Daily Buffet

…but I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage;

Posts Tagged ‘power’

Jesus Didn’t Tapout

July 6th, 2010

Over the weekend while I was traveling back home, I saw on a small church sign in the backwoods of the Florida panhandle the words “Jesus Did Not Tapout”. My initial reaction was like, what does that mean? Isn’t tapout some MMA fighter stuff? Sure Jesus fought. He fought more then we can ever imagine. So I decided to look this tapout stuff up.

To my surprise, to tap out means to give up. It’s the sign of surrender in MMA or even in just plain ol’ wrestling. Of course that makes me wonder why all these rough and tough MMA guys wear TapouT clothing – since it essentially says “Give Up” on the clothing. As I kept digging to find out what this church sign could be referring to, I found that there is also Never Tapout clothing for MMA followers, and even a Jesus Didn’t Tap website.

So, even though my initial reaction was one of “what are you all talking about”, I agree with that little sign on this church. It’s not that Jesus would be a big MMA fighter dude. I don’t think that at all. Actually, I am not a big fan of the MMA, and not a hater – just neutral. But that’s not really the message here today. It seems this message fits the idea of buffeting your spiritually body daily. The idea that Jesus did not give up. He was presented with trials and temptations bigger then we will ever face, and he did not give in. He did not tap. That’s the idea. One of persistence and focus and forging ahead no matter what was in his way. When Jesus came to this Earth he had a very challenging mission and he fulfilled it. That’s not to say he didn’t grow weary, or even dread it, but he continued to move, continued to fight and didn’t “tap out”, as they say.

How about you today. Will you tap out, or will you stay focused on your mission?

^5-8Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion. (Philippians 2:5-8, The Message)

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Busy Busy Busy

February 22nd, 2010

When the alarm sounded at 6am this morning, I was immediately filled with dread. I had already peeked at my schedule for the day, and I knew what lie in front of me, and the how long the day would be. It’s not just that a day of work was on the horizon, but a day of rushing. From the moment I opened my eyes, until I lay in the bed tonight, even as I write this post, its rush. Its hurry, its multitask, its push as much into each moment as possible. And that stinks. I am not talking living and getting as much out of each moment in life, I am talking about getting through it as fast as you can so you can get to something else. Thats just not right. Then there’s two sad things to be said about this, first tomorrow will be the same and second my life is probably not much different from yours. My days call to my attention the sower and the seed

…but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. Matt 13:22

So the challenge today is this – and its more of question to you then an answer – how do we deal with this crazy life. It seems we have to either radically change our lives or figure out how to maintain this riducilous lifestyle and not be choked. So yesterday I heard someone mentioned 2 Peter 1. So in the midst of this busy pushed composition, a took a look over there. Somehow we have to continue to add to our life these elements:

⁵For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; ⁶and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; ⁷and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.

And look just above this in 2 Peter. He tells us that to get out of the trappings of the world, those are the things that you need.

³His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. ⁴Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

and then after that list of traits he tells us this

⁸For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

So today, I am going to try to not focus on the busyness of the day, and somehow try to “make every effort to add” the things that Peter listed to my life. I hope that bring some calmness and control to a schedule that feels insane. What do you think?

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Pushing Through the Falls

February 19th, 2010

Last night, once I finally got home from late night basketball, I sat down and watched a little bit of the Fall-a-lympics. Did you notice? In the women’s snowboard, fall after fall. Men’s skating – fall, fall, fall. So many falls, that I eventually “fell” asleep, kicked back in my favorite chair and missed the great victory last night in men’s skating (disappointing ).

Anyway, while I was still awake, I was asking my lovely and multi-talented wife why she thought there were so many falls. We both through out several theories, including that they tired ( like us), they didn’t get enough practice, or that is was Bush’s fault. (ok just kidding on the last one). But ultimately we settled, and I think this is true, on that fact that they are having to push so hard because there is such a small separation between Gold and last. They push so hard, and when you push yourself, sometimes you make mistakes. All of these athletes are capable of pretty incredible athletic accomplishments, but on the world’s stage we see them falter. They could pull back just a little and finish their event without a fall, but would fall would be any chance at a medal. So, they go for it, they push themselves a little past what they can comfortable do, and when it works – its awesome!

So it is with our lives – physical and spiritual. We can live in our comfort zone and never make a mistake, and never reap the reward. Live it out on the edge. Push yourself in your life. Accept that you will not be perfect, but at times, things will work out in a way that you just can’t even imagine how awesome the reward will be.

This is why I love the Olympics. It so inspiring, its so motivating, its such a microcosm of life.

So, lets take some risks, lets live a little bit crazy, step out of the place of comfort and lets impact others by pushing on the edges.

And then find your safety in God.

New International Version (NIV)Psalm 4:7-8

⁷ You have filled my heart with greater joy
than when their grain and new wine abound.

⁸ I will lie down and sleep in peace,
for you alone, O LORD,
make me dwell in safety.

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Motivation for Gold

February 16th, 2010

I like to watch the Olympics. Unfortunately, I had to DVR the Opening Ceremony and have not returned to watch it yet. Last night, I was digging the Snowboard Cross -that’s pretty cool stuff. However, there’s the crazy part of the coverage. As my youngest came into the room last night and said “Dad, the Olympics are the Talklympics.” We all know it. NBC likes to talk talk talk talk and talk some more when the Olympics are on. And then there’s that part that I know I should enjoy watching, but for some reason cringe every time they start – the special interest pieces. So last night as I was getting ready for bed, there was a piece of Alexandre Bilodeau.

You know him right? Well, if you are Canadian you do. He’s the first Canadian Gold Medal winner on Canadian soil, and last night they had a special interest story on him, and afterward I was glad I watched it. Alexandre has a older brother with cerebral palsy. His brother Frederic, who is 28, was supposed to stop walking at 10. He’s still walking. Alexandre mentioned that makes him wonder how far he can push himself – what are the real limits – if his brother can push himself to still be walking 18 years after he was told he would not be able to. He also credits his brother as his motivation for his success in skiing. Read this quote, and think about these words

“as an athlete you always have good days and bad days, there’s so many days you just don’t want to go train. I realize that I have the opportunity [to train] and that I need to use that opportunity because my brother does not have that chance.”

That’s pretty powerful stuff. How many times do we complain and not do things, because we don’t want to, but we are fully capable of it. This is a good thought to consider today. Take advantage of opportunities. Look for ways to push yourself, and to impact others. You have the ability, don’t let the rain slow you down.

Hebrews 3:12-14 (New International Version)

¹²See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. ¹³But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. ¹⁴We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.

Galatians 6:9 (New International Version)

⁹Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

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The Glory of Presidents Day

February 15th, 2010

Today is President’s Day as you all know – a day that we stop and remember those Presidents of the past and provide them with the honor and glory due them. The honor of the Office of President or the POTUS, as we like to say, is incredible. I am alway impressed ( and bored) when I go to the Hall of Presidents at Disney World. It’s impressive because you can see – by the wonder and magic of Disney’s animatronics- all of the presidents lined up together have a gay old time. (Bored, because they actually speak, but its a great place for a rest, and a bit of air conditioning if its hot outside). Ok, seriously, the POTUS is in a position to be hailed and given glory, but despite all the greatness of any of these men, they are made or broken by the men around them. The people, the judges, the men in Congress and the press, can help or hurt the legacy that any of these men have left behind.

But consider for a moment the POTU ( thats the President of the Universe). The POTU, or God, has made everything. His glory is completely his.

¹¹“You are worthy, our Lord and God,
   to receive glory and honor and power,
   for you created all things,
      and by your will they were created
      and have their being.” – Revelation 4:11

And the best part is that he made you, and passed that glory on to you

²⁶ Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

²⁷ So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them. – Gen 1:26-27

Stop and think about that. God is so glorious, and he made us. So today remember you favorite past president for their accomplishments – whether it be Reagan and the Wall, Carter and inflation, Lincoln and slavery, FDR and The NewDeal, Wilson, Washington, Kennedy, Clinton, Taft, Cleveland, Adams(squared), Bush(squared), McKinley, Jefferson, and so on. Give them their due! Thank God for them, Praise them, but also remember God put them in power and he made you!