C-Notes

Prodigal Kid

2009-09-24T11:34:00.000-07:00

We are all children of God. He is our Heavenly Father. So, how do we view HIm? As stern rule-maker? As distant, unengaged deity? In the gospel of Luke, Jesus paints a different picture. He is waiting, always loving, longing to see us turn back to Him so that He can run out to us.

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The Family Of God

2009-09-22T17:34:00.000-07:00

What if you knew that severing any relationship was not possible? What if we were all stuck together... like family? The idea of leaving should not be an option. Romans 8 tells us that nothing can separate us from the love of God. Exodus tells us that God will never leave us or forsake us. And Jesus prayed to God the Father that we would all be one, as he and the Father are one. So, why are we so comfortable with relationships that do not grow or others that end?

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Faith

2009-05-13T12:02:00.000-07:00

Most of us are aware that our relationship with God is based on faith, how many of us do our part to nurture that faith? Do we know what to do?Do we recognize the consequences if we don't?

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Speech

2009-04-17T14:06:00.000-07:00

We are seemingly obsessed with communicating, but what are we really saying? God wants us to be an example to others and tells us that if we can rule our own mouths, we can do anything. On the other hand, He also says that if we cannot control our mouths, anything else we do, is worthless.

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My new song is on iTunes today!!!

2009-04-08T11:26:00.001-07:00

My new song is debuting on iTunes today!!! Even though many of you already have the free download, I am hoping that some of you will do me a solid, and consider investing .99 to download it from iTunes today (or soon after).

Tell your friends about it and get them on board as well. It may be a novelty to tell someone that a friend of yours has a new song on iTunes and that they can help support them. Who knows, perhaps God will speak to them through the song.

Also, if you can take the time to leave a review, that would be REALLY AWESOME!! I would totally appreciate it.

I am hoping to create some buzz around the track so that it will show up on the radar for those who won't find it any other way.

Thanks.

All That You Can't Leave Behind

2009-04-04T15:19:00.000-07:00

Many of us have heard that Jesus said, "Do not invest in the things of this world", but what does he hope that we will invest in? What about the idea that everything that affects us emotionally stays with us forever? When we build someone up (or tear them down) they could make it to Heaven and still carry all that with them. Let's be a part of adding "souvenirs" not "baggage". Even if we wanted to to leave that behind... we can't. Invest in other's while we still have the opportunity.

Go deeper! Listen to the podcast on iTunes or at our podcast page for TruthCast.

Rise

2009-02-23T17:28:00.000-08:00

I'm REALLY excited about a song I wrote last summer. It's called "Rise" and we have been using it for Sunday morning worship ever since. The response has been great and many have been asking about a recording of the song. My friend Justin has been trying to get me to record it since then as well. With much help from Justin, we finished it last weekend and it is available as a free download online through the end of March. After that, it will be available on iTunes and Amazon on April 8th. Get it while it's free. I would love to hear what you think.

Wise Choices

2009-02-16T16:21:00.000-08:00

We spend a great deal of time and effort trying to see where the line is. The line between “sin” and “not-quite-sin”. Wouldn’t it be better to ask, “What is the wisest choice I can make?” in any given situation?

Go deeper! Listen to the podcast on this subject on iTunes or on our podcast page for TruthCast.

Resolution or Revolution

2009-01-17T18:17:00.000-08:00

When we make a commitment or resolution on New Year's Day is it for real life change? And, if it is, are we able to stay committed long enough to see that change through?

Go deeper! Listen to the podcast on this subject on iTunes or on our podcast page for TruthCast.

Me Too

2008-12-09T19:00:00.000-08:00

I read a book recently and the author made the comment that "Me too." are the most powerful words in the English language. We are created for relationships. Everyone! Look at the TV shows that allow interaction. Or websites that thrive on interaction. No one wants to be truly alone, and we should be agents of Christ, who told us and everyone, that we will never be alone.

Go deeper! Listen to the podcast on this subject on iTunes or on our podcast page for TruthCast.

ReCreate

2008-12-04T15:37:00.001-08:00

We are called to be separate, different, “in” the world, but not “of” the world. How come we look so similar? We need to recreate a culture in our homes and churches that affects the culture outside.

Go deeper! Listen to my podcast on this subject on iTunes or on our podcast page for TruthCast.

Worship Fully

2008-12-04T14:50:00.000-08:00

We seem to take heart in the idea that half-hearted worship is acceptable as long as it’s honest, but doesn’t jesus ask us for “all”?

Go deeper! Listen to my podcast on this subject on iTunes or at our podcast page for TruthCast.

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A Prayer For Unity

2008-08-28T17:45:00.000-07:00

We talk and pray about sharing our faith and reaching more people for the Kingdom of God, but what if we simply looked at the situation like this; We are missing some members of our extended family. If we that are already together were truly unified, would that be the testimony the rest of the world is waiting for?

Seriously, how will we ever have the impact any of us dreams about if we can't get along well enough with each other, or those we hope to influence, to be noticeable?

Jesus prayed that we would be "one" as he and God the Father are one. In his words, "Perfect Unity". He implied that it was possible, that it would be proof to the world that he (Jesus) was sent from God, and proof that God loves al of us here on Earth as much as he loves his son Jesus.

When we pray, we believe that our prayer will be answered. Wouldn't it be great to be the one answering for a change?

PS The books I mentioned on Sunday were "Velvet Elvis" by Rob Bell and "A Ready Defense" by Josh McDowell.

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What's In It For Me?

2008-05-19T16:03:00.001-07:00

I moved to Flagstaff in the mid-ninties to start (and end) my radio career. Before moving there I went up and scoped out the town. I wanted to make sure that it had all of my basic needs (Jack in the Box, Slurpee, Record Store, Guitar Shop). I decided that I would have the basics covered and made the move.
What I found out quickly is that I don't like living on just what I need. Who does? There is more to life than just the basics.
In addition to basics of life, such as protection, provision, and love, our Heavenly Father has given us other necessities. Those are all more than I deserve. However He still provides hope, peace, purpose, and joy. Thank you, Jesus!

C

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Who's Your Daddy

2008-05-07T13:29:00.001-07:00

Aside from allowing us to spend eternity in Heaven with Him, Jesus described "Eternal Life" in John 17:3 as "...knowing the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom He has sent." That is the key to all lasting peace and joy.
We must know who God is AND what he is like.

Go deeper! Listen to my podcast on this subject on iTunes or at our podcast page for TruthCast.

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Dropping an "H-Bomb"

2008-04-30T17:10:00.001-07:00

Today I was out picking up a few things and came upon a fender bender in the parking lot of a Home Depot. It looked as though a car had pulled out of a space and was struck by a pickup truck from a business called "Fore Sight"... oh, the irony.

It made me think of how when we "advertise" something we believe, it gives everyone a chance to take a shot at you without knowing you.

As a follower of Christ, my belief system has been advertised for the last 2000 years or so. Plenty of time for anyone who might like, to absorb, assess, and take a shot at someone who says they are Christian.

The worst part of that is, after identifying you with Jesus, they feel they have license to hassle you whether or not your life lines up with what they know about the Bible. If your life does line up with scripture, you can be labeled as intolerant, or prudish, or weak and foolish. However, if your life doesn't line up, you are no safer, as then you’re, in their eyes, the worst of the worst... a hypocrite.

My problem with all of that is, the reason they can label any Christian "hypocrite" is that they know ahead of time (thanks to advertising) what we are supposed "believe" and therefore "live". Most of the behaviors we exhibit aren't what we get maligned for; it's that we don't do what we say we believe.

I should add, that is truer than I care to admit, even in my own life. However, the fact of the matter is that those who enjoy dropping an "H-Bomb" are conveniently immune to hypocrisy simply because we cannot see any "advertising" for their beliefs. Plus, even if we could, they have liberty to change what they believe and call it "growth" or "enlightenment". So, they are never hypocritical.

Okay, so this is a pet peeve of mine. (Peeve is a funny word isn't it?) But, it is a drag to not be recognized for trying to do the right thing but stumbling, as opposed to not trying at all, or changing course every time something becomes too difficult, less interesting, or too inconvenient.

With that said, we must always do what we can to understand others that might see us this way, and to seek to be understood. It is a two way conversation that leads to the unity that Jesus spoke of when he prayed in John 17:20-23. Perhaps we can avoid future fender benders.

C

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You Know What's Weird?

2008-04-17T13:54:00.000-07:00

I was driving to work today and drove past the Photo Radar cameras on the 101 freeway in Scottsdale. I drive by all of them everyday to and from work. I think they are a good idea. If you break the law, you get flashed and you get a ticket. They even have "grace" built right in (you can go 10 miles over the limit and not get flashed).

That's when it occured to me; the cameras only flash you if you are going too far OVER the speed limit, even though it is also illegal to go too far UNDER the posted limit. I understand that we do that to protect lives. However, the thing that bugs me, and that I hear most people complain about, is not how FAST people are going, but how SLOW some people go.

I would like to propose that the people that drive by the cameras at less than 10 miles an hour UNDER the speed limit are also flashed. And, if they are going that slow in the far left lane (The Fast Lane) then their ticket could be even more expensive.

It reminds me that we naturally accuse people of being "wrong", or even "weird", using ourselves as the basis for "right". For example, regardless of whether we are going too fast or slow in relation to the speed limit, we call anyone going faster than us a "maniac" and anyone going slower than us an "idiot".

That's why having an external measure for right and wrong is crucial. Without an absolute that we can all subscribe to there will always be some measure of chaos.

It's even better, if that "external measure" is perfect. What if we were so lucky as to have that external measureER, care about us... ALL of us, even the ones who don't care about him. What if he desired nothing more than to just be close to us and were willing to sacrifice himself to make that possible. That would be great (Romans 5:8).

C

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