You Better Stop That!

I was out cooking a couple of steaks on the grill for supper and I happened to catch a conversation between two boys in the neighborhood. The older one was telling the younger boy that he had better stop doing whatever he was doing. He kept telling him repeatedly but it had no effect on the younger brother. Finally the older brother had enough and smacked his brother with the Star War light saber. That got his brother's attention! He grabbed his light saber and went inside. It didn't take long for the older brother to follow him into the house. I know why. He wanted to make sure he got to tell his side of the story. I know that because I did that once while I was a kid. I did something to my brother Doug and he told me to stop but of course I didn't listen and Doug reached the end of his patience and came flying up the steps into the apartment and proceeded to break the bathroom door open where I had taken refuge. He made sure I learned why I should have paid attention to his warnings and not kept up my behavior. I learned that when he tells me to knock something off that was bothering him I had better do it.

I thought about some of the things we do that God does not like, or if I was to be honest, He says He hates. God tells us in His Word that He calls somethings abominations and that He lets us know that we need to stop those things or we will face His wrath and judgment. I don't think I need to list them because most of us know what they are. He lays out what He wants us to do in the 10 commandments. These commands are not just a list of do's and dont's! They are His way of introducing us to His righteous character. He wants us to have a relationship with Him and made that possible by sending His precious Son to pay for our sin and receive God's forgiveness. The problem is that many do not want to accept God or His plan and will face the judgment all sinners will face. They don't have to but by not choosing His forgiveness they reject His love and seal their own fate. God loves everyone and doesn't want anyone to perish. There is nothing so bad that we have done that God can't forgive us! All we need to do is to ask Him!

As for the boys, they seemed to get past the argument and were back outside playing together once again. If we could be like kids and be able to forgive and forget!

King of the Hill

This blog has nothing to do with the cartoon series about the Hill family in Texas. It has to do with the game we played as kids during recess and when you had a bunch of neighborhood kids together and needed to use up a lot of energy. If you never played the game, the object was for those playing to get to the top of whatever the hill was and to stay there by knocking off everyone who tries to take that spot. Sometimes the one who was the king stayed there for a little and sometimes they got knocked off right away because they weren't strong enough. I played that numerous times as a kid. Most of the time was spent trying to get to the top and didn't succeed becoming the king. Any kid who was bigger and stronger then his opponents usually ruled the hill with little effort. The game was just that. A game! It didn't matter if you were the king or a wanna be king. You played to have fun.

Today we are playing "king of the hill" with our lives and society. Slowly we are trying to remove God from every vestige of public life from schools to government. We are as Christians not allowed to influence the government and it's policies. They cry out about separation of church and state as though it is constitutional when in fact it is not. What the founding forefathers were saying is the government has no right to tell the church what it can or cannot do. There are so many groups today who are trying to pull God down. They don't want His rules or His will imposed on them. They have no clue that one day every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. God is the King of the hill and will never be knocked off! I believe that it is time to take back our nation and allow God His rightful place in our lives and society.

The Cost of Commitment

Most folks have heard the story of the chicken and the pig who found out a church was going to have a breakfast to raise money for the poor. So they discussed what they could do to help the church out. The chicken quickly stepped up and volunteered some eggs for the ham and eggs breakfast. She said I will donate some eggs for the meal. She then asked the pig what she was going to do and told her to commit something. The pig simply looked at the chicken and replied "For you it's a commitment, for me it's total sacrifice". We hear it all the time different groups want us to support their cause. They want our financial and moral backing. There are all kinds of causes we could get behind today. Many of them are good causes and some are lame and nothing more than scams being perpertrated for the purpose of getting money. We need to know what it is we believe in and give a commitment to that cause. Some people today do not allow themselves to be committed to anything or anyone esle but themsleves. Or they let themselves become duped into committing to something that is wrong or goes against everything they do believe in. I think that is a major issue for many today.

There are many who profess to be Christians and go to church on a regular basis. Yet many of these same people are not committed to doing much for Christ when it comes to their faith. They think church attendance is fine. They, like the Pharisees, give out of their abundance while others , like the poor widow, give out of their want. They give only what is required to meet the bare standards. But finances are not the only thing they do not commit to His kingdom. They often fail to commit their talents and abililities for God to use to build His kingdom. Commitment to His kingdom and plans are crucial if we are to see the church rise up and impact the world as He calls us to do. But I beleive that God calls us to higher standard and he just doesn't want commitment, He wants sacrifice! David would not offer sacrifices to God that cost him nothing. Gos is worthy of our best and our all. After all, He gave us His best when He sent Jesus to come and die for our sins. I think Jim Elliot who lost his life along with four others trying to bring the gospel to a tribe of South American indians said it best. "He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose lose!" I have to ask myself constantly whether I am sacrificing or just commiting to my Lord and Saviour. Simply put, are you the chicken or the pig?

A Simple Bird Feeder

This morning I went outside before we left for church to get the newspaper. I took the paper inside and set it on the floor. I went to the porch door and opened it to get some air moving in the house. Just as I opened the door I saw a hummingbird perched on the hanger we put up from which we have the bird feeder hanging. He was sitting there calm as can be. I called Heidie over so she could see the bird. We watched it for a few seconds then he took off and went down to the flower dispenser on the feeder. He took a couple of long drinks then flew off to the neighbor's tree. I watched for a couple of minutes and saw a bird fly to the feeder. It took a couple of drinks then it too flew off. We got excited about knowing the hummingbirds know that the feeder is here and are now beginning to use it. We would have been disappointed if we went out and bought the feeder only to find out no bird would ever use it. The fact is we are getting the birds to come in because we did the simple thing of buying a feeder, filling it with the solution and hanging it. Not one of those steps are difficult but all were necessary to see the birds start coming to the porch. By doing just simple things, we will now enjoy visits by these wonderful, little creatures.

Just the night before, Pastor Bob, who I worked with at Capital City church as a childrens' pastor, called me and told me a great story. They had a wedding for a young man whose sister was killed in a really tragic and strange accident. Montaya was a wonderful young 9 year old who loved Jesus and wanted to serve Him with all her heart. When she died, we found out her family didn't have money to have her funeral or place to bury her. The church stepped up and helped them with a burial plot and finances to cover the funeral. Her father was there along with some other family members. Her mother was one that was not there for her funeral. Well she was in attendance for the wedding and talked with Pastor Bob afterwards. She told him that because of what the church had done for her daughter, she asked Christ to come into her heart and now is following God. She wants to see her daughter again some day. She said she could never repay the church for what we did. Pastor Bob said she was right but her following Jesus was what God desired, we as the church prayed for and what Montaya had hoped for while she was here. What brought her to Christ? Was it a mighty miracle or some spectacular event? No! It was the people in the church doing what Christ called called them to do. They simply showed love for Montaya and her family. The church was just being the Church that God has called them to be.

What about you? Are you doing the simple things that God can use to touch many other hearts and lives for Him? Why not try to be God's bird feeder and see who you can draw to God?

God is Bigger than Carl

This morning I was watching the local news to get the weather forecast for the day. They were giving an update on a story about a local young lady who had been battling cancer. She was taking chemotherapy and had lost her hair. She was encouraged by cards from people all over the country. She was told that she had several tumors around her liver and the biggest one some of her friends and she called Carl. She was told that the doctors couldn't do any surgeries to help. Carl was too big and too close to key points within her. She never gave up her hope that God would see her through this life crisis. She kept believing that she could overcome the cancer. The doctors came back and reported that the tumors were now able to be removed. She had the surgery and the doctors told her she was now cancer free. Her family had a banner made up for her homecoming. The banner read God is bigger than Carl or something to that effect. She is planning to return to college. The thing that spoke most to me was the fact that she counts the cancer as blessing and not a curse. Talk about a great attitude to have in this life.

Her story made me recall the many things that I went through in my life. I never battled cancer but I faced my own "Carls" that came into my life. I had two choices when I was confronted by them. I could become bitter or become better. The results were dependent on what my attitude was. You see as a young man, mother was healed of MS at a faith healing service so I learned that God is still the one in charge no matter what trials I faced. Jesus struggled in the Garden when He was facing his arrest and execution. He knew what it would cost Him. I t wasn't the violent death He would face but it was the separation form His Father when He took the sin of the world upon Himself. He didn't have to but He chose to remain steadfast and carry out salvation's plan. I could have quit time and time again and give up but I knew my heavenly Father would never let me down. Instead He took those circumstances and used them to mold and form me more into His image. This young lady knew the Father and put her trust in His hands as many have over the years. I think of Corrie Ten Boom and her family and what they went through. Imagine in the midst of that death camp, they found blessings in the fleas!

So how about it? Are you facing a crisis in your life? What is your attitude? Have you thanked God for it or gotten angry because of it? Remember that God has promised to "work all things together for our good"!

A Hidden Talent

My wife Heidie talked about being able to make some jewelry a couple years ago so that year I went to a bead shop in our town and got her some things for Christmas. I purchased a book on how to make things like bracelets and necklaces and gave some introductory information on how to make basic items. I also gave her a tool set and a board used to lay out the beads and make sure of the length of each article. I didn't stop there though I even got her a class for her to learn the basics from some professionals. I wrapped them up and gave them to her. She loved the gifts and has been slowly getting even better and has learned to do ear rings as well. She has made several pieces for herself as well as others. She made a Star of David necklace for our tour guide Ayelet in Israel. She has made some beautiful necklaces for a couple of others as well. She has given some as gifts and sold a couple as well. She tells me she is not creative but I say she is and I encourage her to design some things to sell. I have even accompanied her to some bead shows to help her. She can see a piece that she likes and can get the beads and make it herself. I believe my wife is talented and could make really nice jewelry if she wanted. She just needs to make some time to be able to set some time aside to do it. But that is the problem and not just for her but all of us.

I have thought about all the times I have wanted to do something but never do. I began to ask myself why that is. I came to a conclusion it is for a couple of reasons. The first is because of fear. Sometimes I don't attempt them because I don't want to fail or do something mediocre. Of course we wouldn't have light bulbs if Edison would have let fear of failure rule him. Secondly, we sometimes won't do something because of what others might think. Walt Disney was fired from a newspaper because he lacked imagination. Then there is the lack of time that most of us deal with on daily basis. I beleive that many people are indeed busy and have a lot to do in their daily lives. The question we need to ask is "What I am doing, is it important or is there something else I should or could be doing that would be more productive for me?" When we let trivial things rule our time, we lose time we could be using to pursuing His kingdom and touching our world for Christ. Is what drives us eternal or temporal? If something is important to us, we make the time to do it and we don't let anything hinder us. God admonishes us to redeem the time and that is exactly what we should do.

Now if I could jst get the time to sit down at the computer at home and get my book written. I mean it has only been in my brain for ten years or so. Oh well, I can do it tommorrow!

What Pretty Flowers!

One thing that my wife and I like to do each year is to get flowers to plant around the house. We have a flower bed along each side of the sidewalk that leads up to the house and additional beds by the deck and then the at the other end of the house. We get different kinds and assorted colors of flowers each year. We love variety because it adds so much color to the yard. We plant some perennials and some annuals like marigolds and pansies. This year we got a couple of different flowers which I have no clue what their names are but they are pretty and are doing quite well. My one neighbor planted some flowers this year and his are doing as well as mine are in the front. I have gotten a lot of comments on how nice the flowers look from from people in the neighborhood. I always say thank you to them but I don't go into how much work goes into to making them look so pretty. I have to constantly weed the beds and keep the grass from encroaching into the beds. Then when it is hot and we don't get any rain, I have to water them on a regular basis to keep them healthy. We also give them plenty of fertilizer from the time they are planted till the end of the season. Miracle Gro is the secret! We enjoy the flowers but they do take work to keep them growing and staying vibrant. We have another neighbor whose flowers aren't doing as well. Theirs are small and struggle to keep their flowers. After talking with them. I realized they don't spend as much time on the flowers as I do.

I thought about how our flowers are doing better than theirs. They have some of the same flowers we have but the difference is the work that goes into keeping them healthy. In order to make them grow, we need to feed them, give them plenty of water and keep the weeds clear so they don't rob the flowers of nutrients. When you do these things the flowers grow and add to the yard decor. But when you don't do these things, the flowers do not do too well. Our lives are no different than the flowers. We need to do certain things to keep ourselves healthy. Physically we need to eat right, exercise, get proper rest and have regular checkups. Spiritually we we have to do some things to maintain our spiritual health as well. We need to keep our selves pure (keep the weeds out), keep ourselves in the Word ( fertilize our heart's soil), allow the Spirit to keep us anointed (water our spirit with the Living Water) and allow God to examine our hearts constantly ( have regular checkups). If we neglect any one of these, we allow our growth to be halted. We may not notice the symptoms of neglect right away but it will become apparent, if not to us, then to others. So make every effort to keep yourself growing and blooming in God! Make a difference in your world and add some color!

Now if I could only keep the rabbits out of the flowers! Can you guess who the rabbits represent? That is a whole lesson in itself!