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Reveration Blog

10/3/2022 1 Comment

When the Sea Rages

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Hurricane Ian unleashed its rain and winds upon Florida, and conservative estimates think the cost of damages could exceed $55 billion.[1]  That is a horrific blow to the lives of all affected. Ian did not catch Florida by surprise because sophisticated satellite tracking and imaging allowed meteorologists to be pretty accurate in tracking the storm’s course and speed. That is a good thing because it allowed people to prepare for the storm and, if necessary, escape to safety. But imagine if you were on a boat with your smartphone and a mobile weather app that called for clear skies and warm weather when suddenly a furious squall came out of nowhere and threatened everyone’s lives?  That is what happened to Jonah (except none of them had smartphones).

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6/12/2022 1 Comment

Followership

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​Across the planet, leadership is a relevant and popular topic. It is heavily researched and widely championed from the time we are children to the end of our lives. But when was the last time you heard a school teacher, a CEO, a pastor, or a manager tout the benefits of being a follower and place that emphasis on equal footing with promoting leaders? “Followership is a process whereby an individual or individuals accept the influence of others to accomplish a common goal.”[1]  It is not a term we hear mentioned often yet it is a very important concept.

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12/31/2021 0 Comments

Finding Stasis

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​Meditation
Daniel 5:26-28--This is the interpretation of the message: MENE means that God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end. TEKEL means that you have been weighed in the balance and found deficient.PERES means that your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians.

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2/21/2016

Taking Responsibility

Karen worked at Bethel Chapel in the children’s department for two years and was pretty good at her job.  When she first started working there she was attracted to her boss, until she found out he was married. Then she did the appropriate thing and simply focused on her work.  Her boss, Fred, learned that she was a single mom and he and his wife did their best to help her out.  At some point in the process of helping, he became attracted to Karen.  Soon, everyone in the office noticed Fred was spending a lot of time with her.  Gradually she grew embarrassed by his increasing attention.  He continuously texted her, often walked her to her car after work, and was overly aggressive about finding out about her personal life. Though the church office was filled with gossip about Fred and Karen, no one confronted Fred.  

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6/22/2014 0 Comments

Bags of Groceries

Donna sat next to me on my plane flight home. I was blessed to get to know this incredible woman.  Donna is the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of HMS, a company she started. As she shared with me some of her life story I was most impressed by her humility and her sense of gratefulness.  

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6/24/2012 0 Comments

I Grabbed a Rifle

​Guards stopped us at the entrance to Forward Operating Base (FOB) Ho Chunk and checked our IDs before allowing my Command Sergeant Major (CSM) and me to walk unarmed into the camp where several units were assigned.   As we inspected the premises we saw unmade beds and gear strewn haphazardly inside tents. Soldiers walked by us out of uniform.  At one point I ducked inside a tent and noticed several unsecured weapons.  I grabbed an M16 and slung it on my shoulder.  As we continued observing, warning sirens sounded and a quick response force rushed by us to meet a notional threat.  I wondered what soldier was running around trying to find what happened to his M16!  The captain in charge of the FOB (known as the mayor) approached us and spoke to us for several minutes.  Amazingly he completely missed the fact that I was carrying a rifle—not something generals do.  

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8/3/2010 0 Comments

Hidden

​Meditation
Jeremiah 36:26—Then the king commanded Jerahmeel the king's son, Seraiah son of Azriel, and Shelemiah son of Abdeel to seize Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet, but the LORD had hidden them.
 

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8/12/2008 0 Comments

Stewardship

​Meditation
Luke 16:10-12—Whoever is faithful in very little is also faithful in much, and whoever is unrighteous in very little is also unrighteous in much. So if you have not been faithful with the unrighteous money, who will trust you with what is genuine? And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to someone else, who will give you what is your own? 
 

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1/1/2008 0 Comments

Two Traps

​In an age of relativism the roar of the crowd is to tame God’s Word. Two traps await Christians in this hostile environment. 
 

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5/8/2007 0 Comments

Preoccupation

  • God was in the room when he showered, shaved and grabbed a quick breakfast while reading the headlines and the entire sports section.
  • God was in the car when she drove to school. He saw the traffic jam and her fluster. He listened to the DJ jabbering.  He heard her sing KLOST’s latest pop songs.  
  • God was in the office while he labored on his sales presentation.  He felt the worry on his face.  He read his thoughts about his coworkers.  
  • God was in the hospital and noticed her lingering obsession with the handsome receptionist; the rationalization that flirting was not the same thing as cheating.
  • God was in the family room Monday to Friday when they gathered to watch their favorite evening television programs.  He was at the theater Saturday for the afternoon matinee.  
  • God was at church and listened as they sang how much they loved Him.  He observed their tepid interest in the message and eagerness to depart the building for other activities.  

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4/25/2007

Earnestness

​I received an email last week along with scores of other pastors, from a man by the name of Rick.  Because of the poor representation in Salem, Oregon’s capital, by spiritual leaders against the impending legislation that grants civil liberties and benefits to homosexuals he was spurred to send out an exhortation.  He feels we are failing in our duties as shepherds to speak out against sin. His appeal caused me to think much about what it means to be earnest. 

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1/14/2006

Image

​I’m working on a CD cover for my latest music project titled “Evidence.”  The image that Misha, the graphics designer, is working with is a lightning bolt across a dark sky which reflects vividly off a placid water surface.  We labored for a long time in looking for the right picture.  Without an amazing cover many people won’t pick up a CD.  With respect to marketing, the saying “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” doesn’t apply.     

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12/4/2005

Responsible

There are times in my life where God gives me opportunity to minister but because of inconvenience or poor priorities I chose to do my own thing.  In meditating on Luke 9:10-17 I am convicted by many thoughts.  The disciples, earlier sent out by Jesus, returned from ministering in teams of two and reported to Him all that happened.  They were tired and hungry and Jesus recognizing this took them away to care for their needs.  But the crowds were of a different opinion and need.  They raced around the Sea of Galilee to intercept the Son of God and His men at their remote landing.  
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Instead of escaping 5000 men and the uncounted women and children, Jesus welcomed them, taught them and healed the sick.  He set aside the needs of His team and perhaps His own wants to minister to the crowd God brought to Him.  I wonder what thoughts ran through the minds of His men! 

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10/7/2005 0 Comments

Proclaiming

​Typically, on Saturday evenings, The Road Home, a fellowship less than a year old, meets in a school in Newberg, Oregon.  Aside from our primary desire to worship the Lord we want to reach our surrounding community with the gospel and raise up disciple makers.  Like most churches, we sing, share, pray and teach God’s Word. Currently we are working our way through Luke’s gospel.  

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11/25/2004 0 Comments

Food

​The Thanksgiving holiday is supposed to be about remembering how blessed we are by our Almighty Father in heaven.  If gratitude is the point, food is the reminder.  In truth, a hearty feast is a wonderful custom for celebrating our blessings.   Not a Thanksgiving goes by for me that I don’t think back to traveling to Newburgh, NY with my roommate and best friend, Dave Mead.  We would totally stuff ourselves at his grandmother’s house—eating was a competitive sport for two young cadets.  

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3/12/2004 0 Comments

Resignation

​Remember Moses?  He has to rank as one of the greatest leaders of all time.  This sheepherder did all he could to avoid his holy calling to free his enslaved countrymen and lead them into the land God promised the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Exodus 6:8).  He took well over a million people with countless animals out of Egypt for forty years wandering across harsh deserts where food and water were scarce. He had a phenomenal friendship with God which afforded him incredible power and the confidence to lead. Despite the heartaches of dealing with whining rebels, he passionately set out to accomplish a compelling mission.

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4/28/2003 0 Comments

Milestone

​April 28this a milestone in the York household.  My oldest son Bryan celebrates his 16thbirthday.  Bryan was diagnosed with a brain-stem tumor on February 14, 1991.  His doctor told us he had zero chance of survival; his tumor was a ticking time bomb.  At the age of three Bryan endured 72 radiation treatments that shrunk his tumor, damaged his hearing, impaired his mobility, and degraded his ability to process information.  In June of that same year, a group of young-married couples gathered with Kathleen, Bryan, and me to weep, pray for him, and worship in song our awesome God.  The Holy Spirit descended into our midst and healed our son.  He also profoundly taught me the power and hope that comes from worship.  

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12/7/2001

Standards

​On Oct. 9, 2001, Old Guard 1st Sergeant Robert Watson stood rigidly at attention ready to receive a freshly folded American flag from the casket of a soldier killed by the September 11 attack on the Pentagon.  But as a member of the prestigious detail moved to hand Old Glory to Watson, he refused to receive it.  A small sliver of white was visible in the triangular fold.  Only the blue and white stars should have shown. With his hand he could have covered the mistake and few if any would have noticed the flaw.  But while the family waited and a number of VIPs, to include the Chief of Staff of the Army watched, 1st Sgt. Watson stood unmoving.  

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2/8/2001 0 Comments

Marriage

​The story is told of a conversation between a teenager and his grandfather.  The young man said, “Gee Grampa, your generation didn’t have all these social diseases.  What did you wear to have safe sex?”  The wise old gentleman replied, “A wedding ring.”

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11/15/2000 0 Comments

Education

​Moses was a highly educated man, taught by the finest scholars of Egypt.  But with all his knowledge he tried to fix the injustices he observed through his own strength and God had to place him with shepherds, stripped of all that was familiar until a burning bush captured his eyes.  Then he listened to God’s voice.

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Photo used under Creative Commons from Rachel Maxey Miles