Wasted Life

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Ephesians 5:16-17 "Making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is." - ESV

First let me say, there is nothing wrong with sitting in a Lazyboy and watching a little TV from time to time. BUT, if most every day after work you plop down infront of the"one-eyed-mnonster" until bed time, you're living a wasted life.

Again, on occassion that can be just the thing you need to relax from a long hard stressful day at work!

You can take or leave this blog entry, but can I just challenge you to a new thought? If there are things you'd like to have different in your life; your marriage, your relationship with kids, your income, etc. Maybe turning the TV off and reading, or spending time with spouse and/or with your children could make the difference to improve those things.

"If you keep doing what you've always done, you'll keep getting what you've always gotten." - unknown

Bottome line: You do not want to wind up like the guy in the picture above ... you have so much more to offer yourself, your family and God! He put you here on earth for more than that!

Who is Right?

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This is the question I get most often not only from secularist, or people who do not claim any kind of belief or faith in God, but also "religious" people; "so, who's right?" they say. And what they are referring to is; what religion is right? What is THE WAY to God?

That's a great question! I recently had a person, who I would call a Universalist (he believes ALL roads lead to God) tell me that he believes there are "many ways to God" and there is no "one way."

Though many would call me a Conservative, there are just as many who call me a Liberal; it all depends where you land personally and in how you see me and others. I like to consider myself a Moderate, or a person who is balanced, or centered. I like to be compassionate and sympathetic to others beliefs, ideologies, philosophies, experiences, faiths, heritage, religion, etc. I teach and preach from what I know and believe to be true - and that is the Jesus of the Bible... BUT that shouldn't mean we can't LOVE EACH OTHER and GET ALONG. Right?

I can hear you saying, "but Timmy what that means is that you secretly believe that what others believe is wrong, and you are right?" Don't we all? Ha Ha! I mean seriously, let's be honest with ourselves! But in reality what I believe to be true does not make ME right, but God's plan for saving humanity right, and I just believe what He said He did, He did. It's not anything that I've done or can boast about doing ... I haven't saved anyone, Jesus is the one who did it, not me. So I don't consider it prideful or arrogant or narrow-minded to have stumbled onto the truth. That would be like saying that someone who stumbled onto mathematical truth was being prideful, arrogant or narrow-minded for discovering "mathematical truth" and then sharing those truths with others. The truth is the truth ... is it not? And wouldn't or shouldn't LOVE compel us to share that truth? In a loving, humble and gracious way? I think so.

Here is how I look at it, when we get to Heaven I really believe there are going to be people there that we would have guessed wouldn't be. I believe that God is more loving, gracious, kind and forgiving then any Fundamental Christian out there! Trust me, there are NOT only going to be Southern Baptists in Heaven, despite what they may think! Maybe they're the ones who won't be there? Lol!

But I would challenge us all with this scripture: Proverbs 22:2

New International Version (©1984)
"All a man's ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart."

New Living Translation (©2007)
"People may be right in their own eyes, but the LORD examines their heart."

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
"A person thinks everything he does is right, but the LORD weighs hearts."

King James Bible
"Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts."

Bible in Basic English
"Every way of a man seems right to himself, but the Lord is the tester of hearts."

WHAT DO YOU SAY?

You're Not Helping Pat

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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!

Hamster Heaven

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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!