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There is this gravely false notion that once we commit ourselves to following Christ, life will just be better as a whole in a short period of time. This is not true. Once a decision has been made to make a change in our life for the good, whether we are followers of Christ or not, life will get more difficult just as sure as the sun rises every morning. God, the creator of all that is, has set in motion a natural order of things. And one natural order is the very decision and act to make an improvement in our lives requires us to go through a series of difficulties to prepare us…  ( Click for more )

2Corinthians10:5 AMP…and we lead every thought and purpose away captive…

Next level thinking will cause you to check your every thought and take it captive until you clear it with a very high set of standards. This can be exhausting at times but very rewarding.

Some things that change as you learn to take every thought through your set of standards. 1. You notice change in yourself 2. You see the world differently 3. You notice more negative and unproductive language in yourself and society.

The bible is clear that the Lords…  ( Click for more )

I love Hot Dogs! I know they’re not good for me but I don’t care. They taste great and they bring back good memories of my parents taking me and my brother to a local drive through hot dog joint. It was the best place in town to get a dog with chili, cheese, pickles, onions and mustard.

OMG, I loved those dogs.

A great thing about hot dogs is the vast variety of ways to prepare them.

With a little online research I found several ways to eat dogs. Here are a few worth mentioning:

- Killer Bacon-Cheese Dogs (I can’t wait to try this one.)

- Twinkie…  ( Click for more )

James 1:4 AMP

But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.

The best long distance runners not only need to be physically tough but also mentally tough. They must be patient or have much patience to get to the finish line. What does patience mean? This is how the dictionary defines patience: The quality of being patient, as the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without complaint, loss of temper, irritation, or…  ( Click for more )

Shane Krider from Polaris Global Marketing wrote: "In general, people way underestimate that they could change if they just believed they could. There seems to be a learned fear of taking control. There seems to be a general agreement that there is safety in numbers. People seem to be looking for anyone who is willing to stand up and lead the way. People seem to be quite satisfied to follow someone they really don't agree with just to avoid leading themselves."

To me this is an alarming truth. Leadership, in my estimation, is in part the goal in life. Leadership encompasses…  ( Click for more )

But he knows not that the shades of the dead are there [specters haunting the scene of past transgressions], and that her invited guests are [already sunk] in the depths of Sheol (the lower world, Hades, the place of the dead). - (Proverbs 9:18)

This scripture sounds like a scene from an old horror flick. I see it as a warning; there is an evil that is subtle as a ghost. The definition of ghost in this particular scripture is: a returning or haunting memory or image.

Our Christian life can be a living dichotomy. We have this lingering ghost that follows us and his name is…  ( Click for more )

There is a flash light craze going on in about every store you walk into. Some are small enough to fit on a key ring and some come with tri-pods. Some take double "A" batteries and some take 6 Volt batteries. Some are in-bedded in hat rims and some come mounted on glasses. It is really kind of phycotic on the focus put into the creating of uses for light.

I had to write and give a speech last week and it seemed everything I was preparing was out of this world boring. I had the concept of what I wanted the audience to go home with but didn't have a compelling visual.…  ( Click for more )

Architect: One who designs and supervises the construction of buildings or other large structures.

Builder: One who builds; one who develops or gives form to according to a plan or process; create.

Many years ago (more than I want to admit) I was in the construction business: block laying, carpentry, superintendent, but was mainly in the residential concrete business. When working in all phases of construction, you have to be able to read blueprints. If you can’t read and understand them, you will fail to correctly do your job. In turn, your work may not pass inspection…  ( Click for more )

Much of what holds us back in life is of our own doing. It may be the bad decisions we made in our youth. Perhaps it was the career or job of choice. Maybe it was the lifelong mate we chose in the guise of infatuation. Possibly it was a religious belief implanted in us by our parents and grandparents.

Mostly I would say it is the belief of the theories spoken to us from those around us and of the voices from our haunted past. The theory of: we cannot change our future for the good. I should say that it would not be fair for me to say that you don't believe you can change…  ( Click for more )

This article is a repeat article. This tradegy took place on December 14,2012. Let's remember to pray for someone else today. I at times get so caught up in my own issue's and I don't think of others much. Sad but true. Lets change that today. Lets get out of ourselves and remember the victims of Sandy Hook. I gaurantee you they are still dealing with this at some level. The pain of loss elevates during the holidays so let's lift them up in prayer.

Tragedy struck Newtown, Connecticut just two days ago. I'm sure most of you know the story of the 26 people murdered at Sandy Hook…  ( Click for more )

One warm day while walking on a trail, I saw an etched message carved on the path. It read, “TURN BACK”. For a moment I actually felt a touch of concern. Then I had to laugh at the humor.

But isn’t this what we often hear in our minds when we want to try something new or when the Lord is showing us a bit of our future. I’ve heard this voice many times in my life. It was loudest when I went parachuting. Everything inside of me yelled, “STAY IN THE PLANE!” Obviously, it was a false alarm.

I remember opening night of a play in which I had a…  ( Click for more )

Once we become "born again" we threw away the old script of our lives that were written from our experiences of pain, sorrow and heartache.

But being “born again” gives us the opportunity to write a new story for our lives.

But there is an opposing factor that will still try to dictate the writings of your future. It’s your old nature or thought process. It will want to continue to write the negative history of your life and not the promised future. It is like opening up a blank word document and letting someone else type in the script of your…  ( Click for more )

I said, "You are gods, and all of you are sons of the Most High. (Psalm 28:6)

This is a big statement into who we are in the eyes of God. Jesus later repeated it in John 10. In Psalms it was a statement told to the judges at the time to remind them they have the power to dispense judgment and justice to and for the people as a direct representative of God. That's all fine and dandy except for the fact that most of us Christians don't believe we hold this kind of power and have the authority to use it in this present day as representatives of God. We all have a call on our…  ( Click for more )

The popular statement is: “We are on a journey.” As a Christian I prefer to say: “We are in a battle for our promise land.” It doesn’t sound like fun but it gives me a clear picture of my life on this earth. Don’t get me wrong, I still have a good time and can be a jokester. Having said that, we all know this life will relentlessly beat you to the ground if you are not on guard. Marriage can be hard. Staying out of debt can be hard. Dealing with your kids, boss or co-workers can be hard. Not falling under condemnation can be very hard.

So…  ( Click for more )

When he saw that he had not prevailed against him, he touched the socket of his thigh; so the socket of Jacob's thigh was dislocated while he wrestled with him. - (Genesis 32:25)

Definition of Wrestle: To strive in an effort to master something. Grapple

Definition of grapple: to grip or seize, as in a wrestling match; "the two men grappled with each other for several minutes"

It's been nearly thirteen years since I've move from Arizona to the east coast. That's how long I've sincerely followed Christ. Yet, I still have been in question on what He is doing…  ( Click for more )

Life is like fruit carving. Fruit carvers have a specific set of tools that they use to create their carvings.

So it is with this life. To carve out the life we want we must use certain tools. Our tools are our thoughts, words and action.

1) Thoughts-we must first think of what it is we want. It could be a nice car, a better marriage or a physical healing. Whatever it is you want, you must picture the final result of it in your mind. And it must be thought of as often as possible. God used the stars of the sky to show Abraham his future. Joseph was given a dream concerning…  ( Click for more )

2Corinthians10:5 AMP…and we lead every thought and purpose away captive…

Next level thinking will cause you to check your every thought and take it captive until you clear it with a very high set of standards. This can be exhausting at times but very rewarding.

Some things that change as you learn to take every thought through your set of standards. 1. You notice change in yourself 2. You see the world differently 3. You notice more negative and unproductive language in yourself and society.

The bible is clear that the…  ( Click for more )

I am a cotter pin. That's what the Lord told me a few years back. What is a cotter pin? A metal pin used to fasten two parts of a mechanism together. Picture this. It looks like a ladies hairpin. In the industrial world it is used to fasten two pieces of metal together. For instance, on a tractor, you will find several cotter pins holding two different parts together. Without the part held together, by the cotter pin, the tractor would not run correctly. Though cotter pins are relatively small compared to the tractor, it is a very important part.

What the Lord was telling me…  ( Click for more )

He must have seen the glory beaming out of the one named Adam. He had to see the sunrise and sunset, creativity and passion, strength and love in the muddy mixture. He must have seen the majesty of untold greatness and the beauty of wholeness in this unfamiliar work of creation. Lucifer, in all his anger, resentment and bitterness must have seen Adam as a reflection of Almighty God. He must have shook in fear as he watched the Creator from a distance form, mold and shape the mud into man. Questions and worry must have invaded his mind as God etched away all imperfections to create…  ( Click for more )

A movie I was watching featured a popular detective known for his ability to solve difficult cases. A street cop walks up with some pertinent information. The street cops says to the detective, “I love your work and would love to be on the ’Special Cases Task Force’.” The detective responds, “If you want to be on the ’Special Cases Task Force’, then go out and do something special.”

This is an effective principle to use in the work force or in the educational arena. It’s a principle that will help you get noticed by others…  ( Click for more )

Last week we discussed the expectations Jesus has for us if we are to follow Him. In Matthew 5:20 Jesus said, “For I tell you, unless your righteousness (your uprightness and your right standing with God) is more than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” In addition He added to the requirement. In verses 21-22,27-28 He digs deeper into our spiritual pockets and makes it clear on what He expects of us concerning our heart and mind.

When Jesus brings in these additional verses, He is stating that we have the responsibility…  ( Click for more )

Jesus crucifixion started in the garden. The Father gave Him a vision. (Luke 22:41) Jesus died to His own will. (v42) Jesus accepted, visualized and internalized the Father’s plan. (v44) This sequence of steps was a defining moment for Jesus and for us. No, it was much more than that. It was the beginning of the final great battle that led Jesus to the victory that had been foretold for thousands of years. This was the established point in time for Jesus. The same point in time God gives to all of us. He gave His only begotten Son, our only chance, a vital, critical and crucial…  ( Click for more )

Sometimes I think the way Jesus presented His messages was a little unusual, . He would say these wonderful truths, then seemingly change the subject in a moments notice. For instance, the famous sermon on the mount in Matthew 5. Jesus starts out with the “Blessed are they” speech. It’s basically an “everything is beautiful” feel good message. (v3-v11) Then He says, (paraphrased) “Now that you know you are blessed because of God, don’t hide it. Let your light shine.” (v13-v16) After that it turns a little rigid. Jesus makes a…  ( Click for more )

Let your speech at all times be gracious (pleasant and winsome), seasoned [as it were] with salt, [so that you may never be at a loss] to know how you ought to answer anyone [who puts a question to you]. (Colossians 4:6 Amp)

My friend once told me a trick he used to help him avoid eating all the food on his plate lest he over eat. He would open the salt shaker and pour salt over the remaining food. I’m not so sure it was a good plan. It may have solved the issue at the moment but what about the discipline it takes to live a healthy lifestyle.

The apostle Paul wrote…  ( Click for more )