There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love's complete perfection].
- Amplified Bible
Friday, July 25, 2008
OK, because this is a fair blog, and in light of June 27th's post, I reluctantly acknowledge that the salmonella has been traced to these...
...but I still don't like raw tomatoes...I do not like them, Sam I Am!
Hey bloggers,
I'm at Kennesaw State University in the student center, and this is the first chance I've had to be at a computer since we left town yesterday morning. The meetings in Washington were great...I have a lot to tell you about them (later). We got to bed around midnight after the second planning meeting for the GPF, and then got up at 4:00 this morning in order to catch a cab at 5 for the airport, because we had to be at a parents' orientation for KSU at 8:30 (where Judah will be attending this fall). He's here somewhere on campus for his own orientation. We haven't seen him because he was coming from Covington as we were coming from Washington this morning, and we've been in separate meetings all day.
What I didn't know until we got here this morning is that the orientation goes until 4:00 PM!!! I thought it was just going to be for about an hour, but I was apparently misinformed.
It's the end of the lunch break, and I've got to go back in for the afternoon sessions, but I wanted you to know why nothing had been posted for today.
If you want to post something, feel free to do so. It helps to keep me awake.
Check back later.
Peace
______
Later (currently 12 comments) –
Hey bloggers,
Thanks for the interest…and yeah, we made it through the rest of the long but productive day…and, thanks…your comments helped make the second part go faster…
Judah got registered and got his classes…I am very impressed with KSU…
Check back later...
_______
Even later (18 comments) –
So anyway, Debye and I have been asked to be co-chairs of the GPF (along with Dr. Michael Beckwith, who is one of the ministers that you see on The Secret), which just means that we are even more involved with the actual planning of it. The gospel group Phillips, Craig and Dean has also just signed on to appear that day. Many of you have asked about the program schedule, and we are still working on it (we’ll be back in D.C. next week for that), but it has definitely been moved back an hour (from 5 – 8 PM) because of the heat.
One thing that was really cool about last night is that we got to spend some time with Rev. Walter Fauntroy, who will be one of the keynote speakers for the GPF. Any of you who know about the Civil Rights movement know who he is, and it’s awesome to talk to him, and to hear how he sees this event as a part of the fulfillment of Dr. King’s “I have a dream” speech (he was there for it on the other side of the mall that day, 45 years ago).
All of the people in the bigger meeting last night were so impressed with how so many of you are getting involved with the acts of service and kindness.
You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.
(Matthew 5:8 The Message)
Today I will live in the now! I will live in the now because I am experiencing a daily revelation of repentance. I am changing my world by changing my mind, progressing through paradigm shifts that point me in new directions, promoting the perception of my purpose, and painting a permanent picture of unlimited possibilities for me.
Today I will practice the power of positive reinforcement and will re-program my mind with the living word of God: His incorruptible seed. I will reward myself when I excel, training my mind to think the right way so that I can do the right thing.
Today I will rethink my history and will make the effort to see it in a totally positive light. No matter what has happened (or is happening) to me, all things are working together for my good because God perfects that which concerns me. The way I see it causes me to say, “It’s ALL good!”
Today I will run with the vision, even if I don’t understand every detail of it at this point in time. I will not have to wait until I fill in all the blanks before I start making genuine strides toward my goal, because I walk by faith and not by sight!
Today I will renew my faith in my faith. I have the ability to believe myself into greatness, so I will not underestimate my innate powers, bequeathed to me by the Author of the New Covenant Himself, to call things into existence that are currently invisible or intangible!
Today I will change my opinion to take dominion. My life is not controlling me; I am controlling my life, as I follow Christ. Today I will take charge of my emotions and passions because the fruit of the Spirit Who lives in me is self-control. In Him I am organized, disciplined and firmly focused on fulfilling my destiny!
Today I will experience the beauty of a whole new world by thinking a whole new way. My positive mindset will be a magnet for magnificent miracles and mighty moves of God. Today I will see the world from God’s perspective, and today I will live in the now!
Father, freshen up my outlook on life today. In Jesus’ name, amen.
I have several things on my mind that I want to talk about...
First, here's a couple of pictures that we took Sunday after church which Debye just sent me. We had a great time with the kids last weekend, and I must say that the grandparent gig just gets better and better...
If you haven't read today's AYITN, check it out (it's on the CITN site if you don't have a copy...and why wouldn't you have a copy?!). I think that it's a good follow-up to yesterday's lively discussion about whining (Title: Extra Mile!)...
Again, thanks for your participation in the Million Acts of Service and Kindness. I'm really glad that you "get it". It's important...
And it looks like the GPF is coming together, nicely. Debye and I are on the new promo video for it, which should be up in the next day or two. Rev. Run and some other celebrities just signed on...
Also, be in agreement with me for the global schedule to work out. It looks like the MEPI trip to Iran is for real, and I have been officially invited to go...I've just got to squeeze it in somehow between Uganda and the Philppines...need some supernatural intervention to make all that work out, but I'd really like to go to Iran...
I've been noticing how many of you have written here lately, "I LOVE THIS PLACE!", and I love it, too. The only problem with that, on my part, is that the blog so satisfies my need to create on a daily basis, that it seems to be preventing me from creating other things! My practice since the turn of the millennium has been to author at least one book a year, but since I've had this constant outlet to write and communicate what's on my mind, I haven't been writing anything else. I've started about four different books this year (and I know that I still haven't done Matthew, Mark and Luke In The Now) but so far, nothing has really flowed or kept my attention. And it's nearly August!
I also haven't painted one thing this year!
So I'm also asking that you be in agreement with me for some balance and better time management, because I'm totally committed to the blog, and plan on continuing it. And I wouldn't mind some suggestions for book topics to help me with direction. I need for someone to make a demand on that part of my writing gift.
If I'm not mistaken, I think Obama is in Israel/Palestine today...pray for the peace of Jerusalem (and Ramallah)...
Hope to see you ITB tonight...I'm beginning a new series...
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
"Laugh at yourself and at life. Not in the spirit of derision or whining self-pity, but as a remedy, a miracle drug, that will ease your pain, cure your depression, and help you to put in perspective that seemingly terrible defeat and worry with laughter at your predicaments, thus freeing your mind to think clearly toward the solution that is certain to come. Never take yourself too seriously.”
_____________
"Each day is a special gift from God, and while life may not always be fair, you must never allow the pains, hurdles, and handicaps of the moment to poison your attitude and plans for yourself and your future. You can never win when you wear the ugly cloak of self-pity, and the sour sound of whining will certainly frighten away any opportunity for success. Never again. There is a better way.”
- Og Mandino, American Essayist and Psychologist
"A little less complaint and whining, and a little more dogged work and manly striving, would do us more credit than a thousand civil rights bills.”
- W.E.B. DuBois, co-founder of the N.A.A.C.P.
"The tendency to whining and complaining may be taken as the surest sign symptom of little souls and inferior intellects.”
- Lord Jeffrey, Founder and editor of the Edinburgh Review
“Firmness in enduring and exertion is a character I always wish to possess. I have always despised the whining yelp of complaint and cowardly resolve.”
- Robert Burns, National Poet of Scotland
____________
If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.
(Proverbs 24:10 – NKJV)
And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
(2 Timothy 2:2-3 - NKJV)
For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].
(Philippians 4:8 - Amplified Bible)
Selah!
BTW, it's very cool to log on to the Million Acts of Service and Kindness site and see so many of your names there! Thanks for participating...I'm very proud of you!
I'll be back later today with some good stuff...in the meantime, here are the Beattitudes from the KHABORIS MANUSCRIPT (in Aramaic, the language that Jesus spoke) for you to enjoy and discuss...
Matthew 5:2- 10
2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, 3 A heavenly attitude is theirs, those whose home is in Truth; theirs is a heavenly state. 4 A heavenly attitude is theirs, those mourning their wrongs; they shall be comforted. 5 A heavenly attitude is theirs, those with humility; they will gain the earth. 6 A heavenly attitude is theirs, those who hunger and thirst for justness; they shall attain it. 7 A heavenly attitude is theirs, those whose love is without conditions; they will therefore receive unconditional love. 8 A heavenly attitude is theirs, those without fault in their minds; they will see God. 9 A heavenly attitude is theirs, those serving the peace of God; they will be called the children of God (Alaha). 10 A heavenly attitude is theirs, those being scorned because of their justness; theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Also, feel free to continue the discussion from yesterday...
Later...
________________
OK, I'm back now (currently 10 comments)...
Yesterday, after the kids got on the road back to NC, I laid down for a little Sunday afternoon nap on the sofa, with AMC playing in the background. A little while later, I was awakened by this scene playing from the 1962 movie The Miracle Worker:
(If the playlist is playing, you'll need to scroll down to it and pause it)
In case you haven't seen this biopic about Helen Keller, here's a synopsis of it:
The Miracle Worker opens with a doctor assuring Captain Keller and his wife, Kate, that their infant daughter, Helen, will recover from a serious fever. Soon after the doctor leaves, however, Kate realizes that Helen is deaf and blind. In the next scene, Helen is about six years old. She is a wild, undisciplined child. Though they try, her parents are unable to help or control her. In desperation they hire a young woman, Annie Sullivan.
From the moment Annie arrives, it is clear that she and Helen will be gripped in a great struggle. But Helen is not the only problem for Annie. Annie must also convince the Kellers, especially the Captain, that she, Annie, needs complete control of Helen if she is to reach the child. Annie is certain that language is the key to gaining access to Helen's mind, and she constantly spells the names of things on Helen's palm.
Although Helen can spell them back on Annie's palm, the understanding that the words represent things eludes her. After spending two weeks together in the garden house, Helen finally obeys Annie, but when the time is up and they return to the family, Helen quickly reverts to her former behavior. The Kellers are indulgent, ready to fall back in their old pattern of behavior, but Annie doesn't let them. When Helen spills a water pitcher on Annie, Annie takes her out to refill it. She spells "water" into Helen's hand, and suddenly the miracle happens. Helen understands.
In the scene above, the reason that Helen finally makes the connection with "water" is that, before she lost her sight and hearing, she could say "wa-wa" when asking for water as a baby. You have to see it to get it, but what stood out to me the most yesterday (I guess I never thought about it before, even though I have seen it many, many times) is when she hands her teacher, Annie Sullivan, the keys that she had taken from her when she locked her in her room earlier in the film.
The "Keys of the Kingdom" are what we use to unlock our knowledge of first, eternal things ("Let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning")...we still know what we knew ("But you have an anointing and you know all things"), but the knowledge is buried beneath the blindness of logic and human reasoning, and the deafness of religious tradition. But somehow, through the washing of the WATER of the word, we make the internal connection, and remember what we knew about God in the now!
Anyway, I laid there and meditated on it, and I dozed off a little more. When I woke back up, West Side story was playing, and Tony was singing Something's Coming!
Just thought I'd share that with you.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
"When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us."
Today I will live in the now! I will live in the now because I am experiencing a daily revelation of repentance. I am changing my world by changing my mind, progressing through paradigm shifts that point me in new directions, promoting the perception of my purpose, and painting a permanent picture of unlimited possibilities for me.
Today I will practice the power of positive reinforcement and will re-program my mind with the living word of God: His incorruptible seed. I will reward myself when I excel, training my mind to think the right way so that I can do the right thing.
Today I will rethink my history and will make the effort to see it in a totally positive light. No matter what has happened (or is happening) to me, all things are working together for my good because God perfects that which concerns me. The way I see it causes me to say, “It’s ALL good!”
Today I will run with the vision, even if I don’t understand every detail of it at this point in time. I will not have to wait until I fill in all the blanks before I start making genuine strides toward my goal, because I walk by faith and not by sight!
Today I will renew my faith in my faith. I have the ability to believe myself into greatness, so I will not underestimate my innate powers, bequeathed to me by the Author of the New Covenant Himself, to call things into existence that are currently invisible or intangible!
Today I will change my opinion to take dominion. My life is not controlling me; I am controlling my life, as I follow Christ. Today I will take charge of my emotions and passions because the fruit of the Spirit Who lives in me is self-control. In Him I am organized, disciplined and firmly focused on fulfilling my destiny!
Today I will experience the beauty of a whole new world by thinking a whole new way. My positive mindset will be a magnet for magnificent miracles and mighty moves of God. Today I will see the world from God’s perspective, and today I will live in the now!
"Laugh at yourself and at life. Not in the spirit of derision or whining self-pity, but as a remedy, a miracle drug, that will ease your pain, cure your depression, and help you to put in perspective that seemingly terrible defeat and worry with laughter at your predicaments, thus freeing your mind to think clearly toward the solution that is certain to come. Never take yourself too seriously.”
"A little less complaint and whining, and a little more dogged work and manly striving, would do us more credit than a thousand civil rights bills.”
"The tendency to whining and complaining may be taken as the surest sign symptom of little souls and inferior intellects.”
“Firmness in enduring and exertion is a character I always wish to possess. I have always despised the whining yelp of complaint and cowardly resolve.”
