Book Review: Not Mere Words

May 22, 2013 — Leave a comment

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I had the privilege of purchasing a book written by Ryan Dalgliesh whom I’ve become acquainted with over the last few months on Twitter. You can follow Ryan on Twitter @ryandalgliesh. To learn more about his ministry, read his blog, or order his books, visit www.higherrock.org.

The name of the book is Not Mere Words: Igniting a Passion for Scripture, and is written by Ryan Dalgliesh, an itinerate preacher since 1997 and who pastors a church plant since 2009 in West Central Texas, where he lives with his wife Michele, and their two young sons.

The book is a little treasure of discovery of a hundred pages that packs a punch. In “no holds barred” type language, Ryan tells his readers that reading the Bible is a necessity but studying the wisdom of the Word of God is sometimes a daunting task. In this, his third published book, Ryan gives new life to the study of the Bible, showing in fresh and simple terms the power the Bible can bring.

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Choosing the Path to Forgiveness

May 20, 2013 — Leave a comment

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NOTE FROM THOMAS: TODAY I HAVE THE HONOR OF FEATURING A GUEST BLOGGER, JAY COOKINGHAM. MORE ABOUT JAY AT THE END OF THIS POST.

I know all too well the effects of Arrested Development. I grew up in an abusive home. My dad’s cruelty was part of everyday life. His words spewed unkindness and his voice always carried vile threats towards me. His words and name-calling crushed my spirit. For years the verbal abuse continued. It stunted my emotional growth and I grew callous and hard.

That’s the arrested development part, and it held me as tight as any prison cell.

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How to Leave a Legacy That Matters

May 16, 2013 — 2 Comments
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Image purchased at Lightstock

NOTE FROM THOMAS: TODAY I HAVE THE HONOR AGAIN OF FEATURING GRAYSON POPE AS MY GUEST. MORE ABOUT GRAYSON AT THE END OF THIS POST.

You want to be remembered, to leave a legacy, don’t you? Sure you do. But how can you leave a legacy that matters?

How can you build something worthwhile here on this planet that will live long after you’re gone? What quality should you possess to propel your monotonous life into a legacy-leaving life?

Quite simply, it’s this: being thoughtful.

Sounds a bit counter-intuitive, doesn’t it? You think leaving a legacy is all about action and doing stuff, right? Well, to a degree, you’re right. Leaving a legacy that matters is going to require real work on your part.

But there’s important work to be done before that. And it’s going to take place in your heart and in your head.

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Don’t Forget Your Second Wind (Part 2)

May 13, 2013 — 4 Comments

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…but I pondered when my second wind would occur, if in fact, I had an opportunity at a second wind.

My life felt like it was over.
I didn’t want to live any longer.
I thought of ways I could commit suicide.

I remember watching a movie I cannot remember the name of one night back then and the subject was about a teenager’s contemplation of suicide. I related to his plight. The feelings he had I had too. The monsters in his head were familiar to me as well.

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The Sidelines of Life

May 8, 2013 — 12 Comments
Image Purchased at Lightstock

Image Purchased at Lightstock

Ms. Feinberg writes of her much-loved grandfather. This man in her life was a sort of bigger-than-life character. She calls him “Cactus Jack.”

Cactus Jack fully embraced life. He lived a life of purpose and meaning. He didn’t allow life to get the better of him. In fact, he got the better of life with his words and actions with his family and other people who had the privilege to know him. Cactus Jack didn’t stay on the sidelines of life. He went after what he wanted with gusto!

In some ways I wish I had just the tip of my pinky finger of what Cactus Jack possessed. Sometimes I feel stuck. Just stuck. Stuck in old, useless ways of thinking. Stuck in growing in my relationships. Stuck in the dead-end things of life.

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Don’t Forget Your Second Wind (Part 1)

May 6, 2013 — 2 Comments

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This time in my life was an incredibly difficult time.
I had forgotten over the years that it even happened.
But I feel that I need to revisit it again.

This hard time occurred after I graduated from high school.
It was after I attempted to attend a local community college.
It was after I had a brief stint in boot camp.

It was a time in which I felt bad about myself.
It was a time I didn’t see any hope for myself.
I wanted to free myself and others from the repugnance that was my life.

I just wanted to end it all.

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