A Life Today

, originally uploaded by leaders.

Great shot by leaders on Flickr! This pic reveals the details and colors of creation.

Going underground - Porthcurno style

Originally uploaded by s0ulsurfing

This bodyboard photo by s0ulsurfing makes me think of the word dedication. People will give all to things they love.

Then the LORD appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was  sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. So he lifted his eyes  and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground, and said, “My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant. Please let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. And I will bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh your hearts. After that you may pass by,  inasmuch as you have come to your servant.” 

I wanted to share a few thoughts from what I read this morning in Genesis.  This passage reveals the heart of Abraham.  Abraham had a  servants heart.  Here are a few things that stood out to me in this passage.    

•   He brought the men water to wash their feet.  
•   He desired to give them rest in the shade.  
•   He gave them bread to refresh their hearts.      

  When I read that passage I thought about Jesus washing the disciples  feet and considered what Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.”  Isn’t that what we are to be about? 

We had a great day on Pensacola Beach! It’s days like this that I realize we are so blessed to live in such a wonderful place.  As you can see the kids had fun learning to surf… well at least riding the surf on their belly.

This is what is on my mind tonight.  It’s time for us as believers… or at least for myself to recognize the time is short.  The purpose Paul lived was for the gospel.  He desired to be with the Lord but recognized to live on would be “fruitful labor.”  “To live is Christ”, This is a hard question for me to ask myself.  Is my sole purpose of living for Christ alone.     

Paul was serious when he said, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”  This was no fancy verse he was quoting… he originally wrote it.  It was not just some verse on a t-shirt he wore.  This was Paul’s life and He really believed what he said.     

What about you… what about me?    

Lord I pray this would become my (our) heart.

Technology has certainly changed the way we do things.  For me, it’s the   way I make a living.  I thought I’d make a list of some online tools I   find useful.    

Google Docs & Spreadsheets 
For someone on a budget one doesn’t have to look far to find useful applications.  That is why I like Google Docs & Spreadsheets.  This online tool is a web based word processor and spreadsheet tool.  You  can create, edit, and save your files online.  Google Docs & Spreadsheets will also let you save the files to your local PC. 

Flickr 
Looking for a place to share your photos with the world?  Flickr has both a free and pay account.  Of course with the free account you are limited by the number of photos you can upload each month.  For a small fee you can pay to get unlimited storage of your photos.   www.flickr.com

Audacity 
If you need to record and edit sounds on a budget then check out Audacity.  Audacity is a free cross-platform sound editor.   Visit the Audacity website.

OpenOffice.org
My second choice for office software is OpenOffice.  OpenOffice is complete open source office suite.  The tool is free to download for both personal and business use.  The tool comes with Writer, Impress, Math, Draw, Calc, and Base.   Visit OpenOffice.org.

Scribus 
Looking for a free open-source publishing program.  Scribus is a professional page layout program that works on many different operating systems.  To find out more or download visit Scribus.     

Facebook 
Facebook is a great way to connect with others.  Facebook is a great Social Networking website.  For  more information on Facebook check out this blog entry.

What tools do you find useful?

Creation Speaks

Originally uploaded by sbgulfcoast

Enjoy the beauty of His creation.

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him…

Colossians 2:6 New King James Version

Perhaps I should have called this article “keep it simple.”  Our relationship with the Lord is not earned by complicated religious systems or works.  Nor is it something we are born with.  It begins when we confess Jesus as our Lord and believe that He as risen again.  There really is nothing more that we can do.  Jesus has paid the full price for our sins on the cross.  When He was on the cross he proclaimed, “It is finished!”  We have now entered into a living relationship with our Lord.  Now Paul tells us how to walk.

We walk in the simplicity of knowing Him.  As children we depend on Him every moment of every day.  We discover a loving Father who truly meets our needs.  We don’t have to deal with tomorrow, only today.  To today walk with him in the simplicity of your faith.

The following is an email I received from John Bonner of Calvary Chapel Bible College in Peru.

We heard creation groaning last week in the 8.0 earthquake that hit the coast of central Peru.  Tragically, hundreds lost their lives, thousands are wounded, and thousands more are homeless.  The Lord has presented us with a wonderful opportunity to serve Him at such a time as this.

Nearly each day since the August 15th quake, we have sent busloads of volunteers to help in the work of evangelism and the relief effort.  We have been concentrating in two hard hit areas: Cañete, where pastor Jaime Inga oversees a Calvary Chapel outreach, and Pisco, further south.  Both regions are spiritually dark areas. 

God has been faithfully providing for us to minister to the physical needs of many victims.  We have delivered much needed tents, food, water, blankets, clothing and medicines.  We have also been able to meet spiritual needs through works of compassion, music, mimes, puppets, and the free distribution of Bibles.  Dozens from the church and Bible College have worked extremely long days, and have shared many touching reports.

Our hearts have been warmed by the phone calls and letters of concern many have expressed, and also from those wanting to help.  Several church teams have already come to work with us, and several more have expressed interest in helping in the weeks and months ahead to help the people rebuild their lives.  Leo Maestre, my assistant pastor, is helping to organize the relief effort, and he can be reached at the following special email: ccbc_peru_earthquakerelief@yahoo.com.

Thank you for your prayers at this time.  We are extremely busy with our new semester beginning tomorrow, and a packed house of students, interns, staff and missionaries.  We need God’s wisdom, and super-human strength that the Spirit promises!  It is reassuring to know you are interceding for us before the Throne of Grace. 

Meet You There!

John Bonner

Correspondence:

Jr Trujillo #456
Magdalena del Mar
Lima, Peru
South America

Financial Support:
“Friends of Calvary Chapel Bible College Peru”
1771 E. Palomar St.
Chula Vista, CA  91913

Leafs 018 Originally uploaded by sbgulfcoast

This morning I took this photo. I was thinking about what Jesus told us.

If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

Look at leaf and notice the detail and design of it. Notice the water that was provided for life. This leaf can do nothing to exist. It is completely dependant on the Lord providing the necessary elements for life.

Our heavenly Father knows our needs. He certainly will take care of us…. O you of little faith.