Keep Off

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Tempting sign, at least for my son it is! Lol!

I see the sign above not as a kill joy, a sign to keep me from having so much fun on the dunes, but a rule or guideline to protect the beach. It's the same way we should view God's "rules" or "guidelines". God is not trying to keep us from fun, but from pain. He is trying to protect us!

John 10:10b "...I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

Trust Him!

Storms

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Jesus said ...John 16:33 "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."

Just like life, it can't be sunny every day! Though I am sure most of us wish for that, but that just wouldn't be life now would it?

I can say this with certainty; we will have less storms in our life if and when we live as God has instructed.

I think I have mentioned this story before, but it bears repeating ... I once counseled a pregnant teenage girl who was just so upset over her "troubles" (being pregnant) and she actually said, "why is God doing this to me?" And my sarcasm almost came out of my mouth by asking, "is your name Mary ... Mother Mary?" But I held it in.

She was mistaken in her thinking that God was doing this to her. She did this to herself. She made the choice to have sexual relations with a boy she was not married to. And she was blaming God? You've got to be kidding me. But aren't we all guilt of this? I know I am!

I cry over not having enough money, (yet I am lazy when it comes to using my gift to make extra money) or I bellyache over a few pounds of weight I want to lose, (yet I still eat ice cream late at night and neglect physical exercise.) We all do this.

Like the picture above, some storms are not our fault, nor do they have anything to do with me or what I have done or haven't done ... they just come as a part of life. So how do you handle them? In the case of this storm Jana and I grabbed our gear and ran back to the condo, barely escaping the rain. In sort, we dealt with it by running away; when storms come your way in life, how do you deal with them? Hopefully you don't run away, unless that's is the best thing for you and those around you.

My answer is: Take each storm as they come and walk through them, prayerfully, with eyes wide open.

Directions

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Finding your way around can be difficult at times. I know on our way down here I decided last minute to change our route. We usually go through St. Louis, then Nashville ... and I decided just as we pulled off 151st onto I-35 to go through Springfield, MO then Memphis (Elvis' hometown) and so on. And that could only be done because I had a map to look at ... like the sign above.

Signs give us clear direction, or should at least. I feel that is what the Bible is for humanity, a map if sorts. Giving us insight on HOW TO LIVE. It gives us direction.

Can I just say that a map doesn't help you unless you look at it ... just a thought!

Have a great day!

Life's View

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This is my view this morning, awesome huh! What is your view? I am not talking about about looking across at your neighbor's home, or your backyard, but your life's view.

If you are like me, which I am sure you are, my life's view changes with the tide of life ... when life is good, my view is good, when life is tough, my view isn't so good. But should it be like that? I don't know? I do know that our attitude should be good no matter what life throws our way; good, the bad, the ugly.

Maybe we should reflect on that today ... what is my view of life. Because I do believe that how we view life plays a huge role in how much we enjoy life.

God bless!

Shark Attack

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We nearly lost Vandon to a HUGE great white Shark ... I was able to get a quick picture before I rescued him.

Actually, we haven't even seen a shark yet (yes, we usually do). We hope we get to see a shark feeding, just not on a person, of course! Unless they are mean. J/K!

Not much to report to you since we just got here, but as the days pass I will share some highlights with you here on my blog.

So far Vandon and Shaeylea have ridden some big waves ... especially today since there was a storm that moved in kicking up the waves a bit. I nearly lost my shorts when a big wave hit me (I didn't have my suit tied up) ... I learned my lesson ... TIE YOUR SUIT!

I must say that I do love the sound of the ocean (the sound I sleep too most every night) ... there is nothing like the real thing.

Pastor

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God put a desire in my heart to be a pastor when I was but a 10 year old little boy. My parents recently came across a little piece of paper in a hope chest in the attic that had "I love Jesus with all my heart and I want to help people and be a pastor when I grow up" written on it. It was signed by me in October of 1979.

That's crazy! And here I am in 2009, some 30 years later, working as a pastor and helping people.

Q: So why did I want to be a pastor 30 years ago?

I have always had a heart to help people. I was born with it I guess. Maybe my parents drilled it into me? No sure. Neither of my parents where pastors though, so ... I don't know where it came from but that God called me to it.

Ephesians 4:11 "And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers." - NAS

I honestly didn't feel there was any other choice for me ... and I say that as a positive. I love helping people, and I always have, and I am sure I always will.

All my life I have followed (stumbling along the way) the path that God laid before me. It's not always been easy, and I have wanted to take many detours along the way and in some cases have taken the detour, but God kept me and keeps me each and everyday always gently bringing me back to the place I am to be.

One simple motto I attempt to live by in my life is when faced with a choice I ask this question before I chose:

*Is this thing (whatever it is) inline with my life's goals? If so, then proceed. And if not, then don't do it!

And that little thought has helped me along the way.

Let me give you an example that may help to clarify just what I mean. I am a married man with Children. Even though I am a pastor I get invited (or have the opportunity) on occasion to go to a club after work with friends (typically not people in the church) to have a drink.

Now, nothing wrong with that in and of itself. Nothing wrong with having A DRINK, nothing wrong with HANGING WITH SOME FRIENDS, and nothing wrong with being in a CLUB. BUT (a big "but" that is) when I ask myself the question; "is going to a club for a drink after work (when I should be going home to be with family) with some friends inline with my life's goals of a happy, healthy, life long marriage?" The answer becomes obvious to me - No, it's not a sin per sue, but it's not right for me.

On and on I could go with example after example of times we are all faced with choices and I can not tell you how important it is to CHOSE WISELY! There have been countless times in my life when I wanted to do something, but when I put it through the TEST question, it fails ... so I don't do it.

Chose wisely all that you do, and I hope that you have the life you've always wanted! I believe you can, I really do!

Self Leadership

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I think too many times we are too dependent (lazy may be a better word, but I don't want to offend anyone) on others to "do it for us" (whatever it is) rather then doing it for ourselves.

Unfortunately this is also true in the local church; I am guilty of feeling this way as well. "I want my local church (that I only attend when I'm not too busy)to fix all my problems, teach me the whole Bible, teach my kids the whole Bible and make them behave (and if they aren't behaving it's the churches fault) give me a worship experience that brings a tear to my eye and gives me goose bumps, makes my spouse more loving, my job more enjoyable, and makes food taste better ... etc etc.

Then all week we do absolutely nothing to continue to feed ourselves spiritually ... and then again we wonder why we aren't growing ... it's never our fault ... so we blame everyone and everything other then the person to blame - OURSELVES!

If I am not in shape physically, I don't blame the local YMCA that I attend, I blame myself for not doing what I need to do to grow (or get in shape) everything I need to get in shape is available to me, but I must pick up the weights myself and move.

As for those of us who are married ... I think it's the husbands responsibility to LEAD spirituality in the home ... if a home is not growing spiritually ... it's the husbands fault! (There can be exceptions ... but rarely). And for those of us who are parents, its our responsibility to TRAIN UP OUR CHILDREN in the LORD ... we parents should TEACH our children the things of God.

Parents we are with our kids 7 days a week, and the local church gets them for an hour once a week (maybe) ... it would only make sense that the primary teacher and spiritual discipleship of our children in coming from us ... let's step up to the plate parents! Don't slough that responsibility off on someone else ... jump in and play an active role in their spiritual growth!

Where do I start?

1) Buy a good book (study guide) on whatever you want to learn.
2) Buy a childrens bible devotional - turn the stupid TV off and read it to your child every night before bed.
3) Serve in the the local church you attend ... press in!

We've Got it Backwards

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I was thinking about marriage again today and I just had this thought as I was sitting next to my wife at the pool; we've got it backwards.

When we first meet that special someone we chase them, date them, love them, call them, buy gifts for them, think of them, tell other people about them, compliment them, go places with them, we want to be with them all the time ... we spend many hours on the phone talking to them, we tell them how much we care for them, on and on it goes ... then we MARRY THEM. And all that "dating" stuff STOPS.

And then we wonder, "I don't know what happened ... it was great when we were dating ... we've just grown a part ..."

So, I am here to tell you that we've got it backwards ... all that "dating" stuff above should be for marriage!

And if you use your kids, job or life as your excuse why you don't ... you are just making lame excuses! Yes, I will agree that you have to get a bit more creative and put a little more effort into it, but it can be done. We trade childcare with another couple we are friends with so we can at least get 2 official dates a month.

So, if this is you, back it up and reverse it!

Rich Poor

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I get frustrated with myself and others as we complain about "not having enough money" when we are really rich; especially when you compare what we have and what the rest of the world has... I am ashamed of my attitude!

Just a couple of questions for us to consider when tempted to complain about not having enough:

1) Do you have a place to sleep indoors?
2) Do your cars sleep indoors?
3) Did you eat yesterday? Will you eat today?
4) Did you eat all you wanted?
5) Did you have enough water to drink?
6) Do you have a TV? How many?
7) Do your TV's have cable? Or a DVD Player attached?
8) Do you have at least one pair of shoes?
9) Do you have at least one shirt, and a pair of pants?
10) Do you wash in a public lake, or do you have running water inside your house?
11) Do you have a computer, cell phone, any kind of game unit?
12) If you have children, do they have clothes, more toys then they can even play with, food when they are hungry, water when they are thirsty?
13) Have you gone out to eat in the last month?
14) Have you gone to a movie theater to watch a show in the last month?
15) If you had to, could you come up with $100 today?

If you answered YES to any of these questions, then you are better off then 70% of this world! Stop complaining and be thankful.

Disclaimer: Nothing wrong with having these things and more! But please be thankful, and generous! If everything you have is just for you and yours ... you've got a problem; you don't have money, it has you!

Luke 12:28 "...From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more."