I'd Rather Have Jesus!

Jesus deserves our sole attention. Nothing else should even come close to demanding our allegiance.

A young man was seated next to his girl in church one Sunday and his intentions were more upon her than upon the message. Leafing through his hymnal till he found what he wanted, he placed it in her lap and pointed to the hymn: "I need thee every hour."She took the hymnal and searched until she found the appropriate hymn to respond: "I’d rather have Jesus."

The song writer wrote:
I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold
I’d rather be His than have riches untold
I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands
I’d rather be led by His nail scared hand

Nothing else should even come close to demanding our attention. We need to continue to fix our eyes and hearts on Jesus; He alone is truly the lover of our souls.

A song writer said it this way:
"Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
in the light of His glory and grace."

He has invited us into His life. How can we refuse?

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...?

Rap Chop!

We've all seen him. But this is really the only way to enjoy him! enjoy your day- thanks Ryan!

Satan Wants to Kill Your Church

Rev 3:1-2 Write this to Sardis, to the Angel of the church. The One holding the Seven Spirits of God in one hand, a firm grip on the Seven Stars with the other, speaks: "I see right through your work. You have a reputation for vigor and zest, but you're dead, stone dead. "Up on your feet! Take a deep breath! Maybe there's life in you yet. But I wouldn't know it by looking at your busywork; nothing of God's work has been completed. Your condition is desperate. TMB

Satan wanted to kill the Sardis church! Satan wants to kill your church and he’ll use people (even your friends) to carry out the dirty deed. He even wants to use you!

What are the tactics of the one who comes to steal, kill, and destroy the church?

Kill Unity- He wants to set brother against brother. He wants there to be strife. Forget love! Join your favorite faction! Splinter into warring groups.

Kill Harmony- fight among one another (fighting fundies?); desire to be the one in charge; let your pride get the better of you and others. Allow him to speak accusations against others (especially the pastor) in your mind and then believe them.

Kill Humility- try to get and maintain the credit for everything; boast often of your accomplishments. Tell others how much better you can do it! Desire to be seen!

Kill Purity- live like the world and by their standards and just try to cover it on Sundays! If the righteousness of others condemns you then you are living an impure life! Scoff at the pastor stressing Holiness and purity.

Kill the Pastor- yikes!!!!!!

Jesus said He would build His church; don’t let Satan use you to try to kill it!

Drink On...

...coffee that is!!

Drinking coffee may do more than just keep you awake. A new study suggests an intriguing potential link to mental health later in life, as well.

A team of Swedish and Danish researchers tracked coffee consumption in a group of 1,409 middle-age men and women for an average of 21 years. During that time, 61 participants developed dementia, 48 with Alzheimer’s disease.

After controlling for numerous socioeconomic and health factors, including high cholesterol and high blood pressure, the scientists found that the subjects who had reported drinking three to five cups of coffee daily were 65 percent less likely to have developed dementia, compared with those who drank two cups or less. People who drank more than five cups a day also were at reduced risk of dementia, the researchers said, but there were not enough people in this group to draw statistically significant conclusions.

Dr. Miia Kivipelto, an associate professor of neurology at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm and lead author of the study, does not as yet advocate drinking coffee as a preventive health measure. “This is an observational study,” she said. “We have no evidence that for people who are not drinking coffee, taking up drinking will have a protective effect.”(note to self- glad I am already drinking coffee!)

Dr. Kivipelto and her colleagues suggest several possibilities for why coffee might reduce the risk of dementia later in life. First, earlier studies have linked coffee consumption with a decreased risk of type 2 diabetes, which in turn has been associated with a greater risk of dementia. In animal studies, caffeine has been shown to reduce the formation of amyloid plaques in the brain, one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease. Finally, coffee may have an antioxidant effect in the bloodstream, reducing vascular risk factors for dementia.

Dr. Kivipelto noted that previous studies have shown that coffee drinking may also be linked to a reduced risk of Parkinson’s disease.

Glad there are many studies showing the great effects of coffee- not that it matters, I would still drink it! lol

Wretched Man That I Am!

Emotional hurt is the mirror that reflects back to us our true inner qualities and maturity or lack thereof.

We all encounter emotional hurt whether it is from family members, our spouses, friends, church members, employer, employees, etc. As much as we try to avoid such encounters, they are inevitable.

This emotional hurt can produce dark valleys for us to walk through. Sometimes we walk alone in them and at other times we may seek help. But most of the time it is walked out very alone! It is in those valleys that we are greeted face to face with self-knowledge; a discovery of who we are and how we are responding. Sometimes it is good, however sometimes it can be frightening! We may rejoice that we passed with flying colors or cry out to God in utter disgust with ourselves. Talk about the original reality show! And this is one we don’t want others to see.

We don’t often see our maturity in the good times but in the bad. It is here in the crucible of trials, testing’s, and hurt that character is revealed and made. It is here we see how we have progressed in our character and maturity. It is here we see whether we can take it or not. For some, this valley becomes the ‘breaking point;’ for others it becomes the ‘making point!’ The ‘making point’ is where we reevaluate, reshape, and reenter life from the valley with a new understanding of ourselves.

Ps 121TMB I look up to the mountains; does my strength come from mountains? No, my strength comes from God, who made heaven, and earth, and mountains. He won't let you stumble; your Guardian God won't fall asleep. Not on your life! Israel's Guardian will never doze or sleep. God's your Guardian, right at your side to protect you—shielding you from sunstroke, sheltering you from moon stroke. God guards you from every evil; he guards your very life. He guards you when you leave and when you return, he guards you now, and he guards you always.

Remember, we can’t stay in those valleys very long. Embrace the lesson, climb out, and face life with a fresh understanding of yourself with God by your side!

Way We Hunt in Texas!?!

Life is good!