Mr. Hogan's Blog2010-03-13T20:01:48ZMr. HoganCopyright 2010, Mr. HoganSPHPBLOGGod Exists When God finished creating everything (heaven, sky, day, night, us, animals, etc.) he looked back and saw that it was a good thing.
But, the one thing he did when he created us was give us free will. Our free will destroyed that good thing. Our free will and free will alone can only make it good again.
Only God and our mother's truly knew us when we were in the womb. I've got kids; but, when they were in their mother's belly I didn't really know them. Only their mom knew them at that time. Their mom and God.
Bruce McLaren relates a story about a bug. He saw a ladybug land on his shirt one day and proceed to walk to the left...then walked up...then walked down...and then the bug stopped and began to wash itself with his left antennae. Then his right antennae. And then in another moment the bug was gone. Of all the places the bug could have landed he landed on Bruce's shirt. And the bug had a purpose. To rest and clean itself. Basically an Entomological Argument for the Existence of God.
If there are living, purposeful bugs, there must be a God!
]]>http://mrhoganrocks.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry100224-0613152010-02-24T00:00:00Z2010-02-24T00:00:00ZWhat's in a Name?
Isaiah 40:28-31 (The Message)
27-31Why would you ever complain, O Jacob, or, whine, Israel, saying, "God has lost track of me. He doesn't care what happens to me"? Don't you know anything? Haven't you been listening? God doesn't come and go. God lasts. He's Creator of all you can see or imagine. He doesn't get tired out, doesn't pause to catch his breath. And he knows everything, inside and out. He energizes those who get tired, gives fresh strength to dropouts. For even young people tire and drop out, young folk in their prime stumble and fall. But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, They run and don't get tired, they walk and don't lag behind.
God is known by so many names. So are we. Selfish and ungrateful. Fallen and sinful. Weak and helpless. Proud and arrogant.
Yet, God still comes to redeem us. What could be more incredible?
It's been a journey -- and there are days I absolutely don't feel God in my spirit or in my home. But, he is there -- and I'm embarrassed and humiliated by what he sees. But, he still loves each and every one of us.]]>http://mrhoganrocks.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry100223-0805372010-02-23T00:00:00Z2010-02-23T00:00:00ZGod can handle the truth Either we can't handle hearing the truth -- or we can't handle being truthful for fear the other person can't handle the truth.
Fortunately God doesn't hold grudges nor does he judge. He listens and guides us. No matter how angry we may get at him - he doesn't leave us. Since he created us he knows our every emotion. He definitely knows me better than I know myself.
I have found God to be very responsive in the past to my complaints and frustrations and I never do believe I'll drive him away. But, I do know sometimes I take his grace for granted.
I wish I could be more like God when I've wronged. I think we all crave that unconditional love. It's so easy to want it; but, so hard to give it.
]]>http://mrhoganrocks.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry100204-0844542010-02-04T00:00:00Z2010-02-04T00:00:00ZWhat storms have you found yourself weathering recently? I am grateful that last night my family and I did get to spend a few minutes before bedtime praying together. I want this to be a routine that our boys grow to love and expect.
I know many of us remember things our parents did for us when we grew up. This I want to be one of those things. If our children don't see us praying to God for guidance how are they going to learn to do so?
We are going to continue to have storms; but, if we seek shelter by sharing with God he'll get us through the storm.
Right now it's stormy out -- and I look forward to balmy weather.
Verse of the day...Psalm 97:1-12]]>http://mrhoganrocks.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry100203-0832552010-02-03T00:00:00Z2010-02-03T00:00:00ZI need God in my life Everyday Everway Many of us tend to build our lives around this type of pie:
We carve out chunks of our life for him. Usually the smallest chunk -- an hour on Sunday and a few minutes each day (if we are good Christians).
But, what we really should be looking for is a pie that looks like this:
Pastor Loveless at Discovery Church demonstrated this really well last weekend. I strive to put God in the center of my life.
My prayer is that he takes charge of my struggles. That he helps me get our family praying together.
That he helps me get our family on a budget spending less than I make. :-)
I know it can be done; but, not if I continue to only look to humans for help. ]]>http://mrhoganrocks.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry100202-0607002010-02-02T00:00:00Z2010-02-02T00:00:00ZOut of the Foxhole Then the war was over and I came home and reverted back to my normal routines.
In 2003 I had a near fatal crash on my 1966 vespa. Ironic somewhat considering I was born in 1966 and the vehicle that I nearly lost my life on was also born in 1966.
Fortunately the only thing that died that day was the scooter. But, it did result in a very long hospital stay and again a period that brought me closer to God. He spared my life for a reason -- but, what reason was that?
My point is -- I had many foxhole relationships with God. I am in the process of bringing my relationship with him out of the Foxhole.
I have a lot of growing and maturing to do; but, I will get there.
I need to make God a priority in my life. He needs to be the center of my life -- not just a percentage of my life. ]]>http://mrhoganrocks.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry100201-0907212010-02-01T00:00:00Z2010-02-01T00:00:00Zthat's my boy.....and i hope he grows up better than me I hope he grows up smarter than his dad.
This morning at my bible study the subject of temptation was brought up. Pastor Barry said "Temptation is not evil -- the next step is".
I never really thought about it like that. I've always considered temptation in and of itself bad. But, Jesus was tempted. It's what we do with the temptation that's bad.
But, having them is normal. We just have to choose to fight the temptation or flee from the temptation. I usually flee.
But, I also usually feel guilty for having been tempted at all. ]]>http://mrhoganrocks.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry100129-0627282010-01-29T00:00:00Z2010-01-29T00:00:00ZThis morning's entry
"If you want to claim credit, claim it for God." What you say about yourself means nothing in God's work. It's what God says about you that makes the difference.
This weekend I had the pleasure of listening to Pastor Jon Tyson (http://www.discoverychurch.bz/media_player/media_player.html) and it was amazing.
He spoke about grace.
How as Christians we have God's grace and did nothing to earn it. Once more, there is nothing we do (short of believing in him) that we must do to keep his grace.
It was a great message of tolerance and insight.
I'm going to try to do a better job journaling about my daily bible readings. Writing by hand is difficult as I can never read it -- so I type.
I'm also going to try again to institute a family devotion time. It's been difficult to find a time of day that works for everyone. I'm so not good at putting my foot down and want everyone to do it willingly. That may not happen.
It's something I have to continue praying about for guidance.
From 1st John 2:15-17
Don't love the world's ways. Don't love the world's goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity.
This needs to be my new mantra.
Change is hard. It's especially hard when those around you don't believe in your or encourage you. Not that I can blame them. Historically I have let them down; but, God ultimately is who I need to please. ]]>http://mrhoganrocks.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry100128-0942312010-01-28T00:00:00Z2010-01-28T00:00:00Zpatience This morning I was doing my bible study -- I purposely come into work early to do it here in my office away from distractions.
At least I have less distractions here then I would at home.
And twice during my bible study I was interrupted. I know my reaction wasn't what it should have been; but, I still know I reacted poorly.
I didn't say anything; but, I know my body language spoke for me.
I'm sure this happens in more places than just here.
I'm sure my wife could give countless examples.
]]>http://mrhoganrocks.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry100120-0601292010-01-20T00:00:00Z2010-01-20T00:00:00ZI still need... ON another note -- what's the difference between killing and slaughtering? When Josiah slaughtered the priests in the town of Samaria what separates that from killing?]]>http://mrhoganrocks.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry091202-0623372009-12-02T00:00:00Z2009-12-02T00:00:00Z
