Are you serving more and enjoying it less

Old Gold on Broadway was a 1927-28 radio series that was broadcasted live from inside New York theaters, sponsored by Old Gold cigarettes a product of Lorillard Tobacco Company the oldest American Tobacco Company. One of the advertisements for Old Gold cigarettes was when an announcer would say, “Are you smoking more and enjoying it less? Well then, smoke Old Gold cigarettes.”
Today, I would like to ask you are you attending church services and other related church activities more and enjoying it less. Many of us in order to do the work of God find ourselves involved in doing and going. I hear you saying I am supposed to serve, am I not. You are! You are to serve Jesus and the by-product is serving his people. Serve Jesus and listen to the Holy Spirit to what that is. Serve Him until you have and understand serving and then because you have it, you will get excited and enjoy it more.
Serve Jesus more, have fun more.

Redemptive Convesation

Inviting ourselves into others lives. Touching people’s lives and checking out whether we can walk into an individuals pass and present. The pass is the place we developed our deepest convictions about life, God and ourselves. The present is where we play this out.
We engage the present via small talk, expected questions, and demographic chatter. It is not meaningless or a waste of time. It is by the Spirit and Redemption (Jesus). Many believers think a “redemptive” conversation must either be overtly spiritual or inviting a person to make a decision to receive Jesus as Savior. The fact is, talking about peanut butter sandwiches or a good soccer game or even a hard fought football game might be a profoundly “redemptive” conversation if it opens channels to knowing what stirs the other person’s passion and delight. Patience in conversation allows us to make small entries into lives without demanding we proceed beyond the natural potentiality of the moment.
This is known to a few as living a radical life.

In time for Christmas

Rick Warren’s latest book is hitting the bookstores this month, “The Purpose of Christmas” published by a division of Simon and Schuster. The Christmas book takes a conversation approach to a common theme heard from pulpits this time of year, “Don’t forget the real meaning of Jesus’ birthday.”
Rick says, “It is astounding that so many people have celebrated Christmas every year of their lives without ever having opened their greatest and most expensive Christmas gift. Jesus Christ is God’s Christmas gift to you. Why celebrate Christmas if you’re not going to open the best gift of all?”
Warren’s best-seller, “The Purpose Driven Life,” has sold 30 million copies. He also provides sermons and other resources for pastors and church leaders on his Website: www.pastors.com .

In Times Like These

In times like these when unemployment is increasing we all must keep our tools sharp. If your strengths are not in writing resumes check out www.Blueprint4Resumes.com . Ted and his staff will provide you with the resources and support needed to secure the job and career you want.

POWER

The greatest force ever bestowed on mankind streamed forth in blood and sweat and tears and death on Calvary... when Jesus of Nazareth was crucified on the cross. It was a power so great that it shattered the last fortress – death.
It was a power so great that it made atonement for all the sin of all the world. It was a power so great that it provided for those who would accept it the ability to live victoriously like children of God, in fellowship with him who made the world and the sun, the moon and the stars.
It was a power that would enable believers to do the mighty works of Christ, and to experience, following in and through their own lives, the energy of God.
Here is a power so tremendous that with it, nothing is impossible; and without it, nothing we do has any eternal value or significance.
It is a power so simple that a child may use it.... Yet we reach for that power only when our hands are clasped in prayer.
The prayer of faith can move mountains. It can heal the sick. It can overcome the world. It can work miracles. It “availeth much.” ~~ Peter Marshal

Why I write

I have this activity; self-talk that goes on in my subconscious. As these flourishes go by, I find them picking up speed and getting stronger in influencing my thinking. Soon I find a need to write these thoughts down into words as notes on anything something. Gradually, these thoughts put together into paragraphs and into articles. Now I said it and with that, there is a release within my soul.
"You don't write because you want to say something, you write because you have something to say." ~~ F. Scott Fitzgerald

Wisdom

Although life I have read about wisdom, read the book of Wisdom in the Scriptures and have to no avail gained wisdom. I have anguished over the lack of wisdom. I have been associated with educated men who had less wisdom than the little people did.
I find Proverbs suggests Wisdom is a person. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Psalms 111:10). “The Lord gives wisdom and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding” (Proverbs 2:6). “In Christ are hidden all the treasure of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3). “Wisdom that comes from above [heaven] is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit [deeds], impartial and sincere” (James 3:17).
“We don’t receive wisdom; we must discover it for ourselves after a journey that no one can take us or spare us.” ~~ Marcel Proust (1871-1922)

Obama

What does Obama’s win mean?
To be honest I can only spectacle. I do know one thing we are at a junction in this country. We can either prayer for our president, his family, our government, and the countries of the world or go against Scripture. I have decided to take the higher route.

A Call to Prayer

“1 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time. 7 And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles.
8 I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing” (1Timothy 2:1-8, NIV).

Godfather

I am a Godfather! A godparent, in many denominations of Christianity, is someone who is a sponsor at a child's baptism. A male godparent is a godfather and a female godparent is a godmother. The child is a godchild (godson, goddaughter).
“The Godfather” is a crime novel written by Mario Puzo. It details the story of a fictitious Siciliann Mafia family based in New York City. Much controversy surrounds the title of the book and its underworld implications. Because of the use of Godfather in the title, I believe that today the significance of the name in Christian circles has been diminished.
Betty and I are godparents for both Kristy and Amy who are married to godly spouses. Kristy married Adam Burlingame and Amy married Joe Knecht. We have been a part of their lives because Fred and Lois Thies have included us and encouraged us to be family.
We take this seriously while many consider it a trivial aspect of a religious life. Check out Adam and Kristy Burlingame web site www.adamandkristy.weebly.com

Discipleship

The Disciples bear suffering laid on them only by the power of him who bears all suffering on the Cross. As bearers of suffering, they stay in communion with the crucified. They stand as strangers in the power of him who was so alien to the world that it crucified him. This is their comfort, or rather, he is their comfort, their comforter. ...this alien community is comforted by the Cross.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906 -1945)