Enrico Fermi, a renown physicist working at Los Alamos National Laboratory, had a casual conversation while walking to lunch with colleagues. Fermi asked the question, "Where are they?"

His question was a response to a more serious discussion regarding the age of the universe and its vast number of stars suggesting that extraterrestrial life should be common.

They then had a more serious discussion regarding the chances of humans observing faster-than-light travel by some material object within the next ten years, which one colleague put at one in a million, but Fermi put it closer to one in ten.

Fermi then made a series of rapid calculations using estimated figures (Fermi was known for his ability to make good estimates from first principles and minimal data). According to this account, he then concluded that Earth should have been visited long ago and many times over.

This discussion occurred in 1950 and Fermi's question regarding the conflict between an argument of scale and probability and a lack of evidence became known as the Fermi Paradox.

Part of the paradox, "the argument by scale", is a function of the raw numbers involved: there are an estimated 200–400 billion stars in the Milky Way and 70 sextillion in the visible universe. Even if intelligent life occurs on only barest fraction of planets around these stars, there might still be a great number of civilizations in the Milky Way galaxy alone.
(info gathered from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fermi_paradox)

This assumes that the Earth is not special, but merely a typical planet, subject to the same laws, effects, and likely outcomes as any other world.

If there is life on other planets, they would be in need of a Savior just as we are. I believe the Earth is special; created by a loving, intelligent God who wants to have a relationship with His crowning creation: humankind.

Genesis 1:1
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him will have everlasting life.
_

President Obama gave the state of the union address yesterday. He cited important events that occurred over the past twelve months and shared opportunities that await action.

Jesus shared a state of the kingdom to His disciples. He had risen from the dead and shared with them for forty days about the kingdom. John 20:21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

People are questioning how our nation can do the things President Obama us to do.  Christians today are questioning how we can impact the world around us.
We must receive the Holy Spirit!

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Jessie Baker spoke this past Sunday and asked the question, "Are we jumping all in?".

A group of men from the church just spent three days ice fishing together and I recognized how people jump all in for recreation. The equipment available for going all in ice fishing is pretty extensive. Beyond the basic fishing pole and tackle are: portable fish houses, fish locators, underwater cameras, heaters, and wheel houses. Wheel houses should be named man houses. They are houses on wheels that can seclude a man from December until February equipped with bunks, fridge, stove, satellite TV, wi-fi, you name it - it can have it!

Jumping all in with extensive equipment brings success and satisfaction to the ice angler.

Jessie's question focused on our relationship to the Lord. How do we jump all in regarding our relationship with God our Father, His son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit?
Jessie shared seven steps:
1. Love God and love others - the greatest commands  (Mt.  22:37-39)
2. Spend time knowing Him
3. Prayer (I thes 5:17)
4. Reading God's word, the Bible (Ps 119:11,105  Heb. 4:12)
5. Memorizing His words (Proverbs 6:20-23)
6. Listening and obeying Him (James 1:22)
7. Give ourselves completely to Him  (Luke 14:33)

The success and satisfaction of jumping all in with God are:
1. A crown of righteousness (2 tim 4:8)
2. It leads to holiness – eternal life Rom 6:22
3. God forgives, heals, crowns us with love/compassion and satisfies our desires with good things - Psalm 103:2-5
4.  God gives us favor and honor; "no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless” - Psalms 84:11
5. He will come near to you - James 4:8

The overflow of jumping all in and having a 100% God Centered Life allows us to give to all other areas:
Marriage
Children
Employer
Relationships
Church ministry
Happy Jumping!

Our words are powerful to others and to ourselves. A colleague shared that his father would say demeaning comments to himself and his siblings. Comments like, "You're not good enough, smart enough, athletic enough", made for a struggling self-image that resulted in people-pleasing actions and self-deprecating words.

Studies have shown that students outperformed their peers when the teachers who were told they had gifted students in their class, but in reality the students were average. The words, actions, and expectations of the teachers towards the "gifted" students caused them to blossom.

A wise proverb says:
The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Proverbs 18:21

Another friend shared of his high school football experience. There were eleven players for their nine-man team. The year before, the away team arrived in two buses of players and relentlessly defeated them sixty something to nothing. This year they traveled to face the team that not only beat them, they humiliated them.

His coach spoke words of confidence and inspiration to his team which consisted of most of the same eleven from the year before. My friend shared that the coach could have told him to eat a 2x4 and he would have. His coach's words were so compelling and transforming.

I left that conversation impacted that words can have such revitalizing results.

What to say when you need to correct:
1. Correct privately.
2. Address the issue specifically. "You missed the deadline by three days."
3. Give hope. "Here is what needs to happen next time and I believe you can do it."
4. Speak clear instructions.

What to say when you need to praise.
1. Praise publicly.
2. Be specific. "That was a job well done because ....."
3. Reward in a tangible manner - a card, coffee, public recognition, etc.
4. Follow up with a short hand-written note that can carry the message even longer.

Final note: the inspired underdog team won!

_  Packing for the three day men’s ice fishing trip this weekend is way more involving than a three week trip to the ocean. Beach packing list: swimming togs, t-shirts, sunscreen and wind pants for the evening – all of which fits in a large envelope.

Ice fishing packing list: regular clothing, long johns, insulated coveralls, gloves, boots – all of which fits in a small u-haul trailer. Then there is the gear: ice fishing rods, tackle, bait, ice auger, five-gallon bucket, scoop, vexlar, gps, heater, extra propane tank,  cards, thin gloves, sunglasses and ice shelter – all of which fit in a second u-haul trailer.
This is what it takes to have a successful trip to the beach and a trip to the frozen lake.

_ Jesus gives us a packing list for living life.
Matthew 11:29-30
29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
He tells us not to pack extra, but to rely on Him. The more we learn from Jesus and rely on His help in life, the lighter we can pack.
The cards were packed to cut the boredom during ice fishing  lulls.
No need to pack cards following Jesus – no boredom lulls.
Trailers are not necessary either.

_ 5 tips to reading through the Bible in a year
Many people begin to read the Bible in January with the goal of reading through the entire Bible in a year. Most never make it. The goal is worthy. One of the most effective ways of growing deeper in a relationship with Jesus Christ is through daily Bible reading and daily prayer.

_ Getting started is pretty easy. A One Year Bible has readings for each day and many other Bibles have a daily reading chart that has what passages to read each day.  There are online helps and audio bibles.

Following these 5 tips have helped me read through the bible each year for more than two decades:
1.       Choose a version that works for you. Each year, I choose a different version that gives me a different perspective and keeps it fresh each year.

2.       Choose a time and place to read each day. A cup of coffee and a quiet chair, an audio bible in your car or ear buds can fill you with scripture in your home, office, while commuting or working out.

3.       Choose to ask the Holy Spirit to make your reading each day a lamp to your feet and light to your path – giving you clarity throughout your day.

4.       Choose a pen, pencil or highlighter to journal, underline, or make notes about insights the Holy Spirit is showing. Write down questions that arise so you can ask others about it and do some searching later.

5.       Choose to jump back in if life takes a turn and you miss a day, a week, or more. Do not try to make up lost ground; just jump back in and read the passages for that day.

Free online read through the Bible helps:
biblegateway.com
oneyearbibleonline.com
ewordtoday.com

Romans 15:4  For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.