saturday

I wanted to let people know about a resource that I have a link to on my blog. The resource is dailyaudiobible.com. I have to admit that I have not looked at the site for some time but decided to do so today. Brian who runs the site was commenting on the fundamentals of Christian belief and that is prayer and meditating daily on scripture. I am attaching what he had to say as follows. This is a great resource for those who would like to continue to build their discipleship.

Twenty million times since January 1, 2006 the Daily Audio Bible has been downloaded. I'm sitting in the Prayer Room in Kansas City at the moment. I've been here a lot more than I'd planned but I hadn't planned much of any of what's happened over the last couple of years. "Open up their eyes to see You. Open up their ears to hear You," the band is playing on the stage. They are praying against the Spirit of the Age. Specifically that the sleep the world has been lulled into spiritually would be broken and reality would come crashing in. I agree with all of that and it's a prayer I would have wanted to pray no matter what but I sit here in full realization that this is precisely what the Daily Audio Bible is about and exactly what it is doing in the most profoundly simple of ways. We're just offering the spoken Word of God in it's most potent configuration to the world for whoever will listen and focusing our efforts on prayer and worship.

When I was in High School playing baseball our coach made us field grounders and catch pop-ups until we were sick. He said it was the fundamentals that would eventually make us win games and he was right. In fact it ended up being the difference in just about every single game. What is there in the Christian life that is more fundamental than daily interaction with the Bible, worship and prayer? Isn' it ironic that we so often find ourselves justifying why we don't have time to make room for these things in our lives and then wonder why we're not living the life we'd hoped for in Christ? Without the fundamentals down we're not going to win games but this is much more than a friendly competition between schools. Without the fundamentals down we're not going to win lives. We can sing and pray about Jesus opening the eyes and ears of those who need Him all we want and this is a very, very good thing but He's smiling back at us you know? He singing it right back over us. "You open their eyes and ears. You be My hands and feet. You reveal me." This is a partnership. To bring the Kingdom that we talk about so often we're simply going to have to do just that....bring it. Jesus came. He saved us. He modeled how life is supposed to look and He's empowered us to be everything He was.

I could wrap up a little blog like this with a sentence of two about how this is what we're actually doing here at the DAB with twenty million downloads to prove it and yet the only image I have in my mind is a bunch of kids on the ball diamond fielding grounders and catching pop-ups. There is so much to do but there is so much that has been done. We have reason to rejoice certainly. But we have reason to be ever so sober. Jesus is watching, waiting, coming. It's in our intimate partnership with Him that things get done.

The Daily Audio Bible is a worldwide community of believers getting the fundamentals down cold. This is a very good thing but we won't win games if we don't step into the arena and contend. We'll just be people who can play. That's not enough. I pray that by the time we reach another twenty million downloads we have stadiums full of rescued souls who have joined the family of God because we WON them to CHRIST.

The reason I wanted to include this is because we also are going to be offering an opportunity to deepen our growth as a disciple through Disciple Bible study becoming disciples through bible study. The major concern seems to be our willingess to commit our time to studying God's Word. There are so many pressures out there to distract us from God. This is an opportunity to give back to God not even a tithe of our time and the benefits are outstanding. I would welcome those who are interested to come attend these classes and strengthen your faith as a disciple.

just spent time with my youngest grand child. As you can see we were in a deep conversation about the soteriology of Jesus. Needless to say we were both excited about our salvation. ;)

wednesday

It has been a long time since I updated my blog and I apologize. I have been gone on vacation and since I have returned I seem to be caught up in meetings galore. I did want to share with you this article from Scott on Serving Strong.

Serving Strong eNews
A Tuesday morning minute just for you because you care for others.

Stop Stewing And Start Doing

This just in....

"It was an eerie sight for a motorist driving Interstate 526 in South Carolina - a helicopter in the distance spewing smoke as it plunged toward the Wando River. The Post and Courier of Charleston reported the motorist called 911 with the report Wednesday. Police and three Charleston Fire Department trucks and a fire battalion chief raced to the scene. One Charleston police officer drove calmly by after seeing the truth. It was a helicopter all right - a remote controlled toy helicopter about 2 feet long. Police spokesman Charles Francis said two people were below the interstate bridge operating the toy chopper when it went down."

True story. All that hubbub. All that ado. And for what? A TOY helicopter? Give me a break. Sounds ludicrous, doesn't it? Before you answer, allow me a question...

As you read this issue, what are you worrying about?

STOP STEWING AND START DOING

Studies indicate that over 85% of all that we worry about never happens. These include worries over which we have no control, irrational concerns or fears, and future worries.

And what about the remaining 15%? Doesn't matter. Worrying never helps the situation anyway. What does? ACTION:

1) List the things that worry you.
2) Determine which ones are worthy of your time.
3) Start taking action on them.

Seriously, worry distracts us from our mission to help people. And subscribers who read the Stressors a couple issues ago may notice a trend. The message is clear: Stop Stewing and Start Doing!

I'll "see" you right here next week.



I found that to be helpful this morning. I have also received concerns about a member of my church who received news about her cancer. I would like to have people pray for her. God knows who she is just lift up this person for God's comfort, peace, and healing.

Silver linings

I remember the saying that every cloud has a silver lining. While that is a nice thought sometimes one might wonder what the silver lining is during difficult times. I have wondered myself at times what God is trying to convey to me when I encounter issues either personal or at other times. It is easy to get caught up in the turmoil of the situation and become very reactive and defensive when something or someone does or says something. That is when I need the peace of Christ the most. I need to process, pray, talk to God and others about what is happening to help get some idea of where I am and what am I really reacting to. I need to recognize that there are some things that I can do something about and other times that I cannot do anything and need to release it to God. It is that serenity prayer thing.

What can be a silver lining in those times that I do not have control, may be what are my priorities. Worrying about everything that happens does not do anyone good. What Jesus says in Matthew 6 does worry add one day to one's life. Actually it takes away from living. So when things happen of which I cannot control is a reminder that I need to depend more on God and less on pleasing other people. I need to deal with my integrity with my Savior and not compromise to just keep the peace. I need to remember the vision that God has given me and to continue to act in such a way to make the vision a reality.

That indeed is the silver lining in the storm clouds of life. Reminders of who really is in control and to allow God in my life.

Tuesday morning

I am looking forward to spending time with my family this week and next. At the same time, I am trying to wrap up things here at the church. I am always amazed at how God can bless us in so many ways. Whether we call these blessings or miracles or even signs, God is there with us and for us. Even in the midst of our struggles and hurts and disappointments. I found the Spirit at work at a funeral that I did yesterday. I find the Spirit to be at work in my grand daughter. I find the Spirit to be at work in so many ways in my life if I would remember to focus on it. What happens to often for me is that I can get caught up in what I did not do or the negatives of my life. Sometimes I fret and worry about these so much I lose sight of the joy of the Spirit.

We often experience the highs and lows of life and feel that is normal. What we need to remember is that even in the roller coaster of our life God is with us. At our highest and at our lowest God is present. I continue to grow and to learn from times that I could have done better. What helps me to get in touch with the potential for growth is remembering to open my heart to God's Spirit.

Bread of life

Ah Mondays. I have survived another Sarpy County fair. Actually it was not survival but was a lot of fun. Unfortunately a former secretary that I had worked with and was my same age died last week. I was able to go administer communion and to pray over her prior to her transition to the next life. Fair week was also wonderful regarding weather and being unseasonably cool. We have a food booth and we collected the most that we have ever made at least in recent history. It will mean a boost to our ministries that we have and I thank God for those who volunteer their time and talent to making that happen.

For the past 21 years our church has been responsible for the Sunday service at the fair. I have decided to do a sermon series based on John 6 about the Bread of life. Sunday was the first of those sermons about, "What are you really hungry for?". As part of the service we had several volunteers make mini loaves of bread that people could take home with them following the service. We offer open communion to all present as that is part of the United Methodist tradition. We had an attendance of over 180 which is great for that service and we had over 250 loaves of bread. It reminds me how when Jesus asked Peter how should we feed the 5000, that we have to look beyond what we don't have and focus on what we do have. In the sharing and in allowing the Holy Spirit to work, we are able to deal in abundance not scarcity. What am I hungry for more of Christ in me. Dear reader what are you hungry for? Are you open to the Spirit to be the bread of life in your life today?