Excited.

 Special edition from Chicago:

Happy Valentines Day!  I saw lots of folks buying last minute gifts for their special someones at Kroger last night. It made me think about how I show my love for God. 

There are times I wonder about me. 

I get excited about things that really aren't that important in the big picture if things. I am sort of bleh about things that should fire me up. While thinking about this I remembered some verses attributes to Paul where he talks not doing what he know he should be doing but rather doing other stuff instead. Finding balance in hobbies and how we spend our money is always a challenge. Let us all think about that today. How do we show our love to God?

Man in the Mirror

Our Daily Bread

The Michael Jackson song Man in the Mirror took on a religious overtone for me.  It is so easy to sit back and judge others.  I think that is the main reason I don't like reality TV -- it helps us practice judging others over and over!  

What do we really see when we look at the person in the mirror?  Do we see Sardis presenting a good appearance outwardly and have malice in our hearts.  Or do we present the truth?  What are the truths about ourselves?  Find a way to pray about this whether it is a simple prayer from your heart or an organized prayer from the Daily Office through the Episcopal Church.  Prayer not only changes others.  It changes us.

I know I am not the man that I think I am.  Today's devotional was a personal message to me as God has been talking to me about this for a few weeks now.  Whew...

Lord, please teach us to look at ourselves realistically and honestly.  

Technology Thursday

New receiver

If you have ever been to my house, one thing is obvious -- I like gadgets and electronics!  I don't buy the top of the line stuff.  I am too cheap for that.  I usually buy middle of the road components that are good enough for my purposes and tastes.  One of the reasons NOT to buy the top of the line stuff is that things change.  When I bought my Sony A/V receiver several years ago, I only needed two HDMI inputs -- one for my DVD player and one for my cable box.  As time went on, there is a need for at least four as I added a Roku device and a gaming system!  I am not sure I will spend the money this year or not, but here is a potential candidate to replace my Sony receiver.

Onkyo TX-NR626 7.2-Channel Network Audio/Video Receiver 

This Onkyo receiver. which costs $499 on amazon.com, is my top candidate.  It has lots of connectivity options.  Lots of power.  Low distortion rate.  Great reviews on several web sites.  It is a little more than I wanted to spend, however, I think it will last me a long time.  I am not sure I need all of this, but it is a nice thought!

• 95 Watts per Channel (8 Ohms, 20 Hz 20 kHz, 0.08% THD, 2 Channels Driven); 115 Watts per Channel (6 Ohms, 1 kHz, 0.7% THD, 2 Channels Driven)
• 6 HDMI Inputs and 2 Outputs with Audio Return Channel
• Built-In Wi-Fi-Certified Wireless LAN Capability
• Onboard Bluetooth Audio Streaming Technology
• Powered Zone 2 and Zone 2 Line-Out for Distributed Audio Playback in Another Room

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Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God - William Carey

X-ray vision

Our Daily Bread

I read a few comic books when I was a young boy.  I enjoyed looking at the ads in the back of the comic books.  Every boy's dream was to own a pair of X-ray glasses.  Oh what wonderful and naughty things we could see!  Ha!

I hadn't thought about the x-ray glasses for a long time until I read the devotional this morning about hyperseeing.  The x-ray glasses from my boyhood were the only things I could relate to hyperseeing.  The metaphor of God being able to see what we will become was very special to me.  I realized that I can sometimes see what people can become.  My only problem is that I often treat people like the person they can become instead of the actual person they are now.  My trustful behavior can lead to disappointment and heartache at times.  Those feelings made me realize how God must feel at times when he looks at our lives.  Wow!  Let's all think about that today as we live our busy lives!

Lord, we thank for seeing who we can become while still loving us for who we are today!

Wellness Wednesday

Super Dieters Share Their 6 Weight-Loss Tips

Here are the six tips.  Click here to read the entire article.

• Rule No. 1. Don’t ever cheat. They never give themselves a break, not even on holidays or weekends.
• Rule No. 2.  Eat breakfast. The National Weight Control Registry shows that’s one of the most common traits of those who succeed in keeping those pounds off once and for all.
• Rule No. 3. Get on a scale every day.
• Rule No. 4. Put in the equivalent of a four-mile walk seven days a week.
• Rule No. 5. Watch less than half as much TV as the overall population.
• Rule No. 6. Eat 50 to 300 calories less than most people.

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Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. - 2 Thessalonians 3:16

So many fears

Our Daily Bread
Funny movies keep me going at times as I remember how they made me laugh.  One line came to mind while reading the devotional.  A pretty blonde enters a singles bar and says "So many men, so little time".  I may just be making that up!  ha!

We can sometimes cram all of our fears into a little time -- so many fears, so little time.  We can let our fears, mostly unfounded and unnecessary fears, rule our lives at times.  We fear the silliest things.  We fear the "big" fears of life like being alone, losing those close to us, losing our jobs and security, losing our health, etc.  What are your fears?  So little time on this earth.  Fears?  I ain't got time for that!  Praise God!

Lord, please help us turn our hopes and fears over to you.  You are there for us and will lead us into your will.

Teaching Tuesday
Personal theology
This week we were challenged to review our own personal theology.  What?  A personal theology?  Yes.  We all have one!  Where did you learn yours?  From Sunday School?  From years of personal study and seeking God?  Here is an exercise for you (I already did it for my class!).  ;-)  Write out your spiritual journey.  Some call this a "testimony".  It can be as long or as short as you see fit.  Put it aside for a day.  Read it and answer these questions:

1. How do you see God?  As protector?  Always with us no matter what?  Punisher?
2. What ideas or images do you have of God?  I put things like the cross, the tablet with the ten commandments, etc.
3. What things or activities bring you closer to God?
4. Are there things in your personal theology that you need to re-evaluate or change?

You have homework.  Get er' done!  ;-)

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“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen” (Eph. 3:20-21 niv).

Music speaks to us

Our Daily Bread
I remember the first time I joked about the power of music.  I saw a show where music calmed a raging beast in the wild.  The beast went from a wild animal to a calm animal in just a few minutes while listening to Mozart.  When some college friends were being rowdy, I played some similar music hoping it would work on my rowdy friends!  ha!

I have been sharing a psalm a week for the past 130 Sundays.  I feel the same way as the devotional writer.  The psalmist, whether it be David or someone else, did an incredible job of expressing raw human emotions during a wide variety of life events.  Whether it be extreme  highs or extreme lows, the psalms express those emotions.  They encourage me to express the wide range of my emotions to God even though he already knows everything about me.  What about you?  Why not try writing your own psalm this week and say/sing it to God?

Lord, you give us the ability and access to express our deepest thoughts, desires and feelings.  We thank you and praise you!

Movie Monday
I didn't make it to the movie theater this week, but I managed to find time to rent Dallas Buyers Club on Amazon Prime.

Dallas Buyers Club
I did not know about the buyers clubs during this period when drug companies and the folks infected with HIV were desperate to find a cure for the fatal disease.  While there is still no cure, we know now that there are drug cocktails that can reduce the virus to undetectable levels.  We also know that HIV/AIDS is not just a "gay disease".

With strong performances from the two lead characters, this film was moving and haunting to me.  Seeing on screen the prejudice and fear towards Matthew McConaughey's character, a straight man who contracted the virus from straight sex with a junkie (shared needles).  The physical changes and the attitude changes throughout the movie were incredible.

I give this movie three bear paws.  Definitely Oscar worthy performances and movie as a whole.  You can rent this online or see it in a few theaters that are still showing the Oscar nominees.

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I am far from perfect, but despite my mistakes and my sins, I will never abandon the Lord and he will never abandon me - adapted from a statement about Abraham from the EfM Training Guide

One body

Our Daily Bread
I hear it over and over again.  The reason someone doesn't go to church is because of the way people act at church.  The hypocrites make folks not want to attend.  When a new friend told me this yesterday I avoided going into "preaching" mode.  Instead I sent him this text later:
"I do believe in prayer and will be praying for you.  My life in God has not all been sunshine, rainbows and unicorns.  I know it is the best life for me.  I pray that you find what is best for you."

It is times like this when I truly wonder about God's plan for the church.  So many people see the church as a gathering place for saints.  Someone once said the church is better thought of as a hospital for the spiritually sick!  I know I have caused and experienced my share of church drama in the last 46 years.  We think we are doing the right thing when we say or do certain things.  We may be right and they might not be interpreted the right way or we may be horribly wrong causing hurt and discord.  Let's all take a look at ourselves. Do our actions really match up to the words that are coming out of our mouths?

Lord, you taught us that we need to experience you alone and in community.  Please help us pray and live for unity.

Psalm Sunday
Let's look at Psalm 130 this week.  I really like this one.  It seems more personal until the last verse.  I especially like the literary device to repeat a line in verse 6.  Very cool.  Can you hear yourself praying this prayer and changing the word "Israel" in verse 8 to your name?

We have another four weeks of songs of ascents after this week.

Psalm 130

A song of ascents.

1 Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord;
2     Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive
    to my cry for mercy.
3 If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,
    Lord, who could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness,
    so that we can, with reverence, serve you.
5 I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,
    and in his word I put my hope.
6 I wait for the Lord
    more than watchmen wait for the morning,
    more than watchmen wait for the morning.
7 Israel, put your hope in the Lord,
    for with the Lord is unfailing love
    and with him is full redemption.
8 He himself will redeem Israel
    from all their sins.

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We can thank the Lord that through His grace and power, our past is forgiven, our present is changed, and our future is bright with hope for all He has prepared for us - Our Daily Bread, 10/13/13

Did I do that?

Our Daily Bread
A popular TV show in the 80s had a character that would look at the carnage he created through his silliness and ask innocently "Did I do that?"  ha!

As Christians we can do that at times.  We can sin unknowingly and realize later the problems we caused for ourselves and for others.  We can also knowingly  sin and ask innocently "Did I do that?"  Of course we did!  ha!  I told a new friend why I try to live the best I can for God.  He assumed that I didn't want to sin because of guilty feelings.  I told him that it was because living for God was the best way for me to live for all parts of me -- physically, emotionally and spiritually.  Praise God!

Lord we thank you for giving us the best way to live our lives -- for you!

Simply Saturday
I had a much busier week than I planned  I hate that!  Like I talked about above, we can knowingly or unknowingly sin and see the "wages of sin" until much later.  I put off earning the PDUs that I need to renew a certification until the last few months.  Not good.  Earning those PDUs, both the expense and the time required, added to an already busy time.

Why am I telling you about this?  I ask for your prayers that I may keep God first.  That I may treat people the way they deserve to be treated at all times.  I have a tendency to get short with people (more than usual) when I get in to "get things done" mode.  Whew...  Knowing oneself is the beginning of turning things over more and more to God.  ;-)

I hope you learn more about yourself.  More of yourself that you can give over to God.

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As wise King Solomon said, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (Prov. 3:5-6).