Disruption

The average married person in North America spends more time on the internet than with their spouse.  If facebook was a country, it would be the third largest country in the world.  I have a droid phone and it makes a droid sound every time I get a facebook, email, or text message.  Disruption is the word for the way our lives go today.  But in the middle of all the disruptions I must find a way to experience peace and hear the still small voice of God leading me through the day.  We must not let all the disruptions disrupt us on the inside.  This is our challenge today.

A water emergency

Do you ever have problems that spin out of control, and cost more than you can afford?  I had one this weekend when we called a plumber to help solve a small problem that became a big problem.  This all started with the first plumber coming on Saturday and should be done (I'm told) by next Monday.  When he left late Saturday night nothing was solved and I had less running water than before they started.  I brought in a second plumber Monday night with the same results, and then brought back the first guy on Tues. and Wed.  By the way we had no hot water for the entire weekend.  In the end I have hot and cold running water again for which I am very grateful.  I also have holes in two walls that I need to find help getting repaired...Anyone out there know how to repair drywall...The lesson I learned is that I still have a way to go in the patience department, and I have taken an awful lot of things for granted.  Thank you Lord that stuff doesn't break down very often...I'll try to remember these important lessons.

Being alone?

I'm alone this week while Cindi is in Miami helping our son find a place to live.  Being alone is a hard gig.  I can't wait for someone else to share the remote with.  I can cook what I like, but then I have to eat alone.  No conflict  this way, but no one to share with or snuggle with or work with or talk with or be with.  Being alone makes me grateful that I'm married.  It makes me grateful for family, and community.  Being alone makes me realize that I was not made to be alone.  God said about Adam "it's not good that man should be alone."  He was right.  There is so much more joy in a life that is shared.  I need people...this is what I am learning this week.  How about you?

Man up...2

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.  I just read that our government spent over 900 million dollars of stimulus money on a study to determine the effect of "penis size" on a man's quality of life.  I am tired of seeing all of the commercials about "penis enlargement" and other drugs designed to enhance your sex life.  Now don't get me wrong, I really enjoy the sexual relationship that I share with my wife, but I refuse to allow my life to be controlled by my sexual appetites.  A life that is controlled by it's appetites is bondage, and not a life that is really enjoyed.  It's time for godly men to rise up against the darkness that is seeking to control their lives.  It's time for men to guard their hearts against Internet porn, or sexually explicit movies.  You can live a life free from the control of lust.  You may be weak in your flesh, but you can be strong in the Lord.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Come on guys, let's make purity a priority...it's time to man up.

Man up

I wish that men everywhere would lift up holy hands without wrath or doubting.  Come on guys, it's time for us to remember what it means to be a real man.  Real men aren't weak, and they don't make excuses. This world needs to see strong men.  Character is the willingness to demonstrate strong moral courage.  We need men who will protect their families, and won't prey on young women.  The number of girls in our nation who are physically assaulted is outrageous, and it is because our nation is filled with men who are controlled by weakness instead of strength.  I have a vision of men who have strong moral convictions.  They don't tolerate pornography in their lives because they believe God has called them to a better life.  I am praying for a new movement of strong men,and I hope that you will join me.  It's time to man-up.

Embarrassed?

If you follow the news at all then you know that the rapture was supposed to  happen this past Saturday. At least that was the prediction made by a minister named Harold Camping, and apparently this was not the first time he made a prediction of this sort.  Don't worry he has done some recalculations and now he is saying we are leaving in October.  What about the words "no man knows" don't we understand?  Two thousand years ago in Matt. 24:36 Jesus Christ said that "no man" would know the day or the hour of His return, and ever since people have been spending copious amounts of time and energy trying to figure it out.  The news reported that this man's followers spent over 100 million dollars advertising this false prediction. Jesus told us that the most important commandments were that we should love God, and love others. (Matt. 22:37-39)  I've got an idea.  Why don't we spend all of this extra time, and money on these two commandments.  We could do a lot of better things with  100 million dollars.  It's time for God's people to actually read the book we carry.  Sometimes I am embarrassed by how dumb people can be.  Let's focus on what Jesus said was really important.

My brother is gone.

Eccl. 3:3 there is a time to grieve, and I am in it.  My youngest brother died yesterday.  We weren't supposed to bury him first, he was only 48, but death is a part of life.  I wish that he had taken better care of himself, but these last several years had been his best yet.  He was finally living free from the life crippling addictions that had  haunted him for so long.  He had a job, a place to live with a wide screen tv, and he was smiling more than he had in a long time.  He was even looking for a good church and had found real hope in his relationship with God.  I had more hope for him than I had in a long time, but he is gone.  We laughed and hugged a lot during thanksgiving this year.  He flew down to Georgia from Pa. and we ate way too much great food.  My children took him into their hearts and loved him completely.  It was a great sight to behold.  My mother would have been proud of him, if she were still with us today, but we lost her when she was 48 for the same thing (heart attack).  It seems strange that they died at the same time, for the same reason.  I know that John is happy tonight because he is with his mommy once again, and little boys should grow up with their mommies, but he didn't get to do that because she died when he was just 12, and I don't think he ever recovered fully from that loss.  My children got to be with their mom  during those important years of childhood.  I don't know how they would have made it without her, and he certainly struggled.  Drug addiction stole a lot of important years from him, but he never got away from God's relentless love.  My fathers guilt drove him to overcompensate for John's loss, but what was his mistake?  He loved too much.  I wish we were all guilty of that sin.  My brother Michael and his whole family gave John chance after chance, always hoping for the miracle that finally came this year...sobriety.  For years we were afraid that we would get a call in the night that his life had ended in tragedy.  That call never came, but he is gone, and that is the tragedy.  I will miss you John.  We will never stop loving you, and we will love your son.  God's relentless love pursued you in many dark places and it will pursue him as well.  We love you so go see your momma.

I'm a huge fan of quitting.  If you quit something enough times, eventually it might stick.  Our culture celebrates winners, achievers and rain makers.  Those who try and succeed are inspirational.  They make us want to stretch further and see what we can do.  I love the stories of those who struggle against all odds and overcome.  I'm thrilled when someone, faced with an obstacle, kicks and screams and pushes their way through, coming out on the other side in full victory!

But what about those who try and fail?  Who cheers on the career quitters, those who want to stop overeating, smoking, drinking...whatevsies...but fall down time and time again?  I've raised 5 children and this I know.  As each one of them learned to walk they'd toddle a few steps and then plop down on their amply padded bottoms.  They fell over and over again, sometimes shedding tears bitterly, as they tried to master this new skill.  I always encouraged them.  I was proud of their efforts.  Not once did I tell my babies to stay down, since it was obvious they weren't experiencing the success we all longed for.

No way!  I clapped for them, encouraged them and knew that in due time they'd waddle their way across the room, unassisted.  They just had to keep practicing.  I love quitters because they stay engaged in the battle.  I love quitters because somehow, intrinsically, they know there's something better on their horizon and they keep reaching for it.  I love quitters because if they don't quit quitting they eventually win.

My younger brother, John, fought life long battles.  They haunted him, relentlessly pursued him and cost him years of brokenness and heartache.  But he kept quitting.  He'd get to the end of his tether, want more for himself and he'd determine to quit again.  He'd win a little and his addictions would win a little and then he'd suffer a downward slide.  After an excruciating amount of time he'd renew his commitment to sobriety and he'd quit again.

And he won!  He quit for the last time and he experienced a real life.  He accomplished things, felt proud of himself.  He treasured his son as well as those who helped him by loving him fiercely, held a responsible job and joined a gym.  He quit until he quit and he won. Whatever you're warring against, keep quitting.  Start over every Monday, the first of every month, the beginning of a new year, but don't stop in your efforts to quit.  If you won't you'll eventually win!  I believe in you...I believed in John and he did it!

An act of courage...

Yesterday was a groundbreaking day at the Rock.  Eight people planted their flag in the ground for life in a new kingdom.  They buried the old man in the waters of baptism, so that now they can live a new life both forgiven, and free.  It was incredible to watch and listen as one by one they proclaimed their allegiance to the invisible God.  No one could see this God, yet they spoke boldly of His love, and His power.  It's not cool to speak up for God, yet they spoke clearly.  They testified before family and friends about the life change they have already experienced and all they look forward to.  I could hear Jesus in the background speaking those words that He would confess us before the Father, if we would confess Him before men.  Well they did it.  They confessed Christ boldly, and without shame, or trepidation.  This was a public act of courage, and I salute them all.  This world needs more people of courage.

Pray for peace, and watch for the signs!

Psalm 122:6  Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, may they prosper who love you.
Egypt is all over the news this weekend, and all I can see is turmoil in the mideast.  The turmoil makes this a very dangerous neighborhood to live in, and that is where God's people (the jewish nation) live.  I am praying for supernatural protection in Jerusalem, and I hope that you are joining me.  The mideast is a timeclock to tell the world that time is running out.
   Jesus said, "when you see those things know that it is near (His coming). Matthew 24:33.  Fox news, CNN, NBC?  Do you know what you are seeing?  These are signs that the end is nearer than most think.  I believe that the message of this hour is "pray for peace, and watch for the signs."  Are you praying, and watching?  I would really love to read your comment.

Time to ponder.

This week of snow has presented me with some extra thinking time, and that is a good thing.  Proverbs 4:26 encourages us to "ponder the path of your feet, and let your ways be established."  Most often we run into problems because either we don't ponder enough, or we ignore obvious warning signs on the road of life.  I have suffered some pain recently because of some warning signs were ignored.  I decided what I wanted to do and just plunged ahead, so I'm spending some ponder time this week...Of course God's Word had good advice there all along, but wise counsel ignored is worthless.  Are you pondering your path, or plunging ahead.

Possibilities?

We are starting a new year and as we leave the old one behind of leaving those life crippling habits in the rear view mirror.  The Bible says that "His mercies are new every morning," so there is no reason to continue to live in the past.  It's a new year.  It's a book filled with blank pages.  The possibilities are endless.  You can take a new direction in life.  You can find a whole new set of friends who are a positive influence and will encourage you to make positive decisions.  If your problem has been negative relationships you may have to visit some new places to do your friend shopping.  If you keep going to the same places you'll keep finding the same kind of people.  Find people who are already going where you want to go with the Lord, in their family, or in business  and get to know them. I meet a lot of people who know way too many people who aren't going anywhere good, and they discover that misery is contagious.  The good news is that success is also contagious.  As we start this new year you will either catch success or failure, but it's a choice you have to make. 365 days from now your life will be better or it will be worse, and it all depends on the choices you make during those days.  If you choose to study, you'll enjoy better grades.  If you choose to get up early, you'll have time for God, and be on time for the day.  At the end of this next year you won't be a victim of anything but your own choices.  It's a brand new year, so let's determine to make different choices so that we don't end up with the same old life.