Motivational Monday: Team X-T.R.E.M.E

You may remember from a previous post that my son and I did the 8 Mile Super Spartan Race in Aug.  While this was challenging and a great time, we also saw Team X-T.R.E.M.E there competing in the race as well.  They were not only inspiring but showed the true drive of the human spirit and soul, especially CPL Todd Love.  Thank you guys for coming out and inspiring everyone.  We will always support you.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGr3q0kiQts

Forgiveness....(excerpt from Dr. Gary Chapman)

The question:  Who is our model?The answer:  God

Scripture:  Ephesians 4:17-24; 1 John 1:9

What is forgiveness?  To pardon or to take away.  Psalms 103:12 states, "as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us."  Note:  Forgiveness is a godly response to pray.

What forgiveness does not do:

1) Does not destroy our memory

2) Does not remove all painful emotions (What do you do with memory and pain - take it to God)

3) Does not remove all the consequences of Sin (references to Moses & David)

4) Does not rebuild trust.  (Note:  To rebuild make your life an open book (have accountability in every aspect of your life)

5) Does not always result in reconciliation

What if the person who sinned against you does not speak your apology language?

-By making you question their sincerity

-By faith, you choose to forgive them

What if the person does not apologize?

1) We lovingly confront them (Scripture Mathew 18:15-17; Luke 17:3-4)

2) We release the person to God (give it to God) (Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:14-15; 1 Timothy 2)

3) We pray for them and stand ready to forgive them (Scripture: Luke 23:34; Acts 2: 22-31)

4) We return good for evil (Scripture:  Romans 12:19-21)

We make forgiveness a priority in our lives by making it personal:

1) Whom do I need to forgive?

2) Whom do I need to lovingly confront

3) Whom do I need to release to God?

4) Whom do I need to apologize to?

Take a self exam for items 1 through 4:

•1 John 1:5 Walking in the light "This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all."

•If we claim to have fellowship with Him, yet we walk in the darkness, then we lie and do not live by the truth."

How honest do you want to be?

Dante

Time with Dr. Gary Chapman

This past week was both a privilege and an honor to spend with Dr. Gary Chapman who is a noted writer who has written many books on love, marriage, children, anger and the like.  He was the special guest speaker this week at Maranatha Bible and Missionary Conference.  I took a lot of notes and have many posts coming following this past week.  Last night was particularly special for me as both my wife and I sat and listened to his concluding message on 5 points of having a great family.The reason why I really liked and connected with this man is because he puts it all out there.  That is, he is a lot like Lance in telling you exactly how it is and giving you both positive steps to take (that our God-honoring) and family honoring.  I look forward to posting on what I have heard this week and what spoke most to me.  What convicted me most and what made me smile through this.

If you are anything like the writers of this blog,  I think you will come away with some of the same conclusions that I did (or that you may take away from it).  I am really excited an cannot wait to blog about it (as soon as I organize my notes and unpack.

I hope you keep reading.  We also hope that you make some comments to us:  1) what are some things that you want to hear more of (less of), 2) What blogs speak most to you 3) How can we help (how can you help us?) 4) How are you serving (God? Family, Wife, Children, Work and Community?) 5) Anything else?

Looking forward to writing tomorrow!

Blessings,

Dante

What can we do...

Colossians 3 (English Standard Version)

Put On the New Self

3  If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ²  Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. ³ For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ who is your^[a] life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

⁵  Put to death therefore what is earthly in you:^[b] sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness,which is idolatry. ⁶  On account of these the wrath of God is coming.^[c] 7  In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. ⁸ But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. ⁹ Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self^[d] with its practices ¹⁰ and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.¹¹  Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave,^[e] free; but Christ isall, and in all.

¹²  Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved,compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, ¹³  bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. ¹⁴ And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. ¹⁵ And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Rules for Christian Households

¹⁸  Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.¹⁹ Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.²⁰ Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. ²¹ Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. ²² Bondservants,^[f] obey in everything those who are your earthly masters,^[g] not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. ²³  Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, ²⁴ knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.²⁵ For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.