tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-324097992024-03-23T13:57:59.689-04:00I Espresso'd Myself...Views Of Life From A Coffee Junkie!Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446881920335636022noreply@blogger.comBlogger135125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32409799.post-52857664651772375132012-01-02T18:24:00.000-05:002012-01-02T18:24:50.917-05:00Winter Break BlurWow, I'm not kiddin', this winter break is nothing but a serious blur! There has been so much take place in our family over the past 2 weeks, I'm not real sure if I can remember everything!<br />
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Today is January 2nd, and I'm just trying to enjoy a quiet afternoon with the girls...catching a few college bowl games...and trying to catch up on some social media stuff. <br />
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I've got lots of stuff running through my head that I'll get on paper soon, just not today. <br />
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Hope you've entered the New Year with new expectations and new excitement for what God has in store!Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446881920335636022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32409799.post-58990815082461700472011-12-23T23:41:00.003-05:002011-12-23T23:41:39.740-05:00Christmas Eve EveThe day before the day before the big day. It just doesn't feel like Christmas this year. Lot's have gone on...things have changed. And if you can believe it, we don't even have any snow! (But trust me, that's a good thing!)<br />
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I'm hoping tonight I can sleep....and I do mean sleep! Tomorrow has always been a special day for me. And in my own special way, I'm still looking forward to it. I'm just praying that tomorrow, things will click again...and Christmas will feel like, well you know, Christmas!<br />
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Blessings!Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446881920335636022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32409799.post-23511426153580446192011-12-21T22:36:00.002-05:002011-12-21T22:36:21.558-05:00Can't Take, Don't Dish...Today was a crazy day at work...lots of chaotic, worthless stress that seriously could have been avoided. But I guess thats one of the things that guarantees job security! <br />
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But here's my pet peeve of the day: have you ever been around someone who DEFINITELY has an opinion and certainly doesn't mind sharing it with you? Whether you ASKED FOR THEIR OPINION OR NOT? And then the mind-numbing ranting goes on and on and on....<br />
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Yep, I had that today..over the phone no doubt! And how this phone conversation ended up on 'just how great Obama really is' is absolutely beyond me. Before I realized it, I was in a 15 minute conversation on just how Obama was the 'savior' and was going to 'fix' everything! And this person CERTAINLY wanted him to be relected for another 4 years. <br />
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I waited for that 'one special moment'. I knew that the person I was talking to HAD to breathe sometime! And then it happened...a mere moment of silence while the person on the other end of the telephone receiver was inhaling, about to share with me MORE of why our illustrious commander-in-chief needed another 4 more years. <br />
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It was in that brief moment that I made my move. I had SO MUCH I wanted to say, but I only said one small sentence. Six words. Six. But it got my point across. <br />
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"Well, I hope he doesn't win."<br />
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It wasn't sarcastic, although I could've unleashed the hounds of hell on that one! It was simple...polite (yeah, go figure)...and even professional.<br />
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But this was all it took. I could feel the heat from the other person screaming through the telephone! <br />
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Their response: "Well I figured. Ya'll are all alike."<br />
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And then they hung on me!<br />
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HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!<br />
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Here's the deal...if you've got something to say, by all means say it. But be man/woman enough to hear the other persons opinion, even if you disagree with them. Simply put, if you can't take it, don't dish it out!<br />
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Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446881920335636022noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32409799.post-73299703182341060612011-12-20T23:07:00.003-05:002011-12-20T23:42:18.740-05:00Back From The Past<div>
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There is rarely a day that goes by that I don't think about the blog, yet, it's been over two years since I've managed to sit down and contribute. I have failed. I have failed miserably! I love this blog. It was always so much fun for me...a sense of release...or relief whichever you like.</div>
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I'm going to do my best to re-establish myself on this blog. But it will be different this time. I'm in need of an outlet...a mind-dump if you will. And this blog will be perfect!</div>
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I'm apologizing now in advance of whatever I might put up here. I will be honest, for sure...and sometimes sarcastic. But I need a release. You, my readers are what makes this go 'round. I promise to simply be myself...as brutally honest as I can be! </div>
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In a word...I'm back! And I promise to be back with a vengence!</div>
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Spread the word...I'll see you soon!</div>
</div>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446881920335636022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32409799.post-35478437115662238852009-06-23T01:07:00.005-04:002009-06-24T08:19:13.516-04:00It Should Be Natural...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiBMNbxxUhyphenhyphenCmttrRZLElQfImJDYIwKKiK7PiW1ucYtey8U_L2yGM_nRZtp7Rs2gOY7wxyVSg7rG9xo0L8-5sqw5F6pl9oPOu9j0OLgcts9IiOXyWHtWQHn4Wks9P6d6Mq54qWMg/s1600-h/firefly.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350385776929357906" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 138px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiBMNbxxUhyphenhyphenCmttrRZLElQfImJDYIwKKiK7PiW1ucYtey8U_L2yGM_nRZtp7Rs2gOY7wxyVSg7rG9xo0L8-5sqw5F6pl9oPOu9j0OLgcts9IiOXyWHtWQHn4Wks9P6d6Mq54qWMg/s200/firefly.jpg" border="0" /></a>I remember so vividly how as a young boy I would wait for nightfall to come, then burst outside on a mission that would keep me busy for hours! My glass jar with holes poked in the lid had just enough grass in it to help showcase my soon-to-be prizes...only to watch my 'prizes' fly off into the night air. I loved fireflys...or lightnin' bugs as I call them. There were very few nights during the summer that I didn't participate in this nightly ritual.<br /><br />I had almost forgotten what that felt like...<br /><br />It's been years since those hot delta nights. And I must admit there have been many nights during the summer that I wish I could still see the countless lights floating aimlessly in the dark. As the years have passed...with all the relocations that our family has been a part of...and with such hectic schedules, ofttimes small things such as lightnin' bug watching doesn't even manage to make it on any to-do list that I might have. And until this past week, I really didn't realize just how much I missed it.<br /><br />For some unknown reason, I ended up out back of our house just enjoying the night breeze. It had been a crazy day at work, and long after supper, I grabbed a cup of coffee and headed outside. The wind was slightly blowing which gave a slight chill in the air. It was a great way to cap off the day. As the day slowly gave way to dusk with darkness waiting to dominate the sky, they began to appear. One by one, dozens, eventually hundreds of lightnin' bugs began their dance on the night air. And that flood of memories from my childhood came rushing over me like an unstoppable wave. All at once I was whisked away, back to the delta...and into a somewhat 'childlike' state, unlike anything I've ever experienced before. By this time the darkness had overcome the light and our backyard had joined forces with the open field behind us and together they had morphed into this gigantic mass of blackness....blackness, except for, what is now thousands of fireflys dancing on the night sky. I felt like a little boy again...<br /><br />There, surrounded by countless creatures that, just by nature, have to shine...they have to light up, I heard His Voice.<br /><br />And it echoed through the night air...<br /><br />"Remember all those nights as a little boy you marveled at these magnificent creatures?"<br /><br />Yes Sir.<br /><br />"Remember how you were captivated...anxiously awaiting for night to come just so you could go outside?"<br /><br />Oh, Yes Sir!<br /><br />"That was the beginning of a vision I had for you!"<br /><br />What?!<br /><br />"It was there, years ago that I placed this urgency in your heart. An urgency that could only be taught through the eyes of a child. And it's time for that urgency to now become reality."<br /><br />At that moment I began to see lightnin' bugs through a whole different set of eyes...<br /><br />It's these very small, innocent creatures that give us the greatest example of what Christianity is actually all about. No matter where they are or what they're doing or where they're going they have to 'let their light shine'. They can't help it. It's the way they're designed...it's their nature...it's their DNA.<br /><br />As Christ-Followers, this should be our DNA too! We should be so filled with the Holy Spirit that wherever we might be, we can't help but <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%205:14-16;&version=50;">let our light shine</a>! The love of Christ should glow in us so freely, that we don't even think about it...it should be in our DNA...it should come natural...<br /><br />The world gets darker with each passing hour, so I've gotta get ready. Got my Mason Jar ready to go...can't wait to get outside! But I can't forget the one secret that He's taught me: Christians 'er I mean lightnin' bugs, shine the brightest, in the darkest of nights...Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446881920335636022noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32409799.post-41267938369567963772008-12-12T01:04:00.004-05:002008-12-12T01:05:46.296-05:00Twitter Me...For closer updates on what's going on in the life of a coffee junkie, click the Twitter Button below!<br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://twitter.com/jimwhaley"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278780704583516306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 230px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 72px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_da5_Ay5bUjaHB-Tjy9qU0GOH7YrXf4RfWgV_gd4PkGO_8f8NK4NkMcaOGPPW7qIF_b0uq3L_QtJLcXwYcI9EsFLwBIs2tsjy2ZiIuwrDOY2ybLJRENWDd95nYrBfniihF2eA-w/s320/twitter-logo.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446881920335636022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32409799.post-92193342415659607052008-11-11T11:38:00.003-05:002008-11-11T11:41:16.590-05:00Elections Thoughts...<div align="center">Just a few of my thoughts about the election:<br /><br /><a href="http://dadsdailygrind.blogspot.com/2008/11/epic-fail.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">An Epic Fail...</span></a></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446881920335636022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32409799.post-71861437235175707372008-09-27T01:16:00.002-04:002008-09-27T01:16:51.436-04:00Truth...Question for the day...<br /><br />'What is truth?'Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446881920335636022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32409799.post-70067928250646085922008-09-23T19:06:00.001-04:002008-09-23T19:08:49.840-04:00Finding The Forest...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYagD5qroSHNlAB99V8RseBYtXiwmoTzlCV1tDTmxtkJbwXT9vylWfb9AGuYWQR1X7E1HQ7AZ3LY0shBUvteOd4sWSQBdNtegsTQdgLy9PWKJLbMwWI727LzGRRu7Z0qokg8YunA/s1600-h/franklin_trees_01.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249357509664771426" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYagD5qroSHNlAB99V8RseBYtXiwmoTzlCV1tDTmxtkJbwXT9vylWfb9AGuYWQR1X7E1HQ7AZ3LY0shBUvteOd4sWSQBdNtegsTQdgLy9PWKJLbMwWI727LzGRRu7Z0qokg8YunA/s320/franklin_trees_01.jpg" border="0" /></a>‘You can’t see the forest for the trees’, is a favorite saying to someone who is so immersed in something that they cannot see the big picture.<br /><br />Have you ever been guilty of that?<br /><br />I mean, seriously, have you ever been so wrapped up in the smallest of details only to miss out on the biggest of pictures? Sure you have. We all have.<br /><br />Check out Luke 24:13-24.<br /><br />Here, we find two people, so engrossed in their tasks, that they completely miss out on the greatest ‘thing’ to ever come their way. Totally preoccupied in heavy conversation about ‘the things which had happened’ (vs 14) …which in this case was the events that surrounded the actual crucifixion of Christ …these two missed the fact that Jesus Himself, after having risen from the dead, was actually walking toward them. Even in conversation with Him, they still didn’t recognize Him.<br /><br />Name a few times that you, have missed out on something much bigger, by focusing on the smaller details.<br /><br />Can you think of a few times that you were able to ‘see past the forest and actually see the trees?’ How did that make you feel?<br /><br />Lots of people miss seeing God because they are so focused on finding Him. They memorize lots of Scriptures, go to church all the time, and pray all the time. Are these things bad? No! They are essential disciplines for you to grow. But don’t get so focused on what you’re doing that you miss out on the PURPOSE for doing it…which is drawing closer to God.Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446881920335636022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32409799.post-9671722054396338842008-09-15T23:09:00.002-04:002008-09-15T23:19:10.639-04:00Mandatory Evacuations...<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdBUX0imGi0Zs-TOcSd0oySAS6q534ASX6kO-S-fvhsi2GOrkVNkNAt6G7co-UTGKvI6VTwe-f2DcvVXZNnDJdNiO4Qae8zXb8J__b2pHIp_uXoiuNfGoKXqAgI9WrznU-_DgvFw/s1600-h/evacuation_narrowweb__200x287.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246453022523038274" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdBUX0imGi0Zs-TOcSd0oySAS6q534ASX6kO-S-fvhsi2GOrkVNkNAt6G7co-UTGKvI6VTwe-f2DcvVXZNnDJdNiO4Qae8zXb8J__b2pHIp_uXoiuNfGoKXqAgI9WrznU-_DgvFw/s320/evacuation_narrowweb__200x287.jpg" border="0" /></a>Three years ago, Hurricane’s Katrina and Rita, literally brought about death and destruction to such a huge part of the Gulf Coast Region. New Orleans, will never, ever be the same city it was prior the what the locals still call, ‘The Storm’. Between the flood waters, the storm surges, and the breaks in the levies, the city of New Orleans was left with a front row seat to one of the greatest natural disasters in history.<br /><br />Now, three years later, another hurricane takes dead aim at the exact location on the coast that Katrina & Rita ravaged. But, this time, between the local, state and federal officials, they realized the potential of what Hurricane Gustov could do. So in order to be more prepared, a Mandatory Evacuation was issued for New Orleans and surrounding parishes. Amazingly, almost 1.9 million heeded the order, and left the region. It was almost a 100% evacuation.<br /><br />Why? Why this time, and not three years ago.<br /><br />What would make this massive amount of people leave their homes and belongings behind with just a simple order?<br /><br />It’s simple, lessons were learned with the earlier hurricanes, and the people who live in those regions didn’t want to relive it again.<br /><br />Wise thinking.<br /><br />So here is the deep question of the day: If we can learn from such things as hurricanes, why can’t we learn from day-to-day problems that consistently haunt our lives?<br /><br />Let’s look at James 4:3-10.<br /><br />In this passage, James makes it perfectly clear that ‘whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.’ (verse 4) We fall into the traps that the world set for us, yet, we don’t learn from our mistakes.<br /><br />James give us a ‘how to’ process to learn from our daily mistakes and to live a closer walk with Christ.<br /><br />In verses 7-10, James lays out 10 things, imperatives, that we must do in order to not continually fall into the trap that the world sets.<br /><br />Submission to God<br />Resistance of the devil<br />Drawing near to God<br />Cleansing of the hands<br />Purifying the heart<br />Lamentation<br />Mourning<br />Weeping<br />Turning<br />Humbling<br /><br />Let’s learn from our past. Let’s don’t let life’s hurricane’s that’s brought destruction in our lives, have an opportunity to repeat itself. </p>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446881920335636022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32409799.post-66506862312784021922008-09-13T14:34:00.002-04:002008-09-13T14:40:49.806-04:00New StuffOver on the side bar, I've added two new gadgets. One, allow YOU to sign up to <a href="https://www.google.com/accounts/ServiceLogin?service=blogger&continue=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Floginz%3Fd%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.blogger.com%252Ffollow-blog.g%253FblogID%253D32409799%2526blogTitle%253DI%252BEspresso%252527d%252BMyself...%2526loginTemplateDirectory%253DFOLLOWING%26a%3DADD_SERVICE_FLAG&passive=true&alinsu=0&aplinsu=0&alwf=true&hl=en&ltmpl=following&skipvpage=true&rm=false&showra=1&fpui=2&naui=8">FOLLOW ME</a>, and this blog. This is my personal invitation to you to <a href="https://www.google.com/accounts/ServiceLogin?service=blogger&continue=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Floginz%3Fd%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.blogger.com%252Ffollow-blog.g%253FblogID%253D32409799%2526blogTitle%253DI%252BEspresso%252527d%252BMyself...%2526loginTemplateDirectory%253DFOLLOWING%26a%3DADD_SERVICE_FLAG&passive=true&alinsu=0&aplinsu=0&alwf=true&hl=en&ltmpl=following&skipvpage=true&rm=false&showra=1&fpui=2&naui=8">SIGN UP </a>and be an official follower of <strong><em>'I Espresso'd Myself'</em></strong>. Where you are a regular reader, or just stop by every now and then, <a href="https://www.google.com/accounts/ServiceLogin?service=blogger&continue=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Floginz%3Fd%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.blogger.com%252Ffollow-blog.g%253FblogID%253D32409799%2526blogTitle%253DI%252BEspresso%252527d%252BMyself...%2526loginTemplateDirectory%253DFOLLOWING%26a%3DADD_SERVICE_FLAG&passive=true&alinsu=0&aplinsu=0&alwf=true&hl=en&ltmpl=following&skipvpage=true&rm=false&showra=1&fpui=2&naui=8">SIGN UP. </a><br /><br />The other addition, is my <a href="http://www.twitter.com/jimwhaley">TWITTER</a>. You can follow me on a more regular basis by going to my <a href="http://www.twitter.com/jimwhaley">TWITTER</a>. I'll be updating it regularly throughout the day via text.<br /><br />Thanks for being a regular guest. Stop by anytime, and have a cup on me!Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446881920335636022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32409799.post-88975272517590191672008-09-02T16:29:00.009-04:002008-09-02T16:59:10.106-04:00An HGTV Moment...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuEKjcf0Y8qjC0-7SpEFrqCv8yN3zuBy5ekoLx1EMZJtSMinaWagtDTta4nz7vzlmnPwEu4qTOWOPLT6daCivs3QVB-j4ZIqiti4OQyzci76e8wqEGZtElpJvn9TnDhE9XZ5c4gg/s1600-h/hgtv.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241531005712885458" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuEKjcf0Y8qjC0-7SpEFrqCv8yN3zuBy5ekoLx1EMZJtSMinaWagtDTta4nz7vzlmnPwEu4qTOWOPLT6daCivs3QVB-j4ZIqiti4OQyzci76e8wqEGZtElpJvn9TnDhE9XZ5c4gg/s200/hgtv.jpg" border="0" /></a>Denise is an HGTV junkie. No matter what time, day or night I come into the living room, playing on the TV...lo and behold it's HGTV! I guarantee she has redesigned our house 9427 times...not counting today! :)<br /><div><br /><div>Now on this network, we find shows like: Color Splash, Design On A Dime, Divine Design, Decorating Cents, 181 Total Shows in all, just on this ONE NETWORK! 181 shows totally designed to give us, the homeowner, a blank canvas if you will to imagine the possibilities of how our own homes <em>could</em> look.</div><div><br />But through the fabric of each of these shows, lies 2 consistent similarities. Generally speaking, no matter which show you watch, these same 2 elements are always present. </div><div><br />1.) The first, is that these shows bring in a ‘top notch’ designer whose responsibility is to jazz up the current space, whether it’s a bedroom, or a kitchen, or a living room, or whatever. Now sure they have carpenters and such, but the goal is for the designers to give ideas to us at home so that we can attempt to do some of the same things…to give us ideas about transforming our own homes. And throughout the course of the episode, we get to watch this designer totally transform the living space from it’s current status, into something spectacular. Into something that the current homeowners never would have thought possible. After all, who would have ever thought to put a 52" Plasma Flat Screen in the BATHROOM!</div><br /><p>2.) The second thing is, at the end of each of these shows, we get to see, The REVEAL!. That’s when the host of the show brings in the homeowner, and they get to see their newly decorated living space for the very first time. The host brings them into the room, with their eyes closed, and then…1,2,3…OPEN YOUR EYES! That’s when we get all those oooh’s and ahhhh’s and all those other sounds! </p><p>We’ve all seen this, hundred’s of times.</p><p>So basically, we’re glued to a TV channel whose only purpose is to help us, out here in everyday America, get ideas about redecorating our houses.<br /><br />Let’s look at the house from a Biblical perspective. Throughout Scripture, it’s easy to see God’s specific attention to detail. From Genesis, where God gave Noah SPECIFIC DESIGN DETAILS about the ark…all the way to Revelation, where God showed John the Apostle the specific details of The New Jerusalem, Heaven…our future home, God is not shy about being VERY SPECIFIC in every detail in our lives. </p><p>So when it comes to the ‘house’ as seen through God’s eyes, we get an entirely new perspective. </p><p>1.) In the Old Testament, God chose the Tabernacle as His dwelling place. In Exodus, beginning in Chapter 26, we begin to see God SPECIFIC DESIGN for this new home. (Check it out for yourselves) And from there all the way into Chapter 40, we see the actual building…the physical work of the design being constructed. We even see the specific clothing that the Priests are supposed to wear when they enter the Tabernacle. Then in Chapter 40, we find, WITHOUT QUESTION, that the Tabernacle is where God will dwell. Chapter 40:34-35 </p><p>2.) Now, let’s move to the New Testament. Jump on over to John Chapter 1:1. Here we see Jesus, being described at the ‘Word’…the Logos (in Greek). We see that the Word was in the beginning, the Word was WITH God, and more importantly, the Word WAS God. One in the same. And in Verse 14, we get this description a little clearer. Now we see God, ‘out of the house’, and into our very world in the flesh in the person of Jesus Christ. </p><p>3.) So what happened when Christ was crucified? Now Jesus no longer is in physical form on the earth. Let’s go to 1 Corinthians 6:19. This shed a whole new light on the subject. "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own" (1 Cor. 6:19).<br /><br />Let’s make sure we understand this. In the Old Testament God was in the house. He dwelt in the tabernacle and in the Temple. In the New Testament He was out of the house as God revealed himself through the person of Christ. And now the Bible says we, as Christ-followers, are the house, the dwelling place for the Holy Spirit of God. </p><p>Since we are the house, the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit of God, our life is all about revealing the décor of <em>the</em> Designer…the Master Designer. Isn’t it ironic that Jesus grew up as the son of a master carpenter? And that also became his trade up until the age of about 30, when we see His earthly ministry taking place? Just a thought...<br /><br />So <em>if</em>, our bodies, are the dwelling place…the home of the Holy Spirit, what do others around you see as your life is revealed? </p><p>As people tour your life, they are yearning to see what THE Designer has done. When people tour homes, they get ideas. When people tour your life and mine, what kind of ideas do they pick up about marriage, parenting, priorities, dealing with sin, anger...wow, this could really get deep, couldn't it... </p><p>When people see God's redemptive show unfold in your life and mine, what do they do? As they walk through our "house," the rooms of our relationships, emotions, and actions/reactions, do they react with "oohs and awes" or tears and sobs. </p><p>Just like all those shows on HGTV, a designer as come in, took control of the house, and totally redecorated it. Sometimes, the new gets a little getting used to…because it’s NOT the way we’ve always done it. But at the Reveal, the room speaks for itself. </p><p>If you are a Christ-follower, God wants to design a model home out of your life. So don't conceal God's design...reveal it, because the ultimate goal in life is to simply reveal the glory of the Designer.<br /></p></div>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446881920335636022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32409799.post-12021998070340004422008-08-19T01:11:00.008-04:002008-08-19T01:23:06.423-04:00Merry-Go-Rounds...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEDLtcsuKJLpE_ApeSeFOcA8uRSCqvTA7wxXNhT8zQT-BGbrC-LOk_3n6B2KzCOK0DSRuZxSd7tqrrqWFa-douDNoWBhzMvi_a1AxBqti4o-l11GfolFxPAtHfbVixsFWtOlXYqQ/s1600-h/FunGoRound.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236094703793528226" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEDLtcsuKJLpE_ApeSeFOcA8uRSCqvTA7wxXNhT8zQT-BGbrC-LOk_3n6B2KzCOK0DSRuZxSd7tqrrqWFa-douDNoWBhzMvi_a1AxBqti4o-l11GfolFxPAtHfbVixsFWtOlXYqQ/s200/FunGoRound.jpg" border="0" /></a>Oh, if I could only get the spinning to stop...<br /><br /><div><div>It's not easy living with a somewhat uncontrollable beast that's camped out inside your head. Over the years I've done my best to simply maintain stability, yet most-times all to no avail. Just when I'm beginning to think things are calming down, everything explodes. The first step is always to admit the problem...I guess I'm doing that now.</div><br /><div>I have a problem.<br /></div><div>I'm an over-anxious, aggressive, intimidating individual with a huge...huge case of hyperactive Adult ADHD. Combined with my ultra-sensitive case of OCD (or as my daughter would say CDO...it's like OCD but the letters are in alphabetical order...like they should be), life in my head is...well...(I'll let you fill in the blanks).<br /></div><div>At any moment in time, I'm flippin' channels on the TV, checking my email, talking to 4 different students online, listening & memorizing new music, texting 5 different people and blogging...all at the same time. NO KIDDING! That's not to mention making a couple of phone calls and drinking coffee right in the middle of it all. Granted, I can accomplish a large list of things in a very short period of time, but my head feels like I've got a Tasmanian Devil trapped inside. It would just be nice if it would all go away when I sleep...but it doesn't. It keeps spinning...and spinning...and spinning...<br /></div><div>What I've noticed over the years, is that even though my 'accomplishment rate' is phenomenal, it's easy for me to lose sight of the bigger picture. After all, if we miss the 'why', the 'what' sometimes becomes irrelevant. 'Busy' is the verb of the day...the decade. Why do we do what we do? Are we lost in this never-ending downward spiral where we're more focused on individual tasks instead of the final outcome? Is any of this making any sense or is this the beast taking over?<br /></div><div>Even now as I write this, I'm making corrections on my calendar...listening & memorizing a new song...texting 2 students...talking with 3 other students online, making to-do lists (now that's funny) for this coming Freshmen Weekend at TU...and having dinner, oh and I'm checking the weather radar online.<br /></div><div>Do you get it? Are you like me too? How do YOU do it? How do you tame the monster?<br /></div><div>Imagine being on an old-school merry-go-round. Thirteen screaming kids all running and pushing their hardest to get that old merry-go-round to go as fast as it will go, then just at the right moment, jumping on for that unforgettable adrenaline rush...trying to hold on... </div><br /><div>WEEEEEEEEEE!<br /></div><div>Welcome to the corridor of my mind...<br /></div><div>Then just as you least expect it, the merry-go-round comes to an abrupt halt. Some crazy child thought it would be cool to put his feet down and use them as brakes and has successfully brought this playground party to an crashing end. Kids are thrown in every direction, laughter transforms into tears, and as you look back, the mechanical marvel of the merry-go-round sits eerily still...motionless in time. And the images in your mind of the last few seconds play back over and over again like a video player stuck in rewind mode.<br /></div><div>This is exactly what happens when I get a good dose of reality. Everything's going non-stop on this merry-go-round inside my mind, then reality steps in and brings my party crashing down around me. My instinct tells me to get up quick, get that merry-go-round going again...faster than ever before, only to realize my partners-in-crime are tired of this game and want to do something different. It's no longer about me...it's about others...it's about something bigger...<br /></div><div>I forget sometimes about that much bigger picture...no, not forget about it, just am too focused...'busy' with the menial daily tasks to take that necessary glimpse. It's harsh at the moment, but very quickly the harshness fades away and the picture becomes crystal clear. Yep, I see the picture...I get it...<br /></div><div>I've had a good dose of reality lately. And I didn't like it. But I needed it. My merry-go-round was going full tilt, almost out of control. I still don't like it. But if someone had not have applied the brakes when they did, I would seriously have missed & overlooked the main objective of the ride itself. And I'm very thankful for that. I'm focused again...kinda scary, huh?<br /></div><div>I wonder if that's what it was like for one of Christ's disciples in Matthew 8:21. Ready to go...do...be, but this one had other things to do...his mind was occupied...OCD...busyiness...<br />I don't want to be like that guy. But I could be...could you?<br /></div><div>Things I have to do: 1.) I have to...oh no, the merry-go-round is moving again, and it's my turn to help push... </div></div>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446881920335636022noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32409799.post-7919184621246800662008-04-07T21:08:00.000-04:002008-04-07T21:09:16.019-04:00Sometimes, Seeing Is Believing...<div align="center">Check Out <a href="http://h2oforlife.wordpress.com/2008/04/08/sometimes-seeing-is-believing/">THIS VIDEO</a>!</div>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446881920335636022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32409799.post-87032026657042562382008-01-18T19:45:00.000-05:002008-01-18T19:47:12.750-05:00New Book Release...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2i8Cu4l61aZ1rPACcljzHO-yEin5gQdQGY0HjBjC2lK5ZapUpLK7xqQLeZ8954hPbm9JLY3iH0djBQvog317yrR2AZ_CtHTjmWp4hcmOd58uq2ab9Mkhz1y6rcvHvgCiTACF4yQ/s1600-h/9781604622683med.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5156982746989802050" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2i8Cu4l61aZ1rPACcljzHO-yEin5gQdQGY0HjBjC2lK5ZapUpLK7xqQLeZ8954hPbm9JLY3iH0djBQvog317yrR2AZ_CtHTjmWp4hcmOd58uq2ab9Mkhz1y6rcvHvgCiTACF4yQ/s200/9781604622683med.jpg" border="0" /></a>One of my closest and dearest friends in all the world, <a href="http://www.aknightsinsight.blogspot.com/">Shane Knight</a>, has just released his first book. It has been in the printing and editing stages for many months, and today it was announced to the public. I'm extremely excited for him and his ministry, and I strongly feel that his work can & will help other pastors and staff members.<br /><br /><div><strong><em>"If The Truth Be Told"</em></strong> is a hard hitting book on the stress that ministers face in vocational ministry and how this stress can lead to ministers and other staff members leaving vocational ministry. He has put an unbelievable amount of time and research in this project. I have been with him from the very concept of this book, and I've read in it's entirety, and I must say, it is a must read for your libraries. It will be available for purchase at all major book stores on April 22nd, however, you can order your copy <a href="http://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-60462-268-3">NOW online HERE</a>. <a href="http://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-60462-268-3"></a><br /></div><br /><div>Please pray that God will use this book in a mighty and powerful way.</div>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446881920335636022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32409799.post-29506071895586139452008-01-09T21:59:00.000-05:002008-01-09T22:02:08.053-05:00Our h2o Campus Ministry Goes Global...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim5yeVyW5qsnWMkcdjM7ltAr403MJHGhfsBGF-uAn2KegH_Cqz53bT9pM64V_qxjJ3kLMBJq_EGKS9bYcu44CYQTQmZt2WH-zs4R_BuSgMMVD4ZIRgAUMPeujyi3VzMkhgLeXV7Q/s1600-h/listen-player.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5153677513608656994" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim5yeVyW5qsnWMkcdjM7ltAr403MJHGhfsBGF-uAn2KegH_Cqz53bT9pM64V_qxjJ3kLMBJq_EGKS9bYcu44CYQTQmZt2WH-zs4R_BuSgMMVD4ZIRgAUMPeujyi3VzMkhgLeXV7Q/s200/listen-player.jpg" border="0" /></a>For many months now, God has placed a tremendous vision...a burning passion in my heart to 'step outside the normal thought patterns' of outreach. To literally take Acts 1:8 and pursue it with abandon. Everything pointed in one direction...somehow, someway music, had to be the avenue...but how? After all, music is the window to the soul. But how...what?<br /><br /><div>Then it all became very clear...<br /></div><br /><div>Beginning this Spring, our <a href="http://www.h2oforlife.blogspot.com/">h2o Campus Ministry </a>is launching a full scale Internet Radio Station! Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week non-stop Contemporary Christian Music along with today's Modern Worship Leaders. You will also hear online devotions...h2o news...and lots more! The world just became smaller...<br /></div><br /><div>Our station is on the air NOW! Please take this as my personal invitation to go over to our <a href="http://www.h2oradio.wordpress.com/">h2o Radio Station website</a>. First and foremost, pray for it...ask for God's blessing, and for his protection. Ask God to use this outreach tool to His Glory!<br /></div><br /><div>Then, <a href="http://h2oradio.wordpress.com/player-download-instructions/">download the FREE Player </a>and begin enjoying <a href="http://www.h2oradio.wordpress.com/">h2o Radio</a>!<br /></div><br /><div>Remember, the more people that downloads the player...the more that listen...the more we share the Gospel. Be apart of our Acts 1:8 vision!</div>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446881920335636022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32409799.post-91418377389939530222008-01-09T19:17:00.001-05:002008-01-09T19:17:34.742-05:00New Blogger In Town...Hey Ya'll,<br /><br />One of my best friends in all the world has entered the blog world. Get on over an meet Shane. He has <a href="http://www.aknightsinsight.blogspot.com/">'A Knights Insight'</a>. Tell him I sent you!Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446881920335636022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32409799.post-27264253677624864252007-12-30T00:56:00.000-05:002007-12-30T00:57:09.632-05:00Have A Happy & Safe New Year...<div align="center"><a title="Click here to get MySpace comments, cool glitter graphics, photographs, funny stuff and more!" href="http://www.zingerbugimages.com/"><img height="276" src="http://www.holidays.zingerbugimages.com/NewYear/New_Years_Resolution_4.gif" width="233" border="0" /></a></div>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446881920335636022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32409799.post-36635904970018375242007-12-23T18:06:00.000-05:002007-12-23T18:07:31.986-05:00Christmas Carol...<a href="http://badaboo.free.fr/merryxmas.swf">Click Here </a>for the Best Christmas Carol of the season! Enjoy!Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446881920335636022noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32409799.post-5093915506268703302007-12-19T15:24:00.000-05:002007-12-19T15:28:00.777-05:00A Little Christmas Story...Little Carol came into the kitchen where her mother was making dinner. Christmas was coming up and she thought this was a good time to tell her mother what she wanted. "Mom, I want a bike for Christmas."<br /><br />Now, Little Carol was a bit of a troublemaker. She had gotten into trouble at school and at home. Carol's mother asked her if she thought she deserved to get a bike for Christmas. Little Carol, of course, thought she did.<br /><br />Carol's mother, being a Christian woman, wanted her to reflect on her behavior over the last year, and write a letter to God and tell him why she deserved a bike for Christmas. Little Carol stomped up the steps to her room and sat down to write God a letter.<br /><br />LETTER 1:<br />Dear God: I have been a very good girl this year and I would like a bike for Christmas. I want a red one.<br />Your friend,<br />Carol<br /><br />Carol knew this wasn't true. She had not been a very good girl this year, so she tore up the letter and started over.<br /><br />LETTER 2:<br />Dear God: This is your friend Carol. I have been a pretty good girl this year, and I would like a red bike for Christmas.<br />Thank you,<br />Carol<br /><br />Carol knew this wasn't true either. She tore up the letter and started again.<br /><br />LETTER 3:<br />Dear God: I know I haven't been a good girl this year. I am very sorry. I will be a good girl if you just send me a red bike for Christmas.<br />Thank you,<br />Carol<br /><br />Carol knew, even if it was true, this letter was not going to get her a bike. By now, she was very upset. She went downstairs and told her mother she wanted to go to church. Carol's mother thought her plan had worked because Carol looked very sad.<br /><br />"Just be home in time for dinner," her mother said.<br /><br />Carol walked down the street to the church and up to the altar. She looked around to see if anyone was there. She picked up a statue of the Virgin Mary, slipped it under her jacket and ran out of the church, down the street, into her house, and up to her room. She shut the door and sat down and wrote her letter to God.<br /><br />LETTER 4:<br />I GOT YOUR MAMA. IF YOU WANT TO SEE HER AGAIN, SEND THE BIKE.<br />Signed,<br />YOU KNOW WHOJimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446881920335636022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32409799.post-12942713648964549122007-12-16T14:49:00.000-05:002007-12-16T14:54:57.856-05:00Hell Has Frozen Over...The Finale<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPBE-UgFl-35Kqx3vzk9YUXJkTN9zGB6VZnphoQaLDTpdOUihNuEdrtEnCNy7zB6VMfpwDH7WE8u6Ceh-gHnIXYnmpSnUJ_jIK1_sAwCil9wDLYylALga-ERVFkZcEx6vFXjFqOg/s1600-h/ice-2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5144661355052136114" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPBE-UgFl-35Kqx3vzk9YUXJkTN9zGB6VZnphoQaLDTpdOUihNuEdrtEnCNy7zB6VMfpwDH7WE8u6Ceh-gHnIXYnmpSnUJ_jIK1_sAwCil9wDLYylALga-ERVFkZcEx6vFXjFqOg/s200/ice-2.jpg" border="0" /></a>Mark 11:25 & 26, tells us about what forgiveness must be. More than a snapshot, this Scripture is the original portrait of the essence of forgiveness. I had read it many, many times…I had heard that specific Scripture used in uncountable sermons. I’ve even preached on it myself. But not until the middle of June this past summer did I ever see it literally come alive.<br /><br />Jesus make forgiveness very simple, (my paraphrase), “when you are standing before Me, pouring out your heart to me, if you have ANYTHING against ANYONE, FORGIVE HIM, so that I may also forgive you. But if you don’t, neither will I forgive you.”<br /><br />So with that said, how in the world can we allow anything to remain in us, where it can grow and manifest itself into a bitter beast and keep us from forgiving? When in reality, it has successfully built a wall around us that is keeping God from forgiving us? Talk about a gulf that spans the East from the West!<br /><br />I actually thought I was enjoying life to the fullest, yet my spirit was being destroyed by an invisible beast within…<br /><br />It was a typical Friday in the Delta. All effort was being made just to stay cool. The summer’s heat had been overwhelming. At Dad’s Place, we were getting ready for our Friday night Live Music venue. We had a special treat that week. An up-and-coming new Christian artist was performing that night, and was using DP as the location for his CD Release Party. We had expected a good crowd all along, but never did I suspect who would actually show up.<br /><br />In the hustle and bustle of the crowd…the music and the mayhem, we were covered up making drinks…and in walked some of those same people from our last church that had given us so much grief and pain! It was at that point that all of my emotions, my anger and bitterness that I thought were long gone, came rushing out over me. I felt myself being transformed into something…someone I never knew existed. It was at that moment that I actually realized what had been going on inside of me for all of those years. It was all very vivid now. I remember telling Denise that I just can’t do this anymore…I know now THIS is what has been holding me back for so long. I could tell there was some sort of a barrier between God & me, yet I still didn’t understand it. For as much as I tried to break down the barrier, it kept growing stronger. I knew then, that all of the Bible reading, praying, Scripture studying and worshipping in the world wouldn’t help me grow in my spiritual walk UNTIL I was able to actually forgive everything and everyone that had been harboring inside my heart.<br /><br />I made my way to our back office where I honestly think I had a nuclear meltdown. Our coffee shop was full of people, but it was just God and me in that back room. That little office space and storage area became Holy Ground that night. And when that encounter was over, I walked out a changed man. You see, I was the one that had to do the work…I had to be the one to realize, recognize and release. God had always been there for me and with me…waiting, but until I was willing to let go of the hurt, He couldn’t help me.<br /><br />My life’s journey took on a brand new perspective that night. And in looking back, it was oh so needed for the path that He has taken our family on. We’ve climbed mountains and crawled into valleys that you cannot imagine since that night. But with each step I now take, I wrap myself in the blanket of peace of knowing that I have been forgiven, and, to help keep the chill out, for I’ll never forget the night that hell had snow drifts…Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446881920335636022noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32409799.post-23306263703669732032007-11-24T23:20:00.000-05:002007-11-24T23:25:02.133-05:00Hell Has Frozen Over...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjg1woYdE0ZuTDBpLUO7M-yrAiESamwGOnY4wM2q-UPLHUI1zN8_wZt8XXb-sy4jbCf_iAqJii2DItnSL9UI89eLYH-ttl4u1Nuu8hFPXX0At8_yOfUgrx2s7oXG-WeQJs6y97Ug/s1600-h/iceage.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5136629053602645202" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjg1woYdE0ZuTDBpLUO7M-yrAiESamwGOnY4wM2q-UPLHUI1zN8_wZt8XXb-sy4jbCf_iAqJii2DItnSL9UI89eLYH-ttl4u1Nuu8hFPXX0At8_yOfUgrx2s7oXG-WeQJs6y97Ug/s200/iceage.jpg" border="0" /></a>Who would have ever thought that on a sizzling summer day in the hot Delta sun, things could have turned so cold…<br /><br />One of the oldest clichés ever used goes something like this, ‘hell will freeze over before ______________ (you fill in the blank) will ever happen.’ I’ve used it…you’ve used it…we’ve all used it. And as usual, that ‘whatever’ never happens…just as you predicted. But have you ever wondered what would actually happen, if, that ‘whatever’ <em>did</em> come true? Generally, this cliché is always used when there is a guarantee that the ‘whatever’ will NEVER EVER take place.<br /><br />I’ve learned, that’s not always true…<br /><br />After years of serving on staff at a local church, not to mention all the years of being a preacher’s kid, watching…listening to each and everything thing that was said and done in the name of church, I’ve had to learn what it means to have ‘thick skin’. With my own experiences, as well as those from countless other pastors and staff members, it’s become extremely obvious that church members can be some of the most harshest people on earth. Some of the things they say…actions they take…literally can cut to the bone. And generally their target is church staff members. What’s sad, is that many times the advice from senior staff members to younger staff members comes only in the phrase, ‘Well you just need to grow some thick skin.” Instead of trying to help these young guys, they generally just get the brush off. I personally believe there is more to it than just ‘growing thick skin.’ It’s past time that church members stop using pastors and other staff members for target practice.<br /><br />Having said that, let me also just say that I’ve heard just about every comment known to man when it comes to pastoral staff abuse. And I <em>have</em> developed ‘thick skin’. But just a few short years ago, my family and I suffered so much at the tongues and the actions of many of the church members where I was on staff, that it affected me much more than I realized. I honestly thought that I had moved beyond all of that hurt and bitterness that I felt in those early days. I was drastically wrong.<br /><br />I had somehow, allowed the memories of that unbelievable experience, to hide themselves away in the pits of my heart. And there, they began to manifest themselves into deeper hurt…bitterness…even anger, without me actually realizing it. I truly thought I was over this. But instead, I had a mountain of unforgiveness growing inside me, with no end in site…<br /><br /><br /><em>…to be continued</em>.Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446881920335636022noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32409799.post-62785485017080829052007-11-09T23:23:00.000-05:002007-11-09T23:27:22.703-05:00Hello Again...To all of our dear friends and readers, thank you for waiting on us to finally get settled. It's been a long few months. But as I write this, we've moved into our new home, trying to get over major colds, and doing our best to stay warm. We saw our first snowfall of the winter just a couple of days ago. That's so different to me. <br /><br />I'm slowly but surely getting back in 'writing' mode. I'm currently writing for 3 different blogs, plus a couple of other literary works, so you can see I'm quite busy. But I've missed writing for this blog. You've been excellent readers, and I'm ready to get back to you on a regular basis. <br /><br />I'll be seeing you soon...until then, I'm headed back to the coffee pot...Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446881920335636022noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32409799.post-80199103212534463592007-10-15T08:26:00.000-04:002007-10-15T08:34:36.586-04:00Horton...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkEx0qXRVfnqyRufFCvhGgfWvEdOPsUOHb_Ey17L7R5lMplhCedsG6wlnR-c1QA2_HtIizBQWidoalogpN5X4_rj71pJoY89X3JB8yxeIzuYN5ld1Eg75_xXzs7NFnHbQ8MW_DIA/s1600-h/51CDXTYQQYL.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121540845792256482" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkEx0qXRVfnqyRufFCvhGgfWvEdOPsUOHb_Ey17L7R5lMplhCedsG6wlnR-c1QA2_HtIizBQWidoalogpN5X4_rj71pJoY89X3JB8yxeIzuYN5ld1Eg75_xXzs7NFnHbQ8MW_DIA/s200/51CDXTYQQYL.jpg" border="0" /></a>Horton...an unlikely hero in a timeless children's classic. How ironic that the character of Horton resembles the modern day Christ-follower!<br /><br /><div>In 'Horton Hears A Who' the book tells the story of <a title="Horton the Elephant" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horton_the_Elephant">Horton the Elephant</a> who, on the fifteenth of May in the Jungle of Nool, hears a small speck of dust talking to him. It turns out the speck of dust is actually a tiny planet, home to a city called "Who-ville", inhabited by microscopic-sized inhabitants known as Whos.<br /></div><br /><div>The Whos ask Horton (who, though he cannot see them, is able to hear them quite well) to protect them from harm, to which Horton happily obliges, proclaiming throughout the book that "a person's a person, no matter how small". In doing so he is ridiculed and nearly murdered by the other animals in the jungle for believing in something that they are unable to see or hear. His chief tormentors are the Wickersham Brothers and the Sour Kangaroo, and the small kangaroo in her pouch. Horton tells the Whos that they needed to make themselves heard to the other animals, lest they end up as part of "beezlenut stew", which they finally accomplish. The Who's finally make themselves heard by ensuring that all members of their society play their part. In the end it is the smallest Who of all, Jo-Jo, who provides the last volume lift to be heard, thus reinforcing the moral of "a person's a person no matter how small".<br /></div><br /><div>We looked at several Scriptural comparisons in this story, but the one I really wanted to focus on was just how compassionate Horton was, to a 'talking' speck of dust, that no one else could hear. We looked at Matthew Chapter 9, verses 35 - 38 where Jesus looks out at the multitudes and is moved with compassion. He compares the multitudes to 'sheep without a shepherd.'<br /></div><br /><div>One could say that Horton was 'born' to hear the 'un-hearable'...the ones that are desperate in need of saving. So it is that we, as Christ-Followers, that have been 'born again', are able to hear those same ones that are crying out...desperate in need of saving. But we have to be willing to hear...wanting to help, at all costs. Look at what happened to Horton...he was riduculed, injured, nearly murdered. When we as Christ-Followers start getting our hands dirty, reaching out to those who are searching for Christ, we will become riduculed...sometimes injured...and possibly, nearly murdered. Just look at all of the missionairies that have committed their lives to living overseas, in unknown lands, just to share the Gospel.<br /></div><br /><div>When Jesus told his disciples in verse 37 & 38 that the "harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few," and to "pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest." He was telling them...and He's telling us now, that WE are the laborers that need to be in the harvest. But how can we see the harvest, if we cannot see with compassion?<br /></div><br /><div>Horton was willing to do whatever it took, just to save that little dust speck...the land of the Who's. The Apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 9:22 that "I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some."<br /></div><br /><div>Even though our days are filled with chapters to read...tests to study for...and papers to write, games to prepare for...routines to rehearse...and don't forget we have to check out our FaceBook, we seriously need to take every opportunity we can to evaluate our campus, our dorms...see the harvest...and do as Jesus tells us, 'get busy', 'we have a crop to gather'. And we, are the workers.<br /></div><br /><div>Hear the hurting...feel the desperation...see with compassion...get in the harvest! We WILL make a difference...just look at Horton!</div>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446881920335636022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32409799.post-62383437160956363122007-09-13T22:38:00.000-04:002007-09-13T22:55:10.957-04:00Things We Forgot To Put In Our Backpack...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiyjo8HI9ABGCdGS5eK6t78_seGAMXcx5b039tPJV5xVto-M7XoM9bAFI76sBr808CI4prmGKaT4EbUQmEHw1eOnk-boCdmtT4vjjhvKGaLqzaDIGXi_VevYVoT0qk3rWUmNYEPQ/s1600-h/yoda_backpack_storage.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109885499897281634" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiyjo8HI9ABGCdGS5eK6t78_seGAMXcx5b039tPJV5xVto-M7XoM9bAFI76sBr808CI4prmGKaT4EbUQmEHw1eOnk-boCdmtT4vjjhvKGaLqzaDIGXi_VevYVoT0qk3rWUmNYEPQ/s200/yoda_backpack_storage.jpg" border="0" /></a>Each year, about a month prior to the start of school, every elementary school in the land puts out a school supply list. And Wal-Mart sets out a huge display in their front door of gazillions of copies of each and every school lists for Mommies and Daddies to get a list, and go get all the supplies on the school supply list. It’s a nightmare to say the least when parents are out in full force @ Wal-Mart in the back to school aisles.<br /><br /><div></div><div>Now when we get to the High School, the lists were gone but we were in routine enough to go ahead and get the necessities: paper, folders, notebooks, pens, pencils, Kleenex, gum, breath mints, chapstick, hand sanitizer, you get the picture.</div><br /><div>But when we get to college, all rules are pretty much thrown out because you don’t have a clue what your professors are going to want until that 1st couple of days of classes. And by then you’ve already been hammered with 47 chapters to read in 14 different books; not to mention trying to learn where your classes are, trying to park, and of course buying your books. The 1st time I had to buy college books, I about had heart failure. How in the world could 5 books cost $800.00 I’ll never know!</div><br /><div>What’s Missing?</div><br /><div>Today, the average college student is so unprepared to face the new world. Whether it’s lack of parental support, maybe we didn’t get totally prepared in high school to face the new classes… maybe we were never really taught how to study in high school and the list goes on and on. We come to college not ready.</div><br /><div>In 1997, the dropout rate for college freshman:</div><div>a.) in public universities = 28.6%</div><div>b.) in private universities = 25.9%</div><div>c.) overall = 26.7%</div><br /><div>Today, overall, for all 4 classifications of students 500,000 students dropout of a 4 year college. And to make matters worse, nearly 1/3 of all Americans in their mid-20’s are college dropouts. Today, ¼ of all new freshman who started T.U. or @ the Berg, statistically will not be back next fall. Again, what’s missing?</div><br /><div>But there is a greater failure rate among college students and especially freshman. It’s a spiritual dropout… A relational dropout! Students today are walking away from any relationship they ever had with Jesus at an alarming rate. Today, almost 9 out of every 10 students, when they graduated high school are done/finished with their part of the relationship with Jesus. 85% - 90% of all Americans – 18–25 are unchurched...that means 17.5 million people! </div><br /><div>What happened?</div><br /><div>It goes back to that backpack concept. We forgot a couple of things. When we graduated, or left for college, we forgot to pack a few critical items for survival.</div><br /><div>For me, a flash drive is critical to my survival and possibly for some of you, something like a flash drive is critical also. Imagine everything that you ever worked on, all your pictures, MP3s, things that were very important to you. Imagine leaving that @ home, and forgetting to bring it, or worse what is you lost it? Or what if it were your laptop?</div><br /><div>Students are forgetting to pack:</div><div>Their curfews – I’m in college, I can stay up as late as I want.</div><div>Their morals – many times, morals disappear on college campuses.</div><div>Their food – (Bible) “I won’t need my Bible @ college.</div><div>Their focus/their purpose.</div><br /><div>Girls are consistently looking for their “MRS.” degree and guys are looking for another notch on their gun. Yep, I would say, something is missing!</div><br /><div></div><div>Grab your Bible and go on over to 1 Peter 5, and read verses 5 through 11. In a way, this is a perfect road map to college, and for college.</div><br /><div></div><div>This is Simon Peter opening up his heart to us, trying to help us NOT make some of the mistakes he did. Simon Peter...the author of this book...the guy who 'literally' forgot his backpack, much less forgot to pack it. This guy knows first hand what it’s like to be chewed up and devoured by satan. He knew all too well that satan is consistently on the prowl. And if Peter tells us that in order for us to be on guard...be alert...ever watchful of satan, then we have to clothe ourselves in humility...how hard is that? Then Simon said to 'cast all of our cares on Jesus'. Why? Because Jesus cares for us...and Simon Peter knew that. Then finally, he says to 'resist the devil'. How? By being 'steadfast in our faith...knowing that we are not alone.' We're all in this battle, and Peter knew it. And he's sharing from the depths of his heart to try and protect us from this beast called satan.</div><br /><div></div><div>And the end result...go ahead and read verses 10 and 11. Now you know...that's Peter we're talking about. He knew. Peter, forgot to pack his backpack. And this is his 'school supply list' for us. But not only for school...but for life.</div><div> </div><div>So this is Peter, Simon Peter himself telling us how to be guarded…how to survive…how to defend…defeat…avoid the attacks of the devil. Because he knew that Jesus perfected him, established him, strengthened him, and settled him. And Peter knew that Jesus would do the same for us.</div><br /><div>How? He humbled himself, clothed himself with humility...he cast all of his cares on Jesus...he was sober…self controlled...he was vigilant…ever watchful...and he resisted satan being steadfast in his faith.</div><br /><div>I don't know about you, but I think it’s about time we repacked our backpacks.</div>Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02446881920335636022noreply@blogger.com0