brother in law told me about a time he went to talk to his neighbor about his relationship to Jesus. His neighbor was a war hero. He had earned many medals serving our country in World War II and Korea. His wife was a believer but he had never really opened his life to Christ. He had become ill and was in the local veteran's home. So Phil, (my brother in law), went over and had a spiritual conversation with his neighbor which included a simple presentation of the Gospel. The man's response was, "...I'll think about it." You'd think that Phil failed in his attempt to lead the man to Christ, but the seed was planted. Over several weeks, God brought others into the man's life and eventually old vet gave his life to Jesus. It started with a trustworthy neighbor going and speaking sharing the Good News of Jesus. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-32hIFMN1CDMq32042dvYLpwzxJBZT2dmxVR6iyeJRRQl8OeROMY0jQQUMNS8vEhSLh-mfWOefjTj8CClVX5XDQdso3unKxSY3anuJqbZ6UnuLO9CqyATgCXZyWqnXhx_GWRQStYde98/s1600/tote+board.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-32hIFMN1CDMq32042dvYLpwzxJBZT2dmxVR6iyeJRRQl8OeROMY0jQQUMNS8vEhSLh-mfWOefjTj8CClVX5XDQdso3unKxSY3anuJqbZ6UnuLO9CqyATgCXZyWqnXhx_GWRQStYde98/s200/tote+board.jpg" width="200" /></a>A few years ago most churches had a tote board that recorded how many people showed up and how much money was brought in. It also recorded how many people showed up last year on the same date. It was our scoreboard. I remember as a young pastor that some of my self worth was tied up in how many people showed up on a given Sunday. <b><i>Well, it's time to change the scoreboard.</i></b> Instead of counting how many people come to church, or how many baptisms we have had during the year, we must start counting how many seeds we have planted. Why? Because the world has changed since the days of the tote board. These days we must earn the right to speak into people's lives. We must be authentic followers of Christ. They must see in you something different; something real. If you live just like they live, then why would they ever want w<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-32hIFMN1CDMq32042dvYLpwzxJBZT2dmxVR6iyeJRRQl8OeROMY0jQQUMNS8vEhSLh-mfWOefjTj8CClVX5XDQdso3unKxSY3anuJqbZ6UnuLO9CqyATgCXZyWqnXhx_GWRQStYde98/s1600/tote+board.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-32hIFMN1CDMq32042dvYLpwzxJBZT2dmxVR6iyeJRRQl8OeROMY0jQQUMNS8vEhSLh-mfWOefjTj8CClVX5XDQdso3unKxSY3anuJqbZ6UnuLO9CqyATgCXZyWqnXhx_GWRQStYde98/s1600/tote+board.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: left; color: #0066cc; float: left; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a>hat you supposedly have. Your attitude about life, your openness to others, and the way you live must be based on trust and on the love of God. Then you can have those spiritual conversations, that lead toward planting the seed of the Gospel. <br />
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Planting takes patience and faith. You must be willing to plant some seeds that you may never benefit from. You may not sit in the shade of the tree, but someone will. It's time to PLANT! <br />
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Keep Lookin UP!!<br />
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<br />Keep Lookin' UPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14575166169525428231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1031853369453551185.post-53197712203049262412018-01-18T13:50:00.000-08:002018-01-18T16:10:06.650-08:00The Hard Work of Preparing <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJhwn_ZCk2YPSWtTgnMM2t5oJu1BnJe29-GA46Cdxu5NDPSQWAbw8LqVw3V7gGQy3MxIz8flU3oejU6bIWU9Ro4AJALC4jEy8JePjAYaPvvc68KLpplC1PY2J9xjf7iRNf6Jm-cI18Fc/s1600/DRFH6232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: left; color: #0066cc; float: left; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJhwn_ZCk2YPSWtTgnMM2t5oJu1BnJe29-GA46Cdxu5NDPSQWAbw8LqVw3V7gGQy3MxIz8flU3oejU6bIWU9Ro4AJALC4jEy8JePjAYaPvvc68KLpplC1PY2J9xjf7iRNf6Jm-cI18Fc/s320/DRFH6232.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
My father in law's garden is famous in our family. It is a special place that yields a tremendous harvest every year. He and my mother in law have labored for decades on their mini farm. Our family, friends, neighbors and others have benefited from the fresh vegetables and fruit that grows there each year. Everything from tomatoes as big as a cat's head to fresh black berries, squash, potatoes, greens of every type and other wonderful fresh goodness comes from that plot of land. The garden has always been a place of tranquility for me since I met Cindy back in the early 70's. She tells of how it all started when they moved there some 55 years ago. You see, the garden was not like that back then. It was just a red clay field where cattle and horses used to roam. It took years of hard work to prepare the soil. That work included plowing to break up the hard clay and tilling to bust up the clods. Then all sorts of "additives" were placed in the soil in order to get it ready to receive the seeds and plants. Many days of digging and weeding and irrigating went in to making the garden what it is today. That work didn't start in the spring and end in the fall. It continued year round in the 100 degree heat of the summer and the sub freezing cold of the winter, and it continues to this day. <br />
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You might be thinking, "Why would they work so hard?" The answer is very simple; THE HARVEST. While some year's harvest is more bountiful than others, the reason for all the hard work is to experience the harvest that only God can bring. I've<span style="background-color: white;"> noticed </span>from watching this cycle year after year that if you want a harvest you have to do your part of preparing the soil. When you do, God will do what only He can do; produce a harvest. The gardener doesn't really grow anything, he just prepares the environment so that it can grow.<br />
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In Joshua 3:5, Joshua goes about the camp of the 2nd generation of wilderness wanderers and tells them to "consecrate themselves" to get prepared for what God will do in their lives and in the lives of all Israel the next day as they cross the flooded Jordan river. So, they entered into a time of coming before the Lord to get themselves ready for His miraculous work. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJhwn_ZCk2YPSWtTgnMM2t5oJu1BnJe29-GA46Cdxu5NDPSQWAbw8LqVw3V7gGQy3MxIz8flU3oejU6bIWU9Ro4AJALC4jEy8JePjAYaPvvc68KLpplC1PY2J9xjf7iRNf6Jm-cI18Fc/s1600/DRFH6232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>Could it be that we're not seeing a harvest in our lives or our churches because we have not prepared the soil? Now and again we experience a harvest of souls through some meeting or camp or gathering, but we haven't really seen a bountiful crop in North America for decades. Many go on mission trips and experience the tremendous harvest that is going on in other countries, only to return to a place of rock hard complacency. We complain that our country is not open to the Gospel; that the seed we're trying to plant never takes root or is rejected all together, (see Matthew 13:1-23). But the fact is in some cases we have decided to build more barns to hold the harvest, yet we haven't done our part of preparing the soil so that God can produce a harvest.<br />
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Our association of churches must be committed to the hard work of preparing the soil. Here are three areas that we need to focus this preparation upon.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJhwn_ZCk2YPSWtTgnMM2t5oJu1BnJe29-GA46Cdxu5NDPSQWAbw8LqVw3V7gGQy3MxIz8flU3oejU6bIWU9Ro4AJALC4jEy8JePjAYaPvvc68KLpplC1PY2J9xjf7iRNf6Jm-cI18Fc/s1600/DRFH6232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: left; color: #0066cc; float: left; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></a>
1.<b> Personally</b>: Plow the soil of your heart. Are there areas of you life that need to be broken up?<br />
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2. <b>Corporately</b>: Your church has some areas that need some tilling to break up the clods, those places where God has yet to take control of your church. It will probably take more than one pass to get them worked into the soil.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJhwn_ZCk2YPSWtTgnMM2t5oJu1BnJe29-GA46Cdxu5NDPSQWAbw8LqVw3V7gGQy3MxIz8flU3oejU6bIWU9Ro4AJALC4jEy8JePjAYaPvvc68KLpplC1PY2J9xjf7iRNf6Jm-cI18Fc/s1600/DRFH6232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: left; color: #0066cc; float: left; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a> 3. <b>Community</b>: How can you and your church make your community better? Instead of being a silo or a fort, waiting for "them" to come to your church, get involved in your community and start meeting some needs. Doing this breaks down the unproductive soil. Because of mistrust and cynicism toward believers that has invaded our culture we now have to earn the right to speak into people's lives, it's just part of the territory.<br />
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I'll be sharing more over the next few months about this and other aspects of our associational vision. Please know I'm praying for you as you go back to the field and work the soil. <br />
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Keep Lookin' UP!!<br />
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<br />Keep Lookin' UPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14575166169525428231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1031853369453551185.post-14612269582997621592017-12-19T14:00:00.001-08:002017-12-19T14:01:48.952-08:00The time of GivingThis time of year is stressful for most people. There are a lot of factors that contribute to the anxiety. Family problems; financial distresses; sad memories or the loss of a loved one during the year all factor in as we approach Christmas day. Then there's the gift giving anxiety. In some cases of dysfunction in a family the giving becomes a competition. How can I out give my ex spouse? How can one side of the family out give the in laws? It goes on and on until one or more in one of the families makes the decision that they've had enough and forfeits the game of giving. Then there are those who try to make up for all the things they haven't said or done during the year by purchasing gifts that are way too expensive or extravagant. Sometimes the receiver of such gifts comes to expect it and even require this yearly purging of guilt on the part of their spouse, parent or other relationship. You probably know someone that would fit into either of these categories. Over the years I have heard of such goings on. It almost makes me cringe to think that these days of giving have turned into such an emotional circus. <br />
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I like giving gifts and I like receiving them too. But I've found that the best gifts are those that have meaning and purpose. Cindy has taught me a valuable lesson when it comes to gift giving. The best gifts are those that are given from a thoughtful heart. Those gifts are not necessarily monetarily expensive. They require a listening that goes beyond the emotions or the need to soothe a person's guilt. In order purchase them you must listen to the person's need and their heart. You have to go beyond what they want and really hear what they need in order to be fulfilled. When you are able to give a person a gift like that it makes them better and it makes your relationship with them better. It helps you continue your journey with them at your side walking the path of life. You both become stronger because of the gift you have given. It is an indication that you have listened to the point of understanding. <br />
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It could be that you don't think you have never been given such a gift. However, you have! The big celebration of this time of year is about your Heavenly Father giving you a gift from his loving, thoughtful heart. It is the gift of Himself. He has freely given his Son Jesus Christ for you. He is the gift that you really need. He has listened to your heart. He knows you and He knows that by giving you this gift you will have all that you need or desire. This child that we celebrate became a man, lived a sinless life and gave himself as a sacrifice so that you could have everything you need. <br />
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As you give this year, remember what has been given to you. <br />
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Keep Lookin' UP!!Keep Lookin' UPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14575166169525428231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1031853369453551185.post-30138127369590034212017-09-27T07:42:00.000-07:002017-09-27T07:42:20.315-07:00The Place Called Falls Creek
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I suppose most every Oklahoma Baptist has heard of the place
called Falls Creek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It may be that you
have a story or two that you could tell about the place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, with all the promotion in the last
decade or so to funnel funds to Falls Creek you might be a little tired of
hearing about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In order to understand
what God is doing there, let me share some numbers from just this past summer.
This year 63,000 people attended the 10 weeks of Children’s camp and Youth
weeks. There were over 3300 professions of faith and hundreds of other
decisions for Christ during those weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>During our association week we had 4 teenagers surrendered to full time
Christian service. That’s like a modern day Pentecost happened in southern
Oklahoma. The impact of what happens at Falls Creek is beyond our
imagination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We won’t know until heaven
how Lord has used that place to grow the Kingdom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My own spiritual journey began at Falls Creek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was saved there in 1972.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 1973 I surrendered to full time Christian
service there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 1975 Cindy was serving
as a counselor at the GA camp up the hill from Falls Creek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One Saturday as I was visiting her, I asked
her to marry me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She said YES!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, you can understand how I love the way the
Lord works among children, students and adults there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">While we were at the DoM retreat last month, Cindy and I
took a tour of our Association’s cabin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We found the cabin to be adequate, but in dire need of some updating and
refurbishing. While we have done our best to keep things running; it’s time to
do some sprucing up. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In order to have a
place that honors the Lord and is welcoming to the hundreds of campers that
stay there in the summer and the adults that go down for conferences, we need
to do some things to make it more livable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We have already addressed some emergency needs like a leaking roof, now
we need to go in do some essential plumbing, replace some things that have been
patched for too long, and do some deep cleaning. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">If you’ve ever done a project like this around your home or
church you know the costs can add up fast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That’s why we are establishing a FALLS CREEK CABIN REFURBISHING
FUND.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A lead gift has already been
given, so we are already on our way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
you would like to invest in the lives of those who attend Falls Creek, please
send your contribution to our office and mark your envelope or check for this
specific project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You may not know until
heaven what your gift has done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But if
you want a great return on your investment consider giving to this
project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you in advance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Keep Lookin UP!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Keep Lookin' UPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14575166169525428231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1031853369453551185.post-18307411038558080752016-08-18T10:42:00.000-07:002016-08-18T10:42:58.276-07:00May your God rescue You!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daniel's Answer to the King by Briton Riviere<br />
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If you grew up in the church like I did, you're probably familiar with certain works of art that hung on the walls of most churches. If they weren't in the classrooms or hallways, they were printed in your Bible. This is one such example of "church art" that has always intrigued me. Until today I didn't know the actual name of the painting by British artist Briton Riviere. I always thought it was just Daniel and the Lion's Den. It's actually entitled "Daniel's Answer to the King". <br />
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The book of Daniel has always been a tough one to understand. There's quite a lot of stuff in there that has to do with end times and destruction. But the story of Daniel and his three friends; Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego is a crystal clear story of standing on the things of God no matter what the world may throw at you. When the king sat up an image of gold, ninety feet high and nine feet wide and ordered everyone to bow, Daniel's friends refused. The king threw them in a furnace so hot that it killed the guards who threw them in. But they survived because of a "fourth man" in the midst of the furnace. Two kings later, Daniel was confronted by another "stand for God" dilemma. Would he follow the decree of the new king or would he continue to pray to his God three times a day. The answer came quickly. He was caught breaking the law of the Medes and the Persians and though he didn't want to, the king had Daniel thrown to the lions. Right before he had him thrown to the lions the king declared, "May your God, who you serve continually, rescue you!"<br />
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Once morning broke, the king hurriedly went back to the lions den. He opened the pit and inquired, "Has your God rescued you?" Then we have the answer and Riviere paints the moment so strikingly. "I am here", Daniel answers. "My God has sent an angel and closed the lion's mouths..." <br />
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Some of you may be in the midst of a lion's den. It's going to be a long night of trusting and watching. It's just a tough time so you think. Notice something about the painting. Daniel has his back to the lions. They encircle him with fearful eyes. He's looking up to answer the king. His trust is in the Lord because of an intimate relationship that came from staying faithful and seeking His face three times a day, every day no matter what the degree from the king said. <br />
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It's time to stay faithful dear one. It's time to seek the Lord while He may be found. It's time to...<br />
Keep Lookin' UP!! <br />
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Keep Lookin' UPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14575166169525428231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1031853369453551185.post-46971047952812343072016-08-09T08:09:00.001-07:002016-08-09T11:46:16.262-07:00Should we really submit to Authority?<br />
<div style="line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">“The mysterious,
invisible authority of the divine child over human hearts is more solidly
grounded then the visible and resplendent power of earthly rulers. Ultimately
all authority on earth must serve only the authority of Jesus Christ over
humankind.” </span></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">― </span></span></span></i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/29333.Dietrich_Bonhoeffer"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 115%; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Dietrich
Bonhoeffer</span></span></i></b></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">, </span></span></i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/14392722"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 115%; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">God Is in the Manger:
Reflections on Advent and Christmas</span></span></i></b></a></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The iron fist of Rome had come down hard in
persecution of those who would not confess Caesar as lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The early followers of Jesus were not going
to submit to an evil society that went against the teachings of their crucified
Master.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a result many were taken to
horrible deaths; martyred for the cause of Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those who remained lived with the stress of
knowing it was just a matter of time before they too would be led away and put
to death at the hands of tyrants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet,
the movement thrived in that environment and ultimately took over the Roman
Empire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How could they defy the
authority and still live upon the principles of Romans 13?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They did it in a way not familiar to our North
American culture of revolution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
demonstrated the love of Christ to a world that would not bend or bow to that
love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1HL1CNeF68xWIlvKRaTfmMXCAzPFJ0r7SeeqAyH8GCWnj8sfOS_FAmHW9WiiFmB__zDKgzgtndnVgNY1ohqT64uPQRAnrZ-jqqoLjg7P6lvxjaNrkf40ZdpKbQEgGgGnQxhe-ID0sT-Q/s1600/Princey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1HL1CNeF68xWIlvKRaTfmMXCAzPFJ0r7SeeqAyH8GCWnj8sfOS_FAmHW9WiiFmB__zDKgzgtndnVgNY1ohqT64uPQRAnrZ-jqqoLjg7P6lvxjaNrkf40ZdpKbQEgGgGnQxhe-ID0sT-Q/s320/Princey.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When Roman parents didn’t want a child because
of a deformity or he or she wasn’t the sex they wanted, or they just had too
many kids, they put them out on the door step of their homes to be taken away
by wild animals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Christians couldn’t
stand for that so they would roam the streets at night, picking up these rejected
children and raising them as their own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When the plague wreaked havoc on the city the authorities ordered an
evacuation and most everyone left those afflicted to die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Christians stayed and ministered to those
in need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did it cost many their lives?
Yes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the love of Christ compelled
them to defy the authority of selfishness and hate. Slowly but surely the
Romans were drawn to Christianity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After
300 years Constantine knew what needed to be done and the Roman world
officially became Christian; all because Christians submitted to the ultimate
authority of Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So what do we do when a tyrannical authority
is in place over us?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Submit to the
authority of Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Could that
cost us our lives? Yes, that is a distinct possibility.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we follow the example of our 1<span style="font-size: small;"><sup>st</sup>
century brothers and sisters, willingly placing ourselves on the altar as a
“living sacrifice” coming under the authority of Christ, the hostile culture we
live in will slowly but surely be drawn to that authority.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Should we keep the laws, pay our taxes and
live in peace as best we can?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, but
by looking past the earthly authority to the heavenly authority.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That view compels us to do things that are
counter cultural and therefore revolutionary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Keep Lookin' UP!!</span></span></span></div>
Keep Lookin' UPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14575166169525428231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1031853369453551185.post-11546043575677949132016-07-27T13:53:00.004-07:002016-07-27T13:53:53.673-07:00Top Four Stressors of Pastors<div style="border-image: none;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZpc0UKFIB6UzO_vE-O8PQftW6abMg9-5NENLhd_N0LucFYMJALUrWV3LN0E_r3FPZ0kg7PM8-L37A7Wvfjv-RWL_PNpIkomNbQkto-sb36XRSpKxlvZwtJASUZJh0EiQERzaI4hu4pw0/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZpc0UKFIB6UzO_vE-O8PQftW6abMg9-5NENLhd_N0LucFYMJALUrWV3LN0E_r3FPZ0kg7PM8-L37A7Wvfjv-RWL_PNpIkomNbQkto-sb36XRSpKxlvZwtJASUZJh0EiQERzaI4hu4pw0/s320/014.JPG" width="179" /></a>H.B. London is one of my heroes. He worked for decades along side his cousin, Dr. James Dobson, to encourage and support pastors in the U.S. and around the world. I stumbled on to one of his famous lists the other day as I was looking for something else, and thought I would share it with you.</div>
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<strong> The Top 4 Stressors of Pastors</strong></div>
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<strong>1. Being on call all the time.</strong></div>
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Most people don't realize that pastors are always "on". While most people work an 8-5 job, and some are on call on an occasional weekend, pastors are always on call. The emergence of smart phones has made this stressor worse. A pastor is at the beck and call of any church member at a second's notice. Because of this, most pastors never really relax. It doesn't matter what they are doing a text, email, or phone call can easily interrupt that activity. Be it day, night, weekday, weekend, on vacation at the beach, the mountains, the ball park or anywhere else on God's green earth the pastor is always on call. </div>
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I recently talked to a well seasoned pastor/denominational leader who told me he had turned off his smart phone all weekend. Because of that there was a couple of people that weren't too happy with him on Monday morning, but he sure was relaxed. I thought, "How healthy is that!" I also challenged myself to unplug more often. </div>
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<strong>2. Operating constantly in crisis mode.</strong></div>
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I constantly meet with and coach pastors who are going from one crisis to another. Sort of like the guy who I used to watch on the Ed Sullivan show growing up. The spinning plates guy from Uzbekistan or someplace like it. He'd start two or three then four or six then run from one to another keeping them spinning until he had all 27 of them going. The crowd would gasp as one would begin to wobble and cheer when he got all of them spinning. The problem was as soon as he quit running from one to another they all fell crashing to the floor and the guy was exhausted. </div>
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Constantly operating in crisis mode stresses pastors out! It wears them to a frazzle. After all the spinning and running from one crisis to another the pastor everything comes crashing to the floor anyway, because he can't keep that up for very long. </div>
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I encourage every pastor to start a "Things to Stop Doing" list. Leadership is more about knowing what to say no to than what to say yes to. If you say yes to everything, you become "God's fix-it man" and put yourself in a place where only God belongs. The people you serve will never learn how to take care of themselves if you are constantly fixing everything for them. Will somebody get upset and not like you if you stop spinning plates? Yep. But, you'll be alive and not so stressed out if you stop doing it. </div>
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<strong>3. Being responsible for things that are out of their control.</strong></div>
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You are probably thinking that this one is a stressor for everyone, and you'd be right. The thing that makes this one especially difficult for pastors is some people in the church blame the pastor for things that are really out of his control. I've been blamed for everything from a failed marriage to a church picnic that was cancelled because of excessive heat. </div>
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Many pastors take on the responsibility for the attendance and growth of the church. I understand that sometimes a pastor is not a good leader, or is lazy or a host of other failures, but I also understand that it's not under his control if people show up or if the church has more in it this Sunday as it did this Sunday last year. </div>
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While some of this responsibility is self imposed, some of it is "knuckle head" imposed. There are people in the church that think a pastor has a quota like they do in the ball bearing factory or wherever it is that they work. They actually think pastors are responsible to get people to get up on Sunday and show up on time. Give me a break! I'm getting stressed just writing about it</div>
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<strong>4. Being unable to measure success.</strong> <br />
The last one on this list is probably one of the biggest. How do you measure success in ministry. I am part of the generation of pastors that measured our success based on the church growth movement. Most of the conversations among pastors during this time started with a question like, "How many you running now days?" or "How's you baptism numbers shaping up for the year?" From there the conversation went from encouragement to competition. We measured success like most ranchers count cattle. The underlying implication was "my herd's bigger than yours, therefore I'm a better rancher...uh I mean a better leader than you are." <br />
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The only problem with all that is it treats people like cows and makes pastors into cowboys. That mentality may work for a certain Republican presidential candidate, but it's NOT Biblical. The Biblical concept of leadership is shepherding not cowboy-ing. <br />
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We are going to be stressed by the world's idea of success for all of our ministry lives. The only words that will be satisfy our stress will come from our Father when He says, "Well done good and faithful pastor/servant." If I were you I wouldn't wait until heaven to ask the Father what he thinks of you and if you are being successful in your ministry. He wants to tell you. Take it to Him. <br />
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Keep Lookin UP!!Keep Lookin' UPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14575166169525428231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1031853369453551185.post-70939583981444691832016-06-29T10:24:00.000-07:002016-06-29T10:24:28.193-07:00The Old Guy<div style="text-align: left;">
<em>"I got old; I never noticed."</em></div>
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<em> Matthew Cuthbert</em></div>
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Last week Cindy, Mindy and I went to Sanibel Island for a family vacation. If you've been to the beach or the lake lately, you know it's an interesting experience. Let me share a few observations.</div>
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Some people have no sense of "personal space". I went down before the girls each day to make camp. I found a spot away from others, set up our beach umbrella, chairs and other items and settled in. This worked fine most days, but one day after we had enjoyed our piece of paradise for a few hours, a family came in set up their tent, umbrella, cooler full of adult beverages and cranked up their music. The only problem was they were only 3 feet away from us! These folks had miles of beach available to them, but they decided to set up their party in our peaceful haven of rest. The two women of the group then sat in their chairs facing us! I really didn't understand, but we didn't stay long after that.</div>
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Modesty among women was at a premium. The next day everything was fine until a group of Brazilians decided they needed to be between us and the water. The 5 or 6 women of the group were wearing bathing suits that they wear in Brazil. I won't go any further than that. I'm sure it was a cultural thing the problem was they invaded my culture with theirs.</div>
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The beach is a fun place to visit and has to potential to be very relaxing if it wasn't for the people.</div>
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Anyway, that's not the point of this blog, just thought I'd vent a little. We really had a good time. </div>
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One day we were on the beach when two 14-15 year old girls came along enjoying a day with their grandparents. The main purpose for their trip was to take pictures that they would later share on social media. It was an interesting, sometimes funny personal photo shoot that included slinging water with their hair and many hand-on-the-hip poses. One of the girls excitedly asked another group of girls to take a photo of them together. I guess I was in the way because one said, "Don't get that OLD GUY in the shot." I thought, "Wait, they're talking about ME". I wanted to run up and photo bomb the rest of their flirtatiousness, but reason prevailed. </div>
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That OLD GUY? I remember not too long ago that I was the young guy. In fact I never thought of myself as the old guy. I look in the mirror everyday. I see the gray hair, wrinkles and age spots. But most of the time I think, "Dad, is that you?" I've known people who were old when they were 35 and I've known people who were young when they were 85. So to me age is not a number more of a state of mind. But I guess to a 15 year old girl on a beach an "old guy" has to do with appearance. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrOVnp_YXweA__1Gosk7jnI0k7Y2zte-KqpBjlePQVxYei7p-W39Zxi53xqIEXhjQNc1Zu3i18_PzLjfiaJsXU6ug7uw54BMpv2WT_zCrcYOGzhSdStLXHq_Q-YDn3688vJM3DY1RnZqE/s1600/028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrOVnp_YXweA__1Gosk7jnI0k7Y2zte-KqpBjlePQVxYei7p-W39Zxi53xqIEXhjQNc1Zu3i18_PzLjfiaJsXU6ug7uw54BMpv2WT_zCrcYOGzhSdStLXHq_Q-YDn3688vJM3DY1RnZqE/s200/028.JPG" width="150" /></a>I prefer to be like Matthew Cuthbert, one of the characters in the book <em>Anne of Green Gables. </em>As he lay dying in the field outside his home, he told Anne, his adopted daughter, "I got old; I didn't notice." That's hard to do in a world that values youth. When friends my age begin to pass away and it has become increasingly hard not to notice the aches and pains of an aging body it's almost impossible. But, that's my goal. I'm working on getting old and not noticing. </div>
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Oh, and the next time we go to the beach, I'm going to ask some "old guy" to take our picture. I'm going to wait until some young chick comes close and proclaim, "Try not to get that young whippersnapper in the shot!"</div>
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<em>Keep Lookin' Up!!</em></div>
Keep Lookin' UPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14575166169525428231noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1031853369453551185.post-28341038550906746922016-06-06T11:11:00.000-07:002016-06-06T11:11:09.206-07:00A Dream House<br /><br />
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I've often wondered about the definition of a dream house. I suppose people are defining their present-day ultimate place to live when they say they have found their dream house. It's always seemed to me that a dream house would be a place of permanent residency. After all if it's a dream house it must be a place that could never be replaced or improved upon. But I've noticed that many people have had to move out of their dream house because life happens. In fact I recently read a Facebook post about a couple who had built their dream house near their children and grandchildren. The problem was their children had recently moved away and took with their grandchildren with them. In addition to that, cancer had invaded their lives. So, now they were asking for prayer as they were trying to sell their dream house so that they could get closer to their ever-moving children in a town with a good cancer treatment center. </div>
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I've also noticed that some people become very attached to their house. Their definition of "home" is tied up in brick and mortar. It's a place with an address and a location on a map. They clean it, paint it, repair it and improve it. They love it. The place has become their home. They don't want to loose it or move away from it. It's their place of living. If you make a suggestion that they possibly could find a better place, you are met with a absolute NO! So, maybe they have found their "dream house", a place they would never leave behind. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Present House in South Carolina</td></tr>
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Cindy and I have lived in 9 different houses during our 40 years of marriage. When I was growing up, I lived in 6 houses. So, if my excellent math skills are correct that's 15 houses in my 60 + years. None have been a "dream house" for us. A few were downright dumps that we tried to fix up as best we could. One was an apartment. One was a pre-manufactured duplex with a VERY thin common wall that allowed us to hear our neighbors eating oatmeal. (We were VERY familiar with them) A couple were parsonages that were in great need of fixing up. But none, including the house we now live in, was our dream house. I liked living in them, and Cindy cried every time we moved thinking we'd never have as nice a house as the one we were leaving. (Only to find out that the next house was nicer than the one we left within two or three months of her loving touch). </div>
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I'll probably live in a couple more places in my life. Maybe they will be nicer than the place I'm living now, but I doubt that they'll be my dream house. Life is more than a house. In fact I've found that my dream house is not a house at all. Instead my dream house is a presence. If those I love are present, I am home. If my Lord dwells in the house I have fulfilled my dream. </div>
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John 14:2</div>
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Keep Lookin UP!!</div>
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<br />Keep Lookin' UPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14575166169525428231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1031853369453551185.post-595778029304741902014-12-30T12:07:00.000-08:002014-12-30T12:07:21.070-08:00"Here Comes the Light!!"On Christmas Eve I attended a worship service at my home church in Mustang Oklahoma. It had the usual trappings of those kind of services. The church was beautifully decorated. The music was some of the traditional carols with some contemporary choruses and solos mixed in. The pastor's children story was all about his childhood and traditions. Many extended families gathered. Some for their semi-annual visit to a church. <br />
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At the end of the service we were asked to encircle the sanctuary with our unlit candle in hand. Because of the large number in attendance the circle was really several circles down the aisle and up the balcony steps. Once the pastor had introduced the meaning of what we were about to do, the lights went out. Only the single advent candle was glowing. Then, one by one, the light was passed.<br />
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That's when it happened. Standing near us were a set of twin girls. They were dressed up in their little Christmas dresses. Their parents were doing their best to keep them quiet, but they weren't doing a very good job. They were acting their age, which just happened to be two. No one seemed to really care. They laughed and played and ran around in circles between their daddy's legs. In the middle of the dark room as the light was being passed from one candle to the other, getting closer and closer, one of the girls momentarily stopped what she was doing, and declared; "Here comes the light!!" Her little voice echoed through the darkness. It also echoed through my heart. <br />
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This was the first Christmas that my dad was not with us. Frankly I was holding my breath thinking that the sadness that so many experience this time of year would flood my life making what is supposed to be the "<em>most wonderful time of the year</em>" into a time of darkness and depression. But, it didn't happen. The declaration of a two year old redirected my focus to what my life is supposed to be about; telling a dark world, "Here comes the light!!" Of course I missed my dad, he loved Christmas and the family gatherings. But I was reminded that though I am in darkness, trying to find my way with the light of a single candle, he is not. He stands in complete light. The light of our Savior. That fact and that little voice expressing her excitement made this Christmas one of the best in a long time. <br />
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<em><strong>The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; </strong></em></div>
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<em><strong>on those living in the land of the shadow of death</strong></em></div>
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<em><strong>a light has dawned.</strong></em></div>
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<em><strong>Isaiah 9:2</strong></em></div>
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Keep Lookin UP!!<br />
Keep Lookin' UPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14575166169525428231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1031853369453551185.post-82318285472809306982014-08-28T11:12:00.001-07:002014-08-28T11:12:37.747-07:00Never fly over a Mission Field to get to another Mission Field (especially if you're ignoring that mssion field)Several years ago I went on a mission trip. It was one of those trips I had dreamed about going on for most of my life. I loaded up with another pastor and a guy from our state convention and flew to Africa. I had been on a similar trip a couple of years earlier so I sort of knew what to expect. I was going to a country filled with everything you would expect from Africa. The people lived in mud huts. They wore rags for clothes and we barely surviving. They were also hungry for the Gospel. On the trip before three of us had planted a church under a mango tree. At every village we were greeted with people who were desperate. When we shared the Gospel most would respond positively. I knew the environment was harsh, but my church supported my efforts to go and when I returned, I was energized.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_H8TUbR5KMAOK-kgdybjIoQzsG68wULnYs3zmAuAp1U2yw8pOCrtkkw3yBPgsoqL4iSLKMsUTWAzGzpt0FPirXm8JOz4crc9iWks2kBRhTpC27M7JsYol0pC_zeugKya8IY-1OUJPdjY/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_H8TUbR5KMAOK-kgdybjIoQzsG68wULnYs3zmAuAp1U2yw8pOCrtkkw3yBPgsoqL4iSLKMsUTWAzGzpt0FPirXm8JOz4crc9iWks2kBRhTpC27M7JsYol0pC_zeugKya8IY-1OUJPdjY/s1600/001.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a><br />
On this trip our assignment was to train the pastors of the area in stewardship. That training turned into a revival. The pastors began weeping (something they didn't do in their culture), and confessing sin they had toward God and toward one another. So much was happening that the missionaries who were on a retreat, cut short their time together and returned to the capital city to see what was going on. Again, I returned from the trip with more energy having witnessed the power of the Holy Spirit in the lives of those men and women in this far away place. <br />
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You've probably experienced one of these trips. They are wonderful. We need to go as the Lord commanded to the ends of the earth to share the Gospel. I haven't been on any other mission trips since those days. I've had some opportunities, but they haven't worked out. I look forward to going again someday.<br />
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Something happened to me a few years ago that changed my heart about the mission field. I was called to a mission field. It's easier to live in this one, but it is much harder to share the Gospel. The people in this field are not as responsive, in fact they are downright resistant to anything that has to do with the church and they are not very open to listening to me when I speak from the Word of God. They are more interested in maintaining their culture than they are doing what the Lord wants them to do. They fight with one another and are easily offended if you confront them with what the Bible says. Several have told me they really don't care what the Bible says, this is their church and they will do as they please. Most of the churches are loosing their influence in the culture and most are declining. 70% of the population are not Christ followers. Most of the leaders that I have been called to work with are discouraged, burn out and just downright tired. I spend hours encouraging them to not give up. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkydyX2XJEidpvbXkdGyeweVNWoIv4gtE9GWKkVesqUmSdP4y-0T92AXwaJEtVYCCutBlZTfmFw1EVJNQpSU7yXgPs6Kfd4ELmpsW5OOm2eoKmnG1qvY5qacDu4KSKN9o2qKyWq4tcnxs/s1600/1044555_474539959300502_1607415887_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkydyX2XJEidpvbXkdGyeweVNWoIv4gtE9GWKkVesqUmSdP4y-0T92AXwaJEtVYCCutBlZTfmFw1EVJNQpSU7yXgPs6Kfd4ELmpsW5OOm2eoKmnG1qvY5qacDu4KSKN9o2qKyWq4tcnxs/s1600/1044555_474539959300502_1607415887_n.jpg" height="248" width="320" /></a>You probably already know that the mission field I've been called to is South Carolina. I've found it interesting that in order to engage people in a conversation about the Gospel, you have to show them that you really care. The other day, my neighbor's appendix burst. He was in the hospital for days. In that time his front lawn needed mowing. Instead of calling the home owners association, I mowed it. It took me five minutes. Once he recovered he arrived at my doorstep with a Thank you note and a question, "So, why did you do that?" It's opened a relationship that was not there before I spent the 5 minutes tending to his over grown grass. Who knows what might happen from here? <br />
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So, I hope I will get to fly off to some exotic land to share the Gospel again. But for now I don't plan on flying over a mission field to get to a mission field.<br />
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Keep Lookin' UPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14575166169525428231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1031853369453551185.post-61282837316777987652014-06-30T11:32:00.001-07:002014-06-30T11:32:54.056-07:00The Fruit of Joy<span style="font-family: TrajanPro-Regular; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: TrajanPro-Regular; font-size: xx-small;">
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I</span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">have come that they may have life, and have it to the</span><br />
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</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">John 10:10</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</span></span> </span><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">When my wife and I were in our late ‘20s, we went to</span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">the airport to have a baby. Yes, that’s right the airport.</span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">While all the other couples we knew had made that</span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">edge-of-your-seat ride to the local hospital, we dressed</span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">in our Sunday best, excitedly got in our little car and</span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">drove to the airport. Back then you could go to the</span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">gate where the airplane was arriving to wait on your</span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">expected loved ones we stood there for what seemed like</span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">hours. Finally, the <i>silver stork </i>carrying our precious child</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">arrived. Her escort was the last to get off. Instead of</span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">hustling off to their rental cars and baggage claim, every</span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">passenger including the crew waited as the big moment</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">arrived. Our case worker got off the plane and down the</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">chute she came with our baby girl. As she was placed</span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">in her momma’s arms the entire crowd burst into joyful</span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">applause. From that moment we fell in love and she is</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">the joy of our life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Every time I relive that moment a smile comes to</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">my face (I’m smiling now as I write this). Joy invades my</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">life. Not because our daughter is still a baby fresh off the</span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">airplane from South Korea, but because she has grown</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">up to be a beautiful young woman. I have seven photos</span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">of her in my office. I have two others that I keep in my</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">wallet, ready to show at a moment’s notice. My joy has</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">continued to grow since that day in 1983 when she came</span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">down that chute.</span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Our Lord declares that He has come to give us</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">abundant life. I used to think that was a one-time event.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Give your life to Christ, experience the joyful applause of</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">other Christians and that was it. However, I now know</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">that Christ gives us abundant life as we go through it</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">with Him. Not all the days will be good days. Some will</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">be frustrating and hard; some will be sad and lonely;</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">still others will be joyful. Some read the declaration of</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jesus and think about temporal things like food, clothes,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">houses and big bank accounts. Things they already have,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">yet long for more. Their question is, “When does this</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">abundant life thing kick in?”</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It all has to do with passion. Some folks have a</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">passion for hunting, so when they’re hunting, they are</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">joyfully living the abundant life. Others have a passion</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">for the weekends, so when the weekend comes around</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">you can’t keep them from smiling. Still others have a</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">passion for ministry so they spend their lives ministering.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If you have a passion for Jesus Christ, you will have what</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He came to give you, abundant life. There will be photos</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">of Him all over your heart. You’ll be ready to show them</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">when others ask about Him. He will be your joy no</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">matter what life brings you. That is living life abundantly.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What’s happened to our joy? Many times when I</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">go to church, be it my own or one that I am preaching</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">or consulting at, I don’t see a lot of joy. The general</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">consensus is that life is terrible and it comes out in</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">different ways. You’ve heard them.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">•• Well, I’m here</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">•• Things are okay under the circumstances</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">•• You keep this sanctuary too cold</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">•• That music is _________________a. too loud. b. too</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">slow. c. terrible</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">On and on it goes. I’m talking about church members</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">who feel they have a right to a life free of worry and distress.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now, we all have tough times. Jesus never promised any</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">of us that we would lead a care-free life filled with one</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">happy day after another. In fact, He guaranteed that in</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">this world we would have trouble. That’s a statement</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">of fact. But He also guaranteed, “I have overcome the</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">world.” So when He says He came to give the abundant</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">life, do you believe it? When the world has overcome</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">you, He says I have overcome the world.</span></div>
<br />Keep Lookin' UPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14575166169525428231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1031853369453551185.post-63997729785881927402014-04-15T13:24:00.001-07:002014-04-15T13:24:42.401-07:00Sweet Surrender<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Gethsemane was a small
grove of trees on the Mount of Olives. It was the stage for some of the most
agonizing hours in the life of Christ. While His inner circle slept, He poured
out His life in prayer to the Father. He asked the Father if He could avoid the
cross if at all possible, knowing that it was His ultimate destination. In the
final hours of desperate prayer, He sweats drops of blood in his agony.
Finally, He prayed, “Thy will be done!” In those four words we find the most
important discipline that we can practice: surrender. Stillness and silence
lead us to prayer. Prayer ultimately leads us to surrender. Surrender leads us
to transformation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Most
of us travel the traditional path of <i>doing</i>.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">When something happens
and our sense of security is threatened, we jump onto the traditional path in
search of regaining control. The pattern is as follows:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We seek information, which we believe
will give us a handle on what is happening.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: small;"> </span>
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We seek understanding, believing that if
we understand what is going on, we will be able to solve the problem.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: small;"> </span>
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">With fresh understanding, we now return
to our search for information, only this time it is information that will
address the problem</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: small;"> </span>
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Information and understanding in hand,
we develop a plan to address the issue and we feel secure again.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: small;"> </span>
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The plan usually gives birth to some
kind of program(s).<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">When a new program is in place we feel
like we are back in control.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We often say, “Things
are back under control. We’ve got our arms around the problem.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Control is so important
to us that we often rely on our efforts, programs, plans, ambition, drive, etc.
to maintain our felt sense of being in control and secure.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Here’s the problem.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> 1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The traditional path doesn’t work. Life
changes so fast that by the time we have it figured out, new challenges arise.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Control is all about self-enthronement
(being in charge which is the essence of sin). Therefore, we are pursuing a
path that God cannot honor.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Since it is the only path we know we
keep working harder and running the treadmill faster.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Fatigue/ Failure/ Conviction/
Desperation all eventually lead us to the place of surrender.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Surrender</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
Has Been His Plan and Desire All Along.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We may pray something
like this: “Lord Jesus, I (we) can’t do it. This is your church, your problem,
your people, please come and take over to do whatever you please.”<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Surrender is the way
God works and the path He honors.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It is the cry of Jesus
when He was knocking at the door of the church in Revelation 3:20 said, “Let me
back in. Quit trying to run the show yourselves.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The following are truths about surrender that every
pastor should be reminded of</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> ·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Renewal is possible only after surrender.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> ·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Surrender is rewarded with revelation<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The very thing we crave is the reward of
surrender<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> ·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Surrender leads to fresh wisdom and
direction<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> ·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Fresh revelation creates true security<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> ·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">True security is found in a Person, not
in plans.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> ·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">True security comes when the King of the
universe is reigning as the King of your life (and church)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> ·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">New or clear direction is born out of
revelation<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> ·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Programs are valuable, plans and
information are essential, but God will never remove our need to live by faith<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> ·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">He gives us direction. Direction that
flows out of the person and fresh work of God gives birth to courage<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> ·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Courage is exactly what we need…. It is
what our children, grandchildren need to see in us as we follow Christ
sacrificially</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Romans 12:1–2, Proverbs 3:5–6, John 5:19–20, John 15<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Unfortunately, at every
stage in the process there is a temptation to drift. The temptation is to
replace the fruit of surrender with the product of control driven effort.
Surrender does not come easy, and once given it is easy to drift back into old
ways. The temptation is real and unavoidable because wise leaders realize the
power of understanding, information, plans, and programs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">While these are things
we need and use, they are not the things on which we rely!</span><br />
<br />
<br />
Keep Lookin UP!<br />
<br />
</div>
Keep Lookin' UPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14575166169525428231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1031853369453551185.post-48896635726145147492014-03-26T11:19:00.000-07:002014-03-26T11:19:49.446-07:00Volcanic Activity
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Several years ago, I
took my wife to Hawaii for a special anniversary. One of the first places we
visited was the Kilauea volcano on the island of Kona. The last eruption of
this active volcano was in 1983 and it hasn’t stopped since. We were told that
things were somewhat under control the day we visited, so we were able to drive
around the rim and even get out of the car and walk up to the edge. As we did,
the smell of sulfur was everywhere. As we looked over the side into the huge
crater, steam flowed from the vents. From the explanatory signs that were
placed in the area we learned that lava was always building under the surface.
The vents were evidence that lava was flowing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As I reflect on that
visit, I compare it to many people I know and speak with on a daily basis.
Many of them are like that active volcano. Lava is flowing right below the
surface of their lives. It won’t be long before an eruption will occur and the
result will be a destructive mess. Many tell me at the end of the conversation,
“Well, thanks, I guess I just needed to vent.” I want to reply, “Oh, that’s why
I smell sulfur!” Venting is evidence that lava is flowing. So instead of
venting and stinking up the world around you, find the source of the anger and
deal with it. Unresolved anger not only paralyzes you, it also causes you to
act out in a desperate need for escape. That escape can include a multitude of
activities that will destroy you and your ministry. Angry pastors wear people
out, including themselves. No one who wants to maintain their sanity wants to
stay angry.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p>Keep Lookin UP!!</o:p></span></div>
Keep Lookin' UPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14575166169525428231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1031853369453551185.post-28731668630019236732014-03-12T12:51:00.001-07:002014-03-12T12:51:58.823-07:00The Drought of Worry
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“An anxious heart weights a man
down, but a kind word cheers him up.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">On most days here’s how
conversations go in my office. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“So, how can I help you
today?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Well it’s not
something that I can put my finger on. I guess it’s a concern more than an
actuality.” <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Everyone has anxiety.
We are all <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">concerned</i> about things in
our lives. Many times those concerns get balled up and become anxieties. Those
anxieties begin to roll on down the hill gathering other anxieties along the
way. After years and years of this, a boulder sized snow ball of worry has over
taken our lives and is destroying everything in its path. We worry about so
much and it becomes such a habit that we borrow others worries just to feed our
habit. After we have picked up all the snow of concerns and anxieties there’s
simply nothing left to pick up and we are in the desert.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Have you worried
yourself into a drought? The desert is a place of dryness. Many people try to
make the blistering heat of the desert more tolerable by reasoning that it’s a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">dry heat</i>. Some bushes survive in a
drought. Some have adapted to living with little or no water, because they have
to. You may have excused yourself from anything lush or green or abundant
because you have adjusted to the drought of worry. It’s become a way of life.
So, you’ve learn to accept it, after all it’s a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">dry heat</i>. It’s a dry heat that burns up everything that it bears
down upon, except the most barren of all bushes and vegetation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">When I lived in Newton,
Kansas we experienced a drought. It was nothing like the dust bowl days, but an
extended drought nonetheless. As in Oklahoma, the wind blew relentlessly. The
heat of the plains took control of everything. Everything that was green
shriveled including grass, crops, and even trees. The entire world we lived in
was brown. One of the things I remember most about those years was the large
cracks that formed in the black clay of the area. I did my best to keep some of
the trees and bushes around the parsonage alive. I gave up on the grass
thinking it would come back once the moisture returned. We lost bushes and trees.
The worst part of this dry time was that there was little hope for any renewal.
The rain finally returned, but not after the damage of the drought was done.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Worry is much like
those days in Kansas. It sucks the life out of everything that lives in your life.
It also leads to other ailments and problems in the life of the pastor. The
biggest worry among pastors these days is the fear of being terminated. The
problem with this worry is that it causes a drought that might well lead to a
forced resignation or termination. I will share later on how to keep yourself
vibrant and full of life in ministry, but suffice it to say that worry will dry
you up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 5.0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Winston
Churchill said, “When I look back on all these worries, I remember the story of
the old man who said on his deathbed that he had had a lot of trouble in his
life, most of which had never happened.” His words ring true in today’s
pastorate. One pastor wrote, “Most of our problems are huge, and they don’t
exist.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 5.0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I
wish I could say that I have learned to overcome worry. I have not. I have,
however, found some spiritual disciplines to assist me when I worry. Let me
share them with you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 5.0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Grace</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">. Both God’s
grace and my grace. I have found that when I worry I have a need for God’s
grace. That comes from a life lived in brokenness. Restoration comes to the
worried heart when God’s grace comes in with its warming love and
reconciliation. I too need to express grace to myself. Most of my worries are
about my pride. It’s amazing how I can make a situation that is totally not
about me into something that totally is. It’s almost as if I gather worry
toward myself and hold on to it. How sick is that? That’s when I need to give
myself the grace to realize it’s not about me.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 5.0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> Rest</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">. I worry most
when I’m tired. Worry becomes emotional for me and therefore it exhausts me.
That emotional tiredness wreaks havoc on my well being. Instead of waiting
until you fall in the ditch, schedule times of rest. What do you do to recharge
your batteries? Do it regularly.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> Praise</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">. Not necessarily
singing. Praising the Lord and recounting how He has provided for you will
conquer worry. Instead of focusing on the problem, focus on the provision. I am
astonished how people have overcome the most devastating losses with the
attitude of what’s been given instead of what’s been taken away.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> Stillness</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">. Those of you
with ADD will not like this one. Somewhere we have learned that if we go harder
and faster we won’t have time to worry. We want to run from this draught
instead of allowing the Lord to bring His life-giving rain in the stillness of
our hearts. So we fill our lives with activities. We get up in the morning and
we run until we fall exhausted in our beds at night. It may be raining, but
we’re going so fast we don’t really notice or, even worse, we think it’s a
nuisance. Two words—Slow Down!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 5.0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Silence</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">. Not quietness,
silence. Say nothing. Turn off everything and listen. In the silence you will
hear Him and your worries will melt, as he says, “I am.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 5.0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">In
June of 2012, my wife and I took a summer retreat to the mountains of Colorado.
The place was lovely, the food was plentiful and the Holy Spirit was present.
On the first afternoon we unplugged everything. No cell phones, no computers,
no noise. As we sat there in shock listening to the silence, we heard the wind
rushing through the pines and the gentle sound of the wind chimes that had been
hung on the patio outside our room. It was if I heard the voice of the Father
saying, “All is well my child, take heart for I have overcome the world.” The
rest of the week was a great encounter with God. The teaching and outpouring of
love was wonderful. We received the life giving charge that we so needed.
However nothing compared to the daily time of sitting on the porch listening to
the silence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 5.0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">So,
if you’re worried, you’re normal. If you’ve hung out in worry for some time you
probably feel dry and parched. There’s a way out. Stand still and wait. Wait
for the rain to come. You can’t control it. It comes from the Father himself.
He’s willing. Are you?<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<br />
Keep Lookin' UPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14575166169525428231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1031853369453551185.post-65280310726263485312014-02-11T06:43:00.002-08:002014-02-11T06:43:56.773-08:00Calling
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: red;">“</span><span style="color: #c00000;">Foxes
have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his
head.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Matthew 8:20</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m sure they thought they knew what they were doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had limited knowledge and had not really
grasped what was about to happen when Jesus resolutely set out for <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:place></st1:city>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Three men, who had been caught up in the
excitement of the parade and the idea of the Kingdom, were challenged by our
Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had a heart for following.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They truly loved the thought of being a Jesus
person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They just didn’t see what the
Lord saw.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">One excitedly approached the Master with a declaration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I will follow you wherever you go!” he
proclaimed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus didn’t answer like he
thought he would.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was expecting a
cheerful embrace and an extended hand of inclusion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He got a surprise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus said that though the animals have
places of refuge, he did not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wanted
him to look past the protection of the walls of the city and the comfort of the
palace to a hill that led to a cross.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Another wanted to follow the Lord, but he wanted to wait
until after his father died.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
religious and cultural practice was quite acceptable and had become a religious
rite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus’ reply was once again
surprising.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said that the dead should
bury the dead, but that he should proclaim the kingdom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sacrifice for this disciple was to bury
the religious and cultural practices that gave him comfort and security.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was nothing necessarily wrong with
these things; they were just delaying the calling that was on the follower’s
life. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The last was possibly the hardest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wanted to take some time to go back and
say goodbye to his family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His sacrifice
was his relationships.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus responded
in what seems to be a harsh rebuke, and once again it was a surprise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How could Jesus ask us to lay our relationships
on the altar of the Kingdom?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does our
calling really require us to place the plow in the dirt and set our sight on
the cross of Calvary? As hard as it might seem, the answer is yes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every relationship must come second to the Kingdom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That will mean setting your sights on the
hill with the cross and plow toward it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He becomes your all in all.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It
is time for you to retrace your steps back to your calling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Go back to that time when you knew the Master
had come by your life and said, “Follow Me.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You may not have heard the voice of the God, but through the leadership
of the Holy Spirit and the confirmation of the Word and the people of God, you
knew he had asked you to commit your life to Christian service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I speak to pastors and church staff
members, I often ask them to share their calling with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am amazed at how many can voice their
testimony of salvation, but cannot describe when God called them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some have actually told me that they chose
ministry as a profession.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Much like one
chooses to be a lawyer or doctor or some other professional, they chose to go
into the work of ministry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am equally
astonished by the numbers of those individuals who have crumbled under the
weight of the many trials and tribulations that come about because of the stress
of ministry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Simply put, you must rely
on the call of God upon your life in order to sustain yourself in
ministry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you can do anything else
besides be in ministry, DO IT!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But if
you know that God has called you to serve in his Kingdom, for all of our sakes
don’t run from it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">How can you know that God has called you?</span></div>
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You have a passion to lead and serve God’s
people. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This service brings you joy; it is the reason
you get up in the morning.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is not a job, it’s your life!</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You know the time in your life when Jesus called
you to be a leader in His kingdom. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But be sure of this; following God’s call will cost
you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the three would-be followers of
Christ found out, the call of Christ will require that he is first before every
other aspect of your life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That includes
family, home and all the other things we hold dear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So many are called to places too far, too
hard or too costly in their estimation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Because of this, they follow the Master on their own terms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That simply will not do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You must follow Christ no matter where He
leads. He may be leading you down the street from your grandchildren.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If so, follow Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He may be leading you to places unknown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, follow Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Remember this old hymn?</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">It
may be through the shadows dim, or ore the stormy sea.<o:p></o:p></i></b></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I’ll take my cross
and follow Him, wherever he leadeth me.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Wherever he leads
I’ll go, wherever he leads I’ll go.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I’ll follow my
Christ who loves me so; wherever he leads I’ll go!<o:p></o:p></span></i></b><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></i></b></div>
Keep Lookin' UPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14575166169525428231noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1031853369453551185.post-44537496715041946682014-01-30T12:28:00.001-08:002014-01-30T12:28:59.081-08:00The Rattlesnake of Fear
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="woj"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I have given you authority to
trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy;
nothing will harm you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luke 10:19</i></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have always had a fear of snakes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It doesn’t matter if they are large or small;
they create terror in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will do
most anything to avoid the reptile house at the zoo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am particularly afraid of rattlesnakes.
I’ve encountered one or two in the wild, but I will most anything to avoid
being within a 50 mile radius of them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I was
about 10 a man in our church went out to the Rattlesnake Round-Up in western
Oklahoma.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Yes, there is such a thing as
a rattle snake round up).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He carried a
toe-sack full of the venomous creatures back to his home in Oklahoma City.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On a hot summer Wednesday evening he brought
those monsters to our church so that our boys group could see them. All my
buddies thought it was the coolest thing in the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were talking it up and proclaiming that
they couldn’t wait to see his collection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He didn’t bring them in the church, (we weren’t the snake handling
branch of Southern Baptists), but he did bring them to the parking lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When our teacher announced that we could go
out and see the “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">bag of poison”</i>, my
friends all went running out the door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
tried to act as brave as I could, walking behind the pack with my eyes wide
open with anticipation. Out to the parking lot we went.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rattlesnake cowboy stood near his pickup,
a hissing rattling sack full of snakes by his side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He carefully untied the top of the sack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When he reached in with a stick that
resembled a golf putter with a hook on the end I panicked looking for my
nearest retreat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought I was going
to wet my pants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the appearance of
the third and the fourth, I ran to the edge of the parking lot and then eased
my way back into the church building looking through the glass door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one saw my hasty retreat because of their
fascination with the rattlers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As he
began to ease them back into the sack, I eased my way back to the group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When our teacher announced it was time for us
to go back to the class I was the leader of the pack and the first in my chair
in the room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one had witnessed my terror.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I acted like everyone else excited that I had
seen a group of creatures that could have killed me with a single bite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But fear had gripped me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was just one time that I learned show a
brave face, suck it up and act like everyone else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fear is prominent among ministry leaders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The greatest fear is being fired or forced to
leave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To many the fear of being
rejected by a congregation that you love and have poured your life into is the
greatest of all failures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know pastors
who compromise their values and their understanding of the Bible in order to
keep a paycheck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many others have been
caught in the web of financial crisis. They would be destitute and homeless if
they were to stand for Godliness and truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So, they go along with the crowd.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>All the while they are trying to get along with a bag full of
snakes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
Keep Lookin' UPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14575166169525428231noreply@blogger.com0