“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? Luke 6:46

From the parking lot, a sign on the door to the building read, “Please use other door.” So I did! It was a medical office and I was being herded into a designated area to be properly ‘checked in.’ After answering all their questions, waiting my turn, and then having a procedure done, I was led to the INSIDE of the “Please use other door” to go OUT. So I did! It was locked from the inside.

Going OUT the ‘do not enter door’ left me feeling slightly privileged. Because upon exit, I now understood the whats and whys of the whole process, having just experienced it. I KNEW what was behind that locked door, something the fellow, staring at it from the parking lot, did not. But based upon a conversation I’d had with someone inside, I left with some confusion about exits.

Since lots of people were inside that building, and since my Master is in ‘the people business,’ It was only natural that I struck up a conversation. As it turned out, they too were a sheep… a fellow believer, and follower, of the same Master as me! Eventually, I asked the sheep where their pasture and flock resided, “Where do you go to church?” I asked. Sheep said, “I worship at home.”

Over the last couple years, conversations with self-admitted fellow flockers have helped me discover LOTs of ‘pasture-less sheep.’ 9/11 left people with the need to go back to Church to flock together to meet each other’s needs. Which was exactly The Master’s point! When Covid hit, the same doors that swung open to welcome people IN, got padlocked shut from the OUTSIDE… by exiting sheep! And I don’t understand… why?

The Church is the ONLY God ordained, outreach mission oriented group on planet Earth. Being part of a Pasture, or local Church, is NOT an option but a requirement by our chief shepherd, Jesus Christ. NOT being part of a pasture may help one feel free from the irritability of other sheep’s attitudes, ideas and stink. But flocking alone is NOT how Christ intended His sheep to live.

So… where is YOUR Pasture? And if your Master is the same as mine, how do you justify calling Him so… yet not do what He says? Because, the Master’s Pasture Jesus makes sure that the door to His kingdom swings both ways. Are you in or out?

“Call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.” Psalm 50:15

The question kind of hit me out of the blue… and to be honest, I wasn’t sure I had heard it right. So I asked the Doctor to repeat it. “Yes… the C-Scan shows you need a root canal. Do you want it now? Or would you rather reschedule a more convenient time!” I WANTED to say, “HUH?” But asking for a three-peat would sound stupid! So all that came out was, “Uh.. gimmie a second, ok?”

I had been having a little pain on not one, but both sides of my uppers. Having learned LONG ago that it’s not smart to put off dental work because it ONLY gets worse, I scheduled an appointment with my favorite Dentist. After some x-rays, he said, “you want the good news?” I didn’t think he was kidding cuz he’s not really a jokester. He then handed me a card with a time for a specialist!

I’m old… so I’ve been around the block a few times! I’ve had lots of dental work and a couple root canals and questions. In fact I have an appointment with Jesus when I get to heaven to discuss what I consider to be one of His ‘less than 100% successful’ creations… TEETH! And skeeters! But I’m here, so I headed to the root canal specialist. After some fancy scans, she popped ‘The Question!’

I consider myself to be not just old, but tough too! I have seen some difficult times and have learned to take life as it comes. After raising 4 kids and pastoring for 25 years, not much surprises me, though some still question my capabilities! But tough or not, the Doctor’s question took me by surprise. Because it hit me like, “you want me to break your nose now or later!”

I needed a minute to think and process and to consider the balance in my bank account. But I REALLY took the minute to ask Jesus what HE thought about the ‘hole’ root canal business! The advantage to knowing His heart and mind, because I know His Word, is that He talks to me that way! His response was quick and to the point! “You know me man… I got yer back!”

With no reason to delay, I told the Doctor that I was good to go! “Let’s do it!” were the words I used! About an hour or so later, I was drooling and digging for my credit card! But the root problem was gone and Jesus had come through. I had no doubt that He would. Because, after all, a promise is a promise! And today’s verse is just that! A day of trouble had come… and so did HE!

So what about YOU? Are YOU ‘Good to Go?’ in any given situation because you have Jesus with you. Can you meet life’s surprises head on with full trust in The Master? Because THAT, my friend, is at the Root of all our concerns!

“Remember this, keep it in mind, take it to heart, you rebels. Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me.” Isaiah 46:8-9

Approaching the grocery store from the north end, I was pleasantly surprised to see a group of Boy Scouts selling popcorn at the south end. Upon exiting, I was determined to donate. But my hand never made it to my wallet. When the Cub Scout before me turned around, she was spiriting a long pony tail! Exclaiming, “Wait, you’re not a boy!” One of the leaders said, “the Boy Scouts have changed!” I walked on!

There was SO much I COULD have said. But the man who was their leader didn’t know a thing about me, nor would he care! I am a former Scoutmaster with a hand in building 21 Eagle Scouts… two of whom are my own sons! Being too embarrassed by what I saw, I said nothing! Not because I didn’t WANT to. I just knew that nothing would change if I did! And maybe THAT is the problem! Because the assault didn’t stop there!

Later, while watching football, I was inundated with subliminal messages meant to confuse and question the very core of my existence. Some players still wore the ‘Stop Hate’ and ‘Black Lives Matter’ slogans on their helmets. Women commentators took center control. Commercials showed 2 girls kissing, mixed marriages and only few white men… those shown were displayed as dumb and inept! I just sighed!

Earlier I had played a little game at church, asking parishioners their opinions. While they came closer than most Americans polled, they were still WAY off on the facts. Only 1% of America is transgender, 3% are gay, 17% are Latino and 12% are Black! But the media world presses to force me to believe otherwise. There is a reason!

Today’s Bible verse reveals that God demands and expects that we keep first things first. And HE IS FIRST! His Will and His Way are to supersede EVERYTHING! Or else! Topping it off yesterday, I was told Disney is pushing satan’s agenda with a new show called ‘Little Demon!’ God reminded me, with this verse, that I’d better NOT keep silent, because silence is merely waving the white flag of surrender! So I SHOUT!

Actor Tim Robbins said, “In a free society the biggest danger is that you’ll become afraid to the point where you censor yourself.” The battle within is very real and satan is stirring the waters. I AM a Child of Most High God by Faith in His Son Jesus Christ! I WAS created for the Praise of His Glory! He IS the ONLY fact that matters. The more satan attacks with lies, the more I am called to Praise and Shout! Silence isn’t an option!

Are YOU determined to stand up and out, and to make some noise for Jesus Christ in the face of overwhelming evil?

“But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, ‘They hated me without a cause.'” John 15:25 KJV

It happens more often than not. Whether I’m ordering a book, music, a product or just to getting into my bank account, inevitably my computer screen pops up the request… Password? With so many accounts and websites to keep track of, I TRY to obey their rules. Rule 1 is, make up a unique password – but don’t use the same one all the time. So I guess.. then guess again. Usually I go to a written list to look it up.

Back in the 60’s there was a TV game-show called ‘Password.’ I have a feeling that this is where the word ‘Password’ got it’s name! To me, the TV show was about as exciting as watching paint dry! It featured famous stars, coupled with ordinary folk, to outsmart another ‘somebody – nobody’ team. It was all too boring and brainy for me as a kid. So I didn’t watch it. With only 3 channels, I’d usually go do my own thing!

The same kind of thing was going on back in Jesus’ day when a bunch of self appointed smart guys started taking God’s Words, twisting them around to sound more sophisticated. It made them feel like stars! So God sent His Son Jesus down here to try to straighten them out! He gave them LOTS of clues, and even did a bunch of miraculous things that only God could do. But they didn’t want to play and did their own thing!

Flashing forward from my childhood, I see a FAR more sophisticated world that I could NEVER have imagined as a child. Information is KEY and technology has quickly overpowered the need and desire for God and what HE is trying to tell the world. Truth has become relative, as groups of people huddle together to come up with ideas that will not pass God’s clear directives or clues.

When I met Jesus over 50 years ago, He gave me some crystal clear Words that still impact me today. Rule 1 is to read His Word REGULARLY and USE IT the way He intended. Then He asked me to go out into the world and PASS Jesus, also known as The WORD, on to others. His Word says that MOST people are going to simply think that He and I are both nuts… and Pass! But I’m supposed to do it anyway!

So how about you? Are you paying attention to God and His Word? Or are you simply going to dismiss and pass Him by?  

“Because of the loving devotion of the LORD we are not consumed, for His mercies never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness! ‘The LORD is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in Him.’” Lamentations 3:22-24

Monday it was meatloaf, with broccoli, zucchini and cucumber salad.

Tuesday it was Rib-eye steak with Cauliflower, zucchini, and cucumber salad.

Wednesday it was meatloaf, Cauliflower, zucchini, and cucumber salad. PLUS a Caprese salad! OR the choice to go out to eat somewhere besides home! TO spice things up, I found some old baby potatoes, boiled them up and put Sour cream, garlic powder and some cheddar cheese powder on them.

Thursday, after eating leftovers for 2 days, it is looking like we will go out somewhere for something new and different. Because I have found that an appetite of just leftovers may sustain life, but when it comes to enthusiasm, leftovers come with built in limitations to truly satisfy. My God COMPLETELY understands. That is why, based upon today’s verse, it does not appear that God even bothers to serve them!

The Word tells me God Is INFINITELY CREATING and never tires of doing so. He WANTS me to learn to look out for His mercy, grace and Love Daily, for NEW meals of unexpected Joy! God’s overflow of Grace NEVER gets old and NEVER contains leftovers. It is new… EVERYDAY! MY job is to see His hand among the chaos and to joyfully partake in his unlimited provisions to ME… DAILY! All I have to do is to freely choose to receive them!

How long has it been since YOU have had a new touch and experience of God’s wonderful blessing? Because He wants to dish it out to you!

“Woe to the obstinate children,” declares the Lord, “to those who carry out plans that are not mine, forming an alliance, but not by my Spirit, heaping sin upon sin.” Isaiah 30:1

My son introduced me to the Sous Vide method of cooking. Showing up at his house, he had a pot of water, a gadget hanging from the edge and several steaks submerged in plastic bags. I thought, “what foul thing is THIS,” and guessed he had gone over the edge by wasting good meat! That is until he presented the steaks and I ate! Guessin’ immediately flew out the window!

Impressed, I decided to get one for my house. Last weekend, I went to the store to buy some cheap meat. The butcher told me that what I had selected was NOT ‘Choice’ beef and recommended a better cut. I told him that for YEARS I had destroyed good meat by my cooking methods. This time, I wanted to see if I could turn low quality meat into something good! He laughed!

Asking the butcher some questions, based upon his expertise, educated me about the quality of meats. After he gave me his expertise, I began to think, using his knowledge, my experience, and then added some guessing. Having learned that ‘he who expects nothin’, ain’t gonna be deceived,’ I developed high hopes, buffered with low expectations. Guessin’ and thinkin’ were about to fight!

Belief based upon thinking about known facts, to me, is better than belief based upon guessing. The difficulty is to determine what is factual! To get there requires a little of both thinkin’ AND guessin!’ But in the end, the final decision will prove itself to be true or false based upon the outcome. God has a point of view that I have learned to trust. His advice? “Look to HIM FIRST!’

The Word of God has been laid down, tested and proven for over 3500 years. I have NEVER found it to be wrong, inconclusive or to lead me astray. That said, when I have a problem, issue or difficulty, I go to ‘The Word’ FIRST before I do any sort of thinking or guessing. Because, like with my Sous Vide machine, I like seeing something good come out of a low grade quality of life. So does God!

Are YOU trusting God and thinking about HIS ways? Or are you just going around guessin’? 

“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'” John 14:6

I was in my watercraft when I saw the sign! NOT a warning, question or suggestion… but a COMMAND! NO WAKE! The marker buoy was official, and there were more than 1! But I didn’t even think about obeying because I was in a kayak! I’ve never rowed fast enough to create a wake anyway! At first, the conditions of the signs left me confused. Then I was troubled!

Labor Day weekend found my bride and I rowing our kayaks up the backwaters of our beautiful state. We hadn’t kayaked in this place before. As the banks narrowed, the trees from each side providing only narrow passageways in places, I could see the rooftops of very fancy houses. Basically, rowing in their backyards, then seeing the buoys, became confusing.

‘No Wake’ buoys are located where there are docks and boats. The sign to ‘slow down’ keeps those boats and docks from becoming damaged by boat wakes caused by speed. But there were NO docks.. OR boats where we rowed! In fact, there weren’t even any pathways to get to the water from the backyards of those fancy houses. Which created a mystery to me.

Someone had taken the time and spent resources to place official signs in a place that did not even need them! In other words, someone had played God! One of the signs added a juicy tidbit to make a boater WANT to slow down by adding, ‘Hidden Rocks!’ I thought about that… if I can’t SEE the rocks, how would ‘slowing down’ keep me from hitting them?

Maybe I over-thunk, since it was Labor Day and I had some time on my hands. But I began thinking about the times we live in and the race to make up a bunch of rules to benefit some, at the expense of others. Jesus certified in this Bible Verse that there IS, in fact, a WAY to get to God, a TRUTH to follow and LIFE to be had! And His IS THE ONLY WAY! Oh BUOY!

There are people who live on water but don’t access it! Then make up rules and dangers out of things that do not exist, in an attempt to hinder and control those who do! Why? The only thing I can think of is that, in acknowledgment and affirmation, there is power! If a non-believer can get me to slow down and think about their way as being THE way… they can win! Even if only for a moment! I rowed faster!

Are YOU buying the lies being told today, or are you rowing and resting in the One and ONLY Savior, Jesus Christ?  

“Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.” 2 Timothy 4:2

Katie came home from work yesterday and her first words were, “You’re not going to believe what happened today!” “Do tell,” I replied. She said, “Today was ‘Firefighter’s Day,’ when the local fire department brings a BIG Firetruck and the Firefighters teach and impress the kids about Fire safety. Today, one of the Firefighters was a former student… I’ve got a picture!” When she showed me, I said, “He’s a big one!”

Katie started teaching our kids in 1980 and did an EXCEPTIONAL JOB. When they grew up, she began teaching other’s people’s kids. She started her current job at the European Academy in Nokomis in 1998. About 2005, John came to the school for a couple years… only a MUCH smaller version of him than now. Yesterday’s reunion was filled with pride and joy as she got to see how he turned out. She was all smiles.

Teaching and Preaching are really the same things, just in a different format. Katie and I had been teaching kids in church for years before we had our own. My dad threw me into the teaching process when I hit 9^th grade and no one could handle me as a student… and it worked! But teaching brings its own set of rules, the first being, the teacher needs to first KNOW the material being taught before passing it on.

I’ve had teachers in the past that took up the job, apparently because they didn’t plan anything better to do. You know the kind. The teacher who throws the book at you, passes out a pre-made test … then grades on a curve! Katie doesn’t do that. She not only knows the subject, she knows the students as well… AND SHE CARES! And they care back! A couple days ago she got face-timed by a student no longer at her school!

Passing along information that helps people grow up to be smart, caring successful adults is one of the most noble professions one can have. But it always comes with a cost. Investing in people’s lives can be rewarding, but also painful. Especially when they don’t take the material to heart and make it a part of them. It shows when life throws out a test. When I see a smart caring grown up I taught, it ALWAYS makes me smile.

Yesterday Katie got an email from John’s mom! She said, “I can’t believe you remembered him… Oh, and you look just the same as you did 17 years ago!” Which is exactly how teacher are SUPPOSED to look… caring, and engaged and ALWAYS TEACHING. Are YOU one?

“By this we can be sure that we have come to know Him: if we keep His commandments.” 1 John 2:3

My whole family was here over the weekend and I just knew something was up! I heard a bunch of ‘guy’ laughter, then saw my grandson, eyes bugging out of his head, guzzling milk. Last I remembered, he didn’t even like milk! But I couldn’t tell it by the speed with which he drank! In between gulps I asked what was going on. Apparently my 2 tough guy sons had issued a hot nut or chip challenge… and grandson took it!

I know this wasn’t the big hot ‘Pique’ chip challenge that everyone talks about. It was a smaller and minor challenge issued to see who was tough enough to handle the pain. But it was also a challenge to see who would dare try! Trying automatically led to handling! And a question popped into my head. Does God ever issue challenges to me like this? If so, what do they sound like?

Now I am ABSOLUTELY 100% PROUD of my 2 sons! They are BOTH tough guys for Jesus, which is more than any father could want to see from their sons. But when they get together and that little mischievous spark hits even one of their eyes… it’s “FLAME ON!” At my age, I have learned it’s best for me to just sit back and observe. It’s still fun to watch, but I don’t have to pay any price when things go awry!

The thoughtful question God popped into my head began to fester and get hotter as God wouldn’t let me escape the search for an answer. What would someone, who took up ‘The God Challenge,’ actually look like? If sweating, hollering and milk drinking were signs of someone who took the nut challenge, how would ‘I’ look if I took up God’s challenge? Would anyone even notice?

Last night in our Bible Study class, I was proud of the 30 people who showed up for hot dogs and apple pie. Just showing up was proof of their taking up God’s challenge! I can’t take part in His challenge if I’m not there! But I was even MORE proud as Mike led the group in the quest to define ‘Worship.’ I basically did what I do when my sons issue challenges… I simply watched the clock and took notes. And got surprised!

The discussion at Bible Study went on, nonstop, for almost an hour! In fact, I had to step in and halt it for time’s sake. But in the end, the summary came up with today’s Bible verse. If one wants to know, or see what it looks like to take up God’s challenge, the evidence is displayed in their keeping of His commandments! In other words… obedience! And NO MILK is even welcome or required!

Are YOU a doing, tough guy or gal for Jesus? Or just a watcher? Cuz He’s looking for evidence!