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Reveration Blog

3/11/2025 3 Comments

Mindlock

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They were college roommates with a friendship that brought laughter and fun to almost everyone who entered their orbit. Now, 44 years later, on opposite sides of the political spectrum, they bash each other on social media with barely concealed contempt. Whoever said, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me,” was internally dishonest. Negative words do more than upset, they create resentment, rifts, and land littered with destroyed relationships.


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1/14/2025 0 Comments

Reframing

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​West Point classmate Paul Mango shared about an address delivered by the Israeli Prime Minister to a group of McKinsey partners. “Leadership is NOT about being on top; it’s about being out in front.” This observation reframed the audience’s perspective on leading. Paul went on to note:
This metaphor unlocks a leader’s thinking in that it absolves him of the burden of having either all the answers or having to always know more than his team. Instead, the leader “out in front” ensures his team has the resources, information, and support needed to develop breakthrough ideas with guidance and input from the leader. Giving the team the combination of resources and accountability energizes and liberates the team and leads to superior outcomes.

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7/23/2024 1 Comment

Frivolous

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​My West Point classmate Larry Turrentine recently shared this wisdom with our weekly prayer team:
A week ago, I passed through Detroit's Metro Airport after attending a funeral and a repass. As I walked through, I spotted a curious name for a shop. It was called "Frivolous," with a subtitle "wonderfully necessary." Clearly, it was designed for those with extra time and extra money. It fit the former. So, with my extra time, I went in and looked around. 
Nothing really caught my interest, and moments later, I was gone. It occurred to me that my experience was a microcosm of a Christian Pilgrim's progress through life. Why do many of us spend significant amounts of time in the shops of our lives called "Frivolous"? If it is true that only what we do for Christ will last, why do trivial pursuits (frivolity) fritter away our lives? If the airport were on fire, would we patronize the shop called "Frivolous"?
We are the ecclesia, the called-out ones, and our call is to be Ambassadors to a lost and dying world, to a world on fire. Our call is purity and holiness. But as long as the shop called "Frivolous" exists, so must our mandate to pray. ​

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12/31/2023 0 Comments

Beginning-Ending

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​What is your favorite memory on New Year’s Day or your best-loved New Year’s Eve?  Jeremy shared with Impact’s congregation this morning, “You can stay up tonight and watch the same ball drop after a ten-second countdown as every year. Or you can go to bed and get a good rest. You won’t be missing anything.”  That got quite a laugh from people used to the tradition of staying up for the new year.


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8/2/2023 0 Comments

Thinking of You

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When there is a death in the family, it is so encouraging to see people rally around and step up to provide support and comfort through meals, cards, flowers, phone calls, and just being present to listen, console, and encourage. The sting of death is not erased; the pain is real and sometimes overwhelming, but a caring community can and does make a difference.

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7/16/2023 1 Comment

Phronesis

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​Adriano made a mistake. The Uruguayan was given $500 in pesos from his uncle to help pay for his tuition. Instead of paying the University of Montevideo, he loaned it to a friend who claimed his mother was sick and unable to pay her hospital bills.  Later, Adriano found out he had lied to him and used the money to gamble. When the school bill was due, the friend couldn’t pay him back, so he had to explain to his uncle why he dropped a class.  ​​

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2/13/2022 0 Comments

Explain This

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​Meditation
Proverbs 30:2-3--I am more stupid than any other man, and I lack man’s ability to understand. I have not gained wisdom, and I have no knowledge of the Holy One.

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12/1/2021 1 Comment

Fire

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When was the last time you sat beside a fire, alone, and able to think and meditate? The previous home owners left me a gift of numerous piles of dead branches all over the property. I guess they didn’t have time to burn anything but I still would label their actions a gift because they gave me plenty of reason to clear away brush piles and, in the process, burn.  There is something mesmerizing (and therapeutic) about sitting next to a fire and watching it reduce large masses to smoldering ashes. No branch escapes. All that feel the hot fury of flame are engulfed and reduced to residue. 

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7/29/2021 1 Comment

Nebulous

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I have a theory for which I would love to get your feedback. Earth’s inhabitants all spoke the same language when they were created.  That ability to easily communicate fed their pride and they decided not to spread over the earth in obedience to God’s command (Genesis 1:28). They preferred to build a prodigious city with a colossal tower where they could make a name for themselves or, in essence, do whatever they felt like doing (Gen. 11:1-4). Because of their pride and idolatrous hearts God came down to their city, called Babylon, and decisively acted.

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8/8/2020 0 Comments

Understanding History

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Mike Courts purchased two books and sent them to me, The Book That Made Your World and This Book Changed Everything, both by Vishal Mangalwadi.  I’m more than half-way through the first book and am thrilled by the research, clear logic and superb writing by Vishal in establishing how the Bible created the soul of western civilization.   It is a potent testimony to why it is critical that we accurately understand history.  Furthermore, it gives a warning shout to what is happening today by liberals and radicals engaged in a concerted effort to revise and rewrite history to their own liking and agenda so as to undermine our nation’s constitution and way of governance founded on Biblical principles.   ​

Meditation
Ezra 4:19,20--I issued an order and a search was made, and it was found that this city has a long history of revolt against kings and has been a place of rebellion and sedition.  Jerusalem has had powerful kings ruling over the whole of Trans-Euphrates, and taxes, tribute and duty were paid to them. (NIV)
 
The word history, used in both Ezra 4:15 and 4:19, is translated by the combination of three Hebrew words, yôm, min, and ālam which when combined mean long history. The people who inhabited Israel during Judah’s time of exile, were not happy with the resettling of Jews and their rebuilding Jerusalem.  Therefore they sent a letter to King Artaxerxes from the “region west of the Euphrates River” (4:11), warning him of Jerusalem’s history of sedition hoping that he would issue a cease and desist order.  The king decreed that a search be conducted and, after hearing the city’s history, ordered that the rebuilding should stop until he issued a further decree.  It was a discouraging blow to the Jews that fortunately was overturned later by King Darius (6:8-12).

I cite this passage to show that even those who resist God understand the value of understanding history and to their credit at least were honest in applying it.  If we don’t know our true past or the role of the Bible in shaping who we are today and teach it to our children, we are doomed to fall to the ideology of those who reshape education and define values.  It would seem that very few people invest the time to truly research and understand history as Mr. Mangalwadi does.  Ironically, his book is dedicated to the “Honourable Arun Shourie, member of Parliament and Former Minister to the Government of India for his criticisms of the Bible which prompted Mangalwadi’s search for truth and the writing of his book.  

If history matters, clearly understanding history really matters!  Jesus rebuked the religious leaders of his day for not knowing and for not correctly understanding Scripture (Matthew 21:42, Mark 12:24) as it related historically to Him and to God’s plan.  Our challenge is to know God’s Word and to understand it’s power yesterday and relevance today.  If we fail in this we lose the ability to shape tomorrow.  May we say with the Psalmist, “I consider days of old, years long past” (Psalm 77:5).  The Apostle Paul advised, “For whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that we may have hope through endurance and through the encouragement from the Scriptures” (Romans 15:4).
 
Inspiration
The people are the ultimate guardians of their own liberty. History, by apprising them of the past, will enable them to judge of the future. It will avail them of the experience of other times and other nations; it will qualify them as judges of the actions and designs of men.—Thomas Jefferson
 
©2020 Daniel York ARR.  Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)

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1/15/2020 0 Comments

Worldview

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​Ravi Zacharias wrote a book entitled The Logic of God.  In chapter one, “Behind Every Question,” he notes that whether a person is religious or irreligious, everyone has a worldview.  A worldview basically addresses four necessary questions: origin, meaning, morality and destiny.   A well-designed worldview should have true answers to each question and the answers overall should be coherent.  Ravi further shares three tests for truth which must be applied to any worldview: logical consistency, empirical adequacy and experiential relevance.[1]

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9/17/2019 0 Comments

Strap on Our Sword

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Pastor Rusty Hayes is preaching a series on “Uphill Habits.”  On Sunday he spoke on “What We Think.”  The habit he asked us to address is the need to control our thoughts, because: we are not just what we eat; we are what we think; everything begins with a thought; what we think determines how we feel; and, our thoughts determine our destiny.  In order to master this habit, we need to find a plan to control our thoughts, a safe place to think, a person to stretch our thinking, a purpose to land our thoughts and a power to fuel what we think.

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12/31/2016 0 Comments

Finishing Well

Meditation
Psalm 20:4—May He give you what your heart desires and fulfill your whole purpose.
 
Whenever a new year approaches there is for many people a sense of optimism. Yes, now I can start afresh.  Yes, perhaps this next year will be a better year. Yes, finally the hardships or struggles of this past season may come to an end.  But beginning afresh requires finishing the old year well.  Very rarely, if ever, can you have one without the other.  

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8/25/2016

Growth Mindset

Carol Dweck, in her book Mindset, characterizes people with the growth mindset as those who are willing to: embrace challenges; persist in the face of setbacks; see efforts as the path to mastery; learn from criticism; and, find lessons and inspiration from the success of others.  Consequently, they reach “ever-higher levels of achievement.”[1]


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8/14/2016

Fixed Mindset

​Carol Dweck, Ph.D, wrote a best-selling book that is insightful in evaluating the two different types of thinking that dramatically effect how people live their lives.  The book is called Mindset.  The first type of thinking that Carol examines is the fixed mindset.  It stands in stark contrast to a growth mindset.

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8/30/2015 0 Comments

Two Dimensional Thinkers

​“Charles Clark cleans toilets at Trinity High School in Euless, Texas. But he also helps kids turn their lives around — not because it was his job, but because it needed to be done . . .”[1]  You can watch him in action at http://omeleto.com/215307/.  Charles is committed to excellence.  This janitor takes pride in sweeping away dirt, mopping floors and sanitizing rooms because he takes his job seriously.  When he is not cleaning or repairing, he pours his life into mentoring teenagers who need guidance and the reassurance that someone loves and cares about them.  Mr. Clark understands that the students who populate Trinity High School are the greater investment.  So in the natural flow of work, he makes time to listen, to encourage and to touch the hearts of students.  


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8/7/2015 0 Comments

How to Have a Complete Brain Workout

Neuroscientists discovered that when people listened to music it was like watching fireworks go off with multiple parts of the brain involved.  But when these researchers studied musicians engaged in writing or performing music those fireworks turned into a jubilee—with every part of the brain engaged.  What amazed these neuroscientists is that no other activity (sports, art, etc.) came close to matching what happens when we write or perform music.[1] To see and listen to this fascinating study go to:  http://omeleto.com/201067/. 
 

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9/22/2012 0 Comments

Wow!

​Meditation
Romans 11:33-36—Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments and untraceable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor? Or who has ever first given to Him, and has to be repaid? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.
 

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10/29/2008 0 Comments

Fifty

This evening, I’m sitting at a desk at a Residence Inn in northern Virginia.   At some hour today I reached a new milestone—I turned fifty.   This is a splacious moment (my word for great!) With each passing year, I get to learn new things in older ways and I’m grateful to God for the privilege.  

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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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