“…What I was doing was trying to project what I thought would impress, and you cannot be blessed, while you’re projecting to be impressive.” “Are you projecting to impress?” 1 Min Motivation, Steven Furtick

Guilty!

When I wrote “My Story” for this blog, I did that. I typed, “My dad served on staff at Bible School.” That sounded impressive.

Last Saturday, I changed it to “My dad was the maintenance man.” He was a student for two years, but they really needed a “handyman.”

It isn’t impressive until I explain. After our house fire, Dad gutted it and rebuilt it. He did: plumbing, electrical, carpentry, sheet-rock, roofing, masonry, laid carpet and installed new cabinets. This was before youtube.com existed!

Eight years after we moved back to Iowa, they hired him again. He spent a few months re-wiring Pinecrest Bible Training Center.

As “maintenance man” at The Ottumwa Clinic, he custom-built cabinets to the doctor’s specifications. He never projected to impress. He always referred to himself as an electrician and handyman. (His degree was in refrigeration.)

But his work still stands. The young men he mentored still talk about him.

* * * * * * *

When I started this blog, I had no idea what to do. I didn’t want to start a discussion on theology. (I overheard enough of those growing up.) I wanted to share the basics that I know and understand:

• God loves me.
• Jesus died for me.
• God has a plan for me.
• Jesus is coming back for me.
• God cares about the tiny details in my life.

1 Corinthians 2:1-2, “You’ll remember, friends, that when I first came to you to let you in on God’s master stroke, I didn’t try to impress you with polished speeches and the latest philosophy. (2) I deliberately kept it plain and simple: first Jesus and who He is; then Jesus and what He did – Jesus crucified.” The Message

I wanted you to see there are mysteries hidden in the Bible. I wanted to show you how to dig:

• Look up the words you don’t understand.
• Read the cross-reference verses found in the center of the page or a concordance.
• Look up the places on the Bible Maps for that era.
• Read the notes on the bottom of the chapter or page.
• Find the Hebrew meaning of words at abarim-publications.com.

1 Corinthians 2:7, “God’s wisdom is something mysterious that goes deep into the interior of His purposes. You don’t find it lying around on the surface.” The Message

I try not to preach. I’m sure I fail. I try explaining things the same way I do for my children.

1 Corinthians 4:14-15, “I am not writing all this as a neighborhood scold just to make you feel rotten. (15) I’m writing as a father to you, my children. I love you and want you to grow up well, not spoiled.” The Message

My goal is for us to grow together. We never “arrive.” There is always more – much more!

1 Corinthians 3:3, “As long as you grab for what makes you feel good or makes you look important, are you really much different than a babe at the breast, content only when everything’s going your way?” The Message

Get out your shovel, dear reader. Dig for yourself!

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