Almost like Mac v. IBM!! :) NY v. NE!! I'm for the Giants!!
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Change 4 Deaf (Part 1)
Something that I've always been so ignorant about "politics" but this one surely enlightened me! :)
Change 4 Deaf (Part 2)
Something that I've always been so ignorant about "politics" but this one surely enlightened me! :)
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Monday, January 28, 2008
Cairo Egypt Deaf KFC
Wow! 17 deaf workers. Some hearing workers taking orders via phone.. Overall, interesting video!!
Friday, January 25, 2008
Live Jesus
I was watching ESPN's "Around the Horn" and saw a commercial encouraging football fans to live football: eat football, drink football, sleep football, breathe football. Of course, it gave me a chuckle so I decided to say it this way since football doesn't give life:
Eat Jesus
Drink Jesus
Sleep Jesus
Breathe Jesus
In real life, eating and drinking is very important to keep our body energized and hydrated. Sleep is equally important to shut down our mind/body and be recharged and ready for the next day. We definitely need air to breathe otherwise we're all extinct on earth: everything in life need air to live and that's God's design.
In spiritual sense, by eating and drinking Jesus daily, we read His Eternal and Powerful Word. The Word keeps us inspired and energized in God. It's what our soul hungers for. Without the Word, you're a dying soul just as a body is dying without adequate food and water. Let's reflect our life on Psalm 23 where the Shepherd leads us to green pastures and still waters. It's a place of rest. Regardless of any circumstances, the Lord wants us to experience peace in Him. That's sleep for us. Finally, it's important to daily breathe Jesus! There's no life without air. There's no life without Jesus.
Eat, Drink, Sleep, Breathe Jesus everyday!
Eat Jesus
Drink Jesus
Sleep Jesus
Breathe Jesus
In real life, eating and drinking is very important to keep our body energized and hydrated. Sleep is equally important to shut down our mind/body and be recharged and ready for the next day. We definitely need air to breathe otherwise we're all extinct on earth: everything in life need air to live and that's God's design.
In spiritual sense, by eating and drinking Jesus daily, we read His Eternal and Powerful Word. The Word keeps us inspired and energized in God. It's what our soul hungers for. Without the Word, you're a dying soul just as a body is dying without adequate food and water. Let's reflect our life on Psalm 23 where the Shepherd leads us to green pastures and still waters. It's a place of rest. Regardless of any circumstances, the Lord wants us to experience peace in Him. That's sleep for us. Finally, it's important to daily breathe Jesus! There's no life without air. There's no life without Jesus.
Eat, Drink, Sleep, Breathe Jesus everyday!
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Bob's House -- Pepsi's new Super Bowl Ad
Ha! Awesome commercial!!! It will be on national television during Super Bowl night!!! :)
Personal Life: It May Not Be Convenient (Taking The Cross)
Our brother in Christ, Darrin Forshay, forwards Tozer Daily Devotionals to me from time to time. I've really enjoyed reading them until this one article which just seriously rocked the "temple" in me!!!
This is a perfect article for Christians (deaf and hearing) living in the urban cities where time and priorities are often conflicting with spiritual opportunities. The author made one good point that I would like to point out to Christians in the world, "inconvenience":
"The truth is that every advance that we make for God and for His cause must be made at our inconvenience. If it does not inconvenience us at all, there is no cross in it!"
You may understand this in part or you may not understand it at all! Read on and I'll give an example:
****
It May Not Be Convenient
But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. --1 Corinthians 9:27
What must our Lord think of us if His work and His witness depend upon the convenience of His people? The truth is that every advance that we make for God and for His cause must be made at our inconvenience. If it does not inconvenience us at all, there is no cross in it! If we have been able to reduce spirituality to a smooth pattern and it costs us nothing--no disturbance, no bother and no element of sacrifice in it--we are not getting anywhere with God. We have stopped and pitched our unworthy tent halfway between the swamp and the peak.
We are mediocre Christians! (Mediocre means poor; settling for the ordinary; moderate in quality; barely adequate.)
Was there ever a cross that was convenient? Was there ever a convenient way to die? I have never heard of any, and judgment is not going to be a matter of convenience, either! Yet we look around for convenience, thinking we can reach the mountain peak conveniently and without trouble or danger to ourselves.
Actually, mountain climbers are always in peril and they are always advancing at their inconvenience. "I Talk Back to the Devil, 48."
****
Jesus said to His disciples:
"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?" Matthew 16:24-26 (niv)
Here are some life instances that we see today to determine whether you are carrying the "cross" or not:
1. Train yourselves to be godly (bible studies, worship, fellowship events)
2. Repentance (daily turn to God)
3. Prayer (Continual conversation with God)
4. Daily Bible reading (Eat and drink God's Word daily which is necessary for growth)
5. Serving (community, neighbors, fellow brother/sister)
6. Correct misunderstanding
7. Being an example (to your spouse, children, family members, co-workers)
8. Let your conversation be seasoned with grace & faith (no profanity, ridicule)
9. Denying self (Jesus was tired yet He carried the cross and walked all the way!)
10. Go the extra mile (Jesus went all the way to die for you!)
11. Seriousness (sober judgment & mind)
12. Daily examination of self (What did I do wrong? What is lacking?)
13. Keeping faith in check
14. Forgive & forget
15. Enjoy the freedom you have with God
16. JOY: Jesus first, Others second and Yourself last
17. Remember your first love (at baptism) and stay loving God
18. Sacrificing self (never indulging in "rights")
19. Faith on Fire (Revelation 3:16; choose between hot or cold; not lukewarm (mediocre).
20. Seeking opportunites to share (keeping eyes and hearts open for opportunities)
21. Keeping the Sabbath Day (Sunday) (Worship your God with others)
22. Give up world's values, entertainment & esteem (Set your minds on things above.)
23. Live not in the flesh but in faith with God (Tired, overcome. Distance, go. Priorities, set God first)
24. Suffer shame for Jesus
25. Be humble
26. Give God the glory in all you do!
27. Be disciplined.
28. Be consistent.
29. Put God first in your life (He's #1 in your list of priorities! Never bump Him down!)
Why go through all this? Because Jesus did!
"But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world" Galatians 6:14
"Lord, I don't know what You have in store for me today, in Your sovereign plan for my life. Help me to serve You faithfully, with full discipline, whether it's convenient or not. Amen."
This is a perfect article for Christians (deaf and hearing) living in the urban cities where time and priorities are often conflicting with spiritual opportunities. The author made one good point that I would like to point out to Christians in the world, "inconvenience":
"The truth is that every advance that we make for God and for His cause must be made at our inconvenience. If it does not inconvenience us at all, there is no cross in it!"
You may understand this in part or you may not understand it at all! Read on and I'll give an example:
****
It May Not Be Convenient
But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. --1 Corinthians 9:27
What must our Lord think of us if His work and His witness depend upon the convenience of His people? The truth is that every advance that we make for God and for His cause must be made at our inconvenience. If it does not inconvenience us at all, there is no cross in it! If we have been able to reduce spirituality to a smooth pattern and it costs us nothing--no disturbance, no bother and no element of sacrifice in it--we are not getting anywhere with God. We have stopped and pitched our unworthy tent halfway between the swamp and the peak.
We are mediocre Christians! (Mediocre means poor; settling for the ordinary; moderate in quality; barely adequate.)
Was there ever a cross that was convenient? Was there ever a convenient way to die? I have never heard of any, and judgment is not going to be a matter of convenience, either! Yet we look around for convenience, thinking we can reach the mountain peak conveniently and without trouble or danger to ourselves.
Actually, mountain climbers are always in peril and they are always advancing at their inconvenience. "I Talk Back to the Devil, 48."
****
Jesus said to His disciples:
"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?" Matthew 16:24-26 (niv)
Here are some life instances that we see today to determine whether you are carrying the "cross" or not:
1. Train yourselves to be godly (bible studies, worship, fellowship events)
2. Repentance (daily turn to God)
3. Prayer (Continual conversation with God)
4. Daily Bible reading (Eat and drink God's Word daily which is necessary for growth)
5. Serving (community, neighbors, fellow brother/sister)
6. Correct misunderstanding
7. Being an example (to your spouse, children, family members, co-workers)
8. Let your conversation be seasoned with grace & faith (no profanity, ridicule)
9. Denying self (Jesus was tired yet He carried the cross and walked all the way!)
10. Go the extra mile (Jesus went all the way to die for you!)
11. Seriousness (sober judgment & mind)
12. Daily examination of self (What did I do wrong? What is lacking?)
13. Keeping faith in check
14. Forgive & forget
15. Enjoy the freedom you have with God
16. JOY: Jesus first, Others second and Yourself last
17. Remember your first love (at baptism) and stay loving God
18. Sacrificing self (never indulging in "rights")
19. Faith on Fire (Revelation 3:16; choose between hot or cold; not lukewarm (mediocre).
20. Seeking opportunites to share (keeping eyes and hearts open for opportunities)
21. Keeping the Sabbath Day (Sunday) (Worship your God with others)
22. Give up world's values, entertainment & esteem (Set your minds on things above.)
23. Live not in the flesh but in faith with God (Tired, overcome. Distance, go. Priorities, set God first)
24. Suffer shame for Jesus
25. Be humble
26. Give God the glory in all you do!
27. Be disciplined.
28. Be consistent.
29. Put God first in your life (He's #1 in your list of priorities! Never bump Him down!)
Why go through all this? Because Jesus did!
"But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world" Galatians 6:14
"Lord, I don't know what You have in store for me today, in Your sovereign plan for my life. Help me to serve You faithfully, with full discipline, whether it's convenient or not. Amen."
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Suffering: A Greatest Challenge to the Christian Faith
Good afternoon, bloggers!!
We're studying "Case for Faith" on Wednesday nights!! Lee Strobel's book, "Case For Faith" is awesome!! It's a highly recommended book to read!! Here's one excerpt that touched my heart! It actually felt like a train hit me!!
British minister, John R.W. Stott acknowledged that suffering is "the single greatest challenge to the Christian faith," has reached his own conclusion:
"I could never myself believe in God, if it were not for the cross... In the real world of pain, how could one worship a God who was immune to it? I have entered many Buddhist temples in different Asian countries and stood respectfully before the statue of Buddha, his legs crossed, arms folded, eyes closed, the ghost of a smile playing round his mouth, a remote look on his face, detached from the agonies of the world. But each time after a while I have had to turn away.
And in imagination I have turned instead to that lonely, twisted, tortured figure on the cross, nails through hands and feet, back lacerated, limbs wrenched, brow bleeding from thorn-pricks, mouth dry and intolerably thirsty, plunged in God-forsaken darkness. That is the God for me!
He laid aside his immunity to pain. He entered our world of flesh and blood, tears and death. He suffered for us. Our sufferings become more manageable in light of His. There is still a question mark, the cross which symbolizes divine suffering. 'The cross of Christ... is God's only self-justification in such a world' as ours."
Powerful comparison and thought!!! And that's why I love Jesus! I love Him to death! He endured the cross for us.. We, in turn, ought to endure the cross ourselves!! In the next blog, I will be posting another article explaining "The Cross".. When you have taken the "cross" and followed Jesus, are you still carrying the "cross"? It's easy to misunderstand this part.. Please take the time and read my next post in this blog.
We're studying "Case for Faith" on Wednesday nights!! Lee Strobel's book, "Case For Faith" is awesome!! It's a highly recommended book to read!! Here's one excerpt that touched my heart! It actually felt like a train hit me!!
British minister, John R.W. Stott acknowledged that suffering is "the single greatest challenge to the Christian faith," has reached his own conclusion:
"I could never myself believe in God, if it were not for the cross... In the real world of pain, how could one worship a God who was immune to it? I have entered many Buddhist temples in different Asian countries and stood respectfully before the statue of Buddha, his legs crossed, arms folded, eyes closed, the ghost of a smile playing round his mouth, a remote look on his face, detached from the agonies of the world. But each time after a while I have had to turn away.
And in imagination I have turned instead to that lonely, twisted, tortured figure on the cross, nails through hands and feet, back lacerated, limbs wrenched, brow bleeding from thorn-pricks, mouth dry and intolerably thirsty, plunged in God-forsaken darkness. That is the God for me!
He laid aside his immunity to pain. He entered our world of flesh and blood, tears and death. He suffered for us. Our sufferings become more manageable in light of His. There is still a question mark, the cross which symbolizes divine suffering. 'The cross of Christ... is God's only self-justification in such a world' as ours."
Powerful comparison and thought!!! And that's why I love Jesus! I love Him to death! He endured the cross for us.. We, in turn, ought to endure the cross ourselves!! In the next blog, I will be posting another article explaining "The Cross".. When you have taken the "cross" and followed Jesus, are you still carrying the "cross"? It's easy to misunderstand this part.. Please take the time and read my next post in this blog.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Christian Acronyms
Enjoy these acros!!
BIBLE: Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth
GRACE: God's Riches At Christ's Expense
FROG: Fully Rely On God
CIA: Christian In Action
PUSH: Pray Until Something Happens
IROCC: I Rely On Christ Completely
CIA: Christ Is Alive
COPS: Christians Obediently Preaching Salvation
IBIG: I Believe In God
W omen and men
A wakened
R emoving the spiritual veils
R emembering the blood
I ntoxicated with the spirit
O ffering help to those who God appoints them to
R aiding what Satan stole from them
S ouls fighting, warring against the metal and glass
BUSY: Being Under Satan's Yoke
BABE: Born Again Believer Eternally
ALIENS - A Light In Every Neighbourhood and School
ALIENS - Adolescants Living to Impact Everyone with News of Salvation
DOG - Depend On God
GOD - God Our Defender
FRIEND - Fully Reliable In Each New Difficulty (or Day)
WWJD backwards - Devil Just Won't Win
PUSH backwards - Holy Spirit Unites People
FROG backwards - God Our Righteous Friend
J Justified by God
U Under the blood
I In Christ forever
C Changed by the Holy Spirit
E Empowered by His love
B.A.S.I.C.: Becoming A Soldier In Christ
Be B.I.G.: Be Big In God
CHRIST - Certainly His Resurrection Is Supreme Truth
ASAP - Always Say A Prayer
WWJV: What Would Jesus View (Not your views; Not the worldview)
GPS:
G.P.S.
Getting People Saved
Guiding People to Salvation
Gospel Preaching Soldiers
Getting Prayers Said
***************************
In Len Sweet's book, he wrote down the acro for NUTS:
"The gospel presents a life-changing NUTS wisdom that conflicts with normal ways of making sense of the world. There is the World According to Normal. There is the World According to NUTS ... where NUTS is ...
.... Never Undererstimate The Spirit.
.... The wisdom of Jesus is a NUTS wisdom."
I live in the world of 'NUTS'!!!
***************************
FEAR: False Evidence Appearing Real
JOY: Jesus (first) Others (second) Yourselves (last)
PRAY: Praise Repent Ask Yield
SIN: Self Inflicted Nonsense
LOVE: Listen Overlook Value Encourage
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): Kids For Christ
TLC: Teens Loving Christ
**************************
I don't like the word, LUCK. But, if I see it in a different way, it would be spelled out like this:
Living Under Christ's Kingdom
**************************
TGIF: Thank God I'm Forgiv'n
And finally....
As opposed to ESP, I'll say, HSP which stands for Holy Spirit's Perception
BIBLE: Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth
GRACE: God's Riches At Christ's Expense
FROG: Fully Rely On God
CIA: Christian In Action
PUSH: Pray Until Something Happens
IROCC: I Rely On Christ Completely
CIA: Christ Is Alive
COPS: Christians Obediently Preaching Salvation
IBIG: I Believe In God
W omen and men
A wakened
R emoving the spiritual veils
R emembering the blood
I ntoxicated with the spirit
O ffering help to those who God appoints them to
R aiding what Satan stole from them
S ouls fighting, warring against the metal and glass
BUSY: Being Under Satan's Yoke
BABE: Born Again Believer Eternally
ALIENS - A Light In Every Neighbourhood and School
ALIENS - Adolescants Living to Impact Everyone with News of Salvation
DOG - Depend On God
GOD - God Our Defender
FRIEND - Fully Reliable In Each New Difficulty (or Day)
WWJD backwards - Devil Just Won't Win
PUSH backwards - Holy Spirit Unites People
FROG backwards - God Our Righteous Friend
J Justified by God
U Under the blood
I In Christ forever
C Changed by the Holy Spirit
E Empowered by His love
B.A.S.I.C.: Becoming A Soldier In Christ
Be B.I.G.: Be Big In God
CHRIST - Certainly His Resurrection Is Supreme Truth
ASAP - Always Say A Prayer
WWJV: What Would Jesus View (Not your views; Not the worldview)
GPS:
G.P.S.
Getting People Saved
Guiding People to Salvation
Gospel Preaching Soldiers
Getting Prayers Said
***************************
In Len Sweet's book, he wrote down the acro for NUTS:
"The gospel presents a life-changing NUTS wisdom that conflicts with normal ways of making sense of the world. There is the World According to Normal. There is the World According to NUTS ... where NUTS is ...
.... Never Undererstimate The Spirit.
.... The wisdom of Jesus is a NUTS wisdom."
I live in the world of 'NUTS'!!!
***************************
FEAR: False Evidence Appearing Real
JOY: Jesus (first) Others (second) Yourselves (last)
PRAY: Praise Repent Ask Yield
SIN: Self Inflicted Nonsense
LOVE: Listen Overlook Value Encourage
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): Kids For Christ
TLC: Teens Loving Christ
**************************
I don't like the word, LUCK. But, if I see it in a different way, it would be spelled out like this:
Living Under Christ's Kingdom
**************************
TGIF: Thank God I'm Forgiv'n
And finally....
As opposed to ESP, I'll say, HSP which stands for Holy Spirit's Perception
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
God & War
Morning, bloggers!!
Pray you're all keeping the faith in Jesus today, this week, this month and throughout the rest of your life!
I believe this is a fantastic article and at a perfect time helping us understand war. With war in Iraq and Afghanistan and all over the world, I pray this article (link) will help you understand why God allows war. You'll be surprised to see the "numbers": years of war and years of peace since B.C. 3600!! Check out this link:
http://www.maxlucado.com/pdf/upwords.god.and.war.pdf
Lord, Be Praised!!
Pray you're all keeping the faith in Jesus today, this week, this month and throughout the rest of your life!
I believe this is a fantastic article and at a perfect time helping us understand war. With war in Iraq and Afghanistan and all over the world, I pray this article (link) will help you understand why God allows war. You'll be surprised to see the "numbers": years of war and years of peace since B.C. 3600!! Check out this link:
http://www.maxlucado.com/pdf/upwords.god.and.war.pdf
Lord, Be Praised!!
Friday, January 04, 2008
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Random thoughts on the 3rd day of January...
Ok.. I'm going to try doing this every third day of the month. It just came to mind today. I don't know why. Another side of me tells me NOT to do this while another one tells me it's important to edify His church at Fairfax and elsewhere. Probably something the Lord wants me to do. And the third day has its own significance, many: Jesus rose on the third day, Saul was blind for three days before meeting Ananias and many others in the Bible.
If you're a family at Fairfax, I encourage you to encourage your fellow brother and/or sister in Christ to read this blog as well as other spiritual blogs in the blog world. Here are some thoughts that ran through my mind today and I pondered on them and prayed to the Lord:
1. Last night's class was small. Some were out of town while another had a medical reason. I don't know about the rest but, of course, I'll leave that up to God. I was personally exhausted after a 5 and 12 hour trip in two days with only one day of rest. And I thanked God for giving me a little more energy to continue through the day and eve for an opportunity to study His Word, to feed and be fed among His family at Fairfax. Also, I encourage everyone to "reserve" Wednesdays and Sundays as a time to be with God together as a family. The reason is, two things: being an example to others (members and visitors) and a personal establishment of setting God first in their lives (Matthew 6:33).
2. After seeing my dad in Kansas last month over the holidays, I've pointed the "prayer laser" at dad's heart in hope that God will (Lord willing) intervene on his behalf as he struggles with Parkinsons disease. After seeing him, he hasn't been doing very well. Just the morning we're getting ready to leave to return to Kansas City, I gave my dad a hug and encouraged him to keep on trusting in God and that I love him so much. I just had to leave immediately because my eyes were welling up and my heart reached my throat. I sought the Lord for His hand, His power, and His mercy be poured out on him. Bless my mother for her undying devotion to her husband. She's sticking by him every inch of the way.
3. Enemies Within... "I don't like him/her." We're battling the wrong being. Not that we will "never" have conflicts, we will. Believe it or not, it's a healthy way to grow. You'll learn more about one another with it than without. Seriously! But if we cringe and run away from this conflict, then you may never grow to appreciate your fellow brother or sister in Christ. You may say that you don't like one person in the church because he/she may be too quiet or he/she may be too loud like a drama king/queen. Remember, God created individuals in a unique way. Everyone has different personalities.. I enjoy quiet people. I also enjoy loud people. Sometimes. :) The real issue is Satan. He's the real enemy. We're fighting against him.. If you have an opinion about another people around you, pray about it. Let's be positive. Let's be Jesus.
4. I was reading Paul's comments to the governor in Acts 26:29, "Short time or long - I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am (Christian), except for these chains." (niv/parenthesis mine) Paul desires those he approached to tell them about Jesus to become like him. Paul loves the Lord. He imitates the Lord Jesus Christ, His love, His compassion for the lost, His zeal to give God the glory and His undying devotion to fulfill the will of the Lord, even to the point of death! Some or many of us have grown weary in our walk of faith.
That's my random thoughts on this third day! Lord, Be Praised!!!
Do you think the road to eternity is a long one? If you answered, "Yes", then you're wrong. For those whom have given their lives to the Lord in baptism, eternity lives in each of you as long as you're heartfully devoted to doing the Lord's will everyday! Paul also said, "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ." 1 Corinthians 11:1. So, beware of others who do not give a good example to you. Avoid imitating them but only Jesus. One may decide not to go to church, would you follow their example as well? One may decide not to read the Bible everyday, would you follow their example, too? There are may other examples that I can list on and on but you know them yourselves. It would be good to daily examine your life closely:
"Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you - unless, of course, you fail the test?" 2 Corinthians 13:5 (niv)
If you're a family at Fairfax, I encourage you to encourage your fellow brother and/or sister in Christ to read this blog as well as other spiritual blogs in the blog world. Here are some thoughts that ran through my mind today and I pondered on them and prayed to the Lord:
1. Last night's class was small. Some were out of town while another had a medical reason. I don't know about the rest but, of course, I'll leave that up to God. I was personally exhausted after a 5 and 12 hour trip in two days with only one day of rest. And I thanked God for giving me a little more energy to continue through the day and eve for an opportunity to study His Word, to feed and be fed among His family at Fairfax. Also, I encourage everyone to "reserve" Wednesdays and Sundays as a time to be with God together as a family. The reason is, two things: being an example to others (members and visitors) and a personal establishment of setting God first in their lives (Matthew 6:33).
2. After seeing my dad in Kansas last month over the holidays, I've pointed the "prayer laser" at dad's heart in hope that God will (Lord willing) intervene on his behalf as he struggles with Parkinsons disease. After seeing him, he hasn't been doing very well. Just the morning we're getting ready to leave to return to Kansas City, I gave my dad a hug and encouraged him to keep on trusting in God and that I love him so much. I just had to leave immediately because my eyes were welling up and my heart reached my throat. I sought the Lord for His hand, His power, and His mercy be poured out on him. Bless my mother for her undying devotion to her husband. She's sticking by him every inch of the way.
3. Enemies Within... "I don't like him/her." We're battling the wrong being. Not that we will "never" have conflicts, we will. Believe it or not, it's a healthy way to grow. You'll learn more about one another with it than without. Seriously! But if we cringe and run away from this conflict, then you may never grow to appreciate your fellow brother or sister in Christ. You may say that you don't like one person in the church because he/she may be too quiet or he/she may be too loud like a drama king/queen. Remember, God created individuals in a unique way. Everyone has different personalities.. I enjoy quiet people. I also enjoy loud people. Sometimes. :) The real issue is Satan. He's the real enemy. We're fighting against him.. If you have an opinion about another people around you, pray about it. Let's be positive. Let's be Jesus.
4. I was reading Paul's comments to the governor in Acts 26:29, "Short time or long - I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am (Christian), except for these chains." (niv/parenthesis mine) Paul desires those he approached to tell them about Jesus to become like him. Paul loves the Lord. He imitates the Lord Jesus Christ, His love, His compassion for the lost, His zeal to give God the glory and His undying devotion to fulfill the will of the Lord, even to the point of death! Some or many of us have grown weary in our walk of faith.
That's my random thoughts on this third day! Lord, Be Praised!!!
Do you think the road to eternity is a long one? If you answered, "Yes", then you're wrong. For those whom have given their lives to the Lord in baptism, eternity lives in each of you as long as you're heartfully devoted to doing the Lord's will everyday! Paul also said, "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ." 1 Corinthians 11:1. So, beware of others who do not give a good example to you. Avoid imitating them but only Jesus. One may decide not to go to church, would you follow their example as well? One may decide not to read the Bible everyday, would you follow their example, too? There are may other examples that I can list on and on but you know them yourselves. It would be good to daily examine your life closely:
"Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you - unless, of course, you fail the test?" 2 Corinthians 13:5 (niv)
Transfusion
Was talking with a brother in Christ of mine and we were joking a bit about how the things of life can affect and trigger our attitudes such as people pulling in front of you as you drive to home, work or wherever. The temperature of your blood rises to the point of driving you wildly mad, pounding the steering wheel and pumping your fist at them. Can you picture yourselves in this person's driver's seat?
Perhaps, even though you may have buried your old lives in the Lord and be covered with the blood of the Lamb, we ought to have a daily blood transfusion and put in the blood of Christ where it doesn't boil to the point of driving you wildly mad! :) Put in Galatians 5:22-23, the 9 fruit of the Spirit, especially when one of them is "self-control".
And, yes, you may say that you aren't a perfect Christian but that still doesn't give you the liberty of doing things that aren't in the will of God. We strive to be an example of Jesus Christ, 24/7. And, remember this, it's not you that's driving the car, it is Jesus Christ at the steering wheel. ;)
Perhaps, even though you may have buried your old lives in the Lord and be covered with the blood of the Lamb, we ought to have a daily blood transfusion and put in the blood of Christ where it doesn't boil to the point of driving you wildly mad! :) Put in Galatians 5:22-23, the 9 fruit of the Spirit, especially when one of them is "self-control".
And, yes, you may say that you aren't a perfect Christian but that still doesn't give you the liberty of doing things that aren't in the will of God. We strive to be an example of Jesus Christ, 24/7. And, remember this, it's not you that's driving the car, it is Jesus Christ at the steering wheel. ;)
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