Birthday

Kopp Disclosure

(John 3:19-21)

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Birthday

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“Before you were born, God knew you.

Then God made you.

He knit you together in your mother’s womb.

God loves you very much.

So He sent His Son, His substance Jesus, to save you.

Now God wants you to be His.”

Word

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“The two most important days in your life are

the day you are born

and

the day you find out why.”

Mark Twain

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            I don’t spend a lot of time looking back.

            Aside from not being able to control the backward look once you start, I’m a Philippians 3:7-14 and new wineskins kinda guy.

            I’m a missionary not manager of a museum or mausoleum.

            Besides, I’m also a Romans 8:28 juxtaposed to Psalms 37 and 62 kinda guy; which means I’m not shaken that much by the existential because of complete confidence and cognizance in the eternal by grace through faith in Jesus.

            Please don’t get me wrong.

            I have some very, very, very good memories; and I think about ‘em on occasion.

            But, no, I don’t think much about the pejoratives.

            Gone.

            Just about forgotten.

            Like me – now and…then.

            However, I’m also a 1 John 1 kinda disciple.

            Candidly, I have never tried intentionally to hurt anyone.

            Confessionally, I have hurt people in my life and ministry.

            Given the opportunity, I have confessed, labored to repent, and begged reconciliation.

            I’ve always figured it’s the only Christian thing to do.

            Recently, I had a dream.

            It was about someone hurt by me many, many, many years go.  I caused the pain in my immaturity not intentionality; and others suffered because of my sin against this person.

            Face to face, the person did not say a word.

            I did: “It wasn’t your fault.  I was the problem.  I’m sorry.”

            Smiles.

            Strange overwhelming warmth.

            Freedom from the past.

            Fearlessness about the future.

            That’s what happens when we do it for them which is the same as doing it for Him which is the preface to increased intimacy with Him and blessings from Him.

            No rationalizing.

            No blaming others.

            No need to win.

            No need to be right.

            No need to get more votes.

            No waiting for them to make the first move.

            Confession + repentance = restoration.

            When I die from Grandpa Jacob’s cancer genes or get assassinated by an Islamofascistnutball or somebody who’s still mad at me for taking the church away from them and giving it back to Jesus, my only goal, ambition, and prayer is this: “He loved Jesus; and he loved people enough to tell them about Jesus!”

            Yeah, exclamation point.

            Passion.

            It must go both ways in a Matthew 16:24-28 kinda way.

            I don’t need anything/anyone for my birthday.

            I have Jesus.

            O.K., I wouldn’t mind a few gift cards to Starbucks, Woodstock Harley-Davidson, or the local gas station; or that really neat Taurus “Public Defender” (aka concealable Judge).

            Oops!

            My sin is showing again.

            See, it wasn’t Steve Martin featured in The Jerk.

            Me.

            I need Jesus.

            Like you, I have Him by grace through faith.

 

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Blessings and Love!

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