BEAUTY . . . COMES IN ALL FORMS

The saying that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder must be all too true. BEAUTY - the quality present in a thing or person that gives intense pleasure or deep satisfaction to the mind, whether arising from sensory manifestations (as shape, color, sound, etc.), a meaningful design or pattern, or something else (as a personality in which high spiritual qualities are manifest).

Connie and I have been in Colorado visiting my parents, grandfather, brother and sister (families). It just occurred to me as we are staying at my parents house which is on the far west side of Denver where you can literally be in the mountains in 5 minutes that yes the mountains are very beautiful, but there are many other beautiful things in life.

- My grandfather is 95 and it is tough to see him go down hill after such a full life. The beauty of it is I do not think that I personally know anyone who has overcome as much adversity as he has and still has got joy and a sense of humor at 95. God has been good to Pop.

- My parents are so great! The beauty of it is that they have been married for 52 years. They love God, each other, and have been and still are great parents.

- My kids (2 of 3 are with us) and their spouses are so beautiful. Yes, they are as different as night and day but it is beautiful to see their passions and passion come out in their lives. I am praying that it increases all the more.

- My grandson Will is so amazing as all grand children are. The beauty of making him belly laugh over the simplest things.

-My sister and brother (and their spouses) have awesome families with 6 children between them ranging in ages from almost 3 -11. The beauty of watching these children interact is amazing.

- The Rocky Mountains as always are beautiful beyond description.

- My wife (Connie) is so beautiful because I have never met another human being that is as giving as she is. She will give time, energy, and emotion until she humanly does not know she is empty. Money is always seen as a tool to bless others as far as she is concerned.

Peace - Isaiah 52:7
Ed

Dad put it there.

"Always By My Side" is an autobiography by Jim Nantz. In this book he relates a story about a really big decision in his life. ABC had made him an incredible offer to jump from CBS and become part of ABC's GMA show. Jim was struggling with what he should do. He could not consult with his father as he had done so many times before because Alzheimers had attacked his father. In the middle of this monumental decision Jim has to go to Augusta, GA to broadcast the Masters for CBS. It just so happened that this was the last year that the great Arnold Palmer would play in the Masters. As Arnold was preparing to go hit the ceremonial first tee shot he spotted Jim in the crowd and yelled, "Hey, Jimmy walk over here with me to the practice putting green." Jim did as he was asked and Arnold proceeded to tell him that he had heard through the grapevine about the ABC offer. Arnold reached out and began to pat Jim on the chest and said, "I know that you wish you could talk to your father about this decision but Jim (as he continued to pat him on the chest) your father put the answer in you a long time ago . . . follow your heart." By the way Arnold never hit one single practice putt he just wanted to impart some wisdom to a young man.

You know Father's day has come and gone and we all celebrated it as usual. We called our fathers, ate meals, gave cards and gifts. Some how I am not sure that this does justice to all that our fathers have done for us. I know that Arnold was right. My earthly father has put so much in me that if I could be just half the man of character and integrity that he is I would be so much further down the road. THANKS A MILLION DAD!!

Thanks to all my spiritual fathers along the road. Morris Sheats, Jackie White, Bob Godwin. Your impartation is still living in me as your wisdom continually guides me in my heart.

1 Corinthians 4:15 (The Message Bible)
There are a lot of people around who can't wait to tell you what you've done wrong, but there aren't many fathers willing to take the time and effort to help you grow up. It was as Jesus helped me proclaim God's Message to you that I became your father. I'm not, you know, asking you to do anything I'm not already doing myself.

Our heavenly father has also put the answer inside us.

Romans 8:14,15
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”

Your spirit connects with His and we know that we have the answer. The answer is in us.

Reflecting,
Ed

STOP AND THINK

"To move man through God by prayer alone" Hudson Taylor, Missionary to China. As stated before I am reading his biography and this statement is in it many times as it is one of the foundational spiritual concepts of this life of faith. It has really made me think. How do we move people today?

MEDIA (print, voice, visual), COERCION, GUILT, SHAME, FEAR . . . we probably could go on and on here.

As a communicator I run the risk every time I stand up to speak that I am crossing that invisible line of manipulation that nobody can see with their naked eye and sometimes cannot even feel it in their heart.

I know that I have to speak and preach that is my calling. Lord, let my words and motives be yours. ALL OF YOU AND NONE OF ME.

I would enjoy some feed back if you feel like you would not be trying to twist my arm. LOL

Ed

Biography Kick

All of the I have had the urge to read biographies. I can remember as an elementary school kid I loved to read true stories about others. Back then I mostly read stories about athletes because I dreamed of being a professional athlete. Those stories were fun and inspiring.

Now I love reading the stories of heroes who are living their dream or have lived their dream. Like right now I am reading "The Spiritual Secret of Hudson Taylor" which is a biography about this great missionary to China. It is really building my faith.

I have also started two other biographies. One is called "Always By My Side" by Jim Nantz the sportscaster and "Red and Me" by Bill Russell. These last two are not very spiritual but they are still inspiring me to go for my dreams.

How about you are you going for your dream? If you are not going for it . . . why not? God has a destiny and purpose for you and it is a good one. Jeremiah 29:11 It is NEVER TOO LATE!! j

1. DO NOT DECIDE EVERYTHING IS OVER. GET SOME HOPE! Hebrews 11:1

2. WALK IN THE PEACE OF GOD.

3. LET GO OF ANY NEED TO GOOD.

4. THANK GOD FOR IT

An Inspired Christ Follower,
Ed

Making a meal out of FAITHFULNESS

Ps 37:3 Trust in the Lord, and do good;Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.NKJV

I found this little nugget at early morning prayer today. I decided to feast on God's faithfulness. There is so much to say here . . . He does not lie (Num. 23:19), He is faithful when we are faithless (2 Tim. 2:11). This meal left me satisfied to know that the one I put my trust and confidence in is totally trustworthy.

God just totally showed off last Wed. night at CFC/NXL SOUTH. 600 in attendance and 27 salvations. A total revolution is taking place where students are moving from belief (head stuff) into conviction (refusal to negotiate). Parental support was amazing.

Thanks to Pastor Zac, Anna, and all the interns for making it so easy to minister. If you want to check this link cuz "Sex Ain't Free" http://tinyurl.com/d2s2sm

New Converts

Out of the service that you see in this picture there where 11 first time conversions and 2 or 3 prodigals who came home. It was amazing to me how great our God is since I preached about moving beyond belief to conviction in the area of sexual purity. Then gave them hope of God's call and will for their lives and the Holy Spirit did the rest. God continually amazes me. This all happened at NXL the youth Ministry of Christian Faith Center North where Jeremy Carpenter is the youth pastor and Casey Treat is the Senior leader.

Believe with as tonight Pastor Zac Gandara is believing for 50 first time salvations and 450 in attendance at the south CFC / NXL campus. I am call it done!

My faith is at such a high level right now. When you hang around people that are doing it right before your very eyes, which has been the case for me the last 3 weeks (LWFC / 24-7 in Raleigh and CFC / NXL in Seattle) it helps to believe and know that it can happen for you. No single answer as to how to do it but just be faithful and grow everyday and the Lord gives the increase.

I am excited because I have a great wife to work with me. I have a great team around me that will only get better with time. I live in a place where there are still a lot of people going to hell and I want to rescue them.

Loving God and Loving People,

Ed

The MESSAGE . . . is where?

I saw this sign and it made me really think . . . maybe it will do the same for you.
Matt 5:13-16
13 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. NKJV
I am pretty sure that our message is supposed to be outside the building. Maybe this is what is wrong with the "church" as we know it. We have thought that the only place to find the message is inside a church building. I seem to recall that someone pretty central to our faith told us to "Go into all the world . . ." Oh that was Jesus that said that,(sorry for the sarcasm) but I just do not get it. Yes, I am a preacher but would it not just be the most awesome thing in the world to know that the people you were preaching to got it. Got what? The message that we are to be a living epistle (message) read by all men (2 Corinthians 3:2).
In defense of the church sign above let me say that I know we must preach and teach the message inside the church. Come on church let's all get fired up about taking the Gospel to the world.
1. How much money do we spend on the 99 that we have instead of going after the one that is lost?
2. How much time, energy, and effort do spend to go after the lost?
3. What about all the prodigals that will not come to a church?
The answer to all these questions can be found in Luke 15.
The message is take the MESSAGE outside the four walls and then we will not be able to contain the harvest.
So much more could be said about the message of this sign, but I will allow you to fill that part in yourself.
I hope I stirred up your pure mind.

A Stirred up BELIEVER