Life is about making choices.

On average, an adult spends hours each day just making decisions. We must decide what to wear, what to eat, when to get up, where to drive, what floor we want the elevator to stop at, whether we’ll overlook an insult or not, whether we will consciously love the unlovable. The choices we make range from the important to the mundane—but they all require our time and prayerful concentration.

The most Important choice we will make is not “where we will go” but rather “Who will we become?”

The only true freedom each of us has is the freedom to choose. But once we choose, we become the servant of our choices!

In this Blog we will look at one of the most power-filled choices we can make in life: choosing to withhold revenge.

If we could see the secret history in our enemies, we should find in each life sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all our hostility. ~Henry W. Longfellow

When we see everyone (in church) is a part of us, that any criticism we make is self-criticism, we will extend to ourselves an unconditional love that will light the world. ~Henry Palmer

Whether or not you recall the names of the two wealthiest people in the world—or the last few winners of the Heisman Trophy, or Academy Awards----I’ll guarantee you can remember the names of two favorite teachers, a coach, or friends who stood by you when everyone else walked.

We remember the people who “Cared”

And we can become one of those people who are held in others’ hearts and memories long after we have passed from this planet. It is what we are here to do; next to simple acts of kindness & forgiveness, all our personal achievements pale.

Acts of kindness, love, forgiveness and tenderness close the circle of life and connect us to others. What we do for ourselves dies with us, but what we do for others echoes throughout the ages.

We can see and enjoy every sight around the world, experience every luxury and pleasure. But when we look back on our lives and review our memories, none of it will match the delight of bringing a smile to someone’s face, or performing some act of courage, kindness or forgiveness. These “Things” take us beyond ourselves, past our separation; they bring meaning and purpose to life.

We are each angels with only one wing; we fly only by embracing one another. ~Luciano de Crescenzo

A few years ago, at the Seattle Special Olympics, nine contestants, all physically or mentally disabled, assembled at the starting line for the 100-yard dash. At the gun, they all started out, not exactly in a dash, but with a relish to run the race to the finish and win. All, that is, except one little boy who stumbled on the asphalt, tumbled over a few times, and began to cry. The other eight youngsters heard his cries, slowed down, and looked back. Then every one of them turned around and went back. A girl with Down’s Syndrome bent down and kissed him. Then all nine children linked arms and walked together to the finish line.

Can we learn from these youngsters to compete and collaborate at the same time?

Can we celebrate our journey “Together” as brothers and sisters “In Christ” in a spirit of cooperation and willing forgiveness?

Perhaps we could “Together” discover our greatest Purpose yet!

Let’s Learn To Get Over Ourselves!

Ninety percent of the art of living consists of learning how to get along with people one cannot stand. ~Samuel Goldwin ……… (Rough! But I like it!)

The Lord Needs You…..

Deb & I Need You!

See You in Church!

Check out the attached study tool……

“Our Response”

Recharge

Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. ~Psalm 51:12

The IRONMAN TRIATHLON is one of the most grueling endurance events in the world. In order to complete the race, an athlete must swim 2.4 miles, ride a bicycle 112 more miles, then run a 26.2-mile marathon. I’m tired just reading about it!

The best athletes in the world can complete this monumental challenge in under nine

hours. But for Australian Chris Legh, his Ironman experience in 1997 was memorable for the wrong reasons. Known as one of the top competitors in the sport, he was unable to keep any fluids or food down during the course of the race. As a result, he became dehydrated, leading to a number of his organs shutting down.

Fifty yards from the finish line, his body completely gave out. Legh never finished the race and would’ve died without immediate medical attention. Thankfully, he recovered and has won two Ironman events since.

But first, he had to be Restored & Recharged!

While experiences like Legh’s show us humans have physical limits to their endurance, the same can also be said about their spiritual lives. Thankfully, there are warning signs that exist before it becomes too late. When people don’t want to read their Bible or pray, if they decide to shut people out of their lives, or if church becomes just a ritual, something deeper may be going on.

They may be suffering from spiritual dehydration. Just as a “Low Fuel” light tells us to fill up the car with gas, it’s time to ask God for a renewed spirit when we see these warning signs. Consider that Jesus had crowds following him everywhere, but he knew his spiritual limits so well that he consistently took time to recharge, even when death was near (see Luke 22:39-43).

When your life’s “Low Fuel” light comes on, don’t ignore it. God wants to recharge and renew your life. Allow him to do just that. Make sure you accept his help to cross the finish line, especially at this hectic time of year.

We belive that God has BIG PLANS for us in 2010!

Let’s Remember our last four Blog-post’s ….

Let’s have the right “Reaction” to whatever He calls us to Be & Do!

Let’s allow His Holy Spirit to “Refine” us for His Glory!

Let’s work on “Realigning” ourselves to His Purpose!

Let’s Remember to get Recharged for the coming task!

From Deb & I

Have a Blessed Christmas…

See you in 2010

Please take the 4 minutes it will take and check out our last “Study” of 2009

“Rejoice”

Realignment

Time flies, but some months seem to move even faster!

And the Christmas season seems like a sprint to the finish line of the year.

Many good intentions get lost in the busyness of this season.

Great opportunities are crowded out by secondary choices.

December could be such a memorable finishing touch, but too often it turns into a dismal rush that leaves us exhausted at year’s end.

We pray this year will be an exception.

God’s Word never tells us to live in a hurry. We don’t worship a frantic God. He has established a pace for living in the hours of the day and the seasons of the year. Rather than accept the timetable the world hands us, why not seek to live our days under God’s timing?

We don’t want to reach the end of the year and say, “I just didn’t spend much time considering the reason for the season this year—again.”We pray that for all of us, this month will hold some special moments of vivid experiences in Christ’s presence.

We need to see His glory! Let’s dedicate this, His season, to Him.

Anyone who has ever had a car Out of alignment knows the damage and the danger this phenomena can create…and it happens so easily, just one pot hole, and Wham!

The Christmas season is a great time to ask ourselves

“Is it Time for Realignment?”

How can you discover the unconscious values you may have embraced this past year? Look at how you spend your time and money. Psychiatrists M. Scott Peck observed, “When we love something it is of value to us, and when something is of value to us, we spend time with it, time enjoying it, and time taking care of it.”

Perhaps it is time to conduct a values audit in your life. Look at your calendar. Review your budget and compare it to your spending habits. Think about your passions. All of those things will lead you invariably to an accounting of your values.

If you are living by values that run contrary to your ideals, philosophy, or theology, consider what changes you must make to align who you are, what you believe, and what you do.

You don’t make decisions because they are easy. You don’t make decisions because they are Cheap. You don’t make decisions because they are Popular. You make decisions because they are Right. ~Theodore Hesburgh

The closer you are to The Christ of Christmas the safer you are.

More Presence = More Power!

How To Live Out Your Values With Integrity:

1. Learn to Articulate your Values Clearly.

2. Review them Daily.

3. Practice them Purposefully.

4. Make Decisions with them Strategically.

5. Teach them to your family Intentionally.

6. Recognize them in each other Publically.

7. Celebrate them Continually.

From Deb & I

HAVE A WONDER – FILLED – CHRISTMAS SEASON!

I Know it’s a Busy Time…But make the Time.. Check out our “STUDY TOOL”

“Realignment”...

And Your feedback is a great Encouragement to us!

This week try and tell at least one person why you are Anticipating Christmas this year.