Chippy!

Boy, it was cold in the house this morning! I checked my weather app - 37 bloody degrees! Yikes!! Winter is approaching. The cold air is just a sign of the times.

Here's another sign that winter is approaching. Chippies! They are running everywhere - digging up holes in our yard, searching for food that they can store up for the cold months ahead when their food will be scarce.

They also like to sit on our wood pile and "chip" at anything that moves - a shadow, the neighborhood cat, my wife, etc. They're just trying to warn other chipmunks of impending danger. Nothing wrong with that.

Speaking of impending danger, we have an election coming up. Each of the two candidates says the other is dangerous. Regardless, one of the two will win and we are stuck with them for four years. That's true.

I saw a video this week that listed the top ten Dollar Store things you should have on hand should things go bad. Here they are, just in case your candidate loses.

1. Matches / lighters
2. Candles
3. Band aides
4. Water
5. Chlorox disinfectant 
6. Ramen noodles
7. Batteries
8. Ibuprofen 
9. Flushable moist wipes
10. Tooth paste / brush combo 
11. Ziploc bags

I guess that's 11. Somebody can't count and it's probably me. Those are good items to have but the Bible has a better list, and it's short. One item, and His name is Jesus.

When times get tough, Jesus is the one thing you NEED to have. Why? Well, He doesn't take up any storage space, He's free, and with Jesus in your heart, you can live forever!

The Bible says that things will get bad before Jesus returns. It looks like that's happening right now. Don't get caught without your name in the Book of Life when He returns. That would be extremely bad.

"Anyone whose name is not found written in the book of life will be thrown into the lake of fire." - Revelation 20:15

You do NOT want to go there!

Heed the example of the chipmunk. Store up Jesus in your heart while you still can. If Jesus is Lord of your life, you WILL be saved. If He is not, well, you read the verse.

Here's better verse:

"If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." - Romans 10:9

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

Esther's Example

One of the many things I enjoy about studying the Bible is discovering the hidden treasures that it contains. Gems of wisdom, waiting to be unearthed with just a little bit of digging. Like this little beauty in the Book of Esther.

I read through the book last month and didn't notice this. Then, during our pastor's sermon on Sunday about how we should approach God in prayer, the lightbulb came on.

We were studying Luke 11 in church but I was mentally pawing through the Old Testament book of Esther. There IS a connection. This was from Luke 11.

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." - Luke 11:9

Our pastor then said this regarding Luke 11:9:

"Rudeness or inappropriate boldness should never be part of our prayer."

When Esther's people were threatened with annihilation she knew she had to ask the king for help. But to enter his court without permission meant certain death. UNLESS the king extended his scepter.

Esther approached the king anyway but she did so with a HUMBLE boldness. She was willing to sacrifice her life for her people.

Esther approaching the king is the perfect example of how we should approach God in our prayers.

The king loved Esther. And God loves us. But we cannot just blurt out our prayers expecting God to respond to our needs like some genie.

Shouldn't we bow down to our king and ask Him permission to enter His presence? And THEN seek His help by our knock on His door.

"On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance. When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.

Then the king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you.” - Esther 5:1-3

Now THAT is an answer to prayer!

You will notice in verse 1 in the Esther passage it says, "On the third day." Esther and her people had already been fasting and praying for two full days before she went to see the king.

Do you and I prepare our hearts and minds before we pray as Esther did? Perhaps, if we first asked God for permission to enter His throne room in prayer, rather than barging in, God's answer to our prayer might be more readily given.

Trim Your Lamps

Have you ever used a lantern? Not a Coleman lantern. An older one like the one in the picture, with the wick and the oil in it. Could you light one in the dark? You will have to.

'Trimmed' (ekosmēsan in the Greek language) means "to put in order." In other words, get your lamps ready!

The Parable of The Ten Virgins is all about lamps. However, the lamps represent something - our faith.

The Bridegroom (Jesus) will come for His bride (The Church) when we least expect it. Right now Jesus is preparing 'a place for us' like all bridegrooms did in Gallele.

"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

Ah, the Rapture of The Church. Can't wait for THAT day. But let's get back to the ten virgins. Half of them were prepared. They had enough oil to way for the Bridegroom. Sadly, half of them didn't have enough oil (faith) to be able to wait.

“At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’

9 “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut." - Matthew 25:6-10

Do you have enough "oil" in YOUR "lamp?" Do you have enough FAITH in your heart?

"So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him." - Matthew 24:44

The Unexpected

I was on my way to church Sunday morning when I came around a bend in the road and saw a rather unusual sight - a hot air balloon sitting there right beside the road. I slowed down, rolled down my window and asked, "Good morning! Need any help?"

"No, but thanks for stopping."

I supposed hot air balloons land in fields all the time. It's normal for them to do so. But it sure was unusual to see one that had landed right beside the road. I was NOT expecting that!

Later, after I had arrived at church, I was telling a friend about it and how we humans react seeing those unexpected things. What must it have been like when the disciples of Jesus were gathered in a locked room the night after Jesus was crucified?

^"19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” ²⁰ After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord." - John 20:19-20

That must have been an incredibly unexpected moment. Can you imagine? Seeing your friend dead? Seeing him taken down from the cross and laid in a tomb? No one was really expecting to see him again. And then . . .

What would you say? What would you do?

All of us will see Jesus one day. For some of us it will be a joyous occasion. For others . . . Mmm, not so good. 

If you haven't done so yet, please, place your trust and hope in Jesus. We never know what is going to be around the next corner in life. Maybe it's an earthquake. Maybe it's a hurricane. Or two. Or three. Maybe it's a hot air balloon on a Sunday morning or an airplane flying into the World Trade Center. The question is, "Are we ready?"

People Get Ready - Eva Cassidy

Tree!!

It rained Wednesday night. Well, I guess it was actually Thursday morning. That's when 2:45 is, right? It rained pretty hard too. I woke up a little later at five, running a little late. As I left our subdivision, I crested a small hill on my way out to the highway.

"What's that?" I wondered, seeing something in the road ahead of me.

"Tree!" I exclaimed as I slammed on the brakes.

I travel that same road to work everyday. Most days the road is bare. I don't even think about the possibility that TODAY there might be something just over the hill or around the bend that might be impeding my progress. Life is a lot like that.

I have a friend at work named Sandy. She lost her father a few weeks ago to an unexpected heart attack. What heart attack IS expected, right? The point I am trying to make is, we never know when a life-changing event will happen to us or to a friend.

When I was driving through the darkness Thursday morning I was not expecting to find a big ol' oak tree sprawling across the road. But I was prepared. I was watchful. There are a lot of deer moving around in the pre-dawn light so I was watching for them. And I had seen fallen trees in that area before. I might have been surprised, but I was also prepared.

I wonder if my friend can say the same about herself and her faith? Is SHE prepared for when it is her time to meet Jesus? Are any of us prepared?

So I went to ask my friend these questions and started off by asking if things had gotten back to normal yet after the funeral.

"Not really. Mom's going through dad's stuff, his personal stuff, like his razor, his toothbrush. She holds each one and then she cries. Not good.

Then my friend began talking about how much work she had piled up on her desk and that she was so behind and how she couldn't talk anymore because of all the work she had to do. Isn't that a perfect example of most of us before we come to faith in Christ. Even AFTER we come to believe we still can busy ourselves so much that God takes a back seat in our lives. That os NOT where He should be riding.

Each of our days is numbered. To spend ANY of those days separated from God is only preparing ourselves for eternal separation from Him.

^"5 A person’s days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed." - Job 14:5

"1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. 2 Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. 3 You turn people back to dust, saying, “Return to dust, you mortals.” 4 A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night. 5 Yet you sweep people away in the sleep of death - they are like the new grass of the morning: 6 In the morning it springs up new but by evening it is dry and withered.

12 Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." - Psalm 90:1-6, 12

Are we mindful of the days we have left here on earth? Are using those days to seek after worldly goals and desires? Or are we loving and serving others as God commanded us to do? May we never fall into the trap this world and Satan have set for us. It leads to death.

May we be proclaimed of His truth and love. May we continue reaching out to the lost and the hurting. And may we always be prepared for the things on the road ahead of us in this life. If we are prepared, if we number our days, we will be better prepared to honor God with our lives no matter what comes our way. And in so doing, proclaim the name of Christ. All honor and power and glory

A Tree Fell On The Road 
Teach Us To Number Our Days - Billy Graham

The Parable of The Runaway Trailer

We were having such a good day. My wife and I were helping our daughter and her husband move into their new house. First we took some bags of leaves to the recycling center. I had my truck and an old trailer. Things were going good until my daughter exclaimed on the way home, "Dad! The trailer's gone!"

Well, that sure got my attention but I had to check my mirrors anyway, like my daughter surely had not seen . . . a 45 square foot trailer. Yep. It was gone. LONG gone!

As I turned the truck around we all began scanning the ditches for our missing trailer. The kids finally spotted it in the ditch next to a busy intersection. It must have become detached when I had stepped on the brakes there a few minutes earlier.

Miraculously the trailer was undamaged. Again, miraculously, the trailer turned to the right after coming loose and simply went into the ditch. Instead of turning left and into oncoming traffic at a MAJOR intersection. Some would say we were lucky. Not me. God was definietly watching over the whole situation as things ended with the best outcome possible.

Our faith can become "detached" sometimes. We can easily lose our way, living in the world in which we do. So many dangers. So many temptations. We need to watch the warning signs in our walk with Jesus or we too can end up in the ditch.

In the case of our trailer, several small things led up to what could have been a big accident. The emergency chains on the trailer were too short to attach to the truck. I recognized that when I hooked the trailer up that morning. I knew I would have to replace them but surely things would be okay today. Then, when I emptied the trailer at the recycling center I detached it because the trailers tipping mechanism was rusted shut. I "placed" the trailer back on the hitch after dumping the leaves but I never locked it in place. I got distracted. I was clearly my fault for not being doubly sure about these very small but important things.

In our faith we need to make sure we are reading His Word, attending church, serving others and participating in a small accountability group. Otherwise it is easy to veer off the narrow road and onto the broad one.

"Maybe just one more drink," we say. "Just one more hit."

"No one will ever know," we tell ourselves, and then we find out we're pregnant.

"I don't believe in God anymore. How could He let my father die like that?"

Many things can distract us from the truth. In my case, I was careless in making sure the trailer was safely hooked up to my truck. I could have injured someone. Or worse. That was a wake-up call for me.

Are you in need of a wake-up call spiritually? Most people don't think so until it's too late. That's why we need to examine ourselves daily to see if we come up lacking. BEFORE we get out onto life's highway.

Have you given your life to Jesus yet? Is He LORD of your life. Is He your master? Are YOU His slave? I hope so. Tomorrow could be the day someone's trailer comes loose in front of YOU. And maybe that's the day it veers to the left instead of the right and suddenly everything goes dark. Eternally dark. Too late.

This stuff happens everyday my friends. It happened to me this past Saturday. Are you ready? Be prepared. Be ready.

"3 since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. 4 For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God’s power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him in our dealing with you.

5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you - unless, of course, you fail the test?" - 2 Corinthians 13:3-5

I AM STILL ON THE ROAD OUT THERE PEOPLE!! :O

Examine Yourself - John MacArthur
Examine Yourselves - Charles Spurgeon
SUV Caravan Challenge - Top Gear

Aww Poop!!

Have you ever had one of those days when it seems like nothing is going right? My wife had one yesterday. Her computer didn't work. The person who could fix it wasn't there. Her "friend" at work had booked too many people for appointments and people were getting frustrated, including my wife. Sometimes we get to the breaking point, we get frustrated. And why? Well, usually it's our own fault. We don't prepare.

Here's a sad picture for you. Actually, it could be good or it could be bad. All depends (no pun intended) when you noticed the empty toilet paper rolls in the dispenser - BEFORE or AFTER you sat down. It is always good to be prepared . . . and observant.

Stuff like this happens to me more than I'd like to admit. I fill up my car's gas tank and go inside to pay, only to discover I left my wallet at home. Or getting in line at the toll booth to cross the Mackinac Bridge before discovering you don't have enough money to pay the $4 toll.

I was in the Boy Scouts. I am supposed to "be prepared." It's their motto!! Yet I fail at these simple life lessons almost daily. Why? Honestly? I think it's because I am distracted by all other the other stuff I have going on in my life. I don't have time to think. I don't have time to prepare.

Have you ever read the story of Noah and the ark? You probably do so I'll just hit the high points.

"13 And God said to Noah, “I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth. 14 Make yourself an ark." - Genesis 6:13-14

If I was Noah I probably would have said, "Seriously? Right now? I don't have time for this!" But Noah obeyed God and began preparing for the flood. There were no clouds in the sky. There was no sign of rain. Everyone was having fun and partying in town. Nobody was ready for what was about to happen. They were about to get stranded on the toilet without any T.P.

Here's a little verse that can serve you well if you obey it:

"22 Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him." - Genesis 6:22

And so it was that Noah was prepared when the flood came. I wonder if Noah took toilet paper on board with him? Or what ever they used back then. Hmm. Unanswerable question I guess but somehow I think he was prepared.

So how do we prepare ourselves for situation like running out of essential things? That's easy. Prepare ahead of time. And just how are we going to be ready for life's tricky little situations? Read your Bible!

"28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—  29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him,  30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’?  31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?" - Luke 14:28-31

This life we are given is not always easy. It's not supposed to be. Life is full of challenges and situations to test and try us. God designed it that way for a reason. So we will learn and grow in our faith and in our character. We are not supposed to just go through life assuming things will just fall into our laps. We are here to learn!

Remember to prepare yourself for the day. Not only THIS day but also for the day that Jesus returns. On that day we do NOT want to be left staring at two empty toilet paper rolls when the poop hits the fan. It will be too late then. We must prepare ourselves now. Your reading assignment for today . . .

Matthew 24:3-14

This is The Gospel . . .

"By this gospel you are saved...that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time..." - 1 Corinthians 15:2-6

Sight

When we find ourselves in stressful situations or in the middle of life changing events, we can often learn things about our inner self . . . that is, if we take the time to look. This week I learned something about myself and about my relationship with God. Let's just say it's been "eye opening."

A few weeks ago I noticed some bright flashes of light in my left eye whenever I would blink or move my eye around. Weird. Then a few days later I noticed some red, swirling lines when I closed my eye. More weirdness.

Well, my mind tends to wander around on it's own. Perhaps that's why I like to write. Thoughts and ideas just feed off one another and the next thing I know I am thinking something totally wacko. In the situation of my eye sight I just noticed the flashes and the lines in my eye. Then I began wondering what was causing it. Somewhere along the line I began seeing these "floaters" in my eyes and my imagination start creating all kinds of possibilities.

My mother had eye problems, my grandmother did too. Perhaps it was my turn. I started imagining all the possible scenarios. How would I get to work if I was blind? How could I even DO my work? I couldn't! I was doomed to sit at home, blind, trying to remember what people's faces looked like.

How did I wind up there? My mind just wandered all over the place. But then I stopped to think. How would it be if I really WAS blind? What would I do? Am I prepared for that? Am I prepared for the unexpected in my life?

Nope.

We are never properly prepared for most of the situations we encounter in life. Otherwise they wouldn't BE "situations." But think about it. What would happen if you suddenly became blind for example? How would that affect your life? How would you pick out which clothes to wear in the morning? Your socks? Your shoes? Could any one earn a living doing anything who can't see what they are doing? How could one read The Bible? What would the point of "watching" television be? How could we do the things we do now without our sight?

Well, if that happened to me (which I have already thought long and hard about) there are some thing I could do. I could get a voice-recognition app on my phone. Voice-to-text would be needed. "Call Bev." or "Text Gayle." Same with the computer. Not sure how I'd operate the mouse though.

And how would I recognize people? By voice I guess. Would someone allow me to be so intimate with them that I could touch their face and feel what it "looks like"? Hmm.

As I thought about these things I began to appreciate what it must be like to be blind. Not to be able to see a sunset or the faces a baby makes. It would suck! But guess what. I would survive. My wife would help me pick out my clothes. She could turn the computer on and get things ready for "Blind Bob. "I could listen to God's Word. In all honesty, would I truly be lacking any of the things I truly needed?

I would still have my wife. I would still have my family. I would still have my friends. And, most importantly, I would still have Jesus. What else do I need?

Our eye sight is truly a wonderful gift from God. But like so many of the gifts we have received from Him already, we often take them for granted. Our health, our talents, so many different ways of "looking" at things.

If we would take the time to see things through God's eyes, if you will, what a wonderfully peaceful and compassionate place we would be living in!

There is one more thing I would like you to consider before I close. Read this passage from the Book of John and meditate on what Jesus says in verse three.

"As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him." - John 9:1-3

Are we spiritually blind? Are we going though life expecting things to lay out wonderfully for each of us? That's not going to be the case. If we would look at this life as if we were blind, as if we only had the essentials given to us from above, how would we live our lives? Would we actually live so that "the works of God might be displayed" in us? Think about that this week. And may God give you new sight in seeing the world in which we live.

Training

Having spent a lot of time with youth over the past few years I have developed quite a few wonderful relationships. It is enjoyable to me to see these teens mature into young adults, especially if they are growing in the ways of the Lord. But many are those who fall off the radar, who drift into nothingness and they are slowly, and fatally, absorbed into the world.

As high school graduation looms large in our community, a month or so away, I find myself thinking of those young lives about ready to enter the world. But are they ready? Are they truly prepared for what awaits them? The answer, at least in MY mind is "uncertain" . . . leaning towards "probably not".

Several of my young friends from the youth groups I have been a part of have chosen the military for their post-high school careers. They have gone off to boot camp already. It's fun to see their pictures on Facebook, selfies in their military garb, their bodies changing shape right before our eyes as they train and exercise, preparing for whatever might come their way.

Think about that for a moment. The first thing a new recruit does when he joins the Army, Navy, Air Force or Marines is . . . train. They get ready. Ready for what? They get prepared, both physically and mentally, for battle. Battle in an ever-changing and uncertain world.

According to The Barna Group, most of today's young Christians will leave their faith upon exiting high school. (see Barna Survey). Why? Well, in my opinion, and in the opinion of J. Warner Wallace (more on him in a moment), it is because the church is not TRAINING their youth for when they hit the real world. What's that verse?

"6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." - Proverbs 22:6

The Bible says TRAIN! We are to train our children, not entertain them, not goof around with them, not even TEACH them. Although teaching is very important it is not the same as training.

If you were going in for open-heart surgery would you want a doctor who has been trained in the operation he was about to perform, or would you rather have someone who has only read a book about it. It's no different with our faith. Our teens go off to school, untrained in the ways of the Lord, and the first atheist professor they encounter removes what little faith that student ever had.

So who's at fault? Youth pastors? Nope. WE are. The parents. We turn our children over to youth pastors thinking they will do the job and we no longer have to. Really? They see our kids one, maybe two hours a week. Can't get much training done in that short amount of time.

Training involves lots of time. It involves sacrifice. It involves selfless individuals willing to learn and be taught. For the soldiers on this page, and also for us, without that desire to give up one's self in an effort to be made stronger, there is little hope of surviving in battle.

Now, about J. Warner Wallace. I was listening to a Christian radio talk show the other day and this guy was on. He was talking about training our kids rather than simply teaching them. [His words inspired me to write this story] He turned TRAIN into an acronym which stood for Testing, Requiring, Arming, Involving, Nurturing.

We must test our children to find out what they do and do not know. We should require them to read, memorize scripture, and serve others in the community. We need to arm our kids so when they venture out they are prepared - arm them with the truth of God's Word and the ability to deliver the Gospel. Get them involved with opportunities, not only to serve but opportunities to share the Gospel and defend their faith. And we must nurture our children. When they experience a battle and get wounded we must love them and allow God to heal them through us.

The enemy we face "prowls around like a roaring lion," searching the herd for the weakest target he can find. Then, in a moment they are not expecting, he attacks and kills his prey. We must not be weak when the attack comes. We must be strong. We must . . . train.

"6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen." - 1 Peter 5:6-11

People Get Ready by Jim Cole

Opportunity

One of the things I have prayed for over the past few years is the ability to recognize opportunities when God places them in front of me. Opportunities for me to give my testimony about how God changed my life. Opportunities to speak into the lives of those I encounter on any given day. Usually I drop the ball and have many post-opportunity talks with myself like, "Idiot!" or the always-popular "What I SHOULD have said was . . ." Well, not this time. God answered my prayers this past week by gifting me awareness and confidence in two situations. And I scored!!!

Now before I tell you how God provided me with those opportunities this week, I need to give you some background information. Like who I was . . . you know . . . before.

I was what most people would call a good person, a good dad. I loved my wife and my children. I had a good job. I went to church a couple of times a year. I was good, or so I thought. Little did I know that my children were being neglected . . . by me. Although I was living as a good example in terms of what the world thinks of as "good," I was not leading a godly life nor was I "training up my children in the way they should go" (verse).

After Jesus rescued me from the life I was living I recognized my shortcomings. I knew that I had failed my children, spiritually, and prayed that God would have mercy on me and them. I began to pray. Pray for opportunities to speak into their lives about Jesus.

Fast forward to this past Saturday. Our daughter was visiting. She and my wife had planned to go out that evening, have a glass of wine, and chat. This, after shopping and talking all day together. After supper my daughter and I were sitting at the dining room table when my wife came in and, looking at the dinner dishes on the counter, said, "I don't think I can go our tonight. I'm tired and all of those dishes are staring at me."

Oh daughter simply said, "Okay."

<pause>

God was about to answer two prayers at once. He had just laid an opportunity in front of me. I'm sure He was waiting to see what I would do with it. I have missed so many other opportunities in my life. Why would I change now, right?

<play>

"I'll take you out. Do you like hot chocolate?"

"Sure!"

Opportunity recognized and taken. My daughter and I spent an hour and a half at a local coffee house having a most wonderful conversation. We talked about God, about church, "religion," relationships, husband/wife submission/sacrifice . . . all kinds of things. It was amazing!

The following day at church I told my friend and also our pastor about what had happened. "Praise God!" was their reply. It was like God had given me the football, despite me having a history of "fumbling" opportunities, and I had just come off the field after scoring a touchdown.

A few days later at work I was down in the plan room, wrapping some presents for some college kids when a co-worker came in and asked, "What have you got there?"

Ding!!! Opportunity!!

We talked about God for 20 minutes. I gave him my testimony, telling him how another co-worker had led me to Christ. It was an awesome opportunity to tell someone else about my faith and why I believe what I do.

Wow! Two opportunities this past week. Each one taken. May God continue to provide opportunities in EACH of our lives. To talk about Him. To answer questions about Him. May we always be prepared to give and answer for the hope that we have.

"Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching." - 2 Timothy 4:2

Joe Gibbs - I Am Second

Real

I'm going to be expressing a political opinion in this story. Check that. Let's get real. I am going to be expressing some rather sad facts. All one has to do is watch the news.

First of all, we need to pray for our president. Here is a man who aspired to high office, got there and then something happened. Things got real. I think our president is comfortable doing things domestically. He knows how to say all the right words, he knows how to press the flesh, and smile that smile. He did whatever he had to do to win the vote. But then something happened. The reality of world politics forced him to make some choices and he was found to be lacking in his knowledge of what is REALLY happening in this world.

He was not prepared for what happened in Syria, demonstrating a lack of foreign policy knowledge, and he is currently showing his inexperience in dealing with the Russians and their moving into Ukraine. It is embarrassing to watch.

First Syria, where he drew the now famous "line in the sand." The line everyone ignored. He was all set to launch missiles and "protect our interests." But then Russia stepped in, scolded the president, saying that we shouldn't be so quick to attack. Russia then negotiated with Syria, their ally, and produced a peaceful result. Then Mr. Putin publish an Op Ed in the New York Times. In that piece Putin told us Americans what his opinion of President Obama was and he, quite honestly, put our president to shame, internationally and at home. You can read Putin's Op Ed here.

Our president never was not prepared to participate on the world stage nor was he prepared for the reality of what is happening now in Ukraine. Our president has demanded that Russia remove its troops. As of this writing Russia has not responded. Honestly? I don't expect them to pay any attention to our president. After all, Obama is reducing our troop numbers to below World War II levels. He can't go back now, can he? President Obama has himself painted into a corner and, in this scenario, he simply cannot win. Our president was not prepared when things got real.

Are WE as Christians any better? Are we prepared for when reality hits the fan in OUR lives? When will things BECOME real for us? When a friend gets cancer? When someone we know dies in a car crash? My friends, when Jesus returns it will be too late to decide what we believe about God. The door to the wedding feast will already be closed.

I was standing in church today, talking to my friend Ron, when his wife came up to tell her husband something. Their daughter-in-law is from Ukraine. Her country is in the middle of reality. Things just became real for my friend and his family. TOO real.

How can we ever get ourselves prepared for these major life-altering events in our lives? Well, the first thing that needs to be done if for us to get ourselves right with God. Have you submitted yourself to Jesus? Have you repented of your sins and sought his forgiveness? It would be a good idea to do that . . . everyday!!!

So many people in this world think they are good to go with God simply because they go to church regularly and they consider themselves a good person. That is a works-based theology and does not hold water in God's eyes.

I have many friends and relatives who believe in false teachers like Joel Osteen and Rob Bell. They believe that all faiths lead to heaven despite Jesus himself telling us they don't. Osteen doesn't not preach sin or repentance. Bell says all roads lead to heaven and denies the atoning sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. He also says there is no hell. These men have not prepared their flocks for the reality of scripture. They all could find themselves knocking at God's door.

Our pastor read this in church on Sunday. It seemed like a good reminder what is at stake for those who are not ready when things suddenly become real.

"And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, 2 “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, 3 and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. 4 Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.”’ 5 But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, 6 while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. 7 The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. 8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. 9 Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’ 10 And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.

11 “But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. 12 And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.” - Matthew 22:1-14

The road to God is a narrow one and few will find it. Many think they are walking on the right path. We need to check ourselves, read His Word and start walking like we are actually Christians. I am VERY concerned that too many people take their faith too lightly. We need to make it a priority. A number ONE priority.

Please join me in praying for our president and the leaders and people of Russia and Ukraine. Thank you.

Predestination

One of my favorite movies was on television this week – The Matrix. It's probably more of a guy movie than it is a chick flick. Probably not the ideal date movie on a Valentine’s Day, or any other day for that matter, but I watched it.

What I like about the movie is its many parallels to the Christian faith. It is not someplace we should be drawing upon for theology lessons but the streams of analogies and similarities is constant - as constant as the flow of those little green symbols on the computer monitors they watch.

The main character, Neo, for example, can easily be seen as a Christ figure. The leading lady’s name is "Trinity." There is a prophet in the film named Morpheus – a character whose names cries out “change.”

One theme that runs throughout the film is that of predestination. Neo, for example, was predestined to save the world. Morpheus seemed to always be referring to Neo as “The One” even when Neo himself didn’t believe it. Morpheus was “destined” to find “The One.” And Trinity was destined to fall in love with “The One.” Everyone, it seems, was predestined to do "something" in that movie.

Hmm. Predestination. What about you? Do you supposed that YOU have been predestined to do something? Ever thought about that? Do you think you have been created with a specific goal or quest in mind by God Himself?

"11 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. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." - Jeremiah 29:11-13

"13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." - Psalm 139:13-16

God had plans for us and He had them before we were even born!

Think about that for a moment. Talk about predestination! Our lives have already been planned? Well, sort of. God had a plan for us to be sure, but He gave us a choice. We could either follow that plan, or not. It’s called “free will.” That’s usually where most of the things in this world get screwed up - when we start making decisions based on our own needs rather than considering and deciding things based on the will of GOD . . . or what we PERCEIVE to be God's will.

According to scripture, each of us is predestined to do something in God's plan. That much is true. But when we "try to find our purpose in life" that's exactly when we begin to wander.

Take a look through a "Christian" book store sometime (perhaps that's bad advice). There are many authors offering to help you find your purpose. Rick Warren would love to help you! Joel Osteen too! Save your money. They're leading you astray. Go back home an read your Bible. Everything God wants us to know has already been told to us. We just need to be obedient.

And that, my brothers and sisters, is our predestined purpose - to be obedient to God. Period.

Did you ever wonder what Gods plan for Himself is in all this? It's in the Bible, from beginning to end . . .

Where was God as Adam and Eve . . . in the beginning?

"8 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 . . . " - Genesis 3:8

And where will God be with those who believe . . . in the end?

"3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God." - Revelation 21:3

God's desire, at least from what I read, has always been to dwell among His people. But we ruined all that. God knew we would. That's why he planned ahead of time for Jesus to be born of a virgin, and He was. God planned that Jesus would live a sinless life, and He did. And He also planned that Jesus would die on a cross, a spotless lamb, sacrificed for our sins, . . . and He did. God has always had a plan. And God's plan is all coming true. The only "option" is, do we want to join Him? I'll tell you what. This guy's in! But God knew that I would be, even though I ignored Him for years.

Now THAT's predestination!

Coming

Last week my wife and I were watching the weather. Our local weatherman, who has been officially certified by the National Weather Service and has gone to college (I assume) and has theoretically been trained in the magical arts of weather forecasting, stated that we were going to be getting 4" of snow the following day. He stated it with such confidence too. I actually believed him! Well, he lied. We received absolutely nothing.

I was grateful for the lack of snow though, not having to snow blow the driveway & shovel the sidewalk. But I was a little disappointed in the weatherman. He is supposed to know his stuff and, when his prediction failed to come true, I was a little let down. His forecast had prompted me to jump through all kinds of preparedness hoops, getting ready for "the big storm!" The storm that never came.

Oh well. It's better to be safe than sorry, right? An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Into each life a little rain must fall. What other words of cliché's can I offer up? How about . . . Never trust a weatherman!!

My last blog about Rabbi Yitzhak Kaduri got me thinking about predictions and preparedness. Kaduri's words had stated that he had seen Jesus in a vision and that he was told by Jesus that He would return shortly after Ariel Sharon's death. When Sharon died this past weekend I took notice. I'm not sure about Kaduri's prediction. He prediction success rate may be worse than our weatherman's for all I know. Is the return of Jesus imminent? And regardless of when Jesus returns, am I prepared for His coming? Are those I love prepared?

Last night at small group we talked a little about being prepared, about taking the initiative and speaking into the lives of those around us about Jesus. It's a big step . . . something we are all intimidated and afraid to do. But if we are afraid, are we truly prepared for what is to come? We should be standing is full assurance of our salvation yet, for some reason, we are afraid to speak out.

Jesus says in His Word, "38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” - Mark 8:38

Ouch!

I need to be thinking a little bit more about Jesus' imminent return and a little less about my "impression" in a world that doesn't really care about it. I need to spend more time preparing myself spiritually by spending more time in God's Word and by offering encouragement to others who are walking the same walk as I am, seeking God's will. I know my salvation is secure but I want Jesus to smile at me when He sees me. I want Him to be proud. :)

A couple of nights ago out illustrious weatherman predicted another snow storm. We were going to get a half a foot of snow, or so he said. So what did I do? I prepared my self for the coming storm, just like I did for the last one. Regardless of whether the storm actually came of not, I was prepared. So should it be for me with respect to the pending return of our King. We must be ready.

So? Did the weatherman's prediction come true? When I awoke yesterday morning there was no more snow than there was the night before. Still, I took my boots, I took a blanket. I brought TWO frozen dinners AND a breakfast, just in case I needed them. I even threw a snow shovel in the back seat.

And the storm? We got nine inches of the white stuff dumped on us during the day. Forty mile an hour winds made the roads nearly impassable. I left work early, hoping to make it home before dark. I passed a jack-knifed semi along the way. It took me two tries to get up the hill into our subdivision because the roads had yet to be plowed. But I made it home. I was prepared for the predicted storm that we received.

My friends, we MUST prepare ourselves for the coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ. We must reach out in love to ALL who don't know Him, and even those who say they do, just in case they really don't. We must love ALL who are hurting and in need of a savior - friend and enemy alike. Jesus died for all, not a select few.

So "let every heart prepare Him room." Prepare today as if He is coming tomorrow . . . because one day, He will be.

Joy to The World flash mob

Doomsday

My wife and I were really bored and tired the other night. Probably not the best combination for deciding what show to watch on television. It was one of those nights when simply pressing the button on the remote was too much effort for us. What a perfect example of what's wrong with our country. But, let's not get sidetracked onto THAT topic.

When my wife and I are overtired, the quality of our show selection wanes. We tend to scan through the channels briefly until we stumble upon some show title that has even a slightest bit of interest. Most nights my wife has a remote and I watch my computer screen. But last night I had the remote and was in charge of all things absorbed into our subconscious minds. Mu-a-ha-ha-ha-ha!!!

Naturally, I selected a show that had at least SOME content. Not like those shows my wife watches. No! This show was far superior in many ways. It was one of those "how-to" shows. You know. Informative, instructional, and there was an opportunity for Biblical discussion during the commercials. The show I selected had action, excitement and a deeper spiritual meaning than some of the house-flipping, gossip spreading, oh-so-predictable murder mystery shows my wife watches. Ha! Finally!!! A chance at watching a REAL show!! I'm talking about, of course, Doomsday Preppers.

Yeah . . . it was a poor choice. There are so many better things to be doing besides watching television. But it was one of those nights when I didn't want to "think" about anything. I just wanted to do nothing. And if we're looking to turn off our minds and zone, what better vehicle than television - the nation's favorite baby-sitter!

As we began watching the show my wife began to laugh over the crazy things these people were doing. Me too. They were really more than just a little overboard in their preparedness. Bullet proofing the family SUV with a 1/4" steel plating exoskeleton, target practise for the kids . . . with an AK-47. But our favorite was the 12" diameter steel tubes, filled with supplies and welded shut, dropped into the ocean off Alaska's coast for later retrieval after the tsunami apocalypse (sigh).

It amazes me that God is still so patient with us. We disappoint Him every day. We sin like there's no tomorrow. Hmm . . . no tomorrow. And then we believe that we are still capable of somehow beating the odds and surviving the end of the world?

To be honest, the whole prepping thing kind of interests me. My wife does stockpile some items that we tend use a lot, like toilet paper, Puffs, light bulbs, Multi-Grain Cheerios (hey, they're good!). We do have storage shelves downstairs. When my wife sees something on sale she buys lots of it. That's not prepping so much as it is smart shopping.

But then I think about God. What would He think about all this "prepping" stuff? Isn't it kind of like we're not trusting Him to provide for us? That's EXACTLY what it's like!

"11 The Lord said to Moses, 12 “I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’”

13 That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. 14 When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. 15 When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was.

Moses said to them, “It is the bread the Lord has given you to eat. 16 This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Everyone is to gather as much as they need. Take an omer for each person you have in your tent.’”

17 The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. 18 And when they measured it by the omer, the one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little. Everyone had gathered just as much as they needed.

19 Then Moses said to them, “No one is to keep any of it until morning.”

20 However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them." - Exodus 16:11-20

There is an important lesson to be learned from the Israelites and the desire to "store treasures up here on earth." We need to place our trust in God, not depend on ourselves for survival. When the end of the world comes I don't plan on being here. Neither should anyone else who follows Jesus.

We who call ourselves Christians have placed our faith in Jesus Christ. It is because of that faith, and the making Jesus Lord of our lives, that we will be saved. We are deserving of death for our sins but "it is by grace you have been saved, not by works." Place your faith and trust in Jesus. Then, when the end comes, we will stand, arms open wide, and embrace the coming of our King.

"Blessed be the one who comes in the name of the Lord." - Matthew 23:39

Read what Jesus said about the end of the world in Matthew 24

Sara

I wish I wasn't writing this post today. I wish I could have slept in (it's Saturday) and enjoyed a lazy beginning to this first weekend of fall, but I can't. I just HAD to write this new post and not use the one that was already written and ready to go.

As I look back on the events of the past 24-72 hours it is very easy to see what God was orchestrating. It is very easy to look back and see all the events and all of the opportunities God created. It seems as if God was trying to get a message delivered. And THAT is why I am up at 5:00AM on this Saturday morning. I'm delivering the message.

This story is directed at teens and young adults mostly, but if you don't know Jesus, if He is not Lord of your life, I pray you would pay attention and heed the warning I am about to relay to you. Here we go.

It must have been a month ago I guess, when I noticed a Facebook post from a young friend of mine. Her name is Sara (Sara is the daughter of my best friend, the person God used to call this lowly sinner to Himself). The Facebook post went something like this, "Feeling distant from God, I need to make some changes in my life."

There are a few types of Facebook posts that will spark a private message from me. A message about "feeling distant from God" is one of them. So I reached out to my young friend and asked if she would like to talk about it. She did and so we set up a time to meet - a nice, casual dinner at a local sports bar.

If you are reading this and happen to be a Facebook friend of mine, you saw the post I put on there this past Wednesday. This is what it said. "Had a wonderful visit with a friend last night. We talked about our lives, our families, but mostly we talked about God."

And Sara and I did just that. Most of our conversation was about God. She asked a few questions or expressed a few doubts. I tried my best to answer. As I look back at the conversation we had, all I can say is thanks be to God that His Word flowed freely from this too-often ineffective mouth.

It was a wonderful talk. I love Sara very much. There is nothing I would rather see more than for Sara , or any other person in my life, commit themselves 100% to Jesus and become an obsessed follower of Christ. But sadly, many young adults and teens today as torn. They know ABOUT Jesus. They have heard the stories. They've tried reading the Bible but it's "too boring." But they never commit fully. They know OF Him, but they don't KNOW Him. Know what I mean? Jesus put it this way in Matthew 15:8

"These people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me;"

Sara's heart is not as "far from Him" as most people I know. She is close but is still learning, still holding back in some ways. But there is a desire in her to know Him. That's why we were having dinner after all. But the commitment, the 100% I'd-do-anything-for-Him faith that God desires is not quite there yet - not for Sara, not for most people and not for me. It's being blocked by two things that we are all exposed to everyday of our lives. The two biggest weapons Satan uses to seduce us and to keep us from following a life of Christ. Those two reasons are "the world in which we live" and "our selves."

The morning that the phone call came from the police, her mother and I had already prayed for Sara and for many others. For as much as I would like this awesome young lady commit herself to Christ in everything she says and does, I think her mother would like to see it even more. A parents prayer for their child has got to be THEE top prayer of any believing parent, that their children would come to know Jesus and make him Lord of their lives.

"Sara's been in an accident," were the words her mother spoke to me on her way out the door at work yesterday . . . on her way to the emergency room. Before Sara's mother had left the parking lot I was already contacting all of the prayer warriors I could think of, asking for prayer. Today I am happy to report that Sara is resting at home, rather uncomfortably I imagine, but she is alive and recovering from being hit by a car while simply crossing the street.

I post this picture of my young friend 1) because it's already on Facebook. If you are a friend of Sara's you have probably already seen it, and 2) I hope it serves as a reminder of just how fragile we are as human beings, and just how close we are to actually getting to meet Jesus, face-to-face, at any point in our lives.

Sara was blessed yesterday, protected by God I think, perhaps because He wants to use her to speak into someones life on His behalf, as her mother spoke into mine. Who knows. All I can say is Blessed be the name of the Lord!

To all my young friends out there, or to anyone for that matter, who does not have an intimate relationship with the Creator of the Universe, PLEASE, make that happen today! You do NOT want to leave this world and meet a just and holy God without Someone to stand FOR us in heaven. Jesus endured death on a cross so that, through our faith in Him, we might have life. God's offer of immediate and total justification for all who come before Him is laying on the table . . . for you, for me. Let's not brush it aside. It's for you! Pick it up. Accept the gift! Call a friend, call your pastor, but PLEASE, don't be afraid to call on the Name above all names - Yeshua (Jesus).

Do you now what the name of Jesus means in Hebrew? It is from a verb meaning "to rescue" or "to deliver." Please, let Jesus rescue you today and let Him deliver you from evil . . .

"For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever."

I love you Sara. Get well soon. :)

Suddenly

Driving home from work last Friday was fairly uneventful. I had taken off a bit early so I could pick up some pictures of a wedding I shot last weekend. I was hoping they turned out well. I was tempted to reach over into the passenger seat where the envelope was sitting and take a peak. Nah, I'm driving. Probably shouldn't.

It was a beautiful day. Highway 10 was a little busier than normal. Lots of people heading up north for Father's Day weekend I guess. I am blessed to be able to live where I do. A state park right next to our subdivision, lots of beautiful lakes and scenery. God spent a little more time in Waupaca I think than he did creating most places. I don't have to "go up north." I'm there already. :)

Suddenly, I began to see brake lights turn red on the cars ahead of me. Not just one car but several we applying their brakes. The next thing I knew we were all at a complete standstill. Suddenly, a truck appears in my driver's side mirror - red lights flashing on top. A first responder heading for the scene of what I assumed was an accident up ahead. It was. And quite an accident too. One fatality, three others injured. The Flight For Life helicopter landed on the highway. Yeah . . . not good. Here's the full report if you'd care to read it.

Accident report by Wisconsin Rapids Tribune

When I watched the news about the accident on the TV the following morning I was able to see the contents of the car the woman who died was driving. A piece of luggage, a ball, some clothes. It was obvious the woman was headed someplace - some destination. That got me to thinking.

It could have been anyone in that SUV. It could have been me, it could have been you. "No one knows the day or the hour" as Jesus once said about the time of his return. I think the same statement holds true for our deaths. With very few exceptions, no one knows exactly when they will die.

Think about the woman who perished in that car. Maybe she was someones grandmother, heading up north to be with her new grandson, hence the ball. Or maybe she was a mom just returning from a business trip and now there's going to be a single dad trying to raise a child on his own. One thing's for sure. There is one less life in this world. The big question is, "Where are they now?" Their body is probably in a morgue someplace awaiting an autopsy, but where are they spiritually?

Life can hit us pretty hard sometimes. It hit that woman's family pretty hard this past week. Are we ready for events like that in OUR lives? Probably not.

My wife and I just got the first draft of our will in the mail a few days ago. Stuff like wills and fatal crashes should really make us think. We begin to think about answers to questions like, "Who gets our stuff? Do we want to be buried, cremated or cryogenically frozen until a cure for what killed us can be found? Do we want a DNR (a do-not-resuscitate clause) in our will somewhere?

Those are all important questions to those who remain behind but I'm sure the person who just died couldn't care less. The important question for the dead, like the lady who died in the SUV, was "Do you know Jesus Christ and is He your Lord and Savior?" That is a VERY important question to have answered BEFORE it is YOUR time to go.

I KNOW that I am ready. My answer to the DNR question is "absolutely not!" I am SO ready to go it's scary. But what about my son and my daughter? Are they ready, spiritually? How are all of YOUR friends and relatives? Is everybody good to go in YOUR life? If not, like a few question marks in MY family, we've got some serious prayin' to do! And are we ready to explain to people the reason for the hope that we have? Do you have your testimony ready to tell?

"13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17 For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit." - 1 Peter 3:13-18

Are we ready to explain why we have hope in the face of death? Can we explain the Gospel in such a way as to make someone who is perishing understand it? And will we be gentle and respectful in delivering those truths as Peter tells us to? Someone's eternal soul may depend on God using us as His witness. No pressure.

According to the Waupaca County Sherriff's Department, the woman who died was a 28-year old mother from West Bend. She was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the car when it rolled. Her 8-year-old daughter survived the crash and must now go through life without a mom. Did the little girl's mother know Jesus? I certainly hope so. If not, then it was truly a very sad day.

I'd like you to read something from the Book of Ezekiel . . .

"The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, speak to your people and say to them: ‘When I bring the sword against a land, and the people of the land choose one of their men and make him their watchman, 3 and he sees the sword coming against the land and blows the trumpet to warn the people, 4 then if anyone hears the trumpet but does not heed the warning and the sword comes and takes their life, their blood will be on their own head. 5 Since they heard the sound of the trumpet but did not heed the warning, their blood will be on their own head. If they had heeded the warning, they would have saved themselves. 6 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 3:1-6

Heavenly Father, may there be no blood on OUR hands from failing to tell someone about you. I pray that we all would have the courage and the foresight to tell someone we love about your gift of grace and that we would do so today. You, God, have life-saving powers beyond our comprehension. Let us not suddenly find out that we were too late.