Monday, December 26, 2005

Finished Bible in a Year Program

Today was my 365th reading in crosswalk.com's Bible in a Year program. It was a fun and meaningful year! I especially enjoyed reading it in the New Living Translation. Not sure what I want to do in 2006.

God's word is truly amazing!

Sunday, December 25, 2005

Merry Christmas 05

Is 60:22b " I, the LORD, will bring it all to pass at the right time."

Kids up at 6. Ran down the steps screaming with joy! Keyboard, ipod shuffle, digital camera, American girl doll, nintendo ds, cookware, electric razor- and a whole lot more!
God is good to us!

Saw Chronicles of Narnia- fantastic!

We had a nice Christmas Eve service and went to friends for dinner.

We will go back to church at 10:30

Been a nice- reflective, and fun celebration!

'lower case gods bow down to the Capital'

Friday, December 23, 2005

How to Delight

Is. 58: "13 "Keep the Sabbath day holy. Don't pursue your own interests on that day, but enjoy the Sabbath and speak of it with delight as the LORD's holy day. Honor the LORD in everything you do, and don't follow your own desires or talk idly. If you do this, 14 the LORD will be your delight. I will give you great honor and give you your full share of the inheritance I promised to Jacob, your ancestor. I, the LORD, have spoken!"

This is a special Christmas Day coming! It is a most holy day on the Lord's day! I want our family to really delight in God on that day- I hope all the presents, meals, etc is secondary.

Notice that it is not a duty- it is an enjoyment...a delight..if we do this the LORD will be our delight.

Is that the best Christmas ever? You betcha!

Tuesday, December 20, 2005

Sale Ends Soon!

Isaiah 55:6 "Seek the LORD while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. 7 Let the people turn from their wicked deeds. Let them banish from their minds the very thought of doing wrong! Let them turn to the LORD that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 8 "My thoughts are completely different from yours," says the LORD. "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. 9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts."

The Lord is able to be found- He offers you an offer too good to be true - A FULL PARDON!

How do you take advantage?

1- Repent - Let the people turn from their wicked deeds. Let them banish from their minds the very thought of doing wrong! Let them turn to the LORD- Repentence means "turning away from your wickedness and to the Lord"

2- Faith- Believe that God can do what He has promised- "My thoughts are completely different from yours," says the LORD. "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine" God provided this salvation for you through the gift of His son, Jesus.

What a wonderful time of year to do this- turn to Christ! Give Him a gift this Christmas of your very life!

But do it soon- time on this offer is running out!

Wednesday, December 14, 2005

Winter of Discontent 05

Is 49:4 ""But my work all seems so useless! I have spent my strength for nothing and to no purpose at all. Yet I leave it all in the LORD's hand; I will trust God for my reward." 5 And now the LORD speaks – he who formed me in my mother's womb to be his servant, who commissioned me to bring his people of Israel back to him. The LORD has honored me, and my God has given me strength. 6 He says, "You will do more than restore the people of Israel to me. I will make you a light to the Gentiles, and you will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth."

I see part A but part B seems so distant.

This is a typical time for me, but it is just as unpleasant today as every year. End of the year and I am worn out! As I come to the last few days of this yearly Bible reading, I feel like I have accomplished so little.

I met with an upcoming Senior yesterday, trying to inspire him about next year. He was polite, but unmoved. As January comes, I will move into my third campaign as head coach, and I've done a lot of work, but wonder how much I've accomplished. These are the times to reflect and analyze, and correct. I wonder if I have provided the leadership we need to effect these changes.

Yet, Lord- I will trust in You. I need Your strength and realize yet again how helpless I am without You.

These last few days of December, I will pray and reflect. Lord, I already ask that You would allow 2006 to be a year of momentum and victory. We need You in a desperate way!

Wednesday, December 07, 2005

Key to Unity

Ez 11:19 "And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their hearts of stone and give them tender hearts instead,"

The biggest key to "singleness of heart" is a new heart. One that is pliable and not rigid. One that listens and is willing to bend. It is a gift from God.

Father, we all need refreshment. We have grown tired and rigid. Please send a spirit of newness and conformity to You.

Tuesday, December 06, 2005

The Idolatry of Intellect

"When you are arguing against Him you are arguing against the very power that makes you able to argue at all."
C.S. Lewis--Mere Christianity

I go to skeptic's webpages often. You find all kinds- some are warm and good humored and others are bitter and vile. I want to make some comments about the skeptics:

#1 Most of these people are much smarter than me. When I use "simple ramblings of a football coach" as a sub heading, I mean it. I am always impressed by their intellect.

#2 All of us are biased. Ultimately the skeptic is hanging on to thought processes to soothe and firm his unbelief. I do the same in pro-God argumentation.

#3 Smart people on both sides - I believe that the intelligence is a draw.

#4 Ultimately, the skeptic has more faith in his reason and the Christian less faith in his.

God gives us evidence, not proof. And ALL men live by faith.

I do not trust in my reason- I trust in God. I walk in quiet confidence past the tsk tsk of the atheist- by the wailing of other religions- and humbly bow at the cross. I am not alone and I am not afraid.

I often wonder- years from now- when the skeptic and I are in forgotten wheelchairs- who will feel the stronger?

Will he ever come to grips with the fact that he has gambled all eternity on brain functions limited by time and biased toward godlessness? Is it worth the gamble then?

Monday, December 05, 2005

Shout!

Isaiah 40: " 6 A voice said, "Shout!"I asked, "What should I shout?""Shout that people are like the grass that dies away. Their beauty fades as quickly as the beauty of flowers in a field. 7 The grass withers, and the flowers fade beneath the breath of the LORD. And so it is with people. 8 The grass withers, and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever."


LISTEN TO ME! YOU ARE APPROACHING A DEATH DAY- YOUR BODY WILL WEAR OUT AND YOUR BREATH WILL LEAVE- TURN TO THE TRUTH OF THE BIBLE- GOD IS THERE- HE HAS FASHIONED A SALVATION THROUGH HIS SON- COMMIT TO HIM TODAY!