Get'n after it!

So Isaac called for Jacob and blessed him. Then he commanded him: “Do not marry a Canaanite woman. Go at once to Paddan Aram, to the house of your mother’s father Bethuel. Take a wife for yourself there, from among the daughters of Laban, your mother’s brother. May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and increase your numbers until you become a community of peoples. (Genesis 28:1-3 NIV)

Have you ever seen God in your life? Have you ever been so amazed that you could attribute it to none other than the Lord himself? As I read the bible it is so refreshing to see an active God. Likewise, it is so wonderul to see God at work in MY life. I see answered prayer in ways that CANT be by chance. It's great to see proof of our active father throughout the world. I read an article recently about the proof of Gods existence by none other than a leading professor at MIT! I am refreshed by the preaching of one of my VERY young CMA brothers a few weeks ago. I could see the words of Jesus as they came  forth from his mouth. I am a part of the community mentioned in these verses. I love being a part of the body of Christ. I am blessed to feel his presence in my life and during my entire day. God is surrounding us. He wakes every morning, not sitting on the sidelines of this tiny planet, but getting after it and embedding himself in everything we do. 

Yes, God is here! Just as with Isaac and Jacob, God is in all things, not just the large or the small, he is in all things. He is real, he is relevant, and he is active. He is with us and he is going to come back, soon! I PRAISE his name and thank him for the wonderful life I am blessed with. Thank you Lord for not giving up on us, loving us, and sending your son for us. Praise God! 

I call it a God thing!

and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:24 NIV)

Sunday was another great day. This is the first Sunday in three weeks we've been at our own church to worship. There is nothing like being in your home church, especially when you love your church. Stephanie and I rode the motorcycle and wore our CMA colors. It must have been the Holy Spirit. While I was talking to our pastor, Stephanie went to the restroom and ran into a new CLCG attendee that just moved from South Carolina. They have been looking for a Christian motorcycle group to ride with. She noticed the leather vest and patch. Most people call that coincidence. I call it a God thing!

It's amazing how those things happen after you've given your life to Christ. The opportunities to share will never cease. I'm not perfect because of my faith. I'm not Holy or righteous on my own standing. It's only through Christ that I get to shed my sinfulness and be re-created in his image. Praise God!

Dear Heavenly Father, I praise you for this wonderful day. I praise you for this weekend. I am constantly amazed by your wonderful love. Continue to use me for your purposes. Bring people into my life that I might share your greatness and know you are God.  I love the person you are creating in me. I am growing each day into the holy and righteous person you would have me be. I'm not there yet, but I know I will get there with your power and might. Amen!

Ginormous!

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, (Psalm 8:3 NIV)

I'm not really sure "ginormous" is a word. But, Words can not describe the enormity of God. The psalmist tries. To consider God's fingers creating the heavens and placing all the billions of stars is incomprehensible. On a clear moonlit night its like we can touch the moon or reach the stars. God has done both. Then take it a step further, he has done these great things and yet he loves US! He desires US! He has created all these things for US! Dwell on it! The cells of our body, the atom, it's nucleus, its energy, the vastness of space, are all mysteries. But, the greatest of all mysteries, why he loves us? Why he longs for us? 

Praise God for the work of his hands, the delicate but powerful fingers that have the skill to create all things. I love you Lord and worship you! You are amazing and wonderful beyond all words!

OUR GREAT GOD!

1 Corinthians 12

 ⁴ There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. ⁵ There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. ⁶ There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

 ⁷ Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. ⁸ To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, ⁹ to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, ¹⁰ to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,^[a]and to still another the interpretation of tongues.^[b] 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines. 

What's your best? What is it that no one else can do like you? I'm watching IU Basketball. I am amazed at the skill level of those "kids" on the court. I am equally amazed at my pastor, Stuart Kruse, and his great ability to be able to deliver the Word of God. My wife is an amazing Special Education instructor. We all know doctors, lawyers, teachers, social workers, businessmen, moms and dads that are exceptionally gifted at what they do. It is the Spirit of God living within us that supplies our gifts. These verses emphasize over and over, these gifts come from one spirit, from one God, not a bunch of different Gods.

When I've read these verses in the past, I've always concentrated on the variety of gifts people have. But, what do all these gifts say about God. What kind of God has all of these GREAT attributes? We always look at the majesty of the Mountains, the beauty of a sunset, the vastness of the universe, to describe the awesomeness of God. We use the miracles of our daily lives to describe his power. What about the diversity he has created in us? The seemingly infinite gifts that God has granted, say so much more about my God than the gifts say about us.  

We are created in the image of God. His character and his image is reflected in the gifts we all have and so much more. My God is an awesome God. Think about that great pastor, counselor, teacher, lawyer, athlete, mom, dad, friend, co-worker, social worker, business owner, politician, nurse, doctor, soldier, fireman, policeman, scientist, and more. All of those GREATS together are just a hint at what God is. How can you not worship a great God like that?! He is God. He is Great! There is no other!

My God is GOD!

Psalm 135

 ¹⁵ The idols of the nations are silver and gold,
   made by human hands.
¹⁶ They have mouths, but cannot speak,
   eyes, but cannot see.
¹⁷ They have ears, but cannot hear,
   nor is there breath in their mouths.
¹⁸ Those who make them will be like them,
   and so will all who trust in them.

There is nothing like my God. We try so hard to make gods out of money, people, and stuff. They are all just reflections of ourselves. But, my God has no limits. He is not MADE, He IS! They say money talks, it doesn't. Does money see? Can money listen to you? Does it breath. My God sees the past, present, and future. My God speaks to me in a still small voice and the thunderous voice of a summer storm. My God, listens in times of praise and in times of trouble. My God was not made, he MADE me. My God doesn't get power from me. He gives me strength. MY God is GOD!

It is time to trust in JUST the Lord. There is only one God. He is my God. I trust him completely with every moment of my life. I Love him like nothing else in my life. I rejoice that he loves me and he cares about me like I'm the only person on Earth. Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise God he is so much more than me!

Chocolate works!

Psalm 102

New International Version (NIV)

 ¹ Hear my prayer, LORD;
   let my cry for help come to you.
² Do not hide your face from me
   when I am in distress.
Turn your ear to me;
   when I call, answer me quickly.

 ³ For my days vanish like smoke;
   my bones burn like glowing embers.
⁴ My heart is blighted and withered like grass;
   I forget to eat my food. ⁵ In my distress I groan aloud
   and am reduced to skin and bones. 
⁶ I am like a desert owl,
   like an owl among the ruins.
⁷ I lie awake; I have become
   like a bird alone on a roof.
⁸ All day long my enemies taunt me;
   those who rail against me use my name as a curse.
⁹ For I eat ashes as my food
   and mingle my drink with tears
¹⁰ because of your great wrath,
   for you have taken me up and thrown me aside.
¹¹ My days are like the evening shadow;
   I wither away like grass.

It seems like I'm always hungry. I have gained some weight over the last couple of years. I used to spend a lot of time running which helped keep my weight down. Now, I am so busy that I don't take the time to run or keep my weight down. When I'm stressed, I eat. Chocolate is the preferred stress relief food. 

I can't relate to forgetting to eat. I have lost my appetite because of a stressful situation but not to the point of forgetting to eat. My entire body is affected by stress. These verses are from a severely stressed person.

I don't handle stress very well on my own. If I try to do it on my own, it usually ends in disaster. I need to trust more in my Savior to get me through these stressful times. Stress is dangerous. Not only can it affect your eating habits, but it can affect everyone physically and mentally. You need to come up with some way to deal with your stress. Prayer works. Letting God speak to you through scriptures works. Diving into Christian service works. Confiding in a close dear friend works. Getting away works. Sleep works. Hobbies work. Sweat works. Chocolate works!

God guarantees stress will be a part of our lives here on Earth. He also guarantees he will help us through tough times. He provides several ways for us to deal with stress. They are gifts from him. He loves us and it pains him to see us suffer, especially when we do not rely on him.

Dear Lord, Help me to deal with the stress in my life. Help me to do positive things to relax and reduce the stressors of my day. Thank You Lord for your love thank you for your grace. I love you and worship your name. Amen!

My God is not like me!

Psalm 94 (New International Version)

⁹ Does he who fashioned the ear not hear?
   Does he who formed the eye not see? ¹⁰ Does he who disciplines nations not punish?
   Does he who teaches mankind lack knowledge? ¹¹ The LORD knows all human plans;
   he knows that they are futile.


Our minds are so limited. We think of God on such basic terms. God is so beyond our comprehension. Yet, we still think of him in terms of our humanness. God doesn't have ears. He doesn't need them. God does not need eyes, he sees all at all times, nothing is secret from him. He is the ultimate judge. He knows all. His thoughts are not like our thoughts. His dreams and plans are not my plans. God sent his son Jesus to this Earth so WE could relate better to him, not that he needed to relate better to us. He know us so much better than we know ourselves. He laughs at our limited view of life and our grand plans. He is not like me. He is God, I am not.

I am so glad I worship a God who is so much MORE than I am. I could not worship a small "Human" god. I worship the Creator of the universe. I worship a God that created the Grand Canyon, the depths of the oceans, and the heights of the Himalayas. I worship a God that has involved himself in my life by blessing me beyond my wildest dreams. I worship a God who doesn't have to listen to my prayers but does anyway. I worship a God who is with me every step of every day. He has sent his angels to help us. He wants to be with me for eternity. There is none other like him.  

Gods Green Thumb!

Psalm 92 (New International Version)

 ¹² The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,
   they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; ¹³ planted in the house of the LORD,
   they will flourish in the courts of our God. ¹⁴ They will still bear fruit in old age,
   they will stay fresh and green, ¹⁵ proclaiming, “The LORD is upright;
   he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.”


It's spring time and that means I need to work on sprucing up the outside of the house. It is a lot of work but Stephanie and I love to plant flowers. Every year we add something to the outside to improve the landscaping. But, I can't say either one of us has a "Green Thumb". As a matter of fact we have killed our share of plants. We have two plants that stand on either side of our Garage. We don't have any luck here at all. We have sent many a plant to it's premature death in these two spots. I'm about ready to give up. I can say we planted a Rose bush last year that grew at an amazing rate and survived the winter to continue growing. But, the rest of the flower beds have more weeds than flowers right now. Hopefully, we can get things looking nice over the Memorial Day weekend. If we get our mulch, purchase our flowers, the outside will look great. Now it just looks terrible.

God is the best at landscaping. I have traveled throughout this country and nothing I can do would ever come close to the great Beauty God has given us. He is an artist like none other. He is the same way with us. He is an artist when it comes to sculpting and molding us into the people he wants us to be. He knows when to prune. He knows when to fertilize and when to step back and just leave it alone. He knows when we need fed and when we need nourishment. He keeps us from being ravaged by beasts and pests. God is the master gardner.

We are the work of his hands. I praise you Lord for tending to my growth. Thank you for your patience and thank you for your tender care throughout my life. I hope to bloom for you. I hope to bear fruit for your kingdom. Thank You Lord. Amen!

We are not GOD!

Psalm 82 (New International Version, ©2011)

A psalm of Asaph. ¹ God presides in the great assembly;
   he renders judgment among the “gods”:
 ² “How long will you^[a] defend the unjust
   and show partiality to the wicked?^[b]
3 Defend the weak and the fatherless;
   uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.
⁴ Rescue the weak and the needy;
   deliver them from the hand of the wicked.
 ⁵ “The ‘gods’ know nothing, they understand nothing.
   They walk about in darkness; 
   all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
 ⁶ “I said, ‘You are “gods”; 
   you are all sons of the Most High.’
⁷ But you will die like mere mortals;
   you will fall like every other ruler.”
 ⁸ Rise up, O God, judge the earth,
   for all the nations are your inheritance.

SO many people misinterpret these verses. We are not GOD! If you learn anything about the Bible, you need to learn some of the rules of the printing. #1 UPPER CASE "G" is God. lower case "g" used in gods is not GOD. "gods" are nothing. They have no power. They are made by us. There is only ONE GOD! Nothing else can be said. God was not created. He was, and is, and is to come. Without God we will perish. All that we create will perish. God will never perish and he gives us the opportunity to live forever ONLY through him.

The gods or the idols we create are weak and needy. We/ They can do nothing in-and-of-themselves. Their illusion of Power is fleeting.

My God is the creator of the universe. God is the Light. He is the way. He is the truth. My God loves me when I don't deserve it. My God is GOD!

Grapes of God!

Psalm 80 (New International Version, ©2011)

 ⁸ You transplanted a vine from Egypt;
   you drove out the nations and planted it.
⁹ You cleared the ground for it,
   and it took root and filled the land.
¹⁰ The mountains were covered with its shade,
   the mighty cedars with its branches.
¹¹ Its branches reached as far as the Sea,^[c]
   its shoots as far as the River.^[d]

^{God is often thought of as a Shepherd. Rarely is he described as a Vineyard Farmer. Growing Grapes is not easy. It takes the perfect location for the vineyard. It takes a lot of patience to "Train" your grape vines to produce grapes. You have to plant, prune, and give constant attention to your vines. A corn farmer does not inspect every stalk of corn. a Wheat farmer does not tend to every grain. But the caretaker of a vineyard must inspect and tend to every single vine. Once he cares for them they still need to have an abundance of sunshine in order to grow.}

^{How appropriate for us to be thought of as grapes and God as the Farmer. We certainly need a lot of training. Care has to be given to where and when we are planted. God puts a lot of thought into the plan of our life. He tends to that life and prunes our branches when he needs to. He gently coaxes our growth and he supplies all the sunshine we could possibly need.}

^{God is involved in every aspect of our lives. No matter how hard we try to mess it up, no matter how hard we fight the pruning and the correction, God patiently tends to us. He molds us and fertilizes us to get the best fruit he can.} 

^{Thank You Lord for your love and care in my life. You are the great farmer. You know your vineyard. Your constant care and love helps us produce fruit for you. THe abundance of sunlight you bring to our lives helps us grow in ways we could never imagine. Thank You, Thank You Lord, Thank You!}

Split Personality!

Psalm 76 (New International Version, ©2011)

 ¹ God is renowned in Judah;
   in Israel his name is great. ² His tent is in Salem,
   his dwelling place in Zion. 


 I had a softball and baseball game tonight. It was cold. When I have more than one event going on, I have never figured out how to be in two places at once. It seems like I'm always needed where I'm not. Does anyone know that feeling?

God is Omnipresent. Omnipresence is the quality of being everywhere at the same time. This is such a strange concept for us. It is so hard to grasp how that happens. But, God is everywhere all the time and he chose to limit or ability to "Be" to just one place. Can you imagine if we could be in more than one place at a time. I don't know about you, but my life is complicated enough without adding this quality.

It is good to know that we have a God who not only wants to be with us, he IS with us all the time. He is with you, me, and everyone else at the same time. He is ever present. We don't have to put in a request for an appointment. We don't have to wait for our turn. We don't have to stand in line to be with him. He is here right now and he will be here always.

The knowledge that God is always with us is so comforting. It should bring peace to you in a very complicated and lonely world.

Thank You Lord, for being with me. Thank You for loving and caring enough about me to stand by my side through good times and bad. Thank You for being with me now and forever. Amen!

Sunrise / Sunset

Psalm 72 (New International Version, ©2011)

 ¹ Endow the king with your justice, O God,
   the royal son with your righteousness.
² May he judge your people in righteousness,
   your afflicted ones with justice.
 ³ May the mountains bring prosperity to the people,
   the hills the fruit of righteousness.
⁴ May he defend the afflicted among the people
   and save the children of the needy;
   may he crush the oppressor.
⁵ May he endure^[a] as long as the sun,
   as long as the moon, through all generations.
⁶ May he be like rain falling on a mown field,
   like showers watering the earth.
⁷ In his days may the righteous flourish
   and prosperity abound till the moon is no more.

What are the things in  your life that are constant? What are the things in your life that, no matter what happens, you can rely on them? I can give you plenty of examples of things that are not reliable. Every time I supervise one of my athletic events, I am SO nervous until my workers and officials show up. Why? Well, people aren't always reliable. I have owned a few motorcycles in my time and I can tell you, they are not reliable. I am sure you are making your own list.

The sun and the moon are reliable. The sunrise and sunset are so reliable, we know exactly when the sun comes up every day and when it will set every night.

This Psalm was written as the hope for King Solomon. But, it could have been the hopes we have for ourselves or our families. We want prosperity. We want justice. We want to flourish. But, just like Solomon, these things are fleeting. The only constant, the only thing reliable, even beyond the sun and the moon, is the Love of our Lord. We so often ignore this fact. We are in search of prosperity, power, justice, and the things of this earth. All of these things will pass away. The only constant in this universe is God! Search for him, seek him, know him and you can add another constant. You can add Eternal Life to your list of constants. That will be worth it!

Wanted: Good Fathers!

This is a reprint of a blog I wrote last year. I thought it was fitting to reprint it for Fathers Day. 

To all you fathers out their, I hope you had as great a day as I did!

Psalm 68 (New International Version, ©2011)

 ⁴ Sing to God, sing in praise of his name,
   extol him who rides on the clouds^[b];
   rejoice before him—his name is the LORD.
⁵ A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,
   is God in his holy dwelling. ⁶ God sets the lonely in families,^[c]
   he leads out the prisoners with singing;
   but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.


My Dad was a great man. I grew up in a "normal" home. We not only went to Church, but I witnessed first hand the transformation of my father from a business man to a Methodist Pastor. (A darn good one too!) I would give anything to have had more time with my Dad. Everyone can not say that about their Dad. As an educator and an administrator, I can tell you that the world is suffering for Fathers. The norm for our society  is getting to be families minus fathers. Even if a family does have a Father, many times they are weak and uninvolved.

The Old Testament mentions God, the Father, only 15 times. The New Testament speaks of God as Father 245 times. Once Jesus, God came down to be with us, we started thinking of him as Father. He is the ultimate Father. New Testament Fathers were the leaders of their households. He was the person family members went to for advice. He was the religious leader by the example he set.  This is also the perfect description of my Dad. I was lucky. God created Fathers to be all those things and more.

The most common factor of troubled kids at my school is..............an absent or weak father. Kids we expel, Kids that get into fights, kids with poor grades, kids who are absent and kids who just don't care about school, nearly all have weak or absent fathers. I was talking to a friend who does a lot of Prison Ministry, he finds the exact same thing when he visits those in jail.

It's no wonder we have so many people rejecting God. We Christians look to God the Father. When they hear about God the Father, they think of abuse, apathy, and someone who just doesn't care or left when things got tough.

Dear Lord, our Heavenly Father, help us to follow your example. Give us the tools to be a Father to the Fatherless. Help us to heal the broken families of this country and the world. We are weak Fathers to those who are lost. Give us your strength. Give us your Love so we can share with those who need us the most. We praise you. We Love you. We worship you....... Father! Amen!

Heaven's KOA!

Psalm 61 (New International Version, ©2011)

 ⁴ I long to dwell in your tent forever
   and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.^[b] 5 For you, God, have heard my vows;
   you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.

In the old testament, much of the nation of Israel lived out of tents. We have come a long way from living as desert wanderers, living out of tents, to the grand homes we live in today. But, if you remember even God lived in a tent! When God came to visit Moses and the Israelites, he went camping!

As the weather heads toward "camping weather", my excitement grows to go camping. I'm not really sure why I love camping so much. Camping is really a lot of work. Cooking over an open fire, dealing with unpredictable weather, and all sorts of critters, can be quite an adventure. A weekend camping trip in the rain can be miserable. But, I still love camping. I like to think more of the smells of clean air, the quite of the night, the sounds of the birds in the morning, and the slowness of the pace. Sleeping in a tent draws you closer to nature. You don't have the thick walls, the insulation and the isolation from what God has created. 

God might have thought the same thing. Maybe that's why he chose a tent when he visited the old testament believers. He wanted to be closer to his creation.  Just like he wants to be closer to us. He doesn't want anything to separate us from him. He doesn't want the walls and he hates the isolation. He even sent his son to destroy the sin that keeps us away from him. Now he has gone to prepare a place for us. He has prepared a mansion with many rooms. I'm sure some people would disagree, but when i get to heaven, I hope I get to sleep every night in a tent. I hope Heaven is a big KOA and I get to sit around a roaring campfire listening to Jesus. I long to dwell in God's tent forever. I long to slow down, to relax in his arms, and to worship him. What a glorious camping trip that will be! You better get your reservations in now!

You need a "TIME OUT!"

Psalm 46 (New International Version, ©2011)

 ¹ God is our refuge and strength,
   an ever-present help in trouble.
² Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
   and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
³ though its waters roar and foam
   and the mountains quake with their surging.^[c]
 4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
   the holy place where the Most High dwells.
⁵ God is within her, she will not fall;
   God will help her at break of day.
⁶ Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
   he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
 ⁷ The LORD Almighty is with us;
   the God of Jacob is our fortress.
 ⁸ Come and see what the LORD has done,
   the desolations he has brought on the earth.
⁹ He makes wars cease
   to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
   he burns the shields^[d] with fire. ¹⁰ He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
   I will be exalted among the nations,
   I will be exalted in the earth.”
 ¹¹ The LORD Almighty is with us;
   the God of Jacob is our fortress.

So much is going on in our world. When you read these verses, you can relate to all the turmoil. We have and always will have war and unrest in the middle east. The devastation of Earth quakes and floods seem to always be with us too. We have seen government after government topple!

If you watch the news or read the newspapers you can't avoid all the trouble. It can drive you to panic and great fear, if you let it. Even the stress of day-to-day living can really drive you to an early grave. Psalm 46:10 is one of the most comforting verses in the entire Bible. Yet, I wonder how many of us ever take time to actually be still. I remember, as a kid, adults telling me to "Be Still". Do parents still use "time out" chairs?

God is telling us to take a "time out". Through all the trouble of this world and our own daily "world" we just need to Be Still and know that God is God. That is the only real thing that matters. He is the God of Eternity and we do not need to fear any stress, any turmoil, or any disaster. God Loves us.

Take time to Be Still and enjoy the presence of God!

Look... Up in sky...It's a Bird...It's a plane.. No....It's Superman!

Psalm 45 (New International Version, ©2011)

 ¹ My heart is stirred by a noble theme
   as I recite my verses for the king;
   my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.
 ² You are the most excellent of men
   and your lips have been anointed with grace,
   since God has blessed you forever.
 ³ Gird your sword on your side, you mighty one;
   clothe yourself with splendor and majesty.
⁴ In your majesty ride forth victoriously
   in the cause of truth, humility and justice;
   let your right hand achieve awesome deeds. 
⁵ Let your sharp arrows pierce the hearts of the king’s enemies;
   let the nations fall beneath your feet.
⁶ Your throne, O God,^[c] will last for ever and ever;
   a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. 

I'm sure some of you remember the 1950's version of Superman. I loved that show. These verses from Psalm 45 give me the same feeling I got at the beginning of that show. Here is the opening:




Actually, these verses are about Jesus. Jesus is our Super Hero. He is faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound! Why don't I treat him more like the Super Hero he is? Many of us have more reverence for this fictional super hero than the Creator of the universe or his Son that was sent to save us from ourselves and the evil around us. We also hold in reverence other "Famous people" of this world and completely ignore our Savior. How can you be more famous than the Son of God. Who can match the honor and Grace of our Lord and Savior!

Lord, you are awesome. I have seen so many times where you have rescued me from evil. I am an example of the grace that comes straight from your lips. I have been protected by you piercing arrows. You ARE Truth, Humility, and Justice in this world. Please forgive me for not honoring you like I should. You are worthy of all our praise. You are worthy of all our worship. We Praise You Lord! Amen!

We gather together!

salm 106:47 (New International Version, ©2010)

⁴⁷ Save us, LORD our God,

and gather us from the nations,

that we may give thanks to your holy name

and glory in your praise.

I love the pledge of allegiance. I know some Christians don't like it because they only pledge their allegiance to Christ. Well, I'm not going to debate it, my life belongs to my savior. But he has blessed me to live in this great country and I pledge myself to everything it stands for. "One Nation under God"

Tomorrow we gather together as friends, family, and servants of the King. A lot of families can't stand to be together. Even though they grew up together, they have grown apart. But, for the most part, we can put aside our differences for one day and just enjoy being with each other. Thanksgiving does that for me. I just want to be with family. God wants us to do the same thing. He doesn't just want us to gather together as a family. God has a bigger plan than just "One Nation". He wants us ALL to be united. I'm not talking about One Nation worldwide. I'm talking about God being worshipped in every nation. I'm talking about All of us worshipping the God of the universe while maintaining the great diversity that makes us all unique. In order for that to happen, God has to save us. In order for us to be saved we need to ask and accept his rescue. We concentrate so much on what makes us different. Maybe if families across America can put aside their differences to gather on Thanksgiving, we can put aside our differences as Republicans and Democrats, or Christians and Muslims, or Communist Nations and Democratic Nations.

Tomorrow when you sit down and are about to pray before your Thanksgiving feast, pray that we can have peace between nations or that we can have peace within those nations. Pray that we can come together to worship the one God, the God of the universe, the God who sacrificed his son to save us. God wants to gather us from every nation into his kingdom. So should we!

And that's only the beginning!

1 John 3 (The Message)

 ^2-3But friends, that's exactly who we are: children of God. And that's only the beginning. Who knows how we'll end up! 

When I was a little kid, I was cute. I had that early 60's haircut. It was neatly parted on the side, trimmed nicely, no hairs touching the ears. This was always done at our regular trip to the local barber shop (Cecil's Barbershop). I was a well behaved puny little kid who was quiet, worked hard in school and obeyed his parents. (Those of you who know me, don't laugh! I can prove every statement. Just ask my Mom!) Somewhere along the line I changed.  Somewhere along the line, this cute little kid might have lied to his parents (once or twice); he got a little lazy at school; he was convinced to try cigarettes and a couple of other bad, unhealthy habits; he gave his life to the lord at Center Chapel United Methodist Church just outside of Muncie, Indiana, but continued to prove the fact we are all sinners. I'm not the same cute little kid. I never imagined that I would be the person I am today.  I started my life in such an innocent time. I grew up as our world began to change. I remember staying up all night and waiting patiently for the first man to walk on the moon. I watched the real Apollo 13 splash down in the Pacific. I grew up through the assassination of the Kennedy's and Martin Luther King. I grew up to see the start and end of the Vietnam War. I grew up in the "Age of Aquarius" and the development of the internet! Now look at me, I'm a Blogger!

Even though 50 years have slipped by and a lot of me has changed, I'm not done changing. With all of my "experience" you might think I would have a better idea who I'm going to be in another 20 years. I don't have a clue. I don't know what dumb mistakes I'm going to make. I don't know the people who will come into and out of my life. I don't know what jobs I will hold, or  what my family will look like. I don't even know if I will still be on this earth.  I think that's a part of the excitement of this life we've been blessed with. God knows where we've been, he knows who we are right now, and he knows exactly who we will become.  When I think back over my life, I am truly amazed at how God's plan has been revealed in my life.  So many times in my life I have worried about this "Major" problem or that major "Crisis". Yet, here I am. I started life  a Child of God, I'm a Child of God now, and in another 20 years, I will still be  a child of God. My Heavenly Father not only knows the road I'm about to travel on, he paved it. He has planned every inch of my path. He might put a couple of bumps in the road, but I can't wait to see my destination!  This verse sums it up when it comes to my life up to this point: "And that's only the beginning!"

Dear Lord, I love you and am excited about my life with you. I can see your hand in my life from 50 years ago to this very moment. I know I panic when I face trouble. But, I can look back now and see that you were there every step of the way. I trust you and your plan. I look forward to the excitement that I will face in the rest of my life. The only way I can face any of that is because of you, Lord. I praise your name and worship you! Amen!

You're Invited!

2 Peter 1 (The Message)

 ^3-4Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God. The best invitation we ever received! 

I love the feeling you get when you get a formal invitation. I have been invited to weddings, graduations, birthday parties, anniversary parties, and other special occasions. Every time I receive one of these "Personal" invitations, I get the same feeling of joy. Everyone likes the feeling of being special and important. I know people go to a lot of expense in creating and mailing formal invitations. A special list is made of all those to be invited.(including my name!) The invitations are personally addressed and sent to the invitees. You can't just send them out randomly. You have to think about who gets them and who doesn't. These formal documents are meticulous in their wording. They always use fancy print. They even spell out the day, date and year (October fourteenth, two thousand ten, at nine o'clock) If you were in a hurry and didn't care about the invitee, you wouldn't do this.

Think about the most important event you've ever been invited. Think about the grandest invitation you've received. There is nothing that can ever remotely compare to the invitation you have received from God. You are on the special guest list. God has personally addressed your invitation. The personal signature of God is on your invitation. You are not a random member of the guest list. God has thought about you since the beginning of time. He has written you meticulous instructions in how to get to the event. This wonderful invitation is an invitation to a Grand Mansion, made just for you. This invitation might have a start date and time but the event will last for eternity. 

You have  been invited to life eternal and you have also been invited to get to know the person who invited you. He longs for you to be with him. All you have to do is RSVP. You need to accept the invitation and you will receive the gift of eternal life. RSVP NOW!

Fingerpainting

Hebrews 6 (The Message)

 ^1-3So come on, let's leave the preschool fingerpainting exercises on Christ and get on with the grand work of art. Grow up in Christ. The basic foundational truths are in place: turning your back on "salvation by self-help" and turning in trust toward God; baptismal instructions; laying on of hands; resurrection of the dead; eternal judgment. God helping us, we'll stay true to all that. But there's so much more. Let's get on with it!

When are you going to grow up? Eventually you have to graduate and get out into the real world. Some people I know will never grow up. The best way to grow up is in Christ. Sometimes as a Christian we never get past the "New Christian" stage of our lives. We need to mature in our faith. Faith is like a work of art. My art is basic. No matter how hard I try, I CAN'T graduate from art school. My "Masterpiece" will always be stick figures or fingerpainting. I will never produce a Grand Work of Art. As a Christian I am also doomed to be stuck as a novice. I can't change or ad anything to the kingdom. I just don't have the skill. The difference is I know the Great Artist. He can teach me every stroke I need. He can take my unskilled hand and create a magnificent masterpiece. I can't do anything for the kingdom on my own. But, I can absolutely do all things through Christ. I can mature and I can ad to the kingdom. When I search for God and when I pursue his wisdom for my life, he guides me along that path. When I trust him he will make my life an amazing piece of Grand Art. Sure I might start out using crayons. But when i rely on Christ I will grow. I can't guarantee how fast, but I will grow. I will mature at the pace he wants. His judgement is perfect. All I have to do is grab the paintbrush and extend my hand. God will grab my hand and he will do the rest of the work. Just extend your hand! Trust him to do a great work in you! Then stand back and be amazed!

Lord you are amazing. I can see the works of your hand all around me. I can see it in nature and in my life. Please Lord take my hand and help me produce a masterpiece for you. Take me from immaturity to maturity in you. I can't do it on my own. But, I can do all things through you. Amen!