GBDMan's Xanga

Does anybody know who wrote "Hebrews"?

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 23:41:42 GMT

I am just curious and would like some comments.

Thanks,

Love,

Michael

If you must strive, Strive for Jesus

Victim vs. Victor

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 01:22:25 GMT

I have always disliked what I find to be the phony, pretentious, "Gee, I love the world and it's victims" attitude of afternoon television hosts (and one particular un-named; but I'll give you a clue: h-a-r-p-o) hostesses. The idea of embracing the downtrodden is great - using it for ratings and self promotion is appalling.

Anyway, I am really glad that I work all day and miss 97.356421% of these "shows". It seems like everyone has a story that has caused them to be a victim and TODAY the answer is to look inside yourself, be your own answer, you can become what you need to become - - let's go WAY OUT THERE with h-a-r-p-o and become our own religions - no wait - our own gods (God forbid).

There is a woman that thinks she is a man and is having a baby. I remember reading in the Bible when the Christians were turning the world upside down. Guess what - I think it turned back over.

There are people and generations who have been made victims. They have been made to be the products of their environment, or their circumstances.

I choose to be a victor, instead of a victim.

MAYBE God was working in their lives to give them the experience to make a difference is someone else's life. But then you would have to believe that God actually works in our lives. MAYBE because your life was hard, you will be equipped to help someone today with their hard life.

I need to give a little history, but just a little. I have pictures of me drinking (beer) when I was one (year old). It was cute to give the baby a can to "sicky" on (sippy). My sippy cup had "Genessee" on the front of it. Beer was normal everyday life. It went from cute "sicky" to "sicky, sicky". When I was a little older, I was able to go to the fridge and get a beer for the grown ups. There was always an abundance of beer drinking grown ups around (and having kids is better than having a remote control - you can send them to the fridge). I would ask if I could open it and get the first sip. Then I learned to ask if I could have the last sip and then go get another one, open it, and have the first sip.

O.K., I better speed up the history. By age 6, 7, and 8 I had learned how to sneak 3 or 4 beers out on to the back porch. By age 16 I drank 12 beers a night (at least) every night. I had a friend who stocked the local beer cooler and we could slip a case (24 pack) out the window, into the bushes, and get it later that evening. By age 19 the Counselor told me I wasn't "normal" because of my drinking habits. My point was, that MY normal WAS drinking (what did he know, right)?

I could be great on h-a-r-p-o. Just picture it, I could be all angry and crying that "I hate my dad, and my mom, and my older siblings for not rescuing me when I was 12." "I hate my religious leaders for not seeing my need and rescuing me." "I hate the school system, the bus driver, the mail man, the kids that made fun of me..." "I hate everything."

But wait, I don't. I love my dad and my mom and my older siblings. I love life and most of all, I love Jesus.

I have not lived to be bitter, and hateful, and hurt, and a victim. Are you kidding? Jesus Christ has redeemed me and made me new. I am victorious in Him. He has changed my life.

And I think about how I am equipped, now, to help those that most of us don't even feel comfortable being around. In Christ, I am able to stand and be victorious, and I can be that for others.

God is great, isn't He?

I wonder what other people have been through and how I can get them to consider what God, in Christ, WILL do with their lives. That is why I am posting this, maybe it is a way to get people to think victoriously and not as victims. Then GO and help someone else stand.

Hope so.

I love you.

Mike

If you must strive, strive for Jesus.

Who Adds? Who Subtracts?

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 02:42:57 GMT

Here is something that I have been thinking about:

For years, I have heard many opinions about the Scriptures providing a clear exemption / exception to the knowledge that "what God has joined together, let no man put asunder". I have heard many conversations regarding not only divorce and remarriage, but divorce by itself.

The thought that is nagging at me now is the "what God has joined together" part of the equation. I think it is a WONDERFUL thing, when a man and woman are joined together in a COVENANT relationship with God. I have the joy of that union and it is positively one of the greatest blessings in my life.

Now I need to shift gears to get to what I have been thinking about. I became a Christian a little over 24 years ago (May 4th, 1984). Undoubtedly the BEST day of my life. On that day, the LORD added me to the church.

Can I, then, equate "the LORD added to the church..." to "what God has joined together..."?

I think so. I also think there is an important point in that the LORD added me to the church.

If the LORD has added me to the church, who then can subtract me? Who is to decide if I am "faithful" or not? Faithful to what? How will I be measured?

I read the Bible. I study the Bible. I meditate upon the Bible. I pray for wisdom. I seek God's will. I seek His Spirit. I long for the Bread of Life. I worship according to the Scriptures. I teach others the Gospel. I serve in the community, because I want to BE Jesus to other people. (side note: don't get me wrong, I am not bragging, or adding up points to why I should be saved - the only thing that makes me special is Jesus Christ).

So, my point - why are there some who would "subtract" me from the Lord?

So, my frustration - who do you think you are?

So, my conclusion - my peace, my consolation, my acceptance, my fellowship is with and in the LORD.

I have no intention of trying to satisfy the inconsistent demands of men, who think I ought to meet some standard to be accepted by them. Christ accepted me, when most no-one else would. I am truly blessed.

When I think about Jesus Christ, and the gift that God has given to me (to us) through him, I am filled with awe.

Praise be to God.

Mike

If you must strive, strive for Jesus

Which is worse? Carnal expletives, or using God's name in such a way?

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 03:30:03 GMT

Movie Review from Plugged In Online:

"When I sank into my seat to watch Semi-Pro, I thought I was settling into a typical Will Ferrell-variety PG-13 film (Talladega Nights, Blades of Glory, Anchorman). Within the first two minutes and the first three f-words, I realized that either the rating system had finally crumbled altogether, or Semi-Pro was seriously R-rated.

Before it's over, the f-word tally stands above 20 and the s-word's above 30. (One of the latter expletives is spray-painted in a child's nursery.) Extremely crude words allude to oral sex and are assigned to anatomical features. And mountains of milder swears include "a--," "b--ch" and "d--n."

Characters also abuse God's and Jesus' names with regularity, sometimes pairing them with other curse words."

It breaks my heart to think that there are children of God finding pleasure in such things.

If you must strive, strive for Jesus.

I love you,

Michael

God is Love

Sat, 26 Jan 2008 15:27:46 GMT

Love one another

For love is of God

He who does not love

Does not know God

Hallelujah

Wed, 02 May 2007 09:48:23 GMT

Long time, no post. Not that I have lost interest, I have just redirected.

I have just completed a study of "Hallelujah". What a wonderful phrase.

I think it a matter of the soul.

If you happen to stop by this site and see this, please read Psalms 113 - 118 in their entirety. Then read Revelation 19, verses 1 - 9.

Then, if you want to, I suggest everyone write their own Psalm. You can send me yours in a message. I would like to compile a collection of them and would love to post them all (that is, if I receive any).

I was thinking about life in general, Jacob specifically, all of my children and their lives, the COUNTLESS blessings in my life (blessed with blessedwithseven) and can't think of a better way to put it - - - Hallelujah.

The hieroglyphic for "hallel" is like a little guy, standing up with his hands in the air. It means JUBILATION.

The rest of the etymology of the word is fascinating, but suffice it to say, please live your live with Hallelujah, Praise to the Lord-type jubilation.

Love,

Mike

If you must strive, strive for Jesus.

Nineveh, Nahum, Methusalah and me.

Fri, 02 Feb 2007 00:11:28 GMT

It's February already? Where did January go? I have been working from home and have only traveled 2 weeks in the past 2 months +, that's quite a nice change of pace.

I really have been so busy trying to work, study, teach, put together a young people's study, organize, build an office building - or some other option - etc. that I lost January.

What happened in Jan? I got to see James Maudlin. I got to go within 150 miles of my hometown. I continued to get paid. I had my 23rd wedding anniversary (Blessedwithseven will correct me, if I am wrong on the number...). I rediscovered Paul, Phil and Zeke (at a much different level). I got to hear Terry Baze. I came to a new sense of awe over my daughter. I was elected President of the local Outreach Board of Directors. I still make kimchi soup fairly regularly. I called my mom. I read Nahum. I have developed a deeper love and appreciation for the Apostle Paul (Acts 16, 16 - 30).

Speaking of Nahum (Philip says "Na-hum, not Ho-hum"). What a book! Nahum follows Jonah by about 135 years. Jonah is more about Jonah and repent or be destroyed. Nahum is more about "you forgot and you are going to be destroyed". The thing is, about 75 years after Nahum the Medes and the Babylonians attacked Nineveh (within 2 years of each other) and destroyed the city. Amazing.

I wonder why God spared Nineveh for 75 years? Maybe there was someone righteous living there. Maybe someone needed to be born.

It's kind of like Methuselah dying the same year as the flood. He was the longest living human being on record (969 years, right?) and the same year he died the flood came. I like to think that God waited for Methuselah to pass over (Jordan, that is) before he destroyed the earth.

And that make me think. Do you think God would hold up destruction for you? (Or me?). I say he could. I like to think about living a life that would make God want to hold up destroying, say, Nineveh. What kind of life would that be like? And, how much different would it be than the life I am living. HMMMMMMMM?

Live like that. Everyone will be better off for it. Love like that, learn like that. Think like that. Whether you are 8 or 80 (o.k., tell your 8 year olds, because they are not visiting GBDMan's Xanga).

And if you must strive, strive for Jesus.

I love you.

Mike

The "essential characteristic"

Mon, 25 Dec 2006 18:29:27 GMT

I was thinking about the role God's love plays in our salvation. It is the essential characteristic. It is coupled with the blood of Christ and combined the two (inseparable) ingredients equal salvation for all mankind.

I thought about my 20+ years as a child of God (not that I am 20, I just spent the first 20 some deceived). In all that time, if I had been keeping score, I can tell you that "ACTS 2 and 38" is beating "JOHN 3 and 16" in a blowout. Why is that? Do we want to discount the love of God? Certainly not.

We don't even need to "be careful" (in my opinion) about talking too much about the LOVE OF GOD. Afterall, God IS love. God's love is AGAPE. Man's love is PHILEO. The two both translate to "love" but one far exceeds the other.

Knowing that God loves and how God loves is amazing. God demonstrated his love for us, in that while we were still sinners, he sent his Son to die in our place. (Romans 5 and 8). As a matter of fact, verses 6 - 11 (if you go and look at Roman's chapter 5) are very meaningful.

I don't know who you were, before atonement. I don't know where you came from. Maybe you were a good person (like Cornelius) or maybe you were a righteous person (like Paul) or maybe you were a scoundrel (like so many of us). But wherever and whoever you were, just like me, you were separated from God. And in that place, he loved us (and continues to love) so much, that he made sure we have a way to salvation.

Undoubtedly, God has revealed his plan of salvation. We must follow God's will in this, as in all things. But to know that the plan is founded on God's love not only helps us to accept it, but helps us to live in "fellowship with Jesus Christ".

I think we need to live in a way where John 3 and 16 can catch up to Acts 2 and 38. Afterall, you cannot have salvation with one apart from the other.

I love you.

Mike

If you must strive, strive for Jesus.

What was it Jesus said?

Fri, 24 Nov 2006 23:50:05 GMT

It was right before he ascended into Heaven? The last words He spoke before going to glory...

He said; "Go ye, therefore..."

As you read, if you will, through the Acts of the Apostles, the church "grew" by faithful men "going". I love the simplicity of it. After the day of Pentecost, Peter went, Philip went, Paul went, Timothy went, Titus went. And they 'taught' and believers were 'baptized' as they went.

And what then, the question must be asked, does the church do about the evangelized?

The "pastors and teachers" {if you read KJV} perfect the saints, work the ministry, edify the body of Christ (Eph. 4).

Back to Jesus, those that are evangelized were taught "to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you". (Should we take that as the evangelized learn and grow and become the evangelizers?)

Jesus needs people everywhere. He needs faithful disciples making faithful disciples of others. He need fathers to evangelize and disciple their children. He needs wives to evangelize and disciple their husbands. He needs friends to go beyond the realm of the friendship of this world and let others know about the gospel of His kingdom. Jesus needs us to go more and do more.

How did the church go about going? Let's face it, we can't all get up and go, and there are plenty of folks right "here" that need Jesus. It would be silly if I "went" there and you "went" here, when we could just as easily stay where we were and "go" (at least in the sense of going to those that need the gospel).

Anyway, the church "goes" by reaching out to those in their needs. Feeding the hungry, giving the thirsty drink, taking in the stranger, clothing the naked, visiting those in prison, visiting the fatherless and widows in their affliction - - -. These are NOT ways for us to gain salvation points. They are the things that Christ wants us to do, in order to reach people in their needs and open up their lives to His gospel.

And we live it. At least we do, if we are doing what Jesus said to do. Who then, is an evangelist? (There is one named in the scriptures and one other told to "do the work of an evangelist"). I suggest that you, me, my wife and kids, and Lord willing, one day their kids, can all be evangelists. Is it that simple?

I really think it is.

And in such a simple format, we can love and encourage each other as we do the Lord's will. And as we do so, we can know the church will grow. And as the church grows, we can know that there are those that are able to lead and teach those that are evangelized, so that they can become leaders and teachers.

And we can know that we are all growing , "till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ".

O.K., can everyone evangelize? It depends on your definition of what an evangelist is? I say everyone can fulfill Christ's teaching of serving others and sharing His love with them. In that, we will be evangelists. In that, in my opinion, we will all be pleasing Christ.

I love you.

Mike

If you must strive, strive for Jesus.

GBDMAN thoughts on James 1, vs. 25

Thu, 09 Nov 2006 23:23:05 GMT

"But he who looks into the perfect law of freedom, and continues, not being a hearer who forgets, but a doer of the work, this man will be blessed in what he does."

Everyday, I look into the mirror dozens of times (not that I am vain, or that I even care about that multi-fingered cow-lick thing). I wash my hands and look into the mirror. I brush my teeth and look into the mirror. I pass by a mirror everytime I go thru the living room.

And you know what? I look the same everytime. It's not that I actually forgot what I looked like before, or that I was expecting to see something or someone different, it is just a fact that the same guy keeps looking back at me. He gets a little "grayer" over time, but that is o.k.

I look into the word of God several times a day, too. And when I do so, in a reflective spirit, I am able to see myself, even more clearly than when I look into a mirror. Do you try to see yourself in the scriptures? I challenge you to.

And I look to see myself as a "doer". NOT that doing is going to get me salvation, but doing will make me happy (blessed). And if I don't look into the scriptures daily, and I don't reflect regularly, I do start to forget. Not on purpose, but it is easier to not remember when you aren't reminding yourself (that makes sense to me, I hope it isn't confusing).

I tend to think more about "whose" I am, instead of "who" I am, when I regularly look into the perfect law of liberty. If I am Christ's and I reflect upon that, I will view my life from a totally different perspective of being Mike, or Jennifer's husband or (Jacob's, Sam's, Ben's, Sarah's, Paul's, Philip's, Ezekiel's) dad, or Emily's father in law, or a member of the Red Oak congregation, or the Grand Poobah of Import and Customs Related things, or whatever title or position I may have in life.

I am Christ's. And I will "do" accordingly.

Please, look into the word reflectively, everyday. You don't have to worry if your tie is straight, if your life in Christ is. You won't have to worry about your hair being "just so", if your life in Christ is. You won't need to see if you have something stuck between your teeth...(never mind that one).

Love Jesus and love as Jesus. It is a great way to live.

I love you,

Mike

If you must strive, strive for Jesus.