Billy is a Doctor?

Things are moving so fast. The world seems to be spinning faster and faster every day, it is a wonder that we are not all slung off this planet into outer space. Technology keeps leaping forward so fast, it is hard to keep up. The jobs keep evolving, making it harder to stay on top without constant learning and training. Working now involves both Husband and Wife, leaving the kids to be raised by some child care so busy that they do not have time to pay attention to a single kid.
 

But ah the day is over, the drive through dead stopped traffic is done, your haven is just behind that door… As you open the door, more chaos, your kids running and screaming, fighting, and totally being ignored by the already arrived Dad, who is working on his laptop. Here they come, Mom, Mom, Mom… without thinking you scream “WHAT?” Billy is driving his truck over Barbie, and messing up her hair… But Mom, she wouldn’t move when I was blowing the horn… The with a loud and angry tone you grab them both, and say “stop fighting, be nice, Billy stop driving over Barbie, and Barbie, MOVE when the horn blows!!!”

 

Now to the Husband… Did you not hear your children fighting? What? No. I got this email from Bob, and it is the funniest thing I have ever seen. Hey what are we having for dinner? “THAT’S IT” you say to yourself, and scream, make your own dinner. I have had a rough day, and am just going to soak in a hot tub. As you head to the bedroom, you know that the hot tub idea is only a dream, so into some comfortable clothes, and back down to the kitchen to make something eatable and nutritious so the kids won’t starve to death.

 

After dinner, you turn on the TV for the kids, sit on the couch and pull out your phone. Oh what wonderful technology, everything and everybody at the tips of your fingers. And away you go browsing all the craft sites, blogs, and texting with friends, and keeping up on your social media. Your husband busy playing an online game on his laptop.

 

Yes, life is flying by. Little Billy doesn’t know what playing catch with his Father is like, and Little Susie have never played tea party with her Mom. The kids are growing up right in front of you, but you cannot even see it. They are just one more annoyance in the little time you have from the constant grind of life. Their memories will be filled with the bullying at day care and school. The bad influence of the rotten kids. And the values of day care employees and teachers.

 

One day you will look up from that three inch screen, blink to clear the sleep out of your eyes, and the kids will be adults. Their fragile minds already shaped, and their morals already decided. Their memory vaults already locked, and nowhere in that place, are the happy events that a mommy and daughter or Daddy and son shared. Then with a look of surprise, we will hear you proclaim… Billy is a Doctor?

May God help the young parents today to realize that the greatest gift that God has given to a family are these impressionable young children, who long to be help and loved. I know we are all busy, but maybe, just maybe we can adjust our lives and our cost of living in a way where Mommy can stay home and raise the children. Even if not, at least change your mentality, that coming home from the stressful world, you find the haven in the involvement with your family and not with your phone.

Expectation

We all have expectations in life. If you are married, then you have expectations of your spouse. If you have children, then you have expectations of them. If you have a job, then you have expectations of your employer. As an employer, you have expectations of your employees.

We also have expectations of the world around us. The weather, the Ocean, the Mountains, the Animal kingdom, both wild and domestic. Because of science, we expect certain things to be consistent, like a chair to hold us when we sit down; or the wings on our airplane to suspend us above the earth’s surface, as we are propelled to our destination.

I could go on, but I think you get the point. We live in a world of faith. We are taught the basic law of physics, and believe that there will be oxygen to fill our lungs when we breathe. We believe that most wild animals are dangerous and approach with caution, or with weapons to defend ourselves. We believe the Sun will rise in the east, and set in the west every day, and when it is not seen, we still believe that it is still there, but hidden from sight by clouds, clouds that is, that we believe to be vaporized water, waiting to become solid again and fall to the earth as rain.

I have to snicker a little as I think of the atheist going through life in these simple acts of faith, yet denying the one who created all the laws our science has discovered and taught us, which we have come to trust as truth, and reply on them to be… Consistent.

What about the Christian? We are the ones that have believed the truth of God’s word, that he is God, that he created us as eternal beings, that because of sin, we were separated from him (true death), and that because of his great love for us, this God who created us, sent his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, to suffer death (separation from God) when he took responsibility for our (my) sins. We believe that because of that act of sacrifice, he is able to offer to every human being forgiveness of sin and restoration to fellowship with himself. To sum up, we were dead (separated from God) because of our sin. Jesus paid the debt (death) for our sin. And everybody that believes God is brought into a relationship with God again (eternal life, no longer dead).

Now, what can we expect from God every day? Eternal life. Hope beyond this world and its system. Peace. Love. Joy. Fulfilment. Family. Comfort. Encouragement. Super power. Direction. Treasure in heaven. I bet that you could go on and expand tis list, so it has got to make you smile as you think about no longer being dead, but alive unto God, and called his child. I mean, who else can say to their classmates, My dad is God.

Now, what does God expect from you? I could start a list that would be very valid. But instead, I want to just mention one thing that the Lord Jesus told his disciples, it is what he expects from us, and maybe sums up everything that can be said. God expects us to expect him. Mar 13:37  And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch. I read this, and had to stop and meditate for a moment, I asked myself this, “Do I EXPECT God today?” isn’t that what is meant here, to watch, or to expect something to happen, to expect someone to come? Do I expect God to empower me to serve him today? Do I expect God to provide my needs today? Do I expect God to protect me today? Do I expect God to come back for me today?

 

Given a huge list of God’s expectations, I could easily attempt to meet most of them, and make a good excuse for not accomplishing them all in a day, but when I think that there is just one thing God expects from me, I no longer have an excuse for failing, just a looking down as I scuff my feet in shame.

Our God is so great, and greatly to be praised, and greatly to be served. He has always proved faithful. Remember that this morning. Stop and ask yourself, do I expect God today?

 

Watch, he expects you to.

Every Body Talk

I think it is amazing how we as humans communicate to each other with BODY LANGUAGE. Even when we speak the same language, we seem to use our hands to convey the words that we speak. When we are adamant about what we are saying, our hands move wildly about, swooshing this way and that, pointing in every direction, or just making gestures with our hands.

I guess at the Tower of Babel, when all of the people had their languages scrambled, and no longer could communicate with each other in words, there was a great need to use body language to express the words that could not be understood otherwise. But here we are many many years later, a world that for the most part speaks the same language, able to use people skilled in interpretation to talk and share ideas verbally, but still the gestures are part of our communication.

Try carrying on a conversation with someone with your hand in your pockets, don’t take them out when you talk, no matter how tempting it will be, and see if you can remain motionless. Then with hands constrained, your body will swag, sway, wiggle, bounce, scrunch, and oh yes, smile and wink like crazy.

When involved in an emotional conversation, whether angry, happy, or just excited, we find our arms carrying our hands high in the air, waving about, balling our fists, punching the air, swooshing (I Like that word) back and forth, letting the one listening to us know how passionate we are about what we are telling them.

As a Christian, there should be a lot of conversations with God in your life. Most probably telling him what you expect from him, some begging for mercy, and a lot of just thanking him for what he has given. How many of those conversations with our heavenly Father are about his Son, and what he did for you? What His Father let him do? And what His Father did to him, for you? When reading your Bible (how God talks to you) and you see these things, does that make you want to stop, and talk to your Father, and say Thank You? I bet at those moments, you want to raise your hands high, maybe wave your hands in a sign celebration. I wonder how we can keep our hands in our pockets when we talk to God? What keeps us from swaging, swaying, wiggling, bouncing, scrunching, and oh yes, smiling and winking like crazy, while we thank him for his great gift of Eternal Life, and the forgiveness of sins through the death of his Son? Some may look at you and think you have lost it, but go ahead, take the hands out of your pockets, stick them up high, wave them about, and say to our Father, Thank You!

 

I am pretty sure it only matter what he thinks. I guess he might think it pretty cool.

MFL Oct 2013

Father and Son story:

Father: My Son, come with me. We are going to the alter of God, to sacrifice.

Son: But Father, why do we have to go so far away to offer a sacrifice to God.

Father: Because it is God’s will that we offer there.

Son: I want to please God, I want to please you Father.

Father: My Son, I want you to carry the wood that the sacrifice will be laid on.

Son: I see the wood, and the fire, and the knife, but where is the sacrifice Father?

Father: My Son, God himself will be the sacrifice, that alone can please him.

Father: This is the place that God has chosen. Son, I believe God. I want you to believe God also.

Son: Oh Father, I have seen your faith, I have seen God bless you, I do believe God.

Father: My Son, God has told me that you are the promised seed that will carry my name, and become a great nation, a people that he will call his own. But the sin of man is so bad, that only God himself becoming the sacrifice to atone for man’s sin, will make man… will make me and you fit for his presence.

Son: Will God now be that sacrifice, today on this alter?

Father: {With tears flowing down his face} Not today Son, today God has told me to offer you as a sacrifice to him. Do not fear my Son, Believe God. He has said that you are the promise to me, that you will be the father of the great nation, and he will call them his people. God has said this, and if I slay you on this alter, he will raise you from the dead. I believe God my Son.

Son: {With tears flowing down his face} Father, I believe God. I am frightened, but I believe even as you that God will bless even though you slay me on this alter.

Another Father and Son:

Even as The Father led his son to the cross, the Son cried, Father, if there is any other way, nevertheless Not as I will, but your will be done. Even when the Father bound his son to the wooden cross, his Son cried out, Father, forgive them. Even while suspended between earth and the heavens, no place found for his soul, he expressed care for his loved ones.



Then his Father stretched out his hand with the knife of wrath and judgment, {the judgment that belonged to man}, this Father’s hand was not stayed, the knife fell on his Son, God’s judgment that man deserved meted on his Son, …we hear the Son cry out… My God, My God… Why have you turned from me? Then he died.



I believe God, do you? God the Father told his Son, I will not allow your body to corrupt in a grave, this day I have brought you forth. And the Son was raised from the dead. God’s Will was done!



Do you believe God?

Hey, I May Be A Redneck

Hi, my name is Mike. I have worked since July of 1974. Let me tell you my story. I bathed, got dressed in the best clothes I had, combed my hair, and started knocking on doors. I filled out applications, and interviewed for jobs. I sold myself to every prospective employer. I got my first full time job in July 1974 as a truck driver, running hot shot delivery. I worked hard the entire eight hours my employer paid me for. In the free time, I did other things that other people did not want to do, like clean bathrooms, and take out the trash. I learned every aspect of the business my company was involved in, and learned how to do other peoples jobs, and was the one chosen to fill in when they were out. I made myself invaluable to my employer, so if someone had to be let go, it would not, no, could not be me.


In the thirty-nine years since I have worked hard, and smart. I have never had anyone during that time pay for my food, clothes, rent, car, gas, utilities, or anything else. I paid my way. I paid my taxes, and I paid my own healthcare.

I did not get my job because I belonged to a special club, and it was not because of my skin color, it was not because I knew somebody. I was a long hair, doper with barely a high school education. I got that job, and every other job I have had because I went looking for it, and sold myself as the best candidate for it, and then I worked my fanny off to keep it.

Now to clarify my timeline a little. I came to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ in September 1979, and he saved my soul, and changed my life and habits. He gave me hope, and I soon came to learn that it was he that provided my every need. No, he did not plant a money tree in my back yard, what I mean is he gave me a new perspective, I then realized, as I have since to this very day, that he provides job opportunities, pay, and strength and wisdom to do what I am called upon to do. So, when I say I have paid my way, I clearly know and mean that God has provided the means, and I have taken the responsibility placed in my hands and tried to be faithful in it.

Since then, The Lord has brought the most beautiful woman in the world to be my wife in January 1984. Then in July of 1986, he sent us the most precious gift ever, my little princess, (she is all grown up now, but my little sunbeam nonetheless). We paid for her childbirth. We paid for her food. We paid for her clothes. We paid for her school.

In our country there is a debate over the rich paying their fair share, (the liberal’s side) and the individual being responsible for their own selves, (the conservative’s side). Let me say this, this is not a matter for Christian duty, to feed, clothe, heal, and house every American citizen. This is a debate of people that work hard every day, and pay taxes to this country with people that don’t work and don’t pay taxes, as to if the country will use the taxpayers money to reward those who don’t pay taxes. It is a shame for people to put this on the Christian as their duty to do this because of our faith. This is an American thing, not a Christian thing. If you want to add politics to Christianity, then add Christianity to politics, and adhere to the rule set forth in the New Testament, “If a man does not work, then he shall not eat”.

I propose this. I will be more than willing to pay welfare to an unwed mother, and pay for all the healthcare, food, rent, utilities, and even the gas for their Cadillac they drive to the welfare office to pick up their check, if they will first agree to a permanent birth control option. OK, that’s a little rough. Rather, that they know that we the “paying” people will pay for ONE child only, every other one they Choose to have they pay for. That’s what I call “Physical Responsibility”.

Hi, my name is Mike, and I guess I am a redneck.

The Monster Under The Bed

In light of current events, I think I want to go into Naïve mode, turn off the news, and avoid news feeds. Ignorance is sometimes pretty blissful. It is somewhat comforting to think that the people we meet out in public, the people we work with, and even the neighbors that wave and smile back at you when you greet them, are just as they seem, Good, Normal, and harmless people.

The truth of the matter is that we live in a very scary world. We have had such protection in this country, unlike many third world countries where the citizens eat at the local restaurant or bistro with careful watching for anything suspicious, and are always at the ready to take cover in case of some sort of attack. Where we go about our lives in our naivety that all is well, and all people are good.

Reality is that that person in the store you just met and had a pleasant conversation with, who seemed so nice and friendly, or that co-worker that jokes around with everybody, and even that neighbor that seems to keep to their self, never causes trouble, and always seem so helpful, may very well be the Monster under the bed. Who hasn’t heard a news broadcast after a terrible tragedy, and the neighbors or co-workers when interviewed, say something like this: “He or She was such a good person, I would have never thought they were capable of something like this”

Monsters belong under the bed. How many nights we as a scared little kid, kept our ankles on the bed, and safely tucked under the covers (everybody know that monsters are attracted to ankles). But to a kid, that was the worst of it. When morning broke, we had the solid confidence that the monster was gone, not able to come out in daylight. We could spend our day doing all the fun things we loved to do.

As we become adults, we find that the monsters do come out in the day, and they are not afraid of light. They do more horrendous things than grab ankles, and this knowledge brings fear in our daytime lives, and we want the safety of the bed top, and snugly tucked covers to protect us from all this terror. I tried to teach my daughter when she was little that being brave in the face of danger is what will restrain the monster. So I would come in her room, never fearing that grisly beast, but would take him, and lock him in the closet, and I would let her throw away the key. I think I may have cured her fear of night time scary things, but I hope I instilled a confidence in her to stand up to the scary things in this world, to live with eyes wide open, and not to fear.

When we fear, the monsters win.

Do you believe God?

Do You Believe God?


We often ask people if they believe in God, and get many different answers. Most would say that they believe that there is a God, but to what extent he relates to them varies. But ask somebody if they believe God, and it only leaves room for two answers, Yes or No.

This would be a great evangelistic tool as well, because you may get an intelligent reply with a question like: “Do I Believe WHAT about God?” Again, they will try to change the focus to something about God, and not the question asked.

The question again is: “Do You Believe God?” The Bible never tries to establish that there is a God, or to try to argue that he has any certain characteristics. The Bible starts with a simple Phrase: “In the beginning, God created the world…” The Bible starts with the assumption that God is, and why not. He created the World, the Universe, and every living thing in the world, including man. Why then should he start his book that he gave to tell us what he wants from us with an argument of who he is?

So as we read the Bible we see that God wants man to obey him. Man sinned and disobeyed. Then we see God gave a list of laws that reflect his holiness. Man broke every one of them. Then God sent his only Son who did obey God, who did keep his Law, and who pleased God by his holy life, and God allowed man that disobeyed, sinned, and displeased his creator take his Son, and beat him, bruise him, and nail him to a cross so that we could watch him die a long and slow agonizing suffocating death on that cross. Then to top it off, God took all of the sins of those very people (including you and me) and made his Son responsible for them all, he made him guilty of those sins, and then punished him for them. His Son died because of my sins.

God now has one law for man. To believe him when he says that his Son paid it all on that cross, and by believing on him, you will now please him, you will be holy, and you will be obedient to him. You will have the life he created you to have.

Do You Believe God?