tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-204150072024-03-07T17:59:43.033-07:00The Morgan Church Devotionala pastor's thoughts about...uhm...stuffPMike.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10824852301271833428noreply@blogger.comBlogger377125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20415007.post-76834058689392638032009-06-16T07:12:00.002-06:002009-06-16T07:17:02.938-06:00A New Postwell...this thing has been dormat for almost a year. the good news is i had posted the lyrics to a song called "never far from me"...i really like the song...but i had lost the lyrics...i had the first verse memorized and had 2 other verses on the hd...but, to be honest, they stunk...last year 2 new verses hit me (keeping the same sort of pattern to the first verse)...but (i guess) inever saved them. i tried remembering them, but had no luck. <br /><br />so, i'm glad to be back for that reason...<br /><br />but i also want to begin posting regularly again...so, once or twice a week, i will do my best to do that.PMike.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10824852301271833428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20415007.post-18744967195938030752008-08-04T07:55:00.000-06:002008-08-04T08:03:06.173-06:00Life in a Cageduring the children's story yesterday (it's everyone's favorite time of the service. to be honest, people remember teh children's story more than they do the sermon...i've even thought of doing the sermon like i do for the kids...anyway)...<br /><br />i asked the kids what kind of bird they would choose to be...we had fun listening to their choices. robins, bluebirds, later one boy told me he would like to be an eagle. <br /><br />none of them said they wanted to be a parakeet stuck in a cage. i know lots of people have birds as pets...but i wouldn't want to be that bird. birds were meant to be free...birds were meant to fly, not to live in a cage for someone's entertainment. <br /><br />but, i must say, it's an easy life for it. lot's of food...no predators (except the cat)...i guess you might even say they have some sort of companionship...<br /><br />it's easy living in a cage. but it's living in a cage. it's not living as living should be. it's less than. it's existing. <br /><br />there are lots of cages for christians. <br /><br />the devil's lies. people's expectations. guilt. selfishness. comfortableness. fear. anxiety. <br /><br />you weren't meant to live in a cage. you were meant to live free.<br /><br />it's risky.<br /><br />but it's worth it.PMike.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10824852301271833428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20415007.post-87098558280838208452008-07-30T06:33:00.000-06:002008-07-30T06:34:26.692-06:00Never Far From MeI am reminded by the blue sky<br />I am reminded by the rain<br />I’m reminded by the gentle healing<br />Yet reminded by my pain<br /><br /><em><strong>That You are never far from me<br />Never far from me<br />Never far…never far…never far from me</strong></em><br /><br />I am reminded in the quiet<br />And when things get kind of loud<br />I’m reminded in the closet<br />And I’m reminded in the crowd<br /><br />When I’m floating on the current<br />And caught in the undertow<br />I’m reminded by the ravens<br />And by the rooster’s crow…PMike.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10824852301271833428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20415007.post-5384217674017146762008-07-26T14:41:00.000-06:002008-07-26T14:43:13.271-06:00Inspiration Move Me Brightlywe have a blessed family. we are blessed with the desire to make music...to not just repeat music that has already been made, but to make new music...music that has never been heard b4. making music (esp new music) is a lot of fun. there is much joy in the process (even when the process is difficult) and more joy when there is a finished product.<br /><br />there is a melding of forces involved.<br /><br />there is the force of human wit and wisdom, where the maker of music toils and labors and sweats out a finished product in the same way a carpenter builds a house or a chef prepares a meal.<br /><br />there is also the force of the Maker of music's gift to the maker of music. where the natural born talent (of supernatural origin) is applied and the maker of music surrenders to the gift in him/her and (so it seems) music is effortlessly born.<br /><br />now, when these two forces are combined, "magic" happens. i know that term bothers us xians. but what i mean by it is, it cannot be explained...even by one who is within the process. i don't mean sleight of hand...or illusion. nor am i giving some sort of endorsment to new age spirituality. there is something unexplicable when a person takes their learned & earned effort and combines it with their God originated talent. whether it's beethoven or the beatles it is absolutely amazing what these two forces bring about.<br /><br />that's not to say this music is (or is not) acceptable. it is only saying all talent and "natural" abilities come from God. He is the creator of all life and He puts "things" in us that we can use to make a contribution to society...whether we are xian or not. i am glad the mechanic i bring my car to--who often reminds me in various ways he is not a xian!--has the God given ability to figure out what is wrong with my car and fix it. i'm also glad he as the resources to purchase equipment to help him figure things out...i see that as God at work...i try to remind him that God works thru him...that his abilities are a combination of God born talent and his own hard work and learning.<br /><br />there is, of course, one last force to mention. it is God Himself. there are times God drops a piece of music ready made onto the lap of the musician with little or no effort on their part. it comes differently than just the normal gift for music God gives. it is special...it is singular...it is...rare. even for great musicians, it is rare. <br /><br />well, i began writing about something else entirely...i was going to write about love...i will later today or tmw....in the mean time, i hope this was at least a little bit interesting.PMike.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10824852301271833428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20415007.post-59416610619799708572008-07-23T19:38:00.000-06:002008-07-23T19:39:07.200-06:00Get in the Game...so, today, july 23rd, is a cold, rainy october day. it's about 60 degrees, but the steady rain makes it feel a bit colder. i'm sitting at home in pajamas imagining a nice warm cup of coffee but am too lazy to go make one. i'm using the excuse it will keep me awake tonight (which it probably would). <br /><br />we just came in from joe's soccer game...they don't cancel soccer games for rain...only lightning. it didn't lightning at all, so, they played.<br /><br />joe had a lot of fun. he and the other kids ran and splashed. they mushed their hair into faux hawks and other odd shapes. they pretended they were really hot and were sweating up a storm. they slid in the mud and laughed at each other. it was a blast for them. they didn't notice it was cold. the rain didn't bother them too much...they were having fun and a little rain and cold wasn't going to change that for them. <br /><br />on the other hand, bella, carlo, our friend bill and me were standing on the sidelines watching. it was fun for a little while watching them have fun. we laughed as joe licked his finger and stuck it up in the air (as if to see which direction it was blowing) and then miss the ball with his kick...we huddled next to each other to keep warm. i offered my flannel shirt to the kids (and they very graciously said "no thanks"). <br /><br />after just a short while it wasn't any fun for us. we were just hanging on till the end...and with every whistle blown we hoped time was up. we moved around and even went to the other side of the field so the wind would be at our backs...but, by then we had had it. we couldn't wait to get home and dry off and warm up. <br /><br />all the while joe had a big smile on his face. <br /><br />so...what am i getting at? <br /><br />there are a good many people in a good many churches on the sidelines watching the game. the cheer the players on; they give encouragement to them; they even help support the action. they have a vested interest in what is happening on the field...it's important to them. and on nice days...when everything is going well and people are getting along and the preacher is saying what they want to hear...they are happy as can be. <br /><br />but, on a day when it's rainy and cold and the preacher been dragging a few old sermons out and people are grumpy and blah, blah, blah...then it's easy to hunker down and wait for the final whistle, er, trumpet. <br /><br />put me in coach, i'm ready to play today...PMike.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10824852301271833428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20415007.post-17666124965833023022008-07-22T06:23:00.002-06:002008-07-22T06:55:20.573-06:00I Walk the Lineor, at least i try to.<br /><br />there is a continual need to create balance in our lives. <br /><br />the balance between work and leisure.<br />the balance between faith and action.<br />the balance between justice and mercy.<br />the balance between eternal security and personal responsibility.<br />the balance between culture and tradition. <br />the balance between tradition and relevance.<br />the balance between grace and obedience.<br />the balance between blessing and blessing. <br /><br />in other areas, we must be careful to "not cross the line from:<br /><br />charity to enabling.<br />challenge to unrealistic expectations.<br />discipline to abuse.<br />contentedness to apathy.<br />contentedness to pride. <br />responsibility to control.<br />concern to gossip. <br />a couple to a few too many. <br /><br />i suppose there are many other areas of balance in our lives...some of us keep the balance in some areas very well...others cross lines far too often.<br /><br />we would be wise to slow down and become intentional. those are the first steps to balance.PMike.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10824852301271833428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20415007.post-46706769804559195852008-07-20T13:25:00.001-06:002008-07-20T13:28:04.164-06:00sermon outline 20 july 08One way to start effectively praying for unbelievers is changing your attitude about them<br /> <br />Are they “lost” or are they “bad”?<br /><br />"Lost" view:<br />Spiritual focus. <br />Considers own sinfulness. Humble. <br />Encourages helping and addressing the needs of the heart. <br /><br />"bad" view:<br /><br />Religious focus. <br />Considers own morality. Prideful. <br />Encourages judgment and seeks to change behavior and/or society.<br /><br />We may disagree/dislike immoral behavior<br />But God is first concerned with the issue of belief<br />John 3:18<br /><br />Always Consider Eternity<br />Passages relating to hell: Mt 5:22-29; 25:31-46; <br />1 Thes 1:9<br /><br />Another thing we can do for the unbeliever is to <br />begin praying for them (from Colossians 4:2-6)<br /><br />Be devoted to prayer<br />Pray consistently<br />Regularly (daily). Specifically (by name). <br /><br />Pray earnestly<br />Remember the importance of evangelism. <br />Be passionate.<br /><br />Pray rightly (IAW God’s promises) <br />God desires people to be saved<br />2 Pet 3:9 & 1 Tim 2:4<br />God is able and willing to answer prayer<br />James 5:16<br /><br />Pray God will “send out workers”<br />Matthew 9:37<br /><br />Who is an evangelist?<br />Some have a special gift, but we are all witnesses<br /><br />A witness _______ the story of what they saw<br /><br />And invites the person to experience the same <br /><br />Pray God will “open doors” for evangelism<br /><br />Don’t push (or pull) doors to open them<br />Let God have His time to work<br /><br />Recognize we are a part of that person’s process<br /><br />What can we do (beside prayer) to open doors?<br />(see vv 5-6) <br />Be _________ take _______________<br /><br />Be _________-full be “_____________” w/salt <br /><br />Key verse 1 Pet 3:15PMike.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10824852301271833428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20415007.post-74138461221466532402008-06-28T08:14:00.000-06:002008-06-28T08:15:35.478-06:00God Bless You...This MorningGod bless you in the morning<br />as you first begin to rise<br />and you put your feet down on the floor<br />and rub the sleep from your eyes<br /><br />God bless you with your coffee<br />and as you eat your toast<br />as you ponder your busy day<br />and what thing you should do first<br /><br />God bless you as you get the kids up<br />and they complain and gigle<br />God bless their little arms and legs<br />as you dress them thru their wiggles<br /><br />God bless you with the car keys<br />and as you shut the door<br />and sit sighing as you start it<br />remembering some undone chorePMike.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10824852301271833428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20415007.post-36841889794880190812008-06-28T08:12:00.000-06:002008-06-28T08:14:33.354-06:00God Bless You...This AfternoonGod bless you as you're driving<br />and weave the morning mess<br />God bless you on your arriving<br />& as you sit down at your desk...<br /><br />God bless you this afternoon<br />as you finish up your meal<br />and wish you could take a nap<br />for your waning zeal<br /><br />God bless you amidst the papers<br />or among the hammers and the nails<br />or about your many students<br />or the milk pails<br /><br />God bless you on your ride home<br />and as you share your meal together<br />and as you chase a thousand ways<br />God bless the ties that tether...PMike.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10824852301271833428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20415007.post-31860658345609211932008-06-28T08:08:00.000-06:002008-06-28T08:11:42.168-06:00God Bless You...This NightGod bless you as He finds you<br />as this day turns into night<br />as you tuck your kids into their beds<br />and turn on their night lights<br /><br />God bless you in the silence<br />or in the din of the t.v.<br />or in the pleasant conversation<br />or (sadly) in the animosity<br /><br />God bless you in the covers<br />as you lay there and thoughts stew<br />and as the sleep dust hovers<br />may indeed, God bless youPMike.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10824852301271833428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20415007.post-80315229246973177612008-05-28T09:19:00.000-06:002008-05-28T09:21:06.996-06:00A Re-run...but a Good One"i tried to make you like me with some words and a six string;<br />i was starving for a deeper love...my God, what shallow reasoning.<br />and even when it got cold, i hardly knew i'd died;<br />i guess you go a little numb before you go empty on the inside"<br />from "songwriter" by Bill Mallonee<br /><br />i was recently reading a series of articles on "people who died young"...as you might expect, there were a great many musicians on that list. some died in accidents, but many, if not most, of them died either by suicide or overdose.<br /><br />we aren't surprised by it, sad to say. but why is that?<br /><br />to not exactly quote Augustine, we were made to be at home in God and our hearts are restless until we find Him...<br /><br />and life is full of dis-satisfaction. life is full of angst. life is full of empty...there's one for you. life is full of empty.<br /><br />and the musician (particularly the songwriter) has the job of relating life's experience to people...it's a daunting task, to mess with your own emptiness and even delve into someone else's.<br /><br />even when the songwriter isn't writing (or singing) about emptiness...it lingers...it hangs around...it is there...it's ominous presence shading the black and white textures of the song, evoking feelings of longing and yearning and...dis-satisfaction. it's easy to fall prey to this hunter called depression and isolation...and he's an expert killer.<br /><br />to be honest, most of my own best written songs are borne of this feeling...this ache...this dullness...this longing for God. i haven't always understood it...and still don't completely; but it was always a part of me.<br /><br />then.<br />something.<br />changed.<br /><br />i didn't know it changed...but then, one day, i noticed the ache was gone. i also noticed it was a while since i wrote a decent song...but that ache...that hurt...that restlessness was gone. i stumbled on the cure for the life full of empty.<br /><br />it wasn't that i met Jesus...i had become a christian years before. sincerely. but, i guess, i finally stopped striving with Him...and just began to believe Him.<br /><br />it's funny, i kind of miss that ache, to be honest. it was like a drug...and it was impossible to think of giving it up, and if it (the cure) didn't "sneak up on me", i'd still be an addict.<br /><br />you may not be a songwriter. you may not think yourself creative...but you may have that dull ache of longing...and it drives you...it motivates you...it's a part of you. sometimes you think it is you.<br /><br />it's not.<br /><br />you are restless....you were made to be home, and you are not. you know where home is...you know, on some level, you want to be there, but you are not.<br /><br />i know that feeling. i've bottled that feeling up in songs. i've been drunk on that feeling. and i've been bitten on the butt by that feeling.<br /><br />i've felt like the songwriter, who said:<br /><br />" in the end, when i just ain't got the time<br />oh well, i'm wasted and i can't find my way home"<br /><br />or the teacher who said:<br /><br />"Everything is meaningless," says the Teacher, "utterly meaningless!" What do people get for all their hard work? Generations come and go, but nothing really changes. The sun rises and sets and hurries around to rise again. The wind blows south and north, here and there, twisting back and forth, getting nowhere. The rivers run into the sea, but the sea is never full. Then the water returns again to the rivers and flows again to the sea. Everything is so weary and tiresome! No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content.<br /><br />but my heart found it's home when it just started taking Jesus at His word.<br /><br />and, by the way, it's only been my art that has suffered.PMike.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10824852301271833428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20415007.post-60005575707555710812008-04-05T09:20:00.002-06:002008-04-05T09:27:22.403-06:00My C-Log About C-LogsThis C-Log is written with tongue sometimes firmly planted in cheek...it is yours to figure out when, i guess...<br /><br />i’ve never worn clogs. chances are i will never wear clogs...no matter what words we call them or how stylish and acceptable it is for men to wear them. it won’t happen. <br /><br />that’s a short rant about clogs. but, i want to rant about something else. i call them "C-Logs".<br /><br />i (probably like you) keep a blog. "blog" is (i know you know this) short for "web-log...it is a journal of sorts...a journal that other people can read. so, we probably shouldn't put too too much info in them...lest we reveal something that might get "used against us". and, as long as i’m complaining, i might as well say this, remember, other people read your blogs. lol...<br /><br />but that still isn’t my rant. <br /><br />why i do this, i don’t know...my wife tells me not to...and she’s right. i should listen to her a little more often than i do...<br /><br />but i read several C-Logs somewhat regularly...they raise my blood pressure and get my dander up...etc etc...sometimes i even try to "fix" them. i’ll ask a question or (only once, honest) let go with guns blazing and firing all over the place. i think i might regret that one time i fired on someone...not bc i think i said anything wrong or mean...bc i don't think i did(the C-Logger might disagree)...but bc, hey, it is his C-Log, right? he can write what he likes. <br /><br />but, i do like to fix things...so i tried to fix his C-Log.<br /><br />"wait a minute", you say "what in the world is a ’C-Log’?"<br /><br />ahhh yes...the C-Log. if a blog is a "web log" a C-Log is a complaint log. a running log of complaints...not your normal run of the mill complaints...they (the complaints) aren’t about the weather (i can complain abou that...we still have 2 feet of the stuff and it snowed again yesterday...grumble...mumble...), or about traffic (i could there, too...man...i was in derby yesterday and there was 5--count them! 5 cars in front of me at the traffic light! [alright i can't complain about traffic, lol...but, gromble momble, anyway...), or about this or that...every day stuff. <br /><br />no, these two C-Logs i mention complain about important stuff. <br /><br />one of them is written by an atheist. i found her C-Log through a friend’s blog...so, i guess we have a mutual friend. she doesn’t post often...but when she does she tells the world just how stupid religious people are (esp christians). she informs us just how smart and noble she is since she has dismissed the notion of God...how healthy and happy her children are bc they aren’t force fed religious fairy tales and how dysfunctional my children (well, not me personally of course, but ...you know...) are, bc i do raise them to know God is real. i find her to be quite mean spirited and unhappy and abrasive. this C-Log is dedicated to complaints about religious matters...so, bc i’m a curious guy, i read her other blog. i wasn’t too surprised to find it to be another C-Log...albeit this one dedicated to the trivial things of life. like coffee drinking "some people are so stupid!" she writes "they don’t even know how to make coffee! it takes 2 TABLESPOONS of coffee to make one cup!!! don’t you _________ know anything/???" and numerous other matters...<br /><br />but, you know, altho i find it sad, i read it. for a couple of reasons...one is, i want to know how the unbeliever thinks. i’ve been a follower for 20 years now...i remember my life back then...but it is hard to go back to that way of thinking. most of my friends are christians...i work in a christian environment...i need the "fresh air" (like going outside when you live in the city) of an unbeliever. another reason i read it is bc, like a car wreck, it is captivating in it’s brutality. <br /><br />the other C-Log is different. it is written by a christian. he’s sincere in his belief. and on a lot of levels, he is a nice guy. i knew him for a few years, some years back...i won’t say when...i don’t want people from the various stages of my life trying to figure out who it is...(btw, the thought does hit me...then why C-Log??? bc i think i might explode if i don’t and i have to preach tonight...lol)<br /><br />the problem with this C-Log is his condescending manner of writing. every one else is wrong...i know we all have opinions...and we all think our opinions are right...i do (think my opinion is right, that is). but this is different. nearly every post is about how someone (or someones) is wrong about this or that. he often focuses on one word (or a short saying) of what they said and runs with it. he is a very smart and studious guy...but...man...he can just put you off with his words (or his attitude???). any way...<br /><br />i think the saddest thing about this is after i read my christian friend’s C-Log i ahve that same empty, just got hit by a bat feeling i have when i read the atheist’s blog...<br /><br />probably how you feel right now after reading my C-Log...so:<br /><br />i really should listen to my wife more...and <br /><br />as God helps me, may this be my last C-Log.PMike.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10824852301271833428noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20415007.post-71269989622378006242008-03-29T08:32:00.001-06:002008-03-29T08:32:35.563-06:00Who's Driving That Thing?i remember once during college a friend and i decided to have some fun. it was a spur of the moment thing, which is when fun (and trouble) are most had. we were in his car and for some reason he put his seat down...i told him to start driving and he did...all around campus. as we passed by several different groups of people i told him to honk and i enthusiastically waved at them...it was funny to see the looks on their faces change from odd curiousity to laughter as they tried to figure out who was driving. <br /><br />was it a right handed steering wheel? i had one of the them when i was in greece...it was fun to drive and surprisingly easy. the muffler fell off after a while, but greece didn’t have (or enforce) those sorts of laws...plus i fit in with the locals, so i never fixed it. <br /><br />i don’t think driving that way was too dangerous. we were on a closed campus and we were only going 5-10 mph. it was easy to warn dave to turn or stop or anything like that. i wasn’t afraid at all. plus, driving this way required dave to pay attention...which he didn’t always do otherwise. <br /><br />but i don’t think i would drive that way in town...or on the highway...or any where else, really. driving blind was was fun and fine going 5 mph...but change the scenery and it is dangerous and dumb. <br /><br />when we make decisions in life...we have to admit a few things. first off, we’re driving blind. blind to how our decisions affect our future. blind to how our decisions affect the future of other people. sometimes we’re even blind to how our decisions affect our (and their) present. <br /><br />"i didn’t mean for that to happen" or "i didn’t see that coming" are two of the saddest statements we can ever utter. they are also two statements that God NEVER makes. <br /><br />we can drive blind at 5 mph...<br /><br />but life doesn’t move at 5 mph, does it?PMike.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10824852301271833428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20415007.post-47449313946129189392008-03-25T16:40:00.003-06:002008-03-25T17:14:07.122-06:00Get the Led Out...i want to be led by God. every step. i think one of the first things we have to do b4we begin to understand what it means to be led by God is learning what interferes with being led. <br /><br />a common <a href="http://www.myspace.com/billmallonee">bill mallonee </a>metaphor is the idea of communication with God being like a radio receiver...esp if you remember the old days of dial radios...you would fanangle that dial and get it in just the right spot to get your radio station in w/o static...if you were driving, it would change as you moved; you were forever reaching for the dial as you drove...esp when a good song was playing. if i was listening to the radio in my room, sometimes my mom or dad would be doing something downstairs and interfere with my station...eventually my older brother rigged up some sort of antenna that which worked well...except for when an airplane flew over head. <br /><br />currently in our home we don't have cable/sat tv. don't want it either. our poor, deprived kids. but i miss baseball. alot. i listen to games on the radio...but it's a hassle...even tho the radio station is less than 10 miles away, i can hardly get it in. one day, i was listening to the sox playing the indians...and the announcers were obviously indian fans...and then i realized i was listening to a cleveland OHIO radio station...it over powered our little nickle and dime radio station...i tried the old tin foil on the antenna thing...i got to get my older brother to come up and rig somehting up...<br /><br />what are the things that get in our way? sin, obviously. it's great that our sins are forgiven...i love the thought that all of my sin paid for on Calvary's tree. that Jesus died for all of it (even the sins i will commit tomorrow). i don't have to get hung up on worrying about being forgiven. i am. <br /><br />i walk in newness of life, bc God has forgiven all of my sins. oh, how i need that! <br /><br />but, at the same time, i realize that sin corrupts my relationship with Him. it gets in the way...blocks the signal...brings static...confusion.<br /><br />bad attitudes get in the way...unforgiveness...senses of entitlement ... selfishness ... anger ... well, unchecked anger. self pity...when i think about it, these things are all "me-focused". they aren't God focused...if God is the signal we are trying to tune in, other signals (including "me") just get in the way...<br />and i'm stuck trying to put tin foil on my spiritual ears in order to hear God...or i get duped into listening to the wrong station.<br /><br />i want to be led by God. <br /><br />focus...pay attention. <br /><br />amen.PMike.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10824852301271833428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20415007.post-2554766762843742712008-03-22T12:13:00.001-06:002008-03-22T12:22:43.354-06:00Rez Sermon Outline<em><strong>Make a Plan for L.I.F.E.</strong></em><br />Not having a plan is a plan to fail<br />The Morgan Church theme for 2008 is “P.L.A.N. B.: <br />Producing a Loving Active Network of Believers”<br />“Plan A”: is our plan for our lives; “Plan B” is God’s<br /><br />People living according to “Plan A” often live: <br />Carelessly (sinfully): sexual immorality; impurity, selfish ambition; drunkenness, <br />Carefully (religiously): factions, envy, dissensions, idolatry <br />Both ways leads to death (and being unfulfilled) <br />(Gal 5:16-26)<br />“Looking for the Living amongst the dead”<br /><br />God has a plan for you that leads to Life. <br />and He invites you to join in and Plan for L.I.F.E.!<br />Being Led by God<br />A common human need is Belonging—<br />bc we were created to belong to Him<br />Until we commit to following Him our hearts are restless<br />And we fill our lives with “Plan A stuff”<br />It requires making a choice and a commitment<br /><br />Being Intentional <br /> Being intentional is not living a perfect life it is <br />Living a life of ministry<br />It fulfills another common human need: Purpose<br /><br />Peter’s story in John 21<br />Peter made a mistake (he would make more)<br />But he committed to intentionally doing God’s work<br /><br />Experiencing Forgiveness<br />God’s forgiveness fulfills the human need for peace<br />Peace is not the absence of conflict—it is God’s presence<br />We experience His presence by: <br />We must ask God for forgiveness<br />Trust that He has forgiven us<br />Remind ourselves over and over we are forgiven<br />This results in our being willing to forgive others<br />If we are unwilling to forgive others, it is an indication<br />We haven’t fully experienced God’s forgiveness<br /><br />We can Expect God to be at work in us!<br />We can always expect God to do what He promised<br />He promised:<br />Eternal Life His Presence His Peace His Provision<br /><br />When we Intentionally Follow Jesus, we give Him complete control of our lives<br />We choose what He wants for us<br />We develop His character <br />(we think, act and speak like Him) <br /><br />If we fail to do so, we ask Him for forgiveness<br />And re-commit to Intentionally Following Him<br /><br />We are assured we Belong to Him<br />Our lives have Purpose<br />Our hearts are at Peace<br /><br />Our human need for Hope is fulfilled <br />Hope brings Meaning <br /><br />And that is a Plan for L.I.F.E.PMike.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10824852301271833428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20415007.post-24506630095329916342008-03-22T11:10:00.001-06:002008-03-22T11:12:24.082-06:00March 23 VOTDSunday: Luke 24:5-6 Plan for LIFE: Being Led by God <br /><em><strong>But the [angels] said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!” </strong></em> <br />In what ways do people “look for the living among the dead?” <br />What things might God be leading you away from? <br />What are the things God may be leading you to?<br />Some other verses you can look up: Prov 3:5-6; Gal 5:16-26PMike.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10824852301271833428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20415007.post-77742540466962778692008-03-22T10:56:00.001-06:002008-03-22T10:57:44.288-06:00hmmm....so, yesterday my son and i were in a local store waiting at the counter while a lady helped us fill our order. she didn’t have children...well, at least i don’t think she had any children. <br /><br />she very nicely said to carlo "is the easter bunny coming to your house?" carlo looks up at me and i nod<br /><br />>>we don’t make a big deal about santa, the tooth fairy and the easter bunny (altho last week the tooth fairy "forgot" to show up)...but eb doesn’t do much in our home...easter is far too busy for us to really do anything<<<br /><br />carlo looks at the nice lady and says "yes". <br /><br />"is he going to bring you lot’s of toys?" she asks, sweetly. carlo looks at me with eyes the size of kansas...hoping i’ll nod "yes" again. <br /><br />"is he going to bring you bubbles?" she continues...sweetly as ever. i lean over and say "sssshhhhh".<br /><br />"is he going to bring you a frisbee? a motorized car?"<br /><br />"sshhhhh!" <br /><br />"how about a new bike?"<br /><br />SSSSHHHHHHH!<br /><br />what the heck?! <br /><br />carlo is about to have a seizure he’s expecting so much! <br /><br />the lady looks at him, looks at me (i had that "you’ve got to be kidding me" look on my face)...and says in a pathetic voice:<br /><br />"oh... i guess you’re just going to get some dumb candy, huh?". <br /><br />yeah. and a hard boiled egg. <br /><br />now you know why i said she didn't have kids?PMike.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10824852301271833428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20415007.post-48083544874540906992008-03-20T17:52:00.000-06:002008-03-20T17:53:19.271-06:00Ain't no DiscoAnd I wish I had a map<br />that would lead me down this narrow path<br />And show me all the booby traps…<br />That’s life during wartime<br /><br />My heart beats and jumps in my shirt<br />As I lie down there in the dirt<br />And I didn’t think it would really hurt, like this…but<br /><br />That’s life during wartime<br /><br />There are friends, and there are enemies<br />But when the bullets fly, it’s all the same you see<br />You just cover your head and say, “no, no, no, not me…”<br />That’s life during wartime<br /><br />Chorus<br /><br />A promise was given to I…<br />That I may perish, but I’ll never die…<br />It just gets so cold when the marsh gets high…<br />But that’s life, during wartimePMike.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10824852301271833428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20415007.post-48332558464871315972008-03-19T14:39:00.000-06:002008-03-19T14:40:19.653-06:00Spring*disclaimer: i have no idea how accurate the information herein is...it sounded good to me...*<br /><br />the engineer started the enormous deisel engines. He wore a Casey Jones hat on his head and big leather work gloves on his hands. He took the gloves off when they weren’t needed but he always left his hat on. He said it "made him right for the job". <br /><br />It took a while to start those engines. Sometimes, in late fall or in the cold of winter, he wished starting up the engines was more like atarting his car; just turn the key and go; you don’t even have to step on the gas pedal anymore, fuel injection does it for you. <br /><br />But most times he relished in the process. Turn the key and wait. Wait until the fuel warms and is able to fire. It took a patient man. He sometimes thought he would be better off applying this gift of patience to other parts of his life...traffic, his wife, his kids...oh, how he needed to be more patient with them! But a gift is only good for what it’s good for and he had a gift for waiting for these engines. <br /><br />Soon enough the engines had the power to begin moving and he’d ease the engine down the tracks to pick up the rest of the train. This was always the most dangerous part of the trip. There were other trains in various stages of passage; some coming in, some going out, some warming up or cooling down and there were always men around the tracks, deaf to his train in the din and clang of all those other trains. He had many friends maimed and a few killed in the process. He was glad he became an engineer and was off the tracks. So was his wife. <br /><br />She had the patience he lacked. She calmly said things over and over to him when he couldn’t hear her. She didn’t scold him for not wearing his earplugs when he was on the train (the reason he cited for not being able to hear her). she smiled serenely at him when he shouted "GOOD MORNING, HON. I LOVE YOU" all the way from the other side of the bed. <br /><br />but she was glad he was off the tracks. <br /><br />the engineer picked up his load. They (he still doesn’t know who "they" are) decide that the train is large enough to warrant two engine cars. It’s a good thing he is a patient train man. He walks the half a mile or so to get the other engine and starts the process again. <br /><br />(In what seems like a half a day later) the engineer has both engines hooked up to his load and begins the long pull. The engines are too big to whine, but whine they do, as they strain to budge the load. There is an art to starting trains; you have to use force, but you can’t jerk it, God forbid stall the engines. As he always does, he leans his weight forward, co-operating with gravity to move the train. He thinks it helps and chuckles everytime he does it, remembering his wife’s good natured ribbing about being able to "will" something into existence. <br /><br />Soon, the train is chugging along as rough as a ride along the surface of the moon. The engineer likes this part of the trip. He enjoys the fits and starts and the Ralph Kramden like lurches and halts. He enjoys the overwhelming noise of the engines that seems to surround him and embrace him like a heavy winter coat soaked in warm water. He enjoys the pull of the engines and glances at his watch and makes a mental note of when inertia begins to kick in. He enjoys the chug of the engine and gets a thrill at the exact moment when the train’s momentum makes stopping a seeming impossibility. <br /><br />He thinks of March snow storms and the rough and tumble of winter’s end. He knows that, like Spring, the train is slow in coming, but come it always will.PMike.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10824852301271833428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20415007.post-45406181286857988652008-02-27T15:11:00.002-07:002008-02-27T15:18:16.589-07:00With Nothing to Say...should we even try to speak? or would that be like splattering paint on grass and trees? <br /><br />when the meloncholy comes...does one listen to the meloncholy of others, or something else?<br /><br />sometimes...sometimes...sometimes...<br /><br />sometimes you listen to nick drake<br /><br />other times you listen charles wesley<br /><br />and sometimes it makes no difference. <br /><br />today it is nick drake...<br /><br />and i could swear it is charles wesley.PMike.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10824852301271833428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20415007.post-46961536989306754972008-02-20T21:07:00.002-07:002008-02-20T21:17:07.023-07:00Two Posts about God, Floyd and Me...PMike.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10824852301271833428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20415007.post-11026325306909325402008-02-20T20:33:00.003-07:002008-02-20T21:20:49.296-07:00Money, So They Say...is the root of all evil, today...<br /><br />well, mr. waters quoted the bible wrong.... <br /><br />money isn't the problem...loving money is the problem.<br /><br />i remember a lunar eclipse when i was in college. it was early in the evening and there were a few dozen students outside the student center waiting for it to start. just as it was beginning, a friend of mine came out of the student center, stood at the top of the stairs, raised his hands in the air and said in a theatrically eerie voice "people, listen to me... i will make the moon disappear unless you give me all of your money"...it was quite comical. <br /><br />this story is kind of like that...only less comical<br /><br />on one of christopher columbus' later journeys to the new world his crew was in harbor in jamaica...the ship had a worm problem and was in danger of sinking. they were there for a year or so...<br /><br />all that time they were living off the indians...and, to be honest, they were taking advantage of them. the indians had had enough of it and started to rebel a bit. they stopped supplying the crew's needs and (i would guess) maybe even began make some sort of threats... <br /><br />CC knew he was in trouble...without the indian's help his crew would never last until a new ship arrived...it could be days, or weeks or (probably) months. <br /><br />but CC was a smart cat. like all sailing captains, he was familar with the seaman's almanac...it mapped out various solar and lunar events and was very precise. he knew that in 2 days there was going to be a lunar eclipse and scheduled a meeting with the indian chief for just prior to it. <br /><br />he told the chief that his (CC's) god was very displeased with the indians bc they stopped helping him. and bc he was so angry, god was going to make the moon disappear! i'm sure the chief scoffed at the idea...but CC gave him the exact time... <br /><br />and...<br /><br />then...<br /><br />it...<br /><br />happened...<br /><br />the moon disappeared. gone. the indians were in a fright. what could be done? what could they do? what would happen next?<br /><br />the chief came to CC and asked him to implore his god to have mercy on them. CC retired to his study to do so and watching the clock...came back out just b4 the moon began to return...assuring the indians that, if they continued to provide for CC's crew, god would have mercy on them. <br /><br />i'm a capitalize God kind of guy. in these posts and in email...i rarely capitalize anything, even my own name. but i always capitalize God...or Jesus...or He or Him...i think it's right to. i don't neccesarily think you have to...but i like to. <br /><br />but when i wrote about columbus' disappearing moon trick...i couldn't use capitals...i don't know if CC was a christian...he may have been in the church...but i don't know if he was a follower of Jesus...i've heard the stories that he was... but, in this situation, his god was money...or himself<br /><br />and this thing here...what he did...was wrong. it was out right deception. it was brilliant. it's even pretty funny...but it was wrong. <br /><br />and it makes me think of all the wrong that's been done by christians...especially when it's done "for the cause of Christ"...and it's flat out heartbreaking. <br /><br />i don't think twice when someone rejects what i say to them as i try to tell them about Jesus...i can't blame them. <br /><br />we're guilty. <br /><br />God help us to own our corporate sin...all the things the Church has done thru the centuries that are so far out of His character that (if it weren't so terrible) it is sad sad sad...<br /><br />and then help us to own our personal sin...all the things we've done out of His character...all the grudges we held...all the gossip we spewed...all the lies we smiled thru...<br /><br /> and then, maybe, we might have some standing to tell them about God's love.PMike.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10824852301271833428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20415007.post-91227998326333599092008-02-20T20:03:00.005-07:002008-02-20T21:23:40.790-07:00Everything Under the Sun is in Tune...but the sun is eclipsed by the moon...<br /><br />our family went out to take the garbage and saw the beginning the the lunar eclipse. i told the kids that God was hungry and took a bite of it. <br /><br />we came inside and i sent the kids up to brush thier teeth and get in bed and told them i would be up in a minute to put them to bed and watch the rest of the eclipse. i fiddled for a few and carlo came down for something and i said "go on up...i'm going to pick out some music to listen to as we watch the eclipse." "what are you going to pick, daddy?"<br /><br />what else is there to listen to during an eclipse????<br /><br />dark side of the moon. <br /><br />so i went up stairs and put it on...very atmospheric...perfect. i guess those floyd boys new what they were doing when they made it. we sat and told stories (the stories you just read and others about george washington ["he lives near the bridge", bella said]and martin luther king--i don't why...they asked about them)... then we just listened to the music.<br /><br />the moon continued to slip away...<br /><br />half gone...<br /><br />three quarters gone...<br /><br />almost gone...<br /><br />then it hits me...the moon is going to "disappear" at about the same time as the last line of the album (well...cd).<br /><br />how weird...how cool...<br /><br />but it couldn't happen exactly, could it? <br /><br />the lunatic is on the grass...<br /><br />disappearing...<br /><br />the lunatic is in my head...<br /><br />almost gone...<br /><br />and if the band your in starts playing different tunes...<br /><br />a slice...<br /><br />i'll see you on the dark side of the moon...<br /><br />a sliver...<br /><br />all that you touch..<br /><br />a shaving...<br /><br />all that you buy, beg borrow or steal...<br /><br />a glimmer...<br /><br />all that is now...<br /><br />a shimmer...<br /><br />all that is gone...<br /><br />a gleam...<br /><br />all that's to come...<br /><br />a shine...<br /><br />and everything under the sun is tune, but the sun is eclipsed by the moon...<br /><br />gone.<br /><br />so, what does it mean?<br /><br />God digs pink floyd? you mean, it really is ok to listen to secular music??? does this in some way validate <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Side_of_the_Rainbow">"dark side of the rainbow"</a> ?<br /><br />i don't know what it means, other than life is pretty cool when things like this happen. those little moments when it feels like God takes direct concern for your life and your loves and says "i think i'll zap that jake guy with a 'howzit?!!' and let him know i love him". <br /><br />we all appreciated it. we talked for a moment...then had a prayer thanking God for His goodness and kindness and His interest in our likes and lives. <br /><br />kissed and said goodnight.PMike.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10824852301271833428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20415007.post-43183728062296610582008-02-17T11:46:00.001-07:002008-02-17T11:56:12.924-07:00Outline for 16/17 February 08“Being Active” <br /><br />“Good Things are the enemy of Great Things”<br />God can & will do Great Things in us and thru us!<br /><br />When we become active and join Him as <br />“co-workers” (1Cor 3:9, 2Cor 6:1)<br /><br />Everybody is active, but active doing what?<br /><br />Are you content with your life?<br /><br />We can be active doing bad things<br />Gal 5:19-21<br /><br />God puts parameters on things<br /><br />Because going past God’s limits hurts us<br />— think of a fence —<br />He is our designer (Ps 95:6-7; 103:13)<br />God isn’t a “killjoy” <br />He knows what is best<br />And He knows what will hurt us <br />(For an explanation see Rom chs 1 & 2)<br /><br />Note: Gal 5 is one list—it’s not a “tiered” list—<br />one is as bad as the other<br />Because sin “interrupts” our relationship with God<br /> <br />What to do if you find yourself in sin:<br />Change your way of thinking (Acts 2:39, 3:19; Eph 4:23)<br />Confess your sin to God (1 Jn 1:8-9)<br />Ask for forgiveness and trust you are (Mt 6:12)<br />Stop that behavior (Mt 3:8)<br /><br />We can be active doing things we think are good but in reality are fruitless<br /><br />Doing religious things* is fruitless<br />*We define this as our efforts to earn God’s love and favor<br />Religious things produce some of the “works” in Gal 5<br /><br />Just thinking about being spiritual is fruitless<br />Prov 28:19<br /><br />Just “doing church” is fruitless<br />Like going to the pool and not swimming<br /><br />We can be active doing good things<br />See Eph 2:10 and Heb 10:24<br /><br />Good Things are things that lead to your spiritual growth<br />Worship<br />Some info on worship: Jn 4:21-24; Mt 22:37-38, Rom 12:1-2<br /><br />Or things that lead to other’s personal spiritual growth<br />Evangelism (Mt 28:18; 1Pt 3:15)<br />Discipleship (Lk 17:24; Eph 4:20-32; 2 Tm 2:15)<br />Fellowship (Acts 2:42; Heb 10:25; 3:13) <br />Service (1 Pt 4:10-11)<br /><br />We measure activity against what it brings in return<br /><br />Bad things bring sin & death & disillusionment <br />Fruitless things produce frustration<br /><br />Good Things bring earthly blessing & eternal rewardPMike.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10824852301271833428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20415007.post-52249151399995602922008-02-17T11:45:00.002-07:002008-02-17T11:46:20.782-07:00VOTDi put up all of the verses of the day for this week bc i thought i would not have enough ink in the ol' printer to print them all out for every one. turns out i did have enough...PMike.http://www.blogger.com/profile/10824852301271833428noreply@blogger.com0