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Trying to figure out which tires to buy for the GR86: the Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02, or the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6. The Continentals have been out for a few years and have a class-leading reputation. The Goodyears are a new product for the US, which give the Continentals a real run for their money. It's a touch choice. The Goodyears are cheaper, but the Continentals are more time-tested. Tirerack's crew loved them both. Hmmm...
Great Advice
Feeling much better a couple of days removed from my previous post! The Pastoral Council meeting went great, and I've been better able to frame the thing I was alluding to before. A really close friend of mine, Jim, sent me this, bold emphasis is mine:
I hope the above can help others too, because it really nails it on the head: Satan tries to steer us away from the Lord each according to our own vulnerabilities. For people like me and some of you, my readers, who tend to overthink things, he's going to try to veer us off course by trapping us in our own minds, filled with doubts and negative feelings.
Church Friends
One of my best friends at church was the pitcher for our local town for many, many years. He was quite prolific, he sent me some local newspaper articles from back then, where he was on these huge winning streaks and such. Anyway, here he was during those days, circa 1975:
I also spent a few hours yesterday helping another friend's parents with their new PC, and also just visiting to keep them company. They are right around eighty five years old, and I love to hear all of the old stories from them.
She was quite the painter for many decades, and she showed me around the house so I could see many of the works she'd created over the years. They have roots in Texas, and many of her works featured strong Mexican and even Native American influence. My favorite among those was this one. I love how she captured the emotions on the faces of the dancers. Click on any of these for larger versions:
She also did some landscapes, this one was my favorite from that set. I asked her how in the heck she did the water-- it takes some real skill to get that technique right:
But my all-time favorite from all of her paintings was this one. It has such a cool ambience, and just look at the emotions and expressions on all of the faces-- I feel like I'm there!
Finally, here was their wedding photo, from 1960-- so cool.
Great Advice
Feeling much better a couple of days removed from my previous post! The Pastoral Council meeting went great, and I've been better able to frame the thing I was alluding to before. A really close friend of mine, Jim, sent me this, bold emphasis is mine:
"Who are you doing this serving in the church for? God? Yourself? The church?
Regardless of what you do or don't do in life, God will not love you or accept you more or less than he already does right now.
Where do shame and embarrassment come from? These are not from God. This a type of oppression from the devil. You are thinking about and caring more about what other people think and perceive than what God thinks. That is actually selfish, self-centered. You are saying to yourself and God that your performance is not good enough. Focus on what God says about you and not what others or even yourself say about you. God chose you. Not because you are the most qualified or perfect but because you are willing. God can / will bless all that is done in obedience and with a right heart.
Renew your mind. Take the Word of God to the battle in your mind. Resist the devil at his onset (1 Peter 5:9).
Hebrews 4:12
2 Corinthians 10:4-5
Jeremiah 23:29
God's world is not based on performance. That is something of this world (1 Samuel 16:7).
Jesus died on the cross so that we could have a personal relationship with Him restoring the power and authority over this world which was lost through Adam / Eve.
Romans 8:37
1 John 5:4
2 Timothy 1:7 - For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control]."
Regardless of what you do or don't do in life, God will not love you or accept you more or less than he already does right now.
Where do shame and embarrassment come from? These are not from God. This a type of oppression from the devil. You are thinking about and caring more about what other people think and perceive than what God thinks. That is actually selfish, self-centered. You are saying to yourself and God that your performance is not good enough. Focus on what God says about you and not what others or even yourself say about you. God chose you. Not because you are the most qualified or perfect but because you are willing. God can / will bless all that is done in obedience and with a right heart.
Renew your mind. Take the Word of God to the battle in your mind. Resist the devil at his onset (1 Peter 5:9).
Hebrews 4:12
2 Corinthians 10:4-5
Jeremiah 23:29
God's world is not based on performance. That is something of this world (1 Samuel 16:7).
Jesus died on the cross so that we could have a personal relationship with Him restoring the power and authority over this world which was lost through Adam / Eve.
Romans 8:37
1 John 5:4
2 Timothy 1:7 - For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control]."
I hope the above can help others too, because it really nails it on the head: Satan tries to steer us away from the Lord each according to our own vulnerabilities. For people like me and some of you, my readers, who tend to overthink things, he's going to try to veer us off course by trapping us in our own minds, filled with doubts and negative feelings.
Church Friends
One of my best friends at church was the pitcher for our local town for many, many years. He was quite prolific, he sent me some local newspaper articles from back then, where he was on these huge winning streaks and such. Anyway, here he was during those days, circa 1975:
I also spent a few hours yesterday helping another friend's parents with their new PC, and also just visiting to keep them company. They are right around eighty five years old, and I love to hear all of the old stories from them.
She was quite the painter for many decades, and she showed me around the house so I could see many of the works she'd created over the years. They have roots in Texas, and many of her works featured strong Mexican and even Native American influence. My favorite among those was this one. I love how she captured the emotions on the faces of the dancers. Click on any of these for larger versions:
She also did some landscapes, this one was my favorite from that set. I asked her how in the heck she did the water-- it takes some real skill to get that technique right:
But my all-time favorite from all of her paintings was this one. It has such a cool ambience, and just look at the emotions and expressions on all of the faces-- I feel like I'm there!
Finally, here was their wedding photo, from 1960-- so cool.
