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. 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 Andy Stanley, (2009-03-31). From his book, The Principle of the Path: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be (p. 178). Thomas Nelson - A. Kindle Edition. Now knowing that I have another 20+ lbs. to lose doesn’t make the difference. Walking that extra mile, not eating the maple scone and drinking that water does. Knowing the path I need to take to get where I want to go doesn't make a difference.  Taking it does. Knowing from this friend that a certain guy will take care of a certain task and having his phone number doesn’t make the difference.   Picking up the phone and getting an appointment with him does. Knowing that the place to start in finding out about what Christ is like is the Gospels in the New Testament is great information but doesn’t make the difference.   R eading the first verse in the first chapter of Matthew does. Knowing that my car is close to running out of gas is important but doesn’t make a difference.   Stoppin

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 Andy Stanley, (2009-03-31) from his book, The Principle of the Path: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be (p. 158). Thomas Nelson - A. Kindle Edition . Right at this time as a retired minister there are three churches in three different areas of LA that I would love to give the rest of my life to be a part of.   Not as a minister but as a committed laymen.   Two of them when I took a weekend off from the church I pastored in Las Vegas I would make it a point to visit at least once a year.   The other I visited once.   They are all great churches with great pastors who I have listened to their sermons and read all their books for years.   But life is getting shorter each day. Now as a consumer Christian I could just float from one to the other.   Just drinking in all the good stuff but I don’t believe that is the way one truly makes a difference and fulfills a dream.   There must be a commitment involved to one dream.   And that can be difficult

A thought by David Stoop from his book, You Are What You Think (Kindle Locations 1267-1268). Kindle Edition. That is a good way to put that.   It is a wasted use of our emotions.   It’s useless but we all do it. What is your biggest worry today, right now?   If it is something that you can do right now then it’s not a worry, it’s a choice. I choose to take care of it or not.   The doing or not doing then will bring about a good or bad resolution of the problem.   Now let’s say you are worried about getting your electricity turned off at home.   You got a bill that said if you pay such and such on a such and such day then you will have electricity.   If you don’t then it will be turned off.   No amount of worry will keep that electricity turned on.   You either pay it or not.   You say but I am worried about not having enough money.   Well worry still doesn’t do any good.   Making arraignments, borrowing money, asking for help, working, selling something or other optio

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