“Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’” 1 Peter 5:5

Church visitors are a source of encouragement to me. When someone visits, a bag of goodies, carefully prepared in advance, is presented along with a card requesting their information. Following up with visitors can be interesting. One of the questions on the card asks, ‘Would you like the pastor to contact you Y/N?’ Most often, the ‘N’ is circled. After a couple weeks, I call them anyway. I mean… WHY the ‘N?’

The last few conversations I had with people about church were disconcerting. One person gave a detailed list of churches they had visited in the area. Everyone of which, “turned me off!” I never understood ‘WHY’ because it was never clearly explained. A non-attender told me that churches have a superior attitude and that, “everybody thinks they are better than me.” I told them it wasn’t true in our church. Since I KNEW that Jesus had chosen me… “because I was a chief Dirtbag!” I got a laugh… but not a visit!

Inside churches across America, there is a Laodicean attitude that has people pewed in. It is the attitude of lethargic apathy. As the news in the world gets worse, droopy eyes and dropped heads indicate slumber… not prayerful concern. In The Revelation… it was predicted. Sadly, successful churches often fill the gap with entertainment and low expectation.

All of this should be alarming to any Believer because it is COMPLETELY the opposite of what we have been called to. It indicates how well satan does his job when hard working and caring family members stop working and caring. If we believe the Bible to be TRUE, our ineffectiveness comes at great expense as lost ones increase and found one’s future rewards decrease. satan has stolen our reason for being because… we let him!

A number of years ago, there was a study published that surveyed 2100 pastors throughout the United States who had been fired or quit their churches. The conductors of this study asked these pastors and their churches, “What was the reason this pastor left?” You might expect to hear that these pastors were preaching heresy or that the churches they led weren’t Bible-believing churches. But the study found that more than any other reason – 58% of the time – these pastors were forced out or left because of personality differences with the members. The pastor called ‘zig’… and the majority wanted ‘zag.’ Sadly… what the Architect and Master of ‘The Church’ wanted was rarely even considered!

I believe that church problems might be remedied if people would be willing to simply follow the Leader… and move in direction FROM which THEY had been called. We ALL know what sin is, its cost and how blessed the remedy. But we forget that no matter WHAT position we fill, it is one of humble Servant-hood! Just like Jesus.

It’s my prayer that the people of God today would be willing to step up and kneel down. To play the Game of ‘Follow the Leader’ in humility, joy and concern for the lost and the weak ones. It is NOT a new idea, but simply a call to the original.

If we would seek, pray and focus on keeping the main thing, the main thing, and filter all of our energies through His call to the Great Commission of Discipleship, our Master promises that we will find unimaginable Joy and Peace in the coming storm. But first He asks, “do you care?”

“We know that when Christ appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as he is. All who have this hope in Him purify themselves, just as He is pure.” 1 John 3:2b-3

Our grandson was going to be performing in a talent show and we already knew it was going to be a rush to get there. The trip takes over an hour and we needed to leave in time. We ALSO needed to take my truck, since Katie’s car needs an appointment for new tires. One problem… MY truck is MY truck, so it resembles MY personality type. NOT my hers! I had some work to do!

NO one rides in my truck but me. Running from 1 place to another, it is the perfect vehicle to simply throw and go! From cutting grass to hauling tools, to moving items from one place to another, I can almost tell what I have done over time by the remnants of what’s lying on the seat or floor! If my bride is going to fit in there, AND be JOYFUL about it, I had some cleaning to do.

I used to have a saying at my job… “Some people work… other people clean!” I was THRILLED when I saw a picture of Einsteins desk just hours after he had died. He and I shared the same thing in common with Mark Twain and Steve Jobs! Could it be that a cluttered work space really IS a sign of a genius? Regardless, my wife would NEVER fall for that line. So I cleaned, sanitized and Fabreezed my truck’s interior.

It is ABSOLUTELY true that I was COMPLETELY forgiven and cleansed from sin, ‘once and for all,’ at Calvary. While many people have a hard time with that concept, I know and rejoice at that fact. Anything less would would ultimately fail to save. But I ALSO know that ‘willful sinning because I can’ is a concept that can cause a severe breakdown of Christ’s Vessel! Translation? If Jesus resides in my life… a clean ride is a SMOOTH ride… for BOTH of us!

It doesn’t matter if a truck is clean or dirty when getting a job done, or when getting from one place to another. As long as the engine is running fine, the truck has no complaints. Nor do I! As long as it gets the job done, I find there are OTHER things that are more important for my time. But when I stop to consider my passenger, it makes a BIG difference in our relationship. Jesus and my wife BOTH deserve better!

When Katie got home early, we hurried to the truck and I opened the door for her… and SHE NOTICED!! “WOW… you cleaned your TRUCK!” It’s BEAUTIFUL!” she said. Reminding her to NEVER use that word for a man’s stuff, I was nonetheless pleased that she was pleased. Our grandson was the star of the show, we got to see family and the ride was MUCH more enjoyable. Could realizing that concept make me a genius????? Haaaa! See how easy it is to start another mess?  

“Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.” Jeremiah 17:7-8

One more time I was reminded as my wife said, “did you see the avocado tree? Its leaves are turning brown at the ends!” The answer was ‘Yes, I saw.” I had just noticed it the day before myself. In fact… I am SICK of noticing. That stupid tree is nothing but a big disappointment to the both of us. I wish we didn’t even have it!

We are growers of weeds. I have written about this so many times it is now a joke. But my wife likes plants and flowers… so she buys, or receives them from others…we plant them… they get diseases, bugs or die. If they could, they would unite and flee from our yard. In fact, I wish they would. If a plant has any value at all, and if it had a mouth, it would be SCREAMING, “NO…. DON’T PLANT ME THERE!!!!!!” If they COULD talk, they could TELL me what they needed to thrive.

Lots of people have LOTS of advice for how to grow plants. UNLIMITED advice can be found on the internet… I know, I look. But I am convinced that the majority of advice is just personal opinion. Because when applied, it either doesn’t work or it makes the situation worse. The SAME problem can be applied to ME. But in my case… I CAN talk!

There are areas in my life that produce brown tipped leaves and no fruit. I have invented, sought and tried opinionated advice from others at times, only to find that it only made MY situation WORSE. Truth be told, I have ALSO found that when I am heeding opinions, it is because I have not planted my roots near the stream of Jesus Christ. But I also have to admit… sometimes I LIKE it that way!

I have had conversations with folks lately that have opened up my eyes and made me look at myself. Richard Bach wrote, “argue for your limitations, and sure enough they’re yours!” If I take the time to really look at the fruit of my life, there are areas that SCREAM out to God, “NO…. DON’T PLANT ME THERE!!!!!!” Unfortunately then… He doesn’t!

The Bible verse today spoke VOLUMES to me. I CAN get PLANTED beside His Stream… BY Him… but only AFTER I have placed my trust and confidence IN HIM. Would you not agree that the person required to make to first move toward fruit-bearing has to be ME? OUCH! There is that Free-will thing that keeps coming up! And to change, I have to speak up AND be willing to be moved! Or I can just stay planted where I am!

“Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from Him.” Psalm 127:3

I have determined this year that Mother’s Day at our house is the first day of swimming season. Up until that time, the pool is too chilly and there have not been many reasons to get in. After church yesterday, we started getting phone calls from our kids telling us they were coming over. Before long, the pool area was flooded with people, toys and activity.

It has been a busy week and neither of us had anticipated a gathering. The house was a mess and the pool area had not been used since last fall. Soon old toys, deflated floaties and miscellaneous stuff was being used by kids as they played together in and around the cement pond! Swimming pool games like ‘Colors’ and ‘Marco Polo’ got dads into the water, as moms sat around and chatted. When night fell and the noise died, we looked around and saw the evidence that something HAD just happened here!

Mother’s Day is usually busy day, as kids gather around to honor the one who brought them into the world. It brings blessing, joy and ultimately WORK…as we meet needs, and afterward return things back to orderly and clean. But truth be told, families are almost NEVER orderly and clean. Wherever there are ‘people’ there is disorder, noise and need. It is to such a condition that God calls us to serve.

Not everybody likes the same food, drinks, games or activities. Ordering pizza for 12 is a long process of suggestion and compromise….”NO ANCHOVIES” seemed the only universal agreement. Kids play, fight, laugh and cry… and leave messes. At the end of the day, we are left with only 1 real question… “was it worth it?” Which is really no question at all.

Though I get tired at times, I am reminded that God loves PEOPLE. So much so, that no matter HOW many people happen to be together in one place, God is ALWAYS pushing for MORE! ‘Go get them and bring them in,’ He says over and over in His Word. Implied is the command to go, care, invest, give, reach, love and then do it again tomorrow. He ALWAYS calls us to be just like Him.

The more I yield my life to Him, the more God reveals to me that He is in the PEOPLE business. Praying for, or doing anything that is not an investment in people is simply a selfish waste of time. Which is TOUGH for people who like order, quiet, peace or their own way! The more we love His people, the more He will increase His reward of MORE of them to our fold. And isn’t that His point?

Lord… please send me to reach out to people who need YOU! No matter the cost!

“Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.” Lamentations 3:40

Growing up in the family I did, shooting and guns have always been a hobby. Some people golf, play tennis or any number of things. I shoot. So it was with great anticipation that I went, with a fellow shooter, to the brand new indoor gun range in town. As soon as we entered the door, the sound and smell made me smile. This was going to be fun.

I don’t shoot that often, but enough. I have been having a problem with the site on my favorite target pistol, and have tried to adjust it myself… with no success. Since I was hitting the target with a pattern abut the size of a large coffee can at 21 feet… I didn’t see the site problem as that big of a deal. As we were about to leave, the gun shop owner asked about our experience.

When I told him HIS range was perfect, but that MY pistol site had to be off, he said, ”let me take a look at it,” I placed the pistol into his hands and he took it back to his shop where I could see him working on the issue. After a few minutes he returned it saying, “it wasn’t your site, it was your rail. I tightened it for you… no charge!” I was gratefully shocked.

I didn’t expect the rail to be a problem at all, so I had missed diagnosing the real problem myself. Furthermore, I do not expect an expert to do something for me for free. Overjoyed, I left the range the same way I came in… with a smile! Because the whole experience was enjoyable AND I had made a friend, I will return and bring friends with me.

It is a fact that the biggest problem I have in my life… is ME! I do NOT need ANY help in messing things up. I can do it all by myself. RARE is the time that I can actually, and permanently, FIX something that is a problem in my life. With MY eyes in MY head… the sites of MY life are usually focused on ME. It is when things go badly that I am forced to return to the one who KNOWS me and has MY best interests at heart. My God, being blessed by my admission that I am my own problem, can then do the detail work to set me straight. In my gratefulness, His response is like that of the range owner… “No charge! Please keep coming!”

To God, where I place my focus is ALWAYS a big deal. I don’t think I’ll wait so long to go to Him with my site-work next time.  

I read a couple things today that were too important not to pass on. The latest report from Open Doors shows that 245 million Christians around the world are being persecuted for their faith. Last year 4,136 people were murdered for being a Christian.  That’s 11 people a DAY! Sadly… In America… Jesus battles a different enemy. Please read below…

“Since we are all one body in Christ, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others.” Romans 12:5

YOUR BODY PARTS are getting together for a meeting. The chairperson, your hand, gripping a gavel, calls the meeting to order. In a surprise first piece of business, your big toes step to the podium and say, “We quit.”

“What are you talking about, Toes?” growls your belly.

“We’re tired of getting stepped on,” your big toes moan together.

“You are low guys on the totem pole,” injects the funny bone. Hand raps the gavel. “Order, please!”

“Order? Cheeseburger, please!” the funny bone howls. Hand motions to the ser¬geant-at-arms, who promptly twists the distracting member behind your back.

“I don’t like the sound of this, Toes,” the ears say. “How do you think you can get along without the rest of us?”

“We’ll run away,” Toes reply. “We can wriggle to wherever we want.”

“You won’t be able to see where you’re going,” observe the eyes.

“We’ll get by,” one toe insists. “We might even take some of our other toe friends with us. In fact, the feet feel the same way we do. They’ll probably hoof off with us too.”

The forehead wrinkles. Then your mouth speaks up. “Maybe you can get along without us, Toes, but we won’t make it without you. We count on you to keep us bal¬anced.”

“Because of you,” say the hands, “we can put our best feet forward.”

The toes wiggle at the outpouring of attention. “We do get a kick out of hanging out with the rest of you. Maybe we need each other more than we realized.”

“And that’s what I’ve been thinking all along,” the brain concludes.

Twentieth-century songsters Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel sang these immortal words written by Simon: “I am a rock, I am an island.” You probably have moments when that defiant strain of self-sufficiency wells to the surface. But seventeenth ¬century English poet John Donne wrote these wise words that better reflect reality:  “No man is an island, entire of itself.”

As much as you might try, you can never be completely independent. Even Jesus wanted fellowship, friendship, and prayer with his peers. Part of living sacrificially is admitting you need others and allowing others to need you.

You can’t love Jesus and be a quitter at the same time!  Adolescent teens are opting out of Church in greater numbers than ever before because parents are teaching and leading them by their example. Where do YOU stand?

Don’t be a quitter! i

“My son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways,” Proverbs 23:26

My wife shuddered and said, “I know we don’t have kids in this house anymore, but having this thing on the table freaks me out!” The ‘thing’ she was referring to is an old guillotine style paper cutter. Working on a project, I had brought it out and set it there in the open. She shuddered… I didn’t! And here is why.

Katie works in a preschool. Everyday her room is filled with little children. And if you know ANYTHING about little children, you know that a guillotine style paper cutter would only be an incredible play thing in their eyes. A ‘shudder’ is a natural response AFTER a horrific event has taken place. It is her primary job to keep kids safe by looking out for danger they might not see. To do her job well (and she does) she has to see potentially dangerous things through THEIR eyes in order to both protect and instruct.

Knives, razor blades, guns, staplers and swimming pools are examples of THINGS. By themselves, they are tools for work or enjoyment and pose no threat to anyone. It is when the ignorant (little knowing) see them without a ‘shudder’ that they can become horrific tools of destruction. A parent, teacher, counselor or pastor’s job is to try to impart the ‘shudder’ before any destruction takes place. Sadly, NOTHING causes a shudder like experience.

As I look at my life I am a product of pain. So are you. Having experienced hardship and pain makes me an EXPERT in that area. And while it may SEEM strange, God uses hurt people as teachers of His Truth. Teachers get to participate in the joys of His heart when someone receives His instruction. But they also experience His pain when His Way is rejected and destruction occurs. It is a fact that joy and pain are partners in any kind of ministry.

Everyday my wife comes home from work and we have a pow-wow. Dealing with over 75 kids during the day is both joyous and traumatic. I sit and listen as she unwinds by talking. After she is done, I take my turn. Being in ministry is like being a parent or teacher as well, so there is a lot to talk about. But metaphorically, the paper cutter is ALWAYS in the room!

God is ALWAYS God. He is never OFF duty. He calls, warns, reaches, yells, disciplines and dies… every day. That is what Love does! But the ONE thing we can always count on from Him is that he NEVER QUITS! He is ALWAYS looking into the darkness with the full intention of sending His Light into it. I have to remind myself that no matter the pain or difficulty, ‘I’ am His light He sends. And so are you.

Every morning I set before Him and remind myself of His love and care for me AND for those around me. I make it my mission to set my heart and eyes on HIM so that HIS heart becomes MY heart. Sometimes the best way to do that is to see the paper cutter in the room. Looking into the darkness in order to bring light is a serious business.

What do YOU see?

“The heavens praise your wonders, LORD, your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones.” Psalm 89:5

Spring has sprung here in Florida and that means the weather is heating up. I just started noticing folks saying, “man it’s HOT out there!” So the countdown to October 15^th, when it will start to cool again,begins! Going out on the front patio where Katie has flowers that take the full assault of the sun’s rays, I noticed that a few of her plants were bowing … I mean WILTING! I gave them a drink. This morning they have perked up with praise quite nicely.

I got to thinking about the differences between plants, animals and other created things. They were created by God to show off His glory… naturally! The sun doesn’t have to prepare anything special for today’s reveal. It just does what it does and VOILA! Flowers will wave their beauty without any extra effort. It is what they do. That is, unless we humans stick them in a pot and fail to care for them. But I am no flower!

Humans are unique beyond all other created things. We have been given a very special character trait that they do not experience. That is the CHOICE to rise and shine for their creator. Humans have been given the ability to reflect, or NOT reflect, God’s Glory. And each life does what it CHOOSES to do in regard to their Creator. Looking from the outside, it becomes apparent what choice each specimen has made.

In all of creation, there is NOTHING like mankind. Men and women have the ability to CHOOSE what they will do about their creator. Some choose to praise and reflect His life outwardly. Others have gone so far as to even DENY that there is a creator in the first place. But one thing is for sure. There is NOTHING in ALL of creation that God loves to hear from more than men and women who love to Glorify Him. NOTHING! Not even the Angels!

Today our family has a particular special interest and request of our Creator. He alone has the ability to grant our petition. Everything has been done that WE can do, now we sit and prayerfully praise and await His response. It is NOT the first time… and it certainly will NOT be the last. As the old patriarch of the family (that’s even funny to write) I am MOST pleased that EVERYONE of our family is committed to trusting and Glorying God… REGARDLESS of His answer!

There is NOTHING more Glorifying to God than total and joyful submission to His Will. ALL of us want the same thing… but ALL of us will accept and serve God REGARDLESS of the outcome. To arrive at THAT island of life is a HUGE blessing to both God AND our own lives. Now try THAT Mr. Potted Plant!

“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.” Proverbs 16:9

Walking out into the dark garage last night, I opened the door and felt something fall onto my head… then onto my back. It wasn’t large enough to scare me, but it made me curious. When I looked on the floor I saw a rather large palmetto bug (roach to you northerners) crawling away under the refrigerator. The way it walked told me its future.

Bugs are just a way of life. Exterminators make a living by getting rid of unwanted pests. Living in Florida, and having seemingly more pests than most other areas, an extermination plan is necessary to KEEP the pesky pests out. There is a spray that I use that lasts up to 6 months. And since this wasn’t the first bug I’d seen in the last week, apparently it was time to apply it!

Being a human, I have lots of hopes, ideas and plans. Lately, since I haven’t been feeling well, I noticed a habit of becoming more critical of myself. Measuring myself against myself is not a good thing, since I am measuring MY OWN actionable achievements. But I am RE-learning that God generally sees MY WORKS as pests that have to go! He wants my HEART first… not my legs.

It has been explained to me that the spray commonly used for bugs leaves a residue that, to a bug, is like walking on razor-blades. Since bug blood does not have the ability to clot, it literally bleeds out onto the floor. Disgusting…. but effective! God has a way of establishing my life direction in a similar way when my direction is not according to HIS plan for me. It is best applied to the pathway of my life through prayer!

It may seem strange that God can, and does, use EVERYTHING. The evil that men do ultimately gets used to glorify God in His justice. When my direction, way or plan unravels in apparent failure or loss, God often uses those experiences to get my attention, forcing me to put my focus upon HIM. When I hit that razor bladed path, I have learned to cry out to Him for His hand and to WAIT upon Him. He can then direct my steps in the course that will be best for my life and ultimately bring Glory to Himself.

One of the greatest realizations I discover when I am flat on my back, kicking and screaming, is that there truly IS a loving God… and I am not Him! I rediscover HIS patience, love and Grace toward me and trust that His directions for my life will be the best path to follow.

It is not fun to be in a position where I am sick, discouraged, sad or melancholy. But like a big bug falling on my head in the dark, it CAN and SHOULD cause me to become curious. It is at those difficult, but precise times, that God is calling me to pause and cry out…”it’s time to sPRAY!”

Are YOU sPRAYED UP?