....no matter what God's word helps (2)

John 14:27

²⁷ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

 

Where do you place you assurance?

What do you do for peace?

What gives you security?

Whom should you trust?

 

Answers are all in the most sold, (and also) the most stolen book of all time.

 

The Bible

....no matter what God's word helps

2 Corinthians 4:8-9

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

Eat Mor Chikin - Chick-Fil-A

Well it's August 1st and "Chick-Fil-A appreciation day".  A friend of mine says Chick-Fil-a appreciation day is every day at lunchtime (except Sunday's of course).  But, why the "official" day?

Because the pot called the kettle black.

Yep.  It is the American double standard.  If we are a liberal group, we get this protection, we need tolerance, free speech, blah blah blah. 

But if a Christian man who runs a restaurant (some would call it a Christian business) decides to say
"I think we are inviting God's judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at him and say, 'We know better than you as to what constitutes a marriage,' and I pray God's mercy on our generation that has such a prideful, arrogant attitude to think that we have the audacity to define what marriage is about."
...everybody gets in a huff.

So the same people who "preach" tolerance and acceptance have a problem with this, because it is not how they feel.  So what happens...Hate, cries of boycott (see Chicago, Boston and NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Bob Beckel, etc). 

So what happened to free speech?  Where are we again... Communist China?  Didn't think so.

All I have to say to those who are upset...Grow up.  Not everybody is like you, nor do they want to be like you.  We are a diverse Nation filled with many differing views, take it like a man or woman or ____ and move on. 
I don't like Chinese food because it messes with my stomach, do i protest? do i sue? nope.  I choose to stay away.  But i don't stand out front with a sign...i dont eat the food.

So while the owners of the different Chick-Fil-A's appreciate this attention and the August revenue goals being met on August 1st, I would just merely suggest the best way to protest is to not buy the best Chicken sandwich ever made. 

(By the way, the quote says nothing about you. Just talks about God's definition of marriage. So unless you have a conscience and feel guilty by the comment, it shouldn't affect you at all.)

America how far have we fallen?

Peace
B

NYR 2012

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...

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

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.