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