There are a lot of folks that think believing in something or some philosophy is essential and that we shouldn't be out there wandering through life aimlessly. I agree that we can't wander aimlessly but it would be foolish to adopt beliefs that can lead us down the wrong path. I know from personal experience that I have believed in the wrong things many times and it led me to disaster. I'm therefore not in agreement with the camp that think that it's okay to hang your hat on any moral or worthwhile philosophy. Life on this planet seems to be much more ordered and designed rather than random. There is too much synchronization in nature from the rising to the setting of the sun. There are definite artistic qualities seen in the earth's creation as if painted by a huge paint brush but even the artist has an idea about what he is creating. The picture is in the minds eye of the artist before the painting is completed. The scientific facts clearly indicate that this planet was well designed without happenstance and so I believe that the creator had a definite design and purpose when he created man. I don't think that we can wander around His creation with our own belief system. We have to live in the beliefs and philosophy that He has ordered.
Remember Pilates inquiry of Jesus about truth?
John 18:37-39
You are a king, then!" said Pilate. Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.
Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."
"What is truth?" Pilate asked
Pilates question is the question that we all should be asking. Knowing what is true is what gives us freedom in life. There have been numerous times where I have seen conflicts resolved because someone spoke truth into the situation. Real truth brings peace and resolution to life. It is therefore paramount that we seek the truth as God presents it because He has the schematic for truth and freedom. There are various philosophies and religions that mimic the truth but they themselves are not the truth. Man has always wanted to devise his own philosophy. It is convenient and self-serving and often moral in its appearance but it is not God centered and therefore cannot produce the freedom that God's truth provides.
Here's a popular scripture that used to be quoted repeatedly on the old comedy series Sanford and Son.
John 8:32
Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
Truth makes us free. That means that the converse of that would make us prisoners. If we are feeling all bound up about something then there is a good chance that we are operating in some kind of un-truth or deception. Think about it. What parts of your life present the greatest confusion? Jesus gave his life so that he could liberate us and that includes our thinking and decision making. We look at the cross as redemptive for the most part but it was also was liberating.
Yes, the Truth will set you Free!
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Remembering My Dad.....
The windy filled day in March seemed just like any other day until my Dad came home. I was in for the surprise of my life. Dad was carrying this big brown bag. It was full of stuff that I had never seen before in my life. I was only ten years old at the time. My Dad was a heavy drinker back then and so he didn’t spend a lot of time with me. This day would prove to be different. He dumped the contents of the bag on to the kitchen table. Out came a pile of balsa wood. I also saw a big ball of string and some glue. My Dad then unrolled this long sheet of plastic paper and started cutting it into sections.
My Dad told me to sit down at the table and watch. I was so excited because I knew that what ever he was doing that it was going to be for me. Dad was a master draftsman and so measuring things accurately was easy for him. He seemed to be drawing a sketch of something on a piece of paper. I watched him complete his drawing and it was a picture of a tall vertical box like figure. My curiosity was at a fever pitch but I didn’t want to stop him. He finally told me that he was making me a box kite. I had never heard of such a thing. Every kite that I had ever seen looked like a big triangle with a tail.
The construction process was so meticulous. I never saw my father take such interest in details. It took about three hours to see the finished product. The box kite was yellow and black. It had a tail too. It was awesome. Dad and I left the kite on the table overnight to let the glue dry.
The next morning He took me outside and into the garage. Back in the corner on the floor was a dingy old looking crank. Dad cleaned that crank with soap and water and then applied some oil. He took some brand new nylon cord and tied it onto the spool just like you would a fishing reel. I cranked the wheel and filled that huge spool with that nylon cord.
Dad went in and got the box kite and we went behind our house and on to a big open corn field. He connected that nylon cord to the kite and told me to hang on to the crank.
He took off running with the kite with some slack on the cord and the kite quickly lifted up into the air. I slowly let the cord out from the spool and the kite kept going and going and going. We left it out as far as it could go and then something really incredible happened. My Dad tied the crank down tight and told me to go jump in the car. I hopped in the car and off we went. We traveled about a mile down the road and my dad parked the car right underneath the flight of our box kite. I looked in disbelief. I couldn’t believe that my kite was that far away.
We drove back home and it took us about an hour to get the kite to crank back in because we had to bring it in very slowly against the wind resistance. We didn’t want to tear a hole and see it all come crashing down. I went to bed that night one very satisfied little boy.
I hope that you enjoyed my story. My Dad died thirteen years ago and I gave the eulogy.
I told everyone at the funeral service this very same story.
Time sacrificed is love given and that kind of love lasts forever.
Thank You Lord for that One Day with My Dad
My Dad told me to sit down at the table and watch. I was so excited because I knew that what ever he was doing that it was going to be for me. Dad was a master draftsman and so measuring things accurately was easy for him. He seemed to be drawing a sketch of something on a piece of paper. I watched him complete his drawing and it was a picture of a tall vertical box like figure. My curiosity was at a fever pitch but I didn’t want to stop him. He finally told me that he was making me a box kite. I had never heard of such a thing. Every kite that I had ever seen looked like a big triangle with a tail.
The construction process was so meticulous. I never saw my father take such interest in details. It took about three hours to see the finished product. The box kite was yellow and black. It had a tail too. It was awesome. Dad and I left the kite on the table overnight to let the glue dry.
The next morning He took me outside and into the garage. Back in the corner on the floor was a dingy old looking crank. Dad cleaned that crank with soap and water and then applied some oil. He took some brand new nylon cord and tied it onto the spool just like you would a fishing reel. I cranked the wheel and filled that huge spool with that nylon cord.
Dad went in and got the box kite and we went behind our house and on to a big open corn field. He connected that nylon cord to the kite and told me to hang on to the crank.
He took off running with the kite with some slack on the cord and the kite quickly lifted up into the air. I slowly let the cord out from the spool and the kite kept going and going and going. We left it out as far as it could go and then something really incredible happened. My Dad tied the crank down tight and told me to go jump in the car. I hopped in the car and off we went. We traveled about a mile down the road and my dad parked the car right underneath the flight of our box kite. I looked in disbelief. I couldn’t believe that my kite was that far away.
We drove back home and it took us about an hour to get the kite to crank back in because we had to bring it in very slowly against the wind resistance. We didn’t want to tear a hole and see it all come crashing down. I went to bed that night one very satisfied little boy.
I hope that you enjoyed my story. My Dad died thirteen years ago and I gave the eulogy.
I told everyone at the funeral service this very same story.
Time sacrificed is love given and that kind of love lasts forever.
Thank You Lord for that One Day with My Dad
Monday, September 24, 2007
Our Spiritual Antennae
There are a lot of confusing things in this world. There is a lot of tragedy and there is a lot of suffering. There are also way too many powerless Christians roaming the earth. Let's dig a little deeper into how we hear and connect with God and how He empowers us to do His will. I was blessed to hear some very good foundational teaching on how we were created and a very clear understanding about what actually takes place when we are reborn in the Spirit. I learned that we are born a natural man or woman with a soul and a body and that the Bible also clearly describes a third part of our being called the spirit. We are tri-part beings just like the God-Head.
I Thessalonians 5:23
May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The soul is often described as the mind, emotions, and intellect of man and also where our active will resides. The soul is also often described as the "flesh" or the carnal and or natural man. God is not a soul or a body. He is Spirit. It is critical to understand what happens to us when we have spiritual rebirth. I did not understand the things of God at all before my rebirth. I only saw things and understood things with my natural man. I could not understand the Bible. I could not sense God's presence. I may have wanted to from time to time but I just couldn't connect.
Lets' take another look at Jesus' famous conversation with Nicodemus
John 3:4,5
How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"
Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."
When we experience this rebirth the Spirit gives birth to spirit. We get a "Spiritual Antennae" that can now connect with the living God. He is a Spirit and the part of us that is most like God is our own spirit. The spirit we are born with does not make this connection. We are dead in sin, blinded and on dis-connect with God. The new spirit makes the connection. Believe me, it is like watching television and seeing everything in high definition. Without the new spirit it is like looking at a blank screen. That is what religion is like. Boring and blank. No wonder we hate the religious life. Jesus didn't care for it much either.
The new spirit is also a lightning rod for God's power. A powerless christian is trying to live the christian life with his natural man. We like to live with our own moral agenda and receive the praise of men but that's all we get. There is none of God's power unleashed until we are humbled, broken, and renewed deep within by the power of the Holy Spirit.
I believe the church in America is powerless because the leadership is operating in the natural. The good news is that there is an awakening taking place. The numbers are growing. There is an increasing number of people who no longer want the old menu. Going to Church wasn't the great commission. The Holy Spirit was promised to us by Jesus. Let's raise our spritual antennaes and recieve what the Spirit has to say.
I Thessalonians 5:23
May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The soul is often described as the mind, emotions, and intellect of man and also where our active will resides. The soul is also often described as the "flesh" or the carnal and or natural man. God is not a soul or a body. He is Spirit. It is critical to understand what happens to us when we have spiritual rebirth. I did not understand the things of God at all before my rebirth. I only saw things and understood things with my natural man. I could not understand the Bible. I could not sense God's presence. I may have wanted to from time to time but I just couldn't connect.
Lets' take another look at Jesus' famous conversation with Nicodemus
John 3:4,5
How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"
Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."
When we experience this rebirth the Spirit gives birth to spirit. We get a "Spiritual Antennae" that can now connect with the living God. He is a Spirit and the part of us that is most like God is our own spirit. The spirit we are born with does not make this connection. We are dead in sin, blinded and on dis-connect with God. The new spirit makes the connection. Believe me, it is like watching television and seeing everything in high definition. Without the new spirit it is like looking at a blank screen. That is what religion is like. Boring and blank. No wonder we hate the religious life. Jesus didn't care for it much either.
The new spirit is also a lightning rod for God's power. A powerless christian is trying to live the christian life with his natural man. We like to live with our own moral agenda and receive the praise of men but that's all we get. There is none of God's power unleashed until we are humbled, broken, and renewed deep within by the power of the Holy Spirit.
I believe the church in America is powerless because the leadership is operating in the natural. The good news is that there is an awakening taking place. The numbers are growing. There is an increasing number of people who no longer want the old menu. Going to Church wasn't the great commission. The Holy Spirit was promised to us by Jesus. Let's raise our spritual antennaes and recieve what the Spirit has to say.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Panhandle Power
The northwestern arm of the state of West Virginia is better known as the panhandle. The panhandle is where I attended college, made lifelong friends and met my bride. I will always have a love for the folks from the panhandle. I returned to the panhandle after that memorable New Years eve party with a driving passion to share my new life in Christ with anyone and everyone that would lend me an ear. My incredible story was received with mixed emotions by the folks in the panhandle but they could not dismiss the passion and the intention of my heart. I loved more than I had ever loved before and I wanted everyone to experience their own new found life in Christ. Most of my friends hung out at bars so I had to share my story at a few local bars but a lot of the real action started on my insurance route. I worked as a home service insurance agent back in those days. The home service agent had a huge black accounting book and would carry it with him to enter payments for the premiums he collected on life insurance.
The Spirit of God was moving deep within me. I started sharing my experience with the folks on my insurance route. There was a lady named Della on my route that knew the Lord and was concerned about her daughter Norma. Apparently Norma had just returned from Europe. She was very hippie like and trying to find herself. She was searching all over the world for something. One day I stopped at Della's home to collect her premium and Della begged me to talk to her daughter Norma. She was concerned for her daughter and so I agreed. Della walked me into the sun room where I saw this very pretty dark haired girl sitting indian style on a big wicker chair. She was staring out the window as if in a trance. I walked over and knelt down in front of her and looked into her eyes. She acted as if I wasn't even there.
The Holy Spirit was so heavy on my heart for Norma and so I spoke into those dead panned eyes staring at me. I told Norma that her search was over and that I was there today to introduce her to what she was looking for and that his name was Jesus. I told her that she didn't need to search any longer and that God has heard her plea. I ask the Holy Spirit to bring her to repentance and open her heart to the truth. Norma began to mellow. She said, "You don't know me, how can you know this?" I told Norma my whole story from Nashville to the New Years Eve Party. She began to sob and fell to the floor. She was crying her heart out. I told her to ask Him into her heart and that He would make her new. She opened herself up to Jesus and began to beg Him for help. The Spirit of God shook her very being. She began to worship the Lord. It was visible and real and I was in euphoria. Jesus did it again. He gave Norma a new life just as He did me. It was beautiful to see.
Norma had been prepared much like I was before coming to Christ. She was on a search. It wasn't a religious search but it was a sincere quest for truth and understanding. I looked at what happened to Norma and my faith grew all the more. I couldn't wait for the Spirit to lead me to the next lost soul. I really felt like a man on a mission. This was the beginning of my experience with the manifest power of God in the panhandle of West Virginia. I went home that night and knew that this was just the beginning.
Next up....
The Beat Goes On
The Spirit of God was moving deep within me. I started sharing my experience with the folks on my insurance route. There was a lady named Della on my route that knew the Lord and was concerned about her daughter Norma. Apparently Norma had just returned from Europe. She was very hippie like and trying to find herself. She was searching all over the world for something. One day I stopped at Della's home to collect her premium and Della begged me to talk to her daughter Norma. She was concerned for her daughter and so I agreed. Della walked me into the sun room where I saw this very pretty dark haired girl sitting indian style on a big wicker chair. She was staring out the window as if in a trance. I walked over and knelt down in front of her and looked into her eyes. She acted as if I wasn't even there.
The Holy Spirit was so heavy on my heart for Norma and so I spoke into those dead panned eyes staring at me. I told Norma that her search was over and that I was there today to introduce her to what she was looking for and that his name was Jesus. I told her that she didn't need to search any longer and that God has heard her plea. I ask the Holy Spirit to bring her to repentance and open her heart to the truth. Norma began to mellow. She said, "You don't know me, how can you know this?" I told Norma my whole story from Nashville to the New Years Eve Party. She began to sob and fell to the floor. She was crying her heart out. I told her to ask Him into her heart and that He would make her new. She opened herself up to Jesus and began to beg Him for help. The Spirit of God shook her very being. She began to worship the Lord. It was visible and real and I was in euphoria. Jesus did it again. He gave Norma a new life just as He did me. It was beautiful to see.
Norma had been prepared much like I was before coming to Christ. She was on a search. It wasn't a religious search but it was a sincere quest for truth and understanding. I looked at what happened to Norma and my faith grew all the more. I couldn't wait for the Spirit to lead me to the next lost soul. I really felt like a man on a mission. This was the beginning of my experience with the manifest power of God in the panhandle of West Virginia. I went home that night and knew that this was just the beginning.
Next up....
The Beat Goes On
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Resolutions of My Mind
I wrote a song many years ago called Resolutions of My Mind. I was a young christian and soon found myself in a real battle. I had the blessing and privilege of leading many of my generation to Christ. I heard about spiritual warfare and soon became engaged in a battle that I did not understand at first. There was so much joy at that time because so many people were coming to know Jesus in a real way. God was using me and I wanted to stay obedient to His call. I would stay up late at night praying for people. I was immersed in God's word and driven by the passion to lead others to Him. Then came the resistance. It came from anywhere and everywhere. There was tension with people that I never had a harsh word with. The enemy of God was on the prowl. I know that a lot of folks out there dismiss the existence of Satan and his demons. That is Satans biggest deception on the human race. He reeks havoc on the lives of the ignorant.
I wish that you could hear the melody but here are the lyrics.
Resolutions of my mind
Never seem to work out for my common good
I search for answers that I can’t find
My soul starts to tremble and I’ve got to re-assemble my mind
Oh my Lord I’m so down
Confusion spreading all around me
And I know its Satan’s power
Oh Lord I need you now
I can’t reason because I’m so blind
Lord renew me in the spirit of your mind
And yea the old man has to die
The new man has to come in and start a new life
Oh my Lord I’m so down
Confusion spreading all around me
And I know its Satan’s power
Oh Lord I need you now
The world around me is closing in
My knees hit the ground and I find myself praying again
My spirit is willing but my mind is so weak
Spirit of God I need to hear the words that you speak
Oh my Lord I’m so down
Confusion spreading all around me
And I know its Satan’s power
Oh Lord I need you now
I wish that you could hear the melody but here are the lyrics.
Resolutions of my mind
Never seem to work out for my common good
I search for answers that I can’t find
My soul starts to tremble and I’ve got to re-assemble my mind
Oh my Lord I’m so down
Confusion spreading all around me
And I know its Satan’s power
Oh Lord I need you now
I can’t reason because I’m so blind
Lord renew me in the spirit of your mind
And yea the old man has to die
The new man has to come in and start a new life
Oh my Lord I’m so down
Confusion spreading all around me
And I know its Satan’s power
Oh Lord I need you now
The world around me is closing in
My knees hit the ground and I find myself praying again
My spirit is willing but my mind is so weak
Spirit of God I need to hear the words that you speak
Oh my Lord I’m so down
Confusion spreading all around me
And I know its Satan’s power
Oh Lord I need you now
Monday, September 17, 2007
God and the ocean....
I love how God made the ocean. It's big and beautiful. It's peaceful at times but you certainly don't want to get things stirred up because the ocean can eat you alive. The ocean seems to express a ton of human emotions and ideas. There is beauty, joy, anger, peace, along with brute strength and power. You can grasp a bit of eternity just by watching the waves continually roll in to shore.
At the outer banks this past week I was able to look at this vast body of water with a little different perspective. I was fishing from the shoreline most of the week and went through a learning experience. The first day I caught nothing, absolutely nothing. I heard one of the fellows on the beach say that high tide was the best time to fish and so I made sure that I fished during high tide the next day and lo and behold I caught 4 spot fish. I was convinced that I had learned the key to catching fish and so I went fishing again during high tide on the following day. I caught absolutely nothing. The under current shifted and kept bringing my line back to shore. On the day that I did catch fish I was interrupted by a passer by on the beach. He said, "Wow, you're catching fish!" He proceeded to tell me that nobody else that he spoke to along the beach had caught anything that day. I really didn't have the key to catching fish that day but I do know this much. I spent more time trying than most. I started fishing around 6:30 AM and fish until noon. Most folks were giving it a try for a couple of hours and then packed it in for the day.
The oceans current can fool you when you are fishing. It can move your line all over the place and you have to keep your finger on the line to feel the bites of the smaller fish. The fish I caught weren't very big but we had a fish fry anyway. My son-in law cleaned them and my son cooked them in cornflakes and olive oil. They were very tasty. Fresh fish out of the ocean really don't have a fishy smell. These spot fish tasted like the moist white meat of a chicken.
Every morning before casting I would have a chat with the Lord. I didn't experience any great spiritual awakening or revelation. I just wanted to thank the Lord for making the ocean so that I could play in it. The lesson that I learned about fishing is a repeat of the same lesson that I've had to learn from the past. God's basis for promotion is faithfulness. I have learned this many times over. I knew that if I spent enough time fishing and learned from those around me that my odds were good.
So here's what I came away with. God made the ocean and all the life within it and I was able to catch four small fish out of His vast underwater creation. It seems to me that if God made something as awesome as the ocean then we should never take ourselves too seriously. Anyone in their right mind understands that we are no match for the overwhelming power of the worlds oceans. I like that. I like the fact that God has made a lot of stuff that I can't handle. The ocean is awesome because God made it. No man could have done that. God made the ocean because He can. He is an awesome God!
The Psalmist David kind of summarizes this in Psalm:148
Praise the LORD. Praise the LORD from the heavens, praise him in the heights above.
Praise him, all his angels, praise him, all his heavenly hosts.
Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars.
Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies.
Let them praise the name of the LORD, for he commanded and they were created.
He set them in place for ever and ever; he gave a decree that will never pass away.
Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,
lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding,
you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars,
wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds,
kings of the earth and all nations, you princes and all rulers on earth,
young men and maidens, old men and children.
Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted;his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.
He has raised up for his people a horn, the praise of all his saints, of Israel, the people close to his heart. Praise the LORD.
At the outer banks this past week I was able to look at this vast body of water with a little different perspective. I was fishing from the shoreline most of the week and went through a learning experience. The first day I caught nothing, absolutely nothing. I heard one of the fellows on the beach say that high tide was the best time to fish and so I made sure that I fished during high tide the next day and lo and behold I caught 4 spot fish. I was convinced that I had learned the key to catching fish and so I went fishing again during high tide on the following day. I caught absolutely nothing. The under current shifted and kept bringing my line back to shore. On the day that I did catch fish I was interrupted by a passer by on the beach. He said, "Wow, you're catching fish!" He proceeded to tell me that nobody else that he spoke to along the beach had caught anything that day. I really didn't have the key to catching fish that day but I do know this much. I spent more time trying than most. I started fishing around 6:30 AM and fish until noon. Most folks were giving it a try for a couple of hours and then packed it in for the day.
The oceans current can fool you when you are fishing. It can move your line all over the place and you have to keep your finger on the line to feel the bites of the smaller fish. The fish I caught weren't very big but we had a fish fry anyway. My son-in law cleaned them and my son cooked them in cornflakes and olive oil. They were very tasty. Fresh fish out of the ocean really don't have a fishy smell. These spot fish tasted like the moist white meat of a chicken.
Every morning before casting I would have a chat with the Lord. I didn't experience any great spiritual awakening or revelation. I just wanted to thank the Lord for making the ocean so that I could play in it. The lesson that I learned about fishing is a repeat of the same lesson that I've had to learn from the past. God's basis for promotion is faithfulness. I have learned this many times over. I knew that if I spent enough time fishing and learned from those around me that my odds were good.
So here's what I came away with. God made the ocean and all the life within it and I was able to catch four small fish out of His vast underwater creation. It seems to me that if God made something as awesome as the ocean then we should never take ourselves too seriously. Anyone in their right mind understands that we are no match for the overwhelming power of the worlds oceans. I like that. I like the fact that God has made a lot of stuff that I can't handle. The ocean is awesome because God made it. No man could have done that. God made the ocean because He can. He is an awesome God!
The Psalmist David kind of summarizes this in Psalm:148
Praise the LORD. Praise the LORD from the heavens, praise him in the heights above.
Praise him, all his angels, praise him, all his heavenly hosts.
Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars.
Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies.
Let them praise the name of the LORD, for he commanded and they were created.
He set them in place for ever and ever; he gave a decree that will never pass away.
Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,
lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding,
you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars,
wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds,
kings of the earth and all nations, you princes and all rulers on earth,
young men and maidens, old men and children.
Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted;his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.
He has raised up for his people a horn, the praise of all his saints, of Israel, the people close to his heart. Praise the LORD.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Corolla, North Carolina
We are heading out for the Outer Banks this weekend and already have to take authority over a storm brewing in the Atlantic. I haven't been there for years. I love that area. We visited Nags Head, Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk and Corolla over a 10 year span when the kids were growing up. I was much more svelt back then and I could ride those waves. This year I just might wave back. I love the ocean. I love looking at it. It is awesome and beautiful and very peaceful.
Be back in about a week!
For God so Loved...
Be back in about a week!
For God so Loved...
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Captain Obvious...
I'm going to play Captain Obvious with you guys. I'm going to say things to you that you already know to be obvious but I am going to elaborate a bit. I am beginning to notice that as time moves along that the words and sentences that I have spoken in the past start to sound different and begin to have more significance now and so I want to rehash a couple of statements commonly delared over the years.
So here goes my first declaration as Captain Obvious. God is with you. God has always been with you. He's been with you when you were in your mothers womb. He knew you at conception. That is not so difficult to grasp when you look at all the intricacies of His creation and how He orchestrated our whole existence. God is with us on the earth today in the person the Holy Spirit. During the time of the Old Testament God was for us and we kept disobeying Him like a bunch of spoiled children. His Father image was more prevalent in the Old Testament. In the New Testament God was called Emmanuel the Christ which means God was with us in the person of the Son. When the Son left, He promised us the Holy Spirit and that he would be with us and that we would not be alone. We presently live in the time of the Holy Spirit. He is with all of us and searching the depths of our heart. Keep your ears on the alert and listen to what's blowing in the wind. The Spirit is always wooing us to a rebirth or a refreshing.
John 3:8
The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."
Here is my second declaration as Captain Obvious. God is for you. This is difficult for many of us to believe and especially those who have experienced tragedy in their lives. It's much easier to understand God and what He's all about when we look at ourselves as created in His image. We think like God thinks about our children and so we should be able to empathize with God's longing for us to acknowlege Him as our heavenly Father. Most of the fathers that I know are for their children but sometimes their children make decisions that cause themselves harm and alienate themselves from their dad. We cannot force our children to do all the right things. They eventually go out into life and begin the process of reaping and sowing from all the decisions they make. This is the way it is with God the Father. The liberty that He gives us to choose freely is the essence and beauty of God's life for all of us. He wants us to choose Him and acknowledge Him but if we don't He is still for us just like we are for our own children. Perfect love is love that is given out of choice. God has always been for us and he has made it all possible for you and I to love and to be loved. The search for loving relationships often consumes our being because love is the center of God's motivation. For God so loved......
1 John 4:19
We love because he first loved us
Even though I know these two things are obvious and true, I will never understand the magnitude and depth of what they really mean to our merciful God. I do understand one tiny thing. The earth and the life inhabiting it still exists because God is with us and God is for us.
Captain Obvious
So here goes my first declaration as Captain Obvious. God is with you. God has always been with you. He's been with you when you were in your mothers womb. He knew you at conception. That is not so difficult to grasp when you look at all the intricacies of His creation and how He orchestrated our whole existence. God is with us on the earth today in the person the Holy Spirit. During the time of the Old Testament God was for us and we kept disobeying Him like a bunch of spoiled children. His Father image was more prevalent in the Old Testament. In the New Testament God was called Emmanuel the Christ which means God was with us in the person of the Son. When the Son left, He promised us the Holy Spirit and that he would be with us and that we would not be alone. We presently live in the time of the Holy Spirit. He is with all of us and searching the depths of our heart. Keep your ears on the alert and listen to what's blowing in the wind. The Spirit is always wooing us to a rebirth or a refreshing.
John 3:8
The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."
Here is my second declaration as Captain Obvious. God is for you. This is difficult for many of us to believe and especially those who have experienced tragedy in their lives. It's much easier to understand God and what He's all about when we look at ourselves as created in His image. We think like God thinks about our children and so we should be able to empathize with God's longing for us to acknowlege Him as our heavenly Father. Most of the fathers that I know are for their children but sometimes their children make decisions that cause themselves harm and alienate themselves from their dad. We cannot force our children to do all the right things. They eventually go out into life and begin the process of reaping and sowing from all the decisions they make. This is the way it is with God the Father. The liberty that He gives us to choose freely is the essence and beauty of God's life for all of us. He wants us to choose Him and acknowledge Him but if we don't He is still for us just like we are for our own children. Perfect love is love that is given out of choice. God has always been for us and he has made it all possible for you and I to love and to be loved. The search for loving relationships often consumes our being because love is the center of God's motivation. For God so loved......
1 John 4:19
We love because he first loved us
Even though I know these two things are obvious and true, I will never understand the magnitude and depth of what they really mean to our merciful God. I do understand one tiny thing. The earth and the life inhabiting it still exists because God is with us and God is for us.
Captain Obvious
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Good Day Sunshine....
What a beautiful morning in the Burgh! We are approaching my favorite time of the year. I love autumn. The leaves turn into such beautiful colors and the air is dry and crisp. Football season starts and Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because I always have so much to be thankful for and it's just not as commercial as Christmas. These are just little things but as time goes flying by you begin to love them all more. I love the four seasons. Baseball, football, hockey and basketball. Yeah, I like all four of them but mostly baseball and football. More little things but fun things.
Lord, while I am in this contemplative and thankful mood this morning, I want to thank you for all of this opportunity and freedom that you give us. These little things are ours because you gave us the freedom to create them. I know that we don't get it but I'm starting to! Everything that is good comes from you! Thank you Lord!
Here's the lyrics to the Beatle tune, "Good Day Sunshine"
Seems appropiate today!
Good Day Sunshine, Good Day Sunshine, Good Day Sunshine
I need to laugh and when the sun is outI've got something I can laugh about
I feel good in a special way I'm in love and it's a sunny day
Good Day Sunshine, Good Day Sunshine, Good Day Sunshine
We take a walk, the sun is shining down
Burns my feet as they touch the ground
Good Day Sunshine, Good Day Sunshine, Good Day Sunshine
Then we'd lie beneath the shady treeI love her and she's loving me
She feels good, she knows she's looking fineI'm so proud to know that she is mine.
Good Day Sunshine, Good Day Sunshine, Good Day Sunshine
Thank You, Thank You, Thank You Lord!
Lord, while I am in this contemplative and thankful mood this morning, I want to thank you for all of this opportunity and freedom that you give us. These little things are ours because you gave us the freedom to create them. I know that we don't get it but I'm starting to! Everything that is good comes from you! Thank you Lord!
Here's the lyrics to the Beatle tune, "Good Day Sunshine"
Seems appropiate today!
Good Day Sunshine, Good Day Sunshine, Good Day Sunshine
I need to laugh and when the sun is outI've got something I can laugh about
I feel good in a special way I'm in love and it's a sunny day
Good Day Sunshine, Good Day Sunshine, Good Day Sunshine
We take a walk, the sun is shining down
Burns my feet as they touch the ground
Good Day Sunshine, Good Day Sunshine, Good Day Sunshine
Then we'd lie beneath the shady treeI love her and she's loving me
She feels good, she knows she's looking fineI'm so proud to know that she is mine.
Good Day Sunshine, Good Day Sunshine, Good Day Sunshine
Thank You, Thank You, Thank You Lord!
Psalm 113:3
From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised.
Monday, September 3, 2007
The Failure of the Flesh
I love the Bible because it clearly describes human nature. It calls human nature "the flesh". Nicodemus ask Jesus what it meant to be born again. He saw rebirth as an impossibility. He even went as far as to ask Jesus how practical it was to go back into his mothers womb. A lot of folks have read this discourse between Nicodemus and Jesus but often miss one very important life principal that Jesus clearly announced in His conversation with Nicodemus. It's in the Gospel of John.
John 3:6, "Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit".
Jesus clearly revealed to Nicodemus that the second birth is the birth of a new spirit. The first nature is the flesh and the born again nature is the spirit. When we truly turn our life over to Christ then a new nature is born in us. It is a spiritual nature that connects with God. It is our new spiritual antennae. When we do not have this new nature then we cannot connect with God. Our first nature is carnal and it is called flesh. So here it is, we have two natures when we become a new believer. We now have a spiritual nature living deep inside that is in conflict with our old nature. The Christian life is all about allowing the new nature to mature so that it can tame the old and live a life in obedience to Christ. If you have never come to Christ then you are living totally in the flesh and will not be able to understand the things of God.
This is such a valuable lesson for church leadership as well because if we run the church with our carnal nature then we are not pleasing God.
Romans 8;5,6,7
For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God
Our flesh or carnal nature fails us because it is at enmity with God. It wants to have it's own way and own control. When we live in the flesh we establish our own kingdom where we reign and establish our own moral code. This happens in the church as well. When we are not trusting God then we are taking control and we are failing in the flesh. Lord have mercy on us all. Forgive us for our selfish ways and guide us back to the truth. Holy Spirit come and set us free. We are failing in the flesh.
John 3:6, "Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit".
Jesus clearly revealed to Nicodemus that the second birth is the birth of a new spirit. The first nature is the flesh and the born again nature is the spirit. When we truly turn our life over to Christ then a new nature is born in us. It is a spiritual nature that connects with God. It is our new spiritual antennae. When we do not have this new nature then we cannot connect with God. Our first nature is carnal and it is called flesh. So here it is, we have two natures when we become a new believer. We now have a spiritual nature living deep inside that is in conflict with our old nature. The Christian life is all about allowing the new nature to mature so that it can tame the old and live a life in obedience to Christ. If you have never come to Christ then you are living totally in the flesh and will not be able to understand the things of God.
This is such a valuable lesson for church leadership as well because if we run the church with our carnal nature then we are not pleasing God.
Romans 8;5,6,7
For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God
Our flesh or carnal nature fails us because it is at enmity with God. It wants to have it's own way and own control. When we live in the flesh we establish our own kingdom where we reign and establish our own moral code. This happens in the church as well. When we are not trusting God then we are taking control and we are failing in the flesh. Lord have mercy on us all. Forgive us for our selfish ways and guide us back to the truth. Holy Spirit come and set us free. We are failing in the flesh.
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Hiding from the Church
I used to think that folks that didn't attend a church service on Sunday were hiding from the church. To some extent that is true. There is good reason not to attend the Sunday morning crowd but there is no good reason not to have community or fellowship. In many ways the folks attending Sunday morning church are hidden from the church as well. Not that much is exposed or dealt with in the traditional church model. I say this not to be critical of those people because there are a lot of wonderful things that do occur during Sunday morning church. The Christian life just seems very un-natural in the life of the American church. Everything revolves around the meeting place. After 35 years of observing this I have literally come full circle. In the beginning of my walk I was a part of a very small community of young believers. It was the most exciting time in my christian life. We did everything together. We worshiped and prayed together. We watched football together. We went places together. It was a way of life. We were a family and Jesus was the truly the center of our life.
The next 30 years I participated in and out of the traditional church scene both denominational and non-denominational. I thought that I might learn something from the folks that grew up in church. I never really had much experience with it and so I thought that the only way to learn more is to participate more. Anybody that knows me well understands that I am a full on or a full off kind of guy. I'm either all the way committed to something or I'm not committed at all. I don't do well as a passive participant and so wherever I landed I gave it my best shot. The lessons that I have learned are quite revealing. One lesson that I learned is that most of the folks involved in the church scene are pretty nice people only trying to do their part. They are following in the footsteps of those before them. They are content with their tradition and see no need for change in the status-quo. What they may not be seeing is that the system that they are supporting is failing all across our nation. The American traditional church is on the decline. The younger generations are not interested. Many of the X and Y generation don't believe Jesus to be all that republican. That's one of the political images that the church portrays. Television preachers are becoming irrelevant to mainstream America. The American Church is somewhat oblivious to what is happening because they are deeply entrenched in this inwardness. The church is asleep at the wheel. We are content because we built this machine and we measure it by giving ourselves passing grades in most areas but that is the essence of the problem. It's all about us.
The language people use in the church is a clear indicator as to what is important to them. The language that I too often hear revolves around the quality of the worship service or the meeting place. You will will hear, "What a great sermon" or "The music was so good today". Neither of those things are bad things unless they replace our devotion and love for Jesus. One thing that I have noticed over the years is that folks in the church weren't talking about Jesus anymore. We use His name to build a religious economic empire but something tells me that the Lord is longing for us to leave that all behind and return to Him. This is where I am right now. I have decided to eliminate all the substitutes and return to my first love. I don't want to hide anymore. I don't want to hide behind tradition nor do I want to be isolated from christian community. I no longer feel alone in my decision because I am discovering a whole new movement in America by people that are starving for Jesus and no longer willing to give themselves to a religious substitute.
Do you really think Jesus is involved in all of this religious stuff? I don't. He blesses some of it because of His grace and love but I really believe that He wants us to return to Him. We really need to come out from our hiding and seek the Lord with all our heart, mind and soul. His ways are not our ways. Oh what a day it would be, if we would turn from ourselves and do the things we did at first. He would take us all back in a heartbeat.
For God so loved.....
The next 30 years I participated in and out of the traditional church scene both denominational and non-denominational. I thought that I might learn something from the folks that grew up in church. I never really had much experience with it and so I thought that the only way to learn more is to participate more. Anybody that knows me well understands that I am a full on or a full off kind of guy. I'm either all the way committed to something or I'm not committed at all. I don't do well as a passive participant and so wherever I landed I gave it my best shot. The lessons that I have learned are quite revealing. One lesson that I learned is that most of the folks involved in the church scene are pretty nice people only trying to do their part. They are following in the footsteps of those before them. They are content with their tradition and see no need for change in the status-quo. What they may not be seeing is that the system that they are supporting is failing all across our nation. The American traditional church is on the decline. The younger generations are not interested. Many of the X and Y generation don't believe Jesus to be all that republican. That's one of the political images that the church portrays. Television preachers are becoming irrelevant to mainstream America. The American Church is somewhat oblivious to what is happening because they are deeply entrenched in this inwardness. The church is asleep at the wheel. We are content because we built this machine and we measure it by giving ourselves passing grades in most areas but that is the essence of the problem. It's all about us.
The language people use in the church is a clear indicator as to what is important to them. The language that I too often hear revolves around the quality of the worship service or the meeting place. You will will hear, "What a great sermon" or "The music was so good today". Neither of those things are bad things unless they replace our devotion and love for Jesus. One thing that I have noticed over the years is that folks in the church weren't talking about Jesus anymore. We use His name to build a religious economic empire but something tells me that the Lord is longing for us to leave that all behind and return to Him. This is where I am right now. I have decided to eliminate all the substitutes and return to my first love. I don't want to hide anymore. I don't want to hide behind tradition nor do I want to be isolated from christian community. I no longer feel alone in my decision because I am discovering a whole new movement in America by people that are starving for Jesus and no longer willing to give themselves to a religious substitute.
Do you really think Jesus is involved in all of this religious stuff? I don't. He blesses some of it because of His grace and love but I really believe that He wants us to return to Him. We really need to come out from our hiding and seek the Lord with all our heart, mind and soul. His ways are not our ways. Oh what a day it would be, if we would turn from ourselves and do the things we did at first. He would take us all back in a heartbeat.
For God so loved.....
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