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Like a fire burning in my bones

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You’ve been here before, searching, looking, burning the midnight oil, tossing and turning on your bed, searching for answers and still can’t come up with anything. You are looking for that one thing that will turn your life around. You feel stuck and life is dull. You’ve tried everything, yet, you are still bored to death.

Your 9 to 5 or 5 -9 isn’t cutting it for you. You want more. You are hoping that something will click inside of you, wake you up and propel you toward your destiny. But, the only thing missing is your definition of the one thing that moves you, the one thing that makes sense, that one thing that gets you fired up.

When Michael Jordan turned 50, ESPN Magazine ran an extended essay/interview about Jordan’s continuing obsession (or idolatry) with the best days of his basketball career. The article stated:

[Jordan’s] self-esteem has always been, as he says, “tied directly to the game.” Without it, he feels adrift. Who am I? What am I doing? For the past 10 years, since retiring for the third time, he has been running, moving as fast as he could, creating distractions, distance. When the schedule clears, he’ll call his office and tell them not to bother him for a month, to let him relax and play golf. Three days later they’ll get another call, asking if the plane can pick him up and take him someplace. He’s restless …. He feels his competitiveness kick in, almost a chemical thing, and he starts working out, and he wonders: Could he play at 50? What would he do against LeBron?

What if? “It’s consumed me so much,” he says. “I’m my own worst enemy. I drove myself so much that I’m still living with some of those drives. I’m living with that. I don’t know how to get rid of it. I don’t know if I could. And here I am, still connected to the game.”

He knows he won’t ever play pro basketball again. He knows he’s got to quiet these drives, to find a way to live the life he worked so hard to create, to be still.

[Jordan asks], “How can I enjoy the next 20 years without so much of this consuming me? How can I find peace away from the game of basketball?

So, the question I want to ask you is this – what moves you? For Jordan, basketball is the one thing that moves him. Basketball is the one thing he is passionate about. He could create a little distraction and distance from the game, but only for a while. So, let me ask you: what is it, the one thing that moves you? What is the one thing you are passionate about? Does it feel like fire burning in your bones everytime you think or talk about it? If this thing is something you cannot live without – than that is the think you need to pursue with utmost intensity.

Michael Jordan Has Left the Building,” ESPN Magazine (2-22-13)

Illustration from Preachingtoday.com

Prayer Knows No Bounds

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Faith, and hope, and patience and all the strong, beautiful, vital forces of piety are withered and dead in a prayerless life. The life of the individual believer, his personal salvation, and personal Christian graces have their being, bloom, and fruitage in prayer.

God shapes the world by prayer. Prayers are deathless. They outlive the lives of those who uttered them.

Prayer is of transcendent importance. Prayer is the mightiest agent to advance God’s work. Praying hearts and hands only can do God’s work. Prayer succeeds when all else fails.

Prayer honors God, acknowledges His being, exalts His power, adores His providence, secures His aid.

Prayer puts God’s work in His hands-and keeps it there.

Prayer is our most formidable weapon, the thing which makes all else we do efficient.

It is hard to wait and press and pray, and hear no voice, but stay till God answers.

The possibilities of prayer are found in its allying itself with the purposes of God, for God’s purposes and man’s praying are the combination of all potent and omnipotent forces.

If we would have God in the closet, God must have us out of the closet. There is no way of praying to God, but by living to God.

Praying which does not result in pure conduct is a delusion. We have missed the whole office and virtue of praying if it does not rectify conduct. It is in the very nature of things that we must quit praying.

Natural ability and educational advantages do not figure as factors in this matter of prayer; but a capacity for faith, the power of a thorough consecration, the ability of self-littleness, an absolute losing of one’s self in God’s glory and an ever present and insatiable yearning and seeking after all the fullness of God.

E. M Bounds was a Methodist Minister
He wrote books only on prayer. Quotes are all his.
Born 1835 – Died 1913

The Day God Ran

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... But while he was still a long way off, 
his father saw him and felt compassion, 
and ran and embraced him and kissed him...

There are four things about God you can rest assure about:

  • you are never beyond God’s reach…
  • you can not out run God…
  • God will never stop pursuing you…
  • His love for you is vast beyond all measure…

Meditation: Luke 15:1-3. 13-32

Prayer: Lord help me to see you just as you are – full of love and compassion.

Help me to respond with absolute trust that you will receive me just as I am. Amen!

The “Coca-Cola-nization” of the world

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And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthian 3:18

Outpouring_wide_t_nt 
There is a quest for transcendence, a 
recognition that the human spirit will 
never be satisfied by the material 
order. It’s the main reason for the 
collapse of Euro-Marxism. Marxism was 
offered as an ideological substitute 
for religion, and Marx confidently 
predicted that religion would wither 
away and die. But the human spirit 
cannot be satisfied with the material. 
As Jesus said, quoting Deuteronomy, 
"The human being doesn’t live by bread 
only but by every word that comes from 
the mouth of God." Theodore Roszak, 
although he lived and wrote before the 
New Age began, wrote about this. He 
couldn’t bear what he called the 
"Coca-Cola-nization" of the world. 
He hated the pseudoscience that claims 
to explain everything, and he couldn’t 
bear the undoing of the mysteries. When 
science gets its hand on something, there 
are no mysteries left. Roszak, a 
non-Christian, said that life is full of 
mystery. He said, "Without transcendence 
the person shrivels."
An Excerpt from the sermon notes of John Stott. The 
Three Challenges to the Contemporary Church, Page 10

What a great description of what happens in the life of a person, a church and a nation when all it seeks is stuff. It seems to me, like, little by little, the spark and the awe we first had of God is evaporating, as we try to fill our hearts with the pursuit of stuff. Americans spend 34 hours a week watching television. Materialism and entertainment has taken over our lives. Day by day, it seems like, we are “looking away from the glory of God in the face of Jesus and into the mundane. Life, faith and everything about them is shrinking, wrinkling and dying as we continue to take our eyes of the “mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to us – his saints.”

The call to stand in awe of him couldn’t be more urgent. It is okay to have a career, to enjoy and discover new things in our world, but more than anything we need to discover God in all his beauty and glory. I’m convinced that it could potentially change the way we live.

Last Words of Famous Rock Stars

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This post is not intended to endorse in any way, form or fashion, the lifestyles of the artists mentioned in this post while they lived on this earth. The post does seek to make any judgment or any determination about the eternal fate of these artists. We can only hope that each one of these had at least one moment to connect with their creator before their passing.
Youth Rock Concert_Wide_a_nt

In his book, The Encyclopedia of Dead Rock Stars, rock historian Jeremy Simmonds writes, “When the last moment [of life] does arrive, even the most articulate [musicians] can struggle to find the right words.” Simmonds lists the following last words of famous contemporary musicians:

Amy Winehouse, the British singer who died in 2011, tweeted her last words: “Oinka Oinka Oinka why you awake.”

Terry Kath, the Chicago guitarist who died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, said: “Don’t worry—it’s not loaded, see?”

Michael Jackson: “I’d like to have some milk. Please, please give me some more.”

Kurt Cobain: “I don’t have the passion any more, and so remember, it’s better to burn out than to fade away. Peace, love, empathy.”

Barry White told his nurse, “Leave me alone, I’m fine.”

The Beatles George Harrison said, “Love one another.”

Bob Marley: “Money can’t buy life.”

Bo Diddley: “I’m goin’ to heaven! I’m comin’ home.”

Shortly before her death, Whitney Houston said, “You know, he’s so cool. I really want to see Jesus.”

Adapted from Jeremy Simmonds, The Encyclopedia of Dead Rock Stars (Chicago Review Press, 2012); submitted by Van Morris, Mt. Washington, Kentucky
Used here with permission from Preachingtoday.com

God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called!

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call to freedom the_wide_t_nt Isaac was a day dreamer, Jacob was a cheater, Peter had a temper and denied Christ, David had an affair and tried to cover it up with murder, Noah got drunk. Elisha was suicidal, Jonah ran from God, Paul was a murderer and he was way too religious.

Timothy had too many ulcers, Gideon was insecure, Miriam was a gossiper, Martha was a worrier, Thomas was a doubter, Sara was impatient, Elijah was moody, Rehab was a prostitute, Samson – he liked prostitute. Isaiah preached naked for three years, John the Baptist ate bugs and had second thoughts about the very Messiah he baptized.

Jeremiah was way too emotional, Moses stuttered, Zacchaeus was too short, Abraham was old and Lazarus was dead. God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called!

I picked this up from a friend’s Facebook status. I don’t know if it is his original stuff, but it sure got my attention.

Never say to yourself, “God can never use me.” God is not looking for the qualified, he’s looking for people who would just avail themselves of him. When Jesus called the 12, most of them were not even educated. Yet, Jesus equipped them, and they turned the world upside down.

When Paul wrote to the Corinthians, he told them: “not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.” But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are.

 

Those whom God calls, He equips.

Footprints – Leaving a Legacy

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In his book, Crazy Love, Francis Chan tells a story about a very young girl by the name of Brooke Bronkowski that challenged me in such a way that I found myself saying I want to be like Brooke when I grow up. Brooke was a 14 year of girl… loved Jesus, started and led a bible study group at her school. According to Chan

At age 12 she wrote the following:
I’ll live my life to the fullest. I’ll be happy. I’ll brighten up. I will be more joyful than I have ever
been. I will be kind to others. I will loosen up. I will tell others about
Christ. I will go on adventures and change the world. I will be bold and not
change who I really am. I will have no troubles but instead help others with
troubles. You see, I’ll be one of those people who live to be history makers at a young age. Oh, I’ll have
moments, good and bad, but I will wipe away the bad and only remember the good.
In fact that’s all I remember, just good moments, nothing in between, just
living my life to the fullest. I’ll be one of those people who go somewhere with
a mission, an awesome plan, a world-changing plan, and nothing will hold me
back. I’ll set an example for others, I will give others the joy I have and God
will give me more joy. I will do everything God tells me to do. I will follow
the footsteps of God. I will do my best.

Unfortunately, Chan continues,

one day while she was driving to the movies, she got
in a car accident that ended her life. At her memorial service nearly fourteen
hundred people showed up. Before the pastor presented a gospel message, people
from her school read poems she’d written about her love for God, and everyone
spoke highly about her – laying emphasis on her example and joy. Than after a
brief gospel message, more than two-hundred people responded and came forward to
receive Jesus and make Him their personal Lord and savior.


Brooke’s short fourteen years of footprints on this earth left an indelible
impression that would never be forgotten. She left a legacy that will outlive
her. At her funeral, no one had to stretch the truth to create a semblance of a
meaningful lifelike they do at so many other funerals.

What I loved more about Chan’s story, is how he applied it to his hearers. He said,

You see, no one would dare say an unkind word at a funeral,
because there is an unspoken obligation to come up with something nice to say
about the person who died. I can guarantee you that your funeral would be very
nice… but would it be a true reflection of the kind of life you live. Would
there be people at your funeral secretly thinking “he wasn’t really a great
guy?” What footprints are you leaving behind? What story do you want your life
to tell when you kick the bucket?

 It’s not too late, you can change the
narrative of the rest of your life right now… that you will follow the footsteps
of Jesus and that you ‘will be one of those who live to be a history maker’ by
the way you live. Jesus said, “Come follow me and I will make you…”  Paul said, “Follow me as I follow Christ…”
than he later told Timothy to set a good example… (Matt. 4:19; 1 Cor. 1:12; 1
Timothy 4:12). We are called to light of the world and salt of the earth. Will
you be that today?

Excerpts from Crazy Love, Francis Chan

Relativism: What’s your take?

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While a lot of young people across America and around the world are helplessly struggling with what some are calling “the morass of relativism” Abraham Ebel writes,

It all depends on where you are and it all depends on who you are.

It all depends on what you feel, and it all depends on how you feel.

It all depends on how you’re raised, and it all depends on what is praised.

What’s right today is wrong tomorrow. Joy in France and England’s sorrow.

It all depends on point of view, Australia or Timbuktu. In Rome do as the Romans do.

If tastes just happen to agree, then you have morality.

But where there are conflicting trends it all depends; it all depends.


Please leave a note or a comment for why you voted the way you did. I would love to hear from you.

15 Tips for blogging from John Newton/ Part 3

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11. Learn to blog your observations more freely, especially if you are bent towards a stilted formalism.

“I wish you not only to write a good hand, but a good letter; and the whole art is to write with freedom and ease. When you take your pen in hand, pop things down just as they come to your mind; just as you would speak of them without study” (6:304).

12. Blog humbly and in faith, knowing the Lord will lead you to offer a “word in season” for your readers in their time of need.

“I love to give up my heart and pen, without study, when I am writing. The Lord knows the state of my friends, their present temptations, etc and I look to him to give me a word in season” (6:42).

13. Pray that God would fill your soul with divine joy as you write, that this joy would be communicated on the screen, resulting in a shared joy with your reader.

“Oh! that the power of God would set my heart and pen at liberty while writing, and fill your hearts while reading, that we may rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory” (6:18).

14. Do not allow blog writing to cause your neglect of family priorities.

“I have been interrupted since I began my letter, and I must leave it again soon to go to my children, for it is almost eleven” (6:267).

15. Redeem your barren blogging experiences, use them to see your needs and weaknesses, and lean upon God for his sustaining and supplying grace.

“Though my pen and my tongue sometimes move freely, yet the total incapacity and stagnation of thought I labor under at other times, convinces me, that in myself I have not sufficiency to think a good thought; and I believe the case would be the same, if that little measure of knowledge and abilities, which I am too prone to look upon as my own, were a thousand times greater than it is. For every new service, I stand in need of a new supply, and can bring forth nothing of my supposed store into actual exercise, but by his immediate assistance” (1:506).

15 Tips for blogging from John Newton – Part 1

15 Tips for blogging from John Newton – Part 2

 

By Tony Reinke