The PowerBreak Podcast

Program 280 – SHOW NOTES (2023 – 49)

Show date – January 2, 2024

THE Q&A FORMAT

1. OPEN with Tease

(Bob) “This is the PowerBreak Podcast, number 280 titled:

Star Of Bethlehem

Pause for 5 seconds

– I’m Bob Brubaker along with JT, as we hope you will stay tuned as we seek to give you a little power in this break to help you succeed in the race of life.”

2. (JT) This is the – PowerBreak Podcast – with a focus on the spiritual, the mental, and the physical aspects – all to help you succeed in the race of life. For show notes from today’s podcast go to bobbrubaker.com and follow the link for the PowerBreak podcast.

3. Welcome – Bob and JT – chit chat about life, walk with God, training, etc.

BB&JT: Plea and thank you for ratings and review & for spreading the word via social media and word of mouth…

4. SHOUT OUTS
5. DRIFTWOOD COFFEE

www.driftwoodkavacoffeecafe.com

6. TRANSITION

BB –  We are talking today about  “Star Of Bethlehem

So JT What does that title bring up to your mind? ((JT ANSWERS))

7. Bob – POINT: Taking a lesson from the wise men from the east… we need to seek after the Lord and make use of the light that He has given us in His word…

Isaiah 55:6–7 (ESV) — 6 “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; 7 let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

8. JT ------ OK THEN LET’S TALK SOME MORE ABOUT THAT as we bring up… WHAT’S NEW –  as we open Bob’s recent blog from bobbrubaker.com …

“Star Of Bethlehem

9. Presentation and discussion of Bob’s published article,

• Bob and JT discuss highlights of the PowerBreak blog

“Star Of Bethlehem”

Bob concludes with “The PowerBreak blog is found at bobbrubaker.com”             ((((:03 PAUSE))))

10. JT – What’s happening Bob? What would you like our listeners to know about this week?

11. Bob – Power In The Valley –… & Sermon link on the website.

(((:03 PAUSE)))

12. JT – This is the PowerBreak Podcast, I’m JT along with Bob Brubaker and this is the –– time for some questions and answers. Feel free to submit your questions by EMAIL TO JT@bobbrubaker.com and we’ll get to the answer on an upcoming PowerBreak. Podcast…

13. JT – Question ONE - FROM THE SPIRITUAL SIDE OF LIFE….

So was the star that the wise men followed a real star, was it just a natural occurring star, and how was it that they followed the star but nobody else did?

14. Bob & JT discuss

All good questions JT…. Let’s break it down.

People have written books and produced videos on the natural occurrence of what they have come up with as the star that led the wise men to Jerusalem and then to Bethlehem.

Natural occurrence? I don’t think so…. Why did it go to Jerusalem and then to Bethlehem. How did they know to follow the star and nobody else did?

This is a special phenomenon that was given to them.

Psalm 36:9 (ESV) — 9 For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.

God gives us light and points the way to the light by the working of His Holy Spirit and the tools He uses as in the word of God, the preaching of the word, etc. When we follow the light He gives us, He gives us more light.

When it comes to the phenomenon of the star, God is the one who placed the stars in the sky in the first place and He can easily set a star to hover over Jerusalem and then Bethlehem to give guidance to those seeking His Son, Jesus Christ.

Nobody is just seeking the Lord out of the blue… as the Lord has sought out each one first and led them along to Himself

Psalm 27:8 (ESV) — 8 You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.”

It’s believed the wise men from the area of Babylon probably had access to the teaching of Daniel the prophet….

Daniel 9:24 (ESV) — 24 “Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place.

Think about it --- Daniel and others were Jewish wise men that excelled the wisdom of the Babylonians … nOw the Babylonian wise men come to seek after the Christ Child and they excel the wisdom of the Jewish leaders of the scribes and priests because although they knew the scriptures they did not see the light but the Babylonian wise men did see it.

15. JT – Question Two… “FROM THE MENTAL ASPECT”

How can we prepare mentally to make sure we don’t miss the light that God is giving to us?

16. Bob & JT discuss

Use whatever light God gives – walk in it, do what God says and be faithful.

Luke 16:10 (ESV) — 10 “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.

Proverbs 3:5–6 (ESV) — 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Matthew 7:21–23 (ESV) — 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Matthew 7:24–27 (ESV) — 24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

17. Third question … Turning to the Physical

It’s that time of year when it’s best to establish some goals for physical training. What is the best way to establish goals for every form of physical training, not just for those who compete.

18. Bob & JT discuss

SMART – acrostic

SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time bound goal setting. It is a good place to start when you are creating competitive or non-competitive goals.

Specific – like one coach who helped his athlete by setting a goal of just riding his bike every day.

Measurable – a goal that is specific enough that you can measure success, and measure how you are doing on the goal

Achievable – don’t be unrealistic in setting a goal

Relevant –  Account for time restrictions and interruptions

Time bound – put a date on what you want to achieve and look at it.

Any other thoughts JT?

Bob’s final comment – It takes discipline to have a decide upon goals for the coming  year, write down the goals… making it a SMART activity but the dividends are not only achievement in  the physical realm but that will be a great mental exercise and encouragement.

Point: DISCIPLINE MAKES THE DIFFERENCE --- in all aspects of life

Closing statement Bob…. “check out today’s show notes at bobbrubaker.com and click on the PowerBreak podcast – today’s show is 280.

19. JT – Submit your questions by EMAIL to JT@bobbrubaker.com and listen for OUR answer on an upcoming PowerBreak Podcast (((:03 pause)))

20. (((commercial by Bob))) --- Power In The Valley

(((pause for music transition)))

21. (JT) Thank you for joining us for the PowerBreak Podcast. Please subscribe and leave a review where-ever you have downloaded the podcast. Check out the show notes, news, Bob’s weekly blog, and other cool things at bobbrubabaker.com and listen next time for the – “powerbreak podcast.