Heaven or Hell

Your kingdom come Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven!  Heaven or hell is a present day experience.  When we choose to follow what Father is saying,  Heaven  comes.  Or we choose to do it our way and have hell to pay.  When we live by His characteristics: love, mercy, forgiveness and compassion, Heaven comes.  When we live by criticism, bitterness, envy, pride, hate and strife, hell comes.  It is our choice.  Eternity is now and it is our choice how we live it.  Jesus way was always God's way.  He always brought Heaven! Heaven or Hell it is our choice!

Failure

Is failure a bad thing?  No, not when you handle it correctly.  Lorrisa, Brandon, Jill, Gabe, Stephanie and myself met in Dallas for a 1/2 marathon.  Lorissa and I have been training hard getting  ready for my first 26.2 full marathon.  So I thought this would be a breeze and would be able to PR (1:39).  Not so!  I bonked at about seven miles and crossed the line in 1:46.  I trailed Lorissa and Brandon the whole way as they were easing through the race.  There are reasons (excuses) for my performance, but none of them quenched the fire burning inside me.  The only thing I knew that would quench the fire is to redeem myself at my next race.  The only way to redeem myself is through training.  You know,  time spent.  OKC Memorial is in ten days.   I guess we will see?  But I have a feeling through my new commitment, 1:38 here I come.  When you believe you have failed in life it is a chance for a fresh start.  A new commitment.  The majority believed Jesus failed when He died on the cross.  He knew differently, He was prepared for His race.  Failure is just a temporary timeout for a new commitment.  Thank you Father for  "failure" (in the world's eyes) and allowing Jesus to die for us.      

Are "We Christians" Any Different?

Recently I shared from my heart the questions and concerns I have for organized church.  Of course I couldn't help going after the pastor a little bit.  I can, I have the paper that says that I am one.  Anyway it didn't go over very well with one pastor.  I can understand,  I deserved some disagreement on the subject.  But what brings me to the title of this post is  when we do disagree do we leave it between each other or do we spew it to our mutual friends so they can be on our side.  I know that is where I have failed and still fail.  I want you on my team, to see it my way,  and be against the other guys opinion.  Therefore I have taken my opinion and turned it into condemnation.   For IN CHRIST there in now NO condemnation.  Help me be different than the world Father!!  

Doing Our Part

A common quote around our house is "do your part"!  We stress this to one another to not allow others or circumstances to keep us from doing our part.  There are many different distractions that will try to keep us from doing our part.  My main distraction is my fellow man, it is easier to see what he "should be doing" and be critical than look in the mirror and do my part.  Releasing our fellow man to do his part and not being critical is one of the most liberating exercises we can do.