It's Him!

As Easter approaches, I like to read the accounts of Christ's life and remember why He came, lived, died, rose again. This year, I am reading abook on the cross and the author is sharing his thoughts Isaiah 53. Todays verses were 4-6. Most of the time it is read and the emphasis is on us. Our, us, we. But this time, the author challenged the reader to look at Christ, because in truth He is the real focus of the text. If you'll allow me to write from The Message,
it was our pains he carried - we thought God was punishing him - it was for our sins that he did that to him - that ripped and tore and crushed him - He took the punishment - through his bruises we get healed - God has piled all our sins, ...wrong, on him, on him.
Pretty sobering realization, wouldn't you say?
PJ

Forbidden!!

What a shock! Here it is at the end of my day (almost), so I decide to check my son Muncher's blog and I get this HUGE - 'FORBIDDEN 403' message. Goes on and tells me I can not enter this site. My 1st thought was, "Well that sucks! I really wanted to go there. I wanted to see what Munch was up to and had to say."

Then I had this thought, "God, I'm sure glad I will never receive that message from You!"
In fact, usually, God can't wait for us to want to 'log on' and see what He's up to. He wants to share Himself with us so bad, He's always finding new and exciting ways to crash into our thoughts and our hearts, just to get our attention and love on us a bit! Pretty cool God we have! I sure am glad He wants to spend time me, and I will never, ever have to worry about any 'Forbidden' message! With Him, it's always, 'Come on in and lets talk'. Thank you Jesus!

WOW!

WOW! Where did the day go! I know I was busy, but I really don't feel like I got anything done! I guess there is a difference between being busy and being productive. Maybe it all had to do with how I started the day. To sum it up I would say it started off, 'out of my control'. My wife made a request of me that meant I would have to altar how my day started. It meant I would have to make a couple of sacrifices I didn't want to make. It really wasn't any big deal what she was asking, it was just spur of the moment, and I don't do spur of the moment well. Spur of the moment rarely works out the way everyone wants or thinks it will. I like to make a plan, and if I have to abort or altar the plan, I can do that easier than spur of the moment.
So because it started off with spur of the moment request, and I felt like I had to honor that; I allowed it to mess with my whole day! I allowed it to mess with us. Oh yeah, there was a little tension on the home front! Words may not of been verbally exchanged; but plenty was said!
Now you know what? That is not the way to start the day! And it was my choice. I had options, I chose bad! End result, very little got done throughout my day.
It really does come down to the choices we make, each day, every moment of the day. Tonight and tomorrow, I plan to choose better, pray more, laugh a little - and Give Thanks! Have a good one, because God is good, all the time!
PJ

Expect - Engage - Enjoy

Today was interesting. I took a group with me a seminar at another church here in town, a much larger church. I was expecting this great conference, we paid a lot for this, but it never materialized. The one guy talked about how in his ministry the key was to get people to expect, engage, and enjoy their times together. We came expecting, ready to engage and enjoy; but, well...
Ok, that got me thinking about any given Sunday at church. Folks from all walks of like and with a rainbow array of needs come expecting, wanting to be engaged, ready to enjoy; but, well...
It's really that important to have our act together; for some it may literally be spiritual life and death! As a church we maybe an hour to give them a taste of the King and His kingdom; to engage them were the 'live', bring joy into their soul, and prepare them to go back out there, ready to fight that good fight.
Good thing God gave us His Holy Spirit to 'get er done'; or all would be loss.

Done vs. Do

Every Wednesday I get to lead a Bible study at a retirement center near the church. We've spent over a year in the Godpel of John, partly because of the 'rabbit trails' I allow them to take me on. Today I was asked, 'Why does (a certain faith) always portray the cross with Jesus still hanging on it?' 'Simple answer' I said, 'I don't know. But this I do know, it doesn't matter! What matters is that we know He died on that cross, was lovingly removed, cared for, buried in a borrowed tomb, and raised again on the 3rd day - victorious over death and sin and hell and satan!'
Folks, rabbit trails don't matter. What another faith teaches doesn't matter. What matters is that you know the Truth, and the Truth has set you free!! Now that matters!

I thought I would die!

Spent some time this afternoon playing b-ball w/ my youngest son. I'm 55 and way-y-y out of shape! He's 27, and just a little more than out of shape; but nothin like the 'old man'. About 30 minutes into playing 1 on 1 I thought I was going to die! It felt like my heart would leap out of my chest! Then I reminded myself, "Wait a minute, this is only a game, and certainly not worth dying for!" So I let him win! (If Levi reads this he'll really school me next time!)
But friends, Jesus is worth dying for; which is what we are commissioned to do in Matthew 16:24-27. Deny myself (die to self), pick up my cross (serve Him by serving others) and follow Him - the only way into everlasting life, available today. Letting Him win, I win! have a great day!

pleasant perfume propagation

Yesterday was Sunday, and that means it was church time. I love Sunday's! The friendships, the laughter, the singing, kids in constant motion, the hand shaking, back slapping, and friendly hugs that make up the general atmosphere on any given Sunday morning. But this Sunday I noticed something else, perfume! Maybe it's spring time, I don't know; but I noticed several variety's of perfume. And to be quite honest, they were all quite tasteful and pleasant. (I have noticed some at times that would the most pungent of skunks to shame!)
This morning during my devotion time I read 2 Corinthians 2:14, that basically says that I am to be like a sweet aroma to those I encounter that they might know God a little better through my life. I instantly thought about Sunday's 'pleasant perfume propagation'. The thought of it was pleasing to me, it made me smile and feel good inside about being a part of Sunday's fellowship in love. One thought leading to another brought into focus for me, at least for today, that I wanted my life to reflect pleasant memories for anyone I might encounter. That they, in me, might see even a tiny reflection of Christ's glory, and be intrigued. I do hope and pray that somehow, by God's grace, I, and maybe even you who might be reading this, be a 'pleasant perfume' that lingers on and on. Be a blessing.

My Little Nebraska

I have been blessed with the cutest grandaughter; her name is Nebraska and she's just about 4 months old. She has Downs, and only 2 1/2 weeks ago under went open heart surgery. She's already at home and released from the surgeon as 100% fixed. Yesterday I found out she's quit the ng tube (no energy to suck) and gone to nursing. Hee Haw!! God is so-o-o-o good; all the time! I'm a pretty happy grandpa, can you tell!

Patent Leather Shoes

Yesterday I had the privilege to visit Smitty, a friend and a 'member' of the church who's pretty much home-bound because of M/S and seizures since childhood. Smitty is an extremely intelligent 77 year old man who lives in the humblest of surroundings. I saw a picture of him from 20 years ago today, and almost nothing has changed in his house (including were he always sits). By most of our 'standards', Smitty doesn't have much of anything (some might even say a life). But one thing he does have every time I see him, shiny patent leather shoes. The kind of shoes you would rent with the tuxedo you needed for that very special occasion. Smitty wears them, (even though he probably only leaves his house once or twice a month to go to the doctor) everyday because they make him happy. That's it! Shiny patent leather shoes is all that it takes to make him happy, to put a smile on his face. When is the last time you or I found such joy in the simplest of things? I can't remember the last time I looked at my shoes and smiled? Yet sometime today Smitty probably will. I left there, like I almost always do, better for the visit and a little wiser in the aspects of life that matter the most.

Wednesday's notion

I sometimes forget just what a mighty and powerful God we serve. I just finished my sermon for Sunday on Christ, in God's authority and power, confronting and defeating the enemy on his own turf. As I wrote and pondered, I decided I really don't have a clue what it must of been like to walk with Jesus in those terrible, yet awesomly amazing times. I wrote about He and his disciples landing at some tombs after crossing the Sea of Galilee and this demon-possessed, powerfully fierce naked man, comes running at them screaming with open cuts all over his body. I wrote that the disciples would probably do one of two things: step a little closer to Jesus, or take a giant step toward the boat. I wish I could say I always stepped closer to Christ; but in truth, at various times, I think we all take that step back toward what we perceive as a safe place. So as I close my notion, let me share what Jesus' words to us all. "Take heart, for I have overcome the (darkness)." John 16:33

This is a start to sharing my thoughts. I'm not very 'techy', not even sure if keyboarding w/ 2 fingers qualifies. I know this, the 'delete' button is my favorite. Since I am a pastor, most of my notions will probably pertain to the Bible and new thoughts I believe God may have given me for that day. Feel free to share yours, in fact I hope you will. I read Romans 8:38-39 again today and was reminded again of just how wonderfully awesome it is to be a part of God's kingdom family. That no matter what I may do or how bad I may screw it up, God is still the same and His love for me never waivers. Don't you wish we would learn to be like that!