Sporadic Thoughts

Unfold

Bob AuBuchon — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 23:20:12 +0000

I admit I like to grab hold of a word and use it to the max. If you’ve been around my preaching & teaching you’ve heard me use the world “unfold” quite a bit.

“Unfold” … “to spread out or lay open to view … to reveal or display”

Now some might think I am saying “unfold” merely for redundancy sake because I don’t have a better word or way to say what I am saying. However I am using the word with intentional purpose to convey that what God is saying to us through His Word and doing in the events of our lives is like the “unfolding” a road map to know not only the way to go but also the destination God is taking us. In other words if we will unfold God’s Word in a daily fashion I believe he will unfold and reveal his will for us. Let me challenge you to “unfold” the scriptures in your life looking for God’s revealing of his will.

Psalms 143:10 ESV Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!

Peace & Glorify~

A New Day – A New Year

Bob AuBuchon — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 04:25:32 +0000

Today is a new day in a new year … the year of 2012. I have no new year’s resolutions to offer … no fortunes to tell … no prophecies to unfold … but I do a have a plan, a goal and a hope. My plan is simple … live each day one day at a time in the wisdom of James … “if God wills”. My goal is simple as well … pursue godliness to which as a believer I have been equipped in Christ. And my hope is simply Jesus.

2012 Readings

Simplify … by Joshua Becker (Kindle iPad)
Note to Self … by Joe Thorn (Kindle iPad)
Not a Fan: Becoming a Completely Committed Follower of Jesus … by Kyle Ideman
Tempted & Tried … by D. Russell (Kindle iPad)

Here’s a NY tip … if you are into electronic filing … use Evernote. It’s beautiful and is so rich in storing anything and everything electronic and it syncs with my iPhone, iPad, laptop, and desktoop … in other words I am never without my notes, files, etc. Get it and use it!

Here are a couple Leadership blogs I am currently following … email updates are nice as well as on Twitter. These blogs are not necessarily Christian in their orientation … but the insights they give I can take and apply biblical emphasis to them. Use them to your good.

Follow me on Twitter … @bobaubuchon

I hope you have a great year to come … and in doing so, do all to the glory of God!

Peace & Glorify~

Tis the Season

Bob AuBuchon — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 16:10:42 +0000

Tis the season to get down! The getting down I refer to is that of Christ in us. John the Apostle says it like this …

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.” (1 John 3:16)

Pride (arrogance) has no room in our lives as Christians (little Christ’s). We need to learn to make room for humility … the “getting down” in that lowly position that allows the nature of Christ to be seen in us. This Christmas season let me encourage us to “get down” with Christ in CHRISTmas! He came down for us, let’s get down for Him! So let’s be those witnesses to Him in our Jerusalem’s and Judea’s and everywhere else. This time of year so many Christians GET UP rather than getting down, in the old adage of “They’re trying to take Christ out of Christmas!” Don’t buy into the world’s scheme of trying to make you rude, arrogant and mean. Too many argue with the world and they end up taking Christ out of Christmas by failing to be a good news witness to Christ. Remember such attitudes have no room in our lives. Let humility flourish of which Christ demonstrates the laying down of his life for us. Look around … love Christ by showing love for others. Find some person or family that you can do well for and then boldly tell them you do this in the name of Christ for them. Let’s GET DOWN and let Christ of Christmas shine in our words and deeds!

Isaiah 9:6 ESV For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Peace & Glorify~

Why iHope

Bob AuBuchon — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 16:08:35 +0000

In the book of 1 Peter, the author (Peter) says that we Christians are to give a reason for the hope that resides in us (1 Pt 3:15). Now this hope of course is something more than a tangible want list that I hope to acquire. The hope Peter speaks of extends beyond the seen to know and trust that God is working in the unseen portions of life leading to eternity. Like your salvation. No one really can see salvation. Well of course we can see the evidences that accompany salvation (changed life/living), but no one can see the gift of salvation. So hope is a matter of trusting God that his Word is true and that he is true to his Word. I turned to the first chapter of 1 Peter and there my eyes and heart fell upon these words …

who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father (1 Pt 1:2a)

Let me say emphatically as a child of God … you and I are CHOSEN and we are chosen by God. Now here is what most people do with such words … they get all encumbered with the words “chosen” (elect) and “foreknowledge” and begin making arguments as to what it does and doesn’t mean to the point many become frustrated, upset, etc. and miss the point of hope! I have to believe that when God inspired Peter to write these words he (God) was not looking to create a doctrinal fuss … but all the more a statement of HOPE! Peter was writing to people then, as today who are frustrated with life, pressed on all sides and need a note of hope, and God obliges with … “you have been chosen.” Revel in it! Glory in it! Praise God in it! No matter what you are going through have HOPE! So one reason for the hope in me is … iHope in my God who chose me and whose Word is true and he is true to his Word!

Peace & Glorify~

Vacation

Bob AuBuchon — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 13:05:27 +0000

a period of suspension of work, study, or other activity, usually used for rest, recreation

Yep … Peace & Glorify~

Savor Christ

Bob AuBuchon — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 15:17:01 +0000

Last Sunday our church family observed the Lord’s Supper. I know for most including myself we approach the Lord’s Supper with a bit of “been here done this” … though we may not mean it as such. During the LS I noticed 3 brothers very carefully receive the cup of juice. They held it cautiously and in the moment it seemed to become the most important thing of their young lives as they peered not at one another but at the cup of juice … studying it, examining it, smelling it and holding it with the at the attitude “this is special!” I was caught up in their savoring the moment, and the One who is behind the cup, Christ himself. Their direct and careful attention to the cup reminded me of how callous I can be in practicing this holy ordinance. How too often I eat and drink at the L ord’s table like it is some snack, when in reality it is the reminder of the full meal I have been served through the life, body and blood of Christ my Lord. Oh to savor Christ as these three young boys did is to rejoice in Him alone! For now I say, “thanks guys for making this Lord Supper special for me.”

1 Corinthians 11:28 ESV 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.

Peace & Glorify~

My Steps

Bob AuBuchon — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 12:38:04 +0000

2 Samuel 22:37 You gave a wide place for my steps under me and my feet did not slip.

Oh may my steps be to ordered to please you my God. My feet have at times wandered too far off your desired path. “Bring me back!” I pray … and you say “Walk in my Word, for there under your feet you will be on my path.”

Peace & Glorify~