The more you say, “Yes,” the more adventures you have. Saying, “Yes, and…” is usually much more powerful and creative than saying, “Yes, but…” The more you say, “No,” the more you are at home alone. There are, of course, times when you should be home alone. They should be strategic though, not lazy or afraid or stingy. No matter what Jesus invites you to be and do or have […]
Category Archives: Discipleship
Voice Activated
In his book Hunger Driven, Brian Nickens coined or quoted the phrase “voice activated” to refer to the high response level successful citizens of the Kingdom of God exhibit by obeying the King. “Smart” phones are voice activated if you want them to be. You can get the phone’s attention by speaking a word or phrase and then you can give it a command or ask it a question. If […]
Be Filled!
How blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness! for they will be filled. (Matthew 5:6 Complete Jewish Bible) When we are hungry for righteousness, we are seeking a condition that we can only attain by the power of the Holy Spirit’s influence in our hearts and lives. It is by being filled with Him that we become capable of being satisfied in our desire for righteousness. The word […]
Bible Diet
How much are you reading your Bible? Beyond just reading, you could be studying. You could memorize, and be meditating. However much you are doing, it is not enough. It’s not enough even if you have the whole book memorized. It’s insufficient because no one ever got saved by just reading the Book. No one ever achieved righteousness by learning and obeying the law Yahweh gave Israel through Moses. No […]
Alignment and Timing
If not much happened today, and if tomorrow looks at least as bleak and eventless as yesterday, it is possible that the appropriate response could be to thank God that we have a bit more time to prepare for the day of Salvation and the time of His Favor. That’s when He is going to fulfill His promises and answer our cries (Isaiah 49:8). I am perplexed every time I […]
More Disciplined
The US Army has clear rules about how their employees should set up the schedule of their daily exercise and work and for interaction with their superiors when they are on duty. If my rank is inferior to yours, I must salute you, and there is a proper way to salute. Failure to perform according to the rules can be costly through punishment. Buddhist monks undergo similar indoctrination and discipline. […]
The Experts’ Opinions
There are many experts who agree heartily with each other that some things are true that aren’t. There are many theologians who prefer listening to themselves and to each other than to the Spirit of Jesus. Some of the theological experts in the first century thought the Holy Spirit was a demon. Learning to discern the voice of your Shepherd is one of the most important things you can do. […]
Better Than Last Week
Almost everything can be improved on. Increased vocabulary. Improved use of simple communication. Not needing spell check. My attitude toward people I don’t trust. Violin skills. Time intentionally set aside for important things. And important people. Driving habits. New glasses prescription. If I’m not a little better at something than I was last week, and a lot better than last year, I might not care enough. Caring about the harvest, […]
New Tech
I have just become eligible for a new telephone from Verizon. If I bite the bait and get a new phone, I will shop for the phone that does what I like done. My phone is really a pocket computer that happens to also work as a telephone… I will then complain silently for a while as I find the new places where buttons and apps are. Soon, though, I […]
Who Writes Your Rules?
Yahweh told Israel not to eat pork. He also told them not to worship or pray to idols. He didn’t mention eating food that had been offered to idols. In Acts 15, Luke recorded some of the discussion and the resulting letter that the Jewish leaders of the Church wrote to Gentiles who were becoming believers and facing some Jews instructing them regarding laws given through Moses. The leaders told […]