Mission Impossible - Impossible God!

Sometimes our life feels like this. It seems like we are doing the impossible. That our life is full of things and situations that are just too hard. This is what leads to hopelessness.

A lack of hope comes from not seeing a way out. A way to succeed.

And there is only one answer to this problem. One.

We put God in a little box that says what He can and can't do. Only through releasing our minds from this rut can we realize the power, majesty and strength of our God.

God looks at our problems and says, "Hey, those aren't that big. I AM the IMF (Impossible Mission Force). Difficult is just a walk in the park. And to go one step further, God makes the impossible, possible. What is keeping you from truly trusting in God? What has failed? What is it that is keeping you from seeing a way out? For God, all things are possible. Do you believe, or not?

Billy Mays - king of the Pitch

Here is a video that made me laugh. It is from a Jay Leno skit. I found it when I was doing research for my sermon this week.
Enjoy!



The message today is on More. We are always searching for more, but more of the wrong thing. There is so much more that we could have of God that we aren't claiming!

Seek More!

Spiritual Retreat 2012.3

Today the weather was great! I had asked God to make a time so that I could go hiking again today. I worked on the vision this morning and after lunch I was ready to go hike. I looked outside and the sky was clearing and the temperature was 63 degrees! Thank you God!

So I decided to head over to Frontenac State Park and go up the bluff. It was going to be a longer hike. With my boot rubbing a little on my heel I decided to push it anyway.

I ended up hiking 6.3 miles! It was wonderful. I talked to God and listened and praised him. I saw a squirrel and birds and then I saw two sets of deer.

Here are the links to see my walk yesterday and today also:

Yesterday: http://s3.amazonaws.com/accuterra/1334806372.kmz

Today: http://s3.amazonaws.com/accuterra/1334781767.kmz

Here are my stats, which was kind of fun to know:

Trip 1:

Adventure Statistics:

Time:

 

Start: 1:34:44 PMStop: 3:19:22 PMDuration: 1 hr 44 min 38 sec
Distance: 4.2 milesSpeed:
Average Speed: 2.4 miles/hrAverage Pace: 24:38 mm:ss/mile
Elevation:
Minimum: +662 feetMaximum: +823 feet
Trip 2:
Adventure Statistics:
Time:
Start: 1:17:45 PMStop: 3:45:23 PMDuration: 2 hr 27 min 38 sec
Distance: 6.3 milesSpeed:
Average Speed: 2.6 miles/hrAverage Pace: 23:26 mm:ss/mile
Elevation:
Minimum: +715 feetMaximum: +1131 feet
 


 


 

Panoramic from Bluff

I did end up getting a blister on the back of my heel. I'll live. : ]

Great day with God today. Tomorrow I head back in the afternoon. Although I video chatted with my family both nights, it wasn't the same and will be glad to get back to see them.

Have a great night all!

 

Spiritual Retreat 2012.2

Yesterday, I was hiking and these were all over the place. I found it a little humorous because each one had a number on it. Like little apartment numbers. Little birds living in little apartments. Perhaps they are french birds.

I don't know. Struck me as funny.

 

On another note, I went and ate a little Mom and Pop last night called The Whistle Stop. If you are going through Frontenac and are hungry I would recommend it. Get the omelet called something like Everything under the Spud. It is very good!

 

 

Spiritual Retreat 2012.1

Every church I've been in I have had what they called spiritual days. The most often way of doing this, or allocating as it could be called, was to say one spiritual day a month. These could usually be hoarded for use with the idea built in that you could not store all of them and then take a nice vacation. : ]

Unfortunately, I never took any of them. Sad for me.

And so, in my desperate quest to know God more and to realize the more that he has for me, I quickly put together a retreat last week. I talked to the Leadership Team and asked them what they thought of me taking a small retreat and their response was funny. They said, "What? A pastor taking a spiritual retreat!!" It was very funny. I like facetiousness.

So I am very excited to be here. I am the only one in the whole building/castle.

Today I arrived in the afternoon and then got settled. I then went for a hike and ended up going 4.5 miles. Here are so pictures that I took:

It was good to be out in God's creation. I saw a lot of wildlife and enjoyed walking and talking with God. I plan on continuing a spiritual retreat Bible study that I have started today and then watching Faith Like Potatoes and going to sleep.

I have a busy day tomorrow!

Hope you all are having a good week!

 

Dave

 

 

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Ubi Caritas et Amor

Where charity and love are, there God is.
The love of Christ has gathered us into one flock.
Let us exult, and in Him be joyful.
Let us fear and let us love the living God.
And from a sincere heart let us love each other (and Him).

Where charity and love are, there God is.
Therefore, whensoever we are gathered as one:
Lest we in mind be divided, let us beware.
Let cease malicious quarrels, let strife give way.
And in the midst of us be Christ our God.

Where charity and love are, there God is.
Together also with the blessed may we see,
Gloriously, Thy countenance, O Christ our God:
A joy which is immense, and also approved:
Through infinite ages of ages.
Amen.

I am singing a song this Good Friday. It is called A Lenten Song by Helen Kemp.

At the end there is a Latin phrase. I didn't know what it meant and thought I would look it up. This is the poem that I ran across in my search. The full phrase in the song is the first line of this poem.

I learned something more about Tradition today. And now, so have you.

Day Eight 2012

Eight days in. It has been a very hectic week. That's not a moniker to put on my jacket. Just admitting that I'm tired. I didn't get a day off this week so I need to focus better and prioritize. That is to say that I'm going to have to not do some things this week that I would like to do. Or delegate them out. I am also not completing my goal of posting once a day.

We have a couple people in the hospital right now. Remember to pray for Char and Shirley. Char just had her knee operated on for replacement and is doing well. Will  probably come home tomorrow. Home is not literal. She will be staying with her sister. Also, her mother just went in to the hospital and Char is concerned about her. If you would like to send Char something, Tom S. has the address. Also, Shirley is in the hospital with an infection, influenza and pneumonia. They are giving her meds and she is recovering. She has good friends and family come see her and seems comfortable.

God has answered our prayers with Char and Shirley as well. Both are doing well and recovering. Char feels really well and is healing. Shirley's cough has improved a lot!

Today we are going to talk about Service. Servanthood. I am applying the text from John 13:1-17. I wanted to list out some things that I can't fit into the sermon. Here is a list of Self-Righteous Service determiners, not Self-Giving Service determiners.

1. Make a Big Deal
2. External Rewards
3. Pick and Choose
4. Moods and Whims
5. Temporary
6. Insensitive
7. Fractures Community

I will briefly explain them.

1. If we make a big deal and draw attention to ourselves then it is about serving yourself not the thing or person you are serving.
2. If there is a reward for you. You get something out of it. A new car. A piece of candy. If the question in your mind is "What am I getting out of this?" then you are not giving with the right heart.
3. When we choose who to help and who or what not to help or do, we are neglecting God's work in our lives and theirs. Walk with God and you will know the right ways to help. Sometimes it is not apparent in what they are saying they need, or the perceived need. God will help. Ask him.
4. "I don't feel like it." Many are those that receive no help or do not receive the gift of love through service from others because of this attitude.
5. "True service is a lifestyle." It isn't something that is orchestrated necessarily (out of necessity via laxity). It comes from within and floods others.
6. Self-giving love is sensitive to staying tuned in to others. Sometimes the best service is listening. Doing nothing. Being there.
7. Self-serving is all about the one person. Or the group. It divides some or one from others. The thought is that I did this and I am better than them. Even if we don't say it. We think it.

If you find yourselves serving others and one of these thoughts goes through you mind, it needs to be expunged. It is not from God. It is either the evil one spurring you or your human self coming through. Ask God to remove this spirit from you. Ask him to cleanse you from it and give it over to Him. He is a God that sanctifies.