Category: Daily Post

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Making Preparations

I was preparing to write about an entirely different topic, when I was checking to see if schools were closing hours before the first snow flake even was forming and I saw this classic poll on the front of my local news station:

You can't have snow with a cupboard full of bread and milk
You can't have snow with a cupboard full of bread and milk

Preparations and plans. Sometimes it’s important to make them.  Apparently, when winter weather strikes its even more important.   It’s always the running joke about hitting the grocery when winter weather approaches, and it always makes good news stories.  That and a story about the road crews loading up the salt and sand.  Winter in the South is fun stuff.  However I noticed yesterday on weather.com, more evidence of my government weather conspiracy plot.  Notice the green circle around Chattanooga!!!

Weather Channel Forcast
Anyway, since snow is once again the talk of the town, and yesterday’s post dealt remotely with the creation, I almost think this is an incredible image to try to conjure up in your mind.  The storehouses of snow.  I think it shows the mightiness and the greatness of the Lord.

20 “Have you ever traveled to where snow is made,
seen the vault where hail is stockpiled,
The arsenals of hail and snow that I keep in readiness
for times of trouble and battle and war?
Can you find your way to where lightning is launched,
or to the place from which the wind blows?
Who do you suppose carves canyons
for the downpours of rain, and charts
the route of thunderstorms
That bring water to unvisited fields,
deserts no one ever lays eyes on,
Drenching the useless wastelands
so they’re carpeted with wildflowers and grass?
And who do you think is the father of rain and dew,
the mother of ice and frost?
You don’t for a minute imagine
these marvels of weather just happen, do you? (Job 38:21-23, The Message)

and since we started with a little bit of planning, how about this verse to consider today:

3 Commit to the LORD whatever you do,
and your plans will succeed. Proverbs 16:3 (NIV)

Enjoy the snow – if we get it!

( oh, by the way, the conspiracy theory is a joke -just a joke)

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Going Green for God

Over the last 12 years or so, I have really begun to hate politics.  There’s too much judging, criticism and hate going on, and so I have unfortunately turned away from that spectrum for a little while – or at least turned away from engaging in much rhetoric about it.  (Outside of a little fun on FaceBook provoking of my favorite political college student, who shall stay unnamed.)  Anyway, this is a bit of walking on the edge for me, a slight advance into a topic that could turn very political.

Last week, the man we refer to as Pope Benedict XVI gave his usual and customary New Years Mass speech.  During this talk, the head of the Catholic Church stated:

“Nevertheless, in this moment, I would like to underline the importance of the choices of individuals, families and local administrations in preserving the environment,”

and

“An objective shared by all, an indispensable condition for peace, is that of overseeing the earth’s natural resources with justice and wisdom.”

Well, this has troubled me a little bit over the past few days because the headlines and the new bits say “Pope Urges Lifestyle Changes to Save Planet”.  Hm.  I have always been a conservationist.  I agree with the Pope.  I have thought for years that Christians should be leading the charge to take care of the planet.  You see, its our charge and responsibility.  God created the Earth and gave “dominion” to man –

26 Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image and likeness. And let them rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the tame animals, over all the earth, and over all the small crawling animals on the earth.” (Genesis 1:26, New Century Version)

God has asked us, no charged us with taking care of the world he has created.  So we should be going green for God.  Taking care of the planet, wisely using its resources, recycling, watching our consumption – these are Godly principles – all in the same vein as the message we are given to take care of our bodies, the temple of God.

18Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. 19Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. – 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 (New International Version)

The beef I have here, however, is the apparent lack of trust or faith in God, when we as men think we can change our behavior and “save the planet”.  Its God’s planet.  The whole notion that we can destroy it or save it seems a little off base for me.  ( Now, I think we can make it a terrible place to live, or we can make it a great place to live, by our actions)  It sort of reminds me of the Tower of Babel.

So consider this.  I think we should jump in the bandwagon and Go Green for God, because He (not via the Pope) asked us to, not in a last ditch effort to save the planet.

Go Green!  Thoughts?

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An Idea for Prayer

As we start the new year, many of us lay out a plan for a “better prayer life”.  It is a good change to make to spend time taking advantage of the gift of prayer.  Its a real life changer when you are in those times in life when prayer is a big part of your day.  So I thought I would share an idea a found a few months again at the Not a Fan site.  (if you have not check this site out your should – there is lots of encouragement there.)  Anyway, the idea shared there is a modern take on the prayer journal – give God an email address and send him an email everyday.  I have not tried this yet, but I think its a pretty good idea – especially for you writers out there.  Check out the idea here, and however you do it, make it a priority in 2010 to spend time in prayer.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (New International Version)

16Be joyful always; 17pray continually; 18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

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Resolutions Twenty-Ten

So, how is it going to be said?  Twenty-ten? Two Thousand and Ten? Two Thousand Ten? Two-Oh-Ten?  However you say it its here-  2010! With the start of the year comes the yearly lets get in shape, get organized and do more resolutions.  I have heard several people over the last few days say they are recycling last years resolutions, or maybe even 2007’s resolutions.  Myself, I can’t stand for that.  My resolutions may be in the same theme as last years, but I think we must move forward.  I think our problem with resolutions is that we expect a “magic overnight transformation”.  Transformation can happen, and when it comes to our spiritual lives it must happen.  However, its not going to happen overnight.

I was checking for some lists of other’s resolutions and found this list:  Ben Franklin’s 13 Personal Goals.  ( I found it at flamebright.com via lifehacker.com, a rather interesting site full of all sorts of tidbits).  Anyway, the interesting thing about Franklin’s list – besides being a pretty practical way as addressing personal change –  is that it admittedly took him years to transform the the personal he felt he needed to be.

So as you look for change in your life and set up your plan for Twenty-Ten, expect transformation, but don’t expect it over night.  You can be renewed and grow, day by day.

I resolve for twenty ten to become obsessed and to start each day fresh and new, in the knowledge of the perfection of my salvation and with a eye to the transforming power of Christ in my spirit.

8 Brothers and sisters, think about the things that are good and worthy of praise. Think about the things that are true and honorable and right and pure and beautiful and respected. (Philippians 4:8, New Century Version)

How about you?

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Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, and Lets Go Mountaineers!

Have a great day and steel your mind for a great year ahead.

28 So let us be thankful, because we have a kingdom that cannot be shaken. We should worship God in a way that pleases him with respect and fear,29 because our God is like a fire that burns things up. (Hebrews 12:28-29, New Century Version)