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Journal
Archives – June, 2003 |
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| AN ONGOING SPIRITUAL WEBLOG |
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June 27, 2003
Gratitude, gratitude, gratitude.
Here is a spiritual tool. No matter how life goes, up and down, good and bad,
you can always use gratitude to improve your spiritual condition. There is always
something to be thankful for.
Tom Gilbert
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June 24, 2003
A good shepherd is someone who is willing to die for his flock. That seems to
be the real test of commitment. Clearly, Jesus fulfilled this. He died not just
for his beliefs and for his people in the way that we might think of doing. He
died as the perfect sacrifice. The only way for us to get back to a relationship
with God that is not marred by our sin is to have Christ as the bridge!
You know...Jesus is so good in how he brings us along. You can see it throughout
the gospels, how he would help each person by asking them what they wanted him
to do for them, by meeting them at their need and by his willingness to help
anyone...anyone!
Was Jesus dynamic, decisive, bold and a commanding presence full of charisma
like we want all our leaders to be? At times, I think he was. But so often he
showed us that the way was to deny our selfish desires and to be gentle, loving,
meek, compassionate and humble. These are not leadership qualities that the world
holds up.
We have something that is very special to remember when we are called into leadership.
When God wants us to help shepherd the sheep he says that we should be in partnership.
Our burdens feel too heavy on our own power. God (Jesus) says, "let me help!"
I know that Jesus said I AM THE WAY, because he is the Redeemer and the way to
forgiveness and eternal life. But, I also think he gives us the message of "the
way" by asking us to imitate him. Paul was the great advocate of this: "To
live is Christ and to die is gain."(Philippians 1:21). He repeats this basic
message in so many words throughout his letters (Ephesians, Romans, Galatians,
Colossians and 2 Timothy...it really is quite amazing how often he stresses this
point).
"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me" (John
10:14).
Tom Gilbert
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June 23, 2003
We are almost half way through this year. The longest day of the year and first
official day of summer (for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere) happened
on Saturday. I bring this up because journaling (like I do here) is such a great
way to track your spiritual condition. You can get clarity from writing and you
can record your thoughts, feelings, prayers and events.
Life keeps moving. We all need to live a day at a time, in the present as best
as we can. But, when you keep a journal it lets you see how you are growing and
also to see evidence of God’s involvement in your life.
I do that on a personal level and I also do it here on the pages of this web
site. Part of the reason I archive every entry is so that you and I both can
check back and from this review get a better appreciation for our lives. So,
spend some time reflecting on New Year’s Day, the past winter, what the
season of Lent and the passion of Christ meant to you this year, the joy and
celebration of Easter and spring, the oddities of dates like 01/02/03 or 03/03/03 and
now into summer. Life is truly a tapestry of moments.
Tom Gilbert
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June 20, 2003
I never know for sure what brings
people to this site and, particularly, to the “Journal
weblog” section. It could be any number of reasons.
I truly believe that God guides us when we ask Him to.
Today, right here/right now, I want you to know that
God is real, God is good and if you spend just one minute
in grateful awe of this your life can be forever changed.
Tom Gilbert
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June 17, 2003
The Holy Spirit is a real and vital part of the One True God. The mystery of
the Trinity – God in the three persons of Father, Son and Holy Spirit – is
difficult to comprehend. In fact, we cannot really know it intellectually. Many
have offered ways to think about it, like water in the three forms of gas, liquid
and solid, but the important thing to remember is that unique relationship of
the Holy Trinity gives us access to God in special ways. Jesus came to us in
human form to “show” us the Father and teach us of His great love…and
of course, to redeem all humankind. The Spirit is the gift Jesus promised, God’s
Spirit living inside us and working (loving) in and through and with us.
Isn’t that great? I tell you, the Spirit is at work and it becomes ever
more evident to me. Ok, but it is still so mysterious – right? It is, but
it is also immensely practical. Everyday you can bring the vision of God’s
will into your life. I pray that in this Pentecost season you are enjoying the
presence of the Holy Spirit in your life.
Tom Gilbert
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June 13, 2003
Father’s Day is just about here.
I’m currently reading “Fathering Like
the Father” and so far some great tips.
It’s written by the father/son authorship team
of Kenneth O. Gangel and Jeffrey
S. Gangel. I look forward to finishing it,
writing a review for this site, and most importantly,
putting the tips into practice with my own children.
Thanks to RELEVANTmagazine.com for
posting my “Lessons
From My Daughter” article.
It’s my Father’s Day gift to you papas who can relate.
This month we’ve put the spotlight on mentoring. An email came yesterday
turning me on to www.mentoring-disciples.org.
This Christian Mentoring Ministry site looks good; lots of articles and links. Drop
by for a visit and tell Waylon B. Moore that Living
the Solution sent you.
Tom Gilbert
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June 11, 2003
A warm welcome to anyone new to the Living the Solution website! Thanks to Tony
and the Web
Evangelism Bulletin for giving us exposure in their latest newsletter. I
encourage you to subscribe to the free twice-monthly roundup of news, ideas and
strategies about online evangelism, plus webmaster tips and promotion ideas for
Christian webpages. I find it very informative and beneficial.
Tom Gilbert
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June 9, 2003
Can God be found anywhere? Maybe that seems like a dumb or naïve question.
Yet, so many good, God-fearing people may be under the mistaken impression that
God only reveals His message through sermons and church. I’m not putting
down those methods. They are important, for sure, but since so many people won’t
darken a church door and are either lost, aimless or seeking something bigger,
it makes sense that God’s message can come in a variety of ways.
Sit at the edge of the Grand Canyon, climb to a mountaintop, wade in a stream
teaming with fish and bordered by magnificent trees and you should sense God.
See God in the midst of trouble. Boy, that one is often hard! We have to remind
ourselves that Jesus not only taught in the synagogues. He went out among the
people, to their homes and places of business. What got me going on this (again)
was the excellent short piece posted by John Vassar on Relevantmagazine.com.
I’d love to see more people introduce the gospel message through discussion
of movies, books and the media. Even better would be more people taking the message
and putting it into these message systems.
Tom Gilbert
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June 6, 2003
Pentecost – fifty days after the Easter resurrection the real birth of
the church. The promised gift of the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles
and believers with great power. Jesus promised he would send this Comforter to
be in us, with us and to live and work through us.
Pentecost is celebrated on this Sunday. Spend some time reflecting. Ask the Holy
Spirit to reveal to you the truth and to awaken you to the many gifts and fruits
of the Spirit. Read in Galatians, particularly .
Peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control – come
Holy Spirit!
Tom Gilbert
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June 4, 2003
In the Gospel of John, Jesus prays for us. He prays for his followers who are
in the world, but not of the world. He further states that they be one just as
he and God are one and that as he was sent into the world he is now sending them
into the world. –
Question to ponder: How can we be in the world, but not of the
world?
Tom Gilbert
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June 3, 2003
In the past I’ve kept you informed about Mongolia’s unique television
station, Eagle-TV. This station has been run as a joint venture by both Mongolian
and American interests. AMONG is the American partner (a non-profit Christian
organization in Sioux Falls, South Dakota). The Mongolian partners a couple of
months ago forced the station to make the difficult decision to discontinue broadcasting.
It’s unfortunate, as the message beamed by Eagle-TV has been one of faith,
freedom and democracy. The station has also incorporated some Christian programming
and had plans to do more. According to the ratings surveys the station was gaining
great popularity. You can read about the situation that led to the shutdown at
the article previously posted: Eagle’s Wings Clipped.
Tom Terry, the General Manager, continues to live in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia with
his wife and children. He hopes the station will take to the airwaves again.
Read here the latest news.
In our daily walk we must remember that helping others includes finding ways
to bring the truth to light. This can be done effectively with personal testimony
and witness, but we should also support the freedom to do this through various
media (the Internet included!). As you consider the plight of Eagle-TV keep in
mind in America how much the media ownership has consolidated. Everything is
owned by a handful of companies. Does this create a concern on whether you are
getting the full story when you want news?
It may get worse. The Federal Communications Commission has just ruled to allow
further consolidation, see more
here.
Tom Gilbert
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June 2, 2003
Welcome to June. This month brings us summer; it also brings Father’s Day
(June 15). Let’s pray for our fathers, and if you are a father, pray to
receive the grace and guidance to be a better one. Turn to our Father in heaven
and discover that real men are real.
I like this from Gordon Dalbey on New
Covenant Manhood : “Jesus didn't come to tell us what to do, but
rather, to show us Who does it. This is the basic revelation of New Covenant
manhood, which focuses not on obedience, but trust. The man who trusts his Father
will not only obey Him, but will ask Him for direction.”
Tom Gilbert
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| Read past Journal entries here. |
Scripture taken from the
Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.Copyright ©
1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights
reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International
Bible Society.
NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered
trademarks of International Bible Society. Use of either
trademark for the offering of goods or services requires
the prior written consent of International Bible Society.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy
Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996. Used
by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton,
IL 60189, USA. All rights reserved.
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