Month: April 2011

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Civil War

Today is the 150th anniversary of that fateful shot in Ft Sumter that start the War Between the States, or as it is referred to in the south – “The War of Northern Aggression”.  It’s quite an interesting period of history for Americans, and I hope that you are able to spend a little time investigating and learning about what was going on during that time.

It’s also the 50th anniversary of the first manned space flight by Yuri Gagarin.

So it’s a day that seems to be either be about the issue of internal fighting, or about shooting for the moon. But even that seem to be a divided thought. And that is sort of what I had intended to discuss today, but my brain is so scattered on other things that I can’t even focus!

3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:3, New International Version, ©2011)

It’s one of those crazy things about being scattered – and its one of the most frustrating things about my daily life. My spirit wants to focus and shoot for the moon, but I find myself in this battle amongst myself, tore between several masters and in the end not getting anywhere. This has been something that I have written about in the past and is one of those things that we all struggle with. So as we consider the historical significance of today, try to see if you can get out of the quaqmire of internal stiff and focus of the amazing things that can happen when you are working all in the same direction.

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one of THOSE days

It’s not even 9 in the morning, I already feel like quitting for the day.

You ever have a day like that? From the moment the alarm goes off things just are not “on frame” – as they say in soccer. You can’t find stuff, teenagers are doing their best at being, well, teenagers. Then there are schedules, pressure, etc etc etc etc.

Today’s one of those days. So I am trying to slip in a little bit of motivation for myself ( and you) before I get whisked away in the land of endless emails.

So, a few verses I am trying to consider today, to reduce the anxiety and refocus my brain:

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9 ESV

But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded. 2 Chronicles 15:7 ESV

and then there is this one below.  This is a verse that most of the time we may not attribute to encouragement on a difficult day.  However I find it both humbling and full of purpose. It seems to emphasis the only task for the day that really matters and provides a little bit of clarity about the things that are causing stress.

But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. Acts 20:24 ESV

If your day has started like mine, spend a moment to recenter on the one mission and goal for the day – “the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.”

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The Gentlemen’s Drink

Oh I love me some Sweet Tea, so when I saw this morning woot! shirt, I just could not not be excited.( yes, Mr Henderson, that’s a double negative, which means I am very excited about this particular shirt.)

Most of you now that I start my day with a nice healthy jug of sweet tea, which I can now refer to as the gentleman’s coffee.  Yes, yes, I know this shirt is referring to hot tea, not the good old Southern sweeten and iced version! But hey, we can draw conclusions can’t we?

But as much as I like sweet tea, its not really what gets me going in the morning.  It’s not really the thirst quencher that I desire the most to get my day going, and to carry my spirit through the day.  No, my “drink”” of choice is not a drink at all.

 13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:13-14, New International Version, ©2011)

Yep, my drink of choice is the living water that takes away my spiritual thirst, keeps me hydrated and moving forward, highly motivated to impact others.

And as my sons’ soccer coaches say

Hydrate, or die.

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Go Google Yourself

When I woke up this am, the local radio station was playing a game called “Go Google Yourself”. Sounds dirty. So, I a listened I realized that this was a game to guess what that the number one topic that was being googled today. Evidently today it’s Glen Beck. So I thought I would mention Glen Beck so I can get some extra hits from Google.

Seriously, have you ever googled yourself? Its a pretty interesting exercise. You can find out stuff about yourself, or maybe find other people around the work with the same name. For instance, I have discovered indiviuals with my name that spend time as insurance commissions, tattoo artist, WWF fighters, and musicians.

It seems its pretty important to make sure you have some understanding of yourself both on the inside and out. For instance, I can tell when the conditions are ripe for me to be exetremely grouchy with being, however, when I understand myself, I can notice the signs and try to take some alternative action.

And then there’s this great verse from James, the book that I tear out of my Bible, quite freqently. Ol’ James tells us that we should understand and do the perfect law, just like we understand ourselves.

 22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 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. (James 1:22-25, New International Version, ©2011)

So – Go Google yourself, it will make you a better person.

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When thou goest, it shall lead thee

Some days when my mind is wandering and full of “things to do and places to be” I stop and open up the Proverbs to the day of the month.  I think I have mentioned this little trick before.  There is so much wisdom in the Proverbs that you can’t help but find a gem of thought to consider.  For instance, since today in April 6th, the sixth set of Proverbs contains warnings of taking loans, indolence, being wicked and a warning for self discipline.

I found myself this morning focusing in on verses 20-23.

20-23 Good friend, follow your father’s good advice;
don’t wander off from your mother’s teachings.
Wrap yourself in them from head to foot;
wear them like a scarf around your neck.
Wherever you walk, they’ll guide you;
whenever you rest, they’ll guard you;
when you wake up, they’ll tell you what’s next.
For sound advice is a beacon,
good teaching is a light,
moral discipline is a life path. (Proverbs 6:20-23, The Message)

I especially like the King James for verse 22

22When thou goest, it shall lead thee

As you go about your life today, consider the commands of the Lord, keep them in your mind, let them lead you through the day.