The Ransomed Heart - Reviewing What We Have Encountered

Gmail - The Ransomed Heart - Reviewing What We Have Encountered: "Reviewing What We Have Encountered
12/21/2007

Allow me, then, to review what we have encountered. First, our lives are not a random series of events; they tell a Story that has meaning. We aren’t in a movie we’ve arrived at twenty minutes late; we are in a Sacred Romance. There really is something wonderful that draws our heart; we are being wooed. But there is also something fearful. We face an enemy with vile intentions. Is anyone in charge? Someone strong and kind who notices us? At some point we have all answered that question “no” and gone on to live in a smaller story. But the answer is “yes”—there is someone strong and kind who notices us. Our Story is written by God, who is more than author, he is the romantic lead in our personal dramas. He created us for himself, and now he is moving heaven and earth to restore us to his side. His wooing seems wild because he seeks to free our heart from the attachments and addictions we’ve chosen, thanks to the Arrows we’ve known.

And we—who are we, really? We are not pond scum, nor are we the lead in the story. We are the Beloved; our hearts are the most important thing about us, and our desire is wild because it is made for a wild God. We are the Beloved, and we are addicted. We’ve either given our heart to other lovers and can’t get out of the relationships, or we’ve tried our best to kill desire (often with the help of others) and live lives of safe, orderly control. Either way, we play into the hands of the one who hates us. Satan is the mortal enemy of God and therefore ours as well, who comes with offers of less-wild lovers, hoping to deceive us in order to destroy our heart and thus prevent our salvation or cripple our sanctification. These are the stage, the characters, and the plot in the broadest possible terms. Where do we go from here?

(The Sacred Romance , 147–48)

From The Ransomed Heart, by John Eldredge, reading 355
Ransomed Heart Ministries www.ransomedheart.com"

Merry Christmas

To All My Democrat Friends (few that there are):
Please accept with no obligation, implied or explicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2008, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great. Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor the only America in the Western Hemisphere. Also, this wish is made without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wishes.


To All My Republican Friends:
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Gadgets, Necessary or Evil?

New Life Ministries: 1-800-NEW-LIFE: "Gadgets, Necessary or Evil?

by Steve Arterburn

Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20

Do you sometimes wonder how you ever got along without some new invention or service that comes along?

Until recently, Floraine Alba, a grandmother in New Jersey, used to write 50 checks a month to pay her household bills. It would take hours. Now she has cut three or four hours off that time by paying her bills on-line, electronically. 'Spending all day writing checks and stuffing envelopes was bad enough,' Alba said, 'then I had to go stand in line at the post office.'

Each day more devices fill our lives . . . cellular phones, fax machines, personal computers, lap tops, PDA's, IPods, and answering machines. Sometimes, we wonder how we ever got along without a particular thing or item. Then it breaks, and we remember what it was like to lift our garage door each day or to wait until we found a phone booth to make a call.

The subtle danger of a new device is it can make us desire things over our relationships with people. Don't get caught up in wanting the next device or service but think about what these desires are doing to us and our relationships with others.

I challenge you today, to pause for a moment before"

Gunman Wounds 4 in Missionary Center

News-Talk 1110 WBT | News Story: Gunman Wounds 4 in Missionary Center: "Gunman Wounds 4 in Missionary Center DENVER, 12.09.2007 The Associated Press, A gunman walked into a training center for young Christian missionaries in a Denver suburb early Sunday and opened fire, wounding at least four people. The shooting happened at about 12:30 a.m. on Sunday at the Youth With a Mission center, Arvada Police spokeswoman Susan Medina said. The extent of the injuries was not clear, and the gunman was still at large Sunday morning. According to its Web site, Youth With a Mission has about 1,000 locations worldwide and trains people to become missionaries. About 50 people were inside the Arvada site when the gunman opened fire."

Devotion for all Knuckleheads like me

New Life Ministries: "Stubborn Resistance by Steve Arterburn Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise. Proverbs 19:20 Some of my best childhood memories were generated in the lake house built by my grandfather and his five sons. When we outgrew the cabin, a new addition was built. It, however, had one major flaw. My grandfather hadn't calculated into the ceiling height the fact that the new addition had a foundation that was about twelve inches higher than the original cabin. So the ceiling in the new area was a foot shorter than it was supposed to be. You felt like you needed to hunch over. And if you weren't looking, you'd walk right into the ceiling fan and injure yourself for life. All this because my stubborn grandfather wouldn't listen to his boys who told him from the beginning that something was very wrong with the plans. Is stubbornness affecting your relationships? Do you get angry when someone challenges you, shares a thought contrary to your belief, or when you're required to do something you weren't planning to do? If so, stubborn resistance might be the diagnosis. The prescription? Surrender. Surrender your will and your ways to God, and often that means to that of others. 'If you surrender completely to the moments as they pass, you live more richly those moments."

Sad story...

CHARLOTTE (AP) - A seven-year-old North Carolina boy was at the center of a Charlotte courtroom drama yesterday when he challenged a court ruling over who sh ould have custody of him. The boy has a history of being beaten by his parents and the judge initially awarded custody to his aunt, in keeping with child custody law and regulations requiring that family unity be maintained to the degree possible. The boy surprised the court when he proclaimed that his aunt beat him more than his parents and he adamantly refused to live with her. When the judge then suggested that he live with his grandparents, the boy cried out that they also beat him. After considering the remainder of the immediate family and learning that domestic violence was apparently a way of life among them, the judge took the unprecedented step of allowing the boy to propose who should have custody of him. After two recesses to check legal references and confer with child welfare officials, the judge granted temporary custody to the Carolina Panthers, whom the boy firmly believes are not capable of beating anyone.

Cabin where my brother's family is spending the Holidays

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A Thanksgiving message by KingDan

The Bible says in the last days men will become unthankful and brutal. (2 Timothy 3:1-9) As you look around the world have you seen this? Perhaps, today you may see some of this even in your own heart. If so, please allow me to exhort you with a simple message. Thankfulness is a way of life.

We all suffer in this world. In fact, I guarantee with 100% certainty that some day somehow someone is going throw us all into hole. Perhaps, you are in a hole right now. If so, please listen to this, with an attitude of gratitude we can find joy. Be thankful today as if it is your last day on this brutal world.

Why should we be thankful in this brutal world? Well, in rare times there are brothers like me whom are willing get into the Hole with us. I say it is "rare" because let me be brutal honest with you; sometimes I am unwilling to get into your hole with you. But, are you willing to get dirty for the Lord? So here's how it go. I jump down in the hole with you and yell, "Dude, put down that shovel! Let me show you the way out of here. Stop looking down and look up!"

Have you ever crawled out a hole? Did someone show you the way out? I suggest to you the best to show gratitude is to be willing jump into someone else's hole and get a little dirty. All the Lord requires of us is a willing heart. He will give us the strength to endure in this brutal world.

How thankful are you today? My brutality is I am forced to confess I am not grateful enough.

Genesis 37:22-24 (NKJV)
"22 And Reuben said to them, "Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit which is in the wilderness, and do not lay a hand on him"—that he might deliver him out of their hands, and bring him back to his father.

23 So it came to pass, when Joseph had come to his brothers, that they stripped Joseph of his tunic, the tunic of many colors that was on him. 24 Then they took him and cast him into a pit. And the pit was empty; there was no water in it."

I think Joseph in spite his brutal brothers that he had joy in that hole. I think Reuben had a little thankfulness in his heart. Joseph had the Living water because of one willing brother.

Blessings,

"Two Changed Men by Steve Arterburn

New Life Ministries: 1-800-NEW-LIFE: "Two Changed Men by Steve Arterburn Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. 1 Peter 1:22 What words would your friends or family use to describe you? Jesus referred to two brothers, James and John, as Sons of Thunder. Why? We're given a glimpse of their fiery personalities in the book of Luke. After the Samaritan people rejected them, James and John asked Jesus if they should call down fire from heaven to consume the village. Jesus rebuked them for their impulse to retaliate. Yet that's not the end of their story. Jesus worked in these brothers' lives so that they became known not for anger and revenge, but for love and forgiveness. James was the first of the twelve disciples to give his life for his faith. He was killed in Jerusalem by the order of Herod Agrippa. John is referred to as the 'disciple Jesus loved.' He went on to write powerful words on the importance of love and became an important leader of the church. Though the two brothers had once been ambitious for their own personal gain, they ended up ambitiously sharing God's love with others for their spiritual gain. The brothers discovered that when you understand and experience God's love, you are free to live and grow. And as you grow"

Cultivating a Thankful Heart by Steve Arterburn

New Life Ministries: 1-800-NEW-LIFE: "Cultivating a Thankful Heart by Steve Arterburn Be joyful always. Pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 The great English writer G. K. Chesterton once wrote, 'You say grace before meals. All right. But I say grace before the concert and the opera, and grace before the play and pantomime, and grace before I open a book, and grace before sketching, painting, swimming, fencing, boxing, walking, playing, dancing, and grace before I dip the pen in the ink.' Wow! What a reminder! There's no doubt in my mind that I could give thanks more often. We set aside meal time, Sunday mornings, and my favorite holiday; Thanksgiving. But, don't let an hour go by without giving thanks . . . for your work, school, kids, health, your spouse, your blessings and your challenges. When you have a God-awareness about life and when you see and sense Him in your day (in the big things and the little things), it's hard not to be thankful. 'Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.' - William Arthur Ward (1921-1994)"

Take 59 - 11/08/07: World DOP (public)

"Take 59 - 11/08/07: World DOP (public) 'Give to the Lord the glory He deserves! Bring your offering and come into His presence.Worship the Lord in all His holy splendor' (1 Chronicles 16:29, NLT). Entities worldwide are making final preparations for the 2007 World Day of Prayer. The annual event is traditionally held on November 11, but with that date falling on a Sunday this year, many are observing the day on Friday, November 9. With the goal of bringing honor and glory to our Lord Jesus Christ, it is a time for corporate and united worship, intercession and petition. What a great privilege we have--to seek God, worship Him and bring Him our praise, thanksgiving and petitions in prayer for the Wycliffe family of organizations, SIL and other partners! Praise God for this opportunity!
* Pray for local World Day of Prayer planning committees around the world as they finish up final details.
* Praise God for the good work done in developing materials for the day. Pray that we will be sensitive to the Holy Spirit as we use these resources.
* Pray for our own hearts and minds to be prepared for this time of praise and intercession.
* Pray for technical aspects"

PC World - Microsoft Fires CIO for Violating Corporate Policies

PC World - Microsoft Fires CIO for Violating Corporate Policies: "Scott, who was a corporate vice president at Microsoft, joined the company in late 2005 as co-CIO and was given full control of the IT department late last year. Before being hired by Microsoft, he spent 17 years at General Electric Co., where he most recently was CIO of the GE Industrial Systems division."

New Life Ministries: 1-800-NEW-LIFE

New Life Ministries: 1-800-NEW-LIFE: "“You’re born. You suffer. You die. Fortunately, there’s a loophole.” - Billy Graham (1918-)"

The Differences Between Men and Women by Steve Arterburn

New Life Ministries: 1-800-NEW-LIFE: "The Differences Between Men and Women by Steve Arterburn The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor. 1 Corinthians 15:41 Consider these gender differences I found on a humorous web­site: If Laura, Suzanne, and Debra go out for lunch, they’ll call each other Laura, Suzanne, and Debra. But if Mike, Charlie, and Bob go out they’ll refer to each other as Godzilla, Champ, and Grubby. A man will pay $2 for a $1 item he wants. A woman will pay $1 for a $2 item she doesn’t want. A woman has the last word in any argument. Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument. A man has six items in his bathroom: a toothbrush, toothpaste, shaving cream, razor, soap, and a towel. The average woman has 377 items. A man wouldn’t be able to identify most of them. Recognizing differences is especially important when it comes to how we love. Understanding that everyone doesn’t share my experiences, nor do they think like me, are important steps in not being threatened; and they are important so you don’t feel anger at differences you note in how someone you love behaves or reacts. “Nobody will ever win the battle of the sexes. There’s too"

Everex has released a desktop PC through Wal-Mart that might set a new price floor for the computer industry -- $199.

Everex has released a desktop PC through Wal-Mart that might set a new price floor for the computer industry -- $199. The machine is attracting attention not only because of its price, but also because of its use of the open-source Linux operating system and a truckload of free applications -- many of them from Google.

While the price of the Everex Green gPC TC2502 does not include a monitor, it does include nearly every software application that an ordinary consumer user might need.

These include links to Google Docs & Spreadsheet, Google Product Search, Blogger, YouTube, and Google Maps, plus desktop apps such as Gimp for image editing, Xing for playing movies, Skype for voice chats, OpenOffice.org 2.2 for document editing, and an iTunes-like RhythmBox for playing tunes.

'An Eye-Catcher'

A spokesperson for Everex told news media that the company can provide a savings for users of up to 95 percent through open-source software, and that it expects to have about 20,000 gPCs out this quarter. Although some observers might tag the new machine as a Google PC, Everex said that the product is independent of the search giant.

The "g" in gPC stands for green, not specifically for Google, because it is an energy-efficient device. But it also stands for gOS, an Ubuntu Linux 7.1 desktop that uses the Enlightenment window manger. gOS is a company that describes itself as "an alternative OS with Google Apps and other Web 2.0 apps for the masses."

The machine features a 1.5-GHz Via C7-D processor and chipsets, 512 MB of SDRAM (expandable to 2 GB), an 80-GB hard drive, a DVD/CD-RW drive, and built-in 10/100 Ethernet. It also comes with free phone support.

Cartoons

Joyful 'toons are cartoons that I have drawn for my own church's weekly bulletin. And now I am making them available for others to enjoy, and perhaps use for their own church or ministry publications. These cartoons are based on the Word of God. Each cartoon contains a verse from the Bible along with a cartoon illustration. It is my prayer that they be used to exhort and encourage Christians in their walk with the Lord, and also that they be used to reach out to those who don't know Jesus as Lord. Check out the gallery, displaying 50 cartoons, and go to the info page to learn how you can use Joyful 'toons in your own church or ministry. Just added, the Joyful 'toons Online Store for products featuring my cartoons. And check back here each week to see the latest cartoon, or send me your email address, and I'll send you the latest cartoon each week.

YOUR PERSONAL GUIDE TO FASTING AND PRAYER

Fasting is the most powerful spiritual discipline of all the Christian disciplines. Through fasting and prayer, the Holy Spirit can transform your life.

Fasting and prayer can also work on a much grander scale. According to Scripture, personal experience and observation, I am convinced that when God's people fast with a proper Biblical motive-seeking God's face not His hand-with a broken, repentant, and contrite spirit, God will hear from heaven and heal our lives, our churches, our communities, our nation and world. Fasting and prayer can bring about revival - a change in the direction of our nation, the nations of earth and the fulfillment of the Great Commission.

� 1997 Campus Crusade for Christ. All Rights Reserved

Moving Sale at Eric Scott's for Dave Love on Saturday 10/13 starting 7AM until 11AM

Yard Sale!

Moving Sale at Eric Scott's for Dave Love
Saturday 10/13 starting 7AM until 11AM

2414 Birnen Dr
Charlotte, NC 28210

Map link:
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=100847203329185844207.00043c384c59bfc4d7f28&ll=35.105367,-80.863587&spn=0.034477,0.067892&z=14&om=1

Items:
Sofa
Dining table and chairs
DVD player
VCR
Microwave
Mountain Bike
Small stuff
Shelf
Bookcases
Cleaning products
Crates
Pictures
DVDs, records and CDs
Queen bed and frame
Dog house
TV 19"
Books

Come out to just say good bye and wish your blessings to him.

EMB: Men's group chat for those seeking sexual integrity

Every Man's Battle
Men's group chat for those seeking sexual integrity.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007 at 5:00:00 PM (PST) with Jonathan Daugherty
Announcing New Bible and Book Study Group in NLM Chat Rooms

John will be facilitating a book study group on Every Man's Battle. The men in the group will dialog about the sexual integrity issues they're facing and how they can apply the principles in the book to help them battle through to success. John had a 30 year porn addiction, but through applying the principles of the EMB book, the EMB workshop, his accountability group and his commitment to his wife - he now has 2 years of sobriety from porn.

Bryan will be facilitating a morning devotional group. Two mornings a week for approx 30-60 minutes. At the meeting a scripture will be shared which will then be followed up by a discussion and application of the scripture among the group. This will be a great way to start the day for those who can come!

Darren will be facilitating a bible study on how "God Cares for You". It will be held 1 day a week for approx 1 - 1 1/2 hours. The members will be sharing scriptures relating to how God cares for us. In addition, we will be sharing testimonies and/or life events that demonstrate how God has cared for us in our own lives. This study will be held for 4 weeks and could be held during the day or evening.

Laurie will be facilitating a group committed to Reading the Bible in One Year. We will read between 2-4 chapters a day and have discussion of what was read along with some meditation of chosen passages to hide His Word in our hearts. It will be a way of keeping each other accountable to reading the Word on a daily basis.

JMAN will be facilitating a discussion on "Christian music for teens / kids". He is a former DJ and is in tune with what kids are listening to today. JMAN has a passion for Christian music and for helping parents and youth find good alternatives for secular music. In this discussion - JMAN and parents will discuss concerns with secular music such as rock, hip hop and rap - JMAN will explore various alternatives for replacing it with Christian music the kids will enjoy.

With the book studies, the group size will have to be limited in order to have more personal and in-depth discussion. The bible studies will allow for a few additional people. It will be held one day or evening a week, in a password protected chat room, for approx. 1 - 1 1/2 hours. Day and time to be decided when the group is formed.

It should be noted that there will not be a counselor in the group nor will anyone be speaking on behalf of NLM as this group is not led by NLM but rather they have opened up a special chat room for the listeners, posters and chatters to use as a "peer-to-peer" study/discussion group.

We are grateful for the use of this special chat room and are excited about the possibilities it holds for helping people connect with others in similar situations, to heal and move forward. If you are interested in being part of this group or would like more information... please send me an email of stop in the chat room. My user-name is Laurie. We look forward to the possibilities this group holds and hope you will be part of it.
Additional book studies that are being planned are:

* Every Woman's Battle (sexual integrity issues for women)
* Lose it For Life book study/ support
* How to Get a Date Worth Keeping
* Healing is a Choice
* Wounded Heart (Recovery from sexual abuse)

For more information contact Laurie in the chat room or email her at nll_chat@yahoo.com

The Blessing of Brokenness by Steve Arterburn

The Blessing of Brokenness

by Steve Arterburn

I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite...Isaiah 57:15b

Brokenness is actually a blessing, but too often we’re so caught up with wanting to feel better we miss God’s best for us. If you’re struggling . . . if you feel as if your faith is gone . . . don’t miss the blessing that comes with brokenness . . . Here’s a story that illus­trates what I mean:

There was a young priest who was about to lift the communion cup and bless the cup. It was made of choice crystal. Just when he lifted up the cup, it slipped out of his hand and smashed in pieces onto the floor. He looked up at the senior priest thinking that he would be ridiculed. Instead the senior priest said, “I never knew there were so many beautiful pieces to reflect the light until the cup was broken. How marvelous and beautiful are all the pieces when the light shines on them!”

Like the cup, our broken lives can accentuate the beauty of the light shining through them. For that light is the Lord. What we fear is to be broken or be seen as broken; but as this story illustrates, it is in our brokenness that the light of Christ dazzles–drawing atten­tion to His beauty, and making our lives beautiful as a result.”

And, in the book, Wild at Heart, John Eldredge commented, “But you can’t do this at a distance; you can’t ask Christ to come into your wound while you remain far from it. You have to go there with him.” It’s o.k. to be broken; it is in our brokenness that we can bring it to the Lord and experience His touch and healing, and bring hope to our broken heart.

“God can take all the broken pieces and put it back together in a way that is good.” - Max Johnson