Thursday, February 28, 2008

Now that should make us think

"A government that is big enough to give you all you want is big enough to take it all away." - Barry Goldwater

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Making Peace

"You cannot shake hands with a clenched fist." - Indira Gandhi

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Who Would I like to Meet?

Answering this question a few days ago I wrote, "I'd like to meet Jesus, but something unplanned, unrehearsed, unexpected, on the street, and real."

In Pursuit of Success

"The way to succeed is to double your error rate." - Thomas J. Watson

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Thoughts on OIL

The story in Matthew about the 10 virgins is challenging. They were all waiting for the wedding party and in the end only 5 were allowed to enter the party and 5 were not permited to enter because of not being present when the groom passed by. They had to go and buy oil for their lamps. Why couldn't the other 5 give them oil? I don't know. Here are some thoughts that I've had about the subject, although in some ways they contradict thoughts in the story.

  • Our oil can be given to others, but we cannot constantly maintain somebody else's bottle full. One must maintain himself but we shouldn't create a deopendency or a false "priestly" system of leaders to be the connection for others to God.
  • We can share unlimited quanities of "oil" as long as we stay filled through being connected with the Holy Spirit.

The lady with the bottle of oil never ran out... until all the containers she had gotten together were full.

The widow and her son always had enough oil and flour to make one more cake, as long as they made a cake for the prophet first.

Ephesians 5 tells us to be being filled with the Holy Spirit.

Acts says wait until you've been filled with power-from-on-high.

Psalm 133 tells us that unity and harmony produce abundance of oil. So much that it runs down from the head to the feet, now that's lots of oil.

Now, not all of these mentions of oil are directly regarding the Holy Spirit, but they sure can challenge us about generosity, unity, waiting for God, etc. What do I say? I want more of Him and less of me.

Success - a quote

"Success is a journey, not a destination." - Ben Sweetland

Monday, February 4, 2008

Good Habits - a quote

"Write to be understood, speak to be heard, read to grow." - Lawrence Clark Powell

Friday, February 1, 2008

Bless the Nations

God's blessing is not for us to keep, instead we must use it to bless the nations. Israel believed that the blessing and favor of God was for them because they were the chosen, special sons and daughters of God, His chosen people, His holy nation. God's purpose in blessing Abraham and setting him apart was that Israel shine and reflect His glory; that they be a light to the nations and a blessing to the world.

A city set on a hill is not hidden. A light is not turned on in the closet and the door kept shut. A city, a light, a lighthouse is placed on a hill, on a high spot to illuminate, to guide, to bless, to protect. In the same way, we are blessed by God so we can bless others, not so we can be rich, proud and pompous. He lifts us up to show His glory and to draw the nations to Him.

Isaiah was clear when he wrote:

GOD's bright glory has risen for you.
GOD rises on you,
his sunrise glory breaks over you.
Nations will come to your light,
Kings to your sunburst brightness.

Paul left no doubt about the reason for God's blessing:

He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God.

LORD, that may I stay truly humble, outrageously generous, always touchable and completely authentic for your glory and honor, forever.

LORD, that I may bless the nations.


Isaiah 61; 2 Corinthians 9:11 - The Message

Confidence - a quote

"Confidence is contagious. So is lack of confidence." - Vince Lombardi