tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188371192024-02-27T22:56:13.329-08:00"We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid." Benjamin Franklin"If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?" Thought notes on being faithful in this realm, so we can be committed (Not to the asylum) from above. As well as doodling.Reuben Najerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09752032274857759747noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18837119.post-47016674999859381002015-09-13T15:28:00.000-07:002015-09-13T16:06:59.492-07:00Money Musings: 01<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">To everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one
who has not, even what he has will be taken away.</span></div>
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We are so often waiting and looking for a good deal or an
opportunity. A big score! So often we don’t find it. I propose the reason. Perhaps because they come
to those who have. How many stories pile up of peoples success which seems like
luck. But in reality it was they ‘had’ so when the opportunity came, “more was
given” to them. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I want to strategically set myself up in the ‘has’ category. If I set myself up in the have category, I will be able to seize the opportunities that present themselves and then will I have the 'luck' that is so often an elusive apparition. Luck, as it is so often called is not chance. But rather the taking advantage of opportunities. And at the root, it is diligent preparation so we "has", at that moment when we need it to seize the opportunity set before us.</div>
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I want to have, so I can trade. The earnings from trade in any amount is growth that would not have been gotten
without trade. So a small growth is better than no growth or simple
consumption. And I am not talking about the stock market. A small sure trade is
better than a risky high return. John Rockefeller kind of lived by a statement
that is something like, “Trade dishes for platters.” In other words, always
figure a way to trade up. Making win / win deals is trading up. </div>
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So, guess what... I am in pursuit of wealth. In pursuit of wealth, for me, it is in reality a result of pursuit
of being wise… with my resources, or to be biblical with my talents. I have
never been ‘money hungry’ per say. But in getting wisdom and understanding from
biblical principles, I find being wise (the goal) lends itself to
prosperity. It says that wisdom's right hand holds long life and the left hand
holds riches and honor. To say I don’t want riches, in a way, ignorantly pushes
back the holder of those things, wisdom. Proverbs says, "Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man's dwelling, but a foolish man devours it." It's hard to criticize someone who has saved up a large sum if you consider this scripture. <br />
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My knowledge and understanding are still growing. But I believe I can say now, I need to 'has' as the verse above says. If I will ever get to "more will be given". It is a natural progression. Setting aside motive for now, the first building block is the 'has' part. </div>
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Wisdom with <i>understanding </i>is critical. There is a huge difference in <i>knowing </i>I should be a saver (has), and <i>understanding </i>it. I have known since I was a child to buy something you have to have money. So, simple 2nd grade math tells me if what I want to buy is more than I have, than I must save more than I have to get the sum of what I want to buy. But <i>understanding </i>that goes beyond simple knowledge, lends its self to greater than the sum of any savings account. The value surpasses the money I possess. In so many areas of life, when just about ANYTHING happens and you have saved up, it provides greater confidence to handle things, it minimizes the negative impact to my family, it removes so much jeopardy to other areas of life. And it opens doors that otherwise I wouldn't even know about, little alone have a chance to walk through. Know, but sometimes it takes longer to understand. But seek to understand. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Some would say, talking so much about money is carnal. I disagree. Jesus said if God can't trust is with money, how can he trust us with true riches. The very first chapter in Proverbs starts off talking about ill-gotten gain. That means when Solomon, the wisest man in history, wanted to leave his son instructions, he started the conversation off by talking about money. Then, in chapter 2, in his reference to diligently seeking wisdom, it was compared in a positive light to treasuring up and seeking silver. <o:p></o:p></div>
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One of the first commands in Proverbs that will bring you success before not just God, but also man, is steadfast love and faithfulness. If we desire to be good stewards of what God puts in our hands, we must be faithful and we must have love. Not greed, hate, or deceit. But compassion and authenticity. After that he says (Pro 3:9-10) Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.</div>
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I think these three things go hand in hand. He said much more in these few first verses of Proverbs 3. But I can only focus on so much at a time. I am going without saying things like, in all our ways acknowledge him. I am making the assumption we all agree on that. So, for now, I think these go hand in hand. Steadfast love and faithfulness in the first statement, and in all that also honoring the LORD with our wealth through firstfruits lead to promises. Promises of success. That's Bible, not me. </div>
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I am not diving into motive, heart, greed, generosity or any of the other components in this conversation now. These are random musings of mine. They may not flow well yet as I am just documenting my thoughts. There are so many supporting thoughts that haven't been expressed yet. Like any one layer of an onion. Each one as potent as the other. But takes all of them to make a whole onion. This is just thoughts on one layer. </div>
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Reuben Najerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09752032274857759747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18837119.post-34140436985113583912013-07-17T07:11:00.001-07:002013-07-17T07:11:13.488-07:00A Pastor<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When you stop and try and define the roll of a Pastor, all the descriptions have the implications of the sacrifices the man of God makes on behalf of those he is leading. Many of us have had moments of divine intervention when our Pastor spoke to us personally in words that brought a heavenly peace in time of great trouble. Its like a soothing balm on a deep wound. Or perhaps we can recall the times when the words our Pastor spoke to us brought to birth the call of God that has taken you to where you are today. I can’t speak for all of you, but I need a lot of grace. I can remember times when God’s grace, mercy and forgiveness were mediated to me, and I was able to accept it because my Pastors words that were fitly spoken. <br />
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The bible says, “What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.” Sometimes the ‘mist’ is more like a tornado whirling us about into confusion. And somehow even in those times, he is able to have a ‘peace be still’ effect on us with principles of wisdom and sound direction. <br />
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All the things I have described cannot be done on a whim. What I mean is, a Pastor is personally invested in each and every one in his flock. We as humans are not infinite in our resources to support and lead others. It’s like any mother who would lay down her life for her children because she loves them so much. If asked at the end of a long day she will admit it takes a toll on her as she looks to take care of her family. If we stop and think about it, our Pastors investment in us comes at a cost to him. The concern, prayers, words of wisdom, personal guidance, diligent study and delivery of the Word of God… we are the beneficiaries of the sacrifices our Pastors make to help lead us as we lead our families and change the world. <br />
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If you have ever decided to take someone and be a help and a support to them for a long period of time, you know that there is a cost, though maybe not financially but very real, to helping people. A Pastor has decided to take on each of us, our babies we hold dear, our victories and defeats and invest his life in seeing us be used by God. You can’t put a price on that kind of sacrifice.<br />
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So, be sure and show your appreciation to your Pastor. The next time you feel like grumbling about the way someone is involved or something didn't get done, remember how much he is investing personally in you and yours. Reuben Najerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09752032274857759747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18837119.post-85200140317193710352013-07-16T07:25:00.000-07:002013-07-16T07:25:43.777-07:00The Saga Continues - Office 365I would say overall the process which isn't complete yet (90%) has been pretty smooth. Because we had to recreate everyone's outlook profile it had to be highly coordinated. <br />
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If there was one pain point it has been the calendars. All calendars, even in the new profile, that you had access to must be deleted and re-added. If someone shared a sub-calendar, they must re-share it since you can't search for someone's sub-calendar. <br />
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We also had to re-add any full-access permissions that were added previously. <br />
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Finally on the calendars, if we add full-access permissions to a calendar, and then try to re-add it to our outlook client, we do not get the permissions until we recreate our outlook profile. Even after waiting a day for any sort of possible replication. <br />
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But overall, there has been very little complaining about the move with this exception. Reuben Najerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09752032274857759747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18837119.post-13948136693041829902013-06-05T21:01:00.003-07:002013-06-05T21:01:38.856-07:00Office 365 successes and failuresI have been working through the challenges of a staged migration to Office 365. It has been quite the experience. <br />
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Testing went pretty good. All the users in the pilot we moved 1 or 2 at a time with some pretty lengthy moves. No surprise as I had been warned. So I began calculating the time to migrate the users and realize this is no 2 week project for sure. <br />
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I hope somewhere in these next few posts I can describe or help someone else who faces the same challenges. I know for me, the move to this solution is still a great fit but it has been more challenging than expected. <br />
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So much of the process is scripted, that if there is a hiccup you aren't sure what it changed all the time. <br />
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Some gotchas... not in order of significance. More as I think of them. <br />
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<li><span style="color: red;">legacyExchangeDN</span> - make sure you get them all right. Any errors create havoc in the organization. Copy the legacyExchangeDN into an x500 address and you should be fine.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<li><span style="color: red;">Number of items</span> seem to be more important than the size of the mailbox - so far. </li>
<li><span style="color: red;">Randomly, the mailboxes in a batch fail</span> to move because it couldn't move 1 item in the 5 hour window. So you restart the batch. Then you get impatient and delete the batch and create a new batch. After a few times, it seems like restarting the batch is fine.</li>
<li><span style="color: red;">The detailed information on a mailbox in the batch stops accumulating time</span>. There are 4 primary areas that it shows in the details (listed below). I had several mailboxes do this. So far, after spending 10-12 hours at a time trying to find the problem, patience pays off. Though it should have went in the 8 hours that the status was syncing and nothing was happening, it seems the only remedy is to try again and let it time out. Try again and let it time out. I even went so far as to archive a users mail up to the current day. When I ran the batch that night, they had less than 5 meg of email. Still took them 5 hours before it started moving them. This of course is in the same batch with other users whose mailboxes all moved in 2 hours totaling about 75K mailbox items (just estimating). </li>
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<li>Queued duration: <span style="color: red;">Got to a point and stalled</span></li>
<li>In-progress duration: <span style="color: red;">was blank for a long time.</span></li>
<li>synced duration:</li>
<li>Stalled duration: <span style="color: red;">would accumulate about 5 minutes of time and stall</span></li>
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<li><span style="color: black;">More to come</span></li>
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Reuben Najerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09752032274857759747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18837119.post-41647020056460371342011-12-29T04:18:00.000-08:002011-12-29T12:15:43.757-08:00Bear FruitJesus said, a branch that doesnt <strong>bear fruit</strong> is cast in the fire.<br />Jesus said, <strong>abide in me</strong> and you will<strong> bear much fruit</strong>.<br />Jesus said, <strong>keep my commandments</strong> and you will <strong>abide in me</strong>.<br />Jesus said, <strong>this</strong> <strong>command </strong>I give you, <strong>love</strong> one another <strong>as I have loved <em>you</em></strong>.<br /><br />See the reverse progression? To love is to obey, to obey is to abide, to abide bears much fruit, to bear fruit keeps you from being cut off.<br /><br />So, before you can bear fruit you must love others. And it must be genuine. If it isn't genuine, your duplicity will breed distrust. Your lack of sincerity will gender distain. So, to know how to love others you have to love as Jesus loved <strong>you</strong>. More than lip service and a clearing of the conscious. He forgives <strong>you</strong>. He shows mercy to <strong>you</strong>. He is longsuffering with <strong>you</strong>. He is kind with <strong>you</strong>.<br /><br />When Jesus gave, whether it was a miracle of healing, food for 5 thousand, healing the blind, he gave without expecting in return. His ultimate gift at the cross shows us true love. When we didnt love back, he still forgave us. He still laid down his life. He still took our sins.<br /><br />So, be fruitful. By serving, loving others. Just as Christ loved <strong>you</strong>.Reuben Najerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09752032274857759747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18837119.post-12122186403907845682009-12-30T05:58:00.000-08:002009-12-30T05:59:45.831-08:00I do always....To be like Jesus. To be able to say, "I do always the will of the Father."<br /><br />That is to be like Jesus.Reuben Najerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09752032274857759747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18837119.post-1143738806089137652006-03-30T08:50:00.000-08:002006-03-30T09:13:26.133-08:00How Important is the Music...I was driving today and my mind was aimlessly but not aimlessly, musing through thoughts that I would think most people would consider dull and unattractive. And in my, leisurely as could be drive to work, I thought about how important the music behind... well anything, really is.<br /><br />I began a habit about a year and a half ago of listening to music while I am studying. Be it for a test, personal devotions, recreational reading, etc. And not just for studying either. Just to unwind a little bit when I get home, or some hyper and active music when I am playing with my daughter. Take the music away and it seems the air itself stops. The atmosphere that was there is jerked away like the blanket keeping you warm on a cold night being pulled off quickly, leaving you rather uncomfortable and beyond a little irritated.<br /><br />This lends a question (one among many). How does music really affect a person? It seems to go beyond our ears and into our very persona, so to speak. It seems to resonate with or against something inside us already. If you are a hopeless romantic, a song truly admiring a person (the object of the song) can melt your emotions to a point that you get 'warm fuzzies.' Or, if you are a profane person, music and songs about murder and complete disregard for commitment and responsibility makes you feel invincible. I just wonder, if there is a person who is completely dissatisfied with their own life and everyone else’s, how would calm peaceful music of true contentment make them respond? “Turn that off!” Or in despair? How would it affect them?<br /><br />Think of any dramatized story, any scene... No matter how extreme, dangerous or romantic. And imagine it without music. It entirely falls short of the desired anticipation or anxiousness or calm that is needed to make the scene alive.<br /><br />I have always heard it is important what you listen to, but it resonated with me this morning. As I was listening to someone talk, with music in the background that seemed to wash away the normal monotony of the traffic I was in. It gave way to this monologue with myself I am writing about now.<br /><br />So, what do you think…Reuben Najerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09752032274857759747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18837119.post-1141825402132665012006-03-08T05:42:00.000-08:002006-03-08T05:43:22.146-08:00Coming soonI haven't stopped to write here much, but will very soon. Had plenty to write about, but haven't stopped to do so.Reuben Najerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09752032274857759747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18837119.post-1137531883122523532006-01-17T12:59:00.000-08:002006-01-18T06:05:06.793-08:00Unclear Focus<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/508/1853/1600/golf_frust.0.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/508/1853/320/golf_frust.0.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The seemingly never ending (and at times nearly over whelming) struggle to have intense focus is frustrating. Why can't my mind be focused on the things that matter, with sharp clarity.<br /><br />This isn't to say that I don't focus, but does it have to be such a struggle? Even when I do my best to create an atmosphere that is conducive, my mind is like a child on a playground trying to play on all the equipment at once.<br /><br />In the middle of meditating and reflecting on things relevanct to the Word of God or things in my mind, my momentum bales off a cliff to crash at the bottom all because of stupid thoughts like, "They forgot to putty that nail hole." Or, "That texture on that wall is so un-evenly sprayed." Even stuff like, "I wish the shadow from this light wouldn't cover only half of this page. I wish it was spread out just a little more, enough to cover the whole page... and just a little dimmer." And just recently, "I can see the lines where the wallpaper is joined." And then the momentum of my focus is crushed in the bottom of the ravine.<br /><br />I know this has to sound weird to someone who has never had this problem. I would have thought someone was just being goofy or hyper sensitive about stuff a few years ago. But in the last 2 years, I have recognized how... debilitating this can be. It is like there is this sharpness of thought that is no longer there. I feel to young for it to be age.<br /><br />Just as a mile is walked one step at a time, and a million dollars is gained 1 dollar at a time, I know I must keep trying one day at a time to focus. It is just so frustrating (as this picture would be to a golfer) to have such a fog to fight through. Always feeling like you are short of where you want to be in clarity and focus.<br /><br />Proper food consumption is part of the issue. (for a later discussion if you object) I am doing my best to let the mental food that I consume to be edificatous and less entertainment. But the physical food isn't near to the standard I would like it to be as far as eating healthy. It isn't in total disregard either. I just need to continue to make this an absolute priority.<br /><br />This post isn't much more than a mere thought/complaint/question that is turning out to be one of the struggles of my life. <a href="mailto:rnajera@acfw.org">rnajera@acfw.org</a>Reuben Najerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09752032274857759747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18837119.post-1136306617227582562006-01-03T08:20:00.000-08:002006-01-03T08:55:09.116-08:00Counting BlessingsMan, time flys.<br /><br />I can look back on 2005 and be glad it came, and glad it went. It was a very good year and a year of great learning and growing. I wouldn't trade the year for anything different.<br /><br /><strong>2005</strong><br /><br /><ul><li>I was able to finish my studies at SMU's ACEC. Still studying for tests though.</li><li>God blessed me with a beautiful daughter who is healthy and stealing my heart a little more each day. </li><li>The Lord provided me with a decent living with a company that is very good to it's employee's.</li><li>Through the Ministries of Bro Stringfellow and Pastor Pixler, I feel like the Lord has stirred me to do more than I have before and to be less slothful in my devotion to the Lord. 2006 will be the testing of that stirring. </li><li>God took care of my family when we didn't know what to do or where to go... he was always right on time. </li><li>My wife and I are closer than ever before.</li></ul><p>I can't list everything, but each of the above (in no particular order) are very bright highlights of the year. Of course there are several other highlights that stand out just as much, but because they are so personal, I cannot write about them. </p><p>Many thanks to those who have helped my family through this year. I hope I may one day be a blessing to others as so many have been a blessing to me this past year. </p><p><strong>2006</strong></p><ul><li>I hope to be a more considerate husband.</li><li>I hope to be granted wisdom on raising my child to be Christ like.</li><li>I hope to grow in Gods word with more time dedicated to it than ever before.</li><li>I hope to see God continue to give increase as we plant and water in the Hispanic work. </li><li>I hope to be fluent in Spanish.</li></ul><p>And so many more. Call them new years resolutions if you want, but I believe God is going to help in these goals. </p><p>God bless. </p><p>.</p>Reuben Najerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09752032274857759747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18837119.post-1134688144923145382005-12-15T15:05:00.000-08:002005-12-15T15:27:52.526-08:00Run from Functional / Design Documents<strong>Useless fact:</strong> Functional Design Documents made after the fact are nothing more than required documents to annoy you. Not to mention that they are suppose to be 2 separate documents. One Functional Specification Document and one Design Document. But no, we have to have a "Functional Design Document."<br /><br /><strong>Useless fact 2:</strong> That is what I have been working on for 2 weeks. Though we aren't completely done with the implementation, we are 90% done. This document is suppose to be written as a guide for the implementation, not just "because." And after the fact, at that.<br /><br />It has been a lot of wasted time for a lot of people.<br /><br />But whatsoever my hands find to do, do it with all my might. So that I am.<br /><br />It is like getting a tiny splinter out... with winter gloves on trying to hold on to tweazers.<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(<span style="color:#3333ff;">Yes, it is ok to grin if this means more to you than what meets the eye</span>)</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><br /><blockquote>"America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose<br />our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves."<br /><br /><br /> Abraham Lincoln<br /></blockquote>Reuben Najerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09752032274857759747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18837119.post-1133481224774937302005-12-01T15:52:00.000-08:002005-12-01T15:53:44.783-08:00Shhhhhh...1Th 4:11 ... study to be quiet...Reuben Najerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09752032274857759747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18837119.post-1132611103414352412005-11-21T12:11:00.000-08:002005-11-21T20:03:13.913-08:00Dream<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/508/1853/1600/blogflower.0.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/508/1853/320/blogflower.0.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/508/1853/1600/blogflower.jpg"></a><br />Where is the line between ambition and purpose? Between dreams and calling? That has been a question I have had as of late. I have dreams and things I want to see happen through me and in me, but ask myself sometimes, "Is this your ambition?"<br /><br />I, as all Christians should, want to be used of God. In this desire I want God to do great things through me. I also, on the other hand, want God to do with me what he wills to fulfill his purpose. The difficulty in this is that could be simply a reduction in dreams.<br /><br />I will never forget a message preached by Bro. McClain (from I believe Houston.) He preached at ADMIT about the call of Joseph of the New Testament. Joseph was an upright person who also desired to be used of God. He was living his life in accordance to Gods Word and was an "upright" man. God had majestic plans for him. Though Joseph probably didn't get what he had planned for in "being used of God." God decided to call him to a life of being accused of being an adulterer. Every day he lived being accused of conceiving a child in sin. Though he was also revered by God to "rear" in a very real sense the Creator robed in flesh, the call of God came with quite a reproach.<br /><br />It is easy to see the Joseph of the Old Testament as "A Dreamer." As a "Leader and Deliverer." But how hard was it really while he was in prison, or being pulled out of the pit to be sold into slavery and the ridicule that came before that by his brothers.<br /><br />Then on the other end of the spectrum you have David, who was killing Lions and Bears at a young age. I am not taking away from the trials of David and the hardship he faced, but the burden of the call seems a lot harder for the 2 Josephs and people who's call was a 'lot of a lesser than hoped for place' in the scheme of things.<br /><br />When I see Joseph the foster father of our Lord, I don't see the shame though. He was favored of God to be put in that place. Joseph of the Old Testament's purpose was great in that he saved an untold number of people from starving from the famine.<br /><br />The bottom line is this. We cannot worry about whether Gods lot in life for us is great or small. Am I going to be a Pastor? Shepherd? Evangelist? Teacher? 30 fold, 60 fold or 100 fold? God is the one who knows. He knows the end from the beginning and is not taken aback or awed by what is in my future, or yours.<br /><br />Just let me be used. Like water. Whether to wash the feet of a guest or to fill the glass of a king... let me be used.<br /><br />I go back to my last post. "Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?"<br /><br />No. The thing that is formed shall not say to him that formed it. I just want to submit to God and let him decipher all the rest. It is a waste of valuable "kingdom" time, to worry about what the future holds. I have scripture that says to "Give us this day our daily bread." So, if I can't see past the end of my nose about what is around the corner, I DO know in "whom I have believed." So let me not be distressed.<br /><br />I serve a God who is able to do "exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us." So it is rather absurd and even arrogant of me to even count what I think or hope or dream to be anything at all.<br /><br />Today Lord, help me to do your will. If I do something today that you want me to do, and tomorrow I do the same, and then the day after that walk with you, so I can look back in 20 years from now and say, "God meant it ALL for good" and have my days filled with serving God. Let each day build a little at a time.<br /><br />Like I have said before in talking about being consistant, it takes 1 million single dollar bills to make a million. If you don't start with 1, you will not have a million.<br /><br />God, sanctify my desires and dreams that they be nothing more than VISION bestowed upon me from the heavenly vision.Reuben Najerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09752032274857759747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18837119.post-1132248232299608752005-11-17T09:09:00.000-08:002005-11-18T06:13:39.200-08:00This Present Distress<div align="left"><br />What all can happen in your life? Have you ever done a 360 degree look at your life, as in the past, present and future? Looking at human history, it is evident that we cannot know the future.<br /><br /><strong>Ho­ra­tio G. Spaf­ford</strong> for example. Life was going wonderfully. He was a wealthy business man in Chicago, was a "Christian" and seemed like life was in the right direction. He was a layman, a lawyer and professor of medical jurisprudence from Chicago who maintained a close friendship with D.L. Moody and other Christian leaders of that day. He had 5 children which he loved dearly. Four girls and one boy.<br /><br />His son who was still a boy became ill. With 5 kids, I am sure at first this wasn't a huge concern. People get sick, and people get well. But this time it was different for him. His son died from his illness. Life had been rocked for him. Losing his only son.<br /><br />The next year the great Chi­ca­go Fire of Oc­to­ber 1871 took, for all practical purposes, ALL of his real estate. He went from being wealthy to not having any assets. Second blow. He decided since he had no business to take care of he would cross the Atlantic to join D.L. Moody in his work for a while with his family to get through this hard time.<br /><br />However, business matters in Chicago, more than likely dealing with sorting out what real estate was who's, caused him to send his family ahead with the plans of following a short while later himself. And then a few weeks later, received the well known simple telegraph from his wife. "Saved alone." He lost his 4 daughters in a ship wreck.<br /><br />So, within a time frame of over a year as I can tell, this man who had worked his whole life to build his family, and plan for the future with investments, lost his 5 children and his wealth. Leaving him and his wife to start all over again.<br /><br />I ask myself, how do people go on after all this…<br /><br />Back to the subject at hand, when I think of what all might happen in the future in my life that I can't see, and seeing what people have lived through in the past can cause fear and questions in my heart. From the Christian Martyrs of the past, to the victims of tyranny and cruelty like Hitler's Germany and the 9-11 attacks, questions arise with out answers.<br /><br />So looking up to heaven I began to think of God and the Word of God. With as honest and sincere heart as I can have I ponder questions in my heart to God like, "Why? What about my child? Are you going to protect her? And my wife, God?" I ask, "Please don't let anything like these things happen to them…" With no guarantees I go away knowing the petition is before him none the less.<br /><br />Then I realize God is in control. I heard the statement that Osama Bin Laden is merely a tiny blimp on Gods radar screen. And God certainly isn't concerned about him getting out of control. God sees the end from the beginning. (that is a whole other subject… can I get a witness from ACFW MIT!!!) He doesn't have to move from side to side in this thing called time to avoid getting the stuffens' knocked out of him like some football player. But rather he is the absolute. All else moves around him… as he allows.<br /><br />God had his hand protecting Job. And God CHOSE to remove the hedge from him. God was still in control. Job came out on top, but God taught us a good lesson on how to deal with uncertain circumstances when it comes to questioning his choice for our lives. See here what God had to say about questioning and pondering the "Why God?" and the "What did I do to deserve this?" questions:<br /><br /><strong>(Job 38:1) Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,<br />(Job 38:2) Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?<br />(Job 38:3) Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.<br />(Job 38:4) Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. </strong><a href="http://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/Job/Job038.html#top"><strong>Read more... </a></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><br /></strong>Lets just say… God is in control and we shouldn't advise him.<br /><br />I may not know what is going to happen to me in life but I don't let them bother my mind late at night when I am trying to sleep so to speak. If God is in control, and I am serving him with everything, I have nothing to fear. "If God be for us, who can be against us?" "Let God arise and his enemies be scattered." I must pray as Jesus did in the garden, "Not my will, but thy will be done." Then I can do "all things through Christ which strengths me." When we start questioning, let us remember:<br /><br /><strong>(Romans 9:18) Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.<br />(Romans 9:19) Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?<br />(Romans 9:20) Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?</strong><br /><br />In my time of distress I hope to see things as Ho­ra­tio G. Spaf­ford saw things a few years later as he crossed the Atlantic and came close to the spot were his daughters drowned. He penned the below hymn as result of all that happened.<br /><br />When peace like a river, attendeth my way,<br />When sorrows like sea billows roll;<br />Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,<br />It is well, it is well with my soul.<br /><br />Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,<br />Let this blest assurance control,<br />That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,<br />And hath shed His own blood for my soul!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>It is well ... with my soul!<br />It is well, it is well, with my soul.<br /></strong></span></div>Reuben Najerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09752032274857759747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18837119.post-1131986868676342822005-11-14T08:42:00.000-08:002005-11-14T11:42:53.410-08:00Child like faith... Simply Complex<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/508/1853/1600/red_sm.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/508/1853/1600/red_sm.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:180%;">A</span> Baby's breath. What a miracle of God. Seeing my child become calm by holding her close to me is extremely fulfilling and enlightening. She becomes peaceful because she is secure in my arms. How often does God try to pick us up and hold us close? How often do we let him?<br /><br />In reading a book (I think it is Four Pillars of A Mans Heart), there is a story of a small boy who was playing to close to the water. His Father wasn't real close by, but in ear shot working on something. When he heard the splash, he expected it to be his other child of 11 or so, because the small child wasn’t down there even close to the water the last time he had looked. When he saw the older boy who had been playing but was now looking toward the lake, his heart stopped! With only instinct controlling him, He ran as fast as He could and dove under water next to the dock where he heard the splash.<br /><br />Having to come up for air then back down again, an eternity seems to pass. Being aware of every feeling, of every inch of his body for anything at the bottom or around him that would move. With a guttural scream deep within him that cannot come out, and lungs about to burst he heads for the surface again.<br /><br />He feels something as he is going up... Feeling only and not seeing in the now stirred up water, he realized his son was holding on to the post of the dock for dear life about five feet under water. He had to pry his little hands from the post and they burst to the top.<br /><br />After the entire scene was over and they were calmed down, they were going over it all sitting in the kitchen drying off. He asked his son, "What were you doing down there? What were you thinking about holding on to that post?” His sons reply was this, "I was just waiting on you, Daddy."<br /><br />Child like faith.<br /><br />He was depending on Dad. His answer showed that he knew who was taking care of him. And just as he was safe in depending on his Daddy, how safe could we be when life is drowning us, if we “would but trust” in our own Father in heaven?<br /><br />When we are frantic and can’t seem to be calmed, let God pick us up and hold us tight. When we are at the bottom looking up and we do not have the mind to know what to do, look to heaven and say, “I am just waiting on you Daddy…” </span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">(Matthew 18:3) And said, <span style="color:#ff0000;">Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">(Matthew 19:14) But Jesus said, <span style="color:#ff0000;">Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven</span>.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span><a href="mailto:rnajera@acfw.org?subject=Child%20Like%20Faith...%20"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Reuben</span></a>Reuben Najerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09752032274857759747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18837119.post-1131638507193194802005-11-10T07:53:00.000-08:002005-11-10T08:37:05.956-08:00Time to pay attention... To time<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/508/1853/1600/clock.0.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/508/1853/200/clock.0.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/508/1853/1600/clock.jpg"></a>Tired of working all day and getting nothing done? Then just stop. Not to give up, but rather to follow the old slogan:<br /><br /><strong>"Plan your work. Work your plan."</strong><br /><br />It is a simple solution. And yes, you risk being interrupted and not getting through your plan. But without a plan, you will never complete a task. If you never complete a task, you will not get anything done. Or fall all over the place trying to find the next thing that needs to be done. Get a plan.<br /><br />You cannot let the frustration of interruptions in your plan sway you from working on it. In time, you will find it wiser to give your self room for these situations. Is it always possible? No. Is it always foreseeable? No. But the point is you will learn to manage time better if you start trying to manage it at all. I heard someone (My Pastor) say recently that you need to <strong>“write it down.”</strong> And when things get fuzzy, <strong>write it down again</strong>. And when it seems out of whack, <strong>WRITE IT DOWN AGAIN!!!</strong> Work through the unanticipated situations and learn from them.<br /><br />The scripture says in Pro. 29:18 <strong>“Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.”<br /></strong><br />So kingdom, home, business, school or whatever you are doing, Get A Vision! <strong>“Plan your work.”</strong><br /><br />Now look at the second part of the slogan. The plan is the “looking down the road part.” And in most ways it is the easy part. Though, it can seem overwhelming seeing all that needs to be done in one instant. But you have to do the second part of the slogan, <strong>“Work your plan.”</strong> Imagine with me this. You go from looking down on the paper, the plan, to being the size of an ant and start walking down the paper from start to finish. It will be a lot more productive and less overwhelming when you step from item to item in your plan. Step into one part, do it, and move one. You go from a vertical view looking down, to a horizontal view of the page as you go across it.<br /><br />Take one step at a time, and you will see so much accomplished.<br /><br />In other words, <strong>"Plan your work. Work your plan."</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong><a href="mailto:rnajera@acfw.org?subject=Time%20To%20Pay%20Attention">Reuben</a></strong>Reuben Najerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09752032274857759747noreply@blogger.com