Friday, December 31, 2010

Being set free through transformation

So how do we do it?  How do we break away?  How are we transformed?  We stay close.  We abide.  We remain.  What?  That's it?!  Andy Stanley states, "The character of Christ is not manufactured by us it is produced through us and must be produced by Christ."  John 15:5 states, "I am the vine and you are the branches.  If a man remains (abides) in me and I in him he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." Being transformed is not about us getting better or us being like Christ, it is about us getting close to Christ.  It is about association, not imitation.  It is about being with Christ.  It's about keeping it relational and not religious.

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Break Away!

Removing the generational curses is about breaking away from those habits and tendencies (patterns) that keep us from reaching our God given potential.    When I think of a person who is transformed, I think of a person who is able to "bring it" every day consistently.  I think of a person with strong character.

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

The thought of removing generational curses

motivates me to make progress and add to what my parents gave me.  I recently heard my mother-in-law state, "Isn't that what its all about...making it better for our kids..."   A major theme of my Father's life was giving my sister and I opportunities he never had.    In Romans 12:2, it states, "Do not conform any longer to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is, His good, pleasing and perfect will."  I agree with Andy Stanley when he suggested that unhealthy habits passed down from generation to generation are an example of the patterns of this world.   Recently, I have been asking myself, "how can I make it better for our children?"

Sunday, December 26, 2010

"That's not a problem to solve

but a tension to manage."  I recently listened to Andy Stanley on a leadership podcast talk about this idea.   He claims a healthy dose of tension, for organizations, is ok.   He stated the usual knee jerk reaction is to work to solve the problem or resolve the tension.  He claims some tension is healthy to help hold things together.  He believes great organizations realize some tension should be managed.

Friday, December 24, 2010

...and to know His love that surpasses

knowledge.  I stated this over and over this morning while running.  Perhaps its not about knowing the way to live, but learning to love while we live.  Love trumps knowledge.  More effort should be put into loving instead of trying to understand.  I often find myself trying to improve my capacity to understand or know know than I try to improve my capacity to love.  Yet, it seems that seeing situations and people from a renewed perspective (knowledge) can make it easier to love.   Perhaps love is what allows us to see situations and people from a renewed perspective.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

That was the second coyote

I saw while running.  The first sighting was much more significant and exhilarating.  It was four days after my Dad's funeral and the day I discovered my wife was pregnant.  I couldn't sleep trying to learn to deal with the passing of my Dad.  God and I were having a great moment together while running on this beautiful morning.  The sun was coming up, the clouds caused a glow that was just right.  It was about 5:30 AM and I was running southeast.   I was able to concentrate on how great God is and I felt like I could hear Him providing me clarity.  I was telling Him how I missed Dad and about the sadness I felt and then...there was the coyote.  He ran about 40 feet in front of me.  WOW!  I had never seen one before.  This was up close and personal!  Dad and I used to love to discuss the wildlife I would see while running.  That was a great day!

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Had I not been willing to dress properly

I would not have gone for my run and I would have missed seeing the coyote.  I have learned that I can run in all conditions (except lighting), if I dress properly, which then enables me to be amazed by God's power demonstrated through his creation.  It reminds me to dress properly spiritually so that I don't miss God's guidance and experience His power through the day.  While running I like to envision putting on the belt of truth, the breastplate or righteousness, having my feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace, taking up the shield of faith, putting on the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit which is the word of God to make sure I don't take on the day unprepared.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

How cold is too cold

to run outside?  Lately, it has been around 13 degrees when I run outside.  I don't think it's bad at all as long as I dress accordingly and wear a mask.  Actually, it is beautiful outside when it is cold because ice crystals form on everything.  The other day I watched a coyote run about 600 yards through a field...in the opposite direction as me.  Either he was cold, hungry or trying to get a good cardio workout in.  I would have missed that had I let the cold air keep me inside.  I guess the key to feeling good running in the cold is dressing appropriately.

Monday, December 20, 2010

My next memory verse goal:

Ephesians 3:16-19 (New International Version, ©2010)

16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Sunday, December 19, 2010

I had a great spiritual workout this morning

while running.  Lately, I have been having a difficult time focusing the way I would like.  The following approach helped a ton.  For the first 1.5 miles, I started my prayers with you are the God who...then I filled in the blanks with phrases like: created the galaxies, the sun, the snow, the cold, the trees, helped men run in a fiery furnace, brought dead people back to life, made a donkey talk and an axe head float, etc.  Then, the last 3 miles I started my prayers with you are my God who...then I filled in the blanks with all the ways God has helped me and my family personally. 

Thursday, December 16, 2010

My goatee

is new.  I have never had one before.  I had to look up how to spell the word.  My wife does not like it and I really don't like it either, but I am growing it out in honor of men's health.   Oh yeah, and one more reason...all the guys at my clinic are growing one too.  It's kind of like a male bonding thing.

The good news is that I only have to have it 6 more days.  There is one thing it has taught me...how difficult it is to get out of my usual routine.  I never thought of my self as resistant to change, but I have really been "put out" by the extra work needed to groom this thing.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

A high pain tolerance: the law of

the threshold.  Actually, I am not sure if this idea is a law or not.  I have been thinking about this idea a lot.  I would like to give a few examples of the concept.  When asked to rate his pain on a scale from 0-10 (0 being no pain-10 being the worst pain ever), the individual recalls when he was buried alive in a stone pile and survived to tell about it.  He tells me, that being buried alive was a 10 and so his back pain is a 3.   Now he really does have a high tolerance for pain.  His threshold for pain was raised by his life experience.

When running, I have found 3 miles seems like a long way until I raise my threshold to 13 miles.  Once I train for 13 miles, 3 miles seems like a leisure stroll in the park. 

When giving speeches, before I allow myself to get nervous, I think of prior speeches and how much was on the line in giving those speeches.  The most important speech I have ever given was in a foreign country in front of a judge and prosecutor that would determine the future of our family.  Now, I compare all other speeches to that experience and it keeps things in perspective.  My stress threshold, when giving speeches, has been raised by my life experience.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

I have a 99 year old friend

who gave me the book, "Lone Survivor" by Marcus Luttrell.  It was an insightful book that revealed the Navy Seal Creed.  In the book, Mr. Luttrell expanded upon a value in the creed.  "I persevere and thrive on adversity."  I read this book about three years ago and I recall him explaining how his seal team believed they had to have adversity to survive.  They welcomed adversity as if it were the food they needed that day.  

To my 99 year old friend, who was a Frogman in WWII, thanks for so many reasons!

Monday, December 13, 2010

It's not about our comfort

it's about our character.  I heard a pastor once say that it seemed Americans tend to pray that God will lighten their loads, but that in his country people are forced to pray that God would strengthen their backs.  When it comes to adversity, I have to admit, I don't always have a "bring it on" type attitude.  Yet, I know the times when I have become strongest were through trials.   Father, help me remember to welcome trials as opportunities to build character.

Not only so, but we[c] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us."  Romans 5:3-5

Sunday, December 12, 2010

It sometimes has to get worse

before it gets better.  That is, if you are working on building strength or improving your ability to do something.  As a physical therapist, I am regularly driving people to their limits so that their limits will be challenged.  As a result, they get better and their limits become smaller.  I have no problem understanding that concept from a physical perspective, but for some reason I don't always grasp that idea from a spiritual perspective.  I have to get out of the mindset that comfort is what I am working for.  I know that attitude is a hindrance to growth.

James 1:2-4 states, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."


Saturday, December 11, 2010

"Character is the will

to do what's right regardless of the cost.  Character is the oil to a relationship.   Character is the will do to what's right, as God defines right, regardless of the cost.  Lord give me the wisdom to know what's right and the courage to do what's right regardless of the cost."  Andy Stanley's first character podcast on 6-28-10.

Friday, December 10, 2010

I can't help but wonder

if Jonathan new God would act on his behalf.  Could he have had such a good relationship with God that he knew that climbing that cliff to attack the Philistines would result in a victory on his side?  The comment "perhaps the Lord will act on our behalf" to his armor bearer may have been more out of confidence than doubt.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Perhaps the Lord will act

on our behalf.  I love this statement by Jonathan in 1 Samuel 14:6.  After this statement, he believed God wanted him to proceed and he and his armor bearer attacked around 20 men and won the battle. Jonathan was confident he knew what God wanted him to do and acted accordingly.  Father, open my eyes to your will and help me act accordingly.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

My Uncle Bill's video camera

came in handy at our family reunion in 1983.  He just sent me the DVD and I was able to hear my Dad and the whole Beltz family singing several different songs.  What a blessing for so many reasons.  A great Christmas present!

Monday, December 6, 2010

If i'm not careful

I will miss out on the celebration.  The celebration of all the blessings.  Thank you God for my family.  Help me be present and enjoy your gifts to the fullest.

Sunday, December 5, 2010

I'm glad I lost that

cotter pin while putting our snow plow on yesterday.  It sprung off the bolt and I knew it had to be within about a 12 inch by 12 inch area.  I tried three different times to find it by looking in different ways from different angles, but the snow, grass, leaves and twigs camouflaged it.   It wasn't until I prayed that God would open my eyes to see this thing that I suddenly noticed I was looking for this pin from a different perspective.  After that, I found it within seconds.  I'm glad I lost that cotter pin because it reminded me of the great prayer that God would open my eyes to help me see the chariots of fire he had surrounding us.  

Friday, December 3, 2010

"Linchpin"

by Seth Godin is an interesting book.  Thanks Jeremy!

Thursday, December 2, 2010

It is upsetting

when I have clients, friends and family who become sick.  Sometimes it feels like a big punch right to the gut as it just doesn't seem expected or fair.  I know I may never understand why it happens, but I have to trust and keep hope.  God has surprised me many times when I thought no rescue was in sight.  Lord, help me and those around me see your chariots of fire.  We know that those who are with us are more than those who are with them.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

I love to run in the rain

it reminds me of the way God rains down His Spirit on me.