Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Absurd

"Only exceptionally rational men can afford to be absurd." - Allan Goldfein

Saturday, November 24, 2007

Past, Present, Future

As I've reviewed notes from a "strategic supernatural planning" seminar I attended last year I rediscovered these ideas mentioned by Kris Valloton. They reminded me of what I had written in a previous blog.
  • In regards to change, the church at large is the only organization that is trying to get to the past. What we should do is honor the past, live in the present and look towards the future.
  • We should honor our past but not react to it nor live in it [we are not to be victims]. The past is gone. Neither should we live in the future by not taking responsibility for the present
  • We are in constant change and what is good for today will not work tomorrow." [speaking of methods because the gospel message never changes]
I wrote on July 19, 2007, we should learn from the past so we can make wise decisions in the present and prepare well for the future.

Friday, November 23, 2007

Christ Among Us

Thanksgiving has come and gone… if Christmas hasn't already hit the market, it will now. In the upcoming weeks we will enjoy giving and receiving gifts, special meals and foods, friends and family, and vacations and days off of work. We truly have the chance to enjoy unique and special experiences and we should do so. For this reason, let's allow each special moment and memory to remind us of the real reason and focus of Christmas.

  • Christmas isn't gifts we give or receive; it is the gift of eternal life God gave us.
  • Christmas isn't the special meals we'll share or the special foods we'll eat; it is the Bread of Life that came and was broken for us so we can have life.
  • Christmas isn't friends and family; it is God our Father, Jesus our friend, the Holy Spirit our counselor and companion. It is intimate relation with God.
  • Christmas isn't vacation, time off and relaxation; it is rest from religious works and trust in the grace and mercy of God.

Let's celebrate God became man, Jesus died for our sins, He rose again to proclaim our victory and is seated at God the Father's right to eternally intercede for us.

Let the celebration begin. Yes, let's celebrate Christ among us.

Thursday, November 22, 2007

The Existence of God

Whoever it was who searched the heavens with a telescope and found no God would not have found the human mind if he had searched the brain with a microscope. - George Santayana -

Enjoy Life

There is no cure for birth and death save to enjoy the interval. - George Santayana -

Different Stuff

How does a man guard his life and soul? Ps 119:15-16
  • think on God's precepts
  • focus on God's ways
  • enjoy God's statutes
  • remember God's word

Faith...

Faith is not merely believing " in Jesus". It is believing that His will is the very best there is for us. Therefore, since we believe God's way is the best - His good, acceptable and perfect design-, we will obey Him instead of man. We will want to please God more that we want to impress man. Faith includes obedience. Obedience is the manifestation of our faith in God and His design and plan for our lives. There is no faith without obedience.

James taught - Faith without works is dead. Without obedience to God, faith is lifeless, non-productive, barren, non-existent.

Evolution

In relationship to evolution, "it is even harder for the average ape to believe that he has descended from man." - HL Mencken

The Future

"The best way to predict the future is to invent it." - Alan Kay

Progress

"Those who speak most of progress measure it by quantity and not by quality." - George Santayana

This quote serves as a reminder that quantity is not all there is and quality is not an excuss for no quantity. Where there is quality there will be quantity of some measurable sort. Yes, there can be quantity without quality and I have seen that over and over in so many different ways, but quality in the long run will always result in quantity.

I guess I read this quote in a bit of a scarcastic mode as if to say that quantity is not all there is.

Sunday, November 18, 2007

Raise the Ceiling

Bill Johnson at Bethel Church, Redding, CA says, "my ceiling should be my children's floor". I got off on that this morning too while writing in my moleskine.

I want my ceiling to be my children's floor. Jesus said the works I do you will do and greater. -my ceiling is your floor- We should desire that our children and disciples/followers go beyond where we go.

Since I desire my ceiling to be their floor I should make the effort to get my ceiling as high as possible so their floor will be even higher and the greater things they do will be even greater.

Now, those that follow us WILL DO GREATER THINGS. Either we can pursue greater things and take them there and higher or do nothing, and God will seek out those with the desire for more and He will take them higher and further than we ever dreamed. Yes, some of our followers will then do greater things, leaving us behind, seated and satisfied with our achievements, as we become old and cold religious leaders content with just achieving the status quo or even worse, doing nothing.

They will be greater failures or greater successes. What part do I want to take in the equation?

Again, I want to burn out, not rust out. I want the next generation to go on with God and surpass me by light years of "greater works than these". I want to raise my ceiling so high that standing on their floor those that follow me can't even imagine where I started.

I'm gonna stay young until the day I die old!

Old but Still Green and Full of Sap

I read these vss. this morning

Ps 92:12-15
The righteous flourish like a palm tree... they are planted in the house of the LORD... [Growing in grace AMPL] they still bear fruit IN OLD AGE; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the LORD is upright...

Back to the thoughts on getting old, they interrupted my final touches on the morning message.

Maintaining our youthfulness... stay full of sap [vitality, vigor, energy, growth in the spirit of the future, full of abundant-life and fruitfulness] and stay green [able to be molded, bent or formed, able to flex with change and move forward with it, even better provoke it]…

We must be planted in the house of the Lord, in the courts of our God [where the river and the flow is Ps 1]. This house, court, river of God must be contrasted with cisterns [Jer. 2:13] of dead, man made traditions and methods of the last decade(s) [day old manna --that are a result of not being in the flow of the river of God-faith, praise, worship, prayer and intercession].

Randy, you've got me hyped... I want to burn out, not rust out. I want the next generation [my 7 kids and those I touch in Nicaragua] to go on with God and surpass me by light years of "greater works than these".

I'm gonna stay young until the day I die old!

Having Fun with Photoshop



Before


After

Saturday, November 17, 2007

Old, Mature and Generations

Randy Bohlender kind of awakened a few of my previous reflections yesterday with his blog titled "thoughts on getting old...". Good thoughts. Made me think of a few good memories and challenged me with new risks that must be taken so I can pass spiritual acheivements and blessings to my children, next generation.

I remember when Cheree, now 21, was 7. She thought 15 was old. Her 15 year old friend that lived with us thought 30 was old. I wasn't to far from 30 and thought 60 was old, therefore old is twice your age...

My Grandmother Rutledge, when she was 75, referred to the "old ladies" in her Sunday school class, but you dared not call her old, no sir! By the way, she was by several years the "oldest" in the group..

I went back through the thoughts in this vein I've written in this blog under the heading Generations. It's something we all must come to grips with if we are to continue impacting our world, nations, cities, families and our own children and grandchildren. In Nicaragua 70% of the population is 30 or younger; I got to stay in touch.

God of Mercy, Choose Life

Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked... and not rather that he should turn from his way and live? I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, decalres the Lord GOD; so turn, and live.

INSTEAD...

[I] desire all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

THEREFORE...

I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live.

Choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers..., or the gods of the... land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

Ezekiel 18:23,32; 1 Timothy 2:3, 4; Deut 30:19; Joshua 24:15

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Nicaragua: Home Sweet Home

I'm back. I've been back now for 9 days, but I'm not caught up yet. Emails, letters, blogs, sermons, homeschool classes, radio, etc... Mmm, maybe that's why I've not done any blogging the past week and 2 days and probably won't get any done for til next week.

Still, God has been good.

Hebrews 12 speaks to me today through the following verses:

6 ...the Lord discipines the one he loves and chastises every son whom he receives...
10 ...but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.
14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
29 for our God is a consuming fire.

Being set apart for God's use and glory - holiness - must be our goal. Burn out the trash, LORD. Purify me and make me holy.

It's good to be home with family and friends... the 3 days apart with Bev in a hotel and beach were great and good for conversation, thought exchange, catching up and planning...

Yes, God is good.

Sunday, November 4, 2007

A Dream

Thursday afternoon once we arrived at the Dove Retreat Center I went to my room and started reviewing and writing in my journal. I fell asleep and had a very short dream which is the following.

I saw a man jump forward but he bumped his head on the ceiling. The ceiling was low and getting lower in the direction he was jumping. -- Got to raise the ceiling.


I shared the dream Friday afternoon and got a very positive response... it continued to be a focus point during the rest of the pastors' retreat. Thanks you Lord for your grace.

Thursday, November 1, 2007