Before you read this one pause for just a moment and take a really deep breath and clear your mind of any distractions. I heard this story several years ago but I thought it would be a good one to share with you today. This story is about true power. The kind of power that can only come from the one and only true Living God, Jesus Christ. And now.... Deap breath.......
A young man who had been raised as an atheist was training to be an Olympic diver. The only religious influence in his life came from his outspoken Christian friend. The young diver never really paid much attention to his friend’s sermons, but he heard them often. One night the diver went to the indoor pool at the college he attended. The lights were all off, but as the pool had big skylights and the moon was bright, there was plenty of light to practice by. The young man climbed up to the highest diving board and as he turned is back to the pool on the edge of the board and extended his arms out, he saw his shadow on the wall. The shadow of his body, was in the shape of a cross. Seeing that image created such an unusual and strong response that instead of diving, he knelt down and finally asked God to come into his life. As the young man stood, a maintenance man walked in and turned the lights on. The pool had been drained for repairs.
Don't wait too long to talk to God. Don't let our culture misguide you about Jesus Christ. Find out and decide for yourself who Jesus really was (and is). The reality of Jesus' life lies in the fact that he still transforms lives. I know this personally to be true. Let His love change you into the person you need to be, the person God has always wanted you to be.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Love You Back
I wrote this a couple years ago but I decided to repost it because i think it is something that everyone should read and take to heart!
A few nights ago I was sitting in my hotel room and I decided to go across the street to a McDonalds to get something to eat. Just after I ordered my food I went and sat down at a table. There wasn't anyone else in the restaurant except one other couple. This McDonalds was fixed up pretty nice. Unlike a lot of the other ones. It had a lot of really nice art design on the inside. It had some really neat pictures and some that appeared to be hand sketches. But as I was sitting there waiting on my food a man walked in. This man was grey hair and had very dirty clothes on. He was carrying a couple of sacks of different things. He had a blanket and a heavy jacket wrapped up under one arm. It was obvious that he was homeless. But as he came in he looked in my direction and kinda stopped. And I thought, dang, I hope he don't come over here and bother me. But he didn't. he glanced further around the room and then headed to a table that was directly under one of the pictures that was on the wall. He walked over, put his things down and walked slowly to the restroom. As he walked out you could tell he had washed his hands. He proceeded to the counter and ordered a cup of coffee paid with multiple coins and then walked to his table. But as he walked toward the table I noticed that he didn't take his eyes off of the picture above. And as he got to the table he stopped and stared at the picture for a couple minutes. Finaly he went to sit down but he positioned his chair so that while he was sitting he could look directly at this picture. The whole time he was sitting and drinking his coffee he never took his eyes off of this picture. I wasn't trying to stare or be nosey but I kept watching him wondering what was so intresting about the picture. As I watched I noticed a couple of tears run down the mans face. My heart broke. The picture was of a man holding a woman. They were both smiling and laughing as there eyes were locked on to each other. Then thoughts started running through my mind. This picture reminded me of my relationship. Then I realized why the man was so captured by the picture. It reminded him of something too. I don't know what he was thinking. But maybe it reminded him of his life in an earlier time. Maybe it reminded him of when time was a little more simple. When he was young and in love with someone who loved him back. Maybe even when he was married and had everything he ever wanted. Maybe it reminded him of just having a friend that he was happy with. Maybe someone he used to hold. Maybe it reminded him of seeing his parents together when he was a young child. It could have reminded him of nothing more than when he had someone that he cared for and that cared for him back. I will never know what he was thinking. But I bet that I have an idea. I don't know what kind of event that may have played out to cause this guy to loose everything he had. It could have even been bad decisions on his part. But what I do know is that he misses having some kind of love in his life. Whether it be a wife, or just his family that he came from. And the saddest thing that ran through my mind was that this man will likely die one day and no one will ever even know about it. He obviously has no one to go to, no where to go home to, no one to call and talk about how bad things are going, Nothing!!! Everything this man has fits into two small bags. No cell phone, no ipod, no laptop, Nothing! We forget everyday how blessed we are. Most of all we forget that everyone has someone that loves them back. Some of you may not be married or in a serious relationship but you still have something that others don't have. It may be your good health, or a beautiful, healthy child. It could be a loving family, or a close friend, it could be anything. But the most important thing is that no matter what we have someone that will always care and will always love us no matter what. That is something that we can never forget. Someone loves you back!!!
A few nights ago I was sitting in my hotel room and I decided to go across the street to a McDonalds to get something to eat. Just after I ordered my food I went and sat down at a table. There wasn't anyone else in the restaurant except one other couple. This McDonalds was fixed up pretty nice. Unlike a lot of the other ones. It had a lot of really nice art design on the inside. It had some really neat pictures and some that appeared to be hand sketches. But as I was sitting there waiting on my food a man walked in. This man was grey hair and had very dirty clothes on. He was carrying a couple of sacks of different things. He had a blanket and a heavy jacket wrapped up under one arm. It was obvious that he was homeless. But as he came in he looked in my direction and kinda stopped. And I thought, dang, I hope he don't come over here and bother me. But he didn't. he glanced further around the room and then headed to a table that was directly under one of the pictures that was on the wall. He walked over, put his things down and walked slowly to the restroom. As he walked out you could tell he had washed his hands. He proceeded to the counter and ordered a cup of coffee paid with multiple coins and then walked to his table. But as he walked toward the table I noticed that he didn't take his eyes off of the picture above. And as he got to the table he stopped and stared at the picture for a couple minutes. Finaly he went to sit down but he positioned his chair so that while he was sitting he could look directly at this picture. The whole time he was sitting and drinking his coffee he never took his eyes off of this picture. I wasn't trying to stare or be nosey but I kept watching him wondering what was so intresting about the picture. As I watched I noticed a couple of tears run down the mans face. My heart broke. The picture was of a man holding a woman. They were both smiling and laughing as there eyes were locked on to each other. Then thoughts started running through my mind. This picture reminded me of my relationship. Then I realized why the man was so captured by the picture. It reminded him of something too. I don't know what he was thinking. But maybe it reminded him of his life in an earlier time. Maybe it reminded him of when time was a little more simple. When he was young and in love with someone who loved him back. Maybe even when he was married and had everything he ever wanted. Maybe it reminded him of just having a friend that he was happy with. Maybe someone he used to hold. Maybe it reminded him of seeing his parents together when he was a young child. It could have reminded him of nothing more than when he had someone that he cared for and that cared for him back. I will never know what he was thinking. But I bet that I have an idea. I don't know what kind of event that may have played out to cause this guy to loose everything he had. It could have even been bad decisions on his part. But what I do know is that he misses having some kind of love in his life. Whether it be a wife, or just his family that he came from. And the saddest thing that ran through my mind was that this man will likely die one day and no one will ever even know about it. He obviously has no one to go to, no where to go home to, no one to call and talk about how bad things are going, Nothing!!! Everything this man has fits into two small bags. No cell phone, no ipod, no laptop, Nothing! We forget everyday how blessed we are. Most of all we forget that everyone has someone that loves them back. Some of you may not be married or in a serious relationship but you still have something that others don't have. It may be your good health, or a beautiful, healthy child. It could be a loving family, or a close friend, it could be anything. But the most important thing is that no matter what we have someone that will always care and will always love us no matter what. That is something that we can never forget. Someone loves you back!!!
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Pandimic or Secret Step of Gov. Control??
I want you read this and really think about it. I pulled this straight from the Washington times.
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday released numbers showing the extent of the swine flu outbreak in the United States, one day after the World Health Organization officially declared the illness - also called H1N1 - to be a worldwide pandemic. Americans should anticipate a massive immunization campaign in late September.
To date, there have been 17,855 confirmed and probable cases reported and 45 deaths from the illness in all 50 states, the District and Puerto Rico, though deaths were confined to 15 states....
Texas only has 3 deaths!!
So far, swine flu has been found in 74 countries, resulting in 144 deaths....
"Once we saw how fast this virus was spreading, we activated our pandemic plans and started doing all the things we needed to do to keep the public as safe and secure as possible," she said. "What this declaration does do is remind the world that flu viruses like H1N1 need to be taken seriously. Although we have not seen large numbers of severe cases in this country so far, things could possibly be very different in the fall."
An immunization campaign could start in late September, Mrs. Sebelius said.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano was also adamant that her shop was primed for a pandemic.
"We acted aggressively to stay ahead of the virus as it spread across the country. Now our challenge is to prepare for a possible return in the fall," she said. "We are working with our scientists to test and prepare a possible vaccine. And we are working with governments around the world to share what we know and learn from what is happening in their countries."
Dr. Richard P. Wenzel, chairman of the Department of Internal Medicine at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, gave a favorable review of the status quo.
"It's absolutely important that the feds have called this a public health emergency, because what this does is heighten our scenario playing and improve communications," he said. "Our level of preparedness should go up so that we can say, 'If this happens then this is what our response will be.' And we have everything going in terms of hotlines established, communications across public health authorities, drugs, masks, all the supplies, including laboratory availability."
Ok.. Now seriously!!! How many people do you really know that have actually had a case of the swine flu? Now how many people do we know that has some type of cancer? I didn't look up the numbers on cancer but to my knowledge there has been more than 144 deaths out of 74 countries.
What about alcohol related deaths such as maybe drinking and driving???? 144 alcohol related deaths just in one state is not even a drop in the bucket!!!
Now if you don't agree with me that is fine, but i think we have some far more serious issues on our hands but a would wide pandimic that has only killed 144 people. 3 in Texas.
Now think of this. The Government is serious about this swine flu. Keep watch!! Complete control by the Government is on the way!! We will soon not have freedom!! It is slowly being taken away. Just think about the frog in the water. A slow boil does the trick!! A one world power is in the works!! Be on the lookout!! Swine flu Pandimic?? I think not!!
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday released numbers showing the extent of the swine flu outbreak in the United States, one day after the World Health Organization officially declared the illness - also called H1N1 - to be a worldwide pandemic. Americans should anticipate a massive immunization campaign in late September.
To date, there have been 17,855 confirmed and probable cases reported and 45 deaths from the illness in all 50 states, the District and Puerto Rico, though deaths were confined to 15 states....
Texas only has 3 deaths!!
So far, swine flu has been found in 74 countries, resulting in 144 deaths....
"Once we saw how fast this virus was spreading, we activated our pandemic plans and started doing all the things we needed to do to keep the public as safe and secure as possible," she said. "What this declaration does do is remind the world that flu viruses like H1N1 need to be taken seriously. Although we have not seen large numbers of severe cases in this country so far, things could possibly be very different in the fall."
An immunization campaign could start in late September, Mrs. Sebelius said.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano was also adamant that her shop was primed for a pandemic.
"We acted aggressively to stay ahead of the virus as it spread across the country. Now our challenge is to prepare for a possible return in the fall," she said. "We are working with our scientists to test and prepare a possible vaccine. And we are working with governments around the world to share what we know and learn from what is happening in their countries."
Dr. Richard P. Wenzel, chairman of the Department of Internal Medicine at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, gave a favorable review of the status quo.
"It's absolutely important that the feds have called this a public health emergency, because what this does is heighten our scenario playing and improve communications," he said. "Our level of preparedness should go up so that we can say, 'If this happens then this is what our response will be.' And we have everything going in terms of hotlines established, communications across public health authorities, drugs, masks, all the supplies, including laboratory availability."
Ok.. Now seriously!!! How many people do you really know that have actually had a case of the swine flu? Now how many people do we know that has some type of cancer? I didn't look up the numbers on cancer but to my knowledge there has been more than 144 deaths out of 74 countries.
What about alcohol related deaths such as maybe drinking and driving???? 144 alcohol related deaths just in one state is not even a drop in the bucket!!!
Now if you don't agree with me that is fine, but i think we have some far more serious issues on our hands but a would wide pandimic that has only killed 144 people. 3 in Texas.
Now think of this. The Government is serious about this swine flu. Keep watch!! Complete control by the Government is on the way!! We will soon not have freedom!! It is slowly being taken away. Just think about the frog in the water. A slow boil does the trick!! A one world power is in the works!! Be on the lookout!! Swine flu Pandimic?? I think not!!
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Do we want to get well?
Despair will lead a person to do strange things. I guess that hope in any direction is perceived as better than hope in no direction. For example there was a man who was longing for help and had waited for years in hopes that an answer was somewhere to be found! But he was looking in the wrong direction! It was not until he came face to face with God that he discovered help!
When we are sick do we long to get well? When our life seems to be crashing down do we long for answers. Do we long for peace that we may under stand what is really happening? In the book of John 5:6, When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, "Do you want to get well?" John 5:7 "I can't sir," the sick man said. "For I have no one to help me." John 5:8, Then Jesus said to him, "Get up pick up you mat and walk." 9, At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.
I don't know about you but if I was sick and not able to get up and someone asked me if I wanted to get well I would think they are asking a stupid question. Well of course I want to get well. But Jesus didn't ask the man a stupid question. Jesus asked him that question because he wanted to see if the man would respond with his heart, to see if the man would turn his attention to Jesus, to put his faith in to Jesus, to see if he really wanted to get well. Jesus already knew he wanted to get well.
So do you want to get well? Jesus will give us what we need to fix our problems. Its up to us to be determined to seek Jesus, as Jesus is our only resort to any resolution toward any of our problems. Some people really don't want to get well because they find fulfillment in the worlds sorrow and the attention they gain through someones gossip that gives them a temporary fame. But yet still very small and it will eventually ware off. And then they are miserable once again until they are diagnosed with something new. But yet if you really want to get well and find hope in your problems stop sinning. Cleans your heart before the Lord, confess you weakness along with your sins. And as Jesus being our only resort, seek him and resolution to our problems will come! Jesus is always our answer.
It does not matter whether you are following a new aged guru, reading self-help psychology, venerating Mary and the saints, pursuing some other religious ritual or superstition unless you look to Jesus there is no hope! Desperation is a good quality if it leads you to an encounter with God.
Jesus Loves You!
When we are sick do we long to get well? When our life seems to be crashing down do we long for answers. Do we long for peace that we may under stand what is really happening? In the book of John 5:6, When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, "Do you want to get well?" John 5:7 "I can't sir," the sick man said. "For I have no one to help me." John 5:8, Then Jesus said to him, "Get up pick up you mat and walk." 9, At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.
I don't know about you but if I was sick and not able to get up and someone asked me if I wanted to get well I would think they are asking a stupid question. Well of course I want to get well. But Jesus didn't ask the man a stupid question. Jesus asked him that question because he wanted to see if the man would respond with his heart, to see if the man would turn his attention to Jesus, to put his faith in to Jesus, to see if he really wanted to get well. Jesus already knew he wanted to get well.
So do you want to get well? Jesus will give us what we need to fix our problems. Its up to us to be determined to seek Jesus, as Jesus is our only resort to any resolution toward any of our problems. Some people really don't want to get well because they find fulfillment in the worlds sorrow and the attention they gain through someones gossip that gives them a temporary fame. But yet still very small and it will eventually ware off. And then they are miserable once again until they are diagnosed with something new. But yet if you really want to get well and find hope in your problems stop sinning. Cleans your heart before the Lord, confess you weakness along with your sins. And as Jesus being our only resort, seek him and resolution to our problems will come! Jesus is always our answer.
It does not matter whether you are following a new aged guru, reading self-help psychology, venerating Mary and the saints, pursuing some other religious ritual or superstition unless you look to Jesus there is no hope! Desperation is a good quality if it leads you to an encounter with God.
Jesus Loves You!
Monday, September 7, 2009
economic collapse and martial law soon!!!!
I found this video to be very scary!!! I expect alot of you to blow it off!! But we are closer to this pint than what you think!!! The Christians need to wake up!! Our freedom is being taken away very quickly! If you are one of those that still believe everything that the Gov. is telling you then you are folowing right along with the whole New World Order plan. You are listening to the devil and dont even realize it! Yeah I expect alot of you to disagree with it without hesitation. But I have to ask you this? Why do you not believe it? Do you honestly think that Washington is really for "the people"? No I dont think so. Washington is for total power and control! People we have to wake up!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qj92qR8C5BY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qj92qR8C5BY
Sunday, September 6, 2009
The Phone Call
Have you ever been laying there all comfortable in your little spot and then the phone rings? Then you notice that its not within reaching distance so you just stay put all cozy in your little spot. Then just as your about to drift off to sweet sweet sleep the crazy phone rings again. "Dang it" you think to your self. But still you just sit there. Then you think to yourself..."Why is it that the phone always rings while I am trying to sleep in or take a mid day nap, WHY?" "Its always while I am all in my most comfortable state and then the phone... It never fails!"
Well this is a lot like our spiritual life as well. So many times God sends us a simple call but yet we are so caught up in ourselves or our comfortable way of life that we just simply ignore the phone. You see we have to understand that our life is not about us!! Yeah that kinda don't make since, but our life is for nothing more than to bring glory to God. Hmm, so what have we done for God lately? God can use anyone for anything!! The biggest mistake we make is that we constantly ask for God to show us the way but yet we rarly open ourselves up to listen to what he has to say. Sometimes all we need to do is simply listen. But again we stay so caught up in our own ideas that we simply block God out. Sometimes we are just simply to lazy to get up and answer His call. God is calling! Its your choice what to do next!!!
Well this is a lot like our spiritual life as well. So many times God sends us a simple call but yet we are so caught up in ourselves or our comfortable way of life that we just simply ignore the phone. You see we have to understand that our life is not about us!! Yeah that kinda don't make since, but our life is for nothing more than to bring glory to God. Hmm, so what have we done for God lately? God can use anyone for anything!! The biggest mistake we make is that we constantly ask for God to show us the way but yet we rarly open ourselves up to listen to what he has to say. Sometimes all we need to do is simply listen. But again we stay so caught up in our own ideas that we simply block God out. Sometimes we are just simply to lazy to get up and answer His call. God is calling! Its your choice what to do next!!!
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