Be All You Can Be!

An admirable slogan from our US Army!  Be all you can be; and at the end of this first quarter of this new year! Is there any limit?  Are there any barriers?  Any impossibilities?  How do be all we can be to go beyond ourselves, other than to harness (discipline) ourselves and hitch to that which is beyond, which includes our hopes and dreams.Jesus tells us today to go beyond being all you can be by remaining in Him.  “Remain in Me, and I will remain in you.  For a branch ...
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Temptations

Just curious.  Have you ever felt you’re the only one that has been where you have been while on a down swing or overwhelmed?  The prophet Elijah comes to my mind. “Elijah replied to God, “I have zealously served You, LORD God Almighty.  But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with You, torn down Your altars, and killed every one of Your prophets.  I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”  He even said it twice!  We might feel sympathet...
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Just One

I’m sure (?) you’ve never been told, “just one,” or “you pick one.”  Even Panera Bread allows you to pick two!  When you’re looking into schools and jobs, you may start with many, but the end result is one.  Just one.Understanding how God inspired His writers to convey His thoughts that we might know Him is both precious and humbling, often phrased as “the fear of the LORD.”  It may be a poem or lyrics to a song, or the record of history or experience, but the part recorde...
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One-Liners

It’s almost funny, the one-liners we hear, lines of thought from others.  One one-liner came to my mind, again, just recently.  I didn’t personally appreciate the political overtone, but It is a classic.  “Smile more, talk less.”  It is a wise saying, being confident of God’s sovereignty, yet disciplined in our speech, as God had His writer record, “Don’t be hasty in bringing matters before God.  After all, God is in heaven, and you are here on earth.  So let your words be...
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Command & Commands

Those that have command as a position, command; having been given the authority to, command.  Ultimately, the command is given by God, as, “It is God alone who judges; He decides who will rise and who will fall.”“Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophet, and now through His Son.”  But He also spoke to some directly, earlier.  To the appointed successor of Moses, God spoke directly, succinctly, “This is My command—be strong and cou...
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Fear

Fear pops up in the strangest way.  It can actually cause us to physically tremble.  It can be from the awesomeness of God or His creation and sounds, like Niagara Falls.  It can also be like that which causes our chest to tighten, and even become our concentration, counter to God’s desire.  Leaving one another is often a time of fear and sadness, being away from even you!  Fear is exhibited in many ways.  Some shake, rattle and roll. others yell, some withdraw, others lau...
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Wise Men

Yes, counselors and mentors, those men and women who are wise in their field of endeavor, have a work to do, a work beyond the obvious of record-keeping, listening, and talking.  Even multitudes of parents have a generation of experiences to be wisely used for their next generation.  Wisdom comes from intentional study; otherwise, we repeat over and again our own mistakes, even unto the following generations.  Isn’t it interesting that Magi, the wise men from the east, stu

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And Yet

It’s often the little things we choose to pick up; on; or not.  We recently had a literal fun “walk” with one who kept interrupting himself with, “and yet.”  And yet, hopefully, in our own life paces, we would reply in the same way by and by, and yet; connecting with thoughts beyond the commonness of ourselves.We are often lulled by the commercial foreground and background, and the liturgy and phrases of church attendance, even Christmas carols that proclaim God’s wonder, ...
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GMA Soccer Team!

 We have established a GMA church soccer team, which has been a long-cherished wish of the children. I will be the coach and Reagan (a church staff) will be the assistant coach, so we can start. Namhee diligently prepares soccer balls and always prepares meals and snacks for the children when they gather. We gather every Thursday at 5 and play soccer until 7. I am especially thankful that the Youth Leadership, who grew up in faith in the church, plays an important role ...
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Continuums

Continuums are and do one thing.  As a computer computes and taxes are due, so continuums continue.  There are no prejudices or biases with the continuums, just continuance.But with us, there are continuums both good and bad.  We can even mix the two, chew both, if you will, although it should not be, from God’s perspective.  Even as He calls us out, He puts us on notice, saying our tongues are untamable, unstable; for “With it we bless Adonai, the Father; and with it we c...
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PWC at Ferlazzo Emergency Shelter

Thanks to FBC volunteers and Brittany's Restaurant for supporting a Veteran's Day recognition to the residents of the shelter. Blessings to those present.

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Whelm

Many times you have become whelmed, perhaps unknowingly.  Other times there are when you have realized you were in a state of being over-whelmed, not understanding that being whelmed is already being submerged; and overwhelming being submerged-submerged, double submerged, engulfed, even buried!Even in the midst of a miracle, we can still be over-whelmed.  Take the example of a fisherman, one used to being around and in the water.  He grew up with water and its storms, whic...
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Life First Visit

A few of our ladies from Friendship Baptist got together for a tour of the Life First facility  to learn more about this wonderful ministry.   Then off to Krispy Kreme for a snack and IHop for lunch. A great day of fellowship.

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Practice

What was it you had to practice when you were little?  Was it blowing bubbles with bubble gum?  Whistling?  Reaching for the next bar of the jungle gym?  Writing your letters and learning your multiplication tables?  Whatever it was, you were practicing to be different, a skillset or a way of thinking.  It took practice to make these changes.  In fact, it takes perfect practice to make perfect.  Some later even make their life work, called, a practice, be it law or medical...
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Concentrate

Some products are marketed in the form of concentrate.  Others provide their product all ready for use, complete with, water added. Am I so lazy as to have a commercial outfit add the water for me? You really want me to answer that? Ok. Admittedly, sometimes I do. Sometimes I don’t.But there is another type (interesting word for another time) of concentrate. Am I focused on where I should be focused, with all of my energies, like several super-heroes battling with their...
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