“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17

BAHHHHHHM!  The sparks were flying last night.. and if you weren’t at our Bible Study you missed quite a show! Studying Colossians 3, we were diving into what it means to be dead WITH Christ and yet alive IN Him. One thing led to another, and 1 question to another. Soon, it seemed, everyone got their toes stepped on. Then the questions and opinions got louder! Then, because I had to… so did I!

I cannot begin to tell you how much I love and appreciate our special, little flock of sheep. As I thought about it, I’m thinking our ‘specialness’ might be the reason for our small size! Our sheep are so tough, few are willing to fit in! I’ve said it before, our sheep are SMART when it comes to the Bible. They are also opinionated and not afraid to show it! So when the tone raised up, I did too!

Many of the points they were trying to make were valid… kind of.  But they were missing the MAIN point where Jesus was trying to move us.  The comments weren’t getting us any closer. Finally I yelled… “STOP!!!! YA’LL KEEP TALKIN’ ABOUT STUFF YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT!” It got quieter! Smiling inside, I reminded myself, ‘these are my kind of sheep… cuz they’re not afraid to speak up!’

Visiting an office yesterday, I was waiting my turn when a long haired hippie from my generation walked in. The receptionist told him to please sign the register and sit down. He responded, “if ya want me to do something, tell me NOT to do it!” He didn’t know, but he’d just recited the idea found in Romans 7:7. My sheep had heard something they didn’t believe, so they argued! It’s natural!

To be a sheep is a special calling. Answering His call makes me special because I must realize, like every other Believer, either the hard way or the easy way, that JESUS is the Master. I am His servant! When getting together with Him and His other sheep, one thing is certain… sparks are gonna fly! And if I can’t handle sheep sparks… maybe I’m not as BAAAAAAAAHD as I think!     I LOVE our Flock!  How BAHHHHHHD are YOU?

P.S. The following is a sheep’s guide to being one. I HIGHLY recommend it

Don’t Give the Enemy a Seat Session 1

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, (then) he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

The day being Katie’s Birthday, I was out looking for special things. Not for things ON special, but things that WERE special… to HER! Having personally known her for over 45 years, and making a point to study and learn what she likes and dislikes, I was using that acquired knowledge to buy things I figured SHE would especially like. Then I discovered just how special, special could be!

My bride loves Twizzlers… Cherry Bites are her favorite candy. Going to a local store I found them in the candy aisle where, above the shelf hung a sign that said “2 for $4.50.” What surprise and joy it was to find out that I could actually get what she wanted at a special price! Grabbing 2, I went to the checkout where the lady said, “that will be $9.63 please!” My response was… “HUH?”

It turned out that the ‘special price’ was for ‘rewards members only!’ And since I hadn’t swiped a rewards card first, I was not entitled to the special discount! Providing some helpful suggestions as to why I really AM special, nothing would work! Then I remembered my special bride and asked,” Will you substitute my wife’s phone number? Instantly… ‘I’ became ‘special’ too… and saved $4.81!

When it comes to so many things in this life, and in the next one too, “it’s not what you do… but who you KNOW!” In the case of the candy, my special connection to my special wife made ME special too! Today’s verse is a Heavenly Special offered by Jesus Christ to ANYONE! That is… anyone who WANTS to take advantage of His offer! It’s a HUGE savings… but it’s not free!

Marriage can be a struggle when 2 independent people choose to lay aside their own interests to meet the interests of the one they love more than themselves. It’s like a law of diminished returns! When I give up my wants in favor of my lover’s wants, I get back more than I gave up! And Jesus promises the same special! Fruit becomes MUCH fruit when I join Him as a Rewards Member!

The cost isn’t really a debate. In fact, to get His special requires that I give Him EVERYTHING! Not just all my money… but the whole wallet, all the clothes, the house, the car and MY will for anything other than HIM! But the rewards to those who willingly take advantage of His offer… are out of this world!

So how about it? Are YOU special?

“For we will surely die and become like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. Yet God does not take away a life; but He devises means, so that His banished ones are not expelled from Him.” 2 Samuel 14:14 NKJV

I just know that today is going to be special, because today is our Church’s 2^nd meeting for the ‘Good News Club’ at our local Middle School. Being the first of it’s kind in the entire USA, we are excited to have the opportunity to share the Good News with kids this age. Being the 2^nd meeting means we’ve already had a 1^st! Unfortunately, we didn’t make it a week before receiving some bad news!

I didn’t personally see it, but I was sent a screenshot of some comments on one of our School Board members Facebook websites. I had to look at it twice before even registering a reaction, because the first look made no sense. Someone had attacked the club calling what we are doing ‘Christofascist Indoctrination,’ and ‘the worship of an imaginary sky daddy!’ And it got worse!!!

The picture attached showed a man on a cannon (representing God) aiming… and then blasting away a 4 year old child in flames! Beside the child was written the word ‘Leukemia.’ The message was loud and clear. The writer was insinuating what many people believe… that every death, accident or disaster is caused by God! The claim is outrageous, sad and WRONG! And it is also my fault!

I say it’s my fault because I am a part of The Church that has been infiltrated by an evil force that our loving God WARNED would be coming. The Church’s responsibility is to make sure that the evil NOT win! Unfortunately, I have heard FAR too many Believers in Christ repeat the same stupid idea with words like, “God must have needed an angel… so he took your baby!” I want to vomit!

The idea that God ‘TAKES’ people is disgusting, even though it may be well intended. It makes folks feel better that their loved one is no longer suffering and is now with God, in Heaven, where there is no more pain or sorrow! But even an idiot can see the illogical reasoning the myth leaves behind. “Since God takes life, then HE is responsible for killing MY BABY!” So they hate Him for it! STUPID!

I say “STUPID” as loud, obnoxious and disrespectful as I can! Because I want EVERYONE to know… telling people, directly or indirectly, that God takes life as some master plan is EVIL, WRONG and BAD NEWS! ANYONE who thinks, says or insinuates that notion needs to STOP! The fellow who took time to write a scathing review of Good News has been damaged because of this kind of Stupid News!

I am a Christian… a firm, faith-filled lover of the God who LOVES ME SO MUCH… He sent His Son to be MURDERED FOR ME! How dare I say, or allow other members of His Church say things that misrepresent Him… and without correction?! It is MY DUTY! If you are a Believer, it is yours too! An 11th Commandment could summarize the previous 10 by saying… ‘Thou shalt not be Stupid!’

Do you believe, or are YOU causing other people to believe, evil things about your loving Heavenly Father that are untrue? I am called to tell THE GOOD NEWS… and that is what I will do!  How about you?

“Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.” Ephesians 4:28

Katie and I were driving home in a torrential downpour recently and it was hard to even see the road. Since it was about dinner time anyway, I suggested we stop to get something to eat. After ordering, she went to get her drink and find us a seat. After getting the food and grabbing a wad of napkins by accident, I saw she had done the same. Immediately my guilt meter went off!

Raising 4 kids, and being a certified Sheepdog for Jesus, I’m still like a Father to the sheep in the flock. That means I am to teach those under my care about the important things of God. Because Church membership is voluntary, I can’t just come out and say things like, “clean up after yourself, be on time, or stop wasting money!” Sheep like diplomacy. But there I was, guilty of stealing!

It may seem like a minor offense, but the napkin holder had spewed out about 6 at a time. And there Katie and I were, with a stack of napkins we weren’t going to use! Not knowing napkin etiquette, I didn’t know if it was OK to put them back, throw them away or leave them for someone else to deal with. All I knew was, waste was sitting in front of me… and I was personally guilty!

Little things like that bother me. Some folks may tell you that I should be more worried about more important things, but I am me! Therefore, unless I’m taught by someone else, or by experience, my bothers are my bothers. I’ve learned that if something bothers Father God, it SHOULD bother ME! Today’s verse tells me that saving to share with others is a big deal with God.

The average cost of 1 paper towel is $.02. Two cents doesn’t sound like much, but if everyone twirled off 2 paper towels to dry their hands every time, the waste would be immeasurable. As I sat in the restaurant staring at our pile of stolen napkins, I gave that some thought. And THAT is my two cents worth for today!

Are YOU using God’s resources wisely and He expects?

“He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.'” Mark 16:15

“Have ya heard the news today?” That statement is used regularly these days. In fact, I heard it from 3 different people over the last 2 days myself! In each case, I had to say, “no I haven’t,” since I chose to quit listening to news broadcasts a few years ago. But that doesn’t diminish the effect of the line when I hear it. My immediate reaction is to cringe and think, “what now?”

The old line, ‘no news is good news’ has a lot of truth to it. When the word ‘news’ is said, the anticipation is usually negative. The fact is, the worse the news, the more attention it gets… and more money for the deliverer. The term ‘Breaking News’ came into being when something SO shocking happened it demanded interruption of everything normal. Until ‘shock’ became normal.

The word for this process is propaganda! Instead of reporting news, some crafty folks paid attention to the results and figured out how they could MAKE news that would actually influence and change the thoughts of hearers… effectively making good evil and evil good in the minds of the hearers. Marching to the beat, whole ideologies were born, from communism to WOKE!

Being a genuine Believer and follower of the Creator of the Universe, my thoughts on ‘News’ changed when I heard what HE had to say. His Words don’t echo as loudly these days as they once did. But that doesn’t make them any less ‘Breaking!’ In a world where sin and evil reign, The Lord of the Universe STILL expects that ‘The Gospel’ be proclaimed! And that friends, is GOOD NEWS!

As Believers and followers of what was once called ‘The Way,’ it is our honor to DO what today’s verse proclaims. That is to ‘go’ out into our world and tell folks about the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ! How His grace and mercy can BREAK sin’s hold and deliver us from it’s clutches. The story finds Jesus instructing the 11 disciples, but there is no way 11 can impact the world without US.

Have YOU heard the Good News lately? Is it affecting you to the point of wanting to share it with a broken world? There are people near you who need to hear some. 

“Do not trust in extortion or put vain hope in stolen goods; though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them.” Psalm 62:10

Katie and I like to eat out at restaurants because, being just the 2 of us, most of the time it works out to be more convenient and economical. When we have Gift Cards from Credit Card points to offset the pricing, it makes dining out even better. One thing I have learned is that, like most people, servers are a strange and varied group. But the last time out caused me to question my sanity!

The food was great, the server was good. Knowing service goes down as the restaurant population goes up, I sometimes have to put on patience with love. Especially when, after eating, I waited 10 minutes for the bill which, this time with a gift card, came to $4. Knowing servers like TIPS in cash, I laid a $20 bill down and waited 5 more minutes. His response? “Do you want change, sir?” “HUH?”

With a $25 gift card the meal came to $4. I make it a point to leave at least a 20% TIP on the total bill, including taxes! That meant $6 for the tip. Add $4 for the food balance and a $20 bill should get me $10 back, right? And that’s generous, right? But the server threw me off when he asked if I wanted change! Having been in sales for years, I wondered, “does that line work for you often?”

Now I can’t blame someone for trying! Or can I? Trying to get more for less might be considered smart if I’m shopping. But seeking patronage through excessive or exorbitant charge is called extortion… which God hates! The irritating thing was, I wasn’t as irritated at the server as I was at myself because the Holy Spirit pointed right at my heart and asked ME… “how often do YOU do that?”

Getting by with minimum effort for maximum gain is a sinful human trait. Being human, I both hate and fight the inclination. But according to the Holy Spirit, that doesn’t make me innocent! Pointing the comparison finger at other people and claiming, “but Lord, I’m not as guilty as THEM,” does not work! Because Christ’s standard is perfection. A position I have yet to attain, and one which He continues to press!

Seeking oceans full of Grace from God, for the tiniest droplet of obedience in return, is extortion. I am finding that God is as shocked at MY response and efforts as I was at MY server’s statement. OF COURSE God wants me to serve Him well. OF COURSE He expects change in return! Why was I thinking anything less would be just fine with Him?  And then He reminded me… “No, I don’t care HOW busy or stressed you are!  PAY ATTENTION!”

Are you extorting God for His maximum benefits, but giving Him back mediocre service?

“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?