Tag: Philippians

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Finally Friday

“finally Friday, free again, got my motor running  for a wild weekend”.  Nothing like starting off the morning with a little George Jones, and yes it Friday!  The rest of the song does leave a little to be desired!  But yes its Friday, the end of the week, and for a lot of people, a seemingly lighter work load. ( not me – con calls 8-4 straight!)

Since its Friday, and since my mind is still sort of stuck in Philippians 3–today is garbage day at my house, so I have been thinking about the whole concept of a spiritual garbage day, and what needs to go go go!  (Man that sentence got away from me).  Anyway, since its Friday, here is a little lighter thought, from just a page over in Philippians to help set your mind up as you head off in the weekend ( by the may, if Saturday is the end of the week, and Sunday is the start of the week, why is it not called the weekends, like bookends.) And to represent the two days of the weekend here are two versions

8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.Philippians 4:8 (New International Version)

8-9Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies. (Philippians 4:8, The Message)

Think on those things, and see how that changes your day!

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Highway to Hell

Franticly trying to cancel out the doldrums of driving 300 miles last night, I was scanning the radio dial looking for Art Bell to keep me awake with his caller’s stories of human eating cows.  However, all I could turn up was two for Tuesday on a classic rock station.  So I crossed the Savannah River into South Carolina,  ACDC finished up Black in Black and starting rocking out Highway to Hell.  Could this be fitting I wondered.  And since I had started my trip by passing a church with a sign that said “No, its not as hot as hell!”, I thought maybe someone was trying to get a message to me!  
Anyway, as I arrived at my hotel, I was told that all they had was a small room with a small bed, not the majestic spacious king bed in the gianormous suite that I usually am granted at this establishment.  Then as I was brushing my teeth to head off to dream land, I discovered the stopper in the sink was stuck on stop.  (two strikes?).  Finally this am after I awoke and prepared to hop in a day starting shower, I came to the brutal reality that there was no hot water in this room! ( I would find out after the cold shower, that the entire hotel was without hot water).  Man, welcome to hell!  I could only think what else does this day have in store for me.  
But really, the entire time, as I tried to complain to myself, I was always stopped short by realizing how fortunate I am to be able to sleep safely in a cool dark room in a comfortable bed, and that I am actually able to take a shower in clean water ( hot or cold.)  And about the stopper, I just reached up under the sink and pulled the lever by hand – not really much of a problem at all.  None of these things even remotely resemble hell.  But boy, don’t we let them ruin our days often!  Little things that appear to be so big take us away from the blessings we are giving. 

This sort of reminds me of some of the words of Paul over in Philippians  

Do all things without grumbling or questioning,  Philippians 2:14 ESV 

 10I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13I can do everything through him who gives me strength.   Philippians 4:10-13 (New International Version) 

 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Philippians 4:4 (NKJV) 

Well that reminds me of another sign I saw on this trip, at the Big Biscuit Barn just a few miles from my home.  “Praise the Lord, Eat A Biscuit”.  Hm,, I think I am heading to breakfast….

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Jesus Didn’t Tapout

Over the weekend while I was traveling back home, I saw on a small church sign in the backwoods of the Florida panhandle the words “Jesus Did Not Tapout”.  My initial reaction was like, what does that mean?  Isn’t tapout some MMA fighter stuff?  Sure Jesus fought.  He fought more then we can ever imagine.  So I decided to look this tapout stuff up.

To my surprise, to tap out means to give up.  It’s the sign of surrender in MMA or even in just plain ol’ wrestling.  Of course that makes me wonder why all these rough and tough MMA guys wear TapouT clothing – since it essentially says “Give Up” on the clothing.  As I kept digging to find out what this church sign could be referring to, I found that there is also Never Tapout clothing for MMA followers, and even a Jesus Didn’t Tap website.

So, even though my initial reaction was one of “what are you all talking about”, I agree with that little sign on this church.  It’s not that Jesus would be a big MMA fighter dude.  I don’t think that at all.  Actually, I am not a big fan of the MMA, and not a hater – just neutral.  But that’s not really the message here today.  It seems this message fits the idea of buffeting your spiritually body daily. The idea that Jesus did not give up.  He was presented with trials and temptations bigger then we will ever face, and he did not give in. He did not tap.  That’s the idea.  One of persistence and focus and forging ahead no matter what was in his way.  When Jesus came to this Earth he had a very challenging mission and he fulfilled it.  That’s not to say he didn’t grow weary, or even dread it, but he continued to move, continued to fight and didn’t “tap out”, as they say.

How about you today. Will you tap out, or will you stay focused on your mission?

5-8Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion. (Philippians 2:5-8, The Message)

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Keep Moving Forward

Last night, we finished off a great weekend by piling into the living room and watching an older Disney film called “Meet the Robinsons” on one of the Disney channels.  Its an OK movie, and I was really just halfway paying attention, messing around with some other things, eating ice cream, and just enjoying everyone’s company.  Anyway in this movie, the motto “Keep Moving Forward” appears as it tells the story of not letting failure keep you down.  It turns out this Disney film stole that motto from its founder – Walt ( I guess that’s not technically stealing is it?)

We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.
Walt Disney

I think that a great way to start a Monday morning.  It sort of reminds me of another great Disney movie, The Lion King,  when Pumba says “You gotta put your behind in the past.”  To which Timon replies “No no no, sit down before you hurt yourself, you gotta put your past behind you”

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.  Philippians 3:13-14 (New International Version)

Keep Moving Forward!!

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Smile and Wave

Today,  I have an interesting engagement.  At times it sort of makes me feel like the penguins in the movie Madagascar “Smile and Wave Boys, just Smile and Wave”.  

But really it’s more than that – even though I am working within some pretty Dilbertesque parameters.   Its really more about helping people.  Without going into too many details about the whole thing, let’s just say it could be very easy for me to take a hands off approach, just smile and wave, keep everyone happy and move on.   But I don’t think thats the difference that we are asked to make in peoples lives.  I have been thinking alot ( like all year so far) about living to make those around me better.   It’s been a little silent mantra of mine so far this year at work.  Today is one of those opportunities when it is what the entire day is really about – making those around me better.

Isn’t that really the way we are called to live every day? (Remember the old children’s bible program acronym for JOY – Jesus Others You)  It seems to me that taking that approach everyday is  pretty good.  Check this quote out:

 
“To do something, however small, to make others happier and better, is the highest ambition, the most elevating hope, which can inspire a human being” John Lubbock quotes (English Biologist and Politician, 1834-1913)

And then there’s this little bit of encouragement from Philippians:

 1If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:1-4 (New International Version)

So today, go out and make those around you better.  Find ways to encourage those you come in contact with, and look out for their interests, not your own.