Good On Paper Pt. 1

Sometimes we think we are doing everything right, but actually we are making many deadly mistakes that are only look good on the outside.

A few verses come to mind, but let's look @ Revelations.

Revelation 2:2 I know your works, and your labor, and your patience, and how you can not bear them who are evil: and you have tried them who say they are apostles, and are not, and have found them liars: 

2:3 And have endured, and have patience, and for my name's sake have labored, and have not fainted. 

2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against you, because you have left your first love.   (KJ2000 - sent from CadreBible)

This is serious.  I have hated the idea of "looking" Christian because people think about clothing.  However the Christian "good look" is an attitude of love backed up by acts of compassion.  All this on a foundation of LOVING GOD ABOVE ALL. 

Anything else is uncivilized spirituality.

INFLUENT STREAM

In a world of cloak and dagger politics, we must always be aware of the intentions that govern what is being done.

All decisions of human beings are under the control of their passions.  Many of those passions are worldly, but they all are curved according to the moral ideals of that person. 

LOYALTIES are also things to consider.  None of this we can really know unless we investigate, or pay close attention to what people say.  Especially the slips of the tongue.

It seems that the ILA: International Longshoreman's Association may go on strike soon.  Why?  The dispute is that the businesses want to pay less, while the ILA just want to at least keep the same contract they currently have.

It will be interesting how the election will affect this, and also how the media and interest groups will point fingers.

The Unions are mostly Dems. & the business owners are mostly Republican.  Many feel the shipping businesses are hoping Romney wins because he will look the other way.  Hmmm.

In all the smoke and mirrors of politics, keep in mind what is really pulling the strings of decision.

JOHN PIPER on MEMORIZING SCRIPTURE

We (the average everyday) Christian should know the bible.  I often struggle with the quality of my own memeorization of the bible, this video puts it into perspective.

YouTube

BURING DESIRE

Watch "Sesame Street: Drawing Things Me Love" on YouTube

(Please watch the video 1st)

What is it that you love?  If you ever wanted to get Cookie monster's attention or service all you need is what?  COOKIES!

That is what he is all about.  What about you?  Where does your desire lead you?  Like Cookie monster, would you go to ruin behind what you love? 

I am reminded of Daniel in The Old Testament and Paul in The New Testament.  There was only one cookie that could be dangled in from of them.  GOD.

I pray we become so singularly focused.

A Few Thoughts On Rethinking Education

Watch "TEDxEastsidePrep - Scott Young - Can you get an MIT education for $2,000?" on YouTube

THE POWER OF TOGETHERNESS

Don Tapscott: Four principles for the open world #TED : http://on.ted.com/o0US

Without God, Zero Chance...

A concept I 1st heard of in the New Testament is also found in the Old...funny how that seems to work out all the time.

Psalms 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 
51:11 Cast me not away from your presence; and take not your holy Spirit from me. 
51:12 Restore unto me the joy of your salvation; and uphold me with a free spirit.
  (KJ2000 - sent from CadreBible)

LET'S NOT KID OURSELVES CHILDREN, WE CANNOT MAKE IT WITHOUT GOD.

“For we are only of yesterday and know nothing, Because our days on earth are as a shadow." - Bildad the Shuhite from the book of Job


Sometimes we look at the accomplishments of humanity and think we are beyond limits.  It is funny how we know that "no one is perfect" and that "everyone is going to die eventually" but that never stops us from allowing pride to puff our heads up.

People who have come to know and love God 1st realize that, despite them many things that mankind can do, we are ultimately fragile and unworthy. Even with this knowledge, we still need constant reminders.

Jesus came that we could surpass our limitations and live a life that is pleasing to the One who created us.

God helps those who help themselves...don't believe it.

Sadly, many believe that God helps those who help themselves, but in actuality, He helps those who had no chance of helping themselves.

THE GOOD OLE DAYS?

You ever wonder why people use this term?  For the past few years (about five I suppose) I have really disliked the use of the phrase.  It wasn't until a recent Saturday that I was listening to this mixtape called "I love the 90's" that I began to understand why we think and use this phrase.

ITS BECAUSE THE WORLD IS GETTING MORE WICKED...

Because things back in 1994 seem better, we look fondly on them. 

NOSTALGIA. -noun
1. A wistful desire to return in thought or in fact to a former time in one's life; a sentimental yearning for the happiness of a former place or time. (Among other variations)

But if we are growing in wisdom and understanding under the guidance of God, why should things be worse?  If our "yesterday" self is a long road from the blessed present we are experiencing.  You know that MIGHTY LONG WAY so many of us claim that God has brought us from. 

SO HOW CAN WE TRULY TALK ABOUT THE GOOD OLE DAYS?

Or have we not been changed?

FEAR LESS, FAITH MORE.

Do not be afraid. Why do we fear if we know for sure who's with us.  I don't know about you but I'm not going to turn down my help, i desperately need it.

Isaiah 41:10 NASB

'Do not fear, for I am with you;
Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, surely I will help you,
Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'

LOOK-A-LIKES

In our society, there is too much "looking like" and not enough BEING.

You always see more religion, than REAL VISION.  People are following rules (not too well mind you) and imposing their "pious life structures," but very few people are actually following God.  At least that is how it seems.

We will rarely find unfiltered truth in mainstream media, but if you look in your community, you will find it; as well as finding those who live that truth.

Remember life is not a PR stunt, but an open account of our soul; and one day we have to give an account of it.

Matthew 18:23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, who would take account of his servants.

Romans 14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.   (KJ2000 - sent from CadreBible)

DOING WHAT WE'D RATHER NOT

So this being St. Patrick's day I wanted to know the real story behind the holiday and came across some great information.

St. Patrick was not even Irish in blood, but he had great compassion for the people of Ireland.  How you ask?

He was once a slave in Ireland, captured from England who eventually escaped.  FREEDOM! Then he ran into God and became a slave to righteousness.

God eventually prodded him to go back to Ireland to preach the truth of God to the very people, and community who once enslaved him into harsh labor.  You see, they were really the slaves....to sin.  A call he wrestled with for a while.

As a result of his compassion and bringing the Gospel to the Emerald Isles, they began to celebrate his life shortly after he went to be with the Lord. 

Over the years, politics and sin have soiled the heart of the celebration, but the truth never died away.  So when you see all the foolishness of the contemporary celebration, you will now have a better understanding of what we really should be celebrating. 

WHAT GREAT AND WONDERFUL THINGS CAN HAPPEN WHEN WE DO WHAT GOD HAS CALLED US TO DO.  Especially when we'd rather not do it.

Ohh I almost forgot, he used the Shamrock to teach them about the Trinity, dude was an educator of the lost.

FIGHTING THE QUATERBACK

Just inches from their own 10 yard line, there seems to be an argument in the huddle.  It appears the quaterback and center are at odds with the rest of the players.  No one else knows what is really going on, but the huddle breaks and the offense slugishly walks up to the football.   Some are nearly a yard from the line of scrimage as they get set, others stand at the scrimage nonchalantly.  The recievers are just as scatter brained, one is even flirting with the cheerleaders. 

Only the center seems to be the most focused besides the quaterback.  Determined, the QB sets behind the center: "DOWN...SET...!"

Understanding the defense's set up, the QB calls and audible. "John 832, John 832."  One of the recievers sees the wisdom of the call and an opportunity to shine, so he stops looking at the crowd and trotts down to the amended position. 

"HUT...HUT!"

The center hikes the ball and launches out like a rocket, but is overpowered by two linemen and a back.  The blitzes the QB as the offensive line barely touches the opposing team, a few just hit the ground face down.  The defense closes in on the QB, it seems helpless.  Then the unthinkable happens.

One of the offensive running backs grabs the QB's feet and the entire defensive line collapes on top of them both as the crash of helmets can be heard in the nose bleeds.

The crowd gasps, not because of the impact, but because somehow a perfect pass was caught by one of the wide recievers.  He heads for the endzone shifting into fifth gear.

He's at the fourty, the thirty.  The safety is heading swiftly to cut him off.  There is a collosion, on of the tight ends smashes the safety from a blind angle at the twenty, the crowd reacts in unison.  The reciever gets to the ten and starts pointing to the crowd, high stepping for the onlookers.

Then he is suddenly hit from behind, by one of his fellow recievers and tumbles down at the four yard line.  No score.

This seems all out of line and makes no sense, but we treat Jesus, our QUARTERBACK in the same manner more often than we think.  Yet somehow we are still going to win the Super Bowl.