Monday, October 22, 2012

I'm set for life!

I got quite a bit done today. I ate breakfast with My wife and grandsughter, attended church, watched football, cut and edged the lawn, put down my fall fertilizer, made final exams for Algebra and Geometry, made 3 math videos for my algebra students, and blogged. I think thats a pretty full day for a "Day of rest"! I can't complain. I have been given a full life by the "One and only God of the Universe" and I love it. For my 52 years of life I can look back and clearly see he has given me all I need and much more. I have never been without. How can that be? I know so many people who have been without jobs, homes, family, and stability in their lives. I have never known that. Am I special? Certainly not, I am a chief sinner, like everyone else, or worse. But, God has chosen to bless me, because of his grace alone. I am, literally, set for life. Eternal Life. I praise God for everything, at all times, and in all situations. He is my rock, my fortress, my refuge, and strength. Thank you Lord! You didn't have to save me, but you did. WOW!


God, the one and only— I'll wait as long as he says. Everything I need comes from him, so why not? He's solid rock under my feet, breathing room for my soul, An impregnable castle: I'm set for life. (Psalm 62:1 MSG)

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Who's better?

If you're like me you are tired of political commercials. I cringe when I hear them! All these candidates are trying to convince me they are better than their opponent. I have complete faith in the American voter. We know NOTHING IS AS GOOD AS IT APPEARS! Both candidates in every race are hopelessly flawed. There is no perfect ideology that will solve our problems. No one is naive enough to believe the rhetoric. When this election is over, our massive federal, state, and local government will continue to move just like it does today. In order to change the course of such a massive object, we will have to face an emergency crisis. We're not there yet!

How much does that sound like our Christian faith. Most of us are happy to roll along, business as usual. We get comfortable and our massive amounts of wealth and luxury are huge barriers to our growth. So many times it takes a crisis to make us aware of our Heavenly Father. We won't change without turmoil. Why do we wonder when crisis hits? Don't we know God hates for us to be in pain, but he hates it worse when we are separated from him?

I hope our country makes some big changes before crisis hits. I hope YOU also turn to Christ before tragedy strikes. Gods ways are not our ways. Regardless who you vote for, there is only one right way. No one matches his power , strength, grace, and justice. Turn to him, not to country, party, or sinful man. Turn to him!


"I don't think the way you think. The way you work isn't the way I work." God's Decree. "For as the sky soars high above earth, so the way I work surpasses the way you work, and the way I think is beyond the way you think. Just as rain and snow descend from the skies and don't go back until they've watered the earth, Doing their work of making things grow and blossom, producing seed for farmers and food for the hungry, So will the words that come out of my mouth not come back empty-handed. They'll do the work I sent them to do, they'll complete the assignment I gave them. (Isaiah 55:8 MSG)

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Politics, yuck!

I learned a valuable lesson tonight. Our country is in serious trouble. I have decided WHO I'm voting for, but I am truly unhappy with politics in our country. We are losing our civility. We have completely lost the art of diplomacy, both at home and abroad. I have finally learned why foreigners laugh at us. We can't get along with each other at all and I'm losing hope that we can change. I have never seen a more outrageous display of disrespect from two, supposed leaders, in all my life.  I truly believe neither candidate is interested in us. They are more interested in the power, than the problems we face. They are more about division than Unity. When two candidates can't even stand on the same stage and act civil, how can we expect them to work together. 50% of this country will lose this election and the other half will win. Feelings are going to be hurt and vengeance will be the order for the next four years. I might not agree with Obama, but i also can't endorse the republican approach of the past four years. the pride and arrogance of the republicans has change them to obstructionists. The Democrats aren't any better. they have lied, cheated the middle class all the while acting like they advocate for us. They bailed out the rich and the wealthy and left us holding the bag. Walls were built on the debate stage tonight and in the past four years that can't be repaired. There is no hope and change. There is no coming together as one.

If there was ever a need for Jesus, it is Now!

I have a serious concern to bring up with you, my friends, using the authority of Jesus, our Master. I'll put it as urgently as I can: You must get along with each other. You must learn to be considerate of one another, cultivating a life in common. (1 Corinthians 1:10 MSG)

Sunday, October 14, 2012

The Bottom line!

In my life before education, I worked in the business world for 16 years. Everything was about the bottom-line. A business just can't run if it doesn't make money. It's not like the federal government than doesn't have to worry about profit and loss. Education is just like the business world. We have limited funding and have to live within our means. The big difference is in the profit. Although I don't like the idea that our kids are products, they do represent the profits of our efforts. We are profitable if our efforts produce citizens that contribute to the community. If the students we graduate can't produce in the changing world, we ALL will lose. Just like in the business world, as an employee, I better maintain some pretty high standards in the quality of my workmanship. If not, I should be fired. The debate is how to measure. Unlike many of my colleagues, I relish the opportunity to show off what I do. If someone has a better way, I want to learn it and make my school more "profitable". I welcome the challenge of overcoming standardized tests, working with kids that have no home support, and dealing with limited resources. I feel I'm up to the challenge. The bottom line: are we graduating responsible, productive citizens.

As a Christian the stakes are even higher. Am I a profitable Christian? Am I producing fruit for the kingdom of God? Am I doing everything I can to bring the lost to Christ? There will be judgement and those who do not bear fruit will be thrown into the fire. People will literally die if I don't do my job. The bottom line is simple, we need to save the world through Christ. I need to stop worrying more about the things of this world and more about his kingdom! We will never be profitable until all are saved.

 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? (Mark 8:36 KJV)