Reporting for Duty - Part 2

Last time, we talked about identity - and how important it is to search out some of the unique gifts, talents and circumstances you have been placed with and in so you can be closer to knowing what the Playwright is doing with your character.

This time, we'll talk about our Commander.

Have you ever known you were right, and then later realized you were wrong? How could you be so wrong when you were SO RIGHT? When you are wrong, but think you are right, it totally dictates HOW you act and behave and believe.

For example, after I had lived in my house for 3+ years, I got a statement from the energy company saying (in my own words) "By the way, we never sent you a bill, statement or anything to indicate you owed us money, but this whole time you have been racking up a debt and now owe us $3000+ for energy used. And it is past due. Here's a bill."

My world view was I was paying those charges to someone else - the city. If you asked, I would have bet the bill on it. Ah, but our world views are often tainted by misinformation, misunderstanding, misguidance, misnomers and other mis's.

Now that I had a correct view, I knew I would be shelling out more dough every month for utilities. But at least I had a correct view and wasn't going to go for another few years (or worse, for the rest of my life) only to realize I was living with the wrong information, and then be plowed over by a semi of life revealing how WRONG I was and how I wasted or misused my life.

Here it is, the one thing to remember from this post:

It is vital, paramount, essential, it is one of the most important things in life, to have a correct view of God, who He is and who He isn't.

Books you must read. If you haven't read them, do whatever it takes to get them!

• Chip Ingram - God as He longs for you to see him
  
• AW Tozer - The Attributes of God, (also see Vol 1, Vol 2 & others with same title for extra reading) and The Pursuit of God
  

When you have a right view of God, you start developing a right view of everything else! Yourself, your mission, how God works, the world, the things happening in the world, faith, surrender, love, service, family, friends and everything else that is important.

How do you let him use you to accomplish His purposes? Watch for where God is working, then join him there.

How do you get to know him more? Spend unhurried time with Him

(By the way, the energy company was gracious and we worked it out so I didn't have to pay the full balance)

Some hymns... old school, new style...

Between Two Worlds blog posted about some great hymns being made available for no charge.

Here's a cool project:

Page CXVI is a project started with the idea of making hymns accessible and known again.They are some of the richest, most meaningful, and moving pieces of music ever written.

For a limited time, you can download them for no charge!

Jackson Hole - Snowy, sunny, and super

I learned a lot on a trip to Jackson Hole, WY. Like, like the servant has a great reward for serving. I learned how to make sushi (thanks ED!), cook fondoo (thanks Leslie!), connected a little bit more with Pico de (thanks Maria!), met a cool dude from LA (Q for short), met a ton of cool people from Masters (maybe not a ton, you are all pretty skinny).

Q taught me to look for opportunities to give, to be generous, to show Christ's love to others without reservation. This IS the reward - the very act of doing it. The bonus comes later.

Eric showed me ways to connect with others.

Matthew 18:4, Matthew 23:11-12, Philippians 2:7, 1 John 3:16

See some photos here:

• Photos of snowshoeing and raw beauty
• Phil, Maria, Q, TMC team: Have any others we can link to here?
  
  

Chase Lions

Great post on Chasing Lions, my new favorite past time. Read the full post here, below is an excerpt:

“Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Set God-sized goals. Pursue God-ordained passions. Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention. Keep asking questions. Keep making mistakes. Keep seeking God. Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution. Stop repeating the past and start creating the future. Stop playing it safe and start taking risks. Expand your horizons. Accumulate experiences. Consider the lilies. Enjoy the journey. Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can. Live like today is the first day and last day of your life. Don’t let what’s wrong with you keep you from worshipping what’s right with God. Burn sinful bridges. Blaze a new trail. Criticize by creating. Worry less about what people think and more about what God thinks. Don’t try to be who you’re not. Be yourself. Laugh at yourself. Quit holding out. Quit holding back. Quit running away. Chase the lion!”

From II Samuel 23:20