3/19/24 Lent Psalm 85 Cherished Terms
Branches Blog | Learning Recovery - Living Redemption
by Dr. Mike Courtney
1w ago
3/19/24 Lent Psalm 85 Cherished Terms  Many years ago, Richard Parrot wrote a fascinating paper on Cherished Terms. He said there are certain terms in every discipline, but particularly in the church, that have a special relationship with that body of people. They are words that have a meaning, apart from the definition, steeped in the usage and history of that group. Words that are cherished. For example, grace. We all know the Webster’s Dictionary meaning of grace, but to those of us who are Christ-followers that word brings up feelings and ideas far beyond the technical definition. Sal ..read more
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3/14/24 Lent Psalm 80 Repeat After Me
Branches Blog | Learning Recovery - Living Redemption
by Dr. Mike Courtney
2w ago
3/14/24 Lent Psalm 80  Doris and I are at an age in life where every statement we make at home is answered by “what?”   “Did you get the mail today?” “What?”  “I need to go to the grocery store.” “What did you say?”  “When did you have your hearing checked?” “What about cashing a check?”  It’s just what happens. Don’t worry. If you are not there yet, you will be. WHAT?  Sometimes repeating is not a bad thing. To get a point across, to emphasize how really important something is, or to verify the truth of a statement, repetition can be very helpful. When I hear or ..read more
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3/13/24 Lent Psalm 79 IFTTT
Branches Blog | Learning Recovery - Living Redemption
by Dr. Mike Courtney
2w ago
3/13/24 Lent Psalm 79 IFTTT  The history of the children of Israel has always been an “If this then that” relationship. God designed it that way, at least from His side. “If you keep my commandments, you will be blessed.” “If you call on my Name I will answer.” “If you bow down before Me, I will be your protector.” Who knew that one day we would develop an APP for that?  IFTTT means “If This Then That.” If it gets to be 6pm then Alexa will turn the lights on. If the outside temperature hits 74 then Nest will turn on the AC. If the meat on the grill reaches 145 then MyGrill will buzz ..read more
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3/13/24. MondayMatters (on Wednesday) Solution Focused Relationships
Branches Blog | Learning Recovery - Living Redemption
by Dr. Mike Courtney
2w ago
https://youtu.be/srGkk1yBtuI?feature=shared All relationships take work, at least the ones you want to maintain. Here are 7 assumptions to help you make your relationships better. 1. Assume that God is already at work on your relationship 2. Assume that complex problems do not require complex solutions. 3. Assume that there are exceptions and they create hope. 4. Assume that relationships are always changing. 5. Assume that goals and objectives must be co-created. 6. Assume that the relationship is not the problem, the problem is the problem. 6. Assume that focusing on the person works. For mo ..read more
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3/11/24 Lent Psalm 78:1-39
Branches Blog | Learning Recovery - Living Redemption
by Dr. Mike Courtney
2w ago
My friend Chris says I bring up two things all the time, the fact that I had shingles 2 years ago and the fact that Doris and I went to Italy last fall. I don’t think that is true, but both of those things had a profound impact on me.  When we were in Italy we met and spent time with an incredible young missionary couple, James and Heidi Romano. They are in Reggello, in Florence, and work with Christ is the Answer mission. Their commitment to Jesus and to their country is astounding. And… the story is made better by the fact that the mission work was established by their parents who, as y ..read more
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3/8/24      Lent       Psalm 75 
Branches Blog | Learning Recovery - Living Redemption
by Dr. Mike Courtney
2w ago
  My grandfather was eccentric. That is a nice word for “a little bit weird.”   He was my mother’s father, we called him Papa, and by the time I came to know him, he worked as a trolley conductor in Cincinnati and a security guard. After a while, he and Nanny (we had very creative names) retired to an old farmhouse in Cynthiana, Kentucky. When we visited, Papa would sit in the living room with us, enjoying the conversation. He would begin to chuckle to himself. We knew a story was coming but first, he was telling it to himself and being fully entertained by it. He would tell this fun ..read more
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3/7/24 Lent Psalm 74 
Branches Blog | Learning Recovery - Living Redemption
by Dr. Mike Courtney
2w ago
  I was turkey hunting with a friend on my sister’s farm just outside of Ashland City, Tennessee a couple of years ago. We were dressed completely in camouflage, sitting under a tree in the gray light of early morning. I was doing my very best turkey call and a gobbler was answering back from the next ridge over. It was about to be a good day.  We heard something walking through the dry, early spring leaves toward us. In a few seconds we could make out a pretty good size, black shape coming through the undergrowth. My friend whispered, “It’s a bear.”  Now, let’s pause this story ..read more
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3/6/24 Lent Psalm 73 
Branches Blog | Learning Recovery - Living Redemption
by Dr. Mike Courtney
3w ago
I like old Asaph. He just tells it like it is. He asks the questions that we all want to ask but are afraid to. “God, I know you have done good stuff for us but, why have you let the bad guys prosper?” I admit, I ask that all the time.  God, how come the guy that everybody knows is a crooked businessman drives such a nice car?  God, why does that woman who treats everybody mean have such smart kids?  God, why does my neighbor, who never goes to church have such a beautiful yard?  Asaph is David’s music leader, and this is the first of 11 psalms in a row that he writes. (He ..read more
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3/5/24 Lent Psalm 72 This Concludes…
Branches Blog | Learning Recovery - Living Redemption
by Dr. Mike Courtney
3w ago
3/5/24 Lent Psalm 72  There is an interesting commentary in the last verse of Psalm 72. From here for the next 30 psalms or so, it seems the worship pastor has taken over. Asaph is attributed with most of the next 30 psalms. A few are unnamed. They even throw in a song from Moses just for good measure. But until Psalm 101, we don’t read that David wrote another psalm. Verse 20 of Psalm 72 says, “This concludes the prayers of David, son of Jesse.”  I wonder what is going on there. Is David taking a sabbatical from praying and psalm writing. I’ve felt like that before, just all prayed ..read more
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3/4/24 MondayMatters: Suddenly
Branches Blog | Learning Recovery - Living Redemption
by Dr. Mike Courtney
3w ago
https://youtu.be/k6jX0fadP0g?feature=shared Life can turn on a dime, change in an instant, be different at the drop of a hat. We have all kinds of phrases to describe the sudden happenings that we face in life. The question is not, “Will you face the suddenly’s.” The question is how well. Here are some thoughts the sudden, life altering changes we face ..read more
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