Steve Morris' Weblog

Steve Troxel and his “God’s Daily Word” post

Steve Morris — Wed, 14 May 2008 12:26:28 +0000

Greetings Brothers and Sisters,

I have been receiving Steve’s daily encouragement for over 2 years now. It is always timely and always well written. Today’s message really struck home with me. So I thought I would share it.

“To Whom We Sacrifice

By the time Jeremiah became a prophet, the people of Israel had occupied the land of Canaan for about 800 years. Those years were generally characterized by a continuing rejection of God – time and again the people turned from God and embraced the gods of the world.Through Jeremiah, God called His people to return and worship Him as the One True God: “Tell them everything I command you; do not omit a word.Perhaps they will listen and each will turn from his evil way”(Jeremiah 26:2-3).His words reflect the heart of a Father longing to be reunited with His children. We can almost feel God’s heart breaking as He tells Jeremiah how far His children have fallen.

Jeremiah 19:4-5

“For they have forsaken Me and made this a place of foreign gods; they have burned sacrifices in it to gods that neither they nor their fathers nor the kings of Judah ever knew. They have built the high places of Baal to burn their sons in the fire as offerings to Baal – something I did not command or mention, nor did it enter My mind.”

When God led the Israelites out of Egypt, He warned them about following the practices of the local people; “You must not do as they do in the land of Canaan” (Leviticus 18:3). The Canaanite values were evil and in conflict with the way God was calling His children to live. In fact, anytime we seek to follow the path of God, we soon discover the values of the world are always in conflict with the values God calls us to hold.

God’s chosen people not only turned their backs, but they even became

involved in a local form of “worship” that included sacrificing their own children. It’s almost as if God was shaking His head in sad disbelief: “How could they have drifted so far away?” Of course, we must wonder if God is still shaking His head today.

Through faith in Jesus Christ, we have become children of God and can enjoy the blessings of a restored relationship with our Heavenly Father. We have also been given the ability to be blessed through relationships in our family and among our friends. And yet, how often do we sacrifice these blessings to the gods of this world? How often do we follow the practices of the world – with its “rules” for value and importance – and watch as our children are sacrificed in the fire of materialism? How often do we sacrifice loving relationships on the altar of selfish pride or lustful pleasure?

Our Heavenly Father calls us to sacrifice. But His call is to a complete sacrifice of worship to Him; “Offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God” (Romans 12:1). This sacrifice involves the continual releasing of our will until we are “poured out as a drink offering” (2 Timothy 4:6).

Let’s bring Him our very best and worship Him with a pure and complete devotion. Let’s evaluate our actions today and carefully consider what, and to whom, we sacrifice.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel

God’s Daily Word Ministries”

So have a Christ centered day and visit Steve’s site: God’s Daily Word.

in HIS service,

Steve

Laminin

Steve Morris — Tue, 13 May 2008 23:05:30 +0000

Have you guys seen this? It is really cool. The actual picture of this “binding agent” does not seem to be attaching. So look it up on the internet. It will be worth your time.

According to Wikipedia

Laminin is the major non-collagenous component of the basal lamina, such as those on which cells of an epithelium sit.^[1] Basically, laminin is a protein found in the “extracellular matrix”, the sheets of protein that form the substrate of all internal organs also called the “basement membrane”. It has four arms that can bind to four other molecules. The three shorter arms are particularly good at binding to other laminin molecules, which is what makes it so great at forming sheets. The long arm is capable of binding to cells, which helps anchor the actual organs to the membrane.

Getting in the game

Steve Morris — Sat, 10 May 2008 19:16:15 +0000

Dear Friends and fellow Christians,

I have been given a charge to encourage men to get back into the game. This applies to women as well, but is directed toward the men in HIS CHURCH. Get out of the pews, renew your vows to Christ, and make a difference each and every day for HIM.

If you know someone who needs to be nudged or you need to be nudged or encouraged to take that step that draws you nigh to HIM please read, “Down, Set, Hike: It’s not just a game played on Sundays!” and visit the www.downsethike.net website. Download the study guide. Work through it with a small group. Invite me to come speak to you group. Do something! It is worth it. So GO with GOD, until that day that HE comes once again for us.

Also, would you help me spread HIS word and encouragement by sending this on to some or all of your distribution lists. Who knows where and by what method the Holy Spirit may move within someone’s heart. I am simply trying to reach as many people(especially men) for Christ as I can. Thanks.

In HIS service,

steve morris

Comments and/or Questions

Steve Morris — Sat, 10 May 2008 14:15:27 +0000

I am including this blog as a place where you can leave comments or questions.

Please feel free to do either. I will respond to each entry.

In HIS service,

Steve

Trip to Westpoint Military Academy

Steve Morris — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 21:44:51 +0000

Hi gang,

Well, i guess it has been awhile since i checked in so instead of boring you with all the little things let me just talk about a recent trip to the USMA to watch one of my former students play rugby. It was great!

I was invited to attend with his parents and some of their and by extension and relation friends. We were and are all members of HIS family and it was just fun to be surrounded by such a cloud of witnesses.

I had the pleasure of watching Army play Tulsa in football on that cold afternoon and then agonize as the Army rugby team lost a heartbreaker to Navy in the final seconds 37-35. It was so much fun and the time I got to spend there reminds me of how valuable our youth are.

I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Clint’s girlfriend Tyf and to see inside their hearts a little. That is always a joy.

And meeting some really neat people as well: Amy and Curtis, Clyde and Nancy, Robert and Jane and of course Jay (Herman). I pray you are all enjoying some rest and I look forward to seeing you at the Joel Rosenburg event.

With much love

Steve

Some Thoughts

Steve Morris — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 21:43:31 +0000

Hello brothers and sisters!

What a glorious and gracious GOD we serve. Yesterday was such a beautiful day down here in Dallas; I hope it was where you were. I had the opportunity to play 36 holes of golf with a good friend of mine. We, at least I know I am, are a little sore this morning. I don’t think I have played 36 holes in one day in oh say 15 years. And another buddy has asked me to play 9 holes this afternoon. Hello, Alleve my old friend.

Anyway, this note is just to stay in contact. I am going to try to do a better job of maintaining this blog. I will get into the habit but it may take me some work. It will work better if I think someone is reading this so……. drop me a line sometime just to keep me encouraged if you wouldn’t mind. My email is stevewmorris@tx.rr.com and my website is www.downsethike.net .

Last Wednesday night at our Bible study on Romans I had an insight and an epiphany, for me anyway so I thought I would share it. Here goes:

We as believers are often wild young stallions, untrained and unbroken, running everywhere but getting nowhere in a splash of action and frustration. Then, by His grace, we have been brought into the corral or round pen for a touch of the Masters hand. We at first state our independence and displeasure at the training and the discipline and the confining nature of the new surroundings while at the same time enjoying the presence of this MAN. And being in HIS presence excites us but it worries us that we may never be the same as we were before this time with HIM. So we run, after all that is what we have always done. And we run. And run. But there HE is still standing there in the middle, gently talking to us; speaking directly to our hearts. Amazed that somehow HE knows everything about us even how much we like to run to and away from things. His patience is both comforting and disconcerting. Now there is a rope around our neck. Is He trying to take all the fun out of this running? I’ll show Him I run faster and wear Him down. So I do. But wait a minute, He is tiring, I am. But my will is strong, I will pull against this rope and pull and pull. What is that sound behind me? It seems to be a crack of thunder or is it my past baggage falling away, I don’t know but it is unfamilar so again I run pulling hard against the rope. He is still in the center, talking to me, smiling, laughing. He begins to pull me closer with HIS rope all the while nodding and being so understanding. So I give in, a little. But I am still running. Soon His goal is becoming clear: He wants my will to align with HIS. Doesn’t he realize I am a fine-tuned running machine. What is that He is saying,”Of course He does after all HE did create me”. Although those words are new to my ears they ring true and my heart races and doubts and exhalts all at the same time. I better run. And pull on that rope, it seems that HE wants me to “obey” HIM. Yikes! And to give up my will. Somehow though this seems better and I think and feel a calm coming over me as I begin to yield. Indeed, this MAN, I heard another refer to HIM as Jesus does know my heart and HE is drawing me closer and closer to Himself each moment. I feel more and more peace. I am standing now. A quiet within my soul that I never thought existed. Oh I can still run! And I seem to be faster than ever, but now it is with a discipline and a purpose. I think I am going to like this. Now, I have become even more than a wild, uncontrolled bundle of energy. I have a purpose and a Master who cares for me and about me.

Anyway, that is a start. Any thoughts?

In HIS service,

steve