BLOGhttp://www.bradbutler.comWed, 23 May 2012 23:22:28 GMTWed, 07 Dec 2011 14:37:01 GMTPearl Harborhttp://www.bradbutler.com/pearl-harborWed, 07 Dec 2011 06:00:00 GMTBrad ButlerThankful to live in a country of freedom.  Thinking today of all those, especially my granddad, who fought the fight to keep us free. GOD BLESS AMERICA!!

]]>http://www.bradbutler.com/pearl-harbor100 years ago todayhttp://www.bradbutler.com/100-years-ago-todaySun, 06 Feb 2011 06:00:00 GMTBrad ButlerOne hundred years ago today...America was changed forever...The 40th President of these United States was born...Happy birthday Ronnie...I'll see ya when I get home

]]>http://www.bradbutler.com/100-years-ago-todayPersonal Besthttp://www.bradbutler.com/personal-bestThu, 13 Jan 2011 06:00:00 GMTBrad ButlerPersonal best (or PB) is a running term to refer to the best you have ever done at a particular distance.  Some races even market their race as a great opportunity to run your PB.  The flatter the course, the better the weather, the better the chance for a PB.  Last Saturday, I set a PB in a half-marathon (in a course that was NOT ideal for PBs).  Picture of me and my buddy Russ is below.   I was pretty fired up.  I've been thinking all week about what it would mean to be pursuing a PB in my spiritual life.  What would it take...what kind of training is involved...how do I do it again tomorrow.  Paul tells us to "Run the race to win the prize."  How can I run the race for a PB?

 

 

]]>http://www.bradbutler.com/personal-bestThe blood of the martyrs, the seed of the churchhttp://www.bradbutler.com/the-blood-of-the-martyrs-the-seed-of-the-churchSat, 08 Jan 2011 06:00:00 GMTBrad ButlerToday marks the 55th anniversary of the martyrdom of five men, including Jim Elliot.  "He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."  Those words continue to impact me, inspire me, push me.  I praise God for the freedom to live in a place where my faith doesn't cost me my life, and I praise God for those marytrs who continue to lay down their lives as the seed of the church.  Today also marks the 55th anniversay of the day Jim Elliot entered into the very presence of God.  Jim, I'll see you when I get home.

]]>http://www.bradbutler.com/the-blood-of-the-martyrs-the-seed-of-the-churchThe God who is Relatablehttp://www.bradbutler.com/the-god-who-is-relatableWed, 05 Jan 2011 06:00:00 GMTBrad ButlerTonight we were talking about the names for the Son of God we get in Matthew 1 & 2.  3 of them are pretty familiar: Jesus (The God who Saves), Immanuel (The God who is with us), Christ (The God who is Annointed)...but the fourth is really interesting...the Nazarene.  Its crazy to think that Jesus came as one about whom one of the disciples would say "Nazareth, can anything good come from there?"  Its this same idea that Isaiah in talking about in his 53rd chapter when he says he was "despised and rejected by men".  I love the fact that the word became flesh in such a relatable way...as a man of no reputation.

]]>http://www.bradbutler.com/the-god-who-is-relatableChristmas tree, O Christmas treehttp://www.bradbutler.com/christmas-tree-o-christmas-treeTue, 04 Jan 2011 06:00:00 GMTBrad ButlerIts probably time to take down my Christmas tree...it was actually probably to take my tree down this past weekend.  Having said that, its not coming down any time soon!  I love it up....it fits me and my little house...Not coming down yet...Surely by February...but ya never know!

]]>http://www.bradbutler.com/christmas-tree-o-christmas-treeThings I don't understand....http://www.bradbutler.com/things-i-dont-understandMon, 03 Jan 2011 06:00:00 GMTBrad ButlerI've started reading through the Bible in a year again...great disciple if you can make it through...at any rate I'm realizing that there's so much I don't understand...thought I'd try to keep track of it, so far I'm 3 days in and i've got 3 questions already...at this pace, I'm in for some serious questions....Here goes:

1) What's up with Genesis 4: 26...why did they not call on the name of the Lord until Seth had a kid?

2) The Nephilim (Genesis 6:4)???....that one's been a head scratcher for a long time for me.

3) This one's nitpicky but why did we spell Emmanuel/Immanuel  (Matthew 1:23) with both an "E" and an "I"?...Is one right and one wrong?  Think I'll google that one.

 EDIT:  Ok, I googled it...here goes:

"Immanuel is derived from the Hebrew word "Immanuel" (Isaiah 7:14). "Emmanuel" is derived from the Greek word in the New Testament (Matthew 1:23). Both spellings mean "God with us". Both spellings are correct.
Remember that the Old Testament was written in Hebrew, a language that did not have vowels (e.g. 'e' or 'i'). So when the Hebrew was translated into Greek (i.e. the Septuagint), the translators rendered the Greek "Emmanuel" based on pronunciation not on a particular spelling. Later when the Hebrew vowel were added by Masoretic scholars, a vowel was added which modern scholars typically render as an 'i' rather than an 'e.'

It is important to keep in mind that many ancient languages did not have fixed spellings, but instead spelled words based upon their sound. This was the problem that led Noah Webster to create the dictionary, to establish in America a standard spelling."

]]>http://www.bradbutler.com/things-i-dont-understandRandom sports ramblingshttp://www.bradbutler.com/random-sports-ramblingsMon, 03 Jan 2011 06:00:00 GMTBrad ButlerAlright...three random sports thoughts to start a Monday...

1) I don't have a favorite NFL team...I never really have.  I have a favorite NBA team, and a favorite MLB team, a favorite NHL team, I have a favorite race to run, I have a favorite most everything.  I really like the NFL, but I don't have a favorite team.  Any suggestions on who to adopt?

2) The Lakers have only lost to one team twice this year.  Any guesses as to who that is?  Here's a hint:

 

3) I'm big on uniforms.  I like good unis...I despise bad ones.  The Arizona Sundogs of the Central Hockey League had some special unis for New Years that were....WOW...words cant describe...check out the uni on their goalie.  Happy Monday all.

]]>http://www.bradbutler.com/random-sports-ramblingsThought for the Dayhttp://www.bradbutler.com/thought-for-the-day1Sun, 02 Jan 2011 06:00:00 GMTBrad Butler"If God is not our primary focus, then everything else will soon get out of focus." -unknown

]]>http://www.bradbutler.com/thought-for-the-day1Maroooonhttp://www.bradbutler.com/maroooonSat, 01 Jan 2011 06:00:00 GMTBrad ButlerGreat start to the sports year! Bulldogs hand the Wolverines their helmets (and they are pretty cool looking helmets).  Lots of reasons to be excited for the maroon and white.

]]>http://www.bradbutler.com/maroooonHappy Veterans Dayhttp://www.bradbutler.com/happy-veterans-dayThu, 11 Nov 2010 14:32:39 GMTBrad Butler"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free."
Ronald Reagan

]]>http://www.bradbutler.com/happy-veterans-dayThought for the dayhttp://www.bradbutler.com/thought-for-the-dayMon, 18 Oct 2010 12:44:35 GMTBrad Butler"The astronauts walked in the cold, forbidding atmosphere of the moon only by carrying with them resources from another world that would keep them alive.  I need just that kind of reliance on the Spirit of God." -Dr. Paul Brand

]]>http://www.bradbutler.com/thought-for-the-dayConsequenceshttp://www.bradbutler.com/consequencesMon, 05 Jul 2010 14:34:59 GMTBrad ButlerI'm working on a two week series at Getwell called "Now & Later" looking at the stuff of earth and the winds of heaven.  As I'm studying, I'm looking at the freedom that Christ offers us even as we're slaves to sins.  I'm also pondering how God forgives us yet still lets us live out the consequences of our disobedience.  Following up my post on the "sincerity" of Damon Evans' apology, I must think about the "consequences" of sin, even when its forgiven.  The details for Evans got messy, and apparently a guy who a week ago was seemingly on top of the world is now out of a job and no doubt is in a marriage that is at crisis point.  Again, I believe Evans was sincere in his apology just as he was sincerely wrong in his behavior.  I marvel at an all-powerful God who forgives us completely yet allows us the punishment, on this earth, we deserve.

]]>http://www.bradbutler.com/consequencesSincerityhttp://www.bradbutler.com/sincerityFri, 02 Jul 2010 01:29:27 GMTBrad ButlerDamon Evans, the athletic director at the University of Georgia, by all accounts made some major mistakes recently.  He's got a DUI last night while driving in a vehicle with a woman who was not his wife.  Not good.  Today, Evans had a press conference addressing the situation.  The whole deal reminds me of a certain golfer whose had a bit of unwanted attention himself lately.  Judge for yourself how sincere that golfer's apology was; to me it was not.  Sincerity, however, was all over Damon Evan's presser today.  A broken, repentant man.  Check it out HERE.

]]>http://www.bradbutler.com/sincerityUSAhttp://www.bradbutler.com/usaWed, 23 Jun 2010 16:21:12 GMTBrad Butler

]]>http://www.bradbutler.com/usaWoodenhttp://www.bradbutler.com/woodenSat, 05 Jun 2010 17:37:55 GMTBrad Butler"I have always tried to make it clear that basketball is not the ultimate. It is of small importance in comparison to the total life we live. There is only one kind of life that truly wins, and that is the one that places faith in the hands of the Savior." -John Wooden

Welcome home Coach.

]]>http://www.bradbutler.com/woodenAnother gem from Tozerhttp://www.bradbutler.com/another-gem-from-tozerSun, 30 May 2010 13:02:26 GMTBrad Butler"God does the best He can, considering who and what we are, to make Himself known to us.  God is not limited in Himself.  He is limited in us."

]]>http://www.bradbutler.com/another-gem-from-tozerThought for the day...TOZERhttp://www.bradbutler.com/thought-for-the-daytozerMon, 26 Apr 2010 12:36:00 GMTBrad ButlerWhen sweeping up a house, "some of the dirt is black, some is gray, some is light-colored, but it is all dirt, and it all goes before the broom.  And when God looks at humanity He sees some that are morally light-colored, some that are morally dark, some that are morally speckled, but it is all dirt, and it all goes before the moral broom." AW Tozer

]]>http://www.bradbutler.com/thought-for-the-daytozerEarth Day 2010http://www.bradbutler.com/earth-day-2010Thu, 22 Apr 2010 16:46:03 GMTBrad ButlerFrom a friend: "Today, I'm gonna celebrate being on the only known planet that is just the right distance from its star such that it can support life....just the exact spot to not burn us and to not freeze us...almost like Someone put it just in that spot....just for us..."

]]>http://www.bradbutler.com/earth-day-2010Hooray!http://www.bradbutler.com/hoorayMon, 12 Apr 2010 11:57:16 GMTBrad Butler

]]>http://www.bradbutler.com/hoorayTo me...http://www.bradbutler.com/to-meWed, 17 Mar 2010 13:20:55 GMTBrad ButlerSorry for the ridiculous break between blog posts...I MUST do better...at any rate, Happy St. Patricks Day to all....I'm wearing my green Master's shirt for the occasion.  This holiday is one of favorites for one primary reason....Its a great excuse to bring up one of the great mythological figures of all time...No, I'm not talking about the Loch Ness Monster or Bigfoot.  This is something much bigger and much more culturally impacting.  I am speaking of course, about the Mobile Leprechaun. 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nda_OSWeyn8

 

 

]]>http://www.bradbutler.com/to-meA picture's worth a thousand wordshttp://www.bradbutler.com/a-pictures-worth-a-thousand-wordsTue, 01 Dec 2009 00:41:22 GMTBrad Butler

]]>http://www.bradbutler.com/a-pictures-worth-a-thousand-words20 years ago this dayhttp://www.bradbutler.com/20-years-ago-this-dayTue, 10 Nov 2009 00:43:23 GMTBrad ButlerGreat day in world history....THIS was fulfilled....Man I miss Ronnie

]]>http://www.bradbutler.com/20-years-ago-this-dayKenya part fivehttp://www.bradbutler.com/kenya-part-fiveMon, 02 Nov 2009 11:19:39 GMTBrad ButlerDay 5

Chapel service at Teen Challenge Kenya...WOW!  Two years ago our team stayed in what was previously an unoccupied home and bought the beds that we slept on as well as refridgerator and some linens.  I remember laying in one of those beds and praying for the ministry that would one day occupy that building...praying that young man who would one day sleep in that bed.  To see that ministry in action was unbelievable.  Truly one of the greatest worship experiences of my life.  Just unreal.  The girls were overwhelmed.  God just shows up.  I felt like my talk was just God speaking through me...feeling as used as I've ever been.  So great

Ministry in Kibera slum.  Bryan needed to do an assessment at a school for 1-3 grade girls.  We carry VBS supplies as well as food through the slum to the school.  Slum is really bad...I will NEVER get used to the smell of fish being cleaned in the filth of a slum.  Girls say its the worst thing they've ever seen.  I just shake my head because I know whats coming later in the week.  Kids are so sweet and so excited we are there.  Food is VERY well received as its obvious the kids are HUNGRY.  We have a VBS presentation and share the Gospel.  God is faithful and so GOOD.  A great great day.

]]>http://www.bradbutler.com/kenya-part-fiveKenya part fourhttp://www.bradbutler.com/kenya-part-fourTue, 27 Oct 2009 01:57:01 GMTBrad ButlerDays 3-4--

Medical clinic....We see over 215 patients on the first day...there can't possibly be any way to see any more...rest well that night....good meal...

We see over 415 patients on second day...still don't know how that happened....could have seen 100 more at least...its humbling to think that people will wait that long for something as simple as a weeks worth of vitamins...

The God-moment of the trip for me occurs on Tuesday morning...We get to the church and realize that Catherine, a little girl from the church who served us lunch on Sunday has been murdered....I spend much of the morning comforting my new friend Pastor Simon who has lost what he calls "one of our finest children"  Never imagined God would have me in Nairobi to weep and comfort a brother and fellow pastor...but God moves for "Such a time as this"

Below are pics of sweet Catherine (along with Bryan and Kim's daughter Raelyn)  taken by our team on Sunday (the day before she would go HOME) as well as a pic of me, bryan, and simon

 

]]>http://www.bradbutler.com/kenya-part-fourKenya part threeMon, 19 Oct 2009 14:56:48 GMTBrad ButlerHaving been back a week now...I find myself still thinking about the sights, sounds, and smells of Kenya...God showed up in great and mighty ways and I'm so thankful to see His face and experience His glory...His faithfulness...His power...Here's a God moment's from the trip; more to come

Nairobi Day 2---Waiting to preach....feel compelled to share a Swahili phrase I had written in the front of my Bible two years ago..."Hakuna mungu kama wewe" (There is no one like our God)..Ask Bryan for pronounciation help on the phrase just outside the church....Tell him "Never mind" as I realize congregation is just inside the church singing that phrase over and over....WOW!  Holy Spirit's presence is overwhelming..Message goes extremely well...Woman gives her life to Christ...Pastor tell me I'm a "prophet" as he had told congregation God was going to bring them a word on the passage God had put on my heart...WOW!Thank you Mighty God!

]]>Kenya part twohttp://www.bradbutler.com/kenya-part-twoTue, 13 Oct 2009 00:06:20 GMTBrad ButlerBack in the USA....got in last night....great trip...God did awesome things...I'll try to do a little day by day blow by blow....but for now I'm not far from bed...jet lag is a killer at the moment...thankful to sit in the hand of a loving God...b2

 

]]>http://www.bradbutler.com/kenya-part-twoKenya part onehttp://www.bradbutler.com/kenya-part-oneSun, 04 Oct 2009 19:08:17 GMTBrad ButlerFatigue is a very real reality...: )  Its a good kind of tired though...We really feel like God is doing a mighty work with this team...Arrived yesterday morning...got to a giraffe sanctuary...sorted countless supplies....today was an amazing worship service...got to preach which is always a good way to get me speaking slower (translators are wonderful)...church was packed...one lady gave her life to Christ...AWESOME...have sorted more supplies...medical clinic/VBS/construction tomorrow....So fired up....Covet your prayers...will try to update more later...b2

]]>http://www.bradbutler.com/kenya-part-oneKenya boundhttp://www.bradbutler.com/kenya-boundThu, 01 Oct 2009 18:54:43 GMTBrad ButlerHeaded to Kenya in just a few hours...Praying God shows up in great and mighty ways....Will update as I can...Pray for the team!

Looks like I'll have to wait till I'm back in MS for numero uno in my fave places countdown....

]]>http://www.bradbutler.com/kenya-bound2 backhttp://www.bradbutler.com/2-backTue, 29 Sep 2009 13:20:38 GMTBrad Butler

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