This . . .
One of my favorite comments from the 9 yr. old
baseball tournament in Magnolia.
"Madilyn. (A two year old) MADILYN!
Madilyn . . . get out of the trash!"
.
That . . .
I opted to stay in Magnolia at a hotel Saturday night
to save a two hour drive to get home,
and then a two hour drive back Sunday morning.
My room was directly across from the vending and ice machine.
It was about 10:oo and most of the 9 year olds
had stopped jumping on their beds
and had settled down in their rooms.
I was on the bed in my underwear
and wanted to get some ice.
I decided that a t-shirt was mandatory, but
I wouldn't go to the trouble of putting my pants on.
Just a quick dash across the hall, get my ice,
and right back. No problem.
So I got the ice bucket and opened the door to find
no fewer than seven moms sitting outside my door
quietly visiting, and now all looking up at me.
One of them said, "Do you need some ice?"
I wanted to say, "No, I need my pants".
But what the heck, I just carefully stepped over
each pretty young mother, got my ice,
then crawled back into my room.
"Come quickly, Lord Jesus!"
.
This is That . . .
My mom has had a hard week.
When I got home from Magnolia Friday night,
she was unable to get up out of her chair.
All her strength was gone.
She was weak, winded and confused.
Come to think of it, so was I.
Long story short, I took her to the hospital,
they transferred her to the Ark Heart Hospital
and put in a pacemaker yesterday.
My sister Jeanette and husband Brian
are bringing her home tomorrow.
I am praying that God would take away any spirit
of confusion, and that she would have clarity of mind.
Please say a prayer for her.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Monday, July 06, 2009
Forgiveness Without Repentance?
This . . .
I have blogged about this before.
.
That . . .
I am blogging about it again.
.
This is That . . .
Can you say, "Can of worms?"
My beliefs on the subject of forgiveness are a little like the one guy who believes in a post trib rapture, when everyone else believes otherwise.
I don't believe the Bible teaches forgiveness can happen without repentance.
Wrong behavior causes a breach in relationship.
One person can forgive the other over and over, but without repentance there is no forgivness and no restoration.
Now hold on. Before you load your weapons, let me try to explain.
God cannot and does not forgive anyone, without repentance.
I can't find any scripture that says we can forgive someone, unless they repent.
The closest would be Jesus praying that God would forgive them for they know not what they do.
That is positively the correct attitude, but still it would be unjust for God to forgive anyone who does not repent.
So what DOES God do?
Does he desire bad things to happen to those who sin against him? No, he loves them.
Does he allow bitterness to take root and decay his character? No.
Does he tell everyone he knows, how bad the person is? No
Does he pelt the guy with a pea shooter? Maybe a little bit, just to shake every thing that hinders love.
Does he cry? Yes.
Does he stand with open arms? Yes.
Does he desire only the very best for those apart from him? Yes.
He expects us to be poor in spirit, to mourn over wrong doing, to be meek in our posture toward those who wrong us, to be merciful, to love those who sin against us, to seek restoration, and stand ready to forgive 70 x 70 times.
I think we may say "forgive" when we really mean alot of other words. (See above.)
Saying that forgiveness cannot happen without repentance does NOT mean you take on all the bad attitudes and feelings that people see as the opposite of forgiving.
For God to hide his eyes and forgive all, even without repentance, would be unjust.
That's why he doesn't do it.
I don't believe that the Bible teaches forgiveness without repentance, but I believe the Bible does teach us to get our eyes off of ourselves, and be fully engaged in kindness, mercy, and love toward the other person.
OK, you can go ahead and load your weapons,
but please use only water guns, and maybe an occasional pea shooter.
I have blogged about this before.
.
That . . .
I am blogging about it again.
.
This is That . . .
Can you say, "Can of worms?"
My beliefs on the subject of forgiveness are a little like the one guy who believes in a post trib rapture, when everyone else believes otherwise.
I don't believe the Bible teaches forgiveness can happen without repentance.
Wrong behavior causes a breach in relationship.
One person can forgive the other over and over, but without repentance there is no forgivness and no restoration.
Now hold on. Before you load your weapons, let me try to explain.
God cannot and does not forgive anyone, without repentance.
I can't find any scripture that says we can forgive someone, unless they repent.
The closest would be Jesus praying that God would forgive them for they know not what they do.
That is positively the correct attitude, but still it would be unjust for God to forgive anyone who does not repent.
So what DOES God do?
Does he desire bad things to happen to those who sin against him? No, he loves them.
Does he allow bitterness to take root and decay his character? No.
Does he tell everyone he knows, how bad the person is? No
Does he pelt the guy with a pea shooter? Maybe a little bit, just to shake every thing that hinders love.
Does he cry? Yes.
Does he stand with open arms? Yes.
Does he desire only the very best for those apart from him? Yes.
He expects us to be poor in spirit, to mourn over wrong doing, to be meek in our posture toward those who wrong us, to be merciful, to love those who sin against us, to seek restoration, and stand ready to forgive 70 x 70 times.
I think we may say "forgive" when we really mean alot of other words. (See above.)
Saying that forgiveness cannot happen without repentance does NOT mean you take on all the bad attitudes and feelings that people see as the opposite of forgiving.
For God to hide his eyes and forgive all, even without repentance, would be unjust.
That's why he doesn't do it.
I don't believe that the Bible teaches forgiveness without repentance, but I believe the Bible does teach us to get our eyes off of ourselves, and be fully engaged in kindness, mercy, and love toward the other person.
OK, you can go ahead and load your weapons,
but please use only water guns, and maybe an occasional pea shooter.
Saturday, July 04, 2009
Enid Valentine
This . . .
is written by Enid Valentine.
Preserving A Generation.
http://babies-live.blogspot.com/
.
That . . .
.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT ME NOW?
By Enid
What do you think of Me when you fall into trials of various kinds?
What do you think about Me when your prayer doesn’t seem answered?
What do you think about Me when you can’t seem to overcome depression though you fast and pray and fight and fight?
What do you think about Me when your closest friend has forsaken you, when your father has abandoned you?
What do you think about Me when you’re still single after so many years?
What do you think of Me when you’ve lost your job?
How about when you couldn’t raise support or the mission field didn’t work out and you felt like a failure?
What do you think about Me when your pastor was exposed of secret sins?
What do you think about Me when the people you most loved and trusted were the ones who hurt you?
What do you think about Me when your adoption doesn’t go through?
What do you think about Me when your baby doesn’t live?
When your spouse abandons you?
What do you think about Me when you just faithfully press on and on no matter what, it just gets dryer and dryer, colder and colder; now what are your thoughts about Me?
.
This is That . . .
.
I’ll tell you what I think about you…
You are the ones I was dreaming about before the foundations of the earth were laid.
My dance over you began when you said, ‘yes’ to Me,
when you first said my Name, and I am singing over you even now.
My song is about that place in your heart that never gives up,
that never forgets, no matter how hot the flame,
no matter how fiery the trial.
As My eyes search the earth I see you standing at the foot
of that mountain, you are so small in comparison.
You continue to say yes to Me, although you
have no human ability to endure these things.
All you have is Me. Oh how you move Me!!
I know you are dust, I know you are looking through a glass darkly.
Don’t you understand how much it means to Me when you choose
to love Me, the One who you cannot see?!
I know that you cannot see Me, yet you love Me!
OH MY BEAUTIFUL ONES!!!
Believe Me when I say, you move My heart
by just choosing to love Me in the trials.
You could’ve walked away when you saw the mountain,
you could’ve given up when I didn’t come immediately,
but I choose to try your love, TO MAKE IT MORE VALUABLE!
Because I knew you’d come forth as gold.
You may not realize it because you sometimes feel weary,
but you’ve never given up. I count this as faithfulness.
I credit this to you as faithfulness.
This is what I think about you, My small ones,
standing at the foot of that mountain.
I see, I hear, and I know.
Not one single sigh has escaped My notice.
I promise, I promise, we WILL leap upon this mountain together,
though I tarry, I will come!
.
“They that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength,
they will mount up with wings like eagles,
they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.”
Isaiah 40:31
is written by Enid Valentine.
Preserving A Generation.
http://babies-live.blogspot.com/
.
That . . .
.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT ME NOW?
By Enid
What do you think of Me when you fall into trials of various kinds?
What do you think about Me when your prayer doesn’t seem answered?
What do you think about Me when you can’t seem to overcome depression though you fast and pray and fight and fight?
What do you think about Me when your closest friend has forsaken you, when your father has abandoned you?
What do you think about Me when you’re still single after so many years?
What do you think of Me when you’ve lost your job?
How about when you couldn’t raise support or the mission field didn’t work out and you felt like a failure?
What do you think about Me when your pastor was exposed of secret sins?
What do you think about Me when the people you most loved and trusted were the ones who hurt you?
What do you think about Me when your adoption doesn’t go through?
What do you think about Me when your baby doesn’t live?
When your spouse abandons you?
What do you think about Me when you just faithfully press on and on no matter what, it just gets dryer and dryer, colder and colder; now what are your thoughts about Me?
.
This is That . . .
.
I’ll tell you what I think about you…
You are the ones I was dreaming about before the foundations of the earth were laid.
My dance over you began when you said, ‘yes’ to Me,
when you first said my Name, and I am singing over you even now.
My song is about that place in your heart that never gives up,
that never forgets, no matter how hot the flame,
no matter how fiery the trial.
As My eyes search the earth I see you standing at the foot
of that mountain, you are so small in comparison.
You continue to say yes to Me, although you
have no human ability to endure these things.
All you have is Me. Oh how you move Me!!
I know you are dust, I know you are looking through a glass darkly.
Don’t you understand how much it means to Me when you choose
to love Me, the One who you cannot see?!
I know that you cannot see Me, yet you love Me!
OH MY BEAUTIFUL ONES!!!
Believe Me when I say, you move My heart
by just choosing to love Me in the trials.
You could’ve walked away when you saw the mountain,
you could’ve given up when I didn’t come immediately,
but I choose to try your love, TO MAKE IT MORE VALUABLE!
Because I knew you’d come forth as gold.
You may not realize it because you sometimes feel weary,
but you’ve never given up. I count this as faithfulness.
I credit this to you as faithfulness.
This is what I think about you, My small ones,
standing at the foot of that mountain.
I see, I hear, and I know.
Not one single sigh has escaped My notice.
I promise, I promise, we WILL leap upon this mountain together,
though I tarry, I will come!
.
“They that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength,
they will mount up with wings like eagles,
they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.”
Isaiah 40:31
Monday, June 29, 2009
Jesus?
This . . .
Why did the chicken cross the road?
Because some goofball built a million dollar bridge.
.
I spent the week-end selling t-shirts and
photographing a girls softball state tournament.
8 yrs old thru 16 yrs old. 32 teams.
A lot of girls. Really hot.
Go to http://www.taylorjamesdesign.com/
and click event login to see about 5,000 action photos.
The 8 year olds were particularly impressive.
They use a pitching machine.
One third base girl could continuely throw people out at first base.
One time the bases were loaded with no outs.
The batter hit a pop up to third.
Everyone ran. This third base girl caught the ball,
stepped on third (two outs) then threw the ball to first.
The runner got back by a half a step.
Almost an eight year old triple play.
.
That . . .
Back in high school, I drove a tractor one summer
for a farmer (Lester Barrett) in western Kansas.
There were two tractors, I drove one and
an old farmer guy drove the other one.
He didn't talk much. Mostly just one word at a time.
First thing each day, "Morning".
When we would stop he would say,
"Hot", or sometimes, "Dirty" depending
on which he was thinking about the most.
As one tractor goes around it has a disc that
makes a mark for the other tractor to follow.
You just keep your right tire on that mark and all is good.
One morning I went to sleep and drove off into the middle of nowhere.
I woke up and got back in line,
but no way to hide this from the other guy.
When we stopped for lunch he asked, "Sleepin'?"
.
This is That . . .
Jesus?
Why did the chicken cross the road?
Because some goofball built a million dollar bridge.
.
I spent the week-end selling t-shirts and
photographing a girls softball state tournament.
8 yrs old thru 16 yrs old. 32 teams.
A lot of girls. Really hot.
Go to http://www.taylorjamesdesign.com/
and click event login to see about 5,000 action photos.
The 8 year olds were particularly impressive.
They use a pitching machine.
One third base girl could continuely throw people out at first base.
One time the bases were loaded with no outs.
The batter hit a pop up to third.
Everyone ran. This third base girl caught the ball,
stepped on third (two outs) then threw the ball to first.
The runner got back by a half a step.
Almost an eight year old triple play.
.
That . . .
Back in high school, I drove a tractor one summer
for a farmer (Lester Barrett) in western Kansas.
There were two tractors, I drove one and
an old farmer guy drove the other one.
He didn't talk much. Mostly just one word at a time.
First thing each day, "Morning".
When we would stop he would say,
"Hot", or sometimes, "Dirty" depending
on which he was thinking about the most.
As one tractor goes around it has a disc that
makes a mark for the other tractor to follow.
You just keep your right tire on that mark and all is good.
One morning I went to sleep and drove off into the middle of nowhere.
I woke up and got back in line,
but no way to hide this from the other guy.
When we stopped for lunch he asked, "Sleepin'?"
.
This is That . . .
Jesus?
Sunday, June 14, 2009
It's ALL about ISRAEL
This . . .
Israel is 280 miles long and 70 miles wide.
The land has forests, green valleys, deserts,
fertile farm land, and a mountain range.
.
The Dead Sea is the lowest place on earth.
The Jordan river, where Jesus and many
others were baptized, flows into the Dead Sea.
There is no life in the Dead Sea.
.
About 6 million Jews were killed in the holocaust.
About 6 million Jews live in Israel.
About 6 million Jews live in the USA.
There are about 17 million Jews worldwide
.
That . . .
586 BC
The kingdom of Israel conquered by the Babylonians.
538 - 333 BC
Exiled Jews return to land and build 2nd Temple.
0 - 70 AD
Life, death and resurection of Jesus.
Apostles, Pentecost, early church.
70 AD
Roman army conquers Jerusalem.
Jewish people exiled and dispersed.
Temple destroyed.
May 14, 1948
After almost 2,000 years,
State of Israel becomes a nation again.
1967
Arab armies threaten to annialate Israel.
Against impossible odds,
Israel is victorious in six day war.
Israel occupies Sinai desert, the Gaza Strip,
the Golan Heights and the West Bank.
Jews return to Judea and Samaria which was
part of Biblical Israel.
.
This is That . . .
Romans 11
God has not forgotten the Jews or the land of Israel
It's all about Israel and the Jews.
The Jews have had and have a blindness to who Jesus is.
.
Gentile believers have been carrying the spread of the Gospel,
but the Jews are still God's primary chosen people.
Jews and non-Jewish believers in Yashewa will eventually come into unity.
At the return of Jesus, all living Jews will be saved.
All the nations will gather to Israel to war against
Jesus, Israel and raptured believers.
Jesus wins.
The earth is cleansed from sin as
Jesus rules the world from Jerusalem.
.
"What in the world is going on?"
God is after his people.
.
Israel is 280 miles long and 70 miles wide.
The land has forests, green valleys, deserts,
fertile farm land, and a mountain range.
.
The Dead Sea is the lowest place on earth.
The Jordan river, where Jesus and many
others were baptized, flows into the Dead Sea.
There is no life in the Dead Sea.
.
About 6 million Jews were killed in the holocaust.
About 6 million Jews live in Israel.
About 6 million Jews live in the USA.
There are about 17 million Jews worldwide
.
That . . .
586 BC
The kingdom of Israel conquered by the Babylonians.
538 - 333 BC
Exiled Jews return to land and build 2nd Temple.
0 - 70 AD
Life, death and resurection of Jesus.
Apostles, Pentecost, early church.
70 AD
Roman army conquers Jerusalem.
Jewish people exiled and dispersed.
Temple destroyed.
May 14, 1948
After almost 2,000 years,
State of Israel becomes a nation again.
1967
Arab armies threaten to annialate Israel.
Against impossible odds,
Israel is victorious in six day war.
Israel occupies Sinai desert, the Gaza Strip,
the Golan Heights and the West Bank.
Jews return to Judea and Samaria which was
part of Biblical Israel.
.
This is That . . .
Romans 11
God has not forgotten the Jews or the land of Israel
It's all about Israel and the Jews.
The Jews have had and have a blindness to who Jesus is.
.
Gentile believers have been carrying the spread of the Gospel,
but the Jews are still God's primary chosen people.
Jews and non-Jewish believers in Yashewa will eventually come into unity.
At the return of Jesus, all living Jews will be saved.
All the nations will gather to Israel to war against
Jesus, Israel and raptured believers.
Jesus wins.
The earth is cleansed from sin as
Jesus rules the world from Jerusalem.
.
"What in the world is going on?"
God is after his people.
.
Monday, June 08, 2009
Working On It
This . . .
What if some big "in charge of TV guy" called
you up and offered you the opportunity to speak
to the whole world for one hour on TV.
What would you say?
What if you were the editor of the world
newspaper for just one week.
What would you publish?
.
That . . .
What if you had an opportunity to talk to
just one person, for just a little while?
.
This is That . . .
I'm not sure either, but I'm working on it.
What if some big "in charge of TV guy" called
you up and offered you the opportunity to speak
to the whole world for one hour on TV.
What would you say?
What if you were the editor of the world
newspaper for just one week.
What would you publish?
.
That . . .
What if you had an opportunity to talk to
just one person, for just a little while?
.
This is That . . .
I'm not sure either, but I'm working on it.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Jesus - You're My Idol
This . . .
I didn't watch American Idol this year.
But I have to admit that a Christian worship leader
from Conway got my attention . . .
and so I watched last night and tonight.
.
That . . .
The world is very tempting, very talented, very enticing.
KISS, Santana and Black Magic Woman.
Lucifer was the head musician (worship leader)
in heaven before his fall.
He has imparted much to the enemy camp.
Who can endure?
.
This is That . . .
Watching American "Idol" seemed like a prophetic
picture of what's going on in the world.
The battle is raging.
Judgement is coming.
Sin is on the rise and on the way to coming to fullness.
Unity, perfection, and
the full power of God are coming.
God is raising up an army of love sick worshipers.
God is very merciful, loving and kind.
Both in His judgements and His blessings.
Wholeheartedness is required.
This is no time time to sit back,
back off or turn on the cruise control.
Don't back off, press in.
Prayer matters.
So pray.
.
We are NOT the champions.
God is the Champion . . .
The King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.
In the end . . . JESUS wins.
.
I didn't watch American Idol this year.
But I have to admit that a Christian worship leader
from Conway got my attention . . .
and so I watched last night and tonight.
.
That . . .
The world is very tempting, very talented, very enticing.
KISS, Santana and Black Magic Woman.
Lucifer was the head musician (worship leader)
in heaven before his fall.
He has imparted much to the enemy camp.
Who can endure?
.
This is That . . .
Watching American "Idol" seemed like a prophetic
picture of what's going on in the world.
The battle is raging.
Judgement is coming.
Sin is on the rise and on the way to coming to fullness.
Unity, perfection, and
the full power of God are coming.
God is raising up an army of love sick worshipers.
God is very merciful, loving and kind.
Both in His judgements and His blessings.
Wholeheartedness is required.
This is no time time to sit back,
back off or turn on the cruise control.
Don't back off, press in.
Prayer matters.
So pray.
.
We are NOT the champions.
God is the Champion . . .
The King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.
In the end . . . JESUS wins.
.
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