"Leave the broken, irreversible past in His hands, and step out into the invincible future with Jesus." ~~Oswald Chambers

"How rare it is to find a soul quiet enough to hear God speak." ~~Francois Fénelon (French theologian, writer)

"Any area of my life for which I have no hope is under the influence of a lie." ~~Bill Johnson

A Time to Recalibrate | Men of Integrity

I must take time to check with God before I act, speak, or do anything. Great question: Have I recalibrated to true north? Is God in this activity? How easy it is to just be in the moment, doing what I think is the right thing. What does God think?

Here is a great story from David Cook.

It was during this time, while walking into a hardware store, that a friend called me. I stood just inside the automatic doors for 20 minutes while Jeff told me a story that related to my situation. Jeff, who had been an airline pilot, explained to me one of the procedures that had to take place between the ending of one flight and the beginning of the next. While the Boeing 757 sat at the gate, its navigational computer had to recalibrate for the new course. In order to do that, the plane had to sit completely still for ten minutes while it reestablished true north—otherwise its navigation would be dangerously off.

via A Time to Recalibrate | Men of Integrity.

“Anything simple always interests me.” ~~David Hockney

"You're interested in religion, I'm interested in people." ~~Zechariah the Prophet

The people of the town of Bethel sent a delegation to the priests and prophets with a question. They wanted to know if the should continue fasting annually as they had been doing on a certain day for a long time now. They had turned something from God into a ritual. God isn't interested in rituals. God isn't interested in religion.

He is interested in people and requires that we love them daily.

"You're interested in religion, I'm interested in people." ~~Zechariah 7:6

"Keep your lives simple and honest." ~~God to Zechariah

Jesus summed up what God wants us to do. It was nothing new. God is all about simplicity. God wants us to love Him and love everyone else we know. That's it. To do that, we need to be able to focus. That requires we live our lives simply.

"Keep your lives simple and honest." God to Zechariah (8:17)

"Compromise is the door through which deception enters." ~~Bill Johnson

"When right-living people bless the city, it flourishes; evil talk turns it into a ghost town in no time." ~~King Solomon (Proverbs 11:11)

We can be a blessing to our cities, towns, states and country. When we are right in God, we can bless and God will honor what we have to say. We have God's power in us.

"When right-living people bless the city, it flourishes; evil talk turns it into a ghost town in no time." ~~King Solomon (Proverbs 11:11)

"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” ~~Helen Keller

"I never questioned the integrity of an umpire. Their eyesight, yes." ~~Leo Durocher

'The love of God working in me causes me to hate anything that is not in keeping with God’s holiness." ~~Owsald Chambers

via My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers.

Atlanta Braves History: Dale Murphy - His playing career

In 1976 Murphy began his major league career with a nineteen game stint catching with the Atlanta Braves. He appeared in only eighteen games the following season. In 1978, Murphy played first base mostly. At the plate, he slumped to a .226 batting average, though he also showed hints of his future power by hitting 23 home runs.

Murphy switched to the outfield in 1980, a move that would help initiate a decade of highly productive play in the National League. Beginning in left field, he soon switched to center field, the position at which he would find his greatest success. By 1982, the most decorated year of Murphy's career, the former bench-riding catcher had transformed himself into an All-Star MVP outfielder who appeared in each of Atlanta's 162 games. His turnaround as a fielder was equally stark. In 1978, as a first baseman, Murphy had led all National League first-baggers in errors; in 1982, spending time at each of the three outfield positions, he won his first of five consecutive Gold Gloves.

Playing in the decade before the Braves began their unparalleled dominance of the National League East, Murphy also made his only postseason appearance in 1982, though the eventual World Series-champion St. Louis Cardinals eliminated the Braves in the first round of the playoffs. The league's most valuable player failed to translate his regular season preeminence into October success, hitting safely but three times and scoring only one run. Murphy rebounded from the postseason sweep with another MVP award in 1983. The period ultimately proved the high-water era of Murphy's career. Each year during the four season span from 1982 to 1986 he won a Gold Glove, appeared in the All-Star Game, and placed in the top ten in MVP voting.

In 1988, however, despite being voted to what would be his final All-Star appearance, Murphy's production began an inexorable slide downward. Never a particularly high average hitter, Murphy saw his batting average free-fall from .295 in 1987 to .226 in 1988. Only once more, in 1991, would Murphy bat above .250. Once a consistent source of power at the plate, he never again hit even 25 home runs in a season. This fall off in production accompanied increased fragility. In the nine year span beginning with his first MVP season in 1982, Murphy missed an average of only three games each year; the final five years of his career found Murphy sitting out an average of over 90 games each season.

The Braves traded Murphy after fifteen seasons to the Philadelphia Phillies in 1990. Murphy's three seasons with the Phillies were mostly uneventful, though in 1991 he did experience a return to at least reliability, if not excellence, by appearing in 154 games. In 1993, his final season, Murphy took a pay cut of over $2,000,000, down to the major league minimum, to join the Colorado Rockies for their inaugural season. During his last two years in the majors Murphy's batting average lingered well beneath that mark of batting infamy, baseball's Mendoza Line.

Why doesn't God just show up?

Some days it is just not clear where God is. He doesn't seem to be anywhere around. Don't see Him. Don't hear him. Where is He I think. Why doesn't He just show up?

Jesus challenges us to seek God. It requires a discipline to find Him some days. Jesus gives us a promise. Seek and I will find Him.

May I be disciplined and find Him. He is near.

Seek God, all you quietly disciplined people who live by God's justice. Seek God's right ways. Seek a quiet and disciplined life. Perhaps you'll be hidden on the Day of God's anger. Zephaniah 2:3

Atlanta Braves History: Dale Murphy - Some background

So a little background on Dale (Bryan) Murphy. He was born March 12, 1956 in Portland, Oregon and  is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and first baseman. During an 18-year baseball career, 1976–1993, he played for three different teams, but is noted for his time with the Atlanta Braves.

Murphy won consecutive National League Most Valuable Player Awards in 1982–1983, the National League's Silver Slugger Award four straight years 1982–1985, and the National League's Gold Glove award five straight years 1982–1986.

Most important, I think, is that he was nicknamed the "Beeg Donkey" by Rico Carty.

"When you really see Jesus, I defy you to doubt Him." ~~Oswald Chambers

Does God lose His temper?

Sometimes we think of God as we think of ourselves. Big mistake. He is God but His emotions aren't like ours are. He is more powerful than we can imagine. He can do anything He wants to. His power, however, is a VERY patient power.

If we think because He is patient, we can "get away with things", we better think again. His patience is shown to us so we will change our minds about missing His goal for our lives and accept Jesus as the answer.

But God doesn't lose his temper. He's powerful, but it's a patient power. Still, no one gets by with anything. ~~Nahum 1:3

What are some good year end questions?

Here is a list of some to consider.

• Have I accepted God’s verdict on my missing His goal for me as judged on the Cross of Christ?


• Do I have even the slightest interest in the death of Jesus?


• Do I want to be identified with His death— to be completely dead to all interest in missing His goal for me, worldliness, and self?


• Do I long to be so closely identified with Jesus that I am of no value for anything except Him and His purposes?


• Will I go all out for Jesus to the neglect of my own desires?

God wants some answers. Jesus demands it of us.

How will I answer?

 

"Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple." ~~Dr. Seuss

Jesus speaks to the Father in our defense

Jesus speaks to the Father in our defense. Now that is some very powerful good news. We know that we miss God's goal for our life. Jesus sacrificed his life so we can stand before God and be in good standing. Why, because Jesus is in right standing with His Father.

Because of this new plan, we can hit the mark and fullfill God's goals for us. Thank you Jesus.

Think about 10 years ago. Is what was average then below average now?

Think about 10 years ago. Is what was average then below average now?

Probably. What does that mean to our work and our life?

We must run for the prize. We can't sit on the side and think that is good enough. We know we are good. Are we good enough to get better?

Is the AARP in trouble with Congress?

Politico is reporting that the powerful seniors lobby is facing continued opposition by GOP Reps. Wally Herger, Dave Reichert andCharles Boustany on the House Ways and Means Committee, PI colleagues at Morning PULSE reported. "The lawmakers plan to release a letter today that they wrote to the IRS asking it again to consider an in-depth examination of the AARP and its finances," they report. So far, no word from AARP in response. The lawmakers allege they've found evidence relating to business deals with UnitedHealth and HearUSA, that calls into question whether AARP should retain its tax-exempt status

Year end question: Am I booking enough time to think?

Answer. Probably not.

"Here’s what you need to keep in mind. You have only today. This is the day the Lord has made. Live in it." ~~Max Lucado

"Here’s what you need to keep in mind. You no longer have yesterday. You do not yet have tomorrow. You have only today. This is the day the Lord has made. Live in it." ~~Max Lucado

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent." ~~E. F. Schumacker

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius—and a lot of courage—to move in the opposite direction." — E. F. Schumacker

"The loose tongue of the godless spreads destruction; the common sense of the godly preserves them." ~~King Solomon

The most difficult thing in life to control is our tongue. What we say makes a difference. With God's Holy Spirit in us we can be wise. Otherwise we spread destruction everytime we speak.

May we speak the common sense of God and be preserved.

"The loose tongue of the godless spreads destruction; the common sense of the godly preserves them." ~~King Solomon (Proverbs 11:9)

"Age is strictly a case of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter." ~ Jack Benny

"The question isn’t at what age I want to retire at, it’s what income." ~ George Foreman

"It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this." ~~C. S. Lewis

"We are sent by God to lift up Jesus Christ, not to give wonderfully beautiful speeches." ~~Oswald Chambers

"We love and reason because God loves and reasons and holds our hand while we do it." ~~C. S. Lewis

Dale Murphy - Atlanta Brave 1976 - 90 (the "beeg donkey")

Dale Murphy was born in Portland, Oregon on March 12, 1956. He played for the Atlanta Braves from 1976 to 1990. He was an outfielder, first baseman and catcher. He batted and threw as a right hander. While Rico Carty was known as the "Beeg Boy" (yes, he named himself that), he named Dale the "beeg donkey". He was the pride of the Atlanta Braves farm system in the 70's and Rico saw the great talent he would become.

Christmas table 2011

"God expects no complaining on our part and offers no explanation on His part." ~~Oswald Chambers

Will I do it today?

It is a new day. Yesterday is gone. And we have a choice to make. Will I make it today? Will I make the right choice?

Do we want to serve God? Do we want to serve something else?

It is a choice we get to make. God won't make it for us. Our family and friends can't do it either.

I choose God. I will serve Him. I do it today.

"If you decide that it's a bad thing to worship God, then choose a god you'd rather serve—and do it today. Choose one of the gods your ancestors worshiped from the country beyond The River, or one of the gods of the Amorites, on whose land you're now living. As for me and my family, we'll worship God." Joshua 24:15

"The goal of faithfulness is not that we will do work for God, but that He will be free to do His work through us." ~~Oswald Chambers

"First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win." ~~Gandhi

"An education is being able to differentiate between what you do know and what you don't." ~~Anatole France

"We need a lot more failures. Failures that don't kill us make us bolder." ~~Seth Godin

"A Southern League ground crew consists of one old man with a rake." ~~Jim Bouton (Pitcher)

"He's learning to say hello when it's time to say good-bye." ~~Frank Graham

Frank Graham noting how Yankees outfielder Bob Meusel was becoming more friendly late in his career.

"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." ~~Thomas Alva Edison

"Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it." ~~Henry Thoreau

"Stormy or sunny days, glorious or lonely nights, I maintain an attitude of gratitude. " ~Maya Angelou

"If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it." ~~Max Lucado

"If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning… Face it, friend. He is crazy about you!" ~~Max Lucado

"You must learn to wrestle against the things that hinder your communication with God." ~~Oswald Chambers

"You must learn to wrestle against the things that hinder your communication with God, and wrestle in prayer for other people; but to wrestle with God in prayer is unscriptural." ~~Oswald Chambers

“A vocabulary of truth and simplicity will be of service throughout your life." – Winston Churchill

"A good person is saved from much trouble; a bad person runs straight into it." ~~King Solomon

We are "made good" by Jesus. He alone can do this. Because of that, we are saved from a whole bunch of trouble. Without Jesus, we run smack into to it. No avoiding that.

"A good person is saved from much trouble;  a bad person runs straight into it." ~~King Solomon (Proverbs 11:8) 

Management Team Christmas dinner 2011

"If you never did, you should. These things are fun, and fun is good." ~~Dr. Seuss

Starting to decorate the tree - 2011

 

"If good people barely make it, what's in store for the bad!" ~~King Solomon

Jesus is straight with us. The way is not easy. He says it over and over. Unfortunately, many in the church want us believe otherwise. Solomon knew otherwise as well.

We need to vigilant. We need to follow the narrow way. We need to take up the way of sacrifice. We need to leave everything behind for Jesus, our Messiah.

"If good people barely make it, what's in store for the bad!" ~~King Solomon (Proverbs 11:31)

"We trample the blood of the Son of God underfoot if we think we are forgiven because we are sorry for our sins." ~~Oswald Chambers

"The team in first place on the Fourth of July will win the pennant." ~~Unknown

I've heard this one a lot. Sometimes not true though.

If Mary and Joseph used Facebook

I love this video. This is a must see. Mary and Joseph on Facebook

"A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives." ~~Jackie Robinson

"Yes, I have." ~Joe DiMaggio

Hall of Famer Joe Dimaggio, responding to his wife Marilyn Monroe, who had told him of the reception U. S. troops in Korea had given her. "It was so wonderful Joe. You've never heard such cheering."

"Yes, I have."

"It is a beautiful day for baseball." ~~Ernie Banks

Every day. Always. Forever.

"The trades you don't make are your best ones." ~~Branch Rickey

"A good hockey player plays where the puck is. A great hockey player plays where the puck is going to be." ~~Wayne Gretzky

Wayne nailed it with this one. To some extent, this is the essence of leadership. It is the "vision thing".

"Find the good and praise it" ~~Alex Haley

"God never said that the journey would be easy, but He did say that the arrival would be worthwhile." ~~Max Lucado

"You can't steal first." ~~Unknown

This one is an old baseball adage, supposedly first said by a manager who apparently wasn't fearful of Eddie Mayo's speed.

"When the wicked die, that's it—the story's over, end of hope." ~~King Solomon

We are a people of hope. We know we are living in a new world under Jesus' new agreement with God. Not so, however, for everyone else. For them, death is the end of the road.

"When the wicked die, that's it— the story's over, end of hope." ~~King Solomon (Proverbs 11:7)

Sent to help out

I have to say that it hasn't always been obvious to me that angels are here to help me. Lately it has been more obvious.  God knows what He is doing. Not everything is as it seems in this world. God's hand is behind some activity that we cannot even fathom.

May it be more obvious to me all the time!!

Isn't it obvious that all angels are sent to help out with those lined up to receive salvation? Hebrews 1

“And yes, there’s a simplicity to writing books because you’re not a member of a team, so you make all the decisions yourself instead of deferring to a committee. “ ~~Bernard Cornwell

"Baseball is too much of a sport to be called a business and too much of a business to be called a sport." ~~Phil Wrigley

"Holiness is the balance between my nature and the law of God as expressed in Jesus Christ." ~~Oswald Chambers

"It's a great tragedy when the Bible is interpreted by those who are not in love." ~~Bill Johnson

"Give me some scratching, diving, hungry ballplayers who come to kill you." ~~Leo Durocher

"Never dare to judge until you have heard the other side." ~Euripides, 5th century B.C.

"No one can pray and worry at the same time." ~~Max Lucado

"If your faith is in experiences, anything that happens is likely to upset that faith." ~~Oswald Chambers

"A man must be able to cut a knot, for everything cannot be untied." ~~Henri Frederic Amiel

"A man must be able to cut a knot, for everything cannot be untied; he must know how to disengage what is essential from the detail in which it is enwrapped, for everything cannot be equally considered; in a word, he must be able to simplify his duties, his business and his life." — Henri Frederic Amiel

Words of the year

The Oxford English Dictionary has chosen its word of the year: Squeezed Middle. Last year’s word of the year was big society, and the word of 2009 was unfriend.

Those who spend time on Twitter might have guessed that OWS, occupy or 99% would have come out on top this year. They didn’t come out on top, but they did make the shortlist, alongside some notable tech buzzwords. Gamification, clicktivism and crowdfunding made the U.S. shortlist, while hacktivism, sodcasting (playing music on your phone’s speaker in a public place) and — not surprisingly — phone hacking made the UK list.

Here’s the full U.S. shortlist for 2011′s word of the year:

• Arab Spring


• Bunga bunga


• Clicktivism


• Crowdfunding


• Fracking


• Gamification


• Occupy


• The 99%


• Tiger mother


• Sifi

"It is a trap to presume that God wants to make us perfect specimens of what He can do— God’s purpose is to make us one with Himself." ~~Oswald Chambers

"Good character is the best insurance; crooks get trapped in their sinful lust." ~~King Solomon

Good character is important. Doing the right thing, God's thing, makes all the difference. Solomon's dad understood that following what God said is important. Solomon learned that from his Dad.

Looking for a reward in this world and the next? Get God's good character. Get it now.

Good character is the best insurance; crooks get trapped in their sinful lust. ~~King Solomon (Proverbs 11:6)

"Do, or do not. There is no try." ~~Yoda

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself, any direction you choose." ~~Dr. Seuss

"God is faithful even when his children are not." ~~Max Lucado

"A little simplification would be the first step toward rational living, I think." ~~Eleanor Roosevelt

"Reality is the leading cause of stress amongst those in touch with it." ~~Jane Wagner

You have to appreciate this. :)

"Life collapses on loafers; lazybones go hungry." ~~King Solomon

"When a person cannot deceive himself the chances are against his being able to deceive other people." ~~Mark Twain

"Blessed are those who can give without remembering and take without forgetting." ~~Elizabeth Bibesco

Calm me with His love

What is it about His love? It is so calming. I know He is here to save me. He is so happy I am back. He sings to me and calms me. All is well!!

Now that is good stuff. So very simple but powerful.

May I delight in His love. May He calm me as He sings to me.

Jerusalem will be told: 'Don't be afraid. Dear Zion, don't despair.

Your God is present among you, a strong Warrior there to save you.

Happy to have you back, he'll calm you with his love and delight you with his songs. Zephaniah3:14-17

"Religion idolizes concepts and avoids personal experience." ~~Bill Johnson

“Nature is pleased with simplicity.” ~~Isaac Newton

"Things don’t have to change the world to be important." ~ Steve Jobs

[categories personal]

"If you need a performance appraisal to tell you how well you're doing--then you're not doing very well!" ~~Tom Peters

“As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler; solitude will not be solitude, poverty will not be poverty, nor weakness weakness.” ~~Henry David Thoreau

"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." ~~Leonardo Da Vinci

“Do not think that love, in order to be genuine, has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired.” ~Mother Teresa

 

Provoked to sarcasm

Am I one Jesus brings into the room with Him or am I the one provoked to sarcasm and left out of His presence? This is an essential question. Imagine telling Jesus he didn't know what he was talking about. Oh my goodness.

Peter, James and John got in. I want to be one of the ones who goes in with Jesus. I don't want to be sarcastic with what our Lord can do. Nothing is impossible for Him!!

He permitted no one to go in with him except Peter, James, and John. They entered the leader's house and pushed their way through the gossips looking for a story and neighbors bringing in casseroles. Jesus was abrupt: 'Why all this busybody grief and gossip? This child isn't dead; she's sleeping.' Provoked to sarcasm, they told him he didn't know what he was talking about.

But when he had sent them all out, he took the child's father and mother, along with his companions, and entered the child's room. He clasped the girl's hand and said, 'Talitha koum,' which means, 'Little girl, get up.' At that, she was up and walking around! This girl was twelve years of age. They, of course, were all beside themselves with joy. He gave them strict orders that no one was to know what had taken place in that room. Then he said, 'Give her something to eat.' Mark 5:39-43 

"Large, naked raw carrots are acceptable as food only to those who lie in hutches eagerly awaiting Easter." ~Fran Lebowitz

Georgia 31, Georgia Tech 17

The story could change in any number of ways over time so let the record show: Yes, by all indications Mark Richt really was in danger of losing his job after Georgia's season-opening losses to Boise State and South Carolina. Ten games and two-and-a-half months later, his team just finished off the longest winning streak of Richt's career.

My how things can change.

"The same people who want 60 minute worship services rent 2 hour movies & watch 3 hour ballgames. It's about our heart's focus!" ~ J. Bull

God can do anything

I have ideas. I imagine, "what if". Some of this stuff is pretty cool!! Does it seem to be far fetched sometimes? Yes, it does. But God can do anything. He can go way beyond my ideas, my dreams. And, He does it through His Spirit which is already at work within me. Wow!!!

May I not limit God to my dreams. May I lean in to hear what He has in mind. It is more than I can ever imagine. His desire for  me is greater than my desires for myself.

God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us. Ephesians3:20

"Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit." ~~Wilma Rudolph

"If you're bored with life, if you don't get up every morning with a burning desire to do things - you don't have enough goals." ~~Lou Holtz

The promise

Our Father's promise is not just for me. It is for my relatives and anyone who God invites to the table. The new agreement is that He has made me accepted in His sight. And, anyone I touch, through His power, has access to the promise too. Starting with my family and to anyone else He invites.

His word is true. He is faithful to His promise. He invites me move in closer. Lean in and hear His promise. The promise starts close to me. Then to those I care most about. I need the courage to believe. I need the love to persist. He is mighty and He will deliver on His promise.

Woo Hoo!!! He is so amazing.

"On Thanksgiving Day we acknowledge our dependence." ~William Jennings Bryan

"Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action." ~W.J. Cameron

Getting ready for Thanksgiving

Giving Thanks

Now this is something to be thankful for. I am qualified. No doubt about it. God has done it for me. He sent His Son, Jesus the Messiah and it is now complete. Nothing else for me to do qualify to be a child of God. He has done it all. It is finished.

In my "work" and sometimes "family" life, I have to qualify myself. I have to prove myself. I have to demonstrate I can get it done. That is the way it works.

God's world is different. It doesn't make sense to us but it is reality. I can share in the inheritance that my Father is preparing for me and all the saints. He has done it. There is nothing I can do to make it happen myself.

This is some good news.

Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. Collosians 1:12

"Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new." ~~ Albert Einstein

Shouldn't we be afraid?

You know, if you really think about it, we should all be terrified of God. Anybody that can create the Universe with a word, light up the stars by the millions and breathe life into mankind is simply awe-striking. The sheer power of our God should have us all on our knees trembling in fear, shouldn’t it?

But, Love has been added to the equation. While we are on our knees, it is God's Love that lets us feel His hands on our cheeks. And He is turning our face upward to Him. He is telling us that He loves us and He is saying that He even knew us before we were born. And we can hear Him. And there is no need at all to be afraid.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Romans 8:35

"It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare, it is because we do not dare that they are difficult" ~~Seneca

"You don't save a pitcher for tomorrow. Tomorrow it may rain." ~~Leo Durocher

Our Father would rather do it right than do it quick!

Our Father would rather do it right than do it quick! He is in the "doing it right" business.

Now, in a culture of "I want it now", that may come as a shock. He knows what He is doing. He is doing it right. He is doing it. I can count on that. He is a strong man. Mighty in every way. He is doing it and doing right. I must lean in to hear Him and what He wants. Nothing is impossible with Him.

He so ROCKS.

“More time on the problem isn't the way. More guts is." ~~Seth Godin

“More time on the problem isn't the way. More guts is. When you expose yourself to the opportunities that scare you, you create something scarce, something others won't do.” ~~Seth Godin

Meet Max

"So much of what we call management consists of making it difficult for people to work." ~~Peter Drucker

Can't keep quiet about God

God is speaking. He is moving. Will I keep quiet about what I have seen and heard?

God had used Peter and John to heal a lame man. The story is stunning. They were arrested for it. After spending the night in jail, they were bold beyond belief.  They drew the line in the sand with the religious leaders. Do we listen to you or to God?  They chose God.

May I not keep quiet about what I see God doing.

They (the religious leaders) called them back and warned them that they (Peter and John) were on no account ever again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John spoke right back, "Whether it's right in God's eyes to listen to you rather than to God, you decide. As for us, there's no question—we can't keep quiet about what we've seen and heard." Acts 4:18-20

"Carpé diem quam minimum credula postero." ~ Horace (Roman poet)

Translation: Seize the Day, put no trust in tomorrow.

He whispers to me

The LORD comes to me and whispers to me not to despair. He is present with me. He is here. He is always here, even when I don't know it.

He is strong like a warrior. Strong like an Iron Man. He is not decrepit. He is here to save me. He is very happy I am his child. He calms me with His love. He delights me with His songs. He lifts my soul as He whispers to me not to despair. Nothing is impossible for Him.

"Baseball is like church. Many attend few understand." ~~Leo Durocher

Listening to John Foley, Blue Angel pilot

Vision
Clarity
Liberation

That is the belief level.

“We don’t believe because we understand, we understand because we believe” ~~Bill Johnson

"Some people care too much, I think it's called love." ~~Winnie the Pooh

Words of strength and heart

John the Baptist was an amazing man of God. His words gave strength to people. His words put heart in them. Of course, they also offended the powerful. But John was faithful to the Message. His focus was on delivering God's message of hope. He did not focus on who he would offend in the process.

May I have his same faithfulness. May I speak words that give people strenght and heart.

There was a lot more of this—words that gave strength to the people, words that put heart in them. The Message! But Herod, the ruler, stung by John's rebuke in the matter of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, capped his long string of evil deeds with this outrage: He put John in jail. Luke 3:18-20

Ronald Reagan on the equlity of all men and women

"Recognizing the equality of all men and women, we are willing and able to lift the weak, cradle those who hurt, and nurture the bonds that tie us together as one nation under God." ~~Ronald Reagan

Patriotic Neighborhood

Out for a walk with Gizmo and love what I am seeing.

Leaning In: A Poem

I am not where I want to be.
I am leaning in to hear
the Lord more clearly.
I want to get closer.
I want to hear Him clearly.

I want the completeness
that comes from knowing Him.

So what can lead to that?
What is the path I should be on?

Trust.
Trust steadily in Him.
Trust completely.
Trust in what He says to me.

Hope.
And hope more.
Hope unswervingly.
Hope without the doubt
that can creep in.
Hope.

Love.
Love extravagantly.
Love without fear.
Love perfectly in His love.
Love like He loves me.

The best of all of these
is His extravagent love.

"While faith brings answers, enduring faith brings the answer with character." ~~Bill Johnson

"Only enduring faith taps into the mystery of compound interest." ~~Bill Johnson

"Focus on something that stirs your soul, it's hard to excel at anything that you don't love." ~~Susan Rice

Nick in Las Vegas with custom car

A couple of weeks ago, Nick was in Las Vegas for a car show with a car he and his class built. Yes, that is built themselves.

I'm proud of you Nick!!

Life Starts with my Heart

My life starts with my heart. That is the center of everything. Nothing else matters so I need to be vigilant over it. I should guard it like I guard nothing else. Since everything flows from my heart, I need to be careful not speak out of both sides of my mouth. I should completely avoid careless banter that can hurt others and me. Little white lies hurt my integrity and I need to avoid them at all cost. Gossip hurts others and so it damages my heart.

So ... I should keep my eyes straight ahead and completely ignore distractions which take me away from you, my Father. If I watch my step and focus on what you want, the road will be smooth. It will straighten out in front of me. If I focus on my relationship with you, looking only at you, I will leave evil in the dust.

"We are what we believe we are.: ~~ C. S. Lewis

"This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave." ~~Elmer Davis

When?

When has God had enough and gives up? When does He draw the line in the sand and say "That is it"?

When does he get frustrated and quit? When does He just walk away from it all?

Never!!

"I do not pray for success, I ask for faithfulness." ~~Mother Teresa.

"Freedom is never free." -Author Unknown

"One man practicing sportsmanship is far better than a hundred teaching it." ~~Knute Rockne

Putting my foot down

I was a dupe of sin. I was stubborn, refusing to believe Jesus. I went around with a chip on my shoulder. But this is the season of reminder. God, my kind and loving Savior God, stepped in. He saved me from a life of hatred. He saved me from a life of selfishness. He stepped right in!!

It was completely His doing. I had absolutely nothing to do with it. He gave me a good bath and I came out a totally clean man. I was washed on the inside. I was washed on the outside. Clean inside and out!! My Savior Jesus poured out a whole new life for me. It is a generous life. It is a gift of right relationship with my Father. He has given me back my life. AND, woo hoo, there is more to come. An eternity of the glorious life. I can count on it. If is a fact Jack!!

So ... I am putting my foot down. I really am. I am taking a firm stand on all of this. I am putting my trust in God and concentrating on the essentials that are good for me. I am staying completely away mindless issues and the fine print. It gets me nowhere. I am radically trusting in Jesus. The HOLY Spirit that raised Him from the dead is in me. And with me.

I am putting my foot down.

"Leadership is a combination of strategy and character. If you must be without one, be without the strategy." ~~Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf

The LIST

Sometimes we keep a list of other peoples wrongs. We can recite it chapter and verse. It can actually be quite long. My heavenly Father does not have a list of my sins. He doesn't keep one. He is love and love doesn't keep a list. That is the truth. Anything else is a lie.

May I love the way He loves.

Love doesn't keep a list of the sins of others. 1 Corinthians 13

"Busy does not equal important. Measured doesn't mean mattered." ~~Seth Godin

One of life's biggest temptations: The kid's chocolate treats on the counter.

"Never cut what you can untie." ~Joseph Joubert

A perpetual victory parade

Parades are so much fun. The bands, the floats, and the celebration of a special day. Everyone gets into it. The participants and the on lookers alike. Parades are a blast.

In Jesus, we are in one perpetual victory parade. We march through life, in Him, moving from place to place, always in victory. We are triumphant in His life of resurrection. The power that raised Him from the dead is in us and upon us. When the crowd sees us in His victory parade, they know it is Him who deserves the praise.

In the Messiah, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade. Through us, he brings knowledge of the Messiah. 2 Corinthians 2:14-16

Songs from my heart

What excuse do I find to sing a song to God? I don't need one. Everything is a reason to praise Him.

May I drink in huge draughts of the HOLY Spirit. May I be filled with Him.

Drink the Spirit of God, huge draughts of him. Sing hymns instead of drinking songs! Sing songs from your heart to Christ. Sing praises over everything, any excuse for a song to God the Father in the name of our Master, Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:15-20

I hunger

I hunger for His touch. It is all about the relationship. He wants me to be a glutton for Him. He wants me to hunger for Him like I do a great meal. Hunger like I do for King Crab or a great steak or that amazing hamburger.

I thirst for His word. I hunger for His word. I can't do without it. I can't wait for the next meal.

May I hunger and thirst for you like no other. May I receive your nurishment.

Take Heart

Many days, there is a whole lot of worrying going on. Fear can cripple. How many times does God come to us and say, "Fear not"? That is one of His great themes. Trust in Him. He is in control. He didn't bring us this far to leave us now.

Here is the good news. Jesus has overcome everything. He is seated at the right hand of the Father. All is well. It is finished.

 

“But take heart! I have overcome the world."

----- Jesus,John 16:33

 

"Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened." ~~Billy Graham

Never giving up

My heavenly Father never gives up on me. He loves me even when I haven't wanted to know Him. He loves me even when I wander off. He NEVER gives up no matter what.

May I love like Him. May I never give up. May I have His heart.

Love never gives up. 1 Corinthians 13

"The problem with Socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." ~~Margaret Thatcher

"The best thing you can do is the right thing to do, next best thing is the wrong thing, the worst thing you can do is nothing." ~~Roosevelt

Rock solid guarantee

There is the saying "As good as his word". All God has to do to guarantee His promise to us to give us His word. When He says it, we can count on it. No ifs, ands or buts. It is done.

I can take it to the bank. He won't break His promise to me. He is faithful so I can be faithful.

When God wanted to guarantee his promises, he gave his word, a rock-solid guarantee—God can't break his word. And because his word cannot change, the promise is likewise unchangeable. Hebrews 6:18

 

Against the grain

In listening to Jesus, much of what He is saying (see Matthew 5) goes against the grain of what I have thought brings happiness. Here are some of the things that don't make sense in this world but lead to happiness in His Kingdom:

• With less of me there is more of God and his rule.


• I have to lose what is most dear to me.


• I must be content in who I am in His kingdom.


• I must be a glutton for Him spiritually. Hunger for Him more than food.


• I must care for others, not myself.


• I must get my inside world, mind and heart, right first.


• I must show others how to cooperate not compete.


• I must be comfortable that my commitment to God will provoke persecution.


• I must please Him first.

So, there it is. It is not conventional wisdom at. It is God's way.

"You will find the key to success under the alarm clock." ~~Benjamin Franklin

“Never let the fear of striking out get in your way." ~Babe Ruth

“Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So... get on your way.” ~~Dr. Seuss

Things way over my head

That God has done something in my life is a real surprise, Him handling every single detail. It is nothing but a gift, His riches which I have a hard time understanding, coming to me every day. I am writing about things that are way over my head.

My task is to bring out into open what He is doing. His generosity is amazing. It is hard to get my arms around it. The credit goes to Him. It is His work for sure.

To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, Ephesians 3:8

"The Message that points to Messiah on the Cross seems like sheer silliness to those hellbent on destruction." ~~Apostle Paul

The way God works seems silly to those who don't know Him. For many, "Why" is the big barrier to a true relationship with God. "Why did this happen?" "Why would God work that way?"

Of course, this is the way children think as well. "I don't get it" they say. "Why can't I do X?" they ask. "I don't understand why you want let me" they protest after we have explained it 10 times. Our decisons seem silly to them.

That what God is doing makes sense to me is a sign that I am on the way to salvation. I am on the road. I must stay focused on what He is doing and not get diverted by what He isn't. If I stay focused on His wisdom, I will be more than happy.

The Message that points to Messiah on the Cross seems like sheer silliness to those hellbent on destruction, but for those on the way of salvation it makes perfect sense. This is the way God works, and most powerfully as it turns out. It's written, I'll turn conventional wisdom on its head, I'll expose so-called experts as crackpots. So where can you find someone truly wise, truly educated, truly intelligent in this day and age? Hasn't God exposed it all as pretentious nonsense? Since the world in all its fancy wisdom never had a clue when it came to knowing God, God in his wisdom took delight in using what the world considered dumb—proclaiming the Message, of all things!—to bring those who trust him into the way of salvation. 1 Corinthians 1:18-21

"Do not be anxious about anything." ~~Apostle Paul

My part is to rejoice. God is so very good and He is always in this amazing mood. Jesus has a mission to bring Good News to me. Am I hearing bad news? It is a lie then. That is from my enemy Satan. So, I will rejoice at the good God is doing now.
 
I need to talk with my Father, ask Him for what I need, and be thankful in my conversations with Him. He knows what I need and will do more than I can imagine.
 
I don't understand it, but as a result, His peace is mine. I can rest and relax. His peace is at attention in my heart. He is protecting me and the enemy can't reach my heart.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-9

 

 

"People will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." ~ Maya Angelou

Isn't it true. Life is short. Live long. Treat people like it is your last day.

"People will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." ~ Maya Angelou

"I will conduct the affairs of my house with a blameless heart." ~~King David

It all starts at home. Work is important and so is the church, but living love out at home is where it all starts and ends. It can't be faked at home. Either I do things out of love with a blameless heart or I don't. Everyone at home knows.

And so I seek to do every act at home out of pure love. No selfishness. No boasting. No ego gratification. Only love.

I will conduct the affairs of my house with a blameless heart. Psalm 101:2

 

"Regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it." ~~ Apostle Paul

God has chosen us for a new life. It is a life of love. It's characteristics are:

• Compassion
• Kindness
• Humility
• Quiet strength
• Discipline
• Even tempered
• Forgiving

And so, we should wear love everyday. It is a garment we should always put on.

So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it. Colossians 3:12-14

"The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity." ~~Dorothy Parker

"The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity." ~~Dorothy Parker

"I've made myself available to those who haven't bothered to ask.' ~~God

Our God is amazing. He doesn't wait on us. In fact, He did it all by sending Jesus to take care of everything we need to meet God's goal for us. He just  did it even though we didn't bother to ask. What an amazing God.

He is there. He is available. He is ready.

"I've made myself available to those who haven't bothered to ask.' ~~God (Isaiah 65:1)

"My arms wave like banners of praise to you." ~~King David

I must find the place of worship. I must open my eyes. In His generous love, I can really live. It is about His strength. It is about His glory. I must praise Him in an excessive way. I must go overboard in my thanks.

So here I am in the place of worship, eyes open,
drinking in your strength and glory.
In your generous love I am really living at last!
My lips brim praises like fountains.
I bless you every time I take a breath;
My arms wave like banners of praise to you. Psalm 63

Mere busywork

Not all work is the same. Some things are much more important in the Kingdom than others. I shouldn't waste my time on useless work. Am I just doing busywork? Do I see that as a sham? How would this look in the light of Jesus and His glory?

May I know what He wants me to do and may I do it with enthusiasm!!

Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them--Ephesians 5:11

"I pray for good fortune in everything you do—that your everyday affairs prosper." ~~ Apostle John

God wants me to prosper. He has every good thing in mind for me and wants me to have them. He is in a good mood. Period.

And, it is not just for a few parts of my life, it is for everything I do. Every part of my life. My health, my finances, my relationships. Everything. He wants me to prosper. That is just His way.

May my everyday affairs prosper, as He has them in mind for me.

I pray for good fortune in everything you do, and for your good health—that your everyday affairs prosper, as well as your soul! 3 John 2

 

A man after His heart

What is the BIG THING my heavenly Father is looking for? He is desperately seeking a man after his own heart. How will I know what is in His heart? Have a relationship with Him. Know what makes Him tick. Seek to please Him at all costs.

May I be a man after God's own heart!! May I do what He asks me to do.

"The LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people ..." 1 Samuel 13:13-14

"Action springs not from thought, but from a readiness for responsibility." - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

How true this is. A Godly life isn't thinking alone. We must act and that comes from being responsible for what we hear from God.

"Action springs not from thought, but from a readiness for responsibility." - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out

My love for the Father should squeeze out everything else. Wanting my own way is not the Father's way. Wanting what He wants is the way. What does He want? He wants me to love Him. He wants me to love everyone who is a part of my life. He wants me to love like He does.

May my love for the Father squeeze out everything else.

Don't love the world's ways. Don't love the world's goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity. 1 John 2:15-17

 

Chipper Jones on the Braves chances

Chipper Jones, after last night’s loss to Philadelphia, on if Braves still have what it takes to make it:

"Yes. no doubt. We can play tooth and nail with the best teams in the game. We’ve proven that. We proved it tonight with a guy who started the year in Double-A. He pitched great, we played good defense behind him. We swung the bats good in certain sections of the game, not so good in others. Again, when you’re running up against a Cy Young winner, he doesn’t make too many mistakes. I think we probably took advantage of the few that he did make."

iPhone 5 ... do you want it?

Well, you know it is coming. And so, do you want it? Do you need it.

This grahpic helps shows how may be in line to buy it.

What do you think?

What He gives in love

Am I cheating on God? There are times I just want my own way. That cheats God of the relationship He wants to have with me. I am more than happy when I know what he wants and then do it. He cares. He really cares a lot. What He gives to me in love is above and beyond anything else I could get.

May live in His love and be more than happy.

You're cheating on God. If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and his way. And do you suppose God doesn't care? The proverb has it that 'he's a fiercely jealous lover.' And what he gives in love is far better than anything else you'll find. It's common knowledge that 'God goes against the willful proud; God gives grace to the willing humble.' James 4

 

Love keeps going

What is it about persistence in love? It must be something like the Energizer Bunny. It just keeps going and going. But how often has my love stopped? Some offense. Some bad circumstance. Some care of this world. That is not how my Father loves. His love just keeps going.

May my love be like His. May it just keep going. Going and going with to the end.

But love keeps going to the end. 1 Corinthians 13

Fred Flintstone Quotes

Yabba Dabba Doo!!! - Fred Flintstone

Don't toy with me, Barn. - Fred Flintstone

Where's your get up and go? It just got up and went. - Fred Flinstone


You're too fat, Fred! - Barney Rubble

Sometimes I just don't know what's the matter with men. - Betty Rubble

Bam! Bam! Bam! - Bam Bam

Wilma!!! - Fred Flinstone

My name is Mr. Frederick J. Blublublubluh. - Fred Flinstone

The nerve of that guy, waking up a man in his hammoc - Fred Flinstone

Why can't they invent something for us to marry instead of women? - Fred Flinstone

Oh Fred! - Wilma Flintstone

And what may I ask do you think you're doing? - Fred Flintstone

Ahhh, seatbealts are for kids. - Fred Flintstone

I told you to buckle the seat belt. - Barney Rubble

Fred, why don't you go outside and vroom that lawn mower around the yard. - Wilma Flinstone

What do you say partner, is it a deal? - Fred Flinstone

Wilma, where's my razor? Wilma, where's breakfast? - Fred Flinstone?

All right rubble, what is this? Fred Flinstone

You want to get in the game Fred? You could use some exercise around that infield there. - Barney Rubble

If Fred doesn't come home soon, dinner will be ruined. - Wilma Flinstone

Wilma, I'm back! - Fred Flinstone

Nobody's pushing me around. My decision stands! - Fred Flinstone.

Freddy Flinstone, You're all heart and a yard wide - Wilma Flinstone

Don't count your bowling balls before they're hatched, Fred - Barney Rubble

Make it good Fred, I gotta tell Betty the same story. - Barney Rubble

Put daddy down Bam Bam. Ouch! Not on the head. - Barney Rubble

I don't want to hear any more about it! - Fred Flinstone

That does it! - Fred Flintstone

Playing baseball in a football stadium (2011)

Chipper Jones and the Atlanta Braves are looking forward to playing in the Florida Marlins' new ballpark next year, especially after this difficult loss.

Jones lost Emilio Bonifacio's two-out chopper in the lights before Omar a game-ending homer off rookie closer Craig Kimbrel, giving the Marlins a 6-5 victory Monday night.

"You play baseball in a football stadium, I guess that happens from time to time, but it's just extremely bad timing," Jones said. "It's a pretty helpless feeling when the game should be over and I had no clue where the ball was when it bounced."

Atlanta now has dropped three of four, and its NL wild-card lead is down to 2½ games over surging St. Louis, which beat Roy Halladay and the Phillies 4-3 in Philadelphia. The Braves have eight games remaining, compared to nine for the Cardinals.

The Three Little Steam Shovels (1944)

The war continues. 1944, however, brought new life to the Braves (then in Boston). Lou Perini, Guido Rugo and Joseph Maney purchased the Braves. Bob Quinn who headed the previous syndicate move on to be President of the club. The new owners were known as the "The Three Little Steam Shovels." OK, they were contractors in real life.

So, they "shoved" Casey Stingel out as the manager. Did it really take all three of them to do that?

They brought on Bob Coleman. He had some minor league experience but none in the bigs. He did about as good as Casey had the previous year which wasn't too good. The Braves ended up 40 games behind the leader. That was "good" enough for a sixth place finish with a 65-89 record.

The decline (1880)

40-44 and sixth in the pennant race. It is 1880 and Harry Wright's career as a manager is declining for sure. The Braves (then known as the Boston Red Stockings) end up 27 games behing the leader. The glory years are over. It is done.

The Red Stockings need new leadership. It isn't forthcoming. They lanquish and suffer. They are sixth among eight teams. They didn't even win half of their games. Not good at all. That was the first time in their ten year history they didn't have a winning season. They also suffered from being no hit for the first time. Larry Corcoran from Chicago held them to no hits on August 19 in a 6-0 game. It would take another 12 years for them to have a no hitter on the right side.

The decline was bad and would get worse.

Beaneaters (1883)

1883 was an amazing season for the Boston Beaneaters (now the Atlanta Braves). First, they changed their name from the Red Stockings to the Beaneaters. Second, in mid season the changed managers from "Honest" John Morrill to Jack Burdock. Third, they had a second half rally when they came from dead last on July 18 to win the National League pennant and the World Series.

They had a 63-35 record ending up 4 games ahead.

Beaneaters indeed.

"The Six W's: Work will win when wishing won't." ~~Todd Blackledge

"The Six W's: Work will win when wishing won't." ~~Todd Blackledge

“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.” ~~Ghandi

“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.” ~~Ghandi

Thinking is easy

"Thinking is easy, acting is difficult, and
to put one's thoughts into action is the
most difficult thing in the world."

— Johann von Goethe: Was a German poet, novelist, and dramatist

Soldiers of God

Now this is a great one. If I am wearing the sword of God, am I using it? If not, why not?

"One of the greatest tragedies in the Christian life is to see soldiers of God go to bed night after night with no blood on their swords." ~~Bill Johnson

Progress in Milwaukee (1955)

1955 brought continued improvement to the Braves. Maybe it was the move to Milwaukee. Maybe it was Charlie Grimm the manager. Maybe it was Hank Aaron bursting onto the scene. Whatever it was, they ended up in second place that year with an 85-69 record. It was their third consecutive solid season. It wasn't good enough to outpace the Dodgers who won their first 10 games and 22 of their first 24.

The Braves were second most of the season. Brooklyn continued to rise and actually clinched on September 8, a National League record for the 154 game season. Of course, injuries didn't help them in 1955 either. Just like the year before. But it probably didn't matter. They couldn't have caught the Dodgers under any circumstances.

As if my life depended on it!!

Oh yes. There are times I felt my life depended on many things. This good word sets a wonderful standard for me. All I need to do is love others as if my life depends on it. AND, it does. I should be cheerful. I should be generous. If I an, He will get all the credit.

May I love in such a way that it makes up for practically anything. Wouldn't that be an amazing thing. That is the way He does it. Here is the deal. Love more, worry less.

Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless—cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God's words; if help, let it be God's hearty help. That way, God's bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he'll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything—encores to the end of time. Oh, yes!" 1 Peter 4:8-11

Forgiveness is a huge thing

Forgiveness is huge in God's world. He is love. He forgives us. We must forgive others. Jesus emphasized this over and over. It is in the "model" prayer he gave us. To ignore it is to give our enemy an opening. We don't want or need that.

And so, there must be no delay. We must forgive, over and over. We are forgiven. Let's get on with it. Now.

The focus of my letter wasn't on punishing the offender but on getting you to take responsibility for the health of the church. So if you forgive him, I forgive him. Don't think I'm carrying around a list of personal grudges. The fact is that I'm joining in with your forgiveness, as Christ is with us, guiding us. After all, we don't want to unwittingly give Satan an opening for yet more mischief—we're not oblivious to his sly ways! 2 Corinthians 2:9-11

 

MLB and uniformity -- very sad!!

This is so very sad. I love baseball but the ultimate answer of MLB was that it was for the sake of uniformity. Wow!! 

Major League Baseball would not let the New York Mets wear NYPD, FDNY and PAPD caps during last night's game against the Chicago Cubs at Citi Field.

The American Spectator : AmSpecBlog : MLB Wouldn't Let Mets Wear NYPD, FNDY & PAPD Caps

God has a special assignment for me

God has a master plan for us all. I can tap into it and know the special assignment He has in mind for me. My life today is not just a "get up and see what happens" kind of day. He has a plan for me. I need to find it and do it. He is God. He is great. He is good. My job is to find out what He wants done today and be obediant.

I don't have to keep missing God's goal for my life. His Spirit has been sent to guide me.

God has a master plan. Now that is some good news.

I, Paul, have been sent on special assignment by Christ as part of God's master plan. Collosians 1:1

I remember

I remember and I will never forget. It is almost as vivid today in mind as the day it happen. What we now know as 9-11.

I was in Syracuse NY. I was flying on business to New Orleans that afternoon. Origionally I was going to fly out of Boston that morning but I had changed my plans.

I saw the second plan hit the twin towers. I saw both go down. I saw 3,000 americans die.

The days that followed were horrible. I kept my son close to me at home, not going to work.

I remember. I will never forget.

Terror invaded America. We must be vigilant ever still.

Praying for Namibia today

Praying today for Namibia. Every day I get a new country to pray for from Operation Word and Namibia is the one for today. You can get involved as well.Check out Namibia | Operation World for more information.

Namibia is a stable country rich in natural resources, but there is significant risk of strife and collapse if able governance and communal harmony do not prevail. Pray that the nation’s leaders would address the issues of poverty, land ownership and AIDS with wisdom and determination.

Prosper remembers

Prosper TX remembers. Flag in front of my house. Flags in front of almost every house in the neighborhood.

Can you impress God?

I can't impress God. Some ministers are trying to impress us though. Jesus called it straight. Character is all that counts.

We are too easily attracted to charisma. That doesn't impress God at all. It should impress us either.

It isn't what a minister says. It is who he is.

God knows. Just ask Him.

Be wary of false preachers who smile a lot, dripping with practiced sincerity. Chances are they are out to rip you off some way or other. Don't be impressed with charisma; look for character. Who preachers are is the main thing, not what they say. A genuine leader will never exploit your emotions or your pocketbook. These diseased trees with their bad apples are going to be chopped down and burned. Matthew 7:15-20

Nate playing football

What does He want us to know?

There are some things that really please our Father. One of them is to reveal things to those of us who will believe just like little children do. And so, what does He want us to know?

• He will give us rest.


• Serve Him and we will learn.


• His way is easy, not difficult.

At that time Jesus said, 'I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure. 'All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 'Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.' Matthew 11:25-30

“Life is ten percent what happens to you and ninety percent how you respond to it.” ~~Lou Holtz

Working hard every day

"The highest compliment that you can pay me is to say that I work hard every day, that I never dog it." -Wayne Gretzky

God is on the job

I am being refined. No doubt about that. Life does present difficulties. Jesus said that in this world we would have trouble. I must be careful not to jump to conclusions that God doesn't care.

There is glory around the corner. The fire, the difficulties are for a purpose. I am being refined. God is always on the job. He is always good.

Friends, when life gets really difficult, don't jump to the conclusion that God isn't on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner. 1 Peter 4

The Man (1878)

Tommy Bond was the man in 1878. For his second year in a row, he had a 40 win season. Yes, that is right, 40 wins.

He led the league in wins, innings, strikeouts and 57 complete games. He started 59 of the Braves 60 games. All this at a time when pitchers could not raise there arm above waist level. Overhand pitching wouldn't be approved until 1884.

So, Tommy was the man. There was no other.

Great Ideas

“Great ideas often receive violent opposition from mediocre minds.” Albert Einstein

Hang out with Him

Well here we go. When I keep company with Him, hang out with Him, I will learn a life of love. He is so extravagant in His love as well. He just showers it down on me. Overwhelms me with it. Slathers it on me.

He is good to me all the time. So if I just hang out with him, it rubs off on me. Mostly what He does is love me. Woo Hoo!! That is good stuff.

Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn't love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that. Ephesians 5

Wait for what the Father promised

Jesus told them they had to wait. He didn't have to. He could have given them the Spirit of God right then and there. But He wanted them to wait. And so they did. And they received the Spirit of God and the power that goes with Him.

He didn't leave them hanging though. He promised the Spirit would come soon. And He did.

We live in a world where we want everything, and I mean everything, now. We don't like to wait. Patience is not seen as a virtue.

Here is a clue. God is in control. In His government, He isn't in a hurry. Sometimes he wants us to wait. Our job is to obey.

As they met and ate meals together, he told them that they were on no account to leave Jerusalem but "must wait for what the Father promised: the promise you heard from me. John baptized in water; you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit. And soon." Acts 1:1-5

Now here is some great news

Now here is some great news. Fewer Americans are smoking. http://ow.ly/6n5tH

It got worse (1909)

If the 1908 season was bad, who would have thought it could get worse? But, it always can and in 1909, the Boston Doves (now the Atlanta Braves) finished eighth. They had a 45-108 record and were 65 1/2 games behind the leader. Yes, that is right. 65 1/2 games behind.

They had 2 managers that year, Frank Bowerman and Harry Smith. Neither one would be back in 1910.

I've always believed

I've always believed that if you put in the work, the results will come. -Michael Jordan

Alignment

It is God's goal for me to align my heart with my words in a way that is acceptable to God. I am to love Him and others with all my heart. Do my words reflect that? Does God's love in my heart cause me to think amazing things and then act in a way that reflects His love?

Beyond what I have to say, is what I am thinking and meditating on acceptable to God?

May I align God's love in my heart with what I say.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14

Explore Ground Zero with 360° panoramas

Explore Ground Zero with 360° panoramas of the site, before-and-after photos and more: on.wsj.com/oJVIVO

Harry Wright's last season (1881)

Harry Wright had managed a long time. He was an institution. 1881 would be a tough year. The Red Caps had a 38-45 record. Not too impressive that the ended sixth and 17 1/2 games behind.

Harry would not go out on top. While he was responsible for the cities brilliant start with professional baseball, he couldn't overcome a second consecutive sixth place finish. He was run out of town.

Iron out our differences

We are God's children. Now think about it. He has forgiven us. How does he want us to act? Does He want us to hold grudges? Does He want us to forgive, iron out our differences and make up?  

He has a new way for us and it is not what we think. His goal is for us to love not to hate. In His Spirit, we have the power to live that way. Children can get along. Hard to imagine but it is true.

 I urge Euodia and Syntyche to iron out their differences and make up. God doesn't want his children holding grudges. Phillipians 4:2

Everything God does

" I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it." ~~King Solomon

New phenom on opening day (2010)

Jason Heyward had a great Spring Training in 2010. Lots of promise but he not played in the Big Leagues yet. Jason Heyward's legend grew even larger on April 5, 2010 when the Braves phenom drilled a three-run homer on the first swing of his Major League career. After looking at two fastballs from Carlos Zambrano, Heyward mashed a 2-0 sinker deep into the Braves bullpen beyond the right-center field wall for a three-run homer. The 20-year-old made his way around the bases to the sound of a thunderous applause provided by a sold-out crowd at Turner Field. As Heyward made his way back to the dugout after providing his club a 6-3 lead, he was greeted by Chipper Jones, who stretched his arms out and gave the young outfielder a hug.

Heyward, was drafted out of suburban Atlanta's Henry County High School with the 14th overall selection in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft, had the hometown faithful stirring as he made his way to the plate. Before slugging his monstrous home run he was serenaded with boisterous chants of "Jason Heyward." After becoming the sixth player in Atlanta history and just the 11th player in Braves franchise history to homer in his Major League debut, Heyward took his position and found the fans beyond the right-field wall applauding him even louder than they had when he took the field to start the game.

While making his Major League debut for the Braves on Opening Day last year, Jordan Schafer became the 99th Major League player to homer in his first career at-bat.

Heyward, who was widely regarded as the game's top prospect, was wearing No. 22 this year in honor of his former high school teammate, Andrew Wilmot, who was killed in an automobile accident in 2007.

A time for all things

Ecclesiastes 3

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

What does the worker gain from his toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on men. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it.

Promise and dissappointment (1994)

Bobbie Cox began his 5th season in 1994 with the Atlanta Braves. The team started with huge promise. Unfortunately, they would end up dissapointing us all.

Many had felt the Braves would win the World Series. It would have been their first since 1957. The prospect of Fred McGriff in the line up for the whole season gave us hope. When we won 13 of the first 14 games, oh man, did we think the promise would come true.

Of course no one could predict a couple of things about this season. Montreal seemed to come out of nowhere. Our pitching was inconsistent. It would have helped to have some timely hitting. AND, playing 162 games might have helped but the players strike hit after 114 games. Atlanta was 6 games behind and when the players didn't come back from the strike, we ended with a 68-46 record. If we had played the whole season, who knows?

Change (1882)

1882 brought  the first time that the Braves would change managers. Harry Wright was out. John Morrill was in. This would be the first of many managerial changes.

The Red Caps improved. They moved up from sixth place the year before to tie for third. A fairly impressive 45-39 record.

Change.

A clean sweep

God has made us a grand promise. And, He is true to His word. We know that we've missed God's goal in our life. He doesn't see that. He sees Jesus taking that burden off of us. Once we come clean, he completely purges us from that way of seeing things.

I need to remember that and change my mind about how God sees me. I can achieve the goal He has in mind for me. I am His child.

On the other hand, if we admit our we have missed God's goal for our lives—make a clean breast of  that issue—he won't let us down; he'll be true to himself. He'll forgive us and purge us of all wrongdoing. 1 John 8-10

When I care

I have to get out of myself. Out of what I think is so dadgum important. I have to start being "care-full". I need to abandon myself to caring. What else really matters?

Isn't that what I love so much about my Father. He abandoned himself so much that He sent His Son for me. He didn't hold back any good thing. His gift to me is complete!!

May I be care-full!! May I be cared for.

You're more than happy when you care. At the moment of being 'care-full,' you find yourselves cared for. Matthew 5:1-12

More boldness and fearless confidence!!!

If Peter was anything, he was nothing but bold. But it seems that he was also asking for more. This boldness came upon him suddenly and he didn't ignore it.

When I have my eyes on our Master Jesus that is the way it is. Jesus was the same way. He didn't do anything but what he saw His Father doing. AND we serve a bold God.

May I have more boldness and fearless confidence. Water longs to be walked on again!! God is looking for men and women who are bold and confident in Him.

As soon as the meal was finished, he insisted that the disciples get in the boat and go on ahead to the other side while he dismissed the people. With the crowd dispersed, he climbed the mountain so he could be by himself and pray. He stayed there alone, late into the night.Meanwhile, the boat was far out to sea when the wind came up against them and they were battered by the waves. At about four o'clock in the morning, Jesus came toward them walking on the water. They were scared out of their wits. "A ghost!" they said, crying out in terror.But Jesus was quick to comfort them. "Courage, it's me. Don't be afraid." Peter, suddenly bold, said, "Master, if it's really you, call me to come to you on the water."He said, "Come ahead." Jumping out of the boat, Peter walked on the water to Jesus. But when he looked down at the waves churning beneath his feet, he lost his nerve and started to sink. He cried, "Master, save me!" Jesus didn't hesitate. He reached down and grabbed his hand. Then he said, "Faint-heart, what got into you?" The two of them climbed into the boat, and the wind died down. The disciples in the boat, having watched the whole thing, worshiped Jesus, saying, "This is it! You are God's Son for sure!"Matthew 14

Who is running things?

This is stunning. God raised Jesus from the dead and He is in charge of running everything. There is not a single thing that is exempt from His rule. He always has the final word. God is God. He is in charge. His church is His agent on earth carrying out His will. He speaks and acts through us.

So, do I act on this belief daily? Do I conform to what He wants me to do right now?

All this energy issues from Christ: God raised him from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. At the center of all this, Christ rules the church. The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ's body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence. Ephesians 1:20-23

When things are bad

What happens when we trust our own resources to solve the problem? We solve the problem but we don't see God. Money crisis? Whip out the credit card. Car problem, call AAA. Problem solved but no glory to God there.

Trouble can cause us to trust ourselves or to trust God. And under the right circumstances, to trust Him totally. Now that is a good idea since He is the one who raised Jesus from the dead. And we can trust Him. He will deliver us.

Some times when we think things are so bad it really isn't. It is an opportunity to trust God. That is what he wants us to do.

We don't want you in the dark, friends, about how hard it was when all this came down on us in Asia province. It was so bad we didn't think we were going to make it. We felt like we'd been sent to death row, that it was all over for us. As it turned out, it was the best thing that could have happened. Instead of trusting in our own strength or wits to get out of it, we were forced to trust God totally—not a bad idea since he's the God who raises the dead! And he did it, rescued us from certain doom. And he'll do it again, rescuing us as many times as we need rescuing. You and your prayers are part of the rescue operation—I don't want you in the dark about that either. I can see your faces even now, lifted in praise for God's deliverance of us, a rescue in which your prayers played such a crucial part. 2 Corinthians 1:8-11

My inner being

My heavenly Father is VERY rich. His riches exceed anything I can imagine. They are glorious. Through the power of His Spirit, He can strengthen my inner being. Jesus, the Master, can dwell in my heart. I must have faith to make it happen.

May I have faith and be strengthened in my inner being. May His Spirit stengthen me.

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Ephesians 3:16-17

Doing what you can do

“Don't let what you can't do stop you from doing what you can do.” ~~ John Wooden

Crutches?

He didn’t cause anyone to be lame. It was never about character building. There was no lesson to be learned. No patience needed. They came to Him. All the time. He always healed them.

He didn’t give crutches to the lame. He commanded them to stand. They did at His word.

What an amazing God we serve. He makes us whole again.

 …    the lame came to Him in the temple , and He healed them.  Matthew 21:14

 

 

 

God offered Solomon anything he wanted. All he asked for was wisdom. God gave it to him. Here is his suggestion so I think I should pay attention to it. Simple advise.

Start with God.

That's it.

Start with God—the first step in learning is bowing down to God; only fools thumb their noses at such wisdom and learning. Proverbs 1:7

Conditions of obedience?

When I see things from my world, I can fall into the trap that I can "dictate to God" how I want things to happen. God is God and it is only what he wants that matters. Mine is only a issue of hearing His word and obeying.

Beware of the inclination to dictate to God what consequences you would allow as a condition of your obedience ~Oswald Chambers http://ow.ly/VfjW

Does God feel this way?

I am hoping that God doesn't feel this way when I pray. I have heard lots of prayers (including my own) that feel this way. It has me thinking for sure. I am wondering for sure.

May my prayers be a conversation (not a monologue) with my Father!!!

"Most conversations are simply monologues delivered in the presence of witnesses." -----Margaret Millar

Bathing and motivation

"People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing-that's why we recommend it daily." ~~ Zig Ziglar

Some good news from Chipper

Atlanta Braves veteran Chipper Jones confirmed that he will return to play for the Braves in 2012, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported. Jones' announcement ended speculation that the 39-year-old third baseman might retire after this season and walk away with a year left.

A passion for curiosity

“I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious.” ~~Albert Einstein

The year of the Hammer (1974)

The off season was all about Hank Aaron. No one could talk about anything else. He would break the record in 1974. No doubt about it. It was Eddie Matthews last year as manager. Clyde King would end the year as the manager. The Atlanta Braves would end up third in the East with a 88-74 record. 14 games behind was not anything to speak of. But it didn't seem to matter too much in the year when the Hammer would become the home run King.

The season did start with some controversy though. The Braves would open the season in Cinncinnati. Everyone wanted Hank to hit his record home run in Atlanta. So, they were going to keep Hank out of the line up. Bowie Kuhn had to step in and demand the Hank play.

Can I?

Can I Allow God to have complete liberty in my life when I speak? Can I?

Before God’s message can liberate other people, His liberation must first be real in me. I must gather my material carefully, and then allow God to "set my words on fire" for His glory.

It starts in my heart.

What's the point?

Questions are great. The right one can make a difference.



Try having conversations where the focus is on “What is the point?”

What’s The Point?

That is such a great question that provides a proper lens to process the actions and decisions of this journey we call life.

Look at your life, family, work, relationships, decisions… and ask yourself this simple question:

What’s The Point?

It will definitely change your perspective and priorities; it may change your life.

What’s the point?

You're my singer

Keith Richards tells a great story about Charlie Watts, legendary drummer for the Stones.

After a night of drinking, Mick saw Charlie asleep and yelled, "Is that my drummer? Why don't you get your arse down here?"

Richards continues, "Charlie got dressed in a Savile Row suit, tie, shoes, shaved, came down, grabbed him and went boom! Don't ever call me "your drummer" again. You're my ... singer."

No drums, no Stones.

Are you playing the drums? Whose your singer? How do you see your role?

Moral Confusion

"The urgency to preach the Good News is as true today as it was two thousand years ago, even if some scholars have naïvely declared God to be dead, forgetting that they are dealing with a God who found His way out of the grave..."

------ Roman Catholic Cardinal Ivan Dias implores Anglican Bishops at the Lambeth Conference to stand against "moral confusion."

Three Questions

Here are three questions to help get focused.

· What is this year about?

· What is this day about?

· What is this moment about?

Knowing the answer to the first leads to great focus on the second. And know the answer to the second leads to great focus all the time.

Simple but not easy.

Got to love Google maps and weather

I really like Google maps. And I love the check the weather. Now, I can do both at the same time.

Maps users who enable the new weather layer — accessible from the upper right corner of Google Maps — will see weather temperatures and conditions, as denoted by cloud and rain icons, when zoomed out. Users can zoom in or click on a weather icon to get a more detailed report for a specific area.

Google Maps’ weather reports are sourced from weather.com, and the U.S. Naval Research Lab is powering the feature that shows cloud coverage on the map.

Way to go Google and Weather.com.

Microsoft 365 Outage

I knew it would happen. Of course, I didn’t know when. A handful of us have moved off our Exchange Servers for email, calendar, IM, etc. We are on Microsoft 365 (a cloud, SaaS model) which I generally like a lot.

But, I knew at some point we would suffer through a service outage. Here is Microsoft’s announcement. “At approximately 11:30am PDT, Microsoft became aware of a networking issue affecting customers of some Microsoft services hosted out of one of our North American data centers,” said Steven Gerri, General Manager for Global Foundation Services, in a statement. “We worked to isolate the issue and we are beginning to see service restoration. We continue to investigate the root cause of this issue.”

Microsoft additionally confirmed the outage via its @MSCloudUS Twitter account: “We apologize for the inconvenience that the #office365 outage has caused today,” the account wrote. “We’re [sic] are working on resolving the issue.”

Well, I had 5 plus hours of no email. The most frustrating part was not knowing from our own staff what the problem was and when it might be back up. Normally I just text someone and get a quick answer. Not in this case.

Small price to pay for progress I think.

No formula

Let's say you wanted to "learn" how to heal the blind. Who better to "teach" you than Jesus?

So what is the formula? You could have followed Him around. You would have ended up VERY frustrated.

He never did it the same way twice. He spit on one guy. To another He simply spoke the word. Another He touched. To another He made some mud out His spit. To another He kicked a demon out.

No formulas with Jesus. He saw what His Father wanted to have done and did it. For those of us who are big on process, this is a BIG thing.

Google is about to invade your living room

There are lots of opinions floating around about Google’s acquisition of Motorola Mobility. Most of that has focused on the business of the value of their patents and their mobile phones. But is that why Google bought them alone? Maybe they just want to get into our living rooms. Motorola Mobile is also one of the largest suppliers of set-top boxes for the cable industry.

So why isn’t the internet on all our TVs already? Steve Jobs is on point here when he talks about why Apple TV didn't catch fire:

The problem with innovation in the television industry is the go-to-market strategy. The television industry has a subsidized model that gives everyone a set-top box for free, or for $10 per month. That pretty much squashes any opportunity for innovation, because nobody’s willing to buy a set top box. Ask TiVo, ask Roku, ask us [Apple]. Ask Google in a few months.

The only way that’s ever going to change is if you can really go back to square one, tear up the set top box, redesign it from scratch with a consistent UI across all these different functions, and get it to consumers in a way that they’re willing to pay for it. And right now there’s no way to do that.

Here are some things that could happen:

• Comcast becomes Google's largest customer. They work together on a TV gateway device/software that includes broadcast, interactive TV, on-demand content, and of-course, streamed Internet content. Google's search competency and other assets (ad sales, YouTube, ...) are at the center of this deal.


• The program guide on your set top box becomes a guide to any video, anywhere. And it generates revenue for the operators as well as Google -- every click generates a payment from the content owner.


• Television networks' deals with the cable and telcos become deals for broadcast, VOD, streaming from cable servers, streaming from Hulu, streaming from their own servers -- basically, universal content distribution deals. Television networks transition to their future role as bankers, promoters, and aggregators of video content, not so much broadcasters.


• Google becomes the brand name for your program guide to entertainment, regardless of whether that guide is on your TV or on your PC.


• Google Plus gets built into your TV experience. You can +1 a TV program. Isn't that what Spark is supposed to be?

Basically, Google could make more money from Motorola as an entree into the television world -- ongoing revenues and advertising -- than it can from continuing to push Moto set top boxes. And this new source of ad revenues and retention of viewers could make this attractive to many of the cable operators.

Think about it.

Skype WiFi

Now here is some innovation. Skype WiFi app allows you to pay by the minute at over 1 million locations. http://ow.ly/66lFX

This is loyalty

Ever heard of Francis Thompson? Young guy, drop out, drug addict, drifter, sometime homeless. Eventually diseased and dead at 48. Probably not the kind of guy you would want to hang out with nor call a friend. And certainly not the kind of guy you would be inclined to be Loyal to.

But right before his death in 1907, Thompson came to know to very the core of his soul what true loyalty was. He expressed it in his poem, "Hound of Heaven." It begins:

I fled Him, down the nights and down the days;
I fled Him, down the arches of the years;
I fled Him, down the labyrinthine ways
Of my own mind; and in the mist of tears I hid from Him,
and under running laughter.
Up vistaed hopes I sped;
And shot, precipitated, Adown Titanic glooms of chasmèd fears,
From those strong Feet that followed, followed after.
But with unhurrying chase, And unperturbéd pace,
Deliberate speed, majestic instancy,
They beat—and a Voice beat
More instant than the Feet—
“All things betray thee, who betrayest Me.”

The poem goes on and as Thompson unsuccessfully seeks peace through various human pursuits, he continues to hear, but ignore, the Voice that follows him unfailingly.

The poem, on its surface, is a dark story reflecting Thompson's lifelong struggles. But beneath the surface, it is truly a Love story. Thompson's Hound of Heaven is God, our Good and Great God who loves us so much, He follows us through each step of our lives. He is at our side. He is Loyal.

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Psalm 139: 7-14

A perfect storm creates a brave new mobile world

It is definitely a new world out there with mobile and mobile applications changing the technology landscaping at blazing fast paces. One of the implications will be for CIO’s to rely on a very broad app ecosystem. I don’t think that will mean custom software or traditional packages. Some are calling this the app internet. A perfect storm, so to speak, of cloud and mobile. We will have a much broader network of app and as-a-service providers.

A core requirement moving forward will be more than just contract centered procurement skills. We need full and mature vendor management function that can oversee a massive range of network relationships.

Welcome to a brave new world.

What is important?

Today's scripture blew me away. What is important? Not what the economy is doing. Not what I give away. Not what I get. I am bankrupt without love.

That is the focus. Everything needs to come down to this.

If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.Love never gives up.


Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love doesn't strut,
Doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force itself on others,
Isn't always "me first,"
Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7