The Awaited One... by Max Lucado

We were a wreath of Light around the stable, a necklace of diamonds around the structure. Every angel had been called from his post for the coming, even Michael. None doubted God would, but none knew how He could, fulfill his promise.

I’ve heated the water!”

“No need to yell, Joseph I hear you fine.”

Mary would have heard had Joseph whispered. The stable was even smaller than Joseph had imagined but the innkeeper was right- it was clean. I started to clear out the sheep and cow, but Michael stopped me. “The Father wants all of creation to witness the moment.”

Mary cried out and gripped Joseph’s arm with one hand and a feed trough with the other. The thrust in her abdomen lifted her back, and she leaned forward.

“Is it time?” Joseph asked.

She shot back a glance, and he had his answer.

Within moments the Awaited One was born. I was privileged to have a position close to the couple, only a step behind Michael. We both gazed into the wrinkled face of the infant. Joseph had placed hay in a feed trough, giving Jesus his first bed.

All of God was in the infant. Light encircled His face and radiated from His tiny hands. The very glory I had witnessed in His throne room now burst through His skin.

I felt we should sing but did not know what. We had no song. We had no verse. We had never seen the sight of God in a baby. When God had made a star, our words had roared. When He had delivered His servants, our tongues had flown with praise. Before His throne, our songs never ended. But what do you sing to God in a feed trough?

In that moment a wonderful thing happened. As we looked at the baby Jesus, the darkness lifted. Not the darkness of the night, but the darkness of the mystery. Heaven’s enlightenment engulfed the legions.

Our minds were filled with the Truth we had never before known. We became aware for the first time of the Father’s plan to rescue those who bear His name.

From An Angel's Story (originally published as Cosmic Christmas) Copyright (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2002, 2004) Max Lucado

Campout Pics

Here are a few pics from the campout. Thanks to Alan for taking these!

Campout was GREAT!!!

We had a great weekend at the campout in Morgan Mill, TX at Bent Tree Ranch. I have been told more than once that this was our best campout yet! It was possible because so many IronMen helped organize and participated. We had about 35 total people, 10 or of those were kids and they might have had the best time of all!



We shared with each other what it means to be an IronMan, how we can be better about leading our families, about our natural instincts and roles as men, and we learned about leadership from Joshua. I sure hope at least one of these discussions was beneficial for all those that attended.



Special thanks to Lane and Ryan for helping coordinate the food and drinks for the weekend. Thanks to Joel for sharing with us and helping me coordinate the spiritual side of things. Jim, we sure appreicate your generocity in letting us take over the ranch for a couple of days. It could not have been done without you guys!



We also got to ride horses, learn to rope from Bennie Peek (pro team roper), have quiet time in the woods, play football and roast marshmellows. One of my favorite parts of the weekend was finally getting to have a bonfire. The fire was awesome and we all enjoyed it!



Thanks to Alan Phillips for taking pictures (we will post them soon); Ken Boggs, Jeff Rackley and Bob McKinnon for preparing breakfast and lunch! Special thanks to our IM Comedian



Thanks to all IronMen that were in anyway involved. We look forward to next year's campout!



Stay Strong, PLD.

STP, an IronMan

The Journey ... Max Lucado

I drove the family to Grandma’s last night for Thanksgiving. Three hours into the six-hour trip, I realized that I was in a theology lab.

A day with a car full of kids will teach you a lot about God. Transporting a family from one city to another is closely akin to God transporting us from our home to his.

A journey is a journey, whether the destination be the Thanksgiving table or the heavenly one. Both demand patience, a good sense of direction, and a driver who knows that the feast at the end of the trip is worth the hassles in the midst of the trip.

For me, six hours on the road is a small price to pay for my mom’s strawberry cake. I don’t mind the drive because I know the reward. I have three decades of Thanksgivings under my belt, literally. As I drive, I can taste the turkey. Hear the dinner-table laughter. Smell the smoke from the fireplace.

I can endure the journey because I know the destiny.

For some of you, the journey has been long. Very long and stormy. In no way do I wish to minimize the difficulties that you have had to face along the way. Some of you have shouldered burdens that few of us could ever carry. You have bid farewell to life-long partners. You have been robbed of life-long dreams. You have been given bodies that can’t sustain your spirit. You have spouses who can’t tolerate your faith. You have bills that outnumber the paychecks and challenges that outweigh the strength.

And you are tired.

Let me encourage you with a parallel between your life’s journey and the one our family took last night.

It’s worth it.

As I write, the Thanksgiving meal is over. My legs are propped up on the hearth. My tablet is on my lap.

I have every intention of dozing off as soon as I finish this chapter.

The turkey has been attacked. The giblet gravy has been gobbled. The table is clear. The kids are napping. And the family is content.

As we sat around the table today, no one spoke of the long trip to get here. No one mentioned the requests I didn’t honor. No one grumbled about my foot being on the accelerator when their hearts were focused on the banana splits. No one complained about the late hour of arrival.
Yesterday’s challenges were lost in today’s joy.

God never said that the journey would be easy, but he did say that the arrival would be worthwhile.

Remember this: God may not do what you want, but he will do what is right … and best. He’s the Father of forward motion. Trust him. He will get you home. And the trials of the trip will be lost in the joys of the feast.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll close my eyes. I’m a bit tired from the journey, and it feels good to rest.

From In the Eye of the Storm Copyright (W Publishing Group, 1999) Max Lucado

Is Your Thermostat Broken?

Ironmen Edge 11/13/2007

Have you checked to see if your thermostat is working correctly? That may seem like the wrong question to ask your self when you woke up Tuesday morning, but it was the one posed to us yesterday morning by Joel. Ironmen Edge is fortunate enough that we do have two HVAC experts who study with us during this time, so they were able to walk the rest of us through how a thermostat is supposed to work. Joel also illustrated that women are a thermometer and that men are thermostats. Meaning that women, can tell the thermostat when things are getting overheated or too cold in our households and that the man of the household, or the thermostat, we have the ability change things to make the household live able again. Now, you may be asking yourself at this moment what in the world do you mean. What we really mean with this whole correlation is that as the man of the house we are to be leaders in our home and set the spiritual temperature of our home.

Let's look at Ephesians 5:23 "A husband is the head of of his wife, just as Christ is the head of the church." 5:25 "Husbands, love your wives the same as Christ loved the church and gave his life for it. He died to make the church holy. He used the telling of the Good News to make the church clean by washing it with water. Christ died so that he could give the church to himself like a bride in all her beauty." 5:28" And husbands should love their wives as the love their own bodies. The man who loves his wife loves himself, because no one ever hates his own body, but feeds and takes care of it."

As men we are the head or the leader of our household. We can change the climate of our spiritual households. As we talked about how all this works out in our on families we noticed that by being in tune with our wives we can function as a proper thermostat in unison with the thermometer. By paying attention to the thermometer we can sense when things are getting too hot or too cold. And that the best way to adjust our home temperature is through prayer. Che added to this with a prayer that his family has been praying and uses to set the temperature of his household. Psalm 89:11 - Lord, teach me your ways, and I will live and obey your truths. Help me make worshiping your name the most important thing in my life." With this prayer they have been able to focus on the most important thing in this world and that is worshiping your name.

In summary, we found that we all have ways to adjust the temperature of our households and that if that means being prayerfully consistent, paying attention to our families needs, and placing our love, our faith, and all of our worship in Jesus name we are able to set the stage for family that is ready and willing to follow what ever God calls us to.

An Ironman,

Ryan

Campout Instructions

IM Campout is right around the corner. We will meet at LCCOC at 5pm on Friday, Nov. 30. We will carpool to Bent Tree Ranch and we should arrive around 7pm. Dinner will be provided by Hard 8 BBQ as we arrive. Here are directions to BTR:


Take I-20 west from Fort Worth proceed thru Weatherford approximately 20 miles, exit south on highway 281, exit # 386, proceed south approximately 15 miles to Morgan Mill, at the Baptist Church turn west on 1188, go west 1 mile to the top of the hill, turn south on county road 132, proceed 2 miles to the ranch on the right side of 132, you will see the name of the ranch over the gate, the entry has white Austin stone columns.

Here is what you should bring:
1. Tent
2. Money for dinner (approximately $10- $15)
3. Bug spray
4. Bible
5. Games (cards, football, baseball and glove, etc)

PLEASE CONTACT ME ASAP TO LET ME KNOW IF YOU ARE COMING. I HAVE TO HAVE A NUMBER FOR DINNER! MY CELL 214-415-9568!

Kids are welcome if their father is present.

Please come and join us, we would love to have you!

Edge 10-24-07 - " Taking up his Cross"

This past Wednesday we had another great EDGE meeting at the church. Joel challenged us to really think about Matthew 16:24

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "if anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it."

During our conversation we all talked about this statement being a struggle for all of us. Do we really deny ourselves and pick up the cross and follow our savior? What does this mean? If we declare Jesus is the son of God, died for our sins and were baptised is that enough? We all felt that in order to truly follow this verse we must look at Luke 9:23. Although this verse is only one word different, it changed the way we all thought about Matthew 16:24. What if I was to tell you you must follow Matthew 16:24 and make sure you follow it DAILY? Wow!

We as Men and Women of Christ can not only "Do Church" and Proclaim to be Christians when it is convenient to us. We must make it a way of life; a conscious effort to deny ourselves immediate gratification and choose the daily pleasures that can be found in walking in HIS footsteps. Although they are not ovious, I bet if you look back at each day you can find a way you have been blessed daily (This was Ryan's wisdom).

This is difficult to do and was a unanimous struggle for all of us. I know that I personally struggle to keep my stride. I do think that this has been a great week for me in my walk and I know it is because my edge was sharpened on Wednesday. I hope more of my brothers attend on Wednesdays so we can keep each other sharp.

Lane
An Ironman!

IM Service Opportunity

This is a message I got from Michael Thames yesterday:

Stacy, pray all is well! This is short notice, but we are seeking some folks to help us move garage sale items from our location to Southside church this Friday. Is this something you could email out to the Ironmen? We could use help anytime Friday for set-up and moving and possibly Saturday afternoon for clean-up and taking things back to Fortress.


Please let me know if you can help out and I will let Michael know. Thanks IronMen for all you do.

SHARPEN THE EDGE!

When we miss the target... by Max Lucado

Read the first verse of Matthew’s gospel. Jesus knew David’s ways. He witnessed the adultery, winced at the murders, and grieved at the dishonesty. But David’s failures didn’t change Jesus’ relation to David. The initial verse of the first chapter of the first gospel calls Christ “the son of David” (Matt. 1:1 KJV). The title contains no disclaimers, explanations, or asterisks. I’d have added a footnote: “This connection in no way offers tacit approval to David’s behavior.” No such words appear. David blew it. Jesus knew it. But he claimed David anyway.

He did for David what my father did for my brother and me.

Back in our elementary school days, my brother received a BB gun for Christmas. We immediately set up a firing range in the backyard and spent the afternoon shooting at an archery target. Growing bored with the ease of hitting the circle, my brother sent me to fetch a hand mirror. He placed the gun backward on his shoulder, spotted the archery bull’s-eye in the mirror, and did his best Buffalo Bill imitation. But he missed the target. He also missed the storehouse behind the target and the fence behind the storehouse. We had no idea where the BB pellet flew. Our neighbor across the alley knew, however. He soon appeared at the back fence, asking who had shot the BB gun and who was going to pay for his sliding-glass door.

At this point I disowned my brother. I changed my last name and claimed to be a holiday visitor from Canada. My father was more noble than I. Hearing the noise, he appeared in the backyard, freshly rousted from his Christmas Day nap, and talked with the neighbor.

Among his words were these:“Yes, they are my children.”“Yes, I’ll pay for their mistakes.”
Christ says the same about you. He knows you miss the target. He knows you can’t pay for your mistakes. But he can. “God sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins” (Rom. 3:25 NLT).
Since he was sinless, he could.

Since he loves you, he did. “This is real love. It is not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins” (1 John 4:10 NLT).

He became one of us to redeem all of us. “Jesus, who makes people holy, and those who are made holy are from the same family. So he is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters” (Heb. 2:11 NCV).

He wasn’t ashamed of David. He isn’t ashamed of you. He calls you brother; he calls you sister.

The question is, doyou call him Savior?

From Facing Your Giants

God's Part, Our Part... Stacey Pearson

God is doing his part! Are we doing our part? Am I doing my part?

Jeremiah 29: 10-14 MSG
"I'll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out, plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.
When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I'll listen.
When you come looking for me, you'll find me.
Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed."

I know that God is doing his part, I just wonder if I am doing my part! God is so faithful that he gave Jesus to die for us and when this was written, it was much more difficult to pursue God. We have the HS in our hearts as a "deposit" and we can connect to that power anytime we want. Are we doing it, am i doing it? What does it take for me to "want it more than anything else"? Am I desperate for the Lord on a daily basis? Is my faith this real?

These are questions that come to my mind when I read this text and these questions pierce right through me. How about you?

In Pursuit,

STP, an IronMan

An Unearthly Love... Max Lucado

Your goodness can’t win God’s love. Nor can your badness lose it. But you can resist it. We tend to do so honestly. Having been rejected so often, we fear God may reject us as well. Rejections have left us skittish and jumpy. Like my dog Salty. He sleeps next to me on the couch as I write. He’s a cranky cuss, but I like him. We’ve aged together over the last fifteen years, and he seems worse for the wear. He’s a wiry canine by nature; shave his salt-and-pepper mop, and he’d pass for a bulimic Chihuahua. He didn’t have much to start with; now the seasons have taken his energy, teeth, hearing, and all but eighteen inches’ worth of eyesight.

Toss him a dog treat, and he just stares at the floor through cloudy cataracts. (Or, in his case, dogaracts?) He’s nervous and edgy, quick to growl and slow to trust. As I reach out to pet him, he yanks back. Still, I pet the old coot. I know he can’t see, and I can only wonder how dark his world has become.

We are a lot like Salty. I have a feeling that most people who defy and deny God do so more out of fear than conviction. For all our chest pumping and braggadocio, we are anxious folk—can’t see a step into the future, can’t hear the one who owns us. No wonder we try to gum the hand that feeds us.

But God reaches and touches. He speaks through the immensity of the Russian plain and the density of the Amazon rain forest. Through a physician’s touch in Africa, a bowl of rice in India. Through a Japanese bow or a South American abraço. He’s even been known to touch people through paragraphs like the ones you are reading. If he is touching you, let him.

Mark it down: God loves you with an unearthly love. You can’t win it by being winsome. You can’t lose it by being a loser. But you can be blind enough to resist it.
Don’t. For heaven’s sake, don’t. For your sake, don’t.

“Take in with all Christians the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God” (Eph. 3:18–19 MSG).

This is powerful

When you can, make the time to listen to this audio. It is from Max Lucado and is awesome! This will remind you of the Love of God. Here is the link:

http://maxlucado.com/316/events/radio/

Stay Strong, PLD

STP, an IronMan

IM Campout date set!!!

IronMen, we will have another campout Oct. 19-20 at Bent Tree Ranch near Stephenville. We will most likely meet at the church at 5pm on the 19th and carpool down to the best BBQ in the southwest (Hard 8 in Stephenville). After dinner, we will head to the ranch and have some great times together the rest of the night and the next day.

Bring your kids if you desire, they are welcome. Ask around to some others that have been to the campout in the past and you will see that these events are great times!

Let me know if you plan on attending. thanks and stay strong, PLD!

STP, an IronMan

UNT Football anyone???

I would like to know how many of you would be interested in going to a UNT football game with a group of IronMen. If you would be interested, please leave me a comment on this blog or email me at stp@pmiair.com . The dates that i am looking at are Oct. 27 or Nov. 10. Please let me know if you are interested.

PLD, stay strong!

STP, an IronMan

Dinner was Great!

Thanks so much to all that help prepare, serve and clean up the dinner on Wednesday night. I believe it was a success. Special thanks to Ryan and Angie for their hard work in cooking the meal, even if Ryan skipped out on us. I really appreciate the volunteers that helped to make this night a success!

PLD
STP, an IronMan

Guilt and Grace... by Max Lucado

Sometime ago I read a story of a youngster who was shooting rocks with a slingshot. He could never hit his target. As he returned to Grandma’s backyard, he spied her pet duck. On impulse he took aim and let fly. The stone hit, and the duck was dead. The boy panicked and hid the bird in the woodpile, only to look up and see his sister watching.

After lunch that day, Grandma told Sally to help with the dishes. Sally responded, “Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen today. Didn’t you Johnny?” And she whispered to him, “Remember the duck!” So, Johnny did the dishes.

What choice did he have? For the next several weeks he was at the sink often. Sometimes for his duty, sometimes for his sin. “Remember the duck,” Sally’d whisper when he objected.

So weary of the chore, he decided that any punishment would be better than washing more dishes, so he confessed to killing the duck. “I know, Johnny,” his grandma said, giving him a hug. “I was standing at the window and saw the whole thing. Because I love you, I forgave you. I wondered how long you would let Sally make a slave out of you.” (Steven Cole, “Forgiveness,” Leadership Magazine, 1983, 86.)

He’d been pardoned, but he thought he was guilty. Why? He had listened to the words of his accuser.

You have been accused as well. You have been accused of dishonesty. You’ve been accused of immorality. You’ve been accused of greed, anger, and arrogance.

Every moment of your life, your accuser is filing charges against you. Even his name, Diabolos, means “slanderer.” Who is he? The devil.

As he speaks, you hang your head. You have no defense. His charges are fair. “I plead guilty, your honor,” you mumble.

“The sentence?” Satan asks.

“The wages of sin is death,” explains the judge, “but in this case the death has already occurred. For this one died with Christ.”

Satan is suddenly silent. And you are suddenly jubilant. You realize that Satan cannot accuse you. No one can accuse you! Fingers may point and voices may demand, but the charges glance off like arrows hitting a shield. No more dirty dishwater. No more penance. No more nagging sisters. You have stood before the judge and heard him declare, “Not guilty.”

From In the Grip of Grace

Two Awesome verses from Jeremiah

Check out these two awesome verses in Jeremiah:

24:7 I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart.

31:33-34 This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach is neighbor or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord', because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord.

I love the picture of God's faithfulness in these scriptures. In the midst of struggle and turmoil, God has a plan!!! We never have to doubt that.

PLD
STP, an IronMan

God Give Rest ... by Max Lucado

The teaching I ask you to accept is easy; the load I give you to carry is light. Matthew 11:30

Paul had and interesting observation about the way we treat people. He said it about marriage, but the principle applies in any relationship. "The man who loves his wife loves himself" (Eph. 5:28). There is a correlation between the way you feel about yourself and the way you feel about others. If you are at peace with yourself - if you like yourself - you will get along with others.

The converse is also true. If you don't like yourself, if you are ashamed, embarrassed, or angry, other people are going to know it...

Which takes us to the question, "How does a person get relief?"...

"Come to me, all of you who are tired and have heavy loads, and I will give you rest" (Matt 11:28)... Jesus says he is the solution for the weariness of soul.

From When God Whispers Your Name

Headed Homeward... by Max Lucado

Aging is God’s idea. It’s one of the ways he keeps us headed homeward. We can’t change the process, but we can change our attitude. Here is a thought. What if we looked at the aging body as we look at the growth of a tulip?

Do you ever see anyone mourning over the passing of the tulip bulb? Do gardeners weep as the bulb begins to weaken? Of course not. We don’t purchase tulip girdles or petal wrinkle cream or consult plastic-leaf surgeons. We don’t mourn the passing of the bulb; we celebrate it. Tulip lovers rejoice the minute the bulb weakens. “Watch that one,” they say. “It’s about to blossom.”

Could it be heaven does the same? The angels point to our bodies. The more frail we become, the more excited they become. “Watch that lady in the hospital,” they say. “She’s about to blossom.” “Keep an eye on the fellow with the bad heart. He’ll be coming home soon.”

“We are waiting for God to finish making us his own children, which means our bodies will be made free” (Rom. 8:23).

Are our bodies now free? No. Paul describes them as our “earthy bodies” (Phil. 3:21 MSG). Or as other translations state:

“our lowly body” (NKJV)
“the body of our humble state” (NASB)
“these weak mortal bodies” (NLT)
“our vile body” (KJV)
“our simple bodies” (NCV)

You could add your own adjective, couldn’t you? Which word describes your body? My cancerous body? My arthritic body? My deformed body? My crippled body? My addicted body? My ever-expanding body? The word may be different, but the message is the same: These bodies are weak. They began decaying the minute we began breathing.

And, according to God, that’s a part of the plan. Every wrinkle and every needle take us one step closer to the last step when Jesus will change our simple bodies into forever bodies. No pain. No depression. No sickness. No end.

This is not our forever house. It will serve for the time being. But there is nothing like the moment we enter his door.

From Traveling LIght

IM Breakfast tomorrow

Just a reminder, IM Breakfast is tomorrow at El Concho Cafe at Hicks Airfield in Ft. Worth. The address is:

171 Aviator Dr.
Ft. Worth, TX 76179

Phone number: 817-439-1041

Call me if you have any questions at 214-415-9568. Thanks men and I hope to see many of you there.

Stay Strong, PLD!

VBS is successful

The IronMen want to give a special shout out to the VBS crew and participants. This year's VBS at LCCOC was a great success that wrapped up last night. The Galilee village was taken down last night and all the villagers were sent home, though not without powerful memories and newfound realization of who Jesus was and is today! Thanks to all the kids that came to "Galilee by the Sea". I hope that you had a great time! Thanks also to all the workers that helped in so many ways (there were more volunteers than ever before).

Special tribute to Paige, Rhonda, Kelli and Lane! You guys are awesome and yall did a great job. Yall worked together so well and i know you were a blessing to each other. Because of your hearts and efforts, the gospel was spread a little more and the amazing message of Jesus was shared in "real" ways to the kids and their parents. Now we can get ready for next year!!!

STP, an IronMan

Diving into Life Headfirst... by Max Lucado

Steve Lyons will be remembered as the player who dropped his pants.

The White Sox were playing the Tigers in Detroit. Lyons bunted and raced down the first-base line. He knew it was going to be tight, so he dove at the bag. Safe! The Tiger’s pitcher disagreed. He and the umpire got into a shouting match, and Lyons stepped in to voice his opinion.

Absorbed in the game and the debate, Lyons felt dirt trickling down the inside of his pants. Without missing a beat he dropped his britches, wiped away the dirt, and … uh oh … twenty thousand jaws hit the bleachers’ floor.

Within twenty-four hours of the “exposure,” he received more exposure than he’d gotten his entire career: seven live television and approximately twenty radio interviews.

Fortunately, for Steve, he was wearing sliding pants under his baseball pants.

Now, I don’t know Steve Lyons. I’m not a White Sox fan. Nor am I normally appreciative of men who drop their pants in public. But I think Steve Lyons deserves a salute.

I think anybody who dives into first base deserves a salute. How many guys do you see roaring down the baseline of life more concerned about getting a job done than they are about saving their necks? How often do you see people diving headfirst into anything?

Too seldom, right? But when we do … when we see a gutsy human throwing caution to the wind and taking a few risks … ah, now that’s a person worthy of a pat on the … back.

So here’s to all the Steve Lyons of the world.

Here’s to the Miracles, a choral group out of Memphis, Tennessee, made up of the mentally retarded and the stout-hearted. Just see if you can listen to them and still feel sorry for yourself.

Here’s to the hero of the San Francisco marathon who crossed the finish line without seeing it. (He was blind.)

Here’s to the woman whose husband left her with a nest of kids to raise and bills to pay, but who somehow tells me every Sunday that God has never been closer.

Here’s to the single father of two girls who learned to braid their hair.

Here’s to the grandparents who came out of retirement to raise the children their children couldn’t raise.

Here’s to the foster parents who took in a child long enough for that child to take their hearts—then gave the child up again.

Here’s to the girl, told by everyone to abort the baby, who chose to keep the baby.

Here’s to the doctor who treats more than half of his patients for free.

Here’s to the heroin-addict-turned-missionary.

Here’s to the executive who every Tuesday hosts a 5:30 A.M. meeting for Bible study and prayer.

Here’s to all of you reckless lovers of life and God, who stand on first base because you paid a price to get there.

So what if you forget about pleasing the crowd and get caught with your pants down? At least you’re playing ball in the pros.

Most of us aren’t even in your league.

From In the Eye of the Storm

Learning to Listen...by Max Lucado

Equipped with the right tools, we can learn to listen to God. What are those tools? Here are the ones I have found helpful.

A regular time and place. Select a slot on your schedule and a corner of your world, and claim it for God. For some it may be best to do this in the morning. Others prefer the evening Others prefer many encounters during the day.

Some sit under a tree, others in the kitchen. Maybe your commute to work or your lunch break would be appropriate. Find a time and place that seems right for you.

How much time should you take? As much as you need. Value quality over length. Your time with God should last long enough for you to say what you want and for God to say what he wants. Which leads us to a second tool you need—an open Bible.

God speaks to us through his Word. The first step in reading the Bible is to ask God to help you understand it.

Before reading the Bible, pray. Don’t go to Scripture looking for your own idea; go searching for God’s. Read the Bible prayerfully. Also, read the Bible carefully.

Here is a practical point. Study the Bible a little at a time. God seems to send messages as he did his manna: one day’s portion at a time. Choose depth over quantity. Read until a verse “hits” you, then stop and meditate on it. Copy the verse onto a sheet of paper, or write it in your journal, and reflect on it several times.

Will I learn what God intends? If I listen, I will.

Understanding comes a little at a time over a lifetime.

There is a third tool for having a productive time with God. Not only do we need a regular time and an open Bible, we also need a listening heart. Don’t forget the admonition from James: “The man who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and makes a habit of so doing, is not the man who hears and forgets. He puts that law into practice and he wins true happiness” (James 1:25 PHILLIPS).

We know we are listening to God when what we read in the Bible is what others see in our lives.

Paul urged his readers to put into practice what they had learned from him. “What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do” (Phil. 4:9 RSV).

If you want to be just like Jesus, let God have you. Spend time listening for him until you receive your lesson for the day—then apply it.

From Just Like JesusCopyright (W Publishing Group, 1998, 2001) Max Lucado

Amazing Situation

I am totally amazed a the power of water! As most of you know, there was some major flooding in the Trophy Club area this past week. There were two families in perticular that were heavily affected by the flooding and they lost almost everything.

We took a group of guys and gals over to their houses last night to try to help out in the clean up process. Here are some pics of the damage:

The water rose over 5 feet above a nearby bridge. Wow! I cannot believe what must have been going through their minds as the water was rushing closer and closer to their house. I cannot imagine what is going through their minds today as they continually have to deal with the clean up process, the paperwork that must be done with the state, and all the loss that they continually find.

My heart goes out to these families so much and i just hope that we were able to be God's hands and feet to touch their lives and make a difference. They are wonderful people and i pray that God's love is so abundant that they may not question Him at all.

Thanks to all the men and women that participated in this great time. You guys are awesome and just as Joel's said the other day, it is equally amazing that there are so many loving and caring people that are willing to help in times like this. I truly appreciate all of you and i saw God's hands doing some dirty but so rewarding work yesterday!

Stay Strong, PLD!

Quiet Heroes... by Max Lucado

Quiet heroes dot the landscape of our society. They don’t wear ribbons or kiss trophies; they wear spit-up and kiss boo-boos. They don’t make the headlines, but they do sew the hemlines and check the outlines and stand on the sidelines. You won’t find their names on the Nobel Prize short list, but you will find their names on the homeroom, carpool, and Bible teacher lists.

They are parents, both by blood and deed, name and calendar. Heroes. News programs don’t call them. But that’s okay. Because their kids do … They call them Mom. They call them Dad. And these moms and dads, more valuable than all the executives and lawmakers west of the Mississippi, quietly hold the world together.

Be numbered among them. Read books to your kids. Play ball while you can and they want you to. Make it your aim to watch every game they play, read every story they write, hear every recital in which they perform.

Children spell love with four letters: T-I-M-E. Not just quality time, but hang time, downtime, anytime, all the time. Your children are not your hobby; they are your calling.
Your spouse is not your trophy but your treasure.

Don’t pay the price David paid. Look ahead to his final hours. To see the ultimate cost of a neglected family, look at the way our hero dies.

David is hours from the grave. A chill has set in that blankets can’t remove. Servants decide he needs a person to warm him, someone to hold him tight as he takes his final breaths.

Do they turn to one of his wives? No. Do they call on one of his children? No. They seek “for a lovely young woman throughout all the territory of Israel … and she cared for the king, and served him; but the king did not know her” (1 Kings 1:3–4).

I suspect that David would have traded all his conquered crowns for the tender arms of a wife. But it was too late. He died in the care of a stranger, because he made strangers out of his family.

But it’s not too late for you.

Make your wife the object of your highest devotion. Make your husband the recipient of your deepest passion. Love the one who wears your ring.

And cherish the children who share your name.

Succeed at home first.

From Facing Your Giants

Jeremiah 31:31ff

Listen to these words from Jeremiah 31:31-34:

31 "The time is coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.
32 It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them, " declares the LORD.
33 "This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time," declares the LORD. "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
34 No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest," declares the LORD. "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."

I am amazed by this prophecy. I think this is so powerful that in the midst of the prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem, God is telling them about the new covenant in Christ. God is so good.

While studying Jeremiah, the question has come to my mind many times: Why is God so harsh with the people by sending them into captivity for 70 years? That is some peoples entire life time.

As a step back and look at the situation and read more of the book, I realize that many times God has given them the opportunity to avoid this situation and also many times he has made the promise to bring them out of the captivity (29:10ff). So, I see that it is almost like the parent/child relationship that we deal with. We don't like to discipline our children, but we know it's the only way they are going to learn some lessons. The fact that the captivity is 70 years seems like and eternity to us but to God it is but a glimpse of time. My human eyes and mind may not understand, but from God's perspective, it is another situation where he is preparing his people for Christ to come.

I see the difference in the way God deals with his people in the OT vs. the NT. However, one thing comes to mind: even though He seems more "harse" in the OT, He continually gives his people chance after chance to avoid the problems. Then, just like me and you today, they still do things their way. God has to discipline them like we do our children.

His love is just as immense in the OT as it is in the NT. I love this study because it is showing me again how amazing God is and how faithful he is! Praise God!

Stay stong, PLD!

Peace for Anxious Days...by Max Lucado

When my daughters were single-digit ages—two, five, and seven—I wowed them with a miracle. I told them the story of Moses and the manna and invited them to follow me on a wilderness trek through the house.

“Who knows,” I suggested, “manna may fall from the sky again.”

We dressed in sheets and sandals and did our best Bedouin hike through the bedrooms. The girls, on my instruction, complained to me, Moses, of hunger and demanded I take them back to Egypt, or at least to the kitchen. When we entered the den, I urged them to play up their parts: groan, moan, and beg for food.

“Look up,” I urged. “Manna might fall any minute.”

Two-year-old Sara obliged with no questions, but Jenna and Andrea had their doubts. How can manna fall from a ceiling?

Just like the Hebrews. “How can God feed us in the wilderness?”

Just like you? You look at tomorrow’s demands, next week’s bills, next month’s silent calendar. Your future looks as barren as the Sinai Desert. “How can I face my future?” God tells you what I told my daughters: “Look up.”

When my daughters did, manna fell! Well, not manna, but vanilla wafers dropped from the ceiling and landed on the carpet. Sara squealed with delight and started munching. Jenna and Andrea were old enough to request an explanation.

My answer was simple. I knew the itinerary. I knew we would enter this room. Vanilla wafers fit safely on the topside of the ceiling-fan blades. I had placed them there in advance. When they groaned and moaned, I turned on the switch.

God’s answer to the Hebrews was similar. Did he know their itinerary? Did he know they would grow hungry? Yes and yes. And at the right time, he tilted the manna basket toward earth.

And what about you? God knows what you need and where you’ll be. Any chance he has some vanilla wafers on tomorrow’s ceiling fans? Trust him. “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes” (Matthew 6:33-34).

From Every Day Deserves a ChanceCopyright (Thomas Nelson, Inc., 2007) Max Lucado

Campout was a success!!!

Thanks to everyone that came to the campout last weekend. We had a great time and we were really uplifted! I know that all that attended enjoyed a break from their busy schedules to relax in the country and be filled with God's word. Here are some pics for you to look at:

Stay Strong, PLD!

More Prayers are needed...

Please keep praying for little Kanyon, RIGHT NOW! He was moved to Dallas over the weekend and had a rough transistion. He is fighting an infection now and awaiting 2 more surgeries once the infection is cleared up. He needs us IronMen. Time to "mount up"!!! See the family's blogsite for the whole story at www.thephillipsphamily.blogspot.com . Thanks for your support men

Stay Strong, PLD!

Directions for Campout

Directions To Bent Tree Ranch

Take I-20 west from Fort Worth proceed thru Weatherford approximately 20 miles, exit south on highway 281, exit # 386, proceed south approximately 15 miles to Morgan Mill, at the Baptist Church turn west on 1188, go west 1 mile to the top of the hill, turn south on county road 132, proceed 2 miles to the ranch on the right side of 132, you will see the name of the ranch over the gate, the entry has white Austin stone columns.

Get Out and Grow Campout info

Some info about the Campout that you need to know:
1. Bring bug spray.
2. Bring a tent if you have one and sleeping materials (pillow, sleeping bag, etc.)
3. The only money you need is for your dinner Friday night at Hard 8 Bar-B-Que.
4. Bring your son or daughter if you want to. They will be an added delight.
5. We have a great guest speaker named Kenny Lybrand. He has some great things to share!
6. We should be done by 3pm or so on Saturday so you can get back to your house for dinner.
7. Bent Tree Ranch is about and 1.5 hour drive from Trophy Club (depending on traffic).
8. Bring drinks for your family for Friday and Saturday.

Agenda:
Friday, May 4th

5:00 pm Meet at LCCOC for carpool and directions

7:00 pm Arrive at Hard 8 Bar-B-Que for dinner

9:00-10:00 (Bent Tree Ranch) Session #1 “ How do I Make The Right Decision?”

Saturday, May 5th

6:30 am Rise and Shine breakfast, prepared by world class country chef Jim Pearson

7:30-8:30 am Session #2 “Christian or Disciple?”

8:30 am Break

10:00-11:00 am Session #3 – “Learning to Forgive”

11:00 am Break for lunch, prepared by world class country chef Jim Pearson

12:30 – 1:30 pm Session #4 and wrap up “God’s Amazing Grace!”


Please let me know if you are going to attend and if you have any more questions!

Thanks and PLD!

The Cradle of Hope... Max Lucado

Christ rose first; then when Christ comes back, all his people will become alive again.
1 Corinthians 15:23 TLB

Let’s go to the tomb, for Jesus lies in the tomb.

Still. Cold. Stiff. Death has claimed its greatest trophy. He is not asleep in the tomb or resting in the tomb or comatose in the tomb; he is dead in the tomb. No air in his lungs. No thoughts in his brain. No feeling in his limbs. His body is as lifeless as the stone slab upon which he has been laid.

The executioners made sure of it. When Pilate learned that Jesus was dead, he asked the soldiers if they were certain. They were. Had they seen the Nazarene twitch, had they heard even one moan, they would have broken his legs to speed his end. But there was no need. The thrust of a spear removed all doubt. The Romans knew their job. And their job was finished. They pried loose the nails, lowered his body, and gave it to Joseph and Nicodemus.

Joseph of Arimathea. Nicodemus the Pharisee. Jesus had answered the prayer of their hearts, the prayer for the Messiah. As much as the soldiers wanted him dead, even more these men wanted him alive.

As they sponged the blood from his beard, don’t you know they listened for his breath? As they wrapped the cloth around his hands, don’t you know they hoped for a pulse? Don’t you know they searched for life?

But they didn’t find it.

So they do with him what they were expected to do with a dead man. They wrap his body in clean linen and place it in a tomb. Joseph’s tomb. Roman guards are stationed to guard the corpse. And a Roman seal is set on the rock of the tomb. For three days, no one gets close to the grave.

But then, Sunday arrives. And with Sunday comes light—a light within the tomb. A bright light? A soft light? Flashing? Hovering? We don’t know. But there was a light. For he is the light. And with the light came life. Just as the darkness was banished, now the decay is reversed. Heaven blows and Jesus breathes. His chest expands. Waxy lips open. Wooden fingers lift. Heart valves swish and hinged joints bend.

And, as we envision the moment, we stand in awe.

We stand in awe not just because of what we see, but because of what we know. We know that we, too, will die. We know that we, too, will be buried. Our lungs, like his, will empty. Our hands, like his, will stiffen. But the rising of his body and the rolling of the stone give birth to a mighty belief: “What we believe is this: If we get included in Christ’s sin-conquering death, we also get included in his life-saving resurrection. We know that when Jesus was raised from the dead it was a signal of the end of death-as-the-end. Never again will death have the last word. When Jesus died, he took sin down with him, but alive he brings God down to us” (Rom. 6:5–9 MSG).

From When Christ ComesCopyright (W Publishing Group, 1999) Max Lucado

Please Pray again...

I am asking for your fervent prayers for the Phillips family again. They are the family that had the twins extremely premature. Last night, the girl, Jade, passed way and that leave Kanyon the boy still fighting for his life. He is so small and fragile. Please pray that God will allow him to survive and for peace and understanding for the parents, Jaymie and Kory. They are incredible folks and we love them tremdously!

Please Lord hold Kanyon's hand and pull him through!!!

I will speak to you in your language... Max Lucado

Pilate wrote a sign and put it on the cross.

It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. John 19:19

The framer of our destiny is familiar with our denseness. God knows we sometimes miss the signs. Maybe that’s why he has given us so many. The rainbow after the flood signifies God’s covenant. Circumcision identifies God’s chosen, and the stars portray the size of his family. Even today, we see signs in the New Testament church. Communion is a sign of his death, and baptism is a sign of our spiritual birth. Each of these signs symbolizes a greater spiritual truth.The most poignant sign, however, was found on the cross. A trilingual, hand-painted, Roman-commissioned sign.

Every passerby could read the sign, for every passerby could read Hebrew, Latin, or Greek—the three great languages of the ancient world. “Hebrew was the language of Israel, the language of religion; Latin the language of the Romans, the language of law and government; and Greek the language of Greece, the language of culture. Christ was declared king in them all.” God had a message for each. “Christ is king.” The message was the same, but the languages were different. Since Jesus was a king for all people, the message would be in the tongues of all people.

There is no language God will not speak. Which leads us to a delightful question. What language is he speaking to you? I’m not referring to an idiom or dialect but to the day-to-day drama of your life. God does speak, you know. He speaks to us in whatever language we will understand.

There are times he speaks the “language of abundance.” Is your tummy full? Are your bills paid? Got a little jingle in your pocket? Don’t be so proud of what you have that you miss what you need to hear.

Are you hearing the “language of need”? Or how about the “language of affliction”? Talk about an idiom we avoid. But you and I both know how clearly God speaks in hospital hallways and sickbeds.

God speaks all languages—including yours. Has he not said, “I will ... teach you in the way you should go” (Ps. 32:8 NIV)? Are we not urged to “receive instruction from His mouth” (Job 22:22 NASB)? What language is God speaking to you?

And aren’t you glad he is speaking? Aren’t you grateful that he cares enough to talk? Isn’t it good to know that “the LORD tells his secrets to those who respect him” (Ps. 25:14)?

Think a word of thanks to him would be appropriate? And while you’re at it, ask him if you might be missing any signs he is sending your way.

From He Chose the NailsCopyright (W Publishing Group, 2001) Max Lucado

Prayer Request... Urgent!!!

I wanted to ask for your prayers for some family friends of mine Kory and Jaymie. They were supposed to have twins in July and last night Jaymie gave birth to both. They are extremely small and will be evaluated more as the day goes on. This is a very difficult situation as you can imagine. Please lift them up in your prayers! thanks so much.

STP, an IronMan

IronMen Campout set

We have set a date for our second IronMen "Get Out and Grow" Campout. This will take place May 4-5. We will meet at the church Friday, the 4th, in the afternoon. We will drive to Stephenville to eat dinner at Hard 8 Bar-B-Que. After a great filling dinner, we will drive to Bent Tree Ranch where we will have some devotional time and some quiet time in the country. Then, in the morning, we will rise early to greet the sun and share in the beauty of a country sunrise. Saturday will be filled with devotional time and fun activities.

Please make plans to attend this event, it is going to be great! We have a guest speaker lined up and I know that you will love him. His name is Kenny Lybrand and he has some great things lined up to share with us.

If you have any questions, please let me know. My email address is stp@pmiair.com.

PLD
STP, an IronMan

Words of Wisdom

Every year Kelli's grandparents give me a desktop "Life's Little Instruction Calender." As I remember to rip off the daily message, I keep the ones that are significant and look through them time to time. I found a couple that are pretty wise and I want to share them with you.
1) You can't make good deals with bad people.
2) Don't forget that contentment is the greatest wealth.
3) Remember, the direction of your life is more important than its speed.
4) Children, marriages, and flower gardens reflect the kind of care they get.
5) Spoil your spouse, not your children.
6) If you save money even on a little income, your success is almost assured.

Number three is the thought that I need to remember as I live day to day. I wonder how different my life would be if I actually follower these six instructions?

Ironmen softball started on Monday and we started off with a bang. Well, not quite! We lost our first two games. It seems that we always have a tough first week every season. Although we lost the game we won the battle in the end. We have been playing for several years now and we do not have to ask the other team to pray with us. They know that no matter the outcome we will meet on the pitchers mound and Pray. If you read this e-mail and want to be a part of Ironmen softball you are welcome to join the team!

Hope you all have a blessed week,
Lane Ladewig
*An Ironman*

Work day at Blanca's house

Well, we had a successful workday at Blanca's house. Blanca is a great woman that was in need of some repairs and fixing up on her house. You see, Blanca is now a widow as her husband died around Thanksgiving from cancer. He was the main financial source for the family and therefore she cannot afford her house anymore. In order to sell her house, she needed to do some fixing up so that it would have a better chance of selling.

This is where the IronMen came in.

We were able to raise money for our supplies and we also had $277 left over to give Blanca as a cash gift. We painted 3 rooms, the hallway and kitchen. We repaired the vent-a-hood with some excellent carpentry work. Thanks to Green Works landscape, we leveled the area around the foundation and added some sod. Wow, it looks so much better. Check out these pics:

Lose my Soul...by Toby Mac

I love this song and the words are great:

Father God I am clay in your hands
Help me to stay that way through all life’s demands
Cause they chip and they nag and pull at me
And everything I make up in my mind to be
Like I’m going to be a daddy that’s in the mix
And I’m going to be a husband that stays legit
And I pray that I’m an artist that rises above
The road that is wide and filled with self love
Every thing that I see draws me
Though it’s only in you that I can truly see
That it’s a feast full eyes and a low blow to purpose
And I’m a little kid at a three ring circus

I don’t want to gain the whole world and lose my soul

The paparazzi flashes and they think that it’s you
But they don’t know that who you are is not what you do
We get it twisted when we peek at the charts
You know before we part from the start where’s your heart
You a pimp, a hustler. What’s your title?
America has normal stars, we call them idols
While we teach prosperity, the first thing that should prosper is inside of me
Never because number 22 is on the range
But Christ can arrange and we say yes and now we change
Never the same, even though I fall
Since I got that call, no more Saul, now I’m Paul

How do I sense the tide is rising?
Desensitizing me from
Living in the light of eternity
How do I sense the tide is rising?
Hypnotizing me from
Living in the light of eternity

Lord forgive us when we get consumed
By the things of this world that fight for our love and our passion
As our eyes are open wide and on you
Grant us the privilege of your love
And may your kingdom be what wakes us up and lays us down

STP, an IronMan

Amazing Grace ... Frank Morris

An historical film soon to be released, Friday Feb. 23, about John Newton's Amazing Grace should be a must see by all of us. Newton was an especially bad person whose life was changed by God's word and then wrote a hymn that is know in every language in the world. I believe Amazing Grace will be a very inspirational movie.

Frank Morris, an IronMan

You have captured God's heart... by Max Lucado

Just look at the gifts he has given you: He has sent his angels to care for you, his Holy Spirit to dwell in you, his church to encourage you, and his word to guide you. You have privileges only a fiancée could have. Anytime you speak, he listens; make a request and he responds. He will never let you be tempted too much or stumble too far. Let a tear appear on your cheek, and he is there to wipe it. Let a love sonnet appear on your lips, and he is there to hear it. As much as you want to see him, he wants to see you more.

He is building a house for you. And with every swing of the hammer and cut of the saw, he’s dreaming of the day he carries you over the threshold. “There are many rooms in my Father’s house; I would not tell you this if it were not true. I am going there to prepare a place for you. After I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me so that you may be where I am” (John 14:2–3).

You have been chosen by Christ. You are released from your old life in your old house, and he has claimed you as his beloved. “Then where is he?” you might ask. “Why hasn’t he come?”
There is only one answer. His bride is not ready. She is still being prepared.

Engaged people are obsessed with preparation. The right dress. The right weight. The right hair and the right tux. They want everything to be right. Why? So their fiancée will marry them? No. Just the opposite. They want to look their best because their fiancée is marrying them.

The same is true for us. We want to look our best for Christ. We want our hearts to be pure and our thoughts to be clean. We want our faces to shine with grace and our eyes to sparkle with love. We want to be prepared.

Why? In hopes that he will love us? No. Just the opposite. Because he already does.

You are spoken for. You are engaged, set apart, called out, a holy bride. Forbidden waters hold nothing for you. You have been chosen for his castle. Don’t settle for one-night stands in the arms of a stranger.

Be obsessed with your wedding date. Guard against forgetfulness. Be intolerant of memory lapses. Write yourself notes. Memorize verses. Do whatever you need to do to remember. “Aim at what is in heaven . . . Think only about the things in heaven” (Col. 3:1–2). You are engaged to royalty, and your Prince is coming to take you home.

From When Christ Comes Copyright 1999, Max Lucado

Workday at Blanca's house - This Saturday the 17th

More update on the workday at Blanca’s house.

1. The workday is not just for men, women are more than welcome. We really could use some women expertise on this project.
2. We have quiet a few people donating money and that is great, we still need some more!!!
3. Most importantly, WE NEED VOLUNTEERS!!! I only have 5 people (counting myself) that have committed to helping. PLEASE, PLEASE let me know if you can come. I believe we have more folks that can come but just have not let me know yet. If we truly only have 5 people in the church that can help, I will probably have to reschedule it. The work will consist of painting, minor repairs and yard work. Again, PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU CAN COME.
4. We will meet at the church at 7am to caravan to Blanca’s house in Garland. If you cannot meet us at church but do want to help, let me know and I can give you directions.

Blanca is so excited that someone wants to help her, let’s not let her down! Thanks for your help!!!

STP, an IronMan

Colossians 3:1 ff ... the Message

"So if you're serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ persides. Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ - that's where the action is. See things from His perspective.
Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life - even though invisible to spectators - is with Christ in God. He is your life. When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you'll show up, too - the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ.
And that means killing off everything connected with that way of death: sexual promiscuity, impurity, lust, doing whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it, and grabbing whatever attacts your fancy. That's a life shaped by things and feeling instead of by God."

How are you doing in your life? What things do you need to "kill off"? I know I struggle with this section of scripture because it is so easy to life for now and be pleasing to myself now. I often forget to focus on things that are from above and I spent to much time focusing on things of this earth that lead to death! Wow. That is a strong statement!

Let's focus today (one day at a time) on "killing off" the things of this world that lead to death!

Stay Strong -
STP, an IronMan

Psalms 1:3 ERV

This is talking about the wise:

"So they grow strong, like a tree planted by a stream-
a tree that produces fruit when it should
and has leaves that never fall.
Everthing they do is successful."

Let these words fall over you today!

P.S. Thank the Lord for men like Tony Dungy, the Colts head coach. He is a true warrior and does it "The Lord's Way!"

Stunned by His Grace... by Max Lucado

I was mulling over a recent conversation I had with a disenchanted Christian brother. He was upset with me. So upset that he was considering rescinding his invitation for me to speak to his group. Seems he’d heard I was pretty open about who I have fellowship with. He’d read the words I wrote: “If God calls a person his child, shouldn’t I call him my brother?” And, “If God accepts others with their errors and misinterpretations, shouldn’t we?"

He didn’t like that. “Carrying it a bit too far,” he told me. “Fences are necessary,” he explained. “Scriptures are clear on such matters.” He read me a few and then urged me to be careful to whom I give grace.

“I don’t give it,” I assured. “I only spotlight where God already has.”Later I had a great thought. A why-didn’t-I-think-to-say-that? insight.

If the subject resurfaces, I’ll say it. But in case it doesn’t, I’ll say it to you. (It’s too good to waste.) Just one sentence:

I’ve never been surprised by God’s judgment, but I’m still stunned by his grace.

Story after story. Prayer after prayer. Surprise after surprise.

Seems that God is looking more for ways to get us home than for ways to keep us out. I challenge you to find one soul who came to God seeking grace and did not find it. Search the pages. Read the stories. Envision the encounters. Find one person who came seeking a second chance and left with a stern lecture. I dare you. Search.

You won’t find it.

Seems to me God gives a lot more grace than we’d ever imagine.

We could do the same.

I’m not for watering down the truth or compromising the gospel. But if a fellow with a pure heart calls God Father, can’t I call that same man Brother? If God doesn’t make doctrinal perfection a requirement for family membership, should I?

And if we never agree, can’t we agree to disagree? If God can tolerate my mistakes, can’t I tolerate the mistakes of others? If God can overlook my errors, can’t I overlook the errors of others? If God allows me with my foibles and failures to call him Father, shouldn’t I extend the same grace to others?

One thing’s for sure. When we get to heaven, we’ll be surprised at some of the folks we see. And some of them will be surprised to see us.

Max Lucado

Trimming and Prunning... John 15

John 15: 2 ERV
"He cuts off every branch of mine that does not produce fruit. He also trims every branch that produces fruit to prepeare it to produce even more."

How much yard work do you do? Did you realize that God is the master gardener! Where are you in respect to this verse?

I have a hard time understanding it, I must say. I don't know what to do with the first part and can't understand the second part. I feel the prunning process in my life at different times. I feel that the Lord allows me to go through things so that I will learn and grow. However, there are many times where I wish there was a different way to learn those lessons. I trust that God has a plan and the he know the way that I need to be prunned.

How does this verse hit you? Let me know your thoughts!!!

Stay Strong, PLD
STP, an IronMan

The Touch of God...by Max Lucado

In Scripture the leper is symbolic of the ultimate outcast: infected by a condition he did not seek, rejected by those he knew, avoided by people he did not know, condemned to a future he could not bear. And in the memory of each outcast must have been the day he was forced to face the truth: life would never be the same.

The banishing of a leper seems harsh, unnecessary. The Ancient East hasn’t been the only culture to isolate their wounded, however. We may not build colonies or cover our mouths in their presence, but we certainly build walls and duck our eyes. And a person needn’t have leprosy to feel quarantined.

The divorced know this feeling. So do the handicapped. The unemployed have felt it, as have the less educated. Some shun unmarried moms. We keep our distance from the depressed and avoid the terminally ill. We have neighborhoods for immigrants, convalescent homes for the elderly, schools for the simple, centers for the addicted, and prisons for the criminals.
The rest simply try to get away from it all. Only God knows how many individuals are living quiet, lonely lives infected by their fear of rejection and their memories of the last time they tried. They choose not to be touched at all rather than risk being hurt again.

Some of you have the master touch of the Physician himself. You use your hands to pray over the sick and minister to the weak. If you aren’t touching them personally, your hands are writing letters, dialing phones, baking pies. You have learned the power of a touch.

But others of us tend to forget. Our hearts are good; it’s just that our memories are bad. We forget how significant one touch can be. We fear saying the wrong thing or using the wrong tone or acting the wrong way. So rather than do it incorrectly, we do nothing at all.

Aren’t we glad Jesus didn’t make the same mistake? If your fear of doing the wrong thing prevents you from doing anything, keep in mind the perspective of the lepers of the world. They aren’t picky. They aren’t finicky. They’re just lonely. They are yearning for a godly touch.
Jesus touched the untouchables of the world. Will you do the same?

From Just Like Jesus Copyright 1998, Max Lucado

Wow, Amazing

Isn't it amazing that the God we serve, the creator of the universe, the Infinite and Almighty, came to this earth in the form of man and in John 13 humbled himself to wash the Apostles feet! What an amazing thing. We can't really relate to this physical act of service because our culture is so different than theirs. This was the job for the lowest slave! Jesus humbled himself to the lowest position possible to engage in this activity. That blows me away!

God himself washed their feet!

And then he asks them: "Do you understand what I have done for you?"

They might have a little clearer understanding since foot washing was something that was done in that day, but not by Jesus, God himself!

In chapter 12, Jesus tells them if they are going to serve him, they must follow him. That is tough. They must be thinking, "We have to do this for others?" Yes, Jesus followed up the washing of their feet with the statement, "Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet." You know that would radically change their thought process; much like many things Jesus taught them changed their thought process.

Why do you believe in Christ? Because he did things like this. "He showed them the full extent of his love!" 13:1

This story is amazing!

Stay Strong, PLD

STP, an IronMan