Plans

The year is drawing to an end, and for me, every minute is planned out for the next 52 hours or so. But that's okay, because actually my eternity is as well. I'm headed to the fire station in the morning, I think, and there I have my sequence of duties with a few emergency calls thrown in just to complicate things. Then I'll come home, I think, and listen to the events and stories that collected during the 24 hours I was gone. Then we'll prepare for a New Years party, I think, with many of Alan and Amy's friends and their families coming over, if that occurs.

You see, I shouldn't worry about the next few hours or days or years, because God has me in His hand. He's taking me where He needs me to be for His good. He's taking you where you need to be also. We are not to worry about what we have planned for the next day because we are so far out of control for tomorrow's events that only God knows what will happen.

That is not to say we aren't to work or plan or develop strategies for our families and jobs. We are, but realize, that God's plans aren't ours. Isaiah quotes God when He said "I am God, and there is no other; I am God and there is none like me." We don't think like God and nor can we, no matter how close we are to Him. We know from scripture that His ways are incomprehensible to us and that needs to be okay. Is everything going my way right now? No. Is everything "hunky dory?" Yeah, because it's what God has for me. I, and you, are only here for a little while. Let's get busy, love what we're doing, be content with where God has us, and love God and all His creation.

Tough Times

Why does God let us suffer at this so called time of joy? Why are the holidays a time of pain and mourning every year for so many? Why does God allow death, pain and destruction in a period of time that we have set aside to celebrate the birth of Jesus? So many at this time of year are feeling pain that they don't want to express because of the expectations they sense to show joy.

There are two things we should know: 1. we are to mourn with those who mourn, and 2. we are to struggle well.

God speaks to us about this in Ecclesiastes 3. There are good times and there are tough times, times of sorrow and grief. There is also a great amount of work to be done, and this includes ministering to others. God has placed each one of us where we are today for a purpose; it is His. Labor and sorrow fill the air and our lives, but God never intended for earth to be a place of rest for man. Even in the Garden of Eden, man had work to do. With the downfall of man, we became cursed as a broken vessel of our creator; however, He remains sovereign and Lord over all things, not just what we see as good things. Remember that we were created for God's purpose, not our own. If that sounds selfish of God, think of the grace He has provided for you and me through His Son that He gave as a gift to us. This man suffered more than you or I ever will, and this was His Father's will for Him.

Romans 8:28 gives us this assurance that whatever happens, happens for the good of those who serve Him. We may not see the beauty of God's work now or even later, but we must know in our hearts that God is coming out better because of our suffering. Let us accept suffering and the sufferings of others as a purposeful season of life to bring ourselves or others closer to the One who has given us hope: hope of our inheritance and hope of His presence with us when things seem all wrong. May the God of this world bless you and may we spread those blessings to everyone.

Three dead Men

I've been taught that dead men are good teachers. For the most part we can look back at their lives objectively without the bias of modern day media. I realize there are differences in opinions of what men were like and what values they really carried in their daily lives. There are in my life three men that I have studied to some extent and I hold a fondness of. And in three days I was given the privilege of visiting the graves of these three. George Washington, Thomas Jonathan Jackson and Robert E. Lee were men that were real men in my book. All three openly loved God. All three openly love their wives. All three owned slaves. All three drank alcoholic beverages. And all three would dance.

What I've learned about these and their attention to others touches me. Yes they owned slaves, yet many free men in their day would have been envious of these servant's well being. Lee and Jackson both knew that slavery was going to end within a few years by virtue of it's own merits. Washington went as far as to free his slaves after his death. The men loved others no matter who they were. George and Martha Washington upon his notoriety and fame as a general had hundreds of strangers come to his Mount Vernon home unannounced requesting food and shelter. Total strangers were not turned away.

"Stonewall" Jackson was known to live his life with the mercy taught by the New Testament while commanding his soldiers with the Old Testament fierceness that earned him the less known nickname of General "Joshua" Jackson. His love of children was from a tender heart for others; even the men he served. Robert E. Lee had the same concern for others. His leadership was what made him famous. His men would follow him anywhere and do whatever he asked of them.

All three of these men led by example. Washington stayed at Valley Forge with his men when he could have gone home. Lee and Jackson both lived by the law they made others live by. All three prayed.

It has touched me to spend just a few moments over the last few days to learn more about three of the greatest leaders I know of.

Rainy days, Good days

Sometimes it's good to realize how good things are. It may take some rain to make us realize how much we have, even if we don't have much according the the US standard. We have so much in our home. I sit here with one son playing the keyboard, one studying Christian literature, one daughter doing her math and another singing in the shower while my wife walks through the house being the beautiful being she is. God is so good.

I also realize that I can look at Job and realize that it can all go away. We just sang at church yesterday how God gives and God takes away. Even when He takes away I must praise Him. He is still good. We're only here for a little while, then we get to go to a place where nothing is taken away. That is where my treasure is. I want to know that all here in my house will be there and I want to get as many as will to meet me there, at the feet of Jesus.

As The World Turns (faster and faster...)

The theatrics of TV and movies make us laugh, and move us to think that we're glad our life isn't like what we're seeing. Right now I think I would take some of what we may see on the tube over what is happening in the world I'm living in today. I have friends that are not getting paychecks that have children. I have friends that are working over 60 and 70 hours a week to make ends meet, and they are being frivolous. I've got a friend that is a single dad and has to depend on others to make things work with his sons. I have a friend that has a son dying right before her eyes, and I've not been there for her in weeks. I've got a mother that doesn't know when I last came to visit her. She knows it has been a while. The sad part is that if I visit her tomorrow she won't remember it the next day. My super active dad is no longer as active and could use my help at times, but I'm not there for him. I have four children that each has his or her own things going on. I have a wife that is so overworked that I don't know how to help, in all my spare time. I'm a part of the Church that is to reach out to those we don't know and help them with their needs.

One other thing I have. I have a God that loves me and knows my burdens and wants my burden to be light. He is willing to carry the load if I'll just give it to Him. He is so concerned about me that if I would just sit down and talk to Him, He would listen for hours. I'm sure my wife and kids wished that of me. He's the kind of God that takes care of those that are brought to Him in prayer. I keep wanting to take care of all the problems myself and I realize that I can't. I think I'm realizing, yet again, that I need to take it to God. I need to trust God enough that He'll provide what is needed to each of the situations I see.

Would you pray for me? Would you pray for my friends and family? Will you please pray for yourself? Let us lift each other up in prayer. Earnestly seek God's will in your life and in the lives of those we see, realizing that what we want for them may be different than what God has planned. We are here on earth for just a little while; and it seems to be getting faster and faster. Don't forget that God can make your load lighter if you'll let Him. Take your burdens and also take everyone else to Him. He's in control.

Kid's rule, Dads drool? I don't think so!

We hear the adage that "when momma's not happy, no one's happy." The psychothinktoomuchologist seem to think that dads need to be softer to their boys or we'll tend to make them tough. Professional football players have become a bunch of puddin's that can't play because they have sore toes. Where on this ozone-laden earth are the real men? The men that work for a living and are glad to get what they earned. The men that don't complain when a boss asks them to do something extra to help the company (or just to see if a man is willing to go the extra mile, Matt 5:41). Why must a man join in conversations bashing other men about wrong things they did? Why do men follow their wives to church to make life easy?

Some males just need to grow (up) some and stand for what is right. The Bible is clear that the man is the head of the family(Eph. 5&6). They are to lead, lead by example. Pray and pray hard, teach the Word of God to the kids, don't wait on the preacher to do it. Endure trials as they come, and love life.

It is good to seek the knowledge and insight of our wives about the education of our children as well as when deciding what church to attend and even what to allow our daughters to wear. Even the children can have input into major decisions, however, we must consider the amount of practical experience they possess. Dig into the word then make a Godly decision (it may not seem logical). Even if it seems wrong, God will bless it because the decision was made in the right way. The wife is to submit to the husband when the decision is made and support him. I realize this is not popular in today's culture, even in the church. As far as the children are concerned, Ephesians 6 says children are to obey their parents. That means do what they say. The man of the home is the head.

I've been guilty before of not following the Biblical mandate to lead my family and things get a little crazy when I've failed to do this. Sometimes if a man is convicted by the Spirit to take charge of his family after having given in to pressure for a long period of time, there is resentment and counter pressure from the family. As I said before, God will bless it. I'm not saying it will be easy, because it is never easy to lead people out of the sin that you yourself led them into.

Start with repenting and crying out to God for redemption. Then begin reading scripture together. Ask for the self discipline, and provide the heart to have the self discipline, to have regular consistent Bible time. Pray together daily. The whole family praying is pleasing to God and it teaches your children to pray. Attend a church that teaches the Bible rightly, not what makes you feel good. Know doctrine and hold your pastor or elders accountable to what he preaches. Hold your fellow men accountable to the Word of God. Meet with them in humbleness and meekness, knowing that you have been in their shoes, and communicate what God has for you to say to them. Lead by example. Pray, read, hang with Godly men, reach out to the ungodly men with the word, stand up, carry the Sword of Truth and be a man for the kids and wife's sake.

I don't have the actual statistics right in front of me right now, but a father that leads his family in the ways of Christ has over a 90% chance of his children following. If the dad doesn't lead the numbers drop off dramatically. A fathers role can not be taken lightly, nor is it an easy row to hoe. It takes time, sacrifice and love. The work we do here on earth is only for a short while (I Peter 1:6) and the incentives are truly beyond this world.

Time's a Fly'n

How quick time flies. I was at a Court of Honor for an Eagle Scout. This young man I've known for only a few years, but he was young and small when I first met him. There was a slide show at the end of his Court of Honor that showed pictures from his life. The progression of the slides represented a more mature and older young man. His dad and I were talking together afterward, and we wondered how all of this could happen so fast. Even my own older daughter that is 15 is making comments about how fast time gets by.

We are reminded in 1 Peter that we are here only for a "little while." We can't waste our time doing the things that the world wants us to do. We need to do things that are required of us by God to show obedience and subjection to Him. If we have our hope in His inheritance, then our passion will be those things that draw ourselves and others closer to Him. We don't have long here on earth as aliens to do what God has for us to do. If we sit on our haunches and let our kids grow up with no spiritual leadership from us as parents, then we are failing our own Father. If we don't teach them from scripture and also how to take in scripture themselves, then we have not done what scripture itself has for us. If we don't make a move to help someone else find Jesus, then we are lazy and are what the Bible calls a sluggard.

Yes, times are hard and we are all busy. If you have kids at home you are even busier. But remember we only have a "little while" here, and we have them to train for an even shorter time.

Covering Territory

Whew! We covered more ground than a hummer with high octane. It was lively and reverent. We prayed for you M & J. No meeting next week. We'll be back together on the 29th. Check back here though and you should get a sneak preview.

July 15th meeting

We are on!! I'm excited about a couple of new possible prospects and reserved about another situation. We will have light snacks at 6:30 and prayer starting around 7:00. Our discussion will be Jesus and some of His more "popular" words and deeds.

Next Meeting

We will meet this next Wednesday on July 8th. We will be discussing who Jesus was and is. His character and attributes being the primary point of the discussion.

Jesus: mean, manic or Majestic

Who was the real Jesus? Was He who He claimed to be? Who did He claim to be? In my travels I have had opportunities to speak to many about Jesus and who He is. I've heard it said that he was a really great guy that He did really great things. Some will say that He is the Son of God; however, their view of God is so small that it belittles what Jesus is, the Christ.


When we ask people if they believe that Jesus was a fraud or a liar about who he was, most Americans would come un-glued. I have never heard anyone state they believe Jesus was a fraud. That says a lot about "the man" himself. If what the man was saying about himself (He is the Son of God, all authority was given to Him, and so forth) be truthful in his own mind, then that leads us to only two other possible conclusions. One of these would have to be true.

The first option would be that he were a mad man, crazy, out of this world insane and in need of some serious medication. There are these people out there. David Koresh thought himself to be the next messiah and he took many down with him. Jim Jones in South America claimed to have a direct link to God and he took many to their graves with himself. We can find these men throughout history that have deceived many a man all the way to hell itself. It would be like someone thinking they were Napolean living today as the great general himself. Many would like him and put up with his antics, but no logical human would follow a lunatic. Jesus was followed. Jesus was a mentor to many. Jesus said some really radical things and shared some outrageous philosophies. While being radical, outrageous, and different than any other, He was consistent, level-headed and emotionally balanced in his daily walk. Jesus had no fear. He loved children and the old. He loved the clean and the dirty. He touched the healthy and the lepers. He walked in large crowds speaking to them as he went and He walked alone in the wilderness and in the gardens to talk to His Dad.

Our only option left is that Jesus is Lord. Jesus is who He said He is. And if He is who is He is, then who are we? We are the ones He came to save from hell. Jesus is all we need. Joseph Smith Jr. came and said he was here to restore the genuine church. I've got news for him and his followers, Jesus already did that. That task is done. Jim Jones came and took hundreds if not thousands to South America because he had a special connection with God, but he didn't. The Watchtower Society (Jehovah's Witnesses) believe that you can't understand the Bible without their book. Muhammad has had an impact on the world second only to Jesus the Christ. All of these came and went. They're all dead; except Jesus is not. He has no grave site. He has no marker as to where His body decayed. He said he would be shamed, murdered and after three days rise up and live physically; and He did. Now He is at the right hand of His Dad. He loves all of us, and wants us to follow his leadership for the little while we are here on earth, so that we can have an inheritance with Him forever and ever.

Beginnings

Well we have made it official. M-Town is now striving to carve its way into the community. Our first two meetings have gone well and we have discussed who or what is a Christian. The discussions took us into the social, political, or cultural christians that base their label on national, family or culture ties. We finally have rested with the general description or definition of a Biblical Christian. "One that has been justified for eternal life with God by virtue of the death of Jesus of Nazareth, who was born of a virgin girl, and was tortured and murdered under the will of His father with all our sins blamed on Him. This same Man (Jesus) rose on the third day defying death. This victory over sin and death sealed all Christians inheritance in heaven, and we are to never be let go by God. Each one of us called to Christ has this promise and hope of Life Eternal with our Heavenly Father." No works are required; however, a Christian will bear good fruit showing evidence of his or her relationship with the Father, Spirit and Jesus, all in one.

Our next topic will be the Church itself. What its responsibilities are, who makes up the church, who leads the church, and so forth. We may spend several weeks on this topic. We meet again on Wednesday June 17th at 6:30.