Famous Quotes by Obama

Well, it seems Obama has chosen his Bible.  I’m trusting he will read it. 

Certainly, President Lincoln will be proud of the latest president to use his Bible to swear over.  I’m wondering though about the whole concept of swearing on a Bible.  Doesn’t it say somewhere in the Bible to not swear?  Seems like it might actually be a kinda “in your face” sort of thing to God?

I really didn’t expect Obama to swear on the Bible.  If some how he avoids it, I’m sure it will be out of respect for the Almighty.

So, all presidents are quoted.  Shortly, it will be Obama’s turn to make famous statements of monumental impact.  Like there was the guy that said something about it wasn’t what you did to the country, but what the country did to you or something like that.

Then there was the guy that said something about overcoming.  What do you think will be some of the new president’s famous quotes?

Oh yeah. I borrowed the picture from google images.  If you are the guy that did the Photo Chop.  Great job.  Let me know.  I’ll give you credit or at least put you in line with the automakers.  They seem to be getting all the credit.

I’m “All In” or at least hope to be.

Pastor Jeff challenged the body at Grace Point to be “All In” during this new year.  This is an incredible challenge.  I think about the early followers of Jesus and consider what it meant for them to be “All In”.  It makes me wonder if I will be able to look back on the year and say, “Yep! I was all in.”

What will be the price I will be required to pay in order to be all in?  The early followers of Jesus paid with their life. Some were beheaded.  Others boiled alive or maybe burned at the stake.  What will be my price?

All that self sacrifice stuff seems a bit far fetched, but then I remember missionary friends around the world who are all in.  Their lives are at risk for the message they want to tell. 

Being all in may require me to accept rejection from friends, family or just the odd acquintance.  It may require me to stay outside my comfort zone.  It may even require me to die to my own selfish ambitions and choose to help someone else succeed. 

It may require me to further scale down.  Maybe I’ll need to sell a car or take a second job to have funds to help others.  Maybe I’ll need to finally sell stuff on Craig’s list to help Pay It Forward.  It may require a lot of things. 

Although it is unlikely I will be required to give my life to meet the challenge of being “All In”, am I willing?   What will be the first tangible sign of my willingness to be “All In” ?

Always time for Holy Yoga

I am so proud of Cora.  She is always been there for me during the good times and tough times.  She is an awesome lady, wife, friend, mother and Holy Yoga instructor. 

She works full time at our church, part time selling retail at a Christian book store and in her spare time, teaches Holy Yoga.  You really need to get with Cora in the new year and let her share some stress relieving Holy Yoga techniques.

Cora’s love for God and people is really revealed in her passion to share Holy Yoga.  Read more about Holy Yoga in her blog.  Think about experiencing God through Holy Yoga in the new year.  Cora will love to see you. 

Also, thank you for the many who currently keep up with Cora meeting God on the mat.

Retirement and cashing out 401K

Cora and her visiting sister from DC went house looking this week.  You know it was that kind of thing you do about once a year.  You either have to try on shoes or look at houses.  You really don’t need either, but it is just something you need to do.

After careful prayer and consideration of all the Financial Peace University principles, I helped them pick one out.  I cashed in our 201K retirement plan and figure this one will do fine.  It is something we can afford and will be economical to heat in winter and cool in the summer.  Family gatherings might be a bit cramped, but it’s all about love.  So, it’ll be ok.

I thought the xeroscapping was well appointed.   The cactus further actuates the sensitivity to conservation and treating mother earth with respect. 

So in the new year, I want to invite all my blogging buddies from all over the world to drop by spend some time with us at our new digs.

Christmas Celebration at Grace Point Church

Christmas celebration at Grace Point Church was “electric!”  With Justin on the grand piano the music was inspiring and easy to see God’s pleasure in His house.  Thank you Grace Point for a wonderful year and an awesome opportunity to close it out right, remembering all that God has done and all He has planned.

Rick Warren – Purpose Driven Connection

Rick Warren of Saddleback understands the power of technology in communication.  Surf to: http://37stories.blogspot.com/ and view his video.  You can skip over the gay issues if you want and start the video at 3:37.

Ich(I am) and Christmas

You’re a mean one, Mr. Grinch
You really are a heel,
You’re as cuddly as a cactus, you’re as charming as an eel, Mr. Grinch,
You’re a bad banana with a greasy black peel!

It seems people of many faiths and religions all ponder what would Christmas be like if we truly remembered what the reason for the season was.  If we would  appreciate what God did for us when He sent His son to be born and unltimately die for us.

 I really kinda tire of the “what if’s” and prefer to deal with reality.  God has built within us a desire to give.  We are built in His image after-all.  Christmas is the opportunity to give like no other time of year. 

Spending money, shopping and buying gifts is just an easy tangible way to exercise what we were designed to be.  We are to give.  With that thought… as you negociate the crowds doing last minute shopping, remember God gave us the best gift of all.  It didn’t cost a dime, but the price paid was the highest of all.

Then, shop ’til you drop and enjoy it.  Give gifts in abundance and bless each person with a smile and Merry Christmas!

Her hand reached out toward me

Guest post by: Ichabod (blogger out of Canada)

That was the only indication of her having heard me.  From the time the experience started till it ended, I never saw her face, as it was covered with her jacket’s hood. She was on the ground and two people were huddled over her asking if she were OK.  It was forty below zero and this was at a busy vehicle entrance to a mall.  I thought she had been hit by a car.  It turns out she had slipped on the ice attempting to cross the street.

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I rolled down my window and asked if she needed help.  The two who were standing over her didn’t know what to say and her hand stretched out to me.  I left my vehicle blocking the entrance with my passengers inside and approached her.  In times such as these I have no concern for the convenience of man.

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She was in pain and holding her leg.  She wanted to get up but couldn’t.  It was too cold to be sitting on the ground so I put my arm under hers and helped raise her.  I could smell the alcohol on her breath and held her til the ambulance arrived.  When the emergency personnel took over I left.

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This made an impression on me.   For all the cars that had driven through the intersection before I got there, the only people who stopped had no choice as she fell in front of their car. How many passengers and drivers drove around the scene without giving a damn? Rushing to buy “Christmas” presents and ignoring the real “need”.

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I am not a “Christian” in the popular sense.  However, something dwells within me that can not refuse a hand stretched out to me.  A book may be studied for years, but that which makes God alive in a person has to be revealed.

It is more important in my eyes to respond to the out stretched hand, regardless who is stretching it, than so many other things we deem to be “important”.

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I don’t need someone’s words to make me do what I will.  I am not perfect and have unleashed my own version of trials and tribulations on this world. But I will never refuse the outstretched hand.  That is the basis of revelation, knowing that God is there and loving your fellow man. 

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That is what the Son of Man was about.

Israel Gold Coins near Christ’s Time

““This is one of the largest and most impressive coin hoards ever discovered in Jerusalem – certainly the largest and most important of its period”

On the gold coins, “the emperor is clad with military garb and is holding a cross in his right hand. On the other side, there is the sign of the cross”. CNN

The find is truly outstanding!  But, I wonder about the emperor.  In modern day terms, he is wearing “camo” carrying a M-16 rifle in one hand and a cross in the other.  It makes me wonder if he had time to share the “Roman Road” to salvation?

If only these coins could talk.  What a story they must have to tell.  Just imagine…

Are you a goat, and don’t know it?

Guest post by Heaven Awaits – Marianne

When one hears of Christ separating the sheep from the goats on judgment day, we assume he is separating the believers from the unbelievers. But this is not so. Goats are those that call Him “Lord.” What is wrong?

The separation of the sheep and the goats. The sheep are accepted, but the goats are cast into everlasting fire.

Mat 25:31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

Mat 25:32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides [his] sheep from the goats:

Mat 25:33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

Mat 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

Preceding this passage are 2 parables

1. Parable of the 10 virgins. Half are prepared with the right amount of oil (representing the holy spirit) and half are unprepared. Only the ones prepared are admitted to the wedding feast, and the other half were rejected. Being told “I know you not” by God is a VERY traumatic moment for the rejected ones.

Mat 25:12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

2. Parable of the talents. In this, Christ describes faithful servants being productive, and multiplying what was given them vs. an unprofitable, lazy servant who multiplied nothing at all. The lazy servant is punished.

Mat 25:30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Back to the goats – what Christ tells them as he rejects them. Notice they call Him Lord. They are supposed to be saved people.

Mat 25:42 For I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

Mat 25:43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

Mat 25:44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

Mat 25:45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did [it] not to one of the least of these, ye did [it] not to me.

Mat 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

To the sheep, Christ says:

Mat 25:35 For I was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

Mat 25:36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

Mat 25:37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and fed [thee]? or thirsty, and gave [thee] drink?

Mat 25:38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took [thee] in? or naked, and clothed [thee]?

Mat 25:39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

Mat 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done [it] unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done [it] unto me.

A lesson to be learned from all this

Faith without works is dead. God has provided guidelines as to His will – how he wants us to behave toward Him and toward others.

Many people enjoy church. They accept salvation, and then sit back to enjoy themselves. They enjoy the fellowship, the music, the sermons, and the acceptance. They say they love God, but ignore the poor, the sick, the feeble, the ones in bondage. They have only fulfilled half of the 2 great commandments.

Unless one obeys both of the two greatest commandments, they are a “goat.”

If you love God, but have no mercy for your fellow man – enough to do something to help him – then you are an unprofitable servant, and a virgin without any oil.

What to do

This is Christmas time. It is a time to show the love of God to others. How many people will suffer this Christmas, because you showed no mercy on them?

This also could be the last Christmas on earth for many believers, if the rapture happens. Will they be rejected as goats, because they lacked compassion for others? Because they had no “oil?” Because the mercy seat in their heart was closed to others?

While you still have time, if you really love God, then PROVE it:

Feed the hungry

Clothe the naked

Give drink to the thirsty

Take in the stranger

Help the sick

Visit those in prison – a literal prison, or someone in bondage, who needs help

Countdown to the rapture

Either we act as sheep, or we act as goats. Our behavior needs to be changed by the Holy Spirit. We need the oil of compassion in our lives, to pour out over others. This is a 24 hour a day, 7 days a week effort. It is not confined to Christmas time.

Make your last days on earth count for something. You cannot convince the unbelieving world, or God, that you belong to Christ, unless you demonstrate His heart to others.

Remember, it was not songs, or worship, or prayers that hung on the cross for you. It was

MERCY !!!!

MERCY !!!!

MERCY !!!!

The mercy seat was open and the blood of Jesus was poured over it from the cross. Mercy is self-sacrificial LOVE – love of God for others.

Wake up your hearts if they are dead. Find the mercy inside, and pour it out on the world around you.

If you do, you will find Jesus in front of you, saying

You are my beloved sheep !!!!

You are my beloved Bride !!!!

Welcome, enter into my kingdom. !!!!

My good, and faithful servant. !!!!!!!!!