Legend of The Red Dragon

This was a fun movie to watch. Not the best fights, dialogue or characters but a real fun movie. It starts off with Jet Li fighting a bunch of bad guys with his infant son strapped to his back, then the rest of the movie his son is about 10 and with 5 other 10 years old, an old lady and her 20 something daughter and the master Jet Li go off to defeat the bad guys. I watched this dubbed in English , though I prefer subtitles and give it a 4/5 just for the fun, good action and comedy.

Favourite line: after ruining his fathers underpants while washing them his father (jet Li) gives him a smaller pair.

Jet Li: it is OK I made you a pair from what was left.

Son: so father you are not wearing any underpants?

Jet Li: it is OK, it is much cooler this way.

Fran's Hamburgers

Cindy and I went to Fran's Hamburgers in Austin. Fran's is a famous Hamburger joint in the area that has been around since the 50's. Although it use to be called Dan's when Dan and Fran were still married. Now there are a couple of Dan's around Austin and the one Fran's. I really enjoyed our dinner there, good food, old style atmosphere. The hamburgers were cooked well and very tasty, not the best I have ever had, but the best I have had in Texas so far. Fries were good again not the best I have ever had but pretty good. I would definitely go back and probably take the kids next time and try a milkshake too. Overall I would say a 4 out of 5.

Star Wars: Vision of the Future

Just finished another classic Star Wars book by Timothy Zahn, who is now by far my favorite fiction writer. He has developed great characters and great stories in the books that I have read so far. My next book is also by him called Survivor's Quest (Star Wars) can't wait. I am also in the middle of The Complete Discipleship Book by Bill Hull. He is my favorite author on the topic. I am now at 13 books completed for the year.

THE LAST LAP

Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. - James 5:7-8

Each of us needs to be patient. The meaning of the word “patient” in the original Greek is interesting. It means “long temper” or think long, have a long fuse, focus for the last lap of the race. I like watching NASCAR. I remember one race where a driver had to start last because of an engine change. He had a great car that day and he slowly made his way to the front. Lap after lap he just slowly made his way past one car at a time. And then the last lap of the race he past the leader to win the race. He never led the race until the last half of the last lap. His eye was on the last lap, he was not out to lead every lap but to be there in the end. That is what we as believers need to have, focused on the prize. Look ahead to the Lord’s coming, not the problems of each day.

Command of Christ-Persecution

“Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Mt 5:12

Jesus told us that if we followed Him the world would hate us just as it hated Him (John 15:18). Jesus also said that the world does not really hate us, but actually hates Him. (John 7:7). Knowing what we would face, Jesus told us how to handle the situations that would arise; actually He gave us a command. Jesus told us that when we face persecution we should “rejoice” and “be glad”. Why should we have this attitude in the face of persecution? The answer is simple. We have a great reward awaiting us in heaven. The time we spend here on earth is only like a moment, if we look at our future time with Christ. The goal of this life is not comfort and safety, but the hard work that Christ has given us. To spread His great message of hope that is the gospel. Today much of Christianity is about me and how God is there to bless me in this life. Yet what we see over and over in the Scriptures is that we are here to fulfill God’s plan of redemption for His children. So, when we see the world acting against us either as an individual or as a group, don’t get upset or angry, rejoice and be glad!! For in heaven there is a great reward awaiting us!!

God is Light

" This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us." (1 John 1:5-10, NASB95)

If God is Light then we need to walk in the Light. If there is no darkness at all in God, then we need avoid the darkness. The Light that John is talking about here is truth. If we walk in truth we will be in the Light and the Light will be in us and the “blood of Jesus” will “cleanses us from all sin”. We need to be honest with ourselves and confess our sins, when we do He will forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. God’s Light shines on us and exposes to us our sin.
We need to:
Avoid walking in darkness
Walk in the Light of Truth
Admit our sins

Does Character matter?

“But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself……” -Daniel 1:8

Does our character matter? Does our private life impact our public ministry? The answer to both of these questions is YES! Character plays a vital role in our ministry and our lives. How each of us deals with the circumstance of our life will tell us and others many things about us. Our character is the foundation on which we build our life. Daniel was a great example of a man of character. He would not compromise his beliefs or actions, his motives remained pure, he remained disciplined in his private prayer life and his integrity and convictions never waivered. Daniel’s desire was to please God, so he made up his mind to do what God wanted him to do. Daniel’s character mattered.

Here a few things about character to reflect on.
Character is more than talk it is action.
Talent is a gift, but character is a choice.
Character brings lasting success with people.
People cannot rise above the limitations of their character.
-based on the Maxwell Leadership Bible