Just Continue That Thought...

A thought by Andy Stanley (2009-03-31) in his book, The Principle of the Path: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be (p. 41). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. Now we always hope that the result will be different but it isn’t.   We may even pray that it will be different but it isn’t.  We believe that it will be different but it isn’t.  Now God is amazing.  To realize that He created each and every one of us and He created every part of us should show us that He has a plan.   Now He gave us a mouth so we could speak; He gave us eyes so we could see; He gave us feet so we could walk; He gave us hands so we could do; and He gave us a brain so we could think and He wants us to use each and every one of them, even our brain. Many times we do the same thing that didn’t end right the first time and before we do it we ask God to make it come out differently.  Now God has that ability but God has also given us the ability to evaluate, to contemplate, in other words

A thought by Andy Stanley (2009-03-31) in his book, The Principle of the Path: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be (p. 11). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. Two years ago I realized I needed to change the direction of my life physically.  I knew I was in trouble.  Now I wish that I could have decided and then it happened but it didn’t work that way for me.  I have been overweight all my life and I would at different times try to change direction.  It would work for a while and then I would fall back.   For me it had to be a total change in direction and I did it and things physically are changing for the better.  I am now headed in the right direction. Yesterday was my wife, Margaret’s birthday and after church she and I with our daughter, Stefanie and her husband, Andrew went out to a great restaurant to celebrate.  Now they had Blue Bell ice cream.  That is the best ice cream you could ever have and I had some and it showed up on my scales this morning.  I

A thought by Andy Stanley (2009-03-31) in his book, The Principle of the Path: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be (p. 42). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. Now what does forgiveness do?  It absolves me of the guilt of my action but it doesn’t necessarily absolve me of the consequences of the action.  For example, let’s say that I haven’t paid my income taxes for 10 years.  That can be a very dangerous thing to do.  But let’s say I go to God and I ask Him to forgive me.  I repent of my breaking the law and I am then absolved on my guilt to God but that doesn’t absolve me of my guilt to the government.  I still am going to have to pay my back taxes and probably some penalties and interest.  That is the way it works.  But let’s say, I expect God to take care of all that.  I asked Him to forgive me.  Shouldn’t He take care of at least the penalty and the interest?    The answer is no.  You are responsible for the consequences of your actions even if you have

A thought by George Barna, (2011-05-15). Futurecast: in his book, Futurecast: What Today's Trends Mean for Tomorrow's World (Kindle Location 488). Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.. Kindle Edition . I know a big percentage of people today don’t realize this or don’t believe it.  If they did life would be so less complicated for them.  They work and work to get stuff but they aren’t satisfied when they get it.  They know they just need a little bit more.  But needing a little bit more means they will never be satisfied. But what if they had the attitude that what they had was more than enough and had the value that helping others was better than helping themselves?  They would be so much more satisfied.  But doesn’t the Bible say that the Lord helps those who help themselves?  No, Ben Franklin said that.  The Lord says, it is more blessed to give than to receive.   And another way to say blessed is happy. So how happy are you?

A thought by Darren Whitehead and Jon Tyson (2011-07-19) in their book, Rumors of God: Experience the Kind of Faith You´ve Only Heard About (Kindle Locations 531-532). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition . We really don’t appreciate the problem of hunger do we?  I know I don’t.  I think I do but I really don’t.  I may be hungry so I get up and go into our kitchen and find something to eat or I dial my phone to get a pizza.  I don’t really know about being hungry. It comes down to the fact that we don’t have a food problem but a sharing problem.  Have you heard the story about TOMS Shoes ?  I got a pair for my birthday.  I love them.  TOMS Shoes is a unique company f ounded in 2006 by Blake Mycoskie.  While competing on the  second season  of  The Amazing Race  with his sister, Mycoskie visited Argentina. He returned there on vacation in January 2006 and had the idea to develop a shoe company where for every pair sold, a new pair would be donated to a child in need of shoes.  

A thought by Darren Whitehead and Jon Tyson (2011-07-19) from their book, Rumors of God: Experience the Kind of Faith You´ve Only Heard About (Kindle Location 1351). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. Now it is a gift for them, the one who has hurt you.  It will free them if they ask for it but it is also a gift for you. It will also free you from their hold on you.   But you also need to see if you don’t forgive then God won’t forgive you.  His forgiveness is also a gift that is given to those who meet the requirements.  One is confession and then asking for it and the other is forgiving those who have hurt you.  Of course it’s not easy.  You have to die to yourself, to taking revenge, to your getting back at them, to make them hurt like you did.  You have to die.  But also remember, Jesus had to die so you could have His forgiveness.  He showed us what it means to forgive when He said on the cross, “Father forgive them because they don’t know what they are doing.”  Our sins pu

A thought by Andy Stanley (2009-08-22) from his book, It Came from Within!: The Shocking Truth of What Lurks in the Heart (p. 102). Multnomah Books. Kindle Edition. What habit do you need to break?  I go to Starbucks every day for breakfast.  For years I got a tall black pike, a grande ice water and a maple oat scone.  I really loved my scone until I changed to something healthier.  I now eat oatmeal with nuts.  That’s what I now get every day.  It is my new habit.  I had to break a habit by starting another habit. Now I know we would like to just decide that we need to quite doing whatever it is that we know isn’t good for us but it doesn’t work that way.  It took a long time to make the habit and it will take time to stop it. So what habit do you need to break?  Then what habit do you need to make to break it?  It is never easy to break a habit but if it is a harmful one then it will be worth the effort. So go for it.  Why don’t you start today? So let me ask y

A thought by Mark Batterson (2011-01-18) in his book, Soulprint: Discovering Your Divine Destiny (p. 154). Multnomah Books. Kindle Edition . We strive to do what we can to define who we are.  We drive the right car, we wear the right clothes.  We live in the right place.  We even put our kids in the right activities, the right school but we feel like we still come up short. Maybe it is because of something that we did when we were younger that no matter what we do or what we have we just can’t get away from it.  That thing defines us in our mind. Maybe it is what someone said about you.  That is what defines you.  Maybe it is because of an unpleaseable person in your life.  No matter what you did, it was always wrong.  You got an A but you should have gotten an A+.   No matter what it was it wasn’t enough so you always felt like you were a failure or you were told you were and because they were an adult you believed them. Listen you are not defined by what you did wr

A thought by Andy Stanley (2009-08-22) from his book, It Came from Within!: The Shocking Truth of What Lurks in the Heart (pp. 88-90). Multnomah Books. Kindle Edition. But the major problem is they are never going to get enough.  What a horrible existence but so many people live it.  We think that is a responsible thing to do to acquire and maintain but it can be greed if it’s for the wrong reason. Now the basic premise of greed is very simple.  It means that I don’t trust God to meet my needs.  And this lack of trust seems to get greater and greater the older we get.  It really does but worrying about retirement is a good thing isn’t it?  Is it?  Listen, worry is never a good thing.  It says I don’t trust you God. Now it is important to be a responsible person, to make sure that we save and plan for our future.  It really is but to worry and worry and live in fear of not having enough is not what God wants from us.  I also don’t think He wants us to leave it all up to H

A thought by Greg Darley (2010-11-15) from his book, Passion Is Not Enough: Four Elements to Change the World (Kindle Location 1103). Backstage Publishing. Kindle Edition . Well we are truly in uncertain times.  And uncertain times show us where we have really put our trust.  For many it is in God.  Their faith comes to the front.  For others it’s the government.  It is so important to them what party is in power.  Their trust is totally in who the President is and what party controls Congress.  For others it’s their job.  Their total trust is in what they make and if something would happen to their job then their life would go down the tubes.  For others it’s their mate, their relationships. Now the only thing that is a sure thing to have your faith in is God.  He is the only one who will be their when all else fails.  Yes, all those other things have their place in your life and God uses them even during the difficult times.   My mom is 87 years of age and she lost he

A thought by Greg Darley (2010-11-15) from his book, Passion Is Not Enough: Four Elements to Change the World (Kindle Locations 914-915). Backstage Publishing. Kindle Edition . There are people who have an opinion about what everyone else is doing but they don’t want anyone to have an opinion about what they are doing.  I have tended to not have an opinion but also don’t want anyone else’s opinion.  But Solomon in his book of Proverbs in the OT says that there is safety in many counselors.  He is saying that in making decisions don’t do it on your own.   Now we do need to have confidence in our abilities but real confidence can withstand other views, other thoughts, and other experiences.  The truth is we have only lived the one life that we are living and that is the only experience we have and taping into other people’s experiences gives us a greater view of the situation.  Of course we may not want other perspectives.  They may just cloud the issue because we want to do

A thought by Greg Darley (2010-11-15) from his book, Passion Is Not Enough: Four Elements to Change the World (Kindle Location 620). Backstage Publishing. Kindle Edition. I have met some people who don’t believe that.  To them they have no strengths.  Somebody somewhere has emphasized that fact into them.  They could tell you all their weaknesses but they don’t have any idea what their strengths are.  But God doesn’t work that way.  Every one of us came into this world with a purpose on His mind.  He built into us strengths with that purpose in mind.  Granted life can chisel away at those strengths but they are still there to be developed.  Now they are there not to be misused on us but to be used in making a difference on others and on the world.  People say but I don’t have any strengths but you do.  You just need to believe you do and then do some real self-investigation.    There are a number of good test out there.  The book StrengthsFinder 2.0 by Tom Rath is a gr

A thought by Seth Godin (2011-03-01) in his book, Poke the Box (p. 61). The Domino Project. Kindle Edition . That is the difficult thing isn’t it?  We all it seems have at some moment come up with that idea that will make a major difference.  We are sure that no one else has ever thought of it but we don’t do anything with it and it is lost. Whether you believe it or not you have a tremendous idea about your task at work there in the inner workings of your mind.   It is that idea that will make your task more effective.  It may be that just right idea that will make your office more successful.  You may not realize it but by doing what you do every day you are the person to come up with that needed idea.  But you are afraid of rejection or being laughed at so you keep it to yourself.  It probably isn’t that good any way you think.  So the idea is lost. Now someone somewhere is going to come up with the idea and he is going to go for it.  It isn’t as good as yours but be

A thought by Andy Stanley (2009-03-31) in his book, The Principle of the Path: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be (p. 104). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. If I really want it then it must be the right thing to get it.  Have you ever had that go through your mind?   I know, all the time.  I’m sitting in a Starbucks close to Louisville, Kentucky seeing all these people outside with their 32 flavors cups of ice cream and I want so much to go get some.  I want it so bad so it must mean that it is God’s will for me to have it?  Right?  Wrong.  I got up early this morning to walk my 4+ miles and I’m not going to blow it.  But so many times what we really, really want tempts us to get off the path that we have chosen.  For me I was in the car yesterday for nearly 15 hours and it seems that I should be rewarded but that reward would set me back from the daily task that I have chosen to get below 200 lbs. by 2012.  Yes possibly the circumstance of yesterday cou

A thought by Greg Darley (2010-11-15) from his book, Passion Is Not Enough: Four Elements to Change the World (Kindle Locations 572-573). Backstage Publishing. Kindle Edition . It has been said that God speaks loudly through pain and softly through pleasure.  We don’t seek answers when everything is going right for us but when trouble is upon us. The truth is in times of trouble there are three things that we can do.  We can do nothing.  Just roll with the flow.  Or we can gripe, complain, and play the blame game.  That’s what it seems we are doing right now in our country.  Even Christians are blaming everyone they can think of about what is happening.  To me it seems like we are all to blame because of our greed but that is for another time.  Blame does nothing to solve problems.  It just keeps us from turning to God and us to solve the problem which is the third way to deal with trouble. Did you see the story last week of the young motorcyclist who was pinned under a

A thought by Andy Stanley (2009-03-31) in his book, The Principle of the Path: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to B e (p. 61). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. Have you noticed that?  You set your heart on getting something that you know will make you happy but it really isn’t a good thing to have; maybe it is a girl or a guy that doesn’t hold your same values.  But you want it or you have fallen for them so your mind sets into gear to come up with a set of reasons why it is a good thing when it really isn’t. Your will, your heart is a powerful thing so it is very important to have it set in the right direction.  Oh your mind is also important but most of the time it just goes along for the ride. For example:  In today’s USA Today there was a survey that said that the number one reason people divorce is growing apart and the number two is unable to talk together .  Now when your heart says there needs to be a change in your life, you’re not happy anymore b

A thought by Darren Whitehead and Jon Tyson (2011-07-19) from their book, Rumors of God: Experience the Kind of Faith You´ve Only Heard About (Kindle Location 1440). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. It is so interesting how self-absorbed we as professed Christ-followers can be.  We think that life is all about us. An individual came up to Jon Tyson after one of their Worship Gatherings here in New York City and they said, “I didn’t mind the teaching, but I didn’t like the worship.”  Jon then said to him, “Biblically, it doesn’t matter what you get out of worship, it’s not for you.”  And that is true.  We need to be reminded of that fact don’t we? I’ve been to Jon’s church, Trinity Grace and I do appreciate what they are doing.  His preaching really speaks to issues of our day and their worship leaders at the three different locations that I have been to truly do lead us in worship.  But in this day of production in the church worship world it sometimes is easy to get sucke

A thought by Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch (2011-04-15) in the book, The Faith of Leap, (Shapevine) (p. 31). Baker Books. Kindle Edition. I don’t know how some people get up in the morning.  If they look at life as a threat then they must want to hide.  No way do they want to get out of bed.  Life has been ruff for some people.  I understand that but I also know of people who have also had it ruff who get up and are ready for whatever life has for them.  To them life is not a threat but an opportunity. The truth is there is so much in our life that we have no control over.  But how we handle it starts in our mind, in how we view life and that is under our control. I’ve learned that if I take the worst that life can throw at me and I figure out a way to handle it then no matter what else comes I can handle that.  Now I’ve started with what is the worst for many which is death and I have settled that in my mind.  I believe that a right relationship with God takes care of t

A thought by Andy Stanley (2009-03-31) in his book, The Principle of the Path: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be (p. 129). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. We all realize how true that is, don’t we?  My dad said, “Advice not asked for stinks.” It doesn’t matter if you have the right answer if the person in need is not seeking advice it won’t make a difference. I used to have wives come up and ask me if I would talk to their husbands or parents would come and want me to talk to their kids and I would always say, “Have them call me.”  If they’re not seeking they’re not listening.  Of course you know some people who have advice for everything and they want to give it all the time to everyone they meet.  It seems to be a self-worth thing.  They may be right some of the time but they are not usually the ones you will go to for advice.  There are others who you see their life and you know their life view is built on wisdom and maturity but you have to seek th

A thought by Gabe Lyons (2010-10-05) from his book, The Next Christians: The Good News About the End of Christian America (p. 108). Doubleday Religion. Kindle Edition. Have you ever tried to create something?  Oh I know you did when you were in Kindergarten but somewhere we changed from being creators to critics.  I mean it is so much more important for people to do things right or as we view right than it is to create something new.  At least that is how some people think. But creating is so vital in life.  I know some people say they aren’t creative but they really are creators who have been beaten down by critics. Now as a preacher I created a new message every week from scratch.  I would start on Monday or Tuesday finish it on Saturday and then give it 2 times on Sunday and 1 time on Monday or Tuesday and then start all over again.  I did that every week for 25+ years. I have now retired from doing that but I now write 2 blogs.  One I do every day which is taken

A thought by Darren Whitehead and Jon Tyson, (2011-07-19) in their book, Rumors of God: Experience the Kind of Faith You´ve Only Heard About (Kindle Location 632). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition . I had never thought about that but it is true.  Let’s say you have a friend who gives you a birthday card.  It is just a simple little card.  Now of course you must try to find out when their birthday is so you can send them a card.  It is the correct thing to do.  It is your obligation. I remember when my daughter got married and of course all those wedding gifts and then all of those thank you cards.  One person kept asking when they were going to get their thank you card.  I know that is the right thing to do, it is your obligation but somehow that made their gift more for them than for my daughter and son-in-law.  They needed to be affirmed, it was for them. Now I don’t want to get in the middle of the correct thing to do stuff in gift giving but I do find that something is

A thought by Mark Batterson,  (2009-12-09). Primal: A Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity (Kindle Locations 2042-2043). Multnomah Books. Kindle Edition. Here I am sitting in my Oceanside, NY Starbucks thinking of what I want to write.  Now if I was afraid of saying the wrong thing I wouldn’t even try.  I would just keep reading but never writing.  It is all in the focus. There are so many people who have unbelievable potential and ability; they have so much to offer but because they are afraid of being wrong or doing the wrong thing they never try.  What a loss.  What if God had viewed His creation project the same way?  What if He had said, “I know creating humanity is a risky thing to do.   They may reject me, do their own thing.  I’m sure it isn’t going to work so why should I try?  I know it is going to fail.  I’m afraid it is the wrong thing to do.”   What if He hadn’t even tried?   But He did the right thing and we are here today. As children we all believe

A thought by Darren Whitehead and Jon Tyson (2011-07-19) from their book, Rumors of God: Experience the Kind of Faith You´ve Only Heard About (Kindle Locations 1356-1357). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. We live in an age of bondage.  So many of us are in bondage to what someone else has done to us.  But of course that is our choice.  We choose to let someone else have that much control over our life.  That is our choice.  We didn’t have a choice in what happened to us but we do have a choice in how it affects us. Now it is so easy to rehearse and rehearse and relive and relive until that is all we think about.  We hear a certain song and we relive the hurt.  We drive by a certain place and we relive the hurt.  We come to a certain holiday and we relive the pain.  Now we may not realize it but all of that reliving is a choice.  We can also choose to quit letting that other person have so much control over our life.  We can but it is difficult. It is so difficult to not r

A thought by Mark Batterson, (2011-01-18) from his book, Soulprint: Discovering Your Divine Destiny (p. 72). Multnomah Books. Kindle Edition. I have learned in my later years how to get to know people so I can help them.  I don’t remember where I found this but it has really helped me.  Here it is: I am not what I think I am , I am not what you think I am. I am what I think you think I am. Did you get that?  Read it again… I am not what I think I am; I am not what you think I am; I am what I think you think I am.  It doesn’t really matter what the truth is but what I think the truth is.  Now of course in deeper relationships the real truth is what matters but that's for another time. I know some people who believe that nobody likes them so they go through life very alone and very afraid.  It doesn’t matter what the truth is.  The truth is there is one person who likes them, me, because I have chosen to like everybody.  But it still doesn’t matter what the truth is if they

A thought by Gabe Lyons (2010-10-05) in his book, The Next Christians: The Good News About the End of Christian America (p. 94). Doubleday Religion. Kindle Edition . There is a telling part of the Good News that Jesus came to give us life and to give it more abundantly but there is also a showing and doing part in my life.  Many times it is easier to tell than to do. I mean we can share with everyone that God is love but never love anyone.  We can say that Jesus loves all the children of the world but our actions show that we hate Muslims and gays. Or we can be a person that everybody loves but never tell anyone how that Jesus is the reason why we are the person we are. The awesome part of the Good News that Christ has given us is that it is both. Now we can know the Bible inside and out.  My mom started me memorizing the Bible when I was very young.  That is a very good thing.  It helps to have the Word at our disposal when we are going through tough times. Back when I

A thought by Darren Whitehead and Jon Tyson (2011-07-19) in their book, Rumors of God: Experience the Kind of Faith You´ve Only Heard About ( Kindle Locations 525-526). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition . Some wonder how a loving God could allow so much starvation in the world.  I mean, there are so many people who live with no hope of enough food to sustain them so they go to bed hungry every night.  If God loves them how can that be?  That is a good question. The truth is we don’t have a shortage problem but a sharing problem.  Do you realize that we produce enough food every year to feed the world but some eat more than they need thus taking away from some who don’t have enough?   God has provided and we are to be His instruments of supplying but we have kept it and gotten fat off of it. I was born just after the Great Depression but I lived through some of the aftermath of that very difficult time in our history.  One of the problems that came out of that time was a grea

A thought by Jeff Manion (2010-07-14) in his book, The Land Between: Finding God in DifficultTransitions (p. 191). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. Have you ever noticed that the fruit that is the easiest to pick is on the ground because it is too ripe so it has fallen off the tree?  Have you also noticed that the best fruit usually takes some effort to pick?  Could that also be true about those things we really want in our life. Two years ago in August I weighed 260 lbs.  I always used to laughingly say that I didn’t have a weight problem, I had a height problem.  I should be 7 ½ feet tall.  But the truth was I had a real weight problem and it was affecting my quality of life.   I was having trouble with my feet; I was becoming an invalid and a prime candidate for a heart attack.  I was not looking at the quality or quantity of life that I wanted. Now something happened that month that change the direction of my wife’s life and in turn changed mine.  Margaret found out that she was

A thought by Kyle Idleman (2011-05-24) in his book, Not a Fan: Becoming a Completely Committed Follower of Jesus (p. 30). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. That is true of anyone who is important to me.  Almost 37 years ago a girl named Margaret started interfering with my life the day I fell in love with her and the day she became my wife.  The same was true when our son Brett came to live with us in Phoenix, Arizona and Stefanie our daughter in Valparaiso, Indiana.  But along with the interfering comes so much enjoyment and pleasure.  I wouldn’t trade the life I have had since each one of then came into my life.  It is also true of Andrew, Stef’s husband and Marissa, Brett’s wife and of course Ashlyn and Addison my two granddaughters.  My life has only gotten better and better. Love has a way of interfering doesn’t it?  So I welcome the fact that when I fell in love with Jesus He interfered with my life to the point that I am sitting here in a Starbucks writing this to you becaus

A thought by Andy Stanley (2009-08-22) from his book, It Came from Within!: The Shocking Truth of What Lurks in the Heart (p. 82). Multnomah Books. Kindle Edition . An injustice has been done, someone has gone back on their word, they haven’t done what they promised, you feel like you are owed something and you are angry.   You are very angry and you feel justified in your anger. But here is the problem.   In most cases the person who has hurt you probably doesn’t even know you are angry with them but you know it and the people closest to you know it.   The person you are angry with isn’t being hurt but you are and those closest to you are. Now not doing anything is not the best answer for your anger.   As you know the anger inside of you is tearing away at your insides and it can even damage you physically and for sure emotionally.   Unresolved anger can hurt you and it can also hurt the people you love.   It can hurt your relationships because it is like a time bomb that is

A thought by Andy Stanley (2009-03-31) in his book, The Principle of the Path: How to Get fromWhere You Are to Where You Want to Be (p. 15). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. Life is filled with choices.  It really is. ü   I can choose to be angry or I can choose to understand and forgive.  ü   I can live with regrets because of what life has thrown at me or I can live with excitement for the opportunity of each new day.  ü   I can choose to spend or I can choose to save.   ü   I can cower in fear of the unknown or risk and move into unchartered waters.  ü   I can eat donuts or eat salads. ü   I can serve God or I can serve myself. ü   I can live with self-pity or I can live with joy. ü   I can listen and join in to negativity or I can turn it off, walk away and live positively.   ü   I can be hurt or I can be healed. ü   I can yell or I can listen. ü   I can grow cold or I can tell you where you hurt me. ü   I can act like a child or I can act like an adult. ü   I ca