Scoring The Best Of The Worst

It's the Super Bowl on Sunday.

That means getting together with family and friends.

Watching the game.

Eating all of that Super Bowl Sunday health food.

What will you be serving up?

If you want to score big in a "bad" way... check out the details of this new report:

The Five Worst Super Bowl Party Foods

The Deep Dish MeatZZa Feast from Domino's Pizza tops a list of the five most unhealthful Super Bowl foods for game day parties, according to a new analysis by dietitians with the nonprofit Cancer Project.

Papa John's Meats Pan Crust Pizza and KFC's new Honey BBQ Wings are among the other items singled out in "The Five Worst Super Bowl Party Foods" report.

To compile the report, Cancer Project dietitians reviewed nutrition information for items on the menus of five fast-food chains offering party food for game day.

The five most unhealthful items were ranked from worst to least bad.

The Deep Dish MeatZZa Feast, which contains an extra layer of high-fat cheese, pepperoni, ham, beef, and Italian sausage, topped the list because a single serving contains 430 calories, 22 grams of fat, and a whopping 1,440 milligrams of sodium--more than half the daily maximum.

The report found that most popular Super Bowl party items are high in fat, saturated fat, calories, and cholesterol and many also contain processed meats and grilled meats, which are linked to increased cancer risk.

Even a single very high-fat meal can increase the risk of a heart attack, according to some research, and sports fans are already at increased danger of a heart attack while watching stressful sporting events.

"There is more pig skin on some Super Bowl party foods than there is on the football field, and these high-fat meat products increase the risk of a heart attack on game day and other health problems down the line," says Cancer Project staff dietitian Krista Haynes, R.D., L.D. "

People looking to cut their risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and even cancer should look for low-fat party foods."

So.. is this going to change the menu for you on Sunday?

Only slightly for me.

"I'll add a few pounds of guilt to that order please."

Extreme Measures

How serious are we when it comes to honoring God and avoiding sin?
It's not about our salvation.
We're Heaven bound because of what someone else did.
That would be Jesus.
We could never be good enough to stand before a Holy God.
We would have to be perfect.
No way I can meet that standard!

But knowing Jesus paid the penalty for my sins on the cross, and through believing in Him I am credited with His righteousness in God's sight, I'm free to follow because I love Him.

I love what He loves.
I hate what He hates.
I still struggle with the old sin nature, but it's not the rule of my life anymore.
My heart is broken over my failures, and yet I celebrate the joy of forgiveness!

But I should all the more want to avoid what God hates.
And I need to remember that my sin cost Him the life of His Son.
Day by day.. step by step.. with the help of the Holy Spirit, we've got to get rid of sin.

In the Old Testament we see God telling the Israelites to take the Promised Land and destroy the Godless people who lived there:

Deuteronomy 20:16-18 (NIV)16 However, in the cities of the nations the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, do not leave alive anything that breathes.17 Completely destroy them--the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites--as the LORD your God has commanded you.18 Otherwise, they will teach you to follow all the detestable things they do in worshiping their gods, and you will sin against the LORD your God.

Those are extreme measures that God called for in that time and place to keep His people from falling into sin and away from Him.

Jesus also talked about the need to take extreme measures against sin:

Matthew 5:29-30 (NIV)29 If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away.

Of course, Jesus isn't talking about self-mutilation here.
He's just saying we need to be ruthless and do whatever it takes to destroy sin.
If we give up our hearts become hard.
Suddenly it's not as big a deal to sin as it used to be.
Our love for and dedication to God fades.

Is there something in your life you need to "chop off" or "gouge out"or just simply destroy?
Begin the war.
Seek forgiveness for lost battles.
Celebrate grace.
And rise again to fight another day.

Going Public

Do you have kids attending public school?

I do.

My two boys have attended public school all of their lives.

And yes.. it can be a bit challenging for a Christian parent.

The truth is God can call us to home school our kids... send them to a fine Christian school.... or yes... send them to a public school.

Parents have to make the call based on what they feel God is telling them.

Whatever the scenario is, we have to take up the responsibility of being our children's primary educators, building them up in the faith:

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 (NIV) 6 "These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates."

On our Total Impact segment over the past couple of evenings, I featured a recent conversation with David and Kelli Pritchard.

Their book Going Public is filled with encouragement right out of the pages of the Bible.

It's also super practical.

If this is a subject that hits home for you..... take a listen to the interviews.

I was both encouraged and instructed.

I hope you will be too.

Going Public Part 1: http://www.box.net/shared/3dmh376edo

Going Public Part 2: http://www.box.net/shared/6h8kt1bsvr

It's All About Mercy

Have you ever felt this way?
"Lord I don't deserve salvation. I don't deserve to serve you in a place of ministry.
You could surely find someone more righteous to bless in this way than me."

From time to time those thoughts pop into my head.
A few days ago they arrived at the door of my mind even though the welcome mat wasn't out.
That's the way it always goes, isn't it?

But the Lord is so kind.
I ran across this verse:

Deuteronomy 9:6 (ESV)6 "Know, therefore, that the Lord your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a stubborn people."

God is talking to His chosen people, the Israelites.
HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE!
Chosen but imperfect.
Chosen despite all of their sin.

For that to really hit home, read through the Old Testament.
The Israelites strayed far from God time and time again.
Yes... He's a just God and they had to deal with the consequences of their disobedience.
But God was always ready to forgive them.
All they had to do was truly repent.
Have a change of mind and heart.
Agree that what they had done was wrong in His eyes.
Humble themselves before Him:

Isaiah 66:2 (NIV) .... "This is the one I esteem(the Lord says) : he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word."

God chose the Israelites because He loved them.
Period.
And they would be used to showcase His unbelievable mercy:

Romans 9:15 (ESV)15 For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."

The point?
It's all about Him.
His Glory for being so merciful.
His love for us.
Just because that's who He is.
All of that, despite who we are.

And to think that Jesus, the one who ensured our forgiveness, came through such a wayward people.

It's mercy from begining to end.

Ah Chew!

This is nothing to sneeze at.

Good advice from Miss Manners on sneezing/coughing in public.

Hey.. I know it's a little random.

But it is the cold and flu season!

Dear Miss Manners,

I sneezed at my job. I did what I always do -- I cupped my hands in front of my nose and mouth as I sneezed. My co-worker commented to me that I should have sneezed into the elbow of my arm, as this is the proper way to prevent germs from being on my hands and getting spread around. It seems awkward to sneeze into my elbow. If a sneeze comes up without warning, is it okay to cup my hands or should I be hooking my elbow up to catch it? I also felt it was rude of her to offer any suggestion to me at all.

Gentle Reader,
There is an ingenious item that could solve your problem. It is considered standard equipment for all ladies and gentleman, and it is cheap, almost weightless and takes up very little room.
Prudent people carry two, so as always to have a clean one. It is called -- did anyone guess? -- a handkerchief.
It is kept immediately available, in a pocket or purse or tucked into a sleeve, because you never know when you're going to need it.
Yes, Miss Manners knows that you prefer to use paper tissue.
Use them if you must.
Anything is better than the alternatives from which you asked Miss Manners to choose.

Good advice.
But it's hard to look cool when you whip out the old hankie.
Emphasize the word old.
"Hey grandpa, nice hankie!"
Thanks.
Ah....these are the times that try men's and women's souls.
In a manner of speaking.
See ya on the radio,
Kurt

It's Never Too Late To Do The Right Thing...

"It's never too late to do the right thing."
A cliché?
Absolutely.
But clichés are clichés because they have a lot of truth in them.
That's why we use them so much.

This story about two girls basketball teams in Texas is a wonderful example of making a mistake, owning up to it, and doing the right thing.

A special round of kudos because this involves a Christian school.

Click here for the full story: http://highschool.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=903780

You know what?
This story reminds me of... well... ME.
I fail.
I confess my sin.
1 John 1:9 (ESV) 9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

It's not my confession that secures my forgiveness.
It's the blood of Jesus shed on the cross that makes forgiveness possible.
In fact, He rose from the grave and is standing up for me right now in Heaven:

Hebrews 7:25 (ESV) 25 "Consequently, he (Jesus) is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them."

I can go on, knowing I'm forgiven.

Romans 8:1 (ESV) 1 "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."

Out of the grace God has shown me, I can show grace to others.
It's never too late for that.

Is That Really You God?

I've always said a prayer God loves to answer is "Lord, are you there? Can you make yourself real to me?"

And the Lord doesn't always answer this prayer in the way we expect.
But He does answer it according to what He says in the Bible.
He'll never contradict His Word.

That's awesome, if you think about it!
Take for instance these two verses:

Jeremiah 29:13 (ESV) 13 "You will seek me and find me. When you seek me with all your heart.."

Isaiah 30:21 (NIV) 21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."

It took me a long time to realize God really wants to guide us as Christ followers.
And it's not like searching for a needle in a haystack.
Yes, His timing may not be our timing.
But if you really want to know His will, and you're committed to doing it, that pleases Him.

Here's what Jesus said:

John 7:17 (ESV) 17 If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God ..."

But we need to keep in mind the Bible is the benchmark.
Beware of the trap of hearing someone say something and buying into the message right off the bat.
Listen to the Apostle John:

1 John 4:1 (ESV) 1 "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world."

Here's that principle in action in the early church:

Acts 17:10-11 (ESV) 10 "The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. 11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so."

We don't have to be Bible scholars to find out what God has to say.
But we do have to make the effort to pick it up and crack the spine.

And yes.... some say the Bible is just an old, out-of-date book.
How relevant can it be to me today...in the 21st century?

Here's a good case in point:
We're all going to die.
The Bible tells us how to get to heaven:

John 14:6 (ESV) 6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

John 3:16 (ESV) 16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."

I would have to say that's ETERNALLY RELEVANT wouldn't you?
But we worship a God of the details too.
And the God who sent His Son to die on the cross for our sins and rise from the grave wants to show up in all kinds of ways.
Have you talked with Him about it lately?
Have you blown the dust off of your Bible?
If you haven't already guessed...... I'm speaking to myself today.

The Blessing of Challenges

Are you coping with a challenge of some type today?
Nothing is ever wasted in the life of a follower of Christ.

This morning I was reading a little Thomas Brooks.
He was a powerful preacher in England in the 1600's.
Here's what he wrote:

"Through challenging times Christians gain more experience of the power of God supporting them, of the wisdom of God directing them, of the grace of God refreshing and cheering them, and of the goodness of God quieting them."

See you on the radio,
Kurt

Rick Warren's Inaugural Prayer

Bravo!
With so much controversy surrounding Rick Warren giving the inaugural prayer this morning, I was watching.. and yes.. praying that he would use the name of Jesus.

Would he be politically correct or would he lift up the one who said:

John 14:6 (ESV) 6 "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Well... let's just say he was faithful!

Check it out for yourself:

How Rich Are You?

Talk about conviction.
I finally had some time to check out the website http://www.globalrichlist.com/.
It's a website where you type in your income and it'll show you how rich you are compared to the rest of the world.

For instance, the minimum wage earner in the U.S. ranks in the 11 percentile of the richest people in the world.
How blessed we are, even in tough times.

Of course this may be little consolation to you because you've lost your job.
Or maybe your salary or hours were cut.
You're dealing with major financial issues.
As a Christ follower you are still rich.
You have a Savior.
He died for our sins and rose again.
We worship a living Jesus!
And if we have Him, we have eternal life in heaven and unlimited resources here and now:

John 3:35 (NIV) "The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands."

We're rich no matter what circumstances we're in today.
What do you need?
Really need?

Have you asked God for it?
James 4:2 (NASB) "...... You do not have because you do not ask."

Maybe you have asked but things are getting worse.
Take heart.
When God comes through for you, it'll be a life defining moment.
The greater the need the greater the blessing when God shows up.
Not if... but when!

We have a choice.
Turn to the Lord or turn away from Him.
Which will it be for you today?

May our answer be the same as Joshua's:
Joshua 24:15 (AMP) "......as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
Amen.

I Have My Doubts

Yesterday on the show it was so awesome to hear about how some followers of

Christ deal with doubt.

When I opened up the phones, there were so many practical tips.

But the common denominator was this:

Trust in God's character.

He who sent His own son to died for your sins on the cross... won't let you down.

He'll test you for sure.

That's because He values faith so much.

Bible teacher and author Ray Pritchard always has some great things to say.

Be sure to check out his blog: http://www.keepbelieving.com/

He recently wrote about dealing with doubt:

Seven Ways to Deal With Doubt

Most Christians struggle with doubt at one time or another. Doubt is not sinful but it can be dangerous. It can also be a spur to enormous spiritual growth. It’s what you do with your doubt that matters. Here are seven simple suggestions about how to handle your doubt.

1. Admit your doubts and ask for help.

Tell the Lord about your struggles. God is not fragile. He can handle all your questions. And find some wise Christian friends who won’t put you down when you express your doubts.

2. “Borrow” faith by hanging around those whose faith is strong.

I really mean by this, stay attached to the larger body of Christ. Keep going to worship–even if it doesn’t seem to help you at the moment. Remember that you’re not the first Christian to go through the “dark night of the soul.” If you pull back from other believers, your doubts will only grow stronger.

3. Act on Your Faith, Not Your Doubts.
We know that many great men and women of the Bible struggled with doubt. Sometimes believing can be very difficult indeed. Don’t let your doubts shut down your faith altogether. Noah had never seen rain, but he built the ark anyway. Abraham had no idea where he was going, but he left Ur of the Chaldees anyway. The heroes of the Bible were flesh and blood people just like you and me. They chose to believe even when they had no idea how things were going to turn out.

4. Doubt your doubts, not your faith.
We will all spend some time slogging through the Valley of Doubt. When you are in that valley, remember these two words: Keep going! If you are in the Valley of Doubt, don’t stop and build a condo there. The only way out is to keep on walking. Every step forward is a way to “doubt your doubts.” Soon enough the light will shine again.

5. Sing!
Since music is the language of the heart, when we sing, we are dealing with our doubts on more than just an intellectual level. Put in a Christian CD or play a good song on your iPod or pick up a hymnal and start singing. I don’t mean just listen. I mean, Sing along. Sing out loud. Jehoshaphat put the male choir at the head of the army of Judah. While they sang, God gave a victory over the vastly-larger Ammonite army (2 Chronicles 20). Singing godly music builds your faith by tattooing the truth on your soul.

6. Let go of what you cannot know with certainty.
All of us have questions that we simply can’t answer. Often those questions revolve around the whys of life. Why did this happen? Why did it happen to me? Or to my children? Or to my wife? Or to my husband? Why did it happen now and not ten years from now? To all those questions of the heart, the answers will not come until we get to heaven. It is faith-building to say, “I understand that I won’t understand right now.”

7. Keep going back to what you know to be true.
This, for me, is the most important point. After considering the sufferings of this life, and the perils and tribulations of following Christ, Paul concludes Romans 8 triumphantly by declaring, “For I am persuaded.” And he declares that nothing in all the universe can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. In 2 Timothy 1:12 he says, “I know whom I have believed.” Some things you think.Some things you hope.Some things you know.In times of trouble, keep going back to what you know to be true. This means consciously reminding yourself that God is sovereign, that Jesus is Lord, that God is good, and that there is a higher purpose at work even when I can’t see it.

Doubt is not a sin. It’s what you do with your doubt that makes all the difference. Don’t let your doubts keep you from Jesus. Come to him just as you are—and bring your doubts with you. He will not turn you away.
Check out If I Believe, Why Do I Doubt? for more help.
© Keep Believing Ministries

Good stuff...no doubt.

See ya on the radio,

Kurt

Got Courage?

What is the definition of courage?
"Bold as a lion"?
Depends which lion you're talking about:


Hey.. the Cowardly Lion knew his stuff... he wasn't simply acting tough!

Here's the official definition:
cour·age
n. The state or quality of mind or spirit that enables one to face danger or fear with confidence, and resolution; bravery.

For the follower of Christ, courage is key.
But don't sweat it.
God has given us plenty of information about Himself and His ways in the Bible to help us take courage no matter what we face in life.
He loves it when we trust Him despite the odds, or even despite what other people may say.

As the Israelites prepared to go into the Promised Land, they needed a leader now that Moses was gone.
God chose Joshua.
He was a brave guy.
Don't forget he was one of the 12 spies who checked out the land 40 years earlier and said.. "We can take this land despite the strong people in it. And it's because God is with us!"

Only Caleb agreed.
The rest said "No way."
That cost them a 40 year not-so-scenic detour in the wilderness, by the way.

But isn't it interesting that God still had to encourage Joshua before the big move?

Joshua 1:6-9 (NIV) 6 "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

If Joshua needed a lift, I know I do!!!
What about you?
The God who was with Joshua is with you.. right now.
He hasn't changed.

If you're running low on courage ask Him for a big dose of it.
It shows the Lord that you're depending on His power and not your own.
That's right where he wants you.

Retro Tuesday

Nostalgia.
It's great.
But it also exposes your age.
As if folks don't know anyway!

This morning I had such a great time listening to some old opens for shows I used to watch when I was a kid.

Click below to see if you remember any of these.
And oh yeah.... if you're saying... 'These are too old......." watch 'em anyway.
You'll laugh.
"Did kids really think these cheesy shows were cool?"
The answer is yes.
Now you know why so many of us are the way we are.

Land Of The Lost:



HR Pufnstuff:



The Banana Splits (Quality is a bit lacking)



The Monkees:



And don't forget the commercials!
Here's a McDonald's ad that's... well... VERY Cheesy!


That Mayor McCheese.
What an actor.
See ya on the radio,
Kurt

Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep......

I knew it.
I just knew it!
I feel some regret today.

Because I was too lazy to go downstairs Saturday night and get the camera, I can't show you what I saw in my 3rd grader's room.

It was really late.
Nicolas had been watching a movie in his bedroom.
At some point, he had fallen asleep.

I noticed the TV on, and walked down to check things out.
I hit the power on the TV and looked over at the bottom bunk.
There was Nicolas fast asleep.
But what was he clutching?
He's too old for a Teddy Bear.
And yet his arms were tightly hugging something to his chest.

You know what it was?
His Bible!
No kidding.
It was amazing.
He was holding onto it for dear life.
I was floored.
And humbled.
"Oh Lord, let him always feel that way about you and your Word."
"And may I always feel that way too."

God gave me a gift Saturday night.
And yes.... I sure wish I had taken a photo.
But I was just thinking.
Not all precious moments are meant to be snapshots for the world to see.
Some are private pictures God gives only to you.
The best place to post these is in your heart.

Trusting God When Money Seems Scarce

Nothing quite like a financial challenge to bring you to the end of yourself.
It's always been that way.
But with the economy where it is right now, it's REALLY a challenge for most of us.

And yet it's a tremendous opportunity to allow our trust in God to grow.
Now is the time to live out what we've been saying we believe.

It's a blessing to us and to those watching us who don't have the hope of heaven through Jesus.
Can we rise to the challenge, standing on the promises of God that He'll provide for our needs?

For a dose of encouragement take a few minutes to read this article on crosswalk.com:
http://www.crosswalk.com/root/finances/11596818/page0/

I hope it'll bless you today.

And remember what Jesus said:

Matthew 6:25-27 (NIV) 25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"

See ya on the radio,
Kurt

Teenagers

Do you have a teenager in the house?
I do.
Love him like a son.
Well.... he IS my son.

Earlier this week on the show I had a blast opening up the phones for parents of teens.
How do you get them to clean their rooms?

One guy said.. "Give it up. It won't happen. Hang on until they move out!"

Here are some responses from a couple of Moms:

"I go into my daughter's room with a big trash bag. Anything that's on the floor goes in the trash."

"Kids from my daughter's youth group at church staged a "room raid" with my permission.
They arrived with a video camera and started shooting video of her room. They later showed it at a gathering of more than 300 teens. The problem was.. the other teens' rooms they videotaped were much worse. She thinks it's really not that bad now. Oh well....."

(This kind of makes you want to do the same thing.. only post the video for the world to see on YouTube.)

As we parent our teens, we have to laugh.
Otherwise we'll cry.
A listener sent me this cartoon in an email.
I hope you'll not only identify with it, but smile a little too:

See ya on the radio,
Kurt

Unpacking Forgiveness

I hope you had a chance to join us the past couple of evenings for our interview segment Total Impact.

Pastor and author Chris Brauns helped us unpack forgiveness.

As I mentioned a few days ago his book Unpacking Forgiveness is a must read for every Christ follower!!

The truth is all of us have to work through forgiveness issues.

But take heart!

We can do it.. and honor God in the process.

If you missed the segments, you can click on the links below to download and/or play them.

Take a few minutes... relax.... and open your heart.

God may use Chris to speak to your very situation today.

Unpacking Forgiveness Part 1-http://www.box.net/shared/etyr5f33ar

Unpacking Forgiveness Part 2-http://www.box.net/shared/ey0ifce78u

See ya on the radio,

Kurt

Are you Content?

1 Timothy 6:6 (NIV) "... godliness with contentment is great gain."

"Contentment for the Christian is the direct fruit of having no higher ambition than to belong to the Lord and be entirely at His disposal."-Alistair Begg

That's one of the best definitions of contentment I've ever seen.

Don't you agree?

And yet this is an area where we all struggle at times.

Why can't I have that job?

Why can't I feel better?

Why don't I have more money?

Why don't people treat me better?

Why is everything always breaking around the house?

You can add more to the list, I'm sure.

I recently finished a small book that is already making a BIG difference in my outlook as the new year begins.

It's called "The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment" by Jeremiah Burroughs.

It's a classic!

Written in the 1600's... and yet it's super practical in the 21st century!

Truth never changes.

Also, through careful editing the publishers have updated the language a bit.

But this is a book to read slowly.

Don't get discouraged if it's a bit dry in the beginning.

Stick with it.

You'll be so glad you did.

Maybe a goal for this year will be to buy a copy and read through it this year.

It's very inexpensive.

Or... you can read it for free online.

Just click http://www.bibleteacher.org/jbcontent1.htm

And remember.. we have to learn to be content.

Take it one step at a time.

Philippians 4:11-13 (NIV) "....... for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength."

Read Through The Bible This Year (You Can Do It!)

I know it can be pretty intimidating.

"What me... read through the Bible in a year?"

"The whole thing?"

Wow.

As we begin the new year, I want to encourage you to give this a try.

Maybe you have tried but gave up for one reason or another.

For me, I always got stuck somewhere in the Old Testament.

You know... Numbers... 1 & 2 Chronicles...etc.

My biggest challenge though was not having a plan.

Granted, the plan can be tough some days.

But if you stick with it, asking God to help you, you'll make it through.

And if you're like me you'll be so excited about how the Holy Spirit is speaking to you day by day it'll turn into an adventure.

You'll sit down to read and BAM! the day's reading will address the very thing you're dealing with.

Or sometimes you don't even know you'll be dealing with it but that verse or those verses will come back to you when you need them later on in the day.

It's amazing!

I've read through the Bible a few times now.

The only way I can do it is to read a One Year Bible.

I have several in various translations.

They break up each day's reading into a portion of the Old Testament, a portion of the New Testament, plus Psalms & Proverbs.

After I finish one the next year I move on to a different translation to vary things up a bit.

A few thoughts:

1. Sometimes I'll be reading and some verses really capture my attention. I camp out there and meditate a bit. Don't move on for the sake of the plan. The goal is to meet God daily, not get through the Bible in a year. You may end up reading more on some days than others.

2. Have a good study Bible handy. I often have questions about what I read and need some help. The two I use the most are The MacArthur Study Bible & The ESV Study Bible.

3. Have a notebook and a pen handy. No pressure. But if the Lord gives you an insight, write it down and date it.

For those who want to do everything on the computer with Bible software, you have a ton of options. You can write notes and file them in seconds.

In fact, I just ran across the One Year Bible Blog. More than 8 thousand people in 55 countries have already signed up. One of the neat features is the use of pictures & videos to help you understand the biblical text.

Check it out: http://www.oneyearbibleblog.com/

Use the plan but don't make it your taskmaster.

Your goal is to meet with the Lord.

Every day.

In some way.

And oh.. yeah.

Hang on for the ride of your life!

Among The Godless

I hope you had a fantastic New Year's Holiday!
Maybe one of the things you've been thinking about as you ask God what he plans to do in your life this year is "First off.... Lord... why am I here.....? "

In this city.
In this family.
In this job.

You say "Lord... what were you thinking? I would be able to follow you much better in another place, another situation. It would be so much more healthy not only for me.. but also for my family."

I found something interesting in the Old Testament book of Leviticus.
Moses spent a lot of one-one one time with God after leading the Israelites out of Egypt.
God gave him the 10 Commandments, and many other things.
But this one message in particular, caught my eye:

Leviticus 18:3-5 (NIV) 3 "You must not do as they do in Egypt, where you used to live, and you must not do as they do in the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you. Do not follow their practices. 4 You must obey my laws and be careful to follow my decrees. I am the LORD your God."

Wait a minute.
They left a Godless nation and were headed for a Godless nation.
With their families mind you.
Yet it was the plan of God for them.

In fact, the book of Leviticus details how the Israelites needed to be different from all of the other people who lived in the land.
Glorify the one true God.
Be His ambassadors.
Stand firm.
Live for Him among the Godless.

Could that be the plan of God for us today?
This year?