Pride in Family!

Acts 21

 ⁴ We sought out the disciples there and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. ⁵ When it was time to leave, we left and continued on our way. All of them, including wives and children, accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to pray. ⁶ After saying goodbye to each other, we went aboard the ship, and they returned home.

I love my family. I loved watching them grow up and I love watching their families grow up. I am most proud of one thing............ they all know and have a relationship with the Lord AND they have passed that same love to their kids. Last week, my four year old granddaughter was asked an interesting question at her preschool. Every week her teacher asks the kids a question. They go around the circle and answer. They keep track of the answers on a tally sheet. The question of the week was, "Do you believe in God?" most kids answered yes. A few answered no. When it came around to my granddaughter, she affirmed confidently that she believed in God. But, she didn't stop there. She went on to ask, "How can you not believe in God? He made everything!" I couldn't be more proud of her and her wise words shared with her classmates. I share the exact same feelings. I just don't know how people can NOT believe in God. His pwer in our lives is so obvious. He is everywhere.

I am so proud of my daughters because there faith is such an important part of their lives, they have made it a point to share it with their kids. It is a part of their everyday life. In our society, that is becoming less and less normal.  I am more and more concerned that God is no longer the center of family life in America. We are so worried about offending people with our faith, we don't even make it a key part of our families. I always wanted my kids to chose for themselves. I have prayed they would not fall away, but grow closer and closer to God. Stephanie and I spent many hours involved at church. Not grudgingly but with joy. Our friends were at church. Their friends were at church. We never woke up dreading to go to church. They never expressed the desire to skip church. They loved it. Youth groups. plays, musicals, puppets, lock-ins, church camp, and more were just a big part of their lives. I am so lucky. My prayers have been answered. They have chosen and they choose to follow God.  


Thank You Lord for Kelley, Lindsae, and McKenzie. I am blessed to have them as my daughters. I am proud to know they follow you with all their hearts. Thank You for sending them in my life. I don't deserve them, but you gave them anyway. Praise God!

Scandal!

1 Corinthians 5

 ⁹ I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— ¹⁰ not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. ¹¹ But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister^[c] but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.

 ¹² What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? ¹³ God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.”^[d]

The modern church does not have the monopoly on scandal. The early church, specifically the church at Corinth, had it's share of scandal. This message from Paul really puts our churches on alert. We can not worry about our "Ministry" to the outside world of sinners, if we have scandal from within. Churches are not going to be perfect places. But, sometimes this is used as an excuse to accept sin from within. We must not allow sins of sexual immorality, greed, idolatry, slander, drunkenness, and other sins take over our churches. We must be diligent to deal with these sins upfront and with all candor and honesty. We can not accept immorality for the sake of members. We can not ignore the premise of the bible to be more popular. Churches must take a stand. We must draw the line in the sand to not accept sin in our midst. We can not even chance the appearance of endorsing sin. If we accept it from those who claim to be followers of Christ, if we accept it from those who are leaders, we will earn the label of hypocrite. The only respect we can possibly hope for is if we are true to the values of Christ. 



We walk a fine line between endorsing sin and accepting broken people who are in search of Christ. I'm not saying we should close our churches to outsiders. I am saying we must make sure that we are firm in our stand against sin and that we do not change our standards to make it appealing for people to attend our church.  


Example: Murder is a sin. Yet, we can accept the murderer. By accepting the sinner do we need to endorse murder as OK. NO, of course we don't. Yet, that is what we do for abortion, homosexuality, drunkenness, sexual immorality, and a multitude of other "controversial" sins. 

Planning for Pain!

Acts 20

 ²² “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. ²³ I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. ²⁴ However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

What a great scripture. Have you ever been led by the Holy Spirit in a way that was uncomfortable? Do you feel the Spirit predicting pain and hardship in your future? I have to admit, I have, and it's quite unsettling. The idea that I am going to be led into pain and suffering exposes my weak faith. Why would this God who loves me, put me intentionally in the middle of hardship? Is that Love? Am I expected to react as Paul? Can I stay focused on Christ through the pain, trial, and tribulation?

There have been times in my life when I have felt the guidance of God into the fiery pit. I wish I have the faith of Paul. Instead, my question, like most people, is why? Yet, immediately upon asking the question, I realize how crazy it is for me to question the creator of the universe. It's always at this point I plead for God to find a different way. "God are you sure there's not an easier path?" Again, how crazy is it to question the plan of GOD. His wisdom is infinite. He power is ultimate. My only remaining response is "God, your will be done." I go through this faithless cycle more often than I would like to admit. Sometimes I'm embarrassed by this show of weakness: Disbelief, Questioning, Pleading, relenting. Do you remember Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, just before his crucifixion?

Matthew 26 -- ³⁹ Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” .............⁴² He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”

Wow! Isn't it amazing that Jesus himself had the exact same thoughts I have had. WWJD? He would do the same thing I do. Our thoughts are not lack of faith. God understands. God has heard it many times before, even from his own Son. He hears your cry and only wants what's best for you. Find the courage to let God be in control. Do what Jesus did.  You will not be disappointed. 

Dear Lord, I do not choose the path of pain in my life. I am weak. But, I know that we grow closer through the pain. I don't choose it, but I accept it as long as you are with me. I know you will not forsake me. Praise God you are there. Thank You Lord. Your will be done in my life, not my own. Amen! 

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!

Occupy Wall Street: "Capitalism is not the problem."

Acts 19

 ²³ About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way. ²⁴ A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in a lot of business for the craftsmen there. ²⁵ He called them together, along with the workers in related trades, and said: “You know, my friends, that we receive a good income from this business. ²⁶ And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all. ²⁷ There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited; and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty.”


It's funny how things never change. Even after 2000 years, money is king. They say money is the root of all evil. It may not be the root of all evil, but it's close. Right now in America we have a movement called "Occupy Wall Street". As I'm sure most of you can tell, I'm a conservative at heart. But, I can certainly relate to some of the things coming out of "OWS". Our country bailed out big banks, we bailed out big business in the auto industry, we tried propping up businesses like Solyndra and the Federal Reserve runs the country. Why? Because greed and money have the same allure today as it did in the time of the early church. 


The problem in our country doesn't have anything to do with capitalism. The key to the problems in our country is centered around our rejection of Christ. A true Christian can't be greedy. A true Christian country takes care of it's poor and takes the blessings God has given to help others. Our Country was founded on Christian values. I still believe those values are present at the core. 


I believe the silent majority in this country, the ones without the power, are so busy living their daily lives, they don't get involved. They don't take the time to fight to keep our values, they are busy living them, raising their families, and taking care of their own piece of the world. I would have to put myself in that same category. I don't have time to "Occupy Wall Street" or protest with the Tea Party crowd. I'm busy with my daily life. Wether it's right or wrong, thats the way it is. I don't spend my time trying to make more money. I don't play the lottery, I don't gamble, I am satisfied with what I have. I am satisfied with my blessings. I am satisfied with my life. Greed doesn't have a hold in my life or the life of my grown family. Frankly, If everyone would just concentrate on living their daily lives for Christ and accepting the blessings they've been given we wouldn't have to worry about the values of our country. Turning to our Savior, Jesus Christ is the key. You can never be satisfied until you turn to him. Once you learn to rely on the KING of KINGS, money will no longer have  a grip on you. You will be so busy worshipping God you won't want to worship money!