Sunday night, I got the email alert that stated President Obama was going to address the nation, but there was no indication of what the topic would be. That got my attention, so I flipped to Fox News just before he was supposed to speak.
I heard Geraldo Rivera speculating on what the speech would be about. Suddenly, I saw his face light up and he began talking about the possibility that the President could be announcing that Osama bin Laden had been killed or captured. He got more and more excited, and within a minute or so, the confirmation came in that bin Laden had indeed been killed. Geraldo and his guest (whose name escapes me) began laughing and “high-fiving” each other as if their team had suddenly won the championship. My initial reaction was one of relief that one of the most horrible chapters in American history was getting some closure after almost 10 years. But, as I saw Geraldo and others celebrating, something struck me as being horribly wrong. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks.
Another soul entered into eternity, and it was fairly obvious where it went.
I know Rob Bell would probably take issue with me on this but, given the circumstances, it seems pretty certain that bin Laden’s soul is bound for eternal torment in hell. I’m not saying that I know it for a fact, because I wasn’t with him prior to his death, so I don’t know if he realized his need to be saved from sin and turned to Jesus for salvation. The circumstances seem to point to the fact that he didn’t. After all, if he had repented and turned from his sin, I would have to believe that he wouldn’t have resisted and caused the soldier(s) to feel like they had to kill him. His stance has always been that he wouldn’t allow the infidels to take him alive! If that is indeed the case, then he most certainly is in hell.
So, there I was, watching the celebration and feeling a mixture of relief and sorrow. On one hand, relief that the mastermind of 9/11 was brought to Earthly justice, but, on the other hand, sorrow at the thought of how his hatred had probably condemned him to hell – the place of torment that was originally created for satan and his fallen angels. That thought, combined with Proverbs 24:17-18 spoils the party atmosphere and puts things in perspective! What does it say?
17 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,
and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles,
18 lest the LORD see it and be displeased,
and turn away his anger from him.
Eternity is at stake, and, no matter how evil the person’s heart may be, Jesus still died for them just as much as he died for you and me! Celebrating their demise is basically saying that we’re more interested in their fleshly punishment than we are in their eternal punishment.
I want to make it clear that I am proud of our military men and women who put their lives on the line to defend us and our freedoms. They did their job and they did it without hesitation. They deserve our support and our thanks. Osama was brought to justice, and I don’t have any problem with that fact. But, instead of celebrating the death of an enemy, I hope this will spur us on to fulfilling the Great Commission!
There are so many who are lost in sin and who need to hear the message of Jesus before they die! He is the only way to salvation and eternal life! Instead of reacting to the downfall of an enemy with laughter and celebration, let’s conform our lives to the Bible, stop living like the world, and share the message of Salvation through Jesus Christ with everyone we can. I love this quote: “Preach the Gospel at all times – use words if necessary.” Now, that’s the right reaction!
Monday, May 2, 2011
Monday, April 4, 2011
Jennie-O Turkey Burger Recall
I just have a minute to jump in and let you know about a recall of Jennie-O Turkey Burgers. If you're like us, you love them, but if you've bought the frozen patties at Sam's recently, you'll want to check out their recall site by clicking here. So far, the Salmonella infected patties have only been sold at Sam's Clubs.
Monday, March 21, 2011
That's What Christians Do Now
This piece was written by Don Wildmon, who is more than just my boss -- he is a true American hero who has stood strong in defense of the family. I believe these words ring truer today than they did when it was first written in the late 1990s.
In 1973 THE SUPREME COURT said it was OK to kill unborn babies. Since then, we have killed more than the entire population of Canada. And it continues. A woman's choice? Half of those who have died in their mothers' wombs have been women. They didn't have a choice. It is called abortion.
Me? I go to church, the minister preaches, I go home. That's what Christians do now.
First it was in dingy, dirty theaters. Then, convenience stores. Then, grocery stores. Then on television. Now it is in the homes of millions via the Internet. It is called pornography.
Me? I go to church, the minister preaches, I go home. That's what Christians do now.
They called it no-fault. Why should we blame anyone when something so tragic happens. Haven't they already suffered enough? Half of the marriages in America end this way. The children suffered. The family broke down. It is called divorce.
Me? I go to church, the minister preaches, I go home. That’s what Christians do now.
At one time it was a perversion. We kept it secret. We secured help and hope for those who practiced it. Now it is praised. We have parades celebrating it, and elected officials give it their blessing. Now it is endowed with special privileges and protected by special laws. Even some Christian leaders and denominations praise it. It is called homosexuality.
Me? I go to church, the minister preaches, I go home. That's what Christians do now.
It used to be an embarrassment. A shame. Now a third of all births are to mothers who aren't married. Two-thirds of all African-American children are born into a home without a father. The state usually pays the tab. That is why we pay our taxes, so that government can take the place of parents. After all, government bureaucrats know much better how to raise children than parents do. It is called illegitimacy.
Me? I go to church, the minister preaches, I go home. That's what Christians do now.
At one time it was wrong. But then the state decided to legalize it, promote it and tax it. It has ripped apart families and destroyed lives. But just look at all the money the state has raised. No longer do we have to teach our children to study and work hard. Now we teach them they can get something for nothing. We spend millions encouraging people to join the fun and excitement. Just look at the big sums that people are winning. They will never have to work again! It is called gambling.
Me? I go to church, the minister preaches, I go home. That's what Christians do now.
Not long ago, Christians were the good guys. But now any positive image of Christians in movies or on TV is gone. We are now depicted as the bad guys - greedy, narrow-minded hypocrites. The teacher can't have a Bible on her desk, but can have Playboy. We don't have Christmas and Easter holidays - just winter and spring break. We can't pray in school, but can use foul language. It's called being tolerant.
Me? I go to church, the minister preaches, I go home. That's what Christians do now.
Yes, all these things came to pass within 30 years. Where were the Christians? Why, they were in church. All these things are for someone else to deal with. Times have changed. Involvement has been replaced with apathy.
But don't blame me. I didn't do anything. I go to church, the minister preaches, I go home. That's what Christians do now.
In 1973 THE SUPREME COURT said it was OK to kill unborn babies. Since then, we have killed more than the entire population of Canada. And it continues. A woman's choice? Half of those who have died in their mothers' wombs have been women. They didn't have a choice. It is called abortion.
Me? I go to church, the minister preaches, I go home. That's what Christians do now.
First it was in dingy, dirty theaters. Then, convenience stores. Then, grocery stores. Then on television. Now it is in the homes of millions via the Internet. It is called pornography.
Me? I go to church, the minister preaches, I go home. That's what Christians do now.
They called it no-fault. Why should we blame anyone when something so tragic happens. Haven't they already suffered enough? Half of the marriages in America end this way. The children suffered. The family broke down. It is called divorce.
Me? I go to church, the minister preaches, I go home. That’s what Christians do now.
At one time it was a perversion. We kept it secret. We secured help and hope for those who practiced it. Now it is praised. We have parades celebrating it, and elected officials give it their blessing. Now it is endowed with special privileges and protected by special laws. Even some Christian leaders and denominations praise it. It is called homosexuality.
Me? I go to church, the minister preaches, I go home. That's what Christians do now.
It used to be an embarrassment. A shame. Now a third of all births are to mothers who aren't married. Two-thirds of all African-American children are born into a home without a father. The state usually pays the tab. That is why we pay our taxes, so that government can take the place of parents. After all, government bureaucrats know much better how to raise children than parents do. It is called illegitimacy.
Me? I go to church, the minister preaches, I go home. That's what Christians do now.
At one time it was wrong. But then the state decided to legalize it, promote it and tax it. It has ripped apart families and destroyed lives. But just look at all the money the state has raised. No longer do we have to teach our children to study and work hard. Now we teach them they can get something for nothing. We spend millions encouraging people to join the fun and excitement. Just look at the big sums that people are winning. They will never have to work again! It is called gambling.
Me? I go to church, the minister preaches, I go home. That's what Christians do now.
Not long ago, Christians were the good guys. But now any positive image of Christians in movies or on TV is gone. We are now depicted as the bad guys - greedy, narrow-minded hypocrites. The teacher can't have a Bible on her desk, but can have Playboy. We don't have Christmas and Easter holidays - just winter and spring break. We can't pray in school, but can use foul language. It's called being tolerant.
Me? I go to church, the minister preaches, I go home. That's what Christians do now.
Yes, all these things came to pass within 30 years. Where were the Christians? Why, they were in church. All these things are for someone else to deal with. Times have changed. Involvement has been replaced with apathy.
But don't blame me. I didn't do anything. I go to church, the minister preaches, I go home. That's what Christians do now.
Friday, March 18, 2011
An Open Letter To...
There’s something burning in me that I have to get out! Rob Bell’s new book has ignited a firestorm of debate among Christians and non-Christians alike. The thought that God is so loving and compassionate that He would never send a poor, innocent person to hell is one that people can grab and cuddle like a cute teddy bear. It’s so warm and fuzzy to believe that way, but, alas, it is also wrong! Not only that, it is heresy, and even blasphemous to try to make people believe that God is going to bend the rules and give them a second chance after death for them to avoid the punishment for sin. Why? Let’s look at the real source for truth. Not “Love Wins,” but “Love Is” aka. The Bible! First, we need to look at the reason why we are in danger of going to hell.
Romans 3:9-18 9. What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage? Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin. 10. As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; 11. there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. 12. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” 13. “Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The poison of vipers is on their lips.” 14. “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.” 15. “Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16. ruin and misery mark their ways, 17. and the way of peace they do not know.” 18. “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
Verse 23 also lets us know that absolutely everyone has sinned and has fallen short of the glory of God! But, why, how and when have we sinned?
Romans 5:12 12. Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—
The very first sin in the Garden of Eden resulted in sin being applied like a skin to every person who lived from that time until now! Not only that, but it has been made perfectly clear that there is a penalty for sin.
Romans 6:23a 23. For the wages of sin is death…
It sounds pretty hopeless, doesn’t it? Thankfully, our loving, compassionate God didn’t want it to remain that way!
Romans 5:6-8 6. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
God loved us so much that, even though we are born into sin, He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for us! Stop and think about that. It would be the same as you sending your innocent child to death row in order to die so that not just one, but ALL convicted murderers, rapists, molesters, addicts, thieves, cheaters…every last one of them could have the chance to go free! Would you do that? I doubt there’s enough love in the entire human race combined to make someone want to do that. So, why did God do it?
Because God is love! (1 John 4:8)
That’s pretty self-explanatory! God demonstrated that by offering His Son, Jesus, as the sacrifice for our sinful condition. I know it has been stated that the need for an animal or a person to die so that we can gain our freedom is so foreign to us today! The truth is, it doesn’t matter if we’re accustomed to the idea of blood sacrifice or not. That’s the way GOD ordained it – it’s HIS standard! The problem with the church today is that we are trying to pass things through our filter, and that just isn’t how it works! In interviews with Rob Bell, I heard him talk about “his” way of processing it, of reasoning it out. It’s all about what HE thinks it should be and how HE thinks it will turn out; however, our ways of doing things, and our ideas of what is right and fair don’t count!
Isaiah 55:8 8. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.
Sadly, though, Rob isn’t the only one who is on this bandwagon, which is why I’m not writing this as an open letter to Rob Bell. Rather, it is an urgent plea to the Church today!
There are more and more people who call themselves Christians, who are embracing the things of this world. They are trying to make God’s Word conform to their lusts and their lifestyles, instead of making their lusts flee and their lives conform to God’s Word. The simple truth is this:
There is no way to get to Heaven with sin in our lives, because sin separates us from God! There is no way to overcome sin without the blood of Jesus! There is no way to apply the blood without accepting Jesus as the Messiah and repenting from our sinful ways!
There’s nothing we can do to earn it! His sacrifice is a gift that can only be gained by faith, not by our works! Some modern “teachers” want to make us believe that we are able to do what we want, and, as long as we are good to each other, and lead lives that the world considers to be upstanding, we’re not going to have any problem getting into Heaven. Sorry, that’s just not true!
Ephesians 2:1-9 1. And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2. in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience — 3. among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5. even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ — by grace you have been saved — 6. and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7. so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9. not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
That passage shows that there is a difference between the world’s system and God’s! When we are saved, our lives must reflect that difference. It also shows that God is merciful and gracious. The thing we need to realize is that sending sinners to hell isn’t due to a lack of mercy, and it isn’t unfair! God’s mercy doesn’t come at the end! He has already given us mercy! It was given at the cross, through His Son, Jesus. All we have to do is accept it by accepting Jesus, then, live in the relationship that God wants to have with us! You see, it isn’t about God making a way for us to “get into Heaven.” It’s about a relationship that was broken by one man, Adam when he gave in to the temptation that originated with satan. Adam disobeyed the loving Father that created him, the very One who breathed the breath of life directly into him. Our sin is just as disobedient, and it still separates us from having that relationship with God!
I know this is getting pretty long, and I certainly appreciate you hanging in there to this point. Trust me – it could be much longer, because there is so much the Bible has to say that is being twisted by man in an attempt to appease the conscience. Let me try to wrap it up in the next short paragraph.
We need to return God’s Word to the place it should be – as the standard for everything we do. It’s not there to be twisted for our convenience. Lying, stealing, pride, murder, homosexuality, adultery, fornication, (and the list could continue) are all sin, not because of narrow-minded people who want to impose their beliefs on others, but because GOD said so in His Word. Our lives MUST conform to God’s standard, and we MUST stop trying to justify our sin, because, in the end, God’s standard is all that will matter!
Romans 3:9-18 9. What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage? Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin. 10. As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; 11. there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. 12. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” 13. “Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The poison of vipers is on their lips.” 14. “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.” 15. “Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16. ruin and misery mark their ways, 17. and the way of peace they do not know.” 18. “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
Verse 23 also lets us know that absolutely everyone has sinned and has fallen short of the glory of God! But, why, how and when have we sinned?
Romans 5:12 12. Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—
The very first sin in the Garden of Eden resulted in sin being applied like a skin to every person who lived from that time until now! Not only that, but it has been made perfectly clear that there is a penalty for sin.
Romans 6:23a 23. For the wages of sin is death…
It sounds pretty hopeless, doesn’t it? Thankfully, our loving, compassionate God didn’t want it to remain that way!
Romans 5:6-8 6. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
God loved us so much that, even though we are born into sin, He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for us! Stop and think about that. It would be the same as you sending your innocent child to death row in order to die so that not just one, but ALL convicted murderers, rapists, molesters, addicts, thieves, cheaters…every last one of them could have the chance to go free! Would you do that? I doubt there’s enough love in the entire human race combined to make someone want to do that. So, why did God do it?
Because God is love! (1 John 4:8)
That’s pretty self-explanatory! God demonstrated that by offering His Son, Jesus, as the sacrifice for our sinful condition. I know it has been stated that the need for an animal or a person to die so that we can gain our freedom is so foreign to us today! The truth is, it doesn’t matter if we’re accustomed to the idea of blood sacrifice or not. That’s the way GOD ordained it – it’s HIS standard! The problem with the church today is that we are trying to pass things through our filter, and that just isn’t how it works! In interviews with Rob Bell, I heard him talk about “his” way of processing it, of reasoning it out. It’s all about what HE thinks it should be and how HE thinks it will turn out; however, our ways of doing things, and our ideas of what is right and fair don’t count!
Isaiah 55:8 8. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.
Sadly, though, Rob isn’t the only one who is on this bandwagon, which is why I’m not writing this as an open letter to Rob Bell. Rather, it is an urgent plea to the Church today!
There are more and more people who call themselves Christians, who are embracing the things of this world. They are trying to make God’s Word conform to their lusts and their lifestyles, instead of making their lusts flee and their lives conform to God’s Word. The simple truth is this:
There is no way to get to Heaven with sin in our lives, because sin separates us from God! There is no way to overcome sin without the blood of Jesus! There is no way to apply the blood without accepting Jesus as the Messiah and repenting from our sinful ways!
There’s nothing we can do to earn it! His sacrifice is a gift that can only be gained by faith, not by our works! Some modern “teachers” want to make us believe that we are able to do what we want, and, as long as we are good to each other, and lead lives that the world considers to be upstanding, we’re not going to have any problem getting into Heaven. Sorry, that’s just not true!
Ephesians 2:1-9 1. And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2. in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience — 3. among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5. even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ — by grace you have been saved — 6. and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7. so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9. not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
That passage shows that there is a difference between the world’s system and God’s! When we are saved, our lives must reflect that difference. It also shows that God is merciful and gracious. The thing we need to realize is that sending sinners to hell isn’t due to a lack of mercy, and it isn’t unfair! God’s mercy doesn’t come at the end! He has already given us mercy! It was given at the cross, through His Son, Jesus. All we have to do is accept it by accepting Jesus, then, live in the relationship that God wants to have with us! You see, it isn’t about God making a way for us to “get into Heaven.” It’s about a relationship that was broken by one man, Adam when he gave in to the temptation that originated with satan. Adam disobeyed the loving Father that created him, the very One who breathed the breath of life directly into him. Our sin is just as disobedient, and it still separates us from having that relationship with God!
I know this is getting pretty long, and I certainly appreciate you hanging in there to this point. Trust me – it could be much longer, because there is so much the Bible has to say that is being twisted by man in an attempt to appease the conscience. Let me try to wrap it up in the next short paragraph.
We need to return God’s Word to the place it should be – as the standard for everything we do. It’s not there to be twisted for our convenience. Lying, stealing, pride, murder, homosexuality, adultery, fornication, (and the list could continue) are all sin, not because of narrow-minded people who want to impose their beliefs on others, but because GOD said so in His Word. Our lives MUST conform to God’s standard, and we MUST stop trying to justify our sin, because, in the end, God’s standard is all that will matter!
Saturday, August 28, 2010
I Hate Roller Coasters...
I'm sure you've heard the phrase, "A roller coaster of emotions." Well, I hate roller coasters...especially the emotional kind!
I've never enjoyed riding roller coasters, even though friends have managed to talk me onto a few of them in my life. Maybe it's because I have a fear of heights, or a fear of falling (and the sudden stop at the bottom!) I've never found any pleasure in the anticipation and anxiety of climbing that first hill, or in the feeling you get in the pit of your stomach when you stare down the opposite side of that hill. No sir, roller coasters just aren't my thing. Turn the physical roller coaster into an emotional one, and it's even more miserable for me, but I have been on one this past week!
When we moved back to the farm, we came to be near Mom and Dad so we could be here to help them keep up these 147 acres. For a year and a half we have settled in and have enjoyed being back around family and friends. Then, I got a call that made me stop and reconsider.
I was offered a chance to be back on the air at the network where I worked before we moved back. It would have been a wonderful opportunity to be a part of the ministry, and would have given us a chance to be around the friends we made there. Of all the offers I have received over the years, this one really grabbed me and made me wrestle it like it was a Grizzly bear.
I fought it on one side and then the other! I could see us staying here and being perfectly happy, but I could also see us going back and still being happy. It wasn't one of those no-brainer decisions -- or was it? That was the problem. I could see so many benefits to each side that I almost think I over-analyzed it and made it more difficult than it really should have been. Yes, we wanted to do God's will, but sometimes His will isn't in the answer that seems to be the most logical. Well, to make a long story short, I wound up turning down the offer. On the surface, it seemed to be perfect and we almost felt like we had no other choice, at least for a short while. In the end, it all came down to answering the question of why we moved here in the first place. As soon as I cut through the emotion and got to the real heart of the matter, the answer was so clear! There was also an overwhelming peace!
I don't know what you're going through, but if you're on a roller coaster of emotion and you're struggling to make a decision, let me offer a suggestion. Get off the roller coaster! Emotions are good, but they can be so deceptive. Don't make a decision based on emotion, PRAY! That's the only way you can know that the answer isn't a "hit or miss" thing. Of course, a little bit of Godly counsel is a good thing, and it can provide confirmation of your answer. Just don't try to use it to give the answer, otherwise you'll end up with a bunch of "what ifs" when the emotions start rising once again! Hang in there, and if you need someone to agree with you in prayer, just send me an email.
I've never enjoyed riding roller coasters, even though friends have managed to talk me onto a few of them in my life. Maybe it's because I have a fear of heights, or a fear of falling (and the sudden stop at the bottom!) I've never found any pleasure in the anticipation and anxiety of climbing that first hill, or in the feeling you get in the pit of your stomach when you stare down the opposite side of that hill. No sir, roller coasters just aren't my thing. Turn the physical roller coaster into an emotional one, and it's even more miserable for me, but I have been on one this past week!
When we moved back to the farm, we came to be near Mom and Dad so we could be here to help them keep up these 147 acres. For a year and a half we have settled in and have enjoyed being back around family and friends. Then, I got a call that made me stop and reconsider.
I was offered a chance to be back on the air at the network where I worked before we moved back. It would have been a wonderful opportunity to be a part of the ministry, and would have given us a chance to be around the friends we made there. Of all the offers I have received over the years, this one really grabbed me and made me wrestle it like it was a Grizzly bear.
I fought it on one side and then the other! I could see us staying here and being perfectly happy, but I could also see us going back and still being happy. It wasn't one of those no-brainer decisions -- or was it? That was the problem. I could see so many benefits to each side that I almost think I over-analyzed it and made it more difficult than it really should have been. Yes, we wanted to do God's will, but sometimes His will isn't in the answer that seems to be the most logical. Well, to make a long story short, I wound up turning down the offer. On the surface, it seemed to be perfect and we almost felt like we had no other choice, at least for a short while. In the end, it all came down to answering the question of why we moved here in the first place. As soon as I cut through the emotion and got to the real heart of the matter, the answer was so clear! There was also an overwhelming peace!
I don't know what you're going through, but if you're on a roller coaster of emotion and you're struggling to make a decision, let me offer a suggestion. Get off the roller coaster! Emotions are good, but they can be so deceptive. Don't make a decision based on emotion, PRAY! That's the only way you can know that the answer isn't a "hit or miss" thing. Of course, a little bit of Godly counsel is a good thing, and it can provide confirmation of your answer. Just don't try to use it to give the answer, otherwise you'll end up with a bunch of "what ifs" when the emotions start rising once again! Hang in there, and if you need someone to agree with you in prayer, just send me an email.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
A Perfect Gift!
Well, I've recovered from an action-packed weekend! I love hanging out with family and friends, but there was something that happened on Sunday that capped it off in a royal way!
The weekend actually started last Thursday with Becky's oldest sister, Kathy, coming for an "end of summer break" visit. I have to say, it's nice to be able to work from home so I can maximize my time with company while they're here. We had a great time Thursday and Friday, and the fun was kicked into high gear on Saturday when more of her family came to spend the day with us. We had a great time talking and laughing, and the day just flew by. They headed home Saturday evening, and we spent a little bit of time relaxing and getting ready for the big day on Sunday!
I've posted about Damon, Maggie and the kids before so I won't go back into detail about our relationship with them. I'll just say that they are more family than friends, and they were going to dedicate baby number 6, Sidney-Kay, during the Sunday morning church service. We have been given the honor of being her godparents, so that made our being there even more special!
We got up early Sunday morning and headed to Houston anticipating a good time and a wonderful dedication ceremony...but were we ever surprised at how things turned out! I've probably seen hundreds of dedications during my lifetime, but I can honestly say that I have never seen anything like this! It was apparent early in the service that there would be no dedication ceremony! No bringing the family forward just before the message, no simple prayer spoken over the baby and family, no simple charge to the family and the church to raise the baby in the fear and admonition of Jesus! Instead, the entire service was given to sharing how God can use the gift of Sidney-Kay's life to share so much of Himself with us! It was beautiful!
During the message, the Pastor talked to each of the family members and asked them to use one word to describe what SK meant to them. Each one had a unique perspective of what God was revealing to them through her life. The Pastor would take that and expound on it before going to the next one. Before I go any further, I should probably explain just why this is so special.
Sidney-Kay was born on March 4th and was diagnosed with a mild form of Down Syndrome. Even though it's mild, she has still had her share of physical challenges over the last few months. Most recently, she was taken in for tests and the doctors found that she had a hole in her heart. If it didn't heal on its own then they would have to try to patch it through surgery. So many have been praying and believing that God will heal it so she won't have to go through the surgery, and she is scheduled to have a follow-up test soon to find out how it is progressing. Your prayers are very much appreciated! I know He is able to heal and I give Him praise for that!
Needless to say, she is a special baby and is truly a gift from God! Her dedication service was so awesome and I'm still blown away by how God has used a little baby to bless so many people.
After the service, we spent the rest of the afternoon hanging out with the family and had a relaxing day! It ended too soon, and I was so wrapped up in the service and the fellowship that I completely forgot to take any pictures. Oh, well -- they wouldn't have done it justice. A picture might be worth a thousand words, but no picture can compare to what God says through friends, family and the gift of a beautiful, perfectly designed baby!
The weekend actually started last Thursday with Becky's oldest sister, Kathy, coming for an "end of summer break" visit. I have to say, it's nice to be able to work from home so I can maximize my time with company while they're here. We had a great time Thursday and Friday, and the fun was kicked into high gear on Saturday when more of her family came to spend the day with us. We had a great time talking and laughing, and the day just flew by. They headed home Saturday evening, and we spent a little bit of time relaxing and getting ready for the big day on Sunday!
I've posted about Damon, Maggie and the kids before so I won't go back into detail about our relationship with them. I'll just say that they are more family than friends, and they were going to dedicate baby number 6, Sidney-Kay, during the Sunday morning church service. We have been given the honor of being her godparents, so that made our being there even more special!
We got up early Sunday morning and headed to Houston anticipating a good time and a wonderful dedication ceremony...but were we ever surprised at how things turned out! I've probably seen hundreds of dedications during my lifetime, but I can honestly say that I have never seen anything like this! It was apparent early in the service that there would be no dedication ceremony! No bringing the family forward just before the message, no simple prayer spoken over the baby and family, no simple charge to the family and the church to raise the baby in the fear and admonition of Jesus! Instead, the entire service was given to sharing how God can use the gift of Sidney-Kay's life to share so much of Himself with us! It was beautiful!
During the message, the Pastor talked to each of the family members and asked them to use one word to describe what SK meant to them. Each one had a unique perspective of what God was revealing to them through her life. The Pastor would take that and expound on it before going to the next one. Before I go any further, I should probably explain just why this is so special.
Sidney-Kay was born on March 4th and was diagnosed with a mild form of Down Syndrome. Even though it's mild, she has still had her share of physical challenges over the last few months. Most recently, she was taken in for tests and the doctors found that she had a hole in her heart. If it didn't heal on its own then they would have to try to patch it through surgery. So many have been praying and believing that God will heal it so she won't have to go through the surgery, and she is scheduled to have a follow-up test soon to find out how it is progressing. Your prayers are very much appreciated! I know He is able to heal and I give Him praise for that!
Needless to say, she is a special baby and is truly a gift from God! Her dedication service was so awesome and I'm still blown away by how God has used a little baby to bless so many people.
After the service, we spent the rest of the afternoon hanging out with the family and had a relaxing day! It ended too soon, and I was so wrapped up in the service and the fellowship that I completely forgot to take any pictures. Oh, well -- they wouldn't have done it justice. A picture might be worth a thousand words, but no picture can compare to what God says through friends, family and the gift of a beautiful, perfectly designed baby!
Thursday, July 29, 2010
If You Seek Him, Why?
I mentioned in the last post that we have been taking a deep look at what we've been taught in church all of our lives and examining it in the light of God's Word. We've been shocked more than once by what we've found.
It's sad, but often we're trained to believe that if the Pastor says it, then it must be correct. They're seminary graduates who spend time studying and they even use Scripture to back up their revelation, so it must be right! What if it wasn't? What if the verse or verses were used out of context? Do we know if the proper meaning was applied, or if was it used incorrectly? Was it "enhanced" in order to pump up the people and coax an emotional response, instead of allowing God's Word to penetrate the heart and bring about the life change that God desires? Let me ask you...do you know why you seek God? Is it for self, or is it for a relationship with Him?
You might be asking what those last 2 questions have to do with a Pastor taking verses out of context and hyping up messages. Believe it or not, the answer has a direct impact on whether or not you would even care. If we serve God selfishly, then we might need to have Scriptures taken out of context or "spun" a certain way in order to satisfy our desires. Let's face it, the lifestyle of some "Christians" today can only be justified by cutting and pasting the Bible to mean what they want it to mean. If we go to church just to get our blessing, then we probably need that hyped-up jive talk to pump us up so we feel great about ourselves. Then we can hit that emotional "high" that lets us know that we've really had a good service! If that's the case then we've missed the whole point!
God wants to bless us, but His primary concern isn't with our emotional bliss, or our monetary abundance! He wants our soul to prosper and that only comes through a right relationship with Him. That relationship is not based on what He can do for us. It's based on our desire to be close to Him. If you get married based on convenience or other selfish reasons, that marriage won't last long because there is no solid foundation. If, however, you get married because of the relationship you have with that other person, it will last because that relationship will grow stronger, even through the tough times. (And let me just say here that marriage is ONLY between a man and a woman. You can't argue with Romans 1 unless you completely ignore what it says...sorry.) So now, let me expand on the questions I asked earlier.
Why do you serve God? Is it because you don't want to go to hell, or is it because you truly love Him? Why do you seek Him? Do you seek Him for Who He Is, or for what He can do for you?
I'm going to let you think about those questions and I'm asking you to be honest in your answers. I'm not asking you to give those answers in the comments, either. Just take some time and examine your heart and your motives for serving God. If they are selfish, it's not too late to do something about it. If they are pure, then stand guard and don't back down.
I look forward to sharing more with you next time. Until then, be blessed!
It's sad, but often we're trained to believe that if the Pastor says it, then it must be correct. They're seminary graduates who spend time studying and they even use Scripture to back up their revelation, so it must be right! What if it wasn't? What if the verse or verses were used out of context? Do we know if the proper meaning was applied, or if was it used incorrectly? Was it "enhanced" in order to pump up the people and coax an emotional response, instead of allowing God's Word to penetrate the heart and bring about the life change that God desires? Let me ask you...do you know why you seek God? Is it for self, or is it for a relationship with Him?
You might be asking what those last 2 questions have to do with a Pastor taking verses out of context and hyping up messages. Believe it or not, the answer has a direct impact on whether or not you would even care. If we serve God selfishly, then we might need to have Scriptures taken out of context or "spun" a certain way in order to satisfy our desires. Let's face it, the lifestyle of some "Christians" today can only be justified by cutting and pasting the Bible to mean what they want it to mean. If we go to church just to get our blessing, then we probably need that hyped-up jive talk to pump us up so we feel great about ourselves. Then we can hit that emotional "high" that lets us know that we've really had a good service! If that's the case then we've missed the whole point!
God wants to bless us, but His primary concern isn't with our emotional bliss, or our monetary abundance! He wants our soul to prosper and that only comes through a right relationship with Him. That relationship is not based on what He can do for us. It's based on our desire to be close to Him. If you get married based on convenience or other selfish reasons, that marriage won't last long because there is no solid foundation. If, however, you get married because of the relationship you have with that other person, it will last because that relationship will grow stronger, even through the tough times. (And let me just say here that marriage is ONLY between a man and a woman. You can't argue with Romans 1 unless you completely ignore what it says...sorry.) So now, let me expand on the questions I asked earlier.
Why do you serve God? Is it because you don't want to go to hell, or is it because you truly love Him? Why do you seek Him? Do you seek Him for Who He Is, or for what He can do for you?
I'm going to let you think about those questions and I'm asking you to be honest in your answers. I'm not asking you to give those answers in the comments, either. Just take some time and examine your heart and your motives for serving God. If they are selfish, it's not too late to do something about it. If they are pure, then stand guard and don't back down.
I look forward to sharing more with you next time. Until then, be blessed!
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