Just Continue That Thought...

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus, (2006-11-14) from his book, Soul Cravings: An Exploration of the Human Spirit (p. 99). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. Have you read the story in the gospels about where Jesus came to the grave of His friend Lazarus and saw the grieving of the people there and of how Jesus wept?   We think it is because of His friend’s death but He a few moments later raised Lazarus from the grave.   No that wasn’t it.   What it seems to be is that Jesus was feeling His love for these people and He saw their pain, their grief and that this wasn’t His plan.   Death wasn’t His plan.   He had a better plan but our representatives back there in the Garden muffed it up by disobedience and going against His plan for their own plan and death then came into existence.   They were driven out of the Garden and could no longer eat from the Tree of Life.   He had a better plan than this. We were not designed for death.   We were not designed for despair.   He had

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus, (2003-09-04) from his book, Uprising: A Revolution of the Sou l (Kindle Location 350). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. I was sitting today at Starbucks with a couple of my friends and I said that I was born a pessimist and the lady said, “No way, I can’t believe that.”   Well I was.   One day I was looking at myself and decided that was one thing that I wanted to change.   I wanted to be a positive person not a negative one so I set out to change and I have. What about you?   What is it that you want to change?   Now I am always going to be fairly short.   Being six foot is not an option but weighing less than 260 lbs. is.   I set out to change that and I have lost 50lbs.   What do you want to change?   2 Corinthians 5:17 in the New Testament of the Bible gives us some hope here.   It says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”   That is a part of having a relationship with Ch

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus, (2006-11-14 from his book, Soul Cravings: An Exploration of the Human Spirit (p. 99). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition . I start each day with exciting anticipation.   The reason is because I start my day reading the Bible and in prayer.   My faith is strengthened by the Bible and my anxieties are given to God through prayer.   It is a great way for me to start my day. How do you start your day?   Some turn on CNN, Fox News or their local news station and get all discouraged and fearful.   The task of those outlets of information is to get you hooked on them so they push the negative to keep you involved.   It plays on your fears, your anxieties to an unbelievable level.   It tells you that things in life are getting worse and that kills our hope But the Bible pushes hope.   It tells you that God has a wonderful plan for your life.   It says that you are loved by God.   It says if you need anything just ask.   It says that everything in yo

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus, (2006-11-14) from his book, Soul Cravings: An Exploration of the Human Spirit (p. 90). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. I have a friend who can look at a menu and taste each item on it in anticipation.   He can enjoy his food without eating it.   His food pallet is that refined. Have you ever stood in a line to ride a rollercoaster?   Now you were either scared to death or excited and ho you anticipated it went a long way to whether your thrill was exciting or not.   I was watching the US Open in golf this past weekend and Phil Mickelson was looking at a very difficult shot that he had to make and he was picturing or anticipating the outcome.   Now many people would look at the shot and anticipate missing it and of course they would.   But Phil was anticipating how he was going to make it.   He didn’t make it but it was an impossible shot and he came very close. I read a Psalm every day in the Old Testament in the Bible.   David is o

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus, (2006-11-14) from his book, Soul Cravings: An Exploration of the Human Spirit (p. 89). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. I found that to be true.   I was driven in Las Vegas by a dream that wasn’t accomplished but it held me steady for 15 years so other things could be accomplished.   Dreams are very important.   God knows us and knows we need them.   He built us that way. I am today living out the benefit of living 15 years in Vegas.   I had never lived more than five years in any one place until Las Vegas.   Because of my dream we stayed 15 years there and we needed to stay there that long for the other things in our life to be accomplished.   He used it for His purpose and for our betterment and other people’s betterment.   Now I did have to deal  emotionally for a period of time with the dream not being accomplished.   I didn’t go back to Vegas for over four years but I now see what has been accomplished because of the dream.   It is di

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus, (2006-11-14) from his book, Soul Cravings: An Exploration of the Human Spirit (p. 79). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. I know some people that all they hunger for is to retire.   To just stop working so they can do nothing.   Now i did go through a time of real adjustment when I retired because I loved what I was doing so I decided to adapt and to keep at it but without pay. I have found that deep inside me is a hunger to grow, to learn, and to do.   The reason why it is there is because that is the way I was built and that is the way you were built.   I am so glad that I had parents who understood that.   My mom still at 85+ craves to learn and to do.   I love that about her.   I know it is frustrating sometimes to those around her.   They wish that she would just sit down and sleep and stay out of their way but I love it.   That’s not my mom. You see to stop doing what you are designed to do means you’ve died.   I’ve met some people

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus, (2006-11-14) from his book, Soul Cravings: An Exploration of the Human Spirit (p. 76). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. Does that make sense to you?   It does to me. I am reminded in myself some times of what I have failed to accomplish or where I blew it.   The truth is there is pain there.   I also know that if I stay there my potential to live life at its fullness is over. I was reading today the last few chapters of Matthew in the New Testament of the Bible of Jesus death on a cross.   Can you imagine how those who had followed Him were feeling?   I mean everything they believed in was hanging on that Cross as a failure.   What fools were we to believe that He was more than a man.   But that was Friday and so many of us live in the Friday’s of our lives.   We are fired, our marriage falls apart, we gave in again to that temptation, we followed the wrong person, we failed.   It is horrible to live in the Friday existence of failure.

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus, (2003-09-04) from his book,  Uprising: A Revolution of the Sou l (Kindle Location 240). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition . I understand the desire that we have to live in a free country.   The USA came in existence because of a desire to have religious freedom and we will do all we can to keep it.   It seems that some of those freedoms are slowly being taken away from us.   But if you read the book in the New Testament called the Acts of the Apostles you will see that the church was born under the rule of the dominion of a pagan empire. That is what this thought by Erwin was talking about.     Now I said that to say that we need to be careful to live with an expectation of God to provide us with this freedom.   We are no better than those Christians who live in the Peking Jerusalem Corridor who are under persecution every day.   God loves them just as much as He loves us.   We need to be thankful every day that we have this privilege but we al

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus, (2003-09-04) from his book, Uprising: A Revolution of the Soul (Kindle Locations 237-238). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. There are so outside situations that can stop us from living free.   There are people who live in Red China who are living freer than people who live in the United States.   There are people who are poor who are living freer than people who have wealth.   There are people who are sick in bed who are freer than those who are young and healthy.   There are married people who are living freer than single people.   The Apostle Paul was free while in prison.   He wrote a big part of the New Testament.   The Apostle John was free on the Isle of Patmos. He wrote 5 books of the NT including the Revelations.   Jesus was free on the Cross.   He was free to save us.   Corrie Ten Boom was free in a Nazi Concentration Camp.   Her story has transformed so many people’s lives. Your situation doesn’t make you free, your Savior does

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus from his book, Chasing Daylight: Seize the Power of Every Moment (Kindle Location 1147). Kindle Edition. My dad was a minister and there were many phrases that he said that have stayed with me.   One was, “A short pencil is better than a long memory.”    I use my notes app on my iPhone all the time.   Another was, “No paper is so thin that is doesn’t have two sides.”   I strive to always see the other side.   But one that came to my mind this morning was, “What your faith covers you now have.” I was just reading on my Kindle, Matthew 9 in the Message paraphrase and Jesus said something to a couple of blind guys that reaffirms my dad’s phrase.   It says , “He touched their eyes and said, ‘ Become what you believe. ’”   Become what you believe.   The reality was they were blind but the reality was Jesus could give them sight.   He said, “It’s up to you.   Choose what you’re going to believe and that will become a reality.”   What are you

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus from his book, Chasing Daylight: Seize the Power of Every Moment (Kindle Location 179). Kindle Edition . In this moment I have two choices.    One is to stay here at Starbucks and finish the thought that I have been given or go home and turn the Dodgers on TV and maybe be frustrated. Now granted either choice does not have life or death complications but they do set out the choice of self or others.   You see I do not write just for my own enjoyment.   I hopefully write for your encouragement and edification.   I watch the Dodgers for me.   Of course I could do both.   I could go home and watch the Dodgers and then when the game is over write this blog but there are some problems attached to that choice.   One is, the thought I have right now may not be there when I’m ready to write and the thought may be exactly what you may need.   You also may not be there when I post it later.   This is the moment.   The other reason is because

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus. Chasing Daylight: Seize the Power of Every Moment (Kindle Locations 436-437). Kindle Edition . The last couple of days have been interesting.   As I was getting ready to write down my thoughts I heard a commotion and looked up and a young guy was running out of the Starbucks with my iPhone.   That kind of stopped what I was doing but I’m back.   What I was doing when I was so rudely interrupted was reading about a young guy that this thought Erwin McManus made me think about.   His name is Blake Mycoskie who is the Founder and Chief Shoe Giver of TOMS. Do you know the story of TOMS?   Do you have a pair of TOMS?   I am wearing mine right now.   “While traveling in Argentina in 2006, Blake witnessed the hardships faced by children growing up without shoes. His solution to the problem was simple, yet revolutionary: to create a for-profit business that was sustainable and not reliant on donations. Blake’s vision soon turned into the simple

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus, (2006-11-14) from his book, Soul Cravings: An Exploration of the Human Spirit (p. 54). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition . That is the truth.   Health from a Spiritual standpoint means that I am honest and also accepting but not perfect.   The truth is, I cannot be honest and perfect.   Because in all honesty I know I am not perfect.   I can have God’s perfect love inside me but my actions are still not going to be perfect.   That is what growing in the Spirit is all about. I like what he also says right before this quote, “We are all hypocrites in transition. I am not who I want to be, but I am on the journey there, and thankfully I am not whom I used to be.” Somebody says, “I don’t want to go to church because there are so many hypocrites there” and that is the truth.   We are all hypocrites but hopefully in transition.”   Now the problem is if I am using someone who I believe is a hypocrite to keep me from God.   If I am doing that the

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus, (2006-11-14) from his book, Soul Cravings: An Exploration of the Human Spirit (p. 53). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. The problem with the “we” is that for so many there is pain.   They can handle the “me” and the “you” but have problems with the “we”.   And that is where the despair, the loneliness, the isolation come from.   “You” and I, (“me”) were created for “we”. Now in looking at the “you” there can be a wall of separation but not with the “we”.   I mean the “you” has hurt me.   I can’t trust “you”.   “You” have disappointed me.   But with the “we” there can be connection, relationship, community, support, love and power. Everyone is looking for the “we”.   But there is danger in connecting with the wrong “we”.   The key is to first connect with the right “we” and then go from there. Scott Daniels the Pastor of Pasadena 1 st Nazarene Church was talking about the problem of kids growing up in the church and then leaving at ar

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus from his book, Chasing Daylight: Seize the Power of Every Moment (Kindle Locations 1405-1406). Kindle Edition. Today is in Margaret and my life a very exciting day.   It is our daughter Stefanie’s birthday.   She was born 30 years ago today between 12:00 am and 1:00 am in Porter Memorial Hospital in Valparaiso, Indiana.   The fact of being a parent is for sure one of the greatest opportunities two people can have together but it also has such high risks in it. There is the risk of childbirth.   It can be a life and death situation.   Nearly six months back we saw that potential when Stef and Andrews’s little Harper was born.   She was at risk.   Margaret and I barely made it from Pasadena, California to Las Vegas, Nevada before Stef went into the delivery room.   The birthing of a child has risks. Then raising them to adult hood has risks.   But there are so many great opportunities along the way.   I love the privilege of being a pare

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus, (2006-11-14) from his book, Soul Cravings: An Exploration of the Human Spirit (p. 16). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Editio n. And hate will consume you.   It is all encompassing.   That is why love is so important. It is amazing how love overlooks the small stuff but hate sees everything.   Nothing goes unnoticed even things that aren’t there.   Hate takes little things and builds its own stories to prove that you should hate.   The story doesn’t even have to be the truth. Love is life giving but hate kills.   It kills relationships. It kills hope and it can even kill you.   Love is your best friend and hate is your worst enemy. Erwin also says, “When we love, we are moved toward forgiveness. When we allow hate to take over, we begin to live for vengeance.” People aren’t perfect.   Even people we love so there is always a choice to be had when we are hurt.   We can dwell on it, build on it, let it consume us which in turn turns to bitt

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus, (2006-11-14) from his book, Soul Cravings: An Exploration of the Human Spirit (p. 19). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. Many people don’t realize that what they have is so great.   They can take it for granted and look over the fence and think that the grass is greener over there.   But the truth is the grass is greener where you feed it and water it. There are so many who wish that they could be with someone who really cherishes them.   So many at thirty have been used to the point that they think that is all love is about,   Some of those are even married but there is more than that. Listen, real authentic love is not self-seeking but other-minded.   There is real authentic love out there.   Now it starts with a real authentic relationship with God.   That is where you initially get that kind of love.   David in the psalms said that in sin did my mother conceive me.   That means we came into this world as self-seeker, as users.   I

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus from his book, The Barbarian Way: Unleash the Untamed Faith Within ( Kindle Location 383). Kindle Edition. I am reading the New Testament Gospels thirteen times in 2013.   I want to really catch a glimpse of what Jesus thinks is important.   One thing I’ve found is what Erwin says in this thought, Jesus brings about change. He brought religious change by His continually healing people on the Sabbath.   He brought vocational change to a group of swine owners when He cast some demons out of a man named, Legion and they were sent into the pigs and they went over a cliff.   He also brought structural change to a house when some men tore open a roof to drop their sick friend down in front of Jesus so he could be healed.   Over and over He brought change through His teachings and His miracles where ever He went.   Have you noticed that in all of the good He did for someone He was it seemed messing up someone else’s day to day world?   I mean t

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus from his book, The Barbarian Way: Unleash the Untamed Faith Within (Kindle Location 380). Kindle Edition. When you really learn that He can be trusted then you do want to step out and risk more.   You just don’t want to waste the fact that you are connected to Him. Now there is the other side.   In the gospels in the New Testament there is the story of the two times that Jesus fed great groups of people with just a few pieces of bread and a few fish and even had some left over.   You would think that the disciples would really trust Him to provide food for them but they didn’t and Jesus got after them.   He fed 5,000 then 4,000 with a few loaves and some fish.   What about us?   He has shown us that we can trust Him but we still live with so much worry.   I mean look how He brought us through April but we’re not going to survive in May.   He has shown He can be trusted but we are afraid to risk.   They saw Him feed 9,000 people but

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus from his book, The Barbarian Way: Unleash the Untamed Faith Within (Kindle Location 441). Kindle Edition. Jesus didn’t die to get us all to look or be alike but to be who we were created individually to be.   Now as a parent I understand the desire to do this.   We have two children who are now adults with their own families.   Our son came first and we found some ways to deal with him and his personality but then our red headed daughter came along and what worked with Brett didn’t work with Stefanie.   God made them both unique with different personalities and different needs and different potentials and it was up to us to see that and to enhance that.   We were not to make Stef like Brett.   God created them both as individuals. That is the way God sees us.   His desire is to not conform us to be like everyone else but to transform us into the person He created us to be.   It seems like everyone else wants us to be the same.   They are