Christian One Liners

 

Many folks want to serve God, but only as advisers.

It is easier to preach ten sermons than it is to live one.

The good Lord didn't create anything without a purpose, but mosquitoes come close.

When you get to your wit's end, you'll find God lives there.

People are funny, they want the front of the bus, the middle of the road, and the back of the church.

Opportunity may knock once, but temptation bangs on your front door forever.

Quit griping about your church; if it was perfect, you couldn't belong.

The phrase that is guaranteed to wake up an audience: "And in conclusion."

If the church wants a better preacher, it only needs to pray for the one it has.

God Himself does not propose to judge a man until he is dead. So why should you?

To make a long story short, don't tell it.

If your left hand doesn't know what your right hand is doing, you should consider running for a job in Washington, DC.

Some minds are like concrete, thoroughly mixed up and permanently set.
Peace starts with a smile.

I don't know why some people change churches; what difference does it make which one you stay home from?

A lot of church members who are singing "Standing on the Promises" are just sitting on the premises.

We were called to be witnesses, not lawyers or judges.

Be ye fishers of men. You catch 'em - He'll clean 'em.

Coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous.

Don't put a question mark where God put a period.

Don't wait for 6 strong men to take you to church.

Forbidden fruits create many jams.

God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.

God grades on the cross, not the curve.

God loves everyone, but probably prefers "fruits of the spirit" over "religious nuts!"

God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.

He who angers you, controls you!

If God is your Copilot - swap seats!

Prayer: Don't give God instructions -- just report for duty!

The task ahead of us is never as great as the Power behind us.

The Will of God will never take you to where the Grace of God will not protect you.

We don't change the message, the message changes us.

You can tell how big a person is by what it takes to discourage him.

The best mathematical equation I have ever seen: 1 cross + 3 nails = 4 given.

"Father, bless this person in whatever it is that You know he or she may be needing this day! Amen!"

Don't keep the faith... spread it around!!!

I Still Love Lucy

      I love many of today’s sit-coms—even in re-runs; but when I tune in a modern comedy and realize I’ve seen an episode enough times to instantly remember the details, I turn to another channel rather than watch it again. Not so when it comes to that golden comedy of yesteryear, “I Love Lucy”. There is not one episode of this show that I wouldn’t want to watch again today even though I’ve seen all of them time and time again.
Even if you were watching Lucy, Ricky, Fred and Ethel for the first time, I’m sure you would not find any episode unpredictable. In this show, you know what to expect—and yet you laugh. Perhaps this group hit upon the perfect formula for entertaining because of their background extending back into the years of vaudeville and because of their acting talent. Lucy did not simply play a screwball redhead; she became the role. Fred and Ethel were the kind of friends we always wanted and never had. Ricky was the foreign exotic element who nevertheless was the all-American (long-suffering) husband.
      In the “I Love Lucy” show, the characters created by the actors were particular to the show. You did not get the idea that all women are screwballs. You did not believe that Ricky was a dunce who was manipulated by his wife. Those are things for today’s comedies. In this greatest comedy of all time, Lucy and Ricky were seemingly ordinary people, but they were individuals with their own quirks and their own charm. Even though we certainly would not get involved in Lucy’s hare-brained schemes, we believed she was like us but caught up in her antics because of exceptional courage to try what we would not.
      Because I recently retired unexpectedly due to illness, I could be a little unhappy every morning when I wake up unemployed and still feeling a little under the weather. All that is dispelled when I tune into a couple of episodes of “I Love Lucy”. It’s “laugh out loud” comedy and we don’t see much of that anymore. What’s more, as a Christian, I feel no guilt in watching Lucy, while watching more recent comedies often turns my cheeks as red as Lucy’s hair.
Of course I still love Lucy! Don’t you?

Lives can and do change!

A lady who was a professional hooker into prostitution for a living and he had a large amount of customers on all sides.
She knew that no man would never accept as a wife, so I went to a hospital and told the doctor to take him for the matrix to not keep going to abortions. After some years, someone I present to you the word of God
And immediately, she gave her life to Christ and started working in the church and became a woman dedicated to God.
As time went on, one of the pastors called her and said, 'my sister,' the Lord spoke to me that you are my wife, I want to marry you. ' the lady smiled and said: " brother, the Lord didn't say anything or maybe you haven't heard it clearly, come back because I'm not even planning to marry any man.
The man then came back and told him again, 'the Lord said that you are my wife.'. The
Lady smiled and narrated her story to him. The man still insisted to marry her and she told the pastor,
' I don't have a womb, I turned it off after a number of abortions ", But the pastor continued and insisted: " the Lord said you are my wife, which is why they got married.
Not long after some months she got pregnant. The lady
And the man went to the same hospital where he was removed his matrix,
The doctor thought he was going to come to another matter... But the lady told the doctor " I'm pregnant and I have come to your hospital to register to vote."
The Doctor was shocked, with laughter, said, you told me to remove your womb,
You can't have kids!
But the lady told him that it is by the grace, favor and mercy of God that she is pregnant. The doctor conducted a test which showed that she was a month pregnant. Out of disbelief and tears, the doctor said: " please, show me your God,
I want to worship him ". Not long after the lady gave birth to a baby..
It was the grace, favor and mercy of God
That the ex-Hooker was able to have a son.
Therefore, decree on your life, that if something could or has damaged in your life, in his body, in your skills, your career, your academics, your business,
May the grace, mercy, grace and miracle of God I find him as you write amen to this prayer,
In the mighty name of Jesus, Amen.
My brothers and sisters, God still does this kind of miracles, just write "Amen" and share this story to your friends, you will see God do a miracle in your life!

IMAGINE WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS......

 

    How exciting the future will be for our children and grandchildren? The technology is no longer science fiction: we’re living it.

Future: Think about it... Imagine it...

    In 1998, Kodak had 170,000 employees and sold 85% of all photo paper worldwide. Within just a few years, their business model disappeared and they went bankrupt. What happened to Kodak will happen in a lot of industries in the next 10 years - and most people don't see it coming. Did you think in 1998 that 3 years later you would never take pictures on paper film again? Digital cameras were invented in 1975. The first ones only had 10,000 pixels, but followed Moore's law. So as with all exponential technologies, it was a disappointment for a long time, before it became way superior and got mainstream in only a few short years.

    It will now happen with Artificial Intelligence, health, automatic/electric cars, education, 3D printing, agriculture and jobs. Welcome to the 4th Industrial Revolution. Welcome to the Exponential Age. Software will disrupt most traditional industries in the next 5-10 years. Mind you, Uber is just a software tool, they don't own any cars, and are now the biggest taxi company in the world. AirBnB is now the biggest hotel company in the world, although they don't own any properties.

    Artificial Intelligence: Computers become exponentially better in understanding the world. This year, a computer beat the best Go player in the world, 10 years earlier than expected. In the US, young lawyers already don't have jobs. You can get legal advice (more or less basic stuff) from IBM Watson within seconds, with 90% accuracy compared with 70% accuracy when done by humans. So if you study law, stop immediately. There will be 90% less laywyers in the future, only specialists will remain.

    Watson already helps nurses diagnose cancer, 4 time more accurate than human nurses. Facebook now has a pattern recognition software that can recognize faces better than humans. In 2030, computers will become more intelligent than humans.

    Automatic cars: In 2018 the first self driving cars will appear for the public. Around 2020, the complete automobile industry will start to be disrupted. You don't want to own a car anymore. You will call a car with your phone, it will show up at your location and drive you to your destination. You will not need to park it, you only pay for the driven distance and be productive while driving. Our kids will never get a driver's license and will never own a car. It will change the cities, because we will need 90-95% less cars for that. We can transform former parking space into parks. 1.2 million people die each year in car accidents worldwide. We now have one accident every 100,000km, with autopilot driving that will drop to one accident in 10 million km. That will save a million lives each year.

    Most car companies might become bankrupt. Traditional car companies try the evolutionary approach and just build a better car, while tech companies (Tesla, Apple, Google) will try the revolutionary approach and build a computer on wheels. I spoke to a lot of engineers from Volkswagen and Audi; they are completely terrified of Tesla.

    Insurance companies will have massive trouble because without accidents, the insurance will become 100x cheaper. Their car insurance business model will disappear.

    Real estate business is bound to change. Because if you can work while you commute, people will move further away to live in a more beautiful neighborhood.

    Electric cars will become mainstream by 2020. Cities will be less noisy because all cars will run on electricity, which will become incredibly cheap and clean.

    Solar production has been on an exponential curve for 30 years, but you can only now see the impact. Last year, more solar energy stations were installed worldwide than fossil. The price for solar energy will drop so much that all coal companies will be defunct by 2025.

    With cheap electricity comes cheap and abundant water. Desalination now only needs 2kWh per cubic meter. We don't have scarce water in most places, we only have scarce drinking water. Imagine what will be possible if anyone can have as much clean water as he wants, for nearly no cost.

    Health: The Tricorder X price will be announced this year. There are pharma companies building a medical device (called the 'Tricorder' from Star Trek) that works with your phone, which takes your retina scan, your blood sample and your breath into it. It then analyses 54 biomarkers that will identify nearly any disease. It will be cheap, so in a few years everyone on this planet will have access to world class medicine, nearly for free.

    3D printing: The price of the cheapest 3D printer came down from $18,000 to $400 within 10 years. In the same time, it became 100 times faster. All major shoe companies started 3D printing shoes. Spare airplane parts are already 3D printed in remote airports. The space station now has a 3D printer that eliminates the need for the large amount of spare parts they used to have in the past.

    At the end of this year, new smartphones will have 3D scanning possibilities. You can then 3D scan your feet and print your perfect shoe at home. In China, they already 3D printed a complete 6-story office building. By 2027, 10% of everything that's being produced will be 3D printed.

    Business opportunities: If you think of a niche you want to go in, ask yourself - in the future, do you think we will have that? If the answer is yes, how can you make that happen sooner? If it doesn't work with your phone, forget the idea. And any idea designed for success in the 20th century is doomed for failure in the 21st century.

    Work: 70-80% of jobs will disappear in the next 20 years. There will be a lot of new jobs, but it is not clear if there will be enough new jobs in such a small time.

    Agriculture: There will be a $100 agricultural robot in the future. Farmers in 3rd world countries can then become managers of their field instead of working all days on their fields. Aeroponics will need much less water. The first petri dish produced veal is now available and will be cheaper than cow produced veal in 2018. Right now, 30% of all agricultural surfaces is used for cows. Imagine if we don't need that space anymore. There are several startups who will bring insect protein to the market shortly. It contains more protein than meat. It will be labeled as 'Alternative protein source' (as most people still reject the idea of eating insects).

    There is an app called 'Moodies', which can already tell in which mood you are. Until 2020 there will be apps that can tell by your facial expressions if you are lying. Imagine a political debate where it's being displayed, if they are speaking the truth or not.

    Bitcoin will become mainstream this year and might even become the default reserve currency.

    Education: The cheapest smart phones are already at $10 in Africa and Asia. By 2020, most humans will own a smartphone or a device that has access to world class education/information. Every child can use Khan's academy and other tools for learning art, engineering, design, languages, science, music,  mathematics, etc.

    Longevity: Right now, the average life span increases by 3 months per year. Four years ago, the life span used to be 79 years, now it's 80 years. The increase itself is increasing and by 2036, there will be more that one year increase per year. So we all might live for a long long time, probably way more than 100. And this is just what we know of today's science and technology.

    Imagine what the FUTURE holds! Challenging? Scary? Exciting? All at the same time? Only you can imagine it for yourself. 

You can please some of the people some of the time...

     but you can't please all the people all of the time!  Standing up for what is right and what God wants isn't a friend winner.  But then if we are living for Jesus we aren't looking for friends with the world but should be looking for friends with God.  Even if all forsake you, you will always have God.  Living around contentious people is difficult.  When someone insists that you are wrong and that you need to change, they can't see themselves.  We are blind that way.  We see things in others that we don't like in ourselves.  What happens next is the problem.  When we get to this point, we can't see Jesus in others much less exhibit it ourselves.  Everything in our lives is a choice.  We can either choose to serve God or we can serve the world.  There is no other choice.  One or the other will get you where you either love the one or hate the other.  Jesus warned us of this.  We aren't to be "pleasers of man" but to be a pleaser of God.  It can't be that difficult you might be thinking.  We, Christians, in our pursuit of God and his will in our lives will definitely offend some.  Some will attack. Others will abandon.  I'm talking about the Christian.  We, as believers, have it as common knowledge that the world hates Jesus in us.  But the believer?! 
     I make mistakes.  I even sin knowingly.  There are more than enough people in my world to remind me of both.  Why do they do that?  Why do people you care about do that to you?  I'd like to say that it's because I choose to believe that God forgives me and remembers my sin no more.  At least that's what the Bible says.  William James penned, "We may have a God in heaven that forgives us our sin, but mankind does not."  Yep, I have some whom I haven't forgiven.  I imagine you do as well.  When I was younger I used to fight for right and the recognition that I was saved and forgiven by God.  Many times it was a lesson in futility.  The more I fought, the less it seemed I could convince people.  So, I've chosen to not fight my critics.  It's a waste of time and gives them power they don't deserve.  Instead I try to walk away if only in my mind.  That doesn't ignore the problem, it puts distance between me and the problem.  My silence doesn't become a testimony that they are right anymore than it says I'm right.  My silence is to keep me from being a fool for Jesus as opposed to a witness of Christ. 
     Understanding that I can't please anyone is contingent upon my knowing how those close to me act and react.  The old, "you can lead a horse to water but you cannot make him drink" is more true than ever.  I can speak, act and do what is right.  If someone is offended by that there is nothing I can do to change their mind.   That doesn't mean I ignore the situation.  It means that I choose what is worth the battle and what is not.  Jesus faced this temptation when he was before Pilate and did not defend himself.  It was in his answer to questions the religious authorities posed to trap him with.  It was their dilemma caused by his doing what was right rather than what was least bothersome to the norms of the day.  Jesus didn't shy away from confrontation as he chased the money changers from the temple.  He didn't shy away from associating with those who were not of the Jewish faith.  He spoke his words quietly, authoritatively, and intently in public for all to see.  He rose Lazarus from the dead in full view of all who were watching.  No one said anything about his giving life to a dead man.  What makes it any different if He has breathed life into me.  It's not for my sake, it's for his sake.  It's always our choice.  What choices are you making?

There were three ships

*There were three ships which were nearby when the Titanic sunk.*
One of them was known as the *Sampson*. It was 7 miles away from the Titanic and they saw the white flares signaling danger, but because the crew had been hunting seals illegally and didn't want to be caught, they turned and went the opposite direction away from the Titanic. This ship represents us and people like us if we are so busy looking inward at our own sin and lives that we can't recognize when someone ...else is in need.

The next ship was the *Californian*. This ship was only 14 miles away from the Titanic, but they were surrounded by ice fields and the captain looked out and saw the white flares, but because the conditions weren't favorable and it was dark, he decided to go back to bed and wait until morning. The crew tried to convince themselves that nothing was happening. This ship represents those of us who say I can't do anything now. The conditions aren't right for it and so we wait until conditions are perfect before going out.
The last ship was the *Carpathia*. This ship was actually headed in a southern direction 58 miles away from the Titanic when they heard the distress cries over the radio. The captain of this ship knelt down, prayed to God for direction and then turned the ship around and went full steam ahead through the ice fields. This was the ship that saved the 705 survivors of the Titanic.
🌎 🌍 🌏
*🎀 ANALOGY -*
Obstacles and reasons to avoid responsibility shall always be there, but those who accept it always find a place in the hearts to be remembered for the world of good they do.
*I really wish that we all could be Carpathians in life, unlike more Sampsons and Californians... and this world could be a more beautiful place to live in.🙏🏻🙂*

Somehow my life has to matter. Do you feel the same?

     Does what we think, say and do really matter to those around us?  That's not the question.  Does what we think, say and do really matter to God?  That's the question.  The simple answer is "Yes." but the question is more complex than that.  For us, we rationalize and justify our thoughts, what we say and what we do so that we don't have the comparison of those thoughts, actions and words that don't glorify God.  For every choice we make there are consequences that come about.  There are only two consequences:  positive and negative.  Both are choices in every thought, word and deed.  They are also present in the absence of what we didn't think, say or do.  We live in a society that is "me" centered and you come later if you enter into the equation at all.  The consequences of that is our social morals degenerating, our spiritual life stagnating and our children being raised to do the very same thing.  The negative far outweighs the positive in this scenario.  When we look back over the years, decades and more it's plain to see this having taken place, is taking place, and will be taking place in the future.  BUT we have a choice to turn our lives into the positive consequence by doing what is right, saying what is right and thinking what  is right in the eyes of God. 
     Our churches preach prosperity gospels which are contrary to Scripture.  Many TV evangelists are raking in more money than many of the millionaires around the world.  Speaking fees, book royalties, luxury homes and chauffer driven limos all speak of the "me" world.  I'm not advocating taking vows of poverty.  Nor am I talking about keeping what you earn.  What I'm talking about is comparing what people are thinking, doing and saying with the Word of God.  We who call ourselves Christian must examine OUR house and put it right.  If others want to choose self over God, that's their choice.  The Word says that we know what is right to do and when we do not do that, we sin. James 4:17.  How much of our waking time is spent contemplating where our present moment is "me" centered or "God" centered?  Do we really have a concept of right and wrong?  Is that concept "me" or "God" centered.  When things go right do we claim the responsibility only to blame elsewhere when things go wrong?  Millions of people "think" they are doing the will of God but haven't given all of their lives to him.  The Word clearly states that we cannot please man and God.  If we please man we are not pleasing God and if we are pleasing God, we are not pleasing man.  You cannot have one foot in each world.
     The Christian church is said to be the only army in the world who attacks their own or abandons their wounded.  Unfortunately this is truer than we want to admit.  When this happens to a brother and or a sister in Christ, do we look the other way or do we stand up for Christ?  Do we deify pastoral leadership and other "spiritual" believers (in themselves) only to find they too have the same basis as people.  We are all sinners and have fallen  prey to sin daily.  That's why Paul said he needed to "die daily to self" in order to know and do the will of God.  What is it that matters to God.  David penned "to have a broken and contrite heart."  Jesus said, "even as you do it to the least of these you do it unto me".  Do we "do" life for the least of these from a mindset that we ONLY want to do what God wills for us to do?  Do we have a broken and contrite heart to be renewed with the Holy Spirit?  Do our lives matter.  If you know that your Christian life is what Jesus would be saying "well done thou good and faithful servant", then your life matters and so does mine.  When we choose to live out the sin of our "me" world, then your and my lives don't matter...  Ponder that. 
     Choosing daily to die to self, letting God direct and focus your life, and being bold with your testimony of the goodness and mercy of God are all that is required daily.  Don't worry about tomorrow.  We have enough to deal with today.  So, it's always your choice.  What do you choose?  Serve Jesus or serve self?  They both have the consequence of a life that matters and one that doesn't.  It's your choice.

Do we need to take life so seriously?

     Years ago while I was a pastor I contacted the Billy Graham organization to see what availability he had to go out and do an evangelism event.  I was told that he didn't have an opening in his schedule for the next three years!  I've been involved in legal issues over the years and it's not unusual for a court date to be set 1 to 2 years out.  Planning on getting a house built?  In some places the wait to get the permit is 2 years!  What are we doing that takes up all of our future?  We plan this, envision that, and commit ourselves way beyond our means.  For what?  Jesus said, "take no thought of tomorrow.  Tomorrow has enough cares of it's own."  Martha in a moment of indignation asked the Lord if he was concerned that Mary wasn't doing anything but attending to him.  He said that Mary recognized that she had Jesus with her only a short time and housecleaning could wait.  Paul said he died daily to self and all that self contains.  What's wrong with me, you, us?  Why do we get so caught up in the cares of the world and miss the life Jesus has for us?
     I have a greenhouse, an orchard  and a very large garden.  I also have a chicken coop and yard along with 8 laying hens.  I don't have to worry about any of them.  The greenhouse bears it's fruit in it's time just as the garden and orchard do.  The chickens lay 1 egg a day and with regular clockwork.  I don't have to worry about any of that.  God brings the rain, sun and even the dry times so that HE can provide this world for me.  In turn, I can do the same for him.  I know that the homeless don't need jackets in the summer.  They need them in the fall/winter.  They need shoes all year around.  Underwear don't go out of style in any season.  They get fresh fruit, vegetables during the summer but not in the winter.  For everything there is a season that is set in place by God.  For His purpose and for blessings to me and those around me.  The shelters need blankets and pillows in the winter.  I have extra just for that purpose.  What I don't use I give away.  Why?  Because tomorrow I may be in heaven and not need any of this.  Why hold onto things when things can't go with you? 
     I grew up abused.  Physical, sexual, emotional and psychologically.  I've been traumatized more times than I can count.  I've been involved as a police officer in a shooting where a man died. I've had a heart attack and double bypass surgery.  I've woke up from shoulder surgery being paralyzed from the waist down.  I've been broke and without food.  I've been homeless and lived.  These things are incidentals.  Small things that I've gone through so that I can spend time listening....listening...and more listening.  People have a story to tell that they want someone, anyone, to hear!  But, people are rushing about their lives seeking what they can get, what they want, and what they can consume themselves.  It's an "I" world that we live in.  Instant gratification with long term expectations that despite ourselves we will be blessed overflowing.  Why should that be?  The Bible says there are prophecies to be fulfilled before Jesus returns to take us home.  Have you looked at them?  There will be wars and rumors of wars, brother will turn against father and daughter against mother.  The nations will rise up against each other and YET the end won't come.  We pretend that the end will never come.  What if it were to come tomorrow and we knew it?
     It's your choice, finish the story.

The story of the pig.

     I was out shopping with my family at a local crafts store.  There on one shelf, prominently displayed, was a pig clock.  The pig was metal rust and an eight inch clock in the middle.  The pig was 2 feet long and about a foot and a quarter high.  The tail curled nicely and the pig looked quite happy and content though there were no eyes.  Then I saw the sign: "50% OFF"!  NOW I had to have the pig.  The first opposition was "you don't need the pig clock."  Well, it wasn't about need.  The second objection was "it costs more than you can afford."  That was not true but carried the reasoning of spending what you have in a realistic manner.  The third objection was "where on earth are you going to put it if you get it?"  I live in a house with a lot of walls so I told them "anywhere I please."  Now the issue wasn't about the pig.  It was about what others thought was good for me, appropriate for me, and wouldn't clash with anything other people had to look at.  Not to mention the money issue.  Reluctantly I acquiesced and began to walk away with the unspoken thought "I can come back later alone and get the pig!"  Victory delayed.  Then one relative said, "I'll get you the pig as a gift for Father's Day.  YES!  The battle was ended but the war still waged.  I got the pig on the appointed day, put a battery inside and placed it strategically on a wall fully visible to anyone who entered there.  I love that pig!
     What would have been the response if I had found an especially nice Cross or a picture of Jesus?  Would these family and friends react the same way?  What would have been the response by me?  I made a frame from old fence wood and attached an American flag trimmed with the same old fence wood.  Some didn't like it so I put it up anyway.  I bought 8 inch tall letters that spelled "MESSHALL" and put them up over the entryway to the kitchen.  Some didn't like it so I put them up anyway.  I leave my Bible on my side table beside my recliner from which I write this blog.  I don't care what people think or feel about the presence of my Bible.  I talk to others about Jesus and what he has done for me.  Some people don't like it but I do it anyway.  I teach my children about topics the schools and society have failed to mention like thermo nuclear and biological warfare.  Some people don't like it.  I tell them, "If I don't tell them no one will."  I do the same thing with taxes, romance and a myriad of other subject.  Some people thing I go to far or are teaching my children and others things that might offend others.  I don't care if it's offensive to others.  The same goes with my need to tell others about Jesus.  I don't care if it's offensive because Jesus didn't care if his message was offensive.  Jesus loves my pig.
      I recently answered a Craigslist ad to pick up some big men's clothing and shoes.  When I got there I had much to pick up.  When I went home with it others were appalled with the pile.  Those at the downtown mission weren't appalled at all.  They were looking at these items as "new" to them who had none.  All of what we do and don't do impact the world around us.  That impact is negative or positive and nothing in between.  There are consequences to what we do and do not say that are positive and negative.  We choose what we do and do not think, say and do.  We often (all to often) let peer pressure, political correctness and fear interfere with choosing that which Jesus would think, say and do.  It's our choice.  It's always been our choice and it will always be our choice.  Do we choose Jesus or do we choose the way of the world.  Make the right choice.  

It's not "better late than never."

     Procrastination is one of the Christians open door for Satan to continue his work here on earth in their lives.  Putting off what we can do today isn't wise when tomorrow never comes.  That opportunity missed is an opportunity lost.  Sometimes we are able to come back or revisit someone and speak life to them.  That's grace for both of us.  My life in 1971 was on a crash and burn course.  By 1972 I was in a critical mass state.  I was living on a military base in Germany.  My best friend was killed in a vehicle accident.  I had taken to isolating, drinking and drugging.  My life had no meaning whatsoever.  Ever been there?  No matter what I did I could not find any more reason to live.  I was up in a guard tower watching over our ammunitions dump with a loaded .45 caliber pistol.  As I sat there more despondent than I had ever been I contemplated taking my life.  I was about to kill myself when I decided to check out if God was real.  I prayed, "God, if you are out there...." and that's all I got out.  I felt a warmth fill the guard tower, a hand on my left shoulder and there was no physical body there with me.  I knew at that moment that God was real and relinquished my life to Him and his will.  A "first love" relationship was embarked upon and my life was changed.  Better late than never?  NO, better right then than never.  If I had pulled the trigger then the story would have ended.  That was 43 years ago. 
     Driving down a freeway in San Francisco, California one day I was aware of a car on the side of the road with an elderly man looking at his right rear tire.  The Holy Spirit told me to stop.  I was in a hurry and didn't give in to that voice.  I was plagued with the need to stop so much that I turned around and went back.  I got out of my car and was thanked for stopping.  Could I please help.  Yes, of course.  The gentleman told me that he was returning from the hospital after open heart surgery.  Better late than never?  NO!  Better right then than never.  As a police officer I went to a call of a missing person.  When I arrived I found the distraught parents and a pastor in the home.  Their 15 year old daughter had run away.  I explained the 24 hour missing before reporting policy and was about to leave when I felt the need to pray.  I asked them to pray with me.  There was shocked silence but I prayed that she would return.  About an hour later I received notification that the daughter had returned home.  Better late than never?  NO!  Better now than no response.
     For such a time as this we are called to be "right now" Christians.  Not thinking about yesterday as it's already gone and there is nothing we can do to change anything yesterday held.  Not thinking about tomorrow for which we are faced with a day full of unknowns.  But to be thinking, feeling, listening for that right now moment.  The day is filled with them but there is only one present moment.  In that moment will we delay doing the urging of the Holy Spirit?  Everyone can do something.  People can pray, bake a pie for a person in need, hold a hand at a hospital or play chess with a senior citizen living next door.  It's not about waiting though.  It's about doing right now what we know is right to do.  We are without excuse.  You and I have the moment and nothing more.  Just this moment.  One time event that determines the fate of living and breathing human beings around us.  It's our chance to make the difference in someone's life.  If you are living in the past, that won't happen.  If you are living in the future, that will not happen.  It only happens in THIS surrendered moment.  It's a choice.  It's your choice whether you will do what your first love wants or whether you will do nothing.  Nothing is better late than never.  It's worthless.  So, what are we to do?   Throw up our hands and say, "Whatever!"?  No, we can raise our hands and say, "Whatever you want Lord.  Here I am.  Use me."  It's always been and will always be your choice.

Jesus doesn't want us to mind our own business

     Be intrusive, observant, confronting, optimistic, positive, hands on, and so many other things!  Be in prayer for everyone around you and those God lays on your heart.  We, Christians, have had it wrong for so long that we've become complacent in our mission to minister to those Christ has sent us to be ministering to.  We have failed to be all of the above things and exchanged our calling to complacency.  If you and I don't feel the enemy breathing down our necks it's because we are doing little or nothing to upset his world.  This is his world.  We are the visitors and are passing through.  We might as well have fun taking some on the journey with us.  When was the last time you told a Hells Angel that Jesus loved them and wants them to be Heavenly Angels?  I challenge you to make these seven words your daily mantra: "Jesus loves you and I love you too!"  It doesn't matter what their position in life is, the statement is true.  Or at least it should be true that you love them too!  That's the second commandment that Jesus gave us.
     While I'm at it, take a look at those two commandments.  The first is to love the Lord your God with ALL your heart, soul and mind.  The second is to love your neighbor as yourself.  Those are the only two commands that we need pay attention to.  It's not about church membership, tithing, being on this committee or that, or even being a pastor.  It's all about loving Jesus and loving yourself.  When you accomplish the first, the second disappears because it's automatically fulfilled.  Loving Jesus isn't part time, when it feels comfortable, here and there, prejudice over who deserves love and any other contingency you and I place on it.  EVERY contingency put on the first commandment is us being the god of our world.  Do you and I really want to do that?  Do we want to see less than every part of Jesus lived through our lives?  I suggest that we do and the reason is fear.  The Bible says that perfect love (God's love) casts out ALL fear.  Then why do we still fear?  What is it that determines whether we will stand up for Christ or cower behind excuses? 
     Jesus isn't politically correct.  You shouldn't be either.  Jesus called it like it is.  You should too.  Jesus healed the sick.  Jesus living through you should do the same.  Jesus cast out demons.  You should too in His name.  Jesus told the truth.  You should too even when you know no one is going to like the truth or you for saying it.  Jesus went the extra mile.  You should too.  Jesus died to self for you and I.  You should die to self for him.  Jesus gave his life for all.  You should too.  Jesus held nothing back.  You shouldn't hold anything back either.  Jesus kept it simple.  You should too.  Jesus loves you and I love you too is as simple as it gets.  When was the last time you asked your pastor to assure you that he was saved and doing what he is called to do?  Yes, the pastor.  They are no different than you or I.  We will all stand before the judgment seat for what we have and have not said, done or thought.  I'm not asking you to do anything.  The Holy Spirit is.  He's asking you to man/woman up to your calling to be making disciples of all mankind.  He's calling you and I to be intolerant of our own sin as well as the sin of others.  He's calling you to tell the truth with no fear.  Jesus will be there for and with us in our doing his will.  He will never leave or forsake us.  What's the worst that can happen?  We die and go to heaven.  That's not so bad.  It's always been, will continue to be, your choice.  Live life for today.  That's all you have.  It's always your choice.

Shoulda, woulda, coulda...

     We all know what is right to do and when we don't do that "right", we sin (James 4:17).  I could stop right there but you know I won't!  I should have...  You fill in the blanks.  I'm sure there are more than I who have regrets about what we shoulda done.  When we consider the shoulda's in our life we need to acknowledge several things.  First, is the event something that we failed to glorify God in?  Second, is the event something that would have helped someone by sharing the Gospel?  Third, how do I leave the shoulda's out of my life?  You see, there is no need to try and right the shoulda's because the events are already done, over, finished even if they aren't done, over or finished.  What we shoulda done is remain in a right relationship with Jesus.  But we didn't.  We served self or some other god other than God.  By the way, that god is usually us.  When we ask for forgiveness for all the shoulda's in our lives, we need to believe that we are forgiven AND God remembers our sin no more.  There is no need to carry forward the guilt and misgivings of the shoulda's.
     Akin to the shoulda is the woulda.  The woulda is both past and present in nature.  I woulda did this, said that, or went there if...  Therein lies the problem.  IF.  Woulda's are full of if's.  It wasn't the right time, the right place or the right person.  It wasn't my job, calling, or place in society.  It wasn't something I felt comfortable with.  The list of excuses goes on and on.  Depending on where you are the list could be quite long or short.  It makes no matter.  The woulda's win hands down.  Think about it, what would we do if Jesus had taken the shoulda and woulda philosophy?  How many people will think or say "I wish he/she woulda..." as they stand in judgment and their name isn't written in the Book of Life?  We woulda told them but our excuses got in the way.  There was a game on TV.  There was a soap opera.  There was the need to wash the car, cut the grass, keep a perfect house and there was a need to tell others about Jesus through our thoughts (and prayers, words, and deeds.  Yet the woulda's squandered away our time and purpose.  We had an epic fail because we didn't talk to our neighbor, because we didn't pray for our neighbor and because we didn't attend to the needs of our neighbor.
     I coulda done this or said that but didn't.  The coulda's hallmark is that we didn't try.  We sat by and waited for something that didn't work come from somewhere we didn't believe in and would potentially wreck our place in the world.  There is the choice.  Are we in the world but not of the world?  That's what the Christian is supposed to be.  Coulda you have at least tried?  Was it so much to do that you coulda but didn't?  There is a facet in the Bible that tells of the judgment before the throne of God where we will be called to answer for "every idle word and deed" as well as "every idle word and deed" that we didn't do.  It's called a judgment because we know what is right to do and didn't do it.  We knew that God wanted to reach into that person's life and we didn't do it.  AFTER THE FACT we said, "Well, I coulda done that." But the fact is we didn't.  It was your choice, my choice and the churches choice.  Settling for nothing is pathetic.  Yet many Christians do just that.  Many churches do just that.  And God weeps.
     Make the choice.

Christians don't have terminal illnesses.

     I know that sounds odd.  Once upon a time I would have been opposed to that idea.  Terminal illnesses are a bodily phenomena and do afflict us.  Unlike so many other illnesses, these kill the body but not the soul.  Having the precious salvation brought about by the life, death and resurrection of Jesus gives us all a goal to look forward to.  Everyone's body dies at some time at least physically.  I know that it's happened to many in my life.  While I am saddened by these physical deaths, I know these people knew Jesus and thus know life eternal.  The ravages of physically dying are part of everyone's story to one degree or another.  With the decay of mankind and the world that we live in diseases are bound to increase in complexity and take physical life from us.  I won't argue about that.  What I will argue with is the thought that life is over, that life has stopped, that life is something you give up on.  None of those are living life.  At the base of all of this is a realization that physical life is temporary while spiritual life and the life of the soul belongs to God.  Because of this fact, we need to understand we are not God and not in charge of the physical life lived.
     When cancer or other diseases ravage the body and we are facing that moment of physically dying there is a need on our part to make the transition as comfortably as possible.  Medical science has made this possible and available to those who need it.  I'm not talking about assisted suicide.  I'm talking about symptom management.  The "symptoms" are real.  They do need addressing and the great healer, Jesus, has provided us with knowledge to create these helps.  To understand this we need to know that Jesus was tempted in every way that we are.  Every way!  Healing comes in many different forms from the miraculous to the very death (healing) for those who belong to Christ.  We don't like to acknowledge that death is one way we are healed.  Yet, when we transition from this life to that life there is no break in our breathing.  We exhale for the last time here and inhale for the first time there.  When we inhale we are in a new place with no pain, no ills, no sadness, no despair, and no more need to depend on medications to get us through another hour, minute or day.
     "Terminal" incites thoughts of "forever" and that simply isn't the case for Christians.  For the Christian the whole life began when they accepted Christ and yet many still believe there is "terminal" situations for them through life here on earth.  It's all about focus.  Do I want to live my life focused on my death or my life?  Do I want to live my life defeated or "more than a conqueror"?  It's all about choice.  Live your life fully because that is what God wants you and I to do.  Live your life hopefully and with the full assurance that he has indeed "gone to prepare a place for you and me."  Live your life with faith that what he has said is true and that we will not have to be restrained by these physical bodies.  Live your life!  Live your life!  It's always your choice.

The lesson learned the hard way usually stays with you.

     I once took a group of men on a camping weekend on Mt Rainier in Washington state.  There were 14 of us.  I was a therapist and they all had addiction issues of one sort or another.  We camped in Sunrise at about 6000 feet.  During our stay there we took a long hike to a fire lookout station.  The walk was all uphill with about a 1000 foot gain in elevation.  We were about halfway there when one of the men told me he just couldn't go on.  He wasn't going to make it to the goal.  I encouraged him and explained to him that the goal was a lot closer than he thought.  He looked up the trail and laughed at me.  He was a big man and the excess weight along with being out of shape contributed to his laughter.  He finally asked me what I meant.  I told him the goal wasn't the fire lookout tower bur rather the next step.  If he focused just on the next step he could make the goal.  He didn't need to think beyond that one step until he made that step.  One step at a time.  I also moved him to the front of the line and let him lead the rest of the men to the tower one step at a time.  So often we sit back and get discouraged, exhausted and irritated with the journey to the goal when all along it was just the next step.
     What I'm trying to tell you is that we know, as Christians, that the goal is to arrive in heaven and hear "well done thou good and faithful servant."  We know this.  It's not new to anyone who embraces the faith.  What we do in between is the problem; or at least we make it the problem.  This morning I created my "wish list" for the day.  There are a lot of things I'd like to get done but know I most likely won't finish them all.  So, first of all it looks like a set up to fail.  The goal isn't to do ALL on the list.  The list is something I use as a guide to reach the daily goal of being productive.  If I finish one thing on my list I've reached my goal.  I can always do the other things another time should the Lord tarry in bringing me home.  One step at a time, one task at a time.  For many of us we came to a life in Christ and a desire was born in each of us to bring our world to Christ.  When we met resistance we were disheartened and frustrated.  Some of us even felt guilty for not doing, being or saying what would have brought others to Christ.  It's all wrong.  Just as Christ came into our lives one at a time, we are to disciple the "nations" one soul at a time.  It's nice that some can stand on a soap box at a busy intersection and over a bullhorn expound the need for those passing by to accept Jesus.  I've done that.  Most of the work instead is done one on one in the most common of ways.  Bringing a gift to a new neighbor, comforting a friend who has lost their spouse, holding the hand of someone who just found out they have cancer.  The list goes on but the response is the same.  One at a time and being Christ to that person.
     One of the biggest lessons I've learned is that I need to have an inventory of hats to wear when I'm with people.  To wear only one hat is to limit those who you are able to share Christ with.  While a pastor and later a counselor I learned that my "hat" had to be changed every time I encountered a new person, new story, new loss.  That's what Christ did.  Why shouldn't I do so as well?  Paul talks about two principles.  The first thing is dying to self so that Christ can live through me.  The second is "being all things to all people that some might be saved."  Paul got it.  Christ living through you may take you to some uncomfortable places.  Go there anyway.  What is the worst that can happen?  Some might say no but the seed has been planted.  The Bible says that the word of God will never return void.  It will, once lived and spoken not return empty.  God through the Holy Spirit will water that seed, provoke that seed and watch it grow to the point where that person gives their life to Christ.  Just as it's their choice in their time, it's always your choice as well.  Choose wisely.

Doing the Christian Hokey Pokie!

    So, you ever wonder just what the purpose is for your life or the life of the Christian church?  You put your left foot in, you put your left foot out, you do the Hokey Pokey and shake it all around.  That's what it's all about!  There you have it!  That's what the Christian church has become for the most part.  It's also true for most Christians.  We play with the Christian life.  There is a line drawn by man that says you don't step over this line or that line.  It's called the Hokey Pokey Christian Theological Stance (I just made that up!).  HPCTS for short.  Anyway, what it amounts to are insincere Christians and insincere Christian church with insincere motives.  Why is that?  Sure there are some serious Christians and their churches.  There are even some who have a serious part of their life and the life of the church.  Where are the ones who are sold out in their faith?  Who among us has arrived at that place where all they see and all they do is Jesus?  In Revelation the letter to one of the churches says "because you are lukewarm I will spit you out of my mouth."  Jesus said, if you haven't done unto the least of these as you are to do, you haven't done it unto me (my paraphrase).  IF you and I have to put forth conscious effort to be like Jesus then we are working at being a Christian.  Works don't save you. 
     The Hokey Pokey is a fun game and young and old alike enjoy being part of fun activities.  There are few in the church that bend the knee and head and actually sit quietly and wait upon the Lord to speak.  If they did we would see a radically different church.  Fewer yet are those who act upon what God wants them and needs them to do.  If they did we would see a radically different church.  The difference between the Hokey Pokey Christian and the servant of the Lord is vastly different.  The former is popular and the latter is not.  The former is entertaining and the latter is not.  The former is safe and the latter is not.  The former requires no work and the latter is all work.  Don't get me wrong, there is a time for laughter and a time for fun.  Just how we surrender and what we surrender defines which group we belong to.  I'm not calling people to be like me, a fallen sinner saved by grace who falls short.  I'm not telling people that they have to be the next Billy Graham.  Nor am I suggesting we all become monks and seal ourselves away to meditate and make good beer.  What I am suggesting is that we understand that our lives are either being lived for Jesus or they are not. 
     If we practice anything long enough that activity become first nature instead of second nature.  We have a lot of first nature activities as Christians but even more second nature.  Should you find yourself in the dilemma of deciding whether to do what the Holy Spirit is telling you to do or to not do what the Holy Spirit is telling you to do, you are living a second nature Christian life.  Paul encourages us to be "instant in season and not".  This means living in the moment with Christ at the helm of our lives.  Paul was a first nature kind of guy because he surrendered to Christ and no longer lived.  He said, "it is no longer I who live but Christ who lives within me."  His every moment was directed by the Holy Spirit and the love of Christ.  He surrendered his second nature and we see and read how his life was changed and he lived out his life serving Jesus and not man.  Breaking habits is difficult.  Why is that?  Mostly because we try to break those habits on our own with our own power.  Epic fail!  When we go about breaking habits we try to alter our second nature rather than assuming the first nature stance.  What would happen if when we took a breath we breathed in Jesus and the exhaled the love of God?  If we were to make that our first nature would we change?  Yes.  Would others change?  Yes.  Would the enemy attack us more?  Yes. 
     Choosing to not do the Hokey Pokey Christian Theological Stance is a serious call to living your life for Jesus.  It's up to you though.  It's always your choice.

Whether you like it or not the end of the story remains the same.

     The disciples didn't like it.  The religious authorities didn't like it.  The governmental authorities didn't like it.  The people in the villages didn't like it.  No one liked it.  Except me.  Except the woman at the well.  Except the woman caught in adultery.  Except the tax collector.  Except the woman with a bleeding disorder.  Except Lazarus.  Except Zachias.  Except...the list could go on and on.  Whether you think about the end of the story or not there still is a story and it does have an ending.  Did I mention that you make the ending?  All those examples (including me) made the choice to determine the end of their story.  There is a story and there is always an end even if we don't like it.  Having a relative or loved one refuse the grace of Jesus and die without him is an example of both.  We long to believe but look for signs and wonders.  They don't change the fact that it is your story and it has an end.  Whether it's a child dying from cancer that you refuse to give up hope but question your faith; it's still a story and still has an ending.  Unconventional faith and belief (there is a difference) determine whether we chose the story and embrace the end.  We may not like it or we may love it.  That's our choice.  Yet the ending of the story is always either eternal live in heaven or hell. 
     I once was asked to talk about chemical and biological warfare.  Odd subject but the group asking knew I had taken courses in this area while I served in the US Army.  I explained to them that a 1 megaton warhead if dropped in Seattle (where we lived at the time) would have the following effects.  First the initial blast would decimate EVERYTHING within a 50 mile radius.  Everything.  Nothing left.  Ground zero with nothing there.  Within the next 50 miles (now 100 miles from ground zero) there would be no people, no animals, no forests, no anything but maybe some cockroaches who seem to live despite any effort to eradicate on our part.  Germs and some parasites would be found on the outer edges of the 100 miles.  Then at 150 miles there would be some vegetation remaining and increasing out from there.  There would be no life, animal or human.  This area would be in a "nuclear winter" state for 10,000 years.  The radiation would linger and keep everything in a "dead" and "uninhabitable state.  The crowd grew very quiet and fear was evident on their faces.  So, I told them the end of the story.  The smallest nuclear warhead anyone in the world has is 500 megaton.  Remember I used a 1 megaton example.  Sobering isn't it.
     We don't like to hear these kinds of truths and tend to rationalize and justify away anything like this happening.  We can't do that with life and we certainly can't do that with death.  What we can do is understand that, voluntary or not we are part of the story and part of the end.  No, you and I can't stop what is put in motion.  No, you and I cannot go far enough away to escape this kind of destruction.  No, there is no way to survive for 10,000 years and emerge in a new world.  The nuclear warheads in the world are enough to destroy the ENTIRE world 10 times over.  If someone launches one, then the end is near.  Yet we look at Scripture and can see the prophecies being fulfilled, the time is close for His return and we do little or nothing.  His coming is way more devastating to those who are perishing than the nuclear holocaust.  For those who chose the story to be their own god, there is an eternity in the fires of hell.  For those who chose the story to exchange their lives for the life of Jesus within them, there is an eternity in heaven.  Two stories to choose from.  Yet one ending.  Eternal life.  Either story takes us to the end of the story.  You get the choice.  It's always your choice. 

Have you heard the one about the woman caught in adultry?

     People are amazing and sometimes amazingly stupid.  Been there and done that.  Christians aren't immune to this phenomena and there is plenty of proof in the Bible.  Take for example John chapter 8 where we find the story of the woman caught in adultery.  Not just adultery but "the very act of adultery".  Yep, caught with her lover.  He disappears from the story and it's seldom anyone asks why.  Given the caliber of men who brought the woman to Jesus I can guess it was probably a religious authority.  Anyway, not knowing what his place in society it's still important to acknowledge that it takes two to commit the "very" act of adultery.  Similar to the story of Adam and Eve.  There Eve was the one tempted and sinned AND then brought Adam into the fray by bringing him into the forbidden fruit zone.  We all know the end of that story...it's our story as well just as it was the story of the couple caught having sex outside of marriage.  The man gets off while the woman gets brought to Jesus for judgment and justification for her death.  What happens next has filled the books of speculators for eons.  Here are my thoughts.
     First, they brought her to Jesus because they wanted to trap him more than to punish her.  They wanted him to be gone and thought that backing him into a corner would create a situation where he would be found guilty of one of their laws (certainly no respecters of God's laws.).  So, here come the bunch of them with this woman.  They approach Jesus and tell him the short story and don't even mention who the guy was.  Jesus surveys the crowd of men (women weren't allowed to do this) and his silence is so loud that they demand an answer to their question of whether they kill her or not.  These are the same men who have been watching and listening to Jesus for his ministry and have some knowledge of his compassion and grace.  Yet they persevere and demand an answer.  Jesus questions them about the law effectively backing their religious butts into a corner.  The question is meant to ask them why they condemn her when they don't condemn the man.  Why do they hold to the law but ignore grace.  He bends down and writes in the sand.  It's here the story gets electrifying!  I believe he wrote their names in the sand.  They must have been amazed that he wrote their names as they wondered how he knew their names.  He stood back up and said to them, "He who has no sin cast the first stone."  Then he bent back down and I believe he wrote their sins beside their names.  Imagine what a large area of sand must have been used to do this! 
     You can almost hear the thud of the rocks hitting the ground and the sound of footsteps walking away.  One by one the guilty left the presence of the God of the universe.  The story isn't over even though the accusers (sinners) are gone.  Jesus stands back up and sees the woman there most likely kneeling on the ground.  He asks her, "Does no one accuse you?"  She knows they still accuse her and that her life is over in that town.  She says, "No one Lord."  "Lord"!  She called him Lord!  She was watching and listening as he interacted with his accusers.  Now she waited while he touched her with his presence.  Can you imagine the grace and mercy being transmitted to her?  It must have been overwhelming and I imagine she began to cry.  I would have!  He says to her, "Then neither do I.  Go and sin no more."  End of the story?  No way!  That story has no ending.  The accusers went their way unrepentant looking for yet another way to kill the Son of God.  The disciples who had been watching and listening were yet again amazed and saw their names written in the sand.  The woman goes on forgiven and her sin is no more.  Jesus has enacted grace and mercy for the sinner in a way that confuses the masses even as it does today.  It must confuse Christians today as they are so quick to place judgment on others without taking the log out of their own eye first.  The story is your story and is my story.  We can choose any one of the responses today.  We can be the accuser, the woman, the man who wasn't there, the disciples or we can be Jesus.  What's your choice?  It is your choice.

Sometimes we don't appreciate Bible stories.

     Many have been raised in church Sunday schools where, due to our attention span and age, the Bible stories have been told in 5-10 minutes and we color a Bible page to show our parents.  We carry this into our adult life and underestimate the stories of the Bible and what they mean.  I don't mean just knowing the story but rather KNOWING the story.  For example, we know that David, while on the run from King Saul, was found to be cornered in a dead end canyon, in a cave, with his mighty men.  Saul was approaching the soon to be King David when the story changes.  Two things happened.  First is David prayed.  Second, Saul was turned away.  But how? The 23rd Psalm is the prayer David prayed.  The reason Saul turned away isn't quite so obvious.  Here is what happened.  A messenger (on foot or horse) came up to Saul and told him that the Egyptians were raiding and attacking in the southern part of the kingdom.  Keep in mind that Saul and his army were in northern Israel in a canyon.  The messenger would have taken several days to reach Saul.  After all, it's across a country and not just around the corner.  What is important is what was going on behind the scene.  Remember that David prayed.  This activated the plan of God and that plan was to keep David alive to become King.  So, God put it into the Egyptians minds to attack Israel to distract Saul from killing his chosen King.  Once again, keep in mind that this doesn't happen overnight.  The king of Egypt would have had to muster up the troops, get supplies ready and then travel to the southern border of Israel (remember they had to cross the river).  Then they entered Israel (most likely a couple of weeks had gone by) and a "runner" went to fetch King Saul to come and defeat the Egyptians.  Israel and it's people were being attacked.  King Saul was at the northern part of the kingdom.  The runner took several days to a week to reach him.  So, we are looking at about 3 weeks time from when the king of Egypt marched to Israel and when Saul received word of the attack.  Then it took several days for Saul and his army to go and defeat the Egyptians.  Thus freeing up David to be in a peaceful place with no fear of King Saul's desire to have him killed.  This all started with a prayer by David where he acknowledged that he was submitted to God and that God would answer his prayer of almost a month prior. 
     One other issue is the unseen.  God works through divine intervention.  He uses angels to combat the "unseen" enemy, Satan's demons and Satan himself.  We are told repeatedly in the Word that the angels are constantly at battle to deliver and protect the saints and to bring about the will of God.  Satan and his demons are there constantly trying to bring about the very opposite.  The picture painted in the Word of King Saul's attack on David to kill him was driven by Satan and his demons.  The picture painted of the rescue of David from his hands was the result of God answering prayer through his angels and servants. 
     Here is the key to the story.  It's my story.  It's your story.  It's our story.  That same battle between angels and demons goes on in the lives of those who choose to serve the Lord Jesus.  The same weapon defeats Satan and his demons; prayer.  Sometimes the answers to our prayers is instantaneous and other times it "seems" like God isn't answering our prayers at all.  But he does answer prayer in his time, his way and for his people.  It's all about whether we choose, like David, to trust that God's will be done with no effort on his part other than to pray.  Trust is difficult for people who don't rely on God.  The world sees the believer as foolish for trusting a God they cannot see and yet will have to acknowledge as Lord and Savior one day.  The story is your story and my story and it's not over until God says so.  Choose wisely and pray often.  It's your choice.

Being crazy and confused in a Christian world.

     When my son Daniel was about 3 years old he would ask me where we were going when we got in the car.  I would answer, "We're going to crazy!"  It seemed that until he became a teenager that this was "fun" between the two of us.  This is similar to when people ask me where I live.  I usually answer "In a state of confusion!"  So, between crazy and confused I exist in this Christian world.  That's not all bad though.  Imagine a world where crazy and confused didn't exist.  What would that be like?  Boring!  It would be wonderful if everyone who calls themselves Christian could lighten up and be crazy and confused with others.  Believe it or not we (those of us who aren't afraid of being crazy and confused) would welcome you with open arms.  After all, that's what Jesus did.  He both was seen as crazy and confused AND accepted us just as we are.  While the world will always see me as crazy and confused, Jesus sees me as one of his.  That's the good news!  Belonging in spite of your quirks and flaws should be foremost in the thoughts and minds of everyone. 
     Sometimes my being crazy and confused gets me in trouble.  Well, as the world counts as trouble.  They misinterpret my words or actions and wonder what space ship I got off of.  Here is a good example.  I have lots of clothing, shoes and jackets.  So I don't need any.  In fact, I have way more than I need just like most Americans do.  Every now and then I go through my closet and remove those items that I haven't worn or used in the last 6 months.  I don't remove everything though as we do live in a seasonal world.  Then I take garbage bags and put shoes, jackets and clothing in each one.  When I see a good deal on Craigslist I snatch up those items to add to the bags.  Then I DON'T bring them to a church or to a repurposing store.  I take them to the local Union Gospel Mission and hand out bags to the men there who fit the sizes in the bags.  I recently went to a garage sale and when Bob found out what I wanted to do with the items he said, "Take whatever you want for free."  I filled my Expedition and headed home to separate and bag.  I had picked up kitchen items and a radio as well.  I put my two dogs in the truck and we went down to the Union Gospel mission.  No one knows my name there.  They know the white Expedition.  They know that there are items they need in it.  They come and unload the truck for me.  Then they smile broadly and say "thanks!"  That's more than enough for me.
     My wife sometimes thinks I'm nuts for doing this and tells me so.  She's concerned about the cleanliness of the items, the risk of my delivering them, and other worldly cares and concerns.  I can understand this and allow her to make the judgment that doesn't apply to me, a crazy and confused Christian in her world.  I like anonymous.  I like to see people blessed.  I like to do this over and over again.  I will continue to be crazy and confused to whomever feels differently.  I don't see drug addicts.  I don't see alcoholics.  I don't see criminals.  I don't see what people do.  I see people.  It's that simple.  Except for the grace of God that would be me hanging out at the mission.  Bob was crazy but not confused.  He, like me, sees the plight of mankind and thinks in the positive and not the negative.  "What can I do to help." instead of "Those who don't help themselves don't deserve our doing for them."  What do you think Jesus would do with your wardrobe, pantry, empty bedrooms, shower, transportation, and your time?  If you belong to Him, then it's not your wardrobe, pantry, empty bedrooms, shower, transportation and time.  It's His.  You determine who you serve.  If you choose to follow Jesus the world will definitely consider you crazy and confused.  You would be in good company.  What's your choice today? 

Sometimes things don't make sense until you've tried!

     I once decided to beat the odds by turning all my t-shirts, socks and underwear inside out before washing and drying them.  My hypothesis was that by doing so when I removed them from the dryer they would all be right side out.  Not a bad hypothesis.  Murphy follows me around and the odds were good for a positive outcome.  Didn't happen.  So I continue to wonder why when I wash them without the added exercise of futility they are removed inside out?  I'm sure there are some intellectual and scientific people out there who can tell me the why's of this phenomena.  It really doesn't matter though.  The washer and dryer will continue to do as they want to my laundry.  Regardless of what they do, I still will have clean and available laundry to continue my day.  Faith is like that as well.  We have faith in what we cannot see, do not hear and are unable to fathom.  Faith is an anomaly and needs to be understood as just that.  We have faith that God will work and yet, we don't know when or how.  We have faith that God will take care of our problems and yet, we don't know when or how.  To those who don't exercise faith; there is little hope of a change in circumstances in their lives. 
     There are times I try the patience of God and man.  For instance, and maybe you do this as well, I sometimes am driving along and don't want to pay that price for gas so I continue on until I find a station that will be affordable.  I find myself praying that God will help me make it to a gas station when I've just passed by three of them!  Just as God is in the earthquake and the wind storm, he's in the small still voice saying, "Steve, wake up!  You just passed 3 gas stations!"  He adds, "Besides you are speeding and why should I honor your request when you are breaking the law?"  See what I mean?  Trying the patience of God with promises and answers to our prayers by ignoring them causes real problems in our lives and sometimes the lives of others.  I carry a AAA card for when I run out of gas.  My car's gas tank has limits...28 gallons to be exact.  My patience has limits...0-3 seconds to be exact.  My body has limits, I'm 63 and can't do what I did when I was 23.  Even my washing machine has limits.  It cannot wash my clothes and NOT get them clean.  Sometimes we need to accept that we are in the spot we are in because of our choices and not the divine hand of God.  We then try out own patience. 
     God has made our lives to be simple.  Love him and love others.  That's it.  Nothing complex in those two commands.  They are in the order that I have listed for a reason.  IF we love God with all of our heart, soul and mind, then we will by that very act love others.  Not on our terms but on His terms.  Often we think we know what to think, say and do.  We aren't God and shouldn't take that route.  We are sinners who like the washing machine have taken what is right and turned it around into what is wrong.  We turn our lives and the lives of others inside out because of our propensity to act like we are God.  Then we wonder why we pass by three gas stations in order to get the cheapest gas at the risk of running out of gas.  You see, the frustrations of our lives and that which we inflict on others is all because we violate that first command.  We don't love God with ALL of our heart, soul and mind.  If we did, then the washing machine, the gas problem and loving others would automatically be taken care of.  But it's a choice that we encounter every day and will encounter every day until we die to self and have Christ living through us.  When we have His heart, His mind, and His soul, then the peace of God that passes understanding will be there.
     But, it's always your choice.  Why choose less than the best?

Meanwhile, God is still in control!

     It's been a week since I last wrote.  My internet was down and they took their sweet time fixing it.  Turns out that everything is going as God planned and I'm not worrying about missing the week. 
     During this past week I did many different things involving projects, chores and I even (gasp!) had fun!  God doesn't want us to not have fun.  He's strictly against boredom and inactivity.  God wants us to have a mix in life so that "all work and no play makes Steve a bored man."  Now my idea and your idea of "fun" might be different.  Fun to me is planting and maintaining my 3 acres of land.  I love to get free plants and transplant them to various areas of this place.  Last week I received 5 large mature Mongo Pines and 16 large and mature Cottoneaster.  They are now all planted and doing well.  Fun was also involved in my garden picking vegetables and having fresh homemade food with them.  Fun also involved me continuing the building of my new trailer.  I've been able to do all of these activities and have "fun" because God has created in me two things:  desire and ability.  When I talk of my garden, the plantings and my trailer I also make sure that others know that it was God who provided all of them.  it was God who provided the space, the rain, the sunshine, the materials and yes, even the labor even if it's only mine! 
     My relationship with God is fun as well.  People get so wound up and miss the point of life.  That point is to live the life God wants us to live and to be happy with all that we think, say and do because it pleases the God who loved us so much that he died for our lives, our salvation.  That wasn't fun.  My life before Christ wasn't fun.  It was confused, tedious, and unfulfilling.  That wasn't fun either.  Where those existed I also tried to cover them over with the world's idea of fun.  There were the days I did drugs, did alcohol and did sex in the quest of covering over the pain of the "unfun".  King Solomon (David's son) found nothing that could give him contentment and the ability to have fun.  He has written that he has tried it all and nothing filled the void in his life.  Paul wrote that he was "consumed" for Christ and many times during his life found fun when he wasn't looking for it.  Fun for him was to see as many as possible come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior.  Fun was seeing the people living as Jesus intended caring for one another and loving each other.  John, and the rest of the disciples, went to wedding feasts where Jesus turned water into wine.  Fun!  I imagine they had many times when they stopped to play.  Do you? 
     We make our world what it is.  We do this by believing that we need to make it the way we want it.  That's not smart.  When we do this we eliminate God's plan A and settle for plan B or less.  God wants our prayer life to be fun as well whenever we engage him.  Adrian, my friend, prayed with me and told God a joke!  Can you imagine straight laced Christians doing such a thing?  God wants to invade ALL of our life.  What's your choice?  It's all your choice but there is only one choice that makes sense.  Choose to die to self and let Christ live through you.  It's a choice and can be fun.  Choose wisely whom you will follow.

Not all who wander are lost...well some are!

    When I was much younger I would have rather gone home than to ask for directions much less take directions from someone!  I didn't and don't get lost very often.  My sense of direction is good and I have GPS which guides me well.  When I turned 40ish I began to remove some of my childish beliefs.  Asking for directions was new for me and really new for those riding with me.  But, as I've aged, I now ask for directions before I waste valuable time and gas.  Maybe you do the same?  I used to be a competitor on the road as well.  My families irritation as I passed another off ramp when they needed a potty break is a good example.  I didn't want all those cars I had passed to get back ahead of me!  Foolishness!  That too has gone the way of the lost.  It's a good thing as I've slowed down my life in these ways and many more.  It used to be, in my life, that the shortest distance between two points was the way to go.  Not so anymore.  I like to discover all that I've missed over the years by not looking to the right or the left.  It's important we take the time to smell the roses and discover that really good burger in that little town in Iowa. 
     Christians are called to be wanderers.  Not that they are excused for not wandering; they are excused.  Spiritual wandering is not like physical wandering.  It's true that we have a journey to go on from time of conversion to transferring to Heaven for good.  That journey is described as the straight and narrow path that leads to life.  Many Christians take the side roads (like me) and have to be drawn back to the straight and narrow.  The sin inside of us draws us away from the narrow way designed to keep our focus.  Whether it be the priorities in our lives or the distractions, we give in to them and all of a sudden are in South Dakota when we were supposed to be in North Dakota!  Within the boundaries of our states there are signs posted welcoming us to this state or that city.  The roads are there to take us to those states and cities.  What happens if we go off the road?  Well, we could get lost, we could find something new, or we could just take a moment and see something new.  That's what Eve did.  She was near "that tree" when the serpent tempted her with what wasn't on the straight and narrow.  She didn't get back on the road.  She didn't go back to the place where she knew she was safe.  She ate the fruit and the road disappeared. 
     Living for God is "plan A".  Living for anything else is "plan B".  We make those determinations every day many times a day.  Sometimes we choose plan A and sometimes we choose plan B.  Both choices have consequences.  Plan A choices always have positive and good consequences.  Plan B always leads to less than or negative consequences.  Our choices of plan A and plan B are relegated to our needs versus our wants.  We can choose to have a simpler life and let God take care of our needs or we can choose to have a more complex life and choose Plan B where we are having our wants drive our living.  I need food.  I want unhealthy food.  I need water.  I want that diet cola.  I need sexual intimacy.  I want that other partner.  I need fellowship with other believers.  I want fellowship with other sinners.  Justifying our wants helps us to avoid making the right decision.  It's always easier to choose plan B if we have someone we can either take along or who has joined our plan B choice.  The difference is dramatic!  Accountability is something we all need.  When we choose plan B we are holding ourselves accountable.  When we choose plan A we are being held accountable by God.  When we are in the midst of plan B we choose others who will support our wandering.  When we choose plan A we don't need the applaud of others.  I'd rather hear "well done thou good and faithful servant" than "why are you listening to other gods?" 
     Choose this day whom you wander with.  It's a life changer.  It's always your choice.