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Trains and Steering Wheels

11/26/2013

Trains go through our town will regular frequency. One passenger train goes through late night/early morning and all others are freight trains going through. One day, I was looking into the window of the engine cars to see if there was an engineer in each of the three locomotives pulling the cars. A random thought went through my mind; “Is there a steering wheel in the locomotive car?”

I did not think there was, but was not entirely certain. A Google search confirmed the cars ride on rails and cannot go anywhere other than where the rails are leading.

God has a destiny for each of us that is similar to rails. Follow His will and His ways and all is fine. Try to go your own way and life derails.

Jeremiah 29:11
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.

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Messy Moving Days

11/25/2013

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On the coldest day that we have had in nine months, our church moved to a new lease location. We have been remodeling the new space over the past couple weeks to get ready for a Grand Opening on December 8. We wanted a soft opening this Sunday so we would have a couple Sundays to get the bugs out before we have the public come check us out.

Last week was a flurry of painting, wiring, door installing, cleaning and vacuuming. In my opinion, the greatest challenge was thinking about the move. Mentally boxing things up, imagining where we were going to fit all of our stuff in a smaller storage area, and making certain we had enough help for moving.

Our new location has more than twice the room for seating in our service area, larger children’s area, smaller office and smaller storage areas. This is much better than the reverse: smaller service and children’s areas, yet larger office and storage.

Saturday was about 12F, but the hardy crew came prepared and in four hours most everything was moved and placed in a heap in one room. Once the cabinets and storage shelves were unloaded and in place the heap began to get smaller.

Moving is a great opportunity to evaluate what is truly needed and what is simply taking up space. The stuff that was taking up space and not used is still at the former lease. We have a week to sell, donate or recycle those items that we do not have room for in our new space.

Sometimes the Holy Spirit does a messy moving day in our lives. He wants to expand our territory, but He has to reduce the useless stuff in our lives first. What things do you hold on to that are just taking up space? Gaming? TV watching? Being busy in unproductive ways?

None of those activities are horrific sins. All of them are clutter that prevents you from fulfilling the true destiny God has for your life.

Give the Holy Spirit permission to have a messy moving day in your life today.
Jeremiah 17:10 “I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.”

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A Day When No One is Shot or Dies

11/22/2013

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Today marks the 50th anniversary of John F Kennedy’s assassination. Kennedy joined Abraham Lincoln, James Garfield, William McKinley, as the fourth president in the US to have been assassinated while in office. The Warren Commission concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald was the assassin. Oswald was shot and killed by Jack Ruby before standing trial.

This is not an anti-gun blog. It is reminder that there is coming a day when no one will die from violence, sickness or from old age. There is coming a day when no president, citizen, or even animal will be shot. There is coming a day where each of us lives forever. The disciple, John, was shown what this new age would be like and it is found in the Bible.

Revelation 25:1-5
Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then He said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

Each of us will face a physical death unless the LORD returns before you die. After death, your spiritual being begins a new life with a new body that will last forever. One decision that you make today determines if your forever life is with Jesus or without Jesus.

John 3:36
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.

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Rule of Life for When Bible Reading and Prayer are NOT Enough

11/18/2013

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There are stunning examples of people that you and I know who have experienced a lifetime of spirituality in the church, were surrounded by the truth of Jesus Christ and yet their inner life was not transformed. Their marriage dissolves, their character crumbles and they are barren of the rich fruit of a life well lived in God. We ask ourselves, “What happened?”.

Peter Scazzero in his book, “Emotionally Healthy Spiritually” writes that most Christians are not intentional in growing spiritually, but have an unconscious rule for developing their spiritual life. They go to church on Sunday, are involved in a small group, say prayers before meals, and read the Bible when there is time. Scazzerro does not believe it is enough when you have an earthquake event in your life.

In a chapter titled, “Go the Next Step to Develop a Rule of Life – Loving Christ Above All Else”, Scazzero invites us to order our lives around spiritual practices and disciplines. A Rule of Life is a call to order our entire life in such a way that the love of Christ comes before all else.

The Rule of Life in early church is written in Acts 2:42-47.
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

God made each of us unique and different, so our Rule of Life will not be identical from one person to another. Our goal is same, union with God in Christ, transformation into His image, and freeing our hearts from anything that stands in the way of Christ living in and through us.

Scazzero suggests four categories with a total of twelve elements for a Rule of Life:
Prayer
1. Scripture
o   One Year Bible
o   Read through book of Bible
o   Memorization
2. Silence & Solitude
o   A cutting edge practice for growing in Christ (Dallas Williard)
o   Unplug for 5-20 minutes/day
3. Daily Office (prayer)
o   Morning, midday, after work, evening
o   Read Psalms
o   Devotional book
4. Study
o   Bible study
o   Commentaries
o   Conferences
o   Listening online to bible teachers
Rest
5. Sabbath
o   Stop – one 24hr period/week
o   Rest from work
o   Delight includes a sense of joy, completion, wonder, and play
o   Contemplate upon God
6. Simplicity
o   Not overloading schedule including children’s activities
o   Monitor social media, technology, TV
o   Limit credit cards/debt
o   Tithing important simplicity – teaches generosity and dependency on God as our security and source
7. Play & Recreation
o   Sports
o   Board games, puzzles
o   Movies, books
Work/Activity
8. Service & Mission
o   Using time, talent, resources and gifts for others
o   Using your spiritual gifts
o   Volunteering
o   Commitment to the poor and marginalized
o   Working for justice
9. Care for Physical body
o   Exercise
o   Diet
o   Sleep & rest
Relationships
10. Emotional health
o   Journaling
o   Reading enrichment books
o   Meeting with a trusted friend or counselor
11. Family
o   Marriage
o   Parenting
o   Building relationships w/siblings
12. Community (companions for the journey)
o   Life group
o   Meeting with a mentor
o   Having a spiritual director

I agree with Scazzero, that a Rule of Life that causes you to love Christ above all else will deeply transform your life.
So, now what?
1. Write your current Rule of Life that is intentionally helping you love Christ above all else.
2. Drop any Rule that pushes you away from Christ.
3. Pick one or two rules to make an intentional part of your life.

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Where was God during Philippine's Typhoon Haiyan?

11/12/2013

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Typhoon Haiyan, struck the eastern islands of the Philippines on Friday. Wind gusts over 195 mph made one of the strongest typhoons in the history of that area. A wall of water swept and destroyed many coastal cities and islands. Officials have an early death toll of 1,774, but fear that number will rise to over 10,000 based on the lack of reports from areas that appear completely devastated.

Daniel Burke asks where God is during storms like Haiyan.
“For many Americans, a paradox sits at the heart of their thinking about natural disasters. According to a survey taken after 2011's earthquake and tsunami in Japan, most Americans (56%) believe that God is control of everything.
But more Americans blame hurricanes, earthquakes and other storms on global warming (58%) than on an angry and punishing deity (38%), according to a 2011 poll by the Public Religion Research Institute.
“These kind of questions about God being in control and there simultaneously being suffering are the kind of things that keep seminarians up at night," institute CEO Robert P. Jones said in 2011.
"They’re thorny theological issues."
The Bible's Psalm 107 says that “For (God) commands, and raises the stormy wind, which lifts up the waves thereof. ... He turns rivers into a wilderness, and the water springs into dry ground."
But, as the poll shows, most Americans have moved past the idea that God causes natural disasters, wrote Stephen Prothero, a frequent CNN contributor, in a 2011 column.
"When it comes to earthquakes and hurricanes, our authorities are geologists and meteorologists," Prothero said as he rode out Hurricane Irene on Cape Cod in Massachusetts. "Most of us interpret these events not through the rumblings of the biblical prophet Jeremiah or the poetry of the Book of Revelation but through the scientific truths of air pressure and tectonic plates."
For atheists, storms like Haiyan are proof that God doesn't exist, author and activist Sam Harris said.
"Either God can do nothing to stop catastrophes like this, or he doesn’t care to, or he doesn’t exist. God is either impotent, evil or imaginary," Harris said after Japan's tsunami. "Take your pick, and choose wisely."
God may or may not be in withering storms, but many religious leaders say they sense a divine presence in the aftermath, as people across the world mobilize to lend a hand.”
(read the entire blog at http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/11/11/where-was-god-in-the-philippines/)

Should we be glad God is not blamed or saddened that God is not believed?
The Bible says that God causes all things.
Matthew 5:45
“ that you may be children 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.”

When the world became broken as the result of sin, bad things happen to good people and good things happen to bad people. God is not evil, nor impotent, nor imaginary.

Where was God during the typhoon?
God was suffering along with each person affected by Haiyan.

Pray for the people in the Philippine’s recovering from this terrible typhoon.

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Veterans Day

11/11/2013

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(This is a re-blog with some changes.)
Veterans Day, is a United States holiday celebrated each November 11, honoring the men and women who have served in the armed services. Canada observes November 11 as Remembrance Day and the US originally called it, Armistice Day.

From History.com:
On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, was declared between the Allied nations and Germany in the First World War, then known as "the Great War." Commemorated as Armistice Day beginning the following year, November 11th became a legal federal holiday in the United States in 1938. In the aftermath of World War II and the Korean War, Armistice Day became Veterans Day, a holiday dedicated to American veterans of all wars.

U.S. President Woodrow Wilson first proclaimed Armistice Day for November 11, 1919. In proclaiming the holiday, he said, "To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country's service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations."

To my uncle, niece's husband, and many friends, thank you soldiers for serving and currently serving our nation. Thank you for the sacrifice's you have made for the protection and safety of our nation and beyond. Freedom comes with a cost that you, more than anybody else, know the price that is paid. Thank you and well-done, soldiers.

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Snow - Love it or Hate it?

11/6/2013

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It has snowed a couple times this year already, but last night’s snow was still on the ground this morning. I shoveled the heavy wet 3” of snow off the steps, garage pad and back deck. The drive into town gave glimpses through the dark of the snow clinging to the trees. Once the sun was up, you could see that every branch, bush, weed, and fence wire had snow clinging to it which brought a stunning beauty to the landscape. It is so bright after a snowfall that it hurts your eyes when the sun is shining.

Some hate the snow because of the work it takes to shovel it off or because it makes the roadways slippery and dangerous. I love the snow because of the incredible way it completely changes the look of the world around us. My thoughts went to the disciple named John, who saw Jesus while on the earth as a very normal looking person. However, on the isle of Patmos, John had a vision of a completely different looking Jesus.

Revelation 1:12-16
I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and among the lampstands was someone like a Son of Man, dressed in a robe reaching down to His feet and with a golden sash around His chest. 14 The hair on His head was white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes were like blazing fire. 15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 16 In His right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of His mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.

People either love snow or hate snow. No big deal. People either love Jesus or hate Him by not believing, not following, ignoring or opposing Him. That is a big deal. At the end of your life, you want to be like John, who is not terrified by Jesus, but overwhelmed with His brilliance.

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The Most Broken Commandment

11/4/2013

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Ask most people what they think the most broken commandment is and they will likely answer lying. The least followed commandment by Christians and non-Christians is remembering the Sabbath day. Observing the Sabbath involves doing nothing related to work for a 24 hour period each week. We imitate God by stopping our work, resting and delighting in God.

Today, keeping the Sabbath is radical and extremely difficult. The following comes from Peter Scazzero’s book, Emotionally Healthy Spirituality:
Keeping the Sabbath is a command and an invitation from God. It is and Old Testament commandment right along with not lying, murdering, and committing adultery. The fourth commandment is longest and most specific.
Exodus 20:8-11
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but He rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

Keeping the Sabbath was given after Israel was free from being slaves in Egypt. Slaves don’t get a day to rest. The Sabbath both whispers and screams at us, “You have sold out. Your priorities are not kingdom priorities. You are slaves to the grind.”

Some may argue that we live under the new covenant of the New Testament. Here is a New Testament passage about the Sabbath:
Hebrews 4:9-11
There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.

Observing the command to take a rest is serious business to God.
Here are four principles of a biblical Sabbath from Scazzero’s book:
1.       Stop – the world continues working fine when I stop.
2.       Rest – from
    a.       Work
    b.      Physical exhaustion
     c.       Hurriedness
     d.      Multitasking
     e.      Competitiveness
     f.        Worry
     g.       Decision making
     h.      Catching up
     i.         Talking
     j.        Technology
3.       Delight – God delighted over creation, delight includes a sense of joy, completion, wonder and play.
4.       Contemplate (reflect, think, ponder)– Sabbath is holy to God, contemplate God through worship, reading and study of scripture, and silence.

Think of the Sabbath like a “snow day” one day every week! It is a no day with no obligations.

Paul helps us avoid the danger of falling into legalism like the Pharisees of Jesus’ day.
Colossians 2:16
Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.

Take a radical step in your life and observe the Sabbath every week by stopping, resting, delighting and contemplating.

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Trains and Steering Wheels

Messy Moving Days

A Day When No One is Shot or Dies

Rule of Life for When Bible Reading and Prayer are NOT Enough

Where was God during Philippine's Typhoon Haiyan?

Veterans Day

Snow - Love it or Hate it?

The Most Broken Commandment

Mark Radeke

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