Welcome to the Truth@Life Blog Site by Curtis Songer


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There are 5 threads of thought in this blog site:
1. Church Stuff - things pertaining to the evangelical Christian Church of today
2. Leadership Corner - concepts on management & leadership
3. Two Becoming One - principles of marriage enrichment
4. Train Up a Child - principles of parenting
5. Personal Thoughts - my mental ramblings on how God is growing me

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Friday, February 26, 2016

Game Changer - Part 2

Life is often unfair.  When it is, we are often frustrated.  We can choose to be frustrated and grumble or we can choose to be content.  Wen we grumble, often out of HABIT, we infect others around us with a negative attitude.  Seems reasonable, doesn't it?  What does God say...

““For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. “About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. “He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’ “ ‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered. “He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’ “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’ “The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’ “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭20:1-15‬ ‭

What's up with that?  That's completely unfair!  It's just not right!  A full day, labor in in the hot sun and paid the same as those who worked only one hour in the cool evening.  It's just not fair.

What is Jesus teaching us?

Complaining is rooted in ingratitude and dissatisfaction.  We may be blessed in so many ways, but kne small thing can spoil our whole attitude.

Complaining is a choice.  We may not always be able to control our circumstances, but can always control our response to those circumstances.

Complaining is saying, "It 'm not satisfied!"  What God has provided me is NOT good enough!  REALLY?  What the Sovereign God has blessed you with AND dealt you to deal with is not God enough?  Who do you think are you anyway?

Complaining doesn't just impact you, it impacts everyone around you.  It causes you, and all those around you to be miserable!  It is impossible to be happy in life when you have a complaining spirit!

“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:11-12‬

The only way to have real joy in this life is to be satisfied with exactly what God has given you - good and "bad."  Are you ready to be happy?

For more truth about life, see www.truth@life.com




Friday, February 19, 2016

Game Changer: Part 1

The Pittsburgh Steelers football play called immaculate reception was the result of many small decisions by many players that worked perfectly.  The result of those decisions were a total game changer.  Prior to that the Steelers had been a fairly mediocre team.  But after that, they became arguably the greatest football franchise in history!

Do you have some small decisions you need to make, small changes that are needed in your life that could totally change your life?!

Like the decision to follow the teachings of Jesus.  My life is so much better when I am following Jesus'.

What defines who you really are?  We are more than what we do.  We are human beings, not human doings!

Check out the following from the Bible:
“but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.””
‭‭John‬ ‭8:1-11‬ ‭

Do you define yourself by what you do or by what Jesus has done for you?!

What happens when we pour ourselves into what we do or who we love and then what we do ends or who we love dies?

Our identity must be tied up in loving God, loving others, and being in the business of transforming lives - being more Christ!  

For more truth about life, see www.truthatlife.com.


Monday, February 15, 2016

Roadwork - Part 5: Lost

On the journey of life, sometimes we get it right and sometimes we get it wrong - we get lost.  And we need someone to help us get back on track.

Everyday our paths bump into Jesus whether we recognize it or not.  How do you handle the daily interactions with Jesus, when He attempts to transform us.

We are a lot like Peter.  We get lost, Jesus pursues us, and points us in the right direction.

“One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon Peter, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon Peter, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon Peter answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything.””
‭‭Luke‬ ‭5:1-5‬ ‭

Peter had been fishing all night and was dead tired.  Initially, Peter did what Peter often did with Jesus, he argued - and for good cause - what did a carpenter know about fishing.  Do you ever argue with Jesus?

What happened?  Peter, perhaps too tired to argue further...

“Simon Peter answered, “But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!””
‭‭Luke‬ ‭5:5-8‬ ‭

Peter is lost.  How did Jesus respond to Peter?

“Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭5:10-11‬ ‭

He pointed Peter in the right direction.  And Peter was never the same again.

But then Peter got lost again...

“Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭14:22-24‬ ‭

And Jesus came after Him.  Peter argues...

“Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭14:25-29‬

Had Jesus changed his life?  HE WALKED IN WATER!!!  Don't miss that!

Jesus miraculously saved Him, pointed Him in the right direction, and made Peter a little more like himself - a water walker!

Has Jesus ever saved you, ever pointed you in the right direction, ever made you a little more like Him?

But then we let the circumstances of life get in the way and blur our vision, mess up our faith...

“But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him.""
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭14:30-31‬ ‭

Jesus was saying, you were so close, you almost did it, keep you eyes on Me,  have faith, you can do it!  Has that ever happened to you?

Jesus changed His life.  He grew his faith.  Was that the end?  Did Peter ever get lost again?

On the night of Jesus capture, Peter denied knowing Him three times.  Peter was lost again.

Peter really screwed up this time.  He feels he can't recover from this.  So he gives up, Jesus is gone, Peter is totally depressed, and so he goes back to what he was doing before he met Jesus: fishing.

““I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead. When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!””
‭‭John‬ ‭21:3-19‬ ‭

And that's what he did.  Jesus saved him from a life of despair, pointed him in the right direction, and made Peter more like Himself.  Peter became the leader of the early church, dedicated his life to feeding Jesus' lambs (new 'Christians'), and followed Jesus all the way to the cross - he died by being crucified up-side-down.  He became much like Jesus.

What about you?  Are you lost?  Do you need direction?  Are you ready to become more like Jesus?

For more truth about life, see www.truthatlife.com


Saturday, February 13, 2016

Roadwork - Part 4: Stupid Questions

Often in life we ask or are asked stupid questions:
- Son, do you want a spanking?
- You say you love that man, what do you see in him?
- You're doing the same thing you have always done, do you expect a different outcome?

““Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed.
One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?””
‭‭John‬ ‭5:1-3, 5-6‬ ‭

That was a stupid question!  What was his response?

““Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.””
‭‭John‬ ‭5:7‬ ‭

He didn't answer the question!  He was so comfortable in his present lifestyle, that he didn't really know anything different.  He was afraid of a complete change in his life.

“Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on which this took place was a Sabbath,”
‭‭John‬ ‭5:8-9‬ ‭

Why didn't Jesus heal everyone else at the well?  He left them at the well sick and disabled.  Just because you want to get well, doesn't mean you will get well.

Healing was not His point.  The point was to show the power of God.

“and so the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.” But he replied, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’ ” So they asked him, “Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?” The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.”
‭‭John‬ ‭5:10-13‬ ‭

The man throws Jesus under the bus.  The man's heart was still dead.  But God was pursuing him - He was after his heart.

“Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” The man went away and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had made him well.”
‭‭John‬ ‭5:14-15‬ ‭

God pursues us all.  He wants our heart.  No matter what happens, His grace is sufficient for our needs.  Our struggles, and our weaknesses, should drive us TO God, and demonstrate His strength and grace. Trials and tribulations will drive you toward God or away from Him.  Let it drive you to Him.  Run to Him.  Rest in Him.

For more wisdom on how to live life, see: www.truthatlife.com