Notes About Bitterness
Here’s a very brief excerpt of the message notes from the September 14, 2008 message on BITTERNESS:
Perhaps they will be a help to you or a friend you have. Remember, ALL THINGS are POSSIBLE with God!
Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. Heb 12:14-15
BITTER PEOPLE
1) Justify their bitterness.
2) Become overly critical.
3) Secretly celebrate misfortunes.
4) Write-off entire groups of people.
5) Struggle to see bitterness in the mirror.
Question: WITH WHOM OR WHAT WHAT ARE YOU BITTER?
HOW DO YOU KILL THE ROOT OF BITTERNESS?
Pull the roots . . .
KILL BITTERNESS WITH FORGIVENESS.
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Eph 4:31-32
Amazing 911 Photos of Twin Towers and Seven Years Since
Wow! Boston.com has some dramatic photos that depict “Seven Years Since” 911. Here’s just one of them:
Repost of Where Were You When 9-11 Started … in memory of those lost …
I remember it like it was yesterday, not like it was 6 years ago.
I got up early here on the West Coast and a few minutes before 6 heard the report on the local radio, KCBS, that a plane had crashed into one of the World Trade Towers.
I have been fascinated by those towers since 1976 when my family took that very rapid elevator to the top. We actually got to go out onto the roof at least until they called us back in because of high winds.
On 9-11-2001 I hurried upstairs and grabbed a video tape, tuned into a cable news channel and recorded hours and hours of what would be seared into my mind until I die. The other incredible thing is that my son, who wasn’t to wake up for school for another hour was up and asked if something was wrong!
I told him what I knew and said that I believed we were watching history unfold! While I was explaining my thoughts about a clear day and a passenger jet crashing into a known landmark, we actually saw the second plane fly into the 2nd tower. It was chilling as you all know.
The other crazy thing about that day was what my wife was going through. She was 650 miles away on business and was waiting to go to the airport to catch her flight back home. Well, obviously, because of the grounding of all flights she was stranded!
Instead of taking her rental car back to the airport, she drove all the way to the San Francisco Bay Area … it took her about 11 hours. And when she finally pulled into the driveway and came into the house she hadn’t seen even one picture or video of what had been happening. She was listening on the radio, but hadn’t stopped long enough to really see what we all observed.
Those images, faces, chaos, Rudy, the President, and all the events are still being sorted out today.
2974 dead. And as a direct result of this tragedy we must also remember that some 4000 others have died and that we are at war. So much has changed in the past 72 months!
Where were you on 9-11? And what have you learned personally? Please leave a comment, we would love to hear from you.
Hostage Series Starts Sunday, September 14 — for 5 weeks
It all begins at 10:30 AM each Sunday for 5 weeks. Who will YOU help to break free?
New School vs. Old School — Same Goal
Facebook, MySpace, Flickr, Twitter, and like about 100 others. All social networks, and people by the MILLIONS are embracing them.
Just as interesting is how fickle people can be. Earlier this year, Twitter was having technical difficulties. As a result, several other “micro-blogs” popped up all over the internet. In a way, that’s how we are today. Democrats vs. Republicans vs. Vice President choices. It’s a maddening race for popularity.
Facebook Graphic
Of course, for most of us it comes down to VALUES — what do people and social networks stand for — and where do I fit into their scheme? As a Follower of Christ, I am influenced by a standard, God’s Word, the Bible. It has and continues to shape me. That message does not change or move.
I love it’s anchor. In a world where there are no moral absolutes, where rules change, and where networks of people move around so much, I need that. I have also attempted to live by those standards.
Oh, no, I am not perfect, that’s for sure. However, when I get off course I can look forward and strive toward a finish line that DID NOT move.
It can be confusing to follow the commands on the Bible. In fact there were like 1,630 of them listed. When Jesus was asked which was the most important He brought it down to a level we can all not only understand, but we can RELATE to it.
Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Now THOSE SOCIAL NETWORKS ROCK!
Enough Said!
When the godly are in authority, the people rejoice. But when the wicked are in power, they groan.
Proverbs 29:2 (NLT)
When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan.
Proverbs 29:2 (ESV)
When good people run things, everyone is glad, but when the ruler is bad, everyone groans.
Proverbs 29:2 (MSG)
When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan.
Proverbs 29:2 (NKJV)
When the [uncompromisingly] righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked man rules, the people groan and sigh.
Proverbs 29:2 (AMP)
Dual Storms Threaten United States
August 29, 2008.
Two storms are threatening the US. An emergency condition has been declared in Louisanna and everyone is thinking about the Katrina. Katrina devastated New Orleans, in fact it will NEVER be the same.
Hurricane Gustav. Tropical storm Hannah. And today I heard that if they take certain paths gas prices could soar to $5.00 per gallon in just days!
Threatening weather, threats in our safety, threats to our economy, fears in our relationships. Where do we find hope in all this? I have learned that the truths of the Bible and a personal relationship with Jesus Christ can lead to an inner strength that others may not understand.
In a storm, you don’t just survive until tomorrow or wait until another day passes. The critical times may be minute-by-minute or one may need strength NOW! Here’s a passage of scripture that ALWAYS encourages me … perhaps another might draw strength from it right NOW as well.
Mark 4:38-41 — 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even wind and sea obey him?” — ESV
Please pray for those in harms way while these storms rage on. And pray for people’s hearts once again to be stirred to compassion if needed in the aftermath of possible devastation.
Bob the Sound Guy
I can’t resist. We had a HUGE outreach at Central last Saturday night. Island Praise of Central Assembly and L-Rey pulled out all the stops and included many children and other participants at the Lu’au. It was a little cold — but AMAZING. Thanks to everyone who enabled this to happen. Oh, and without further delay ….
Hostage Series Begins September 14 at 10:30 AM
Make Plans NOW to be a part of this. Invite, Invite, Invite! Reach out to your friends who can either help someone or be set free themselves!
Inspired by Lifechurch.tv
What are You Rebuilding?
I think we all have our “to do” lists. Repairing stuff is either on the top of our agenda or pushed down another notch for another day. It was the same for the people of Nehemiah’s day.
And somehow we never know how it got this bad. BUT THERE COMES A DAY when enough is enough. For Nehemiah, it was the wall that surrounded the city of Jeresalem. He shook up his friends, family, and even the government. The words are recorded like this:
Nehemiah 2:17-18 (The Message — MSG) Then I gave them my report: “Face it: we’re in a bad way here. Jerusalem is a wreck; its gates are burned up. Come—let’s build the wall of Jerusalem and not live with this disgrace any longer.” I told them how God was supporting me and how the king was backing me up.
They said, “We’re with you. Let’s get started.” They rolled up their sleeves, ready for the good work.
Challenge: Open up YOUR eyes and LOOK around. That’s the first step for all of us, I’m sure of it.
Ordinary Wednesday?
Wednesday is sometimes called “hump day”. It’s an ordinary hum-drum day in the middle of the week that seems long. If we can get through it then the rest of the week is easy, or so goes the thinking.
If I make this an “ordinary” day, nothing will change in my world. This may seem pretty nice to some people, after all, consistency is not always bad.
But I am here to make a difference. God has a calling and plan for my life. That plan is to change the world for His glory. When I stop and think about THAT, then I don’t want today to be ordinary.
My prayer today?
God, show my YOUR way and will for me to somehow have people look in YOUR direction. My eyes and mind are open to what YOU want. I give you PERMISSION to use me as an instrument for YOUR purposes.
What are You the King of?
We all want to be first. We want to be king of something. And for some people, unfortunately, that’s ALL that MATTERS.
What’s incredible with that is it is never enough no matter the quantity or even the visibility of power that one may become.
We see it if we reference the life of Solomon in the Bible. It becomes very clear what ended up being THE IMPORTANT summary of his life (See Ecclesiastes 12:13).
Question: What are you pouring your life into right now? What is your PASSION — right now? Are you making a difference? Are you leaving a legacy?
How are your kids, wife, other relationships doing?
And where does God fit in?
These questions matter. And please remember that God has a wonderful plan and purpose for your life. He loves you and made you to know Him.
Oh, another scripture? Jeremiah 29:11 … it’s one of my favorites!
- King of the Remote
Call a Friend Today
A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. – Proverbs 11:25 (NIV)
This encouraging Proverb says a lot. WHENEVER I do this it seems that it does something deep inside. We are all created in God’s image. The author of love is not a bad blueprint, if you ask me. Go ahead, try it. Then leave a comment and let us all know how it went.
Taste Test REPOST
I finally got the audio working so the music track and speaking track would both come through. I had to convert it to MONO in order for it to work.
This is a video that I made used to illustrate the basic idea of seaching for answers in life. Let me know what you thought of it by leaving a comment.
If you want a higher quality version, check here.
July 4 — Fireworks — and Jesus!
It’s the 4th of July weekend here in the USA. It represents FREEDOM.
I love that word, FREEDOM. And I have experienced it first-hand. I have enjoyed this freedom in my work, with my family, on holidays, and in my spiritual walk as well. I have learned a lot about what the term means.
When I think about the founders of this nation, there are many examples where God, faith, and an aspiration live the values of God’s Word was evident. They left us many important lessons that involved listening to each other, but not compromising that moral compass that led them to stop and worship their creator.
The scriptures state that the cornerstone or foundation of the Christian faith is Jesus Christ. Jesus was not a beaten-down-and-defeated-just-a-good-teacher figure in history. Like the buildings all over Washington DC are inscribed with Biblical passages and faith-inspired messages, God wrote His laws on the tablets of our hearts.
I love celebrating. I love FIREWORKS. I love the USA. And most of all, I love JESUS! And there will be that day that I anticipate so often, when He brings a light show that will blast us all into eternity!
For when the Son of Man returns, you will know it beyond all doubt. It will be as evident as the lightning that flashes across the sky. Luke 17:24
Recommended Book: In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day
Decided to push this post back to the top.
Have you ordered it yet? It’s AWESOME!
This book will inspire and challenge you! You should make it a summer read! … RevTim
CLICK HERE to go directly to AMAZON.COM to ORDER!
Your greatest regret at the end of your life will be the lions you didn’t chase. You will look back longingly on risks not taken, opportunities not seized, and dreams not pursued. Stop running away from what scares you most and start chasing the God-ordained opportunities that cross your path. “In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day”is inspired by one of the most obscure yet courageous acts recorded in Scripture, a blessed and audacious act that left no regrets: “Benaiah chased a lion down into a pit. Then, despite the snow and slippery ground, he caught the lion and killed it”(2 Samuel 23: 20 -21). Unleash the lion chaser within.
What if the life you really want, and the future God wants for you is hiding right now in your biggest problem, your worst failure and your greatest fear?
Story Behind the Book
“Our best days often start out as our worst days. And our greatest opportunities are often disguised as our biggest problems. You can land in a pit with a lion on a snowy day, and it will seem like the end of the road. But God is in the recycling business. He recycles past experiences and uses them to prepare us for future opportunities. That is the story of my life. And that is the story of your life. Look in the rearview mirror long enough and you’ll see that God has purposely positioned you everywhere you’ve been, even when it seemed you’d taken a wrong turn”. Mark Batterson
Downtown San Francisco Focus Focus Focus
I’m waiting at a Starbucks to go to a focus group. This one is about blogging and how I use it in my life and how I connect with associates.
Focus is pretty, cool. I love diverse focus pictures in photography. You know the kind, the flower is in perfect focus and the child looking at the flower is blurry. And I also love perfectly clear photos, the kind that just pop off the page or computer screen.
In life, focus is important. There is a cliche’ that says, “Keep the main thing the main thing!”
So what’s vital in your life regarding clarity? Faith? God? Your wife? Your children? People? Stuff? Money? Your job? Sports? TV? ______________?
Leave a comment and let us know.
Depression and Light and Springtime
You have probably heard of S.A.D. where light deficiency becomes a problem for some people during the low-light become depressed. It is also known as Winter Depression.
Now, I’m not sure this winter and it’s dim and cloudy days had that kind of effect on me, but I have really been glad the past few days here in Northern California. For like 6 or 7 days in a row it has been sunny and mild, like near 70 degrees! Although I love the “seasons” weather-wise, I REALLY love the spring and summer. Mild weather and riding on winding roads on my motorcycle or spending time at the coast are just awesome to me.
Of course we all have these “seasons” in life, too. Dim and cloudy skies, longer nights, colder feelings. They are all there with a time-line that sometimes seems endless. Depressing.
Well, let me leave you with these verses to encourage you. Because I know with faith in God we actually have hope no matter the season. Here you go!
Psalm 30:5 (NLT) … weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.
Psalms 112:4 (MSG) Sunrise breaks through the darkness for good people— God’s grace and mercy and justice!
True Love — Happy Valentine’s Day!
This is one of the most prolific and poetic ways to say love. God’s Word expresses it so well that it has stood the test of time for some 2000 years.
Have a wonderful time with those special people you love. Make the day count!1 Corinthians 13 (THE MESSAGE)
The Way of Love
(1) If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don’t love, I’m nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. (2) If I speak God’s Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, “Jump,” and it jumps, but I don’t love, I’m nothing. (3-7) If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.
Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end. 8-10Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit. We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled.
(11) When I was an infant at my mother’s breast, I gurgled and cooed like any infant. When I grew up, I left those infant ways for good.
(12) We don’t yet see things clearly. We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won’t be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We’ll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!
(13) But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.
Plan to Talk to Someone Close to You Today
Go ahead. Pick up the phone and spend like 6 minutes. Call someone you love.
How long has it been since you did something like that? What if you called your spouse and ask them how their day is going. Have you spoken to your dad or mom in a while? Do they know what is happening in your world?
We get so busy, right? We all use our cell phones for these short conversations. Many times they are interruptions in our day, many times it involves business or we may even be working our to-do list right during our drive to and from somewhere. Drive, hurry, errand, lunch, work — busy, busy, busy.
So add one more thing. Add something that may just make a difference in your grandmother’s life. Call your daughter. Oh, and have no agenda when you do this. Just tell them you love them and were thinking about them. Well? What are you waiting for??? 
Psalm 9:1 (NLT) I will thank you, Lord, with all my heart. I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done.
Flickr Photos
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