If It Ain't Broke ...

Do what you can, where you are, with what you've got." - Teddy Roosevelt

I was brought up in the home of a medical doctor. Dad made a good living and provided just about everything we wanted as I was growing up. But the fact is that he and my mother scrimped and saved just to get through Medical school and it affected both of them and the way our family treated money. I don’t waste anything nor am I a spendthrift. When my wife and I first got married, we had more conflict over money management than probably any other issue – that was 30 years ago and things have changed drastically in the past three decades.

I was just sitting here watching TV and saw an AD for the latest and greatest phone. It occurred to me while I was watching, that I never wear out my phones, I just trade them in on new ones with more and better features; the same is true of cameras, computers and the list goes on. How about you? Our culture is used to “trading up” instead of “wearing out” the things we use in our life.

What about non-technology like clothes or cars and maybe even relationships? We had some dear friends who seem to have traded us in on new friends about 2 years ago. What’s up with that? When we asked why we don’t get together anymore, the reply was that they were moving into a different season of their life. It wasn’t just us. They dropped out of church and don’t communicate with most of their old circle of acquaintances. Weird!

I see this occasionally in marriages too. One spouse just trades their husband or wife in on a new model. I don’t get it. Well maybe I can understand getting a new phone, but not a new life! Figure out how to make your life better by you becoming better, not by ditching those who love you. That will never work, because you are still stuck with you and that was probably what was broke in the first place… and maybe some of that other old stuff is worth hanging on to for awhile longer? I’m still waiting for my old friends to wake up and come back home.

"Figure out how to make your life better by becoming a better person."

Tyler Southern Volleyball Highlights #22, District 8-5A, Allen High Sch...

Heart

What kind of heart do you have? I don’t mean in the usual sense . . . as in “Are your arteries clogged or do you have a strong ticker?” I mean what is going on inside your mind? What drives you? What matters to you and makes you get up every day?

You see, most of us have, or need to have, a purpose for our life. In the West, we see the heart as the seat of our emotion. So let me ask you again, “What makes you tick?”

King David of Israel was famous among his people for having a heart after God. In the book of Acts, we read that he was a man after God’s own heart because “he sought to do all the will of God.” God’s heart and David’s heart were aligned; they were as one.

Do you suppose David came by this mindset as a natural result of how he was wired or was it something he deliberately cultivated? Is it possible that we could come to a point where we have a heart after God?

Scripture is clear that the Natural man does not seek after God but seeks only his own way. This is our fundamental problem and leads us into trouble continually. You can see it every day in your own life and in the news. In both big and small ways . . . we want to do our own thing don’t we? We do not want to be tamed or to submit to anyone or anything. But there is no safety in that kind of a life.
Being independent means we are on our own and responsible for ourselves. Being dependant on God means He is responsible for us and our well-being.

Lately, I have come to realize that although I may feel a certain temporary sense of security or even strength in being a self-made man, the end of the story is very disappointing. I am truly powerless in everything that really matters. My life is but a vapor which is here today and gone tomorrow. If I want my life to have ultimate meaning and impact, I need to have eternal life and only God can give that to me if I choose to be under His authority.

So let me ask you again . . . what kind of heart do you have? Think carefully before you answer . . . the choice is entirely up to you.

Remember the proverbial chestnut, “Can God make a rock, so big that He cannot pick it up?” Yes, He made you and gave you a free will. You are the rock so big, that He cannot pick you up unless you choose to allow it.

Follow-up report on Mom

Dear friends,

How can we thank you enough for the wonderful notes and encouraging words on the passing of our mother? Phil and I have felt your love and it has been an incredible experience. For me, losing Mom has also reinforced the value of supporting our friends in their time of need. I want to be there for you down the line.

Two things stand out about Mom as I reflect back on her life. She was incredibly giving and she marked everyone with whom she interacted. On her tomb, we left the words “Daughter of God;” That is the literal meaning of her name and says it all. In Scripture we read that “God is love.” Apart from Him, we know nothing at all about love. My mother taught me more about the meaning of that word than anyone else I have known. She was my real life hero. What a heritage to leave us as her sons.

Due to the pressures of time and other things going on in our life, we have decided not to have additional Memorial services for Mom in Michigan and Tennessee. I hope we will have your understanding on this decision.

Someone once said, “We don’t know how to live until we know how to die.” Mom knew how to do both well and we love her all the more for that.
Dan and Phil

http://danielsouthern.blogspot.com/2010/08/true-spirituality.html

Silence

God has spoken; He is not silent. This is an axiomatic characteristic of God.
Therefore, if He has spoken; how has He done so?

Allow me to suggest at least six distinct ways in which God has spoken:
1. Through His Creation in Nature
"The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows his handiwork." Psalm 19:1

"The invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen." Romans 1:20

2. Through Special or Direct Revelation
God appeared to Moses in the form of a burning bush, telling him exactly what He wanted him to do. Exodus 3:2--4:17

3. In our Soul
"That which may be known of God is manifest in them." Romans 1:19

4. Through other of his followers – the Prophets
“After God spoke long ago in various portions and in various ways to our ancestors through the prophets.” Hebrews 1:1a

5. Through Jesus His Son
“…in these last days he (God) has spoken to us in a son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he created the world.” Hebrews 1:1b

6. Through His Word in Scripture
The Christian Bible assembles all the messages God wanted us to have for our admonition and edification. It is the only source of fully accurate knowledge about God.

“All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, so that the man of God may be perfected, being fully furnished for every good work.” II Timothy 3:16-17

If God has spoken, we should indeed pay attention to what He has said; Are you listening?

Words

Throughout my life I have been guilty of the careless use of words. They have power to build or destroy. I am being more careful now as I get older … and wiser. Even lately, I have seen more success in this pursuit.

Jesus warns that we will be judged by every word that escapes our lips. I want to follow His example and be as careful with my words as He is with His words.

"You can be sure that on the Judgment Day you will have to give account of every useless word you have ever spoken. Your words will be used to judge you---to declare you either innocent or guilty." Mat 12:36-37

That is a fearful pronouncement. What if we have already said many things we should not have said? ... and we are bound to repeat the offense, even if we have the best of intentions. Even if our words are screened but our mind cries out in awful ways and we have never said out loud the things we have secretly harbored in our heart - we are still guilty!

Our words are the result of what goes on in our heart. What is in your heart? It will reveal itself in your words. Listen to your heart when you speak and determine to surrender it to the only one whose words are absolutely pure.

"Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer." Psalm 19:14

Word

As I went through my mother’s things after her death, I found a fist full of cards with key Scriptures written down on them. She used them as part of her daily routine to fellowship with God. I have been carrying them with me since then and meditating on their application to my life.

Jesus is identified as the “Word” in the opening verses of the Gospel of John. The Christian Bible says that He is the perfect expression of God’s will and gives us what we need to connect to the Father in heaven.

When King Solomon was asked by God what he desired, he requested wisdom to rule Israel (I Kings 3:5-14). My one wish (my sincere desire) is to know and love His Word more than anything else.

"I have asked the LORD for one thing; one thing only do I want: to live in the LORD's house all my life, to marvel there at his goodness, and to ask for his guidance." Psalm 27:4

God has been excruciatingly careful in what He has said to us. His Word is flawless.

“See how I love your instructions, LORD. Your love never changes, so save me! The heart of your law is truth, and all your righteous judgments are eternal. Powerful people attack me unjustly, but I respect your law. How happy I am because of your promises--- as happy as someone who finds rich treasure. I hate and detest all lies, but I love your law. Seven times each day I thank you for your righteous judgments. Those who love your law have perfect security, and there is nothing that can make them fall. I wait for you to save me, LORD, and I do what you command. I obey your teachings; I love them with all my heart. I obey your commands and your instructions; you see everything I do. Let my cry for help reach you, LORD! Give me understanding, as you have promised. Listen to my prayer, and save me according to your promise! I will always praise you, because you teach me your laws. I will sing about your law, because your commands are just. Always be ready to help me, because I follow your commands. How I long for your saving help, O LORD! I find happiness in your law. Give me life, so that I may praise you; may your instructions help me. I wander about like a lost sheep; so come and look for me, your servant, because I have not neglected your laws.” Psalm 119:159-176

Do you love His Word?

Religion

What is religion? Here is a good definition: "an institution to express belief in a divine power."

I am not a seeker after religion. I am seeking God. Our religion must never become a substitute for our personal relationship with God.

The institutionalism and denominationalism we often see, even in legitimate faiths, can be an obstruction in our path to finding God; just as adherents to a particular faith can be disappointing to those who truly desire a relationship with God.

Someone said, "Traditionalism is the dead faith of the living but tradition is the living faith of the dead." We can learn much from our forefathers but there is a trap to be avoided in clinging to dead ideas instead of a living person.

Here is the problem; we need to focus on a hero who is untarnished - that is Jesus Christ alone. No one else even comes close to his perfect example. All men have feet of clay and that is a fact.

Yes it is true that the church is full of hypocrites just as a hospital is full of sick people. I am sick and so are you. That does not mean that what we believe is false or that church is useless, but it does mean that no one is perfectly consistent in practicing their faith. We are all in a battle to become what God wants of us.

If a person hides behind the skirts of their faith and is insincere in their daily effort to pick up their cross to follow Jesus, they are not worthy to carry the name of the one they follow.

I am sick but aggressively seeking the cure. I am not the Messiah. I am just a follower who wishes to touch the hem of His garment.

Ground Rules

Every pursuit needs to have rules by which it is conducted or we cannot fairly evaluate our progress or failure. Similarly, instead of just coming up with random ideas about God and calling them our worldview, we need to have a way to discern their validity. At a minimum, we should look at the origins of the faith, the originator or figurehead and the sacred writings which its adherents follow as their scripture.

Some people just collect ideas from all over the religious landscape which are often inconsistent with one another. For example, they may believe in the truth of the Christian Bible but reject certain of its teachings that do not correspond to some of their beliefs from other sources - thereby nullifying the authoritative nature of the Bible. Muslims say that the Christian Bible is a holy text in its original but that it has been corrupted and we no longer have access to the original. Mormons have added to the original with other writings which either supersede its orthodox interpretation or “expand” on its intended meaning; and Jehovah Witnesses have their own translation of the Bible with certain key changes - you get the point. What is the Bible you follow?

What about the origins of the faith? In Jamaica, we have a religion called Rastafarianism. It centers on the belief that Haile Selassie, the deceased Emperor of Ethiopia, was the true Messiah and not Jesus. But Haile Selassie was a Christ-follower and denied that he himself was the Messiah. Scientology is based on a science fiction novel which fomented ideas about where the human race originated and transmutated into a modern-day religion with many famous people embracing it as true. And just being old or established is not necessarily a proof of validity; Hinduism and Buddhism are two examples of this fact.

Who is the central figure of the faith? L. Ron Hubbard–convicted felon and tax-evader; Joseph Smith – fugitive from justice and polygamist; Mary Baker Eddy, Mohammad, Gautama Buddha, Krishna, Jesus? Take a good look at the person, not just their words. Even Judaism looks for the Messiah, but when Jesus came, the Jews denied His authority as being from God and crucified Him for claiming it was.

The point is that we must do a little investigation into the background; not just the claims of faith. There is more - much more – but this should get the wheels turning a bit.

“So we are even more confident of the message proclaimed by the prophets. You will do well to pay attention to it, because it is like a lamp shining in a dark place until the Day dawns and the light of the morning star shines in your hearts. Above all else, however, remember that none of us can explain by ourselves a prophecy in the Scriptures. For no prophetic message ever came just from the human will, but people were under the control of the Holy Spirit as they spoke the message that came from God.” II Peter 1:19-21

True Spirituality

I have been seeking after a relationship with God and trying to understand His calling on my life since at least the age of 4. I know this because I am in possession of a letter my mother wrote after I invited Jesus to be my personal Savior in 1957.

I was recently corresponding with a longtime acquaintance about their spirituality and that conversation affected me deeply – to the point that I feel compelled to write about my faith so others can hopefully benefit from my thoughts. I don’t know that they will benefit, but I want them to do so very earnestly and feel that, at the very least, I will benefit from putting my thoughts down in this discourse.

The first point to acknowledge is that we come to God on His terms and not our own. Most of us sincerely believe that what we hold to be true, is rational and based on sound reasoning. However as I listen to other’s expressions of faith and understanding of God, it is apparent that their belief system is neither rational nor sound; but instead it is a hodge-podge of ideas that do not even fit together, let alone come from God. Whether we mean to or not, we are attempting to squeeze God into our little box instead of acknowledging how little we truly understand about Him. I am as guilty of this as anyone and am engaged in a lifelong effort to get outside of my own skin and see God as He really is; not just as I want Him to be. Will you join me in this pursuit of True Spirituality?

“For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” I Corinthians 13:12

See You Later Mom

Elizabeth Ruth Winters was born February 3, 1930 in Detroit, Michigan and passed into the arms of Jesus on Saturday, July 10, 2010 after 80 years of life here on earth.

Elizabeth leaves behind her older sister, Virginia Cummins and two sons: Daniel Southern of Dallas Texas, and Philip Schmunk of Venice, Florida; both in full-time Christian ministry. She also leaves behind 2 daughters-in-Law; Lori Southern and Donna Schmunk; 4 Grandchildren; Adam Southern; Tyler Southern; Philip A. Schmunk; and Jennie Harris; and 3 great grandchildren; Isabelle Harris; Oliver Harris; and Eero Schmunk. Other family members include; Larissa Theule; Jesse Harris; Niece Judy Huber; Nephew Nathan Cummins and all those who loved her.

Elizabeth had been married twice; first to Robert Frank Schmunk MD and then to Lewis A. Winters; both preceded her in death.

Elizabeth often accompanied her first husband on hunting and fishing trips to exotic places. In her younger years she visited Canada, the Bahamas and even Europe, but she preferred to stay close to home with family and friends. Elizabeth had resided in Michigan most of her life and then retired to Tennessee. Most recently she had taken up residence in DeLand, FL to be closer to her family.

One of her greatest joys was music and she had taught piano and voice for many years both as a source of income and a very important ministry. Elizabeth was a graduate of the Detroit Institute of Art and served as church pianist and/or choir director in various churches throughout the years. She had a strong soprano voice and loved to sing. Her audience and all her students loved her and she loved them.

Elizabeth was an outgoing and friendly person who never met a stranger. Her warm smile and encouraging relationships with those around her brought her the love and support of many friends. She began each day in the Word and fellowship with God in prayer.

Beginning in 2004 and until this year, Elizabeth invested the majority of her time in caring for her older sister Virginia. Elizabeth purposefully sought opportunities to talk to others about her faith in Christ. She often spent time praying for the ministries of her children, her family, missionaries and the needs of the people of God. Elizabeth was a generous contributor of her limited resources to outreach ministries for Christ. She loved to give.

Elizabeth had hoped that Christ’s return to earth would precede her death and she often liked to say, “I’m not looking for the undertaker, but the upper-taker.” She looked forward to a marvelous reunion with many family members and friends who had preceded her to Heaven in death. It was not in God’s plan to preserve Elizabeth until the Rapture, but she has now joined the heavenly chorus and awaits the rest of her family for a grand reunion sometime soon.

A memorial Service will be held this Friday, July 16th, in the First Baptist Church of DeLand’s Memorial Chapel and be led by her two sons. Visitors and well-wishers are welcome to join us in celebration of Elizabeth’s amazing life.

"Now all we can see of God is like a cloudy picture in a mirror. Later we will see him face to face. We don't know everything, but then we will, just as God completely understands us." 1 Corinthians 13:12

Double Loser

“Generosity is not giving me that which I need more than you do, but it is giving me that which you need more than I do.” - Kahlil Gibran

Would you consider yourself a generous person? Here’s a test: have you spent more time thinking about how to amass wealth or how to give it away? It is a very perilous undertaking to be stingy, but it is a common fault among leaders. We often do for ourselves that which we would never do for our subordinates or employees.

King Midas was the epitome of a greedy man. You remember the story. He wished that everything he touched would turn to gold and eventually ruined his own happiness when he accidentally turned his daughter into a golden statue.

There is an old saying in the South, “Get all you can; can all you get; and sit on the lid.” Does that philosophy run parallel to your thinking or behavior? If so, you are very short sighted.

The story is told of a famous man before he was well-known and financially comfortable; he and his newly-wed wife were on a shoestring budget. In his left pocket he had a twenty-dollar bill and in his right pocket he had a one-dollar note. At church one Sunday when the offering plate was passed, he accidentally reached into the wrong pocket and gave away practically all his money. After the service, on his way home, he sheepishly admitted his unforgivable blunder to his young wife. She laughed at him until he became irritated and asked what was so funny? Her reply was that he had not only given away all their money but that he would only be blessed by God for the one-dollar gift he had intended to give. He was a double looser!

Are you a double looser? Leaders strive to be generous with others, and see the wisdom of storing up for themselves an even greater blessing both here on earth and in eternity too. God demonstrated this attitude on the cross of Calvary. God, who already possessed everything, gave his only Son to pay for our sins so we could inherit eternal life.” Now that is generosity!

“Learn to be generous to others and in doing so, you will be giving back to yourself.”

That's What We Do!

If you are in ministry but stuck with a challenge that's over your hear, maybe it's time to get some help from competent and experienced Christian Leaders who have been around the block a few times.

PROstrata and PROstrata Foundation exist to assist you with the expertise you may need to get your ministry to the next level. Why not give us a call?

What we can offer your church or organization -

1. Coaching your senior pastor or CEO
2. Strengthening your staff
3. Strengthening your team – Board, staff and volunteers
4. Leadership development
5. Building unity in your organization
6. Establishing a new paradigm
7. Systems that will save time and enable better ministry
8. Dispute resolution and crisis management
9. Funding your organizational growth
10. Cultivating and supporting your donors
11. Putting on your own event for the community
12. Building your volunteer corps
13. Establishing an evangelistic program that fits your community
14. Better missions
15. Setting up discipleship programs
16. Establishing a small group program
17. Special programs to reach people with special interests
18. Board governance
19. Developing a stronger prayer ministry
20. Identifying and cultivating your unique giftedness and calling
21. Better use of multi-media
22. Connecting with the Next Generation
23. Women’s ministry basics
24. Summer programs to keep everyone moving in the right direction
25. Street events that make a long-lasting impact
27. Your organization and its community
28. Effective community outreach


Check out: www.DanielSouthernGroup.com for more ...