“Difficulty with Every Snivel”

 An Elaboration of a Thespian

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10

I know the Glory before me, I thought.? He is always by my side as I ran full speed like an elaboration of a thespian. First, we need to understand that the joy the world gives is not the same as the joy the Spirit gives. Worldly joy or happiness comes and goes as often as waves hitting the shore. It isn’t something you can cling to when you’ve lost a loved one, facing bankruptcy, fighting cancer or an any major physical setback. The Spirit’s joy or happiness, on the other hand, can stay with you for the long haul. For the believer, the fruit of the Spirit, including joy, is like a bottomless well of water—there’s always an abundant supply. Even in the darkest days, when sadness, grief, and loss may threaten to overwhelm you, God’s joy is there. I don’t need a legacy 

“Have mercy on me, have mercy on me, O you my friends, for the hand of God has touched me”!Job 19:21

“I should have never gotten this far”, as the echo’s ring. I’ve seen happy, I’ve seen sad but my testimony is for you Lord. Hold my hand, Rather, just as a father lovingly guides and patiently disciplines a child with his hand, so are we guided by the hand of God.I cling to you every day. Question: what are three things you think about every day?

The Bible says in Colossians 3:17 ^“Andwhatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him”. 

This verse is the foundation of my Faith Journey to you Today; as we follow Him and seek “Fishers of Men”!

 There was a time I was losing bad. At the time, nothing could bring me down then, “The impact caused a tear of the Medial collateral ligament and Anteriorcruciate ligament,I could not see the end of the rainbow but it was near. It only seemed like a blink, especially after you played your last college game. Many relationships, including the one you have with yourself identify, are about to radically change. You are about to enter the zone of, “What’s your Name”? When did you play? A thousand stories of whispers about this day, “a residue legacy”. Not me? I thought, “Was this my 400 years of silence, a reference to the time between the Old Testament and New Testament, during which God did not speak to the Jewish people”? You ever felt separated from God?

By comparing what we hear to the truth of Scripture, can we learn to recognize God’s voice and know God’s joy? You can consider each trial joy, you can greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory even when you feel like you are face-first in the mud puddle. You can endure whatever circumstances are making you quake in your boots right now. If you have been saved through faith in Jesus Christ—you have all you need. What is your open-door season on trial joy? I want God but how could I Grab onto God’s joyful hand? 

The more we recognize the hand of God, the better we will be able to follow His lead. Through the study of God’s Word, a strong prayer life, and an abiding trust in God, we can learn to recognize, trust, and enjoy the hand of God moving in our lives. Included is for us to be prepared for the defense of the Christian faith. Look at 1 Peter 3:15, which says that believers are to make a defense "for the hope that you have."

“My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words.  Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one's whole body”. Proverbs 4:20-22

IT’s day one of the rest of my life in this unfamiliar territory which was daunting. All of a sudden, the focus that was once on you is now directed at others: the college athletes who are still competing. Man is this a nightmare? Skills that were developed as a student-athlete are transferable will take a lot of strictness and loneliness for this new team. Will it help me successfully transit to life after sports? Why wasn’t I in the moment of innocents reflecting each day before this rescue moment. Why didn’t I Hear the whispers under my Awareness breath, “Reflect Daily” was the song at the middle of the marching because worldly joy or happiness comes and goes as often as waves hitting the shore.I was compassionate, faithful, truthful, kind, patient, and just. At least until those attributes in us were distorted by sin, which also resides in our nature. I heard it. But was I listening? This would have been a first step in finding my new “team.” A new life, “In Christ”

Stop wallowing, whining, and complaining and grab onto God’s joy and “contend earnestly,” use your attribute as though an athlete striving with extreme intensity to win the victory as in a physical competition but now as a spiritual participant.

 Just like salvation, joy is a free and perfect gift from Him, and we must reach out and accept that gift. Grab onto it. Like a lifeline. Choose joy, Over bitterness, anger, and sorrow. Decide to choose joy every day and focus on “Eternal Life”. No matter what. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability” (2 Corinthians 8:2-3) “You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit” (1Thessalonians 1:6). “Be joyful always” (1 Thessalonians 5:16). 

Having the mind of Christ makes me shout,“I don’t need a legacy just Jesus,my new Team”?

The challenge then is to truly learn how to consider each trial joy.Reflecting and journaling on how you are approaching these areas of change helps. How have these things changed? What continues in a different form or a new version of what you had? Where can new relationships fit in? As with most things in life, when something ends — such as your student-athlete career — there is an opportunity for something else to begin; maybe a life joining Jesus on his mission, as a servant.

God’s joy really is there. You can consider each trial joy, you can greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory even when you feel like you are face-first in the mud puddle. You can endure whatever circumstances are making you quake in your boots right now. If you have been saved through faith in Jesus Christ—you have all you need, your new Team. “Jesus Saves”! “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).

God Bless You and this Ministry!

“Lift of Love”

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Gal 6:2

All of us need the help of others and the Lord to make our lives what Christ wants them to be.

Galatians 6 includes instructions for how people who are free in Christ and walking by God’s Spirit, should treat each other. Christians should restore those who are caught by sin, and we should bear each other’s burdens. Only those who plant the fruit of God’s Spirit, by faith in Christ, will harvest eternal life. We Believers should not get tired of doing good for each other!

Often when I’m in the mist of newness it seems, sometimes I become so familiar with spectacular it doesn't move me as it should. Then I have a look at something lesser, be amazed, and then look back to reality, feeling the wonder of the original revolution of the soul, my true purpose in life—the worship and love of God.

“Because love is the great commandment, it ought to be at the center of all and everything we do in our own family, in our Church callings, and in our livelihood,”

To develop Christlike love takes diligence and patience and the constant nourishment of the seed. When the fruit is ripe, it can be eaten so that it fills the soul with God’s love. As we love like God, we experience the love of God, a love that can fill our souls with happiness.If love for one another is going to flourish and grow in our church, we must be rooted more deeply in love. Question: "What is the church?";a building or a denomination?

“For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slavesor free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit” 1 Corinthian 12:13 Wow, this meansthe body of Christ is made up of all believers in Jesus Christ”. The People! triumph

I use to be a part of a church outreach that included serving hot meals, bible study and church worship to the homeless at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Colorado. Volunteering with the homeless has turned out to be a rewarding and eye-opening experience. Part of my time was spent providing a ride to the worship service for a dear friend, Ralph. I miss attending church/bible class, fellowshipwith him and also experiencing the amazing grace of Jesus Christ together.We kept things really simple, rejoicing a lot with humor as we lifted our hearts high as pilgrims marching together to a new place, a place of glory, the road of life with a focal point on God and eternal life.

Even our conversation was down- to- earth.We engaged as one in a simple way and Shared things with each other with humor yet we ran our race with both our eyes focused on Christwhile sharing good fairytales of laughter.I would often wonder how could we resist the allure of the world and keep our focus where it belongs, on Christ?

As he entered my car he would acknowledge me with, “hey brother, should I cover my mouth” as he grinned (a reference to another cold weather day, to remind him to take care because of the chill). He would love to shout out, “back in the day ‘Aretha Franklin’,” giving me kudos to my favorite singer, as he song some of the soulful sounds blaring from the radio. Whilst, we arrived at the church my friend would always ask me, do you want me to carry your serving tray. Jokingly, “no I’d like you to try and lift yourself up in this serving tray”. I would tell him, “Grab hold of the handles with both hands and lift your way into the church”.  He would gin, laugh and say Ah brother, you have jokes, I can’t do that without help”. 

You see both of our focus was directed to one’s attention, a concentrate on something that we see the world for what it is: a sin-filled place of desperate needed help. The more clearly the light of Christ will stand out;which is a single-mindedness on Christ, He has our attention; we are concentrating on Him and His word; He occupies the forefront of our minds. Such a focus is only fitting, because Jesus “is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy” (Colossians 1:18). By rights, He should be our focus.

There is a very important reason why my passenger/friend is not able to lift himself/herself up in the serving tray; What is it you say? There’s an old saying that you might be familiar with: “You can’t pull yourself up by your own bootstraps.”

Living for God may be difficult, but it is not joyless. Paul wrote his most joyful letter while suffering persecution in Rome. We will still face temptation and hardship, but when the glory of God is our focus, living for Him becomes the source of our joy rather than a drudgery (Psalm 100:2; 1 Corinthians 6:20; 1 Peter 4:16). 

Someone else, someone outside the tray, will have to do the lifting-like this. It’s impossible to carry yourself but someone else can do it! This is not just true for people in a pail or tray. It’s true for all of us in living our lives. God has made us in such a way that we must depend on the help of others and they must depend on us. None of us has all the strength we need all the time. No one knows everything. 

We need other people and they need us. We need teachers, parents, pastors, friends, neighbors, doctors, nurses

,truck drivers, cashiers, fellow church people, and many others. It does not mean you are weak when you need help and ask for it. IT means you are smart. You’ve figured out that God wants it that way. Unfortunately, there are a few who isolate Galatians 6:2 and make a career out of asking for help. They misuse God’s command to bear one another’s burdens to avoid their own responsibilities and habitually harass their church families with expectations of aid. 

Walking in the light of God’s Word is a delicate balance between selfless giving and responsible boundaries. If we err too far on one side, we become self-focused and overly independent. But erring too far the other way leads to assuming responsibility for other people’s messes. When we aim to bear our own loads, while always being available to bear the burdens of others as the Lord leads, we will strike that perfect balance.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power” Ephesians 6:10

God’s plan is that everybody helps everybody. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. And don’t be afraid to help someone! As always with the help of the Holy Spirit becoming our permanent possession the moment we believe!

God Bless You and This Ministry! 

“My Polished Life”

“We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Romans 5:3-4

Notice what Paul says here about suffering, "we also glory in tribulation." The bible says, "but we also rejoice in our sufferings." Or "We also brag when we are suffering."So, Paul is saying, "We rejoice in the problems and pressures of life." Does that sound strange to you? Who is the Who or we? It's those who have been justified by faith - Christians! Who is the "we" that has access by faith into grace? Again, it is Christians. So, who is the "we" in verse 3? Take a guess? Yes, you're right, it's Christians. Some have tried to interpret this, "We rejoice in the midst of suffering." That is, we rejoice in spite of our suffering. But it does not mean that we rejoice in spite of our suffering. Paul is saying, "We rejoice because of our suffering."

It is through the trials of life that we mature in Christian character? Hum 

Do suffering and trials always cause a believer to mature, character and hope? Could suffering and trials have a negative effect on Christians? Sure, they could. Again, the “we” is who Paul is writing to telling them/us to have perseverance, hope and with good character be constantly watching out let there be found in them an evil heart of unbelief. Listen, believers could it be, we ALL have the potential to doubt God, the capacity to unbelief? Have you ever doubted God? Be honest. 

Usually at bible class, I ask a lot of questions because I feel they challenge us and are important. They have always helped me grow in faith. Some questions are important to share because I suspect that many of us have this same one. 

Every person has problems. There is not one person in this earthly world that is problem free. Everyone faces struggles and difficulties in life. Since that is true, understanding what the Bible has to say about suffering is a very practical issue. 

During these times of hard aches, one can’t help but conjure images of the steadfast, the eternal, and the permanence while considering these powerful, but familiar words, stones and rocks; especially, you see in church, I am reminded, as I belt out “On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand” joyfully proclaiming the solidarity of our God through a reliable God. 

Once, I picked up two stones while walking near the Ocean on the beach, one that has rough and jagged edges and one that is smooth and rounded; each has a course of difference I mulled over. Do you know why there is such a difference between the two?

The rough stone has had a smooth and easy life. It has simply lain around soaking up the sunshine and generally taking life quite easy. Nothing has really bothered it. 

The smooth stone, on the other hand, has had a rough time of it. It comes from the water’s edge where it has been pushed back and forth, tumbled and ground against other stones. Sand has swirled against it, propelled by the force of mighty waves and currents. All of this pushing, shoving, and grinding has rubbed off its rough edges and made it smooth. Do you ever feel like this rock? Do you feel like you are pushed around and bumped up against difficulties? I think all of us do at some time. 

So, I have a question:

Does reacting positively to the tough experiences in life polish us, making us better people?

 I often come in contact with people who articulate a separation (or no connection) from God after grief, pain, complacency, hardness, and bitterness that wreak havoc in their lives. It seems to me to be an epic battle that rages within their hearts, while at the same time they are looking for ways of softness to re-engage with God again.I would wonder, “How do we come back after we've hit the wall in our spiritual journey”? How as a child of God called to serve, help them in their struggles with the Great Commission in mind?

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen”. Matthew 28:18-20

Disciple making includes what we are like when we react to the unplanned big curriculum of life as it comes at us day and night without warning. The process we call “making disciples” includes evangelism and is done by disciples to make other disciples. Does that process include just about everything we do in relation to people around us? Some elements of the process are planned; some we learn from our training. But as a whole, most are unplanned and are manifested in our character.

This is where I often ask the question how do we …. Do this in a simple KISS way? 

 “by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit”. Titus 3:5

If you ask Jesus to be with you always and to make you strong, you will learn lessons from your troubles and become a better person. If someone has lied to you, you can learn how to forgive that person through prayer. Losing a game or a business deal can show you it’s only a game within life and that losers are also good people. A bad grade in school or experience can teach you to work harder next time or not to be so proud during times of good times you usually get that you may rub it in to others who didn’t do so well.

Bad experiences in life can help us become better people, to become more like Jesus. The next time you have a problem, think about this smooth stone and how, with God’s help, your trouble can “polish” you into a better, more Christ-like person.

 “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” 

2 Corinthians 5:17

God Bless You and This Ministry!

Put God First

 

Life is a never-ending series of choices.

I remember listening to the echoes of the Holy Spirits and asking myself how do I 'know' it is the voice of GOD and thinking,“Have you Ron decided for Christ because of what you have in this world or is it that big decisions takes big prayers? Everyone talks about doing what the Holy Spirit says, many times the Lord will confirm His direction to us through three maybe four or more of these stuff buttons -- especially when we are in the process of making an important, life-changing decision like:

What am I going to do with the rest of my life? Where should I go to school? Should I take this job, or is there something better on the horizon? Who should I marry? Life is a never-ending series of choices. Can we know whether we are making the right decisions? Should we consult our horoscope? Maybe we should call the psychic hot-line?

"But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil"

Just as we let a bus driver drive the bus in which we ride, so we should let the Lord control our lives.

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. ³For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ, who is your^[a] life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.Colossians 3:1-4

Paul’s point is, the best Christian living comes from minds that are fixed on heaven. Realizing that our lives are now hidden with Christ in God, and since Jesus is enthroned in heaven, our thoughts and hearts are connected to heaven also. He uses this to show that Baptism is a means to salvation and to the Christian life. We are not to despise the things of the earth (1 Tim 4:4). However, we are to realizes that this fallen world should not be our focus.

You ever heard people say, put “God first, focus on eternal life, family second, work or team third.” But what does it really mean to put God first? What does it mean to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength” (Deuteronomy 6:5)? If we are to actually follow this command, what would our lives look like?

Loving God with all our heart, all our soul, and all our strength is not an easy path (Luke 13:24). Yes, the life of a Christian is a life of joy, despite trials, and a life that anticipates great joy (2 Corinthians 7:4; Revelation 22:16-17. But we should not expect our life in this world to be easy, successful, or fulfilling in a worldly sense.

How many of you have ever taken flight in an airplane? It’s a lot of fun. Some of you who have flown may have glanced into the cockpit when you entered the plane and perhaps those of you who haven’t flown have seen a cockpit in photos or on the mug tube (TV). Does it have about the same number of instruments, dials, switches, and controls as a car has? No! It has many, many more. A cockpit is filled with controls.

When it’s time to take off, the pilot starts the engines by turning and flipping just the right switches. He checks out a great many dials as well. Finally, he moves the plane faster and faster along the runway and takes off and the plane soar’s HE then flies it until you reach your destination and then lands it safely once again.

“He Jesus became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.” Heb. 5:9

I use to think it would be nice to learn how to fly a plane. What say you? Lots of excitement but if we never take the opportunity to learn or put in practice to be a pilot that would be dumb to try. 

The smart thing is to let Jesus be in charge of “piloting” our lives. Too many people try to run their lives their own way and they end up ruining them. God is the only one who has all that it takes to run life right, just as only the pilot can fly a plane. If you have never done it before, ask Jesus to be the one to run your life. Tell him you want to do everything his way, that he can be in charge, Just as it’s real smart to let a pilot fly the plane, so it is smart to let Jesus be the one to run and rule your life so that it turns out good.

Conversely, the life of a Christian should be characterized by moment-by-moment selfless service to God that flows from love for Him and His people. That is what it means to put God first. The Bible presents a clear path to eternal life. First, we must recognize that we have sinned against God: "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). We have all done things that are displeasing to God, which makes us deserving of punishment. Since all our sins are ultimately against an eternal God, only an eternal punishment is sufficient. "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23).

My Prayer, "God, I know that I have sinned against you and deserve punishment. But Jesus Christ took the punishment that I deserve so that through faith in Him I could be forgiven. I place my trust in You for salvation. Thank You for Your wonderful grace and forgiveness - the gift of eternal life! Amen!"

God Bless You and This Ministry!

“God Bless This Family”

 The message of Love, “a credo of Giving” was loud and clear at this weekend’s reunion. Our Lord taught that we should do to others as we would have them do to us (Matthew 7:12). 

With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,

 Ephesian 4:2

Loving God is the first thing, the most important thing. But, with it comes an effect: to love God means that you also love God's people. The key problem in interpreting this double commandment for our time is that we lose sight of the biblical meaning of love. Our culture has equated love with intense emotion. To love is a stronger response than to like. And, both are measures of a passive response to something outside us.

We can love with our soul: by worshiping God and praying for our neighbors and ourselves. And we can love with our minds: studying God's Word and letting it correct us, enlighten us, and send us out in loving action to the world.

Therefore, we owe it to our neighbors to lovingly share with them the good news of the gospel. True believers have been forgiven, possess eternal life, and have blessings forever as the result of others who have shared the gospel with them. God’s love is evidenced in us as we communicate this precious gospel and love others as we have been loved.So, does God demonstrates His love by lavishing it on undeserving people who are in rebellion against Him?

Let’s roll out the cardinal carpet, put on our cardinal and gold best at the Earle Bruce era reunion, and be part of an environment where everyone can reminisce about our stories intellectually, physically, socially and with a spiritually of God’s love; how our experiences as student athletes and exactly how it molded us into the devotees we are today. Let’s be loud and proud, but also respectful, humble and gracious host of our wonderful bond of devotional love.

What I heard as the reoccurring theme all weekend was that Iowa State is the place where these former alumni football players really grew-up with the help of a tough coach and formed life-long friendships. Some hadn’t seen classmates in a number of years, and were able to pick up right where they left off” when they were called to “Loyal sons forever true”a Universal Team motto to love on, through their stories. You see we were on campus to honor a Coach that meant so much that we honored with a scholarship in his name to be given to a deserving walk on student athlete. Was this a way to give glory and thank God for all that has been a been to accomplish because our experience at Iowa State?

Throughout the Hebrew Scriptures, the primary characteristic of love is loyalty. The Hebrew word for love, like its English counterpart, can express ideas of familial warmth (Ru 4:15), or a desire for things (Is 1:23, Eccl 5:9). But whereas we today tend to stress love’s affective qualities, Hebrew to me emphasizes faithfulness and devotion. Today’s world message ought to confuse any who wonder how Jesus could demand an affective kind of love. This is not what he meant. Jesus drew on the biblical meaning of love, commanding unwavering loyalty to God and neighbor. Jesus shared this kind of loyal love with the Father and wished his disciples to experience it in the Spirit.

As I sit in ah in the middle of the sea of fan exhilaration for the 1^stgame of the season. Tradition, passion, traffic patterns, parking problems and pride there is nothing quite like the game-day experience at Jack Trice Stadium. The unmatched atmosphere of tailgating shared is unmatched with other college football fans from across the country as “The Iowa State Cyclones” begin the start of the football season and how they show just how great of a loyal fan base they are. 

As a former athlete this made me reflect on my perspective on the game day most fans don’t see. Game day is no different. The experience varies between players and teams, but some things remain constant. We had to stay in a hotel the night before the game, whether we were at home or away. You also had to have a roommate. Some of these guys snored, others stay up all night watching tv or on the phone, some opened up the windows, while others needed it extremely hot and still some had poor hygiene. But we still broke bread together in a legacy of Love. Very vital to have for our lasting trust, grace and love for one another. As today’s players arrival at the stadium. I observe Tradition which I participated in the past, which has the players and coaches walk thru a sea of yelling fans trying to motive them on their way to the locker room before the game. 

Finally, after the game the fans are gone, it’s time to get ready to go home. You pack all your stuff up and then you’re gone and look forward to the next reunion. Fully understanding,” Theseare no substitute for the loyal love of God that Jesus holds up in today’s Gospel for our emulation.

One needs only to love the way God loved first in order to find a life worth living.Hopefully, with the help of the Holy Spirit your family and friends are there to greet you after the game to either help you continue to celebrate those great memories of love that console you /us think about forever as we age. Why does God love us? It is because of who He is: "God is love."

We should be so completely yielded to the Holy Spirit that He can possess us fully and, in that sense, fill us. Romans 8:9 and Ephesians 1:13-14 states that He dwells within every believer, but He can be grieved (Ephesians 4:30) and His activity within us can be quenched (1 Thessalonians 5:19). When we allow this to happen, we do not experience the fullness of the Spirit's working and His power in and through us. To be filled with the Spirit implies freedom for Him to occupy every part of our lives, guiding and controlling us. Then His power can be exerted through us so that what we do is fruitful to God. The filling of the Spirit does not apply to outward acts alone; it also applies to the innermost thoughts and motives of our actions. 

Psalm 19:14 says, "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer."

God Bless You and This Ministry!