BONUS DAY #72

Three weeks from today we will be heading out to the Holy Land with a group of pilgrims (God willing).  I love to go to Israel, and love to take people with me.  It is a calling to get as many people there as possible.  I am humbled and appreciative that God has given me the opportunity to do this kind of ministry.

Every day is a Bonus Day.

Much Love,

Marc

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BONUS DAY #71

I love going to a professional baseball game.  Today I went with a friend to see the Chicago Cubs play the Giants.  It was a great game, great seats, and the Cubs won the game.  When we got back to the car it was covered with black tar from the Train that went over head.  It was official fan parking with solid surface and stripped lines to park.  There were at least a dozen cars covered with tar.  The man in charge gave us a telephone number to call.  When I called his number, I left a voicemail about what happened.  It is a day later, and no return call.  It is Friday of Memorial Day Weekend, so probably won’t hear anything from them until next week.  It is a challenge to trust God in “real time” but that’s what this is.  However, a car isn’t your health, it isn’t your loved ones–a car is a piece of metal.  Perspective:  BONUS DAYS!

Every day is a Bonus Day!

Much Love,

Marc

BONUS DAY #70

Jesus explained to John at His own baptism that it was right for John to baptize Jesus (rather than vice/versa)–“to fulfill all righteousness.”  The religious leaders were present to criticize Jesus (just like John before him).  Jesus concept of righteousness (diakonia) had to do with the spirit of honesty in our lives.  Jesus saw a fundamental absence of honesty in the personal lives and professional ethic of the religious leaders who were the center of daily life in His time.  The very action of Jesus letting John baptize Him in the name of honesty reminds us that “our walk and our talk” need to match.  Honesty is the opposite of hypocrisy.  The religious leaders were hypocritical in how they created a standard for others they didn’t follow themselves.  Jesus exposed it.  He is still exposing it.

Every day is a Bonus Day.

Much Love,

Marc

BONUS DAY #69

“In the last days, I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh and your sons and your daughters will prophecy, and your young men shall see visions and your old men will dream dreams.  Upon my handmaiden and my servants I will pour out my Spirit and you shall see signs in the Heaven above and the earth below.  Your sun will be turned into darkness and your moon into blood.  Blood and fire and vapor of smoke….before the great and glorious coming of the Lord….”

Recorded first in the Old Testament (the book of Joel) and quoted by Peter in Acts chapter 2, it tells of both what we are experiencing in our modern weather patterns and the natural world.

Probably the most important aspect of this Old Testament prophecy is the spiritual vitality it describes.  It is not all doom and gloom at the End of Time.  “I will pout out my Spirit upon all flesh” is a powerful reminder of God’s intention to be PRESENT; TO BE ENGAGED; TO BE INVOLVED in all areas of our lives.  SO LET’S NOT BLOW IT BY GETTING IN GOD’S WAY!  Amen.

Every day is a Bonus Day!

Much Love,

Marc

BONUS DAY #68

I graduated from cardiac rehab today–68 days later.  The insurance company hasn’t paid the bill from the hospital.  The bill got selected for special review for the charges on it.  The hospital has been good about it so far, but it gives me a better understanding and appreciation for the nervousness older people have when it comes to the paying of their medical bills.  It is important to wait it out and let the systems work things through.  Trust that God is in charge of your life and the things that happen are in His hands/care.  No detail is too small for God to handle.  Prayer and (persistent prayer) is the key to positive outcome.  Jesus said, “Cast all your cares upon me.”

Every day is a Bonus Day.

Much Love,

Marc

BONUS DAY #67

I was thinking a lot about the Palm Sunday Route that comes out of the Mount of Olives and curls around to the Garden of Gethsemane.  The song of “Hosanna in the Highest” sums up my prayer as I think of the times I have had the honor of walking this route:

“Heal my heart and make it clean”

“Open up my eyes to the things unseen”

“Show me how to love like you have loved me”

“Break my heart for what breaks yours”

“Everything I have for your Kingdom’s Cause”

“As I walk from here….into/to eternity.”

Amen.

Every day is a Bonus Day.

Much Love,

Marc

BONUS DAY #66

I didn’t believe her when she thought replacing our hallow core interior doors with solid six panel doors would make a difference.  I was wrong.  When you are wrong, you are wrong.  Those solid core doors really do make the whole house quieter.  The funny thing is, we can’t yell across the house to each other any longer!  What kind of doors we had didn’t make any difference to me, but it did to her.  In marriage–AND IN LIFE–it is important to listen to one another and realize there are times that–I DON’T KNOW WHAT IT IS I DON’T KNOW.  Interior doors of a house falls into that category for me.

Every day is a Bonus Day.

Much Love,

Marc

BONUS DAY #65

We took a six hour road trip in each direction to help celebrate a friend’s birthday, as well as, see a missionary friend who flew in to surprise her.  As we were leaving the small Iowa town we stopped by to see a cousin we hadn’t connect with for 40 years.  Although we were only able to spend a few minutes, I was reminded how important family connection is to our emotional lives.  One’s family (near and far) is more important to stay connected than I ever realized.  Live, learn, AND stay connected.

Every day is a Bonus Day.

Much Love,

Marc

BONUS DAY #64

It doesn’t matter who you are or situation you are in, God is constantly dropping into your life!  God doesn’t forget anyone or anything.  God is at work–we choose to acknowledge it or ignore it, but whether we acknowledge or ignore, it DOES NOT CHANGE THE FACT THAT GOD IS AT WORK.  He is at work right here and right now in your life!

Every day is a Bonus Day.

Much Love,

Marc

BONUS DAY #63

I was reminded today how important it is for us to always yield to God and pray.  We can talk and talk and talk.  We can discuss and dialogue, but (at the end of the day) the best thing to do is to stop, take a breath, and turn it (whatever “it is”) over to God.  Just a reminder……

Every day is a Bonus Day.

Much Love,

Marc