A Friday Afternoon

Ephesians 5:15-16   So be careful to live your life wisely, not foolishly. Take advantage of every opportunity because these are evil times

It was a warm September day, about 2:05 pm and I heard the TV change over and a familiar voice fill the air. Harry Caray was giving the line-up as the Cubs took the field at Wrigley.

I finished making a glass of tea, grabbed another drink, walked to the living room and handed it to my mom. She wasn’t a huge baseball fan, but she could relate with Harry, and while Harry could drive me crazy, I loved (and still do) the Cubs.  It was a way Mom and I could share some time together making a memory that now, 18 years later, still makes me smile.  We didn’t have a chance to share a moment like this again but it is one that I’ll always cherish.

Recently, because of some things that have happened to some people near me and things going on in my life, I’ve come to once again realize that time is so precious and goes by so fast.   With this realization and re-focus, I will look at things a bit differently.   What’s your focus in life?  Is it the things or is it the people?

“Father, open my eyes to the things that matter – my spouse, my children, my family, my friends and most importantly Father, You.  Amen”

It’s Not Fair

I overheard a conversation while I was waiting in line the other day and it made me think a bit. It was a husband and wife talking about an experience at work.  He was talking about someone at his office, “Every day she comes in just a few minutes before 9 in a huff making sure we all know she’s there.  She sets her purse and everything down – all but dropping them.  She goes off about how this driver wouldn’t get out of her way, or that person wouldn’t do this…  then she goes and get her breakfast from the cafeteria.”

Sounding quite frustrated, he continued, “She claims to work through her lunch, but right at noon she heads to the cafeteria again. She grabs her lunch and brings it back to her desk, where she proceeds to have her lunch with a couple of girlfriends laughing and discussing their children and husbands.  After about an hour of them at the table, she will finally get back to work.  She’ll put in a couple of more hours, but she easily is out of the office by 4:30 every day.  I just don’t get how she can get away with it!  I work my rear off, I’m early every day and usually give them 10-15 minutes extra each day.  Still, she’s treated just as well as I am, and I know based on her comments, her pay and raises are just as good as what mine are.”

I think we’ve all experienced this inequity, or perceived inequity. It can absolutely eat you alive.  Why is it some people seem to get the same (or more) even though you work just as hard and do all the right things?  It’s not a problem that’s new to this generation, decade, or even millennium.

“…These who were hired last worked one hour, and they received the same pay as we did even though we had to work the whole day in the hot sun” Matthew 20:12

I can’t tell you how many times I heard it growing up, and I’m sure, if asked, my son would say the same thing – Life is not fair! We can react in a couple of ways to this. We can let it work us up and spend countless hours and energy focused on, and complaining about it, or we can accept it (a little complaint is fine now and again) and enjoy and cherish what we do have.  Here’s an example – I think it would be amazing to have 2 brand new cars, a new house and money to go wherever I want, but honestly, having my son and my wife doing whatever (except stripping wallpaper), wherever, is a much greater gift to me.

Today, really focus and be thankful for what you DO have. God has given us all so very much to be thankful.  “Father, open my eyes to the gifts in my life and let me be thankful and filled with joy. Let all those around me hear me praise You!  Amen” 

Do I HAVE To?

Luke 22:41-42       He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed. He said, “Faher, if it’s Your will, take this cup of suffering away from me.  However, not my will but Your will must be done.”

How many of us have had a spouse, parent or loved one say something like “Hey we need help at…” and your first reaction is to cringe, avoid eye contact and quickly come up with a reason not to get involved?

I’m typing this part one-handed because I’m raising my hand as high as I can and thinking yep, I’ve done it and yep, I’ve seen it. At least once a month, our church will ask for volunteers for one of many missions out into the community.  A lot of the time, it’s only a one-time thing for maybe an hour or 2 on a Saturday.  I look over at my wife and one of will say, “I don’t care”, or “do we have anything scheduled?”.  The funny thing is, most of the time, (with the exception of marching band season and an occasional work event) we really don’t have anything planned, yet we so very rarely put our names down to volunteer.

On the rare occasion that we do commit to something, and it’s time to go, we, (ok I) hem and haw, then complain about not wanting to do it and just making myself miserable.  I’ve not backed out, but I’ve come up with some doozy excuses.  Thankfully, Jesus had a better spirit about the task set before him. Imagine how different life would be if instead of accepting it, he knelt down and said “You know I’ve been thinking about this whole crucifixion thing, and I’m not feeling so good – not to mention there’s a heck of a party going on, and I’m not going to make it.”

The sacrifices we make to help others can never be what He made for us on that cross, but we each can make a difference in a life. All we have to do is acknowledge that little voice in the back of our heads the next time we’re asked to help out and submit to His will. “Father, let us hear Your voice, understand Your will and let us act and not run. Amen”

My Father My Friend

John 15:15  I don’t call you servants any longer, because servants don’t know what their master is doing. Instead, I call you friends, because everything I heard from my Father I have made known to you.

I suppose I’m lucky, while as I’ve explained at least once before I’m fairly young in my formal Christian life, it was clear from a very young age that there was a Creator, God who looked down upon us. He was there to have a conversation, although my early teachers made it seem as though it should be a very formal style of communication.

As I grew older, I found myself moving away from those teachers, but I still found some time to have a conversation with God. Those talks strayed far away from that formality I’d been taught.  I can remember times that I’d have something hanging over me and I’d grab a big soda and head out for a drive.  I’d talk to Him about work, friends, life and even girls.  Anything and everything was fair game on one of those drives.  It’s during that time I realized God was more than the Creator – He was and He is – my friend.

I’ve not always cultivated that friendship, and in fact, I’d say I’ve probably expected a bit too much and taken advantage of that relationship from time to time. I’ll be honest, for a time I walked away from my friend.  Oh I knew He was there and I even checked in now and again, but I stopped having the conversations only one friend could have with another.

Looking at my life, I can’t imagine Him not being there then, now, or going forward. My Father, my Friend, is with me no matter what.  He’s there to listen to my aimless ramblings or to help solve a mystery of life.

Instead of ending this with a short prayer, I’m going to ask that sometime today, when you’re by yourself, you have a conversation with God just like you would a friend. Talk to Him about your day, your kids, and spouse – whatever is on your mind

He wore shorts to church!?

I can only imagine the reaction if our pastor stood in front of the congregation in shorts, t-shirt and flip-flops.  I would wager a guess there’d be more than one person leaning over and whispering in outrage “he wore SHORTS to church!”  I’m also pretty sure that the reaction would change little in most churches today.

Now imagine if a stranger walked in front door Sunday, maybe a bit road weary, a face that’s not seen a razor in a few days maybe weeks, dust and dirt from the road covering his hair and clothes.  How would he be received, not how should he be received but just how would he be received?

I suspect that there might be a couple of people who’d come up to shake his hand and welcome him, but just as before there’d probably be even more people leaning over and whispering.   Yet if you think about it, Jesus would have been that man 2000 years ago; he would have been “unkept” even considered “dirty”.  Who are we to judge simply on appearance?  I’m not saying the next homeless person you see is Jesus, likely they are not, but what if it were?

A little story, one day when I was working as an insurance agent out in the field, I was having a bad day, a bad week,…let’s face it I wasn’t enjoying my work at all.  Not only was it not what I wanted to be doing, but what I was doing wasn’t truly keeping my family fed or a roof over their heads.  That day was filled with prayers and questions.  Finally in a bit of sarcasm I said, “God, I know I’m not supposed to ask but I can’t figure out Your plan for me, why am I here?  What am I supposed to be doing?  Please give me some kind of answer.”  I went on to say, “You gave Moses a burning bush, why can’t You give me a burning bush too?!”

As I worked through my day, I was brought to an apartment complex.  In the front entry there were some seats and it wasn’t uncommon for people to be chatting there with friends.  This day as I walked in there was an older gentleman.  He wasn’t well kept and quite honestly, the smell coming off of him was pretty overwhelming but as I walked in I said “hi” as most would in passing.  He smiled and said hello.  There was still so much life in that man but it was hidden.  I mentioned something about the weather and we began to talk.  We talked about sports, family and suddenly he looked at me and said “trust that you are headed in the right direction, He has a plan for you”.  I smiled and said thank you telling him that I had been questioning that grand plan today.  He smiled again and simply said “Trust in Him!”

I thanked him and let him know I had an appointment upstairs.  I signed in at the security desk, right next to where this conversation had taken place. I went up for my appointment but found that no one was home.

I’d been upstairs not more than 10 minutes, plenty of time to consider over and over again my conversation with the gentleman.  I decided I wanted to tell him thank you again.  I got downstairs and signed out and asked the security guard where the older gentlemen that I had talked with was.  Security told me that there had not been anyone sitting where I’d pointed all day.

I looked around the building for a bit but to no avail.  I had a few clients in that building, so I was there a couple of times a week but never saw this man again.

God gave me that burning bush, but instead of leaves branches and flames He’d sent me a man, man with His words, assurance and yes even comfort for that particular stretch of my journey.  If I’d just walked past this man, not engaged him in conversation, I’d never had a glimpse of God’s amazing wisdom.  As you walk along the path don’t turn away from the shorts and flip flops…don’t let the dirt and unshaven face keep you from Him today.

I Want…

Philippians 4:19   My God will meet your every need out of his riches in the glory that is found in Christ Jesus.

I was at the store earlier this week and seemed to follow a couple and their pre-school aged child down each aisle. As I did, I had the opportunity to see the interaction between the child and the parents.

We’d not made it out of the produce section when I heard “Mommy, I want some grapes!”. In the cart went grapes. Next we were going past the deli and “Daddy I want cheese!” A few passes of the slicer later and in flopped a package of cheese. Down the soda isle, yet another demand. Next chips and another demand, they looked at the child and then each other. I heard the father say “I don’t think you need those”. The tears started and I heard a little voice say, “You don’t love me?” The parents tried to explain that it wasn’t that they didn’t love them but that there were many snacks already in the cart – plus what they had at home.

As a parent, it’s difficult not to give your child everything they ask for and think they need, if you’re capable of giving it to them.  But as a parent, you also know you must do what is best for the child and usually ‘everything’ isn’t the best. As the child matures, they grow to understand the difference between a want and a need.

I suspect our relationship with our heavenly father is very similar. I can remember times I’d go to Him and ask for everything – thinking I needed it, when really, it was simply something I wanted. And when I didn’t get it, I’d start to question if He was with me and if He still loved me.

As I’ve grown older, wiser, and my relationship with God has deepened, I’ve come to see the difference. It doesn’t mean I still don’t ask for an “Xbox-one” now and again. No, I still ask, (I’m still a child in this relationship) but as I mature, I understand more and more that everything I want isn’t always everything I need.

“Father God, I am Your child and I’m going to ask You for things I think I need. Help me to understand that I don’t always need what I ask for and You will always provide me with the things I truly need. Amen”

SQUIRREL!!!

Proverbs 15:23    To give an appropriate answer is a joy; how good is a word at the right time!

It’s been a few summers ago.  I woke up well before the sun had broken the horizon. I was awake and didn’t want to hang out around the house. I made up my mind I was going to head down to the lake for the day to do a little fishing.

I was excited – I went out to the kitchen to make a fresh pot of coffee while I threw on some clothes and grabbed my gear. I walked out to the kitchen, only to find that the coffee pot had puked grounds and coffee all over the counter. Something obviously either wasn’t in the right place or it was clogged. I didn’t let it phase me, I just cleaned up the mess and decided to stop by a convenience store on the way out. I was going to stop anyway, because I needed ice and some gas for my Jeep.

I made my stop and I was headed south, music playing loud and thoughts of crappie danced in my head. I got about 20 miles south, only to find that construction had the road down to 2 lanes. Not a big deal, I’m still making good time, the sun was barely visible. Then, out of nowhere, well actually from the driveway of the old farm house, comes a tractor and a truck with its flasher on, they’d pulled out in front of me!  Hitting the brakes and screaming in my head (or maybe actually out loud), “there is not another person within a mile behind me!”, I continued on my way.

Still I’m headed south, making time – just much, MUCH slower. It’s ok, I’m headed fishing. For the next 7 miles, at no more than 15mph, I followed a green tractor and a mid 80’s pickup truck. The sun was a bit higher in the sky when they finally turned, but I was still excited and now could get back up to highway speed. I only had about 30 miles to go.

I get to the lake, find a spot to park, grab my pole, my tackle box, bait and head the lake. First case, I snag a stick just below the water. I cast a couple of more times and snag the log to which the stick was attached. After tying on another hook and baiting it, I attempt to cast out again, only to find that there was huge bird’s nest (for those that don’t fish, imagine a bunch of string in a huge tangle) in my open-face reel.

I’m now officially discouraged – no I’m mad, ding dang it – I just wanted to fish a bit and look how this has turned out!  Anyway, I’m cleaning out the reel and notice a squirrel chattering on a branch maybe 50 feet from me. I can’t see what it’s yelling at, but it did catch my attention. All of a sudden, a second squirrel comes running down the branch. The first squirrel, startled, jumps in the air but instead of landing on the branch, it falls into the water. As it’s falling it’s spread out like it’s trying to grab the air to stop itself. The 2^nd squirrel is looking down and chattering, I’d say laughing, because I know I was.

After I dried my tears, I realized God had given me a laugh and the peace I’d been looking for. I cleared out the reel and finally got back to fishing and had a great day.

God puts the right word in our lives – it may be a co-worker, a spouse, your child, a song, or even a squirrel grasping for air, but it’s there. Who knows, you might even be a squirrel for someone today.

“Father, thank you for our friends and family who bring joy into our lives each day. They are a wonderful gift of love from You. Amen”

A Guided Tour

Proverbs 16:9   People plan their path, but the Lord secures their steps.

I can remember a few times when I’ve gone on vacation where I’ve not been responsible for transportation. Either we’ve hopped on a train to go from one point or another, or I’ve enjoyed a bus tour of an area.

Specifically, I can remember going to South Dakota one summer. I’d done some research and found a company that would pick us up at the hotel and shuttle us to several different locations such as Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse and the Badlands.  That day was absolutely one of the most amazing days I’ve spent.

I could simply look out the window and enjoy the scenery – I didn’t have to worry about directions or parking. The fees covered admission.  It was so relaxing.

A friend and I were talking about life and the plans that God has for us. We agreed that it is very difficult to give up the control and let God take the reins.  That conversation made me think about the bus tour I enjoyed, and I realized that during the times that I’d given up control and relied on God, I’ve had a chance to look out the window and enjoy the scenery.

It’s not always clear where He’s leading us – quite frankly there are times it’s not clear that He’s even with us –  but He’s not ever left our side. When there’s a time where the directions aren’t clear and you don’t know where or which way to turn – give it to Him.  To whom better could you turn over the tour?

“Father, I’m going to turn over my life to you.  I may grab it back from time to time, but please be patient with me. I know you’ll never leave my side.  Amen”

My Tummy Hurts

John 3:30 He must increase and I must decrease

It’s been some time since my son has told me, “Daddy, my tummy hurts.”, but when I’d hear this phrase, I’d go through a series of questions to decide if maybe he’d eaten something that isn’t agreeing with him, been around a friend who was sick, or maybe trying to avoid a lesson or test. Then again, there were times that it’s just that he didn’t feel well and he need a little comforting and tender loving care to nurse him back to health.

I think we’ve all had a day where we just don’t feel our best – or maybe the day’s just a bit off-kilter. I can tell you I’ve run into a few days like that were my “tummy hurt”. Looking back, it’s not until later that I’ve realized it was on those days that maybe I’d tried to make it more about me rather than making it more about Father God.

Maybe I forgot to say good morning and thank Him for the day, or maybe forgot to spent a few moments in prayer or thank Him for the cup of coffee I held in my hand. In reality, what I did was make Him less a part of my day rather than more. It doesn’t take long to get me squared back up once I’ve come to that realization. While I don’t tell him my “tummy hurts”, I will take a little time in His loving embrace to be nursed back to health.

If you’re having one of those days, stop and take a moment to rest and tell Him, “Father, I am sorry. I need you in my life. I need Your comfort and love. Let me make my day more about You and less about me. Amen”

Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad…

Hebrews 13:6 This is why we can confidently say – The Lord is my helper and I won’t be afraid.  What can people do to me?

I hope “wolf” came to your mind when you ended the above title. If you think about that classic children’s story, those little pigs are in a bad way and honestly, they have every reason to be scared.  If I had a hunter like the wolf on my trail, I think I’d be a bit nervous.  It wasn’t until they found protection of brick that they could finally rest and feel safe.

You know, sometimes it can feel like we have a wolf on our tails – whether it be because you’re not getting along with your best friend and/or spouse, or maybe it’s the bills and you’re a bit behind.  Could it be something at work or with your children?

No matter the single or combined cause, we’ve all had a time in our lives where it feels as though that wolf is breathing down your back and you just need to find refuge – a house made of bricks with a sturdy door to hide behind.

God can be that refuge – that brick house and sturdy door – and we all have a key. Find a quiet spot and simply go to Him in prayer.  Ask Him for help to bring peace into your life, and safety from those things that you fear.  Then you too can sing, “Who’s afraid of the big bad…”

Share with us your fears, your concerns. We will pray for, and with, you.

Trash-Talking

Proverbs 13:1   A wise son listens to the discipline of his father, but a mocker doesn’t listen to correction.

I heard a pastor on the radio use this verse to build an entire sermon on how children should respect their parents. I’ve heard good Christian folk pull this one out of their back pocket during difficult times.  But, let’s break this verse down.

The wise son listens to the discipline of his father. First, I think we can exchange ‘smart’ for wise, remove son and insert ‘child’.  Now, when you first look at it, it’s pretty easy to point at this and say, “see look, if you want to be smart, you must listen to what I have to say”.  But if you stop and really think about what it’s saying, that finger should quickly start pointing back to you.  We are all God’s children and He gives us wonderful direction (discipline) in His book and in our day-to-day lives. Problem is, we may not always be listening.

Now the second part, but a mocker doesn’t listen to correction.  Mocker isn’t a word we use very often.  We might say Johnny is mocking Sue, but were not going to go to Johnny and call him a mocker, so let’s change it to trash-talker.   If you apply this as I did above, to a discussion with your child, that pointing finger is flying up quick, but you better stop it before it gets all the way up because you’re going to wind up pointing at yourself.  We’ve all been around someone who tends to degrade, make fun of, or simply dismisses what we say – a trash-talker.

So if we put it back together and change it up to fit with today’s conversations, it might sound something like… The smart or intelligent child (you me and everyone) listens to the Father about the changes we should make because if we don’t, then we’ll wind up being trash-talkers.

Hmmmm…it’s funny, if you think about it and the conversations you’ve had with God, they are eerily similar to ones we’ve had with our own children or parents. How easy is it to turn off God and not listen to His gentle course corrections? And where does that put us?  Not ‘smart’ because we wind up being the trash-talker.  Thankfully, our heavenly Father is forgiving, loving, understanding and full of grace.    All it takes is “Father, I’m sorry I’ve not listened, but I will start now. Give me open ears and an open heart to hear you.  Amen”

A Lantern

Matthew 5:16   In the same way, let your light shine before people, so they can see the good things you do and praise your Father who is in heaven.

Torches, lanterns and flashlights have all been used to light man’s way throughout history. I’ve used a campfire or a Coleman lantern more times than I can count to find my way to my tent or the bathroom.  Funny thing is, I’d never stopped to consider how important that light is in my journey.

Just about as often as I’ve used a flashlight to find my way, I’ve used the lanterns God has put into my life to get back on the path. I’ve been so fortunate to have some absolutely amazing men and women come into my life to direct me and guide me through some of life’s greatest struggles.

One of those lanterns was extinguished in the last week, and I realized that I never did say thank you for the light he shared with me. Through his examples as a father and husband, by his faith and belief in the One Great Architect of the universe, and through his presence in my life with a warm smile and a strong and supportive hand in friendship and brotherly love, he lit my path.

He, as well as all those who have lighted my path in past, will be missed. I am eternally grateful for role they had in shaping the man that I am. I thank my Father for putting them along my path so that even when I get lost I can find my way back to Him.  Finally, I pray this “Father, let me be a lantern shining brightly so that others might see their path to You and all the good You do. Amen!”

Not Batting a Thousand

James 3:2 We all make mistakes often, but those who don’t make mistakes with their word has reached full maturity.  Like a bridled horse, they can control themselves entirely.

Full maturity – what an amazing goal to set for ourselves! But today, I want to talk about the first 5 words of this verse. We all make mistakes OFTEN!

Today at work seems to be one of those days where OFTEN is coming much more frequently than I’d like. It seems that every time I turn around I’m finding something that I forgot to do or someone is pointing out something that I missed.  It’s led to me feeling very discouraged.

I was listening to sports talk radio and they started going through the lineup for the baseball playoffs tonight where the Kansas City Royals will be facing the Oakland A’s. I realized there wasn’t a single player in the starting lineup hitting .800 – not even 1 hitting above .500.  In fact, there is just a handful even hitting over .300.  Out of over 50 players in tonight’s game, there was only a few players who would reach base 1/3 of the time.

This knowledge boosted my confidence a bit, and then I read this verse and realized that being perfect, never making a mistake, is an amazing goal.  I must continually work and strive to possibly someday reach this level but until then – I must recognize that I’m going to make mistakes. Further, I must learn from the mistakes I make each and every day.  Today was filled with lessons that I am thankful and excited to learn.

You too, are going to face days filled with mistakes. Are you going to be open to learn the lessons He has put before you?

Simple Man

Isaiah 41:10 Don’t fear, because I am with you; don’t be afraid, for I am your God, I will strengthen you, I will surely help you; I will hold you with my righteous strong hand.

One of my favorite songs is “Simple Man” by Lynyrd Skynyrd. I think it means so much to me because it’s a summary of several conversations I had with my mom as a young man.

In the song, it goes over a number of things that the mother has found through experience will lend themselves to a happy and productive life for her son. It talks about not living life too fast so that you can appreciate each day.  She tells him to find love and not to focus on riches because what he truly needs is within him, in his soul.  Throughout the song, she tells him to just be simple, “something you love and understand”.  The one thing I take from the song is the reminder that there is someone above.

If you are familiar with this band at all, you’ll know this southern rock and roll band is filled with members whose lives are chronicled to be filled with alcohol, drugs and women. Yet, from them we have this reminder. There IS someone up above, and if you listen to the song, you can probably hear a mother talking to her son, maybe a conversation one of them had with their own mother.

I’m not going to judge their choices or their lives – I have enough to carry regarding my own – but I will say that when I hear the song, it reminds me of a time when Mom was trying to help me make the right choices in my life.  It grounds me to where I came from and what’s truly important in my life.   I’m sure if you look back, you can find a reminder in your life to bring you back to where you’re suppose to be.  “Father God, help me each day to remember You have never left me, You’re always there. Amen”

The Morning Star

2 Peter 1:19   And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 

Revelation 22:16  “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”

I received a few pictures by text the other day.  It was a panoramic view of a crystal blue sky with mountains in the background.  They were from someone who has been going through a very rough time – relationship issues, difficulties in a job transfer.  I, along with a few others who had received those pictures, exchanged a few thoughts – mine was that it was symbolic of a fresh start.

I think most of us have either seen that perfect morning at the end of a movie or or hopefully experienced it – little wind, fresh, clean, maybe even crisp air, and the sun warming your face.   In this case, it’s not an action movie ending where the good guy wakes up to the perfect sunrise with all the evil in the world left in a burning heap.

I do believe that perfect morning is symbolic.  You see, just like in that action movie, Jesus Christ removed, through the cross, the evil from our lives – the sin – and allows us the opportunity to be forgiven of our sins.  He was sent down upon this earth to bring us that perfect morning, to leave all of the evil in our lives behind and allow the morning sun to warm our face.

If you’ve not yet accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, it’s really fairly simple.  Find a quiet place, bow your head, and have a conversation with Him about who you are, what you’ve done that probably wouldn’t make Him proud.  Ask for forgiveness and invite Him to come into your heart and into your life.

If you’ve accepted Jesus as your Savior, asked for forgiveness and invited Him into your life, you have an idea of what I’m referring to.  You may draw a different comparison, but the bottom line is the experience and the knowledge that you’re starting with a clean slate.   I must ask, have you shared that perfect morning with someone else?  Do you really want to hide the Son from someone else? The gift we’ve received is not for us alone but one that must be shared.

From the Mouth of A Clown

Matthew 15:11 It’s not what goes into the mouth that contaminates a person in God’s sight. It’s what comes out of the mouth that contaminates the person.

It’s festival time here in the Midwest, every small town and even some of the bigger towns around the area shut down main street or the town square to put up canvas booths filled with all sorts of things. From politicians (inset your best joke here) to hand-made crafts.  Oh, and then there’s the food.

Now I’ll admit I’m not going to win any awards for my eating habits, but I’ve started working on the idea that I should eat a bit healthier. That said, I’ll repeat it IS festival time and with that comes funnel cakes.  I don’t know what it is about a funnel cake, but I struggle to resist.

Anyway, my wife and I were walking around taking in the sites and the funnel cake when we came across this guy in a dunk tank. He was that typical obnoxious guy, dressed kind of funny and spreading insults to people as they passed by the tank.  As I approached, I saw him and he saw me as I was taking a bite of the powdered sugar covered fried dough.  I cringed to wait on the venom he was going to fling my way, and sure enough out it came.  For whatever reason it really hit me to the bone, but we continued on and as we passed him, I handed my wife the remainder of the funnel cake and told her I was done.

Later that evening when I had a little time to myself, I thought about what he’d said and I thought to myself “I can’t believe someone could say something so hurtful! I could never say anything like that.”  My thoughts moved on to some of the conversations I’ve been a part of recently.  I don’t lack in opinion and am not afraid to share those opinions.  Up until this point, I’d actually be proud of the fact that I’d speak my mind – not really sugar-coating the truth.  All at once it dawned on me, while I’ve not used phrases flung out by the clown in the dunk tank, the words and tones I had used were just as, if not more, hurtful because of the people to whom I’d spoken them.

I know I don’t always realize what’s coming out of my mouth and I’d wager that most men are the same way. I’d be pretty confident in saying further that we all wish we could somehow suck back in about 50% of what we say.  Well, we can’t, but we can be a bit more deliberate when we speak – think just a bit harder about the words and the tones we use.  Instead of trying to use our words to lift up our position and prove ourselves right, we can be a light for God and our words can lift others so that they may reach out and touch His hand.

“God, help me to not be a clown, but to be a platform and a light to guide others to Your loving embrace. Amen”

Just a Hem

Mark 5:27  Because she had heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his clothes.

As I was sitting at my desk this morning, I looked down and saw the hem on my pants, and the story of this woman came to me.  It’s a story of a woman who had been sick for a number of years.  She’d spent that time seeing doctors, looking for relief, yet she continued to be sick and in fact, getting worse.

With faith in all that she’d heard, she went to see Jesus and be healed.  The crowd was so great she could do nothing but reach out and just barely touch the hem of His robe.  Instantly, she was healed.

I think of the many times I’ve had a struggle in my life.  The times I was sick – not just physically, but broken spiritually from a change or a loss in my life.  Each time I’ve reached out to Him, I’ve found relief – maybe not how I’d asked for it, but He has always been there.

What do you do when you’re feeling sick?  What has He done to heal you and heal your life?  I’d love to hear how He’s worked in your life to heal your life.  Please take a few minutes to comment and tell us your story or the story of a friend.

Recognize Success

Psalm 73: 22-24  I was stupid and ignorant.  I acted like nothing but an animal toward you. But I was still always with you! You held my strong hand! You have guided me with your advice;  later you will receive me with glory.

I’ve got a friend who’s going through a difficult time with his teenager. They seem unmotivated, uninterested and quite frankly, almost disengaged.  I’ve spent quite a bit of time at their place and have had an opportunity to see a number of interactions between my friend and his child.

From everything I’ve seen, he’s a good father. He’s genuinely interested in their friends, the way they dress, hygiene, school activities and school performance.  The kid seems to be well-liked, he’s always talking with friends or hanging out with kids from school, but well, they just don’t seem to connect and don’t seem to care.

I’ve watched my buddy talk, rationalize, explain and even yell about school performance until he’s blue in the face, but nothing seems to be getting through. It was the conversation that they had last night, along with some other things by buddy had shared, it finally connected.

See if this makes sense.  Imagine if every time we didn’t do exactly what we were supposed to, or failed a life test, our heavenly Father pointed it out. Can you imagine how completely useless any effort what so ever would seem?  Why would any of us want to do anything?  Instead, our Father accepts us for who we are and provides us with gentle course corrections that keep us on the correct path.  Not only does He give us gentle nudges, but he rewards us when we’ve leaned a lesson or done something right…wait He rewards us…? He does if you open your eyes, your mind and your heart.  There are glimpse of His glorious beauty revealed. There are moments of laughter when you need it most and there are kind words and a helping hand to lift you up and dust you off.

Now back to my revelation.  As they were talking about school performance, there was a focus on what the child was failing rather than the positive things they were doing. Instead of recognizing the success, the failures were magnified.  So in my head popped this thought, what if we tried to help our kids with gentle non-judgmental nudges? Reward them for the good things they’re doing and lessons they’ve learned and offer a helping hand up and a kind word when they’ve been knocked down.  In other words, recognizing the successes rather than magnifying the failures.

Prayer: Father, there is not one of us who is perfect, I make mistakes everyday. Thank you for not pointing out all of my failures.  Help me to recognize success rather than magnify failure. Amen

A Foggy Start

John 8:12 Jesus spoke to the people again, saying, “I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me won’t walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”

As I was driving in this morning, I looked around. It was dark – not even a star visible.  The sun not yet visible on the horizon, the road in front of me was hazed with a thin veil of fog.

The sun finally began to break through the haze about half-way through my trip, and as it moved higher on the horizon, the road became easier to see and the direction I was going became clearer.

It’s like that in life as well. Without the Son, life is foggy, the road is hard to see and the direction you’re heading is not clear.  It’s not until the Son begins to shine in your life, until He is higher and more prominent, that the fog begins to lift, the path becomes better defined and you know the direction you should travel.

Today can be the day you begin clearing the fog that is covering your life’s direction and purpose, just let the Son shine on you.

My Thanks to You

Jeremiah 20:11   But the Lord is with me as a dread warrior;
therefore my persecutors will stumble; they will not overcome me.
They will be greatly shamed, for they will not succeed.
Their eternal dishonor will never be forgotten.

I’m not sure that this belongs here, but after the movie I watched the other night, I feel compelled to write about it. My family has a long and very rich history of service for this country.  Based on the research I’ve completed, it appears there has been at least 1 member of my family involved in each of the major military conflicts in which the United States has been involved.  In addition, we’ve served in law enforcement and in the fire and emergency medical services.

I am very proud of this history – not because I’m a man who loves war, bloodshed or any of the hardships associated with conflict, but because I know that my family believes in freedom. The men and women who I’ve known were, and are, warriors.  Not warriors of aggression, but warriors for peace, liberty and upholders of the freedoms and rights given to us by the Creator.

There are many reasons for which this country was founded, (some of which are far from honorable) but to the men who sought independence thought certain freedoms, inalienable rights were so important that they etched them permanently on parchment.

Through the years, and really from the beginning of time, countries have had different visions.  Men have fought by order and by choice. But the warriors I speak of, hold these God-given rights so dearly that they have gone across the world to share them – in some cases, laying down their lives to ensure that people throughout the world can experience and enjoy something for which we have grown accustomed.

War and hatred are not a creation of God, but a by-product of the Free Will provided to us by the Creator. That said, God does stand on the side of the oppressed and those who would fight for them.

It is, almost without exception, exemplified in the men and women who have served and who currently serve our country in wearing a badge, in bunker gear, driving an ambulance and those who wear the uniforms of our country’s armed services.

To each of you and your families, I say thank you and may the Creator, our Father, bless each and every one of you and keep you safe.

It Costs More Than You Think

I read an interesting quote this morning and it made me think. It was a quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Money costs too much”

If you think about that, it’s true. What do you have to give up in order to work that extra shift? Who might you disappoint if you spend the day mowing? Now don’t get me wrong, I’m all for making sure that my family has food on the table and shelter over their heads, but beyond that I have to question the motivation, and more so, I have to question the cost.

Proverbs 17:16 reads “Why should a fool have money to pay for wisdom? He has no mind.”   You’ve probably read or heard this passage translated a bit differently – talking about a fool and his money are soon parted, but I like the wording here.

Try reading it like this… “Why should a husband have money for his wife and kids? He has no family…” Reading it that way may help you start to see what truly is important.

Yeah, everyone will have a great time going to Disney and the memories will last a lifetime, but looking back at the times I spent with my folks, the biggest smile and the warmest feelings in my heart are the memories when we were spending an evening together playing a game or the afternoon spent fishing at a local lake. It always comes down to the time they spent with me – not the money they spent on me

This weekend, instead of spending an extra hour or 2 trying to get ahead, take that precious time and spend it with your family and as you do, give thanks to our Father for the gift. “Father, You have given me so many gifts, one of the greatest is my family. Amen”

Comment and tell me how you spent some time with, rather than money on, your family this weekend.

W.W.P.G.G

Proverbs 29:11 A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.

Deuteronomy 31:6 Be determined and confident.  Don’t be afraid of anyone or anything.  Your God the Lord himself will be with you.  He will not fail you or abandon you.

With the last 5 posts I’ve gone over a process that I’ve worked to develop in an effort to more effectively handle adverse situations – a way to rely more on Him and less on me.  That process entailed taking a little time when faced with a “mountain” to touch on 5 words

W isdom

W ords

P atience

G uidance

G race

I put this together because the 2 options I’ve used in the past just weren’t getting the best results and I was worn out from the constant strain and emotional drain.  It all came about because of a 36-hour period where first I saw that a payment was mistakenly debited twice from my account, leaving me overdrawn and owing more in fees than the original debt, secondly getting a call from a relative whose life was “blowing up” and finally, to top it off, everything I touched I was dropping or breaking!

My first thought was to get mad, curse a bit and maybe raise my voice.  I contemplated calling the relative back and telling them this is how the situation is should be handled.  Then call the company back who ran debit through twice, likely using an angry tone and demanding satisfaction and reimbursement for the overdraft fees.

The other option was to withdraw, and hide from everything.  I could assume that the family member would resolve their issues without my input.  I could hope that the company would reimburse me for the accidental charge and all the fees associated with it – surely they would discover their mistake.  And by withdrawing, I would not have contact with as many people and therefore could stop my path of destruction.

Like I said, these options just didn’t seem right.  The first (getting mad) gets you nowhere quickly!  When I would choose that option, I’d have expended so much energy that there was no joy to celebrate the success.  In addition, I’d have created chaos in the lives of at least 2 more people and with that, the enemy has won.

The second option resolves absolutely nothing; in fact it actually winds up making things much worse.  As things combine and compile, the little issue becomes a mountain, and when I’d look to climb that mountain, I would be overwhelmed with its size!

With that, I decided to do something different,  I looked skyward and asked our Father for His help.  My request wasn’t concise, and I’m sure it didn’t come close to covering the situations I was facing, but what it did do was allow me time to calm down.  It also allowed me to move it from my hands to His.  Knowing that my Father was with me and knowing that He was there to guide me through each of these situations brought me peace and energy.  I had the strength through Him to celebrate overcoming each situation.   I also had the joy to praise Him for His help and His grace.

I continue to struggle with this daily, sometimes minute to minute, but I always remember, no matter what the situation, God is near and will guide me through the obstacles of life.  The next time you’re facing a hurdle, stop and ask Him to be with you – give WWPGG a try.

Grace

2 Corinthians 4: 15  All these things are for your benefit. As grace increases to benefit more and more people, it will cause gratitude to increase, which results in God’s glory.

If you’ve attended a church service at any time in your life, there has probably been some mention of grace.  As a kid, the first time I heard the term I immediately thought of it as the prayer said before a meal.  As I grew older, I heard the term thrown around, but no real definition given.

Now I say no real definition, but that’s not completely true.  I’d hear this or that but it never really sank in until I did a little reading myself.  What grace boils down to is this; a love that is unearned with absolutely no expectation that it will ever be returned.  It’s the love your parent(s) showed you; the love you’ve shown your child; the love shown to a partner or to a sibling, (including when they’ve put Vaseline in your hair brush or scarred you shin for life).

God’s Grace is an amazing gift He’s given to us since the beginning of time. The most obvious example is the death of Jesus Christ on the cross so that we might all someday live in His kingdom.  Stop and imagine the many gifts you’ve been given – yes including the scar on your shin.  He has given you so very much.  So let me ask; Is it too much to ask that the next time you face a difficult situation that you show Grace to the person you’re dealing with? I’m talking His Grace, a love and understanding – without any expectation that it will be returned.  A kind word, a pleasant tone, an open mind and loving heart.

The next time a car cuts you off, or you hear the angry tone of voice in response to a  question or any situation, try taking a deep breath and calling on our Father for a little help.  “Father, I’m facing a trying situation and I need Your help, I need Your strength.  Give me the ability to show Your Grace through my actions.”

Look, I’m gruff, opinionated and “determined” but if I can do it just 1 time a day, or maybe in 1 situation a week, then I can make a difference not only in my life but in the lives of others.  Give it a try, I mean really, what do you have to loose?

Guidance

Psalms 25 4-6  Make your ways known to me, Lord; teach me your paths.  Lead me in your truth—teach it to me—because you are the God who saves me.  I put my hope in you all day long.  Lord, remember your compassion and faithful love—they are forever!

As a man, I tend to fit into the stereotype – I don’t like asking for directions or asking for help.  I tend to feel as though it’s a mark against my man card.  That all being said, I’ve noticed that this stubbornness (I like to call it determination) has infiltrated society, crossing gender boundaries more and more.

It’s so difficult to admit you’re going through a difficult time and you need help.  Can you remember the last argument you and your partner had in which they may have brought up a very valid point about one of your habits?  It may have been done in the most loving manner, yet what did you do – snapped their head off instead of taking a breath, accepting their words and asking “Father, I know I need help with this, let me accept the guidance and help they’re offering”.

And as a couple or individually, think about financial problems.  How sensitive are we about others finding out that for no fault of your own, ends aren’t meeting, the IRS is sending you letters, or you’ve found out that your company is downsizing?  Rather than hording the pain of the situation like a miser holds onto his gold, why not ask, “God, I can’t handle this on my own, please direct me and guide me by Your words, and through Your people”.

This isn’t like sending a text message to a dear friend (likely you’ll not get an immediate response) but He will act on His time and in His way.  So, when you’re facing a situation you don’t feel like anyone will understand, take a moment, take a breath and pray.

“God, I’m facing something I just don’t know how to handle.  Please give me wisdom, give me words, give me patience and give me guidance.  I leave this in Your hands. Amen”