Yesterday on the show a listener shared a tip with us.
This past weekend she went to see a movie called "The Cross".
It's in limited release, but you might be able to catch it where you live.
Here in Las Vegas it's showing at The Regal Colonnade, 8880 S. Eastern, 89123.
It sounds awesome.
Here's the background courtesy of The Christian Post:
Though it didn’t make its way into the Box Office top ten, “The Cross: The Arthur Blessitt Story” made a notable mark when it debuted in theaters this past weekend.
The film about a man who carried a twelve-foot wooden cross across the world for nearly 40 years raked in $309,455 in just 221 theaters, placing it at No. 18 on the list of highest grossing films for the Mar. 27-29 weekend.
“This documentary was profound and inspiring to me,” commented Sharon Rae, a blogger for Examiner.com. “I encourage anyone seeking or believing to see it.”
Produced by Gener8Xion Entertainment, “The Cross” tells the story of Arthur Blessitt, who 39 years ago felt called by God to carry the 45-lb. cross that hung in his Christian coffee house on foot across the country.
Since setting off in December 1969, Blessitt has crossed through 52 war zones, met and visited with both presidents and peasants, been greeted by hundreds of thousands in packed town squares, and spent countless months walking alone down deserted highways.
The more than 38,000 miles that he’s walked so far is equal to circling the earth one-and-a-half times.
“People are looking for something real to believe in and hope for, and Arthur Blessitt has touched a nerve among people all over the world,” commented Susan Zahn, founder and president of WDC Media, a faith-based PR firm that has been promoting “The Cross.”
“I think this movie could start a trend of people being more open about the issue of sharing faith in the public square,” she added.
In addition to the theatrical release of "The Cross," a book of Blessitt's experiences, also entitled The Cross, has been published by Authentic Publishing.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
Beware of the Breeze
Do you ever breeze through the opening lines of a book of the Bible?
I know I do.
Especially the letters in the New Testament.
"Okay...Paul wrote this letter to these believers in such and such a place.... cool.. now let's get to the good stuff!"
But I just realized something.
Every inspired word in the Bible is there for a reason.
It's all "good stuff".
No fluff.
I'm learning now how important it is to ask the Holy Spirit to open up the Word as I read.
Help me to find value in the most unlikely verses.
Here's a good example:
Romans 1:1 (ESV) " Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God...."
You know what words lit up for me in that verse?
Servant of Christ Jesus.
It was an "Ah Ha!" moment as I realized that's what we all are as His followers!
He's the Master.
I'm the servant.
My job is to do what He asks me to do.
Not to run ahead of Him and do what I think He wants me to do.
Can you imagine a servant who shows up and does whatever he wants to?
Chaos.
Detours.
Much effort.
And little true progress in the Master's business.
As a servant I'm to follow where He leads.
Not be lazy.
Or inactive.
But prepare myself to hear the summons.
To know the voice of the Master.
And then spring into action.
With a spring in my step.
Jesus knew what He was doing when He set the pattern:
John 6:38 (CEV) "I didn't come from heaven to do what I want! I came to do what the Father wants me to do. He sent me..."
Even the Son of God took orders.
He was praying all the time!
Amazing!
So if you're heart is to be a servant of Christ Jesus, stay close to Him.
The Master will let you know what you need to know when you need to know it.
And don't be suprised if He decides to speak in the verses you most want to breeze through.
Ouch.
I know I do.
Especially the letters in the New Testament.
"Okay...Paul wrote this letter to these believers in such and such a place.... cool.. now let's get to the good stuff!"
But I just realized something.
Every inspired word in the Bible is there for a reason.
It's all "good stuff".
No fluff.
I'm learning now how important it is to ask the Holy Spirit to open up the Word as I read.
Help me to find value in the most unlikely verses.
Here's a good example:
Romans 1:1 (ESV) " Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God...."
You know what words lit up for me in that verse?
Servant of Christ Jesus.
It was an "Ah Ha!" moment as I realized that's what we all are as His followers!
He's the Master.
I'm the servant.
My job is to do what He asks me to do.
Not to run ahead of Him and do what I think He wants me to do.
Can you imagine a servant who shows up and does whatever he wants to?
Chaos.
Detours.
Much effort.
And little true progress in the Master's business.
As a servant I'm to follow where He leads.
Not be lazy.
Or inactive.
But prepare myself to hear the summons.
To know the voice of the Master.
And then spring into action.
With a spring in my step.
Jesus knew what He was doing when He set the pattern:
John 6:38 (CEV) "I didn't come from heaven to do what I want! I came to do what the Father wants me to do. He sent me..."
Even the Son of God took orders.
He was praying all the time!
Amazing!
So if you're heart is to be a servant of Christ Jesus, stay close to Him.
The Master will let you know what you need to know when you need to know it.
And don't be suprised if He decides to speak in the verses you most want to breeze through.
Ouch.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Kneeling From The Inside Out
As a Christian do you have any "life verses"?
Words out of the Bible that speak to your heart.
Many times over.
In all seasons of life.
I have several.
But topping the list is this one:
Isaiah 66:2 (ESV) "..... But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word."
Trembles at my Word.
Notice it doesn't say.... "obeys my word."
Sometimes trembling is better than obedience.
We can be obedient to God on the outside.
And care less about Him on the inside.
But a trembling heart is full of reverence and awe.
Of love.
Wanting to be obedient and yet falling short.
Kneeling before God from the inside out.
Humble-Knowing He's always totally consistent.
Contrite-Knowing I'm not.
How can I not tremble?
And He smiles.
Mercy is granted.
I'm humbled yet again.
Luke 18:10-14 (ESV) "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.'
But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!'
I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."
Words out of the Bible that speak to your heart.
Many times over.
In all seasons of life.
I have several.
But topping the list is this one:
Isaiah 66:2 (ESV) "..... But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word."
Trembles at my Word.
Notice it doesn't say.... "obeys my word."
Sometimes trembling is better than obedience.
We can be obedient to God on the outside.
And care less about Him on the inside.
But a trembling heart is full of reverence and awe.
Of love.
Wanting to be obedient and yet falling short.
Kneeling before God from the inside out.
Humble-Knowing He's always totally consistent.
Contrite-Knowing I'm not.
How can I not tremble?
And He smiles.
Mercy is granted.
I'm humbled yet again.
Luke 18:10-14 (ESV) "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.'
But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!'
I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."
Thursday, March 26, 2009
The Sound of Raindrops
The people who were alive when Noah was building the Ark.
The Bible tells us a little bit about them:
Genesis 6:5 (NKJV) "Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually."
And so God decided to send a flood to cover the earth.
But before that happened, God chose Noah, a "righteous man", to be a witness to the truth of what was to come.
It was God's grace during the years and years it took to build the Ark.
Can you imagine the abuse Noah and his family had to deal with?
"What ARE YOU DOING you crazy old man?"
"Hey guys...crazy old Noah is building a huge boat on dry land. What a crackpot!"
On and on it went.
And yet Noah had the ultimate visual aid to share the truth.
It was staring everyone in the face.
Plank by plank it grew.
God's judgement is coming.
Repent and seek mercy!
Get on board.
And yet no one did.
They perished.
Knowledge which is not applied is useless.
Jesus is the "Ark" we board to save us from the judgment of God.
His truth is on display:
John 14:6 (NKJV) 6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Acts 4:12 (ESV) 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
Are you really on board with Him?
You'll know the answer to that question when the rain starts falling.
Matthew 7:24-27 (NKJV) "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
"Lord....Lord..."
Many people know Christ as Jesus, but so few regard Him as Lord.
That's deep stuff.
But healthy for the Christian to think about.
And it's about more than just calling Him Lord but denying it with our life.
Jesus had some pretty harsh things to say about those who do this:
Matthew 7:21-23 (NKJV) "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'
And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'
Jesus is talking about the reality of our commitment to Him.
These people were apparently doing some amazing things in His name.
And yet something wasn't quite right.
Jesus as Jesus was fine.
Jesus as Lord was not.
".....he who does the will of my father...."
"...you who practice lawlessness."
It's not about following Jesus as Lord perfectly.
Who doesn't stumble in this from time to time?
It's about wanting to follow Him.
Asking for forgiveness when we fail.
And submitting to His will for us.
There's always evidence for saving faith in Christ.
If these verses concern you, that's good.
It means you care about Jesus being Lord of your life.
With His help, make some changes.
The ones that begin in the heart and surface in the life.
If, however, these words of Jesus don't concern you, ask yourself why.
Better yet, ask Jesus why.
That's deep stuff.
But healthy for the Christian to think about.
And it's about more than just calling Him Lord but denying it with our life.
Jesus had some pretty harsh things to say about those who do this:
Matthew 7:21-23 (NKJV) "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'
And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'
Jesus is talking about the reality of our commitment to Him.
These people were apparently doing some amazing things in His name.
And yet something wasn't quite right.
Jesus as Jesus was fine.
Jesus as Lord was not.
".....he who does the will of my father...."
"...you who practice lawlessness."
It's not about following Jesus as Lord perfectly.
Who doesn't stumble in this from time to time?
It's about wanting to follow Him.
Asking for forgiveness when we fail.
And submitting to His will for us.
There's always evidence for saving faith in Christ.
If these verses concern you, that's good.
It means you care about Jesus being Lord of your life.
With His help, make some changes.
The ones that begin in the heart and surface in the life.
If, however, these words of Jesus don't concern you, ask yourself why.
Better yet, ask Jesus why.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
An Echo?
A quote from a preacher of the past is staying with me hours after first reading it.
"If your ministry is to be good for anything, it must be YOUR ministry, and not a feeble echo of another man's."-Phillips Brooks, The Joy of Preaching
Imitation is suicide.
What God is calling us to do for Him is as unique as our DNA.
Have you been trying to be like someone else?
Even if you're pretty good at it you'll always be second rate.
Why not embrace God's plan for you?
Follow His leading.
Don't mimic your heroes.
Thank God for them.
Learn from them.
Get encouragement from them.
But don't imitate them.
Echoes aren't just weak versions of the original.
They're lifeless repetitions that fade away quickly.
Listen to the words of the resurrected Jesus:
John 21:20-22 (NKJV) 20 Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper....and said to Jesus, "But Lord, what about this man?" Jesus said to him, "If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me."
"If your ministry is to be good for anything, it must be YOUR ministry, and not a feeble echo of another man's."-Phillips Brooks, The Joy of Preaching
Imitation is suicide.
What God is calling us to do for Him is as unique as our DNA.
Have you been trying to be like someone else?
Even if you're pretty good at it you'll always be second rate.
Why not embrace God's plan for you?
Follow His leading.
Don't mimic your heroes.
Thank God for them.
Learn from them.
Get encouragement from them.
But don't imitate them.
Echoes aren't just weak versions of the original.
They're lifeless repetitions that fade away quickly.
Listen to the words of the resurrected Jesus:
John 21:20-22 (NKJV) 20 Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper....and said to Jesus, "But Lord, what about this man?" Jesus said to him, "If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me."
Monday, March 23, 2009
Can I Have a Word With You?
Words.Many or few.
Well chosen or off the cuff.
Warm and fuzzy.
Hot and explosive.
The potential for good or evil.
A blessing or a curse.
Life or death.
Proverbs 18:21 (NKJV) " Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit."
Jesus said...
Matthew 12:34-35 (NKJV) ".... For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things."
No doubt.
Words are the true currency of life.
I want to spend them wisely.
Proverbs 16:24 (NKJV) 24 Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Laugh and Think
Since it's Friday... how about something that makes you laugh and makes you think?
Author and pastor Chris Brauns was a guest on our Total Impact segment not too long ago.
Check out his blog: http://www.chrisbrauns.com/
It's called A Brick In The Valley.
Recently he posted a picture that's really funny... and full of truth.
You know what a Gospel tract is right?
A small pamphlet with the plan of salvation inside.
Check out this "Failed Gospel Tract":
Author and pastor Chris Brauns was a guest on our Total Impact segment not too long ago.
Check out his blog: http://www.chrisbrauns.com/
It's called A Brick In The Valley.
Recently he posted a picture that's really funny... and full of truth.
You know what a Gospel tract is right?
A small pamphlet with the plan of salvation inside.
Check out this "Failed Gospel Tract":
Thursday, March 19, 2009
In Need
How many times as a follower of Christ have you leaned on this verse?
Philippians 4:19 (NKJV) "And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
Just reading it right now along with you is so encouraging for me.
God will SUPPLY.
There will be enough.
God will supply YOUR.
It will be tailor made.
God will supply your NEED.
What I really need I'll have.
WHEN I need it.
Read slowly the words of Jesus from the Amplified Bible:
Matthew 6:25-33 (AMP)25 "Therefore I tell you, stop being perpetually uneasy (anxious and worried) about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink; or about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life greater [in quality] than food, and the body [far above and more excellent] than clothing?
26 Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth much more than they?27 And who of you by worrying and being anxious can add one unit of measure (cubit) to his stature or to the span of his life?28 And why should you be anxious about clothes? Consider the lilies of the field and learn thoroughly how they grow; they neither toil nor spin.
29 Yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his magnificence (excellence, dignity, and grace) was not arrayed like one of these.30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and green and tomorrow is tossed into the furnace, will He not much more surely clothe you, O you of little faith?
31 Therefore do not worry and be anxious, saying, What are we going to have to eat? or, What are we going to have to drink? or, What are we going to have to wear?32 For the Gentiles (heathen) wish for and crave and diligently seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows well that you need them all.
33 But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all HIS KINGDOM AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides."
Are you lacking something right now that you truly need?
Could it be because God knows your greatest need is to seek Him first?
Philippians 4:19 (NKJV) "And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
Just reading it right now along with you is so encouraging for me.
God will SUPPLY.
There will be enough.
God will supply YOUR.
It will be tailor made.
God will supply your NEED.
What I really need I'll have.
WHEN I need it.
Read slowly the words of Jesus from the Amplified Bible:
Matthew 6:25-33 (AMP)25 "Therefore I tell you, stop being perpetually uneasy (anxious and worried) about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink; or about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life greater [in quality] than food, and the body [far above and more excellent] than clothing?
26 Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth much more than they?27 And who of you by worrying and being anxious can add one unit of measure (cubit) to his stature or to the span of his life?28 And why should you be anxious about clothes? Consider the lilies of the field and learn thoroughly how they grow; they neither toil nor spin.
29 Yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his magnificence (excellence, dignity, and grace) was not arrayed like one of these.30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and green and tomorrow is tossed into the furnace, will He not much more surely clothe you, O you of little faith?
31 Therefore do not worry and be anxious, saying, What are we going to have to eat? or, What are we going to have to drink? or, What are we going to have to wear?32 For the Gentiles (heathen) wish for and crave and diligently seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows well that you need them all.
33 But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all HIS KINGDOM AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides."
Are you lacking something right now that you truly need?
Could it be because God knows your greatest need is to seek Him first?
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Owning It
Hearing about Jesus showing up in someone else's life.
Experiencing Jesus in your own.
Two very different thing aren't they?
The snapshot of Jesus with the woman at the well is the perfect example of this.
The woman comes to draw water out of the well and encounters Jesus.
They talk.
John 4:13-18 (ESV) 13 Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty forever. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
15 The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water." 16 Jesus said to her, "Go, call your husband, and come here."
17 The woman answered him, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You are right in saying, 'I have no husband'; 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true."
Wow!
And it gets even more interesting....
John 4:25-26 (ESV) 25 The woman said to him, "I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things." 26 Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am he."
This woman is so pumped up she takes off.
Without her water jar.
She's on a mission to tell everyone in town what has happened to her.
John 4:29 (ESV) 29 "Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?"
Her story had a huge impact:
John 4:39 (ESV) Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me all that I ever did."
Her testimony led many to Christ.
But it led to something much deeper too.
John 4:40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. 41 And many more believed because of his word.
42 They said to the woman, "It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world."
First they heard about her experience.
And they believed... to a point.
But when the people experienced the presence of Christ for themselves they owned it.
It was now their story.
The same and yet unique.
Still settling for a faith that is lived through someone else's experience?
Or are you ready to experience the living Christ for yourself?
I wonder.
Experiencing Jesus in your own.
Two very different thing aren't they?
The snapshot of Jesus with the woman at the well is the perfect example of this.
The woman comes to draw water out of the well and encounters Jesus.
They talk.
John 4:13-18 (ESV) 13 Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty forever. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
15 The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water." 16 Jesus said to her, "Go, call your husband, and come here."
17 The woman answered him, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You are right in saying, 'I have no husband'; 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true."
Wow!
And it gets even more interesting....
John 4:25-26 (ESV) 25 The woman said to him, "I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things." 26 Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am he."
This woman is so pumped up she takes off.
Without her water jar.
She's on a mission to tell everyone in town what has happened to her.
John 4:29 (ESV) 29 "Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?"
Her story had a huge impact:
John 4:39 (ESV) Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me all that I ever did."
Her testimony led many to Christ.
But it led to something much deeper too.
John 4:40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. 41 And many more believed because of his word.
42 They said to the woman, "It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world."
First they heard about her experience.
And they believed... to a point.
But when the people experienced the presence of Christ for themselves they owned it.
It was now their story.
The same and yet unique.
Still settling for a faith that is lived through someone else's experience?
Or are you ready to experience the living Christ for yourself?
I wonder.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Since I'm of Irish descent this is a big day for the Goff's.
My 8 year old Nicolas made sure we spent enough green to get in the mood.
When I got home from work last night the first thing he said was "Look at what we bought!!"
Green balloons.
Green streamers.
Green party hats.
Green plates.
And a green glowing shamrock cane.
Tonight we'll be enjoying all of this along with an Irish pot roast.
By the way...that better not be green!
This year Nicolas' class didn't make a leprechaun trap.
Rats.
I love those things.
Despite their lousy success rate.
Here are some pictures of a few creative designs:
What a hoot!
But the best thing about St. Patrick's Day is... well.. St. Patrick himself.
Click on this link for the details: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Patrick
And oh yeah... if you're leprechaun trap works this year, let me know.
I love breaking news.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Quite A Moment
Early Sunday morning our three dachshunds made the point crystal clear.
Bark, whine, bark, dig, whine.
Translation: it's time to get up and go outside.
I took "Dog" as a second language back in high school.
It was either that or Pig Latin.
I figured speaking "Dog" would be much more practical.
I let them out and grabbed my Bible off the bookshelf.
Alone with God.
Quiet and still.
My thoughts broke the silence.
"Lord... sometimes I find myself falling so short in so many ways."
I open my One Year Bible.
Proverbs 16:6 (NIV) "Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for...."
I looked up the official definition of Atonement in the dictionary:
"The doctrine concerning the reconciliation of God and humankind, esp. as accomplished through the life, suffering, and death of Christ."
My New Testament reading for the day?
John 3:16-17 (NIV) 16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."
The forgiveness purchased by the blood of Jesus covers me every moment of this life.
And as if that reminder from God's Word wasn't enough, all of a sudden I heard a bird suddenly start singing outside.
I know it's spring and all, but this bird was singing on cue with my thoughts.
And I have never heard a bird sing like this one.
Was he sent by God to deliver a singing telegram?
I think so.
And even though I don't speak "Bird"... my soul somehow knew what that message was:
Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV) "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
Bark, whine, bark, dig, whine.
Translation: it's time to get up and go outside.
I took "Dog" as a second language back in high school.
It was either that or Pig Latin.
I figured speaking "Dog" would be much more practical.
I let them out and grabbed my Bible off the bookshelf.
Alone with God.
Quiet and still.
My thoughts broke the silence.
"Lord... sometimes I find myself falling so short in so many ways."
I open my One Year Bible.
Proverbs 16:6 (NIV) "Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for...."
I looked up the official definition of Atonement in the dictionary:
"The doctrine concerning the reconciliation of God and humankind, esp. as accomplished through the life, suffering, and death of Christ."
My New Testament reading for the day?
John 3:16-17 (NIV) 16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."
The forgiveness purchased by the blood of Jesus covers me every moment of this life.
And as if that reminder from God's Word wasn't enough, all of a sudden I heard a bird suddenly start singing outside.
I know it's spring and all, but this bird was singing on cue with my thoughts.
And I have never heard a bird sing like this one.
Was he sent by God to deliver a singing telegram?
I think so.
And even though I don't speak "Bird"... my soul somehow knew what that message was:
Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV) "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
Friday, March 13, 2009
Hand God An Arrow
Do you ever feel like you're walking around with a bullseye on your shirt?
Days when it feels like everyone wants to take a shot at you.
Or maybe just one very persistent archer who has plenty of arrows in his quiver.
David knows how you feel.
In the Old Testament book of 1 Samuel, you can read about King Saul being rejected by God because of disobedience.
About David being chosen as the next king.
And oh yeah.
Even as God's new man of the hour he spent years and years on the run from Saul.
He may have been next in line for the throne, but he was hiding out in the wilderness.
In caves.
With that wonderful bullseye on his shirt.
Just read the Psalms he wrote during that time.
Here's an excerpt from Psalm 54:
Psalm 54:2-3 (ESV) "O God, save me, by your name, and vindicate me by your might. 2 O God, hear my prayer; give ear to the words of my mouth. 3 For strangers have risen against me; ruthless men seek my life; they do not set God before themselves."
Even in the midst of being pursued, David kept his focus on the Lord:
Psalm 54:4 (ESV) "Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life."
Trusting God when the heat was on.
At the time it didn't look like a successful plan.
But God shot His arrow at Saul's own hidden target.
It wasn't on his shirt.
And it was much harder to hit.
It was buried deep in his heart:
1 Samuel 18:14-15 (NKJV)"And David behaved wisely in all his ways, and the Lord was with him.15 Therefore, when Saul saw that he behaved very wisely, HE WAS AFRAID OF HIM."
David's godly obedience was an arrow that Saul.. with all of his power... couldn't deflect.
The same is true for us as followers of Christ.
Hand God an arrow.
Swoosh!!!
Bullseye.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Extreme Demolition
I love to watch things get destroyed so something better can take its place. That's exactly what's going on here in Vegas as a local family gets a new home from ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.
You've heard us talking about it on the air quite a bit.
For more details on the project click:
Scott, Mike, and myself were out at the build site this morning for the taping.
I snapped a few pics of the visit.
The first one is host Ty Pennington shooting his hand held camera segments.
What a blast.
Literally.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
A Simple Yes Or No Will Do
Maybe it's a guilt thing.
Or a bad habit.
When someone asks you a yes or no question do you ever answer with more than a simple yes or no?
Were you tempted to do that very thing right now?!
I thought so.
I've been catching myself doing that same thing quite a bit lately.
And it drives me nuts.
Why do I have to volunteer so much extra information?
To explain myself when no one is asking for an explanation?
It can get you into trouble.
You can talk yourself into a corner.
You make people your judge and jury.
You worry about what someone else thinks more than what you think.
All of this poisons your freedom in Christ.
If you let someone set the agenda for your life they'll be happy to do it.
Instead let the Lord set the agenda.
Act with kindness and love.
And follow the words of Jesus Himself:
Matthew 5:37 (AMP)"Let your Yes be simply Yes, and your No be simply No; anything more than that comes from the evil one."
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
New Study, Disturbing Results
It's been some time since we've had Christian pollster George Barna on our Total Impact segment.
After running across results from a new study by his group, I'm thinking we need to have him back with us.
Check out this article from http://www.christianpost.com/us/:
Survey: Less Than 1 Percent of Young Adults Hold Biblical Worldview
Less than one percent of the youngest adult generation in America has a biblical worldview, found a new study examining the changes in worldview among Christians and the overall U.S. population.
The Mosaic generation, those between the ages of 18 and 23, “rarely” have a biblical worldview as defined by The Barna Group.
The research data found that less than one-half of one percent of Mosaics have a biblical worldview.
A biblical worldview, as defined by the Barna study, is believing that absolute moral truth exists; the Bible is completely accurate in all of the principles it teaches; Satan is considered to be a real being or force, not merely symbolic; a person cannot earn their way into Heaven by trying to be good or do good works; Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on earth; and God is the all-knowing, all-powerful creator of the world who still rules the universe today.
Only if someone held all the above beliefs did the research consider the person as having a biblical worldview.
George Barna, who directed the research, commented on the “troubling” generational pattern that suggests “parents are not focused on guiding their children to have a biblical worldview.”
“One of the challenges for parents, though, is that you cannot give what you do not have, and most parents do not possess such a perspective on life,” he noted.
The research shows that only nine percent of all American adults have a biblical worldview, which although significantly higher than that of the Mosaic generation is still a small proportion of the total population.
Among “born again Christians,” the study found that they are twice as likely as the average adult to have a biblical worldview.
However, that still amounted to no more than about one out of five (19 percent) born again Christians, a small minority, the study pointed out.
A born again Christian is defined by Barna as those who said they have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that is important in their life today and that they are sure they will go to Heaven after they die only because they confessed their sins and accepted Christ as their savior.
Some of the problems American adults and born again Christians have with the biblical worldview definition include believing that moral truth is absolute and unaffected by the circumstances.
Only one third of all adults (34 percent) hold this worldview, and while more born again adults believe in absolute moral truth, still less than the majority possess this outlook (46 percent).
Another belief that American adults struggle with is the view that Satan is a real force. Only slightly more than a quarter of adults (27 percent) believe Satan is real, and less than half of born again adults (40 percent) have this worldview.
Alarming statistics?
Yes.
But also a call to stay faithful to the Christ of the Bible.
In doing so we honor the ultimate truth!
John 14:5-6 (NKJV) Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
After running across results from a new study by his group, I'm thinking we need to have him back with us.
Check out this article from http://www.christianpost.com/us/:
Survey: Less Than 1 Percent of Young Adults Hold Biblical Worldview
Less than one percent of the youngest adult generation in America has a biblical worldview, found a new study examining the changes in worldview among Christians and the overall U.S. population.
The Mosaic generation, those between the ages of 18 and 23, “rarely” have a biblical worldview as defined by The Barna Group.
The research data found that less than one-half of one percent of Mosaics have a biblical worldview.
A biblical worldview, as defined by the Barna study, is believing that absolute moral truth exists; the Bible is completely accurate in all of the principles it teaches; Satan is considered to be a real being or force, not merely symbolic; a person cannot earn their way into Heaven by trying to be good or do good works; Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on earth; and God is the all-knowing, all-powerful creator of the world who still rules the universe today.
Only if someone held all the above beliefs did the research consider the person as having a biblical worldview.
George Barna, who directed the research, commented on the “troubling” generational pattern that suggests “parents are not focused on guiding their children to have a biblical worldview.”
“One of the challenges for parents, though, is that you cannot give what you do not have, and most parents do not possess such a perspective on life,” he noted.
The research shows that only nine percent of all American adults have a biblical worldview, which although significantly higher than that of the Mosaic generation is still a small proportion of the total population.
Among “born again Christians,” the study found that they are twice as likely as the average adult to have a biblical worldview.
However, that still amounted to no more than about one out of five (19 percent) born again Christians, a small minority, the study pointed out.
A born again Christian is defined by Barna as those who said they have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that is important in their life today and that they are sure they will go to Heaven after they die only because they confessed their sins and accepted Christ as their savior.
Some of the problems American adults and born again Christians have with the biblical worldview definition include believing that moral truth is absolute and unaffected by the circumstances.
Only one third of all adults (34 percent) hold this worldview, and while more born again adults believe in absolute moral truth, still less than the majority possess this outlook (46 percent).
Another belief that American adults struggle with is the view that Satan is a real force. Only slightly more than a quarter of adults (27 percent) believe Satan is real, and less than half of born again adults (40 percent) have this worldview.
Alarming statistics?
Yes.
But also a call to stay faithful to the Christ of the Bible.
In doing so we honor the ultimate truth!
John 14:5-6 (NKJV) Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
Monday, March 9, 2009
Get Rid Of The Resume Clunkers
The resume as great literature. It less about Shakespeare and more about Dick & Jane.
Clarity trumps novelty.
Honesty and simplicity.
Pleasing to the eye and right to the point.
Just don't forget to highlight the skills and experience God has given you!
And one more thing?
Leave out the resume clunkers.
Here's a link to a great article in the St. Louis Post Dispatch.
197 Words That Can Kill A Resume:
Another thing to keep in mind as you do your best:
For the follower of Christ, God is in the details.
He's sovereign.
If He wants you in a particular job, he can grant you favor in the eyes of those doing the hiring.
When God wants us in a place, nothing in Heaven or on earth can keep us from being there.
Even a less than perfect resume.
Proverbs 21:1 (NIV) "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases."
Friday, March 6, 2009
God Dethroned
"Hey guys.... we need a king."
"Yeah! A king like the other nations have."
"Exactly. A king we can see with our own eyes! God is invisible."
"Give us a king!"
1 Samuel 8:5-7 (ESV)5 and they said to him, "Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations."6 But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, "Give us a king to judge us."
And Samuel prayed to the Lord.7 And the Lord said to Samuel, "Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them."
Have you noticed their desire to be like everyone else meant following in the footsteps of the ungodly people all around them?
Bad idea for them.
Bad idea for us when we do the same thing in our own lives.
Samuel gives them the lowdown.
They'll get their desire.
But they'll face all kinds of tough stuff.
He ends those comments with this:
1 Samuel 8:18 (ESV)" And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord will not answer you in that day."
Wanting what we want no matter what.
Even if it's obviously not God's will for us.
It affects out spiritual life as well as our physical life.
Hit the rewind button.
Remember the grumbling Israelites in the wilderness?
"We're sick of manna.. we want meat!!!"
God sent so many quail that they ate until it came out of their nostrils.
That wasn't a good thing:
Numbers 11:33 (ESV) " While the meat was yet between their teeth, before it was consumed, the anger of the Lord was kindled against the people, and the Lord struck down the people with a very great plague. "
The most horrifying answer to prayer is a yes to something God says is off limits:
Psalm 106:14-15 (NKJV)14 "But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, And tested God in the desert.15 And He gave them their request, But sent leanness into their soul."
Leanness into their soul.
No sense of the presence of Jesus.
No sense of forgiveness.
No peace.
No comfort.
No real joy.
Just the sound of the dust settling in an empty soul.
Lord, I only want what you want for me.
Fill my soul.
With Yourself.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Christians Against Sexual Slavery
Last night on our Total Impact interview segment we featured a ministry that's fairly new to the Las Vegas Valley.
It's called Christians Against Sexual Slavery.
Young women... and some young men... are being targeted by ring leaders of this horrible practice.
Vulnerable teens who find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time can be enticed into this world of nightmares.
Step by step they're lured into sexual slavery.
Brainwashed and beaten.
Held captive by men and by fear.
The pimps work them here in Vegas as well as various other major cities in America.
Once in the system it's tough to get them out.
The stories are heartbreaking.
Christian Against Sexual Slavery is a ministry operating out of Canyon Ridge Christian Church.
They are attacking this problem in many different ways.. all in the name of Jesus Christ.
Click on this link to listen to the details:
Total Impact-Christians Against Sexual Slavery:
http://www.box.net/shared/ilby8mx0tj
If you would like to get involved this group meets at Canyon Ridge every other Sunday.
For the latest info on that check out The Ridge's website: http://www.canyonridge.org/
Also, you can call Jackie directly for more info: (702) 580-2490.
I can't wait to see how God is going to use this ministry at this crucial time!
See ya on the radio,
Kurt
It's called Christians Against Sexual Slavery.
Young women... and some young men... are being targeted by ring leaders of this horrible practice.
Vulnerable teens who find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time can be enticed into this world of nightmares.
Step by step they're lured into sexual slavery.
Brainwashed and beaten.
Held captive by men and by fear.
The pimps work them here in Vegas as well as various other major cities in America.
Once in the system it's tough to get them out.
The stories are heartbreaking.
Christian Against Sexual Slavery is a ministry operating out of Canyon Ridge Christian Church.
They are attacking this problem in many different ways.. all in the name of Jesus Christ.
Click on this link to listen to the details:
Total Impact-Christians Against Sexual Slavery:
http://www.box.net/shared/ilby8mx0tj
If you would like to get involved this group meets at Canyon Ridge every other Sunday.
For the latest info on that check out The Ridge's website: http://www.canyonridge.org/
Also, you can call Jackie directly for more info: (702) 580-2490.
I can't wait to see how God is going to use this ministry at this crucial time!
See ya on the radio,
Kurt
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Generating A Purpose
Acts 13:36 (NKJV) "For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, and was buried with his fathers..."
There's a simple yet profound truth tucked inside this verse.
As followers of Christ we're alive right now to serve God in this generation.
Psalm 139:16 (NKJV) "Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them."
As we think about serving God in our time and place, there are questions.
"What am I supposed to do, beyond following God's Word?"
"You know... specifically."
"Write a song?"
"Write a book?"
"Write a blog entry?"
Then we start thinking.
"What can I do that hasn't been done so much better by someone else already?"
Good question.
The more I've been pondering this whole thing the more I've come to a conviction.
God assigns the tasks.
And the people who will be blessed by them.
People who will never hear another song that hits them quite like yours does.
Or read another book that presents truth in exactly the way that yours does.
Or read another blog entry that meets them at a crucial time in their life like yours will.
"A word spoken in season may make such a powerful impression upon another's heart that it will do him good all his life."-Thomas Watson
Job 6:25 (NKJV) "How forceful are right words!"
If God chooses to extend the life of our service beyond our lifetime how awesome!
But if not, we have served our generation.
That was the goal of the great heroes of the Bible.
For instance what about the Apostle Paul.
He didn't know his letters to believers in his generation would one day be the bulk of the New Testament for ours.
He was just serving God in his generation.
The rest was up to God.
And yet we shouldn't forget the contributions of faithful followers of Christ who have gone before us.
We stand on their shoulders.
In truth we all really only have one message.
One Saviour to lift up.
One God to glorify.
We are a people of one song played in many different keys.
There's a simple yet profound truth tucked inside this verse.
As followers of Christ we're alive right now to serve God in this generation.
Psalm 139:16 (NKJV) "Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them."
As we think about serving God in our time and place, there are questions.
"What am I supposed to do, beyond following God's Word?"
"You know... specifically."
"Write a song?"
"Write a book?"
"Write a blog entry?"
Then we start thinking.
"What can I do that hasn't been done so much better by someone else already?"
Good question.
The more I've been pondering this whole thing the more I've come to a conviction.
God assigns the tasks.
And the people who will be blessed by them.
People who will never hear another song that hits them quite like yours does.
Or read another book that presents truth in exactly the way that yours does.
Or read another blog entry that meets them at a crucial time in their life like yours will.
"A word spoken in season may make such a powerful impression upon another's heart that it will do him good all his life."-Thomas Watson
Job 6:25 (NKJV) "How forceful are right words!"
If God chooses to extend the life of our service beyond our lifetime how awesome!
But if not, we have served our generation.
That was the goal of the great heroes of the Bible.
For instance what about the Apostle Paul.
He didn't know his letters to believers in his generation would one day be the bulk of the New Testament for ours.
He was just serving God in his generation.
The rest was up to God.
And yet we shouldn't forget the contributions of faithful followers of Christ who have gone before us.
We stand on their shoulders.
In truth we all really only have one message.
One Saviour to lift up.
One God to glorify.
We are a people of one song played in many different keys.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Lost And Found
Would you have followed Jesus if you were living when he walked the earth?
What if He called you to be one of His closest disciples?
Matthew 4:18-22 (CEV) 18 "While Jesus was walking along the shore of Lake Galilee, he saw two brothers. One was Simon, also known as Peter, and the other was Andrew. They were fishermen, and they were casting their net into the lake. 19 Jesus said to them, "Come with me! I will teach you how to bring in people instead of fish." 20 Right then the two brothers dropped their nets and went with him.
21 Jesus walked on until he saw James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in a boat with their father, mending their nets. Jesus asked them to come with him too. 22 Right away they left the boat and their father and went with Jesus."
They left their jobs to follow the call of God.
I'm sure they were thinking...
"Hey... hooking up with Jesus means we'll have a better job!"
"We'll be top dogs in the kingdom He keeps talking about!"
"It sure beats this fishing thing."
"Let's go!"
The New Testament Gospels indicate they didn't really understand what Jesus came to do.
Luke 18:32-34 (NKJV) 32 For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon. 33 They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again." 34 But they understood none of these things; this saying was hidden from them, and they did not know the things which were spoken."
"Forget about that stuff. What about US?"
Luke 18:28-30 (ESV) 28 And Peter said, "See, we have left our homes and followed you." 29 And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life."
As time went on..... and Jesus teaching got super serious... the outer fringes of His followers dwindled:
John 6:66-69 (ESV) 66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. 67 So Jesus said to the Twelve, "Do you want to go away as well?"
Would you have left everything to follow Jesus knowing where the road led?
It's not a good career move to join a seemingly lost cause.
I think that may have played a role in the betrayal of Jesus.
Judas is seeing where this thing is headed.
"Better cover my tracks and cut my losses. This is a dead end."
Dead wrong.
In 3 days dead no more.
Those wavering disciples were involved in the greatest work of all time.
And if things had turned out the way they had originally hoped we would never even know their names today.
Who wants to trade eternal impact for earthly success?
Not me.
God help me to get it right.
Matthew 16:25 (ESV) "For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."
What if He called you to be one of His closest disciples?
Matthew 4:18-22 (CEV) 18 "While Jesus was walking along the shore of Lake Galilee, he saw two brothers. One was Simon, also known as Peter, and the other was Andrew. They were fishermen, and they were casting their net into the lake. 19 Jesus said to them, "Come with me! I will teach you how to bring in people instead of fish." 20 Right then the two brothers dropped their nets and went with him.
21 Jesus walked on until he saw James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in a boat with their father, mending their nets. Jesus asked them to come with him too. 22 Right away they left the boat and their father and went with Jesus."
They left their jobs to follow the call of God.
I'm sure they were thinking...
"Hey... hooking up with Jesus means we'll have a better job!"
"We'll be top dogs in the kingdom He keeps talking about!"
"It sure beats this fishing thing."
"Let's go!"
The New Testament Gospels indicate they didn't really understand what Jesus came to do.
Luke 18:32-34 (NKJV) 32 For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon. 33 They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again." 34 But they understood none of these things; this saying was hidden from them, and they did not know the things which were spoken."
"Forget about that stuff. What about US?"
Luke 18:28-30 (ESV) 28 And Peter said, "See, we have left our homes and followed you." 29 And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life."
As time went on..... and Jesus teaching got super serious... the outer fringes of His followers dwindled:
John 6:66-69 (ESV) 66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. 67 So Jesus said to the Twelve, "Do you want to go away as well?"
Would you have left everything to follow Jesus knowing where the road led?
It's not a good career move to join a seemingly lost cause.
I think that may have played a role in the betrayal of Jesus.
Judas is seeing where this thing is headed.
"Better cover my tracks and cut my losses. This is a dead end."
Dead wrong.
In 3 days dead no more.
Those wavering disciples were involved in the greatest work of all time.
And if things had turned out the way they had originally hoped we would never even know their names today.
Who wants to trade eternal impact for earthly success?
Not me.
God help me to get it right.
Matthew 16:25 (ESV) "For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."
Monday, March 2, 2009
It's Good To Be Green
Are you an olive tree in the house of the Lord?My guess is I'm the first person today to ask you that question.
Come to think of it....maybe the first person to ever ask you that question.
Check out Psalm 52:8 in the New King James Version:
".... I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever."
The Amplified Bible brings out a little more of the meaning of the original Hebrew:
"...I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in and confidently rely on the loving-kindness and the mercy of God forever and ever. "
Here's an interesting fact:
Olive trees are alluded to many times in the Bible, often as an emblem of peace & prosperity.—New Unger's Bible Dictionary
The verse talks about a green olive tree.
- Green means still growing
- Green mean still producing fruit
Because that's the kind of "tree" I am?
Nope.
It's all because I'm trusting in and relying on God's mercy.
And His love too.
Not on my own performance.
Or even my opinion of my own performance.
Jesus made it possible for me to be planted there.
It's all grace.
Every day.
I need to abide in Him:
John 15:5 (ESV) "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."
Fruit is the evidence that God is using us.
In big and small ways.
Mysterious ways.
Imperfect branches that we are.
In the house of the Lord.
What a place to be:
Psalm 84:10 (ESV) "For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere."
No room for pride.
If we're green we're still growing.
If we think we're already ripe, we start to rot.
Jesus the master carpenter is also the master gardener.
He builds us up.
He plants us deep.
Is there any better way to live, really?
Psalms 1:1-3 (ESV) "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers."
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