Just Continue That Thought...

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus (2003-09-04) from his book, Uprising: A Revolution of the Soul (Kindle Location 1408). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Editio n. Wow.   The potential that is available through us is astounding and also the potential to stop from happening because of us is overwhelming.   I am reading right now daily of the Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament and specifically right now about God’s moving Paul from Jerusalem to Rome where God had a great plan for Paul.   Now he is in the middle of being taken to Rome by Roman soldiers.   The Jews in Jerusalem are trying to kill him.   But  God wants Paul to write a big part of the New Testament.   During this difficult process to get him there Paul doesn’t know God’s full plans but he was just following one step at a time. Now from that background, what if during one of those times of Paul’s standing up with Christ’s story and bringing out great hate from the Jews, what if he had said, “Enough is enough, I am

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus (2003-09-04) from his book, Uprising: A Revolution of the Soul (Kindle Locations 1334-1335). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. The promise that God gave to this Old Testament character, Joshua was, "You will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give to them." There is the promise but there is also the task.   He is saying, Joshua, “I’m going to give you the opportunity to lead these people but then you must lead them.”   Along with opportunity goes responsibility. God has given me the desire and the opportunity and the passion to encourage people through blogging.   Now I know He will give me inspiration in what to say but it will go away if I don’t sit down and start writing.   Sometimes it doesn’t even start coming until I have set down with my laptop and looking for a thought and then start writing. To be honest, today I was tempted to not write but the opportunity to encourage someone toda

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus,(2003-09-04) from his book, Uprising: A Revolution of the Soul (Kindle Location 400). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. When we have too high an opinion of ourselves we can look down or disregard other people.    Everyone is here to take care of me of my needs of my wants and my desires.   The opposite is also true.   If I don’t value myself then I am afraid of other people.   I don’t even want to talk to them let alone give them any value.   I feel that I don’t have anything to give. But each one of us has the potential for great worth and great value.   And it comes from adding value and worth to others.   We are instruments of God to reach out and make a difference in other people’s lives, to show them they are special.   We don’t do it to get it but we get it because we do it. How do you see yourself?   How do you see other people?   Jesus said that we are to love others as we love ourselves.   Jesus gave His life for us.   He did

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus, (2003-09-04) from his book, Uprising: A Revolution of the Soul (Kindle Location 1048). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. I have found that sometimes it is difficult to tell the truth but I have also found that it is more difficult to remember a lie.   I have lived the truth.   All I have to do is remember what I have done but I haven’t lived a lie.   I just made it up and I then have to remember it.   To tell a lie makes life more complicated. One of the reasons why I write this blog is to encourage you in your life.   I want you to really enjoy your life.   Today my purpose is to encourage you to tell the truth. What do you want to be known as, a person they can trust or someone they can’t?   What if you are filling out an application for a job you really want?   It is your dream job.   You have the ability to do it but you have to put down some references of people who have worked with you and who really know you.   Now it is a job that

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus, (2003-09-04) from his book, Uprising: A Revolution of the Sou l (Kindle Location 266). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. Think of the places you would never have seen if you had given in to the fear to fly.   Think of all the sicknesses you would have had if you had given in to the fear of getting a shot. Think of all the new foods you wouldn’t have eaten if you would have given in to the fear to eat something different. Think of all the friendships you would have missed if you had given in to the fear of rejection. Think of all the adventures you would have missed doing if you had given in to the fear to risk. Think of all the excitement and all the joy you wouldn’t have experienced if you had given in to the fear to bring a child into the world. Think of all the new worlds that your child wouldn’t have seen if you would have given in to the fear of their getting hurt. Think of the full life you wouldn’t have lived if

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus, (2003-09-04) from his book, Uprising: A Revolution of the Soul (Kindle Location 160). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. I have been dealing with this even in my writing this blog.   I had gotten to the place that I was writing it as a duty, a task.   Because of that it was becoming a burden instead of a passion, a privilege.   Just acknowledging that has bought a change, a renewed passion. Now I understand how life can lose its passion.   It happens in many marriages.   What they once did out of excitement for the one they love turns in to obligations and that can be dangerous.   I was talking the other day with someone about the importance of the husband and wife relationship in a family.   Oh I understand the responsibility of being a parent. Those kids didn’t choose to be a part of the family but your wife/husband did.   They chose to be your mate out of deep love, deep passion for you.   That relationship is the most important one in th

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus, (2006-11-14) from his book, Soul Cravings: An Exploration of the Human Spirit (p. 238). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. When you have a friend that you now don’t have a relationship with and it hurts you, what do you do?   If you want to make it right just backtrack to where you got off track.   There probably will be some asking for forgiveness and some giving forgiveness. When you are having trouble with your credit and you’re having trouble buying a house, what do you do?   You just backtrack to those bills that you maybe didn’t pay and you pay them.   You don’t gripe because the bank won’t work with you or feel sorry for yourself because things don’t ever go right for you.   No, you go back and take care of the problems.   You clean up where you messed up. When you’re having trouble with your faith, what do you do?   Usually there is a situation in your life where you asked God to help you and it seemed He didn’t hear you and He didn

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus. Chasing Daylight: Seize the Power of Every Moment (Kindle Locations 440-441). Kindle Edition. Now I understand the need to stop doing evil.   I do.   I know that my having a relationship with Christ means a change of direction in my actions but there is more than just that.   In anything we do there needs to be a replacement action involved.   If I quit doing something then I need to start doing something. So what positive difference did we do today?   What person is glad we are in their life?   Who did we help today?   Who did we give a positive greeting to today?   What unselfish action did we do today?   Who did we give a smile to today?   Who did we make feel glad that they are alive today?   Who did we encourage today?         Oh, I’m sure you’ve been working hard and not giving in to the temptations that have come your way but what good did you really do?    What if we changed our focus from protection to projection?   What if we

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus, (2006-11-14) from his book, Soul Cravings: An Exploration of the Human Spirit (p. 226). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. That is so true for me.   I’m afraid I got what I wanted this weekend and I am feeling it this morning.   My daughter and her family were in this weekend from Las Vegas so there were nine of us in our apartment.   And before church yesterday we all of course had to eat so I brought home two dozen donuts from Winchell’s.   I love donuts. Now I don’t eat them very often because it is one of the worst things for me to eat.   I can’t just have one so I just have none.   Y ou might say, “But you are an adult and you can have what you want” and that is true.   But I also want, really want to be healthy and live a longer life so I just don’t get all I want. Now, we are free moral agents.   We have the freedom to do what we want but we are not free from the consequences of our choice.   I chose yesterday to eat a bunch – not on

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus, (2006-11-14) from his book, Soul Cravings: An Exploration of the Human Spirit (p. 215). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. When you have lived life for any amount of time there is always a chance that you will go through a time that life doesn’t make sense.   Maybe that is where you are today. I have been fortunate to have lived with a father that I could trust.   I knew I could trust what my dad said, what he believed and what he taught.   I knew he wasn’t perfect but I trusted him.   And that was so important as a son living life.   I wasn’t ready to take on all the responsibilities of life but I knew I could trust my dad. Some of you haven’t had that privilege.   You had a father that couldn’t be trusted so in life’s not making sense times you can have real trouble.   H aving had someone you trust is so important in living through those times. Now my dad wasn’t perfect in all things but he did lead me to someone who was perfect, som

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus, (2006-11-14) from his book, Soul Cravings: An Exploration of the Human Spirit (p. 192). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition . I was reading this morning in the Gospel of Luke in the New Testament and I came across something that Jesus said that I underlined.   He was talking about someone who He had just healed who had come back to thank Him and He said, “ And he was a Samaritan. ”     Now the Samaritans were a people that the Jews looked down on.   In other words, they were prejudiced against them.   And here Jesus it seems was highlighting their prejudice.   Over and over He did this in the Gospels.   And Peter, Paul and James did the same throughout the rest of the NT.   One of the first great battles in the new Church after Jesus’ time here on earth was over whether they were going to accept Gentiles into the Church.   A Gentile was someone who wasn’t a Jew.   But Peter and Paul showed that to follow Jesus was to let go of our prejudice

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus, (2006-11-14) from his book, Soul Cravings: An Exploration of the Human Spirit (p. 189). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. We somehow have come up with the idea that we can change the world.   I’ll be honest I am having some problem with the two side’s views of the outcome of the trial in Florida.   It seems to all revolve around the issue of whether I’m a caring liberal or a conservative who cares.   But in looking at this situation of a white older man killing a young black man it never comes down to the fact that God loves them both and He hurts for them both. Now we even as Christians are quick to get on Facebook or Twitter and let the world know what we think but never seeing how what we think has some real animosity and even hatred toward the opposite view.   That is not the way Christ works.   Change to Him doesn’t come from power but from forgiveness.   And so much of how we respond must break His heart.     You see the answers to

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus, (2006-11-14) from his book, Soul Cravings: An Exploration of the Human Spirit (p. 82). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition . I have had a dream to live in California for over 30 years.   I did everything I could to make it happen but it didn’t happen until this past year.   I look in my wallet at my driver’s license and look at the plates on both our cars and realize that I am now living in California and so does my son and his family. Now they have moved here from Colorado for him to go to law school and they have dreamed to live in the little town of South Pasadena.   They have great schools for their girls, it is close to the train for Brett to take to his law school in downtown LA and it is such a great place to raise their family.   It was their dream but up until last Sunday it didn’t looked like it was going to happen.   Well today they are putting their security deposit down on their new apartment in South Pasadena.   Their dream has co

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus, (2006-11-14) from his book,  Soul Cravings: An Exploration of the Human Spirit (p. 173). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. That is true isn’t it?   And it is a type of faith that comes natural.   I need oxygen to breath so I do it.   I may be a baby and have no idea what it is called but I just do it.   Having faith seems to be as natural as breathing. So why is it so hard to live by faith in other areas of our lives?   What area are you having trouble with faith in?   Finding a meaningful relationship?   Finding a job? Finding confidence?   Finding hope?   Finding a school?   Finding a place to live?   Finding an answer to a difficult problem?   Finding the answer to some of the major “whys” in your life?   Finding what you are to do next?   Finding the meaning for your life?   Finding your purpose?   Why not "S eek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you."  [Matthew 6:33 (NASB)]?   Of

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus, (2006-11-14) from his book, Soul Cravings: An Exploration of the Human Spirit (p. 159). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. We all live by faith.   What we have chosen as our world view is lived out by faith.   Now I have chosen a world view that God is to be loved, served, and He will reward me with eternal life.   Is it a view that can be proven without faith?   Of course not but I still believe it.   John 3:16 says,  “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son so that anyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”    I have chosen to believe that and I live each day controlled by that belief.   It gives me hope.   Can I prove that it is totally true without any doubts?   No, I accept it by faith.   My faith will be proven true or false one second after I have died and the same is true of you. Now let’s say you believe that I am wrong.   You live with the world view that there is no God and that ther

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus, (2006-11-14) from his book, Soul Cravings: An Exploration of the Human Spirit ( p. 143). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. There is so much in life that tempts us to settle.    Someone breaks your heart and you settle for never risking having another relationship because you don’t want to be hurt.   You hear that a plane crashed in San Francisco and you settle for never flying because of fear.   Your parents or some teacher tell you that you will never accomplish anything worthwhile and you settle for mediocrity because you believe them.   God says you were meant to fly but you settle for running or even walking because you don’t believe Him.   It is so easy to settle. There are so many different voices inside of us that cause us to settle.   What is it that has kept you from really living?   It may be that voice of being rejected or that parent’s voice that wants to protect you from being hurt or that voice of fear or that voice of just being

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus, (2006-11-14) from his book, Soul Cravings: An Exploration of the Human Spirit (p. 129). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. I believe that.   That’s why I write two blogs.   It’s not just because I want something to do now that I’m retired but because I retired so I could be more effective in letting people know that their life can be different.   It is my life message that comes from my relationship with Christ. Let, me ask you, are you satisfied with whom you are or would you like to be different?   Maybe it’s who you are in your job or your marriage or your relationship with your kids, your parents, your friends.   If that is true, what are you doing to make you different? The Bible says that you can be a new creation, a new person.   I know that is true because I am different.   I’m not totally there yet but I am different in a good way.   It all comes from my relationship with Christ.   On my other blog, bill’s front porch , I have

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus, (2006-11-14) from his book, Soul Cravings: An Exploration of the Human Spirit (p. 115). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition . I’m not sure why I have been drawn to deal with the subject of despair and of hope.   It may be because you need to have the message of hope reinforced within you because you are about to give up on hope.   You are about to be paralyzed in your present.   There is a way of looking at your past and living in your present and believing in your future that makes life worth living.   It is a  connection with God that makes this true.  Prayer goes a long way to making it happen.   If you have a relationship with God prayer is a privilege and a vital part in that relationship making a difference in your life. Here is a simple idea in having prayer relieve your despair and enhance your hope.   It is the three pronged approach of praise, thanks, and request.   First of all, start your prayer with praise.   Praise is focu

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus, (2006-11-14) from his book, Soul Cravings: An Exploration of the Human Spirit (p. 106). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition . Have you found that to be true?    You have let something rob you of your hope and your joy and you’re not sure if you want to go on.   That is a horrible place to be but it is not a place you need to stay.   There is always hope. Now if it is something that you can do something about then set out to do it. There is always, always something that can be done.   You must understand that and believe that.   For the most part despair is a focus problem.    We get our eyes on the negatives of life; those circumstances that we think can’t be changed.   But in every negative there is always something that can be changed.    Even if it is just my attitude, change that and your perspective changes.   The purpose of despair is to keep you from doing anything.   I love the Psalms in the Old Testament of the Bible.   I read one

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus, (2006-11-14) from his book, Soul Cravings: An Exploration of the Human Spirit (p. 105). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition . Now you might say, “Bill, that is a horrible thought to focus on heading into my weekend”.   And I guess that can be true.   But I think it also has great value and motivation. I have just turned this month 65+1.   That is how I am expressing my age now.   Because of my age there are some things that are now more important to me.   For one is the amount of sleep that I have.   I don’t stay up as late as I used to so I can I get up earlier the next day.   I want to experience as much as I can each day, to accomplish as much as I can each day, and to enjoy as much as I can each day.   I seem to value what opportunities I have more than I did when I was younger.   I really value each minute of my day.   I don’t want to waste it by sleeping. I also want to make sure of my preparation for what the next phase of life will