It's hard to fully realize what a big impression we make when we extend our hand to greet or help another person. When writing about his experiences with the early church, Paul remembered receiving the right hand of fellowship, the sign of acceptance and unity and how much that meant to him.

Paul is no different than those you and I meet everyday. They are awaiting a word of kindness, a warm hand of greeting and acceptance, and a smile.

It's interesting the statisticians have found that those who are the friendliest seem to have the upper hand in life, get the most notice, and often find the best opportunities. The Bible is quick to point out that being pleasant and friendly seems to jump out at others. We don't have to draw attention to ourselves if we are friendly - just being friendly is such a change - IT WILL BE NOTICED.

In addition to offering your right hand in way of greeting to extend your right hand to another is to extend a hand of help.

If you have ever had a need you know how significant it is to have a friend, a true friend, extend the right hand of help.

The Bible is quick to point out that ignoring a person in need and not extending a helping hand is a quick way to getting a deaf ear from God. Being a giver, however is a quick way to get God's attention.

It's the beginning of a new week. You have a new opportunity to get the advantage - EXTEND YOUR HAND TO ANOTHER TODAY. Not just because it may get you ahead in the corporate world but because it opens the way of kindness and blessing back to you.

GODSPEED!

Bob Brubaker, a.k.a. "SPAM MAN"

PowerBreak Message for March 19, 2001

All of us are in a race everyday and all of us fall behind for one reason or another but it doesn't have to keep us from winning. All we need to do is just take one step at a time and stay in the race. The big picture can be overwhelming, even cause so much anxiety that we get crippled in the race of life because we can't see how we'll accomplish all that needs to happen.

God knew this. That is why He gives us just what we need a little at a time. We tend to look too far ahead and worry about next month or next year. Jesus told us to ask God to provide today's bread. In the Old Testament the children of Israel received manna from heaven on a daily basis. God even provided the promised land little by little. He knows we get overwhelmed by the big picture.

If you want to live an empowered life today - focus on the little things, consider them to be the important steps to the bigger picture. Remember you are laying the foundation for something great. As the NASCAR driver, the professional golfer, or the basketball coach knows -- even when you seem behind you get back not by pushing the panic button and trying to get ahead quickly but by doing the little things.

Taking little steps and believing it will pay off in the long run is called FAITH. When Jesus was asked by His disciples how they might increase their faith. He had this to say:

Luke 17:5-10 (NIV) The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" 6 He replied, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you. 7 "Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, 'Come along now and sit down to eat'? 8 Would he not rather say, 'Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink'? 9 Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? 10 So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.'"

Notice, Jesus did not go "POOF" and instantly instill an abundance of FAITH. He did give them additional motivation and He did provide instruction. "Faithfully doing the little things pays off in the long run."

Anything you are trying to accomplish will require this same kind of faith in action and it comes down to believing the little things will get you there in the long run so DON'T GIVE UP!

GODSPEED!

Bob Brubaker, a.k.a. "SPAM MAN"

Picture a runner beginning the race and not knowing the exact distance of the race and specifically where the finish line is located. Or a family jumping in the car for a spring break vacation but not having a specific destination in mind. Sounds like confusion doesn't it? No more confusing than the way many people approach life and the way many people approach God in prayer.

Most people express goals in vague terms without any specifics. Even though it has been proven over and over that people who write down their goals and focus on their goals are more likely to complete them. Some people are afraid of failing so they just drop subtle hints of what they would like to happen. If you can't get specific - how can you focus on it and how will you know when you have arrived?

Likewise in prayer - when we pray, God is not looking for us to drop subtle hints in vague terms of what we need. How will we know when our prayers are answered? How will we experience the fulfillment of joy that comes from answered prayer? How will we know to praise God for what He has done if we don't really have a focus on what we are asking?

John 15:5-7 (NIV) "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.

Jesus tells us the number one goal is remaining close to Him, drawing strength and help from Him. Just as a branch draws life from the vine so we are to draw life from Him. As a result: GET SPECIFIC in asking whatever you wish and watch what happens.

Do you realize the Bible tells us over twenty times in the New Testament to ASK? What are you asking God to do in your life? Are you specific? Will you know when He answers?

One of the marks of the early church was their excitement over answered prayer. They regularly saw miracles, provisions and other great things happen - including their arch enemy, Saul of Tarsus, being changed into one of the strongest advocates of the church. In fact Saul, whose name was changed to Paul wrote:

Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV) Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Now if God is able to do more than what we can ask or imagine wouldn't it make sense to begin asking for more, trying more, and looking to Him to accomplish more through us?

Jeremiah 33:3 (NKJV) 'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.'

While you are calling, while you are setting your goals, while you are moving forward --- GET SPECIFIC and watch what God is doing, take note of every answer to prayer - little things and big things, then allow the enthusiasm to take hold of you. It's the making for a great week and a great life.

GODSPEED!

Bob Brubaker, a.k.a. "SPAM MAN"

Wouldn't it be great to grow and move ahead? Hey we all want to because if we aren't - we are slowly moving backwards. But too many times our progress in life is hindered because we are afraid to think and move outside the little box that we have made. Many things that seem impossible really aren't - we are just hindered by the parameters we have put on our thinking. Sometimes it's how we do things that is so deeply imbedded in us that we can't see alternatives. Yet, we are told that in order to survive and move ahead in the years to come we must be ready to think differently and make changes.

Jesus was quite a radical when it came to moving people outside the box of mediocrity. He healed a man one time and the religious leaders had a fit because as they said, "we've never seen anything like this."

There it is! We are afraid to move outside the lines because it's unknown. We stick with what is comfortable. But if we continue to stay there we are going to be left behind.

Think about it! How many things around you have undergone radical changes in your lifetime? How many things have come about that you never thought possible but now you make use of everyday? The electronic world has forced us to make some very rapid changes. But it doesn't stop there. If we refuse to change, we'll only advance as far as the parameters of our little box called our comfort zone.

Back to Jesus…He was great about moving people outside the lines and the box they had created for themselves. He told His disciples to feed a crowd of 5,000 when the lines of "impossible thinking" had boxed them in. But Jesus knew how to move them outside the lines. When they expressed the impossibility of the situation He told them to bring the little they had. Jesus took it, gave thanks for it, and told them to distribute to everyone. BAMM!!! It multiplied as they went through the crowd providing enough for everyone and even and impressive sum left over. (Sound effects are mine -- not necessarily sound biblical interpretation.)

What a profound way to get the disciples to think outside their little box. Just think of how little would have been accomplished by the first century church if they never stretched and been moved to think outside the realm of comfortable thinking.

What about you?

If you'll take note - God has been moving you to think and move outside the box, to stretch your thinking, and move out of your comfort zone. It's time to move, to think, to stretch, to grow or you'll simply be left behind.

Think about it and take a step to move beyond the box that has you trapped this week.

GODSPEED!