Thanks for your feedback on what makes a place home. I’ll use some of it in the series we are kicking off this weekend “Home For The Holidays.”
Have you ever felt lost?
There are people in our neighborhoods and in our offices and in our worksites and in our schools and even in our families who are wandering aimlessly through life without hope, without direction, without purpose, without meaning, without God, without His forgiveness, without His grace, without the security of knowing that they have an eternal home in heaven some day.
I don’t know of a worse feeling. Sometimes in life, we all can lose our way. How do you find your way back home?
First of all, I think we have to stop living life on our own little me-islands and reach out to others. With all the electronic gizmos, computers, and marketers labeling everything as “my-_____”, we forget that life isn’t about me all the time. Being a king tucked tight in your castle on your island winds up being a lonely place, not a home.
Pastor B,
Great message to kick of December. How do you describe when one has heavy questions on their heart and just can’t seem to get the answer no matter how hard they pray. Until, showing up an NC and the topic and answers are revealed? Is this pure luck with perfect timing? I know and believe GOD is the answer for everything in life, but some how you just happend to download a specific answer to almost every situation that lies heavy on the mind. It’s a GOD thing and I’m getting it more and more as I’m getting connected. Just a thought. If I feel like I’m getting all of the GOD in my life that I have within my soul, and yet still feel like I’m chasing bigger goals and dreams; no matter what goals I achieve. I’m very blessed, beyond thankful, have GOD in my life everyday, but still want more out of life. I’m NOT one who want’s it now, I’m just driven on a trek to provide the best for my family and create the best life for my family and for those who are not so fortunate. I don’t feel I’m owed anything or want anything now before my time. I have came from nothing, built a little something, life is great, but still challenge myself to kick it up another notch. Does this mean I don’t have enough GOD in my life; or I have not truly found the pinnacle of how to love GOD with something more, something that I don’t know is in me yet? I don’t place achievements and GOD’S fulfillment within my heart in the same arena.
Joe
hey joe!
Joe-
Glad you enjoyed it! God has a way of doing that with all of us…it’s the power of God’s word!
I’m proud of you and your accomplishments and your passion for God! Keep it up!
Not sure I can answer your question, I’m asking myself the same thing.
Lee scott, the C.E.O of Walmart say’s “once a company or organization falls into a comfort zone and stops looking over their shoulder and things they are king of the jungle” is when their going to get knocked off. Continues growth, vision for the future and a relentless pursuit to be the best. I have been told by professional athletes that no matter how many records they break, no matter how many times they’re on ESPN highlight reals, they always try to be better and they only live in “that moment” and tomorrow is a new day, just like it never counted. I’m guessing this drive and thirst for the best life possibly must of started from when I was 10-years old and played little league baseball, 32-years ago! Until recently, “game-on” never really meant as much to me in my life as it does now. Of course with some new meaning, but with the same competitive edge. I don’t think you or I have it in us to say “I’m good and I’m just going to kick back from this day forward, I’ve done enough”. Passion, drive & desire burn to deep, too much to conquer and too many souls to save! What’s up with your Eagles, they’ve been stinking up the field and at the bottom of the heap! You may have to root for my Team come January:) Clue: They’re in the same State as the Sox!
Keep Rocking On!
Joe
Joe-
Can’t believe your 42! Love your feedback and I beleive God puts that drive in us…keep it up!
Have no clue about the stinking eagels????? What’s up with the interceptions?????
My bride is also 42 and she gets the 30 something all the time. She’s cheesing and still proclaims to be frozen at 26 yrs. old. If you can’t believe I’m 42, then the 6 kids bomb is really going to throw you for a loop! 4 of my own and 2 that came with the “re-start” button. 3 are off to college and 3 are still at home, 13, 15 and 17. Talk about a long haul and doing overtime duty. It’s a joy to see them grow up and more-so, move out; I mean move on with life. My mother always told me “I hope you have a “child” that is just like you”. Wow, did she curse me, as I had 3 that are just like me! You know those kids that have enough energy for 10 kids and have some sort of A.D.D going on 24/7. Yeah man, that’s our GOD, sprinkled just a little too much of the GO FORTH and multiple dust on me:) It’s all good, I’ve got through it, learned some patience, learned that I know nothing and teens have all the answers and that I don’t know what’s up because apparently in the 70′s-80′s I lived under a rock some where. Too funny, how kids these days don’t understand that I’ve forgot more about life, than they have ever learned and that I have been there and done that, many times over.
I think you should dedicate a series directed towards kids/teens that think we 40 somethings have no clue, yet have all the answers! If I had a dollar for “you would’t understand”, I wouldn’t need to work anymore! Kids today are much differant than yesteryear that is for sure. Technology has changed our kids and our future more than ever intended. Kids don’t even play outside anymore. My mother would call me 10-times to come in the house, then smack me once for not coming the first time. Where has the “old school” gone?
Joe
Joe-
I hear you…bring back old school.
Great dialog…..Life is like the “Big Game”. You forty somethings are in the beginning of the third quarter of the second half and are finally getting what the game of life is all about. Now can be the most productive time in your entire life. Use what you have learned, use it like it was a gift from God and because you care, it is. We forth quarter people can’t go back. We can only tell you players what we have learned this far so you wont make the same mistakes. Talk about fun times, the fifties and early sixties were really a great time to grow up. Some of us aren’t quite there yet, but that’s Ok too. Fifty-seven Chevy’s, DA hair-cuts, Shell cords, pegged paints, real rock and roll, high school dances, fist fights, (with only your hands)…. Our parents came through the depression. They were part of “The Greastest Generation”, when Mom worked at home and almost everyone had two parents at the table for supper. Grandparents were very close by and helped raise us. We Sixty somethings have seen the best of times and have gone through some of the worst of times, and we still don’t know it all. But the best lies a head. Exciting times, when God is going to really show His power and also His grace to those that believe. Enjoy your blessings, use your God given wisdom and talants to farther His Kingdom. Look at the score board, the seconds are counting down. We have a few more plays to make. Let’s make them count. Time is short, “Live Different”….. I Love it!
Lou-
Powerful STUFF! Between you and Faith…we better get on with it! Thanks for keeping it REAL…not sure if I agree with the whole real rock and roll part:) Bottom line, we need every age and stage in God’s church…let’s do this together…thanks for the pep talk and the wisdom…life is short, live different!
Nice
Do you read from the 1611 King James Bible too? I only read from that bible
Have a nice Christmas Holiday Season.
God Bless,
Katie
Katie-
You have a great Christmas as well! To answer your question, I read from a variety of versions…I enjot the NLT and the Message. I also hit the Greek and Hebrew from time to time.
Buddy,
Great story to drop on you and would like some feedback. I scored some tickets to the Tran Siberian Orchestra (Awesome by the way) concert at Times Union Arena last week. I wanted to make it a complete date niter with my bride. We did the whole dressing up in our best threads, had diner reservations at Jacks. Grubbed on $40 dollar steak and wow, God is great and had the whole life is good vibe going on. I paid the bill, buttoned up for the 27 degree weather and hit the streets to the concert. I wasn’t 30-yards out of the restaurant and walking up the street and I run into a homeless old lady pushing a shopping cart. Talk about an instant “downer” from a high of joy! I asked her “where are you heading”? She did not respond and I asked her to hold on. I dug in my wallet and gave her a $50.00 spot and told her “God bless you”. She smiled and booked on down the hill with her cart. I sat at the concert the entire time and could only think about how jacked that up it is to live in the RICHEST Country in World and we still have people living next to a hot air duct or living in the streets. I tried to enjoy the concert to the best of my ability, but this incident had some serious impact on my emotions. I know I can’t save the world or all of the homeless people in it. However, if Northway needs anyone to organize services or donations and “actually” get involved to help the homeless on behalf of Northway, I’m the man who’d be the first on the bandwagon to help. Not many things weight heavily on my heart and this incident really brought new light to a sincere passion or desire to make a difference. I’ve seen homeless people for many years standing on street corners and hustling for a dollar, so this was or is not a new revelation for me.
What’s your thoughts and how can I help or get involved? I also volunteer my wife too:)
Happy Holidays!
J. Lamica
Joe-
It’s ironic, isn’t it? It’s a reality check…you did make a difference, one act of kindness at a time.
As far as Northway…were you able to get into a Connection Group? This is how we are organizing and being startegic in accomplishing our goals of outreach – including the homless in our community. Go for it Joe!