Unimpeachable Character

Posted by Tim

Friday, May 28, 2010

"Do not let kindness and truth/integrity leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart." Proverbs 3:3-4

The true nature of one's character is most clearly revealed in reactions.

It was an act that oozed of integrity! It was an unplanned opportunity. Turned out to look pretty great on the guy's resume', but it was totally spontaneous. He certainly had not programmed it into his Droid that morning as he was leaving home. He had not written it into his monthly financial plan. And it doesn't appear that he actually even paused to consider other options. It was simply a response to an observed need that was driven by the true nature of his character. The true nature of one's character is most clearly revealed in reactions.

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Finding the Straight Path

Posted by Tim

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

"By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established, and by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches." Proverbs 24:3,4

They say that charity begins at home. The same can be said for the Spiritual widsom for our children. In our time of study together on Sunday, Pastor Tom took us through the first twelve verses of Proverbs 3 where we see six truths to be shared at home to help bring about wisdom for our children which will help set them on a straight path toward godliness.

First, teach them about truth. Where does truth exist? In the wisdom of man or the wisdom of God? Proverbs 3 begins with a challenge not to forget His teaching. We are to keep His commandments in our hearts. Guidance for life is contained in the words He has given us in Scripture. And teaching the truths from Scripture should happen first in the home.

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Lean on Me

Posted by Tim

Friday, May 21, 2010

Sometimes He gives a "sign" even though you have not asked for one. As Chloe and I waited this morning for the turn arrow at 56th and Hi-way 2, not exactly the best spot in Lincoln to have your attention diverted, I looked up and read the sign. Across the billboard high above the gas station is written: "Trust in the name."

"Trust (rest your total and complete confidence in...) in the LORD (YHWH, the covenant-making and covenant-keeping God, Who's ways and purposes are so many times beyond our ability to comprehend or understand) with all your heart (the inner self where life makes up its mind), and do not lean (rest upon for soul and sole support) on your own understanding (skill or strategies developed by personal learning and experiences). In all your ways acknowledge Him (consult with Him on everything...the little things...the big things), and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

Sometimes He gives a "sign" even though you have not asked for one. "Trust in the name." There is a name in which we can trust, even when we do not understand or our circumstances argue against hope. Thank you Land 'O Lakes for the reminder.

Search for Solution

Posted by Tim

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

The oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico has caused the employees of the companies involved to search for solutions to take care of the thousands of barrels of oil gushing into the water. At first they worked to activate the blowout preventer, a series of mechanical devices to crimp the pipe which had tapped into the oil reservoir. Next, a 100,000 pound dome of concrete and steel was lowered to the ocean floor a mile below the surface of the water. That has been followed by the insertion of a new section of pipe into the broken well pipe to siphon the oil to the surface. 

Another effort calls for a smaller dome called a top hat to fit over the top of the well. One more solution is to use ground up rubber and plastic injected at a high pressure into the structure that's covering the well. Meanwhile the effort to deal with the oil that has gotten out of the well has involved spraying and dumping a chemical dispersant on top of and into the water where oil has been seen. Thousands of feet of booms, some made of human hair, are being prepared and deployed on the surface to contain and soak up the oil. Hundreds of engineers and workers have been called into action in a frantic effort for wisdom that will lead to a solution to the problem.

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Gotta Have It

Posted by Tim

Friday, May 14, 2010

Sometimes a dream or a goal or a challenge arrests the soul and all else seems unimportant, insignificant, meaningless in the light of attaining this one singular pursuit."Gotta have it!"

I googled for statistics and opened a Nepal Tourism site where it read, "Just do it! 1 life 2 live." Had my walking shorts on...my 'FirstAscent' Eddie-Bauer t-shirt...windbreaker jacket...grabbed the remote and clicked on the second episode of Mt. Everest.

This thing is amazing! They kept referencing familiar places like Katmandu, Nepal and stuff. Felt like I was right at home...like I belonged there...fit into the picture. These guys are nuts...I mean, certifiably crazy! It cost them each approximately $40,000. It would involve a minimum of three months on the side of that mountain. This, following months and months of physical conditioning in preparation. They put jobs on hold, said good-bye to families, and traveled ½ way round the globe. Their goal was to stand on top of the world in the same atmospheric environment where super-jets cruise.

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It Begins With a Foundation

Posted by Tim

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Spin cycle. What is it in your life that has you in the spin cycle? Is it your job(s)? Are you spinning between job and family as a single parent? Perhaps you're a member of the "tweener" generation with adult children, grandchildren, and parents? Are you constantly on the go in your car or in the air? How many activities are on your calendar each week for yourself and your children? Do you have a wounded heart that cries out for attention?

Talk about spinning, the blades on those windmills just north of Lincoln are spinning at 140+ miles per hour. Do you feel like you're riding the tip of the windmill blade as it generates electricity? Those giant windmills stand as tall as a 30 story building with blades that are more than 100 feet long. But, what's not so apparent is more than 400 tons of concrete giving each windmill a solid foundation. The faster you spin, the greater your need for a solid foundation.

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Hope for the Harried Household

Posted by Tim

Thursday, May 6, 2010

We are being killed by the "spin-cycle"'!

A small boy stood with his father in the check-out lane at the market. He set his purchase on the counter and with the other hand, held out a palm full of change. "What are you going to do with detergent?" inquired the friendly clerk. "I'm going to wash my cat!" the lad replied. "I'm not sure that it's a good idea to use detergent on a cat," cautioned the clerk. But undeterred, the child headed out the door with his purchase.

A couple of days later, this same clerk recognized the child as he waited for his mom to check out her groceries. "How did the cat washing go? Is your kitty ok?" A sadness came over the boy's face as he said, "My cat died." "I am so sorry," replied the clerk. "I was worried that detergent might not be good on a cat." "Oh, it wasn't the soap," said the boy. "It was the spin-cycle on the dryer that killed him!"

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The Case for Belief

Posted by Tim

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

"Many other signs therefore Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name." John 20:30-31

We smile at the photo above while often wishing that God would be this obvious to us! We have to know. We cannot be satisfied simply to assume. What if we are wrong? We have to know because eternity is a long time to be wrong!

But wait... God was and is obvious in giving us signs! His Son was and is both the message and the messenger!

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