Just thinking...

Creativity

2010-04-21T14:21:00.002-05:00

I just finished a little, very little, landscape project. It is so neat to see it completed. As a matter of fact, I hadn't finished it until just a few minutes ago, but this morning at the first signs of light, I was out on the deck looking at it. It looked "very good," and I was pleased with it.

What is it about completing something that gives us satisfaction? Especially when it turns out well. There is a bit of creativity that God built into each one of us. When I was a kid in school, the teacher gave us an art project to do. I could picture in my head so clearly what I wanted it to turn out to be. But, when I got done with it I was so disappointed in the way it turned out. It didn't look anything like I pictured it. I found out then just how little creativity God did put in me.

But, we all have some. I had a devotional read to me the other day while on a hospital visit. It went something like this. "Find the channel of creativity within your soul. No one has been made without it. Be aware that someone you count on will choke it with indifference, despise it with rebellion, ignore it with foolishness or twist it with bitterness. But, know that Jesus stands ready to help any man or woman that who comes to him!" Don't put your hope in the men and women around you. Put your hope in Jesus! Think about it!

Where Have You Been?

2010-04-16T11:01:00.004-05:00

Wow! Has it been that long since I wrote on my blog? I guess it has. I've kind of had my mind occupied lately with a lot of things. Since I last wrote, I have been to Haiti and back and now I am seriously considering going back to Peru in a couple of months. Hopefully, somewhere in between I can squeeze in a much needed vacation. We have already put if off once when I went to Haiti.

So what's up with you since I last wrote? Beside going to Haiti, I have fought something in my lungs since we got back. I realized today that it has been six weeks and I am tired of it. Also, since Haiti, I have lost nearly 20 pounds, and that is a good thing. I have preached five sermons, taught at least a dozen Bible studies, been in probably half dozen 6:00 AM prayer times on Friday mornings and what seems like a couple hundred meetings. I am sure there weren't that many meetings, but it sure seems like it sometimes.

I am going to Grandparents Weekend at Taylor University on April 29th-May 1st, to spend the weekend with my first college granddaughter. Grandma and Grandpa Turner and Spickler are traveling together to make this weekend special for Ashley!

I have a 45 year class reunion coming up in June. Just found out today that friends from Florida are coming home that weekend to Winnebago. I have had fun renewing some old high school friendships on Facebook in recent weeks just since the announcement of the class reunion came out. I hope many of them will be able to make it back to Macomb at the end of June for the reunion.

I'm going to call it a day for this blog! Maybe more tomorrow, or next month, which ever works best. Have a great day, and don't stay away so long from here out!

Looking ahead!

2010-01-26T14:36:00.000-06:00

We're Off!

2010-01-04T14:22:00.003-06:00

In horse racing, the comentator calls when the gates open, "They're off!" It means the race begins. I'm serving notice today that at New Life Bible Church, "We're off!" The writer of Hebrews writes in Hebrews 12:1, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." The race we run in 2010 will be one that will change our lives forever, if we throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.

We just finished doing a spiritual inventory as we close out 2009 and begin 2010! In that inventory we all have found our weak points and our strong points. Let's begin to focus on the strong points (perseverance) and throw off the weak points (sin) that hinder our spiritual walk with Jesus!

Jesus is coming back soon! Maybe sooner than any of us give him credit for! Are you ready or are you dabbling around is sin you know you should have no part of? Throw if off and run the race. Think about it!

Last One For 2009!

2009-12-28T13:07:00.004-06:00

The way my writing skills have been lately, I had better start a couple of days early to write this last post for 2009! I noticed that when I signed on I hadn't written anything since December 10th. That's okay! Blogs are supposed to be about feelings for the day and I guess I just haven't felt anything since then. What is the shame of it all, my lack of feelings have come right during the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Christmas was great for us this year. Ashley was home from Ireland and we had a great Christmas eve celebration with most of the family. Jason and Marcee were in Canada this year at Macee's mom and dad's. We had met with them and the kids the Sunday before Christmas and got to spend time with them and the kids. The boys are an interesting pair of little boys, now ages 5 & 7, and Anna is growing like a little weed. She is six months or so, not exactly sure, but really at a cute age.

Things at the church have been up and down for a couple of years, but even then mostly up! God has truly blessed us and we have many of the old faithful and many new faces at the same time. I am so blessed by the kids that are a part of our congregation and the joys of watching them grow into the Sonshine jar offering, and then beyond.

So why am I not having the feelings I need to write about? I am not sure. It could be from getting older and all the things that go along with getting older. It could be that the world is in such a mess and people don't seem to think right anymore. It could be that ....

Anyhow, in my last post for 20009, I want to wish you all a happy New Year. My prayer is that 2010 is a blessed year for us all and that Jesus comes back again soon!

Wow, And Again I Say Wow!

2009-12-10T10:32:00.003-06:00

Paul told us to "Rejoice and again I say rejoice!" Today I am saying, "Wow, and again I say wow! Yesterday the entire area around us was shut down with a major snow storm. I got into the office for a few minutes yesterday afternoon, mostly to make sure everything (heat and water) were working right, and then regretted that I had come in at all. With the wind blowing like it was, I was fearful that I would not get out of our 600 long foot driveway that was drifting shut. At that time in the afternoon, the front and side doorways were drifted shut with 2 to 3 ft drifts.

When I came in today, I was glad to see that the driveway was plowed and open for traffic. I never thought of the doorways. As I came up the driveway and topped the hill into the parking lot, I was met with the most beautiful sight. Coty was at the front door with his snowblower and had all the entrys cleared and ready for the day. I hadn't even thought about them, but he was here taking care of the need. Wow! What a service to me, (I would have had to dig them out to get into the building.) and what a service to God. I truly appreciate what he did for all of us who will be in and out of the building today.

What can you do to serve God? Something as simple as bring your snowblower to clear the walk ways is a big deal for everyone. Think about it!

What To Do?

2009-12-08T09:07:00.004-06:00

I'm sitting here looking at my schedule for the next three weeks. It is about as full as I have ever let it get. That is not good. Too heavy of a schedule makes for too much stress. I am at a point in my life that I don't like stress. On top of a heavy schedule, it seems like there is always those who eagerly add to the load, not meaning anything bad by doing so. It leaves situations where more stress is added to the mix.

This week, to add to the load, we have a major snow storm coming in that could dump as much as 18 inches of snow on us. Thankfully, it is in the middle of the week and not at the end when we have three Christmas dinner/theater productions scheduled, plus dress rehersal on Thursday night. The forecast for the weekend is clear and cold.

Speaking of stress related issues (the snow storm), listen to the schedule of one of the boys in the play this weekend. Thursday night: Basketball game, dress rehersal for the dinner/theater production at church and madatory band concert at school. Friday night dinner/theater at the church. Saturday morning 10:00 AM basketball game, noon dinner/theater production, 4:00 PM basketball game, 6:00 PM dinner/theater production at the church. And I think I have a full schedule in life!

What is your weekly schedule like? Way too busy? I believe we all need to purposely slow things down. We need to not get so totally involved in life that we can't take time to love on God as He wants. Stress is one thing that will slow down our attitude of love toward each other and toward God in a big way! Think about it!

I Can't Do That!

2009-12-04T09:52:00.002-06:00

My memories take me back to when I was about 13 years old. I was on a farm with my uncle and he was backing a tractor into a machine shed to hook onto a wagon. Between my uncle on the tractor and the wagon that he wanted to hook onto, was a conveyor of some kind. It lay on the ground between them. Lee said to me, "Move that conveyor out of the way." I replied, "I can't do that!" He came back, "A big boy your size should be able to move that little thing," and he jumped down off the tractor and tossed it out of the way. His comment hurt my feelings, but when he wasn't looking, I reached down and sure enough I was able to move it.

Today, I was coming to work and there sat a car in the ditch with a young girl behind the wheel. I drove past her and then turned around and went to see if I could help. She had slid on the first snow of the season and barely missed a telephone box setting in the grass. I could see someone else had hit the same icy spot and drove right through the ditch and back onto the road. I kidded her a little bit and asked her why she was parked in the ditch. She didn't have much of a sense of humor.

I have recently hurt my back and yesterday was not a good day. I had no business trying to push her out of the ditch. But I suggested she straighten out her wheels and we would see if my help would be enough. Sure enough, as I was bent over the front of the car to push, she just backed it right out onto the road. My presence there meant nothing other than to give her the direction and encouragement to try. I am sure she could have done the same thing without me, but she didn't know she could. She thanked me and we both went our separate directions.

Ministry is much the same thing. It is helping people get their wheels straightened out (life) and then giving them an inspirational push to get out the pit or ditch that they are stuck in. Most of the time they could do it themselves if they just knew they could do it. What ditch are you stuck in? Do you need someone to give you a push? Think about it!

Rice Crispy Treats

2009-12-02T09:04:00.004-06:00

I don't like rice crispy treats. This morning when I came to work there were two rice crispy treats on the counter in the kitchen. I ate one, and then remembered that I don't like rice crispy treats. Immediately I was offended because someone would even buy rice crispy treats and leave them set on the the counter. I think I will take my family and leave this church. I am sure the one down the road doesn't like rice crispy treats either.

By now, you must think I am out of my mind. But the story (it isn't true--I do like rice crispy treats) is as absurd as the excuses I've been getting lately for people not coming to church. "So and so didn't speak to me!" "I don't like the flowers on the pulpit." "No one paid enough attention to my ongoing problems!" "I'm just over worked and burned out. The next church I go to won't let me work so hard!" On and on they go. The bigger the church gets the more excuses I hear from people looking for the perfect church.

Jesus said in Matthew 24:10-14, "At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people, because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." In the KJV it says, "Many will become offended and will turn away from the faith."

As we enter into the last days before Christ comes again, I pray for all who are trying to decide if the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. Matthew 24 makes it very clear that many will be deceived in these days. If you are unhappy where you are going to church, look very very deep within you and make sure your reason for leaving is more sound than rice crispy treats. Think about it!

Therapy-oooooooohhhhhhh!

2009-12-01T14:58:00.002-06:00

Today I started therapy on my back. It is pretty messed up. The Therapist tells me the muscles are stretched so tight that it is a wonder I am able to walk. When my back goes out, like it did a couple of weeks ago, I can't walk without someone holding me up. Anyhow, this therapy thing is supposed to loosen the tightness and make things all better for me. After an hour of stretching this and that, I wondered if my Therapist knows what she is talking about. I came close to crawling to the car. Pastor Tim said I looked like I had been run over with a steam roller when I walked in the office door.

I have noticed this before, and now notice it again. Physical pain and spiritual pain work about the same way. They come from something being messed up within us. I could just live with this as I have for several years, or I can trust the Doctor and the Therapist for what they say and begin to do something about the physical side of my pain.

People come into our offices all the time with spiritual pain. There are certain things they can do to get rid of that pain. They have to trust me as a Pastor to know what I am talking about. Far too often, they don't. They want a quick fix. Make me well but don't put me through any exercises that I have to do because I won't do them. Read my Bible? Maybe tomorrow, but tomorrow never comes. Pray? Okay. "Lord, I need rent money!" or more than likely "Lord, why haven't you given me the rent money?" Serve at church? Are you nuts? I barely come to church because I have so much going on.

If I missed my month of appointments with the Therapist and then blamed her for a lack of results, she would laugh, I'm sure. She would laugh at my stupidity! Everyone wants a quick fix. I'm told quick fixes can be bought on about any street corner- they are called drugs. If you want a life changing fix, then you have to do your excersizes and your stretching and your time at the where it is all happening-the church! Think about it!

To Shop or not to shop?

2009-11-27T08:05:00.002-06:00

I got up early this morning and went over to the church for our men's Bible study. But, there was no one there. Everyone either blew it off or they canceled it without telling me. Or, they told me and I forgot--that's been known to happen! Either way, I got some necessary work done today that needed to be done before noon and I am pleased with that.

Today is supposed to be the biggest shopping day of the year, a day known as "black Friday." It almost sounds ominous if you don't know what it means. But, I don't think I am going to show up for "black Friday" either. Life in the realm of shopping will just have to go on without my participation.

We had a great Thanksgiving day yesterday with most of the family around. We ate too much, but had a lot of fun doing it. I have several things around the house that I need to get done today--eat more turkey, take a nap, spend some time reading my Bible, catch up with a book that I have been reading all year, etc. Nothing strenuous. Just a day to relax and catch up.

God bless you all and my prayer for you is to have a great day.

Ouch! My back, my knee, my foot!

2009-11-17T11:08:00.003-06:00

Okay! Getting old isn't for sissies. I will admit that. Friday morning I threw my back out at church again. I stood up on a chair and fixed a sign that had fallen down by one corner. When I got down off the chair, my back went out. This isn't the first time, but I sure hope it is the last time. I have been to the doctor (back) Friday morning, (back)Saturday morning, in the emergency room on (back)Sunday and back to the doctor(knee) today. He has scheduled me to see a (back) specialist tomorrow and I have an appointment with the (foot) doctor on Thursday. Something is really wrong with this picture!

One doctor doesn't put me on any medication. The next puts me on three different kinds of medication and the one today took me off two of the three. He didn't like the fact that I have slept 40 of the last 48 hours. Does sound like something might be a little amiss!

I truly think that they are beating all around the proverbial bush! Hopefully the specialist tomorrow will get to the source of the problem. Anyhow, pray for me as I face the days ahead. This has not been pleasant for me, althought Glenda has said she kind of likes me sleeping all the time! I suspicion that she just gets more time to use the remote on the TV and doesn't want to give it up!!

Dumb Fish!

2009-11-12T08:41:00.003-06:00

Glenda and I went fishing the other day. We live on a lake and it is real easy to walk out our back door and down to the lake. I had bought some worms just in case there was another day or two of great weather before winter sets in. The day we went fishing was absolutely beautiful.

We sat beside the lake and Glenda fished and I drowned worms. We were both using the same bait and in the same location and dealing with the same weather conditions. She was catching one fish after another and I wasn't even getting a nibble. It really didn't make any difference to me because the weather was so incredible and the company even better, that I could have sat there for quite some time.

After a long while, Glenda let the secret out of the bag. After she had caught her tenth or so fish, half of them swallowing the hook, she said in exasperation, "Dumb fish!" I looked at her in amazement that she would say such a thing and then came up with this answer. I said, "No wonder I am not catching anything. I've been fishing for the smart ones all along." Changing my strategy to begin to fish for the dumb ones didn't help a bit. I got out fished that day by a woman!

That's okay. She is a great woman and a gift from God for me. She deserves her moments of glory, even if she is catching "dumb fish!"

I'm Working Here!

2009-11-11T08:50:00.002-06:00

For the last couple of nights I got some bad news just about the time I was getting ready for bed. I hate when that happens because I then toss and turn all night and get up in the morning feeling like I was run over by a steam roller.

Last night, I went to bed and was sleeping like a baby when all of a sudden I herd the chirp of another smoke detector( my carbon monoxide detector did the same thing less than a month ago). It got real persistent real quick and I got up to shut it off. Of course it wasn't easy to get to, nor was it any easier to deal with. I had to stand on a chair, climb up on a buffet, dismantle the detector to get it down from the wall, and then figure out in the dark how to unplug the connection from the back. All this at 2:00 AM. After I got it unplugged and down, it chirped again. I took the battery out of it and it chirped again. Finally, I took it to the garage, set it on a work bench and shut the door. By that time I was pretty much awake.

I went to the computer and checked out my Facebook account. I found one of the young men in the church on line, asked him what he was doing up at 2:00 AM and waited for a response. Here comes the response that every pastor lives for. He said, "I'm working on my sermon for youth group and having a hard time finding the verses I want to use." We worked together for about a half hour and I helped him chase down what he was looking for. What a neat way to spend quality time with a young man in your church at 2:00 AM in the morning. Think about it!

Still Thinking About The Glory Of God!

2009-11-10T14:22:00.003-06:00

Yesterday I wrote about what it means to be in the glory of God. I have been thinking about that for two days now. This morning, Glenda and I left early for a doctors appointment in Chicago at Northwestern Hospital. It was a check up thing for her and everything is going well.

While I was waiting for her, I began to think about God's glory. I then remembered a paper I wrote about God's glory in Bible college. Jesus speaks a lot about glorifying the Father in the book of John. In my paper, I remember that Jesus sent glory to God from his actions and then received glory back from God in return. God is in the business to bless his children, members of His eternal family. We show our favor (done through obedience, love and devotion) toward Him and He returns it back to us.

Someone recently told me that we don't have to work at anything when it comes to God. He loves us just the way we are. Ephesians 2:10 says, "We are created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God has prepared for us in advance." It is by doing the work God sets before us that we glorify Him. What did you do lately to glorify God? Think about it!

Glory In His Holy Name

2009-11-09T08:59:00.004-06:00

Yesterday, at church, Pastor Tim asked the question, "What does it mean to glory in His Holy Name?" I sat there and listened to the question and thought as several others answered the question around me. I have spent the last 24 hours thinking about this and thought I would write about it today.

First of all, we are in His holy name when we ask Jesus to be our Lord and Savior. It is at that point that we join the family of God. Just as Glenda Westbrook took on my last name when she married me, we take on the name of Jesus Christ and become a part of the family of the Most High God!

Next, let's look at what "glory" means. The "glory of God" is His magnificance, His abundance, His righteousness, His justice and His reward. As Christians, we are invited by Him to come into His glory or His favor in our everyday living. We struggle with this because we are now living in an inperfect world, with Satan doing all he can do to keep us from experiencing God's true glory. We know in God's kingdom, there will be no more death, no more hurt and pain, no more sorrow, no more inperfection at all. We will live in perfect peace and perfect love because of the eternal reward that we have received. Today, we see glimpses of what God intends for His kingdom as we receive His glory. As we receive His favor at particular moments in our life, we recognize them as moments of glory. We know those moments will never end in His kingdom once Jesus comes again.

Live to please the Lord. It opens doors for tremendous blessings in our lives and for us to live in the glory of the Lord. Think about it!

Ughghghghgh!

2009-11-05T10:24:00.001-06:00

I opened a file yesterday morning and it bit me! It had a virus in it and took out my computer. We have been working for two days now trying to clean it up with an anti-virus program. Right now I am working on Glenda's computer and it is awkward. At least I can get connected to the world again.

I do not like being out of touch. Not being on the internet has about driven me crazy. I found myself sitting in my desk chair watching the little file folder pictures going under a magnifying glass one by one. This anti-virus program has run for nearly 20 hours now and found a dozen or more high rick or severe viruses. I don't know how long it will be before we get my connection reestablished.

All this makes me wonder how many people that I deal with everyday are not connected with God. There are all sorts of sins in thier lives that mess everything up. They need to run a virus scan on their living. The best one that I can recomend is Jesus! He cleans everything up and get's us connected with God again quick. Been feeling a little sluggish lately. Having a hard time getting on-line and connecting with God. Go to Jesus! He will fix your problems! Think about it!

I'm Just Burned Out!

2009-10-29T09:12:00.007-05:00

"I'm just burned out!" is a phrase I hear way too often. I have felt it myself. What does it really mean? I'm tired. I'm bummed. I'm not getting my way. I'm bored. I'm not committed. I'm not in agreement. I don't know, but it seems to me the list could go on and on.

What happens after someone tells us that "I'm just burned out!" What that means, most generally, in big flaming bright lights is "I'm leaving the church." Yes, "I'm just burned out!" is code language for "I'm leaving the church." In almost every case that I have been told this, leaving the church comes next.

I believe that Jesus talked about being 'burned out' in Matthew 24. In vs 8, he says, "All these are the beginning of birth pains." He has already stated certain things that will happen in the world around us such as wars, earthquakes and famine. After saying the birth pains verse, he goes on to say in vs 10, "At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other." In vs 12 he says, "Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold," and in vs 13 he says, "but he who stands firm to the end will be saved." Paul writes in II Thessalonians 2:3, "Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed...". The KJV of this same text says, "that day will not come until there is a falling away first."

So what do you do when you get burned out? Leaving the church isn't the answer. I suggest that you get on your knees and have a real heart to heart talk with God Almighty. Most of being "burned out" does not come from the outside, but the inside (remember Paul calls it rebellion). Ask God to show you your heart, the very inside of you. Ask God what to do to get past the "burned out" (rebellion) feeling. Read Revelation 2 & 3 and notice how many times Jesus says, "To him who overcomes, I will...." A time is coming when we will say, "I am just burned out!" That can be good. John the Baptist says in Matthew 3:11, "He (Jesus) will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." We are at a time when we all need to get "burned out" in the right way. Let's ask God to burn the bad stuff out of us and make more room for the good stuff. Let's makes more room for the Holy Spirit to live within us! Think about it!

Rain, Rain, Go Away

2009-10-27T10:57:00.003-05:00

We have been having way too much rain in this part of the country for this time of the year. Rain is supposed to be helpful and not harmful. But, it has gotten to the point that it is making a big difference for the farmers trying to get their crops in. (I mentioned that yesterday!)

On the weather forcast this morning, they said the sun is coming out at 10:00 AM and the fog, created by the temperature and the moisture in the air, would lift at that time. I had a dentist appointment this morning at 9:00 AM and it was just 10:00 AM when I came walking out of the building to my car. The fog was still here.

By the time I drove a few blocks, I noticed the sun was out. Within a mile the fog was actually lifting out of the fields. I have always thought it burns off with the sunlight, but his fog was rising into the air and disappearing from sight. By the time I drove the three miles to the church, the fog was gone. Right now it is beautiful outside.

We are supposed to have a little more rain tonight. Then two days of sunny weather and then on Friday we are forecast for heavy rain. Like we need anymore! Rain, rain, go away.

Blogging

2009-10-26T11:12:00.003-05:00

Blogging is simply sharing what is on your mind at the moment. Sometimes it might have some significance and other times it might be ranting or raving or something insignificant. For the last week I have not blogged anything, and I wonder if that means I haven't had anything on my mind?

Every morning I have gone to my blog site, sat there for a few moments and decided I had nothing important to share. That doesn't mean I haven't had some things on my mind. I could go on about the inconsideration of some people. I could write about all the red lights I hit on my way to a hospital visit this morning. I could could complain about worms on the parking lot. (That doesn't sound very interesting but did you know that worms get on the parking lot when it rains. We have had worms on our parking lot for most of the month of October because it has rained almost every day in October. Worms do not belong on our parking lot, since they belong in the dirt. But since worms are on our parking lot and not in the dirt, the farmers can't get in the dirt either and the crops aren't getting harvested like they are supposed to. Now do you see why worms on our parking lot bother me? Worms on the parking lot are just one more thing working against a stable economy and food on our tables!) But I am not going to say anything about these subjects.

So, since I don't have anything to say again this morning, I am simply going to sign off and check my e-mail. Sorry that I can't share anything enlightening with you today.

Forty-One Years

2009-10-20T09:26:00.003-05:00

Yesterday was Glenda and my forty-first wedding anniversary. It was a glorious day for the two of us. My aunt's funeral was yesterday, about two hours drive time away. It was at 10:00 AM. I left the house at 6:30 AM, went to the office for a few minutes and then picked Mom up at 7:30. It was nearly 4:30 by the time I got back home for the day. Glenda had to work last night. She got home about 9:30 PM. All total, we saw each other for less than an hour for the entire day.

For those who don't know, I met Glenda while I was on leave in the Army. I can't say it was love at first site, but two days later we were talking about getting married. My problem was I didn't know where I was going. "Overseas somewhere and with a summer issue of clothing, probably Viet Nam!" is what everyone told me. I was smart enough to know that I wasn't going to marry a woman I had just met at a breakfast picnic and then leave her to go to war! We both agreed that if what we had was love, it would wait a year until I got home.

Five days before I was supposed to report to Oakland Army Base to ship out overseas, I met a Staff sergent that I had not met before. I asked him if he knew where APO 96331 was? "Fort Buckner, Okinawa. Are you married," he asked? "No! Why?" I asked back. "Because if you were, you could take your wife along with you and she could live there while you do your tour of duty." I thanked him for the information and went to Glenda and told her we were getting married before I left. She called her folks and told them. We told the people at the college she was going to. We called relatives and told them. Everyone thought we were nuts! The both of us thought we were a little nuts, too.

But, it is now 41 years later, and we are still as much in love with each other as we were from the start. Probably more. Both of us have never once doubted that God gave us the gift of each other. I think I got the better gift!

Great Pies

2009-10-15T09:36:00.001-05:00

I've been talking about the apple pies for the last two mornings. Yesterday morning the post came before the pies, and today the post is after pies. The ladies all showed up. Each one remembered what they were supposed to bring and they all worked together for the common good of the body. They baked a bunch of great apple pies and a lot of people benefited from their effort.

That is how the church is supposed to work--everyone doing their part for the good of the body. The body is benefited by this action. On Wednesday night we host the mid-week Bible study at our home. We have a soup and sandwich type of meal before we get into our study. Glenda and I supply the meal and then if someone feels like bringing a dessert, they do so. Yesterday, one of the ladies worked in the afternoon to bake two pies for the Bible study. When she went to put them into the oven to bake them, the oven was not working. It didn't get hot!

She came to Bible study feeling bad that we didn't have something for dessert. I told her the ladies from the morning had baked us two pies and that we did have something. She was relieved that the body was blessed and her problem had not caused a problem for the body. What a humble attitude.

Anyhow, all in all, the whole day yesterday was a great day! I hope our day today will be just as good. Each of us needs to ask ourselves, "What can I do to bless someone in the body today?" Think about it!

Baking Pies

2009-10-14T09:07:00.003-05:00

Our Wednesday morning Bible study group came together last week and one of the ladies had an idea. "Let's stay after Bible study and bake up a bunch of apple pies!" So everyone made a list of what they were supposed to bring. I said I would buy the apples and did so yesterday morning at 6:00 AM at Walmart. Strange time to go to Walmart but it is a long story. Suffice it to say, I did my part and the apples are here at the church.

What happens from here should be interesting. First of all, there may be too many chiefs and we will have to establish a pecking order before going on. Second of all, with a week gone by, someone may forget that we are even baking pies this morning and show up without anything they were supposed to bring. Third of all, Jesus might come before the Bible study begins and we will never get to the pies.

The truth of the matter, even as much as I like fresh baked apple pie, I am opting for Jesus to come before the Bible study. Think about it!

Oooohhh! My Head!

2009-10-10T09:26:00.003-05:00

I feel like I have a hangover today! I can't say that I have never had one, but it has been many years since. Sorry to say, I recognize the feeling. Last night I had two parties going on on either side of my bedroom. Fortunately, they were the quiet kind of party until people started leaving at 2:00 AM. I laid there in bed and listened to one car leave from in front of the house and then one leave from behind the house. I finally got up and looked out the windows and that is when I discovered two parties.

At 2:00 AM, these party goers came out of the house and yelled back and forth, slammed car doors and started their engines, which of course meant they started their radios, too. Boooooom, Boooooom! Bammmmm! Boooooom! Bammmmm! Then for thirty minutes they stood beside the car and talk with each other like they were in the parking lot of Walmart. Revenge raced through my mind, but I know, "Revenge is mine says the Lord!" Well, I hope you got them this morning when they were trying to sleep! Gently of course and with lots of grace! But get 'em, Lord!

Anyhow, by 3:00 AM I was able to roll over and go back to sleep. The party was over. "Chirp!"
"What was that? I must have dreamed it. I didn't think I had gone that deep into sleep." "Chirp!" "There it was again. What is that?" "Chirppppppp!" "Okay! So it's not my imagination. Now what is it?" "Chirpppppppppppppp!" "Give me a break! Now what's going on?" I unplugged my cell phone- that wasn't it. "Chirpppppppppppp!" "I'm coming, what ever this is!" I got up and went out into the living room. Quiet! More quiet! And then finally, "Chirppppppppppppppppppp!" "I gotch ya!" The batteries in my carbon monoxide detector were going dead and had to pick that moment in all of history to do it. Back to bed-- look at the clock---3:45AM. I thought, "I don't have anything to do in the morning, I can sleep in a little laterrrrrrrrrrrr! Good night!"

Not yet! At 4:00 AM the second wave of party goers decided to go home, and we went through the same thing all over again. Slamming doors, yelling, loud radios, and inconsiderate people! "God, you got to love them cause I can't right now!" There must have been fewer of them, because the noise didn't last as long this time and soon I was sound asleep--until the 6:00 AM when I normally wake up.

So any how, I have a head ache this morning. It will pass and later this afternoon I'll sneak in a nap. Life will go on and the next time I'm out at 2:00 AM, I'll be very quiet. How about you? Think about it!

I Love Mornings???

2009-10-09T05:21:00.003-05:00

I have traditionally been a morning guy. As a kid I used to get up and watch my Dad shave at 5:00 AM. My mom always loved that:)! She told me once that she hoped I would have a kid that did the same thing. I guess Dad and I must have talked a lot and that would wake her up.

I have always found that my mind works better at 5:00 AM than at 5:00 PM. I can get more work done earlier in the morning and I enjoy doing it at that time. This morning I am at the church waiting for some men to arrive for a 6:00 AM Bible study and prayer time. Our numbers are not all that great, but those who attend are quite faithful. Each Friday morning we pray for our families, each other and the congregation of the church.

This morning, when I left for the church just before 5:00 AM, it was raining. But in the three minute drive from the house it stopped. When I parked my car, I took a minute and stood in the parking lot drinking a cup of coffee that I had brought from home. It was peaceful and quite and the air was crisp. But, I noticed I was not alone. On the highway in front of the church were literally hundreds of men and women going to work or already at work (truck drivers). I figured they must like the morning, too.

God has created all of us different and yet in many ways we have a lot of similarities. Alike or different, we must love one another. My getting up in the early morning as a kid drove my mom nuts, but she still loved me. Sometimes people who are different drive me nuts. But then again, sometimes people that are similar can drive me nuts. What I have learned in dealing with people is the more nuttier I get when around them, the more I have to extend God's love to them. What about you? Do you hate the people that drive you nuts or love them? Think about it!

Beef Tips And Noodles

2009-10-08T08:39:00.003-05:00

I cook for the Wednesday night Bible study that we have at our house. Most of the time because of time, it is just a salad and sandwiches of some kind. Last night we had beef tips and noodles--more like beef tips and mush! I bought a store brand noodle and when the water came to a boil I dumped them in the pot. Immediately they began to break up and in three minutes looked like they were done. They were supposed to boil for 7 to 9 minutes. I called Glenda into the kitchen and asked what she thought. She confired, by tasting a noodle, they were done.

We drained them, put the gravy and beef on them and then put them into a roaster pan to serve them. By the time our guests arrived, they were in long strings like spheggetti. I have never seen noodles break up like that before and it was somewhat embarrassing to me. Fortunately they tasted good and every one ate till they were full. Everything turned out in the end but they looked terrible.

Sometimes life is like that. Your best plans go terrible wrong, not because of what you have done but just because we are in an imperfect world. What should we do when that happens? If sin is involved, ask for forgiveness, accept the perfect forgiveness that Jesus gives (I John 1:9) and put your best foot forward and move on. If you should sin again, do it over until you get past the sin. If it is something without sin but beyond your control, understand that "...in all things God works for the good of those who love him and have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28) When things go bad for those who are following God's purpose for their lives, God makes lemonade out of lemons. Think about it!

Ministry And/Or Missions

2009-10-07T08:28:00.006-05:00

God is truly working in my life. As a kid, I aways said I wanted to be a minister or a missionary. I never dreamed about being both. When the time came to make a career choice, I decided to go in a different direction. I didn't feel God calling me into either position. That all changed when I turned forty years old. For the first time in my life, I felt a tap on my shoulder and heard God say to me, "Now I want you go into ministry for me!" I was blessed to be able to go back to school and finish my studies in Theology and ministry. I entered into full time ministry with four kids, a wife and a mortgage. God has been good and graciously provided all the way through my twenty+ years of ministry.

Two years ago, twenty years after the call into ministry, I was driving down the road one day and I clearly heard God say, "I want you to go to Peru..." Immediately the thought "I don't want to go to Peru!" shot through my mind. But I did and at age 62 I have made the nearly 10,000 mile round trip in and out of the Amazon Jungle twice. It has changed my perspective on life!

What about you? Do you feel God is calling you into ministry? If you have felt that same tap on the shoulder or heard God speak directly to you, you need to do something about it. Humble yourself before the Lord. Ask for wisdom and direction. Seek advice from others who have gone through what you are about to face. But most of all, answer God's call on your life! Think about it!

I Like Milk!

2009-10-05T08:21:00.003-05:00

Yesterday I was talking with my six year old grandson, Levi. We talked about the Bears and peanut butter and jelly and his baby sister. He said she was getting "chunky" because she drinks a lot of milk. I said, "I like milk. Do you suppose that is why Grandpa is getting chunky?" That was all it took.

Immediately Levi said, "Grandpa, do you know what is fun?" I answered "No!" Grandpas apparently don't have a lot of fun-- not like Levi was about to propose. Levi went on to say, "Pour yourself a big glass of milk and then go get a straw. Put the straw in the glass and blow bubbles in your milk. Then you can eat the bubbles off the top of the glass!" "Wow!" I said. "That sounds like a lot of work for a glass of milk." "Yah, but its fun Papa!" I said, "If I was going to go to all that work with a glass of milk, I would get some Oreo cookies and spend the effort dipping them in the milk." Levi's response to that was, "That would be fun, too. I gotta go!" I must have taken the conversation over the edge for his young mind! Apparently a six year old and a sixty-two year old think differently about what to do with our milk.

I think Christianity is the same for a lot of people. It has a specific purpose for our lives but we are simply blowing bubbles in it and eating it from the top. It adds a whole new meaning to what the writer of Hebrews said in Hebrews 5:12-14. Look it up! Think about it!

It's Not Over Till The Skinny Lady Sings!

2009-10-02T10:33:00.002-05:00

I just watched a video on the internet about a high school football game that went back and forth with the lead changing several times. In the end, one team needed to score with moments on the clock to win the game. The field goal kicker tried his best, (remember this is high school football) and woefully missed the attempt. As the final seconds clicked off, the kick went up, missed the uprights and was caught by the opposing team. In their celebration of his missing the field goal, they ran out of the end zone (which meant the ball was still alive) onto the playing field and spiked the ball in victory celebration. The opposing team picked up the loose ball and ran it into the endzone for a touch down as the clock ticked down to 0 seconds. One team celebrated their victory too soon and the other team ended up with the victory!

I think this is going to happen in Christianity! Too many people are fighting a long hard fight with the opposition, but in the end they may celebrate their victory too soon, and may lose out all together. Jesus speaks in Matthew 24:10 that in the end many will be offended and walk away from their faith. Paul writes in I Timothy 4:1 that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits. In II Timothy 3:1-5 Paul writes that there will be form of godliness but a denying of its power. This is all taking place by people who give up at the end and celebrate their rights over God's goodness.

Stand firm to the end. The losing team above didn't stand firm to the end. They got sloppy as they thought about how good they were. They celebrated their goodness just a moment too early. Before you go around and tell people how good you are, or how much more spiritual you are than others around you, consider Romans 12:3-"Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought..." Think about it!

By His Powerful Word

2009-09-30T08:08:00.004-05:00

Twe weeks ago this Friday, Glenda and I drove down to Branson, MO. In southern Illinois we passed soy bean fields that were already turning yellow and nearing harvest. Our fields in northern Illinois were solid green and apparently no where near their harvest. Today, less than two weeks later, as I drove to work I noticed that our fields have caught up with those in the south. It is truly amazing how God works across the universe.

As I drove to work, I thought of the verse in Hebrews 1:3 that says, "The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word." I watched the sun come up this morning and the bean fields change colors, and I realized that someone is in control of it all. God's Word tells us that Jesus is sustaining all things by his powerful word. He speaks and things happen.

Too many people are saying, "There is no God!" They are wrong. He is caring for us and loving on us daily. We need to praise and worship him with all our heart. As you drive to work today or tomorrow, look around. What do you see that happens like clock work in creation? Remember Jesus is working for your blessing. Think about it!

Much Ado About Nothing

2009-09-28T08:32:00.003-05:00

I'm not big into Shakespeare but I did start to watch a movie once entitled, "Much Ado About Nothing." It was so ridiculous that after ten minutes of it I shut it off and went to do something else. It truly fulfilled its name!

Yesterday, I preached about "Vision" and how the people parish without vision (Proverbs 29:18). Earlier in the week, Jason and I had been talking about Esau and how he simply didn't have the vision to care about his birthright. He sold it for a bowl of soup. In this case, Esau made little ado about something! Esau's birthright was 42 generations away from being in the linage of the Son of God, Jesus, but he sold that for a lousy bowl of soup-- Jacob wasn't that good of cook either! Esau's birthright was something he should have fought for to the death! He blew it off as if it didn't matter about nothing. Consequently, the writer of Hebrews calls Esau a "godless man."

What about us-- you, me? How often do we blow of the things of God with a casual wave of the hand. Do we sell out God's plan for us over a dirty movie, or extra drink, drugs, an extra long look at the neighbor's wife? Do we sell out God's plan with our anger or frustrations in life, etc? Are we making much ado about nothing or little ado about something? We should be making much ado about something when it comes to the things and plans of God for our life!

Think about it!

Memories

2009-09-24T08:40:00.004-05:00

Shelly just told me that she saw one of Tera's grade school teachers the other day at a football game. We talked about what we remembered and what we didn't remember about her. My sister called last night and told me that my first grade teacher had just died. I remember her as being a hundred years old when I was in first grade. She was 88 when she died and so I worked the math. She would have been younger than Shelly is right now.

What I remember about my first grade teacher is that she sent me out into the hallway one day for talking too much. It only happened once and I thought I would be in big trouble at home if anyone found out. But my class room was in the basement and my sister's class room was on the top floor of the building and so I felt quite secure that no one would ever know.

But as I sat there, someone started to come down the stairs. I could hear their steps. It was my sister on her way to the restroom. She was in fifth grade at the time and I decided right then there was no way she was going to squeal on me. I scooted from my position next to the door and hid in the coats. Thankfully for me it was a quick trip to the restroom and back to class for her. I unwrapped myself from my coat and went back to set down just in time for my teacher to come get me out of the hallway. I have always wondered how she would have reacted if I had been hiding in the coats when she came to get me??? I doubt that it would have been good!

Back To Work

2009-09-23T08:30:00.003-05:00

Getting away for a few days can be extremely refreshing. Glenda and I went to Branson, MO on Friday and got back yesterday afternoon. We saw the newest of shows in Branson, called Noah, The Musical. It was actually pretty good to start out and temendous by the end. I recommend that you see it if you go to Branson. That is a pretty sound recommendation coming from a guy who doesn't care much for musicals of any kind!

We ate too much! Food is good down there and there are so many varieties. The blackberry cobler with ice cream on it is over the edge. I could go on and on but enough said about food. Our hotel was great. It was clean and modern and cheap! Cheap is a big deal for me and it doesn't always go with clean and modern. Better yet, it was quiet.

The best part of the trip was spending some time with Glenda. It was time we could talk and read and sleep and eat and just be husband and wife without any schedule of time or telephones ringing or expectations from anyone. It was just a good time together and I thank God for the ability to get away for awhile.

Today, I am back at work. I have downloaded all of the 102 e-mails that awaited me when I got here. I am finishing up my blog for today. I have a Bible study at 10:00, a meeting at 1:00, a Sonshine magazine to get mailed, dinner to cook for tonight's Bible study and another Bible study at 6:30. That doesn't take in any phone calls or walk ins at the office. Welcome back-- the vacation is over!

It's Going To Rain

2009-09-21T07:42:00.004-05:00

Glenda and I are in Branson, MO. We came down on Saturday, mainly to see Noah, The Musical. We tried to see it in March when we came through but it was opening the next weekend. Anyhow it was fantastic! If you come to Branson and haven't seen Noah, I highly suggest it.

Today we are just kind of lazing around. We've had our first cup of coffee and are getting ready to get breakfast. But the weather forcast is for severe thunderstorms and major flooding for tomorrow. I don't feel God telling me to build an ark so I guess we will get out of here today. I don't know if we will drive straight through or stop on the way but we will be home by tomorrow for sure.

Meanwhile, what would we do (I include myself in this question) if God told one of us to build an ark? The show here in Branson really played up how Noah was the laughing stock of his commuity. What would we do? Think about it!

"What's On Your Mind?"

2009-09-17T10:51:00.002-05:00

This comes after reading my Facebook page. When I posted it on Facebook it said too many characters in the box. That is sort of like what my day has been today.

The question in the box on my Facebook is "What's on your mind?" Not much right now. Jenny is talking about the pumpkin fest and pumpkin chili and pumpkin shakes. I have never met a chili or a shake I didn't like, but this might push the issue. Ashley is talking about burning the candle at both ends and I cautioned her to be careful doing that. Glenda has two days off at work and wants to go someplace. I don't know where to go. Carmen says her tootsies are cold. Can't help! Meagan says the average toddler melts down every 20 minutes or so--what about grandpa's-- I think I am about have a meltdown.

Well, I have to go. What's on my mind now? Pumpkin chili- just can't imagine!

The Place Was Filthy

2009-09-16T09:32:00.002-05:00

Last week Glenda and I met John and his two boys at a restaurant in Rockford. We have eaten there often, but not real recently. The place was absolutely filthy. The floor was so sticky that our shoes stuck to it when we walked. The tables were terrible and the baby high chair had black filth on it to the point we couldn't use it. It was a buffet and so we had paid for and gotten our food before we found this all out.

Since then, I have seen two different articles on AOL about places that are filthy. One was about a grocery store and the other was about a city. I could understand both! But what about our daily living? Is it wholesome and pure and holy? Are we working to please and honor God in everything we do and say? I had some one come into the office the other day. We talked and in our conversation he said, "That's pretty d--- good!" I looked at him and smiled as I asked, "How good?" Without thinking he said, "Pretty d--- good!" I asked him again, "How good?" This time he thought about what he said, and after turning the color of a beet, he said, "Really good!"

The Bible says, "Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks!" If we are living with filth all around us on a constant basis, without thinking we will say and do things that do not honor God. God isn't just a Sunday morning God, but a God that wants an every moment of the day relationship with each of us. How is your relationship with God? Think about it!

The Little Things In Life

2009-09-14T10:58:00.002-05:00

What are the little things in your life? Might it be shaving the truth just a fraction to get out of a tight spot? How about fudging on your taxes for the sake of getting a little bigger tax return. How about flirting with your boss or secretary with the intention that it would never go beyond that and really just because you can?

Jesus said in Luke 16, "He that is trustworthy with very little can be trustworthy with very much, but he that is dishonest with very little will be dishonest with very much." Solomon wrote, "it is the little foxes that ruin the vineyard." Little things can be just as distructive as big things. While we would never openly cheat, steal and lie, we often times let little deceptions into our lifestyles regularly.

It is these little deceptions that flaw our character and our integrity. Paul wrote in I Thessalonians 5:23, "May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it." Think about it!

Good By Friends

2009-09-12T10:52:00.003-05:00

This week two friends of mine have died. Both of them are about twenty years older than me and both of them have been a part of my life from the time I was a little boy. I remember the telephone number of one of them back in 1952. Think about that!

Bill Andrew was an elder in the church that I grew up in and Leon Driskoll was a pastor. I never had Leon as a pastor but he taught me in several youth camps and conferences that I attended over the years. I had the highest respect for both of these men. Both of these men suffered for years with severe health problems and never complained about what they dealt with. Both of these men served God with all their heart and have raised godly families. I will miss them both.

Today is Bill's funeral and tomorrow is Leon's. I will not be able to get to Leon's as it is out of town and at a time I have something else scheduled. His graveside service is near here, and, I believe, on Monday morning. After I find out more specific details, I plan to try to be there for the family.

Both of these strong leaders in the church are gone now. Who will step up and take their place. Might it be you? Think about it!

Road Closed Ahead

2009-09-11T05:14:00.008-05:00

As I drove to the church this morning at 4:30 AM, I came up on a sign in the dark and fog that said, "Road Closed Ahead." I knew the road and I knew where it was closed and why it was closed. We are on a major four lane highway and IDOT (Illinois Department of Transportation) is putting a tunnel under the highway for a walking path that runs directly behind our church property. They have switched four lanes into two and traffic in both directions will be on one side of the road and then later switch and move to the other side of the road as they dig this tunnel.

My reaction was to stop and go no further. But my action was to drive right around the sign and keep on going up the road to the church driveway. Which is where I was going anyhow. But, as I did, I wondered how many people will come to church on Sunday and stop at the sign that says, "Road Closed Ahead," and not proceed any further with their plans. Never mind that the church doors are open and there will be services held. Despite our efforts to let people know what is going on with the roads around us, there will be those who will be too cautious to drive past the sign. There will be those who will use the sign as an excuse "to not have to go to church this Sunday." (Boy are they in luck--the road is supposed to be closed for ten weeks!) And there will be those who are coming to church for the first time who will simply turn around and go home because they are unsure of what they are doing anyhow. It should be interesting to see what happens to our numbers in the next ten weeks.

But this goes deeper than a blacktop road being closed. Sometimes roads are closed in the spiritual realm that we Christians are supposed to be living in (John 3:3). Sometimes they are closed by God because the timing isn't right just yet. Sometimes they are closed by Satan because he doesn't want something great to happen. Sometimes they are simply closed because someone around us has other plans. We need to be in tune with Jesus and be aware of what and why and when and for how long the road is going to be closed. If what we are wanting to do is from Jesus, it will open again when the timing is right. We need to make sure that when we run up against the sign that says, "Road Closed Ahead," we don't just stop, turn around and walk away from the direction that we started to go in the first place. Think about it!

Where Is Your Connection?

2009-09-10T10:16:00.003-05:00

Last Saturday morning, Glenda and I went out for breakfast. As we pulled into the parking place in front of the restaurant, we noticed several parking spots filled with Harley motorcycles. We went into the restaurant and found a place to set. There was a group of people, sitting at tables in the center of the room, and there was absolutely no way that anyone could have not figured out who they were. They were dressed in leather chaps, leather vests, covered in tattoos and all wearing Harley Davidson T-shirts. It was very clear that these people in the center of that room were connected to the motorcycles parked out front of the restaurant.

As we sat there in the booth right next to them, we couldn't help but overhear their conversations. In all honesty, it was quite wholesome and seemed quite pure. There was no cussing in anyway. They seemed to be family people who were interested in motorcycles, and that is what they talked about. They talked about their destiny for the day and what they hoped to accomplish in their lives that day.

Also, as I sat there, I wondered if our identity in Jesus Christ is as clear to others in the resturant. Think about this the next time you go out to eat. If you go as a couple, do people overhearing your conversation hear a tone of Christ in it? Do people see you pray over your food when it comes? Do people see the name of your church on your T-shirt, your hat, your heart?

If you go out in a group of people, what influence do you have on the people around you? Do the waitresses want you to come back. I've heard twice recently in two different resturants waitresses say, "I will not wait on that such-and-such group if they come in today." Earlier, one waitress said to me another day, "It is a good thing you came in. The such-and-such group quieted down with their dirty jokes and crude remarks when they knew a preacher was in the room. They were so bad that I was close to asking them to leave."

Do people know that you are connected to Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? Can they see he is important to you by your lifestyle. Or, is he just someone that you open your Bible on Sunday and let out the closet for about an hour?

Got Nothing

2009-09-09T11:42:00.002-05:00

I said when I got into ministry that I would never force something that wasn't there. Well today is one of those days. I'm drawing blanks and so I say, "Good bye and have a blessed day!" Maybe tomorrow?

Today Is The First Day Of The Rest Of Your Life!

2009-09-08T07:54:00.004-05:00

What a weekend! Not only was it Labor Day weekend but we had a family conference at church that started Friday night and lasted through the middle of the afternoon on Sunday. Glenda and I had planned to go away for the weekend but opted to stay for the conference, and I am glad we did. We learned a lot, but as with most conferences my mind was mush by the end of it. I have found from other conferences that I've attended, I can only comprehend so much and by the end everything is running together. We sat at home the rest of Sunday evening and didn't do much of anything. I think I got frozen pizza for dinner:(!

Monday morning, Labor Day, we both woke up early. We were refreshed and felt like we could tackle almost anything. We decided to go to Wisconsin Dells for the day. By 7:30 we were on the road, had breakfast on the way, and spent the day in the Dells. We took the upper Dells boat tour and the lower Dells duck ride, ate an early dinner at a BBQ and headed home. By 7:00 PM we were in Winnebago and I was passed out on the couch waiting for it to get late enough to go to bed for the night.

But today is different! School has started again. I realize I am not looking forward to being gone another weekend down the road, and I realize that today is the first day of the rest of my life. What am I going to do with it? It's the same for you. The craziness of summer should be over and your life should begin to slow down a little bit. It is the first day of the rest of your lfie. What are you going to do with it? For me, I am going to work on getting my focus on Jesus a little more fine tuned for the weeks ahead. Will you join me for yourself?

Crazy Day

2009-09-05T09:46:00.003-05:00

Yesterday was just a crazy day. Nothing went as I expected and beyond that most everything went wrong. We were getting ready for our Family Conference and the details just kept getting complicated. Glenda, at her work, waited all day for an important announcement and it didn't come until 4:30 in the afternoon. Then it was simply they couldn't make the announcement because they hadn't accomplished what they had hoped to get done. She came home disappointed and some what frustrated. And so the day went.

We had a great night at the family conference and I heard some insight into Matthew 16:13ff that I had never heard before. After the evening session, we took the guest speaker, Norm Wakefield to where he was staying, dropped him off, and headed home. At the edge of town, right where the speed limit was changing, I drove through radar and got pulled over by the town policeman. He did let me off with a warning for driving 45 in a 30 mph speed limit. Maybe 100 feet from where he sat, the speed limit was 55 mph. Oh well. I was humiliated, but grateful for the warning.

And so we start today. It will be better. It has to be!

Road Blocks

2009-09-04T10:13:00.006-05:00

The Department of Transportation is putting a tunnel (for a walking path) under the highway that runs in front of our church. They have been working for weeks getting all the ground work done to dig the first scoop of dirt for the tunnel. Today they are rearranging the movenment of the traffic and switching it over from four lanes to two.

To prepare the people, they have had one lane shut down for a couple of weeks in both directions, and they have moved the driving lane back and forth over the half mile distance. You never know if you going into the left lane or the right lane and it is a bit confusing. Today, I was driving along and they were working in the road next to me. All of sudden, without warning, in the driving lane were two barrels- dead center in the lane. Everyone was swerving left or right to go around them. They were just over the crest of a hill and I could see the potential for someone who was slightly distracted in the littlest bit as they came over the hill to run right over top of the barrels.

Life is much like that! We are cruzing along on the highway of life and all of sudden something shuts down one lane. It makes things a little more difficult, but we can still get to where we are going. Then things change, but since we are on top of things we still can get to where we are going. Then someone sets two barrels in the middle of the one lane we are driving in. Maybe we are alert and go around them. Maybe there is a distraction and we don't see them until too late.

Bang! Something gets wrecked or someone gets hurt and a relationship is destroyed or damaged. Maybe it can be easily repaired-- maybe not. But life must go on. Seek forgiveness (if you are the one who left the barrels where they shouldn't be), forgive if someone else did it.

Let God be glorified as far as you you are concerned at every level of life-- even when there are barrels in the road that shouldn't be there.

Want A Cup Of Coffee?

2009-09-03T07:53:00.000-05:00

If you were here I would pour you a cup of coffee. We could set and chat awhile and discuss whatever. Maybe we'd talk politics- every thought about the origin of that word-- poly (many)
tics (blood sucking critters)-- I think our government is made up too many blood sucking critters. Maybe someone could come up with a platform on "Change!" I'm sure things would get better then.

What about health care- government sponsored health care--sounds like a good idea but not if it is run by the government-- just another area for fat cats to get fatter!

How about religion? What do you think about it? Just a bunch of crazies worshipping something that can't be for real? That's what I am often told. So, what if we worship something that we think can be for real? Money? Sex? Golf? Fishing? They're all real but it doesn't seem like they will take us very far into eternity- at least not in the direction that I want to go. Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." I believe those words, and so I have asked Jesus to be my Savior. He will help me to the Father. What about you? While we drink our coffee together, can I ask, "What or who are you worshipping?"

Why Bible Study?

2009-09-02T09:48:00.000-05:00

I'm ten minutes away from leading our Wednesday morning Bible study. We have a group of five or six who come and study each week and fellowship together with each other. My question today is, "Why study the Bible?"

John 17:3 says, "Eternal life is knowing God the father and Jesus Christ his son." The key word in this verse is "knowing." If want to pass a science test, I had better "know" the answers. If I want to have a successful marriage, I had better "know" my wife. If I am going to have great relationship with the neighbor guy, I had better "know" him for who he is and not just know of him. Everything about life is going the extra step, or going a little deeper with our effort to succeed.

So why do I study the Word of God. So that I can know God for who He really is and in that knowing my life will be better, both now and for eternity. We can take the importance of studying God's Word with a casualness and do nothing about it. I know how that works with the science test. I don't want to be found failing with God as I did with my science test. Think about it.

What Happened To Our Van?

2009-09-01T07:49:00.000-05:00

Yesterday when I came to work, a white van was in our parking lot. There was nothing unusual about that because New Life Bible Church owns a white van and there is one always in our parking lot. It just happened to be that this van was in a different location from where our van had been. My first thought was, "I wonder who moved the van?" Then I noticed that this was a white work van with no windows in it, and I realized John, the man who cleans the church, and is a mechanic had driven this van and it wasn't ours at all. Then the obvious jumped off the page at me. Our van was gone and not to be seen. But that is not unusual at all. Different people in the congregation have keys and different ministries within the church use the van often. When Pastor Tim came in to work I asked him, "Who has the van?"

His response was, "No one that I know of!" and off we both went to look at the parking lot a little closer. Sure enough, our van was gone! We made some calls to different people who might have it, and none of them did. We looked at each other and scratched our heads. Who would take a church van with big black letters that read NEW LIFE BIBLE CHURCH down both sides of it. We accounted for all the keys to the van-- they were all where they should be. No one from the church had the van or knew anything of its where abouts.

We called the Sherriff's Department and reported it stolen. A deputy came out and took our report and put out a notice for stolen white church van. So far we have heard nothing or seen anything more of our van. It's a funny feeling as I set here and wonder who has our van and what is happening to it right now. God knows. Whoever took it knows. Father, forgive them for they don't know what they have done!

Techology!?!!??!

2009-08-31T08:39:00.000-05:00

I love it! I spend hours a day working on my computer or checking e-mail or looking at facebook. In the world of technology, things are changing so much that I can barely keep up. But, I take pride that I was able to figure out this blog thing and set up my own blog. Anyhow, today I find an notice to confirm Ashley's new blog by simply clicking on the link. I did. The site proceeded to tell me that I needed a key that was previously sent to me. If it was, I never saw it. At least in snail mail if someone sends you a key you can feel it in the envelope! So, I x-ed out of the message and went back to the original posting, clicked on the link again, and again was told I need the key to get in. Great. I'll just wait until Pastor Tim comes into work and have him fix it for me. As I tried to x out of the key message, nothing happened. The next thing I know I am being sent a message, "This program is not responding!" I thought, "You think so? I am aware of that! I'm sitting here waiting for something to happen, while nothing happens."

And so I figure I am a genius. I could figure that nothing was happening with my computer before it told me nothing was happening. I'm really getting this computer thing figured out.

Oh What A Relief It Is!

2009-08-29T09:29:00.000-05:00

The old ad Alka Seltzer used to put out said, "Plop, plop, fiz, fiz. Oh what a relief it is!" I had an upset stomach yesterday and took some Alka Seltzer. It worked well. That was in the physical realm of life. There are days that I have an upset spirit within me and Alka Seltzer can't do a thing to help that. I have found that God's Word is the relief that I need on those days when my spirit is churning and gurgling! You know what I mean. Sometimes the problem is something I have caused myself. Sometimes the problem comes from something someone else has said or done. Sometimes the problem is that I have just been too long away from the Word of God and I am not connecting with His Spirit.

God's Word is the Alka Seltzer for spiritual unsettling. Plop down away from everything and everyone a couple of times a day and drop a couple of times of Bible reading into your cup of life. Watch it bubble up! But I have to warn you. Sometimes the taste of the Alka Seltzer is so repulsive that I want to pour it down the sink before drinking it. It is only going to work when you get it in you! God's Word is the same way. Sometimes what he is telling us to do is repulsive to what we want to hear. When we read it, we want to pour it down the sink instead of letting it work in our lives. Don't pour! Drink! It will do you good and you will feel better!!

Plop, Plop, Fiz, Fiz!

2009-08-28T05:47:00.001-05:00

Last night I did a dumb thing! When I got home from work, I fixed a big pot of chili. Mistake number one! Then I ate a couple of bowls of it with cheese and crackers. Mistake number two.
Later, Glenda cut up some peaches and made a peach pie. I had to have pie and ice cream on top of the chili. Mistake number three. Guess what I have discovered. Chili and pie don't mix--maybe it was the chili and ice cream? Also, my 62 year old body is telling me, "You're nuts! I can't handle chili in any quantity anymore!" Getting up a 4:00 AM doesn't help! Mistake number four.

Ohh, I need a an alka seltzer!

Hurts And Frustrations

2009-08-27T08:51:00.000-05:00

My wife is going through a reorganization in the job that she works at. The outfit she is working for is going through a down sizing and merging 300+ departments into a little over 100. Her specific workplace is putting four departments into one, and so the pressure is even worse than normal. Over the last few months, she has had to consider issues of retiring, of being promoted to higher position, issues of taking a lesser position and issues of finding herself out of a job completely with no insurance and no retirement. All the time that this is going on, she is expected to develop and make recommendations of how this new department should function once the merge takes place.

During the last week the hiring process has begun to take place. She applied for a specific job. She was recommended by her retiring CEO to make the application. She has had several people within the workforce tell her she should apply for the position. She did apply, and she didn't get it. The new CEO apparently hired from outside of the company to fill the position. She came home from work last night in tears and deeply hurt. And to say the least, even more confused now than ever about what to do.

Hurts and frustrations are a part of life! It is unfortunate that life is that way, but it is. We have to learn how to deal with them. Sometimes they are little hurts and frustrations that go away easily. Other times we have to dig deep and wait for them to go away on their own.

But Jesus says in Matthew 11:28-30, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." When the hurts and frustrations of life are deep, we need to turn to Jesus. We need to give our burdens to him and let him deal with them in his way. Don't carry them with you. They are heavy. Give them to Jesus. He promises to give you rest from them.

Catching Up!

2009-08-26T14:45:00.000-05:00

Does one ever catch up on the work that needs to be done? It sure doesn't seem like it. I have finished two projects today that needed to be done this week and I think there are at least a half dozen more to do. Sometimes the work load never seems to even out--there's always more to do. What really bugs me is to finish something and find it is obsolete before the ink dries or that I made a glaring mistake (Yes, I do make mistakes!) in the middle of it. One of the projects that I finished today had the obvious mistake in the middle of it. Obvious to me, anyhow. It's already at the printer and too late to fix now. I'll be that you won't even see it. What is even worse is to have someone promise to get a job done for me that they never even start. Oh well! That's a part of life.

I do what I can, which isn't near what it used to be. I love what I am doing, although there are times I would just like to go fishing. Not today--it's raining. I find someone to help on the things that I can no longer do. Everything else will just have to wait.

Another Day, Another Dollar

2009-08-25T06:17:00.000-05:00

Just the other day I heard someone say that. Far too often that is exactly how we see life--that it is all about earning a dollar. In true perspective life is about earning a dollar, or better put, making a living. God told Adam in the garden to fill the earth and rule over it. He was telling Adam there is no free ride, but in the paradize condition that they lived in Adam didn't see it as work, until after the sin. When we work in good working conditions and like the people around us and make a good living, many of us seldom see going to work each day as a burden that we hate. I love the work that I do more than any other job I have ever had.

The difference is that in my work it is not just about making another dollar. My work is helping people in so many different ways, and I think that is what makes the difference. If everyone of us sees our work as a means to help other people, and the pay as the means to do that, we would have a different perspective on going to work. Start today by looking around you to see who can help. God will put magnifying glasses on your eyes and you will begin to see opportunities that you didn't know existed.

Step out in faith and make a difference for someone, no matter how small it might be. Your attitude toward going to work to just make another dollar will change. Your attitude toward the people around you will change. Your attitude toward the blessings that God is giving will change.
Try it!

Another Day

2009-08-24T08:18:00.000-05:00

It is Monday and another day of my life has gone by. At the same time I face another day of life, and I praise God for it. So what was accomplished with yesterday-- the day that is forever gone? Did it make an eternal difference for anyone beside myself? I hope so! It started with waking my wife of 41 years and our two grandchildren for church. That doesn't seem like a big deal, but I could have let them sleep in, as a lot of people do, and not go to church at all. The results of this Sunday morning ritual is seen in most of my family as they do the same thing each Sunday morning with their family. Yesterday, New Life Bible Church worshipped with somewhere around 250 in attendance. Plus, New Life Church in Beloit and Family Bible Fellowship in Rockford could easily add another 100+ for the record. My oldest son (Jason) and his wife (Marcee), my son-in-law (Tim) and his wife, my oldest daughter (Shelly), serve along side of me in these ministries to our communities. Families are finding Jesus in their living, and lives are being changed for the better. As I step back from the business of the day ahead, I thank God that He has used me to make this difference for eternity for so many people. Today should be a slower day than yesterday. I pray for my granddaughter, Ashley. She traveled all night last night and today starts a three month study with Taylor University near Dublin, Ireland. I also pray for others in my circle of influence to find Jesus in their lives. Maybe some today, Lord God. Let this be a productive day in my life for your kingdom!

I Lost My Way!

2009-08-18T15:01:00.000-05:00

Technology!!! I had the where-with-all to set up a blog on my own and then lost the way to the blog. Three days have gone by and all the time I have been looking for my blog. I think this is the way it works for a lot of people when they find Jesus. They make the decision to do something about their problem, ask Jesus into their heart and then lose him just about that fast because of the carnel things of the world and the desires of the flesh. Matthew 13 tells us about the parable of the sower. In his explanati0n, Jesus says the worries of the world choke out the seed and there is no fruit produced. Well, I am back at my blog now that I have refound my way. I pray that if the worries of the world have choked out your love for Jesus that you refind your way to him. He will gladly welcome you back with open arms.

Let's get started!

2009-08-14T11:04:00.000-05:00

I'm off and running! I was told months ago that I should set up a blog. Didn't know how and no one was there to show me. Today I got courious and went looking on my own. Still don't know what I am doing but the process keeps telling me to keep going. Will work with this process and see what happens. Maybe it will work-- may be it won't. Maybe after I get it working I will wish it didn't work -- never have been too steady at something that requires daily action. We'll see. God bless to all who read this. Have a great day!