For All Bird Lovers

This is reportedly from the Detroit ABC affiliate. I don't really know as I rarely watch local news.

Truth is that I think this is a hoax. There is no Canadian Brown Finch. There is a Brown-capped Rosy Finch that lives in the high peaks of Colorado. And where is the green grass and leafy trees in the Detroit area right now?

What do you think? Hoax or real?

12Stone Church

12Stone Church is doing some creative things with video in worship. Check this one out:



I pray for the day ....

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Computer Repaired

My computer is back from repairs! I feel like I have both hands again. Isn't it amazing how much we've grown to depend on technology? I felt like I couldn't do anything without my computer. Of course, my feelings aren't true. I can do almost all of my work without a computer. It just takes longer.

Key learning .... it's time to start saving for a new computer at home. Ours is so old I can't run many of my applications with it. We've had it about 9 years. In computer age that's geriatric.

Fun stuff is happening at DPC. We have two new small groups starting up - one for men another for women. About a half dozen people will be baptized February 3rd. Awesome!

I plan to get my other blog going again today. For some reason I couldn't post to it from the old office laptop. I never figured out why.

Click here for Deeper

Enough rambling .... I've work to do!

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Computers!

My office computer died yesterday. Ugh!! It has to go to the factory for repairs. I have spent much of today getting an old computer going.

It hasn't gone well. :-(

Blogs, email response, etc. from me may be very slow for a few weeks.

Walking Man

Yesterday's mail brought a new book I ordered. Walking Man is the autobiography of Narciso Zamora. Narciso is one of our Church of God leaders in South America. He has started many churches in Chile and Peru.

There is a line in the prologue that really captured me: "You can't expect a crown if you don't enter the race."

I've been "racing" now for a little over 40 years. (I became a Christian somewhere around 10 years old.) But, I still feel like there is so much more. I realize most of my course is behind me, but there are pit stops that I still see ahead. There is so much to do yet for Jesus!

I hope you are in the race. Don't get lost on a detour or stuck in the pit for repairs. Get out there and race!

Acts 20:24 (NIV)
However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.

1 Corinthians 9:24 through 1 Corinthians 9:27 (NIV)
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

2 Timothy 4:7 through 2 Timothy 4:8 (NIV)
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

Hebrews 12:1 through Hebrews 12:3 (NIV)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Podcasting Sermons

Our leadership at DPC has talked about the possibility of providing my sermons via podcasting. It looks like I might have found a free - at least for 12 months - way to do it.

It's going to take a bit of time to set it up, so I don't know if we will begin before I get back from the mission trip next month. But, here's what it will look like. (There is nothing to listen to yet! Just for looks.)

A Modern Translation of Romans 12:1-2

Tim's Pop Culture Paraphrase of Romans 12:1-2

"Take your everyday, ordinary life—going to the movies, watching TV, listening to your XM radio, flipping through the pages of People Magazine—and place it before God as an offering. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, always be looking for God in the culture. You’ll be changed from the inside out. While sitting on the couch surfing channels or listening to the Top 20 on the radio, always be looking for what God wants you to do, who He wants you to be, and quickly respond to it. Don’t let the culture drag you down to its level, but maintain an awareness of God in the culture and keep watching for the next step you can take toward Christ.”

from http://www.leadingsmart.com/leadingsmart/2008/01/i-re-wrote-part.html

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Self-Creating Factors

I don't know where I found this, but it's good:

"Never build a case against yourself. No longer are you going to tell yourself that you:

• Can't do _________________________.
• Are inferior.
• Lack ability.
• Incapable of overcoming problems.

Turn your former limiting factors into self-creating factors."


Philippians 4:13 (NIV)
"I can do everything through him who gives me strength."

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Frucall

Wow! The numbers say that many are visiting this blog. I guess that means I better use it! So ...

Josephsangl.com has become one of my favorite blog/websites. Here's today's post. I tested Frucall and it works. Amazing

FRUCALL - A Tool You NEED to know!

Another great tool to share with www.JosephSangl.com readers!

Ever been in the middle of a store about to purchase something and wonder, "I wonder if I am getting this for the best price?"

Now you can KNOW!

Let me set up how this service can be used with a real-life story this last weekend!

One of Jenn's Christmas presents was a new piece of luggage. I
wanted her to pick it out - so we went to the store and picked it out.
It was a wonderful piece of luggage - expensive - but this brand has
lasted for me. I really like this brand, but I wanted to make sure I
was getting the absolute best deal possible on it.

How am I able to know? By dialing 1-888-363-7822! It is a toll-free number offered by FRUCALL.

After you dial the number, it asks you to type in the bar code
number. When you type in the bar code number, it will tell you the
LOWEST PRICE this item is currently offered for and WHERE you can
purchase it for that price!

It comparison shops for you!

When I entered the bar code number, it told me the name of the
product and the current lowest price for the luggage. It was $3
cheaper on Amazon. I went ahead and purchased the item in the store.
It was worth it to me to pay $3 extra and have it now than wait a
couple of days.

Go ahead - try it out! Pick up a book next to you and call the
number. Find out the cheapest price it is currently available for!

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Just Read Your Bible

When are these people just going to read there Bibles? Click the link below to see yet another apology for incorrectly predicting the end. I won't even start my discourse on debunking the whole rapture idea.

Matthew 24:36 through Matthew 24:39 (NIV)
36“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,£ but only the Father. 37As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.

2007rapture

Plans for the New Year

I've been on vacation from writing! Nevertheless, Happy New Year!

Today's post at Deeper is about God's destiny for you. Dave Ferguson's blog article develops the idea further:

6 Questions for Discovering Your God-Given Possibilities

For the last several years I have used the last week of the year and the first week of the new year to evaluate who I am; who does God want me to be and how I am doing. The process has continued to evolve over the years, but much of it revolves around prayerfully working through six questions. These six questions help me discern the God-given possibilities for my life.

There is just something powerful about writing down (or typing on your computer) your goals and having an intention about who you want to become! I can now look back and remember writing down that I wanted to plant a church; write a book and start a church planting network. Would those things have happened if I had not written them down? I don't know for sure. I do know that writing these down and reviewing them periodically keeps me moving in the direction that I feel God is calling me. I personally think everyone should do it. So, I would encourage you to get some time alone and prayerfully work through these six questions:

1. What is my PURPOSE? It starts with a purpose statement. Just write something down. Don't let this question intimidate you. You can always edit your answer later. Here is how I answer that question now: "To be a Spirit-led leader at home, church, and in new ventures resulting in a movement of people finding their way back to God." It has taken me a few years of revisions to get that down. It's a little long, but it includes everything that it is important to me. So take a shot and write down a purpose statement for your life.
2. What is my PASSION? Next you should list the things about which you are passionate. There are four things about which I'm passionate: Jesus, family, church and new ventures. So, what are you passionate about? List them.
3. What are the POSITIONS I hold? Next I list all the positions I hold in relationship to the things about which I'm passionate. For example, in relationship to my family I have two positions: husband and father. Another example, in relationship to to my church I have at least four positions: visionary, Lead Pastor, teacher/motivator and intercessor. List all the positions you hold in relationship to the things about which you are passionate. You get the idea.
4. What are the POSSIBILITIES for my future? This is my favorite part - dreaming with God about who He wants me to be in the positions He has put me in. This is where I begin to dream about all the possibilities for my life. This is the long view and it answers the question of who I will have been after I have lived on this planet for 75 years. (I'm planning on living to 75 and if I get more time that will be bonus!)
5. What is the PATH for making that future possible? Now that you have a list of all the possibilities for your life you need to figure out the path to get you there. I have a path that I break into 5 years chunks of time. There are markers that I need to meet every five years if I am going to see those possibilities for my life ever happen. So take a look at your list of God-given possibilities and create a path with markers along the way that show you are progressing towards those possibilities.
6. What is my PLAN for this coming year? The last question you will want to answer has to do with 2008. This year is the next step on the path to your future. So, write down your plan for this year and make sure that it is taking you towards the next markers on your path to your God-given possibilities.