So, I had coffee with a new friend yesterday. He's been going through some stuff that I went through. He used to be a VP; I was a P. He couldn't find work for a while; I couldn't find work for while. He likes to project manage; I was a project manager. He likes beer. I like wine, Okay, so we have differences, the fact is tht sometimes we go through stuff so we can be a light to others having issues. The important thing to remember in all this is that God cares, God know, and God is in control. God knows what's going on yesterday, today and tomorrow so my responsibility is to stay strong..
I just got a text from a friend who told me to "stay strong." so please watch the youtube vid below
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTRUvttsTsU
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Monday, April 7, 2014
Rocky
Treat!
You've never heard a louder cat, or one that trips you up when you say that word. Rocky peacefully passed away today in Austin's arms.
He was a good cat, a great cat. He once saved the boys from certain death when a huge German Shepard ran into the yard sizing up the boys for a meal...Rocky jumped into action, leaped onto the dogs back, sunk his claws deep into it's nose and rode him like Mr Toad's Wild Ride. Okay, so I embellished. It was the timid dog from down the street, the boys lives were never in peril. but the rest is true. That dog never came back up here to leave presents in the yard for the kids to step in.
I'm going to miss that cat; he was a rescue, and I think he always knew that his whole 14 years. He heaped tons of love on us, was an excellent pillow with built in purr vibrations. Lap cat, cuddle cat smelly cat.
We love you Rocky
You've never heard a louder cat, or one that trips you up when you say that word. Rocky peacefully passed away today in Austin's arms.
He was a good cat, a great cat. He once saved the boys from certain death when a huge German Shepard ran into the yard sizing up the boys for a meal...Rocky jumped into action, leaped onto the dogs back, sunk his claws deep into it's nose and rode him like Mr Toad's Wild Ride. Okay, so I embellished. It was the timid dog from down the street, the boys lives were never in peril. but the rest is true. That dog never came back up here to leave presents in the yard for the kids to step in.
I'm going to miss that cat; he was a rescue, and I think he always knew that his whole 14 years. He heaped tons of love on us, was an excellent pillow with built in purr vibrations. Lap cat, cuddle cat smelly cat.
We love you Rocky
Friday, April 4, 2014
There Could Never Be a More Beautiful You
Johnny Diaz has a great song about how unique each of us are.
So I'm sitting here at Starbucks overhearing a conversation between a mom and daughter. The kid is on spring break and says she doesn't think she got into the Sorority because of her nose. Really? Her nose is fine! She's asking her parents to pay for a nose job. Here's the thing there is only one of her! She is special, everyone is unique! Check out the video below.
Here is Ps 139
3 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts,[a] God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand—
when I awake, I am still with you.
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts,[a] God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand—
when I awake, I am still with you.
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Back from the Cruise
Jerry, one of the cruisers I met while at sea has no idea he only has a few weeks to live. His daughter brought him along so they could enjoy his company as he enjoys his final life adventure. I had many conversations with him as we passed back story after story. He is ready to meet his maker.
If you knew you only had a short time to live how would you spend it?
Another cruiser eating at the table next to us had just announced her candidacy for Congress and was on board for strategic planning.
The Las Vegas Rock and Roll Wine group was there, well, at least 50 of them anyway, partying their way from bar to bar every night, looking for the next high, hoping that would fill the void in their hearts. One gal, a former Miss Nevada kept losing her bikini top......hmm.
Your direction determines your destination; where are you headed? How does one be in the world but not of it? How can one change the attitude that determines our altitude from making money to making a difference?
This short video gives a glimpse...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9Yasgzjc0w
If you knew you only had a short time to live how would you spend it?
Another cruiser eating at the table next to us had just announced her candidacy for Congress and was on board for strategic planning.
The Las Vegas Rock and Roll Wine group was there, well, at least 50 of them anyway, partying their way from bar to bar every night, looking for the next high, hoping that would fill the void in their hearts. One gal, a former Miss Nevada kept losing her bikini top......hmm.
Your direction determines your destination; where are you headed? How does one be in the world but not of it? How can one change the attitude that determines our altitude from making money to making a difference?
This short video gives a glimpse...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9Yasgzjc0w
Friday, March 14, 2014
We are Going on a Cruise!
It's been a couple years since we went on a vacation, but we are going on a cruise next week!
Sometimes we get so busy with the performance part of our lives; going to work, running a household, being a husband or wife, parent, and friend, that we forget the most important role we are to play. The role of being God’s chosen child here on this earth. Throughout the day, think of any benefits you may have to being a chosen one? Like Ps 8:5 “crowned us w/ glory and honor.” Favor and honor can be interchanged; James 4 says we have not because we don’t ask and when we do it’s with wrong motives. Many of us today need to ask Him for favor, honor and glory!
I was involved with Campus Crusade for Christ at SDSU in 1980; I remember vividly hearing the story about a guy who has never been on a cruise before saves up for this trip. He brings along a backpack full of cheese, bread and snacks; things he thinks will last him through the cruise to his destination. A few days into it, the bread is getting moldy, the cheese is hard, he’s running low on water…
There are so many benefits to remembering that one simple fact. I am God’s own special child and he loves me unconditionally. He loves me whether I am lovable, grumpy, angry, worried, or depressed. He is always there waiting to have a relationship with me. What an amazing God that has adopted me into his family, if I will only choose to call him Father and live the life He chooses. Like the guy in the story above, while he got to go on the cruise, he failed to enjoy the benefits that come with; all the food (some pretty darn good), beverages, activities. A steward noticed him one day and asked him why he was eating crusty bread? “Didn’t you read the ‘guide’, your cruise come with all the choices of food and drink you want, it’s all part of the package!”
I am in awe of how God loves each one of us distinctly regardless of our circumstances. While our circumstances change from time to time, His love, grace and mercy always abound. Matthew 5:1-12 is a reflection of how deeply God loves each and every one of us, forever and always.
Have you thought about how special you are to God? Remember your uniqueness in God’s eyes and share the love of God with those that maybe aren’t so lovable, but are loved by God.
Sometimes we get so busy with the performance part of our lives; going to work, running a household, being a husband or wife, parent, and friend, that we forget the most important role we are to play. The role of being God’s chosen child here on this earth. Throughout the day, think of any benefits you may have to being a chosen one? Like Ps 8:5 “crowned us w/ glory and honor.” Favor and honor can be interchanged; James 4 says we have not because we don’t ask and when we do it’s with wrong motives. Many of us today need to ask Him for favor, honor and glory!
I was involved with Campus Crusade for Christ at SDSU in 1980; I remember vividly hearing the story about a guy who has never been on a cruise before saves up for this trip. He brings along a backpack full of cheese, bread and snacks; things he thinks will last him through the cruise to his destination. A few days into it, the bread is getting moldy, the cheese is hard, he’s running low on water…
There are so many benefits to remembering that one simple fact. I am God’s own special child and he loves me unconditionally. He loves me whether I am lovable, grumpy, angry, worried, or depressed. He is always there waiting to have a relationship with me. What an amazing God that has adopted me into his family, if I will only choose to call him Father and live the life He chooses. Like the guy in the story above, while he got to go on the cruise, he failed to enjoy the benefits that come with; all the food (some pretty darn good), beverages, activities. A steward noticed him one day and asked him why he was eating crusty bread? “Didn’t you read the ‘guide’, your cruise come with all the choices of food and drink you want, it’s all part of the package!”
I am in awe of how God loves each one of us distinctly regardless of our circumstances. While our circumstances change from time to time, His love, grace and mercy always abound. Matthew 5:1-12 is a reflection of how deeply God loves each and every one of us, forever and always.
Have you thought about how special you are to God? Remember your uniqueness in God’s eyes and share the love of God with those that maybe aren’t so lovable, but are loved by God.
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Legalism Revisited
It can be pretty exhausting and frustrating to try to live a moral life. Frustration and sometimes apathy can grow in your heart if you let it. Living a life of faith can consume you and saddle you with obligation and responsibility. Sometimes with all the time commitments and pressures of life, you may not know exactly where you are spiritually
You find yourself going through the motions, checking off those items that tend to make up a spiritual to do list, and then what? You still feel empty; that feeling of there's got to be more to this life.
My wife once said I didn't care about her spirituality, and frankly, at the time I didn't, why should I? We both went to church that had a 2 hour morning service, a 2 hour evening service with afterglow time, Wednesday Bible study, small group, listened to Christian radio for the commute both ways, had Christian music playing at home (maybe too loud) all the time. Additionally she was doing a thing called BSF, I was doing a weekly mentoring, we both had daily quiet time, and on and on it went. We're talking 30 hours a week for Jesus! We must have been spiritual giants right?
Nope! Mostly legalism and head knowledge.
Mary and Martha revisited
You find yourself going through the motions, checking off those items that tend to make up a spiritual to do list, and then what? You still feel empty; that feeling of there's got to be more to this life.
My wife once said I didn't care about her spirituality, and frankly, at the time I didn't, why should I? We both went to church that had a 2 hour morning service, a 2 hour evening service with afterglow time, Wednesday Bible study, small group, listened to Christian radio for the commute both ways, had Christian music playing at home (maybe too loud) all the time. Additionally she was doing a thing called BSF, I was doing a weekly mentoring, we both had daily quiet time, and on and on it went. We're talking 30 hours a week for Jesus! We must have been spiritual giants right?
Nope! Mostly legalism and head knowledge.
Mary and Martha revisited
Friday, July 12, 2013
Nuke a Gay Baby Whale for Jesus
Five controversial topics that cause many to choose sides...It was a bumper sticker I had in the early 80's, however, someone thought I was serious and scraped it off.
We've all heard the biblical renderings of how Christ followers should be in, but not of, the world. In a practical approach, how does that work?
I consider myself a Christ follower for nearly three decades now. Now, more than ever, I understand a little more the how and why of Christ being crucified and what Easter truly means. We are called to be salt and light. We are told to love God and love our neighbor and in doing so all the prior laws are not really needed theoretically as they are all met. We are told the world will know we are Christ followers by our love for one another.
I use the word Christ follower rather than the more common and inflammatory name of Christian. That derogatory term can and is used to mean anything...and nothing. Just check out the use during the Crusades from the past and the current batch killing people in Africa under that "political" guise, burning Korans, being vinegar rather than honey...
If you seriously search scripture and it's application, you quickly come to realize how to be in but not of. What business is it of ours to bash any group? None of my business. Imagine for a moment you are enjoying a "Double Double, Animal Style" at In and Out Burger, and a Vegan group approaches you, and tries to coerce you into court and sue you for eating meat prompting the case to go to the highest court.
Here's the problem with that mentality; you never signed up to be Vegan and aren't held accountable to the Vegan standards of eating. While they maybe noble in their way, it's not my way; I/we all have free will, right? They don't really have the right to sue you or force you to obey the vegan way! The same is true with "the world" As a Christ follower, I have no business coercing you to the Christian way of life that you never signed up for.
I'm not called to save anyone; that's God's responsibility. I'm only called to love, set an example like Christ did, love God.
Get it, got it, good.
We've all heard the biblical renderings of how Christ followers should be in, but not of, the world. In a practical approach, how does that work?
I consider myself a Christ follower for nearly three decades now. Now, more than ever, I understand a little more the how and why of Christ being crucified and what Easter truly means. We are called to be salt and light. We are told to love God and love our neighbor and in doing so all the prior laws are not really needed theoretically as they are all met. We are told the world will know we are Christ followers by our love for one another.
I use the word Christ follower rather than the more common and inflammatory name of Christian. That derogatory term can and is used to mean anything...and nothing. Just check out the use during the Crusades from the past and the current batch killing people in Africa under that "political" guise, burning Korans, being vinegar rather than honey...
If you seriously search scripture and it's application, you quickly come to realize how to be in but not of. What business is it of ours to bash any group? None of my business. Imagine for a moment you are enjoying a "Double Double, Animal Style" at In and Out Burger, and a Vegan group approaches you, and tries to coerce you into court and sue you for eating meat prompting the case to go to the highest court.
Here's the problem with that mentality; you never signed up to be Vegan and aren't held accountable to the Vegan standards of eating. While they maybe noble in their way, it's not my way; I/we all have free will, right? They don't really have the right to sue you or force you to obey the vegan way! The same is true with "the world" As a Christ follower, I have no business coercing you to the Christian way of life that you never signed up for.
I'm not called to save anyone; that's God's responsibility. I'm only called to love, set an example like Christ did, love God.
Get it, got it, good.
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