Everything Is Spiritual

It's Time To Draw Near...I'm just sayn'

2009-08-05T21:55:00.009-05:00

It’s Time To Draw Near...I'm just sayn'

There was a horrible famine and it wasn’t limited to a small area—it was far reaching. The drought was so great that there had been no planting or reaping for two years. And, it wasn’t going to get better any time soon, for the Lord had spoken to His servant, Joseph, that the famine was going to last for a total of seven years.

Think about it, there was going to be another 60 months of drought and all of the difficulties and tragedies that would go along with it. Trees would die. Rivers would cease to flow. Animals would starve to death, and human life would be lost. It was going to be a horrible season.

God’s people are never forgotten in horrible seasons!

As many of you know, God had prepared the way for His people by elevating Joseph to the place of “Vice-Pharaoh” for all of Egypt. When the Pharaoh of Egypt heard that Joseph’s father Israel was alive, he told Joseph to bring his father and his families to Egypt where they would be provided and cared for. They were to live in Goshen, the region just east of the lower Nile River.

The Egyptians surrendered their money, their possessions, their homes and land, and eventually they sold themselves into the Pharaoh’s service. They did all of this that Pharaoh might provide them with the food they needed, so they wouldn’t starve to death. Yet, while they lost everything—God’s people flourished in Goshen.

Did you know that Goshen means, “Drawing Near?” Israel was given the region named “Drawing Near.” The depths of this are great.
· Jacob (Israel) was able to draw near to his beloved son Joseph.
· God was able to draw His people to a place of provision in the middle of famine.
· The families of Israel were able to draw near to one another.
· God drew His people near to Himself that they might be blessed and prosper—while those around them were losing everything.

Many Christians are facing incredibly challenging times right now. For some of you; it feels like you have already been in this for far too long of a season. I can’t tell you when your difficulties will end—but I can give you some great assurance today.

God already has everything in place to meet all of your needs according to His riches and glory. It’s time to go to Goshen! Don’t run to the rulers of the world for your answers and for their provisions—that are made available at an exorbitant cost!

Go to Goshen—the place of drawing near! After all, He promises that as we draw near to Him He will draw near to us, and, when He does—blessings and prosperity flow.

He Promised

2009-06-18T14:03:00.005-05:00

God has made some great promises to His people--He has promised to hear us, to forgive us and to give healing to our land!

Christians--we need the security of knowing God hears us! We need the confidence of knowing God forgives us. And, we need the assurance from God that our land can be healed. America can have a refreshing and experience great healing. God promised and all of His promises belong to us.

What did He ask us to do to open the door for these promises? Well, it's almost too simple to blog about. He simply said, "Humble yourselves and pray and turn from your wicked ways." There I said it. All we need for these great promises to come true is for Christians to humbly pray and for Christians to quit embracing the wicked ways of the world!

He promised to hear! He promised to forgive! He promised to heal our land!

Will you humbly pray and follow Him?

If not...we'll have no one else to blame for what America becomes...

The Face of a Child

2009-05-18T23:44:00.007-05:00

Do you remember Jack Handy from Saturday Night Live? He used to have the "Deep Thoughts" segment. My favorite quote was this one: "The face of a child says a lot, especially the mouth part of the face!"

And, boy was he right. Our four year old Sophia's face says a lot--especially her mouth. She wakes up talking and falls asleep talking. She talks throughout the day with just a few short breaks to quickly take a drink of some fresh chocolate soy milk. The girl has the gift of gab! If you've spent much time with kids, you know, they can ramble on and on about any and everything that pops into their active little minds. Hang with 'em for a minute--you will quickly find out what is going on in there! No surprises necessary.

Our President, has been really quick to let us know what is going on in his mind as well. Considering that during his campaign he said that "life issues" of unborn children were matters that should be decided by individuals who had a higher pay grade than he did--I find it interesting that his first act as our President was to make abortions even easier for those seeking to end their pregnancies.

I also find it interesting that when asked to speak at Georgetown University that he and his staff insisted that any Christian religious symbols be removed or covered in the backdrop of the auditorium where he would be sharing his address.

You don't have to spend two minutes with Sophia to find out what she is thinking, to discover what is rolling through her mind at the time. And, well, our President hasn't wasted anytime to let us get a glimpse at some of the things on his mind. Abortion is easier. Symbols of Christianity are covered--I wonder if his staff considered that this could offend a few million Christians. And, even more importantly, I wonder if our President considered that Jesus might be offended.

When I find out what is going on in my little girl's mind, sometimes I just laugh, sometimes we talk about it and well, sometimes I simply ignore it. I'm concerned about some of the things going on in my President's mind. I'm not laughing, I'm talking about it, and I'm definitely not ignoring it. I am, however, praying for him. I'm praying he will make decisions that will honor God and God's creation. I'm praying he will value life. I'm praying he will change his mind on some of the crucial decisions he has made in his first 100 days.

The mouth of a child says a lot--so do the executive orders of a President...

Truth, Justice & Big John

2009-04-14T00:16:00.006-05:00

So, last summer Beth and I took our girls to Gatlinburg, TN for a little R&R. On our way there, we stopped in Metropolis, IL to see the "HUGE SUPERMAN" they had been advertising on the Interstate for about 50 miles. He was a big fella, but we noticed a local grocery store in the town called, "Big John" and to our surprise, I must tell you, the "Big John" outside of the grocery store was much taller than the Superman; not to mention, he was carrying a few enormous bags of groceries--yes, he was also practical! :) So, of course, we took pictures at the grocery store--we wanted the full dose of tourism!

I guess, what I'm getting at is, well, this...Superman might have stood for Truth & Justice; but he didn't even stand as big as the grocery carrier up the road. Simply put, Superman wasn't all that super. And, if we were going to be honest, most of the time our heroes aren't--they aren't as super as we want them to be.

You know what I mean, when we read an article that our favorite baseball player was using steroids. We find out one of our football heroes was arrested for driving under the influence. We learn of the television minister who was taking the the financial gifts from his followers and tossing their prayer request cards into the dumpster. A media outlet reports that a judge we thought would uphold justice in court--threw it aside for his/her personal agenda. Come on, you know what I'm talking about! We've all been disappointed too many times.

I do want to give you some assurance though. This isn't just a feel good moment--this is a Biblically documented promise! And, I was reminded about it this past "Easter Weekend." Jesus has never failed...not even once!

He spoke words of healing--and the people were healed.

He commanded freedom--and the demonic strongholds left the body of the oppressed man.

He promised to suffer, die and rise again. And, guess what, HE DID!

He testified to the truth. He proclaimed justice.

He brought God's message to us, so He could bring us to God! I guess then, I can trust Him when He says that He is coming back again too.

You know, the "heroes" we idolize never really can stand our critical scrutiny of their lives. After all, at some point, their flawed humanity will show, and when it does we will show our disappointment. But, Jesus stands the test--He won't fail, He won't fall and He doesn't fade.

Superman paled compared to John: Big John...the grocer!

But, Jesus? No, there just isn't anything or anyone to even compare Him to. And, I promise, He will not fail in a challenge. He will not fall in a temptation and His glory doesn't fade with time. He's so much more than a superhero. He's my Savior, my risen Savior! So, take that Superman...you too "Big John!" Nothing can compare to Him.

Peace

Money Is Not In Control

2009-04-03T11:18:00.006-05:00

The unemployment rate has reached 8.5% in our country. Another 663,000 Americans lost their jobs during the month of March. World leaders gather together to determine the cause of the problems and to search for collective answers. It was reported this week that authorization was given at the G-20 Summit for foreign governments to have a voice in saying how much executives in our country are paid. America, as we know it, is quickly changing.

As our world moves more toward worldwide economic strategy and unity; it will affect all of us. I will not use this space to hypothecate about the possibilities. However, I will share a couple of thoughts with you regarding our walk with Christ.

Jesus clearly stated in Matthew 6:24: "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." NIV

Our world's system is connected to the love of money. So many of our world's leaders make their decisions based on a love of money. Money in itself is not corrupt--and having money is not wrong--but being controlled by it, dwelling on it, allowing it "to have us" is wrong; it is sin!

Immediately after reminding us of the "two masters" Jesus said this in verses 25-26: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" NIV

God's people have NEVER been provided for by money! We have always been provided for by our heavenly Father! Yahweh Jireh is "The Lord Our Provider." He is and will continue to be The Provider for His people. And, He will meet all of our needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

This i a simple reminder--that whatever we may face in the days, months and years to come--tests and trials of all kinds, our God is Faithful. As we keep our eyes on Him and trust in Him with all our heart, soul and strength He will bring us through.

You are not forgotten. You are not forsaken. Money is not in control; and as long as you don't allow it to be in control of you--your God, your Master, your Lord will continue to bring you through!

Peace to you...

It Will Be Great To See Him

2009-02-06T00:03:00.003-06:00

So...Emma (my eight year old daughter) and I were talking tonight. We weren't talking about much in particular; just chattn'. We were making some pizzas together while Sophia watched some TV and Beth rested. Every mom needs a few moments away from their "precious girlz" from time to time, right? :)

Anyway, Emma and I started talking about some of the challenges in our world...the wars, rumors of wars, division between ethnic groups and nations, etc. I know, I know, kind of a big subject to hit with an eight year old second grader, but I had a reason. I shared with her about how Scripture teaches us that when we see the types of things that I had mentioned to her, in a greater measure, that we are to watch for Jesus--they are signs that He will be on His way soon.

"Yeah," Emma shouted! "I can't wait to see Him. I hope He comes while I'm nine!" You can imagine, as a passionate follower of Christ, how grateful I was to see her response. It was better than the response I typically see from her the day before Christmas. She is really excited about getting to see Jesus.

Are you?

Just somethn' to think about...

Peace to you!

In God We Trust

2008-10-03T12:47:00.009-05:00

Like so many other people, I've watched the political scene closely for the past few weeks. I've had an extra interest in the $700 billion (+) bailout bill. I'm not going to use this blog to say whether I agree with it or not. My "yea" or "nay" really doesn't matter. What matters the most to me is what I've observed our political "leaders" do....again.

What do you mean? Well, to be blunt, they have successfully attached millions of dollars in "handouts, giveaways, pork, etc." Call it whatever you want to--but once again in the middle of what they've called an "economic crisis" they didn't slow down in taking multi-millions of dollars (which we don't have) and giving it to the areas aka the people they have special interests in.

So, if everything is spiritual, what does this have to do with a pastor's blog? Fair Question: I'm leading to the answer.

Personally, I don't think our economic challenges are over because of this bailout. It might give some short-term relief, like a steam shower gives to you when you have the flu, but it is not a long-term fix. Our economy is headed for a difficult season if MAJOR CHANGES do not take place.

With that said--I want to give reassurance to every Christian. God is your Provider, not the government, not your employer, not your mom and dad, and not your friend who won the lottery! God has promised that He Is and will always be the Provider for His people. In Scripture, He is called Jehovah Jireh, meaning, our God Provider. Our Provider will provide for us--it is Who He Is and it is what He does!

He provided for His people, Israel, as they spent forty years traveling in the desert. He met their needs miraculously. Jesus provided for the crowds by feeding the hungry and caring for their needs. He will do the same for us.

Think about it for a second. He led His people into the desert between Egypt and the land of Canaan. He didn't lead them into a place of abundant resources. He didn't need to--He Is our abundant resource! God will meet your needs, whether the government does the right or the wrong thing. God's ability to provide for you does not hinge upon our leaders...it hinges upon His faithfulness.

Today, I remind you to trust in Him. Our Country might be headed for some challenging financial times--but God's ability to provide has never relied on America! Take this opportunity to reaffirm your trust in Him. Reconnect with your Lord. Seek His Presence, after all, "if we will seek first His kingdom and His righteousness all these things will be added to us." In other words, seek Him and He'll take care of the things!

Peace

39...When?

2008-06-10T23:12:00.002-05:00

I can't stinkn' believe I am going to be 39 in two more days. 39--What a HUGE number! I remember when my mom turned 40--it seemed so old, was it? Is it just as old as it was? Or is it younger than I thought it was? I've got 12 more months to ponder the 40 mark, for now, I just can't believe I'm going to be 39.
But, for this moment, rather than getting depressed about my inability to dunk a basketball on a 10' hoop, or feeling sorry for myself that I could use some Rogaine, or staring at the wrinkles around my eyes, I 'm going to take this moment to be thankful.
I have an amazing wife, two fantastic daughters, good parents, in-laws, brothers, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews and some very dear friends. I'm a blessed guy. If every 39 year old guy was as rich in relationships as I am, well, let's just say that there would be a lot happier people in the world.
Today, though, I got a card from one of my favorite people, my 89 year old grandfather. Let me share a portion of what it said with you:
"Looking back on all that we've shared as the years have flown by, I couldn't feel luckier. And looking at you now, grandson, I simply couldn't love you more. Happy Birthday Brad. Love you Grandpa Ed."
I love that man!
I am so thankful that the Lord has allowed me to live to be a 39 year old man and still have the privilege of having my grandpa Riley in my life. What a heritage he has given to me--a man of prayer, a man who loves God's word, a man who loves his family, a man who demonstrates loyalty in every area of his life.
You are right grandpa--the years have flown by! I can't believe I'm turning 39, but you are still 50 years up on me! Thanks for giving me such a great example to follow into my future. And, thanks for laying such a wonderful foundation for my past.
Okay, enough mushy stuff...if I'm going to dunk a basketball again, I'd better go and start working out.

Peace

Thinking About Miracles...

2008-06-05T22:58:00.001-05:00

I've been doing a lot of thinking about miracles lately.
You see, my oldest daughter Emma, has had horrible milk allergies since she was born--she's seven now. Early last week, she told Beth and me that she really wanted to be healed of her milk allergies, so that she could eat the foods we eat.
She told us that she "knew" God would heal her. What is a parent, who believes in the power of God, to do in this situation? Beth and I placed are hands on her head and we prayed. We asked God to take the allergies away and make her whole.
As soon as we were done praying, she asked if she could have a small bowl of ice cream! You have to love the "faith of a child."
Beth and I have faith as well, but we are also aware of the Division of Family Services! You know what I'm saying? So, we told her that we would continue to pray for a couple of days and then, we would let her try a couple of bites of ice cream.
Two days later she promptly asked to try the two bites. We said one more prayer and we let her. In the past, she would break out in a rash within one hour of having one bite of ice cream. Well, guess what? She didn't!
We tested with different milk products on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday and yes, even on Tuesday. Our girl has not had one allergic reaction! She is healed...absolutely healed! I'm sure of it. Beth believes it, and Emma has NEVER doubted it! God has touched her.
Here's my point--when Jesus gave instructions to his disciples He told them several things. They were to share the good news! (His love is the good news.) And, they were to "heal the sick, raise the dead, drive out demons and cure those with leprosy." Being a disciple wasn't just about "being." It wasn't just about "preaching." It was also about "doing." They were to do the work of healing the sick.
It was never doubted. It was simply done. It was part of their ministry. It is supposed to be a part of our ministry as well.
I want to see more miracles. I want to see incredible miracles. I've probably preached more than enough sermons...but I know "I" haven't ministered enough physical healing. It is a huge part of my calling as a disciple...as a Christian.
So, I've been doing a lot of thinking about miracles lately--I'm ready to see them. I'm ready to be used to "do" them. How 'bout you? Do you want more? Do you want to attend an impotent church with powerless prayers and pointless messages? Or like me, have you been thinking about miracles.
According to what Jesus taught--they should be a normal happening. It is supposed to be normal to experience the supra-normal. Oh, Jesus we are ready. We want so much more of you and your power...your miracle working power!

Peace

The Cheering Section

2008-05-12T22:47:00.002-05:00

Well, here I am relaxing in the living room at the end of a nice Mother's Day. My amazing wife is sitting across the room from me Facebooking some of her friends and listening to a great worship song by our worship leader Josh Ortego. I don't want this evening to end. I love Sunday nights...I hate Monday mornings!
This evening I have found myself thinking about my Grandma Riley quite a bit. She passed away just about a year ago. I guess she is on my mind for a few reasons. It's Mother's Day; so I'm sure it has caused me to think about her. Also, last week would have been my grandpa and grandma's Anniversary and her birthday. They had such a great relationship.
I am confident that Grandma Riley is in heaven. I'm confident that she loved Jesus because He first loved her and that Jesus meant the world to her. But, there is something else that I don't completely understand but I'm confident in none the less.
Heaven is filled with a cheering section.
Just take a look at Hebrews 12:1: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." NIV
So many times, Hebrews 11 has been referred to as the Hall of Faith. The entire chapter is filled with stories of the great people of faith who have already completed their earthly journey with our God. Then, the author uses the great word, "therefore." He uses that word to show how the thoughts from Hebrews 11 join with the thoughts in Hebrews 12.
So, are you wondering what my point is yet? It is very simple. The author wants us to know that those who have walked the walk of faith before us, are now cheering us on in our walk. The faithful saints of the past are the "great cloud of witnesses." They witness to the faithfulness of God and they witness us as we run our race with perseverance. What does this have to do with Grandma Riley?
She's cheering.
She is cheering for me to throw off the things in my life that hinder me from my pursuit of Christ. She is cheering for me to escape the sins that can so easily entangle. She is cheering for me to keep my eyes focused on the Author and Finisher of my faith. Grandma Riley, like the other saints of the past, is cheering for me today! I'm thankful to know that she is in my cheering section. I need it.
Who has lived the faith life before you? They are cheering for you. They support you. They believe in you. And, they want you to win this race!
What an encouraging thought--no matter what challenges we face we have some great people of faith who have gone before us and they make up our cheering section!

Peace

Forever

2008-04-30T22:45:00.000-05:00

"Forever" is a hard word for me to wrap my mind around. My three year old, Sophia, likes to use it quite a bit. She'll say something like, "Mom, I will love you forever." She pronounces the 'v' like a 'b.' So, just picture this cute little girl saying things like, "Mom, I will lub you for-eber." "Emma hasn't gi-ben me a turn in for-eber." "Daddy, you ha-bn't been home in for-eber."
Obviously, she doesn't comprehend what forever really means. But, who does? I mean, can you really imagine "forever?"
God's word states, "His love endures forever." Always. Constant. Forever. It never ends. But, that doesn't cover it, because there are times that I wonder if it also "never" started. After all, forever has no beginning as well as no ending. I think it's quite proper to say God's love endures forever--it has always been and it will always be.
I'm grateful that His love endured to my grandparents, to my parents, to me and to my children. Many times I have thought about God's faithfulness reaching from generation to generation. I've thought of it as "stretching from one person to the next." The reality is that it doesn't need to stretch. It's here. It is as forever as God is Himself.
Whatever you might be going through I hope this is a simple reminder that His love will never end; it never began. It has always been. He has always loved you!
Peace

I Hate 'Em

2008-04-07T16:22:00.003-05:00

I know, I know...that is a rough title for a blog from a pastor, man of the cloth, parson, reverend etc. But, you just have to understand. I've been a Missouri Tiger fan since I was in my mother's womb. I was brought up in Columbia, MO. It is impossible to root for the Jayhawks. It is impossible to be happy for the Jayhawks. Watching them beat the Memphis Tigers this evening, well, let's just say it would have been easier to chew on tiny pieces of broken glass or to slam my fingers in a door over and over and over and over again!
Now, I'm sure that some of you think that I'm crazy, but those of you who are sports fans, and especially to those of you who have loyalty to one team, you know exactly what I'm talking about. Yankee fans can't stand the Red Sox. Florida State fans would love to see the Gators go winless for the season. USC and UCLA fans love hating each other and for those of us in Missouri and Kansas, well, let's just say we don't even agree on the win/loss totals in our head to head football games!
As the confetti was falling to the floor of the Alamo Dome, I could feel the tremor in the force as Kansas fans from all over were calling their "Missouri fan friends" to pour some salt in the wound. They were mocking us, ridiculing us and having way too much fun at our expense. Could you feel it happening? It's disgusting. It's horrible. It's sinful.
Okay, sinful might be a little strong, but watching them win the National Championship sure makes me want to spit. Come on, some of you have to know what I'm talking about. Tiger fans can't like the Jayhawks. Cardinal fans can't like the Cubs. And, Ohio State fans hate the team that plays in the "Big House" in Michigan! It is what it is...it's the way it's supposed to be. It's a foundational absolute.
Speaking of absolutes; God hates sin. I know, comparing Kansas to sin is a little rough, but it's the best I could come up with in this frame of mind. God hates what sin does to us. God hates the way it hardens us to the great things that He has in store for us. He hates the way sin leaves us with a feeling of abandonment when we have been disappointed by the broken promises that it gave to us. Sin is wicked man! I mean, the Bible goes as far as to say that its "wages are death."
As a Christian, I'm aware that Jesus' death paid those wages for me, so that I can live a great life in Him. But, it's amazing how often I'm still tempted to sin. I'm still tempted to yield to the very behaviors that have been so destructive to me in the past. You know what I mean, don't you?
At some point, you turned to God and you are very grateful for all He has done for you. Yet, we still face temptations. We still face moments when we could chose to do the exact opposite of what we know we are supposed to do. And, sadly, there have been too many times when we have made the wrong choice. Just read what the author of Hebrews says about sin.
"See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness." (Hebrews 3:12-13, NIV)
Listen, if you are a Tiger fan and because of your loyalty to the Big 12 Conference you made the mistake of pulling for the Jayhawks this evening--grace is available. If you are willing to confess the error of your ways; we will offer forgiveness. But, if you aren't willing to admit that you have done wrong--this could lead to a lifestyle of many other wrong choices and bondages. You might find yourself pulling for them because of their nice blue uniforms sometime. You might say something crazy like, "They have a loyal fan base." Listen, if you don't deal with this quickly--you could end up deceived. The sad thing about deception is that we don't know when we are deceived!
And, for those of you who love Christ and yet, you are making some choices that you know are harmful to your spirit. Please, stop ASAP. Sin hurts us. Sin can hinder us in our relationship with God and with others. It can deceive us into thinking that our disobedience is really no big deal. It is--God really hates sin.
When it comes down to it, the reason I hate the Jayhawks so much is because I love the Tigers so much. And, to be honest, the main reason God hates sin so much--is because God loves you so much--so much more than we can comprehend!
Peace

It's Sinking In

2008-04-01T16:19:00.001-05:00

Okay, so it was another typical Sunday morning. Beth and I were getting all of our stuff together so that we could get to the school where our church meets in a timely fashion. I wanted to be there by 8:30AM to help our Set-Up Crew get things ready to go.
Well, as things go, instead of being out the door by 8:15AM it was 8:45AM and we still hadn't left yet. Beth was working on the computer trying to fix a couple of glitches to the presentation for our kid's ministry and I was simply trying to keep our girls close to me, so that Beth could finish as quickly as possible.
I flipped on the TV (nothing like a good baby sitter) and Sophia, our three year old, climbed up on my lap. She immediately engaged with the lead character on the screen. The character on the screen was talking about fear and how it was normal to be afraid of things. I wasn't paying too much attention to it, but obviously Sophia was soaking it in.
Sophia looked at me and said, "Hey Daddy, I'm not afraid of anything." I replied in the form of a question (like Jeopardy), "You're not afraid of anything?" She said, "No. I'm not afraid of anything. I'm not afraid because Jesus is with me." Wow--what a moment! What a great answer; what a great truth! There is no reason to fear because Jesus is with us.
As parents, we have times when we wonder if our kids are listening to anything we say. Obviously, she doesn't listen all the time, but nonetheless, some of what we are teaching her, talking with her about and trying to demonstrate to her is sinking in.
It has been a great reminder to me of my need to be active in sharing about my faith with my children. I need to share my faith with my neighbors, my friends, my family, and yes, even my acquaintances. Some of it will sink in...And only God knows what He can do with what does sink into someone's life.
So, ya, we got to our church gathering a little later than we intended to on Sunday. But, I had already had a cool God encounter. He gave me the opportunity to see that His principles are sinking into my daughter's life. I hope they continue to sink into mine. :)
Peace

Life's Better With...

2008-03-25T16:09:00.001-05:00

So, early this morning I was buzzing over to St. Louis Bread Co. to meet a friend of mine for a cup of coffee. I got stopped at a traffic light which gave me an opportunity to find out how my life could be better.
In front of me at the light was this mini-van with a "nice" slogan of stickers on the rear view window. It read: "Life's better with bearded collies." Ya, you read that right. If you want your life to be better you need bearded collies!
I'm not saying they aren't a nice looking dog, but do they really make your life better? Do they improve the quality of life so much that one can't help but put stickers on the back of his/her car to announce it to the world?
I mean, you've really got to believe in something to advertise it on the back of your car. Personally, I love Jesus more than anything, but I'm still not the kind of person to put bumper stickers of the back of the Suzuki. How impactful have the bearded collies been on this person's life that he would try to influence us to get a bearded collie for ourselves?
The driver believes the bearded collies have helped his life so much, that he is announcing to you and to me that we too need to take advantage of this opportunity to have a better life. We too need (sound the trumpets)...bearded collies!
Okay, at the risk of being a little too simple and not making a nice long theological argument, I'm going to type it anyway. Are you ready for this? I know you aren't reading a bumper sticker right now, but this is still HUGE. Life's better with Jesus. Ya, you read that right. If you want your life to be better you need Jesus. :)
How 'bout that? And, you didn't even have to get stopped at a red light.
Peace

A Simple Phone Call

2008-03-18T16:01:00.001-05:00

I received a phone call about 15 minutes ago from a friend.ﾠ He and his family are facing some challenges right now.ﾠ His work industry is going through major changes and, of course, as trickle- down economics works, it is affecting him and his family.ﾠ Financial changes.ﾠ Job changes.ﾠ Lifestyle changes and other changes that don't need to be mentioned.ﾠ Needless to say, they are going through aﾠdifficult season.
You might be thinking, "Okay, Pastor Brad, you are using your blog to talk about another Christian's challenges.ﾠ We all go through challenges."ﾠ You're right--that is the point exactly.
We all go through challenges, and yet, in the middle of his challenge he called to check on me.ﾠ He called to let me know that I had been on his mind lately.ﾠ He called to let me know that he is praying for me!ﾠ Wow!ﾠ In the middle of his stress--he called me.
Have you ever read 1 Peter 5:9?ﾠ It states, "...Stand firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings."ﾠ NIVﾠ The apostle was reminding the Christians, who were scattered all over the Middle East, that even though they felt like they were isolated and alone, they were not.ﾠ They were in individual challenges, but because they shared them in common they could face them together.ﾠﾠ
Do you need to be reminded of that today?ﾠ If you do, then, I hope the simple phone call I received is an encouragement to you.ﾠ We all face challenges.ﾠ We all face struggles.ﾠ We are not alone.ﾠ We have the presence of Christ with us and we have the promise that our brothers and sisters are undergoing the same challenges.ﾠ Let's stand strong with one another to get through them.
And, maybe all of us could follow my friend's example.ﾠ We, too, could learn to make aﾠsimple phone call to someone else weﾠknow who could really use a moment of our time.ﾠ We could lay our situation aside for a moment and let someone else know they are loved; that they are going to make it.
Go ahead and take the chance.ﾠ Your simple phone call could change someone's day, hey, maybe even their life. :)
Peace

Padre State Of Mind

2006-12-12T15:08:00.000-06:00

I'm sure you have heard the song, "I left my heart in San Francisco." It's a classic. I can almost hear Tony Bennett singing it right now. Obviously, Tony and the original writer, I think his name was George Cory, really enjoyed their time in that beautiful city.
As I write this Blog, Beth and I are flying home from South Padre Island. We've just enjoyed a great week together, away from the craziness of our typical schedules, away from the cold weather in the St. Louis area, and away from our girls. Yes, as much as we love them, we needed a little time away from them. And, four hours by plane seemed just about right. We love South Padre! We love the beach, the local feel, the condo and the way time seems to slow down. And, it never fails that we make new friends when we are there. This time was no exception. Don't worry, I'm not going to start singing, "I left my heart in South Padre." But, let me share a little bit about our Wednesday afternoon.
We went to eat lunch at a Cafe on the beach at one o'clock and six hours later we left to go back to our condo. Six hours, I couldn't believe it. I looked at Beth and said, "I never expected to spend our whole day there and I sure didn't expect to have a church service."Yes, you read it--I said "church service." God's word states, "His presence is wherever two or three people are gathered in His name." Beth and I firmly believe that our lives belong to the Lord. We believe that "in Him, we live and move, and have our being." We believe that we carry the presence of Christ in us wherever we go. Only God knew the conversations He was preparing for us to have at the Cafe on the beach.We visited with a friend who is of Jewish descent--he was more than willing to "talk the Torah" with us. We were able to ask him some questions from the book of Isaiah that point toward Jesus as the Messiah. We spent a couple of hours with a young man who has chosen the homosexual lifestyle.
Once our Jewish friend told him I was a pastor--suddenly, he wanted to talk about the Bible, homosexuality, heterosexuality, and life after death, grace, church and so much more. Then, the waiter finished his shift and asked if he could sit at our table. He wanted to talk about rebellion and forgiveness, and religion compared to spirituality. The day was amazing! God gave us divine opportunities to simply share about our faith in Christ. I wasn't wearing my tie during vacation--to be honest, I don't wear one at home.
You see the only difference from this week compared to most is that we were willing to slow down. It's not just "South Padre." It's the "Padre State of Mind." When you are willing to slow down and have conversation--you bump into God's divine appointments for your life. I'm not leaving my heart in South Padre; rather, I am bringing the "Padre State of Mind" home with me.
I've missed too many divine appointments because I didn't slow down and have a real conversation. God has so many more divine encounters prepared for me and if I'm moving too quickly I will walk right by them. And, so will you! We are getting ready to land and the vacation is just about over. In about 20 minutes, I'm going to be kissing and hugging my daughters. I brought my heart home with me--so much of it is given to them! :)
And, with this new state of mind--I'm looking forward to the casual conversations that will become divine opportunities for God to use me to make a difference...a real difference! Peace

Tis The Season

2006-11-22T15:47:00.000-06:00

Here we go again...the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (the unofficial beginning of the Holiday Season), the Christmas specials, the credit cards, and the challenge of pretending I don't hear Beth when she asks me if I want to put Christmas lights on the outside of the house this year. :)

This season of the year can be quite stressful if you allow it to be, but I've got to be honest with you...I really love Christmas.I love that "Christmas feeling." It's not the snow or the "busy sidewalks dressed in Holiday style" or even a couple of extra days away from the office--though that is nice. It's just so many things. It's the look of excitement in my daughters' eyes when they see the Christmas tree lit up for the first time. It's the joy in my wife's eyes when she's watching our daughters unwrap gifts and play in the pile of torn wrapping paper. It's the privilege of having some time just to look at the people I love the most and think to myself, "God, have you really been this good to me?"

Christmas really is the season for giving. Romans 8:32 states, "He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all, how will he not also along with him graciously give us all things?" I'm so very thankful God gave His Son...and since God was willing to give His Son, I know everything else is going to be...Well, let me just say it this way, God has already given His best--Jesus! I probably don't need to worry too much about the other stuff. He can take care of it just fine.Because God loved--He gave. Because He gave--I'm freed.

How can I not tell others about this freedom? When you are opening your packages--go ahead and be open minded about God's love for you. After all, "Tis The Season."Peace