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

Let It Fade ... a song by Jeremy Camp

Let this wash over you today and see how it hits you:

Have you been walking on a surface that's uncertain?
Have you helped yourself to everything that's empty?
You can't live this way too long.
There's more than this, more than this.

Have you been standing on your own feet too long?
Have you been looking for a place where you belong?
You can rest, you will find rest!

Let this old life crumble, let it fade.
Let this new life offered be your saving grace.
Let this old life crumble, let it fade, let it fade.

Have you been holding on to what this world had offered?
Have you been giving in to all these maqueradees?
It will be gone, It will be gone.
Are you carrying the weight too much, are you running from the call?

Acts 4:13

"When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus."

Wow! I pray that as we go throughout our day, others might say the same about you and I. We may not have the opporunity that the apostles did of seeing Jesus physically and following him for 3 years, but we do have a chance at any moment to spend time with him. Let's spend some time with Jesus today!!!

Stay strong and TRUE! PLD!

STP, an IronMan

Update on Christmas Wish opportunity

IronMen, just a reminder and some more info on Blanca Alfaro, the lady we are going to help this holiday season. We really need two things if you can help:

1. Money is good or Home Depot gift cards so that we can get supplies for the work we are going to do on the house.
2. Time if you can help. We are going to go to her house after Christmas (day and time to be determined) and work on fixing up the place.

Please think about these two things and see how you can help. The basic things we will be working on at her house are:
1. Misc painting
2. Fixing some tile
3. Pressure washing outside of house
4. Misc small projects

These are things that i know of right now that might change. She is needing to sell her house because she cannot afford it anymore. I will get you more info later, but if you can help financially, please do so asap. thanks so much.

Stay Strong, PLD

STP, an IronMan

Service idea

IronMen, here is something i want you to be thinking about. I contacted KLTY and their Christmas Wish program to see if I could find a family that we as IronMen could help this holiday season. I have found one that I think is going to work out great! Please be in prayer about this and I will give you more info very soon. I don't want to give all the info right now because i have not confirmed it yet. So, just pray about it and maybe later today or tomorrow I can give you more info. Thanks men!

STP, and IronMan

A Thought on Prayer... from "Prayer" by Phillip Yancey

This is an excerpt from the book "Prayer" by Phillip Yancey and I thought you might enjoy this as it really put authentic prayer into focus for me:

I was teaching a class at a church in Chicago when a young woman raised her hand with a question. I knew her as a shy, conscientious student who attended faithfully but never spoke. The rest of the class seemed suprised as well and listened attentively. "I'm not always sincere when I pray," she began. "Sometimes it seems forced, more like a ritual. I'm just repeating words. Does God hear those prayers? Should I keep going even though I have no confidence that I'm doing it right?"

I let the silence hang in the room for a moment before attempting an answer. "Do you notice how quiet it is in here?" I said. "We all sense your honesty. It took courage for you to be vulnerable, and you touched a nerve with others of us in the room. You seem sincere, unlike a salesman, say, who gets paid to give a spiel. We're tuned in, listening, respectful, because you are being authintic. And I imagine it's the same with God. More than anyting else, God wants your autintic self."

And a couple of other quotes from the same chapter:

Prayer makes room for the unspeakable.

In truth, what I think and feel as I pray, rather than the words I speak, may be the real prayer, for God "hears" that too. (Reference Psalms 139:4,7-8)

Unless I level with God, our relationship will go nowhere.

"We must lay before Him what is in us, not what ought to be in us." (C.S. Lewis) In other words, we must trust God with what God already knows.

Stay Strong, PLD
STP, an IronMan

Seeking the Savior - Max Lucado

Simeon said, “Can I stay alive until I see him?”

The Magi said, “Saddle up the camels. We aren’t stopping until we find him.”

The shepherds said, “Let’s go…. Let’s see.”

They wanted the Savior. They wanted to see Jesus.

They were earnest in their search. One translation renders Hebrews 11:6: “God … rewards those who earnestly seek him” (NIV, italics mine).
Another reads: “God rewards those who search for him” (PHILLIPS, italics mine).
And another: “God … rewards those who sincerely look for him” (TLB, italics mine).
I like the King James translation: “He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (italics mine).

Diligently—what a great word. Be diligent in your search. Be hungry in your quest, relentless in your pilgrimage. Let this book be but one of dozens you read about Jesus and this hour be but one of hundreds in which you seek him. Step away from the puny pursuits of possessions and positions, and seek your king.

Don’t be satisfied with angels. Don’t be content with stars in the sky. Seek him out as the shepherds did. Long for him as Simeon did. Worship him as the wise men did. Do as John and Andrew did: ask for his address. Do as Matthew: invite Jesus into your house. Imitate Zacchaeus. Risk whatever it takes to see Christ.

God rewards those who seek him. Not those who seek doctrine or religion or systems or creeds. Many settle for these lesser passions, but the reward goes to those who settle for nothing less than Jesus himself. And what is the reward? What awaits those who seek Jesus? Nothing short of the heart of Jesus. “And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him” (2 Cor. 3:18 TLB).

Can you think of a greater gift than to be like Jesus? Christ felt no guilt; God wants to banish yours. Jesus had no bad habits; God wants to remove yours. Jesus had no fear of death; God wants you to be fearless. Jesus had kindness for the diseased and mercy for the rebellious and courage for the challenges. God wants you to have the same.
He loves you just the way you are, but he refuses to leave you that way. He wants you to be just like Jesus.

From Just Like JesusCopyright 1998, Max Lucado

Enjoy the moments

Question: How do you learn to appreciate the different stages of your life?

This is a questions that has been haunting me lately. I am trying to understand this concept as my life seems frazzled presently. My kids are going through some interesting stages, they are sick with seasonal illenesses, work is very busy and oftentimes difficult to understand, we have a new business that Paige and I have started and that has some normal concerns, I don't seem to have the time to spend on IronMen that I desire and the list goes on. I know there are good and difficult things to each of these circumstances and my human nature is to focus on the "difficult". I know this is the mind games the devil plays in our heads.

Lots of times, your thoughts go to extremes during stressful moments. Example: Your work gets you down and you instantly think about changing jobs, your commute is long and traffic is traffic so you think about moving asap, etc.... Why do we do this? Why can't we learn to appreciate the things we go through for what they are? We are not promised a simple, easy life. We know that the life of a Christian is going to be hard and those are the time that we grow so much. After all, once this day is gone, it's gone! And really how bad are things? Probably not as much as we make them out to be.

Being Positive! What a concept and what a difficult thing to focus on. It is so much easier to focus on the negative side of things. We must go through the valleys to get to the mountaintops. Have you heard the Third Day song "Mountain of God"? This song describes it perfectly and here are the lyrics:

Thought that i was all alone,
Broken and afraid,
But you are there with me,
Yes you are there with me,
And I didn't even know
That i has lost my way,
But you are there with me,
Yes you are there with me
Till you opened up my eyes i never knew
That i couldn't ever make it without you
(Chorus):
Even though the journeys long
And the road is hard
With the one that has gone before me
You will help me carry on
And after all that I've been through
Still I realize the truth
That I must go through the valley
To stand on the mountain of God
As I travel on the road
That you have led me down
You are here with me
Yes, you are here with me
I have need for nothing more
Now that I have found that you are here with me
Yes you are here with me
I confess from time to time
I lose my way
But you are always there to bring me back again
(Chorus again)

Here are the comments from Tai Anderson, the Bass Guitarist from Third Day about this song:

We've all had those mountaintop experiences. You feel so close to God. You can see for miles. Vision galore. Then life happens, the valley, the struggles. We often think that the valley is a consequence for the sin of our life. But, maybe it's just our life. We're all promised struggle. We all experience suffering. The hope that we have is wonderfully expressed in this song. "You were there with me." We don't have to go through the inevitable trials of life on our own.

Stay Strong, PLD!
STP, an IronMan

Dealing with difficult relatives - Max Lucado

Does Jesus have anything to say about dealing with difficult relatives? Is there an example of Jesus bringing peace to a painful family? Yes, there is.
His own.
It may surprise you to know that Jesus had a difficult family. If your family doesn’t appreciate you, take heart, neither did Jesus’.
“His family … went to get him because they thought he was out of his mind” (Mark 3:21).
Jesus’ siblings thought their brother was a lunatic. They weren’t proud—they were embarrassed!
It’s worth noting that he didn’t try to control his family’s behavior, nor did he let their behavior control his. He didn’t demand that they agree with him. He didn’t sulk when they insulted him. He didn’t make it his mission to try to please them.
Each of us has a fantasy that our family will be like the Waltons, an expectation that our dearest friends will be our next of kin. Jesus didn’t have that expectation. Look how he defined his family: “My true brother and sister and mother are those who do what God wants” (Mark 3:35).
When Jesus’ brothers didn’t share his convictions, he didn’t try to force them. He recognized that his spiritual family could provide what his physical family didn’t. If Jesus himself couldn’t force his family to share his convictions, what makes you think you can force yours?
Having your family’s approval is desirable but not necessary for happiness and not always possible. Jesus did not let the difficult dynamic of his family overshadow his call from God. And because he didn’t, this chapter has a happy ending.
What happened to Jesus’ family?
Mine with me a golden nugget hidden in a vein of the Book of Acts. “Then went back to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives.… They all continued praying together with some women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and Jesus’ brothers” (Acts 1:12, 14, emphasis added).
What a change! The ones who mocked him now worship him. The ones who pitied him now pray for him. What if Jesus had disowned them? Or worse still, what if he’d suffocated his family with his demand for change?
He didn’t. He instead gave them space, time, and grace. And because he did, they changed. How much did they change? One brother became an apostle (Gal. 1:19) and others became missionaries (1 Cor. 9:5).
So don’t lose heart. God still changes families.

Two Fathers, Two Feasts - Max Lucado

Two Fathers, Two Feasts by Max Lucado The following is an excerpt from In the Eye of the Storm.Download Chapter 12 of In the Eye of the Storm to read even more.
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. The fact that my pilgrims were all under the age of seven only enriched my learning experience.
As minutes rolled into hours and our car rolled through the hills, I began to realize that what I was saying to my kids had a familiar ring. I had heard it before—from God. All of a sudden, the car became a classroom. I realized that I was doing for a few hours what God has done for centuries: encouraging travelers who’d rather rest than ride.
I shared the idea with Denalyn. We began to discover similarities between the two journeys. Here are a few we noted.
In order to reach the destination, we have to say no to some requests.
Children have no concept of minutes or miles.
Children can’t envision the reward.
It’s worth it.
As we sat around the table today, no one spoke of the long trip to get here. Yesterday’s challenges were lost in today’s joy.
That’s what Paul meant. 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.

Random Thougths - Stacey Pearson

1. Have you seen the movie "The 5 People you meet in heaven"? this is a great movie based on the book by Mitch Albom. Paige and I have watched it twice now and we both are intrigued by it. I don't know what heaven will be like for sure (see the latest newsletter by Joel for more on this), but this movie put and interesting take on it. This is one idea of what i may be like. In the extras, Mitch is interviewed and he does not tell you exactly what his faith is and what he believes, but he definitely believes in God and heaven. You should rent this movie and see what thoughts come to you. You might be amazed!

2. Paige and I got to go on a vacation this past week. We went to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Wow! How amazing it was. Beauty like I've never seen before. You see, i have not had much experience on the beach, so i am somewhat of a rookie. This was a great experience for me and we had lots of fun. In the midst of all the fun, reality set in. Paige's stepfather died on Saturday and we got ahold of Paige's mom on Sunday morning (right before we were leaving) and found out. What a change of emotion. Though this world is so beautiful, it is not our home and we are just passing through. Paige and i went from a feeling of celebration to a keen sense of reality real quick. Please keep Paige's mother in your prayers. She is a wonderful woman and has so much on her plate!

3. Back to work. Why is it so difficult to get back in the swing of things. I was only gone for 4 days and now that i am back, i feel so lost. It was a great break and much needed.

4. Service. Let's work on opportunities to serve others this holiday season. I am working on some organized efforts for the IronMen as a group, but please think about the little things you can do every day to serve others. After all, that was Jesus' M O.

5. Next IronMen breakfast is Dec. 2 at LCCOC, 7:30 to 8:30am. Bob McKinnon will be leading us. Last time Ken Boggs led us and did a great job. Thanks Ken!

STP
Stay strong, PLD

Bring the Rain - Mercy Me

Read the words of this song, it is amazing. This is on the newest Mercy Me CD. I highly suggest it!

I can count a million times
People asking me why
I can praise you, with all that I’ve gone through

The question just amazes me
Could circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You

Maybe since my life has changed
Long before these rainy days
It’s never really ever crossed my mind

To turn my back on you O’ Lord
My only shelter from the storm
But instead, I draw closer through these times

So I pray…
Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings you glory
I know there’ll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that’s what it takes to praise you
Jesus bring the rain!

I am yours regardless of
The clouds that may loom above
Because you are much greater than the pain

You who made a way for me
By suffering your destiny
Should tell me, “What’s a little rain”

So I pray…
Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings you glory
I know there’ll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that’s what it takes to praise you
Jesus bring the rain!

Holy, Holy, Holy, Holy, Holy, Holy,Is the Lord God Almighty, Is the Lord God Almighty

Just a little info - Alan Phillips

Oh great world of Blog … Greetings!

Those who know me know that global missions runs rather freely in my veins. I was the child of missionary parents where I grew up in Perth, Australia. Later in high school when we moved to Oklahoma from the other side of earth, we used to have missionaries come stay in our home quite frequently. Now in my ‘advanced years’ (no need for “Amens”), I have come full circle. Following my college years and then a couple of decades of work in higher education administration and consulting, I now work with a missions ministry called, Missions Resource Network, here in the Dallas metroplex. I also serve on the missions team of the Lake Cities Church, as our church strives to make a difference in people’s lives, both locally and globally.

I grew up going to church three times a week, memorizing scripture, hearing lots of sermons, going to Bible class and VBS, attending Christian College lectureships, and “Gospel Meetings”, and eventually graduating from a Christian University. What I learned most about what Christianity has to offer, however, I observed from my parents and from other selfless ‘soldout’ followers of Christ. As a child and teenager, I watched my parents give of themselves in extraordinary ways. They served others as people had need without partiality for status and without judgment … the physically poor and the spiritually poor. They shared their joy-filled lives (and still do) with anyone and everyone, for they saw (and see) each contact with someone an opportunity to reflect the selfless love of Jesus. By the standards of the world my family didn’t have much, but in reality we had everything!

In reflection I’m reminded that you and I are called to be ‘missionaries’. Self was nailed to a cross. Our identities as Christ-followers are not tied up in our pedigree, where we went to college, where we live, our family makeup, our careers, our portfolios, nor our church affiliation. God’s calling is personal. I pray that in humility I will consider others greater than myself. I pray that His power be at work within me, because I can’t do it alone. I pray that people will not see me, but rather that they see Jesus who lives within me. I pray that as iron sharpens iron, we might sharpen each other in His service. And not because of anything that I’ve done, but rather because of my debt that Jesus paid, I proudly claim to be His missionary!

Alan Phillips - an IronMan

Forever Young - Max Lucado

"Whoever tries to keep his life safe will lose it, and the man who is prepared to lose his life will preserve it."LUKE 17:33 (PHILLIPS)
“There are two ways to view life,” Jesus is saying, “those who protect it or those who pursue it. The wisest are not the ones with the most years in their lives, but the most life in their years.”
What Annie Dillard says about writing in The Writing Life is true about life: “One of the few things I know about writing is this: spend it all, play it, lose it all, right away, every time. Do not hoard what seems good for a later place in the book, or for another book; give it, give it all, give it now.”
There is a rawness and a wonder to life. Pursue it. Hunt for it. Sell out to get it. Don’t listen to the whines of those who have settled for a second-rate life and want you to do the same so they won’t feel guilty. Your goal is not to live long; it’s to live.
Jesus says the options are clear. On one side there is the voice of safety. You can build a fire in the hearth, stay inside, and stay warm and dry and safe. You can’t get hurt if you never get out, right? You can’t be criticized for what you don’t try, right? You can’t fall if you don’t take a stand, right? You can’t lose your balance if you never climb, right? So, don’t try it. Take the safe route.
Or you can hear the voice of adventure—God’s adventure. Instead of building a fire in your hearth, build a fire in your heart. Follow God’s impulses. Adopt the child. Move overseas. Teach the class. Change careers. Run for office. Make a difference. Sure it isn’t safe, but what is?
You think staying inside out of the cold is safe? Jesus disagrees. “Whoever tries to keep his life safe will lose it.” I like the words of General Douglas MacArthur when he was seventy-eight: “Nobody grows old by merely living a number of years. People grow old by deserting their ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up interest wrinkles the soul.”

From He Still Moves StonesCopyright 1995, Max Lucado

Thought for the Day - Gary Williams

"Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love." (1 Corinthians 16:13-14)

Paul can say a lot in a few words.

Gary Williams - an IronMan

From Cary Chisholm

Hey IronMen. Sorry I haven’t been around much, but I’m now doing my rotations for medical school, so unfortunately my schedule is awful. Before I share my thoughts, I just want to ask for prayers for Leann and me. We are not having problems, and I would like to keep it that way while I’m spending so much time at the hospital. The only way to do that is with God’s help during this time (and even not during this time of course).

So this last Saturday I had my first patient die. Well, he wasn’t my patient, but I was on call that night so he was mine by default. About six in the morning my pager went off and woke me up in the call room. I slipped on my shoes (no socks or tying the laces…dying people don’t like to wait for those things) and ran down the hall with the other 4 people on call. We are the code team on our on-call nights, so when a code blue is called, we all get paged. As we arrived on the 13th floor, the nurses had already started CPR and the man’s family was in the hall. Ahmad and I rotated doing chest compressions while our residents ran the code. We got a heart rhythm back briefly after about 20 minutes of CPR, but we lost it again when we tried to move his bed down the hall to go to the ICU. After another 10 minutes of CPR, the man’s family wanted us to stop, because they realized that their husband/father was gone. 30 total minutes of CPR, 2 or 3 episodes of shocking him, and using 2 crash carts of medicine weren’t enough to bring this guy back. Granted, he wasn’t expected to live much longer anyway. He was already in kidney failure and just had heart bypass surgery. In spite of those things, using the best technology and latest research guidelines weren’t enough. Our best effort wasn’t enough. It was just his time to go.

Then there are those crazy stories on the news. You know, where a guy dies because he somehow manages to drive his car into a second story apartment (true story). People get struck by lightening when there are no rain clouds. Young athletes die while playing basketball during a high school or college game. People get attacked by sharks in fresh water. People who smoke, drink, and do drugs sometimes manage to live into very old age without being sick, while those of us who take care of ourselves sometimes die young or live into old age in terrible health. The fact is, sometimes, it’s just our time to go. Our entrance into the next life is not controlled by us: Nothing we can do can help us. Exercise, eating right, taking the right vitamins, going to the doctor regularly, not drinking and driving, avoiding drugs…they can’t keep you alive when God has called you home. I guess what I’m trying to say is that we have only a limited time here on earth.

What is on my heart this week is that each of us take time each day to value and love our wives, children, parents, and friends, because none of us knows when God will call us home. For me, it entails spending the first 2-3 hours of each day with Leann when I get home from the hospital before I study. Even though I am losing a lot of study time by doing so, God has blessed me in my schooling, I believe, in part because I have kept my wife as a priority over school. Even though sometimes we feel that giving up extra time each day to spend with our families may hurt us in other areas, God will bless your prioritizing, and He will bless those activities that you give up. For some it’s studying, for others it’s work that they bring home from the office, for others it’s TV or movies or sports, and for others it’s (fill in the blank). The point is, we all are busy. We all have other things to do when we get home. Sometimes we all want a break away from wives and kids. Just don’t move them down on your priority list. Make sure that each night as you go to bed, you have no doubt that you did everything you could that day to let your family know you love them. You never know when you will not have another day to do so.

Cary Chisholm - an IronMan

Rewards - Stacey Pearson

Matt 6:1 "Be careful not to do your "acts of righteousness" before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven."
Matt 6:4 "then your Father, who sees what is done in secret. will reward you."

Where is my heart? Is my heart and motive pure?

This is a question that I must continually ask myself and we should all ask ourselves. It is very tricky for me because I know that in many situations I may have the best intentions, but Satan can sneak in an twist my motives during the situation. Before I know it, I am looking for praise from others. What a battle! This seems so simple, but in the moment I seem vulenerable because I am doing "something good". I must continually check myself and keep my guard up.

What is the reward? How does God reward us? How does God work in our lives?

I am amazed at this thought: God loves us so much that he wants to reward us! Who knows exactly what the reward is, whether it is based on ability to have a relationship with the Creator or it is specifically talking about rewards you will receive in heaven. Either way, that is amazing to me. God's love is so rich and so multifaceted! I am so encourage that he wants to reward us.

With my son, I often tell him to do something and he will ask me, "Why daddy?" I will reply with the traditional, "Because I told you too, just do it." God does not tell us that. He wants us to follow him and live accordingly because he wants to reward us. WOW!

We also know that when we fail, God does not leave us and that just makes it even more amazing!

Just some thoughts for today! IronMen, stay stong and PLD!!!

STP