Be Back January 3

I apoligize for the late notice, but I will not be able to post nuggets until January 3.
Please come back then. Thanks. Merry Christmas. Go Baby Jesus. You Rock.

Thursday Week 15

He pulled out all the stops...he was going to send a big choir of angels to sing his happy song to the world: He's here! He's come! Go and see him. My little Boy.

Now where would you send your splendid choir? To a big concert hall maybe? Or a palace perhaps? God sent his to a little hillside, outside a little town, in the middle of the night. He sent all those angels to sing for a raggedy old bunch of shepherds watching their sheep outside of Bethlehem.

In those days, remember, people used to laugh at shepherds and say they were smelly and call other rude names (which I can't possibly mention here). You see, people thought shepherds were nobodies, just scruffy old riff-raff.

But God must have thought shepherds were very important indeed, because they're the ones he chose to tell the good news to first.

That night some shephers were out in the open fields, warming themselves by a campfire, when suddenly the sheep darted. They were frightened by something. The olive trees rustled. What was that? A wing...

They turned around. Standing in front of them was a huge warrior of light, blazing in the darkness. "Don't be afraid of me!" the bright shining man said. "I haven't come to hurt you. I've come to bring you happy news for everyone everywhere. Today, in David's town, in Bethlehem, God's Son has been born! You can go and see him. He is sleeping in a manger."

Behind the angel they saw a strange glowing cloud - except it wasn't a cloud, it was angels...troops and troops of angels, armed with light! And they were singing a beautiful song: "Glory to God! To God be Fame and Honor and all our Hoorays!"

Then as quickly as they appeared, the angels left.

The shepherds stamped out their fire, left their sheep, raced down the grassy hill, through the gates of Bethlehem, down the narrow cobble streets, through a courtyard, down some step, step, steps, past an inn, round a corner, through a hedge, until, at last, they reached a tumbledown stable.

They caught their breath. Then quickly, they tiptoed inside.

They knelt on the dirt floor. They had heard about this Promised Child and now he was here. Heaven's Son. The Maker of the Stars. A baby sleeping in his mother's arms.

The Jesus Storybook Bible - Sally Lloyd Jones

Friday Week 15

That same night, in amongst the other stars, suddenly a bright new star appeared. Of all the stars in the dark vaulted heaves, this one shone clearer. It blazed in the night and made the other stars pale beside it.

God put it there when his baby Son was born - to be like a spotlight. Shining on him. Lighting up the darkness. Showing people the way to him.

You see, God was like a new daddy - he couldn't keep the good news to himself. He'd been waiting all these long years for this moment, and now he wanted to tell everyone...

[Because] This baby would be like that bright star shining in the sky that night. A Light to light up the whole world. Chasing away darkness. Helping people to see. And the darker the night got, the brighter the star would shine.

The Jesus Storybook Bible - Sally Lloyd Jones

Wednesday Week 15

There, in the stable, amongst the chickens and the donkeys and the cows, in the quiet of the night, God gave the world his wonderful gift. The baby that would change the world was born. His baby Son.

Mary and Joseph wrapped him up to keep him warm. they made a soft bed of straw and used the animals' feeding trough as his cradle. And the gazed in wonder at God's Great Gift, wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger.

Mary and Joseph named him Jesus, "Emmanuel" - which means "God has come to live with us."

Because, of course, he had.

The Jesus Storybook Bible - Sally Lloyd Jones

Tuesday Week 15

Everything was ready. The moment God had been waiting for was here at last! God was coming to help his people, just as he promised in the beginning.

But how would he come? What would he be like? What would he do?

Mountains would have bowed down. Seas would have roared. Trees would have clapped their hands. But the earth held its breath. As silent as snow falling, he came in. And when no one was looking, in the darkness, he came.

Jesus Storybook Bible - Sally Lloyd-Jones

Monday Week 15

Now some people think the Bible is a book of rules, telling you what you should and shouldn't do. The bible certainly does have some rules in it. They show you how life works best. But the Bible isn't mainly about you and what you should be doing. It's about God and what he has done.

Other people think the Bible is a book of heroes, showing you people you should copy. The bible does have some heroes in it, but (as you'll soon find out) most of the people in the Bible aren't heroes at all. They make some big mistakes (sometimes on purpose). They get afraid and run away. At times they are downright mean.

No, the Bible isn't a book of rules, or a book of heroes. The Bible is most of all a Story. It's an adventure story about a young Hero who comes from a far country to win back his lost treasure. It's a love story about a brave Prince who leaves his palace, his throne - everything - to rescue the one he loves. It's like the most wonderful of fairy tales that has come true in real life!

You see, the best thing about this Story is - it's true.

There are lots of stories in the Bible, but all the stories are telling one Big Story. The Story of how God loves his children and comes to rescue them.

It takes the whole Bible to tell this Story. And as the center of the Story is a baby. Every Story in the Bible whispers his name. He is like the missing piece in a puzzle - the piece that makes all the other pieces fit together, and suddenly you can see a beautiful picture. And this is no ordinary baby. This is the Child upon whom everything would depend.

The Jesus Story Book Bible - Sally Lloyd Jones

Friday Week 14

We're getting ready for Christmas!

The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine. You will enlarge the nation of Israel, and its people will rejoice. They will rejoice before you as the people rejoice at the harvest and like warriors deviding the plunder.

For you will break the yoke of their slavery ad lift the heavy burdens from their shoulders. You will break the oppressor's rod, just as you did when you destroyed the army of Midian. The boots of the warrior and the uniforms bloodstained by war will all be burned. They will be fuel for the fire.

Isaiah 9:2-5

Midian is referenced several times in the Bible, but since Isaiah is referring to them as "the oppressor's rod," likely, the account he is referring to is in Judges 6-8. It's the story of Gideon. Check it out. Think of the parallel's with God's plan to send a little baby to be the mighty one to save us. As Isaiah mentions in the next verse:

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. the government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven's Armies will make this happen!

Isaiah 9:6-7

Thursday Week 14

I'm feeling weak this morning. Angry and weak.

This verse is on my wall in the office as a reminder...

My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness. 2 Corinthians 2:9

Where are you weak this morning? Where do you need the power of Christ? Pray with me today...his grace is all I need....his grace is all I need...his grace is all I need...

Wednesday Week 14

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

John 3:17

Jesus' mission to the world was to save it.

What is my approach to the world?

Jesus' purpose toward the people who disagreed with him was to save them.

What is my approach to the people I disagree with?

Jesus' desire for the people that were difficult to be around was to save them.

What is my approach to the people that are difficult to be around?

What would it be like to approach the world the way Jesus did?

Tuesday Week 14

There is plenty of room in the stable.

Monday Week 14

After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.

When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves, he said, "Get out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!"

His disciples remembered that it is written: "Zeal for your house will consume me."

John 3:12-17

Do yourself a favor and throw out that picture you have of Jesus with the cuddly lamb over his shoulders. Jesus was a stud. He took on a mob by himself and won. That’s right. Jesus was no meek and mild pushover. Jesus was a ninja warrior. While attending the Passover festivities, he walks into the Temple, his Father’s house, and he sees people making a profit off of forgiveness. True, forgiveness comes at a cost (blood), but never was it intended as a business venture. The sight sets Jesus off. He makes a whip and starts a stampede. He scatters the money changer’s coins on the ground. He overturns tables. Nowadays, Jesus would have been arrested for disturbing the peace. For him, it was acts like this that ultimately cost him his life.

Friday Week 13

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine."

"Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied, "My time has not yet come."

His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."

Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.

Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim.

Then he told them, "Mow draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet."

They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants, who had drawn the water knew. then he called the bridegroom aside and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now."

This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.

John 2:1-11

We've been looking at this passage all week, but I must confess there are seven words that have stolen most of my attention. I have resisted mentioning them until now. Do you know which ones they are? Are they the ones that gripped you, too?

Verse 10: "you have saved the best till now."

Jesus gave them the best. He could have given them what they needed, what they wanted. He could have given them just enough. They were at the end of their rope. Anything would have been appreciated. But Jesus didn't give them anything. He gave them the best. He saved the day. Like a perfect hero, at just the right moment, Jesus swooped in and turned despair into victory.

These are the questions I've been wrestling with: Is Jesus my hero? Do I believe he is going to swoop in and save the day? Am I afraid he won't? Am I rationing what I have so I won't have to experience emptiness? Is Jesus waiting for me to be empty? Will he show up if I trust him? What if I don't? Do I believe he wants the best for me?

I love how it says, "till now" Not later, Not last, Not Never...but Now!

Do I have faith that Jesus can show up now?

I want to. Help my unbelief.

"Ready or not," he says, "here I come."

Thursday Week 13

Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.

Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim.

Then he told them, "Mow draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet."

They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants, who had drawn the water knew. then he called the bridegroom aside and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now."

This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.

John 2:6-11

There's so much to say, but yesterday I told you that I would tell you what Jesus got out of this miracle. The answer is in the last part of the last sentence: "his disciples put their faith in him." That's what Jesus wants from us, too: our faith. So if you want to give Jesus something today, something that he really likes, give him your faith. Put your trust in him. It's all he wants. And he deserves every ounce of it.

Wednesday Week 13

Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.

Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim.

Then he told them, "Mow draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet."

They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants, who had drawn the water knew. then he called the bridegroom aside and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now."

John 2:6-10

Have I said this already? I love this passage. I love how much wine Jesus makes. Think about it: this party has been going long enough that they have no wine left. I'm sure the master of the banquet had not intended to run out of wine, so we can surmise that they were well into the festivities. And here Jesus goes and has 6 jars averaging 25 gallons filled to the brim. According to my Bible that's about 95 liters per jar. A bottle of wine is 750 milliliters. So 95 liters is about 127 bottles of wine. Now multiply that by 6! That's 762 bottles of wine. That's A LOT of wine. That's the kind of son of God Jesus is. He's extravagant. Wildly generous. He's limitless, beyond measure, way over the top.

And humble. Perhaps the most amazing part of this event is that no one knows about the miracle except the servants! Jesus didn't parade what he had done. In fact, he let's the bridegroom get the glory! Jesus does the work; he let's others get the credit: the servants, the bridegroom. It's astounding! It makes me want to reconsider how ravenously I tend to horde praise whenever it comes my way.

In verse 11, we see what Jesus gets out of this miracle. But we'll save that for tomorrow.

Tuesday Week 13

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine."

"Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied, "My time has not yet come."

His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."

Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.

Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim.

Then he told them, "Mow draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet."

They did so.

John 2:1-8

I can only imagine what was going on in the servants' minds. Did they know Jesus was about to pull off a miracle? How could they? He'd never done any thing like this before. I am amazed at their willingness to go along with Jesus' instructions.

I guess the question for me is how willing am I to go along with Jesus' instructions? Do I rationalize them away? Re-interpret them the way I see fit? The servants didn't; they obeyed. They filled the water jars to the brim.

I want a to the brim kind of faith in Jesus, too. What does a faith like that look like for you today?

Monday Week 13

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine."

"Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied, "My time has not yet come."

His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."

Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.

John 2:1-6

I love this interaction between Jesus and his mother. It reminds me of many interactions I have with my wife. She gives Jesus what I like to call "The Announcement." She is asking him to do something, but she doesn't ask a question. She just announces the need. This annoys me. By looking at Jesus' response, it seems like it annoyed him too!

It doesn't surprise me that one of the common things Jesus says is: ask. (See Matthew 7, John 14). He's a guy. If you want something, don't beat around the bush. Just ask it!

The other thing I love about this interaction is that Mary isn't really asking for a miracle. This is my take at least. She notices a problem; my suspicion is that she wants Jesus to chip in and do his part as a friend to the host.

Her expectation on Jesus is on one level. What he does in response is on an entirely different one. It makes me wonder about the things I talk to God about. What if he wants to respond to my requests on an entirely different level? Am I ready?

Are you ready?

Friday Week 12

What does LIGHT mean in this passage?

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.

Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.

What does the LIGHT mean to you?

Thursday Week 12

On Monday, last Monday, I met with my mentor, Fil. I confessed to him that I was tired. "What kind of tired?" he asked. "Physically, mentally, spiritually, emotionally, you name it," I said. He said, "Sure you are. But what kind of tired?" "What do you mean?" I asked. "Well," he said, "is it fatigue? Or are you burned out?" "A little bit of both," I said.

He quoted me these words from my man JC: "Are you tired? (Yes)Worn out? (Yes) Burned out on religion? (You bet) Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest."

"I like that verse," I said, :all but the last part. What I need from JC is some more energy. Something to get me motivated."

"Do you ever rest, Ned?" Fil asked.

"Not on purpose," I said. "I mean, I'll watch some football on the weekends if I can't think of something better to do."

We continued to talk. Fil continued to expose my rest aversion. To him, rest sounded essential. To me, it sounded like a waste of time. He encouraged me to practice resting. Take a portion of each day and intentionally stop and do nothing of particular value (other than the value that there is in stopping). I said, "I'll think about it."

I didn't.

It was Thanksgiving after all. We traveled to Columbus, Tuesday night. The next day, I asked Lia if she minded if I got some work done in the morning. Afterward, I hung out with the kids, got them down for their naps. Ran. Read. Did my emails. Talked with my mother in-law. Picked up Chad from the airport, and so on.

Thanksgiving Day. Lia and I ran in the Columbus Turkey Trot. Got in a marital spat. Went for a long walk with my father in-law to talk it out. Ate lunch. Made up. Played some ping pong. Played with the kids. Talked to the relatives. Talked to my parents, sister, and so on. We ate Thanksgiving dinner. It was great.

At midnight, I started to hurl. I really don't know if it was food poisoning or a bug. It really doesn't matter. (Cara contracted the exact same thing. Only the two of us ate this suspicious ham for lunch earlier that day. Hmmm. Sue's theory is that since Cara and I are chock full of recessive genes (light hair, light eyes, left handed, etc.) that we are weaker creatures and therefore more susceptible to things like bugs and bad food. Thanks, Sue.) Anyway, I was vomiting up all my favorite foods. I thought I was going to die. Despite my mother in-laws theory, I don't get sick like this very often. (When I do, everyone knows it. See past entries.) All I know was that I was out for the count. Midnight to 6am was a blur between bouts of my favorite foods coming out both ends.

My worst nightmare: no, not the sickness. I could deal (barely) with the sickness. What was going through my mind was that I'll never be able to eat turkey, stuffing, gravy, mash potatoes, spinach casserole, and corn pudding ever again. That's serious.

It finally subsided. From 6-noon. I was laid out in bed. The whole family minus me went shopping. I didn't move. Then, around 10 o'clock, it hit me: I'm resting.

Now, I'm not theologically savvy enough to know whether it was somebody's germs, my man JC or my own stupidity that got me sick (I can't speak for Cara); what I do know is that I was forced to stop. And I didn't like it. But it was good.

All this to say, I'm learning. I'm not ready to jump on the Restful bandwagon just yet, but I'm starting to think those Sabbath-loving, nap-taking, kick-off-your-shoes yahoos might not be as crazy I think they are.

Wednesday Week 12

This brings us to the crucial question for every professing or potential follower of Christ: Do we really believe he is worth abandoning everything for? Do you and I really believe that Jesus is so good, so satisfying, so rewarding that we will leave all we have and all we own and all we are in order to find our fullness in him? Do you and I believe him enough to obey him and to follow him wherever he leads, even when the crowds in our culture - and maybe in our churches - turn the other way?

David Platt - Radical

Tuesday Week 12

George Muller is best known for the orphan ministry he began. During his life he cared for more than ten thousand orphans. Remarkable, and intentionally, he never asked for money or other resources to provide for those orphans. Instead, he simply prayed and trusted God to provide.

This is an excerpt from his journal:

If I, a poor man, simply by prayer and faith, obtained without asking any individual, the means for establishing and carrying on an Orphan-House, there would be something which, with the Lord's blessing, might be instrumental in strengthening the faith of the children of God, besides being a testimony to the consciences of the unconverted, of the realities of the things of God. This, then, was the primary reason for establishing the Orphan-House.... The first and primary reason object of the work was (and still is:) that God might be magnified by the fact, that the orphans under my care are provided with all they need, only by prayer and faith without anyone being asked by me or my fellow-laborers whereby it may be seen, that God is faithful still, and hears prayer still.

George Muller, quoted by David Platt in his book Radical

Monday Week 12

One more from the one chapter in Mark Buchanon's book.

Hume Cronyn on Alfred Hitchcock:

We were working on a problem with a scene. There were a lot of things to consider - lighting, staging, pacing, and the like. We were up very late struggling to find the right way to do it. Finally, when we seemed close to the solution, Hitchcock...started telling jokes, silly, junior high-type stuff, and got us all lost again. Later, I asked him why, when we were so close to solving the problem, did he choose that moment to get us off track by joking around? He paused, and then said something I'll never forget. He said, "You were pushing. It never comes from pushing."

It never comes from pushing...

God made a man. He put him to work in the garden, to plow, to prune, to harvest, to name. All was good. Very good. Except one thing: the man was alone. It was not good for him to be alone. It was, in fact, the first deepest problem in the universe, a personal crisis that marred the whole of creation.

How do you solve a problem like that? "The Lord caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man."

The answer to the man's deepest need and longing came from with the man, but it was not available to the man through his own efforts. God had to draw it out of him while he slept. he had to cease. he had to rest.

It never comes from pushing.

Friday Week 11

Take a day off! is the message of Sabbath. relax. Sleep in. Take a midday nap. Play. Party. Eat. Dance. Be like children.

How dare you, God! I can't believe You would do such a thing. Harrumph!

That's what we are saying when we disregard the Sabbath.

Instead, here is how we ought to enter the Sabbath: Wow! Look at this day! I can play, sing, sleep, dance a jig, kiss my wife, tussle with my kids, eat a feast. And it's all mine.

It's a gift, just for you.

taken from Mark Buchanon's The Holy Wild

Thursday Week 11

Wayne Muller writes:

There is astounding wisdom in the traditional Jewish Sabbath. Sabbath is not dependant upon our readiness to stop. We do not stop [because] we are finished. We do not stop [because] we [have] complete[d] our phone calls, finishe[d] our project, [gotten] through this stack of messages, or [sent] out this report that is due tomorrow. We stop because it is time to stop...Sabbath liberates us from the need to be finished. The old wise Sabbath says: Stop now.

It is the gift of a restful God to his restless people.

Mark Buchanon - The Holy Wild

Wednesday Week 11

There is one story in all scripture that gives any clear indication of the kind of activity God forbids on the Sabbath. That may surprise you since the Pharisees seemed to have a lot of problems with what Jesus did on the Sabbath. But there is this one story:

'While the Israelites were in the desert, a man was found gathering wood on the Sabbath day. Those who found him gathering wood brought him to Moses and Aaron and the whole assembly, and they kept him in custody, because it was not clear what should be done to him. then the Lord said to Moses, The man must die. The whole assembly must stone him outside the camp. So the assembly took him outside the camp and stoned him to death, as the Lord commanded Moses.' Numbers 15:32-36

The punishment seems grossly out of proportion to the crime. Gather wood and die. And yet, the man won't stop. He won't, for one day, lay down his load and refuse to pick it up again. He won't, for one day, trust God to meet his needs.

Such living always carries with it a death penalty.

Mark Buchanon - The Holy Wild

Tuesday Week 11

Castaway is a modern day Robinson Crusoe story. Tom Hanks plays Chuck Noland, a paunchy, snippy Fed Ex executive. His job is to make sure overnight packages funnel through the courier service with the fewest possible hitches and glitches, the highest degree of seamless efficiency. It must be on time!

...He never gets to his destination...He washes up on a tiny desert island. Thus begins the longest, deepest, interruption of Chuck's life. For four years, he's a castaway, forgotten, unsought. He lives in utter aloneness, except for a volleyball - Wilson - that becomes his mute confidant and soul mate. Chuck dwells in perfect silence, in a world reduced to day and night, sea and sky, sun and moon. He skewers fish...snares crabs...kindles fire...grows bronze-skinned and shaggy, sinewy and nimble. He lives in timelessness.

Watching the film, I was surprised that my dominant emotion was not pity. It was envy. Envy of the stillness, the solitude, the world without clocks, deadlines, appointments, schedules, obligations. The rest.

...It transforms him. He sees everything in a new way, holds it with hands held open. The movie ends with Chuck standing at a crossroads, each road stretching as far as the eye can see. he is relaxed, smiling...He can become anything he chooses.

And I envied him.

Then I talked with a hard-driven and hard-driving financial kingpin. He had no time for friends, family, worship, play. Then he had a heart attack.

...The heart attack was the best the ing ever happened to him. That's what he told me. He began to spend time with his wife, his children, his neighbors. He learned to eat bread with grains and seeds kneaded in, fruits with its skin still on, juice with a thickness of pulp still in it. He started walking, noticing things...He learned the names of plants. He took up woodcarving.

And I envied him.

You know you're in serious trouble when the people you start to envy are castaways and cardiac patients.

- Mark Buchanon The Holy Wild

Monday Week 11

Congratulations Wells! MLS Champion.

Friday Week 10

This morning, I am thankful for these fingers, this computer, the gift of words. I am thankful for this coffee. And I'm grateful for this place. I am thankful for the turn in the weather, for the run I am about to go on, for the afternoon I get to spend with my girls. Yes, I am thankful for my family - both immediate and extended - I am thankful that you are my mother, my father, my sister, my brother. I am thankful for you. And I am thankful for my Lord. I am thankful to Jesus for all of this - for by him all things are made. He is the sweet source. And if I am only this one thing - his - it is enough. For it all springs out from this one reality. I am my beloved's; he is mine. And he can be yours... So come, I invite you...come into the beauty - the marvel of my Master, the ecstacy of nature and love, the wonder of all of this... Come.

What are you thankful for this morning?

Thursday Week 10

We had several friends over for dinner tonight for a pre-Thanksgiving Thanksgiving...It made we want to look up some quotes that I had looked up a few years ago.

“If ‘thank you’ is the only prayer you say, that will be enough.”--Meister Eckhart

“Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has plenty; not on your past misfortunes of which all men have some.”--Charles Dickens

“Of all the "attitudes" we can acquire, surely the attitude of gratitude is the most important and by far the most life-changing.”--Zig Ziglar

"One of life's gifts is that each of us, no matter how tired and downtrodden, finds reasons for thankfulness.”--J. Robert Maskin

“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.”—Cicero

There is no better habit than the habit of thankfulness. It is the surest, quickest way to fill ones heart and lift ones spirits.

Wednesday Week 10

On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

"What is written in the Law?" Jesus replied. "How do you read it?"

He answered, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself."

"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."

But wanting to justify himself, he asked, "And who is my neighbor?"

Jesus told his this story: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'

"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"

The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him."

"Go and do likewise," Jesus said.

What strikes me about this story is how Jesus defines neighbor. I think for years I have thought that being a neighbor meant, at least at some level, proximity. Even here, we see the Samaritan. He is walking down the road where there is a man in a ditch. He comes near. Proximity...

But lately, ok, tonight, it just dawned on me...Jesus makes neighbor a verb. Neighbor is an action. It is a lifestyle. You can be in proximation with all sorts of people and never be a neighbor. At the same time, by the way you live, you can be a neighbor to a limitless number of people.

Neighbor someone today. Let me know what happens...

Tuesday Week10

"For instance, here is foul, impure mud in a pond. On the bosom of the pond is a lotus flower: one in the mineral kingdom, the other in the plant kingdom - a higher kingdom. How can the lower kingdom get in to the higher? By trying? By lifting itself by the bootstraps? By education about the higher life? By joining a group to study the higher life? No, none of these, except they lead to one thing - surrender! The roots of the lotus flower come down and say to the impure mud: "Do two things: be willing to cease to be mud and surrender your life to my life. Let me have you." And the mud does just that. It surrenders itself to the life of the plant, and it is lifted and transformed into the beauty of the lotus flower. It is born from above...That is its destiny." E Stanley Jones The Word Became Flesh

Monday Week 10

"All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.' [Proverbs 3:34]. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." (1 Peter 5:5-7)

Lia and I watched a DVD of Andy Stanley talking about these verses. I really liked the way he defined 'grace'. He said, the definition of grace in these verses is the promise that God will give us what we need when we need it. It's ours when we humble ourselves and ask for it.

more tomorrow...

Friday Week 9

Jesus, lover of my soul, let me to Thy bosom fly,
While the nearer waters roll, while the tempest still is high.
Hide me, O my Savior, hide, till the storm of life is past;
Safe into the haven guide; O receive my soul at last.

Other refuge have I none, hangs my helpless soul on Thee;
Leave, ah! leave me not alone, still support and comfort me.
All my trust on Thee is stayed, all my help from Thee I bring;
Cover my defenseless head with the shadow of Thy wing.

Thou, O Christ, art all I want, more than all in Thee I find;
Raise the fallen, cheer the faint, heal the sick, and lead the blind.
Just and holy is Thy Name, I am all unrighteousness;
False and full of sin I am; Thou art full of truth and grace.

Plenteous grace with Thee is found, grace to cover all my sin;
Let the healing streams abound; make and keep me pure within.
Thou of life the fountain art, freely let me take of Thee;
Spring Thou up within my heart; rise to all eternity.

-- Charles Wesley 1740

Mrs. Mary Hoover, of Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, whose grand mother was the heroine of the story, has related to her pastor this family tradition: Charles Wesley was preaching in the fields of the parish of Killy leagh, County Down, Ireland, when he was at tacked by men who did not ap prove of his doc trines. He sought refuge in a house located on what was known as the Island Barn Farm. The far­mer’s wife, Jane Lowrie Moore, told him to hide in the milk house, down in the garden. Soon the mob came and demanded the fugitive. She tried to quiet them by offering them refreshments. Going down to the milk house, she directed Mr. Wesley to get through the rear window and hide under the hedge, by which ran a little brook. In that hiding-place, with the cries of his pursuers all about him, he wrote this immortal hymn. Descendants of Mrs. Moore still live in the house, which is much the same as it was in Wesley’s time.

Thursday Week 9

O Love that wilt not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in thee;
I give thee back the life I owe,
That in thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.

O light that followest all my way,
I yield my flickering torch to thee;
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in thy sunshine’s blaze its day
May brighter, fairer be.

O Joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain,
That morn shall tearless be.

O Cross that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from thee;
I lay in dust life’s glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be.

--George Matheson 1884

My hymn was com posed in the manse of In ne lan [Ar gyle shire, Scot land] on the ev en ing of the 6th of June, 1882, when I was 40 years of age. I was alone in the manse at that time. It was the night of my sister’s mar ri age, and the rest of the fam i ly were stay ing over night in Glas gow. Some thing hap pened to me, which was known only to my self, and which caused me the most se vere men tal suf fer­ing. The hymn was the fruit of that suf fer ing. It was the quick est bit of work I ever did in my life. I had the im press ion of hav ing it dic tat ed to me by some in ward voice ra ther than of work ing it out my­self. I am quite sure that the whole work was com plet ed in five min utes, and equal ly sure that it ne ver re ceived at my hands any re touch ing or cor rect ion. I have no na tur al gift of rhy thm. All the other vers es I have ever writ ten are man u fact ured ar ti cles; this came like a day spring from on high.

Wednesday Week 9

When I survey the wondrous cross  

on which the Prince of Glory died;  

my richest gain I count but loss,  

and pour contempt on all my pride.   

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,  

save in the death of Christ, my God;  

all the vain things that charm me most,  

I sacrifice them to his blood.   

See, from his head, his hands, his feet,  

sorrow and love flow mingled down.  

Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,  

or thorns compose so rich a crown.   

Were the whole realm of nature mine,  

that were an offering far too small;  

love so amazing, so divine,  

demands my soul, my life, my all. 

-- Isaac Watts 1707

Tuesday Week 9

Before the throne of God above

I have a strong and perfect plea:

A great High Priest whose Name is Love

Who ever lives and pleads for me.

My name is graven on his hands

My name is written on his heart

I know that while in heav’n he stands

No tongue can bid me thence depart

No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair

And tells me of the guilt within

Upward I look and see Him there

Who made and end of all my sin.

Because the sinless Savior died

My sinful soul is counted free

For God the just is satisfied

To look on Him and pardon me

To look on Him and pardon me.

Behold Him there the risen Lamb

My perfect spotless righteousness

The great unchangeable I AM

The King of Glory and of grace

One with Himself I cannot die

My soul is purchased with His blood

My life is hid with Christ on high

With Christ my Savior and my God

With Christ my Savior and my God.

-- Charlie Bancroft 1863

Monday Week 9

Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,


Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;


Streams of mercy, never ceasing,


Call for songs of loudest praise.


Teach me some melodious sonnet,


Sung by flaming tongues above.


Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,


Mount of Thy redeeming love.

Here I raise my Ebenezer;


Here by Thy great help I’ve come;


And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,


Safely to arrive at home.

Jesus sought me when a stranger,


Wandering from the fold of God;


He, to rescue me from danger,


Interposed His precious blood;


O to grace how great a debtor


Daily I’m constrained to be!


Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,


Bind my wandering heart to Thee.


Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,


Prone to leave the God I love;


Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,


Seal it for Thy courts above.

-- Robert Robinson 1758

Friday Week 8

The Catholic priest, Father Martin, tells Pi a story...

"I asked for another story - one that I might find more satisfying. Surely this religion had more than one story in its bag - religion abounds with stories. But Father Martin made me understand that...their religion had one Story, and to it they came back again and again, over and over. It was story enough for them." Yann Martel Life of Pi

When you signed up with Jesus you signed yourself up for a gospel life. If you are looking for the story of your life to play out differently, find another religion.

In the beginning, God gave you dreams, made you promises. Your life is a journey to the realization of them. Yet they are yours all along. You will lose your way. You will be found. You will struggle. You will be sustained. You will suffer. God will meet you in the pain. You will die. God will bring you back to life.

Think about what you are going through right now. How does it fit in the context of the gospel story that is your life?

Thursday Week 8

Jesus. The Gospels.

Notice how similar Jesus' story is to the three we have looked at this week. It begins with a dream and a promise. God was going to save the world through a person, his only begotten son. He uses angels and dreams to pave the way. Then there is danger. Then there is silence. Thirty years of waiting. Then there is a sign. There is hope. There is opposition, struggle, suffering. Then, suddenly it appears that all hope is lost. The evil side seems to win. But then, in the end, God's servant is victorious. The climax of The Story. He's alive. He is sitting on the throne. Promises are fulfilled. Dreams realized.

Consider this today, all stories are part of this one.

Joseph's story is a deliverance story for the nation of Israel. It also explains why the Israelites end up in Egypt, a land and a people that will enslave them. Joseph story is the back story to the first Great Deliverance - the Passover. It is also the foreshadowing of the Greatest Deliverance - Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.

Abraham's story tells about an only begotten son sent to be sacrificed. God used this moment to test Abraham's faith - God rested the hope of the nations on it, on Abraham's obedience. But God ultimately rested the hope of the nations on a second Son's obedience. God's only begotten - sacrificed to save the world.

David tells us about a young man's journey to become king. But it is also the story of how God establishes a throne that will never end - one made for the King of kings.

The same is true for our story. Yours is a gospel story. But it is also part of The Gospel Story.

Wednesday Week 8

David 1 Samuel 16 - II Samuel 5

David is the youngest of Jesse's boys, so he has sheep duty most the time. He is an after thought when the prophet Samuel shows up to anoint one of Jesse's sons to be the next king. He is an after thought of his father and brothers. Not God. God, in fact, chooses him. Nothing happens. Israel goes off to war. Goliath of the Philistines is set to destroy the nation. David steps up, runs down, and kills the brute with a stone and a slingshot. He has stones to spare. David becomes harpist to the king until Saul gets so jealous he tries to kill him. There goes a long chase. Saul's son Jonathan risks his own life to save his soul brother David. Saul almost prevails in killing David a few times. But each time David escapes. David has the opportunity to kill Saul a few times but refuses. Who is he to kill a king he says? He waits for God's timing. God takes a long time. Finally, Saul dies in battle as does Jonathan. David mourns the loss of the king and his soul brother. He becomes king over Judah. He wars with Saul's other sons. In the words of II Samuel 3:1 "The ware between the house of Saul and David lasted a long time." Finally, the war ends. David acts harshly to the men who prevail against Saul sons. But David in the end becomes king of of Israel. Then, he fights the Philistines and claims Jerusalem as his capital.

A few things to point out in this story. Like in the previous stories. It takes a long time between the anointing (the promise) and the realization of that anointing. People refer to it as "God's timing." What people mean by that is that God takes longer than we often want him to take. Waiting is always part of a story. That is the story in fact. Your story, most of it, will require waiting. Ponder that. How will you meet God in your waiting time?

The second thing, and if you know the rest of the story you may want to disagree with me on this point, David has impeccable integrity. He has opportunities to take matters into his own hands. He has the ability a few times to fulfill his own destiny. And yet, he chooses to do things the right way. In his mind, killing a king is no way to become a king. So he doesn't. He does things right. It takes a long time. But because of his integrity, when he finally does become king, he is able sit on the throne with clear conscience and without the residue of wrongness. It legitimizes God's purpose to him and to others. God desires for us that we have integrity too. That we do things the right way. Whatever you are working toward, whatever you think is your right...don't grab at it. Trust God. Wait on him. Act with integrity. And let him work things out.

Tuesday Week 8

Abraham. Genesus 15-17 and 20-22

God comes to a guy named Abram and says he is going to be the father of a great nation. Abram asks how this is possible as he is old and has no children. God promises that it will come to pass. Abram decides to take matters into his own hands and he has a kid with his wife's maidservant Hagar. She gives birth to a boy named Ishmael. It causes marital strife and infighting. It gets rather ugly. In the end, God meets Abram again. He gives him another promise, seals it with circumcision, and gives Abram a new name, Abraham (who is 99 years old at this point). Abraham takes his wife down south into Gerar territory and ends up lying about his relationship with her because he is afraid that Abimelech, the king of those parts, will kill him in order to take his wife. Fortunately for Sarah, God steps in before she is taken into Abimelech's harem. God warns Abimelech in a dream not to touch her. Things work out. Then miracle of miracles, Abraham and Sarah have a child. They name him Isaac. They send away Hagar and Ishmael to keep the peace. Then, God instructs Abraham to take his son Isaac up to Mount Moriah to sacrifice him. As crazy as God sounds, Abraham decides to trust him. He builds an altar, binds his son, pulls out a knife, and is stopped at the last minute by an angel. Abraham discovers a ram caught in a thicket and sacrifices it instead. God reiterates the promise he made to Abraham at the beginning.

A couple things to point out in this story.

One, Abraham makes a ton of mistakes and yet God's plan for him still happens. Same is true for your story. Your mistakes are not bigger than God's plan for you. You can't get in is way. You can try. You can make it difficult. But you won't succeed.

Two, God makes a promise. It's going to happen. And yet, there still are tests along the way. We will also face tests in our life. It doesn't mean that our salvation is on the line. It doesn't mean that we'll get some special prize if we succeed. It does mean that God is going to do whatever he needs to do to shape us into the men and women he wants us to be. Pay attention to the tests in your life. How is God trying to shape you? These tests are a great way to discover God's deep desires for you.

Third, this story foreshadows another story. Another Father and another Son. Another hill. Another sacrifice. This time there was no provision. The Son dies. It's the gospel. All of God's stories reflect the One story. Your life story is a gospel story. Don't expect your life to play out differently. As you examine your life, search and reflect on the ways God is working out and working in the gospel in and through you.

Monday Week 8

This week we are going to look at stories. I'm going to do my best to summarize them. But I would encourage you, if you are able and have time to grab more than a morsel, to read through these stories for yourself. Skimming would even be beneficial I think.

Anyway, here you go.

Joseph. Genesis 37,39-47.

Joseph is loved by his father. He receives a coat. He has a strange dream, one where it appears as if he is being worshipped by folks who would otherwise have no reason to worship him. He tells his family about the dream. It throws his father. It enrages the brothers. They plot to kill him. In the end, they decided to throw him in a pit and let nature kill him. They tear off his coat and cover it in goat blood. Joseph survives because a caravan stops by. They take him. Sell him to Potiphar. Joseph thrives as a servant until he is accused of adultery. He goes to jail. He thrives in jail, as much as you can thrive in jail. He starts interpreting dreams again. Other peoples. He wonders if this might be his ticket out of here. It is. But it takes three years. The Pharaoh had a dream. Joseph is told it. He interprets it. And rises to become second of command in Egypt. Pharaoh puts the royal robe on Joseph. A famine comes. His brothers as well. They are searching for food. Joseph manages to teach them a lesson. He coaxes his father to come to Egypt and saves his family from starvation.

Great story. We could point many things out in it...Today, I want to point out these two things. Joseph's story is characterized by struggle and suffering...some of this suffering is justified...after all, he should have known that his brothers would not have reacted well to their younger brother who was already favored that they were going to bow before him...much of his suffering was unjustified. All of it was used by God to achieve a purpose.

He uses struggles and suffering in the same way in our lives. Pay attention to what you are struggling with or suffering under. God is there. He is weaving a story - a story for your good and his glory.

Second thing. There are two major themes in Joseph's story. Dreams and Coats. God uses themes in your life, too. What might they be?

Friday Week 7

"'O God,' I said, and that was all. But what are the prayers of the whole universe more than expansions of that one cry? It is not what God can give us, but God we want."

George MacDonald - from Between Heaven and Earth by Ken Gire

Thursday Week 7

“Whatever comes out of these gates, we've got a better chance of survival if we work together. Do you understand? If we stay together we survive.” Maximus - The Gladiator

Jim DiRaddo, a friend of mine, often said: "There’s no such thing as a Lone Ranger Christian."

It's true. Not even Jesus went through life alone. He had the fellowship of his Father and the companionship of his disciples. The only thing Jesus did alone was die...so that we would live. Don't try to live yours alone.

Wednesday Week 7

"The pursuit of self is what most of us have been doing for much of our lives, even our spiritual lives. But the self is a cul-de-sac, and eventually we end up where we started. Footsore and just as frustrated, just as unfulfilled. Feeling we're a failure, or worse, a fraud.

"The pursuit of soul, if soul is all we're pursuing, is not much different. It's a longer walk down a nicer street, but the street is still a cul-de-sac, and in the end, regardless how invigorating the walk, it doesn't lead beyond the neighborhood of who we are.

"Most of us, though, have grown a little tired of the neighborhood and all the back-and-forth trips we have taken there. We long for something more than a routine walk around the religious block.

"We long for the companionship of God."

Ken Gire - Windows of the Soul

Tuesday Week 7

"Hope is a new idea in history, a uniquely Christian vision. We take it for granted because the mind of Christ is so pervasive in shaping the modern mind, but it wasn't always that way. The ancient Greeks had two kinds of stories: comedy and tragedy. A comedy was fun, but it wasn't real. A tragedy was real but not fun. If you took a hard look at life, it was sad. If you ignored life, then it was funny. Their philosophy mirrored their plays. Stoic philosophers sought to be moral in a meaningless world. Life was a tragedy. They toughed it out. Epicureans just had fun; life was a comedy. They coined the phrase, 'Eat drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die.'

The gospel is Good News. Because God broke the power of evil at the cross, we can, along with Sarah, look at our cynicism and laugh. Not surprisingly, Jesus' first miracle was making about 150 gallons of fine wine so a good party could become a great party (see John 2). Tragedy doesn't have the last word. God saves the best for last."

Paul Miller - A Praying Life

Monday Week 7

I love this parable:

"A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard. 'For three years now I've been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?'

"'Sir,' the man replied, 'leave it alone for one more year, and I'll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.'"

Luke 13:6-9

I love how the caretaker negotiates. He takes responsibility. He puts his reputation on the line. He sacrifices his time and energy...for a tree.

For you. For me.

Jesus refuses to give up on you.

Don't give up on him.

Friday Week 6

"As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 'I tell you the truth,' he said, 'this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.'" Luke 21:1-4

Let's back up and get a little bit more perspective.

Luke 20:45-47 "While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, 'Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished severely.'"

Jesus really doesn't like when folks put on a show. He says attitudes like that, men like that, will be "punished severely." I don't know about you, but severe punishment is not on my list of goals for life. But you couldn't tell by the way I live. The problem is that I really like when my good actions get noticed. I even get upset when they don't. On more than one occasion, I have fallen into the trap of doing stuff because people are watching...at least I hope their watching.

I am no better than these teachers Jesus admonishes. I am like the rich Jesus frowns at. I am far from taking on the attitude of this poor widow. I'm so far I don't even know how to get there.

Please pray for me, a chief of sinners. I want to be different.

Thursday Week 6

"As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 'I tell you the truth,' he said, 'this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.'" Luke 21:1-4

What about the widow's offering made it valuable?

Was it the proportion of what she gave compared to what she kept?

Was it the fact she gave all that she had?

Does that mean God expects me to donate all my proceeds to the church?

Does that mean God's not happy unless I give him all that I have?

Was it the proportion? Maybe. Jesus says: Out of her poverty she put in all she had to live on. It wasn't the amount that mattered, it was percentage that struck Jesus as noteworthy.

Was it the fact that it was everything? Maybe. Jesus does point this out. The truth is all that we have is given to us. If you follow every penny, every possession back to its root, you will discover God was the source. When we give money "back" to him, we are giving what is his. THINK ABOUT THIS. What if, before writing a single check, decided that every dollar you had in your bank account was already his. What if you began today to consider your bank account his? Live out of that for awhile and see what happens.

Are we supposed to give all our money to the church? No. But we should give some.

Is God not happy unless we give all that we have? LOOK: If God was waiting on us to make him happy, he's never going to be happy. The truth is WE WILL NEVER BE HAPPY as along as we hold on to our stuff. As long as our happiness is wrapped up in what we have and what we don't have, we'll never be happy.

Wednesday Week 6

Jesus paid attention.

I love this passage: "As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 'I tell you the truth,' he said, 'this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.'" Luke 21:1-4

We're going to stay here for the next couple days. Today, I want you to think about how Jesus sees. He sees outwardly. But he also sees the motivation behind it.

As Samuel says about God and man. One looks at outward appearance; the other looks at the heart. The truth is, God sees both. But what matters most to him is the heart.

What is motivating yours today? Ask God to show you.

Tuesday Week 6

Last night, Lia and I attended our local Young Life banquet. The speaker, Rob Crocker, reminded us of the four principles that Jim Rayburn, Young Life's founder, built this ministry on.

I think they are good principles for us to consider:

1. Every person has the right to know what the Bible says about God and about them.

2. Every person has the right to hear this information in a language they can understand.

3. The best way to communicate this language is by personal friendship.

4. Every person has the right to make their own decision about what to believe. Whatever that decision does not affect the way that we, the ministry of Young Life, or God, their Maker, loves them and continues to pursue them.

Who might God be nudging you to pursue in this way?

Monday Week 6

"The only way to find Life is to live it...the word 'belief' is literally 'by-lief' or 'by-life.' Your belief is your life. And your life is your belief. You believe in a thing enough to act on it, to live it. So you are what you believe, and you believe what you are. Your deed is your creed. And your creed is your deed." E. Stanley Jones - The Word Became Flesh

Friday Week 5

Lao Tzu, the ancient mystic Chinese philosopher (how's that for a title), said: "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."

Jesus, Son of God King of kings Lord of Lords savior of the world (how's that for a title), said: "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move." Matthew 17:20

Dickie Graham, teacher wrestling coach dad husband and my friend (how's that), told me once: "The way you move mountains is a single step. Every step you take toward the mountain, the mountain gets smaller. You keep stepping and eventually that mountain that was before you will be behind you. Mustard seed faith is the faith of a single step."

Move a mountain today. Take a step of faith.