Yesterday, I heard one of the most powerful sermons I’ve heard in a long time.  The power wasn’t in the presentation style nor in the energy or tone of the preacher, the power was in the message he delivered.  One point he made really stuck with me throughout the day that just kept me feeling good all day.  Most of us have heard (and can quote) Romans 3:23, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” and that is where the recitation usually ends.  But, and this but is big, while it’s the end of the verse, it is not the end of the sentence.  Verse 24 continues the thought, “and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”  [emphasis mine}

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He gave freely.

Grace and peace to you.

Sinus infections.  I’ve battled them annually for the past 4 or 5 years and last Thursday brought another humdinger that sidelined me through the weekend and still has me feeling out of sorts but recovering.  It’s good to have my eyes still inside my head instead of feeling like they were about to bulge out of their sockets. 

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Since I’m still on the road to recovery, I’ll share a story found on a friend’s blog and maybe get back in the swing of my own thoughts later this week.

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Graham Street – Lombardi Story

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Grace and peace to you.
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…because reading this for a week has to be a beating…
I like that Jason Garrett got the head coaching job for Dallas.  I may watch them next year.
Can the Mavs survive without Dirk and Caron?  Or either?  It started off as a hopeful year but it’s not looking good right now.
I’ve reinvested in the stock market.  Apparently, I subscribe to the “buy high” system.  For those of you not familiar with stock purchasing lingo, that is a bad thing.  I’ll share some of my picks with you once the stocks are worth more than I paid and I look like I know what I’m doing.
I just spilled coffee on my leg.  No burns.  No lawsuits.
Someone is encouraging me to use my blog as a platform.  Dude, this is all about me.  Some days I’m just dry and some weeks I’m drier.  This has been one of those weeks.  (For what it’s worth, I don’t think any of my regulars know this encourager.)
As you are reading this, I’m either loading my fishing gear, on the way to go fishing, fishing or back from fishing.  I’m off to the closest river that has some trout in it and I’m going to forget everything as I work to make a perfect cast and hopefully land a fish or two.  I do nothing that is more therapeutic, more healing than casting a fly rod because it’s about the only time I block out everything to focus on one thing.  I need more of that in my life but today, it will come through an almost weightless fly, a tight loop, a tiny ripple, and maybe, just maybe, a tug on my line from a hungry trout.

EDIT:  All that stuff above sounds good doesn’t it?  Well, it’s just too cold to get on the river today so I will be daydreaming about fishing.

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Grace and peace to you.
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Auburn won the National Championship with a QB who is accused of being the best that money can buy and a defensive lineman known for taking cheap shots at other players during the game and I was still rooting for them.  There may be need for some introspection.  🙂
Someone asked me yesterday what I thought about all the Muslim activity going on in the U.S.  I’m clueless. 
I suppose I should be more concerned but I have some odd beliefs and worrying about the Muslims isn’t going to help anything.  I think there is some pain and turmoil coming our way and I think our society has been too complacent for far too long to turn the tide.  That’s all I’ll say for now because the rest of the story gets really bizarre.
If you think that is bizarre, you should spend a day in my head.  The things that pass through there…
It would be great if love ruled the world.
I have started counting the number of times each day I or someone else makes a judgment on another party without knowing any facts (I suppose I could be accused of judging others who are making judgment calls on someone else but it is not my intention.  Merely a learning tool for me about how bad I am about doing it).  It’s astonishing.  I’m trying hard to quit labeling people and quit applying my (ignorant) conceptions of them and their actions and just love them for who they are.  I hope it gets easier over time.
Let’s end on a happy note.  Pitchers and catchers report to Surprise in about a month!  Go Rangers!

Grace and peace to you.

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Another day, another borrowed blog.  I’ve posted some things from Michael Hyatt in the past (www.michaelhyatt.com).  He’s one of my favored bloggers and someone I continue to get good ideas and challenges from.  This blog just cracked me up and I hope you enjoy it.

10 Things You Can’t Say At Work

Grace and peace to you.
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I think I’ll keep the goofy titles.  Wednesday Warblings.  Thursday Thoughts.  Goofy.

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I’m borrowing a blog post today.  This is from Rick Ross and was something I saw on TV last week.  I was really impressed when Ted rolls off Proverbs 3:5-6 in front of Robin and George on GMA and said it with what seems to be complete conviction and sincerity.

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2nd Chances

Grace and peace to you.

I think I’m going low-key this week..
A shout-out to my buddy Jason.  Go Auburn!
A lady was arrested in Wise County for soliciting of murder.  She was wanting a couple of people killed so she could collect insurance, I believe.  When arrested, she was wearing a Mickey Mouse sweatshirt. 
I wish I would have never opened a Facebook account. 
Ignorance really can be bliss.
I think it’s ridiculous that the college football championship is being played on January 10th.  It means the NCAA is a) money hungry and b) liars.  Yes, that’s harsh but it seems evident they are doing it so more people can watch more bowl games so they can get more commercial revenue.  The NCAA says one reason for no playoffs is that they don’t want to keep kids out of school.  The Oregon team has been out of school all of last week.  I think Auburn was a day behind them.  Same for the last few straggling bowls. 
I love March Madness.  LOVE it.

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That is all my thoughts that are fit to print.  Stay warm.

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Grace and peace to you.
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My problem with exercising late is that I have trouble sleeping.
Add problems with Blogger and I’m getting grumpy. So, I’m trying this new app and writing a short post in case it doesn’t work.
I learned some things about Adrian Beltre I’m not sure I needed to know today.
Michael Young continues to impress me. He is a selfless ballplayer.

How do you label people? How do you make and justify putting a label on someone you barely know? How would you explain to God your decision to talk negatively about someone you really don’t know? How do you explain to God that you feel qualified to call someone when you have no clue what issues they are carrying and having trouble dealing with? What would you do after calling someone worthless only to find out that they are up late every night caring for an ill parent? These are questions I and others had to confront in a Bible study at work yesterday. I think I need to be very careful about what I say. How about you?

We are all God’s children. It might be good to treat and speak of people that way.

Grace and peace to you.

– Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

My hope today is that families will find joy in being together and that the hurting will find peace, that the hope that came through Jesus will be known by everyone one day and that love will reign on earth.

Grace and peace to you.

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That’s sort of how I feel after this week.

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I remember now why I don’t like Las Vegas.  It’s crowded.  It’s loud.  It’s bright.  It’s noisy.  There is lots of smoke.  Lots of smoke.  I always think I would like to go when I’m not working just to take in some shows and sights I miss when I’m on the go but then I think, if I never go back it will be soon enough.  Our booths looked good, the Cowboy/Country Christmas events were cool to see, the cabbies loved the cowboys being there because they were busy and the rodeo was impressive.  It was good seeing some folks I haven’t seen in awhile and catching up with friends old and new. 

I came back with a massive sinus headache and sore throat.  Lots of meds and some sleep yesterday seemed to help but there is still a way to go to feeling great.  It’s one place where the smoke certainly didn’t help me.  Yuck.

Someone mentioned Christmas is just around the corner.  Can it be?  I’m not prepared. 

I love stories where people have had a problem and something triggered an event that brought them to a place with God where He could work in their hearts.  I just heard one and it’s brightened my day.  I’ve had my own and I believe I have more to come because I see where I have some barriers in my relationship, I’m just not surrendering my will yet.  But I believe I will.

Grace and peace to you.