How you ever noticed how so many companies advertise that they care so much about you and that their product is so great? However, once you subscribe to/buy the product and things go South the great and wonderful customer service department is no where to be found? You go to the website to file a complaint and you get the old "click 1 for customer support" and you click "1" and it takes you back to the previous menu to CLICK 1 FOR CUSTOMER SUPPORT! It's a sick cycle.
Did the owner of the company forget he/she is a customer too? I know they don't like it when they don't get customer support. Instead of paying a ton of money for maintaining a non-existant customer service department at each company why don't they all just pitch in and buy a telephone with an answering service and a high volume phone line with one phone number that the whole world can call and get SCREWED!!!
1 Timothy 6:9
"But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. "
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
What was Satan Thinking?!
Have you ever thought, beyond what the scriptures say as to why Satan would choose to challenge God's authority and why 1/3 of the angels actually believed him a better choice to rule than God?
There are stories about Heaven and even stories about people who have been to heaven. Some of the first accounts are stories from the Bible but some are as recent as today. The book "Heaven", by Randy Alcorn, provides a great perspective to the many questions people ask about Heaven itself. If you would like to read a book about a first hand account then one of the most recent is called "Heaven is for Real" by Todd Burpo (Excellent book!). From what I've read Heaven sounds like an AMAZING place. I can't wait to go, even though I do enjoy the time I am spending here on earth. But if Heaven is so great, wonderful, magnificent, awe inspiring, terrific, majestic, holy, pure, etc..., why would Satan and his demons choose to sin against God risking to lose everything?
We know that the angels were created before mankind but we don't know how long before. We know that the angels had free will until the defection and the ones who sided with God now cannot sin, just as we won't be able to sin once we go to heaven. We know that Heaven is amazing and Hell is unfathomable in its horror and suffering. Lastly, we know that God is eternal and not a creation unlike the angles and ourselves.
So, what could've been going through Satan's mind (or whatever God gave the angels) to pose the question he did resulting in his fall? How long did he think about his decision before he openly declared his actions? How long was he allowed to tempt the other angels to follow him? Did he create and uprising over time? Was it the result of God creating mankind? In a pure environment, how could he come to this conclusion?
Man had the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the garden of Eden. Satan used tree this to tempt Adam and Eve to disobey God. However, how is it that Satan tempted himself? Did he tempt himself or was his ego encouraged by others? Did the other fallen angels also have this thought and Satan, by taking action, was the catalyst for the defection? Did they not know the consequences for their actions? How could Satan actual reason that he could oust his creator? Maybe what started his downfall was when God put forth the plan to create mankind and this created feelings to prove himself? Have you ever been at work and you think your way is better than your bosses? What weakness could Satan have reasoned in God to think that he could overthrow Him? What lie could he have told his demons to get them to believe his way was better? Lastly, how is it that once Satan made his mistake, his makeup instantly became the complete opposite of God's? It seems as though in the spirit world sin completely corrupts ever part of the makeup of the host so there is no good left.
Remember, even though Satan is a defeated foe still subject to God he still has authority over this world. He is seeking to steal, kill, and destroy. Ultimately, we know that God has the victory and salvation lies in His son Jesus Christ. Remember to resist temptation and don't give Satan a foothold lest YOU be decieved too.
A couple of verses for thought.
Isaiah 14:12-15
“How you are fallen from heaven,
O Lucifer,[a] son of the morning!
How you are cut down to the ground,
You who weakened the nations!
13 For you have said in your heart:
‘I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;
I will also sit on the mount of the congregation
On the farthest sides of the north;
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,
I will be like the Most High.’
15 Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol,
To the lowest depths of the Pit.
Luke 22:31 (Notice Satan STILL has to ask God's permission and is therefore still subject to Him.)
31 And the Lord said,[a] “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.
Revelation 12:10
There are stories about Heaven and even stories about people who have been to heaven. Some of the first accounts are stories from the Bible but some are as recent as today. The book "Heaven", by Randy Alcorn, provides a great perspective to the many questions people ask about Heaven itself. If you would like to read a book about a first hand account then one of the most recent is called "Heaven is for Real" by Todd Burpo (Excellent book!). From what I've read Heaven sounds like an AMAZING place. I can't wait to go, even though I do enjoy the time I am spending here on earth. But if Heaven is so great, wonderful, magnificent, awe inspiring, terrific, majestic, holy, pure, etc..., why would Satan and his demons choose to sin against God risking to lose everything?
We know that the angels were created before mankind but we don't know how long before. We know that the angels had free will until the defection and the ones who sided with God now cannot sin, just as we won't be able to sin once we go to heaven. We know that Heaven is amazing and Hell is unfathomable in its horror and suffering. Lastly, we know that God is eternal and not a creation unlike the angles and ourselves.
So, what could've been going through Satan's mind (or whatever God gave the angels) to pose the question he did resulting in his fall? How long did he think about his decision before he openly declared his actions? How long was he allowed to tempt the other angels to follow him? Did he create and uprising over time? Was it the result of God creating mankind? In a pure environment, how could he come to this conclusion?
Man had the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the garden of Eden. Satan used tree this to tempt Adam and Eve to disobey God. However, how is it that Satan tempted himself? Did he tempt himself or was his ego encouraged by others? Did the other fallen angels also have this thought and Satan, by taking action, was the catalyst for the defection? Did they not know the consequences for their actions? How could Satan actual reason that he could oust his creator? Maybe what started his downfall was when God put forth the plan to create mankind and this created feelings to prove himself? Have you ever been at work and you think your way is better than your bosses? What weakness could Satan have reasoned in God to think that he could overthrow Him? What lie could he have told his demons to get them to believe his way was better? Lastly, how is it that once Satan made his mistake, his makeup instantly became the complete opposite of God's? It seems as though in the spirit world sin completely corrupts ever part of the makeup of the host so there is no good left.
Remember, even though Satan is a defeated foe still subject to God he still has authority over this world. He is seeking to steal, kill, and destroy. Ultimately, we know that God has the victory and salvation lies in His son Jesus Christ. Remember to resist temptation and don't give Satan a foothold lest YOU be decieved too.
A couple of verses for thought.
Isaiah 14:12-15
“How you are fallen from heaven,
O Lucifer,[a] son of the morning!
How you are cut down to the ground,
You who weakened the nations!
13 For you have said in your heart:
‘I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;
I will also sit on the mount of the congregation
On the farthest sides of the north;
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,
I will be like the Most High.’
15 Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol,
To the lowest depths of the Pit.
Luke 22:31 (Notice Satan STILL has to ask God's permission and is therefore still subject to Him.)
31 And the Lord said,[a] “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.
Revelation 12:10
10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
What is the cost?
If you knew beforehand that in order to create something you would have to sacrifice the life of your child would you still create it? What about if you didn't have to create it?
Thank you God :) Thank you Jesus :)
John 3:16
Thank you God :) Thank you Jesus :)
John 3:16
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Do you want to be a judge?
In the Bible, God warns against being judgemental. How often in our lives have we looked upon others and handed down judgement? "Oh, can you believe they are doing that?", "And he calls himself a Christian?!", "I would never do that!", "I don't like the way that person looks, they're ugly." Now, since you are judging, why not apply the same standards to yourself? Is it possible that others could say the same of you?
I remember watching a major TV show recently where an overweight woman in her late 20's/early 30's, was sharing her story about her struggles with obesity and the steps she had taken to significantly reduce her weight to feel better about her appearance. She talked about her childhood and how painful it was to go through life where people teased, bullied, and humiliated her since she was in elementary school. She grew up with no friends and spent all of her time indoors eating to comfort her pain.
We only have one life to live. Imagine how horrible it must be to live that life in torture and isolation?
Why did she deserve judgement? Thoughts?
1) Is it because of her weight?
Do you think she chose to be like this?
2) Maybe she acted weird?
Was she insecure because of the years from the bullying, neglect, and isolation?
3) Maybe she's struggling with a sin; Did her food become her idol?
Could she be using food for comfort because she had no one else to go to?
Well?
Who is going to lead this person to Jesus if everyone continues to play the judge?
Have you ever truly taken time to reflect on someone you know that you have judged, holding them in lower standards, and put yourself in their life? Imagine what you would say to you?
I've heard that the images we see of the beautiful people on TV, in magazine, on billboards, or in movies, make up the top 1% of the people in the world. Even then, there is a percentage amongst those people that defines the most beautiful amongst that group. This being said, statistically, the "ugly" people are the majority. Why then do we use the 1% as the standard to judge each other? Again, who are you to judge? Something is wrong.
God loves each and every one of us. He made us. Did he make a mistake?
Matthew 7:1-5
Genesis 1:27
So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
I remember watching a major TV show recently where an overweight woman in her late 20's/early 30's, was sharing her story about her struggles with obesity and the steps she had taken to significantly reduce her weight to feel better about her appearance. She talked about her childhood and how painful it was to go through life where people teased, bullied, and humiliated her since she was in elementary school. She grew up with no friends and spent all of her time indoors eating to comfort her pain.
We only have one life to live. Imagine how horrible it must be to live that life in torture and isolation?
Why did she deserve judgement? Thoughts?
1) Is it because of her weight?
Do you think she chose to be like this?
2) Maybe she acted weird?
Was she insecure because of the years from the bullying, neglect, and isolation?
3) Maybe she's struggling with a sin; Did her food become her idol?
Could she be using food for comfort because she had no one else to go to?
Well?
Who is going to lead this person to Jesus if everyone continues to play the judge?
Have you ever truly taken time to reflect on someone you know that you have judged, holding them in lower standards, and put yourself in their life? Imagine what you would say to you?
I've heard that the images we see of the beautiful people on TV, in magazine, on billboards, or in movies, make up the top 1% of the people in the world. Even then, there is a percentage amongst those people that defines the most beautiful amongst that group. This being said, statistically, the "ugly" people are the majority. Why then do we use the 1% as the standard to judge each other? Again, who are you to judge? Something is wrong.
God loves each and every one of us. He made us. Did he make a mistake?
Matthew 7:1-5
7 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Bald Barbers- A perspective of humor
Disclaimer!!!- This post is intended as a funny thought and not meant as a literal slam against bald people, let alone bald barbers. Bald people everywhere, I love you! Keep on shining!!! :)
I went to the barber shop today and got my haircut. My wife and the kids tagged along since my 3 yr. old son also needed one. My son was an angel and sat quietly while the barber performed his art masterfully . Not a peep from my son! Once we were finished I paid my bill and proceeded out to the car. As I buckled the last restraint on our daughter I shut the side door and climbed into the front seat of our minivan. While shutting the passenger door, a thought crossed my mind: Why would a bald man become a barber? I'm not implying that my barber is bald but still, why? Have you ever thought about why a bald man would become a barber? Or better yet, why would I trust my regal, manly mane to someone lacking the basic essentials of the haircut itself, HAIR! I started to mull this over during our car ride home and I came up with a few possible scenarios.
The Vengeful One- For a man to lose his hair, this can be a big deal. Some men never recover from taking a confidence hit to their ego. One minor side effect is emotional insecurity that manifests itself as timidness or meekness which makes himself appear weak and unsure. However, a more dangerous side affect is suppressed anger which can manifest itself in passive aggressive ways. A bald man in this emotional state enters into this type of profession for one reason only; To become a barber so the world will feel the pain of his loss. His plan, to take his vengeance out on the unsuspecting victims who cross the threshold of his establishment, one haircut at a time.
Question?
When the haircut is over and the mirror is presented to review the handiwork on the back of the head, does he shift the mirror from side to side, up and down, never truly allowing a close look? Does he let you see the finished work while still in the chair or do you have to perform a quick review as you're on you way to the register? For the last ruse, does he stand next to you so when you get a side-by-side of him and you in the mirror your haircut looks like a million bucks because you have hair and he doesn't?
I Am So Confused!- This bald man has lost his identity along with his hair and feels the need to live vicariously through other men. This bald barber is the Picasso of hair cuts. He is the patron saint of making men everywhere look good with a snip of his magic shears because he knows that he will never amount to the next Brad Pitt without, at least, a true head of hair. This man is not restricted to barbers shops solely, but can find a promising career in a beauty salon too.
Question?
Are his shears gold plated? Does his station have only high end hair care and styling products? Does he go the extra mile and also trim your eyebrows and mustache as part of the service? Do you have to tell him what kind of cut you want or does he shh you and then lead you by the hand and gently sit you down on your throne asking you to "Close your eyes and relax so the master can begin his work?"
The Eccentric- This type of bald man is strange, but determined to conform and fit in. After a hard days work, he sweeps up the hair to keep his station clean. But instead of throwing it away, he stuffs it into a plastic bag and then into his duffel bag and takes it home. Once there, he proceeds to his work table and dumps out the hair. From there he begins to craft himself a beauty of what was once lost. When finished, the bald barber is no more! He now can rejoin the ranks manly men everywhere with his new head of hair. One wig won't do, however, and as you look around there are many wigs of many different styles and colors. You may not even recognize your regular barber out in public if he is this type of bald barber. For all you know he may be in the men's bible study group you've gone to for years but has never let on. Think about Clark Kent and Superman.
Question?
Does his head have glue residue on it? Does he have a duffel bag at his station? Does he seem overly curious about the healthiness of your hair and does he hold up a "sample" he cut off to his head? Does he recommend that you come back in a couple of months so it can grow out a little more?
Whatever the reason may be as long as you get a decent haircut then make sure keep going to the same barber. Also, leave a good tip or else you could get a bad haircut regardless.
I will leave you with one final tip as food for thought. Read 2 Kings 2: 23-24. If you don't see any more blogs from me then you'll know why :)
I went to the barber shop today and got my haircut. My wife and the kids tagged along since my 3 yr. old son also needed one. My son was an angel and sat quietly while the barber performed his art masterfully . Not a peep from my son! Once we were finished I paid my bill and proceeded out to the car. As I buckled the last restraint on our daughter I shut the side door and climbed into the front seat of our minivan. While shutting the passenger door, a thought crossed my mind: Why would a bald man become a barber? I'm not implying that my barber is bald but still, why? Have you ever thought about why a bald man would become a barber? Or better yet, why would I trust my regal, manly mane to someone lacking the basic essentials of the haircut itself, HAIR! I started to mull this over during our car ride home and I came up with a few possible scenarios.
The Vengeful One- For a man to lose his hair, this can be a big deal. Some men never recover from taking a confidence hit to their ego. One minor side effect is emotional insecurity that manifests itself as timidness or meekness which makes himself appear weak and unsure. However, a more dangerous side affect is suppressed anger which can manifest itself in passive aggressive ways. A bald man in this emotional state enters into this type of profession for one reason only; To become a barber so the world will feel the pain of his loss. His plan, to take his vengeance out on the unsuspecting victims who cross the threshold of his establishment, one haircut at a time.
Question?
When the haircut is over and the mirror is presented to review the handiwork on the back of the head, does he shift the mirror from side to side, up and down, never truly allowing a close look? Does he let you see the finished work while still in the chair or do you have to perform a quick review as you're on you way to the register? For the last ruse, does he stand next to you so when you get a side-by-side of him and you in the mirror your haircut looks like a million bucks because you have hair and he doesn't?
I Am So Confused!- This bald man has lost his identity along with his hair and feels the need to live vicariously through other men. This bald barber is the Picasso of hair cuts. He is the patron saint of making men everywhere look good with a snip of his magic shears because he knows that he will never amount to the next Brad Pitt without, at least, a true head of hair. This man is not restricted to barbers shops solely, but can find a promising career in a beauty salon too.
Question?
Are his shears gold plated? Does his station have only high end hair care and styling products? Does he go the extra mile and also trim your eyebrows and mustache as part of the service? Do you have to tell him what kind of cut you want or does he shh you and then lead you by the hand and gently sit you down on your throne asking you to "Close your eyes and relax so the master can begin his work?"
The Eccentric- This type of bald man is strange, but determined to conform and fit in. After a hard days work, he sweeps up the hair to keep his station clean. But instead of throwing it away, he stuffs it into a plastic bag and then into his duffel bag and takes it home. Once there, he proceeds to his work table and dumps out the hair. From there he begins to craft himself a beauty of what was once lost. When finished, the bald barber is no more! He now can rejoin the ranks manly men everywhere with his new head of hair. One wig won't do, however, and as you look around there are many wigs of many different styles and colors. You may not even recognize your regular barber out in public if he is this type of bald barber. For all you know he may be in the men's bible study group you've gone to for years but has never let on. Think about Clark Kent and Superman.
Question?
Does his head have glue residue on it? Does he have a duffel bag at his station? Does he seem overly curious about the healthiness of your hair and does he hold up a "sample" he cut off to his head? Does he recommend that you come back in a couple of months so it can grow out a little more?
Whatever the reason may be as long as you get a decent haircut then make sure keep going to the same barber. Also, leave a good tip or else you could get a bad haircut regardless.
I will leave you with one final tip as food for thought. Read 2 Kings 2: 23-24. If you don't see any more blogs from me then you'll know why :)
Friday, March 2, 2012
How Can God Use You?
I was thinking about Genesis in the bible. Actually, I was thinking about writing this blog about the time I wrote my Stand Firm post. In reference to this earlier post what got me thinking about this topic was the man Charles Templeton and one of his questions that raised doubts. In fact, this has been a controversy even today. The question is "The Bible states that God created the earth and all in it 6 days". Now there are those who claim that this is exactly the number of days it took God and then there are those who say that it took longer and quote 2 Peter 3:8 "But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." This is even among Christians. But this is not what I want to focus on.
What got me thinking is how man today tries to explain and recreate what God did/does. Take cloning for example. So to expound on this thought I tried to apply what it would take for man today to replicate those six days. What an undertaking! More importantly, I thought how would my talents fit into this grand construction. I job involves inventory and asset control. So I would be in charge of accounting for and distributing material. As you can see, I would be responsibly for handing out planets, stars, atoms, animals, trees, etc.. and keeping track of them.
What role could you have played in creation? What skills and talents can you bring to the table? Sometimes in life we can wonder how can God use me? What do I have to offer? Well?
Genesis chapters 1 and 2
What got me thinking is how man today tries to explain and recreate what God did/does. Take cloning for example. So to expound on this thought I tried to apply what it would take for man today to replicate those six days. What an undertaking! More importantly, I thought how would my talents fit into this grand construction. I job involves inventory and asset control. So I would be in charge of accounting for and distributing material. As you can see, I would be responsibly for handing out planets, stars, atoms, animals, trees, etc.. and keeping track of them.
What role could you have played in creation? What skills and talents can you bring to the table? Sometimes in life we can wonder how can God use me? What do I have to offer? Well?
Genesis chapters 1 and 2
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Forgiveness
I normally start my days by checking my cell phone for the letest news on Yahoo, stock updates, daily devotional on YouVersion, emails, etc.. when I came across this story (see link below) related to the latest school shooting in Ohio. Occassionally these stories make headlines where something dramatic happens such as this and the victim forgives the aggressor. I take notice and am somewhat touched by these stories I would have to say that in a day or two I have completely forgotten and moved on with my life. When I read this article, two scriptures immediately came to mind, James 1:21-24 and Matthew 6:15.
Immediately I began to reflect over situations in my life where I had held onto unforgiveness and bitterness for years over past hurts and this woman addressed it right away! This woman lost her son to murder and to take a quote from the story "I taught Demetrius not to live in the past, to live in today and forgiveness is divine. You have to forgive everything. God's grace is new each and every day," she said. "Until you've walked in another person's shoes, you don't know what made him come to this point."
We all carry around hurts in our lives. For me, and even my wife, we have come to realize that we are still carrying around hurt from our past that was spilling out in our conversations about the ones who hurt us. I can't even begin to tell you how many times we would go over the same stories from our past about how we were neglected, abused, abandoned, rejected, etc.. Although we have forgiven instances of hurt and pain we still neglected the big picture and take the WHOLE jumbled up, ugly, dark, bitter and acidic mess and give it God and scream "I AM DONE WITH THIS!! PLEASE FORGIVE ME AND FORGIVE THEM!! I WANT TO BE FREE OF THIS FOREVER!!" By this weekend I am going to spend some time with God and do just that. Forgiveness.
You now know a struggle from my life. I hope you can reflect on this, and most importantly God's word, of what forgiveness truly is. Oh, and don't think that forgiveness applies to only big things.
The bible itself is a wonderful book of forgiveness. Here are a couple of examples.
1) Matthew 18: 21-35
2) Acts 7: 53-60
3) Luke 23: 33-43
4) John 3: 14-21
May the Lord bless you and forgive you this day.
http://gma.yahoo.com/ohio-school-shooting-victims-parents-forgive-suspected-shooter-161435847--abc-news.html
Immediately I began to reflect over situations in my life where I had held onto unforgiveness and bitterness for years over past hurts and this woman addressed it right away! This woman lost her son to murder and to take a quote from the story "I taught Demetrius not to live in the past, to live in today and forgiveness is divine. You have to forgive everything. God's grace is new each and every day," she said. "Until you've walked in another person's shoes, you don't know what made him come to this point."
We all carry around hurts in our lives. For me, and even my wife, we have come to realize that we are still carrying around hurt from our past that was spilling out in our conversations about the ones who hurt us. I can't even begin to tell you how many times we would go over the same stories from our past about how we were neglected, abused, abandoned, rejected, etc.. Although we have forgiven instances of hurt and pain we still neglected the big picture and take the WHOLE jumbled up, ugly, dark, bitter and acidic mess and give it God and scream "I AM DONE WITH THIS!! PLEASE FORGIVE ME AND FORGIVE THEM!! I WANT TO BE FREE OF THIS FOREVER!!" By this weekend I am going to spend some time with God and do just that. Forgiveness.
You now know a struggle from my life. I hope you can reflect on this, and most importantly God's word, of what forgiveness truly is. Oh, and don't think that forgiveness applies to only big things.
The bible itself is a wonderful book of forgiveness. Here are a couple of examples.
1) Matthew 18: 21-35
2) Acts 7: 53-60
3) Luke 23: 33-43
4) John 3: 14-21
May the Lord bless you and forgive you this day.
http://gma.yahoo.com/ohio-school-shooting-victims-parents-forgive-suspected-shooter-161435847--abc-news.html
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