Baby Food!

Hebrews 5

New International Version (NIV)

^{12 .........} You need milk, not solid food! ¹³ Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. ¹⁴ But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

I love being "Gramps". Yep, I'm only 51 years old but I am proud of my title as "Gramps". I have 5 wonderful grandchildren who all identify me by this important title. I also love being a Gramps. If you're not a grandparent you can't understand. I love to spoil my g-kids. A good example is with my newest grandchild, Rian. She is 6 months old and not eating a lot of solid food. But, she has been exposed to the wonderful taste of ICE CREAM. My daughter is mad at me because she needs to slowly move to solid food from Babys milk. We need to keep it simple.

How true is that of or Faith. We also need to keep our faith simple as we grow into mature followers. We need to study God's word, develop our own faith grounded in prayer, study, and fellowship. Not until we mature do we need to "eat more solid food". We need to be cautious of avoiding sin and satans traps. We need to cautious about being exposed to unhealthy relationships. We need to take baby steps as God leads us. 

Lord, Thank You for your grace which is made perfect in you. Thank You for guiding my life and taking me from babys milk to solid food directly from you. Protect me from the evil one. Protect me from my own sinfullness. I love you and praise where you have brought me. In your precious Holy Name, Jesus, Amen!

My Joy is Complete Face-to-face NOT Facebook!

I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete. (2 John 1:12 NIV84) 

 It seems like such a new problem, but it's not. The tools might have changed from paper-and-ink to keyboard-and-screen, but people have not changed. The apostle Paul would have been a blogger, but he knew that his best ministry was done face to face. This holds true today more than ever before. Just as a true friend is not defined by Facebook, spreading the gospel doesn't mean writing a blog to a faceless crowd.
I love technology, blogs, Facebook, Twitter, and a multitude of other technology innovations. It is technology that got me more focused in my daily study as a follower of Christ. I love how many of my family and friends also share their daily spiritual thoughts. But, writing a blog, posting some verses on Facebook, or following an online Bible Study is not enough. We have to have "boots on the ground" and soldiers who will take their faith to the front lines. You can't just be a Sunday Christian. You can't just sit at home and expect to SHARE the greatest message man has ever known. Our Joy is only complete when we build face to face relationships. Our mission is only achieved when we talk and walk with others face to face, hand in hand, or shoulder to shoulder.

Go into all the world. See the face of God!

Happy Father's Day!

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!

Hell = No Rest!

Hebrews 4

The Message (MSG)

 ^1-3For as long, then, as that promise of resting in him pulls us on to God's goal for us, we need to be careful that we're not disqualified. We received the same promises as those people in the wilderness, but the promises didn't do them a bit of good because they didn't receive the promises with faith. If we believe, though, we'll experience that state of resting. But not if we don't have faith.

I know what Hell is going to be like. It's going to be worse than 75 hour work weeks, working 7 days a week. It's going to be worse than a mother not getting to sleep because of s sick child and then having to go to work all day. Hell is a place where there will be NO REST for the weary.

Those of you not in education, don't understand the need for summer vacation. Our profession is looked upon as being easy because we get our summers off. Of course they don't say things like "you deserve it" or "it makes up for those long hours during the school year". All they see is the free summer.

I am thankful I serve a God who values rest. He values it so much that upon the end of our life here on Earth, he promises an eternity filled with rest. I love the time of rest and rejuvenation a summer brings. I love getting up in the morning and easing into the day. I love having time to spend in his word and praying. He provides eternal rest, but he also provides rest of us right here and right now. All we have to do is turn to him.

Thank You Lord for the rest you provide. Thank You for promising eternal rest with you. I pray for those who do not know what real rest is. I pray they will discover real rest in you "If we believe, though, we'll experience that state of resting."

The 30 Day Challenge

1 John 5

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁰ Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son.


I really can't  understand why EVERYONE does not accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. It just amazes me, if you have heard the message how Christ died for you sin, you don't accept him. I'm not sure I've ever heard someone study the word of God and not be transformed by it. I'm not sure I've ever heard someone who has asked God to reveal himself, that he ignored that prayer. That's why giving your testimony to an unbeliever is so easy. Yet, we make it so hard. 


I'm not the greatest at sharing my faith and I know many people who aren't comfortable sharing. I see two things important when sharing your faith with someone that has none. 


First, if you haven't thought about how God has changed your life, take some time to do that. For me, I have so many "stories" how God has completely brought me through this life. My life is one great gift from God. I can tell how much I don't deserve it and how I have received blessing after blessing. Can you look back at your life after you accepted Christ and see how it has been changed? Just share that.


The second thing you should do is challenge them to an experiment. Challenge them to read the book of John in their Bible. But, even before they do that, they should pray this prayer. They should pray to God and tell him how unsure they are of him and his existence. They should Ask God to reveal himself. Ask him to come in to their life. They can admit they are not perfect, but they want to know if he is real. Really, they have nothing to lose. If God is not real, it's not going to make a difference. If GOD IS REAL, they will be transformed by his love, grace, and presence in their lives. It's a win / win for the unbeliever. 


If you share these two things with someone who doesn't believe and they try it, they WILL be amazed. Now your part is to pray without ceasing they accept the challenge. If they can take just that first step, God will be there. Tell them you would love to meet with them again after they have given God a chance for 30 days and then you both can look back to see what he has done. What a celebration that meeting could be!

Building a House

Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. (Hebrews 3:3, 4 NIV84)


Let me start by saying, I have never built a house. I know quite a few people who have. It seems to be pretty stressful. Our school has a "Building Trades" class that builds a house every year. It is quite an experience for these young men and a great trade for them to learn. Our Instructor is a great Christian man who teaches more than just building houses. As a matter of fact, the houses aren't nearly as important as they lessons he teaches.  He takes a group of young men, most of which aren't successful in any other traditional classes and gets them to build something great. The "Builder" is greater than the house. Every year they have an open house to show their handiwork. It is great to walk through the house and see all that they've done. It's nor really the house that is amazing. It's amazing to see what this group of young men can accomplish with the right leadership. (Our Building Trades Teacher has a blog. check it out at:


http://ghsbuildingtrades.blogspot.com/


Jesus is the master builder. He is constantly building and I am one of his project homes. He will never be satisfied until I am complete. He is patient to work with me, the raw material. He has the skill enough to complete the framework all the way to the trim and baseboards. The Lord Jesus Christ is the builder of all things. I am so honored to be graced with his love and sacrifice. He spares no expense in building this project. No debt is too much to get this house finished. When the final product is finally complete, the open house will be for eternity. A celebration with the master builder that will never end. Praise God for his workmanship. 

Old or Bold!

1 John 4

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁷ Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 

I am nearly 52 years old. Some days I feel older than others. When i get "crazy" busy, I often think, "I'm getting too old for this." Other days i feel like I'm just hitting my prime.  I went to Cedar Point a few weeks ago. I used to love roller coasters. But, my aging body, doesn't quite take them like it used to. After a day full of Roller Coasters, I certainly thought and my body reminded me, "I'm getting to old for this!" I have many of those same feelings with my Christian walk.

Sometimes I feel so ON-FIRE for Christ. I feel bold. I feel the Holy Spirit is so near and other days, so far away. I feel old and weary. 

God is consistent. He's the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. His Love endures forever. I'm the one who's not the same. If my Faith is like a roller coaster, it has nothing to do with God. My faith or lack of faith is my own, it's my own sinfulness. As I go through my every day life, I need to work to stay focused and bold for him. I need to pray. I need to study his word and I need to be bold in my witness for him. Focus! It's simple and hard at the same time!

Dear Lord, Help me to be consistently on fire about your grace and love. Help me to be bold for you in this world. Forgive me for my weakness. Forgive me for my "oldness". I Love you and am blessed by you and the grace you show me. Thank You Lord, Praise your Holy name!

Walk a mile in my shoes!

Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (Hebrews 2:18 NIV84)

The world would be a much better place if we would just "walk a mile in someone else's shoes". If we would just take a moment to understand another persons perspective we could solve a lot of problems in this country and this world. Instead, we have gridlock in congress. We have polarized conservative and liberal groups. We Tea Party and Occupy activists or Union vs Anti-Union. We have completely lost empathy and compassion for people we disagree with.

As Christians, we need to love the sinner and hate the sin. Just because we are against the sin of homosexuality doesn't mean we can hate gays. We need to LOVE them! We need to  serve them. We need to be Christ in their lives.  Why do we pick on this SIN as being unforgivable? Why do we act in ways to ridicule and ostracize these people? Maybe, just maybe, if we give unconditional love, ALL SINNERS will accept the saving Grace of Jesus Christ. Jesus didn't just serve the saved, he served everyone, including the sinner. He suffered for us, Sinners, and he gave his life for us SINNERS. Let's take that lesson and apply it today!

What are you going to be when you grow up?

Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears,we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:2 NIV84)

 School is out and graduation is scheduled for Friday evening. It's always this time of year we get nostalgic and look back.

When you we're young, what did you want to be?

Most boys wanted to be firemen or super heros. Little girls want to be ballerinas or a princess. Now as graduates, most of those dreams are just memories. It's too bad we lose those types of dreams. Reality is not nearly as fun as dreams.

So, graduates, what are you going to be?

 Over the next several weeks, people are going to ask what are your future plans. They are going to offer you advice and then offer you more advice. I envy you. Your whole future is before you. The sky is your only limit. Take your 18 years of life and seriously consider what you want to do. Don't look to the advice of others to tell you what you should do. Don't be limited with what you did at school. Search your heart. What are your desires? Better yet, search out your heavenly father. Ask his spirit to fill your heart and guide you throughout your life. It really isn't important what occupation you will perform throughout your life. The only important thing about your future is will you let God guide it? Put God out front, direct all your energy to him. Love him with all your heart, body, and spirit. Leave the occupation to him.

Good luck,although luck has nothing to do with it.

 What are you going to be?