2010-07-30T08:55:49Z http://shine.kingdomadvisors.org/atom.aspx Quick Blogcast tag:shine.kingdomadvisors.org,2010-07-25:f73643f2-7972-467e-b95d-84e267507ebe Ron Blue 2010-07-26T04:48:00Z 2010-07-26T04:48:00Z <div>Dear Friends,</div> <div><br></div> <div>Our God is so merciful. &nbsp;Even when He calls us to the highest standard of performance (“work out your salvation with fear and trembling”), He promises to empower us to accomplish that work. God supplies what God requires. &nbsp;As Psalm 103:14 says, “For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust.”</div> <div><br></div> <div>Interestingly, although the English word is “work” in both cases, there are two different Greek words being represented. &nbsp;In the first case (the Christian’s responsibility to work out their salvation), the word ...</div>

<div>Dear Friends,</div> <div><br></div> <div>Our God is so merciful. &nbsp;Even when He calls us to the highest standard of performance (“work out your salvation with fear and trembling”), He promises to empower us to accomplish that work. God supplies what God requires. &nbsp;As Psalm 103:14 says, “For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust.”</div> <div><br></div> <div>Interestingly, although the English word is “work” in both cases, there are two different Greek words being represented. &nbsp;In the first case (the Christian’s responsibility to work out their salvation), the word ...</div>

tag:shine.kingdomadvisors.org,2010-07-19:57e94053-2fbc-4981-9b92-aa38b6c72e34 Ron Blue 2010-07-19T13:55:00Z 2010-07-19T13:55:00Z <div>Dear Friends,</div> <div><br></div> <div>Elisabeth Elliot once said, “God is God. I dethrone Him in my heart if I demand that He act in ways that satisfy my idea of justice. It is the same spirit that taunted, ‘If Thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.’”&nbsp;</div> <div><br></div> <div>Walking by faith means allowing God to be God. It is impossible, this side of eternity, to begin to know what it means that God is God. We are incapable of knowing Him fully, and, if we could, we would echo Isaiah’s ...</div>

<div>Dear Friends,</div> <div><br></div> <div>Elisabeth Elliot once said, “God is God. I dethrone Him in my heart if I demand that He act in ways that satisfy my idea of justice. It is the same spirit that taunted, ‘If Thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.’”&nbsp;</div> <div><br></div> <div>Walking by faith means allowing God to be God. It is impossible, this side of eternity, to begin to know what it means that God is God. We are incapable of knowing Him fully, and, if we could, we would echo Isaiah’s ...</div>

tag:shine.kingdomadvisors.org,2010-07-06:eb93d9c0-e016-46c9-b181-cb616bd4b9ad Ron Blue 2010-07-06T19:14:00Z 2010-07-06T19:14:00Z <div>Dear Friends,</div> <div><br></div> <div>How do you approach your time of scripture reading? &nbsp;I have used various methods through the years, but I am always grateful when my studies lead me back to the characters of the Old Testament. &nbsp;While a verse from the New Testament can guide and direct my heart in a particular moment, it’s the people of the Old Testament who remind me of how nitty-gritty faith can be and how faithful our God is. The qualities I discuss in today’s video are beautifully played out in several Old Testament lives.</div> ...

<div>Dear Friends,</div> <div><br></div> <div>How do you approach your time of scripture reading? &nbsp;I have used various methods through the years, but I am always grateful when my studies lead me back to the characters of the Old Testament. &nbsp;While a verse from the New Testament can guide and direct my heart in a particular moment, it’s the people of the Old Testament who remind me of how nitty-gritty faith can be and how faithful our God is. The qualities I discuss in today’s video are beautifully played out in several Old Testament lives.</div> ...

tag:shine.kingdomadvisors.org,2010-07-01:fc5fd021-281f-4d2b-8709-c0ec416cabf6 Ron Blue 2010-07-01T20:40:00Z 2010-07-01T20:40:00Z <div>Dear Friends,</div> <div><br></div> <div>Seeking to trust God on a daily basis is at the heart of what it means to live in relationship with Him. &nbsp;However, in our current well-fed, well-entertained, well-heeled culture, honest opportunities to trust God can become covered over easily by solutions that are close at hand and seem obvious.</div> <div><br></div> <div>I love to remember Bill Bright’s statement, “what an opportunity to trust God!” when I come up against a challenge that I am tempted to somehow sidestep, if I can. &nbsp;And, when I face challenges that truly ...</div>

<div>Dear Friends,</div> <div><br></div> <div>Seeking to trust God on a daily basis is at the heart of what it means to live in relationship with Him. &nbsp;However, in our current well-fed, well-entertained, well-heeled culture, honest opportunities to trust God can become covered over easily by solutions that are close at hand and seem obvious.</div> <div><br></div> <div>I love to remember Bill Bright’s statement, “what an opportunity to trust God!” when I come up against a challenge that I am tempted to somehow sidestep, if I can. &nbsp;And, when I face challenges that truly ...</div>

tag:shine.kingdomadvisors.org,2010-06-22:a9ad716b-5be5-4f3d-bb7a-86d0ab0d4250 Ron Blue 2010-06-22T18:20:00Z 2010-06-22T18:20:00Z <div>Dear Friends,</div> <div><br></div> <div>I am sure that many of you have either taken or led Crown Financial Ministries classes over the years. &nbsp;One of the most powerful aspects of a Crown class, in my opinion, is the “Quit Claim Deed” that participants fill out after the first week in order to recognize God’s true ownership of all of their possessions.</div> <div><br></div> <div>In the video, I read I Chronicles 29:14, “But who am I and who are my people that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from ...</div>

<div>Dear Friends,</div> <div><br></div> <div>I am sure that many of you have either taken or led Crown Financial Ministries classes over the years. &nbsp;One of the most powerful aspects of a Crown class, in my opinion, is the “Quit Claim Deed” that participants fill out after the first week in order to recognize God’s true ownership of all of their possessions.</div> <div><br></div> <div>In the video, I read I Chronicles 29:14, “But who am I and who are my people that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from ...</div>

tag:shine.kingdomadvisors.org,2010-06-14:25ef6011-08b8-43ee-bc82-90987a5b1ccd Ron Blue 2010-06-14T13:52:00Z 2010-06-14T13:52:00Z <div>Dear Friends,</div> <div><br></div> <div>There is a verse I love in II Corinthians 4. &nbsp;Verse 17 says, “for momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison.” Do you see the contrast? &nbsp;Momentary versus eternal, light versus weight, affliction versus glory. God offers us an eternal weight of glory in return for our momentary, light affliction.</div> <div><br></div> <div>I’m not sure about you, but my momentary, light afflictions in following Christ’s call on my life don’t always feel like a walk in the park! They often feel ...</div>

<div>Dear Friends,</div> <div><br></div> <div>There is a verse I love in II Corinthians 4. &nbsp;Verse 17 says, “for momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison.” Do you see the contrast? &nbsp;Momentary versus eternal, light versus weight, affliction versus glory. God offers us an eternal weight of glory in return for our momentary, light affliction.</div> <div><br></div> <div>I’m not sure about you, but my momentary, light afflictions in following Christ’s call on my life don’t always feel like a walk in the park! They often feel ...</div>

tag:shine.kingdomadvisors.org,2010-06-08:b1cbd849-2548-411b-ace6-de8c1e35df47 Ron Blue 2010-06-08T15:28:00Z 2010-06-08T15:28:00Z <div>Dear Friends,</div> <div><br></div> <div>Why was Jesus able to be humble? &nbsp;After all, He was God in the flesh. &nbsp;He took on Satan in the wilderness and defeated temptation by the almighty authority of the Word of God. &nbsp;The power of His love held Him on the cross, and the force of His righteousness conquered death and the grave. &nbsp;He was the mightiest man ever to walk the earth.</div> <div><br></div> <div>So, why was Jesus able to have humility, even to the point of death? &nbsp;I don’t pretend to know the whole answer, but ...</div>

<div>Dear Friends,</div> <div><br></div> <div>Why was Jesus able to be humble? &nbsp;After all, He was God in the flesh. &nbsp;He took on Satan in the wilderness and defeated temptation by the almighty authority of the Word of God. &nbsp;The power of His love held Him on the cross, and the force of His righteousness conquered death and the grave. &nbsp;He was the mightiest man ever to walk the earth.</div> <div><br></div> <div>So, why was Jesus able to have humility, even to the point of death? &nbsp;I don’t pretend to know the whole answer, but ...</div>

tag:shine.kingdomadvisors.org,2010-05-25:91fa76fc-91b2-4a40-93b1-742bcc201874 Ron Blue 2010-05-25T19:41:00Z 2010-05-25T19:41:00Z <div>Dear Friends,</div> <div><br></div> <div>I love the way that the “word of God is living and active…sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12) When I go to scripture, I can be assured that God will use what I read in a new way to penetrate the depths of my thoughts, attitudes, soul, and spirit. &nbsp;No other book is alive like that, and no other words are inspired like that.</div> <div><br></div> <div>Several years ...</div>

<div>Dear Friends,</div> <div><br></div> <div>I love the way that the “word of God is living and active…sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12) When I go to scripture, I can be assured that God will use what I read in a new way to penetrate the depths of my thoughts, attitudes, soul, and spirit. &nbsp;No other book is alive like that, and no other words are inspired like that.</div> <div><br></div> <div>Several years ...</div>

tag:shine.kingdomadvisors.org,2010-05-19:835b6aaf-8164-4ccc-a7e2-45b81014b81b Ron Blue 2010-05-19T18:16:00Z 2010-05-19T18:16:00Z <div>Dear Friends,</div> <div><br></div> <div>I’ve been married now for more than 45 years, and a woman’s feelings are still one of the most mysterious realms on earth to me. &nbsp;My daughters and my wife will tell you that I need a “Rosetta Stone” program to be able to be fluent in their language and converse with them about feelings.</div> <div><br></div> <div>However, as much as a man is loath to admit it, feelings are very real influencers on our decisions. &nbsp;And, for a man, the hidden, under the skin feelings, are often dangerous. &nbsp;When ...</div>

<div>Dear Friends,</div> <div><br></div> <div>I’ve been married now for more than 45 years, and a woman’s feelings are still one of the most mysterious realms on earth to me. &nbsp;My daughters and my wife will tell you that I need a “Rosetta Stone” program to be able to be fluent in their language and converse with them about feelings.</div> <div><br></div> <div>However, as much as a man is loath to admit it, feelings are very real influencers on our decisions. &nbsp;And, for a man, the hidden, under the skin feelings, are often dangerous. &nbsp;When ...</div>

tag:shine.kingdomadvisors.org,2010-05-10:601f93c1-1e7a-4b2d-a6a0-346833019e37 Ron Blue 2010-05-10T18:31:00Z 2010-05-10T18:31:00Z <div>Dear Friends,</div> <div><br></div> <div>I Corinthians 13:12 says, “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.” &nbsp;When we get to heaven, we will see, finally, with unhindered vision. &nbsp;We will know His reality - stripped of the grime and the lies of this world. &nbsp;What vision! &nbsp;What glory!</div> <div><br></div> <div>This past weekend, I had a new grandson. &nbsp;When he was born on Friday, he entered a huge new world. &nbsp;He ...</div>

<div>Dear Friends,</div> <div><br></div> <div>I Corinthians 13:12 says, “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.” &nbsp;When we get to heaven, we will see, finally, with unhindered vision. &nbsp;We will know His reality - stripped of the grime and the lies of this world. &nbsp;What vision! &nbsp;What glory!</div> <div><br></div> <div>This past weekend, I had a new grandson. &nbsp;When he was born on Friday, he entered a huge new world. &nbsp;He ...</div>

tag:shine.kingdomadvisors.org,2010-05-04:95c38603-e1b9-40a3-908a-dcb071c141c7 Ron Blue 2010-05-04T16:32:00Z 2010-05-04T16:32:00Z <div>Dear Friends,</div> <div><br></div> <div>Our name is “Kingdom Advisors,” and we aim to encourage, educate and empower “Kingdom-minded” financial professionals. &nbsp;But, what is the Kingdom? &nbsp;The Sermon on the Mount was the greatest sermon ever preached; in it, Jesus describes what life in His Kingdom looks like. &nbsp;The verse in the video today comes toward the end of the sermon, in Matthew 6:33. &nbsp;However, the sermon begins in Matthew 5 with the Beatitudes.</div> <div><br></div> <div>The Beatitudes show me, in a few short verses, what being “Kingdom-minded” looks like. &nbsp;I’ve heard it said ...</div>

<div>Dear Friends,</div> <div><br></div> <div>Our name is “Kingdom Advisors,” and we aim to encourage, educate and empower “Kingdom-minded” financial professionals. &nbsp;But, what is the Kingdom? &nbsp;The Sermon on the Mount was the greatest sermon ever preached; in it, Jesus describes what life in His Kingdom looks like. &nbsp;The verse in the video today comes toward the end of the sermon, in Matthew 6:33. &nbsp;However, the sermon begins in Matthew 5 with the Beatitudes.</div> <div><br></div> <div>The Beatitudes show me, in a few short verses, what being “Kingdom-minded” looks like. &nbsp;I’ve heard it said ...</div>

tag:shine.kingdomadvisors.org,2010-04-19:1b3c0969-4e38-4294-8c48-4fdd9dcfd817 Ron Blue 2010-04-19T16:46:00Z 2010-04-19T16:46:00Z <div>Dear Friends,</div> <div><br></div> <div>My son used to have a construction paper, mosaic craft hanging on his wall that said, “Be still and know that I am God.” &nbsp;(Psalm 46:10) It hung there through his high school and college years – a reminder of a significant time at camp when he was a young teenager – and it reminded me of Truth every time I walked into his room.</div> <div><br></div> <div>“If God is for me, who is against me?” &nbsp;Paul’s rhetorical question in Romans reminds me of God’s power and His ultimate goodness ...</div>

<div>Dear Friends,</div> <div><br></div> <div>My son used to have a construction paper, mosaic craft hanging on his wall that said, “Be still and know that I am God.” &nbsp;(Psalm 46:10) It hung there through his high school and college years – a reminder of a significant time at camp when he was a young teenager – and it reminded me of Truth every time I walked into his room.</div> <div><br></div> <div>“If God is for me, who is against me?” &nbsp;Paul’s rhetorical question in Romans reminds me of God’s power and His ultimate goodness ...</div>

tag:shine.kingdomadvisors.org,2010-04-05:4b49e5c3-dc75-4a23-9f9b-e6d3a9ce8ef9 Ron Blue 2010-04-06T02:01:00Z 2010-04-06T02:01:00Z ...

...

tag:shine.kingdomadvisors.org,2010-03-29:3f33b3e1-917d-4b9c-82c4-4d883401b098 Ron Blue 2010-03-29T18:46:00Z 2010-03-29T18:46:00Z <div>Dear Friends,</div> <div><br></div> <div>As a Christian, you know that God has given each of us a purpose. For some, following God’s unique purpose will be life changing for ourselves and others within our personal sphere of influence. For others, it will impact people worldwide. Large or small, your purpose has significance and importance and meaning. Consider the famous words from the popular movie, “Your mission, should you choose to accept it…” Do you accept your mission? Are you willing to do whatever He asks you to do? Are you listening to His word and walking ...</div>

<div>Dear Friends,</div> <div><br></div> <div>As a Christian, you know that God has given each of us a purpose. For some, following God’s unique purpose will be life changing for ourselves and others within our personal sphere of influence. For others, it will impact people worldwide. Large or small, your purpose has significance and importance and meaning. Consider the famous words from the popular movie, “Your mission, should you choose to accept it…” Do you accept your mission? Are you willing to do whatever He asks you to do? Are you listening to His word and walking ...</div>

tag:shine.kingdomadvisors.org,2010-03-22:40a4be07-cfd7-406d-8cc4-8329f4e5f836 Ron Blue 2010-03-22T17:53:00Z 2010-03-22T17:53:00Z <div>Dear Friends,</div> <div><br></div> <div>As Kingdom Advisors, we have accepted our call to lead – in our practices, with other advisors, with our clients and in our communities. As a leader, our jobs are not always glamorous, just as Jesus showed us when he performed one of the most menial tasks of his day. At the Last Supper, the disciples’ dirty feet were more than literally “dirty feet.” They illustrated a spiritual flaw in that none of them was wholly committed to the leadership required to share Jesus’ message because none of them was willing to ...</div>

<div>Dear Friends,</div> <div><br></div> <div>As Kingdom Advisors, we have accepted our call to lead – in our practices, with other advisors, with our clients and in our communities. As a leader, our jobs are not always glamorous, just as Jesus showed us when he performed one of the most menial tasks of his day. At the Last Supper, the disciples’ dirty feet were more than literally “dirty feet.” They illustrated a spiritual flaw in that none of them was wholly committed to the leadership required to share Jesus’ message because none of them was willing to ...</div>

tag:shine.kingdomadvisors.org,2010-03-15:3d439505-4272-4e76-a3b0-2aff03204ed3 Ron Blue 2010-03-15T16:03:00Z 2010-03-15T16:03:00Z <div>Dear Friends,</div> <div><br></div> <div>Everybody believes in something, and we act on what we believe. What do you believe? Do you believe in God’s truth? Do you act like you believe? Do you live by faith?</div> <div><br></div> <div>What is faith? By definition, faith means belief or trust; if we have faith in someone, we believe and trust them. Some say faith is positive thinking, or the ability to live through challenging circumstances with an inner knowing that everything will be OK. But Christian faith is much more than this; it is a deep trust ...</div>

<div>Dear Friends,</div> <div><br></div> <div>Everybody believes in something, and we act on what we believe. What do you believe? Do you believe in God’s truth? Do you act like you believe? Do you live by faith?</div> <div><br></div> <div>What is faith? By definition, faith means belief or trust; if we have faith in someone, we believe and trust them. Some say faith is positive thinking, or the ability to live through challenging circumstances with an inner knowing that everything will be OK. But Christian faith is much more than this; it is a deep trust ...</div>

tag:shine.kingdomadvisors.org,2010-03-08:61d6857d-0da1-4365-abad-4dae2e03317d Ron Blue 2010-03-08T16:12:00Z 2010-03-08T16:12:00Z <div>Dear Friends,</div> <div><br></div> <div>It’s been said that to err is human, to forgive is divine. Did you know that by God’s grace you can forgive another?</div> <div><br></div> <div>Forgiveness does not come easily for most of us. We feel betrayed when we think another person has wronged us. It’s our sinful flesh that seeks punishment or some form of “repayment” from that other person. How can we overcome this natural tendency and forgive? Is forgiveness a conscious choice or is it a feeling? And is forgiving the same thing as forgetting?</div> <div><br></div> ...

<div>Dear Friends,</div> <div><br></div> <div>It’s been said that to err is human, to forgive is divine. Did you know that by God’s grace you can forgive another?</div> <div><br></div> <div>Forgiveness does not come easily for most of us. We feel betrayed when we think another person has wronged us. It’s our sinful flesh that seeks punishment or some form of “repayment” from that other person. How can we overcome this natural tendency and forgive? Is forgiveness a conscious choice or is it a feeling? And is forgiving the same thing as forgetting?</div> <div><br></div> ...

tag:shine.kingdomadvisors.org,2010-03-02:59bd3831-a6ca-4853-bf4b-7dcad43755f0 Ron Blue 2010-03-02T17:27:00Z 2010-03-02T17:27:00Z <div>Dear Friends,</div> <div><br></div> <div>What does it mean to say that "God is faithful"? It means that He is true, trustworthy, reliable and devoted to us. It means that we can absolutely rely on Him in any circumstance; He stands by us and saves us even when we are unfaithful to Him. Can we say the same thing about ourselves in our relationship to God? Do we honor Him, stand by Him and remain faithful to Him during times of conflict with another or during a moral dilemma or a personal challenge?</div> <div><br></div> ...

<div>Dear Friends,</div> <div><br></div> <div>What does it mean to say that "God is faithful"? It means that He is true, trustworthy, reliable and devoted to us. It means that we can absolutely rely on Him in any circumstance; He stands by us and saves us even when we are unfaithful to Him. Can we say the same thing about ourselves in our relationship to God? Do we honor Him, stand by Him and remain faithful to Him during times of conflict with another or during a moral dilemma or a personal challenge?</div> <div><br></div> ...

tag:shine.kingdomadvisors.org,2010-02-22:c492b98b-51aa-4af1-b30b-b48a9174b9ff Ron Blue 2010-02-22T19:24:00Z 2010-02-22T19:24:00Z <div>Dear Friends,</div> <div><br></div> <div>Despite of the busyness of every day life, we need to strive to remember who we are in the eyes of God and the reason we were saved – so that we can emulate Jesus through our thoughts and actions. &nbsp;Sometimes that’s very hard to do because we are faced with unhappy situations, stress and anxiety. Yet, if we realize God allows these difficulties in our lives so that we have a chance to let His light shine through, it is easier to keep these problems in perspective and respond in a ...</div>

<div>Dear Friends,</div> <div><br></div> <div>Despite of the busyness of every day life, we need to strive to remember who we are in the eyes of God and the reason we were saved – so that we can emulate Jesus through our thoughts and actions. &nbsp;Sometimes that’s very hard to do because we are faced with unhappy situations, stress and anxiety. Yet, if we realize God allows these difficulties in our lives so that we have a chance to let His light shine through, it is easier to keep these problems in perspective and respond in a ...</div>

tag:shine.kingdomadvisors.org,2010-02-15:c3cc61c7-c89f-4099-9a16-78972e374288 Ron Blue 2010-02-15T21:36:00Z 2010-02-15T21:36:00Z <div>Dear Friends,</div> <div><br></div> <div>The dictionary defines humility as “a modest opinion or estimate of one's own importance or rank.” Under that definition, demonstrating humility might be a pretty hard pill for some people to swallow because it doesn’t sound like a whole lot of fun. Thankfully, the Bible sheds a brighter light on things. It tells us that humility is a state of mind that is pleasing to God, it gives us peace and tranquility, and it helps keep us patient when facing life’s trials.</div> <div><br></div> <div>In today’s world, true humility ...</div>

<div>Dear Friends,</div> <div><br></div> <div>The dictionary defines humility as “a modest opinion or estimate of one's own importance or rank.” Under that definition, demonstrating humility might be a pretty hard pill for some people to swallow because it doesn’t sound like a whole lot of fun. Thankfully, the Bible sheds a brighter light on things. It tells us that humility is a state of mind that is pleasing to God, it gives us peace and tranquility, and it helps keep us patient when facing life’s trials.</div> <div><br></div> <div>In today’s world, true humility ...</div>