A man sat at a metro station in Washington DC and started to play the violin; it was a cold January morning. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, since it was rush hour, it was calculated that thousands of people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.
Three minutes went by and a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried up to meet his schedule. A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman threw the money in the till and without stopping continued to walk. A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him, but the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearly he was late for work.
The one who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy. His mother tagged him along, hurried but the kid stopped to look at the violinist. Finally the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. All the parents, without exception, forced them to move on.
In the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing and silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.
No one knew this but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the best musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written with a violin worth 3.5 million dollars. Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a theater in Boston and the seats averaged $100.
This is a real story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and priorities of people. The outlines were: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour: Do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context? One of the possible conclusions from this experience could be: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing the best music ever written on an almost priceless instrument, how many other things are we missing?
God has a wonderful day planned for you everyday. This question is do you have the time to enjoy it or are you too busy trying to make your own day the way you want it. The problem is once we have made our own day we blame God for it not turning out wonderful. This is the day the Lord has made. Rejoice and be glad in it.
Just a thought.
Remember: It Is All Good
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Saturday, June 20, 2009
It is a Front
Things I learned from traveling to Woodsfield.
I went to have lunch with a friend of mine this last week in Woodsfield. This friend took me to a business where he knew the owner was a Christian. The owner is actively leading people to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
This owner takes people to his office and talks to them about where they stand with God. In fact the owner has led some of his employees to Jesus Christ.
The cool thing about this owner is that he told my friend that his business is just a front for what he really is doing. I said a front for his other activities and he said yes and I asked what other activities.
The owner said that his business is a front for reaching out to the lost and helping them find their way back to God through Jesus Christ.
I love this and thought about how many of us use the business we are in to reach our co-workers and those around us for Jesus Christ.
What is you front?? What do you use to help change lives around you???
It is just a thought.
Remember: It is All Good
I went to have lunch with a friend of mine this last week in Woodsfield. This friend took me to a business where he knew the owner was a Christian. The owner is actively leading people to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
This owner takes people to his office and talks to them about where they stand with God. In fact the owner has led some of his employees to Jesus Christ.
The cool thing about this owner is that he told my friend that his business is just a front for what he really is doing. I said a front for his other activities and he said yes and I asked what other activities.
The owner said that his business is a front for reaching out to the lost and helping them find their way back to God through Jesus Christ.
I love this and thought about how many of us use the business we are in to reach our co-workers and those around us for Jesus Christ.
What is you front?? What do you use to help change lives around you???
It is just a thought.
Remember: It is All Good
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Can We Be Free???
A verse in the bible that has always been an interest to me especially as a teenager is in Proverbs. It is Proverbs 26:11 in the New Living Testamant it reads like this, "As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness."
This is an awesome verse and it make so much sense to me. In our society we have down graded sin. We want to be politically correct so we say we have made mistakes or didn't understand but oh no we did not sin. Or we will be okay with white lie saying that it is not as bad as really lying.
Since we have down graded sin it doesn't seem so BAD. So we continue to sin over and over again.
We validate this by saying that everyone sins and we can never be free from sin.
To which I would love to respond. In 1 John 1:9 It say that " If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins amd cleanse us from all wickedness. " Some versions may say unrighteousness, I just say sin. It means if we confess our sins, God is faithful and will cleanse from all our sin.
My question is, at the point where the Bible says he will cleanse us from all our sin, are we completely sin free at that time. I say yes, if not then Jesus did not die enough for our sins. If Jesus Christ did die enough for our sins, which I think he did.
So another question to ask then is if we are truly sin free at the pint of God's forgiveness, Can you go 1 second without sinning?
Can you go 10 seconds? Can you go 1 minute without committing a sin?
To which I say I think we can. Especially through the power of the Holy Spirit.
So instead of being like a dog and returning to the vomit or committing sin over and over again.
Why not try to see how long you can go without sinning.
Just a thought.
It is All Good
This is an awesome verse and it make so much sense to me. In our society we have down graded sin. We want to be politically correct so we say we have made mistakes or didn't understand but oh no we did not sin. Or we will be okay with white lie saying that it is not as bad as really lying.
Since we have down graded sin it doesn't seem so BAD. So we continue to sin over and over again.
We validate this by saying that everyone sins and we can never be free from sin.
To which I would love to respond. In 1 John 1:9 It say that " If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins amd cleanse us from all wickedness. " Some versions may say unrighteousness, I just say sin. It means if we confess our sins, God is faithful and will cleanse from all our sin.
My question is, at the point where the Bible says he will cleanse us from all our sin, are we completely sin free at that time. I say yes, if not then Jesus did not die enough for our sins. If Jesus Christ did die enough for our sins, which I think he did.
So another question to ask then is if we are truly sin free at the pint of God's forgiveness, Can you go 1 second without sinning?
Can you go 10 seconds? Can you go 1 minute without committing a sin?
To which I say I think we can. Especially through the power of the Holy Spirit.
So instead of being like a dog and returning to the vomit or committing sin over and over again.
Why not try to see how long you can go without sinning.
Just a thought.
It is All Good
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Through the Eyes of Christ
When I was feeling God calling me to be a pastor and into full time ministry there were a lot of people that criticized or made judgements about me. They could not see what God saw in me.
I will never forget how much Bishop Gerald Bates did for me as a pastor. He saw me through the eyes of Christ. At our church conference he talked about my heart that is for helping people come to a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. He affirmed me in who I was.
One day at our church family camp and I was walking beside Bishop Bates and there was another pastor who saw us talking and who said, "look at Nate trying to get in good with the Bishop."
I will never forget what the Bishop said. He told the other pastor that I didn't need to try to get in good with him because he was already on my side. It meant the world to me that he saw what I could be. He saw my potential not my faults.
I try every day to see people for what they could be if God got a hold of their lives totally. I believe that we can love the sinner and hate the sin. It does not mean that we agree or accept the sin but it does mean that we can still love past it.
Each one of us has expectations for people around us but we can decide whether those expectations are postive or negative. We can think others are worthless or wonderful. We can make the decision to expect the best and actually look for the good instead of the bad.
When you see the people around you what do you see?
Can you see them through the eyes of compassion and love of Jesus Christ?
Just a Thought
Remember: It Is All Good
I will never forget how much Bishop Gerald Bates did for me as a pastor. He saw me through the eyes of Christ. At our church conference he talked about my heart that is for helping people come to a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. He affirmed me in who I was.
One day at our church family camp and I was walking beside Bishop Bates and there was another pastor who saw us talking and who said, "look at Nate trying to get in good with the Bishop."
I will never forget what the Bishop said. He told the other pastor that I didn't need to try to get in good with him because he was already on my side. It meant the world to me that he saw what I could be. He saw my potential not my faults.
I try every day to see people for what they could be if God got a hold of their lives totally. I believe that we can love the sinner and hate the sin. It does not mean that we agree or accept the sin but it does mean that we can still love past it.
Each one of us has expectations for people around us but we can decide whether those expectations are postive or negative. We can think others are worthless or wonderful. We can make the decision to expect the best and actually look for the good instead of the bad.
When you see the people around you what do you see?
Can you see them through the eyes of compassion and love of Jesus Christ?
Just a Thought
Remember: It Is All Good
Monday, June 15, 2009
The Silent Servant
I only do 3 or 4 weddings a year because I like to invest a lot into the counseling before hand. I ask the couple to give me at least 6 months before they get married to do the counseling.
They have to complete a compatibility test and read 2 books besides do a homework assignment every time we meet. This may seem excessive but somewhere in our society we have lost the accountability and serving our partners.
It seems like in so many couples the man wants the wife to be submissive but yet he doesn't want to live up to the other part of the scripture which says he will lay down his life for his wife as Christ layed down His life for the church.
It seems like men want to control the women not share or be equal with the women. They feel that their wives are more a posses ion than a help mate. They feel that their wives should be a slave more than a partner.
NO where do I find that this is the way God intended marriage to be.
Every once in a while I come across a man who is totally different from this way of thinking. I want to call this person the silent Servant.
As I was counseling one couple who are living together, I asked the woman how she got her toothpaste out of the tube and she said she always squeezes from the top. then I asked the man how he got out the toothpaste to which he said he squeezes and then rolls it all to the top. The woman looked at him and she couldn't believe it. He said how do you think you were always able to get the toothpaste from the top.
He said it bothered him that she did it but he felt it wasn't a big enough thing to complain about because he loved her so he just kept doing it. I asked him how long he had been doing this and he said for 2 years. I asked her if she knew he had been doing this for her for 2 years and she said she had no idea but she wondered how come she always had tooth paste at the top.
I love this. So many complain about little things and then there are others who just go ahead and take care of the problem with nothing said.
What kind of person are you???
The world needs more silent servants especially from the husbands.
Just a thought.
(I do not agree with people living together but I do believe in marrying people to get them out of this situation.)
It Is All Good.
They have to complete a compatibility test and read 2 books besides do a homework assignment every time we meet. This may seem excessive but somewhere in our society we have lost the accountability and serving our partners.
It seems like in so many couples the man wants the wife to be submissive but yet he doesn't want to live up to the other part of the scripture which says he will lay down his life for his wife as Christ layed down His life for the church.
It seems like men want to control the women not share or be equal with the women. They feel that their wives are more a posses ion than a help mate. They feel that their wives should be a slave more than a partner.
NO where do I find that this is the way God intended marriage to be.
Every once in a while I come across a man who is totally different from this way of thinking. I want to call this person the silent Servant.
As I was counseling one couple who are living together, I asked the woman how she got her toothpaste out of the tube and she said she always squeezes from the top. then I asked the man how he got out the toothpaste to which he said he squeezes and then rolls it all to the top. The woman looked at him and she couldn't believe it. He said how do you think you were always able to get the toothpaste from the top.
He said it bothered him that she did it but he felt it wasn't a big enough thing to complain about because he loved her so he just kept doing it. I asked him how long he had been doing this and he said for 2 years. I asked her if she knew he had been doing this for her for 2 years and she said she had no idea but she wondered how come she always had tooth paste at the top.
I love this. So many complain about little things and then there are others who just go ahead and take care of the problem with nothing said.
What kind of person are you???
The world needs more silent servants especially from the husbands.
Just a thought.
(I do not agree with people living together but I do believe in marrying people to get them out of this situation.)
It Is All Good.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Encouraging One Another
Yesterday I went to a Quad Race to watch JD Hesson race. It was fun to watch and sometimes pretty exciting when they went over the huge jumps. People were standing every where and some even out on the insides and outsides of the track.
JD had a friend there Trevor. These 2 were awesome for each other they helped each other sweep off the starting area for the other. They laughed and talked about the races with each other.
My favorite thing to watch in these 2 friends was when JD was racing. JD was in first place but Trevor said to us that JD looked like he was getting tired. Trevor said he would be back and Trevor took his broom walking out into the track area. He put himself where JD would be sure to see him.
When JD came around Trevor was waving to Jd. Telling him to keep going. Trevor stayed out there until JD finished the race to encourage him on.
IN our world I think this is a rare thing. To have someone to cheer you on. To have someone go out and put himself in harms way to help you be successful.
It seems so many people want to bring you down or criticize you just so they can look or feel better about themselves.
One of my favorite verses is Ephesians 4:29 "let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouth only that which is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."
When we lift one another up and encourage them it not only benefits the people being encouraged but those around also benefit by seeing it.
Is there someone around you who could use some encouragement?
Is there someone you could stand by and wave them on and tell them to keep going?
If you can't find someone. I am always here and I can use all I can get.
It Is All Good
JD had a friend there Trevor. These 2 were awesome for each other they helped each other sweep off the starting area for the other. They laughed and talked about the races with each other.
My favorite thing to watch in these 2 friends was when JD was racing. JD was in first place but Trevor said to us that JD looked like he was getting tired. Trevor said he would be back and Trevor took his broom walking out into the track area. He put himself where JD would be sure to see him.
When JD came around Trevor was waving to Jd. Telling him to keep going. Trevor stayed out there until JD finished the race to encourage him on.
IN our world I think this is a rare thing. To have someone to cheer you on. To have someone go out and put himself in harms way to help you be successful.
It seems so many people want to bring you down or criticize you just so they can look or feel better about themselves.
One of my favorite verses is Ephesians 4:29 "let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouth only that which is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."
When we lift one another up and encourage them it not only benefits the people being encouraged but those around also benefit by seeing it.
Is there someone around you who could use some encouragement?
Is there someone you could stand by and wave them on and tell them to keep going?
If you can't find someone. I am always here and I can use all I can get.
It Is All Good
Friday, June 12, 2009
Breathe
I remember many years ago when I was riding in an ambulance and having troubles breathing. They told me that if I did not stay awake they were going to have to put a trach in my neck. I was trying so hard to breathe and was having a hard time staying awake and I was so tired from trying to breathe. They started to make marks on my necks. We finally got to the hospital and no trach. Praise God.
They found out that I had epliglotitus. Which means all the air goes into your stomach and not your lungs. It was a rough few days until they figured out what was going on. For a few days I had a temp over 103 and not breathing very well on my own.
I don't know about you but sometimes when I go to the hospital I feel like a test subject or a guinea pig. I feel like sometimes it is their best guess that they go with and that there is sometimes no certainty.
Well, I have learned to appreciate breathing more and more. I realize that I am dependent on breathing. If I wake up and I am breathing I know it is going to be a great day.
I wonder if we appreciate being able to breathe. Sometimes we take so much in our lives for granted. The next time you take a breath make it a deep one and thank God for it.
In fact when you get ready to take this deep breath, think about breathing in God.
I crave God in my life the same way I crave a breath of air.
What do you crave in your life?? Do you crave God??
Just a thought.
It Is All Good
They found out that I had epliglotitus. Which means all the air goes into your stomach and not your lungs. It was a rough few days until they figured out what was going on. For a few days I had a temp over 103 and not breathing very well on my own.
I don't know about you but sometimes when I go to the hospital I feel like a test subject or a guinea pig. I feel like sometimes it is their best guess that they go with and that there is sometimes no certainty.
Well, I have learned to appreciate breathing more and more. I realize that I am dependent on breathing. If I wake up and I am breathing I know it is going to be a great day.
I wonder if we appreciate being able to breathe. Sometimes we take so much in our lives for granted. The next time you take a breath make it a deep one and thank God for it.
In fact when you get ready to take this deep breath, think about breathing in God.
I crave God in my life the same way I crave a breath of air.
What do you crave in your life?? Do you crave God??
Just a thought.
It Is All Good
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Cleaning the House
Today I went to an allergist and immunologist. They were checking to see why I am sick so much. So they do this allergy test by running this thing across you back. It has 70 some different things that you can have allergies for.
When they are done running this thing across your back they look and see what reacted or swells up due to being allergic. They found out I am allergic to 4 things. Dogs and Cats, dust mites and mold. So they started me on a nine month regimene of taking shots once a week to try to build up my immune system against these allergies.
The other thing they talked to us about is trying to stay away from mold and dust. They talked about cleaning the house and trying to get rid of anything that can hold dust.
So begins the search for these dust mites and mold in our house. It is going to be some work. Cleaning everything from top to bottom. Getting rid of everything that could cause me to get sick.
Some of us spring clean and go crazy. While others clean to get ready for garage and yard sales.
How often do you clean your house? When you clean do you do surface cleaning or really go in and hunt for the dirt and grime??
If you don't have regular times of cleaning house, you can accumulate many things and mucho junko. Things can get out of control. We start to find it hard to move around, because there is so much clutter. We need to take time and start going through each room one at a time and cleaning out the junk.
However, if you don't start to do this, it only gets worse. Often times it can be overwhelming.
It kind of brings up an interesting question.
How often do you try to clean out your heart??
Do you do a surface cleaning or do you really try to let God into the hard to reach places of your heart??
We may need some help getting things cleaned up. Getting wise counsel, meeting with a mentor or a coach, can be a huge help.
Asking God to help is vital, He will take all our junk from our lives and get rid of it like the garbage man does with our garbage.
So what room in your heart needs cleaned out? What junk do you need to throw out? What needs to be cleaned and scrubbed? Start today, you will be glad you did. What a great feeling it is to have a clean house.
If I am going to keep from being sick, I will need to clean the house thoroughly and need to keep the house clean.
A special thanks to Chad Stutzman who I got some of ideas.
It is all Good.
When they are done running this thing across your back they look and see what reacted or swells up due to being allergic. They found out I am allergic to 4 things. Dogs and Cats, dust mites and mold. So they started me on a nine month regimene of taking shots once a week to try to build up my immune system against these allergies.
The other thing they talked to us about is trying to stay away from mold and dust. They talked about cleaning the house and trying to get rid of anything that can hold dust.
So begins the search for these dust mites and mold in our house. It is going to be some work. Cleaning everything from top to bottom. Getting rid of everything that could cause me to get sick.
Some of us spring clean and go crazy. While others clean to get ready for garage and yard sales.
How often do you clean your house? When you clean do you do surface cleaning or really go in and hunt for the dirt and grime??
If you don't have regular times of cleaning house, you can accumulate many things and mucho junko. Things can get out of control. We start to find it hard to move around, because there is so much clutter. We need to take time and start going through each room one at a time and cleaning out the junk.
However, if you don't start to do this, it only gets worse. Often times it can be overwhelming.
It kind of brings up an interesting question.
How often do you try to clean out your heart??
Do you do a surface cleaning or do you really try to let God into the hard to reach places of your heart??
We may need some help getting things cleaned up. Getting wise counsel, meeting with a mentor or a coach, can be a huge help.
Asking God to help is vital, He will take all our junk from our lives and get rid of it like the garbage man does with our garbage.
So what room in your heart needs cleaned out? What junk do you need to throw out? What needs to be cleaned and scrubbed? Start today, you will be glad you did. What a great feeling it is to have a clean house.
If I am going to keep from being sick, I will need to clean the house thoroughly and need to keep the house clean.
A special thanks to Chad Stutzman who I got some of ideas.
It is all Good.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Grace Golf
I love to golf. I don't ususally take it very seriously. Last week I played at Salt fork and scored 104 and 2 weeks before that I golfed a 98. This is my second and third time out this year so I think it is okay.
I tell people a bad day at golf is better than a good day at work. I believe this is true. I love being out especially at Salt Fork which is kinda a tough course but you get to see deer walking around on the fariways.
I was thinking today about this thing I like to call "Grace Golf" About 5 or 6 years ago I was golfing with another pastor who takes the game quite a bit more serioulsy than I do. We were playing golf at Crystal Springs over by Hopewell.
(For those that don't know golf. Par is the amount of shots they think you should be able to get the ball from where you tee off to when it goes in the hole.)
We came to this par 4 hole and on the second shot you had to hit the ball over a pond. Well this pastor hit his second shot into the water and asked if I had another ball. of course I said yes and tossed him another ball, which he proceeded to hit in the pond. He asked me again if I had another golf ball, To which I said yes and got another ball out of my bag and threw it to him. and you know what happened, splash it was dancing with the fish. This pastor was getting mad and continued to hit a few more of MY golf balls into the pond.
Finally this pastor hit one on the green. (the area around the hole you need to putt into) He was celebrating and then after 2 putts finally got the ball in the hole. When he finally got it in the hole he yelled, yes I got a par. It only took me four to get it in he said.
I am not going to tell you how many he should have had but I guess since it was MY GOLF BALLS that went into the pond those shots didn't count. I thought now that is grace because I didn't say a word and wrote down a 4 for him. lol
So I have decided as long as I have more golf balls in my bag you get another free shot. So as long as I have more golf balls you get another grace shot. Or a free do over.
Grace is something we can't do anything to gain it is a free gift. It doesn't count against you. The Great thing about God's grace is that it is never ending. You have a free redo as many times as you need. God is the God of do overs and he doesn't count them against you.
If you ever get to play golf with me you will be able to have the best game of your life because I have hundreds of golf balls I carry in case someone needs a grace or free shot.
Come play some grace golf and get the best game of you life.
It is All Good.
I tell people a bad day at golf is better than a good day at work. I believe this is true. I love being out especially at Salt Fork which is kinda a tough course but you get to see deer walking around on the fariways.
I was thinking today about this thing I like to call "Grace Golf" About 5 or 6 years ago I was golfing with another pastor who takes the game quite a bit more serioulsy than I do. We were playing golf at Crystal Springs over by Hopewell.
(For those that don't know golf. Par is the amount of shots they think you should be able to get the ball from where you tee off to when it goes in the hole.)
We came to this par 4 hole and on the second shot you had to hit the ball over a pond. Well this pastor hit his second shot into the water and asked if I had another ball. of course I said yes and tossed him another ball, which he proceeded to hit in the pond. He asked me again if I had another golf ball, To which I said yes and got another ball out of my bag and threw it to him. and you know what happened, splash it was dancing with the fish. This pastor was getting mad and continued to hit a few more of MY golf balls into the pond.
Finally this pastor hit one on the green. (the area around the hole you need to putt into) He was celebrating and then after 2 putts finally got the ball in the hole. When he finally got it in the hole he yelled, yes I got a par. It only took me four to get it in he said.
I am not going to tell you how many he should have had but I guess since it was MY GOLF BALLS that went into the pond those shots didn't count. I thought now that is grace because I didn't say a word and wrote down a 4 for him. lol
So I have decided as long as I have more golf balls in my bag you get another free shot. So as long as I have more golf balls you get another grace shot. Or a free do over.
Grace is something we can't do anything to gain it is a free gift. It doesn't count against you. The Great thing about God's grace is that it is never ending. You have a free redo as many times as you need. God is the God of do overs and he doesn't count them against you.
If you ever get to play golf with me you will be able to have the best game of your life because I have hundreds of golf balls I carry in case someone needs a grace or free shot.
Come play some grace golf and get the best game of you life.
It is All Good.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
In the Scope of Eternity
I love volleyball and tonight was way to much fun. It seems though some people get so serious. They start losing and get intense. Okay maybe I was serving the ball a bit harder when we were down a few points. But when it got close I hit the ball out of bounds.
It is like in some peoples lives. Some people get so mad and upset about things that are so unimportant. Like they have a hang nail, or thier chocolate cookies are cooked to long to which you should feel like a god and you are being offered a burnt offering. But really I have almost died a few times and so I have a new thought or phrase. In the scope of enternity.
What would happen if we all would process all of our descisions through the thought, in the scope of eternity is it important????
I think if our children had cancer it would change the way we look at things??
Or if we were told we were going to die in a month would we change the way we look at things?
Let me ask you in the scope of eternity what is truly important to you?
I hope it is your relationshop with Jesus Christ and your childrens relationship with Jesus Christ.
Just a thought.
Remember "It Is All Good"
It is like in some peoples lives. Some people get so mad and upset about things that are so unimportant. Like they have a hang nail, or thier chocolate cookies are cooked to long to which you should feel like a god and you are being offered a burnt offering. But really I have almost died a few times and so I have a new thought or phrase. In the scope of enternity.
What would happen if we all would process all of our descisions through the thought, in the scope of eternity is it important????
I think if our children had cancer it would change the way we look at things??
Or if we were told we were going to die in a month would we change the way we look at things?
Let me ask you in the scope of eternity what is truly important to you?
I hope it is your relationshop with Jesus Christ and your childrens relationship with Jesus Christ.
Just a thought.
Remember "It Is All Good"
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Swim in God's Love
I have been sick for a short while, okay for quite a while and have gained some weight due to the steroids. I am starting to workout again.
I love to swim. I bought new goggles to swim with. This morning I swam 42 laps of the pool. Before you think how about what an aweesome feat that is, please know this it is a short pool. When I first started out my lungs were burning and my heart was pumping rather rapidly but the more I swam the les my lungs burned and my heart quit trying to pump out of my chest.
After I swam laps I just swam for fun. As I went under the water and stayed for a while I felt a certain kind of peace. It was quit and just felt so comforting just to be surrounded by the water. It makes me feel so small and the water so big. I felt that nothing in my life mattered. I was at a place of peace.
I started thinking about how I feel when I spend time with God and let His love surround me. I thought that the water around me must be like when God's love.
I read about what some children said about how big God's love is:
"God's love is so big, almost nobody can explain it," says Jamie, age 8. "It's bigger than 999,999,999 gallons of chocolate milk."
"God's love is bigger than people's love, dogs' love and everyone's love," says Catherine, 8.
"God's love will never end," says Kasey, 8. It's bigger than a hundred trillion, billion elephants! If I compare God's love to anything, God's love would be bigger."
God's love is bigger than the pain of our failure and sin.
When we're filled with God's love, there's no room for fear, guilt, hatred, bitterness, envy or the past failures that torment us. When we realize that Jesus' sacrifice on the cross is greater than any sin we can commit, we start to live free. God's unconditional love has the power to transform us into agents of grace. It's the greatest motivation for holy living. Fear may modify one's behavior, but it can never transform a heart.
"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear because fear involves torment" (I John 4:18).
Will you allow the bigness of God's love to give you eternal life as a free gift and to fill you with the abundant life God desires for you?
Will you allow God's love to surround you?
Just some thoughts.
It Is All Good.
I love to swim. I bought new goggles to swim with. This morning I swam 42 laps of the pool. Before you think how about what an aweesome feat that is, please know this it is a short pool. When I first started out my lungs were burning and my heart was pumping rather rapidly but the more I swam the les my lungs burned and my heart quit trying to pump out of my chest.
After I swam laps I just swam for fun. As I went under the water and stayed for a while I felt a certain kind of peace. It was quit and just felt so comforting just to be surrounded by the water. It makes me feel so small and the water so big. I felt that nothing in my life mattered. I was at a place of peace.
I started thinking about how I feel when I spend time with God and let His love surround me. I thought that the water around me must be like when God's love.
I read about what some children said about how big God's love is:
"God's love is so big, almost nobody can explain it," says Jamie, age 8. "It's bigger than 999,999,999 gallons of chocolate milk."
"God's love is bigger than people's love, dogs' love and everyone's love," says Catherine, 8.
"God's love will never end," says Kasey, 8. It's bigger than a hundred trillion, billion elephants! If I compare God's love to anything, God's love would be bigger."
God's love is bigger than the pain of our failure and sin.
When we're filled with God's love, there's no room for fear, guilt, hatred, bitterness, envy or the past failures that torment us. When we realize that Jesus' sacrifice on the cross is greater than any sin we can commit, we start to live free. God's unconditional love has the power to transform us into agents of grace. It's the greatest motivation for holy living. Fear may modify one's behavior, but it can never transform a heart.
"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear because fear involves torment" (I John 4:18).
Will you allow the bigness of God's love to give you eternal life as a free gift and to fill you with the abundant life God desires for you?
Will you allow God's love to surround you?
Just some thoughts.
It Is All Good.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Are You Lonely Tonight
In this world I think one of the saddest things is loneliness. I know sometimes even with people around me I feel lonely. If that makes any sense to you. sometimes I can be in the middle of a crowd and no one notices me or talks to me.
In fact this is how some churches are. They have many people in the church but they are not connected and someone new comes in and they end up sitting by themselves and no one talks to them. People are looking for some one to love them.
I love the Queen song "Somebody to Love" Here are the words.
Can anybody find me somebody to love?
Each morning I get up I die a little
Can barely stand on my feet
Take a look in the mirror and cry
Lord what youre doing to me
I have spent all my years in believing you
But I just cant get no relief,
Lord!
Somebody, somebody
Can anybody find me somebody to love?
I work hard every day of my life
I work till I ache my bones
At the end I take home my hard earned pay all on my own -
I get down on my knees
And I start to pray
Till the tears run down from my eyes
Lord - somebody - somebody
Can anybody find me - somebody to love?
(he works hard)
Everyday - I try and I try and I try -
But everybody wants to put me down
They say Im goin crazy
They say I got a lot of water in my brain
Got no common sense
I got nobody left to believe
Yeah - yeah yeah yeah
Oh lord
Somebody - somebody
Can anybody find me somebody to love?
Got no feel, I got no rhythm
I just keep losing my beat
Im ok, Im alright
Aint gonna face no defeat
I just gotta get out of this prison cell
Someday Im gonna be free, lord!
Find me somebody to love
Can anybody find me somebody to love?
It was used in a movie called Happy Feet. About a penguin that was different. He wanted to be loved.
In the book "Blue like Jazz" It says if loving people is a bit of heaven then certainly isolation is a bit of hell, and to that degree, here on earth we have to decide in which state we would like to live.
Loneliness is something that happens to us, but I think it is something that we can move ourselves out of. I think a person who is lonely should and can dig into community, give himself to a community, intiate community, teach people to care for each other, and love each other. Jesus does'nt want us flaoting through space or sitting front of a television. Jesus wants us interacting, eating together, laughing together, and praying together.
How are you going to live?
Who will you build community with?
Who will you pray and laugh with?
It is all Good.
In fact this is how some churches are. They have many people in the church but they are not connected and someone new comes in and they end up sitting by themselves and no one talks to them. People are looking for some one to love them.
I love the Queen song "Somebody to Love" Here are the words.
Can anybody find me somebody to love?
Each morning I get up I die a little
Can barely stand on my feet
Take a look in the mirror and cry
Lord what youre doing to me
I have spent all my years in believing you
But I just cant get no relief,
Lord!
Somebody, somebody
Can anybody find me somebody to love?
I work hard every day of my life
I work till I ache my bones
At the end I take home my hard earned pay all on my own -
I get down on my knees
And I start to pray
Till the tears run down from my eyes
Lord - somebody - somebody
Can anybody find me - somebody to love?
(he works hard)
Everyday - I try and I try and I try -
But everybody wants to put me down
They say Im goin crazy
They say I got a lot of water in my brain
Got no common sense
I got nobody left to believe
Yeah - yeah yeah yeah
Oh lord
Somebody - somebody
Can anybody find me somebody to love?
Got no feel, I got no rhythm
I just keep losing my beat
Im ok, Im alright
Aint gonna face no defeat
I just gotta get out of this prison cell
Someday Im gonna be free, lord!
Find me somebody to love
Can anybody find me somebody to love?
It was used in a movie called Happy Feet. About a penguin that was different. He wanted to be loved.
In the book "Blue like Jazz" It says if loving people is a bit of heaven then certainly isolation is a bit of hell, and to that degree, here on earth we have to decide in which state we would like to live.
Loneliness is something that happens to us, but I think it is something that we can move ourselves out of. I think a person who is lonely should and can dig into community, give himself to a community, intiate community, teach people to care for each other, and love each other. Jesus does'nt want us flaoting through space or sitting front of a television. Jesus wants us interacting, eating together, laughing together, and praying together.
How are you going to live?
Who will you build community with?
Who will you pray and laugh with?
It is all Good.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Go Ahead and Jump
To all that like my blogs, sorry for the long expanse between blogs. I have been getting better and the better I feel the more I want to do. This last Saturday, our church had a class for the adults and I ended up helping watch the children.
Well, it was an experience and a half. I was on the gym set and was helping children one at a time cross on the monkey bars. Well at one point I had one child on almost the last bar and I hear this high pitched weeeee.
I turn and see one of the other children have jumped on the first bar and this child was 3 and the one I had in my hands I think was 4. (Later I found out both parents are looking out a window and see this.) So I hurry and put the one child down and go and grab the one who just jumped. It was a crazy time because I couldn't get both of them at once. I was afraid one was going to fall and get hurt.
As I thought about that situation. It made me remember how big God is. God is so Big he can hold each one of us up at the same time.
I thought there are many of us out there that keep jumping on the bar and want God to help us. The great thing about God is that he can help everyone at the same time.
God is not limited by time and space. He hears each one of our cries. He hears each one of our prayers. He will not let us fall. He cares about us all and loves us so much that He was willing to sacrifice His son so we would not fall.
Psalm 121:1-8 "I lift up my eyes to the hills- where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth."
You can read the rest at your leasure. Go ahead and jump God is there to help you.
It is all Good.
Well, it was an experience and a half. I was on the gym set and was helping children one at a time cross on the monkey bars. Well at one point I had one child on almost the last bar and I hear this high pitched weeeee.
I turn and see one of the other children have jumped on the first bar and this child was 3 and the one I had in my hands I think was 4. (Later I found out both parents are looking out a window and see this.) So I hurry and put the one child down and go and grab the one who just jumped. It was a crazy time because I couldn't get both of them at once. I was afraid one was going to fall and get hurt.
As I thought about that situation. It made me remember how big God is. God is so Big he can hold each one of us up at the same time.
I thought there are many of us out there that keep jumping on the bar and want God to help us. The great thing about God is that he can help everyone at the same time.
God is not limited by time and space. He hears each one of our cries. He hears each one of our prayers. He will not let us fall. He cares about us all and loves us so much that He was willing to sacrifice His son so we would not fall.
Psalm 121:1-8 "I lift up my eyes to the hills- where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth."
You can read the rest at your leasure. Go ahead and jump God is there to help you.
It is all Good.
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