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  • November 30, 1999

Archives For November 30, 1999

Unneeded Help

August 20, 2010 — 1 Comment

I was reading John 18 today – where Jesus is betrayed and arrested – and was struck and convicted about the similar mindset I often have with Peter…

3So Judas came to the grove, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.

4Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?”

5“Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.  “I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.)

6When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.

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“Fool With A Fancy Guitar”

August 11, 2010 — 1 Comment

Yet another Andrew Peterson song that sums it up for me – as his “I’ve Got News” did…

Fool With A Fancy Guitar

It’s so easy to cash in these chips on my shoulder
So easy to loose this old tongue like a tiger
It’s easy to let all this bitterness smolder
Just to hide it away like a cigarette lighter

It’s easy to curse and to hurt and to hinder
It’s easy to not have the heart to remember
That I am a priest and a prince in the Kingdom of God

I’ve got voices that scream in my head like a siren
Fears that I feel in the night when I sleep
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My “GO TO” Psalm

July 14, 2010 — 1 Comment

Last Sunday, during our adult Sunday School class, Brad was teaching on Jonah and asked us what our “GO TO” Psalm was – you know, the Psalm that you read, claim, or think about when things aren’t going well.  You see, when he was in the big fish, Jonah went to the Psalms as he prayed.

I didn’t share my “GO TO” then, but the one that I would have shared is:

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.  Psalm 91:4

I know there are tons of Psalms that speak of God’s help, faithfulness, and love in times of trouble; but this one has always seemed to remind me that HE is great, mighty, strong, and powerful and I am small, truly powerless, and dependent on Him for everything (protection, etc).

It’s one thing to say He protects – how much more to say He protects and is faithful !  We have so many examples of things or people that  protect, but NONE are completely faithful like God (if we are truly honest).

What’s your “GO TO” Psalm?

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Familiarity & Help

July 1, 2010 — Leave a comment

I read this yesterday and it’s been ruminating ever since:

Because he [Jesus] himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
Hebrews 2:18

The thing that hit me was how I (and maybe you) often under appreciate the fact that Jesus was tempted while on earth.

After I read that verse, I jumped to Matthew 4:1-11 and re-read the passage where Jesus was led in to the desert to be tempted by Satan.

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Recollection

June 25, 2010 — 3 Comments

It’s cool how the small things cause you to remember stuff from your past – both good and, well, not-so-good.

In my new role as a foster father (not-soon-enough adoptive father!), the other day, Sam & I were cleaning up the side of the house and we were “team sweeping” the leaves and stuff – me sweeping, him using the dust pan.  He was having a tough time getting all the stuff in the dust pan and I recalled how my dad taught me the “sweep, back up the pan, and repeat” process for getting all the stuff picked up.  So, naturally, I imparted my well-honed “sweeping” knowledge to him…

Pretty cool – and not so painful.  I’m sure, in the course of our lives together, I’ll have ample opportunity to share and teach Sam about the not-so-good or hard lessons I’ve learned…

I was reading in Colossians yesterday and these two verses from chapter two popped out:

9For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.

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“Nuggets” From The Week: May 16-22, 2010

May 22, 2010 — Leave a comment

Some “nuggets” from my daily Bible study times this week:

“Who needs a doctor: healthy or sick? I’m inviting outsiders, not insiders—an invitation to a changed life, changed inside & out.” -Jesus (-us?) [May 16]

“When Jesus finished saying all this in the hearing of the people,…” Luke 7:1 | Jesus wasn’t covert. May we be like Him in our day-to-day worship. [May 17]

We can mistakenly think the seed on “good soil” has it easy (LK 8). Don’t miss this phrase: “and by persevering”. God’s Word: Hear, retain, and persevere! [May 18]

“I didn’t keep the news of your ways a secret, didn’t keep it to myself. I told it all, how dependable you are, how thorough. I didn’t hold back pieces of love and truth for myself alone. I told it all, let the congregation know the whole story.” -David (PS 40:10 MSG) [May 19]

Jesus: “You give…” Disciples: “We only have…” LK 9:13 // How often we think/say/do this. Imagine living as if God were all-knowing/powerful & ever-present! [May 20]

Jesus to the 72: “Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.” LK 10:3 / Why do WE assume/require comfort & safety to serve Him? [May 21]

Jesus finished praying in a certain place & a disciple said, “Lord, teach us” LK 11:1 / His posture made it clear He’d been w/God-does ours? [May 22]

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Constant Confirmation

May 6, 2010 — Leave a comment

What an amazing day yesterday – I’ll write about it at some point…I’m still processing it all.

One thing is certain:

My amazement never stops at how God constantly confirms
His love, care, direction, …

This song played several times yesterday and, this morning, I read the passage from Romans.

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Unlike Me

May 1, 2010 — Leave a comment

This whacked me yesterday:

“What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness? Not at all!” -Romans 3:3-4

Now, replace the “faith” references with love, hope, peace, grace, forgiveness, kindness,…you get the picture.

God is so unlike me. Hallelujah, He’s unlike me!

Maranatha!

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Tiger & Earl…Adam & God

April 9, 2010 — 1 Comment

So yesterday, the People of the Second Chance posted the new Tiger Woods Nike ad on their website and asked for “one word” thoughts about it.

If you haven’t seen the ad, here it is:

To their question, I posted the following:

One word: Leverage

“We are not ashamed of our scars, wounds, or failures and leverage them as a source of strength and character development.” -POTSC “About Us” page.

I know this is a Nike ad, but Tiger had to somehow consent to it (in fact, he may have even asked his mom, since it involved his dad.) People feel he owes them some explanation – I don’t – but this is a way of furthering that conversation I guess. However it’s used, I still see this whole thing as something between him and his family. My only notice and consideration has been that of “but for the grace of God go I” (as a depraved & sinful man myself) and how can I use this to “leverage” or model grace to others who bring Tiger’s situation up.

OK, stay with me here.

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Properly Embracing the Good News of Christ AND God

April 1, 2010 — Leave a comment

This week, I’m re-reading / listening to John Piper’s “Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die“.

On our response to the Good News of Christ:

“…salvation is not good news if it only saves from hell and not for God. Forgiveness is not good news if it only gives relief from guilt and doesn’t open the way to God. Justification is not good news if it only makes us legally acceptable to God but doesn’t bring fellowship with God. Redemption is not good news if it only liberates us from bondage but doesn’t bring us to God. Adoption is not good news if it only puts us in the Father’s family but not in his arms.”

– John Piper

x

Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous,
that he might bring us to God.

– 1 Peter 3:18

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been
brought near by the blood of Christ.

– Ephesians 2:13


MARANATHA!

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