January, 2018

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All In

Thursday, January 11th, 2018

My sermon for this Sunday begins a new series called “Transformed.” I’m going to be dealing with verses 1-2 this week…more verse 2 than the first.

NOT CONFORMED…BUT TRANSFORMED

I think it a vital and much-needed message for our day and age. When Tami (our daughter) saw my title and Scripture, she told me then texted me a link to a song I should use. I was going to until I was riding my bike this morning (inside) and was listening to Kutless on my Spotify playlist. I heard a song I am going to use instead. Actually, I plan to use that for my Music Monday post. But for this post, I want to play the song Tami suggested. Hope you enjoy it.  Click here to listen to it. And trust me when I say she and I DO NOT have the same tastes.

They are calling for some really nasty weather to come in later today (Thursday). I tend to agree with Doc Brown on this one: “Since when can the weatherman predict the weather?” Ice (1-3″) followed by the possibility of up to 9″ of snow. I HOPE THEY ARE DEAD WRONG!  But if not, not much I can do about it except stay safe and warm.

You do the same.

Posted in Christian living, Music video, Opinion, Preaching, Sermon Series/Topic | 10 Responses »

Run

Sunday, January 7th, 2018

In my message Sunday I talked about God bringing dead men back to life (spiritually). One of the essentials of that is allowing God to “breathe” into us. Ezekiel 36 talks about how God wants to take away our heart of stone and give us a heart of flesh. Then in chapter 37 we find the amazing story of dead men’s bones coming to life.

It is not easy to stay strong. It is not easy staying committed. It is not easy making time for the Father. That is one of the reasons why I am doing my other blog Be Transformed. Being transformed takes place on a daily basis. It is not a once-in-a-lifetime hyper-jacked event. It is not an emotional experience. To be candid I see it as a “daily plodding.” Not that I see having a relationship with Jesus as a daily plod, but that I see a relationship as a daily “work in progress.” “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling,” the Bible says. That is not a works-based salvation; it is an awareness of the need for awe and respect and reverence for God.

Since I have my other blog to write some serious thoughts, I want to be a little creative with Cycleguy’s Spin. I’m thinking of calling Monday’s entries “Music Monday” where I share a song that “speaks” to me. Given my state of mind right now spiritually; my focus in my sermons and blog; I’d like to ask you to listen to this song.  The lesson is “pointed.”

I’d like to hear your thoughts.

Posted in Christian living, God, Just Wondering, Music video, Opinion | 10 Responses »

Amnesia

Friday, January 5th, 2018

I was going to tell you all something but I forgot what it was.  In some cases that can be called “selective amnesia.” In other cases it can be called a “Senior moment.” In this case, I really have not forgotten anything. But Amnesia is the title for my sermon this Sunday. 🙂

Have you ever been un-enthralled by something which thrills someone else? Roller coasters are that way. I used to love them. Jo despised them. But Jo could go in circles. I despised circles. When we went to the Titanic museum I could have spent hours in it (I did spend 2 of them), but if I had spent the time I wanted Jo and the girls would have begun to think Titanic sunk again and I went down with the ship. Get my drift?

Writer G.K.Chesterton once said:

The world will never starve for want of wonders; but only for want of wonder.

It is easy to lose our wonder. Let’s call it something else: amnesia. I often hear from people, “How did I ever get into this place to begin with?” I asked that same question back in February of 2017. “How?” Simply put: I lost the wonder of God. Put another way: I got amnesia.

I think that has a lot to do with why people start out like gangbusters and fizzle out. Both initially and at the start of a new year. All sorts of vows and resolve but then life happens.

I’m hoping to get some good things started for the new year and the new theme. As you can see it is UNCHARTED. I’m praying 2018 serves as a challenge to me and to the church folks (and maybe even to you) to step out into the unknown and trust God to give us all new hearts and new vision. I’d appreciate it if you would pray for us this weekend.

Posted in Christian living, Preaching, Sermon Series/Topic | 6 Responses »

Vows

Wednesday, January 3rd, 2018

New Year’s day is the day people make (what we call) resolutions. I suspect statistics will show most resolutions will be broken by the end of January. Maybe sooner. I stopped making resolutions years ago. I still reflect and tell myself I want to accomplish certain things but setting resolutions is not on my radar.

Yesterday (Tuesday) I drove to Avon (a little over an hour away) to visit a lady in the hospital. There is a nasty flu strain going around which the flu shot doesn’t even touch. She caught it. Anyway, as I was driving I had Kutless on my Spotify. This song came on. It resonated in me as I thought about 2018. I wanted to share it with you. And despite what your idea may be of Kutless’ music (if you have heard it before), I think this will be worth your while to listen.

Part of my vow is growing in my faith. I want to be transformed into His likeness. An important part of that is spending time in the Word each day. And to bring others along with me. I am convinced a daily time in the Word is vital to maintaining a vibrant faith. That is why I started my new website called Be Transformed. It is for me to be consistent and hopefully to encourage others to do the same. Please join me in the study/discussion.

Posted in Christian living, Music video, Opinion, Prayer, Story | 8 Responses »

SecondDay

Tuesday, January 2nd, 2018

Well…I hope your 2018 has started out well. Mine was uneventful I guess. New Year’s Eve found me in bed and asleep by 10:30. Hey! Don’t mock me! That is one hour later than normal. 🙂 🙂  I knew I didn’t have to get up at my normal 3:45 time so I actually stayed up to read some. But alas! I am not an all-nighter. Never have been…never will be (unless pressed). In fact, I’m not even a late-nighter. My girls laugh at me. Okay…Tami does. I’d say, “She’s a school teacher what does she know?” but I’d get thumped pretty good by all the teachers (and her). Seriously, I have never been a late night person except on rare occasions. Getting older hasn’t changed that one bit…except going to bed earlier.

Speaking of Tami…she is moving out this weekend into her own apartment. 2 1/2 years ago she moved back to be closer to us and Janna (really Braden but same family). 🙂  But she took a very significant pay cut to do so. She moved in with us until she could sort some things out, plus find a place she could afford. They are distant in Bloomington and Elletsville, as well as few and far between in Spencer. But thanks to the generosity of a couple who built their own house, they are renting Tami their old apartment. It has some big rooms, nostalgic points (it is a renovated apartment in “downtown” Spencer). Downside? A million steps to get there. But I’m happy for her. She will have her own place, a place to call her own. And space she doesn’t have at our house.

Teaser: “I don’t have to have it all figured out. He does. There is no way for me to know all that will happen anyway, so why work myself up over that? Why worry and be fearful over what I cannot control? I cannot understand it all so why spend my days and valuable time in fear and misery because I don’t and won’t? No…I need to rest in His perfect, sovereign knowledge.” For more check out my other blog here.

Have a good day my friends. Here it is -9. So stay warm also.

Posted in Family, Friendship, Little Bit of Fun, Miscellaneous, Story | 8 Responses »

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