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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Sunday, May 8, 2011

Margin for Error


Many plans are in a man's heart, but the counsel of the Lord will stand.
Proverbs 19:21

C. S. Lewis once said, "We must stop regarding unpleasant or unexpected things as interruptions of real life. The truth is that interruptions are real life." It's essential to build some margin into your schedule - the wiggle room necessary to accommodate immediate needs while allowing for unexpected demands and disruptions.

It means framing your obligations in larger time blocks than they really require, just in case traffic is exceptionally bad or you're delayed leaving the house. It means agreeing on the number of evenings or weekends you will tie up each month with outside activities. It means talking together about possible commitments before you say yes, to keep yourselves from living too close to the edge.

You can't prepare for some things, no matter how well you plan. But most schedule shocks can be absorbed by building in a margin, leaving space for surprises. I’m not very good at this myself, but I’m trying. You can be praying for me in this area.

Please comment below or email me at curtis.songer@gmail.com

This Is the Church


They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Acts 2:42

I hope you're already part of a church family -- not as a spectator but as a committed, involved participant in a community of followers of Jesus Christ. But if you're not, here are five things you should look for as you consider establishing yourself in a church. If you're already an active member and any of these things are lacking in your congregation, consider what you can do and how you can be praying for these characteristics to blossom there:

1. Is it anchored in the Scriptures? Is the Bible clearly taught as the authoritative Word of God? Is the gospel of Jesus Christ the anchor, motivating you to live and proclaim the transforming grace of God in every area of your life?

2. Does it have a sense of community? Is there a connectedness between people when the service is over on Sunday morning? Does there seem to be authenticity and honesty in the relationships?

3. Is it characterized by worship? Today's culture is incredibly self-centered. You need an interruption in your week to jerk you out of that stream and say, "There's something much bigger than me going on here. Life is not about me; it's about who God is and what He's doing."

4. Is there opportunity for involvement? Is this a church where you're encouraged to minister to others? One of the greatest joys of life is to be used by the Lord God Almighty in another human being's life.

5. Does it build men? I'm not minimizing ministry to women and children, but a lot of the struggles in our families and culture could become points of victory if men were equipped with a vision for manhood and were living it out.

If this does not describe your church, perhaps there is something God is calling you to do to help change it.

Please comment below or email me at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Idolizing Ice Cream


Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31

I think the human race has a problem with addictions. The well-known addictions to drugs, alcohol, sex and pornography have destroyed lives and families for generations. But there are other addictions, even within the Christian community, that are not as evil but are still addictions - like food.

Let me illustrate personally. Martha and I approach food very differently. She eats to live. I love to eat. Food to her is necessary fuel for life. But for me there have been times in my life when I've simply idolized food - specifically ice cream. For years, I felt a day was not complete unless I had enjoyed a mountainous bowl of vanilla bean ice cream swimming in chocolate sauce. Honestly, I think I was addicted. And my waistline showed it. The natural consequence of my addiction forced me to face reality. I became convicted that I was placing way too much importance on ice cream.

I recently decided that I would fast from ice cream. It was fascinating to see how God has used this time in my life to create a healthier perspective on food. So much so that for the past three years, I've used this annual season to fast from dessert.

Let me ask you a question: Is there anything that has a grip on your life? Something that has become an addiction and even an idol that has supplanted God in your allegiance? Perhaps it's time to talk about it as a couple and come clean. You and your spouse may need to create some accountability and a lifestyle that will bring about a real life change that honors God.

Please comment below or email me at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Anger is Inevitable – How Do You Deal With It? (Part 4)


Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger.
Ephesians 4:26

What's behind your wrong anger? When you get angry, aren't you taking God's place and judging others - and perhaps even judging God? Whether you are angry about something trivial or something serious, your wrong reaction reveals that you are living as if you are in charge of the world and believe you have the right to judge the people around you and the way God is running the world.

When James 4 talks about anger, it goes on to discuss why it's wrong to judge and criticize others: "There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?" (James 4:12). God alone has the right to pass final judgment. Think about when you get angry. Aren't you insisting, "My will be done; my kingdom come"? And when things don't go your way, don't you judge those (including God) who are not doing what you want, as if you were God? You aren't, but when you are angry, you often act as if you were. Because your wrong anger has to do with your relationship with God, you can't deal with it by learning a few strategies or techniques. Wrong anger creates a big problem between you and God. He doesn't like upstarts who try to take over His universe.

Your anger is not just about you and all the frustrating things that happen to you. It's not just about you and your cranky, oppositional personality. And it's not just about you and all the unreasonable people in your life. It's about you, those frustrating circumstances, all those unreasonable people ... and the living God. It's about you acting like you are in charge of God's world and other people. But God is in charge. Anger is merciless. Anger sees, punishes, and gets rid of all offenders. But God has chosen to be merciful to wrongdoers, including someone like you, who struggles with taking God's place in the world (Ephesians 2:1-5).

God's mercy brings life to you. If you struggle with bitterness, if you grumble, if you yell and argue, then you need God's mercy. You will receive mercy and help when you confess to God your struggle with trying to control everything, with wanting to be God, and with judging those around you. God's just anger toward sinners like you was poured out on his Son on the cross. Because Jesus died, you can be forgiven and have a whole new life.

When you honestly confess your sins to God and ask Him to forgive you for Jesus' sake, you will receive forgiveness and the gift of God's Spirit. The Spirit will give you the power to express your anger, not your way, but God's way. More to come on dealing constructively with your anger in upcoming blogs…

Please comment below or email me at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Humor Me

We do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord.
2 Corinthians 4:5


It's always dangerous to make assumptions. I am reminded of the businesswoman who found herself with an extra hour of airport down time. She bought a magazine, a coffee and a small package of cookies, preparing to pass the time as best she could in the crowded waiting area.

Absorbed in her reading, she reached over and picked up a cookie to nibble on. To her great surprise, a stranger two seats over reached into the same packet and began eating the second cookie. Stunned, she tried to ignore it. Only after 20 more quiet minutes did she reach in to take the third cookie. The stranger took the fourth. Then he picked up the near-empty package and sarcastically asked, "Would you like the last one?" Infuriated, she marched off in a huff to the airline gate, reached into her bag for her boarding pass . . . and found her unopened package of cookies! Her anger had been based on a wrong assumption.

Some assumptions are much more dangerous than that. It occurs to me, for example, that one of you may never have actually taken the step of faith to surrender your life to Jesus Christ. You may have the wrong assumption that your good works will get you into heaven.

You can change that at this moment. Jesus Christ, who lived a perfect life, died on a cross to pay the divine penalty for your sins and was raised to life to defeat death forever, is as near as your next breath. He offers eternal life to you in His open hands.

If you are not sure you are a follower of Christ, if you've never received His gift of salvation, would you confess your sins to Him right now and, through faith in Him, receive His forgiveness and ask Him to become your Lord and Master?

Please comment below or email me at curtis.songer@gmail.com