Common Sense

A piton (PEE-tawn) is a device that mountain climbers use to safely climb mountains. They pound these metal spikes into cracks in the rock as they climb and hook their ropes on them.

A mountain climbing instructor once was asked by one of his students, "How often do you place these pitons?"

The instructor replied with a question of his own, "How far are you willing to fall?"

Pitons, and a rope, are the only things keeping mountain climbers from falling to their death.

What do we 'normal' people have that can protect US when we get into dangerous situations?

Well, for one thing - common sense. Common sense seems hard to come by for many these days though. There HAS to be something else.

There is. Jesus.

Jesus may not keep us from struggling but He CAN help us through those hard times. It's just common sense to have Jesus on your side, whatever struggle you're in.

Just as it is common sense to use pitons and ropes while climbing mountains, it is also a good idea to know Jesus, especially when the rope breaks or the piton comes loose. Remember the words of that climbing instructor . . . .

"How far are you willing to fall?"

"The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the LORD holds them by the hand." - Psalm 37:23-24

Double Barrel

In Psalm 23, David writes about God being his Shepherd. We immediately get an image in our minds similar to the one above. Making us "lie down in green pasture" and leading us "beside still waters." But that's only part of the picture. A shepherd always carried TWO tools of the trade with him or her.

"Thy ROD and thy STAFF, they comfort me." - Psalm 23:4

In the painting above we see a shepherd's staff. This staff is used for guiding the sheep. The hook it's end can be put around a sheep's neck to pull them back to where they belong.

A shepherd's rod, a little shorter and straight, is used as a weapon and a means of protection. It is used to ward off any wild animals who might be interested in devouring the sheep. Lions and bears are two examples of these. Satan is another.

Jesus protects us and He guides us. He guides us with the Holy Spirit and with His Word - The Bible. He also protects us with these same tools, but also with His angels.

"For He will give His angels charge concerning you, To guard you in all your ways." - Psalm 91:11

These two shepherd's tools protected and comforted David. And they should do the same for us as well.

Can you think of any examples of shepherds using these items in the Bible?

Aaron - "Aaron threw his staff in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a serpent." - Exodus 7:10

Moses - "Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground." - Exodus 14:16

David - "When a lion or a bear came and took a sheep from the flock, I went out after it and attacked it, and rescued the sheep from its mouth; and when it rose up against me, I grabbed it by its mane and struck it (with his rod) and killed it." - 1 Samuel 17:34-35

We should be comforted knowing that God is watching over us, to keep us safe and to "guide us into all truth." (John 16:13).

Everything I Do

Can somebody tell me why this song is not a worship song in every church on the planet? It's absolutely beautiful!

The song comes from the 1991 movie Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. We've all heard it before. Everyone is familiar with it. Our only problem with it is that we think it's a love song between Robin Hood and Maid Marian. What if it was actually a worship song written for Jesus - a duet between us and Jesus.

First verse and chorus:

(sung by Jesus to us) 

Look into my eyes

You will see

What you mean to me

Search your heart

Search your soul

And when you find me there

You'll search no more

Don't tell me it's not worth tryin' for

You can't tell me it's not worth dyin' for

You know it's true

Everything I do

I do it for you

Second verse and chorus:

(Jesus)

Look into your heart

You will find

There's nothin' there to hide

(us)

Take me as I am

Take my life

(Jesus)

I would give it all

I would sacrifice

(both)

Don't tell me it's not worth fightin' for

I can't help it there's nothin' I want more

You know it's true

Everything I do

I do it for you

What an amazing worship song! "Everything I do, I do it for You."

May we approach each day with those words in mind. Let us turn our everyday, mundane tasks into worship.

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." - Colossians 3:23-24

Everything I Do - Bryan Adams

Green Bay Love

Everyone's talking about Love in Green Bay. Yes, Jordan Love is doing some amazing things on the football field. But that's not "love." That's skill.

These days, 'love' is found on the Packers sideline before the game.

That beautiful young lady, left of center, is Simone Biles. Perhaps you recognize her from the Olympics. She's won seven gold medals, doncha know!

Before each game Simone can be seen smooching one of the Packers players - Jonathan Owens - her husband. Their love for each other makes us all smile.

Love should take precedent over ALL things. It is "the first and greatest commandment" according to Jesus (Matthew 22:38). Love for God and love for each other.

What does love look like in today's selfie, social media world? It's not bashing others or gossiping about someone. It's not protesting a government for doing something to defend itself.

Love is supporting and encouraging without thought of self or personal gain. It's sacrificial. Love is what we need more of. Let's pray for that.

Thank you, Lord, for the examples of love in our lives. These people encourage us to love unconditionally, without motive. Something this world desperately needs today.

Thank you for Your sacrificial love for us which You demonstrated by sending Your Son to sacrifice Himself for us. An incredible act of selfless love. 

We thank You and praise You for this most-incredible of gifts. It is in the merciful name of Jesus that we pray.

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another." - John 13:34

The White Stones

We've all done stupid things in our lives. Sometimes we get caught. Sometimes we don't. Sometimes we can pay a very high price for our stupidity. And sometimes, well, sometimes those stupid things can haunt us for the rest of our lives.

In the privacy of your own thoughts, I would like you to think about the stupidest thing you have even done. Something you would like erased from your past. Got it? Good. Let's proceed then.

Most of the stories I write are about faith in God, Jesus, or something I see happening in the world that makes me think of God or Jesus. Today's story is about you.

You and I are not all that different. We've both done things that we regret. We both wonder what our lives would have been like if we hadn't done what we did. Oh.... to erase it and start all over again! Or simply have it blotted out and forgotten.

Today you will read a short little story that hardly anyone talks about. It's an amazing story of forgiveness and grace. But it won't make any sense without the hidden meaning that will follow.

The first story is found in the Bible. It is just one verse long. Jesus is talking to one of His churches - the one in Pergamum. But it's really addressed to all of the churches, and to all of us individually as well.

"Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it." - Revelation 2:17

And now for the backstory.

Back in Jesus' day the Roman Empire controlled Jerusalem and the surrounding area. Whenever someone committed a crime they had to go to court and convince a panel of judges of their innocence.

If a judge felt that you were guilty they would place a black stone in a jar and pass the jar on the the next judge. An innocent vote was given with a white stone. After all the judges had voted, the jar would be emptied and counted.

If the majority of stones were white you were judged as being innocent. If not, you were found guilty and sentenced accordingly. Now, read the last sentence of that verse again.

We will be tried by Jesus for our sins and He just told us in verse 17 that He is going to find you innocent. In fact, the Bible tells us elsewhere that our sins will be forgotten and separated from us "as far as the east is from the west."

How does that make you feel? The absolute worst thing you ever did will be forgotten. EVERY sin you have EVER committed will be totally forgotten and forgiven!

Jesus has done that already. He has already served your sentence. Jesus was found guilty of all of our sins, He has already been punished for them. OUR sins!

All He requires in return is our faith in Him. Our obedience.

WHY? WHY did He do this?

Because He loves us!

When Jesus gives you your pure white stone, with a new name written on it . . . known only to you, how will you feel? How will you feel as you look at the white stone in your hads with your new name written on it? Knowing you have been made clean and new by the One standing right in front of you?

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." - Galatians 2:20

Maria Maria

“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!" - Luke 1:42

That was Elizabeth talking to Mary when the latter came to visit her. Mary certainly was blessed alright. She was carrying the Savior of the world in her womb. But what is the extent of her blessedness? Should Mary be prayed to and worshipped?

Key verses:

"You shall have no other Gods before me." - Exodus 20:3

"Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess." - Hebrews 4:14

Where religions fail is when we humans start adding our own ideas and laws to them. Mormonism is like that. Jehovah's witnesses too. And sadly, the same can be said for Catholicism.

Somewhere along the line in the Christian faith one branch decided that it should start worshipping Mary, the mother of Jesus. They elevated her and made several "assumptions" about her.

These assumptions are that Mary led a sinless life, that she is still a virgin to this day, and that she was taken up to heaven just like Jesus was. Mary is also prayed to in the Catholic faith. So too are all of their saints, which the church came up with, not God.

Let's review those two verses we just read. 1.) No other gods and 2.) Jesus is our high priest.

Christianity is really quite simple. We must answer just one question. Who is Jesus in our lives? All of the other man-made rules are just our attempt ro customize God to our liking.

After the Gospels, is Mary even mentioned at all in the Bible? She is mentioned once, in the Book of Acts, a sidenote as part of the church, along with her other sons.

"They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers." - Acts 1:14

Speaking of which, if Mary was a perpetual virgin as the Catholic church says, where did these children of hers come from? Scripture also tells us that Jesus had sisters.

When Jesus came to Nazareth, His hometown, it's citizens wouldn't believe His teachings, saying:

"Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” - Mark 6:3

Mary certainly was blessed above all women. We should honor her as the mother of our Lord and Savior, Jesus. But we should not be praying to her. She is not our God. Jesus is our only intercessor when we pray to God the Father. He is the High Priest.

Key take aways for today:

1.) Read and understand the Bible.

2.) Believe in the One True God - God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

3.) Obey His commands.

"Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you." - Deuteronomy 4:2

I love all of my Catholic 'brothers and sisters.' It's the church's doctrine that has me concerned and in prayer.

To learn more about the Catholic church and their beliefs about Mary check this out:

Catholic Beliefs About Mary

This song is only here to give my story a title (Maria = Mary).

Maria Maria - Santana 

La Porte

Like lots of Packers fans on Sunday, my wife and I were watching the Vikings-Lions game which preceded our big game. The Lions have a tight end on their team named Laporta.

"Laporta?" I said to myself. "Why does that sound familiar?" Welcome to High school French class.

Back then, after we were all seated in our desks, our teacher would say, "Fermez la porte," which means "Close the door."

Why do I even remember that? I was 15 years old! That was 55 years ago!! Yet I knew, today, that "la porte" means 'the door.'

"I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture." - John 10:9

Jesus told us that HE is the door. And what is a door? Is it not a means of entry through a wall? A barrier where there is no other means of access? Jesus is la porte into heaven.

But why did I remember that? It is because I heard it everyday in my French class for an entire semester. Repetition is how we train ourselves to remember things.

"Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to 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. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates," - Deuteronomy 11:18-20

God commanded us to memorize scripture. How are we doing with that?

We're like, "I don't have enough time in my day to sit down and memorize a bunch of verses."

"Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?" - Luke 6:46

"Fermez la porte et mettez-vous au travail."

Mountain Man

When you hear the words "mountain man" who do you think of? For me it's Jeremiah Johnson - a character portrayed by Robert Redford in the 1972 Sydney Pollack film aptly named Jeremiah Johnson.

Johnson got tired of life in the city, the crowds, and also the war (the Civil War). So he left all the noise and people behind and moved up into the mountains.

Does anyone else come to mind as a mountain man? What about Jesus? It seems like every other story about Him took place on a mountain, of after coming down from a mountain, either alone or with the disciples.

How about Moses? Didn't he go up on a mountain by himself to receive the ten commandments? He was up there for 40 days!

Let's look at Jesus in the Book of Matthew and The Mount of Olives.

"Now when Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to Him and He began to teach them."- Matthew 5:1-2

You know, it's interesting to note here that Jesus is going to return to the Mount of Olives one day. The prophet Zechariah spoke about it.

"And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives." - Zechariah 14:4

It seems like there is something about going up on a mountain that literally, and spiritually, brings us closer to God.

We don't have any mountains here in Wisconsin, but we can get closer to God by reading His Word, by convercing with "God On High" through prayer, or serving Him by serving others in our daily lives.

So, let us lace on our hiking boots, grab our walking stick, and be off on our journey this week.

"Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching." - Hebrews 10:19-25

Jeremiah Johnson Trailer

Blind Eyes

I had cataract surgery a few days ago. Basically, they cut into your eye, remove the original lens, and replace it with a new one. Sounds simple, right?

Wrong.

This was like REAL surgery! Lol! Hospital gown, IV in my wrist, anesthesiologist, operating room, the whole thing.

The actual procedure took five-ten minutes, but the prep time took an hour. My surgeon had 17 such surgeries Thursday morning. Then he met with each of us patients that same afternoon to see how we were doing.

So, is my vision all clear this morning? Nope. I can see but my vision is still a bit cloudy. That's normal I guess but I was hoping for some kind instantaneous restoration. Again . . . nope.

It reminds me of Jesus and His healing of the man born blind.

"He (Jesus) took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?”

He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.”

Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly." - Mark 8:23-25

The interesting thing about the account we just read was that Jesus healed the man in two stages. With other similar healings of blindness in the Bible people could see immediately. So, why wasn't this man's healing the same?

It doesn't really say, but there is a hint a few verses earlier when read that it was "some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him." The blind man himself did not ask to be healed.

Perhaps by being partially healed at first the blind man himself then had faith in Jesus. He certainly had no hope before, but now he actually could see, although not clearly. But now the man himself believed in the healing power that Jesus had. And that's what Jesus was waiting for.

Elsewhere in the Bible we read of many other such healings of the blind and lame and we hear this from Jesus:

"Your faith has healed you."

The blind man was brought to Jesus because of THEIR faith, not his. Total restoration (the second time) was a result of the blind man's faith, not theirs.

I believe my eye surgeon when he says that the cloudiness in my eye will disappear in a few days. His testimony is based on thousands of other such surgeries that he has performed.

But my ultimate faith is in Jesus. My faith in Jesus is based on the total restorative surgery that He has already performed on my heart. Only through Him was I made able to clearly see.

Seeking Emmanuel

"After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” - Matthew 2:1-2

The Magi were in the east according to verse 1. Stars and planets appear to travel east to west as the earth rotates. Looking west towards Jerusalem, these heavenly bodies would then appear the decend not rise for the Magi. The "star" had to have been something else. But what? Here's my theory.

Note in verse 1 above where it says, "we saw the star when it rose." It sounds like they saw the star actually rising . . . moving. Impossible. Unless it was something else.

"After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light." - Matthew 17:1-2

The star was not Jesus, obviously. He was down below in the manger. An angel perhaps? Maybe, but I don't think so, although they do make appearances dressed in white.

What about the Holy Spirit? He is part of the Trinity. He IS God, just like JESUS is God. Could the Holy Spirit be transfigured like Jesus was? From Spirit to Light? JESUS  is light. Why not the Holy Spirit?

When we come to faith in Christ isn't it God's Holy Spirit who draws us to God? Don't we follow the Holy Spirit's leading as we seek Jesus?

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them." - John 6:44

Or was it God Himself who rose up and drew the Magi to Himself. John 6:44 just told us that He does that sort of thing. What do you think? Wouldn't God The Father want to be present for the birth of His One and Only Son?

“His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow” -  Matthew 28:3

Emmanuel literally means "God with us." God HAS come to earth before (Jesus' transfiguration, Jesus' baptism, with Moses at the tent of meeting, etc.).

A mystery.

But why did the Magi stop in Jerusalem to ask where the newborn king was? They were following the star, right? Bethlehem is beyond Jerusalem to the northwest.

I'm thinkin' that, when they got into the big city they lost sight of the star with all of the tall buildings and narrow streets. They couldn't see it.

So they stopped in to see Herod. Wouldn't this visit have occured during the day when Herod was awake? I think they lost sight of the star. Only when they searched for it again at night did they find it. Another mystery.

"With God all things are possible.” - Matthew 19:26

The moral of this story is this: Never stop searching for God. Never take you eyes off of Him. When the Magi couldn't follow the star anymore they became lost. And they asked the wrong person for directions. A literal 'anti' Christ.

"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." - Jeremiah 29:13

Keep searching. Never give up. You WILL find Him.

A Quiet Place

"Let us go alone to a quiet place." - Mark 6:31

Jesus often withdrew to "a quiet place," either by Himself or with His disciples. Why did He do that? And should we? The example above from the Book of Mark is just one of many in The Bible.

With all of the healing that Jesus did and all the teaching and miracles He performed, He usually drew a pretty large crowd wherever He went.

Why did Jesus like to get away from the crowds? And what lessons can we learn from His desire for solitude? First, let's read the verse above in context.

"Jesus said to them, `Come away with me. Let us go alone to a quiet place and rest for a while.' Many people were coming and going. They could not even eat.

So they went away in a boat to a lonely place by themselves." - Mark 6:31-32

In this example Jesus was with His disciples. His boys had just gotten back from the journey He had sent them on. They most likely had many stories to tell Him. This time away by themseves was going to be a teaching time, specifically for the disciples.

Unfortunately, many people had seen them leaving and followed them along the shoreline. How many people followed them in their attempt to retreat to a quiet place? Welcome to the story about the feeding of the 5,000. 

Jesus still taught that day but His class was just a little bigger than the twelve He had hoped for.

But we can still see Jesus' desire to get away from it all. Do YOU have a quiet place you like to go to in order to focus on God?

For me it's my living room chair before my wife, or the sun, have gotten up yet. There are zero distractions, other than the ones in my head. It is a very quiet time.

But what is YOUR quiet time? And where is your quiet place?

Even in our prayer time with God, Jesus told us to 'go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret.' - Matthew 6:6

It is there, when it is just us and God, that we can offer prayers that we want no one else to know. We can pray about our innermost thoughts and sins without fear of gossip or rumor.

My prayer for you today is that you would find that quiet place to pray. And don't forget to listen! For God speaks in whispers, not earthquakes, wind, or fire (1 Kings 19:11-12).

Seek out the quiet places in your life. God will speak to you there.

God Speaking - Mandissa

First Love

So, like, umm, have you been busy lately? It's a good thing we have our phones and computers to help us meet our busy schedules, right?

The computers that once filled entire buildings now sit on our laps or are worn on our wrists. The phones that once sat on countertops or hung on walls are now in our pockets.

Our flatscreen televisions of today would seem like science fiction compared to the console models that contained radios and record players. In short, we have made it really easy for us to become distracted. From what? God.

In John's Book of Revelation Jesus tells the church in Ephesus that they have "forgotten their first love." That's Jesus. And we have done the same.

"You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. " - Revelation 2:4-5

And just to be clear, having Jesus come and "remove our lampstand" is NOT a good thing.

Our "first love" should be Jesus, God. And we truly have forgotten Him it seems. We tend to worship ourselves and our "things." Or we might worship A god, but not THEE God. And if we don't like the One True God, we just change him to our liking. We create our own versions of god.

For example, our current president, Joe Biden, claims to be a Catholic. Yet he is in favor of abortion and same-sex marriage. How can THAT be? Isn't he modifying the god he believes in for a political purpose?

And, speaking of Catholics, the Pope has come out and said that priests can "bless" same sex marriages now. Even though the Lord, Our God, would never do this. He calls same-sex sex an abomination.

"You shall not lie with a man as with a woman; it is an abomination." - Leviticus 18:22

Our first love should not be ourselves nor should it be our own selfish desires. Do you remember "the first and greatest commandment?"

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself." - Mark 12:30-31

We have become so incredibly focused on ourselves and our own desires that we truly have forgotten our first love - Jesus.

So how do we correct that?

The first thing we must do is examine ourselves. Make note of the parts of our lives that are not honoring to God and eliminate them.

Next, we need to change the focus of our lives. Quit reading the news and read the Bible. Stop worshipping "reality" and DIY shows and make worship a reality in our lives. Change the direction of our lives and set our G.P S. to G.O.D.

It's doable, but is it likely? Sadly, I don't think so. Not for society anyway. But it's not too late for us indivisuals to make a change. But a time is coming when it WILL be too late.

Place Jesus first in your life today. He loves you! He loved you before the creation of the world. And He died so that you may live. Live in Him . . . the Love you had at first.