God Spots and the price one might pay....

Many of you know I chase God Spots.  A God Spot is defined as a time when God chooses to authenticate His presence and I get to blog about it.  These God Spots are found interwoven throughout my blog 37stories .  

As explanation for the driving motivation in God Spots is there was a time in my life when life's struggle was particularly demanding and I needed God to show me He was alive and well.  I needed the daily encouragement just to pick up my feet and take the next step.  God came through and God Spots became a part of my life.

God Spots has become an integral part of my life and it seems sometimes that God intentionally positions me to take part in a piece of life He has orchestrated.  Make sense?

So many of you know that follow God Spots, I have been having incredible headaches.  I've been to the doc and had a head MRI.  My wife knew they would find anything (that is my wife's joke).  The doc put me on Midrin and it does a pretty good job of numbing the pain, but it is always there.

So here is the deal.  No amount of praying has fixed my head.  So I have been considering my options.  I am an army veteran and there is a Veteran's hospital in San Antonio, so I am going to go there in search of a solution I can afford.  Thank you for paying your taxes.  I'll be a recipient of your graciousness.  :)

The deeper thought of going to the Veterans Hospital is possibly God is creating the circumstances such that I am once again positioned in the midst of God Spots.  It follows in the footsteps of being tossed in jail unexpectantly a couple of months ago and being able to share my faith from the inside.  I hit an all time high in blog readership that week (several thousand readers thrilled me!).  

So do me a favor if you please.  I believe in the power of prayer.  As you read this pray for a couple of things.  Don't wait 'til later.  Likely, you will forget.  First, pray that the circumstances of my past are put to rest (ie jail).  Second, pray that I fall in the middle of gigantic God Spots as I work my way through the Veteran's hospital.  I suspect there will be plenty of opportunity to see God at work.  

That's about it.  The head hurts and it is time for God to authenticate His presence.  ~just sayin'... the priest.

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Posted via email from Archie's Life Stream

David Robinson

Subject: David Robinson.....True Story as told by Nicole Glenn

For those of you who are familiar with basketball, you certainly know the name David Robinson........He is an American NBA basketball player, who played  center for the San Antonio Spurs for his entire NBA career. He won the MVP  trophy in 1995, and in 1996 he was named one of the 50  Greatest Players in NBA History. He was inducted into  the  Basketball Hall of Fame along with Michael Jordan,  John Stockton,  Jerry Sloan, and C. Vivian Stringer on September  11, 2009.

Robinson is a transplanted San Antonian, and though retired  still resides here. Having been in the restaurant  industry for  the  last few years I have had the good fortune of meeting  David Robinson, Malik Rose, and a few other Spurs players.

 A few weeks  ago, Mr. Robinson came into P.F. Chang's to dine with his family. He  was kind, courteous, and very patient  with all of the fans who asked  him for autographs. I was  impressed, even with people bugging him  during his meal, he  held a happy face and patient demeanor with all  of the people he spoke with.

Today Mr. Robinson visited P.F's again. And again, he was ever-so patient with the fans.... he signed autographs, and  snapped pictures. Right  as he was about to leave, a young  woman approach him and told him  the story of how her brother  was killed by a drunk driver just a few  days ago, and the wake was today. She explained that her brother was a huge Spurs and David Robinson fan, and having never had the opportunity to meet him, she asked for an autograph on her brother's funeral program. Of course Mr. Robinson was  very  sympathetic, and you could tell, the woman was  exceptionally   emotional and it took a lot of courage to approach him  to  request his autograph. He signed the paper, and what he  did  next blew me away......

He asked her if he could pray with her.... With tears in her eyes she said, "Yes, Please". He wrapped his Giant basket-ball player hands around hers...and together they bowed their heads. Blocking out all of the people, noise, and traffic around him, he prayed a long and heartfelt prayer aloud, asking God for strength for her and her family in their time of loss, and for the protection of her  brother. I could see in concentration that he was speaking directly  to God, and that he meant every word.  

Though this whole encounter only took just a few minutes, it was truly amazing. When  he walked out the door I stood in awe, I was truly inspired by this  man. Though he is a  famously accomplished athlete, he offered a  sense of peace  and calm to a woman who had just suffered a  devastating  loss.. I'm sure that moment will live in her heart  forever.

My heart was warmed by one simple human interaction, and it made me think of the amazing power

that one hug,  touch, kind  word, or Prayer can provide. With so much concentration  on  money, cars, name-brands, and possessions, I am overjoyed  to know that there are kind-hearted, moral, professional athletes, such as Mr. Robinson who can be positive role-models for our youth.  

David Robinson is a true inspiration. And....  I'm so happy I eavesdropped today I thought this story was  most definitely worth sharing. Please forward if you'd like. 

With Love and Blessings,

Nicole Glenn

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Posted via email from Archie's Life Stream

READ. #1 Best seller. Esther: a novel of intrigue, romance and death.

"Mordecai wouldn't do it, wouldn't bow down and kneel"~Esther

So the king's right hand man financed an operation with the king's blessing to kill Mordecai and all the Jews.   BAD choice! Esther who is a Jew and the king's main squeeze gets wind of it.  Mordecai instructs her to her duty as a Jew.

Esther sent back her answer to Mordecai: "Go and get all the Jews living in Susa together. Fast for me. Don't eat or drink for three days, either day or night. I and my maids will fast with you. If you will do this, I'll go to the king, even though it's forbidden. If I die, I die."~Esther

As the story goes and you really should read the whole story of Esther found in your Bible.  It is incredible!  Pick a character.  Put yourself in their place.  Live their life, if you dare!

What have you put before God in your life?  To what have you bowed down?

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Posted via email from Archie's Life Stream

"Is religion good or bad? HELP! Save me!"~priest

I borrowed this dialog from my friend Richard Glenn.  His blog Truth From the Hip.  He is an avid blogger and purveyor of truth.  Thought you might like this discussion on religion.  This is what Richard says....

That’s a great question because religion is one of the most misunderstood and abused words in the world of faith. Are you aware that religion can either be a good thing or a bad thing? Yes, contrary to most full gospel, independent Christians there is such a thing as “good religion”. Alright then, what is it? James 1:27 tells us that, “Pure and lasting religion in the sight of God our Father means we must care for orphans and widows in their troubles, and refuse to let the world corrupt us.” New Living translation.

That is “good” religion. Caring for the needs of one another and walking out our salvation in this world through our actions. And yet, even though they are the right thing for a Christian to do, they cannot earn you your salvation. And then there is another, more well known understanding of religion. It’s the ultimate deception, if you will. It’s the ill-conceived thought that man can somehow earn his right to eternal life in heaven by obeying certain rules, performing certain rituals, perfect church attendance and doing enough good works. Not so. And that’s the “religion” most people are familiar with. That is the false religion.

Simply put, bad (or false) religion is man’s attempt to worship the God he doesn’t have a personal relationship with. And he has been led to think that by faithfully performing ceremonial duties God will approve of his efforts, overlook or somehow forgive his sin without coming through His Son, and let him earn a right into heaven. False religion is a deadly form of worship because it never takes into account the sacrifice of Jesus for the remission of sin. They recognize the cross of Jesus but they do not feel Jesus’ sacrifice was enough. They are still trying to earn salvation because without a relationship with the Lord they are not sure they have it. 

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Posted via email from Archie's Life Stream

"How long's it been since you oozed Jesus?"~priest

I had lunch with a friend yesterday who loves his family and His Lord.  We had a great time sharing with each other the commonality of our struggles.  Each with a desire to become the man God desires to spend eternity with.

Somewhere in the mix of life, he developed a chemical dependency.  He is clean now and faithful in keeping himself that way, but it makes me wonder... what's up with chemical dependency?

I have one friend who smoked all his life and one day decided to quit.  No problem.  I have another friend who has smoked all her life and desires to quit, but can't.  What's up with that?

God says we are fearfully and wonderfully made.  Where in the mix of fearfully and wonderfully is a propensity toward chemical dependency?  

How God chooses to work is a bit mysterious.  One guy who is "hooked", can't quit cocaine, prays and he is instantly delivered.  Another guy equally hooked or so it seems, prays, and battles with a strong desire for cocaine the rest of his life.  What's up with that?

I have a headache that I believe God can instantly and radically heal.  I have prayed.  You have prayed.  I still have a headache.  What's up with that?  

As I felt it coming on in the night, I would roll over and pray, "God, will you fill me with your Holy Spirit?  I know I am already filled, but I want an abundant filling so I have plenty left over to give to someone else.  I prayed God would fill my cup to overflowing.  I prayed I would ooze with His presence, that those coming in contact with me would encounter God just because they encountered me.  I prayed more....

You know.... if I didn't struggle with a headache last night, I don't think I would have prayed those prayers..  Could it be, God is once again kicking satan in the teeth and turning bad into good for those that love the Lord? How many people will God allow me to touch today resulting from my headache last night?

Maybe your struggle is designed to encourage you to pray a prayer that God would "ooze" from your pores significantly pouring out on others.  Could it be?

Love you!  God bless!  Start oozing for Jesus....

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Posted via email from Archie's Life Stream

"I may have sinned yesterday. Not sure. Might need a priest. Not sure." ~priest

I been reading from the Holy Bible.  Great title for a spell binding book.  I digitally thumbed over to the 14th chapter of the book of Romans.  

It is written by a fearless man name Paul.  He was a scholar and a tent maker.  I find that interesting.  Consider being one in the top 5% of your class and Harvard bound.  You choose as a career to make tents.  How can that be?

It seems Paul's career was interrupted.  He discovered or had thrust upon him a love for Jesus.  Remember he was the one that God zapped with a bolt of lightening as he headed to behead some Christians?  He was blind long enough to really see God and his life was never the same.

Paul tells us that there was a time in history when many of the mysteries of God were hidden and now we live in an enlightened time.  God has revealed and continues to reveal through His fellowship of the Holy Spirit.  Paul wrote down some of the most significant of his discovered mysteries in the many letters he wrote.  They are available for us to read from the Holy Bible.  

I am intrigued with Romans 14.  It is a good lunch time read.  It speaks of freedom in Christ to follow your conscience and acknowledges that we may all think differently on issues.  It speaks of our differences as being ok.  We aren't required to be the same and we should be tolerant of others.  We are to encourage others that they might enjoy a loving relationship with the Father.

Paul says it like this....

"Now the God of patience and of encouragement grant you to be of the same mind one with another according to Christ Jesus, that with one accord you may with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." ~Paul

 
Fresh Connection is a gathering of people who desire an encouraging relationship.  We don't believe all the same stuff.  We just have a desire to live a life that contributes in a positive way to the world.  Somewhere in the mix I believe Jesus will authenticate His presence. 

Come join us tomorrow, Wednesday. Feb 3. 2010 at 7:00 PM.  

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Posted via email from Archie's Life Stream

"Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen."

I went to sleep last night thinking about faith.  Two prominent components of faith are assurance and proof.  It is so like God to take something as powerful as faith and have it operate in a realm so impossible to understand from a human perspective.  God says this about faith....

By faith, we understand that the universe has been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen has not been made out of things which are visible.

How incredible!  The universe with respect to God's Word is created out of things not seen.  We can only believe this out of faith.  It is by faith, scientists look at the smallest particles known to man and believe there must be something even smaller.  

It seems God uses faith for the really big adventures in life.  Consider the following men of faith and their God Spots..

By faith, Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain
By faith, Enoch was taken away, so that he wouldn’t see death
By faith, Noah, prepared a ship for the saving of his house
By faith, Abraham obeyed to go out to the place which he was to receive for an inheritance. 
By faith, he lived as an alien in the land of promise, 

By faith, even Sarah herself received power to conceive
By faith, Abraham, being tested, offered up Isaac. 
By faith, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come. 
By faith, Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph
By faith, Joseph, gave instructions concerning his bones.

By faith, Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents
By faith, Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter
By faith, he left Egypt, for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
By faith, he kept the Passover, that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them.
By faith, they passed through the Red Sea as on dry land.  

By faith, the walls of Jericho fell down
By faith, Rahab the prostitute, having received the spies in peace.

I think faith is a most formidable weapon against evil and a most powerful force in creation.  From faith all things good are produced.  Without faith, the world experiences all the world naturally produces.  There is much good to be enjoyed from God's creation, but new creation in a God way with His power can only be created by faith.

I'm still working through my thoughts on faith, but think it must be incorporated if we expect to be anything other than "mediocre Fred (~circa Smothers Brothers)" .

God bless and run today's race by faith...the assurance of things hoped for and proof of things not seen.

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Posted via email from Archie's Life Stream