Reb Rev's Blog

“For the turning away of the simple will slay them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them;” – Proverbs 1:32

One of my favorite quotes has been attributed to John Wayne, Chesty Puller and several others. The truth is probably none of those guys said it first, and it certainly wasn’t me. Here it is:

“Life is tough, but it’s tougher if you’re stupid.”

That’s the (very) loose – but very literal translation of the verse above.

This passage is certainly not talking about education (knowledge) but application (wisdom). The story below illustrates the difference between those two attributes.

Three men were working hard cutting stone from large blocks of granite. When asked what they were doing, the first man said, “I’m making bricks.” The Second man said, “I’m cutting stones for the foundation of a large building,” while the third man said, “I’m building a cathedral.”

Our outlook and attitude, which we can clearly control, has a lot to do with how we approach the tasks we face every day. If we see it as drudgery, it certainly can be. If we look at the bigger picture, and see where we fit in the big scheme of things, we are much more likely to find satisfaction.

For those in positions of leadership, part of your task is to show folks where they fit in. Just about everyone works better when they see how their efforts fit into the final product.

My prayer for you this week is that you will have the God-given wisdom to see where you fit into His plan, and to see how that plays out in your everyday life.

The Legend of the Monk and the Merchant: Principles for Successful Living by Terry Felber is a great read.

However, in the interest of full disclosure, the study guide at the end of the book is a Dave Ramsey product. There is much good material in that section as well, it is just not advertised to be such.

The first part of the book, the actual “legend” portion, contains a story with twelve “principles” based on Biblical truths. These truths are taught through the perspective of an aging grandfather as he reveals his life story to his grandson.

The principles deal with everything from realizing we are all called to ministry whether vocational or in the marketplace, taking responsibility for our actions – and the outcome, taking care of our family, how to best help those in need and tithing.

The study guide is thought provoking and, while I agree with much of Mr. Ramsey’s material, I must personally take issue with some of his points of view – “Don’t keep pets” being just one of those.

I would recommend this book on the condition the reader understand the study guide is what it is, and whether you use that portion of the book or not, the “legend” is both entertaining and instructional.

Thomas Nelson provides a free copy of these books for review through their “Booksneeze” Program www.booksneeze.com ; however, I am not required to give a positive review of the book.

We’ve all heard and seen the stories of folks seeing an image of Christ in various objects.

There was the corn flake, the tortilla, and who knows what else. I understand a couple of those things sold on e-bay for quite a sum of money.

Last year a town in Connecticut was in the news for an elm tree which the locals proclaimed sported an image of Christ from a certain angle. Tourism went up in the town apparently as folks traveled from far and wide to see the image on the tree.

One of the most recent reports is a depiction of Jesus on a Wal-Mart receipt. In answer to the question, “What would Jesus do?” I somehow don’t think the answer is show up on a Wal-Mart receipt!

While these apparitions may be interesting, the Bible doesn’t teach us to look for the image of Christ in the material world around us. It does teach those of us who are Christians that WE are to bear the image of our Lord and Savior.

We are to do that by demonstrating the fruit of His Spirit listed on Galatians 5 – love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control

“But encourage each other daily, while it is still called today, so that none of you is hardened by sin’s deception.” – Hebrews 3:13 HCSB

The following is an excerpt from Max Lucado’s Shaped by God (original title: On the Anvil). Copyright (Tyndale House, 1985, 2002). I found myself needing this last week and thought I’d share it with you today.

Today I will make a difference. I will begin by controlling my thoughts. A person is the product of his thoughts. I want to be happy and hopeful. Therefore, I will have thoughts that are happy and hopeful. I refuse to be victimized by my circumstances. I will not let petty inconveniences such as stoplights, long lines, and traffic jams be my masters. I will avoid negativism and gossip. Optimism will be my companion, and victory will be my hallmark. Today I will make a difference.

I will be grateful for the twenty-four hours that are before me. Time is a precious commodity. I refuse to allow what little time I have to be contaminated by self-pity, anxiety, or boredom. I will face this day with the joy of a child and the courage of a giant. I will drink each minute as though it is my last. When tomorrow comes, today will be gone forever. While it is here, I will use it for loving and giving. Today I will make a difference.

I will not let past failures haunt me. Even though my life is scarred with mistakes, I refuse to rummage through my trash heap of failures. I will admit them. I will correct them. I will press on. Victoriously. No failure is fatal. It’s OK to stumble… . I will get up. It’s OK to fail… . I will rise again. Today I will make a difference.

I will spend time with those I love. My spouse, my children, my family. A man can own the world but be poor for the lack of love. A man can own nothing and yet be wealthy in relationships. Today I will spend at least five minutes with the significant people in my world. Five quality minutes of talking or hugging or thanking or listening. Five undiluted minutes with my mate, children, and friends.

Today I will make a difference.

Are leaders born or made? This question dogs the student of leadership like the proverbial, “Which came first, the chicken or the egg?”

In “MacArthur: America’s General” by Mitchell Yockelson and Stephen Mansfield, the question receives no definitive answer. “Both,” seems to be the proper answer in the case of Douglas MacArthur.

This well researched work gives the background of the making of the man whom many came to know and love for his military endeavors during World War II; however, we learn there was so much more to him than the military record. His love for his family, literature, and other everyday aspects of life are often overlooked by historians who focus on the storied Army career of MacArthur.

This book not only gives much detail to the life of “America’s General,” but also there is much info about the battles and background to place the exploits in a proper context. This is accomplished without being tiresome or tedious.

I recommend this work whether one is a military history buff or not.      

I post these reviews as a member of Thomas Nelson’s Book Review Blogger Program. I receive a free copy of the book, but am not required to give a positive review.  Check it out at http://www.booksneeze.com

“… exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” – Hebrews 3:13

As I write this, I have just completed an early morning repair job. Going into he kitchen to make my morning coffee, I heard a steady hissing noise. Soon, I was able to locate the source of the noise. The water line behind the refrigerator which leads to the ice maker was spraying water.

It took a minute to move the fridge to reveal a soaked floor. I’m not sure how long the line had been leaking, but it appears there is no major damage. Compare that to the long term damage of a slow leak which makes no noise, just a steady silent drip, drip, drip can lead to a rotten floor, sub floor and worse.

This serves as a reminder that sin can be the same way. Seldom is it a lone major blow out which leads to destruction, but the steady compilation of many sins over time. In fact, the verse above reminds us we can become hardened from sin over time, to the point of even failing to recognize sin or even care about our condition before God.

Have you ever wanted to live life on the “wild side”? How about living the Christian life on the wild side? Does that sound contradictory? Well, that’s exactly what Mr. McManus proposes in “Unleashed.” He calls it the “barbarian” way.

McManus’ proposal is that the modern church has become much too civilized in order to be safe. He posits the early church, and especially Christ did not picture this type of life as normal. In this challenging work, he calls for modern Christians to get back to the culture confronting , living on the edge type of faith to which Christ has called those who will follow Him.

The author makes the pint well we have been called to walk by faith, not to be frozen by fear. As the Church, we are far less dangerous – and take far fewer risks – than God ever planned for us. There are many who will not be comfortable with this challenge, and that helps make the author’s point.

I recommend this challenging work, but be ready to feel convicted, confronted and called out by it.      

I post these reviews as a member of Thomas Nelson’s Book Review Blogger Program. I receive a free copy of the book, but am not required to give a positive review.  Check it out at http://www.booksneeze.com

“If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” – Romans 12:18 

Blisters. No one likes them, but everyone gets them. I’ve recently done some research on these aggravating little things. Wikipedia describes the primary cause as “forceful rubbing (friction).” What a pain they are, literally!

Often when someone gets a blister, they cease the activity which caused it. Raking the yard caused a blister? Well, I won’t do that again! Walking in a new pair of shoes? Put them away and don’t wear those suckers any more.

Sadly, some people cause us “blisters,” maybe not on our body, but on our psyche’. They are just painful to be around. These folks cause friction wherever they go, and what’s worse, some even seem to enjoy it!

The easiest remedy is to just avoid them like the activities which cause blisters on our hands and feet. But that’s not the direction this passage takes us. This verse, and the context from which it is taken, tells us we are to “live with” them, be nice to them, and not to be overcome by evil, but to “overcome evil with good.”

Not an easy task to be sure, but one to which we, as Christians, are called.

“casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” – I Peter 5:7

My son, Jared, and I have been fishing buddies for his entire life.

When he was little, sometimes he would get a backlash when he was casting his line out. I always cautioned him to let me know when that happened and I would get the tangle out, not to try to untangle it himself.

However, on many occasions he would get the backlash and try to fix it and by the time he called me, it was a terrible mess –taking much longer for me to fix and sometimes resulting in having to cut the line. It always resulted in him getting more frustrated and discouraged. It was only after much angst and turmoil he would give it to me.

You know, God has asked us to give us cares and concerns. Why do we still fuss over them and try to fix them ourselves? We always wind up more frustrated and discouraged. God can always fix our problem, but at times we do damage to ourselves and others while carrying out our feeble efforts.

He tells us to give Him all of our troubles because He cares for us. Try Him. Trust Him. Cast away.