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This is the latest video I've done for Wolfe House & Building Movers, where I do Graphic Design. Yes, we do more than just lifting houses above flood lines, or moving humongous buildings. To see my other music and Wolfe videos, go to YouTube and check out my "stanbrubaker" channel.
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 Happy New Year! ...and I pray you will become a More Radical Christian in this good year 2017. But WAIT-- Before you click me under the bus, please let me explain. Radical means 'Rooted'— it comes from the 'Late Latin' radicalis "of or having roots," from the Latin radix (genitive radicis) "root (see radish). The meaning "going to the origin, essential" is from 1650s. [dictionary.com] Now, if you're just taking up space on the earth, if you live only to collect pleasures and win 'Like's, the meaning of almost anything (for you) may as well be meaningless.
But if you want your life to count big— if you want your Earthly Investments to pay back Huge Eternal Dividends— well then you simply must become a radical Christian. As in, 'like Jesus originally taught.' Rooted in Him. Living out what is Essential. "Must?" you say... Yes, for Jesus was no modern American, with our typically HUGE disconnect from the eternal realities. Get to know Him by reading HIS words, heeding HIS warnings, pleading HIS cause. Commit yourself to HIM alone as your 'bottom line.' Never let the Roots of your Beliefs be warped by what another 'mere man' thinks (for he too will be arraigned before God for judgment) or by the temporary creed or subjugating selfishness of a 'mere denomination'. Ask God what HE wants from you. Go to The Source, and 'Read The Bible— it sheds light on the commentaries!' Life is so much bigger than any man, however impressive, or any exciting or comfortable movement. Read some of the good old writers. Follow some of those sold-out Christ-followers from centuries past— martyrs, missionaries, thinkers, and DOers, who gave themselves to God to the utmost. With your hand in God's, GO! No, it won't be 'fad'ish, but please become more 'rad'ish— rooted and grounded in Jesus Christ. And if 2017 ends up being your last year on earth, you'll be so glad you did.  Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the Lord, for He hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath He thrown into the sea." (Exod.15:1)
And just WHY did they sing? Because God had proven His Presence, His promises, and His provision— and they had been Delivered! Many times in the Psalms and other Scriptures we see songs of praise bursting forth after such a deliverance. Other times we see the deliverance coming partly as a result of the singing! Music has a very special place in the hearts of man, as indicated by the fact that we spent over $15,000,000,000 for it, just in 2016. And it has a large place in the heart of God. When the morning stars sang together during the glorious days of Creation, God was listening— enjoying that outpouring from billions of powerhouses of Light each song He had composed for them. Just two nights ago, I was privileged to hear a master organist playing skillfully on an organ containing over 10,000 pipes. Thrilling? Absolutely. But I submit to you that our Father is even more delighted when we sound forth from the "living musical organs" that we are. When we're struggling, or when we're rejoicing. When we're fighting to believe, or wait, or trust... or to just overcome. Forced out from our innermost heart, even if in the dullness of despair, may we sing out to our Maker the undying Yes of our obedience. "Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises." (Psalm 47: 6). May He fill You with song. May He receive from your heart that special Gift which only YOU can give to Him.  Crime, violence, murder, deceit— not a day goes by when my life is not AFFECTED by some of the horrible results of sin.
I read about it in the paper... I see it online... we hear it from friends, and family, and co-workers. But do we REALLY stop to consider what our lives will be like when we cannot remember a single bit of it, or even know it ever existed? I honestly have to strain my imagination to just begin to imagine a whole day... a whole week... a whole month... without a single discouraging bit of news. Whew! What an amazing promise!— but is it 'too good to be true'? No, because God said it! In Psalm 34:16 we read "The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth." No matter how dark the crime, or how vile the person, may we keep our faith intact in the surety of God's promise: That time is coming soon when God will "create a new heaven and a new earth, and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind." (Isa. 65:17).  What is YOUR special way of getting out of an emotional slump, or a time of extreme "burnout" or fatigue? Do you take a nap? ...a hike? ...go out and spend some money? ...pray, sing, or fast? ...go visit someone? ...read a book?
 If I had a safe stuffed with clear titles to every building in the Wall Street district (shown above), would that make me any richer than I really already am? Could it make me more secure? One time, while His disciples were marveling at some beautiful buildings, Jesus was envisioning those same edifices as already burned and razed, in the destruction of Jerusalem coming just a few decades later. "Lord, help me to see things as You see them— for that is their true state of existence! And as we read the amazing and the 'too-good-to-be-true' promises in the verses of this simple poem, help us remember that they are not exaggerated. "No, for the true sons and daughters of God they are intrinsically and eternally true!" I Have a Bank That Never FailsI have a bank that never fails, From which my spirit draws,
Where Jesus has deposited His grace for every cause.  One thing I really enjoy seeing in a small child is a big imagination.
Where do they come up with those things!  When I arrived at my office, there it was— a portrait of myself, drawn from memory by a co-worker's daughter.
 YES! As a child of God, I can get out of debt, even wiping out those really important ones that have nothing to do with money.
It is G.O.O.D. to Get Out Of Debt.  Many years ago I owned a small cabinet shop. I loved the work, but after some years I found myself dissatisfied about one particular thing. Just as soon as we would get the kitchen or furniture or whatever TOTALLY COMPLETED, with the finishing touches on everything, we would load up our tools, sweep up, drive away, and probably never see it again! ...
 HEART CRY
I want to do what a man can, And You to do what a man cannot, And do toGether what only a man with God can do; For I am on your earth, and love my God, And You are in your Heav'n, and love your man, But I cannot and You will not do ought alone  What should I do, when someone sincerely praises me? Should I disagree, pretending that what I did has no merit? Should I change the subject, letting things cower toward an awkward silence?
Many decades ago, before I had really faced these questions, I built a large set of oak kitchen cabinets for a county fairgrounds teaching facility. After the job was completed, one of the committee ladies who had ordered them complimented me on the workmanship.  God's Word declares that He
And yet, He sees every sparrow that falls, and can guide me through everything I face. "Lord, help me to remember that truly You are with me, and that, even in Your great big universe, I am precious to You, and I am 'humbly invincible' within Your will."  Are you making a "post-bucket list" of all the things you would like to do AFTER you die? I have a few things on mine:
1. I'm hoping to speak to ALL my Bible heroes— King David, the apostle John, Noah, and so many more. Fact: "If you have a limited number of persons in an eternal situation, logic says that you will have plenty of time to talk to each one of them, and to every combination of them, an INFINITE number of times! WHEW! Wrap that!  God is Light, and whenever He speaks, He speaks the WORDs of LIGHT. As a Christ-follower, I walk in His Word and His Light, and I shine as a Light in this world (Phip. 2:15).
This world may lie in darkness, and its 'heroes' and 'leaders' may let me down, but God's LIGHT still shines! And HE will never let me down! [Reason #79] Go to http://www.stanbrubaker.com/27-reasons-im-glad.html for your FREE DOWNLOAD of my ebook "27 Reasons I'm GLAD I'm a Christian."  A Free E-Book for Your Encouragement!In June of 2013 my wife Janice and I moved from Michigan, to Berks County, Pennsylvania.
As we spent our first month here in our small, temporary (we thought), home, I began meditating on some of the reasons I have to be really glad for God’s provision, His protection, and His “exceding great and precious promises.” For many years we have nurtured a daily habit of reading through the Scriptures, using various versions of the One-Year Bibles. I decided that every time I came across an especially-meaningful promise, or a really- encouraging thought, I would just jot it down. Then I got to wondering if other folks might be encouraged if I would share my “gladnesses” with them. I could add fitting photos to the first “27 Reasons” in my list, and help brighten up other people's days too. Today—two years and more than 300 Reasons later— this first little collection goes forth. Don’t rush through it too quickly. Each “gladness” holds a promise or principle that will help change our lives for the better! How I wish I had understood more of these soul-freeing truths when I was first a child of God! —Stan Brubaker, July 2015 [ From the book's Introduction— Click on this page to Download your Free Copy ] |
Author Stan Brubaker is a Truth-seeker, a published song-writer and author, and a happily married father of three-and-a-half-dozen children (that's three sons, and a half-dozen daughters). Archives
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