tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50657712922535206402024-03-08T00:36:50.962-08:00Thoughts in the RoughWorking inch by inch to where God wants me to be.M-Townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12106631532375811283noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065771292253520640.post-41110802142368653932011-06-26T18:41:00.000-07:002011-06-26T18:41:16.395-07:00Humble TimesWow, the house is different. Alan left for South Dakota last week with a group from Auburn. Amy left the week before for Ireland and Northern Ireland on a 17 day venture. And for three days last week I was gone to New York City on a video job leaving Carol and the two youngest home. After getting home and working a shift at the station and then preaching this morning, the house is so... different. The girls room is, for the week, a girl room and the boys room has but one camper. It's been a few years since Carol and I have seen such things around the house; however knowing that my older ones are serving others the way Jesus would have them, gives me is consolation.<br />
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This short time to have alone with the younger two is special. We went to eat, because we could afford two children's meals and included fried ice cream, then returned home to play. No grown kid issues, no kids leaving going to other places, listening to Carol read stories, relaxing under the ceiling fan and sharing thoughts. Carol and I shared together how fast the years have flown by and are aware of how fast they will continue to pass. <br />
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Love your children, teach them by leading them, setting the example, reading scripture, praying with them and for them, and playing knights and princess with them when they want you to be king; someday these things will pass. New things will come about allowing you to serve them even more, but as this day ends, I'll never get it back. I hope God used me today ,in some way, to attract all four of my kids closer to Him; all for His glory.M-Townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12106631532375811283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065771292253520640.post-87259317007969618882011-04-14T20:58:00.000-07:002011-04-14T20:58:38.804-07:00Inspiration for the futureI'm not old, yet, but I found myself wondering about who is going to be leading the way with the cross in generations to come. Tonight as M-Town met, missing many of the usual faces, and with new ones in their seats I have begun to see that there are young people that are so much more on fire for Jesus than I was. They take doctrine seriously and have a heart to learn. I am encouraged and why should I have ever doubted? God is sovereign over the issue and has His plan. He was God yesterday, and is today and always will be.M-Townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12106631532375811283noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065771292253520640.post-37687279273891575552011-02-22T20:01:00.000-08:002011-02-22T20:01:21.364-08:00Fear of Man vs Fear of GodSolomon wrote in the Book of Proverbs that "fear is the beginning of knowledge." His talk is in reference to knowing God and coming closer to Him. Matthew 10 says we should fear the one who has the power to send us to hell rather than men, that can't do anything with any long term affects; and even then every action is done with God's sovereign will allowing it.<br />
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So why fear God? first He created us and He did so with full intent of us being the exact way we are. There were no mistakes or anything in our creation that just occurred by chance. With this, He is our Father, both physically to every man, and spiritually to everyone chosen. His love for us is the perfect image of fatherhood as he loves us, has mercy on us and disciplines us as we need. He also gives to us generously, but He also takes away as He wishes (Job 1:21). The heavenly Father also knows everything there is (omniscient). He knows what we're thinking when we speak to others, He know our heart when we make a choice to perform some act. He sees us when we're home alone sitting behind the computer screen, thinking no one will know or see me. God also is everywhere (omnipresent). He is with you wherever you are; no matter your ground, He is there. God is also all powerful (omnipotent). He's the only One that can do whatever He wills. If this isn't enough to have a respect and awe for the one that loves you more dearly than your own father or mother, then I pray for your heart to be softened to see the love that God has given to each of us.<br />
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We tend to allow ourselves to fear the very ones we have no reason to fear. Man can do nothing when compared to what our real Father does for us. Ecclesiastes 3:14 lets us know that everything man tries is small and insignificant. We so often fear man's words of disapproval or his chastisement; however it is God's approval that we should seek after and no one else's. Peter knew this fear more than anyone else. Matthew 26 tells us that Jesus told him that he would deny Jesus three times before morning. Within the same chapter, Peter is confronted by a little servant girl accusing him of being a follower of Jesus. Peter said no. When approached the second time, he maintained his denial, someone noticed that he even spoke like a follower; so Peter cursed and swore that he was not a follower of Jesus. Then the rooster crowed. The guilt that Peter must have bore.<br />
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Each time we fear what man can do to us, and we don't trust God for His great love and promises, to give to us what we need, we are denying our relationship with Jesus. If someone accuses us falsely then we respond with truth and love. If someone threatens us we should look for a way to love them and trust that God has a way for this to work out. When trials come, we must look to God for help rather than trying to fix it ourselves. <br />
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God works things for His Glory and for His good. That is because He is in control and we are not. If it were not for our Father's love and mercy we would each get what we deserve, hell and no grace at all. Thanks be to God, all glory to Him. May I always know that no matter my job status, social standing, financial level, family reputation or physical abilities, God has me right where He wants me for His good. I like that feeling.M-Townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12106631532375811283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065771292253520640.post-89554373204629928952010-12-22T17:53:00.000-08:002010-12-22T18:08:46.666-08:00JesusmasHere it is. That time of year that I love and hate. I love the thought of Christ coming to earth for me, my family, my friends and so many I don't know; I hate that Jesus has been removed from the thoughts of so many that know why it's called Christmas. I love teaching my kids to give freely and receive gifts humbly; I hate the frenzy surrounding the idea of giving gifts and why we even give gifts at all. I love that many are so joyous this time of year, even with the cold and busy schedules; I hate that so many are alone in their world, even with so called friends and family. I love having a redeemer that makes me right before God; I hate sin, especially when it's sin that has stared me in the face before.<br /><br />Blessed be the Name that when it is all said and done, the rich and poor, the strong and the weak, the healthy and lame, saved and lost, will all bow down too. Happy Jesusmas.M-Townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12106631532375811283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065771292253520640.post-19188764937655845472010-11-09T18:42:00.000-08:002010-11-09T20:12:12.347-08:00Where I AmOver the past few weeks, as my home fills will young people whose desire is for a deeper understanding of God's word, the message has changed each week, yet returns to one particular point: be satisfied with with where I am. A wonderfully loving wife and four outgoing, physically abled children fill my suburban home in a neighborhood cul-de-sac populated by friendly neighbors. My job allows me enough to pay for what we have had and what we have now.<br /><br />I am humbled when I spend times with friends whose wives and walked out on them, leaving children with no mother to love on them. Then there are wives whose husbands have abandoned them and the kids, even if he remains in the house. There are dear parents of children with special needs that require incredible amounts of time for care and the financial strain it places on them is immense. Some are caring for their aging parents and the parent don't even recognize their own children. I hurt for my neighbors and and friends battling cancer, leukemia, crones, lupus and so forth.<br /><br />There are those I know and love that somehow get by with so little that I wonder how God does it. Some I know and see everyday work so hard and put in so much time to do their mission in life that it would seem they couldn't possibly have any joy. Yet they do.<br /><br />Two years ago I spent seven days walking around the New Mexico wilderness, sleeping on the ground, carrying my necessities on my back, and dodging rattlesnakes. It was a joy. I wondered how different it was for me then, compared to someone in Pakistan or Northern Africa. On other trips I've been so soaked from rain I've wondered who in Brazil or Ecuador I could relate to. When my mother died and I felt that loss, how was it that there was peace and comfort?<br /><br />There are many people in my life that God has so graciously put into my life to teach me the joy I should have. Not any joy I should have because of the things I have, or even the people in my life; but the joy I should have because God has put me where I am with my abilities and disabilities, my things and my empty pockets, the quiet, easy days and the noisy, chaotic, sleepless nights.<br /><br />I do realize how good I have it in the eyes of some, and also how little I have in the eyes of a few. God has blessed me, and I know how quick it can all disappear. Job in the Old Testament had it all, and it was all taken away, and he was left with nothing except, it all. What God gives us here on this planet is nothing but tools to glorify Him. We should us it for that purpose. It can all be gone, but if we have Christ, we're left still with it all. Hope is what we have. An eternal inheritance is the promise and it will not fade, nor rot, nor be used up. We're only here for a little while, and this is where I am.M-Townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12106631532375811283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065771292253520640.post-10669703039784791592010-08-14T18:43:00.000-07:002010-08-14T19:33:43.083-07:00Spread your wings, sonThis evening is a night I had expected to be trying to ease the concerns of my wife as our oldest son has left the nest of home for college. I thought that she would be expressing her concerns and talking of an empty place in the home. As we walked into the house the weight of the events began; but it wasn't my bride, it is me. I'm not concerned about him as much as I just miss my bud.<br /><br />The past few months have been full of events that have comforted my heart and given me peace about where his relationship is with Christ. He has earned his eagle scout, received numerous scholarships, been recognized for his character and graduated as valedictorian. However, these things are not the real things that have impressed me the most about him. Our daily conversations had become more mature in nature and the subject matters became deeper each time we had a discussion. His knowledge of scripture increased so much that at times God would use him to humble me with his correction of a quote I would make or something of that nature. I saw my son engage in healthy debate of scripture and recently realized that he was listening to sermon podcasts on his ipod from the likes of Matt Chandler, Elliot Greene and Mark Dirscoll, because he wanted to.<br /><br />Spread your wings, son. This is your time to fly into this world without me. Yes, you will be injured and wounded by the world, and also by fellow brothers and sisters. You can endure with God's help and the Holy Spirit will speak through your lips. Do as you have learned and have openly expressed yourself about what the church should do. Go,God's speed.M-Townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12106631532375811283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065771292253520640.post-29612994409022366892010-06-28T17:53:00.000-07:002010-06-28T18:06:21.436-07:00Good TimesLast night I said goodbye to the earthly life of my mom. She spent years doing what she felt was in her boys best interest. She force marched us to church, whipped us with a fly swatter and couldn't play football worth a toot; but she was there. Mom selflessly would not be hungry when we were short on desert. She would advise us what her gut feeling was telling her, then she would let us go and make our mistakes. She wouldn't take the blame or pay our debts; but she would teach us not to do the same thing twice. <br /><br />Thanks God for using my mother to shape and mold me and my brothers and sister. Mom was good, life is better, life with moms will always be best. Catch you on the flip side of Jordan Mom!M-Townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12106631532375811283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065771292253520640.post-27676352472936202562010-06-22T19:50:00.000-07:002010-06-22T20:05:20.997-07:00Texting the WordRecently I received a text from a friend asking for prayer. I typed back "sure, what's up?" The reply was simply that the person felt far from God. A piece of scripture instantly came to mind. James 4:8 reads "Draw near to God and He will Draw near to you." So I texted this right back to my friend and immediately prayed. Later they let me know how the word had brought them out of despair, and gave them new strength to face the world yet again.<br /><br />I say this in light of this morning I was having me time and not God time. I was trying to plan my day and do what I wanted and solve all the problems myself. Then out of the blue a friend texted me a piece of scripture. This brought me down and humbled me and opened my eyes.<br /><br />As we read in John 1, the word was, is, and always will be God's way of speaking to us. I need to listen more often. It is the manual for life. Lets all get into it and follow it.M-Townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12106631532375811283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065771292253520640.post-66897589415440679522010-06-15T19:07:00.000-07:002010-06-16T10:27:34.628-07:00Are we religious?James 1: 27 says "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." <br /><br />The widows and orphans were those that no one looked up to. This ties in with the rest of the Gospel that Jesus lived on earth. He spent His time with thieves, liars, tax collectors, children, outcasts of society, the least of those that we see as important in society. Would we really take Jesus seriously in today's world. <br /><br />We become polluted by the world by believing that the things we have are ok to have and that those richer than us or more powerful than us are the ones that should give the most. Remember that Jesus had nothing financially, yet gave. He was a common laborer, yet spent time teaching the rich and famous, and also touching those that were disgusting in the worlds eyes.<br /><br />Does the world take us seriously, as we claim to walk as Jesus did? Where do we spend our time and to whom do swipe our cards for? <br /><br />Re-read that verse and let's open our eyes for what God has for us be.M-Townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12106631532375811283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065771292253520640.post-2597438399464454552010-05-29T04:18:00.000-07:002010-05-29T06:19:37.791-07:00Guilty<span style="font-family: courier new;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It is generally<span style="font-family: arial;"> accepted by most that not everyone is perfect. With fault comes guilt; some will carry more than others. Guilt is a part of our conscience that God made to help us see how every action we make affects more than just ourselves.<span style="font-family: arial;"> When we take an extra piece of pie, later realize that there were only six pieces made for six people, guilt sets in as someone goes without.<br /><br />Guilt can be a good thing if we respond to it, and that is what God hopes we do. There is nothing we can do to change our act; however, we can learn from it and attempt to correct the view others have of us. This is what God would want.<br /><br />On the other hand guilt can be an over bearing burden on someone that is carrying vast amounts. It is heavy and cumbersome. It tires us mentally, fatiguing our relationships with others, especially those that may have been affected by our actions. This is not what God wants to occur, but it is how God made it work; and the Holy Spirit is relentless in making sure that the Father's will is met. Many shrug off guilt by passing off their acts as being in the past and there being no way to right them. In some ways there is truth to this, we can't right our wrongs; but we can right our hearts.<br /><br />Adam wronged God by allowing himself to be deceived and eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. He knew he had disobeyed his Father, and as many children do, he ran and hid. Symbolically, God came looking for Adam, found him hiding, and asked him why. With all the guilt on his shoulders, Adam blamed Eve, and Eve, the serpent.<br /><br />Likewise Jacob, the younger brother of Esau, deceived his own father into giving him his blessing. By the help of his mother, he presented himself as someone he wasn't to a man that was old and could not distinguish between Esau's hairy arms and lambs wool placed on Jacob's arms. Isaac asked "Who is this?" and Jacob responded he was Esau, his eldest son. With the additional guilt of swindling his brother's birthright from him, Jacob had to deal with his own actions for years as he and his brother separated and lived in different regions. Jacob lived a life of fear of his brother, wondering how and when his brother would come to take revenge.<br /></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: courier new;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />David, a man after God's own heart, saw a woman that he wanted. He did not care whose wife she was, he just wanted her. He took her, and attempted to cover his tracks using deception. When this attempt failed and his guilt was about to be exposed, David resorted to murder to cover his wrong. Guilt builds, it is embarrassing, and it makes us weak.<br /><br /></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: courier new;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Samaritan woman that listened to Jesus at Jacob's Well, listened intently as Jesus shared His living water with her. As Jesus asked her to get her husband, she confessed there was a man in her life, but he wasn't her legal husband. Jesus let her know that He knew all along by pointing out the five other men that used to be her partners. No condemnation, just the release of guilt and shame of her actions.<br /><br /><br />As for Jacob, he and Esau matured with time and they began to come together; but just before meeting Esau, God wants Jacob to realize who he is and what he has done. He wrestles with God and at the end, God asks him, "who are you?" He replies, "Jacob." The previous time we read of Jacob being asked who he was, he had replied "Esau." Jacob realizes he is: a liar, a deceiving thief, and a man of ill-gotten wealth. With this revelation, Jacob becomes Israel and a father of the chosen people of God.<br /><br />David's best friend confronts him about his sin, and David confesses and is set free to once again seek God and to worship him. David can once again draw near to God.<br /><br /></span></span></span></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: courier new;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">That doesn't mean that all is made in the world, only spiritually. None of the wrongs are corrected physically. Esau still doesn't have his father's blessing. Uriah, Bathsheba's husband, is still dead. The woman's intimacy with multiple men still occurred. Each of these will carry the scars and they live with the affects of what they did, but the confession of sin allowed each of these to sleep peacefully that night. God created guilt, and it is a burden when we try to carry it. God sent his Son to carry that baggage for us. If we are willing to confess that we have the load and release it to the only One that can take it off us, we too can sleep in peace tonight.</span></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: courier new;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></span></span></div>M-Townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12106631532375811283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065771292253520640.post-28369093486040232010-01-19T06:24:00.000-08:002010-01-19T06:32:50.338-08:00me seeing me"Open my eyes that I may see, glimpses of truth thou hast for me; Place in my hands the wonderful key that shall unclasp and set me free; Silently now I wait for Thee, ready, my God, Thy will to see; Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine!" Words from Clara H. Scott<br /><br />Open my eyes that i see myself for what i am. Teach me in Your word God. You are awesome, God! You be lifted high.M-Townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12106631532375811283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065771292253520640.post-83385015519954406862009-12-29T18:09:00.000-08:002009-12-29T18:31:02.992-08:00PlansThe 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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.M-Townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12106631532375811283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065771292253520640.post-67984752708587833722009-12-18T05:46:00.000-08:002009-12-29T18:32:15.420-08:00Tough Times<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">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. </span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />There are two things we should know: 1. we are to mourn with those who mourn, and 2. we are to struggle well.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">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.<br /><br />Romans 8:28 gives us this assurance that whatever happens, happens for the good of those who serve Him.</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">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.</span>M-Townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12106631532375811283noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065771292253520640.post-76117527467037089702009-11-09T20:30:00.000-08:002009-11-09T20:31:13.509-08:00Three dead MenI'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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />"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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.M-Townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12106631532375811283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065771292253520640.post-32470668305841369272009-10-12T07:49:00.000-07:002009-10-12T07:58:48.361-07:00Rainy days, Good daysSometimes 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. <br /><br />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.M-Townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12106631532375811283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065771292253520640.post-89869772163786473562009-09-28T20:04:00.000-07:002009-09-28T20:05:30.310-07:00As 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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.M-Townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12106631532375811283noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065771292253520640.post-87179937926178395152009-09-09T06:32:00.000-07:002009-09-15T20:22:03.719-07:00Kid'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?<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.M-Townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12106631532375811283noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065771292253520640.post-2247303686884351362009-08-17T05:35:00.000-07:002009-08-17T06:05:30.944-07:00Time's a Fly'nHow 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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.M-Townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12106631532375811283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065771292253520640.post-27649828937869256502009-07-15T21:08:00.000-07:002009-07-15T21:11:48.182-07:00Covering TerritoryWhew! 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.M-Townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12106631532375811283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065771292253520640.post-32564774823209199612009-07-14T17:30:00.000-07:002009-07-14T17:35:04.355-07:00July 15th meetingWe 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.M-Townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12106631532375811283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065771292253520640.post-86707915250552593042009-07-03T07:24:00.000-07:002009-07-03T07:27:46.457-07:00Next MeetingWe 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.M-Townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12106631532375811283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065771292253520640.post-24240994799070487102009-06-29T10:17:00.000-07:002009-06-30T20:30:30.379-07:00Jesus: mean, manic or MajesticWho 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.<br /><br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.M-Townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12106631532375811283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5065771292253520640.post-3984977295305074832009-06-15T17:05:00.000-07:002009-06-17T20:24:30.068-07:00Beginnings<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:arial;">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.</span><br /><br /></div><span style="font-family:arial;">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.</span>M-Townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12106631532375811283noreply@blogger.com1