Where To Look

Baseball player Satchel Paige once said in jest, "Don't look back, something may be gaining on you" In contrast, George Santayana, a Spanish-born American author said, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it"

Do we move on, never looking back, or do we learn from our past mistakes to avoid making them again?  The Bible seems to tell us that we should do a little of both. We do need to think back on our lives and learn from our mistakes. That’s part of the process when we confess our sins and asking God for forgiveness (1 John 1:9). Leading us to think about it long enough and then choose to “go and sin no more”  (John 8:11).  Forgiveness is God’s way of clearing the slate, but it’s up to us to avoid repeating the errors of our past. Look at  the apostle Paul, he looked at his mistakes from  his past  and then focused on becoming more like Christ each day (Philippians 3:13-14).

So, is it best for us to look back or to look ahead? We would be wise to do a little of both: We need to look back when comes to forgiveness, then look ahead, focusing on Christ and for future spiritual growth in his kingdom.  Todd

Starts with a Thread

Over the three-day weekend for my kids from school, I have let myself eat unhealthily.  It stated out slow a small piece of cake here till it got to a very large piece of cake.  Which lead to a coke which I haven’t had in for about six months.  It just started out with giving in a little bit, having the small taste of what I knew I didn’t need.  It like the story I ran across today, it starts small and can grow fast.  Here is the story: An athletic young man stood before his peers. An ordinary piece of sewing thread was cut from a spool and wrapped once around his torso and arms and tied. He was asked to break free from the thread. Like a young Samson in training, he easily broke the thread that bound him. The young man’s peers teased him, “Oooooohhhhhhh,” they chided, in chorus.

A longer piece of thread was wrapped around the young man. This time the thread was wrapped around his body three times. The young man, again, was asked to break free from his bonds. This time, it took real effort on the young man’s behalf, but he broke free of the threads. Again, his friends mockingly cheered, “Woohoo!” The young man struck a body-builders’ pose in response.

Finally, one last, long piece of thread was cut from the spool and wrapped around the young man. This time, the thread was wrapped a dozen times around his body. But this time, as he tried to break free, he struggled and struggled. His friends cheered him on. Soon, the cheers turned to laughter. This young man could not break the thread and finally gave up.

This story can serve as a good warning to us about the power of bad habits. All it took was me to say it will be ok today to get off my diet, which lead to two days, which lead to three.  Do we catch ourselves doing this from time to time?  Today I am stopping and getting back on my diet.  As important as my physical diet is, I need to make sure I never let my spiritual diet slip.  If your spiritual diet is slipping I ask us to stop letting it slip and get back on it today.  So today I have made sure I am on both of my diets and focused on not cheating and losing site of my goals.  This week hope each of look at our spiritual diets and if needed get back on them.  Todd

GYM

Over the last year I joined a gym. I have never really attempted to work out at a gym by myself for any extended period of time, but I felt like it was time to get in better shape so that I can walk my girls down the aisle instead of being carried by them. 

I decided on the gym that is close to my house and fairly inexpensive.  The gym is pretty neat. They have a bank of televisions (probably at least ten wide-screen TV’s) for you to watch as you walk/run on the treadmills. They have the biggest ceiling fans I’ve ever seen in my life. They have massage chairs, tanning beds, aqua massage, and showers. It’s a pretty great place, with a lot of really cool amenities that make it more fun to go work out.

And then I saw the Tootsie Rolls.  They actually have a JAR of Tootsie Rolls on the desk at the welcome desk.

What is going on here? I also noticed that they have free PIZZA night the first Monday night of every month, and free BAGELS on the second Tuesday!! What in the world is happening at this place?? Don’t they realize that Tootsie Rolls, pizza, and bagels are the REASON why I need to go to the gym?

They are also very big on being a “Judgment-Free Zone,” which evidently means that you aren’t allowed to make fun of other people who are working out around you, no matter how funny they look.

As everyone who comes in and starts back at the gym it takes small steps of getting where you want to be.  For some maybe it’s their first time or maybe have started and stopped many times over the years of going to the gym.  As they start back up they feel welcomed on their journey of recovering back to health.  So far, I have not taken a Tootsie Roll out of the jar. I haven’t had a bagel or a piece of pizza either. So, I thank the gym for providing everything I need for a great workout; and I also thank them for unwittingly helping me with my self-control.  This week I challenge each of us to look at our spiritual health and ask do I need to get back to the spiritual gym myself.  Have a great and blessed week.  Todd

Friend sent me a small article that I would love to send on to all of you.
To My Child:
Proverbs 23:19- Listen, my son, and be wise, and set your heart on the right path
I can share your life, but I cannot live it for you.
I can teach you things, but I cannot make you learn.
I can give you directions, but I cannot always lead you.
I can allow you freedom, but I cannot account for it.
I can take you to worship, but I cannot make you believe.
I can teach you right and wrong, but I cannot decide for you.
I can give you love, but I cannot force it upon you.
I can teach you to be a friend, but I cannot make you one.
I can teach you to share, but I cannot make you unselfish.
I can teach you respect, but I cannot force you to show honor.
I can tell you the facts of life, but I cannot build your reputation.
I can tell you about lofty goals, but I cannot achieve them for you.
I can teach you to obey, but I cannot answer for your actions.
I can warn you about sins, but I cannot establish your morals.
I can love you as my child, but I cannot place you in God's family.
I can pray for you, but I cannot make you walk with God.
I can teach you about Jesus, but I cannot make Him your Savior.
I can teach about prayer, but I cannot make you pray.
I will not give up on this things till I die.
Let’s never give up and never stop teaching.  Todd

“Never”

I was reading the other day a comment in which someone said,

“never expect anything from anyone because they will only let you down."

It made me think that is a very sad comment and it is probably true more often than we wish. It made me think of how many times did it take for that person to say “NEVER”!  How have they been disappointed?  Do we believe that God is 100% faithful or have we been disappointed enough times that we would want to say, “Never expect anything from God?” – Or at least, “Don’t expect too much.” The Bible tells us over and again that God is faithful, Psalm 100:5 says, “…For the LORD is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting and His faithfulness to all generations.” In thinking about God’s faithfulness is that He is faithful to His name, His character and His Word. His name reveals who God is and that’s love to us. Knowing that God is true to His name, His character and when His Word is applied, we find comfort in knowing that we can trust His purposes, His promises and His care for each of Us!  Todd

Kingdom

Cleaning up your office you find things sometimes that you didn’t remember you have.  One thing I came across was a paper that was given to me a long time ago, maybe 10 years now.  It tells of a Kingdom that Jesus came to build on love.  So, here it is:

Jesus came to inaugurate a kingdom — one not built through oppression and domination, but one propelled by love and compassion. And His way was the way of the cross.

A kingdom of hope over a kingdom of despair.
A kingdom of freedom over a kingdom of bondage.
A kingdom of liberation over a kingdom of oppression.
A kingdom of generosity over a kingdom of greed.
A kingdom of love over a kingdom of power.
A kingdom of light over a kingdom of darkness.

A kingdom of Love for you and me.

Love

Friend sent me this little reminder of God’s love for each of us.  Thought I would be great pass it on, because its just a reminder of the love God has for us.  Love. It transcends time and makes time stand still. It causes people to do funny things and can break the heart of ones close to us. It fights for freedom and dies for a cause. It gives life to the next generation and gives its life for a generation it will never see. Love is deep, secure, strong, loyal, honest, and true. It is displayed through a touch, a word, a look, or a smile. Love sustains, guides, protects, and is closer than you think. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. –Psalm 139: 8-10. The Psalmist also experienced this type of love. God and His love surrounded him at all times, in all places, and in all circumstances. Today, take the time to notice that you are surrounded by the love of God.  Hope this makes your day and week better knowing God’s love is with us.  Todd