Keep Off

/


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

/


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

/


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

/


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

/


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

/


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!