January | 2012 | devinkroner

Archive for January, 2012

Important things in life (Pt 1)

I have a few stories I want to share with you, which I hope will help you evaluate your life and priorities as a parent, spouse, leader, and Christian. We all are given time as a gift by God. We need to learn to use it wisely, so the things that matter take up the most of it!

Enjoy story #1. DK

A pastor stood before his people with some items on the table in front of him. When the sermon began, wordlessly he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks, about 2 inches in diameter.

He then asked the people if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

So the pastor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks.

He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The pastor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else.
He then asked once more if the jar was full. The people responded with a unanimous “Yes.”

“Now,” said the preacher, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The rocks are the important things – your family, your spouse, your health, your children – things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter – like your job, your house, your car.

The sand is everything else. The small stuff.”

“If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued “there is no room for the pebbles or the rocks. The same goes for your life.

If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take your spouse out on a date. There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party and fix the disposal.

Take care of the rocks first – the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.”

2012: 01/26
CATEGORY: Uncategorized
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Tips to be a better parent (From a parent, not me!)

This is another great EpicParent.tv post that I just got. I, too love the Undercover Boss Show and thought this was one worth sharing!
Enjoy!
DK

I am a fan of the show Undercover Boss.

In case you have never seen the show…

CEO’s of major corporations go “undercover” and work as new employees in their own organization to check on the health of their own organization and employees!

I am telling you, if you have never seen the show…it’s must see TV for sure.

So last week, Stephen J. Coolbeck, the CEO of Diamond Resorts International slapped on a hideous wig, grew a gotee and put on some retro 80′s eye wear and went under cover.
And what he found was astonishing!

He found employees that risked life and limb for his organization, employees that cared as much as he did, employees that had been under trained, employees that weren’t making a fair wage, employees that sucked, employees that were over worked and employees that had no business working in his business.
So at the very end of the show, Stephen invited the employees he worked with to his home to reveal his true identity as well as encourage or confront their behavior.

This is the part of the show where you need a box of Kleenex! On this particular episode I had to fight back tears in front of my family to keep my macho image intact.

To one man that had recently lost his savings in a bad business deal…Stephen paid off his 150k mortgage and gave him an extra 50k cash.

To one young lady that was taking care of her sick mom…Stephen gave her a significant amount of cash to offset some medical expenses.

To the young lady that did a horrible job…Stephen paid off her school loan and helped her get the training she needed to advance in the company.

So you may be wandering what does Undercover Boss have to do with parenting. Well, I learned several leadership lessons from Stephen Coolbeck that inspired me to be a better parent.

1. Irrational Generosity: This man went above and beyond the call in duty and was irrationally generous with his employees and he inspired me to be irrationally generous with my kids. Most importantly I was inspired to be generous with my time. Some parents buy into the QUALITY over QUANTITY theory when it comes to time. Nice try mom and dad! Your kids need your time more than they need anything else.

2. Blessing In Failure: This man blessed those that didn’t deserve his blessing. This is Jesus stuff here. My heavenly Father blesses me when I don’t deserve it as well as when I fail. Stephen taught me that in the midst of my kids failures, they need my blessing…so that I can prove my love is not based on their performance.

3. Honest Compassion: As I watched the show, this multimillionaire had a pure and honest compassion for the hurts and struggles of his employees. As a parent, I can get so busy that I forget to have compassion and “feel” the hurt of my kiddos. Yeah, I feel the “tough” stuff they are going through…but Stephen inspired me to have compassion in the smallest of details in my kids lives.

4. Intent Listening: As Stephen worked alongside his employees, I was amazed…because he truly listened. He took note of names, challenges and loves of his employees. I must admit…many times in conversations with my kids I am a “distracted listener”. Stephen inspired me to be an intent listener and to really pay attention to the voice and stories of my kids.

2012: 01/23
CATEGORY: Uncategorized
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Bible Verses on Healing.

I was preparing to do a prayer session on the subject of healing and came across several verses on the subject. I believe strongly that God is a Healer and that sickness is not His will for our lives.

Read these verses, and see if you don’t come to the same conclusion. I’m not suggesting we demand God do our will, but I would suggest that we need to be more diligent to take God at face value when it comes to what His Word says!

1. (Exodus 15:26 NKJV) and said, “If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you.”

2. (Deuteronomy 32:39 NKJV) ‘Now see that I, even I, am He, And there is no God besides Me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; Nor is there any who can deliver from My hand.

3. (2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV) “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

4. (Psalms 30:2 NKJV) O LORD my God, I cried out to You, And You healed me.

5. (Psalms 6:2 NKJV) Have mercy on me, O LORD, for I am weak; O LORD, heal me, for my bones are troubled.

6. (Psalms 103:1-4 NKJV) Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! {2} Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: {3} Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, {4} Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,

7. (Psalms 107:20 NKJV) He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their destructions.

8. (Psalms 147:3 NKJV) He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds.

9. (Proverbs 3:7-8 NKJV) Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil. {8} It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.

10. (Proverbs 4:20-22 NKJV) My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. {21} Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; {22} For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh.

11. (Isaiah 53:5 NKJV) But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

12. (Isaiah 58:8 NKJV) Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.

13. (Isaiah 61:1 NKJV) “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

14. (Jeremiah 3:22 NKJV) “Return, you backsliding children, And I will heal your backslidings.” “Indeed we do come to You, For You are the LORD our God.

15. (Jeremiah 17:14 NKJV) Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; Save me, and I shall be saved, For You are my praise.

16. (Jeremiah 30:17 NKJV) For I will restore health to you And heal you of your wounds,’ says the LORD, ‘Because they called you an outcast saying: “This is Zion; No one seeks her.”‘

17. (Jeremiah 33:6 NKJV) ‘Behold, I will bring it health and healing; I will heal them and reveal to them the abundance of peace and truth.

18. (Hosea 6:1 NKJV) Come, and let us return to the LORD; For He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up.

19. (Hosea 14:4 NKJV) “I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely, For My anger has turned away from him.

20. (Malachi 4:2 NKJV) But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise With healing in His wings; And you shall go out And grow fat like stall-fed calves.

21. (Matthew 4:23 NKJV) And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.

22. (Matthew 8:13 NKJV) Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour.

23. (Matthew 8:16 NKJV) When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick,

24. (Matthew 9:35 NKJV) Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

25. (Matthew 10:1 NKJV) And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.

26. (Matthew 10:8 NKJV) “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

27. (Matthew 12:22 NKJV) Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw.

28. (Matthew 14:14 NKJV) And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.

29. (Luke 6:19 NKJV) And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all.

30. (Luke 9:6 NKJV) So they departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.(The twelve are sent out)

31. (Luke 10:8-9 NKJV) “Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. {9} “And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’(The seventy are sent out)

32. (Luke 17:15 NKJV) And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God,(The story of the ten lepers)

33. (Acts 3:12 NKJV) So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: “Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?

34. (Healing of the lame man at the Gate Beautiful) (Acts 4:29-31 NKJV) “Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, {30} “by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” {31} And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

35. (1 Corinthians 12:9 NKJV) to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,

36. (James 5:14-16 NKJV) Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. {15} And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. {16} Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

37. (Revelation 22:2 NKJV) In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

38. (Luke 8:47 NKJV) Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately.

39. (Luke 8:48 NKJV) And He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”

40. (Luke 5:17 NKJV) Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them.

2012: 01/23
CATEGORY: Uncategorized
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Poor Elisha Grey (guest post)

This post came to me in the form of an email devotion from a pastor service I subscribe to. After reading it, I feel like there are people who read this blog who could be in that place of Elisha Grey. Don’t let your dreams die without a fight, unless God tells you to!

Enjoy this,

by Ron Walters

Grey, an Illinois electrical engineer, brainstormed an idea, morphed it into form, and after he proved its worth, sat on the idea for two years, all because of bad advice.

But…I’m getting ‘way ahead of myself.

In 1874, on an otherwise ordinary day, Elisha Grey walked into the sanctuary of the Highland Park Presbyterian Church and made history. He strung a large spool of telegraph wire throughout the church in an effort to create the telephone—a Greek word: tele, meaning “far away”, and phone, meaning “voice”. Grey believed two people could speak with each other from distant points using nothing but liquid-based microphones and wire.

Low and behold, the crazy thing worked. Crowded pews of gapping onlookers were wowed by the success. The sound of the first telephone was born—and in a church no less!

But Grey had a much harder time swaying his investors with his ingenious product. And, based upon the bad advice of his dentist who thought the telephone was “a waste of investor’s money,” Grey’s prototype went nowhere. Some people just don’t get it!

However, after two years of painful delay, a self-determined Elisha Grey packed up his notes and stormed the halls of the United States Patent Office to file paperwork on his invention. He was anxious to tell the patent committee all about his success in the Highland Park Church sanctuary.

Unfortunately, during that lost time, another inventor had been working on a similar concept. And as Grey unveiled his story to the committee, he learned that Alexander Graham Bell had dropped off his own plans and applied for a telephone patent just two hours earlier.

(Insert mirific name calling, accusations and litigation.)

Although Bell’s plans did not include a working model, nor did his conceptual prototype ever work, the courts found in Bell’s favor and rewarded him the rights to the telephone invention—all because Grey was two hours late with his presentation.

He had left his idea hanging in the sanctuary.

But bad choices are not limited to inventions. They can come in the form of words too.

For example, in November of 1863, the Honorable Edward Everett gave the opening address at the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery in Gettysburg, PA. Everett’s brain-numbing rhetoric droned on for two full hours. When Everett finished, President Abraham Lincoln was invited to speak. Two minutes later he’d given the most memorable speech in American history—The Gettysburg Address.

Lincoln’s words will live thru time. Everett’s words died at the cemetery.

The same can be said of Jesus and His ever-present nemesis, the rabbinic fraternity. While they loved to exegete The Law, Jesus simply came to fulfill it. While they tried to handcuff their listeners, Jesus set His free. While they wanted confessions, He offered compassion. Big difference!

The Pharisees had a one-size-fits-all approach to ministry, but Jesus customized His for each person and every audience. To the hurting, He spoke of hope. At a funeral, He spoke of life. To the blind, He spoke of light. To the leper, He offered His healing touch. And the people loved Him for it.

The Pharisees’ words were left hanging in the sanctuary while His changed the world!

There’s a great summation in Jesus’ prayer of John 17. “The words that You gave to Me, I have given to them.” Jesus’ teaching was filled with the Father’s words, and therefore, full of power. They were irresistible. They revolutionized lives—then and now. That’s because, more than any others, the Father’s words have staying power. They hit their target.

Our pulpit work is not your average nine-to-five. It shines light into darkness. It pumps life into hardened hearts. Like Jesus, we want our words to count. We get it! And because we do, our words will never be left in the sanctuary.

Ron Walters
Vice President of Church Relations