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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Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Profiles in Leadership: Noah – A Man of Righteousness and of Sacrifice

Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. ....Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God. Genesis 6:7-8 There’s something about righteousness – the kind of morally virtuous lifestyle empowered from above – that qualifies a person to lead. Noah, the man God chose to rescue the human race from extinction, demonstrated this kind of righteousness. Humankind had grown so evil that God had pledged to destroy it and all living things on earth. But the Lord’s pronouncement of judgment didn’t come without hope; God had charged Noah to help save a remnant of humanity. God didn’t choose Noah randomly. He knows whom He can count on to get things done – and it’s not necessarily the one with the most skill, talent, or social standing. Rather, it’s the one who daily walks with Him, the one who hears his voice and follows His Lead – regardless of the amount of personal sacrifice. Noah was just such a man. No doubt Noah had his own weaknesses and frailties. But he walked with God and it was that close walk that made Him righteous before the Lord. Noah’s righteousness qualified him to be used by God to help save the human race from annihilation, and in the bargain kept him and his loved ones from certain death. Noah was also a man willing to make extreme personal sacrifice for the Lord. God had determined to start again, even without a guarantee that the survivors and their descendants would do any better job of following Him. God made a covenant with Noah, giving up His right to ever again flood the earth to cleanse it of sinful humanity. Noah, on the other hand, gave up everything he had accumulated in his long life in order to start over. Sacrifice always precedes success. He had to give up, to go up. Noah still stands as an example of the kind of person God wants to use. God hasn’t changed, and even now He looks for righteous, sacrificial leaders who can help him change the world. Please comment below or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Leaders Must Sometimes Agree to Disagree

The contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. Acts 15:39-41 Leadership sometimes demands hard choices, especially about people. In many cases, these decisions aren’t cut and dried. Different leaders have different perspectives. They can try to come to an agreement, but at the end of the day, someone has to make a decision so the work can move ahead. In this case, one team morphed into two, and their effectiveness doubled. That may not have been Paul’s plan, and it probably wasn’t Barnabas’ first choice either, but it was God’s solution. He often has plans that we never considered. New plans may be found in the heat of disagreement, and ultimately, they produce more for the Kingdom. Don’t be afraid of disagreements. State your opinion and try to find common ground, but realize that God may have other plans for you and for others around you. What ground rules and expectations do you believe should be put into place when Christians disagree? Please comment below or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

A Leader’s Best Friend

The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them." Genesis 11:6 Momentum is a leader’s best friend. Unity of mission, vision, and values drives progress. As Joe Namath once stated, “When you win, nothing hurts.” The people of Babel were unified in vision and purpose to build a tower that would reach into the heavens - they had tremendous momentum. Unfortunately, they were headed in their own selfish direction. They were not seeking God and His will. As a result, God halted their momentum by confusing their language and scattering them to the four winds. Please comment below or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Monday, November 28, 2011

Profiles in Leadership: Eve – A Leader Who Learned from Failure

Now Adam knew Eve his wife and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, “I have acquired a man from the Lord.” And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and named him Seth, “For God has appointed another seed for me…” Genesis 4:1 & 25 Real leaders influence others – positively or negatively. The story of Eve demonstrates the impact of negative influence. Eve influenced Adam to join her in sin. Although God commissioned Adam as her spiritual leader, Eve usurped the role. Adam willingly followed his wife rather than God, and together they led humankind into sin. Her choice to initially follow Satan rather than God brought devastating consequences that plague us even today. Eve exchanged a life without pain for a hostile and even brutal environment. Yet her subsequent life demonstrated an ability to recover from failure and move forward. She apparently restored her relationship with God, as evidenced that when her first-born child arrived, she acknowledged her dependence on God. And even after her first-born son murdered her second child, she did not develop a hardened heart toward God; she did not become bitter. She did not even use her pain as an excuse to reject God or question Him. When God gave her Seth (her third child), she expressed gratitude toward God for this new life. Ultimately, Eve came to represent a strong leader willing to accept the consequences of her choices and learn from her mistakes. Can you relate to Eve? Do you accept the consequences of your mistakes, regardless how painful, and learn from them? Please comment below or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Profiles in Leadership: Adam – An Abdication of Responsibility

When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. Then Adam said (to God), “The woman, whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree and I ate.” Genesis 3:6 & 12 Adam was the first spiritual leader in history. This meant overseeing the garden and providing direction to his family. Similar to today, he was charged with being a good steward over his resources and relationships. Unfortunately, he failed in both areas. When Eve brought the forbidden fruit to Adam, he mismanaged God’s creation by remaining passive when he should have taken a stand, thus allowing both Eve and himself to fall morally. When God confronted him with his sin, he “passed the buck” – he blamed God. Adam was apparently also a poor communicator. His message (from God to be passed onto Eve) to avoid the forbidden fruit, broke down for 5 basic reasons: First, he ignored some of the details in the message he was supposed to communicate. Second, he allowed Eve’s voice to influence him more than God’s voice. Third, he failed to hold himself accountable for the communication. Fourth, he forgot what God said about the consequences of disobedience. Finally, he did not take responsibility for the results of his faulty communication. Spiritual leadership isn’t complex; it simply requires a willingness to take responsibility. Sadly, like Adam, many leaders shirk their responsibilities at home, in the neighborhood, in the community, on the job, and/or in their church. Adam’s failure started at home, but in a very short time it damaged all his relationships, spoiled the beautiful place he lived in, and ultimately devastated the entire world. And the whole mess can be traced back to one spineless refusal to lead. Are there any areas of your life where you can relate to Adam? Please comment below or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Update on My Dad

Quick update: My dad has returned home under hospice care. His health is touch and go. Thank you for your continued prayers for his health and for our entire family as we all make this adjustment. God bless you. You can email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Course Correction can be Painful

The Lord said, "You shall observe My statutes and keep My judgments, and perform them; and you will dwell in the land of safety." Leviticus 25:18 God’s laws weren’t given to us to steal our fun and ruin our lives. God, the Creator of life and the wisest being in the universe, knows exactly what makes life work best. He gave us free will, but He also gave us clear directives to guide us. Sometimes we don’t know what to do, but most of the time, His commands are unmistakably clear. When we obey them, God promises to bless us with safety. In many cases the pains we experience when we break God’s laws are natural consequences. Sometime though, God intervenes and corrects our path without regard to natural effects. He is a gracious God who loves us too much to let us keep going in the wrong direction, and “whom the Lord loves, He disciplines” (Hebrews 12:6) by bringing difficulties into our lives. When these difficulties do occur, we wonder, what’s this all about? If we pay attention, the Holy Spirit taps us on the shoulder and whispers, “I’ve given you plenty of warning, but you didn’t listen. Maybe you will now. You need to stop sinning and start trusting.” If we finally listen, we move toward obedience and safety again. Is God trying to get your attention right now about something? Alternatively, what kind of consequences does it take for you to notice Him and change your direction? Please comment below or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

How to Make God’s Work Your Work

Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men” Mark 1:7 In the Bible, when Jesus called Simon and Andrew, he was showing them that there was something more valuable than catching and profiting from fish – people. Christ’s invitation to the brothers tapped into their previous passions and skills. Now though, they’d be using them to fulfill God’s purposes. Is there something that God is telling you is more valuable than catching and profiting from whatever you do for a daily living? What are the skills and passions in your life that God wants to use to build His kingdom? You may be an entrepreneur who can dream big visions of God’s work, or you may be a nurse whose tender care and thoroughness can be wonderful tools in God’s hands. All of us have passions and skills God can use to build His kingdom: plumbers and attorneys, salespeople and administrators, drivers and doctors. Each of us is a repository of experiences, talents, skills, gifts, motivations, and desires that God wants to use in the lives of people we touch each day. Will we let Him? What are your top 3 skills, and how would you describe your passion over the last few years? How might God tap into those skills and passion to use you to touch people? Please comment below or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

What's Your Favorite Vacation Memory?

My favorite recent vacation was a family trip to Seattle a couple years back - complete with trips to the Seattle Space Needle, Pikes Place Fish Market, and a camping weekend that included crab fishing. What made it so great? Time together as a family, the whole family, visiting relatives, unhurried, with nothing in particular to do but spend time together. Please comment below, or on my facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/ with your favorite vacation memory...

Thursday, November 17, 2011

What is Truth?

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 Yesterday we learned that the reason Jesus came into this world was to He came into this world to testify to the truth. At Jesus’ trial Pilate sarcastically asks the most important question of our time, “What is truth?” Many would say that truth is relative – what is true for you may not be true for me. Others would say that truth is whatever reality is. The problem with that is that we all have different perspective of what reality is and therefore my perspective is my reality – which may be different from yours. So what is truth? There has to be one truth – an absolute perspective of what really is reality. There is. There is only one thing that never changes and that is God Himself. Jesus said He is truth. And so we now know why He had to come into the world to testify to the truth. He was testifying to who He Himself is, God. He came into the world to testify to the fact that He is God, that He loves us, and that He wants an eternal relationship with us. Tomorrow I will look into the question… How do we know what is right and what is wrong? Please post a comment below or send me an email at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

A Right-Under-Your-Nose Opportunity

So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people. Galatians 6:10 I think one of the greatest needs in the Christian community is for individual men and women to dream some dreams about how they can use their talents to impact people's lives for Christ. Let me tell you about a family that is making a difference. A small family ministry called Standing with Hope provides prosthetic limbs for below-the-knee amputees, not only in the United States, but also in Ghana, Africa. The process of adding "skin" covering to make a prosthetic look real can cost thousands of dollars - far too costly for an outreach whose goal is to help as many people as possible be able to walk again. That's where the family's 15-year-old son, Grayson Rosenberger, comes in. While considering an entry idea for a nationwide science contest, Grayson came across one of his mom's old, discarded prosthetic legs. He found that by wrapping it in a very common household item, he could give the mechanical limb a realistic shape. His inexpensive solution? Bubble wrap. Total cost for application? About one dollar. No, it doesn't look like skin. But with the right hose or stockings, the prosthetic leg can be made to look real. And for poverty-stricken adults and children in Africa who are often ostracized and teased for the primitive, bare-bones appearance of a fake leg, this is a confidence-creating alternative. Bubble wrap. Who'd have thought? Could it be that there's a right-under-your-nose opportunity to make a difference in people's lives - right where you are? Could it be that, if you slowed down and set your mind on seeking God for a way you could really serve Him, He might lay out an idea that's so simple, you'll be shocked you didn't think of it earlier? Just think. Bubble wrap. Please post a comment below or send me an email at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Societal Change Begins with You

Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another. Mark 9:50 I was reminded recently about the 1995 murder of three children in their Little Rock home. Riley Noel and three accomplices wheeled into the driveway of Mary Hussian's house that night, high on drugs. They were certain that either Mary or one of her kids had been involved in a recent drive-by shooting that had taken the life of Noel's brother. Riley Noel ordered the three children in the home - ages 10, 12 and 17 - to lie down on the living-room floor, where he shot them execution style. Their mother escaped after a struggle. But she spoke these chilling words at a news conference soon after the tragic event: "I stand here with the blood of my children still under my fingernails. My kids were all I had. I plead with the youth today - don't send another woman to bed crying the way I'm going to cry tonight!" Unfortunately, still today I can't blog fast enough to keep up with the latest news story out of another major city, or even a secluded farmland, about a young person who has gunned down even more of our nation's children. But no matter what the papers are reporting as you're reading this today, I urge you to put an end to your fear and apathy. I urge you to pray, confessing our sins and committing to action. I urge you to confront immorality when you witness it within your home or in public settings. I urge you not to be ashamed to call others to godly accountability, from governmental leaders to pastors to the people you work and associate with. And I urge you to demand righteousness of yourself, because societal change always begins with one person, one home, one man or woman, one boy or girl, willing to make a difference. Please post a comment below or send me an email at curtis.songer@gmail.com

The Reason I Came into this World

Jesus answered, “…In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” John 18:37 Why did Jesus Christ come into this world? Ever think about it? There are a lot of good answers, but only one right answer – and it may surprise you. Sure He came into this world to save us from our sins. Sure He came into this world to provide us with eternal life. Sure He came into this world to set the captive free. Sure He came into this world to physically, emotionally, and spiritually heal people. But these were side benefits. The real reason He came into this world – straight from His own mouth – at the most critical moment during His trial in front of Pilate – with all the world and the heavens watching – He says He came into this world to testify to the truth. Then Pilate sarcastically asks the most important question of our time, “What is truth?” Check back tomorrow for the answer… Please post a comment below or send me an email at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Facebook “Friends”

Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother far away. Proverbs 27:10 We've never had so many options for connecting with people - mail, email, phone, text-messaging, even Internet video. Yet recent findings reported in the American Sociological Review show that the number of people who claim to have no one to confide in on important matters is up from 10 percent to 25 percent since 1985. True friendship - what's happened to it? Some people, of course, claim to have a multitude of friends. One college student said, "You go on some people's online profiles, and they say they have a thousand friends. Truth is, they probably don't even know half of them." So these days, in this high-tech, low-touch culture, is genuine friendship even necessary? More specifically, once you're married and settled as a couple, is there still a great need for you to maintain friendships? Husbands and wives both need at least one close Christian friend of the same sex. It's also important for you to have at least one other couple you can share with - mutual friends you can turn to for fellowship and accountability. Martha and I have a handful of true friends upon whom we frequently lean for counsel, advice and balance. We've discussed everything from discipling our children to finances, areas of struggle, managing pressure, and the seasons of life. As you look at today's culture of high-tech communication, one of the greatest needs you have is to be connected to some true friends - kindred spirits, followers of Jesus Christ who will tell you what you need to hear - friends who won't hesitate to weep with you or bring comfort or encouragement (or even correction) in a time of need. Please post a comment below or send me an email at curtis.songer@gmail.com

It Only Takes a Spark

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 For a firefighter, one of the most terrible phrases in the English language is "blow-up." In a firefighter's world, blowing up occurs when a manageable forest fire suddenly explodes into an inferno that rages through the grass and trees at a deadly speed. To me, "blow-up" is an appropriate description of what's happened during the last decade at the heart of American society. A searing fireball of destruction has engulfed a priceless part of our culture - the family. At a Campus Crusade for Christ conference in Dallas the audience was asked who had been affected by divorce (through their immediate or extended family) - 80 percent of the audience responded. One young man came had a father who had been a leading evangelical pastor. "My dad was my hero," he said. "He taught me everything I know. And now he's gone. I'm the only one left in my family that is still walking with God." Far too many Christians today feel this same type of impotence. They are filled with fear - and burned by the heat of our cultural blow-up. If you are tempted to lose hope and courage, take heart: You can make a difference! God can give you the strength and power to withstand the heat. In fact, when a firefighter cannot outrun a blow-up, one common tactic is to ignite a fire of his own to burn the area around him before the fireball reaches him. If you feel threatened by the fires of today's culture, it's time to start a fire of your own. You can do that by returning to God's Word and walking daily in obedience to Jesus Christ. Please post a comment below or send me an email at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Will We Ever Learn?

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 Does God ever have to teach you the same lesson over and over and over again? Too many times, I have taken off down a path that seemed right in my own estimation without giving it up to God in prayer first. This week has been another one of those times. Often, I think I am being super-faithful, super-righteous, or super “trusting in Him”. But in reality, while the idea may require trust in God, the course of action I want to take is really the course of action I WANT TO TAKE. Sometimes, I’m even afraid to give it up to God in prayer because I know He may have a different idea in mind. Is this where He wants me? Is this the state He wants my heart to be in? Of course not! He is much more concerned about my willingness to submit to His leadership and will than any crazy idea or concern I have. Total trusting submission to Him and His will, without concern for myself and my future. That is where He wants me. As the virgin mother of Christ said in Luke 1:38 – “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; be it done to me according to your word.” When we are ready to accept God’s will for us, whatever it may be, then He is ready to reveal it to us. I thank God that He puts people in my life to open my eyes, especially my dear wife Martha. Please post a comment below or send me an email at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Measuring Up

…for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ… Genesis 1:27 God’s incredible, visionary, optimistic purpose for every believer is to grow so much in our faith that we shine like beacons to everyone around us. One of the ways in which we do that, one that the world around us is looking for, is the level of love that we have for others and how we show that love. God’s vision for each church is that we would grow so much in our love for God that we’d love people the way that He loves them: unconditionally and passionately. Can that vision really happen? Not if we’re content with having lukewarm affection for God, tolerating people instead of loving them, and just getting by in our efforts to touch others’ lives. To become a world changer, you must love others enough to sacrifice some of your own life to impact theirs. Please post a comment below or send me an email at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Creation: The Ultimate Leader Initiates

God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Genesis 1:27 God is the ultimate leader. Not only did He create the universe, redeem humankind, innovate with entrepreneurial energy – He also leads. Although God could have ruled and redeemed planet earth on His own, He chose to include mortals in His plans. He could have limited His creation to animals of instinct – but He didn’t. He created human beings with a will of their own, men and women who must choose to follow His leadership according to His plan. God always brings others along with Him. As the ultimate leader, God always initiates. He initiated the creation of the universe. He initiated the birth of mankind. And to satisfy our greatest need, He initiated the redemption process, extending Himself to us so that we might be saved. As you read Scripture, watch how often God demonstrates His magnificent leadership. Truly He is the Ultimate Leader! Please post a comment below or send me an email at curtis.songer@gmail.com

The Great Things about Great Things

Call to Me and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which your do not know. Jeremiah 33:3 Sometimes all we want to do is survive. But God has bigger, more wonderful plans for us than merely survival. In fact, God’s plans for us may be, at times, beyond our comprehension. As stated in Jeremiah, the promise may be clear and strong, but the path we must follow may not be easy. God doesn’t guarantee a smooth ride. God’s great promises often involve great challenges to test our faith in and our loyalty to Him. As we respond to His promise, we need to have our eyes and ears open. God’s path to freedom may first take us where we suffer in order to purge hearts of impure desires, and God’s path to blessing may wind through severe loss. Through it all we must cling to His promise and to God Himself. We must reflect on His goodness and greatness and remember how He worked in the lives of men and women who trusted Him with their lives, their hopes, and their futures. Then we will trust Him too – and we will learn more about the great plans He has in store for us. “The thing is to understand myself, to see what God wishes me to do, to find the idea for which I can live and die.” – Soren Kirkegaard Please post a comment below or send me an email at curtis.songer@gmail.com

God is the Ultimate Leader

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1 God wanted His creation to begin well. In the beginning, He communicated His vision for the world to Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (just to mention a few). Like all good leaders, God took initiative. Yet He never forced His leadership on anyone. Each time His people failed, He laid out His plan, then selected / trained / organized / motivated those He would put into action. He relentlessly pursued His goal and plan of redeeming men and women from their failures, even as He maintained a relationship with them. God is the ultimate leader. The Bible says He created us in His own image. How does your leadership style compare to His? Please post a comment below or send me an email at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Thursday, November 3, 2011

All Is Not Well

You who have shown me many troubles and distresses will revive me again. Psalm 71:20 Do you ever get one of those phone calls or emails that you simply don't know how to respond to - reports about friends and family members facing extreme difficulty? Perhaps it's an upcoming surgery or the loss of a job. On occasion it may involve something even much more severe - a relative has been diagnosed with cancer or a friend's child has unexpectedly taken his life. There is a little church on a windswept hillside, in the county of Cornwall on the southwest coast of England, where a section of the front lawn is set apart for a cemetery filled with old, uneven tombstones, many dating back several centuries. One tombstone there has the names of an entire family. Judging from the dates, it seems the mother had died three weeks after giving birth. The child's name, John, also appeared, having died before he turned one. Lastly is the father's name, indicating he had lived not much more than a year after his son's death. Etched beneath their names - in letters you can barely make out - is this simple perspective: "We cannot, Lord, Thy purpose see, but all is well that's done by Thee." Here was a little family that didn't last long but had apparently responded to some tough circumstances with a resilient faith in God. They trusted that God knew what He was doing. So whenever friends and family face problems, remember that little Cornish hillside, where God reminds us that because He is good, "all is well." Pray for the grace to walk through trials with a faith strong enough to still be speaking long after the situation has come and gone. Please comment below or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

The Edge of a Cliff

Flee from the midst of Babylon, and each of you save his life! Jeremiah 51:6 Centuries ago, a popular queen was interviewing applicants to serve on a six-man team responsible for carrying her on a portable throne on long journeys. As she interviewed each man, the queen asked, "If you were bearing me along a mountain path, how close would you go to the edge of a cliff?" Some men would answer, "Your Royal Highness, I am so strong, I could go within a foot of the edge of a cliff." Others would boast, "Not only do I have superior strength, but I have almost perfect balance. I could go within six inches of the edge." But a few declared, "Your Highness, I would go nowhere near the edge of a cliff. Why would I want to imperil your valuable life by leading you so close to danger?" Guess who got the job? We live in a cultural landscape where it seems there are more cliffs than safe passages. We spend large parts of our day within easy walking distance of all kinds of sharp drops and perilous dangers. Sexual temptation. Financial greed. Immoral entertainment. Emotional affairs. Addictions galore. Ethical compromise. Rather than stay as far as possible from these obvious threats to our families, we often allow the enemy of our souls to lure us closer for a better look. We sample just a bit too much of what the world has to offer. My friend Josh McDowell says, "I would rather build a rail at the top of the mountain than have an ambulance service at the bottom of the valley." I agree. But I'd suggest we take it a step further. I would prefer not putting myself in position to find out whether or not that guardrail would hold me! Safety rails aren't meant for pushing on but for steering away from. Please comment below or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com