From A Distance

President John F. Kennedy gave a speech back in 1962 declaring that we as a nation would land a man on the moon before the turn of the decade. And we did. But before we actually landed there were several preparatory missions. Apollo 8 was the fist manned spacecraft to go to the moon and return.

We Choose To Go To The Moon - President John F. Kennedy

I will never forget that first picture they sent back. It was a picture of the earth . . . from the moon. Things on earth sure looked peaceful from that far away. Look at how beautiful the earth looks! It's incredibly peaceful. Compared to the moon in this picture it is definitely more inviting, warm and friendly . . . from a distance.

When this picture was taken there was civil unrest in our nation. We were involved in a very costly was in Vietnam, we were discovering drugs. It was a very dynamic, exciting, yet tragic time on planet earth.

Do you believe that God is watching us? I do. I believe God watches us like a teacher watches his or her class. I think God asks questions as He watches. "What do my children need to learn? Obedience, trust, faithfulness, love . . .then these are the lessons I will teach them.

God watches us from a distance but He does so by examining our hearts. We are not on this earth to see who can spend the most money or buy the most toys. We are here to learn and grow, to be transformed into the image of His son. May each of us live as if God were watching us . . . because He is.

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you." - Psalm 32:8

From A Distance - Bett Midler

Is It Enough?

I know what everyone is trying to say. I know what everyone is trying to do. And on the surface showing solidarity with France during the crisis they are undergoing is good. But let's be honest, what good do the blue, white and red profile pictures really do?

Well, it IS a simple, easy way to show France how much we care about what happened to its people. It's kind of cool seeing everyone's profile picture "united" for a single cause. That is a good thing. But changing our profile pictures is also precisely the problem. It is a problem because it is both simple . . . and it is easy. We should be prepared and compelled to do more as Christians in honor of the 127 souls who perished in Paris.

Here's a testing question for us: This past April, 147 students in Kenya were killed by Al-Shabab. Where were the Facebook profile pictures with Kenyan flags back then? USA Today article.

And what about France's response to the terrorism on their, vowing "merciless" retaliation. And now they have officially declared was. It THAT right? From what I read in the Bible, it is not, as God told us.

"It is mine to avenge; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; their day of disaster is near and their doom rushes upon them." - Deuteronomy 32:35

So what should our response as Christians be when we encounter atrocities like those in Paris and Kenya. It IS right to speak out against such actions. It IS acceptable to change profile pictures to show we care, but let us do it EVERY time . . . for every people group who suffer. Let us do it for Kenya, let us do it for the earthquake victims in Nepal and Afghanistan where over 9,000 perished this year. The 224 people aboard the Russian airliner who died at the hands of an ISIS bomb. And let us do it for the 96,000 babies murdered in the world so far this year?

Don't get me wrong, I support a strong defense through offense. These people are fighting against God! But I also believe that we must seek God's direction and permission before we attack. Maybe that was done in France's case . . . but I doubt it.

Our response to ALL these things we see, seemingly each day on the news, is to respond with LOVE. Are we not called to LOVE our enemies? Yes, we are. We are not called to retaliate in kind, unmercifully. We are called to love - first, our God, and then, others. ALL others.

Now ISIS is one unlovable group. Earthquakes are one thing but terrorist attacks are another thing all together. We should defend ourselves and prepare diligently for such attacks but the thing we must remember, above all else, is that ISIS is fighting a religious war. Is France" The real question we need to be answering is "How are OUR religious defenses?" How are our religious beliefs?

They say that the best defense is a good offense. How are we doing at spreading the Gospel? Jesus is our warrior. He carries a two-edged sword. Let us support OUR king as ISIS fights for theirs. Our weapon is devotion, obedience and love. Are you in God's army?

"11 Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. 12 His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. 13 He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses. 15 From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress. 16 On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords." - Revelation 19:11-16

Operation Overlord - D-Day  - Normandy Beach

Heart Of Gold

A couple days ago a high school classmate of mine posted a Neil Young video on Facebook. I watched it. Wow. 1971. The year I graduated from high school! That was a LONG time ago my friends.

The Vietnam War was still going on, there were protests in the streets of most American cities, there was civil unrest . . . hmmm. What goes around, comes around I guess. The same thing can be said of our nation today. Have we really progressed as a nation since this video was recorded, some 40+ years ago? Not really.

The only thing that seems to be different is the way we treated soldiers returning from war. Now we cheer them and honor them for their service, we make videos of their homecomings and put them on YouTube to show each other how much we care. A far cry from when we used to spit on them and dishonor them with our mouths. Do that today and you would be arrested for hate speech. Why the change?

I think it's largely because the people of my generation have grown up. Wee were the spitters and dishonorers. We were the "peace" generation of hippies, free love and drugs. And now, in this present day and age, we feel guilty for what we have done. In short, we have repented of our sins.

What will this next generation be sorry for when they are my age?

If I had to make a guess it would be a sense of direction and purpose. Basically, I see a generation wandering in the desert. Sound familiar? A generation falling away from God and we, the generation that went before them, are simply watching them walk away without saying much of anything. Wouldn't want to offend anyone.

This nation, this world, is doomed unless it repents of its ways and we return to being a God-honoring people. Otherwise it will certainly die spiritually. And should we require a "cause of death" to be written on our death certificate it will ready simply, "SELF."

In the chorus of the Neil Young song I mentioned we can get a clue about our nature as humans.

"Keep me searching for a heart of gold.
You keep me searching and I'm growing old.
Keep me searching for a heart of gold
I've been a miner for a heart of gold."

If we look at out spiritual lives, who is the "You" in line two? It's God. We keep searching and we never find our "heart of gold" because we are looking for answers that satisfy ourselves. Those answers never satisfy and so we keep searching . . . and I'm growing old doing so.

There is a solution to our fruitless search. There is a way we can be satisfied in our longing for a heart of gold. The illusive treasure is found in Jesus. He has the ability to refine our hearts, to cease our endless wandering, looking for that one thing that one He can provide. And here's the thing. Once we find Him, we will never "grow old." Not if we are in Christ Jesus.

"3 The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts." - Proverbs 17:3

"3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith - more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire - may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls." - 1 Peter 1:3-9

Heart Of Gold - Neil Young

Killing Shamu

When I got home from work Monday night my wife wasn't standing in the kitchen to greet me like she normally does. Instead, she was standing in front of our television in the living room. "They're having a story about Shamu!" she yelled. My wife loves animals.

"Oh . . . neat," I replied, heavy on the sarcasm.

As the news story ran we found out that Sea World is terminating their main act- a killer whale show and it's star, Shamu. There have been protests against the show, the environment the whales are kept in and the breeding of these same whales in captivity. You can read the story here . . . AFTER you're done reading this story, of course. :P

As my mind began to drift away from Shamu, I started thinking about the industry of circuses and zoos - capturing wild animals and training them for our own entertainment. If we simplify it, and take a look at this subject from a more generalized viewpoint, what do we see? One species captures another species for its own entertainment and viewing pleasure. That same species even breeds its captors to perpetuate that enjoyment cycle. Is that right? Is that what God would have us do?

Let's examine the zoo keepers (that's us). We are all about entertaining ourselves. We take our kids to the zoo to see wild animals behind bars, we spend hours in front of a television screen or on the computer doing what? Entertaining ourselves. Movies, sports, music, telephones, you name it. We love to be entertained, distracted from the mundane things in life. We enjoy anything that keeps us from thinking about our dull, meaningless lives because, quite frankly, we are so easily distracted. Sigh.

Contemplate this thought, if you will. Zoom out even further and look at the world in which we live. Ask yourself, "Who is really the captor? Who is the one to be pitied? Who is held captive in this planetary zoo"

We are.

Think about it. Aren't we really captors of sin? Isn't Satan really the zoo keeper in this eternal scenario? For whose entertainment are we being held captive then? God's? No. Satan's! If Satan is the zoo keeper, what is God's role in this all-to-real zoo example? Let's open our Bibles and find out.

"16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. 17 And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
    because he has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
    and recovering of sight to the blind,
    to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”

20 And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” - Luke 4:16-21

Jesus is the one who opens up the gates and lets us out of our cages!

I'm not suggesting that all Christians show go to the zoo and let all of the animals free. What I am suggesting is that we examine our motives as we walk through this world. Are they selfish, for our own enjoyment and pleasure? Or are they for Gods glory?

Personally, I think we should close ALL of the zoos and take the animals back where we got them from. Let them do what God intended for them to do. And may we do the same. May we live OUR lives as God intended for US to live them. In worship for . . . and in love of . . . our King. The one who set us free from OUR bondage. All you Shamu's out there . . . .      rejoice!!!

The following is a video of Shamu. I encourage you to watch it, placing yourself in the role of Shamu while the people in the stands represent Satan and his demons being entertained by us. WHat do you think?

Shamu - Sea World

I'm A Firm Believer

I am a firm believer in God. I'm not sure I understand why. I don't totally understand Him. There are many unanswered questions I have. But I have never been more sure He exists than I do today . . . or than I will tomorrow. I can't prove He exists just like scientists can't prove evolution or the big bang . . . theory. It's all just that. Theory.

The only way I could prove that God exists would be to rip open my chest and let others see a torn and broken heart, made well somehow. People would have to had to have known me both "before" AND "after" in order to see a difference. And still many would only see subtle outward changes, not the frustratingly obsessive thoughts I have about God on the inside. I know what I know . . . but no one else can ever fully know what has happened to me. Unless, of course, it has happened to you.

I am a firm believer that I myself can do nothing to convince people that God is real. I am also a firm believer that Jesus existed, He rose from the dead and He ascended into heaven. I can't prove it. I read it in the Bible. And how do we know that the Bible is true? There are just about as many opinions on the validity of scripture as there are people! So How do I know the Bible is true? At least I can tell you this much. One little passage proves all of these things to me. Want to know what it is? I wouldn't have brought you this far NOT to tell you!

Please, open your Bibles and read it for yourself. You can find it in the Book of John, the 14th chapter, beginning with verse 15.

15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you." - John 14, 15-17

That's it. Pretty simple. I have the Holy Spirit living in me. I KNOW that. And because those few verses have proven true to me, I believe anything and everything Jesus that tells me. Why? Because He cannot lie. That would be a sin. But here's the really sad thing.

I am also a firm believer that if you have not repented of your sins, sought forgiveness in Jesus name, and surrendered your life to Him, you're going to hell. I'm sorry, but that's what HE told me. And He cannot lie.

Now here's the frustrating part. There are so many people in my life that I wish were saved but are not. I cannot do a single thing about that fact other than plead with God to save them and tell them how amazing He is and how much He loves them. And here's another frustrating thing. God has His own plan. He is working it just fine without me and the people I would like to see saved. Don't get me wrong. He DOES hear me when I cry out but like Jesus said, "No one comes to the Father unless the Father draws Him." And how does He do that? How does He draw people to Himself? The Holy Spirit, the one who is living in all of us who believe.

We pray for all who do not believe. We pray for our enemies. We pray for those who persecute us, torture us and kill us. Why? Because we were commanded to by our God.

If you have not been saved. If you have not repented of your sins, offered your heart and soul to God in the name of Jesus, who rose from the dead, PLEASE do so today. It is not MY will. It is God's. He wishes that none should perish . . . none of those He has called. He wishes that ALL people come to a saving faith in Him. But He also knows that not everyone will. And that is sad. Truly sad.

God loves you so much!! Please, consider Him today. He will change your life, as He changed mine. Don't wait another day.

Jesus Loves Me - Willa Dorsey

[This story was written to an specific individual but it could have been written to anyone. Anyone in need of a savior.]

The Commands of Jesus: No Lay Ups!

The command we will be investigating today is one that really hit home early in my walk with Jesus. You see, I was unknowingly living contrary to this command until someone confronted me with what I was doing and the Holy Spirit finished the work in me as I became convicted, repented, and made things right with the Lord.

For me, my treasure was a '99 Corvette. I set aside money to buy it, placing its worth above that of my family members. If you knew me back then you probably saw me driving it to church or to my Bible study. I was a new Christian and it was at that study that someone said, "A Christian driving a Corvette? Interesting." That hit deep. Then, when I read the following verse, my perspective on this life shifted. And I began to change.

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." - Matthew 6:19-21

I was an obvious example of someone "laying up treasure on earth" through the purchase and idolization of that Corvette. Do you have any such idols in YOUR life? As we look at our lives, what if we dig deeper, examing ourselves and our walk with Christ. Let me ask you as few questions.

Is your job "a treasure?" Or maybe the better question is, "Do you treasure the things you buy with the money from your job? In short, what is YOUR Corvette?

How about digging a little deeper? Are you in a relationship with someone? Are you living with someone? Is your relationship God-honoring or has it become your treasure by placing more value on IT than on God's Word and His commands?

Let's dig deeper still. Deeper? How deep are we going here, Bob? Well, let's see . . .

Is your religion a treasure? Do you store it up, thinking you are saved and going to heaven because you have led a good enough life and because you go to church, you pray and you were baptized when you were a baby? Jesus did not like "religion" like that.

The final question . . .

Are YOU your own treasure? Have you placed yourself and your personal desires above God and His? Is it more important to you to do what YOU want than what GOD wants? Do you spend more time on Facebook than you do with God? Do you spend time searching for things to do because you're bored? Or do you spend your spare time helping a friend go through a break-up or pray with a friend who just lost his job?

We need to consider others before we give thought to ourselves. We are to be servants, not masters. To store up treasures in heaven that is where our hearts need to be . . . all the time.

"33 And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” 34 But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. 35 And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” 36 And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.” - Mark 9:33-37

My Delight Is In You - His Life City Church

Worst Lay Up video

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

Lay It Aside

There is an invisible force at work in the universe. I have experienced it. Perhaps you have too. This is not a story about the fictional "Force" that is mentioned in Star Wars. Nor is this a story about the god Eywa in the movie Avatar. No. I'm talking about something very real. God's Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit leads us and guides us and it draws us to God. The words of Jesus . . .

"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day." - John 6:44

How does God "draw us"? The following is from GotQuestions.org

The Greek word translated “draw” is helkuo, which means “to drag” (literally or figuratively). Clearly, this drawing is a one-sided affair. God does the drawing to salvation; we who are drawn have a passive role in the process. There is no doubt that we respond to His drawing us, but the drawing itself is all on His part.

But how does God draw us? Do we suddenly just fall into a trance and float to Him? What does the whole process look like? This could be an example. What do YOU think?

Friday night I received a message on Facebook from a kid I hadn't seen in two years. It simply said, "I have a question." That led to a brief Facebook conversation and a meeting was arranged. In that meeting we talked about life, struggles, and . . . most importantly . . . God.

Do you believe that God would take the time to arrange earthly meetings, then send His Holy Spirit to help orchestrate them? I do. I've seen it happen too many times for it not to be true. We might lose a job and think, "Well, this sucks." when in reality God wants you somewhere else to pour into someone's life for His ultimate glory. And that's the key in all of this. It's for God's ultimate glory, not ours.

My young friend came seeking help. She was led. She also happened to bring two friends with her that day. Was this God-arranged meeting for their benefit as well? I have no idea but I do know this.

When we feel led to do something, and it lines up with God's will, I believe we should do it, no matter how crazy it might seem. God led me in such a way. If you are a believer in Christ I'm sure God has led you too. We must always be willing to be led and we must always be willing to serve.

If you don't have a relationship with Jesus, ask God to arrange one. I'm quite confident He will. :)

"12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." - Hebrews 12:1-3

Bless The Broken Road - Rascal Flatts

This message was inspired by Pastor Dave's message on 11/1/15 at Calvary Chapel - Waupaca

The Missing Begins

I think just about everyone of us has lost someone we love. There is an incredible emptiness that gets left behind when people leave our lives. We can carry that weight around with us a long, long time.

That "hole" that has been left in us can effect us mentally, spiritually and even physically. It's like a vacuum, sucking anything and everything it can into the void, trying to fill itself . . to make the emptiness go away. "The hole" is on a mission to get ride of itself and, in the process, in the effort to be filled, it can take in anything, even hurtful, vengeful things. We must be careful.

There are many different ways we humans cope with things that hurt us. Sometimes we retreat and seclude ourselves. We distance ourselves from others because we have been hurt by someone we love and we don't want to be hurt by someone like that again. So we refuse to love, fully, ever again.

Sometimes we lash out at others in anger and attack. Maybe we see something in someone else that reminds us of what we do not have ourselves. Our attack is actually an attack against ourselves for the hurt we are feeling in our own lives.

Sometimes we end up filling that hole with alcohol, drugs or sexual sin, again, to find something to numb the pain or to replace the emptiness in some way, all in hope that it will actually help. It never does.

So, how to we get rid of the hurt in our lives? How do we unload the pain and get past the darkness it brings into our lives? Is that even possible?

To some extent there will always be a void in our lives when we lose someone we love. We loved them after all, and now they're gone. It hurts! But there are some things we can do to help ourselves get over that loss.

May I ask you a question? Okay, how about three questions?

When you are alone . . . who do you think of? Who do you miss the most? Who comes into your mind when you are all by yourself?

Some might answer, "My father." or "My best friend." It might be a husband or a wife or an unborn child. Regardless of the answer you have in your head right now, the only answer that can truly heal you is Jesus. Was HE the person you thought of when you were alone last night? When you are in pain do you cry out to Jesus? He is the only answer that works and let me tell you why.

What Jesus does is not "fill the whole in your heart." What happens, when you place your faith in Jesus Christ, is this incredible healing. The hurt decreases over time with the steady dose of love He pours out on us. We receive so much love from God, through the people He places in our lives, we simply can't help but be healed.

Then, after the healing takes place, as His love continues to pour into our lives, with a Christ-filled hole no longer in our hearts, His loves pours out of us onto others. We begin to love others with the same love that Jesus showed us.

There is such incredible love in Christ. When we place our faith and trust in Him, and in Him alone, the pain lessens, the healing begins, the loneliness disappears, and we will actually begin to feel joy in our lives once again. What a gift.

Life doesn't become "perfect." It's not like we will never be hurt again. But when we experience a loss in our lives and we think of God first, we will find that God has given us the ability to cope somehow. There is a confidence in us that tells us, "We'll get through this." And that knowledge can be a life-saving, life-altering truth that will guide us through even the darkest of storms.

If you have not placed your faith and trust in Jesus yet, please do so today. You will find that it will be the best decision you have ever made.

"28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” - Matthew 11:28-30

Cry Out To Jesus - Third Day

This story is dedicated to Kate, Jenna and Barb . . . Michele, Travis, Bethany and Christian . . . and to the families of Kameron . . . and Austin. May the peace of Christ surround you all.

Fearfully And Wonderfully Made

I still remember the first time I heard Psalm 139. I was a new believer. I had just joined a church that I really liked. I was on fire for the Lord! It was a really good time in my walk with Jesus Christ.

What made the day memorable was that the pastor did not read Psalm 139, he recited it . . . with passion. We heard it as if David himself were speaking it. The following is a portion of Psalm 139. I'd like you to read. After you do I am going to ask you a few questions. Here we go!

"13 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them." - Psalm 139:13-16

Wow! I encourage you to embrace those words and the concept of God knowing each of us before we are born . . . before we were even conceived. What an incredible love God has for us!

We contrast that unconditional love of God with today's supporters of Planned Parenthood and the selling of aborted baby parts for profit. Their doing that greatly confuses me, especially those amongst the abortion supporters who call themselves Christians.

Google Margaret Sanger (the founder of Planned Parenthood) and the word 'eugenics' sometime. You will be amazed at what you will find. Here's a sample quote.

"[We should] apply a stern and rigid policy of sterilization and segregation to that grade of population whose progeny is tainted, or whose inheritance is such that objectionable traits may be transmitted to offspring." - Woman and The New Race, Chapter 6.

There are many more such words from this woman whose beliefs and policies have played a part in the murder of millions. Now Google 'eugenics' alone and see whose name pops up. This is from Dictionary.com

Eugenics - The idea that one can improve the human race by careful selection of those who mate and produce offspring. Note: Eugenics was a popular theory in the early twentieth century but is no longer taken seriously, primarily because of the horrors of the eugenic efforts of the Nazi regime in Germany.

I encourage you today to consider any support you might have for Planned Parenthood or the practice of birth control or the use of the "morning after" pill. Consider each of those as you read Psalm 139 again, how God knew us before we were even conceived. How is must hurt God as we kill millions od his children each year. And pray. Please pray for the unborn. Each of us was the result of some loving mother who elected NOT to have an abortion.

Do we worship the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? Or do we worship the god of convenience, desiring that "OUR will be done" rather than the will of God?

13 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Planned Parenthood Founder Margaret Sanger

Where Are You, Norman Rockwell?

Yesterday my wife and I went to see a Norman Rockwell exhibit at a local museum. It featured many of the Saturday Evening Post covers from the 20's-60's. As we strolled through the exhibit many of those covers sparked memories from my childhood.

I found myself thinking about my parents as I strolled along the walls of the museum with my wife. My mom and my dad subscribed to the Saturday Evening Post. Life was so much simpler back when I was a kid. Sigh.

Norman Rockwell, quite simply, had a gift. I have never seen anyone who could bring scenes to life and tell a story in just one paint the way he did. Others have tried but none have come close.

The images he created speak to a simpler time when life was less complicated. There was a trust we had for one another and for our government for that matter, that has now become the exception rather than the rule.

I'd like to show you a few pictures to see if you don't agree. The first one up there represents a respect for teachers. The group could be expanded to include others who serve as well - police, soldiers, firemen. Examine the detail in his paintings and you will begin to see how each person is different, and seems to speak to us through our eyes, then into our hearts.

Here's another one of Rockwell's covers. The topic is family. Nothing says "family" like Thanksgiving dinner! Examine the people at this table. All are happy, all are looking forward to a meal together with people they love.  This represents another thing that is dwindling in our country - the family. More and more families are split up, fatherless, motherless, broken, estranged, divorced or non-existent. Why? How could something so wonderful be so depleted to the point where it has become rare. The reason can be found in this last painting.

Another vanishing part of America these days is prayer. We have become a fast food society, seldom taking time to give thanks to God for all He has given us. Our trend lately is to just forget about God and try to handle life on our own. And where has that gotten us? There is disrespect for teachers and police, "family" has been replaced by Facebook & Twitter. The core values of our once great nation have been eroded away by the ruler of this world. The Bible calls him Satan.

I invite you to take a look at Norman Rockwell's Saturday Evening Post covers. There's a link below. Perhaps you too will see something that has been lost in our society since the days when our country was a great nation. If we examine our past and examine our present we can easily determine a direction. We can also see what has been lost or forgotten and discover the things we need to make this country great again.

The recovery, I believe, begins with faith but it doesn't end there. Trust, hope, respect, honor, reverence also matter. That reminds me of another Norman Rockwell painting that can be found on the cover of the Boy Scout Handbook - circa 1964.

Inside the handbook you can find this: The Scout Law - "A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent."

What if we lived our lives like that? What if we lived our lives like God wants us to. Maybe the following Bible verse will sound familiar. It should. It's almost like the Scout Law you just read!

"22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another." - Galatians 5:22-26

Amen to that!

Norman Rockwell Covers

Of Course!!

For the past few days my wife and I were in Michigan, attending the funeral of my niece's brother-in-law. We had always planned on going but in the days that followed this young man's death, it became rather apparent that my wife and I were going to be the only one's from our side of the family to attend.

I had some apprehensions about going. It's a longish trip at 6 1/2 hours, driving through the Milwaukee rush hour, Chicago and then several hours through the relative darkness to Michigan.

My wife and I got turned around in a Milwaukee detour, losing about 20 minutes. We spent much of that time in frustration, raising our voices to one another, then traveling in silence. But we were both on a mission to get there. When we finally arrived, I tripped over a dog gate while walking through my mother's house, landing face down in pain on the tiled foyer floor. But we were there. Finally!

My niece's husband was who I was focused on. For some reason he and I have a great relationship. We share the same birthday (years apart), we both like the Tigers, you know, we were buds. He and my niece have two daughters. His brother who died had one son. I could easily see what God was providing for this now fatherless boy. His uncle, who had no son. A match made in heaven perhaps? Perfect.

So, I felt that I knew what my purpose was in attending this funeral - to deliver a message to the uncle of a fatherless son. Yeah, well, I was wrong. When my wife and I entered the church where the funeral was being held I began to see a different picture of what God had in mind.

There were hundreds of people there. My niece's brother-in-law was a retired professional basketball player and it took a while to wade through the crowd to find our niece and her husband. I reached out my arms to offer a hug and soon felt my niece crying in my arms.

That was the moment I realized I was wrong about our "purpose" in being there. That's when I smiled and said to myself, "You had this thing figured out from the very beginning, didn't you, God?"

It was suddenly very obvious that God wanted my wife and me to make that trip . . . to be there for our niece! Yes, we were there for her husband as well but I think our presence had  more meaning for her. As she looked through the crowd containing so many nameless faces, to suddenly see someone she has known all her life must have been somewhat comforting. My wife and I were SO glad we made that trip, to finally reach our destination . . . in the arms of our niece.

God is WAY ahead of us in our thinking and in our actions. He already knows our next move in life and I believe that things often happen beyond our comprehension, all for His glory and the sake of His name. That became very apparent to me a few days ago and it left me with this realization.

Would I make a 6-hour trip in the dark, filled with frustration and silence, to only trip upon my arrival, fall on my face and then walk with a limp for the next few days, just to hug my niece for 10 seconds?

Absolutely!!

Heavenly Father, you always amaze me. And just when I think I have you just about figured out you go ahead and prove me wrong by doing something I never suspected. The perfect way you weave yourself into the very fabric of who we are amazes me. You are the master orchestrater of ALL things. And to you we give the glory and the praise for you provide for each of your children, every day.

“7 Can you find out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limit of the Almighty? 8 It is higher than heaven - what can you do? Deeper than Sheol—what can you know? 9 Its measure is longer than the earth and broader than the sea. 10 If he passes through and imprisons and summons the court, who can turn him back? 11 For he knows worthless men; when he sees iniquity, will he not consider it? 12 But a stupid man will get understanding when a wild donkey's colt is born a man!

“13 If you prepare your heart, you will stretch out your hands toward him. 14 If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away, and let not injustice dwell in your tents. 15 Surely then you will lift up your face without blemish; you will be secure and will not fear. 16 You will forget your misery; you will remember it as waters that have passed away. 17 And your life will be brighter than the noonday; its darkness will be like the morning. 18 And you will feel secure, because there is hope; you will look around and take your rest in security.” - Job 11:7-18

A C.S. Lewis quote for you this morning:

"You don't HAVE a soul, you ARE a soul. You HAVE a body."

The Broken Road - Rascal Flatts