Blog Archives

Paul, Probably Not Good At Candy Crush Saga

1/30/2014

Candy Crush has become a popular game that people play on their computer or phone. The objective is to link a minimum of three candies together, so they will disappear from the game. Your success allows you to gain points and rise to higher levels. The challenge is addicting and many hours are spent to gain proficiency.

Time wasted.

I am guilty of doing the same. No, I am not a Candy Crusher nor an Angry Birder. However, I spend 10 minutes every day solving the daily cryptoquip, 25 minutes solving the USA Today online crossword puzzle, and 15 minutes each day solving the Isaac Asimov quiz.

I can rant about time- wasted crushing candies and try to justify my habits by telling myself I am sharpening my brain, expanding knowledge, or sharing family time doing the quiz. The question you and I must ask is if the things we spend our time, especially our free time, is worthwhile.

I do not think the apostle Paul would be good at Candy Crush, Angry Birds, crossword puzzles, quizzes or cryptoquips. Like Jesus, Paul was very focused on doing things that have value beyond this life.

Paul writes this to the Christians in Corinth:
I Corinthians 9:24-25
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.

Paul is after a prize that lasts.
What time-wasters do you see in your life that has temporary value?
What would be worth going into strict training over that will last forever?
I am interested in your comments.

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Allegiance to an Invisible King

1/28/2014

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This morning’s study notes in my Bible reading caught my attention.
“In agreeing to covenant, the people will be pledging their faith and allegiance to an invisible King, their very Creator, and promising to obey the many stringent laws which are part of the covenant.”

Allegiance to an invisible king.
The leaders of countries around the world have different titles; president, king, czar, or emperor. Whatever their title, we can see them and people still have trouble giving allegiance to them. To give alliance to an invisible king is asking a lot from people.

The invisible king at the time Exodus was writing about, had visibly demonstrated His power and might over the nation that had held them hostage for 430 years. Ten plagues had decimated the land, crops, and first born among a people that did not believe in an invisible king. The final plague of death to their first born made them believe enough to release their hold on those who did believe in the invisible king.

Now the challenge for those believers was to follow and obey their king’s commands. You and I are a different people at a different time, but faced with the same decision. We can choose to believe or not believe in this invisible King. If we choose to believe, we must also choose to obey.

Are you pledging your faith and allegiance to an invisible King, your very Creator, and promising to obey the most important law of loving Him and loving others?

Matthew 22:35-39 NIV
One of them, an expert in the law, tested Him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’c]"38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

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The Cure for Forgetting and Worrying

1/27/2014

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In the book of Exodus, God demonstrates in a very bold and direct way that He has rescued the nation of Israel from Egypt. Less than three months later, the people are complaining about not having good food and not having drinkable water. They worry that they are not going to make it out of the desert alive. I read the account and think that the people are foolish to forget about God’s capacity to provide and His commitment to love.

A quick reality check in my life reveals that I am not any different. The LORD has provided me with a wonderful wife, a great family, deeply satisfying work, health and I have seen His goodness clearly demonstrated towards me. Yet, when finances are tight, conflict arises, and challenges show up; I am anxious and worry about how things are going to turn out. I foolishly forget about God’s capacity to provide and His commitment to love.

God told Joshua what the cure for this forgetfulness is for him, myself and for you.
Joshua 1:6-9
“6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Next time you are anxious and worried, remember to be strong and courageous; then do what you have previously been too fearful to do, knowing that God will be with you wherever you go.

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Real Plants Require Work

1/15/2014

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The artificial plants and flowers that are displayed today are often so life-like that I have to touch them to see if they are real or not. Although, artificial plants do not require any attention other than an occasional dusting, I prefer living plants.

Living plants have different requirements. Ferns do not do well in direct sunlight while other plants thrive in the sun. The Christmas poinsettias must not be over watered and other plants need a daily watering.

The live plants in our church are a reminder that people need proper care. Some need to be hugged while others wish not to be smothered. Neglect will dry people up. Some parts of our lives should curl up and fall off because it allows new buds to flourish.

Relationships need attention or they will not survive.
1 Corinthians 3:6-8
I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. 9 For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.

Who are you watering today and who waters you?

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Can You Pray for Healing and Homecoming in the Same Prayer?

1/7/2014

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Steve has almost completely stopped eating. His liquid intake is minimal. The cancer in his body is taking over. He has medication for the pain which makes him sleepy much of the day. He is in pain when he is awake. Steve needs a miracle to live. I pray for that miracle.

I base my prayers on Bible verses like:
Matthew 7:6-7
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Matthew 21:21-22
Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. 22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
I John 5:14-15
14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him.

There are bible verses that point out the reality that we all face death unless Jesus returns while we are still living.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2
There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2     a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot…
Hebrews 9:27-28
27 Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him.

When I pray for Steve, I am praying for a miraculous healing to remove the cancer, strengthen his body and to complete the healing by restoring the use of his legs that he lost in motorcycle accident decades ago. I have faith and believe God can do all that for Steve.

I also pray that if Steve is not going to be healed, for reasons I do not know or understand that God would peacefully bring Him home to His loving side.

I feel like those two prayers are offered like Daniel’s friends Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego answer when they refused to bow down to anything other than God.
Daniel 3:16-17
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and He will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. 18 But even if He does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

Are those prayers incongruous?
Does the one negate the other?
Let me know your comments here:

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Rock Collecting

1/6/2014

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Connie collects rocks. When my spouse and I take a walk down our gravel road, she is on the lookout for agates. It does not matter if they are small or large, she will pocket them and add them to a large jar filled with agates she has found. Her collection of agates sitting on the counter in our home is a reminder on this cold January day of warm summer walks we have taken together.

God commanded Joshua to collect twelve rocks from the Jordon River and save as a reminder of His protective power.
Joshua 4:1-3,21-24
When all the people had crossed the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, 2 “Now choose twelve men, one from each tribe. 3 Tell them, ‘Take twelve stones from the very place where the priests are standing in the middle of the Jordan. Carry them out and pile them up at the place where you will camp tonight.’”

21 Then Joshua said to the Israelites, “In the future your children will ask, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 22 Then you can tell them, ‘This is where the Israelites crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ 23 For the Lord your God dried up the river right before your eyes, and he kept it dry until you were all across, just as he did at the Red Sea when he dried it up until we had all crossed over. 24 He did this so all the nations of the earth might know that the Lord’s hand is powerful, and so you might fear the Lord your God forever.”

Do you have pictures, a journal or objects that are reminders of God’s goodness in your life?

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New Year's Goal Setting Tips

1/3/2014

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I saw the new year come in at midnight and am excited about the possibilities ahead in 2014. New Year’s resolutions are made and often not kept.
>25 percent of people abandon their New Year’s resolutions after one week.
>60 percent of people abandon them within six months. (The average person makes the same New Year’s resolution ten separate times without success.)
>Only 5 percent of those who lose weight on a diet keep it off; 95% regain it; a significant percentage gain back more than they originally lost.
>Even after a heart attack, only 14 percent of patients make any lasting changes around eating or exercise.

In spite of the statistics of failed resolutions, each year I set new goals I wish to achieve in the coming year. Here is what I have found to be helpful in successful goal setting.
1.       Review - I review my last year’s goals with a colleague and friend I meet with each week . I also reviewed my past goals with my wife. I noted the ones that I succeeded in accomplishing and a couple surprise accomplishments that were not listed. I also highlighted those goals that I failed to succeed at accomplishing. This week, I will re-set some of the failed goals that I still wish to accomplish on the list for this year. I will include new goals as well.
2.       Themes - I categorize my goals into six themes: Marriage, Family/Personal, Spiritual Growth, Ministry, Financial, and Physical. Choose themes that fit your goals. I have one to three goals in each area. A dozen goals should be the maximum set.
3.       Record – Studies show you are 42% more likely to achieve your goals if they are written. I write them down and share them with my spouse and friend. We review our goals 3-4 times a year to see who we are doing. Success is celebrated and failure is evaluated instead of becoming self-defeating. Start 2014 with goals that excite and thrill you if they are accomplished!

Happy New Year!

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Paul, Probably Not Good At Candy Crush Saga

Allegiance to an Invisible King

The Cure for Forgetting and Worrying

Real Plants Require Work

Can You Pray for Healing and Homecoming in the Same Prayer?

Rock Collecting

New Year's Goal Setting Tips

Mark Radeke

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