"Yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will joy in the God of my salvation. For the Lord God is my strength. He makes my feet like deer's feet and makes me walk upon my high places."
Habakkuk 3:18-19
Five things that have inspired and encouraged me this week:
1. BIBLE PASSAGE I'M FOCUSING ON
However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. Acts 20:24 NIV
The Apostle Paul was being warned about going to Jerusalem; he would be walking into a dangerous and difficult situation. Paul heard and understood the warnings, but something greater than his own life drove him forward. He had to go to Jerusalem. Paul was a man who knew who He was and knew what he was and what his God-given call in life was - to declare the Good News (Gospel) of God's amazing grace. He would let nothing, even his own safety, deter him from doing the work God had called him to.
This is the statement of a man who was fully devoted to following Jesus!
I heard the author, Rick Burgess, on a podcast recently talking about this book. When I heard him describe his dad, Bill Burgess, it reminded me of my own dad, and many others I came to know growing up. Rick shares the important and powerful life lessons he learned from his father, and iconic college football, and a genuinely good man.
1440 has become my 'go-to" source for national and local news. So far, it has been about as unbiased in their coverage of events as I have been able to find. They report the news, and they offer interesting bits of information of things I probably would have never known about. They cover everything from national and international politics, to business, sports, culture, history and more. I really enjoy this newsletter.
4. QUOTE I AM PONDERING
"You can't out-train a bad diet." Ted Naiman
This quote is on the whiteboard of the classroom of my Healthy Eating and Active Lifestyle class (HEAL) that I am taking at UT. It bothered me at first because I've always thought I could eat what I wanted and burn it off through extra exercise. Of course, my health track record should have told me I was wrong.
The quote comes from Ted Naiman, a Family Medicine physician and a health and fitness author. He is living proof that he knows what he is talking about! What you eat is just as important as how much you eat; it is quality over quantity that makes the difference.
5. FRIDAY FUNNY!
Get it?
Thanks for checking out Five on Friday. Read my other posts at my website.
Five things that have inspired and encouraged me this week:
1. BIBLE VERSE I'M MEMORIZING
7 Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives’ tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly. 8 “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” 1 Timothy 4:7-8 NLT
I am meeting with a young man once a week for discipleship and relationship building. Last week we committed this verse to memory. Our focus is on the word "train" which is where we get our word "gymnasium" from. It was a word used of athletes training for a competition.
Paul tells Timothy to train himself to be godly. Often in my Christian life I have "tried" to be godly, but when I would fail (which I inevitably do), I would give up and give in. But "training" is not the same thing as "trying." When you train for something, you don't give up when you fail, you keep working at it, until you are equipped to be successful. My focus these days is training myself to follow Jesus, and when I stumble and fail, I don't give up, I get up and keep training. Memorizing this verse is part of the training that keeps me moving forward.
If you have been reading my "Five on Friday" for a while, you are probably picking up that I am a pretty eclectic reader. Most of the things I read are Christian books, often related to ministry or spiritual growth, but I don't limit myself to one genre of literature. I am trying to grow as a person, so I want to gain as much information as I can to help me.
I heard Rubin on a podcast recently and I've had her book on my shelf for a while, and decided to go ahead and give it a shot. Rubin is a lawyer turned writer who was happily married and mother of two children, but didn't believe she was as happy as she could be. She decided to take a year-long journey to see if she could make improvements in her life that would push her "happiness meter" a little higher.
I'm not too far into the book, but I can say that it is less about "happiness" and more about working on yourself to be a better person. She focuses on the aspects of her life that she believes would bring her more happiness, if she improved in those areas. So far, it is a pretty good read, but I'll let you know.
Years ago, in my brief stint as a Youth Director in the late 1980's I also attempted to become a Youth Choir Director. If you've heard me lead the hymn on Wednesday nights you can probably guess what a disaster that was. However, there was one song that I felt we did pretty good on, Rich Mullins' classic "Awesome God." It is a powerful yet simple song, tailor-made for an aspiring choir leader.
Recently Phil Wickham, alongside co-writer Jonathan Smith, created a new version built around Mullins' unforgettable chorus. It was released in a year that would have marked Mullins’ 70th birthday, a great tribute to his impactful legacy.
I love the song because of the powerful lyrics, and the memories it stirs of a time when I thought I could sing 😊. Check out Wickham's "Sunset Walk" version.
4. QUOTE I AM PONDERING
"How is it possible to know you have great faith, humility, and love, unless God put you into great trials, that you may know whether you have them or not." George Whitefield
George Whitefield (1714-1770) was a well-known evangelist during the Evangelical revival in England and America, and often a co-laborer with John and Charles Wesley. After being ordained to the ministry, Whitefield felt a great burden for those who would never darken the doors of the church, so he took the gospel to them through "open-air preaching." He would go to fields or street-corners or anywhere people were, and preach the gospel of salvation.
His success also brought enemies, from both inside and outside the church. Many people would come to hear him preach just to mock and ridicule him. But the more aggressive persecution came from pastors, bishops and other church leaders who despised his unorthodox methods and criticized his open-air practices. They believed him to be undignified and often sought legal means to stop him from preaching. He could speak first hand of persecution.
One of his more famous sermons was titled, “Persecution Every Christian’s Lot.” In it he presented a biblical perspective on Christian suffering. His conclusion was that one of the reasons God allowed His servants to be persecuted, was to reveal to them their own faith, humility, and love. It was primarily in the context of suffering persecution that the true character of the servant of the Lord came through.
5. DAD JOKE I'M DIGGING
Thanks for checking out Five on Friday. Read my other posts at my website.
Five things that have inspired and encouraged me this week:
1. BIBLE VERSE I'M MEDITATING ON
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Revelation 12:11 NKJV
This verse speaks to our ability to defeat Satan by the power of God's provision (the blood of the Lamb) and through our testimony of God's grace and faithfulness, and by not loving our lives in this world. Jesus said in John 12:25 "Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity."
Revelation 12:11 highlights the overcoming power of faith, the gospel message, and the sacrifice of Jesus.
I've used this app for a few years now for Bible verse memorization. This free app allows you to memorize Scripture from any Bible translation easily, and provides lots of helps with games, strategies, reminders and more. I love it.
I'm still reading McKeown's better known book, Essentialism, but I came across this book in audio on the Libby App. In Effortless he builds on the foundation he laid in Essentialism. His central idea is that we can accomplish just as much in life with balance and efficiency as we can by working ourselves to death. He highlights a lot of the issues we have with "burning the candle at both ends" and how we are more productive when we are rested and focused.
"Getting ahead doesn’t have to be as hard as we make it. No matter what challenges or obstacles we face, there is a better way: instead of pushing ourselves harder, we can find an easier path. Effortless offers actionable advice for making the most essential activities the easiest ones, so you can achieve the results you want, without burning out."
I'm about halfway through and it has a lot of practical helps to simplify life.
4. QUOTE I'M PONDERING
"There is a peace passing understanding of which the politicians cannot deprive us." John Newton
Newton is most noted for being the author of the great hymn, Amazing Grace" but he also played a significant role in the British abolitionist movement by transitioning from a slave trader to a vocal critic and advocate against slavery, contributing to the eventual abolition of the slave trade. Newton became a close friend and advisor to William Wilberforce, the leading parliamentary figure in the abolitionist movement. Though it took them many years and many political battles, their collaboration was crucial to the success of the abolitionist cause.
Newton faced a great deal of public scrutiny and criticism launched by political opponents, but he had a deep faith in God which brought him tremendous peace when the political fiery darts were being fired.
His quote is a great reminder for followers of Jesus in our political climate today.
5. DAD JOKE I'M DIGGING
Thanks for checking out Five on Friday. Read my other posts at my website.
Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need. Hebrews 4:16 CSB
The "therefore" reminds us to go back and read the verses before this one, which explains what Christ has done for us. And because of all He has done, we not only have access to the Father in prayer, but we can confidently come boldly into His presence to get help in our time of need. I love that the writer of Hebrews describes God's presence as "the throne of grace," not the throne of judgment or condemnation, but grace; the place we find mercy and grace in our time of need. Don't be timid in prayer - God wants us to come boldly into His presence.
As John Newton, the writer of "Amazing Grace" once wrote:
“Thou art coming to a King, large petitions with thee bring, for His grace and power are such none can ever ask too much.” Amen!
2. Song That Stirs Me UP
Gospel artist CeCe Winans' "That's My King" moves my soul! The upbeat rhythm and powerful lyrics brings out something in my heart that I can only describe as TRUE Worship. Winans says of the song, "It's a song to remind us who we serve. We serve a God who has all power, He knows the end from the beginning. He's your Shepherd, He's your provider, He's a father to the fatherless, He's a mother to the motherless. And when you're reminded of who He is in your life, you can't help but give Him praise." AMEN!
3. Quote That Has Got Me Thinking
"The person who learns the most in any classroom is the teacher. If you really want to learn a topic, then 'teach' it. Write a book. Teach a class. Build a product. Start a company. The act of making something will force you to learn more deeply than reading ever will." James Clear
Clear, the author of "Atomic Habits" is spot on with this quote. You always learn more from teaching than anything else. And this is a great truth for following Jesus and making disciples. When you take a step of faith to disciple someone else, it forces you to be more intentional about being a disciple yourself. You learn more about following Jesus by teaching other people to follow Jesus.
McKeown writes, teaches, and speaks around the world on the importance of living and leading as an Essentialist. His book is more than a time-management technique. It is a systematic discipline for discerning what is absolutely essential, then eliminating everything that is not, so we can make the highest possible contribution toward the things that really matter.
I'm only a couple of chapters into the book, but he asks some important, but tough self-reflection questions to make you think abut what is really important to you and what you are living your life for. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of it.
5. Dad Joke I'm Digging
A church had a picnic and invited the entire community to come. The Pastor placed a basket full of apples on one end of a table with a sign saying, "Take only one apple please - Remember that God is watching."
On the other end of the table was a plate of cookies where one of the children had placed a sign saying, "Take all the cookies you want -- God is watching the apples."
Bonus - Memorial Day
Monday is Memorial Day, a day set aside to remember those who have given their lives for the freedoms of our nation. The roots of Memorial Day, originally known as Decoration Day, emerged from a desire for healing after the Civil War. With hundreds of thousands of lives lost, communities across both the North and South began to decorate the graves of their fallen soldiers. These "decoration days" often involved worship services and the placement of flowers on graves of loved ones.
For many of us today, it is a time to reflect on the reality of selfless sacrifice of those who have given their all for their country. As we observe Memorial Day, we not only honor the sacrifices made by our service members, but we also acknowledge the spiritual courage and conviction that often guided them. It is a day to reflect on the preciousness of freedom, the cost of its preservation, and to renew our commitment to the values for which so many have given their lives. In remembering them, we are called to live lives worthy of their sacrifice.
This year is significant in that it is the 50th Anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. I came across this moving Memorial Day tribute:
I pray you have a great Memorial Day Weekend, and God bless America!
Here is an update on things I've been reading, listening to and pondering this week:
1. VERSE I AM REMEBERING
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 CSB
This week I began participating with the Healthy Eating and Activity Lab (HEAL) at the University of Tennessee, for a study on daily eating patterns for health. The 12-month study will hopefully help me make better food choices for a healthier lifestyle. The verse above reminds me that even what I eat should be done for the glory of God.
2. APP I AM USING
"Libby" is the free library reading app that allows you to digitally check out books for two-week periods, just like you would check out a book from the local library. All you need is a local library card and a compatible device. You can check out both audio and digital books (Kindle). I've been using Libby for a while, mostly with audiobooks that I listen to while I am driving or walking. Check out the APP HERE
3. BOOK I AM LISTENING TO (on Libby)
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. This book was written in 1939 by Carnegie, a Missouri born writer and teacher who became one of the leading motivational speakers in the world. Though the wordage and illustrations are dated, the book is a classic on relationships. The title is a little misleading because it sounds manipulative, but the material is a great primer on how to build solid and lasting relationships and friendships, not just in business but in all areas of life.
4. BOOK I AM READING
One at a Time: The Unexpected Way God Wants to Use You to Change the Worldby Kyle Idleman. I am doing a slow read of this book with a friend (one chapter every two weeks). Idleman is the pastor of Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky, one of the largest churches in America. Using episodes from the New Testament that show how God valued individuals, Idleman shows us the Jesus way of changing the world--by loving people one at a time.
5. QUOTE I AM PONDERING
In One at a Time, Idleman points to the story from Acts 8 where God tells Philip to leave a great work that is happening in Samaria, and travel the road from Jerusalem to Gaza (yes, same Gaza as today). On that road he encounters one man, a wealthy Ethiopian eunuch who is reading from Isaiah. Philip gets up in the man's chariot and shares the "good news about Jesus" (v.35). Idleman writes:
"What we have to share with people is good news about Jesus. Philip didn't share his morals or his values or his political views. He pointed to Jesus and got personal enough to invite the Ethiopian man to take the next step closer to God."
It is a great reminder of the message we have to share with the world - the GOOD NEWS about Jesus!
Thanks for reading. Leave a comment or question if you'd like to dialogue about anything!
One of my goals is to be more productive with my blog. I have things I want to share, but I struggle with the discipline to write. My plan is to do better, and to post more regularly on my blog.
I recently started receiving a weekly email from Tim Ferris, author and entrepreneur (check out his blog here). The email is called "5-Bullet Friday" where he shares short points of interest with his readers. To help get me started I am blatantly borrowing his idea and plan to make at least a weekly blog on Fridays of things from my life that I find interesting, and I hope you will too. So here goes ...
1. BIBLE READING PROGRESS
I am using the YouVersion Bible App for my daily Bible reading and following a reading plan from The Bible Project (check out the plan here). This week's readings have been in 2 Kings 1-19. The nations of Israel and Judah are pretty much on a downward spiral and judgement from the nations of Assyria and Babylon is coming. The reading is like watching a train wreck about to happen - you know something bad is coming, but you just can't look away.
2. BIBLE VERSE I AM MEMORIZING/MEDITATING ON
"Cast your burden on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken." Psalm 55:22
Confession - I am guilty of "Yo-Yo" praying about my "burdens." That is, I throw them at the Lord in prayer, but there is an invisible string attached that brings them right back to me, so I don't really turn loose of control. Through this verse God is reminding me that it really doesn't work that way if I want Him to sustain me. The word "cast" in this verse literally means to "throw down" and turn loose of something. I'm learning to cut the string on the Yo-Yo, so to speak.
3. BOOK I'M READING
"Respectable Sins: Confronting the Sins we Tolerate" by Jerry Bridges. (NavPress, 2007). I'm about a third of the way into the book and Bridges has laid out a pretty compelling argument that Christians are hard on blatant sins (and sinners) like adultery, murder, false witness, etc., but tend to be soft on "respectable" sins like pride, unthankfulness, selfishness, anger, sins of the tongue, etc. It's a hard read because it hits so close to home.
4. QUOTE I AM PONDERING
From the above book - Bridges emphasizes the need for Christians to rely on the Holy Spirit not only to deal with sin, but to live a life that honors God:
"Regardless of how much we grow, however, we never get beyond our constant need of the enabling power of the Holy Spirit. Our spiritual life may be compared to the motor of an electric appliance. The motor does the actual work, but it is constantly dependent upon the external power source of the electricity to enable it to work. Therefore we should cultivate and attitude of continual dependance on the Holy Spirit." (pgs. 48-49)
5. DAD JOKE I'M DIGGING
Shared by my friend (and Deacon) Dennis:
A pastor interrupts his sermon to ask three men on the front row: "What would you want your friends and loved ones to say as they are looking down at you in your coffin?"
Tom: "That I was a good husband and father."
Bill: "That I lived a good life of kindness to others."
Dan: "Hey look, he's moving!"
A merry heart does good like a medicine ..." 😊
If you have any thoughts or ideas for future "Five on Friday" blogs, let me know.
But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” Galatians 4:4-6 NLT
What is Advent?
Advent is the four weeks leading up to Christmas, and is a time dedicated to anticipating the arrival, or "advent," of Jesus. It is also a season that Christians can use to prepare spiritually for the celebration of Christmas.
Christmas is a time for joy, peace, and reflection. While the commercial aspects of the season can sometimes overshadow its spiritual significance, it's essential to take time to connect with the true meaning of Christmas. Here are some ways to spiritually prepare for this special time of year:
1. Reflect on the True Meaning of Christmas
Spend some time each day reading Scriptures related to the birth of Jesus in the Bible. The YouVersion Bible App (or Bible.com) has Advent/Christmas reading plans for this season. But don't just read the Scriptures, meditate and reflect on the significance of God sending His Son Jesus. Pray for understanding of the love of God shown through Christmas.
2. Practice Gratitude
Practicing gratitude is good for you ... always. The Apostle Paul writes, Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT. Our Christmas season often gets consumed with consumerism; we're focused on buying gifts and keeping lists. Gratitude gets us refocused on the right things at Christmas. Even if you don't journal, take five minutes every day and write down 1-3 things that you are thankful for.
3. Engage in Acts of Service
Christmas is about giving, but not just gifts. John 3:16 tells us that God so loved the world that He gave ... but He didn't just give a gift, He gave Himself to us at Christmas. Find ways to give yourself to others. Volunteer your time to serve in your church, or visit the less fortunate (i.e. nursing homes), offer to assist neighbors, family or others in any way you can. Practice "Random Acts of Kindness" for strangers, or someone you know, but do it anonymously. The main thing is to keep your focus outward instead of inward.
4. Spend Time Daily in Prayer
Take time each day to pray, thanking God for this season to celebrate His Son, praying for your own personal focus in this season, and for others who may be hurting or less fortunate. Christmas is not always a happy season, especially for those who have lost loved ones recently. As you pray, ask God to show you ways you can encourage others.
By incorporating these spiritual practices into your daily life, you can deepen your connection with the true meaning of Christmas and experience a more meaningful and fulfilling holiday season.
“At this Christmas when Christ comes, will He find a warm heart? Mark the season of Advent by loving and serving the others with God’s own love and concern.”
“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. Matthew 7:24-25 (NLT)
This week our world lost an amazing person; Rev. Billy Graham was/is a man respected and honored throughout the world. As an evangelist Rev. Graham preached more than 400 crusades in 178 countries to more than 2.15 million people in person (and numberless others through radio, TV, print media, Internet and more). In the history of our world, no one has touched more lives with the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ than Billy Graham, and hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of people are following the Lord today because of his ministry and the ministry of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.
"Billy Frank" as he was called by family and friends, grew up on a dairy farm near Charlotte, NC. His parents were devout followers of Christ, but Billy showed little interest in the Lord early on. When he was 15, the churches of Charlotte hosted a city-wide tent revival with evangelist Mordecai Ham. Billy hadn't planned on attending the meetings but a friend offered to let young Billy drive his truck to pick up kids for the crusade. During the week, Billy heard the gospel and responded in repentance and faith. Soon he felt the call to preach and left Charlotte to gain an education with stops at Bob Jones University, the Florida Bible Institute and finally graduating from Wheaton College.
In 1945 Billy was hired as an evangelist for a fledgling ministry, Youth for Christ. He joined fellow evangelist Chuck Templeton, traveling the country and eastern Europe preaching the gospel at revivals and crusades on college campuses. Templeton was an excellent communicator and some believe, a more effective evangelist than Graham. But as time went on, Templeton began to experience doubts about the gospel and questions about the authority of Scripture. Templeton would eventually leave the ministry and the faith for a career in broadcasting, but his doubts and questions began to affect Billy as well. Graham began to struggle in his faith and preaching.
In 1949, a few weeks prior to a scheduled crusade in Los Angeles, Graham was staying at the Forest Home Christian Camp in the Big Bear area of Southern California. He would take walks in the woods and mountains praying yet struggling with his faith. Finally, one day while Graham was in the woods, he laid his Bible on a tree stump, fell to his knees and cried out to God and committed himself to preaching the Bible as the infallible word of God. He acknowledged there were some things in the Bible he did not understand, but he would accept them by faith and build his life and ministry on the authority of God's word.
The rest, as they say, is history. His 1949 Los Angeles Crusade launched Graham into the national spotlight. A tent revival that was scheduled to run three weeks lasted eight weeks. More than 350,000 people attended and more than 3,000 made professions of faith in Christ, including Stuart Hamblen, an entertainer and radio personality. Hamblen told of his conversion on his radio program and it caught the attention of William Randolph Hearst, newspaper tycoon who sent news of Graham's crusade across the nation. It was also during this crusade that Olympian and former prisoner of war Louis Zamperini came to Christ (watch the movie "Unbroken" to learn Louis' story). Graham would go on to found the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association to further spread the good news of the gospel of Christ. Billy Graham's work and ministry will continue for many more years to come.
Billy Graham made a crucial decision in 1949, to build his life and ministry by faith on the word of God. And because of that decision his "house" still stands and will be standing for generations to come. God's word is true and powerful ... are you building your life on His word?
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17
Writer Robert Morgan tells the story of Dr. Doren Edwards, a surgeon in Franklin, Tennessee. Dr. Edwards is a devout Christian and is involved in the Gideons International. Several years ago he had a patient whose alcoholic husband had died. Her two children were giving her problems, finances were tight, and life was very hard. She wasn’t a Christian.
One day she came to see Dr. Edwards after she had been diagnosed cancer, with multiple organs involved. No treatment was available, and she was very bitter about it; life had been very hard and now she was dying. Dr. Edwards wanted to talk with her about the Lord, but she wouldn’t allow him to share his witness. She did, however, accept a small New Testament that he kept in his office.
A few weeks later, Doctor Edwards learned from the newspaper obituary that she had died. He sent a card to the family, telling them he had donated Bibles in her memory to the Gideons.
A few days later the woman’s daughter called Dr. Edwards. “Could you please send us a Bible like the ones you donated in memory of our mother,” she asked. “We don’t have a Bible in our home. The last six days she was alive, Mama's whole life changed. She was no longer bitter, she was at peace and she wasn’t afraid to die. She said something about knowing Jesus, but she asked that her Bible be buried in her hand, and we couldn’t keep it. Would you please send us a Bible so that we can find what Mama found in that book?”
Dr. Edwards sent them all Bibles, and soon afterwards the daughter, the son, and one of the woman's sisters were saved as a result.
There are many ways to share the Gospel: Bibles, cards, letters, text messages, personal testimony, etc. Think about a person you could give the gift of the Gospel to, and then do it.
