Todd Smith-End Of The Line Blog

Choose Charity

noreply@blogger.com (Todd Smith- End of The Line Blog) — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 17:28:00 +0000

It would be much easier if I could pick whom I would like to be charitable towards. If I could choose the who, the how, and the why, charity would be a lot more convenient for me. And many times, I do get to choose whom I will be charitable towards. But sometimes life just happens, and I get to decide if I am going to have mercy on someone I would not choose.

The person that I do not get to choose to be charitable towards is not like me. They may not vote like me, sound like me, or smell like me. They may or may not have my sensibilities. They most likely will not be on my schedule. And they may not have all of my good habits that have formed my life just the way I want it. I cannot control how they will act. I cannot control what they will say. I cannot control what they will need. I cannot control how much help they will need. Yes, yes, yes, I must make sure I am taking care of myself, but that is usually not my problem. My problem is I usually am so busy taking care of myself that I will not go out of my way to show mercy to someone that I do not choose.

But by chance, people who need mercy will cross my path. It will just happen. Then I get to decide, not the who I will be merciful towards, but if I will show mercy and how much and often.

This will be costly. It will throw me off my schedule. And I will have to interact with someone who is not like me but who needs my help.The easy thing to do would be to cross the road and pretend like I did not see them. That would be the easy reaction for me but not for the one who needs charity.

To be sure, I do not have to be charitable, unless I want to follow Jesus in his way. I do not have to show mercy, unless I want to be a bad priest outside the Kingdom of God. So, I do not get to choose who I just get to decide if I will show mercy. That choose will align me with God’s Kingdom or make me an outsider in his Kingdom. That is the way of the Kingdom, and I cannot choose to be in the Kingdom by making up my own rules.

Life has left us beaten and hurting on the side of the road, and many passed by but Jesus stopped for us. He bandage our wounds and covered them in healing oils. He took care of us and paid the price for our recovery. Now we get to choose, will we go and do likewise. Choose.

No More Wine

noreply@blogger.com (Todd Smith- End of The Line Blog) — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 19:49:00 +0000

John 2:3 They have no more wine.

I ran out of wine 25 years ago. That was a good thing. The wine that I had, those two and half decades ago, was rotting my soul. I was hurting others and hurting myself. So, I had no

more wine, praise God.

At that time, I was left with water. God transformed it into a new wine. That new wine was the best of wine. That new wine transformed my life. It made my life a feast. I lost things during that celebration that I am glad I lost. I lost some things during that party that I foolishly let slip away. But I discovered the best wine during this time. I enjoyed much of it. I wish I had enjoyed it more. Some of it I neglected, and I overlooked how good it was. However, it was a great party. I enjoyed that feast. I miss that celebration.

Now, I have no more wine. I have run out of wine again. I thought I had an endless supply of wine, but I was wrong. Running out of wine 25 years ago was a good thing, but I do not see much good in the wine drying up this time.

So, all I can do is keep going to Jesus and saying I have no more wine. I am hoping he has saved the best until last. I go on a crying jag quit often because I drank all the wine, and I have no more wine left. About all I have left in my soul is water. But I am praying Jesus turns the water in my soul into the best of wine.

A Word Like Rain

noreply@blogger.com (Todd Smith- End of The Line Blog) — Tue, 18 Jul 2017 00:17:00 +0000

Isaiah 40:8
The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.

Isaiah 55: 10-11
As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Everything will fade. If you don't believe me just look in the mirror. You did not look that way 10 years ago. But our souls can be water by something that endures forever. SOmething that does not fade. A word from God.

God's Word is three things. It is first and foremost, Jesus Christ. He is the Logos, the Logic of God, the Living Word of God.

Secondly, the word of God is the written word of God, the Scriptures.

Thirdly, the word of God is the spoken word of God. A word spoken through people who have connected to God through Jesus and the Scriptures.

We need all three parts of the Word of God in our lives. All three water our souls. They will last forever

I noticed in the three following Words from God, The Lord's Prayer, Psalms 23, and The Apostles Creed, that each really does not conclude. They all three close with a phrase letting us know that this Word from God goes on forever. The Lord's prayer which is from Jesus, the Logos of God, goes on forever. Psalms 23, the written word of God, the Scriptures, goes on forever. The Apostles Creed, the spoken word of God given to us by the church, goes on forever.

May his word fall down like rain on our dry souls

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father, which art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy will be done in earth,
As it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
The power, and the glory,
For ever and ever.
Amen.

Psalms 23

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

The Apostle's Creed

I believe in God, the father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.He descended to the dead.On the third day he rose again.He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit,the Holy Catholic Church,the communion of saints,the forgiveness of sins,the resurrection of the body,and the life everlasting. Amen.

Can you do me a Favor? If these ideas helped you or made you laugh, would you REACT. Do something. RESPOND. Leave a comment on this post. REPOST. Repost this link on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, or your blog.

Sing- Movie Review

noreply@blogger.com (Todd Smith- End of The Line Blog) — Fri, 30 Dec 2016 01:10:00 +0000

Sing, go see it if you are under the age of 13 and have no hopes of liking good music in the future. I am not the demographic for this movie

Sing, go see it if you need a good 20 minute nap.

Sing, go see it if you want to sit beside a grandma and her 8 year old granddaughter and desire to hear an eight year old sing Taylor Swift, Sam Smith, and Lady Gaga, among others that I did not recognize. Or want to recognize

Sing, go see it if you are not disappointed that Johnny the gorilla switched to his second choice of a song, I'm Still Standing by Elton John, and put aside, Stay with Me by Sam Smith. The eight year old singer sitting beside me was highly upset

Sing, go see it if you want to see a star studded cast of Matthew McConaughey, Scarlett Johansson, Reese Witherspoon, Seth McFarland, Jennifer Hudson, and John C. Reilly play very forgettable cartoon characters.

I give this movie a 5 out of 10

I asked my 12 year daughter what she gave this movie and she said 5 out of 10 as well. I love her.

Can you do me a Favor? If these ideas helped you or made you laugh, would you REACT. Do something. RESPOND. Leave a comment on this post. REPOST. Repost this link on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, or your blog.

Toughen Up

noreply@blogger.com (Todd Smith- End of The Line Blog) — Mon, 18 Apr 2016 21:56:00 +0000

Be bold, be strong. It is common for people to desire to be bold and strong whether you are a person of faith or not. We tell people to grow a backbone, don't be a wimp, in our best British accents we tell people to have a stiff upper lip, and some more coarse ways of telling people to be bold. Being bold and strong does not seem to come easy for many. We either cower when we are confronted by a person or a challenge or we go to the other extreme and blow up at the problem or challenge. Neither of which are being bold and strong. Blowing up seems bold and strong but it is really fear masquerading as anger. We either hide ourselves by being a coward or we push people and challenges away by blowing up with anger.

I think the solution may be in the reason that we should be bold and strong. Bold and strong are not the end result in themselves. We are bold and strong as people of faith not because we are tough. Not because we are better, smarter, or more talented than those we come in contact with. The reason we are bold and strong is because the Lord is with us. God is with us. Jesus is with us.

We do not have to be afraid of the person at work with an attitude because we can tell that person off but because God is with us. Jesus is with us. God is not afraid of that person and God is with us. God knows how to deal with that person, and dare I say God even loves that person. God can help us to speak truthfully to that person lined with a lot of grace without running away or blowing up. We can state the way we see things because we know if something bad does happen, well God is still with us and he will see us through. And that is just an example of first world problems imagine if we lived in an area where our physical lives were actually threatened. Or maybe you do live in one of those areas. If so leave me a comment and let me know about a time when you really had to be bold and strong.

So toughen up, God will strengthen us. So toughen up, God will protect us. So toughen up, God will advice us. So toughen up, Go will lead us. Toughen up.

Can you do me a Favor? If these ideas helped you or made you laugh, would you REACT. Do something. RESPOND. Leave a comment on this post. REPOST. Repost this link on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, or your blog.

Eleven Years

noreply@blogger.com (Todd Smith- End of The Line Blog) — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 15:45:00 +0000

Eleven years, one more than ten.
A decade of fun, plus one.

You danced in the first year, you still dance now.

Your hair was flowing from the start.
Your hair still flows as it captures my heart.

Your impressions come out as you notice the world.
I laugh from deep within from every face you make.

I look at you and I see me.
I look at you and I see so much more than me.

Living Hope's Response to Same Sex Marriage

noreply@blogger.com (Todd Smith- End of The Line Blog) — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 15:21:00 +0000

The current debate is plagued by this binary lens. Those on the left try to lump everyone who disagrees with them into that right side. If you don’t support, you hate. Meanwhile, those on the right see compromise and spinelessness in anyone who doesn’t get red-faced and militant. If you don’t hate, you support.

But true followers of Christ will walk neither path. We have something to say that no one else is saying, or can say. Distancing ourselves from both the left and the right, we don’t celebrate homosexual practice, we acknowledge God’s clear revealed word that it is sin; and we don’t hate those who embrace homosexuality, we love them enough to not just collapse under the societal pressure. We speak the truth in love into this confusion, saying, simultaneously, “That’s wrong” and “I love you.” We’re not the left; we say, this is wrong. And we’re not the right; we say, you’re loved. We speak good news, with those sweetest, deepest, most glorious words of the cross — the same words that God spoke us — “You’re wrong, and you’re loved.

I believe in traditional marriage, and I always will believe that. I believe that I should go out of my way to treat people with love and respect who believe in same sex marriage People on both sides of the isle think that these two beliefs do not align. But by the grace of God I will keep believing and living them both.

There will be some difficult questions to answer for the church when it comes to particular situations that will come up, maybe not for us but for the church in general. My we wise as serpents and gentle as doves. May we be full of grace and truth.

Can you do me a Favor? If these ideas helped you, you enjoyed them, they made you think, or they made you laugh, would you:

REACT. Do something.

RESPOND. Leave a comment on this post.

REPOST. Repost this link on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, or your blog.

SUBSCRIBE. Submit your email on the right and receive future blog posts

Walking With Jesus- I Am Not Busy

noreply@blogger.com (Todd Smith- End of The Line Blog) — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 15:42:00 +0000

Too much to do, too much to do, ta da da da da da, too much to do

I am not busy.

I am not sure when it started exactly, but it was sometime around the time I got married. I started working, doing, trying to accomplish all the time. I went from not being a reader, to reading non stop. I went from hardly ever caring for my home, to looking for more things to do around the house. From being a fairly hard working pastor, to trying to be Super Pastor. This didn't all happen overnight but it did happen. For 15 years I was busy. And I was not made better by my busyness. Jesus has tried to slow me down the last year. I am not busy is something he is teaching me to say, and live. Pastors are sometimes called lazy, cause they only work one day a week (we pastors love that joke) so I guess I was trying to overcompensate. Now, I do not want to be lazy, I do not have that problem, but I do not want to be a busy person.

I do not have too much to do.

I will die with things on my to do list. So I do not worry about my to do list as much as I use to. Over that becoming busy 15 year period I became a to do list. The past 6 months, I don't even make a to do list any more. I threw my to do list away. I have read all the books about Getting Things Done, including Getting Things Done, but they always made me feel like I had too much to do. They never made me feel like I was accomplishing things. Now I prioritize, to the best of my ability. I do the things I have to do and the things I want to do, by God's leading and grace, and I threw my to do list away. Don't get my wrong I am still very organized, but now I do not have too much to do.

I have things I want to accomplish, but if I don't get them done, it is not the end of the world and there is always tomorrow.

Man do I have things I want to accomplish. Some of them I do, many I do not. But the sun still comes up. I want to read a book a week, sometimes I do, sometimes I don't and the sun still comes up. I want to do things with my wife and daughter, sometimes I succeed, sometimes not so much, but the sun still comes up. I want Living Hope to grow, so I reach out, sometimes well, sometimes not for many days, but the sun still comes up.

I am not busy, by God's grace I will not allow myself to be.

Can you do me a Favor? If these ideas helped you, you enjoyed them, they made you think, or they made you laugh, would you:

REACT. Do something.

RESPOND. Leave a comment on this post.

REPOST. Repost this link on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, or your blog.

SUBSCRIBE. Submit your email on the right and receive future blog posts

Marvel Daredevil Season 1 Episode 4- In The Blood

noreply@blogger.com (Todd Smith- End of The Line Blog) — Thu, 14 May 2015 17:18:00 +0000

Benny who is trying to save Karen from getting involved with his story. Karen tries to convince Benny she can be a good source. But he remembers the pain and death his former sources went through and he does not want Karen to go through that. Benny, "My sources underestimated what people in power will do to stay in power."

Maybe I am too negative but I agree with Benny. I watch our news, our politics, and see people in power doing terrible things to stay in power. Even the ones you voted for. I never underestimate them, even the ones who have a Jesus fish on the back of their campaign bus.

Wilson Fisk on his date with Vanessa gives her his reasoning why he is the man he is. Fisk, "I am just trying to make my city a better place." That is why he kills and strong arms people, to save the city. In his twisted way he sees what he is doing as best for the city. At the end of the episode we see Fisk kill one of his Russian mobster cohorts brutally with his bare hands. His second in command, Wesley, advices Fisk that this will start a war. Fisk, "I am counting on it."

No man sees the good they are doing as evil, even it can be clearly seen by others. When man is their own standard they can call the evil they do, good.

Matt, in his black mask, tells Claire the reasoning behind the things that he does. Matt "I just want to make my city a better place." He says the same thing Fisk has said. His reason is the same, his tactics are different. Matt has an inter struggle with his tactics. His priest represents his standard of goodness. Whether he lives up to that standard is a different story. And Matt fails many times to live up to that standard from day to day. But many times he succeeds, depending on the situation and feelings toward the situation.

This blood war has only just begun.

Can you do me a Favor? If these ideas helped you, you enjoyed them, they made you think, or they made you laugh, would you:

REACT. Do something.

RESPOND. Leave a comment on this post.

REPOST. Repost this link on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, or your blog.

SUBSCRIBE. Submit your email on the right and receive future blog posts

Marvel Daredevil Season 1 Episode 3-Rabbit In A Snowstorm

noreply@blogger.com (Todd Smith- End of The Line Blog) — Tue, 12 May 2015 17:58:00 +0000

Matt Murdock defending a guilty man, Healy, by the letter of the law. Healy is a murderer who has killed another murderer, but Matt defends him. He does this because he was to see where Healy will lead him. Healy is connected to the crime ring, Matt is wanting to break down.

Closing argument from Matt. We do question morality in this courtroom. We do not question right and wrong. In the courtroom Healy must be set free because of self defence. That is the letter of the law. Outside the courtroom he may face a judgment of his own making. I wonder what that is foreshadowing?

Healy is set free in the courtroom. Healy is set free by the letter of the law. Outside the courtroom in an alley Healy faces Daredevils form of justice of his own making. Or at least that is the way Matt sees it. Through force Healy gives up a name, a name that shall not be spoken, Wilson Fisk. He calls the man in the black mask for not killing him. Healy feels as good as dead after giving up the name Fisk. So he promptly ends his own life in that courtroom alley.

We meet Mr Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin, for the first time. He is in an art gallery starring at white painting, Rabbit In A Snowstorm. He tells the art gallery director, Vanessa, "This Painting makes me feel alone." Mr Fisk will consistently feel alone.

Can you do me a Favor? If these ideas helped you, you enjoyed them, they made you think, or they made you laugh, would you:

REACT. Do something.

RESPOND. Leave a comment on this post.

REPOST. Repost this link on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, or your blog.

SUBSCRIBE. Submit your email on the right and receive future blog posts

Marvel Daredevil Season 1 Episode 2- Cut Man

noreply@blogger.com (Todd Smith- End of The Line Blog) — Wed, 06 May 2015 15:58:00 +0000

Matt in a dumpster. Sometimes when you loose you can still win. Matt has lost a big battle against Hell's Kitchen darkness, but he still wins by being found by a new friend, Claire. Who turns out to be a nurse, and Matt is going to need her help many times.

Battling Jack Murdock, Matt's dad, advised his young son, "It's not how many times you get knocked down Matty, it's how you get up." And Matt will get up. He was knocked by a group of evil men who had kidnapped a boy, but he will get back up. The kid was kidnapped by the Russian mafia as a trap to draw in the man in the black mask, and they proceeded to knock him down. But he will get back up.

Claire wants to know about Matt, but the less about Matt she knows the better is Matt's opinion. So she nicknames him Mike, after a former boyfriend who was good a keeping secrets. She does know that Mike/Matt inherited taking a beating from his dad. She had to patch up his dad's side. She also knows he is blind, but Matt/Mike informs her there is more than one way to see. Matt can sense people from far away, and he saves them from danger. The Russians are looking for the man in the black mask who got away from their grasp. They have tracked him to Claire's.

Meanwhile Foggy and Karen are getting to know each other, by drinking and bad acting.

After Matt kindly persuades some information on the kidnapped boys whereabouts from one of the Russians. He decided it's time to get up. His dad refused to stay down. Jack Murdock was paid to take a dive in a boxing match by gamblers, but he finally stood up and refused to be that type of man. It cost him his life. Matt in his black mask goes to face unbelievable odds to save this kidnapped boys life, even if it costs him his own. With one of the best fight scenes you will ever see, the man in the black mask gets that kidnapped boy back home to his dad.

Can you do me a Favor? If these ideas helped you, you enjoyed them, they made you think, or they made you laugh, would you:

REACT. Do something.

RESPOND. Leave a comment on this post.

REPOST. Repost this link on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, or your blog.

SUBSCRIBE. Submit your email on the right and receive future blog posts

Marvel Daredevil Season 1 Episode 1-Into The Ring

noreply@blogger.com (Todd Smith- End of The Line Blog) — Tue, 05 May 2015 17:46:00 +0000

Confession is good for the soul. I love Matt Murdock's relationship with his priest, Father Lantom. Matt and other characters working out good and evil are a main theme throughout the season. One of the first views we have of Matt Murdock, Daredevil, is him working out his salvation with fear and trembling.

Right away we see Matt Murdock struggling with wanting to do good, but doing it in a bad way. He has daddy issues. He confesses to his priest how his father, Jack Murdock, as a boxer would trap men in the corner and let the devil out. Matt as Daredevil would do this as well, he would trap men in alleys and let the devil out.

Matt is confessing sins he has not committed yet. Father Lantom informs Matt it does not work that way. Better late than never they say, well Matt believes in better early than never. Matt dawns his black masks and stops sex traffickers, but as the police are arriving to take them away he beats one fiend bloody. Matt doing good, but just beyond good and just beyond the law. He traps them in a corner and lets the devil out.

Karen Page, framed for murder, needs a couple of good samaritans to defend her. Enter Nelson and Murdock, Foggy Nelson and Matt Murdock attorneys at law, to defend her innocence. Her good Samaritan has a hidden side, a blind side. Karen cannot keep her secrets from Daredevils honed senses. He saves her with his fists but also with he daredevil heightened senses. He saves her by getting the documents she had borrowed from her former company, Alliance United, into the authorities hands. Karen is saved and she finds a home with Nelson and Murdock attorneys at law.

Hell's Kitchen has almost collapsed. It is trying to rebuild but the corruption is to great. Someone is pulling the strings in Hell's Kitchen and Matt Murdock, the man in the black mask, is pulling back.

Can you do me a Favor? If these ideas helped you, you enjoyed them, they made you think, or they made you laugh, would you:

REACT. Do something.

RESPOND. Leave a comment on this post.

REPOST. Repost this link on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, or your blog.

SUBSCRIBE. Submit your email on the right and receive future blog posts

Pie In The Face Game

noreply@blogger.com (Todd Smith- End of The Line Blog) — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 15:55:00 +0000

I love this guy's laugh.

Can you do me a Favor? If these ideas helped you, you enjoyed them, they made you think, or they made you laugh, would you:

REACT. Do something.

RESPOND. Leave a comment on this post.

REPOST. Repost this link on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, or your blog.

SUBSCRIBE. Submit your email on the right and receive future blog posts

Walking With Jesus- Fear of Missing Out

noreply@blogger.com (Todd Smith- End of The Line Blog) — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 15:27:00 +0000

What I have chosen to do is the most important thing once I have have chosen to do it, and I shouldn't let my mind wander. Being present with what I have chosen to do and not wishing I had made a different choice will add to my joy and take away stress.

Whatever we are doing, most likely we have chosen. There are cases where we are forced, but that is a different topic for a different day. Even if we are in place we do not want to be: work, school, a relationship, etc, we have made the choices to get us to that place in life. (Not talking about children here). It seems like we make our choices and then our choices make us. But we still have control on how we will respond. Wow, that sounds to self helpy, so try your best to respond your best.

Anyway, back on topic. Whatever I am doing is the most important. First I must choose wisely where to spend my time. Then devote all of me there. I choose to spend my time in prayer, with my wife, my child, work, play, rest, then I must make sure I am fully present. I focus all my attention in whatever I chosen to do, I do not need to be anyplace else. Those other things will take care of themselves, or I will deal with them in their proper time. A time which I can be fully present to deal with other issue.

Much of the time I struggle with this. It is the age we live in. I fight it, sometimes successfully, many times not. (What say you, dear?) I am watching a movie, checking twitter, email, facebook, and trying to read all at the same time. Doing none of them well and not truly enjoying any of the tasks. I fear missing out. If I watch this movie, what am I missing in a book? If I read the book, what am I missing on social media? If I am spending time with my wife, what am I missing at work? And on and on it goes.

I AM NOT MISSING OUT, I yell at myself as a subtle reminder. (I put the "b" in subtle). Whatever I have chosen to do, only do that. If I am unhappy with what I have chosen, simple, chose something else.

Great, you can multitask. Good for you. I will give you a cookie. But you probably won't enjoy it because you are eating it while driving and texting.

I believe learning to live in the moment and understanding we are not missing out will give us peace of mind. We will focus on things most important.

How about you? How does your mind wander? What do your multi, triplti task on? How many things do you attempt to do at once? Leave me a comment?

Can you do me a Favor? If these ideas helped you, you enjoyed them, they made you think, or they made you laugh, would you:

REACT. Do something.

RESPOND. Leave a comment on this post.

REPOST. Repost this link on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, or your blog.

SUBSCRIBE. Submit your email on the right and receive future blog posts

Human Powered Amusement Park

noreply@blogger.com (Todd Smith- End of The Line Blog) — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 14:54:00 +0000

Can you do me a Favor? If these ideas helped you, you enjoyed them, they made you think, or they made you laugh, would you:

REACT. Do something.

RESPOND. Leave a comment on this post.

REPOST. Repost this link on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, or your blog.

SUBSCRIBE. Submit your email on the right and receive future blog posts

Walking With Jesus- Have a Song In Your Heart

noreply@blogger.com (Todd Smith- End of The Line Blog) — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 16:11:00 +0000

I am always looking for a good song. In my opinion they are hard to find. But like hidden treasure if you find a good song it is so valuable.

Find a song you enjoy.

Find a song that is memorable. There must be something special about the song. Songs that do not standout should be made illegal.

Find a song that inspires you. Whether towards God or the things of God. Things that are loving, good, joyful, kind, etc.

Find songs that are smart. Dumb lyrics can turn me off from a song no matter the beat.

Find a song that brings back a memory. That is what I will share with you in the remainder of this blog, songs that bring back a memory.

"In Christ Alone" impacted my life greatly one day. I was awakened by my wife one morning with some terrible news. A friend of mine had been in a car accident and his little girl had died. I was very grieved for him. That same day we had a wedding to attend where the couple played this song during their wedding. I realized I was witnessing a happy day for one group of friends at this wedding, while another friend was having the worst day of his life. Then the line in the song hit me, "From life's first cry til final breath, Jesus commands my destiny." So now this song has become a song of joy and a song of mourning for me. But in both cases I stand in Christ alone.

"Come Thou Fount" the first time I heard this song was in a commercial as I was flipping through channels. I had sung the song before but I had never heard it. When I saw that brief commercial I went and listened to the song. I recorded that movie and watched it. It was a cheesy movie on Lifetime or Hallmark, but the scene where he sang that song stuck with me. The actor was sitting on a bench outside overlooking a valley singing "Come Thou Fount." From that time on I wanted a prayer bench outside where I could pray. Well my wife bought me one for Christmas a few years back. So if you see me outside on my bench I am probably singing "Come Thou Fount."

I am a huge Johnny Cash fan and this is one of my favorites "Jackson." My daughter and I would sing this song together when she was very young on car trips. I still remember her belting out her part from the backseat. I remember her instructing me on my part. She could sing the the June Carter parts better than ole June. This song brings a smile to my face everytime I hear it.

This song is ignorant and not a good song at all but I like it. This was Six Flags over Georgia's theme song back in 2005. My daughter had just started to stand and walk around that time. The commercial for Six Flags came on television and my daughter heard this song and started bouncing. I laughed and laughed. She danced every time I played this song, (still does) So this ignorant song will always have a special place in my heart.

The night Monica and I welcomed Elizabeth into the world I played this song on the little cd player we brought to the hospital. My first dance with my daughter was to this song.

This song Monica and I played after we were pronounced man and wife. We exited the church to this song. Every now and then when the world that we are living in is crazy, she gladly holds me and sees me through. I would be sad and lonely without her.

What is a song that you enjoy that brings back a memory?

Can you do me a Favor? If these ideas helped you, you enjoyed them, they made you think, or they made you laugh, would you:

REACT. Do something.

RESPOND. Leave a comment on this post.

REPOST. Repost this link on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, or your blog.

SUBSCRIBE. Submit your email on the right and receive future blog posts

Walking With Jesus- Hope

noreply@blogger.com (Todd Smith- End of The Line Blog) — Tue, 24 Mar 2015 15:39:00 +0000

These three things remain faith, hope, and love, but the greatest of these is love.

If everything else fades away, and it will(except for faith and love: see above), hope never does.

Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things(I heard that in a movie)

Faith is us putting our trust in God as we walk through life. Hope is knowing no matter what happens, God will not let us down.

Don't put your hope in a certain outcome, because that will let you down. Put your hope in God and trust him with every outcome.

It is going to be ok, come what may.

I have not mastered hope, but I hope to get better at hope.

"There are seldom, if ever, any hopeless situations, but sometimes I lose hope in the face of some situations."

I read a story about a town that was going to be destroyed because the state was going to dam up the river. All the citizens had several years to prepare and move. But before even the first resident ever moved from the town, the town started to fall apart. There was no future for the town, so the town began to fall apart. A lack of hope will destroy a town. A lack of hope will destroy a life.

"We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope." MLK Jr.

I was trying to think of seven ways to remain hopeful, but I couldn't and I was not that motivated.

Just remember, the future is so bright I got to wear shades.

Ok this is the weirdest blog I have ever done. I hope it made you a little bit more hopeful, or at least made you laugh.

I have an idea, what are ways you remain hopeful? Let me know.

Can you do me a Favor? If these ideas helped you, you enjoyed them, they made you think, or they made you laugh, would you:

REACT. Do something.

RESPOND. Leave a comment on this post.

REPOST. Repost this link on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, or your blog.

SUBSCRIBE. Submit your email on the right and receive future blog posts

Walking With Jesus-Boundaries

noreply@blogger.com (Todd Smith- End of The Line Blog) — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 17:57:00 +0000

This has been the hardest lesson I have had to learn over the past year, boundaries.

Imagine if you will every conversation that you have there is an invisible fence between you and the other person. This is a good thing, they can see you you can see them. It is not a fence of isolation it is a fence to keep you in your space and your friend in there space. This fence should be there with every relationship you have. From your closest relationships of spouse, children, parents, siblings, to secondary relationships, friends, neighbors, and coworkers. I must stay on my side of the way.

This even works with our relationship with God. I can't cross over into being God.

Staying on my side of the line in my relationships is hard. I always think from the other person's point of view.

Because of this I feel responsible for:
-Other people's happiness
-Behaviors
-Schedules
-Problems
-Sins
-Relationships
-Etc

Praise God I have gotten better at this (I think)

I love those close to me but I am not responsible for their happiness nor are they responsible for mine. That does not mean I do not love and support them, it does mean I know what my responsibilities are and what their responsibilities are.

I highly recommend Henry Townsends book, Boundaries, if you struggle with always thinking other people's thoughts, directing other people's actions, or feeling other people's emotions. Those things are not healthy for you and me. They are stressing us out. Plus we are not helping the person whose boundary we crossed.

Plus you need to control your own boundaries. Your mother, sister, friend, in laws, church member, coworker, and even spouse should not be controlling your life by crossing your boundaries. God himself will not cross your boundaries. He does not work that way. (Dr. Cloud's book discusses this in detail.)

What are your boundaries? How have you let people cross them? Whose boundaries have you crossed?

God bless you

Can you do me a Favor? If these ideas helped you, you enjoyed them, they made you think, or they made you laugh, would you:

REACT. Do something.

RESPOND. Leave a comment on this post.

REPOST. Repost this link on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, or your blog.

SUBSCRIBE. Submit your email on the right and receive future blog posts

Walking With Jesus-I do not have to justify or explain my preferences

noreply@blogger.com (Todd Smith- End of The Line Blog) — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 17:42:00 +0000

1. If you like it and it is not sinning against God, you do not have to justify it.
-I like Johnny Cash and superheroes.

2. If you like it and it is not making you hate your neighbor, you do not have to justify it.
-I like not liking politics. I like not liking hunting(although I do like deer meat).

3. If you like it and it is not against the law, you do not have to justify it.
-I like standup comics

4. If you like it and you are not causing someone of weaker faith to stumble, you do not have to justify it.
-I like not liking Contemporary Christian Music

5. If you like it and it makes you sin, hate your neighbor, break the law, causes a weaker faith person to stumble, you can't justify it. The only one who can justify you is Jesus. From there you rethink the things that you like and find new things that you like.
-I like living at peace with everyone, as far as it depends on me

-I am not saying to be rude and tell others to mind their own business and stay out of mine. But for years I felt like I had to justify the things I liked and it made me argue with those who liked things that I did not like. Well I stopped that(I think) about a year ago. Now I like the things I like and you can like what you choose(even if you do like the wrong things). I do not feel the urge to make people like what I like anymore. I also do not feel like have to explain myself to those who are not on the same page as my likes. I even had the courage last week to talk to a new friend the other day about some things I like and do not like, I would never had done that a year ago.

So like on.

What do you like? Explain yourself.

Can you do me a Favor? If these ideas helped you, you enjoyed them, they made you think, or they made you laugh, would you:

REACT. Do something.

RESPOND. Leave a comment on this post.

REPOST. Repost this link on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, or your blog.

SUBSCRIBE. Submit your email on the right and receive future blog posts

Super Cafe: And The Reboot Goes To

noreply@blogger.com (Todd Smith- End of The Line Blog) — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 16:37:00 +0000

Walking With Jesus-This Works Best For Me

noreply@blogger.com (Todd Smith- End of The Line Blog) — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 14:54:00 +0000

The phrase, "This works best for me," has had a major impact on my life the last six months. It was taught to me by a wise counsellor I trust.

I am legally blind, which brings about many challenges. Many times it brings me into embarrassing situations which I try to avoid or mask. I definitely do not talk about them, especially on a blog, what am I doing?

Once on a field trip with my daughter I was put in charge of 5 fifth graders in downtown Grand Rapids looking at the Artprize exhibits. Because of my eyesight I am really bad and uncomfortable with directions. I have trouble reading signs. I have trouble reading maps. I got us lost. The kids had a good time, because I have learned how to fake my way through these situations. They didn't even notice we were lost (I don't think). This situation left me very upset and frustrated.

I talked this over with someone. During that conversation, "This works best for me," was born. I should have been honest with the teacher and told him leading in downtown Grand Rapids does "Not Work Best For Me." I should have brought my GPS, I can follow that well. The GPS, "Works best for me."

In any situation I have to find, "What works best for me." I do not do this out of selfishness. I do this out of my limitations and many times personal preferences. I do take the other persons point of view into consideration when figuring out, "What works best for me." If it does not, "Work best for them," I will have to compromise or we will have to do something else or not at all.

If I do not figure out, "What works best for me," the situation deteriorates. I do not have fun, others do not, and nothing is accomplished, except stress.

So the way God has made me, with my talents, limitations, gifts, calling, preferences, surrendered to Jesus, I ask, "What works best for me?"

Mark 1:35-39 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!” 38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” 39 So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

Jesus even knew, "What worked best for him."

How about you? Have you done things in the past out of guilt, embarrassment, or just to please someone and you knew that you were not doing, "What was best for you?"

How can you use the phrase, "This works best for me, " to walk with Jesus in the future? What gifts, limitations, calling, and talents has He given you? What works best for you?

Can you do me a Favor? If these ideas helped you, you enjoyed them, they made you think, or they made you laugh, would you:

REACT. Do something.

RESPOND. Leave a comment on this post.

REPOST. Repost this link on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, or your blog.

SUBSCRIBE. Submit your email on the right and receive future blog posts

Walking With Jesus-Be Yourself

noreply@blogger.com (Todd Smith- End of The Line Blog) — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 18:46:00 +0000

I am Todd. Nobody else is. Nobody else wants to be. I am Todd and that is enough. That is good enough. Nobody else does the things I do, feels the way I feel, has had the experiences I have had.

I am me and that is good enough. I do not have to be like someone else. I do not have to hide the person that I am.

Many times I do hide the person that I am. I am going to let you in on a secret, I do not like contemporary Christian music. I think it all sounds the same, it is marketed to a certain audience to make money, it is not very original, not many of the musicians have slaved over their craft, the lyrics are very kitsch, and the music is generic. I would rather listen to Johnny Cash or the Beatles any day. I have always felt like that is something I must hide in the world I live in. From Bible college to other pastors, listening to music other than contemporary Christians was looked down upon. But I am Todd, so I will listen to John, Paul, George, and Ringo. At the same time I will not looked down on others for listening to contemporary Christian music which I have a very strong opinion about.

I have things I don't like about me, and things I do. I wish I hadn't got my grandfather's hairline, but his tenderness in prayer I am glad I received. I also got his eyes, which have been a challenge, but also have shaped me as well. I can draw a little, lift weights a little, read a lot, love being a husband, father, son, brother, pastor. I am Todd

I want to be like Jesus. I have discovered in a mysterious way the more I become like Jesus, the more I become my true self. Selah.

Andrew McCutchen, the centerfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates, is good at imitating other batters mannerisms. But he could never bat like them in a game, nor does he need to. He is great just being himself.

So I just want to be Todd.

What about you? Are you an imitation or are you yourself?

Can you do me a Favor? If these ideas helped you, you enjoyed them, they made you think, or they made you laugh, would you:

REACT. Do something.

RESPOND. Leave a comment on this post.

REPOST. Repost this link on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, or your blog.

SUBSCRIBE. Submit your email on the right and receive future blog posts

Song Of The Day- For What It's Worth

noreply@blogger.com (Todd Smith- End of The Line Blog) — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 14:54:00 +0000

Us vs them. Bad lines we draw. We are us and we are not them. We put them in our sights.

Hooray for our side. Curse their side because they are not on our side.

These thoughts are killing us.

Jesus~ "Love your enemies." "Father forgive them, they do not know what they are doing."

There's something happening here
What it is ain't exactly clear
There's a man with a gun over there
Telling me I got to beware

I think it's time we stop, children, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down

There's battle lines being drawn
Nobody's right if everybody's wrong
Young people speaking their minds
Getting so much resistance from behind

It's time we stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down

What a field-day for the heat
A thousand people in the street
Singing songs and carrying signs
Mostly say, hooray for our side

It's s time we stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down

Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep
It starts when you're always afraid
You step out of line, the man come and take you away

We better stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Stop, now, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Stop, children, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down

REACT. Do something.

RESPOND. Leave a comment on this post.

REPOST. Repost this link on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, or your blog.

SUBSCRIBE. Submit your email on the right and receive future blog posts.

Walking With Jesus- Enjoy Brilliance and Beauty

noreply@blogger.com (Todd Smith- End of The Line Blog) — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 16:31:00 +0000

I have a buddy whom I call or text every time I discover a song, movie, book, piece of artwork, or piece of comedy that stands out from the crowd. To stand out from the crowd it has to be brilliant or beautiful.

We gravitate toward the trite and trivial rather than the somber and grave often because we are trying desperately to hide our true selves.

I do not like trite music, trite movies, trite worship songs, trite books. I sometimes may partake in them, but it never takes me to a higher place. It never fills my soul. They are shallow and are meant to be taken as such and moved on from.

Wow this sounds high horse and preachy, oh well.

I like brilliant and beautiful music, and it seems hard to find on the top forty charts both secular and Christian. So you have to look.

I like brilliant movies and beautiful acting. The Lego movie may have some funny parts and it leads to the happy moral ending, but it is not the best movie of all time. I heard someone call it the best movie of all time. That made me sad. I will take Casablanca anyday of the week.

And don't get me started on the shallow music coming out of Nashville.

The most discouraging part of it is we do the same thing with God. We have turned God into a bumper sticker, T-shirt, political ad, or top 40 music song.

Wow, high horse and preachy again.

I don't want to end this blog that way. I want to encourage everyone to look for more than surface entertainment. I encourage us, myself mostly, to look for the brilliant and beautiful. It is easy for me to go to the trite and trivial. It is like junk food. I want to look for the brilliant and beautiful. It is there. It can be found. It grows our souls

Can you do me a Favor? If these ideas helped you, you enjoyed them, they made you think, or they made you laugh, would you:

REACT. Do something.

RESPOND. Leave a comment on this post.

REPOST. Repost this link on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, or your blog.

SUBSCRIBE. Submit your email on the right and receive future blog posts

Song Of The Day-Awake My Soul

noreply@blogger.com (Todd Smith- End of The Line Blog) — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 14:41:00 +0000

How fickle my heart and how woozy my eyes
I struggle to find any truth in your lies
And now my heart stumbles on things I don't know
My weakness I feel I must finally show

Lend me your hand and we'll conquer them all
But lend me your heart and I'll just let you fall
Lend me your eyes I can change what you see
But your soul you must keep totally free

Awake my soul, awake my soul

How fickle my heart and how woozy my eyes
I struggle to find any truth in your lies
And now my heart stumbles on things I don't know
My weakness I feel I must finally show

In these bodies we will live, in these bodies we will die
Where you invest your love, you invest your life
In these bodies we will live, in these bodies we will die
And where you invest your love, you invest your life

Awake my soul, awake my soul
Awake my soul
For you were made to meet your maker

Awake my soul, awake my soul
Awake my soul
For you were made to meet your maker
You were made to meet your maker

Can you do me a Favor? If these ideas helped you, you enjoyed them, they made you think, or they made you laugh, would you:

REACT. Do something.

RESPOND. Leave a comment on this post.

REPOST. Repost this link on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, or your blog.

SUBSCRIBE. Submit your email on the right and receive future blog posts