Tuesday, January 31, 2012

The Tale of Two Ski Days

GodThoughtsWired!               Tuesday, January 31, 2012
An Inspiration for Today...A Resource for a Lifetime!

To order your FREE "GT Partner Perspectus,"simply reply to this email(godthoughtswired@gmail.com),
write PARTNER in the subject box and send. Remember to include the snail mail address where you would like the packet to be sent. Click here to view the GT Annual Report.
the tale of two ski days*
I went snow skiing the other day.  It was beautiful.  Sunny, clear, and lots of fresh powder...I had a great time.  It brought to mind, however, a ski day I once had that wasn't so great.  It was at a resort called "Heavenly Valley" in magnificent South Lake Tahoe, California/Nevada.  The run was called, "Motts Canyon," a double black diamond.  To get there you must proceed past a sign with a skull and crossbones that says, "Dangerous, experts only."
Well, on this particular day I felt pretty good.  I nonchalantly skied past the sign without hesitation.  there are six runs to the front side of the canyon...and one roped off area.  Again, with little hesitation, I skied under the ropes and to the edge of the cornice (a cornice is a CLIFF, for all you non-skiers).  I stopped, took a deep breath, then leaped off, dropped about ten feet to the slope, and began my descent.
Actually, let me clarify...I BEGAN MY FALL!  It seems this area had been roped off for good reason...IT WAS SOLID ICE!  I never had a chance.  My edges wouldn't hold.  I immediately fell...HARD!  I finally stopped more than 5 HUNDRED YARDS down the hill. 
I had a sprained ankle (very hard to do in a ski boot), several bruised ribs, torn cartilage in my right shoulder, a fat lip, a bloody nose, and a very wounded ego.  It took me more than an hour just to recover my equipment!  Needless to say, I was done for the day.  As I reflect back on this "memorable" event, I have some GodThoughts:
1.  The signs that God gives us are intended to be "paid attention" to (see Proverbs 16:25).
2.  The boundary ropes that God puts in our lives are "there for a good reason" (did you look up Proverbs 16:25 yet?).
3.  The exhilaration of the first ten feet wasn't worth the pain and injury of the last 500 yards (have I mentioned Proverbs 16:25?).
Yeah, I went skiing the other day.  I had a great time!  Oh, by the way, I paid attention to all the signs...and stayed within all of the boundaries (see Psalm 37:4; 84:11-12; Hebrews 11:25).
*Originally Published in GodThoughs Volume 1. 2004. I will send a FREE COPY of GodThoughts, Volume 1 (paperback), to the first 10 orders of the GT Parter Perspectus (see above for details).

For more information about the GodThoughts Ministry, click here.

For more information about the author of GodThoughts, click here.
Please follow us on:

Friday, January 27, 2012

Take the Fruit...And Spit Out the Seeds!

GodThoughtsWired!                    Friday, January 27, 2012
An Inspiration for Today...A Resource for a Lifetime!
To order your FREE "GT Partner Perspectus,"
simply reply to this email (godthoughtswired@gmail.com),
write PARTNER in the subject box and send. Remember to include the snail mail address where you would like the packet to be sent. Click here to view the GT Annual Report.
take the fruit...
& spit out the seeds!*
Several years ago I was privileged to work under a senior pastor who used a phrase that I have benefited from time and time again.  In reference to various books, tapes, cd's, authors and speakers he would say, "Take the fruit...and spit out the seeds."
He was expressing the opinion that we could benefit from a variety of writers and speakers as long as we carefully evaluated their teachings in light of the scripture.
This philosophy has freed me to read and listen to individuals from all walks of life, including, but not limited to Christians, knowing that I will ultimately examine their teaching, and determine its validity, through the grid of biblical truth.
The fruit of this practice has been very significant to me.  It has enabled me to glean some great stuff from people who are not Christians.  At the same time I have been guarded on numerous occasions from "Christian" authors who have gotten off track.
As it turns out, the practice of "Taking the fruit...and spitting out the seeds," didn't really originate with my former pastor...IT WAS ORIGINATED BY GOD:
"They received the word with great
eagerness, examining the scriptures

daily, to see whether these things were so
."

-Acts 17:11, bold mine

**Originally Published in GodThoughs Volume 1. 2004. I will send a FREE COPY of GodThoughts, Volume 1 (paperback), to the first 10 orders of the GT Parter Perspectus (see above for details).

For more information about the GodThoughts Ministry, click here.

For more information about the author of GodThoughts, click
here.
Please follow us on:

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

5 Ingredients for Failure...GUARANTEED!

GodThoughtsWired!             Wednesday, January 25, 2012
An Inspiration for Today...A Resource for a Lifetime!

To order your FREE "GT Partner Perspectus,"
simply reply to this email (godthoughtswired@gmail.com),

write PARTNER in the subject box and send. Remember to include the snail mail address where you would like the packet to be sent.
Click here to view the GT Annual Report.
5 Ingredients for failure...
guaranteed!!*

1.  PROCRASTINATE!
  Put off  'till tomorrow whatever you could have done today.  DO IT LATER!
2.  Always blame somebody else!  Never take responsibility...for anything!  Whenever possible respond...IT'S NOT MY FAULT! 
3.  Always have an EXCUSE!  We live in a VICTIM society anyway so let's take full advantage of it! 
4.  Refuse to change!  Motto:  Keep doing what you've always done so that you'll keep getting what you've always got!
5.  DO NOT PRAY!  Never, EVER!, access the one source of power, love, mercy and forgiveness that could turn your entire life around. 
That's it!  5 ingredients for failure... GUARANTEED!
Now that I think of it, there's a sixth one...

FORGET YOU EVER READ THIS!

*Originally Published in GodThoughs Volume 1. 2004 I will send a FREE COPY of GodThoughts, Volume 1 (paperback), to the first 10 orders of the GT Parter Perspectus (see above for details).

For more information about the GodThoughts Ministry, click here.

For more information about the author of GodThoughts, click
here.
Please follow us on:

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Hatred, Persecutions, Fights & Struggles

GodThoughtsWired!                  Monday, January 24, 2012
An Inspiration for Today...A Resource for a Lifetime!

To order your FREE
"GT Partner Perspectus,"

simply reply to this email (godthoughtswired@gmail.com),
write PARTNER in the subject box and send. Remember to include the snail mail address where you would like the packet to be sent.
Click here to view the GT Annual Report.
hatred, persecutions,
fights & struggles

The Bible tells us that "our struggle is not against flesh and blood" but against demonic forces (see Ephesians 6:10-12).  How would you describe your current struggle with the enemy?
The Bible further admonishes us to "fight the good fight of faith" and "take hold of the eternal life to which you were called" (see 1 Timothy 6:12).  How would you describe your current "fight of faith?"
 In addition, God's word warns us that "all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (see 2 Timothy 3:12).  When was the last time you were "persecuted" because of your relationship with Jesus Christ? 
Finally, Jesus warned that a bi-product of representing Him would be hatred by the world (see John 15:18-20).  Who would you currently identify as "hating" you because of Christ's lordship in your life? 

Hatred, persecution, fights and struggles.
  This is how the Bible describes the typical Christian life.  And, yet, Joel Osteen, described by his wife as "America's Preacher" and "the World's Pastor," tells us that we can have "Your Best Life Now!" 

May I suggest to you that the only people who have the potential to experience their "Best Life Now!" are those that will be headed to Hell for the rest of eternity?

For more information about the GodThoughts Ministry, click here.

For more information about the author of GodThoughts, click
here.
Please follow us on:

Friday, January 20, 2012

Hollywood and a Holy God Conclusion

GodThoughtsWired!               Friday, January 20, 2012
Evangelizing the Church in the Age of Delusion

hollywood and a holy god

conclusion

"Evil flourishes because people
who are in a position to do
something about it...DON'T!"

-pastor Brad
And who are some of the people in positions to challenge the evil that is rampant in the world today?  Pastors.

God has given the responsibility to be "the light of the world" to the Church
, and the Church takes its cues from its leaders.  The world is so dark because the Church has become dark.  And the Church has become dark because of its leaders.

When pastors care more about Hollywood than holiness (click here for an example)...

When pastors care more about prosperity than purity (click here for an example)...

When pastors care more about their glory than God's glory
(click here for an example)...

Woe to the shepherds...

For their judgement will be great!

For more information about the GodThoughts Ministry, click here.

For more information about the author of GodThoughts, click
here.
Please follow us on:

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Hollywood and a Holy God 2

GodThoughtsWired!          Thursday, January 19, 2012
Evangelizing the Church in the Age of Delusion

hollywood and a Holy god
part 2

"Evil flourishes because people
who are in a position to do
something about it...DON'T!"

-pastor Brad
And who are some of the people in positions to challenge the evil that is rampant in the world today?  Pastors.  Church leaders.  Any and all followers of Jesus.
"The seven stars are the angels (angelos) of the seven churches, and the seven
lampstands are the seven churches."
-Revelation 1:20, bold mine
Angelos:  "messenger, angel, envoy." 

The Bible refers to churches as "lampstands."  Why?  Because the Church is where the people of God, the followers of Christ are supposed to be found.  And Jesus said of the Church:
“You are the light of the world...
Let your light shine before men
in such a way that they may see
your good works, and glorify
your Father who is in heaven."
-see Matthew 5;14-16

Indeed, the Church is the only hope for the world!  God has no other plan!  The world lies in  darkness because it is under the control of the Prince of Darkness, Satan (see 1 John 5:19).  And God has called as many as are willing to receive Him (see John 1:11-12), out of the darkness and into the light to become a light in the darkness.
But here's the problem:
"Light has come into the world,
and men loved the darkness
rather than the Light,
for their deeds were evil."
-John 3:19
more tomorrow.


For more information about the GodThoughts Ministry, click here.

For more information about the author of GodThoughts, click
here.
Please follow us on:

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Hollywood and a Holy God 1

GodThoughtsWired!                 Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Evangelizing the Church in tohe Age of Delusion


Hollywood and a Holy God
part 1
"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord
God Almighty.  Who was and
who is, and who is to come."

-Revelation 4:8
I haven't watched a Hollywood awards show in many, many years.  The other day however, while on the ellyptical machine at the gym, I stumbled upon the Golden Globe awards at the exact time Ricky Gervais was blaspheming God (click here to watch).  I must say he got quite the laugh.
As it turned out, I was only able to stomach about 10 minutes of the presentation as Hollywood's disdain and defiance of God is as blatant and palpable as ever.
You know, I used to be highly critical and condemning of such ignorant and arrogant behavior, but one day it ocurred to me...would I judge a blind man for being born blind?  Would I comdemn him for not being able to see just because I was blessed with sight?
"Forgive them Father; for they
do not know what they are doing."
-Luke 23:34
more tomorrow.

To order your FREE
"GT Partner Perspectus,"

simply reply to this email (godthoughtswired@gmail.com),

write PARTNER in the subject box and send. Remember to include the snail mail address where you would like the packet to be sent.
Click here to view the GT Annual Report.

For more information about the GodThoughts Ministry, click here.

For more information about the author of GodThoughts, click
here.
Please follow us on:

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Please Consider Becoming a GodThoughts Partner?

GodThoughtsWired!                   Tuesday, January 17, 2012
An Inspiration for Today...A Resource for a Lifetime!

To order your FREE "GT Partner Perspectus" simply reply to this email (godthoughtswired@gmail.com), write PARTNER in the subject box and send.  Remember to include the snail mail address where you would like the packet to be sent.

please consider

Becoming a

godthoughts partner?

"You do not have because you do not ask..."
-James 4:2
That being the case (see above verse), today's GodThoughtsWired! is a simple invitation for you to consider joining us in this endeavor to "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations" (Matthew 28:17-20).

For those of you who are serious about furthering the Kingdom of God and maximizing your "eternal investments,"
please take a moment to read our GodThoughts annual report (click here), and prayerfully consider "partnering" with the GodThoughts Ministry (everything we do here at GodThoughts is accountable and transparent).

As some of you may know, we have had offers from both Google and Youtube to include advertisements with our websites and videos (which would have brought in thousands of dollars), however God has given us clear instruction not to do so (see Isaiah 30:1; and 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 for the reasons).

Thus, the GodThoughts ministry will continue to become everything and only that which it is able to become through the giving of those of you who support it.

Thanks ahead of time for your consideration.
To order your FREE
"GT Partner Perspectus," simply reply to this email (godthoughtswired@gmail.com),
write PARTNER in the subject box and send.  Remember to include the snail mail address where you would like the packet to be sent.


For more information about the GodThoughts Ministry, click here.

For more information about the author of GodThoughts, click
here.
Please follow us on:

Friday, January 13, 2012

God's Plans are My Goals! Conclusion

GodThoughtsWired!                     Friday, January 13, 2012
An Inspiration for Today...A Resource for a Lifetime!

god's plans are my goals!

Conclusion
Here's my 4-Step plan for "walking in the good works that God has prepared for me" (see Ephesians 2:10) in 2012:
Step #1. Identify. (click here to review).
Step #2. Write it down. (click here to review).
Step #3. Tell Somebody. (click here to review).
Step #4.  Pray it Through!  Remember,
"Whatever God does succeeds.
Therefore, to the degree that
you can plug into what God is
doing...you will have success!"

-Pastor Brad,
Building the House of Prayer, Prayer Too
l
Ask God to continue to give you the motivation and inspiration and discipline to accomplish the goal in question.  Keep on praying until the goal is completed. 

If it was truly God's plan in the first place, He will give you the grace to achieve it.  If it wasn't originally God's will...then stop wasting your prayers!


"This is the confidence which we have
before Him, that, if we ask anything
according to His will, He hears us.
And if we know that He hears us
in whatever we ask, we know
that we have the requests which
we have asked from Him."
-1 John 5:14-15

For more information about the GodThoughts Ministry, click here.

For more information about the author of GodThoughts, click
here.
Please follow us on:

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

God's Plans are My Goals! 4

GodThoughtsWired!                   Wednesday, January 11, 2012
An Inspiration for Today...A Resource for a Lifetime!

God's plans are my goals!
part 4
Here's my 4-Step plan for "walking in the good works that God has prepared for me" (see Ephesians 2:10) in 2012:
Step #1. Identify. (click here to review).
Step #2. Write it down. (click here to review).
Step #3.  Tell Somebody.  By telling someone else about your goals you add the power of two important "goal-achieving ingredients":

A. The power of accountability. And,
B. The power of agreeing prayer.
Consider the following statement,
"Often, it's the fear of criticism that,
more than any other factor, stops
 you from goal-setting in the first place.
So keep your goals to yourself,
with one exception.  Share your goals
only with others who are commited
to achieving goals of their own and who
really want you to be successful
and achieve your goals as well."

-Brian Tracy,
A Treasury of Personal Achievement, p.95
We recently provided an open forum in church for individuals who wanted to "make public" their goals for 2012.  Having modeled this behavior the prior week by publicly sharing some of my own personal goals, it became a profound opportunity for the church to be a source of edification and encouragement for those who were willing to "open up" about what they believe God wants to accomplish in their lives this coming year.
 While I reminded the congregation that "transparency must never be used against anyone," the value of accountability far outweighs the risks involved.
Now, you may not be ready to let the whole world know what you are hoping to achieve in 2012, I want to encourage you to tell someone!  A spouse?  One of your children?  How about a close friend that you trust?  Your pastor? 
I'm curious, what do you believe God wants to accomplish in your own life in 2012?

For more information about the GodThoughts Ministry, click here.

For more information about the author of GodThoughts, click
here.
Please follow us on:

Friday, January 6, 2012

God's Plans are My Goals! 3

GodThoughtsWired!                     Friday, January 6, 2012
An Inspiration for Today...A Resource for a Lifetime!

god's plans are my goals!

part 3
Here's my 4-Step plan for "walking in the good works that God has prepared for me" (see Ephesians 2:10) in 2012:
Step #1. Identify. (click here to review).
Step #2. Write it down.  Studies on "goal-setting" reveal that there is something almost supernatural about putting our goals in writing.  I know that my own experience certainly confirms this.
Before a goal can be realized it must first become...real, and a goal only becomes real after it has been written down.  In the same way that "faith without works is dead" (see James 2:17), so also, goals left undocumented are rarely achieved.
"Show me your faith without the works,
and I will show you my faith by my works.”
-James 2:18
"Show me your goals without the list,
and I'll show you my goals by my list."

-pastor Brad

For more information about the GodThoughts Ministry, click here.
For more information about the author of GodThoughts, click here.
Please follow us on:

Thursday, January 5, 2012

God's Plans are My Goals! 2

GodThoughtsWired!                     Thursday, January 5, 2012
An Inspiration for Today...A Resource for a Lifetime!

god's plans are my goals!
part 2
"A goal mind...is a gold mine!"
-Brian Tracy
So, what's your strategy for fulfilling God's plan for your life in 2012?  Do you have one?  I'm a firm believer in the old adage, "Failing to plan is planning to fail."
Here's my 4-Step plan for "walking in the good works that God has prepared for me" (see Ephesians 2:10) in 2012:
Step #1.  Identify.  The first step in living out the plans and purposes of God is to identify what they are.  To be like Jesus is to prioritize your relationship with God.  The only way to understand what God wants to do in your life is to spend time with the Author of those plans.
"After He had sent the crowds away,
He went up on the mountain by Himself
to pray; and when it was evening,
He was there alone...
In the early morning,
while it was still dark, Jesus got up,
left the house, and went away to
a secluded place, and was praying there.
..But Jesus Himself would often slip away
to the wilderness and pray.

-Matthew 14:23; Mark 1:35; Luke 5:16
Jesus maintained that success in this life equates to "accomplishing the work" (see John 17:4) that God gives us to do.  Before we can walk in the plans that God has for us...we need to know what those plans are!
"In the morning, O Lord You will hear
my voice;
in the morning I will order
my prayer to You and eagerly watch."
-Psalm 5:3

For more information about the GodThoughts Ministry, click here.

For more information about the author of GodThoughts, click
here.
Please follow us on:

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

God's Plans are My Goals!

GodThoughtsWired!                     Wednesday, January 4, 2012
An Inspiration for Today...A Resource for a Lifetime!

god's plans are my goals!
part 1
In The Old Testament God put it this way,
"For I know the plans that I have for you,’
declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and
not for calamity to give you a future and a hope."
-Jeremiah 29:11, bold mine
The New Testament describes it this way,
"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them."-Ephesians 2:10, bold mine
And, as always, Jesus is our model:
"I glorified You on the earth,
having accomplished the work
which You have given Me to do
."
-John 17:4, bold mine
Wow!  The potential for accomplishment in 2012 is incredibly motivating!
1.  God has plans for us in 2012 that are filled with hope!
2.   He prepared those plans ahead of time with the intent that we would accomplish them.
3.  We have been created for the glory of God (see Isaiah 43:7), and the way God is glorified in our lives is by "accomplishing the work He has given us to do."
More tomorrow!


For more information about the GodThoughts Ministry, click here.

For more information about the author of GodThoughts, click
here.
Please follow us on:
welcome
to
godthoughts!
The GT Ministry is called to "Evangelize the Church in the Age of Delusion."  The era that the Bible refers to as "the birth pangs" is here (see Mark 13:9).  The "Age of Delusion has begun! (see 2 Thessalonians 2:10-15).

False teachers and false gospels are everywhere.  The "angel of light" has become so prevalent in today's "visible church" that even false bibles have made their way into mainstream Christianity (i.e. The Message).

Tens of millions of sincere church-goers are being led astray by celebrity pastors and teachers who present "false gospels of grace & salvation nowhere to be found in scripture.  GodThoughtsWired! exists to make sure that when Jesus says, "Depart from Me, I never knew you," He's not talking to you!