I Was Naked! But Now….

Luke 8:26-27 They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee. When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. NIV

Have you ever pondered the story of the Gadarenes demoniac? The disciples about lose their lives when travelling by boat with Jesus laying there asleep. He calms the troubled sea and they arrive safely to the shore. But it is out of the frying pan and into the fire- they are met by the rabidly raving Gadarenes demoniac. ‘Can’t we just relax for a little bit after what we just experienced?’ they ask themselves. But no, it’s another day at the office.

Jesus cast all the demons into pigs and they went belly up in the water and were drowned! The man was in his right mind (and hopefully clothed by now!). He followed God’s one step plan and took one step out of darkness into light!

The people from the nearby down were more frightened of what Jesus had done for this man than they were frightened by the demoniac. They ask Jesus to leave and he does so.

The delivered man wants to join Jesus but Jesus tells him to stay and preach what has happened to him. He does so, one man, one message. And the town believes and comes back to Jesus when he comes ashore.

We have so many messages that are ineffective and he only had one and it was effective.

Sometimes as pastors we communicate well but it is not effective nor what the people need to hear. Lord give us your message for meeting the needs of the masses!

Why Me, God?

We Remember and We Honor Our Heroes!

Today is Memorial Day here in the United States - it is a day we honor and remember those who gave their lives in service to our country.
Freedom is never free!

Another Use for Tennis Balls!

The Tennis Ball Chair!
Working on mine now! Do you want one?

Contents of Heart Cleansed!

When we were living in Pensacola, Debi's dad, Harry, had a janitorial business- 'Meticulous Cleaning.' (for those that know him it sounds like him doesn't it)

From time to time he would be called upon to clean a house where the occupants had moved out and left everything. Not too bad a job unless there was an unplugged refrigerator involved. One filled with rotting and putrid food left behind! How bad can that be you may ask?

Recently 7 individuals were taken to the hospital and 28 needed treatment for vomiting and nausea after an office worker in San Jose, California decided to clean out the office refrigerator. The AT&T building was evacuated by firefighters after someone called 911 due to the smell and the symptoms of the office workers. Authorities say that an office worker decided to clean out the refrigerator, which had been unplugged and was full of moldy food. The combination of the cleaning supplies used and the old food apparently caused many of the office workers to become ill.

There you have it, the stench can be unbearable!

I think of the things that are often found in our hearts. Pride, Sin, Rebellion, Anger, Greed, Malice, the list of Eph 4. 25-31! Often our hearts can be like that refrigerator- smelly, moldy, and toxic to those around us!

Only God can come to the refrigerator of our hearts (without a hazmat suit mind you) and clean the grossness of our hearts!

Ps 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Eze 36:25-27 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.

Let's endeavor to keep our hearts pure and don't let junk build up in them!

Bridge Building for Those to Follow-

The Bridge Builder
(Will Allen Dromgoole)

An old man traveling a lone highway,
Came at the evening cold and gray,
To a chasm vast, deep and wide,
Through which was flowing a sullen tide,
The old man crossed in the twilight dim,
The sullen stream held no fears for him;
But he turned when safe on the other side,
And built a bridge to span the tide.
"Old man," cried a fellow pilgrim near,
"You're wasting your time in building here.
Your journey will end with the closing day;
You never again will pass this way.
You have crossed the chasm deep and wide,
Why build you this bridge at eventide?"
The builder lifted his old grey head,
"Good friend, in the path I have come," he said,
"There followeth after me today
A youth whose feet must pass this way.
This stream, which has been as naught to me,
To that fair-haired youth may pitfall be,
He, too, must cross in the twilight dim,
Good friend, I am building this bridge for him."

Pastor friend, are you just living for the now or are you laying the foundation for the future travellers?

Things to do with Tennis Balls

FLUFF LAUNDRY Put a clean one in the dryer with towels, comforters or down coats to fluff them right up.

CHILDPROOF FURNITURE Cut a tennis ball in half, or cut an X-shaped slit in it, and use it to cover sharp corners.

CREATE SLIDING FURNITURE Cut in half and place under the feet or corners of heavy furniture to move it without scratching the floor.

HIDE THINGS Got a ring or money you need to temporarily hide? Slit a tennis ball and insert the goods. Just make sure no one uses it.

GIVE YOURSELF A MASSAGE For a foot rub, place a ball on the ground and rotate the sole of your foot over it. Or put three tennis balls into a sock, knot it and use it to knead your muscles. Aaahh!

USE IT IN THE GARAGE to help park your car- Cut a hole in the ball and put string in it and hang it from the ceiling so you will know when to stop the car. Especially helpful if you have cluttered garage!

How do you use them (besides play tennis, duh!)? suggestions...?

Officially 60!!!!

Well, after many surprises- the Vine Fellowship church suprising me with a birthday party last week, girls at Starbucks singing Happy Birthday to me while giving me a free drink, my son Ryan making a surprise visit for Mother's Day and my birthday- I am now officially 60!

I thought Jesus would return before now! :>(

We celebrated Mother's Day/Birthday with the family at Rockfish then back to the house for Pineapple Upside down cake, some pool and then a movie.

Funny thing when I woke up this morning, I didn't feel 6o! Tennis tonight, we'll see!!!!

Thanks again to everyone who wished me well! I love you!

Happy Mother's Day to all!

Happy Mother's Day to my wonderful wife Debi! She is the best!
(shown here with Lina and Arleen-Debi's mom)

I am and shall ever remain 'a one woman man.'

Never Ever Shake a Baby!

"On Monday, April 20th, 2009, Noah, our five month-old son, was shaken by his daycare provider. Though the road ahead remains uncertain, and the tragedy of our story is undeniable, we have created Noah’s Road as an instrument of hope. Please share this website with your friends and ask your friends to share it with theirs. Help us harness the healing power of love and prayer to help our son – our heart and our breath – to heal."

Today my blog is a tribute to Noah and his fight for life and to his parents, Michael and Erin Whitmer, as they stand watch over their son.

http://www.noahsroad.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=81789982302

This Mother's Day I am praying for Erin, Michael, and Noah!

Please join with me!

Starbux Order--

I've done this before- haven't you?

Is There Anything Easy in Life?

Surprise! Gotcha!!!!!

It was a typical Sunday morning except we had set up the sanctuary for a church picnic. Lots of rain had forced us inside. But it was exciting!

I began the service as usual, opening song, I came forward and began to explain to guests the unusual setup, then prayed...and sometime during the prayer I lost control of the service. When I opened my eyes the congregation had on birthday hats and were blowing party whistles...Surprise! My 60th birthday is next week May 10th, Mother's Day. They decided to celebrate a week early!


So there I was totally surprised! I didn't see this coming! They pulled off the most amazing 'Gotcha' I have ever seen.

This had been in the works for 6 weeks or so, spear headed by my clever (howbeit somewhat deceiving staff), and the entire congregation knew it and kept it from me-the Silver Edition, my father-in-love Harry, the children, the animals- were all quiet about it.

They showed a video of my life-amazing how fast 60 years passes one by; my friend Danny Tice greeted me with kind words and then a tennis walker for future years of tennis; and my son Ryan spoke words that encourages a dad.

It was a great day with Texas BBQ, my wife's outstanding Potato Salad, cake, cupcakes, gifts, and especially, wonderful, encouraging, and supportive friends!

I think as I've gotten older I have become more trusting, naive, gullible, and easily deceived... or maybe I have always been that! I wonder!!!!

Blogger or Boog...?