tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38655725413085478852024-02-07T10:49:26.079-08:00Lance's LogicLancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02824263616319752316noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865572541308547885.post-80470059547225919342014-05-16T17:34:00.000-07:002015-06-25T10:28:43.858-07:00Why do we do this?<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">If
you were to ask a minister why he signed up for this “job” of being a minister,
what would he say?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would he ever
encourage his son to follow in his footsteps?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If he had it do over again, would he? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">What
is it that causes a man to follow a career path where he is only as good as his
last sermon?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where if he really listens
to the Spirit and preaches what is needed he is often hated because many don’t
want to hear their failings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If he
somehow doesn’t make enough hospital or home visits, or phone calls, he is
regarded as a failure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He meets couples
at the brink of divorce and takes on their pain and hurt in order to help them
find the ability to let God put it back together again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes it works, sometimes it
doesn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Why
would someone want to take on a position where everyone has their own opinion
of how he should do his job, and what his priorities should be, and no two
people agree on any one thing except that he could and should do better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is it that causes a man to want to
accept the task of taking different generations, races, cultures, ages and
sexes all together into one group and finding a way to help them all mold
together even though they all have different preferences, opinions, and
purposes?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Is
it the constant criticism?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe he
enjoys being told that the music is terrible, or that the services are not what
they are looking for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Quite possibly he
enjoys being told that parishioners are leaving because they aren’t being
fed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Could it be that he secretly likes
to be away from his family far more than is healthy and doesn’t want to be at
home?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or the fact that his wife cries
herself to sleep many nights because of the way either she or her husband are
being treated or talked about?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">What
causes a man to lose sleep because he is up all night praying for the Church,
for the lost, for saints who are dying, for those who are gossiping and tearing
the church apart, and for his family that is being torn apart at the seams
because of the seeming insensitivity of the very people he is serving?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe it’s the great pay and/or physical
benefits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Don’t
get me wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Getting paid anything for
taking the message of Jesus to a lost and dying world is a bonus, however
unfortunately sometimes the ones who are supposed to be on God’s team make
being a minister a very thankless and difficult job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Maybe
he does this, because he just can’t see any other way to do what he wants to do
the most and that is to reach people for Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>His life will never be the same because of the caring hand of the Master
and more than anything he wants everyone he knows to find that same life
changing relationship.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I
write this for one purpose and one purpose alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want you to put your thinker on today,
that’s it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think about the minister or
elder or volunteer servant who has made a huge impact in your life and tell
him/her thank you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Think
about ways you can make their lives easier not more difficult.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Think
about praying for them on a regular basis (and do it)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Think
about reaching out to their spouses and children, and not in a judgmental way
but in a loving gesture.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Think
about what you say in regards to those who are putting their lives on the line
for the Kingdom of God every day, before you say it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Think
about (really think hard) what it would be like to be in their position and
have mercy on them, show grace to them, and forgive them for their failures w/o
holding it against them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">May you be blessed today as
you think of those who have served you in this capacity at different times in
your life. </span>Lancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02824263616319752316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865572541308547885.post-54865707921938289522014-02-24T11:28:00.001-08:002015-05-13T05:15:59.678-07:00Which one are you?<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">You’ve
met them, you’ve had your perspective on life changed by them (sometimes good
sometimes bad), maybe you’ve even been one of them a time or two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d like to introduce or re-introduce to you,
some church members we’ve all known throughout the years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Xyo1OCHJuU-XuD_IVdZE1wItVjwctA1ynfJUxV03v3sAL1iIpApBd6uJLocNZ7uVL3diNE_nRxVQMsl1F-MwvTMuSZn5Mit56HlLQSQ0MP5iXNibI4rnJUiDrOCahcC0psI2WZI_ktk/s1600/Anonymous.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Xyo1OCHJuU-XuD_IVdZE1wItVjwctA1ynfJUxV03v3sAL1iIpApBd6uJLocNZ7uVL3diNE_nRxVQMsl1F-MwvTMuSZn5Mit56HlLQSQ0MP5iXNibI4rnJUiDrOCahcC0psI2WZI_ktk/s1600/Anonymous.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anonymous Al</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Anonymous Al –</span></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">
You know the one who writes letters to the leadership complaining about
everything but never gives you his name. He never has to answer for the damage
he inflicts by his comments and negativity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUmK6ue3bAzB5GWBPauO70yfJcyTWO-g0tmWgaOn4Y5Nk_StUT1MGZPwL3Fb9gfAHOGkHOc1WHTfFWrYwJ_8oUTscNk5HOsVIKaClAVmjOpDQMhjzOdL7uY5zbn3lx-ymGtEmWy2PPXso/s1600/Bully.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUmK6ue3bAzB5GWBPauO70yfJcyTWO-g0tmWgaOn4Y5Nk_StUT1MGZPwL3Fb9gfAHOGkHOc1WHTfFWrYwJ_8oUTscNk5HOsVIKaClAVmjOpDQMhjzOdL7uY5zbn3lx-ymGtEmWy2PPXso/s1600/Bully.png" width="107" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Billy the Bully</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Billy the Bully –</span></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">
Yep the church is full of bullies but Billy outshines them all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is the loudest, most demanding, not just
with his voice but with his actions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
he doesn’t like something he removes it, if he thinks something is a terrible
idea he sabotages it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s his way or
the highway and to be honest, churches do themselves a favor when they show him
the highway.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Wanda the wet blanket –</span></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">
Ah yes dear Wanda, she’s been in the Church for 50 years and any new idea is
either doomed for failure because “we tried that and it didn’t work”, or “we’ve
never done it that way before”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dear
Wanda, “bless her heart” loves to throw a wet blanket on any idea that is
presented.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr2zu_HO3hpyoyexVh58ZhLpqg5KSGcKoaafUdz6WAWFxnDmMPexSvTNitjXi_moyvlkJPmQ76I5PMd4VgkKdPvkUVKk9-xrjOIdjUB7_7E502zShkpEHI8plTb6bMZu-5FXSt8k-NfDg/s1600/back+stabber.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr2zu_HO3hpyoyexVh58ZhLpqg5KSGcKoaafUdz6WAWFxnDmMPexSvTNitjXi_moyvlkJPmQ76I5PMd4VgkKdPvkUVKk9-xrjOIdjUB7_7E502zShkpEHI8plTb6bMZu-5FXSt8k-NfDg/s1600/back+stabber.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Backstabbing Gummie Bears?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Barbara the back-stabber –</span></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">
Whenever there is gossip flying around or dissension or fighting of any kind,
you just know that it has either been instigated or fueled by this woman who
just seems to love making everyone as miserable as she is.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">But
to be fair the Church is full of the following as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhyphenhyphenwMwrtXXUGVeXckrKlGJfcoCmq9AyHt1FRAhlZ2ssXYHpvKWYbWk0YDkhuGQMxnZ283JY0obGvLrn7D7sXQe2rfIrohyphenhyphenbckxGs1-bPKM5OS3WInakLSoFhJEwtJ0J5FsgXOnT35pszA/s1600/encourager.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhyphenhyphenwMwrtXXUGVeXckrKlGJfcoCmq9AyHt1FRAhlZ2ssXYHpvKWYbWk0YDkhuGQMxnZ283JY0obGvLrn7D7sXQe2rfIrohyphenhyphenbckxGs1-bPKM5OS3WInakLSoFhJEwtJ0J5FsgXOnT35pszA/s1600/encourager.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ERIN</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Erin the encourager –</span></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">
Every church has one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Erin is always
smiling, always building others up even when she has her own struggles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You never hear anything but positivity come
from her mouth. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Harry the helper –</span></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">
Need a lawn mowed, some snow shoveled, roof fixed, a leaky faucet replaced,
etc., Harry is your man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This brother
isn’t as young as he used to be but it never stops him from lending a hand, no
matter what it does to his back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbOlRMW7s4Z4W6luSUgfwauW48UEFQgUJiKCkHmyBt7ERiLBsLzNBnzDndMqZAWTaQRyausTivIchyphenhyphenepRUPg3Y80DSsCyGTlGZ7ADEs2QKkGwrx9BK3KjuZA4mih_3g5R726s0jhkySJM/s1600/baker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbOlRMW7s4Z4W6luSUgfwauW48UEFQgUJiKCkHmyBt7ERiLBsLzNBnzDndMqZAWTaQRyausTivIchyphenhyphenepRUPg3Y80DSsCyGTlGZ7ADEs2QKkGwrx9BK3KjuZA4mih_3g5R726s0jhkySJM/s1600/baker.jpg" width="200" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Betty the baker –</span></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">
While her talents don’t always help with our bulging bellies she just knows how
to spoil us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Always there with a plate
of brownies or a cherry pie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She loves
to sweeten lives by the sweet tooth and does it with a smile.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"></span> </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj74pbpLEDovP82CQ3-HLNbj-sZxht1_Dn3a5ktoz_kfbiSMrwBs6OxqIwfTSGWtTi2ZpYVSw5fcNyJJz3wbQ64zFZgUuNnPnQb4YWFSZUWzn8v5AljUTz_UVhayCBws7WXshwoSC62XAU/s1600/Ron-Linda-Prayer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj74pbpLEDovP82CQ3-HLNbj-sZxht1_Dn3a5ktoz_kfbiSMrwBs6OxqIwfTSGWtTi2ZpYVSw5fcNyJJz3wbQ64zFZgUuNnPnQb4YWFSZUWzn8v5AljUTz_UVhayCBws7WXshwoSC62XAU/s1600/Ron-Linda-Prayer.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Modern Day Epaphrus!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Pete the prayer warrior –</span></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">
When he says, I’ll pray for you he means it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This isn’t the casual mention of you in a 2 minute prayer, this is him
wrestling in prayer on his knees, before God, tears flowing down his face, on
your behalf.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Epaphras in </span><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=colossians+4%3A12&version=NIV"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0563c1;">Col.
4:12</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">
has nothing on Pete.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He loves God and he
loves you, and he loves to go to God for you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Here’s
a few more that you can use your imagination to come up with descriptions for –
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Timothy the tightwad, Sallie the sniper,
Gideon the Giver, Bob the builder, Sammie the smiler, not to be outdone by
Freddie the frowner.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">God
give us all grace as we try to allow His Spirit to flow so heavily in our lives
that he takes our natural strengths and weaknesses and allows us to be like
Jesus rather than like the first four on this list.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">So
finally, which one are you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which one
would other people say you are?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">In
Christ,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Lance
</span></div>
Lancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02824263616319752316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865572541308547885.post-82030611041179284562014-01-01T11:44:00.001-08:002014-01-01T11:44:02.896-08:00Identity
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgne9x9zDFCYgc9i126EiVBo8tn8q_zbBbjXjVMCEwLJY0YWCGoIhFAz-ShTJN_SiEX6VVijnOUjbPxKEh9811dCK5jlQPpweI0yHdTeQuofEG3CTBRabugzinDAl6IRgeWdb3sD6B1hyphenhyphenw/s1600/Do+You+Know+Your+Name_wide_t_nt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgne9x9zDFCYgc9i126EiVBo8tn8q_zbBbjXjVMCEwLJY0YWCGoIhFAz-ShTJN_SiEX6VVijnOUjbPxKEh9811dCK5jlQPpweI0yHdTeQuofEG3CTBRabugzinDAl6IRgeWdb3sD6B1hyphenhyphenw/s1600/Do+You+Know+Your+Name_wide_t_nt.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">What is the first
word you think of when you think of me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Go ahead, say it out loud, even if it’s not complimentary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What do you see when you look at me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you see a 40 year old who is bigger than
he should be, has less hair than he used to?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Maybe all you see is the skinny jeans </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Century Gothic"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Century Gothic"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">
or the clothes that I wear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe you
see a preacher or minister or pastor or whatever word you want to use.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Do you know me for
who I am, what I do, what I wear, how I act in stressful situations, or any mix
of all of these things?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What do we talk
about when we converse?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is it the
weather, or sports, or politics, or do we just sit around and gossip?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What at am I really asking? What is my identity as far as you are concerned?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Something I’ve come
to discover in life is that we are not good evaluators of ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I see myself a certain way, but you don’t
necessarily agree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I see what I’m
thinking, or how I’m feeling or what my motivation is when I do what I do, but
all you see is what I did, whether good or bad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My identity in your eyes is shaped not by my good intentions but by my
actions. In the justice system they call it evidence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The tangible evidence of who I am is there
for the whole world to see.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">It seems to me that
we spend a lot of time trying to treat the outward evidence of who we are (this
is why I got angry, that is the reason I don’t treat you right, I acted poorly
because I was tired, etc.) instead of allowing the glory of how we were created
establish our identity from the inside out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What would your life look like if you allowed your Creator to shape your
identity? You have a God given Identity that is just begging to come out and
make an impact on this world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Think about it,
when was the last time you taught your lungs to breathe or instructed your
heart to beat or gave your brain a step by step instruction of how to process
thoughts and memories and turn them into words?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You are a glorious miracle of God and although we all pretty much
breathe the same way and our hearts beat in similar patterns, we each<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>have a unique DNA that God put in us when we
were formed in the womb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">Ps 139:13 For you
created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Every day the
Spirit of God is at work shaping you into who God made you to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The question is are you allowing Him full
access into your heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus said that
out of the heart the mouth speaks, He also said to clean the inside of the cup
first. My God given identity continues to take shape when I allow Him to
transform me from the inside out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I
give full access to the Potter to have Him shape me, and form me, He gives me
an Identity centered in Jesus Christ my Lord!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Isa 64:8 And yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, and
you are the potter. We all are formed by your hand. NLT<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Identity is not
just a hot topic, it is the essential core of Christianity – Redeemed –
Forgiven – Blood Bought – </span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">In Christ (and that
pretty much sums it up)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Lance</span>Lancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02824263616319752316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865572541308547885.post-57268551732018775092013-12-10T11:40:00.001-08:002013-12-10T11:40:53.094-08:00Teen or Monster?
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Berlin Sans FB","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s
coming! Only five years from now I will be a parent to a teenager and call me
naïve but I can’t wait.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t wait for
the out of control hormones, the push to be independent w/o really knowing what
that means, the struggle to find who he is while still being under the wing of
our parenting, the pimples, the crushes, the homework that I have no clue how
to help because it’s been too long.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Berlin Sans FB","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">What
will his first job be?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will he be ready
to get his driver’s license at 16 or will he procrastinate like his father did?
His first date, I wonder who she will be?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m not in it so right now I can dream about it and be excited, even
while being a bit terrified. Okay, hugely terrified. </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Berlin Sans FB"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Berlin Sans FB"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: "Berlin Sans FB","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> So yes I know it’s going to be
harder than I’ve ever imagined but I can’t wait!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ZEVMXxY9DL-0JXpUHwMoaBXk2oJNSckoEbqa5deUNYlGR5UcWcp9VrYnStUCUM60t-7UCXx8hkKwdB7uWhyqVDvF_kbft6dwmO_qhiH_KvllG4teUMpSuSrvVa-YmZK5rtdw5xVx3ZA/s1600/dreamstimemaximum_28897330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ZEVMXxY9DL-0JXpUHwMoaBXk2oJNSckoEbqa5deUNYlGR5UcWcp9VrYnStUCUM60t-7UCXx8hkKwdB7uWhyqVDvF_kbft6dwmO_qhiH_KvllG4teUMpSuSrvVa-YmZK5rtdw5xVx3ZA/s320/dreamstimemaximum_28897330.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Berlin Sans FB","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Here’s
what I want to say to anyone who is willing to listen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you have a teen right now please enjoy
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know they are different than
what you were at that age, but your parents said the same thing and it probably
irritated you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this age of technology
it’s easy to think that they don’t use their imagination enough, they aren’t
outside enough, they are on their phones too much and you can’t even keep up
with their apps.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Berlin Sans FB","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Have
you tried?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have you learned what
Facebook and Instagram and Snapchat and Twitter and all the others are?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you get involved in their lives (to the
extent that they desire) and know who they are?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They aren’t just monsters that live under your roof that you can’t wait
to get rid of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are people with a
future, a past and a present. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Berlin Sans FB","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">So
rather than be on a soapbox especially since I do not have a teenager just yet,
let me implore you to enjoy your teenager.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Let them know that you are there to listen when they need you, there to
instruct them, to tutor them, to guide them, yes even to discipline them when
they need it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The point is you are there
for it all, not just the parts you want to be or just when you have to do it,
or when you’ve reached your boiling point, but always there to enjoy life with
them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Berlin Sans FB","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Enjoy
them, love them, train them, dream with them, never ever give up on them (see
prodigal son) and watch them grow!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Berlin Sans FB","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">P.S.
I’ve been on the other side as a youth minister and have heard what the teens
want most from their parents, and trust me it isn’t always what they tell you
because they are afraid you might not be willing to listen so they often hold
back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Berlin Sans FB","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">P.P.S – Be careful what you
say when you’re “joking”.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Berlin Sans FB","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Berlin Sans FB","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">In Christ, Lance</span>Lancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02824263616319752316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865572541308547885.post-2498559983222006752013-12-08T17:51:00.000-08:002013-12-08T17:51:41.701-08:00Butterfly Transformation
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXa9J867kiKuJuO5Mcf6i4xKAE_B65h4zH8B8dTHInAVBH80fsYBWWgZWIhXk7ghkdQ29MqFB5ffIl1m2p_SqNzcZOPmm1tgOx_rla04HED10_2CMPyqXChYcuVU_d0MZsL0GN9a3Mr1w/s1600/transform_t_nv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXa9J867kiKuJuO5Mcf6i4xKAE_B65h4zH8B8dTHInAVBH80fsYBWWgZWIhXk7ghkdQ29MqFB5ffIl1m2p_SqNzcZOPmm1tgOx_rla04HED10_2CMPyqXChYcuVU_d0MZsL0GN9a3Mr1w/s320/transform_t_nv.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">It’s the typical
feel good Disney story, the awkward, socially unacceptable ugly duckling
becomes the beautiful princess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Cinderella, the Princess Bride, the Beauty and the Beast etc. And it’s
not always the beautiful woman, sometimes it’s an awkward boy who becomes the
sports hero, or an animated animal who’s shy and becomes a leader.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Stories of
transformation sell, especially if they are based on real life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Biggest Loser takes someone who is really
struggling and even in danger of losing their life and gives them a chance to
succeed in life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A child becomes an
adult in a span of some 18 years, seeds become plants or flowers over a couple
of months, and a caterpillar transforms into a beautiful butterfly in about 10
days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">But here’s the
thing, that caterpillar is still there, so is the awkward kid, or the fairy
tale character.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The outward change is
really a compliment of what was already on the inside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it’s no surprise because that is the way
that God works as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He creates us
all of us unique, with different personalities, character traits, outward
features, skills, talents, abilities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But none of that matters in regards to the transformation I want to talk
about today.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">1 Co. 15:50-57 What
I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot
inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last
forever. </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">But let me reveal
to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed!
52 It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is
blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live
forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">53 For our dying
bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies
must be transformed into immortal bodies. </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">54 Then, when our
dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this
Scripture will be fulfilled: "Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O
death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" 56 For sin is
the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. 57 But thank
God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">NLT</b></span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">That is why this
transformation is such a beautiful picture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It combines the human stories with the beauty of a butterfly in
flight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An older gentleman whose time
had come, an unborn baby who never got to experience life on earth, a child who
was born with a terminal disease and never lived to be a teenager, the young
lady killed in a car crash, those who fought and eventually lost their battle
with cancer, the soldier who died protecting our freedoms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They all have one thing in common.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A spirit that lives on beyond the grave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And for the believer, death is the
opportunity for the most amazing butterfly transformation ever and it’s a
permanent one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Grieving takes many
steps and appears in many forms and I’m not here to condemn or judge anyone’s
reaction to their loss, but the Bible tells us something about hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d like to end today with this Scripture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">1 Thess 4:13-14
Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to
grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14 We believe that Jesus died
and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have
fallen asleep in him.</span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">The chance to see our loved
one transformed into a beautiful butterfly figuratively speaking is an
anticipation that helps us deal with the pain we currently feel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May you gain some hope from these words.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">In Christ, Lance</span>Lancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02824263616319752316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865572541308547885.post-4180946362047472402013-11-22T16:06:00.000-08:002013-11-28T18:04:13.522-08:00The Thanksgiving Chair (My Recliner)<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 1pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><w:sdtpr></w:sdtpr><w:sdt docpart="DBA3A426067A4AF09C040A616A2F8548" id="89512082" storeitemid="X_5F329CAD-B019-4FA6-9FEF-74898909AD20" text="t" title="Post Title" xpath="/ns0:BlogPostInfo/ns0:PostTitle"></w:sdt></span>
<br />
<div class="Publishwithline" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #262626;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My Recliner<o:p></o:p><w:sdtpr></w:sdtpr></span></span></span></strong></div>
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: xx-small;"> </span></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">We
purchased it a couple of months ago, but it isn’t my first chair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first chair I remember loving with a deep
intimate love j/k</span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> was an old rocking chair
with a matching ottoman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was really
old but had been restored and was given to me by an older couple from England
whom I had recently baptized into Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I loved that chair but my wife didn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The second one was years later and it was overstuffed leather and it was
cozy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I reclined in that thing it
practically swallowed me up, but soon it became cracked, wore out, and ugly (at
least in my wife’s opinion).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRMuGQJulDtFWCaLGAt9zfVWMS2c0y1TN0JOoYR8arH8lqKYFutT9oScN-bIbse6-oX1KuOcEcc9tOQAPf_DjWRX1J0i5F9fdKp6TCwiZOU7dfowXhRuQ6MTTo-dfC4Y6URX29wMI6ArY/s1600/My+Chair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRMuGQJulDtFWCaLGAt9zfVWMS2c0y1TN0JOoYR8arH8lqKYFutT9oScN-bIbse6-oX1KuOcEcc9tOQAPf_DjWRX1J0i5F9fdKp6TCwiZOU7dfowXhRuQ6MTTo-dfC4Y6URX29wMI6ArY/s320/My+Chair.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The
third one was fairly non-descript but served it’s purpose and was still all
mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then came the Super Bowl of
Recliners, the Mack Daddy of comfortability, the mother of all recliners. It’s
the perfect size, incredibly comfortable, has a couple cup holders, enough room
to store my laptop or cell phone or tablet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It has a USB port to plug my cell phone in, a back massager, and when I
tip back in that thing with my electric blanket covering me, I forget that it’s
stinking cold outside and I am in heaven.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Here’s
the thing though, it doesn’t shield me from life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still have to get up to go make sure that
Carter truly has wiped his butt; to play referee when my two boys are going at
it; to do various chores that my wife has been waiting months for me to do and
is fed up with my procrastination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
fact in some ways it makes things more difficult because when I get in that chair
all my serving skills go out the window.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I just want to relax, enjoy my chair, my TV, my computer, or whatever it
is that I’m selfishly indulging in, and I have no desire to serve others.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQe2s_YHng3rV17oNIqyoq9hBBiD9xnu4d1WS267Kt-F3p8km_6yryfUmhH-XvkD_qY3Or2jY34lvIUwZczrbAxZT7WV6v6shfYvhwwx2FR0N8dAGZWXZqAC2a4gfyMWOqeIgDNMwm8zQ/s1600/images+(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQe2s_YHng3rV17oNIqyoq9hBBiD9xnu4d1WS267Kt-F3p8km_6yryfUmhH-XvkD_qY3Or2jY34lvIUwZczrbAxZT7WV6v6shfYvhwwx2FR0N8dAGZWXZqAC2a4gfyMWOqeIgDNMwm8zQ/s1600/images+(3).jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I
have another chair though that I call my Thanksgiving Chair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s hard, cold, rigid, ugly, and serves one
purpose only.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That purpose is to be able
to see how to be thankful in every circumstance – 1 Thess. 5:18.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Notice that the verse doesn’t say be thankful
about every circumstance but in every circumstance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This (fictional) chair is with me always, it
helps me to focus on what’s important.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You see celebrations and thanksgiving and bdays and anniversaries are
awesome, but when I get in my Thanksgiving Chair, so are busted up lips (from
falling down the stairs), and disagreements with my wife, and frustrations
about the government, or things going on with the Church, or the state of
poverty in America, or achy knees or bad backs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">When
I’m in that chair, these things become opportunities for me to show God’s love
in those situations, even to be thankful for the opportunity to bear with these
aggravations and irritations and turn them into God moments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God was still there when Job was penniless
and destitute, He was still there when David was in the throes of sin, He was
still there when baby Moses floated in the river, and He is definitely there in
your moments of stress, hurt, fear, loss, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Take time to get out of the comfortability of the recliner, take a seat
in the hard unbending Thanksgiving Chair and refocus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are in this world but not of it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Am I thankful for the restful moments, the fun
moments, and the celebration moments? Absolutely!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But am I thankful for the other moments?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That depends on what chair I’m sitting in.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Thank
you God for my Thanksgiving Chair!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In Christ, Lance<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Btw
I got this idea from a video clip that I found and purchased on Sermonspice.com
just to be clear and not to plagiarize.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I will post the video on facebook after I use it on Sunday!</span>Lancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02824263616319752316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865572541308547885.post-20445583820509635502013-09-30T20:35:00.002-07:002013-09-30T20:35:22.432-07:00In His Presence Part Two – The Hero of the Story<h2>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Zephaniah 3:17b He
is a mighty savior.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The word Hero gets
thrown around a lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s used for
athletes (mine is Joe Montana), it’s used for political figures, it’s used for
firefighters and policemen, it’s used for people who have been influential in
other’s lives, and in many of these, a real case can be made for these people
being heroic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What about the
single mother who works tirelessly as the provider of her home as well as the
housekeeper, accountant, mechanic, and everything else that comes her way?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or the grandmother who never gives up on her
wayward grandchildren but continues each and every night to pray for them by
name and uses every opportunity to show the love of God to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t forget the men and women who choose
to put themselves in harm’s way by joining the military and defending our
country.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I could go on to speak about
judges who refuse to be bullied into taking the 10 commandments down, or well
known religious men and women who are ridiculed and attacked for standing up
for Biblical principles, and many others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Bible uses the
Hebrew word Gibbor to describe heroes, champions, powerful warriors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There really isn’t a more descriptive word in
the Hebrew language to describe a hero.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s the word used in Genesis to describe giants, and Nimrod, and yes it’s
the word used to describe who Goliath was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Hero, champion, so powerful it could even be translated tyrant in
certain situations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">And then there is
the countless times it is used to describe God including here in Zephaniah 3:17
– God is the heroic, mighty, champion of salvation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Makes Joe Montana and others look
pretty small doesn’t it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> The mighty </span>Goliath couldn’t
even stand up to a teenager who had the power of this God let alone God
Himself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">God is the champion
of salvation, but He had to pick a method for this salvation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Justice demanded it, the gift of grace came
at a price, and the mercy of forgiveness needed a sacrifice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In comes Jesus, but that’s not really an
accurate representation of how all of this came about because God chose Jesus,
His only Son, before He ever created the universe, and long before you and I
ever came to be. It wasn't a last minute hail mary.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The prophetic book
of Isaiah (9:6) refers to Jesus as “the mighty God”, among other things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The language here combines Gibbor with El;
calling Jesus the El Gibbor from birth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When you combine these two words you have - Jesus - the Almighty God, Champion and
Hero of the story, Savior of the world!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This Lord God who is with you that we read about in the first part of
this verse, sent His Son Jesus on your behalf.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Yes He is Mighty to
Save – Thank you God for sending El Gibbor!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Lance</span>Lancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02824263616319752316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865572541308547885.post-52548964184820151302013-08-31T14:00:00.002-07:002013-08-31T14:00:45.274-07:00Hand in Hand!
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "MV Boli";">Children – God’s
great gift to mankind and yet sometimes the most frustrating job in the entire
world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just when you think they are
“getting it”, they start a whole new way of testing your patience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 8pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "MV Boli";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "MV Boli";">The terrible
two’s give way to the trying three’s to the first day of school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Next comes the drama of new friends,
pre-teens, teen years, their first effort of driving, homecoming, and prom,
just to mention a few.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 8pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "MV Boli";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "MV Boli";">Just when you
think it’s almost over they need financial help for college and advice on when
and whom to marry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you depressed
yet?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s the truth though, no matter what,
there is nothing in this world like the experience of taking your child’s hand
when they are excited, nervous, terrified, happy, sad, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 8pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "MV Boli";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "MV Boli";">It’s like they
are saying that no matter what, as long as my hand is in yours its okay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I trust you daddy, I love you mommy, I won’t
always show it, but I want to spend the rest of my life hand in hand with you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 8pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "MV Boli";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "MV Boli";">Today and
everyday God’s hand is outstretched, reaching out to yours no matter whether
you have just enjoyed success or have failed miserably.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wants you to say to Him, God I’m a mess,
I’m a wretch, I’m up and down, inconsistent and at times emotionally unstable
but I’m yours and I want nothing more than to walk hand in hand with you all my
life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "MV Boli";"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "MV Boli";">Written by Lance Osborn for the Parent Commitment Service 2013 at Tyler Street Church of Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Lancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02824263616319752316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865572541308547885.post-63393990837552389752013-08-21T19:07:00.003-07:002013-08-21T19:07:57.111-07:00In His Presence - Part One
<br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Zephaniah 3:17a For
the Lord your God is living among you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What does that even
mean?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you picture God as the hoity
toity one living on snob hill in the mansion that no one else can afford?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or is He in the low rent apartments that are
falling down?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe He is next door to
you in middle class America or in the upper crust sub-division.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if He is the homeless guy that you just
gave a look of complete disgust to because somehow he is below you, not worthy
of a smile or a generous hand, or even a second thought?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Jesus said, 'I tell
you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and
sisters, you were doing it to me!'<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who
was He speaking of?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was talking about
the needy, the hungry, the thirsty, the naked, the sick, and the prisoner. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you do something for someone you are
doing something for God.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We like to think
about God being with us when we need Him, but do we think about Him being with
us when we are doing or saying something we shouldn’t?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do we think about Him being with us when we
are not serving others and doing for others what we would have them do for
us?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What if we lived
every moment of every day with the awareness of God sitting next to us, walking
beside us, loving as we love, living as we do, enjoying the things we enjoy,
and watching us as we interact with our family, our friends, our co-workers and
neighbors?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Would anything change?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today and all week long make a decision to
recognize God living among and beside you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There He is, right there next to you, how will you treat Him? Or maybe I should ask you (and me) how will you treat others "In His Presence"?</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Lance</span>Lancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02824263616319752316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865572541308547885.post-73800931271633546482013-06-14T19:26:00.001-07:002013-06-14T19:26:49.877-07:00Happy Father’s Day everyone
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "MV Boli";">I have two fathers and so do you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my case one Father is loving and kind, the
other one spanked my bottom…… hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One
Father is perfect; the other one never had a perfect day in his life…… okay, so
we all know whose fault that is. </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "MV Boli"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "MV Boli";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One Father never gives up on me, the other
one kicked me out of his house…………… twice. (btw, I deserved it)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "MV Boli";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "MV Boli";">I could go on but I think you get the point or
do you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You see one of my fathers was
created in the image of the Other. What I see in my father as imperfections,
weaknesses and humanity, God sees as His Image, strength and eternality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love my dad, not because he was perfect,
but because he is my father, created & loved by my other Father.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "MV Boli";">As you read this you may be thinking about your
earthly father; his mistakes, his anger, his love, his pride in you, his
inability to understand you, his ability to try anyway, his missing your games,
his working two jobs so you could play in those games, etc.</span><span style="font-family: "MV Boli"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "MV Boli"; font-size: 4pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "MV Boli";">Here’s the thing, some of you had fathers that
tried their very best and were amazing examples, some of you had fathers who
were inconsistent, some of you may have had fathers who were abusive or
alcoholics, and some of you may have never met your father.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "MV Boli";">Wherever you are when it comes to your earthly
father, here is a truth that you must not miss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You have a Father, and His name is Jehovah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, He gets angry, & yet is protective;
yes He demands perfection but at the same time is forgiving. Yes He loves you
but is unafraid to let you know when you are wrong. </span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "MV Boli";">He is a Father who never gives up on you, will
always call you his son or daughter no matter what you do or don’t do, and </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "MV Boli";">He
is a Father that will always wait for you with open arms when you are ready to
love Him in return. </span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "MV Boli";">He won’t force you into this, because He
purposely made you with the ability to choose whether or not to return His
love, but He’ll never stop loving you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "MV Boli";">Fathers may I encourage you to live your lives
as if you were created in the image of God (because you were) and be the father
He would have you to be.</span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "MV Boli";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "MV Boli"; mso-highlight: yellow;">How great is the love the Father has lavished
on us, that we should be called children of God!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1 John 3:1</span><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 6pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "MV Boli";"><o:p></o:p></span></w:wrap><br />
<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 6pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "MV Boli";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
</div>
Lancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02824263616319752316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865572541308547885.post-23626305000228380812013-05-07T19:32:00.001-07:002013-05-07T19:32:15.990-07:00Merry Christmas
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Merry Christmas<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I was driving today and saw a man in a wheel chair at an
exit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I only had two dollars on me so I
rolled down the window to let him know I had a little to give him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He slowly rolled towards me and just at the
point that the light turned green he got to my window.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I gave him the two dollars and he said thank
you and as I was rolling my window up he said, and I quote, “Merry
Christmas”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">As I drove away I was laughing as I thought about someone
telling me Merry Christmas on the 7<sup>th</sup> of May, but as I drove on I
thought about the clarity of his statement (even if he wasn’t particularly
clear headed when he said it).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t
really know what day Jesus was born and most think that this time of the year
is a lot closer than December 25<sup>th</sup>. Also shouldn’t we celebrate
Jesus birth every day?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I am thankful for the little things in life that I have that
this man probably doesn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am thankful
for my car, two good legs, a home to live in and enough money that I don’t have
to stay on the side of the exit ramp begging for money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But when it comes to Jesus and His birth,
life, death, burial, and resurrection, I am no more blessed than the man on the
exit ramp is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Jesus did this for both of us, the question is does this man know about it?</span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s funny how we base our quality of life on things that in an
eternal view mean nothing at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While
I shared two dollars with this man, it won’t make that much of a difference in
his physical life, but if I am able to somehow share the gospel with him or
with anyone who doesn’t know Jesus as their personal Savior, I have been able to
make a true impact in his/her life for eternity.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">So why do I forget that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I think the answer is pretty simple but obvious, cuz the devil wants me
to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wants me to be comfortable and
not focus on whether people spend eternity in heaven or hell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May I be committed to making every day a
Merry Christmas for someone, that Jesus will be born in them because of God
living in me.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
Lancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02824263616319752316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865572541308547885.post-88774530017451776142013-04-22T13:46:00.000-07:002013-04-22T13:46:52.036-07:00My friend
<span class="usercontent2"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“It
is my "friend". I wake up to it every day. Actually, I've dealt with
its presence everyday for the past 15 years. Sometimes it is more and sometimes
it is less severe, but it is always there.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="usercontent2"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">When
it first started showing more "debilitating" symptoms I couldn't
figure out what was wrong with me. No matter how well I was doing or what I did
it didn't go away. No amount of prayer or bible reading made it go away or even
seemed to affect it at all. Actually, it seemed the more I fought it, even
through spiritual means, the worse it got.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="usercontent2"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">After
fighting it for a few years with seemingly no progress I truly wished I could
just die. I sympathized with people who committed suicide. The one thing that
kept me from entertaining suicidal thoughts myself is the fact that God
"works all things together for good".......... I tenaciously held
onto that belief.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="usercontent2"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In
time I have come to view it as one of, if not perhaps the greatest dilemma
facing myself and others in the church today; How to view and or help myself
and others, especially Christians, affected by it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also think that it is, perhaps, one of our
greatest opportunities.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="usercontent2"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">One
of the things that have helped me with it is to begin to quit
"fighting" it and trying to make it just go away and to accept that
it is a part of my life. Perhaps for the rest of my life. I also am learning to
accept Gods grace and all of His promises in spite of it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="usercontent2"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Perhaps
the most potent scripture for me in relation to it has been where Paul wrote
that he Gloried in needs and "distresses" for when he was weak then
he was strong. He wrote that Gods power is "made perfect in weakness.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="usercontent2"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Probably
the greatest practical thing I have learned to do in relation to it is to thank
God for it as an opportunity to suffer in this life for his glory, since
glorifying God is the ultimate good and end of all things. This helps me with
it tremendously. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="usercontent2"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I
have wondered if those that suffer from it have a greater opportunity to
glorify God since God is greatly glorified when we thank him in the midst of
suffering. It is depression and I can honestly say that I have made friends
with the pain.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span class="usercontent2"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Written by Bruce Stuart</span></span>Lancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02824263616319752316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865572541308547885.post-24424231488045927732013-03-27T10:16:00.000-07:002013-03-27T10:16:02.392-07:00In the Light<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="Publishwithline">
<span style="font-family: "Furro Script"; font-size: 20.0pt;">In
the Light</span><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Furro Script"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Furro Script";"></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">God is
light, in Him there is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Darkness has no substance, in fact it really
doesn’t exist, it is simply the absence of light.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s no wonder that God describes evil as
darkness or simply something that doesn’t exist without the absence of light
(God).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you sin, you are ushering in
the absence of God, and the longer you hide that sin the longer you are
God-less.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s easy to measure darkness
or sin when you look around and see morals declining, marriage being
obliterated, lives being taken in the name of choice, and murder, molestation,
and rape on a daily basis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But where
there is any darkness or sin, it is simply the absence of God in that person’s
life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So when you told that little white
lie that “didn’t hurt anyone”, or when you spread that piece of gossip, or when
you lashed out in anger at your children, or when you harbored bitter thoughts
towards a person who hurt you, or when you had lustful thoughts towards someone
who is not your spouse, you embraced the darkness and the absence of God in
your life.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jesus
said, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">This is the verdict: Light has
come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their
deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into
the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the
truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has
done has been done through God." John 3:19-21</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s easy to use labels for people who
struggle with things on an ongoing basis like alcohol or drug use or pornography,
but how often does one have to lie to be called a liar, or gossip to be called
a gossipaholic, or lash out in anger to be called an anger addict?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">But if we
walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another,
and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1John 1:7.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The blood of Jesus purifies us from sin while
we are walking in the light.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not that
we don’t sin; it’s that we are willing to recognize it and do something about
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is what allows us to be in the
light rather than stumbling around in the darkness all the while pretending
that we are in the light.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus said in
the Sermon on the Mount, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“You are the
light of the world”</b>, not you should try to be the light of the world, but
you are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is that true in your life, are
you in the light and showing that light to others or are you hiding in the
darkness (absence of God) and pretending to be light? </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A
young Marine and his commanding officer board a train headed through the
mountains of Switzerland. They can find no place to sit except for two
seats right across the aisle from a young woman and her grandmother. After a
while, it is obvious that the young woman and the young soldier are interested
in each because they are giving each other “looks.” Soon the train passes
into a tunnel and it is pitch black. There is a sound of the smack of a kiss
followed by the sound of the smack of a slap. When the train emerges from the
tunnel, the four sit there without saying a word.<br />
The grandmother is thinking to herself: “It was very brash for that young
soldier to kiss my granddaughter, but I’m glad she slapped him.”<br />
The commanding officer is setting there thinking: “I didn’t think the
young Marine was brave enough to kiss the girl, but I sure wish she hadn’t
missed him when she slapped and hit me!”<br />
The young woman was sitting and thinking: “I’m glad the soldier kissed
me, but I wish my grandmother had not slapped him!”<br />
The young Marine sat there with a satisfied smile on his face. He thought
to himself: “Life is good. When does a fellow have the chance to
kiss a beautiful girl and slap his commanding officer all at the same time!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Illustration borrowed from Alan Smith <a href="http://www.abiblecommentary.com/">www.abiblecommentary.com</a>) </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It’s
difficult to know what is happening in the darkness. (as shown by three of the
four characters above) There is no light to gain proper perspective.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Without God intentionally in your life on a
daily basis you may be blind to your own darkness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pray that your walk today may be in the
light of God’s love.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">In
Christ, Lance</span>Lancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02824263616319752316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865572541308547885.post-74961886314995661622013-03-16T20:01:00.000-07:002013-03-16T20:03:52.501-07:00Why I hate Legalism<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">First of all I hate
legalism because Jesus does, and I want to be like Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know I’m not and I’m sure that one of the
ways that I’m not like Jesus is my own form of legalism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Jesus hated the legalism of the Pharisee’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Any time a law or an interpretation of a law
got in the way of salvation, grace or mercy, Jesus threw a fit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Second I hate
legalism because of how it has cast a pall on my own relationship with
God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For so long my faith was centered
in a culture of legalism that I couldn’t even see and because of this I have a
very difficult time accepting the grace, mercy, forgiveness and love of
God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It instilled within me a sense that
I was never going to be good enough for God, and even now as I try to accept
Him in all His Nature, the foreboding sense of an angry God is never far away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Third I hate
legalism because of how it has destroyed lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When Christianity is replaced with rules based legalism there are many
casualties.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not going to elaborate
on this much because it brings a lot of memories and pain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even now there are many brothers and sisters
in Christ that I love and pray for, that I’m afraid would be hesitant to call
me brother because of the nastiness of a judgmental spirit that is often a
bi-product of legalism.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Lastly I hate
legalism because it in a word is sin, and is divisive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus was very clear how He felt about
legalism, He called them sons of hell, and so was Paul.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Scriptures like 1 Timothy 4:1-5 describe this
type of behavior as demonic and hypocritical.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ve often heard the word “worldliness” thrown around in very loose ways,
basically representing everything that is not weird or out of style as “worldly
clothing” just for an example.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Let’s be clear;
being like Jesus is difficult, it requires a constant examination of your mind,
emotions, thoughts, words, and actions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Replacing that with a cheap version of holiness that is based on your
interpretation of rules and regulations does not promote Godliness; in fact it
promotes and is worldliness. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Read
Colossians 2:20-23 with me as I close out this article. <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians%202:20-23&version=NIV"><span style="color: blue;">Colossians
2:20-23 NIV - Since you died with Christ to the - Bible Gateway</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Listen to how the CEV
describes verse 23 - Obeying these rules may seem to be the smart thing to do.
They appear to make you love God more and to be very humble and to have control
over your body. But they don’t really have any power over our desires.</span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Free in Christ and loving it, Lance</span></h3>
Lancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02824263616319752316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865572541308547885.post-52920413515609333542013-02-27T18:12:00.000-08:002013-02-27T18:13:42.250-08:00Did you see God today?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Furro Script"; font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Did you see God today?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I did; I saw Him at
6:30 when Carter’s crying or should I say wailing woke me up; I saw Him in the
shower while I was praying; I saw Him in the mirror (after all I am created in
His image); I saw Him in my anxiety over things I can’t control; I saw Him during
prayer time as Stewart and I prayed for the people at TSCC; I saw Him during a
counseling session with someone who is almost as broken as I am </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Century Gothic"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Century Gothic"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">; I saw Him in the flowers that I
bought my wife for “Happy Tax Returns are here Day”.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I saw Him in the
man sitting on the side of the road with his car broken down; I saw Him as my
wife and I dealt with disciplinary issues for one of our children; I saw Him as
I talked to a young lady about being baptized, and her very nervous dad who is
doing the baptizing; I saw Him as I poured my heart out to a friend who very
patiently put up with my weaknesses; and I see Him in you.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Jesus said,
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do not believe that this is a futuristic
promise of; somehow if we are pure enough we will see God someday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe that He is saying that when you and
I have pure hearts we will see God every day, in every circumstance, and in
every person we meet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sometimes we have
to look very hard to see Him and if we allow our physical self to take control
we will not be able to see God, but again isn’t that what purity is all
about?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not about you and I being perfect
but about us being washed again and again by the purity of a relationship with
God.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I see God every
day, sometimes I recognize Him right away; sometimes I flat out ignore Him;
sometimes He tests me; sometimes He affirms me; sometimes He blesses me with
things; and sometimes He blesses me with trials that strengthen me in the long
run.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I saw God today,
did you?</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Lance</span>Lancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02824263616319752316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865572541308547885.post-2894413487923500222013-01-08T19:09:00.001-08:002013-01-08T19:09:47.402-08:00Why I love to be criticized
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="MsoIntenseEmphasis"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><strong><em><span style="color: #4f81bd;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Why I
love to be criticized<o:p></o:p></span></span></em></strong></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Now
I know you saw the title of this article and it hooked you, or you know me and
know the exact opposite to be true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
hate criticism, of course we all do, but for me I’d rather be punched over and
over in the face, then be criticized.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You take my
personality and pair it with my experiences, throw in my extreme desire to be
liked by everyone and my childhood and you have someone who runs kicking and
screaming from criticism.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">To
give you an example, if someone were to come up to me and say, “Lance your
sermon on Sunday was a bit dry and boring”, I hear, “Lance I really can’t stand
your preaching or anything else about you”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Okay so that may be a bit of an exaggeration but unfortunately I tend to
take everything personally and whether it’s about me as a preacher or a
minister or a father or husband or anything else, it’s a devastating blow to my
psyche and just one more hit to my low self-esteem and self worth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So
what’s my point?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On my own I can’t
handle criticism but I learned something recently that has made a huge impact
in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Criticism when paired with
one key word is vital to my growth as a person, a Christian, a leader, a
father, husband and so on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The word is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">evaluation</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I am able to evaluate the criticism,
myself, even the person offering the criticism (without judging them)
everything changes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">A
Holy Spirit driven evaluation takes the sizzle out of the criticism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It softens the blow so that I can allow God
to control me, the situation, and my reaction to the situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can observe the criticism to find any truth
that is in it to make me a better person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I can observe myself to see whether this is a sign of a character flaw
or a sin that needs to be repented of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And I can observe the one doing the criticism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rather than immediately being defensive and
angry, what if I took the time to evaluate where they are coming from.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s possible that not only could I get some
insight into why they are offering the criticism but it might even help me to
help them in the future in some way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">But
here is the number one reason that criticism combined with evaluation is so
effective.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It draws me closer to
Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was criticized, He was abused,
mocked, spit on, and attacked both physically and verbally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His response is shocking to someone like
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His evaluation led Him to forgive
those who hurled abuse at Him, to feel compassion for the bystanders, to be
silent when falsely criticized and accused, and to ultimately die on a cross
for them, for me, and for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Why did He respond like
this? How did He manage to react this way?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Simple; His eyes were on the big picture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is why I love to be criticized.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because when I combine it with evaluation it
leads me to Jesus, fix my eyes on Him </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2012:2&version=TNIV;CEV;NCV;CEB;GNT"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue;">(Heb.
12:2),</span></span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> to be more like Him, and to have a stronger
relationship with Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that is what
it’s all about.</span>Lancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02824263616319752316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865572541308547885.post-5557039904956977812012-08-20T17:39:00.001-07:002012-08-20T17:39:23.642-07:00How is your relationship with God?<br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;">His name is Snobberish, Broderick Snobberish to be precise and
he is precise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is a snob, a rich
snob, but morally perfect, never steps out on his wife, never drinks anything
stronger than a diet coke,(at least in public anyway), he sits on many boards
including school boards, council meetings, and he is a deacon at the first assembly
of the rich and famous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But tonight he
is angry, because he gave in to his fellow deacons and invited the new minister
(radical minister at that) to his annual Christmas party.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The house is full and the mayor is there, along with lots of
rich contemporaries who he hopes to get support from in the upcoming
election.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything is perfect except
for him, yep him, the new minister, Benjamin Doogood. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This guy has turned Snobberish's nice quiet
church around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He preaches on equality
through the cross, and feeding the poor, and reaching out to the hurting, but
that’s not the worst part.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. DooGood
is actively involved in all of these ministries and is encouraging the church
members to do the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That means
hanging out at the downtown disgusting soup mission, and allowing alcoholics
and drug addicts to use the building for their “recovery” meetings.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now this; among the exquisite delicacies, and his best fine
china; among all the who’s who in society is this radical, unstylish, ordinary
guy who wants to tell everyone about Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I mean, that’s fine in church, but not here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s like he didn’t get the hint from the
cold shoulder, the lack of greeting, the last minute invite, that he really isn’t
wanted here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wait a minute, what’s that
commotion, and why is everyone gathered around someone in the living room?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Who let her in? She looks like, well like what she is, a street
hooker, prostitute, lady of the night, whatever you want to call her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She showed up looking for Doogood, some sort
of emergency and now she is studying the Bible in front of his distinguished
guests in his living room, on Christmas Eve of all nights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why doesn’t the “good minister” just fill up
the bathtub and baptize her right now in her low cut, tight, indecent dress
that makes her look like the whore she is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Wait a minute, is that water running, seriously?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">That’s why Mr. Snobberish is angry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s lost sight of what Christianity is, and instead
he is steeped in religion and tradition. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes this is a modern day version of what
happened to Jesus Himself in Luke 7:36-50.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jesus said something to Simon (or Broderick Snobberish) that still rings
true today, Luke 7:47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven —
for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Any relationship that isn’t first based on
love is weak at best. The Apostle John put it this way, “we love because he
first loved us”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When examining your
relationship with God, make sure that you aren’t basing your evaluation on what
you do, but rather who you love, which is exactly what this woman did, and the
exact opposite of what Simon did. So I'll ask again, How is your relationship with God?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lance</span></div>
Lancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02824263616319752316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865572541308547885.post-83884728856873176442012-07-25T21:49:00.002-07:002012-07-25T21:49:09.342-07:00"Moe, Moe, Moe"!!!!!!!!<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calligraph421 BT"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Narkisim;">No,
I’m not delirious and yes I know that the word moe, is not actually a
word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let me explain; tonight I was
sitting at my back patio reading “Crazy Love” by Francis Chan (good read, by
the way) while watching my children playing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They were on the trampoline and then graduated to our $20 Wal-Mart pool.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calligraph421 BT"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Narkisim;">Mind
you they weren’t in the pool, but rather Carter had found the joys in filling
up a cup with water and then dumping it out on my bare feet, giggling all the
way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wasn’t paying that much attention
until I heard Carter yelling “moe, moe, moe, moe”; Which in year old language
means more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I looked up to find that the
water had gotten low enough that he could no longer reach the water to fill up
his cup, so he was shouting at his brother to fill his cup with water.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calligraph421 BT"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Narkisim;">As
Cade filled it up Carter would delightedly dump it out, all while yelling….. Yeah
you guessed it, “moe”!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This experience
combined with the book I was reading led me to the idea that every day God
fills us up; with His goodness, His holiness, His compassion, His love, His
peace, His joy, etc., and we tend to take it for granted, while it leaks out a
hole in the bottom of our cup of life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In some cases, it’s not a hole so much as a cavern, or even like Carter
was doing, we dump it out all the while yelling to God, “moe, moe, moe, moe”!!!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calligraph421 BT"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Narkisim;">My
prayer tonight as I write this, is that I will recognize all of the things God
fills me with, and be more aware of them so as not to dump them out while demanding
more. May I be filled not only with more of His Spirit, Eph. 5:18, but also
with a greater awareness of His Spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I want to be filled not only with a joy that I can’t even put into
words, 1 Peter 1:8, but also with a calm delight that overshadows my fears,
worries, and the circumstances and stress of everyday life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But most of all I want the love of Christ to
fill me up so much that I am overflowing to everyone around me, and filled to
the measure of all the fullness of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ephesians 3:16-19<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calligraph421 BT"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Narkisim;">Here
it is in everyday terms; God, help me to stop wasting my opportunities to love
my family because it’s inconvenient, or they are trying my patience, or
interrupting my (selfish) time to do my things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Help me to see people’s needs all around me, instead of being consumed
with life, ministry duties, and other things that distract me from the two most
important things in life – Loving God, and loving my neighbor as myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calligraph421 BT"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Narkisim;">Thank
you God, for giving me this reminder tonight in the form of my little Carter,
and help me to be full with you, in you, and of you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calligraph421 BT"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Narkisim; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Lance,</span>Lancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02824263616319752316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865572541308547885.post-41043440389467254142012-03-29T19:41:00.000-07:002012-03-29T19:41:46.057-07:00Are you medicating on God's Word?<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="MsoIntenseEmphasis"><strong><em><span style="color: #4f81bd;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My
son (Cade), was practicing quoting Psalm 1 for last Sunday’s service, and when
he got to verse 2 he said, and I quote, “But his delight is in the law of the
Lord and on this law he medicates day and night”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jen and I were laughing to ourselves but
trying not to show him as he continued on, but since I’m a preacher I
immediately began to think of how I could use this funny story as an
illustration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></em></strong></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="MsoIntenseEmphasis"><strong><em><span style="color: #4f81bd;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It
didn’t take long for me to figure out that we do treat God’s Word as we would a
bottle of Advil or Aspirin often times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
typically don’t take medicine until you are sick, and often it only treats the
symptoms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hmmm sound familiar?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We could go weeks w/o picking up the Holy
Scriptures (except of course on Sundays at Church) and then as soon as things
begin to fall apart, or we need some special guidance, or we need deliverance,
we run to God in prayer, and even venture to pick up His Word and read it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oftentimes we use the Bible to treat our
symptoms rather than the real problem.<o:p></o:p></span></span></em></strong></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="MsoIntenseEmphasis"><strong><em><span style="color: #4f81bd;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The
1st Psalm clearly says that we are blessed, contented, and happy when we
meditate (not medicate) on God’s Word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Does the Bible help us in time of need? – YES!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does it help to heal our hearts? – Amen to
that – etc., but I submit to you that if that is the only way you are using
God’s Spoken Word, you are missing out on huge blessings that are yours to
claim as a Christian.<o:p></o:p></span></span></em></strong></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="MsoIntenseEmphasis"><strong><em><span style="color: #4f81bd;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We
sometimes associate the word meditate to Eastern religions and maybe even tend
to discount it, but I would challenge you to find an older book that talks more
about meditation than God’s Written Word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I have had my thinking challenged recently as to whether I am filling my
heart (not just reading) with God’s Word on a consistent basis or not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve also asked myself if I am consciously
and intentionally taking time to meditate on how His Word can impact and change
my life, my thinking, my words, my actions, my ability to be a Godly father, and
husband, and minister, and friend, and so on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And so, I pass this challenge on to you.<o:p></o:p></span></span></em></strong></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="MsoIntenseEmphasis"><strong><em><span style="color: #4f81bd;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Would
you consider this week how you can begin or improve upon the intentional
process of meditating on God’s Word and see how it changes your life?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then get back to me and let me know, because
it is encouraging to hear about others who allow God’s Presence and Scripture
to change their lives.<o:p></o:p></span></span></em></strong></span></div>
<span class="MsoIntenseEmphasis"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><strong><em><span style="color: #4f81bd;">In
Christ, Lance</span></em></strong></span></span>Lancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02824263616319752316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865572541308547885.post-16363468309942541702012-02-29T11:05:00.003-08:002012-02-29T11:05:47.218-08:00Prayer Journal - Day One<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgieFpC3j58Ubv4TvyhID6gN78ojaQNvmix0x5FifPZ85oyA0PcCp_zDVU-qkCFRULF2Pdp9X6ckS3GJrOYAEKiTJO2pawzp4QjH5Cx5c5Q3D2Z7qPJgGcir2n-9VVhmXxEd5cax7dKPh3N/s1600/309653_2380848004247_1342091968_2846499_5217401_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgieFpC3j58Ubv4TvyhID6gN78ojaQNvmix0x5FifPZ85oyA0PcCp_zDVU-qkCFRULF2Pdp9X6ckS3GJrOYAEKiTJO2pawzp4QjH5Cx5c5Q3D2Z7qPJgGcir2n-9VVhmXxEd5cax7dKPh3N/s320/309653_2380848004247_1342091968_2846499_5217401_n.jpg" width="316" /></a><span style="font-family: pastel; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">But
God, what am I to do with my list?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: pastel; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="MsoIntenseEmphasis"><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #4f81bd;">Time for some
honesty – <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="MsoIntenseEmphasis"><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #4f81bd;">I am a
Christian, and by Your grace, God I try to live like You would want me to
live.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By Your grace and my efforts of
course, okay, in fact maybe I should reverse those and say, I am going to try
my hardest to live like You want me to live, and hopefully You can help me with
this chore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But to better help Your
efforts of changing me and transforming me I have prepared a list of things to
do, attitudes to have, and steps to get me to where I am pleasing to You on a
more regular basis.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="MsoIntenseEmphasis"><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #4f81bd;">Can any of you
reading this relate to what I just said?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Now to extend my honesty, my list has changed over the years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only in content, but in mission, purpose,
perspective, etc., but it’s still a list and it tends to be what I use to
determine just how “good of a Christian” I am at the current moment.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="MsoIntenseEmphasis"><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #4f81bd;">In my early
years it was a list of just doing enough to get by and somehow eek my way into
heaven, and then it changed drastically to a list of rules and regulations that
were so strict and severe any good legalistic law-keeper would stand up and
cheer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s changed many times through
the years but always it has been there.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="MsoIntenseEmphasis"><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #4f81bd;">I believe with
all my heart that this list has kept me from realizing the greatness of a true
uninhibited relationship with my God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So
back to my original question; God what am I to do with this list?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s full of good things; like how to be a
better dad, and a better husband, and what I need to do to be a better
Christian, and what I need to do to be a better minister, and what I need to do
to be a better friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of these
things are important aren’t they? I’ve even recently added things that will help
me lose weight, and be healthier, and fell better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="MsoIntenseEmphasis"><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #4f81bd;">The problem is
that it’s all my effort and I still haven’t accomplished the only real thing
God wants from me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My life, He wants it
all, He wants control, He wants to be at the helm, He wants to be the reason
for my existence and as long as I keep trying to be a better person driven<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>by my ever changing list, He’s only getting
what I allow Him to have, and even on my very best day, that is soooooooo weak.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoSubtitle" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="MsoIntenseEmphasis"><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #4f81bd;">So God, I’m
giving you my list.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know that there is
a good chance that I’ll take it back, and please forgive me when I do, but each
day, starting today, will you lead me in a quest to be list free and debt free
(not money debt, but the sin debt you took from me so long ago).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m ready to let you be my everything, not
just my pilot.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><span class="MsoIntenseEmphasis"><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 16pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><em><span style="color: #4f81bd;">Lance</span></em></span></span>Lancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02824263616319752316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865572541308547885.post-71623508217232747932012-02-09T09:48:00.000-08:002012-02-09T09:48:33.797-08:00Can a "True Christian" struggle with depression?<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I’ve
heard this question posed before in many different ways, and in fact I’ve heard
it given more as a rhetorical question with the one giving the question making
it clear that the obvious answer is no.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(Btw please note that it is not up to me or you to determine whether
someone’s Christianity is “true” or not) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Sometimes well
meaning Christians come across as the most heartless, cold, uncaring people
when they say things like, “you are just focused on the wrong thing”, or why
can’t you see how blessed you are”, or “you don’t have it nearly as bad as the
man on the street, or the orphan in the 3<sup>rd</sup> world country”, or
countless other phrases intended to knock the person out of their depression.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Whether you know it
or not someone close to you, in fact possibly many people close to you who are
professing Christians are currently struggling with depression.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Studies show that in a typical congregation
of 200 people 50 attendees will experience depression at some point, and at
least 30 are currently taking antidepressants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(March 2009 article in Christianity Today).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We can argue back
and forth about whether depression is a disease or not, but that kind of misses
the point doesn’t it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fact is,
depression is real, and it is all around you, and contrary to some people’s
opinion it isn’t a new problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Listen
to what David said in portions of the 39<sup>th</sup> Psalm <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">– <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Be
merciful to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my
soul and my body with grief. 10 My life is consumed by anguish and my years by
groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak. 11
Because of all my enemies, I am the utter contempt of my neighbors; I am a
dread to my friends — those who see me on the street flee from me. 12 I am
forgotten by them as though I were dead; I have become like broken pottery.</i>
</b>Sounds to me like the man who gave us the greatest praise songs ever also
struggled with depression.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So starting today,
will you make a commitment to pay a little closer attention to those around
you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Watch their body language, take
note of the little self-depreciating things they say, notice when they seem to
be less prompt, or take care of themselves a little less than normal, etc., and
take time to let them know how much you care about them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Send a note, give a hug, and make it obvious
that you are available for them if they need it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Maybe together we
can help each other cope with the difficulties of life, instead of ignoring
what seem to be signs of weakness. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“What then, shall we say in response to
this? If God is for us, who can be against us?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Rom. 8:31</i></b> – and yet God is often revealed through His people,
and their acts of love, compassion, and kindness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God is for us, and we have a responsibility
to help others see this amazing truth, yes even other Christians who are
struggling with depression.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">In Christ,</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Lance Osborn</span>Lancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02824263616319752316noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865572541308547885.post-36143800577493984842012-01-06T09:12:00.000-08:002012-01-06T09:12:41.706-08:00CALIFORNIA DRIVERS!<span class="MsoIntenseEmphasis"><strong><em><span style="color: #4f81bd;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You’ve
probably heard the opinion stated that Californians are rude.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re unfriendly, always in a hurry, and
they are rude drivers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When driving they
cut you off, flip you off, and overall turn you off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yeah I’ve heard it too, and from people who’ve
never stepped a foot in California sometimes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>To be honest when we moved here I did have to adjust to the somewhat
aggressive behavior of California drivers, especially since I was coming from
Oklahoma, but to be fair I learned how to drive like that in Denver, so I don’t
think it’s necessarily a California only thing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></em></strong></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="MsoIntenseEmphasis"><strong><em><span style="color: #4f81bd;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today
as I was driving back to the Church from dropping Cade off at school, there was
a vehicle trying to merge onto the freeway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He was right next to me and had to either speed up or slow down and of
course he sped up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The problem was he
was running out of room and didn’t have time to speed up enough to get in front
of me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now I can be a bit aggressive
myself at times, and the temptation was to just stay where I was and make him
slow down to get behind me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact I
started to do just that and then caught myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I waved him over and slowed down to let him in.<o:p></o:p></span></span></em></strong></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="MsoIntenseEmphasis"><strong><em><span style="color: #4f81bd;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What
happened next was a bit surprising if you hold to the pre-conceived notion that
California drivers are rude.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His back
windows were fogged over, so I couldn’t see him, so he makes the effort to roll
down his window, sticks his hand up as high as he can (I checked for a gun,
just joking) and waved very vigorously to thank me for my decent behavior.<o:p></o:p></span></span></em></strong></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="MsoIntenseEmphasis"><strong><em><span style="color: #4f81bd;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here’s
the point, if I had allowed my thought that this guy is being a jerk and trying
to cut me off (because after all, isn’t that what California drivers do?) to overrule
my thought of extending mercy because that’s the nice thing to do, I would have
gone home thinking that the guy was rude, never knowing that I missed out on
someone who was polite enough to make sure I knew he was thankful.<o:p></o:p></span></span></em></strong></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="MsoIntenseEmphasis"><strong><em><span style="color: #4f81bd;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pre-conceived
notions and assumptions are common place and unfortunately they happen not only
on highways, and in work environments, they also happen in our homes and in our
churches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are often the reason why
we argue and fight with our spouses, rush to false conclusions with our
children, and judge people through self-righteous condemning eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What would happen in your life this year if
you stopped living your life based on pre-conceived notions and assumptions,
and allowed mercy and grace to be the driving factors in your life?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would you invite more people to the worship
service, would you send out more positive emails on a regular basis, would you
criticize less and uplift more, would you treat your family better, would you give others the benefit of the doubt more often, would you feed more homeless people, or even go
on a mission trip?<o:p></o:p></span></span></em></strong></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="MsoIntenseEmphasis"><strong><em><span style="color: #4f81bd;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I
only know one thing that everyone of us has in common, besideds being alive, and that is we are all
sinners in need of a Savior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I gave my
life to Jesus 25 years ago, but sometimes I fail to extend that love to others,
and I will tell you that often it’s because I choose to look at people through
my tainted eyes of experience, hurt, mistrust, judgment, etc., and often it is
because of pre-conceived notions and assumptions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a new year so let us all resolve to look
at everyone through the loving eyes of Jesus, shall we?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And stop bagging on California drivers - lol<o:p></o:p></span></span></em></strong></span></div>
<span class="MsoIntenseEmphasis"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><strong><em><span style="color: #4f81bd;">In
Christ, </span></em></strong></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoIntenseEmphasis"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><strong><em><span style="color: #4f81bd;">Lance</span></em></strong></span></span>Lancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02824263616319752316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865572541308547885.post-47199493133037998932011-12-13T09:51:00.000-08:002011-12-13T09:51:15.941-08:00Celebrating Our Journey<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">According to <a href="http://www.freedictionary.com/"><span style="color: blue;">www.freedictionary.com</span></a> the 2<sup>nd</sup>
definition for journey is, “A process or course likened to traveling; a passage”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In life we have many journeys and you and I
could speak of our journeys through high school, college, marriage, having
children, careers, Christianity, and the list goes on and on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>December 6<sup>th</sup>, 2006 was my family’s
first Sunday morning worship service at TSCC.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>December 10<sup>th</sup> was my first day “on the job” and now 5 years
later, we’ve completed the first 5 year chapter of this incredible journey.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In many ways it
feels like we are still in the beginning phases of this journey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The love and acceptance I and my family have
received here has made these 5 years seem like they only started
yesterday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Church here has not only
accepted my preaching and teaching of God’s Word, my help in leading them along
with the elders, it has also accepted my family as their family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We came here knowing that we would have to
take major road trips to see any of our blood relatives (other than my brother
and his awesome family, who are still 2 ½ hours and a mountain away).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">And yet we have
never felt alone during the holiday seasons, or any other time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have friends here that are those lifetime,
never forget you type of friends – and we have a lot of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Five years of watching a group of people grow
closer to Christ, to each other and to us has been tons of fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not to mention the fact that we keep having
more and more added to this amazing family.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So as we look
forward to the years ahead, let us continue to stick together, love each other
like God loves us, look for ways to bring others into this family of God, and
never forget to give God the Honor as He continues to shape us individually and
together into a masterpiece for His Glory!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ephesians 2:10 For we are God's
masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good
things he planned for us long ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>NLT<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In Christian Love
and Service,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Lance, Jen, Cade, and
Carter Osborn</span>Lancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02824263616319752316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865572541308547885.post-60700548696266486932011-10-28T09:22:00.000-07:002011-10-28T09:22:45.750-07:00I don't want to go to school<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Parents – Ask Questions!!!!!!!<o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">My wife and I have
been attending a required parenting class at Cade’s new school that has been
life changing for me and I don’t say that lightly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve been to a lot of parenting classes and
seen plenty of videos but this one has challenged me in ways I’ve never been
challenged before.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">One of the main
focuses is dealing with attitudes rather than behavior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bad behavior is a result of a bad attitude
and if you ignore the attitude and focus on the bad behavior, you are ignoring
the problem and dealing with the symptoms only.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You know how that works medically and it isn’t any better with children,
in fact it’s worse.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Another thing this
class focuses on is asking questions to see what the child is thinking, how
they are feeling and why their behavior is bad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This was illustrated to me this week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Every morning lately Cade has been saying, “I don’t want to go to school”,
which is weird because he loves school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jen and I have gotten frustrated and started telling him to stop saying
it because we know he doesn’t mean it.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Finally yesterday
when Cade said it again, Jen asked him why he felt that way, yeah we finally
got it right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His answer?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Welling up with tears he said, “because I
just miss you guys so much and want to be with you”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This wasn’t a manipulative act either because
he wasn’t in trouble.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was his heart
revealing how much he loves us and feels loved in our home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Wow!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Talk about a wakeup call.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here all this time I’ve been getting
frustrated with him and irritated that he is saying this and all along it was
just because he loves us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Again I say,
parents ask questions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, Cade still
needs to go to school, and yes we want him to love it, to learn, and have fun,
which he does.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we must never forget
to find out what is in his heart and what he is thinking and feeling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Children have emotions, feelings, and
thoughts that often get ignored in our desire to make them do "what is right" (in our opinion)
regardless of the situation.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Parents learn from my mistake
and ask questions and please, please, please, listen to them when they answer.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">God Bless you in this most difficult yet rewarding task,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Lance</span>Lancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02824263616319752316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865572541308547885.post-45609647154382818322011-10-11T10:01:00.000-07:002011-10-11T10:01:25.179-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLk73uPLwIgj9P7RGBJ-8sTBEQ5x9SK9a0dTZO7F41a-6EYOGEH5Z74jqSqtO85h2-6Ii81gGWIVlVmD46DxDfpnTW86QQtqTNVbkRd-wNbeHKgu7Cxjogbi0xwLOAr5t7MxQwG4GJqSc/s1600/sound-of-music-photo1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLk73uPLwIgj9P7RGBJ-8sTBEQ5x9SK9a0dTZO7F41a-6EYOGEH5Z74jqSqtO85h2-6Ii81gGWIVlVmD46DxDfpnTW86QQtqTNVbkRd-wNbeHKgu7Cxjogbi0xwLOAr5t7MxQwG4GJqSc/s320/sound-of-music-photo1.jpg" width="229" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><strong><span style="color: #bf9000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">My
Favorite Things<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></strong></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I
remember in grade school when our music teacher began to work with my class to
determine which of us wanted to enter in the regional contest for singing or
any other talent we might have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
was a song that we guys stayed away from but there seemed to be at least one
girl every year that would sing it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Raindrops
on roses and whiskers on kittens”……. Really?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For a boy in the 5<sup>th</sup> grade that was an extremely lame song…….
“Girls in white dresses, with blue satin sashes”?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Talk about making a ten year old boy want to
vomit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">But
you know the song has a point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all
have our own specific list of our favorite things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It might be shaped by our gender, race,
background, upbringing, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It might be
shaped by role models, parents, grand-parents, teachers, or many other things,
but it definitely exists and is unique to each of us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I
also remember in the 5<sup>th</sup> Grade receiving a calendar picture of Joe
Montana from Mrs. Green.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had
randomly picked QB’s for each of us boys and I got Joe Montana.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I became a 49er fan for life and now live
less than 2 hours from Candlestick Park (where they play, for you non-football
fans).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s amazing how life works.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Today’s
list of favorite things is very different from back then but it still
exists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It includes NY Super Fudge Ice
Cream, G2, Lindt Dark Chocolate, Boneless Buffalo Wings from Chili’s, the TV
Show Monk, the Andy Griffith show, Southern Gospel music, Oklahoma Sooners, and
the 49ers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s the thing, as you read
my list you might be rolling your eyes, or laughing at me, or even agreeing
with me, but to me it’s an amazing list.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I
do have a point in all of this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God has
blessed me with a list of favorite things that has nothing to do with food, or
football or TV Shows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s the morning
drive Cade and I take to his school every day, it’s the view of the ocean, and
the mountains, and even sky-scrapers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
waking up every day and knowing that I’m loved by the most amazing woman (in my
opinion) God ever put on this earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
watching my youngest son as he learns to walk, and talk, and shake his head no,
and laugh uncontrollably when he’s tickled by his mom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">And
last but not least it’s every October during pastor appreciation month when I’m
reminded again just how blessed I am to be serving God at Tyler Street Church
of Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The truth is that I get this
reminder on a weekly if not daily basis, but this one time of the year when I’m
showered with love and gifts and cards, I shake my head in wonder and
thankfulness that God saw fit to put me and my family here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Working with and under a Godly leadership,
and alongside a bunch of amazing people who have given us so much over the
almost 5 years we’ve been here, from physical gifts to emotional and spiritual
gifts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I
have a shelf on my desk that is dedicated to nothing but the cards and small
reminders of this love, and it grows each and every day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are a few of my favorite things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May God bless you today as you think of your
list of favorite things, and may you be thankful for the people and things God
has placed in your life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Blessed
beyond belief,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Lance<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Lancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02824263616319752316noreply@blogger.com0