Tag: Philippians

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American Idol And Other Stuff

Oh its Friday, and that means that brains are tired, bodies are tired and the weekend waits with wonderful weather ahead!  Just as some of those sports writers produce “clean our their notebooks” articles from time to time, today is a serious of random hanging thoughts as well.

  • If case you were worried, the mystery cat was discovered Tuesday night, cornered in our bushes by one of our cats.  He was then spotted on our porch later Tuesday and Wednesday morning.  Since then he has not been seen or heard again!
  • The ice cream sandwich yesterday was great.  I think the box in the freezer will get me through the weekend.  I hope you enjoyed some as well!
  • I am not much of a American Idol fan.  In fact when it comes to reality TV, I am more of a Dancing with the Stars kind of guy ( did I just type that?).  However, last night I did watch and felt quite a connection.  First is was in Nashville, where I spend 4 years getting learned.  Second, a great friend of mine ( and fellow daily buffeter) made an appearance celebrating with her Hollywood bound niece. And finally, the last winner of the night was from the little town in which I reside!  It was like Old Home Days on American Idol last night!
  • Speaking of American Idol, I guess they must air different cities to different areas of the country?  I watched Nashville last night, but my good friend in Michigan twitted about this story from the Chicago tryouts last night.  It’s a pretty good story of love and dedication.  I will share it from the blog that he shared, a professor at Abilene Christian U, it’s worth the few minutes to watch.

Have a great day out there and remember to model Christ, for instance:

3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Philippians 2:3-4 (New International Version, ©2010)

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Munchies

The thing about the winter for me is that I find myself snacking and munching a bunch in the evenings. It must be something about trying to stay warm by adding on a few pounds or something like that. I think a lot of us our that way in the winter, and since my brain can’t really come up with a deep thorough thought this morning, here are a few snacks for you to munch on mentally:

1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Philippians 2:1-4

7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. James 4

Have a great day – and stay warm.

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Rejoice

Well I woke up this morning with these words on my lips:

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

You know it must be close to Christmas.

But really this is how our lives should be lived all year long.  We are free, because of the baby, because of his birth, and his resurrection.  What then can take away that joy?

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19 (New International Version, ©2010)

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Philippians 4:4-5 (New International Version, ©2010)

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Bucket of Thoughts

Man, I am so full of ideas today that my head literally hurts. Unfortunately, none of those ideas are related, and there are so many that I can hardly focus. Even this morning, I found myself thinking about this blog, then cleaning the kitchen, then reading the news, then talking to Andrew, then eating one bit of breakfast, and then back around again – never completing anything. And that’s just a small smattering of stuff that in on my mind today. So off I go to meetings 8-5 and then an evening’s worth of activities.

So with all of these going on, I needed to ask myself what is my real focus today and went directly to this verse

9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:9-11 (New International Version, ©2010)

No matter what you have going on today – make sure you let your love abound and fill yourself with the fruit of righteousness, then all the other stuff can line up after that!

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Mere Mortals

In just a few weeks another Narnia movie will be released. On my way home last night, I heard an interview with a “C.S. Lewis expert”. He was talking about the several things about old C.S., like for instance that he died on the same day that JFK was shot and killed. But then he mentioned this quote from one of his books.

There are no ordinary people. You have never met a mere mortal.
The Weight of Glory, “The Weight of Glory” (1942) p46

This struck me square in the face. Although I had heard something similar to this before, and maybe even have read this quote before, it was so new and fresh yesterday evening. Then last night I was listening to an interview with Francis Chan I found on the internet. In this interview, he was talking about having a passion for people, and asking if we really realize we are a supernatural being – full of the spirit and made to live forever. He also mentioned Paul’s anguish from Romans 9,

I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people,

Paul so wanted he people to follow the Christ that it brought him sorrow and anguish. That’s seems to indicate a recognition of the state of people.

I just wonder what my day would be like if I walked around not looking at people at strangers – as just mere mortals – who are in the way, but as supernatural immortal people who just like you will arrive at one of two destinations in the end. How would that change your day?

3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.  Philippians 2:3-4 (New International Version, ©2010)