I am one of these seasoned people that does not do well with Social Media but I joined Facebook to get our GMM site out there (We do have an expert taking over that task – so enjoy his expertise), but I really enjoy some of the articles that are posted.   Our previous Worship Leader Peter Mullikin posted this article about “22 Things Christians Need To Stop Doing…Now!” and I thought it was really insightful on some of the issues that we do (Including me).
          I am only going to share 11 of them at the present time and the other 11 later this week.  
          What I did was read each one and then looked at myself to see if that was an issue for me.   For Example on the 1^st one – this would be my response:  “This use to really bother me – I seem to be a likeable person and if you did not like me…  The big question was – WHY???   I finally realized that this quote is correct, but we have the POWER to do something about it.   For those people who hate us, we still have the power to be nice and polite to them…  This is a great tool…   One of the areas on #1 that I really dislike is:   Other Christians can be the ones that hate me….   but I have the same Power as Christ does and I will also be nice to them.          I do have to say in the past I would look for those opportunities to push their buttons – but no more.   Love wins as my Friend Nick would say….  but as number 11 says – not the Rob Bell one but the Jesus one… 
 

So Please look at each of these (Below) and evaluate ourselves on how we are doing!!

Enjoy and do not beat yourself up – we can all improve on each of them.

 
Bobbyg
 
Christian preachers are often talking about the “mission” of God’s people, and this is absolutely right. Christians have a lot to do in this world, and our task to make disciples and take the gospel to the nations is immediate and apparent. But there are also other things that we should seek to cease in our lives. Here, Chuck Tate at Charisma magazine gives us 22 key things and attitudes that we need to cut out of our lives.
 1. Quit expecting the world to like you. Jesus said it would hate you (John 15:18-27, Matthew 10:22).
 2. Quit throwing your own teammates under the bus.
“We’re called to build each other up, not tear each other down. In fact, Jesus said that our love for each other proves to the world that we are really His true disciples (John 13:35, 1 Thessalonians 5:11).”
 3. Quit gossiping. This includes sharing “juicy prayer requests” with no intention of actually praying (Psalms 34:13, Psalms 101:5, Ephesians 4:29).
 4. Quit replacing prayer with “good vibes” and “positive thoughts.” No. Just no. Prayer moves the hand of God and the hand of God moves the world. “Prayer is much more effective than making someone feel warm and fuzzy inside. By the way, I’m not saying positive thoughts and good vibes are wrong (and they do make you feel good), I’m just saying prayer trumps them both (2 Corinthians 1:11, Philippians 1:19, Ephesians 6:18, James 5:16).”
5. Quit saying repentance isn’t necessary. It is. Jesus said so.
“And just so you know, there are 53 references to repentance in the New Testament. Now go repent (Matthew 5:17, Acts 3:19, Romans 2:5, 2 Peter 3:9, 1 John 1:9).”
6. Quit saying that the “portions of the Bible that make you feel uncomfortable” are irrelevant and nothing more than dated writings.
“All 66 books, 1,189 chapters, and 31,102 verse are the inspired Word of God. So the next time you think about throwing out the Old Testament, just remember that Jesus quoted it numerous times in all four gospels (John 1:1-4, John 1:14, 2 Timothy 3:16).”
 7. Quit expecting unbelievers/non-Christians to understand the Bible and/or to live like Christ.
“It’s hard enough for Christians to live like Christ and it’s impossible to do so without Him (until the blinders are removed) (2 Corinthians 4:4, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 5:24-25).”
 8. Quit acting like the Great Commission (Go into all the world to preach the gospel) is the Great Suggestion.
“It’s a command. Go already (Matthew 28:19, Mark 16:15).”
9. Quit thinking that it’s OK to be silent about your faith.
“Yes, it’s just as important to represent Jesus by how we live, but someone can’t respond to the Good News without hearing it … and they can’t hear it if no one opens their mouth (Matthew 10:27, Romans 10:14-15).”
10. Quit being more passionate about your political affiliation than your relationship with Jesus.
“If 99 percent of what you post on social media consists of bashing government officials and presidential candidates—you’re doing more damage than good (Romans 13:1-7, 2 Chronicles 7:14).”
 11. Quit using the Bible to beat the “hell” out of people.
“That doesn’t work. Ever. I don’t care if you’re right—if you’re a jerk, nobody is listening. Love wins! (No, I don’t mean the book by Rob Bell.) (1 Corinthians 13).”
 

           We are in times where our Prayer Warriors are essential to fight the Spiritual Battle that is going on.   (Just an added note – we are all Prayer Warriors)   We had a guest speaker at church and he read from the 4^th chapter of Acts verses 23 > 31.  In my study Bible it has a comment on the bottom that answered some of questions on the situations we may seem to be in at the present time:

“Notice how the believers prayed.  First they praised God; then they told God their specific problem and asked for his help.  They did not ask God to remove the problem, but to help them deal with it.  We can follow this model when we pray.  We may ask God to remove our problems, and he may choose to do so.  But we must recognize that often he will leave the problem in place and give us strength and courage to deal with it.”

          This reminded me that when I pray – I should be praying for the people involved in the situation and not so much about me (that would include both sides of the situation).   The first GMM Theme was “How Big is Your God” – my question to myself is “Do I really believe He is big enough to handle my Situation”?   God is in control and His actions will make me that much stronger in the end as I go through the situation (even if I have to make some changes)…… 
 
          As we look at our world today – we as Prayer Warriors really need to be ACTIVE.  I am helping with “Decision America 2016” by Franklin Graham that will be coming to Cheyenne on August 12^th.  There is a big emphasis on Christians getting back to praying for our country – when you become a Prayer Warrior – God will bring back his blessing.   When you see what is going on in our country at the present time – I would have to say that the Spiritual Battle of our enemy is ENGAGED….  Are we ENGAGED?
 
          The song “God of the City” from Chris Tomlin is a Mighty one and we should be INVOLVED in God’s work. 

Enjoy listening… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbMxVCO4hDA

As the song says there are Greater things to come and Greater things to be done in this City.   God is at work – The question is “Are we involved in helping Him to make things Greater?”
 

Are you being an Active Prayer Warrior?

Are you Praising God in your situation?

Who are you Praying for?

Are you involved in God’s Work?

 

Bobbyg

 

              I had this great conversation with my Grandson (Jonah – age 9) last week about being Rich or Poor.   Jonah had this question for me:   Papa do you wish to be Rich or Poor?   Now this was a great question and I was not sure where he was going with it – so I gave him my best answer.   I would enjoy being Rich…   Now came his response:  Papa if you were rich you would forget about Jesus and see all your needs being met by the Money and Stuff you would have.   You would no longer desire to have that relationship with Jesus.  If you were Poor – then you would depend on Jesus to meet all your needs and your relationship would be intact.
          Now I have to tell you he had me really thinking about this – especially coming from a 9 year old (I really like my Grandson’s questioning and reasoning).   I did tell him that I would still prefer to be Rich so that I could bless allot of people and use it for furthering Christ Kingdom.   At the same time I had to agree with him:  Riches will cause your relationship with Jesus to falter if you do not handle your wealth in the correct way.   It is not wrong to be Rich, but with it comes allot responsibilities to protect your Relationship with Christ.
 
I looked up some scripture about the topic and came up with 3 of them:   

• Mark 10:23 > And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!”  –  Jesus had stated that it was easier for a Camel to go through and eye of a needle than for a Rich man to get into Heaven.
•  Proverbs 30:8 > Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me. –  Our prayer should be that God would supply what we need.
•  Luke 12:34 > for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.  –  Now this is looking at where your Heart is – being either Rich or Poor does not matter as long as our Treasure is in Jesus.

     I Hope to have more of these conversations with my Grandson and I am extremely thankful that he is being brought up in a way that he has these concerns.   He is a powerful warrior for Jesus already…..
 

So where are you – do you want to be poor or rich?

Is your Heart in the right place when it comes to your possessions and money?

Does it all reflect back to Jesus?

Bobbyg

     What do you do when you encounter those hardships and are at a point of not knowing what is the correct response.   I seem to be at one of those moments at the present time when I am uncertain how to go forward.   I have this tendency to react instead of being Patient and coming up with the correct way of going forward.  
          So I am asking God for his Wisdom to get me through…. but how do I ask God for Wisdom?    I did a Google search and most of the references come up with this scripture in James:

James 1:2-8 > Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.  But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.  For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

 
          This scripture is a powerful one and requires me to be in obedience to what God is saying and I must have faith in what he is going to give me.   When I do this – then God can accomplish a perfect result in me, even in the Hardships that I may have to encounter.   I have to tell you this is really hard for me and I am struggling, but in my Heart I know that I need to finish well.  Now this word “JOY” – well if my Heart is in the right place I will feel God working through me and that will bring the Joy.
          So I know that as I go forward – I have to accept what God is taking me through and respond with the Wisdom that He is giving me… 
 
          One of Pastor Shaun’s scripture yesterday was:

Luke 7:28 > I tell you, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John. Yet even the least person in the Kingdom of God is greater than he is!”

It hit me that if I am to finish well here on earth – I have to look at this scripture and see myself as being even the least person on Earth.   I have to be humble so that God can work through me and then maybe I can be like John (that is going to take allot of work).   People must see Jesus working through me…..
           So I am asking God for His Wisdom to get me through and I am also praying for the Faith/Obedience to accomplish what he has in store for me.    One thing that I have learned is that I cannot do it on my own.   Besides Christ working through me, I need those around me to give me the support that I will need to help me finish the task.  (I have a powerful team that surrounds me and I am know that I will finish well.)  I am smiling……….
 

Where do you find yourself today?

Are you in a time where you need to ask God for Wisdom?

Remember what the scripture in James says.

 

Bobbyg

     When I think about what is in your Heart, it brings me back to the God’s Mighty Men’s Logo (Below).   At the very first GMM Event, Abe M. was drawing a design at the back of Little America’s Ball Room about what he was experiencing at the event (The theme that year was “How Big is Your God).   It was a powerful picture – so I asked him if he could do it in color and he created our GMM Logo.   When you look at this design it can mean allot of different things depending on where you are in Life.

1.  Christ could be piercing your Heart at the present time and changing it (Cross going through the Heart).
2. You could be going through some struggles (Thorns).
3. You may be in one of those major Battles (Blood the end of the Cross).
4. You could be having a Great Day (The Rays of light).
5. You could be in God’s Army fighting the Battle (Banner of God’s Mighty Men).
6. Or you could have a soul Fire for Jesus  (The Flame).

So as you can see the Logo has allot of meaning built into it.   I would have to say at the present time I am trying to be #5 because of being retired.          One of the scriptures that Pastor Shaun used today was describing that what is in the Heart is what you will be in the World.   

Luke 6:43-45.  For there is no good tree which produces bad fruit, nor, on the other hand, a bad tree which produces good fruit. For each tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes from a briar bush. The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.

 
          Pastor Shaun described it best in one of those old sayings — “What goes into the Heart will come out the Mouth”.     
          I have to say that I have done this: I remember when I was traveling so much for work that I would listen to the Political Talk shows on the Radio.   Before I knew it, I was just as angry at the Politicians as they were.   I had become what I was putting into myself – to this day, I refuse to listen to Radio Talk shows.   I still have to be careful at times of what I am getting involved with to make sure that it will be a good product coming out of my mouth.    I do  experience all those different items described above about the GMM Logo – it all depends on what journey Christ is taking me at that time of my life.
 

So what does your Heart Look Like?

What are feeding your Heart right now?

Is there GOOD coming out of your Mouth?

When You look at the Logo – How do you see your Heart today?

Bobbyg

I normally do not write about Politics, but I would like to share some items on the topic.  
               I believe this is going to be an extremely hard year for Christians to vote for a candidate in the upcoming elections for 2016.   My biggest question to myself was:   “If I do not like any of my choices should I just not vote?”   I did not have the answer to this so I went to Google and typed in:  “Scripture on why Christians should vote” and it came up with several different hits on the topic.   After reading some of these – I would have to say – “Yes I am supposed to vote.”  But it should be done with prayer and research. 
 
     Franklin Graham will be coming to Cheyenne this summer on his “Decision America Tour” – He is going to each State Capital and encouraging Christians to *Pray for our Country – *Vote – *Be Active in our Country.   Here are some links that will give more information on the event.

1.  Decision America Tour with Franklin Graham:  https://decisionamericatour.com/about
2. How to get involved:  https://decisionamericatour.com/get-involved
3. Wyoming Link:  https://decisionamericatour.com/tour/wyoming

**This is something that I will be involved with and would encourage everyone to attend the event if they can.
 
     A friend of mine (Bob W) sent this connection to me on some reason why Christians are hesitant to vote.   It has some really good insight on each of the reasons and would be a good one to look at. 
          *5 Reason Young Christians and Pastors Avoid Politics like the Plague
http://www.charismanews.com/opinion/50564-5-reason-young-christians-and-pastors-avoid-politics-like-the-plague

1. The Moral Majority (1980s) forever linked the church to the Republican Party.
2. Christians are “always against something.” They vilify just abortion and gay-marriage.
3. Politics is bad, offensive and divisive.
4. The church and the state are to be separate.
5. The gospel doesn’t allow for politics … it’s not our mission.

 
     The topic of Voting has been in several of my conversations lately and it  is a great concern as our country goes forward in selecting candidates for each office.   Then I have been asked who would I vote for:   My answer is ???????  LOL – I would have to sit down and visit with you before I gave an answer… 

 Are you going to vote this year?

Are you PRAYING about who you should vote for?

Have you done your research to come up with your best candidates?

 

Bobbyg

      The Sermon today talked about loving your Enemies and Praying for those who persecute you.   This is one of the hardest things we can do, and it does not come easy.   Doing this for our friends is OK… but to those who do not like me or I do not like them – that is a different story.    Here are the verses:
 

Luke 6:27-31 >  “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.  Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either.  Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.

 
     This is an area of my life that I have really been working on because it does not coming naturally to me.    I would like to break some of these areas down and what it looks to me on being the Christian that Christ would have me be.

1.  Love your enemies:   To me this means that I have to wish the best for them and that they need Jesus just as I do.   I have to Love them enough to make sure that they are seeing Jesus in me, so that they would desire that relationship.   So my relationship with my enemy has to be one that looks like the relationship that Christ has with me.
2. Do GOOD to those who hate you:  Now I really struggle with this one – if someone hates me – I would say “it is their problem and not mine, why do I want to do Good for them”…   but this verse says that I need to?   So I must be looking at ways that I can help my enemy whenever there is a need?
3. Bless those who curse you:  Bless them – what does that mean?  I guess I should be talking good about them and leave out all the Bad stuff that I desire to say.   When I am talking with them – I really need to focus on the positive and not the negative stuff.
4. Pray for those who mistreat you:   I have learned to do this recently – I need to pray for those who want to see harm come to me.  This part may not change their desire to harm me – but it will change my heart to accept their persecution.
5. Turn the other Check:   Now this one does not come instinctively to me – I want to hit them back…   This is an area that I believe we will have to do at times to show that Christ lives within us.   God is going to put us in situations where this act of obedience is going to be required.
6. Give your coat and shirt away:  This one comes a little easier for me.  Diane and I enjoy blessing people with what we have – but for an enemy it might be a little harder.   I do believe that when you bless someone – bless them to the greatest of your ability.   For example: instead of giving someone $20.00 because it is easy —   Give them $50.00 (The shirt).
7. Give whatever is asked:   For me this normally requires my Time>    I cherish my time and it is one of the items that I struggle at sharing…   Material items is easy, but giving of me comes a little harder – and if you do not like me then normally you do not get me…    so I need to work on this one.
8. Do not demand anything in return:   I have always felt that I should never put demands on what I am giving away…  Whether it be Material Items or even if I am giving away Love.   When you put expectations on your generosity, most of the time you will be disappointed – so leave the expectations out.

 
**The Golden Rule:   Treat others the same way you want them to treat you!!
 
          Out of all of this you can see that I have to be active in Loving My Enemies.   The end result is not for my enemies, but it is for ME.  The saying of (“They will know we are Christians by our love”) goes along ways when we start loving our enemies.
 

So are you “Loving Your Enemies”?

Do you know who Your Enemies are?

Do you need allot of work at some these items like I do?

Love always Wins!

 

Bobbyg

 

 

     This week has been a really good one.   I started it off with a Bible study on Monday at 6am (Perkins Restaurant)  -getting up was a little tough, but I made it.   The study is on the book of John, but the leader shared a story from 2 Kings about Naaman.   It is a story about Naaman who has Leprosy and is asking King Aram if he can go to Samaria to be healed.    The part of the story that I picked up on was what was asked of Naaman to be healed.   It required a simple act of obedience:      
 Naaman Healed of Leprosy:

2 Kings: 10.  Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.”

          When you read the whole story – Naaman really questions the task he was given for healing.   

1.  He did not like it that Elisha did not come to see him and that he sent a servant.
2. He thought the task would be much harder for him to be healed.
3. The Jordan was dirty – he thought there could be a cleaner place to wash.

The obedience that was required of Naaman to be healed was really simple and when he was finally obedient, he was healed. 
 
          So I questioned myself about how many times Christ has asked me to do something extremely simple but I was like Naaman and balked at doing it.  I have to admit, I am allot like Naaman at times and I look for the difficult tasks to perform instead of doing the simple ones that make a BIG difference.   The Obedience that Christ requires from us is simple – we just need to Obey. 
  
          One of the areas that I am looking at getting involved in has be thinking about how simple it is to be Obedient.    “Be Humble, Pray and turn to God”.   It comes from this verse:

2 Chronicles 7:14   “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

Prayer is a really big part of how we as a Nation can be united and it is one of the simplest tasks that is required of us to be Obedient.   Talking to Jesus.    When you look at this verse it is a very powerful one that includes all of us – we just need to be Obedient like Naaman and the healing will come.
 

So what does your Obedience Look like?

Is it something simple that you are questioning?

Remember: Obedience can be as simple as washing 7 times and you will be HEALED.

Look for those simple areas that you can be Obedient in – they are POWERFUL!

 
Bobbyg

I am now officially retired from the US Postal Service and now it is time for my Next Season of Life.    I am reminded me of a Scripture I used a while back:

Deuteronomy 2:  2&3 > Then the Lord said to me, you have made your way around this hill country long enough; now turn north.

    So it is my time to turn north and I have this big question.   What does that Look Like????     I am really excited to see the new opportunities that He will be putting before me for some new ways to minister.   Everyone has been asking me what are you going to do? And are you going to be busy? And are you going back to work?    Great questions…
          First of all –  I am not planning on going back to work, I do not want to be tied down to a specific job and not be able to be flexible in the direction God is going to take me.  My wife and I are looking forward to this new season and she will be following me shortly – we want to be able to serve Him in a whole new way.  
 
          So it has brought me down to this verse:

Proverbs 3:5 > 5.  Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  6.  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

      So I know as I go forward in this new season of life – I will have to trust in the Lord to make my path straight.   As I stated before, I am excited to see where He takes me. 
 
These verses from Ecclesiastes explains seasons: 

Ecclesiastes 3:1-22 >   For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; …

          As you see there is a season for everything and as I go down this new path I have to be ready.    Who knows it might be time to through a stone or two…     I do have some new opportunities opening up for me and also a few plans to enjoy my Grandkids…   so the future looks good…   AMEN
 

So what season of life are you in?

Is it time for you to turn north?

Your season does not have to be a retirement one – Christ will use you in the Season you are in right now!

Bobbyg
PS –  if you have some ideas for me, please send me an email:   rogudahl@wyoming.com

     This weekend I was waiting for my Son to come to our Home so I had some spare time to ponder (Yes it happens sometimes that I Ponder) – he is redoing the Tile in his Mother’s bathroom (You do see that it is his Mother’s Bathroom     LOL).   In that spare time I realized it had been a while since I took a walk to Pray, so I took about 30 minutes and did a walk on the Greenway to pray.                               In the job I had about 18 months ago for the Post Office – I would travel allot throughout Wyoming.  During those times I would have some great opportunities while I was driving to just talk with Jesus – I could go to Jackson and have an Awesome conversation.
          I miss those times and realized that I have been neglecting my Wilderness time to Pray.   
          In the sermon today Pastor Shaun talked about Jesus getting away from the crowds so he could have time to talk with God and we need that time also. 

Luke 5:15 & 16 – But the news about Him was spreading even farther, and large crowds were gathering to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray.

            I believe we have to build in a Wilderness time into our lives.   We need to get away from the craziness of life and have some quality quiet time with Jesus.  I have created some different ways for myself in trying to build in that Wilderness time and it can look different to all of us.   Here is a shortened list of what mine may look like.

1.  A walk on the Greenway – Lions Park – or around the Neighborhood.
2. A quick trip to Pole Mountain for a short hike.
3. A drive around town.
4. My War Room at home.

**I really do need to work on this more – I have been neglecting this recently and I should have at least four Wilderness experiences a Month.
 
Here are a couple of other scriptures of Jesus getting in his Wilderness Time:

1. Matthew 14:23 > 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.

2. Mark 1:35 > 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.

As you can see:  Jesus seen it as essential to get away into the Wilderness to Pray – so this is something that we should see as an essential part of our lives.

Do you have Wilderness time scheduled?

What does it look like to you?

Remember that this is a time to get away from the Craziness of Life and reconnect with Jesus.  Find time to do it!!!

 

Bobbyg