Tom is one of my heroes. He became one of my heroes when I heard about all he has been through in his ministry and personal life. He is open, accessible, approachable, sincere, real, he’s been there, done it, and back again. I’d like to think that I can call him a friend as well as a hero.
continue reading "Tom Stipe – Beginning in the Spirit"

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(That alphabet soup stands for Calvary Chapel Senior Pastors Conference) Here we go again! An introvert’s nightmare. Social anxiety for all! Once again I am looking forward to and dreading hanging out with some 800 (plus or minus) pastor types. Pastors who enjoy talking to people, especially other pastors is seems.
continue reading "CCSPC 2010 Here I Come!"

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Scripture
They tied him up, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate the governor.

Observation
Jesus had voluntarily surrendered Himself through this whole process. He wasn’t being forced around against His will. Yet they handled Him very rough. Tied up, led around like a dog, told what to do. While He was/is God He did not exert His authority.

Application
While we don’t physically handle Jesus we do have some control over where He goes and what He does in our lives. How do you and I handle Jesus in our lives? Do we drag Him around? Do we hide Him in some cases and put Him out front in other cases? Actually, doing any of this demonstrates that we aren’t treating Him as we should, as He really is; the Lord of our lives. He should be taking us around, not the other way around.

Prayer
Lord, I’m sorry if I don’t treat you any better than those guards. You are supposed to be the Lord of my life and I acknowledge that. I am yours to hide and display. Thank you for your love and grace. Amen.

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My wife and I have these t-shirts. They are both a kind of chocolate brown color. Hers, in pink letters, says, “I love my husband” and mine, in a tan color, says, “I love my wife.” For whatever reason, I tend to wear mine more often than she wears hers. I’m a t-shirt guy, I know it has nothing to do with her actual love for me.

Because I wear it fairly often, and because I’m out and about so much, lots of people see it. I frequently see people doing double takes and then making some kind of facial expression. Some people express happiness. Others confusion. Yet others express something akin to, “Whatever.”

But more often than not, this is what happens. I’m in line at a store, coffee shop, something, and either a woman in line, or the female cashier will ask me either, “Did your wife buy that for you?” or “Does your wife make you wear that?” Married, single, it doesn’t seem to matter. It’s always women who ask. When they ask, you can just tell that they are thinking, “I wish my husband [perhaps future] would publicly express his love for me somehow.”

Men, I’m not saying you need to get this magic shirt. But I am saying that our wives need to feel the love, they need to see the love, sometimes they even need others to see that you love them. When was the last time you did this, not because you have to meet some need of hers out of obligation, but because it was in you and you wanted to, you had to get it out of you?

Paul says in Ephesians 5, “Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her.” How did Jesus show His love for His bride, the church? Very publicly, for all the world to see. He demonstrated His love. He showed us how it works. So, men, think about it. That’s all I’m saying. When was the last time you, on your own, without being prompted, did something for your wife that publicly demonstrated your love for her? Yeah, this could be considered a prompting to do something. Fine. But the point remains.

I can hook you up with a shirt if you need a place to start. http://www.davidnasser.com/store/index.php?dept=apparel

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