Monday, March 18, 2024

The Terminator


I watched a little bit of the old Terminator movie this past weekend. "I'll be back." Remember that? There's a lot of great lines in that movie.

Arnold Schwarzenegger plays the terminator and his mission is to "terminate" Sarah Conner. He is very relentless but ultimately fails in his quest. That's because a man from the future (Kyle Reese) comes back to protect Sarah.

When Mr. Reese finds her Arnold is shooting up a night club where Sarah is nervously waiting. Then Kyle says these words:

"Come with me if you want to live." - Kyle Reese

I thought about that statement for a minute. It sounded familiar.

"Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." - Matthew 16:24

Close enough. But that got me thinking about other similarities between the Terminator movie ans the story of Jesus.

The Terminator is Satan on course. Sarah is Mary, the mother if Jesus. Kyle is the Holy Spirit. Kyle and Sarah have a baby together - John Conner - the one who saved the planet. His initials by the way are J.C. Jesus Christ?

Sarah Connor was faced with a life and death decision. Would she follow a man that she never even met before? Or would she face certain death? The choice was simple. The same choice is ours today?

Will we follow a man we've never even met before. The Holy Spirit leads us and cincicts us of our sin. It is by followong the Holy Spirit that we meet Jesus.

Our alternative is certain death. Eternal death. Have you made that choice? To follow Jesus? I pray that you have.

Remember what Jesus told his disciples in Matthew 14.

"I'll be back."

Or something like that.

"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." - John 14:3

Saturday, March 16, 2024

The Tiny Life


I am currently building a tiny house in my yard. Its design and construction has taught me some valuable life lessons.

Prior to building it, I attended a tiny house seminar where they taught me some things to consider. Like this gem...

To get ready for living in a tiny house, go through everything you have and get rid of 90% of it. Then, do it again.

I also learned this valuable design concept....

Everything must have more than one purpose or it has not been thought through completely.

An example of this would be the couch in the "living room." It's a couch (1) that folds out into a bed (2) with storage underneath (3).

The roof over the door (1) comes off for transportation and then covers the front window to protect it from flying road debris (2).

In my old age I also use this tiny house concept of doing multiple things. When I go downstairs to get something I think, "What else do I need down there?" So I won't have to make the trip twice.

It's all about living efficiently, and with a purpose.

When I drive to visit friends I will listen to the Bible and pray along the way. I combine shopping trips with a round of disc golf before or after, and pick up litter as I play. Efficiency.

And moms, I don't have to tell YOU about multitasking.

"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." - Romans 8:28

When my wife goes grocery shopping she buys some extra food items and drops them off at the food pantry.

Try this one. When you are paying for your meal at a drive-thru restaurant, also pay for the meal of the person behind you in line. You will not only touch them with the kindness of your hearts, but the heart of the cashier as well.

We are here for a reason, and a multitasking purpose. To love God, to love others, and to bring glory to God in everything we do. Multitasking in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus.

"Less is more." - Mies van der Rohe

“Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” - Mark 9:35


Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Ping!


First, this is not a political post. And although you might recognize the woman in the picture above, this isn't about her either. Today's story is about technology and how we are never really alone.

Fanni Willis is the district attorney in Fulton County, Georgia where she is prosecuting former president Donald Trump. During the proceedings her relationship with Nathan Wade came into question.

They admitted to a romantic relationship beginning in 2022. But then evidence came to light proving that that was a lie. And that is the REAL story here:

"Nathan Wade’s phone has been tracked to District Attorney Fani Willis’ home late in 2021, well before the pair claim they were a couple, according to a bombshell new court filing." - Newsmax report

Wade's phone was traced, in 2024, back three years ago to 2021. They were able tell where he was three years ago! Today!!

I have several questions. What kind of records do our phone companies keep on us anyway? And how can authorities even track our phones to begin with?

Last question first. There are apps available that will "ping" your phone. If your phone goes missing, or you want to find out where your kids are, there's an app for that.

What does all of this have to do with God?

God knows exactly where we are and what we are doing every single second of our lives. He sees everything. He knows everything. Yet somehow we think we can get away with things? I don't think so.

"O Lord, you have examined my heart
and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too great for me to understand!" - Psalm 139:1-6

We need to remember whose we are at ALL times. Someone, it seems, is always watching. Ping!

"The true test of a man’s character is what he does when no one is watching." - John Wooden

Oh, and regarding the first question: What kind of records do our phone companies keep on us? Whatever they want. We signed the user agreement when we bought the phone.

Have a nice day! 😳

Monday, March 11, 2024

Becoming Less


Today's verse, and topic for consideration, is from John The Baptist. 

"He must increase, but I must decrease." - John 3:30

What does becoming less look like? How can we become less? What can we do to make God increase in our lives?"

Step #1 - Examine Ourselves.

"Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? - unless indeed you fail to meet the test!" - 2 Corinthians 13:5

What is "the excess" that we carry with us each day? What are the things we do that do not bring glory to God? Make a list.

Step #2 - Refine Ourselves.

Begin removing those things, those impurities in our lives we just listed. Get rid of the distractions that separate us from God.

Step #3 - Fill the void.

Nature abhores a vacuum and so do we so fill the empty spaces in our lives, not with our thoughts and desires, but with God's.

Read and study more. Engage more. Love more.

Step #4 - Apply it!

What gift(s) has God given you that could be used for His glory? Make a list and start checking things off today!

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created." - James 1:17-18

Be that good and perfect gift in someone's life this week. Let God use you. Let go of what's troubling you and let God fill the voids in your life. You'll be glad you did.

Saturday, March 9, 2024

Live In The Now


The world we live in today is a whole lot different than when I was a kid. Of course, that was 50+ years ago. A lot of things have changed since then, and not all of them for the better.

This generation of today lives by the mantra featured in my story title - live in the now. There's no thinking about the future or possible consequences. "Just do it," says Nike.

Back in the 60's the Boy Scouts had a motto - "Be Prepared." Everything we did was in preparation for some future event.

First aid, tying knots, foraging for food, exercising, camping, handling knives and axes, civil service, attending church. Everything was a training exercise for the furure.

And now? Most of today's kids don't even know what a checkbook is, much less how to balance one.

What do they do when the power goes out? "Well, my phone has a flashlight." And when the battery dies? "Umm . . . call mommy and daddy?"

I'm not a big prepper but I do believe in being prepared. The extent of each person's preparedness is up to the individual.

My preparation for the future has led me to Christ. Through Jesus, I know exactly what my future holds.

Yes, my wife and I buy things in bulk when they go on sale. Yes, we stock up our pantry and our freezer. We have a generator, we have a wood burning fireplace. But our faith and Hope for our future lies in Jesus.

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11

Live for the future.

Live In The Now - Wayne's World

Wednesday, March 6, 2024

A Slap and a Hug


I woke up this morning to a slap in the face, followed quickly thereafter by a loving hug. No, my wife is still sleeping. Let me explain.

First, some background information. I used to be a youth leader at my church. Lots of high schoolers to shepherd and love, as a father loves his children. And I still love them to this very day. Even after some of the choices they have made.

The Slap - I opened up Facebook (I know, there's a mistake right there) and I saw a picture of one of those youth group kids, a girl. She was lovingly being embracing by her same-sex partner. That kind of hurt.

A quick prayer from me, followed by continued scrolling.

The Hug - Suddenly there appeared a video from one of my favorite pastors. He was speaking about suffering for the Gospel. So, I watched it.

I was reminded how Paul suffered for the Gospel.

"Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea." - 2 Corinthians 11:24-25

Paul goes on from there to list many other sufferings, not to mention that he eventually died for the sake of The Gospel.

We who follow Christ will face decisions in our lives, sometimes daily. How will we face those decisions? How will we answer those tests from God?

Recently, Alistair Begg, a prominent pastor in Ohio, was criticized for advising a grandmother to attend a gay wedding. His marriage advice podcast was pulled from USAToday. He was rebuked by his fellow pastors. Begg refuses to repent.

This generation has perverted the wedding ceremony as if it were only for themselves. Is not an earthly wedding a foretaste of our soon-coming heavenly wedding? The bride (The Church) and the bride groom (Jesus)? Did not God create us men and women for a purpose?

For those who choose to stand firm in their faith, they are sure to be chastized and rebuked by those living in "the world." It hurts. But the pain does not breed contempt in the heart of the Christian. Rather love leads to compassion, and that compassion leads to impassioned prayer.

We all have people in our lives who make poor choices. We only have to look in a mirror to see an example. We are ALL sinners. But those who have chosen Christ must follow HIS path, not the path that this world has taken. Sin leads to death!

"Let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake." - Philippians 1:27-29

And again . . .

"To live is Christ, and to die is gain." - Philippians 1:21

And . . .

"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." - 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Repent + Jesus = New Life

Suffering For The Gospel- Voddie Baucham

Monday, March 4, 2024

The Man With The Pitcher


As Easter approaches I thought it might be a good time to examine an often overlooked detail in one of the stories about Jesus' crucifixion.

This story requires a little digging, but before we begin our excavation, our "dig site" will be in the Book of Matthew. We are looking for clues so bring your Bible along. You will need it to make sense of what we are going to find. Are you ready? Let's begin.

"On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked Him, “Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”

So He sent two of his disciples, telling them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.

The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them." - Mark 14:12-16

As you can see I have highlighted a few things to consider. But we're going to focus on the man carrying the water jar today.

If you open up your favorite web browser and search for "man water jar constellation" what do you get?

Aquarius. Interesting.

If you click on the Wikipedia link you will find that Aquarius is Latin for "the water carrier." Water carrier? Hmm. A man carrying a water jar. Just like in Mark 14!

Aquarius is also a zodiac sign (not that I believe in that stuff but) its time spans from January 20-February 18th. We actually just passed through "The Age of Aquarius."

Jesus was telling His disciples to literally "follow Aquarius" - a man with water. Also interesting. Jesus, the man the disciples were following for three years, was literally "the well" where they could get living water.

"Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” - John 4:14 

We who call ourselves Christians, are we not to follow the Man with living water? Won't He take us into an "upper room" where we will eat at "the wedding feast of the lamb?"

And if we follow the man with the water jar (Aquarius), what's next? What sign in the Zodiac follows Aquarius? It's Pisces. And what is Pisces?

Fish.

Are you kidding me? The "fish" (Pisces) follow "the man with the water jar? (Aquarius).

Now, with all this in mind, read this:

"And He said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. - Matthew 4:19

Interesting.

Saturday, March 2, 2024

Bacon And Eggs


"The difference between involvement and commitment is like ham and eggs. The chicken is involved; the pig is committed."
- Martina Navratilova

This is a problem in the church today. And also in the hearts of many of its members, I am sad to say.

To use the pig and chicken analogy, Jesus wants us to be committed, not just involved, only Jesus used two other animals to tell us this - sheep and goats.

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats." - Matthew 25:31-32

What does it mean to be committed to Jesus?

Step #1 - Believe Jesus is who He says He is. Not only is He the Son of God, He IS God.

Step #2 - Believe that He rose from the dead, ascended into heaven, and is currently sitting at the right hand of God the Father.

Step #3 - Repent of all your sins. No one gets into heaven carrying their sins with them. Change your ways. Jesus has paid the penalty for your sins.

Step #4 - Allow Jesus to be Lord over your life. Follow Him and His commands. Commit to His Lordship.

It's really very simple, but it IS a commitment. The real question is, are you willing to take that step?

I pray that you would consider it. You may have to give up some things. Actually, you must be willing to give up everything. But you will gain so much more. Take a stand. Make the commitment. Be the bacon. Be the sheep.

Wednesday, February 28, 2024

What's Your Trigger?


A lot of people these days are getting "triggered" by one thing or another. I first heard the term "triggered" being used regarding anything Donald Trump. But it applies to lots of things.

Maybe you're watching the news tonight and you'll see a story about abused pets. Or perhaps you'll be on your way to work when someone pulls out in front of you and you have to slam on the brakes.

There is a neverending supply of triggers in our lives these days, or so it seems.

What IS a trigger anyway? A trigger is something that causes something else to happen. In a gun's case the trigger releases a "hammer" which strikes a bullet, causing an explosion, which sends a hunk of lead flying. Triggers cause reactions. They cause things to happen.

Here's a question: What was it that triggered your conversion to Christ? Do you remember the day? What was it that "triggered" you? A conversion? A sermon? A sudden medical emergency you were saved from? A car accident where you emerged unharmed while your car was totalled?

The key fact in any conversion story is someone somehow encountering Jesus. It's when He becomes REAL in our lives.

We can live our whole lives going to church, doing and saying the right things, but until we meet Jesus, none of it matters.

The Apostle Paul went to church each sabbath. He was VERY religious! Yet it wasn't until he met Jesus on the road to Damascus that his life changed.

"As he (Paul) journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”

And he said, “Who are You, Lord?”

Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting." - Acts 9:3-5

That was Paul's trigger.

Not everyone conversion story like Paul. A bright light, sudden blindness, and Jesus actually speaking to him. Wow!

But everyone has a story. What was it that led YOU to Christ?

Monday, February 26, 2024

Cetus


Today's word of the day is Cetus. Any ideas what that means? Cetus is a constellation, sometimes called "The Whale" in English. Cetus (ketos in ancient Greek) was a sea monster in Greek mythology which both Perseus and Heracles needed to slay (whoever THEY were).

A whale . . . Hmm.

"Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” But He answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." - Matthew 12:38-40

Jesus was in "the belly of the whale" for three days just like Jonah. Surely Jonah's stint in that deep, dark place was a prophetic sign of Jesus crucifixion and his descending into hades for three days.

I saw this piece of artwork (pictured above) while searching for today's story picture. It is Cetus the whale! Note the stars on its side. It's the constellation Cetus! Amazing!

What else do we see? Well, it's a clock for one thing. We can tell that by the Roman numerals III, IX, VI... and Cetus is pointing at the number 3. THREE days in the belly of the whale? Interesting.

Who knows what all this means. Perhaps Jesus and His heavenly host will come to us out of the constellation Cetus. I really have no idea, but this encoursging to me. All we know for sure though is this . . . time is definitely ticking. And we do NOT want to end up in the belly of the whale.

Saturday, February 24, 2024

The Wee Small Hours


A couple of nights ago I was on YouTube listening to music when I came across One More Light by Linkin Park. I watched the video. I probably shouldn't have.

Chester Bennington (lead singer) sang a song about suicide and how he cared when people chose to end their lives instead of talking to someone. Of course, Chester would later do the very thing he sang about, taking his own life in 2017. 

As the song repeated in my head I thought about all the people I have known who took the same sad option. Austin, Kameron, Bill, Jesse, Oksana.

So there I was, thinking about suicide victims at 3:00 AM. Perhaps if I wrote about it . . .

So, I jotted down some notes for this story on my phone. I then discovered I had already written a story about this topic. What now? It's 3:00 in the bloody morning! Lol! It's the wee small hours!

(Ding!)

And there you have it. The answer to getting songs out of one's head. Sort of. Change the song!

Now I'm on YouTube again, searching, only it's now 4 AM. . . . In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning . . .

(Ding!)

In the wee small hours of the morning,
When the whole wide world is fast asleep,
You lie awake and think about that girl,
And never ever think of counting sheep.

When your lonely heart has learned its lesson,
You'd be hers if only she would call.
In the wee small hours of the morning,
That's the time you miss her most of all.

And now, with THAT song playing in the background of my mind, I returned to bed and prayed for the families of my friends who are gone.

"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." - Psalm 147:3

"The Lord is near to those who are discouraged; He saves those who have lost all hope. Good people suffer many troubles, but the Lord saves them from them all." - Psalm 34:18-19

When we find ourselves feeling sad, change life's soundtrack, and pray. You will find that soon you will be sleeping like a baby. And falling asleep as you pray is a wonderfully calming thing.

I slept like a rock. THEE Rock.

"Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”

He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm." - Matthew 8:24-26

In The Wee Small Hours - Chris Botti & Sting

Wednesday, February 21, 2024

Puzzles


When I inherited my mom and dad's jigsaw puzzle collection I didn't know what I was getting myself into - a lesson about life.

Puzzles can be a fun little diversion. Jigsaw puzzles teach us that it is possible to attack a problem and emerge at its completion 100% satisfied. Unless, of course, there are missing pieces.

Often, my wife will enter my "puzzle space," bend down, and pick up one of the pieces I had inadvertently knocked off the table.

"Here. You might need this," she'll say. What an example of Jesus!

Life is a lot like assembling a crossword puzzle.

Puzzles exist so that they can be assembed. They provide us with a sence of accomplishment after we complete them. Equally, puzzles can also provide frustration if some of the pieces are missing or if the puzzle proves too difficult. Is life any different?

We can be working on life's puzzle, all organized and going well. Then, suddenly, something's not right. A medical emergency, infertility, the death of a loved one. A piece of our "puzzle" has gone missing or we have placed one of life's pieces in the wrong spot. Enter Jesus.

Is there a puzzle that Jesus cannot solve? Is there something missing in our lives that could not be fixed by Jesus?

Jesus completes us. He guides us through life's puzzles with His Holy Spirit and His Word. He is the one who picks up the pieces off our floor and puts them back onto the table for us.

Jesus could solve ALL of life's puzzles for us with a thought or a snap of His fingers. But He doesn't. He wants us to grow and to learn.

What God teaches us today may be needed to solve some "life puzzle" in the future.

Embrace the puzzle!