Something's Changed

I saw a meme on Facebook last week that got me thinking. It spoke about how life has changed since 1968, specifically addressing gun violence and mass shootings by asking the question: "What has changed since then?" Why are there more mass shootings today than in 1968. What HAS changed?

Back in 1968 I was a freshman in high school, our country was waist-deep in the Vietnam war, but life in general was good. It was safe. There were no mass shootings, The Beatles topped the music charts with Hey Jude, and I was more worried about "being cool" than I was about passing math class. So what has changed in our society since 1968? Here's a partial list:

Prayer removed from schools 1962

Bobby Kennedy shot 1968

Marin Luther King shot 1968

Women's Lib Movement late 60's

Woodstock 1969

Roe v Wade 1973

Jesus Christ Superstar 1973

Vietnam War ends 1975

As gun law restricting gun ownership increase, so do the mass shootings. Clearly, gun ownership is not the problem. I believe it is our government increasingly taking God out of everything. They're even talking God's Word out of the pulpit, calling it hate speech. Sad.

Some people will think this is a "political piece" - a story about gun rights rather than about God. They will be wrong. The gun battle is just that, a battle in a larger war. The war is taking place in our hearts.

Yesterday there was another Potential mass shooting taking place . . . in a church!! However, recently passed laws enabled members of the congregation to carry guns. And it was a good thing they did. But the shooting quite possibly never even occurred had the shooter known Jesus.

There will always be crazy people in the world. Like Jesus said, "The poor you will always have with you." There will always be Herods, Stalins, Hitlers, etc. but a good home with God-fearing parents in it is the best way to combat violence.

"Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence. 12 God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways." - Genesis 6:11-12

Jesus will return one day. Most think that day is coming soon. I hope so. Once He removes His church from the scene, what do you think it's going to be like then?

Need vs. Want

How was your Christmas? Did you get everything you wanted? I hope not.

Have you seen the Lexus commercial where the husband and wife give trucks to each other at Christmas? Or the one about the dad who gets a brand new Mercedes with a bow on top?

That's wrong. Those commercials are teaching our children the wrong things about Christmas.

There is a transition that takes place as we grow older between giving and receiving. Between wanting and needing. Sadly, some kids never grow up. And it shows.

My wife and I no longer get gifts for one another at Christmas. Why? We have everything we need. Our wants are few and are usually comprised of things that cannot be purchased. Time together with family, quiet moments together, or alone.

The biggest problem with our society today is that we want everything. Look at all of the democratic presidential candidates. Each one is trying to outdo the other, giving us things. Free healthcare, a free college education. We want free stuff and they're willing to supply it (as long as they can use our money to buy it). But enough of the political.

Those "needs" are all worldly "wants." So, what are our society's needs? How about clean drinking water? Food? Shelter? And what about Jesus?

Jesus is a need in my opinion. What Jesus offers are priceless gifts - eternal life and never-ending love.Those things are "not available in stores."

"He gives us everything we need for life and for holy living. He gives it through His great power. As we come to know Him better, we learn that He called us to share His own shining-greatness and perfect life." - 2 Peter 1:3

Here is my nomination for a new Christmas song. Like most TRUE Christmas songs, it should be sung, not only at Christmas, but always. The chorus goes like this.

"You're all I want. You're all I've ever needed. You're all I want. Help me know you are near."

Jesus should be our every want and every need. So that is my prayer, that Jesus would become everyone's need in this coming new year.

"Help us know You are near."

Draw Me Close - Michael W. Smith

Christmas Letter 2019

Winter in Wisconsin is a good time for writing stories like this. There’s a fresh covering of snow on the ground, a fire pouring heat into the living room, and the cat is asleep on the back of the couch. It’s a good time to reflect on the year and all that we did. But I’m not going to do that. Instead, I am going to tell you a story about God and something that HE did.

The other day I received a message from a mom I met a few years ago at a local food pantry. Her husband hadn’t been paid in three weeks and this mom was out of a job. There was no food in their house for a Thanksgiving meal and they have three kids – one of them just 4 months old.

“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." - Matthew 7:9-12

Hidden inside those words from Jesus is what’s called “The Golden Rule” – do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Bev and I provided a Thanksgiving meal for my friend and her family. No big deal. But that Golden Rule verse got me thinking. What does that mean for us the rest of the year?

When Jesus sacrificed Himself on the cross for us, was that Jesus applying the “golden rule” to us? Do unto others as you would have others do unto you. Are we supposed to sacrifice ourselves for Jesus because He did that for us? The answer is simple.

Yes.

Jesus was born into this world so that He could die for us. Why were WE then born into this world if not to die for Him?

"Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." - Luke 9:23

What does “taking up our crosses daily” look like in a world that teaches us to place ourselves first? Well, I think it means we are to forget what the world tells us and do what God tells us - to love our neighbor, as we love ourselves.

This Christmas we challenge you to think outside the normal gift-wrapped Christmas box and give gifts that would be a gift to God. Go to the store specifically to drop money in the Salvation Army kettle. Pay for the meal of the person behind you in the drive up lane. Bake some cookies and drop them off at a homeless shelter.

We shouldn’t do these things to feel better about ourselves. We should be sacrificing ourselves for others, for God! Leave a card for the person in the drive-through lane that glorifies God. Give some Biblical encouragement along with the cookies. Pray for the bell ringer at the Salvation Army kettle – right there!

Christmas isn’t about us. It’s about Him!

May God bless you and your family. May He bring you the peace that surpasses ALL understanding – a gift that only God can bring. And may this Christmas be a time we truly rejoice in receiving the gift of a child, given to all, that we might receive our King. Amen.

No Room

Christmas time can be a really busy time of the year. Everybody has all their normal busyness but then Christmas and Thanksgiving bring new layers of it that can be quite crippling, especially for our faith.

I was volunteering at a local food pantry Saturday morning and witnessed something I had never seen before. Someone came in looking for some food. They had no money for the "required donation."

The lady was told she could not proceed to get food without the $20. And it's funny because a man had come in earlier with only $10 of the required $20 HE needed and somehow we found $10 for him. Why was this lady turned away?

That got me thinking. It shouldn't be that way, that people are turned away at a church with food. Especially at Christmas time! I'm not picking on the church or the food pantry here. I am picking on myself and my inability to act. Why didn't I have $20 in my pocket? Why didn't I follow the lady out the door and offer to buy her some food?

Reading through Luke 11 Saturday night, I found a story where Jesus was talking with His disciples about giving and asking. He spoke about how God is ALWAYS willing to give His children what they need. But they DO have to ask.

Should it be any different for His children? Us? I don't think so. Was I too busy "volunteering" so I couldn't make room for a family without food? Here, read this from Luke 11.

"Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ 7 And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.

9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." - Luke 11:5-10

Someone asked for bread yet they were never given any. That's wrong. This is Christmas!! It is a time for giving, not a time of receiving. This poor soul is going to have $20 in his pocket from now one. And it's going to get used!

When Jesus was born there was no room for Him. Who of us would not open the door to Mary and Joseph on a cold winter's night? Far too many I fear. Let it not be us. Let us open the door of our hearts to Jesus and love like HE loved.

People Help The People - Birdy

The Mystery Box

Want to know what true love is? True love is loving someone when you have no idea who they are or what they believe. It is loving someone because they just . . . are.

Sitting alone in the dark is one of my favorite things to do. Why? Because outside influences are relatively few. That's a problem our society has today. Too many outside influences. They distract us from God and that is NEVER a good thing.

"Alone, in the dark" is also where I get most of my ideas for these stories, like today's story for example. First, I had better explain what a Discmania Mystery Box is before you quit reading. It's a box full of disc golf discs. The point is that the buyer doesn't really know what's inside and you always receive more than you thought you would.

People are like a mystery box, until we "open them up" and find out more about them. Then we have to decide what to do with the contents. Some people get discarded because they don't have the same beliefs as we do. Some people don't make the cut in our lives because of their skin color, sexual orientation or political persuation. That's wrong. That's not the point of the mystery box. The point is the way you feel BEFORE you open the box.

What if God placed someone in your life that He wanted you to love but you refused to do so. How do you think that would go for you? Would God bless you because of your refusal to love?

"Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” - Matthew 22:37-40

There are no qualifiers in Jesus' command here. We are to love our neighbor! Period. That's everybody! It's the overweight black man sitting in McDonald's all by himself. It's the oddly-dressed lesbian couple who just walked in. It's the disabled woman with the shriveled arm that is taking your order. It's everybody.

When God gives us a mystery box human, He wants us to love that person. He doesn't care if they are Republican or Democrat, black or white, gay or straight. He wants us to love . . . everybody!

I watched The Blues Brothers movie the other day - a movie from my younger, pre-believer days. There is a song in that movie that fits this story perfectly. At the beginning of the song there's not a lot of love in the audience. But as the crowd listens to the words, things change. That's how God effects our hearts when we read His Word. We change. and we love.

Everybody Needs Somebody To Love - The Blues Brothers

That's Why!

Have you ever felt used by someone? In most cases, "being used" is a negative thing. But yesterday, for me anyway, being used was a wonderful thing.

I have a friend who was recently laid off from the place I use to work. It's a sad thing when that happens anywhere - especially at this time of year. I was reminded of my friend's lack of employment as I addressed their Christmas card and thought, "There must be something more I could do."

At the same time I was doing my Christmas cards, my wife was plating up some of her Christmas cookies to give to some friends of ours. I asked if she could make a small bag of them for my jobless friend. My wife thought that was a great idea and so she did just that. I delivered them yesterday.

When I got to my friend's house I rang the doorbell and my friend's husband answered the door. My friend was not at home. Her husband and I sat in their living room and talked for an hour. Then my friend came home and the three of us talked for another hour.

During the conversation I said a quick, "What do you want me to do here?" prayer because I really had no clue. Maybe the cookies and conversation were enough?

When the time came to leave, my friend accompanied me to the front door. Her husband stayed in the dining room organizing some papers I took him away from when I arrived. My friend and I continued to talk - me encouraging my friend my friend to look at her job loss as a new beginning rather than an end. And then there was a moment of silence as I reached for the door knob . . .

You know, we never give God enough credit for the relationships he creates, the lives He's saved or those special moments He arranges with a simple holy thought. I was in one of those moments yesterday in the foyer of my friend's house.

I turned around from opening the door and asked my friend, "Can I pray for you?"

And so I prayed about having hope for a future. I suggested in my prayer that perhaps she was given this time off to be with her 95-year old mother before the Lord took her home. I prayed that God would watch over her and give her peace in the whole situation.

When I finished and said "Amen" my friend looked at me and said, "No one has ever prayed for me before." That's when I began to understand what had just happened. You see, my friend is not a believer. She is in her 60's and NO ONE has ever prayed with her?

I walked out the front door and closed it behind me. On the way to my car I smiled and said to God, "THAT's why you brought me here!"

I am constantly amazed by God. We walk through each day not knowing what He has in store for us, yet it seems like there is always something He wants us to do. Usually I miss all of God's hints or nudges to do one thing or another, but I think yesterday I was used to deliver a message to a friend. A message of hope, in .Jesus.

Pray for opportunities like the one I was given yesterday. You may be the very person God wants to use in someone's life today!

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." - Romans 15:13

The Joy Of Suffering

I had kind of a rough night last night, spending it sitting in a chair trying to sleep. Somehow I had strained my back and also gotten heartburn. It's a great combination. I'd recommend them both highly if you are looking for ways to get closer to God.

What do you do at night when you'd rather be sleeping but can't? The mind starts to wander. The next thing I knew, at 1:00 in the morning, was I was "sure" I was having a heart ache and how my family would have to clean up all my junk in the basement. And who was going to attend my funeral and what they would say about me?!? Lol!

Minds can be wild, untamed things. They tend to wander off by themselves and get into trouble, thinking about things they really shouldn't. But at least brains have one positive thing going for them - Christian brains that is. The Christian mind, eventually, will turn to God for help in times of need or trouble.

Yes, I prayed last night. I think we all do that when things get bad enough. Pain is a great pastor. It reminds us of just who is in charge and who it is that has the power to heal and restore.

I woke up this morning and the heartburn was gone. The pain in my back had subsided. I thanked God for watching over me and taking care of me.

Some people might ask, "How do you know that it was God who made you feel better?" To that I reply, "How do you know it wasn't Him?" Believe what you want. "As for me and MY house" . . .

"And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” - Joshua 24:15

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, a whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." - James 1:2-4

The thing pain and suffering teach us about life is that we must trust and rely on God more than we do. And is that such a bad thing? No. But I DO think we need to thank God for the reminders and pay more attention to Him than we do. We should be grateful that we have a God who loves us and cares about us enough to rebuke us and teach us lessons we need to learn them.

What pain would YOU like to get rid of today? Is it painful enough for you to get on your knees and pray? I hope so. That's where the healing begins.

Healing Begins - Tenth Avenue North

Immaculate Question

This time of year we traditionally begin to think of Christmas more and more. According to songwriters Edward Pola and George Wyle, "It's the most wonderful time of the year." We like to watch It's A Charlie Brown Christmas and love to hear Linus tell us the Christmas story found in Luke 2. But I think we should also turn back a few pages in our Bibles and consider the story of Mary and Elizabeth and what happened in theirs wombs.

Luke 1

Let's start with Elizabeth and her husband Zechariah. They both were very old (v7). Zechariah was visited by an angel (Gabriel) in verse 11 and told that he and his wife were going to have a son (v13). This son, John (and this is huge) would be filled with the Holy Spirit (v15) "before he is born!" Remember THAT before you vote pro-choice.

Six months later (v26) God sent Gabriel to visit Mary, the future Mother of Jesus, and told her she was going to have a baby by the Holy Spirit of God. Then Mary says these words (v46-47) . . .

“My soul glorifies the Lord 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,"

I learned something new this week. Have you ever heard the phrase Immaculate Conception? I always thought it was about Jesus and how the Holy Spirit came upon Mary and Jesus was conceived in the virgin's womb. I have believed that my whole life! If you are feeling brave Google 'immaculate conception' and see what it REALLY means. This is from Wikipedia:

"The Immaculate Conception is the conception of the Virgin Mary free from original sin by virtue of the merits of her son Jesus. The Catholic Church teaches that God acted upon Mary in the first moment of her conception, keeping her "immaculate."

So, according to the Catholic church, Mary too was born without sin. Hmm. I thought Jesus was the only human born without sin.

According to GotQuestions.org, there is nothing in the Bible that says Mary was born without sin. It only mentions Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 John 3:5, 1 Peter 1:19) as having no sin.

Scroll back up to Mary and Elizabeth (v47). If Mary was born without sin why does she rejoices in God her "savior"? Only sinners need a Savior - her Son, Jesus.

This is from the Catholic church's web site. "The doctrine of the Immaculate Conception was officially defined by Pope Pius IX in 1854."

I'm confused, but you know what? I'm sticking with Jesus as the only one who was immaculately conceived. Why? Because I trust the Word of God. And like Franklin Graham said about the Bible, "I don't understand it all but believe is all."

Immaculate Conception and Assumption - Catholic Answers
What Is The Immaculate Conception - GotQuestions.org

Only Hope

Everyone wants to have that perfect relationship. The one who gives us everything we are hoping for in life. Someone to complete us or to mesh perfectly with our hopes, dreams and beliefs. Here are three easy steps you can take towards reaching that goal.

First, quit trying so hard. That seems like contrary advice here but it's really not. If God has someone in mind for you, you WILL meet them, you WILL find each other.

Second, be choosey. Recognize that all humans are flawed. There is no "perfect someone" out there. The only perfect person who ever lived was Jesus and He was God so . . . trust in the Lord!

Which brings us to the third step you can take in seeking that perfect relationship. Choose God first. Place God where you want your perfect someone to be. If you trust in the Lord completely there can never be any disappointment in your life. Then wait for the prefect one that God has for you.

Have you read the story about Isaac and Rebekah in the Bible? Isaac really had no part in choosing his wife at all. He never met her before they were married. Someone went and got her. Yet she was the perfect one - chosen by God.

And how did that person who was sent to find Rebekah know that she was the perfect one for Isaac? He prayed and asked God to verify who the bride was. And He did!

You say, "I HAVE prayed and God has not provided!" There are two possibilities here. Either God has not willed that you have anyone in your life OR you don't have enough patience and trust.

You see, also in the Book of Genesis, Sarah was getting old and wanted to have a child for Abraham. She prayed and nothing happened. Yet God heard her and HE made it happen . . . when HE wanted it to happen, not on Sarah's schedule. Sarah was not patient, but God was.

That perfect relationship awaits us all. It is with Jesus Christ. Some of us have already met Him and are enjoying that relationship today. Some haven't submitted themselves fully yet to His marriage proposal. I pray that they would do so.

And sadly, some never will have that relationship with Jesus. That good, and perfect relationship that will last forever and ever. That's not God's fault. He has been extremely patient in His waiting for each of us. But, unlike His love, His patience with our refusal to join Him in a relationship is not eternal. It has an end. And that end is coming soon.

Get on your knees today. Right now. And pray that God would come into your life. Tell Him how tired you are of the disappointment that your earthly relationships bring. Tell Him you want the kind of love that lasts forever. If you do that, that one prayer, God WILL hear you and He WILL give you the desires of your heart.

"1Do not fret because of evildoers,
Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.
2For they shall soon be cut down like the grass,
And wither as the green herb.
3Trust in the Lord, and do good;
Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
4Delight yourself also in the Lord,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
5Commit your way to the Lord,
Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass."

- Psalm 37:1-5

Only Hope - Mandy Moore

Figgy Pudding?

Here's a Christmas question for you. Just what is figgy pudding and why on earth would we all want to eat some this Christmas? It sounds disgusting!

Apparently this is a picture of figgy pudding. I have no idea what it should look like or what it even tastes like. I just remember Peter, Paul and Mary singing about it and that they all wanted some.

Apparently Jesus wants some too. That was my take-away from the sermon I heard at church on Sunday. Our pastor was talking about being a watchman and how we will see signs of Jesus return for His church. He mentioned Jesus cursing the fig tree because it wasn't producing any fruit.

“Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near." - Mark 13:28

Jesus was talking with His disciples about the end of the age and what the signs of His coming would be. There is nothing we Christians want more than His coming return to earth. That is why we wait so impatiently, longing for a sign of that coming.

In the song We Wish You A Merry Christmas there is a line in one of the verses that is very prophetic. If we are to be looking for signs prior to Jesus' return, "We won't go until we get some" suddenly has incredible Biblical meaning, and it's totally true!

There is another parable of Jesus cursing the fig tree. Whether the fig tree represents Israel, God's people, or us Christians, either way I think God wants us to bear fruit.

"Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. 19 Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered." - Mathew 21:18-22

The moral of the story? Bear fruit! I think what that means is we should do more than just go to church on Sunday. We should always be bearing the fruit of our faith. We never know when Jesus might be coming by, and it simply is not a good thing to be cursed by God, wither, then die.

Be fruitful this Christmas! And always be fruitful!! He is drawing near!

We Wish You A Merry Christmas - Peter, Paul and Mary
Why Did Jesus Curse The Fig Tree?

Convenient Faith

Everyone's seen the meme calling the manual transmission a "millennial anti-theft device". That's funny and probably mostly true but it is also quite sad. Because the automatic transmission is just another example of what's wrong with our faith these days.

We are a society of convenience. If it's not convenient for us to do something we just don't want to do it. That goes for driving cars, buying groceries, getting married and having babies. The same thing is true about our relationships, especially our relationship with God.

Everything has to be convenient for us. That's why we have "convenience stores". Why do you think KwikTrip is so popular? It's convenient! Their popularity speaks volumes about our wimpy character.

Our faith should not be convenient but churches have made it that way. Multiple worship times to fit our schedule, bending over backwards to please everybody, they even have drive through confessionals!

Our relationship with Christ cannot be convenient. We can't simply "believe and receive", as the prosperity gospel says, and suddenly be filled with all knowledge. When we first come to believe we soon find out that there's a lot of work to be done. Reading, studying, learning.

Our faith needs to be more like a race car driver than a bus driver. We need to work at it. Not a faith-based works system like some religions have. That's not biblical. What I am talking about it when our prayer life and worship life, our relationships and the way we live our lives all perfectly mesh together into a well-trained athlete or race car driver.

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize." - 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Grace has been extended to us from God. It is free. But it does come with a training manual. Anyone can go to church. It's just like starting a car. But it's up to us to find a gear for our faith and step on the gas.

Race Car Driver Footwork

The Perfect Relationship

We all desire perfect relationships in our lives. Each of us has an idea of what "perfect" is. The only problem is that we ourselves are NOT perfect. But God is.

God created Adam and Eve. God went walking in the garden of Eden one day and was looking to enjoy the relationship He had created with them. Satan, however, had other ideas. He introduced sin - "the apple" - and God's relationship with Adam and Eve became forever changed.

"Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden."

"But the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?”

"He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” - Genesis 3:8-10

God desires a relationship with us. We are the unfaithful ones in the relationship. God is prefect. The only way to have a wonderful relationship with God is to become perfect ourselves. "Impossible!" you say? Enter Jesus.

By placing our faith in Jesus we become perfect in God's eyes. Our relationship with God can then grow stronger and closer than ever before. It will never be perfect but that's not God's fault. It's ours.

Through Christ, our earthly relationships become stronger. That strength and those relationships are gifts from God. But they should never take the place of our relationship WITH God. We were created BY Him and FOR Him. That's something we tend to forget.

We like to focus on our earthly relationships because WE are the most important part of them. When God becomes the most important part, that's when our relationships, ALL relationships, grow and flourish. Place God first and your relationships will last. Forever.

In The Garden - Alan Jackson

Good Days

When was your last really good day? Was it yesterday? Last week? You HAVE had a good day, haven't you?

Life is a series of ups and downs. Some days are good, some days are bad. I had a really good day on Friday. Today I am not feeling so good.

Do you think God has good days and bad days? I'm not sure. I'd say yes but I think God is above all these earthly classifications. God simply IS.

Today the sun is shining brightly. Quite a contrast to the weekend when it was cloudy, raining and snowing. Still, no matter what the weather, I have a list of things that I think make up a good day.

1. Love
2. Joy
3. Peace
4. Hope
5. Faith

All five of these can be summed up in just one word - God. Think about it. When we place our hope and faith in God, we are at peace. In that peace we come to know love and the joy it brings, both in the giving of it and in the receiving.

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." - 1 Corinthians 13:13

Think about a wedding day. Whether it takes place in good weather or bad, it is the best of days. Is your spirit married to the bridegroom, Jesus?

When we place our faith in Jesus we are given ALL these things. It's like a wedding where two come together as one. Through our faith there is peace and joy and there is love and hope. There are no ups and downs really. There is simply God. And God is love.

The Weding Song - Paul Stookey

Look At Me

Have you ever been out walking by yourself and heard footsteps coming up behind you? That can be a little freaky. Your mind starts messing with you, telling you that you're about to be robbed, or worse. You finally decide to stop and turn around and . . .

No one is there.

Do you believe in guardian angels? The Bible does refer to angel visitations here on earth, therefore they DO exist and they DO make visits into our lives.

Several years ago I was driving to work when a deer ran out in front of my car. I was doing 70 miles per hour. The deer was killed, my car was totaled and I escaped injury free. The deer should have come right through my windshield, yet it went up and over the car. Angelic intervention?

"The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them." - Psalm 34:7

"See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven." - Matthew 18:10

"For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;" - Psalm 91:11"

There ARE angels and God DOES command them to protect us according to His will. So why should we be surprised? Has God been watching over YOUR life?

I heard this song the other day - an oldie but a goodie. It's secular in nature but, if you sing the opening words from Jesus' perspective, it makes perfect sense.

There is someone walking behind you
Turn around, look at me
There is someone watching your footsteps
Turn around, look at me

When we place our faith in Jesus we receive that "extended warranty" those telemarketers are always calling about. Only God's warranty lasts forever. God cares about ALL of His children. If you are not one of them, please consider His free offer today!

It can be quite comforting knowing that God is walking behind us in our lives. Turn around and acknowledge Him and He will make all your paths straight.

Turn Around, Look At Me - The Vogues

Giving Thanks

One of the things I enjoy about volunteering is the people I get to meet. Every one of them is different, yet we all have this similar desire - to love and to be loved. Why is that?

It doesn't matter what political party you favor, whether you're a Packers fan or a Bears fan. There is a common thread that runs through the fabric of the human heart that is undeniable. And it is placed there by God. Knit into our hearts from long ago.

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb." - Isaiah 139:13

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day here in America. We give thanks to our creator for all the many blessings He has given us. And we truly are blessed in this country. But with those blessings comes responsibility. A responsibility to bless others in God's name.

You see, Thanksgiving isn't really about US. It's not about turkey, football or parades either. It's about God. I think we've forgotten that as a nation. And that's part of our problem today.

The Thanksgiving story I remember from my childhood was the Pilgrims celebrating their safe passage from England, celebrating the harvest. But I also remember the Indians (Native Americans if you prefer) sharing some of their food as well.

That may or may not be true. I'm not going to look it up. But that's almost how it should be, isn't it? Sharing our blessings with others?

I hope that when you gather around the dinner table tomorrow you will take time to give thanks. Not just with a traditional prayer. Make it a special one. For we have a special God deserving of our thanks and praise.

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." - Isaiah 139:14

"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever." - 1 Chronicles 16:34

Forever God Is Faithful - Michael W. Smith
The Real Story of Thanksgiving

Bring The Rain

Are you having sex outside of marriage? Are you more concerned about football than you are about worship? Do you care more about money or work than about God, family or others? Then this is your lucky day!

There is a rather ugly word in the Bible - fornication. Here is its definition.

fornication - consensual sexual intercourse between two persons not married to each other.

Here is the word used in a sentence.

"Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God." - 1 Corinthians 6:9-10

Does that scare you? You're not alone. Verses nine and ten include a lot of people in our society today. Here's an encouraging verse to go along with these two convicting ones. Verse 11.

"And that is what some of you were. 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 6:11

What? You mean there's hope? A way out? YES!! Here's all you have to do:

1. Go to God in prayer 
2. Seek His forgiveness.
3. Read His Word.
4. KEEP His Word.

The good news is God loves us. He wants the best for us. And by "the best" I mean He wants a marriage relationship with you! No adultery. No fornication. Purity! He wants us to have no sex outside of marriage - no relationships with idols outside of our marriage with Him. God wants to be first in our lives, not something we do on Sundays. Everyday! Every minute of every hour. God loves us! How much do we love Him?

"Drip down, O heavens, from above, And let the clouds pour down righteousness; Let the earth open up and salvation bear fruit, And righteousness spring up with it. I, the LORD, have created it." - Isaiah 45:8

Bring the rain.

Bring The Rain - MercyMe

Nonconformity

I read something today that made me stop and think about the way I am living my life right now. I'd like you to read it too and see what you think.

"Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” - 1 Peter 1:13-16

What that basically says to me is, "All that stuff you were doing before you were saved? Yeah, don't do that anymore."

We humans are prone to temptation. We are also creatures of habit. When something we used to do in our past dangles itself in front of us in our present, what is our future going to look like? That depends on what we do right here and now.

How can we prepare for temptation? Take proactive steps. Does taking a drink tempt you? Get rid of the bottles in your house, don't go to bars, don't go to parties where alcohol is likely to be served. Don't go down the beer aisle at the grocery store.

Here's another helpful tip. Don't watch television, especially the commercials. Television ads are like IED's -  roadside bombs. You think you're safe then, BOOM! There it is.

Am I being too drastic? Too picky? Too idealistic? Legalistic?

I used the example of alcohol here but it really could be anything. Sexual temptation, gluttony, greed, the list is endless.

What does it mean to be holy? Set apart? From what? We are to be set apart from the world, sin and everything "the world" represents. We were made holy by the precious blood of Jesus and our faith in God. Should we be acting like it?

Every time we are tempted we should pray and get out of the situation we are in. We also should take steps to avoid temptation. We belong to Jesus, not the world.

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will." - Romans 12:2

Ball of Confusion - The Temptations

Deep Cuts

Have you ever gotten a really deep paper cut? Those babies sure hurt! But, for as painful as those cuts are, there is still another kind of cut that hurts even worse. A wound from someone you love.

Divorces cause a lot of pain. Both the husband and the wife get hurt. And if there are any kids in the family? Ouch! The hurt can really run deep.

Pain can also be caused by close friends. At least you thought you were close until that one day they turned on you. And for no apparent reason. Pain also comes from a loss - the death of a loved one. It can feel like WE are the ones who died.

Did you ever work some place where you felt like you were part of a family? Then one day some new guys come to run the ship. They decide to make some changes and YOU were one of them. The pain runs deep.

So, what do you do when you get hurt like that? Well, you could get angry and fight back. You could do nothing and let the pain fester inside of you until it gets infected and kills you. What can we do when the pain hurts so much you just want it to stop?

Turn to Jesus. It's a simple answer. So why is it so difficult?

Jesus is not called "the great physician" for nothing. He heals broken hearts. He restores our brokenness and makes us whole again. God has promised to never leave us or forsake us.

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." - Deuteronomy 31:6

As someone who has given his life to Christ I can tell you that you will never feel alone again. Not when you are part of God's family. There is peace and hope for a future in store.

"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

A future assured, peace, hope, never lonely, always loved, never forsaken. If you don't know Jesus, if He is not the Lord of your life yet, consider His offer. He WILL restore your soul.

"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside still waters, 3 he restores my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." - Psalm 23:1-6

I Am Not Alone - Kari Jobe

Rage

What causes us to snap - to go beyond the breaking point where we do and say things we later regret?

You've probably seen the video of the Cleveland Browns player who ripped the helmet off the opposing quarterback and then beat him over the head with it. Not smart. But why did he do it? Why so violent?

I've watched the disgusting video several times on TV and I can't come up with a reason. Granted, football is a violent sport. But it should never get THIS violent.

"What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight." - James 4:1-2

There is something wrong inside the helmet-wielding man from Cleveland. But that raw emotion is inside all of us. Go back to Cain and Abel. Cain got angry with Abel, picked up a rock and killed his brother. Why? The Apostle John gives us an answer.

“Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous.” - 1st John 3:12

We humans get angry, we get violent. There is a constant battle inside each one of us between good and evil. And when we lash out at others, any weapon will do. Guns, knives, bombs, helmets, even our words can kill.

Look, each one of us sins. "None of us is righteous. No, not one" (according to Paul in Romans 3:10). So how can any of us be saved?

We make life-changing choices every day. As followers of Christ though we should CHOOSE to turn the other cheek. We CHOOSE not to murder someone today. Why do we make those choices? We are followers of Christ! He has told us that if we truly love Him we will obey His commandments (John14:15).

Do we love Jesus? That's the ultimate question. If your answer is 'yes' then put down the gun, put down the helmet, LOVE your enemies. We are not of this world. We shouldn't be acting like it.

The football player who attacked the quarterback with his own helmet later appologised. The quarterback refused to press charges. We as a people must get to the point where attacks like this no longer happen. Only God can change that. Only God can change a sinner's heart. Pray.

The Hugging Prayer

Do you have a really good friend you just love being around? Maybe you've been blessed with many such friends. I have a few. Each time we part company we always give each other a hug. But until today I never recognized those hugs for what they really are - prayer.

There are several kinds of hugs I guess. The appreciative hug of a child, a hug of sympathy for someone going through a struggle or loss, the hopeful hug of a teen on his first date.

I saw a Facebook post from a friend the other day that said a hug is actually a prayer. After considering that for a moment I decided it was true.

If you have family members or friends that you hug, isn't it really a silent, unspoken prayer? And doesn't the Holy Spirit interpret our prayers to make the pleasing and acceptable to God?

"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans." - Romans 8:26

Try this. Speak a short prayer the next time you hug someone.

"I thank God for you!"

"I love you, my brother."

"Thank you God for the gift of my friend."

Trust me. Your friend won't mind.

We should always thank God for our blessings. Why shouldn't we give thanks while hugging one of those blessings?

One of the most precious prayers we can pray is praying for someone we love while holding them in our arms or while holding their hands. Thoughtful, compassionate, prayerful touch is an extremely powerful and emotional prayer.

Is that how we pray? Do we pray with that kind of closeness and emotion? We should.

Draw Me Close To You - Michael W. Smith

Best Intentions

We start off each day with the best of intentions. We're going to nail that job interview, pass that test, lose that weight. etc. Then we actually get out of bed and everything changes.

Best intentions are like New Year's resolutions and they usually come with the same results. Failure. So what does it take for us to actually, and finally, make a change in our lives?

Sadly, much needed change often comes with a catastrophic event of some sort. "I am going to change my eating habits for sure this time, " said the overweight man lying in his hospital bed after cardiac surgery.

What about our Christian walk? We say the same things. "I'm going to pray more often than I do." or "I should really go to church today." It's the same thing as the secular world we live in. That shouldn't be us. Something needs to change.

Enter Jesus.

Jesus literally changes our lives. He can change us on the Damascus road or He can change us on the way to the hospital. But He does change us! If you haven't been changed after meeting Jesus, you haven't met Him.

Let's get off our butts today and change something in the "normal" way we operate. BE the change. Make a difference in someone's life today. Don't simply escape the day with best intentions. Do it! Do something! And pray!

Text a friend you haven't heard from in a while. Better yet, pick up the phone and call them. Go to Walmart, buy some blankets and drop them off at a homeless shelter. Buy some extra food and drop it off at your local food pantry. But don't forget to tell them the most important thing.

"These are from Jesus. He prompted me to do this today. Have YOU made Jesus Lord of your life?"

Unless Jesus is part of what we do, we are acting in vain.

"If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing." - 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Remembering that "God is love," be more than best intentions.

"However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the good news of God's grace." - Acts 20:24

Best of Intentions - Travis Tritt

Foxholes

It has been said that "there are no atheists in foxholes." I can believe that. That moment what we are SO desperate that we do anything just to get out of the situation we're in. Even call out to God for help!

Most of us have no idea what war is actually like. We see it on television or in the movies and that's as real as it gets. We have no clue.

In our desperate moments, when we DO reach out to God for help, what happens after we cry out? What happens when God actually answers?

For the soldier it is the moment when things suddenly become clear and an obvious plan of action is realized. Fear escapes and is instead replaced by acts of bravery and action. Purpose replaces uncertainty. The soldier moves without thought of self, but with a desire for the greater good.

There is another saying - "For God and Country." We need more soldiers in God's army of today. Ranks are dwindling. The purpose remains the same but our enemy has infiltrated the perimeter and is taking his share of casualties.

In the Book of #Ephesians Paul tell us to dress for war. He is NOT kidding around with some poetic slimily. He's deadly serious. Perhaps this Veterans Day would be a good day for us to heed this advice and suit up for the coming war.

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." -Ephesians 6:10-17

We are soldiers of the Price of Peace but WE WILL FIGHT for our King.

Hacksaw Ridge Movie Trailer

Don't Look Back

We all have something in our lives that we would be better off without. Alcohol, gambling, overeating, idolatry, lust, an abusive relationship, you name it. Why do we keep going back to the very things that are destroying us?

What is it in your life that you would be better off without? That one thing that, if you lost it, your life would be so much better.

Do you remember the Old Testament story of Sodom and Gomorrah? Things go so bad in those towns that God decided to destroy them. There was one man though - Lot was his name. When Lot was hesitating to leave the city one of the angels said to him . . .

“Flee for your lives! Don’t look back, and don’t stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!” - Genesis 19:17

That is the place we have to get to with our addictions and desires. We have to arrive at the point where we give them up and do not look back. Lot's wife looked back and thought about what she was leaving behind. It cost her everything - her life. She is our example of what NOT to do.

"But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt." - Genesis 19:26

God wants us to leave our past behind us and follow Him. Never look back, never think about what might have been. Only look ahead and dream about what is yet to come.

Burn The Ships - For King and Country (the meaning)

I Choose You

Have you ever heard something over and over, like somebody was trying to tell you something? Or send you a message? It happened to me yesterday.

I was reading through the Book of Acts and came across this verse. It made me stop and think for a moment, as it has in the past.

"When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed." - Acts 13:48

The way I understand that verse is that SOME people are NOT appointed to eternal life. Some are and some are not. That's scary right there. Keep that in mind as you read this from the Book of Ephesians.

"For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight." - Ephesians 1:4

God, who has no beginning and no end, who has seen everything future and everything past, chose you. If you have placed your faith in Christ, God chose you!

"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day." - John 6:44

That means that if you are a Christian, God chose you, you didn't choose Him. We might think we made a conscious choice but it's really more like we finally woke up.

If all that is true (and it is) then why should we evangelize? Why should we share the Gospel with others? Well, what if God already chose you to share the Gospel with someone next week Tuesday?

I tell you all this because I read the opening verse of this story on Monday during my daily reading. On Tuesday, while I was talking with a friend, the verse also came up in our conversation and I said, "I just read that!" Then, when I got into the car to drive home, I heard the same verse again on a talk show. Is someone trying to tell me something?

And that is why I am writing about it today, just in case God wants to use that verse to impact someone's life. A life He already chose . . . before they were even born.

Is God amazing or what?

Watch & Learn, I Choose You, Night Fit - Thomas Newman

First Snow

We had our first snow of the season last week. It's always interesting driving after the first snow. It can be pretty dangerous. Like Tuesday morning.

A portion of the main highway through town was closed because of an accident. A truck driver was killed. It was not a good day to be on the roads.

The first snow looks so pretty. We've forgotten how beautiful the snow can look. With the snow however comes hidden dangers. Potholes are covered up, snow can cover the ice too.

Life is filled with hidden dangers. It's our job to navigate them safely. So how do we do that? We have laws like speed limits to help keep us safe. Yet we ignore them. We see snow falling and we forget how slippery it gets. We don't slow down for that either. And then bad things happen.

We lose control of our cars. We can also lose control of our lives. We read God's laws and we still ignore them. When we see someone we love living dangerously, do we stop them and warn them? Or do we just shake our heads?

God tells us in the Bible that we should warn others of impending danger and not just let them parish. Their blood will be on OUR heads.

"But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes someone's life, that person's life will be taken because of their sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for their blood.' - Ezekiel 33:6

Is there someone in your life who is hurting right now or living in sin? How do you think God wants us to love them today?

Watchman - Robin Mark

Where's Your Mountain?

Reading through the Gospels these past few weeks has reminded me of something about Jesus. There are two things that we all can do to make our loves so much more fulfilling.

Jesus was a popular guy. People flocked to Him as word spread about His miracles of healing and restoration. There were times that the crowd was so thick around Him that some climbed trees just to get a glimpse of Him.

Jesus did some important things we all should be doing in our own lives. If we did just these few things we would be so much simpler and fulfilling.

The first is His compassion. Love.

"When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." - Matthew 9:36

There are so many who need love and compassion in this world. Is there someone in your life who could use a friend right now? Someone with a listening ear? Or maybe just someone to be with?

The other thing Jesus did was He got away from the crowd numerous times during His ministry, just to be by Himself and to pray. Where do you go when you want to recharge? To pray? What do you do?

"After sending the people away, he went up a mountain to pray by himself. When evening came, he was there alone." - Matthew 14:23

For me, I turn off the news shows, close the laptop and pick up my Bible. Reading God's Word takes me out of this world and places me somewhere, by myself, with Jesus. I find that to be very calming. I will also sit in the dark and just pray and love people from the comfort of my living room chair.

The important thing is to DO something. We need to remind ourselves that this world can be a cold, dark place in need of some light. BE that light in someone's life today. And if you need recharging, get away by yourself someplace. Take the time you need to be re-filled. Read God's promises, read through Psalms and pray, visit with a friend.

There aren't many mountains here in Wisconsin but there are Quiet Places we can go to get away from it all and get closer to God. Where's YOUR mountain?

The Old Rugged Cross - Alan Jackson

And Then The End

It seems like every night on the news I see stories about California being on fire. Nasty fires burning thousands and thousands of acres. Sometime during the news story I usually say, "And then the end will come." Why?

I got those words from this passage of scripture in the Book of Matthew. See if this doesn't sound like California.

"Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." - Matthew 24:9-14

It certainly seems like we are nearing the end of things, especially if you live in California. Here in Wisconsin however, we just received our first snowfall. Everything was a beautiful snowy white yesterday morning. So peaceful. Almost the exact opposite of what it's like in California.

From my point of view it's hard to figure out why anyone would want to live in California these days. Yes, it can be beautiful (when it's not smoldering or shaking) but it is also a hot bed of some of the most radical behavior and beliefs on the planet.

The Bible talks about things like what's going on in California and then it says that "all these things have to happen." The earthquakes, famines, wars, the increase of wickedness. All these things are a foretaste of things to come. And it will no doubt be even worse than it is now.

How do I know that this is not really the end of the world? That's an easy question. It's the Christians. We are still here! But imagine a world with all these natural disasters going on and even more evil in it. And no Christians! No churches, no faith-based relief organizations. Imagine a world so desperately in need of Jesus.

And then the end will come.

If you are not a believer in Christ, please consider becoming one today. People die everyday on this planet, most of whom do so quite unexpectedly. Those who die without placing their faith in Jesus will get to spend eternity walking through fires like those blazing in California.

Or, you could spend it in a place filled with peace, the air will be crisp and clean, and there will be no more war, forever. Which would you choose?

California's Burning - Tom Caves