Friday, February 6, 2009
Remember your new year's resolutions?
Do you remember your new year's resolutions from one month ago? Are you following through on these resolutions? Isn't it funny that we can forget about our new year's resolutions after one month? I have to admit that I didn't come up with any new year's resolutions for this year. Maybe I should come up with some now. Do you have any ideas for me?
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Remembering who has the authority...
Who has the authority in your life?
For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."
Luke 7:8
I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.
Luke 10:19
Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."
Matthew 28:18-19
For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."
Luke 7:8
I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.
Luke 10:19
Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."
Matthew 28:18-19
Remembering who we pray to...
THAT WE PRAY to God in heaven is a reminder that we become part of a large struggle by praying this prayer. The thing between us and Jesus is not merely personal; it's cosmic. The God whom we have been taught by Jesus to address as "our Father" is the one who rules the whole cosmos, who speaks in earthquake, wind, and fire. Any less of a god wouldn't do us much good.
William H. Willimon and Stanley Hauerwas, Lord Teach Us: The Lord's Prayer and the Christian Life
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2009/january/31.62.html
William H. Willimon and Stanley Hauerwas, Lord Teach Us: The Lord's Prayer and the Christian Life
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2009/january/31.62.html
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Remembering Gary Vermeer
Gary Vermeer, 90, inventor and founder of one of Iowa’s premier farm and construction equipment manufactures died Monday.Pella-based Vermeer Manufacturing grew out of a business that Vermeer and a cousin created in 1948 to manufacture wagon hoists. Vermeer got the idea from neighbors who had to shovel corn out of farm wagons. He invented a hoist that attached to the wagon and would dump an entire load by lifting the front end of the wagon.“His reputation for invention and management is well known,” said Mike Ralston, president of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry.Gary Vermeer was 29 when he invented the wagon hoist in 1948. He went on to create a number of other innovations for farm and construction equipment, including the first round hay baler, the first stump cutter and a line of trenching equipment that is now sold worldwide.His motto, which became the title of a family biography last year, was “In Search of a Better Way.”Vermeer retired in 1989 at the age of 70, turning management of the family-owned business over to his son, Robert Vermeer, and daughter, Mary Andringa, who are co-chief executives of Vermeer Manufacturing. Today, the company employs more than 2,000 workers with more than $600 million in sales.The family business has a reputation in Iowa and in the equipment industry as being one of the most efficient, well-run manufacturing operations in the country. Last summer, as part of a 60th anniversary celebration, the company invited writers for farm and construction equipment trade publications from around the world to visit the “Vermeer mile” in Pella, an area on the edge of town where Vermeer manufacturing plants stretch on for a full mile. As part of that tour, the writers were shown how Vermeer has used lean manufacturing techniques to cut costs and save time. One example was the amount of time required to build a wood chipper, one of the company’s signature products. The time required to make one chipper has been slashed from 52 days in 1999 to less than three days today, Andringa told the writers.The family biography, which coincided with the 60th anniversary of the family business last summer, noted that Gary Vermeer and his wife, Matilda still live in the same modest home outside Pella that they moved into 55 years ago. It also noted that the couple’s favorite restaurants is McDonald’s.Gary and Matilda Vermeer traveled widely, circumventing the globe on three separate trips. Funeral services are pending at Van Dyke-Duven Funeral Home in Pella.
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20090202/BUSINESS/90202025/1029/archive
http://www.garyvermeer.com
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20090202/BUSINESS/90202025/1029/archive
http://www.garyvermeer.com
Remembering Pat Tillman
Tillman's spirit very alive at Super Bowl
By Jennifer Waters, MarketWatch
Last update: 8:28 p.m. EST Feb. 1, 2009
TAMPA (MarketWatch) - Pat Tillman wasn't at Raymond James Stadium for Sunday's 43rd annual Super Bowl, but his spirit was very much alive here.
Among the Warner, Fitzgerald and Boldin jerseys that Arizona Cardinals fans were donning were a noticeable number of red-and-white shirts bearing Tillman's No. 40.
"He's the man," said Tom Rector of Phoenix, who has been wearing his Tillman jersey since 2002, the last year that the Cardinals safety played in the NFL. "He's a hero. Everyone else is a professional athlete or role model, but Tillman's a hero."
Tillman's football record isn't as impressive as his life record, which gained star status when he gave up a $3.6 million football contract to enlist in the Army's elite Rangers after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Three years later, the 27-year-old was killed in Afghanistan in friendly fire. The incident became controversial after it was discovered that the Army covered up that Tillman was killed by fellow soldiers in the confusion of battle.
"To give that up for the country is just an amazing thing," said Scottsdale, Ariz., resident Glenn Allbritton, who bought his jersey through the Pat Tillman Foundation. "I'll do anything to help support his memory and help his foundation."
Tillman is still an institution on the practice field and around the Cardinal locker room. where his picture prominently hangs. There's a bigger-than-life-sized statue of him at the Cardinals' home field at the University of Phoenix.
"He felt like he didn't do enough in his life to warrant the type of credit he's been getting," Cardinals safety Adrian Wilson said last week. Wilson is one of only two players left on the roster who played with Tillman. "To make a life decision like that and to make a change like that, I think it really speaks volumes of his character."
The Cardinals have retired Tillman's number and have placed his name in their Ring of Honor. They've also dedicated the Pat Tillman Freedom Plaza that surrounds the stadium.
"If people just understood what it means to give up your life for your country," said Peoria, Ariz., resident Pat Kling, whose husband served in the Vietnam War. "Pat Tillman understood what it meant.
"This game is for him," she added. "I just know he's here watching us."
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/story.aspx?guid=%7BB1F4CE52%2DFEC4%2D40B6%2D80E9%2D255341582E76%7D&siteid=rss
By Jennifer Waters, MarketWatch
Last update: 8:28 p.m. EST Feb. 1, 2009
TAMPA (MarketWatch) - Pat Tillman wasn't at Raymond James Stadium for Sunday's 43rd annual Super Bowl, but his spirit was very much alive here.
Among the Warner, Fitzgerald and Boldin jerseys that Arizona Cardinals fans were donning were a noticeable number of red-and-white shirts bearing Tillman's No. 40.
"He's the man," said Tom Rector of Phoenix, who has been wearing his Tillman jersey since 2002, the last year that the Cardinals safety played in the NFL. "He's a hero. Everyone else is a professional athlete or role model, but Tillman's a hero."
Tillman's football record isn't as impressive as his life record, which gained star status when he gave up a $3.6 million football contract to enlist in the Army's elite Rangers after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Three years later, the 27-year-old was killed in Afghanistan in friendly fire. The incident became controversial after it was discovered that the Army covered up that Tillman was killed by fellow soldiers in the confusion of battle.
"To give that up for the country is just an amazing thing," said Scottsdale, Ariz., resident Glenn Allbritton, who bought his jersey through the Pat Tillman Foundation. "I'll do anything to help support his memory and help his foundation."
Tillman is still an institution on the practice field and around the Cardinal locker room. where his picture prominently hangs. There's a bigger-than-life-sized statue of him at the Cardinals' home field at the University of Phoenix.
"He felt like he didn't do enough in his life to warrant the type of credit he's been getting," Cardinals safety Adrian Wilson said last week. Wilson is one of only two players left on the roster who played with Tillman. "To make a life decision like that and to make a change like that, I think it really speaks volumes of his character."
The Cardinals have retired Tillman's number and have placed his name in their Ring of Honor. They've also dedicated the Pat Tillman Freedom Plaza that surrounds the stadium.
"If people just understood what it means to give up your life for your country," said Peoria, Ariz., resident Pat Kling, whose husband served in the Vietnam War. "Pat Tillman understood what it meant.
"This game is for him," she added. "I just know he's here watching us."
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/story.aspx?guid=%7BB1F4CE52%2DFEC4%2D40B6%2D80E9%2D255341582E76%7D&siteid=rss
Remembering God
We remember all or nothing. If we remember all of the bad things, we may blame God. If we remember all of the good things, we may think we don’t need God. We need to be able to talk to others with shared experiences to work through these past experiences to balance the good and bad. We have a biased memory of our past. People suffering from depression only remember the bad. We need an integration of the good and bad in God’s greater narrative. We need to get outside ourselves and seek balance in our lives. Splitting is the psychological term referring to remembering all good or all bad. Regardless of our circumstances, God has the ultimate story.
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. (Romans 5:1-5)
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. (Romans 5:1-5)
Remembering the nooma
What does nooma mean?
The name NOOMA is an English phonetic spelling of the Greek word pneuma, which is commonly translated to “spirit” or “breath”. Pneumatology refers to the study of spiritual beings, particularly the interactions between humans and God.
I received a set of nooma films for Christmas and have really enjoyed them.
Jesus lived with the awareness that God is doing somethingright here, right now, and anybody can be a part of it. He encouraged his listeners to search, to question, to wrestle with the implications of what he was saying and doing. He inspired, challenged, provoked, comforted, and invited people to be open to God's work in this world. Wherever he went, whatever he did, Jesus started discussions about what matters most, because for Jesus, God is always inviting us to open our eyes and join in. NOOMA is a series of short films that explore our world from the perspective of Jesus. NOOMA is an invitation to search, question, and join the discussion.
http://www.nooma.com
The name NOOMA is an English phonetic spelling of the Greek word pneuma, which is commonly translated to “spirit” or “breath”. Pneumatology refers to the study of spiritual beings, particularly the interactions between humans and God.
I received a set of nooma films for Christmas and have really enjoyed them.
Jesus lived with the awareness that God is doing somethingright here, right now, and anybody can be a part of it. He encouraged his listeners to search, to question, to wrestle with the implications of what he was saying and doing. He inspired, challenged, provoked, comforted, and invited people to be open to God's work in this world. Wherever he went, whatever he did, Jesus started discussions about what matters most, because for Jesus, God is always inviting us to open our eyes and join in. NOOMA is a series of short films that explore our world from the perspective of Jesus. NOOMA is an invitation to search, question, and join the discussion.
http://www.nooma.com
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