Definitely not Jonathan Livingston Seagull

Heidie and I enjoyed taking walks on the boardwalk at Ocean City Maryland when we were on vacation. It was nice just walking along especially in the evenings when the sun was going down and the temperatures were cooling off for the night. We watched people as we spent time on the boardwalk. One evening we stopped for some ice cream and sat down to enjoy it. While we ate our ice cream, we had a seagull stop in front of us hoping for something to drop. I took some of my cone and broke it off and threw it to the seagull. He ate it rather quickly and waited to see if I was going to give him some more. It didn't take long for more seagulls to show up. The one that was there first started to try to drive the others away and was so busy doing it he missed out on more cone! He was possessive of what he had. Finally I ate the last of my cone and the seagulls finally started leaving. The last one left as we got up to go and headed back to the hotel.

When we got back to the room, we talked about the birds and how they acted. I started to think that there are so many people I know who act the same as that seagull. They are out to grab whatever they can get and get mad if anyone else tries to get something they wanted. There is a simple name for that affliction. It is called "greed"! I once read an interview with John Rockefeller and he was asked how much was enough. His response was "Just one more dollar". Simply put it just says nothing is ever enough! There are folks that are just out to get what they can and will do what they have to in order to get it. God has called us to be content with what we have. And what is that we have? Everything we have comes from God and He gives us everything we need. We have to make sure we do not get caught up in pursuing what the world offers us but keep our eyes and our desires on Christ. The riches of this world cannot compare to what God has for us in our eternal home with Him. Don't give up your eternal riches which will last for worldly riches that will pass away. Remember that what you have here stays here! You came into the world with nothing and you leave it the same way!

Seagulls are scavengers looking for whatever they can get. They will accept anything thrown their way. Just remember that as a believer you are a son or daughter of the King and you can have the best!

Nothing Like Biker week!

This past week Heidie and I spent a few days at Ocean City Maryland. We took some days off from work to get away and relax. It was a really nice time for us. Things couldn't have been better. The weather was nice the whole time and we had some pretty good food and nice evenings spent walking on the boardwalk. The only thing that caught us unaware was the fact that this was Biker Week at Ocean City. And biker week means a lot of loud motorcycles and a whole lot of bikers! The bikers would cruise up and down Coastal Highway for hours. They started early and didn't stop until late. The bikers were everywhere you looked. The hotels and motels were full of bikers. Some rode their cycles there while others hauled their cycles in on trailers. We went to one place for breakfast so Heidie could get her pancakes. We ended up eating breakfast with a bunch of bikers. We watched them interact with each other. Some looked more like bikers than others but we noticed one thing about them. They seemed to get along with each other and were friendly towards those they hadn't met before.

I thought a lot about those bikers. I proceeded to think about how this world would be if only believers could get along like the bikers did. How many times do we hear about believers from one church not getting along with some from another church? Or worse yet, how many times do see believers within the same church not be able to fellowship with others in their own church? How sad! How can we ever expect the world to follow Jesus if we aren't one in Him? Jesus' prayer for us was that we would be one in Him even as He was one with the Father! He said that through complete unity the world would know Him. I believe that if love for Christ is our motivation for everything we do then we should be showing His love for one another. Forget our petty differences! We can change the world for Christ only when we come to a mature unity in Him. Not just in words but in action! We should ask God to help Jesus' prayer come to realization.

We left to come home today. The night before I asked the clerk on duty at our hotel when the bikers were leaving. I loved his response to the question. He said "Not soon enough"! We are home now and looking forward to a nice quiet night and not hearing any motorcycles! Sometimes it is good to come home!

Like Father Like Son

I was discussing some old TV ads with some friends. We were seeing who could remember what commercials. I recalled some and they told me I was dating myself. I said I had to because no one else would. One commercial; in particular I recalled was an anti-smoking one from years ago. A father was washing the car and his son was attempting to help wash the car. They showed the boy doing everything the father did. At the end of the commercial, the father picked up a pack of cigarettes and lit one up. He set the pack down and his son picked up the pack looking at it. The point of the ad was to make people aware that the son would think about smoking just because his dad did. The problem is that it isn't just smoking that the next generation imitates but many other things as well.

Our church has started a small group program called Discipleship Dare. We talked about becoming disciples and what it means to be a disciple. We have been called to become like Christ and to live a life that reflects Jesus to the world. We are a living epistle to those around us. Our actions speak so much louder than what we say. The world is watching us and see how we respond to circumstances and problems that we go through. We need to reach the world for Jesus Christ and if our light does not shine brightly in the dark world, we will fail in accomplishing the task for which God has called us. We need to draw closer to Him and allow our faith to grow deeper. We are challenged every day to be the disciples He desires us to be. It is an ongoing process and not a once a done event. We are all still sinners but hopefully sinners saved by grace. We will never be perfect until the day we stand in His presence in eternity. But until then lets make every effort to live godly and holy lives that the world will know that we are His!

Rememebring 9-11

On this day nine years ago the world changed quickly and dramatically as did the skyline of New York City. I recall all too well where I was and what I was doing on September 11th of 2001. I had to run to the house for something before I went back to the shop. The radio was reporting a plane accidentally hit the one tower and the tower was on fire. I turned on the tv and a minute later I saw the second plane hit the other tower. I was horrified to see the plane aim right at the building and hit it and then burst into flames. The worst part was knowing one of my friends worked on one of the floors where the first plane hit. I believe God was merciful to him and most of those who were killed when it hit. They didn't suffer as many others would. It didn't take long for things to become apparent to us as to what was happening. When the Pentagon was hit and flight 93 went down, we knew we had been attacked by terrorists who were bent on killing as many as they could. Many people's lives were changed that day. It wasn't only those who died but even more so those loved ones left behind. My friend's wife and kids lost their husband and father. Yes the world has changed and I do not believe it was for the better. Many have died since that day defending our nation in its battle with the terrorists.

I understand why people hate the Muslims. I do not trust them but I know something else that I need to understand. God has called all believers to love the Muslims as well as the rest of the world. I do not believe the mosque should be built near Ground Zero but that does not mean I hate them. I am sure we would not allow a Japanese memorial to be built at Pearl Harbor so why would we allow a mosque is insanity. I know that God has called us to preach the Gospel to all the world and to share His Son with them. We need to understand that our emotions cannot be left to rule us because they will not lead to anything but destruction. We need to follow God's commands and love them as He does. They are lost and dying for a god that does not exist. We serve a mighty God who sent His Son to die for us so we would not perish but have eternal life. Burning the Koran will not stop the Muslims but only the power of the Holy Spirit bringing conviction can. I look forward to the day that Jesus will rule and reign on Earth and there will be peace on Earth. But until that day let us keep on reaching the lost for Jesus Christ!

A Mother's Love?

Some of you may recall Bill Cosby and some of his stories. He talked about violence and mothers and how violent they can be. He said how they would threaten their kids with hitting them into the middle of next week. His response was "please do because I am having a tough time this week". Well today I saw a mother threatening to knock her kid's head off if he didn't stop acting up. She had a hold of him and was staring directly into his eyes. I thought he was going to die from the stare alone. Thankfully he stopped misbehaving because it would not have been very pretty seeing his head come off. Not a sight I want to see. She finally let him go and finished up her business and left. And yes she took the child with her! I was grateful he left in one piece like he came in!

I was glad my mother didn't threaten me like that when I was a kid! I may not have made it through childhood with the way I behaved sometimes. I started thinking about our relationship with God and how we disobey Him sometimes. Well Okay! A lot! I am glad that He doesn't respond to us the way this mother did to her child. He responds to us in grace and mercy instead of anger and wrath like we deserve. He could have chosen to take us out like we deserve but instead chose to send His Son Jesus to pay for our sin and offer us forgiveness in place of justice. He is not prone to emotional outbursts and fits of anger like some. He is loving in all His actions and desires only the best for people. We serve a God who doesn't change with the weather or with the circumstances we face. He loves us with an everlasting love and is more patient with us than the best mother that ever lived. Remember that even David, after committing adultery and murder, was forgiven and called a man after God's own heart. Next time when you are tempted to threaten a child, remember how God treats you when don't act right in His eyes!

Change of Seasons

A couple of days ago I went outside after I had gotten up to see if I had put the cover on the grill because I wasn't sure if I did or not. I opened the door and stepped outside to a surprise. When I exhaled, I saw my breathe. It wasn't real noticeable but I could see it. I realized that it was chilly outside for the first time in quite a while. It began to register that I was getting cold standing there. I checked the grill and I had put on the cover. I decided to go back inside and warm up a little bit. I wasn't cold like you get in the winter but there was definitely a chill in the air. I thought about telling my wife about the temperature but I knew what she would say. "I don't want to see fall come! That means winter is on the way!" Heidie is definitely a summer person where I on the other hand am a spring or fall person. I like winter but it could be cold and snowy for Christmas then go back to spring. Heidie realized it was chilly anyway after hearing the morning forecast so it wasn't a secret too long.

The chill in the air reminded us that summer was drawing to a close and that fall was on the way. And after fall comes winter every year! There is nothing we as humans can do to stop that! Each year is the same. There is a seasonal cycle we go through and it never ends for us until we leave this earth. I firmly believe that the Earth's time is slowly ticking down. Not because of global warming or anything like that but because God has promised to come back to this planet one day and set things right! He will restore the Earth to the way it was intended to be when He created it. All one has to do is to read the headlines or watch tv to see that what the Bible has predicted is coming to pass. Israel is once again a nation and the world hates it. Things are lining up according the prophecies given thousands of years ago. Just as the fall signals the end of the summer( Sorry Hun!), the events of our days are signaling that time is almost over and the end times are here, The only question we need to ask ourselves is whether or not we are ready for Christ's return. I trust that you have made Christ your Lord and Savior and are eagerly awaiting His return. Don't be caught unprepared for the change coming to this planet!

Fighting for a Spot

After getting up one morning, I wen to the kitchen and opened the door to the outside. I wanted to see what the weather was like and check the temperature. I was also hoping to see if any hummingbirds were around at the feeder. I didn't see any but I did see something else going on. The deck was full of sparrows who were sitting all over the railing and everything else including the cross I put up on the deck. What got my attention was the fact that it was the cross that seemed to be where the birds wanted to be able to perch. They were all trying to get a spot on the cross. Some would fly up and push another bird off while others would wait and as soon as a spot would become vacant another bird flew to fill it. Some were more aggressive than others to hold their place on the cross. I watched this go on for several minutes and the whole time God was speaking to me and what it was He wanted me to learn from the birds.

I looked at the cross and realized that the cross means different things to different people today. Some see it as a sign of division and strife while others see it simply as a religious symbol with no relevance for today. Some people wear the cross as piece of jewelry and it has no impact on them. Yet, and thankfully so, there are others who see it and understand its meaning and its importance. The cross was developed as a means of execution by man but God used it a means of sacrifice of the Lamb of God. God planned for that sacrifice before He even created the world. He knew it would cost Him His Son but He went through with creation all the same. It was the cross that Jesus died on that drew men and women to Himself. He said if I be lifted up I will draw all men unto myself. He is still doing that today. When you look at the cross, what do you see and how do you respond? Or do you not give it a second thought? One of my favorite hymns says it best when it comes to the cross. So I'll cherish the old rugged cross till my trophies at last I lay down: I will cling to the old rugged cross and exchange it some day for a crown.

Are you like one of those birds who were trying to get to the cross or trying to stay at the cross when you got there? Even the birds understand the attraction of the cross! I hope you do too!