Frank Ball Promoting God's Story in You Fri, 29 Sep 2023 21:41:07 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.3.5 https://frankball.wr.ardent.dev/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/GSIY-Favicon.gif Frank Ball 32 32 No Respect https://frankball.wr.ardent.dev/no-respect/ https://frankball.wr.ardent.dev/no-respect/#respond Fri, 15 Sep 2023 05:00:28 +0000 https://frankball.wr.ardent.dev/?p=80612 Completing university courses will reward graduates with diplomas and earn letters after their names, but what do they get for all that time and money? No respect, perhaps, because value is in the eye of the beholder. After graduating from high school, Rodney Dangerfield delivered groceries and sold newspapers for a living. He earned respect […]

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Completing university courses will reward graduates with diplomas and earn letters after their names, but what do they get for all that time and money? No respect, perhaps, because value is in the eye of the beholder. After graduating from high school, Rodney Dangerfield delivered groceries and sold newspapers for a living. He earned respect as a comedian by saying he never got any respect. Go figure.
If Jesus, the greatest of all servants was disrespected, we should know we can’t please everyone. The good we choose to do may not be well-received. But we can be sure that our love for God and our love for others will earn respect where it counts most.
The one we must please is God.
 
Don’t forget to love others, helping those in need, for these are the sacrifices that please God. — Hebrews 13:16
 

Ten Thoughts to Ponder

  1. Prayer is birthed from our pain.
  2. Our humble feelings of worthlessness allow God to make us worth more than we can imagine.
  3. Watching the clock can be a waste of valuable time.
  4. I am the Lord’s when I have an insatiable appetite for what he wants.
  5. I experience freedom when I am the Lord’s prisoner.
  6. The last impression is the lasting impression.
  7. First impressions influence subsequent judgments.
  8. Unconditional surrender to the Lord is our greatest victory.
  9. God became like us in all ways except sin.
  10. Unlike ancient cultures, today’s readers don’t need much description, because they’ve already seen most of it on TV

Questions for Further Thought

  • What can we do to increase our worth in God’s eyes?
  • How concerned should we be about what others think of us?

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]]> https://frankball.wr.ardent.dev/no-respect/feed/ 0 Wrong Way https://frankball.wr.ardent.dev/wrong-way/ https://frankball.wr.ardent.dev/wrong-way/#respond Fri, 01 Sep 2023 05:00:28 +0000 https://frankball.wr.ardent.dev/?p=80607 I knew my first GPS wasn’t very smart when it wanted me to take a road that led through a gated community. It didn’t have the gate code, and neither did I. Now my GPS is much better, pointing a way that seems wrong but is actually right, because it sees the traffic problems ahead, […]

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I knew my first GPS wasn’t very smart when it wanted me to take a road that led through a gated community. It didn’t have the gate code, and neither did I. Now my GPS is much better, pointing a way that seems wrong but is actually right, because it sees the traffic problems ahead, and I don’t.
Am I sure that God can see what I don’t see, that his direction is always right? If I know the right answer, why don’t I always listen. Each time I mess up and God recalculates my best steps, I gain more confidence that his way is always better than mine.
 
Foolish people see their own way as right, but the wise listen to good advice. — Proverbs 12:15
 

Ten Thoughts to Ponder

  1. Wishing is a very weak force toward achievement.
  2. To be led of the Spirit, I can’t be the one taking the initiative.
  3. Anxiety comes from knowing I’m not in control, and not being sure God is.
  4. A claim has little value to the unbeliever when there is no proof.
  5. My greatest need is God’s guidance so I know what I need and not what I think I need.
  6. People take the broad road to destruction because they don’t see beyond their short-term pleasures.
  7. I can’t take a second step until after I’ve taken the first, so the next step is the most important in reaching my goal.
  8. There is no sane argument that will cure insane beliefs.
  9. Delight in the Lord causes my desires to be what he wants.
  10. If I don’t trust my GPS (God’s Perfect Strategy), I won’t follow its direction.

Questions for Further Thought

  • How can we distinguish God’s voice from our own imagination?
  • When can we trust the advice of professional counselors?

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]]> https://frankball.wr.ardent.dev/wrong-way/feed/ 0 Going Up https://frankball.wr.ardent.dev/going-up/ https://frankball.wr.ardent.dev/going-up/#respond Tue, 15 Aug 2023 05:00:28 +0000 https://frankball.wr.ardent.dev/?p=80602 My favorite tree in the back yard had a horizontal branch of just the right height for a teenage boy to leap, grab the branch like a chinning bar, and swing back and forth. I had done that so often, I could catch the branch with my eyes closed. One day, I ran around the […]

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My favorite tree in the back yard had a horizontal branch of just the right height for a teenage boy to leap, grab the branch like a chinning bar, and swing back and forth. I had done that so often, I could catch the branch with my eyes closed. One day, I ran around the house toward the tree, took a flying leap, and grabbed the branch. As I swung back and glanced down before dropping to the ground, I froze.
A three-foot snake lay coiled directly below, beneath my feet. I climbed up instead of going down. On that day, I promised to pay better attention to the evil that might pull me down.
 
Lord, protect me from the hands of cruel and violent people, who devise any way they can to make me stumble.
— Psalm 140:4
 

Ten Thoughts to Ponder

  1. For signs to have value, they must be seen, understood, and followed.
  2. To climb the mountain, I must cross valleys, being willing to go down so I can go up.
  3. God’s detours are important to avoid disasters.
  4. When freshness is lost, I need refreshing.
  5. A few well-chosen words can create a thousand pictures in different minds.
  6. Persistence keeps going while Patience can wait.
  7. God’s anointing appoints people for work they cannot possibly do on their own.
  8. The difference between trash and treasure is the purpose for its collection.
  9. When the distance is greater between us and God, hearing him becomes more difficult.
  10. A little bit of excitement is like riding the crest of a wave without considering the potential for falling.

Questions for Further Thought

  • How can we protect ourselves from dangers we don’t see?
  • What can we do to do avoid being pulled down?
  • Under what conditions should we quit?

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]]> https://frankball.wr.ardent.dev/going-up/feed/ 0 Progress https://frankball.wr.ardent.dev/progress/ https://frankball.wr.ardent.dev/progress/#respond Tue, 01 Aug 2023 05:00:28 +0000 https://frankball.wr.ardent.dev/?p=80597 In slide-rule competition in 1960, I was ready to quit because my practice scores didn’t show much improvement. My teacher said, “Do you think you’re getting worse?” “Of course not.” I’d never heard a more ridiculous question. “Then stay at it,” he said, “because you have to be getting better.” With that advice, I learned […]

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In slide-rule competition in 1960, I was ready to quit because my practice scores didn’t show much improvement.
My teacher said, “Do you think you’re getting worse?”
“Of course not.” I’d never heard a more ridiculous question.
“Then stay at it,” he said, “because you have to be getting better.”
With that advice, I learned not to quit. I’ve known poor writers who succeeded because they refused to quit. I’ve also known great writers who failed because they quit.
When we’re working to fulfill God’s purpose, failure is never final. You’re may not see the progress, but it’s there. It will all work together for good.
 
Never tire of doing good, for a harvest of blessing is certain if you never give up on God.
— Galatians 6:9
 

Ten Thoughts to Ponder

  1. If I can be certain of God’s purpose, I can find pleasure in the pain necessary to reach his valuable goal.
  2. Achievement comes from finding pleasure in the process.
  3. Frequent reminders make forgetting impossible.
  4. With God’s help, I can do more than try.
  5. Transparency allows God’s light to shine through me.
  6. Grooves are good, unless they become ruts.
  7. Procrastination is my enemy, because just a little progress today will benefit me for the rest of my life.
  8. Progress is knowing what to do next—and doing it.
  9. The tough part of submitting to God is having to surrender my desires.
  10. Knowing our thoughts and desires, God always hears our prayers, but he doesn’t always choose to listen.

Questions for Further Thought

  • What must we do to overcome a desire to quit?
  • Under what conditions should we quit?

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]]> https://frankball.wr.ardent.dev/progress/feed/ 0 Right Answers https://frankball.wr.ardent.dev/right-answers/ https://frankball.wr.ardent.dev/right-answers/#respond Sat, 15 Jul 2023 05:00:28 +0000 https://frankball.wr.ardent.dev/?p=80592 In school, most kids didn’t raise their hand when the teacher asked a question. If I didn’t know the answer, I wanted to hide, because evidently I was supposed to know. If I knew, I said nothing, because my friends didn’t like a know-it-all. If I wasn’t sure, I feared the embarrassment of being wrong […]

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In school, most kids didn’t raise their hand when the teacher asked a question. If I didn’t know the answer, I wanted to hide, because evidently I was supposed to know. If I knew, I said nothing, because my friends didn’t like a know-it-all. If I wasn’t sure, I feared the embarrassment of being wrong and wouldn’t volunteer.
People sometimes defend their faith by saying, “I just believe the Bible.” Actually, we mostly believe what we’ve been taught from our interpretation of Scripture. To know the right answer, we need the Holy Spirit to guide us.
 
When the Spirit of Truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own authority but will say only what he hears. He will reveal to you things to come.
— John 16:13
 

Ten Thoughts to Ponder

  1. Being dead right is not the best goal.
  2. With God, victory is achieved by total surrender to his will.
  3. I can do all things only if I have put God in command.
  4. I can look beyond the pain and suffering only when I’m certain it will work for good.
  5. To embrace a lie as the truth, I must see the truth as a lie.
  6. Burnout occurs, not from being overworked, but from losing focus on the value of the goal.
  7. The process matters because it’s the only means to reach the goal.
  8. Sleep is wonderful, but not while you drive.
  9. In asking God a question, I need to accept his response—or non-response.
  10. Asking God, “What should I do?” is better than asking, “Why don’t you?”

Questions for Further Thought

  • Why did Pharisees and teachers of the Law think they knew the truth and wouldn’t listen to Jesus, their greatest teacher?
  • How can you be sure that what you believe is really true?

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]]> https://frankball.wr.ardent.dev/right-answers/feed/ 0 Great BHAG https://frankball.wr.ardent.dev/great-bhag/ https://frankball.wr.ardent.dev/great-bhag/#respond Sat, 01 Jul 2023 05:00:28 +0000 https://frankball.wr.ardent.dev/?p=80584 I’ve been told in seminars that my success depends on BHAG, that is, a Big Hairy Audacious Goal. Then I must plan my work and work my plan. Dream big and never give up. When I consider the millions of businesses and individuals declaring bankruptcy each year, I’m thinking we might need a different BHAG. […]

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I’ve been told in seminars that my success depends on BHAG, that is, a Big Hairy Audacious Goal. Then I must plan my work and work my plan. Dream big and never give up. When I consider the millions of businesses and individuals declaring bankruptcy each year, I’m thinking we might need a different BHAG.
Perhaps we should define our BHAG as Become Hungry After God so his plan becomes our plan. We don’t have to dream big, because God’s way is better than anything we can imagine. Then, our success strategy only requires following his guidance one step at a time.
 
As Isaiah wrote: Eye has not seen nor ear heard. No mind can even imagine the wonders that God has prepared for those who love him. — 1 Corinthians 2:9
 

Ten Thoughts to Ponder

  1. The size of the mountain depends on our perspective.
  2. How it can be used determines the difference between trash and treasure.
  3. Without a desire to know, ignorance is bliss.
  4. With God as my driving force, I still must drive.
  5. A good sense of direction can only come from the Director, who knows all things.
  6. When the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ connects me to I AM, I can know who I am.
  7. Where I’m going to be in five years is God’s plan, not mine to make.
  8. With God in control, listening and doing is more important than planning.
  9. Making a choice eliminates other options.
  10. The claim that there is nothing new under the sun limits the boundless creativity of God.

Questions for Further Thought

  • What distinguishes ordinary dreams from spiritual dreams?
  • How do God’s ways differ from what people typically do?

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]]> https://frankball.wr.ardent.dev/great-bhag/feed/ 0 Genius at Work https://frankball.wr.ardent.dev/genius-at-work-2/ https://frankball.wr.ardent.dev/genius-at-work-2/#respond Thu, 15 Jun 2023 05:00:28 +0000 https://frankball.wr.ardent.dev/?p=80579 Einstein amazed intelligent people with his theories, especially when they found those theories to be fact. Since then, physicists have discovered much more, yet the more we learn, the more we’re aware of how much we don’t know. When Jesus walked on Earth, he didn’t know everything. He’s the perfect example of who we can […]

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Einstein amazed intelligent people with his theories, especially when they found those theories to be fact. Since then, physicists have discovered much more, yet the more we learn, the more we’re aware of how much we don’t know.
When Jesus walked on Earth, he didn’t know everything. He’s the perfect example of who we can be as we walk with God. Like Jesus, we can know by the Spirit whatever we need to know to fulfill his purpose for our lives.
 
The Lord says, “I don’t think the way you think, and my methods are different from yours. As the stars are so distant from Earth, so are my thoughts and methods far above yours.” — Isaiah 55:8–9
 

Ten Thoughts to Ponder

  1. The attic of our brain is loaded with information and ideas we don’t need—until we need them.
  2. We are easily enslaved by what we are taught.
  3. Society will squelch non-compliant thinking.
  4. We answer the phone because we think we have to—until we decide we don’t want to.
  5. Clichés kill creative thinking.
  6. In a black-and-white world, color is unimaginable.
  7. Many students have full backpacks and empty minds.
  8. The question is more important than the answer, because it opens the mind to possibilities.
  9. I have nothing more important to do than listen to the Lord.
  10. If I really want to do something, I will pay little respect to the obstacles.

Questions for Further Thought

  • Suppose the Lord were to ask, “What did you learn yesterday?” Surely you learned something as you walked with him. How would you answer?
  • What can we do to see the invisible hand of God at work?

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]]> https://frankball.wr.ardent.dev/genius-at-work-2/feed/ 0 Quest for Truth https://frankball.wr.ardent.dev/quest-for-truth/ https://frankball.wr.ardent.dev/quest-for-truth/#respond Thu, 01 Jun 2023 05:00:28 +0000 https://frankball.wr.ardent.dev/?p=80366 Quest for Truth Confucius was a philosopher in ancient China, sometimes regarded as “lord” and “master” because of his wisdom. I think he was bothered that so many men of his time didn’t know who they were, where they were headed, or how they would get there.Some people listened and were helped by his truth. […]

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Quest for Truth

Confucius was a philosopher in ancient China, sometimes regarded as “lord” and “master” because of his wisdom. I think he was bothered that so many men of his time didn’t know who they were, where they were headed, or how they would get there.
Some people listened and were helped by his truth. Those who didn’t like what he said went their own way.

 

Pilate said, “Are you a king, then?”
Jesus said, “Yes, you could say that. For that reason, I was born. I came into this world to testify to the truth. Everyone who wants the truth hears my voice.”
“What is truth?” Pilate said.
— John 18:37–38

 

Ten Thoughts to Ponder

  1. What we value most is what we will focus our lives upon.
  2. Helping others is the greatest of all goals.
  3. Communication problems are resolved through entirely open and honest communication with the Lord.
  4. An itch can be captivating if not scratched.
  5. God speaks in a whisper so people don’t have to listen if they don’t want to.
  6. We might think having our own way is better, but having God’s way is always best.
  7. Without the Holy Spirit at work, social networks aren’t worth much.
  8. HOLY means Having Our Lord’s Yearning.
  9. Waiting upon the Lord means taking the next right step without knowing what future steps will be.
  10. To be energized by the Spirit, we must be plugged-in.

Questions for Further Thought

  • How much did Pilate know about Jesus?
  • What kind of evidence is needed to be sure our truth is really true?

 

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]]> https://frankball.wr.ardent.dev/quest-for-truth/feed/ 0 The Problem with Faith https://frankball.wr.ardent.dev/the-problem-with-faith/ https://frankball.wr.ardent.dev/the-problem-with-faith/#respond Mon, 15 May 2023 05:00:41 +0000 https://frankball.wr.ardent.dev/?p=78804 I’m told that I can move mountains if I have enough faith. But if my mountain doesn’t move, what’s the problem with my faith? Faith and believing are often used interchangeably, as if they mean the same thing. For sake of our discussion, we need to see faith as something much different, a matter of […]

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I’m told that I can move mountains if I have enough faith. But if my mountain doesn’t move, what’s the problem with my faith?

Faith and believing are often used interchangeably, as if they mean the same thing. For sake of our discussion, we need to see faith as something much different, a matter of knowing as opposed to hoping or thinking something is true. In believing, we try to convince ourselves while worrying that we could possibly be wrong.

Faith comes from hearing, then believing.

We can be sure the Holy Spirit spoke to David in his years as a shepherd, for the Spirit is given to guide us, not just to make us feel good about ourselves. David’s practice with a sling probably resulted in more misses than hits—until the day when the Spirit guided his aim against the lion and the bear. His faith didn’t magically appear out of nowhere. First, David heard what God was speaking to his heart, and at some point, he believed that voice.

Faith doesn’t move mountains.

Maybe you’re like I was, led to think that if I just believed harder, then I could apply the misinterpretation of Matthew 17:20, which says a tiny amount of faith is enough for me to move mountains. With that perspective, I can also apply the distortion of Philippians 4:13, as if to say, “I can do anything, because Christ will give me the strength.” Where are those interpretation wrong?

Let’s be clear. Faith isn’t what moves mountains. God does that. Or if we have the earth-moving equipment, we might do that. Without faith, we’ll quit. We won’t make the moves we need to make for God to do the work he wants to do.

Believing is not enough.

Scripture tells us “the devils believe and tremble” (James 2:19), and we know their “believing” isn’t helping them. If we lack the faith that changes our behavior, our confession that we believe in Christ won’t save us from Hell. Writing to the Christians in Galacia, the apostle Paul said, “Your self-serving nature can lead you to such things as infidelity, pornography, and other sexual impurity—contentions, anger, and resentment—false doctrines, psychics, and misplaced worship—envy, jealousy, and preying upon others—alcohol, drugs, and mindless partying. As I’ve said before, don’t think for a second that you can do such things and have any place in the Kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19–21).

How easily I can misunderstand the Bible verse that says, “All things are possible for those who believe” (Mark 9:13). After the power of possibility thinking failed to yield the results I expected, I finally had to accept the reality that possible means I might get what I want.

I can be thankful for unanswered prayer, because I am sure God has a better plan.

May you, among all believers, be able to understand God in his fullness, that we know the love of Christ, which cannot be fully explained but is known by experience when you are filled with God’s Spirit. May God who is able to do more than we can even imagine, whose power is at work in us, reveal the magnitude of his glory in everyone surrendered to Christ Jesus, both now and forever. Amen. — Ephesians 3:18–21

READ MORE …

This topic is covered more thoroughly in the online book The first three episodes are free, and “The Problem with Faith” is the fourth episode, which costs little more than a glass of water ($0.17).

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]]> https://frankball.wr.ardent.dev/the-problem-with-faith/feed/ 0 Help! https://frankball.wr.ardent.dev/help/ https://frankball.wr.ardent.dev/help/#comments Mon, 01 May 2023 05:00:28 +0000 https://frankball.wr.ardent.dev/?p=78743 I don’t know what to do. When I don’t know what to do, I pray a lot. Maybe that’s why the apostle Paul encouraged us to “pray without ceasing.” Even when I think I know what to do, I might be wrong. In March of 2015, when I picked up my grandson from school, I […]

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I don’t know what to do.

When I don’t know what to do, I pray a lot. Maybe that’s why the apostle Paul encouraged us to “pray without ceasing.” Even when I think I know what to do, I might be wrong.

In March of 2015, when I picked up my grandson from school, I asked him, “What did you do today?” You can guess the answer. Supposedly, he had learned nothing after having to sit in all his classes and listen to the teacher. He had textbooks, reading assignments, and homework. After all that, he had learned nothing? I wasn’t buying it, so I prodded him for answers. Soon, the moment he got into the car, he could tell me something he had learned.

Now I had a problem.

What if God were to ask me the same question, and I said, “Nothing”? He would say, “I was with you all day and took you through unusual situations. You saw and heard so much, and you didn’t learn even one thing? I’m not buying it.” I decided I had better pay attention and keep record of at least one thing I had learned each day. Eight years later, that list added up to almost 50,000 words. Evidently, God was right. I was learning something—a lot more than I thought.

Here’s where I’d really like your advice:

In October of 2022, I began a weekly collection of my thoughts as I’m trying to be accountable. If the Lord should ask what I’ve learned, I’d like evidence that he isn’t wasting his time with me. I gave a weekly list to friends, titled “Frank’s Random Thoughts for the Week.” They seemed thrilled, so I decided to post them on my Facebook and LinkedIn pages. I posted them to a couple of email writer’s groups. Evidently, some thoughts are “keepers,” because people file them for their own personal reference and say I should write a book.

What do you think?

So far, I’ve written about twenty pages under the title Ten Thoughts to Ponder. Should I keep going? Would you read such a book? The first page is titled: “Quest for Truth.” To see what that page looks like, CLICK HERE.

If you’ve taken time to read this blog and look at the sample page, I’m impressed.

Sometimes I wonder if anybody ever reads my stuff. I’d be even more impressed if you’d tell me what you think. Would you email your comments, suggestions, or ideas to me at frank@frankball.wr.ardent.dev? Or just post a comment at the bottom of this page.

Where there is no guidance, people fall. But with the good advice of many counselors, there is safety. — Proverbs 11:14, The Discussion Bible

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