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Well, if you heard the very special annoucement yesterday, you know by now that my wife and I are expecting our third little baby. We are over the moon excited to bring another child into our family Lord willing in September. Our other two children are excited too, especially our daughter who is hoping for a sister this time around. I feel like such a blessed man, and thank you all for your prayers. Well...our children are not our own, they belong to God. He formed and fashioned them, and they are entrusted to our care for a short period of time. The question is this: what will we do with that short time we are given? 

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Tune in for a very special announcement detailing why the podcast has been a bit more sporadic as of late, as well as what to expect moving forward. The reason things have been so crazy is because...well, you'll just have to listen to find out!

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Over the weekend my father-in-law and I fixed the temperature & pressure relief valve on my hot water heater. Essentially, it's the most important system of a water heater, because it relieves pressure in the tank to keep it from exploding and ending life as you know it. From time to time, a properly functioning valve will open up and let pressure out. Well...emotions work the same way. We must learn not to bottle things up, or else we'll explode. But this is not just important in our relationships with others, but also in our relationship with God. True worship is not void of any and all emotion. While we must have control over our emotions, true worship will result in displays of sorrow, joy, gratitude, and wonder. 

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My kids had a rough morning this morning, as they were not on their best behavior. There was correction and discipline, and they shed some tears. Not long after, I went to walk out the door for work, but they came running into my arms for hugs and kisses saying "Don't go!" You see, even though they made mistakes, they never doubted my love for them! Well...why is it that so many Christians can't understand that about God? They asssume when they sin that God hates them and suddenly they are kicked out of God's house until they come begging to be let back in. That's such a wrong view of our Father. He does not expect perfection, nor does he hate us, but he gives grace & loves us as we grow as children. 

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I listened to a survey where a fellow walked around and asked people this question: "What would you do if you only had 24 hours to live?" I thought about my answer, about spending time with family and reflecting on things that are most important, but I was shocked by the answers given. Family, friends, and faith never came up - most just living by no rules. Well...we are not promised tomorrow. It's not a theoretical question, our last day very well could be today. Are we living it the way we should? Are we doing the right things in holiness, love, and wisdom? Don't wait until it's too late, maybe we would all benifit by living with the reality that each day very well could be our last. 

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I had about an hour to kill between meetings and studies today, so I made some phone calls in a long drive through line at Starbucks. They have been through the ringer - short staffed, shipping issues, menu limitations, it's a mess. I asked how their day was going and tried to encourage some exhausted baristas. When I pulled up to the window, they gave me a drink on the house thanking me for being nice despite the wait & many issues. Apparently, others have not been so understanding. Well...isn't it amazing how we want others to be patient and merciful to us when things are tough, but we're not willing to do the same for others? It is the merciful who will receive mercy. Stop thinking about "what is your right" and start asking yourself "what is right" - then do it. 

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The Winter Olympics started today in Bejiing. As I watched the opening ceremonies, it was fascinating to watch countries that would normally be at odds with one another cheer on their rivals and set aside their differences. However, it won't last, and in many ways is superficial. Once the games are over, it's back to the same fighting between nations. Well...you epect that of the nations of men, but what about the Lord's church? Jesus prayed for us to be one, as he and the Father are one, and yet that is not what I have seen in many churches. The unity that many have is superficial, because before long it's back to fighting and dividing over anything and everything. We must do better church. 

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I had a great conversation with a new friend today Brady Cook, who opperates and runs Diakonos Marketing. They seek to help educate and equip churches to better reach the lost through their online efforts. After some discussion, I told him I wished I was much better with my videos, because they weren't to my standard. He responded, "Done is better than perfect." Well...that's right. Nothing always will yield nothing. This applies in so many ways: to why people never come to Christ, or even to why we never grow to do new things in our discipleship. Don't just do nothing, it's time for action. Will you be perfect? Nope. And that's okay. 

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Today is national signing day in the world of college football. Athletes that have been saught after by different universities now make a full commitment to where they will choose to play ball. While many prior to today have made a verbal commitment, that often means nothing and can change come signing day. But today is official, and they are all in. Well...you are being recruited as well. Both Satan & God want you, but for different reasons. Satan wants to destroy you. God wants to save you. But God wants more than a verbal commitment, because talk is cheap. It's time to commit yourself fully to him. 

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Today was a big day for our community, becase it was the grand re-opening of the Hub Coffee House downtown. Over the past month they have been gutting and completey renovating the interior. When I walked through the doors today, I couldn't believe how beautiful it was. It was hard to believe that it was still the same place. It was the same...and yet drastically differnet, and drastically better. Well...one day we will all undergo a similar transformation when these bodies will be raised from the dead. They will be the same...and yet they will be different. What is sown mortal is raised immortal. Our final heavenly form will be far superior in every way. 

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