Cyber-Bullying

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I guess you don't realize how big a problem is until it happens to you, or your kid. My daughter has recently become the victim of Cyber-Bullying and it angers me that kids could be so hateful, mean, dirty, nasty and evil (or maybe just ignorant) to send texts like; "I hope you die," "I will punch you in the face," "I will put you in the hospital" and dropping the "F" bomb like it's the word "the."

I did a little research on this and I found out that it's taken very serious by the authorities when this kind of stuff happens ... like we could press charges. We aren't going to do that at this point, but I just wanted to post this so that parents will teach their children to A) Report this stuff to parents when it does happen, B) Never bully someone even by text, C) Report this to school authorites when it does happen, D) This kind of stuff really hurts people.

So all that said, parents please sit down with your kids and help them understand the importance of proper use of computers and cell phones. 

Hate

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Hate is a very powerful and dangerous emotion! We all have felt it's power burn in us. Hate is an emotion that we need to keep a tight grip on, because I have seen people, unknowingly, allow it to control them, directing their every decision. And it is so destructive!

Hate not only destroys others who are getting the brunt of our hate, but it destroys the person who is wielding it! It's like a cancer.

1 John 4:7 "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and he who loves  is begotten of God and is coming to know and understand God."

Challenge:


Search your heart today, and if there is HATE in there, get it out ... and walk in love!

Following God part 2 of 2

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I personally feel that we complicate the whole "God's Will" and "Following God" thing. I am not saying it's just easy, but I think we over-think it too many times. At least I do on occasion.

Here are some simple straight-forward guidelines I follow that have proven to be very helpful:

1) If it's wrong, don't do it!

2) If it's right, you don't have to pray about it, just do it! (this isn't to mean that everything that is right or good is something that you are to be doing ... but you should be able to figure that out)

3) Seek wise counsel (the key word there is "wise")

4) If it's God today, it will be God tomorrow. (patience is a virtue)

5) Follow peace.

6) Life is a journey not a destination. (life has it's ups and downs ... roll with it)

7) Always ask God for guidance.

8) If it's questionable, don't do it.

9) If you are unsure, wait! (#4)

10) Ask yourself, "is this the wise thing to do?" and if it is, then do it.

In my over 41 years on this planet, 36 years that I have memories of (don't remember much before I was 5 years old) many, if not all the decisions I have had to make over my life thus far, have been pretty clear cut. I have made them difficult, or convoluted because the bad decisions I have made have made even easy decisions difficult because I had to dig myself out to see clearly.

Example: You steal something (bad decision) now the police are after you, so you run (another bad decision) you do whatever you need to do to get away (many bad decisions) then you lie to cover up (yet another bad decision) ... on and on it goes that your life is spiraling out of control.

I say, stop the cycle! Just stop, come clean, tell the truth, start making right choices right now, right where you are, and eventually those choices will begin to change your life.

Following God - part 1 of 2

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Ruth 1:16 "Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God."

Yesterday I had an appointment to meet someone and rather then jumping in my car to ride along my friend decided to "follow me" to our destination. That's normally a challenge, not only for the person following but also the person leading. And this is especially true when trying to follow me in a car. I drive pretty aggressive, and fast (obeying speed limit laws though ... cough, cough - Lord forgive me for lying!)

I took off in my normal "I'm going for the Gold" fashion and then realized, "oh wait, someone is supposed to be following me, so I better lead in such a way that is possible to follow." (A lot of lessons there I do not have time to unpack!) I slowed down, even had to pull over a couple times to let him catch up ... but he did a pretty good job following me because HE STAYED CLOSE BY! And therein lies the secret to following God, "stay close by" and you stand a better chance of not getting lost!

I will talk more tomorrow about HOW to "stay close" to God!

Going Crazy

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Has your life ever felt just crazy busy? Ha ha!

I am sure if your life is anything like mine the answer is "YES!" Well let me encourage you to stay in control, take a deep breath and invite God's presence in to calm things down.

When I am feeling crazy, which is pretty frequent these days, I take a few minutes of my "crazy day" and do something I like. For example I take a bike ride, or read a fiction book, pray, read a Psalm or Proverb, or play a game with the kids, or talk a walk, drink a cup of tea, or even pop in a favorite movie at the end of a long hectic day.

Here is something important to remember; life is a season and this too shall pass!

Rock'em Sock'em

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I remember playing the old Rock'em Sock'em Robots game! I loved that game!

I was reminded of the story of Joshua (told in the Old Testament book of Joshua) and how he had to fight for what God had given him. God had promised Abraham that his descendants would occupy the land of Canaan, the Promise Land. And many many years later Joshua stands just outside that land. It didn't just fall in his lap, he had to possess it, take it, fight for it. This reminds me of life. Sometimes in life we must fight for what God has promised us.

We must fight for our spouses, fight for our kids, fight for our jobs, fight for what is right! It's worth it!

I want to encourage you who may be tired and want to give up - Don't give up! Fight the fight of faith! Press onward and upward! God is with you! Ask Him to help you, He will!

Suspicious

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sus·pi·cious   /səˈspɪʃəs/
1.tending to cause or excite suspicion.
2.inclined to suspect, esp. inclined to suspect evil; distrustful: a suspicious tyrant.
3.full of or feeling suspicion.
4.expressing or indicating suspicion: a suspicious glance.

Have you ever met people who were suspicious of everyone and everything, even when there wasn't anything for them to be suspicious about? I am sure you have, I have. So, what about you; are you a suspicious person?

Suspicion is really distrust, and it's not a good trait to have. I've always taught, because my Dad taught me, "trust people until they break that trust." We can't base our trust on our past experiences. For example, if you had a bad experience with a Doctor (or whatever) you shouldn't be suspicious of every Doctor now!

I remember the scandal that came on the Catholic church because of some priests who were bad ... most everyone became suspicious of all priests after that, and even of the Catholic church. That was so unfortunate for all the wonderful Priests who were serving in the Catholic church at the time.

I would challenge you to trust, unless there is good reason (not just something in your head)to be suspicious about. And if you have suspicions then you should address those in a healhty God-honoring manner to get clarifty so you can trust.

Is Bigger Better?

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There is this thing among pastors called, "Church Envy" and it's all about the bigger your church the better. And we all want a bigger church. And if I am honest I get caught in that trap way too often.

I think for the most part we pastors want our churches to be bigger for a lot of good (even God) reasons; more people to do God's work, more resources to help hurting people, more people means more people reached for God, on and on we go - all great reasons that are sincere and from a heart of love! I know, because those are my reason. But "does size matter?" I don't know, but I would say that it's not the size that matters but what your church does with what it has that matters most.

Of course I am saying this because my church isn't big, right? I hope I'm not "that guy" ... the guy who has a smaller church who's always dawgin on the "big church." I dislike when pastor do that ... always saying bad things about mega-churches, all because we don't have one and wish we did.

I guess I am writing this post just to say that it's okay to want your church to be bigger! What pastor if he/she is really honest wouldn't want that? A weird one, in my opinion. BUT, all that said, there is nothing wrong with a smaller church! I guess that's my main point here! You (pastor) should be content with what ever size church you have while continuing to pursue God's highest and best. Don't settle, keep pressing on, and pressing in to God's plan and purpose for your life and the church (people) you serve and get over the whole "church envy" deal.

I can only give you an example from my own life of having a medium-sized church (small church is less than 100, medium 100 - 300, large 400 - 999, mega 1000 plus) ... I am having the time of my life! I love it! But there was a time that I didn't. Why? Because all I focused on was what I didn't have rather than on what I did! I hope you do the same.

(*The church in the above picture is where I married my sweetheart in 1994)

The Work - Home Balance

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I struggle with this whole Work-Home Balance. I am thankful to have a home office so I am around the house a lot, but I am also never far "away" from the office and it's easy to do a little work during family time.

I have had to create boundaries for myself. For example I shut it all down by 7pm (sometimes earlier, typically, unless I have a wedding) and commit that time to family. We each have to find that balance and make it work. We never want to get out-of-balance and be working our life away, or just spending all our time with family and setting ourselves up to go bankrupt.

One way to find the balance it to talk to your spouse! They'll tell ya, maybe they already have ... are you listening?

Disclaimer: There are seasons to work and home. For me personally being a pastor I am slammed busy during the spring time leading up to Easter (Lent Season) then also around fall Thanksgiving and Christmas (Advent Season,) but in the summer it's slow. So we take vacations in the summer, visit family in the summer, etc. So we are heavy on the family side during that time. Then comes the fall we buckle down for Back to School, Back to Church!

I made a commitment that I would not sacrifice my family on the altar of ministry, and it's a constant battle to keep that in check. I hope for you and your life you are doing the same. Because at the end of life who cares how much money you've made, or what business you've built if you have lost your family/children.

You can do both, and do both well! God bless!