10.03.2023

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6

The guy with the beard is our son Clint. He is standing beside the Commanding Officer of a new, ready to be commissioned, Naval Destroyer. He is talking into his radio, giving commands to the tug boats to safely dock it in Tampa Bay. That 2 second picture was taken out of a 2 minute story on last night’s news. Harbor Pilot is what he DOES. But it’s NOT who he IS. Clint’s a God’s Guy.

Yeah, Yeah… I know… sounds like bragging and ‘Yes!’ I am proud. But the whole scene tells a MUCH bigger story than just docking a Navy ship. Because his GETTING there took over 40 YEARS of guidance, encouragement, study, trial and error, rebellion and valley walking… as God led him to live out today’s verse. But what he IS… is MUCH bigger and more valiant than what he DOES!

I am a proud father of 4 VERY exceptional children. Yes, I BEAM when I hear that Colt was invited to speak encouragement to members of the ‘Up and Comers Club.’ A group he is too old to join! My heart rejoices when Cori, a working mom, takes time out of her day to remodel our church. Or when Mommy Calah sends pictures of her kids laughing at play and learning to be Jesus’ kids!

But all those milestones are merely symbols of something MUCH greater going on. All those superhuman feats are only examples of what my kids DO. But it is NOT who they ARE! What they ALL ARE… is ‘Jesus’ People’ who belong to HIM! And if you look at today’s verse, it isn’t hard to see the connection between a 3000+ year old Verse, and the reality it brings for those who BE-live it!

Mike and Max on the Computer. Jason and Randy at teaching and JYC. Randy, Dan and Vic on Signs! And many others who, behind the scenes, take Jesus seriously enough to step up from DOING… to BEING! Doing can get old, tiring and make one want to quit. Many do. But BEING His is tougher. It’s a call to yield to the hard road, and lay aside YOUR stuff to take on Jesus’ load.

Discouragement, sorrow, temptation, exhaustion and worry, even though preached against by our Lord, are still very real. Valley walkers trust that soon there will be an exit path that will lead them out and UP to the TOP of the mountain. And that soon… The Master will lead us THERE! ‘BE-er’s walk on, knowing who’s they are, with a faith to be less concerned about what they DON’T see.

Are YOU His? Are you committed to follow Him even through the dark, lonely times? Does what you DO, reflect Whose you ARE? If so… your name and picture are already on display on His Heavenly refrigerator. Now go make Him proud by BEING what you are! 

10.02.2023

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.” Isaiah 43:18

The Event was a blast from the past! Yet it was all new! Holding remembrances of years gone by, it crackled with an even greater intensity than ever before. It was The Friday Night Football Game at Venice High School! And if you’d have been there, you would know WHY all those letters are capitalized! The excitement was fueled by reputation, hope, expectation and a ‘New Announcer!’

It was the Pre-Game, and the announcer had the crowd FIRED UP! Music was blaring, lights were flashing and the crowd was cheering as the Venice Indians were about to take the field! I was remembering what it was like when my sons played football and my daughters were cheerleaders on that very field. Now… My granddaughter was on the field as a Cheerleader. Then I saw it!

I really don’t know how I missed it as my first instinct. Maybe the past had taken over my mind, holding it captive. My oldest son was an ‘Indian’ Football Player, cutting the path for his siblings on that field. His brother was a starter on the first ‘State Champ’ team, while both sisters stood on the sidelines as VHS Cheerleaders. Remembering, my eyes must have drifted upward… then I saw God!

Look at the picture for yourself! While everyone was dressed in attire to reflect their team spirit, God’s Spirit invaded and out-shined everything else with a display all His own. Go ahead… use your hand to cover up the sky to see only the football field. It isn’t NEARLY as good… is it? There’s no doubt about it. Looking up and forward makes the past and present even better!

Today’s verse is the Old Testament version of an even more precise instruction in the New Testament:

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. Philippians 3:13-15

The new announcer was on fire, as we all found our ‘game spirit’ lifted by his encouraging remarks. Someone said He was the State Champ Coach for Girls Volleyball. Knowing who he was, I knew him ALSO to be a Believer! I thought, “VHS needs to sign him to a Football Announcing Contract before one of the TV Networks grabs him!” Then God reminded me. HIS job… is MY Job… for Jesus!

Too often I find myself looking back in the past, trying to remember the ‘good old days.’ Worse, I find myself dragged into the desperate conditions of the present when a news story comes across my radio to announce another horrible story. It takes determined words of encouragement from The Holy Spirit to remind me to LOOK UP AND FORWARD! Only THEN do I find real winning Joy!

Are YOU stuck in the past or depressed by the present? Then read The Word and put your eyes on Jesus! Let HIS work and will for your life remind you to be CHEER-FULL for the life that is ahead! And yes… just like you and Jesus… Venice WON!

09.29.2023

For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder,” Mark 7:21

It happens EVERY SINGLE DAY! And I HATE IT! I’m talking about evil… and NOT just the evil that is OUT THERE! It is the evil that is within ME! I’m just being honest. Because it is THIS battlefield where the demons assigned to me LOVE to sling their arrows, fire their machine guns and drop their nukes! And I’d bet a dime to a donut that it is the exact same experience with YOU.

I was cleaning out the dishwasher… AFTER I had run it the day before. It takes several days for the 2 of us to fill up the thing with dirty dishes, and there is really no set rule as to WHO is supposed to do it. But the last few times it was ME who both loaded and UNLOADED the thing. Katie got home, and she didn’t even notice the dishwasher was empty, dishes were put away and the counter was clean!

A VERY INTERESTING development happened because the task doesn’t bother me in the least. Katie is gone all day teaching little kids how to learn… a talent for which I know NO one better! She gets home about 4 pm. Yesterday she got home at 4:30. Brain bomb #1 went off… “WHERE IS SHE and WHAT IS SHE DOING?” Putting the dishes away, bomb #2 whispered, “SHE should be doing this job!”

I said the thought was VERY INTERESTING because THAT is NOT how I even FEEL or THINK! Katie gives me ZERO reason to EVER distrust her. Putting away the dishes helps BOTH of us. I DAILY do things to show my love for her. And she doesn’t even have to notice. I do it BECAUSE I love her and want to prove it!. So where did those thoughts come from? It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure it out!

I am the redeemed, forgiven, Child of Most High God! God is LOVE, so my godly tendency SHOULD be to love as well. But within me lies the flesh. And ‘flesh’ never moved out when I was saved. And satan and his demons would LOVE for me to ‘go fleshy’ and stay there! So they continually prick, bomb and blast at me from within. Little thoughts that zing can become the spark of a fireball!

The thoughts were ridiculous. That Is why I KNEW they weren’t from MY heart. They came from a foreign source. And I KNOW what that source is. Knowing I needed to punch that spirit in the nose, I went and cleaned the sinks, toilets and tubs! It was kind of a, “take THAT you evil spirit!” Because I know that thoughts continually thought about, lead to acts that can become habits! BAMM!

So how do you deal with YOUR thought life? Are you aware of the tendencies and weaknesses in your own flesh? Are you fighting them with Godly action and prayer? Or do you give in to the demonic or evil tendencies and let ‘flesh’ win? Jesus came to set me FREE! But there IS some work on MY part as well. So don’t beat yourself up… just throw out the trash and Have a GREAT weekend.

09.28.2023

Study and do your best to present yourself to God approved, a workman [tested by trial] who has no reason to be ashamed, accurately handling and skillfully teaching the Word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 Amplified Bible

My throne was a 75 gallon cardboard shipping drum used for our dirty laundry. It sat in my father’s study, which was central to all 3 bedrooms. Measuring about 23” x 42,” I found it fit my rear end quite comfortably, with my legs bent at the knees and my armpits resting on the rim. I started sitting there in Jr. High School when it became my Bible learning throne. It remained so for 8 years.

My Father, a Pastor,often sat at his desk, consisting of a chair between 2 filing cabinets witha varnished door sittingon top. Many times I’d walk past thatroom and see him, his back toward me. He seemed intense, but lonely, ashe poured through His Bible and worked on writing Sunday’s sermon. I’d often feel a nudge to pop in, plop in and ask, “so what’s yer sermon about dad?”

How was I to know that drum would become my sanctuary? My seminary.He would give me the subject and a brief outline, then I would ask questions. If I had a different idea on the subject, he welcomed it. We’d talk and banter, busting up Scripture to it’s smallest partsin order to understand that subject. If I argued, he’d say, you need to back up your position with at least 3 scriptures boy!

I don’t have any of his Bibles. I wish I did. He used The Scofield Study Bible, as I have ever since. When I got married, he gave me a new one. I’m now on my 5th and saving every one. Notes get scribbled and different colored markers mean different things to me. His favorite encouraging verse to me, all my life, was today’s Bible verse. It remains a favorite because, The Word really WORKS!

Last night at Bible Study, Jason and Randy both pointed me to a paper on how to read The Bible. As I read through the outline, I could hear my dad. Everything he continually said to me lay on this sheet. I am sharing it with you because, like a compass, it directly points to a place where you can rid yourself of dirty laundry and live an Abundant Life. I hope you will make it your study guide too. Give it a try!

09.27.2023

Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 7:21

I admit it… I’m nervous! But a person can only operate on what they KNOW… right? But sometimes, I don’t feel I know enough. Which is my cause for being nervous. Jesus was talking on the subject of who gets to heaven and who doesn’t, and the key word in the verse centers around DOING the WILL of the Father. Which I don’t ALWAYS do! Knowing Jesus as my Lord doesn’t stop my nerves!

Last year I filed my taxes and ‘MY GUY’ told me that this year I needed to make quarterly payments to the IRS to avoid any penalties. I did very well the first half of the year. But then I forgot. Then this month, I couldn’t find the forms! When I did, I wrote and sent the check, apologizing for being late and confessing said reasons. The question is… will I be penalized?

I know that at the end of the year there is a penalty if I don’t send the payments. But is there a pre-penalty penalty for sending the pre-payments late? I’ve no idea. But I am SURE I will find out! When it comes to Heaven though, I don’t really want to find out AFTER I’ve been found out! That is why the word ‘Fear’ is used in the Old Testament for our relationship to God. And there is a reason.

The idea that I can DO what I WANT and get away with it as a Believer, is not a safe bet. This verse encourages me to take a SINCERE look at my life and ask, with the help of the Holy Spirit, have I done anything that would warrant discipline from my Heavenly Father? Because, since God is close to His children, He already KNOWS. Meditative Prayer, study and the help of fellow Believers is essential.

I want to live my life with God directing my steps. But sometimes I wander in wonder. I don’t want to get in by the hair on my chinny-chin-chin. I want to serve Him well right here and now. MIGHTILY! The only way to do that is to stick close to Him. Are YOU doing that? Do YOU ask for answers when questions come? Do you trust in His powerful Love and care? His WILL is that you LOVE and trust His Son.  Do you?

09.26.2023

What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?” Romans 6:1

“Antinomianism… what’s it mean?” That was the question Katie asked me yesterday, which made me feel OLD! I had just read about it last week and had to look it up. It was in my head years ago, but I’d forgotten it. Now I’d forgotten it again… within only a week! UGH! Simply stated, it is the ‘get out of jail free’ card in the Christian world. Like the illustration above… it’s “a license to sin!”

We had an interesting discussion about the subject. She had just gotten home from work and was frustrated because a group of small children ‘just don’t seem to get it!’ She told me of a nasty incident committed by a child. When the parent was told, their reply was, “my son wouldn’t do that!” What that taught the child was, “it’s OK to be nasty, my parents don’t care!” I felt her pain!

I remembered my adolescence and the rebellion and pain I put MY parents through. I was saved at a young age but, naturally and easily, gravitated toward the Grace message of, “once saved, always saved!” I had done the logic and math myself and figured… ‘well if that’s true, then it doesn’t matter WHAT I do!’ So naturally, I did things that should not be done by a Christian! And I still do!

But so do YOU! Bound by sin, and finally made aware that I had ZERO chance of avoiding the lake of Fire, I LEAPT at the chance of Forgiveness from God. I was told Salvation was FREE! Now who can pass up a GREAT DEAL like THAT? Admittedly, it took a while, But the realization finally hit that ‘Freedom isn’t Free!’ Over the years I have learned that… being His is like walking a tightrope! IT’S HARD!

I admit I STILL have a hard head… meaning I usually learn things the HARD way. But the discomfort that comes from willful sin and rebellion ALWAYS catches up to me. And ‘sin’ is ALWAYS ‘willful rebellion.’ Now… sin is simply uncomfortable to me. Yes.. I got away from the ultimate penalty of it! But the payment of shame and correction is never worth the credit. ‘Free to sin’ simply doesn’t exist!

Romans 6:2 finishes the Bible verse today, “…by no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Are YOU trying to get away with something that you KNOW is hurting your Heavenly Father’s heart? Do you talk to Him about it? Do you let Him know that YOU know it is wrong, and that you are sorry? Are you trying to work with Him to clean up your act?  I’m going to try hard to never forget this again!

09.25.2023

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Colossians 3:23-24

The last I looked I had $234.92 just waiting for me! I’ve worked hard for, and look forward to receiving it. As of yesterday, I just hope I GET TO! While relaxing and watching TV, I overheard a commercial where a lady shouted… “Get your hands off my rewards!” I looked up and heard that the rewards program for credit cards was in jeopardy! Congress is trying to outlaw them! So I listened!

Years ago my son-in-law suggested I start taking advantage of something I usually do anyway… pay bills! He told me that if I put them all on a Credit Card, I could pay the 1 bill off at the end of the month and, depending on the credit card, receive rewards! I was skeptical, but trusted him and gave it a try. It turns out, he knew what he was talking about!. Now I can pay bills AND have some fun!

The rewards program we have allows us to choose what we do with the money. We can take it, or cash it in for retail shopping cards. Now, almost every time we go out to dinner, we save about $25! That means I can take my bride out more often… a good thing. Apparently, there is a bill pending that would make rewards programs illegal. Nah-AAH! So I voiced my opinion to my congressman!

I LOVE Jesus! I REALLY DO! I don’t love Him for His STUFF! But loving Him GETS me stuff! That’s the way He works! It’s just like in a marriage! Today’s Bible verse is a perfect example… the hinge word in the verse being ‘SINCE!’ ‘GO Love ME!’ he says. He wants ME to love and work for Him with ALL my heart and soul! He’s NOT a dictator. He promises to bless and reward me for the work of my heart!

When He walked the earth Jesus said it like this, “store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” Implying that,even if you can’t find it in your heart to do it FOR ME, do it for YOURSELF! But JUST DO IT!’ God has placed all His love and mission into the hands of His Followers. He wants us to WORK for, and receive, rewards!

Rewards are NOT SELFISH! They come because of faithful service! In essence, when I get to Heaven, everyone will be able to tell how much, and how well I loved Jesus Christ on Earth, by the size of the reward I receive! Therefore… I WANT A LOT! Trying to take away my reward is like taking away my heart and proof of loyalty! So… ‘What;s in YOUR wallet?’

How much reward will YOU receive? Are you working to add more? Because Jesus LOVES, wants and expects to give bonuses to His loving, faithful workers, do YOU want and expect to get a big reward? Does your life show it?

09.22.2023

While you were doing all these things, declares the LORD, I spoke to you again and again, but you did not listen; I called you, but you did not answer.” Jeremiah 7:13

The call came, I heard it, I didn’t answer! Way back when I was a kid, we didn’t get scam calls. Today it seems you can’t go a day without getting at least 1 call from someone with the job of trying to either sell you something, or sway your opinion to join them. But back then, there was no way of knowing who was calling until you answered. THIS call… THIS call was kind of like that.

I didn’t know who it was, so I did not answer. The abbreviations that popped up meant nothing to me, so I declined the call. The next day… they called again! I noted by area code that they were local and reasoned the initials on the screen might be medical. So I answered. A computer voice came on a few seconds later saying, “Please press 1 when you are ready to talk.” I hung up!

A recent study * showed the number of available workers in America is now worse than during the Great Depression. Sadly, it’s mostly men who have dropped out of the workforce… VOLUNTARILY! This has led to businesses EVERYWHERE scrambling to find employees. Now with ‘AI’ Technology, many companies are turning to computers for help. I don’t like to wait on a computer!

God’s NOT a computer and doesn’t use ‘AI’ cuz He is ‘UI’… Ultimate Intelligence! And even He makes calls! The third time the phone rang I decided to answer. Pressing 1, my curiosity allowed me to hold for a minute. I wanted to tell them I was offended! Then a human came on the line to schedule me for a test my Doctor prescribed. I actually was grateful I had answered the phone after all!

Being His, and for a very long time, I have learned that God calls OFTEN! It is His Love for me that keeps Him dialing. He wants love and communication from me in return, telling me to ‘pray without ceasing.’ I’ve learned that NOT answering His calls leads Him to either call more… or worse… LESS! Having learned it is in my best interest to answer God’s calls, and try to never miss. How about YOU?

09.21.2023

The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honor is humility.” Proverbs 15:33

“What are YOU scared of?” the man asked me. I was talking to a guy I did not know. Being a Jesus guy who knows EXACTLY where I’m going when I die, I replied accordingly, “absolutely nothing!” He looked at my left hand then said, “liar!” All I could think was, this guy is rather forward. THen he said, “you’re married.” I said, “Yes.” He said, “Then you’re scared of your wife!”

It took me a moment, and I scrunched up my face, seeing my beautiful wife in my head… all 5’2” of her. In a physical fight, which we’d NEVER do, I could take her out in about a second! So I responded, “no way bro!” His reply made me pause… “think about it!” So I did! And after a few seconds I had to admit… he was absolutely right!  My fear came home to roost yesterday.

Katie is picky about laundry and hates her nice clothes dried in the dryer. Me? I don’t care. I throw everything that will not fade into the washer and hit go! I did that yesterday with my white socks, shirts and underwear. When I pulled the load out of the dryer, I found 2 of her work shirts tangled among my undies! And I FREAKED! I shook them out, then tried to smooth them. But no luck!

This morning, after she took one of the shirts off its hanger and put it on, I had to verify the ‘all clear.’ I said, “That shirt looks good on you… I washed it for you yesterday.” “You did a good job,” she said, “I don’t usually like wearing white since it makes me look pasty.” I said, “Awww honey, you could fall into a VAT of paste and NEVER look pasty!” She had no idea I had meticulously ironed both shirts! WHEW!

I don’t iron well. If she sees me wearing a wrinkled shirt or pants, she’ll say, “here… let me iron that for you.” I can do a ‘quick press’ on the major parts that matter if needed. But I took my time on her shirts….  because… I’m scared of her! Like ‘Fear of the LORD’ scared! And I hope by now you get the point. ‘Fear of the LORD’ to a Believer is NOT life threatening. It’s more like disappointment.

Reverential Awe is the word my dad used when referring to ‘The Fear of the LORD.’ When I do what God commands and Love Him and my Wife, I am showing respect and honor. When doing so, I get SO much back in return because of THEIR love for ME. Both can make my life miserably sad when we are not well connected. When I do the work on MY part, I reap the reward that comes from them doing THEIR part.

Are you so lovingly in awe of God, and your spouse, that you make it your daily business to please them and make them proud enough to honor you in return? Marriage is simply the relationship God invented to prepare us an example of how we will relate to Him here… AND in Heaven. Do you regularly think of ways to love and honor God and those you love? If so… I know what YOU’RE skeerda!