The older I get, the more I reflect on the past. Is that part of the aging process?
Recently I heard a song that was popular when I was young. I don’t know all the words to the song, so I’m not talking about the meaning of the song necessarily, but there was a line in the song that resonated with me. The song lyric has become more than a catchy tune…it’s proven to have some insight into my life. I’m sure this is true of many secular songs.
Here are three that quickly come to mind:
I wonder how many times this is our picture when trying to attain victory…
How happy are you in life?
I’ve shared things I read in Southwest Air’s Spirit Magazine before and recently I saw “The I Examâ€. First listed in Pyschology Today, it’s a questionnaire designed to help determine how happy we are in life. While I am not sure we can measure true happiness in an 8 question survey, I thought this was interesting and worth sharing to fuel thoughts and discussion.
Here is the I Exam:
I’ve been amazed this week at the resolve of the people of Chicago. Reportedly this week saw the worst snow storm since 1967. I’ve not been through a blizzard before, so this was an experience. You can read why I’m here in THIS POST.
What amazes me is how the people responded so quickly. Even before the storm hit, people were taking precautions, but during and after the storm, people spread salt, shoveled snow, pitched in to help one another, and quickly got back to normal. Many places were closed early Wednesday, hours after the snow ended, but many were open by the afternoon. By Thursday everyone was seemingly back to normal. There’s still a lot of snow on the group, you have to be careful where you walk, but people have gone about their business…in spite of the largest snow the average Chicagoan has ever seen.
Why?
We continue our Scripture Memorization each week in 2011. I hope you are hiding God’s Word in your heart. See the related posts for this post if you need to catch up with any of the previous posts.
This week’s memory verse has gotten me through some hard weeks…at least the truth of it has…
How are you living out this command of God?
Today for Friday discussion, I want to talk about belonging….
To belong means: to have the proper qualifications, especially social qualifications, to be a member of a group; be suitable or acceptable…
This could be a difficult subject for some…not because the questions I’m going to ask are necessarily difficult questions…but because the answers could hurt…cause pain…
I believe, however, that there is an inner need in each of us feel that we belong someowhere. Until we find a place where we feel welcomed by others…a place where we feel loved, accepted, and secure in our relationship, we will continue to search.
Chip Ingram said recently that the reasons for a joining a country club or a gang are the same…we are all searching for a place to belong.
So, today, would you dialogue with me and other readers.
Here are the questions to consider:
The current thought process for most of us these days is about what’s new…
It’s important to be current…which means often we are making decisions quicker…
It makes the word “moment” more important than ever…
We all want to live in the moment as much as possible, and culture is demanding it these days…
I want to join the party, but I’m reminded of an important principle…
Living in the moment can be dangerous…
It’s great in theory, but some moments can get you off track…
Unless…
I’m in Chicago this week. What a week to come to Moody Founder’s Week! I’ve been numerous times before, but this is a unique week.
Each service is different than what I experience each Sunday now, serving in a more contemporary setting, but I love the Bible teaching and even the traditional worship. This conference is especially appealing to me these days, because I have a son who attends Moody Bible College. Nate is a sophomore here and studying to be a pastor. I love attending the events this week with him.
This week is unusual also, because
Our oldest son Jeremy beat me to the shower Sunday morning. He graduated from college last year and works in Nashville, staying there during the week and coming home on weekends. Normally he sleeps late and attends Grace Community Church, but this morning he was up early…way early…so he could meet a friend for breakfast back in Nashville.
Why? You see, Jeremy is a relationship king. He loves people. If it involves a friend or his fiance Mary he will gladly alter his plans, even if it comes at an “inconvenience”.
It was odd timing that Jeremy provided me with this illustration.
We are all different. Yesterday I posted about whether a pastor could serve in political office…as expected…I got different opinions. (Read them HERE…and add your own.)
I’m learning to embrace diversity…not to run from it…
Throughout the year I’m going to ask some questions to see a difference of opinion. Here are this week’s questions:
In the year 2011, we memorized 52 verses from the Bible!
Will that be your line at the end of this year? I hope so!
We are into week 5 memorizing Scripture. If you’ve missed out so far, catch up by reading last week’s post HERE.
This week I share one of my all-time favorite verses. There is so much truth in this one verse that it could keep you occupied for days. You may want to read the entire context of this verse.
Here is this week’s memory verse:
Should a pastor be involved in politics?
I’ve often wondered this question…help me think through it today.
Let me explain a little of where this is coming from today.
I always joke that Cheryl keeps pictures on her desk so she can look at the ones she loves, but I keep pictures on my desk so I don’t forget the people I love. (Don’t email me…it’s a joke…kinda!) Seriously, men and women are wired differently. I’m convinced there’s never a moment Cheryl is not thinking about her family. That’s why she’s so much better at remember special occasions and where we keep our favorite socks!
It’s not that I love Cheryl or the boys less than she loves us, but most men are more task-oriented than we are relationally oriented. When I’m in a zone of work, I’m not usually thinking about anything else. Sometimes though I like to stop, turn from my laptop, and receive motivation for why I do what I do. Apart from giving God glory with my life, my greatest motivation is to leave a strong legacy for my wife and two boys.
Today I was deep in thought, but I turned around and saw this picture. It was the spark I need to keep pushing forward.
Do you have the right attitude to accomplish the tasks before you?
Can you tell the success of a day based on the attitude with which you approach it?
I was not familiar with this movie until Michael Bayne, our family pastor, pointed it out to me. Wow! The trailer makes me want to watch this movie.
The descriptions says:
A true story about four Allied POWs who
endure harsh treatment at the hands of their Japanese captors during World War II while being forced to build a railroad through the Burmese jungle. Ultimately they find true freedom by forgiving their enemies. Share this powerful story of
redemption with your friends.
Watch the trailer:
