One of the things that I started doing last year on my Myspace and Facebook
pages is writing blogs. I started as just a way of being creative everyday.
Some of them are inspirational or just encouragement and others are more
like devotionals. I hope to make these into a soon. Anyway, I thought I'd
include some of them here for you to read. Take a look.






Yes Men...

Have you ever heard of 'Yes Men'? It's sort of a nick-name for people who
some celebrities and business people will surround themselves with as their
popularity rises. When they start off their career they act one way and are
many times humble and eager to make a difference, but sometimes what
happens is they will surround themselves with these 'Yes Men' whose role is
to tell them 'yes' all the time and agree with them no matter what. In other
words these so-called friends will never hold them accountable for anything
and many times the person will begin to take advantage of the people around
them and it starts this whole downward spiral. I won't name any names, but
we've all seen it happen, right? When people surround themselves with 'yes
men' or 'yes women' all the time reality can become warped because the
person is not receiving proper advice or support. All they are getting is a fake
echo of their own distorted perspective. I think it's important for everyone of
us to be around people who are different from us and who share a different
perspective than our own. It's the only way will ever grow.

In Proverbs 27:17 (NIV) it says, "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens
another." In Matthew 5:43-45 (The Message) it says, "You're familiar with the
old written law, 'Love your friend,' and its unwritten companion, 'Hate your
enemy.' I'm challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies. Let them
bring out the best in you, not the worst." I think these verses are beautiful. We
should be thankful for those who don't completely agree with us and challenge
ourselves to get around people who can support us and grow our soul by
being genuine and not just what we want to hear or expect to hear all the time.
Don't surround yourself with dull friends who won't sharpen you, get around
people who can give you room to grow and bring out the best in you.


The Right Investment

"Do what you can, with what you have, right where you are." -Teddy Roosevelt

Have you ever caught yourself thinking, "If I only had there talent", or "If I just
had the breaks like them I could really get something going!"? I think it's  a
trap that a lot of us get ourselves into from time to time. We're tempted to
look over and see someone else's skills and wish we were like them, but
what's important is that we don't neglect the talent and purpose that God has
put in our own lives. It's our job to take the promise that God has put in us and
invest it wisely. Invest our time. Invest our skills, etc. In Matthew 25 Jesus talks
about the Kingdom and how it's created by the types of 'investments' we
make with our lives.

Matthew 25:14-30 (The Message), says, "It's also like a man going off on an
extended trip. He called his servants together and delegated responsibilities.
To one he gave five thousand dollars, to another two thousand, to a third one
thousand, depending on their abilities. Then he left. Right off, the first servant
went to work and doubled his master's investment. The second did the same.
But the man with the single thousand dug a hole and carefully buried his
master's money.

After a long absence, the master of those three servants came back and
settled up with them. The one given five thousand dollars showed him how he
had doubled his investment. His master commended him: 'Good work! You
did your job well. From now on be my partner.'

The servant with the two thousand showed how he also had doubled his
master's investment. His master commended him: 'Good work! You did your
job well. From now on be my partner.' The servant given one thousand said,
'Master, I know you have high standards and hate careless ways, that you
demand the best and make no allowances for error. I was afraid I might
disappoint you, so I found a good hiding place and secured your money.
Here it is, safe and sound down to the last cent.' The master was furious.
'That's a terrible way to live! It's criminal to live cautiously like that! If you knew
I was after the best, why did you do less than the least? The least you could
have done would have been to invest the sum with the bankers, where at
least I would have gotten a little interest. 'Take the thousand and give it to the
one who risked the most. And get rid of this "play-it-safe" who won't go out on
a limb. Throw him out into utter darkness.'"

Instead of looking over at everyone else, paying attention to what they are
doing and they kind of breaks they are getting, we should be busy taking and
investing what God has given to us. It's when we're overly concerned about
what everyone else is investing that we lose track of our own portfolio! Those
are the times when we are 'playing it safe' not doing anything with the gift of
life that God has given us. We gain interest by 'going out on a limb' and going
'all in' with what God has provided for us. That's when we'll see the Kingdom
grow in our lives. Want your portfolio to grow? Invest in the life God has
planned for you.

Why Am I Here?

Do you ever catch yourself asking questions like this? Why am I here? What
am I supposed to be doing? What is the point of all this? There's a particular
passage in the Bible that speaks to that in a wonderful way. Check it out, this
is from 1 Corinthians 13:1-7 (The Message), "If I speak with human
eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of
a rusty gate. If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and
making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain,
'Jump,' and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing. If I give everything I own to
the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love,
I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do,
I'm bankrupt without love."

Obviously we all have talents and skills that God has given to us to give our
lives purpose, but all of this is totally in vein if we don't learn to love first. It's at
the very core of what we are here to do. We can go and accomplish every
goal we set for ourselves, we can make the world envious of everything we've
achieved, but it all means nothing if we don't learn to love. It's like Jesus says
in John 13:34-35 (The Message), "Let me give you a new command: Love
one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how
everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love
you have for each other." Want to give your life purpose? Do something
loving. When you can do this, then you are becoming a disciple. Disciplining
yourself as Christ has done.


Real Change

"Prayer may not change things for you, but it for sure changes you for things."
- Samuel M. Shoemaker

I think sometimes we get things mixed up when it comes to prayer. It can be
tempting to almost treat our prayer life as if it is a sort of wish list or checklist.
Almost like we're saying, "Hmm, Alright God. I'd really like this and maybe
some of this would be good too. Oh, and God see what you can do about this
thing here too." The thing to remember though is, God is not as concerned
with our being comfortable as much as He is with what we become. Real
change comes from the inside, out. I'm always challenging myself though to
think of prayer as more of me trying to bring myself in alignment with God's
will.

I find myself coming back to that part of the Lord's Prayer where Jesus says,
"Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."  It's like saying, "Ok God, I'm
ready to get out of the way I'm and trusting on You for Your perfect will."
Sometimes this can be the hardest thing to though, and it's the reason why
prayer really is so important. It's a way of getting ourselves in tune with what
God is doing. Bringing ourselves to a place of acceptance of God's will.
There's a quote by C.S. Lewis that I really like, he says, "I pray because I can't
help myself. I pray because I'm helpless. The need flows out of me all the time
- waking and sleeping. Prayer doesn't change God, it changes me."
Remember, next time you pray don't do it so much because you won't things
around you to change or because you're trying to 'change God's mind', but
because you are willing to change yourself and working to accept what God
is doing. It'll make all the difference.


I’m such an idiot!

"What you’re supposed to do when you don’t like a thing is change it. If you
can’t change it, change the way you think about it. Don’t complain." -Maya  
Angelou

So many times over the years I’ve heard people say things like, "Knowing my
luck... things just aren’t going to happen that way for me". We complain so
much that most of the time we don’t even notice it. We’ll say to ourselves, "I’m
such an idiot!", or "Why do I always do this?!". We may talk bad about others
so candidly that we don’t even catch it. Complaining happens all the time.

Ugh!!

So what is complaining really about anyway? I think a complaint is our own
embellishment of our fear of a situation. Our fear could be that we think things
aren’t going to get any better, or our fear could be that a person is out to do
us wrong. Whatever the case may be, I think complaining is us voicing our
own fears about how we think of situations in our lives.

We tend to forget that looking at problems only breeds more problems. What
you’re looking for and what you’re looking at is what you’ll always find.
Proverbs 11:27 (NIV) says, "He who seeks good finds goodwill, but evil
comes to him who searches for it."

Instead of complaining we should ask ourselves, ’Am I focused on the
problem or the solution?’. We need to be able to go from complaints to
compliance. Things are not happening in a totally unorderly fashion. Luck is
not stacked up against us, God is in control. It’s like Maya Angelou said, "If
you can’t change it, change the way you think about it." When we have
exhausted our own resources on something, we need to leave it in God’s
hands and realize that when we can’t change situations, maybe it’s because
we are what needs to be changed.


Two faced!

"If I were two faced, would I be wearing this one?" -Abraham Lincoln

Do you know anybody who is two faced? Have you ever been two faced? I
think this really just means being one way in front of some people and being
another way in front of other people. We’ve all been guilty of this at sometime
or another. One of the things the Bible says about this is in James 3:9-10
(The Message). It says, "With our tongues we bless God our Father; with the
same tongues we curse the very men and women he made in his image.
Curses and blessings out of the same mouth! My friends, this can’t go on."

Think about the curses and blessings that you’ve said in your life. All out of
the same mouth. I think one of the easiest ways to avoid this is to D.I.G.G.
deeper before you say something. What I mean is before you talk about
someone, ask yourself, "Does It Glorify God?". In other words ask yourself if
you really want to say that about someone who was made in the image of
your God. If not, you may want to reconsider what you were about to say.

I really believe that the more we can cut out this type of thing from your life, the
more fulfilled we will be. It can be very exhausting trying to live two lives. We
may as well settle on just one way of living, and the best way to do that is to
live the one that God has layed out for us.

Rock, Paper, Scissors

"Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend". -Martin
Luther King, Jr.

Have you ever played Rock, Paper, Scissors? You know, you and a friend ball your
hands up into fists and you bring them down three times and on the third time you
make a shape with your hand either rock, paper, or scissors. Rock beats scissors,
scissors beats paper, and paper beats rock. It's something to do when you're bored.

One time when I was in middle school, I think, I was playing rock, paper, scissors with
a friend and on the third time he had his hand balled up in a fist with his thumb
sticking straight up. He exclaimed, "BOOOOOM!". I said, "What?!" He answered, "I
got dynamite! Dynamite beats everything!" I just laughed.

Sometimes we get caught up trying to out do each other in life and we forget that
there is a force that is capable of conquering all things. That is love. Think about
this. Light vanquishes darkness, truth exposes a lie, and love conquers all. In 1 John
4:8 the Bible says, "God is love".

The quote by Martin Luther King Jr. is reminiscent of something Jesus said about
loving your enemies. I like this, it's from Luke 6:35-36 (The Message), "I tell you,
love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a return. You'll never-I promise-
regret it. Live out this God-created identity the way our Father lives toward us,
generously and graciously, even when we're at our worst. Our Father is kind; you be
kind." When everybody is trying to one up each other playing games remember
God's love is more powerful than any of these things.

WGOD... Listen and know!

If you're like me you probably have presets on your radio in your car. I think the top
five in my car are all country radio stations, but that's just me. Anyway, we all have
these presets that we sort of flip through at different times depending on what kind
of mood we're in and what we want to hear, right? Well I'm here to tell you that in the
same way that a radio station is always broadcasting whether we are tuned in or not,
God is always speaking to us whether we're listening or not.

Too often we get caught up listening to our typical presets in life that we don't tune
in to hear what God is trying to tell us. Divine guidance is always there broadcasting
to us no matter where we are or what we're doing. All we have to do is stop and
listen just like it says in Psalm 46:10 (NKJV), "Be still and know that I am God". Can't
hear God? Tune out everything else, then you'll be able to tune in.

In 1 Kings 19:11-12 (NKJV) the Bible says, "And behold, the LORD passed by, and
a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces
before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an
earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a
fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice."

So many times I think it's hard to hear God over the noise of everything else. We
have so much going on these days; so much racket and commotion, I think maybe
it's more important than ever to tune these things out and listen for God. That 'still
small voice' can't be heard many times over the television or the radio. It can't be
heard over many of the distractions that we have in our everyday lives, but if we
stop and listen for that 'still small voice' that speaks inside of us, then we can hear
and know.

Row, Row, Row Your Boat

When I was in Boy Scouts I earned a lot of merit badges. I always loved the ones
that had to do with water. I had the swimming merit badge, the motor boating merit
badge, and I was a certified lifeguard at one point. Two of my absolute favorites
though was the rowing merit badge and the canoing merit badge. I'd get in those
boats and take the paddle and just go. It was so much fun. I really liked just leisurely
going along though. The water would be so still and I would just kind of paddle
myself along. I'd row a little while and then I'd sit back and coast a little bit.

You know life can be like that too. We row, row, row, then we go, go, go. Let me
explain. Sometimes we are consciously making decisions about what we're doing
with our lives and sometimes we are just coasting. When we are fully aware of what
we are doing with our lives we are rowing and when we're just going or coasting
that's sort of when we are on autopilot. We all have these times of autopilot where
we are just coasting in the direction we've been rowing. The thing is though when we
are coasting along and not rowing we can only go in the same direction of which
we've been rowing. It's not likely that we'd be rowing towards the north, then stop
rowing and coast in a southeast direction. We go where we row. We choose the
direction of our lives with our thoughts, our words, and our actions.

Look at James 3:4-5 (NIV), "Take ships as an example. Although they are so large
and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever
the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes
great boasts." Make good decisions about what you think, say, and do. This will
ultimately determine the direction your life is going. Don't like where you're heading?
Try rowing in a different direction.


Don't Try This...

You know the word 'try' is not a very strong word. We use it a whole lot and when I
say we I really do mean me on this one. Seriously, I catch myself saying that I'm
going to try and do this and try and do that, but trying to do something really means
that I may or I may not be able to do it. So many times we say things like, "I'm trying
to lose weight", "I'm trying to quit", or "I'm trying to get everything together". It
doesn't really communicate any effort that you're putting in. Think about it. It kind of
insinuates that there is about a 50/50 chance that it may or may not happen.

I like this passage in the Bible about saying what you mean you're going to do, it's
found in Matthew 5:33-37 (The Message). It says, "And don't say anything you don't
mean. This counsel is embedded deep in our traditions. You only make things worse
when you lay down a smoke screen of pious talk, saying, 'I'll pray for you,' and never
doing it, or saying, 'God be with you,' and not meaning it. You don't make your
words true by embellishing them with religious lace. In making your speech sound
more religious, it becomes less true. Just say 'yes' and 'no.' When you manipulate
words to get your own way, you go wrong."

This passage is emphasizing the importance of meaning what you say and saying
what you mean. That's a good way to be. I'm taking out the word 'try' out of my
everyday vocabulary in places that it really doesn't need to be and where a
descriptive word is needed I'm replacing it with 'working'. In other words, "I'm working
to lose weight", "I'm working to quit", or "I'm working to get everything together".
Have confidence in the ability that God has put in you. As it says in the Bible,
"Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'". Be honest with yourself and
those around you; when you're trying something say you're 'trying'. When you're
working towards something, say you're 'working'.

Where Did My Faith Go?

We all reach times of adversity in life, but the true test is how we respond to those
troubled times. Sometimes we think we've lost a grip on our faith because we act in
a way that contradicts it, but what has really happened is what was inside of us
came out when times got tough. Life itself is sort of the true test of our faith. So
when the storms of life approach, where is your faith?

In Mark 4:35-40 (The Message) the Bible tells the story of the disciples and Jesus
out on a boat approaching a storm. It says, "Late that day he said to them, 'Let's go
across to the other side.' They took him in the boat as he was. Other boats came
along. A huge storm came up. Waves poured into the boat, threatening to sink it.
And Jesus was in the stern, head on a pillow, sleeping! They roused him, saying,
'Teacher, is it nothing to you that we're going down?' Awake now, he told the wind to
pipe down and said to the sea, 'Quiet! Settle down!' The wind ran out of breath; the
sea became smooth as glass. Jesus reprimanded the disciples: 'Why are you such
cowards? Don't you have any faith at all?'"

This is great. The storm approaches and all of the disciples are fearful. Jesus is just
laying there the whole time taking a nap and they wake him up. He gets up and tells
the wind and sea to be quiet and settle down. This is similar to how we are
sometimes when adversity hits. Too often we let the circumstances of life rock our
boat to the point that we become afraid and worried that we are going to sink. See
faith is not something that takes us to church on Sunday, or takes us to a Bible
study every once in a while, or keeps us from having to get into a deep conversation
with someone on the street when they say, "Have you been saved?". No, faith is the
trusting in God that anything He has brought us to, He can bring us through. It's
relying on God as our source and believing like it says in Romans 8:28 (NKJV), "We
know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are
the called according to His purpose." That trust in God allows us to settle down and
quiet our mind from all of the worries and fears in the world that work to render us
helpless. Remember the saying, let go and let God.

Those were the days...

Do you ever catch yourself thinking back on the good ol' days? You know back
when things were simpler or happier or whatever you think the case may be. It's
tempting, but the truth is life is happening now. We tend to distort our past anyway.
Time has a way of making us forget details and shaping our memory one way or
another. Sometimes for the better sometimes for the worst, but either way there's no
way to avoid the simple truth that life is happening right now. Yesterday is gone.
Tomorrow is not promised. The only thing we really have is this moment that we're
living in right now.

Look at Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 (The Message), "God deals out joy in the present, the
now. It's useless to brood over how long we might live." In Ecclesiastes 7:10 (The
Message) it goes on to say, "Don't always be asking, 'Where are the good old
days?' Wise folks don't ask questions like that."  

Are lives are filled with purpose at all times. Otherwise we wouldn't be here. There
would be no reason. A lot of times we find ourselves perplexed by changes around
us and figure that maybe the best has already passed us by, but the truth is life is
full of different seasons. Spring doesn't hang on to Winter and Fall doesn't hang on
to Summer. They each occur in their own due time and have their purpose. This is
how we should be with our lives; asking ourselves what is our purpose for now, not
holding on to the days passed by as if those were the only ones that counted for
anything. So often we find ourselves obsessed with our past or worried about our
future, so much that we lose sight of what today is bringing. So ask this question,
what is your purpose this day? As Zig Ziglar says, "If you don't think it's a great day,
just try missing one!"

Go Ahead

"The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing." - Walt Disney

Have you ever heard the old saying, 'Life is what you make it'? I think that's true. It
occurred to me a while back that any song that I'll ever write, I already know most of
the words right now. I probably already know almost every chord or any note that I
will ever use in a song. All I have to do is put it down. It's already in my head, I just
have to get it out there. If I want to write a book, the biggest obstacle that I have is
bringing myself to begin.

In fact, most of life is like this. Do you have a dream job? The education and
knowledge you need is out there waiting for you to receive it. The experience you
need is available for you to take the opportunity. All you have to do is get started.
Do you have a dream house in mind? The bricks already exist. All the lumber you'll
need is already cut. Life is waiting for you to make what you will of it. Psalms 37:4
(NIV) says, "Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your
heart."

I know it may seem like it's a stretch to do all of these things, but the best thing you
can do for yourself is what most people never do. Get started. Think about it. You
can't walk a whole mile in one step! You do it a little at a time. Sometimes you have
to understand that you won't be able to go as far today as you will be able to go
tomorrow. The key is doing what you can today. The destination is already there,
waiting for you. So when would now be a good time to start?


Now you see me. Now you don't.

"Live as if everything you do will eventually be known." Hugh Prather

How would you live if you knew everything you do would eventually be seen? Would
you live any differently? It's a good question and one worth asking yourself.
Criminals commit crimes believing that they won't get caught. Most thefts are
committed at night so they will be more concealed and not seen in the light of the
day. Many times people have habits and addictions that they hide from their friends
and family. What if everything you did was recorded and would be played back to
those closest to you? What would they think? How would you react?

You've heard people talk about 'Skeletons in the closet' or people that are two-
faced. The truth is people are more comfortable when they feel like they can hide
things. I'm not saying that people aren't entitled to privacy, but the question I'm
asking is a fair one. How would you live if you knew everything you do would
eventually be seen? Jesus says in Matthew 10:26 (NIV), "There is nothing
concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known." In Mark
4:22 (NIV) he says, "For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever
is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open."

We should live our lives in a way that is acceptable both inside the comfort of our
hidden places and out in the open for all to see. It is better for ourselves and those
around us. This is what it means to live a life of integrity. There would be less lying,
less gossip, less addictions, and less crimes if people would ask themselves that
question more often. A person who is genuine is the same around everyone they
meet. When we can live in such a way that we are the same wherever we are, then
we have become comfortable in our own skin and began to discover who we truly
are.


What is taking SO long?!!

I just got off the express way and payed at the pump for my gas on the way home
and bought some fast food at the drive-thru window. When I got home I made some
instant coffee and watched a movie on demand. Sounds like a typical day huh? Ever
think about how so many of the things we enjoy on a daily basis are so instant? I
mean I write these blogs several days a week and as soon as I click 'send' people
are reading them. I can pick up the phone right now and in a second connect with
someone around the world. A big news story can break on the other side of the
country and within a minute cameras are there and it's on every news channel.

Things happen so quickly these days. I think sometimes it causes us to be impatient
with doing the right things. We want to see results right away, but life isn't always like
that. The Bible talks about planting a seed and reaping a harvest, look at Galatians
6:7-9 (The Message), "What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants
selfishness, ignoring the needs of others—ignoring God!—harvests a crop of
weeds. All he'll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in
response to God, letting God's Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of
real life, eternal life. So let's not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the
right time we will harvest a good crop if we don't give up, or quit." One of the fruits of
the spirit itself is patience. A farmer does not plant a seed and then a couple of
hours later dig it up to see why it hasn't grown yet. He understands that he must be
diligent and the harvest doesn't sprout all at once. We need to realize the
importance of first planting the right seed and nurturing it, then realizing that in due
time the harvest will come.

Success Secrets

"Anybody who thinks money will make you happy, hasn't got money." - David Geffen

It's the truth isn't it? Money can't make you happy. It's really sort of cliché, but it's
also really true so I'll say it again, "Money can't make you happy". Sure, having nice
things is nice but how can someone really be fulfilled from stuff? I mean how many
cars in the garage would equal just one once-in-a-lifetime memory you have where
someone did something very special for you? That's sort of like those credit card
commercials. Priceless. See, it's the relationships we cultivate and the way we are in
this world that really matter. Read this from 1 Timothy 6:7-10 (NIV), "For we brought
nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and
clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation
and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and
destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager
for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."

Too often we try and make this life about collecting stuff, but stuff is not worth
anything in the big picture. What matters right now is that you're breathing and that
someone cares about you. Those things are important. When we chase after money
we are piercing ourselves with grief and putting a burden on ourselves. It's not the
money. It's the love of money that leads us to evil. Wanna know the recipe for
success? Work hard. Enjoy what you do. Do it well. Repeat. If you can do that, then
the money will follow you instead of the other way around.

Reality Show Casting...

Have you ever wanted to be on a reality show? There are all of sorts of shows
where real people are going through real life experiences and it's something we can
relate to because most of us have been in similar situations. Sometimes we are able
to see our own lives from an outside perspective and it seems like we're in a reality
show. You've probably caught yourself in a situation like that where you say, "Whoa!
I'm glad there weren't any cameras rolling on that one."

I think it's good to be able to see ourselves objectively and look at things outside of
our own perspective. If we can look at ourselves from a third party perspective we
must be careful not to look away too soon. We are likely to see our own blemishes
and faults and that is the most important thing we can gain from being objective
about ourselves. James 1:23-25 (The Message) says, "Act on what you hear! Those
who hear and don't act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two
minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like. But whoever catches a
glimpse of the revealed counsel of God—the free life!—even out of the corner of his
eye, and sticks with it, is no distracted scatterbrain but a man or woman of action.
That person will find delight and affirmation in the action."

Similarly when our flaws are revealed to us we should take action and realize that
these are areas for us to work on. So if the cameras were rolling what would the TV
audience see about you? Are you a bridezilla who isn't thankful for anything? Are
you the contestant that everyone is pulling for because you're doing things the right
way? Remember, it's your Real World and you make choices everyday about your
own character development

Overflow

"If you are really thankful, what do you do? You share." - W. Clement Stone

Are you thankful for your blessings? Then share. One of the best ways of keeping
blessings in your life is to be a blessing to someone else. It's true. There is only so
much joy you can experience by keeping it all to yourself. You have to take the next
step and give back. It's a display of God's overflowing goodness to us and a chance
for us to show kindness and be a light in the world.

Look at 2 Corinthians 9:13-15 (The Message), "You show your gratitude through
your generous offerings to your needy brothers and sisters, and really toward
everyone. Meanwhile, moved by the extravagance of God in your lives, they'll
respond by praying for you in passionate intercession for whatever you need.
Thank God for this gift, his gift. No language can praise it enough!"

I just love this. It says, "Moved by the extravagance of God in your lives, they'll
respond by praying for you in passionate intercession for whatever you need." This
is the circulation that goes on when we give. If we want to ensure our blessings, then
we have to make sure that we keep them in circulation. Even the word 'currency'
itself insinuates that it should always be moving. This is the way we should be with
all of our blessings, continuously keeping them moving. Whether it be kind words,
our time, or money there are always people who are in need in some way.

Shopping Spree

Let me ask you a question. If you and I went to a clothing store together and you
could buy anything you wanted, what would you buy? What if you found a pair of
shoes that you hated, would you buy them? Sounds like a crazy question, but let's
assume you did. Then let's say you found a shirt that you thought looked awful,
would you buy it? Let's say you did. Then you saw some pants that were hideous,
would you buy them? Let's just pretend that you bought all of these things with your
shopping spree and at the end of the day you came home with a whole ensemble of
clothes that you never wanted and don't even fit you. I would think you were crazy,
except I think many of us act in a similar way with our thoughts and words.

Often times we pick out the things in life that we don't like among the many things
that we do like and single them out. We decide that these things that we find awful
are the things that we will spend our time and attention on. Look at Philippians 4:8
(NIV) it says, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is
right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is
excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things."

So what are the things you are picking out and spending your attention on? Don't
be like the person who went around on the shopping spree and brought home a
bunch of stuff that they hated and didn't fit and had to show everybody why they
hated them and complaining about why. No, spend most of your time and thoughts
on the good things and bring these things home with you.

It's All Good

"There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so." - William
Shakespeare

Life is just life. We can only control but so much of what happens to us. In fact, really
the only thing we do control in life is our own thinking about the situations and the
people that are in our lives. Think about it. I have little over control what happens to
me, but I do control completely how I respond to what happens to me.

The Bible says this in 1 Timothy 4:4 (The Message), "Everything God created is
good, and to be received with thanks. Nothing is to be sneered at and thrown out.
God's Word and our prayers make every item in creation holy." In Genesis the when
the Bible talks about God creating the earth it turns around many times and says,
"And it was good". Life is life. It is what we make it to be.

Two people can go through the same exact setback and turn out totally different
from each other. Why? Because one of them believes it is a wake-up call and the
other believes it is their downfall. One person thinks this is the end and other thinks
it's just getting started. It all comes down to choices. Do you choose to see
misfortune as a disaster or a challenge? Do you have faith that makes you the
victim or victor? Are these stumbling blocks or stepping stones? Trust in God and
you'll be able to see through faith that all things work for good.

Walk This Way

Do you know the definition of insanity? It's doing the same thing over and over again
expecting different results. Some of us do the wrong things over and over again and
wonder why things are the way they are. It seems like we're just walking around in
circles and never getting anywhere. I heard a pastor once say, "If you ever want to
arrive somewhere, you must first leave." Meaning if we really want to get somewhere
we have to stop walking in circles and start moving in the direction where we want to
be. Can you imagine arriving in Dallas, TX without first leaving Mobile, Al or
wherever you live? How then can we possibly reach the next step in our spiritual
walk if we're not willing to change and grow from where we are now?

I like what the Bible says in Ecclesiastes 10:3 (NIV), "Even as he walks along the
road, the fool lacks sense and shows everyone how stupid he is." Sometimes we
walk like fools never stopping to ask ourselves why we keep having the results we
don't want. What does your walk say about you? Only you truly know each step that
you take. Wherever you are now, just know that there are steps that got you there
and steps that can take you from there.

Say It

"No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks." - Unknown

Are you thankful for something or someone in your life? Then say it out loud. Don't
just keep it to yourself, tell someone you are thankful for them. It may seem a little
uncomfortable at first, but we should really make it a habit to thank people for what
they do for us. After all a self-made man has never really existed. We all count on
each other and we should compliment people when they go out of their way for us.
We should be sure to tell the ones we love that we do love them. These may not be
the first things that come to our mind and they may actually feel like awkward things
to do or say, but I'm here to tell you that it makes a difference. A big difference.

Ephesians 5:4 (The Message) says, "Though some tongues just love the taste of
gossip, those who follow Jesus have better uses for language than that. Don't talk
dirty or silly. That kind of talk doesn't fit our style. Thanksgiving is our dialect."

When we are thankful for what others do for us, then it gives us a whole new level of
appreciation for what they have done. Not only that, but people really do enjoy when
we notice the little things that they do for us. Instead of spending all our time paying
attention to things that are wrong or that bother us, let's take some time to notice
the ways that we can be gracious to others and pay more attention to things that
others have done for us. Make it part of your daily dialect and see the difference it
makes.

How are you?

Probably the most asked question I get asked everyday is, "How are you?". I'm not
sure the person even really wants to know, but they did ask so I usually respond,
"I'm good, how are you?". You probably do the same too. One thing I've learned
though is how you are doing is not so much about what's going on around you, but
more so with what's going on inside of you. Think about it. We all go through ups
and downs of everyday life, but yet we all know some people who always seem
happy and say, "I'm great!" and some people who are always down-trodden, worried
about one problem after another and they usually say, "Well let me just tell you
about it....". Oh gosh, I always have to brace myself when I hear that one!

The point is that we all have our challenges in life, but some people deal with it
better. Why do you think that is? I think it all boils down to an attitude. I've heard it
called an 'Attitude of Gratitude'. Wow that sounds cheesy, but I'm serious. People
who are thankful are usually happier. Think of Romans 8:28 (NIV), "And we know
that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been
called according to his purpose." Some people when you ask them how they are,
they say, "I'm Blessed" or "Too blessed to be stressed". With everything that is
going on, how can they say this? Because they have trust in God and because they
have this 'Attitude of Gratitude'. Don't spend your time thinking about today and
worried about what's going to happen to you, instead be grateful for today and think
about what's going to happen through you.

Beyond My Vision

Can you imagine getting into a taxi to go somewhere and as soon as you hit the
slightest bit of traffic the driver says, "Well I guess we'd better turn around and start
over now."? I can't imagine that ever happening but yet that's what we do sometimes
with the traffic jams of life isn't it? We get started on something exciting and the first
challenge occurs that was unexpected, and for some reason we think that it's
reason enough to stop and start all over again or maybe just stop all together. I'm
here to tell you that it takes patience to be able to see something all the way
through. So many great things would have never been done had people decided
not to take that first leap of faith and follow it through even though they couldn't see
the light at the end of the tunnel.

Lance Armstrong didn't just jump on a bike after his bout with cancer and win the
Tour de France the next day. It took much training and much preparation in the face
of tremendous adversity. If you don't know how you are going to reach a goal
there's really nothing wrong with that. The thing is you just need to start. Once you
go as far as you can, you'll be able to see a little bit farther and you'll already be
closer to what it was than when you started. You can't expect to see the entire
interstate with your headlights when you leave for a trip. No, you drive seeing what
you can at the moment and trusting that as you go along you'll be able to see
farther and farther. Proverbs 3:5&6 says, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and
lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will
make your paths straight."

What don't kill me...

You know the old saying, 'What don't kill me makes me stronger'? I think that's a
good phrase for anyone going through a hard time. Think about it. You live and you
what? Learn, right. Well the more we can learn from our mistakes and overcome
adversity the more we are prepared for it next time. We can push past our obstacles
if we simply learn from our past. This is just how it is intended to be.

Look at 1 Peter 5:10 (NIV), "And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal
glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and
make you strong, firm and steadfast." This is saying to us that we will all endure
suffering at times in our lives but if we stay true to God then He will see us through
and make us stronger. Not just jaded and bitter, but actually stronger. If you are
going through a tough time today, just know that God may be simply preparing you
for something more down the road. Take the opportunity to not just survive, but to
actually grow from it.


I LOVE...

Love. It's a word that we hear so often in different contexts of everyday life that it
sometimes loses its meaning, or at least we tend to forget what it really means. Just
out of curiosity I decided to google the words "I Love" and then leave the rest blank,
just to see what I would come up with. Interesting. Some of the top results were 'I
Love T-Shirts and Gifts', 'I LOVE NEW YORK', 'I Love Pasta', and 'iLoveLanguages'.
While I agree that you can like any of these things, I really don't see how you could
love them. I know I don't. It's easy to see how the word love is thrown around so
much that it in some ways loses its ability to describe the people that we truly do
love.

The Bible has a great description of love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NIV), "Love is
patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude,
it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love
does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts,
always hopes, always perseveres." This is definitely not talking about T-Shirts or
Pasta! What is so interesting in this description is that it seems very obvious that
love is not a word that is intended to be used to describe something that we prefer
or favor, but it is truly something that we do or how we express our love to others.
This is really a description of how we should act towards those that we say we love.
Look at it again and ask yourself, "Is this how I treat the people that I love?".

Let me tell you a thing or two!!

"A man convinced against his will, is of the same mind still." -Laurence J. Peter

I think this is a great quote. It means that if we push our ideas on to other people,
even if we convince them somehow, they will not appreciate the understanding
because they will feel forced to believe what we believe. The only way anyone
comes to an agreement is by their own will. When it comes to our faith we have to
remember that we are in advertising and not sales. Look at what the Bible says
about arguing. 2 Timothy 2:23-24 (NIV), "Don't have anything to do with foolish and
stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord's servant
must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful."

If we are always trying to get the better end of an argument then we have already
lost. If we do win we've lost because convincing someone against their own will, the
person will only resent us and our beliefs. Instead of working so hard to be right we
should be kind and plain spoken, clearly showing our point of view. This way the
focus is put on whatever the subject is and not just on who is right and who is wrong.
Every one of us has room for greater understanding and growth.

Have you forgotten who you are??

So who are you? Really, who are you? Many times when we are asked this question
the first thing that pops into our head is our name. I am Jon. That's not entirely true
though is it? That's my name sure, but there are plenty of other people named Jon
aren't there? There are probably plenty of people with your name too. I'm not them
and they aren't me, so I'm not really Jon, it's just my name. Another thing we usually
think of is our job or our hobby. Well, I'm a teacher or a salesperson or a fisherman.
That's not really you either though, is it? You are more than just that. So who are
you? If you were simply the son or daughter of your Mom and Dad, then you would
really just be a reflection of them and them alone, but there is something more to
you isn't there? If you have brothers or sisters you can clearly see that you are
different from them. You are really a one of a kind.

There has never been and there will never be another you. How can that be? The
thing is, you are a unique expression of a truly infinite Creator.  Genesis 1:27 says,
"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male
and female he created them." Look at Psalm:139:13-14 (NIV), "For you created my
inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am
fearfully and wonderfully made;  your works are wonderful, I know that full well." We
are sons and daughters of the most-high, designed with purpose. Jeremiah 29:11
says, "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you
and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'” So no matter who you
think you are or what your background is, remember how God sees you. You are
created wonderfully in His image and you have hope and a future in Him.


Taking Sides

There's a story that I like about a little boy who is being picked on by a bully at
school. Finally in frustration the little boy draws a line in the playground sand and
says, "Alright bully, you just cross that line! I dare you!" The bully crosses the line
and the little boy exclaims, "Good, now we're on the same side!"

Wouldn't our conflicts be easier if we could find common ground? Look at what
Jesus says in Matthew 5:43-45 (NIV), "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your
neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those
who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his
sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the
unrighteous."

I just love this. Pray for your enemies! Love them! What a tall order. Most of us can
agree that it would be good to love those who are good to us. That's easy enough
right? Matthew 5:46 goes on to say, "If you love those who love you, what reward will
you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?" The thing is, if we are to be the
expression of God here on earth and be sons and daughters of the most high, then
this is the standard that we are being held to. In the same way that God provides for
the righteous and the unrighteous of this world, we are to love our friends and our
enemies. The chapter ends on Matthew 4:48 saying, "Be perfect, therefore, as your
heavenly Father is perfect." This means just as God is loving and gracious towards
us, this is the way we are to be with others, regardless of the way they are with us. If
we find enough common ground with someone, then we may just find that we're on
the same side.


The 10 Commandments of Love

1 You shall have no other gods before me.
2 You shall not make for yourselves an idol.
3 You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.
4 Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
5 Honor your father and your mother.
6 You shall not murder.
7 You shall not commit adultery.
8 You shall not steal.
9 You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
10 You shall not covet.

I used to have this idea of God that He just wanted to stop me from doing this or
stop me from doing that. Almost like God has us on lock down or something.
Eventually I came to realize that God truly does love me and is not just trying to
control me, but He actually wants to protect me. Breaking any of the 10
commandments would be hurting myself more than anyone else because all of
these are paths of destruction. Think of it this way, if I steal something or covet
something that is not mine then that is only pulling me away from what God has laid
out before me. Committing a sin and being selfish only serves to pull us in a
direction away from God's will.

Think about a child that is putting his hands everywhere. That child may want to
touch the eye of the stove but his Dad says, "No, don't touch that." Eventually the
boy does touch it and it is still hot from being on. Now the father told the child that
he shouldn't touch it, but did the father leave the stove on just to teach the boy a
lesson? Of course not! He did everything he could do to warn him and keep him
away. That's the way we are sometimes, God loves us and wants to protect us but
we refuse many times.

Jesus said the greatest commandments are to love God and love one another and
Romans 13:8-10 (NIV) echoes this in a beautiful way, "Let no debt remain
outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his
fellowman has fulfilled the law. The commandments, 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do
not murder,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not covet,' and whatever other commandment there
may be, are summed up in this one rule: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' Love
does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law."

Remember, Be Unlightened

I'd like to take a minute and unlighten you. Yeah that's right not enlighten, unlighten.
I think too many times we become desensitized to the world that we need to take
time to desensitize ourselves. We forget that true purity comes from not being
conformed by the outside world. Matthew 5:8 (The Message) says, "You're blessed
when you get your inside world-your mind and heart-put right. Then you can see
God in the outside world." In the NIV the same verse says, "Blessed are the pure in
heart, for they will see God."

Getting your heart and mind right is not as much about learning as much as it is
about remembering. Often times we become jaded by our experiences in the world,
but remember, we have been called to receive the kingdom like a child. In Mark 10:
15 (NIV) Jesus says, "I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of
God like a little child will never enter it." I think he's speaking in terms of purity,
curiosity, and trusting. We should guard our hearts and be as God created us to be,
not tossing in the wind, broken-down and worn-out by the world. With kids each day
is brand-new. All the time you will see kids get upset with each other, but by the next
day those two kids are best friends again playing together and it's almost like it
never happened. Reignite your child-like senses and see what God has created for
us in a brand-new light. Start each day new and absorb the beauty around you with
great wonder. Say "WOW!" some time today. It's always there, we just don't always
see it. As you learn, also remember.


Self Induced Nonsense

Let's talk about SIN for a minute. Sometimes I've heard it referred to as Self Induced
Nonsense. I think that's a pretty good acronym for it, I mean we know it's not right
but yet somehow we fall into it over and over again, and it really is nonsense. I've
heard other people describe it as 'missing the mark' or 'anything that separates you
from God'. There's a verse in the Bible that talks about temptation becoming sin, it's
James 1:3-15 (The Message), "Don't let anyone under pressure to give in to evil
say, 'God is trying to trip me up.' God is impervious to evil, and puts evil in no one's
way. The temptation to give in to evil comes from us and only us. We have no one to
blame but the leering, seducing flare-up of our own lust. Lust gets pregnant, and
has a baby: sin! Sin grows up to adulthood, and becomes a real killer."

I think that's a good explanation of the process of that Self Induced Nonsense and
how it can be dangerous to us. Think about smoking for a minute. Not to pick on you
smokers, but I think this is a good illustration too [Please don't hate me! :  ) ]. If a
person is a smoker, they have to know that it isn't good for them, but yet they are
still tempted to give in to it. They smoke and it affects them on the inside and
outside because it not only affects their organs, but it also affects the air or the
people surrounding them right down to the furniture they're sitting on, or the paint
on the walls in the room. All the while, there are labels printed on every box of
cigarettes telling us how bad they are for the body.

I knew someone who was sincerely trying to stop and while we were driving she
would notice every little sign or advertisement for cigarettes and I would never even
see them unless she pointed them out to me. This is temptation. What may be
tempting to you, the person next to you may not even notice. All of these things with
smoking are true with sin too. It affects us on the inside and the outside and we've
been warned for our own good to steer away from temptation. We have our own
surgeon general's warning! It's printed clearly on our hearts. Warning: Self Induced
Nonsense is bad for your health. While it may feel good temporarily, in the end it will
only serve to separate you from your Creator and the purpose for which you were
created!


Getting what you give

Have you ever thought about the fact that you get out of life what you give? I believe
it. Like attracts like; it's no "secret". The truth is you really do get what you give in
life. If two people say that they want a healthy body and more energy, one goes to
the gym and works out and uses their body, the other stays at home and decides to
conserve their energy who do you think will have more energy after just a few
weeks? Do I have to tell you? It's the one who uses his body who gets more out of it.
The best way to receive blessings is to give praise. Did you know salvation works
the same way? The Bible says in Matthew chapter 16:25 "For whoever wishes to
save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it." Even
friendship itself works in this way. The best way to get friends is to truly be one.

The value of a dream

I have been playing music and pursuing my dream of becoming a professional
singer/songwriter for over 12 years now. Wow, that's a long time. It's not only a lot of
time that I've invested in it but also a lot of dough. You know $$$$. In fact, I figure
that with sound equipment, instruments, recordings, travel expenses, and other
various things I have easily spent 10s of thousands of dollars in that time. People
have said to me before, that's a lot of money to spend on something like that. You
bet it is; but I have always said, "How do you put a price tag on a dream?" How much
do you think your dream is worth to you? I mean, I'm not really sure how it works out.
Is there an exchange rate that goes on with this? Maybe there's a dollar to dream
scale of some sorts. Henry David Thoreau said "Our truest life is when we are in our
dreams awake." Let's be clear here. I'm not talking about attaining material things;
I'm talking about dreams as they pertain to who you are deep down inside. The
bottom line is that your dreams, if they truly are you dreams, are of infinite value to
you. So how much are your dreams worth to you? The answer should be everything.
They should be worth the same as your arm or leg or your eyes. They are a part of
you, don't let anyone take them away from you. And always remember no one can
unless you let them. So how long will I keep pursuing music?? As long as it's my
dream.

You are so HOT!

Did you ever play the game "Hot and Cold" when you were a little kid? You know,
your friend hides something and you have to go look for it and every time you get
closer they say, "You're getting hotter" and every time you get further they say
"You're getting colder." The further you'd get they'd say, "You're freezing; you're ice
cold! You just passed by a penguin!" Or if you we're like right on top of whatever it
was, they'd say "You're on fire; you're scorching hot! You're eyes are burning!" I
used to enjoy playing that game when I was a little kid. You know, you hear so many
people say that they found God or they're searching for God, but you know God is
never missing. God, in fact, is omnipresent. That means He is everywhere; whether
we see Him or not depends on whether or not we are looking. In the Bible (Jeremiah
23:23,24) it says "Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar off? Can
any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill
heaven and earth? saith the Lord." Psalms says, "Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I
make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I
settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand
will hold me fast. If I say, 'Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become
night around me,' even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like
the day, for darkness is as light to you." So the long short of it is, if you're looking for
God you don't have to go far. As a matter of fact if we we're little kids playing "Hot
and Cold" and you were looking for God, you'd be scorching hot!! All the time.

Do you have the time?

Funny thing about time isn't it?

You can save it. You can spend it. You can take it; you can even be ON IT. It can fly
and stand still. Sometimes it's fast; sometimes it's slow. We've all had a good time
and a bad time. Have you ever lost track of, or KILLED time? Can you believe that
we even make up time! If I keep working hard and don't WASTE time I might make
the BIG TIME. Although, if I don't do all the right things I may end up SERVING TIME.
And if that ever happens I'll have plenty of FREE time.

What we can't forget though, is that time is a man made thing. It's just our way of
counting when and how many times the earth goes around the sun. That's all it is.
Don't say you don't have enough time, because actually you have all the time in the
world, because you have as much time as there is... 24 hours in each day. C.S.
lewis even said, "The future is something which everyone reaches at the rate of sixty
minutes an hour, whatever he does, whoever he is." We all have the exact same
amount of time every day; it all comes down to what we do with that time. I say all of
that to say this... Never give up on something you believe in because of how much
time it will take, the truth is that time will pass whether you follow your dreams or not.
Keep your head in the clouds and your feet on the ground!

So what time is it for you?

Receiving is important too

I don't know if you have this problem or not, but a lot of people do. I know I've
struggled with it from time to time. Somebody may want to give you something or do
something very nice for you, but then you say, "No really, don't do that." Do you
know what I'm talking about? Maybe you're running low on cash and someone offers
to do you a favor or pay for something. All you can say is, "No, really that's ok. I
appreciate it, but no." Maybe you should say, "Yes." I'm not saying to go around
asking people to give you this or that, or dropping hints, but I'm saying when
someone just offers out of nowhere you should think twice and make sure it's not
your pride that's saying no. Maybe you think I'm telling you to be selfish, but I'm
really not. Think about it. That person may be hearing the Holy Spirit inside of them
and trying to do something righteous and you won't allow it. Let them do what it is
they've been led to do! If you say no you may be keeping God from blessing you
and them! And when you take it, be sure to thank them very generously for being so
thoughtful. You never know, allowing them to give whatever it is, no matter how
small, may just open the floodgates for God's blessing on their life. In Acts the Bible
says, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." So what I'm saying is allow the
giver to give and be grateful. The giver needs a receiver so don't let a series of
blessings end with you. Receive it and then pass it on down.


Spit that poison out!

What I wanna write about today is something I feel very strongly about. In fact, it was
the subject of the only "church sermon" I ever gave, forgiveness. I saw a sign once
and it really hit home for me. It said, "Not forgiving someone is like drinking poison,
hoping it will hurt the other person." That's really true you know. I mean, when you
harbor up all of these ill feeling towards someone you are really hurting yourself
more than anyone else. Did you know that no one has ever died from a snakebite??
It's true. It's always the poison that works it's way into a person's body after the
snake bite that kills them. What I'm saying is, the poison of unforgiveness is one that
we have the choice of spitting out. Believe me, I know, unforgiveness is just as
dangerous as poison. Is there someone that you need to forgive?? Maybe they
haven't even apologized to you... Guess what, it doesn't matter. Let it go. I know it
isn't always that simple but truly the damage from whatever it was is most likely done
and gone. The damage caused from here on out is in your hands. What will you do
about it?? The last thing I want to say about this is I'd like to relate it back to the
Lord's Prayer. The Disciples had asked Jesus how to pray so he starts telling them.
Part of the prayer says, "And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who
trespass against us." Now I want you to really get that one line. Read it again. It
says, "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." I
think that's really important because it teaches us that forgiving others really goes
hand and hand with our own forgiveness. Think about that. I don't know where you
are with your relationships, but there was a time when this was exactly the message I
needed. Do you need to make peace with anyone before you can make peace with
God? Don't let another day pass without doing something about it.


Yay!! Woo Hoo!

Ralph Waldo Emerson was once quoted as saying, “Nothing great was ever
achieved without enthusiasm” and Charles Schwab said about it, “A man can
succeed at almost anything for which he has unlimited enthusiasm.” Some people
think that enthusiasm is a bunch of running around acting crazy all the time or that
it's a a lot of yelling out "Yay!! Woo Hoo!", but it's really not that at all. Enthusiasm
really just means that you are excited and passionate about what you are doing with
your life and everybody displays enthusiasm a little differently. So do you get
enthusiastic about your life? No seriously. Do you? You may not know this but the
word enthusiasm actually comes from the greek word enthousiasmos, which literally
means inspired by God or filled with God. Too many times in life we get pulled in all
sorts of directions, getting caught up in all of those things can steal your joy and
passion if you let it. But don't let it. Know that while we may not control things that
happen to us, we do have control over how we handle what happens to us.

Maybe you need to recharge... So what gets you filled with God? Or what inspires
you? Chances are whatever it is, is just what you need to recapture your
enthusiasm in life. When you're enthusiastic you'll definately know it because it's
contagious. You'll be able to see it reflect on people's faces when you're around
them, and when that happens it'll make it even easier to keep it.


Thanks Buddy!!!

Yesterday morning Tiffany and I were heading back to town from being gone all
week with my family in Gatlinburg. We had stopped at a drive-thru somewhere in
Tennessee to get some breakfast and since the window person didn't want to hold
up the line he had asked me to pull up while I wait. Well, I pulled up to where they
had asked me to and I waited. After a couple of minutes I heard someone outside
my window say, "Thanks Buddy!!!" I looked around but I didn't see anyone. Finally I
looked behind me and spotted a guy who was giving me the most evil eye and mad,
driving around me as he stared. It occurred to me that the spot where they told me
to park was in front of a newspaper machine. Now he could easily walk to the
machine but he wasn't able to drive right up to it because of where I was. As I
figured this out, I looked up again and there he was driving down the street, still just
glaring at me and (I'm not exaggerating) shaking his fist at me!

Now this guy was all upset about something that I didn't even realize I was doing. I
can only imagine that this may be a typical thing for this guy, if only for the day.
Have you ever encountered this sort of thing? I'm sure you have. Have you ever
been that person? I know I have. One of things that I love that Dale Carnegie said
was, "Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain - and most fools do." The point
is, we don't need to let the little things in life get in our way. If the guy had just said,
"Excuse me, I was trying to get a newspaper." I probably would have just moved the
car out of his way and I may have even apologized for being in his way in the first
place, but instead he glares and shakes his fist, probably baffling other people he
encountered yesterday too.

Maybe you've heard people say, "One day you'll look back and you'll laugh about
this." Why not do that now? When you feel like you're getting frustrated at life try
seeing what is happening to you from a third person perspective. In other words try
looking at it as if it's not happening to you but like you are seeing it happen in a
movie or a show. This should help you separate yourself from the situation and see
it in the big picture. You'll probably feel silly. You may come to realize that the
person that has you all frustrated may not even know that they have upset you and
most likely didn't mean anything by it. Remember, while we are much more
interested in what's happening to us, we are not the only character in this thing
called life.

Go Ahead and Laugh About it Now
Jon Miller
CD: Next BIG Twang

Don't you hate it when you leave for work and you're already late
The you catch your reflection and you realize you didn't shave
So you hurry to the bathroom and bang your knee on the way
Then you notice your razor it's missing it's AAs

(Chorus)
No need to moan, no need to groan
You'll soon forget it ever happened anyhow
In a hundred years no one will care
So just go ahead and laugh about it now

So you go to leave again as fast as you can
But you can't find your keys when they're right there in your hand
Get in your car drink your breakfast from a can
And when you get close to work you get stuck in a traffic jam

(Repeat Chorus)

Then traffic clears up and you start making your way
And you finally get to work and the boss says isn't this your off day?

(Repeat Chorus)



Happiness & Joy

Have you ever thought about the difference between happiness and joy? I am
fortunate to have had this explained to me by a good friend, April, when I was going
through a rough time. I was feeling down and she explained, "Happiness is based on
something happening to you to make you happy and joy is something that is
continuous and not based on circumstances." I was really depressed at the time and
it made me think about why I was feeling the way I did. I spent a lot of time thinking
about why I was unhappy. So what is it that you experience in your life? Happiness
or joy? Just look at the word happiness itself. It is based solely on what is happening
or happenstance. It is your brain's natural reaction to something good occurring.
The thing about it though is that happiness ,because it is based on something
happening, it can only last for so long. Joy on the other hand is rooted in something
that is deeper than just what is going right now; it doesn't go through all of the ups
and downs. It is the overflow of a thankful heart and when you reach a place of joy
in your life it can seem totally effortless and self-sustained. It can last for much
longer because it is not rooted within yourself and based on what you think should
happen in your life to make you feel good. In fact, I would say that true joy is actually
rooted in the trusting and understanding that all things work for good. You may have
heard Romans 8:28, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those
who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

Someone may read this and wonder, "Well, what's the big deal? Happiness or Joy?!
Don't I feel good either way?!!" It's true, but the difference is where is it coming from
and where is it going? There's nothing wrong with being happy, but what I'm saying
is that it is far greater to experience joy. So what are you waiting for, to feel good?

“Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls.” - Mother Teresa

What the bleep are we supposed to know?!

In having conversations about God with people over the years I've encountered
many people who are discouraged because they have so many unanswered
questions about God. They don't understand so they throw up their hands and say,
"I must be an agnostic" or "I'm an atheist."  Even so, I'm telling you it's actually good
to have questions about God. It's one of the beautiful things about life that we will
always be growing in faith and understanding of Him. The thing is God is infinite and
we are finite. He is the Alpha & Omega (Beginning & End) and we are are here only
for a short time, so truly there is only so much that any one person can know about
God. There is not anything wrong with not fully understanding God, it's the way it
was designed and is the purpose of faith.

So while it's ok to not have complete knowledge of God it does not give anyone the
excuse to not know Him and to not explore Him. Matthew 7:7-8 says, "Ask and it will
be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the
door will be opened." While we may not always understand, we should always be
curious because curiosity in itself is part of our spiritual walk.

Amazing Body...

Have you ever read the part of the Bible where it talks about all of us being the body
of Christ? 1 Corinthians 12:12 (The Message) says, "Your body has many parts-
limbs, organs, cells-but no matter how many parts you can name, you're still one
body. It's exactly the same with Christ."   1 Corinthians 12:14-18 (New American
Standard Bible) says, "For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot says,
'Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,' it is not for this reason any
the less a part of the body. And if the ear says, 'Because I am not an eye, I am not a
part of the body,' it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. If the whole
body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where
would the sense of smell be? But now God has placed the members, each one of
them, in the body, just as He desired."

I just love this. What its saying is that we all aren't supposed to the same. We all
have different gifts, come from different backgrounds, and have different ideas
about the way our lives should be, but that doesn't make us part of a different body.
If Christ is the head, we are all part of the same body. Remember, normal is relative.
A wrist doesn't look like an ankle. What kind of a body would have five arms? Or
thirty-three fingers? What about ten lungs? Yet we all know people who think it
should be this way. While we are not called to be uniform, we are called to be unified
through Christ. God has made us just the way we are and it is in perfect order. Look
at Ephesians 4:15-16, "Love should always make us tell the truth. Then we will grow
in every way and be more like Christ, the head of the body. Christ holds it together
and makes all of its parts work perfectly, as it grows and becomes strong because of
love."

Big Love

Have you ever thought about how big love is? No really. Is it possible for too many
people to experience love and for it to run out? Is it possible for a person to love too
much and never be able to experience it again? Of course not. Why? Because love
is infinite. Think about space. As far as science can tell there is literally no end to
the universe. This is how big love is and as abundant as air is to breathe, love is
even more abundant. It has been experienced and desired throughout all of history
in every culture, on every continent, and by every person who has walked this earth
in some way or another.

Like many things in life the more we give, the more we receive. It doesn't cost us
anything but yet it is of priceless value and always comes back to us. You may have
heard the phrase "God is Love", its in the Bible in 1 John 4:7&8, "Dear friends, let us
love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of
God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is
love."

Be the BIGGER man

I'm sure you've heard the saying 'turn the other cheek', it's found in the Bible in
Matthew 5:38-46 (The Message). Jesus says, "Here's another old saying that
deserves a second look: 'Eye for eye, tooth for tooth.' Is that going to get us
anywhere? Here's what I propose: 'Don't hit back at all.' If someone strikes you,
stand there and take it. If someone drags you into court and sues for the shirt off
your back, gift wrap your best coat and make a present of it. And if someone takes
unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-
for-tat stuff. Live generously."

I just love the way The Message Bible translates this. What Jesus is saying is do not
try and fight hate with hate. If you do you will just encourage the other person to
come back at you in a greater degree and so on and so on. It will be a never ending
battle if both people are trying to get even. The thing is, even if you somehow win in
your fight with the other person it will be an empty victory. Instead what Jesus is
suggesting is to come back to the other person by being the bigger person, so to
speak. Did your mama ever tell you to be the 'bigger man' or the 'bigger woman'? Or
don't let them bring you down to their level? This is essentially what Jesus is saying
here. Later in the same passage Jesus challenges us to 'Love our enemies' and in
Romans 12:21 Paul writes, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with
good." So next time you think about 'striking back' think twice and know that love
conquers all.

Sticks and stones

Did your mama ever tell you, "If you can't say anything good don't say anything at
all"? Yet we've all had times in our lives where we say the wrong thing and can really
hurt people closest to us. Some people may say sticks and stones can break your
bones but words never hurt, but we all know that's not really true. Some of the most
frustrating times of our lives were sparked by someone using the wrong words. Let's
look at James 3:5&6 (The Message), "It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a
forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our
speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation,
send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the
pit of hell." It goes on later in the same passage to say, "My friends, this can't go on.
A spring doesn't gush fresh water one day and brackish the next, does it? Apple
trees don't bear strawberries, do they? Raspberry bushes don't bear apples, do
they? You're not going to dip into a polluted mud hole and get a cup of clear, cool
water, are you?"

The wrong words can seriously damage a person's reputation and pull a person's
integrity into question. What makes the words sting so much is not so much the
words themselves, but also where they come from. See it's nearly impossible to
make a case for yourself after you say something offensive that it's not what you
were really thinking. Likely if you said it, it really is what you were thinking on some
level. That part where it said, "Apple trees don't bear strawberries, do they?", it's
true. Apple trees create apples. Angry thoughts create angry words. See what I'm
saying? Even as important as it is to watch what is coming out of our mouths, it is
maybe even more important to watch our thoughts and what is going into your mind.

What are you wearing?

Have you ever had that dream where you end up at school or work in your
underwear? A lot of people have had that dream, it's a little eery. One time I showed
up to school in a new pair of jeans and I found out later in the day that I had a
sticker on my backside in plain view all day. Ever since then I've been afraid that I
have some sticker on my clothes, or a button unbuttoned, or my fly is down. I always
have to double check and make sure that I'm dressed right and my clothes are in
order. Did you know there are spiritual clothes too? Take a look at this...

Colossians 3:12-14 (The Message) says, "So, chosen by God for this new life of
love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility,
quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to
forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you.
And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose
garment. Never be without it."

So we are to be clothed in compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, and
discipline. As much as I check my buttons on my shirt or the laces on my shoes, I
realize that I need to be checking my spiritual clothes. I wouldn't leave my house
without a shirt on or with one sock. So I shouldn't leave without making sure that I
am wearing love either. Next time you find yourself checking the clothes that you
wear on your body, make sure you take a minute to think about the wardrobe that
God has chosen for us too.

You are superior to me...

Have you ever the saying, "Don't judge a man until you've walked a mile in his
shoes."? This is true because at least by that point you're a mile away and you've
got his shoes! All kidding aside, no one likes to be judged, not the volunteer working
for free or the CEO of a huge corporation. Somehow we find ourselves in those
situations all the time though.

Look at what Jesus says in Luke 6:41-42, "It's easy to see a smudge on your
neighbor's face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the
nerve to say, 'Let me wash your face for you,' when your own face is distorted by
contempt? It's this I-know-better-than-you mentality again, playing a holier-than-thou
part instead of just living your own part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face and
you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor."

The thing about judging people is that we are in someway putting ourselves above
the other person. God does not value one person over another. We should work to
see the good in all people and realize that none of us are above improvement.
Abraham Lincoln himself said, "Every man is my superior in some way... in that, I
learn of him".

Days Like This