Are you all in? These four small words hold the key to a successful ministry.
I had the privilege to observe an awesome ministry who distribute goods to the less fortunate and offer spiritual guidance. It was a sight to see. The team was well equipped, well trained, and performed their mission with excellence. As a volunteer, there was no doubt what we were doing and why we were doing it. The top leaders bled the vision and their passion poured out on all who were there. Because of this unified commitment, the ministry was able to duplicate it's efforts from city to city. It operated as a fine tuned oiled machine. It was an eye opener.
Recently, our long time friend and Evangelist asked a large group of leaders at Word of Life this question, "Are you all in"?
He observed from his own experience in ministry that a team that agrees with Vision 2020 is not enough. To be truly successful, due to the magnitude of our unique vision, the carriers of our vision must operate as one. Chief promoters staying on task and steering the ship towards one specific goal. A unity so strong that we become a fine tuned oiled machine. All who come in contact with us need to fully get what we are doing and why we are doing it. As with the ministry I observed, who help the needy all over the world, our select team, like they did, must bleed the vision.
Many churches have a certain specialty that they are passionate about. It is important to realize that not every local body can do it all. It is admirable to assist others in their efforts and vice versa. That is how the Body of Christ accomplishes more for the Kingdom. However, the path to duplicate a vision is more difficult. It takes concentrated efforts on the task at hand until it is able to be successfully duplicated. Fulfilling John 17:21 is what we would like to see reproduced from city to city.
More specifically we would like to organize a team to spread the call to Vision2020 to as many as possible in the body of Christ. Thankfully one thing we can all be unified over is the great commission! There is, however, a distinction between people who support Vision 2020 and those who become part of the fine tuned oiled machine that live, eat and breath it. It will be the later working as one who will automatically spread their passion to all they come in contact with. Because what ever is on the inside of us will also get into the people we influence.
There is an all in level of commitment that is needed to fulfill the call upon this house. The call is too massive, too important, and too hated by the enemy to succeed with anything less. The team God is cultivating are leaders who are all in. We need to own it, promote it, and bleed it. God is bringing this to pass - a unified team with a sincere and consistent focus. As this is fine tuned, the body will observe this clarity of purpose due to our solidarity and will emulate it.
The word talks about a season of strengthening that which remains. All over the world the church is being shaken and decisions are being made. If advancing Vision 2020 were not so vital to the heart of God it would not be so serious.
But unity among believers is vital and souls are serious.
We are so excited to see what lies ahead as we let the Lord put together His team at Word of Life. Others are confirming to us how important it is to honor and protect wholeheartedly this huge responsibility given by God. Praise God so many are all in!
Think about it - How can we excite others to implement this into their church and also keep up Vision 2020 giving in our local church so that we continue to support effective soulwinning crusades oversees? How can we successfully blend churches, honor men and women of God, and add support workers into hurting ministries? How can we encourage all Christians to put the great commission a higher priority as Jesus commanded us to do? How can we be an on-track multi-site church that all speak the same thing when it comes to our vision? How can we become good enough to reproduce these efforts city to city? How can we ensure that we do not lead in a different, albeit good direction?
By being all in!
Some are needed to support this vision. Others are needed to multiply the vision.
Which one are you?
pw
Vision 2020 - Unity for the Sake of Souls.
Monday, August 17, 2015
Monday, October 6, 2014
What
is up with folks grumbling about how much professional athletes make? Have
they ever seen the sea of red from an aerial view of a Chief's game? Or the
maniacal behavior of KC fans over the Royals actually playing ball in October?
Do they have a clue what it takes to make it as a professional athlete or how
hard it is to last on that level? Do they really believe that those who put
together a winning team is something anyone can do?
Do those who feel it's unfair think the hotdog guy should share more in the profit? Or that just everyone should get a cut? Do they realize the caliber of success it takes to have people wait in lines shelling out 50 dollars a pop for the nosebleed section? Could someone explain to them the definition of capitalism or the concept of supply and demand?
Maybe
we should divvy the money up among the masses or better yet let Obama handle
that. I think we all agree this spreading the wealth around thing is working
out real well. Under his administration there are far more gazillionaires, a
ton of less middle men, and a country full of food stampers. Yeah, let the government
make it more fair. It is just too bad that the doers in this country are losing
their ambition because their money is being passed around to the gimmes. So much for the working man's friend.
What if the desire to succeed in sports diminishes as well? Oh the horror. Diminish
enough that the crowds would get smaller, the trading less ruthless, the play less spectacular, the wins fewer, the competitive spirit less annoying to the point where no one will even care so much anymore. Sunday schedules would become wide open!
It is true that capping pro-athletes salaries
makes perfect sense when it comes to overall income fairness. It makes even
more sense, however, to choose who can become athletes, doctors, or laborers. Why
should only a few get the best jobs? Everyone's
salary should be equal or at least a lot more fair. While we are at it, let's leave the name and
mascot decisions of all athletic teams to be decided by the ACLU or the cast of
msnbc. They don't offend anyone, or at least anyone who matters.
After
all, who needs a bunch of grown men getting rich playing ball anyway.
It's
not like America is obsessed with it. It's not Like we're a bunch of fanatics.
pw
Sunday, October 27, 2013
You Are A Super Hero!
As you dress up your little one in a few days in that costume that you meticulously chose for him remember that God has dressed you, and permanently marked you with the attire of a Supernatural Being. It is as if you have a huge letter "S" marked on your body. Think of that "S" as Supernatural, Saved, Seal of God, and if I may go this far... Super Hero!
We know that it is not by our ability but because of what he did for us that enables us to be so bold in this analogy. Jesus paid an awesome price to take you out of the restrictions of this world and bring you to a place of honor as a son or daughter of the All Mighty God. What a privilege to be dressed in robes of righteousness. What a calling to be sent as Ambassadors to a lost and hurting people.
It's time to remove the Clark Kent persona and come out of the phone booth looking like the warrior that God made you to be! Remember, you were not born again so that you could start your messed up life over and somehow get it right this time. You were born again into something that is brand new, never created before. And you have been given a great world changing commission along with all the power & authority to bring it to pass.
The enemy has tricked us into thinking that we need to live defeated, depressed lives. That every now and then we see a glimpse of Glory and we should be satisfied with that. He wants to keep us from realizing fully our status as sons of the Most High God.
The word of God is truth and it paints a much different picture than a once and a while victory! You have been created with incorruptible seed. All power has been turned over to you for a specific purpose. God has dressed you as a Super Hero in this season. As the world gets more and more deceived and lost, it is high time that we work the work He called us to do. It is time to fly.
Super Hero Status
Jeremiah 33:3 NLT
Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come.
(Ability to know the future)
Matthew 16:19 MSG
"And that's not all. You will have complete and free access to God's kingdom, keys to open any and every door: no more barriers between heaven and earth, earth and heaven. A yes on earth is yes in heaven. A no on earth is no in heaven."
(Ability to alter the present & future)
Luke 10:17-20 MSG
The seventy came back triumphant. "Master, even the demons danced to your tune!" Jesus said, "I know. I saw Satan fall, a bolt of lightning out of the sky. See what I've given you? Safe passage as you walk on snakes and scorpions, and protection from every assault of the Enemy. No one can put a hand on you. All the same, the great triumph is not in your authority over evil, but in God's authority over you and presence with you. Not what you do for God but what God does for you-that's the agenda for rejoicing."
(Full power over the enemy, divine protection)
Revelation 9:1-4, 10-12 NLT
Then the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen to earth from the sky, and he was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit. When he opened it, smoke poured out as though from a huge furnace, and the sunlight and air turned dark from the smoke. Then locusts came from the smoke and descended on the earth, and they were given power to sting like scorpions. They were told not to harm the grass or plants or trees, but only the people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. They had tails that stung like scorpions, and for five months they had the power to torment people. Their king is the angel from the bottomless pit; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon -the Destroyer. The first terror is past, but look, two more terrors are coming!
(Pardon, reprieve, absolution - in the end time devastation)
Matthew 28:18-20 KJV
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
(You are a Super Hero, made through Christ Jesus to save the world)
Now get to work.
pw
We know that it is not by our ability but because of what he did for us that enables us to be so bold in this analogy. Jesus paid an awesome price to take you out of the restrictions of this world and bring you to a place of honor as a son or daughter of the All Mighty God. What a privilege to be dressed in robes of righteousness. What a calling to be sent as Ambassadors to a lost and hurting people.
It's time to remove the Clark Kent persona and come out of the phone booth looking like the warrior that God made you to be! Remember, you were not born again so that you could start your messed up life over and somehow get it right this time. You were born again into something that is brand new, never created before. And you have been given a great world changing commission along with all the power & authority to bring it to pass.
The enemy has tricked us into thinking that we need to live defeated, depressed lives. That every now and then we see a glimpse of Glory and we should be satisfied with that. He wants to keep us from realizing fully our status as sons of the Most High God.
The word of God is truth and it paints a much different picture than a once and a while victory! You have been created with incorruptible seed. All power has been turned over to you for a specific purpose. God has dressed you as a Super Hero in this season. As the world gets more and more deceived and lost, it is high time that we work the work He called us to do. It is time to fly.
Super Hero Status
Jeremiah 33:3 NLT
Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come.
(Ability to know the future)
Matthew 16:19 MSG
"And that's not all. You will have complete and free access to God's kingdom, keys to open any and every door: no more barriers between heaven and earth, earth and heaven. A yes on earth is yes in heaven. A no on earth is no in heaven."
(Ability to alter the present & future)
Luke 10:17-20 MSG
The seventy came back triumphant. "Master, even the demons danced to your tune!" Jesus said, "I know. I saw Satan fall, a bolt of lightning out of the sky. See what I've given you? Safe passage as you walk on snakes and scorpions, and protection from every assault of the Enemy. No one can put a hand on you. All the same, the great triumph is not in your authority over evil, but in God's authority over you and presence with you. Not what you do for God but what God does for you-that's the agenda for rejoicing."
(Full power over the enemy, divine protection)
Revelation 9:1-4, 10-12 NLT
Then the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen to earth from the sky, and he was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit. When he opened it, smoke poured out as though from a huge furnace, and the sunlight and air turned dark from the smoke. Then locusts came from the smoke and descended on the earth, and they were given power to sting like scorpions. They were told not to harm the grass or plants or trees, but only the people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. They had tails that stung like scorpions, and for five months they had the power to torment people. Their king is the angel from the bottomless pit; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon -the Destroyer. The first terror is past, but look, two more terrors are coming!
(Pardon, reprieve, absolution - in the end time devastation)
Matthew 28:18-20 KJV
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
(You are a Super Hero, made through Christ Jesus to save the world)
Now get to work.
pw
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Quiet Before the Storm
Tomorrow is a pivotal date for me. It is the anniversary of the day my world came to a shocking excruciating end. It's been forty-one years and you think it wouldn't alter my day like this, but it does.
It's the reason I use broken scissors, torn cookbooks, and sixty year old thread ... because you touched them. It's the reason I won't close the pool early because when I'm in it, it reminds me of Florida, of you. It's the reason I have trouble sharing my kids, grand kids more than the norm. Maybe when the greatest thing is stolen from you at an early age it makes you punchy. While others wonder if their teenager ran out of gas if running late, I fight visions of decapitation or terrorist activity. Freaky but true.
There is a unique camaraderie among motherless daughters. It's not possible to explain it or expect anyone else to understand. Those who grew up without their mom or in some ways never grew up are in a state of perplexity. I can hardly remember a time when I didn't share joyous occasions with sorrow. It just shows up...lurking, piercing. In the bad times you need her. In the good times you miss not being able to share them with her. Life is a bit more fuzzy and uncertain.
If only I knew it would have been the last time I would see you, I would have waited until you were out of the bathroom to kiss you goodbye. I think about that often. Did I not want to miss the bus to school? Did I want to hang out at the bus stop early with friends? I Can't remember the pathetic, haunting reason. I just know it's forever regretted. I close my eyes sometimes and think about the days before you died. The memories are so fragile and scarce. Yet I still try.
I attempt to explain to young girls how precious it is to have their mom. Not a mother figure, a mother! I tell them not to dis her, disrespect her, or be embarrassed by her. If a girl lives to be a hundred years old, I say, there will never be times more important then these. The times when she was protected, cherished, and bragged on. Those days were short for me. And when lost they never reappear. Never.
So today, I want to tell you mom that missing you is my occupation. Full time. Like housework, I may "think" it is done, but in reality it's never really done. Growing up as a motherless daughter has made me forever odd in a world that plays by a different set of rules. Four decades you lived, four decades I have lived without you. You were and will always be my world. The world that once was. The quiet before the storm.
I suppose your absence made me quite strong ... and weak.
I love you,
Debbie.
It's the reason I use broken scissors, torn cookbooks, and sixty year old thread ... because you touched them. It's the reason I won't close the pool early because when I'm in it, it reminds me of Florida, of you. It's the reason I have trouble sharing my kids, grand kids more than the norm. Maybe when the greatest thing is stolen from you at an early age it makes you punchy. While others wonder if their teenager ran out of gas if running late, I fight visions of decapitation or terrorist activity. Freaky but true.
There is a unique camaraderie among motherless daughters. It's not possible to explain it or expect anyone else to understand. Those who grew up without their mom or in some ways never grew up are in a state of perplexity. I can hardly remember a time when I didn't share joyous occasions with sorrow. It just shows up...lurking, piercing. In the bad times you need her. In the good times you miss not being able to share them with her. Life is a bit more fuzzy and uncertain.
If only I knew it would have been the last time I would see you, I would have waited until you were out of the bathroom to kiss you goodbye. I think about that often. Did I not want to miss the bus to school? Did I want to hang out at the bus stop early with friends? I Can't remember the pathetic, haunting reason. I just know it's forever regretted. I close my eyes sometimes and think about the days before you died. The memories are so fragile and scarce. Yet I still try.
I attempt to explain to young girls how precious it is to have their mom. Not a mother figure, a mother! I tell them not to dis her, disrespect her, or be embarrassed by her. If a girl lives to be a hundred years old, I say, there will never be times more important then these. The times when she was protected, cherished, and bragged on. Those days were short for me. And when lost they never reappear. Never.
So today, I want to tell you mom that missing you is my occupation. Full time. Like housework, I may "think" it is done, but in reality it's never really done. Growing up as a motherless daughter has made me forever odd in a world that plays by a different set of rules. Four decades you lived, four decades I have lived without you. You were and will always be my world. The world that once was. The quiet before the storm.
I suppose your absence made me quite strong ... and weak.
I love you,
Debbie.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Proof Hurricanes are not "Acts of God"
Hurricanes bring death, destruction, fear, financial devastation, and turmoil. Any Bible reading Christian knows that such behaviour is not characteristic of a loving God. Yet, we hear people repeat the mantra "Natural Disasters are Acts of God". Not so. And now, finally we have iron clad evidence to back it up.
The 2012 election.
I am extremely saddened by the results of the election. Mostly I am saddened for my children and their children who because of another four years of the same will be burdened with even more of an Obama mess. To put the National Debt into an easy to get perspective, here is a cost comparison. The cost of 4 Yrs at a Private College = $130,468; A Median-Priced Existing Home = $173,100; The U.S. Debt Per American Under 18 = $218,676.
If you add all Americans at any age, the Debt still tallies over $50,000 per person which would make my family of 7 owe $350,000. Of course that is before another four years of the same Obama.
Money, or lack thereof, however is not even close to the primary concern or consequence from last night. Under forced universal Obama heath coverage, all Christians will be funding the murder of innocent children. Due to social sanction in 1973, abortions rose to 1.5 million per year, over 4000 a day. How many more innocent lives will be sucked out now that it is free? In addition, certain contraceptives are abortifacients therefore providing so called "free" contraceptives to all will add to the number of abortions extemporaneously.
Hope that Government handout is worth it!
Sad Indictment.
I also just heard the turnout among Christians was again low. Maybe it was difficult to support a M&M (Moderate & Mormon). Maybe the lack of unity among churches hurts more than we even imagined. What was voted for yesterday was evil. Plain and simple Evil won. Not because God wanted it that way or because it was somehow needed to usher in the second coming. Evil won because our country voted it in and now the perpetrators of evil both in this world and the world beyond are gloating and partying over the big W.
Obama said voting is the best revenge. Some commentators questioned what or who the revenge was targeted at. Now we know what. At least in the spirit realm, the revenge was against those that dared bring back morality, decency, and honestly into the USA. Revenge is a powerful motivator and it won.
Too bad Christians are not 1/10th as ticked off about the onslaught of evil.
Elections this close are won on momentum. A famous slogan in youth ministry is "You are only as good as your last event". What was the last event that apparently turned the tide for Obama?
Hurricane Sandy.
Sure it began with the media hiding Benghazi and protecting their Messiah at every turn. Turns out a "strong finish" would have worked far better than Romney simply "running out the clock" as well as other things he could have/should have in hind sight. However, it is so hard to believe how Barak Obama was granted yet another four years considering the state of our country!
The obvious cover up of what went down concerning four dead Americans this Sept.11th, 16 trillion in debt, double plus gas prices, 23 million out of work with unemployment over 8% for 43 months, 14+% underemployed or quit looking for jobs, 42 million on food stamps, death panels deciding who gets health care, unlimited and now free abortions, same sex marriage, an incumbent who says America is no longer a Christian nation, anti Israel rhetoric and action to name a few. The message of this dismal job was actually beginning to get through despite the orchestrated media blackout of reality.
We know this pile of evidence of presidential failure was getting out because Romney was in the lead several points nationally and in most of the swing states. It appeared that Obama's agenda would finally be stopped for our children and for the glory of God!
And then it happened... the last "event". Hurricane Sandy.
I hope the bear hug from political rival Chris Christie providing the perfect last minute fake bi partisan photo op for the uninformed and last minute deciders was worth the thirty pieces of silver Governor.
Did Hurricane Sandy help push Obama over the top to a second term like many are saying?
Four more years of the same anti-Christian, anti-God policies, could not have been God's will.
Act of God?
Think again.
pw
The 2012 election.
I am extremely saddened by the results of the election. Mostly I am saddened for my children and their children who because of another four years of the same will be burdened with even more of an Obama mess. To put the National Debt into an easy to get perspective, here is a cost comparison. The cost of 4 Yrs at a Private College = $130,468; A Median-Priced Existing Home = $173,100; The U.S. Debt Per American Under 18 = $218,676.
If you add all Americans at any age, the Debt still tallies over $50,000 per person which would make my family of 7 owe $350,000. Of course that is before another four years of the same Obama.
Money, or lack thereof, however is not even close to the primary concern or consequence from last night. Under forced universal Obama heath coverage, all Christians will be funding the murder of innocent children. Due to social sanction in 1973, abortions rose to 1.5 million per year, over 4000 a day. How many more innocent lives will be sucked out now that it is free? In addition, certain contraceptives are abortifacients therefore providing so called "free" contraceptives to all will add to the number of abortions extemporaneously.
Hope that Government handout is worth it!
Is it really true that 58% of women hold a strong favorable opinion of President Obama? They say women put him over the top for this election with a strong turnout in support of Obama. Can it be that women are that gullible to believe there was some kind of "war" against them? Did the walk along the Jersey shore with Gov.Christie looking so caring and presidential really persuade last minute decisions to turn to Obama? Is Bruce Springsteen actually still relevant? Are there some who still believe negative ads laced with lies don't work?
Sad Indictment.
I also just heard the turnout among Christians was again low. Maybe it was difficult to support a M&M (Moderate & Mormon). Maybe the lack of unity among churches hurts more than we even imagined. What was voted for yesterday was evil. Plain and simple Evil won. Not because God wanted it that way or because it was somehow needed to usher in the second coming. Evil won because our country voted it in and now the perpetrators of evil both in this world and the world beyond are gloating and partying over the big W.
Obama said voting is the best revenge. Some commentators questioned what or who the revenge was targeted at. Now we know what. At least in the spirit realm, the revenge was against those that dared bring back morality, decency, and honestly into the USA. Revenge is a powerful motivator and it won.
Too bad Christians are not 1/10th as ticked off about the onslaught of evil.
Elections this close are won on momentum. A famous slogan in youth ministry is "You are only as good as your last event". What was the last event that apparently turned the tide for Obama?
Hurricane Sandy.
Sure it began with the media hiding Benghazi and protecting their Messiah at every turn. Turns out a "strong finish" would have worked far better than Romney simply "running out the clock" as well as other things he could have/should have in hind sight. However, it is so hard to believe how Barak Obama was granted yet another four years considering the state of our country!
The obvious cover up of what went down concerning four dead Americans this Sept.11th, 16 trillion in debt, double plus gas prices, 23 million out of work with unemployment over 8% for 43 months, 14+% underemployed or quit looking for jobs, 42 million on food stamps, death panels deciding who gets health care, unlimited and now free abortions, same sex marriage, an incumbent who says America is no longer a Christian nation, anti Israel rhetoric and action to name a few. The message of this dismal job was actually beginning to get through despite the orchestrated media blackout of reality.
We know this pile of evidence of presidential failure was getting out because Romney was in the lead several points nationally and in most of the swing states. It appeared that Obama's agenda would finally be stopped for our children and for the glory of God!
And then it happened... the last "event". Hurricane Sandy.
I hope the bear hug from political rival Chris Christie providing the perfect last minute fake bi partisan photo op for the uninformed and last minute deciders was worth the thirty pieces of silver Governor.
Did Hurricane Sandy help push Obama over the top to a second term like many are saying?
Four more years of the same anti-Christian, anti-God policies, could not have been God's will.
Act of God?
Think again.
pw
Monday, September 17, 2012
Top 5 Ways to Go Green!
Have you ever had a discussion with your child about going green? If your child watches any TV, listens to the radio, goes to school, or has friends with parents, chances are they are fully aware of "Going green".
I thought it would be prudent to help the omnipresent environmental movement with some thoughts from a lifetime of experiences of the effectiveness of going green. Of course I am not a scientist, not even a wanna be scientist. I have no formal education on the vital benefits of protecting the planet, yet like you I read and hear about it everywhere, and so do my children . . . everywhere!
I have a hard time getting my son to take out the garbage once a week, nevertheless convincing him to separate the trash into two or three varied colored receptacles. Truth is, I am a little old school when it comes to the environmental movement, and admittedly a little "green" at it. Like all children from the good old days, I learned how to save energy and respect the planet solely from my parents.
I was taught by my mother not to litter, so I am proud to say I faithfully refuse to let my kids litter. We "close" the lights when we leave a room, though every time I remind my kids, they laugh at me for using the word "close". (NJ term?) "Close" by the way means to turn off the lights. Why? Because they cost us money! Oh, and I also freak when the faucet drips or a toilet runs. Not so much due to the waste of H20, but mainly because I am terrified of floods. It is a recent quirk. I find myself checking all water sources ie potential leaks in a Adrian Monk kind of way.
Actually, I guess it is this new found fear of floods, that leads me to the first of my top five ways to go green.
So in the tradition with keeping up with the green Joneses here are my
TOP FIVE WAYS TO GO GREEN:
1) If you buy an old house, make sure to change all your toilets out for the one gallon flusher type. Why waste precious water by using the older toilets that use three, even six gallons each time you pull down the handle. A one gallon per flush, green approved, toilet is a no brainer if you want to go green.
THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH THAT IS... our "older" water waisting toilet finally broke a few years back and we had no choice but to replace it with the new kind. Instead of one flush it took two or three flushes to do the same job. With seven people in the family, it did not take long for the need of a permanent plunger to sit real pretty next to the new green jewel. One day I forgot to check the water saver john and since it was clogged (it was usually clogged) and subsequently flushed, a small leak rained down from its brand new porcelain sides onto the floor, into the AC vent, throughout the floorboards, which eventually damaged our ceiling in the middle level of our two story house. Consequently, a massive flood ruined our kitchen and family room with hundreds of gallons of dirty smelly pee water. It ended up costing $20,000 in ceiling, drywall, floor, and cabinet repairs to rectify the disaster. Oh and swapping to the so called Eco friendly water saver green toilet -ended up waisting a ton of precious water as well!
2) Make sure to buy an Eco friendly washer machine because if you wash a lot of clothes, its important to do whatever you can to use less soap, less water, and of course less energy.
THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH THAT IS . . . When our kitchen got destroyed by our Eco friendly upstairs toilet, as part of the renovation we also purchased new appliances. We decided to add a new washer and dryer to the second mortgage while we were at it! Why Not? Unfortunately, unlike my old washer that actually cleaned clothes, this shiny new green friendly washer turns out less than desirable results. Gone is the need for lots of water and that useless agitator thing in the middle! My new Maytag has one huge hollow basket by which I can do less loads by filling it up even more! I just put the small cup of special more expensive HE detergent on the bottom and then I fill up the mega basket, set the dials, and push the start button which locks the door. Loud, strange, weird, non- cleaning kind of noises soon follow. One day a sock "flew out of the basket" (words from the repair guy) and got caught between it and the side of the washer. I noticed that the next load did not drain properly and eventually it would not lock or work at all. Being one day out of warranty I hesitated to call a repairman. It cost us $450 dollars and 10 days waiting for the special Eco friendly part. The icing on the cake was when the guy banged off the basket, removed it and carried it to my bathroom to empty it in the bathtub - dripping the whole way! Funny, my old washer did not have a spot for socks to mysteriously jump out and cause damage. I also was able to simply set the dial to drain so that I could DRAIN THE WATER WITHOUT REMOVING THE ENTIRE MEGA TUB WITH A CROWBAR! On top of all of this, the clothes never really smell clean with my new Eco friendly washer so I finally decided to double the amount of more expensive HE soap to have some resemblance of fresh laundry. You know like the good ole days, the days before the new Eco friendly toilet flood!
3) Nothing like a brand new dishwasher. Even if you have to pay a little more, make sure yours meets all the green standards!
THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH THAT IS ... Eco friendly dishwashers suck! There really is no other way to describe them. Since phosphorus hurts the environment by harming some fish, my kids have to eat off of dirty plates unless you do several preventative things. First you have to buy non phosphorous, non effective cascade or the like. But dare not use it unless you also buy the expensive rinse aide. Once a month you also have to buy the gook out product because there is just not enough power and not enough water going through that thing to clean the pipes or your dishes. And don't forget to fully wash everything first, and turn on the hot water in your sink for a while before you turn the Eco friendly dishwasher on. I was also told by a repairman to always use the highest setting with all the other buttons pushed to the max setting, hold my breath and hope it works.
I remember a time when I basically threw in everything, food remains and all, into my old dishwasher and it never ever ever gave me a problem. Amazing how much water you save when you do dishes the old fashion way... once, by using a real, non green, dishwasher!
4) Before you throw out anything stop and say to yourself, can this be recycled? What we do not need is even more non bio-degradable filth flying around the landfills of Wichita! Can I get an A-men?
THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH THAT IS . . . besides the proven effectiveness of certain metals like tin, most everything else is simply not cost efficient to use, recycle and reuse over and over. It costs more energy to actually do the recycling making the solution worse than the problem. One day we will be able to link the cancerous plastics we are told to watch for in baby bottles, microwavable plastics, etc. to this environmentally wacko notion that we must all reuse the same plastic over and over. The invention of plastic was such a great invention due to it's drastically inexpensive production. In other words its cheap to make it so go ahead and throw it out! I don't like the new water bottles that bend in your hand due to their thinness or toilet paper that crumbles apart. Although the flimsy paper may help with the AlGore clog prone toilets!
Regarding the removal of rubbish, remember the good ole days when we use to burn it to ashes! Why not use the burning technique advances that do the job while also trapping the air pollution? Yeah, we have those available! It sure would save the environment by eliminating the fumes from the plethora of garbage and recycling trucks as well as the resources it costs to bury the mounds of trash into our soil. Not to mention the toxic clean up that is eventually needed even miles away from some city land fills. If I did not trust the government and the environmental movement so much, I would think that this whole recycle thing we are all guilted into is just a HUGE money maker! (Good planet, bad people, send money)
5) Replace all those old light bulbs with the curlycue type. It will save the environment because they last longer and use less energy to boot!
THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH THAT IS ... a little thing called mercury. The days of throwing out your light bulbs are over. This new type not only costs way more, it can not, by law, be thrown in the regular trash. It also uses way more electricity to heat up than a regular light bulb so it is better to not "close" the light when you leave a room. It is recommended to leave them on if you think you may be visiting a room again soon. In our family alone, we would need to leave the lights on 24/7 in the kitchen, living room, bathrooms, and hall. The only time it's safe that we will not "visit a room again soon" is when the kids go to sleep and turn off the light for bed. Leaving on the curly bulbs because they cost more than regular light bulbs to initially heat up just might take away from some shelf life - the very reason we are suppose to buy them! To me a pack of four old fashioned bulbs for 77 cents seems like the way to go, law or no law! Plus do you know one person that does not agree that the curlycue bulbs are UGLY?
Below are a few honorable mentions before I end this.
Sunscreen or die!
All of a sudden the populous is in need of vitamin D supplements. Why? Maybe because we do not get enough sun because we are told to never go outside without sunscreen on every corner of our exposed body. Unless your shirt is thin, which it is then recommended that you put on sunscreen on that skin as well!
Doctors are now emphasising that men and women need to get approximately 20 minutes of sun (without any sunscreen) to ensure the body produces enough vitamin D to remain healthy. - Unbelievable.
Kill the babies, but save the whales!
Growing seal population could be the reason behind more shark sightings.
By protecting baby seals and the endangered great white, we now have many many more of both of them because with the prey plenteous, so is the predator! It is now frightening to go in the ocean. Personally, I would rather have less people maimed or eaten than extra great whites or seals ... just saying.
Wind turbines and their connection to forest fires is never mentioned in the news.
Better to blame republican smoking hunters! - Or George Bush.
Polar bears are dying off, also not true.
Ice caps all over the planet are melting. Not!
While the Arctic ice has retreated (as in the 20's and 50's BTW) the Antarctic ice is growing at roughly the same pace.
Global Warming is caused by bad humans is simply not true!
As in all the facets of the Go Green movement, other sides to potential reasons behind climate change are not open for discussion in your child's classroom. They are being misled and cheated by not ever being shown the conservative side of the coin.
If we, due to laziness, peer pressure, or lack of care, never bother to study these things to see if they are true or merely money makers, then our future will be the reward of the few at the deficit to the many.
Just because your child's school, that movie star you think is cool, or those wonderfully professional journalists who have no agenda but to report the news even though they all repeat the exact left wing talking points, does not mean it is real science.
Call me an optimist but I want to believe we are not all brainless morons who think the recent uprising in the middle east, for example, is the fault of a youtube video and not the result of Obama's blunders, apology tours, and foreign policy inexperience.
As the world's economy and safety get increasingly worse, I would like to hope that that mindless crowd is shrinking.
Because the truth is - the all powerful, all knowing, all growing, green movement for the most part is one big fat green fraud!
I know this not because I am a published expert, but because I have personally experienced it.
My guess is you have too!
pw
I thought it would be prudent to help the omnipresent environmental movement with some thoughts from a lifetime of experiences of the effectiveness of going green. Of course I am not a scientist, not even a wanna be scientist. I have no formal education on the vital benefits of protecting the planet, yet like you I read and hear about it everywhere, and so do my children . . . everywhere!
I have a hard time getting my son to take out the garbage once a week, nevertheless convincing him to separate the trash into two or three varied colored receptacles. Truth is, I am a little old school when it comes to the environmental movement, and admittedly a little "green" at it. Like all children from the good old days, I learned how to save energy and respect the planet solely from my parents.
I was taught by my mother not to litter, so I am proud to say I faithfully refuse to let my kids litter. We "close" the lights when we leave a room, though every time I remind my kids, they laugh at me for using the word "close". (NJ term?) "Close" by the way means to turn off the lights. Why? Because they cost us money! Oh, and I also freak when the faucet drips or a toilet runs. Not so much due to the waste of H20, but mainly because I am terrified of floods. It is a recent quirk. I find myself checking all water sources ie potential leaks in a Adrian Monk kind of way.
Actually, I guess it is this new found fear of floods, that leads me to the first of my top five ways to go green.
So in the tradition with keeping up with the green Joneses here are my
TOP FIVE WAYS TO GO GREEN:
1) If you buy an old house, make sure to change all your toilets out for the one gallon flusher type. Why waste precious water by using the older toilets that use three, even six gallons each time you pull down the handle. A one gallon per flush, green approved, toilet is a no brainer if you want to go green.
THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH THAT IS... our "older" water waisting toilet finally broke a few years back and we had no choice but to replace it with the new kind. Instead of one flush it took two or three flushes to do the same job. With seven people in the family, it did not take long for the need of a permanent plunger to sit real pretty next to the new green jewel. One day I forgot to check the water saver john and since it was clogged (it was usually clogged) and subsequently flushed, a small leak rained down from its brand new porcelain sides onto the floor, into the AC vent, throughout the floorboards, which eventually damaged our ceiling in the middle level of our two story house. Consequently, a massive flood ruined our kitchen and family room with hundreds of gallons of dirty smelly pee water. It ended up costing $20,000 in ceiling, drywall, floor, and cabinet repairs to rectify the disaster. Oh and swapping to the so called Eco friendly water saver green toilet -ended up waisting a ton of precious water as well!
2) Make sure to buy an Eco friendly washer machine because if you wash a lot of clothes, its important to do whatever you can to use less soap, less water, and of course less energy.
THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH THAT IS . . . When our kitchen got destroyed by our Eco friendly upstairs toilet, as part of the renovation we also purchased new appliances. We decided to add a new washer and dryer to the second mortgage while we were at it! Why Not? Unfortunately, unlike my old washer that actually cleaned clothes, this shiny new green friendly washer turns out less than desirable results. Gone is the need for lots of water and that useless agitator thing in the middle! My new Maytag has one huge hollow basket by which I can do less loads by filling it up even more! I just put the small cup of special more expensive HE detergent on the bottom and then I fill up the mega basket, set the dials, and push the start button which locks the door. Loud, strange, weird, non- cleaning kind of noises soon follow. One day a sock "flew out of the basket" (words from the repair guy) and got caught between it and the side of the washer. I noticed that the next load did not drain properly and eventually it would not lock or work at all. Being one day out of warranty I hesitated to call a repairman. It cost us $450 dollars and 10 days waiting for the special Eco friendly part. The icing on the cake was when the guy banged off the basket, removed it and carried it to my bathroom to empty it in the bathtub - dripping the whole way! Funny, my old washer did not have a spot for socks to mysteriously jump out and cause damage. I also was able to simply set the dial to drain so that I could DRAIN THE WATER WITHOUT REMOVING THE ENTIRE MEGA TUB WITH A CROWBAR! On top of all of this, the clothes never really smell clean with my new Eco friendly washer so I finally decided to double the amount of more expensive HE soap to have some resemblance of fresh laundry. You know like the good ole days, the days before the new Eco friendly toilet flood!
3) Nothing like a brand new dishwasher. Even if you have to pay a little more, make sure yours meets all the green standards!
THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH THAT IS ... Eco friendly dishwashers suck! There really is no other way to describe them. Since phosphorus hurts the environment by harming some fish, my kids have to eat off of dirty plates unless you do several preventative things. First you have to buy non phosphorous, non effective cascade or the like. But dare not use it unless you also buy the expensive rinse aide. Once a month you also have to buy the gook out product because there is just not enough power and not enough water going through that thing to clean the pipes or your dishes. And don't forget to fully wash everything first, and turn on the hot water in your sink for a while before you turn the Eco friendly dishwasher on. I was also told by a repairman to always use the highest setting with all the other buttons pushed to the max setting, hold my breath and hope it works.
I remember a time when I basically threw in everything, food remains and all, into my old dishwasher and it never ever ever gave me a problem. Amazing how much water you save when you do dishes the old fashion way... once, by using a real, non green, dishwasher!
4) Before you throw out anything stop and say to yourself, can this be recycled? What we do not need is even more non bio-degradable filth flying around the landfills of Wichita! Can I get an A-men?
THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH THAT IS . . . besides the proven effectiveness of certain metals like tin, most everything else is simply not cost efficient to use, recycle and reuse over and over. It costs more energy to actually do the recycling making the solution worse than the problem. One day we will be able to link the cancerous plastics we are told to watch for in baby bottles, microwavable plastics, etc. to this environmentally wacko notion that we must all reuse the same plastic over and over. The invention of plastic was such a great invention due to it's drastically inexpensive production. In other words its cheap to make it so go ahead and throw it out! I don't like the new water bottles that bend in your hand due to their thinness or toilet paper that crumbles apart. Although the flimsy paper may help with the AlGore clog prone toilets!
Regarding the removal of rubbish, remember the good ole days when we use to burn it to ashes! Why not use the burning technique advances that do the job while also trapping the air pollution? Yeah, we have those available! It sure would save the environment by eliminating the fumes from the plethora of garbage and recycling trucks as well as the resources it costs to bury the mounds of trash into our soil. Not to mention the toxic clean up that is eventually needed even miles away from some city land fills. If I did not trust the government and the environmental movement so much, I would think that this whole recycle thing we are all guilted into is just a HUGE money maker! (Good planet, bad people, send money)
5) Replace all those old light bulbs with the curlycue type. It will save the environment because they last longer and use less energy to boot!
THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH THAT IS ... a little thing called mercury. The days of throwing out your light bulbs are over. This new type not only costs way more, it can not, by law, be thrown in the regular trash. It also uses way more electricity to heat up than a regular light bulb so it is better to not "close" the light when you leave a room. It is recommended to leave them on if you think you may be visiting a room again soon. In our family alone, we would need to leave the lights on 24/7 in the kitchen, living room, bathrooms, and hall. The only time it's safe that we will not "visit a room again soon" is when the kids go to sleep and turn off the light for bed. Leaving on the curly bulbs because they cost more than regular light bulbs to initially heat up just might take away from some shelf life - the very reason we are suppose to buy them! To me a pack of four old fashioned bulbs for 77 cents seems like the way to go, law or no law! Plus do you know one person that does not agree that the curlycue bulbs are UGLY?
Below are a few honorable mentions before I end this.
Sunscreen or die!
All of a sudden the populous is in need of vitamin D supplements. Why? Maybe because we do not get enough sun because we are told to never go outside without sunscreen on every corner of our exposed body. Unless your shirt is thin, which it is then recommended that you put on sunscreen on that skin as well!
Doctors are now emphasising that men and women need to get approximately 20 minutes of sun (without any sunscreen) to ensure the body produces enough vitamin D to remain healthy. - Unbelievable.
Kill the babies, but save the whales!
Growing seal population could be the reason behind more shark sightings.
By protecting baby seals and the endangered great white, we now have many many more of both of them because with the prey plenteous, so is the predator! It is now frightening to go in the ocean. Personally, I would rather have less people maimed or eaten than extra great whites or seals ... just saying.
Wind turbines and their connection to forest fires is never mentioned in the news.
Better to blame republican smoking hunters! - Or George Bush.
Polar bears are dying off, also not true.
Ice caps all over the planet are melting. Not!
While the Arctic ice has retreated (as in the 20's and 50's BTW) the Antarctic ice is growing at roughly the same pace.
Global Warming is caused by bad humans is simply not true!
As in all the facets of the Go Green movement, other sides to potential reasons behind climate change are not open for discussion in your child's classroom. They are being misled and cheated by not ever being shown the conservative side of the coin.
If we, due to laziness, peer pressure, or lack of care, never bother to study these things to see if they are true or merely money makers, then our future will be the reward of the few at the deficit to the many.
Just because your child's school, that movie star you think is cool, or those wonderfully professional journalists who have no agenda but to report the news even though they all repeat the exact left wing talking points, does not mean it is real science.
Call me an optimist but I want to believe we are not all brainless morons who think the recent uprising in the middle east, for example, is the fault of a youtube video and not the result of Obama's blunders, apology tours, and foreign policy inexperience.
As the world's economy and safety get increasingly worse, I would like to hope that that mindless crowd is shrinking.
Because the truth is - the all powerful, all knowing, all growing, green movement for the most part is one big fat green fraud!
I know this not because I am a published expert, but because I have personally experienced it.
My guess is you have too!
pw
sermon notes 9-16-2012
PROVE
IT
If
showing the love of God leads to repentance and promises fulfilled, would not
the opposite (animosity, criticism, disdain,) repel the lost and work towards the
enemies goal of keeping us defeated and unproductive in the things of God?
One of the LAST VITAL TEACHINGS
John
13:33-38 NLT
Dear children, I will be with you only a little longer. And as I told the Jewish leaders, you will search for me, but you can’t come where I am going. 34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
Dear children, I will be with you only a little longer. And as I told the Jewish leaders, you will search for me, but you can’t come where I am going. 34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
1 Peter 4:8 NLT
Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each
other, for love covers a multitude of sins.
1 Peter 4:8 THE MESSAGE
Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted. Stay wide-awake in prayer. Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything.
Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted. Stay wide-awake in prayer. Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything.
THE BASICS ARE REQUIRED
Luke 11:42 NLT42 “What sorrow awaits you Pharisees! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens,[a] but you ignore justice and the love of God. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.
Luke 11:42 Message
…You keep meticulous account books, tithing on every nickel and dime you get, but manage to find loopholes for
getting around basic matters of justice and God’s love. Careful
bookkeeping is commendable, but the basics are required
Romans 13:8 NLT
[ Love Fulfills God’s Requirements ] Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law.
LOVING OTHERS ASSURES OUR OWN HEART TOWARDS GOD!
1 John 3:18 NLT
18 Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love
each other; let us show the truth by our actions.
1 John 3:18 MSG
18-20 My dear children, let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice
real love. This is
the only way we’ll know we’re living truly, living in God’s reality.
It’s also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is
something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more
about us than we do ourselves.
1
John 4:16 NLT
16 We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.
God is love, and all who live in love - live in God, - and God lives in them.
16 We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.
God is love, and all who live in love - live in God, - and God lives in them.
*Ephesians 3:18-19
NLT
18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
20 Now all glory to
God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish
infinitely more than we might ask or think.
Colossians 1:8-10 NLT
8 He has told us about the love for others that the Holy Spirit has given you.
9 So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.
Colossians 1:8-10 NLT
8 He has told us about the love for others that the Holy Spirit has given you.
9 So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.
JESUS’S GOAL:
John 17:23 (MSG)
20-23 I’m praying not only for them
but also for those who will believe in me
Because of them and their witness about me.
The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind—
Just as you, Father, are in me and I in you,
So they might be one heart and mind with us.
Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me.
The same glory you gave me, I gave them,
So they’ll be as unified and together as we are—
I in them and you in me.
Then they’ll be mature in this oneness,
And give the godless world evidence
That you’ve sent me and loved them
In the same way you’ve loved me.
but also for those who will believe in me
Because of them and their witness about me.
The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind—
Just as you, Father, are in me and I in you,
So they might be one heart and mind with us.
Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me.
The same glory you gave me, I gave them,
So they’ll be as unified and together as we are—
I in them and you in me.
Then they’ll be mature in this oneness,
And give the godless world evidence
That you’ve sent me and loved them
In the same way you’ve loved me.
24-26 Father, I want those you gave
me
To be with me, right where I am,
So they can see my glory, the splendor you gave me,
Having loved me
Long before there ever was a world.
Righteous Father, the world has never known you,
But I have known you, and these disciples know
That you sent me on this mission.
I have made your very being known to them—
Who you are and what you do—
And continue to make it known,
So that your love for me
Might be in them
Exactly as I am in them.
To be with me, right where I am,
So they can see my glory, the splendor you gave me,
Having loved me
Long before there ever was a world.
Righteous Father, the world has never known you,
But I have known you, and these disciples know
That you sent me on this mission.
I have made your very being known to them—
Who you are and what you do—
And continue to make it known,
So that your love for me
Might be in them
Exactly as I am in them.
Hebrews 10:24-25 NLT
24 Let us think of ways to motivate one
another to acts of love and good works. LOVE NEVER LETS GO!
Romans 8: 33-39 NLT35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”[a]) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[b] neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
MSG: None
of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced
that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow,
high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love
because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us. – (never letting go!)
Conclusion:
*Love proves God is real to the world.
*Love enables us to be our brother’s keeper because it covers a multitude of sin.
*Love passes knowledge and understanding.
*The more love we operate in the closer we are to knowing him
and being like him.
*We are commanded to do all things that promote the Love of God because Love IS the goal to unity, end time harvest, and the catalyst to all faith and answers to your prayers.
*Love does not fail.
*Love enables us to be our brother’s keeper because it covers a multitude of sin.
*Love passes knowledge and understanding.
*The more love we operate in the closer we are to knowing him
and being like him.
*We are commanded to do all things that promote the Love of God because Love IS the goal to unity, end time harvest, and the catalyst to all faith and answers to your prayers.
*Love does not fail.
Our example of loving
others is Jesus.
Our ability to love like Jesus loves is in the person of the Holy Spirit
Christians are better at loving the world, then loving
each otherOur ability to love like Jesus loves is in the person of the Holy Spirit
We assumed that loving the lost is the commandment in John 13.
yet at the same time we bite and devour one another which in effect is
Hating the Lost!
John 13:35 says.. Christians, Disciples, Brothers, Sisters:
35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
Prove it!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)