You're Not Helping Pat

I just read what Pat Robertson said about the tragic events in Haiti ... and I don't know what to say but, "ZIP IT PAT! Please, for the sake of Christ - You're not helping! Your words are like daggers into the hearts of those who are down."

I feel the same as Jim Wallis, a prominent progressive Christian leader, who said, "As a Christian leader, I have had to spend too much of my time trying to overcome an image of Christianity that was created by the likes of Pat Robertson," he wrote. "When evil strikes, it's easy to ask, where is God. The answer: God is suffering in the midst of the evil with those who are suffering."

This kind of stuff is what drives people far far away from Christ ... when we Christians open our silly mouths and spew stupid stuff... especially at a time like this... these people need our prayers, and our help!

I heard someone say that "what Pat said is actually factual...", and my thought there is then his timing is WAY OFF! It would be like walking up to the scene of an accident and telling the bloodied victim in the car crash, "your hair is messed up!" Just not a good time to share that, even if it's true. So in my estimation he is wrong on all fronts here!

Colossians 4:6 "Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone." - NLT

Again, as with anything I say here on my blog - it is just MY OPINION and we are all entitled to one!

2010 Hanky Panky Challenge

Anytime you use the word “Hanky Panky” it means one thing for the guys and for the girls it may mean yet another … so let this be your guide … we are encouraging couples to take the month of February,the love month, to focus on their marriage by creating moments of intentional intimacy, which we are referring to as “hanky panky” with each another everyday. This means making time to connect, whether that is pure sexual intimacy (intercourse) which most dudes are probably hoping (praying) for – you are welcome guys!, or lots of kissing, touching, tickling, massages, foot rubs, bubble baths together, washing each others hair, pillow talks, praying together (for each other and your family), read the Song of Songs, try reading a romantic book together, watch Dr. Phil – sorry, just kidding … watch a romantic movie (not Texas Chainsaw, or Saw I, II or III), cook dinner together, talk a walk together, write a meaningful note to one another and read aloud, go on a romantic date … basically go back to what you did when you first met and fell so madly in love with each other! Crazy how just a few years of marriage and we forget all that stuff.

Side note here; many times this is what I see failing in marriages; everything that I have mentioned above stops after a year of marriage. Simply, we take each other for granted, we are too busy (or we feel we are too busy). Yet when I talk to couples about their schedule I see that there are many opportunities in their “busy schedule” for intimacy, but it’s filled up with TV, Sports, Hobbies, Kids stuff (nothing wrong with that, but honestly how many activities do your kids really need to be in? I mean seriously! Is it worth losing your marriage over? Not a win for your kids if you ask me! The best gift you can give your kids is a healthy marriage!)

So again, we are CHALLENGING you (if you are married) to engage in HANKY PANKY everyday for the entire month of February!

Every year we get phone calls from ANGRY RELIGIOUS people who get their panties all in a wade over the Hanky Panky Challenge, and I can only guess that their sex life is really lame (maybe not ... plus my wife just told me that was judgmental to say, so I take it back)… so here is our official “disclaimer” below.

DISCLAIMER: This challenge is only for those who are in a committed relationship (which we here at Mercy Church would consider that to be those who are married.) Yes you can be in a committed relationship and not have the piece of paper from the government, but let’s just be real honest here … the “paper” is a BIG deal, hence the reason so many people are scared to get that little “piece of paper”, because it’s a HUGE COMMITMENT.

CHALLENGE FOR SINGLES: Only NON-SEXUAL Hanky Panky for the month of February! I mean come on; this would only help to deepen your emotional relationship anyway! Seriously, get to know one another without touching tee tees. Ladies, if your guy isn’t willing to take this challenge I would seriously reconsider him as a person you would want to spend your life with, I am not joking actually. And guys, if she can’t hold off for 28 days, then marry her … TODAY! Ha ha!

Happy Hanky Panky!

Alone in a Crowd

Matthew 28:20b "... And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

There are times in all our lives we feel alone. I have discovered a few things that really help overcome those feelings.

1) Don't be ALONE- Allow good close friends and family to share in your victories and defeats. It's a crazy thing, but the more we "feel alone" the more we want (so we think) to be alone. Feelings are fickle and should not be what we use to guide our steps.

2) THINK positive - Regardless of what some negative people say; our thoughts do make a huge difference in our mood. Paul tells us in Philippians 4 to "think on things that are true ... good..." And Proverbs tells us that a "... merry heart is like a medicine..."

3) TALK positive - Going alone with the thought above; what we TALK about, often becomes what we THINK about ... and our words to others, about others and about ourselves are crucial to our well being.

4) KNOW that God is with you - This is one of the biggest forgotten themes of the whole Christmas Story ... God came to earth to be WITH US ... we are NOT ALONE.

5) TRUST that God is working on your behalf - Many times loneliness comes as a result of feeling hopeless, or helpless ... which comes as a result of hard times. I have spoken to more people in the last year experiencing these feelings than ever before in my 20 years of ministry. But we must all have FAITH in God's ability to work in and through us in difficult times.

6) PRAY - this should be #1, and understood as the first thing we should do when feeling anything other than great ... God is a God who listens, cares and does act. Talk to Him!

Also, just know that you are a person that God loves, and He created you for a purpose!

Happy 2010

Jeremiah 29:11 "I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD,
plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

As I look forward to 2010 I am hopeful! Not just for the things that pertain to me, but also you, your life, your dreams, your hopes!

My sincerest prayer and hope for you this year is that you would LOVE the Lord your God with all your heart ... and LOVE your neighbor as yourself! And when (if) you do that, your life will be just where you really want it to be; then you will truly live a meaningful fulfilled life!

Merry Christmas

I would like to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I prayer sincerely that 2010 will be the year your dreams come true!

My one thought for you this Holiday Season is to not forget the greatest gift of all; given to you from God almighty ... His one and only Son, Jesus, the savior who loves you deeply.

Thank you for reading my blog posts, it really does mean a lot to me that you would even care what I think! I love you!

Nothing to Fear

Psalms 23:4 "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me."

Sometimes the path that God calls us to follow is scary ... but if He is with you, you have nothing to fear!

Hamster Heaven

My daughter's Hamster, Mr. Snuggles, died yesterday. He was 3 years old, so he lived a long full life, and just fell asleep and never woke up.

I am not sure what your experience has been when people have died; but in the Christian world people say that famous line, "everything happens for a reason" a lot. Which is TRUE and NOT TRUE depending on the context. You also here that phrase used when something bad (or good) happens; for example - you get in a card accident, break your leg, end up in the hospital next to a person who you lead to the Lord ... or even better yet ... you meet your future spouse in the hospital because he too had been in a car accident and broke his leg ... and there you lie side by side ... like it was a divine game of God crashing cars to bring you two together(the examples are endless).

In the context of cause and effect, this "thing" happened because this "thing" was done ... in other words all effects do seem to have causes. Yes, this is true. BUT in the context of God is in the business of crashing cars is ridiculous and in my personal opinion not a God I want to serve.

In the case mentioned above, don't you think that God could have brought those two people together in a less violent and in a more humane way? I think so, if indeed He really was trying to bring them together. Those stories always amaze me, cause I have heard those kinds of stories before to only here them later getting divorced ... and I am left puzzled at how "God" could have brought them together so positively (in their minds) to only a few years later ... end it all.

Back to original "car-crash" story; the REASON the car crash happened was because the driver had bent down to pick up the tipped-over Starbucks coffee cup and took their eyes off the road at the same time the car in front of them had to slow down drastically for the school zone speed change. So, yes there was a REASON for the car crash, but it wasn't God and Jesus playing a heavenly game of car-crash-derby!

Now, I will say that God CAN and often DOES use unfortunate circumstances to accomplish His will ... it can happen. In other words can will work in the midst of tragedy ... but that doesn't mean He caused the tragedy. Understand?

A truth you should know: Things just happen sometimes ... it's called life!

I have been to many a funeral to hear people say; "God must have needed another angel" (no, humans can not become angels), "They must have had sin in their lives" (this one is totally ridiculous ... because if true, then we would all be dead ... for we are all sinners), "They were just so close to God that He took them" (Very unlikely, you only see this 2 times in the Bible ... and if this is true I don't want to get too close to God), "it must have been their time" (what? They were only 12 years old ... how could that be fair?), "they died so this person could find God" (Seriously, I thought Jesus already died so we could find God ... so was Jesus not enough?)

On and on we could go ... but I hope you get my point; life is life, and yes God interacts and is involved in our lives, especially as we allow Him access. But we make choices each and every day that have consequences ... sometimes good, sometimes bad. I believe this is why PRAYER and LISTENING to God is so important!

I do not believe we are stringed-puppets and God is on the other end bouncing us around ... I believe that God is a very active God on our behalf, and this is why He has given us the scriptures to study and read and to know Him more, friends to get guidance from, churches to gather for worship and serve people through ...

God bless you today as you follow Him!

Fair Weather Friends

Proverbs 17:17 "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity."

I googled "Fair weather Friend" and here is the first definition that popped up; "A friend who is only a friend when circumstances are pleasant or profitable. At the first sign of trouble, these capricious, disloyal friends will drop their relationship with you."

Have you ever had friends (not sure you can call them friends really!) like that? I have.

Have you ever been a "fair weather friend?" I hope not!

I love the verse from Proverbs above; "a friend loves AT ALL TIMES." That's what we all want from our friends, and what our friends deserve from us.

Jana and I just gathered with our closest friends for a Christmas Dinner and we all laughed, cried, laughed some more ... we talked about the good times, the bad times, the challenges of life, the victories of life, the uncertainties of life, the fears, the hopes, the dreams, the path before us and much more. And we committed to being there through the thick and thin of it all. Are you that kind of friend? Do you have those kinds of friends?

There is no doubt that when things are UP, and things are SUCCESSFUL friends are plentiful ... I have seen this first hand in my life ... and I have come to the conclusion that the only friends I want are those who will be there through it all.

Call, Text, Email a friend today and let them know that you aren't a Fair Weather Friend ... but a true friend who will stand by their side in the good times and in the bad times.

Fishing on the Wrong Side of the Pond

I am not a big fisherman or anything, but I do like to fish and have even caught a few worthy-to-talk-about fish. I remember when I was just 10 years old, down at the Lake of the Ozarks with my Grandpa (call him Papa) we were fishing off the dock of the great grandparents place there and I was using stink bait (nasty stuff by the way ... a challenge to wash that stuff off the hands) great stuff to get-ya a Catfish. The only thing about fishing for Catfish is the lack of activity ... it's a waiting game really! You cast your line out there, then sit and wait. I know why so many fisherman either dip, smoke or whittle wood ... it can be boring. But when you are with someone its the LIFE! It's like smoking a good premium cigar ... always more enjoyable with someone to talk to! On with my "worthy to tell story" ... my bobber made a small ripple in the still water which caught my attention. I jumped up to take a closer gaze to see if it was the real deal, or if it was just a turtle playing with it. All of a sudden the bobber is gone, my pole is is shaped like the letter "n" ... I grab that sucker and yank it and start reeling it in ... seemed like a long time later (maybe 15 minutes) I was standing on a 7lbs Catfish.

What happened next was actually horrifying, and why I now throw back when I fish, my Grandpa took a hammer ... well you can imagine. I may need to see a counselor about this after all. Lol!

The majority of my "fish" stories, unfortunately are times not like the 7lbs Catfish story, I have reeled in more then my share of 4oz Perch over the years, though honestly it's always exciting to reel in something.

I tell this story because I have also many stories, where I was casting, casting, casting, and casting and catching nothing. I changed bait, still nothing, change poles, changed dip, lit a new cigar ... still nothing. Then I walk around the pond with the same bait, same pole and cast ... and wham ... caught a fish, cast again ... catch another ... on and on it goes. And all I did was MOVE to another part of the Pond. Too many times we are either too stubborn, or ignorant to move and we over analyze WHY the fish aren't biting; it's the bait I am using, it's the pole, it's the weather, it's the guy over there, I need a toolbox, or a bigger toolbox ... we then start to second guess and think, maybe I need to read more books on fishing.

I think life is like this sometimes ... sometimes we are just fishing on the wrong side of the Pond.

This reminds me of a great story about Jesus and His Disciples that John tells us.

John 21:1-11 1Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias.[a] It happened this way: 2Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3"I'm going out to fish," Simon Peter told them, and they said, "We'll go with you." So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.4Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.5He called out to them, "Friends, haven't you any fish?" "No," they answered.6He said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. 7Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, "It is the Lord," he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.[b] 9When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. 10Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you have just caught." 11Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn.

Notice Jesus said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." ... interesting. So they apparently had thrown the net on the wrong side of the boat (I would assume he didn't mean "not the left side") and that is why they hadn't caught anything all night OR maybe they caught the mother load BECAUSE they were fishing WHERE Jesus had told them to fish.

There are so many things to unpack here, and I will do so in my NEW January Series ... but you must realize these guys were full time fisherman! They knew what they were doing. They weren't doing anything wrong all day long that lead to them not catching any fish per say ... they just weren't on the right side of the boat.

Starbucks Patch

I have a confession to make; I may be addicted to Starbucks Coffee? Me and millions of others ... so i guess I am not alone. I am sure that in a few years there is going to be a huge CNN (or FOX) news story released about some addictive chemical that Starbucks sprays on their coffee beans to make us feel like we need it! I have heard that QT sprays on that same chemical. Lol! I am thinking of inventing a Starbucks patch!

What is it about Starbucks that is so addictive? I would guess it's the whole Starbucks experience.

I guess I should have some deep truth to convey here with this thought, I am sorry to say that I don't! i guess I would just say, drink responsibly!