X-Ray: Pergamum, Day 2

Learning from yesterday, I decided to read a book last night.  What happened you say?  Well, I was speaking about being careful what influences us and I had a moment when I was not paying attention to what was influencing me.  Not this day.  So I started a book.  I thought, "I need to be careful what is influencing me, especially at night when I'm tired and my guard is down."  So last night I went to my personal library and looked through the titles.  I have some great books on my shelf but nothing was really sticking out for me.  Then I found it.  I remember wanting to read this book but everytime I thought about it, I was terribly busy and wouldn't be able to get to it yet.  Until now.

The book is called "Uprising."  I took this book off the shelf and began my journey through it.  So far, this book is focused on helping people experience the life that God intended them to experience.  We get used to the mundane and live there.  God has so much more for us and will we take Him up on the journey.

That reminds me of the time when Jesus invites the disciples on a journey.  He would be with them forever even though they wouldn't be able to see His face.  Read about it in Matthew 28:16-20 or click to view http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+28%3A16-20&version=NIV (Click back arrow on web browser to return)

They were going on a journey to tell others about Jesus.  There will be some that will accept this good news and others who will reject.  Some will grow deep in their relationship with Christ and others will walk away.  And He will be with us the whole way.

But you have a choice to join Him on the journey or play it safe in the mundane.  So what will you choose to do?

That is the power of a good book.  This book has influenced me in one chapter. How will it impact me in chapter two.  But this couldn't have happened unless I cared about what was influencing me.

Do you care about the influences around you?  You should.  Take control and make sure a positive influence is on your shelf.

As you close:  Ask God to point out a book in the bible that He would want you to read and/or a book that would impact you in a specific area.  Ask Him.  He'll answer.

God Bless!

X-Ray: Pergamum, Day 1

Yesturday I had a Homer Simpson moment.  You know when he realizes he did something stupid and he says, "D'oh!!"  I was watching a show on Netflix and some language was being used that I find inapproapriate.  I let it go and my wife walked into the room and commented about it.  After a moment, I came to the conclusion, "Yeah. She's right.  Time to shut it off."

During church our pastor was talking about influence.  He was saying that we influence others by what we are influenced by.  That pastor is me.  I  remember what i said, but the problem was, I wasn't living it out. 

Do you ever catch yourself in moments like that?  I know I shouldn't be watching this or doing that or saying something inapproapriate.  It doesn't matter what you know.  What is matters is what you do with what you know.  Thank God for do overs.

The disciples had a moment like that.  They said something that Jesus did not like.  He even rebuked them for saying it.  Read about it in Luke 9:51-56 or click to view http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+9%3A51-56&version=NIV (Click back arrow on web browser to return)

Really?  Call down fire on them?  What they were saying was, "They should be killed. Eliminated."  Jesus had been teaching them about love and mercy and this is what the disciples come away with.  This was the disciples "D'oh!!" moment.  Open mouth insert foot moment. 

But the good news it, they moved on.  Jesus gave them a second chance.  They would need a lot more when this journey was over and Jesus was full of fresh starts.

Be careful who is influencing you.  And when someone points out a dangerous influence, listen to them.  Think about it.  And start over fresh.

As you close:  Ask God if there is anything in your life that is bad influence.  We become blind to those influences and we need His help to discover them.

God Bless!