I Think We Are All Hoarders

I have to admit I have never watched, nor do I plan to watch more than 5 minutes of that show on television.  I feel sorry for the families involved and don't need to see it to know that it is a very real problem.  In fact, I really can't find any redeeming value to showing it on TV. 

Hi, my name is Dave and I am a hoarder!  Not in the way those folks on TV are depicted but I hoard my time, my thoughts, my feelings.  I don't really hoard my money, but I know a lot of people that do.  I know some that hoard relationships, opinions and even prejudices.

Why can't we all just let things go and focus on things that really matter and that will make a difference in the time we have here on earth and beyond?  What are we holding onto and why are we squeezing so tight?

Seriously do you think heaven is segregated?  Of course not, then why do we hoard our biases and personal prejudices here on earth.  The time is coming when they are going to get thrown away.  What about that money?  How many times do we have to be told we can't take it with us?  Churches, colleges, orphanages and every non-profit organization I know are struggling for funds and people are saying we can't give because of the recession, but they have been to see Mickey Mouse in that land wonderful kingdom three times this year. 

I admit it there are still a lot of things that I hoard, and a lot of them I need to get rid of.  I need to get one of those huge garbage dumpsters and park it at the front door of my heart and start loading stuff in.  My fear is that I would have to have it towed away and emptied multiple times before I really get everything cleaned out.  Luke 17:31 says, "When the Day arrives and you're out working in the yard, don't run into the house to get anything. And if you're out in the field, don't go back and get your coat. Remember what happened to Lot's wife! If you grasp and cling to life on your terms, you'll lose it, but if you let that life go, you'll get life on God's terms."

I really do want to live life on God's terms and quit worrying about what the world says.  So I'm trying to decide daily what to hold onto in this world.  I hoard my time with my family.  I know I was blessed into this world with a wonderful family, with great parents, a brother and sister in law and aunts and uncles and a wonderful heritage. I married so far over my head with a godly wife who amazes me daily with her knowledge of God's word.  I loved her parents so much and miss our trips to Tennessee.  God blessed me with beautiful daughter that will always be daddy's little girl.  She is incredibly witty and just as beautiful on the inside as the outside. God gave me a son whom I dearly love.  The last five years have been a struggle, but I have learned so much about grace and forgiveness, and I understand Luke 15:20 on a completely new level.  I am so proud of where he is now but know that the battle is still on.  I get to be a "Poppy" to two beautiful granddaughters who may have been unexpected, but are dearly loved.  So as I start throwing things away, these are the things I will be hoarding as long as God gives me breath and allows us all to live.

The rest of the stuff ... you can have it ... well except for ... just kidding take it all

Different Doesn't Have to Be Weird

Don't be conformed to the ways of this world. - Romans 12:2   Don't be just like everyone else in the world.  Be different from the rest, walk to the beat of a different drummer, go to the deep end when everyone else wants to stay in the shallow end with their spiritual floaties on.  Over and over again Paul pushed people to spiritual transformation, but that real trsnformation didn't happen by just doing the same old thing in the safe places of our life.  It is a challenge to go deeper, to get out of your comfort zone, it's a call to be different.

But being different doesn't mean being weird.  Christians need to be different than world, but still be able to relate to the world.  In the world, just not of this world.  In a effort to show their commitment to Christ, I see far too many people being weirdly different from the world.  So much so that they aren't drawing people to Christ, but repelling them.  I will never be able to give up the thought of Ghandi saying after his time in America, that he would have no doubt been drawn to Christinaity if it weren't for Christians.

Spiritual transformation happens when we allow the Holy Spirit to work in our life with no pride for who we are and nothing but respect for who Jesus is.  It is the process of sanctification that allows us to continually become more and more like Christ.  Jesus was so different from the world, but in a way that drew people toward Him.  The only ones that left were the Pharisees who felt threatened and some disciples in John 6 who thought that the teaching was too hard.  Everyone else was drawn to Him.

Why in the world would a man light a candle and then hide it under a basket?   What are you doing with your candle?  Different doesn't have to weird, just the result of a changed life. How has God been changing you one choice at a time? 

Pleasing God

This Sunday I will sharing the fourth sermon in our "How Should We Live" series from 1 Thessalonians.  This week's theme is "Live to Please God".  We sing a song that says, "For the praises of man I will never ever stand."  In theory we know that we live to praise God with our life, but something interesting occured to me as I reread this passage in 1 Thessalonians again and again.  How we treat our fellow man affects how pleased God is with our lives.  This is especially true when that fellow man is a fellow follower of Christ.  Sometimes Christians say the meanest things and it usually happens when they don't get their way.  It is so easy to criticize the other person for not doing something that you yourself should be doing as well and not even realize it.

Somebody ought to clean up that mess in the lobby of the church!  Somebody ought to start a ministry for single moms!  Somebody ought to go and visit the senior citizens in our church!  I sure wish I could meet "somebody".  Are they a real person?  Did their mother really name them "somebody"?  If so they sure are going to be busy all of their life, because there sure is a whole lot of stuff for "somebody" to do.

In verse 9 of this chapter Paul talks about "brotherly love".  He uses the word "phileo".  In its original use outside of the New Testament it meant the mutual love that children of the same father had for each other.  Maybe they didn't always agree but they were family and because of that they always had "bortherly love" for each other.  In the New Testament it became the term used for the love between fellow believers in Christ.  I wonder if "somebody" is receiving "phileo" from those who so easily use his name in a negative way.

The realilty is everytime we use the word "somebody" we have a face in mind.  At home we want "somebody" to clean up this room, at work we want "somebody" to finish this project, at church we want "somebody" to care start a new ministry or care for the hurting.   I would love to suggest that, you go ahead and get that picture of "somebody" find a really nice frame for it and have it around the house so that you will always know who that "somebody" is.  But if you really want to please God with your lives, right before you hang that picture on the wall ... you replace it with a mirror.

Life Change Doesn't Happen Over Night

When I was in graduate school I was an assistant basketball coach at the college I had attended.  We were on our way home one night after an out of state game as we crossed the Appalachian Mountains in North Carolina we found ourselves snow bound at the top of a mountain in over a foot of snow.  It was bizarre because there was no snow at the bottom.  We found a small roadside motel that looked like a place where they make movies with guys named "Bates" in it, but they had enough rooms for us and so we checked in.  There wasn't a restraunt, so we emptied all of money into the vending machines had a short snow ball fight and went to bed.  The next morning when we woke up and looked out the back window it was amazing to see the valley right behind the motel that we hadn't even known was there the night before covered in nearly two feet of perfectly, unblemished snow.  It was magnificent!  I still remember how can anything as bad as an unexpected snow storm that leaves you stranded create anything so beautiful.  What an incredible difference a night made!  It wasn't long before the plows came over the mountain and we were able to return to campus, but I still remember the difference in the feeling of going to sleep not knowing how long we would be stranded, versus waking up to the absolute beauty of the morning.

Wouldn't it be wondeful if life change in critical areas of our life happened overnight.  How many nights have you gone to bed, just praying that things would be different in the morning?  Would you be ready for everything to be o.k. in the morning or would you be as shocked as I was at the beauty that lay just behind that old hotel.  In Psalm 90 the writer asks God for a break.  He wants him to take away the pain and have compassion.  Have you ever cried, "enough Lord?" 

Psalm 90¹³ Relent, LORD! How long will it be? Have compassion on your servants. ¹⁴ Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. ¹⁵ Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen trouble." 

The Psalmist asked more good days that would match bad years.  Bad stuff is going to happen.  There are going to be unexpected storms that interupt our plans for life.  God loves us in the midst of the storm.  Sometimes when you look just behind your unfortunate circumstances, he'll reveal a beautiful painting.  Sometimes it will happen so fast that you can't believe that it is real, even though you have been praying for that very thing for years.  Life change seldom happens over night, but joy does come on that morning of change!  I know it does because as a parent I am living in the joy of this moment in time!

Joy - Really?

James 1  ² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Joy really?  When we face trials?  O.K. so it is probably not the joy that is seen in balloons and streamers.  We all face trials, but nothing like what I watched this week as I witnessed the persecution recorded on the Voice of the Martyrs website http://www.persecution.com/ . 

I just truly think that all Christians need to take some time to watch some of the videos there and find out specifically how to pray for people who are truly struggling. 

I still have caught myself complaining at times, but when I do I am reminding myself of those that are being persecuted on levels that I haven't ever experienced and that allows me to be a  little more joyful, knowing that things could be much worse.

Why Would They Follow?

I just reread the account from Mark's gospel of Jesus calling Levi (Matthew) to be a disciple?  Why would Matthew or Peter, Andrew, James or John, or any of the other seven guys just drop everything to follow Jesus?  At the time he called them He was just starting his public ministry.  He had done nothing that set him apart, they just followed.  Some guys left the family fishing business, nets in the boat, boats in the water and followed Jesus.  Why?  Matthew left his collection desk.  No telling how much ill gotten gain was under the table and he followed Jesus. Why?

I would love to know what it was about his character that made them want to follow.  My wife pointed out a few weeks ago how people followed his instructions at the wedding feast in Galilee.  The Bible specifically tells us it was the first miracle, so there was no evidence to them that a miracle was about to happen.  Mary's words were remarkable, "Do whatever He tells you to do!"  Why would they do that?  But they did!  BAM!  Water into wine and the ministry is on!  But why would they follow him?

Maybe the better question today is, "Why Don't We Follow?"  Two thousand years and millions of life changing miracles later, either directly from the hands of Jesus or the miracle of prayer.  We have seen Him work and we know what can happen and we still don't do what he says or follow his leading.

Oh when someone asks if we believe in Jesus the majority of people in the western hemisphere say yes.  But do we follow?  Why did those who had no clue choose to follow? 

Could it be that they were at the end of their hope rope?  They had tried everything on their own and they didn't know what else to try.  Matthew had cheated people out of so much money that his only remaining friends were fellow tax collectors.  Peter, Andrew, James and John were smelly fishermen with calloused hands and aching backs that needed some hope and relief that there was more to life than just this hard labor.  The servants at the wedding feast were probably terrified of how the master would react when the wine was gone.  When people come to the end of their hope rope they will do things that they have never done before.  They will follow anything or anyone that might offer hope. 

So how much longer can you hang on to the non-Messianic undivine hope rope you are grasping?  What is it going to take to realize that your marriage will never be all that is could be without Jesus?  That your children are never going to be truly obedient without Jesus?  That the money will not last no matter how hard you try without Jesus?  That the addiction will never be conquered without Jesus?   When you have tried it all on your own and you find your loosing your grip on that hope rope, follow Jesus!

But here is the best question, why wait that long?

I'd love to hear soem stories of why you chose to follow.  Or even why you haven't!

The Evidence of Things Unseen

Why does life have to be so hard?  Have you ever caught yourself asking that question?  Maybe I should ask how many days, hours or minutes has it been since you asked that question.  In this world of instant everything, some seem to think that there should be "instant peace" in the life of someone who claims to be a Christian, at least that is, if God, the Bible and Jesus are all really real. 

How does that balance with Jesus himself telling us in Matthew 5 to ⁴⁴  love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. ⁴⁶ If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?  Everyone has tough times, the evil and the good, the righteous and the unrighteous.  I have learned in the midst of the storm I just want to see the outcome.  How is this thing going to end?  Will I survive this turmoil in my life?  While that would most definitely be nice, it wouldn't be faith now would it.  At the moment we know it, it is fact not faith!

The writer of Hebrews in the introduction to that great Hall of Fame of Faith in Hebrews 11 wrote  ¹ Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.    You and I have to believe in some things that we cannot see.

Yesterday I heard an interview with a blind cross country runner.  Talk about faith in what we cannot see.  This coach has to be faster than the runner and able to run just barely ahead and given commands as to direction for one who literally can't see the way.  Can you even imagine running as hard as you can, even if it is not very fast by comparsion, and not being able to see what is coming, except through the eyes of someone else?  Warning you to go left or right, faaster or slower, run uphill or down, watch out for that hole in the path.

Here's the deal gang, if the Bible is true that is exactly what God promises us that the Holy Spirit will do.

Nehemiah 9

¹⁹ “Because of your great compassion you did not abandon them in the wilderness. By day the pillar of cloud did not fail to guide them on their path, nor the pillar of fire by night to shine on the way they were to take. ²⁰ You gave your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold your manna from their mouths, and you gave them water for their thirst.

Isaiah 58
¹¹ The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will
strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

John 16
¹³ But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. ¹⁴ He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you.

The evidence of things unseen ... thank you God ... stregthen my FAITH!

I Still Don't Know What to Say

I choose to believe 100% in an omnipotent (all powerful), omniscient (all knowing), omnipresent (always there) God!!! Without choosing to believe that this is nothing but and evil existence that will someday end in death for all of us.  To not believe this leaves humanity to live hopeless and helpless lives.  To believe it leaves humanity with some very difficult days here on this earth and yet a very bright future in the end.

But does He really cause everything that happens to happen for a reason.  If he is omniscient in that he knows how I will always respond and in turn is causing events to happen to change me, then is it my free will or his.  Am I choosing to follow Him or being manipulated like a puppet on a string? 

Can that God who is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent, bring good out of an absolutely horrible situation?  You bet He can!!

It is amazing to me how the most painful hurts in life have taught me the most.  The older I get the more I have to learn and the more I admit that I don't know.  I am a whole lot more judgmental of myself than I am of others.  I don't have all the answers anymore, not that I ever did but at least now I realize I don't.  I have learned how easy it is to come up short and not be successful.  I understand grace so much more, because I have experienced it so much more. The interesting thing is that the few lessons I have learned have almost always come out of failure on my part.  Not something someone else did and certainly not something God caused to happen.  You see I can't blame Him for my dumb choices.  But in the midst of the storms I have seen the hand of God at work.  I still don't understand the storms, but I know that he is there.  I wish I knew what lesson it is that I have not yet learned, because I would sure like to learn.

I get tired and frustrated a lot and I don't know what to say, but I try to keep on reaching.  Keep on reaching for answers, keep on reaching for understanding, keep on reaching for God and keep on reaching to pull others.  For me I have determined that I have two hands so that I can reach out for God and reach out to others at the same time.  I am reaching out for the God that is working things out for my good not causing bad things to happen for a reason.  Satan keeps bringing the bad and will as long as he is loose, but God just keeps working all things out for the good based on two qualifiers from scripture.  Romans 8:28 tells us He is working things out for the good of those who LOVE HIM and are FOLLOWING HIS CALLING on his life.  We can't live like hell and expect God to work things out.

I choose to believe 100% in an omnipotent (all powerful), omniscient (all knowing), omnipresent (always there) God!!! Without choosing to believe that this is nothing but and evil existence that will someday end in death for all of us. To not believe this leaves humanity to live hopeless and helpless lives. To believe it leaves humanity with some very difficult days here on this earth and yet a very bright future in the end.

I Don't Know What to Say

Those of you that know me, know that there are very few times in life that I can't find anything to say!  I find myself though exactly at that place.  I really don't know what is going on in the world.  I jokingly told everyone on Sunday that I knew in my heart that Mr. Camping was wrong, but had hoped he was right.  Sometimes true honestly is spoken in jest.  Maybe that is exactly what I was longing for, especially after seeing what happened in Joplin MO on Sunday night. 

I guess it is just because I have been to Joplin so many times in the 1980's and 1990's when I was a youth pastor and I stayed in motels on Rangeline that are gone now.  I ate in restraunts that are gone now.  I just spent some time on Ozark Christian College's Facebook page and though the campus wasn't effected structurally, it will never be the same.  Homes of employees totally destroyed, family and friends missing, and to date one student known dead in an off campus apartment.

Last Facebook post of Natalia Puebla, the OCC student who died in the tornado: "No guilt in life, no fear of death-this is the power of Christ in me.From life's first cry til final breath, Jesus commands my destiny. No power of hell, no scheme of man, could ever pluck me from His hand. Til He returns or calls me home, here in the power of Christ I live."  What gives a seventeen year old girl the courage to write that moments before Jesus welcomes her home?

I watched a YouTube video from my friend Kyle Idleman, who grew up in Joplin when his dad was president of OCC.  He is in Joplin helping and posted and incredible video of a church that was completely destroyed except for the cross, which was still standing.  Another picture of the Bendville Christian Church shows everything in a pile except for the back wall with the baptistry and the cross still standing.

I don't know what to say, but this is what I know, GOD DID NOT CAUSE THIS!!!!  He can and will work through this but he did not cause this.  If God allows me to this Sunday I will preach on the myth, urban legend, false teaching or whatever you want to call it when people say "everything happens for a reason". As if God is somehow behind this throwing tornados from the sky, tsunamis from the ocean as a punishment of some sort or even as a way to get even with a broken world. The world is broken that is why things aren't always the way we wish they were. God wanted us to live in total peace.  In a world void of tornados, tsunamis, floods, earthquakes, divorce, cancer, heart disease and broken families.  That all changed in Genesis 3!  Ever since that time God has been doing everything he can to help us make good choices even in difficult times, but he is not causing these things to happen.  He didn't cause them for a reason.  He can and will work things out for good for those who love Him and are following His call on them, but he is not causing tornadoes and other devastation.  He works in the midst of the devastation, but he doesn't cause the devastation or find any level of joy in the devastation.  But there is one who does ...

When the devastating events of this life, that were brought on as sin entered the world, happen there is one that takes great joy.  He doesn't cause individual events, but the sin that he ushered into the world set a path of devastation into the world that is the result of or the consequences of a broken fallen world.  Killer tornadoes and tsunamis and cancer and divorce are not part of God's plan, they come straight from the pits of hell from the moment that Satan ushered sin into the world.

I don't get it, I don't know what to say.  I am hurt, I am mad, but most of all I am confused.   Faith doesn't fix everything and everything doesn't happen for a reason.  But in the midst of my confusion I CHOOSE to hang on to these simple truths, GOD IS GOD AND I AM NOT, HE IS STILL ON THE THRONE AND HE LOVES ME WHEN NOT EVEN I UNDERSTAND WHY ... and that leaves me speechless ...

So What's a Bad Day?

I have had a bad day!  Really ?  It's all relative! 

All of us who are parents have read Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible No Good Very Bad Day, and we all somehow think it was written about us.  I mean it's March Madness and "terrible, horrible no good very bad" things are already happening.  Last Saturday I am actually rooting for the Birds with Teeth from Louisville and they give the game to West Virginia, that's bad.  Until I watch the referees in the St. John's/Rutgers game miss two obvious fouls and run off the court with time still on the clock and then I think, no that's bad! Then I remember watching in horror with the country as a Wes Leonard of Fennville Michigan makes the winning shot for his team and then die in front of them moments later.  That's not bad that's devastating!

Today was a bad day for me.  I found out that the insurance company is not going to come through on my appeal for extra physical therapy although they acknowledge I need it.  So I have to come up with another $1500 on top of the $4K deductible.  (Thanks to a special friend who already gave me $300 to help.) That was the beginning of my bad day.  Then I couldn't make good connections with my wonderful wife who is in Munich Germany because my FB and IM on my iPhone were both being screwy.  The bad day continues.  Then I wheeled around in my office chair and bent my flash drive.  My ace tech guy says, "This is not good." In fact, he can't fix it and someone I know forgot to back up most of what was on a 16G flash drive.  Am I feeling any sympathy for my day yet.

I found out last week that my dad, who is 80 years old has a clogged artery in his neck.  He is my hero and is a two time cancer survivor and has lived with a 100% blocked artery in his heart for 15 years. He had to have an MRI yesterday and is facing surgery in a couple weeks. My days not too bad I guess.

I just got a call at the office a couple hours ago that a wonderful young lady with a great family in our church has cancer again.  We found out about it on Tuesday and then she got more bad news today.  It is so aggressive this time that treatments start tomorrow. We love you Joy!  I think my day is pretty good!

I don't know what to say.  I am blessed to be a husband, father, and grandfather.  In the last week I have had the privilege of spending three incredible days of fun with each of my children.  I have a home and a fleet of cars (btw I've got a truck I'll sell you).  I have food and clothes and my wife will be home tomorrow after eleven days serving people in Romania. And when she comes home I am going to squeeze her and hold her and I don't care who is watching ... because I am BLESSED with this day!

DAYS OFF ARE SO COOL

I love being at the place in life where I can start enjoying days off.  I enjoyed waking up with my granddaughter on my head and getting to play with her and before I had to take her to Child Town.  I enjoyed getting to work in the garage and on the driveway.  I enjoyed helping Kim purge things from the house (wait until she gets back from Romania, haha).  I enjoyed visiting with a two new special people in our life.  I enjoyed going to Lowes to buy some more stuff to work on the deck and other parts of the house.  I enjoyed getting to spend the evening calling a basketball game on the radio with one of my best friends in all the world.  I enjoyed coming home to my wonderful wife after the game.  I enjoyed laughing at the fact that the last thing she said before going to walk was "I promise I'll turn you on".  She meant the game on the radio .... what were you thinking?  I enjoy the fact that some of you including Kim can't believe I just wrote that.  It makes me smile and I am trying to do that more and more.

I just enjoy that God is slowly teaching me, or better said that I  am slowly learning, to enjoy life and not sweat the small stuff.  Because in fifty years this body and this life will be nothing but dust to me, but what's inside of me, the part that enjoys things, will be enjoying worshipping Jesus 24/7/365 for infinity. 

That's real talk for my young readers and nothing but truth for those who don't understand real talk.

Days off are so cool, because I have time to think and write about random stuff!!

Peace, remember the shepherd loves his sheep and keep on reaching!

FCA JUST KEEPS ON REACHING

One of the greatest joys I have had over the last two years is the opportunity to get reconnected with FCA and serve as chaplain to the 2009 Shelby County Rockets and the 2010 Collins Titans.  I thank Todd Shipley so much for bringing me on in 2009.  He is a great coach and person and we definitely had an "Uncommon Season".  The move to a new school this year was fun, but I sure miss Ship and the Rockets.  We have two great high schools and two Christian coaches, not too many communities can say that.  I love Coach Lucas and what he is allowing me to do with a group of young men that goes far beyond the football field.

Fellowship of Christian Athletes is all about life. Sports is just the arena in which its leaders teach life and most importantly teach a life with Christ.  This morning I got to spend some time in my office with Steve Wigginton, the state director of FCA and Scott Long, the great wide receiver from University of Louisville.  Scott had a great career at U of L, and after a stint with the San Franscisco Forty-Niners is back in Louisville trying to give back by sharing Christ.  While at U of L Scott became close to FCA campus chaplain Chris Morgan who poured himself into Scott, discipling him to be a true follower of Christ.  Scott is now an area representative with FCA.

I encourage you to keep up with local FCA opportunites by reading their blog at http://www.fcalouisvilleky.blogspot.com/ .  There is an annual golf scramble in the summer and auction in the fall that I encourage you to get involved in and help out.  FCA is just Christ extended arm of the church to young people through the arena of athletics and it just keeps on reaching.  Let's help them out!

Great Morning on the Hill

Twenty-five guys gathered on the hill this morning at 7:00 to start our study on 1 Timothy.  It was a great time.  Join us for chapter 2 in two weeks.  See you on the 26th. Here is what we studied.


1 Timothy 1


1-2I, Paul, am an apostle on special assignment for Christ, our living hope. Under God our Savior's command, I'm writing this to you, Timothy, my son in the faith. All the best from our God and Christ be yours!


Self-Appointed Experts on Life


3-4On my way to the province of Macedonia, I advised you to stay in Ephesus. Well, I haven't changed my mind. Stay right there on top of things so that the teaching stays on track. Apparently some people have been introducing fantasy stories and fanciful family trees that digress into silliness instead of pulling the people back into the center, deepening faith and obedience.


5-7The whole point of what we're urging is simply love—love uncontaminated by self-interest and counterfeit faith, a life open to God. Those who fail to keep to this point soon wander off into cul-de-sacs of gossip. They set themselves up as experts on religious issues, but haven't the remotest idea of what they're holding forth with such imposing eloquence.

8-11It's true that moral guidance and counsel need to be given, but the way you say it and to whom you say it are as important as what you say. It's obvious, isn't it, that the law code isn't primarily for people who live responsibly, but for the irresponsible, who defy all authority, riding roughshod over God, life, sex, truth, whatever! They are contemptuous of this great Message I've been put in charge of by this great God.


12-14I'm so grateful to Christ Jesus for making me adequate to do this work. He went out on a limb, you know, in trusting me with this ministry. The only credentials I brought to it were invective and witch hunts and arrogance. But I was treated mercifully because I didn't know what I was doing—didn't know Who I was doing it against! Grace mixed with faith and love poured over me and into me. And all because of Jesus.


15-19Here's a word you can take to heart and depend on: Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. I'm proof—Public Sinner Number One—of someone who could never have made it apart from sheer mercy. And now he shows me off—evidence of his endless patience—to those who are right on the edge of trusting him forever. Deep honor and bright glory to the King of All Time— One God, Immortal, Invisible, ever and always. Oh, yes!I'm passing this work on to you, my son Timothy. The prophetic word that was directed to you prepared us for this. All those prayers are coming together now so you will do this well, fearless in your struggle, keeping a firm grip on your faith and on yourself. After all, this is a fight we're in. 19-20There are some, you know, who by relaxing their grip and thinking anything goes have made a thorough mess of their faith. Hymenaeus and Alexander are two of them. I let them wander off to Satan to be taught a lesson or two about not blaspheming.

That stuff at the end about letting them go to Satan to be taught a lesson or two is some heavy duty stuff!

What Do You Want To Do

Samuel Johnson, the famous British author, once said, "Nothing will ever be attempted, if all possible objections must first be overcome."  What is it that you want to do, but you are afraid to try?  Is something in your private world, like sky diving or scuba diving?  Is it something in your financial world like starting a new business or who knows maybe even tithing to God?  Is it something in your work world like suggesting a better way of doing things or maybe even switching jobs?  Whatever it is, it will never happen if you don't try.

Now we have to be careful not to do things on impulse just because it is something we want to do.  Jesus warned us of this in Luke 14 28-29 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?  For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you." Yet many people today do not count the cost before the do things and end up paying a huge price financially, emotionally and spiritually.

However,  many more people seem to spend enormous amounts of time figuring out why something won't work rather than investigating what will make it work.  Then there comes the time after all has been evaluated and maybe there are some questions unanswered that you just gotta JUMP!

When I was six years old my Uncle Sam was helping to teach me to swim.  I kept watching the big kids jumping off the high dive and I wanted to jump so bad.  Finally, one Sunday afternoon he said let's go.  Now the ball was in my court.  I wanted to go jump so bad, but I knew that once I climbed that ladder and left that board there was no going back.  The really cool thing that I'll never forget is that when we got to the deep end and it was my turn to go off the board he jumped in the water and swam to the middle and then said, "alright now go ahead and jump."  Suddenly I knew everything was going to be alright because he was right there where I was going to land and if I had trouble he was there to save me.  He is still swimming into some deep waters with me today and I will always love him for it.

Now what about you and me and the other decisions that we have to make.  We don't always have an uncle out in the water waiting for us.  But wait there is someone ...

Jesus said in Matthew 17:28 "Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”   In Matthew 19:26 he said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Before Jesus said that God reminded His followers in Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

So what do you want to do that seems so BIG?  Spend some time evaluating, praying, seeking advice and wisdom.  Then at the end of the day, even when all the questions aren't answered, go ahead and jump and know that your heavenly Father is there to catch you!

What do you want to do?

I Gotta a Feeling

I just finished watching the Black Eyed Peas rock Texas Stadium at the Super Bowl. Musically not the best, but that is typical of most Super Bowl halftime shows.  The outfits were weird, but hey they all stayed on and there were no wardrobe malfunctions.  They did bring a lot of energy and excitement, so to that extent it was a "good good night".

I am sitting here all alone now watching the rest of the Steelers and Packers Super Bowl. Far too much yellow on the field for me, but it is a pretty competitive game. So I guess that makes it a "good, good night" for us football junkies. 

I am not a real fan of the Black Eyed Peas, or the Steelers, or the Packers, but I can't get that song out of my head. You'll know that "tonight's gonna be a good, good night". 

Here's what I am thinking.  What would it take for me to believe that everyday is gonna be a good, good day?  I don't seem to have that feeling much anymore.  Four years of trauma have caused me to expect the bad in life more often than the good.  I am working really hard on changing that this year.

I have been constantly telling myself that it is great to be alive, that God is in control, that grater is He that is in me than He that is in the world.  I know this is the day that the Lord has made and I am supposed to rejoice and be glad in it. I know that the great thinker Henri Nouwen said, Joy and resentment can't co-exist."

I gotta a feeling that the problem is deep inside of me and rest in my inner spirit.  Wait that Spirit that lives inside of me is the very spirit of a Living God.  A God that created the universe in six days, regardless of what Carl Sagan and Stephen Hawking have to say.  A God that covered the entire earth with rain, parted the Red Sea, closed the mouths of the lions, that's the God whose Holy Spirit lives in me.  A God who dramatically ambushed a guy named Saul and changed his life in a flash.  A God who let His Son come to live among us for awhile, then let Him die on a cross for my sin and three days later brought Him back to life to prove to Satan that there was no power he had over us that He (God) could not overcome.  That is the God who allows His Spirit to live inside of me and every other blood brought believer!

So guess what ... I gotta feeling that tonight is gonna be a good, good night and tomorrow is gonna be a good, good day!!  I don't know I just got a feeling ....to God be the glory ... great things He has done.

Talk About Overcoming Adversity - WOW!

I have been writing about dealing with adversity and a great guy from our church has had adversity thrust on him in a mighty way over the last six weeks. I asked his permission to share a letter of testimony and thanks that he wrote for our church this week. Enjoy and be encouraged ...




I was scheduled to have gall bladder surgery on Jan 3rd of this year. On Dec 29th, I began having a sore throat and congestion. Because of my job, I was unable to see a Dr until Jan 1st. A strep test came back negative and I was put on a z-pack of antibiotic to kill whatever was going on. I was told to call the surgeon's office first thing Monday morning to let them know what was going on. They called the Operating Room and we were given the green light for the surgery.
I arrived at Jewish hospital in Shelbyville Monday morning for my surgery at 11am. As we were sitting in the waiting area, I looked up, and here came Jason Haggard (my first warrior). I was really surprised to see him. They took me back and prepped me for surgery. My wife, Nikki and Jason then came back to lead me in prayer. I was pretty anxious about the surgery (this was the first time that I had been really sick in my life) and don't really remember all that Jason said. Basically, he said "Here is your Shield!".
The surgery had lasted longer than they thought it would because my gall bladder was 8 cm long with a 5 cm stone in it and they had to widen the opening mid-surgery. After surgery, as I was coming to, I saw my second warrior, Mary Beth Eades, one of our great singers, who works in the recovery area. The first thing I remember is her in my face saying "Hey, Ken, wake up!" I went straight home and back to bed.
On Tuesday, I awoke with numbness in my feet and hands and thought that maybe it was the pain killers or from the anesthesia. Wednesday and Thursday were the same. On Friday, I went off the pain killers to see if that was the issue. It wasn't. On Friday night, we went to the ER. After 7 hours, we had no answers and were sent home.
On Saturday, the 8th, I awoke with double-vision and the numbness was now throughout about 90 per cent of my body. I couldn't feel my mouth, my mid-section and my arms and legs. The condition had crept up my body to my stomach, then jumped to my head, skipping my lungs and throat. I was unsteady on my feet and needed help just to walk from the living room to the bathroom. I guess that we should have been more concerned, but every time that Nikki and I talked about it, we always came to the same ending; God's got this!!
We met with my family Dr the following Monday and he immediately sent us the the Neurologist in Shelbyville who ordered an MRI of my head. We had to wait until Friday to get into the MRI in Shelbyville. The MRI on Friday showed no stroke in the brain stem, so another one was ordered for my neck. He was sure that it was a stroke somewhere. 41 years old and a stroke!! We were scared! The local Neurologist also referred me to the UL Neurologists because of the severity of my condition. The second MRI was done in Louisville on Monday the 17th. We met with the UL Neurologist on Wed the 19th. Again, no stroke. What was it?
The Neurologist from UL was 95% sure that I had something called Miller Fisher Syndrome, an autoimmune condition where my body was attacking my nerves and causing paralysis. It affects 1 out of 100,000 people. Normally, people who contract this condition have to be put on a ventilator because of paralysis in the lungs. The Neurologist was amazed that never happened to me. He couldn't understand why or how it crept up my body, got to my mid-section, then jumped to my head. We know, don't we?! Because of the length of time it took to get a diagnosis, there is really no course of treatment to take. I had already started to get better by the time that I was diagnosed. If the paralysis had hit my lungs, I would have died! By the time an ambulance could have gotten to our house, it would have been too late! That is probably the scariest part of this whole thing, how close I came.
I want to give thanks to all who have helped us through this ordeal. YOUR ARE MY PRAYER WARRIORS!! Our entire LIFE Group; someone was calling or e-mailing everyday to check on us and many dinners were brought by. To everyone in our church who lifted me up in prayer!!! ALL OF YOU ARE THE REASON THAT I AM STILL HERE AND CAN ENJOY MY WIFE AND 5 AND 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTERS!! THANK YOU!! And last, but not least, my beautiful wife, Nikki. You carried me through this and I owe you big!!
As I have been contemplating writing this e-mail, I have been trying to come up with a way to express how I feel about how serious this was. As I stated before, for the entire time, Nikki and I knew that God would provide. I feel that your prayers were a huge part of keeping us calm and safe. It felt like we were in a huge field and you all sat me down, circled around me facing outward with your swords and shields and defied anything to come after me!! I know that sounds corny, but to me that has alot of power to it.
Aside from the double-vision, I am now almost completely healed and have been cleared to return to work on Feb 6th. It can take up to 6 months for all of the effects to wear off and only a 3% chance that it will happen again.
I ask for one more prayer from you all. Please pray that God will show me why he saved me. There is something that He wants me to do, and I pray for the wisdom to know what His plan is.

Also, please know that any time that you need a prayer, I am honored to be considered YOUR prayer warrior!

We have seen so many examples in the past couple of years how God takes care of us, I just wanted to add my story.
Again, sorry if I rambled, and that this was so long!
Thank you,
Ken Canterbury

Does God Have Faith in You?

I heard a really interesting comment this week at a funeral that I haven't been able to get out of my mind.  The pastor at the funeral said, "When God takes your troubles away it develops great faith in Him.  When He doesn't take them away it shows His faith in you." Wow! What an idea?  Could it be that God might have faith in us to be able to handle some of our own troubles.  It is easier when He simply takes the troubles away, but maybe it is more beneficial when He allows us to go through them because He believes we are ready to deal with them.

I remember hearing Dave Dravecky, the great pitcher who broke his arm throwing a pitch and after a comeback eventually lost his arm.  Dravecky said that after he lost his arm he went on a trip to the middle east and found Christians who didn't pray for God to takeaway their troubles. Instead they prayed that he would give them the strength to endure.

On my way to the funeral I heard an interview with Chance Anthony, a young man from Breckinridge County, Kentucky who won the high school "Rudy" award for overcoming adversity.  We played them this year and he was incredible.  This young was born with only one full arm and hand.  His right arm stops just below the elbow.  At 5'10" and 160 pounds he bench presses 235 pounds and get this plays wide receiver.  In the first quarter of our game this year he made an amazing diving backhanded catch ... did I mention he has only one hand.  It was incredible to watch his young man get hit and bounce right back up, but it was inspirational to listen to him talk about overcoming adversity!  God must really have faith in him.

My wife and I have lived through the hell that many parents do of having a teenager that is struggling in life and there is nothing yo can do to help.  We pray and things are still a struggle.  Does that mean God has faith in us to be able to deal with it.  It sure doesn't feel that way most of the time.  Many a day I have cried out O.K. God enough is enough.

I want to be able to go through the storm everyday and say "Still I will praise you."  Is God letting me down by not answering my prayer?  Or is He answering by saying "I have faith in you", "You can handle this", "I've got your back", "Just keep going." 

Sometimes I think I am a pretty smart guy and I think I understand what faith and trusting God is all about.  Then like a climber trying to scale Mt.Everest every time I think I have gone as far as I can go, He says, "No we have to make the next summit."  I respond I am so tired of climbing ... could He be saying, "I know, but I also know that you have a little more in you ... let's keep on climbing ... let's keep on reaching."

I Want More ... Immeasurably More

I grew up believing that God would take care of all of our needs out of the abundance of his glorious riches. So like most parents I tried my best to teach my children the difference between needs and wants. One got the lesson the other one, not so much. Isn't that the way it always is. One child gets it the other doesn't. If they all got it we would be perfect parents and teachers, but I haven't met one of them.


Back to my original thought ... I believed for a time that ALL God would take care of was my "needs" and that all the "wants" were all on me. If I worked extra hard, saved and pinched pennies that I might be able to have some of my "wants".

Then I began to realize that God was much bigger than I had been giving Him credit for and that when I learned that I must admit I became even more confused. Why some "wants" and not others? How does He decide which? I know I am supposed to constantly be thinking on heavenly things and not earthly things, but sometimes I want, "not need", some earthly things that I really believe might then be able to help someone. So does that make it a "need"? Like Vinnie Barbarino on Welcome Back Kotter, "I am so confused". Can you relate to that?

Then I was reminded that God has great plans for me (Jer. 29:11) and that He wants big things "for me" as well as "from me". So I started digging through scripture reading about the "mores" that God offers. There was a time when I had some really BIG dreams I thought. In fact I wasn't sure that maybe my dreams might not be too BIG for God. Were my dreams solely based on "wants" and therefore out of the realm of what God might bless. It wasn't long before I began to settle for smaller dreams, they were still dreams but not what I once considered dreams. Not the crazy stuff that guys right out of seminary dream about changed lives and building churches that would bring thousands to Him.

Then I found it. The passage that I needed to see and understand about God!

Ephesians 3 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,

God is not just "OK" with me wanting more, He wants to give me "immeasurably more". He is the one than can "do immeasurably more" than I could ever ask or imagine. God can dream BIGGER than I can ever possibly dream!

Then Eugene Peterson explained it to me even more when he translated those verses this way in the Message.

Ephesians 3 20-21God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us. (The Message)

God can do ANYTHING but He is not going to force it on me, but "gently" nudge me to dream those dreams! God I don't want a nudge, barrel through me with the bulldozer of your love and dreams! OK not my will but yours ... but now know you want "more", "immeasurably more"!

Why do I forget that so easily? How does Satan get me off track with the daily battles? God help me from this day forward to never again lose sight of this truth. It's OK to want "more" ... even "immeasurably more" ... a long as it is in YOU!

Focus on God

This morning we prayed these simple 31 prayers to remind us to focus on God each day of the month.
1. God Our Creator – “Creator God, “I praise You because “You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.” (Neh. 9:6)


2. The Only God – “God, I praise You because You are the Lord and there is no other; apart from you there is no God.” (Isaiah 45:5)

3. The Almighty God – “O Lord, God Almighty, who is like You? You are mighty, O Lord, and Your faithfulness surrounds you.” (Ps. 89:8)

4. The Everlasting Father – “I praise You, Lord, as ‘the Ancient of Days’ (Dan.7:9); the ‘Everlasting Father’ (Is.9:6); who lives forever and ever.”

5. A Loving God – “I praise You because You are a loving God, whose very nature is love.” (1 John 4:16)

6. A God of Justice – “Lord, I praise and magnify You, who is just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.” (Rom.3:26)

7. A Faithful God – “Heavenly Father, I give You my praise and adoration, because You are a ‘faithful God, keeping Your covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love You and keep Your commands.” (Deut. 7:9)

8. A Merciful God – “You are a gracious and merciful God, and I praise You for Your great mercy.” (Neh. 9:31)

9. God, My Refuge, My Fortress – “I praise You, Lord, for You are ‘my mighty rock, my refuge.” (Ps. 62:7)

10. A Patient Persevering God – “Father, I praise You because You are patient with Your children, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

11. An Eternal Saving God – “I give You praise, Father the only God our Savior. To you be glory, majesty, power, and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages now and forevermore.” (Jude 25)

12. The Holy One – “Holy, Holy, Holy are You Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.” (Rev. 4:8)

13. A Personal God – “I praise You, God, because You are a personal God, who gives me the honor of knowing You personally, even inviting me to a feast at Your kingdom’s table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” (Mt.8:11)

14. A Giving God – “All praise and honor be Yours, O God, because You are a generous God, who did not even stop short of giving Your own Son.” (John 3:16)

15. A Provider God – “I praise You today, Lord, as my Jehovah-Jireh, who makes all grace abound in me and generously provides all I need.” (2 Cor. 9:8)

16. God, My Shepherd – “I bless Your name and praise You as my Jehovah-Rohi, who will shepherd me and guide me in the paths of righteousness for Your name’s sake.” (Ps. 23)

17. God of Victory – “Praise to You, my God, because You are Jehovah-Nissi, God my victory, who always leads me in triumphal procession in Christ.” (2 Cor. 2:14)

18. God of Peace – “I praise You with all of my heart, Lord, because You are my Jehovah-Shalom, the God of peace who will soon crush Satan under my feet.” (Rom. 16:20)

19. The God Who Heals – “Father, I praise You because You are the Lord who heals me.” (Ex.15:26)

20. The God of All Comfort – “Praise be to the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort.” (2 Cor. 1:3)

21. The God of Miracles – “Lord, I praise You because you are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples.” (Ps. 77:14)

22. A Forgiving God – I want to bless You with praise, Father, because you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love.” (Neh. 9:17)

23. The Burden Bearer – “Praise be to the Lord, to God my Savior, who daily bears my burdens.” (Ps. 68:19)

24. A Faithful God – “I praise You because your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies and great is your faithfulness.” (Ps.36:5/Lam.3:23)

25. King of Kings, Lord of Lords – “All honor and praise be to You, my God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light.” (1 Tim. 6:15)

26. God the Liberator – “I will praise You because you are my help and my deliverer; O Lord.” (Ps.70:5)

27. The Lifter of My Head – “Father God, I praise you because you are a shield around me, O Lord; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head when I am weary or despised.” (Ps.3:3)

28. The God of Light – “I praise You, Lord, because You are my light and my salvation, and because You know what lies in darkness, and light dwells with You.” (Dan.2:22)

29. The God of Joy – “I give You praise, O Lord, because you have granted me eternal blessings and made me glad with the joy of your presence.” (Ps. 21:6)

30. The God Who Answers Prayer – “I praise and honor You, Father, because You are a God who loves to answer prayer and who begins to answer even before I pray.” (Is. 65:24)

31. The God of All the Earth – “I praise and adore You, Lord as the Holy One of Israel … my redeemer … the God of all the earth. Help me focus on You!” (Is.54:5)


Excerpted from Pray! Magazine – Issue #12  @2002 by Robert R. Hostetler



PRAY AWAY AND STAY FOCUSED ON GOD!!!!

Be careful what you say! Just walked into a business to find a member of our church really hurting because of the way he had been treated by a customer. Worst part of the problem was the employee knew the customer also went to our church. :-(o

It's Great to Be Alive

Isn't this an incredible view!   Not the big bald guy (although he is cute) but the view from the top of Clinch Mountain is breath taking. Standing there with my lovely wife is one of those times when you think it just doesn't get any better than this.  I got to cross this mountain many times in the 1980's as I traveled back and forth between Lexington and Milligan.

While I was at Milligan I met a friend for life.  When we were freshman his favorite words were "It's Great to Be Alive".  Tim Brokaw must have said that a million times that year.  Here's the deal, I never heard him say that while we were standing on top of some beautiful vista like this one.  In fact many times it was just before, during, or after he had put smelly sweaty basketball gear in to wash as the manager of the basketball team.  Tim was a great manager because he just wanted to do everything he could to help make the team better, even when it included sweaty, smelly laundry.  But those kind of jobs rarely get recognition, yet everytime you asked him how he was doing, his response was "It's Great to Be Alive". 

It was thirty-one years ago that I first that I first heard Tim say that and I am just now starting to really understand what it could mean and learning to believe iteven when I am dealing with smelly stuff.  It is easy to stand on the moutain top and breathe in the fresh air and say "It's Great to Be Alive".  It's much harder to believe that when your child is running around out of control making questionable life decisions.  It's hard to say that when your marriage is really struggling, or your finances are out of whack, or you hate your job, you fill in your own blanks

I want to spend my life on the mountain tops breathing in fresh air and looking over a beautiful view.  However, it's only by living through some dismal valleys that we can really recognize the beauty of the mountain top.  Jesus reminds us in the Sermon on the Mount that "your Father in heaven, causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."

It has been critical for me to realize over the last few years of struggling that God loves me in the valley just as much as he does on the mountain top. He loves me when the sun is shining as well as when it is raining.  He loves me when I am following Him as closely as I can as well as when I am going my own way.

What I have learned is it's great to be alive when I choose to believe it is great to be alive!  It's my choice!  I'd like to live on the mountain top, but I'm trying to choose to be happy even when it's raining!  

Learning new technologies. Can post to my blog by text. Probably getting Iphone tomorrow. Thinking stating with 3G since I don't need a lot of apps and power.

Do You Want to Get Well?

There is an interesting story about a man who had been sick for years that Jesus comes upon.

John 5:5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”

At first reading it seems like such a silly question. Of course, he wanted to get well. Who wouldn't want to get well. But the man never really answers the question, he just begins explaining why he can't get to the place of healing. In his own way, he was saying I would love to be healed but it is someone elses fault that I can't get there. The blame game seems so unfair, and yet it is so real ... today.

Now I know that this guy was crippled, but it doesn't seem as if he attempted to make any preparations for receiving the cure he so desperately needed until the time was upon him. The water in the pool stirred signifying that a miracle was about to take place. A panic came over the one who couldn't walk or possibly even crawl for that matter, because he had no way to get to the water. Here's my hint, "when the water stirs, it's too late to do anything othr than jump, or fall, in."

I wonder if it ever dawned on him to get closer to the place of healing when everything was quiet. Doesn't seem like it? But what a break ... the ultimate healer happens to walk right up to him. Even though he was in the general neighborhood of healing, he wasn't near the place of supernatural healing, but the healer came to him and ambushes him with his healing touch.

I am learning more and more that God can do anything He wants to do and He typically ambushes me with his love when I least expect it. (thus an ambush) But I am also learning that life tends to go much better and God can work more in my life the closer I am to where He really wants me to be. Unfortunately, like this man I find myself close but not close enough.

Here's my thought. I see a lot of people continually doing the same thing and expecting different results. Always kind of close to where they need to be, but wanting something different to happen without moving even closer to the "pool". "If you keep doing what you've been doing you are going to keep getting what you have been getting."

Do you want to get well? Why not get as close as you can to the pool, so that all you have to do is fall into Jesus arms.

Can You Fix It?

Today I was asked to share the two most important lessons I have learned over the last twenty-eight years of ministry. The more I thought about the question the more I realized that the most important lessons that I have learned, I have learned in just the last few years, maybe even the last few months.

The last class I took in my masters program was a course in Crisis Counseling. The final was a mock counseling session with the professor being my client. After going through all the things I could think to ask and listen to I suggested some steps to deal with the imaginary crisis in her life. Later as we reviewed my exam the professor looked at me and said, "You are never going to be very good at this." How do you respond to that? Thank you maam, may I have another? Instead after the initial shock, I asked the pressing question "why?". She looked at me and said, "because you want to fix everything and some things just can't be fixed."

My beautiful wife had been telling that for years, when rather than just listening to what she was upset about, I started calculating a plan to fix it.

Over the last few years, I have been forced to deal with a lot of things I just couldn't fix. Even though I said the words, I kept trying to fix things. When I did give those things over to God, it wasn't very long until I started taking them back. I am finally getting it.

So when I was asked what the two biggest lessons were, I thought for a moment and said the first one has been a long hard lesson. Lesson one was "I can't fix everything."

Lesson two has just hit me in the last couple of days, "I can't fix anything!" Not the kind of things I have been trying so hard to fix. That's why Jesus had to die. He died to fix me, and everyone of us with sin debt so big that only he could fix it.

Eddie Carswell and Michael O'Brien have written a song that says, "So before the day slips away and want to stop and say I love you and be still and know that you are God!"

So now I am trying so hard, not to try so hard.

The Basement or The Penthouse Vol.2

Joshua said, "Make a choice today who you will serve, but as for me and my house we will serve the Lord." So we are back to choices. Imagine you are in the "elevator of life" and you have 100 buttons in front of you each representing a level of life from the basement to the penthouse. Which button are you going to push?

You might think the choice seems obvious, but not for everyone. It seems that although there are more rewards the higher you go, there are also more expectations. So what will you choose? You can have the best that this has to offer, but there will be expectations. Many choose to settle at this point. So what will you choose?

Have you ever been on a real elevator and thought you were going up only to have the doors open and realize that you had gone in the wrong direction? Or maybe you have just not been paying attention and when the doors opened you hop off only to find out you are on the wrong floor. I have done all those things on real elevators and on that imaginary spiritual elevator as well. Sometimes I mean to make the right choice, but I make the wrong one.

Then the hardest thing is when you make the right choices and still things don't go as you plan. Thieves tend to want to break into penthouse homes more than they do basement apartments. Jesus said that we face a thief that wants to steal from us, kill us and ultimately destroy us. The reality is that there will never be ultimate peace until we are in the ultimate penthouse of heaven at the feet of the Father.

I want to make the best choices I can until I get there. I never met Sharon, but I know her grandparents and I sat in their kitchen this morning listening to great stories of the choices she made to live in the penthouse with Jesus. This morning at the age of twenty-four leukemia took her life here, but allowed her to move into the penthouse permanently. Some will say it is a tragedy. The real tragedy is for those who come to the end of life at whatever age without choosing to live with Jesus. I am so sad for Bill and Wanda and their family, but Sharon chose the penthouse and she only had to wait twenty-four years to get there. What are you going to choose?

The Basement or The Penthouse

You are moving into a new high rise apartment and the manager says you can have your choice of a basement apartment or the penthouse for the exact same price. Which apartment would you choose? The choice may seem obvious, choose the penthouse. But not everyone would make that choice. I wonder why would someone choose to live in a dark gloomy basement, when they have the opportunity to live on top of the world with a bright great view.

In an interesting translation of John 10:10 we might hear Jesus say, "There is a gloomy slum lord that wants you to live in the basement of this world so that he can steal from you, kill you and ultimately destroy you, but I have come to move you into the penthouse so that you can see forever and keep on reaching higher." It's your choice! What are you going to choose?

I struggle sometimes to keep on reaching higher. Sometimes Satan wins the battle and I find myself settling for the life that he wants rather than the life that Jesus came to give me. The abundant life that is available in the penthouse! Abundant life! Jesus wants you to live life abundantly, to the fullest, in the penthouse!

Where do you want to spend your life here on earth? In basements or in penthouses? It's your choice!