BuildABridge

NYR 2012

2012-01-08T19:00:00.000-06:00

New Year's Resolutions for 2012

Have you made your resolutions yet? I suppose theoretically you are suppose to have these in place by January 1st, but seriously does it matter? As long as you set resolutions, goals (or whatever you choose to call them) and write them down you are ahead of most the people around you.
Statistics say that somewhere between 15-20% of people actually make New Year's Resolutions and even a smaller percentage actually write them down.
Writing them down gives you a shopping list, a "to-do" list if you will. It also provides some accountability. Somewhere it is written what your plan is/was, that is your word (and it matters because our word is supposed to mean something -integrity).

So What are your goals, what are your resolutions?

I believe our resolutions should tie in with our priorities in life. So we first have to assess what are our priorities in life? What do we care most about?
For example, my general list of priorities are:
1. God
2. Wife
3. Kids
4. Friends
5. Job

So those are general, but all involve a large quantity of time investment. If I want to have a great relationship with 1-4, I have to be willing to invest time (time management). If I want to be successful at my job, I have to do the things that are required of me to help my company (organization or place of business) move up to the next level. This also requires time. If I'm not healthy, it cuts into my focus and quality time.
So the point is, are your resolutions pushing you toward your priorities?
If not are your resolutions good for you?
Goals are good, we should all set them. But let's make sure our goals are "others focused as well".

So my list (some are re-occurring yearly):
1. Live each day as if it were my last with regard to my relationship with God.
2. Live each day as if it were my last with regard to my relationship with my wife.
3. Live each day as if it were my last with regard to my relationship with my children.
4. Live each day as if it were my last with regard to my relationship with my friends.
5. Devour the Word (the Bible). Read it for fun, wisdom, and because i have the freedom to do so, to garner God's wisdom for my life. (M'Cheyne One Year reading plan - YouVersion)
6. Pray more with my wife.
7. Hold hands with my wife...Everyday.
8. Hug and kiss my kids everyday.
9. No pop, soda, coke. Call it what you want if it has carbonation, it is a no-no for me.
10. Read a book a month (constructive and helpful book, not talking Cat in the Hat).
*U.S. Department of Labor and Yahoo!, business people who read at least seven business books a year earn 2.3 times more than those who read only one book per year.

Whelp, there they are. Nothing special. They will be a daily challenge and will take discipline to accomplish. I will have to focus each day when I awake to focus on Christ. With Him in first place, everything else will fall into place.

I hope that you have goals/resolutions as well. I hope that you are moving towards the prize. My prayer for you this year will be challenged to be "what" and "where" God needs them, focusing each day on mirroring Him to a lost and dying world.

Peace and love
B

One Day Too Late...

2011-12-08T08:49:00.001-06:00

I am a big music guy. No I am not talking instrument music...all i can play is the radio. By big music guy I merely mean that I am a BIG guy and i like MUSIC. Every once in awhile a song sticks with you and makes you think.

The song "One Day Too Late" by Skillet is one of those songs.

One Day Too Late lyrics Songwriters: Cooper, John; Howes, Brian

Tick tock, hear the clock countdown
Wish the minute hand could be rewound
So much to do and so much I need to say
Will tomorrow be too late?

Feel the moment slip into the past
Like sand through an hourglass
In the madness, I guess, I just forget
To do all the things I said

Time passes by, never thought I'd wind up
One step behind, now I've made my mind up

Today, I'm gonna try a little harder
Gonna make every minute last longer
Gonna learn to forgive and forget
'Cause we don't have long, gonna make the most of it

Today, I'm gonna love my enemies
Reach out to somebody who needs me
Make a change, make the world a better place
'Cause tomorrow could be one day too late
One day too late, one day too late

Tick tock, hear my life pass by
I can't erase and I can't rewind
Of all the things I regret the most I do
Wish I'd spent more time with you

Here's my chance for a new beginning
I saved the best for a better ending
In the end I'll make it up to you
You'll see, you'll get the very best of me

Time passes by, never thought I'd wind up
One step behind, now I've made my mind up

Today, I'm gonna try a little harder
Gonna make every minute last longer
Gonna learn to forgive and forget
'Cause we don't have long, gonna make the most of it

Today, I'm gonna love my enemies
Reach out to somebody who needs me
Make a change, make the world a better place
'Cause tomorrow could be one day too late

Your time is running out
You're never gonna get it back
So make the most of every moment
Stop saving the best for last

Today, I'm gonna try a little harder
Gonna make every minute last longer
Gonna learn to forgive and forget
'Cause we don't have long, gonna make the most of it

Today, I'm gonna love my enemies
Reach out to somebody who needs me
Make a change, make the world a better place
'Cause tomorrow could be one day too late

One day too late, one day too late
One day too late, one day too late

What are you going to do with your day? What is important to you? Are you going to show it with your actions today?

Just a thought.

Peace
B

Saturday in Oklahoma...11-5-11

2011-11-06T14:37:00.000-06:00

Saturday in Oklahoma (11-5-11)...
...and what a Saturday it was!
Oklahomans love their football (I know their not the only ones).
But what a Saturday it was for football -->
- OU/Texas A&M - exciting game, good win, sad story...
- OSU/Kansas State - Exciting game, good win, interesting ending...

Oh yeah, LSU/Alabama was on TV too!

The thing that is awesome about college football is the FANS. To be in the stadium, hear the cheering, see the EXCITEMENT...If you've ever been there you know what i am talking about.
The energy in the stadium is flowing, it's electric. Even if you were there just to watch two teams play you would get caught up in the moment.

The big question, those people you see in the stadium on Saturday, do you see the same excitement in their eyes on Sunday...unless they're at an NFL game? What about at church? Shouldn't that same excitement be there as well? (I mean we know how it all ends...that IS something to cheer)

So the OU/Texas A&M game was an exciting game. Back and forth in the first half. But in the third quarter OU starts to pull away. During that quarter, Ryan Broyles goes down with a torn ACL. That may mean nothing to some,but Broyles has quite the story.
From issues with the police upon arriving at OU as a freshman --> pushing through that and the discipline to becoming a standout athlete and deciding to forgo the draft to return to OU for his senior season. That takes discipline, it takes character. He chose college and finishing his college career over the money of the NFL. He chose the chance to help make OU great and accomplish the team goals rather than cashing it in for himself in the NFL.
Broyles took a trip with some of his teammates this summer on a mission trip to Haiti. According to those who went, and who saw him on his return, he came back a changed man. He had a little different perspective on life.
His senior season has been one of records for Broyles...
   *FBS record holder for career receptions.
   He also built on other Sooner records he already owned
   *most 100 yard receiving games.
   *most career touchdown receptions.
   *most career receiving yards.
Just to name a few.

Then for it to end with one play...followed by tears as he had given his all... sad ending to a great college career.

We are never guaranteed anything...
What do you place you faith in? Is it in yourself?

Then the OSU/Kansas State game. What a season OSU is having. In the K-State game it (at times) looked like the Cowboy's of old trying to give it away, but they pulled it out.

Then shortly after the game the 5.6 magnitude earthquake hit. Not sure if that was because OSU went to #2 in the polls or just to drive home the thought in my mind of the brevity of life.
That was the first earthquake I have been in (a couple aftershocks since then) but a pretty humbling experience. When the whole world (as you know it) shakes and there is nothing you can do about it.
God is big. He's in control...no matter what you think.

So no matter who you root (cheer) for, no matter how excited you get at a football game,

James 4:14

"Yet you do not know at your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away."

We are not guaranteed another day. So let's all try to keep the right perspective. Have fun. Cheer loudly. Give God the praise and honor He deserves.

Life is short.
We don't take anything with us.
Let's all leave this life exhausted...for the right reasons.
When you get to Heaven, don't you want to see your friends there?

Peace
B

**disclaimer** I am not faulting anyone for cheering for sports. Just some thoughts I have had after seeing faces and actions in various churches on Sunday mornings.

Start here first...

2011-05-16T14:37:00.005-05:00

Proverbs is full of wisdom. Various times in my life have I heard (or said), "wow, I never knew that" or "I wish someone would have told me that first".

Interesting comments when faced with Proverbs 16.

Proverbs 16:1-9
1 To man belong the plans of the heart,
but from the LORD comes the reply of the tongue.

2 All a man’s ways seem innocent to him,
but motives are weighed by the LORD.

3 Commit to the LORD whatever you do,
and your plans will succeed.

4 The LORD works out everything for his own ends—
even the wicked for a day of disaster.

5 The LORD detests all the proud of heart.
Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.

6 Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for;
through the fear of the LORD a man avoids evil.

7 When a man’s ways are pleasing to the LORD,
he makes even his enemies live at peace with him.

8 Better a little with righteousness
than much gain with injustice.

9 In his heart a man plans his course,
but the LORD determines his steps.

So is this saying don't plan? Not to set goals? Nope.

Plan and set goals just do it with God. How many times when you are planning do you consider God first? Do you intentionally set out with prayer first? Or do we tend to plan it, attempt it, mess something up and then look to God to fix it. Let's have faith and put it into action...starting with prayer. It is definitely an unconventional approach by the worlds standards, but by God's it is just common sense.

God wrote the book on wisdom...don't you think we should start reading it?

That's all I'm saying...
B

The Plastic Surgeon Kind of Life...

2011-04-05T20:58:00.006-05:00

Luke 11:21-28 21 “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. 22 But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up his plunder. 23 “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 24 “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ 25 When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. 26 Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first.” 27 As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.” 28 He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”

I read this scripture tonight with my boys. Kind of one of those times when scripture just jumps out at you and catches you. I would say convicting (and maybe it is that too), but it was more of a "this is really deep but simple" kind of feeling.

I mean take the first section: “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. 22 But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up his plunder. "

A lot of times we walk around like we have it all together. We build our friendships by telling them the good stuff (to make us appear "good"). We live our lives in such a way to always look "good".

We hide the bad stuff, we put up a front, we live these plastic surgeon lives that from the outside look great. But it's what is on the inside that really matters.
Some place, some day in the future, that outside shell you have built to protect you will fail.
You heard it said, "it is what's on the inside that counts or matters". It is. Nothing more, nothing less. If Christ is for you, it doesn't matter what is against you. You win! because He already fought the battle.

So my challenge would be, quit being fake.

Get some accountability and get right with God. This life didn't promise you happiness (nor do we deserve it) but there is One that promised us that (happiness) in the next one. So live with the Eternal perspective now.

Choose life, eternal life, now.

Tear down the walls.
Seek forgiveness.
Give forgiveness.
Love.
Be loved.
Be bold.
Be different.
Have bite.
Be salt.
Be different.
Mirror Christ.

Reflect the Son!

Peace
B

The 19th Hole...

2011-02-10T14:28:00.007-06:00

Well off to the 19th hole (as it is sometimes referred to)…

The 19th hole (the clubhouse)… where people go after their round to cool off, get a drink, have a bite to eat, talk about how awesome they played (lie), and talk about the putts they barely missed (by 8 feet).

So we invite our “friend” Sam to join us for a bite as he totals our score…

Due to the strong finish and expert guidance I ended up shooting a 70 or 2 under Par.
Sam shot a 98…

…which he informs us is good for him.
I told him for just really picking up the sport he played pretty well, but went on to say I had figured by his reactions and words out on the course he had played the sport much longer. I figured by his attitude he normally played a lot better.

Sam is just 54 years old and has just played for just over a year. He let us know his actions and words were due to his competitiveness. He picked up golf recently because he no longer played basketball or baseball due to his age.
He picked up golf because that is what people do.
…when they get older THEN they take up golf.
He dabbled in it but recently started playing once a week.

Golf and Christianity… lots of parallels.

Isn’t Sam’s story similar to the young person of today in respect to the Christian faith? Put it off till they’re older…because that’s what people do.
…“Oh I believe in God but I’m not ready to”:
- “live by those rules”
- “give up partying with my friends”
…”That’s a huge commitment”
…”I want to get all my fun out before that”
…”I’ll do it when I’m older”
…”no need to spoil my fun early”
…”I want to ‘experience’ life first”

The misconception about Christians is they:
- Have no fun
- Live by strict rules
- Are old
- are boring

Christianity by definition is: religion based on the life, teachings, and example of Jesus Christ.

Not sure, but the bible I read is anything but boring.
The commitment is for a lifetime.
A lifetime that will be filled with many challenges, lots of trials, and tons of excitement.

…Jesus died so we might live.

John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

…only when you accept Jesus can you truly live

…when you know Jesus, His sacrifice, His love then your life will reflect it. Not a set of legalistic rules you keep, but a faith, an example that grows stronger on a day by day basis.

…you accept the call to GO

Matthew 28:19-20 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

…the focus shifts away from “me” and we focus instead on others

Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Matthew 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

In golf you’re not an excellent player when you first pick up the clubs.
In the Christian faith you’re not perfect just because you accepted Christ and became a Christian.
…you WILL stumble
…you WILL mess up

BUT you are forgiven! You ARE being made “perfect” in Christ.

You have to start by starting. Don’t put it off and wait.

4 hours once a week (playing golf) will not make you significantly better. Time practicing every day will improve your game.

1 hour once a week (in Church) will not grow your relationship with Christ significantly. Time every day will develop the relationship and keep it intimate.

Don’t put off the best decision you will ever make till you’re older.

God has a plan for your life…

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.

Life is short…

James 4:14 Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.

We never know how long we get on Earth…

Matthew 24:40-45 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

Start His plan for your life…by starting

Let’s finish this round (of life) strong for eternity’s (19th hole) sake. Focusing on what impact we can have now on the course of life for Christ. We can then spend eternity (19th) doing what we were created to do…PRAISING GOD.

G.O.L.F
God
Offers
Life
Forever

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

A Round of golf… …a lesson for life …for eternity

FINISH STRONG!

Prayer: Lord, please help us to number our days. Help us consider our choices have an eternal effect on us and others. Guide us to mirror You in all that we do and live every day with reckless abandon to your will and plan. We love and honor you! In Jesus name AMEN.

If you want to know more about becoming a Christian, the life that God has called you to or if you need additional resources ask your local Pastor or drop me a line.

Peace,
B

Soli Deo gloria

New Year's Resolutions

2011-01-04T08:22:00.005-06:00

New Year’s Resolutions…

Goals...

Aspirations...

Decrees…

Hopes…

Wishes…

RESOLUTION’s!

…call them what you want, but WRITE them down.

There is something about writing them down that give us a sense of ACCOUNTABILITY.

When you set your resolutions, do so with others in mind. Let’s do something this year that will make our world a little better by affecting someone else’s world for the good.

No Resolutions on here about dropping weight (we should stay healthy because our bodies are God's temple).

But here they are:

#1 Live each day as if it were my last with regard to my relationship with God.
#2 Live each day as if it were my last with regard to my relationship with my wife.
#3 Live each day as if it were my last with regard to my relationship with my boys.
#4 Live each day as if it were my last with regard to my relationship with my friends.
#5 Devour the Word (the Bible). Read it for fun, wisdom, and because i have the freedom to do so, to garner God's wisdom for my life.
#6 Pray more with my wife.
#7 Hold hands with my wife...Everyday.
#8 Hug and kiss my kids everyday.
#9 Go on a date with my wife at least once a month.
and
#10 Finish the “A round of golf…a lesson for life” blog.

Those are them.

I hope that you are moving towards the prize. My prayer is that everyone that reads (the Blog) this year will be challenged to BE what and where God needs, focused on mirroring Him to a lost and dying world.

LORD, help me to put away regrets of not becoming the person I thought I would be. This new year, help me take hold of a new attitude and a new way of thinking to become the person You intended me to be. Thank You that I can begin becoming that today! In
Jesus' name, Amen.

Let's have the resolve to move in Christ.

Today, Tomorrow and Forever!

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.(Eph 4:22-24 NIV)

Peace and Love
B

Hole 18, Par 5, 525 yards...

2010-12-10T14:17:00.006-06:00

Hole #18

Finally! Hole 18.
This has been a tremendous day with great people. Being on a golf course for 18 holes and over 4 hours definitely gives you time to become more acquainted and familiar with people. You just can't beat a good day out on the course with friends.
You get time to focus on relationships and think about what is important in life (and no I am not talking about golf).

Hole number 18 is an up and down hole. The Tee elevation is about the same as the green elevation, but the fairway....
...The elevated Tee gives way to a downward sloping fairway, only to climb back up to the green.

If I was to give you a visual description, it would be "bowl" shaped. It is a Par 5, 525 yard hole. This hole plays "short" if the Tee shot is hit correctly. If you can keep your drive in the fairway after 200 yards you will get an additional roll of 20-50 yards based on the slope of the fairway.

Well it was a good drive.
Smack dab in the middle of the fairway with a GREAT roll. That drive will leave me about a 215 yard shot into the green. Our often distempered "friend" Sam that we picked up in our group a few holes back hits a good Tee shot as well.

The second shot actually landed on the green...and stayed on!
This might be a great ending to a great day...if I can hit my putt close and follow with a birdie that would be awesome.
Sam took a couple of shots but he is "dancing" (putting) now as well.

This green is kind of tricky with its varying slopes. Turns out I have about a 10 foot putt. Sam's is about 15 feet and right behind mine. He is putting for birdie....and rolls it just past the cup (less than a foot) which leaves him a tap in for Par. The best part is he showed me the line (the way the ball will break).
My putt is in! At which cheers are heard around the course (only to realize I am the only one shouting). What a hole! That was AMAZING! My first Eagle!

Sometimes in life we receive those blessings as well.
…Admiration from a friend.
…The privilege of scoring the winning points for the team.
…The ability to make money and bless others with it.
…Good life skills that afford us the ability to “fix” things (cars, plumbing, etc) for others at no charge.

But let us not become arrogant in those things or do them for the praise. Help us to walk humbly (Micah 6:8) sharing God’s love in our own way. Help us to walk in confidence knowing God is the One who gives…

Ending a day this way sure does build some confidence in me for the next time I am out there. There is a difference between confidence and arrogance. Confidence being that I now know I am capable of playing well (improving my score). It would be easy to take the arrogant way and be prideful in the last hole...walking and talking as if I am some amazing golfer.

Proverbs 11:2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

I know it is easy to get off course…

Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

…I could have just as easily triple bogeyed that hole if my focus had been off.

…Once again the reminder of being focused on what is important. Focus on the little things (fundamentals) and do them diligently and all things will turn out for the best.

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

Well we shake hands after the round and invite our new friend back to the clubhouse for something to eat.

On to the 19th hole (as it is sometimes referred).

Hole 17, Par 3, 201 yards...

2010-09-27T14:54:00.005-05:00

Hole #17

Well we talked about the need to focus on the last two holes that we have in front of us, and that was never truer than right now. Sam the previously mentioned “disgruntled golfer” that was in front of us, has decided to join us for the final two holes.
Ever felt pressure to perform?
Like everyone was watching you and seeing if this “Christian” thing was any different than what they thought?
Well maybe it’s because I am tired, but I am feeling that right now.

Well on to 17…

Number 17 should be a relatively easy par 3 hole before the final Par 5 of the day. This Par 3 is uphill to the green.
I am starting to feel the 4 hours we have already spent on the course. At the end of the round the sun and exercise can start to be felt so I am a little tired at this point. Losing a little of the strength and mental sharpness I started with.

Well Sam’s Tee shot was great (he must have worked through his anger issue); mine on the other hand was less than spectacular. In fact it was about 180 yards and just long enough to miss the green (short) and roll back down the hill about 40 yards.

Well it could have been better but rather than lose my wits and thus lose my witness I shrug it off and let Sam know “I’m over it”.

…time to move up to the green and see if I can rescue par.

Well it is not just me that is tired…the battery light lit up on our way up the hill to the green…

In life we get worn down.
…we get tired
…we get frustrated
…we get upset

So what do we do at those moments? How do we handle them? How do we persevere?

If we lose our wits in those moments, it is possible to lose our witness with whoever is present.

“Preach the Gospel at all times, use words when necessary” St Francis of Assisi

They may look at us and say “Well there a Christian but there is no difference between them and me: they yell, they swear, they give into peer pressure, they conform to the same things I do”
So how do we stand out?
How can we remain the “salt” and have bite?
How can we set the positive example?

Scripture teaches a thing or two:
Are we perfect?

Philippians 3:12-14 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Do we have help?

Matthew 7:7-8 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

Persevere?

James 1:11-12 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business. Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

Training, is it needed?

1 Corinthians 9:26-27 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

It is just like the athlete who trains for their sport. They push themselves in practice. They push their muscles to fatigue to make them stronger. They practice till they get it right. Till they know the plays backwards and forwards, so when the pressure situation comes it will be second nature. They can then react with what they know will succeed…
…what they have practiced.

Well funny hole. I was able to keep my composure and chip it up within 6 inches of the hole and make the par putt. Sam miss-putted and had to settle for par as well. He was not as happy, all goes back to perspective.

Now on to the tricky and long Par 5 number 18!

Hole 16, Par 4, 398 yards...

2010-05-19T16:14:00.003-05:00

Hole #16

Well this has been an absolutely beautiful day for golf!!

Hole 16 is a par 4, 398 yard hole and it appears we have once again caught up to the person in front of us again. Apparently after we let him ‘play through’ on #13 his game took a turn for the worse.

From the language we can hear making its way back to the tee box, and the fact he is throwing his club farther than he is hitting the ball, it appears he has lost his focus and his composure.

Focus is a pretty important part of golf… from the mental aspects down to the club itself… focus matters.

Take the driver for example. It, by design, is made to take all of the energy of the swing and direct or “focus” it on the ball. If everything is focused correctly and on line, the ball will sail straight out into the middle of the fairway. But if not… you can hit it off the “toe” or “heel” and who knows where it goes after that.

There are many things to distract you and cause you to lose focus on the course (bad shots, self confidence, people celebrating good shots, people cursing bad ones (like the golfer in front of us)).

Focus is important for the Christian as well.

What do we focus on day to day?

Do we live our lives with focus?
If we do, what is that focus on?

Our minds are the ultimate “idol” makers.
We NEED that…
I HAVE to watch this…
I HAVE to buy that…
I HAVE to be…

When really if we received the gift of eternal life, our focus should change. We should move from a ‘worldly’ focus to and ‘eternal’ one. Knowing that everything we are and everything we have comes from the Father above. We should ‘focus’ on Him.
Christ asks us to take up our cross…

Mark 8:34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

The cross symbolizes death, execution, punishment. When we take it up, we should know it won’t be easy but we can persevere with the right focus.

When we focus daily on serving the risen King, we have to know from His example that it will be difficult. We will mess up from time to time. But our ‘focus’ is Christ.
Who…
made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name, (Philippians 2:7-9)

We have to focus on Him… …minute by minute.

Don’t get caught up with this world and what it tells you that you need…
…when you retire.
…when you are successful.
…when you have arrived.

Focus on Christ because this life is a vapor.

James 4:14 Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.

This life will pass away, but what you have done will last…eternally. Leave your mark.

Take up your cross.
FOCUS on Christ.
MIRROR Him.
Let others SEE Christ through your life.

Don’t forget that you are not your own…you were bought at a price. (1 Corinthians 6:19)

Great hole! That was fun. Tricky second shot out of the sand, but salvaged par.

…on to 17…better FOCUS on the last two holes and finish strong.

Hole 15, Par 4, 439 yards...

2010-03-25T16:28:00.001-05:00

Hole #15

This is a straightaway shot. Green is straight ahead of the Tee. No dogleg. It has a creek running down the right side and it is tree-lined on the left. At 439 yards it is definitely not set up for a hole-in-one, but a pretty straightforward hole. No real tricks to it, just hit it straight and long and set yourself up for a 180 yard approach shot.

Well our Tee shot was pretty straight. Still favored the right side, I just have a thing with liking water. Left us with about a 187 yard shot to the pin. I am going to try the 4 iron, should be about the right club especially with the breeze behind it.

4 Iron would have been the club had I hit it well, but... the miss-hit didn't give me quite the distance I needed. Left me about 68 yards out and so a wedge it will be.

Good contact and lots of loft. That puts me on the green for a par putt.

Need to fill my divot and fix my ball mark on the green.

Definition of divot and ball mark.

Divot Definition: Most shots from the fairway with an iron will scrape off the top of the turf where the ball was resting. "Divot" refers to both the turf that is scraped up, and the scarred area in the fairway where the turf had been. A good divot will start just in front of where the ball was at rest - meaning that your club struck the ball first, then the ground. If the divot starts behind the ball, you have miss-hit the shot (this type of miss-hit is often called hitting the ball "heavy" or "fat").

Ball Mark Definition: The indentation that a ball makes in the surface of the putting green upon landing. (Pitch mark is the synonym.) The softer the surface of the putting green, the more likely a ball mark is to result, and the more like that ball mark is to be larger.
Ball marks should be repaired using special tools made for that purpose in order for the green to properly heal.

The cool thing about fixing your divots is that generally the course will provide you with a sleeve of sand. You use the sand (sometimes mixed with seed) to fill in the divot and aid in the healing process.

Well that certainly brings up life. Divots and sin. Sin and divots.
Sin is just like a divot only not involving grass. Sin affects many things. It affects our friends, our family, our life, our character and our relationship with Jesus. Much like a divot, sin affects those things around it.

Sin separates us from Christ. We can't be in sin and have fellowship with the creator. And don't fool yourself....we ALL sin.

Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

The great thing is forgiveness.
Forgiveness is available to EVERYone.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 John 1:8-10 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

Jesus will forgive us of our sins and remember them no more!

Hebrews 8:12 For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."

Matthew 6:14 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

Psalm 103:12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Forgiveness in Christ and His grace to us is amazing! It's AWESOME!

But just like that golf ball getting struck by the club...there is a divot...scarred earth. There are consequences. You may have forgiveness, but that doesn't free you from facing the consequences.

A lot of times when we sin, we don't count the cost. We say,"well just this once, nobody will know." But in doing that we make a "divot".

Whether that is...

in friendships
in trust
in integrity
in character.

We leave some scarring behind that only time and healing can fix. In golf they give you a sandy/seed mixture to speed up the repair of the scarred earth.

In life, it is true repentance and accountability.

When we sin consequences must be paid.
Lives must be repaired...trust must be rebuilt...relationships mended.

Aren't we glad that He paid the ultimate price and offered us forgiveness through it?

Instead of sinning (creating a divot, where by everything around us is affected) and then repenting and looking for accountability, why don't we all just get some accountability right now.

Find strong Christians that hold us up to the standard set for us, and work more on pursuing Christ, rather then waiting till we mess up. Being accountable right now, building each other up and encouraging each other right now, could save us from a huge "divot" down the road.

You choose how you play your game....

1 Peter 2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.

Colossians 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

...Well that was certainly nice to salvage a Par after the second shot was a miss hit.

Moving on to 16. The game is almost over and it has definitely been a learning experience so far...

Reflections from the Home

2010-02-09T07:58:00.003-06:00

Every afternoon after i get home from work i hear the sweet words, "DADDY's HOME!!!". Those words come screaming out of my boys and brings a smile to my face every time.
Daddy is one of the sweetest and tenderest names that a child can call there father. It is intimate and communicates a deep love, appreciation and a longing.
Maybe you can remember back when you were a child and your father returned home. The feelings, the love, the closeness. Maybe you can't.

No matter your situation today, There is a Father that wants you to call Him 'Abba', or daddy. He is waiting for that kind of relationship with you. He wants the deep love, appreciation and longing. He did everything He can to bring you into that fellowship, now He waits for you to call out..."Abba Father"

John 3:16
Romans 6:23

Peace
B

Hole 14, Par 3, 188 yards...

2010-02-05T08:30:00.004-06:00

Hole #14

Hole #14 is a very pretty Par 3 with lots of water surrounding the green. Playing this course it is easy to verify that 71% of the Earth's surface is water.

Well the tee shot looked pretty. It went in the direction of the hole. We made forward progress....Problem was when it came down there was a splash associated with it. Yes we did....hit the water. (We should have aimed for the water, then we would have never hit it) Oh well, when you're given lemons try to make lemonade (we definitely have enough water).

The water shot in golf has the potential to get you behind in the score quickly. The stroke it took you to hit the water, one stroke to get out (or drop a new ball), and then the next stroke you can advance your ball towards the goal.

We probably needed to drop a new ball anyway, ours was dirty and a little scuffed. :o) (lemonade)

Well our third stroke got us on the green....

Wow the water shot in golf and a new believer in Christ. When we approach the cross, when we come to Christ for salvation, we all take similar steps.
We may not all be coming from the same place but we all end up entering in the Kingdom through Christ. That means that we as imperfect (scuffed and dirty) people come to Christ with repentance and belief in Christ. We are washed and cleaned. Our sins are removed as far as the East is from the West, and presented to the Father and a 'new' creation covered and made new through the blood/cross of Christ.

Psalm 103:12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

That is a perfect picture of Baptism as well. True baptism by immersion. Not the "a little dab will do you" baptism.

Look at the Ethiopian eunuch:
Acts 8:36-39 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?" And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.

Look at Jesus
He walked ~26 miles to get to John to be baptized in the Jordan.

Matthew 3:13-17 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?"
Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented.
As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."

Baptism represents the death/burial/resurrection of Christ.
As you are lowered in the water (death)
Under water (burial)
Raised out of the water (resurrection). Raised to new life in Christ.

We move from scuffed and dirty to new and fresh by the blood of Christ.

We are a 'new' creation challenged to reflect Christ.

Well we made the putt. No need in getting frustrated, happy for the Bogey...it could have been much worse.

on to #15...

Hole 13, Par 4, 403 yards...

2010-01-18T10:47:00.005-06:00

Hole #13

Hole #13 is the easiest hole on this course (according to the handicap). Pretty straightforward hole, no dogleg, no altitude change, just a straight shot at the green with lots of trees on the sides.

We hit our Tee shot which was decent and as we head to the cart a single player approaches and asks if he can play though (which we allow). We must have taken too long to get drinks and snacks.
By the way, playing through means that we let the single "cut" or go in front of us. His speed of play is faster than ours because he is only one. Speed of play can be affected by a lot of variables. Some of those variables could be: group size, ability, amount of practice, and time available.
If you are in a larger group your speed of play will be slowed as you wait for all your players to hole out.
If the ability of your group is low you might take a few extra swings compared to other golfers.
If you don't practice, or if you consider it practice to go "play" then you might not be hitting the shots you want to and thus hitting more of those shots.
If you are just out for a lazy day of golf and in no hurry you may not care how long it takes you to play a round.

Your speed of play can change, if you want it to. You have to ask yourself, "how good do you want to be?" If you want to be better than the average everyday golfer you will need to hit the driving range. Improving your golf game requires:
- Persistence - Sticking with it.
- Practice - Going to the driving range and hitting shot after shot with same club to build some consistency. It could also include taking lessons from the golf pro.
- Patience - Knowing that everyday will not be your best. Learning to play your game and not worry about those around you or any other distracting factors.

Maturity in Christ can be similar to the speed of play in golf. The question is not "how good do you want to be?", but now changes to, "how much do I want to know and how much do I want to reflect Christ to those around me?"

In churches all around us there are various degrees of spiritual maturity within their walls. Why is that? They are all listening to the same pastor, having the same communion, singing the same songs... Well that is the group size analogy with golf. You can only go as fast as the slowest one in the group. In Church, sitting under a Pastor, you can learn a lot...but not enough. If you show up once a week to be fed, by Monday you'll be hungry again and looking for something else to fill that need.

How often do you practice by yourself? How often do you open the Word of God and read? If you want to be fed...read.

1 Timothy 4:7-9 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance

2 Timothy 3:15-17 and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Quiet times are important and help us stay on the correct path through the week. Also small group Bible studies, discipleship groups, and Christian mentors help us learn and train ourselves up in the Way we need to go.

And finally it boils down to desire... or better yet time available. Nowadays we have very little of our "me" time. Constantly being pulled form here to there and this event to that one. If we want to learn, if we want to live the life God has called us to, we must make time (no matter how tired we are).

Matthew 26:41 "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."

Romans 12:11-13 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Colossians 1:10-11 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully

We all need to re-evaluate why we are here. What is our purpose and what has God placed in our responsibility. We need to take it seriously and make it a priority. Otherwise we are going to watch others play through and never really get to where God wants us to be. Let's try to have a complete game...Mirror Christ.

1 Corinthians 9:26-27 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Second shot was on the green and a one putt for birdie. That "single" may have made a bad choice on playing through as we're waiting on him now to tee off on #14...

NYR

2010-01-05T15:38:00.006-06:00

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off
your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to
be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new
self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
(Eph 4:22-24 NIV)

(N)ew (Y)ear's (R)esolutions
Goals...Resolutions....call them what you want, but write them down. There is something about writing them down that give us a sense of accountability.

Last year I challenged us to "set them (goals) with others in mind. Regardless of what it cost us."
So I will try to hold true to that.

No Resolutions on here about dropping weight (we should stay healthy because our bodies are God's temple).

But here they are:
#1 Live each day as if it were my last with regard to my relationship with God.
#2 Live each day as if it were my last with regard to my relationship with my wife.
#3 Live each day as if it were my last with regard to my relationship with my boys.
#4 Live each day as if it were my last with regard to my relationship with my friends.
#5 Devour the Word (the Bible). Read it for fun, wisdom, and because i have the freedom to do so, to garner God's wisdom for my life.
#6 Pray more with my wife.
#7 Hold hands with my wife...Everyday.
#8 Hug and kiss my kids everyday (after Chicken Pox).
#9 Go on a date with my wife at least once a month.

Those are them. Many thanks to @RyanRasberry for help on this. I hope that you are moving towards the prize. My prayer is that everyone that reads (the Blog) this year will be challenged to BE what and where God needs, focused on mirroring Him to a lost and dying world.

LORD, help me to put away regrets of not becoming the person I
thought I would be. This new year, help me take hold of a new
attitude and a new way of thinking to become the person You intended me to
be. Thank You that I can begin becoming that today! In
Jesus' name, Amen.

Let's have the resolve to move in Christ.
Today, Tomorrow and Forever!

Peace and Love

B

Hole 12, Par 3, 173 yards...

2009-12-07T13:15:00.006-06:00

Hole #12

The 12th hole is uphill all the way.
The tee box is low with the green sitting uphill, a creek cuts the hole about 100 yards out.
Past the creek lies a huge bunker and a shelved green with the pin placement today on the front and lower shelf.

This hole could prove tricky, in that, over the last couple of holes the wind has picked up and has been gusty at times. This hole will require a high shot to get on the green and the wind could come "in play".

Wind is an interesting creation. It can be powerful but not visible, except through its effects (ie. see the trees, flags on the holes, etc.). It can keep you cooler on a hot day or make you cold on a cool day.
It can also affect your shot. If you hit a bad shot it exacerbates the problem. Sometimes it is easy to forget about the wind because the trees on the course protect you, but once you've hit that shot you had better have taken the wind into account.

Well our tee shot went well. Landed on the upper shelf of the green for a birdie putt!

The interesting thing about wind and how it relates to life are amazing. If we are not anchored in our faith we are easily blown around from thought to thought and belief to belief.

Ephesians 4:13-15 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.

You have to know what you believe and be ready to give account.

1 Peter 3:15-16 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

If you are not grounded in your faith, people will use that against you. They may then not see any difference between a "Christian" and themselves. We need to be bold and not easily shaken by what may come upon us.

Matthew 7:24-26 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.

The wind can take many forms in life, from people to situations to even our character (what we do when no one else is around). Ultimately what we do in private will come to light eventually when we are tested by the wind. So do the right things, know who you are in Christ and move forward knowing that though the winds may blow, your shot (character) is as straight as it can be.

Well the birdie putt went right by the cup....and off the green....and down the hill. so chipped back on and putted for bogey.

Back to even par on the day.

On to the Par 4 #13....

Moving.....

2009-12-07T13:13:00.001-06:00

well it can suck the life out of you. Hence, the reason i have not posted hole #12 yet. Hopefully it will follow soon and we can make it all the way through 18 and on to the clubhouse for the 19th hole.

we'll see.....

Hole 11, Par 4, 379 yards...

2009-11-12T11:07:00.006-06:00

Hole #11

The 11th hole on this course is setup with a right dogleg.
Its fairway goes straight for about 270 yards then doglegs to the right up to the green.
This hole has quite a few deep bunkers on it, so that will be the hazzard we need to avoid.

The drive went just where we wanted (well straight at least). It left us with an approach shot of about 110 yards to the pin. The second shot didn't fair so well. We ended up right of the green in one of those many bunkers this hole has to offer.

When you hit into the bunker there are a lot of things that need to be considered.

First, you have to understand what caused you to end up in the sand. Sometimes the ball rolls or slips in. Sometimes it is a bad shot or the wrong choice of club.

Another thing to consider is that once you are in the sand is... the way out is kind of unorthodox.

The object in getting out is to hit a couple inches behind the ball and let the sand push the ball up and out.
If you do it right...you're out.
But...sometimes that sand holds on.
Sometimes you hit it well but that bunker is too long or deep and your best shot puts you right back in the bunker.
...In a different spot
...but same sand.

The world drops us in interesting situations all the time... troubled spots...
The world may tell us to just act like it never happened or it might influence us to blame others to get out of the situation.

But what should we do??

If we are in a difficult situation we need to first realize why we are there. How did we end up there? If it was something we did, then we need to realize our mistake, repent and then go on with the consequenses for getting out.

Like mentioned earlier, the world would have you deny it happened (lie your way out) or to blame others.

Proverbs 28:13 He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

The Christian will be much like the unorthodox way we use the sandwedge. We must push our way out (or back to the narrow road) with prayer and repentance. Through prayer we will look for God's direction and leading to get us through.

Also we will need humility to seek forgiveness and restoration. Through that process we can once again be on solid ground.

As a Christian we are forgiven in Christ, but that doesn't mean there aren't consequences for our sin.

Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace

Those consequences must be faced and dealt with the be restored with those around us.

Let's all help one another avoid those "sand traps" of life.

Galatians 6:1-3 Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

Well sand shot went well! On the green and the par putt was good!

Cleaning the sand off the clubs and heading to 12...

Hole 10, Par 4, 388 yards...

2009-10-26T14:24:00.007-05:00

Hole #10

Hole number 10 on this course is beautiful like the rest.

The clubhouse is set on a hill/plateau, so the #10 green is set downhill from the Tee box.

It is a straight shot from the Tee box to the flag on the green.

This hole has a very tight fairway. By tight fairway, I mean its actual fairway at one point is 20 yards wide. In addition this hole has very thick rough (deep grass) on either side with trees lining the full length until they open up at the green.

Well the Tee shot was a slice (straight out about 230 yards then a sharp right turn about 30 yards.)

Now more golfing options....

...The MULLIGAN

As defined: (retaken golf shot) - a shot that, against the rules, a golfer allows an opponent to take again.

Weekend golfers may have an unwritten rule where they allow each other one mulligan on the front nine and another on the back nine.
In fundraising tournaments, they sell mulligans to make money for their cause.
I mean seriously who wouldn't want a "do-over" every now and then? But even when you play that way you have to make sure not to use it too early, you must choose wisely.

Well, no "do-overs" here. We'll play it where it lies (see hole #5).

Our choice here is to punch it out to the fairway.

In life there are "do-overs"as we go...or better yet --FORGIVENESS.

During our lives, we screw up.

We make mistakes.

As Christians we have forgiveness in/through Christ, once we repent and turn from that sin.

Isaiah 43:25 "I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.

Psalm 103:12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Romans 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,

That is comforting. As Christians we understand that we are not perfect, in many cases (mine) far from it, but we rest in His grace.

There is enough (GRACE) for us and the whole human race" DCB

We learn from those mistakes, repent of them, move forward and grow in grace and the love that abounds in Christ.

1 John 3:6 No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.

Hebrews 10:25-27 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.

We have forgiveness in Christ, if we are in Christ (have a relationship with Him).

If we're not in a relationship with Christ, but we know all about Him and His sacrifice....then we have made our choice.
There is only one way to happiness in the end.

John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

There are no mulligans for those apart from Christ after death.

No "do-overs".

Choose wisely.

Better yet, work and train yourself not to rely or lean on the mulligan.

Set the example!

1 Timothy 4:12 Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.

Well after we punched it back on the fairway, it was a short chip on the green and a putt for Birdie.
Sometimes we want to take a mulligan, but if we learn to play it where it lays it will better develop our game (character) and all in all probably help us more later on this course.

This hole started off a little shaky, but worked out OK.

On the way to #11

Making the turn....

2009-10-19T13:00:00.006-05:00

Making the turn.
Generally means you are through 9 holes and making the turn at the clubhouse. This provides you with an excellent opportunity to grab some refreshment before heading to the 10th Tee.

Well 9 holes down...
perfect day...
great weather...
and even par.

Now it is time for REFRESHMENTS!!! (My favorite...if it has sugar, I'm there)

We will stop and get something to drink, maybe a candy bar or energy bar for a burst of energy and then on to #10.
The turn is a great time to take a pause and mentally take a rest, compose yourself and get back your focus for the rest of the course.

There are refreshments on the course as well. There are food carts that carry everything on them from drinks to candy or chips...some even have sandwiches.
Those carts are for us high metabolism people who seem to have a hollow leg and need constant nourishment (or just like to eat all the time).
Be careful though...Sometimes we can eat too much or even the wrong thing and it might turn that "pick me up" to a "weigh me down" and have an upsetting effect (not that i have ever experienced that). So don't overdo it.

In life I think that God will send those refreshment carts along. It can come in the form of people or situations.
God sends people in our paths with His truth and love.
They have God's truth in them and they speak it and share it, but sometimes we're too busy to take the time for the refreshment.

There are also clubhouses at the turn as well. Not really clubhouses (although it might be questionable for some) but more appropriately, churches. They are those places at the turn. Right before Monday and right after Saturday.
A place for refreshment.
A place to refocus.
A place to belong.

Make sure you have that in your life.
Make sure you are getting that refreshment or nourishment on a regular basis.

Find a place that feeds you and loves you out on the course (community) and in the clubhouse because we all need that to continue to "play at our best".

Take the full effect of His refreshment, you can't overdo this one.

Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

Matthew 11:29-30 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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Be refreshment to those around you as well.

John 13:34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

Romans 12:10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.

Well that was great...

Now on to #10, Par 4, 388 yards...

Hole 9, Par 4, 401 yards...

2009-10-12T08:24:00.004-05:00

Hole #9

Beautiful hole. Short Par 4 up towards the clubhouse. Green is surrounded by a waterfall and pond. Hole plays mostly uphill, which will make it play longer.
We have had a great round so far so let's cap the front nine score with a good showing on this beautiful hole.

The 9th hole, by now you could be getting a little tired as it has been almost two hours on the course.

You could also be a little frustrated by your score and current skill level.

The good thing about #9 is it will play into (towards) the clubhouse. So after you finish this hole you can get a drink, maybe a bite to eat, and get your focus and energy back.

By now if this is your first time out, (or you're one of those people I referred to earlier in the round that didn't think that golf was, in fact, a sport) you are probably a little tired.
You may have thought all you needed to do was go buy some "sticks" and go hit a little white ball and drive around in the cart all day.

NEWS FLASH...owning golf clubs does not make you a golfer. In the same way owning a basketball does not make you Michael Jordan, or having a tree in your backyard does not make you a forest ranger.

You might look like a golfer, but playing takes effort, it takes focus, it takes discipline.
Just because you own the clubs, maybe the shoes, maybe you are even great playing it on the Wii or Xbox 360, but you are not a "golfer" till you hit the course.

Similar things happen in the church today. People show up to church on Sundays, but what do they do on the other six days of the week?
Do our actions show we went to church?
Do others see it?

You might "look" like a Christian, but it takes action on your part. You have to accept the gift...

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Emphasis added.

It would be quite easy to go to church and talk a good game on Sundays....but quite another to head out on the "course" Monday - Saturday and show it.
It was once said, "It is easy to talk the talk, but quite different to walk the walk."

Being a Christian, following the narrow road (Matthew 7:13-14), everyday takes sacrifice. We have to willingly look towards Christ with every action and thought.

2 Corinthians 10:5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Does that mean we will be popular? ...probably not.

Does that mean our life will be easy? ...probably not.

Does that mean we will have to sacrifice and be persecuted from time to time? ...Absolutely YES!

Look at the sacrifice of the rich young ruler....

The sacrifice to him was too great.

Matthew 19:16-22 Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?"
"Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments."
"Which ones?" the man inquired.
Jesus replied, " 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,'and 'love your neighbor as yourself.'"
"All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?"
Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

Was it too much? NO WAY. He gave up eternity for 60 or 70 years here on Earth. What a shame.

So what must we do? We must be on the "course" (narrow road), we must do our best, we must mirror Christ.

1 Corinthians 9:27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Let's all be dilligent. Let's walk the walk and the talking will take care of itself.

Awesome hole! On the green in two (barely...almost rolled off the green in the drink). Long birdie putt was good. Nice front nine. Even after nine.

Let's hit the clubhouse...then on to #10

Hole 8, Par 4, 449 yards...

2009-10-05T16:34:00.006-05:00

Hole #8

Hole #8 is a challenging Par 4. You can't hit a driver off the tee because that will put you in the creek that is about 250-270 yards out. So we will hit a "hybrid" or a 4 iron to get us a good second shot.

Now on to our "short game". The "short game" is roughly defined as anything inside 150-180 yards. Generally you will use a high iron (8 or 9) to a wedge. In general, in the "short game" you are not too concerned with trees (assuming you are in the fairway). The only issues/hazards would be sand, and in some cases, water.

When you get into the "short game" area of the game, you have to put the "length" of the hole behind you and now you need to focus on the accuracy of the shot.
A good "short game" is very critical to a good round of golf and most people struggle with it. The "short game" has a lot to do with accuracy and placement. You want to be on the green with this shot and as close to the pin as possible. This shot will determine how difficult your putt will be or if you will even get to putt at all on the next shot.

It all boils down to choosing the right club, lining up the shot, concentrating, hitting the shot and following through.

So you might be asking how the "short game" could ever have life application in it.
I will start off with YOUR "short game".
Here is an easy question, How many people do you deal with or better yet are in your circle of influence, every day?
You and I alike are called to reflect Christ, to share Christ with the world.

Matthew 28:19-20 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Some view that as a call for the "missionaries" of the world. But if you read the scripture, it does apply to the "missionaries" of the world...you and me.
WE are CALLED to make disciples, to share Christ.

So how is your "short game"?

How well are you reflecting Christ to those around you on a daily basis?

Proverbs 14:15 A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thought to his steps.
1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.

2 Corinthians 10:5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

2 Timothy 2:22 Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

1 Corinthians 6:19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;

How many of us lack the "follow-through" in our short game to do and to "be" all that God has for us?
In our circle of influence are we different than those who are apart from Christ? ...or do we retell "that" joke or forward that email? Do we walk away from unhealthy conversations? Are our lives in contrast to the lost?
Do we have bite? ..or are we bland?

Matthew 5:13 "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men."

Do we focus and follow-through? Do we even have our bearings on the goal and line up right? Do we concentrate (do we have a quiet time?). Is it evident?

Some of us need to focus more on our "short game". Let's all make sure we have the right "tools" so when it comes to the "short game" we can keep it in play and get us all closer to the target.

That was a fun hole. Thankfully we played it well and had a two putt for par. Still one over for the round, but we're having a blast and enjoying this course.

On to hole #9...

Hole 7, Par 5, 534 yards...

2009-09-22T10:39:00.003-05:00

Hole #7

Hole #7 on this golf course is the #1 handicapped hole.

That means that when the course was handicapped (rated for difficulty), this was the hardest or most challenging.

Holes will be ranked from 1-18 on the course.
1 being the most challenging to 18 being the least.

Although when I play I can barely tell the difference...they are all challenging. Every time you tee off the fun, or should I say the challenge, begins. Focusing on hitting the ball well, planning your shot, focusing and following through... and on top of that...having fun as you play.

This particular hole has a very long and tight fairway (bringing back the "ball eating trees" similar to those on hole #3).
Then comes the decision of whether to "lay up" (hit a short approach shot to make sure you make it over the hazard in front of you on the next hit) or to go for it and hope you ate your Wheaties that day.

The hazard on this hole is located 90 yards in front of the green. It is a creek that runs across the fairway, but it also has a huge cliff. The elevation goes up 20 feet at the cliff. And finally that brings us to the green which is surrounded by the best sand traps this course has to offer.

This will be a fun yet challenging hole.

The interesting thing about golf is that every swing you take goes on your score card. Every stroke ultimately adds up in the end and determines how well you performed. The one with the least strokes, wins the round. The reason I reflect on that here is there will be many opportunities for mistakes and thus strokes to be added to my scorecard on this beauty of a hole!

As we go through life we mess up. We make mistakes. If life were paralleling the game of golf with every mistake we would be adding strokes to our score card.

Not a great thought. But we all mess up from time to time. We don't make wise choices or decisions and we sin.

If anyone ever tells you they never mess up or they never make mistakes, walk away quickly so the lightning doesn't strike you.

Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

We have all sinned. We have all added strokes to the scorecard of life. With that sin comes punishment.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

That scripture tells us that our wages (what we earn) for sin is death. BUT... the gift of God is Eternal life in Christ Jesus. So all we have to do is accept that gift, take it and receive eternal life!

That is so awesome.

If we receive the gift --> we get Eternal life. So why don't more people take hold of that gift and open it?
Maybe it is ignorance, defiance, stubbornness, or pride.

So in golf to get a clean score card or get strokes removed on a round you have to start over or cheat. To get the strokes (sin, mistakes) removed in life, you have to look to Christ, repent and He will forgive. Wow what a blessing. In life it is not the one with the least stokes (sins) that wins the round (Eternal life), it is:

Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Let's do our part to reflect Christ and show that same kind of forgiveness to others on a daily basis.

Well that hole was fun. We got hung up in the trees on the tee shot, so we naturally laid up for the approach. We were on the green in 3 and two putted for par.

So far this course has been challenging and frustrating at times but all in all, it is just great to be out on the course.

On to hole #8...

Hole 6, Par 4, 444 yards

2009-09-10T07:42:00.005-05:00

Hole #6

Golf is a pretty funny "sport".

In fact there are a lot of people that make fun of the fact that it is called a "sport". Normally by people who really have no idea of what is involved.

Things like, "how can it be a sport when all you have to do is hit a ball with a club and then drive up to it in a cart."
I have even heard someone suggest that "it is not a sport if you don't at least run or break a sweat from the exercise."
While others tell me "that golf is a piece of cake because they have played it on their Wii."(mind you these same people have never been on a golf course)

So there you go all you avid golfers, it is a piece of cake! Just remember that the next time your taking an approach shot to the green over the water.

I do believe that golf is a fairly straightforward sport. It is fun and could be considered relaxing but i am not sure about the easy part.

It is real easy to watch it on television and say it is easy, quite another thing to actually pick up the clubs and attempt playing. There is a lot more involved than just picking up the club and hitting the ball. The outside factors (wind, noise, water and sand hazzards, and other distractions) play a huge role in how you finish the game.

In Christianity, like golf, there are a lot of mockers.

There are a lot of people who call Christians hypocrites.
There are a lot of people who make fun of Christians.

From the outside looking in they see what we say we believe. They know how a Christian is suppose to act, but they see us (Christians) fail.
They see us stumble.

And why is that? Why do we stub our toe so often? Shouldn't it be easy? We have the book. We know what's right and wrong. We know the ultimate goal is to reach out to others, to "go". When He tells us He is with us always.

Matthew 28:19-20 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

So why do we have such problems? Why do we fall short?

Could it be priorities?
Could it be focus?
Could it be our surroundings?

Well, yes to all of those questions.
But, what are we saying to to God when we don't focus on the "prize"?
When He is not our number 1 priority?
What are we idolizing instead of focusing on Him?

Exodus 20:1-4 And God spoke all these words: "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. "You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below."

Where are our priorities when others pull us away from what we need to be focused on?
The outside factors of life play a huge role in how we finish our earthly stay.

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

We need to remember that while some will make fun of our faith, and some will make fun of us and call names, that we are not here to please them. In fact, a lot of people will not like what we have to say about giving up sinful ways and desires.

But ultimately we are not here to have the most friends on facebook.
We are not here to be loved by everyone.
We are here to reflect Christ.

So focus on the goal....press on towards the prize.

Philippians 3:12-14 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Push distractions aside. If you mess up, there is forgiveness in Christ. Pick yourself up and get back on the narrow path.

This hole worked out rather well fo us. I had to stay focused and pay attention to the goal (the green), but I made it out with a par.
If this game was so easy, I should be way under par by this time of the day.
But I am one over, and that is OK.
I will do my best and tackle each shot as it comes. Pressing on to hole #7.

Hole #7 should be fun. It is the #1 handicaped hole on the course. WooHoo!

Hole 5, Par 4, 410 yards....

2009-09-02T14:00:00.006-05:00

Hole #5

This course is absolutely beautiful. It is real easy to get distracted just by the beauty of the course and how nice of a day it is.
But we came to play and so back to the task at hand.

This particular hole is open down the left side and the right side is tree-lined. So we will just focus on going left or left center.

Good solid contact but it had a little fade to it. Looks like we landed over on the right side (of course!) but we'll have to see the spot of the ball before getting too upset.

With the spot of the ball it looks like we have a straight shot at the green...

....as long as we can move the 50 foot oak tree that the ball rolled up to.

OK so we have a couple of decisions here.

If we were just goofing off with a bunch of friends we might use "the foot wedge" and give the ball a kick from behind the tree.
Or we might declare "winter rules" (even though it is the middle of the summer) and say we don't want to damage the course by taking the shot and move it out as to cause no damage to the delicate new growth (50 foot tree "new growth", I know but some play that way).
A lot of players would just look around to see if anyone is watching, and if the coast is clear just move it and hit it before anyone can see the spot.

Or there is option #2. We could play the ball as it lays. Take out a club and just hit it back in play in the fairway and go on. Because we got ourselves in that position by our Tee shot.

The second option is the right way to play and the honest way to play.
It would be real easy to just move the ball a little and have an easier time of this hole.
But, sometimes it is the tougher situations that are meant to build our character and our skills (both in golf and life).

Life situations present us that same option.
Sometimes we are in difficult places and have to make a decision.

We can get upset and say, "life is not fair" and be controlled by the situation, or we can see it as a building block in our life to be who God truly wants us to be.

James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

It is easy to say well "It will be OK this one time", "no one will know but me", "really, what's it going to hurt, nobody here knows me".

Common phrases you may have heard in your head before. But if we take this life serious we have to play right.

We have to let our character speak at all times, regardless of who is watching.

1 John 3:6 No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.

Hebrews 10:26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left,

John 10:27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

Sometimes the "correct shot" when playing by the rules, is a lot tougher in the present. But it pays huge dividends down the road.

So next time this game of life puts you behind a tree. Remember who you are and whom you represent and take the shot you know you should.

Philippians 2:14-15 Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.

Take the shot...build Character....reflect Christ.

Well the tree didn't help us on this hole. We ended up getting on in three and missing the putt for par. So bogey on the hole but character was displayed on the course!

On we go. Through five holes we are one over! Hole 6, Par 4, 444 yards...

Hole 4, Par 3, 171 yards

2009-08-31T11:55:00.007-05:00

Hole #4

Having never played this course before, I was looking forward to the Par 3's. You know the feeling, getting to hit an iron instead of being so dependent on your driver. Well i was looking forward to the Par 3's until I saw this hole...

It is 171 yards to the center of the green, it's going to play a little shorter today because the pin location is in the front.

But to give you an adequate description of this hole.....
Picture the ocean...
you got that idea in your mind?

Lots of blue water...now put an island in the middle of it.
Now you are picturing this hole.

Actually only 1/3 of the hole is water, but it is still going to be a way difficult hole.

Why is it that sometimes when we see what is in front of us we tense up and worry?
We see that obstacle (Water in this case) in front of us and start to worry. It rattles our confidence. Some very sound advice was given to me once in a sermon by David Daniels, he said, "Do your thing the way you practice." In other words, don't let what you see in front of you affect what you know you are capable of.

You have hit you 6 iron numerous times, you know what it will do if you hit it right and the water will just be a pretty feature on the course, not a negative aspect.

So focus and do your thing.

Good hit! We played through the inward/outward distractions and landed it on the green.

In our everyday lives....Why is it that we let our surroundings affect who we are at the core?
If we are who we claim to be, why do we seem so "wishy washy" at times?

Why do we lose our cool when we are faced with certain situations?

Why does peer pressure affect us so much?

We know what we're capable of (even more we know what God is capable of) but yet we let our guard down. We falter, we worry, we tense up and freeze generally during the true tests of our life.

We know we were never promised an easy life here on Earth. We knew it wasn't going to be all easy, sometimes we were going to be in sticky and otherwise difficult situations. Maybe that is why we were called to take up our cross.

Mark 8:34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

Deny himself...focus. We know what is important in those difficult situations....so focus.

But we would rather worry.
Worry about what we see although we have a faith in the unseen.
Worry about what people will think if we don't go along with the crowd.
Worry about how it will all play out rather than standing on what we know.

worry.....anxiousness.....uncertainty.....confusion......peer pressure....

Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Matthew 6:25-27 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

Proverbs 10:25 When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever.

Matthew 10:22 "All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved."

1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Ephesians 6:13-15 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

Stand on what (WHOM) you know. "Do your thing the way you practice." Don't let the current thing in front of you affect how you know you should act/live.

Be Bold....Stand firm....follow through with your part.

.....all that worry and anxiety about the water and i couldn't even putt when i got on the green! Oh well, got a par.

Next up Hole 5, Par 4, 410 yards...

Hole 3, Par 5, 562 yards

2009-08-24T10:34:00.003-05:00

Hole #3

So we have two par 4's behind us. That should have us all warmed up for the Par 5 in front of us.
This is a beautiful hole but it is one of the hardest one's on the course.

The fairways are very tight (meaning narrow). They are tree lined and being that it is mid summer they are full and bushy reaching in towards the middle to grab any unsuspecting ball.

I have always been told that trees are 90% air and to play your normal shot, but for me....i am generally in the 10% and nail them every time. So for today, I will do my best to avoid the 'hook' or the 'slice'.
The hook is a shot that can start off seemingly straight but turn hard left once it has left the face of the club. The slice, like its counterpart the hook, is similar but it goes hard right.

These shots appear to be great shots for about the first 75-100 yards but the spin and follow-through they are hit with greatly affect the outcome of the shot.

So too with Christianity...

When we start off we all seem to be going the direction we need to be. We are 'on fire' for Christ and pursuing His desires above our own. But as with golf shots, we need to have the right foundation and follow-through to ensure that we stay out of the rough and troubled areas as we walk this 'course' God has set us on.

Matthew 7:13-14 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Outwardly all we, as fellow believers, might see of another Christian (or they see of us), is that initial contact and connection with Christ. The analogy of hitting the golf shot. They see us as going straight down the middle of the narrow road (fairway).
But, what things, what obstacles have we let get near us that can pull or sway us off that road? What have we let pull us to the side where not only getting back in the fairway is the goal, but also being able to even see the goal (prize) anymore is difficult?

As with golf, life and Christianity needs to have our attention and concentration. When we get distracted with all that is going on around us and what people are saying (or even doing) we can become distracted and lose focus.
We are only here for 70 maybe 80 years but eternity lasts forever. Choose wisely and focus on your life. Those around you may depend on your choices.

...well the tee shot went ok. We stayed out of the trees and kept it in the fairway. The awesome thing about par 5's is generally you follow your first shot up with another long shot still 250-300 yards out. Just as easy to hook or slice with your 3 wood as your driver. Focus and concentration is what it is all about. You can have a lot of fun out here if you are focused on the goal and doing everything within your control to play your best.

When we get to the end, all that discipline will pay off.

Nicely played! On in three and one putt. That is a birdie and brings us to even on the day.

Next up Hole 4, Par 3, 171 yards.....

Hole 2, Par 4, 360 yards

2009-08-21T12:41:00.004-05:00

Finally at hole #2.

It is quite a distance from #1 to #2.
Golf in general requires a lot of patience. From battling bad shots to waiting on people, you learn a lot about a person's patience on the golf course.

This hole plays rather nicely. Pretty short Par 4. We got to the green in two shots, but now the putting....

This green is pretty tricky. It has steps/shelves/levels (whatever you want to call it) and as my skills would have it, my ball is on the bottom and the cup is on the top. Well two big hills and I can be there.

Putting is pretty funny. Half of our shots on the golf course end up being putts but we rarely practice them. In fact we rarely think about them. We could all improve our game tremendously with a little focus and concentration.

It is the little things on the golf course that are important. So I need to line this putt up. I need to focus on this shot and not rush it. Push distractions aside and not get in a hurry.

.......That putt went well from 50 foot out left it 6 inches from the cup.

Isn't that scenario similar to life?
It is the little things that make a difference.

But all too often you will find us focused on the big picture and "what is next", rushing through life. Skipping over the little things and the details all to "just get ahead".

Rarely do we silence our cell phones (no, not vibrate...quiet), much less actually take time to talk with God.

I am not a survey guy but if there was one (and there probably is) on the time spent in prayer for a Christian, it would probably average less than 1 minute a day. But isn't that the most important aspect. In order to know what He wants and desires and plans for us, shouldn't we talk to him? Shouldn't it be a priority in our lives. Shouldn't we push all distractions aside and not get in a hurry. Wouldn't that improve the overall condition we find ourselves in day to day?

Proverbs 16:9 In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.

Maybe we need to focus a bit more on God and concentrate on His Will a little more.

...well a tap in for par.

Good hole for us and good counsel along the way.

Now on to #3. This will be a true test of how ready we are to play today. Par 5, 562 yards with a tight fairway......

Hole 1, Par 4, 420 yards

2009-08-14T09:32:00.011-05:00

The first hole of the day.

The first hole on any golf course has it's good and bad attributes.

Three good things about being on hole #1:
1. First and foremost you have the freedom and privilege to be out on the course playing.
2. The score card in your cart is blank. You start out clean with no marks/strokes against you yet.
3. You will spend the next few hours playing a game (frustrating as it can sometimes be) with some one you will enjoy playing with and get to know better through the process.

The bad/frustrating/stressful attributes:
1. That first shot off the tee box. It is sometimes hard to hit a good first shot for fear of failure. There are more people watching you tee off on hole #1 than will watch the remainder of your day. If you're like most, you probably didn't prepare yourself for the shot.....you're tight (forgot to stretch) and you probably didn't warm up enough (if at all).
The pressure to perform well right off the bat causes most to come up with excuses for the shot before they hit it. "My back really is bothering me this morning." "I tweaked my arm last night hope it doesn't bother my game.", etc....
Most people are busy thinking up reasons/excuses for why they might play "off" than really concentrating on the fundamentals and playing the game (Doing the best you can)

Can you see the parallels with Christianity?
First of all if you are in certain areas you have the freedom to be a Christ-follower and share/meet and discuss with others. Once you turn your life over to Christ you score card is wiped clean.

Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Psalm 103:12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Your partner is this endeavor is none other than Christ. Not only can you consider Him your caddie (giving you pointers and lessons learned) but spending time with Him will help you to know Him better. He has been here and lived a sinless life, who better to get advice and learn from? He has given us His all to make sure we finish well. And thankfully He is driving the cart.

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

As far as the pressure we feel when we're starting off on something new, if we are prepared, we can show people how it is not anything that we do on our own, but the power of Christ working through us that helps us be who we are and accomplish the tasks set before us.

Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

1 Timothy 4:12 Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.

Yes the first hole can be mentally taxing and somewhat challenging, but we seemed to make it alright. Were we perfect on the first hole? No we shot a 5, so bogey on this one. But we know that with persistence, diligence and practice we can continue to improve.

This is a long and difficult course at times. We will have to focus and concentrate on the task at hand.

Well on to hole #2. Feeling better after getting the first hole complete and only being a stroke behind. This one is a short Par 4 with a stepped green.......

(AA) Allegory Attempt

2009-08-12T14:09:00.006-05:00

The thought has occured to me over the last few weeks to try and write an allegory.
For those of you who don't know what that is:

"SYMBOLIC WORK - a work in which the characters and events are to be understood as representing other things and symbolically expressing a deeper, often spiritual, moral, or political meaning"

I am going to play golf. or better yet walk you through 18 holes comparing golf with Christianity.

Golf seems to be a sport that has grown in popularity and i think will relate fairly well with most people. The thought process and how it will all "play" out as of yet are not solidified. As we embark on this journey, i welcome insight, comparisons, and critiques. I am venturing out on this as a discipline to keep myself sharp and hopefully take someone in the "cyber" world into a much deeper thought process concerning their ultimate eternity and their responsibilities right now on Earth.

Join me on this adventure. My plan and hope is that it will be updated in a timely manner and that someone will enjoy it as much as i will.

Great day out today. Perfect for golf. Gentle breeze, sunshine, mid 80's, great playing partner..........

Reflecting on the Moon

2009-08-07T10:54:00.004-05:00

So i was driving along with my family a couple of night's ago and the moon was full. We were discussing how pretty it was, when my wife informed the boys that the moon doesn't give off light on its own, it reflects it. That got me to thinking...i know scary.
The moon is pretty interesting when you think about it. It gives off no light on its own but is beautifully bright. It gets it's light by reflecting the sun. When it is a full moon and not being blocked by anything it is at its best reflecting the sun...beautiful and bright.

Ever consider your life that way?

We are called as Christians to reflect the Son as well.
How well we reflect the Son depends on how much we are blocked.
The moon gets blocked by the Earth and sometimes looks like a fingernail, or a half circle, or like nothing.
The strange/funny/weird part is...that same WORLD blocks how bright we shine as well. It blocks us from our source of light.

We all know that living organisms grow best in the light. We can't grow as well when we are in the dark, or better yet, blocked from the Light. We sometimes let the world get in the way of what is truly important and meaningful.

We let the world block that light.

We do it in many ways from words we use, people we associate with to things we do or see. Just like the moon has a hard time reflecting light when it is blocked or away from the source of light, so too we are hindered when we don't put ourselves in a position to obtain and thus reflect as much Light as possible.

We are given 60, 70 maybe 80 or 90 years to walk on this earth. When you weight that with eternity and where we will spend it, we really don't have that much time to reflect Christ to those around us.
What/how you choose here to reflect your relationship with Christ will be brought to light once you step out into eternity.

Let's all try to remember when we look at the moon and how cool and pretty it is, that our lives need to resemble a more full moon than a new one.

Matthew 5:14-16
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

Reflect Christ.
Make it a great day!
B

Mountaintops

2009-07-27T12:32:00.004-05:00

Mountaintop experiences are amazing! But they're not why we are here. I know a lot of people that think Christianity is all about mountaintop experiences. Moving from one to another. Mountaintop experiences are amazing and rewarding but our faith plays out in the valleys and trenches.
Look at Christ's example....rejected, spit on, beaten. Doesn't sound like a mountaintop.

Think back to the transfiguration, Peter wanted to put up three shelters and hang out there on the mountaintop. And i mean who wouldn't..hanging out with Jesus, Moses and Elijah?
But Peter's question was answered in action. They left the mountain to continue their work.

We are not here for mountaintops...we are here for the valleys. We have our reward on the other side. This side we work for the King. Matthew 28:19-20. "Go" is the word. "Go" and make disciples. "Go" into the valleys. "Go" to all nations. Let's enjoy the mountaintops we get to experience but let's not live there. Let's get our work done so we can "go" hear "Well done good and faithful servant". Enjoy your day and remember the valley you walk through today means God's not finished with you yet.

Make it a great one!
B

Hannah Montana...REALLY?

2009-07-06T09:54:00.005-05:00

So God speaks to us through the Holy Spirit. He gives us circumstances to pass through. There are tests, situations, people and struggles that all capture our attention and somehow cause us to reflect on who we are and where we are going in life. Are we doing what God has for us? Is this the right choice? Which fork in the road do we take? etc...
So the other day i am cruising down the road and a song comes on, "The Climb"
Some of it's lyrics are:

"I can almost see it
that dream i am dreaming
but there's a voice inside my head saying
'You'll never reach it'
every step I'm taking
Every move I make feels
lost with no direction
my faith is shaking"

Pretty profound, depending on how you take it. If you have ever been faced with some tough decisions, like i have been lately, the song was right on. We as humans lay out our lives and what we want to do, how we want to "do life". Where we will be in 10 or 20 years. And when faced with decisions you try to go ahead and plan it out. But when those plans seem to take you away from where you feel you need to be, what do you do?
Continue with the song:

"But i gotta keep trying
gotta keep my head held high
There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna want to make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast i get there
ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb"

True right? We are ALL on a journey. It is what happens betwwen the dashes that people will remember. What comes after, will be amazing. So we are all pursuing that AMAZING day.
James 1:2-4 2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

We all have mountains before us....how do we handle them? Do we face them and climb, or slide back down and wonder 'what if'?
I have a great many decisions facing me right now about the future, as we all do on a daily basis, but i rest knowing that God is in control. My prayer is for Him to direct my steps.

It was once said, "You either pray and then don't worry or you worry and never truly pray." Pray, have faith, put it in God's hands and move on. 'God will never leave us or forsake us'...' He will cause all things to work for the good to those who love Him' (Romans 8:28)

So if you are facing tough situations, hard decisions, or even just daily life. Press on mi amigo.

In closing....the Song is sung by Miley Cyrus...yep....Hannah Montana! (See Lyrics here)
So because i like it and listened to it....does that make me a tween?
Some questions may never be answered.

Have a great Climb!

Make it a great day!
B

WOW!

2009-07-06T09:53:00.002-05:00

Check this out by Piper....go HERE

Right now?

2009-05-06T14:33:00.002-05:00

What are you going through right now?

Why are you going through it?

What is God training you for?

What is he preparing you for?

What does God want to accomplish through you?

No answers here. Look to God for answers.
Just know that every time difficult situations come, don't look down...look up!
God is probably preparing you to be who He NEEDS you to be.

Make it a great day!
B

Blip...and gone

2009-04-28T11:14:00.003-05:00

Do you ever check your priorities?
What are you pursuing?
What is it costing you?
Have you ever built something just to see it crumble down around you?
What did you sacrifice to build it?
Was it worth it?
Did you learn anything?

Our experiences are but a blip in our lives.
Our lives are but a blip in eternity

Let's focus on what counts.
Let's be kingdom builders.
Let's be people that set our minds heavenward.
Let's effect people and situations with an eternal perspective in hopes that God will bless it and thus not just be a blip, but be somebodies eternity.

Perfection!!!

2009-04-15T08:00:00.003-05:00

I am so glad that Jesus was perfect. Man what a relief it is... He came and lived among us. With His perfection it is a huge load off because it means i don't have to be. I can't even come close. Day by day i realize that this life is merely a pursuit of perfection, we are taking it step by step and day by day. If we spend our time trying to reflect Christ to others, we are making the most of our days.
Heard a preacher once say that we should always act as if we have it all together, but why? Wouldn't transparency be better, people see our struggles but also the peace we hold onto.
Yes we know where our peace comes from and we have that assurance, but to appear as if we have it all together all the time seems fake. I'm glad Jesus said come to me all you who are heavy laden and I will give you rest. I don't have it all together nor will I this side of Heaven. I'm not going to 'act' like it either. I think that is why the word hypocrite is used. Jesus accepts and uses me just as I am.
I don't have to be perfect....I should pursue it at all times and will be glad to meet it in Heaven. Thank you Jesus for paying my debt. I am very grateful for your sacrifice and the gift of salvation. Help me to be who you need me to be.

May your day be great and God accomplish great things through you today.

Peace
B

Do you ever wonder why you are here?

2009-03-30T11:55:00.006-05:00

I mean we are all here for a purpose. But what is yours? Are you pursuing the right things now to be where God wants you to be tomorrow? What is God's will for you?

You ever done something and then wondered if it really made any difference at all? Was it important or just a waste of your time. Like you were just a pawn in someone else's game?
I'll admit i have been in that situation. I have had those thoughts.

I heard a song the other day that made me reflect on my life and the 'unusual' road the my life has wiggled down. The song is WAIT AND SEE by Brandon Heath and here is a couple excerpts:

There is hope for me yet
Because God won't forget
All the plans he's made for me
I have to wait and see
He's not finished with me yet

Still wondering why I'm here
Still wrestling with my fear
But oh, He's up to something
And the farther on I go
I've seen enough to know
That I'm, not here for nothing
He's up to something

As long as your here. God's is not done with you yet. As a close friend told me the other day, "keep walking throught the open doors". God is not done with you yet. Pursue Him with 'reckless abandon'.

New link

2009-03-27T10:41:00.002-05:00

Check out the new link www.gointhename.com It is a mission organization. If you ever wanted to go on a mission trip to Panama this is your link. A close friend of mine runs it and it is having tremendous results.

An interesting life principle learned....by a mistake

2009-03-27T10:19:00.004-05:00

Were you ever disobedient as a child? Of course.
Did you ever learn an important lesson through that disobedience?

This last week my son learned a valuable lesson that sometimes it is much safer to listen to dad. Or at least give a little thought to what the outcome might be.

When we are disobedient, what are the consequences?
What happens that we don't see?
In our disobedience, are we running down a hill out of control?
Are we going to come crashing down at the end?

What do we put in motion through our disobedience that we cannot see?
We all have a Father God.
How often do we honor Him?
How often do we disobey?

Sometimes our disobedience has visable consequences. Sometimes it doesn't, but eventually that downhill run will get out of control and we will wind up with pain.

How much better it is to walk the narrow road hand in hand with our Savior.
How i need to remember that every minute of every day.

The last thing i want is to run down the hill of disobedience and have that momentum carry me somewhere i never thought i would go to someplace i never want to be.

Remember to have an eternal perspective. Jesus came to rescue us. He came to offer Eternal life. It is a free gift. He can be your rescue, peace and confidence just ask Him.

The journey of life is much more controlled with Him than without.

Peace
Make it a great day!

...

2009-03-12T14:45:00.001-05:00

"IF you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything." ~ Mark Twain

Resolutional

2009-01-08T07:51:00.004-06:00

Well here we sit on January 8, 2009. One week since the beginning of the new year. I am not sure how many of you out there in the blogosphere actually set New Year resolutions, but i wonder a week into the year, how many are still in place.
Another thing about resolutions, they generally tend to be ME focused. How can/What can I do to make ME better or more important? What can i do to help MYself?
Have you ever thought about God's perspective?
Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit and we should take care of it, but what about others?
What resolutions were set this year with others in mind? Regardless of what it cost us?

I had the privilege of hearing the song "Let it Go" by Tenth Avenue North over Christmas and it hit home. The following is an excerpt:

"I've been holding on so tight,
look at these knuckles they've gone white
I'm fighting for who i want to be,
I'm just trying to find security.

But You said let it go, You said let it go,
You said life is waiting for the ones who lose control
You said You will be everything I need
You said if i lose my life it's then I'll find my soul
You said let it go.

Well it's hard enough to hear,
harder still to move beyond this fear
We know there is nothing i can bring,
So tell me, what do You want from me?

You said let it go....

But how many of us "let it go"? How many of us hold on. How many of us are more worried about the economy, and our jobs than doing and being who God wants us to be? Where is faith in fear? Where is the peace in turmoil?
God is waiting for us...
Let's have the resolve to move in Christ.
Today, Tomorrow and Forever!

Peace and Love
B

Crowd Mentality

2008-10-20T10:49:00.005-05:00

Have you ever heard the phrase "Crowd Mentality"?

Think back with me, have you ever been innocent of something but the crowd was stirred and it made no difference what you said?

Ever read Matthew 27:11-26?
It was Pilate versus the crowd.
Pilate found no fault and even washed his hands of the deal.
The crowd wanted Jesus, and Pilate was fearful of a riot.

How many times do we stand up to crowds?
How many times do we find ourselves on the crowds side even when we know it is wrong?
How many times are we in situations where outside forces cause us to "feel" a certain way or hold a position we may not even believe in?

There are many things in the world today that the "crowd" (world) wants you to believe and back. Where are you on those issues?
Is it a matter of feeling or a matter of principle?

How do you feel about life? are you fighting for it?
How do you feel about the elderly? Are you defending/helping them?
How do feel about lying and injustice? Are you taking a stand or taking a number to blend?

Pilate found nothing to condemn Jesus with...he tried to pawn him off on Herod.
Pilate buckled under pressure from the crowd. Jesus quit talking.

God gives us no more light when the light is rejected.
MANY see the light, but FEW respond.

Who are you following day to day? The crowd or Christ?

It IS a matter of life.
It IS a matter of principle.
Make your life matter, no matter what the crowd says. It only matters that God's will is being pursued through you.

Peace
B

Please Pray for this wonderful family

2008-05-22T07:44:00.003-05:00

Daughter of Gospel Star Steven Curtis Chapman Hit, Killed by Car
Thursday, May 22, 2008
AP

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The 5-year-old daughter of contemporary Christian music star Steven Curtis Chapman was struck and killed Wednesday by a sport utility vehicle driven by her brother, authorities said.
The girl, Maria, was hit in a driveway on the family residence Wednesday afternoon by a Toyota Land Cruiser driven by her teenage brother, said Laura McPherson, a spokesman for the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
McPherson said no charges are expected.
"It looks like a tragic accident," she said.
She said several members of the Chapman family witnessed the accident, which happened in Williamson County just south of Nashville.
The brother apparently did not see the little girl, McPherson said. She did not have the name or exact age of the brother, only that he is an older teenager.
The girl died later at Vanderbilt Medical Center, hospital spokeswoman Laurie Holloway said.
Chapman, originally from Paducah, Ky., and his wife have promoted international adoption and have three daughters from China, including Maria.
Chapman has won five Grammy awards and 51 Dove awards from the Gospel Music Association.

The singer's Web site said that Chapman and his wife, Mary Beth, were persuaded by their oldest daughter to adopt a girl from China. The experience led the family to adopt two more children and create Shaohannah's Hope, a foundation and ministry to financially assist thousands of couples in adoption.
The Chapmans did missionary work at Chinese orphanages in 2006 and 2007, according to the Web site.
"After our first trip to China, my wife and I knew our lives were changing — our eyes and hearts were opening to how big God really is, and we have wanted to experience more of that," Chapman says on the Web site. "We've really wondered whether or not we should just go to China and stay there. But I don't think so. I believe God is saying, 'I want you to go, get your heart broken, your eyes opened, and then take this story back to the church in America and around the world."'
Chapman also has released a book about being a father entitled "Cinderella: The Love of Daddy and his Princess."

Let us all just come together and pray for this family. They have done so much for all with Steven's songs and in raising awareness and support for overseas adoptions. Let's use our words to intercede on their behalf during this time of loss that they are experiencing.

This space intentionally left blank

2008-05-14T16:01:00.002-05:00

We are told to "be still and know that I am God" in Psalm 46:10.
You ever wonder about that scripture?
Do we always have to be thinking about something? Does something always have to be going through our minds?
Is it wrong to just Veg? to "Chill"?
How many of us in today's world even take a moment to ourselves these days?
It's always something: work, family health, car repairs, bills, kids sports, home repairs, in-laws, out-laws, safety, etc... Whew! I think you get the picture. To answer the question i asked...we don't . We don't have much downtime in this day and age.
But...we need to. We need some down time. We're told to "Be still".
How can we be still if we're running around like a chicken with its head cut off?
There is a time for everything....(Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)
We need to make sure we are making time for ourselves. Time to draw nearer to God. Time to be still. We NEED those quiet moments. I am talking about down time.
Ever wonder why camps and retreats are so effective? It is because you get away and you can't help but have some down time.
So if the space is blank.....

Take it for what it is.
Take a deep breath........That is better.

Never be too busy.........

....for God to speak.

---- This Space was intentionally left blank----

Perspective

2008-04-18T09:56:00.003-05:00

What is your perspective when bad things happen?

Is it positive or negative?

Case in point:
Last week while I was traveling in Oklahoma, my truck (in my driveway in Texas) was set on blocks and its wheels and tires taken. Yes stolen. The general reaction to something like that might be anger.
My 5 yr old Caden however had a different perspective. His statement, "Someone must have needed them more than daddy did."
I love innocence. Can't we all just take a more positive look at things and know that just because bad things happen to us, we really have no reason to get "all bent out of shape". God is still in control.

Peace, Love and happy driving (if YOU still have your wheels)
B

Crazy Crazy Love

2008-03-27T11:33:00.004-05:00

You know anyone who has a pet?
Someone who loves that pet more than the pet will ever love them?
They take it shopping with them. They take it to the movies. They let them eat the same food they eat, in fact they may even let them sit at the table during the meal.
That is not crazy love....that is just plain CRAZY!

You ever known a guy that falls for a girl in high school?
She will wrap him around her finger. He will do anything and everything she asks just because. He is like a puppy on a leash. He is infatuated with her. He is seeing what he can get in return for doing what she wants and asks. High School relationships never last.
That is not crazy love....that is selfish infatuation. It will pass quickly in these days all depending on what "personal things" they give to each other to make it last longer.

Have you ever seen an old married couple?
They have grown old together. He has cared for her through all the sicknesses, she has cared for him when he was on what was thought to be his deathbed. They have raised children in their house and cared for them as well or better than they cared for themselves.
That is not crazy love....but it is definitely love.

So what is crazy love?
What gets that billing?
Well we celebrated it all over the world last Easter Sunday. Some have called it "Amazing Love" while others call it "Wonderful Love". But crazy love is what i call it. God loves us. He passionately loves us. He knew exactly what we would do to Him, His people, His Son. But He loved. Not only did He love through everything but He sent His Son down here to be rejected, mocked, beaten and killed to conquer death for us. Amazing...yes! Crazy....definitely!
But God and only God can love so much that some would call it amazing, others wonderful, and yet others crazy. I am very thankful for the crazy love that God lavished on us. He shows us how to love. He helps us to even be capable of loving. In fact, He tells us to follow His crazy love example by loving God and then loving others. But don't just talk about it. Go do it.
If you haven't received and accepted this crazy love....It is a gift. God gives it, you receive it and grow in it. Don't let this day pass without experiencing this crazy love that is like no other you will or could ever experience.

"It's crazy when love gets a hold of you." Steven Curtis Chapman Something Crazy

Peace
B

2008-03-27T11:12:00.002-05:00

....this space intentionally left blank....

Remedy by David Crowder

2007-10-18T13:12:00.000-05:00

Well i did it. I upgraded my CD library and got Remedy by The David Crowder Band.
It is ....AMAZING
David Crowder is an amazing artist who constructs songs and praise to God that is downright stellar. That is right....STELLAR.

Here is a taste of REMEDY by David Crowder:

Here we are, Here we are
The broken and used
Mistreated, abused
Here we are

Here You are, here You are
The beautiful one
Who came like a Son
Here You are

So we lift up our voices
We open our hands
To cling to the love
That has freed us from sin

He is the one
Who has saved us from sin
He is the one
Who embraced us
He is the one who has come
And is coming again
He's the remedy

Here we are, here we are
Bandaged and bruised
Awaiting a cure
Here we are

Here You are, here You are
Our beautiful King
Bringing relief
Here You are with us

He is the one
Who has saved us
He is the one
Who forgave us
He is the one who has come
And is coming again
He's the remedy

Oh, I can't comprehend
I can't take it all in
Never understand
Such perfect love come
For the broken and beat
for the wounded and weak
Oh, come fall at His feet
He's the remedy
He's the remedy

So sing, sing

You are the one
Who has saved us
You are the one
Who forgave us
You are the one who has come
And is coming again
To make it alright
Oh, to make it alright
You're the remedy
Oh, in us
You're the remedy

Let us be the remedy
Let us bring the remedy

What an amazing song. He is the remedy. We can bring the remedy. But we have to get out to those who need Christ and show that we have the remedy.
I hope these words will impact you to get out and "go". Spread the answer.

Peace

Me, Myself, & Bob

2007-09-07T11:33:00.001-05:00

Yes Bob the tomato. It is a great new book written by Phil Vischer the creator of VeggieTales (one of my favorite).
This book is packed full of his experience and all that came with the show about veggies. I would highly recommend it to anyone as a good read and very interesting. (no matter who you are)

Good quote in the book:
"God loves you. Not because of what you can do, or even because of what you can become if you work really, really hard. He loves you because He made you. He loves you just the way you are. He loves you even when you aren't doing anything at all. We really shouldn't attempt to do anything with God until we have learned to find our worth in Him alone."

Life is Precious

2007-09-07T11:29:00.000-05:00

Take it seriously. God has graciously given us today, that is all. I am more aware of that than ever. My family and i almost weren't here after a hotel stay over the weekend that included "free" Carbon Monoxide poisoning. Not exactly what we were expecting. But after many headaches and some uneasy feelings about the longterm effects, we are still here.
Life passes us by so quickly these days. Take time today and be close to God. Spend some time with him, in His prescence. Hug your family, Love your neighbor, and live the life that you have today. For we are but a vapor.
Peace

God is...

2007-08-28T09:16:00.000-05:00

God is pretty AMAZING! No matter what He is faithful. Place your trust in Him and be amazed because He will never let you down.
Peace

Energy Drinks???

2007-07-30T09:30:00.000-05:00

Energy drinks. There are so many to choose from, so many varieties, so many sizes.
If i took a poll of today's teenage population I bet I would find that somewhere between 60-70% of teens and young adults drink the "energy" drink.
Some people can't live without having one first thing in the morning. Kind of like the Coffee of the 2000's the energy drinks have been a craze and become hugely (not sure that is a word) popular in the last couple of years.
I personally have never had one, but those i talk to just rave about how good they are.
For those of you reading this who drink those cans of "energy", how many of you have read the label?
The contents may not be as good for you as you might think. One label reads:"Do not consume if you are pregnant, or a small child." What determines what a small child is (i was never a SMALL child)? Another reads:"Do not consume more than three a day". What if it is a really long day? And what happens if i do?
Problem is that these drinks contain high levels of caffeine. A drug in and of itself, caffeine, is disguised these days in very slick covers. It is in coffee, cola, and now energy drinks. Why do we think we need energy drinks?
Common answers:
"to give me a pick-up in the morning" - get a good nights rest.
"i couldn't make it through the day without one" - How did anyone make it 5 years ago before energy drinks?
"they taste so good" - so does water, try it again for the first time. Plus it is good for you.

There are lots of things we as people think we need, but in reality God has everything prepared for us.
Why do we feel like we always have to be running around? (Hence the reason for a caffeine boost in the first place.
What is wrong with a little rest?
I think we need to evaluate our priorities and try to do things a little differently. Let's get rid of the caffeine and the energy drings and get a hold of something that will have deeper meaning and impact in our lives. Let's get our energy from God's Word and let let that be what gives us our charge and energy on a daily, even moment by moment, basis.

Matthew 11:28-30
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

LOVE WINS!* part dos

2007-07-23T08:38:00.000-05:00

I would like to take this moment to apologize for my last blog. I evidently offended some people. That was not my intent. The body of Christ is meant to build each other up. So if you do read my blog, first thank you for reading and second if my words offended, i am sorry.

The main point: No matter what you do, where you are, or who you are......nothing really matters but love. God showed His love for us and we must as faithful followers....echo His example and Love others. When we do, we are most clearly resembling our Savior.
LOVE WINS!

LOVE WINS!*

2007-07-09T12:36:00.000-05:00

LOVE WINS! To borrow that phrase from Rob Bell. Love does actually win. No matter where you are, no matter who you are...LOVE WINS.
Love won for us at the cross. Love kept Christ there. Love keeps us faithful to him.

There is a freedom in Love. If you love in the Biblical context(John 13:34)....LOVE WINS. Love is stronger than any choice of words. Love is action. To quote my favorite band of all time (DC Talk) "Love is a verb" Love in and of itself is action. You can not have love without action. You can say "I love you" but until you actual "do" love, love doesn't happen. Love is not just giving someone a place to be. Love is giving a piece of your life, your time, your energy, your effort.

I know this firsthand. I know LOVE WINS with my wife, with my kids, in fact with my entire family. I know that LOVE WINS with the body of Christ.

People know you genuinely care for and love them. They call, Email and text you to let you know their life decisions...it proves that LOVE WINS!
What a blessing.
What a LOVE.

LOVE WINS!!! all the time.

Peace
B
1 Corinthians 13

Summer is on it's way

2007-05-22T09:51:00.001-05:00

Summer is coming. School will be out in a few days, if it is not already out for you. So the big questions for the beginning of the summer:
Where am I going to work?
Will all my friends be available to hang with?
Where am i going on vacation?
How late will i get to sleep in everyday?
How am i going to reflect Christ everyday?

Yeah the last one is one that 90% of us never ask before summer and probably never ask at all. But we should ask it of ourselves....EVERYDAY.
We are suppose to be Christ's mirrors to the unbelieving masses around us. But if we don't take Christ and His challenge personally, those that see us won't take it seriously either.

Do something bold this summer...Be a transparent, passionate follower of Christ. Be a clean mirror.
Now make it a great day!
Peace
B

time

2007-05-11T10:35:00.000-05:00

Time keeps on tickin, tickin, tickin into the future...
and i don't get my blog updated.
Been workin on something really cool though, so i have an excuse. (Actually Paul has done most of the work)
Check out www.buildabridgeministries.com
You can go there now, or it officially launches on the 15th of May.

Peace
I'll be back blogging in a week.

May Your Kingdom be what wakes us up and lays us down

2007-04-16T11:56:00.000-05:00

Came across a great song from TobyMac off of his "Portable Sounds" CD.
Here are the words:

Father God, I am clay in your hands / help me to stay that way through all life's demands / 'Cause they chip and they nag and they pull at me / And every little thing i make up my mind to be / Like I'm gonna be a daddy whose in the mix / And I'm gonna be a husband who stays legit / And I pray that I'm and artist who rises above the road that is wide and filled with self love / Everything that I see draws me / Though it's only in You that I can truly see that its a feast for the eyes - a low blow to purpose / And I'm a little kid at a three ring circus / I don't want to gain the whole world and lose my soul / Don't wanna walk away let me hear the people say / I don't want to gain the whole world and lose my soul / Don't wanna walk away let me hear the people say / The paparazzi flashes and that they think that it's you / But they don't know that who you are is not what you do / True, we get it twisted when we peak at the charts / Yo before we part from the start where's your heart? / You a pimp, hustler? / Tell me what's your title / America has no more stars now we call them idols / You sit idle / While we teach prosperity / The first thing to prosper should be inside of me / We're free ... / Not because of 22's on the range / But Christ came in range we said yes now we changed / Not the same even though i made the fall / Since i got that call no more Saul now I'm Paul (yep) / How do i sense the tide that's rising? / Desensitizing me from living in light of eternity / How do I sense the tide that's rising? / It's hypnotizing me from living in the light of eternity / I don't want to gain the whole world and lose my soul / Don't wanna walk away let me hear the people say / I don't want to gain the whole world and lose my soul / Don't wanna walk away let me hear the people say / Father forgive us when we get consumed by the things of this world that fight for our love ... our passion / As our eyes are open wide and on you grant us the priviledge of Your worldview / And may Your Kingdom be what wakes us up and lays us down.

Awesome song and so fitting. A lot of people fail to realize the world is trying to pull everyone in and we have to stay focused if we are going to persevere and maintain what God is trying to do in/through us. You may not be an artist, but you are a missionary that God has called to reach out.
Peace

Great Quote from David Nasser

2007-03-21T10:29:00.000-05:00

"I grew frustrated after watching person after person walk away from church conferences and youth rallies with an inflamed desire to serve God but no practical understanding of how to daily walk in faith. I saw people looking for God in an emotional moment of bliss more than they were looking for Him in the Word of God. They were looking for God's will through the latest song or magazine or book. God is speaking to us, but not necessarily through the latest song or sermon. These are good things, and God reveals Himself through those, but He's mainly speaking to us through the Bible."
Quote by David Nasser as printed in CCM Magazine

So what is God's will for your life? My question for you is, where are you looking for the answer? We have to DAILY walk in faith and follow Him.

So it's been a week...

2007-03-16T10:25:00.000-05:00

How are you doing with the challenge? Be like Jesus.
It is a daily pursuit.
What did you do last week to show Jesus to others?
Did you stand out/up for Christ or just blend with the masses?
What will it take for us a people to stand for the creator and Savior of the world?

We all have free time. what we do with it is our choice. Are we wasting our time with Idle junk(video games, Girlfriend/boyfriends, sleep, food) that doesn't benefit us or others? Why don't we impact people with the Gospel every chance we get?
Two Choices “Live with Risk or Waste our Lives” – Piper
So what is your choice?
Are you using excuses? "I am too young to make a differences." "I don't know what to do." 'Ii am a realatively new Christian."
Excuses are like boogers, everyone has them. Are you picking yours? If you are picking your excuses (what did you think i was referring to picking?) just remember that all an excuse is....an excuse is a reason for failure.
We live, and move and have our being thanks to the Creator God. He has given His all for us. Let's start giving our all for Him. And let's start by starting. Not by saying we want to start, by by doin. Let's put action in our faith and start a revolution! God is ready and we should be too.
Reflect Christ! It improves your whole appearance.
Let's strive to be Christ to those around us, it may be the only example they ever see.
Take your life SERIOUSLY...God is counting on you.
Peace
b

Yeah I know it has been awhile

2007-03-08T22:05:00.000-06:00

Have you ever gotten away from something and just missed it so much you would do anything to do it again?
Ever felt that way about your relationship with God.
We're never too close but sometimes we are too comfortable.
We feel that we are close enough to God and don't stretch ourselves. We start looking around and comparing. We start thinking maybe we are the most "Christian" person ever.

We need to wake up. Jesus is the only one who walked this planet and is worthy of that title.

God is good, but we aren't. It takes work.
I have been reading the 119th Psalm. Absolutely amazing.
Need encouragement? try it. You'll like it.

Well i will be back soon. until then read the 119th Psalm.
Just trying to be like Jesus. It's hard and i am not even close, but i t is definately worth the effort.
Not matter what!

Winning is everything

2007-01-26T09:32:00.000-06:00

How many of you in here actually play sports?
What sports are represented?

How many of you like to win?
What does it feel like to win?
How many of you like to lose?

We like to win don’t we? It is an amazing feeling when you can push yourself to the limits and accomplish something.

Winning takes place on all fronts, athletics, school, home, and spiritually as well.

And this morning I want you to walk away with the main point:
WINNING IS EVERYTHING.

We are told by Paul. That if you are going to be the man or woman that God wants you to be, you have to be a winner.

If you have your bibles turn to:
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
24Do 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.
25Everyone 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. 26Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others; I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Most of us in here get this passage. In one way or another we apply that to our lives. Probably most of us in here have applied it to our respective sports because we want to be the best in that sport.

But how many of us daily apply it to our walk with God?
God has a course laid out for us.

Matthew 7:13-14
13"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

So we all know that in this life. We have a course. God has something for each and every one of us to do here. According to the text, it is a small path. Not many people will be on the same path as us.

Jeremiah 29:11 tells us:
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.

God has it all planned out for us. He has something that is right for each and every one of us. God wants us to succeed.
He wants us to accomplish the thing that he has set out before us.

But sometimes we get in the way. Whether it is because of arrogance or pride, whatever it is it blocks us from the provision and blessing that God has for us.

We need to rely on God wholeheartedly here on earth.
Proverbs 3:5-6 says:
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Does that mean that if we trust in the Lord with everything that it will be easy? No way. It is a daily battle. It is the battle or competition if you will that builds into exactly what God wants us to be.

There will be trials in this battle there will be persecution.

The bible tells us that in
2 Timothy 3:12
In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

But the good thing is we know that already. We know what we’re up against. We just need to train and prepare ourselves everyday.

We need to take on the challenge like James, in James 1:2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Our coach and biggest fan, God, is training us to be the person (athlete if you will) for Him, in this battle.
What a privilege!
What an honor!

But what are we doing?
Are we training like we should?
Is anything besides winning even an option for us?

Those are questions you must answer.
If you’re on the side of the cross, you’re on the right team. I have read the book and know who wins. But what are we doing for our friends and family? Are we taking a winning mentality into battle on a daily basis? If not, we need to start praying for that area of our lives.

What happens if you’re that person that says, “Brian I try to do great things but I always fail.” Or “I try to do stuff for God but it never works out.”
God sees your heart. He sees you are doing your best for Him.
Remember what god wants from us?

God wants us to be all about him.
What are the two greatest commandments?
Love God
Love others more than ourselves.

We win when we do this daily.
Let’s be about winning. Let’s be about winning at home, at school and in life.

Let’s take this challenge head on, because as Paul said and we know:
WINNING IS EVERYTHING!

2007-01-23T09:24:00.000-06:00

"The only adequate answer to an aggressively pagan world is for Christians to recover the New Testament power of spiritual aggression."
-Karl Barth

Have you considered...

2007-01-15T21:08:00.000-06:00

Job?
His life has some amazing attributes. He was abandoned by all his friends and those close to him. But what did he do? He took the high road! In everything, his attitude and words. AMAZING!
Have you ever had a rough day? week? year? how did you handle it? Read Job it could change your life.
Love truth. defend truth, and truth will set you free.
PEaCe to all
B

What do you reflect.....?

2007-01-11T15:50:00.000-06:00

How many of you have a:
Cell phone?
MySpace?
Car?
Boyfriend or girlfriend?
Good relationship with your parents?
Good relationship with God?

How many of you think about your relationship with God when:
Your on your cell phone?
On My Space?
In your car?
With your bf or gf?
With your parents?

What are cell phones all about?
Why is MySpace generally all about?

Generally all the stuff in our lives (cell phones, cars, MySpace) and the stuff we do (tanning, how we spend our money, where we spend our time) is all about us.
It is generally the mindset of taking care of number 1.
Me, mine, myself mentality.

The average Christian goes to church one time a week. (and in all actuality they probably open their bibles less than that.) But they go to church.

Why do we go to church?
Pick up chicks?
Cause we have to?

We don’t do it to be noticed in our new dress, we don’t do it for attention to ourselves, we need to come for God. We do it all for Him.

I think it is important for us to remember the reason we are all here (on this planet)…is for God. It is for us to be open to His leading and His direction.
The focus lately in my view has shifted where church and Christianity is more of a “me first” mentality. Where we show up to be noticed in our new dress, or to bring attention to ourselves in some way.

And in doing that we miss the whole point of being Christian. We miss the one who can help; we miss out on a lot because we focus on ourselves.

So what am I trying to say…. “Get over yourself”

I want you to know I am not picking on any one person. I am not singling you out in any way, but…. Some of you will be convicted with some of the stuff that is said. Some of you may feel it is directed right at you, that is a God thing. And if he speaks to you through this and to your heart, ACT on IT! Change. Modify your behavior to be God’s instrument.

Basically how the “normal” human being acts is one of selfishness. It is all about “me”.
From friends we have just because they think we’re cool and build us up.
Maybe it is ways we act to get attention for ourselves. (whether it is good attention or bad, I don’t think it matters these days as long as your name is known for something.)

This all about me mentality is funny. It is funny because for the majority of us we say we love God and follow His ways.

Romans 12:10 says:
10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.
How many of us act that way on a regular basis? Not many. Generally the mentality is honor myself and everyone else can take care of themselves. That is sad.

Ephesians 4:2 says:
2Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

Hebrews 10:24 says:
24And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
We are ok with the Hebrews quote as long as we add the ending that we remain above them in stature and importance.
24And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. “and let us remain more popular, better off and above them..”

A lot of times we are more like Cain, than Abel.
1 John 3:11 describes this for us:
11This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 12Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous. 13Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you. 14We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 15Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.

We don’t like to put others above ourselves because that makes us vulnerable. We don’t want anyone in front of us because that means we have to depend on someone other than ourselves, and that is scary.
It is for that same reason we suppress God even below us in importance, because that requires faith and trust.

A school teacher lost her life savings in a business scheme that had been elaborately explained by a swindler. When her investment disappeared and her dream was shattered, she went to the Better Business Bureau. "Why on earth didn't you come to us first?" the official asked. "Didn't you know about the Better Business Bureau?" "Oh, yes," said the lady sadly. "I've always known about you. But I didn't come because I was afraid you'd tell me not to do it." The folly of human nature is that even though we know where the answers lie--God's Word--we don't turn there for fear of what it will say.
Jerry Lambert.

We know what we’re supposed to do. We know how we’re supposed to live but we don’t for fear of what that would mean to us.

Instead we think it is good to stand out for the wrong reasons….just because we need that attention.
For example:
Who can make the biggest disruption to get the most attention
(Whether that is at school, or at church. )
Who can be the biggest rebel (anyone ever wanted to be a rebel? You know have the bad boy or bad girl connotation?)
some examples of this:
§ “Yeah me and my boyfriend went all the way.”
End result: “Yeah my boyfriend just used me and we broke up.” or
“I’m pregnant”
Both end results are apart from what God wants for your life. Both miss the mark.
Both are results of selfish motives.
Both end in pain and anguish

How about:
§ “I snuck out of my house and went to that party.”
End result: “yeah, I got drunk and I’m really not sure what I did last night”
“well I got in trouble when I got back and my parents found out”
Both results end in broken trust. When you disobey your parents or an adult for

selfish reasons, trust is broken. Once trust is broken the one who has broken the trust

has the responsibility to rebuild it.

How about:
§ “Yeah well my MySpace is trashier than yours.”
End result: “people keep calling me trashy”
“weird guys keep hitting on me on MySpace”
The results are because of your actions. You act trashy; sooner or later you’ll be called trash. If you don’t want to attract flies, quit acting like trash.

Some people are under the misconception that hey can act one way around church and another away from it. You can. You can if you have no real relationship with Christ.

Some people talk to me one way, whether that’s in person or on MySpace, and then use different language around others or even on their MySpace. You can. You can if you’re fake. You can if you don’t have a clue what God expects or wants with your life.

Revelation 3:15-17
15I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.

So what do we do? Well first of all we suck it up. We decide what we want and what we believe. Then we look at some Biblical examples of people who were not about themselves but were open to God’s direction:

God uses the people we would least expect.
12 disciple’s à ordinary people but they followed Jesus, wholeheartedly.
David à youngest of his family and smallest in size. He was called a man after God’s own heart.
Gideon à least of his people, smallest tribe, smallest family in size and stature. Was a great leader and warrior for God.

None of them looked for themselves. All of them sought God in all they did. They weren’t in the relationship for selfish reasons.

As Christian’s we’re not suppose to pull attention to ourselves. We’re supposed to direct attention to God. We are merely called to be mirrors. And we all are mirrors.

But what does your life reflect?

2 Corinthians 5:17
17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

2007-01-05T10:05:00.000-06:00

The first blog.
In light of events that have transpired in recent days i thought long and hard about what my first offering would be. Well here it is. I once taught this to a group of teens, of whom i love very much. I thought it was very appropriate for me right now.
We will all have pain and suffering in our lives due to the words and deeds of others.
So in those moments, in those low times, what should our response be?
What should we do?
We should "Build a Bridge"

You’ve heard of the Panama Canal. But long before there was a Panama Canal there was a Panama Railroad. A case could be made that it was the most difficult railroad built anywhere at any time. Built in 1850 at the height of the California gold rush, it was the first ocean-to ocean railroad, its completion predating the Union Pacific by fourteen years.
Mile for mile it also appears to have cost more in dollars and human life than any railroad ever built…
The surveys made by its builders produced important geographic revelations that had direct bearing on the decision to build the Panama Canal along the same route...
Still, the simple fact that it was built remains the overriding wonder, given the astonishing difficulties that had to be overcome and the means at hand in the 1850’s. Present day engineers who had experience in jungle construction wonder how in the world it was ever managed…
It is almost inconceivable…that the railroad survey—just the survey—could have been made by a comparative handful of men who had no proper equipment for topographic reconnaissance (no helicopters, no aerial photography), no modern machines, nor the least understanding of the causes of malaria or yellow fever.
There was no such thing as an insect repellent, no bulldozers, no chain saws, no canned goods, not one reliable map…
The original line was five foot, or broad, gauge, and it was built as hurriedly and cheaply as circumstances would allow…. Still, this one little stretch of track took nearly five years to build and cost $8 million, which averages out to a little less than ten miles a year and an unheard-of $168,000 per mile.
Part of the construction problem can be appreciated in a single statistic. In those forty-seven and a half miles it was necessary to build 170 bridges of more than twelve feet each in length.
David McCullough, Brave Companions (New York: Touchstone, 1992), 90.

The people who worked on the Panama Railroad built 170 bridges why?
- To get where they needed to be.

They faced a lot of struggles and had to go over a lot of difficult areas to get where they needed to be.
They faced a lot of opposition, from lack of proper equipment to the environment they had to work in. But the pressed on and got where they needed to be.
Does anyone know where we need to be as Christians?
We need to be unified with others and with Christ.

Romans 15:5-6
5May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, 6so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

A lot of times in our walk we aren’t unified but we are divisive.
Why would we as everyday people ever need to build a bridge?

You are human.
I am human.
I am pretty sure everyone reading this is human. And if you are human, I guarantee you are going to mess something up.
You are going to let someone down, you are going to hurt someone’s feelings, and you are going to say or do something that is not very wise.
The fact of the matter is we are all human and make mistakes.
Some more, some less, but we all do it.
At one point or another you have let someone down.
Your parents, your friends, your co-workers, God.
We all do it. We fail.
Sometimes we learn.
And if we don’t learn then we fail again in exactly the same way.
For those that learn we get to fail in new ways.

We have all screwed up.
When we mess up people get hurt and we need to seek their forgiveness. We need to turn from what we did and seek the other person’s forgiveness.
We need to go to that person and start repairing that relationship. Start building a bridge back where it used to be.

A couple married for 15 years began having more than usual disagreements. They wanted to make their marriage work and agreed on an idea the wife had.
For one month they planned to drop a slip in a "Fault" box.
The boxes would provide a place to let the other know about daily irritations.
The wife was diligent in her efforts and approach: "leaving the jelly top off the jar," "wet towels on the shower floor," "dirty socks not in hamper," on and on until the end of the month.

After dinner, at the end of the month, they exchanged boxes. The husband reflected on what he had done wrong.
Then the wife opened her box and began reading. They were all the same, the message on each slip was, "I love you!"

Let’s face it. As faulty as we are in these human bodies, every time you turn around, you are going to have to build another bridge. Bridges cost. They cost money and time.
But it is worth the time and the effort if we want to live the abundant life that God has for us on this Earth.
Think about it…when someone wrongs you or you are the one that wronged someone, think of the emotions that can result:

Anger - doesn’t benefit us at all. In fact it can make the situation only worse not better
Stress - doesn’t help much. Makes us feel like we want to throw up, but that is about it. All we have to
show for stress is what we ate earlier and an ulcer.
Worry – Who of us by worrying adds a single day to their lives? (that almost sounds biblical)
Anxiety – Get you some gray hair early. Be anxious for nothing.

All those emotions that come do us really no good.
We need to move on, we need to move forward, we need to build a bridge and get over it.
You might say well I would get over it easier if they would just say they are sorry. Well the cold hard facts are that there are people in this world who refuse to say they’re sorry.

They never admit to any wrong doing, nor will they probably ever. What do you do with people like that?
You pray for them first. You pray that God would open their eyes. Then you move on, move forward, you build a bridge and get over it.

So a couple of hints for you when it comes to forgiveness:
- First of all if you are a God-fearing person. Seek forgiveness when you screw-up.

Make steps to rebuild the relationship you hurt by your wrongdoing.

We talk about changing the world, but no one wants to change themselves.

We have to be willing to do a little work to be where God wants us to be. Our sinful self needs a little discipline and we need to mature. We need to change ourselves.

- Secondly, if you have been wronged, talk to the person and point out how they hurt you. They may not even know they did anything wrong.
If they repent then forgive them and rebuild that relationship.

Luke 17:3-4
"If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. 4If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive him."

Mark Twain said, “Forgiveness is the fragrance that the flower leaves on the heel of the one who crushed it.”

Andy Stanley said, “If you are a Christian, you are not expected to treat others the way you’ve been treated by others; you have been called to treat people the way you have been treated by your Father in heaven. You don’t forgive because the other person deserves it; you forgive because you have been forgiven.”

If the person that hurt you doesn’t repent…build a bridge, forgive them anyway and move on.
o Make sure not to put yourself in that situation again. Don’t set yourself up to re-enact the pain and anguish you went through again.

Our example in building this bridge is Christ….He was a carpenter (knew a little about building)

If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator; If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist; If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist; If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer; But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Savior.

We’re told in
Philippians 2:5
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus

So we need to have a Christ-like attitude in all that we do, especially when it comes to forgiveness.

Psalm 103:12
as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
Think about that. That’s pretty far. How often do we bring up stuff that we should have moved past?

Matthew 18:21-22
21Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"
22Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

Christ was mocked, spit on and crucified, and His words were “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”
He built that bridge for us.

He forgave us when we didn’t even deserve it.
Kind of humbling isn’t it.
Forgiveness takes work. Forgiveness takes effort.

We will have to build many bridges in our lifetime. Similar to the Panama Railroad. Not sure how many you will have to build. Bridges cost time and money, but in the end people will be amazed at your life and your example. People will be amazed at your passion in pursuing God and the Unity in Him. All the while living a life with your attitude and behavior that points others straight to Christ.

So let’s all have the spirit of unity that was spoken of in Romans 15. And if something gets in the way, let’s all just “Build a Bridge and get over it.”

Welcome to my blogger

2007-01-01T19:51:00.001-06:00

Hello all in response to highly technical computer savvy (insert big words here) happenings, I have now decided to begin posting on this blogger page rather than on my myspace page. So feel free to drop me a line, let me know what's going on or post random pictures/messages. Much love

B