United We Stand!

You've heard it before and the old adage holds true today. United we stand divided we fall. Have you ever seen a winning sports team or any organization succeed when a group of "super stars" try to hog the action. Winning groups like the Oracle who have a strong leader and a strong team tend to finish first in the race. I believe God expects us all to approach our time here the same way. Be the best you can be working together in unity to achieve our collective purposes. The leaders in our country seem to be "Hell" bent on doing it their own way. We need a call for unity. Perhaps we should consider abandoning both parties and starting fresh? What do you think?

IS THERE REALLY A GOD?

What if there really is a God who created everything and controls everything? How many of you answer the question YES? How many are willing to make the assumption and go with the results? How about trusting in that premise in all you do? Want to do the experiment for a day, a week, a month, a year or even the rest of your life on earth? No more flipping around from one set of values to another. No switching of heroes and idols. One diet. One set of goals for life. One career. One wife or one husband for life. Have you ever observed the amount of conflict in the world around you? Are you part of the conflict? Problem? What if we were all part of one family with one set of family values and rules? How many sports teams win the league when the players don't agree with the game plan? How many nations have succeeded forever? Why do companies fail? What does united mean? Like in United States. Or, united we stand, divided we fall? What is love? What is the first word that pops in your head after you say love? Is it doing your best for a friend or acquaintance without expecting anything in return? Or, is it more mutual? I like you if you like me. Or, maybe, I want you at all cost. Mostly, your cost. It can vary from its all about you to its all about me or anywhere in between. Am I more important than everyone else or, is everyone else more important than me? Who decides? In a family, there has to be a dad. Who's your dad? Where do you get your guidance? From self? How good has that been? How happy are you about the past and the present? Talk about happy! What is happy? Laughter? No sadness or despair right. Money? Love? Sex? Drugs? Alcohol? Good job? Nice family? Safety? Health? Youth? Power, position? Friends? Car, boat, airplane, house?

Thoughts for July 20, 2013

No Blogs posted since last September. Has any one out there been trying to follow? Much has been happening that distracted me. Our Church "Dillon Community Church" in Dillon, Colorado had their senior pastor Brian Myers resign a year ago last April. So, for about a year much has been done to find a new pastor. And, it has distracted my attention from other parts of life. God has a way with that for many of us. Some of my immediate family and I have been reading the Bible through from beginning to end. Actually, not quite that way. We are using the Tyndale one year Bible. There are daily selections of OT, NT, Psalms and Proverbs to read. The Psalms are read through twice in one year. I have tried to post comments after completing the daily reading. Mostly everyday. Some times I miss. I highly recommend the endeavor for your family if you are inclined. Some of my thoughts are pretty weird. For example, followers of Christ often refer to themselves as believers. Then they are likely to call others non-believers. Make Sense? Well not really. Because the true believer is not to judge others. Words from Jesus. So, ergo, how do they know who is a believer and who is not? Also, since we are told in the Bible that no one is righteous, not one, what would be the difference between a believer and a non-believer? Faith and faith alone. Certainly not righteousness. Do you want to think about "leadership"? Or, maybe the World View vs the Christian View? Let me know I really like to discuss life. How about abortion or homosexuality? How about weapons? Today we(my family and I) read the Proverb !9:21 You can make many plans, but the Lord's purposes will prevail. So, why plan? I believe there is good reason for planning. What do you think they are?

LEWIS AND CLARK TRAIL

On Sunday September 23,2012, Frank Butler and Bill Butler will be starting a tandem bicycle ride of the Lewis and Clark Trail from the Lewis and Clark memorial near St. Louis to Astoria, Oregon. This is distance of about 3,300 miles. The eastern part of the trail follows the Missouri River crossing the Continental Divide in the northern Rocky Mountains. The Western part of the trail follow the Columbia River from its headwaters down to Astoria, Oregon where the river ends at the Pacific Ocean. On this first leg (about a week of riding) of the trip, we hope to cover about 500 miles. The trail follows the Missouri River across Missouri along the old Katy railroad bed. At Kansas City another trail heading toward Omaha, NE will be followed. We expect to complete the entire trip after about six segment rides. Hopefully, this will be completed in a total of four calendar years. We are hoping to average close to 100 miles per day, depending on the riding conditions. Stay tuned to this Blog for daily updates when ever we are riding. See associate pictures on facebook.

MY THOUGHTS SURPRISE ME!

Matthew 23 GOD’S WORD Translation (GW) Jesus Disapproves of the Example Set By Scribes and Pharisees 23 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The scribes and the Pharisees teach with Moses’ authority. 3 So be careful to do everything they tell you. But don’t follow their example, because they don’t practice what they preach. 4 They make loads that are hard to carry and lay them on the shoulders of the people. However, they are not willing to lift a finger to move them. “This may be the same problem that exists today in the 21st century church and the world at large. It is particularly true in the western world and the United States. Have you noticed how we expect others (all others) to obey the law, to be independent and make a living for themselves and their families? How we expect kids to toe the line, poor people to get a job, alcoholics to get on the wagon and get a life.? We only help people we believe deserve to be helped. We criticize people for not being able to get along in this society. We may actually believe we are better than them because we have learned how to survive ( actually live quite nicely) here. Is this the burden of the “law’ Christ spoke about?” “ Brunner says this section is contradictory and controversial. What do you think? “ 5 “They do everything to attract people’s attention. They make their headbands large and the tassels on their shawls long. 6 They love the place of honor at dinners and the front seats in synagogues. 7 They love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have people call them Rabbi. 8 But don’t make others call you Rabbi, because you have only one teacher, and you are all followers. 9 And don’t call anyone on earth your father, because you have only one Father, and he is in heaven. 10 Don’t make others call you a leader, because you have only one leader, the Messiah. 11 The person who is greatest among you will be your servant. 12 Whoever honors himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be honored. "In order to be a respected member of society, what does one have to do? Do you know someone who fits the standard? What are his or her personal traits? What makes them fit this standard? I understand they are people of integrity. They are godly people. Or, are they? Do you know that? Or, do you make your judgement based on other facts and factors. Are they successful by worldly standards? Do you even check to see if they possess the qualities of Christ? Are we just acting out our destiny or are we really disciples of Christ? Are we wearing a mask most of the the time? Do we pretend to be righteous? What makes us followers of Christ? How do we turn our beliefs into action? How do we become the person God made us to be?" Be a Pharisee, send me your suggestions.

I'm back and seeking truth!

Yes, I'm back. You have not heard from me for a while. Perhaps I've been busy. More likely lazy or disinterested. Are you ready for a Blog series? There are a bunch of you I want to have come along for the ride. But, you have to be engaged and spend time commenting. The subject is what is wrong with church from our eyes. Matthew and Paul will be my main references. It is Gospel according to them that has me seeking more truth. You see, I believe God to be the singular, transcendent God of the universe. The one who created all we know and see. And, I believe He sent His son Jesus to earth as a man to pay the penalty for all our sins, granting us life now and in eternity. That's what Matthew and Paul called salvation. We are going to seek out this truth. Who wants to come along? Is there anything wrong with the church today? Let me hear it. If you like, read the first six chapters of Romans. I'm stuck in chapter 6.

Finishing the MRT

If you are interested in a bicycle ride along the length of the Mississippi follow the ride my son Bill and I are completing this March. We will have ridden about 2,500 miles. Mostly on a tandem. My other son Bob has joined us for several of the rides and is planning to join us for the completion beginning March 21st. We will be ending on Saturday and hosting a celebration in New Orleans Saturday evening. Contact me for details ensign453@yahoo.com.