Thanks for checking out my recently posted photobook (see previous post), "Sometimes Life's a Rodeo." To actually READ what it says, under options check full screen, single-page view and you will be able to see the text.
This is a preview of the new devotional book I'm working on.
Thanks for reading.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Today started out great.
The earth stilled just before dawn, holding its breath as if waiting to hear the sunrise – and then everything went downhill from there.
Honestly, it had nothing to do with the day and everything to do with me.
How can I blame “the day,” labeling it good or bad based upon whether I get what I want when I want it? Like the CD my computer ate (and is still chewing on) long after a beautiful sunrise.
Prior to the CD incident I was curled up on the couch with my Bible, “listening” to what the creator of that sunrise had to say. Life interrupted, I broke my own personal rule of not turning on the computer until after my morning quiet time, and I was instantly yanked from peace and stillness into technological, information-highway road rage.
Now the dilemma: do I return to the sofa from where I can see the eastern horizon, open my Bible to the words of Jesus and let them settle into my agitated soul? Or do I pick up where I left off yesterday on a seemingly self-perpetuating stack of paperwork that HAS TO BE DONE?
The quality of my day depends upon this decision. My attitude will be affected by this decision, which will in turn affect my family and the effectiveness of my work.
I’m heading for the couch.
Honestly, it had nothing to do with the day and everything to do with me.
How can I blame “the day,” labeling it good or bad based upon whether I get what I want when I want it? Like the CD my computer ate (and is still chewing on) long after a beautiful sunrise.
Prior to the CD incident I was curled up on the couch with my Bible, “listening” to what the creator of that sunrise had to say. Life interrupted, I broke my own personal rule of not turning on the computer until after my morning quiet time, and I was instantly yanked from peace and stillness into technological, information-highway road rage.
Now the dilemma: do I return to the sofa from where I can see the eastern horizon, open my Bible to the words of Jesus and let them settle into my agitated soul? Or do I pick up where I left off yesterday on a seemingly self-perpetuating stack of paperwork that HAS TO BE DONE?
The quality of my day depends upon this decision. My attitude will be affected by this decision, which will in turn affect my family and the effectiveness of my work.
I’m heading for the couch.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
I recently read an intriguing novel titled Retribution ...
... by one of my favorite authors, Randy Ingermanson. A thread running through it repeats this premise: “Great sacrifice releases great power.”
Interesting concept. Could it be true? Could it be a Life Truth?
I believe it’s worthy of the test.
Psalm 50:23 says, “He who sacrifices thank offerings honors Me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God.”
Saying “thank you” can be a sacrifice if we’re having a hard time at the moment.
And wouldn’t the salvation – deliverance, help, intervention – of God be a pretty good representation of great power?
I didn’t know I could prepare the way for God to work in my life. I didn’t know that my sacrifices of “thank you” would open the door for His power.
Wow. There's more to gratitude than I thought - especially in the wake of defeat, discouragement, illness, tragedy.
I’m not waiting until Thanksgiving.
What about you?
Interesting concept. Could it be true? Could it be a Life Truth?
I believe it’s worthy of the test.
Psalm 50:23 says, “He who sacrifices thank offerings honors Me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God.”
Saying “thank you” can be a sacrifice if we’re having a hard time at the moment.
And wouldn’t the salvation – deliverance, help, intervention – of God be a pretty good representation of great power?
I didn’t know I could prepare the way for God to work in my life. I didn’t know that my sacrifices of “thank you” would open the door for His power.
Wow. There's more to gratitude than I thought - especially in the wake of defeat, discouragement, illness, tragedy.
I’m not waiting until Thanksgiving.
What about you?
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Instead of the website I expected ...
... after clicking an online link, a white screen appeared with these words:
Server is too busy.
For a moment I considered what that phrase meant just a few years ago. It could have been the comment of a dinner partner explaining why the waiter hadn’t brought me another iced tea.
The phrase could also have referred to my tennis opponent preoccupied with tying her shoe, or the man delivering legal process notices who was distracted by a call on his cell phone.
But those weren’t the problem of the moment. My Internet server – the unseen something somewhere that brings me what I order from the information highway corner café – was busy.
Doing what?
Was it disoriented by the workings of my squirrel-in-a-wheel computer? Had I asked for too many things at once and its wires crossed? Were there too many customers on the list ahead of me?
Whatever the case, I had to wait to be served. I couldn’t even get up and get it myself.
The word “server” comes from an old Anglo-French word that defined a person who brought food to the master of the house.
When I Googled “server” the first 100 listings had nothing to say about food and drink, but I did see quite a bit about being dedicated.
That seemed to fit; a dedicated server would be a good thing.
And now I wonder: to what or whom am I dedicated to serve?
Am I ever too busy?
Server is too busy.
For a moment I considered what that phrase meant just a few years ago. It could have been the comment of a dinner partner explaining why the waiter hadn’t brought me another iced tea.
The phrase could also have referred to my tennis opponent preoccupied with tying her shoe, or the man delivering legal process notices who was distracted by a call on his cell phone.
But those weren’t the problem of the moment. My Internet server – the unseen something somewhere that brings me what I order from the information highway corner café – was busy.
Doing what?
Was it disoriented by the workings of my squirrel-in-a-wheel computer? Had I asked for too many things at once and its wires crossed? Were there too many customers on the list ahead of me?
Whatever the case, I had to wait to be served. I couldn’t even get up and get it myself.
The word “server” comes from an old Anglo-French word that defined a person who brought food to the master of the house.
When I Googled “server” the first 100 listings had nothing to say about food and drink, but I did see quite a bit about being dedicated.
That seemed to fit; a dedicated server would be a good thing.
And now I wonder: to what or whom am I dedicated to serve?
Am I ever too busy?
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Would Jesus have a Facebook page?
I believe he did.
In first-century Palestine, Jesus participated in the social medium of the day: itinerant teaching. From hillsides, roadsides, tables and wells. He met the people where they were, where they were looking, and where they needed him. Face to face.
Were there other traveling teachers doing the same thing, from perhaps less than the purest of motives? Of course. There have always been counterfeits, knock-offs and wannabes, but they have never kept the Real Deal from being the Real Deal.
From the Road to Emmaus to the Information Highway, Jesus is there. He still has truth to give to those who are hungry, thirsty and looking. He is that truth.
Log on. He’d love to meet you.
For more information on Jesus, who he is and who he could be to you, see a little book in the New Testament called John, chapter 7, verses 37 and 38.
In first-century Palestine, Jesus participated in the social medium of the day: itinerant teaching. From hillsides, roadsides, tables and wells. He met the people where they were, where they were looking, and where they needed him. Face to face.
Were there other traveling teachers doing the same thing, from perhaps less than the purest of motives? Of course. There have always been counterfeits, knock-offs and wannabes, but they have never kept the Real Deal from being the Real Deal.
From the Road to Emmaus to the Information Highway, Jesus is there. He still has truth to give to those who are hungry, thirsty and looking. He is that truth.
Log on. He’d love to meet you.
For more information on Jesus, who he is and who he could be to you, see a little book in the New Testament called John, chapter 7, verses 37 and 38.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Burning the Quran
Burning the Quran? Now there’s a way to win converts. Let’s show Muslims the love of Christ by burning their holy book. Won’t that make everyone of Islamic faith want to turn immediately to the God of the Christian Bible? Won’t that just warm their hearts with the love and compassion Jesus told His followers to exemplify?
Florida minister Terry Jones of Dove World Outreach Center certainly has the world’s attention with his planned Quran-burning set for Sept. 11. And that may be all he’s after: attention. It says “World Outreach” on the front of Jones’ center, but World Outrage is what he will reap if he goes through with the barbecue.
Government and military officials warn that if carried out, Jones’ pyromaniacal act could incite violence against Americans around the world. It’s the hit-back mentality we see among small children, and Jones is ramping up the fervor. In Afghanistan, a parliamentary candidate for their Sept. 18 election has been quoted as saying, “wherever Americans are seen, they will be killed” if the Qurans are burned.
Wow. Many dying for the sins of one. And that’s part of the tragedy. I’m an American, and I’m a Christian, but I don’t agree at all with what Jones is doing. Yet I – and countless American soldiers and civilians in Afghanistan and other Islamic countries – could taste retribution for his act.
There’s not much I can do about Jones’ misguided rampage – one that could happen only in a country as free as America – but, thanks to that same freedom, I can at least voice my opinion. And I can pray.
I can pray that God’s people will step back from such acts and turn instead to the teachings of the Jesus they profess who said to love our enemies and pray for those who curse us.
Does that mean that there is never a time to stand up and fight for what we believe? Not at all. But Jones’ threat is not a fight; it’s a childish insult.
Yes, the tragedy of 9-11 should be remembered. Yes, it was a despicable, murderous, terroristic act perpetrated by Islamic extremists. But does torching a stack of Qurans really show national or religious pride?
No. It simply shows one more example of unclear thinking, and in-your-face radicalism.
Maybe Jones should remove “Dove” from his center’s name and replace it not with "hawk," but "vulture." Better yet, in my disgust of his proposed actions, and as a statement of how much I despise what he intends to do, I think I’ll collect all the doves I can find, and burn them on a symbolic pyre. That’ll show him I mean business.
Take that, Jones, and that!
Florida minister Terry Jones of Dove World Outreach Center certainly has the world’s attention with his planned Quran-burning set for Sept. 11. And that may be all he’s after: attention. It says “World Outreach” on the front of Jones’ center, but World Outrage is what he will reap if he goes through with the barbecue.
Government and military officials warn that if carried out, Jones’ pyromaniacal act could incite violence against Americans around the world. It’s the hit-back mentality we see among small children, and Jones is ramping up the fervor. In Afghanistan, a parliamentary candidate for their Sept. 18 election has been quoted as saying, “wherever Americans are seen, they will be killed” if the Qurans are burned.
Wow. Many dying for the sins of one. And that’s part of the tragedy. I’m an American, and I’m a Christian, but I don’t agree at all with what Jones is doing. Yet I – and countless American soldiers and civilians in Afghanistan and other Islamic countries – could taste retribution for his act.
There’s not much I can do about Jones’ misguided rampage – one that could happen only in a country as free as America – but, thanks to that same freedom, I can at least voice my opinion. And I can pray.
I can pray that God’s people will step back from such acts and turn instead to the teachings of the Jesus they profess who said to love our enemies and pray for those who curse us.
Does that mean that there is never a time to stand up and fight for what we believe? Not at all. But Jones’ threat is not a fight; it’s a childish insult.
Yes, the tragedy of 9-11 should be remembered. Yes, it was a despicable, murderous, terroristic act perpetrated by Islamic extremists. But does torching a stack of Qurans really show national or religious pride?
No. It simply shows one more example of unclear thinking, and in-your-face radicalism.
Maybe Jones should remove “Dove” from his center’s name and replace it not with "hawk," but "vulture." Better yet, in my disgust of his proposed actions, and as a statement of how much I despise what he intends to do, I think I’ll collect all the doves I can find, and burn them on a symbolic pyre. That’ll show him I mean business.
Take that, Jones, and that!
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