What do you want in life? What do you want to do? What do you want to be? When you ask children they can answer you quickly. They want to be a fireman, a policeman, a soldier, a doctor, a baseball player, etc. They know what they want to be. We tend to smile and discount what they say at that point and then proceed to undermine their God given creativity telling them they can only color “inside the lines” and we scold them if we catch them in school “daydreaming.”
God made us to be dreamers, to be people of vision. We have the privilege to choose our dream. Someone said, “You’re dreams and destiny do not come by CHANCE they are your CHOICE. God gave Joseph a dream, but he had to choose to embrace it. Did you know you can go anywhere you want to in life... if you know where you want to go. You can have anything you want in life... if you know what you want. Remember in Alice in Wonderland, Alice asked the cat, "Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?" The cat answered, "That depends a great deal on where you want to go." Alice said, "Oh, I don't much care." He answered, "Then it really doesn't matter which way you go."
The proverb writer reminds us, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” (Proverbs 29:18 KJV)
The NIV says it this way, “Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint. (Proverbs 29:18 NIV)
In others words we need a dream to give us structure in our lives, to channel our energy in the right direction, to guide us in our decision making. Joseph went through some extremely difficult and even unfair times in his life, but through it all he never lost the dream. The dream God gave him was that one day he would be a significant leader among his people. The dream kept him going when his brothers wanted to kill him, when he was sold into slavery (slave - leader, somehow that doesn’t calculate), when others lied about him, and the liars were believed landing him in an Egyptian prison. He never lost the dream, the vision.
What is your dream? What do you want in life? Don’t allow life to just happen to you. Choose your dream. Choose your destiny. Oh, but you say, “I want God to just give me a dream.” That’s great, but you still must embrace it, choose it, think about it, meditate on it, never let go of it. Think about it... dreams - faith, faith - dreams. They really are the same. “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for (that’s the dream) and certain of what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1 NIV)
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for the dreams You place in our hearts. Help me to be true to that dream no matter what life may look like at the moment. I want to hold on to the dream, talk about the dream, expect the dream to happen in my life. It is Your promise that “if I delight myself in You then You will give me the desires of my heart”... my dreams. AMEN
Blessings!
Pastor Roger
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
The Way to Success
Brian Tracy is a life coach, an author, and a motivational speaker. He has what he calls the Success Mastery Academy. One of the principles or laws that he teaches is “The Law of Correspondence.” The basic premise is that everything in life corresponds to an opposite force, decision, or action. That is my interpretation of this principle not a quote from Mr. Tracy.
Whatever I am on the outside corresponds directly to what I am on the inside. So ultimately if I want to be a better father, a better husband, a better employee, a better employer, a better friend, a better leader, a better anything then I must become a better person, become better inside.
A successful beauty product company asked the people in a large city to send pictures along with brief letters about the most beautiful women they knew. Within a few weeks thousands of letters were delivered to the company.
One letter in particular caught the attention of the employees and soon it was handed to the company president. The letter was written by a young boy who was obviously from a broken home, living in a run-down neighborhood. With spelling corrections, an excerpt from his letter read: “A beautiful woman lives down the street from me. I visit her everyday. She makes me feel like the most important kid in the world. We play checkers and she listens to my problems. She understands me and when I leave she yells out the door that she’s proud of me.”
The boy ended his letter saying, “This picture shows you that she is the most beautiful woman. I hope I have a wife as pretty as her.”
Intrigued by the letter, the president asked to see this woman’s picture. His secretary handed him a photograph of a smiling, toothless woman, well-advanced in years, sitting in a wheelchair. Sparse gray hair was pulled back in a bun and wrinkles that formed deep furrows on her face were somehow diminished by the twinkle in her eyes.
“We can’t use this woman,” explained the president, smiling. “She would show the world that our products aren’t necessary to be beautiful.”
When Samuel was sent to anoint a king for Israel he was sent by God to the house of Jesse. As soon as he arrived he saw one of Jesse’s sons and thought he must be the one. 1 Samuel 16:6-7 “When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, ‘Surely the LORD's anointed stands here before the LORD.’
“But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.’" NIV
He went on the pass seven of Jesse’s sons past him and the Lord said “No” to each one. God was looking for a kingly heart not a kingly physique. Well, Jesse asked if had any other sons. He said that he had a younger son attending the sheep. As you know, if was David, and David had the heart of a king.
Proverbs reminds us, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” (4:23) and “My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad...” (23:15)
So, the beginning of any success in our life begins with our heart, who we am on the inside. We cannot be consistently good in our outer life and be bad inside. WeI may have our moments of success but ultimately the real heart, the real person will come through.
So, our prayer today is for a heart like Jesus. Lord Jesus, I pray as David prayed, “Create in me a clean heart, renew a right spirit within me.” Start on the inside to make me what you want me to be. I really do want to do what is right and holy and pure and Christlike so help today by cleansing my heart from every sinful way and thought. AMEN.
Blessings!
Pastor Roger
Whatever I am on the outside corresponds directly to what I am on the inside. So ultimately if I want to be a better father, a better husband, a better employee, a better employer, a better friend, a better leader, a better anything then I must become a better person, become better inside.
A successful beauty product company asked the people in a large city to send pictures along with brief letters about the most beautiful women they knew. Within a few weeks thousands of letters were delivered to the company.
One letter in particular caught the attention of the employees and soon it was handed to the company president. The letter was written by a young boy who was obviously from a broken home, living in a run-down neighborhood. With spelling corrections, an excerpt from his letter read: “A beautiful woman lives down the street from me. I visit her everyday. She makes me feel like the most important kid in the world. We play checkers and she listens to my problems. She understands me and when I leave she yells out the door that she’s proud of me.”
The boy ended his letter saying, “This picture shows you that she is the most beautiful woman. I hope I have a wife as pretty as her.”
Intrigued by the letter, the president asked to see this woman’s picture. His secretary handed him a photograph of a smiling, toothless woman, well-advanced in years, sitting in a wheelchair. Sparse gray hair was pulled back in a bun and wrinkles that formed deep furrows on her face were somehow diminished by the twinkle in her eyes.
“We can’t use this woman,” explained the president, smiling. “She would show the world that our products aren’t necessary to be beautiful.”
When Samuel was sent to anoint a king for Israel he was sent by God to the house of Jesse. As soon as he arrived he saw one of Jesse’s sons and thought he must be the one. 1 Samuel 16:6-7 “When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, ‘Surely the LORD's anointed stands here before the LORD.’
“But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.’" NIV
He went on the pass seven of Jesse’s sons past him and the Lord said “No” to each one. God was looking for a kingly heart not a kingly physique. Well, Jesse asked if had any other sons. He said that he had a younger son attending the sheep. As you know, if was David, and David had the heart of a king.
Proverbs reminds us, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” (4:23) and “My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad...” (23:15)
So, the beginning of any success in our life begins with our heart, who we am on the inside. We cannot be consistently good in our outer life and be bad inside. WeI may have our moments of success but ultimately the real heart, the real person will come through.
So, our prayer today is for a heart like Jesus. Lord Jesus, I pray as David prayed, “Create in me a clean heart, renew a right spirit within me.” Start on the inside to make me what you want me to be. I really do want to do what is right and holy and pure and Christlike so help today by cleansing my heart from every sinful way and thought. AMEN.
Blessings!
Pastor Roger
Monday, February 12, 2007
Who's First?
A young boy by the name of James had a desire to be the most famous manufacturer and salesman of cheese in the world. He planned on becoming rich and famous by making and selling cheese and began with a little buggy pulled by a pony named Paddy. After making his cheese, he would load his wagon and he and Paddy would drive down the streets of Chicago to sell the cheese. As the months passed, the young boy began to despair because he was not making any money, in spite of his long hours and hard work.
One day he pulled his pony to a stop and began to talk to him. He said, "Paddy, there is something wrong. We are not doing it right. I am afraid we have things turned around and our priorities are not where they ought to be. Maybe we ought to serve God and place him first in our lives." The boy drove home and made a covenant that for the rest of his life he would first serve God and then would work as God directed.
Many years after this, the young boy, now a man, stood as Sunday School Superintendent at North Shore Baptist Church in Chicago and said, "I would rather be a layman in the North Shore Baptist Church than to head the greatest corporation in America. My first job is serving Jesus."
So, every time you take a take a bite of Philadelphia Cream cheese, sip a cup of Maxwell House, mix a quart of Kool-Aid, slice up a DiGiorno Pizza, cook a pot of Macaroni & Cheese, spread some Grey Poupon, stir a bowl of Cream of Wheat, slurp down some Jell-O, eat the cream out of the middle of an Oreo cookie, or serve some Stove Top, remember a boy, his pony named Paddy, and the promise little James L. Kraft made to serve God and work as He directed. (From Illustrations for Biblical Preaching, Baker, p. 331.)
Today is Monday and the beginning of another week of work for most of you. As much as I value hard work, and as much as the Bible teaches and values hard work, hard work alone will not bring true success and fulfillment in life. That comes from putting God first. Matthew 6:33 reminds us to seek first the kingdom (the rule, the ways, the principles) of God and His righteousness and all these things (food, clothing, shelter, the things that worry us) will be added to our lives.
I think it is interesting how that admonition is worded. It doesn’t say to ADD to our lives the value of seeking God’s kingdom and righteousness. Too often that is what we do. We try to find a way to add God to all that we are already doing and involved in. Try to squeeze Him in. No, it says to clear the calendar, clear the desk and put God there first. Then He will ADD everything else that we need back to our lives. Jesus can’t just be an added feature in our lives, an added venture in our lives. He must be our life and to Him everything else is added.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to get this principle right. It is so difficult in the world we live in. I am sure it was no easier when Matthew 6:33 was penned that it is today, but ot just seems so much more difficult right now. I really do want You to be first in my life so that everything else will find it’s proper place. Give me the courage, the wisdom, and the strength to do it. AMEN.
Blessings!
Pastor Roger
One day he pulled his pony to a stop and began to talk to him. He said, "Paddy, there is something wrong. We are not doing it right. I am afraid we have things turned around and our priorities are not where they ought to be. Maybe we ought to serve God and place him first in our lives." The boy drove home and made a covenant that for the rest of his life he would first serve God and then would work as God directed.
Many years after this, the young boy, now a man, stood as Sunday School Superintendent at North Shore Baptist Church in Chicago and said, "I would rather be a layman in the North Shore Baptist Church than to head the greatest corporation in America. My first job is serving Jesus."
So, every time you take a take a bite of Philadelphia Cream cheese, sip a cup of Maxwell House, mix a quart of Kool-Aid, slice up a DiGiorno Pizza, cook a pot of Macaroni & Cheese, spread some Grey Poupon, stir a bowl of Cream of Wheat, slurp down some Jell-O, eat the cream out of the middle of an Oreo cookie, or serve some Stove Top, remember a boy, his pony named Paddy, and the promise little James L. Kraft made to serve God and work as He directed. (From Illustrations for Biblical Preaching, Baker, p. 331.)
Today is Monday and the beginning of another week of work for most of you. As much as I value hard work, and as much as the Bible teaches and values hard work, hard work alone will not bring true success and fulfillment in life. That comes from putting God first. Matthew 6:33 reminds us to seek first the kingdom (the rule, the ways, the principles) of God and His righteousness and all these things (food, clothing, shelter, the things that worry us) will be added to our lives.
I think it is interesting how that admonition is worded. It doesn’t say to ADD to our lives the value of seeking God’s kingdom and righteousness. Too often that is what we do. We try to find a way to add God to all that we are already doing and involved in. Try to squeeze Him in. No, it says to clear the calendar, clear the desk and put God there first. Then He will ADD everything else that we need back to our lives. Jesus can’t just be an added feature in our lives, an added venture in our lives. He must be our life and to Him everything else is added.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to get this principle right. It is so difficult in the world we live in. I am sure it was no easier when Matthew 6:33 was penned that it is today, but ot just seems so much more difficult right now. I really do want You to be first in my life so that everything else will find it’s proper place. Give me the courage, the wisdom, and the strength to do it. AMEN.
Blessings!
Pastor Roger
Friday, February 9, 2007
"Giver" or "Getter"
The following story is from “Chicken Soup for the Entrepreneur’s Soul” a compilation of stories from entrepreneurs. This one is from Jim Rohn.
“I was lounging at home one day when I heard a knock at the door. It was a timid, hesitant knock. When I opened the door I looked down to see a pair of big brown eyes staring up at me. There stood a frail little girl of about ten. She told me, with all the courage and determination her little heart could muster, that she was selling Girl Scout cookies. It was a masterful presentation -- several flavors, a special deal, and only two dollars per box. How could anyone refuse? Finally, with a big smile and ever-so politely, she asked me to buy. And I wanted to. Oh, how I wanted to!
“Except for one thing. I didn't have two dollars! Boy, was I embarrassed! Here I was -- a father, had been to college, was gainfully employed -- and yet I didn't have two dollars to my name.
“Naturally I couldn't tell this to the little girl with the big brown eyes. So I did the next best thing. I lied to her. I said, "Thanks, but I've already bought Girl Scout cookies this year. And I've still got plenty stacked in the house."
“Now that simply wasn't true. But it was the only thing I could think of to get me off the hook. And it did. The little girl said, "That's okay, sir. Thank you very much." And with that she turned around and went on her way.
“I stared after her for what seemed like a very long time. Finally, I closed the door behind me and, leaning my back to it, cried out, "I don't want to live like this anymore. I've had it with being broke, and I've had it with lying. I'll never be embarrassed again by not having any money in my pocket." That day I promised myself to earn enough to always have several hundred dollars in my pocket at all times.
“This is what I mean by a nitty-gritty reason. It may not win me any prize for greatness, but it was enough to have a permanent effect on the rest of my life.
“My Girl-Scout-cookie story does have a happy ending. Several years later, as I was walking out of my bank where I had just made a hefty deposit and was crossing the street to get into my car, I saw two little girls who were selling candy for some girls' organization. One of them approached me, saying, ‘Mister, would you like to buy some candy?’
"’I probably would,’ I said playfully. ‘What kind of candy do you have?’
"’It's almond roca.’
"’Almond roca. That's my favorite. How much is it?’
"’It's only two dollars.’
“Two dollars. It couldn't be! I was excited. ‘How many boxes of candy have you got?’
"’I've got five.’
“Looking at her friend, I said, ‘"And how many boxes do you have left?’
"’I've got four.’
"’That's nine. Okay, I'll take them all.’
“At this, both girls' mouths fell open as they exclaimed in unison, ‘Really?’
"’Sure,’ I said. ‘I've got some friends that I'll pass some around to.’
“Excitedly, they scurried to stack all the boxes together. I reached into my pocket and gave them eighteen dollars. As I was about to leave, the boxes tucked under my arm, one of the girls looked up and said, ‘Mister, you're really something!’ How about that! Can you imagine spending only eighteen dollars and having someone look you in the face and say, ‘You're really something!’
“Now you know why I always carry a few hundred dollars on me. I'm not about to miss chances like that ever again.
“And to think it all resulted from my own embarrassment, that when properly channeled, acted as a powerful motivator to help me achieve.”
What a neat story. I just had to share it with you, but let’s ask ourselves, “What is our motivation to get, to achieve in life?” Is is to get more toys, more things, bigger houses, more expensive cars? Or do we want to be in a position to give to others, to send missionaries around the world, or meet other needs of our society. I am not suggesting that everything and everyone that presents a need is a legitimate one to give to. If you give to some people you are only helping them continue their irresponsible lives instead of helping them become responsible citizens. Nor am I saying it is wrong to live in a nice house and drive a nice car. What I AM saying is that we should not allow these things or even the desire for these things to keep us from doing the more important things like being in a position to help those who really deserve help and giving to worthy causes. No nation on earth is as great as these United States of America. The primary reason we are great is that we are founded on Biblical principles. The second is that no nation has been more giving than the U.S.A.
The Bible says, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Luke 6:38 (NIV)
Prayer: Lord Jesus, give me the heart of a “giver” not just a “getter.” May I find joy in giving and finding ways to give that really help and make a difference in the world. Show me, reveal to me those needs and equip me to respond to them, Help me to respond now at the level of my capacity so that capacity can then increase. Thank You for giving the gift of Your life so I that I now have eternal life. AMEN.
Blessings!
Pastor Roger
“I was lounging at home one day when I heard a knock at the door. It was a timid, hesitant knock. When I opened the door I looked down to see a pair of big brown eyes staring up at me. There stood a frail little girl of about ten. She told me, with all the courage and determination her little heart could muster, that she was selling Girl Scout cookies. It was a masterful presentation -- several flavors, a special deal, and only two dollars per box. How could anyone refuse? Finally, with a big smile and ever-so politely, she asked me to buy. And I wanted to. Oh, how I wanted to!
“Except for one thing. I didn't have two dollars! Boy, was I embarrassed! Here I was -- a father, had been to college, was gainfully employed -- and yet I didn't have two dollars to my name.
“Naturally I couldn't tell this to the little girl with the big brown eyes. So I did the next best thing. I lied to her. I said, "Thanks, but I've already bought Girl Scout cookies this year. And I've still got plenty stacked in the house."
“Now that simply wasn't true. But it was the only thing I could think of to get me off the hook. And it did. The little girl said, "That's okay, sir. Thank you very much." And with that she turned around and went on her way.
“I stared after her for what seemed like a very long time. Finally, I closed the door behind me and, leaning my back to it, cried out, "I don't want to live like this anymore. I've had it with being broke, and I've had it with lying. I'll never be embarrassed again by not having any money in my pocket." That day I promised myself to earn enough to always have several hundred dollars in my pocket at all times.
“This is what I mean by a nitty-gritty reason. It may not win me any prize for greatness, but it was enough to have a permanent effect on the rest of my life.
“My Girl-Scout-cookie story does have a happy ending. Several years later, as I was walking out of my bank where I had just made a hefty deposit and was crossing the street to get into my car, I saw two little girls who were selling candy for some girls' organization. One of them approached me, saying, ‘Mister, would you like to buy some candy?’
"’I probably would,’ I said playfully. ‘What kind of candy do you have?’
"’It's almond roca.’
"’Almond roca. That's my favorite. How much is it?’
"’It's only two dollars.’
“Two dollars. It couldn't be! I was excited. ‘How many boxes of candy have you got?’
"’I've got five.’
“Looking at her friend, I said, ‘"And how many boxes do you have left?’
"’I've got four.’
"’That's nine. Okay, I'll take them all.’
“At this, both girls' mouths fell open as they exclaimed in unison, ‘Really?’
"’Sure,’ I said. ‘I've got some friends that I'll pass some around to.’
“Excitedly, they scurried to stack all the boxes together. I reached into my pocket and gave them eighteen dollars. As I was about to leave, the boxes tucked under my arm, one of the girls looked up and said, ‘Mister, you're really something!’ How about that! Can you imagine spending only eighteen dollars and having someone look you in the face and say, ‘You're really something!’
“Now you know why I always carry a few hundred dollars on me. I'm not about to miss chances like that ever again.
“And to think it all resulted from my own embarrassment, that when properly channeled, acted as a powerful motivator to help me achieve.”
What a neat story. I just had to share it with you, but let’s ask ourselves, “What is our motivation to get, to achieve in life?” Is is to get more toys, more things, bigger houses, more expensive cars? Or do we want to be in a position to give to others, to send missionaries around the world, or meet other needs of our society. I am not suggesting that everything and everyone that presents a need is a legitimate one to give to. If you give to some people you are only helping them continue their irresponsible lives instead of helping them become responsible citizens. Nor am I saying it is wrong to live in a nice house and drive a nice car. What I AM saying is that we should not allow these things or even the desire for these things to keep us from doing the more important things like being in a position to help those who really deserve help and giving to worthy causes. No nation on earth is as great as these United States of America. The primary reason we are great is that we are founded on Biblical principles. The second is that no nation has been more giving than the U.S.A.
The Bible says, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Luke 6:38 (NIV)
Prayer: Lord Jesus, give me the heart of a “giver” not just a “getter.” May I find joy in giving and finding ways to give that really help and make a difference in the world. Show me, reveal to me those needs and equip me to respond to them, Help me to respond now at the level of my capacity so that capacity can then increase. Thank You for giving the gift of Your life so I that I now have eternal life. AMEN.
Blessings!
Pastor Roger
Thursday, February 8, 2007
The Power of Giving
If you have one of the “red letter” editions of the Bible it is easy for you to identify the words of Jesus because they are the ones in red. Most of them are found in the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John). In the book, Acts of the Apostles, you will find red letters only once. It is in Acts 20:35.
“In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" Acts 20:35 (NIV)
The word for blessed in this Scripture is “makarios” in the Greek and means “happy.” In other words Jesus is saying that it is more fulfilling, will bring you more joy and happiness to give than when you are given to.
Did you ever hear anyone say, “I live to give.” They can say that because they really have discovered the joy of giving. Now, it doesn’t have to be money as in the story, but just what ever you have been blessed with. There is a joy, a happiness that rises up in you when you give that you just can’t describe.
Recently a man know as “Secret Santa” died. For years he never revealed his identity. He just went around giving hundred dollar bills randomly to people on the street, mostly in laundramats and thrift stores. He gave away over a million dollars in this way.
What changed this man’s life was a random act of kindness. He was the child of an impoverished but nurturing upbringing in small-town Mississippi in the 1950s and ’’60s. He never knew his father, and was raised by his elderly grandparents. A gregarious, athletic kid, he went to college on a football scholarship. After graduation and landing a job as a traveling salesman, he found himself living in his car after the company went out of business. Broke and hungry, he ordered breakfast at a diner and, when the time came to pay his bill, pretended to have lost his wallet.
The diner’’s owner, Ted Horn, came out from behind the counter, reached down toward the floor and came up with a $20 bill. “Son, you must have dropped this,” the owner told Stewart, and the young man, stunned and grateful, used the money to pay his bill and gas up his car. The Santa-to-be never forgot how a stranger’’s kindness could change a life.
Just last November he revealed his identity knowing he was dying with cancer. He died on January 12. This Saturday there is a public celebration of his life. The emcee is a comedian. Some would think, “That’s just not right! That’s disrespectful.” No, in fact, it is appropriate because Larry Stewart, Secret Santa, was happy and filled with laughter because he knew the secret of giving.
Be blessed, be happy today. Give something to someone who can’t give back to you.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, take every shred of selfishness from me and give me a heart like yours, a giving heart. You have blessed me to bless others, and before I ask for anything more I will use what I have to bless someone else. Then, I know I won’t have to ask or beg for more because as long I as use it in the right way You will always keep me supplied. Thank you, Jesus. AMEN.
Blessings!
Pastor Roger
“In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" Acts 20:35 (NIV)
The word for blessed in this Scripture is “makarios” in the Greek and means “happy.” In other words Jesus is saying that it is more fulfilling, will bring you more joy and happiness to give than when you are given to.
Did you ever hear anyone say, “I live to give.” They can say that because they really have discovered the joy of giving. Now, it doesn’t have to be money as in the story, but just what ever you have been blessed with. There is a joy, a happiness that rises up in you when you give that you just can’t describe.
Recently a man know as “Secret Santa” died. For years he never revealed his identity. He just went around giving hundred dollar bills randomly to people on the street, mostly in laundramats and thrift stores. He gave away over a million dollars in this way.
What changed this man’s life was a random act of kindness. He was the child of an impoverished but nurturing upbringing in small-town Mississippi in the 1950s and ’’60s. He never knew his father, and was raised by his elderly grandparents. A gregarious, athletic kid, he went to college on a football scholarship. After graduation and landing a job as a traveling salesman, he found himself living in his car after the company went out of business. Broke and hungry, he ordered breakfast at a diner and, when the time came to pay his bill, pretended to have lost his wallet.
The diner’’s owner, Ted Horn, came out from behind the counter, reached down toward the floor and came up with a $20 bill. “Son, you must have dropped this,” the owner told Stewart, and the young man, stunned and grateful, used the money to pay his bill and gas up his car. The Santa-to-be never forgot how a stranger’’s kindness could change a life.
Just last November he revealed his identity knowing he was dying with cancer. He died on January 12. This Saturday there is a public celebration of his life. The emcee is a comedian. Some would think, “That’s just not right! That’s disrespectful.” No, in fact, it is appropriate because Larry Stewart, Secret Santa, was happy and filled with laughter because he knew the secret of giving.
Be blessed, be happy today. Give something to someone who can’t give back to you.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, take every shred of selfishness from me and give me a heart like yours, a giving heart. You have blessed me to bless others, and before I ask for anything more I will use what I have to bless someone else. Then, I know I won’t have to ask or beg for more because as long I as use it in the right way You will always keep me supplied. Thank you, Jesus. AMEN.
Blessings!
Pastor Roger
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
Choices
“Any day we wish; we can discipline ourselves to change it all. Any day we wish; we can open the book that will open our mind to new knowledge. Any day we wish; we can start a new activity. Any day we wish; we can start the process of life change. We can do it immediately, or next week, or next month, or next year.” The previous quote is by Jim Rohn. Jim Rohn is a motivational speaker and life coach to many successful people.
‘This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life...” Deuteronomy 30:19 NIV
Life is filled with choices. In fact, everything we do involves choices. I spoke with a newspaper reporter the other day and was encouraging her to “spin” an article in a positive way for churches instead of choosing to make it negative. Her response was, “I just report the news. I can’t really control how it comes out.”
I told her, “Sure you can. You have a choice every time you report the news how you will spin it, and you DO put your spin on every article you write.
It’s the truth. Every reporter whether newspaper or other media puts their spin on every article or report. It is very hard not insert your personality and values into everything you do. She did a good job on the article by the way.
My point is that everything in life is a choice. God said to the people of Israel, “I set all these things before you and even tell you what I think you ought to choose, but the final choice is yours.” You can choose to be joyful or grumpy. I can’t control all the things that happen around me, but I do control how I react to them and my attitude as a result.
We make attitude choices that set a tone for our day when we get up every morning. We make attitude choices at work that impact our decisions. We choose to do right or wrong, to lie or tell the truth, to act honestly or dishonestly. I picked up the following story from an illustration resource I use, but it’s been told so many places I am not sure what the original source or original story was. Stories on the internet tend to get expanded as they are told and retold so I can’t even vouch for the truth of all the details, but the message of choices is still there.
Michael is the kind of guy you love to hate. He is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, "If I were any better, I would be twins!"
He was a natural motivator. If an employee was having a bad day, Michael was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation. Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up to Michael and asked him, "I don’t get it! You can’t be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?" Michael replied, "Each morning I wake up and say to myself, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or ... you can choose to be in a bad mood. I choose to be in a good mood. Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or.... I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it. Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or... I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life.
"Yeah, right, it’s not that easy," I protested.
"Yes, it is," Michael said. "Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people affect your mood. You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line: It’s your choice how you live your life."
I reflected on what Michael said. Soon after, I left to start my own business. We lost touch, but I often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it. Several years later, I heard that Michael was involved in a serious accident, falling some 60 feet from a communications tower. After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, Michael was released from the hospital with rods placed in his back. I saw Michael about six months after the accident. When I asked him how he was, he replied, "If I were any better, I’d be twins. Wanna see my scars?"
I declined to see his wounds, but I did ask him what had gone through his mind as the accident took place. "The first thing that went through my mind was the well-being of my soon to be born daughter, "Michael replied.”Then, as I lay on the ground, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live or I could choose to die. I chose to live."
"Weren’t you scared? Did you lose consciousness?" I asked. Michael continued, "...the paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the ER and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read "he’s a dead man. I knew I needed to take action."
"What did you do?" I asked. "Well, there was a big burly nurse shouting questions at me. Said Michael. "She asked if I was allergic to anything.” ”Yes, I replied." The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breath and yelled, "Gravity." Over their laughter, I told them, "I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead."
Michael lived, thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude. I learned from him that everyday we have the choice to live fully. Attitude, after all, is everything. "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." - Matthew 6:34 After all today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday. Are you like Michael?
What will your choices today be?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I choose to do the right thing today. The right thing according to your word and its values. I choose joy today. I choose life today. I choose You today. AMEN.
‘This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life...” Deuteronomy 30:19 NIV
Life is filled with choices. In fact, everything we do involves choices. I spoke with a newspaper reporter the other day and was encouraging her to “spin” an article in a positive way for churches instead of choosing to make it negative. Her response was, “I just report the news. I can’t really control how it comes out.”
I told her, “Sure you can. You have a choice every time you report the news how you will spin it, and you DO put your spin on every article you write.
It’s the truth. Every reporter whether newspaper or other media puts their spin on every article or report. It is very hard not insert your personality and values into everything you do. She did a good job on the article by the way.
My point is that everything in life is a choice. God said to the people of Israel, “I set all these things before you and even tell you what I think you ought to choose, but the final choice is yours.” You can choose to be joyful or grumpy. I can’t control all the things that happen around me, but I do control how I react to them and my attitude as a result.
We make attitude choices that set a tone for our day when we get up every morning. We make attitude choices at work that impact our decisions. We choose to do right or wrong, to lie or tell the truth, to act honestly or dishonestly. I picked up the following story from an illustration resource I use, but it’s been told so many places I am not sure what the original source or original story was. Stories on the internet tend to get expanded as they are told and retold so I can’t even vouch for the truth of all the details, but the message of choices is still there.
Michael is the kind of guy you love to hate. He is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, "If I were any better, I would be twins!"
He was a natural motivator. If an employee was having a bad day, Michael was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation. Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up to Michael and asked him, "I don’t get it! You can’t be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?" Michael replied, "Each morning I wake up and say to myself, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or ... you can choose to be in a bad mood. I choose to be in a good mood. Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or.... I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it. Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or... I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life.
"Yeah, right, it’s not that easy," I protested.
"Yes, it is," Michael said. "Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people affect your mood. You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line: It’s your choice how you live your life."
I reflected on what Michael said. Soon after, I left to start my own business. We lost touch, but I often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it. Several years later, I heard that Michael was involved in a serious accident, falling some 60 feet from a communications tower. After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, Michael was released from the hospital with rods placed in his back. I saw Michael about six months after the accident. When I asked him how he was, he replied, "If I were any better, I’d be twins. Wanna see my scars?"
I declined to see his wounds, but I did ask him what had gone through his mind as the accident took place. "The first thing that went through my mind was the well-being of my soon to be born daughter, "Michael replied.”Then, as I lay on the ground, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live or I could choose to die. I chose to live."
"Weren’t you scared? Did you lose consciousness?" I asked. Michael continued, "...the paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the ER and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read "he’s a dead man. I knew I needed to take action."
"What did you do?" I asked. "Well, there was a big burly nurse shouting questions at me. Said Michael. "She asked if I was allergic to anything.” ”Yes, I replied." The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breath and yelled, "Gravity." Over their laughter, I told them, "I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead."
Michael lived, thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude. I learned from him that everyday we have the choice to live fully. Attitude, after all, is everything. "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." - Matthew 6:34 After all today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday. Are you like Michael?
What will your choices today be?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I choose to do the right thing today. The right thing according to your word and its values. I choose joy today. I choose life today. I choose You today. AMEN.
Monday, February 5, 2007
Knocked Down, But Not Knocked Out
I am sure most of you watched theBig Game yesterday evening. It is the most watched single sporting event in the world. I watched it, and I was in the Colts corner. I am not totally sure why. I don’t have anything against the Bears or their coach. I guess you just have to be for someone. But then, I did feel Tony Dungee just deserved some success after what he went through losing his son and all. The sympathy factor.
My heart sunk in the first 14 seconds of the game when Chicago ran the kickoff all the way back for a TD, the first ever in a Super Bowl (whoops! The Big Game). Then three of Mannings first four passes touched defenders instead of receivers. It didn’t look good at that point.
But I am reminded of Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 “We are pressed on every side by troubles, but not crushed and broken. We are perplexed because we don't know why things happen as they do, but we don't give up and quit. 9 We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going. (TLB)
Tony Dungee (cool Tony) and the Colts didn’t give up. They pressed on to lead by the half and never fall behind again. They could have just given up thinking, “this is our destiny.”
Don’t give up today whatever you may be facing. Don’t give up, get up. Another translation of that Scripture says, “I may be knocked down, but I’m not knocked out.”
I was again pleased at the presentation of the Lombardi tropy that the Colts owner and Coach Dungee gave praise to God for His blessings. Then Coach Dungee took it a step further. There were all kinds of other issues in this game. But Dungee refused to get sidetracked. As important as the other issues may have been (and he acknowledged the importance of the first black coaches in history in the super bowl) but declared the most important thing was that “two Christian coaches showed it can be done the right way.”
Prayer: Lord Jesus, give me what it takes to get up not give up. To overcome my disappointments and poor starts to win the victory. AMEN.
Blessings!
Pastor Roger
My heart sunk in the first 14 seconds of the game when Chicago ran the kickoff all the way back for a TD, the first ever in a Super Bowl (whoops! The Big Game). Then three of Mannings first four passes touched defenders instead of receivers. It didn’t look good at that point.
But I am reminded of Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 “We are pressed on every side by troubles, but not crushed and broken. We are perplexed because we don't know why things happen as they do, but we don't give up and quit. 9 We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going. (TLB)
Tony Dungee (cool Tony) and the Colts didn’t give up. They pressed on to lead by the half and never fall behind again. They could have just given up thinking, “this is our destiny.”
Don’t give up today whatever you may be facing. Don’t give up, get up. Another translation of that Scripture says, “I may be knocked down, but I’m not knocked out.”
I was again pleased at the presentation of the Lombardi tropy that the Colts owner and Coach Dungee gave praise to God for His blessings. Then Coach Dungee took it a step further. There were all kinds of other issues in this game. But Dungee refused to get sidetracked. As important as the other issues may have been (and he acknowledged the importance of the first black coaches in history in the super bowl) but declared the most important thing was that “two Christian coaches showed it can be done the right way.”
Prayer: Lord Jesus, give me what it takes to get up not give up. To overcome my disappointments and poor starts to win the victory. AMEN.
Blessings!
Pastor Roger
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