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

Hidden Gems

This summer, as you travel around this great country, take some time to stroll along a beach. You just might find something quite valuable. Like yourself . . . or God.

Walking along the beach can be quite relaxing. Listening to the rhythmic waves as they come ashore, watching the birds flying overhead - all are very calming things to do. But have you ever tried looking for beautiful stones scattered along the shoreline?

Looking for cool stones or beautiful semi-precious works of art can also be quite relaxing. Look at the countless numbers of stones and grains of sand as you walk. Each one is unique. There are no two stones exactly alike. Kind of like you and me. We are ALL unique.

"There is gold, and an abundance of jewels; But the lips of knowledge are a more precious thing." - Proverbs 20:15

Every once in a while there are beautiful examples of God's workmanship to look at - whether stones or humans. They are precious to behold.

Reading the Bible is like walking along the shore. You can wade through it like you do when you walk along the beach, you can immerse yourself in the water, and you can also stop and examine the scriptures. There are plenty of gems to be found in its midst.

Stand on the shore sometime and try to calculate the number of grains of sand, the quantity of water drops in the sea. It cannot be done. Yet God created them all. HE knows their number.

Each individual stone on the shore is special and unique and worthy of examination. So are each of us. So is each person in our lives. Take the time, as you walk through life, to examine the people you meet along the way. Each one is precious in God's sight. They should also be precious in OUR sight as well. We are ALL precious to God.

Lake Superior Waves

Tending The Garden

Do you ever get those gloomy days when you'd rather stay in bed? Every day, right? I had one of those days this past week. I was alone, it was cloudy and raining. I was feeling kind of depressed. So, what did I do? I wrote to a friend who always makes me smile. The next thing I knew I was smiling and feeling great!

Do you have people like that in your life? I sure hope so. They are a treasure! But those relationships can fade away and even disappear if we don't keep them alive.

Relationships are like plants in a garden. We plant seeds in the spring. That's an effort of hope and faith right there. And once the seeds sprout and a plant begins to grow, it needs some things. Nutrients from the soil, water and sunlight.

What makes our relationships grow? I think there has to be a healthy dose of love - some kind of bond. My wife has many friends but her closest friends she does stuff with. They'll go shopping of go out to eat. They keep their relationships alive by doing things together.

I recently retired from work but I still go back there. Why? Because I have relationships with the people there that I would like to keep alive and active. I love my friends and want to keep them in my life so I work at it. I water the garden. I try to spread love in THEIR lives and they do the same in mine.

God loves healthy relationships.

Sadly, my relationship with God sputters sometimes when I don't spend time with Him. I'll forget to pray or read and then I wonder why I'm feeling so depressed. It's because one of my most treasured relationships is dying. That's NOT a good thing.

As you go through this day, and you think about one of your friends, send them a message or give them a phone call. Let them know that you care about them and love them. That's the best way to keep your relationship garden alive and thriving.

The day before Jesus died guess what He did? He went for a walk with His friends in a garden. Before the fall guess what Adam and God were doing? Walking in a garden.

^"15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it." - Genesis 2:15

If our friends and family are OUR garden, what would God have US do?

In The Garden - Alan Jackson

The Journey

It's early Monday morning and in a few hours my wife and I and our daughter and her husband will be setting out on the long journey home from Michigan and our family reunion. It takes a long time to travel the 468 miles but it is always worth it.

You and I are travelers through life as well. What has your journey been like?Has it been smooth sailing along life's highway? Or have you encountered some road construction, detours or pot holes along the way?

And what about your traveling companions. Do you have some good ones riding in the car with you through this life? I have been blessed with some amazing ones. I have a best friend at work, for example, who makes that part of my journey so much easier. It's always a good thing when the people in your life make the journey seem shorter than it really is.

I have been blessed with an amazing family. We always make each other laugh with our stories, lame jokes and in-car games. It is a good thing having traveling companions.

As YOU travel through this life, who are YOUR travel companions? Maybe it's a best friend. Maybe it's a group of friends. Sometimes though, we have to travel by ourselves. Whatever the situation is, I have found it is always a good idea to have someone in the car with you.

This is the point in my story where I am going to write about Jesus. He is MY favorite travel companion. There is no storm we can't get through together. No road block, no detour, no traffic jam. He is always with me.

Jesus is an amazing travel companion and He's more than just a "spare tire" that sits in my trunk until I need Him. Jesus is my co-pilot. And even though He is also my navigator as I drive, I have found it's better when I let Him take over for a while behind the wheel.

Is Jesus in YOUR car? He should be. He make life's journey so much better. The pot holes and detours might still be there but He knows the best way around them and the best roads to travel on. PLUS, He's a great mechanic and your "car" will run forever! So this morning I find myself thanking Him and the rest of my travel companions for riding with me these past 10 1/2 years. Always by my side.

Whether I am driving somewhere with my family or walking with my best friend at work, I am grateful for the company God has given me. No matter how difficult life's journey becomes, it's always easier with someone by your side.

If you don't have someone to share life's journey with, give me a call. I'll walk with you for a while. But the smartest thing you could do would be to ask Jesus to travel with you. Walk with him the rest of your life and you will enjoy an amazing journey.

Jesus Take The Wheel - Carrie Underwood

A Walk In The Dark

After a long work week I decided to take a nice, quiet walk last night. It probably wasn't the best idea I have ever had, starting my walk AFTER sunset like I did. But it was SO nice out! And it was still light enough to see . . . sort of.

I had my iPod with me, playing songs into my head. And I had my phone with me in case of emergency so I was good. Or so I thought.

I have found that walking through the woods after dark REQUIRES an music filling up you ears with nice, calming music so you don't hear those little noises you have no idea where they came from. If you can't hear the ravenous wolves or the gigantic red-eyed Slor pursuing you from behind, craving your human flesh, they aren't really there, right?

Yeah, I probably should have brought a flashlight . . . and an assortment of nuclear-powered weaponry, but I didn't.

[I turn up the volume on my iPod]

Then I heard a rhythmic thump, thump, thump. Something beyond my music. My mouth became dry. My pace quickened. The noise increased it's pace as well. What could possibly be making that sound? It HAD to be something large. Was it footsteps? The beating heart of my friend, the Slor perhaps? Nope. It was the cord from my iPod hitting against my coat as I walked. I'm such a loser.

And then suddenly, I remembered something. Hey, I am a child of God. I've got Jesus!!

Now, I know that Jesus is not some "magic genie" I can call on when I need Him, but He is a great walking companion who, it just so happens, can also cast out demons and raise the dead if He wants to. Yeah, He's a good one to go walking with after dark. And do you know why?

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” - John 8:12

Pretty funny for an old guy who, moments ago, was being chased my man-eating shadows.

There is nothing to fear when we are on God's side. He is the constant companion for those who believe. But for those who chose not to follow "The Light", they will end up lost and alone in the woods at the end of their days. It will be like taking a walk in the woods after dark, only you will be eternally lost and you will never get back home.

"6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin." - 1 John 1:6-7

"If God is for us, who can be against us?" - Romans 8:31

"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." - Psalm 23:4

 Light Of The World - Jesus Culture

Walking Backwards

I just got done watching some of the primary election coverage from South Carolina and I have come to some conclusions. Half of the people in this country are insane - they are considering voting for a socialist. The other half are just plain crazy. They are considering voting for Donald Trump.

There is not a single politician that seems trustworthy in my eyes. Ted Cruz for example says something about Marco Rubio and then Rubio says he's lying. Ben Carson blames Ted Cruz for dirty politics and Cruz says he's innocent. Who are we to believe. Who can we trust.

The problem . . . . is us.

"We the people" tend to fall into two categories. One group is typified by those who want stuff. Let's call them "The Wants." These are mostly democrats and socialists as they are all about wanting this or that. Mainly they want other people's stuff.

The second group is "The Haves." They already have the stuff that The Wants want. They just want to keep in. So, in a way, they are also "Wants" as well, but let's not confuse things.

My first question is, where are these supposed "Evangelicals" that everyone is talking about? I heard on the news that 74% of South Carolina are evangelicals. Did they back one particular candidate over another? No. They went everywhere. They do have their own idea of who to vote for and it is NOT one particular candidate. "Evangelicals" are all over the place too.

The main problem with "Evangelicals" is they are not walking the walk. And, if I may say so, they are not acting like Christians at all. Let me explain by way of a few examples.

When you go to church, do you take your Bible with you? For the most part Catholics don't, Lutherans don't. I am generalizing here. My point in this is who do you follow? If you follow a priest or a pastor you are NOT a Christian. Christians follow Jesus.

When we examine politicians, trying to discern who is telling the truth, we learn quickly that we cannot trust their words. How then do we know what each candidate truly desires? We examine the fruits of their decisions. We examine how they walk. The same is true for pastors and priests. One would hope they speak the truth but then why are there so many denominations, so many opinions, so many factions.

Joel Osteen is a pastor. He has the biggest church in America. One could say, "Surely God has blessed his ministry." No. Surely there are many people who like to have their ears tickled by what they hear. Mr. Osteen doesn't speak about sin in any of his messages. He is preaching a false Gospel. He is a false teacher.

"3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry." - 2 Timothy 4:3-5

The pope is also a false teacher. Dare I say, a False Profit?

He too is leading God's children astray. This latest pope, and I use small case letters intentionally, is telling his flock that all people can go to heaven, even atheists, and that we should be building bridges not walls (he told this to Donald Trump). Yet he lives in Vatican City . . . surrounded by a wall.

Why? Why do these people in such high positions say one thing with their lips but their actions are far from what they tell us?

How do you know what your pastor tells you is truth?

Jesus told us that the truth will set us free.

"31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”

34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." - John 8:31-36

Our responsibility as Christians is to discern what the truth is. And just where can we find what truth is? The Bible. So why doesn't every Christian take his or her Bible to church? Why don't we take our Bible's into the voting booth and use them to discern who to vote for? Who to believe? Good questions. We are followers! Of Jesus! He said to us, "If you love me, keep my commands." - John 14:15. Why is that command so hard for us to follow?

We are walking backwards in our faith and in our priorities. God should be first and we should be last. God's commands should take precedent over our own wants and desires. Otherwise, how can we call ourselves Christians?

My prayer is that we Christians would learn to follow God, not man. The Bible is full of stories about people who don't follow God. Things never end well for them. Why should things end differently for us?

Moon Walk - Michael Jackson

What's On You Doorpost?

Okay, I'll admit it. I'm a little strange. There are people who would argue otherwise. Not that I am NOT a little strange, rather that I am REALLY strange. I tend to come up with a different view of things than most people. Like this for example . . .

Jesus tells us in Matthew 18, "20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” - Matthew 18:20. If Jesus is with us in church or around the dining room table, why don't we take our shoes off when we are praying or in worship? Moses was told to take off His sandals when He was in the presence of The Lord (Exodus 3:5). Shouldn't there be lines of shoes on the floor outside our sanctuaries?

Here's another thought. When God told His people TWICE (Deuteronomy 6 & 11)

"6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates." - Deuteronomy 6:6-9

How come we don't have God's Word written on our doorposts? Maybe that's figurative speech but I'm not so sure. Lambs blood was painted on the doorposts at Passover. Jesus was the lamb that was slain. Jesus is The Word. Perhaps the doorposts we are to place Jesus on are the door posts of our hearts.

Have you given your life to Christ? You most likely will answer 'yes' to that question but have you REALLY done that? If God the most important thing in your life? Have you allowed Jesus to take over control of your decisions? Your bank account? Your schedule? Your life?

Try going through a day totally devoted to living a life like Jesus lived. Can you do it? I would encourage you to try it. Just for one day. Pour into someone's life like Jesus did for the woman at the well. Question your church leaders when you see His Father's house turning into a house of merchandise. Love others who are hurting by telling them of the hope you have found in Christ.

There are so many things we can do for our God and King. Let us be about HIS business today. In HIS name. For HIS glory. May people look at us and know WHOSE we are as we praise Him with our lives.

I Surrender - Hillsong

The Commands of Jesus: Walk Two Miles

"41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles." - Matthew 5:41

At first I didn't know what I should write about for this particular Commands of Jesus installment. I have never been "forced" to walk with someone. It has always been a choice for me. "Hey, Bob. Would you like to go walking today?" That sort of thing.

No one has ever burst into my bedroom in the middle of the night and forced me to get up and go walking with them. So what does this command really mean? What am I supposed to do?

Have you ever been forced to do something against your will? Yeah. I go to work every day. I don't really WANT to go to work. I am "forced to" . . . because . . . I want to eat!! However, I think Jesus had something more in mind. He's looking for real sacrifice from us. That's what these last few commands we've been reading in Matthew have been all about.

Matthew 39: Do not resist the one who is evil, turn to him the other (cheek) also. Verse 40 let him have your cloak as well.

It seems to me that Jesus is looking for sacrifice from us beyond what most might consider a "normal" response. Remember, we are supposed to be servants in this world. We are supposed to be the ones who are "giving" even though we might not have much.

I am thinking of a young friend this morning. Her parents are kicking her out of the house. She has tried to get a job but has found none. What would Jesus want me to do in this situation?

There is another young friend in my life seeking funds to go on a mission trip. It's rather obvious what Jesus would want me to do there but in light of Jesus commanding us to go TWICE as far as we might otherwise, how much shall I contribute?

Funny. Here I am writing about this particular command about "going beyond" right as two people in my life surface with opportunities to do just that. Is there someone in YOUR life who could benefit from this command Jesus gave to us? Is there someone in YOUR life in need?

You know, a "command" is something that is often contrary to our will. I have another young friend who is in the Marines. It is DEFINITELY contrary to his nature to get up at 5:00AM and go for a 20-mile run with his platoon . . . but he does it.

What opportunity will occur today in YOUR life that would allow you to follow this command of Jesus? Will your spouse ask you to do something this weekend that you really don't want to do? I encourage you to be aware of any opportunities to follow the commands of Jesus.

We are here on earth to learn and grow in character and be transformed into the image of Jesus. We should be eagerly awaiting opportunities to do that, don't you think?

"10 “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much." - Luke 16:10

I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) - The Proclaimers

Walk

Do you like to walk? I sure do. I spend a lot of time walking. I walk at work, I walk at home and I walk on the weekends. I have walked in the hot sun and in the middle of winter. I have walked through valleys and over mountains. I have walked with a bunch of people and I have walked all by myself. I have even walked on water! . . . in the winter . . . on a frozen lake.

In the evenings and on weekends I walk with my wife. We always walk hand-in-hand wherever we go. Even though she is shorter than me we walk and fit pretty good together. All the practice I guess. :)

At work I walk with my friend. We have amazing conversations about God and our mutual love for Jesus. The highlight of our walks together was when she led me to the door of Jesus Christ.I knocked. He opened. And the rest is history. :)

Do you think the Israelites liked to walk? They must have. They did so for 40 years! And on hot sand too!

We all spend lots of time walking in this life. Sometimes we can walk with a tremendous sense of purpose and determination. We have a focus and a specific destination in mind. Other times we can walk in circles for days and days and not really get any place at all.

Walking with Jesus is a lot like that. There are days when we are certain of our destination. We walk confidently with Him, boldly taking on anything that might come our way. Then there are times when we can feel as if we are walking all by ourselves - totally alone. Those are difficult and lonely times to be sure.

However, I have found a way to go walking without EVER having to be alone. Take your Bible with you. :)

When I am walking on a flat stretch of pavement, like a sidewalk or a path, I am able to read my Bible by being mindful of the trail's edge. I try to keep the edge of the path lined up with the right side of my Bible. It works well. The only problems I have encountered is the occasional dog pile . . . and rain puddles.

Have you ever tried praying with your eyes open? It is also possible to pray as you walk, eyes open. You will find yourself staring, not blinking, a lot, but you will be focusing on Jesus. Praying and / or reading as I walk always brings me closer to Jesus. It's like He's right there! And . .  He actually is. :)

The important thing is to walk with Jesus everyday. Always seek out those moments to spend with Him and talk with Him. Doing so will keep you from wandering in the desert year after year after year. Walk with Him and talk with Him. That's the only way you can get to know this great God we serve.

"4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked." - 1 John 2:4-6

In The Garden - Alan Jackson