Mark 9:35 (developing the heart of a servant)

Mark 9:35

Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”

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Philippians 4:8 (NIV) — from BibleGateway.com’s Verse of the Day

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

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From DSC:
I went to Northwestern University (NU). It’s a great, tough school to go to. It has one of the most beautiful campuses in the country. They have student-athletes there, not just athletes who are using college as pre-pro camp grounds. I had some great experiences there and also some tough experiences there. Anyway, BibleGateway.com’s Verse of the Day the other day make me reflect upon how difficult it is for universities and colleges to maintain a faith-based perspective to why they exist.

For example, NU’s logo has two parts to it: the seal and the signature. On the seal, it says, “Quaecumque Sunt Vera” — which NU’s website explains:

This Latin phrase was adopted as the University’s official motto in 1890. Translated as “Whatsoever things are true,” it comes from the New Testament book of Philippians (4:8), in which St. Paul admonishes the Christians in the Greek city of Philippi: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

Unfortunately, NU’s motto/logo should now have the Latin phrase for “whatever makes you wealthy” — as the unspoken mission and vision of the administration and students these last few decades has been more along these lines:

Finally, to those who are taught to compete against each other,
Whatever will get you the corner office,
Whatever will get you the highest salary,
Whatever will allow you to obtain the most possessions,
Whatever will allow you to boast about yourselves,
Whatever will allow you to show the world just how powerful and wealthy you are –
If there be any money, if there be any gold, if there be any silver in the world (and no matter how your actions may affect other people),  think about how you can obtain such things.

I’m sorry to be so harsh here…seriously. I feel a bit sheepish about posting this. It’s just that it’s very sad to see a university lose it’s heart and soul and become very worldly in the process (especially one I care so much about). And this has happened to 100’s of colleges and universities — I just have experienced and witnessed NU as one example here. So now, we have some great country clubs of higher ed out there…great for us.


Psalm 33:12
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD…

Psalm 127:1
Unless the LORD builds the house,
the builders labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,
the guards stand watch in vain.

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Many in the United States try as hard as they can to keep kicking the LORD out of our public squares, out of our schools, out of everything. Hmmm…I wonder if that’s why the United States finds itself in such a powerful, downward spiral.



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James 4:10 — Humility

James 4:10

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.

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From DSC:
Since my college days, I’ve been trying to be more aware of my blind spots. One of those blind spots back then for me (among many…and I’m still trying to identify my blind spots) was pride. These days, I have to always be on the lookout for pride — is it trying to fly under the radar again on me? Am I not seeing it in myself? Is what I’m doing helpful to someone else? What are my motives?

I say this because I remember the times when the LORD got a hold of me and had to humble me big time. I recall some days in college when it took a Big 10 Championship to make me happy…and then by the end of my senior year, a blooming flower could lift me up.  The humbling process that the LORD takes us through can be very painful. I try to avoid it.



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More church websites invite posting of prayers — from USAToday.com by Cathy Lynn Grossman

Need prayer power? Try the World Wide Web. More than four in 10 Protestant churches with websites now invite people to post pleas to the Lord on the main church site so volunteers and staff can chime in on the soulful call, according to a new survey.

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Galatians 6:7-8

Galatians 6:7-8

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
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Matthew 7:7-8

Matthew 7:7-8

[Ask, Seek, Knock]  Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
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Matthew 7:12

Matthew 7:12 — from Bible Gateway’s Verse of the Day

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
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Year in review: 2010 at Bible Gateway

Year in review: 2010 at Bible Gateway — from Bible Gateway by Rachel Barach

Excerpt:

The New Year is well underway now, and all of us at Bible Gateway hope it’s off to a great start for you and yours! Looking back, we are happy to say that 2010 was a good year for us at Bible Gateway. We are blessed to be part of an extraordinary community of people—people who visit Bible Gateway to undergo the life-changing experience of reading God’s Word.

You might be interested to know that, in 2010:

  • More than 70 million people visited Bible Gateway.
  • We spent more than 23 million hours (over 1.4 billion minutes!) reading Scripture on Bible Gateway.
  • More than 18 million people visited Bible Gateway from outside the United States.
  • We had visitors from more than 236 countries or territories.
  • Three of our top ten most popular Bible translations were Spanish language versions.
  • People visiting Bible Gateway on mobile devices increased by 83% over last year, and by 51% for mobile device visits from outside the United States.

It is clear that Bible Gateway continues to be a favorite online destination for people who want to read God’s Word, and more people than ever are finding Bible Gateway on their mobile devices or from countries around the globe, some of which offer only restricted access to the Bible, if any at all. Praise the Lord!

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Thanks LORD!

2 Corinthians 5:19-20 — from BibleGateway.com’s Verse of the Day

“that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them (emphasis DSC). And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.”
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Micah 6:8

Micah 6:8

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
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Psalm 90:12

Psalm 90:12 — from BibleGateway.com

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

.From DSC:
This verse has been a great one, but also a tough one for me. It has taught me that my time here on Earth is very limited — and to try to live life to its fullest (something I’m still trying to get a handle on). It’s been tough in that it has cranked up the internal RPM’s, knowing my life is but a vapor. I believe I will be called to account for how I used what He gave me…and that puts internal pressure on me. I know, I know…this is not everyone’s viewpoint and probably not a healthy response — but these are “the glasses” that I’m looking through at this point in my life.



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Isaiah 43:16, 18-19

Isaiah 43:16, 18-19 — from BibleGateway.com

This is what the LORD says— he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

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Isaiah 9:6

Isaiah 9:6 — from BibleGateway.com

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

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Luke 2:28-32

Luke 2:28-32 — from BibleGateway.com

Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”

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Beautiful Churches from around the world -- from Noupe.com

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