Tag: James

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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 Birthday Dr Seuss

He wasn’t a doctor at all – he didn’t even play on on TV, but this is one doctor that all of us remember from our youth, and today is his birthday.  Elementary schools across the country – except those out of school because of this latest winter storm – will celebrate Dr. Seuss today.   And here is a fun fact from the first grade teacher who happens to live with me – Dr Seuss was turned down over 20 times for his first book – And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street.

The story of Dr. Seuss is another on of those truly inspiring stories of how sticking with something will pay off.  The same is for your walk today.  Stay with it despite the hardships:

2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. -James 1:2-3 (New International Version)

And in honor of Dr Seuss, here a little rendition of the Jesus story Dr. Seuss style.  This was written for a Canadian comedy show called Kids in the Hall and I have a feeling it was written as satire, and to be funny, but it still tells a very important story.

And now for the Dr. Seuss Bible:

(Disclaimer: this limerick does not represent the actual word of God and is purely made up by someone else forDr Seuss laughs only)

One day God said, “This is what I will do:
I’ll send down my son. I’ll send him to you
To clear up this humpity bumpity hullaballoo.
His name will be Christ and he’ll never wear shoes.
His pals will all call him ‘The King of the Jews.’”

He didn’t come in a plane.
He didn’t come in a Jeep.
He didn’t come in a pouch
Of a high jumping Voveep.

He rode on the back of a black Sassatoo
Which is the blackiest creature you ever could view.

He rode to Jerusalem — home of the grumpity Jews
Where false prophets were worshiped — some even in twos.
There was Murray VonMyrrh and Ghengis Vovooz –
The one you could worship by taking a snooze.

Christ spoke from a mound
Which is a pile of ground.
People gathered around
Without making a sound.

Thus he spake:

“Sin in socks
Socks full of sin.
How do we quiet
This Jehovaty din?
Do unto others as they do unto you.
That includes you, young Timothy Foo.”

One pharisee said to another he knew,
“What shall we do with this uppity Jew?”
“Let’s wash him in wine and make him all clean
And into Sam Zittle’s crucifiction machine.”

Twirl the Gawhirl
And release the Galeese
And in go the nails
As fast as you please.

And it is said
That he said as he bled,
“Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do.
For they walk throughout life in toe crampity shoes.”

Do you?

Amen.

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Supershooter Champion

Yes, yes I am.  I am the 1983 Supershooters Champion.

That’s me on the right hand side of the picture. Yes sir! 42 points – Winner!  Not only did I win my age group, but I would have won the whole “shooting match”  is that cheater in the 16-18 age group wasn’t there.  Look at him!  He looks like we was in college.  Next time you see me, bow before the Supershooter!

Yes, that is an accomplishment for a lifetime.  Something that I should be able to hang my hat on, and just kick back and rest of my laurels the rest of my days!

Do you think so?

Well probably not.  But I think sometimes we get to that place in life, where for some reason we become content with what we’ve done and who we are.  We left go of training and discipline and a desire to grow and change.

But you know, I am no longer a sharpshooter. When I get to the gym, I send up more air balls and bricks then hitting “nothing but net”.   I also used to be able to run 5 miles in under 27 minutes and 5K around 16 minutes.  I can’t do that now either.  Although age has some impact on these things, the reason I can’t do either of those things now has more to do with my dedication and the choices I have made.  If I shot the round ball everyday, or if I trained aggressively everyday, I would stand a good chance at still be able to do some of those things.

That dedication to our spiritual growth is exactly why I write everyday.   Although our works do not save us, God expects us to do something.  He expects that we will react to his free gift and will work and do and dedicate ourselves to his service.  We can’t find ourselves content to say, I used to be a good servant, or a used to count it joy when I was in trials, or I used to be humble, etc.   Each day, we strive and grow and buffet our bodies  – our spiritual bodies.

I am going to try my hand at a 5K this weekend I think.  It will not be anywhere near 16 minutes.  But its a start at physical training again.  You see its not too late to train – physically or spiritually.  So, lets remember the championship accomplishments of yesteryear, but lets keep moving towards more growth and more service to our master!  Keep training.  Keep loving, keep glorifying your Lord with your service

22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does. James 1:22-25

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State of the (You)nion

Today, President Obama will stand in from of Congress and present his view of the State of the Union.  There will be lots of agreeing and disagreeing, as Mr Obama lays outs problems, goals, solutions and challenges for our country.

This makes we wonder, whats the state of my union?  Whats the state of ME?  And makes we want to ask you whats the State of You?  Have you ever stopped and considered how things are really going with you, or what it would be like if you had to stand up tonight and review you personal state? I wonder if that is what is being referred to in Philippians where it states “continue to work out your salvation”.  ( I never have really understood what that actually is saying.)

Anyway, I’m trying to do that.  I am trying to examine the state of me and see whats good, whats bad, whats needs to be different.  Its a tough thing – transformation, and one that takes time. But I thought I would share two verses that address “concerns” I am trying to focus on this year, as I try the address some of the humility and “frustration” issues that I deal with on a daily basis.  These are the ‘political promises’ I am trying to make to myself.  Maybe seeing these will help you as well:

31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:31-32

and

9With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. James 4 9-11

I know I will not be perfect in these things, but its is one of my goals for this year to allow these verses to transform me.  (its part of the whole obsessed thing I mentioned at New Years) Not by my own actions, but by giving in to the Spirit that live in me.  I’ll let you know right in these posts how it goes.

Whats the State of You?

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Earthquakes

You may be aware of the massive earthquake that hit Haiti yesterday.  A friend of mine who is trying to adopt some Haitian children and travels there several times a year sent me a few pictures last night that I thought were worth sharing.

Before

Presidential Palace Before
Presidential Palace Before

After

Presidential Palace - After
Presidential Palace - After

Wow!.  Can you imagine?  This is just an example of the damage and despair that has occurred on that troubled island.  Likewise some of you may be experiencing earthquakes in your lives.  Its not something we can take a picture of, but the devastation, and despair are equal.  You may feel like your life is like this palace – destroyed.  It may be your job, your relationships, your children, your financial position and many other things that rock our foundation.  What do we do?

We could look at James 1

2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. (NIV)

or
Romans 5

And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. (NIV)

Both of these are good things to know.  These lifequakes will build up our faith, and create, and in our weakness create a leaning on God.  However, I usually take strength in these two passages.  from Job

9 His wife said, “Still holding on to your precious integrity, are you? Curse God and be done with it!”

10 He told her, “You’re talking like an empty-headed fool. We take the good days from God—why not also the bad days?”

Not once through all this did Job sin. He said nothing against God. (Job 2:9-10, The Message)

and from Romans 8

28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,[a] who[b] have been called according to his purpose.(NIV)

18I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.(NIV)

The last one, brings the most hope. A message that even when the world falls in around you, we still have a promise of life eternal with our Lord and Savior. So if today, you world is shaking, remember this. If you are blessed with peace, pray for those in Haiti and find way to build up the people right around who maybe in the middle of the devastation of a lifequake.