reflection & tech nuggets for Thursday

Apology Hotline>>>more
devotion from rbc ministries

At first reading this devotion a subtle sense of pride creped in whispering in my ear, "this doesn't apply to you DarrenKeith...move to another devotion to reflect on" but it does apply to me if not right now at this moment but it has happened to me. It's amazing how Christ Jesus know what we need whether we want to hear it or not. I can honestly say the more I read the Sermon on the Mount how true his teachings are right on point.

It has been time where I have wronged my wife and no matter how I try and read God's word, pray to God the Holy Spirit tells me, "you know you can't be open with your Father...you have some unfinished business to take care of so go do it." And that usually means to get up, go in there and sincerely ask for my wife forgiveness. It's amazing when doing that how a HUGE weight is lifted off my shoulder. And even if it may not receive a "I forgive you" at that moment, knowing I went out of my way to get forgiveness, I have done the best that I can.

I am learning each day that to forgive and to be ask to be forgiven is also good for me health wise because it allows me to move with my life, with my work, to focus clearly on God and myself. I am learning that when you allow a unforgiven heart to settle in your life, to hold on to those feelings that in the end it truly only effects you and not the party that has wrong you. I remember reciting this part of the Lord's Prayer(Matthew 6:9–13)

"And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us"

I have to be honest, I never really focus on that passage until I became older and really paid attention to it. I'm asking my Heavenly Father to forgive ME of my mistakes, MY wrong doings as I forgive people who has wrong me and what is going on when asking God this...

"Don't hold anything against me Lord of anything I have done wrong and I will not hold anything against the person who did me wrong and if I can't forgive them then do not forgive me."

When we hold grudges against people or if we are not man or woman enough to acknowledge our wrong doing it's like God presses the "pause" button on our lives until we get that matter straighten out. So the next time you pray the Lord's Prayer keep that in mind. I know I will.

Be Blessed, Be Safe,
& Have a Wonderful Thursday

My tech Story Picks for today:

• Roadblocks en route to free, legal music
• The Untold Story: How the iPhone Blew Up the Wireless Industry
• MySpace Subpoenaed In Megan Meier Case

My Audio Picks for Thursday:
Kingdom First Living Vol. 1, -- Part 4
(Enduring Truth)

Is the End of the World Near?
(Harvest.org)

Leo Laporte - The Tech Guy 416
(TWiT)


*check out wikipidea's passage on the Lord's Prayer

Sunday Reflections & Tech Nuggets

The Belayers>>>more
devotion from rbc ministries
my worship songs for today:
Praiz
Jaci Velasquez

This year (I'm already considering this 2008) I will become more anchored in God's word. This year I had an eye opening and it made me realize that you can not compromise God's word, you can not be friends with everyone, somethings and some people you have to let go and sometimes you cannot befriend them because of their decisions, the way they wish to live their lives. Reading this devotion I am learning that you have to say things in love and not "beat them" over the head with God's word but at the same time you can not compromise his words, his principles.

I read a wonderful post last night in reference to a fellow Christian's daughter that came to the Lord at a very young age and as I write this God is leading me to come in partnership with younger people that follow Christ Jesus because the way our world is now it's painting a world that it's okay sleep with anyone outside of marriage, it's okay to have children outside of marriage, it's okay sleep with the same sex and when you speak out against that you are being "judgmental". One thing I have realized that first and foremost God has giving everyone free will, God never has and never will force his principles on anyone because he wants you to love Him because He wants the best for our lives. We can choose a lifestyle opposite of his ways but he always give us the rewards and consequences of our choices in life.

In my writing I have tried my best to come across in this fashion, never judgmental because I know I am not perfect, I have made mistakes and I know down the road I will make mistakes because I am not perfect but at the same time I will know longer walk on eggshells when it comes to certain subjects, certain beliefs I have because the world does not walk on eggshells when it comes their way of living. The end of 2007 has made me realize that you cannot sometimes when you live a certain way you may step on toes on the way. You do not mean to hurt people feelings but I am learning that God wants the best for our lives and if it means living through persecution, rejection, being shunned in order for us to reach his kingdom in the end, to have everlasting life then so be it.

I think of Christ being beat beyond recognition, back being ripped open until you seen muscles in order for me to be forgiven for my sins the least I can do for my savior is stand on his word. So if this post comes off kind of "closed minded" so be it because we are at war and Satan is playing for keeps. We as Followers of Christ Jesus must become true anchors for God's word and stop compromising his word because of fear of being politically correct because doing we are not being true to God's ways.

This year (2007) has taught me that you can love someone for who they are but never compromise God's word because once you head down that road you lose your insight, your integrity, your peace. Jesus came to reach the sinners, challenged the religious leaders who prejudice against the gentiles (which means that he hates racism), loved the sinner but did not tolerate sin. That is what I am striving for in 2008.

Be Blessed, Be Safe,
& have a wonderful Sunday.

"There are three things that are never satisfied—
no, four that never say, “Enough!”:
the grave,
the barren womb,
the thirsty desert,
the blazing fire."

~proverbs 30:15(b)-16

My Sunday Tech Story Picks:

• Aspiring radio hosts need only a computer, phone
• Nokia 4G wireless tech hits 173Mbps in real-world test
• New report claims 24-hour, variable price iTunes rentals

My Sunday Audio Picks:
Christian
Spiritual Warfare 101 Part 2
(Chip Ingram)

Tech
Jumping Monkeys 28: Brian Niles of PTA Tech Corner
(Megan Morrone and Leo Laporte)

Saturday Reflections & Tech Gems

It Is Not Good>>>more
devotion from rbc ministries

I have learned that the more you open to people the more you can get hurt, disappointed and do the same to others. But I have also learned that in the end we really do need one another. Over time you find out who will be in your life just for a season or a lifetime. Having someone to share your thoughts, your ideas, your likes and dislikes is a true blessing. For many years I had the problem of not opening up to people for fear of rejection because of my appearance, my speech (I stuttered really bad). It took me moving away from my small town to realize that (1) It was more than just Madison, Illinois (2) People will be people.

Over the years I have become more confident in myself, I have began to love myself more and more, trust in God more and to be true to myself. Learning to be true to myself was the biggest hurdle I had to jump and when doing so I believe that is when I truly found my true self. This is when I realized that God has blessed us all with different gift, different ways of communication with people. I have learned that it's okay to disagree on some issues but I have also learned to never compromise your integrity...it's about doing right and not being right all the time.

Surround yourself with people who "like you for you" is a great thing but sometimes being around someone who is totally opposite of you makes you realize what you will and will not tolerate in your life and many times you may find out you may have more in common with that person than you realize. One of favorite movies is "The Breakfast Club" where these five students realize that's it's cool to just be yourself and learn to open yourself up to people who on the outside you may not have things in common but later you may find out you do.

The main thing is seek God when it comes to meeting someone, you may be surprised who becomes a close friend.

Be Blessed, Be Safe,
& Have a Wonderful Weekend.

Inspiration songs for today:
Bebe Norman
Praiz

My Saturday tech story picks:

• Google gets even more ambitious
• Netscape Browser to Die a Quiet Death in February 2008
• Warner picks Amazon, not Apple for DRM-free debut; more

"Fools vent their anger,
but the wise quietly hold it back."

~proverbs 29:11

My Audio Picks for Saturday:
Thru the Bible Questions & Answers
(Dr. J. Vernon McGee)

Leo Laporte - The Tech Guy 416
(Leo Laporte)

Saturday Reflections & Tech Gems

Where's The Leash?>>>more
From RBC Ministries

I like the name of this devotion because so many people, Christians and non-Christians feel this way many times when it comes to following God's ways. I think many times people feel like God's ways keep us from having fun and for me that is the opposite. My opinion I wish I would have learned his ways years earlier. God does not want to keep us on a "tight leash" so to speak.

Think of it at times with our own children. We have one child that when we tell them something to do once, we tell them the consequences for their actions(good and bad) they get it and we rarely have to tell them again. We are not saying that this child is a saint but the responsible they are the more freedom they have because they can be trusted and we as parents do not mind giving them perks. Now the other child we have to stay on them constantly. They wish to do their own thing but do not wish to deal with the consequences for their actions. They complain, they whine assisting that life is not fair, they are always getting singled out but do not want to deal with the fact his troubles is his own causing and this is how are with God at times.

We know deep down the road choices we make will either bring us joy or pain and what's really sad many times we think we are pulling the wool over on God. I love how the devotion says that "God gives us a long leash" so to speak but if we do our best to live by his principles we do not have to worry about looking over our shoulder to see if God is "gonna zap us". And to be honest God is not that way, he has given you and I free will but has made it very clear of the blessings and curses we will receive if we live by his word of rebel against his word plain and simple. He knows we are going to make mistakes but I look at life like this...life is hard enough so why add unnecessary heartache to it?

Be Blessed, Be Safe,
and Have a Wonderful Weekend/Christmas.

"A person who gets ahead by oppressing the poor or by showering gifts on the rich will end in poverty"

~proverbs 22:16

Tech Stories for Saturday:

• Gems in the back of a closet
• Top 10 Gadgets of the Year
• Apple to adopt Intel's ultra-mobile PC platform

My Christian and Tech Audio Picks:
Christian Picks:
Thru the Bible Questions & Answers
(Dr. J. Vernon McGee)



Why the Shepherds?
(Dr. David Jeremiah)



Tech Pick:
Leo Laporte - The Tech Guy 414
(Leo Laporte)

Thursday Reflections & Tech Gems

Doing Good>>>more
from RBC Ministries

I read this devotion, I read the passage and the life application notes in my Bible and I have to admit, not only staying positive but not speaking out is one of the hardest things to do especially when you have been accused of something false. You see it all the time played out in the public when one person has been accused of something and how one person goes either to the media and tries to clear their name. I am not going to lie that's a hard pill to swallow when you know you are innocent but that is what our Lord and Saviour tells us to do.

I don't think I have ever had to face something like the person in this devotion and I know I have never had to go through what Jesus Christ went through but I am realizing that it's best to remain quiet when someone tries to smear your reputation. I'm learning that so much energy gets waisted when trying to prove your point especially in this day and time. I have learned that no matter how you try and bury the truth it finds it way to the surface. Does this still means you do not suffer through that time? You will suffer because since we live in a fallen world sometimes we suffer for during the right thing.

When you strive to do it God's way it may cost you some friends along the way because your path may be different from the path you was once on and sometimes friends, family members may not like the path you are on but in Matthew 10 Jesus is clear in explaining the cost when following him and the road is not an easy road but to me it's worth the trials because in the end I know where I am going to end up when it's all said and done.

Be Blessed, Be Safe,
and Have a Wonderful Thursday

Thursday Tech Story Picks:

• The Second Coming of Apple TV
• Fair Use Vs. Free Speech in the Internet Age: The Lane Hartwell Problem
• Japan's largest mobile operator confirms Apple talks

Thursday Audio Picks
Christian:
Romans 12:12-13:1
(Thru the Bible)



Finding Sexual Fulfillment in Marriage (Part 2)
(HomeWord w/Jim Burns)




A gossip betrays a confidence;
so avoid a man who talks too much.
~Proverbs 20:19

Technology:
net@nite 41: w00t
(Amber MacArthur)





MacBreak Weekly 70: Happy Life Day
(Leo Laporte, Alex Lindsay, Andy Ihnatko, Chris Breen, Merlin Mann, and Scott Bourne)

Wednesday Reflections & Tech Gems

A Real Christmas>>>more
from RBC Ministries

This devotion truly sums it up for me, Christ did not die on the cross so we could treat him like a "Genie in the bottle", to just snap our fingers to make our problems go away but he died for us to (1) have eternal life (2) To give us peace in time of conflict (3) To be the light for others. I have said this before but we as Christians sometimes get it twisted when it comes our heavenly Father. Sometimes even as Christians I think sometimes we treat God like he is an Monopoly "Get out of Jail" free card. The Holy Bible is an instruction book on how to live our lives.

There are so many awesome things about His word. First and foremost God used people with some serious flaws and I think that is where we as Christians has to get that point across. I mean really think about it, he used a man (Saul at the time) who was a persecutor of Christians, who gave the okay to arrest, imprison, and execute Christians. Peter who denied Christ 3 times in order to save face with the public. King David who not only slept with another man's wife but had the guy killed. So many others in the Bible who was flawed, who made mistakes by accident or on purpose God still used them to do great things and that is why I love God so much because goodness knows I have made so stupid mistakes.

We as followers of Jesus Christ have to let the world know that when you give your life over to him things are not going to get easier, to some degree the walk will become more tedious because we are going against the world tide now. We have to let people know we are not better than anyone because we are still flawed, we will make mistakes, we still from time to time will miss the mark but the great thing now is that more our walk becomes closer with God the more humble we become and that when we die we do not have to worry about where we will spend eternity. We also have to let people know that when God has told us things not to do he is not trying to keep anything away from us because he sees the end results and he does not want us to suffer unnecessary pain because we go through enough pain as it is when dealing with the world. The older I get the more I realize that though I do not wish to go through some things in my life it makes me stronger, wiser and it makes me more sensitive to others in need.

My Tech Stories Pick for Today:

• Widgets are the new ad kid on the block
• F.C.C. Reshapes Rules Limiting Media Industry
• David Byrne and Thom Yorke on the Real Value of Music

My Audio Picks for Wednesday
Christian:
Jesus, the Light of the World
(Love Worth Finding)

One thing I have always loved about the late Adrian Rogers teaching is not only his love for Christ but how he digs down and get facts about certain subjects. This message truly gives me an understanding that Jesus Truly is the "Reason for the Season"


Why did Jesus Become a Man?
(Turning Point)

If and when Zondra and I visit San Diego Pastor David Jeremiah will be one of the first churches we will visit. I truly like the way he teaches God's word with such conviction and such warmth.

Tech:

TWiT 125: John's Nuts

One of the funnest podcast from TWiT in a while when Leo talks about the Santa bot. Not only is this episode informative but when Dvorak is on board you never know what to expect.



net@nite 40: Fishing From The Company Pier

Not only was she voted the "sexiest female geek" but she has the smarts to back it up. I really do like this podcast because she keeps Leo on his toes and I love the websites she finds.

Monday Morning Widsom & Other Gems

Forever Joyful>>>more
from RBC Ministries

I am beginning to realize more and more that I do not want to be happy and I am not seeking happiness anymore. I'm I am being a "downer"? Nope, far from it. I am learning that I wish to have joy in heart and my spirit and I wish to share joy with people more so than happiness. I am learning that when you have joy you are content with what you have in the moment. This is not to say that you do not strive to better yourself because God wants you and I to have fulfillment in our lives but He wants you and I to have our priorities in place when seeking to better ourselves.

When you focus on God's word first, read his word, do the best that can by living out his word the blessings are endless. He knows we are going to slip up from time to time but when you repent and truly mean it his mercy and grace is with you always. Where we go wrong is when we take our eyes, mind, heart away from his principles, striving just for material things is when we begin a downward spiral. We lose focus of family, friends, what is truly important to us day in and day.

The more you train yourself in God's word the more you realize that day by day you will be thankful for what you have, you are content with what you have and before you know you will not only be God centered but he will truly give you "the desires of your heart" while not losing focus on what truly brings you joy.

Be Blessed, Be Safe and
Have a Wonderful Monday



My Tech Stories Pick for this morning:

• Top 10 Tips for New Bloggers from the Original Blogger Jorn Barger
• Science Cafés Tap Nation's Fascination With Research and Discoveries
• Apple charged in defamation suit against BET

My Audio Picks for Monday Morning:
Christian
The New Jerusalem
(Back to the Bible) with Woodrow Kroll

Listening to this message this morning gave me more insight on the book of Revelation. It makes me strive to learn more about the last book in the bible. Dr. Woodrow Kroll for me has always has a "down to earth" way of teaching God's word.


What We All Got For Christmas
(Enduring Truth) with Paul Sheppard

I'm going to be honest, some people may not like this message and some may. Pastor Sheppard breaks it down giving the true meaning of Christmas. What's best about this message is that he encourages us to surround ourselves with people who walk with God is deeper than ours so we can really appreciate God's ways.


Technology:
Windows Weekly 44: 100 Million w00ts! &
Windows Weekly 43: The Release Candidate
(TWiT)

Yesterday while taking the grandkids to have their picture taking I had a chance to begin catching up on my tech podcast and I was drawn to Paul Thurrott's latest podcast with Leo Laporte. Love windows, hate Windows...we will come across this OS whether we want to or not. I truly enjoy the way Paul teaches the ins and outs of Windows. I have a Vista machine and while I have it I might as well try and learn some of the tricks on this OS. Whether or not it will be with us in the long time will tell but for now it never hurts to learn every now and then.

"Love prospers when a fault is forgiven,
but dwelling on it separates close friends."

~proverbs 17:9

Friday Reflection from Today's Devotion

When reading Friday's devotion from ODB (Our Daily Bread) it made me think of this topic, why many churches still view the internet as a bad thing and how they can not understand how people can form friendships with people they have never met. It's amazing how many churches still think of many people that use the web as "very lonely souls." They wonder how can someone befriend someone who they have never met or how can someone "hook up" with someone via internet?

I have to be honest I have been in the blogging community for over a year on Vox and this year I have been on Twitter and late this year I have joined Facebook I have met some very cool people last year and this year. It may be said in the eyes of some pastors that people can form friendships with people they have never met, never seen but what is really sad to me is that people can form stronger bonds with people in a internet community than church members.

It's amazing how we as Christians are sometimes the last to know the true meaning of some mediums...we trash it then after a long, hard look at it we accept it but by that time many in the secular world dismiss what Christians have to say because we many times, "shoot first(with our words) and then ask questions later and it's sad to say but it seems it takes many church community sometimes to adopt and adapt to current times. Not to do as the world does but to use the electronic tools that God has blessed the secular world to use. Yes pornography is one the web and yes we MUST monitor what our youth on the web on a daily basis but many youths use the web for good day in and day out and many adults use the web for good on a daily basis as well. What churches need to ask is "why" people are turning to the web instead of the church instead of bad mouthing the internet community.

One thing that the church community gets wrong time and time again is that people are upfront and "fake" when it comes to communication on the web. One of the best things about being a geek is that we are not afraid to say when we do not know something. If we need help on trying to figure out something whether it's coding, tagging our music, moving files, we throw the question out there and we try and give an answer to the best of our knowledge. We don't go behind someone's back tearing them down, trying to make them feel stupid because we think back to when we were starting off using computers, searching the web. Why can't that same principle be applied in our churches? Have the time when pastors tell their own congregation to meet and greet one another we do not move out of our own aisle to meet someone. Now I know there is no perfect church, never has been never will be but why in the blogging community most times we are quicker to forgive than in the churches?

I think one of the main reasons is that even Christians think we have to paint ourselves as "perfect" in the eyes of others and our Heavenly Father throughout the Bible used many "imperfect" individuals for his work. I think that sometimes this is the reason that many of our youths turn to someone on the web instead of the church because they see sometimes the hypocrisy in our churches and children are not looking for people to be perfect, they are looking for us as adults to be honest. God knows we are flawed, the youth know we are flawed why can't we as adults and Christians allow them to see us flawed at times?

I'm not painting the entire church community still living in the stone age because many church organization now have podcast of their programs, wonderful websites, mp3 downloads of their services (biblegateway, Harvest Online, Crown Financial Ministries, Enduring Truth) and as a said in the beginning no church is perfect but maybe if not only the outside world but members could feel that oneness inside the church than via web more churches would be packed.

I know what keeps me balanced is what an older Christian taught me years ago, "You got to know that man(God) for yourself." and "Never stop learning because once you stop learning you become old." I have not and will not tell Christians to compromise God's word because being a Follower of Christ is the best thing that has ever happened to me and there is nothing in the world I could go back to for me to turn away from God but we as Christians have to realize that just because people chat online does not make them "lonely souls".

I just think many on the web realize our flaws more so than the "church folks".

Be Blessed, Be Safe
and have a Wonderful Day.

Don’t waste your breath on fools,
for they will despise the wisest advice.

~Proverbs 23:9

Reflection from Devotion for Nov 3

reflection from rbc ministries
devotion, "How To Walk"

My job is stressful at times, I'm not going to lie about it, "it is what it is" as the saying goes. But through the midst of it I can still give God praise for many reasons and not just, "Thank God I have a job because there are people who do not have a job" line. Working at a pharmaceutical company makes me take stock of my life in many ways. First and foremost I am thankful people do the job that I do but God keeps reminding me, "this is just your "tent"...not your home and that is so true in many ways. I can not see myself doing that job for a career. It seems that some companies want you to do top notch jobs with 5th rate tools. Zondra (my wife) and I were talking about how companies do not want to spend the money for proper office equipment. We all the reason, to keep overhead down, that I understand but not to a point where it cripples the entire department. But like I told my wife, supervisors, managers will demand better equipment if they had to deal with it on a daily basis.

Another thing is the fact that you realize how terrible some of the insurance companies are out here. They can change the DRUG FORMULARY list on you in a heartbeat and most insurance companies know people do not read all of the literature they send out to the patients and to be honest it's up to the patient to take the time to read the mail they receive from their insurance companies. I am thankful for this because this makes me step up and begin reading the material I receive from our insurance company(even though you need an attorney to decipher most of the material they send you). But the insurance companies are not all at fault...

I have lost count the times I have called patients
and said the following:

Me: Good morning this Keith calling from ________ trying to reach Rachel*(why I picked that name who knows)

Patient: This is me

Me: I'm calling to inform you that there is going to be a slight delay in your order, your insurance is not covering this medication without a Prior Authorization. We have faxed your doctor and we are waiting for your doctor to either fax us or contact us by phone to get a Prior Authorization from us or approved the alternative medication that is on the form we faxed to your doctor.

Patient: Why did you change my medication and this is just a refill?

Me: No ma'am, this change is coming from your INSURANCE not from us.

Patient: This does not make any sense, no one gave you permission to do this.

Me: Ma'am, we are only going off of the information your insurance is giving our company. We are not changing this medication on our own accord. I do not know why your insurance is not covering this medication you have received in the past.

Patient: You people are always making things complicated....

This can go on for 5, 10 minutes. Now some callers they understand but for the most part these are the type of calls I get day in day out. This doesn't make it better for me that I sit in the same cubicle space with my supervisor. We have orders to get out by a certain time and if I get orders for Tuesday and they need to go to a Prior Authorization Coordinator by Thursday and I get them on a Wednesday and I was supposed to have received the orders on a Wednesday and I am supposed to have 3 days to work the order:touch base with the patient, touch base with the doctor office to make sure they received the fax and many times either the fax phone number was not correct in the system or the doctor's office say they did not "receive" the fax and I have to fax it again. Not to mention that sometimes we fax a doctor's office and when contacting the patient they say, "or, I have change doctors."....

ya see where this is going? Back to the devotion...

I am learning that no matter what the stress may be God is always teaching me something. I am learning that when situations begin to squeeze in on me that is when I go to my God to give me strength, discernment, understanding and when you have a close relationship with God day in and day out he will give you that peace, stillness you need in dealing with the job you love and the job you do not like as much. I've learned I can do two things: I can ask God, "why, why, why?" or, "God, what are you trying to teach me in this situation in my life right now." You never know He may be showing you some things you need to get right in your life. You may have those same qualities, those same characteristics that is coming back at you from customers, patients, co-workers. What I am learning from these patients is that to not attack people on the phone, there are different levels of each situation, a soft but stern voice carries much weight than yelling, screaming. Here are some other lessons I am taking away from my time in the "pit"...

• Be obedient to Him always: I know this is just a job and not my career. He has blessed me to enter school a time around.
• Learn from other people's mistakes: When dealing with companies you MUST do your homework on them, stay on top of them because believe me, most companies DO NOT have your best interest at heart
• Take care of yourself health wise: there are some diseases we have no control over but for the most part, by eating right, getting proper rest, exercising you will stay healthy.
• Seek the occupation or vocation that God has set before you: God has giving all a true calling on our lives whether it's being a CEO, a musician, a writer, an actor, a motivational speaker...do not let anyone stir you away from your calling because believe me there is nothing worse than working a job that you cringe when Sunday rolls around.
• Have a stable home life: relationship wise, financial wise, communication wise. There is nothing worse than going into a job that you do not like and to come home to drama. I don't want to see you on the 6pm news about snapping and taking your life, your spouse's life because you have had a bad day.
• Get up each morning and meditate, have a proper breakfast : Trust me, it will make your day go much smoother.
• Learning the true meaning of "Multi-tasking:I know many workers, mothers and fathers(especially) know what I'm talking about when it comes doing this. You have to "think ahead of the game" because many jobs think you should be able to do 15 billion things at once(ok, I'm stretching it I know when I say, "15 billion things...10 billion things at once).

For me I know that having a close relationship with my heavenly Father has helped me day by day dealing with the corporate madness, babysitting grown people(patients) dealing with overworked, underpaid nurses when calling the doctor offices. Some days are better than others and I have people that I have reached out to and they have been supportive. They have told me what I need to hear and do and just want I want to hear, makes a big difference.

Sometimes it does not take a tragedy to make you begin to walk with God, sometimes it only takes working at a job that you do not care for to realize how God can impact your life.

Be Blessed, Be Safe &,
Have a Wonderful Weekend.

Reflections for October 30, 2007

reflection from Our Daily Bread's
Devotion, "Bon Voyage"

It's amazing how sometimes we think we can go over something numerous of times but you hear it taught another way and it gives new insight on that subject. I remember a while back writing a post on not fearing death because my believe in my Heavenly Father and knowing that He sent his Son to die just for me (that alone makes me joyful) but today's devotion makes me love life even more. It's really strange for me now that I do not pay much attention to our space program the way I did as a child. No, I'm not cynical about the program because last week I heard the teacher describe how the earth looked, how fast they travel around the earth (I believe she said they make a full rotation around the world in 90 minutes, that is so cool) but just knowing that who created this entire universe just blows me away.

When I look up at the sky, the clouds, the space on a clear night and just see the stars up there it just blows me away. Now imagine being in space and just seeing the entire earth, just sitting there, rotating in nothingness...I can not see how people can say they is no God. God is awesome, He is great, He loved us so much that He gives us free will not to follow Him nor believe in Him. Our pastor gave us a illustration on how God can not violate His own law. "If a person wished to get a ladder and climb to the top of the church and jump he will not and can break his law of gravity." By our pastor saying this he was giving an example on how sometimes people say, "If God was such a loving God, how could he send someone to hell?" God didn't create robots, he created you and to with free will, He has the angels for that just obeying everything he says.

When traveling you are more at ease when you know where you are going. Sure you can stray off the path from time to time for a scenic route, to check out things you have never seen before but knowing your true destination is a very good feeling. This is how I truly feel knowing that when I gave my life to Jesus Christ death has no victory over me. No, I do not carry myself in a way that I'm looking to "be with the Lord" right now and besides by Jesus Christ dying for me to be able to stand in God's presence when I die Jesus Christ also died for me to live life to the fullest here on earth. To be able to spread His Good News, to let people know that when God tells us "not to do something" He is not trying to keep it away from us but as our pastor said this past Sunday, "God knows what will bring us the most harm", at he's right and when I sit back and really ponder it. Everything I thought was "okay" to do but deep down I knew I did not need that in my life in the end it was truly a waste of my time. I'm not regretting or holding on to "shoulda, woulda, coulda"...on the contrary, I understand now when you get older how you try and let the younger generation know that there are some things they do not have to know by experience but learn from others mistakes.

For me when I realized that Christ Jesus died for me it allows me to live more freely because knowing that I do not have worry about where I go when I die and knowing that my life can be so fulfilling will here on earth is for me two major blessings for me.

Be Blessed, Be Safe, &
Have a Great Evening

Sometimes Pain Is A Stepping Stone for Encouraging Others

Devotion that inspired
this reflection>>>>Giving Others A Push
from RBC Ministries

I loved to encourage people. I love to let people know that God loves them know matter what because no sin is to great for God to through up his hand and say, "umm, I'm sorry; what you just did I can't let you in the Family." God may chastise us from time to time but that is because He would rather chastise you than pour his wrath upon you. To encourage people is to let them know that I'm not perfect, I have made mistakes, I continue to make mistakes from time to time but whatever dream is in them I try to let people know they can do it. It's amazing how sometimes just a couple of words will lift the spirit of an individual.

I encourage because I did not get encouragement coming up as a child. At first I wondered why I was going through something like this. I stuttered and stumbled bad as child, I was not the best looking, I was coordinated for my height, I was a mess coming up. I was an only child and was a loner most of my life, I had a very "strange" taste in music so I really could not fit into anyone's cliques so to speak. But for some reason before I even came to know the Lord he was pushing me forward. I don't know why but I never turned to drinking or drugs to fit in because my way of thinking was, "things may be bad but it's not THAT bad." I'm not going to lie, there were many nights I cried myself to sleep because I felt I was not loved, I would never meet that special someone. I would get angry with God and cry out, "Why are you allowing me to go through this mess." I mean I wasn't a saint but I didn't deserve this cruelty from people. So many ways I could have turned but I know [He] was guiding my footsteps. Don't get me wrong, I made some dumb mistakes and at times I was walking around with a chip on my shoulder feeling that the "world owes me for what THEY[people] have put me through. But as time went on I realized that many times it was not me that had the problem but the close-minded of people were the problem.

I began to realize that God did not make me or anyone else to be a carbon copy. I learned that when you are yourself that is what draws people toward you and if they do not like your company 9 times out 10 it is they who are unhappy. What also helped me to be an encouragement toward others are the things I encountered coming up: it made me patient with others, it taught me the difference between empathy and sympathy, it has taught me to that sometimes people need time to heal and realize that you can be trusted. It has also taught me that by opening up to people that you will get hurt from time to time because people will be people but it's a great feeling to open up to the world because in the end it is more good than evil.

As time has went on I continue to learn which people are genuine and which people are just out to use you and learn to turn away from them and just pray for them because you can not let someone else hangups stop your happiness. It has taught me that sometimes I will have times of isolation from the world because you can not just go along with everyone and everything but what I have also learned is that good hearted people recognize good hearted people and before you know it you have a network of friends and associates that are there for you, even if they are across the US or on the other side of the world.

When you encourage someone they will soon be an encouragement to others. It's so cool and so good to help others "just because".

Be Blessed, Be Safe
and Have a Wonderful Weekend.

Devotions & Reflections for Tuesday...October 23, 2007

It's amazing how sometimes I can read God's word and I'm going to be honest, I can't see how that passage when reading my devotions applies to me for that day or my understanding of the reading I have to scratch my head and say, "huh?" But you keep reading God's word, keep obeying the teachings of Christ Jesus and early morning morning it hits me like a ton of bricks and I say, "ahh...okay, so that what that means."

This is the only book that sometimes you get the meaning of the passages and sometimes you do not but by asking God for wisdom, insight, directions He will bring understanding of His word your way.

Yesterday was really that time because all day my wife and I ran around because of issues that was going on in reference to my pharmacy license and one by one we say how God was stepping in when we could not do anything more about the situation. We both witnessed that when being persistant, standing on God's word, working as a team, not taking "no" for an answer most times(my wife is great with that...it irks me sometimes but she is who she and I love her for that), not losing your cool and staying joyful and thanking Christ Jesus in the good and bad results came our way.

So this morning, these two devotions from Our Daily Bread and In Touch were those two for me where by going through my valley I can say, "ahh...okay,I get it". This is also what makes our testimony stronger as well, and again let me stress, the results did come from us just sitting on our behinds and just praying because with God's word prayer should always be followed by the action He tells us to perform and many times we as Christians pray to Him and will not act. I learned a deeper meaning of the would "wait". It does not mean I sit around and "wait" for God to come through. I do what I need to do, still in motion while God puts everything in place so when about time I come to a certain place of action in a situation it has already been done.

We as Christians have to keep in mind we are in covenant with God, He's not our "Genie in a bottle". The work is still not over with my license but it will be soon and no matter how it's going on the surface as long as I am keeping to God's word, He will not forsake me, that is His promise and when I have truly given it over to Him 100% every time and just do what I need to do, He has never let me down.

My God is an awesome God.

Be Blessed, Be Safe &
Have a Wonderful Day.

My Rant for this Wednesday at 5:29 in the morning

"For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever."

~1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 (New Living Translation)

As I read Our Daily Bread devotion and passage this morning these verses stuck out to me and it got me to thinking about the question every non believer ask, "If God loves everyone, how can he send someone to hell?" It's amazing how many people believers and non-believers think that there is no way God can send people to hell. God NEVER attended hell for you and I, that's for Satan and his cohorts. I don't think of being a Christian a burden, I think of being a big stress reliever but I think many in the body of Christ still do not truly believe this by our life styles. I know I can truly say whenever I have truly turned everything over to Christ he has never forsaken me. So why do go back to my old ways? It's something our pastor said last night, it's not the faith, it's the TRUST and that the truth plain and simple. Why do we waver?

One thing I believe is that we as Christians has gotten to the point where we think of God as our bellhop. We have the notion that "waiting on the Lord" means just that, to be still and do nothing. If you read all through Proverbs it tells Christians to TRUST in God but do not be lazy. For me I am beginning to learn that trusting in Christ means that I do what I need to do but at the same time I still have to be a provider for my wife and I while striving for what God has for my life.

Successful people in the Bible were always in motion because they realize that they were in covenant with God. They did not sit back and let God do all the work because even before the fall of Adam God put him to work in the garden. I am learning to strive what He wants me to do with time I have on this earth. Once I truly get the concept of obeying and trusting God in every area in my life things will become less stressful. It's a process but a process we as Christians have to partake of each and everyday.

The second thing I believe (and this really applies for myself) is to strive for what God has truly put in your spirit to do, something that you have a passion for day in and day out and not be afraid to work toward that vocation and this really ties into the first point I made. Something that brings you joy, something that makes you get the proper rest so you can begin that task refreshed, full of energy. A career that when Monday rolls around you can't wait to get started. I am learning that this brings honor and glory to Him and not only that the world can see it's cool to have your own business, your happy with it, your making a decent living and you're still acknowledging God in the process.

I think we as Christians dream big but are afraid to take that leap of faith so to speak. So we go into jobs we do not like, jobs that bring us stress and we complain about to our co-workers and by them seeing and hearing us complain they say to themselves, "if that is what is to be a Christian, I will take my chance with the world." I have been guilty of this and now I have stop complaining about my job and began doing something about it because we live in a "action" society. Our walk will be much more effective when they see us come in there, do our job but at the same time we are working toward what God truly has planned for our lives. I have come to the conclusion that if I'm going to work this hard for someones, I might as well work toward what I enjoy to do everyday but I have to make preparations toward that goal and not just sit back and wait for it to happen because it is so true that tomorrow is never promised to us.

This is my New Year goal(like I said in a previous post for me, October seems to be my New Year for some reason). If I have to go back out and get a job sweeping floors and if the pay is decent, as long as it helps me toward my degree, so be it because the last thing you want to do is work in a field that brings you stress, high blood pressure and just unhappiness Monday through Friday. That is not God purpose for our lives. I believe when the world sees more Christians strive for what God has put inside of them, truly trust in God, follow his principles, work toward what the desire God has put inside of them more people will come to God and they will see that Christians are more than just "bark".

Be Blessed, Be Safe and
Have a Wonderful Wednesday.

Devotion and Reflection for the Weekend

Spiritual Shortsightedness<<In Touch Ministries

Being humble and being hasty does not go together...now being prideful and hasty, those go together. This past month God has really had to show me that He comes first and trying to accomplished things "my" way will not work, it only leads to an emotional rollercoaster. It had me despising my job, working two jobs and in the process, I moved so far from God by not getting into His word like I should, not praying, not attending church and as the result always behind the 8 ball.

Now you know me by now I am not one to tell followers of Christ, "just sit back and let God bring everything to you." because our Lord does not operate in that fancy but I am telling you that sometimes we can get before God's plan for our lives and in the end it brings you pain and sometimes you may have to begin from the "start" position. This past Sunday was an eye opener for me because on the lesson that our pastor taught on and then the passages and devotions I have read this past week, I can not live my life with Him(God) leading and directing my steps. My pastor said something so profound and he has says this before but sometime one needs to be reminded time and time again (God knows we as Christian are a stiff neck people).

"Living the Christian life is really simple. We as Christians make it difficult."

and we do. Why is it that we hop in our cars and not even praying about knowing that the car is going to start or plop down in a chair knowing that it will hold us or as for me a geek, knowing that when click on the Internet Explorer or Firefox icon that the internet will pop on? But when it comes to trusting the word of God we have to "rationalize" it and try to "help" Him along. We know if we do not check our oil in our car, check the stability of chairs or not pay our cable or DSL bill we will not have transportation, chairs to sit in or the internet to surf...we have to do our part. This is what God tries to tell us day in and day out. I know He has been trying to tell me this message this past month. But by my pride, my being too busy for God caused me to not truly appreciate all what He has done for me and in the end I was transfered to another department, tired day in and day out, being to busy for the word of God and going to His house may have caused me the loss of my step-son by not camping my angels around him day in and day out.

I'm I say this had him murdered, of course not!(I will write on his death later this month). But what I am saying that by putting occupations, striving for more material we forget who has giving us these joys in life, our Creator. The two devotions from today lets me know that God wants me to do my part but sometimes I have to stop and realize I can not do things my way and get the best results and that sometimes God has answers and solutions that come in different ways when we least expect it. I love how pastor Greg Laurie taught on King Naaman and his pride when the prophet Elisha told him what to do in order to be cured of Leprosy. Pastor Laurie believes that many of King Naaman's men did know that he suffered from this disease and worse yet to go and emerge himself in the Jordan River was even worse because this is not the cleanest river in northern Israel but it took one of his men to calm him down and for him to "humble" himself to complete the task told to him by the prophet.

The second devotion from In Touch Ministries is a reminder that making decisions in haste only leads to heartache down the road. Dr. Stanley's "HALT" lets me know that compromise is not an option when it comes getting things accomplished, wanting material things, not appreciating what God has blessed me with in my life. Two times I have taking on a second job calling myself getting "ahead" and both times I have not. Don't get me wrong, it has helped me and my wife and she tells me time and time again how thankful she was by me taking the part time job but God is telling us also, "do it my way and you can survive off of you having one job and your wife having a job." This means not money management, not buying on impulse, giving God what is His(10% is not a lot considering He gives me health and faculties to get up each and every morning to complete my tasks).

Reading His word, spending time with Him, talking and LISTENING to Him is what I must do one a daily basis and just this week and part of last week I have realized that going in and doing what I need to do my job and focus on Him is making my life much more relaxed. I'm I saying they will not be rough days, nope. But what I am saying that God is making me practice what I preach...my job is my job and my home is my home. Where I work is only a stepping stone for what God has for my life ahead. I have a long road ahead of me but this time around, it's not that bad traveling this road.

Be Blessed, Be Safe and Have a Wonderful Weekend/Holiday everyone.

Praying For Our Children
from Christian Embassy Church

Salvation

"Lord, I pray that my children would obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory."

2 Timothy 2:10