I Just Got Towed

Last week I had kind of a bad day. One disappointment after another, or so it seemed. That's when I got an email notification that someone had commented on one of my blog stories.

"Oh, great," I thought. "More negativity."

But then I read the comment. It was given on a story I had written 10 years ago about my "new to me" truck and a tow rope I had just purchased. My intent back then with the tow rope was to pull people's cars out of ditches during the winter and then share the Gospel with the drivers.

The comment I received is as follows:

"Funny how something like snow and a car in a ditch can stir up so much inner reflection. It’s easy to think first about what we can do instead of who’s in need. Even moments that seem routine — like passing a tow truck at work — can carry something deeper if we’re paying attention."

Interesting.

That kind of cheered me up. And it ALSO made me think. Someone actually reads my stories! And this person actually took the time to comment!

How many times do we have a plan for our day and then everything suddenly goes sideways? More often than not, in my experience. So, what do we do in those situations? Do we whine and complain? Or do we make lemonade out of lemons? 

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord." - Isaiah 55:8

When things go south in our lives we should be asking, "What are you trying to show me, Lord? What are you trying to teach me?"

I did actually pull someone out of a ditch once back then. The ditch right in front of our house. I don't even remember what I said to the driver of the car. I don't remember saying anything "brillant" about God. Or ask if he knew Jesus. But I DID do something. And the driver was grateful.

Something just occured to me. Of course! The guy who commented on my story? He actually pulled ME out of the dismal "ditch" I was in that day. My bad day disappeared after reading his comment. Hmm. Was someone from above sending me a message? Or sending me a "tow truck?" He can pull anyone out of any "ditch." Anywhere and any time.

“Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him." - Psalm 91:14-15

Underneath Your Skin

I remember it like it happened yesterday. This song brings it all back. Yet these events happened 18 years ago. Funny how the time flies.

It was at Lifest (a Christian music festival in Oshkosh, WI) that I heard this song for the very first time. A friend of mine, the one who had led me to Christ, had invited me to hear and experience this strange new music.

We were at the Edge Stage, a concert venue reserved for some of the harder rock bands of the day like Disciple, Skillet, and Seventh Day Slumber.

The leader singer of that last band I just mentioned, Joseph Rojas, was giving his testimony - that of a recovered drug addict. He was saved out of his addictions and wrote this song for those who still remain trapped there.

The chorus goes like this:

No one knows you anymore

You're lost inside the walls you've built

No one knows you anymore

A prison deep within your soul

But there is One who sees it all

He'll give you life you never dreamed

He can see the pain underneath your skin

Right then and there I was presented with a opportunity. It was like God was asking, "So, what are you going to do about it, Bob?"

Youth ministry can be a wonderful thing, but it does come at a cost. Some of my young friends have taken their own lives due to the pain that lay hidden, out of sight, underneath their skin. Others still struggle to this day. 

The song continues . . .

Your addiction is just a symptom of a lost and dying soul

And without Jesus there's no hope at all

Thankfully God has rescued many from this deadly trap.

One particular young couple (the woman of which was a youth group kid at church) had both been arrested for dealing in meth. The woman reached out to me and asked for help.

Alive and well now, they have both turned their lives around and have four children and good jobs. Two that made it out, all by the grace of Almighty God.

One truth still remains. "There is One who sees it all." His name is Jesus.

Do you have something hidden "underneath your skin?" Reach out and trust in Him. "Without Him there's no hope at all."

[This story is dedicated to Jesse, Kameron, Austin, Muffy, and all the rest who didn't make it]

Missing Pages - Seventh Day Slumber

The War of The Worlds

One of the first scary movies that I ever saw was The War of The Worlds. It was made in 1953 - the year I was born. The movie was based on the 1898 novel by Orson Welles.

I'll spare you all of the details about the movie but will tell you that it didn't look good for Planet Earth. Nothing could stand up against the Martian machines.

The Martians made great advances against humankind. Humans became so desperate to stop the onslaught that the U.S. finally dropped a nuclear weapon on three of them. It had no effect at all.

Near the end of the movie, after all hope was lost, the people began huddling in churches, praying to God for deliverance.

Sound familiar? It is a recurring practice in much of the Bible.

"The Lord helps them and delivers them; He delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in Him." - Psalm 37:40

In the movie, it wasn't until the people started praying that the enemy began to falter. They basically succumbed to a virus - the common cold.

We always seem to ignore God when things are going fine. But once the poo hits the fan we drop to our knees. And then, only after trying to solve things on our own.

The prophet Isaiah left us some words to live by when he said, "Stop trusting in mere humans ." - Isaiah 2:22

Since the beginning of time it seems like God has been trying to get that through our thick heads. If we come to Him BEFORE we find ourselves in trouble, He often keeps us out of that situation. But we never learn.

We are in a real-life 'war of the worlds' right now. And although things can seem rough at times we should rejoice that OUR God is the one TRUE God. The name above ALL names.

"When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." - Psalm 34:17-18

The War of The Worlds (1953) - Full Movie

Through The Window

Have you ever heard the Bible verse, "When one door closes, another one opens?" Well, forget about it. It's not a Bible verse. Alexander Graham Bell said it in 1935. Here's the full quote:

"When one door shuts, another one opens, but we sometimes stare at the closed door for so long and with such sadness that we fail to see the one that has opened for us."

Still the concept of God opening and closing doors is VERY Biblical. Here are a few examples.

Rahab let the Israelite spies down through a window to keep them from harm.

"Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was built into the city wall, so that she lived in the wall." - Joshua 2:15

Michal, David's wife, let him down through a window to prevent Saul from killing him.

"So Michal let David down through the window, and he fled away and escaped." - 1 Samuel 19:12

Saul (Paul) was lowered down through a window by his disciples to keep the Jews from killing him.

"But his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket." - Acts 9:25

The point of all this is that God always provides a way out for us in our struggles. It might not be how we thought he'd do it but it happens, and for God's ultimate glory. Even in our sin He provides for us.

"No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." - 1 Corinthians 10:14

No go look at that Alexander Graham Bell quote again.

"We sometimes stare at the closed door for so long and with such sadness that we fail to see the one that has opened for us."

Finally . . .

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." - Proverbs 3:5-6

Look Through Any Window - Hollies

Slippery Roads

We got a couple inches of snow over the weekend. Living out in the country where we do it's always hard to navigate on weekends until it gets closer to Monday (a school day). The snowplows don't come through until they have to, for the school bus.

The highway into town is usually pretty good. But getting TO the highway is the problem for us, more often than not.

We never know when that icy patch or snow drift crossing the road will pop up and pull us into the ditch. It's best to take it a little slower during the winter months to where you will have time to react to whatever is on front of you.

Our faith can be like a slippery road on a dark night. if we let it. When our headlights go dim and we don't keep our eyes on the road. Boom! We're in the ditch - sin.

Having a strong faith is like having a snowplow. They have plenty of lights to see where they are going. They have a big blade to push sin out of the way (The Holy Spirit). But most importantly, they have lots of power (God). When was the last time you saw a snowplow that got stuck in the snow?

Navigating a typical snowstorm is not that difficult to do. The big ones however can cause us lots of trouble. The same with our faith. Getting through day-to-day things in our faith is easier than slogging through a blizzard.

Be safe out there!!

And should you ever get spiritually stuck in life's trials, call on Jesus, or call on a friend. Sin is a giant snowbank, just waiting for you to stop by for a visit.

"You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance." - Psalm 32:7

Your Help

When you get into trouble, where do you look to find help? The first thing many of us think of is the police. "Better watch out cuz I'm calling the cops! 9-1-1 baby!" But sometimes it can take 10-15 minutes before the police arrive. A lot can happen in 15 minutes. Are you prepared to deal with all of the things that can happen in a quarter of an hour, filled with desperation? Probably not.

Where do you look for help when you lose your job or have no real source of income? Many turn to our government for help with food assistance, disability checks, or low-income housing. Those things CAN help but they can also become habit forming leading to downright dependence on our government.

How about a serious illness? Lots of people are concerned about that right now. We go to the Emergency Room, see the best doctors and specialists but even THEY don't have a clue sometimes.

There really is no place to turn in this world if we truly want to be 100% safe or 100% healed. Even our faith in Christ doesn't prevent disaster from striking our lives. Christians are martyred everyday for they faith.

The thing we have to remember is this: "It is appointed unto man once to die, but after that, the judgement." - Hebrews 9:27

But then it's too late to ask for help. We need to ask for that help now!

Look, lots of restaurants are closed right now. You can't go there and get a meal with everything shut down. But you CAN call in ahead of time and place an order. Then, when you arrive at the restaurant, you can get just what you came for. But without calling ahead, you'll just be sitting there in the parking lot . . . forever.

When we place our faith in Jesus a lot of stuff begins to happen. We no longer become anxious at every little thing that crosses our path. We receive a sense of "God's got this." We also receive forgiveness of all of our sins - MORE weight listed off of our shoulders!

Where do you get YOUR help. Here's where I get mine.

"I lift up my eyes to the hills -
where does my help come from?
2My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth." - Psalm 121:1-2

Praise You In The Storm - Casting Crowns

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

Answer To Prayer

Did you hear the story of the young couple who were hopelessly lost at sea? The couple began to pray and, well, let's just say this story has an amazing ending.

It was spring break. Going to the beach and swimming in the ocean sounded like typical things high school and college kids might do. But these two weren't prepared for the strength of the ocean waves and it's tides.

The two had been trying for two hours to get back to shore without success. The girl began getting cramps in her legs as the waves began getting taller. That's when the young man offered a desperation prayer.

“I cried out: 'If you really do have a plan for us, like, come on. Just bring something,'” Tyler.

A short time later a boat showed up and the crew pulled them out of the water. When the grateful couple saw the name of the boat they both began to cry. The name of the boat was "Amen."

Both kids were attending a Christian school and both are also alive now and well and praising God for what He has done for them.

Have you ever had a "God moment" when you knew without a doubt that God was with you? They are so amazing! It is always a wonderful faith booster when we get reminded of God's love and provision in our lives.

"He has rescued us from a terrible death, and he will rescue us in the future. We are confident that he will continue to rescue us." - 2 Corinthians 1:10

Has God rescued YOU yet? If not, all it takes is a prayer and repentant heart for God to reach down and rescue you. Pray a desperation prayer to Him today and see if He doesn't come to rescue you in some amazing way.

"Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth." - Revelation 3:10

Amen - For King and Country
Amen Boat News Story

The Parable of the Lighthouse Keeper

Why do you check your phone late at night? Are you looking for a friend, lost in the darkness? Or are you looking for a way out of that darkness for yourself?

The lighthouse keeper of old led a lonely life. His whole purpose was to keep a light burning in the lighthouse so ships at sea could navigate dangerous waters at night.

Most nights there was no need for the light. All was calm. But the light was lit anyway. You see, one never can tell who might be out there . . . who might need that light.

I can identify with the life of that lighthouse keeper. Keeping watch by night, In case someone needs rescuing.

It was two o'clock in the morning this past week. Just about everyone in Central Wisconsin was asleep. Except me. I could not sleep for some reason so I got up and walked into the living room.

I picked up my phone and checked my messages. The light from my phone lit up the entire living room. Usually there are no messages but that was not the case that night. There WAS a message - written at 12:55 AM. "Hello Bob," it began. The message went on to talk about a need for change in this person's life. Some un-named temptation was causing this person to stray into dangerous waters.

I quickly sent a reply (an hour late) but there was no reply. Did this person's "ship" run aground? Did it sink? I have absolutely no idea. So I sent out a search party.

Heavenly Father, I am praying this morning for all those souls who are "lost at sea" and are calling out for help. I pray for the people in their lives, that someone might answer their cry for help. I pray that the people in danger of drowning in this sometimes very dark world, I pray they would reach out to You. None of us is prefect and when we are in danger let us send out a May Day message for help and call on the Name of The Lord. You are our refuge and our strength, our ever-present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1). Answer the prayer of those who are lost and seeking refuge from their storm. Thank you, Lord, for hearing the prayers of Your children. It is in Your wonderful name I pray. Amen.

"15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it." - Romans 7:15-20

The Life of a Light Keeper

The Black Hole

Sin is a nebulous thing. We know it exists. There is evidence all around us but often we cannot see it - at least in ourselves. It is just a part of who we are and what we do. But it is in us to be sure; it's biggest proponent, Satan, likes to lurk in the shadows. Sin is like a black hole; a whirlpool of death where things go in but they never come out.

Black holes are thought to "eat" everything around them. They consume entire stars as they get sucked into their murky depths. They destroy.  They literally ARE darkness. Nothing good happens if you get caught in the grip of its pull.

Look at the picture above. Do you see how this black hole looks like a whirlpool? The stars at the outer edges barely know they are in danger. The pull is weak but it is still there. The stars closer to the center are as good as dead. There rapidly increasing journey into darkness is happening quickly. Soon they will be totally dead. Without hope. Without chance of rescue. They are eternally lost; consumed by the darkness that surrounds it. Sad.

Now, let me tell you to Jesus. He is the opposite of a black hole.

"5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all." - 1 John 1:5

As I began writing this I was reminded of the story where Jesus walks on the water. Let's read it together and then, as we do so, I will point out a few things that are ALWAYS good to remember.

"22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. 26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”

"28 And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus."

Did you catch that? PETER actually walked on water too! But then, just like we ALL do in our "perfect" little lives, we took our eyes of Jesus. And then guess what happens . . .to all of us. We begin to sink.

"30 But when he (Peter) saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.”

Christians believe in one God, existing in three separate parts - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Jesus WAS a man but He also was fully God at the same time. When Peter began to sink into the depths of the sea Jesus could easily have lifted His hand and placed Peter in the boat through His supernatural power. Yet, Jesus chose to grab Peter physically. Why? To make a point - a better mental image perhaps of someone actually in the act of physically saving someone else.

"31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” = Matthew 14:22-33

Are you sinking in a whirlpool of darkness right now? Are you caught in the grips of the deep, dark, black hole of sin? I am. We ALL are. So how can anyone of us be saved? Well, we must first do what Peter did. Verse 30. When Peter began to sink, "he cried out, 'Lord, save me."

Have you cried out to Jesus? Have you surrendered your life to Him? Or are you going to keep trying to handle things all by yourself? Guess what. You're going to sink into the darkness just like Peter did. And he was one of the disciples!

Jesus has promised to save us. If we would only cry out. We have to ask. Please, ask Him today. Even if you already believe, ask Him again. Please, cry out to Jesus.

Cry Out To Jesus - Third Day