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Examples

Following up on yesterday’s post about reflection and your response is this little thought I saw somewhere last week.  Again, this is a pretty good brain teaser.  Something that you should stop and really think about.  And make the proper changes, if need be!

If people thought Jesus was like you, what would they like about Jesus?

If you are a follower of the Christ, then this is something that should probably make you consider lots of things.  Lets make sure we are thinking like Paul when he says

11 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.1 Corinthians 11 New International Version (NIV)

How’s your example?

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Fixed and Fast

Last night I went out for a 4 mile run on the nice soft flat top of the local levee.  Since it’s so flat it can be an easy run or a fast run depending on how you feel.  I intended to do something sort of in the middle – quick but controlled.

I started my run a few blocks from the trail head and just as I approached the start of the levee another gentlemen started down the path.  Uh-no!  a rabbit.   So as I rounded the first turn and could see across the levee for quite a distance I noticed there were several runners and walkers out in front of me.  One by one, I placed my eyes on the back of the individual in front of me and ran them down.  As I approached the first mile, I noticed another runner in the distance, maybe 1/4 mile ahead, and sub consciously I fixed in on him.  I traveled through the first mile 15 seconds faster than I wanted, but I was feeling so fleet a foot and completely in control.  I continued ahead, slowly gaining on the object of my fixation.   I come along side the final runner with about a third of a mile to my turn around marker, the two-mile.  We arrived together at the two-mile mark more than 20 seconds faster than my intended pace and even faster than the first mile. Yes!

He was continuing down the path, so we parted ways and I turned around.  Since there were no returning runners in front of me, I had nothing to focus on but to gloat of my achievements!  And as you can guess, my time greatly reduced on the two miles back in.

This morning, I came across these great proverbs

25 Let your eyes look straight ahead;
fix your gaze directly before you.

26 Give careful thought to the paths for your feet
and be steadfast in all your ways.

27 Do not turn to the right or the left;
keep your foot from evil.

I could not help but be reminded of my trip across the levee last night.  As long as I had someone to focus on, to fix my gaze directly on, I was in the zone.  Moving efficiently and effectively towards the target – actually not even realizing the effort I was giving!  But as soon as I had no focus.  As soon as I could observe the grass, and the distance, and the birds, and get absorbing in myself gratifying thoughts, my efficiently was greatly reduced.

So it is with our spirits!  Make sure you are focused on the right thing today.

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God Hebrews 12:2 NIV

 

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Fun with Names Day

I keep finding these absolutely ridiculous days, and I keep finding this desire to share them – and I am not even sure why.

For instance, this week is Celebrate Your Name Week, which evidently goes by the acronym CYNW.  And today is Fun Facts about Names Day.  Odd.  You can check out the web site and see all sorts of fun facts that will make this day terrific for those you share them with!

So since it is CYNW week, I just thought maybe a quick reminder about the many names of that guy we claim to follow might be a refreshing start to Monday morning.  So I searched the Interwebs and found this wordle.  There all the go now it seems.

That’s a pretty good list, and it reminds me of this verse from Isaiah that describes some of those names

 

6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Isaiah 9:6  New International Version (NIV)

Those seem like a description of a dude that might be a good one to hang around and learn from!

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Love Another

As we approach the holiday weekend, spend a little time of the reason for our celebration – peace, hope and love.  And don’t forget the example that Christ-followers try to base there lives on.

 

7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 1 John 4 7-12

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Go and Do Likewise

Yesterday I had the pleasure of teaching the parable of the Good Samaritan to a group of teenagers.  Yeah, what fun is that  – you talk, they stare at you like you are not human.

But despite that I think they heard something, and the main thing I told them, is probably something all of us could be reminded of as well.

Before this parable Jesus has been asked to clarify who a person’s neighbor is.  He tells a story that we all know pretty well about a man and his rescuer.  He finished the story by with this little exchange:

  36“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” Luke 10:36-37

This is really interesting, as if I can paraphrase that last bit, it might be like this:

“Go and have mercy on those who hate you, oh and also have mercy on those that you hate.”

And that’s a pretty amazing way of showing who are neighbor is that we are commanded to show love towards ( with as much love as we show ourselves!!!)

Well, what else can I say, except – Go and Do Likewise!