THE 42nd GENERATION

What was it like when Jesus walked in Israel? What was it like for Peter when he looked into Jesus' eyes for the first time, and Jesus looked at him? What was is like for the paralytic when Jesus healed him? What was it like for those who witnessed the healing of the paralytic? What was it like when thousands were fed with a little fish and some bread? What was it like for the little girl when Jesus raised her from the dead? What was is like for the little girl's parents to see their daughter alive again? What was Jesus like when He walked among people, and spoke with them, and taught them? What did people think when they saw Jesus and heard Jesus speak? What was it like............I can only imagine.......... Watch this 4 minute video and imagine what it was like........  

Persevere Beyond Expectations or Collapse Too Soon

The book of Hebrews tells us that everything that can be shaken will be shaken.  Here is what it says: Hebrews 12:26-28 (New International Version) At that time His voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”   The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken —that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain . Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.  The kingdom of "college football" has been shaken.  The kingdom of "higher education" has been shaken.  The state of "Pennsylvania" has been shaken.  The "nation" has been shaken.  How has this happened?  Because something terrible that had been going on for a long time has been revealed, exposed, for all to see.  Because those who have been set on high in our world have been brought down ...

Imagine that you are an Israelite in Old Testament times.   Let’s say, it’s about the time when Joshua was appointed to take the place of Moses as leader of Israel (See the Bible’s Book of Joshua, Chapter 1, as well as, chapters before and after that).   Picture yourself just waking up in the morning, in a tent, and facing the start of a new day.   What is your disposition?   How are you feeling about your circumstances?   Are you ready to take on another day?   How are you feeling about yourself, about your fellow Israelites, about your national leader and tribal leaders? Now, picture yourself going through the opening in your tent to the outside, to start your day.   You are going out for breakfast manna that is waiting or going to prepare something for yourself and others.  In making that exit from your tent, believe that you will be in a place that is determined by your disposition, your emotional and spiritual condition.   In other w...

Here's the link:  Young and Alive

On September 29, 2011, I am going to do an inspirational presentation before at a Regional Lions Club Dinner, a group part of the worldwide Lions Club International.   This is an organization of volunteers who serve their communities.  In preparation for my session, I met with Chester, a club president.  I wanted to meet Chet and get familiar with him, his members, and the organization's mission.  As a result, I discovered something quite inspiring. In our discussions, Chet told me he wanted to know what part Helen Keller played in the development of the organization.   I said I would investigate that.  As we talked further about various things, we decided that my presentation to the group would be about identity and purpose for individuals and an organization.  I went home and came up with a message called, "Who We Are is Why We Are" , a unique perspective on understanding who we are and the purposes we could be pursuing that fit our passions and t...

There are 3 kinds of leaders:          CUITTERS , CAMPERS, and CLIMBERS.  1. CUITTERS quit. They stay where they are and become long time campers, or they go back down to where they once were. Surprisingly, some followers follow them. 2. CAMPERS either quit and stay where they are too long, or camp to rest up and start again to get to a next level. Some followers stay with them and camp long or rest with them and prepare for the next steps. 3. CLIMBERS are learners and take action, purposefully moving to the next level, always growing, always becoming someone who they were not the day before.  Let's follow climbers, and lead those who follows us. Where are we today? Are we leading in the right direction?  Don't CUIT, don't CAMP more than necessary, and CLIMB on As Christians, having Christ formed in us, we should be pressing on no matter what.  Vince Lombardi seemed to have that attitude.  Here is some of wh...

Do you remember the 1991 movie “City Slickers” ?   That's only 20 years ago. "Mitch" is a 39 year old city Slicker, played by Billy Crystal. "Curly" is an old guy, played by Jack Palance.  In a scene where both were on horseback, moving along slowly, herding cattle, they had this conversation: Curly    “Do you know what the secret of life is?” Mitch   “No, what?” Curly    “This.”   Curly holds up his index finger, representing one thing. Mitch   “One finger?” Curly    “One thing, just one thing.  You stick to that and the rest don’t mean nothin’. ” Mitch   “That’s great, but what’s the one thing. ” Curly    “That’s what you gotta figure out. ” Here is a version of the scene on you tube:  "The Secret of Life"   In February 1998, as I was going though some difficult times, I wrote down these thoughts (but let's pretend that Curly said them in the movie):  Curly...

"Oh me, oh my.  What am I to do about life's problems?"  NO!!!!!  That's not what to say about the trying times of life.  What to say is, "PRESS ON!!!!  NO MATTER WHAT!!!!  PRESS ON!!!!" I am encouraged today, greatly encouraged today.  Why?  Because I have found a few Christians who really get it and they are planting seeds in my life, and thus encouraging me to press on, no matter what.  They are speaking life into my spirit.  Encourage one another.  Strengthen one another.  That's what the Word says to do for one another, as well as about 40 other "one another phrases ".  With some things in my life, I might say that my back is at the Red Sea and Pharaoh is coming dead-on straight at me.   What shall I say?  "Oh me, oh my.  What am I to do about life's problems ?"    NO!!!!!   I am saying, "PRESS ON!!!!  NO MATTER WHAT!!!!  PRESS ON!!!!  MY GOD IS BIG!!!! " My Aunt...

Since discovering G42 on July 2, 2011 , and subsequently considering the topic of "being dead to self" , I have been reading Paul's letters to the churches in Rome, Corinth, and Galatia.  It's quite shocking to read about what he said the believers were doing in those cities .  Pretty bad things.  Then Paul talks about himself, not doing what he wants to do, but doing what he does not want to.  That makes me ask, "What was he doing that he should not have been doing?"   Maybe it's good that we don't know, because if we did, we might compare ourselves to him and say, "Well, I'm not that bad.  I should be okay" or "I am worse than that.  How can I expect to make it."  Paul gave a lot of instructions to the churches in those letters.  Some instructions related to the sins some had been committing.  It's not a pretty picture. Those letters, where Paul addresses what the believers were doing that was sinful, make we wonder , ...

I continue to ponder and watch as I delve into "Christ being formed in us" as part of "The 42nd Generation" .  How can I know where God is taking me on this journey?  He has been developing this in me for a lifetime, my lifetime.  What is He doing?  What does He want me to do?  Some of that can be answered daily in making the right choices that are made possible as a result of "dieing to self" .  How much have I died?  Hum....help me God. The past 2 weeks I have been making connections on LinkedIn that are stretching across the world.  I've conversed with Matt from Austrailia , James from India , Rita from Nebraska , others near my home, and some across the USA.  Matt's connection took me to others, one such in the UK.  Until recently, LinkedIn was just faces on a page for me.  And then I started talking to people on LinkedIn, not knowing where they were from.  And James from India contacted me.  I was thrilled to d...

There are a few preachers who stir my spirit to the point of inspiring me to move out and search for what God is doing and what He wants to do.  Since getting introduced to " G42, The 42nd Generation " , in July 2011, only weeks ago, I am being transformed and I am changing what I am doing. One thing I've done is resurrect (even though they've never been dead) my CDs by Lou Engle, "The Elijah Revolution" and "X-treme Disciples" .  Amazingly powerful and stirring content with prayers, scripture, and music.  There's never been any CDs published like those. At the below link, you will find "A Message To The King" from "The Elijah Revolution" .  I dare you to listen to it over and over and see what it does to you.  Then you will feel how badly the world needs "The 42nd Generation" .  Then go buy both CDs and reverberate them in your spirit.  You will be changed and you will go out to be "dangerous to the st...

I attended an educational session today on Generational Differences.  I was hoping to hear strategies on how the generations can learn to work together and not be so isolated and locked into their known stereotypes - Traditionals, Baby Boomers, Gen Xers, and Gen Yers. As usual in these sessions, the instructor talked about each generation being influenced by the happenings of its day.  Such as Traditionals affected by WWII, Boomers affected by the Kennedy Assassination, Gen Xers affected as latch key kids, and Gen Yers affected by technology.  The instructor also presented the different values of each generation, values that affect their interaction.  This all seems logical and, therefore, easy to believe. There seemed to be no direct discussion about relationships, no discussion of right and wrong, and no discussion of proper standards.  Seems to me that relationship should transcend differences, and a standard to live by determines what is right and wrong....

Music from my younger years is ingrained in me.  Some good.  Some not so good.  I like to recall the good ones.  Here is a song from a group called "The Magnificent Men" who were from my hometown of Harrisburg, PA  in the 1960s, and made it somewhat big on the music scene.  It's called "Peace of Mind."    A great and unforgettable sound with a good message. I once heard a preacher (Andrew Shearman) say that he would take a modern song and apply it to his life.  Might be a love song to sing to his wife.  I think the artist referred to was Rod Stewart and love song might have been "Have I Told You Lately."   This preacher, as a Christian, did not automatically discount secular songs, but he found a truthful message where one could be found. Well the lyrics of "Peace of Mind" , which is linked below, remind me of what Paul talks about in scripture.  He suffered all kinds of things as the man in this song mentions of himsel...

Today, I have been recalling and listening to many songs by various artists that I have hung onto over the years, and posting some of them on my Facebook page.  This one by Leon Patillo is probably going to make me wonder if "The Spirit of the Lord is Upon Me" .  And if so, what am I going to do about it.   I'm supposing I will be "....an unreasonable man" .  Do you "Get My Drift?" The Spirit of the Lord Is Upon Me - Leon Patillo

In my passionate times, I am pumped with loud music, a loud voice, and high energy.  When I hear the truth preached by selfless teachers of the word, I am filled with power and faith and I want to do as Paul said in Philippians 3:14, "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."  The word " press " makes me first think of "pushing with high energy" .  But it could also mean "pressing into Him quietly and fervently with a sincere heart." So when do I get quiet and consider what I am called to?   Go with me here, in this song by Steve Fry, "We Are Called" .  Even though it's 28 years old, it is still as powerful as ever. "We Are Called" by Steve Fry, 1983

Oh God, teach us to raise up our families to be "unreasonable men and women" who will not tolerate the destruction of souls in our world.  Make us, our sons and daughters, and our grandsons and granddaughters to be dead to self and alive to Christ and free to be "unreasonable" transformers of our world and not "reasonable" conformers to our world. Lou Engle calls it The Elijah Revolution. Listen to his prayer   The Elijah Revolution - By Lou Engle . You've probably never heard anything like it, but if you get it in YOU, you will be changed, and then feed it to your family members, and bring them into The 42nd Generation.