Tag: Hebrews

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Overtaken With Joy

March Madness continues tonight is full force, even though my bracket is kaput. Speaking of basketball, have you seen this video from this Spanish basketball game that has been circulating the Internet?

Although the end of this game is quit speculator, its the audio commentary that makes this clip – so make sure you have your speakers on. Even though you probably can’t understand a thing he is saying, unless like American Idol star Laura “you speak one language and that language is Spanish”. Anyway, despite the fact that you can’t probably are not sure exactly what he is saying, the emotion, raw and uncut at the end of this game comes through loud and clear. He is clearly overwhelmed, awe struck and full of joy.

I have to wonder when was the last time that I was presented with anything that produced so much joy that I was overwhelmed like this guy?

This was just at a basketball game, consider how others reacted when then encountered the Savior of the world

26 Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.” (Luke 5:26, New International Version, ©2011)

8 When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man. (Matthew 9:8, New International Version, ©2011)

Maybe today is a day to stop and consider the awe inspiring gifts you have received.

28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:28-29, New International Version, ©2011)

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Small Moments of Encourgament

Last week, I was finally able to catch up with a good friend at lunchtime. While we were walking down the street to the cafe, coming the other direction was one of my teammates from last year’s Ragnar Tennessee Relay, just getting started on his noontime workout. As I watched him speed past, I thought about my own running schedule. Oddly enough as we returned to work and approached the doors to the office, there speeding past us just finishing his noon workout was the man we call Grape Nuts – who also was on my Ragnar Relay team!

It seemed that maybe I was being sent a message? I took these two chance encounters as encouragement to keep on my own training program, and last night I banged out a nice eight miler.

24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25 (New International Version, ©2011)

Sometimes it’s just a simple thing can bring huge amounts of motivation and encouragement. As you approach the day today, look for ways that you can encourage those around you. It may be just by doing what you need to be doing as my two running partners where, or it may mean going out of you way just a little to keep others uplifted!

13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. Hebrews 3:13 (New International Version, ©2011)

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Ice Cream Sandwiches

This morning Amy asked me what I wanted for dinner, I responded with the first thing that came to my head – Ice Cream Sandwiches.  I love those things.  They are the best in the world.  I don’t eat them as often as I wish, but man, when I do , I could eat the whole box.  Then there are the ones that are found in Disney World.  Personally, I find that the one’s distributed from Sleepy Hallow are in fact the best in the world, and make watching a Disney parade even more enjoyable.  I mean just look at the picture.  Yum.  If we could just eat those all the time, day and night – what a great world it would be!

So go ahead – at lunch today, as you walk past that little cooler with the ice cream treats, slide open the lid, and reach in for a nice ice cream sandwich!  As you enjoy the super taste and fulfillment that only comes from consuming one of these babies, consider what would happen to your body if that was all you ate.  And then consider your spiritual life.  As you eat, think about your spiritual diet and if there are things that you need to change to help you truly transform!  Taking hold of the pinnacle of handheld deserts everyonce in a while is great, but as we know there are other things we need.  Use The Sandwich to help spurn you to continue your quest for deeper knowledge and for true transformation!

13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Hebrews 5:13-14 (New International Version, ©2010)

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The Ever Changing Schedule

Wow!  The Government’s weather bubble around Chattanooga seems to have  fallen with the Metrodome’s roof and we have white stuff on the ground and a list of  closed schools and business that will wear out the scroll bar on your computer. I even received a phone call from my employer this morning – the first time in 17 years!

And since this is the busiest time of the year, all sort of schedules are being redone.  Final exams are being moved, Christmas plays and programs adjusted to later in the week.  Shuffling this from here to there, so we can work this in here.

Of course on top of it all is the general confusion about a 19 degree snow filled December day in Chattanooga.  That just never happens.

With all of this changing going on around, it’s always good to know this:

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8 (New International Version, ©2010)

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Fantasy Lost

Well, I had been winning my fantasy league until last night!  I went head to head with the other team with a 7-3 record and come up short – 4 points short.  And today I can blame it on the coaching!  Not, the highly paid NFL coaches, I can blame it on this blogger’s coaching.  I guessed wrong.  I benched the players who scored touchdowns, and I played the players who forgot they had a game to play!  But really who would play Mark Sanchez over Kyle Orton or Forte over Bradshaw?  The inconsistency of it all is about to make me pull my hair out!  One week 2 touchdowns 150 yards, the next 25 yards and fumble! Who should I bench now!

The inconsistency of that fantasy football stuff started me thinking.  I found myself thinking about our spiritual lives.  We’re hot, we’re cold.  We fight off the devil, we let him win.  Man, if our Creator was playing Fantasy Spiritual Living, he would be going crazy with out inability to keep high scores each week.  But then again, he’s used to it – as he struggled with the nation of Israel for years in the love-love-not-so-much relationship.

However, he is always there.  He never trades us, he never benches us.  He is still there despite our selfish ambition and our affairs with Satan.

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8 (New International Version, ©2010)

Wow. I don’t know about you, but I find comfort in knowing that. Despite my inconsistencies, he’s still the same, and still full of forgiveness.
Maybe, I just found a new coaching technique.