Tim Keller: The thrill that comes from hearing a stirring piece of music or falling in love, or watc

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Why do we feel so bad when weve got it so good?
Tim Keller The thrill that comes from hearing a
stirring piece of music or falling in love, or
watching a close basketball game is a gift from
God. Like the moons reflection of the suns
brightness, however, these things are only a
reflection of something greater. The real source
of joy is God himself. All of us tend to worship
the moon for arts, sports, political victories,
love, or whatever. Such devotion can never
fulfill because were ignoring the Source.
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We will only experience fulfillment when we are
fulfilling the purpose for which we are designed.
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Leaders like Margaret Thatcher, Martin Luther
King, Mother Theresa, Winston Churchill all had
a story within them, and their lives embodied
that story for themselves and for others as well.
No one who has achieved significance does so on
autopilot. There is a plot - a story within -
that guides them.
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Nehemiah Discovered His Moral Imperative
In the 20th year of King ArtaxerxesI took the
wine and gave it to the king. Now I had never
been sad in his presence before. The king said to
me, Why is your face sad? So I became afraid
and said, May the king live forever! Why should
my face not be sad, when the city, the place of
my fathers tombs, lies waste, and its gates are
burned with fire? Then he said to me, What do
you request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.
And I said, If it pleases the kingI ask that
you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers
tombs, that I may rebuild it. (Nehemiah
21-5)
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Time Is it an obligation or
responsibility? Fun Is it bringing me joy
or refreshment? Growth Am I learning or being
challenged? Impact Am I making an eternal
difference?
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Plan as if Tomorrow is Today
Then the king asked me, "How long will your
journey take and when will you get back?" It
pleased the king to send me so I set a time. I
also said, May I have letters to the governors
of Trans-Euphrates, so that they will provide me
safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah? And may I
have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the king's
forest, so he will give me timber to make beams
for the gates of the citadel and for the city
wall?" And because the gracious hand of my God
was upon me, the king granted my requests. So I
went to the governors of Trans-Euphrates and gave
them the king's letters. The king had also sent
army officers and cavalry with me.
(Nehemiah 26-9)
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Expect Opposition from Today Dwellers
When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the
Ammonite official heard of it, they were deeply
disturbed that a man had come to seek the
well-being of the children of Israel.
(Nehemiah 210)
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Cumberland Community Church
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In 1987, Howard Schultz had the chance to
purchase a small chain of coffee shops for 4
million. To him, it seemed like an over-whelming
undertaking, he said it felt like the salmon
swallowing the whale. In his journal he wrote,
This is my moment. If I dont seize the
opportunity, if I dont step out of my comfort
zone and risk it all, if I let too much time tick
on, my moment will pass. I would replay in my
mind the rest of my life 'What if?'"
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Investigate Today Vision-Cast Tomorrow
So I came to Jerusalem and was there three days.
Then I arose in the night with a few men with me
I told no one what my God had put in my heart to
do at Jerusalem nor was there any animal with
me, except the one on which I rode. And I went
out by night through the Valley Gate to the
Serpent Well and the Refuse Gate, and viewed the
walls of Jerusalem which were broken down
andburned with fire.
(Nehemiah 211-13)
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Investigate Today Vision-cast Tomorrow
Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and to the
Kings Pool, but there was no room for the animal
under me to pass. So I went up in the night by
the valley, and viewed the wall then I turned
back and entered by the Valley Gate, and so
returned. And the officials did not know where I
had gone or what I had done I had not yet told
the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials,
or the others who did the work.
(Nehemiah 214-16)
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Investigate Today Vision-Cast Tomorrow
Then I said to them, You see the distress that
we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its
gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build
the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a
reproach. And I told them of the hand of my God
which had been good upon me, and also of the
kings words that he had spoken to me.
(Nehemiah 217-18)
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Michael Crichton
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