Posts tagged suffering
A Donation of Life
A Donation of Life

I got to do the coolest thing on December 10, 2018 - I had the incredible privilege of donating one of my kidneys to my friend Bill. It’s a long story and has been covered in a previous blog and a few shows, but the point I want to get across is that this kidney shortage is a serious thing. About a year ago, Joe Carrol from BLE in San Antonio, TX, told me about his friend Larry needing a kidney. Joe had tried to get qualified, but his kidneys are not able to be shared for medical reasons. Martha and I offered to do a show for Larry so that he could share it with potential donors and see if he could round up a new kidney to replace his failing ones. We did the show, and many people stepped up to get tested, and one made it all the way to the finish line. Larry’s lifesaving surgery will hopefully be scheduled in the next couple of months.

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Awaken Podcast Network, iWork4HimJim Brangenbergfaith at work, faith and work, gospel, gifts, resources, suffering, purpose, kidney transplant, kidney donation, inspiration, good steward, gifts for employees, unique gifts for employees
What's hiding underneath?
What's hiding underneath?

About six months ago, I noticed one of my pavers popping up higher than those around it. I thought it might be an anomaly, but it kept getting worse and eventually became a tripping hazard. I didn’t know exactly what was under the paver causing it to pop up, but I suspected it was an evil root plotting to destroy my cool sidewalk. Yesterday, I decided to find out.

This operation required the right tools to remove the pavers and cut out the evil root. Then I had to bring in fresh soil to replenish what the root had displaced and carefully put the paver back in place. After I did all of that, I again have a beautiful sidewalk.

This is so much like life as a Christian!

When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit moves into our hearts.

Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 6:19, “do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you…?”

And as the new resident, the Holy Spirit has the ultimate goal of perfecting us – of getting rid of the tripping hazards in our hearts. However, to do so, he has to cut out all the evil that has rooted itself inside and which plots to destroy our lives.

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Awaken Podcast Network, iWork4HimJim Brangenbergsuffering, purpose, prayer, accountability, podcasts, resources, growth, anxiety, stress, depression
Life's Not Fair
Life's Not Fair

Have you ever declared, “Life’s not fair!”. I know I have, and I’ve also told my kids that life’s not fair. It seems that the wicked prosper and the righteous suffer. Bad people get away with doing bad things, and good people seemingly get punished for doing good. What’s the catch? Is this really true?

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Jim Brangenbergsuffering, adversity, faith at work
Their Work Was Honorable - 9/11/01
Their Work Was Honorable - 9/11/01

19 years ago today, thousands of people went to work in NYC and never returned home. Thousands of people were working in The Twin Towers when they were attacked by 2 terrorist planes. Thousands of first responders, including Firefighters and Police Officers were doing their jobs, too. No matter what kind of work was being done that day, their work mattered to God.

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God and AmericaJim Brangenbergsuffering, grief, adversity, September 11, gospel