A Gift Not Deserved

Human vs. Spiritual – Who’s the Winner?

Read: Romans 5:6-11

As we age, everyday, we get older and think our strength will not run out.  The older we get the more confident we are of our strength failing.  Unfortunately we must rest every night and replenish our strength to ‘fight again’ tomorrow.  If we don’t rest, we will eventually crash, get weaker, and possibly sick!  When was the last time you stayed up as late as possible, only to miss the morning of the new day – resting up!?

God knows our weaknesses!  He in fact made us.  Why did he make us so weak?  Why do we believe we are so strong?  Consider this my friends …

^{Lamentations 3:}

²² The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. ²³ They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.
²⁴ “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in Him.”

How can we trust in ourselves more than Him?

Romans 5: ⁶ For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 

This is an amazing thought, so who could have done this but God!  I sure couldn't even if I thought I had the strength to do it!   

While I remain helpless and weak everyday – Christ died for me at the perfect time.    Here’s what that means to me:

We don’t like to talk about it, but we should.  Death is like a Gift – in Christ’s death he gave us a ‘gift’ of life!  A gift we didn't deserve … eternal life if we trust in Him.  But wait it gets better!   First ask yourself this question, ‘What do I need to ‘die to’ in order to give something to someone else?  Don’t have an answer?

So let’s re-read the passage and exchange (for a moment) the word GIVE for DIE …

Romans 5: ⁷ For one will hardly GIVE for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to GIVE. ⁸ But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were (still) yet sinners, Christ GAVE for us.

I can see myself “giving” something to a righteous man, and perhaps dare to “give” to a good man, but to “give” something like love to someone still acting selfishly sinful!?    That would kill me!  Right!

But here is where it gets better …

Romans 5: ⁹ Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. ¹⁰ For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. ¹¹ And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

While the death of Christ gave us a gift that we didn't deserve – eternal life when we die, the life of Christ shall save us to live a life of mutual friendship with God today!  So, what kind of life are you giving others?

Reconciliation is a change from enmity to friendship.  It is mutual.  What other friendship do you have that is truly mutual?  God has conferred on me the token of His friendship – by GIVING us His gift of Christ’s death on the Cross.

Spiritual living does outlast, out gives, out loves the Human effort – everyday!

Missing Normal

Why isn't it funny to think of things that should be going on as ‘normal’?   I will be healthy; I will someday get married; we will never have any problems; if we work hard enough things will work out.  These are just some examples of what we all think of as normal.

What happens when things don’t work out as normal?  The doctor said what; How did the accident happen; I am too young for this; I am too old for this; we didn’t expect this to happen … to us?  These are some examples of what we call real life.

Often what comes mind and what we think are: “Things didn’t happen as we thought” and “Why have I missed a normal life?”  Be honest, you’ve thought that before!  Right!?

Question – what is normal?  Better stated – what are your expectations of normal?  Who controls normal?  How good are You at controlling normal?  I know how not good I am!

My heart goes to that new mother whose baby is born with some type of defect.  Consider a child who loses his parent to a sudden death or divorce early in their life.  A new Christian comes home to strife and disgrace without much hope of an understanding mate.  A teenager sees so many other friends with cars and freedoms of their own.  The businessman working hard everyday seeing others promoted as he continue supporting them.  Are those normal ways?  Sure they are … what is your normal?

Check this out in the New Testament – Jesus speaking … with a man who's hand is withered.

Matthew 12:12-14

How much more valuable then is a man than a sheep! So then, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand!” He stretched it out, and it was restored to normal, like the other. But the Pharisees went out and conspired against Him, as to how they might destroy Him.

Jesus healing on the Sabbath was challenged by the Pharisees.  Really?  What I want you to see is this; the hand was restored to ‘normal’, like the other.  So many times we think our problems are not normal – but they are!  When we meet other people who have gone through or are going through things we get excited because they understand our pain and we understand theirs.  Jesus has to make us ‘stretch out our problem’ at times so we can see them clearly.  Then He does the restoring – to His normal.  The funny thing is the Pharisees wanted to destroy His normal.  Why?  They thought they could control their normal life!

Are you missing normal?  Do you get angry because your life is not like everyone around you?  We all do … but when we look at our loving Lord and know He is in control then He can restore us back and help us accept ourselves so much better than before. 

That's Normal.

With a Grateful Prayer and a Thankful Heart: How Should A King Come? Even a child knows the answer of course.

This is one of my favorite Christmas songs!  It's not often heard - please listen to the words!

With a Grateful Prayer and a Thankful Heart: How Should A King Come? Even a child knows the answer of course.

The FANS

We've all been there and experienced an event where the crowd is gathering and the excitement is building.  Everyone is getting to their seat who has a ticket, and others are purchasing hats or t-shirts to claim their full support and backing.  These times are electrifying and the anticipation is packed full of wonder!  The FANS are all together in this event knowing what each other agree on ... their TEAM!


What happens if you not yet a fan of either team ... yet?  What if this was your first exposure to this type of event?  You don't really know much about either side or even what will happen next!


Now, pull this same experience into your heart.  Put yourself in this situation from the perspective of someone else experiencing your life, your world, your church.  My church?  What?


Today's fan expects others to know why they are so ... fanatic! Come on - The shirt, the hat, the EXCITEMENT - it's obvious, right!?  Not always.  So many people don't understand the Bible, the purpose of the church, Jesus, or even life!


Taking this person into your "event" is strange to them and even uncomfortable - they are not dressed with the FAN garb or even have the chant down like everyone else!  They sit when others stand, they don't scream when others scream, they are not into what the FAN is doing or even thinking!  WHY?


The FAN is into themselves and their team, not those who are from the outside.  People who are outside the normal American church are not welcomed FANS and don't feel comfortable for many reasons.  Oh, then there are those who quote scripture at people and know they understand everything exactly as King James wrote it!


Bottom line - we all need to enjoy the game.  Not everyone has the same perspective on the game as you or me.  When 'outsiders' come into our world - we must make sure we share the excitement and GIFT of being a FAN.  Otherwise it's not fun for them if we expect them to know it - without sharing it first.


Ephesians 2:4-10

But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and SEATED US with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

April FOOL - or Anytime FOOL?

Denied

None of us see ourselves as a fool, but we sure see foolishness in others.  It’s the last thing you would want anyone to say to you.  So if we are wondering what others see in us that maybe we can’t see, what do you think God sees in us?  Look at it from a real life perspective …

Defined

–noun

1. a silly or stupid person; a person who lacks judgment or sense.

2. a professional jester, formerly kept by a person of royal or noble rank for amusement: the court fool.

3. a person who has been tricked or deceived into appearing or acting silly or stupid: to make a fool of someone.

4. an ardent enthusiast who cannot resist an opportunity to indulge an enthusiasm (usually preceded by a present participle): He's just a dancing fool.

5. a weak-minded or idiotic person.

(http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/fool)

Described

We may think fools are what other people are, but measured by God’s standards in the Bible we may be surprised about ourselves:

Proverbs 10:18  18 Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips and spreads slander is a fool.	Proverbs 12:15 15 The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.
Proverbs 14:16  16 The wise fear the LORD and shun evil, but a fool is hotheaded and yet feels secure.	Proverbs 15:5  5 A fool spurns a parent’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.
Proverbs 18:2  2 Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions.	Proverbs 19:1  1 Better the poor whose walk is blameless than a fool whose lips are perverse.
Proverbs 29:11 11 Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end.	Psalm 14:1  1 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.

(New International Version, ©2011)

Declared

Rich young Ruler

14 Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” 15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’

18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’

20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’

21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:14-21 (New International Version, ©2011)

This is NO Joke!

RSA Animate - Drive: The surprising truth about what motivates us

This is powerful ...

Alone?

a·lone

   

[uh-lohn]  Show IPA

 

–adjective (used predicatively)

1. separate, apart, or isolated from others: I want to be alone.


So many of us spend most of our time this way. We are held in our private worlds by the circumstances held within our life. You understand this feeling, this predicament. At times its ... OK. In other times we would only hope someone would understand and come into our alone-ness.

This is not an isolation kept to various ages of adults, many teens, and young children know this personally in their life. Gender nor demographic is not affected. Why?

Here's my thoughts - life is meant to be shared. Most kids grow up not learning how to share, and as adults these adults become self-centered - as they were raised. So? What do you do ... when you are still alone and caught in this circumstance?

Maybe here's a suggestion - it's not all about me! Life is beyond what I see or think. It's about looking around you, seeing who else is ALONE, and trying your best to comfort them.

If we were honest, we DON'T want to be alone (even if we say, "I want to be alone".) We really are saying, "I wan't to be understood, appreciated, recognized, etc ... ".

So, there it is - God did not intend Man to be alone (goes for women as well). So - reach out of your own circumstance and see life from someone else's perspective. Help someone else not be ALONE.

Do it!

Positive Attitude ... Keep Moving!

Great Grandpa & Grandma Bryan with baby Quinn

One constant with my parents, especially my Mother, is the fact they stay positive and are always on the go!  Pictured here, they are in our home this past Summer visiting during Chelsea's graduation from High School and having a Memorial Day cookout with other family members - featuring Quinn Everly Walsh, our first Grand Baby from Patrick and Jenny Walsh.

The endurance my parents support comes from the inner drive of my Mom (Dad would agree).  She gets it honest as her parents had the same fortitude.  She is the passion of my Father and mega-horn blast in his spirit to get moving everyday.   Like it or not, he moves and goes more places than ever dreamed.  This is what keeps them active and young looking. Could you tell these people are in their mid-70's?  They are committed to family, faith, and friends - sometimes all at the same time, but most importantly each other.

If you were ever to meet my parents and they knew you were a friend or colleague of mine, YOU would instantly be in their life and they would love you.  It's part of the passion of being positive and having a good attitude of life.   Of course, I think it is simply a by-product of their gratitude of God's love of them - that they in turn share with others.  Isn't that how we are suppose to live?  What is wrong is wrong, but what is right keep doing ... Keep Moving!

I love you Dad and Mom - thank you for being an excellent example to me, my family, and our friends.  We love your positive attitude, even when things don't go right.

A special shout out to Mom, who will celebrate another birthday Sunday, January 16th!

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Do Right - Start With Those In The Light

Galatians 6:9-10 (The Message)

So let's not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don't give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.

The thought hit me when I heard this passage - why am I pulled to do right to those I don't know more than those I do know, even to them I know are Christians? 

Stay with me on this, people seem to act nice and kind to perfect strangers when passing by, but when we get to know each other a bit more we become so much more critical and opinionated.  It's true of all of us.  Paul says in the vs 10 (above) - 'starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith'.  Why?

Here is what hit me ... remember those nights when we first saw the big beam in the sky as it moved around?  It sometimes had more than one beam dancing in the sky with it.  We were drawn to it - seeking out what it was trying to show us!  Sometimes it was a fun event or a new car - but it drew us near.

In our dark world - lets do right together, first with those who are forgiven like we are in Christ.  Then together, with more light and excitement we can draw others to what Christ is doing in our lives.  It's more powerful and exciting - plus we won't get fatigued doing it all alone.

Highlights and Tomorrow

There was the first look, a sight beyond belief

That captured a hope and peeked curiosity.

The moments await and the longing and question to steer

Would there be agreement or simply disappear?

Why, wondered so captured by the heart,

Would someone so fair even take the part?

The times quickly passed and moments seem to flee

Together with wonder of who this beauty truly be?

Then amazed by common thoughts and kindled by the warmth

Dreaming with the angels and encouraged in the storms.

Gifts are acts of kindness put into action

Provided by heart in hopes for reaction.

Most assuredly and rewarding of all

Is the dream to dream again of moments,

Like these to highlight our days

That paint the colors of tomorrow.

He Tore Down The Wall

Ephesians 2:1-10 (The Message)


It wasn't so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin. You let the world, which doesn't know the first thing about living, tell you how to live. You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience. We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat. It's a wonder God didn't lose his temper and do away with the whole lot of us. Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us! Then he picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah.

Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It's God's gift from start to finish! We don't play the major role. If we did, we'd probably go around bragging that we'd done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.

Al Mohler on Marriage, Part 1 - FamilyLife.com

Al Mohler on Marriage, Part 1 - FamilyLife.com

Part of Something Bigger - (link here to see video)

When we stop seeing what can be, knowing what should not be, and overcoming what is happening that is wrong - that is vision.

When we see who God is, what He is capable of doing, how He intends to carry through, and where I fit in that part of current day living - that is vision.

Vision stops when people compromise and follow their own wrong intentions. We are not capable of living this life ... on our own and in our own way. We must grow-up and know that God has a bigger purpose in the part of our life. Why do we ignore that? Why are we apathetic to anything that is good for us? Why do people so smart - seem to act so selfishly and stubborn that way?

People are blind to the vision that God intends them to have in their life, therefore families are not going in the right direction and are lost too. Churches are not speaking out on where we should go, and how we should live Biblically, therefore the government is not going in the right direction, is lost, and now broke! Our country, the United States of America has lost its vision and tries to be the Bigger Something, rather than being Part of Something Bigger - God's plan.

We will all fade away ... God is the Eternal, Everlasting, Almighty Prince of Peace.

That is Who and where I want to be Part of Something Bigger.

Do you?

People Are Crazy

Billy Currington - People Are Crazy

This country song is so powerful and true. Although we get caught up with "life as we think it should go" God, circumstances (beer), and people all have a different impact on how "life will go". It shouldn't surprise us, especially the older we get, but we still can't read minds or facial expressions correctly all the time. When people turn on you that is where it begins, in their mind and from their heart.

I heard someone say, "the mouth is like a bucket and the heart is like a well. The bucket goes into the well and collects all the contents to pour out." When our heart (mind) is full of negative, deceit, and such - the mouth will pour out on you what it picks up from inside.

Check this out ... Luke 10:10-12 (NIV)

But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, 'Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.' I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.

People are crazy - shake off what they say or do to you. You cannot control what is in their heart or how blind their minds eye can be about you. That's between God and them.
God is great - greater than all we can imaging. Smile, dance, enjoy those people around you unconditionally - almost like they do in a bar.
Don't believe me? OK, I will shake it off.

Answered Prayer!

Let me introduce you to my daughter Jenny and son-in-law Patrick, they are holding their new addition lovely daugher Quinn. They will make excellent parents ... as you can see in their faces!

Yes, that's me and Quinn - my new 1 month old Grand Daughter! We just met last night - May 7th and I was speechless for a bit ... I'm a Grandpa. My daughter Jenny and son-in-law Patrick invited me over to their home and introduced me to Quinn for our first visit. What an answer to our prayers ... it works folks.

This is Jenny holding Quinn - she is looking at me and saying "I love you!"

Here's iPOD Quinn - jammin out OR listening to her first post grad lecture ... thinking of how she will change the world. She's already changed mine!

Wonder watch she will choose to call me? I had a Grandpy and Poppa B - either will do, or she can come up with her own special rendition.

Thanks for seeing a slice of my life! Marie and I are so excited and see so much what God is doing in our world. God's timing is perfect.

Grandpa!

Many of you have seen pictures of babies like this before. The cute baby is wrapped up and squinty eyed, usually holding its hands together like this one. BUT as most people will just move on to see another baby picture and not think twice about this one, I will always see this baby differently!

Why? Because I'm this baby's Grandpa! That make this special life VERY special to me.

Let me introduce my Grand-daughter to you, this is Quinn Everley Walsh. Born to parents Patrick and Jenny Walsh on April 8, 2010. I will not ask you if you think she's beautiful, but I will tell you I think she is beautiful ... in my eyes she looks like her mother, my first born Jenny. I can see it! Our prayer is she grows up knowing that she is loved and God has a purpose in her life that is beyond measure.

The grandpa thing is exciting to me too, as I loved my Grandpy. Grandpy was so special to me and we always had so much fun. I live my life today in many respects to the way he loved me. That make this Grand-baby special to her Grandpa. Besides that - I love her mother so much. As a child Jenny and I had so much fun playing around together. We did so much and laughed all the time. I'm sure she will do the same with Quinn, and someday I will love Quinn just like Grandpy loved me.

Welcome to this world sweet Grand-baby Quinn.

I love you!

Grace on their Face!

In the gospel of John chapter 1:14 the writer states, "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory as of the only begotten from the Father full of grace and truth."

As you look at the picture presented of my three younger children and their grandmother you can see LIFE in their faces! The pure enjoyment of being together is obvious and the sounds of hearing them laugh is seen as they pose for the camera. Grandmother, on the other hand, is soaking in the moment! LOVE is bouncing off each other and into one another's hearts. The LIGHT in each of their faces says, "I'm here, alive, having fun, and feel safe, and loved."

Time travels so fast, and before you know it - children are grown up, parents are older, and even you feel the age within your bones. Funny thing is with God there is no TIME, only Grace and Truth.

If grace truly lives in our hearts as we walk daily with God, why is it not on our face? I realize life is not always what we thought, but God's Word remains the same - "full of grace and truth".

Just a thought - get some GRACE back on your FACE. Live as though you didn't need to worry about anything because God is in control. He loves us!

Keep giggling ... it's a brand new day!

When Forgiveness Begins

Failing someone or yourself leads to guilt and remorse of some level in your heart and mind. The pain we feel and the fear of the unknown results of that failure overwhelms our emotions to the point of becoming bigger than the failure itself. Why?

Why do we allow ourselves to feel bitter against someone or our self enough to block any and all love that is available but ignored because of our own weak self image and lack of forgiveness? I believe its due to the failure to accept and understand the love of God. Let me explain.

In 1 John 4:7-9 it says, "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him." In this simple writing we get confused about love because we thought love came from within our own heart and it does. But love was placed in your heart from the maker of love and the maker of life ... God. Love comes from God, because God is love.

When does God forgive us when we have failed? Immediately. Do we need to ask for forgiveness? Yes, but He has forgiven you already because He loves you forever. We, on the other hand, cannot forgive ourselves or others that quickly. This becomes our problem and guilt is born along with bitterness. We are the makers of that guilt and bitterness, not God. At that moment we try to be God, but without the love.

As children disobey parents, the love of the parent does not stop. Parents love their children beyond the child's own comprehension. When children fail parents are not pleased, but love does not leave. Parents wait for their request for forgiveness, but have already forgiven them. Just as God loves us, we are forgiven before forgiveness is asked.

I have failed loved ones in my past, and have failed God in my past. I have come to realize that although I know God's promises are true and His love (and forgiveness) never fail, others may choose not to forgive me, even after multiple attempts of asking for their forgiveness. I still love them very much, but their lack of accepting my request for forgiveness is only stalling my open arms of loving them, as I have always done. They have 'created' bitterness and lack of forgiveness themselves and choose not to love.

"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him." 1 John 4:7-9

No one is perfect and everyone makes mistakes - that's part of life. The freeing part of being born in this failure of humanity is we have a Creator who loves us, forgave us, and has a plan to use His love in our lives to love others, as we should.

Father, please forgive me for my past and future failures. Help me to forgive myself as you have forgiven me. Bless those who I have failed and are struggling to forgive me, and give them all they are asking You for today. In His Love, Amen.

Biofuel Faith

Sounds weird, looks weird, and even hard to believe but scientists are taking Mustard Seeds grown in California and making a biofuel! These tiny seeds will be grown in the off-season as not to take the ground of normal food crops during their normal growing time. These mustard seeds will produce biofuel for buses and other transit vehicles in our own country.

The size of our faith required to trust God is compared to a Mustard Seed in Matthew 17:20. If we were to have enough faith as the size of a tiny mustard seed we could "move mountains"! How does that work?

Oswald Chambers says, " Faith brings us into a right relationship with God and gives God his opportunity. He frequently has to knock the bottom out of our experience to get us into contact with himself. God wants you to understand it is a life of faith - not a life of sentimental enjoyment of his blessings - that pleases him. Faith by its very nature must be tried. And the real trial of faith is not that we find it difficult to trust God, but that God's character has to be clear in our minds so that we remain true to God whatever he may do. 'Though he slay me, ' announced Job, 'yet will I hope in him.' This is the most sublime utterance of faith in the whole Bible." (emphasis added)

So as we 'run out of gas' in our own lives of faithless living, shouldn't we just add a drop of faith (about the size of a mustard seed) into our life? This is not a faith in myself or any other thing in my life. This is faith in God - who you can't see, hear, or touch. You must experience a relationship buy trusting in the One who Created you. Don't ignore Him anymore - put your faith in him.

Rest in him.

And relax.

Sounds weird, looks weird, and even hard to believe, but faith works that way!

Filler up, please!