Went fishing yesterday, not as I usually do, on a lake, for largemouth bass. This time I’m on vacation with my family in Puerto Vallarta which is right on the ocean. So we hired a local boat from a company called Monkey Business and our Captain, Tori, did what he always does — he took us to where the fish are. This particular day he took us out to the mouth of the Banderas Bay near the Marietta Islands. Wow, it was like we were in a washing machine on heavy duty cycle. The boat was tossed about until I began to feel just a bit queezy, so I took a dramamine and washed it down with some Coca-Cola. It wasn’t long after that, that one of our party lost their breakfast over the side of the boat then another, then another and then I lost my best fishing sunglasses. When I finally could no longer resist the urge to regurge I was so overcome that I had to push the last person whose head was over the side (fortunately he had just finished) out of the way so I could add my stomach contents to the surrounding waters. The taste of coffee, mixed with Coke, mixed with just a pinch of dramamine will be forever imbedded in my memory.
I’m a lightweight when it comes to motion sickness (even as I type this post a day later, the room is rocking and swaying as though I’m still on board Tori’s boat) Knowing this, my wife asked me afterwards,
Why on earth did you, the person who gets motion sick so easily, go out on that boat and fish in the ocean?
OK, so I confess that more often than not when my wife starts a question with, “Why on earth did you…?” it’s usually because I did something stupid. But this time I had a good reason.
Dr. George Vaillant led a Harvard University study that followed the lives of 268 men in great detail for 72 years (one of the men BTW was JFK). Vaillant has come to some very interesting conclusions after poring over the resulting data. George Vaillant says that one of those conclusions is “That the only thing that really matters in life are your relationships to other people.” (see The Atlantic)
Yes, I knew I’d almost certainly get sick out there on the high seas, but I just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to spend time with one of my sons doing something he loves to do, which is to fish. Neither of us had fished the ocean before so it was particularly appealing for me to be there when he experienced this first in his life.
Was it worth it? Yes. If I could do it over again would I still go? Yes. Will I go next time? No way!
My point is this: you and I sometimes become so task oriented that we lose our focus on what’s most important in our lives. I’ve spoken with men so focused on their careers that their wives left them unexpectedly, stating simply that, “you’ve been a good roomate.” These men were so busy getting the job done that they neglected their relationships with their wives who the Bible admonishes us to love as Christ loves the church. (Ephesians 5:25)
Another conclusion Vaillant came to after the Grant study: “What we do affects how we feel just as much as how we feel affects what we do.” Love is something you do more than something you feel. Love is a verb.
Jesus said that the greatest commandment is to “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37) “And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:39)
Love God and love people.
1 Corinthians 13
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Toad Behavior Predicts Earthquakes
Rachel Grant, a biologist, noticed that while the male toads normally congregate at the breeding site and stay for the duration of the mating season, this time 96% of the male toads fled the breeding site five days before the quake. She also noted that numbers of breeding pairs of toads dropped to zero three days before the quake. (see Breitbart.com )
Want to know a good predictor for earthquakes in your life? When your numbers drop, when you’re no longer congregating — at church — you’re earthquake is coming. Over the years as I’ve observed Christians who fall out of fellowship, I’ve found that over time they become a different person, their behavior changes, noticeably, to those who close to them. But, like the proverbial frog in the pot of slowly heated water, the one who has neglected his or her fellowship doesn’t seem to notice. When you drift from God’s pattern of regular fellowship at church and regular fellowship with God through prayer and reading His word you likely won’t notice anything at first.
But slowly, almost imperceptibly, the earthquake will come.
Stay in regular fellowship with Jesus. Stay in regular fellowship with His body, with His people. Stay close to Him.
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Posted on March 30, 2010 by Kurt Bennett
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Why Fish the Sea When You Know You’ll Get Seasick?
I’m a lightweight when it comes to motion sickness (even as I type this post a day later, the room is rocking and swaying as though I’m still on board Tori’s boat) Knowing this, my wife asked me afterwards,
OK, so I confess that more often than not when my wife starts a question with, “Why on earth did you…?” it’s usually because I did something stupid. But this time I had a good reason.
Dr. George Vaillant led a Harvard University study that followed the lives of 268 men in great detail for 72 years (one of the men BTW was JFK). Vaillant has come to some very interesting conclusions after poring over the resulting data. George Vaillant says that one of those conclusions is “That the only thing that really matters in life are your relationships to other people.” (see The Atlantic)
Yes, I knew I’d almost certainly get sick out there on the high seas, but I just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to spend time with one of my sons doing something he loves to do, which is to fish. Neither of us had fished the ocean before so it was particularly appealing for me to be there when he experienced this first in his life.
Was it worth it? Yes. If I could do it over again would I still go? Yes. Will I go next time? No way!
My point is this: you and I sometimes become so task oriented that we lose our focus on what’s most important in our lives. I’ve spoken with men so focused on their careers that their wives left them unexpectedly, stating simply that, “you’ve been a good roomate.” These men were so busy getting the job done that they neglected their relationships with their wives who the Bible admonishes us to love as Christ loves the church. (Ephesians 5:25)
Another conclusion Vaillant came to after the Grant study: “What we do affects how we feel just as much as how we feel affects what we do.” Love is something you do more than something you feel. Love is a verb.
Jesus said that the greatest commandment is to “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37) “And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:39)
Love God and love people.
1 Corinthians 13
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Posted on March 14, 2010 by Kurt Bennett
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More Than 200 Christians Killed in Nigeria — Video
More than 200 Christians, many, women and children, were killed in Nigeria Sunday, according to Mission Network News. Accounts from neighbors of the dead say that Muslim herdsmen came out of the hills, shot pistols to draw people out of their homes, and then killed with machetes and bows and arrows. Some of the bodies had severed limbs. Many dead children were found entangled in the arms of their deceased mother’s.
Today the dead were buried in mass graves.
The area where the massacre occurred is a location where a predominantly Christian region borders a predominantly Muslim region.
Your Life:
Walk closely with God for it’s not a matter of if you’ll be persecuted for your faith in Christ but a matter of when. Jesus predicted this when He said,
I’m not saying that you and your family will be brutally massacred however we all face trials and you and I won’t be exceptions — count on it. That’s why it’s so important to spend time with the Lord now so you’re prepared for the storm.
You won’t regret it.
Jesus also said,
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Posted on March 8, 2010 by Kurt Bennett
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Christian, Christian living, Christianity, gun shot, I have overcome the world, in this world you will have trouble, Jesus, Jesus Christ, John 15, John 16, kurt bennett, Leadership, machete, mass grave, Massacre, muslim, nigeria, slaughter, trial, tribulation
Best Actress 2010 — How to satisfy your soul
According to an article in The Improper, over her lifetime Sandra Bullock’s films have grossed more than 3.1 billion dollars worldwide.
Your Life:
From an excellent sermon I heard this morning at Applegate Christian Fellowship:
In an interview with The Rolling Stone, Brad Pitt said regarding the American Dream,
Brad Pitt has multiplied millions in the bank. He has (or had) Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Aniston. I looked at some photos of Brad Pitt’s house and I don’t know if it can even be called a house. A compound more accurately describes it. You need a helicopter to reach a high enough altitude to see it all at once. And yet Pitt say’s, “I’m sitting in it, and I’m telling you, that’s not it.”
We should listen to him.
Solomon had it all, materially speaking. The Bible says that he “…made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones.” (2 Chronicles 9:27) He had 700 wives and 300 concubines. (1 Kings 11:3) Yet Solomon agreed with Pitt when he said regarding the things of this world,
Anytime you or I try to find satisfaction in life from worldly things we’ll be disappointed. (see previous post Avatar and Your God Shaped Hole) What we’re craving is the person of Jesus Christ. Brad Pitt said, “…I don’t have any answers…” But there is an answer. The answer is Jesus. Jesus told us to follow him and that “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” John 15:11
Make your joy complete. Follow Jesus. Pray to Him. Acknowledge that you have sin in your life (we all do! Romans 3:23) and that you’re in need of a savior. Accept the work that Jesus did on the cross for you — He loved you so much He died for your sins. Ask Him to become a part of your life. Ask Him to be your Savior and your Lord. Ask Him to help you to walk intimately with Him.
You’ll never regret it.
Your joy will be complete.
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Posted on March 7, 2010 by Kurt Bennett
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Rest — 3 essential ways to rest to keep you at your best
Yesterday a New York Times article talked about the pressures that President Barack Obama’s top advisor, David Axelrod, faces. In the article Axelrod’s detractors criticize him for mismanaging the president’s communication with the public. Many say that the pressure in Washington is taking it’s toll on Axelrod whose typical work day starts at 6 a.m. and ends at 11 p.m. Friends openly worry about him burning out.
Your Life:
Rest! According to the Relationship Economy website the amount of digital information we will be subjected to is going to increase 10 fold over the next 5 years. At work we’re interrupted as often as once every 3 minutes. (see Goodreads.com‘s review of The Overflowing Brain) Cell phones, texts, emails, faxes, landlines, pages, tweets, facebook — the pace of life is ever increasing.
I spent the last week at a firefighter and police leadership seminar listening to author and speaker, Dr. Kevin Gilmartin, talk about how expenditure of our energy on one end, a high, absolutely must result in a corresponding low energy phase that can, without rest, result in serious depression.
It’s essential that we follow God’s commandment to keep the sabbath. It’s essential that we set aside one day a week to:
1) Rest in the Lord
Go to church. Relax within the body of Christ. Rest in Him. Be influenced by Him. Gilmartin cites a study that shows that those who attend church regularly are 40% more likely to be happy than those who don’t. Over the years I’ve watched the lives of those who attend church regularly and those who don’t. In the short term the differences may be unnoticeable. But in the long term — it’s a hard road for those who fall into a pattern of apathy toward their church involvement.
2) Rest your body
This might mean passive rest if you worked construction all week. Or active rest, physical exercise, yard work if you enjoy it, or helping a friend to move (a means of finding out who your true friends are BTW) if you sit at a desk all week.
3) Rest your mind
Disengage your mind from your work life. Focus on God and family for a day.
Remember that all of God’s commandments are for our own benefit. It probably seems counterintuitive but you and I will be more effective in the long run if we take one day and rest. Jesus said,
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Posted on March 7, 2010 by Kurt Bennett
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Vision
Just when things looked hopeless his coach found a doctor who was performing an experimental procedure that looked like the answer. One problem — money. The Beverly Hills doctor, Boxer Wachler, identified Holcomb as a candidate for the surgery but Holcomb, who earns his living as a computer technician, couldn’t afford the $15K to get the job done. Fortunately for Steve Holcomb and U.S. bobsled fans the U.S. Bobsled Federation and the U.S. Olympic Committee decided to pay the doctor bill. After the ten minute surgery, Steve Holcomb’s vision was nearly 20-20. (see USA Today)
And the result? An Olympic gold medal for the U.S.A. The first U.S. gold medal in the bobsled in 62 years. (see KansasCity.com)
Your Life:
The Bible states that
Are you a mother, a father, a coach, a teacher? Or do you have leadership responsibility in some other area of your life? Pray for vision from the Lord for those He’s placed in your care. After receiving vision from Him, communicate that vision to those who will be impacted. Many don’t realize that communicating God’s vision to your kids, your students, whoever God’s entrusted you with, is one of the most important things you must do as a leader. Prayerfully try it for awhile and watch what God does in your relationships. Consider the following excerpt from Traveler and the Chaplain:
From Traveler and the Chaplain.
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Posted on February 27, 2010 by Kurt Bennett
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Fearless
Ya gotta love Bob.
Your Life:
In Job chapter 1 Satan says to God,
As Christians we enjoy the same hedge. We can rest in the fact that, like Job, no harm will touch us except that which the Lord allows. Be like Bob (goggles and snorkel optional) — take courage in the knowledge that God is on the throne and in control of your life. He will never leave you nor forsake you.
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Posted on February 27, 2010 by Kurt Bennett
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Denver Math Teacher Risks His Life to Save Others — Video
Math teacher David Benke risked his life to save the lives of Deer Creek Middle School students. He heard shots being fired and rather than running for cover he ran to the shooter and wrestled him to the ground, effectively ending the the shooting spree. Read more at CBS 4 Denver .
Your Life:
You and I may not get the opportunity to put ourselves in harm’s way to save the life of another. But if you think about it, you and I have the opportunity to put the lives of others before ourselves in a myriad of other ways every day.
Do for others more than you do for yourself.
Of course Jesus set the ultimate example by giving the ultimate sacrifice, His Divine Self. In spite of our flaws, frailties, and sin, we live in a forgiven state before God because Jesus died on the cross for us. He traded His life so we could have eternity with Him.
In the words of Jesus:
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Posted on February 24, 2010 by Kurt Bennett
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Mark 1:40-45 — Jesus’ Touch
Touch Research
I just read a facinating article about the power of human touch. Patients touched by their doctor perceived their visits to have lasted twice as long as patients who weren’t touched. Students who were touched by their teachers were twice as likely to volunteer in class. The human touch can ease depression. The human touch can improve relationships
In a Cal Berkley study touches among teammates on NBA teams were measured. Among all NBA teams who do you suppose touches the most? The top two are the Boston Celtics and the L.A. Lakers — the last two NBA champions.
Interesting.
For the full story see the New York Times .
Your Life:
Touching, appropriately of course, is one of the most effective ways of communicating God’s love to others. People who are lonely and/or depressed have shared with me that, at times, they would give their right arm just to feel the touch of another human.
A friend who does counseling once told me that a patient of his came back to visit him a few years after her counseling sessions had ended. She was doing extremely well and credited my counselor friend with her improvement.
“What was it that made the difference?” he asked, “The wisdom I shared? My insights into your family life perhaps?”
“No,” she replied.
“It was the hugs.”
Imagine with me what it must have meant to the leper that Jesus touched in Mark chapter 1. In Jewish society at that time, it was illegal to touch a leper — illegal. Lepers walked while speaking the warning, “Outcast, unclean. Outcast, unclean,” so people could stay clear and completely avoid any possibility of touching. It’s hard to think of someone who would crave the touch of another human more. Disregarding man’s law Jesus reached out. His physical touch accomplished amazing things with the leper. I want to encourage you to get in the habit of physically touching those you love. And beyond that, find others who will be encouraged by your touch — you know who they are. Show people God’s love. Do as Jesus did — touch them.
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Posted on February 23, 2010 by Kurt Bennett
How Jesus Loved People - How You Can Too
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Glass Repair Man Rescues Five From Austin IRS Building Fire/Plane Crash
So Robin Dehaven is driving his glass repair truck in Austin, Texas in the vicinity of the IRS building when he sees a small plane flying low, coming in for an approach to a runway, only problem — no runway. He watches as this small plane crashes into the IRS building. He decides to pull into the parking lot and see what he might be able to do to help. (CNN article)
This turned out to be a good thing for five occupants of the building.
CNN reporter Mike Ernest, who witnessed the aftermath, said,
Another witness, Lyric Olivarez, said,
So Dehaven pulled into the IRS parking lot, grabbed a ladder from his truck, positioned it under a window, climbed it to a 2′ x 4′ ledge, broke the window, and rescued five occupants. (See Facebook)
Nice work Robin.
Robin’s actions and the actions of other bystanders at this scene greatly reduced the number of casualties that might have been caused by the tragic, and apparently intentional, plane crash into the Austin IRS building.
A video of the IRS building fire is below.
Your Life:
Someone reading this blog has it within his or her power to help somebody. If your that person, this is a word for you. Take the initiative.
John Masters once said,
When we take initiative it often feels a bit awkward. You, I, we have to realize that this is the normal state of most any human being who’s taking initiative to venture outside the comfort zone. Remember that God is much less concerned about your current comfort than He is about your eternal condition. (Jon Courson / Applegate Christian Fellowship)
In order to be used by God to show people His love, you must take the initiative.
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Posted on February 19, 2010 by Kurt Bennett
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Marine Shot in Head, Walks Away
Photo From DVIDSHUB
Like many of us, Marksman Lance Cpl. Andrew Koenig went to work on Monday (February 15) but his job was somewhat more of an adventure than yours or mine. Somewhere near Marjah, Afghanistan, Lance Cpl. Koenig’s assignment was to make the roof of his outpost and find Taliban targets to shoot. But before he even fired one shot, a Taliban marksman shot and hit him, in the head, a direct hit, nearly between the eyes. He was knocked backward to the ground and immediately cried out that he was hit. Only thing was, he wasn’t bleeding. To the surprise of those who saw him shot he popped up and made his way, under his own power, down off the roof to a medic. Lance Cpl. Andrew Koenig’s kevlar helmet took the bullet leaving nothing more than a welt above his right eye.
Koenig’s supply officer teased him about turning in a damaged equipment report.
Within an hour or two Koenig was back on the roof looking for Taliban targets.
Amazing.
Your Life:
While we should never tempt the Lord by living a foolish self destructive lifestyle — Matthew 4:7 Jesus said, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” — nor should we live in fear of our death, for God has numbered our days. Jesus also said,
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Posted on February 16, 2010 by Kurt Bennett
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Medical Teams International Worker Faces Haitian Wild Animal
To see previous posts on the Haiti earthquake go to.
Haiti – 16 year old girl rescued from rubble — video
Haiti Earthquake — Haitians don’t lose hope
Haiti 7.0 Earthquake — Link to local missionary family twitter
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Posted on February 16, 2010 by Kurt Bennett
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