What Lies Beneath by Stuart McAllistar

Take ~5 minutes to read this 'COUGARS Daily' which contains snippets from the previous day's A Slice of Infinity as well as comments from you. Read the 'Slice' each day and email Chad with your comments/experience/prayers etc.

- For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:21)

A Slice of Infinity snippets:
..the philosophy of life to which we hold will also shape the expectations we attach to the goods we purchase. Where our hearts are dictates the hope we have in our treasures. The words of Christ bid us to ask: what do my habits of consumption reveal about me? And if we see problems with what lies beneath, can it really be that another string of purchases will be the solution?

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." - Jim Elliot

Chad's Comments: When I read 'What Lies Beneath, I quickly began judging other people whom I think are materialists and comfort freaks. Knowing that despite the rising cost of fuel and the 'crunch' on global resources causes fighting amongst those who need it, I still ride around with my A/C on. Then I realized that when I prayed the "Our Father" this morning, I asked God to forgive my trespasses (something He can do) as I forgive those who trespass against me (something I can do). In the way that I am judging others, I myself will likely be judged. Lord, Help me to encourage my friends and family into loving relationships and please forgive my judgmental spirit.

Welcome two new participants: Jeff Gocking (a good friend from my college days - he actually finished =) ) and Uncle J (Kara's Uncle, a Catholic man who has felt and confirms the Holy Spirit working in his life)

Yesterday's posting of 'Let not your hearts be troubled' led Jay to share the following (thanks Jay for being so open to share your brokenness and your JOY!:
the story let not your heart be troubled hits home to me as it was just last labor day weekend that we lost my mother or rather she went with the lord that day,When she was told by the doctors that she could be kept alive on the c path machine which had he stressed out and vary uncomfortable to put in mildly asked her if she under stood and she nodded her head yes, i then asked her if she believed in Jesus ,again she shook her head yes ,and i told her if she took the mask off she would be with him that day ,A total look of relief over took her and she took the mask off and she became vary calm and was able to talk and asked for a coke and we had time to gather the entire family and one of her closet friends, plus the hospital minister, we all took turns telling her goodbye and prayed with her as she slipped away us to start her new life in heaven, but i remembered the ministers words today ,let not your hearts be troubled, for in my fathers house is many rooms, if it wasn't true i would not tell you this, p.s it was good for me right to tell this story even if i cried most of the way through it, not that my heart is troubled but for the glorious fat that awaited my mom and all that believe in him. God bless you all.

*Invite friends and family to join us on this faith journey.
*To comment on this thread, visit the blog.
*Read today's slice and email me with your comments/questions/prayers for
our next posting.

Let Not Your Hearts Be Troubled - by Jill Carattini

Take ~5 minutes to read this 'COUGARS Daily' which contains snippets from the previous day's A Slice of Infinity as well as comments from you. Read the 'Slice' each day and email Chad with your comments/experience/prayers etc.

- Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows. (Luke 12:6-7)

-"Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. (John 14:1)

A Slice of Infinity snippets:
.. We long for home because at present we are not home. Yet God’s careful eye is on even the sparrow, God’s Spirit on our trail, willing that one day we shall get there. There will be moments in our lives when Jesus’s words to his disciples seem more a command than a comfort: “Do not let your hearts be troubled,” he said in John 14:1. But whether a command or gentle words comfort, it is still a helpful imperative, and at that, it is an imperative that points to a truth beyond our situation. What must Christ be like if he can tell us not to let our hearts be troubled on the eve of his own violent death? Who is this God we follow, this God who knows every sparrow and hair on our heads?

Comments from Rich Reich in today's LIFE Devotions Group: God loves to hear that we need Him. What parent doesn't love to hear that their child needs their help? God loves it when we put our pride aside and show our humility in asking Him for help. I believe that God sometimes gives us little challenges in our lives to remind us that we need Him. We may not know what we truly need when we ask for God's help, but God knows us and our needs better than we do. Then you might ask, "why should we pray when God already knows what we want?” My response is that prayer is not about informing God what our needs are. Instead prayer is for our benefit, not God’s benefit. Prayer is to prepare our heart for what God wishes to give us. Lord, I pray that You give us today our daily bread and that we prepare our hearts to receive it. Amen.

Chad's Comments: I think it is possible that prayer is about understanding our relationship with and to God. I'm thankful that I recognize my need for Him.

*Invite friends and family to join us on this faith journey.
*To comment on this thread, visit the blog.
*Read today's slice and email me with your comments/questions/prayers for
tomorrows post.

A Peculiar People by Margaret Manning

Take ~5 minutes to read this 'COUGARS Daily' which contains snippets from the previous day's A Slice of Infinity. Read the 'Slice' each day and email Chad with your comments/experience/prayers etc. I will compile comments and put them into this 'snippets' version to share. If you have comments about this particular post, please log in to the blog and post there.

- But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY. (1 Peter 2:9-10)

A Slice of Infinity snippets:
..As a result of Jesus’s peculiar life, death, and resurrection we are now “a chosen race, a royal priesthood a holy nation, God’s own people.” We are now those “who declare the wonderful deeds of God who called us out of darkness into the marvelous light.” We who were once no people are now God’s people; we who once “had not received mercy, now have received mercy.”(3) We are now the people of God and we bear the name of the one we follow.

Chad's Comments:
Going on to read versus 11 and 12 I see that as an alien and a stranger, I should 'abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.' In this abstinence,(sins of commission) may we not forget to 'Keep your behavior excellent' (sin of omission). What might a behavior of excellence look like?

One thing I have thought about is picking up random litter or trash. If I spend a little extra time cleaning up some area, perhaps the person who is supposed to clean that area will have a better day. And perhaps they will thank God for their day being just a little better. If God gets the glory, I'm happy.

Sideline question: Verse 12 says, 'Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles...' Is Peter only speaking to Jews here? Or, is he speaking to all believers and the word 'Gentile' is being used in a generic sense meaning worldlings?

*Invite friends and family to join us on this faith journey.
*To comment on this thread, visit the blog.
*Read today's slice and email me with your comments/questions/prayers for
tomorrows post.

"Come, Take and Eat" by Jill Carattini

Take ~5 minutes to read this 'COUGARS Daily' which contains snippets from the previous day's A Slice of Infinity. Read the 'Slice' each day and email me with your comments/experience/prayers etc. I will compile comments and put them into this 'snippets' version to share.

Here are the snippets/comments from yesterday. Remember, this is one day back, so when you have time, read today's 'A Slice of Infinity' and then send me your comments. If you have comments about this particular post, please log in to the blog and post there.

- “Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see." (Matthew 22:9)

- The poor will eat and be satisfied. All who seek the Lord will praise him. Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy. The whole earth will acknowledge the Lord and return to him. All the families of the nations will bow down before him. For royal power belongs to the Lord. He rules all the nations. Let the rich of the earth feast and worship. Bow before him, all who are mortal, all whose lives will end as dust. (Psalm 22:26-29)

A Slice of Infinity snippets:
..how often God invites us to face the one thing we cannot, the very thing that brings us to surrender. God prepares a table in the presence of our enemies, and at times the enemy is us.

Chad's Comments:
In looking for ways to share the love and grace of our Lord Jesus with our neighbors, Kara and I are thinking of holding a feast of Pentecost. The feast will simply be a way of loving on our neighbors. We hope to bring people from around our immediate neighborhood to enjoy food and meeting each other. Hopefully, God will create an atmosphere in our home where our neighbors will feel comfortable asking us for help.

Remember: to comment on this thread, visit the blog. Also, read today's slice and email me with your comments/questions/prayers for tomorrows post.

* Make Space for worldlians in your life. Enjoin them to belief.
* Post your stories of God's intervention on the blog.
* Look for ways to share Awe and Wonder with children - leave suggestions at CougarsDaily.blogspot.com
* Consider joining Life-Devotions (a group of about 100 catholics and protestants sharing their faith through daily devotions and discussion - strong pro Life content)
* The Street Church
* Voice of the Martyrs

Creative Collaboration by Jill Carattini

Take ~5 minutes to read this 'COUGARS Daily' which contains snippets from the previous day's A Slice of Infinity. Read the 'Slice' each day and email me with your comments/experience/prayers etc. I will compile comments and put them into this 'snippets' version to share.

Here are the snippets/comments from FRIDAY. Remember, this is one day back, so when you have time, read today's 'A Slice of Infinity' and then send me your comments. If you have comments about this particular post, please log in to the blog and post there.

- “So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son." (John 1:14)

A Slice of Infinity snippets:
.. When the New Testament writers began to speak of creation through the light of all they saw in Jesus Christ, they affirmed the Old Testament understanding of total dependence upon the maker of heaven (and) earth, but they spoke also of Christ’s presence as the Word at the beginning. Likewise, the early church began to see the role and presence of the Spirit in God’s creative work. Creation, they came to understand, and all we see within it, is the work of a Trinitarian God. Each person of the Trinity in relationship with one another brings forth out of nothing a creation reflective of the goodness and love of a divine community. In this image of God and the fullness of life in the Trinity, creation is affirmed not as emerging from any lack in God, but from God’s communal abundance. All of creation declares the glory of God, the work of the loving interaction between Father, Son, and Spirit.

1. How is it that we are joining God in creation as a community?
2. What kind of kingdom are we illumining by our life together and influence upon the world?
3. What kind of stories are we telling and retelling, and how are we inviting those around us to join in the great Story we have been given?

As the Father has invited us to participate in his good work of creation, so Christ has called us to join him in furthering the community of the kingdom among us. By the Spirit, might our very presence in this creative community be as a great light to the world.

Chad's Comments:
As I peruse the enormous amounts of information thrown at us daily through media and mind, I begin to recognize the 'influence' of culture, media and mind over my interpretation of scripture and relationship building. Oh, may God give us wisdom and discernment.

Reflect on the three questions above. Let God lead you into the answers. What does He want me to create? (possibly this involves your line of work or maybe your hobbies. Maybe it is just an idea that comes to you and may seem odd or insignificant. Ask God if it is something He has for you.) What does He want me to collaborate in creating? (This could be a work Bible study as Danny has created. This could be the COUGARS blog that you participate in. This could be helping at church or getting involved in a missions program or street outreach that God is already moving in.)

I wish I journaled more. Telling and re-telling HIS-story is a wonderful way to see God's hand and build my trust in HIM.

Remember: to comment on this thread, visit the blog. Also, read today's slice and email me with your comments/questions/prayers for tomorrows post.

* Make Space for friends in your life. Enjoin them to belief.
* Post your stories of God's intervention on the blog.
* Look for ways to share Awe and Wonder with children - leave suggestions at CougarsDaily.blogspot.com
* Consider joining Life-Devotions (a group of about 100 catholics and protestants sharing their faith through daily devotions and discussion - strong pro Life content)
* The Street Church
* Voice of the Martyrs

Our Father the Weaver - Ravi Zacharias, May 22nd

Take ~5 minutes to read this 'COUGARS Daily' which contains snippets from the previous day's A Slice of Infinity. Read the 'Slice' each day and email me with your comments/experience/prayers etc. I will compile comments and put them into this 'snippets' version to share.

Here are the snippets from yesterday. Remember, this is one day back, so when you have time, read today's 'A Slice of Infinity' and then send me your comments. If you have comments about this particular post, please log in to the blog and post there.

- “After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also." (John 14:19)

A Slice of Infinity snippets:
..A purposeful design emerges when the Father weaves a pattern from what to us may often seem disparate threads. Even today, if you will stop and attend to it, you will see that God is seeking to weave a beautiful tapestry in your life.

Chad's Comments:
The two stories Ravi told in this post were amazing to me. It is really special to think of the story of the father and son making the Saris; how a beautiful pattern emerges from Father weaving and Son obeying. Also, to see the verse on his grandmother's grave as no coincidence reminds me of my personal journey and God's grand design that leads my experience into something useful.

Yesterday, mom shared this story:
As we were driving home last night I was tired & negative..... & was (sharing) really complaining to my husband....... about how it seems that everyone expects so much from me ...... & I give & give & give...... & no one seems to give in return....... & he stoped to get something for the car..... & when he went in & I was sitting complaining to GOD about how I felt....... GOD SAID: YOU WERE NOT PUT ON THIS EARTH TO BE SERVED ........... YOU WAS PUT HERE TO SERVE OTHERS & QUIT YOUR COMPLAINING & BE SO THANKFUL THAT YOU CAN...He really hit me over the head but I needed it...... We all need to remember this...... NEVER , NEVER, NO NEGATIVE THINKING IT TAKES THE GLORY OUT OF YOUR SOUL........... WHEN MUCH IS GIVEN MUCH IS REQUIRED........... We are so blessed...... GOD IS SO AWESOME..........

Remember: to comment on this thread, visit the blog. Also, read today's slice and email me with your comments/questions/prayers for tomorrows post.

* Make Space for friends in your life. Enjoin them to belief.
* Post your stories of God's intervention on the blog.
* Look for ways to share Awe and Wonder with children - leave suggestions at CougarsDaily.blogspot.com
* Consider joining Life-Devotions (a group of about 100 catholics and protestants sharing their faith through daily devotions and discussion - strong pro Life content)
* The Street Church
* Voice of the Martyrs

Diagnosing Evil by Jill Carattini posted to RZIM on Wednesday, May 21st 2008

Take ~5 minutes to read this 'COUGARS Daily' which contains snippets from A Slice of Infinity. Invite your family and friends to participate in reading with you daily. Then, consider sharing your comments or faith questions at CougarsDaily.blogspot.com

NOTE Format Change: As you might have noticed, there was no posting yesterday (Wednesday, May 21st) Occasionally, RZIM does not distribute 'A Slice of Infinity' prior to my going to work. It was recently suggested that we work one day behind. I think this is a good idea for a few reasons, including:
1. A selfish reason, I do not have to 'wait' in the mornings to get the post out
2. I would like to see COUGARS be a community with more input from everyone. Typically, we get very few comments; which is fine. I understand that some may not feel comfortable sharing their thoughts. However, if we can read 'A Slice of Infinity' on our own time during the day and intently follow up with our comments, perhaps we will have more diverse input.

So, from this point forward, I would like you to read 'A Slice of Infinity' on the day it comes out. You can sign up to receive it via email, or you can take the RSS feed on your web browser. Once you read it, I would like you to email me any of your thoughts and reflections. I will then combine the comments for the following days COUGARS snippets. As always, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

So, Here are the snippets from yesterday. Remember, this is one day back, so when you have time, read today's 'A Slice of Infinity' and then send me you comments. If you have comments about this particular post, please log in to the blog and post there.

- “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”- Galatians 5:13

A Slice of Infinity snippets:

..But there is also a danger in labeling evil without understanding our common and irrefutable need for God ourselves. When God is taken out of the picture, evil is misunderstood. Apart from God, evil becomes reasonable, mistaken for a euphemistic quality. You can be good simply for the sake of goodness; but you would not do something wrong simply because it is wrong, but because it was in some way satisfying or useful. Wickedness, Lewis reasoned, is the pursuit of some good in a wrong way. Apart from God, we may recognize the evil around us in terrorism and serial killing, and yet altogether fail to see the ugliness of our own pride or the ill motive of our own words.


Chad's Comments:
I am interested in this quote from Lewis, "wickedness is the pursuit some good in a wrong way". When I look back on things I've personally done, or look at things I might label as evil or bad by others, in the light of this being the pursuit of some good in a wrong way, I can begin to see that even in our wrong actions, we are looking for something good. I think it was again Lewis or maybe Pope John Paul (feel free to correct me) who said something like, 'any man who goes into a brothel is looking for God'.

Secondly, I'm feeling like sharing something from Meredith Rankin. Meredith is the cousin of Misty (one of our Cougars group) Meredith recently gave up the battle against colon cancer and is now with Jesus. As we look at the problem of pain and suffering, (some put evil in this category) we may raise the fairness question. When a person commits an 'evil' or 'bad' action/inaction, we might label them as evil. However, when suffering occurs, we begin to cry 'unfair'. Some anti-theists even go so far as to call God cruel or 'evil' Himself. Are we as creatures really able to posit that God is unfair? Can we as clay say to the potter, "hey, I don't want to be a vase". How much more our lives could be if we could simply meet our maker and have Him show us what we are really made for.

Is it fair that some people suffer from Aids and I don't? Is it fair that some people do not have homes and I do? Is it fair that some are riddled with disease and I am healthy? NO, its not fair. But I am saved by the grace of God through His son Jesus Christ our Lord, and that's not fair! - Meredith Rankin

Remember: to comment on this thread, visit the blog. Also, read today's slice and email me with your comments/questions/prayers for tomorrows post.

* Make Space for friends in your life. Enjoin them to belief.
* Post your stories of God's intervention on the blog.
* Look for ways to share Awe and Wonder with children - leave suggestions at CougarsDaily.blogspot.com
* Consider joining Life-Devotions (a group of about 100 catholics and protestants sharing their faith through daily devotions and discussion - strong pro Life content)
* The Street Church
* Voice of the Martyrs

The Spirit of Multiplies Years by Margaret Manning

Take ~5 minutes to read this 'COUGARS Daily' which contains snippets from A Slice of Infinity. Invite your family and friends to participate in reading with you daily. Then, consider sharing your comments or faith questions at CougarsDaily.blogspot.com

- "Yet even now," declares the LORD, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments." Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster. Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink offering for the LORD your God? Blow the trumpet in Zion; consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly; gather the people. Consecrate the congregation; assemble the elders; gather the children, even nursing infants. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber. Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep and say, "Spare your people, O LORD, and make not your heritage a reproach, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, 'Where is their God?'"
Then the LORD became jealous for his land and had pity on his people. The LORD answered and said to his people,"Behold, I am sending to you grain, wine, and oil, and you will be satisfied; and I will no more make you a reproach among the nations. "I will remove the northerner far from you, and drive him into a parched and desolate land, his vanguard into the eastern sea, and his rear guard into the western sea; the stench and foul smell of him will rise, for he has done great things. "Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice, for the LORD has done great things! Fear not, you beasts of the field, for the pastures of the wilderness are green; the tree bears its fruit; the fig tree and vine give their full yield. "Be glad, O children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God, for he has given the early rain for your vindication; he has poured down for you abundant rain, the early and the latter rain, as before. "The threshing floors shall be full of grain; the vats shall overflow with wine and oil. I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you. "You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame. You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God and there is none else. And my people shall never again be put to shame.
your daughters shall prophesy, "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit.

A Slice of Infinity snippets:

It is amazing that so small a gathering could represent the fulfillment of the promise that the Spirit would be poured out on all people, as Joel prophesied. Of course, those initial followers, much like Joel before them, couldn’t see the ultimate horizon of the Church that was birthed that Pentecost--the festival of the first fruits of harvest. Indeed, these initial followers were the first fruits of the outpoured Spirit, which would go forth into the uttermost parts of the earth represented by those who heard of the mighty deeds of God in their own language on that day. By the power of the Spirit, those first fruits would multiply into the Church; the Church, the body of Christ, was unleashed into the world. The in-gathering of the nations, shown in nascent form at Pentecost, is fulfilled by the gospel going forth into the whole world through the presence and witness of the Church.

Today, we are the recipients of the blessing of the Holy Spirit. As we live by the power of the Spirit, may we continue to see the years multiplied with abundant fruit and harvest.


Chad's Comments:
"...And my people shall never again be put to shame. You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God and there is none else. And my people shall never again be put to shame."


* Make Space for friends in your life. Enjoin them to belief.
* Post your stories of God's intervention on the blog.
* Look for ways to share Awe and Wonder with children - leave suggestions at CougarsDaily.blogspot.com
* Consider joining Life-Devotions (a group of about 100 catholics and protestants sharing their faith through daily devotions and discussion - strong pro Life content)
* The Street Church
* Voice of the Martyrs

Someone to Ask by Jill Carattini

Take ~5 minutes to read this 'COUGARS Daily' which contains snippets from A Slice of Infinity. Invite your family and friends to participate in reading with you daily. Then, consider sharing your comments or faith questions at CougarsDaily.blogspot.com

- For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. (Psalm 51:3-9)

A Slice of Infinity snippets:

Forgiveness and justice are qualities yet on the lips of those who proclaim that we do not live in a moral universe, but a universe void of order and purpose. As one humanist society agrees, "Our forgiving self is the strongest, most loving part of who we are."(3) Another explains, "If we pray, we know we are talking to ourselves--and who doesn't do that, and gain benefit from it? If we ask forgiveness, and for the strength to follow the light of our conscience, we know we are expressing our desire to be better people."(4)

But can there be such a thing as the light of conscience if there is no moral universe, and humankind is but a product of chance? Can we speak of the power of forgiveness if there is no such thing as higher law? And should we ever find ourselves in need of forgiveness if there really is no one to ask?


* Make Space for friends in your life. Enjoin them to belief.
* Post your stories of God's intervention on the blog.
* Look for ways to share Awe and Wonder with children - leave suggestions at CougarsDaily.blogspot.com
* Consider joining Life-Devotions (a group of about 100 catholics and protestants sharing their faith through daily devotions and discussion - strong pro Life content)
* The Street Church
* Voice of the Martyrs

The Apologetic of the Apologist

Take ~5 minutes to read this 'COUGARS Daily' which contains snippets from A Slice of Infinity. Invite your family and friends to participate in reading with you daily. Then, consider sharing your comments or faith questions at CougarsDaily.blogspot.com

- Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong! (1 Peter 3:13-17)

A Slice of Infinity snippets:

I have little doubt that the single greatest obstacle to the impact of the gospel has not been its inability to provide answers, but the failure on our part to live it out. The Irish evangelist Gypsy Smith once said, "There are five Gospels: Matthew Mark, Luke, John, and the Christian, and some people will never read the first four." In other words, apologetics is often first seen before it is heard...

...The skeptic is not slow to notice when there is a disparity, and because of that, may question the whole gospel in its supernatural claim. Yet when they are met with gentleness and respect, we will help meet the deepest longings of the heart and mind, and they will find where true discovery lies. Let us live so accordingly.

Chad's Comments:
How quickly I can identify with the many times I have not given respect or gentleness when someone asks me a question. Often, I feel attacked and respond in anger and fear. We need not be fearful. Christ is sitting at the right hand of the Father and the Holy Spirit will give us words to say when HE decides we need them.

Ben's Comments:
I thought todays slice really applied to what we were talking about at breakfast on Saturday. Loving the skeptic. And answering them with "gentleness and respect." A great cross reference to this was a verse in Col I was looking at a couple of days ago. Col 4:5-6 "Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." Our conversation should be full of grace. An unbeliever will run the other direction if we don't first build a relationship with them and converse with them with grace on our tongues. Jesus was our example of this. He took time to go to people's houses even when he was busy on a trip.

I will do what I can to be sure this snippets version gets out tomorrow. We will be traveling to my brother-in-law's wedding in Kansas City. - Wouldn't it be cool if I ran into Jim and Elaine at a gas station or something (Jim and Elaine receive this blog announcement and live in K.C.) If I don't get it out, that doesn't get you off the hook for not reading the slice. =)

* Make Space for friends in your life. Enjoin them to belief.
* Post your stories of God's intervention on the blog.
* Look for ways to share Awe and Wonder with children - leave suggestions at CougarsDaily.blogspot.com
* Consider joining Life-Devotions (a group of about 100 catholics and protestants sharing their faith through daily devotions and discussion - strong pro Life content)
* The Street Church
* Voice of the Martyrs

Something Understood by Jill Carattini

Take ~5 minutes to read this 'COUGARS Daily' which contains snippets from A Slice of Infinity. Invite your family and friends to participate in reading with you daily. Then, consider sharing your comments or faith questions at CougarsDaily.blogspot.com

- Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little." And he said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."(Luke 7:44-48)

A Slice of Infinity snippets:

"Do you see this woman?" Jesus asked as the others were questioning her resolve and reputation. "I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven--for she has loved much" (Luke 7:47). In the story that calls our hearts and eyes to attention, we find that the woman not only saw God when others did not, but more significantly, God saw her when others did not. Pouring out all she had at the feet of Christ, weeping at the sight of her massive debt in the face of an innocent man, her silent prayer was interpreted, and answered. Then Jesus lifted her head and said to her, "Your sins are forgiven" (7:48).

Fittingly, George Herbert concludes his grand description of prayer as "something understood." At the feet of God, our broken words and hobbling metaphors are translated. Whether we know what we mean or what we say, God hears and knows and translates our own hearts to ourselves. Our tears and our groans come before the throne of a Father where we are heard and lifted as children understood.

Chad's Comments:
Sometimes it seems that when we are upset with God, we have the greatest opportunity to be near Him. Perhaps it is not our emotional tirade that gets to Him, but our brutal honesty. When we can approach the throne without our preconceptions, perhaps He then shows us the truth of our own hearts - even beyond our own understanding. I believe God knows my heart better than I.

* Make Space for friends in your life. Enjoin them to belief.
* Post your stories of God's intervention on the blog.
* Look for ways to share Awe and Wonder with children - leave suggestions at CougarsDaily.blogspot.com
* Consider joining Life-Devotions (a group of about 100 catholics and protestants sharing their faith through daily devotions and discussion - strong pro Life content)
* The Street Church
* Voice of the Martyrs

Hey guys,

It looks like RZIM has made some recent changes to their website. I don't know if this is why, but there seems to be a long delay in getting the Slice. If this continues tomorrow, Perhaps we will work one day in the rears, as I can't really 'wait around' for the most recent post.

let me know if you have any suggestions.

* Make Space for friends in your life. Enjoin them to belief.
* Post your stories of God's intervention on the blog.
* Look for ways to share Awe and Wonder with children - leave suggestions at CougarsDaily.blogspot.com
* Consider joining Life-Devotions (a group of about 100 catholics and protestants sharing their faith through daily devotions and discussion - strong pro Life content)
* The Street Church
* Voice of the Martyrs

Take ~5 minutes to read this 'COUGARS Daily' which contains snippets from A Slice of Infinity. Invite your family and friends to participate in reading with you daily. Then, consider sharing your comments and faith experiences at CougarsDaily.blogspot.com

The Slice seems slow today. I haven't received it yet, nor can I get in online at this time. I need to rush off to work so I wanted to give you something to chew on as we think more about what ministry in today's culture looks like.

Last night I heard a brief talk where a man was communicating with a group of youth from a local church. He asked them what were the major issues that the church was concerned with at that time. The answers (this has been probably since my childhood) were things like, whether or not guitars and drums should be allowed in the Sunday service, speaking in tongues, etc. Then he asked what the major issues were in the world around them. The answers were things like hunger, poverty, social injustice, etc.

Which of these two lists would we want the youth to devote themselves to?



* Make Space for friends in your life. Enjoin them to belief.
* Post your stories of God's intervention on the blog.
* Look for ways to share Awe and Wonder with children - leave suggestions at CougarsDaily.blogspot.com
* Consider joining Life-Devotions (a group of about 100 catholics and protestants sharing their faith through daily devotions and discussion - strong pro Life content)
* The Street Church
* Voice of the Martyrs

Hoax or History? - by Jill Carattini

Take ~5 minutes to read this 'COUGARS Daily' which contains snippets from A Slice of Infinity. Invite your family and friends to participate in reading with you daily. Then, consider sharing your comments or faith questions at CougarsDaily.blogspot.com

- For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. (2 Peter 1:16)

A Slice of Infinity snippets:
Scottish skeptic David Hume is perhaps history's most famous critic of the miraculous. Hume once stated that if historians consistently agreed that the Queen of England died and then reappeared a month later, he would be willing to accept any explanation but a miracle of God. Responding to Hume's thought-experiment, philosopher William Lane Craig marks an essential clue in investigating the miraculous. Says Craig, "I would agree that a miracle without context is inherently ambiguous....The religio-historical context is crucial in understanding miraculous events. This is why...the Queen's return would only perplex us [while] the Resurrection gives us pause."(2) Craig’s response posits the importance of the context in which Jesus performed his miracles, a context that was brimming with religious significance, and therefore cannot be separated from any consideration of the whole. The supernatural acts Jesus performed were an authentication of the divine authority he was simultaneously claiming. He had professed equality with God, which was why many of the religious leaders accused him of blasphemy, and his startling miracles were further attestation of his startling claim. What's more, his resurrection was the crowning end to the unparalleled claims for which he was crucified.

Chad's Comments:
For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased," we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:17-21) emphasis mine.

Did God just say through Peter that prophetic word is more sure than their eyewitness testimony? Did God just tell us that the words of the Old and New Testament hold more argumentative weight than experience? Wow. Can we accept it? God's Word is more true and real than our own experience.

* Make Space for friends in your life. Enjoin them to belief.
* Post your stories of God's intervention on the blog.
* Look for ways to share Awe and Wonder with children - leave suggestions at CougarsDaily.blogspot.com
* Consider joining Life-Devotions (a group of about 100 catholics and protestants sharing their faith through daily devotions and discussion - strong pro Life content)
* The Street Church
* Voice of the Martyrs

Seeing Clearly by Alison Thomas

Take ~5 minutes to read this 'COUGARS Daily' which contains snippets from A Slice of Infinity. Invite your family and friends to participate in reading with you daily. Then, consider sharing your comments or faith questions at CougarsDaily.blogspot.com

- In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.

The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins. (2 Peter 1:5-9)

A Slice of Infinity snippets:
...But instead, he reminds us that focusing on our union with Christ and our own internalizing of Christ’s qualities helps us to keep the bigger picture in focus and our overall knowledge of Christ most effective...

...Perhaps the place where we can see hope blossom--no matter how dark and distant it may seem--is closer than we think. Looking at the world through the eyes of Scripture, the hope of the gospel, and the presence of the kingdom provides us with corrective lenses through which we can see who Christ is, who we truly are, and indeed, who we can become beside him. Take a look and see for yourself.

Chad's Comments:
I noticed that the writer concentrated on telling me to focus on MY union with Christ and 'MY OWN INTERNALIZING' of Christ's qualities. How am I living out what God has called me to do? Am I being loving to God? Am I obeying his commands? Am I feeding His sheep? Am I serving others with my life?

This coming week is a significant week of service started by (I think) the Southern Baptist convention. Approximately 40 churches in our area have been asked to find families in need and then fill that need. I am sure you can contact your local Baptist Church for service opportunities this week. For those of you in the Colorado Springs area, Vanguard "has selected a military family with some incredible life circumstances. This family has 3 children, 2 of which have cerebral palsy and the other has severe sleep apnea. The husband was injured while in Iraq, where he still is, and is being discharged with a broken back upon his arrival home next month. The home they are living in has some deficiencies that are causing the medical conditions of the children to be aggravated. Vanguard is committed to improving the quality of this family’s life and showing them appreciation for their service to our country. If you or someone you know have time and/or resources to put toward this effort please email me."

This ties to COUGARS very well, I believe, because this is an outreach to an unbelieving family. I am encouraged to get involved and serve them. I believe this is the first among many projects where our company will be jumping on board to serve and enjoin others to serve. I invite you to give of your time next week by letting me know and we'll get you plugged in..early morning to late night. We need people to do insulation, tile, electrical and so on. I am also calling on my friends with landscape companies such as Ben and Brian to go above and beyond the needs of this family and help with their landscape. With a broken back, I'm sure the husband does not look forward to lawn care, so zero maintenance would be an excellent help to them. They live in the 'B street' area so the land would not be all that huge to accommodate.

I would also like to see you get your unbelieving friends and neighbors to help out. I could see relationships being built with organizations through this type of a service project that many times would not be built as there are 'no strings attached'.

* Make Space for unbelievers in your life.
* Post your stories of God's intervention on the blog.
* Look for ways to share Awe and Wonder with children - leave suggestions at CougarsDaily.blogspot.com
* Consider joining Life-Devotions (a group of about 100 catholics and protestants sharing their faith through daily devotions and discussion - strong pro Life content)
* The Street Church
* Voice of the Martyrs

The Voice of the Shepherd by Jill CarattiniI

Take ~5 minutes to read this 'COUGARS Daily' which contains snippets from A Slice of Infinity. Invite your family and friends to participate in reading with you daily. Then, consider sharing your comments or faith questions at CougarsDaily.blogspot.com

- for "All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever." And this word^(C) is the good news that was preached to you. (1Peter 1:24-25)

- But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. (John 10:2-4)

A Slice of Infinity snippets:
In this description of sheep and shepherd, Jesus conveys the startling idea of self-disclosure and the compulsion of recognition. As with any voice we recognize, it is much more than acknowledging a string of inanimate, though recognizable sounds. We recognize a person beyond the sounds, one who has chosen to speak in our own language so that we might understand and in turn respond. How much more so this is true of the shepherd's voice. In word, in revelation, in covenant and relationship, the Father makes Himself known to us, the voice of the Son leading us further into the care and presence of the Father. Like a shepherd calling out to his sheep, God’s word goes forth, leading all who will listen, compelling into action those who recognize the voice of one worth following. But more than this, the shepherd’s voice is one that moves us because it is our own names we hear called out.

Chad's Comments:
Please continue to lift up Elaine's mom, Faye Byrd. Elaine, how did the tests come out?

Recently I have been contemplating what contemporary ministry looks like and finding some real provoking thoughts coming out of the 'emerging' church. For a brief example of what the culture seems to be thinking of us 'Christians', check out this article regarding Rolling Stones Magazine. The article is informative in helping us get the pulse of current thought about Christians. The comments are also engaging in helping us keep on track and not 'change the message'.

For further discussion on this topic; if you have the time, I would invite you to log into iTunes; go to the podcast section and search for 'FERMI' or Fermi Project. When you see the Fermi Podcast, download and listen to episode 1 (interview with Chuck Colson). This is informative as we look at evangelism in contemporary culture.

* Make Space for unbelievers in your life.
* Post your stories of God's intervention on the blog.
* Look for ways to share Awe and Wonder with children - leave suggestions at CougarsDaily.blogspot.com
* Consider joining Life-Devotions (a group of about 100 catholics and protestants sharing their faith through daily devotions and discussion - strong pro Life content)
* The Street Church
* Voice of the Martyrs

Remembering Forward - by Margaret Manning

Take ~5 minutes to read this 'COUGARS Daily' which contains snippets from A Slice of Infinity. Invite your family and friends to participate in reading with you daily. Then, consider sharing your comments or faith questions at CougarsDaily.blogspot.com

- We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about his power and his mighty wonders. For he issued his laws to Jacob; he gave his instructions to Israel. He commanded our ancestors to teach them to their children, so the next generation might know them— even the children not yet born— and they in turn will teach their own children. So each generation should set its hope anew on God, not forgetting his glorious miracles and obeying his commands. (Psalm 78:4-7)

- He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.” (Luke 22:19)

- Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will thank you forever and ever, praising your greatness from generation to generation. (Psalm 79:13)

A Slice of Infinity snippets:
...when Jesus instructs his followers during that last supper together saying “this is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me” he is not calling them to bittersweet yearnings, or simply to remember events lived long ago (Luke 22:19). Rather, he is calling them to live into the way of the Cross and the way of resurrection, to remember Jesus in such a way that shapes all their living to come. That is, he is calling them--and us--to remember forward. Are we living in ways that both demonstrate a willingness to die to ourselves and reveal the new life we now have as a result of the resurrection? As we remember and re-tell the story, are we helping others to experience life in this way? Remembering the death and resurrection of Jesus, we give our lives contour and context not only for our generation, but for generations to come.

Chad's Comments:
In what ways are we remembering God and telling of His good deeds? (Past, Present, Future)

* Make Space for unbelievers in your life.
* Post your stories of God's intervention on the blog.
* Look for ways to share Awe and Wonder with children - leave suggestions at CougarsDaily.blogspot.com
* Consider joining Life-Devotions (a group of about 100 catholics and protestants sharing their faith through daily devotions and discussion - strong pro Life content)
* The Street Church
* Voice of the Martyrs

Iconoclast of Inconsistency - by Jill Carattini

Take ~5 minutes to read this 'COUGARS Daily' which contains snippets from A Slice of Infinity. Invite your family and friends to participate in reading with you daily. Then, consider sharing your comments or faith questions at CougarsDaily.blogspot.com

-Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. (Proverbs 3:5-8)

A Slice of Infinity snippets:
By and large, the cultural trend marks a growing distrust and rejection of story and meaning and a general embrace of cynicism. And yet, in recent market research, executives found that audiences of all ages reacted badly to advertising that too sharply dismissed or disrespected the notion or story of Christmas. There is quite measurably a greater desire for storylines with hopeful implications in December. Apparently, we want to claim life is meaningless, but only 11 months out of the year. The typical cynicism governing the production and marketing of motion pictures is entirely toned down at Christmastime. It seems we want to argue the cake doesn't exist and eat it too.

I have always appreciated the brave confession of C.S. Lewis that he was once living in a whirl of contradictions. This is a difficult thing even to notice of one's life, let alone admit it aloud. Self-deception is always one of the more powerful forces of interpretation; the general human ability to see the lives of others far more critically than our own is another. Yet Lewis observed of himself, "I maintained that God did not exist. I was also very angry with God for not existing. I was equally angry with Him for creating a world." Our own contradictions often exist glaringly amongst our thoughts, even as they go unnoticed.

Chad's Comments:
Dear Friends, I have so much to report on this great Monday. I will attempt to keep it short as I know how Monday's can be. I love each of you.

Regarding the healing Prayer session for Zak held at my home on Saturday evening: Thank you for those who were praying for him and for me. The spirit of God was truly with us. Even in my skepticism, it was almost impossible to doubt that God was working. There were many visible and audible evidences of the spirit in our midst. However, we did not 'see' Zak's spine "straighten before our eyes" as we were all hoping.

Zak is a teenager, yet, due to some brain functions, he does not communicate in the way that many 'expect'. It was difficult to gage how Zak was feeling in the situation. But, when the people were gone, and they were alone, Zak opened up and told his dad that Jesus said that he did not have to go to the hospital!

WOW! Jesus spoke healing into Zak! Yeah! Praise God.

It is my firm belief that God began a great healing in Zak's body on Saturday evening. I am looking forward to the next doctor's report.

Secondly, and I will go fast here as I hope to explore this further with you over the next several weeks; God is moving in Kara and I's life in great and unexpected ways. We are feeling a call toward community like never before. We are feeling love for each other and for our friends and neighbors with a 'direction'. My fear in all of this' newness' was that I was somehow 'watering down' the gospel message, or loosing touch with what is 'right'. However, what I am finding is a call to return to a more foundational, possibly even 'traditional', Christ centered life.

Upcoming Cougars' "Neighbor-Day" weekend:
As we look toward a coming weekend - I'm thinking about a month from now, think of ways you can help a neighbor. Do you have a neighbor that needs something you can give them? Perhaps it is pulling their weeds, or mowing their lawn, or helping with their car, or helping with their homework. Dare I say, don't worry so much that YOU have to evangelical-ize them. Simply see if there is something that you can do to help them (love them).

However, be genuine and don't prostitute friendship. For example, at family gatherings, when I see a particular cousin of Kara's who is a practicing homosexual, I go out of my way to talk to him. My justification for doing this is that I wanted him to see that I did not 'hate' him. However, if I make him feel like he is a project, how have I really loved him. If I spend a bunch of time 'prospecting' him and neglect attempting to connect with other cousins at family events, how is my friendship genuine?

As a group, I will be challenging you to reach out to a neighbor. To invite someone over to your home whom you have had little to no contact with. This is not an effort to 'evangelize' them on the spot, but simply an effort to begin REAL relationship with them. Be in prayer about whom God would have you invite. More to come.

* Make Space for unbelievers in your life.
* Post your stories of God's intervention on the blog.
* Look for ways to share Awe and Wonder with children - leave suggestions at CougarsDaily.blogspot.com
* Consider joining Life-Devotions (a group of about 100 catholics and protestants sharing their faith through daily devotions and discussion - strong pro Life content)
* The Street Church
* Voice of the Martyrs

Graceful Disturbance - by Jill Carattini

Take ~5 minutes to read this 'COUGARS Daily' which contains snippets from A Slice of Infinity. Invite your family and friends to participate in reading with you daily. Then, consider sharing your comments or faith questions at CougarsDaily.blogspot.com

-and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever." (Luke 1:47-55)

A Slice of Infinity snippets:
In fact, there are far worse things than being disrupted by the one who calls us to follow, the once-fragile child who now asks that we put our hands on the plow and not look back, let the dead bury the dead, take up our own crosses, and bring with him good news to the poor. It is far worse to be so at ease that we do not receive the graceful disturbance of a Father who would offer his only Son, and a Son who would go willingly. It is far worse to be so familiar with the story that we fail to see the Mighty One disturbing our world, lifting up the lowly, sending the rich away empty, and filling the hungry with good things.

Chad's Comments:
As many of you know, tomorrow evening we will be having a healing prayer session for my friend Wolfgang's son, Zak. Zak has Sotos Syndrom (intense Scoliosis); apparently, a January growth spurt has caused Zak's back to have a 58% curvature.

Will you pray for my doubt of healing to be removed. I am so 'heady' that my 'natural' mind does not want to allow for my spirit to be fed. Brian, you will even remember us walking out of a healing service when we were teens because we thought it was all 'hocus-pocus' or fake.

Danny is helping me to move forward in faith in the healing power of Jesus. His viewpoint is that God does not want us to be sick. While its seems that God does work through the sick, and our definition of sick may be hard to pinpoint in some cases, I still am coming to the belief that God does not desire sickness to be in us. If I can cross this bridge of 'rationalizing' the reasons God doesn't heal and move into a belief that God truly wants to heal, I believe we will see Zak stand straight tomorrow night.

There is an amazing revival / healing service happening in Lakeland, FL right now. I have now heard of it through three unrelated people. Thus, I am sharing with you. I believe we must not judge the situation based on its 'appearance'. Who am I to say how someone can worship Jesus or what worship for them looks like? Perhaps dancing and beating drums is their greatest expression of worshiping their creator. Regardless of its appearance, creative miracles appear to be happening. So much so that national news seems to be covering some of it and people are going nightly by the thousands from across our country and internationally.
www.freshfire.ca

Please pray that God will rid me of my unbelief.

Bless you all in the name of Jesus.

Upcoming Cougars' "Neighbor-Day" weekend:
As a group, I will be challenging you to reach out to a neighbor. To invite someone over to your home whom you have had little to no contact with. This is not an effort to 'evangelize' them on the spot, but simply an effort to begin REAL relationship with them. Be in prayer about whom God would have you invite. More to come.

* Make Space for unbelievers in your life.
* Post your stories of God's intervention on the blog.
* Look for ways to share Awe and Wonder with children - leave suggestions at CougarsDaily.blogspot.com
* Consider joining Life-Devotions (a group of about 100 catholics and protestants sharing their faith through daily devotions and discussion - strong pro Life content)
* The Street Church
* Voice of the Martyrs