Comments for Bruce Smith http://blog.optimuschoice.com Find the Life You Were Meant to Live. http://www.optimuschoice.com/html/contact.html Fri, 05 Sep 2008 20:36:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 Comment on A Lion-Hearted Faith by Christy http://blog.optimuschoice.com/2008/05/19/a-lion-hearted-faith/#comment-287 Christy Wed, 21 May 2008 20:44:51 +0000 http://blog.optimuschoice.com/2008/05/19/a-lion-hearted-faith/#comment-287 Bruce, Thanks again for your life-giving words. As I was reading this article it reminded me of a great line by C.S. Lewis from "The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe". One of the children asks if Aslan is good and the reply is "Yes, he is good, but he is not safe" (my paraphrase). I also thought of John when he is given a revelation of Jesus in His glorified state and how he falls prostrate, as if dead in fear. Here is Jesus so magnificant, powerful, and intense that John thinks he is surely going to die. Yet - Jesus' response is to reach out to him and say "Don't be afraid" and basically "I have already won the battle" (I have the keys to hell and death). The contrast of Power and Might with Mercy and Kindness is stark. But it is a good reminder that He is our Warrior King and is calling us to battle. I too am very relational and tend to look at situations in that light. But recently God has been reminding me that we do have a very real enemy who wants to kill, steal and destroy and He has called us into battle with him against the enemy of our souls. I watched a DVD by John Eldredge called The Epic which really nailed that message home for me - you might enjoy it, if you have not already seen it... Thanks again for your message! Bruce,

Thanks again for your life-giving words. As I was reading this article it reminded me of a great line by C.S. Lewis from “The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe”. One of the children asks if Aslan is good and the reply is “Yes, he is good, but he is not safe” (my paraphrase). I also thought of John when he is given a revelation of Jesus in His glorified state and how he falls prostrate, as if dead in fear. Here is Jesus so magnificant, powerful, and intense that John thinks he is surely going to die. Yet - Jesus’ response is to reach out to him and say “Don’t be afraid” and basically “I have already won the battle” (I have the keys to hell and death). The contrast of Power and Might with Mercy and Kindness is stark. But it is a good reminder that He is our Warrior King and is calling us to battle. I too am very relational and tend to look at situations in that light. But recently God has been reminding me that we do have a very real enemy who wants to kill, steal and destroy and He has called us into battle with him against the enemy of our souls. I watched a DVD by John Eldredge called The Epic which really nailed that message home for me - you might enjoy it, if you have not already seen it… Thanks again for your message!

]]> Comment on A No-Quit Faith by Christy http://blog.optimuschoice.com/2008/05/21/a-no-quit-faith/#comment-286 Christy Wed, 21 May 2008 20:31:56 +0000 http://blog.optimuschoice.com/2008/05/21/a-no-quit-faith/#comment-286 Bruce, I wanted to let you know that I have really enjoyed your writings this week. I do believe God is giving you a rhema word... One of my favorite underdogs in the Bible is Gideon. Like all of God's heroes, Gideon doesn't think much of himself when God shows up. When the angel of the Lord is sent to commission him to rescue Israel, Gideon is in hiding, discouraged and feels abandoned by God. He sees himself as weak, helpless and a nobody, but God calls him a Mighty Warrior (isn't it great how God always sees us as how He created us instead of how we are acting right now?) Of course, then God stacks the odds against himself, as He loves to do, by whittling down Gideon's army to just 300. Then He gives him this crazy battle plan (horns, jars of clay and torches???) This story has been a reminder to me that God loves to whittle away anything that we might be putting our faith and trust in besides Him so that we learn that He is our only Deliverer and to put all of our trust in Him. He also shows us that we Must seek Him for the battle plan - (I sure would not have come up with that plan!). When we follow the Warrior King and His perfectly designed plan, victory is secured! Bruce,

I wanted to let you know that I have really enjoyed your writings this week. I do believe God is giving you a rhema word… One of my favorite underdogs in the Bible is Gideon. Like all of God’s heroes, Gideon doesn’t think much of himself when God shows up. When the angel of the Lord is sent to commission him to rescue Israel, Gideon is in hiding, discouraged and feels abandoned by God. He sees himself as weak, helpless and a nobody, but God calls him a Mighty Warrior (isn’t it great how God always sees us as how He created us instead of how we are acting right now?) Of course, then God stacks the odds against himself, as He loves to do, by whittling down Gideon’s army to just 300. Then He gives him this crazy battle plan (horns, jars of clay and torches???) This story has been a reminder to me that God loves to whittle away anything that we might be putting our faith and trust in besides Him so that we learn that He is our only Deliverer and to put all of our trust in Him. He also shows us that we Must seek Him for the battle plan - (I sure would not have come up with that plan!). When we follow the Warrior King and His perfectly designed plan, victory is secured!

]]> Comment on Vision by Phillip Lynch http://blog.optimuschoice.com/2008/04/29/vision/#comment-219 Phillip Lynch Tue, 29 Apr 2008 20:17:51 +0000 http://blog.optimuschoice.com/2008/04/29/vision/#comment-219 Bruce , I enjoyed this..I'll make sure Zack has his glasses on when he picks up Taylor.. Phillip Bruce , I enjoyed this..I’ll make sure Zack has his glasses
on when he picks up Taylor..

Phillip

]]> Comment on Dear Bruce, It’s all a mess. How do I turn it around? by Kristina http://blog.optimuschoice.com/2008/01/18/dear-bruce-its-all-a-mess-how-do-i-turn-it-around/#comment-110 Kristina Tue, 22 Jan 2008 14:13:04 +0000 http://blog.optimuschoice.com/2008/01/18/dear-bruce-its-all-a-mess-how-do-i-turn-it-around/#comment-110 As always well said:-) As always well said:-)

]]> Comment on Suit Up, Legends! by Remi http://blog.optimuschoice.com/2007/12/19/suit-up-legends/#comment-78 Remi Fri, 21 Dec 2007 05:24:51 +0000 http://blog.optimuschoice.com/2007/12/19/suit-up-legends/#comment-78 Awesome thoughts! Thanks for the insight. Awesome thoughts! Thanks for the insight.

]]> Comment on Dear Bruce, I need relationship advice! by Mary http://blog.optimuschoice.com/2007/12/07/dear-bruce-i-need-relationship-advice/#comment-74 Mary Sat, 08 Dec 2007 00:19:03 +0000 http://blog.optimuschoice.com/2007/12/07/dear-bruce-i-need-relationship-advice/#comment-74 Very beautifully stated! Very beautifully stated!

]]> Comment on Thanksgiving for Communion with God and Others by Kevin Watterson http://blog.optimuschoice.com/2007/11/21/thanksgiving-for-communion-with-god-and-others/#comment-12 Kevin Watterson Thu, 22 Nov 2007 03:29:50 +0000 http://blog.optimuschoice.com/2007/11/21/thanksgiving-for-communion-with-god-and-others/#comment-12 Where are you with the snow falling? I miss that and the leaves changing color living here in La. How much time do you spend in an average day praying/ meditating/ scripture reading? That is probably my biggest struggle- get up hit the ground running and blast through the day till crashing at night. Not much different than the rest of America I suppose. The tyranny of the urgent pushes aside the Important. Have a great thanksgiving. I'm thankful for guys like you who make us stop, think and reflect! Where are you with the snow falling? I miss that and the leaves changing color living here in La. How much time do you spend in an average day praying/ meditating/ scripture reading? That is probably my biggest struggle- get up hit the ground running and blast through the day till crashing at night. Not much different than the rest of America I suppose. The tyranny of the urgent pushes aside the Important. Have a great thanksgiving. I’m thankful for guys like you who make us stop, think and reflect!

]]> Comment on Running Wild…into a wall by Debbie http://blog.optimuschoice.com/2007/11/12/running-wildinto-a-wall/#comment-9 Debbie Tue, 13 Nov 2007 21:48:42 +0000 http://blog.optimuschoice.com/2007/11/12/running-wildinto-a-wall/#comment-9 Bruce, Enjoyed your writing. When I find life challenging I always remember that The Will of God will never take me where The Grace of God can't protect me. Bruce,
Enjoyed your writing. When I find life challenging I always remember that The Will of God will never take me where The Grace of God can’t protect me.

]]> Comment on Running Wild…into a wall by Kevin Watterson http://blog.optimuschoice.com/2007/11/12/running-wildinto-a-wall/#comment-7 Kevin Watterson Tue, 13 Nov 2007 02:53:03 +0000 http://blog.optimuschoice.com/2007/11/12/running-wildinto-a-wall/#comment-7 Nothing risked nothing gained. If we don't risk vulnerability with others and the potential pain that can occur, we won't know the joy of shared experiences, the strength that comes from lives bound together like individual stands make up a rope, and we won't be sharpened and challenged like Proverbs 27:17 says- as Iron sharpens Iron, so one man sharpens another. We were built by God for relationship. When we isolate ourselves from others for too long, we turn fully inward and cause pain to ourselves just as an ingrown toenail curves and twists inward, causing pain to the foot. Look at how Howard Hughs' life ended in a downward spiral of isolation, paranioa and depression. Relationships are a messy business-always have been, always will be. As long as sin is in the world, they will continue to be less than perfect. Too many times we hold expectations high over others and expect them to live up to them. Set your expectations high for yourself and be the best relationship builder you can be, and see where God takes it. Nothing risked nothing gained. If we don’t risk vulnerability with others and the potential pain that can occur, we won’t know the joy of shared experiences, the strength that comes from lives bound together like individual stands make up a rope, and we won’t be sharpened and challenged like Proverbs 27:17 says- as Iron sharpens Iron, so one man sharpens another. We were built by God for relationship. When we isolate ourselves from others for too long, we turn fully inward and cause pain to ourselves just as an ingrown toenail curves and twists inward, causing pain to the foot. Look at how Howard Hughs’ life ended in a downward spiral of isolation, paranioa and depression.

Relationships are a messy business-always have been, always will be. As long as sin is in the world, they will continue to be less than perfect. Too many times we hold expectations high over others and expect them to live up to them. Set your expectations high for yourself and be the best relationship builder you can be, and see where God takes it.

]]> Comment on Running Wild…into a wall by Melissa Cotogno http://blog.optimuschoice.com/2007/11/12/running-wildinto-a-wall/#comment-6 Melissa Cotogno Mon, 12 Nov 2007 17:48:35 +0000 http://blog.optimuschoice.com/2007/11/12/running-wildinto-a-wall/#comment-6 <p>Bruce</p> <p>Thanks for the message it was great to read and definitely so true. Bruce

Thanks for the message it was great to read and definitely so true.

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