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Getting somewhere requires effort, it takes
faith to push on, it's easy to screw up,
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Friday, March 7, 2014
Come on Youth, you speak it,.... now DO it!Come on Youth,
you speak it,.... now DO it!
 Christians Should Not Be Seen As 'Tourist' Regardless of Their Surroundings~Daniel Chou
We are young! We have energy! We can change the world and in
a few years will have the responsibility of doing just that, YET we sit on our butts playing computer games, eating Pizza and talking,
talking, talking!
Why?
Why are we not making a difference?
Maybe we don’t
have wealth and influence, but we do have energy and time!
God didn’t say to young people “sit
around until you age and then change the world.”
No!
Let’s remember there were young people involved with world changing events from the beginning
of time.
In Ecclesiastes 11:9-10 we hear the words, “You who are young, be happy while you
are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your
eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.10 So then, banish anxiety
from your heart and cast off the troubles of your body, for youth and vigor are meaningless.”
God wants us to follow dreams when we are young but do it responsibly (the dream of getting
drunk would not be approved by God[who wants that anyhow?]).
There is a fear of doing something effective that often stops the youth from doing
things. Older people who appear wiser warn youth against activities and plans. I think what God is
saying is there is a need to be respectful, but don’t let their warnings of old folk who are not doing anything themselves,
stop you.
Don’t become anxious about doing new things! There is not much to lose since you don’t have
very much right now, and there is a LOT to gain.
Last night, I watched one of the technology billionaires of Israel talking. He pointed out that he
became wealthy and respected internationally because he loaned three young men somewhere between 30 and 70 thousand dollars
to start an internet business. They had energy and vsion, he had resources, and together they built and sold a company for
over $400million! That was the start of many such ventures.
The company was not the focus, it was about bringing a new technology into life.
This particular one facilitated the messaging we now all do on our mobile phones.
God advises us “Remember
your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, ‘I
find no pleasure in them’”
Know God, and know success!
Hey , David started at sixteen to
change the world and he was a farmer’s son with the simple job of looking after the sheep.
Who is he remembered as? A farmer’s
son?
No!
David is remembered as the King
from who’s line Jesus, God’s son, came.
He is remembered as someone who built a kingdom national heritage for a nation.
He is someone who gave us many great songs and poems that inspire us every day and are quoted around the world.
That started at 16years of age!
What are we doing? Who do we trust to build
our lives?
Lifestyles are changing and us as youth have changes to make.
Let’s get on with it!
We have moved from straight line changes into exponential
changes in our lifestyle. The rate of change is increasing and it needs young people
leading those changes.
Okay so the pace of life is increasing. What does that mean?
It means we need to take
more decisions to God more quickly.
As a young person how reactive am I at taking decisions to God and
doing what he guides me to do?
Life is busier than ever! Cool! We
are young and so we have the energy to accommodate the business. Bring it on!
Life is more complicated, yet the basic truth and values are unchanging.
God is with us and as life becomes more complex, God makes sure we get tools to deal with complexity. Tools young people can
use easier than older folk. That internet is not an old man’s playground, is it?
Family structures are changing, but God is the same.
Yes, we may come from
families of two homes, but let’s remember that the real joy is having an intimate loving relationship with one spouse
and having kids living in one home.
Don’t give up on God’s dream of excellence for your family when the time comes and pray and love your multiple families
if you are in that situation now. Always respect mom and dad, even if they have difficulty with each other. Don’t take
sides, ever! No matter how much the one or other want’s you to side with them. God's way is to honor parents!
Traditional
beliefs are being challenged but know
that the core relationship with Jesus has not changed.
We should change as life changes.
Let’s be first to invent the new ways of doing it!
Be brave, innovative and respectful to God, but willing to take on the status quo.
The old values are
NOT always the best. Sometimes they are superseded to meet developing circumstances. Come on now, how many of us
believe lighting rooms with candles as opposed to electrical lighting is the way of the future?
Why should we believe King James version bibles are more Holy
than other more up to date translations?
Old folk sometimes have outdated ideas but
remember that sometimes they are also right. Be wise!
There is a disappearing sense of community in our new world.
This is BAD! Yet as youth we have wonderful new opportunities.
We can build virtual
communities and stay in contact 24hours a day. We can come alongside people on other
continents and build global communities that love each other.
There are huge opportunities here
as well.
Do
something about this type of dream (and let me know I want to be part of big dreams like that!). Our world is shrinking so
get to know other people and cultures and become involved in others’ lives! You could make big differences!
Our stability
is God. Jesus said “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 1Therefore go and make disciples
of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching
them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” in
Matthew 28. This is the greatest instruction to us.
What as the youth of today are we doing about it? Let’s get off our butts, put down the gaming console
and take on the world in the biggest, best game there is. It’s called LIFE!
Fri, March 7, 2014 | link
Thursday, March 6, 2014
There is no “InPrivate Browsing” for anyone, sorry!There is no
“InPrivate Browsing” for anyone, sorry!
 "After all, in private we're all misfits." ~Lily Tomlin
“InPrivate Browsing” refers to surfing
the internet without leaving a trail in Internet explorer.
The webpage history is not kept, any temporary internet files are deleted when the browser
is closed. Passwords and data are not saved. Autocomplete and address URLs are discarded and the Domain Object model (a type
of super cookie used by web developers) is deleted.
People us this to keep bank data safe and do sensitive transactions, which are good uses.
Some people use it to surf the net for pornography, romantic
encounters and stuff they would rather hide from others, which is not so wise.
I guess people using this function think they are
safe. Unfortunately the websites visited still store information, service providers do. This means that it is
a false sense of security that is provided.
The one aspect few of us consider is that God tracks everything in every
detail.
There is no way anyone can surf anywhere without it becoming part of the information in
this universe, and God knows everything.
Then the bible does say, “11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and
there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books
were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded
in the books.” Revelations 20
We cannot hide from God!
Yet Jesus had people's safety planned when he died and rose. In Revelations it
also says “All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have
not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world”
Christians have
our names written in the Lambs book of life. That does not mean our life activities are not tracked since everyone’s are, but that Jesus
provides a way of forgiveness for those activities that are impure and inadequate. He clears the nasty, ignorant and selfish
things we have done away.
Christians may not have “InPrivate Browsing” since nobody does but we do have forgiveness and complete
defence to take the judgments of our actions away.
Let’s be wise and live well…”Who is wise and understanding
among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom” James 3
Have a wonderful wise
day!
Thu, March 6, 2014 | link
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Does a person’s job or title influence God? “It is not titles that
honor men, but men that honor titles.” ~ Niccolo Machiavelli
Have you ever noticed how some people love to hear
their titles used by others, while others seem to want to ignore them?
Then there are those who seem to want to pay homage to people of important titles and treat those without
with less respect.
I guess respect is given and received and depends on an individual's background but is normally something that is earned over time.
Titles short-circuit this process
by showing us what the society as a whole considers the hierarchical value of the person in society.
Now I guess that when God gave men one of
his first jobs “He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living
creature, that was its name,” we as mankind took this to heart and have been doing it with great focus since then.
Men give
each other titles and we have even given God names. Now there are the names God gave himself, but men have also being naming Him for a long time.
This is
good because it is our way of respecting God.
Similarly we use titles to give respect to others (sometimes).
But does God look at titles and give us respect
based on our titles?
Here the answer is “No”!
God sees us as we are and fully. There is no need to have a
title to know us. Our true value comes from God, not from our title and so God has no use for our title other than as part
of our lives and the ability of using that to touch the lives of others for him.
It is clear that faith is more important than title.
James comments “In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave
lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without
deeds is dead.”
A whore was considered righteous!
God is no respecter of titles!
Faith is critical, our belief in Jesus as the son of God is critical, but even
that is not sufficient.
Faith needs to work itself out in actions!
We need to do for God!
So this is a question to us all…”what have we done for
Jesus today, this last week, month, year?
One of the ways we reflect God’s love is respecting all people independent
of their titles.
In this way we are becoming
like God. People are important to us independent of what we label them. i.e. we need to respect people for who they can be
in God, not for the titles we give them.
That’s a thought for today.
Wed, March 5, 2014 | link
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Lost in the wordsLost in the
words
 Words should be used as tools of communication and not as a substitute for action ~ Mae West
On the 10th of July
2010 an Internet user wrote “Sticks And Stones.... Baloney!
I was brutally bullied most of the time I was in school,
so I know very well how deeply a word can cut. Even a casual comment can draw blood if it hits a sensitive spot.
I'd rather be physically beaten; wounds to my body will heal faster than those made by words.”
Our words can hurt can’t they?
Sometimes we can even being
intending love and yet through the path the words take from our mind, through the medium we use to convey them, as taken in by the other
person and then as given meaning by them from their context, the message is so distorted as to come out differently that we had planned.
Let’s remember that messages are easily distorted as we speak and describe situations. Some of us are less able than others to be clear
in communications and it takes more effort. Sometimes it’s the actions that best describe how we feel. That hug or touch
that conveys so much in such a little time.
Yet often we are left with inadequate words. It is then that we need to try and be as careful as
we can be. (Something I also need to learn to do better!)
We all fail in our lives, there isn’t anyone who doesn’t. Sometimes it is in
a small way and sometimes it’s in a bigger way. Often it is in what we say. Our words are difficult to control and our
attitudes need to be kept aligned to God’s will or they will change and become less than correct, spilling over into
our words and injuring others. There are even occasions when the attitude is right, but it still impacts another incorrectly,
right?
Our words can build God’s kingdom or tear it down.
I suggest therefore that actions are perhaps better than words at conveying meaning. What we do
does count, it can build up the truth in our words.
Today as we make decisions and caress situations with our words let’s chose them carefully
and use them as effectively as we can. Let’s pray for wisdom and not speak hastily or angrily.
Shape the world into a better
place by carefully spoken words that form and mould a beautiful place of truth.
Let’s think on that today as we speak!
Tue, March 4, 2014 | link
Monday, March 3, 2014
Mercy triumphs over judgment.Mercy triumphs
over judgment.
 The quality of mercy is not strain'd,
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath: it is twice
blest;
It
blesseth him that gives and him that takes:
'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes
The throned monarch
better than his crown;
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,
Wherein
doth sit the dread and fear of kings;
But mercy is above this sceptred sway;
It is enthroned in
the hearts of kings,
It is an attribute to God himself;
And earthly power doth then show likest
God's
When
mercy seasons justice.
PORTIA: Shakespeare’s
merchant of Venice.
Mercy! When is mercy needed?
When someone is guilty and judged as guilty and they have no way out.
Mercy is God’s gift to us all, and is perhaps only exceeded
by grace.
Mercy overcomes justice. It is something that James asks all Christians to have in their hearts in the second chapter
of his writing.
May God have mercy on Russia and the USA and West, but most of all the
Ukrainians!
I was thinking of the conflict brewing in Ukraine where two bullies one Russia, the other USA
and the west, are both using a smaller less fortunate country that for their own ends. In this conflict, I see the USA pushing democracy into
a state which may need it, but where the population is split in their beliefs, and where Russia determined to protect their
self-interests. Both are trying to split the country!
Neither want what is best for the Ukraine or they would be sitting down together and working out a package that could assist
the Ukrainians instead of polarizing them.
Both powers are judging, albeit differently, and from different perspectives. Both are bent on self-interests
and touting this as justice.
Where is the mercy for the Ukrainian citizens in all this?
Where is reconciliation, truth and forgiveness?
Where is the understanding that this has been a divided country in history, and the true resolution of this conflict is in forgiveness and reconciliation?
44.6million people
78% Ukrainian, 17% Russian are being faced with horrible circumstances.
Let’s have mercy on them! Please!
James says “If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor
as yourself,” you do well; but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law
as transgressors. For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.
For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit
adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so do as those who
will be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy.
Mercy triumphs over judgment.”
Let’s be honest! We have stumbled as nations! Our leader’s sin, our countries sin, because we sin! None
of us is pure, not one!
The thing that bothers me most about this conflict is that most of Ukraine is atheistic.
Who
gains from conflict and people dying? ... Satan! Hell fire!
I want the mercy of God for these people!
How?
Let’s ask every Christian
who reads or hears of this to plead with God to spare the lives of 44.7million people. To give them the opportunity to know Jesus and to find truth,
grace and reconciliation instead of hate, fear and war.
Let’s pray that death for many will be delayed and that it would come in old age after the opportunity to accept
Jesus, and not conflict.
We may be warm, comfortable, safe, but many there are cold, scared, and at risk.
Our prayers can change history.
This is the way we Christian’s fight!
Let’s fight for the people of Ukraine so
that they would have a change to have another day and understand the mercy of God.
Let’s pray, as we enjoy comfort today, let’s
remind ourselves to pray for peace in the tormented zone of our world.
Mon, March 3, 2014 | link
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If you want to see a short blog describing a perspective on what I believe click here
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Rift in Evil
By Ken
X Briggs - Published: September, 2010
- Format: Perfect Bound Softcover(B/W)
- Pages: 208
Size:
6x9 - ISBN: 9781450250894
Available from Barnes and Noble, Amazon, iUniverse. |
Credit cards are acceptable on sites having Ken's books: 
:)
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on XML Click here =>  to be told of new blogs
| Ken's book covers are displayed below. . . | |  This
suspense thriller centers on Kiara, a beautiful young woman pursued by a murderous group of people, who relentlessly and ruthlessly
hunt her and her sisters. Kiara has no idea why she is being targeted! When Kiara and her family turn to the law for help,
this fails. Her pursuers’ powers reach deeply into the political and law enforcement world. Family support for her dwindles
when they too have to flee her pursuers. Can Kiara escape the clutches of both the law and dishonest big business? With the
media broadcasting that Kiara and friends are dangerous and subversive, can Kiara clear her name and bring her pursuers to
justice?
| | | | | To purchase Kiara's Pursuer ebook
@ $1.99 kindle version click here, To contact the author contact Author@KenXBriggs.com | | | | | | | | The town of Zinaville is dropped into a spiral of evil causing a young man and a beautiful but abused woman
to launch into an investigation that unveils an evil conspiracy. A horrific mining accident results in Joshua
Robyn's father being killed. Joshua struggles both with himself and his townsfolk as he tries to make sense of an incomprehensible
situation. Is it an accident or a murder? Why is there a seeming link to evil? Why is his work environment suddenly threatening?
What is the conspiracy about and what are they trying to do? As action moves dramatically from exotic African grasslands to
the heart of North America's cities, the plot unfolds and the pace quickens. Will there be time? Why is a beautiful abused
young woman in the center of this plot? Evil tendrils tighten on their lives and the interplay between the visible
and invisible world shows opposing forces at work. Will there be a rift in evil? Will they be able to stop the
evil in time? | | - Published: September, 2010
- Format: Perfect
Bound Softcover(B/W)
- Pages: 208
Size: 6x9 - ISBN: 9781450250894
Available
from Barnes and Noble, Amazon, iUniverse. Chapters | | | | |
| Frugal Eating Advice |
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| Good advice for students living on limited $'s. Click on the image! |
May you be blessed today!
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