Happy Halloween, Really!

Here is my take on today's "holiday." Some think this is a dark and/or evil celebration. While I don't care to refute that, I do care to focus on the obvious current practical activity. Most people don't really know its origins, which could just as easily have been Christian in nature. Let's just embrace it for what it is now, a social time for kids and adults to have some fun, go meet each other, exchange pleasantries, maybe find some new friends or meet some neighbors, and eat some good food. And some candy. It doesn't have to be any more complicated than that. Your dentist will love you, and you don't have to eat it all in one sitting.

Yes, be careful, keep an eye on the kids in the street, but have a good time. Lord knows we need an excuse for a diversion these days.

Come see me in my driveway if you are nearby. Looks like the rain has cleared out, so we will be open for the party! Bring it on!

September 12, 2013

Good morning. If yesterday was Never Forget, then today has to be Always Remember.

 

On Sept 11, we were attacked. On Sept 12, we responded. With typical American fortitude and determination. Things are looking pretty messed up right now, but we are not helpless. We are in fact ordained for truth justice and spirit. God help us that we can respond in the appropriate way. Make it a good day, folks...

In Memoriam - Bailey Cooper

So little time, so much impact. Thank you Bailey. You are not gone, just ahead of us.

Said the Shepherd Boy to the Mighty King

Do you hear what I hear? Do you see what I see?

He had no gift to bring, so he played his drum for Him, pah-rum-pah-pum-pum.

Today marks the end of Advent, the season of Waiting. For today, in a manger, long ago, the Christ Child was born to us. King. God. Man. Tempted in many ways, to be an example to us, but perfect anyway. How do we know about this Birth? Because it was announced to the people all through time. Broadcast, as my friend Aaron Cotton told us a week ago. No accident, the news was dropped in across time, as noted in Genesis 49:10 He is to come from Judah. 2 Samuel 7:12 He is to come from the line of David. Isaiah 7:14 He would be born of a virgin. Isaiah 9:6-7 Many names, one God forever. Hosea 11:1 He would flee from Egypt. Micah 5:2 He is to be born in Bethlehem.

Luke tells us that the shepherds left their flocks and went to see the Baby Jesus. They were told about it by the angels who told them of Great News, and then the shepherds spread the word of their findings all around. Matthew tells us of the Magi, talking to Herod, who had bad intentions. The Magi followed the Star from the east to the west, until it stopped over Bethlehem. Yes, it stopped. Retrograde motion, look it up. And then John summarizes for us that the Word was with God, was God, and became flesh.He lived among us.

This promise is repeated and confirmed. Anything that is repeated in the Bible is very important, and I think this qualifies! The promises of the Old Testament are fulfilled in the New Testament, and everything changes from there. The Law is the Law, and Jesus came to fulfill it, but He came to breath new life into us. John also says that the Christ came to the world, but the world did not know Him. They did not recognize Him. They did not receive Him. Those of us who have received Him are adopted. Chosen. Set apart. We are different, and we act that way. Most of the time. And God is good with that. He has chosen jars of clay to spread the word. Shepherds, the lowliest of men, and kings, the highest. And everything in between.

And so, as the angels worshiped,  "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to all men, on whom his favor rests," and announced the birth of Christ, we are the adopted ones, the beneficiaries of that Good News, and it is to be spread by us, just as the angels and shepherds did. By voice and by action.

Merry Christmas to all!!!

It's not the way we think it is

I talked with some people yesterday, who were upset and confused about how things have gone this week. I told them about an email I got on Wednesday. It basically said that the Isrealites are God's chosen people. He punished them because they were disobedient, and had them captured and moved to Babylon. They had a rough time there, But He took care of them while they were there, and had a plan for them, and promised them that there was a hope for them. He told them to settle down, get married, find a place to live, have kids, work the land, and live life there while they endured this. He told them he would make them prosper, protect them, and give them hope and a future. Despite the fact that they were in captivity.

We are in a kind of exile. In our own land. But those same promises are available to us as believers, because we are His adopted. Same status as the Isrealites. We call them Israelis today, but its the same people. If nothing else, we should keep our heads up, not allow anything to get us down, and keep plowing ahead. Cuz we are Americans, and that's what we do. And we have a hope and a future. No doubt.

I had the pleasure and privilege this past week of attending EntreLeadership, which is a leadership conference put on by Dave Ramsey's organization. Aside from a mind-bending 3 days of intense learning and communing, a very large takeaway came from Dave himself. He shared some of his story with us, and his biggest point was - Don't Give Up. No matter what, don't give up. Sometimes we have to learn the hard way, and sometimes that is the best teacher, but God is totally interested in loving and supporting His people. He wants us to succeed. God doesn't define success the same way we do. But He wants us to use the talents, skills and gifts that He gave us, to glorify Him, and to serve others. He honors our obedience and faith with blessings only He can give. One of Dave's principles is to have the heart of a teacher. I had to prove to him that I have that to be selected as one of his insurance ELP's. Being a teacher means that you let go of your own interests, and pour what you have into someone else. I have found that the more I teach, the more I learn. I am not a professional teacher. Not comparing myself to those heroic souls who take on the world everyday working with our future leaders. But I know that the more I seek to serve Him and other people, the better I feel, the more connected I feel to God, and frankly, the more blessings I get. Not just money. Not really even talking about that. Blessings come in many flavors. Dave said don't quit. Don't give up. Don't stop listening to Him. If you are a believer, He WILL speak to you. You just need to be quiet enough to hear Him. If you are not a believer, He still has a Word for you. It's the Bible, and He speaks directly to non-believers in it. It's a battle out there, no question. Maybe more so than ever in history. Don't stop believing. Don't quit spiritually, civicly, your career, your marriage, your kids, your relationships, your country, your faith, your God, your peace and joy. Someone else may be depending on you. We were not put here on earth to be a hermit. Or a loner. No matter what personality type you are, you have what you need to make a difference. Don't pass it up. Make a difference. Look around. Listen around. Go find somewhere to serve.

40 Days of Prayer

Join me in this. This is the most important thing that can be done to affect our upcoming election and national crisis. Not money, phone calls, walks, posts, signs. Without this, we are doomed, no matter who the election favors. Read it. Spread it. Do it. Claim it. Meet me there. Click here.