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Archives For November 30, 1999

“At Least Jesus is My Friend!”

December 3, 2009 — Leave a comment

Last night, Karen and I went on a dinner/mall date!  We had a great time at Valley Fair – Rubio’s for dinner and we hit two of the newer stores in our lives: Lego Store and Gymboree!

One the way home as we were sitting the Starbucks drive-thru (appropriately capping off the evening), we were talking about stuff and Karen made the comment, “Well, at least Jesus is my friend!”

I think most of us would agree that there is a song that applies to most of the situations we go through…OK, maybe it just a musicians thing.

Anyway, being of that mind, I quickly drew my iPhone from its holster and played the song below…twice.

We had a great laugh – just thought I would share!

Lyrics:

Jesus is My Friend
Sonseed

Jesus is a friend of mine
Jesus is my friend
Jesus is a friend of mine
I have a friend in Jesus

Jesus is a friend of mine
Jesus is my friend
Jesus is a friend of mine

He taught me how to live my life as it should be
He taught me how to turn my cheek when people laugh at me
I’ve had friends before and I can tell you that
He’s one who will never leave you flat!

He taught me how to pray and how to save my soul
He taught me how to praise my god and still play rock and roll
The music may sound different but the message is the same
It’s just an instrumental praise his name

Once I tried to run, I tried to run and hide
But Jesus came and found me and he touched me down inside
He is like a mountie, he always gets his man
And he’ll zap you any way he can. Zap!

He loves me when I’m right, He loves me when I’m wrong
He loves me when I waste my time by writing silly songs
He loves me when I’m quiet and I have nothing to say
He’ll love me when I’m perfect if I ever get that way

In Life, Love, Marriage , , ,
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Two Less Mochas…c’mon!

November 18, 2009 — Leave a comment

Two weeks ago, I saw Hillsong United’s movie (THE I HEART REVOLUTION: WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER) while I was on a business trip.  It was a profound experience that really prodded me on things God was already working on in my life.

There were a ton of one-liner take ways, but one of the biggies that struck me was:

Nobody can do everything, but everybody can do something.

That statement is a truth to what is often a stifling thought – “I can’t make a difference.”  We figure that any contribution we make in addressing the social injustices and profound needs in our world is so insignificant that we end up not bothering at all.

We’re not a celebrity who can commit thousands of dollars or the proceeds from out latest “work.”

We wonder if a $20 gift actually provide water for a person for 20 years as Charity: Water claims?  (I believe it can!)

Hey, times are tight, many are out of work often just scraping by.

And yet, as Christ Followers, how do we reconcile:

Speak up for those who can’t speak for themselves; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” –Proverbs 31:8-9

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress..” –James 1:27

One cool organization/program that offers a way for virtually anyone to help is Mocha Club.  For the price of two mochas each month ($7), you can help with a number of relief projects in Africa: Clean Water, Education, Child Mothers + Women At Risk, Orphan Care + Vulnerable Children, and HIV/AIDS + Health care.

Mocha Club’s Vision:

“Our vision is to provide a way for people who don’t have hundreds or thousands of dollars to make a difference in Africa. Our community-based website allows members to start a team and invite friends to join them in giving up the cost of 2 mochas a month to support their chosen project. We know that today’s tech-savvy generation can have a huge impact by using the viral nature of the web. So we decided to equip Mocha Club members themselves to grow awareness and support for Africa by inviting friends.

We’re aware of people’s general lack of trust that their money is being effective, and we address that by providing regular updates. Each month, we update our Mocha Club members on how their $7 is helping the people of Africa through videos and blogs of the specific projects they are supporting.”

Pretty cool!

So come one!  Join me in giving up two mochas each month for the great need that exists in Africa.  I’m supporting Orphan Care + Vulnerable Children projects.  (BTW, I’m not alone in this – check out some of the other sponsors.)

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Rise Up

October 28, 2009 — Leave a comment

In the midst of the “stuff of life” happening lately in my circle of family and friends, just thought I would share this song…

[BTW, it you’re not familiar with Ben Shive, I highly recommend picking up his The Ill-Tempered Klavier album.]

x

Rise Up
Ben Shive

Every stone that makes you stumble,
and cuts you when you fall;
every serpent here that strikes your heel,
to curse you when you crawl,
the King of Love one day will crush them all.

And every sad seduction
and every clever lie,
every word that woos and wounds
the pilgrim children of the sky,
the King of Love will break them by and by.

And you will rise up in the end.
You will rise up in the end.
I know the night is cruel, but the day is coming soon
when you will rise up in the end.

If the thief had come to plunder
when the children were alone,
If he ravaged every daughter
and murdered every son,
Would not their Father see this?
Would not His anger burn?
And would He not repay the tyrant
in the day of His return?
Await, await the day of His return.

Cause He will rise up in the end.
He will rise up in the end.
I know you need a Savior. He is patient in His anger.
But He will rise up in the end.

And when the stars come crashing to the sea.
The high and mighty fall down on their knees.
When you see the Son descending in the sky.
The chains of death will fall around your feet.

You will rise up in the end.
You will rise up in the end.
You will rise up in the end.

Maranatha!

In Life ,
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Facebook Rant – Gotta Get This Off My Chest!

October 26, 2009 — 1 Comment

I sit here typing this having just finished eating a nice meal, in my warm home, with a 2×4 sticking out of my eye partly blocking the view of both the keyboard and the monitor…

x

So Facebook changed its Live Feed / News Feed / Status Updates (whatever the “official” name is) display, which has led to much uproar by users.

Groups are being formed…petitions signed, …

I drive by their Palo Alto office on my way home and did not note any protesters today.  Though, one never knows whose lurking!

Anyway, quite honestly, I really didn’t notice the change too much, nor was I really bothered. My measly (though appreciated and loved) ~190 friends offer very little “clutter” and I really do enjoy reading my friend’s posts…

What’s bugged more was the whining and ranting…

So, as a public service, I’d like to offer a forum for the very few people who frequent my blog to air their Facebook rants.

Please, feel free to view the photo below as you type your rant in the comments field below – probably having just finished a meal, now sitting in your warm home, etc…

Compassion

C’mon folks!

Just sayin’!

x
(…dropping my stone and walking away now…)

In Christianity, Culture , , ,
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Everything Falls

October 21, 2009 — 1 Comment

This song and its truth have been rattling around in my head since I got Fee’s new album a few weeks ago…

The story:x

The song:

WOW and AMEN.

x

Everything Falls
Steve Fee
from Hope Rising

You said You’d never leave or forsake me, when You said this life is shake me.
You said this world is gonna bring trouble on my soul. This I know.

When everything falls apart, Your arms hold me together.
When everything falls apart You’re the only hope for this heart.
When everything falls apart and my strength is gone, I find You mighty and strong.
You keep holding on, You keep holding on.

When I see darkness all around me, when I see tragedy has found me, I still believe.
Your faithful arms will never let me go. Still I know

Sorrow will last for the night, but hope is rising with the sun, it’s rising with the sun.
There will be storms in this life, but I know You have overcome, You have overcome

In Christianity, Life , , , ,
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HWJD?

September 23, 2009 — Leave a comment

think3So I was a little frustrated at some stuff/people recently and got to thinking, How Would Jesus Deal?…or for the acronym-minded: HWJD?*

That’s when my head started hurting…

  • Jesus dealt with life, family, school, church, work, people situations, the “stuff” of life…just like me.
  • He ate, slept, cried, had conversation, traveled, lead people, relaxed, laughed, prayed, spent time alone and with people, faced adversity, had an adoptive father (Joseph),…just like me.  (FYI: my adoptive Father is God [Ephesians 1:4-6])
  • He had feelings: anger, happiness, sadness, concern,sympathy,…just like me.

BUT…

  • Unlike me…He was perfect.
  • Unlike me…He was sinless.
  • Unlike me…He was holy.

So, HWJD?

How Would Jesus Deal with being, as I put it above, “a little frustrated at some stuff/people”?

There are a TON of passages in the Bible that speak about this, but one immediately comes to mind.  It’s a passage that talks about an attitude that was evident in Jesus’ life and one that is really is the essence of “dealing”.  To the “expert in the law” who tested Him, Jesus offered this framework for living a life that worships God:

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself.  There is no commandment greater than these.”

Mark 12:30-31

Jesus was the perfect example of living this passage.  In spite of all the similarities with me (you, us) listed above, it’s the differences that set Him apart.  He loved and obeyed His Father and unconditionally loved the people with whom He “dealt” – the ones He created.  We do well to stumble and mumble at doing those things…

Will trying to live Mark 12:30-31 out and follow Jesus’ example make things magically better?  I think we all know the answer: no.  But, living out this passage through the power of the Holy Spirit enables me (you, us) to dependently fulfill our purpose in life: bringing God glory through a life of worship (Colossians 1:16).

So, HWiD? (How Will i Deal?)

Well, Jesus set the watermark.  I know full well that I cannot get close to it.  But, that does not exempt me from striving to follow Jesus’ example (through the conviction (John 16:10) and enabling power (Philippians 4:13) of the Holy Spirit).

In fact, not striving for this watermark is…well, sin:

Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do [think Mark 12:30-31, at a minimum] and doesn’t do it, sins.

James 4:17

Thank God for His grace, mercy, and forgiveness:

God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

2 Corinthians 5:21

Maranatha!

So…  HWuD?

x

*HWJD? OR How Would Jesus Deal? – not to be confused with HWJD (How Would Jesus Drive). In writing this post, I wanted to see other uses for “HWJD”…this site was at the top of the internet search.

In Christianity, Life , , , ,
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What I Did On My Summer “Vacation”

September 4, 2009 — 1 Comment

It’s a common question being asked by returning students right now – regardless of age or grade: “What did you do on your Summer vacation?”  It’s somewhat lost on us adults…we don’t generally get three months off from work (although we’d like it!)  OK, we do truncate the question and ask: “What did you do on your Summer vacation?”

Anyway, here we go:

<you>: Dennis!  How’s it going?  Love the blog, keep up the great work!
<me>: ‘sgoing pretty good.  How ’bout you?
<you>: Fantabulous!  Hey, What did you do on your Summer vacation?
<me>: I’m glad you asked…

The Deets:

bibleThis summer, our church went through a program called The Bible in 90 Days (aka BIND, aka B90X).  It’s not a hard program with hidden details – it’s reading the Bible in 90 days (OK, actually 88…there were two “grace” days built in).  We started on June 7th and from that day until September 3 (for me), we read about 12 pages each day – straight through…Genesis to Revelation.  Our adult Sunday School class and Sunday service sermons also followed the readings, highlighting various themes or characters from the previous weeks readings.

The Story:

True confessions here – I actually saw the official BIND Bible at our local Christian bookstore over a year ago. I bought it and thought I’d give it a go.  It didn’t go…  But, when we decided to go through the program at church, I decided I was going to do it!  GULP!

I read & study the Bible daily – but I don’t generally read 12 pages.  I’m also a slow reader (I’ll admit it!), so this was especially a challenge.  [FYI – my reading speed is really a product of wanting to fully understand and I just can’t get there by scanning…some can – I can’t.]

In addition, having just started this blog a few months before, I decided that I would write a post about each days reading.  Yes, EACH DAY (read: Leviticus).  My decision was based on two things:

  • If 2 Timothy 3:16-17 is true (and I believe it is), then I ought to be able to glean at least one nugget from each day’s reading.  Yes, even from Leviticus.
  • A comment I heard from a speaker a while back.  He said that he tried to find at least one thing in every sermon or talk he heard that was applicable or edifying.  This should be true of anything read in the bible.  [BTW, I hold to this truth in any meeting, seminar, conference, presentation.  It forces me to listen!]

So I started.  I read…and I blogged, and I read…and I blogged…  Eighty-eight days of reading, too many late nights trying to stay on track, and 67 blog posts (some were catch-up days) – all in all, an incredible journey.  I am glad I stuck it out.  It was great to read the whole Bible in a concentrated time frame.  It was amazing to see the thread of God’s redemptive love and care for man (me, you!) in this life-changing, life-giving book that has been lovingly preserved.

So, there’s no badge, t-shirt, or tattoo (?!) for completing the program.  But, there is the joy in knowing that I am a little bit more “equipped”  to be a better worshiper of my awesome and amazing God!

What’s Next?

For the Christ Follower, the Bible shouldn’t be a book that is read and then put on the shelf – saved for future reading if desired.  So, for that reason, I’ll never be “finished” reading the Bible…  I think I’ll even do BIND again next year.

I am starting two new books though:new_read

Both look to be GREAT reads…even blog subjects!

HEY, if you’d like to give BIND or B90X a try, here is a reading schedule that Elevation Church in North Carolina has posted.

In Bible in 90 Days, Christianity, Life , , , , , ,
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From, Through, and To

June 4, 2009 — Leave a comment

If the title of this post were a Jeopardy question, the answer would be:

What are all things we “have” in relation to God.

Think about it…when we buy someone a gift, often it is something that is a surprise or unexpected (unless someone spills the beans).  When we give God our worship (which is all that we are and do: Romans 12:1 & Colossians 3:17), we are giving Him something that He created.  We offer back to the One who created that which He created.  There is nothing that we can give, write, sing, play, do, say, act,…whatever that doesn’t originate from Him.  We never surprise Him with our worship.

It’s mind boggling when you think about it.

Romans 11:36 reads:
“For from him and through him and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen”

“All Things” pretty much covers everything…anything that we can offer.

Continue Reading…

In Christianity, Worship , , , , ,
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Where’s That Button?

June 2, 2009 — Leave a comment

easy btnI have one of these on my desk.  I’ve had it for a while, although it did get pushed to the back by magazines and papers (I have some piles…don’t judge me).  As I was cleaning the desk the other day, I saw it and got to thinking about how, if we are honest with ourselves (and God), we would much rather have something like this in life than depend completely upon God or even come before Him in prayer.

We are in good company.  In Mark 9:14-29, we see that Jesus’ disciples (the ones He picked to follow Him first), still occasionally defaulted to primarily relying on their own ability (sound familiar?).  In this passage, we read that they couldn’t cast out a demon from a possessed child…and the crowds and the boy’s father are not happy.  The bible doesn’t describe that scene, but can you imagine the disciple’s frustration and repeated attempts?  Not to be sacrilegious, but the image of trying to start a lawnmower repeatedly comes to mind…

Continue Reading…

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me: waa! GOD: SKADOOSH!

June 1, 2009 — 1 Comment

skadoosh2the waa:

So I posted my weekly Service Set list, Recap, and Confessional last night – including a whine (or waa!) in the confessional portion.  It felt good to write about it and get it off my chest.  Sunday AM was rough – I felt rushed and didn’t like not have things under control…

THE SKADOOSH*:

Fast forward to this morning.  I’ve been listening to Andy Stanley’s podcast series, Defining Moments and this morning I was on episode 8, Playing God.  The text was from John 18:28 to 19:16…it’s about Jesus before Pilate.  The key being that while Pilate thought he was in control – he wasn’t.

Continue Reading…

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