How many times have you shopped and shopped for just the right gift for one of your children and wrapped it up just right for Christmas morning and then waited for the moment your son or daughter opened the gift to then discover that it needed batteries and they were “not included”? If you are like me, you have done that more than once in your life. I can remember one Christmas where it seemed as if almost everything we purchased for our children needed batteries of some kind. Or the toy came with rechargeable batteries and you would have to wait eight hours while the batteries charged up before you could play with the toy. At some point you learn to just buy several batteries of different sizes for Christmas morning because someone is going to need one or two in order to make that perfect gift operate on Christmas day.
Well this year I am taking a different approach to this problem. This year I am giving people the gift of batteries with a short note attached that says, “Device Not Included”. Then the person can simply go the store of their choice and spend their own money to buy the gift or device that uses that size batteries. Okay, I hear you… I have gone too far. Maybe I should just try harder to make sure that those I buy gifts for also get everything they need to enjoy the gift.
Our heaven Father is great about giving the perfect gifts. As a matter of fact, no one gives gifts like God does. The gifts that He gives are perfect in every way and they are always just what is needed at the time. Think about it for a moment, what gifts does has God given you? What gifts does God continually give you? When you think about it, everything you truly need in life is provided to you by God. When you really think about it, every gift you need for the life to come is also provided to you by God. That is why God is the perfect giver of gifts.
This year as you are buying and/or preparing gifts for those you love consider including a note reminding them of all the ways your family is blessed by God. Who knows, that note may be the best gift they receive this year.
Just one side note for new husbands: If the gift you are considering buying your wife needs batteries…. Keep shopping. That is not the gift she wants from you.
Have a great Christmas and remember….
Love God. Go Love Others.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Monday, November 28, 2011
That's Not Football
Just the other day while I was watching one of the Thanksgiving Day Football games I saw a commercial that took me back to my childhood. It must not have been a very good commercial because I have no idea what product was being advertised, but it did get my attention. What grabbed my attention was the video of someone playing an old school vibrating football game. If you know what I’m talking about that means at least one thing about you is true, you are old. For those who do not know what I’m talking about this game was pretty simple in design. You have two teams of football guys which you would stand up on a small table top box that had a small football field painted on it. Once you had both teams lined up you simply turned on the switch and the box started vibrating which caused the little men on the table to move around. You had no way of controlling what the men did or where they went and most of the time all the players would just fall over. Now as lame as that sounds it was pretty cool at the time, but it was not football.
As time has gone on there have been other “football” type games ranging from black & white images moving around on the monitor to hand-held games and then the Nintendo 64 came out and that was a huge upgrade to the idea of playing an electronic version of football on a computer. The games they have out now with the PS3 and the Xbox are truly amazing. As good as the games are today they still have something in common with the old school vibrating football game…. It’s not really football.
Football is played with real people on a field with a real ball that is moved up and down the field in an attempt to score points. People get hit and occasionally hurt. It is a tough game. You can say the same thing about any of the electronic games. That does not make the electronic games any less fun or exciting to play. Those games do have their own value and place in entertainment, but they are not same as playing the real game.
Playing an electronic football game does not make you a football player. Reading about football does not mean you are a football player. Watching football and learning all the stats about football and those who play the game does not make you a football player. Only those who play the game on the field with others who are playing the game are “football players”.
The same is true in the spiritual realm. Those who read the Bible and read and study about following Jesus are not necessarily Christians. Anyone can read and study about being a disciple of Jesus Christ, but only those who actually follow and actually try to live out their faith daily are truly disciples of Jesus Christ. So the questions is this, are you simply a student of Christianity or are you simply a person who is seeking to do his will and live his way each day of your life?
Christianity is not a spectators sport. It is real life, 24/7 walking with Jesus and trying to do life his way. Part of being a Christian involves reading and study of the words from God, but then those things which you have read and studied must be put into action. So get off the bench and get out there and live like you are on the winning team.
Love God. Go Love Others.
As time has gone on there have been other “football” type games ranging from black & white images moving around on the monitor to hand-held games and then the Nintendo 64 came out and that was a huge upgrade to the idea of playing an electronic version of football on a computer. The games they have out now with the PS3 and the Xbox are truly amazing. As good as the games are today they still have something in common with the old school vibrating football game…. It’s not really football.
Football is played with real people on a field with a real ball that is moved up and down the field in an attempt to score points. People get hit and occasionally hurt. It is a tough game. You can say the same thing about any of the electronic games. That does not make the electronic games any less fun or exciting to play. Those games do have their own value and place in entertainment, but they are not same as playing the real game.
Playing an electronic football game does not make you a football player. Reading about football does not mean you are a football player. Watching football and learning all the stats about football and those who play the game does not make you a football player. Only those who play the game on the field with others who are playing the game are “football players”.
The same is true in the spiritual realm. Those who read the Bible and read and study about following Jesus are not necessarily Christians. Anyone can read and study about being a disciple of Jesus Christ, but only those who actually follow and actually try to live out their faith daily are truly disciples of Jesus Christ. So the questions is this, are you simply a student of Christianity or are you simply a person who is seeking to do his will and live his way each day of your life?
Christianity is not a spectators sport. It is real life, 24/7 walking with Jesus and trying to do life his way. Part of being a Christian involves reading and study of the words from God, but then those things which you have read and studied must be put into action. So get off the bench and get out there and live like you are on the winning team.
Love God. Go Love Others.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Orange Cones
Orange Traffic Cones are everywhere. As you drive around you see them being used for all kinds of reasons and functions. The city uses them to mark lane closures or detours. The police and the department of public safety use them to warn drivers that a wreck is up ahead and you should move to the next lane. Construction workers use them to mark off an area where workers are so as to keep them safe from on coming traffic. I have often thought that I could park almost anyway if I just had a orange cone to set out beside my truck. As a matter of fact I have joking told my children to not buy a parking sticker for the university, but to rather buy an orange cone and park anywhere they need to park on campus. They of course never did that, but it would have been interesting to see someone try it.
When you think about it, the orange cones in of themselves have no power or control over anyone. A car or truck can easily drive around or over or through a cone. The power of an orange cone comes when those who are driving respect and honor what the cone or cones want them to do. When drivers respect and honor the cones then the needed or wanted desire is met and traffic flows where it needs to flow in order to keep workers or other drivers safe.
Orange cones are used for other things besides traffic control. You see them at sporting events being used to mark the boundary of a playing field. Sometimes people use orange cones to mark an area that is unsafe to walk such as a hole in the ground or a crack in a sidewalk. When you think about it the orange cone has been one the important inventions of our time. They are placed in our life to help keep us out of trouble, to give a direction, to save a place, to mark something important, to keep us out of the ditch or to keep us moving in the right direction. Where would we be without those Orange Cones?
As a Christ follower you have spiritual orange cones in your life too. They come in several different forms and they have many different functions, but the reason they are in your life is the same, to keep you safe and to keep you following Jesus. Some of these spiritual cones come in the form of people. God has placed people in your life to help you in your spiritual journey. They are there to give you encouragement as well as a push in the right direction when you need it. In a real way the Word of God is full of Orange Cone passages. You know those verses in the Bible that speak to you and give you hope, understanding, guidance and encouragement. Those are there to keep you moving in a direction towards spending eternity with God. Some of those passages are commandments and some are stories that enlighten you as to the nature of God.
The other spiritual cones in your life come in the form of the events that happen each and everyday. Everything that happens in your life happens for a reason. Maybe there is a lesson in life you need to learn. Maybe God wants you to experience something today that helps prepare you for something in your life five years from now.
As you read the Bible you see God working in the lives of faithful men and women preparing them for life events that help move people and nations into a relationship with God.
So pay close attention to those orange cones. They are put there for a reason and that reason might just change the course of history for you, your family and maybe, just maybe the world.
Love God. Go Love Others.
When you think about it, the orange cones in of themselves have no power or control over anyone. A car or truck can easily drive around or over or through a cone. The power of an orange cone comes when those who are driving respect and honor what the cone or cones want them to do. When drivers respect and honor the cones then the needed or wanted desire is met and traffic flows where it needs to flow in order to keep workers or other drivers safe.
Orange cones are used for other things besides traffic control. You see them at sporting events being used to mark the boundary of a playing field. Sometimes people use orange cones to mark an area that is unsafe to walk such as a hole in the ground or a crack in a sidewalk. When you think about it the orange cone has been one the important inventions of our time. They are placed in our life to help keep us out of trouble, to give a direction, to save a place, to mark something important, to keep us out of the ditch or to keep us moving in the right direction. Where would we be without those Orange Cones?
As a Christ follower you have spiritual orange cones in your life too. They come in several different forms and they have many different functions, but the reason they are in your life is the same, to keep you safe and to keep you following Jesus. Some of these spiritual cones come in the form of people. God has placed people in your life to help you in your spiritual journey. They are there to give you encouragement as well as a push in the right direction when you need it. In a real way the Word of God is full of Orange Cone passages. You know those verses in the Bible that speak to you and give you hope, understanding, guidance and encouragement. Those are there to keep you moving in a direction towards spending eternity with God. Some of those passages are commandments and some are stories that enlighten you as to the nature of God.
The other spiritual cones in your life come in the form of the events that happen each and everyday. Everything that happens in your life happens for a reason. Maybe there is a lesson in life you need to learn. Maybe God wants you to experience something today that helps prepare you for something in your life five years from now.
As you read the Bible you see God working in the lives of faithful men and women preparing them for life events that help move people and nations into a relationship with God.
So pay close attention to those orange cones. They are put there for a reason and that reason might just change the course of history for you, your family and maybe, just maybe the world.
Love God. Go Love Others.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Late Friday
It did not take long for the word to spread throughout the Abilene Christian University student body, alumni, family and friends that a bus carrying students and faculty had over turned on a two lane high way near Paint Rock, Texas. They were on their way to Medina Children’s home to participate in a Fall Mission Trip. They were on their way to make a difference in the lives of children who were expecting another amazing weekend with the group from ACU. You see, this bus load of students was carrying on a half century tradition of students giving of their time on a weekend to make a difference in the lives of others. There is no telling how many trips have been made down that exact same highway over the years.
This trip even though it was tragic is still amazing to me. It was late Friday and the world changed forever as one student lost her life and many others were injured and taken to various hospitals. The amazing part is what happened next.
Next, the ACU family went into action and reaction. The news spread quickly. Prayers were lifted up; a student body came together and stood together during this time of tragedy. They had lost a fellow student, friend, roommate, and classmate. The love for each other was shown in so many ways during the next hours and days. Life had been changed and this event even though tragic would still make a difference in the lives of so many. When people come together in the face of tragedy amazing things always happen, but the most amazing thing came next.
Next, on the following day the parents of the students gathered on the campus. Students spent time with moms and dads as well as close friends. They came together searching for comfort, peace and understanding. What they were given was a glimpse of amazing faith, love, and forgiveness. The mother of Anabel Reid came to Abilene Christian that day not to grieve the loss of her daughter, but rather she came to make sure that the driver knew that it was alright and she did not blame him for the accident or her daughter’s death. She wanted the driver to know that her prayer for him was that he would be okay and that he would not let this event destroy his life. That my friend is amazing. In her moment of tragedy she found a way to give hope and life to someone else.
It all began late on Friday 2000 years ago. Life would be changed forever. Love would be shown to all. Forgiveness would be given to those who hammered the nails. Forgiveness would be given to those whose sins had put him on the cross. Amazing grace, endless mercy, and true forgiveness is the message of the cross. God’s son would have to die so that you and I could live. God’s wants you to know just how much he loves you and just how much he wants you to live forever with him. Now that is Amazing.
Let us make every day count and let us look for ways to make a difference in the lives of others.
Love God. Go Love Others.
This trip even though it was tragic is still amazing to me. It was late Friday and the world changed forever as one student lost her life and many others were injured and taken to various hospitals. The amazing part is what happened next.
Next, the ACU family went into action and reaction. The news spread quickly. Prayers were lifted up; a student body came together and stood together during this time of tragedy. They had lost a fellow student, friend, roommate, and classmate. The love for each other was shown in so many ways during the next hours and days. Life had been changed and this event even though tragic would still make a difference in the lives of so many. When people come together in the face of tragedy amazing things always happen, but the most amazing thing came next.
Next, on the following day the parents of the students gathered on the campus. Students spent time with moms and dads as well as close friends. They came together searching for comfort, peace and understanding. What they were given was a glimpse of amazing faith, love, and forgiveness. The mother of Anabel Reid came to Abilene Christian that day not to grieve the loss of her daughter, but rather she came to make sure that the driver knew that it was alright and she did not blame him for the accident or her daughter’s death. She wanted the driver to know that her prayer for him was that he would be okay and that he would not let this event destroy his life. That my friend is amazing. In her moment of tragedy she found a way to give hope and life to someone else.
It all began late on Friday 2000 years ago. Life would be changed forever. Love would be shown to all. Forgiveness would be given to those who hammered the nails. Forgiveness would be given to those whose sins had put him on the cross. Amazing grace, endless mercy, and true forgiveness is the message of the cross. God’s son would have to die so that you and I could live. God’s wants you to know just how much he loves you and just how much he wants you to live forever with him. Now that is Amazing.
Let us make every day count and let us look for ways to make a difference in the lives of others.
Love God. Go Love Others.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Home Field
Where does one start in an attempt to explain why the Texas Rangers failed to win the World Series? Yes, where does one begin?..... Well, not that it would have mattered, but it may have matter a little bit, let’s start with having the Home Field Advantage. As you know by now the Home Field advantage for the World Series is determined by the winner of the All Star game played each July. For those who do not know, what this means is simply this, if the National League wins the All Star Game then the winner of the NLCS will have the Home Field Advantage for the World Series. The same would be true if the American League won the All Star Game.
To my limited knowledge this may be the only place in sports where the home field is determined by people who are not playing the actual playoff game. This year (and it may just be that my Rangers were playing) it was especially weird that a team with a worse record had the home field advantage over a team with a superior record. Home Field turned out to be very important in this year’s World Series because of the need for game 7. In short, the team with home field in a game seven wins the majority of the time.
Home Field. What does it mean to have home field? Well for starters, you’re home. You have home cooking, your own bed, your family and friends and most importantly you have your fans. When you come to the ball park the people in the stands want you to win. They cheer for you. They make signs for you. They are with you with every pitch, every swing of the bat and every catch. They chant your name. They give you all the encouragement. They do all this and more while at the same time the visiting team gets nothing.
Do you know that you have a spiritual home field advantage every day? That’s right! When you go out into the world to your job, office, supermarket, mall, café or coffee shop you have a Spiritual Home Field Advantage. God has given you the Holy Spirit to walk with you every step along the way in your daily journey. You see, God knew that you and I would need help facing the challenges of our day: the impatient boss, the back stabbing co-worker, the guy in traffic that cuts you off and then gives you that hateful wave. Or maybe it’s the pressures of being a mom or dad or the pressures of the economic situation you are in at this time of your life. The list goes on and one, but the fact is that God gives you the home field advantage regardless of what is going on in your life. God gives you the power to overcome fear, temptation, grief, anger, selfishness …. You name it and the power of God is within you to overcome all things that are evil.
You are not powerless. You are a child of the King of kings. You have been chosen by God to live a powerful life in the Kingdom of the almighty God. As Paul said, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me”. Now – Play Ball!
Love God. Go Love Others.
To my limited knowledge this may be the only place in sports where the home field is determined by people who are not playing the actual playoff game. This year (and it may just be that my Rangers were playing) it was especially weird that a team with a worse record had the home field advantage over a team with a superior record. Home Field turned out to be very important in this year’s World Series because of the need for game 7. In short, the team with home field in a game seven wins the majority of the time.
Home Field. What does it mean to have home field? Well for starters, you’re home. You have home cooking, your own bed, your family and friends and most importantly you have your fans. When you come to the ball park the people in the stands want you to win. They cheer for you. They make signs for you. They are with you with every pitch, every swing of the bat and every catch. They chant your name. They give you all the encouragement. They do all this and more while at the same time the visiting team gets nothing.
Do you know that you have a spiritual home field advantage every day? That’s right! When you go out into the world to your job, office, supermarket, mall, café or coffee shop you have a Spiritual Home Field Advantage. God has given you the Holy Spirit to walk with you every step along the way in your daily journey. You see, God knew that you and I would need help facing the challenges of our day: the impatient boss, the back stabbing co-worker, the guy in traffic that cuts you off and then gives you that hateful wave. Or maybe it’s the pressures of being a mom or dad or the pressures of the economic situation you are in at this time of your life. The list goes on and one, but the fact is that God gives you the home field advantage regardless of what is going on in your life. God gives you the power to overcome fear, temptation, grief, anger, selfishness …. You name it and the power of God is within you to overcome all things that are evil.
You are not powerless. You are a child of the King of kings. You have been chosen by God to live a powerful life in the Kingdom of the almighty God. As Paul said, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me”. Now – Play Ball!
Love God. Go Love Others.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Picks
One of the things I enjoy doing with my two sons is picking games. We especially enjoy picking the NFL games each week. I will admit that I’m not very good at picking or at least I am not as good as either one of my sons, but I still enjoy the friendly competition. And no, there is no wagering… I would go broke and I’m not about to owe my son’s money for something like picking games.
Picking most games is not a problem for me. I normally just go with my gut feeling and chose a team. Where I do have a problem is when it comes to picking the game in which the Dallas Cowboys play. I guess and am what some would call a “Cow-Sheep” . I have followed the cowboys since the beginning of the teams move to Dallas. Growing up I knew three things to be true about Sundays in the fall. One, we would always go to church, two we would always have a great Sunday dinner cooked by my mother and three, if the Cowboys were playing we were watching.
So when it comes to picking the winner of the Cowboys vs. whomever I always pick the Cowboys. It does not matter how bad the team is or who may be injured or whose field they are playing on, I pick the Cowboys to win. Only once or twice have a picked against them and it bothered me all weekend. Those times that I picked against the Cowboys I had to do some mental gymnastics. I picked the other team with my mind and cheered for the Cowboys in my heart. It is not a good feeling to pick your favorite team to lose but cheer for them win. It is a conflict of the heart and mind.
I have good news for everyone. No matter what… God always picks you. That’s right! No matter what you have done in your life, no matter how you feel or think about God or about life or about your situation in life, God always chooses you. When you are spiritually far away from God he is longing for your return. When you are spiritually sitting on the fence he is hoping you will choose to follow him.
Now here is the question for you, do you pick God? I know there are some days that in your heart, mind, soul and strength you choose God, but I also know there are some days that you may pick God with your mind, but not with your heart and if your heart is not choosing God then neither is your strength.
There is a reason Jesus said we need to love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength and that reason is this, that is how God chooses you and me. God has given his whole heart, mind, soul and strength to loving you and me and that is what he wants in return.
I will never be good at picking NFL games, but I pray that I will always choose to love God with all my being. I am forever thankful that God picks me every day.
Love God. Go Love Others.
Picking most games is not a problem for me. I normally just go with my gut feeling and chose a team. Where I do have a problem is when it comes to picking the game in which the Dallas Cowboys play. I guess and am what some would call a “Cow-Sheep” . I have followed the cowboys since the beginning of the teams move to Dallas. Growing up I knew three things to be true about Sundays in the fall. One, we would always go to church, two we would always have a great Sunday dinner cooked by my mother and three, if the Cowboys were playing we were watching.
So when it comes to picking the winner of the Cowboys vs. whomever I always pick the Cowboys. It does not matter how bad the team is or who may be injured or whose field they are playing on, I pick the Cowboys to win. Only once or twice have a picked against them and it bothered me all weekend. Those times that I picked against the Cowboys I had to do some mental gymnastics. I picked the other team with my mind and cheered for the Cowboys in my heart. It is not a good feeling to pick your favorite team to lose but cheer for them win. It is a conflict of the heart and mind.
I have good news for everyone. No matter what… God always picks you. That’s right! No matter what you have done in your life, no matter how you feel or think about God or about life or about your situation in life, God always chooses you. When you are spiritually far away from God he is longing for your return. When you are spiritually sitting on the fence he is hoping you will choose to follow him.
Now here is the question for you, do you pick God? I know there are some days that in your heart, mind, soul and strength you choose God, but I also know there are some days that you may pick God with your mind, but not with your heart and if your heart is not choosing God then neither is your strength.
There is a reason Jesus said we need to love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength and that reason is this, that is how God chooses you and me. God has given his whole heart, mind, soul and strength to loving you and me and that is what he wants in return.
I will never be good at picking NFL games, but I pray that I will always choose to love God with all my being. I am forever thankful that God picks me every day.
Love God. Go Love Others.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
4 AM
Not too long ago my wife and I experienced our bi-annual 4 AM wakeup call from the smoke detector in our bedroom. You know how this works, you are asleep and you hear a beep and at first you think to yourself, “self, I’m dreaming”, but then it happens again … and again. That annoying beep made by smoke detectors to let you know that the battery is about to be dead. I am convinced that the companies who make smoke detectors have designed them with a special chip inside to only start beeping at 4:00 a.m. It almost never fails that the beeping begins in the middle of the night.
Now as aggravating as that is one thing remains to be true. I do not take the steps to prevent this reoccurring problem. In my mind I know that if I were to replace those 9 volt batteries on a regular bases two or three times a year chances are that I would never be awaken in the middle of the night by that annoying, ear piercing beep. I would never again have to go down stairs into the garage and get out the step ladder and carry it upstairs. I would never again have to search for 9 volt batteries in the middle of the night. I could if I chose to do so eliminate this annoying little problem.
So here is the question, what is keeping me from preventing this problem from happening again? Answer – I just don’t know. I know the right thing to do, but to date I have failed to do it. As a matter of fact, I haven’t even replaced the rest of the batteries in the other smoke detectors yet. I know it is just a matter of time until they all start beeping. I know it is just a matter of time until I have to change each and every one of them. For some reason I just haven’t gotten around to it. The answer to why is ME.
So here is the question for you, what is keeping you from doing what you know you need to do in your life? What is keeping you from being a better husband, wife, son, daughter, or parent? What is keeping your from being a better boss or a better employee? What is keeping you from helping out someone who as a need you are capable of fore filling? What is keeping you from forgiving those who have wronged you? What is keeping you from serving and loving others? What is keeping you from giving yourself totally to following Jesus daily and living every moment of your life to his glory?
Just in case you have not figured it out yet, the answer to all of those questions is YOU. You are the only one who can make the changes in your life that need to be made. You are the only one who can decide today that your life is going to be different than it was yesterday. The power to make your life more pleasing to God rest entirely within you.
So, now that you know what you are going to do about it. That annoying little beep is coming any minute and the Lord could come at any moment. Are you ready? Make those changes you have been putting off – Today!
Love God. Go Love Others.
Now as aggravating as that is one thing remains to be true. I do not take the steps to prevent this reoccurring problem. In my mind I know that if I were to replace those 9 volt batteries on a regular bases two or three times a year chances are that I would never be awaken in the middle of the night by that annoying, ear piercing beep. I would never again have to go down stairs into the garage and get out the step ladder and carry it upstairs. I would never again have to search for 9 volt batteries in the middle of the night. I could if I chose to do so eliminate this annoying little problem.
So here is the question, what is keeping me from preventing this problem from happening again? Answer – I just don’t know. I know the right thing to do, but to date I have failed to do it. As a matter of fact, I haven’t even replaced the rest of the batteries in the other smoke detectors yet. I know it is just a matter of time until they all start beeping. I know it is just a matter of time until I have to change each and every one of them. For some reason I just haven’t gotten around to it. The answer to why is ME.
So here is the question for you, what is keeping you from doing what you know you need to do in your life? What is keeping you from being a better husband, wife, son, daughter, or parent? What is keeping your from being a better boss or a better employee? What is keeping you from helping out someone who as a need you are capable of fore filling? What is keeping you from forgiving those who have wronged you? What is keeping you from serving and loving others? What is keeping you from giving yourself totally to following Jesus daily and living every moment of your life to his glory?
Just in case you have not figured it out yet, the answer to all of those questions is YOU. You are the only one who can make the changes in your life that need to be made. You are the only one who can decide today that your life is going to be different than it was yesterday. The power to make your life more pleasing to God rest entirely within you.
So, now that you know what you are going to do about it. That annoying little beep is coming any minute and the Lord could come at any moment. Are you ready? Make those changes you have been putting off – Today!
Love God. Go Love Others.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Hidden Treasures
Just the other day I had the opportunity to meet an older gentleman. I say older because he immediately referred to me as “youngin”. I liked him instantly. This man is about seven-six years old and he has lived in this area most of his life. Currently he spends most of his time driving his wife to chemotherapy five days a week. As he said, “this is our life now”. As our conversation went on he asked me where I worked and I told him about the church and where it was and I was in the process of telling him about my work when a light went on in his head and he interrupted me with this question, “Do you know about the house just down the street from that church?” I asked which one because there are two that I was aware of which were just down the street from the church. He described the location and I knew exactly what house he was talking about. Then he asked, “Do you know about that house?” I said no. Then he went on to tell me about the history of the house.
The house is the second house on the left as you go north on James Pitt. That house was originally a two room log cabin that once belonged to Republic of Texas colonist Thomas Jefferson McDonald. The house was built in 1844 which means it was built before Collin County was Collin County and before Tejas was Texas. This house has amazing history which includes being attacked by Indians.
The house was later purchased by James Pitt in 1916. James and his wife lived there and raised their family in that house. As a matter of fact they lived there until they died. It is my understanding that the property is still owned by the Pitts family.
What is interesting to me is the fact that this house is a hidden treasure. Unless you were told about it or happened to stop and read the marker giving the details of the house you would never know of its significance. It is hidden behind two layers of siding and the roof has needed repair and replacement for at least a decade or more. To look at it you would just think it was an old run down house. As a matter of fact I have often wondered what the city is going to do with that house since it is in the geographic center of McKinney and will no doubt be surrounded by businesses someday.
Now that I know some of the story that goes along with the house I hope they never tear it down. I hope that someone restores the house to being the simple log cabin it was back in 1844. The people of McKinney need to treasure those things which are a part of our past.
Now before you get the wrong idea you need to know something, the house was not the treasure I discovered on that day. The treasure I discovered was the old man who loves to tell stories to “youngins” like me. The treasure I discovered was an old man who has loved his wife for a life time and enjoys every moment he has with her including those moments when she is receiving treatment for a cancer that she will have the rest of her life. The treasure I have found is in an old man that needs someone to talk to about life. What a blessing he is to me. I hope in some way I can be a blessing to him even if all I get to do is listen to a story every now and then.
There are hidden treasures all around you. They are not the ones made of gold or silver or even brick and mortar. The best treasures around you are in the lives of those who are our seniors. They are the ones who have walked the road of life before us and have paved the way. They have fought for our country, they have built the roads and bridges, they have taken us coast to coast and they have taken us to the moon and back. What a great generation. What makes them great however lies not so much in their accomplishments but more in the way they live life. They have taught us the value of hard work and determination. They have taught us that the best marriages are the ones that last a life time. They have taught us that above all else put your faith in God first and your faith in family second and everything else in life will be just fine.
I am thankful for hidden treasures. I hope you will take the time search for a hidden treasure to make a part of your life. You will bring joy to their heart and yours.
Love God. Go Love Others.
The house is the second house on the left as you go north on James Pitt. That house was originally a two room log cabin that once belonged to Republic of Texas colonist Thomas Jefferson McDonald. The house was built in 1844 which means it was built before Collin County was Collin County and before Tejas was Texas. This house has amazing history which includes being attacked by Indians.
The house was later purchased by James Pitt in 1916. James and his wife lived there and raised their family in that house. As a matter of fact they lived there until they died. It is my understanding that the property is still owned by the Pitts family.
What is interesting to me is the fact that this house is a hidden treasure. Unless you were told about it or happened to stop and read the marker giving the details of the house you would never know of its significance. It is hidden behind two layers of siding and the roof has needed repair and replacement for at least a decade or more. To look at it you would just think it was an old run down house. As a matter of fact I have often wondered what the city is going to do with that house since it is in the geographic center of McKinney and will no doubt be surrounded by businesses someday.
Now that I know some of the story that goes along with the house I hope they never tear it down. I hope that someone restores the house to being the simple log cabin it was back in 1844. The people of McKinney need to treasure those things which are a part of our past.
Now before you get the wrong idea you need to know something, the house was not the treasure I discovered on that day. The treasure I discovered was the old man who loves to tell stories to “youngins” like me. The treasure I discovered was an old man who has loved his wife for a life time and enjoys every moment he has with her including those moments when she is receiving treatment for a cancer that she will have the rest of her life. The treasure I have found is in an old man that needs someone to talk to about life. What a blessing he is to me. I hope in some way I can be a blessing to him even if all I get to do is listen to a story every now and then.
There are hidden treasures all around you. They are not the ones made of gold or silver or even brick and mortar. The best treasures around you are in the lives of those who are our seniors. They are the ones who have walked the road of life before us and have paved the way. They have fought for our country, they have built the roads and bridges, they have taken us coast to coast and they have taken us to the moon and back. What a great generation. What makes them great however lies not so much in their accomplishments but more in the way they live life. They have taught us the value of hard work and determination. They have taught us that the best marriages are the ones that last a life time. They have taught us that above all else put your faith in God first and your faith in family second and everything else in life will be just fine.
I am thankful for hidden treasures. I hope you will take the time search for a hidden treasure to make a part of your life. You will bring joy to their heart and yours.
Love God. Go Love Others.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Value
These days there is not too much worth watching on television which makes me wonder why so many of us spend as much time as we do watching television. There is however two shows that I currently enjoy viewing each week. Both shows are on the History channel. One is American Pickers which is a show about two guys that travel around the country looking for old rusty items or unique items that they can buy for a fairly cheap price and then sell for an amazing price. I am always amazed at what some people are willing to pay for what I believe to be junk. The other show is Pawn Stars. Pawn Stars features a pawn shop in Las Vegas which is run by a family that is overweight, a little rough around the edges and just a little off center. Both of these shows have this in common; they seek to determine the value of items in order to make a profit. Their whole business is based on the number one rule in business: “buy low – sell high”.
It is interesting to see how they try to determine the value of something. At times they will know the value or at least have a good idea about what something has sold for in the past. At other times these men will call in an “expert” to help them determine the value or authenticity of a particular item. It really gets interesting to me when the item in question has been owned by someone famous and if the item happens to be signed by that famous person the value always goes way up. Most of the time the buyers are looking for paper work or something else that can prove who the owner or creator of the item is. In those businesses proof is essential to assigning value.
Value. It is interesting to me how the value of something changes just because someone famous owned it or created it. A painting can be beautiful and amazing in and of itself, but if it happens to be a Picasso it goes up in value. If it happens to be an original signed and numbered Picasso then watch out!
Value. Assigning value is an interesting concept. I have good news. Your personal value is amazing. Do you have any idea how much you are worth. I’m not talking about your income or your job or even your life insurance. I am talking about the value God has placed on you. Think about this, you were created by God, he gave you life, he purchased your life again by sending his Son to die on the cross so you might live with him forever, and he knows everything about you and most of all he claims you as one of his children. Wow! Need proof of value? The proof is in the blood which Christ shed on the cross. The proof is in the empty tomb that Jesus left on the third day. The proof is in the promise that Jesus is coming back to take you home to the Father.
I know, I know it’s hard to believe that someone like you with all your spiritual rust and decay is worth anything to God, but the fact is that God loves you more than anything. In His eyes there is no rust or wear and tear. You are perfect and in like new condition. You my friend are “collectible”. You my friend have been signed by the creator and your value is out of this world! Now live like it!
Love God. Go Love Others.
It is interesting to see how they try to determine the value of something. At times they will know the value or at least have a good idea about what something has sold for in the past. At other times these men will call in an “expert” to help them determine the value or authenticity of a particular item. It really gets interesting to me when the item in question has been owned by someone famous and if the item happens to be signed by that famous person the value always goes way up. Most of the time the buyers are looking for paper work or something else that can prove who the owner or creator of the item is. In those businesses proof is essential to assigning value.
Value. It is interesting to me how the value of something changes just because someone famous owned it or created it. A painting can be beautiful and amazing in and of itself, but if it happens to be a Picasso it goes up in value. If it happens to be an original signed and numbered Picasso then watch out!
Value. Assigning value is an interesting concept. I have good news. Your personal value is amazing. Do you have any idea how much you are worth. I’m not talking about your income or your job or even your life insurance. I am talking about the value God has placed on you. Think about this, you were created by God, he gave you life, he purchased your life again by sending his Son to die on the cross so you might live with him forever, and he knows everything about you and most of all he claims you as one of his children. Wow! Need proof of value? The proof is in the blood which Christ shed on the cross. The proof is in the empty tomb that Jesus left on the third day. The proof is in the promise that Jesus is coming back to take you home to the Father.
I know, I know it’s hard to believe that someone like you with all your spiritual rust and decay is worth anything to God, but the fact is that God loves you more than anything. In His eyes there is no rust or wear and tear. You are perfect and in like new condition. You my friend are “collectible”. You my friend have been signed by the creator and your value is out of this world! Now live like it!
Love God. Go Love Others.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Your GPS is WRONG!
A few weeks ago when Mary and I were making our way to Florida for a week of RER (Rest, Eating & Relaxation) we decided to travel a different way to see if we could discover a quicker way to Destin. We had stopped at the Florida Welcome and Guest Center to get a complimentary glass of Florida Orange Juice and a map. One would think that a map from the state of Florida would be the most up to date map available. Well if one thought that, then one would be wrong. One might also think that the GPS system which is “updated” continually would be accurate. Well in this case one would also in wrong.
As we were getting close to our destination and about to make our final turn onto a toll road there was this huge electronic sign flashing the words, “Your GPS is WRONG! DO NOT TURN HERE!” and then it gave the correct travel information needed to arrive at the correct location.
That is the way life is some times. You learn to trust your life maps and your life GPS and then occasionally you get wrong information. Sometimes you can gather all the information available and still be led down the wrong path. Sometimes in life it is difficult to know what information to trust and who to follow. You and I are given information about life from all kinds of sources: the news, documentaries, advertisements, magazines, Oprah, How To books, friends, family and neighbors. It seems as if there is no shortage of people and/or organizations who are more than willing to tell you how to live your life and how to be successful in your marriage, your parenting, your relationships, your business, your physical fitness and even your spiritual well being.
If you live long enough you will learn that there is really only one source you can trust to be accurate 100 percent of the time. God has never been wrong about life. His plan is pretty straight forward. Love God and put him first in all things and love your fellow man and treat them the way you would like to be treated. Sounds simple, right? If it were just a matter of words it would be simple, but you and I are called to put those words into action.
Image if you and your business or company lived your life or ran your business with those two principles in mind at all times. What would your goals in life and business be? How good would your relationships or your customer service be? Really….. Think about that for a moment. What if everything you did in life was decided based on those two life concepts? I think you and I would be successful in all things.
I believe everything in life would be better – not just better, the very best it could be. So what do you say, let’s put away the worldly life maps and faulty life GPS and turn back to God and ask him for directions about how to live life successfully.
One more thing just for the men, it’s okay to stop and ask God for directions. Your wife will think that is cool.
Love God. Go Love Others.
As we were getting close to our destination and about to make our final turn onto a toll road there was this huge electronic sign flashing the words, “Your GPS is WRONG! DO NOT TURN HERE!” and then it gave the correct travel information needed to arrive at the correct location.
That is the way life is some times. You learn to trust your life maps and your life GPS and then occasionally you get wrong information. Sometimes you can gather all the information available and still be led down the wrong path. Sometimes in life it is difficult to know what information to trust and who to follow. You and I are given information about life from all kinds of sources: the news, documentaries, advertisements, magazines, Oprah, How To books, friends, family and neighbors. It seems as if there is no shortage of people and/or organizations who are more than willing to tell you how to live your life and how to be successful in your marriage, your parenting, your relationships, your business, your physical fitness and even your spiritual well being.
If you live long enough you will learn that there is really only one source you can trust to be accurate 100 percent of the time. God has never been wrong about life. His plan is pretty straight forward. Love God and put him first in all things and love your fellow man and treat them the way you would like to be treated. Sounds simple, right? If it were just a matter of words it would be simple, but you and I are called to put those words into action.
Image if you and your business or company lived your life or ran your business with those two principles in mind at all times. What would your goals in life and business be? How good would your relationships or your customer service be? Really….. Think about that for a moment. What if everything you did in life was decided based on those two life concepts? I think you and I would be successful in all things.
I believe everything in life would be better – not just better, the very best it could be. So what do you say, let’s put away the worldly life maps and faulty life GPS and turn back to God and ask him for directions about how to live life successfully.
One more thing just for the men, it’s okay to stop and ask God for directions. Your wife will think that is cool.
Love God. Go Love Others.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Passport
This past weekend I was given the responsibility of taking my in-laws to the airport so they could catch a flight overseas in order to board a ship which will take them on another fantastic trip somewhere in Europe. As we were going to the airport my father in-law starting going down the list of things to remember of which one item on his list was a passport. I was reminded of a comment I made to one of my friends who travels quite a bit, I told him, “If you stay gone too long we may make your file for citizenship again”.
So, what is the deal with passports and citizenship? When you give your passport to a proper authority they can discover several things about you. First, they can see just how long it’s been since you took your passport picture. When they start questioning you if you are you – then it’s time to retake the picture. They can also discover all the places outside of your country of origin that you have traveled. Most importantly they can discover the country in which you claim citizenship.
Citizenship… the place you call home, the place that claims you. Think about that for a moment. If you are a citizen of the United States of America then two things are true. The U.S.A. is your country. It is your home. Secondly, when you are out of the country the United States still claims you as a citizen.
On a spiritual level the same thing is true for those who belong to the Father. You are a child of the King. Your citizenship is in the Kingdom of God. Wherever you go in this world you belong to God. You represent the Creator of the Universe. You belong to the one who spoke everything into existence. Your spiritual passport says two things about you. First, heaven is your home and God is your Father and you claim Him. Secondly, you belong to the Father and He claims you.
Think about that for a moment. Not only do you claim God, He claims you! Despite where you have been in your life and regardless of all the mistakes and stumbles you have made along the way. Even when you have acted as if you don’t claim Him – He still claims you. He is the Father who is standing on the front porch looking for all his prodigal sons and daughters to come home.
So, where are you going today? Do you have your spiritual passport? How about that spiritual passport picture… if it looks like you, change it! It is suppose to look like Jesus. Have a great day and enjoy the journey.
Love God. Go Love Others.
So, what is the deal with passports and citizenship? When you give your passport to a proper authority they can discover several things about you. First, they can see just how long it’s been since you took your passport picture. When they start questioning you if you are you – then it’s time to retake the picture. They can also discover all the places outside of your country of origin that you have traveled. Most importantly they can discover the country in which you claim citizenship.
Citizenship… the place you call home, the place that claims you. Think about that for a moment. If you are a citizen of the United States of America then two things are true. The U.S.A. is your country. It is your home. Secondly, when you are out of the country the United States still claims you as a citizen.
On a spiritual level the same thing is true for those who belong to the Father. You are a child of the King. Your citizenship is in the Kingdom of God. Wherever you go in this world you belong to God. You represent the Creator of the Universe. You belong to the one who spoke everything into existence. Your spiritual passport says two things about you. First, heaven is your home and God is your Father and you claim Him. Secondly, you belong to the Father and He claims you.
Think about that for a moment. Not only do you claim God, He claims you! Despite where you have been in your life and regardless of all the mistakes and stumbles you have made along the way. Even when you have acted as if you don’t claim Him – He still claims you. He is the Father who is standing on the front porch looking for all his prodigal sons and daughters to come home.
So, where are you going today? Do you have your spiritual passport? How about that spiritual passport picture… if it looks like you, change it! It is suppose to look like Jesus. Have a great day and enjoy the journey.
Love God. Go Love Others.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
9-11
When you see the date 9 – 11 your mind immediately races back to that fateful morning. As the tenth anniversary approaches you have no doubt seen some of the reminders provided by the media. There have been news video clips played, interviews with survivors, wives, moms, dads, brothers, sisters, sons and daughters. We have heard from fire fighters and other first responders. We have heard from presidents and world leaders. The memory of this day is important to this nation. The lives of millions were changed that day. Some lost their spouse, some lost their child, some lost their parent, some lost their friend. We all lost something on that day.
I remember wondering about what kind of world my children would grow up in and wondering if we would ever be safe again. For awhile Americans entered buildings, stadiums, sports arenas, busses, trains, and airports with both eyes wide open. We looked carefully at each person we saw and wondered….
Over the years we lost some of that feeling and we have returned to a more normal state of life. I no longer wonder about safety and I am no longer concerned about every person in line at the airport. Life is different, but I am used to the changes.
This week as the images of airplanes crashing into the World Trade Center were played again on the television and all the memories and feelings returned. One of my sons commented that he remembered exactly what classroom he was in that morning and what they were doing when the news first hit and he remembered watching all of it unfold on television as he and the rest of the school witnessed our nation being under attack. I am sure that as this anniversary comes and goes each of us will have similar memories.
As much as that fateful day changed our world forever it was nothing like the day Jesus was crucified over 2000 years ago. You and I did not get to watch that first hand and there are no video tape images to replay. We rely on the written word passed down by eye witnesses to give us all the details. Ummm – details. Sometimes I wonder if communion has become an event that merely recalls the details of that moment in time.
I hope and pray that each time you pause to remember the cross that it is more than just a recounting of events. I hope you in your own way you find a way to make the death of Jesus Christ personal. I hope that your memory of that day is one of grace, mercy, love, compassion. I hope that the memory of that day motivates you to live your life in such a way that brings glory and honor to the Father who gave his only Son for you and me.
Love God. Go Love Others.
I remember wondering about what kind of world my children would grow up in and wondering if we would ever be safe again. For awhile Americans entered buildings, stadiums, sports arenas, busses, trains, and airports with both eyes wide open. We looked carefully at each person we saw and wondered….
Over the years we lost some of that feeling and we have returned to a more normal state of life. I no longer wonder about safety and I am no longer concerned about every person in line at the airport. Life is different, but I am used to the changes.
This week as the images of airplanes crashing into the World Trade Center were played again on the television and all the memories and feelings returned. One of my sons commented that he remembered exactly what classroom he was in that morning and what they were doing when the news first hit and he remembered watching all of it unfold on television as he and the rest of the school witnessed our nation being under attack. I am sure that as this anniversary comes and goes each of us will have similar memories.
As much as that fateful day changed our world forever it was nothing like the day Jesus was crucified over 2000 years ago. You and I did not get to watch that first hand and there are no video tape images to replay. We rely on the written word passed down by eye witnesses to give us all the details. Ummm – details. Sometimes I wonder if communion has become an event that merely recalls the details of that moment in time.
I hope and pray that each time you pause to remember the cross that it is more than just a recounting of events. I hope you in your own way you find a way to make the death of Jesus Christ personal. I hope that your memory of that day is one of grace, mercy, love, compassion. I hope that the memory of that day motivates you to live your life in such a way that brings glory and honor to the Father who gave his only Son for you and me.
Love God. Go Love Others.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Watch Your Step
Last week my wife Mary and I were on vacation in Destin, Florida which is one of our favorite places on earth. One morning I got up a little early and set up our umbrella on the beach to reserve our spot for the day. For some reason I decided to go for a short walk down the beach. The water was especially nice that morning with its gentle rolling waves coming on shore. I like to walk just beside the water so that I can occasionally feel the coolness of the waves upon my feet. I walked for awhile and enjoyed looking at the sunrise and the small fish swimming in the surf. I enjoyed the sea gulls and cranes flying and driving toward the water. It was one of those moments in time I will think of often and smile.
At some point I decided it was time to turn around and walk back to our umbrella. As I turned around I noticed that my footprints had already been washed away by the waves. I continued to walk back towards my starting point and as I did I noticed that all my footprints were gone. If it were not for the fact that I was standing on the beach there would be no evidence that I had been there that morning. Then it hit me, life is that way. We are here for just a short time and then we are gone. Scripture says that our life is like a mist or a vapor that is only here for a moment and then is gone.
Let me ask you these questions: Where have your steps taken you today? Does anyone know that you were present? Did your steps take you places where you were able to make a difference in the lives of those around you? Did your steps take you beside someone so that you could encourage them, or did your steps take you over the top of someone so you could get your way? Did your steps bring your closer to Jesus?
There are plenty of questions to ask and answer, but I guess the point of all this is to simply encourage you to step wisely and carefully. We are here for a very short time and therefore we should do our best to make every step count.
I hope you have a wonderful day, but you better watch your step because everyone else is watching them too.
Love God. Go Love Others.
At some point I decided it was time to turn around and walk back to our umbrella. As I turned around I noticed that my footprints had already been washed away by the waves. I continued to walk back towards my starting point and as I did I noticed that all my footprints were gone. If it were not for the fact that I was standing on the beach there would be no evidence that I had been there that morning. Then it hit me, life is that way. We are here for just a short time and then we are gone. Scripture says that our life is like a mist or a vapor that is only here for a moment and then is gone.
Let me ask you these questions: Where have your steps taken you today? Does anyone know that you were present? Did your steps take you places where you were able to make a difference in the lives of those around you? Did your steps take you beside someone so that you could encourage them, or did your steps take you over the top of someone so you could get your way? Did your steps bring your closer to Jesus?
There are plenty of questions to ask and answer, but I guess the point of all this is to simply encourage you to step wisely and carefully. We are here for a very short time and therefore we should do our best to make every step count.
I hope you have a wonderful day, but you better watch your step because everyone else is watching them too.
Love God. Go Love Others.
Monday, May 23, 2011
A Camping We Will Go
If you were anywhere around a television, radio or computer this past weekend you no doubt heard about Harold Camping a Christian Radio host who once again predicted the second coming of Jesus Christ on May 21st. Well, if you are reading this he was obliviously wrong. When you think about it, making a prediction like that is a huge risk for someone who is still alive. If you are wrong then everyone in the world knows that you were wrong and is going to make sure that you know you were wrong. On the other hand, if you are correct and the end of the world does come… no one is around to brag on your prediction being right. No one is around to say, “Harold really knew his math!” I was wondering if Harold had planned on working today since he seemed so sure of himself. As it turns out, he is scheduled to give a speech today.
This does bring to mind an important question, if the end of the world was known to you, would you make any changes in your life? Would you change the way you treated your spouse or your children? Would you change the way you treated your parents or your siblings? How about your friends and neighbors, would you treat them any differently? How would you want to spend your time? What would be the truly important things in your life? Would you read your Bible more or spend more time in prayer? Would you seek out the people in your life that do not know Jesus and make sure that they had at least one shot at hearing about God’s love for them?
Just what in your life would be different? Go ahead, take your time (but not too much) and make your list of the things you would do if you knew the exact time and place of the second coming of Jesus Christ.
Okay…. Got it? Now just two words: DO IT!
That fact is you have no idea when Jesus is coming again. As a matter of fact He does not know when He is coming again. Our focus should be to live each day as if Jesus was coming that day.
Have a great day! Make it count!
Love God. Go Love Others.
This does bring to mind an important question, if the end of the world was known to you, would you make any changes in your life? Would you change the way you treated your spouse or your children? Would you change the way you treated your parents or your siblings? How about your friends and neighbors, would you treat them any differently? How would you want to spend your time? What would be the truly important things in your life? Would you read your Bible more or spend more time in prayer? Would you seek out the people in your life that do not know Jesus and make sure that they had at least one shot at hearing about God’s love for them?
Just what in your life would be different? Go ahead, take your time (but not too much) and make your list of the things you would do if you knew the exact time and place of the second coming of Jesus Christ.
Okay…. Got it? Now just two words: DO IT!
That fact is you have no idea when Jesus is coming again. As a matter of fact He does not know when He is coming again. Our focus should be to live each day as if Jesus was coming that day.
Have a great day! Make it count!
Love God. Go Love Others.
Monday, May 16, 2011
The Latest Thing
For those of you who live in the North Dallas area of Texas let me ask you a question, have you been to In-N-Out yet? If you have tired to go you know that the line of cars just to get on to the property is very, very long. As a matter of fact most people are experiencing a wait of over two hours. That my friend is a long wait just for a hamburger. The other day on my day off I decided that I would give it a try so I first discovered when they were planning on opening that day and I planned on arriving about 10 or 15 minutes ahead of that time. I had also decided that if I found the line of cars to be too long I would just wait for another day. There is just no way am I sitting in a line of cars using $3.82 per gallon gas to buy a $5.00 hamburger combo meal. Well, to my surprise I was able to drive right on the property and I parked in the next to the last parking spot and walked right in the restaurant and right up the counter and made my order. That’s right! No waiting! I was the 39th customer for the dining in crowd. There were plenty of tables available and the food was just what I expected it to be. I had done it. I went to In-N-Out and was in and out in just a few minutes.
I know that some of you are envious of the ease in which I accomplished this goal which so many thousands of people have spent hours trying to accomplish and there are still those who have yet to make their attempt to find the hamburger of their dreams. As much as you and I may like In-N-Out, it is for now just the latest thing.
Just a few years ago the latest thing was Krispy Kreme Doughts. Do you remember the lines of people and the traffic problems we would have every time a new location opened? I’m not sure it was anything like the In-N-Out experience, but for it’s time Krispy Kreme was the big deal. Now just a few years later the Krispy Kreme franchise is all but gone, but the local mom and pop donut places are still in business making donuts and other cakes for their daily loyal customers. These mom and pop places have never had the long lines, but their business is steady and they are still going strong.
Over 2000 years ago Jesus was the latest thing or person to get the attention of the people. He had thousands of men, women and children following him around the sea shore and through the market places listening to his every word. As time went on and his message became clearer to them attendance started to drop off. You see Jesus was not looking to win a popularity contest. He was not running for best new prophet. He was here to show and tell the world about who the Father was and about the plan the Father has for all those who would deny themselves, take up their cross and follow Jesus. Once the people understood the message attendance dropped dramatically.
Today, Jesus is not the latest thing. Rather he is the only thing or person who can put you into a relationship with God the Father. Jesus is the only way anyone can come to the Father. Jesus said, “If you know me, you know the Father.” Jesus also said that he was going to prepare a place for us in his Father’s house and that he would come back to bring us home.
So my friends look for the latest thing, but rather look for the one who is the way, the truth and the life. Follow the one who came so that you might have life and have it to the full.
Oh, one more thing… while you waiting in line for your In-N-Out burger you might as well take your Bible because you will have plenty of time to do some reading.
Love God. Go Love Others.
I know that some of you are envious of the ease in which I accomplished this goal which so many thousands of people have spent hours trying to accomplish and there are still those who have yet to make their attempt to find the hamburger of their dreams. As much as you and I may like In-N-Out, it is for now just the latest thing.
Just a few years ago the latest thing was Krispy Kreme Doughts. Do you remember the lines of people and the traffic problems we would have every time a new location opened? I’m not sure it was anything like the In-N-Out experience, but for it’s time Krispy Kreme was the big deal. Now just a few years later the Krispy Kreme franchise is all but gone, but the local mom and pop donut places are still in business making donuts and other cakes for their daily loyal customers. These mom and pop places have never had the long lines, but their business is steady and they are still going strong.
Over 2000 years ago Jesus was the latest thing or person to get the attention of the people. He had thousands of men, women and children following him around the sea shore and through the market places listening to his every word. As time went on and his message became clearer to them attendance started to drop off. You see Jesus was not looking to win a popularity contest. He was not running for best new prophet. He was here to show and tell the world about who the Father was and about the plan the Father has for all those who would deny themselves, take up their cross and follow Jesus. Once the people understood the message attendance dropped dramatically.
Today, Jesus is not the latest thing. Rather he is the only thing or person who can put you into a relationship with God the Father. Jesus is the only way anyone can come to the Father. Jesus said, “If you know me, you know the Father.” Jesus also said that he was going to prepare a place for us in his Father’s house and that he would come back to bring us home.
So my friends look for the latest thing, but rather look for the one who is the way, the truth and the life. Follow the one who came so that you might have life and have it to the full.
Oh, one more thing… while you waiting in line for your In-N-Out burger you might as well take your Bible because you will have plenty of time to do some reading.
Love God. Go Love Others.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Landmarks
Just the other day a friend of mine was telling stories about growing up in Kansas. He told me about going into Dodge City once and seeing grave markers and other signs that indicated that some of the most famous Lawmen and Outlaws were buried in Dodge City. My friend is some what of a history buff and he knew for a fact that most of the signage and/or grave markers were inaccurate. He told of the time he asked a tour guide about the claims of Billy the Kid being buried there and the tour guide just laughed and said, “Well you see, it just makes a better story if you can tell people that all these bad guys are buried in Dodge City.”
My friend went on to tell me about driving out in the country in Kansas and how it is much different than traveling around North Texas. He told me of the time he had been driving for some time and on both sides of the road there was nothing to see but corn. He went on to describe the feeling of being lost in the middle of nowhere with no map and no landmarks to help him find his way. He said, “Driving around North Texas is much easier with all the landmarks because if you know your landmarks, you will never get lost.”
That so true, “if you know your landmarks, you will never get lost”. In my life there are certain things that are always true, unshakeable and they can not be moved. Things such as the love that is shown to me by my wife of almost 30 years, the love and support shown to me by my parents for over 52 years, and the unconditional love, grace and mercy shown to me daily by my heavenly Father. Those things I can count on to always be true. When my life gets a little crazy or I loose my way just a bit I can focus on those things and find my way back home.
For those of us who are Christ followers it is always good to keep your eyes on your Spiritual Landmarks. Keeping your eyes on the Cross of Jesus to remind you that “God so loved you that he sent His only Son so that you might have life…” Keeping your eyes on the empty tomb to remind you that God is mighty and powerful and He has won the victory over death and that He is preparing a place for all those who keep their eyes on Jesus and follow in His steps. These and other landmarks will help you stay centered and find your way home.
So my friends, stay close to your spiritual landmarks and don’t let the confusion of this world distract you on your spiritual journey. Satan will do his best to cause you to loose your way, but don’t fall for it. Satan will try to convince you that Jesus Christ was only a man and he is dead and buried, but don’t fall for it. Jesus is not buried in a tomb in Holy Lands and he is not buried in Dodge City or anywhere else. He is alive and with his Father in heaven and they are looking forward to you joining them for all eternity. So don’t loose your way, keep your eyes on Jesus.
Love God. Go Love Others.
My friend went on to tell me about driving out in the country in Kansas and how it is much different than traveling around North Texas. He told me of the time he had been driving for some time and on both sides of the road there was nothing to see but corn. He went on to describe the feeling of being lost in the middle of nowhere with no map and no landmarks to help him find his way. He said, “Driving around North Texas is much easier with all the landmarks because if you know your landmarks, you will never get lost.”
That so true, “if you know your landmarks, you will never get lost”. In my life there are certain things that are always true, unshakeable and they can not be moved. Things such as the love that is shown to me by my wife of almost 30 years, the love and support shown to me by my parents for over 52 years, and the unconditional love, grace and mercy shown to me daily by my heavenly Father. Those things I can count on to always be true. When my life gets a little crazy or I loose my way just a bit I can focus on those things and find my way back home.
For those of us who are Christ followers it is always good to keep your eyes on your Spiritual Landmarks. Keeping your eyes on the Cross of Jesus to remind you that “God so loved you that he sent His only Son so that you might have life…” Keeping your eyes on the empty tomb to remind you that God is mighty and powerful and He has won the victory over death and that He is preparing a place for all those who keep their eyes on Jesus and follow in His steps. These and other landmarks will help you stay centered and find your way home.
So my friends, stay close to your spiritual landmarks and don’t let the confusion of this world distract you on your spiritual journey. Satan will do his best to cause you to loose your way, but don’t fall for it. Satan will try to convince you that Jesus Christ was only a man and he is dead and buried, but don’t fall for it. Jesus is not buried in a tomb in Holy Lands and he is not buried in Dodge City or anywhere else. He is alive and with his Father in heaven and they are looking forward to you joining them for all eternity. So don’t loose your way, keep your eyes on Jesus.
Love God. Go Love Others.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Born to Fly
If you are like me chances are you love spring time. There is just something about this time of year with all the wild flowers blooming, tree leaves popping out everywhere, and with every change of wind direction there is something new to sneeze about. Just the other day I was sitting on a bench in a shaded patio area and just happened to look down to notice a caterpillar creeping and crawling across the sidewalk. It was taking what seemed to be forever for this little green creature to make its way to wherever its destination was. As I watched for a moment this thought popped into my head, I wonder if he is thinking, ‘If only I could fly?’
When caterpillars come into the world it has to creep and crawl in order to get from place to place. It is a difficult life and the dangers are everywhere around them. They can be snatched up by a bird or some big footed human could come along and integrate the caterpillar with the sidewalk. The thing about it is this, even though the caterpillar has to endure creeping and crawling, it was born to fly. At a certain time in the life of a caterpillar it will build a cocoon type covering around itself and during this time it is transformed into a butterfly and it becomes able to do what it was created to do – FLY!
That’s the way life is, you are born into a set of circumstances which may or may not be enjoyable or ideal, but it is the life in which you were born. You may have been born into a wealthy family or a very poor family. The variables of life circumstances are as deep as they are wide. Regardless of you how or where you came into this world you need to know one thing, you were born to fly, and you were created for something much greater than this world.
God never promised any one that life on the earth would be easy. As a matter of fact he tells us that life will be challenging as well as full of blessings. He also tells you and me that there is a life beyond this world that is perfect and it is the place you and I were created to live.
So if you are struggling through life right now and if life just doesn’t seem to be fair, hang on…. help is on the way. Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave over 2000 years ago so that you and I could spend eternity in the place for which we were created to live. Praise God for His loving grace and mercy. Praise Jesus for His loving sacrifice. Now get out there and spread your wings … you were born to fly!
Love God. Go Love Others.
When caterpillars come into the world it has to creep and crawl in order to get from place to place. It is a difficult life and the dangers are everywhere around them. They can be snatched up by a bird or some big footed human could come along and integrate the caterpillar with the sidewalk. The thing about it is this, even though the caterpillar has to endure creeping and crawling, it was born to fly. At a certain time in the life of a caterpillar it will build a cocoon type covering around itself and during this time it is transformed into a butterfly and it becomes able to do what it was created to do – FLY!
That’s the way life is, you are born into a set of circumstances which may or may not be enjoyable or ideal, but it is the life in which you were born. You may have been born into a wealthy family or a very poor family. The variables of life circumstances are as deep as they are wide. Regardless of you how or where you came into this world you need to know one thing, you were born to fly, and you were created for something much greater than this world.
God never promised any one that life on the earth would be easy. As a matter of fact he tells us that life will be challenging as well as full of blessings. He also tells you and me that there is a life beyond this world that is perfect and it is the place you and I were created to live.
So if you are struggling through life right now and if life just doesn’t seem to be fair, hang on…. help is on the way. Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave over 2000 years ago so that you and I could spend eternity in the place for which we were created to live. Praise God for His loving grace and mercy. Praise Jesus for His loving sacrifice. Now get out there and spread your wings … you were born to fly!
Love God. Go Love Others.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Storms
If you live in North Texas you most likely got to experience some part of a huge thunderstorm at your house. It was quite a storm that came across our area and it affected parts of our community differently. Some people were hit with high winds, hail, thunder, lightening and a ton of rain. Others just experienced the rain and thunder storm and still others mostly got a lot of thunder and very little rain. That is the way storms are most of the time, they pass through an area or region and depending on where you live you might get hit pretty hard or you might just barely notice that a storm had passed through your area.
As we all know, it rains on the just and the unjust. It also hails on the just and the unjust, and damage to personal property happens to the just and the unjust. That is just the way life is. On the flip side, the sun shines on the just and the unjust, flowers bloom for the just and unjust, birds sing for the just the unjust. This is just the way life is.
None of us can forecast the future and know exactly what is going to happen in your life. You may have a life time of storms or you may have a life time of sunshine and fair skies. Regardless of what come your way you are called to live out your faith to the glory of God. In sunshine or rain, good times or bad times, health or illness, fortune or poverty you and I are called to glorify God in all things and at all times.
In order to do that you and I must have a tremendous amount of focus and faith in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. You and I must keep our eyes and all of our attention on the one and only who can help us through the storms of life and can also helps us keep our focus during the times of our life when we have no struggles or difficulties.
May I suggest to you to make it a point every day to spend time focusing on Jesus and your walk with him. Early in the day before you set out on your daily journey take some time to focus on the fact that you are a child of the King and you have been born into a spiritual family and the Father of that family expects you to live out your faith in real and dynamic ways daily. You and I are to have extraordinary lives of faith, service, love and compassion as we experience the grace, mercy and love that come from the Father.
You and I are a part of a loving family of faith who is called to lift up and minister to the broken world around us. In order for you and me to do that affectively we must devote ourselves to being centered in Jesus Christ and we must devote ourselves to seeking out opportunities to serve each other and the community in which we live.
God has blessed you in amazing ways – now go share that with the world.
Love God. Go Love Others.
As we all know, it rains on the just and the unjust. It also hails on the just and the unjust, and damage to personal property happens to the just and the unjust. That is just the way life is. On the flip side, the sun shines on the just and the unjust, flowers bloom for the just and unjust, birds sing for the just the unjust. This is just the way life is.
None of us can forecast the future and know exactly what is going to happen in your life. You may have a life time of storms or you may have a life time of sunshine and fair skies. Regardless of what come your way you are called to live out your faith to the glory of God. In sunshine or rain, good times or bad times, health or illness, fortune or poverty you and I are called to glorify God in all things and at all times.
In order to do that you and I must have a tremendous amount of focus and faith in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. You and I must keep our eyes and all of our attention on the one and only who can help us through the storms of life and can also helps us keep our focus during the times of our life when we have no struggles or difficulties.
May I suggest to you to make it a point every day to spend time focusing on Jesus and your walk with him. Early in the day before you set out on your daily journey take some time to focus on the fact that you are a child of the King and you have been born into a spiritual family and the Father of that family expects you to live out your faith in real and dynamic ways daily. You and I are to have extraordinary lives of faith, service, love and compassion as we experience the grace, mercy and love that come from the Father.
You and I are a part of a loving family of faith who is called to lift up and minister to the broken world around us. In order for you and me to do that affectively we must devote ourselves to being centered in Jesus Christ and we must devote ourselves to seeking out opportunities to serve each other and the community in which we live.
God has blessed you in amazing ways – now go share that with the world.
Love God. Go Love Others.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Moving Experience
In just a few weeks my parents will be moving from Canton, Texas to Round Rock, Texas. They will be moving into a Senior Living Apartment which is a lot smaller than the house they live in now. When couples have been married for over sixty years they tend to collect a lot of stuff during that time. Some of the things they have gathered are things that have sentimental value such as the first bedroom set they ever bought, china that belonged to my mother’s mother and my favorite item the knife my dad’s dad used to slaughter hogs. My parents also have some other stuff that does not have the same value as the sentimental belongings. They have things that have been collected over the years from garage sales, estate sales and places like First Monday in Canton. Some of those things are nice, but some just need to be donated or given away.
My wife Mary and I have spent some time trying to help my parents decide what to keep, what to donate and what to just throw away. Deciding what to keep and move has proven to be a challenge. How does someone just get rid of something they have had in their possession for decades? How do you determine to take just what you need in order to set up your house and enjoy your surroundings? Moving is never a fun task and moving to a smaller place that forces you to down size brings a fair amount of stress.
One of the things I am trying to keep in mind is the fact that it is just stuff and even though it may have meaning and memories it is just stuff. Jesus tells you and I to not get attached to the things of this world that gather dust and rust and fall apart. Rather you and I are called to invest in the treasures of the Kingdom of God. The stuff that God values does not gather dust nor does it rust and it is created to last forever.
If you and I will keep that principle in mind as we go through life we will have an easier time when it comes to parting with our “stuff”. Treasure the things that you can take with you any where such as your love for your spouse and your family, the values given to you by your parents and mentors, the faith you have grown into during your daily walk with Jesus, the love that you have for life long friends, the memories you have a warm summer days teaching children or teenagers to enjoy the beauty of God’s creation, or the majesty and splendor of a cloudless night in the country when the stars are so bright and so big that you feel as if you are walking with God through the timeless part of eternity, or the evenings around the dinner table with family, good food, good conversation and of course and a good joke that brings uncontrollable laughter. That is the stuff that last forever and that is the stuff that holds the most value and the greatest thing is that stuff is easy to pack.
So go out today and invest in a memory or two that will last a life time and be something that you can take with you regardless of where you live and how big your barn is and along the way remember to make a difference in the lives of all you touch. In short, invest in eternity.
Love God. Go Love Others.
My wife Mary and I have spent some time trying to help my parents decide what to keep, what to donate and what to just throw away. Deciding what to keep and move has proven to be a challenge. How does someone just get rid of something they have had in their possession for decades? How do you determine to take just what you need in order to set up your house and enjoy your surroundings? Moving is never a fun task and moving to a smaller place that forces you to down size brings a fair amount of stress.
One of the things I am trying to keep in mind is the fact that it is just stuff and even though it may have meaning and memories it is just stuff. Jesus tells you and I to not get attached to the things of this world that gather dust and rust and fall apart. Rather you and I are called to invest in the treasures of the Kingdom of God. The stuff that God values does not gather dust nor does it rust and it is created to last forever.
If you and I will keep that principle in mind as we go through life we will have an easier time when it comes to parting with our “stuff”. Treasure the things that you can take with you any where such as your love for your spouse and your family, the values given to you by your parents and mentors, the faith you have grown into during your daily walk with Jesus, the love that you have for life long friends, the memories you have a warm summer days teaching children or teenagers to enjoy the beauty of God’s creation, or the majesty and splendor of a cloudless night in the country when the stars are so bright and so big that you feel as if you are walking with God through the timeless part of eternity, or the evenings around the dinner table with family, good food, good conversation and of course and a good joke that brings uncontrollable laughter. That is the stuff that last forever and that is the stuff that holds the most value and the greatest thing is that stuff is easy to pack.
So go out today and invest in a memory or two that will last a life time and be something that you can take with you regardless of where you live and how big your barn is and along the way remember to make a difference in the lives of all you touch. In short, invest in eternity.
Love God. Go Love Others.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Warning Signs
One day this past week as I was on my way home I decided to travel down the old FM 720 which is now McKinney Ranch. The beginning of the road near the highway 75 frontage road is still a two lane road and up until this past week it was a two lane road in poor condition. Even though it is in poor condition I still like to travel on that road because it is a bit of a short cut for me. As I turned onto the road I noticed the warning sign informing me that beginning the next day that particular road would be having some well deserved and needed repair work done. It was due for a complete resurfacing. When I say “due” I really mean “over due”. As I drove passed the sign I thought to myself, “it’s about time”!
Well the next I was on my way home and I made my turn onto McKinney Ranch and went a little ways down the road and found myself in a long line of cars and trucks waiting to use the one lane that was open while the work crew put down the new black top on the other lane. There I was in a hurry to get home and I was stuck in a construction zone. I had forgotten about the warning sign I had just read the day before. The warning sign that gave me all the information I needed to avoid the mistake I had just made. It was told in big bold letters WARNING this road will be under construction tomorrow.
Then the thought occurred to me, it does not matter too much if you read the warning signs and understand the warning signs if you are not going to remember and take steps to avoid the potential problems. I was stuck in a construction zone and it was my own fault.
Now obviously that experience was not too critical and it was not life changing. In life there are warning signs that pop up from time to time which you and I need to read and understand and then make appropriate changes or adjustments to our life. Some of the warning signs have to do with your health such as shortness of breath and/or a tight chest or pain in your chest could be a warning to get to the doctor or ER as soon as possible.
Other warning signs are there to protect you from making life changing mistakes. For instance if you find yourself in a situation where someone who is not your spouse is flirting with you that is a huge WARNING sign and you should run from that person as fast as your can and you should avoid them at all cost. Playing into the flirtation and ignoring the warning sign could cost you your marriage and your family.
There are other warning signs in life: the teenage child that just stops talking to you for no apparent reason, a child that starts acting out, the spouse that cannot account for their time and the list goes on and on. Pay attention to what is going on around you. You may be able to save yourself and your family.
On another level there are spiritual warning signs that can help you realize that you are slipping away from God. If you are not praying often or if you are not reading your Bible on a regular basis. Or if you are not thinking of how to serve others as you go through your day you could be slipping away from God and experiencing a spiritual decline.
I just want to encourage you to be alert to all the evil which is around you that is trying to rob you from your God and your family. If you miss or ignore the warning signs you could find yourself in spiritual danger. The good news is that Jesus is always there to pull you out of your crisis or your struggle.
The writer of James says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” Sounds like a plan.
Love God. Go Love Others.
Well the next I was on my way home and I made my turn onto McKinney Ranch and went a little ways down the road and found myself in a long line of cars and trucks waiting to use the one lane that was open while the work crew put down the new black top on the other lane. There I was in a hurry to get home and I was stuck in a construction zone. I had forgotten about the warning sign I had just read the day before. The warning sign that gave me all the information I needed to avoid the mistake I had just made. It was told in big bold letters WARNING this road will be under construction tomorrow.
Then the thought occurred to me, it does not matter too much if you read the warning signs and understand the warning signs if you are not going to remember and take steps to avoid the potential problems. I was stuck in a construction zone and it was my own fault.
Now obviously that experience was not too critical and it was not life changing. In life there are warning signs that pop up from time to time which you and I need to read and understand and then make appropriate changes or adjustments to our life. Some of the warning signs have to do with your health such as shortness of breath and/or a tight chest or pain in your chest could be a warning to get to the doctor or ER as soon as possible.
Other warning signs are there to protect you from making life changing mistakes. For instance if you find yourself in a situation where someone who is not your spouse is flirting with you that is a huge WARNING sign and you should run from that person as fast as your can and you should avoid them at all cost. Playing into the flirtation and ignoring the warning sign could cost you your marriage and your family.
There are other warning signs in life: the teenage child that just stops talking to you for no apparent reason, a child that starts acting out, the spouse that cannot account for their time and the list goes on and on. Pay attention to what is going on around you. You may be able to save yourself and your family.
On another level there are spiritual warning signs that can help you realize that you are slipping away from God. If you are not praying often or if you are not reading your Bible on a regular basis. Or if you are not thinking of how to serve others as you go through your day you could be slipping away from God and experiencing a spiritual decline.
I just want to encourage you to be alert to all the evil which is around you that is trying to rob you from your God and your family. If you miss or ignore the warning signs you could find yourself in spiritual danger. The good news is that Jesus is always there to pull you out of your crisis or your struggle.
The writer of James says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” Sounds like a plan.
Love God. Go Love Others.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Life is a One Way Trip
Last week I was listening to Mike and Mike interview Urban Meyer. To say that Coach Meyer has been a successful football coach would be a huge understatement. His teams have won two National Championships and his winning percentage is over 80% and at one time he had the highest winning percentage of any college coach in the nation. As coaches go Urban Meyer is a legend – well at least in Florida. He has now retired from coaching and is currently working for ESPN as a football annalist.
In the interview Coach Meyer discussed some of the reasons he chose to leave coaching. He told the story of the day his daughter was going have her college sport signing event. Urban’s secretary all but begged him to take some time and attend the event with his daughter. During the signing his daughter made a statement and said, “mom I want to thank you for being here today. You have been with me all along the way you have never missed a game and you took me to practice everyday. I could not have done this without you. Dad, you have never been there, but thank you for coming today.” That was the moment when the coach knew his coaching days were numbered. He had accomplished so much in sports and he was making unbelievable money, but his carrier was costing him more than he could bare to pay. He was married to football and the team was his family. He made the decision to get his life back in focus and return to what is truly important to him. He retired from coaching and now has a job that allows him the time to be the husband and father he desires to be.
During you life you will loose a number of things that are not important in the big picture. You will loose your glasses, phone, car keys etc… you may even loose your job or a close friend. You can get more glasses and another phone. You can even find another job and make new friends, but there are a couple of things you can loose and never get back. One is time and the other is opportunities. Once you’ve missed something that moment in time is gone forever. There are no time machines for do over’s. The kids stuff you miss out on today is over and gone and those opportunities will never be replayed. There may be other games or events, but the one you miss today is over.
I am not trying to give anyone a guilt trip that doesn’t need one; I am trying to wake up parents who are missing the most important things in life. I know that when your children are young it is easy to think that there will be plenty of opportunities to see you children in sports, plays, recitals etc… but guess what… in the blink of an eye it’s over and time has passed you by and your are attending college graduation or giving away your daughter in marriage and you will wonder, “where did the time go?”
Moms and dads take my advice and go to all the events you can while you can even if you have to stay up late to finish that report or reply to emails or balance the books. Do it for your children and do it for yourself. In life you can look back, but you can’t go back. So as much as possible do it right the first time.
Love God. Go Love Others.
In the interview Coach Meyer discussed some of the reasons he chose to leave coaching. He told the story of the day his daughter was going have her college sport signing event. Urban’s secretary all but begged him to take some time and attend the event with his daughter. During the signing his daughter made a statement and said, “mom I want to thank you for being here today. You have been with me all along the way you have never missed a game and you took me to practice everyday. I could not have done this without you. Dad, you have never been there, but thank you for coming today.” That was the moment when the coach knew his coaching days were numbered. He had accomplished so much in sports and he was making unbelievable money, but his carrier was costing him more than he could bare to pay. He was married to football and the team was his family. He made the decision to get his life back in focus and return to what is truly important to him. He retired from coaching and now has a job that allows him the time to be the husband and father he desires to be.
During you life you will loose a number of things that are not important in the big picture. You will loose your glasses, phone, car keys etc… you may even loose your job or a close friend. You can get more glasses and another phone. You can even find another job and make new friends, but there are a couple of things you can loose and never get back. One is time and the other is opportunities. Once you’ve missed something that moment in time is gone forever. There are no time machines for do over’s. The kids stuff you miss out on today is over and gone and those opportunities will never be replayed. There may be other games or events, but the one you miss today is over.
I am not trying to give anyone a guilt trip that doesn’t need one; I am trying to wake up parents who are missing the most important things in life. I know that when your children are young it is easy to think that there will be plenty of opportunities to see you children in sports, plays, recitals etc… but guess what… in the blink of an eye it’s over and time has passed you by and your are attending college graduation or giving away your daughter in marriage and you will wonder, “where did the time go?”
Moms and dads take my advice and go to all the events you can while you can even if you have to stay up late to finish that report or reply to emails or balance the books. Do it for your children and do it for yourself. In life you can look back, but you can’t go back. So as much as possible do it right the first time.
Love God. Go Love Others.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Testing
This past week the emergency sirens went off near our building. It was a cloudy windy day with a chance of rain, but I had not noticed any threat of severe weather being posted on the Weather Channel. The sirens sounded for a minute or two then stopped… I listened for an announcement of some kind hoping for “this is a test…” but nothing. Later on in day I discovered that the city was just testing the emergency warning system and they were making improvements. Note to city: First improvement – tell us what you are doing! I wonder how many people heard the sirens and headed to a safe place in their home or business and just spent the day hoping everything was alright outside.
On a serious note, it is good I guess that the city makes periodic test of the emergency warning system. It is good that they have a desire or goal to give the public as much warning as possible when severe weather is near by our community. The real question is this – When you hear the siren go off, what do you do? How do you respond to the signal that your life could be in danger? Some of you (hopefully most) take cover and await instructions. Some of you go outside to see if the warning is real and if it applies to you and your family. Some of you do nothing. Some of you just go on about your business as if nothing is happening.
I know a man who ignored warnings to leave town when a hurricane was coming his way. He thought he would just “ride it out”. Well, he rode it out alright by clinging to a tree for over 24 hours after his house blew apart. He said, “Next time I’ll listen to the weather man and leave town. Probably a good idea.
During your life time you are warned about a good number of things: smoking is bad for you, drinking too much could lead to alcoholism or a shortened life, talking or texting on your cell phone while driving is dangerous to you and everyone driving around you, eating too much fast food and fatty foods is bad for your body, eating processed foods is unhealthy, the list just goes on and on. The question is what do you do about the warnings?
Jesus warns you and I about several things that can cause us to struggle in our walk with him. He warns us about loving money too much, loving stuff and material possessions too much, worrying about tomorrow too much, thinking about yourself too much, and the list goes on. The question is what do you do about the warning? The key of course is to keep yourself focused on Jesus Christ and God the Father putting them first in your life. As a matter of fact Jesus said if you keep him first in your life then all the other stuff that your worry about will take care of itself.
So when the real crisis of life arise (and they will) keep your eyes focus on Jesus. Helen H. Lemmel put it this way, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”
Love God. Go Love Others.
On a serious note, it is good I guess that the city makes periodic test of the emergency warning system. It is good that they have a desire or goal to give the public as much warning as possible when severe weather is near by our community. The real question is this – When you hear the siren go off, what do you do? How do you respond to the signal that your life could be in danger? Some of you (hopefully most) take cover and await instructions. Some of you go outside to see if the warning is real and if it applies to you and your family. Some of you do nothing. Some of you just go on about your business as if nothing is happening.
I know a man who ignored warnings to leave town when a hurricane was coming his way. He thought he would just “ride it out”. Well, he rode it out alright by clinging to a tree for over 24 hours after his house blew apart. He said, “Next time I’ll listen to the weather man and leave town. Probably a good idea.
During your life time you are warned about a good number of things: smoking is bad for you, drinking too much could lead to alcoholism or a shortened life, talking or texting on your cell phone while driving is dangerous to you and everyone driving around you, eating too much fast food and fatty foods is bad for your body, eating processed foods is unhealthy, the list just goes on and on. The question is what do you do about the warnings?
Jesus warns you and I about several things that can cause us to struggle in our walk with him. He warns us about loving money too much, loving stuff and material possessions too much, worrying about tomorrow too much, thinking about yourself too much, and the list goes on. The question is what do you do about the warning? The key of course is to keep yourself focused on Jesus Christ and God the Father putting them first in your life. As a matter of fact Jesus said if you keep him first in your life then all the other stuff that your worry about will take care of itself.
So when the real crisis of life arise (and they will) keep your eyes focus on Jesus. Helen H. Lemmel put it this way, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”
Love God. Go Love Others.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Be Mine
Here we are again, it’s Valentines Day. Wikipedia has the following to say on the subject: “Saint Valentine's Day, commonly shortened to Valentine's Day, is an annual commemoration held on February 14 celebrating love and affection between intimate companions. The day is named after one or more early Christian martyrs, Saint Valentine, and was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496 AD. It was deleted from the Roman calendar of saints in 1969 by Pope Paul VI, but its religious observance is still permitted. It is traditionally a day on which lovers express their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards (known as "valentines"). The day first became associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished.
Modern Valentine's Day symbols include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid. Since the 19th century, handwritten valentines have given way to mass-produced greeting cards.”
In short, it’s just like several other special occasions of the year that have been taken over by the Greeting Card, Candy, Balloon and Jewelry stores. As a matter of fact for some stores this one day of the year is bigger that any other shopping day. I know men who will buy flowers, candy, jewelry and a card. Then they will take their sweetheart out to a nice restaurant for the evening and they may even include a movie. It really is amazing to see how much money some couples spend on this one day of the year to express their love for each other.
I guess it is a good thing over all to have a day to remind couples to celebrate the love they have for each other. Too often the expression of love is only limited to the merchandise which is purchased for each other. True love is expressed on a daily basis and it is seen in the little things of life that bring joy to the hearts of the ones we love. True love is what happens beyond the chocolate, the flowers and the card.
You see it does not matter a whole lot what you do on Valentine’s Day if love is absent the other 364 days of the year. So the question on this February 14th is not what are you doing for your special Valentine today, but rather the question is this: What are you going to do the days, weeks, months and years that follow. The best gift you and your spouse can give your children is an undying love for each other. Live out your love for each other daily and truly be in love forever. Now to find just the right card….
Love God. Go Love Others.
Modern Valentine's Day symbols include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid. Since the 19th century, handwritten valentines have given way to mass-produced greeting cards.”
In short, it’s just like several other special occasions of the year that have been taken over by the Greeting Card, Candy, Balloon and Jewelry stores. As a matter of fact for some stores this one day of the year is bigger that any other shopping day. I know men who will buy flowers, candy, jewelry and a card. Then they will take their sweetheart out to a nice restaurant for the evening and they may even include a movie. It really is amazing to see how much money some couples spend on this one day of the year to express their love for each other.
I guess it is a good thing over all to have a day to remind couples to celebrate the love they have for each other. Too often the expression of love is only limited to the merchandise which is purchased for each other. True love is expressed on a daily basis and it is seen in the little things of life that bring joy to the hearts of the ones we love. True love is what happens beyond the chocolate, the flowers and the card.
You see it does not matter a whole lot what you do on Valentine’s Day if love is absent the other 364 days of the year. So the question on this February 14th is not what are you doing for your special Valentine today, but rather the question is this: What are you going to do the days, weeks, months and years that follow. The best gift you and your spouse can give your children is an undying love for each other. Live out your love for each other daily and truly be in love forever. Now to find just the right card….
Love God. Go Love Others.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Jerry's Big Party
103,219 That is the number of people who officially attended Jerry’s Big Party AKA Super Bowl XLV. I will admit that I watch a good part of the pre-game which is something I normally don’t do, but since it was in our back yard I was curious as to how big a deal this really would be for Jerry Jones, the Dallas Cowboys, North Texas and the NFL. I know the weather put a damper on most of the days leading up to the big event, but I thought the last couple of days went off pretty well. The crowds looked to be huge and everyone seemed to be having a lot of fun and the word was that the money was flowing. It was by all accounts a very successful Super Bowl and most likely we will get to host the event again sometime in the future.
Just one question, who was there? When I heard about the ticket prices I asked myself, “who could afford to attend the game?” Then I heard that the NFL price and the price some people were re-selling their tickets for was really amazing. A average size family could easily spend $3000 - $5000 to attend the game and that did not include the $15 popcorn or $25 hamburger. The people I am really amazed at are the one who stood (stood) outside the stadium (outside) and watched the game on big screens all for the low, low price of $500. WOW!
What a party. I’m glad it went well for everyone and I’m glad it’s over. There is another party coming up that we are all invited to. It’s the biggest wedding ever and you can be a part of the bridle party and everyone is welcome. You don’t have to be rich, you don’t have to be a super star or entertainer or politician. You just have to know the Son of the Owner. That’s right; the Son can get you in and has already paid your way.
It is going to be quite the party. Everyone is invited, but few will actually choose to attend even though they claim that they would hate to miss it. No one is a guest, but everyone is family. It really is a one of a kind event. It has never been held before and it won’t be held again, this is a one time opportunity. Don’t worry about sitting. The last will be first and the first will be last. The good seats will go to the ones who least expect it. The invitation list will include people from all walks of life, but will only include those whose life was spent walking with Jesus Christ.
So what do you say.... Ready to party like never before? Consider this your invitation. See you there… I’ll be the one who is trying to explain to host why I still can’t dance.
Love God. Go Love Others.
Just one question, who was there? When I heard about the ticket prices I asked myself, “who could afford to attend the game?” Then I heard that the NFL price and the price some people were re-selling their tickets for was really amazing. A average size family could easily spend $3000 - $5000 to attend the game and that did not include the $15 popcorn or $25 hamburger. The people I am really amazed at are the one who stood (stood) outside the stadium (outside) and watched the game on big screens all for the low, low price of $500. WOW!
What a party. I’m glad it went well for everyone and I’m glad it’s over. There is another party coming up that we are all invited to. It’s the biggest wedding ever and you can be a part of the bridle party and everyone is welcome. You don’t have to be rich, you don’t have to be a super star or entertainer or politician. You just have to know the Son of the Owner. That’s right; the Son can get you in and has already paid your way.
It is going to be quite the party. Everyone is invited, but few will actually choose to attend even though they claim that they would hate to miss it. No one is a guest, but everyone is family. It really is a one of a kind event. It has never been held before and it won’t be held again, this is a one time opportunity. Don’t worry about sitting. The last will be first and the first will be last. The good seats will go to the ones who least expect it. The invitation list will include people from all walks of life, but will only include those whose life was spent walking with Jesus Christ.
So what do you say.... Ready to party like never before? Consider this your invitation. See you there… I’ll be the one who is trying to explain to host why I still can’t dance.
Love God. Go Love Others.
Monday, January 31, 2011
The Royal Treatment
This past weekend Mary and I were able to attend one of the Market Street Cooking School events featuring the Royal Chef – Darren McGrady. In the world of cooking Darren is one of the most talented chefs on the planet and his presentation was informative, inspiring and hilarious. For those who do not know, Darren was once the chef for t he Queen of England and he was also the personal chef to Diana, Princess of Wales until her death. The food which he prepared for the class was definitely some of the best food I have eaten in my life.
One of the things which stood out in Darren’s presentation and preparation of the food is the sense you feel in the room that he is preparing your food in much the same way he would prepare a meal for the Queen. Every detail was so important to him right down to making sure the food was plated perfectly.
During our experience Darren was asked if he would be willing to move back to England and cook for the Royal Family again. He quickly said no at least not full time. He went on to explain that he did not cook for the Queen for the money because the money was not that good. He cooked for the Queen for the honor of serving the Queen of England.
Here is a question for you to consider, what is your motivation for doing whatever it is you do each day? Is it merely for the money? Fame? To pay the bills or put food on the table? Do you do what you do in a cheerful way being happy to serve or work in your capacity? For those of us who are Americans we don’t have a King or Queen to serve and we will most likely never get called to serve a President, but should our service to others or our work be any less than our best?
For those who are Christ followers the daily call to serve our neighbor as if we were serving the Lord should be foremost in our mind. Think about it…what if you and I went about our work as if we were working for Jesus Christ? What if the quality of our service or our work was always at the level of near perfection as if the person we were serving or the boss we were working for was our Lord and Savior? In a very real way that is what you and I are called to do in our daily walk as a Christ follower.
Darren said one more thing that impressed me,(and I’m paraphrasing) “it is not just the fact you want to please the Queen it is the fact that your attitude reflects the fact that you want to please the Queen”. So here is your Monday morning attitude check… read Philippians 2:5-8 and make you day one of cheerful service to the King!
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!
Love God. Go Love Others.
One of the things which stood out in Darren’s presentation and preparation of the food is the sense you feel in the room that he is preparing your food in much the same way he would prepare a meal for the Queen. Every detail was so important to him right down to making sure the food was plated perfectly.
During our experience Darren was asked if he would be willing to move back to England and cook for the Royal Family again. He quickly said no at least not full time. He went on to explain that he did not cook for the Queen for the money because the money was not that good. He cooked for the Queen for the honor of serving the Queen of England.
Here is a question for you to consider, what is your motivation for doing whatever it is you do each day? Is it merely for the money? Fame? To pay the bills or put food on the table? Do you do what you do in a cheerful way being happy to serve or work in your capacity? For those of us who are Americans we don’t have a King or Queen to serve and we will most likely never get called to serve a President, but should our service to others or our work be any less than our best?
For those who are Christ followers the daily call to serve our neighbor as if we were serving the Lord should be foremost in our mind. Think about it…what if you and I went about our work as if we were working for Jesus Christ? What if the quality of our service or our work was always at the level of near perfection as if the person we were serving or the boss we were working for was our Lord and Savior? In a very real way that is what you and I are called to do in our daily walk as a Christ follower.
Darren said one more thing that impressed me,(and I’m paraphrasing) “it is not just the fact you want to please the Queen it is the fact that your attitude reflects the fact that you want to please the Queen”. So here is your Monday morning attitude check… read Philippians 2:5-8 and make you day one of cheerful service to the King!
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!
Love God. Go Love Others.
Monday, January 24, 2011
The Most Interesting Man in the World
Chances are if you watch television to any degree you have seen the commercials presented by Dos Equis which feature the Most Interesting Man in the World. You know the ones where they show this older bearded man doing different adventurous types of things and they have comments about him such as, “He is the life of parties he has never attended”, “If he were to punch you in the face, you’d have to fight off the urge to thank him.”, “Sharks Have a week dedicated to him.” Then the announcer say’s “He is the most interesting man in the world”. Even though these are commercials for beer you have to admit that it has been a clever ad campaign.
After watching these commercials on television for some time I now wonder if those types of things really qualify as interesting and would they in a real life situation really grab someone’s attention or would people just think, “That guy is weird!” The question then arises, what makes a person interesting and who determines the level of interests. I do know that certain tabloids make billions of dollars annually taking advantage of the curiosity of people and their desire to read about “interesting” people.
There are truly some amazing people in the world who are truly interesting. Some are in small business, some are in politics, so are creative spirits who touch the world in unique ways, some are incredibly generous and kind to the community around them, some are authors, teachers, and mentors who touch one life at a time or the lives of many all at once. Yes, in this world there are truly some amazing and interesting people.
There is just one person though who has caught the interests of millions of people for hundreds of generations. That person is Jesus Christ. The commercial would go something like this… He once turned water into wine to make his mother proud. He rides a boat to cross the lake, but doesn’t need one. He once fed thousands of people with someone else’s lunch. He is the most interesting man in the world. The difference is that Jesus really did those things and Jesus really is the most interesting man in the world.
Jesus did some truly amazing things while he walked on planet earth. He touches people in ways that changes their lives forever. He gave the world direct access to God the Holy Father. He developed in mankind a thirst for truth and the spirit of God. He created within mankind a hunger for righteousness and understanding of God and His word. He placed in the hearts of men a desire to live just like him. I think that Jesus would look into the eyes of those who had a heart to follow him daily and say, “Stay thirsty my friends.” That is my encouragement to you today – to stay thirsty for the life Jesus has called you to live. To stay hungry for the bread of life that gives you strength for each day of deliberate discipleship.
Love God. Go Love Others.
After watching these commercials on television for some time I now wonder if those types of things really qualify as interesting and would they in a real life situation really grab someone’s attention or would people just think, “That guy is weird!” The question then arises, what makes a person interesting and who determines the level of interests. I do know that certain tabloids make billions of dollars annually taking advantage of the curiosity of people and their desire to read about “interesting” people.
There are truly some amazing people in the world who are truly interesting. Some are in small business, some are in politics, so are creative spirits who touch the world in unique ways, some are incredibly generous and kind to the community around them, some are authors, teachers, and mentors who touch one life at a time or the lives of many all at once. Yes, in this world there are truly some amazing and interesting people.
There is just one person though who has caught the interests of millions of people for hundreds of generations. That person is Jesus Christ. The commercial would go something like this… He once turned water into wine to make his mother proud. He rides a boat to cross the lake, but doesn’t need one. He once fed thousands of people with someone else’s lunch. He is the most interesting man in the world. The difference is that Jesus really did those things and Jesus really is the most interesting man in the world.
Jesus did some truly amazing things while he walked on planet earth. He touches people in ways that changes their lives forever. He gave the world direct access to God the Holy Father. He developed in mankind a thirst for truth and the spirit of God. He created within mankind a hunger for righteousness and understanding of God and His word. He placed in the hearts of men a desire to live just like him. I think that Jesus would look into the eyes of those who had a heart to follow him daily and say, “Stay thirsty my friends.” That is my encouragement to you today – to stay thirsty for the life Jesus has called you to live. To stay hungry for the bread of life that gives you strength for each day of deliberate discipleship.
Love God. Go Love Others.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Wreck on the Way to Happen
Not too long ago I was on my way home following a mid-week service with our church family. It was a dark cloudy evening and the streets were just a little damp from the light rain, which was falling. I was traveling south on the highway, a white mini van was in front of me and the drive home was for the moment much the same as any other drive home on a Wednesday night. Then it happened, the mini van began swerving and braking and I also pushed the brake on my red truck. The mini van was able to swerve into the next lane, and then I saw first hand what was causing the problem. Just in front of my truck was a large fifth wheel trailer running with out taillights or any other lights. As a matter of fact the truck pulling this large trailer was also missing taillights. This was a wreck on the way to happen.
Now for the ironic part of this story, the trailer was loaded with wrecked cars that had been smashed and they were on their way to a salvage yard or a metal recycling center to be melted down into something other than a car. I thought to myself, is this driver just out trying to find more wrecks to add to his load? Since I was able to get around this driver safely I found the whole thing both scary and funny at the same time. The idea of a truck pulling a trailer fully loaded with wrecked cars possibly being responsible for causing other wrecks …. I was beginning my thought process about how to turn this event into an article when I drove up behind another truck pulling a trailer with a car on it. This time it was all different, the trailer and truck were well lit with all the proper tail lights and markers and flashing yellow strobes. The car it was carrying had been in a wreck, but this car was being taken to a local body shop for repairs.
It’s just funny how life lessons are everywhere around you. Within in just a couple of miles of each other were two trucks pulling trailers with wreck cars on them. One truck was taking cars to be further smashed and melted down and the other truck was taking a car to be restored and made as good as new.
That is the way life is every day. Satan is looking for wrecked lives to add to his collection so he can take them away and turn them into something they were never created to become. Then there is Jesus who is also looking for wrecked lives, but he gently picks them up and cares of them and restores them like new again. Jesus restores them into the life they were created to live.
Some who are reading this may be thinking their life is one big wreck and how could anyone love what I have become and how can my life be fixed? Well I am here to tell you some good news; you are just the sort of person Jesus is looking for. He specializes in turning wrecked lives into brand new lives full of hope, peace, purpose and love. So what do you say, turn your life over to Jesus and let him change you into the person you were created to be.
Love God. Go Love Others.
Now for the ironic part of this story, the trailer was loaded with wrecked cars that had been smashed and they were on their way to a salvage yard or a metal recycling center to be melted down into something other than a car. I thought to myself, is this driver just out trying to find more wrecks to add to his load? Since I was able to get around this driver safely I found the whole thing both scary and funny at the same time. The idea of a truck pulling a trailer fully loaded with wrecked cars possibly being responsible for causing other wrecks …. I was beginning my thought process about how to turn this event into an article when I drove up behind another truck pulling a trailer with a car on it. This time it was all different, the trailer and truck were well lit with all the proper tail lights and markers and flashing yellow strobes. The car it was carrying had been in a wreck, but this car was being taken to a local body shop for repairs.
It’s just funny how life lessons are everywhere around you. Within in just a couple of miles of each other were two trucks pulling trailers with wreck cars on them. One truck was taking cars to be further smashed and melted down and the other truck was taking a car to be restored and made as good as new.
That is the way life is every day. Satan is looking for wrecked lives to add to his collection so he can take them away and turn them into something they were never created to become. Then there is Jesus who is also looking for wrecked lives, but he gently picks them up and cares of them and restores them like new again. Jesus restores them into the life they were created to live.
Some who are reading this may be thinking their life is one big wreck and how could anyone love what I have become and how can my life be fixed? Well I am here to tell you some good news; you are just the sort of person Jesus is looking for. He specializes in turning wrecked lives into brand new lives full of hope, peace, purpose and love. So what do you say, turn your life over to Jesus and let him change you into the person you were created to be.
Love God. Go Love Others.
Monday, January 3, 2011
My Father's Voice
As I reflect upon my life’s journey I remember a small white house next door to the church where my father preached in Carlsbad, New Mexico. It was there I first heard my father’s voice. A voice of love, compassion, humor and instruction. Though out the years my brothers and I listened to the voice of my father has be gave us instruction about how to be a pleasing son, a faithful Christian, a faithful and loving husband and father. The instruction we received was not so much the kind you get around the kitchen table although there was plenty of those occasions. The instruction we received from my father was given to us as we experienced life with my father and mother.
You would be surprised how many lessons about life you can receive by doing yard work or working in a vegetable garden or spending time on the lake fishing. Everyday chores and activities were opportunities to teach and shape the lives of my brothers and me. We also had a front row seat as we witnessed my mother and father ministering to soldiers going off to war or helping families who needed food and comfort. The lessons of life were everywhere around us and my parents made sure that their three sons learned them well.
That process has been the formula for raising faith children through out the ages. The process of fathers and mothers consistently living out their faith in front of their children and teaching them to seek out, listen to, and follow the voice of God. Deuteronomy 6:4 reads, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord you God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commands that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”
So for those who are parents, grandparents, guardians, or anyone who has children in their care, you are to be the voice of God who teaches and shapes the lives of the children given to you by God. Live out your faith in real and meaningful ways on a daily basis. Be intentional in your daily walk with God as you witness to your family that your faith is real and alive and active.
Help your children to discover that there is only One Voice that has been there from the very beginning of time. One Voice who knows you better than anyone and One Voice who loves you more than you will ever know. This Voice promises hope, acceptance, mercy, grace and love now and forever.
Love God. Go Love Others.
You would be surprised how many lessons about life you can receive by doing yard work or working in a vegetable garden or spending time on the lake fishing. Everyday chores and activities were opportunities to teach and shape the lives of my brothers and me. We also had a front row seat as we witnessed my mother and father ministering to soldiers going off to war or helping families who needed food and comfort. The lessons of life were everywhere around us and my parents made sure that their three sons learned them well.
That process has been the formula for raising faith children through out the ages. The process of fathers and mothers consistently living out their faith in front of their children and teaching them to seek out, listen to, and follow the voice of God. Deuteronomy 6:4 reads, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord you God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commands that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”
So for those who are parents, grandparents, guardians, or anyone who has children in their care, you are to be the voice of God who teaches and shapes the lives of the children given to you by God. Live out your faith in real and meaningful ways on a daily basis. Be intentional in your daily walk with God as you witness to your family that your faith is real and alive and active.
Help your children to discover that there is only One Voice that has been there from the very beginning of time. One Voice who knows you better than anyone and One Voice who loves you more than you will ever know. This Voice promises hope, acceptance, mercy, grace and love now and forever.
Love God. Go Love Others.
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