I am giddy

I am giddy

My Utmost for His Highest - Sept 27

So, do you agree with Oswald today?  (Clausing you won't like it, don't read it).  Is he right?  Would that explain a lot . . . ?


The "Go" of Renunciation


. . . someone said to Him, ’Lord, I will follow You wherever You go’ —Luke 9:57


Our Lord’s attitude toward this man was one of severe discouragement, “for He knew what was in man” (John 2:25). We would have said, “I can’t imagine why He lost the opportunity of winning that man! Imagine being so cold to him and turning him away so discouraged!” Never apologize for your Lord. The words of the Lord hurt and offend until there is nothing left to be hurt or offended. Jesus Christ had no tenderness whatsoever toward anything that was ultimately going to ruin a person in his service to God. Our Lord’s answers were not based on some whim or impulsive thought, but on the knowledge of “what was in man.” If the Spirit of God brings to your mind a word of the Lord that hurts you, you can be sure that there is something in you that He wants to hurt to the point of its death.

Here we go

If your wife is currently enrolled in Pabama Princess weekend 1.0 (Oct. 7-8), check your email.  We need to get the ball rolling.

So far, I believe:

Sternberg, Clausing, Dyk, Riemersma, and Griswold are in.

Baker is a maybe.

Any others, let me know.  I feel like I forgetting someone.  I will be sending out the next correspondence in 1-2 business days.  It will be in email format, and it will not self destruct.  (I haven't figured out how to add that feature to the blog, and not sure that I want to). 

Reading the Bible

In an effort to tie Pabama! to the Bible, I am wondering if anyone wants to read through the New Testament? What is God saying to us in view of the larger salvation story? What verses/passages can Pabama! use as a foundation?

I think the output will be verses/ideas to support why we do what we do, and we might even modify what we do!

Really there’s no other source to check with, so let’s read it!

3 chapters a day average – New Testament in 12 weeks.
2 chapters a day average – New Testament in 18 weeks.

Email me at scott.dyk@pabama.com if you are interested.

PERSEVERANCE

FROM TOM (friend in the battle)

I think alot of us fall into the trap of giving up too easily. We give up on ourselves, and simultaneously give up on GOD .....

to be continued...

Pabama! theme song?

Listen to/Watch the Acoustic Version

Sanctus Real - “Lead Me”

I look around and see my wonderful life
Almost perfect from the outside
In picture frames I see my beautiful wife
Always smiling
But on the inside, I can hear her saying...

“Lead me with strong hands
Stand up when I can't
Don't leave me hungry for love
Chasing dreams, what about us?

Show me you're willing to fight
That I'm still the love of your life
I know we call this our home
But I still feel alone”

I see their faces, look in their innocent eyes
They're just children from the outside
I'm working hard, I tell myself they'll be fine
They're independent
But on the inside, I can hear them saying...

“Lead me with strong hands
Stand up when I can't
Don't leave me hungry for love
Chasing dreams, but what about us?

Show me you're willing to fight
That I'm still the love of your life
I know we call this our home
But I still feel alone”

So Father, give me the strength
To be everything I'm called to be
Oh, Father, show me the way
To lead them
Won't You lead me?

To lead them with strong hands
To stand up when they can't
Don't want to leave them hungry for love,
Chasing things that I could give up

I'll show them I'm willing to fight
And give them the best of my life
So we can call this our home
Lead me, 'cause I can't do this alone

Father, lead me, 'cause I can't do this alone

A few days with my wife.....

.....and I asked her these "10 questions"...thanks to some guidance from Dennis Rainey.

1. What could I do to make you feel more loved?
2. What could I do to make you feel more respected?
3. What could I do to make you feel more understood?
4. What could I do to make you more secure?
5. What could I do to make you feel more confident in our future?
6. What attribute would you like me to develop?
7. What attribute would you like me to help you develop?
8. What achievement in my life would bring you the greatest joy?
9. What would indicate to you that I really desire to be more Christlike?
10. What mutual goal would you like to see us accomplish?

If you ever feel like you need something to pray about, or work on specifically?  Ask your spouse this list of questions.  I assure you, it will take you to your knees.

God Bless,
-Mitchem

Don't think I could sum it up any better . . .

I was there when they crucified my Lord
I held the scabbard when the soldier drew his sword
I threw the dice when they pierced His side
But I've seen Love conquer the great divide

Who?  "You're mighty young to write such heavy lyrics"

But 'convenient' is so nice . . .

Serving Even When It Is Inconvenient by Jon Walker

As they went on their way, a man said to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lie down and rest.” (Luke 9:57-58 TEV) Jesus never calls us to blind obedience. As we follow him and become familiar with his character, we learn he is always waiting on the other side of our steps of faith. He forces us into a place where we must trust him and his promises, but he also tells us what to expect when we follow him (John 14:1-4). He wants us to count the cost of our commitment, because he knows it will demand every thing we have (Luke 14:28). In essence, Jesus warns us away from a romantic view of following him. He understands that when we volunteer to go anywhere at any time, our romanticism will wither when our commitment becomes inconvenient — or when it collides with the full cost of discipleship. Discipleship means we give up any thought that there will be bits and pieces of our lives that can remain unaffected by our relationship with Jesus. We can’t say “yes” to Jesus and expect to hold on to a portion of our independence. He demands it all. We no longer have the choice to serve only when and where it is convenient for us. “Foxes have holes, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lie down and rest” (Luke 9:58 TEV). When we have a romantic view of discipleship, we may imagine ourselves giving up everything for Jesus as the world admires our faith and people express their heartfelt gratitude for our sacrificial service. But the cost of discipleship may bring the scorn of the world to your doorstep. When you follow Jesus and do the things he tells you to do, even fellow believers may think you’re throwing away your future to help people who can give you nothing in return. Discipleship may mean sacrificing for others who will have no appreciation for what you have done — much like Jesus was ridiculed as he died on a cross. The grace to go wherever Jesus tells us to go comes only through the call of Christ and the power of God infused into our being. Grace obligates us to obey Jesus, regardless of the circumstances or consequences. How much of your service to Jesus is based upon what is convenient for you, and how much of it is based upon you doing what Jesus has told you to do? Jesus loves you and plans his best for you. He brings no condemnation; he wants to turn you in the right direction. This devotional is based on Costly Grace: A Contemporary View of Bonhoeffer’s ‘The Cost of Discipleship’ by Jon Walker.

Hedge Your Bets

This is, in fact, how many professing Christians end up living: as practical agnostics. Perhaps God will come through, perhaps he won't, so I'll be hanged if I'll live as though he had to come through. I'll hedge my bets and if he does show up, so much the better. The simple word for this is godlessness. Like a lover who's been wronged, we guard our heart against future disappointment. -John Eldredge

Friday Story - 10 pushups for a doughnut

There was a boy by the name of Steve who was attending Seminary, a religion class, in Utah.  In this Seminary, classes were held during school hours. Brother Christianson taught Seminary at this particular school.  He had an open-door policy and would take in any student that had been thrown out of another class as long as they would abide by his rules.  Steve had been kicked out of his sixth period and no other teacher wanted him, so he went into Brother Christianson's Seminary class.   

Steve was told that he could not be late, so he arrived just seconds before the bell rang and he would sit in the very back of the room.  He would also be the first to leave after the class was over.   

One day, Brother Christianson asked Steve to stay after class so he could talk with him.  After class, Bro. Christianson pulled Steve aside and said, "You think you're pretty tough, don't you?"   

Steve's answer was, "Yeah, I do."   

Then Brother Christianson asked, "How many push-ups can you do?"   

Steve said, "I do about 200 every night."  

"200?  That's pretty good, Steve," Brother Christianson said.  "Do you think you could do 300?"  

Steve replied, "I don't know. . . I've never done 300 at a time."   

"Do you think you could?"  Again asked Brother Christianson.   

Well, I can try," said Steve.   

"Can you do 300 in sets of 10?  I need you to do 300 in sets of ten for this to work.  Can you do it?  I need you to tell me you can do it," Brother Christianson said.   

Steve said, "Well. . . I think I can. . . yeah, I can do it."   

Brother Christianson said, "Good!  I need you to do this on Friday."   

Friday came and Steve got to class early and sat in the front of the room. When class started, Brother Christianson pulled out a big box of doughnuts. Now these weren't the normal kind of doughnuts, they were the extra fancy, BIG kind, with cream centers and frosting swirls.  Everyone was pretty excited -- it was Friday, the last class of the day, and they were going to get an early start on the weekend.   

Bro. Christianson went to the first girl in the first row and asked, "Cynthia, do you want a doughnut?"  Cynthia said, "Yes."   

Bro. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Cynthia can have a doughnut?'   

Steve said, "Sure," and jumped down from his desk to do a quick ten.  Then Steve again sat in his desk.  Bro. Christianson put the doughnut on Cynthia's desk.   

Bro. Christianson then went to Joe, the next person, and asked, "Joe do you want a doughnut?"  Joe said "Yes."  Bro. Christianson asked, "Steve would you do ten push-ups so Joe can have a donut?"  Steve did ten push-ups, Joe got a doughnut.   

And so it went, down the first aisle, Steve did ten pushups for every person before they got their donut.  And down the second aisle, till Bro. Christianson came to Scott.   

Scott was captain of the football team and center of the basketball team. He was very popular and never lacking for female companionship.  When Bro. Christianson asked, "Scott do you want a doughnut?"   

Scott's reply was, "Well, can I do my own pushups?"   

Bro. Christianson said, "No, Steve has to do them."   

Then Scott said, "Well, I don't want one then."   

Bro. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would you do ten pushups so Scott can have a doughnut he doesn't want?"   

Steve started to do ten pushups.  Scott said, "HEY!  I said I didn't want one!"   

Bro. Christianson said, "Look, this is my classroom, my class, my desks, and my doughnuts.  Just leave it on the desk if you don't want it."  And he put a doughnut on Scott's desk.   

Now by this time, Steve had begun to slow down a little.  He just stayed on the floor between sets because it took too much effort to be getting up and down.  You could start to see a little perspiration coming out around his brow.  Bro. Christianson started down the third row.  Now the students were beginning to get a little angry.   

Bro. Christianson asked Jenny, "Jenny, do you want a doughnut?"   

Jenny said, "No."   

Then Bro. Christianson asked Steve, "Steve, would you do ten pushups so Jenny can have a doughnut that she doesn't want?"   

Steve did ten, Jenny got a doughnut.  

 By now, the students were beginning to say "No" and there were all these uneaten donuts on the desks.  Steve was also having to really put forth a lot of effort to get these pushups done for each doughnut.  There began to be a small pool of sweat on the floor beneath his face, his arms and brow were beginning to get red because of the physical effort involved.   

Bro. Christianson asked Robert to watch Steve to make sure he did ten pushups in a set because he couldn't bear to watch all of Steve's work for all of those uneaten doughnuts.   So Robert began to watch Steve closely.  

Bro. Christianson started down the fourth row.  During his class, however, some students had wandered in and sat along the heaters along the sides of the room.  When Bro. Christianson realized this, he did a quick count and saw 34 students in the room.  He started to worry if Steve would be able to make it.   

Bro. Christianson went on to the next person and the next and the next. Near the end of that row, Steve was really having a rough time.  He was taking a lot more time to complete each set.   

Steve asked Bro. Christianson, "Do I have to make my nose touch on each one?"   

Bro. Christianson thought for a moment, "Well, they're your pushups.  You can do them any way that you want."  And Bro. Christianson went on.   

A few moments later, Jason came to the room and was about to come in when all the students yelled, "NO!  Don't come in!  Stay out!"   

Jason didn't know what was going on.  Steve picked up his head and said, "No, let him come."   

Bro. Christianson said, "You realize that if Jason comes in you will have to do ten pushups for him."   Steve said, "Yes, let him come in."   

Bro. Christianson said, "Okay, I'll let you get Jason's out of the way right now.  Jason, do you want a doughnut?"  "Yes."  

 "Steve, will you do ten pushups so that Jason can have a doughnut?"   

Steve did ten pushups very slowly and with great effort.  Jason, bewildered, was handed a doughnut and sat down.  

Bro. Christianson finished the fourth row, then started on those seated on the heaters.  Steve's arms were now shaking with each pushup in a struggle to lift himself against the force of gravity.  Sweat was dropping off of his face and by this time, there was not a dry eye in the room.   

The very last two girls in the room were cheerleaders and very popular. Bro. Christianson went to Linda, the second to last, and asked, "Linda, do you want a doughnut?"   

Linda said, very sadly, "No, thank you."   

Bro. Christianson asked Steve, "Steve, would you do ten pushups so that Linda can have a doughnut she doesn't want?"   

Grunting from the effort, Steve did ten very slow pushups for Linda.   

Then Bro. Christianson turned to the last girl, Susan.  "Susan, do you want a doughnut?"  

Susan, with tears flowing down her face, asked, "Bro. Christianson, can I help him?"  

Bro. Christianson, with tears of his own, said, "No, he has to do it alone."   

Steve, would you do ten pushups so Susan can have a doughnut?"   As Steve very slowly finished his last pushup, with the understanding that he had accomplished all that was required of him, having done 350 pushups, his arms buckled beneath him and he fell to the floor.   

Brother Christianson turned to the room and said, "And so it was, that our Savior, Jesus Christ, pled to the Father, "Into thy hands I commend my spirit.  With the understanding that He had done everything that was required of Him, he collapsed on the cross and died.  And like some of those in this room, many of us leave the gift on the desk, uneaten."         

If you question PABAMA call TODD REMO....

Thanks for a great meeting knights - It was a great reminder of what pabama is all about. God's Spirit moves in ways that we can't plan or coordinate. Our objective is to help those in need. Addressing the physical or emotional need through gifts of food, encouragement, kindness, and prayer. The Jesus need is in constant motion through the Spirit! Praise God that we have the opportunity to MAN UP for Jesus.
I learned that I need to keep my eyes open for people that have a need and are hurting. Don't run for comfort and the easy button. Jump in and let the Spirit work - That's Pabama

Some things Dad's do......or should be anyway ;)

Hey Guys,
This is something I came across in my prayer journal that I had obviously nabbed from somewhere....and moves my heart to be reminded of it's content.  Let me share....

"Words kill, words give life; they're either poison or fruit -- you choose." Proverbs 18:21  So....

• Dad's, kneel down and look in your kid's eyes and tell them you love them
• Write your kiddos a note and stick it in their lunch box or backpack
• Overlook your kid's flaws because they are a work-in-progress
• Tell them they are history makers and world changers
• Speak life by telling them they are leaders, not followers
• Help them understand they are not trend followers, but trend setters
• Let them know they will be used by God in supernatural ways
• Say "I believe in you"
• Dad's, tell your daughter she is beautiful and tell your boys they are heroes

Our children need us to believe in them, encourage them and tell the truth about who they can become.....

Meeting Together Sept 8 at the Vooo

Ok Clausing you are on for the next meeting Thursday Sept 8 - I remember hearing these words and feeling little pressure because it was so far away. Well it is now Sept 6 and the pressure is on! I have been praying about the meeting and what it should be about or what the content would be. I have come to the conclusion that it is not about me and the content better be about God.
My selfishness has crept into how I view Pabama meetings, which then makes it about me. I selfishly desire more entertainment or to have a deep feeling of fulfillment. Let me explain, We meet at Meijer to grab some groceries with a group of guys (sure it has some entertainment value as we laugh at clausing for demanding wheat pasta or mitchums secrect love afair for Oreos) I find myself wishing we were just hanging out at a coffee house chatting about life or going to play softball, kickball, or ......
As we shop I remind myself that we are here to bring hope to a family, joy to difficult situation, and food to a hungry household. (in other words it is not about me)
After shopping - I want to see the look on the persons face or see that joy for myself so I can feel good about myself/what we have done and have that entertainment/feeling of fulfillment hit me. Forgive me God, but that is what runs through my head.

Pabama is about - not getting thanked, not seeing the joy, knowing it makes a difference, blessing others that need encouragement, not judging whether a person deserves the "gift", small blessings are worth it, accountability from other men, gratitude for what we have, and doing things that are not ordinary.

So I ask is my desire to hangout at the Rendezvous selfish?
No I don't think it is because we need to have time to discuss WHY and encourage eachother to step out together. Can we still bless someone with a food delivery that night - Yes sir

If you catch up on Dancing with the Stars ...

Need movie ideas?  (I need some, feel free to add to the list down to the right).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMDaERXJfCk - The Encounter.  Watch it.  It rocks!

(And yes Sternberg, I know you love the WCW, and that is Steve 'Sting' Borden, former heavyweight champion.  I have a book on his story if you are interested.)

Devotions or flossing?

Do Whatever Brings You Back to Your Heart and the Heart of God

Against the flesh, the traitor within, a warrior uses discipline. We have a two-dimensional version of this now, which we call a “quiet time.” But most men have a hard time sustaining any sort of devotional life because it has no vital connection to recovering and protecting their strength; it feels about as important as flossing. But if you saw your life as a great battle and you knew you needed time with God for your very survival, you would do it. Maybe not perfectly—nobody ever does and that’s not the point anyway—but you would have a reason to seek him. We give a halfhearted attempt at the spiritual disciplines when the only reason we have is that we “ought” to. But we’ll find a way to make it work when we are convinced we’re history if we don’t.

Time with God each day is not about academic study or getting through a certain amount of Scripture or any of that. It’s about connecting with God. We’ve got to keep those lines of communication open, so use whatever helps. Sometimes I’ll listen to music; other times I’ll read Scripture or a passage from a book; often I will journal; maybe I’ll go for a run; then there are days when all I need is silence and solitude and the rising sun. The point is simply to do whatever brings me back to my heart and the heart of God.

The discipline, by the way, is never the point. The whole point of a “devotional life” is connecting with God. This is our primary antidote to the counterfeits the world holds out to us.

John Eldredge