Imagine a scene in which all the people who have ever lived are standing one in front of the other, side by side and in rows throughout history. Then death enters the picture, snapping its steely cold fingers against the first person in line. One by one everybody collapes, like a long line of dominoes. The process goes on for centuries until one of the dominoes doe the impossible-it stands back up again. Suddenly death's power has been challenged, disrupted, called into question.
That's what happened when Jesus was killed. Though death pressed down on Him it could not obliterate His life. As Peter assured his fellow Jews: "God rasised Him from the dead, freeeing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him" (Act 2:24).
Jesus, the greatest of all deaths's trophies, did what no human being had ever done before. He gave death the slip. And now he leads a revolt against sin and death, promising that the same divne power that raised Him from the dead will raise us up as long as we have fed on Him, the Living Bread come down from Heaven.
Then Jesus delclared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty" (John 6:35)
Refuse to spend so much money on things that will never satisfy your hunger (Isaiah 55:1-2)
Reflect on Jesus' words at the Last Supper (Luke 22:7-22)
Remember the promise of His hidden manan (Revelation 2:17)
From PRAYING THE NAMES OFJESUS by ANN SPANGLER-Chapter 4: BREAD OF LIFE-FRIDAY (paraphrased)
Friday, August 20, 2010
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Just what goes on in my head
The OCTA driver told the CHP officers on the scene that the driver of the green 2001 Ford Focus wagon sped up past her on the 55 freeway and cut in front of her giving her no time to stop. When the emergency crew arrived on the scene of the accident all that could be made of the driver was trace identification that she was female and race. No age, name or other distinquishable identification could be made at that time of the woman whom from all apparent intents had a suicide wish and carried it out.
When the investigators arrived on the scene the metal from the vehicle had mangled the woman's body to the point of nothing being able to be retrieved for identification, not even dental impressions could be taken. The woman's skull had been crushed to a pulp. One clue that was retrieved from the flattened vehicle was a necklace type tag that had been more than likely been hanging from the car's rearview mirror. It was a black necklace the bore the words THE CROSSING CHURCH on it and attached was a damaged and tattered placard that said LIFELINES VOLU___R was all that could be made out of the words. The investigators handling the case contacted the church to ask what the missing letters could possibly represent and were told they were VOLUNTEER.
The lady was a volunteer of a recovery program at a church in Costa Mesa and this tag is what they wore on nights of service. Investigators further inquired and found that any number of the placard/necklaces had been given to a number of volunteers and there was no tracking of whom they were given to or number on the placards that would identify them either. Other identification that should have been in the car such as driver license, vehicle registration, insurance or any mechanical work that had been done on the car had been removed as no items were in any compartments of the car as would traditionally be found, nor did the woman seem to have a purse or wallet in her possession at the time of her demise which also led officers to believe that the woman had intention on making this night her night to die and her car was going to be her way out.
But the woman did not think to remove the VIN from the front of the vehilcle. Running the number the car came back registered to a 54 yr. old Afro/Cuban American female/widow/Costa Mesa resident by the name of Denise R. Dew. Ms. Dew was mother of 3 adult live children and 6 grandchildren. She was a very active member of her church and recovery community. She had been a widow for over 5 years and and lost her job in the spring of this year. Ms Dew had started recieving private therapy with a counselor and at last reports with one of her pastors all was going well. She was having some financial hardships but did not appear to be under any great deal of stress regarding her finacial matters and was reported by those who knew her to be "trusting God" to help her get by. She was said to have a very positive attitude and an encouragement to others who were struggling.
So what happened that night on the 55 freeway that caused Denise to swerve her car in front a 3 ton vehicle going 55 mph? What dislodged in her brain during that drive that would not let her see her way out of whatever she must have been going through? If her belief and faith was as strong as was reported, why did she succumb to taking the coward's/sinners way out? Surely she knew how the outcome of her decision would've played out in eternity. Denise was known for her strong spiritual standing. She was the woman that would post encouraging words for others on FACEBOOK for others to keep them motivated. She had recently talked in her small group about fancining herself as a motivational speaker for women. And she had shown no indications that day that she was depressed. Which was a deep sickness of hers that she was working with her therapist about and was on the way of overcoming. The last attempt this woman had made was over 30 years ago. And she promised a few people that if she got to that point again where she was seriously considering thoughts of doing away with herself she would let someone know what was going on and make a contract not to do harm, as she knew the procedure, having had worked in the field of recovery and a counselor herself by profession.
WHAT HAPPENED?
(that's just where my head goes, I PRAY I NEVER REALLY GO THERE!)Just thoughts. I LOVE MY LIFE!!
When the investigators arrived on the scene the metal from the vehicle had mangled the woman's body to the point of nothing being able to be retrieved for identification, not even dental impressions could be taken. The woman's skull had been crushed to a pulp. One clue that was retrieved from the flattened vehicle was a necklace type tag that had been more than likely been hanging from the car's rearview mirror. It was a black necklace the bore the words THE CROSSING CHURCH on it and attached was a damaged and tattered placard that said LIFELINES VOLU___R was all that could be made out of the words. The investigators handling the case contacted the church to ask what the missing letters could possibly represent and were told they were VOLUNTEER.
The lady was a volunteer of a recovery program at a church in Costa Mesa and this tag is what they wore on nights of service. Investigators further inquired and found that any number of the placard/necklaces had been given to a number of volunteers and there was no tracking of whom they were given to or number on the placards that would identify them either. Other identification that should have been in the car such as driver license, vehicle registration, insurance or any mechanical work that had been done on the car had been removed as no items were in any compartments of the car as would traditionally be found, nor did the woman seem to have a purse or wallet in her possession at the time of her demise which also led officers to believe that the woman had intention on making this night her night to die and her car was going to be her way out.
But the woman did not think to remove the VIN from the front of the vehilcle. Running the number the car came back registered to a 54 yr. old Afro/Cuban American female/widow/Costa Mesa resident by the name of Denise R. Dew. Ms. Dew was mother of 3 adult live children and 6 grandchildren. She was a very active member of her church and recovery community. She had been a widow for over 5 years and and lost her job in the spring of this year. Ms Dew had started recieving private therapy with a counselor and at last reports with one of her pastors all was going well. She was having some financial hardships but did not appear to be under any great deal of stress regarding her finacial matters and was reported by those who knew her to be "trusting God" to help her get by. She was said to have a very positive attitude and an encouragement to others who were struggling.
So what happened that night on the 55 freeway that caused Denise to swerve her car in front a 3 ton vehicle going 55 mph? What dislodged in her brain during that drive that would not let her see her way out of whatever she must have been going through? If her belief and faith was as strong as was reported, why did she succumb to taking the coward's/sinners way out? Surely she knew how the outcome of her decision would've played out in eternity. Denise was known for her strong spiritual standing. She was the woman that would post encouraging words for others on FACEBOOK for others to keep them motivated. She had recently talked in her small group about fancining herself as a motivational speaker for women. And she had shown no indications that day that she was depressed. Which was a deep sickness of hers that she was working with her therapist about and was on the way of overcoming. The last attempt this woman had made was over 30 years ago. And she promised a few people that if she got to that point again where she was seriously considering thoughts of doing away with herself she would let someone know what was going on and make a contract not to do harm, as she knew the procedure, having had worked in the field of recovery and a counselor herself by profession.
WHAT HAPPENED?
(that's just where my head goes, I PRAY I NEVER REALLY GO THERE!)Just thoughts. I LOVE MY LIFE!!
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Date with my Dad
I don't remember the last time I thought it was important to go out on a date with my Dad, but today seemed like I had to do it with urgency, as if I didn't do it today I would NEVER have this chance again. We hadn't been out together in so long, as a matter of fact I can't remember when it was the last time I made time to go out on a "date" with my Father. Other things and "other people" always seemed to be more important. He always understood and never once did He hold it agaisnt me for not taking time out just to spend solely alone with Him.
So today we went to OUR favorite place, the movies to see DINNER WITH SCHMUCKS, WE LOVED IT! Dad has a heart for all people who are downtrodden so His thoughts were clearly for those characters. I thought the movie was well written and a great message was given about judging people's character. But moreover me and my Dad spent QUALITY TIME together doing nothing but enjoying a movie with a small group of others in the room with us. It was almost like a private viewing was given because there were only 10 people in the theater including me and Dad. Dad loved it because wherever He goes, He gets in for FREE! And He loved that I saved by making my own popcorn at home and brought my own drink. He did allow me to splurge on a bag of Snickers, which He let me eat His half because he wasn't up to eating sweets today and though I don't usually, I took up His slack and ate His without getting nauseous!
Today Dad and I had a good talk before and after the movie, then I left Dad and went home. I vowed to spend more time with Him in this way. At least once a month because for me, it's not enough that I pray to Him everyday, all through the day and sometimes even in the middle of the night. But just these types of moments when NOTHING is going on that I need or want or am asking for me or for anyone else. Today was special, it was just a movie, one of my favorite kinds, a comedy. It was just a lovely simple date with my Dad-GOD.
So today we went to OUR favorite place, the movies to see DINNER WITH SCHMUCKS, WE LOVED IT! Dad has a heart for all people who are downtrodden so His thoughts were clearly for those characters. I thought the movie was well written and a great message was given about judging people's character. But moreover me and my Dad spent QUALITY TIME together doing nothing but enjoying a movie with a small group of others in the room with us. It was almost like a private viewing was given because there were only 10 people in the theater including me and Dad. Dad loved it because wherever He goes, He gets in for FREE! And He loved that I saved by making my own popcorn at home and brought my own drink. He did allow me to splurge on a bag of Snickers, which He let me eat His half because he wasn't up to eating sweets today and though I don't usually, I took up His slack and ate His without getting nauseous!
Today Dad and I had a good talk before and after the movie, then I left Dad and went home. I vowed to spend more time with Him in this way. At least once a month because for me, it's not enough that I pray to Him everyday, all through the day and sometimes even in the middle of the night. But just these types of moments when NOTHING is going on that I need or want or am asking for me or for anyone else. Today was special, it was just a movie, one of my favorite kinds, a comedy. It was just a lovely simple date with my Dad-GOD.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
My 2010 Summit Experience
Since this is the day after, it's going to take a little time to think back on what occurred for me in those two days of the summit.
Let me say that my first day was limited by my vew of where I was positioned on The Crossing compound, which was the annex between the warehouse (CSM) and the garage. I was assigned to to volunteer check-in and refreshments for the volunteers. My first thoughts was that this was NOT going to give me the advantage I desired to experince the summit the way I imagined it needed to be experienced, but as the day wore on, I found that was not the case at all but quite the opposite. It WAS as it turned out THE BEST place to veiw the summit sessions as it was private, exclusive and far more comfortable than the chair set up in the sprung!
Now mind you I did not get to sit in on every session due to checking in and having to clean up and prepare for volunteer meals, but after all that was settled I was given the green light to sit in and watch the sessions in the voulunteer veiwing room (a far better veiwing for the price we paid!)
THE SPEAKERS:
Of the few I heard; Tony Dungy, Bill Hybels, Jeff Manion, Christine (AMEN!) Caine, Terri Kelly, Daniel Pink, JACK WELCH & T. D. JAKES!!
To me this summit was like a 2 day retreat on how to become more spiritually fit, not on leadership. I got that in order for people to be leaders they have to understand who they, themselves are and who they are being entrusted to lead and what it means to own the responsiblility of leadership. But it was so much about our own spiritual fillingness that was recieved that I was just blown away. I had no preconcieved notions of what to expect and so what I got was such a BIG PACKAGE of WOW!! I'm still riding high and can't wait to take what I've learned into the ministry that has been placed in front of me.
Funny thing, I never ever really thought of myself in a ministry position or capacity but I appear to be in one now and just kind of happen to fall into it quite through circumstances of where I chose to go to church. I allow God to use me, which means that I take direction from others that HE has chosen. And this is the result I get to be in "ministry" to be in leadership! And attend a LEADERSHIP SUMMIT that was flipping Excellent!!
Let me say that my first day was limited by my vew of where I was positioned on The Crossing compound, which was the annex between the warehouse (CSM) and the garage. I was assigned to to volunteer check-in and refreshments for the volunteers. My first thoughts was that this was NOT going to give me the advantage I desired to experince the summit the way I imagined it needed to be experienced, but as the day wore on, I found that was not the case at all but quite the opposite. It WAS as it turned out THE BEST place to veiw the summit sessions as it was private, exclusive and far more comfortable than the chair set up in the sprung!
Now mind you I did not get to sit in on every session due to checking in and having to clean up and prepare for volunteer meals, but after all that was settled I was given the green light to sit in and watch the sessions in the voulunteer veiwing room (a far better veiwing for the price we paid!)
THE SPEAKERS:
Of the few I heard; Tony Dungy, Bill Hybels, Jeff Manion, Christine (AMEN!) Caine, Terri Kelly, Daniel Pink, JACK WELCH & T. D. JAKES!!
- THE KEY INSIGHTS: What motivates people? Self direction leads to engagement-Daniel Pink.speaking on IF/THEN Rewards
- on MANAGEMENT: A technoglogy from the mid 1800's at best!-D. Pink ( Loved that one!)
- The LAND BETWEEN by Jeff Manion (EXCELLENT!! 2 THUMBS UP!!)
- Fertile ground for complaints, emotional meltdowns, God's provision, discipline and transformational growth
- 2 types of leaders: Builders and Bankers. A builder will turn a hopless situation around and a banker will maintain it. One cannot exsist without the other, both are needed. T. D. JAKES
To me this summit was like a 2 day retreat on how to become more spiritually fit, not on leadership. I got that in order for people to be leaders they have to understand who they, themselves are and who they are being entrusted to lead and what it means to own the responsiblility of leadership. But it was so much about our own spiritual fillingness that was recieved that I was just blown away. I had no preconcieved notions of what to expect and so what I got was such a BIG PACKAGE of WOW!! I'm still riding high and can't wait to take what I've learned into the ministry that has been placed in front of me.
Funny thing, I never ever really thought of myself in a ministry position or capacity but I appear to be in one now and just kind of happen to fall into it quite through circumstances of where I chose to go to church. I allow God to use me, which means that I take direction from others that HE has chosen. And this is the result I get to be in "ministry" to be in leadership! And attend a LEADERSHIP SUMMIT that was flipping Excellent!!
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