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	<title>The Ever-Changing Thought &#187; Devotional</title>
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	<description>from the mind of a recovering alcoholic</description>
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		<title>Here&#8217;s Some Interesting News</title>
		<link>http://tecthought.com/2010/02/07/heres-some-interesting-news/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=heres-some-interesting-news</link>
		<comments>http://tecthought.com/2010/02/07/heres-some-interesting-news/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 08 Feb 2010 04:03:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Scott</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Assisting Other Alcoholics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Continuing Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ministry]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Seeking Direction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Christianity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Higher education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leap of Faith]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lipscomb]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Religion and Spirituality]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://tecthought.com/?p=873</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This post has some really bad news and some potentially really good news.  I&#8217;m hoping you&#8217;ll think about the good more than the bad.  I&#8217;ll start off with the bad. The bad news. I&#8217;m not going to say much about it because, well, I can&#8217;t do anything about it and I don&#8217;t want any kind [...]]]></description>
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<p>This post has some really bad news and some potentially really good news.  I&#8217;m hoping you&#8217;ll think about the good more than the bad.  I&#8217;ll start off with the bad.</p>
<p><strong>The bad news.</strong></p>
<p>I&#8217;m not going to say much about it because, well, I can&#8217;t do anything about it and I don&#8217;t want any kind of repercussions from it.  So, here is the bad news&#8230;quickly.</p>
<p>Some of you know, most of you don&#8217;t.  Thirteen days after my surgery, the boss at work wanted to meet with me.  After 11 years of service, through some good times and through some not so good times, I was informed that I was not going to be going back to work for my, well, previous employer now.  Yeah, I was fired.  Wasn&#8217;t happy.  Still ain&#8217;t and for so many reasons.  They were nice enough to continue my insurance and disability until March.</p>
<p>Not sure what&#8217;s going to happen come March.  Especially seeing that I&#8217;m not well enough to work yet.  And still having tests etc.  But, it&#8217;s going to be just fine.  I&#8217;ve complete faith in God.</p>
<p><strong>The good news.</strong></p>
<p>I&#8217;ve written several posts about going back to school and getting my education in Bible or ministry and also being a counselor.  That word, ministry, is such a broad area that I can&#8217;t pinpoint which direction I&#8217;m going to be going, but I&#8217;m really feeling lead to be in the pulpit.</p>
<p>I&#8217;ve mentioned taking online courses at Liberty University and I got pretty far into that process, but with my back being the way it is, I put it on the back burner on simmer.  Well, there is a good possibility that I&#8217;ll be taking it completely off  the stove after tomorrow.</p>
<p>This past week I went to the church offices and had a good long let-it-out session.  By the end of the session we had pretty much determined that this was just God&#8217;s way of closing one door and opening a window, somewhere.  I had thought that myself and to hear him say it only made it even more real, if you know what I mean.</p>
<p>I thought my next step might be to get a job and that&#8217;s not necessarily so.  I had to decide what I was/wanted to do.  Since it&#8217;s been on my heart for so long, getting into ministry is what I want to do.  Education will be my first major step and there is no better time like the present.  That&#8217;s what I&#8217;m praying for anway.</p>
<p>After the decision was made, my minister since then has made some phone calls and we have a meeting for 9:30 tomorrow morning with an adviser, maybe a professor at <a title="Lipscomb" href="http://www.lipscomb.edu/" target="_blank">David Lipscomb University</a> in Nashville.  Then, we&#8217;ll just see where God leads me from there.</p>
<p>I do have some things going through my head as far as income goes.  Got insurance to worry about and that sort of thing.  And of course, there is the whole issue with the back that&#8217;s ongoing (no word on an MRI yet).  But, tomorrow, the meeting is my first step and a huge leap of faith.  I couldn&#8217;t be more excited.</p>
<p>Because of HIM</p>
<p>SC</p>
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		<title>A Request</title>
		<link>http://tecthought.com/2010/02/03/a-request/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=a-request</link>
		<comments>http://tecthought.com/2010/02/03/a-request/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 03 Feb 2010 20:11:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Scott</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Ministry]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[India]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Requesting Help]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://tecthought.com/?p=870</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I can&#8217;t do a lot to help folks these days, but I did run across a buddies tweet and then read his blog and found a way that I could help, and did.  I&#8217;m helping not just one person, but many in a country, India, where the Word needs and is being spread. Basically all [...]]]></description>
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<p>I can&#8217;t do a lot to help folks these days, but I did run across a buddies tweet and then read his blog and found a way that I could help, and did.  I&#8217;m helping not just one person, but many in a country, India, where the Word needs and is being spread.</p>
<p>Basically all they are requesting is a donation of $1 to purchase a <a title="Netbook" href="http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5618210&amp;Sku=M975-11007" target="_blank">netbook</a> for a pastor in India.  Rather than me repeating what Brad and Shawn have said, just go visit <a title="IHeartBrad" href="http://www.iheartbrad.com/?p=1183&amp;utm_source=twitterfeed&amp;utm_medium=twitter" target="_blank"> Brad&#8217;s</a> blog or go directly to <a title="Shawnw" href="http://shawnw.org/lets-buy-pastor-gona-from-india-a-netbook/" target="_blank">Shawnw&#8217;s</a> blog who has more information on the mission in India.</p>
<p>I&#8217;ve also included a way you can go and directly ChipIn if you want.</p>
<p>God bless you.</p>
<p><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="220" height="220" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="flashvars" value="color_scheme=red" /><param name="src" value="http://widget.chipin.com/widget/id/813bf4b72aaa9a03" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="220" height="220" src="http://widget.chipin.com/widget/id/813bf4b72aaa9a03" wmode="transparent" flashvars="color_scheme=red"></embed></object></p>
<p>Because of HIM</p>
<p>SC</p>
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		<title>The Battle Rages</title>
		<link>http://tecthought.com/2009/11/07/the-battle-rages/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=the-battle-rages</link>
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		<pubDate>Sun, 08 Nov 2009 04:06:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Scott</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Devotional]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://tecthought.com/?p=852</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I&#8217;m at one of my weakest points and he knows it.  He&#8217;s found a hole in my defense&#8217;s and is trying desperately to chip away at the edges and reach my core.  He&#8217;s party successful. He&#8217;s found a way to shift my focus from where it should be.  Always keeping me focused on my infirmary.  [...]]]></description>
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<p>I&#8217;m at one of my weakest points and he knows it.  He&#8217;s found a hole in my defense&#8217;s and is trying desperately to chip away at the edges and reach my core.  He&#8217;s party successful.</p>
<p>He&#8217;s found a way to shift my focus from where it should be.  Always keeping me focused on my infirmary.  Worse, keeping me focused on me.</p>
<p>Keeping me locked in pain to the point of becoming nothing but a clump of flesh. A miserable, peace-less, worthless, ball of soft tissue.</p>
<p>The cries of joy have turned into screams of agony.  The winks of love are now winces of hate.</p>
<p>Laughter is just a memory.  Something that was; cause now even the laughter pains me.</p>
<p>The joy that was me.  In me. With me.  He&#8217;s carting off in droves.</p>
<p>I feel powerless to stop him.  It&#8217;s another of his stupid tactics; he uses it well.</p>
<p>Though I know he is there, more importantly I too know that you, God, are there.  For if you weren&#8217;t I&#8217;m afraid I wouldn&#8217;t be.</p>
<p>I&#8217;m reaching out.  I&#8217;m hanging on.  I&#8217;m going to live again because You love me so.  You showed me so.</p>
<p>Because of HIM,</p>
<p>SC</p>
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		<title>Restituted</title>
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		<pubDate>Sat, 10 Oct 2009 05:13:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Scott</dc:creator>
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		<category><![CDATA[Restitution]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Restitution &#8211; 1 : an act of restoring or a condition of being restored: as a : a restoration of something to its rightful owner b : a making good of or giving an equivalent for some injury 2 : a legal action serving to cause restoration of a previous state 17 &#34; &#8216;If anyone [...]]]></description>
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<blockquote><p>Restitution &#8211; <strong>1</strong> <strong>:</strong> an act of restoring or a condition of being restored: as <strong>a</strong> <strong>:</strong> a restoration of something to its rightful owner <strong>b</strong> <strong>:</strong> a making good of or giving an equivalent for some injury       <br /><strong>2</strong> <strong>:</strong> a legal action serving to cause restoration of a previous state</p>
<p>17 &quot; &#8216;If anyone takes the life of a human being, he must be put to death. 18 Anyone who takes the life of someone&#8217;s animal must make restitution—life for life. 19 If anyone injures his neighbor, whatever he has done must be done to him: 20 fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. As he has injured the other, so he is to be injured. 21 Whoever kills an animal must make restitution, but whoever kills a man must be put to death. 22 You are to have the same law for the alien and the native-born. I am the LORD your God.&#8217; &quot; (Leviticus 24:17-22)</p>
</blockquote>
<p><a title="Flowers by r_gallant, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rgallant/3991230231/"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" alt="Flowers" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2570/3991230231_169e36cdbb.jpg" width="226" height="240" /></a></p>
<p align="center">Photo by: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rgallant/" target="_blank">r_gallant</a></p>
<p>I have written about this, restitution, in the past, but in a different light.&#160; I’m revisiting it because I’ve been thinking a lot about it.&#160; Thinking about it in a Christian light not in the “alcoholic repairing his past” light.</p>
<p>Maybe this happens more than I realize.&#160; Maybe the lot of us do make restitutions for the wrongs we commit against someone.&#160; I just don’t hear us talking about it very often.&#160; </p>
<p><em>(<strong>Note</strong>: the definition of restitution that is sticking in my mind is (a) up there in the definition.)</em></p>
<p>Sure, we talk a lot about making restitution to God for the sins that we make.&#160; Well, we do more than just talk, I hope we are doing it and not just talking about it.&#160; Why do we do it?&#160;&#160; Why do we confess our sins and make restitution to God?&#160; That is what confessing is isn’t it?&#160; At least the start of it.&#160; </p>
<p>“Well, Scott, we do it so we won’t go to hell for our sins.&#160; We do it so that our Father will not be mad at and punish us.&#160; We do it because we are commanded to do it.”</p>
<p>Why else?&#160; I’m interested in your thoughts on that, but I’m not wanting to spend a lot of time here on this aspect of restitution.&#160; </p>
<p>So, let’s say you’ve just sinned.&#160; Maybe you’ve just Gossiped about someone.&#160; Maybe you told that joke that you shouldn’t have told.&#160; Maybe your thievery skills came through and you swapped 20 bucks out of your friends car.&#160; </p>
<p>Let’s do something different.&#160; Let’s say you only got angry at someone at work.&#160; I mean, it’s a piddley sin, right?&#160; On your list of sins that you keep up with, it’s way down toward the bottom, right? I’m trying to pull that sin out that you commit toward someone that only you and God are aware of.&#160; Could be anger I guess.&#160; Could be gossip.</p>
<p>Whatever in your mind you decide that sin is, can we agree that we normally take that sin to God and honestly seek forgiveness from him for that sin?&#160; When we do that do we have a tendency to forget the sin at that point?&#160; I mean, we’ve gotten it off our chest and have been forgiven by the one that matters.&#160; I do that <strike>some</strike> a lot of times.&#160; Especially something that time can “heal.”</p>
<p>As a Christian, is that where it <em>should</em> stop?&#160; Not just as a Christian, but especially as a Christian, is that where it <em>should</em> stop?&#160; Should it stop at God?</p>
<p>No, I’m fairly confident that we all know it shouldn’t stop there.&#160; You probably even practice going to the person that you’ve sinned against and talk to that person and ask him to forgive you.&#160; I do it more than I used to.&#160; Still not real good at it yet.</p>
<p>So, now, why do we do that?</p>
<p>“We are commanded to.&#160; It’s the right thing to do, Scott.”</p>
<p>Yep.&#160; </p>
<p>For some reason I’ve been dissecting that and trying to figure out why God would command us to do that.&#160; More than just because it’s right, or it get’s our hearts right.&#160; Well, I guess that’s part of the purpose that I’m thinking about.&#160; And maybe I’m just way off comparing confession to restitution.</p>
<p>Here is where my mind is.&#160; The results of restitution should be more than just getting paying someone back for something that we’ve done.&#160; I think God wants us to make restitution, for us.&#160; For our well-being.&#160; </p>
<p>Sure, there is a lot to be said for paying back the 20 bucks, or giving your neighbor one of your cows to replace the one that Fido killed.&#160; As humans, that’s just what we should naturally think of doing because it is right.</p>
<p>But, to make restitution to the one we got angry.&#160; To clear up the gossip that we started about someone.&#160; Especially the wrongs we’ve done that the other party absolutely has no clue about. When we make restitution for those things, it makes us feel so much better.&#160; We can truly heal at that point.</p>
<p>Time never heals a wrong.&#160; A wrong “healed” by time will always be in the back of our minds and when we aren’t expecting it, it will raise it’s ugly head and make us once again think about how sorry a person we were.&#160; The feelings I get a year, two years, after time has “healed” a wrong, are the very same feelings with as much impact as when the wrong was actually committed. </p>
<p>I’ll finish up with this.&#160; A lot of the commands that God commands us to do have a much deeper purpose than what we realize.&#160; He really knows how to take care of us, take care of our hearts, and by commands, keep us happier and in a loving relationship with everyone around us.&#160; More importantly, in a loving relationship with Him.</p>
<p>Really looking for some thoughts.&#160; Comment away.</p>
<p>Because of HIM</p>
<p>SC</p>
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		<title>The Impossible</title>
		<link>http://tecthought.com/2009/10/08/the-impossible/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=the-impossible</link>
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		<pubDate>Fri, 09 Oct 2009 03:37:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Scott</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[Be joyful always; Yeah, right!&#160; Be joyful always.&#160; What about this back pain I’ve got, huh? Do you know what it’s like to hurt as bad as I do for as long as I have?&#160; Tell me to be joyful always.&#160; Not to mention the bills I’m getting in everyday because of this.&#160; Besides, don’t [...]]]></description>
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<blockquote><p><font size="4">Be joyful always;</font></p>
</blockquote>
<p>Yeah, right!&#160; Be joyful always.&#160; What about this back pain I’ve got, huh? Do you know what it’s like to hurt as bad as I do for as long as I have?&#160; Tell me to be joyful always.&#160; Not to mention the bills I’m getting in everyday because of this.&#160; Besides, don’t get me started on my financial issues.&#160; Nothing to be joyful about there.&#160; It’s impossible.&#160; Can’t be done.&#160; I bet anyone in my shoes couldn’t be joyful in those situations.&#160; Be joyful always! HA!&#160; Give me one good reason to be joyful always!</p>
<blockquote><p>pray continually;</p>
</blockquote>
<p>I can’t pray continually.&#160; That’s too much to ask.&#160; My life is so busy and hectic.&#160; There is barely enough time for me to get up, get to work, get home, get my nap in, get supper fixed, watch TV, and go to bed.&#160; I just can’t pray continually.&#160; Oh, I do pray every now and then.&#160; I think that’s good enough.&#160; I’m sure God’s OK with that and understands.&#160; Besides there isn’t really one good reason for me to pray continually.</p>
<blockquote><p>give thanks in all circumstances,</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Yeah. I’m going to be giving thanks when I’ve got some horrible disease.&#160; Sure is something to be thankful about there.&#160; And again nothing to be thankful for in my life right now.&#160; With the previously mentioned back problems, financial problems, I just don’t think I can give thanks in all circumstances.&#160; Tell me one reason why, in those hapless situations, I should be thankful.&#160; I can’t think of one good reason!</p>
<blockquote><p>for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Oh.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Because of HIM,</p>
<p>SC</p>
<p><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20thessalonians%205:16-18&amp;version=NIV" target="_blank">1Thessalonians 5:16-18</a></p>
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		<title>Reappearance and Broiled Fish</title>
		<link>http://tecthought.com/2009/10/07/reappearance-and-broiled-fish/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=reappearance-and-broiled-fish</link>
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		<pubDate>Thu, 08 Oct 2009 03:47:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Scott</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Christianity]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[Sometimes&#8230;ok, most of the time, when I read an account in the Bible, my mind likes to insert it&#8217;s own imagery.  I don&#8217;t think that&#8217;s a bad thing.  In fact, often I remember more when that happens. Well, it happened again tonight.  I was reading Luke 24 about Jesus appearing to the disciples on the [...]]]></description>
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<p>Sometimes&#8230;ok, most of the time, when I read an account in the Bible, my mind likes to insert it&#8217;s own imagery.  I don&#8217;t think that&#8217;s a bad thing.  In fact, often I remember more when that happens.</p>
<p>Well, it happened again tonight.  I was reading <a title="Ch24Entire" href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2024&amp;version=NIV" target="_blank">Luke 24</a> about Jesus appearing to the disciples on the road to Emmaus.  It was already quite humorous in the fact that it took so long for the disciples to realize who it was that was walking with them and joining them for evening.  Jesus was going right along, knowing they had no clue.</p>
<p>I wonder if he was just waiting for that Aha! moment?  I would have liked to have seen the looks in their eyes when they &#8220;were opened and they recognized him.&#8221;  I&#8217;m guessing it was a big relief for Jesus to see that.   Doesn&#8217;t say how it affected Jesus, but being as loving as he is, I almost have to believe that.</p>
<p>Then he again appears to them.  I&#8217;ll include the text for your convenience.</p>
<blockquote><p><sup id="en-NIV-26018">36</sup>While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, &#8220;Peace be with you.&#8221;<sup id="en-NIV-26019">37</sup>They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. <sup id="en-NIV-26020">38</sup>He said to them, &#8220;Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? <sup id="en-NIV-26021">39</sup>Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.&#8221;</p>
<p><sup id="en-NIV-26022">40</sup>When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. <sup id="en-NIV-26023">41</sup>And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, &#8220;Do you have anything here to eat?&#8221; <sup id="en-NIV-26024">42</sup>They gave him a piece of broiled fish, <sup id="en-NIV-26025">43</sup>and he took it and ate it in their presence.</p>
<p><sup id="en-NIV-26026">44</sup>He said to them, &#8220;This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.&#8221;</p></blockquote>
<p>Starting in verse 37 is when my noggin went bonkers.  Jesus just pops in on them again and says &#8220;Peace be with you.&#8221; and this scared the disciples.  The way it&#8217;s worded, I picture them like Shaggy and Scooby, jumping in each others arms, knees knocking, voices quivering.  Just a funny scene to me.</p>
<p>Of course, had I been there, I&#8217;m fairly sure I would have been right there in the middle of them.  Even though Jesus had told them about what all was going to happen, when it happened they were still shocked.  The disciples, I gather, even though they were his followers, had a hard time understanding what all was going on.</p>
<p>There are too many accounts to mention here, but I think of Jesus calming the storm and the disciples reaction&#8230;fear.  They didn&#8217;t get it even after the water to wine, driving out demons, healing many, bringing the dead back to life.  They still didn&#8217;t get it that He was coming back.</p>
<p>Eventually in the account they did get it It took a piece of broiled fish for it to really sink in that he was real, flesh and bone.</p>
<p>Again, I put myself back there and wonder what would it take for me?  Then there are times, here and now, when those brief moments of doubt rumble by.   It makes me wonder if he came back today, riding on the cloud, would I believe it was him?</p>
<p>I really like to think that I would.  I&#8217;m going with that anyway.  There are times though that I think I might want to have a piece of broiled fish around, just in case.</p>
<p>Don&#8217;t harass me too much about the post.  Just some thoughts I had while reading it.  I am interested in yours as well.  Share.</p>
<p>Because of HIM</p>
<p>SC</p>
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		<title>What A Blessed Experience</title>
		<link>http://tecthought.com/2009/10/05/what-a-blessed-experience/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=what-a-blessed-experience</link>
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		<pubDate>Tue, 06 Oct 2009 01:35:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Scott</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Being a Servant]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[As most of you already know, during the P.M. service on Sunday 9/27/09, I was given the opportunity to share The Word of God with my church family here in my home town.   That&#8217;s exactly right&#8230;I preached for the Lord! I had done this in the past.  Back when I was a teen, 20+ years [...]]]></description>
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<p>As most of you already know, during the P.M. service on Sunday 9/27/09, I was given the opportunity to share The Word of God with my church family here in my home town.   That&#8217;s exactly right&#8230;I preached for the Lord!</p>
<p>I had done this in the past.  Back when I was a teen, 20+ years ago, we were given the opportunity every so often to lead the evening services.  We being the youth group.  I had preached several times but my last sermon that I gave was horrific.  Horrific because I didn&#8217;t prepare&#8230;at ALL. I was only given a month to prepare too!  Ugh!</p>
<p>Talk about embarrassment.  My talk may..MAY have lasted 3 minutes and the subject that spoke about was &#8220;Not Being Prepared.&#8221;  I was able to throw that together in about 2 minutes.  The subject was appropriate considering.  I learned from that experience, no doubt.</p>
<p>I felt like such a failure after that and vowed that I wouldn&#8217;t preach or even head down that track, period.  How could I ever show my face in the pulpit there again?</p>
<p>Fast-Forward to a Wednesday at beginning of September, 2009 and I receive a phone call from our minister.  He left me a voice-mail which I promptly returned&#8230;.on Friday.</p>
<p>When I returned his call,  it was then that he asked if I wanted to preach the following Sunday.  We both decided that I wouldn&#8217;t have enough time to prepare.  We did, however, set a date of the 27th for me to preach.</p>
<p>I don&#8217;t remember hesitating when he asked if I would want to.  See, I&#8217;ve been praying for this door to be opened and I didn&#8217;t miss it when it was!</p>
<p>I was nervous, but it was an excited nervous.  Not like nervous as a teen before presenting my lesson.</p>
<p>Needless to say,  I had 2 or 3 weeks to prepare and did I ever!  I had been thinking about fear for quite sometime and had even written a post, <a title="FearPost" href="http://tecthought.com/2009/09/06/faith-andor-fear/" target="_blank">Faith and/or Fear</a>, about my on-going thoughts on fear.  I was also able to talk about fear and experience fear at the same time, while I was speaking.  <img src='http://tecthought.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':)' class='wp-smiley' /> </p>
<p>I fulfilled one vow that I had made as a teen.  I didn&#8217;t show my face in the pulpit.  Nope.  I preached down on the floor, closer to the folks that were there.</p>
<p>While I was speaking, it didn&#8217;t take long for the nerves to settle and this feeling of the Spirit taking over enveloped me.  I had heard it talked about, this Spiritual takeover, but this was the first time I had experienced it to this degree.  It was so amazing, so awesome, so&#8230;there are no words to describe it.  Blessed is all I can say.</p>
<p>I felt as comfortable standing up there delivering my message as I have ever felt doing anything.  That was one of, if not the, most rewarding experience of my life.</p>
<p>Oh well.  If I think of anything else I&#8217;ll do another post on it.  But what a blessed experience that was!</p>
<p>I&#8217;ve included a link to the audio if you are interested.  Just take it easy on me.  Remember, it&#8217;s the first time I&#8217;d done this in 20 years.  It will take approx 20 minutes of your time.</p>
<p>I welcome comments questions on the post and also on the sermon I presented.</p>
<p>Because of HIM</p>
<p>SC</p>
<p><a href="http://lafayettechurchofchrist.org/Fear.mp3">Fear</a></p>
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		<title>Faith and/or Fear</title>
		<link>http://tecthought.com/2009/09/06/faith-andor-fear/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=faith-andor-fear</link>
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		<pubDate>Mon, 07 Sep 2009 03:22:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Scott</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Christianity]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[photo by ro_buk Have you ever thought about a situation you were in, turned to the Bible to make yourself feel better or give you a different, better, more positive outlook on the situation, only to be put pretty much in the same situation you were in before you looked, possibly a tad worse? I [...]]]></description>
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<p><a title="darker with the day by ro_buk  [I&#39;m not there], on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ro_buk/2858875031/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 23px; display: block; float: none" alt="darker with the day" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3097/2858875031_e4c6430e7a.jpg" width="500" height="333" /></a></p>
<p align="center">photo by <a title="ro_buk" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ro_buk/" target="_blank">ro_buk</a></p>
<p>Have you ever thought about a situation you were in, turned to the Bible to make yourself feel better or give you a different, better, more positive outlook on the situation, only to be put pretty much in the same situation you were in before you looked, possibly a tad worse?</p>
<p>I was thinking about me and why I was not quickly pursuing getting my classes scheduled at Liberty University.&#160; I’ve thought about it in the past and during that thought process I questioned my faith in God.&#160; No, not that I had zero faith, but maybe that it wasn’t as strong as I thought it should be.&#160; If I had the faith I thought I should have, then all of the steps through the process should be easy, no-brainer decisions.&#160; Yet, I hesitate.&#160; Why?</p>
<p>So, I turned to God for answers and he led me down a different thought process.&#160; He pretty&#160; much told me to get it together, or else.&#160; Well, maybe not that harsh but it he has put a little pep in my step.</p>
<p>Instead of questioning my faith, I turned to the thought that maybe fear is keeping me in the hold pattern.&#160; Not really wanting to land because I’m not sure the landing will be successful.&#160; Surely fear is a better excuse and less damaging to what I consider to be a wonderful relationship with God.</p>
<p>Well, it didn’t work out that way for me, sort of.&#160; I retrieved my trusty concordance from the bookshelf, searched for fear, and was swallowed up by the number of entries relating to fear.&#160; Now, where to start?</p>
<p>I started out in 1 John.</p>
<blockquote><p><strong>18</strong> There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. -1 John 4:18 </p>
</blockquote>
<p>Well, that didn’t help.&#160; I know I’m not perfect, but that was a little to negative for what I was looking for.&#160; That conversation made me think that not only did I lack the faith I should have, but I also lack the love for God like I should because of my fear.&#160; </p>
<p>I think I’ll look somewhere else.</p>
<blockquote><p><strong>14</strong> In righteousness you will be established:       <br />Tyranny will be far from you;       <br />you will have nothing to fear.       <br />Terror will be far removed;       <br />it will not come near you.-Isaiah 54:14 </p>
</blockquote>
<p>Great!&#160; Now he’s telling me that because of fear, I’m not established in righteousness.&#160; Now I’m starting to think of everything else I’ve been afraid of.&#160; </p>
<p>Is it really not OK to have fear?&#160; Well, maybe OK isn’t the correct term.&#160; I mean, I don’t think fear is one of those Heaven or Hell issues.&#160; But, there I go thinking.</p>
<p>So I turned our talk toward determining what we are “allowed” to fear and what we aren’t supposed to fear. </p>
<h3><u><font color="#000080">Don’t Fear</font></u></h3>
<ul>
<li><strong><em>Man</em></strong> – Proverbs 29:25; Matthew 10:28 <em>(those who kill the body)</em> </li>
<li><em><strong>Our Faith</strong></em> – John 12:42-50 Good example here of some Jews who were afraid to confess their faith because they might be put out of the synagogue, which to my understanding would pretty much be the end of the world for them.&#160; Jesus in the verses following pretty much said that it will be the end of their world if they don’t confess their faith. </li>
<li><strong><em>The Lord</em></strong> – Lamentations 3:57 </li>
</ul>
<h3><u><font color="#000080">Fear</font></u></h3>
<ul>
<li><strong><em>Our Salvation</em></strong> – or how our salvation is working. Philippians 2:12 </li>
<li><strong>Authorities</strong>– <em>Romans 13:1-7&#160; </em>Probably more of a fear the consequences of not doing what they tell us to do, because doing so is the same as rebelling against God. </li>
<li><strong><em>The Lord</em></strong> – Way to many verses to put here.&#160; I did a search for fear of the Lord in Proverbs alone.&#160; You can see the results <a title="Fear of the Lord Search" href="http://www.biblegateway.com/keyword/?search=fear%20of%20the%20lord&amp;version1=31&amp;searchtype=all&amp;spanbegin=24&amp;spanend=24" target="_blank">here</a>. </li>
</ul>
<h3><u><font color="#000080">Side Story</font></u></h3>
<p>It’s 5AM the morning after I had written all of what is above.&#160; <strike>As luck would have it</strike>&#160; As it seems to have been planned, a storm with vivid lightning, crashing thunder that moves the house, and torrential rain, has moved into the area.&#160; I’m sitting in the dark (because I want to, not because the lights are out) and I remember the days of my youth and how fearful I was of storms.&#160; In fact, just the wind itself might have been my biggest fear when I was growing up. </p>
<p>A particular day when I was 13 are in my thoughts. I remember being the only one at home on this day and a fierce storm raced through the area.&#160; Dad and Mom were both at work, each several minutes away.&#160; Mom may have been 20 minutes or more away, I just can’t remember.&#160; They each might as well had been a million miles away. </p>
<p>The wind picked up, the lightning flashed, the trees were bending over to where I sure thought the tops were touching the ground.&#160; Not sure if there was a tornado in the area that day or not.&#160; </p>
<p>I remember standing with the front door open, like you do during a horrible storm.&#160; I was crying, quite possibly screaming.&#160; Not sure about that.&#160; I may have just wanted to scream. </p>
<p>It was a very moving experience.&#160;&#160; I’m surprised that things of the wet nature didn’t move into my shorts from my bladder. </p>
<p>But I got over that fear.&#160; At some point I fell in love with storms and would get so excited at the sound of thunder, the sight of lightning, and wind became a friend of mine. </p>
<h3><font color="#000080"><u>Continue</u></font></h3>
<p>Flash forward to February 2007.&#160; </p>
<p>My faith in God and my fear of God were non-existent.&#160; </p>
<p>A tornado ravaged the community where I live.&#160; It came so close to my home where I was again, alone, drunk.&#160; But, in the hopes that God was still around somewhere, I managed to pray, beg, live.&#160; I was spared.</p>
<p>Not long after the tornado, I tired of dealing with my alcoholism and sought help.&#160; While on the quest of becoming sober, he was there.&#160; Always was.&#160; </p>
<p>It took God putting the fear back into me that allowed me to see the errors of my way.&#160; While at Cumberland Heights, my faith increased a thousand fold, a million fold, and a relationship was born…re-born.</p>
<p>So what does all of this mean, God? Sum it up for me.&#160; What are you telling me? What does this have to do with classes and fear and faith?&#160; </p>
<blockquote><p><strong>13</strong> For I am the Lord, your God,       <br />who takes hold of your right hand       <br />and says to you, Do not fear;       <br />I will help you. –Isaiah 41:13&#160;&#160; </p>
</blockquote>
<p>Oh.&#160; Okay then.&#160; Don&#8217;t fear and my faith will increase?&#160; What do you think?&#160; I’m struggling to put the period on this post.&#160; Maybe you can finish it for me….</p>
<p>Because of HIM</p>
<p>SC</p>
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		<title>Are You A Slave?</title>
		<link>http://tecthought.com/2009/09/02/are-you-a-slave/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=are-you-a-slave</link>
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		<pubDate>Thu, 03 Sep 2009 02:21:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Scott</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Being a Servant]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[photo by artethgray though you used to be slaves to sin The drink had become my master.&#160; I was in total bondage and would do what I could to get that drink.&#160; Rain, sleet, snow, or hail, I would have something to drink no matter how far I had to go to get it.&#160; Getting [...]]]></description>
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<p><a title="chain shadow by artethgray, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36397453@N00/2947001508/"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" alt="chain shadow" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3282/2947001508_47e02b4cf9.jpg" width="375" height="500" /></a>
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<p align="center">photo by <a title="artethgray" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36397453@N00/" target="_blank">artethgray</a></p>
<h3><u><font color="#000080">though you used to be slaves to sin</font></u></h3>
<p>The drink had become my master.&#160; I was in total bondage and would do what I could to get that drink.&#160; Rain, sleet, snow, or hail, I would have something to drink no matter how far I had to go to get it.&#160; Getting close to the point where I would do anything to get it I’m afraid.&#160; Seriously, it scares me how far down the dark road I had traveled. </p>
<p>The chains of addiction constantly dragging behind me.&#160; Slowing me down.&#160; Tripping me up.&#160; Causing deep scaring wounds that never seemed to heal and the only way to ease the pain was doing what the master said.&#160; </p>
<p>I ran the gauntlet of death as a slave to sin.&#160; Sin had become just another word with no meaning, no feelings, no fear.&#160; The master of sin had convinced me that nothing significant would happen to me.&#160; He convinced me that there was no better life than the life I was living.&#160; </p>
<p>He led me to believe that God was not.&#160; Yes, I believed him.&#160; After all, look at what God had not done for me.&#160; This evil master had such a way with words, feelings, thoughts, that it was so easy to just let go and live the lie he promised. </p>
<p>I’m sure we’ve all at some point in our lives felt that bondage.&#160; I guess bondage is used two fold in this post.&#160; One being addiction and one being sin.&#160; Wait, is addiction itself a sin?&#160; Well, the good thing is the chains of each are not so strong that they can not be broken.</p>
<p>I don’t want you think that addiction only applies to drugs and alcohol.&#160; You/We can be addicted to anything.&#160; That anything can control our lives.&#160; Food, money, TV, ourselves.&#160; What?&#160; You don’t think someone can be addicted to themselves?&#160; My heart says we sure can.&#160; All of these, and more, could be addictions.&#160; And I do think that they could all be sinful.&#160; Do you have an addiction?&#160; You should probably think about that for a little while.</p>
<p>So, how am I supposed to overcome these addictions?&#160; How are we supposed to overcome these sins?</p>
<h3><u><font color="#000080">You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.</font></u></h3>
<p>Paul said that if you want to be free from the bondage of sin, just change your mind.</p>
<blockquote><p><sup>5</sup>Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; <strong>but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires</strong>. <sup>6</sup>The mind of sinful man<sup></sup> is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; <sup>7</sup>the sinful mind<sup></sup> is hostile to God. It does not submit to God&#8217;s law, nor can it do so. <sup>8</sup>Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. –Romans 8:5-8</p>
</blockquote>
<p>How is that changing your mind?&#160; Well before, our minds are set on what nature desires.&#160; Then we change our mind and live with our minds set on what the Spirit desires.&#160; </p>
<p>As many times as I read that chapter preparing for my Sunday morning class, that never dawned on me until one of our ministers spoke of this as a “change your thoughts” passage.&#160; God’s Word is amazing.</p>
<p>Anyway, my mind was set on those sinful things for such a long time.&#160; Then, that one day, I changed my mind.&#160; I was tired of living like that.&#160; </p>
<p>See, God had paid a hefty price for me a long time ago.&#160; Which meant that in reality, I belonged to him.&#160; I should be his servant, his slave.&#160; But, I ran away.&#160; I didn’t like what he was wanting me to do.&#160; </p>
<p>I ran to sin, to satan, who had no rights to me.&#160; He sure didn’t purchase me with anything.&#160; Why should I have to listen to what he says?&#160; God owns me.&#160; I can run back to him and he will gladly take me back and give me shelter from the one who is chasing me.</p>
<p>Being a slave to righteousness also meant that there would be no more sin in my life.&#160; Because if I did sin, well, then that meant that I was still a slave to sin and I can’t serve two masters.&#160; Right?&#160; </p>
<p>Right and Nope.&#160; There will always be sin, thoughts of sin, because the devil still wants us to serve him.&#160; BUT, as long as our minds are on what the Spirit desires and we are not obeying what the devil is wanting us to do, we are still not slaves to sin.&#160; Which means we can, without fear, tell satan to get lost and turn to the Master for help in dealing with this fool, satan!&#160; </p>
<p>How cool is that!?!&#160; That’s kinda what I hear Paul saying in this passage:</p>
<blockquote><p>11In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. 14For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. -<a title="Romans 6:11-14" href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans%206:11-14&amp;version=NIV" target="_blank">Romans 6:11-14</a></p>
</blockquote>
<p>So, what are you thinking about?&#160; Where are your thoughts?&#160; Who are you serving?&#160; I mean, you are a slave so, the answer to the title, “Are you a slave?” is yes.</p>
<p>The real question should be who do you want to be serving?</p>
<p>Because of HIM</p>
<p>SC</p>
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		<title>Spread the News!  But, How? Help!</title>
		<link>http://tecthought.com/2009/08/31/spread-the-news-but-how-help/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=spread-the-news-but-how-help</link>
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		<pubDate>Tue, 01 Sep 2009 01:48:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Scott</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Ministry]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[I may have wrote about this in the past.&#160; If I have, I don’t remember it, nor can I find it.&#160; How horrible is that? Anyway, I have all this wonderful growth, love, life, news of what all God has done for me.&#160; The beautiful account of how I couldn’t have any of that had [...]]]></description>
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<p>I may have wrote about this in the past.&#160; If I have, I don’t remember it, nor can I find it.&#160; How horrible is that?</p>
<p>Anyway, I have all this wonderful growth, love, life, news of what all God has done for me.&#160; The beautiful account of how I couldn’t have any of that had Jesus not died for me.&#160; </p>
<p>The story of God pulling me from the grips of death to a life full of joy and peace and love.&#160; I want to tell everyone that I come across this story.&#160; I want everyone to know that they too can have this as well if they don’t already have it.</p>
<p>I want to get out, and just spread the news of Jesus.&#160; I want to find the lost souls and tell them that I would love to have a new brother or sister.&#160; I want them to know that if they think that right now, without Jesus, they have a great life, just how much greater it is with him in it, in control of it.&#160; </p>
<p>I’ve been thinking about this for quite sometime, and ya know what?&#160; I don’t know how.</p>
<p>It boggles my mind that I have no idea where to start.&#160; </p>
<p>Should I not worry about where to start and just let the spirit guide me to the starting place?</p>
<p>I want to know how you do it.&#160; I need some guidance from those with experience.</p>
<p>Is there a method that you use?&#160; Does it just happen?&#160; Is there a certain place that you go when&#160; you seek to save the lost?</p>
<p>Please don’t take this the wrong way.&#160; Promise me you won’t <img src='http://tecthought.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':)' class='wp-smiley' />  .&#160; I’m not looking for answers such as just pray about it or the guidance is in His word.&#160; I get that.&#160; Hmm.. Or do I?&#160; </p>
<p>See, it seems like it should&#160; be so easy, so second nature, so first nature maybe.</p>
<p>If you’ve got questions, let me know.&#160; I’ll see if I can help you help me.</p>
<p>Because of HIM</p>
<p>SC</p>
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