Month: September 2010

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Given to All

This week I have been thinking about grace and the gift of mercy and salvation that we have. Also, I have been listened to the David Crowder Band. There are two lyrics from two of their songs that have just stuck with me all week.

The first is from Oh Happiness, a very fun and uplifting song. The song starts like this

Oh, happiness
There is grace enough for us and the whole human race

That’s pretty cool isn’t it!

The second comes from How He Loves. It’s just one part towards the end of a song full of pretty pithy and catchy phrases.

If His grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.

Wow, that’s a great description of the grace that we have been given because of the death and resurrection of the Christ.

14Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come.

15But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! 16Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. Romans 5:14-16 (New International Version)

If you have been given that much grace and mercy, how about sharing it with those around you? It’s a pretty cool thing!

Shine your light and let the whole world see.

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Daily Post

Toothbrush Visits

While I was in college, occasionally after strolling down the hall to the common bathroom to brush my teeth, I would continue around the corner to some of my friend’s room and “talk” with them for a while.   This may be TMI, but it is funny.  Usually, this was with my toothbrush in hand and my boxers on.

Years have past since those fun days but yesterday on my Facebook wall this is what I saw:

Yep, A reference back to those great days, by one of my very good college classmates.  We have joked about this one and off for years.  I am sure you have friendships like this as well, where you can meet after years and pick up just where you left off.  Those friendships are special, but how do we arrive at those.

I think its from shared experiences.  Experiences like the trauma of me coming into your dorm room in my undies.  Well, maybe, put probably deeper and more meaningful experiences then that.  I think it also from trust and “exposing” yourself.  No no, not in that way.   I mean, by opening up, and becoming a trusting soul, truly interested in what others are interesting in, and at the same time becoming slightly unguarded.  These relationships are special and are important, and I think are worth the risk.

In 1 Samuel 18:1, David and Jonathan “become one in spirit”.  They created a bond that we can continue to study as a great example of friendship.

So today, work on those friendship.  Continue to take an interest in the people around you and show them the love and mercy you have been shown.  Who knows what sort of bond you may develop.

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Daily Post

The Return of Captain Zoom

Do you know that chances are if you know someone, that person is born in September.  That’s right, more birthdays in September then any other month!  And since you know me, you know someone else with a September birthday!

When I was a little guy, I guess lower elementary school age, my big sister bought me a flexible record with a personalized birthday message from Captain Zoom.  It went something like this “Hey Jason, it’s your birthday…” etc.  I played that think every birthday until I think I left for college, or until I got rid of my record player (last year… no not really!)

When I was in high school, two teachers in the school shared my birthday.  During my freshman year, just a few weeks in to the school year, these two teacher came bursting into one of my classes, with a large cake in hand, singing and dancing.  And right then and there, we had a birthday party.  Little shy freshman Jason, was a little bit unsure of how to handle that situation.  This continued each of my 4 years of high school, some time during the day in one of my classes the door would burst open and well, party time!  I think this is one of those simple little events that help move me from little shy Jason to someone with some confidence – odd I know.

This may seem like a narcissistic post, or just a way to get some attention, but actually there is a point here.  These birthdays gone by have taught me several things about birthdays.  First, it showed me that I really really liked the attention on my birthday 🙂 – even though it goes against some of my basic principles.  But more than that,(and here is the real point of all of this mess) I think it has taught me that people, no matter who they are, like to be made to feel special and loved – no matter if it is their birthday or not.

So, today is my birthday, thankfully, my Facebook wall is going nuts, I have found the birthday song as an MP3, and I am taking the day off from the mill.  This morning, in a birthday text message exchange with my sister-n-law, after I told her I was trying to figure out how to spend the day, she replied “WWJD”.    Instantly, I replied “Go to the synagogues and teach, or retreat to the mountains and pray”.   And there you have it.  What would Jesus do on his birthday.  He would spend the day reaching out to others, or spend the day drawing closer to his heavenly father.

And that sort of my message today.  Birthdays are great, and with this day I am reminded how important it is to reach out to others, to lift others up, and to encourage people, if it’s there birthday or not.  And mostly I am reminded “to do unto others as I would have them do to me” (Luke 6:31)- birthday or not.

Eat some cake!

3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.  Philippians 2:3-4 (New International Version)

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Daily Post

Rooted

Woot, woot! Man, I have so many things to be pumped about today. We had a great relaxing soccer filled weekend as a family. We explored the Sequatchie Valley on a beautiful day on Saturday. The Mountaineers won, my fantasy team won ( as a matter of fact, my bench alone almost beat my opponent). It’s just so great. But you know what really makes today great. It’s the fact that I have been given another day to delight in what the Lord has provided. More than the wins, more than the sun, more than the weekend. Check it in the first Psalm:

1 Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.

2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.Psalm 1 (NIV)

It’s being rooted by a source of food and energy that has me excited today. Like a tree by a stream, His law provides the nutrients for us to produce fruit. Let’s be rooted in Him. Watch the fruit the we will produce.

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Daily Post Talk Like a Pirate Day

Happy Talk Like a Pirate Day

This was originally sent as an email on Talk Like a Pirate Day 2008 ( Friday September 19, 2008)

Me hearties,

Tis ‘talk like a pirate day!’.  Me thinks it be a jolly day t’ scrub th’ poop deck an’ gather me some Doubloons!
I be not aye to be doin’ this for t’ whole email, so me reckon me will translate t’ verses today into pirate talk.”

Pray fer e’eryone an’ share th’ loot with e’eryone ye can this day
Heartly enjoy!.

No Quarter!

Jason

Acts 2:38
Repent an’ be baptized, e’ery one o’ ye, in the name o’ Jesus Christ fer the fergiveness o’ yer sins. An’ ye will receive the gift o’ the Holy Spirit.
1 Cor 9:19
Though I be free and belong t’ no scurvy dog, I make meself a slave t’ everyone, t’ win as many as possible.
Acts 3:5-6
5So th’ scurvy dog  gave them his attention, expectin’ t’ get somethin’ from them. 6Then Peter said, “Pieces of eight I do nay be havin’, but what I be havin’ I gift ye. In t’ name o’ Jesus Christ o’ Nazareth, walk.”