Rags To Riches – Part 5: The Time For Change Is Now!

Posted on March 19, 2012 by admin

Image by Jose Fares & available at CreationSwap.com

Part 5. The time for change is now!
Be sure to read part 1, part 2, part 3, and part 4 first.

This is a fact: Christ bought all of mankind with His sinless blood (John 3:16-17). In the face of absolute abandonment He willingly gave all He had for us. For a world of men like Judas, a world of men like me. Is there any greater expression of love and pure desire for someone? He gave this priceless gift for anyone who would choose to accept it (and we do have to choose – John 3:18)). It is for this I am eternally grateful. I am compelled to exalt Him with every breath, every pen stroke! Every look must be consecrated to Christ.

I’ve shared a lot about my life with you. I haven’t hit on specific “details” and I did that on purpose. In truth, we have a tendency to compare ourselves to others. As I mentioned early on, we look at people and state “at least I’m not…(fill in the blank).” I want to challenge you to step away from that. Look at yourself. Look closely. Go deep. What is it in you that can and should change? How would your life be different if you handed the scalpel to God instead of using it on someone else? Trust me, it’s painful…but worth it!

Though I am still far from perfect, I humbly ask Jesus to take me and pour me out as a love offering to The Father. I give myself freely! I am a bought treasure, cherished in His house, the coveted prize of a supernatural contest! Guess what…you are too! It is a wonder and a marvel that we could have such unspeakable value.

Rags to riches? Absolutely. My challenge to you is that you would fully embrace what He has for you: a new life that can begin today, now, in this very moment. I am so grateful for Jesus loving acceptance of me. In a wonderful and miraculous way God has remade a broken man. Billions of people of all ages spread over 60 centuries have left behind the hollow ruins of their own efforts. By His Spirit they have been recloaked in the amazing treasures of His love, a genuine transformation … from Rags to Riches.

-Take It Deeper-
What needs to change:

The first, most important question: Am I Christ’s?
If the answer is no…why not? What’s holding you back?
If the answer is yes…are you fully His?
When I look at my life, what have I kept from Him? Why?
Am I willing to let Jesus look deeply into me…and change me?
Am I willing to lay aside my fears and anger and doubt…for His Truth?
Today…what will be different?

Take this vital step again, write your answers down and pray over them. If you don’t like what you see, get help! Talk with someone! There are so many amazing people who can help…because they have been there! Check out the AllAboutGod tab and start getting answers today. God has so much for you, reach out for it…and be transformed by what you find!

Praying you find true peace in Christ’s love,
Dave

Read part 1 now: “This is where it starts…I need to see like He sees”

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“Thor” Movie Review

Posted on March 16, 2012 by admin

International Movie Poster from Wikipedia.com

Which will it be?
I Bought It – I Rented It – I Trashed It
Let’s find out!

Okay, so here’s the scoop. My kids and I really enjoyed this one. We’re into the whole super hero thing and figured this was worth checking out. I’m especially drawn to films with a healthy “father” message, and this one provided a solid dose of teachable elements to relate with my sons over.

It’s also been fun to see so many of the Marvel comics of my childhood hit the “big screen.” The sad let down has often been the presence of objectionable content in what could have been fantastic films…thank you Hollywood for not caring what we think! That said, there is a very important stop we need to make before digging into this particular movie.

When my family and I want to watch something new our first step is always…ALWAYS…to check out its content review. My two favorite options for this are PluggedIn.com and KidsInMind.com. I’m partial to each for distinct reasons.

PluggedIn comes from a Christian world view and addresses the frequent underlying spiritual issues that may be a concern. They also do a good job tackling issues like modesty, profanity, etc, all the things we ought to be evaluating in our viewing habits.

When it comes to KidsInMind I’m not sure what the world view is but they have a very simple system of letting you know at a glance what their evaluation of a films content is.

20120316-115512.jpg

Screen shot from the KidsInMind App available at the iTunes Store

This is a screen shot that shows you what I saw when I pulled up Thor. What you may have noticed are the three bars to the right. My highest priority are the top and bottom ones. If the Sex/Nudity meter goes past “2″ I typically don’t even read the review. If the Profanity line bumps any higher than “3″ I want to know more specifics (they include non-obscenities in this category).

Armed with the information from these two sites I am able to make an informed decision about what will make it into my head…and my family’s.

That said, let’s dive into the film!

Marvel did a great job of translating this classic comic book character to the screen. As the film began to unfold, I was immediately swept up in the rich visual effects and resonant sound track. I’m not talking about explosions either, it was the depth of detail given to the backgrounds that caught my attention. Seconds ticked by and we were immediately immersed in the realm of Oden (Anthony Hopkins), Asgard.

Copyright 2011 Paramount Pictures

Crystalline towers rimmed in gold and silver populated a very real-feeling alien landscape…a dwelling place of superhumans. The opening scene culminated in the coronation ceremony of one of the lands prized citizens: Thor…son of Odin, and that’s when the trouble began.

I’m a huge fan of stories that pull you in quickly and Thor didn’t disappoint. Sibling rivalry, a bit of celestial espionage, and enemies that look as though they were born in the Underworld all work together to provide this classic Marvel plot with just the right amount of momentum. Throw in a son who is missing his father’s greatest hope and well, you can see where things are headed. Now, at this point, I have to be a bit careful with what I share…there are way too many opportunities to spoil significant plot elements.

As the viewer, we were transported from Asgard, to Yodenheim (land of the Frost Giants), and then to Earth. Without telling you how, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is stripped of his otherworldly might…no more powerful than a human. Essentially banished to our realm, he is left to wrestle with the emotional and physical weight of disappointing his father and his new condition. Enter Scientists Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), Darcy Lewis (Kat Dennings), and the ever pessimistic Erik Selvig (Stellan Skarsgård – watch for him to show up in The Avengers). With the reluctant but often humorous help of these three mortals Thor begins the quest of discovery and the pursuit of his former might.

Thor Press Still

Copyright 2011 Paramount Pictures

As you might imagine, romance is woven in along the way. I will say that they managed to add this element with about 95% good taste though. Maybe Hollywood is attempting to listen to its “other” viewers. I don’t remember having to look away from any immodesty (that’s right…I look away) which was a nice change because it allowed me to actually enjoy the story-line! In regards to other negatives, I was a bit apprehensive about how they were going to handle the whole Norse gods theme. Again, I was pleasantly surprised. It wasn’t that they didn’t go there…they did, but different than I expected. Thor and the others from his realm were self defined as having might beyond the explanation of ancient humans…which those mortals interpreted to be divine in nature. This provided some great opportunity to talk with our kids and reinforce some of our own beliefs. Well done Marvel.

I’ll leave the rest of the fun stuff for those of you that will see the film. I will say this though, I was pleased with how it ended. It wasn’t too predictable, and it left me wanting more, which is good because apparently…there is more coming. As a little bonus for those who aren’t prone to switch their DVD player off a bit too quickly, pay attention to what follows the credits. If you hang out for this final tidbit you’ll understand what I mean by “there is more coming.”

My overall rating of the film? I’ll give this an enthusiastic “I Bought It” which is saying quite a lot given my finicky standards. I hope you enjoy it too.

Until next time, watch what you watch,

Dave

Watch one of the “Thor” TV trailers
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJvC817em4U?rel=0]
PluggedIn.com Movie Review of “Thor.”

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The End Is Near!!! Oh Really? A Bit Of Science Behind December 21, 2012

Posted on March 14, 2012 by admin

This video is of a  NASA scientist explaining why the world won’t end in 2012.[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaKcPEBiZZw?rel=0]

Okay, so here’s what we’ve heard so far…we’re all gonna die! Yep, that about says it. Years and years ago there was a Mayan civilization that was so advanced…it collapsed (read a bit of sarcasm here). And yet millions of people on this shiny blue ball called Earth are raving about their “final” calendar.

Once again, the minds of the masses are raptly scouring the heavens for an “event” that is going to deal the death knell of our world. Please help me with this one. Why are we trusting the Mayans? Why have we decided they are the authority for global existence? There were aspects to their culture that were worth learning from…but significant parts of that learning revolves around what we ought NOT to do.

I don’t really feel the need to go over all the beneficial aspects of this society, they aren’t the focus of my criticism and skepticism. My eyes are rapidly and irreversibly drawn to the negatives…some really heinous negatives. The following pretty much sum it up, my guess is you’ll agree:

Example of existing Mayan art. This is not Stele 11.

From Wikipedia,
“The Maya practiced human sacrifice. In some Maya rituals people were killed by having their arms and legs held while a priest cut the person’s chest open and tore out his heart as an offering. This is depicted on ancient objects such as pictorial texts, known as codices.”

Wikipedia Continues
Outlined evidences for child sacrifice - “Mayanists believe that, like the Aztecs, the Maya performed child sacrifice in specific circumstances, most commonly as foundation dedications for temples and other structures. Maya art from the Classic period also depicts the extraction of children’s hearts during the ascension to the throne of the new kings, or at the beginnings of the Maya calendar. In one of these cases, Stele 11 in Piedras Negras, Guatemala, a sacrificed boy can be seen. Other scenes of sacrificed boys are visible on painted jars.

“As archeologists continue to excavate, more instances of child dedicatory sacrifices are being uncovered. A dig commenced in 1974 at the northern Belize site of Lamanai turned up the remains of five children, ranging in age from a newborn to about 8 years old:
The conclusion that the five children were sacrificial victims is virtually inescapable … Nowhere else at Lamanai is there evidence of human sacrifice, either of children or adults … However, it is clear that the offering of children as part of the dedicatory activities that preceded the setting up of stelae was not uncommon at any time or place in the Maya lowlands.”

“In 2005 a mass grave of one- to two-year-old sacrificed children was found in the Maya region of Comalcalco. The sacrifices were apparently performed for dedicatory purposes when building temples at the Comalcalco acropolis.”

Lets all take a second to breath. Clear your mind of the images painted by the above paragraphs. Clear yet? Yeah, I know, hard to push those thoughts out isn’t it? Bringing it back to the central point…why are we head-over-heals for the opinions of this really messed up culture? Simple answer…anything but the Truth. Note that “Truth” is capitalized. I’m not talking about generic truth. The Truth I’m referring to is God’s Truth. Unchangeable. Inescapable. Frequently socially unpalatable. Truth. Real Truth.

Society, when left unguided by Divine wisdom, gravitates inescapably toward depravity. History has shown us this time and time again. It happened to the Mayans. It’s happening to many of the “civilized” cultures of the world, and it’s happening to America. If left unchecked by those who posses mankind’s ultimate Truth, we will continue to drop into deeper levels of perversion, wickedness, and yes, superstition.

Some ancient cultures believed killing their children and babies would bring about greater levels of happiness or safety. Sound familiar? Others thought humans emerged from the animals around us. Remind anyone of anything? Lets worship anything we want, bow to wood, elevate the creature…there’s no such thing as a Creator. And even if there was an Ultimate Originator, He is most certainly unknowable, unreachable, and could never make time to love me.

Superstition. Myth. Ever label faith like that? Would you place God in one of those categories? Let me help you with something: God is Truth. God is Peace. God is Love. Mankind has invented innumerable ways to avoid touching the face of their Creator. Deep inside I think it’s because we’re afraid of what we will find, what we will see. We just might see the ugly side of us. We might see the truth.

One of the greatest aspects of His wonders…is that He is willing, even compelled by His nature to love people like us. That is an amazing, unfathomable love. True Love. I’d like to invite you discover this mystery. Don’t worry about what the Mayans are saying…focus on what God is saying.

“I Love You!” – God

God bless,
Dave

Please note: I don’t agree with this video’s evolutionary bias, but I do like some of the things he has to say about scientific reasons for not bying into the whole Mayan-end-of-the-world superstition.

If you’re looking for the real answers to what this world’s future looks like check out what Jesus had to say: AllAboutGod.com – All About The End Times

Be sure to check out more great truths about God’s amazing work under the His Wonders tab!

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Rags To Riches – Part 4: Uncover Me So I Can See

Posted on March 12, 2012 by admin
Time to take a bath?

Photo by Sandara Lee & Available at CreationSwap.com

Part 4. Uncover me so I can see.
Be sure to read part 1, part 2, and part 3 first.

I am so grateful that Christ has preserved me from physically hurting my family, but I have lived out the non-physical woundings! Both leave scars. As His word describes it, I have “played the harlot” (Matt 5:27-28 ) with my mind and actions, betraying the trust of my wife and family. I have been that man I despised! I have been Judas. I am so glad I don’t live that way anymore, but I know I have the capacity to return to it. I guess that’s why I frequently lay myself out to God. I want to be examined deeply by Him. I know that without Christ’s strength at work in me I am capable of extreme tragedy.

Like the other disciples who later returned to Jesus (John 21), I have also experienced the amazing depths of His forgiveness and mercy. I am also grateful for my wife’s ongoing love. Through the rights given her by God, she didn’t have to stay with me, but He gave her the grace to walk with me into freedom. It took a number of years, but her trust again began to grow. This was only possible by His genuine deliverance continually working in my life. I have made mistakes. Our enemy doesn’t give up easily (Luke 4:13, 1 Peter 5:8). Jesus gave me the will to forsake a life I had been bound to for more than two decades!

Let me say this a different way. It is by the miraculous will of Christ’s heart that I was set free! I have been uncloaked of my self willed wickedness and bathed naked before Him! The personal shame of that kind of exposure was incredible. The intense pain of my failures often tried to drag my family and I back down. Yet God never let go of me. He soiled Himself by the very act of cleaning me! Jesus shed His glory in order to cover me with a new robe, an unstained royal garment and the attire of a priest (1 Peter 2:9)!

Rags to Riches? Our world has nothing that can compare! How a God who sees clearly the evil in a man’s heart can be willing to stoop low and transform it is still a genuine mystery! And yet not. It is love. Would I die for my sons!? Yes! Would I dive head first into a sewer to rescue them!? Yes! Absolutely! How is it any less obvious that a righteous and holy Father would do the same for those He loves and so much more?

-Take It Deeper-
What does it feel like to be clean? Here are a few things to consider:

What am I afraid of God seeing?
Have I let God see all of me?
Am I holding any part back from Him (sexual or another area)?
What, if transformed, would breath life into my family?
Who can I ask for help?
If I have been transformed, who can I share my story with?
How would God like to use me to change this world for Him?

Today…what will be different?

Take this vital step again, write your answers down and pray over them. If you don’t like what you see, get help! Don’t do this alone! There are incredible people who can help…because they have been there! Maybe you can join them in helping others too? Check out the Purity tab and start changing today. God has so much for you, reach out for it…and be amazed at what you find!

Praying you are uncovered in the presence of the King,
Dave

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Kony 2012 – A Dip Into Discernment

Posted on March 8, 2012 by admin

20120308-003932.jpg

Right now there are two “facts” floating over the internet. One is a video by Invisible Children Inc  that powerfully communicates a tragedy that is persisting in Africa. The other is a blog post by Wil Wheaton  that very susinctly calls in to question the organization behind the production.

I just watched the video and read the article too. I feel a bit like a Fox News reporter…let’s see both sides. As a former video producer I am fully aware of the way an “agenda” or “cause” is able to make its point very effectively via film.

The ability to sculpt a message and truly transform people’s thinking is really not that hard to do. The challenging part, I mean the really difficult thing to do…is to guard your mind from a well crafted fake.

Guess what? It all starts with you. How informed ARE you? Where is our information coming from? One of my dads greatest gifts to me was the challenge to always, ALWAYS know the source. Period. It is very clear in scripture that God’s heart burns with rage toward those who mistreat His children. We must care about this the way He does. Lets face it, we wont all go to Africa to verify the facts…but some have. Our job now is to uncover what they found out. You want a cause? Make sure it’s a real one.

This little dip into discernment can and should be applied to all areas of our lives. Faith. Family. Friends. There’s not enough real truth seeking going on these days and it has led to a tragic loss of wisdom. Let’s all change that. Today is your chance to effect the future…beginning with you.

Updated links:
Resources from 3/8/2012
Watch the Video for yourself
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4MnpzG5Sqc?rel=0]
A Response by Invisible Children Inc to critiques.
Wil Wheaton’s Article
Rachel Held Evans resource rich article.
Joshua Keating guest post on Foreign Policy web site

Resources from 3/10/2012
The Christian Science Monitor responds
Walid Shoebat Foundation Post: Machine Gun Preacher Kony 2012 Response Video

A note on this video: there is a significant difference between this one and the Kony 2012 film. My first thought was in relation to its “style.” This feels more like a “talking head.” I think what the man is saying is very important, but it needed more production quality to help take it’s message farther. This is a lesson all NPO’s (non profit organizations) need to take to heart. You will do better with sharing your message…if you do better with sharing your message.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCvGL_sfxOM?rel=0]

Ask them yourself:
Invisible Children Inc.
General Questions: info@invisiblechildren.com // 619.562.2799
Media Inquiries: cattarini@sunshinesachs.com

~ps. This response IS NOT leaning either way… we all  need to check the facts first.

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Rags To Riches – Part 3: Digging Deeper…How Dirty Am I?

Posted on February 28, 2012 by admin
What are you trying to keep God out of?

Photo by Aleisha Knight & Available at CreationSwap.com

Part 3. Digging Deeper…How dirty am I?
Be sure to read part 1 and part 2 first.

I am so grateful to my God! He has helped me to put off the old rags. Who I AM has radically changed. He is helping me to not slumber in an age when there is so much of His work to do! He guides me as I pray fervently for my family (near and far) and for the community where we live as well as all the ones that are outside of our immediate touch. He has grown in me a heart that is genuinely concerned for those that are well outside myregion. Even though I pray for God to extend the borders of my influence, I know that this desire has to be submitted to what He sees fit to have me do. It would be such a shame to reach past those at our door for others elsewhere!

A lot of what I’m writing is motivated by a devotional time I had in Matthew 26:20-46. In this passage the disciples have gone with Jesus into the upper room. At some point, He tells them that one of them will betray Him. Quite naturally they all begin to worry that they will be the one. But it is Judas Iscariot (v24) who does the deed, and yet so do all the other disciples! Judas may have handed Jesus over to the religious leaders, but each of the others also abandons Him! How appropriate for all of us. We seem to pay attention to the “front page” infidelity of a high profile figure but ignore the website betrayal found at home! It is so easy to say “Well, I never!” at the man who killed his family because it seems so heinous, but we wont examine our own hearts for how we kill our families daily! A harsh word? An angry glare? A back-hand that wasn’t restrained? Or how about the one that doesn’t touch the flesh but shatters the soul?

The poverty of mankind is never that far away, we are so capable of all that we judge in others. The distance between ourselves and failure is very small. Like Jesus’ disciples, I have been the friend who fell asleep instead of praying for a desperate need. I have ran away in the night repeatedly and, sadly, like Judas, I have even betrayed with a kiss! What else can I call living in sin for so many years and telling my wife and friends that I was fine! I have been the one who beat Jesus with a whip! Each step through a doorway that led me to sin was a stroke across the back! Each unguarded look, every thought I let run amuck in my mind was a very literal crown of thorns on His brow! And every day, month, and year that I persisted in my sin was like driving a spike into the very flesh of His sinless palm! I am not guiltless of the mob’s failures or even the religious glare of the self righteous!

-Take It Deeper-
What parts of your life have you posted a “Keep Out!” sign over? Here are a few areas to consider:

What have I hidden away from “public” view?
If my actions were visible to all, what would they say?
Am I selfrighteously pure?
How does what I view reflect who I say I am?
Have I redrawn the line of holiness so I will feel more comfortable?
Am I using societies standards…or Christ’s?
Today…what needs to change?

Take this vital step again, write your answers down and pray over them. If you don’t like what you see, get help! Don’t do this alone! There are so many amazing people who can help…because they have been there! Check out the Purity tab and start changing today. God has so much for you, reach out for it…and be amazed at what you find!

Praying you find the peace of Christ’s love,
Dave

Read part 4 now: “Uncover Me So I Can See”

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Victor Watters Story

Posted on February 24, 2012 by admin

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The Victor Watters story is an absolute must see! Watch this short video…it will impact you.

Find more testimony to God’s greatness by checking out the His Wonders tab!

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Dragon…or Salamander?

Posted on February 23, 2012 by admin

20120223-070901.jpg

This is a fun picture. The first time I saw it my immediate thought was “Hey! That looks like a dragon!” Then my crazy imagination threw out “Or maybe a salamander!” Of course you might see something totally different, that’s the beauty of a picture like this.

Okay, So here’s what your looking at. This is an image of a couple “tangled” galaxies named the Antennae galaxies. According to NASA’s Great Observatories, the two are “located about 62 million light-years from Earth” which is a reeeeally long ways off! Here’s a bit of perspective for you:

1. It takes light from the sun 8 minutes to reach earth.

2. Earth is about 93,000,000 miles from the sun…so multiply that 8 minutes out till you cover a year…are you getting an error message on your calculator?

3. Here’s the math: that equals 6,136,200,000,000 miles a year! Yeah, that’s a huge number!

4. Now multiply that number by 62 million and you’ve arrived at the Antennae Galaxies!

Planning a trip? Be sure to pack plenty of snacks and let the folks know you won’t be home before midnight!

This composite image from the Chandra X-ray Observatory (blue), the Hubble Space Telescope (gold and brown), and the Spitzer Space Telescope (red) paints a beautiful image. According to NASA, “The Antennae galaxies take their name from the long, antenna-like arms seen in wide-angle views of the system. These features were produced in a collision [which] is still occurring.”

Some secular theorists speculate this ancient event “triggered the formation of millions of stars in clouds of dusts and gas in the galaxies.” They continue this hypothesis by stating “the most massive of these young stars have already… exploded as supernovas.” What do I and hundreds of young Earth creationists believe? God made it that way. I know, we’re pretty radical free thinkers, but then, we’re just going off of what God said, “I Made It.”

The Spitzer data show “infrared light from warm dust clouds that have been heated by newborn stars, with the brightest clouds lying in the overlap region between the two galaxies. The Hubble data reveal old stars and star-forming regions in gold and white, while filaments of dust appear in brown. Many of the fainter objects in the optical image are clusters containing thousands of stars.”

My final thought? Way to go God! This is yet another one of His Wonders!

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., manages the Spitzer Space Telescope mission for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, Washington. Science operations are conducted at the Spitzer Science Center at the California Institute of Technology, also in Pasadena. Caltech manages JPL for NASA.

Image Credit:
NASA/CXC/SAO/JPL-Caltech/STScI

Image Addition Date:
2010-08-05

Enjoy more fantastic images that demonstrate the incredible power of our God: His Wonders

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Rags To Riches – Part 2: Taking The Next Step…I Need To Be Like He Is

Posted on February 22, 2012 by admin
His Hands

Art by Lynda Bonfante & Available at CreationSwap.com

Part 2. Taking the next step…I need to be like He is.
Be sure to read part 1 first. Find it by clicking here.

So who am I? Speaking only for myself, I am Christ’s. Each of us will have to answer that question before we die. I Thank God that I AM saved, I AM living according to His will, I AM loving Him, I AM loving my family and living a godly life to His glory and their happiness. That is what is. I ask God frequently to help me continue in this. To give me His strength to walk the walk He has laid before me. I constantly ask Him to do the same for my wife and two boys. I know that I can’t do this on my own. It is only God that can help me live out this love-walk before them, a faithful journey committed to a path of pleasing Jesus.

If I am completely honest with myself, I have to acknowledge that I need God’s eyes to be aware of my faults and not deny them. It is entirely too easy to miss what is right before my nose. I need His help to not bury my head in the sand and avoid what is! He is constantly teaching me to be a better father to my sons, a dad that lives out Christ and His love by my actions. He gently shows me deeper ways to love my wife as He desperately loves the church! I truly want to walk in Jesus’ footsteps! I want to follow His every move. As He reaches out to touch others I pray that my hand is found on their brow! I constantly ask that He allows my arm to be His strength to the weak! As He smiles, I hope my eyes sparkle to do His will! He is my Papa!

Jesus may not walk here in the flesh anymore but He has indwelt us! Indwelt! Fantastic! He has chosen to live within the ones who will surrender to Him and do His will for Him. He lets our feet be a sweet sound in the halls of our towns! As I pray for my wife and sons I ask that He would give them a reputation for being the bearers of Christ’s genuine love! Feet that walk, hands that heal and mouths that speak the clear nectar of His affection!

-Take It Deeper-
What about how you are walking is out of step? Here are some great things to ponder:

What have I made a higher priority in my life than God?
If someone asked my family, what would they say is most important to me?
If I paused and looked at me the way I look at others…what would I see?
Do I truly desire God’s will for me?
How important is it for me to pass a Godly heratige on to the next generation?
Do I want to be Jesus hands, feet, and heart to the people around me?
Today…what needs to change?

Just like last time, write your answers down and pray over them. Crave God’s will and He will faithfully show it to you. Don’t delay! Walk on! Step up! Be the person Christ has intended you to be…and be amazed at how He WILL use you!

Praying for your truest Joy,
Dave

Read Part 3 now by clicking here: “Digging Deeper…How Dirty Am I?”

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Is It Beautiful?

Posted on February 20, 2012 by admin

Art by Brendan Sceroler & Available at CreationSwap.com

I’m sitting in the ICU waiting room at Legacy Meridian Park Hospital. There is a soberness in the air. My father-in-law had a stroke. Life is so short. There are too many things to distract us. Priorities get misplaced and the truly important becomes the routinely under appreciated. Beauty gets lost…and we forget to search for it.

What do you consider beautiful? How do you decide? Is it a feeling that you get? Is it defined for you by people you trust…or haven’t considered if you should? Some say “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” but is that true…really true?

I read an amazing commentator once who stated that beauty could only truly be defined by God. Why? He is the creator of beauty therefor He holds the right to ascribe it as He chooses. Let that sink in. Try not to debate it away. Ponder.

The Cross Is Beautiful. As I sat here waiting to hear how another test turned out I caught a comment. A comment about someone who feels the Cross is a distraction. An object that stands in the way of people coming to Christianity. A brutal object. An ugly object. Is that how you see it? Is it beautiful? Or is it repulsive?

I had a chance to visit with my wife’s dad earlier. We talked about life…and death. We talked about being ready. Ready to step into eternity. He knows what comes next for him. He knows it’s better…and he has an assurance that he will someday walk there. How does he know this? Why is he so confident? Because of the cross.

The Romans mastered the art of criminal punishment. Their use of the cross brought unforgettable judgement on the guilty and shattering destruction on the innocent. Christ gave His life on a cross. His body was torturously brutalized then placed on display. People saw a dying man. God saw a living sacrifice. He stayed there for us. He paid the price for our sins. If we accept Him and His sacrifice then we can have the same confidence my dad does. Jesus chose the cross. It was His cross…and it was beautiful.

The man who says we should set aside the cross is right about one thing: the cross IS a distraction. It arrests our attention. We are compelled to look. To cringe. To wonder. What if? What if Christ hadn’t loved it? We would be cursed to live our ugly sin infected lives. Lives apart from Grace. Apart from Him.

So, I agree with God. I choose to see as He does. I choose to hear what He says…and He has said one thing loud and clear: faith is pointless without the cross. The Cross Is Beautiful.

A little note: dad is doing well, we’re happy to have him with us and can’t wait to get him back home soon.

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