Category: Daily Post

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Corner Sermon

Last night as I was coming home from the boy’s soccer practice, I exited the interstate and crested the hill to shock.  There in front of me at the intersection ahead where no cars, a red light and a beggar standing on the left hand side of the road.  This is a one way street and I was about to turn left, so I quickly understood that I would be the only one at the intersection and I would be waiting at the light right next to him.

“Oh No, I can’t believe this!”, I said out loud as I slowed my vehicle waiting anxiously for the light to change to green so I could zoom past without a care.  However, that was not my destiny for this day.  As I came to a stop, I was ear to ear with this man.  He was not four feet from me.  I am sure I could have reached out and touched his shoulder from my driving position.

So, there I sat, for what seemed like minutes, but what was really only 20-30 seconds.  I stared awkwardly straight ahead while he stood holding his sign, staring nervously the other direction.   What was his situation?  What where his needs?  I don’t know.  I looked at the empty bags on the floorboard that contained the remnants of my dinner, and thought about the items I had just purchased in my truck bed, but I took no action. I will add here, not to excuse myself but to set up the situation, this corner seems to be a professional corner.  Its one that is usually occupied by the sign holders.  However, this guy was not in the worn patch that is there, he was almost of the road.  But either way, this man has stuck with me all night.  Could I have helped him?  I don’t know.  Would a few loose coins, or a few dollars helped him?  I don’t know.  However, the part that has stuck with me is that whether I could have met his needs or not, he still is a person – made in God’s image, and I ignored him.  Its bothered me more that I judged him and didn’t even acknowledge that a person was standing right outside my car.  Had this been the Chick-fil-a cow and those idiotic Liberty Tax Dancers, or a dude holding a furniture store going out of business sign, I would have waved and watched their antics.  But since I felt this guy needed something from me, or was an inconvenience to me or something like that, I screened him and acted like he was not there.  EPIC FAIL!

42And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.” Matthew 10:42 NIV

So, my encouragement to you today, is to remember that all of us are made in God’s image and all of us are important and just people with problems.   I am not suggesting that I would have unloaded my wallet on this guy if I was back there again, but I may have at least made eye contact and treated him with respect.  The only way I could imagine that I might be better then him is the blood of Jesus and I did nothing to earn that gift.

27 So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.  Genesis 1:27 (New International Version)

Think about how you are looking at the people around you today!

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Living with Passion

Several times over this past weekend I heard individuals suggest or encourage the idea of living with passion.  It was such a recurring theme that is seemed liked maybe I should consider it for a while.  The idea expressed in multiple ways to me this weekend was one of living life to the fullest, being excited, having enthusiasm and really staying engaged in your life.  There was also an element of purpose and intent mixed in the messages as well.

I have been considering these thoughts all weekend and what it means to live with passion.  I am still not exactly sure, but I do think that you can’t do it if you don’t get up each and every day and approach the day as a gift from God.  My thoughts led me this morning in Philippians, first the fourth chapter and then back into the third right to these words:

Philippians 3:12-14

12Not 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. 13Brothers, 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, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (NIV)

12-14I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back. (MSG)

I certainly have not mastered passionate living, but I will continue to consider it.  However, one thing I know,  I am putting my eye on the goal and I am not turning back.  Maybe thats the starting line?

Runners Set….

Go,  get off the line and live! Give it your all, focus on the prize and live for him.

And if you have any ideas on passionate living, share them!

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One of Those Days

As the alarm sounded this morning my mind immediately begin to run the list of the events of the day.  This at 7:30, that at 8, this at 10, that at 11, this at 11:30, that at 1, and that at 1, this at 2 and 3 and then this and then that… oh man….  I really just wanted to unplug the alarm clock and sleep.. until tomorrow.

There as to be more reason for the day then what lies ahead of me today.   Even as I write this this morning, I am anxious for the 3 little numbers in the bottom left corner of my monitor.  Its just doesn’t seem right, the sun has not peeked its head over Big Frog Mountain, and I am wound as tight as a … well something that is wound too tight…

So I turned my attention to two familiar passages this morning and I hope they stick with me today.

25“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? 26Look 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? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life……O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:25-34

13Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” James 4:13-17

Also I have prayed this morning/am praying all day for God to use me in this business.  My prayer today is that I will focus on him and what he is bringing in front on me instead of the hectic schedule. It seems to be calming a little, so far.  But seriously, maybe your days are like this too.  I am going to try all day to focus on God and his desires in the midst of insanity and see how it goes.

I think maybe this is part of what he is getting at? Give it over to God today and see where it leads you!

Oh BTW, the Caleb Factor number is now 182 ( down 2) and the goal is still 174.  That’s a good start!

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Happy Tax Day

Yeah right!  Tax Day and Happy just don’t go together do they?  I already posted something about that last week.  So looking past the obvious dark cloud of the day, lets focus on some other things.  April 15 is also the day the Titanic sank, the anniversary of Lincoln’s assassination, and the day the first McDonald’s opened.  and if that’s not enough, it also National That Sucks Day!

But slow down, its really not that bad, its National High Five Day!

(you really need to watch that video)

Yes National High Five Day (NH5D).  Let’s do that!  What an excellent way to move out of the doldrums that could happen on April 15 and move forward with power!

10He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:10-11 (New International Version)

Get out there today and encourage others.  Use each encounter with a person to build them up. Make the other person better.  Show the love you have been given.  Strive to end each interaction with a high five.  I would love to hear of the joy this brings to you and to the people you meet.

Its National High Five Day, Sucka!

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Breakfast Commentary

This morning as I was fixing Alex’s customary toaster waffle, Amy came in and started to make herself a few pieces of raisin toast.  When she was unable to get the packaging open, she call in backup. So after I helped her get it open, I asked her if she wanted the heal, to which she replied,  you know it – “Nobody likes the heel”

Nobody likes the heel.  ( well i am sure there are a few people out there who do, but really???)  The heal is just not that good.  Of course this immediately took my mind to the sixth chapter of John ( well actually, it reminded me of a verse and a search engine took me to John).

47I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life. 48I am the bread of life. 49Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. 50But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. 51I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” John 6:47-51 (New International Version)

So in the John 6, Jesus called himself the bread of life.  He mentions that He is the nourishment that people need.  It a very funny exchange between he and his listeners.  But the point is interesting.  From His word, and his teaching and his gifts, we have all we need.  We have the Bread of life and we are blessed!

And we are to show his love and his life to others. Which means indirectly we offer the bread of life. (Not because of ourselves, but because we point to Him).  So today, what will you do?  What choices will you make that point the people you meet to the bread of life.  Will you be the heel? Or as Amy did this morning, will add peanut butter to the bread that makes it even more attractive.

Live it, and share it.