The Gospel of Grace says that God loves you, and you need to accept that..period. I'll borrow a line from the late Bill Bright-God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. Now on the other hand, religion says you must walk this way, talk this way-I don't mean Aerosmith's version, but rather do ABC and act like XYZ or, you'll end up in HELL. If salvation was based on religion, on a points system of earning our way to heaven, I guess there would be no Christmas or Easter, and Jesus's death would have been in vain.
Jesus left us with two, just 2 commands, well, really 1A and 1B and 2; Love God with all your heart and mind, and love your neighbor as you do yourself. In doing those two things, all other prior and future CC&R's are fulfilled. Number 2, is for those who are a part of Gods family; we are called to preach that Gospel locally and all over the world. So next logical question is what is the Gospel? Is it a positive message, or a hellish judgemental one?
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Christianese
Nuclear Nipples, Atomic Tits, Bionic Boobs, Radioactive Rack, Massive Mammeries, Hydro-electric Hibeams, Power Pillows, Gigantic Jugs. The Twins.
Anyone living in SoCal knows exactly what I'm referring to- The San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant. It's a mighty small percentage of the world who understand the terms, and if you go around talking like that anywhere else, people with look at you sideways and think of you as one sick puppy me thinks.
Sometimes due to the way we speak... Christianese, the world may look at us strangely as well.
Anyone living in SoCal knows exactly what I'm referring to- The San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant. It's a mighty small percentage of the world who understand the terms, and if you go around talking like that anywhere else, people with look at you sideways and think of you as one sick puppy me thinks.
Sometimes due to the way we speak... Christianese, the world may look at us strangely as well.
Shake it like a Polaroid
"Shake it like a Polaroid" I just heard that song by Outkast on the local hits radio station. Those of you with kids know what that means, but ask your kids, and I'm sure they haven't a clue. When was the last time you used a Polaroid camera? Companies go bankrupt when they don't keep up with the latest technology. I still remember buying a Pioneer Supertuner 8 track player for my car, and using those dial up companies with "lighting fast speeds" of 28k/second. A couple years ago all the rage was 3G, now it's 4G. Yesterday, I heard an ad where you can click a pic of a check with a phone to deposit it in your account while your falling down the stairs.
We had a couple fallen trees and thick broken off branches that I have been cutting up for firewood. It's amazing the difference a sharp blade makes. Ecclesiastes 10:10 says "if the ax head is dull and it's edge unsharpened, more energy is needed to accomplish a task. Keep the blade sharp and you'll find success." Obviously this applies to our work, our mind, as well as business models.
I've been in real estate for two decades now, yet I still takes classes every week to keep up on the latest trends, lawsuits, and the latest tools, available for a sharper blade. We live in an information age where the level of knowledge is increasing at warp speed. The way you did things two years ago may not be the same way you do it today. The knowledge you have two years ago may not be adequate to compete. The Bible tells us to persue excellence in all we do.
I'm sure we all want to hear "Wow, what a sharp individual" vs what a dull dude.
We had a couple fallen trees and thick broken off branches that I have been cutting up for firewood. It's amazing the difference a sharp blade makes. Ecclesiastes 10:10 says "if the ax head is dull and it's edge unsharpened, more energy is needed to accomplish a task. Keep the blade sharp and you'll find success." Obviously this applies to our work, our mind, as well as business models.
I've been in real estate for two decades now, yet I still takes classes every week to keep up on the latest trends, lawsuits, and the latest tools, available for a sharper blade. We live in an information age where the level of knowledge is increasing at warp speed. The way you did things two years ago may not be the same way you do it today. The knowledge you have two years ago may not be adequate to compete. The Bible tells us to persue excellence in all we do.
I'm sure we all want to hear "Wow, what a sharp individual" vs what a dull dude.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Teach a child to choose the right path or Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6.
Upon further study on this I see the verse doesn't say train a child to choose the path that I, the parent chooses for him. God has imprinted each of us with passions, aptitudes and skills. His word encourages those of us who are parents to train our children to recognize and pursue them. While we all want what's best for our kids, we sometimes force on them our ideas of what they should be. When we do that, we foreclose God's intentions for their lives.
I heard a story of a young gal- 12 or 13 years old - who was one of six or seven kids in a very conservative Christian family, homeschooled, and on a pretty short leash. One day she was asked what she wanted to be when she grew up. Without hesitation she said she wanted to be a wife and mother - "just like my mom." It was a response she had clearly given many times before. After several minutes of silence she blurted out, "Actually, I want to be an FBI agent."
My take is that maybe it means that children should be encouraged to pursue their paths in life based on the way that God wired them. Seems pretty simple, right? Maybe not. We've all heard stories of frustrated adults who become doctors or lawyers or work in the family business because it was always expected of them. They were forced to fit a picture their parents had drawn for their future.
Upon further study on this I see the verse doesn't say train a child to choose the path that I, the parent chooses for him. God has imprinted each of us with passions, aptitudes and skills. His word encourages those of us who are parents to train our children to recognize and pursue them. While we all want what's best for our kids, we sometimes force on them our ideas of what they should be. When we do that, we foreclose God's intentions for their lives.
I heard a story of a young gal- 12 or 13 years old - who was one of six or seven kids in a very conservative Christian family, homeschooled, and on a pretty short leash. One day she was asked what she wanted to be when she grew up. Without hesitation she said she wanted to be a wife and mother - "just like my mom." It was a response she had clearly given many times before. After several minutes of silence she blurted out, "Actually, I want to be an FBI agent."
My take is that maybe it means that children should be encouraged to pursue their paths in life based on the way that God wired them. Seems pretty simple, right? Maybe not. We've all heard stories of frustrated adults who become doctors or lawyers or work in the family business because it was always expected of them. They were forced to fit a picture their parents had drawn for their future.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Lunch with Mom
I just took my mom to lunch today and ran into a couple people I know; a past real estate client, and my Pastor growing up, co-author of the "Left Behind" book series.
My son is struggling with his math homework. In particular, fractions, finding common denominators, through division and multiplication, and and solving what 1/2 of 1/3 of X is. I see him struggle and scribble numbers, and the dad in me wants to just give him the answers. But would that ultimately help or hinder him, if I didn't allow him to work through each problem? So it is with us; as we go through trials and tribulations, aka problems, the reality is as we work through them, they prepare us for life, and many times, put us in a position to help others.
The past client was noticeably upset as she told me the story of how she and her partner lost about $100,000 in the real estate market. When it was my turn to share and explain my loss of many, many times that, laughing at the circumstances as I spoke. She couldn't believe my attitude. When I told her how confident I am that God is in control, and how good God truly is and pointed to my belly expressing the fact that I haven't missed a meal yet, she broke down and started to cry.
"When I hear stories like yours, it really puts things in perspective. Thank you so much for sharing, I feel so much better." I think what she was trying to say, was that she hadn't missed any meals either, and having to drive a three year old Mercedes, isn't so bad after all.
So now my son can tell me that 1/100th of a whole lot, is still enough!
My son is struggling with his math homework. In particular, fractions, finding common denominators, through division and multiplication, and and solving what 1/2 of 1/3 of X is. I see him struggle and scribble numbers, and the dad in me wants to just give him the answers. But would that ultimately help or hinder him, if I didn't allow him to work through each problem? So it is with us; as we go through trials and tribulations, aka problems, the reality is as we work through them, they prepare us for life, and many times, put us in a position to help others.
The past client was noticeably upset as she told me the story of how she and her partner lost about $100,000 in the real estate market. When it was my turn to share and explain my loss of many, many times that, laughing at the circumstances as I spoke. She couldn't believe my attitude. When I told her how confident I am that God is in control, and how good God truly is and pointed to my belly expressing the fact that I haven't missed a meal yet, she broke down and started to cry.
"When I hear stories like yours, it really puts things in perspective. Thank you so much for sharing, I feel so much better." I think what she was trying to say, was that she hadn't missed any meals either, and having to drive a three year old Mercedes, isn't so bad after all.
So now my son can tell me that 1/100th of a whole lot, is still enough!
Car Pool
Today was my first day as the carpool driver for 5 of the local kids. The last kid to be picked up was done so nearly a half hour before school starts, and school is a mere five to ten minutes away, depending on traffic. I thought I was leaving too early getting the kids there with 15-20 minutes to spare. Evidently not. One mom lambasted me up one side and down the other for being late. Great start!
Every family is different, and each has issues. I for instance, tend to be too mellow for some, while in my eyes, this mom to me seemed too high strung. In church this past week we looked into Jesus's family tree as recorded in Matthew 1. While you may think your's and mine are messed up, His contains names of pagans, prostitutes, liars, adulteresses, and murderers - messed-up people that God used to do amazing things. This just goes to show us that in any situation, any family background, God can work through it. Heck, even what some would consider a perfect "stock" family might even have issues we don't see, but God does. It is no different for you and me and our families. Don't wait to be all fixed up before you turn to Him. We will never be perfect, but the desire of God's heart is to pick us up when we fall and help us be what He intended for us.
Every family is different, and each has issues. I for instance, tend to be too mellow for some, while in my eyes, this mom to me seemed too high strung. In church this past week we looked into Jesus's family tree as recorded in Matthew 1. While you may think your's and mine are messed up, His contains names of pagans, prostitutes, liars, adulteresses, and murderers - messed-up people that God used to do amazing things. This just goes to show us that in any situation, any family background, God can work through it. Heck, even what some would consider a perfect "stock" family might even have issues we don't see, but God does. It is no different for you and me and our families. Don't wait to be all fixed up before you turn to Him. We will never be perfect, but the desire of God's heart is to pick us up when we fall and help us be what He intended for us.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Free Motorhome?
Did I ever tell the story how I got this Motorhome for free? Ever since I saw the first one on the road in the 70's I thought these were pretty cool. I still collect Hot Wheels-you know the little metal cars by Mattel that "kids" play with. Over 50 different models based on this Motorhome have been produced over the years. The most famous was the Urban Assault Vehicle from the movie "Stripes"Anyway, my wife and I wanted to get either a trailer or Motorhome as the boys were growing up. We looked for a couple years, but couldn't find the right one-too junky, and one might break down in the middle of nowhere. Too nice, and one might get upset about beach sand, dirt (and spilt milk.) So that Summer came and went, and again no Motorhome, so we donated the monies saved to the church we attended at the time. The very next day, I get a call from a guy who handles all the donations for Childrens Hospital. He says he has the perfect one for me for 3500! We would have bough it for much more.
A couple years later we sold it-for a profit, and bought a CalTrans Orange one like the picture. I had it a mere 6 hours when someone offered me three times what I paid for it... Six hours! That profit was used to buy the one pictured for free! See how God works things out!
So again, when I start to worry about sales or lack of, I'm reminded that our God is good and He's good all the time!
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid" (John 14:27).
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