Month: March 2011

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Freedom

Good Morning Buffeter’s!  Jason is with his eldest in our Nation’s Capitol on a school field trip and has provided me the opportunity to write some morning encouragement.  This has been a week of Freedom!  The freedom to participate in a day of excess, the freedom to participate in sacrifice, and the freedom to not do either!  This sent my mind back to the summer of 2010 where I had the unique opportunity to travel to South Korea.  On the Sunday I was there, I went to the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone).  

As I stood there overlooking North Korea, just a few hundred yards away, I was humbled to know that in the green area stood individuals who would  arrest me for being me.  Just a few hundred yards away was a place that Christianity was illegal, being an American was not a positive thing, and where a dictator is worshipped as a God.  We are so blessed to have been given the freedoms we have.  Freedom that allows me to blog this morning without fear of retribution, the freedom of Jason to travel with his son, freedom to serve an amazing God!

James 1:25 (New International Version, ©2011)

25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

 Today look to Christ who has freed us from sin and God who has allowed us to be in this great country full of freedom and be BLESSED in all you do! Have a great day!

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Ash Wednesday

The week burns on and the the weekday theme continues as we head straight into Ash Wednesday!
This is the start of the Lenten time for some folks, where they give up stuff that keeps from the serving their Lord and Savior. I guess that’s a pretty good thing, as you know I am a big fan of people transforming and chaning! And in some ways this is similiar to a New Year’s Resolution. I think however, that we need to be careful about changing for a season. Look at what the Christos says in Luke 14:33

33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. Luke 14:33 (New International Version, ©2011)

ouch!, He doesn’t day put away stuff for a season. He doesn’t say keep you favorite behavior because that’s just you. He says to give ALL, ALL the time.
I like the way David Platt talks about this. He says all the rest of you relationships need to look like hate when you compare then to your relationship with the creator. It is first and foremost and obvilously so.

So, I guess it’s fair to say, what are you giving up today – for good?

Burn it!

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Fat Tuesday

What a crazy day!

Fat Tuesday!

Mardi Gras!

woot woot, lets go party it up, because tomorrow we are giving it all up for Christ as part of Lent.

Yep, What a crazy day.

Now, I am not attempted to be a buzz kill at all with this little bit of encouragement today, but there is something interesting about this whole concept to me Take a look at the Christos says about giving stuff up.

23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. Luke 9:23-24 (New International Version, ©2011)

It’s an interesting comparison to the whole concept of having a day of excess before you give up something for Him. Tough message, tougher to do.

What do you think?

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Any Other Day Of The Week Is Fine

Its Monday, and what better way to start the week then a little bit of The Mama and The Papas?

Yes, that right,I think most of us can sing with then  as they sing:

Every other day, every other day,
Every other day of the week is fine, yeah
But whenever Monday comes, but whenever Monday comes
You can find me cryin’ all of the time

It’s Monday, the day that can crush your dreams and hopes as quickly as the sound of the alarm clock in the morning.  Oh, the depression of returning to work and school and going away from the freedom of the weekend.  But let’s remember as much as we might dislike Mondays, it is still a blessing from the Lord and another day to bring glory to him. Take a peek at the encouragement of Paul to Timothy as he says:

7-11Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted. Stay wide-awake in prayer. Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless—cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God’s words; if help, let it be God’s hearty help. That way, God’s bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he’ll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything—encores to the end of time. Oh, yes! (1 Peter 4:7-11, The Message)

Then we can still sing The Mamas and The Papas, we can just focus on this part of the lyrics:

Monday Monday, so good to me,
Monday Monday, it was all I hoped it would be

Oh Yes!

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March Forth or Fourth

March Madness is continuing along with an edict on the calendar this Friday! Today is March FOuRTH. I day that in its very name encourages us to get up and go! It encourages us to leave our fears behind and to do it! And remember the Lord and Creator is right there with you!

9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 (New International Version, ©2011)

So today,  on this Friday, March Fourth!