Archive for November, 2010

“When you eat your turkey this Thanksgiving,
don’t forget to thank the Lamb”

…..Dan at aslowerpace dot net

I blogged a few weeks ago about me taking my daughters to the Matthew West concert. I have had his new CD The Story of Your Life in my car now since then and have enjoyed the entire compilation of stories. I like the chorus lyrics to track 10 The Reason For The World.

There are no words in times like these
When tears don’t hide the tragedies
And all you want is a reason for the world

No comfort in the greeting card
Cause God is good
But life’s still hard
and your heart just wants a reason for the world

Maybe the reason for the pain
Is so we would pray for strength
And maybe the reason for the strength
Is so that we would not lose hope
And maybe the reason for all hope
Is so that we could face the world
And the reason for the world
Is to make us long for home

For God so loved your broken heart
He sent his son to where you are
and he died
To give a reason for the world

So lift your sorrows to the one
Whose plan for you has just begun
And rests here in the hands that hold the world

Maybe the reason for the pain
Is so we would pray for strength
And maybe the reason for the strength
Is so that we would not lose hope
And maybe the reason for all hope
Is so that we could face the world
And the reason for the world
Is to make us long for home

Well I know your past the point of broken
Surrounded by your frea
I know you’re faint and tired and lonely
from the road that you walked down here
But just keep your eyes on heaven
and know that you are not alone
remember the reason for the world

No ear has heard
No eye has seen
Not even in your wildest dreams
A beauty that awaits beyond this world
When you look into the eyes of grace
and hear the voice of mercy say
Child, welcome to the reason for the world

…..Dan at aslowerpace dot net

A friend sent this along to me. I can’t think of a reason to disagree. Feel free to cut and paste and shamelessly steal/plagiarize.

I am sending this to virtually everybody on my e-mail list and that includes conservatives, liberals, and everybody in between. Even though we disagree on a number of issues, I count all of you as friends. My friend and neighbor wants to promote a “Congressional Reform Act of 2010.” It would contain eight provisions, all of which would probably be strongly endorsed by those who drafted the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

I know many of you will say “this is impossible.” Let me remind you, Congress has the lowest approval rating of any entity in Government. 12% !!! Now is the time when Americans will join together to reform Congress – the entity that represents us.

We need to get a Senator to introduce this bill in the US Senate and a Representative to introduce a similar bill in the US House. These people will become American heroes

**********************************
Congressional Reform Act of 2010

1. Term Limits.

12 years only, one of the possible options below..

A. Two Six-year Senate terms
B. Six Two-year House terms
C. One Six-year Senate term and three Two-Year House terms

2. No Tenure / No Pension.

A Congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office.

3. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security.

All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the American people.

4. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do.

5. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.

6. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.

7. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people.

8. All contracts with past and present Congressmen are void effective 1/1/11.

The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen. Congressmen made all these contracts for themselves.

Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, so ours should serve their term(s), then go home and back to work.

…..Dan at aslowerpace dot net

So let me get this straight.

Commercial pilots have the option to be armed in the cockpit and can fly the plane into a building any time they want to, but they still have to be screened at TSA security checkpoints?!?!?

…..Dan at aslowerpace dot net

“Does the path you are on
lead you to my place? — God”

…..Dan at aslowerpace dot net

Taking a few minutes out of your day to watch this video will provide you with a new, positive perspective — and it just might change the way you look at people and situations.

I was touched by it. I hope you are too.

…..Dan at aslowerpace dot net

I saw this “Sign From God” last weekend on our way to Chicago.

“One Nation Under God is
right on the money”

Also, our family stopped to have dinner at a Cracker Barrell off I-65. If you know Cracker Barrell, they always have a country store connected to their dining room. And my wife loves their country store because they always have cool thematic items — holiday themes, country themes, John Deere themes, Americana themes, etc. Well, one corner was Spiritual/Religious themed and she was perusing the wares. One of the items was a church sign book. Basically, just pictures of all sorts of church signs. They totally snagged my “Sign From God” idea. And it was funny because I glossed through a few of the pages and they were messages I have posted here — not necessarily from the same church sign though. I guess the churches must use a church sign web site or database.

Don’t worry — I will continue to bring new Signs From God messages to you free of charge. 🙂

…..Dan at aslowerpace dot net

I’ve been slacking on blogging lately but this “Sign From God” comes courtesy of Haelie.

“Autumn leaves.
Jesus remains.”

…..Dan at aslowerpace dot net

Today a friend of mine left for his deployment to Afghanistan. He is a C-130 pilot for the Kentucky Air National Guard and he and his crew departed SDF at 10am this morning. He is a wonderful disciple, husband, dad and friend in addition to serving our country.

So my prayer for him is that he would be guided and protected during his deployment. That he is kept safe from all harm and alert to being used by God. That he return safely to his husband and family role here stateside. That his family is comforted during his absence. That they are supported by the church and the community. And that their reunion is sweet, cherished and longed for.

Thank you for adding to the prayers for Charlie and his family.

…..Dan at aslowerpace dot net

Last week, if you remember, I wrote a post and confessed about a struggle I was having with meeting the needs of the poor and needy. Well, this morning during my breakfast devotions I came across the answer for me.

The scripture reading was from the Old Testament — Amos 5:12-24. You can look up the actual verses but it is where the prophet Amos was preaching to the northern kingdom of Judah that the day of judgment was coming. Being a very wealthy and successful nation, they were neglecting God’s blessing, becoming prideful and greedy, and neglecting their responsibilities to the poor and needy.

My scripture study notes are:

Here are eight common excuses for not helping the poor and needy: (1) They don’t deserve help. They got themselves into poverty; let them get themselves out. (2) God’s call to help the poor applies to another time. (3) We don’t know any people like this. (4) I have my own needs. (5) Any money I give will be wasted, stolen, or spent. The poor will never see it. (6) I may become a victim myself. (7) I don’t know where to start, and I don’t have time. (8) My little bit won’t make any difference.

Instead of making lame excuses, ask what can be done to help. Does your church have programs to help the needy? Could you volunteer to work with a community group that fights poverty? As one individual, you may not be able to accomplish much, but join up with similarly motivated people and watch mountains begin to move.

THAT is the way God works and the Holy Spirit moves within our hearts. #5 was the one that spoke to me. The why, what, who and when I give doesn’t matter. What does matter is that I give, and that I give with a servants heart. What happens after is for God and the Holy Spirit to work with.

I’ve said it before, I don’t need to have all the answers to be a small part of the solution.

…..Dan at aslowerpace dot net