These Donuts are To Die For!!!

I hope the title of the blog enticed you. I'm sure it did, because, well, you're reading this. "To Die For". I've heard people say that phrase for a really long time. I'm sure you know people who say it also. I've got news for you though- I don't say it. I never have.

 

Actually I think its a pretty horrible phrase. An all out lie if you ask me. I really don't know anyone who would die for a donut, a salad, a piece of chocolate. If I gave you the option to have or do something, but the exchange for it was death, I would be sure that none of you would take me up on it.

In truth, there is nothing that I could give you to eat that would be "to die for".

 

Now don't get me wrong, I think that there are things out there that are worth dying for. Death is the ultimate price that someone can pay for something, either good or bad. Our life is only one, and when we give it up in death to someone, we have given the ultimate sacrifice.

 

It was Nathan Hale that said- "I regret that I only have one life to give for my country". That's a bold statement, and one that we as Americans should take to heart this Friday as we move into Memorial Weekend.

 

Monday isn't a day off from work so you can go shopping for a new mattress. Its a day set aside for us as a nation to honor those who have died in Military Service.

 

I found a link that lists the American Casualties in war. You can see it here http://www.militaryfactory.com/american_war_deaths.asp take special notice of WWII and The Civil war. These two wars combined had 1 million deaths.

 

What you feel about war is irrelevant in this case. The truth is that there have been over 1 million service members that have died in defense of our way of life as Americans. Most importantly, they died so that we can worship God freely.

 

So what to do? Take a moment this weekend and reflect on it. Realize that what you have as an American came at a cost to those who died, and the families that suffered the loss.  Thank God for their sacrifice and do not take it for granted. Use that opportunity to deepen your relationship with the savior of the universe who died for you- so that you could live a life of peace and freedom.

 

Be blessed

matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Is This Object Lesson a Stretch?

I write this blog quite religiously. I try to do it 4 times a week. Its difficult sometimes because it feels like I often get in a 'lull' where the blog isn't really earth shattering. But, seeing how I'm committed to it, and my friend Anthony in Spokane calls me if I don't write it, I come back to it day and day again.

 

Its beneficial to me. I know there is usually only about 50-80 people who read it a day, but for me, just sitting down and reflecting and thinking about what the Lord is teaching me is always good. If anything, it keeps me focused. It reminds me of things.

 

Like today. I went to the gym this morning and my friend Chad was late. Yea, that's right, I threw him straight under the bus. That's what he gets for being 20 mins late. Being called out on the blog is his penance. Well anyway, when I got out of the gym, my 'low tire pressure' light was on in my SUV.

 

Great. This thing has been going on for about a week. I've been putting it off. Its always a chore to get some air in those tires. I have to get my compressor, and put on the attachments, and bend down and take off the air caps and all that. Its not a huge chore, just not a fun one.

 

This morning I decided that I was going to put air in the tires. I know. Earth shattering.... right? Its 730am, I'm in my garage, compressor blaring, on my knee, pumping air into tires. In the process, I thought- there is nothing that goes in tires that fills them up properly other than air. Sure, you purists would say that there is nitrogen and other stuff, but 99.9% of us use air, so get over it.

 

Here's the point- air in the tires doesn't seem like a big deal. But it is. When your tires are properly inflated in increases gas mileage, efficiency, and longevity of the tire. Staying on top of this minimal task can have far reaching implications when it comes to the life and function of your tires.

 

As I was doing this the Lord quicken my spirit and I thought- are we that diligent in the simple things of our spiritual life, such as prayer? As I was putting that air in the tires, I realized that prayer is the air in the tires of our spiritual life. If you don't pray, you don't get very far.

 

This is the encouragement I want you to get today- Pray. Just like my boy MC Hammer used to say "We got to pray just to make it today". Ask yourself how much you pray and then realize that you should do more. Spend some time talking to the Father and see how much better mileage you get throughout the day. He wants you to talk to Him. He wants to be in relationship with Him.

 

Be blessed

matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

What Do Hell and a Sandcastle Have in Common?

Have You ever been to a beach and built a sandcastle? We live outside the Seattle area and the opportunities to build sandcastles are far and few between. We have been to the coast with the kids and done it, but its not an every day activity that's for sure.

 

I can remember one time when I was at the beach as a kid and was building a sandcastle with my brother. We were in Hawaii at the time and took great care building the largest sandcastle that either of us have ever built. It was huge, and took us many hours to complete.

 

At the end of the build, we stood there and just kind of looked at it and wondered what to do next. I mean, its a sandcastle, so no matter what you do, you can't take it with you. Sandcastles are temporary in nature, they always go away. As we were standing there admiring our handiwork, a huge wave came in and washed over our creation.

 

It was lame. I had worked on this thing for a few hours and now it was destroyed because of some waves. As a kid, I was a little upset. I didn't want to see something that I had created be destroyed. I had tinge of sadness.

 

I was thinking about that this morning when I came across this verse- "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”- John 3:17. It made me think about some people who are out there that have this idea that God created people with the plan to send them to Hell.

 

According to the Bible I'm created in God's image, which means that I share kinship with God, and when I create something, I get sad when I see it destroyed. Even a small sandcastle has value to me. I wanted to see that thing live forever.  If I feel that way about the value of a sandcastle, how much more value does God place on me?

 

Here's the deal- God loves you. He wants relationship with you. He did not send Jesus into this world so that He could ensure that the most people possible would be sent to Hell. Quite the opposite in fact. The plan in sending Jesus to this world was so that everyone in the world could live for eternity if they would come to Him.

 

I know this is a deep blog this morning, but its important. There are scores of people who believe that God created some people just so they could go to Hell.

 

I don't agree. God's hope for all creation is that we would all turn from evil deeds and turn towards Jesus.

 

You have value. You matter. God doesn't want to destroy you. He wants you to live.

 

Be blessed

matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Learn This One Word and It Will Change Your Whole Life

Everyone wants to be successful. How you define success is up to you, but to all of us, we have an idea of what successful is to us. For one person it may be to sit at home and not have to work, for another they may want to have a job where they work 60 hours a week. Success is what it is to the individual. I get that.

 

Here's the truth though- next to no one would say that they want to be financially destitute, in bad health, spiritually dead, and to have a life of meaningless relationships. Most people want some measure of achievement in those areas. Yes, the level of success may be different, but everyone wants it. Or at least in my experience most of the people I meet want to achieve in those areas.

 

Would you like to not have a financial life that isn't month to month? To be able to minimize your health risks by staying physically fit? To be able to connect with God on a deeper level and have relationships with those around you that are robust and passionate? I hope the answer is yes.

 

How to do it? Here's the word- Discipline. Its not a fun word, but its an important one. It is impossible to be successful without discipline.

 

What is my working definition of discipline? A constant attention to the things that matter most in my life.

 

For me I find that when I neglect the things that are most important in my life, they do not become better, they become worse. When I pay attention to them, and give them my energy, they improve and grow.

 

Its like my lawn- its not a great lawn- because I don't pay close attention to it. I water it periodically, but I don't focus on it. I don't care that much about my lawn.

 

Where's this coming from? I'm a pastor and I spend time with alot of people who tell me they want things in their life, but wanting it and having the discipline to get it is two totally seperate things.

 

Here's the deal- you may have an area of your life that you feel is not where you want it to be, so I ask you- are you giving it the attention it needs to be successful? Are you making the main things the main things or are you allowing the little things of your life to consume you in such a way that you've lost focus?

 

Here's the nugget for the day- Sit down. Today, write out a few things that are the most important to you in your life and then look at your schedule and see if your schedule fits in with your priorities. You may find that you are spending too much time on stuff that doesn't matter and in the process realize that you may be neglecting the areas that are most important.

 

be blessed

matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Crocodile Dundee, Jesus and a Ninja All Walk Into a Bar....

I've never been mugged. One time I was in downtown Seattle when I was a high schooler and someone grabbed the chain around my neck and was going to rip it off, but he didn't. Other than that, I've never been held up or accosted in a robbery.

 

I found a story today that I want to share with you. In Australia, some guy got mugged outside a school for Ninjas and the students saw it and took off after the guy. You can read about it here- http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/asia_pacific/10130346.stm . This story is so cool on so many fronts.

 

1. There is a school for Ninjas? Unbelievable. I think I just might enroll. I thought that they were super secret Illuminati type warriors that are only heard of and never seen. I didn't know that I could be one of them.

 

2. Can you imagine what this guy was thinking while he was getting mugged? Maybe something went through his mind like "Man, where is a Ninja when you really need one?" and voila, a Ninja comes out of nowhere to save him.

 

3. Think of this criminal! I'm sure at no point in his day did he ever think that when he mugged someone that he would be attacked by Ninjas! At best he probably figured the police would get him, but a Ninja? Probably never crossed his mind.

 

I could go on for days about Ninjas. They're cool.

 

Here's what I was thinking though. The similarities to Ninjas and God in this story are somewhat similar. Yes, it may be a bit of stretch, but stick with me here. If I can draw a parallel with Ninjas and the Lord this morning, that would be sweet.

 

Here it is-

 

First, as much as you think that Ninjas are not real and never seen, they are. People think God is not real and never seen. This is not true. God is real. You can see his power.

 

Also, people in trouble call out. Sometimes you may think as though you're calling out to some unknown force that will never help- like the man who didn't think a Ninja would show up, God shows up and helps. All the time.

 

And lastly, much like the mugger caught by the Ninjas, people assume that God doesn't know what they're doing. This is not true. God is like an ultimate Ninja. He's always there, always knows what you're doing.

 

So here's the nugget- God is not a Ninja but you can learn from the ways of the Ninja today to understand a bit more about God. He is always there. He always shows up on time. He knows what you're doing. Remember that today as you go around. Remind yourself of it and live like it.

 

Be blessed

 

matt

 

 

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog