P.R.s Reflections

2009-09-01T11:25:00.000-07:00

The Lord directs the steps of the godly.
He delights in every detail of their lives.
Psalms 37:23

These last fews days I've come to the inescapable comprehension that God is directing our steps
The smallest decision can effect many people. A decision to be stedfast can be someone elses "salvation". A decision to compromise cascade into an onlookers demise!

"God help me place my feet, my words, my eyes, my energies... my heart, into the right places. Where there us hatred, let me sow love, where there is injury.... (you know this one) The opposite and more of it... A soft answer, Love instead of fear...

So thanks for the unexpected conversation on the lawn today, (help the angry man in the parking lot) Thanks for changing hearts toward you. Please keep hearts from becoming hard...

Let us see far enough ahead to know where to place our feet, but not so far ahead that we fear the future.

No matter the waves... I trust in you

2009-08-05T08:56:00.000-07:00

QUITTING
by Don Potter

I was walking into my house one day and my wife was reading a Scripture and suggested I listen to it read it. I'm not sure if every marriage is like this, but in my house Christine is often the convicting voice of the Holy Spirit. I was very busy that day as I basically have workaholic tendencies. Never time enough to do the things that demand attention much less the things I would like to do. Finally after some looking around the house for the thing I couldn't find I stopped for a minute and said with a half-interested sigh, "OK, read me the Scripture." He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster, Proverbs 18:9,” she cheerfully said.
I stared up at the ceiling and then at the floor for a second and thought, "Why would she read me this Scripture? Does she think I'm lazy?" I answered and said, "That's nice, I'll be back later."
The rest of the day was consumed with many things for me to do but I couldn't get this Scripture out of my mind. When I got done and settled down, I opened my Greek-Hebrew Study Bible. I started to study this Scripture. After a bit of time I was taken back with conviction. Let me show you what I found in these words written so long ago.

SLOTHFUL
Slothful means to be slack or idle, which I knew I was not. But then it went on to say; to be despondent, or to withdraw, to desert or quit. That got my attention because I had just been through a bout of pulling back from places and people I felt wounded or offended by. When I get rejected I usually just disappear, if not in the natural then for sure in the spirit. Many times I've prayed for thicker skin but the Lord keeps telling me that "thicker skin means less responsive." Where music and praise are concerned being responsive is vital.
The Lord reminded me that offence means stumbling block or an occasion to fall. Jesus was a stumbling block for many, (Isaiah 8:14) so if I'm offended by someone it might just be Jesus (the truth) I'm stumbling over.

WORK
Work; this is my favorite subject as I feel myself a hard worker. Turns out that the Proverb writer was not talking about labor. "Work" means duty-ship or ministry. It can mean the activity of work or the fruit of your labor. It basically means someone's call. So now Proverbs 18:9 starts with, "He that quits his call or ministry…." I'm really starting to sweat some because I was not ready to believe that reacting to rejection is really quitting a call or a ministry duty.
The Lord reminded me of King David fleeing his call when his son Absalom made an advance for the throne (see 2 Sam.15:13-29). I've often wondered why David gave up something he had been anointed to do. He was clearly a warrior so he wasn't afraid. Possibly he was afraid of confrontation, but there are many Scriptures showing him confronting and challenging his men. I asked the Lord and He answered with a question: "Why do you flee from your position when challenged?" There is only one answer to a question the Lord asks and that is the truth. The truth is I flee because I never believed in my heart I was competent enough to do the job. David felt the same as do many truly called people in ministry.
So this is the obvious answer, God does not call people to a place or position because they are competent or capable, but because He wills it. If He has called me then He will equip me (Hebrews13:20-21). I continued to study this very short verse.

THE GREAT WASTER
The "great waster" seemed like an interesting thing to say so I looked it up. It means to destroy or to ruin by pulling down. It goes on to say this pulling down can kill others and eventually pull down an entire community. The word "wicked" popped up in there too. Now this simple Scripture could be paraphrased as "He that quits his call is brother to one who pulls down others to the extent of destroying an entire community."
All my rejection issues started passing before my eyes when I knew I was brother to one who could destroy a community. If one soldier leaves his post during war time the enemy will most assuredly come in that open door. It doesn't matter if he has a legitimate reason for leaving or not.
I know I could be spreading a lot of condemnation right now with this, but if this is happening to you and you feel convicted by what this is saying, turn around somehow. Get in touch with God and find out what you are called to and find out if you are running from it. Even if there are great hindrances in the way of getting right with someone who has wounded you, don't give up the call on your life. Being accepted or rejected has nothing to do with the call God has placed on any life. Since the gifts and callings are without repentance, (Romans 11:29) how then can any of us make a decision to quit based on the rejection of others?

WILL THE CALLED RESPOND?
Once, while I was with the Lord, I asked Him to give me a prayer to pray. He said, "Pray that those I've called will respond to Me." I said, I know all kinds of people who want to be in ministry, what do You mean by this? He just repeated the statement.
I personally believe there are many who are in ministry or were in ministry and have backed way off from the first call on their lives. There are a host of reasons for quitting but I trust none of these reasons are good enough to stop an anointed, called and released person from doing everything the Lord has made them to do

www.donpottermusic.com

2009-06-09T06:56:00.000-07:00

This is an excellent article.
I first read it 15 years ago in a section of a book that Bob Mumford wrote.
He called it, "Pulling the King's Carriage"
I've included both authors and titles to give proper credit.

“The Harness of the Lord”
by Bill Britton – Abridged and updated
I SAW THE KING'S CARRIAGE
On a dirt road in the middle of a wide field stood a beautiful carriage, something on the order of a stagecoach but all edged in gold and with beautiful carvings. It was pulled by six large chestnut horses: two in the lead, two in the middle and two in the rear. But they were not moving, they were not pulling the carriage, and I wondered why. Then I saw the driver underneath the carriage on the ground on his back just behind the last two horses' heels working on something between the front wheels on the carriage. I thought, "My, he is in a dangerous place; for if one of those horses kicked or stepped back, they could kill him, or if they decided to go forward, or got frightened somehow, they would pull the carriage right over him." But he didn't seem afraid for he knew that those horses were disciplined and would not move till he told them to move. The horses were not stamping their feet nor acting restless, and though there were bells on their feet, the bells were not tinkling. There were pom-poms on their harness over their heads but the pom-poms were not moving. They were simply standing still and quiet waiting for the voice of the Master.
THERE WERE TWO YOUNG COLTS IN THE FIELD
As I watched the harnessed horses I noticed two young colts coming out of the open field and they approached the carriage and seemed to say to the horses: "Come and play with us, we have many fine games, we will race with you, come catch us." And with that the colts kicked up their heels flicked their tails and raced across the open field. But when they looked back and saw the horses were not following they were puzzled. They knew nothing of the harnesses and could not understand why the horses did not want to play. So they called to them: "Why do you not race with us? Are you tired? Are you too weak? Do you not have strength to run? You are much too solemn, you need more joy in life." But the horses answered not a word nor did they stamp their feet or toss their heads.. But they stood, quiet and still, waiting for the voice of the Master.
Again the colts called to them: "Why do you stand so in the hot sun? Come over here in the shade of this nice tree. See how green the grass is? You must be hungry, come and feed with us, it is so green and so good. You look thirsty, come drink of one of our many streams of cool clear water." But the horses answered them not so much as a glance but stood still waiting for the command to go forward with the King.

COLTS IN THE MASTER'S CORRAL
And then the scene changed and I saw lariat nooses fall around the necks of the two colts and they were led off to the Master's corral for training and discipline. How sad they were as the lovely green fields disappeared and they were put into the confinement of the corral with its brown dirt and high fence. The colts ran from fence to fence seeking freedom but found that they were confined to this place of training. And then the Trainer began to work on them with His whip and His bridle. What a death for those who had been all their lives accustomed to such a freedom! They could not understand the reason for this torture, this terrible discipline. What crime had they done to deserve this? Little did they know of the responsibility that was to be theirs when they had submitted to the discipline, learned to perfectly obey the Master and finished their training. All they knew was that this processing was the most horrible thing they had ever known.
SUBMISSION AND REBELLION
One of the colts rebelled under the training and said, "This is not for me. I like my freedom, my green hills, my flowing streams of fresh water. I will not take any more of this confinement, this terrible training." So he found a way out jumped the fence and ran happily back to the meadows of grass. I was astonished that the Master let him go and went not after him. But He devoted His attention to the remaining colt. This colt, though he had the same opportunity to escape, decided to submit his own will and learn the ways of the Master. The training got harder than ever but he was rapidly learning more and more how to obey the slightest wish of the Master and to respond to even the quietness of His voice. And I saw that had there been no training, no testing, there would have been neither submission nor rebellion from either of the colts. For in the field they did not have the choice to rebel or submit; they were sinless in their innocence. But when brought to the place of testing and training and discipline, then was made manifest the obedience of one and the rebellion of the other. And though it seemed safer not to come to the place of discipline because of the risk of being found rebellious, yet I saw that without this there could be no sharing of His glory, no Sonship.
INTO THE HARNESS
Finally this period of training was over. Was he now rewarded with his freedom and sent back to the fields? Oh no. But a greater confinement than ever now took place as a harness dropped about his shoulders. Now he found there was not even the freedom to run about the small corral for in the harness he could only move where and when his Master spoke. And unless the Master spoke he stood still.

The scene changed and I saw the other colt standing on the side of a hill nibbling at some grass. Then across the fields, down the road came the King's carriage drawn by six horses. With amazement he saw that in the lead, on the right side, was his brother colt now made strong and mature on the good corn in the Master's stable. He saw the lovely pom-poms shaking in the wind, noticed the glittering gold bordered harness about his brother, heard the beautiful tinkling of the bells on his feet -- and envy came into his heart. Thus he complained to himself: "Why has my brother been so honored, and I am neglected? They have not put bells on MY feet nor pom-poms on MY head. The Master has not given ME the wonderful responsibility of pulling His carriage, has not put about ME the gold harness. Why have they chosen my brother instead of me?" And by the Spirit the answer came back to me as I watched: "Because one submitted to the will and discipline of the Master and one rebelled, thus has one been chosen and the other set aside."
A FAMINE IN THE LAND
Then I saw a great drought sweep across the countryside and the green grass became dead, dry, brown and brittle. The little streams of water dried up, stopped flowing, and there was only a small muddy puddle here and there. I saw the little colt (I was amazed that it never seemed to grow or mature) as he ran here and there across the fields looking for fresh streams and green pastures finding none. Still he ran, seemingly in circles, always looking for something to feed his famished spirit. But there was a famine in the land and the rich green pastures and flowing streams of yesterday were not to be had. And one day the colt stood on the hillside on weak and wobbly legs wondering where to go next to find food and how to get strength to go. It seemed like there was no use, for good food and flowing streams were a thing of the past and all the efforts to find more only taxed his waning strength. Suddenly he saw the King's carriage coming down the road pulled by six great horses. And he saw his brother, fat and strong, muscles rippling, sleek and beautiful with much grooming. His heart was amazed and perplexed, and he cried out: "My brother where do you find the food to keep you strong and fat in these days of famine? I have run everywhere in my freedom, searching for food, and I find none. Where do you in your awful confinement find food in this time of drought? Tell me, please, for I must know!" And then the answer came back from a voice filled with victory and praise: "In my Master's House there is a secret place in the confining limitations of His stables where He feeds me by His own hand and His granaries never run empty and His well never runs dry." And with this the Lord made me to know that in the day when people are weak and famished in their spirits in the time of spiritual famine that those who have lost their own wills and have come into the secret place of the most High into the utter confinement of His perfect will shall have plenty of the corn of Heaven and a never ending flow of fresh streams of revelation by His Spirit. Thus the vision ended.

INTERPRETATION OF THE VISION
"Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that reads it," (Habakkuk 2:2). "Harness the horses; and get up, ye horseman," (Jeremiah 46:4). I am sure that many of you who can hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church have already seen what God was showing in the vision. But let me make it plain. Being born into the Family of God feeding in the green pastures and drinking of the many streams of the unfolding revelation of His purposes is fine and wonderful. But it is not enough. While we were children, young and undisciplined, limited only by the outer fence of the Law that ran around the limits of the pastures (that kept us from getting into the dark pastures of poison weeds) He was content to watch us develop and grow into young manhood, spiritually speaking. But the time came to those who fed in His pastures and drank at His streams, when they were to be brought into discipline or "child-training" for the purpose of making them mature Sons. Many of the children today cannot understand why some of those who have put on the harness of God cannot get excited by the many religious games and the playful antics of the immature. They wonder why the disciplined ones run not after every new revelation or feed on every opportunity to engage in seemingly "good and profitable" religious activities. They wonder why some will not race with them in their frantic efforts to build great works and great and notable ministries. They cannot understand the simple fact that this Company of saints is waiting for the voice of the Master and they do not hear God in all this outward activity. They will move in their time when the Master speaks. But not before, though many temptations come from the playful colts. And the colts cannot understand why those who seemingly appear to have great abilities and strength are not putting it to good use. "Get the carriage on the road," they say, but the disciplined ones, those in God's harness, know better than to move before they hear the voice of the Master. They will move in their time with purpose and great responsibility.
And the Lord made me to know that there were many whom He had brought into training who had rebelled against the discipline, the chastising of the Father. They could not be trusted with the great responsibility of mature Sonship so He let them go back to their freedom, back to their religious activities and revelations and gifts. They are still His people, still feeding in His pastures, but He has set them aside from the great purposes for this end of the age. So they revel in their freedom feeling that they were the Chosen Ones with the many streams of living water not knowing that they have been set aside as unfit for His great work in this end of the age.
He showed me that though the chastening seems difficult for the time and the discipline hard to endure yet the result with all the glory of Sonship is worth it all and the glory to follow far exceeds the suffering we endure. And though some lose even their lives in this training yet they will share alike in the glory of His

eternal purposes. So faint not saints of God for it is the Lord that brings you into confinement and not your enemy. It is for your good and for His glory so endure all things with praises and thanksgiving that He has counted you worthy to share His glory! Fear not the whip in His hand for it is not to punish you but to correct and train you that you might come into submission to His will and be found in His likeness in that hour. Rejoice in thy trials - in all your tribulations and glory in His cross and in the confining limitations of His harness for He has chosen you and He has taken upon Himself the responsibility of keeping you strong and well fed. So lean upon Him and trust not in your own ability and your own understanding. So shall you be fed and
His hand shall be upon you and His glory will overshadow you and shall flow through you as it goes forth to cover the earth. Glory to God! Bless the Lord! He's wonderful! Let Him be Lord of your life, friends, and complain not at that which He brings to pass in your life.
PLENTY IN THE TIME OF FAMINE
For in the hour when famine sweeps the land He shall feed by His own hand those who are submitted to His perfect will and who dwell in the secret place of the Most High. When terror stalks the land those in His harness shall not be afraid for they shall feel His bit and bridle and know the guidance of His Spirit. When others are weak and frail and fearful there shall be those who shall be strong in the power of His might and shall lack for no good thing. In the hour when the traditions of the religious systems have proven false and their streams have dried up, then His Chosen Ones shall speak forth with the true Word of the Lord. So rejoice, Sons of God, that you have been chosen by His grace for this great work in this last hour.
The fence which kept the colts in their own meadows and their own pastures mean nothing to the team in the harness for the gates open to them and they go forth pulling the King's carriage into many strange and wonderful places. They do not stop to eat the poison weeds of sin for they feed only in the Master's stable. These fields they trample under their feet as they go forth on the King's business. And so to those who are brought into absolute subjection to His will there is no Law. For they move in the Grace of God led only by His Spirit where “all things are permissible but not all things are beneficial” (I Cor.6:12). This is a dangerous realm for the undisciplined and many have perished in sin as they leaped over the fence without His harness and His bridle. Some have thought of themselves as being completely harnessed and submissive to Him only to find that in some avenue of their life there dwelled rebellion and self-will. Let us wait before Him until He puts His noose around us and draws us to His place of training. And let us learn of the dealings of God and the moving of His Spirit until at last we feel His harness drop about us and hear His voice guiding us. Then there is safety from the traps and pitfalls of sin and then shall we abide in His House forever!

2009-05-29T06:19:00.000-07:00

You reach a familiar place, again, only it's not the kind of place you want to be at. It's a "boundary place". In other words one of those places you seem to arrive at repeatedly never to go past. How do you navigate past the auto-failure that you are accustoming to?

Three things: You look back, you look up, and you look ahead. Dr. Robert Clinton makes a science of this in a book called "The Making of a Leader" but let me capsulize it right here for you.

By looking back you see what has led you to this place. It didn't just happen. Situations arose and responses came from you that have brought you here. It is a combination of life putting weight on your potential and on your weaknesses. At this point you can go either way. According to scripture, He has "made a way of escape."(1 Cor. 10:13)

It is at this point you need to "look up". That right, we look to God and say, "what are you trying to do in me here?" Asking God what it is in you that HE wants to be released. It may be time to take a step of faith toward an action you didn't think you could do before. It may be as simple as waiting longer for God to do something before you just solve the puzzle on your own... like you have before... (sorry) At this point God gives us a "God action" to do or not to do. This will lead us into a different future.

When we pass the test, there is a whole different horizon that shows up out there. Sometimes we aren't even prepared for the possibilities of this new horizon. This may be much of the reason why we haven't begun to move toward it before. It may require greater self-discipline, time management, or faith than you have been willing to put forth before. It is a joining of the mission of Christ and a leaving behind of ours. He charts the future but we must follow Him to get past the natural of ourselves and into the super He has in store! Push past your shell casing and bloom!

Ron

2009-04-09T07:39:00.000-07:00

No one knows...
not even the angels...
Be on your guard...
tell the one at the door to keep watch...
the owners coming back...
Don't be asleep
Watch

later at Gethsemane...
Sit here while I pray...
My soul is overwhelmed...
I feel like dying...
God take this struggle from me
unless you don't want to...
Watch
Pray
I've said it many times,
But even I am weary to do it

He was betrayed
They did arrest Him
God let it get worse
...so it could get better

My God My God why have you forsaken me

...early in the morning 3 days later

Why go to the tomb of a dead man
What can you find from someone who let Himself die
Who would even roll away the stone
this is dumb
but...
the STONE IS GONE
and SO IS THE FEAR
my heart is disarmed
The message is clear

Come and see Go and tell

R. Ross
(based on Mark 13-16)

2009-02-13T17:51:00.000-08:00

How do you recharge your batteries?
Everyone has to do it. Maybe some of you don't ever need a day off or any sleep, but I do.
And when I do, our favorite place to go is the Door. It's one of the best places near Green Bay to get in touch with great food, classy small business owners, and beautiful scenery. The thumb of Wisconsin protrudes out into Lake Michigan from the Bay of Green Bay. The buildings and parks tell the stories of the people who survived this climate over 100 years ago and give me encouragement that I can survive it today. Spring will come, the cherry blossoms will come out and what has seemed to grind away a a standstill will leap a season ahead... and I'll be there. Thanks for the charge Door County.

2009-01-30T20:01:00.000-08:00

As I look out my back window onto my deck buried in snow, I think about how tuff those of us who live up north become. We cover up our bodies with layers of clothes and rush from the homes we live in to the building we work in to our freezing cold automobiles, and back to our barricaded homes. Part of the result is a state of isolation. Now I'm thinking about what I can preach about Sunday that will heat things up. I could talk about romantic love, but valentines day is still a few weeks away. We could act out the Super-bowl in our worship space, but that might be sac-religious. Then I remembered that where ever two or three are gathered in HIS name, He's there. SO... let's come together for worship and see if we can warm things up... maybe we can melt some snow. AND in a few months I'll have you over and we'll sit on the deck in our t-shirts and have a brat-wurst.

2008-10-31T20:21:00.000-07:00

Me and Mark "Z" from Houston
When do you stop changing as an individual
When you're kids are little, if you're away for a week they change
When you're older (like high school or college) it takes a few years to look different.
Then it takes a decade or so...
What happens they is you sort of go over some hill where you're life is no longer getting more interesting...
rather you're getting older
slower
... more set in your ways...
NEVER
I'm not taking that road.
Back up the car... No turn it around, and step on the gas the other way
that's why I'm going back to seminary.
Sharpen the saw baby, we're going wood cutting

2008-10-07T20:29:00.000-07:00

I was thinking the other day, "how can I upgrade my image?" you know still turn a head now and then without wearing a fruit basket on my head. Then my wife came home with this new hat. That's right, when you shave your head it's hat time already!

So that's it! Then I thought no, that's not it, we should change the image of our church! I mean move from an image about us to an image that supports why we're hear! Then I thought of it! Yes!

A Tug Boat! Perfect.

A Tug Boat moves or guides other vessels to the right places.
A Church exists to lead and guide people to the right places.

A Tug Boat has a bunch of padding on the front in case you run into stuff!
The CHurch has Jesus Christ as our Jehovah Nissi who goes before us and takes hits for us!

So you see why from now on we will meet in a Tug Boat!

It's going to be great! For one thing, all you have to do to go on a missions trip is "All Aboard!"

2008-09-15T21:11:00.000-07:00

Every feel like someone threw an extra leg in the triathlon Like you biked, you swam, you ran and now it's not the finish line... but rather another whole leg that you are running and don't know how to define it?

It's nice knowing the coach, but sometimes when you do, you expect him to go easy on you. I guess he loves you too much to let you get soft, just because you're related

2008-08-16T18:45:00.000-07:00

Over 20 churches coming together to "bring application" to our faith. How could we feed, care for, love on, meet practical needs of over 2000 people. It wasn't that hard as we laid aside our differences and focused on our sameness. We loved Jesus, so he could give us love for those he loves.

Let's not wait a year to carry the torch to the next mountain that needs to be taken in Green Bay. What is it? What can we do about things like 600 homeless kids, or so many people in need?

2008-08-10T21:16:00.000-07:00

2008-07-23T21:04:00.000-07:00

This was a little camp ground in Three forks MT.
The head waters of the Missouri River... There's a sign that says if you got on an inner-tube, it would take you 3 monthes to float to the mouth of the Mississippi, River in NEW ORLEANS.
This makes me think about what it must have been like for Lewis and Clark to use poles to push their barges up the Mississippi, then up the Missouri to this point! The point where I slept on the same ground they splet on when they thought that mighty Missouri River would take them to the Pacific Ocean. Ever have an experience like that? You think what you're doing will take you to a certain place, but you end up in something far smaller than you thought? What then? Well Lewis and Clark got Sacajawea (an indian squaw) to show them the way throuh the mountains. It must have taken a ton of will power to keep going... not to mention the amount of time it took. And I freak out when the internet connection is slow.
anyway... some of the things that God is wanting to do in us take time. They will be worth it.
...and we know that in due season we will reap a harvest IF YOU FAINT NOT... 9 "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9

2008-07-05T21:30:00.000-07:00

It's amazing how much junk you can fit in this car! We are on the road in Bismark ND with Deb, myself, and two of our boys. maybe after 25 years of being married we should be past taking vacation in a subaru and camping at a KOA... but we've made choices that have favoured other people. Right now I can think of dozzens of people whose lives are better off because of the time and focus we've shared with others, rather than always focusing on ourselves. This simplicity is the essence of true satisfaction. Not that Idon't wish to function at a higher level at times... I guess it wouldn't be any more eternal than what we are doing now!

2008-06-10T14:16:00.000-07:00

26 years with this woman It doesn't seem possible, and it doesn't seem like any man should be allowed that much blessing First of all she doesn't even seem 26 year old... I still see the woman that I fell for nearly 30 years ago, chased for several years of college and am married to today basically because I wouldn't give up I would say not giving up is one of my best qualities... and THIS is the earthy crown on my head. Someday, I'll have a spiritual crown... untill then a beautiful, golden, created by God for me crown, my delight... Debbie.

Thanks for 26 years Deb

2008-05-27T09:22:00.000-07:00

When many hands worktogether, the world can see the light.

2008-05-22T20:43:00.000-07:00

How do you make friends in a country that your country has made every effort to keep poor. You offer them what they want more than anything else they can think of... food! that's right... even though the sign on the gate of the Fire Department says "No Pase" I was invited in immediately as I displayed a plate of food, namely Flan from the Flan Queen of the Universe Isabelle. (Flan is a wonderful blended concaction of cane sugar, egg whites, and carmel)

Spiritually, people have been supressed from having anything more than the minimal.

Just like with food rations, (that I'm told you can hardly stay alive on) people have been suppresed spiritually. Imagine Cubans finding out that there is actually unlimited amounts of God, unlimited amounts of grace, mercy, Joy, forgiveness, ects.

Just like with the firemen, you become welcome, when you bring food, and the knowledge of how to get more!

2008-04-15T21:57:00.000-07:00

Headed to Cuba on May 12-19
speaking / teaching at a pastors conference.

Praying, "My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus" as many decide to help me go on this mission and deliver $800 for the conference.

2008-03-17T11:18:00.001-07:00

Click here to get your own player.

2008-03-12T20:36:00.000-07:00

You have to pick the right bait...
Until you have the right bait, you're just throwing line!

"Follow me and I will make you Fishers of men"

2008-02-18T15:43:00.000-08:00

2008-02-18T15:29:00.000-08:00

The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity.
Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:
I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:9-13

2008-01-20T17:09:00.000-08:00

A few years ago this pastor would have been ignoring a chance to connect with the whole world, as I prepared for something "spiritual"... a Sunday night service.

I'm glad that the day of paying attention to what is going on in the world is no longer thought of as unspiritual.

What Did Jesus say? In Matthew 10 and 15 Jesus says to go to the lost sheep of Israel. We need to know where they are and go to them.

"in the world... but not of it"

2008-01-15T09:40:00.000-08:00

If you drive to work on a regular basis, you mostlikely select a normal route. It is the route thats best. You pick it from your experience from the past.

The problem with this, is that you never find out that a new highway has been built that may save you 15 minutes in getting to work... or better yet that you can take an exit from the highway you use and get to go by a new StarBucks that has sprung up three blocks from your work.
Ron Ross

but inspired by teaching I got from Earl Creps
church planter from Berkley, California USA

2007-12-25T21:03:00.000-08:00

The Ross House for Chrsitmas Eve '07

2007-12-22T21:36:00.000-08:00

The Lights of the new year are in sight!

We live in the future and in the past,
the present is a fleeing moment.

Sometimes I regret to live as such,
realizing this focus will not allow me to touch.

Our minds must bring our bodies into the full moment that is now
In order to benefit those around us
bringing help, Joy, or just awareness,
that they are precious...

enough to shelter a moment of present
as a gift to the loved ones around our table
in this blessed yuletide week.

2007-12-22T21:17:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-12T20:41:00.000-08:00

What shape does Jesus come in today? Actually I think He can even come in the shape of a cookie! 14 wonderful NEW Freedom People would probably agree. How hard is it to give three hours of time to make others Christmas better?

Now 64 Business' over 500 workers on our block in Howard are enjoying your (our) cookies! Thanks for your love in the shape of cookies!

Whether it's cookies, toys for tots, or bringing food to someone shut in during the holiday... When you give, no questions asked, and then enjoy the smiles and warmed hearts. When you give as unto the Lord, God comes to man (woman)

I love giving to you...
but more than that I love giving "with" you!

2007-11-16T19:22:00.000-08:00

Seven years of co-labouring, hanging out, eating together, training, team teaching, oh, and eating together... and still friends forever!

God bless the Byrd family as they move to Colorado... may part of their hearts stay here!

2007-11-09T19:46:00.000-08:00

It's easy to feel alone.
If you do, or ever have it would be a very normal thing.
Everywhere you look in every direction you see noone giving your reflection back to you. All you see is the reflection of that which is different.
You wonder where is the familiar? How did I get here? Did everyone get off the bus when I wasn't looking or have I moved forward when everyone else was standing still?

Being alone is usually not the true perspective. It's not the one others would see. They see misplaced, or displaced... Maybe they see what could befrom a different field, leaving a dissatisifaction with the way things were.

Leaders are often alone.

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
Simon and his companions went to look for him,
and when they found him, they exclaimed: "Everyone is looking for you!"
Mark 1:35-37

2007-10-25T20:43:00.000-07:00

Private Justin Ross graduates from Basic training tomorrow morning.

It hit us today at the family day welcome... We are a military family! We support our soldier and he helps to make sure that the defending of our country's freedom happens at the sourse of the conflicts, not on our soil. His commanding officer LTC Charles Samaris was very clear in helping us see that is why we deploy our soldiers to other continents. The other choice would be setting up sandbags at our borders and defending out nations at the edge of our cities.

Thank God for those who will make the sacrifice. We make it to stand strong for Justin and He makes it to stand strong for us! and for you!

2007-10-21T19:22:00.000-07:00

What is the value of anything on earth?
What effort should we invest in something that doesn't last forever?

Solomon by the direction of his father, David invested a huge amount into the temple.
This temple that was so magnificent that the Queen of Sheba came to see it.

1 Kings 10:1 When the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon and his relation to the name of the LORD, she came to test him with hard questions.
2 Arriving at Jerusalem with a very great caravan-- with camels carrying spices, large quantities of gold, and precious stones-- she came to Solomon and talked with him about all that she had on her mind.
3 Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too hard for the king to explain to her.
4 When the queen of Sheba saw all the wisdom of Solomon and the palace he had built,
5 the food on his table, the seating of his officials, the attending servants in their robes, his cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he made at {5 Or the ascent by which he went up to} the temple of the LORD, she was overwhelmed.
6 She said to the king, "The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true.
7 But I did not believe these things until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half was told me; in wisdom and wealth you have far exceeded the report I heard.
8 How happy your men must be! How happy your officials, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom!
9 Praise be to the LORD your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the LORD's eternal love for Israel, he has made you king, to maintain justice and righteousness."

2007-09-13T19:29:00.000-07:00

Debbie and i are at a Great Marraige conference Sept 13-15 in Rome Georgia.

Here's great tidbit!

Think about the setting of Genesis 2:18

Adam was walking and talking with God on a daily basis and there was no sin in the world and yet in that "perfect intimate situation" God said it was, "Not Good"
This means our relationship with God is not enough... He wants us to have a relationship with others!

Of course women would like to think that according to God, it was "not good" until there was woman! :-)

Check out www.GreatCommandment.net

See where we are staying in 100 year old milking cow barns.... fixed up pretty nice though

Also you have to check out the link to the Berry College Campus... it will increase your vision when you learn it was begun by a Sunday school teacher who wanted to find a way to educate poor mountain children.

http://www.berry.edu/

2007-09-09T08:54:00.000-07:00

How does God provide?
Here are some of the ways HE's provided in my life this summer.

Finances from laying 8000 bricks in a wonderful friends backyard...

Letters from my (our) son, Justin, from Basic training in Missouri...

hearing others be strong helps you be strong... GOOD JOB JUSTIN

realizing my lack of faith and character, but willing to enter into a new level of strength and character by being willing to simply stand.

Huge comprehension of the present culture through a funeral done for a young friend (go to www.newfreedomchurch.podomatic.com) He drew the picture here...

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18

2007-07-27T21:33:00.000-07:00

I find great encouragement from The Word of God, God's Presence (like feeling him nearby) and by others who do what I do

2007-07-23T20:08:00.000-07:00

Proof that I don't tell fish stories!

Now who can tell me what kind of fish this is?

I'll give you a clue... I caught it in Lake Michigan!

2007-07-20T22:20:00.000-07:00

I find being too caught up into man's creations can leave you feeling empty. Like maybe life falls short of what it was meant for... energy leaves you and you feel kind of hollow...

that's when you need some of God's work to inspire.
He does all things well. No artificial... the real thing.

Like these Black Eyed Susans in our back yard.

Thanks God for inspiration.

2007-07-18T07:13:00.000-07:00

Entries in the life of a church planter.
So, church planters are people who go to a location, and do whatever is neccesary to get a church on the map in that place. Sometimes God provides the finances from the ministry, but often HE lets us see that HE is the provision. Last week it came in the shape of a friend needing help and returning financial help.

Monday night & Tuesday; drive to Port Sulpher Lousianna. Tuesday night; breakdown 30 miles short of destination at 11:30 p.m. / Wednesday morning 1:30 a.m.; arrive at destination, a camper parked in the shaddow of a Katrina destroyed Oil refinery... sleep till 7:00 a.m. Wednesday. Wednesday; welcome to the beautiful south golf coast, (I'm pretty sure that Port Sulpher missed the memo) 8:30 a.m. till 10:30 p.m.; load the job trailer and three trucks that needed to come back north after working on re-constructing the levies. 10:30 p.m. Wednesday; left for green Bay in Four Trucks, four divers. Arrived bay in Green Bay at noon on Saturday... Broke down or got detained 9 times on the way home. Took a thourough tour of the life of Jonah, realizing that trucking is not one of my allowed provisions for church planting.
Oh, and developed a deeper friendship with the man, (fellow pastor)who I drove down and back with.

2007-07-04T14:18:00.001-07:00

Work Hard, Play hard... that's what I say!

two Saturdays ago in Langlade county... trout, bass, black bear, and memories...

... Oh and the making of a sermon on "A measure of Faith"

2007-07-04T14:09:00.000-07:00

Over the few months of summer I'm going to make a serious attempt to show you what's on the otherside of the life of a pastor.

I'll make post's with pics and times and a blurb about what I was doing...

for the last seven weeks I've traded physical health and strength for finances as I layed 8000 bricks to build a friends 3 tier patio.

2007-06-18T21:49:00.000-07:00

2007-06-18T21:39:00.000-07:00

who says we don't have fun????

2007-06-18T21:27:00.000-07:00

2007-05-13T20:44:00.000-07:00

NEW...
that's what we call ourselves,
it's what is happening all around right now,
it's what spring looks like around here,
it's what we call our church,
It what's available by tapping into the way God has set up in advance for us!
Think about it!
The same grass that was frozen is now green abd growing!
The same brown, "dead" apple trees in my yard, are now pink and white and beautiful!
The same dead church can be alive!
The same dull, dark person can be NEW with life that brings beauty to all around!
NEW
R U NEW?

2007-05-01T20:46:00.000-07:00

We are at the "Door" of something big!

2007-05-01T20:25:00.000-07:00

Some may be wondering how to get to the new location and identify it when ou get there! Let me help you out a little.

As you head toward downtown... u get to the corner of Shawano and Fisk turn Left!

Then look to the right and see the Family Center Entrance

see you at 6:00 p.m. Saturday.

2007-04-10T20:56:00.000-07:00

Sunday was our first Pancake breakfast! You can see that those who were there had a great time... very full filling! I know that's bad!

2007-04-04T07:33:00.000-07:00

The other day my son took some pictures of Duck Creek. Nothing special except our radically cold winter had frozen the several foot deep creek solid... then with Spring thaw... and a bunch of rain, it rose the level of the creek high enough to lift the ice up off the creek bed and break it up all around the whole area of where it used to be!

What a picture of what God is doing in my life... breaking up hardness! ... and what I beleive He will do in the body of Christ in these last days we live in.

Hosea 10:12 Sow with a view to righteousness, Reap in accordance with kindness; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the

2007-03-15T10:30:00.000-07:00

I love this article... it portrays what I dream to do...
reach...

Coffeeshop Connections
What one pastor is learning, as a part-time barista, about relationship and discipleship.
by David Swanson

I didn't intend to be a once-a-week barista at our local coffeeshop. It happened like this.

One morning my wife was going into the local coffeeshop to interview for a very part-time job to help cover the cost of her return to college. Just before she walked out the door, without much forethought, I asked her to see if the owner would let me work one night a week with her. We were both surprised when he seemed to think this would be a good idea.

Surprised, because I'd never met the owner, didn't drink coffee, and couldn't tell the difference between a latte and a cappuccino if its frothy mug was staring me in the face.

Not surprisingly, after working there three years, I've learned a lot about coffee.

Somewhat surprising are the connections I've observed between the coffeeshop and the local church where I'm a pastor.

Spontaneity
Our church is a highly structured and very busy suburban environment where spontaneous interaction with friends rarely happens. Just getting together with some folks is an exercise in long-range planning!

At the coffeeshop, however, I can count on bumping into someone who will be up for some conversation. It could be the Russian immigrant who is finishing up his computer science degree. Or the stay-at-home dad looking for some adult contact. Or a college student happy to be off-campus.

Our church offers a lot of really good things for its members. But as the church grows, it's hard to maintain the spontaneity that characterizes smaller churches (and coffeeshops).

If we believe the church community is the sum of its people, and if we believe that relationships are not something that can be programmed, then we do well to consider how to create margins in church life for spontaneous relational moments, similar to those that attract people to the coffeeshop.

Eclectic People
Not only don't I know who I'll bump into at the coffeeshop, chances are, they won't look like me. While many churches tend to attract people who are similar, the coffeeshop doesn't have a target demographic. You don't even have to like coffee; we welcome tea and smoothie people too!

One night while working a couple months ago, I introduced one of our regulars to a friend from church. For the next two hours these new friends, one a twenty-something artist and the other a single mom of two college-age kids, sat at a table listening to each other's stories.

Where else do soccer moms mingle with Goth kids dressed for the Friday night show? Or young, upwardly mobile commuters interact with a homeless man? Or a local pastor (me) interact regularly with anyone outside the church?

Space
The building at our church has been planned efficiently. After all, we want to be good stewards of our space. There are a couple of name-brand coffeeshops in our town that seem to have similar thinking: you enter, you find yourself in line, your order your beverage, and you head out the door. It's in and out.

Our little independent coffeeshop does things differently. Frankly, we're not efficient. We talk to our customers too much; catching up since we last saw each other. We serve our coffee in mugs (unless they ask for it "to go"), which seems to keep folks around longer.

And worst of all, we've cluttered the shop with comfortable sofas, armchairs, and coffee tables. It's hard to get out. It suggests customers are supposed to linger, talk, rest.

Our church activity centers around our once-a-week worship gatherings. A lot of great stuff happens on Sunday mornings that has been planned in advance. But there's one time, a no-man's-land, that I always look forward to for its very lack of planning. It's the time before, between, and after our services. This is the time when stories are told. When friends are introduced to new friends. When the visitor is invited to connect.

This is when we learn of the single mom who needs her roof repaired; or our homeless friend who needs a ride to the doctor this week; or that the church softball team is looking for a couple more players.

You can't plan this stuff. But I wonder, like the coffeeshop, can you make space for it? Or does the church become an in-and-out kind of place?

Experiment in Coffeeshop Discipleship
I was telling a friend at church about my desire to have a place to experiment with what I was observing at the coffeeshop. I wondered what would happen if we created an environment where folks could learn about the way of Jesus in a space that expected spontaneous relationships between eclectic people.

This was partially motivated out of a desire to invite others into the kingdom of God, but also to fill my own longing for this type of coffeeshop discipleship.

My friend liked the idea and volunteered a large office over an industrial building he owns. Within a month a few of us transformed that dingy office into what now looks like either a small coffeeshop or large living room. We call it "the loft."

On Sunday evenings you can find 15-20 of us gathering for coffee and conversation about what it means to follow Jesus.

People who hear about our Sunday evening conversations often ask me if it's "working." While I understand the question, there is no quick way to answer. If there is time, I might talk about our regulars.

Sherry is a Jesus follower who works as a stage manager in a theater in Chicago. The loft is a place where she can come and refresh.

Thomas is a guy we met at the coffeeshop. An artist and deep-thinking Jesus follower, he was looking for a place where his contributions would be valued.

Zeb grew up in a Buddhist home and now is part owner in a rapidly expanding business. I'm not sure where he'd place himself spiritually, but he's a regular on Sunday nights.

Laurie is a single mom who recently has been bringing her pregnant, soon-to-be-single-mother neighbor.

Dave grew up in a churched home before he walked away from the faith to see if he would "notice any difference." One of our most faithful participants, Dave is quick with a smile and an invitation to go rock climbing.

While I'd like to think these folks are coming for our stimulating conversations about following Jesus, I realize that is only part of it. I know this because they show up early, grab one of our second-hand mugs for some coffee and settle into a couch to catch up with someone they haven't seen in a week. I know this because after we've wrapped up our discussion for the evening, the conversations continue.

After a year and a half, our experiment is suggesting that much of the spiritual movement in people's lives is due to the space created for significant relational contact within an eclectic group of people.

Now I don't think our church is going to replace our sanctuary chairs with couches anytime soon. But then, that's not the point. Maybe the point is to create the type of environment that invites the Jesus-follower and the skeptic into conversation; the homeless and the CEO into relationship; the pastor and his neighbor into life together.

Maybe we have something to learn from the coffeeshop.

David Swanson serves as a pastor at Parkview Community Church in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, and as a barista at La Spiaza.

2007-03-06T14:47:00.000-08:00

As I was sitting in my office today considering tuff decisions to make I was focusing on a picture on my wall.

It is a Picture painted by William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army.
It is set in the 1890's with people dressed in their finery having tea and pleasant conversation on a dock beside the ocean. The ocean is whitcapped with waves and filled with the bodies of drowning people. You see them exhausted and ready to perish in the water. meanwhile the people on the safe, strong dock are oblivious to the dying around them.

I felt like God was saying to me, "what would you be willing to do to reach some of those dying people?" Would you be willing to tear off part of the dock and build a boat to go get those people???

Or do you value the dock too much.

I guess the dock is the church, and we are the people having tea and crumpetts...

Check out my Slide Show!

2007-02-26T20:23:00.001-08:00

2007-02-26T20:01:00.000-08:00

The Argentina trip is back and I've seen a change in them already. I see an increase in some of the members compassion for others. I think some of Sherry Gramms got onto these ladies!

2007-02-14T08:51:00.000-08:00

My wife, Debbie is in Buenos Aires, Argentina on a missions trip.
Here's some pics I found on someone else's site who was recently in Aregentina.
I'll post some of hers when she gets home!

2007-01-29T19:53:00.000-08:00

NEW Freedom's First Annual Mtg.

I've grown up in church. One thing I said I'd never go for is to have a church in conflict! It's such a waist for people to use up energy that should be directed toward life changing good and divert it to pettiness!

I'm very glad that our first annual mtg went nothing like this cartoon! All votes were in 100 percent agreement!

Thank you God!

2006-12-30T11:44:00.000-08:00

There's nothing like a week in the snow to make you ready for... another week in the snow.

Funny how that works for me.. rarely does a break make me feel like going back to work. But once I'm back and in the groove, fulfillment comes!

Like David said, "Lord, give me a willing heart to sustain me" Ps 51

2006-12-03T19:46:00.000-08:00

When life comes at you hard, you have only one choice. You do things, you've never done before. You do what you can't do because you have to. And for you, if it means you grab onto a higher power. John 6:63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit {63 Or Spirit} and they are life.

you speak the Words of life... and then you live!

2006-11-19T19:55:00.000-08:00

I have a very non-serious side of me.

I love the outdoors, especially in winter.

The Ross family hails from Kalispell, Montana.

You've got to check out the ski hill I grew up on,

"Big Mountain" Whitefish , Montana!

see http://www.bigmtn.com

Downhill and cross-country skiing are calling for me!

...excuse me, I think I hear my mother calling!

2006-11-19T19:14:00.000-08:00

Books I'm reading...

I can't remember a time (including College)
When I've ever had my head in so many books.

I'm, very taken with authors who are going through things like I'm going thru...
Best is if they've come out the other side.

I'm enjoying reading Irwin McManus. Two books, "the Barbarian Way"
and "Soul Cravings" ...in Soul Cravings McManus jumps over the super-ficial
nature that so many in the church carry. In a very accesible way he leads the way into
desire for intimacy with Christ in a way that an average earthling from 2006 can navigate.
Chapter titles include "Love is Like Stepping on Broken Glass", "The Danger of Loving Nothing"
also addressing the hope we all have that there's a destiny awaiting me, "Do We all Dream of Flying", "Despares only Hope", and "A Freash Start to a Dead end"

cool art work as well! raw truth... that's what I like

2006-11-09T12:12:00.000-08:00

I was just thinking about how in "the parable fo the lost son" how sometimes we're like the lost son, sometimes like the father, and sometimes like the older brother. The big thing is to remember that we're always family.

I thanks God for the heritage of mine! Here we are in 2004 Me... Nate... Justin
Collin...
... Dad

i'M Rich!

2006-10-26T21:01:00.000-07:00

I'm so glad for the opportunity to go to my First Willow Creek Conference.

A2 (standing for Acts 2)

The question posed is. If Acts 2 was happening today, what would it look like?

My Favorite quote is

“I like me best, when I’m with you”
from Dr David Ireland at Christ's Church

I want to give a real plug for the movie I saw the screening of tonight.

the Nativity Story comes out December 1
...it effected me nearly at the level of Passion of the Christ

2006-10-25T20:19:00.000-07:00

Hey guys, look at me I'm at the A2 Conference at Willow Creek!

Actually the worship is awesome!

And the teaching as well, great diversity and a sence of no one has all the truth, lets learn from each other!

Here's a link to a great inovator who was present, Craig Groeschel!

with LIFECHURCH.TV

2006-10-25T20:16:00.000-07:00

2006-10-12T20:39:00.000-07:00

Sometime I have a little trouble staying on the trail too! To me the big question is...

Is the trail in the right place? Just because it's the way everyone goes doesn't mean it's the right way!

I want to go the way that takes me to the destination I desire!

2006-10-10T20:25:00.000-07:00

http://www.leaderu.com/

2006-10-08T20:06:00.000-07:00

LambeauField.com » Stadium Info » 360° Photos » Inside Lambeau Field 2002

Right here on Saturday October 7th over 100 of us prayed over Lambeau Field!

It was awesome after being callenged by Terry Skinner on the subject of repentance to pray a prayer for ourselves, our city, and our nation. God said to Solomon in 2 Chronicles 7:14 that if you don't like the level of effectivenees you're walking in that you might want to consider if you're walking at the Biblical standard. If not then our appropraite action is to humble ourselves and pray so that God will hear from heaven and heal our land!

We will never for get this day... more than that God will never for get this day. We now, having caught a vision, will need to stand up and be counted!

Check out the Lambeau cams!

Ron

2006-10-02T20:45:00.000-07:00

What an awesome God!

Some pics from right behind our house at around 6:45 pm

From the rising of the sun to the going down of the same the name of the Lord is to be praised!
Ps 113:3

2006-09-27T20:58:00.000-07:00

Ok, this beats Star Bucks!

2006-09-27T20:53:00.000-07:00

Guys, this "haven" is just 1hour 20 minutes from Green Bay on the Eau Claire River.
Hwy 29 west to 45 north to 52 west to Y to the Dells on the Eau Claire County Park.

2006-09-27T20:48:00.000-07:00

Ready or not to cross over to the other side...

As I crossed this bridge over the Eau Claire river several times I couldn't help but think that this is what we all need to do, spiritually, to get to where God is calling us!

2006-09-27T20:41:00.000-07:00

Have any of you ever used one of these? They're not bad, except at night when you think you hear something grunting in the woods!
There's bear in them woods!

2006-09-27T13:12:00.000-07:00

I know it looks like a small hunting cottage in the woods east of Wausau, but looks can be decieiving. This is actually an inspiration zone, complete with natural and spiritual beauty!
Here, I spent 48 hourse listening to the Lord and getting ready for the next level of my calling!

2 things I felt God say to me were, 1- Follow Thru, and 2- Without Faith it is impossible to please GOD... I for one want to please God, so it's time to raise the level of expectation! Can you say, "More Faith Please"?

In the next couple days I'll put up more pics on, "the secret life of P.R"

2006-09-22T21:17:00.000-07:00

Pics from the Wild West "MONTANA"

This past July our family went to the "Ross'" home state of Montana!

We definately love the beauty!

This day my son Justin, took some pics while we (Collin, myself, and my Dad) wondered down "Hay Creek" pulling one trout after another out of crystal clear, ice cold water.

The water in Lake McDonald is crytal clear. Add to that a flash from a camera at dusk and you get this!

2006-09-21T18:57:00.000-07:00

Some people may wonder how a pastor comes up with what he's gonna say...

Of course the obvious is from the Bible and the Holy Spirit but I'm sorry to say it's not always so easy for me to connect to those guys:-)

...like today I just had to leave the church and go to Starbucks!

for me it's not about the coffee... Ok I had a double carmel vanila cappuccino... venti

But really what I realized all the more today was when I get with people, just regular people out in public, God gives me a love for them and I quickly get "motivated" We preachers call it "inspiration" but that really is already in the Bible.

We just find a way to get what God did to where people are!