I could get used to this!

So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. (Romans 14:12 NIV)

What did you do this weekend? How much time was devoted to God?

I had such a wonderful weekend and it just came to me why. I'm not being boastful or prideful. I'm not trying to say how great I am. I'm trying to point how great God is. I really should use this weekend as a framework for my life. I don't devote as much time as I should to Gods work. If you want to know the real truth, I had a great time while serving. Yes, you heard it, you can have fun while serving The Lord.

I ministered with my CMA chapter nearly all day Saturday, visited with my mother, visited and prayed with a biker in the hospital, shared the ministry of CMA at a Church on Sunday, and had dinner and officers meeting with my wonderful officers team. It's not necessarily what I did that got my attention, it's that I really felt the presence of the Holy Spirit along every step of the way. Here's a perfect example. Saturday we attended a HOG chapter pancake breakfast and ride. We randomly sat beside a couple and started a conversation. We shared our ministry, talked bikes, and did what we do as Christian Motorcyclist Association members, we love on bikers. Sunday we arrived at the church we were visiting, set up our information and in walks this couple. Yes, the exact same couple we met the day before. Unbeknownst to us, he was an elder at the church we were visiting. God brought us together. 

All through the weekend I felt I was where a God wanted me to be. I kind of like the feeling. I should do it more often instead of going where I want to go, doing what I want to do, I should follow Gods leading a lot more. 

Praise God he cares enough to guide and direct my life even though I fight and ignore him. Praise God for the blessings I receive when I serve. They are not my goal but they always happen. Praise God for a life lived in his service. Please Lord, help me to make service for you a regular not a rare occasion!

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!

Muscle

So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty. (Zechariah 4:6 NIV)

I'm not a strong person physically. I'm all of about 5'6" and not in particularly great shape. Now that basketball season is over and my coaching responsibilities are also over I've been talking about starting to workout again. I have plans to join our local community center and use the fitness room. I don't have any plans to get massively powerful or bulky. I just want to increase my fitness. I don't have any reason to become strong or powerful. Nothing I do in my daily routine makes it necessary to have a lot of muscle. Teaching is an exercise of mental agility not physical.

The Spirit of The Lord is better than any amount of power or might you could obtain. The more I study and fill myself with the Spirit of The Lord, the more my life improves. The battles with loss, sickness, financial distress, family relationships, and turmoil are won by the Spirit not through power and might. Life is more about the battles fought by the spirit than battles of muscle. I can't win those battles with out the wondeful spirit of The Lord.

Praise God for his gift in the Holy Spirit. Thank you for sending the spirit to guide me through the life of stress and turmoil. I praise you for winning the victories in my life!

Wild Horses!

You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. (Romans 8:9 NIV)

I was never really good at riding horses. I only did it a few times. Most of my experience is with tame, VERY domesticated horses. I believe regardless what I did, they would walk down the trail in the perfect path. It wasn't much of a challenge. Secretly I have wanted, just once, to ride a horse on the open range. It's the same freedom I get from riding a motorcycle on the open road. I love riding my Iron Horse out west. The wide open spaces of the west are my favorite places to ride. It gives me the feeling of living back in the day of  wagon trains, the Calvary, long off the land. I love adventure!

We are very much like the wild horses that wander this country. We are hard to tame and not very easy to control. Without the Spirit of God we are out of control and miss the greatest blessing of life. God has given us the Spirit to direct our lives much like the bridle and reigns of a horse. He gently tugs and pulls us one direction or another. We often fight it like a wild bucking bronco. But, he is patient and continues to try to tame us. The difference is when I yield to him and let him guide my life, the real adventure begins. It is then that we experience true freedom and a life field with wild blessings!

I praise God for his love and direction in my life. I beg forgiveness for the times I fight Him. I know his plan is more amazing than any plan I could come up with. I am so thankful he is patient with me even after 53 years of trying to direct my life. Praise God for his honor and grace!

Living In-Step

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. (Galatians 5:25 NIV)

I love watching a precision military march. The sound of every member of the unit marching 

In-step is powerful. I also love sharing time with people who are In-step with the Holy Spirit. I'm not an expert by any means, but being In-step with the Holy Spirit means listening and acting. 

Using the words "in step with the spirit" give the sense of movement and action. We need to live a life of action. We need to act on healing the sick, serving the poor, protecting the widows, and taking care of the orphans. I'm NOT talking about turning this over to some government program to do for us. I'm talking about US, as Christians, taking these causes and acting on them with our own hands and feet. You can't pass your calling to the government or your church. It's not good enough to give financial support. It isn't enough to pay your taxes to support welfare or health care. The poor, the lost, and the broken need to see our face. They need to see our hands and feet working for them without reward or judgment. 

Each of us is called into service by the Holy Spirit to serve. You don't have to do ALL these things, but you must do something. Too many of my brothers and sisters sit not he sidelines and don't step out to serve. Lord help us to serve each other in love. Help us to use our bodies as living testament to your love. Praise God for those who DO serve his kingdom.

Lying is popular!

 Corinthians 4

 ³ I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. ⁴ My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. 

How is your character? This is character counts week at school. I love the Character Counts program. Sometimes it seems like educators are the only ones teaching Character. Every day I see parents and other adults setting a terrible example of character. We found our a parent was having their child sneak them in the back door of the school to get in to athletic contests for free. What is that teaching their child.  The general feelings of society is "It's OK unless you get caught." I see it every day. Not just with students but more often with adults. 

I'm not perfect by any means. I have character flaws like everyone else. But, lying is not one of them. It is common place for America's work force to call in sick even if they aren't sick. It's acceptable to cheat on your taxes. How many marriages end because of a cheating spouse? Honesty is not revered as it once was. In athletics the popular term is  "gamesmanship", not cheating.  If you can get away with breaking the rules by some creative way, people look at you as innovative. I just look at it as cheating!

I don't see how people sleep at night with all the lying and cheating going on. Doesn't it bother their conscience? This is another example how we as Christians are changed. I believe the Holy Spirit is at work through our "Conscience". So many times I feel this inner voice telling me something is wrong. It IS an inner voice. It's the voice of the Lord dwelling within me. I wish I would listen to that voice more. I wish everyone would listen to that voice more. The sad part is Non-Christians don't have that inner voice. They don't have someone telling them what is right. No wonder their is so much dishonesty in this world. The further from Christ we get, the further we get from living an honest life. Is your conscience clear. Are you fearful about being caught or exposed? When we accept the Lord as ruler over our lives, we also give permission for him to convict us of our sins. It is supposed to be uncomfortable to sin. He wants it so uncomfortable that we are forced to change. Lord convict me!

Dear Lord, Forgive me for my dishonesty. Help me to listen to your spirit in my daily life. Guide me in what is right and keep me from evil. Provide me with a clear path so that my life might be pleasing to you. Amen!

Go!

Acts 8

 ²⁶ Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” ²⁷ So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian^[a] eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, ²⁸ and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet.²⁹ The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”

 ³⁰ Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.

 ³¹ “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

 ³² This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading:

   “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,
   and as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
   so he did not open his mouth.
³³ In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.
   Who can speak of his descendants?
   For his life was taken from the earth.”^[b]

 ³⁴ The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” ³⁵Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

 ³⁶ As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” ^{[37] [c] 38} And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. ³⁹ When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. ⁴⁰ Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.

I love this chapter of Acts. Philip is a great follower of Christ. Why? Because he listened to God and his messengers. He was open to the possibility of meeting someone who needs Christ. He was paying attention and seized on the opportunity. He was also ready. He knew exactly what the Ethiopian was reading. He know what it meant and easily explained it. He shared the message of what Christ had done and he won another convert. God wasn't done with him and whisked him away to reach more. He was busy for Christ!

How many opportunities have I had that have passed me by? How many times has God spoken to me to take action and I didn't? How prepared am I to share? 

We are told to Go. But, so few of us do. Where are we to go? Well, God has placed us where we are right now. He has sent us to our schools, work, communities, sporting events, recreations, festivals, and a multitude of other places. He has sent us and we need to keep our eyes and ears open to the guiding of the spirit. God does not rest. He has provided us opportunities. We just have to be ready and willing to share. We need to be like Philip. Pray for people to be placed in your life that need Jesus. Pray that you will recognize the need and then prepare to share. Don't just go in "cold turkey". You need to be preparing right now. You need to spend time in Gods word and study it with all  your heart. You need to be open to it's meaning in your own life. You need to realize the experiences God has given you. Develop YOUR STORY and then share it. WHen you are ready it will happen. When you are open to the leading of the Spirit, you will be amazed at where you go. 

Acting is better than listening!

Acts 2

 ¹ When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. ² Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³ They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. ⁴ All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues^[a] as the Spirit enabled them.


This summer when Stephanie and I were on vacation. We were in our camper and  it poured down rain. If you've never been in a heavy rain storm in a pop-up camper, it is loud.  The camper worked great and we stayed "High and Dry" (Thanks Time-Out Campers!) We also had issues with the Wind. It was just like the rain. It was LOUD! But, it would be even more amazing to have the sound of the rain or the sound of the wind WITHOUT THE RAIN OR WIND!


This magnificent day the God of the Universe sent a gift to his followers. He sent his spirit to live with us in our daily lives. Thus the completion of the Trinity - Father/Son/Holy Spirit.  We are so blessed to be given this Spirit of our Lord to guide us and speak to our hearts, minds, and souls. 


My problem, like many others, I don't always listen to the guiding of the Spirit. Even though God speaks to us like the voice of a violent wind or the pounding of a heavy rain, we are deaf to him. I wonder how much easier and fulfilling my life would be if I just listened to the guiding of the Holy Spirit. Sure, I pray. I even ask for guidance. But, saying you want guidance and accepting that guidance are two completely different things. I so often blame God when things don't go well, but many times it's my fault for not listening. It's my fault for not acting on the guidance of this great gift God has given. Please forgive me Lord!

Smash mouth Football

Acts 1 ⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

If God were a football coach he would play smash mouth football. What I call smash mouth football is about using your power to run over the opposing team. I think football is meant to be played in the trenches. I think all lineman should wear high top black shoes, all games should be played on real grass, and it shouldn't be illegal to hit someone hard. That is smash mouth football. That is pure football.

God sent us the Holy Spirit so we can witness using "smash mouth witnessing". (I think I have coined a new term). He gave us the spirit and his power so we could go through all the world and witness to his love and saving grace. He doesn't want us to use flowery language, he doesn't need us to be great orators, he doesn't need us to have a degree in theology. He just wants us to tell it like it is. He wants us to share what the love and saving grace of Jesus Christ has done in our lives. Not only does he want us to do that, he has given us the power to do it and be good at it. We don't need to have cute slogans or quaint sayings. We don't need to be fluent in "Christanese". We don't need to be ordained. We just need to be ourselves. Being ourselves with God's power backing us up, is more power than we could possibly ever need. Old fashion, smash mouth witnessing, is about being on the offensive. It's about looking for the opportunities and attacking with everything we've got. It's about throwing away all inhibitions and letting the spirit give the words to say and the actions to do.  People need to know God. They need to be saved by the power of Christ. They can't and won't do that unless we go! Go! Go! Go!

What if?

Psalm 124

 ¹If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say;

 ²If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us:

 ³Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us:

 ⁴Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul:

 ⁵Then the proud waters had gone over our soul.

 ⁶Blessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth.

 ⁷Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped.

 ⁸Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

Have you ever thought where you would be without the protection of the Lord. I can't even imagine. I can sight example on top of example how God has protected me and my family. People who do not believe in the Power of God, would call it luck or coincidence. I call it the protection of the Holy Spirit. What keeps you from going through an intersection at a time when someone blows through the stop sign? What causes you to follow one career path instead of another? What causes you to marry one person instead of another? What causes you to choose life instead of an abortion? Some people call it "Chance". As a follower of Jesus Christ, I believe the Holy Spirit guides my life. Nothing is by chance. My life is where it is right now because God has brought me here. God has the perfect plan for my life. God is in control. 

Praise God he has a plan for me, a plan to guide be through this life to the eternal life that awaits me. Thank You, Lord, for your protection. Thank You for your hand in my life. Help me to realize that even when things are going against me that all things work together for good. I know you Love me and are only want the best for my life. Praise God!

More advice!

Psalm 119

 ⁹ How can a young person stay on the path of purity?
   By living according to your word. 

I'm not done giving advice. Many of our recent graduates will be flying the nest in the next several months. Many will be traveling a distance from home to be on their own for the very first time in their lives. The curfews will be gone. The quizzing from Mom and Dad will be over. They will set their own schedule. They will have more freedoms than they've ever experienced in life. The path of purity will be full of dangers. 

My advice is to live according to the word of the Lord. God has provided all of us a great manual. The Bible is just as relevant today as any time in history, maybe  more.  It is especially relevant to the young people leaving the nest. God's word will give guidance with those tough decisions. The more and more you read and study the word, the more relevant it becomes in your life. The more you open up the Bible, the more you will be aware of the Holy Spirit guiding your life. If anything is true in my life it is my increasing love of the message God has sent us in the Bible. Open it, Read it, Study it, let it become apart of your life. 

Tool Time!

2 Corinthians 10 (The Message)

 ^3-6The world is unprincipled. It's dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn't fight fair. But we don't live or fight our battles that way—never have and never will. The tools of our trade aren't for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture. We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. 


Hey! Does everybody know what time it is?  -------------- TOOL TIME -- I love the television show Home Improvement. I love tools, working on things and Do-It-Yourself.  Tim Allen is hilarious.  I guess I like this show because I can relate.  I don't think I have ever done anything as crazy as putting a jet engine on a lawnmower. or building a mans kitchen, or a mans bathroom.  But,  I do understand  MORE POWER.  I love gadgets and gizmos. I think anything can be fixed with duct tape or tie-wraps. Well. almost anything.  I have done my share of not having the right tool for the job and improvising, only to end up in disaster.

I think Paul would have loved "Tool Time".  Go back and read this verse like Tim Taylor would read it.  It just makes me want to take a crowbar and start ripping things up. (Ok, it may be a man thing!).  But, don't you get fired up when you think about the daily fight we face with the "World".  We can't be shy, we have to attack or be attacked.  We need to use "More Power" or face destruction.  We have to use our God-tools. Now that is More Power!  We have to be willing to stand for what is right in Gods eyes, not our own. Using the word of God, we need to take political stands, defend the weak and the poor.  We need to be open to the leading of the spirit to take action against injustice. We need to pray for our enemies that they would know the Lord. We must realize we are in a fight and we must not back down.  We aren't to use just words or negotiations, (marketing or manipulation) to change this world.  We are to take action! Tell it like it is!  Don't accept anything but a world shaped in the likeness of Christ.  We need to Love, but we must not yield to the evil we face during our daily walk.

Read the verses again.  If it doesn't give you a sense of urgency and a sense of purpose, a sense of power. I don't know what will.  Argh! Argh! Argh! MORE POWER!

Lord, help us to use your tools to make a difference in this world.  Help us to take action, tear down barriers that get in the way of a life you designed.  We know. Lord, we are in a battle.  The battle belongs to you Lord, but we want to join the fight.  We need your power, your strength, and your purpose to stand up against this world.  Give me  a sledge hammer, help me rip the walls down that get in the way of this world turning to you. Help us make a difference! Amen!

With God we can achieve more.

2 Corinthians 6:11-13 (The Message)

"Dear, dear Corinthians, I can't tell you how much I long for you to enter this wide-open, spacious life. We didn't fence you in. The smallness you feel comes from within you. Your lives aren't small, but you're living them in a small way. I'm speaking as plainly as I can and with great affection. Open up your lives. Live openly and expansively!"

Monday officially start the athletic season for my high school teams.  Everyone gets a fresh start and there is always a great optimism and excitement. All the plans have been made and finally we get to start implementing that plan. Will we reach our full potential?

Every August after a month or more of rest and vacation, I share the same enthusiasm as the kids.  I have renewed my spirit and am ready for a great school year.  What would happen if I approached every day the same way?  After getting a good night sleep, (I have to confess this does not always happen), I should feel renewed and ready to achieve the potential God expects of me. Sadly, I do not always reach that potential. Who's to blame?  Certainly not God. It usually is my own doing.  I don't get the rest I should,  I don't renew my body, I don't renew my mind, and my attitude suffers. I usually live smaller than I am. In order to "Live Openly and Expansively", I need to take care of myself physically, mentally, and more importantly spiritually. God wants so much more for me and my sinfullness makes me so much less.

Lord, help me to reach the riches and the blessings you have in store for me each day.  May your spirit prompt me to prepare myself by reading your word, sharing time with you and taking care of myself. Please renew my spirit each night so I can be a servant for you in everything I do. Thank you Lord for the limitless possibilities if I remain in you and follow your plan.  Amen!

Cheerfully pleasing God

July 30, 2010

"Cheerfully pleasing God is the main thing, and that's what we aim to do, regardless of our conditions." 2 Cor. 5:9-10 (Message)

Since the beginning of the year I have been reading the new testament - The Message. I really like to read many different Bible translations/versions. I have found this one to be most enlightening.

Everything for God, Cheerfully? Are you kidding me? Don't get me wrong, I can't get enough of God. I study the bible and have a special prayer time with God every night. I read a devotional before leaving for work in the morning. I subscribe to Chuck Swindoll's Insight for Living Daily Devotional that I study during the middle of my day. I pray for people and situations throughout my day. I do all these things, not because I am this amazing christian. I do it because I realize how far I am from "cheerfully pleasing God, regardless of my conditions."

I am sure my daughters (all 3 of them) would tell you that I am classified as a "Grump". I don't really know how this came about in my life. I truly love life. I love my wife, my family, my grandkids, my work, the people at work, the kids at our school, and the community I live in. O really don't like to be thought of as a "Grump". I prefer to think of myself as "focused". But I would say being "focused" does sometimes get in the way of me cheerfully pleasing God. Even though God designed me, I am not satisfied with who I am. I want to change, but the change is slow. The funny thing, God is happy with who I am. God is happy with who we are but he is still trying to change me. As a matter of fact, I can't change on my own. I can only change through the power of Jesus Christ and the working of the Holy Spirit in my life. My family has always been patient with me and so much more. God is patient. In fact, he has forever. As long as I rely on him to change me and stay focused on him, I will get better. God knows I have a long way to go. I am truly thankful to have a God who is trying to change me, but loves me as I am. That is truly Amazing Grace!

Lord, please help me be a cheerful follower. Help me to show on the outside what amazing changes you are making on the inside. Help me to lighten up and trust you through all circumstances. Amen!